Things I miss...

I miss this sweet man...

Not the most flattering, but I couldn't resist taking a sneaky photo while he was napping so adorably.

Who writes these sweet nothings...

It says: To the love of my life (Dani, just in case you weren't sure)

Can it be vacation time yet?

First Guest Post

Hey all! I just wanted to let you know that I had my first ever guest post today! I was nervous as all get out to write it, but feel free to check it out and let me know what you think! You can find me over at Mel's blog today. 

Anyways, I'm off to enjoy some ice cream and quality TV time after a long week.  I finally have a weekend of relaxation and paper writing ahead so here is to hopefully being productive this weekend.  I'm finishing up my draft of my outline for my thesis, so here goes nothing :)

And We're Officially in Barfy Couple Territory

This weekend was heavenly, just pure bliss.  Boyfriend was in town for 5 WHOLE DAYS. Ahh! Somehow we didn't manage to kill each other so I call the weekend a success ;)

However, during all the movie watching, canoodling, and cooking time nicknames were acquired.  I'm not talking cute, I'm talking barfy, disgustingly adorable, and terrifyingly mushy nicknames.  He is now the 'snuggle monster', and I'm the 'cuddle monster'.  He even went as far as to dub our couple-dom as "snuggles and cuddles".  Ugh, when did we become that couple!?! It is at the point he even texted me "RAWR! that is monster for I love you!" Oy vey. I'm hoping if I don't acknowledge this, it will go away on its own time.  The only reason I'm sharing this is because I hate being 'that couple' and try as we might we seem to slip into it on our own.  Thankfully, it rarely comes out in public or until I blog about it :)

But on a much better note, I made my first lasagna!!! I've always been nervous as heck to try because I know there are a lot of steps that can screw up a lasagna.  I used a modified recipe found here.  I think the pine nuts would have added a lot of flavor, I just couldn't find any around here.  I added in sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and onion to the vegetable mix because I love my veggies.

I also found a recipe here for pull apart cheesy garlic bread.  Again, I cheated a bit and used a prebaked baguette for times sake.  I can promise it is every bit as amazing as it seems.  I only had shredded cheese on hand, and I think sliced would work much better.  My baguette was rather on the skinny side, so next time I'll try with a larger one.  Overall dinner was a success!! It was boyfriend's valentine's gift from me along with a bottle of wine and some chocolate dipped strawberries I got super on sale thanks to post valentine's sales.

Some photos of dinner:

Bread, vino, and lasagna- perfect Italian meal!

My veggies slid a bit, but still tasted amazing!

Our Love Story Link-Up

I saw this on another blog I read, and I thought it was super cute :)  Maybe this will get me in the mood for Valentine's Day celebrations, and not focusing on the two papers and big meetings I have coming up on that day.  So grab a button and link up with From Mrs. to Mama!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

It will be seven years on March 24th.  What can I say, high school sweethearts :)

 

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We'd known of each other for awhile, the joys of going to a small school and we always ran around in somewhat similar social circles.  He was the football player, and I was the dance team and track kind of girl.  We had gym class together and were selected as racquetball partners by my gym teacher (I still think this was intentional, but she denies it).  I remember we were in the championship match for the class and it was final serve and we ended up losing on a technicality.  Afterwards we wanted to play singles so we started another match.  At this point, I went to serve, and smacked him right on the back of the head.  He said he started seeing stars then, and I say he hasn't been right since :)

I asked him to the Sadie Hawkins, and the rest was history!

My senior prom.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

Not married yet, but I know he is the guy for me.  Things will happen when they happen.

 

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

When the day comes I want a small to medium ceremony of just us and closest family and friends, probably a max of 150 to 125 people.  Something small and romantic outdoors.  I don't think he'll want a military ceremony, but maybe we'll take some military engagement photos.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

We just call each other babe, honey, love, nothing too specific.  Sorry to be boring!

 

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

1) I love how he is the peanut butter to my jelly, he balances me out so much.  2) He also can make me laugh no matter how terrible of a mood I am in.  3) He pushes me to be a better person and accomplish goals I never thought were possible.

 

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

I just want to be surprised when it happens.

 

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Totally strawberries, champagne and rose petals.  I think he'd be happier if it was wine and raspberries though.

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I do love a little romance, but anymore I like just quality time together watching a movie and cuddling.

 

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I want to see Europe together (I'm thinking Italy, Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Spain, and Austria), maybe backpack through it for 2-3 weeks and see as many sights as I can in that time.  Having a chance to see everything would be the trip of my dreams.

BUT, we are going to the Caribbean in just over a month and a half, so we can cross off something from our travel to do list!

 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day. 

