Week One : Who I am

I've been in such a rut as to what to post on here. I have recently stumbled upon "52 Weeks of Blogging With a Purpose" over at From Mrs. to Mama. So without further ado, here is week one: Who I Am.

I am a wife.
Yup pretty self explanatory but hey, I am! I love being a wife. I love being married and I love my husband. I honestly can't imagine my life currently any different than it is. He goes out of his way to do anything and everything for me even if he is across the world. He is still such a big part of my life. He's got the prettiest eyelashes, the best teeth, and an even better laugh. He likes comic books and has a favorite war. Don't even get me started on his feet and the fact that he thinks camo matches everything. All of these quirks make him absolutely perfect and I cannot wait until he gets home.

I am a daughter and a sister, not to mention a niece and a granddaughter. 

I'm all of the above. I love my family. I love them for all they have taught me and their never ending support. They are with me through every hill and every valley. My family can be nosy and loud and embarrassing just like anyone else's family but its their ability to be so present at any moment they are needed that leaves such a special place in my heart.

I am a dreamer.

Okay cheesy I know, but seriously. I have so many dreams and aspirations. I want to be a teacher, I would like to join the Air National Guard, I would love to do photography steadily. I can't wait to have children and to be a mom. I love singing and dancing and performing. My life hinges on so many dreams, but isn't that the way it should be? I'm a truly goal driven person. I make goals all the time, sticking to them on the other hand isn't exactly one of my strong suits.

I am a blogger.

I love blogging mostly because I like writing. Sometimes I feel the need to get all of my thoughts out and the only way for me to do that is to blog. Because it's kind of like my own brand of word vomit. Any time I've had a really tough issue it's been easier for me to talk about it while on this blog than anything else. I really don't care if not one person read this. I guess that's the selfish bit of me about this blog. I pretty much blog for me, but that's how you know what I'm saying is genuine.

Long Time, No Post

I know, I know, I know...it has been forever since I posted anything. Let's get back up to speed. I finished my spring semester at OUL, have put a deposit in for an apartment, started a new job, oh and..GOT A PUPPY.

Her name is Liberty but Libby for short and she is a dachshund/yorkie mix. She's 8 wks and cute as a button.
I have contracted a real passion for photography and am completely psyched because I will be taking my sisters senior pictures. Head on over to Facebook.com/photographybycharleigh & give it a like if you haven't please.
We are on the back-end of deployment and in some aspects it has gotten easier. In some however, it's been very hard. Relying solely on technology when communicating can be something so difficult and it definitely tries your patience very quickly. I'm not airing dirty laundry. I'm not talking bad about my relationship. I'm giving you the nitty gritty of a military relationship. No sugar coating. It's tough. We have fought a lot. Do I love him any less? Absolutely not. But I can't sit and tell you everything is peachy keen, we are getting by though, and are held together by constantly dreaming of him coming home. We will often misunderstand each other, sometimes one of us is being extremely touchy, and sometimes it's hard to relate and hard to understand what each other are really going through. We always end up remembering what is most important though, our love for each other. That, cannot be broken.
So for the time being, I'm working, studying to make my photography better, and getting ready for the most incredible moment of my life yet...when my husband comes home from war.

Spring Fever VoxBox!

So, I haven't blogged in so long :( 

BUUUUT, this is important. I have recieved the Spring Fever VoxBox from Influenster. In my box is Secret Outlast Clear Gel Anitpersperant/Deodorant, NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm, Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure, Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS Rough Rubber, and a Tastykake Kandy Bar Kake in peanut butter flavor. Since it is 12:13 AM I will officially break into the products in the morning, but I was just so excited I had to share.

YIPPEEEEE!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

What I HATE about Deployment....

Okay, hate is a strong word but I really really really don't like deployment. No I was right, I hate it. There are literally so many things to hate about deployment. Apart from the obvious - not getting to see my other half, there are so many reasons to hate deployment. I asked some girls on Facebook and here were their responses.

Deployment is an extremely lonely time for a military wife. A lot of times friends will alienate you, you feel like you aren't important to anyone, and you ache for your SO to be home. 

