Time Now.

I think too much.

I have always thought too much.  I ponder and I muse and I wonder. All the time.

It isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes, it really is. When you think about any one thing a little bit too much, it turns into something that it isn't. I can't even count the number of times this has happened to me.

Over the past week or so, I've been having these great deep chats with my little sissy. I call her my little sissy, but she's a senior in high school and planning out her college career.  I still think of her as this lil' baby that I played Polly pockets for hours upon hours.

But she isn't. She's not a baby anymore, and she has actually had a lot to do with me coming to my senses over my "issues."  I have...a million issues. Just like everyone else in this world.  Sometimes they're old issues sometimes they're new, but they're there, and Megan, my lil' sissy likes to help bring them all into the light and dust 'em all off.

Today, I laid in my bed thinking all about the things I've discussed with Megan. Then it occurred to me...maybe I should stop all this thought.  I mean obviously, it's not realistic to try to stop thinking entirely, but it's possible that I'm giving all this time and energy to things that don't even deserve it.

I think the biggest problem with all this thinking, is that a lot of the time, another person is involved in all of the thinking and how the hell am I supposed to know what is going on in another person's head? I can't possibly know and now I've just allowed my imagination to create the worst possible scenario when maybe, just maybe, it was what it is.

I made a promise to myself a while ago that I would leave things alone.  I promised myself that I would live in the moment. I would be me and do me and not get all caught up in the trivial bull shit.

And I did just that. I got caught up and I let old things hurt me.  I had expectations beyond that of reality because I didn't just see what my life is for what it is. But that is about to change.

Time now.

This & That

First of all, don't forget about the give away I've got running! You can enter to win a 25% off discount to Nays Custom Leather's Etsy Shop and a custom leather bracelet anyway that you want it!

I have a bracelet and I wear it every day! In fact, I'm wearing it right now. They are adorable and I know you want one! So hurry and enter to win while you have the chance

It's always worth it to enter a giveaway! What do you have to lose?!

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This day has been...interesting. 

First, I got up a little late (I've been staying up way too late re-watching Grey's Anatomy) and had to rush to get ready. I had to stop and get gas and I decided to grab myself some hot chai at the Beans & Brews. Drinking tasty hot drinks is all part of me trying to embrace the suck that is Utah in the winter time...

Well, the line at the Beans & Brews was way longer than it looked, so I started to get all anxious that I was going to be late, then I looked in my lap and realized that my badge wasn't on...so I had to go back home and get it. Luckily, I made it on time, but not before spilling my chai all over in my car...Good one, Katie.

Luckily, there was still quite a bit left in the cup because I opted for the 20 oz...but still, I spilled hot, sticky liquid all over. Not cool. 

Then we got slapped with all these new rules at work. Some people have abusing their privileges of not being watched like a hawk...so now everyone with my job title has to report what we're doing every moment of the day...Awesome? Not really. Of course, that is part of life, dealing with rules, but it's annoying that people had to ruin it for those that follow them.

I also decided today, that even though I don't believe in astrology and horoscopes and the like, sometimes, they tell me some good shit. Read this and tell me that this is something I didn't need to hear? Oh, you can't? I thought so...it's kinda dead on.  If you know anything about me, you know that today's horoscope almost made a believer out of me...(still a skeptic though.)

Yesterday, I was listening to this Mumford and Sons song and I started wondering why I don't just listen to them all the time...They speak to me and their composition is fantastic. If you don't listen to them or you've never listened to them, I recommend you look into them. They rock.

And...tonight, I'm taking my adopted little brother out to dinner and a movie. Okay, so he's not really my adopted little brother. He's J's little brother, but I wish he was mine, so we're pretending. I'm really excited to hang out with him, but now I have to go clean up the spilled chai so he can ride  in the car. That's just how things go for me! 

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Enter the giveaway while you still can!

If I Ever Have Children They May Not Survive...

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend. We talked a bit about our upbringing. We talked about how it has shaped the people we have become and yada yada yada. It got me thinking to myselt...If I were to become a mother some day, what kind would I be?

I came up with this: A horrible one! 

Here are the top ten reasons that I would be a terrible mom.

I am a bad fish parent...Even though I see this nearly empty bowl every day, I can't be bothered to clean it and get fresh water...Lazy? Guess so.

