3am & Dear John

*Warning- spoiler's for the book Dear John.
If you don't want to read... go check out the newest installment of "Fireproofing your Marriage" at the SPA


At 3am last night I still couldn't sleep, I'd been tossing and turning since 2am... I had just finished the book Dear John. I finished it in 2 nights, I didn't want to read it any longer. From the very first paragraph, I knew I wouldn't like the ending. The theme of sacrificial love, was great, don't get me wrong but I hated how it was portrayed and how the book ended. It seems to give military relationships no hope. As I said before when it comes to Nicholas Sparks, I've only seen the movie A Walk to Remember and now added reading the book Dear John. Both of them left me crying and wishing it could have been different.

I think more than the ending, the story of how Savannah & John met (the short time he had there), the extremely short time spent together physically over years, and the very long distance relationship made it all to real for me. My husband and I mirrored a lot of it...

So at 3am... despite knowing he had to be up at 5am, I so desperately wanted to wake him up and tell him how much I loved him, how glad I am we were faithful to each other during our long times of separation, how much I believed him when he said everything would be okay, that we had faith enough to make it work. To make our love work, stay entact, despite it all... distance, time, arguments. We knew that love was not just a one-time choice, it was a decision you make every day- to continue loving. I ended up not waking him, even though he would have talked if I needed it. Instead, I just wiggled under his arm and laid my head on his chest until I finally fell asleep...

I fully agree with the book saying- in a marriage there is only room for two people. I can't help the fact that even though I know it was to show sacrificial love, how people could change for the better, there was so much guilt in the book it made it all very sad. I guess it was just not what I was expecting.

The DVD is still wrapped up all pretty in it's plastic from the store. It beckons me when I walk by and see it... but I don't want to watch it, not right now. I know Hollywood will inevitably make changes, ie: from the book...her hair is suppose to be brown and he never mentions being in the Special Forces, he calls himself an infantryman grunt. People have told me they LOVED the movie... but they also love Nicholas Sparks' books and his movie The Notebook, I never saw it... refused. Same as reading or watching Twilight. I don't know, something about it... I'll watch Dear John eventually, just not today. Not this week.

Monday; Pick-Me-Up

Hey everyone...
I hope you all had amazing weekends. Except for one thing (stupid stuff dealing with business issues) I thoroughly enjoyed mine! Between the wedding, helping our friends move, to movie nights with the hubby, and a great sermon at church, it was busy. But fun!

Anyway... since Monday is usually a complete let down bummer after two point five days of fun... I thought I'd lift up your spirits with these:


And get your creative juices flowing for this coming weekend... that's right, Independence Day is on Sunday! Crazy. How do these things sneak up on us?

Anyway, these beautiful Rice Krispie "Popsicles" came from Twig & Thistle. Please head on over to the original post for some more eye-candy (pun-intended, heh!) and the how-to!

"Day-Of" Wedding Coordinator: Re-cap

So Friday night was my friend's wedding... I was the first one to arrive at the church and almost the last to leave, the only people who left after me were the parents (loading gifts/left-over food into their cars) and the key-holder to lock up! So I was on my feet running around from 1:45pm-10:45pm. My feet are sore, but I loved it.

I dressed professional and wore flats (but if I got into this for real, I'd buy some more expensive comfortable shoes!) and had my bluetooth in along with the phone #'s for the florist, DJ, caterer, photographer. I ended up doing:

• last minute detail work in the reception area
• set-up the unity candle table, put flowers in the girls'/guys' rooms
• brought pitchers of water/ice to each room
• assisted the photographer with detail shots (ie-dress, flowers, jewelry, etc.) and organizing the people who needed to be in the photos
• pinned on the ring-bearer's boutineer (he wouldn't let anyone else, they were all family)
  
• repaired ripped table cloths
• set-up the cake table (spun the napkins just how you taught me mom!)
• helped the caterer set-up the hor'devours table
• called the DJ when she was running late, after she arrived-delivered the CDs and timeline
  
• managed to control the Jr. Bridesmaid, flower girl, and ring-bearer...whew.
  
