tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66535785182026356292024-03-13T09:20:12.077-04:00The Few, The Proud, and This Marine Wife . . .Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-16636760271161430162014-03-26T21:28:00.000-04:002014-03-26T23:27:29.984-04:00How To Get Rid of Tough Hard Water Stains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My husband and I are huge into DIY, budget projects, and re-purposing antiques. If we want something for our house, we first see if we can make it ourselves at a much lower cost than buying it. In some cases, it would just be less expensive to purchase the item. But, many times we find ourselves making things to save money. We love doing projects together, so that just works out perfectly for both of us! The best thing is that each item is usually unique and screams "us."<br />
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Hubby and I recently decided that we wanted to do a re-do of each room in our house, to make the whole house more coordinated and nice looking. Not to mention, it gives us an excuse to do projects. Our goal is to confine ourselves to a limited budget for each room, which forces us to become super creative and limit our options. It's like a DIY scavenger hunt. I will share each little project with you, as well as do a full room reveal after each room is completed.<br />
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The first room we decided to work on is our master bathroom. I am beyond excited for the changes we have in store for our bathroom! But, to get the ball rolling, I knew I was going to have to clean up the massive hard water stain issue we were having with our granite sink.<br />
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Gross, right? Now, before you say, "Did ever clean that thing?" Yes! All. the. stinkin. time! It just seemed like our efforts kept making it worse. The problem with water stains is that you'll think you've gotten it clean, but then once the surface dries, you'll find that your efforts were for naught. We tried everything (save for CLR, because you can't use that on granite). At least, I thought we had tried everything. I threw my hands in the air and started researching how to naturally get rid of water stains. One of the things that came up was "vinegar." Duh! Why didn't I think of that?! Vinegar is amazing! It can clean pretty much anything. Think about it. You use it to clean your coffee pots, dishwashers, washers, etc. The list is endless.<br />
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So, I pulled out my huge tub of vinegar and got to work.<br />
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I wasn't quite sure how to get the ball rolling, so I just started slowly pouring the vinegar on the countertop. I couldn't believe what started happening. I could literally see the vinegar eating away at the surface of the stains. It foamed!<br />
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While I let that sit for a little while, I decided to tackle the drain in the sink. It was completely crusted.<br />
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This part was easy. I pulled the plug closed and filled the sink with vinegar until it completely covered the problem area. I let that set for at least fifteen minutes, while I worked on scrubbing at the countertop with the abrasive side of a sponge, a washcloth, and a toothbrush. When I came back to the drain, this is what I found.<br />
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My vinegar looked like cloudy water. It had eaten away and released most of the hard water stain. I then used the sponge to scrub up any residue and drained the sink. After that, I went back to the counter. There were areas where the hard water stains were just too much for the vinegar. So, I utilized a tip that my mother-in-law gave me a while ago . . .<br />
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Yes, that is a butter knife. Now, before you go thinking that you could NEVER do that, it is very effective. And, if you do it the right way, you won't damage your countertops at all. You just have to scrape the stains gently but firm enough to actually break through them. You will know if you're scratching your countertops. Thankfully, for me, granite is pretty forgiving, so I was able to scrape that bad boy pretty hard.<br />
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As I went along working on this, I occasionally dried off the counter to check my progress. Even after a while, the counter still had this large layer of hard water film. So I saturated my washcloth and sponge in vinegar and placed them on the problem areas. I then poured water on the counter between the two. The sponge and washcloth created nice barriers that prevented the vinegar from running off the counter.<br />
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I'll admit, this whole process was slow, long work. It took me about an hour total (including little children interruptions). But, it was well worth it! I wasn't able to get the counter completely spotless, but it came quite close! Our bathroom sink looks so much better now! Here are the lovely before and afters.<br />
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I love my now beautiful, hard water stain-free bathroom sink!<br />
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What about you? Have you ever had really tough hard water stains? What did you do to get rid of them?<br />
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<br />Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-11891179141041266252014-03-25T10:08:00.000-04:002014-03-25T10:08:38.970-04:00Little Meaningful MomentsLast night, I ended up being wide awake due to an evening coffee consumption (my bad). As I sat there, with no hope of sleep in sight, I found myself looking through recent pictures on my computer. It was then that I realized I had glossed over some pictures that I originally looked at as just regular, ordinary photos. But, last night it struck me how magical these pictures are, because there is so much meaning in them. No, they weren't "planned" photography moments; they were actually better!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was Ian's first time fishing with his daddy.<br />I don't know how I originally passed over this picture, but I absolutely love it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQZDNZ8WuqQ78bkcrnFygIkhqEMkIKDibobpMVACRf7zyOyZCP6Sc4aILdojDSkDM_v-e-7M03Ke9zjWHD1_IqfJ8ru_7C1r7wm-hrfbN5fHvhpg-mH80L1ndm2Zechb19BbRg28cJdHp/s1600/IMG_8806-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQZDNZ8WuqQ78bkcrnFygIkhqEMkIKDibobpMVACRf7zyOyZCP6Sc4aILdojDSkDM_v-e-7M03Ke9zjWHD1_IqfJ8ru_7C1r7wm-hrfbN5fHvhpg-mH80L1ndm2Zechb19BbRg28cJdHp/s1600/IMG_8806-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I try to let Ian help me in the kitchen whenever I can,<br />and pancakes is his favorite meal to help with.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqThOisnmR9dUEhSseNcw55kUoS-bUIm7d7AmdUq0gYr_LCoeqamRtYEP7fcpRYF1pd0LoouAyiHFoFdVH7EKLPGX9ZThR39TN8jfHYSxLzZpTwaJhBgQB9pM24URbyp2iUUlZfa1LZser/s1600/IMG_8828-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqThOisnmR9dUEhSseNcw55kUoS-bUIm7d7AmdUq0gYr_LCoeqamRtYEP7fcpRYF1pd0LoouAyiHFoFdVH7EKLPGX9ZThR39TN8jfHYSxLzZpTwaJhBgQB9pM24URbyp2iUUlZfa1LZser/s1600/IMG_8828-2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac's eyes tell all.<br />This photo just captures his calm and heart-warming spirit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jN-zUNGAp8NAHVXw5daUUz4B-bGf64yw3aXHKQejr0JGr4zznlZ7kTyPQxL47njgkvLk7G8L2AvqtdBSV1HXerRzHTb69qv_aOmLDeii54SyZoSAd2UyL5v9xY3hJ2v9J4EysiFY9gcP/s1600/IMG_8990-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jN-zUNGAp8NAHVXw5daUUz4B-bGf64yw3aXHKQejr0JGr4zznlZ7kTyPQxL47njgkvLk7G8L2AvqtdBSV1HXerRzHTb69qv_aOmLDeii54SyZoSAd2UyL5v9xY3hJ2v9J4EysiFY9gcP/s1600/IMG_8990-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding his bike is one of Ian's passions,<br />and I just love how this photo portrays his personality and joy for riding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-37MhsHrf6GfzHiu4xZsFEpZX_VK0zXd-7fq7YT8Bg-fEOW0ugeJmUthxAc4YlnEHY844giln2yKsvsnWPkeGsgv2pfwcj27fbz09cQvLJHQnXV0fBcSYSSfSxcBN_Okvbk81aal6_9/s1600/IMG_9248-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-37MhsHrf6GfzHiu4xZsFEpZX_VK0zXd-7fq7YT8Bg-fEOW0ugeJmUthxAc4YlnEHY844giln2yKsvsnWPkeGsgv2pfwcj27fbz09cQvLJHQnXV0fBcSYSSfSxcBN_Okvbk81aal6_9/s1600/IMG_9248-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When this picture was taken, Ian was being a wonderful big brother <br />and was trying to encourage Isaac to be brave and get on the sled.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD1LJuPqr21moumEqWyl7zcIgLNLVBsChLg0rEsfvnWlsU6j_9FsEIoO3SAttPLJekdUdgDZU2XefGOl-_GQBDZoFV-bRUu2-e1VIb9CHRPiGVlbUBgc9bSBdvhiloqhI9dalhtpBwDwM/s1600/IMG_9313-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD1LJuPqr21moumEqWyl7zcIgLNLVBsChLg0rEsfvnWlsU6j_9FsEIoO3SAttPLJekdUdgDZU2XefGOl-_GQBDZoFV-bRUu2-e1VIb9CHRPiGVlbUBgc9bSBdvhiloqhI9dalhtpBwDwM/s1600/IMG_9313-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this photo of Ian and his daddy during Ian's first time sledding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywAhDHzpSS8_Z5uqCo2wIgIvIj5Zo3Gqm0Y_XLRgosU1IoYt24eYFkRQBV2ELCJVkPugEpAKyZUOlSUKvBgNmw4TmlZwz_sbiLYczb52vCVuWx43DqjlQJnVlbLGE3ElWI2IHbVNvlePy/s1600/IMG_9443-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywAhDHzpSS8_Z5uqCo2wIgIvIj5Zo3Gqm0Y_XLRgosU1IoYt24eYFkRQBV2ELCJVkPugEpAKyZUOlSUKvBgNmw4TmlZwz_sbiLYczb52vCVuWx43DqjlQJnVlbLGE3ElWI2IHbVNvlePy/s1600/IMG_9443-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this moment that I captured of the boys playing outside. <br />(Even though you can't see Isaac's head, because he's leaning over, <br />it just adequately portrays our boys' bond that keeps getting stronger.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn06G9g1M_SbPf2zybVxJF83-0e9Ey6osiMNRbuo4-CLWDZz_jj0Q8RwP6Vxe5Nhhje0yHGiKJ_03R1BJY-3gFhh4GOX2UJjlNmr4IWLe0gU2ycXwk8ZxZlezHXHmuog-F2_ZSKbmeDWPO/s1600/IMG_9858-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn06G9g1M_SbPf2zybVxJF83-0e9Ey6osiMNRbuo4-CLWDZz_jj0Q8RwP6Vxe5Nhhje0yHGiKJ_03R1BJY-3gFhh4GOX2UJjlNmr4IWLe0gU2ycXwk8ZxZlezHXHmuog-F2_ZSKbmeDWPO/s1600/IMG_9858-2.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my all-time favorite photo so far. I will definitely be framing this one. <br />I don't think I have to say what makes this photo so beautiful!</td></tr>
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Looking at these photos and finding the beauty in them has caused me to re-evaluate all my photos. I now want to go back and find all the little moments that I had passed off as just ordinary. These are cherishable moments and are far from ordinary. I hope to not pass over photos like these anymore. These are the memories. These are the real life.</div>
Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-72937025125837199202014-03-21T21:51:00.001-04:002014-03-21T22:28:27.233-04:00Being RealI'm currently reveling in the rare moment that is called "quiet." All the boys are asleep. Whaaat?! Ever since our littlest one became colicky,<br />
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and our middle one started this random screaming,</div>
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these quiet moments have become few and far between. I'm really enjoying this peaceful time. I almost forgot what it was like.<br />
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So, I'm going to have to be honest. Adding a third child to the mix has me turned upside down. At first, it was actually pretty easy. But, it's grown increasingly more difficult as I try to figure out how to meet each child's needs, give my husband the attention he deserves, and keep our house somewhat in order. If you were to see me, I would look like I have everything together.<br />
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But, I have to be real. I don't have everything together. I'm sometimes a mess, and so is my house. (When people come over, what they see is the result of a frantic clean-over hours before they show up.) I have to admit that the sink doesn't always get emptied.<br />
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The toys aren't always cleaned up. (Yes, I do make the boys put away their own toys. But, some nights I'm too weary to deal with the toy-cleaning battle. So, they get left for the next morning.)<br />
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The bed rarely gets made, and the clothing isn't always put away.<br />
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Sometimes, all I have the energy to make for dinner is scrambled eggs. And yes, you do see eggs on the floor. That would be the result of the oldest accidentally spilling some of his eggs. (Is it bad that I just let the dog clean it up?)<br />
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We have our good days, when everything seems to go smoothly. But, i'll admit that some days I end up in an overwhelmed heap of tears. I'll be doing all I can just to get ten minutes to spend with God. Being able to sit down with a cup of coffee has become a luxury.<br />
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I don't always make it out of my pajamas. Even getting a shower every single day is a challenge. I won't pretend that I always have everything together. It isn't always easy. Let's face it, sometimes it's just plain stinkin' hard. But, I wouldn't trade this life for anything (though in the thick of it, a trade looks tempting). I love each of my boys to pieces, despite the rough days, and I have an amazing husband whom I love dearly. I guess that's why they call motherhood "a beautiful mess."Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-7896002686698428872014-03-19T12:44:00.001-04:002014-03-20T09:47:54.627-04:00Joy for MourningWhile I still take time to adjust to our new life with three children, my next couple posts will either be guest posts or just ones that won't take an exorbitant amount of time to write. So yes, you're just going to have to keep waiting for little Joshua's birth story and all that's been going on with him. Sorry, but not sorry. :P<br />
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For today, I wanted to introduce you to my dear friend, Ruth, and to share her story with you. Ruth had been one of my high school teachers and was my cheerleading coach for a couple seasons. I never imagined that, several years later, we would endure similar life challenges that would bring us together as friends. Back when we lost our son, <a href="http://www.andthismarinewife.com/2012/01/finding-purpose-in-pain.html">Andrew</a>, I found myself in a very dark place. At that time, Bible verses weren't a comfort to me, and (frankly) it frustrated me the more people kept sending me verses. I was trying so hard not to be angry with God, and though people meant well, that gesture just made me more angry. During that time, Ruth messaged me. We hadn't talked in years, so I was kind of surprised by hearing from her. What she said in her message helped me in so many ways. She shared her story with me. She too had lost a son through pregnancy loss, and she went on to describe the feelings that I was feeling at that very time. She related to me and reached out in the most tangible way she could. I truly think that her reaching out to me is what helped dispel my anger towards God. Ruth has since become a great friend and dear mentor to me. She and her family have endured a lot of loss, but God continues to be faithful. I asked her if she would mind sharing her story on my blog. I feel like her story could help so many people. She obliged and took the time to write out the journey God has allowed their family to go through. Here is her (their) story . . .<br />
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"I often refer to my life as being in two periods: Before and
After. The loss of my son was so traumatic for me that it seems to divide my
life in two irreconcilable parts. For those who have never experienced
something that traumatic, I liken it to an amputation. I am healed but will
never be whole again this side of heaven. I will always walk with a limp, and
the pain returns at odd times for surprising reasons, though the pain is never
as severe as at first. I am much stronger than I was before, and I don’t think
I would have been this strong if it weren’t for my experience, though I still
don’t say it was inherently a good thing or something I would choose to go
through. Rather, God is the Master Designer and has woven it in as an integral
part of His masterpiece in my life. As Joseph said, He has taken something
intended for evil and used it for good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Before part of my life, if you had asked me about my
pregnancies, I would probably have complained about the heartburn, the
backaches, the varicose veins, the gestational diabetes, the days (yes, days)
of hard labor, and the scary complications that threatened each child’s life at
delivery. Yet, I had no idea how greatly I’d long for those relatively care-free
days of pregnancy that preceded David’s death. In the two weeks preceding his
death, my husband and I experienced two severe trials in our ministry, ones
that had us on our knees for hours begging God to show Himself in our life.
Little did we know that the worst trial was yet to come. Looking back, I see
clearly that we were under attack from Satan and that God would ultimately get
the victory and the glory, but we really couldn’t see that at the time. We just
begged God to show us if we were somehow to blame for any of this and to
intervene on our behalf. January 11, 2011 seemed like any other day as I took
my three kids with me for my routine 18-week prenatal appointment, where they
would once again have the joy of listening to the heartbeat. After an hour of
trying to find the heartbeat, my heart began to sink, though I tried to remain
hopeful, if only for my kids’ sake. My husband drove in to join me as we waited
for our evening appointment for an ultrasound. At 9:30 that evening, with our
exhausted kids in the waiting room, we found out that our baby had died and
were sent home to sleep. I tried, but I’m not sure I slept for even five
minutes that night or the next day, just cried. People talk about feeling
supernatural peace, but that did not happen for my husband or me, perhaps due
to the supernatural attack we were under. We simply felt darkness, completely
abandoned by God. It was a real test of our faith, to live by what God said in
His Word or to believe these overwhelmingly powerful feelings that contradicted
all God said. I tried to read the Bible, though quite honestly it was the last
thing I wanted to do, but it brought no comfort, and neither did music. I felt
betrayed by my body and by God, and overwhelmed with grief. We were one week
away from the ultrasound where we find out the gender, and were in sorrow when
we should have been filled with anticipation. (Those “should have been’s” can
destroy you when you experience a loss.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The baby measured 16 weeks, though it’s hard to pinpoint
when he had died, since he had growth issues we later discovered. The further
along you are, the less likely you are to go into labor and the more likely
that the dead baby can poison your body (which we later discovered was
beginning to happen), so they offered to go ahead and induce me, which I gladly
took them up on. I could not get an epidural since the poison had begun to
spread, so I was in labor all night with little pain relief. Worse than the
labor pain was the pain in my heart. I had to be next door to a lady giving
birth, and for hours I heard the beep of her baby’s heart monitor, as I begged
God to tell me why I didn’t need a heart monitor on my little one. Silence was
my answer. I have never felt so alone in all my life, even though my husband
was by my side. How could a loving God allow me to go through such severe pain
when I was desperately trying to serve Him, longing to be used of Him? It was truly the worst night of my life.
