Mind-blown...

source unknown

Totally makes you think...

I suck...

I could not go back to sleep this morning and I was looking though my blog posts and I realize that I suck.

I was so excited about all of our birthdays last year and then I completely forgot to blog about the last three.

I guess that's what happens when they were right before holidays and we were trying to move.

I'm sorry sweet sisters! Happy late birthday to all of you.  I love you guys!

"I" statements

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I was...just re-reading a list of reasons why my husband loves me and feeling very thankful for my life.

I am...sitting on my bed, enjoying a clean blanket and bedroom and the sound of the laundry machine going.

I think...that sometimes it's hard to figure out what I think.

I wonder...where we'll be in the next few years.  There's a lot up in the air right now and I just always wonder how it will turn out.  I'm excited for the adventure.

I wish...that work days were shorter, family was closer, and our bank account was a little fuller!  I wish that I was working in my career field or writing a kick-ass book.

I save...jeans. I will hold onto those suckers until they are falling apart or I can't pull them up anymore.

I always...have a cup of tea in the morning. I always have my husband and family on my mind. I always want to live my life for God...even though that sometimes doesn't happen. I'm always looking for a new book to read.

I can't imagine...not being a mom.  I've been baby crazy since I was little and even more so now.  I want kids and to be a mom so bad.  I can't even imagine that not happening in the future.

I believe...that we were all saved by the grace of God.  I believe that you should always start and end the day with a kiss and say "I love you" as much as possible.  I believe that even if you don't get along all the time, your family should be the most important thing in your life.  I believe that a good cry can help you feel better and that laughter can change a situation for the good.  I believe that trust can be restored.

I promise...to be the best wife, sister, daughter, and friend I can possibly be.

I love...my amazing husband, my family and friends, my big dog, and my life right now.

letters for a freezing friday

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Dear cold that has invaded our house and our throats, both of us would appreciate it if you left.  We don't really have a whole lot of patients for sore throats, coughing, and stuffed up noses.  Dear icy, winter weather, I love you.  It's so cold outside and with each little burst of snow fall I get happier and happier.  Dear massive amounts of Army laundry, I wish that you would just wash and fold yourself.  Where's Merlin (the one from The Sword in The Stone) when I need him?  Dear husband, thank you for being great and dealing with sick me.  Thank you for running errands for us and going to work every day in the cold so that we can have a life.  I love you.  Dear tea, you are wonderful and soothing.  Dear readers and fellow bloggers, thank you for sticking around and reading my ramblings!

cabin fever

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For the past few weeks we have been back to being a one car family, and because of finances and being the stereotypical broke newlyweds, we (I) haven't left the house very much.

Here are things I have learned over the last few weeks of not going anywhere:

+  Letting the laundry pile up so you can be productive for more than 30 minutes will happen.

+  You will spend a lot of time on Pinterest and start to want to reinvent your life.

+  You will find that your bed is really the most comfortable couch ever and will search Craigslist for a daybed you can turn into a couch for your living room.

+  A dinner that claims it only takes 15 minutes to prepare will be stretched out as long as possible.

"Let's see how fine I can chop these bell peppers and green onions!"

+  Checking the mail and taking out/bringing in the trash cans will become an outing. 

+  If you're a military wife, you'll actually be bummed you can't get out and go to a FRG meeting.

+  You talk to your dog a lot.

+  The time between when you're husband gets home from work and when he leaves again in the morning is precious, precious time.

+  Driving feels weird when you actually get to go out.

+  Watching food shows should be avoided when you're running extremely low on groceries.

+  You will crave all the things that you can't go get.

+ You will be counting the days until things get better and pray every day for a job.  

A-Z

Does anyone remember doing "surveys" like this back in the days of Myspace?  I used to be all about these and decided that I would do one after seeing Emily, over at The Freckled Fox, do one.

Addictions: Tea/Coffee in the morning, Pinterest, and I think I'm starting to be addicted to Cracker Barrel.
Bed size: We have a queen and I love it.
Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom.  I will vacuum and sweep all day.
Dogs or cats: We have one big ball of dog fur and he's spoiled rotten.
Essential start of your day: A cup of tea or coffee and a kiss.
Favorite color: I'm a sucker for turquoise and red.
Gold or silver: I tend to lean more towards silver.
Height: 5'6"
Instruments you play (or have played):  I play/have played the violin since I was 7...I think.
Jobs titles you've had: Model, customer services rep, receptionist, bill collector, and now wife.
Kids: TBD...we're still a little ways off from having kids, but it's talked about weekly.
Live: In beautiful Pinehurst, NC.  We love, love, love living here.
Mom’s name: Holly Jane.
Nickname: Manda, Manders
Overnight hospital stays: Getting my tonsil/throat operated on.
Pet peeve:  Soaking wet sponges that are left in the sink.
Quote from a movie: "Don't cry shop girl, don't cry."
Right or left handed: I am right handed.
Siblings: Candace, Becca, and Matthew Mann and Sarah and Rachel Massingale, all younger.
Time you wake up: Ha...way too late.
Underwear: I don't even know. A mix of brands. Nosy.
Vegetables you dislike: I don't really dislike any vegetables that I can think of right now.
What makes you run late: Usually I try not to be late. The last time I was late for something a deer hit my car.
X-rays you’ve had done: Teeth, arm, and heel.
Yummy food you make: According to my husband, I've been on a roll lately with good food lately...thank you Pinterest!
Zoo animal: I haven't been to the zoo in a really long time, but I love watching the big cats.

ermahgerd sner

Sorry for the crickets over here!  That's what 4-day weekends will do.

Back on Thursday we had some excitement though. For a brief, wonderful 60 minutes it snowed at our house.  I was transformed into a little child...and look like the picture below. I kid.