Deployment is scary. When I don't hear from my husband when I'm supposed to I swear my heart will beat irregularly until I do. I play through a thousand scenarios a minute.

Deployment drags. I can say this because I am not even half way through deployment with my husband and I swear it has felt like a year. Seriously. I check my "Doing Time" app everyday to see how much red I have left. 

Deployment is frustrating. I think I have a shorter fuse because of this deployment. I get annoyed by anything and everything very quickly. I feel like I'm always on edge. Basically I'm a walking time bomb. 

What I think I hate more than anything at all..when someone will ask where my husband is or what he does and I reply that he is deployed.. I swear people will look at my like I just fought a war or something. I'm not trying to dumb down what any military wife does because let's face it, it is a job of its own. But what I am doing here in no way or shape even matches what my husband is doing overseas. There is no comparison and there is no need to give me a sympathy vote. Trust me, I'll get by without it. I'm not some poor soul who doesn't know what to do with my life because my husband is gone. Am I sad? Yes. Am I lonely? Yes. Do I wish he was home??? Absolutely. Will I lock myself in my room until he gets back? Absolutely not. I still have a life to live, dreams to chase, and our life to build here. Just keep all of that in mind. We are strong because if we aren't we will be broken. 

The Great Puppy Debate

I am a planner. Anyone who knows me knows I need to have a plan. This deployment has given me an opportunity to make many plans. I've looked at a few apartments/townhomes and even made a spreadsheet for the places I've seen online that I'll visit at some point. I've also started semi-planning our Disney trip which is actually our honeymoon! I also managed to buy (put in layaway) furniture for basically the entire house! I've done all of these things while also trying my hardest to include Kendall. While we are messaging I'll send him websites for him to look at and we'll discuss what we think about the apartment, vacation plan, or furniture item.

Now, this brings us to The Great Puppy Debate.. We know that we want a puppy for our new place when he comes home. After some begging he has basically relinquished the decision of what breed to me! Even though there are some breeds I cannot talk him into! I want a small/medium sized dog, I'd rather them be small. I don't want them to be too yappy, but I want a dog that will cuddle with me!

Some of the breeds I've been looking into include...

Shiba Inu

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Corgi

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Malti Poo

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Miniature Australian Shepherd

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So I'm between these breeds. He isn't too keen on the Malti Poo but when he gets back we will do a little bit of puppy shopping and I'm sure we'll find one that we'll fall in love with. Anyone have any advice on puppy buying? What are your favorite breeds?

Until next time...

OH! Go like the blog's Facebook page, you guessed it - Love on the Homefront is the name.

Easter Care Package!

I have just finished my Easter care package to my soldier! Because I have a basket in it I had to use a different box instead of the flat rate box.
Inside of the box was:

• Twix bars - a lot of them
• Camo eggs
• Peeps
• Thin Mints
• Spring Oreos
• Pringles
• Fruit Roll-ups
• An assortment of chocolate
• Air Head Extremes
• Gum eggs
• Marshmallow bunnies
• A stuffed bunny holding a soccer ball
• lots of grass
• Spider man basket

Inside each egg I included a little message to him rolled up with a mini Twix bar. 

I did not send mine out in time to make it there by Easter :( but I'm hoping it will make for a pretty brag-worthy package!

Just like always the sides and the lid of the package were decorated.

I topped the package off with a heap of yellow grass & a card!

Enjoy your Easter & remember our troops!

The Voice Season 14

I just started watching The Voice, and this season I am determined to watch it all. I haven't ever watched a full season of The Voice. I have American Idol & The X-Factor and honestly love them both.

This season adding in Shakira and Usher = great move. Usher and Adam on the same panel?! Lord help me! Even though I don't love Shakira's voice she is really cute and I was surprised by how much I like her on the show.

I was definitely impressed by Judith! She was amazing, no wonder they saved her for last. Overall, it was pretty good. My favorite moment of the show was "Come Together" by the coaches! If you missed it watch, I love the Beatles so I was glad they did the song justice.

MilObsessed?

A while ago someone on my twitter feed had said something to the effect of "every time a girl starts dating someone in the military then it's all she talks about." I'm not mad/offended/or hating on them. That statement made me think, do all girls become obsessed with the military if they are dating someone in it?

