Bigger Than You & Me

Although I have always been appreciative of the Armed Forces, it means something completely different to me now. I believe I said something to the same effect last memorial day, but even since then my views have changed.

Ever since the first day of basic when I put on that uniform and looked in the mirror, I felt completely different about the military.

I always knew it was hard work, but until you live it, it's impossible to understand.

I work 16 hour days. Sometimes Longer.
I have been away from home for nearly 6 months. I'm missing the first months of my nieces life...

I wake up at 04 every day. On the weekends, I think I get to sleep in because I don't wake up until 05.
I eat in a cafeteria every day. The same old food every day every meal.
And I can eat it in ten minutes. No matter what it is or how it tastes.
I have to work out every weekday. It doesn't matter if I don't really feel good, if it's raining, if it's
cold, if it's hot...I'm out there getting it done. Plus, this vest is torture.

All these friends I'm making? We're all about to get spread out all over the world.
I live my life checking my watch just to make sure I'm not late for something.
I sustain relationships through the phone, letters, and internet.

I am constantly challenged in ways I never would be otherwise...
I have to wear my hair slicked back in a bun every day... (that's seems stupid, but it's the principle.)
If my bed isn't made in the morning, I can get a counseling statement that goes on my record!
I lose sleep every other night pulling fireguard.
I spend more time in formation than I do doing anything else.

My feet and legs constantly hurt and I am always wishing I was somewhere else.

But, with all this being said...I couldn't be any more proud to be serving in the military. I make sacrifices for my country every day, and I'm not even over seas! Imagine the types of sacrifices all of those who
are deployed are making as I type out this post.

This Memorial day weekend has been really great for me. Yesterday I hit the mini-golf course and spent some time with some friends that are leaving me this week for their duty stations and their homes...I had the day off and got to spend it out and about on post. I went bowling, enjoyed some real food, and went swimming. I couldn't have asked for a better day...I hope that today you took a moment to appreciate what you have because of the brave men and women who have fought for it.

They deserve at least that...they're all working for something so much bigger than you and me...

Here's To A New Chapter

I have been really sick and have not felt like blogging. There is my excuse for not posting in four days...Wow, four days is a lot of days without a post! But, I'm here now. Never fear.

Don't forget, there is still time to enter my Origami Owl Giveaway! I high recommend that you do so if you haven't already! It's a wonderful prize that I know anyone would love to win!

I know that I love mine!

So, it's the New Year!

Usually, I would write a post about my year in review, but when I wrote my "year in review" post it made me feel totally depressed. Besides, you can't move on to the happy ending if you keep reading the chapter you have just finished, right?

So here's to the new year and moving onto new chapters!

I brought in the new year by hanging out with some friends, drinking from red solo cups, and singing songs all night long. I had a pretty good NYE.

Unfortunately, I was.. having too much fun to remember to take pictures. I have a couple to share with you...but like I said, I was having "fun"

Yeah...about that...

and I also decided to take my friend's hat and take a couple pictures in that...Not a clue why. I believe I also sent them to a few people. 

Yeah...I don't know why. I was just...having a good old time.

I got new years kisses from 3 boys and a pretend, long-distance kiss form one more.

 Sometimes, when you make too many friends that are far away, this is just how things end up...I'm not sure who taught my friend to do kissy lips..but it looks like he might need a lesson or two. Sorry, Christian haha...

Last night, I went out to dinner with my famiy and I saw Les Mis with my mom. Les Mis was amazing. I definitely recommend you see it if you haven't already. And...I think that's all I've got for you!

Hope you all have a very wonderful first week of 2013!

Not Different Bad, Different Good

Christmas...What do I say about this Christmas? I would say that it was a pretty damn good Christmas.

I did my best to man up and stop hating life for the curve balls it throws at me and I checked my feelings at the door. 

I got dressed up in a cute new outfit that I got for Christmas and I hung out with my family, drank a few mimosas and enjoyed a really great night.  Last year I had to work on Christmas, and although at the time it felt like the happiest day of my life, I think that this year beats it...And no, not just because I got to drink mimosas with  my family.

This year was so much different. It's the last Christmas where I'll be living in my parents house. It's possibly the last Christmas that I'll sleep in the same room with my sissies and watch The Grinch on Christmas Eve. It's the last year that I'll go Christmas shopping with my dad to pick out the perfect present for my mom.  