I forget everything. 

Source: someecardss.tumblr.com via aubree on Pinterest

I am messy...Oh god, I'm so messy. I would lose my child in my messes...

My keys are always in the bathroom, my phone is always on the kitchen counter, and my shoes are never where I took them off. My scattered brain cannot handle kiddie objects as well.

I'm married to the gym, and I plan to be Drill Instructor strict about fitness.

source

And in the same breath about being healthy...I consider this shit to be lunch. 

I refuse to wear pants when I'm in my house.

I like to try new things...and sometimes it ends up bad...And you can bet your bottom dollar, that whatever I tried is going to be put to use at least once.  Unfortunate souls...

\

This:

I am always in the mood for spaghetti, so we'll probably have it for dinner 3 times a week. Every. Single. Week. 

Sorry, Kids. 

One day, I plan on popping one out, and I hope that by that time, I've changed a little bit, because right now, it's looking like if I ever have children, they may not survive their childhood.  

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Don't forget, today is Wednesday! You can link whatever post you wrote today up with any of the following blogs.  You don't have to write about anything specific, just post, link up, and meet some new bloggers! It's fun, I promise! Now....go!

Taingamala

Handling With Grace

Scattered Seashells

G.I. Joe's Wife

Don't forget to check out my November sponsor! Nay's Custom Leather

"...I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."

I didn't have a computer yesterday, so today is "Thoughtful Thursday" on Friday...

In my 11th grade English class, we were required to memorize several poems.  It was not my favorite part of the class. No where near it in fact. I don't really like poetry. I can appreciate the skill it takes to write it, but I just always feel like the writers of it are trying much too hard to dig deep. Even though that's sort of the point of poetry; digging deep.

But there was one poem that struck a chord with me. It was "Invictus" by William Ernst Henley.  We were memorizing it around the same time that the movie Invictus was coming out in theatres so it was fairly familiar to us all.  Although then, I couldn't have known that it would be so important to me, I made a copy of it and I tucked it away for safe keeping.

Yesterday, I was straightening my room (that wasn't even messy!) and I pulled a blanket up from the ground and out came a sheet of paper from nowhere. It was Invictus. The poem that I just kind of enjoyed memorizing in high school so I made a copy. I read through it and I started to cry. Crying is definitely not strange for me. I do it on almost a daily basis, so I'm not sure why it was so different this time, but I stood up, wiped away my tears and I faced the day. All I thought about the rest of the day was that poem. "I am the master of my fate: I am the captian of my soul."  I can't give anyone else that position.

I make my fate. I am responsible for me and for the way that I feel and the way that I am. "I am the master of my fate:  I am the captain of my soul."

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

What if I wanted the extra large coke?

First of all, I would like to say welcome to my new followers! I hope you're enjoying what you've read so far! And onto the meat!

It's Thursday! You know what that means? I'm about to get all...thoughtful :) 

Today, my topic was handed to me while scrolling through my Facebook Newsfeed in bed this morning. I read an article through Yahoo News about banning "Big Soda" in New York City movie theatres and eateries. 

I have read several of the articles in that link to get as much information as I can before I get pissed about the fact that in New York City, they're telling me what size of drink that I'm allowed to buy.

Quick little summary of what is going on:

Soda is linking to child-obesity and is thought to be part of the reason that America is fat. (I drink at least one sugar soda a day and I'm 110 lbs. and a lean machine.... just BTW New York) So Mayor Blooberg decided to propose that the sale of drinks larger the 16 ounces be prohibited in theatres and restaurants...It was a pretty controversial issue but eventually, the Board of Health passed the bill. 

To me, the reason that this is so frustrating, is that a choice is being taken away. Sure, it's in a state on the other side of the country from me, and it doesn't effect me specifically, but what if it does some day? Why does someone else get to decide how much soda I can drink at one time?  Why don't they just grab all the people that are considered overweight and force them to start a diet?  

Basically, what I'm so annoyed at, is that soda is not alcohol. It isn't tobacco and it isn't drugs. It's a drink that people all over the world enjoy with their movie or their dinner or whatever. It doesn't need to be controlled...Sure, it has negative side affects, but so does running, lifting weights, biking etc.(remember how I broke my arm doing that?!) Everything we make the choice to ingest or activities we choose to pursue have side affects, but it's my choice whether or not I want to take that chance...Who are you to decide how much soda pop I drink? 

