Coming back... and traveling with kiddos.

I know it has been a while, but a lot has happened during that time. So now I am returning. I have "checked out" from just about everything except for the basics, but I realized I need to get things moving again. After the trip I took with my daughter and mother-in-law to Oklahoma, things were just...well, I don't know how to describe it. We were there because the hubby finished training and we wanted to see the graduation ceremony. He started his advanced training after that weekend, but we wanted to make the most of it. I guess you could say I was still getting back into the single married life.

I have to say that traveling with a toddler isn't as difficult as people make it out to seem. The hardest part is literally keeping them entertained and well rested. I went through site after site, talked with people who have traveled with kids before, and made countless lists prior to packing my things. It took about a week for me to actually pack up everything. Not fun. I will say this from my experience. I won't do it that way ever again.

I will say that lists are great. I had one for every "category," because I was packing for two and had no idea how much I would need. There was the list for clothes, hygiene, entertainment, and other. I split those in two, one side for me, the other for my daughter. After that I actually broke them down into sections. Example: clothes includes day wear, nightwear, and underthings. I even had to break it down by day so that I knew we had enough. Ha ha. I guess you could say I was a bit obsessive about it. I tried different types of lists, it the point, and the one that worked the best was the daily one. Especially when I was packing for my one-year-old because there is a need of extra clothes and things. If you don't like to write it all out I would suggest at least laying everything out so that you can see it all there for each day.

PACK EXTRA! I packed at least an extra outfit for each day for her and I used just about all of it. Mix and match clothes are great, too.

As far as things to entertain the kids with, just keep it simple. I had a great tip that you should buy one or two small toys or books for them and not give it to them until you leave. This went really well. If you are gone for more than a few days, pack a few more, but to be honest, they usually are happy with just a few.

I'd also say that carry-on luggage is too much of a hassle. I had a checked bag and a carry on. I could have easily reduced it to just a checked bag and my purse and have been just fine. I hated toting around another piece of luggage along with my little one. If you can afford the checked bag fee, I say do it. You won't have to worry too much about space and what to pack, and you'll save yourself a load of grief.

Lastly, snacks. Yes, you can bring snacks on the plane. If it is for the kids then it has to be reasonable amounts and you have to show them when you go through security. I had some in my carry on and some extra in my checked luggage. Next time I'll nix the extra stuff. It just got in the way and since we were eating out there was always plenty of food while we were there. The amount in the carry on was enough for both flights, to and from.

My lesson: pack extra clothes, but lighten your load everywhere else. Oh, and check the weather report for your destination ahead of time (and for what it'll be when you return if you can) so you can plan your wardrobe accordingly. The most a person should ever worry about while traveling is having a good time.

MMM...MMM...GOOD!

Tonight I made a killer pot of homemade chili! 

It has finally started to get chilly outside, and as a new tradition, the past few years I've started making chili when the weather turns colder for the fall. My favorite so far is made with Bob's Red Mill 13 Bean Mix. I use the mix and add the basics, plus whatever I have around that sounds good. It's chili! You can have fun with it!

I started it with a cup and a quarter of dry beans yesterday, today it became a delicious and nutritious meal. 

I know people feel like this is a lot of effort to make something like this, but really it isn't any harder than boiling pasta or something. The planning and prep takes more time, but the actual cooking doesn't take long at all. After my beans had soaked overnight, I simmered them for a few hours (not any more difficult than sitting around the house). I then browned the ground beef, chopped my vegetables, and opened a couple cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. At the end, add in your favorite seasoning. All of that took about 30 minutes, at most. Then you simmer it all together until your veggies are tender (another effortless task). Yum! 

I even got the seal of approval from someone who doesn't even like chili of any kind, can or not.

Really, things like this are so much more satisfying than opening up and reheating some store-bought meal-in-a-can. Once in a while taking the time to create a meal entirely from scratch like this will make you feel better all around. It is simple enough, and you will know everything you are eating. No preservatives, no extra dyes. Nothing but good food. Plus, you can personalize it to your own tastes! I find myself running my own at-home test kitchen at least once a week.

Plus, there is nothing better than the smell of chili simmering on the stove to make a house feel more homey. :-)

Let me know if you want the recipe or have any questions! 

A little me time...

I smell like a gum wrapper and look like the Hulk. No, I'm not trying out Halloween costumes early. I decided I would pamper myself tonight. After all, in just over a week I will be seeing my hubby again after months and I want to look my best.

