...Then Comes A Baby In The Baby Carriage

So I know I haven't been on here in a while and that's because I haven't been able to think about something to write......but I have something now. WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!

This is our lil bit in the picture above. I am a little over 6 weeks pregnant and am due June 23, 2012. We are super excited and I am crossing my fingers that I don't get morning sickness, at least not too bad. I'm feeling pretty good as of now, just SUPER tired all the time! The hubby wants a boy, but I don't care either way as long as it's a healthy baby. Any tips/advice about pregnacy would be appreciated :)

Zach has been so awesome since we found out on tuesday. He has made dinner every night! I think I could get used to this pregnant thing. :) He is still enjoying his job. He just got back from a school a couple of weeks ago. He is going to be an instructor for a couple of areas at his job so he is really excited.

I cannot believe it is November already! We are having thanksgiving at our house! I hope everyone has a great time as the holiday season is coming up! 

I Really Need a Planner...and a Few Clones!

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We have been BUSY ever since Zach came home. He has been playing softball and flag football games with his work so that's where we usually are two nights out of every week. It is still looking like he will be home for the rest of this year, but we had a close call. He almost had to go on a two week deployment but, thankfully, they didn't take him. He will probably have to go on one around New Years, but it will only be for three days. I should be able to handle that! :) In the mean time, he is working on getting fully qualified at this unit so he can feel like he's an asset to them and not just a body taking up space. He is really close to being done, so it shouldn't be too much longer.  Also, Zach is now the drummer for the youth group that meets on Sunday night at our church. Once he gets some experience with it, he will be in a rotation to play in the morning services, too. To say he is excited would be an understatement.

We are also starting to make holiday plans. My family and his brother and sister-in-law are coming to our house for thanksgiving. I'm excited because this is the first time I have "hosted" for the holidays. I just hope everything comes out ok. Thankfully, My Mom and sister will be helping me cook and the men will take care of the turkey. So, it shouldn't be too disasterous! For Christmas, We will be going to my parents house where pretty much everyone from my side of the family will be and then we will, hopefully, be going to visit Zach's mom, sisters, and nieces. On top of that, our schedule is starting to get pretty full for next year. My head is already swimming! I'm still trying to figure out where this year went.

As far as I go, I am just trying to decide if I just want to be a housewife, get a job, or go to school. I'm not going to make a decision until I am absolutely sure....I just wish my mind would hurry up and make itself up. If I go to school, it will more than likely be to become an ultrasound technician. Until I decide, I will just continue with my wifely duties. I also decided, VERY suddenly, to make a little change. Most of you have probably seen it of Facebook, but here it is for those of you who haven't...

Before.....

After.....

That's right!! I changed my makeup!!

Just kidding!

Now, admit it, how many of you took a second look at the pictures when I said it was my makeup? Be honest! :)

I decided one morning (and if you know me, you know I am lazy and that when I say morning I mean about 10 am) to dye my hair and by 2 pm I was sitting in a salon chair getting it done. I was SO incredibly nervous because I have been a redhead my entire life and the closest I have gotten to dyeing my hair before was putting a few blonde highlights in. But, I LOVE it!!! Which do you like better?

Well, that is all the Spencer craziness I have for you now but, trust me, there will be more! Have a great week!

Homecoming, Brad Paisley, and a Guessing Game

Welcome Home sign I made for Zach

I'm BAAACCCKK.....and my husband is home, too!!! I know I have been slacking, but I haven't been on here in a while because I have been enjoying having my hubby home! For some reason, the month and a half that he was gone felt like FOREVER.I think it's because this was his first deployment and it was a lot to get used to. He has been a part from me before, but that was for training. If you would've told me that him being gone for training would be vastly different from him being away for deployment before he left, I wouldn't have believed you. From an outside view, they don't look any different. Actually, his "A" school was 3 months long and this deployment was a month and a half, so the deployment should be easier, right? No! It is so hard to explain and in many ways I don't even understand why it was so different, but it was.

I have so much more respect for military wives who have deployment as part of their routine. At this unit, I will become one of those wives and I am nervous about it. For instance, My brother-in-law's cousin's husband has been gone for a while, since before Zach was in "A" school I believe, and he is going to be coming home soon. I really don't know how her, and others like her, do it. I really admire how you girls get through it. I imagine you have to grin and bear it sometimes, but you still get through it. After all, they do say that being the spouse is the hardest job in the military, right?

Well, I know I promised that I would fill you in on all the exciting happenings of Zach's birthday weekend. Don't worry.....I haven't forgotten!