Okay, I'm done. I appreciate opinions and other points of views. Just remember, you don't have to be mean :) 

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day everyone! Today, I'm celebrating Labor Day by...laboring.  That's right, I'm sitting here at working pounding out another blog post wishing I was laying in bed crunching on some toast with raspberry jam...

Oh well though...Sometimes, you don't get holidays off, that's just how it is. On the bright side, I believe that I'm making time and a half today. So I'll be getting over the pouting right about....NOW!

This morning, I woke up late, slept on my neck funny, and I was alone in a big empty house all night last night. Usually, that wouldn't bother me at all, but for some reason or another, it induced a bit of a pity party and I had several fits of crying and sadness...Last time I house sat, I had J to talk to on the phone for hours upon hours, so being there wasn't quite as fun this time as it was last time...

Also! Most importantly, today is my big sister's birthday!

Happy 22nd Birthday to my beautiful sissy Alexis. She's been my best friend ever since we were little...even though her favorite game was slave...and I never got to be the master.

One last note before I go! I'm getting my hair done tomrrow! I'll write a post with some wonderful before and after pictures. Hopefully it turns out cute. I am in desperate need of some new hair, let me tell ya...

My Life, My Love, and the World As I See It

Technically, I'm posting twice in one day, but pretend that it's tomorrow. I have a feeling that work will be too busy for my to post and I have too many chores to allow blogging to distract me. So, I'm doing my bloggin' tonight.  And it's a little long winded. If you want to just get to the point, feel free to skip to the last paragraph.

*Disclaimer* 
The following paragraphs do not reflect any official views of the church. They are simply my interpretation of the way things are. (except for the links. That's legit) 

I did not grow up in a particularly religious household, but I live in a place (Utah) that was founded as the foundation of the LDS church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) so naturally, religious beliefs have been a large part of my life.  Even if I had never attended church, I would still know all about how to be a Mormon.

Although I didn't attend church on a regular basis (I went through a stint in high school where I went every Sunday. I'm not sure why it didn't last...) I learned a whole lot about it. In Utah (and Idaho?) we have a building on school grounds where you can elect to go for one class a day and learn more about the church etc. It's called Seminary.  That is where I learned most of what I know. 

For the most part, Mormons are people that live their lives based on a set of rules and moral values described to them in the King James Version of the bible and The Book of Mormon.  I have learned a whole lot of excellent things from those books and I'm about to tell you about it.  Most of the time, I take them out of context and apply them to myself. Typically, you wouldn't do that and you would learn la lesson as a whole, but if you ask me, if you get something good out of it, does it really matter if it was taken out of context? Nope.

1.  One thing I learned (and I'm relearning right now) is that looking for signs is foolish. The universe isn't going to tell you what to do or how to do it, you will only know what to do because you know what is right inside of yourself.  

2.  It doesn't hurt to get on your knees and pray. Maybe you are just doing it to get words out into the world and ask for help, but it definitely doesn't hurt. 

3. There is no magical key to happiness. Personally happiness is determined by you and only you.

4. Forgive. Holding grudes will typically hurt you more than it will hurt the other person, so what's the point?

5. Faith extends beyond your religion. Not having faith in the things you don't fully understand or know will possibly lead to your demise... (so I just kinda decided that one. And by demise, I don't mean die...I just mean like, an overall unhappiness with stuff?)

And that is what I learned in Sunday School. I think that sometimes, I forget those things I know. I forget who I am and I let the opinions and ideals of others impress upon me too harshly.  I forget that I have a completely different thought process and way of dealing with things than the people around me and that I have a lot knowledge in this brain of mine. I should know better than to let other tell me how I should do things. This is my life, my love, and the world as I see. I need to use the things I know to make it the way that I want it.  Right?

What A Life...

My company is expanding very quickly. So quickly that they finally bought the building I work in and they're doing rennovations.  All day I get to hear hammers and drills whirring and pounding. I get to smell heaven knows what burning or melting or something...And there's dirty guys (literally dirty, not saying they're bad guys they just have construction-grime all over them) tracking dirt all over the tile making things slippery! (I'm clumsy...slipped in my high-heels on Wednesday, pretty embarrassing...)