It's not necessarily different bad. It's different good. I'm growing up. I have learned so much in this past year. I've learned about myself and about the people around me and what it really means to be a family.

+++++++++

This year, I gave lockets to most of the women in my family (I didn't think everyone would wear them.) I am really terrible at buying gifts, so it was a quite a relief to find something so early that I knew everyone would love.

I won a blog giveaway a while back and fell completely in love with my prize, so I bought everyone living lockets.

 Let me tell you, they were a hit and the best present I've ever given. 

This one is mine. The ribbon is for pancreatic cancer and the star is the "Army Strong" deal. I would highly recommend these babies. Such a huge hit on Christmas day! I may even try to host a giveaway if the designer will work with me! I'll keep you posted :)

My other favorite gift I gave was my mom's. I always have a hard time buying for her. How do you show your love for the most influential person in your life who has done more for you than anyone else?  It's hard. Well, I opted to go sentimental instead of material. 

Our tree is covered in ornaments with my face on them and also some really weird ones that I made. I was a strange lil' thing. So, I decided that since I hadn't made her an ornament in a while I'd give her a few for Christmas. 

I used my favorite materials. Paper plates, paper sacks, and toilet paper tubes. 

You would think that it wouldn't have been all that great, but they were a hit. (she won't admit it, but I know in my heart that they were her favorite gifts ;)

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Christmas day was really a great time. I looked adorable in new Christmas outfit.

 I finally figured out how the work the hair wand I got last Christmas, I wore my locket (I hadn't put it on yet in the pictures...) I got some great gifts, ate delicious food and spend some quality time with my family. 

Today, I went to work, left early, and hung out with my girl who is heading back to her real life as a Marine on Friday. 

We ate way too much food at the Cheesecake Factory.

And she let me walk into Victoria Secret...so...of course, this happened.

Then I hit the gym in my Muggle Sweatshirt, killed it, fell down (so embarrassing.) And here I am. Over-describing two days in one giant blog post.

If you stuck with me for this long, please, treat yourself to a cookie. You deserve it :)

Happy Wednesday and may your Thursdays totally rock your socks off. 

It Is What It Is

Merry Christmas Eve, everybody!

As many of you know, last Christmas, I got engaged. For that reason, this Christmas has been a little bit difficult. I've been doing my best to keep my head up and not think about the "good" memories as bad ones, but it's tough.

The holiday season is supposed to be one where you appreciate what you have you show love for all the people around you with gifts. So, I'm toughening up and doing my best to not be selfish. I'm working hard at taking Christmas at face-value instead of all the crap I'm reading into it.

I'm really excited about some of the gifts I got for my family. I can't show them off now because many of those family members read my blog and I want it to be a surprise, but after Christmas, I will definitely post the cool things I picked out for everyone.

I am feeling a lot better now though. I believe it's because of someone I went out with. He's a completely new someone and if you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw that it went well. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun with someone. Now, I don't know that it will turn into anything beyond friendship, but it was so worth it.

It has made me feel so much better. I don't know why exactly, but I just feel like I'm...fixed. Like I was broken, and now I am fixed. It's helping me to put on a happy face this crappy Christmas season, and I most definitely needed help. So, whatever it was, will be, or won't be, it was worth it and that's all that matter, right?

So, that's all I've got for you today.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  May it be the best you've ever had.

Secret Santa Swap

First of all, I sent a gift to Stephanie from Girl Meets Trail
I gave her a cute little nail kit that I made. I sent it in a plastic container, but it was supposed to be like this:

Source: silverstarkitchen.com via Katie on Pinterest

I was just terrified of it breaking...so it didn't end up as cute as I wanted, but apparently she loved it!

I also gave her a Christmas tumbler and a 550 cord bracelet I made. 

I am so excited that this day has finally come! I love that I get to share with you what I got from my Secret Santa!  I am so in love with everything that she gave me. I don't know who it is yet, but the hand writing is definitely female. So I say "she" with confidence.

When I got my present, I felt like the one I gave was kind of lame! I was like...man, I could have done better, but now I know for next time I do something like this!

My partner sent me a bunch of great stuff all the way from Alabama!

I got a candle, nail polish (I'm obsessed with painting my nails...so it was perfect) That adorable nutcracker, chocolate, chapstick, a necklace, an ornament and a lovely card.

My favorite of these gifts was probably the Nutcracker. It got a lovely spot up on my shelf the second that I opened it! It's awesome and it was just the perfect gift! I was so excited to put it up. It makes me feel very motivated and I definitely love everything that I got from my Secret Santa.

