Blazing through Navy life one duty station at a time.
Showing posts with label Three things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Three things. Show all posts

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Three things for Thursday - the Mother's Day edition

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought today would be the perfect day to honor my mom by sharing with you my three favorite lessons learned from her.  My mom has taught me so much, and is such a great force in my life.  I know how lucky I am to have her and to be able to rely on her for advice and support.  I'm sure she never expected to be in the operating room when I had the Little Dude, but there she was, holding my hand and telling me what a good job I was doing.  There are so many wonderful moments in my life like that - I never questioned whether I was loved - I always knew it.  I hope I can provide my child with the same feelings of love, safety and security.


Here's to you, Mom:


1. Everything happens for a reason.  It may not sound very comforting, but somehow, whenever things went wrong, or didn't go according to my plans, this small statement always made me feel so much better.  Her meaning was always crystal clear - though you may not realize why this is happening in this way at this time, eventually it will become clear.  There is always a lesson to be learned, in both triumph and failure, so pay attention.


2. This too shall pass.  Another huge comfort, hearing this always reminded me that while something may seem like a huge deal at the moment, everything has its time, and then, predictably, time marches on.  This statement became especially helpful when I became a mom.  Being able to realize that the sleepless nights, teething and growing pains, and other little annoying phases would all, eventually, pass, was a huge help.


3. You can be and do anything you put your mind to.  This one's pretty simple, but immensely important.  My mom isn't afraid to take on anything - she knows with enough study and practice, she can do it.  She teaches by example, and it's a pretty great one.  She's currently busting up ceramic tiles to make way for hardwood floor, which she and my dad will lay themselves.  She's a real renaissance woman, and I am so proud to call her Mom.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Three things for Thursday - the swimwear edition

It's that time of year again...the dreaded season where we all dust off last year's swimwear and hope to God it still fits.  You would think that after nearly 10 years of wearing tight Lycra outfits for figure skating, wearing a bathing suit would be no sweat for someone like me.  Not so fast.  Even then, when I was strapping on a tiny little leotard and tights on a daily basis to wear to the rink, I still hated swimwear.  Something about the fact that I feel like I'm wearing a fancier version of underwear.  I don't even like to look at myself in underwear - why would anyone else want to see that?


When I was a little girl my mother insisted on one piece swimsuits.  There was no negotiating.  She'd find me a sporty Speedo or Jantzen one piece at TJMaxx and that would be it.  End of story.  I bought my first two piece in high school, when I had a part time job and a little money.  I can't remember the brand, but it was black and the bottoms were boy shorts.  Even then I was overly self conscious about my hips and thighs.  Now that I'm over 30 and a mom, there is no way in the world that I would wear anything but boy shorts, and certainly never a bikini (unless I looked like this, or this, or this.  In any of these cases, I'd probably just live in a bikini.).


So here are my three things this Thursday - three one piece swim suits I consider highly mom friendly.  Longer legs to cover any trouble spots, full coverage to hide any jiggle, and ruching to slim and shape.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Three things for Thursday

I may have mentioned that we've moving soon.  I may also have mentioned that we have no idea when.  Yes, that's right, still no clue.  Sometime in the next few months.  That's about all I know.  Well, that's not exactly true.  I know a bit more, but it's a long, complicated story fraught with complications built on top of dueling personalities and ideas.  Enough said.


Anyway, in the spirit of my new and nearly full time pastime, online house hunting, here are the three things that for me are essential when searching for a new home from 2700 miles away:


1. Zillow.  I'm just going to go ahead and assume that everyone in America has visited this website, and if you haven't, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?  If you're like me, and you love yourself a good episode of "House Hunters" (maybe even a bad one, you know, where the buyers are REALLY annoying), then Zillow was made for you.  On this website, I get to be a legitimate stalker without feeling creepy.  Market statistics, purchase history, square footage and number of rooms, what more could a girl ask for?  The listing my realtor send me are great, but I seem to always check Zillow after for just a few more facts.