Plus, there's never any salt shakers in the break room anymore...and people are doing strange things like excersising and being overly obssesed with Emmy Rossum...totally weird.

And it gets better! Like I said, we're expanding very fast. We provide phone service for hard of hearing people. It's used mostly by the elderly. That means we have a really large customer base making us very busy. Not only are we busy and have less than 1 minute between calls our cubes are stuffed. We are so full of employees it's insane. I'm lucky to find a seat each time I come in...Holy moly, what a life this is these days.


Bright side?

I'm going to 29 Palms on Tuesday. I'm so excited for that. I pretty much packed my bag this morning and I'm not leaving for another 5 days...I know that I'm going to have a good time, but I'm trying to keep a very open mind about everything. I guess we shall see how it goes.

Love Hate Realtionship

There are a lot of things that I love. On the flip side, there are several things that I hate. And sometimes, I both love and hate things.  All of the below photographs are things that I both love and hate.  

I really love to cross stitch. But it makes me horrible sat when I make a mistake and I have to either cut my thread up and waste a bunch, or I have to un-stitch  inorder to save the thread...It drives me crazy and makes my very relaxing hobby stressful.

Even more then having to un-stitch or waste thread, I hate knots. Because the floss is stored on small rectangle bobbins, the thread gets kinked in that shape. It's also three strands of thread, so if you aren't paying careful attention to every single stitch, you get a huge messy knot that you have to untie. And if it isn't fixable, sometimes you have to cut it and yet again waste thread...ugh.

I also love projects. I think it's fun to find something that needs improvement and make it better. But sometimes, I bite off just a little bit more than I can chew. My latest project is called "Operation find the missing socks spread all over my home". This is just the first basket of socks that I found and then folded. Currently, the room I took half a day cleaning has about 50 pairs of socks without buddies spread across it...and I have a whole other basket and then some left. I hate that

If I'm being completely honest, there is nothing that I hate about this little vacuum. I love this thing. I have hard wood floor in my room and it is just a pain to sweep. but this little guy picks up everything. I love it so much that I instagramed it...Yes, I love a mini vacuum cleaner...

I absolutely love cooking and eating my delicious meals...but I hate that I can't just eat a small portion, I have to eat half of the Cream-a-Soup concoctions. It's not helping the whole negative body image issue that I've got going for me...

Don't ask why this picture is upside down...because I'm not really sure why. But these three beauties are my biggest weaknesses. I can't stay away from them and they are making me gain weight...all that extra sugar is no good so I really love and hate them a whole lot.

Direction

A year ago today, I was sitting at MEPS anxiously awaiting the moment that I got to stand at attention and swear into the Marines with my right hand in the air.

I had to drink a galon of water to weigh 102 lbs and I was so happy that I had finally gotten to where I wanted to be.

Today, I sit at my desk at 110 lbs (without even trying...gosh life is so backwards.) wishing I was anywhere else but where I am right now.

It's true that I am feeling a whole lot better about myself today than I felt last only last week, but it doesn't keep me from wishing that things were different. On Facebook, I'm friends with all kinds of Marines that I knew in the DEP and otherwise and it can be so frustrating to watch them live my dream...I want it so bad and it just won't ever happen.

It's really difficult to not have goals. Sure, I have fitness goals and a few things that I want to get done, but it's just so hard to not have an ulitimate goal. I'm not sure where I want to go from here. I know I say that all the time, but somehow, I feel like I'm getting down to crunch time. It's like, I need to make a choice now or else I'm going to get stuck. I already feel stuck.

Don't get me wrong, throwing myself into that big garden project helped a lot and I feel about 15X better than I did, but now that I'm finished with it, I feel like I need something else big. I need stuff to do in order to distract myself from my intense lack of direction and I'm hoping in the meantime, I figure something out. 

I can't help thinking about what things would be like if I hadn't broken my arm...If I had gone to boot camp when I was supposed to...where would I be? I know that it's a waste of time to wonder, but I wish things had been different. 

