Patriotic Weekend

In honor of the upcoming patriotic weekend, I had to share a website that I found recently. This Welcome Home Blog has some of the most inspiring videos I’ve seen in a while. It’s a great reminder that we live in a great country, and we have such wonderful people that serve it. (And for me personally, it’s a reminder to give Husband an extra hug in gratitude that he is home with me.) These were two of my favorite videos I found: I love this one of the mom’s "birthday present" she receives. And the look on this girl’s face is priceless in this one. I challenge you to watch it without tearing up. Happy early Independence Day!

File this under "Great minds think alike," or "I'm becoming my mother"?

Take a look at this picture. No, you’re not seeing double. Pictured are two of the exact same shirts.

The one on the left is the one I bought because I thought it would be great for work and I look good in blue.

The one on the right is the one I received a couple days ago in a care package from my mom, where she noted she thought “it would be great for work” and that I “look good in blue.”

Is there an echo in here?

Seriously, how eerie is it that we bought the exact same shirt? It’s the same size, same brand, same color, and from the same store.

Is it that we just both have good taste? Or, are we the first pair of Siamese twins to be separated by 1000 miles? Or maybe I'm becoming my mother?

Personally, I think this is sweet vindication for my poor mom, who had to endure years of eye-rolling and loud sighing whenever she suggested clothing during my teenage years.

I think a thank you is in order. Thanks, mom!

No, really, it's a small world

I know I’ve said that it’s a small world before, but I think it may be getting even smaller. By sheer coincidence, I recently ran into a friend of my cousin’s who just got stationed here a couple weeks ago. I had heard a lot about him, but this was my first time meeting him.

We met, of all places, at the commissary. I had the advantage, since his (last) name was clearly displayed on his military uniform.

Oh, and if you ever want to freak someone out, ask that person a variety of questions, which show that you know personal information about him, without first telling him how you know that information.

I said, “Wait, is your first name, [first name]?”

“Yes.”

“Are you from [state]?”

“Uh, yes…”

“Do you know [my cousin’s name]?”

“Yes…” (By this time, he's looking at me in disbelief like I'm either psychic or nuts. It was hard to tell.)

Finally, I revealed that I was his friend’s cousin, and he seemed excited to see a familiar face, or at least in this case, a face that at least slightly resembles my cousin’s.

We chatted for a while, and it was nice to finally meet him. We exchanged contact information, and Husband and I are going to invite him over for dinner.

My cousin has another friend that will be stationed here soon. I’ll be sure to add “look for cousin’s friend” to my commissary list.

Couples Retreat

Yesterday we watched the movie Couples Retreat. I was captivated by the movie – not so much by the plot (although it had its funny moments), but by the gorgeous scenery. I would love to take a vacation like that, just without the therapy and awkward yoga. I’m determined that somehow Husband and I will finally take some time off from work and go on a fun vacation together. We’re thinking maybe either this fall or next spring, before we move. After a quick internet search, I figured out that the movie was filmed at the St. Regis Bora Bora Hotel. (Picture from the St. Regis website)

To steal a line from the movie, "This looks like a screensaver!" Although I’m drooling over the pictures, I’m not sure our wallets would feel the same excitement over the (very!) expensive rates.

Have you ever gone to an all-inclusive resort? Is it worth the cost? What’s the best vacation spot you’ve been to (preferably with a beach)? We are open to all ideas! Happy Friday!

A Danger to My Own Home

I sometimes joke you can’t take me anywhere because I'm such a klutz. But apparently, I’m not safe to be in my own home either. This weekend Husband noticed that the bulb in one of our recessed lights had burned out in our living room. The ceilings are high in that room, which makes a simple task of changing a light bulb into an Olympic-level feat of balance and precision. I managed to take the old bulb out, and I was attempting to put the new one in. I felt that the bulb was slipping and I starting yelling for Husband, “Oh, s##t! Help!!” The next sound was that of the light bulb crashing to the floor and bursting into a million tiny pieces. Husband came running in and asked, “What happened??” I apologized, feeling sad that I had broken the new bulb. Husband, however, thought it was fascinating. He studied the pattern of dispersed pieces that stretched several feet in every direction, and he marveled saying, “Wow, the filament is still intact!” We eventually got the light bulb changed. This time I wisely let Husband change it, as I’ve banned myself from light bulb duty.