On the actual day I'm going to school, I have a few meetings and some work to do.  The weekend after boyfriend will be in town and we're just going to do a nice evening out and maybe a movie or other fun activity.  Nothing too wild and crazy this year because we're going on vacation shortly.

 

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Time together.  After deployment, that's all I ever want anymore.  Things aren't important, the memories are.

 

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. 

Keep the communication lines open and never hold back your feelings.  I really think because we are good at communicating we've managed to still grow as a couple despite all the separation.

 

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

One of my favorite recent photos together.

Difficult Discussions are Never Fun

I’m not one for airing dirty laundry on the interwebs, but I am sure some of you noticed my recent absence.  Part of that can be attributed to my travels.  My poor little car has put on 1500 miles in the last 2.5 weeks.  Yikes! Brigiette just needs to hold out another few years to get me through school and into a realm of having a big girl pay check.

Additionally, boyfriend and I have been having a lot of serious discussions, which occasionally lead to arguments about future things.  It’s really getting past the whole denial on my part that the Army is going to be quite an obstacle in my chosen career field.  I know it has been something I’ve danced around before, but now he’s been home and we’re getting into our groove all over again.  I’m getting to the point I’m starting to apply for jobs and internships and would really like the option to be together zip code wise.  Boyfriend made an off hand comment about duty stations and Europe would be a place he’d like to go.  

It has led to some tense discussions, and I know that some sacrifices will be needed on my part.  I think I am finally learning the true extent to which that may need to happen.  It has been a tense few days and I have a feeling tomorrow will be a very long night.  We agreed to meet on Skype to discuss our thoughts and to ensure there are no miscommunications or misinterpreting the other person’s voice.  

I’m trying to be rational and think this through. In the end it’ll be worth it to be together.  While it may be a tough few years, the Army will not be forever.  Thankfully boyfriend does not want me to sacrifice my chosen career field, even if I am only working one day a week, it is still helping me to stay current and still use my degree that I’m working so hard for.  

Sorry again to be mopey and morose.  I’m tired of being so perky, I need to get in touch with my feelings more often.  The two of us are still getting started on this journey, and I have a feeling these discussions are going to become more frequent, especially if the "SF" track keeps getting tossed around.

Be Still My Heart

Texts like this never make the time apart easier: "I miss you being in my arms, come back to Tennessee".

It is nights like tonight that make me wish we were not doing this whole long distance relationship still.  I'm ready to spend time together (when the Army lets us).  I want more than anything to be able to do my internship year near his current base, but the odds are that would be right about the time boyfriend is set to deploy again or go off to his Captain's Course for 6 months.  The lack of a current plan for the next 2ish years is getting tiring.  I know it is never going to get easier but I just would like some chance to dream like any other couple.

He is the one that makes it worth it.  Even if we have to spend 10 years together before we actually live in the same zipcode, all the time spent apart will be worth it to have him by my side everyday.

Old Woman on Campus

I am so behind in everything, and its only the first week of classes- how did I let this happen!?!

I have 7 papers to read/summarize for my literature review for my Doctoral Research Project (eek!), 5 chapters for classes and also 5 clinical files.   And to top it all off, I have next to nothing to wear, and my laundry is in desperate need of getting done.  I think I’m going to have to just suck it up and go to a Laundromat to get it done all at once tomorrow night.  Why yes, I am the lamest student ever :).

Classes started this week, and the undergrads have flooded campus.  They are being loud, littering beer cans everywhere, and rather inconsiderate of those that have things to do in the morning.  I already feel like the cantankerous old person yelling at my neighbors to "keep it down because some of us have to work in the morning”, yep direct quote.  When did I turn into a grandmother… yeesh.  

I’ve also been killing myself at the gym and trying to fight off the social butterflies from the gym equipment.  I can’t wait until 2 weeks from now when they all start dropping like flies, and enjoy the few weeks of down time until the “I can get a six pack in a week” pre-spring break crowd shows up.  I enjoyed my empty campus and rec center, can’t I have that again soon?

At least I have some fun stuff planned this weekend: bridesmaid-palooza!  I'm meeting the bridal party and having lunch with everyone for the July wedding I am in.  I tried on the dress the other day at a local store, and I really do love it.  The color is so pretty and the fit is very classic.  I did have some shock to discover they don’t run anywhere near street sizes, so I had a bit of a complex from being told to order the size I’m getting.  

Pretty Plum color.

I may actually be able to wear this again!

Well, it is bed time for me bloggy land.  I’m going to try to make my little corner of the internet more of a priority than it has been this last week.  Another goal for this next year is to get more involved with the milspouse community, even though I am just a SO, it would be nice to be more connected.  I was just unplugged and relaxing before the hectic wave of school work started.