Brad Paisley In Concert



It all started with the Brad Paisley concert. This was my first country concert and it was probably the best one of any genre of music I have been to. I did see N'Sync when I was a teenager....this was WAY better! He is such a layed back guy (from what I could tell) and i didn't realize just how many of his songs I LOVE...I just didn't know he sang them. Like I put on my Facebook status, I think Zach is turning my into a country girl!!! Hey, I'm not complaining!

The next day, Friday, I started to give Zach clues for everywhere we were going to go for his birthday. We spent the day in Jacksonville. We went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, then to Adventure Landing. We raced go-carts (I won!), played putt-putt (He won...), and laser tag. Now seeing as he is the one with all the military training, I am proud to brag about the fact that....I beat his tail at laser tag!!!! The score was 500-50. Yes, I am gloating! :)

Our Hotel

That night we stayed at a hotel called Aloft in Jacksonville. It's a really nice and modern hotel. I definitely recommend staying there! It had a nice pool and a lounge with a pool table downstairs. I got him chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling grape juice. It was delicious! We stayed up playing pool until 10:00 that night. It was fun...but he won every single game!

 

Trying the Water from the Fountain of Youth

The next day we went to St. Augustine and went to the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park. We got to drink from the fountain.....it didn't taste good. Then we went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. They had some really interesting/creepy stuff in there! We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the city. That night, we went on a walking tour of the city called the History, Mystery, Mayhem, and Murder tour. It wasn't a ghost tour. They told us about the darker side of the cities history. Our tour guide was Dion and he was awesome!

Our Tour Guide

It was such a fun weekend and we definitely want to go back to St. Augustine soon. Since then, we have just been getting into the swing of things and enjoying being together. As of right now, Zach isn't going on anymore deployments for the rest of this year. I am really exited, but I know not to get my hopes up. I really hope it doesn't change! I am starting back on my diet because I have gained some weight since Zach got out of "A" school. I wasn't at my goal weight either, so I will try to get there. I am at 135 right now and my goal is to be at 125 pounds in a month. I will keep you guys updated on my progress. Also, I just want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my blog and invite me into your life for a few minutes. I really hope you enjoy it. Have a great week!



Look-A-Like: Olivia Palermo

Look like a celebrity on a not-so-celebrity budget!

I have been looking all over the internet for another outfit for my Look-A-Like section. My sister brought Olivia Palermo to my attention. Before, I hadn't heard much about her, but I like what I see! She has a timeless style that has just enough edge to keep her looking young. 

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I especially love this outfit. It is a great outfit for someone who has an important event to go to, but also has errands to run. It's dressy enough for a business, but casual and comfortable enough to run around town.

So, your interested in this outfit? I bet you will be even more interested in it if I told you that you could get it for under $100! The total price is actually $90.48  Here's how:

TOP:  Buckle $26.50
VEST: Wet Seal $18.50
BRACELET: Claires $10.50
SHORTS: Charlotte Russe $19.99
SHOES: Payless  $14.99

With the shirt that I picked I wouldn't wear it with the little belt. I think this is a very versatile outfit for ladies on the go. Plus, it's a very reasonable price for an entire outfit. I love it when outfit are under $100, don't you?

Are You Ready For Some Football?!?

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Football season is finally here!!! I'm am beyond excited. There is nothing like football in the south! Let me just take this moment to say.....Geaux Tigers! LSU is playing Oregon tomorrow and I think it will be a great game! Oregon is #3 right now and LSU is #4, so it's going to be a really crucial game. I will definitely be cheering on my tigers!

Also, today is one of my favorite days of the year....It's my husband's birthday! I am so glad the he was born and that God blessed me with him. As cheesy as this sounds, he really does complete me and I love him with all of my heart. Happy Birthday Babi!!! I love you!

The hubby still isn't home, sad right! He will only be gone for a few more days though, so it's not that bad. It was so frustrating when I didn't have a set date because I couldn't plan anything. I already had to cancel the plans I made this weekend for his birthday! But, I get to reschedule them and I am very excited especially since we get to go to our first concert together (and quite possibly my first COUNTRY concert ever). I know, I know, How in the world have I not been to a country concert?!? I don't even know, but I can't wait for this one! In case you were wondering, we are going to see Brad Paisley. I will fill you in on all the birthday bash happenings when they are over. I don't want to spoil the surprise. I am pretty proud of how I planned and put everything together...if I do say so myself. :)

I hope everyone enjoys watching their favorite teams this weekend......and don't be too hoarse the next day from all the yelling and cheering!