Little David was born in the morning on January 13, at 3.5 oz, 7 inches long.
His umbilical cord was tightly twisted at his belly button, wrapped so tightly
around his abdomen that he had begun to grow around it, and wrapped so tightly
around his neck that he was discolored. It was so traumatic for me that six
weeks later, when I was still exhibiting all the symptoms of PTSD, my doctor
advised me to get some counseling. A godly friend who had been through the same
thing a few years earlier, as well as a fantastic book (<i>When Trouble Comes</i> by Jim Berg), finally got me the help I
desperately needed. I could tell he had suffered, and that was so difficult for
me to work through, as I felt it was my job to protect my son, and I had failed.
A real breakthrough moment for me was the day I recognized the gap between my
reaction and what God had done for me. Here I was, unwilling to let go of my
son for any reason (“no reason could justify God taking my son”), but thinking
nothing of the fact that God gave His only Son to die for me, in my place. I
spent hours and hours reading God’s Word. My friend counseled me to give thanks
in everything, to even thank God for things surrounding my son’s death (“thank
You for seeing me through”), operating on faith rather than feelings. It’s hard
to put into words how immensely difficult that was, but how rewarding. Slowly,
very slowly, that elusive supernatural peace began to fill my heart, and just
as slowly, joy began to creep back in, as God chipped away at my sinful
responses. Who was I to tell God how best to use me? Why should having a baby
be a right? Why not let God use me to show grace in suffering? I had started
believing, like Job in the Bible, that God owed me the answers to my prayers
because I loved Him, served Him, and prayed fervently, believing. I had believed
God ought to consult me before He made plans for my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Five months later we were pregnant, and I began to battle
fear. Three months later I had a D&C when, at the routine 14 week
appointment, no heartbeat was found. The baby, “Sarah”, measured 12 weeks. Four
months later we were pregnant again, and the fear began. Three months later, at
the routine 14 week appointment, no heartbeat. A D&C was performed on the
baby that measured 12 weeks, and testing revealed a healthy baby girl, Hannah,
had died. In hopes that the problem was fibroids, I endured a scary and painful
surgery to remove them. Three months later I was pregnant, but more hopeful, as
we added progesterone and were monitored closely. At the routine 11 week
appointment, we discovered the baby had died the previous day, and another
D&C was added to my medical history. Testing once again revealed a healthy
baby girl, Elizabeth. Each loss continued to teach me to depend on God, and
though each child’s death was immensely painful, I emerged stronger each time. I
was faced with many soul-searching questions. Is my soul's desire for another
child, or is it for God to purge and cleanse and purify me? Do I recognize that
God's desire is not to hurt me, but to erase the scars that sin has etched on
my heart? That fear I battled was one of the impurities that God needed to cleanse
from my heart, as well as that unwillingness to praise God for all the little
problems that I really didn't desire to face in my daily life. What really is
my heart's desire? Can I honestly say with the psalmist "One thing have I
desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the
LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD.... When You
said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, 'Your face, LORD, I will
seek.'"<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was finally at peace with God, willing to take whatever He
sent (or took from me), submitting like Job did at the end. One final round of
tests revealed that my body attacks the placenta as it attaches, which is why
the losses were all after the placenta takes over. Without treatment, my
chances of having a baby are 5%. With an experimental treatment (that of course
isn’t covered by insurance), my chances rise to 50%. Not the best odds, but I
needed to know God’s plan in all this, since God can rise above odds. We
prayed, but God seemed to say no, as I still wasn’t pregnant seven months
later, unheard of for me. I had finally accepted an answer of no when I was
surprised with a pregnancy. There have been days of battling fear, but mostly
just days of thanking God for each day He gives me with this little one. I
don’t know the future, don’t even know how long I’ll get to hold my three older
children, but I do know that God has answered so much prayer for me these past
few months, and for that I rejoice. This little one has made it further than
all of them, and I’m now 38 weeks. I was surprised that the battle against fear
increases the closer I’ve gotten to delivery. The more hopeful I get, the more
frightening the chance of having my hopes crushed. If I could encourage any of
you that identify with what I’ve written, it’s to focus on the future rather
than the past. Focus on doing the next right thing. I wasted much time in
blaming myself and blaming God or in worrying about things that truly were
beyond my control. I can’t control whether this baby makes it, beyond praying
fervently for the child, but I can do what God has called me to do: bring Him
glory. Each moment that mission might involve different things, obeying Him,
training my children, cleaning the house, singing songs of praise, etc., but my
focus needs to be on loving Him and loving those around me. I heard Joni
Eareckson Tada say in response to a prayer for her to be healed that the
healing she needed most was healing from her sinful heart that constantly
pulled her to do wrong. What I need more than a living baby is to have God
change me to be more like Christ. The true miracle of healing has been in my
heart. I am a different person in this After period, and while some differences
result in a painful limp, other differences are very good things."<o:p></o:p></div>
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*UPDATE: After a complicated labor, Ruth has since given birth to her beautiful, baby boy! He is healthy and loved beyond comprehension!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kb0_d9x74WvknuNqFg6h4sG1FLCC6a1TI5UcPULtrq0HiRDz60SIxFrm38N8BXJH2ZDN9kNlhZjBaUwvoyiyXVwyUowVcgxT-scDDcglYey_pMvhI6VXxT1D3xPlvBztofD13a7STJ3f/s1600/ruth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kb0_d9x74WvknuNqFg6h4sG1FLCC6a1TI5UcPULtrq0HiRDz60SIxFrm38N8BXJH2ZDN9kNlhZjBaUwvoyiyXVwyUowVcgxT-scDDcglYey_pMvhI6VXxT1D3xPlvBztofD13a7STJ3f/s1600/ruth3.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
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Asher Jonathan</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The story behind his name: God has allowed us to taste a tangible picture of the spiritual mission of the Messiah. As Isaiah 61:3 says, "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Our goal in all this is to bring glory to God, and that is our prayer for our young son's life. Asher - "happiness", Jacob's 8th son, promised a life blessed with abundance, our 8th child. Jonathan - "Jehovah has given", Saul's son and David's best friend, noted for manliness, generosity, and unselfishness, our first son since giving birth to David, the start of our time of mourning. Asher Jonathan has been used by God to bring joy for mourning in a small way, a picture of the joy Jesus brought to replace our mourning over our lost condition.</span></div>
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-78862248580970208022014-03-05T08:15:00.000-05:002014-03-05T11:12:05.312-05:00Blog Baby LeaveA lot of my blogging friends think I have fallen off the face of the proverbial blogging earth. But, I like to call this lack of blogging what it is . . . blog baby leave. This, ladies and gentleman, is the absolutely adorable reason:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtprlwUj5buTpo5wazZMabpVzWlPk-bKM9Qg1WJYUC9acTnkzsNCQ1BR-Ai08Ry7nouA8SUy0IlcTZGjvElKgDJMpJCVa9GfCzd4lvO5WbkEuEMGM-XsZrPTWkm5_X6mRkPU3TMwGRgM0n/s1600/IMG_9702-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtprlwUj5buTpo5wazZMabpVzWlPk-bKM9Qg1WJYUC9acTnkzsNCQ1BR-Ai08Ry7nouA8SUy0IlcTZGjvElKgDJMpJCVa9GfCzd4lvO5WbkEuEMGM-XsZrPTWkm5_X6mRkPU3TMwGRgM0n/s1600/IMG_9702-3.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Joshua</span></div>
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Sometimes when life gets hectic, I have to draw a line of perspective and glance at where my priorities lie. Sometimes that requires whittling out things that aren't too important. So, if i need to focus more time on my family, blogging always takes a back burner. (I even closed down my <a href="http://www.andthismarinewife.com/p/les-military-corner.html">shops</a> for a few months.) I will gladly do it as often as I need to, to ensure my family knows they are my priority. And I was more than happy to put everything else on hold for our 7 lb, 12 oz handsome little man who decided to come a little over three weeks early.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iN9nRNW5Gp2fnx3oL8QNQQEKxMVi48DXWXSp6LlI_RpunxkEcvzMZaYUW1o3-yIplnDA_gYdR-2I-lu7T3FnCwMah-_X2UQd5unRmAjp9w8YlrnNnQe3lYL-XOdza-XDtd0tYUYIg4-6/s1600/IMG_9666-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iN9nRNW5Gp2fnx3oL8QNQQEKxMVi48DXWXSp6LlI_RpunxkEcvzMZaYUW1o3-yIplnDA_gYdR-2I-lu7T3FnCwMah-_X2UQd5unRmAjp9w8YlrnNnQe3lYL-XOdza-XDtd0tYUYIg4-6/s1600/IMG_9666-3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">those lips!</span></div>
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As I sit here, cuddling our now almost six week old, I am in awe of all that he has gone through in his short, little life. He's had a rough start, but God has been with us through all of it. I will share more about that later, and you will be sure to see a birth story post at some point. But, for now, I just wanted to show off my reason for taking such a long leave from blogging.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnLt4OZzb-1iTpozW4iTCwWPE_v1LKkFKT97I6usqQaFJCZxSSq_MnTlbzSqGlmp1NMop1mV7b90I7RvVinjAw3YIegiPuS80hqirQ69Y45x855CUhNJXJYSPyXalbhTlbVTjXg6_bdXB/s1600/IMG_9635-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnLt4OZzb-1iTpozW4iTCwWPE_v1LKkFKT97I6usqQaFJCZxSSq_MnTlbzSqGlmp1NMop1mV7b90I7RvVinjAw3YIegiPuS80hqirQ69Y45x855CUhNJXJYSPyXalbhTlbVTjXg6_bdXB/s1600/IMG_9635-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Btw,anybody have good tips for helping your baby get his nights and days unmixed? Our last child was a great sleeper, so little Joshua has me thrown through a loop!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNabK34M6JcBF5OjjY9EaMGH4C76SJnKekW9Jc9FcLhcAH95HsksUjOfLoeW4kFlyJXjryXICgPTTnEpo8YdDF9fR6GnBIlSdokS6XSYWyyuKa9OFFQkQqb1NkQ76nBpjrUHr8rK0PJHH5/s1600/IMG_9695-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNabK34M6JcBF5OjjY9EaMGH4C76SJnKekW9Jc9FcLhcAH95HsksUjOfLoeW4kFlyJXjryXICgPTTnEpo8YdDF9fR6GnBIlSdokS6XSYWyyuKa9OFFQkQqb1NkQ76nBpjrUHr8rK0PJHH5/s1600/IMG_9695-3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-4001044474731225412013-11-25T20:56:00.000-05:002013-11-25T20:56:33.348-05:00Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW6HAdYuU635ZSFWxxJ1i95f_iNrHj2We_T8dKsEtSRQB8iVIbE1J5Vds5IhODbOAyP8oAcazpshGO7xYCAYKZXbV5lBDXop97dGCrC89zep246-0I1m2TQnfBZmmdzRxlk1Xk4PjwEpT/s1600/muddy+buddies+3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW6HAdYuU635ZSFWxxJ1i95f_iNrHj2We_T8dKsEtSRQB8iVIbE1J5Vds5IhODbOAyP8oAcazpshGO7xYCAYKZXbV5lBDXop97dGCrC89zep246-0I1m2TQnfBZmmdzRxlk1Xk4PjwEpT/s640/muddy+buddies+3-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I know I have been neglecting my blog a bit lately, but I promise I have excuses! There were events like fall festivals and the Marine Corps Ball, which I still have yet to post about. Then, there's my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lescreations4u">shop</a> which has gotten a huge influx of orders as of late. With the upcoming holidays, the rise in orders was expected. I've been busy busy busy with getting orders made and shipped out. So, I'm sure you'll excuse me for having not been as present on the blog over the past few weeks.</div>
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I've got a little goody for you, though! With the season of pumpkin-y things upon us, I'm always hankering for a new pumpkin creation to try. Well, during one of my down times between kiddos, making orders, running errands and going insane, I had an epiphany! I've always been a lover of Muddy Buddies (Puppy Chow, as some of you like to call it), and I thought, "Hey, what about a pumpkin version?!"</div>
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I immediately started brainstorming and rummaged through my pantry for possible ingredients. I never expected the first batch to come out the way it did. Usually creating recipes is all about trial and error. But, the result was pretty amazing! My husband was the first one to try it, and this is what happened after he started chowing down . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS5t2jZOlW-hyvIm3ksahDdfTjnm9FEksU8MojA5yqervK_EcwAoOdhZ_945YGc2yVSpON-zzD9yqK-wU5KrOrIJtKPPOto43RkqJdbhhvX_y5MHbH2q0bWBCB9sKsD3tD9jteZi5all5/s1600/Evan+muddy+buddies.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS5t2jZOlW-hyvIm3ksahDdfTjnm9FEksU8MojA5yqervK_EcwAoOdhZ_945YGc2yVSpON-zzD9yqK-wU5KrOrIJtKPPOto43RkqJdbhhvX_y5MHbH2q0bWBCB9sKsD3tD9jteZi5all5/s640/Evan+muddy+buddies.png" width="640" /></a></div>
He thought that hiding in the closet would help keep anyone else from being able to eat it. lol! My husband is a very picky eater, so when he reacted that way, I knew it had to be good. Then, my boys and I tried it and let's just say, it didn't last very long. Not trying to toot my own horn, but it is yummmmy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuC09xuEIgkNqonuToQvNL79utKSNbGHCBhkFKWBwZWgEfFojX1Y7m7aeCluHfT_FtHtA0hjiZmeqm6u_jCFWlugdpQ7FPOEpcDQvxGSEmUxgu8mfIV2YDRK7Jcds8dnkzAKrv-tmbHtG/s1600/muddy+buddies+recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuC09xuEIgkNqonuToQvNL79utKSNbGHCBhkFKWBwZWgEfFojX1Y7m7aeCluHfT_FtHtA0hjiZmeqm6u_jCFWlugdpQ7FPOEpcDQvxGSEmUxgu8mfIV2YDRK7Jcds8dnkzAKrv-tmbHtG/s640/muddy+buddies+recipe.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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*You can also use these other chocolate options: white chocolate chips, candiquik, etc.*</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-27430212638001808462013-11-13T15:11:00.000-05:002013-11-13T15:11:05.544-05:00Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrFiV3NSUsuBQv12KVzG1uCoIH8eZCDJGq_b708-4cxnitxVysxaiw13hX0ork3KWIxjeve3i2Plj1MVVofZA5aX6SW358Y7pPqgpBrTmXKJxJW_Hsi-tSdN_jljsreUHYayCi8L1kB-u/s1600/131112-173212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrFiV3NSUsuBQv12KVzG1uCoIH8eZCDJGq_b708-4cxnitxVysxaiw13hX0ork3KWIxjeve3i2Plj1MVVofZA5aX6SW358Y7pPqgpBrTmXKJxJW_Hsi-tSdN_jljsreUHYayCi8L1kB-u/s400/131112-173212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, it's true . . .</div>
<ol>
<li><b>I never wear my wedding rings to bed.</b> My fingers tend to shrink at night, so I'm always afraid that they're going to fall off in my sleep, and then I won't be able to find them in the morning. I also always picture my ring accidentally snagging my husband's nose or something.</li>
<li><b>I have a ridiculous phobia of talking on the phone.</b> The only person who's been able to break that mold is my husband. Those who know me well know that the best and quickest way to get a hold of me is through texting. I literally have a minor hyperventilation attack before answering the phone.</li>
<li><b>I don't like chocolate by itself (unless it's dark chocolate).</b> I also don't like chocolate in my coffee or chocolate cake. Although, I'll eat a good, homemade chocolate cake. There's something about a homemade one that is delicious to me.</li>
<li><b>I wear the same makeup two days in a row. </b>If I take the time to do my makeup one day, I'll sleep in it that night so that I don't have to do my makeup the next day. Hey, sometimes you just have to find ways to cut corners.</li>
<li><b>I sometimes phrase my sentences in a weird way.</b> Even though I was an English major and write grammatically correct for the most part, I'm quite Pennsylvania Dutch in the way I talk (apart from the accent). My husband always makes fun of some of the things I say.</li>
<ul>
<li>"Are you done your food?"</li>
<li>"Turn out the light."</li>
<li>"Please throw me down the stairs a blanket."</li>
</ul>
<li><b>I can't fall asleep before my husband. </b>I seriously have a hard time falling asleep before he does. I don't know why. It's like a mental block or something.</li>
<li><b>I never wear shorts outside the house.</b> I am a pants all year round kind of girl. I don't like the way my legs look in shorts. But, I doubt I would wear them even if my legs looked good.</li>
<li><b>I love reading Young Adult Fiction books. </b>Some of my favorites are the Alice books.</li>
<li><b>I can't sleep without a sound machine, and the room has to be absolutely dark. </b>We even have to cover up the alarm clock, because the neon lights will bother me. I attribute the need for sound to my growing up in the suburbs. We lived right off of a major highway, so there were always cars and trucks driving by at night. Silence at night just bothers me.</li>
<li><b>I hate when things end on an odd number. </b>Hence, why I had to have 10 things. lol!</li>
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-27486244589627274932013-11-08T07:15:00.000-05:002013-11-08T08:37:32.240-05:00The Pee Dilemma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are few things that make me more angry than having to pee and no place to do so. Road trips are the worst culprits. Men have it so easy; they can go just about anywhere and be able to do it discreetly. They can even pee in a bottle and never have to leave the car! Not so manageable for women. (Believe me; I've tried.) Few men seem to understand this dilemma. Oh, I've had my fair share of squatting in the woods. (I went hunting many times with my dad.) But, when you're on a major highway, finding any sort of acceptable discreet location is rare. Not to mention, you have no idea what kinds of poison ivy or strange reptiles might be lurking about. I hate to think of what would happen . . . Yeah, I won't go there. *shudder*</div>