• opened the door for the bridal party entrance into the ceremony (and exit into the reception)
• made sure there was constant communication between the couple and DJ during the reception
• helped cut/serve the cake
• announced when we needed everyone outside to say farewell to the couple
• helped with clean-up
• ...and probably tons of little things I'm forgetting
  

I even got to say when things happened! People asked me what to do and where to go. Crazy. But so cool.

*FYI- For those of you that don't know... I have my Bachelor's Degree in Recreation & Tourism Management as well as earning a Specialist Certificate in Meeting & Event Planning. So Wedding Coordinator is a job I could actually be hired for!

Sneaking Time

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to wish you all a great weekend!
If you're looking for some uplifting words, be sure to jump over to the SPA.

Today (as in 2hrs!) I will officially be my friend's "Day-Of Wedding Coordinator."

So I need to get off this computer!
I've got a photographer, florist, DJ, and caterer to call!

=)

Power Outage - Love - Take a trip to the SPA

Power Outage.
Last night we had this huge, wonderful, thunderstorm. No, I'm not being facetious. I love pounding rain, lightning illuminating the sky, and rolling thunder. It reminds me of home. What I do not love... the power going out. However there are positives to everything.

+I have a slight obsession [doesn't help that I sell them] with candles and I got to use them in every room!
+Hubs and I enjoyed spending time together distraction free.
+We "camped" downstairs on the couch, it was much too hot upstairs with no A/C and the humidity
+I saw fireflies/lightning bugs for the first time since the parking lot and backyard lights were out
+Reading my book by flashlight reminded me of when I was little and didn't want to go to bed yet so I would read under my covers...
+/-I'm still hoping we don't get sick... but I couldn't bear the thought of throwing away at least (if not more) $100.00 worth of groceries from the fridge/freezer... I just went shopping that afternoon!
-Hubs is doing a huge drill today and had to get up REALLY early, the couch is comfy but not as comfy as our bed, so he didn't get the best night's sleep ever...


Love.
Star, over at Star Spangled Stockings really got me thinking this morning... here is her post. Here is my version of "what love is."

Love is...

Beautiful and painful. It requires a strength within us that many people never knew they had, or never fully accept. It is ever-changing requiring adaptation, forgiveness, and compromise. Love is not stagnant, one cannot simply "fall in love" and stay there without making a conscience choice to love each day. God created us to love, giving us the highest role model of Christ himself. However, we will never achieve unconditional love, it is not in our human nature. Love is so powerful it has caused people to leave their families, people to travel across the oceans, even causing war. Without love, this world would fail.


Take a trip to the SPA.
Wednesday's are my day to post over at See Pray Act. I hope you'll join me as we study how to Fireproof Your Marriage. If you don't think my study is for you (I think those headed on the route to marriage, engaged, newly-wed, or married for many years can learn from this study), pop on over any time this week to check out the other studies we have going on.

New Blog to Follow: SPA Diaries

[click to be taken to the blog]

Hey everyone!
We (5 of us, soon to be 6) have kicked off our new blog "SPA Diaries" today. Each of the author's will be focusing on a different topic and will post on a specific day. You can choose which topics you would like to follow/participate in. For now we have our get to know the bloggers up and ready to be read. Next Monday will be the kick-off of the lessons.

My study will focus on Fireproofing Your Marriage, it doesn't matter to me if you're engaged or have been married for years, everyone can learn from this study. I hope you will check us out, and find a topic you would like to follow!

Rip Off Blog (Spambot??)

Okay... so every now and then I google myself.
What, you don't do that?
*blush*
It's fun to google Skinnie Piggie!
Sheesh.

Anyway, recently google results came up with this:
http://gridolaw.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/skinnie-piggie-wow-initial-blog-award/

Um?
Seriously...
Did you just rip of my blog entry?
What a random choice too, me winning a blog award.
Awkward. [for you, whoever you are]
You're pretty good with a thesaurus,
actually- YOU SUCK.
Thanks for the laugh though.

Here is MY original entry:
http://skinniepiggie.blogspot.com/2010/04/wow-1st-blog-award.html

Just a little different?
Haha...

Who ever you are Mr. "Silent Man" how about you stop trolling other blogs and being a complete and utter copycat, and start writing about your own experiences. That is what blogs are for.