2. Google Maps street view.  What did the world do before Google?  I love their maps for one simple reason - street view!  There's no better way for me to check out a neighborhood than through Google Maps.  Sadly, not every map of every neighborhood has it, but for my purposes, most do.  Even though I know the city we're moving to, it definitely helps to get a 360° view of the area.


3. Ikea.  For help in picturing all the things I'll need to round out our new home, I can't wait to have an Ikea within driving distance again.  I mean, it will be a 3.5 hour drive, but still.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Three things for Thursday - the burnout edition

So, we're moving.  Again.  Soon.  When, you ask?  Well...I don't know.  See, that's the thing about military moves.  Sometimes they're quick and unexpected.  Other times they're expected, planned, and executed perfectly.  Most often though they're chaotic and uncertain.  Even when you know your exact move date, you're never ready.  For us, this move is proving to be the most complicated so far.  There are varying ideas about when we should depart, and none of the interested parties can come to an agreement.  There's the added complication of a shortage of federal funds for military moves (we can thank Congress for refusing to pass a Defense budget - that's right, it's March and the fiscal year started in October).  As of this moment, all I know is that we're moving.  


After living in a rental for the last three years, I am beyond excited as the prospect of becoming a homeowner again.  I have been scouring the real estate listings in our new/old city.  Since we're lived there before (for the three years before we moved to Nevada) this house hunt will prove to be a little easier since we're familiar with the area, and know where we want to live.  That doesn't mean I haven't made myself cross eyed looking a listing after listing, trying to figure out floor plans and deciding whether it's a house we could call a home.  So I'm a little burned out.  I close my eyes and see pictures of the interiors of other people's houses.  I dream about what kind of an offer we'll make, and how the closing will go.  Yeah, I'm only a little obsessed.  Needless to say, this hasn't left a lot of time for me to look at anything else online this week.  So here's my list of three things - three things I have discovered this week in lieu of three things I'm loving:


1. My child really wants to go to preschool.  Pilot Pete and I were discussing taking a trip to go house hunting.  A little voice from the back seat of the car piped in with "Of course we need to go there.  Because we need to find me a school because I'm ready to go to school.  I need to do some learning."  Well, okay then.


2. I really hate Walmart.  I know that a lot of people feel the same way.  I know others (like my mom) love it.  After living in a very small town for three years with no other alternative but Walmart, I can safely say that I will not be frequenting Walmart when we move.  There are so many things to say about this, but I think I'll just leave it at that.  You get the picture.


3. I really wish that people who work in drive thrus would not hand me my coin change on top of a dollar bill or a receipt.  I just lost 31 cents tonight because someone thought it was a good idea to put the money on top of the receipt and hand it to me like that (of course the change fell).  I know I could've opened my door to pick it up off the pavement where it dropped, but it was dark and cold and I was annoyed.  I know I could have made the girl open the register and get the change she just dropped, but there were other people in line behind me, and it was only 31 cents.  All I ask is this: hand me the coins, then the bills or the receipt.  That's all.  I know working the drive thru is a thankless job, but come on, help a tired lady with a cranky three year old out.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Three things for Thursday

I'm having one of those weeks.  The ideas just aren't flowing like they usually do.  I think it's because I'm in that late February rut, where it seems like spring is never going to come, it's never going to warm up, and there's just nothing very exciting on the horizon.  In reality, none of these things are actually true.  Spring will be here soon enough, and then quite soon after that I'll be complaining about how hot it is.  And as for exciting events on the horizon, in no time at all I'll be wishing things would just calm down.  To tide myself over, I've been doing a lot of  cooking, internet browsing and working out.  Gotta stay busy!


Here are the three things I'm loving this week:


1. Slow Simmered Meat Sauce from Cooking Light, March 2011.  I tweeted (twittered?) about this earlier in the week.  It does not disappoint.  We had it two nights in a row, plus enough leftover to freeze for another time.  It's super easy to make and so delicious.  I love anything I can throw in my Crock Pot, and after making this I will never buy sauce in a jar again.