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If I need the loo and have been holding it for far too long, a new side of me emerges. My husband can attest to that. I turn into this angry, weepy, irritable, yellow-eyed monster. You know how people get irritable when they're hungry? Take that, multiply it by ten, and you have me when I have to pee. I lose all ability to be coherent and pleasant; basically, any ability to be a normal person. I also develop an incessant need to chew on things . . . my fingernails, my arm, my lips, gum, paper, a pillow, the back of the seat . . . anything I can get my hands on. I guess in my urge-to-pee ravished state, chewing becomes a go-to reaction. All that with tears welling up in my eyes and sometimes streaming down my face. If only crying provided some sort of relief for the bladder! It's all water, isn't it?</div>
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I think some of my pent-up pee anger has to do with the "trauma" the women in my family had to endure. I love my father to death, but he was definitely one of those men who didn't understand the female pee dilemma. Every time we would go on vacations, the story was always the same. We were a big family, so we never flew anywhere. We always drove, no matter how long of a drive it was. Well, my father had the uncanny ability to "forget" one of us had to pee and would drive past several rest stops. With five females in one family, you can imagine how well that went down. He had the ability to block out the tear-filled cries of, "DAD! You just passed ANOTHER bathroom," despite the angry, estrogen levels rising so high they could lift the van straight off the ground. The problem was usually solved with my mom turning to him and saying, through gritted teeth, "If you pass one more rest stop . . ." Funny how he never dared to miss the next one!</div>
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But, there were those times when another rest stop wasn't available for several miles. (Hmm, wonder if that happened on purpose.) So, we sometimes had to improvise. I distinctly remember one incident that involved pulling off the side of the highway, using the van's side doors for concealment, and my sisters holding onto my arms while I hung out the side of the Suburban. Sometimes, you've gotta do what you've gotta do.</div>
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Thankfully, I've been blessed with a husband who does happen to be one of those few men who tries to understand the female pee dilemma. (Although, I'm starting to think that perhaps this generation of men has simply wizened up a bit and become more sympathetic to the needs of their women. At least, I hope.) Whenever we're on a road trip or even just going somewhere that is over an hour away, Evan will regularly ask me if I need to stop. I rarely ever find myself in a rage due to the urge to go. But, there have been moments when my poor husband has been subjected to the yellow-eyed monster. Those are usually the times when we get stuck in traffic or, heaven forbid, get lost. Such a time happened this past Summer when we took a 10-hour trip to visit my parents. I was early in pregnancy, so that didn't help. In fact, it made matters worse.</div>
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First, we got stuck in traffic. Uh-oh. Then, I had to pee. Big uh-oh. And then, we got lost. Big, big uh-oh. So, my dear, sweet, wonderful husband took the first exit sign that sported a gas station. Surely, if there's a gas station, there's a bathroom. Yet, there was no gas station to be had. Either the exit sign had been a mirage or said gas station poofed into thin air. Not sure where this supposed building could have been as we found ourselves on some major road with nothing but trees on either side of us. I couldn't take it anymore. By this time, I had become a finger-knawing, weepy mess. I searched the car for anything I could possibly pee in, all the while tightly holding my legs together. I finally found a large cup from McDonalds. Now what? There was enough traffic that I wasn't about to make any attempts inside the car. Absolutely no way would I have been able to conceal such a thing. But, I was getting to my breaking point, almost literally. So, I grabbed hubby's arm and told him to just pull over. He did and came around to my side of the car. He opened my door and stood as a barrier on the other side of me while I took care of things. I think it was by the grace of God that no cars happened to drive by right at that moment. Even if they had, they wouldn't have seen anything. But, He spared me the slight feeling of embarrassment (though at that point I didn't even care). In the end, I was once again a happy woman/wife/mommy, and we were able to proceed in our endeavor to become un-lost without me weeping and chewing on everything in sight.<br />
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So, word to the wise. If you ever travel with me and don't want to see me go from<br />
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to<br />
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always, always, ALWAYS find somewhere to stop, for me to pee whenever need be!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I'd also like to add that I am being featured today over at <a href="http://www.wetooktheroadlesstraveled.com/">We Took The Road Less Traveled</a>. A warm welcome to those who are here because of the Blog Hop! :) If you are just now hearing of this Blog Hop, you are more than welcome to join in below . . .</span></div>
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-76718331680210575652013-11-05T16:06:00.000-05:002013-11-05T16:27:57.982-05:00Keeping The Romance AliveI had a completely different post planned for today, but when my husband goes and does something this sweet, I just have to blog about it! I've talked many times about how much of a romantic my husband is (and being on the receiving end of that is pretty much AWESOME), but this man never ceases to amaze me! Some people hate when women post about the wonderful things their spouses do. I personally love it. I love reading about husbands doing sweet things for their wives and vice verse. It makes me happy! So, a heads-up for all the lovey dovey haters, stop reading now because you won't like this post. :P<br />
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You might remember <a href="http://www.andthismarinewife.com/2013/09/im-hiding-shhhh.html">this post</a> from the time my husband dropped me off at Barnes 'N Noble and told me to enjoy some time alone, after I had had a difficult week with our boys. Well, that amazing man has struck again!<br />
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Our oldest son had a doctor appointment scheduled for this afternoon, and my husband made an extra effort to be home to help with the boys at the doctor's office. I was delighted! Going to appointments can be a nightmare with both children, especially since (most of the time) I'll show up on time and end up waiting at least an hour past the scheduled time before actually getting seen. Then, the whole appointment from start to finish can last nearly an hour. By the end, both kids have had enough, and mommy has definitely had enough. So, having hubby there to help was going to be a huge blessing!<br />
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Well, we decided to leave extra early to stop for some coffee before-hand. Another bonus. Yay! But, I was a little confused when Evan pulled in front of Starbucks and avoided the drive-thru. I figured maybe he just wanted to go inside instead of waiting in the long line of cars. I then watched as he opened the back of the van, grabbed my laptop case (where did that come from?) and handed it to me with a receipt. He told me to go inside and give the receipt to Elsie. He then kissed me and said, "Have a good time! I'll be back for you later." I stood on the sidewalk, laptop and receipt in hand, gaping at our retreating van as my husband drove off to the doctor's with the boys.<br />
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Still wide-eyed, I went inside Starbucks and asked for Elsie. She quickly retreated to the back of the store and returned with one dozen beautiful red roses and perhaps the sweetest card I have ever read!<br />
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I sat down and tried to take it all in. What's going on? There isn't a special occasion. The only special, very special, occasion is that we celebrated my husband's birthday yesterday. If anything, I should have been doing something for HIM! I mean, Evan always randomly does sweet things, but this was so out of the blue! I guess this was just so unexpected, because I'll admit that I was not exactly the most pleasant wife to be around last night. I had one of those crazed-out, freak-out moments over the littlest thing (on his birthday of all days), about which I felt super guilty and apologized over and over again for later. So, I wouldn't have blamed my husband for laying it low today. But instead, he goes and does this!<br />
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Before I had a chance to start soaking in the sweetness, Elsie came over to me with a pumpkin loaf and a pumpkin spice latte. My favorite! In tears by this time, I called my husband to profusely thank him over and over again. He laughed and said, "I'm glad you like it! Well, I need to go, because we're almost to the doctor. Enjoy your alone time! By the way, there's more . . ." and then he hung up. How could it get any better than this?!<br />
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I'm still sitting at Starbucks, so I guess I will find out when he and the boys come back.<br />
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I've got love butterflies floating everywhere. *sigh* God has truly blessed me with an amazing, thoughtful man. I'm so thankful I get to spend the rest of my life with this wonderful hunk of a man:<br />
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-50225663519342943872013-11-01T21:24:00.001-04:002013-11-02T10:23:09.819-04:00Something New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Goodbye long hair! Hello new, shorter hair!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcILoPvQ2Uc9bwYuXbGJkOuD7aCYD8xZpTO8HIPLPMm1tPhVFb_EaCzSO_MfbEPzvD0izv8lr6Em5obnmVllk-2s7Dicf0x45DVk6f1vOCIZ8l8dCYyTrmaw-rLyRNaXOO8Jl2juJ-VMJ/s1600/IMG_6251-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcILoPvQ2Uc9bwYuXbGJkOuD7aCYD8xZpTO8HIPLPMm1tPhVFb_EaCzSO_MfbEPzvD0izv8lr6Em5obnmVllk-2s7Dicf0x45DVk6f1vOCIZ8l8dCYyTrmaw-rLyRNaXOO8Jl2juJ-VMJ/s400/IMG_6251-3.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuD28cIcavFoid_fCFLVAksGi-efcQNdoeC6dU65kzZVh0ywuo8aB-V4uzkXAIVXgk92h1ala7qgZr9Rv917YXLjoh3IpvAzU5GaDrlIY0cv2hiCtPoMmm6GZM0AZtSHsm5dF7980Z4Ge/s1600/IMG_8884-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuD28cIcavFoid_fCFLVAksGi-efcQNdoeC6dU65kzZVh0ywuo8aB-V4uzkXAIVXgk92h1ala7qgZr9Rv917YXLjoh3IpvAzU5GaDrlIY0cv2hiCtPoMmm6GZM0AZtSHsm5dF7980Z4Ge/s400/IMG_8884-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I've had long hair for several years now, and I was ready for a change. I had always wanted to donate to locks of love but would chicken out at the idea of losing so much length. Well, the time finally came for me to make a decision. I definitely wanted to get my hair cut, because my hair was so long and heavy that it was giving me constant headaches. Not only that, but it was getting to the point that I couldn't quickly do much with it other than a ponytail, braid, sock bun, or messy bun. So, I started debating about donating to "Locks of Love." Like I said, it was always something I wanted to do, and this time I was ready to take the plunge. I wasn't doing much with my long hair anyway, and I wanted it to be put to good use for a good cause.<br />
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My lovely friend, Dana, started Cosmetology school this semester and needed "clients" for when she got on the floor. I offered to be one of her clients, and I'm so glad I did! That girl is so incredibly talented, and she never ceases to amaze me! If you remember her from my past posts, she's the one who did the <a href="http://www.andthismarinewife.com/2013/09/my-weight-struggle.html">beauty photo shoot</a> for me and took the pictures at our baby's <a href="http://www.andthismarinewife.com/2013/09/baby-gender-reveal.html">gender reveal party</a>. I was so excited to have her be a part of my first hair donation, and the end result hair cut that she did was amazing! You would think she was a seasoned hair stylist and not still going through school. She's pretty much awesome!<br />
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So, without further ado, here was my hair before . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDfALQlnyFhQ7j50_f1YIrjhyphenhypheniqxtMXzfejPZVURi8u20lib3p10kwZYWRT8M6drsJk1T_6WmtVX1gUih4oDnGw0U0E-a02tXfuyLDEOGmqRygJJV5Z5NZlwWQ6YpVvfLs9DMg17v_s4D/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDfALQlnyFhQ7j50_f1YIrjhyphenhypheniqxtMXzfejPZVURi8u20lib3p10kwZYWRT8M6drsJk1T_6WmtVX1gUih4oDnGw0U0E-a02tXfuyLDEOGmqRygJJV5Z5NZlwWQ6YpVvfLs9DMg17v_s4D/s400/IMG_8876.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dDpO01fGVHPpFEVucOxbXTBh7Ln46sPVVBtRkCgMADEx3iw1RbyvL4mgW4fT2NxZwJ4rg3l-tQDDUTHYDp_FBdqMhhHf8r7Dejg2y95iO9V9eoMjA3dvoWkRL5Ckte_ypsyGP24cr-X3/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dDpO01fGVHPpFEVucOxbXTBh7Ln46sPVVBtRkCgMADEx3iw1RbyvL4mgW4fT2NxZwJ4rg3l-tQDDUTHYDp_FBdqMhhHf8r7Dejg2y95iO9V9eoMjA3dvoWkRL5Ckte_ypsyGP24cr-X3/s400/IMG_8877.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yeah, just a tad bit long.</span></div>
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My hair was so thick that she had to separate it into two separate ponytails. I was able to donate about 13 inches!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXip7S9PaZ-U_JK7INagEL9XAgg-F0RJE9zI7cCnCvAgGbM4IeqYESEUIF7BxUquzcfckdhQWAk88QdWgLvPXns1bXo3OaLbWlD64CnRAS5G9eljsqJvm_DViqyC4Jc-_mU41Uf5Hos5GS/s1600/IMG_8879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXip7S9PaZ-U_JK7INagEL9XAgg-F0RJE9zI7cCnCvAgGbM4IeqYESEUIF7BxUquzcfckdhQWAk88QdWgLvPXns1bXo3OaLbWlD64CnRAS5G9eljsqJvm_DViqyC4Jc-_mU41Uf5Hos5GS/s400/IMG_8879.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I couldn't get over how much hair I was holding in my hand!</span></div>
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And the after . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4bqGhk6nvL7Oz3D1Yvn7hJOhil95aJ-pKYZqI46MBYTSicR5wPg_qVLR-LfWA_L793KgSyv_40g1U2F-DqoM9QDrnw7jAJcr9NxIG3PTO_ao9hCJ813G4Se1gmYJEqLI7b56iy7G4V9r/s1600/1383207_10151972983004168_862213299_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4bqGhk6nvL7Oz3D1Yvn7hJOhil95aJ-pKYZqI46MBYTSicR5wPg_qVLR-LfWA_L793KgSyv_40g1U2F-DqoM9QDrnw7jAJcr9NxIG3PTO_ao9hCJ813G4Se1gmYJEqLI7b56iy7G4V9r/s400/1383207_10151972983004168_862213299_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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After the style was completed, a total of <strike>16</strike> 14.5 inches had been cut off my hair. (Hubby measured wrong the first time. lol!) But, I absolutely love my new hair cut! I feel fresh and fun again. Oh, and I'm loving the fact that I don't have to do much to it to make it look good. Yay for low maintenance!!<br />
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Also, happy 25 weeks (and one day) to our growing little surprise baby! Only 15 weeks to go! (Although, if this munchkin comes early like his brothers, we might only be looking at 12-13 weeks. *crossing fingers*)<br />
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<br />Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-54406435324040082392013-10-28T16:46:00.001-04:002013-10-28T16:52:27.982-04:00Easy Homemade Dishwasher DetergentIt's the end of the pay period, the money has run out, and we are finding ourselves in a pinch in every way. You know, eating canned meals, scraping out the remainders of my deodorant, running out of everything, and so on. Oh, we do have some money in savings, so I could run out to the store and get the necessaries. But, we try to avoid dipping into savings as much as possible, which makes the end of the pay period get interesting (especially when everything seems to run out at the same time).<br />
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Well, one of the things that ran out was our dishwasher detergent. I was dreading having to wash the dishes by hand, so I watched as the piles in the sink got higher and higher and demanded that the family use paper plates to lessen the load. When I woke up this morning, I mustered up the will to attack the overflowing sinks of dirty dishes. As I was about to organize the piles to open up a sink, a thought occurred to me. Maybe I could make my own dishwasher detergent! So, I whipped out my laptop and started googling like crazy. After collecting ideas from different sources, I buckled down and put together a super easy solution. After making the solution, I filled the dishwasher, tried it out, and it worked! I am never going to spend $7 on a bottle of dishwasher detergent ever again!<br />
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Want to know what it is? I'm not kidding. It's super easy. Below are the ingredients that you'll need . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L7rr97nP-MyucfWDScAij3GJYWHgh_lAKC7JE-dIMV8Jq5lYN3udedxPBqT6ONbIl7KGq71VgS9GL0e3daIozi7K_nbIjw_pDy6P-eHQmhGsRcssiqnPTsJiSsX_OaZ2AQpohzYiyYCk/s1600/IMG_8874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L7rr97nP-MyucfWDScAij3GJYWHgh_lAKC7JE-dIMV8Jq5lYN3udedxPBqT6ONbIl7KGq71VgS9GL0e3daIozi7K_nbIjw_pDy6P-eHQmhGsRcssiqnPTsJiSsX_OaZ2AQpohzYiyYCk/s400/IMG_8874.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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cleaned 1/2 gallon milk jug (or use a gallon and double the recipe)</div>
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4 tsp baking soda</div>
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2 tsp liquid dish soap</div>
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warm water</div>
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Wait, that's it?! Yes, that's it! When I made the recipe, I used a gallon jug, because it was one of the things cluttering the sink. Here's what you do . . .<br />
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Put your 4 tsp baking soda in the jug and then fill with a bit of warm water. Slosh the jug around until the baking soda dissolves some. Then, add your 2 tsp dish soap and SLOWLY fill the rest of the jug with warm water, lightly sloshing the jug around to help mix the ingredients.<br />
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To use your homemade dishwasher detergent, simply fill the detergent cup of your dishwasher with the solution and add a little extra to the dishwasher itself. (A tip for those who have hard water, which would result in foggy glasses/water stains. Add borax to the open cup next to the closed cup, and that should take care of the stains.)<br />
