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Tico & the Hut

He is warming up to the hut...He starting chewing on it the other day and is getting more comfortable being next to it. Next stop..Making him get inside!

Other exciting news....This is my 100th post!!!

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving...The one day of the year that we remind ourselves just how blessed and grateful we are. It's almost sad that we don't take the entire year to do that. But even so, I am very grateful for that one day of remembrance. When we first arrived in California, we made a tradition to give Thanksgiving to our single marine friends. We felt bad that they didn't have their families, friends, food, and a home. So we would invite a house full of people over to share the holiday with us. We did that for a couple of years and spent on holiday at a friends. Well now that we have been in the Marines for 4 years, we no longer have the single marine friends that we came in with, They are all out now. So we decided to spend this Thanksgiving as a family. Just the two of us and Tico. We made a fantastic meal, and Jared even made a sweet toast to me. After dinner we took some photos for our christmas card, and then settled in for some movies. It was just a wonderful day. We have been so very blessed and we take notice each day for all of blessings each day. We are so thankful for everything, and everyone in our lives.

Our Feast

I was so excited!

I love this man!
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Tico munching on his potatoes

Coffee Coffee Coffee...And Tea!

Remember the coffee machine that I wanted bloggers? And remember that I promised that I would have it by christmas? Yeah, Jared and I broke down and got it today as an early present. Since we are going home for Christmas we didn't want to take it a couple states away, and then have to bring it back.we decided to slowly start moving things home when we go. We figured since we are taking the truck, it would be easier for later if we did that. Anyways...I just wanted to share my excitement about our awesome new machine.

Looks good in my kitchen huh?!

A Tiki Hut for Tico

I found this super cute Tiki Hut at Petsmart and just had to get it for my Tico Teekers. It's cool because he can sleep in it, or eat it because it's entirely edible. The only downfall....He is scared to death of it! hahaha He is like that will all new things that we bring home for him, unless he picks it out himself of course. But over time he gets used to it and they become his favorite thing. Hopefully soon I can post a picture of him inside of it.

Marine Corps Ball 2009

This was my last ball of our Marine Corps career. During our four year time, I was able to attend three of them. My first ball was in 2006, it happened at the same hotel as this year, They Regency Hyatt in Huntington Beach, CA. The hotel is beautiful and it's right on the water. It's filled with amazing fountains, just a truly breath taking hotel. My day started really nicely, We went to breakfast at Ihop with Jamie, then Jamie and I did some last minute shopping for the things that I hadn't had time to go pick up because of Global. After our trip we came back to my house and Jamie helped me curl my hair. She is such a great friend, I love her dearly, and I will miss her so much when we leave.

We drove to our hotel and Luke came to pick us up so we didn't have to get a taxi to the Hyatt. (We stayed at a cheaper hotel down the street because the Hyatt was $275 a night) The night kicked off with cocktail hour and trying to find our table for dinner. It was a little sad, because everyone that we did know is now out of the Marines, except for like 3 people. This year's ceremony was wonderful! It wasn't too long, the message was so inspirational, and it made me so proud of Jared and to be a Marine wife. Of course they did the usual presenting of the birthday cake (Happy 234th!) And they do this thing where they give a piece of cake to the oldest and youngest Marine in our battalion. I think the oldest was born in 1952 (57) and the youngest to join was..Get this...Drum Roll....1992.  That's right people...He is 17 years old. Not even a legal adult, but he's old enough to go to war and die for his country. It made me sad because he is just a baby and is in for a big ride. My heart and blessings go out to him. During the ceremony the talked about brotherhood and how great it was to be a part of our Battalion. There was a guy on the video who talked about how they would jump in harms way to save their brother every time and not even think about it. I started to tear up because for us..unfortunately..Jared was never given that opportunity of brotherhood over the last 4 years. Somehow and for some reason..we drew the short end of the stick.

Holding Jared's hand during the ceremony.

  After the ceremony we had a wonderful dinner of salad, steak, and dessert. It was awefully tasty!

Our Table

My steak.

Mellisa's Chicken

Raspberry Chocolate mousse.

Then pictures and dancing begun, I wanted to dance so bad but they had the music so loud that Jared couldn't handle being in the room. Poor guy was getting dizzy because of how loud it was. It's a reminder to me that he really does have handicaps and that he will be injuried for the rest of his life. When you look at him he seems completely fine..but he has so many health issues now.

Our Feet hurt so bad so we starting carrying our shoes

After all this..and many more that aren't pictured..The night led up to this little plan that we helped Luke with for months...

Congratulations hugs..and room service champagne

Over all it turned out to be a pretty good last ball for me. I am very proud of this...

To Be A Marine Wife!

Excitement, Sadness, and Exhaustion..Global Connection 2009!