I am so glad that I linked up for this awesome swap!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I Think I Might Be A Scrooge...

Don't forget to check out my give away! It's the holiday season, and we could all use a helping hand!

And speaking of the holidays, it's time for a holiday-themed Sunday Social.

Head over to Ashley's Carnival Ride or A Complete Waste of Make up to link up!

I'm going to warn you now, this sort of make me sound like complete Scrooge...I don't mean to be.  I just like to be honest. So, if I am this cat...I am this cat.

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Katie on Pinterest

1. What is your favorite Holiday season tradition?

We have lots of traditions. As each of us "kids" gets older and become more independent the traditions change.  We usually take a walk around Temple Square (basically the Mormon Mother ship) to see the lights, but last year, we tried something new. We went to a historical park that show historical Utah and we did pioneer activities. We sang carols, heated our hands over an open fire, and danced to live music. That was really great and possible a new tradition :)

2. Do you have a certain Holiday movie you watch more than others? If so what is it?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the live action one)

It's A Wonderful Life (duh!)

and all those crappy Lifetime and ABC Family movies. I love them...

3. Show us your favorite decoration or  decoration you wish you could have.

Source: itsastampthing-vicki.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Want...I might have to make some of these!

4. Favorite holiday song?

I actually really dislike Christmas music. There are, however, a couple that I don't hate so much. Most of them are the religious ones...Silent Night, Joy To The World etc. But for the most part, unless the Carpenters are singing it, I'm not a fan. 

5. Favorite holiday dessert?

You're going to think I'm insane, but I don't really like dessert. I'm starting to sound like a complete Scrooge...Sweet things just hurt my teeth so bad that I can't really eat them without being in pain...but I do love peppermint and almost every variety of candy cane (except grape...)

6. What is on your wishlist this year?

Source: burlapandblue.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: sarahchloe.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Katie on Pinterest

opal...love.

In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Initially, I created a vlog post for this, but I just couldn't get it right, so I decided to stick with my strengths and just write like usual.

Every Thanksgiving, I take a little bit of time to show my gratitude for all of the wonderful blessing that I have in my life. Objects, people, opportunity, and so on and so forth.  The following will be more or less a list of things and people. I mention you by name, so if you're just feeling like reading what I have to say about you, the things I am thankful for will be in bold type :) It won't be hard to find yourself!

There are many things in this world that I have to be thankful for. First and foremost, I feel that I should give thanks for my amazing family. 

Family, You have all be so very patient with me. I have had a very rough year and a half or so and every one of you have done nothing but be supportive. I have made a lot of life changing decisions that affect more than just me and it means the world to me that you have been here through thick and thin to help me to succeed in all of my overly ambitious endeavors. 

Responsibility.  I am so thankful for all of the responsibility I have as of late. It is teaching me how to be a grown up. It has taught me that if I'm not looking out for myself, no one else is. Of course, there are people around that will be supportive of me, but they do not hold my fate in their hands. I do. I am so thankful for that. 

Technology and communication. I cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am for modern technology. Without it, I wouldn't have healed as I should have. I wouldn't have been able to keep up a wonderful and emotional long distance relationship. I wouldn't be able to hear my best friend's voice or see his face...It is a great think that I take for granted. I will so appreciate it after I write letters for 3 months...

Bloggy World.  This blog has seriously been such a fantastic blessing in my life. Like I said earlier, I have had a hell of a year and half or so. I have been able to put down everyone of my thoughts here, and I have been met with such support. From strangers, no less. Honestly, having this blog to talk to has enriched my life in ways that I don't even fully understand just yet. 

My Job & The Military. I love my job. I love that I have a job in a place where jobs are so scarce for some. I am so grateful for all the skills I have learned, the friends I have made, and the experience I have gained. 

The military...oh my. Something I never thought I would ever get to be part of, I am going to get to experience. I can't simply describe to you what that means to me and how thankful I am for this chance to live my dream. 

Friends:

in no particular order :)

Will, I don't think you know this, but you have the ability to brighten my day. When you were deployed and I got the chance to talk to you, it made me so happy that I was in a good mood for the rest of the week. Although we have had our ups and downs, I feel like I can always count on you. You will always be honest with me, support me, yell at me, and make up with me when we fight.  I am exponentially thankful for your friendship and I hope that it means half as much to you as it does to me. 