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The conclusion I came to..is basically yes. It's hard to not become obsessed or in my eyes overly interested. Once you are married to or even dating someone in the military it becomes your life too. It literally will affect everything you do! Before I married Kendall I knew no one in the military... I hadn't had any of my friends join, I didn't have anyone close in my family join. Now that my husband is in the military it is my life too. I've learned so much about the armed forces from being married to a soldier and I'm very supportive. I talk about the military a lot, I support the military very much, it's my husbands livelihood! It's hard to be so supportive or consumed with something you know nothing of - when you aren't in a military relationship. How could I not? I'm proud of him, I'm proud of our relationship, I'm proud of our country and I will continue to let people know that.

What's going on?

I have some news. My husband and I have made a collective decision to push back our wedding. For those of you who don't know, we got married in November but were planning a big wedding for when he got home form deployment. After realizing that when he gets home not only are we going to have to get an apartment, possibly furniture, another car, and of coarse I want a puppy... We decided that to wait was a much better decision.

Sometimes I'm so amazed by our maturity as a couple. Then I just think back to our parents and realize why we are who we are. S/O to the parents! So now my focus has shifted from planning an elaborate wedding to finding the perfect apartment and trying to find great furniture that will still be feasible. My mom has often said I have a champagne taste but a beer budget. So far, I have made a spreadsheet of different apartments in the areas we are interested in. All I know is I would like a pool and a fitness center at the apartment. What are some other good amentities to look for when apartment shopping? Obviously I'm clueless...

I know this is kind of a boring post..

Kendall is fine! In case anyone was wondering. We get to skype about once a week and we get to Facebook message just about everyday. I feel so blessed. I remember back to when we were thinking that our only means of communication would be letters. I wouldn't be complaining if it was. We still send letters occasionally and I love reading his. He draws funny pictures and always can pick me up with his words. Having letters is such a powerful thing, mostly because I can touch them. Kendall sent me 12 chocolate covered strawberries, an oragami owl necklace, flowers, and my fave candy for valentines day.

I have started going to a bible study that I love, S/O to the 20Somethings! It has been an incredible experience to get back in the word. I feel a lot better these days.

I just got done with spring break, which was about a week too short! I headed to Florida last minute with some friends from Bowling Green. I have a new obsession with alligators & let's just say I ate..a lot.

I'm about to start on another care package that will include Kendall's souvenirs from Florida & of course it will be themed and cute and there will be a blog post.

I ALMOST FORGOT! I cut all of my hair off.. haha!

All that hair gone!

Hoping this miserable Ohio weather clears up...

Happy Valentines Day!

Well I just wanted to post the Valentines Day care package that I sent to my husband. I wanted to wait until he had it before I posted about it on here ( :
Firstly, unless you are newly in a military relationship you already know that when it comes to the packages..getting the large flat rate box is your best bet.

 I had went to Target & scoured the dollar spot there and pick up some scrap booking paper and conversation heart stickers. I knew I would use these solely for decorating purposes so I covered the walls on the inside of the box.

 On one of the plain red sides I covered it in the conversation hearts. In my package of hearts there were ones that said "text me" but I omitted those since, well, he can't.

 When choosing what to put in your box always make sure it not only reflects you, but also your relationship and your significant other! Inside of my box was:

1. a teddy bear holding a heart that says "yours"
2. blank cards- that I wrote on- 7 of them
3. chocolate covered fortune cookies
4. an R2D2 box with chocolates
5. hershey kisses
6. some Frisches Big Boy valentines (its our favorite place)
7. like 26 fruit roll ups 
8. a frog stuffed animal 

"Happy Valentines Day Baby!"

This is without the fruit roll ups & his other animal!

"Come home! Missing you LIKE CRAZY!"

"Hey Stud...CAUTION YOU'RE HOT!"

I think my first care package was a success. So tomorrow I am going to dinner and a movie with my little brother for Valentines Day. I've never really been like a crazy person about Valentines Day. I don't know, to me it just feels like another day that is inching by throughout this deployment. Bleh. Well I hope everyone eats lots of chocolate and has a fabulous Valentines Day!