2. Rikshaw Design's Kurtas.  Southern Living magazine featured Rikshaw founder Catherine Fitzsimmons and her mom in their March 2011 issue.  I've been in love with Indian wood-block printing ever since a trip to Singapore back in 2006.  Rikshaw's kurtas are gorgeous!  I can't wait to own one of my own.


3. Adele, 21.  Ooohh - this new album came out on Tuesday, and I'm in love!  It's amazing.  My apologies to all The Cure purists out there, but I am loving her cover of Lovesong.  I wouldn't say I like it better,  but it's a fresh take on an old favorite, and is probably the reason I bought this album.  But it's not the only reason I am so smitten.  There's not a single song on it I find the need to skip, and I think that says a lot.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Three things for Thursday

It's a dreary day here in Northern Nevada, and the word on the street is there's snow on the way.  This is a quite a change from the near 60 degree weather of last weekend.  On this Thursday I'm dreaming of spring - weddings, garden parties, and twinkle lights in a backyard garden.  Here are a few favorites that would surely set the mood:


1. BHLDN.  This recently launched wedding fashion site courtesy of Anthropologie has a unique and original take on wedding fashions and accessories.  BHLDN (beholden...get it?  It took me a few minutes)  aims to help a woman create "an event that reflects her own unique perspective".  Even if, like me, your wedding planning days are in the past, they also offer exquisite dresses, shoes, jewelry, and accessories.


2. French Enameled Lockets.  I can see pairing one of these with many of the gorgeous gowns at BHLDN.


3. And finally, to set the mood for our imaginary soirée, a little Madeleine Peyroux.  Her voice...just...wow.  If you like jazz, check her out.  Even if you don't consider yourself a jazz fan, check her out.  You won't be sorry

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Three things for Thursday - the blog overload edition

I love blogs.  I know.  You're thinking, "Duh.  You have a blog, so of course you love them."  What I mean to say is that I love other people's blogs.  I can get lost for hours clicking on different blogs, reading about fashion, design, parenting, and other peoples' lives.  It's one of the things that makes blogging great.  You have instant access to people and places you wouldn't normally ever come into contact with.  I get great ideas from blog stalking.  At times however, I also get depressed by my blog stalking ways.  


When I started blogging, I had no idea what I was doing, which was one of the things that appealed to me.  It was a creative challenge, and I am always up for one of those.  Seven months and 61 posts later, I still have no idea what I'm doing.  But, I am, by nature, a highly competitive perfectionist.  As a result, all of my blog stalking sometimes makes me realize just how clueless I am about the blogging world.  There are better writers and better blog designs out there.  There are bloggers with huge followings.  There are bloggers who have parlayed their blogging into a successful writing career.  And then there's me.


I initially intended to write about our life as a Navy family.  The ups and downs, the funny and the absurd.  But there really hasn't been a whole lot of action on that front lately, so I have segued into other topics.  Topics that interest me.  I guess I'd say I'm on a bit of a journey to discover the purpose of this blog, and what direction I intend to take it in.  But for now, for the most part, I am simply enjoying the journey.  I hope you are too.


For my list today, here are three blogs that inspire me.  I have never met any of these bloggers, but I admire their writing, topics and design aesthetic:


1. The Daybook.  Sydney and her husband Tyson blog about their lives and their personal style.  I love her fearlessness and dedication to fashion.  And she's just so cute!


2. I am Bossy.  Georgia Getz's blog is like none other.  I would classify it as a humor blog.  I generally always find myself laughing (quite loudly) to many of her posts.


3. Design*Sponge.  This one's a bit more topic specific, and you'll probably only enjoy it if you're into home and product design.  Even if you're not, you may enjoy their sneak peaks into people's homes, their before and after projects, or their city guides.


What are your favorite blogs to visit?

