This week has been an up and down kind of week, full of highs and lows but learning moments all along the way.
{1} I found my new piece of artwork /slash/ mantra for the new year. I love it. Simple. Elegant. Truthful.
{2} We found our new house in Florida! I think it is a little bit of Pleasantville. It will definitely be my working project for the next few months, and I will definitely be posting all about the moving-decorating-furniture reworking for each room. It will be a step by step process but I cannot wait to start it.
This will be Luna's new puppy park! I love this backyard.
{3} I am deeply neglecting taking down the Christmas decorations. The tree is still up as well as garland and stockings. We just got home two days ago. We need to go through all of our laundry and get our routines back before we attack those goodies. But ugh, I don't wanna. Would it be rude to ask the movers to pack it up? That's a legit question right?
{4} I did my very first #throwbackthursday yesterday. I know, I know. I am way behind in that game. But at least I made it a good one. I think I am about 3 years old and I am wearing my favorite dress and costume jewelry. But the real kicker was those bangs. I cut them all by myself. I was so proud of the lop-sided off-ness. Yep, right before picture day. I am sure my mother was so proud of her budding hair stylist daughter that day.
{5} Hubby has his Hail and Bail party tomorrow, and I am actually kind of sad about it. Our time here in Norfolk is all over. I am going to miss this place. I am going to miss the friends I made here even more. The ladies I met here are the ones who know exactly what it is like to have this crazy lifestyle. And these are the friends that I know I will see again. It may be in a few months or a few years but we are all destined to meet again. The Navy is a small, small place and that is one of the things I love the most about these friendships. They are the ones that no matter how much time has passed, you pick up right where you left off. Those are the friendships that last a lifetime. And with all of the craziness that has happened in this community these past few days, friends and love are what helps you through it all.
Hello 2014! We are back home and all of us are absolutely exhausted. You may remember from previous posts that Hubby, me and Miss Luna all packed up and drove 3,236 miles (yes, I google mapped it) to Texas then Florida and back. How we fit all of our luggage, gifts and a collie into our Mustang I will never know. So naturally, this will be one big, huge catch up on everything that has happened these past few weeks. Get ready for a photo dump of epic proportions!
Mommy, Luna time
Check out that fancy seat belt, Leopard.
Begging Daddy for attention
That is how Luna likes to relax on road trips. In between her naps and staring down other cars down, she likes to perch up on our shoulders and beg for kisses and pettings. What a brat. Thank goodness she's adorable.
So spoiled.
When we got Texas it was nothing but family time 24/7. It was fantastic. I loved every minute of it, especially relaxing on the couch with my sisters. We don't get to spend nearly enough time together, just hanging out and doing nothing always beats out a night of bar hoping.
So comfy
Finally, another blondie for Chloe to hang out with!
It wouldn't be Christmas without a craft or two! This one is based off of the craft that was floating around Pinterest all month like wild fire. My mom and I joined forces and finished this baby in 2 days. We were awfully proud of it.
And you know the halls weren't the only thing that was decorated. Oh no sir. Look at the puppies!
Lucy Girl, looking cute
Luna, as festive as ever
Max, that jerk. Good thing he is cute too!
Tallulah, nothing fits her so she gets the hat
Jack and Mini Penny round out the clan
And yes, all of those dogs are my Momma's puppies. It looks like a rescue house and is as loud as a kindergarten class, but it's home :)
Then it was Christmas Eve.
The sisters, Hubby and I went over to my Dad's house to do the traditional family gathering and gift exchange. Otherwise known as, spoil the littlest ones and white elephant for the adults. It's always a lot of fun to see who steals the bottles of liquor from each other. (We stole a nice bottle of rum!)
White elephant gifts and A Christmas Story. Perfect.
My uncle the photographer. Always ready :)
Family photo by the fire pit.
My Grandmother got lucky and scored the Beaver Nuggets
Everyone loves a frying pan!