FIGURE It Out

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Have you ever seen an outfit or item of clothing on another person and thought it was SO cute, but when you tried the same thing, it was....not so much? Maybe you went into your favorite store and saw something on the hanger that you HAD to have, only to try it on and not even want to be seen in it? The reason why we encounter these situations is because women come in all different shapes and sizes. Different articles of clothing look better on one type then the other. However, despite what society would have you think, there is no "perfect" shape. The key to dressing well is not follow the trends, necessarily, it's finding the clothes that look good on your shape. I can hear you asking, How do I do that? How do I know what shape I am? Well, keep reading! :)

There are four basic shapes to go off of. Keep in mind, not everyone will fit exactly into one shape. You might even be a combination of two or more. This is just meant to be used as a guide to get an idea of what clothes to gravitate towards. The four shapes are: Pear, Hourglass, Rectangle, and Wedge.

Pear

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The pear shaped woman has hips that are wider than her shoulders. She usually has a smaller chest and a bigger bottom with a more narrowed waist. Basically, her top half is smaller than her bottom half.

What To Wear:

- Darker colored bottoms
- Scarves, chunky necklaces or earrings
- Shirts with ruffles or any other accents around your neck/bustline
- Concentrate on wearing accessories on your top half
- Jeans that are boot or flare cut
- "A" line skirts and dresses
- Fabrics need to drape over you, not cling to you
- Best bathing suit style: Tankini
- Get tops that have horizontal lines or patterns

What to Avoid:

- Light colors or patterns, especially horizontal lines, over your hip area
- Skinny jeans
- Pencil skirts
- Anything that fits tightly around your hips

The basic idea for this shape is to balance your top half to your bottom half. Also, don't wear anything that fits close around your ankles because that will bring out the width of your hips.

Sources: Link One, Link Two

Hourglass

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Women who are curvy have, what some people would call, a well-proportioned body. Their top half and bottom half are pretty much equal in size with a narrow waist. 

What To Wear:

- Pencil skirts or close fitting dresses
- Fitted shirts
- Use belts to highlight your waist
- Straight to slightly flared pants
- Soft, clingy fabrics
- Use patterns to accentuate your shape
- Best bathing suit style: Bikini

What to Avoid;

- Boxy or baggy clothing
- Horizontal stripes over the widest parts of your body
- High necklines

The saying, "If you got it, flaunt it" definitely applies to this shape. Find clothes that will accentuate your curves!

Sources: Link One, Link Two

Rectangle

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This shape is commonly referred to as a "boyish" shape. The shoulders, waist, and hips are all very similar in size and this woman commonly has a smaller chest. There is a no- to very little defined waistline.

What to Wear:

- Belt at natural waistline
- Empire cut dresses and tops
- Flare and skinny jeans
- Use patterns that will help create the illusion of curves (like diagonal stripes)
- Anything that cuts in at the waist and gives volume to the chest and hips
- Capped sleeves

What to Avoid:

- Boxy clothing
- Straight or boot cut jeans
- Square neckline
- Jackets that are longer than the top of your hip
- Low rise waistlines

Make sure you wear volume on top AND bottom. If you wear a voluminous skirt and a fitted shirt, it will make you look bottom heavy. Likewise, if you wear a baggy shirt with a tight skinny jeans, it will make you look top heavy. The important thing is to create curves and a narrow waist with what you wear.

Sources: Link One, Link Two

Wedge

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The wedge shape is the exact opposite of the pear shape.This woman has a bigger bust, broad shoulders, and narrow hips.

What to Wear:

- V-neck tops
- Longer necklaces
- Light colors on the bottom, dark colors on top
- Halter tops
- Flare cut pants
- "A" line skirts
- Low/Medium cut necklines

What to Avoid:

- Shoulder pads, big sleeves, or anything that brings attention to your shoulders
- Horizontal stripes on top
- High necklines
- Stiff fabrics

The key to this shape, just like the pear shape,  is to create a balance. Try creating volume to your lower half while emphasizing a smaller waistline.

Sources: Link One, Link Two

You can determine what shape you are by taking this post and looking at yourself in a mirrow to compare. Once you do that, you will know what clothing works best for you. Remember, all of us have flaws, but it is important to embrace your body shape. Combine that with THIS post about what colors flatter you and you are on your way to looking and feeling like a fashionista!