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But won't the regular dish soap suds up in my dishwasher? Nope! By mixing it with the water, you are diluting the soap enough that it won't cause catastrophic suds in your dishwasher.<br />
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Below is how the end product came out, without doubling the recipe. Remember, if you are going to use a gallon jug, double the recipe or only fill it halfway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXL9ZBzXZ0_iKZOxhG09XKZ_gQPGXxSekvVg6MBtCTdoHuavsBlpdfYqzBfsMGNxvWBCtkwsFsXn4dvoMonAlRdrHTCrTogsyz6OW-pQcsHFt7RU7t3cIl_eQ2k2F7uJyLo_zBmXHyTkB/s1600/IMG_8875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXL9ZBzXZ0_iKZOxhG09XKZ_gQPGXxSekvVg6MBtCTdoHuavsBlpdfYqzBfsMGNxvWBCtkwsFsXn4dvoMonAlRdrHTCrTogsyz6OW-pQcsHFt7RU7t3cIl_eQ2k2F7uJyLo_zBmXHyTkB/s400/IMG_8875.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Some other things I'd like to mention, that I did, in helping with the process. I rinsed off my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. I also lightly scrubbed/wiped out dishes that had food caked on them. I also always put my dishwasher on the pot/pan cycle, no matter what is in it. It gives the dishes a nice, good scrubbin'. So, voila! There you are! Your own homemade dishwasher detergent that you didn't have to pay an arm and a leg for!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FkATSaLHvjid2EbkhqSz7J7iltydK0daYM3QJ0-s91e0wgqnvvMl1aUy-RTt7xJeVj_Qp8O0vMfqlkwP9cQrrdmDuFsqcST-y3XhMD7lQpEYo0j0pGLrZdfVUOv3JQe6_9q0ZfINdbSx/s1600/IMG_8874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FkATSaLHvjid2EbkhqSz7J7iltydK0daYM3QJ0-s91e0wgqnvvMl1aUy-RTt7xJeVj_Qp8O0vMfqlkwP9cQrrdmDuFsqcST-y3XhMD7lQpEYo0j0pGLrZdfVUOv3JQe6_9q0ZfINdbSx/s320/IMG_8874.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Easy Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe</b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
1/2 gallon milk jug<br />
4 tsp baking soda<br />
2 tsp liquid dish soap<br />
warm water<br />
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Steps:<br />
1. Clean out your milk jug.<br />
2. Add baking soda and enough warm water to jug to dissolve the baking soda.<br />
3. Add dish soap.<br />
4. Slowly fill the remainder of the jug with warm water, lightly sloshing the mixture around to help the ingredients mix.Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-48803122292932724642013-10-25T01:00:00.002-04:002013-10-25T01:00:51.938-04:00Pancakes With The Little MonkeyI have endeavored to let Ian help out in the kitchen before, but it usually ended in disaster. For example, the last time I let him help with making cookies, he thought it would be okay to throw the handmade balls of cookie batter. They're balls after all, aren't they? That was shortly after he had turned two, of course. So, I'm pretty sure I could venture cookies with him again, with a different result. (I hope.)<br />
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Anyway, the other evening I decided to let him help me make chocolate chip pancakes for dinner. I mixed up the batter and then brainstormed for something to put the batter in, to make for easy pouring. I remembered I had a practically-empty bottle of creamer, so I dumped out the last tablespoon or two of creamer and cleaned out the bottle. I poured the pancake batter into the bottle, and that little thing worked so well! Not only did it make perfect pancakes, but it made pouring so much easier for my little man. He had my assistance, of course. But, that was mainly for proportioning reasons, as he would have just poured out one giant pancake if left up to him.<br />
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I even let him assist in flipping the pancakes. Once again, I had to help control where the pancakes were going to land. Otherwise, they probably would have hit the wall or the floor. Our dog sure would have loved that! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUulY6il0M-10Bc3OVRp5blCGnZQ33EDFgrOqhQMt8Cy9KIwvjdQ0t7-qepkR9m-Wo9bPh8SQqS_eJPMzm-bhI2DkOypnNhlB6vkLghB5Vc3YrjEtJY9rFw-ul8XKoq68Krg1GnfB76VR/s1600/IMG_8809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUulY6il0M-10Bc3OVRp5blCGnZQ33EDFgrOqhQMt8Cy9KIwvjdQ0t7-qepkR9m-Wo9bPh8SQqS_eJPMzm-bhI2DkOypnNhlB6vkLghB5Vc3YrjEtJY9rFw-ul8XKoq68Krg1GnfB76VR/s400/IMG_8809.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ian was so excited and happy about having helped make the pancakes that he kept asking us if we liked "his" pancakes, both during and after dinner. Watching him be so proud about it was adorable and heart-warming. I think the fact that he got to help is also what impacted the amount of food he ate, because that boy ate more that dinner than I've seen him eat in one meal in a long time. He even had two helpings of scrambled eggs, and he doesn't really like eggs that much! I loved watching how happy he got about helping with dinner. I will definitely be finding new ways to let him help out in the kitchen more.<br />
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When did you start letting your children help in the kitchen? What are some different baking/cooking things you've done with them?Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-36311298901448753262013-10-19T02:57:00.000-04:002013-10-22T10:24:47.803-04:00Makes Me Want To Throw Pillows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ12yyYQ4l3rC4I16ymm9xg-Wy21xYpuuQhBLJlRZ_cNujoaquZZPSvQ1ft33U3LrW6EYqu-kolUg9Z4faM3AtK4qqE2K89czA2SgeR6Jz7vx4R253TLhXFfTOVGdZ1X6gV4QH_JrcB785/s1600/sleep.2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ12yyYQ4l3rC4I16ymm9xg-Wy21xYpuuQhBLJlRZ_cNujoaquZZPSvQ1ft33U3LrW6EYqu-kolUg9Z4faM3AtK4qqE2K89czA2SgeR6Jz7vx4R253TLhXFfTOVGdZ1X6gV4QH_JrcB785/s320/sleep.2.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.fibrodoc.org/sleep.htm">(via)</a></div>
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I lay here, wide awake, at 2:30 in the morning and am jealously looking over at my husband who is sleeping soundly. On the other side of me (on the floor) is our dog who is snoring away as well. Not only am I outnumbered by males in this family (even the dog!), I'm outnumbered by males who can sleep through anything, anywhere, any time. Makes me want to throw pillows. Know what I mean? Hubby can literally fall asleep within ten seconds. He's actually fallen asleep in the middle of saying "good night" many times. And all the boys, dog included, can sleep through anything. I swear a tornado could rip through the house, pick them up, relocate them, and they would never know. Once again, makes me want to throw pillows, or maybe give my hubby a wet willy in his sleep. I want some of what they got! I think they're holding out on a special sleep nectar or something. Hmm . . .<br />
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-16068522558239788212013-10-07T15:15:00.000-04:002013-10-08T09:54:19.351-04:00Date On A Dime: Restaurant CrawlAny couple who has a tight budget understands how difficult it is to come up with fun date nights. Throw kids in the mix, and that makes date nights even more difficult to accomplish. We deal with both a tight budget and a growing family with little kiddos, so my husband and I have had to get rather creative with our date nights. I thought it would be fun to, once or twice a month, share some of our date night adventures and hopefully help give ideas to couples in the same situation as we.<br />
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Last week, hubby and I went on a much-needed date night. One thing we've come to realize is that it is now very difficult to just go and be spontaneous, especially when you have a tight budget, so we try to plan out our dates to fit accordingly with babysitter time-slots and what-not. For our date night, we thought it would be fun to do our own form of a restaurant crawl. If you don't know what a restaurant crawl is, it's where you go from restaurant to restaurant and order a different part of your meal at each restaurant. These kinds of things are usually done by an organized group of restaurants, and you pay a fee to be a part of it. But, who says you have to join an organized restaurant crawl? You can do one on your own and pay way less money and have a lot more fun.<br />
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For starters, if you have kids, find a babysitter for at least four hours. If you're lucky, you have family or a dear friend close by, who will watch your children for free. In that case, you haven't spent any money yet. Phew! We were blessed enough to have a friend that told me she wanted to watch our kids so that we could go on a date night. She has always been so dear and never charged us, so we try to make sure we don't abuse the fact that she does it for free and try to be considerate of her time as well.<br />
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Before you leave, be sure to plan out what restaurants you will go to. You will need at least three for each course: appetizer, main meal, dessert. To save money, the idea is that you only order one at each and share whatever you order. Trust me, it will be enough food to fill the both of you. If you want to add another, you can do one where you go to get drinks. Hubby and I planned ours out and, after dropping the boys off at the babysitter, we headed out. (We were sure to choose restaurants that were all in a centralized location, because we didn't want to spend too much time having to drive from place to place.)<br />
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First Stop: Appetizer ($5 - $12)<br />
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For our appetizer stop, we went to Buffalo Wild Wings and sat outside. The weather was beautiful and sitting outside gave us that extra bit of privacy that we wanted. It was so much fun, and my stomach ended up hurting from laughter. We did a lot of talking and people watching. There is something entertaining about watching the young Marines try to flirt with the waitresses and vice verse.<br />
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Since hubby and I hadn't been on a date night in quite a while, we decided to splurge and get one of the appetizer samplers. That ended up being a mistake, because we were so full after the appetizer that we almost weren't able to move onto the main meal. (So, seriously, keep it simple if you want to make it through all three restaurants without feeling bloated.) But, we were on a mission and pushed on.<br />
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Second Stop: Main Meal ($8 - $27)<br />
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For our main meal, we went to Logan's. This place is awesome, because you already get endless peanuts and super delicious rolls for free. Say what?! So yeah, if your tummy is still rumbly after your appetizer, choose a place that gives you rolls and other snacks for free before your meal. It'll help take the edge off and still leave enough room for the main course. Hubby and I ordered a cheeseburger meal. That burger was huge! I wasn't even able to finish my half. So, we boxed up the leftovers and headed to our next destination.<br />
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*Because we were so full already, we decided to take a break before dessert. I'll tell you more about what we did for our break, after the dessert part.*<br />
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Third Stop: Dessert ($1 - $8)<br />
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Dessert can end up being your least expensive stop, especially if you do what we did. By the time we were ready for dessert, the only thing that sounded good to us was ice cream. So, we went to where we could get our favorite soft serve for super cheap . . . Mickey D's! That's right. We went to McDonald's. But hey, we only spent like $1.08 and got cones for two. It was a delicious end to the evening. We went through the drive-thru and chatted in the car while eating our cones. Once again, we had so much fun!<br />
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I say that this is a good "date on a dime," because you could seriously spend less than $20 for the whole night, and that's even with tips included! (Granted, that's also if you don't have to spend any money on a babysitter.) That's an awesome deal, and you have a lot of fun in the process. :)<br />
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Now, I'm sure you're curious about what we did on our break between stops. Did we spend any money? Nope! (Oh wait, I did coax Evan into getting us the movie, "Parental Guidance." But, it was on sale, and we both love that movie! It's a great family movie and is absolutely hysterical. I highly recommend it! So, aside from that, we didn't spend any money.) To ease up the bloated feeling after our main meal, we decided to just walk around in the stores that were right there. It was fun to just "window shop" without the pressure of actually buying anything. We were just looking for an excuse to hold hands and <strike>make-out</strike> kiss a lot. Then, we started seeing really funny, interesting things in the stores. So, we made it a quest to find the funniest items possible. We probably looked like silly teenagers with the way we were running around and giggling uncontrollably. We failed to get pictures of all the things we found, but we did get some pics when we were in Target.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The most easily removable mustache and beard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Now you can have a beard and stay within Marine Corps regulation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Who would've thought?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Pickle erasers, anyone? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I wonder if they smell like pickles too.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*sniff sniff*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">But, it's not all that bad!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everything is going to be okay! Phew!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10972191/?claim=t2t3e6uqj9y">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-16239620195266012412013-10-06T11:26:00.002-04:002013-10-24T23:23:00.752-04:00How Can I Fear?If you know our son, Ian, then you know that this child has no fear. From the moment he learned how to <strike>crawl</strike> climb and <strike>walk</strike> run, he's kept us on our toes. He will climb up and jump off of anything. He will talk to just about anyone, which scares the poop out of me sometimes. He's very independent and expresses that any way he possibly can. There is one thing he struggles with though, and it breaks my heart, because it's something I struggled with as a child.<br />
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His battles come at night, in his sleep. He regularly has night terrors and/or nightmares. Every time he has one, I just want to cry with him. I wish I could reach into his mind and ward off whatever is causing the fear. But, all I can do is hold his sweat-soaked body, pray, and softly sing to him. After several nights of this, I discovered a song that seems to calm him immediately. I can never get through the song without being choked up with tears, because it amazes me how quickly God uses the words of that song to calm my little boy's heart and ease him back into a peaceful slumber. It's a song that I grew up singing, but the words didn't start really hitting home to me until I watched their calming effects on my son.<br />
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You see, I have something that I battle with almost daily. In the words of Paul, this is my "thorn in the flesh." My thorn is FEAR.<br />
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I'm the biggest worrier I know, and I am not proud of it at all. Sometimes my worry is ridiculous. For example, the other night my husband commented about how the curtain hanging in front of our sliding glass door leaves enough of a gap that anyone standing on our back porch could probably see into our bedroom when our door is open. You know what flew through my mind? The picture of a person with a gun pressed against the glass, the end of the gun aiming at me. Silly, I know. It gets even sillier. I decided I was going to fix the problem and started thinking of ways to close that "dangerous" gap. Hubby suggested to just use a thumbtack and tack it to the wall. My reply?<br />
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"Well, what if I forget to take out the tack in the morning? One of the boys might pull on the curtain, and the tack will fly out, and we won't be able to find it. It will be found either by Ian (or me) stepping on it and getting a tack stuck in his foot or by Isaac finding the tack and putting it in his mouth, therefore swallowing it and sending us to the emergency room."<br />
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My husband just stared at me with big, disbelieving eyes. "Did that seriously just go through your mind in those last five seconds?"<br />
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"Yes."<br />
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He tried desperately to hold back the laughs that bubbled their way up his chest. I promptly threw a pillow at his head and muttered for him to leave me alone. But hey, coming up with a worst case scenario helped me remember to pull out the tack in the morning.<br />
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That's just a silly example of my worry tendencies, but as an adult, I have encountered far more serious things to worry about. Things such as, our future, my children's souls, the government, my children's futures, etc. Overall, I just fear the unknown. I fear not knowing what will happen tomorrow, the next hour, the next minute. Over the past few months, God has revealed to me how much of a sin my fear is. If I truly believe that God is sovereign and in control, then I have no need to fear the future. He holds everything in His hands. Not to mention that fear is not of God but is actually of Satan. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - II Timothy 1:7<br />
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Also, if I am living out the greatest commandment . . . love . . . then I should not have any room for fear. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." - I John 4:18<br />
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Thinking further about that, by allowing myself to fear and worry, I am purposely putting myself through turmoil. I am saying that I would rather punish myself with anxiety than to let God take care of us. That's so silly! Nobody wants to be in turmoil, but by fearing, I am saying I would rather feel that than the awesome peace that God provides each and every day. I am saying that God is not big enough to handle my problems and issues in my life. I am withholding from Him the glory of showing the world and myself that He truly is greater than me. How humbling!<br />
