Resolution Recap

It's almost February!

Right about this time of year, we start getting busy with

day to day life.

We forget that exactly one month ago we resolved 

to cure a disease, solve world peace, and adopt a third world country.

Every year I'm completely guilty of this.

But not this year!

 You can read about my resolutions here.

At the end of each month I plan to give a Resolution Recap.

Hopefully this will keep me nice and accountable.

[whether I like it or not]

Without further ado...

I have finished 1 book

and I'm 3/4 of the way done with another.

Well on my way to the 25 book goal.

 

... 

Mr and I have read our Bibles together

every single day 

this is the most exciting one for me

because it's so easy to push this aside and

"do it later, or another day." 

But not this year! 

So far we have read...

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

and

Jonah 

...
And last but definitely not least,

Project 365. 

A photo a day for 365 days.

that's a lot of photos. 

Here are some of my favorites from January...

  to see more of this project check out my photography page

by clicking the logo right below!

 

So, who else remembers their New Year's Resolution[s]?

Foto Fun

Okay, so it's not friday but I still wanted to participate in

this fun foto friday link up over at Household 6 Diva. 

 The theme for this week was SOOC, Straight out of the Camera.

So I tried to find my favorite raw image straight from my camera, no editing done.

The photo I chose was from an engagement shoot I recently did.

I love the colors, location and focus.

 all images © Chestnut Tree Photography

thanks for stopping by to check out my raw image :)

...

I would also like to say that I bought a brand spank'n new curling iron today, that's not Revlon.
Because everything you buy when you're 14 is Revlon.
AND dun dun dun...I got my eye brows waxed, for the first time ever.
Sheesh I'm growing up right before my very own eyes.

Lovely Yellow Ribbons

Yellow ribbons give me a wide range of emotions.

I'm proud 

because I know it represents a hero fighting for our country.

I feel pain 

for the things that soldier may be going through.

I smile 

because all who walk by it will remember our soldiers.

I'm sad 

because I know whoever put that ribbon up was left behind.

I'm grateful

for the sacrifice of every family who sent their loved one away.

I'm angry

that it has to be me.

I'm happy 

because it reminds me I'm not alone in this.

 Each one of those emotions swept through me as I stopped

to take pictures of these yellow ribbons around campus today.

These bright yellow ribbons are all over my school right now

and I'm so glad because it reminds me of my husband and that

there are others just like him, and just like me too.

I miss you husband!

what's on my celly?

hello all you beautifuls

there's a party here and you don't want to miss it

:)

Zephaniah 3:17 is my favorite Bible verse.

Jumping now from Bible Betty to Road Rage Rita.

Nothing irritates me more than back to school traffic and morning fog.

Where the crap did your sun go, California?

ugh.

I have mentioned to Mr that 

I want a cute bird tattoo at some point.

Well, the other day Mr and I were talking about tattoos we want to get 

when he comes home from this deployment. 

We want to get something that symbolizes our strength for making it 

through such a difficult time in our lives. 

Well, he suggested a Phoenix.

I didn't know what a Phoenix looked like for some reason,

so I googled it.

I'm not sure where the mis-communication took place,

but by cute...I did not mean outrageously creepy.

Nor did I realize I had married a nerd bomber.

Needless to say, I shot the idea down and suggested he

never put a Phoenix on his body.

Unless it's on his side as pictured below ;)
[not]

And we'll end on a pretty note.

I heart you instagram

your turn!

 

Must Reads

I really love to read,

so I thought I might share some of my 

absolute favorite books over the 

last few months. 

These are some of the books I 

couldn't put down once

I started them.

The Weight of Silence

by Heather Gudenkauf

 

Two families wake up to find their little girls

have gone missing, with no leads in sight.

Petra and Calli are best friends, but what sets them

apart is Calli went mute at a young age brought on 

by a tragic event that forever changed her and her family's lives. 

Petra serves as Calli's voice and shows the meaning

of true friendship. This is by far,

one of the best books I've ever read.

 The Pact

by Jodi Picoult

 The Hartes and the Golds were best friends 

and lived next door to each other for 18 years. 

Their children Emily and Chris, 

also best friends did everything together. 

A tragic event leads each family pointing fingers at one another

and questioning whether they really know their children.

 Absolutely compelling and a total page turner, 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an intense read.

The Hunger Games 

[triology]

by Suzanne Collins

 

This book is set in a futuristic nation known as Panem which is made up of 12 districts and the Capitol. Every year the Capitol hosts an event known as the "Hunger Games." Each district must send one boy and girl to the Games where they will fight to the death, with only one victor in the end. The names that Suzanne Collins uses in this trilogy are fantastic.

Redeeming Love

by France Rivers

 This modern day story of Hosea and Gomer was amazing. If you read Hosea 1-3 in the Bible it's a picture of God constantly pursuing you. He will never give up on you or think you aren't good enough and this novel brings that story to light in a beautiful way. No matter how many times you stray from God he will always be there with wide open arms when you're ready to come back. This book just made my heart completely happy.

You Know When the Men Are Gone

by Siobhan Fallon

 I recently read a review about this book from No Model Lady.

As soon as I saw what she had to say, I knew this would be on my list of must reads. This book is a collection of short stories, each a different perspective of families going through war. Siobhan gives insight into the lives of wives who are left behind while their husbands serve overseas. I could not put this book down from the second I started reading it. As a military spouse I found it easy to relate with things in the book. But, if you aren't a military spouse I would still recommend this book to you if you desire knowing what life is like on the home front of a military spouse.

...

I hope you will consider one or all of these books. Each one holds a special place on my bookshelf. Unless of course I read it on my fancy new kindle ;D

Who am I?

I am the Mrs.

I sing and dance in the shower.

I am very messy, 

but I go on cleaning rampages where everything

has to be spotless, it's weird.

I want the word Beloved tattooed on my foot. 

I could watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S everyday

all day, 

and I talk about them like they're

my friends. 

I love to read intense books,

no Nicholas Sparks for me.

One of my all time favorite books is

The Weight of Silence.   

I light candles everyday.

I like to vacuum.

My Pandora station is set to Ke$ha Radio.

[embarrassing]

But seriously guys, 

those beats give me my best dance moves, 

and Ke$ha only comes on like once or twice 

so its okay. 

I journal regularly.

My favorite snack is fishy crackers,

parmesan and cheddar.

I text my husband back really fast,

but I suck at texting everyone else.
I love sushi, cooked only.

I take pictures, a lot.
I am a proud military spouse.
...

If you want to know more..

just ask!

Thank Yous Are In Order

Hello to all my new followers! 

I can't believe there are 63 of you 

that care what I have to say.

It may not sound like a lot to most 

but I started this blog as an outlet while my

husband is deployed overseas 

and I never thought other people

would find my little life interesting.

So thank you all for taking time to read my rants

and caring about what I have to say.

I truly love and appreciate all your support.

..

A big thank you also to Amanda over at Amanda & Don.

 

 She featured me on her blog today 

and brought over a lot of my new lovelies!

Please make sure to stop by her blog and  

show her some love.

She's adorable and 

living life without her hubs right now,

as he is overseas as well.

Thank you again for featuring me Amanda, 

that brightened my day.

..

Next thank you in order goes to

the lovely ladies of A Lil Bird told me...

I was given an award.

who me? isn't this a special surprise.

I'm in love with their blog.

They are crafty, creative and make me want to go thrifting

everyday.

Thank you, Thank you ladies!

you have also brightened my day
:)