Hitting The Road

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I have had so much stress in the past two days I'm surprised I don't have high blood pressure. (I am getting stress headaches though) So, if you see someone driving down the road that looks very similar to the picture above.....it's probably me! As you know, Zach is deployed right now and he is supposed to be coming home early this coming week. Well, the date has changed a couple times and is currently just up in the air. In other words, I have no idea when he is coming back. There is still a chance he could come home at the originally scheduled date, so let's hope for that!

The reason why he might have to stay is because they might have to help with any damage from Hurricane Irene. (I'm really starting to hate that name) But, I really hope it's not as bad as everyone is thinking for this situations sake and for everyone who is living in the path of the hurricane. I'm am just thanking God that we aren't still living on the eastern shore of Virginia. That would've been bad!

I have gone back and forth about whether I want to stay at my parents house longer or just go back as planned. I have decided I am just going to stick to my schedule and will be headed back home soon.  I would hate for Zach to come home on time and I'm not there. Also, I have several things planned back home that need to get done this week. I'm not a HUGE fan of this, but I'm going to put on my big girl boots and deal with it anyway!

My sister, her husband, and Lil Man!

Besides all of the chaos going on, it has been a really fun week. My sister and her family came into town Wednesday and we went to a get-together with my parents church that night. Thursday, we looked around Athens. (and of course we stopped by Charlotte Russe, my FAV store!) We went to look downtown and I took my sister's family pictures for this year, inlcluding the one above, on Friday. We went to the high school football game that night and had a blast! Literally. The JROTC my dad teaches had a cannon they fired when the team ran onto the field and at each of our touchdowns. Now, when I say cannon you are probably thinking of one that is a pretty descent size. This isn't the case for their cannon. It was maybe a foot long and from the stands it looked like a tiny dot. :) All jokes aside (besides the actual measurement of the cannon, that's pretty accurate) it was a cool addition to the game! 

One hilarious thing that happened this week, my family has gotten pretty much obsessed with the "Denim" target commercial (if you are curious it's THIS one). We think it's absolutely hilarious. We could probably even recite the whole thing if you asked us. (You have to watch the REMIX, too) :)

I really hope I can recooperate from all the craziness and get back into a routine. I really don't know how the military wives who have to deal with deployments that last for 6 months or more on a regular basis do it. Props to you!

Oh and............DENIM!!

What's Your Season?

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Have you ever been asked what season you are? When I was told that I was spring, my first thought was "Well......I was born in the spring, but how would you know that?" My favorite season is summer, but I'm not talking about them like that. Your skin tone determines what season you are. Once you find that out, you can find out what colors look best for your skin tone and what ones don't. Here is a quick run down of who is classified under what season, what colors to avoid, and what colors are flattering.

WINTER

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People who have a winter complexion usually have a pale to olive skin tone. They have darker features such as their eyes and hair. For example, a woman with black hair, dark brown eyes, and fair skin would have a winter complexion. African Americans and Asians also fall under this category.

Flattering Colors:

-White

-Bright pink

-Dark neutral colors

-Deep saturated colors

-Cool pastels

-Jewel tones

Colors to Avoid:

-Beige

-Orange

-Brown

-Other colors in the same family

SUMMER

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People with summer complexions have cool skin tones with pink hues. They have brown or blonde hair and have lighter colored eyes. Often times, they are able to tan easily.

Flattering Colors:

-Pastels

-Light colors

-Neutrals

Colors to Avoid:

-Black

-Orange

-Other drastic colors

AUTUMN

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Autumn complexions are mainly redheads or brunettes with golden/warm hues to their skin and have darker colored eyes. Sometimes, they have honey colored hair or even golden colored hair with blue/gray eyes. 

Flattering Colors:

- Earth tones

-Burnt orange

-Dark reds

Colors to Avoid:

-Cool shades

-Pink

-Black

-White

SPRING

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People who have spring skin tones have creamy white skin with gold undertones. Their hair is either blonde or red, they usually have freckles, and their eyes are either blue or green.

Flattering Colors:

-Pastels

-Peach

-Red

-Aqua

-Green

Colors to Avoid:

-Black

-Navy blue

-White

-Dark colors

Hopefully that sheds a little light on things. You can use this scale to find flattering colors for clothing, but it's not just for what you wear. You can also get a good idea of what hair colors you can try out and what makeup more than likely looks good. Also, this isn't set in stone. I can almost guarantee that you will find exceptions to the rule, but it gives you a good starting point. So, what season are you?

SOURCE for this post

Look-A-Like: Selena Gomez

Look like a celebrity on a not-so-celebrity budget!

I love Selena Gomez. She is such a beautiful girl who has a lot of talent, but still keeps herself grounded. I also LOVE her style. She dresses like an adult, but still keeps that funky edge to keep her looking young.