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God had to remind me of that again the other night, when I was singing Ian back to sleep. I couldn't even finish the song, because I broke down in tears. I felt so convicted by the reminder that I so desperately needed . . . How can I fear? Jesus is near!<br />
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When shadows fall and the night covers all<br />
There are things that my eyes cannot see.<br />
I never fear, for the Savior is near.<br />
My Lord abides with me.<br />
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How can I fear? Jesus is near!<br />
He ever watches over me!<br />
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.<br />
How can I fear with Jesus?<br />
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When I'm alone and I face the unknown<br />
And I fear what the future may be,<br />
I can depend on the strength of my Friend!<br />
He walks along with me.<br />
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How can I fear? Jesus is near!<br />
He ever watches over me!<br />
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.<br />
How can I fear with Jesus?<br />
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Jesus is King! He controls everything!<br />
He is with me each night and each day.<br />
I trust my soul to the Savior's control;<br />
He drives all fear away!<br />
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How can I fear? Jesus is near!<br />
He ever watches over me!<br />
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.<br />
How can I fear with Jesus?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*How Can I Fear? by Ron Hamilton*</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Photography by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Portraits-by-Heather/111423865548803">Portraits by Heather</a></span>Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-36140499510022200482013-10-01T14:46:00.000-04:002013-10-01T14:46:41.668-04:00Hellooooo Fall!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Hello </b>October</div>
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<b>Goodbye </b>September<br />
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<b>Hello </b>cool crisp air, leaves falling, and the smell of Fall<br />
<b>Goodbye</b> hot sticky air, mosquitoes, red ant hills, and sunburn<br />
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<b>Hello</b> to covering the chub with warm jackets, scarves, and sweaters</div>
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<b>Goodbye </b>attempts to look good in summer clothes</div>
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<b>Hello </b>carved pumpkins and fall decor</div>
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<b>Goodbye</b> pools and smell of chlorine</div>
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<b>Hello</b> new neighbors</div>
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<b>Goodbye </b>empty houses in our cul-de-sac</div>
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<b>Hello </b>pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin creamer . . . </div>
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pumpkin everything!</div>
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<b>Goodbye</b> every day, non-Fall flavors</div>
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<b>Hello</b> mid-pregnancy, baby kicks, and back pain</div>
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<b>Goodbye </b>morning sickness, nausea, headaches, and extreme exhaustion</div>
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And my favorite . . .</div>
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<b>Hello</b> big boy underwear</div>
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<b>Goodbye </b>diapers!!</div>
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(Ian is officially and completely potty-trained! YEAH!!)</div>
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<a href="http://nestfuloflove.blogspot.com/" title="Nestful of LOve"><img alt="Nestful of LOve" src="http://i42.tinypic.com/2cfw903.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-2148700350026257892013-09-27T16:30:00.000-04:002013-10-24T23:23:00.760-04:00I'm Hiding! Shhhh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This, ladies and gentlemen, is the picture of a stressed-out mommy who is recovering through the bliss of Starbucks coffee. Though I've generally lost my taste for coffee during this pregnancy, I can always go for a wonderful tasting latte, especially after the <strike>day</strike> week I had. Remember my <a href="http://andthismarinewife.blogspot.com/2013/09/one-of-those-days.html">post</a> from a couple weeks ago? You know, the one that talked about one of "those" days I had with our oldest son? Well, when a mommy thinks it can't get any worse, I ended up having one of those WEEKS! It's finally Friday, and I was on the verge of a serious rip-my-hair-out-cry-many-explosive-tears episode.<br />
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Until . . .<br />
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My blessed, amazing, wonderful man of a husband swooped in. After he came home from work, he told me that the night was mine. I could choose whatever I wanted to do and go have some much needed alone time. He took the boys and left me to my own devices. (Well, after I had him drop me off at Starbucks, that is.) I got the biggest possible latte and then traipsed over to Barnes 'N Noble, in search of one of those comfy, swallow-you-up, sofa chairs. I was met with disappointment as I realized that B&N had apparently decided to take away the comfy seats and replace them with hard wooden chairs. Just when I started feeling like they were putting a kink in my alone mommy time, I remembered that I was, in fact, ALONE! That's all that mattered about this evening. With renewed vigor, I found a chair hidden behind a tall counter-barrier thing. I can not, must not be found! So, here I sit, hidden in mommy aloneness bliss, sipping on my venti latte and delving into everything I enjoy doing when I actually have time for it. Yes, blogging is one of those. :D<br />
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I'm SO thankful for a husband who recognizes when I'm at my breaking point and swoops in to save the day! Love him! <3Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-36636590989765043192013-09-24T16:57:00.001-04:002013-10-24T23:18:50.219-04:00My Weight Struggle<span style="font-size: large;">and the friend who helped me find some confidence through it.</span><br />
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You might look at this picture and see a happy and confident (pregnant) woman. But, the reality is that inside, I am frustrated and not very confident. What's holding me back from achieving that complete confidence is my ever-constant battle with my weight. I know what you're probably thinking right now. <i>Umm, hello, you're pregnant!</i> Yes, I know. Pretty sure I am the one who is most aware of my pregnant state. But, you see, I have battled with weight my entire life, down to struggling with eating disorders for eleven years. You can read more about that in <a href="http://andthismarinewife.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-secret-of-past.html">this post</a>.</div>
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By the time my husband came home from deployment back in 2011 and after having had our first son, I had finally gotten down to the best shape I'd ever been in my life. I was so excited about my transformation. I felt confident, happy and amazing; and I finally had the ability to eat like a horse and not have it affect me so much!</div>
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But the transformed body didn't last very long, when we decided to try for another child. I was so excited and ready! I was in the best shape ever, so I knew this pregnancy was going to be a lot easier than the first. I was also hoping that the weight loss would be easier, since I was in such great shape. I never anticipated what was going to occur over the next 20+ months.</div>
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Once I stopped taking the pill, it didn't take long for us to get pregnant again. We were ecstatic! Unfortunately, that pregnancy was cut short, and we lost our son at 17 weeks. (You can find the posts about my pregnancy loss <a href="http://andthismarinewife.blogspot.com/p/pregnancy-loss.html">here</a>.) By that time, I had gained a little over 10 lbs.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">16 weeks with Andrew</span></div>
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I didn't have an opportunity to lose that ten pounds before I got pregnant again. We were so happy to have another chance, but again lost that baby early on. Nervous and having slightly given up hope, we decided to just wait on God's timing for the next baby. So, I jumped at the chance to lose those stubborn ten pounds and started doing Crossfit. I got continually frustrated as I watched the scale go up instead of down. What was going on? I was working my butt off and was reaping no benefits from it. Come to find out, I had gotten pregnant again immediately after the second pregnancy loss. I was beyond excited that I didn't even care about the extra ten pounds. I ended up gaining about forty pounds with our miracle baby, Isaac. I was okay with that though, because I knew I would have time to worry about the weight after I gave birth to him. What I didn't know was that God already had another baby in His plan, just FIVE months after Isaac's birth! ACK! In that five months, I was only able to lose twenty-seven of those forty pounds, which meant I still had thirteen pounds hanging on. Well, I'm sure you can do the math. Add those thirteen pounds to the ten pounds I never lost after my pregnancy with Andrew, and you have a grand total of twenty-three extra pounds that I started off with during this pregnancy.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">about a month after Isaac's birth</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">during first trimester of our current baby boy</span></div>
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I'll admit that the weight aspect really kept me from enjoying the beginning of this pregnancy. I was beyond frustrated. I had worked so hard to get into the best possible shape, when my husband was deployed, and now ever reaching that goal again is looking so bleak. Being pregnant-at-large is certainly not helping my mood.</div>
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Well, one day (through tears), I was expressing my frustrations and lack of confidence to my dear and close friend, Dana. If you remember, she was the one who took the pictures at our <a href="http://andthismarinewife.blogspot.com/2013/09/baby-gender-reveal.html">gender reveal party</a>. I had come so far with my weight struggle, just to end up slightly back to where I was before I had finally gotten victory over my eating disorders. I don't resent being pregnant at all. Please don't take it the wrong way. I just never anticipated being pregnant back-to-back like that, so the continual weight gain had a very hard mental toll on me. Dana looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Oh Lydia, I wish you could see yourself the way everyone else sees you. You are beautiful. You truly are. When your husband says that to you, he means it. He, I, and everyone else sees you in a way that you certainly aren't seeing."</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A picture with my son, Ian, and two of my beautiful, dearest friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dana is the beauty on the far right.</span></div>
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After that, she encouraged me to do a photo shoot with her. You see, Dana specializes in beauty photography. She takes women, like myself, who lack confidence and transforms them into the beautiful people they really are. (She blogs about her photo shoots <a href="http://danabement.com/">here</a>.) She often says something to the effect of, "I'm not covering you with a mask. I'm simply enhancing the features that make you beautiful. I'm drawing the beauty out of you."</div>
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I finally decided to let her take this no confidence, pregnant, bundle of a woman and paint her into a new canvas. I am so glad I did, because she helped me feel that confidence that I was so desperately lacking. She brought back that inner woman I felt like I had lost through all these pregnancies. When my husband saw the pictures, he said, "See?! THAT'S the sexy woman I see every day!"</div>
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So, now when I'm having my "beluga whale" pregnant days, I can look back and be reminded of how my husband sees me. But, I can't just let myself be renewed by a photo shoot. God has been trying to daily show me that this transformation is more than what I allow myself to see on the outside. I have to let my mind be renewed through Him and allow myself to see me through His eyes. To God, we are all beautiful creatures, because HE created us! I must look past this weight struggle and see myself for the person He sees me as . . . His beautiful and wonderful child.</div>
Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-60501700422729001942013-09-23T13:58:00.001-04:002013-10-24T23:18:50.221-04:00Baby Gender RevealYesterday was a very eagerly awaited day, as we were going to be finding out the gender of our current bun in the oven. We wanted to do something fun this time around, instead of the usual just finding out at the ultrasound. After seeing things on pinterest and a couple friends doing it, we decided to do a gender reveal party! I was so excited about it from the get-go, but it took a little persuasion to get my husband on the bandwagon. He was hesitant about doing it, because he wasn't sure if he could stand having to wait. But, he quickly came around - <i>probably because he saw how excited I was and didn't want to squelch it</i> - and he ended up becoming just as excited as me, if not more.<br />
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When we went in for our ultrasound, we explained our plans to the tech. So, she made sure we weren't looking when she found and printed off a picture of the baby's gender. She then quickly sealed it in an envelope and handed it over to our very eager hands. I'll admit that I almost had a lapse before the ultrasound, as I started debating about how it wouldn't be too bad to just know. My husband was actually the one who reigned me in and reminded me of how fun it would be to find out at the party. (And he did interject the, "This was your idea, remember?" comment. Thanks, babe. :P )</div>
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Envelope in hand, I was all smiles as I couldn't wait to finish working on the decorations and get the finishing touches together for the party! Because the forecast called for rain, we anticipated for it and decided to keep mostly everything inside while keeping the garage open for extra hang-out space. (It did end up raining, which seems to happen at EVERY party we throw! No joke.) In the end, I think it all came together very well!</div>
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My lovely and dear friend, Dana, took pictures for me at the party. That girl is such a wonderful friend who happened in my life at the perfect moment, purely through God's design (more about her in another post), and she is an insanely awesome photographer and owner of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DanaBementPhotography">Dana Bement Photography</a>. Though she had horrible lighting to work with, I think she did an incredible job!</div>
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When the guests first came in, we directed them to the game table, where there were lots of fun little things for them to do while they snacked on food and chatted.</div>
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They, of course, had to cast their votes . . .</div>
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And then grab a mustache or bow!</div>
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We had other games like, "Predict Our Baby's Statistics" where they could predict what they think the baby's weight, length, hair color, eye color, and birth date and time would be. We also allowed people to give boy and girl name suggestions. Another game was one where we put candy in two different jars, and the guests had to guess the amount of candy in the jars to win either one. They seemed to like that game, and a husband-wife couple actually won both jars of candy! lol!</div>
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Then, there was the food table. We went with the "What are you craving?" theme, and everyone loved it!</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I must admit that the decorations were personally one of my favorite parts. I ordered most of the stuff from Etsy, and it was super inexpensive! They were simply printables that I just had to print off, cut out, and put together myself. WAY cheaper than buying them pre-made! (Even the mustaches and bows were printables!) I got the flag banner, food and game labels, and the mustaches and bows all from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SOSPrintables">S.O.S. Printables</a>. The Baby Statistics game was a printable as well, and I got that from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/whirligigspartyco">Whirligigs Party Co.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I've also become slightly addicted to paper straws. They are just the cutest things! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">So, when I saw these adorable ones on the shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/swigshoppe">Swig Shoppe</a>, I just knew I had to have them!</span></div>
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After all the guests arrived and had some food, we played the "Old Wives Tales" game, to see what the tales claimed we were having. That was a lot of fun!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Seeing which way the ring would swing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Discussing whether or not my belly is a "watermelon" or "basketball."</span></div>
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Then we read through everyone's baby name suggestions. Boy, that was rather interesting! Sorry, but we are not naming our child Mufasa. lol!</div>