Memorial Day

What I Learned At Work Today [Week 4]

Today at work, I sought information on the upcoming holiday. Memorial day is not a day that I have typically given much thought to. It was nice in school to have the three day weekend after long weeks of no breaks but other than that, memorial day didn't mean much to me at all.

Seems how I am getting ready to send the love of my life off to war, I thought maybe I could learn a little bit about it and really think about all of the liberties that we as citizens of the United States have because of the Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors that have given their lives.

I don't know anyone that died fighting a war, and I sincerely hope that I never do. But what I do have, are people very close to me that volunteered to put themselves in harms way because they believe in something bigger than them.

So, what I learned today, was that Memorial Day has been one that was celebrated since just after the civil war. It was first referred to as Decoration Day and was a day dedicated to decorating the graves of those who had died in the war.

Memorial Day was made an offical Federal holiday in 1971. The last Monday in May was chosen because the flowers would be in bloom. New York state was the first state observe this holiday.

In the year 1915, Monica Michael wrote this poem in respone to "In Flanders Fiels" that made red poppies the flower that represented this day that we give thanks to those who died for their country. For our country.

We cherish too, the Poppy red

that grows on fiels where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

That was completely new to me. I had no idea that red poppies had anything to do with memorial day.

Memorial day has become a day where you don't only decorate the graves of fallen soldiers but any of the people in your life that have passed away. I think this is not a bad thing at all. It is a good thing to remember those that are no longer with you.  Make tomorrow a day about more than your boat or fishing trip or...whatever. It was created for a reason.

What Memorial Day means to me
From this point forward, Memorial Day will be more than a BBQ or a camping trip. It won't be a day off of work or time and a half pay. It will be a day that I take to remember those who died for my right to have a blog and to say whatever the hell I wish to say. It will be a day that I not only appreciate my wonderful fiance for his service to his country but  maybe even feel a little bad about the fact that I get a little upset when he can't call me, or he's too tired to talk on the phone all night, or when I'm being negative and he just doesn't want to deal with it. 
It's a day to remember how I have the priveledge to live so freely in the United States (no matter how much money we owe China I can still say whatever I want). It's like...Thanksgiving, but without the food and a more specific thing to be thankful for... 
What a cool day that very few people participate in.

[Info and photograph were found at purpletrail.com I take no credit for the facts or picture only my own opinions]

What I Learned At Work Today [Week 2]

so this was supposed to happen on Wednesday, but I got a little carried away pinning things for my wedding...Oops. So this got a little waylaid. But never fear, I shall tell you what I learned at work today!
So, on Monday, I had to go pick up a perscription after work. I had to hurry to the pharmacy before my doctor's office closed. I made it in the nick of time and put in my perscription and had to wait for over an hour to get it filled so I went home to do some chores and figured I'd go pick it up later. Well, the phramacy called and the perscription was ready. Awesome.
So I jumped in the car, turned the key, and my car would not start! Now, my car is pretty old. I've said before that I drive a 76 Ford Maverick. But up until Monday (my BIRTHDAY!) I have never had a problem. My cute little Franc has always been pretty reliable. Unfortunately, my dad can't figure out what's wrong.  That meant that I got to drive the van to work today. The van isn't a bad vehicle, but when your dad has been driving it for the past year and the steering wheel has this awesome grimey man-film on it and the seat belt got my white dress all dirty...So the first thing I learned today (okay so it was yesterday now...), was....

 That I was crazy when I decided I wanted that car in the first place! Don't get me wrong. I loooved that old guy since the day I got him. But I really should have considered the fact that I was going to have to sell him off later to get something else...Now I'm stuck dropping off my dad every day and driving the dumb old van. : P at least I have something to drive though, right?

Hmmm....well it's still early, (my shift doesn't even start for another 30 minutes...I'm always really early) so I might need to cruise pinterest and yahoo for a minute to learn some more things to share with you today.

Later on...

Wow. Pinterest has a lot of things dealing with fitness and motivation to get fit and quick little "Get a bikini body after working out for 20 mins every day" dealies. And I most definitely learned that I need to go to the gym...You know that if you are reading the 10 exercise work out that takes 20 minutes and you feel kinda tired just thinking about it, you have been away from the gym far too long...