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This outfit works well for going out for a day of errands or a night with the girls. I like how she is neutral except for the pop of color from her shirt.

So, what would you say if I told you that you can duplicate this outfit for under $130? Don't believe me? Check it out.....

JACKET: Forever 21 $27.80

TOP: Wet Seal $16.50 

BRACELET: Forever 21 $6.80

PURSE: Charlotte Russe $22.50

JEANS: Old Navy $19.50

SHOES: Charlotte Russe $28.00

Grand Total: $121.10

That is such a great price for an entire outfit. I am a big fan of all of the stores that the items came from. I decided to use the tiered shirt because I like how it adds more texture into the outfit. However, if you like the more stream-lined look, you can get a shirt exactly like the one Selena chose. If you choose to buy this outfit, send my a pic. I would love to see you in it!

And The Countdown Begins

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Just thought I would stop by and let you know what's going on in my little piece of the world.

Zach is coming home a week from tomorrow!! Super excited! Although, the impending wrath of a woman aka Hurricane Irene might threaten that. I am hoping that he gets to come home on time though. Wouldn't you know the time he is supposed to be coming home there would be a major hurricane on its way. There hasn't been a hurricane that has come up this way the whole season and one would pick this week to visit us. But, enough of my ranting! Simply put, I can't wait until the hubby comes home.

I have really enjoyed spending this past month with my parents. My mom and I checked out a new flea market in town and they had some really great prices! I found a trunk and a tv stand that I want to get for our living room. Those two pieces were a total of $140. The tv stand was from the 1970's and it looked brand new! I hope they will still be there when we come back to visit. My mom found 2 end tables for a total of $25 for her guest room. I will put up before and after pictures of those when she refurbishes them. I will probably feature her whole re-do of the guest room because I think it's going to look very nice!

I am very excited to see my sister and her family. They are coming into town in a couple of days. We are going to have a busy week. I am looking forward to going to the first home football game of the high school that my dad teaches at. It's going to be fun watching my little nephew run around the house. It will be funny to see how Cadence handles being around him again. She is an absolute diva so I hope she doesn't ignore him.

I have a lot of things planned for this week so I am hoping that it will go by fast. Have a great week everyone!

What I'm Loving: Toms



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I just bought my first pair of Toms about a week ago and I absolutely love them They are very comfortable and cute! If you click on the picture above, it will take you to their website where you can buy them. They have a design for pretty much every style. They are designed after the traditional Argentina alpargata shoes. I got the black glitters:

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I usually wouldn't feature a shoe that I have only had for a week and have only worn maybe three times. So, why am I doing it with this one? Glad you asked! This company was founded by Blake Mycoskie. He visited Argentina and noticed that all the children there weren't wearing shoes. He saw how they were susceptible to diseases just because of that simple fact. They have a charity called One for One that, for every pair of shoes bought, they give one to a person in need. As a matter of fact, as of September 2010, they have given over 1,000,000 pairs of shoes to people in need.

They also have campus clubs that brings students together to help change the world. You can find out more about these clubs and how to join one HERE.

So, to answer the question, I decided to feature these shoes so shortly after I got them for a few reasons. Several of my friends have these and I have heard nothing but good things about them. Also, how many chances do you get to change someone elses life by buying something for yourself? Not a lot. Every time I wear these shoes I think of how lucky I am to have shoes and about the child that I helped get a pair of their own. We take shoes for granted and often don't realize how much better off we are with them. Shoes are more than just another accessory to our outfit. They help protect us from many things, including diseases. How about the next time you want to buy shoes, buy some that will change a child's life.

Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund

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Just a reminder for you guys. If you click on the small link under the picture, or the picture itself, in all of my book reviews. You will be lead to a website where you can buy the book.

Link from: Books A Million

Price: Club price: $8.10 Online Price: $9.00

Amy Haskel is a junior at Eli University. This is the year where juniors are tapped by secret societys throughout the campus. Amy thinks she is a shoe-in for the Quill & Ink society, but later gets a surprise when she finds out that she is tapped into a more powerful and prestigious society.  Oh, and did I mention that the society was all male? While she is still recovering from the surprise of getting to join this society and the new friends it comes with, she has to deal with a scandal that could quite possibly ruin her life.