Brownie Pizza - Oh my deliciousness...

Check out that deliciousness...
My Young Married's Group is in for a Surprise!

So a couple weeks ago my friend Erin and I went to the Airman's Attic (super cool place for E-5's and below to go for free stuff! Do any of you have something like that on your base?) to donate some books and shopping bags. Of course we took the time to browse around, sometimes you score - once I got an Anchor Hocking Jar! - anyway, this time I got an awesome book called "Treasury of Desserts" the pictures are interesting, the book was published in 1993. The recipes though - a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

--------------------------------------

Brownie Pizza *my adaptations in bold (didn't have some ingredients)

Pre-heat your oven to 350*
Line a 12x1/2 pizza pan with foil [I used a 13x9 cookie sheet]
Grease the foil [Don't forget, I did... it sucked!]

For the brownie:

• 4 squares of baker's unsweetened chocolate
  [12 Tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder + 4 Tbsp of Vegetable Oil]
• 3/4 Cup butter or margarine
• 2 Cups Sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour

Microwave the margarine and chocolate in a bowl for 2min until the margarine is completely melted. [I just melted the margarine, and added the cocoa powder/oil after wards] Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar, mix in eggs and vanilla until well blended. Stir flour in until completely blended, spread mixture into your prepared pan. Bake for 30min, while baking prepare topping.

For the topping:

• 1 - 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 Cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• Assorted fruit
• 2 squares baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted
  

Mix cream cheese, 1/4 Cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1 tsp vanilla in a small bowl until well blended. Pour and spread evenly over the baked brownie. Bake 10min longer (or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with fudgy crumbs). Do not overbake, make sure to cool pan on a wire rack. Lift brownie pizza out of the pan and peel off the foil [probably significantly easier if greased] place on serving plate. Spread fruit as desired, drizzle with the melted chocolate. Let set, then cut into wedges and serve!

Close-up of the deliciousness...
MmmmMmmm.

[no internet]

Hey everyone...
Our internet went out Thursday afternoon and the Comcast guy just fixed it about an hour ago. So, since that's like 4.5 days worth of blogging, please let me know if anything drastic happened in your lives!

I'll do my best to catch up, but you know how that goes.

Posting for real soon =)

I wonder... [+another award?!]

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to actually be stationed at a "camp" ...aka: Marine Corps Base/Post whatever you'd like to refer it too. Crazy enough hubs has never been stationed at one, despite him being a Marine. I personally have lived on (as in- barracks and all...crazy I know!) a Coast Guard Base and right now we live off post but are currently connected to an Army Fort.

I would like to see the camaraderie for the Marine Corps, other than the stuff we do in our specific Support Battalion. I mean every time the MWR advertises things it's...

Army Hooah 5k Run
The Soldier Show
Army Arts & Crafts Contest
Army Concert Tour
All-Army Chess Competition

Do not get me wrong, I agree that this is an Army post therefore there are significantly more Soldier's and Army families than the other branches. However, where we are stationed we have EVERY single military branch represented (even the Coast Guard!) on base. I would just like to know what it would be like to see something other than "Join the Army Team for the Marine Corps Marathon" with my husband's branch in the name. Anyone feel me?

In other news... Lauren from Faith & Deployments as well as Kelli from Sovereignly Sustaining Sanity must think I'm pretty cool... check out what they both gave me:

Here are the rules, I suck at following them... and I'm super lazy right now... and almost all the blogs I would have given this award too already have it, so I'm scratching off #3 & #4, sorry!

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share seven things about you

3. Nominate 15 newly discovered blogs that you think are fantastic

4. Let your nominees know about the award

So without further ado... THANK YOU LAUREN & KELLI! You are two AWESOME ladies, with some super cool and fun to read blogs. No seriously, haven't seen their blogs? You're missing out. =)

Seven things about me huh?