My sister Katie and her new mini me cousin
We should send out a cousin x-mas card next year!
Christmas was really good this year. I loved having all of the people I care for in the same city at the same time. But of course every good thing has to come to an end so all of us out-of-towners rounded out our Corpus time by going to the coolest place in town: Tipsy Canvas! It is exactly what it sounds like, you paint and drink :) Chloe, my blondie sister, bought us all a class for Christmas and it was the best time. We snacked, drank wine, laughed like hyenas and yeah there was a little painting in there too.
I think they all turned out pretty good. We are a talented bunch!
It was a great week in Texas. Full of family and friends and lazing around. The best combination for a sensational vacation. I wish it could have lasted a few days longer, but after we pilled back into the car, it was back to business. House hunting business. So after two days of travel and a new year beginning, we made it to Pensacola, Florida.
I love the colors
I was ready to go full on HGTV House Hunters mode when we got to Florida. "I like the vibe." "It's not in my favorite neighborhood." "I can't walk to anything." "How are the school districts?" (even though we don't have kids, lol) But after only 1 day of looking, we found it!
I am so excited that we found it so fast. We got so lucky with this place. Lots of space, a huge backyard for Luna to play in for hours, and less then a mile from friends we have down there. It's perfect. It will be my newest project for the new year. I already doubled my House Decor board on Pinterest with ideas. My D-I-Y board is next to get the sudden influx of pins. You know what that means...more craft posts! It is almost time to make my new house my new Home Sweet {florida} Home. Get ready.
The Christmas week is almost upon us. I can smell the tamales now. Yum. To commemorate this being my first holiday season blogging, this post is about one thing only: our Virginia Christmas. As you may remember from my last entry, this is the second Christmas Hubby and I are spending together in the States. I wanted this one to be really special, so I completely decked out the house, got him some pretty decent gifts and now it's vacation time.
Our tree is covered in ornaments from our childhoods
These are our Kindergarten ornaments
My favorite Target wrapping paper. I wish I had bought it in bulk
The mantle is still my favorite piece
My chalkboard frame redo. I think it turned out pretty nice.
Blue ornaments are my decorating theme this year
All of the handrails are covered in garland!
And of course we cannot forget the most festive person that lives in this house.
Are you done with your shopping yet? No? No worries, neither am I. I am really good at getting involved late in the game. You know that lady that runs around the mall like a banshee, bags falling off of her arms on Christmas Eve? Yeah, that's me. And you know what, I am damn proud of it. I find some really good last minute deals that way. So let the procrastination flow people! Don't worry, we still have a week until the moment of gifting truth :)
It's a Tag Party. Learn a little more about me and all that my crazy family does during the holiday season. These Tags are some of the best ways to learn a bit more about the guy or gal behind the blog. So here's all of our Holiday Happiness for yall.
1. Favorite Christmas Movie?
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Always has been, always will be! Classic.
2. Are you on the Naughty List or the Nice List?
Hopefully on the Nice List but I'm not putting my money on it.
3. Show us an embarrassing Christmas Card photo!
I don't have one. We never did cards then I was little, otherwise, oh man, there would be some good ones floating around out there. But do you wanna see what is possibly the best Christmas Card ever?
Kenny is a pilot with Hubby. His sister took this picture when they were flying around the area a while back and she turned it into the best Christmas card I have ever seen in my entire life. It's too good. Only Kenny.
4. Have you ever had a White Christmas?
Yes I have! It was a magical Christmas. Christmas Eve 2004 was one I will remember for the rest of my life. We got over 5 inches of snow that night. It was only the second time in history that Corpus had a White Christmas. It was pretty funny waking up the next morning and seeing everyone trying to make snowmen in their front yards. We had no idea that you had to roll the snow. lol. And only a few people had the right kind of outdoor equipment for playing in the snow. There were lots of surfboards, inflatable pool toys, boogie boards and water skis being used to zip down hillsides. It was dreamy.