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And the votes are in . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrIJS5C3zlEVmBVcEpJxGiEwDRRHeJyZtw94CBcBtUCIp8jbGl31WF-OpFUbp8jr0VJqZuStmrhyphenhyphenF-I0YvN2dlQ6EA-Ga3zsBygt9VMr9X9k_k6nR-dofjOEsLwcO0FrA7jycHBfsfTSP/s1600/1234738_10151886170769168_2141411136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrIJS5C3zlEVmBVcEpJxGiEwDRRHeJyZtw94CBcBtUCIp8jbGl31WF-OpFUbp8jr0VJqZuStmrhyphenhyphenF-I0YvN2dlQ6EA-Ga3zsBygt9VMr9X9k_k6nR-dofjOEsLwcO0FrA7jycHBfsfTSP/s400/1234738_10151886170769168_2141411136_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We couldn't get Ian to wear his vote, but he kept saying "girl" from the get-go.</span></div>
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My in-laws skyped in for some of the fun, and to witness the cutting of the cake.</div>
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Time to cut the cake!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegtbKqhJtk-YNIX8jg0jzdyZvd22uk0TL3BeciBwML0UiI9Aub7gSTytbZgaUoM2ulldfT2ptk6x5dNupVh2slJdPmD0OXxzzKbc_ePISqv5xEpNLUwcJScSpxAdI57Ilpp1JcoEl1mx4/s1600/1174863_10151886171114168_1760239420_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegtbKqhJtk-YNIX8jg0jzdyZvd22uk0TL3BeciBwML0UiI9Aub7gSTytbZgaUoM2ulldfT2ptk6x5dNupVh2slJdPmD0OXxzzKbc_ePISqv5xEpNLUwcJScSpxAdI57Ilpp1JcoEl1mx4/s400/1174863_10151886171114168_1760239420_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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It's a . . .</div>
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BOY!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT21iRVLUx1rWxPYTaiBcc3euU_16dZFQem0AqwHk8uH5uawl4qOZTid_Tr49qJ_cMzIPkUUoL6bXXDQj38VY1xm20MdgxGUotH2sfkUs9b70BaHP_ajnomv84ixLKagZLtKrpKOw-Mybw/s1600/1236642_10151886172694168_1199816122_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT21iRVLUx1rWxPYTaiBcc3euU_16dZFQem0AqwHk8uH5uawl4qOZTid_Tr49qJ_cMzIPkUUoL6bXXDQj38VY1xm20MdgxGUotH2sfkUs9b70BaHP_ajnomv84ixLKagZLtKrpKOw-Mybw/s400/1236642_10151886172694168_1199816122_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This beautiful cake was made by a local, military husband-wife cake decorating team, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/digis.d.licious.cakes?fref=ts">Digirolamo Cakes</a>. I found out about them through some other people and am SO glad! They were the sweetest people and did such an incredible job on the cake. The cake and icing were so delicious! The best I've ever tasted, no lie. I loved it so much that I even had a leftover piece for breakfast, I kid you not. I'll be sad when there aren't any more leftovers, but my body will be thankful. lol!</span></div>
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There was a lot of laughing and rejoicing. We were kind of hoping for a girl but are thrilled with another boy! :)<br />
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We wanted to do a fun facebook reveal for all our friends and family around the world. So, after all our guests left, we did a balloons-from-the-box picture.</div>
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-9225060031517883152013-09-16T17:30:00.001-04:002013-11-14T11:47:01.918-05:00Helping Our Men With Grace<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Therefore <b>confess</b> your sins to each other and <b>pray</b> for each other so that you may be <b>healed</b>. The prayer of a righteous person is <b>powerful</b> <b>and effective</b>."</i></div>
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<i>-James 5:16</i></div>
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This is not going to be an easy post to write. I'll admit that I'm actually very nervous right now. I guess I'm more afraid of any negative responses I'll get to this post, but I need to talk about something that is weighing rather heavily on my heart.<br />
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As a woman and a wife, I try to be highly aware of the dangers of the world and how they affect our men. As a mom of boys, my heart is even more keen on making sure I help protect not just my husband, but my sons as well. I don't think I need to talk much longer before you start to realize what I'm referring to. I'm referring to our men's thought-lives and the things that affect them. Ladies, I want to implore you not to allow yourself to be so naive or so protective of yourself to think (or assume) that your man doesn't struggle. I cannot speak for men who aren't Christians or even for all Christian men, as there is a tiny percentage who really don't seem to have an issue. I am speaking for the men who, having a relationship with Jesus Christ and allowing the Spirit to lead them, are battling with a sin in their lives. The sin could be pornography, taking a second glance at that woman on the street, etc. They're battling, because the Spirit is battling within them and doesn't want them to be consumed. They know the destruction of their sin, and they want to overcome it, but they need our help. They need our understanding. They need our support.<br />
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I've heard on more than one occasion of wives who refuse to let their husbands open up to them, and it breaks my heart. The husband will want to talk to his wife about his struggle, because he knows it's the right and Biblical thing to do, and he so desperately wants help from his wife. Sadly, as he starts talking to his wife about it, she'll immediately cut him off and won't let him open up to her. Talking about struggles like that have become taboo and some women just want to allow themselves to live in disbelief of it being real. Here's the thing, ladies, we all sin and come short of God's glory. We all have destructive sin our lives that needs to be weeded out. That sin could be fear, gluttony, self-loathing . . . you name it! Every one of those sins is destructive, and every one of those sins can destroy relationships. So, how can we make sure this doesn't happen? We need to be open with our spouses (or significant others), and we need to allow them to be open with us.<br />
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If your husband wants to talk to you about a struggle in his life, let him! He's talking to you, because (aside from God) you are the closest person to him, and he wants to know that you've got his back. But please, if he wants to open up to you, be gracious and loving. I know how much it hurts to hear a confession like that. Believe me, I know. The pain can be unbearable, but your man is confiding in you, because he's crying out for help. Honestly, the fear of our reaction is sometimes exactly what is keeping him from coming to you. The fear of you walking out on him or completely judging him ends up paralyzing him into silence.<br />
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You might not have faced a talk like this from your man but try to understand how the things of the world affect him. Even if he's not struggling with pornography, he's being faced with the way many women in our culture dress. You can't even drive down the road without a billboard of a scantily clad woman smacking you in the face. These days, you simply can't go anywhere without the immodesty glaring at you. Understand that men are wired so differently from women. Men are wired by sight. They are stimulated by visual images, whether on purpose or not.<br />
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Please don't go away from this post and immediately throw the "Do you . . .?" question at your man. If you want to graciously help him, just simply go to him and tell him that you understand. You understand the affects of our world, that he faces battles every single day and that you are praying for him. Don't just leave it at that; actually DO pray for him. He needs it, whether he tells you he does or not. Then, ask him if there's anything you can do to help. (Who knows, maybe he's been wanting to talk to you exactly about that but fear has kept him at bay. You have now allowed an open door where he feels safe. But, if you open that door, make sure you stand on the other side with an understanding heart and graciously open arms. You won't be able to do it on your own. So, you must make sure you're allowing God to keep your heart strong whatever may come. Be prepared for whatever might be brought to you. Be lovingly prepared.) Then, you can help take steps to make sure you are protecting your home. Below are a few ideas of things we have personally done in our house. Now, I'm not saying that every home needs to go to the levels that we've decided on. Every marriage is different and has its own strengths. So, I'm certainly not setting "rules." If that's what you pull away from this post, then I fear you've lost the whole point of what I'm saying in this whole post. Some of the things my husband and I have done may seem bizarre, but I think we women sometimes don't understand the mind of a man that it simply just doesn't make sense to us. But, trust me, every little bit helps. No, there's nothing you can do about that billboard or that woman walking on the street, but you certainly can do a lot in your own home. Understand that, in order for any plan to work, you and your husband need to be in agreement on it. Just bear in mind that it might take time. Be patient and understanding. These are simply ideas and are some of the things we've personally done:<br />
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<li>Put your main computer (or all computers) in a centralized location in the house, with the screen facing out.</li>
<li>Have a password on the computer that only you know.</li>
<li>Get rid of cable.</li>
<li>If magazines get sent to your house, rip out and shred the underwear/lingerie pages.</li>
<li>Go through your cds and remove the cd covers that portray immodest artists.</li>
<li>Go through your dvds. Any of them have nudity or even mild sex scenes? Toss them out; break them! They're not worth keeping.</li>
<li>Put accountability software on your computer that sends every viewed site to your or his accountability friend's email. A great one is "<a href="http://www.covenanteyes.com/">Covenant Eyes</a>."</li>
<li>Change your cell phones/cell phone plans to ones that have little to no internet access. That might mean changing carriers or going back to the good ole, stone-age flip phones. It's okay; there was a time when our phones never had internet, and we survived.</li>
<li>If you're married, be regularly intimate with your husband. Please please don't take this the wrong way. In no way am I implying that it's our (the wives') fault that our husbands struggle. But, we can help decrease that battle by making sure we are allowing ourselves to be regularly intimate with him so that he is not feeling deprived. (Yes, I do know that the husband also needs to make sure he is showing love to his wife; otherwise, she won't desire that intimacy. But, that is a topic for another day.)</li>
<li>Be honest with your man about how his struggle makes you feel. Make sure you reveal your feelings in a loving way, even if through tears.</li>
<li>Pray pray pray and pray some more.</li>
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Before you go on to write a defensive response about how this destructive sin makes the wife feel, I know. Like I said before, I do know. Trust me. I know how it feels. So, I promise I will write a follow-up post to the men, describing and explaining how these sins make us women feel and how much it hurts. Sometimes, simply hearing our feelings can be helpful enough. But, for now, I just wanted to plead with my fellow sisters in Christ to be gracious and understanding of the battles our men face. Our men love us so dearly and want to protect us, but sometimes we have to be the knights in shining armor. You can't do it alone. You need God's help, but between the three of you, the battle can be won.</div>
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*I don't try to pretend I know everything, so please don't take this post as a self-righteous writing. This is just something that has been heavy on my heart and something that I've prayed over and have felt God's prodding to write.*</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-Photos taken by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Mlinek-Photography/100772529971196">Virginia Mlinek Photography</a>-</span></div>
Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-8290043459591218242013-09-16T15:26:00.000-04:002013-10-24T23:18:50.226-04:00Oops! We Did It Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think the picture speaks for itself . . .</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">18 weeks, 2 days</span></div>
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No, your minds are not playing tricks on you. You are seeing what you're seeing. We are indeed pregnant . . . again! Before you start thinking things like, "Wow, that was fast!" or "Was that planned?" no, it was not planned at all. Okay, I take that back. WE did not plan this little wonder. God obviously decided otherwise though. lol!<br />
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Just months after I had Isaac, I started feeling strange. I immediately recognized that "strange" feeling. I was in denial for the longest time. Then, one day while my hubby had duty, I decided to grab a pregnancy test while shopping at Wal-Mart. I couldn't stand to wait till I got home, so I lugged the boys into the bathroom with me. I did the test and, fearful to even look at it yet, I shoved it in my pocket. (Yes, it had the cap on.) I promptly walked out to the car, got the boys settled in their seats and pulled out the test. I immediately got the shakes. My eyes had to have been playing tricks on me! I blinked, and then blinked again. Sure enough, a faint line showed up in the box where it was supposed to stay empty to say that I was not pregnant. My mind went into a tizzy. <i>This is too fast! I'm not ready to be pregnant again! I still have 10 lbs to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Aaaaagh!</i><br />
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I wish I would have done something cute to tell my husband, but I simply snapped a picture of the test, with my phone, and sent it to him with the caption, "Happy Early Father's Day!" My husband immediately texted back, "What?!? That's awesome!" He later told me that he was in complete and utter shock but was very excited. I was still trying to get over the disbelief.<br />
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We are now rapidly approaching 19 weeks with our "Little Ninja," as my husband has come to call the baby, since he/she managed to sneak in there. I still sometimes feel the shock of being pregnant again, but I am excited to face this adventure that God has so readily placed upon us. We'll be having a gender reveal party this weekend, and I can't wait to find out if we're having another boy or our first girl! Very excited! :DLydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-24427847705214547582013-09-13T10:42:00.001-04:002013-11-14T11:30:46.390-05:00One of THOSE DaysI have to tell you about this past Wednesday. I had one of those "mom" days. I think you know what I'm talking about. It was one of those i've-lost-my-mind-cried-several-times-i-want-to-hide-collapsed-in-my-husband's-arms-when-he-came-home kind of days. Yep, one of THOSE days. I owe it all to our wonderfully delightful <strike>2</strike> almost 3-year old son.<br />
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Wednesday was a rough day. Our son's crazy antics, coupled with his persistent misbehavior and exhaustion from my pregnancy,--<i>Did I mention I was pregnant again? No? Oops! I'll spill all the nitty-gritty on a future post.</i>--it just wasn't a good day. BUT, now that I am over 24 hours removed from Wednesday, I can look back at Ian's craziness and <strike>laugh</strike> guffaw over all the things he managed to pull in one day.<br />
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It all started from the moment I woke up, or I guess I should say, HE woke up. He happened to decide that morning that 6 a.m. was a perfectly wonderful and acceptable time to wake up for the day. Oh, how wrong he could have been. Waking me up that early induced a near-migraine headache, so I knew it was going to be a tough morning. But, he was awake, and I had to deal with it. The little munchkin decided to wake me up by knocking on our bedroom door and exclaiming, "Mommy, I need help."<br />
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He didn't sound distressed, so I just assumed he needed something to drink (which is usually the case). When I finally peeled myself out from under the blankets, I opened the door to find him sitting at the dining room table, with all the contents of my purse spilled out before him. My tired eyes then flitted up to his face. It was sparkly. Yes, sparkly. He excitedly said, "Mommy, I put on makeup!" as he continued to smear my pink lip gloss all over his face. I quickly snatched up the gloss and grabbed a baby wipe to clean off his face. <i>I love that baby wipes are so versatile!</i><br />
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After clearing off my purse and its contents from the table, I sent him to play with some toys while I went back to my bedroom to use the bathroom. I'm not sure how long I was gone. I possibly, might have fallen asleep on the toilet. Anyway, when I came back to the living room, I found Ian on the floor . . . rubbing diaper cream on his legs. He had somehow gotten a hold of Isaac's diaper bag. He simply smiled at me and said, "Mommy, I put on lotion!" Commence baby wipe bath number two.<br />
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I then decided to put on a movie for him, so that I could lay down on the couch for a few minutes. I needed to try to get the headache to subside. Since the headaches have become a common occurrence this pregnancy, Ian has grown accustomed to quietly playing for a little bit while mommy closes her eyes to ease up the head pain. This morning, however, he decided it would be jolly, good fun to see if a jumbo crayon would fit up my nose. It didn't.<br />
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Fast forward a few hours . . . <i>Ian is now potty-trained! Yay! But, he does still have accidents, and some are on purpose.</i> Ian came running to me, naked, and said, "Mommy, I peed!" Knowing full well that I did not see him go to the bathroom, I asked him where. He pulled me over to his bedroom and pointed to a spot on the carpet behind his door. *insert "life's bleachable moments" sound here*<br />