Funny thing is, I'm a little nervous. I know he's gone through some changes while at training. I can tell by the way his letters sound. I don't think it is a bad way, just different. I've gone through some changes, myself, although mine are mostly physical. 

I made a goal to lose a certain amount of weight by the time my husband returns in November, and I'm over half way there. Because of this I've had to replace some of my clothes. I know they say to wait until you're at your goal weight to buy anything, but let's face it, you feel better when you look good. You can't feel good if you're clothes don't fit anymore. I tell you, I was down to a few things that looked OK, the rest was so big it was sagging off my shoulders and hips like old drapes. Scarlett O'Hara and Carol Burnett could pull that off, but I really needed some help. Especially when I have a one year old tugging at me to get my attention. 

I've also decided to change my hair color (I've got the dye, I just need to muster up the courage to actually do it). This might lead to a new hair style.... Like I said before, life is constantly moving forward. 

I used to never do these things for myself. Scratch that, I did, before I was in a committed relationship. Rarely, but still, I would pamper myself. Somehow I got comfortable and, well, busy. I know it sounds like a bad excuse, but I think that's what it boils down to. I didn't have any need to impress people anymore, I was busy with my hubby, cats, daughter, dog (not in that order).

Where do you find the time for yourself when you have so much going on? 

Even if all you do is put on a facial mask every couple of nights, paint your toenails, or take a long walk just for yourself, the important thing is to DO something for YOU. It doesn't take long. The minty Hulk mask took me 15 minutes, of which I spent watching TV reruns. 

So I've decided to make this a ritual for myself. maybe not the same thing every day, but giving myself a break every day. Tomorrow, I think I'll get up early for some Yoga.

This can't be that hard, right? I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. In the mean time, go find something to do for yourself! 

My New Life...

My husband joined the Army this year. I grew up in an Army household, two of my three brothers are in the military. Being surrounded by it all for so long I've become accustomed to the structure and protocol. I have nothing against the military lifestyle, but I just didn't think it would be a good fit for me. I swore up and down I would never marry a military man.

My consolation: He wasn't in the military when I met him.

Now he is in training, getting ready for all that is ahead. He joined the National Guard, so eventually things will become normal (I think). We shall see.

Several of my friends are in a similar situation. They all have soldiers for husbands/fiances. Most of those men are not home right now. Its not easy being separated from those that you love. You want them close, you want to spend time with them, to just simply SEE them. This is very hard to deal with. I have been in other long distance relationships before, and anyone who has done that knows what I'm talking about.

Military life is different. You are not only dealing with the separation, you also have to deal with the unknown. "Are they safe?", "Do they have everything they need?", "When will I talk with them again?", "When are they coming home?, and God forbid the question, "Are they going to come home at all?".  Most of the time a quick phone call is all you get to reassure yourself that it is all right.

The thing is, you have to keep believing it is okay. Life keeps going forward, whether you like it to or not. I hate to use the old "road of life" example, but it sort of fits. What I mean is, when you are in a relationship you two are traveling along the same path. The soldier leaves and that path splits off. You both still have to keep traveling, just parallel to each other. There is no way the soldier will have the chance to go back to where you left off, so there is no point in "staying put" on your path. You both will have bumps and detours along the way, but you will eventually meet up again.

So now I've embarked on my own new path in life. Our daughter and I stay home, eagerly awaiting when our path meets up with my husband's again.

Introductions....

There isn't much to say right now except to introduce myself and let you know why I have become a blogger (finally, a little late in the game).

I am Tiffani, 24, wife, mother, student, business owner, and domestic goddess. I am an avid reader and have always loved to write, but with my busy life I have put that on hold for several years now. From the Pacific Northwest, I tend toward outdoor activities as a pass-time. I love music and watch very little television. 

My family is very important to me. My husband recently became a soldier, so there is a whole new dynamic to our lives, although not one I am unfamiliar with. I grew up in a military household. I swore I never would marry a soldier, the only conciliation I have is he wasn't a soldier when I married him. My daughter just turned 15 months and is a joy. 

Now that I've said the basics about my life, time to get to the meat of it. I said that I love to write. The truth is, I adore the physical act of place pen to page and seeing my labors become a tangible work when I'm finished, not just a file on my desktop, something I will probably put in my recycle bin the following day. 

This blog is not about writing. 

If I wanted to write, I would grab a pen and notepad.

I want to blog as a way to build inspiration, not only in myself, but also for others. Not just for the creative side of life, but also the practical, the analytical, or any other aspect that is boiling in my brain. This will be my new dumping ground for all the random thoughts and experiences I have. Hopefully it will be a fun and rewarding experience...