5. Where do you usually spend the holidays?
We try our hardest to spend the holidays with family. My side in Texas or Hubby's side in Arizona. Either one. It only feels like the holidays when we have lots of family around.
6. Play or sing your favorite Christmas song!
7. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
Yes I do. Since my parents are divorced, my sister and I spend Christmas Eve with our Dad and his side of the family. My grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins all get together at someone's house (it changes every year almost) and spend our Christmas Eve with each other. I love it.
8. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Of course I can, I just have to sing it in my head. "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen." And of course you can't forget that red-nosed lead guy Rudolph.
9. What holiday tradition are you looking forwards to the most this year?
I am trying to make a new one by spending it with my husband. This will only be our second one together with family since we got married four years ago. It's par for the course for military standards. But we have been pretty lucky so far, I even had the opportunity to spend last Christmas with him on deployment! I hope we can keep this tradition going for a few more years before I loose him to holiday deployments again.
10. Is your tree real or fake?
It's fake. It has to be. Otherwise we would come back home to a very, very dry dead tree. I do miss the smell of a fresh tree though, Maybe I'll get some of those scent sticks you can hang on the tree to make it smell real.
11. Hands down, what is your all-time favorite holiday food and sweet treat?
My grandma Mona's pan de polvo and tamales. You have not lived until you have had a Mexican Christmas :) Tamales are the ultimate holiday food in my neck of the woods. Mmmm. And to finish them off with pan de polvo (it's like a dry shortbread cookie) oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about them. We need to hit the road soon!
12. Be honest; Do you like giving or receiving gifts more?
I love giving a gift that I put lots of thought and time into. Nothing is better then seeing the look on their face when it is exactly what they wanted or something that they did not expect to get. I love that feeling of "Yes, I did it." But don't get me wrong, when someone does that for me I am ecstatic and then I like receiving them more. lol.
13. Show us your tackiest attire (ex: The Ugly Sweater)
You see that sweater my friend Maggie is wearing. It's mine! It even has shoulder pads! But do you want to see the best tacky sweater?
That's Nick. His sweater features an opening for his iPhone to be the live action fire to his fireplace. Yeah. It's a good one.
14. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
Paris, France. Joyeux Noel!
15. Does your family have a special holiday recipe you like to help make?
I don't usually participate in the making of the goodies since I am consistently the last one to arrive home for the festivities. I do wish I could help in the making of the sweets, I would be the best X-mas Treat taste tester ever.
16. Are you a pro-present wrapper or do you fail miserably?
Oh I am a Pro. Pro.
17. Most memorable holiday moment?
Spending last Christmas in Italy is one that I will never forget.
The Colosseum
The Spanish Steps in Rome
Shopping in Naples
18. What made you realize the truth about Santa?
When I realized that Santa and my Mom have the exact same handwriting. Dead giveaway parents, dead giveaway. I think me and my sister Katie found out around the same time, but we had to keep a lid on it for the two youngest sisters. I didn't really mind though, I felt like I was in on it with the adults. I loved that part.
19. Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick with them?
Nope. I don't make resolutions because I know I will not stick with them. It's just not in me. I have terrible self discipline.
20. What makes the holidays special for you?
When I get to spend them with friends and family that I don't get to see often. It just makes me feel at peace when I an surrounded by people that I love. This Navy life that we have is not an easy one for that reason. We have to leave the people that we love the most and possibly never live close to them again. Spending the holidays with them, just makes everything so much more special. This will be Hubby's first Christmas with my family in Texas. I want to make it as special as possible. I hope he loves it.
So there you go! Now you know a little bit more about me and what I love about this time of year. If you want to participate, do it. I tag you! Just post a link to your answers in my comments so I can read 'em. If you don't blog, put some of your answers right into a comment! It doesn't matter how you do it, you can participate in any way: tweet, instagram, email, anything! Don't forget to link back to me @amodernnavywife :) Have fun answering and Happy Holidays everyone!
