My 1st BLOGHOP!

WELCOME FELLOW MILSPOUSE BLOGGERS!

I want to say thanks to Riding the Roller Coaster for hosting this blog hop!  I'm glad you took time to stop at my blog.  I know I'm a little late, but we're in the middle of an OCONUS PCS to JAPAN and life is just a little hectic around here!  I can't wait till I have a chance to read all the other blogs that are linked up!  I'm awful at these talk about yourself posts, but I'll do my best!

I'm in my late 20's a 20 something wife of a US Army Engineer Officer.  I'm originally from the great state of OH-IO.  The hubs is originally from Kentucky.  If you're not familiar with midwest geography, our home towns are separated by a river and about 5 mile of land.  We both claim Cincinnati as "home" simply because it's easier.  We technically met on facebook thanks to this photo

(we have a mutual friend who pointed him out to me on there and I sent him a message telling him I thought he was hot) in 05 while he was a Firstie Senior at West Point and went on our 1st date 2 days after he graduated.  He was looking for a "summer fling" before he left for OBC in the fall but ended up finding the love of his life.  We married at the JOP in January of 08 in a super cheesy chapel in Kentucky in front of our parents, grandparents and siblings

and had a large ceremony/reception in September 09 (which 3 of our grand parents were unable to be with us for, so we're really glad we did things the way we did!)

We have a fat Beagle named Buster, whom we inherited from my grandparents

We've been stationed at:

Ft Bragg

Ft Leonard Wood

Ft Riley

and soon to be Camp Zama, Japan

I enjoy hockey, photography, Coke, reading, traveling and cooking.

Anything else you want to know, just ask =)

PS.  Like I said at the beginning, we're getting ready for out 1st OCONUS PCS and I'm starting to freak out that I'm forgetting something REALLY IMPORTANT in our unaccompanied baggage which gets picked up in a few days.  Any experience you'd like to share would be MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!

I love my sister

I'm so lucky to have this beautiful young woman as my sister!

SISTER LOVE

(I just found the memory card with her senior pictures on it that I took last year and thought I'd share!)

Project365

{11Apr10} Eating popcorn.  Texting my BFF.  Watching Army Wives.  Good Sunday night

{12Apr10} Nasty little sucker (pun intended)

{13Apr10} The rest of my crossfit group going for a run while I slack off and walk

{14Apr10} Visiting the Missouri capitol building in Jefferson City

{15Apr10} Rough life

{16Apr10} Self-timer FAIL

{17Apr10} Drinks with the girls in Branson (how did I visit a tourist trap like that and not take any photos?!?!)

{18Apr10} Gotta love him

{19Apr10} Photographing the 2010 Best Sapper competition

{20Apr10} The cutest spectators at the helo cast

{21Apr10} 1 of the 2010 Best Sapper Champions

{22Apr10} Another day in the life of an Army wife

{23Apr10} I miss hockey and the amazing friends I've made through the game!

{24Apr10} Ohio University Military Ball with my handsome husband

{25Apr10} It was really hard to ignore the poison ivy on my arm (thank you Best Sapper) while staring at this view on the drive back to FLW

{26Apr10} Trying to install Adobe Creative Suite 4....not going so well

2010 Best Sapper

ESSAYONS!

This week the 2010 Best Sapper competition was held here at Fort Leonard Wood and I had the opportunity to photograph the events for a friend who is the Chief of Training at the Sapper school.  If you're not familiar with the Army, Sapper is essentially the Engineer's version of Ranger school.  After chasing 29 teams of Sappers around, starting at 4 or 5 am for the last few days, I feel like I've been hit by a freight train so I'll blog more about it after I rest and edit the photos.  For now I leave you with the 2010 Best Sappers (who also happen to be classmates of my husbands, which made it extra special to be a part of).  Congratulations to CPT Joe Byrnes and CPT Jason Castro, representing the 554th EN BN

Now I have to go pack for the 4 day trip back to Cincinnati and then the movers coming next week....but 1st I need another nap!

The final countdown...

I just realized we are moving in 3 weeks!  AAAGGGHHHHH!  I'm kind of freaking out but obviously not too bad or I wouldn't be sitting here blogging!  I'm making some lists to make me feel keep me organized.  Most of you are pro's at PCS'ing so I thought I'd share one of these lists with you and maybe you can add to it, or provide me with some advice/tips.  (This is our 1st OCONUS PCS)

(A little side note:  When we leave FLW, I'm moving in with my momma for the summer while the hubs is at Ranger/Sapper school (hopefully).  Our stuff is getting put into storage until we're ready to send it to Japan.  There is no temp storage in Japan, so we cannot send it early or we will get charged to store it until we get there sometime in October.  I have to decide what to keep with me for the summer and what can go into storage and then to Japan.  Plus I have to make sure whatever I keep with me can fit into 3 suitcases for the trip to Japan.)

DO NOT LET THE MOVERS PACK:

*clothes/shoes/accessories

*toiletries

*Bible

*phone/charger

*camera (and bag of camera goodies)
*computer

*external hard drive
*wireless router (my mom already has 3 CPU's hooked up in one room.  If I want internet all summer, I have to take my router with me!)
*water bottle
*Jason's army gear (for Sapper/Ranger school)
*Japan travel books

*Twilight DVD's (gotta have something to watch on the 14 hour flight)

*PASSPORTS/orders/marriage certificate

I am resisting the urge to add cookbooks to this list!