Overall, I liked this book. It kept me interested and doesn't have an obvious ending like most books do. It takes you by surprise by the twist and turns that the plot makes. But, I do have a couple of problems with it, too. First, it has a good bit of language in it. I honestly don't understand why people feel they have to include that in books. If you are looking for a book where the language can just be overlooked, this isn't it. Second, it talks about drinking, going to bars, and Amy sleeps around quite a bit. Although, the good thing is that it doesn't go into detail about those "encounters". If you can get past those things, then you will probably enjoy this book. If not, I would recommend not even picking it up.

Also, this is the first book in a series. This is the only one in this series I have read, but I can pretty much assume the writing style is more of the same. Bottom line: Read at your own risk.

Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

I recently made these for a JROTC parent meeting and they were an absolute hit! They are very good and very easy to make! I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

- One pack of oreos
- 4 packages (8 oz each) of cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
 (You will need a little bit more if you want to put some on top)
- 4 eggs
- Powdered sugar (optional)
- TIN cupcake foils

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees, put the tin foils into the cupcake pan and put one oreo in the bottom of each. You have to use tin foils because if you use the paper ones, the cheesecake will stick to them.
2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla with mixer until well blended.
3. Add melted chocolate and mix well.
4. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until well blended.
5. Put batter into each cupcake foil until it's about 1/2-3/4 full
6. Bake 30-35 minutes
7. Let cool
8. (Optional) I sprinkled powdered sugar over the top of each cupcake and put 3 semi-sweet chocolate chips on top. It made for a nice touch. :)

You can also use this recipe for a regular sized cheesecake. Here's how you do it.

You need 9-inch springform pan, 18 oreos, crushed and 2 tbsp butter,melted in addition to the items listed above. (You only need the 18 oreos though, not 18 + 1 pack) After you preheat the oven and before the first step above, mix the cookie crumbs and butter and press onto the bottom of your springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Continue with steps 2-4. Pour batter into your springform pan and bake for 55 mins-1 hour or until the center is almost set. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen cake. Cool before removing rim. Refrigerate for four hours. You can also top this with powdered sugar. You can add chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries, etc. on top as well.

I haven't made the regular sized cheesecake yet, so if you do, let me know how it turns out! Enjoy!

Thanks to Our Military!



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I have to be honest, when I first started writing this post it was on a topic totally different. I was going to share my thoughts about why I thought Obama should not go on vacation and help this country's economy. But, then I thought, what would that prove? Why not give attention to those who deserve it? Which lead me to this post.

I want to take the time to thank each and every person who serves, or has served, in the military. No, it's not independence day or memorial day or even veteran's day. It's just a Monday. But, I feel like you guys should be thanked every day of the week. You sacrifice time with your family, you move every few years to a place where you don't know anyone and you basically have to keep starting over. Every time a scare comes up that you might not get paid, you keep working anyway. You deploy for months at a time to defend your country. At times, you even give your life for us.

You do all this, yet you don't ask to be thanked. You don't put yourself in the spotlight and act like you are entitled to something. I hear about families raising cane when one of their loved ones who died didn't get on the news. But you know what, I doubt that soldier would've even cared about that. If they could, they would tell them to stop. They would say "I didn't die for fame." When our soldiers raise their right hands, they are not thinking that it will make them famous, or rich, or powerful. They are thinking about the country they love and how they get to defend her.

I also want to add something specifically for the men and women of the Coast Guard. (Yes, I'm partial) Some people don't even count the Coast Guard as a branch of the military. I can't even tell you how many things I have seen that list the branches and you guys are left out. I even read a book that was written by a guy in the army reserves. He said that there are four branches of the military. The Coast Guard wasn't mentioned. I really don't think people realize just how much you do. You save lives everyday and, most of the time, you don't even get your name in the paper. But, like I said in the paragraph above. You don't do it for that and there are not many people who do something that isn't for selfish reasons.

So.....

-Spencer    -Mitchell     -Pears             -Emfinger   -Cappella    -Flavin      -Blaney     -Bethea

-Atkins      -Parker        -Oropeza        -Holley        -Hebert       -Schmerl   -Schadt     -Eisenhard

-Pippins     -Lockhart    -Keller           -Hendrix      -Smith        -Benton     -Scott        -Russo

-Capp         -Tuss          -Thornton       -Nave          -Wadkins    -Hamlin    -Hartman  -Holtzback

-Giovino    -Policastro  -Broderick      -Hibberd     -Girdner      -Ruff         -McDorr   -Arzola

-Godwin    -Anderson   -Coulthard     -Moberly     -Katz    -Clements    -Dibiase    -Sypniewski

-Thompson     -Gainey      -Preston      -Gingras      -Kanter       -Everyone at Sta Cape Charles

-Everyone at MSST Saint Marys

.....anyone else I have forgotten that is or has served in any branch of our military and all of the spouses...... I have had each of you on my mind as I have been writing this post and from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for everything you do. If I have somehow forgotten to put your name on here, please let me know so I can update it. I don't want to leave anyone out.