1. I have a [mild] obsession with penguins. I blame my husband.
2. I love gerber daisies and tulips.
3. I have a lava orange car... it's true, and it is so much fun to drive!
4. My parents are my heroes, they have been married for 27yrs. Not all perfect, but nothing that couldn't be WORKED through. I am anti-divorce [minus 2 instances] I believe most people go into marriage thinking divorce is the "easy out clause." I think of it as a cop-out clause.
5. I'm not a big fan of the state I currently live in. BUT, the fact that I can drive to so many cool places I never would have been able to go to from the West Coast is awesome!
6. I am crazy when it comes to trying new crafts, if I think I can do it... I will.
7. My guinea pigs keep me entertained, for such tiny animals they sure do have hilarious personalities!
   

What the what?!

Yeah, fair warning- this post will be ALL over the place...

Man was this a CRAPPY week... no I'm not saying fun things didn't happen... but it was one of THOSE weeks. You know, anything and everything no matter how big or small creates an epic and RIDICULOUS argument with the husband? Oh, you don't? Well you're lucky. Let me give you one example from this week: we planned on going to see a movie, picked it out together. We ended up going to a steakhouse with friends beforehand and hubs had a long day at work so after dinner he was tired. I understood and let it slide, it's only a movie we could see it later. Well, later came (after another event with friends) and he asked "do you want to go to the movie now or wait until the later one?" I could tell he was really tired, so in my mind I thought it's up to him. If he can make it through we could go now and if not he can take a nap and go later, well silly me for thinking and not voicing. I simply said "I don't care." Annnnd KABOOM. Argument. Lame.

Like I said above, it wasn't all bad though. We had a good night with our Bible Study Group, had a couple friends over for dinner, went to the Steakhouse, and attended a birthday/baptism/goodbye party for our friend's young daughters. I am sad about the last one though... I really really like them and they PCS to Hawaii in less than 2wks. =(

Anyway... these are the gifts I made for the girls...

A carry-along monkey for the birthday girl (it's her nickname).
[also bought her cute summer dresses for the beach!]

A dove plushie for the little one who was baptized.
[also bought her a Precious Moments' "My Angel" book]

National Doughnut Day!

Okay so there are so many "National such-and-such days" that I don't normally pay any attention to them. If someone mentions one, it is usually in passing and in a joking manner. But this morning my facebook practically blew-up with statuses such as "Happy National Doughnut Day!" So, naturally, being myself... I went into research mode.

Obviously most people are stoked about:
(click on images to be taken to the info page)


BUT... that's not what I am going to talk about! Plus I think our Dunkin' would be soooooooo overwhelmed by the service members it probably wouldn't be worth going in, haha.

Like I said, I did a bit of research. Here's what I found out from various sources [linked below]:

The day was originally established in 1938, it was a fundraiser in Chicago being held by the Salvation Army during the Great Depression. It traced it's roots back to the Salvation Army's "Lassies" or "Doughnut Girls" who served pastries and coffee on the front lines in France during World War I.

If you like baking, and need a SERIOUS amount of doughnuts for an upcoming military function (like 250!)... you can get the original Salvation Army Doughboy Doughnut Recipe by clicking here!

If you do go and get a FREE doughnut today, they should have a Salvation Army donation box, think about throwing some change in there...

Make sure you check out this video:

Sources:

• New Times Blogs: National Doughnut Day - Free Ones...
• Wikipedia: National Doughnut Day
• Salvation Army Chicago: Donut Day History
  

Day-trip: Philadelphia, PA

So hubs, Aaron (marine buddy), and I made the 2hr drive to Philly this past weekend... I'll show you with some fun pictures/captions. Feel free to click on any photo to view in higher resolution.

Because you can't go to Philly without getting a Cheesesteak!

Of course we had to go to the site where they founded the Corps!

Military Hall Museum - Marine Corps Remembrance Statue"Their duty done - The valiant rest"

Independence Hall, The Declaration & US Constitution were drafted, signed, and read the the public for the first time here.

[My dad is a retired firefighter, and hubs trained to be one during high school... so we go to every firefighter museum, etc...]

Actual pieces of an FDNY truck/hose from 9/11

Amazing stained glass window, the quote beneath:
"The coward dies a thousand deaths, the valiant die but one."

I hope you all got to enjoy time with family/friends this past weekend. We also went to the beach, had a BBQ, and watched the National Memorial Day Parade on TV... we said a prayer during the Moment of Silence for all those who had lost love ones to war.