Global Connection 2009...Where to begin! For many of you that have no clue what I am talking about..It's the Eufora International annual Hair show. I have been employed with Eufora for almost a year now and when I started it was right after the hair show took place so I was super excited to experience it this year. It took the entire year to plan it out. (600 Hair stylists came to the event) The last two months for me have been so entirely hectic, and stressful, that I have been neglecting other things in my life (such as my blog and the gym) because I am just so tired at the end of the day that all I want to do is eat dinner and go to bed. I did a lot of rolling of clothing for the apparel store, order items, getting them organized and staged to put on the truck, lots of phone calls to vendors, and all of my other daily duties. This year the Event was at the brand new San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel. BEAUTIFUL! The show kinda went like this...we worked all week long  the first week of November, then on saturday we all met at the hotel for show setup. Sadly for me..Miss Country girl..I got so stinking lost in the middle of downtown! I have a garmin but because the hotel was just finished being built this January it wouldn't find the address. I was so lost and frustrated that I burst into tears and almost turned around to go home.

 So we set up the whole day on saturday and when everything was finished, some co-workers/friends  and I went out to dinner at the fox grill there at the hotel. Then we went back upstairs to our rooms and I did a set of nails on one of my co-workers and we did deep conditioning treatments in our hair. I just love to pamper and be pampered! We had to be up around 5 am Sunday morning to be all dressed hair and makeup and downstairs for the show at 7. It was so exciting for me because it was my first hair show and I don't even have my license yet. The show kicked off with an amazing runway and cutting presentation and then everyone broke for classes and we sold the nicely rolled apparel (YAY go me!)  We added a nice little surprise into the show at the last minute. There happened to be a Marine Corps Ball in the next room on Saturday night and some of the Marines wanted to come watch the show so bad...Well for our futuristic model section we asked them to march but they weren't getting it. So some marines came in to teach them. We loved the way it looked so much that we decided to include them in the show! It was so awesome and gave you chills when you watched it. It was a great sight for me because it took my military people, and my stylist people, and they interweaved them! haha Jared was able to come down to watch the show. It was so nice for him to experience that with me and I am so thankful that Eufora let him be there. :) That night we had a Studio 54 after party. It was so much fun!!! Jared went shopping while I was working so get a costume. Everyone danced, drank, and Don (the owner and creator of Eufora) sang. Jared had the time of his life..I couldn't have paid him to leave the dance floor haha! that never happens..He didn't even want to dance with me at our own wedding. The Long Island Iced Tea just broke out his disco dancing spirit! The next day the show continued and I was supposed to go back to the office to work. As I was about to leave the hotel I got a call saying that they needed my help and I had to get down stairs ASAP! So it was fun that I got to stay. I am so grateful for the people in this company who teach me something all the time, and it will be very bittersweet when I leave them. I had such a great time! So in about a year or so...I will come back to Global Connection..but this time to experience it as a Stylist!

I know there is a lot but it's the entire runway event!

Happy Blogging Anniversary to me!

It has officially been one year today since I started blogging. Man this past year has FLOWN by! I was hoping to hit at least 100 posts in a year but with work kind of taking over these past two months..I didn't quite make it. Maybe if I just blog a lot today haha. Anyways I am super excited that it's been a year and that you all read my blog. It's sure been fun to read all of yours!

Rapunzel..Rapunzel..Let down your hair..

I have wanted extentions for YEARS. Well I finally got them and couldn't be happier. I wasn't blessed with a full head of thick hair. Instead I got thin and fine. Worst combination ever in my opinion lol. Well the Marine Corps ball is this saturday and after I got a horrible hair cut/color I knew I had to take action. Just so happens, a good friend of mine from beauty school specializes in extentions and was happy to help me out. It's taking me a bit to get used to considering I have never had hair this thick or long in my entire life. I think once the headache goes away from the cornrows it will be fine. I hope you guys like it as much as I do!

Before..

After :)

luscious lengths

Veterans Day.

Why do we say Happy Veterans day?  Because for some..it's not a happy day at all?  I feel so incredibly blessed that there are men and woman out there that are willing to fight for my freedom and our country. And for all of those that lost their lives doing it. I remember growing up and the schools tried to teach us the importance of veterans by having assemblies for them. I hated those assemblies. And forever it was ingraved in my mind that a veteran was someone that was old. I believed this to be true until my 20 year old husband went into combat and was hit by a roadside bomb. I then realized the importance of the veterans as soon as I hung up the phone from hearing that word. My husband was a veteran and my hero...just like everyone else in the armed forces that are risking it all for ME and YOU.  I am have found a different appreciation for pride, country, military, and self over the last 4 years that we have spent in the marine corps. So please take some time today to remember..reflect...and thank someone that is serving in your armed forces.

Hugs Before Jared Left for Iraq

Our first hug in 7 1/2 months when he returned home.

Getting Domestic

The day after Halloween Jared and I decided to make homemade Pumpkin Pies and 4 different flavors of Pumpkin seeds. It took us litterally all day long! Our poor oven has never worked that hard in the 2 and a half years that we have lived in that apartment. It was so hot on top of the oven, That by the end of the night, you would burn your hand if you touched it. haha The pies turned out great though. We were so excited!

Starting the Seeds

Prepping the Pumpkin

Marinating the pumpkin seeds

Finished! L to R: spiced, salted, spicy sweet, and cinnasweet

Mashing the pumpkin

Pie Filling

Finished Pie sprinkled with Nutmeg.