Juicing

         Yum. Yum. Yum. I am absolutely obsessed with juicing now! I just want to juice everything and see what deliciousness I can come up with. My favorite is green apple, cucumber, spinach and ginger. That ginger gives a nice zing of flavor. H likes his without the zing and V wants nothing to do with juicing because he said its "hippie".  I don't know where he got that notion. I've tried grapefruit, watermelon, apple and carrot which was OK, kind of bitter because of the grapefruit. Not sure if I'll ever make that again. I also got a new thing of super foods green grass berry flavor powder. I don't know why I like drinking it, because honestly it does taste like I'm drinking grass clippings, but I like it!
          At the end of the month I should have a plethora of baby herb and veggie plants to put into a garden patch. I learned something interesting about growing tomatoes; they like the stuff that's in the vacuum bag, especially pet hair. I bet I'll have some beautiful tomatoes this year since I have an endless supply of pet hair! 
          
          
          

New Exciting/Scary Chapter

I don't usually get all deep anymore and talk about the Marine Corps, but I'm so proud of my husband. I know that he works like a dog, is super loyal and always there for his marines. I don't need a letter of thanks for his hard work and the time spent away from us. I KNOW He works hard and always has. He may not look like the "ideal" marine--which to some is more important than a person's merits and work ethic--but he has always been a good marine. It just makes me relieved that he doesn't have to chase that rank anymore and he can leave the Marine Corps happy and knowing that the person he truly is was never broken, even though they tried(and still trying..there's always one). New exciting/scary chapter this year. Looking forward to it.

2013 Recap!

          My poor blog has sat in neglect since March of 2013. I really haven't written anything meaningful since December 28, 2012--one whole year ago! Has it been so long? "Where have you been?!" is what I am sure my blog would ask if it were a person. So the short, undetailed version of 2013 goes like this: Benny went to Afghanistan February to September. Kids really struggled during this deployment, but for me I didn't think it was that hard. I saw my sister during the summer, haven't seen her since 2007. August I started school, knocking out prereqs for nursing and hopefully I can get in next fall. I lost like six pounds because of school, but they came back quickly with this winter break! Benny has applied for early retirement, so we could be entering the civilian world and leaving the Marine Corps behind next year--scared/excited.          
 
          2013 has been a very busy year, and I believe the year that I was able to push myself to focus on myself.  So for me 2013 has been a good year, one of revelations and personal growth. This year has revealed that before now I have never believed in myself. Never. I have always been a very self-doubting, self-defeating, underachieving person who felt that I had nothing to give, nothing to offer.  I knew I had some labels attached to me: a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister.  I am proud to be all those things, but beyond that I felt like I was nothing more and would never become anything more. Sounds so miserable and depressing. The truth is I was one miserable, depressed person.  Who wants to be around THAT? Instead of seeing the mixture of heartbreak and failures of the past as reasons not to try, but as reasons to try harder.
 

          While I still need some work--who doesn't!--I'm pretty happy that I've come out of hiding.
            

 

So here is my old list of New Year's resolutions for 2013:

1. Learn something new. (Went back to school this year. 4.0 GPA--never thought I could do it! Hardwork + freaking out+cramming)
2. Volunteer. (This is going on the 2014 list)
3. Get certified in something. (This is going on the 2014 list)
4. Go somewhere I've never been. (Myrtle Beach, SC)
5. Grow a garden!  Have never been able to grow my own garden. (Attempted "gardening" counts, right?)
6. Dance and sing more! (Can't remember if I danced and sang more...)
7. Hike in NC. (It rains too much + bugs.  No thanks)
8. Get artsy again. (No time to be artsy. So 2014 "Write more" instead.)
9. Eat more whole foods. (We started doing mostly GF this year. Hoping to go completely GF next year.)
10. Build something. (Building a fence in 2014?)

          Who know what will happen in 2014.  All I know is that I'm pretty sure that it is going to be one full of change--I'll write about it all later!   If there are bumps in the road then I feel confident that we will get over them like we always do.

2014 New Year's resolution (not in any order):

1. Learn something new.
2. Volunteer.
3. Get certified.
4. Get a job!
5. Pass the TEAS test.
6. Run.
7. Grow a vegetable garden--For real this time.
8. Write more.
9. Build something.
10. Enjoy the outdoors again.
11. Oh yeah, more foodie pics.

Breakfast ~ Pear & Cottage Cheese sprinkled w/Nutmeg

Lunch ~ Sweet Vidalia Onion Chicken Lettuce Wrap

 Dinner ~ Dijon Furikake Salmon
Snacks ~ Yogurt, Pear 

Breakfast ~ "Crepe" w/ Apple, Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Cottage Cheese

Snack ~ Apple, Pear, Lime, Spinach Green Tea Smoothie

Lunch ~ Salmon & Aspargus w/Chipotle Garlic Salsa

Dinner ~ Left over Chicken Veggie Soup

Snacks ~ Yogurt

Breakfast ~ 3 hardboiled eggs, spinach & mushrooms, Activia Light & a Cutie(Mandarin orange)

Snack ~ Pear, green tea, and a Light Muscle Milk

Lunch ~ Chicken & Veggie Soup

Dinner ~ Turkey Chili & Small Romaine Salad w/vinaigrette

2013 Resolution

2013 will be mostly about becoming a better me.. I focus alot on the kids and the husband but little on myself.  I don't mind taking care of everyone.  I love it and I'm good at it but nothing wrong with caring for one's self.    

1. Learn something new.
2. Volunteer.
3. Get certified in something.
4. Go somewhere I've never been.
5. Grow a garden!  Have never been able to grow my own garden.
6. Dance and sing more!
7. Hike in NC.
8. Get artsy again.
9. Eat more whole foods.
10. Build something. 

Seems doable.

Coconuts 2012: A Happiness Guide

     Reflecting on 2012 it has been a very blessed year for us and I am so thankful for each and every change that has occurred.  Who would have thought that I would be in such a 'good place'.  Yes, yes, we are still in Jacksonville, North Carolina and not too long ago this is the LAST place I wanted to be.  It hasn't changed, it's still the same..military town, nothing but restaurants and little that we like to do.  BUT I have certainly changed and have found a happiness and contentment and gratefulness that I haven't felt in my entire life.  Where I used to go about things as just surviving...life feels worth living! No more, "Why is this happening to me!"  More of, "Let's make things happen!"  Everything up to this minute has been lined up, (even the bad) redirecting us, preparing us, and molding us.  I just stand in awe at my many blessings.  A loving husband, healthy children, home, health, and most importantly God's love.  2013 has some major tests for me coming but I'm strong and I'm ready to tackle all of it.  

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  

The old has gone, the new is here.  

2 Cor 5:17