For the record, I am not doing this simply because I am a military spouse or daughter. It's because I truely want to thank you all because you don't get it enough. I mean every single word that I say. Words can't even express how much I respect you guys.

Gone Again

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Hey everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't been on here in a while. Things have been really hectic this past week. 

My soldier is off again. We found out this past friday that he was getting deployed to a few places around the United States. He left early Tuesday morning and won't be back until August 30th. I am staying with my parents again and I will be here for the whole time.

To be honest, it is so aggrivating. He was gone for three months to "A" school and he got out two months ago. We have only been in our apartment for a month and haven't had time to fully settle down and get back into a routine again. By the end of this month, I will have only been with Zach half of this year. I am just hoping that he isn't going to be gone much more this year. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with family. But, I just want to be able to get back to our life.

On the bright side, Zach will be back in time for his birthday! We are planning a trip to Orlando for just the two of us. (We haven't been on a trip like this since our honeymoon.) I am so excited to spend some quality time with him. We will be going to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (Including the new Harry Potter park, yay!) I am thinking about stopping in St. Augustine on our way back, but I am not sure. Hopefully, we will be going sometime in the middle of September.

I mentioned in my last post that I started a photography website and I was going to see how it did before I fully commited to it. As of right now, I think I am going to have to find another outlet for my photography. I have had that website for about a week and it has had only seven visitors (which I am pretty sure a few of those are me) and no orders. Thank you to everyone who did check it out though!

Last but not least, I want to congratulate my lovely sister and brother-in-law. They celebrated their four year anniversay this past thursday. Ya'll are such a great couple and I hope you guys had a especially great week! Also, August 4th was also the Coast Guard's birthday so......Happy Birthday Coast Guard!

Please pray that this deployment will be over fast because I am already completely over it and this is only the fifth day. Also, please pray that we will be able to go on our much needed vacation next month. I hope everyone has a great week!

Check Out My Website!

Ok, guys! I am SUPER excited about this. Photography has been a passion of mine for many years now. I have recently been thinking about what I want to do as a career and I have decided to use my God-given gift of photography for His glory. I feel like taking pictures of His creation, whether it be landscapes, people, etc., is a way for me to help others admire the beauty and perfection of His handywork. So, I am starting a business called Aly M Studios. It is a website that displays and sells my photographs. Actually, the picture above is one of my favorites that I have taken. Right now, I am not making profit off of orders from this website. The amount of orders I get will determine if I continue to establish myself this way or in another direction, so please don't hesitate to order. If you like a picture, you can get it on a t-shirt, mug, or any size you can imagine. You can even get one of my pictures on a book of stamps! If you have a request of something you would like a picture of that is not already on there, please let me know. Also, I am willing to take pictures for family, wedding, and anything other occasion. If you would like my services, please e-mail me. You can do that by going to my website and using the contact me tab. My prices will be very low since I am just starting out.

Please check it out and let me know what you think! Click HERE or on the URL underneath to visit me. Thanks!!!
http://alymstudios.zenfolio.com/

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

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Link from: barnesandnoble.com
Price: Paperback, $8.66

I stumbled upon this book at a drug store. I had never heard of it before (or the author for that matter) but, by the brief summary on the back, I was intrigued.

It is a book written in flashback about an old woman who was abandoned on a boat as a young child and ended up in Australia. She is given the name "Nell" by the new family that finds her and she doesn't find out for a while that she isn't her parents biological daughter. Her past is a complete mystery and when she passes, her grandaughter makes it her mission to find out what happened in her grandmother's past.

This book will definitely keep you on your toes and it is very hard to put down! I was trying to figure out what the outcome would be the whole time and I can guarantee that you will be taken by surprise.

The only thing about this book is that like I said it is written in flashback. So, the events of one chapter will have taken place in 1976, the next in 1913, and the next will be set in 2005 (ex. chapters 5-7) It isn't that hard to follow, but I admit that I did flip back to other chapters a couple of times to keep track of everything. It will make you use your brain a little bit. :) If you pay attention, you will not have a problem at all.

Overall, I think this book is very well written and I highly recommend it. I enjoyed it so much, that I am now reading another book by the same author (keep a look out for that review). It's Definitely worth your time!  If you read it, or have read it, let me know what you think!