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Three things for Thursday

Here they are:


1. Row Boat Press.  Posters, textprints, shirts, and more - their products are so cool.  I found them by way of A Cup of Jo, and I may have even found something on there for my sweetheart for Valentine's Day.  I'm not telling what though, at least not until after I give it to him.


2. Sonic.  Do I really need to say any more?  I know fast food isn't really something to promote, but sometimes I just can't resist.  Right now they have a deal - $2.99 for a BLT and medium tots.  You just can't beat that (and I do love a good BLT).


3. Nine West.  I'm not particularly adventurous in my shoe choices, but I do love shoes.  I have been a loyal Nine West customer for many many years.  I know exactly what size I wear, and they always seem to have something I like.  Even better, they occasionally run flash sales online and you can get some incredible deals.  Plus, for a limited time, they're offering free standard shipping on ANY purchase.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Three things for Thursday

It's been an insanely long week, and even though it's Thursday night, it doesn't feel like the weekend will ever get here.  Here are the three things that have helped me keep up my spirits today:


1. anthropologie.com.  In a perfect world, there would be an Anthropologie store around the corner, and I could visit it weekly, maybe even daily.  Until then, I am happy enough to visit their website every day.  I lust after the clothes, look forward to markdowns, and delight over the quirky home items.  In fact, visiting them online might even be better - I'm sure they'd start to wonder about the woman coming into their store every single day, especially one who would always be "just browsing".


2. Cooking Light.  In my constant quest to develop healthier eating habits, I started subscribing last year.  I am so glad I did!  Their recipes are light and healthy, but never short on taste.  I had no idea!


3. The Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins.  I'm always the last one on the cool book band wagon, and this series is no different.  I've been reading about it in EW for some time now, but I finally got serious and downloaded The Hunger Games last night on my nook.  WOW!  I think I'm always hesitant to get into a hip YA book series (ahem, Harry Potter and Twilight, I'm looking at you) because I figure that either (a) they can't possibly live up to the hype or (b) the writing is going to be very basic.  Well, look who's wrong, AGAIN!  I finished the first book in the series today, and can't wait to start the second tonight.  I am really impressed at the depth of novels available to young adults.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Three things for Thursday

Here are the three things I'm loving today:


1. Gurgle jug.  I first saw these when we lived in Virginia Beach.  Waterman's Surfside Grill on the beach not only sells them in their shop, but uses them to serve water to their diners.  I love the gurgle noise they make!  My sister got me the blue jug from Signals for Christmas and I am using it every chance I get.


2. Tuscan salad from Giada De Laurentiis.  We had some friends over today for a play date and I made this for the mommies.  I can't speak for them, but I think it was a hit!  I love the way the different flavors combine, and it is very light and fresh.


3. TJ Maxx.  Doesn't everyone love TJ Maxx?  Where else can you get a $400 Kate Spade bag for $130?  Score!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Three things for Thursday

We're headed out to the airport in a bit to pick up a special someone (more on that tomorrow), but I wanted to share with you the three things I'm loving on this mid-January Thursday:


1. La Brea Bakery Bake-At-Home French Demi Baguettes.  Baguettes you keep in the freezer, bake for 12 minutes and taste like they're fresh from the bakery?  Are  you kidding me?  These are incredible!   I found them in the freezer section at Raley's this week and they do not disappoint.  One of the things I miss living in a rural area is a great bakery with fresh bread.  This comes about as close as you can get out here.  


2. Zee Avi.  I caught her song "Bitter Heart" on XM Radio's Coffee House station yesterday and couldn't wait to look her up on iTunes.  Her music is described as folk-pop with quirky lyrics.  She'll be touring with Jack Johnson this fall, so if you like his music, odds are, you're going to love her too!