No but really, it was so pretty and fun.  Here are some actual pictures.

happy list!

A happy list for this freezing, rainy Thursday.

* Four day weekends!! Since we have no money it will be spent being cozy at home!

*  It's half way through the month! Two more weeks to go!

*  The ritual of drinking tea (or coffee) in the morning.  Passed onto me and my sisters by my momma.

*  Vampire Diaries is back on tonight and we're all caught up!

*  Making up for a week of no hugs and kisses.

*  The anticipation of making green chicken chili tonight for dinner. 

Another food post may or may not be in the future!

*  Heaters...cozy sweaters...and blankets right out of the dryer.  Anything keeping me warm at this point.

*  The enthusiasm of my little sister and all her schemes.

*  Scheming with my other little sister about trips across the sea with our family.

*  Little phone calls from one of my favorite little people ever.

"A deer hit your car?"

monday maybes

Maybe I've been spending way too much time on Pinterest lately.

Maybe I have a huge itch to get this house looking like home asap.

Maybe I yelled at the tv last night when Downton Abbey ended after only an hour.

Maybe watching the Golden Globes made me miss being at home and hearing the commentary from my sisters.

Maybe this part of the awards made me laugh until I cried. 

Maybe I've already called my mom twice today and I'm totally ok with that. 

Maybe Wednesday really can't come soon enough...I'm tired of being by myself!

Maybe I watched the sun rise this morning.

Maybe I should find another way to combat migraines other than caffeine and Advil.

Maybe I've been dreaming a lot about camping and being outdoors more.

Maybe I've been dreaming about getting out of town and exploring!

 

letters for friday

Dear life, you have been difficult lately!  It's made me want to hang up my adult hat and have some good ole' fashioned, kid-sized fun.   

Dear parents, thank you for your prayers and for your encouraging words and help over the last few weeks. I miss you guys every day.   

Dear Ripley, I'm sorry I've been sitting on my bed a lot and that you're not allowed up here. I think it's cute when you stick your nose on the edge of the bed and talk to me though.  Also, next time a squirrel runs across the road in front of us, can you please not lunge ahead and almost break my hand? I'd appreciate it. Thanks.   

Dear Jess and Liz, thank you for the spontaneous trip today! Getting out of the house was what I needed. 

Dear "Thank You" notes, you will be mailed out by Monday.  I will finally be done with you and not have to worry about it anymore.

Dear Candace, Your posts here and here about what you've learned after getting your tonsils removed make me want to take your place, but they also make me laugh. I love you sister.

Dear hubby, we will make it through these next couples weeks and then we can look back on this time in our livesand have a good laugh about it. Sound good to you?

Join in the letter writing fun and link up with Ashley over at...

Pasta For One

Isn't that such a sad title? But alas, I am flying solo for the next couple days. By flying I mean doing a lot of sitting on my bed...but anyways.  When it came time to eat dinner yesterday, I looked at the meager contents of my fridge and just started pulling out ingredients.  I wanted something that was going to be easy and filling.

So I came up with this pasta for one and thought I would share it because it's pretty bomb.

Ingredients:

* Olive Oil

* Black pepper

* Salt

* Red pepper flakes

* Minced garlic

* Red bell pepper

* Onion

* White wine

* Pasta (I used Penne, but it would work with any kind)

I started out by cutting up half a red bell pepper and onion.  

Once that was ready I started boiling the water for the pasta.  

Then I heated up my small skillet and added enough olive oil to coat the bottom.  

I tossed in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and let them cook there for only 30 seconds before I put in the onion and bell pepper.  

The water was boiling so I salted it and put the pasta in (I used two handfuls just for me).  

Once the bell pepper and onion were almost done I added the white wine.

I don't know how much exactly, but it was enough to make it coat the pasta completely.

 

 I let that cook down until the pasta was done...

Which shouldn't take too long.

I just tossed it all together and got to eatin'.  It was yummy and I was a happy girl.

a happiness list

Needing to write down some reasons for happiness today.

Enjoy loves!

 * Downton Abbey is back! Season 3 is off to a great start and I love it.

* Being able to see the floors in our other two rooms.

*  Finding a pack of bobby pins that I thought was lost forever.

* Getting our trash taken out. Long story, but it's gone!

* Leftovers that fill me up.

*  Listening to my husband play his banjo (a Christmas present from his loving wife)!

*  Did I mention Downton Abbey?

Friday letters

 



Dear 2013, you started out with a kiss and I thought that sweet streak might continue and I was wrong.  We've been looking forward to a new year and I'm determined to make the best of you!  Dear NC family, thank you for spending New Years with us and for providing us with a good support system that lives nearby.  Dear husband, thank you for being so wonderful these last few days.  Thank you for making me laugh and for loving (and bragging about) my cooking.  You're a good husband and know exactly how to make me feel better.  Dear Pinterest, thank you for providing me with recipes and ideas to wow my husband with dinner, after dinner.  Dear Ripley, I love that you're becoming a momma's dog, but maybe we should tone it down when your dad is home so he doesn't get jealous.  Dear Army, you are not my favorite thing right now. The end.


Link up with your letters over at The Sweet Season!

(instert witty title here)

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We're back to the daily grind over here at the cottage.

That big post/house tour is coming as promised, but today I'm not feeling up to it.

Today, I'm feeling up to having several cups of tea and scouring the internet for jobs.

I'm also feeling up to starting a book about surviving your first (almost) six months of marriage when everything seems to not being going in your favor.  It would include a lot of, "cling to each other and to your faith" encouragement, that's for sure.

 

The microwave is beeping and that liquid goodness is calling my name.

I hope that everyone's New Year is off to a great start and that 2013 ends up being one of the best for all of us.