[I feel very sad that I couldn't find a single photo of my bestie and me together]

Christian, I barely know you. Some could argue that I don't know you at all. But it doesn't feel that way. I feel like I've known you all my life. Although when we first started talking, you had zero obligation to me, you let me rant and be annoying. You probably think that I'm totally insane, but having you to talk to had a really positive effect on me that you probably cannot understand.  I hope that one day, we can actually hang out. Talk in person at least! Be real friends, not just the texty kind. 

Kelsey, you and I could be apart for any large amount of time and pick up a conversation like we never stopped talking. I know that I can always lean on you for support and that you will never leave me. I am very thankful for you and for our friendship. I believe it's the lasting kind that won't waver despite distance or time weighing on it. 

J...I can probably just call ya by your name on here now, but you're just...J in my bloggy so that's how you'll stay I guess. I'll keep it brief here, but I am very thankful for you. I am thankful for you and for your family and for all of the awesome adventures that we got to have together. I still think about you every day and it's getting easier to think of you. Instead of being upset, I can just...remember and be okay. I hope that you, too, are thankful for me and for what we had...

Day Family, I don't know how to say how thankful I am for you all. I have never felt so at home in someone else's house as I do in yours. I have learned so much from you all. I built lasting relationships that I know will never disappear completely. I know that if I ever needed anything, I could turn to any one of you and get the help that I need. I love you and I hope that I never have to live without you all as at least a small part of my life. 

And all of my wonderful friends new and old in general! I have some of the most fantastic people in my life...Without you all, I would not be this person that I'm growing into. And oddly enough, I'm actually starting to like that person. It has been a long time since I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. You all have played a large role in that change. I love you guys and I hope that I have a continued friendship with everyone that is currently a part of my life. 

This past year or so has been...difficult. I have faced so many trials and have been forced to deal with many things that I didn't want to. I have been broken in many ways. I have been hurt and damaged. I have made detrimental decisions. I have made smart and great choices. I have left behind a few things and picked up some new ones...I am thankful for this life that I live. It's not perfect. In fact, it's so far from perfect, one might call it a little dysfunctional, but I don't care. I am thankful for it, not regardless or the bad, but including it. Without it, I wouldn't be me. I wouldn't be Katie. 

And Katie is just not such a bad person to be...

What are you thankful for?

Give A Little

I've been catching up on Glee for the past couple of days. I love it. It's got some fantastic one liners that just kill me. It's so funny and so clever. Plus, there's singing. I love that. 

Today, I watched the 3rd season episode about Christmas. It was your typical Christmas episode where they forget for a moment what Christmas is really about, but then they are reminded and do some great gesture of service to show what they have learned. 

It reminded me of something that I have forgotten: My love of service. 

I have had a lot of great opportunities to serve and I want to talk about what it means to me. :)

I'm not sure where this love of service came from, but all of a sudden, I wanted to give everything that I had to anyone who needed it. I applied to be a member of a service club and I got in. We taught 6th graders 5 steps to refuse peer pressure situations and we did all kinds of other service around our city and our school. 

This picture was taken at the end of my junior year with all the next year's members of the team. PLT was the only place I ever felt like I belonged while I was in high school. I wasn't...cool or popular, but I fit in here. At least a little bit.  

[photo cred: Sarah]

That summer, I applied to go on a service trip to Mexico.  When I asked my parents if I could go, I expected them to say no. Not because they have something against service in another country, but things like that cost money.  I ended up being able to go and I had an amazing experience.

I met new people, learned how to communicate with a gigantic language barrier, I dug ditches with my bare hands (and with shovels...very dull shovels), helped clean up the school, learned about a completely different culture and I really came to understand what it was to have nothing and still have everything. 

And...I joined an all volunteer military. Twice! I love service and I will continue to do it all my life. 

This year, I'm going to donate as much as I can to the Food Bank through a food drive at work, give to Toys For Tots, and take every opportunity for service that is presented to me. 

With all this being said, I want to challenge you this holiday season. Lend a helping hand. Donate to the Salvation Army bell ringers. It take two second to drop a few coins in there, and every cent can help. Go to the soup kitchen and serve food some Sunday morning. Shovel your neighbors driveway just because it's a nice thing to do.  Take a step back and look around. Find a way to help if you have the ability to. Something that is a small blip in your life might mean the world to someone else. Service. Give it try. 

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...

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]