3. BrideBlu on Etsy.  "Simplistic and classic jewelry made with crystal, pearl, and vintage findings."  I especially love the Blossom Rose Necklace and the Alyssa abstract wire flower necklace.  So pretty!  Check out the blog.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Three things for Thursday

We've been busy today!  It's a little late here, but nevertheless, here are the three things I'm loving today:

1. GoGo Squeez applesauce.  100% squeezable fruit applesauce for kids.  We have a very difficult time getting a certain someone to eat any fruits or vegetables around here.  These are great, because it's in a pouch with a spout they squeeze directly into their mouth.  No muss, no fuss.  I found the Peter Rabbit version of these at Starbucks this summer.  What a great idea!

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2. lemonade handmade jewelry on etsy.  I love this ecofriendly handmade jewelry line, and I find that the prices are extremely reasonable.  Most of the pieces are simple and delicate, and I think any woman in your life would be thrilled with a gift from here.  (Valentine's Day is right around the corner!)
3. Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash.  I had this at a friend's house the other day, and wow!  I love all things cranberry, and the combination of lemon-lime soda and cranberry is outstanding.  Plus, it's caffeine free!

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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Three things for Thursday

Here are the three things I'm loving today, on this last Thursday of 2010:

1. Sundried Tomato Risotto.  Oh Pioneer Woman, how I love you.  A little heavy cream makes everything taste divine.  I made this for dinner tonight.  It makes enough for a small army, but that's okay, because it's one of those recipes that tastes better the longer it's been in the fridge.

2. Ugg Australia Classic Tall Boots.  I don't care what anyone says about the way Uggs look. They are heaven for your feet!  Pilot Pete bought me the Classic Cardy boots last year for my birthday, and I love them.  I couldn't wait for fall to hit so I could bust them out of the closet.  Unfortunately they're not really practical for wet winter weather.  So now I have these too.  I love them so much, I hate to take them off.  But I'd look pretty silly sleeping in boots...right?

3. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved for Kinect.  I know I listed Kinect as one of my three things last week, but I just got this game this week and we tried it out last night.  Wow.  I think I used muscles in my body I didn't know existed.  Let's just say that getting around today has been a challenge.  It's pretty neat the way the system scans your body for height, leg length, shoulder span, etc., and then selects workouts for you based on this and other information you provide.  I think this is going to be a fun way to get into better shape!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Three things for Thursday

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!  I hope you had a lovely Thursday.  We're enjoying the time off, and a certain little one can't wait for Santa to visit.

Here are the three things I'm loving today:

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Three things for Thursday

Today I'm loving:

1. Pop-Tarts!  The strawberry with frosting variety.  I haven't had these in years, but saw them at Walmart and had to have them.  Oh so good, and yet oh so bad (I can never eat just one!).

2. Carnations.  Martha Stewart (I guess I'm a little obsessed lately) did a segment on carnations.  I've never liked them - they always remind me of the flower buy in high school for Valentine's Day. You know, where you buy carnations and have them sent to the recipient's homeroom?  Plus, they smell after a couple days.  Well, thanks to M.S., I have a new interest in them.  And, I learned out how to get the stink out (a drop of bleach in their water).

3. The Nook Color.  I have an original Nook (best Mother's Day present ever!) and love it.  The new features on the Nook Color are so exciting to me.  I can't wait to eventually have one, and read my magazines on it.  What a great way to save on paper waste!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Three things for Thursday

Because it's Thursday, and my brain is rotting from having listened to Little Dude watch Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws one too many times and I can't really think of anything original, I thought I'd share three things that I'm loving today:

1. These Morse Coded Necklaces.  I hope I find the Love necklace in my stocking this Christmas!

2. Stuffed Shells from Mad Hungry.  I watched Lucinda Scala Quinn make these today, and they look yummy.  My parents are flying in tomorrow afternoon, and I think these shells will make a great meal while they're in town.  I'm excited about the caramelized prosciutto and intrigued by the addition of radicchio.

3. These Coffee Filter Wreaths Martha Stewart made today.  I'm thinking about using brown filters for a more rustic look.