Also, I discovered Sandwich Art (what the hell?) Sure, It was cool when my mom used the flower cookie cutter to make my PB&J more interesting but really? These things are like...crazy intricate and it looks VERY time consuming. You can see it here on one of my pinterest boards. Holy moly moms are getting creative these days. If I ever start making cartoon characters out of sandwiches, stop me before it's too late...

Well, I have another post to write before this day is over. So. Until next week!

It's My Birthday!

I am so behind on my blogging. I'll be doing "What I Learned At Work Today"on Wednesday and updating you on my life...right about now.

So since my trip to 29 I've been working a ton of weird hours. In order to get time off you have to just trade shifts around and try to make something work for you. So I ended up working all weekend. Totally lame. But luckily, I've been passing my tests with high scores and earned the priveledge to watch videos between calls. It makes the time pass quite a lot faster. So My 10 hour work day Saturday wasn't as horrible as it would have been otherwise.
In other news, I've been doing a ton of wedding planning. It makes me really excited for the future. We bought one bridesmaid dress and we're doing more of that shopping later as well. I've got most of the stuff for my center pieces and I plan on getting to work on them very soon.  I'll post some pictures when I gt one completed :)

And for the most exciting part, today is my birthday.  I'm 19 today. I have been in a pretty bad mood all weekend. My family went out of town for a yearly vacation I couldn't go on because of my crazy working weekend, and I've just wanted to get some stuff done around my house, but it has just been impossible with my work schedule.
Luckily, I got home around 9:30 last night and had a little bit of time to take care of the dishes (just a little side note, why on earth would you run the diswasher when it only has like five spoons in the silverware thing?! There were plenty more forks and knives to be washed...ugh if you do chores, do them right) After that, I made some slightly bunrt popcorn and watched One Tree Hill on Netflix and tried to forget how lonely I was.
It's strange because I usually really like to be alone. It's nice for me to just have time to myself to reflect on my life and contemplate cleaning my disasterousy messy room ( I never actually clean it...just contemplate it.) but because it's my birthday today and everyone was gone all weekend (and today :( ) I just wasn't so happy to be alone. It mostly just makes me miss J and want to be with him even more than I already do.

But other than my pouty, moodiness, I have been thinking about all of the really great birthdays that I have had in the past.

I think that the most memorable ones involve balloons.
When I was in...oh I can't remember maybe 5th or 6th grade? my family had a huge bunch of helium balloons in my room when I woke up. It was a small gesture but it just started my day off so great. I remember how happy I felt to see them there when I got up. It was really an awesome feeling, especially because I never expect anything particularly grand on my birthday so I'm always surprised when something cool happens.

When I turned 13, my sister threw me a surprise party. That was...awesome. I had no idea what was going on...My dad took me door knob shopping to keep me busy while they were setting up and waiting for guest to arrive. Good one dad...When I walked in the room the there was huge group of my friends and family sitting there in a sea of balloons and I was completely shocked...I guess the doorknob shoping wasn't enough to give it away.

But I think the best birthday yet, was my 16th birthday. I had always wanted to have flowers delivered to me at school and I had made comments about in the past, so I always wondered if I might just so happen to get some flowers this birhtday. Well, I was sitting in 4th period (Last class of the day) and I had given up on the flowers. I knew it wouldn't happen. So I was sitting there reading whatever dumb book the teacher was making us read when I heard someone come in and the teacher announced to the class that they could put away their things and said something about having a special something or other...

I turned in my seat to see what she was talking about and there were my Grandma and sister with the big candy cake, balloons, and a big bouquet of beautiful gerber daises. I almost cried I was so happy. But instead of actually crying I just got REALLY embarrassed and turned bright red as my class sang happy birthday to me.
It was truly the most amazing thing anyone had done for me. It might seem silly, but for some reason or another, I feel like the forgotten child. And I'm totally not forgotten, but I'm the middle. Sometimes I get lost in the mix, But I that day, I felt so special. And people approached me in the halls about it for the rest of the month and told me how cool it was that my family did that for me.  I was soo grateful for them.
That was so awesome. And now, we get a little "Happy birthday" on FB, a text message, and if you're lucky, a phone call...I guess things have changed a little.
Well, I'd better get to work...