The Party

Somehow we managed to pull off the party this weekend. We had a great time, although it was a somewhat exhausting endeavor to get ready for it. I call it, “the most fun that I hope to not repeat in the very near future.” Regardless, I’m very glad that we hosted it because everyone really enjoyed themselves.

We wanted to do everything simple, since we were hosting a good-sized crowd and we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare everything. We decided on hot dogs and burgers for the main course, which was perfect. Everyone gobbled up the food. (Yet, somehow we still ended up with a ton left over, which means that in the coming weeks we’ll probably be eating more hot dogs and hamburgers than we’ve had all year.)

The thing that cracked me up the most about the party was how everyone raved about the brownies I made. One guy even asked me if I wouldn’t mind sharing my “family recipe” for the brownies. I had to refrain from laughing, as the “family recipe” was a box of brownie mix I bought from the store. He couldn’t believe it, and he wanted to know exactly what kind it was and the exact type of oil I used.

In case anyone else wants my “family secret,” the brownie mix that everyone loved was Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate. (I followed the directions for the "fudgy" brownies, instead of the "cake-like" version, and I used regular vegetable oil.)

I wish I could say that I bought this because I just knew it was going to be so good. But truthfully, I bought it because it was the cheapest. Before the party, I worried that maybe I should have been making more “homemade” stuff, but after the brownie reviews, I realized that most people wouldn’t have known or cared if I spent hours making food from scratch. And really, I think most people just appreciated that we had them over. Although, I must say, the brownies were a nice a bonus for us all.

Entertaining, Part II

I think I can officially end my guilt about not entertaining. This weekend we’re hosting a big party for Husband’s co-workers. It’s a tradition for the person in Husband’s position in the unit to host a party for the other team members. I just found out about the party a couple days ago. Husband came home from work and after a couple hours, he nonchalantly said, “Oh, the party is going to be this weekend.” And then I proceeded to repeat everything Husband said in the form of a question. “This weekend?” “The party will be here at our house?” “We provide the dinner?” “There will be 30 people attending?” I’m not freaking out (yet) because Husband has assured me that a bunch of hungry guys will not care how clean the house is or if there are party decorations. This morning I purchased more hot dogs and hamburgers in one grocery trip than I’ve bought in my entire life. In other words, I think we’re set.

Picking a Winner

Well, I can add “owning a NASCAR hat” to my list of things that I thought I’d never do, but now have.

A couple weeks ago, I watched my first, full NASCAR race on TV with Husband. At the start of the race, he explained how difficult it is to predict who might win based on the car itself, weather conditions, the driver, etc. I happened to see that there was a car sponsored by “M&Ms,” and I told him that I’d be rooting for that car. (As a chocolate fan, it was an easy decision.)

“You can’t just pick a car because of that,” he said, once again explaining the intricacies of racing.

But I did. And a couple hours later, the M&M car happened to win first place in the race. We both laughed in disbelief.

On a recent military trip, Husband saw this hat and brought it home for me as a souvenir.

So now I’m the proud owner of a NASCAR hat. I don’t know what this means exactly, but I’m hoping maybe it involves eating more M&Ms.

Free Lunch

Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Last week, Husband was coming home from a military trip and he was passing through another city. He and a fellow pilot stopped for lunch at a fast-food restaurant, and they both happened to be in their flight suits. An older gentleman paid for their lunch. Husband tried to politely decline, saying that it wasn’t necessary, but the gentleman insisted. Husband told me this story when he came home, and it truly made my day. I’m thankful for this man for doing something so nice for my husband and for reminding me that small gestures can mean so much!