This list is obviously not complete.  If you were in my shoes (spending the summer with mom before moving to Japan), what would you add to that list?!?!

I could be wrong but....

I'm pretty sure this little guy is NOT supposed to be embedded in my HIP!

I came home from the gym and was getting ready to shower when I saw what I thought was a small scab on my hip.  I don't remember scratching myself but with me, who knows.  So I pull of the "scab" and think, "wow, that didn't hurt like it normally does when I pull off a scab", then, "hmmm...why is this scab MOVING?!?!  OMG it's a TICK!!!!!"  I proceed to PANIC!  I thought the head was still in my skin so I call my husband (who is at his 1st substitute teaching gig) and he doesn't answer, then I call my mom, who also doesn't answer.  Luckily my good friend Kristi did answer and came over to check me out and confirm that the head was indeed still attached to the tick and not in me.

Now I've got the creepy crawlies and every part of my body itches!  In all my years of camping and girl scouts, I've NEVER had a tick and I have no idea where this one came from!  UGH!

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On a much less disgusting note, I noticed today that I have quite a few new followers and I want to say hi and thanks for stopping by =)

While the husbands at work, the wife will play..

AND WORK!  While the hubs is away at Ranger school this summer, I'll be spending a week in NOLA (New Orleans, LA.  It'll be my 1st time ever to visit this city) with a team of volunteers from my home town, CINCINNATI!  Some people I graduated from high school with (10 YEARS AGO!  AAAGGGHHHH!!) have gone every year and I saw something about it on Facebook and jumped on board.  I loved the work we did on our church mission trips when I was in high school, and I cannot wait to get down to LA and sweat it out on the work site with a group of young adults and represent the city I love.

Now I just have to do my part to fund the trip, so I'm asking for your help (specifically if you're related to me). Below is a link to the organization I'm going with and a link to donate to my trip if you feel so inclines (MOM, that's directed at you)

Dear Friends & Family:



Events happen in our lives everyday that affect our lives – our dreams, our hopes, and our interconnectivity to our world.  The horrific events of Katrina’s wrath shook our world almost five years ago – and the effects of her wrath will forever impact the coastlines of the Gulf – and our world forever.

Give Back Beyond Cincinnati is committed to empowering young professionals in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region by dedicating time and effort in bettering the lives of others not only in our region but across the world.   Much of our success stems from community sponsorships and donations.  Because of these partnerships, we are able to realize and contribute to the dreams of so many individuals in our region and in our world.

I would like to invite you to be part of the dream that Give Back Beyond Cincinnati has created by supporting Give Back Beyond Cincinnati-New Orleans 2010.  You can contribute to me and/or the trip through our website (listed below).  All donations are tax deductible.  Your investment will ensure that young professionals are equipped and ready to lead reconstruction efforts in New Orleans during the week of August 7-15, 2010.   Only with your support can we continue to make our dream to empower others a reality!

With your ongoing support I am confident that, together, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of so many in the New Orleans region and beyond.  
Thank you, in advance, for your donation!

www.givebackbeyond.org Click on the donation button in the upper right hand corner.  You’ll then be prompted for donation amount and have the ability to select who you would like to donate on behalf of (That's the part where you select my name ;-)).


Your friend and a participant on the 2010 trip to help rebuild lives and homes in New Orleans.


I cannot wait to go on this trip and change lives in NOLA!  Expect more posts about this as the trip gets closer =)

Flavor of the Week {Chicken Salsa}

Let me introduce you to the easiest, yummiest, healthiest salsa EVER!  I'm pretty sure that the friend I got this recipe from YEARS ago got it from Weight Watchers or something like that but it is SOOOO good!

Chicken Salsa:
1 small red onion
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed THOROUGHLY
1 can chicken (or 1 large chicken breast chopped and shredded)
1 pack taco seasoning
juice of 1 lime

Step 1:
Cut the onion and peppers into pieces about the size of the corn/beans (it looks better if everything is the same size, plus, this way you don't get one flavor over powering the others) and add them to a large container like so

 

Then add the beans, corn, and chicken

Then squeeze in the lime juice

 

And add the taco seasoning

 

Mix

 

And serve

SOOOOO GOOD!!!  Especially with lime tortilla chips!  And other than the taco seasoning, which isn't that bad, it's all good for you!  It's the perfect summer dish =)

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Edit:  This is my entry for the Recipe Blog Hop hosted by Trying Our Best!

Project365

{29Mar10} if you've never had grilled zucchini, you're missing out on one of the greatest things in life!

{30Mar10} I do not have a green thumb, but I love to pull weeds...weird, I know =)

{31Mar10} T man wearing my hat

{1Apr10} the hubs made me dinner and it was delicious =)

{2Apr10} hanging out with T at the arcade

{3Apr10} my Easter centerpiece

{4Apr10} I LOVE the colors of this flower!

{5Apr10} our friends super awesome Mustang

{6Apr10} OOPS!

{7Apr10} flowers on my 2.5 mile walk with Buster

{8Apr10} I walked the dog w/o shoes to participate in One Day Without Shoes...that ish HURT!

{9Apr10} I love this dog!

{10Apr10} Who brings a REAL, LIVE, chicken to a party?!?!