Settling In

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Hello, Just wanted to stop by and let you all know that we are still here! :) Everything is going fine. We are just trying to settle into our new home. We have already found a church that we REALLY like. We haven't joined yet, but will probably be joining soon. We still like living in our apartments. I think they are very nice! The only complaint that I have is that our upstairs neighbors are really loud. While I think ours are a little louder than most, I know you have to deal with that in every apartment complex, so I will just get used to it.

Zach still likes his job. He got to get underway the other day for the first time since before A school so he was pretty excited about that. As for me, I am still trying to decide what I want to do. I am thinking about taking online classes to be an ultrasound sonographer and/or get a job or volunteer somewhere. I am pretty sure that I am going to go back to school for something and then I will decide whether I want to do something outside of school or just concentrate on my studies. Pray for me about that!

This weekend has been pretty interesting so far. Zach took me to Applebee's yesterday because I just wasn't having a good day at all. We got a Wii about a week ago so we have been playing that a lot. Today, we put some of our stuff into a smaller storage unit, went to the library, and checked out some other places around town. I am trying to make homemade spaghetti (from the homemade pasta recipe you can find under the recipe tab of this blog) and one of the batches didn't work for me so I had to throw it away and send my hubby to get a box of pasta from the store. I was am SOO aggrivated because this is the first time he would have had homemade spaghetti so I wanted it to be really good. Needless to say, my weekend hasn't been exactly good, but hopefully tomorrow will be better. I am really looking forward to church tomorrow. One good thing that did happen this weekend, we discovered gamefly!!!! I am excited as you can tell!!

I am thinking about adding a section on my blog where I give my opinions on books that I have read. I want to know what you think about this idea and how many of you would be interested in it. Please let me know by replying to this post here or on facebook. Also, if you have any other ideas about how I can approve my blog let me know! Any thoughts would be grealty appreciated! Have a great week!!!

Makeover!!!

Hey guys!

Just wanted to make a short appearance to bring attention to the new look of my blog. It has gotten a makeover and I absolutely LOVE it. I want to thank my awesome brother-in-law for doing this for me. It turned out great! I hope you all like the new look. Let me know what you think!

Getting Into The Groove

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So, we are COMPLETELY moved in!!!!!! (Enter thunderous applause here) The picture above is what our favorite hobby is so far. Those aren't my feet if you were wondering, but we love to lay out and swim at the pool. I am even getting a tan! Yes! Me! The redheaded pale skinned girl is getting a tan!!! :)  As far as our apartment goes, We I have everything where I want it and I think the house looks great. Zach isn't a very big fan of decorating items. If you would imagine Ben Stiller's character in Along Came Polly in the scene where he takes a knife to all the pillows and then insert Zach's face over Ben's...it would look something like this...

(CREDIT FOR ORIGINAL)

.......you will get a picture of exactly what he would like to do to our decorative pillows. Needless to say, I think they look nice and he puts up with it. Needless to say, we are settling in nicely.

Zach had his first day of work Monday and he is really enjoying it. They have a pretty nice schedule and he is home every single afternoon!!! With his old schedule, he would be gone for 2-3 days at a time, come home for that same amount of time, and then be gone again. So, this schedule is A LOT better. First things first, he will work on getting his qualifications done so he can start to get the hang of things at his new unit.

Like I have said in previous posts, we are living near a couple of our friends now. We are having a couple that we knew in Montgomery over tomorrow. I'm excited to host my first "dinner" (it's really just pizza and cookies, don't be fooled into thinking it's some fancy shin-dig)  in our new apartment. Then, Saturday, we are going to see someone I knew in middle school/freshman year of high school in Jacksonville. It's going to be really nice catching up with everyone.

As far as I go, I am taking my role as house wife up again and LOVING it!!! I have come up with a cleaning routine for myself each day so that I'm not cleaning the whole house in one day and so I can keep things clean. I also get the car a couple days a week to run errands. It has been really busy so far and I hope to stay busy while Zach is at work. The errand I would like to highlight, that I actually did today is that we took our dog Cadence to the groomers. This was her first time going and she got her hair cut, teeth cleaned, a bath, fingernails clipped, etc. Basically, she got a spa day and if I said I wasn't jealous I would be lying! So....without anything further... I present Miss Cadence!!

And yes, Zach did INSIST that we take the bandana and bow off. Of course, I had to take a picture of her before he did.

You might have noticed that my blog looks a little different. The new look isn't completely done, so I will let you know when it is, but didn't my brother-in-law do a great job so far!!!

So, that's all from our little corner of the U.S. for now. Thanks for stopping by!!!