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Then, I needed to go to the bathroom again. I came back to the sight of paper towels strewn all about the dining room. Ian had managed to unravel the entire roll of paper towels (one of the jumbo rolls, mind you) and was running around the living room, using the cardboard roll as a telescope, while proclaiming that he was a pirate.<br />
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I think this is where I had my first breakdown.<br />
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After wiping away the tears, I decided that it was time to take Ian to the park to let off some energy. Bad idea. My first heart attack came when he tried to be adventurous and nearly threw himself off one of the high points on the playground set. Thankfully, another mom was closer than me and stopped him before an ER visit would have ensued. After that, he stayed on the ground for the most part and didn't. stop. running. Oh, and at one point, he tried to wash his shoes in the water fountain. Don't ask. I still don't know.<br />
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When Ian began bolting across the vast grassy knoll behind the playground, I knew it was time to leave. Not to mention, he kept trying to eat someone's spilled grapes off the ground. We finally reached home, and I hoped for a nap. Nope. Instead, Ian decided he had to go poop on the potty. I left him to do his business--<i>He's very private about pooping, understandably so.--</i>and returned when he yelled, "Mommy, I pooped!" I came over to help him but didn't see any poop in the toilet. While I was peering into the toilet, he exclaimed, "No, mommy, on the floor!" Sure enough, there was poop, on the floor, next to the toilet. *insert another "life's bleachable moments" sound here*<br />
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The grand finale of the day came when I sent Ian outside to play while I cleaned up inside. He had only been out there for a few minutes, when I looked out the window and saw my child streaking across the yard, buck naked. Horrified, I immediately ran outside and re-dressed him in his clothes which had been strewn about the deck. I am amazed at how quickly children can get themselves undressed. Never have I been more thankful that our yard is fenced in!<br />
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My hubby finally came home shortly after the streaking incident, and I commenced to collapse in his arms. What. a. day!Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-77568684676575661572013-08-21T16:22:00.002-04:002013-08-21T21:06:14.595-04:00Words MatterI had a rough dream last night. You know the kind. You wake up sweating and sobbing, and then it takes you a while to get back to sleep. That's the kind of dream I had. Thinking back to the content, it would almost seem embarrassing to admit. But, my dream was so close to reality, and after last night, it really hit me how much this something had affected me long ago and had placed an imprint on my mind and heart.<br />
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The dream involved a high school teacher I had - one that didn't particularly like me. I never really understood why she didn't like me, especially since I really liked her and tried so hard to be the ideal student for the subject she taught. Maybe it wasn't so much her that I liked, but the subject itself. Either way, I tried so hard to please her and get the best grades possible. But, she wounded me pretty badly. I hadn't really thought of it as bullying before, but as I put pieces together in my mind this morning, I realized that this teacher had mildly bullied me in a way. I attended a private school, so our classes weren't very big, which allowed for every student to get a decent amount of attention. A couple rough moments with this teacher stayed on my mind and heart, but there were two in particular that really got to me.<br />
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Our class had done a writing project for fun, and then the teacher read everyone's papers out loud. I had put a lot of thought into mine and even added a few silly things throughout it while staying within the guidelines of how the paper should be written. I thought the teacher would like it. She came to one part of my paper, and as she read it out loud, she laughed. But, it wasn't a "ha ha" kind of laugh; it was a scoffing laugh. I slunk into my seat. I knew what she meant by that. She then followed her laugh up with a snide remark and suddenly I could feel her eyes on me. (Nobody was supposed to know whose paper was whose, so the moment she looked at me, everybody knew.) A ripple of snickers went throughout the class, as I felt heat shoot up my face. After that, I got the clear message from her that she wasn't a big fan of me.<br />
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The moment that impacted me the most was something that happened the next year. Our class was given a very large report to write. This was a report that was going to account for a huge chunk of our overall grade. I had started to notice at the beginning of the year that the grades I was receiving from this teacher were more reflective of her dislike for me than that of what I deserved, so I knew I was going to need to work extremely hard to wow her. I remember talking to my mom about this, but she was having a hard time seeing the prejudice in the grading. My mom came around when she watched me slave for several hours over this project. Since my mother was a teacher herself, I had her read over the report and give me opinions. She was very impressed, and I figured the report was ready. When I got my report back with a barely passing grade, I was crushed. I came home and sobbed in my mom's arms that night. The teacher had shredded apart my report - a report that was written to near perfection. The following day, my mom handed me a letter to give to the teacher. She decided it was time to go at bat for me. My mother later told me that the letter simply stated that there was need for the air to be cleared and that they needed to talk about this issue. She instructed me to give it to my teacher and to not let my teacher try to talk to me about the letter.<br />
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That didn't go over well. After school that day, my teacher pulled me into her classroom and immediately started to verbally rip into me. She yelled at me, calling me a brat, and said that I needed help and would get nowhere in life with the way I was. The way I was? What did she mean? When she finally finished, I walked out of her room, feeling like the scum of the earth. My eyes were puffy with tears. She was right. I did need help. What that teacher didn't know was that I was going through a really deep valley in my life at the time. I was dealing with a deep depression that overwhelmed me every day. I was overweight and severely battling with bulimia. At the time, I was starting to have regular nightmares of sexual abuse that had happened when I was a child. What I needed most was a loving heart and a helping hand. When I realized that this teacher that I admired so much despised me just as much, my world crumbled. Teenagers are fragile. What that teacher also doesn't know is that, if it weren't for my best friend, I would have taken my life that night.<br />
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Praise God that the story doesn't end there! That teacher taught me something. When I was younger, I had a tendency to speak before thinking. I know I said some hurtful things to people; things I'll never be able to take back. To this day, I regret so many things I said and did when I was too immature to want to know better. I'm thankful that a lot of my classmates and friends never held those things against me and still talk to me. lol! I wasn't a horrible person. I just said some stupid things, as does everybody. To be honest, most of the things I remember and feel guilty about, the other parties don't remember at all. I guess I just carry guilt very heavily. Anyway, what that teacher taught me was the pain of such distasteful words. She taught me that it wasn't worth hurting people to make yourself look or feel better. I didn't want to be like her, so I determined that I wouldn't be like her.<br />
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When I got to college, God brought some amazing people in my life. I was able to get counseling for all the issues I was dealing with, and after three years, I felt like a new person! God also showed me that I was a likable person, despite what that high school teacher thought. I had professors who saw my potential and even had one tell me that some of my writings were worthy of being published. My college professors became some of my greatest mentors and had a great, wonderful impact on my life!<br />
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To this day, I know that one high school teacher doesn't care for me. I went home on my husband's deployment, it having been several years since high school, and I saw her. I smiled at her, but in return, I received a cold stare and she turned away from me. I'll never understand why she doesn't like me. I'll never understand why she said such hurtful things. But, those words stuck with me and almost had a lasting impact on my life. By writing this post, I am not looking for pity. I am in no way trying to bash this teacher. Honestly, I just pray that God heals whatever hurt she's experienced that has caused her to act this way. I just want to heed people to be careful. You don't know what a person might be dealing with. You don't know what battles might be going on their heart and mind. Your words matter. Be sure to use them wisely.<br />
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This is a lesson for myself, as well.Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-47149628382217833252013-06-20T00:55:00.000-04:002013-06-20T10:15:59.572-04:00Sorry I'm A SlackerYes, I know, I did it again. I went and changed the blog up on you again. I decided to go for a more streamlined look until I can decide on a clean looking design. I really like the clean look of the white. Looks like a nice, blank slate. I like it. If you don't, weeeell, you can get over it. :P<br />
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So, I am just going to have to apologize now for my lack of updates on my style search. This is going to be one of those "beg for forgiveness" kind of deals. I've just honestly been so stinkin busy, and my brain is already headed into vacation mode. Vacation starts for us in a week, and I'm SO ready! That doesn't mean I haven't quit on the style search. It's still going on. You just won't see an outfit for every single day. I do, however, have very good excuses for the days that I don't have outfits to post for. For the days that I don't have outfits to post about, I will show you an outfit that I would love to have. Fair? Eh, I think so.<br />
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Now, where did we leave off? Ah yes . . .<br />
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<b>DAY 11</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7FazUYdo3mbp79g-Sc2vU1O7Vzkf80A5YSuDFiHorQG-xdRRVAAQLpix40sMa__NC1Q8R2LNe9hIV8U8N2hAWXxB-hznqSOn10HxdOhR78ST1mNRgpgl3-GI0LkHtW5d2US95B3wSNJ7/s1600/2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7FazUYdo3mbp79g-Sc2vU1O7Vzkf80A5YSuDFiHorQG-xdRRVAAQLpix40sMa__NC1Q8R2LNe9hIV8U8N2hAWXxB-hznqSOn10HxdOhR78ST1mNRgpgl3-GI0LkHtW5d2US95B3wSNJ7/s400/2011.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.shabbyapple.com/p-2011-roller-rink-blouse.aspx">Shabby Apple</a></span></div>
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This was one of those days where I had to delve into the archive of my "I Want" list. Have you heard of the book, "Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" No? You should look it up. It's a great book and very fun to read. Maybe not over and over and over and over (many times more over) again, like our son has subjected us to. But, nevertheless, it's a funny book! Well, I had one of those days on day 11. I had planned to put my outfit together by mid-afternoon, but that didn't happen after we had a fiasco with our Jeep's AC. After that, I was in no mood to pick out an outfit and spent the rest of the day in sweats and a t-shirt. So, to give something for your eyes to feast on, above is a picture from Shabby Apple's collection. LOVE that store! If I was made of money, all my clothes would be from there. I'll be saving up to buy at least one item from them. Shabby Apple specializes in designing clothes that are reminiscent of vintage styles. If you haven't figured it out already, I adore vintage styles! *sigh of adoration*</div>
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<b>DAY 12</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XQSYLkwNL3tIvouh8aZ8dLHIID3xkNAOzxDryin-3OkKFayJtZEuUx6KenhkPTmRlZw_eqs34D0CDCsXH9GJYI7TEqY4o2A9KvxFaE-dlgIwJdSMwnN_CiIIxCuDhRHa_V4tw7i1LXXq/s1600/IMG_6235-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XQSYLkwNL3tIvouh8aZ8dLHIID3xkNAOzxDryin-3OkKFayJtZEuUx6KenhkPTmRlZw_eqs34D0CDCsXH9GJYI7TEqY4o2A9KvxFaE-dlgIwJdSMwnN_CiIIxCuDhRHa_V4tw7i1LXXq/s400/IMG_6235-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Okay, I adore this outfit. It's simple but classy. I love the '40s feel of the top. Whoever designed it might not have had that intent, but that's how it comes across to me. I love the ruffles in the front and the hint of a mini collar. Then there's the slight A-line under the chest that allows the shirt to fall loose and free. This is a great top for those "fat" days, if you know what I mean. (You know, the days that you don't really feel like having to keep everything sucked in all the time. No worries, this shirt hides it when you let yourself breathe. Phew!) I believe I got the shirt from Kohl's a few years ago, but I could be mistaken. I wore a black spaghetti strap shirt underneath, for modesty's sake. The jeans I'm wearing are a Walmart pair that I FINALLY fit back into again. Can I get a virtual high-five? Yeah!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV9WBnFac8d5yMYrIeqRqJyfni38TadYqn3shyphenhyphenpxe8PXx11JusNt7vTSvNrZvfXf4ahnVsqgOalaUx8wyfQdUOLuDBgEZfodZkR1c-j_An2-wRSm4B0yweKmE493UDmwebe9-46yBLj-A/s1600/IMG_6237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV9WBnFac8d5yMYrIeqRqJyfni38TadYqn3shyphenhyphenpxe8PXx11JusNt7vTSvNrZvfXf4ahnVsqgOalaUx8wyfQdUOLuDBgEZfodZkR1c-j_An2-wRSm4B0yweKmE493UDmwebe9-46yBLj-A/s400/IMG_6237.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Once again, I love the accessories. (The earrings are silver hoops I got as a present from my husband last year.) I absolutely adore this bracelet that I got from the shop, <a href="http://www.allsevensisters.etsy.com/">All Seven Sisters</a>. It is a black ribbon bracelet that has clusters of silver beads between black ribbon knots. This bracelet is so cool and chic, and I love that I now have some great jewelry to go with my darker colored outfits. The owner of "All Seven Sisters" is so sweet and a beautiful person, inside and out. She is new to the Etsy world, so you should stop by her shop and give her some love! She has a facebook page as well, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/allsevensisters">www.facebook.com/allsevensisters</a>. You should definitely check out her work! A lot of her jewelry is unique and can not be found in the normal stream-lined type of jewelry.</div>
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The hair clip is one of my own creations from my shop, <a href="http://www.popsiesandlace.etsy.com/">Popsies and Lace</a>. It is a black vintage floral hair clip and goes perfectly well with this outfit (and the hair style)!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOsOlI-rDgTv5sJYWsZq0m0CNDaUIpDkfLxF3HwKJAKZo_FVyJzKe0MBb_Zhh3uVobooKj3BCGSI8ftHpLFB3UwtMSyhoWBgTGeepGiWLMdXF77jh-jvNP14S4AsmhMoXgypi5C_D8jbX/s1600/il_570xN.467010229_ik85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOsOlI-rDgTv5sJYWsZq0m0CNDaUIpDkfLxF3HwKJAKZo_FVyJzKe0MBb_Zhh3uVobooKj3BCGSI8ftHpLFB3UwtMSyhoWBgTGeepGiWLMdXF77jh-jvNP14S4AsmhMoXgypi5C_D8jbX/s400/il_570xN.467010229_ik85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/153334137/black-ribbon-bracelet-with-sterling?ref=shop_home_active">Black Ribbon Knot Bracelet with Silver Bead Clusters</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng4t8DaJ_nBoDxkgnFUdOLJRcOsmsxXbHAwtuvgKk1ww1PYTVvdLHZH04H85wQbf39ve3e8ISuFJopChh3u4k6lhJT9-1NykNBn5W9I6o8HeCze7v7gYsUDIpGy2q3VKJk_I_kgWsi4V8/s1600/IMG_5961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng4t8DaJ_nBoDxkgnFUdOLJRcOsmsxXbHAwtuvgKk1ww1PYTVvdLHZH04H85wQbf39ve3e8ISuFJopChh3u4k6lhJT9-1NykNBn5W9I6o8HeCze7v7gYsUDIpGy2q3VKJk_I_kgWsi4V8/s400/IMG_5961.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/127343468/black-vintage-floral-shabby-chic-vintage?ref=shop_home_active">Black Vintage Floral Shabby Chic Vintage Inspired Hair Clip</a></span></div>
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<b>DAY 13</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QwFyDXNu4vrXaWM5T_h9H90FyUxE1rDDRNE6krCdNeRmvzOi1l_Rls4YtLhPMnzx9hjDrc66tD_SrvF-rF1l13c5rlcvn0EyZzWFzhJoM6Roodd_qKgpT0QlQRl6o-fy7afdJEgUroOE/s1600/IMG_6251-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QwFyDXNu4vrXaWM5T_h9H90FyUxE1rDDRNE6krCdNeRmvzOi1l_Rls4YtLhPMnzx9hjDrc66tD_SrvF-rF1l13c5rlcvn0EyZzWFzhJoM6Roodd_qKgpT0QlQRl6o-fy7afdJEgUroOE/s400/IMG_6251-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I have yet another outfit that I love. Yay! I simply love the modern vintage look of this outfit. At first glance, the top might be making you sweat. But, it's actually pretty breezy and is a great Spring/Summer top. The shirt is a pink, lacy over shirt that you would most definitely wear something under. Because it's lace, you can see through it. This cute little thing is from New York & Company. (I only paid a whopping $2 for it at the thrift store. Woot!) Love it! Underneath, I wore a nude colored tank top that I got from Old Navy for less than $5. See? You can wear cute clothing and not pay a ton of money. :) I wore those amazingly wonderful jeans from American Eagle, added on some cute accessories, and voila!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO2WFVY8K35D1dycCrKuTxX7quGbuJFaYEO9w0m-uijmcx38WHIoviVsKkzIKOm8WLUyRHHJRGCvtEF2sCC8pN3XeiwZYZLogTZ4T-XFG44Vak3yrKWSvCc92krM2Y5oKLlaT03OcU_YS/s1600/IMG_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO2WFVY8K35D1dycCrKuTxX7quGbuJFaYEO9w0m-uijmcx38WHIoviVsKkzIKOm8WLUyRHHJRGCvtEF2sCC8pN3XeiwZYZLogTZ4T-XFG44Vak3yrKWSvCc92krM2Y5oKLlaT03OcU_YS/s400/IMG_6255.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Once again, we visit "All Seven Sisters" and "Popsies and Lace" for the accessories. This necklace is from "All Seven Sisters." It's so cute and is perfect for my vintage style outfits. I also love that you can wear it short or long and it's really comfy to wear. What you can't see is that the pendant is a picture of little flowers and a perching bird. Adore it!</div>