Until next time. :)

What I Learned At Work Today [WEEK 1]

Welcome to my Weekly post, "What I Learned At Work Today"! (I was supposed to post this yesterday, but I ran out of time at work!  This will be a Sunday post after this!) If it looks like that photograph was taken on the floor of the the handicap stall in the bathroom, it wasn't... (okay, it was...) We're not allowed to have cell phones on the call floor in any way shape or form, including camera-form, so I had to do something! Don't worry, I threw that paper away.  I decided that due to the fact that we are fairly slow on Sundays and I tend to learn very interesting things while I'm at work, I would share with the blog-world.  Sometimes the things I learn are from Pinterest, sometimes they are from blogs (okay...via Pinterest most of the time...) and sometimes, I'm just awesome and I learn things for myself from my experiences or from the things that hear while on calls all day. Not all of my "What I Learned At Work Today" posts will be long and they won't all explain what this is, but I thought you might like a little bit of background behind the idea. I will do my best to credit everyone that I learn things from if it's possible!

Today, I leared a couple of things.  First I learned that...

Saving money starts in the kitchen!

     Because I'm about to become a Military Spouse, I know that I'm going to have to be good at handling our money. (Heaven knows J won't be the one doing that! He can't resist a good looking jacket...) It's not unlikely that if we're stationed somewhere that doesn't have a big city around for 50+ miles, I won't be able to find a job, so we're going to be living off of BAH (if we're off base) and his Lcpl. income... Having read a lot of Military Spouse blogs (and a lot of mommy blogs and couponing blogs and blogs where their money is kinda tight) I have noticed that the place everyone starts is the kitchen.

    Food is something that we use up, then just have to buy more. It's like...laundry. It never ends. You simply have to do it every week or else it piles up and then...you have to go out naked. Not a good situation. Well if you don't do something about food, you starve!  And we cannot have that!  So, what do we do? We learn ways to make our dollar go further when it comes to what we put in our bellies. So far, this is what I've got.

1. Couponing is very smart. You can read more about what I already know about couponing in my post, Couponing: Simplified.
2. Freeze stuff. I learned all about what you can freeze and how to freeze it here at Simple Organized Living. The cool thing about these types of sites is that other people comment with the things that they freeze and how to freeze them. This is cool because that way, you can buy in bulk when things are at rock-bottom prices and freeze it...if it's feezable that is. Which is where the list comes in!
3. Meal Plan!  This didn't really come from anywhere specific. A lot of people say it's a good idea.  It saves moneys because you can shop with a very specific list and you won't end up spending money on things that you don't need.
4. Don't buy prepared meals (TV dinners, boxed dinners, etc.) They are more expensive and there are a lot of things that you can cook yourself that will taste even better than the prepared meal.
5. Get a really extensive recipe book or create a recipe repetoire online. Having the tools to cook at home make it so you don' tjust decide to go out which will end up costing you a lot more money than monthly grocery shopping!

If I didn't credit someone, I decided that on my own. If I did, click the link. You can learn something today too!

Next, I learned that...

Computer animation is the Coke Zero of movies

You must be thinking...Whaaa?? Well, I have two sister that are diabetic and I drank diet soda most of my childhood (we're soda drinkers...I have a coke, like, every morning...don't judge, I'm tryna quit.) That means that when I started drinking regular Coke, it was like I had see the light...I realized what I had been missing all these years and it brought joy to my life knowing there was real sugar in my pop. Anyway...Later in my life, they came out with Coke Zero. I thought, "Hey, maybe I'll start drinking that. Zero Calories, Zero sugar, still tatest good...That's awesome." Well after one sip I was disgusted. It was sooo close to tasting just like Coke, but it didn't. It wasn't even like it was an off-brand like Shasta or something, it was just...still not that good old, coke in a red can taste. Needless to day, I didn't make the switch.

Anyway...Today, I was eating my Wendy's salad in the break room and a movie was on. I think it was Tin Tin? Honestly, I'm not really sure. But I couldn't really tell if it was animated or live-action. I had to ask the kid sitting on the couch. Now, computer animation is pretty cool. I love Pixar movies. Up! is truly a modern classic...But isn't the whole point of animation that it's not supposed to look real?  It was frustrating because it was so close to looking live-action, but it wasn't.  Do you understand the connection? Good :)