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The earrings are the creamy ivory rose, vintage inspired earrings that I've worn with previous outfits. I think they just complete the ensemble rather well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc6fzCAcYBGb3dpfqmFHHGkrs3ybG3Yo1pyuVLX0Q9qvF-bY-WzXwjEcu5wOrs8pxVLKnRNuhyphenhyphenP7JpsE4igX9SOYikfHi72TfK9LpPHo9FqhLuX23RM988Txrh1YSH1ReN1M-8STiCEQB/s1600/il_570xN.459499314_sit3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc6fzCAcYBGb3dpfqmFHHGkrs3ybG3Yo1pyuVLX0Q9qvF-bY-WzXwjEcu5wOrs8pxVLKnRNuhyphenhyphenP7JpsE4igX9SOYikfHi72TfK9LpPHo9FqhLuX23RM988Txrh1YSH1ReN1M-8STiCEQB/s400/il_570xN.459499314_sit3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/151298839/beautiful-turquoise-blue-perched-bird?ref=shop_home_feat">Turquoise Perched Bird Pendant Necklace</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tOWo7eufbmmDBb9Osxjim5Gebk4C2P4hNxR510B0IER1NqPgUN4KXecOVoIubf7wJ80l_K4frVlAJAoUkUvPw3OySJMeqtUMxWv6xcwgbeXpDs9lRelPdRqJdRjtw2GpoIaaKlwa7vdi/s1600/IMG_5956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tOWo7eufbmmDBb9Osxjim5Gebk4C2P4hNxR510B0IER1NqPgUN4KXecOVoIubf7wJ80l_K4frVlAJAoUkUvPw3OySJMeqtUMxWv6xcwgbeXpDs9lRelPdRqJdRjtw2GpoIaaKlwa7vdi/s400/IMG_5956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/129689321/shirley-creamy-ivory-rose-vintage?ref=shop_home_active">Creamy Ivory Rose Vintage Inspired Earrings</a></span></div>
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<b>DAY 13</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllDdE3PR2jyzk5IJzUnWD_03ZnphtvkOJFXLKm-CpofV0wxDQ5RwzuLlpy_j9dVBt75VBb40UX22RsvcGkNLXdyJj4NhW5fB1RMJ_vIggh5-Gn1bTqyy7_0BbZqZtNGmp8dGAHqewyeKi/s1600/1528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllDdE3PR2jyzk5IJzUnWD_03ZnphtvkOJFXLKm-CpofV0wxDQ5RwzuLlpy_j9dVBt75VBb40UX22RsvcGkNLXdyJj4NhW5fB1RMJ_vIggh5-Gn1bTqyy7_0BbZqZtNGmp8dGAHqewyeKi/s400/1528.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-1528-twin-palms.aspx">Shabby Apple</a></span></div>
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Here is another online-selected outfit for your viewing pleasure. My excuse for day 13 is that my infant son spit up all over me about an hour before I planned to get pictures. No joke. The spit-up ran all the way from my shoulder down to my waist and even got on my pants. Yeah, I wasn't about to get a picture in that. So, instead you get to look at this beauty of a dress! Oh. my. goodness! I want this sooo badly! I want it in yellow, even though yellow looks awful on me; that's how badly I want it. It's totally '50s/'60s and looks like a dress you would have seen on the movie, "The Help." L.O.V.E!</div>
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<b>DAY 14</b></div>
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I went modern vintage again for day 14, and I really like the end result! The turquoise top and the nude undershirt are both from Old Navy. The turquoise top is from their vintage style line. So comfy! I wore the tops with my favorite American Eagle jeans (yes, again). Then, I paired this outfit with some fun accessories that I think make the outfit to be one that I love wearing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBYSJEx5yrxI5TSRDh7kki5LTASXynfPTTxk1cdZ_zlBw13P5VUH5WyN3cId7HeAhL2-SY9pJ_8UfRcE3M4pnqLz1cIY6UZPqY5347NP9t68P7qkpmC12jJhYinAItRyc5eoqL4NjrnEK/s1600/IMG_6321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBYSJEx5yrxI5TSRDh7kki5LTASXynfPTTxk1cdZ_zlBw13P5VUH5WyN3cId7HeAhL2-SY9pJ_8UfRcE3M4pnqLz1cIY6UZPqY5347NP9t68P7qkpmC12jJhYinAItRyc5eoqL4NjrnEK/s400/IMG_6321.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This lovely, summer, infinity scarf is from the Etsy shop, <a href="http://www.miloandmolly.etsy.com/">Milo and Molly</a>. I love this scarf, because it is super comfy and very lightweight. You would think it'd be too hot to wear in the summer, but it's the perfect accessory to go with a summer outfit. This scarf isn't available in her shop anymore. But, she does have many other designs up for sale <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MiloandMolly?section_id=11528097">here</a>.</div>
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The burlap rose headband and the earrings are both from my shop, <a href="http://www.popsiesandlace.etsy.com/">Popsies and Lace</a>. If you remember the outfit from day 11, that's the same headband. I told you it was versatile! Here, I wore it boho style to give off a '20s feel, and I think it worked out quite well. The earrings are the same ivory rose earrings worn in day 13.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0itwUk076-34S84G1zvnHXGOnhvyeu73qQTwnlHG4PHNzb4pHfeMyDJhg1-1Jsy4kq6c7Ult0dlYAHQpQEFf8fQpDcBuFTNbAR-3E5bV6jHJ4-VzKeQZbgF2-n3cd04QLLl9OnDJLGarP/s1600/ic37tLj_vxNSHt9wly-PmyvI_NQriNXiuKfRRM84cgg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0itwUk076-34S84G1zvnHXGOnhvyeu73qQTwnlHG4PHNzb4pHfeMyDJhg1-1Jsy4kq6c7Ult0dlYAHQpQEFf8fQpDcBuFTNbAR-3E5bV6jHJ4-VzKeQZbgF2-n3cd04QLLl9OnDJLGarP/s400/ic37tLj_vxNSHt9wly-PmyvI_NQriNXiuKfRRM84cgg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/127208084/white-burlap-rose-and-beige-pearl?ref=shop_home_active">White Burlap Rose Vintage Inspired Headband</a></span></div>
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I'm beyond excited to conclude that I think I've finally discovered my style. Though I always loved vintage, I wasn't quite sure how to wear it. With using Shabby Apple and other sites as inspiration, I'm finding ways to modernize vintage looks. I also had a very exciting moment the other day, while shopping at Kohl's with my husband. For the first time, I walked past the women's clothing section, and my eyes immediately landed on some tops and dresses. They were lacy and screamed vintage. I nearly screamed myself! I gobbled them up, with my eyes, as my lips drooled with longing. Okay, that may be dramatic. BUT, I called my husband over and said, "I want those. They are totally my style!" I looked at the price tags, sighed, and then walked away with the pictures of those finds dancing through my head. On my way out of the store, something struck me. For the first time ever, I noticed something in a store that was MY style! I was actually able to say that I found something that was "me." Now that's what I call progress!</div>
Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653578518202635629.post-9843417923143272092013-06-13T08:30:00.000-04:002013-06-13T09:09:56.871-04:00Change of LooksYour eyes are probably going crazy right now. What happened to my blog? Well, as I was going through my blog, I decided that it was time to make it more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The way my blog was designed before almost strained the eyes. It practically killed even mine! I've been greatly debating about investing in a blog designer and having someone come up with a really great design for my blog. (If you know anybody who does designs for a reasonable price, please direct me their way!) So, for now, I decided to go with one of the basic designs. I honestly really like this one, because it's me. It has a vintage feel to it, with the browns and tans and the old world map at the top. It's not glamorous, but it will do its job for now.<br />
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So, you may be wondering how the style search is going. Oy vey! I'm really struggling, my friends. I'm going to post the past several days below (as I cringe) and pray that some sort of positive comes out of it. I think part of my dislike is that almost all the pictures were taken at the end of the day, after I looked like I'd been through the ringer. I really need to find some creative way to take my pictures before my hubby gets home from work (which is always super late, grr hissity hiss). Seriously! I at least can rejoice in the redemption of the outfit from day ten. Thankfully, the best was saved for last, and hopefully that's the one that stays on your mind. Alright, well, here goes . . .</div>
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<b>DAY 6</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ8Uhrkb3G15DKRTMmroNRnHpUbxi9IiQwn-1IiqrbZG7cUZXEhDOBZZRqhV_ep2Ds9uvyQEahrrucc1rUTBLyrwchqj5LWDVndfOXBYrK2JMYcwiGKIGCzbj0z_AZU6SIoaitdSTTohV/s1600/IMG_6143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ8Uhrkb3G15DKRTMmroNRnHpUbxi9IiQwn-1IiqrbZG7cUZXEhDOBZZRqhV_ep2Ds9uvyQEahrrucc1rUTBLyrwchqj5LWDVndfOXBYrK2JMYcwiGKIGCzbj0z_AZU6SIoaitdSTTohV/s400/IMG_6143.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Yikes! All I have to say about this is that I look something akin to a pumpkin fairy. My husband really liked the outfit, but all I'm seeing is chunkiness. Perhaps I should have paired it with a belt. I think a belt would have helped a lot. The turquoise top is from Forever 21. It's one of those tops that you would see daring women wear as a dress and spend all day yanking on it to keep their butt from hanging out. No thank you! I am not one of those daring women, so I paired it with black capri leggings. You can't see it, but the bottom of the leggings are lined with lace. The leggings are <strike>Miley Cyrus</strike> some weird brand. Go ahead. You can judge me.</div>
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I kept my accessories simple, though I probably should have worn something more extravagant to take away from the pumpkin engulfing my body. The pearl necklace I'm wearing is just a simple but nice necklace that was donated to me, for this very venture, by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbirdscreations">Redbird's Creations</a>. The shop is a husband and wife team who create some really nice jewelry! Below is a blurry, but up close picture of the necklace I am wearing. It's simple but elegant, and I love both of those aspects. I also like that the necklace is all pearls, because I have an infatuation with pearls.</div>
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<b>DAY 7</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zgHhyOScjL_MhQqLNKvIPNZ0QL4roBHKjohb0VYMYPKgSEWcVwWNg7h1gz4JQzwcsXdwU_awEoWB_sSUCbAvq5Uw0YSaTZvheKb1vBVyqHeVcgGKD5JwcmcDC8qaWhxGTGp7LE8uWOqo/s1600/IMG_6145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zgHhyOScjL_MhQqLNKvIPNZ0QL4roBHKjohb0VYMYPKgSEWcVwWNg7h1gz4JQzwcsXdwU_awEoWB_sSUCbAvq5Uw0YSaTZvheKb1vBVyqHeVcgGKD5JwcmcDC8qaWhxGTGp7LE8uWOqo/s400/IMG_6145.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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I actually like this outfit, and so does my husband. I didn't really like it at first, but it's grown on me. The way the shirt hangs long and freely in the front causes the direction of the eyes to look down lengthwise, which gives the appearance of a thinner look. I'm all about looking thinner! I'll take thin any day! :) You can't see the back of this shirt, but it has a really neat lace design that goes across the shoulder area. The white shirt part is attached. That shirt is made by the company Heart 2 Heart. (It's another thrift store lovely.) I always wear this shirt with a tank top, because I'm not comfortable with the short length of the main part of the shirt. That wonderful tank top (which I wear with a lot of outfits) can be found at Old Navy. Thank you, Old Navy! I got it for a couple measly bucks on a sale. Can you tell I like sales yet? With these tops, I wore those lovely denim capris again. You know, the ones with the ever growing hold in the left knee. Those capris were from Aeropostale, by the way. I forgot to mention that before. For my accessories, I actually wore the jewelry from my wedding. (My wedding was a military 40s/50s themed wedding. Are you surprised? hehe!)</div>
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<b>DAY 8</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6AMO6rktQLXI3mLn273esHfOCa6Cirki4hQF1xorFQleIpbh3nr41CuVZPE4FJKRLkMHPUBBg7BHBRFgGprTlH61R_PRy4eXIHeO5Yzx__EBhbG_RwXZDMWJ95-0SWnvwQmHYbNKCmJI/s1600/IMG_6149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6AMO6rktQLXI3mLn273esHfOCa6Cirki4hQF1xorFQleIpbh3nr41CuVZPE4FJKRLkMHPUBBg7BHBRFgGprTlH61R_PRy4eXIHeO5Yzx__EBhbG_RwXZDMWJ95-0SWnvwQmHYbNKCmJI/s400/IMG_6149.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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What in the world is going on with my eyes? I think my husband had said that I kept squinting during the pictures, so I tried to open my eyes a bit more, and this was the result. FAIL! Despite how ridiculous the picture looks, I actually do like this outfit. I adore the lovely little ruffles in the middle of this pretty purple shirt from Forever 21. I wore it with a pair of black dress pants. I can't remember where the pants are from, and I'm too lazy to get up and look right now. Sorry. I was boring and wore the same jewelry as the day before. My hair could have used a little help, I'm afraid.</div>
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<b>DAY 9</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc1xIArsdnSJ-1F-d-k44dwNDocdGE0BPrH47qz-vOZHUAFw9brDpa3-gXQRi91WhWGOjgppnMImT7UrpUJVM6Yb4G9NcCPmn4yfQasZQXIAn7Tb8vpLp5chfFQ4Yuq3Bm_wP-Cq86KNs/s1600/IMG_6151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc1xIArsdnSJ-1F-d-k44dwNDocdGE0BPrH47qz-vOZHUAFw9brDpa3-gXQRi91WhWGOjgppnMImT7UrpUJVM6Yb4G9NcCPmn4yfQasZQXIAn7Tb8vpLp5chfFQ4Yuq3Bm_wP-Cq86KNs/s400/IMG_6151.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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I remember this being a particularly hot day, so that's why I decided to go with a tank top. I know. I kind of cheated a bit. Aside from the jewelry, this whole outfit is a Walmart wonder. I love the purple tank top, frankly because I love the color purple. I'm sure you've probably picked up on that by now. The pants I'm wearing with it are a-mazing! Those bad boys are the comfiest, best fitting yoga pants I will ever own. They've gone through multiple pregnancies and have gone all over the place with me. What I mostly love about those pants is that they can be dressed up or dressed down. I LOVE versatile clothing! Those pants are truly my go-to pants when I can't decide on anything else to wear. As for the accessories, they are a lovely jewelry set that my husband bought for me two Christmases ago. They are also awesome for dressing up or dressing down.</div>
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<b>DAY 10</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapuTFhqBFs4S1U1XjrIjZWD_ZRcwYT9-24sPz0tTY8NYXsUGCeaSfp9RII0hIeSQYePWq1SyOKNs-EGx79VxQTEs9rrXnEG7jywpTxG4wOlQFlZAnpNKlLtVi9b0g8SGZB90y5urgN7lR/s1600/IMG_6234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapuTFhqBFs4S1U1XjrIjZWD_ZRcwYT9-24sPz0tTY8NYXsUGCeaSfp9RII0hIeSQYePWq1SyOKNs-EGx79VxQTEs9rrXnEG7jywpTxG4wOlQFlZAnpNKlLtVi9b0g8SGZB90y5urgN7lR/s400/IMG_6234.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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My favorite outfit is finally here! This is where I'm really starting to see my style take shape. I love how modernly vintage this outfit looks, and I didn't have to do much. I feel pretty and vintage-y in this outfit. I normally avoid wearing white, but this shirt is so lovely. You can't really see the detail too well, but the overlay on the front of the shirt is white lace. LOVE it! I got that beauty at Old Navy, in their vintage section (go figure). To go with the shirt, I wore my favorite jeans from American Eagle.</div>
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All the accessories in this outfit are actually sold in my vintage accessories shop, which I've recently renamed to <a href="http://www.popsiesandlace.etsy.com/">Popsies and Lace</a>. (I'm going to be shameless here and throw out a request for you to hop on over to my new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/popsiesandlace">facebook page</a> and show some love. If you have a facebook page for a business, I will gladly return the love or "like," as facebook would have it.) Now, about the accessories . . . the ring and earrings are a matching set that I sell separately in my shop. They are creamy ivory shabby chic rosettes with ivory half-pearls in the centers. The lovely flower in my hair is actually a headband that I make. The flower is made from white burlap and is adorned with a beige pearl in the center. What I love about most of my headbands is that you can do more than wear them just as a headband. Like in the picture, I wrapped the elastic around my bun to create the affect of the flower sitting in my hair like a hair clip. Cool, huh?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK49UrbQvxgpNZ8H22-W-a9EvXcEhn9clxjbqBys5_WWViFft-Q_C-G4pDcv1QGtLa9Y5OhcIC1rirIIEByNXbPlBsC0Kb7uaBmNjxOMBxDIXgGzC2mJAVmmOSnzvFJNQ9Q_hrWe8zXcYU/s1600/IMG_5408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK49UrbQvxgpNZ8H22-W-a9EvXcEhn9clxjbqBys5_WWViFft-Q_C-G4pDcv1QGtLa9Y5OhcIC1rirIIEByNXbPlBsC0Kb7uaBmNjxOMBxDIXgGzC2mJAVmmOSnzvFJNQ9Q_hrWe8zXcYU/s400/IMG_5408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/150281143/ivory-shabby-chic-flower-with-pearl?ref=shop_home_active">Creamy Ivory Shabby Chic Rosette Vintage Inspired Earrings</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8vkCaNqogbBhT7z3oQfVkqGU0t7kydanEwXZpOGyZXdJy87uEEWoHlH4coc_hwC0nHzQbb0t8DbDO2vyNERUuucwED_bjgUNA3E0qL7uF6ydcvvnJFnBATD5KokgOT4b4vt_GVbjNKLy/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8vkCaNqogbBhT7z3oQfVkqGU0t7kydanEwXZpOGyZXdJy87uEEWoHlH4coc_hwC0nHzQbb0t8DbDO2vyNERUuucwED_bjgUNA3E0qL7uF6ydcvvnJFnBATD5KokgOT4b4vt_GVbjNKLy/s400/IMG_5668.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/152118455/ivory-shabby-chic-rosette-with-pearl?ref=shop_home_feat">Creamy Ivory Shabby Chic Rosette Vintage Inspired Ring</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5jvFR-059pcVEr_BzX36MKUjmTBEyjVBdlUfJg3-IEluaTfw_Ld3ZBAEXbz-MPnA-_Uw7yY6vPMAet2bXzSp3E6U55vUG64WtosVPRKzuxVrmc-4zZO9VupwU26-uCfFlnYZ1mbVjZaz/s1600/GFmj0-FOnZsOubbJC6jiad6bIUBOgJ0uqAcX88YumTM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5jvFR-059pcVEr_BzX36MKUjmTBEyjVBdlUfJg3-IEluaTfw_Ld3ZBAEXbz-MPnA-_Uw7yY6vPMAet2bXzSp3E6U55vUG64WtosVPRKzuxVrmc-4zZO9VupwU26-uCfFlnYZ1mbVjZaz/s400/GFmj0-FOnZsOubbJC6jiad6bIUBOgJ0uqAcX88YumTM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/127208084/white-burlap-rose-and-beige-pearl?ref=shop_home_active">White Burlap Rose and Beige Pearl Vintage Inspired Headband</a></div>
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*I apologize for this post being so late in coming. I've had a lot on my plate recently, so please bear with me as I catch up on things. I look forward to hearing your comments!*</div>
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Lydia @ This Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09633818721659786681noreply@blogger.com3