I Just Got Scolded Because I Forgot To Post This Morning.

This week wasn't near as bad as I expected. I made some bangin' food, got a LOT accomplished, and still got quality time with the hubs. I think I may even feel good in my bikini this weekend, and I'm not gonna lie...I was worried. Lately, I've been a lot more liberal with my eating habits because I don't have to squeeze into that tiny uniform. However, when I have to don a bikini, I rethink my eating habits. I know I don't look terrible, but I feel terrible...all bloated and meh. Oh the joys of a slowing metabolism. Have you seen the meme about getting pregnant as an excuse to get fat? It is tempting...

That picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I'm flippin' excited to head back there soon! We can't wait to spend a wonderful weekend with our hubbies and enjoy some good ol' country music on the beach. BCE would = 'Best Combination EVER' if I were a tween, but I'm not...and yet it's still true. You know what's not a good combination? Money and the Internet. Baaaad combination. It's like a thieves paradise.

Unlike Taylor, I hate internet scammers. I related and LOVED her post, but sitting here typing my blood is boiling. I know so many people that have hacked emails, internet charges, and been phone swindled that it makes me sick to my stomach. The faceless evil is becoming worse than a face to face confrontation, and the victims never seem to get justice. In an effort to help whomever I can, I want to share some scenarios I've come across that could trick even the savviest computer user.

You see, they are getting so smart that they create graphics mimicking sites you use and tell you to click their link because you've been hacked and you need to change your password. Solution? Don't click ANY links from your email, and just open a new browser to type in the address. You click that url, and you are done-zo. If you are questioning it, you can always check the email. It may have the title of the site included, but it will be obvious that it's not official, especially if it says UK at the end.

It's crazy how much access the hackers and anyone can have via the interwebs. For example, I signed up for  a UPS membership deal they have, and to verify it was me, they INSTANTANEOUSLY came up with questions from my past that I had to think hard for the answers. Their site could determine my address ten years ago, what I drove, and where I went to college in less time than it took me to read the questions. Keep that in mind people, and that goes for Facebook and other Social Media too. I don't care if your account is private, there is someone somewhere using some software looking for keywords, and if you say those keywords, they will totally hack you and/or begin watching you.

We all think it can't happen to us, but I've had my credit card number stolen a few times. I wish we all didn't have to be so cautious, but we are the only ones that can really stop hackers from hacking us through diligence. It's scary that we must protect our children from online predators, refrain from clicking links in our email, aid the elderly that don't have experience with the internet, and spread the word about circulating hacks and hope it's enough. I'm sorry to disrupt our regular programming, but if I can help one person, it was worth it!

Comments off for Labor Day Weekend festivities. Happy Labor Day!

Corks And Cattle

Remember that fight I was having with myself? Well, we finally got it all talked out, and my wonderfully sweet husband surprised me with a Thursday night date last week. We've been wanting to check out a local  wine and meat chop called Corks and Cattle, so he told me to dress fancy and whisked me away on an impromptu date.

We drank wine, shopped their great wine selection, and enjoyed the ambiance until we got hungry. We weren't paying $24.99 for a plate of cheese, so Will took me to my favorite place in town for my newest obsession, Taj Gyros. I was happy as a clam already, but THEN he set out candles and Jazz music for some living room slow dancing. Be still my heart...We have been lacking in the romantic moments category with everything going on lately, but not anymore! Slow dancing in your living room should be on everyone's date night list, and I can suggest a few bottles of vino to spice up the night.

This is a picture of me ecstatic that Corks & Cattle has two of my favorite brands, and subsequently inspired me to share said favorites with you. Now, you can't go wrong with Pinot Grigio or a Reisling, but that's just the beginning. I've moved on to drinking Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah, and I'm always discovering new wines that surprise me. I used to only check the alcohol content, but after visiting Napa I got a little spoiled and enjoy it on a new level. You can make any wine taste okay {Sangria, Spritzer}, but if you are in the mood for a party on your palette, you need to try the following.

Honig Winery || You see two Honig bottles above, and that's because it is my favorite! They have amazing wines made using honey, which yields the only dessert wine I'll ever drink. I'm telling you, that tall skinny bottle is worth every penny they charge {hint: It ain't cheap}, but the other wines they offer are much cheaper. Find in specialty shops and World Market.
Cakebread || I'm sure you've all heard of Cupcake wines, but I'll tell you a secret.. it's a knockoff of Cakebread {Gasp}. This is mainly because Cakebread isn't as available as I'd like it to be. I was actually surprised to find it in a store, because typically they exclusively distribute to restaurants. Needless to say, if you like Cupcake, you will LOVE Cakebread.
Conundrum || Is a go to brand for us. We know that it will always have a smooth taste, lots of flavor, and a reasonable price tag. I love that it's pretty available in stores and restaurants.
Opus One || I saved for last because it is $200+ a bottle. I'm sure you can find a cheap version that is just as good, but I sure haven't. Maybe it's the memories attached to it, maybe it's the grand vineyard that transports you, or maybe it's just that they make a damn good wine. Anywho, it must be on the list because this is my list, and I love it. #winesnob

If you ask me whether I'd like to go out or stay in, I will almost always choose staying in for a romantic evening. The wine is cheaper, it's more relaxed, and it takes less time to get to the boudoir. However, this was a lovely way to have the best of both worlds. These intimate moments are what make marriage worth it, and I live from moment to moment.

This Post Not Approved For A Younger Audience

Another summer weekend has come and gone, and realizing that Labor Day is next weekend has blown my mind. The good news, is that I got to have my very first whoopie pie before this summer went vamoosh. Maybe I'm wrong, but that seems like a summer thing... Right up there with grilled fish, playing by the pool, and chatting by the light of tiki torches.

In case you missed the mankini photobomb above, enjoy Will and our friend Justin doing the most dangerous thing I've ever allowed them to do. Kids...don't try this at home.

It was one of those things that I knew was a bad idea, but it would have happened when we turned our backs so I figured I should record it supervise.  Don't worry, I made them put the ladder up right after. They tried to sneak it back to the pool again, but even they didn't have the balls to deal with their wives after we said no mo'. They like to push the limits, but they know when they step over the line and the consequences that come with said line. #wearemarriedtochildren #atleasttheyarehot

I'm happy it was another great weekend, and yet I'm going to state the obvious and say I'm not ready for the upcoming week. I'm realizing that I have a LOT on my plate: a doctors appointment, I have to type the minutes up for our last FRCSC meeting, an all day meeting on Thursday, make plans for this coming weekend, pack for this coming weekend, and run like twenty miles...ugh. I took a break from running because of the summer heat, but I hurt my wrist last week and had to change my entire workout routine until I get it figured out. I wish I could just take the week off, but not before a beach trip. Gotta fit in that 'kini, guuurl.

Any of you have big plans for Labor Day? If you are going to Gulf Coast Jam, I'll see you there! Countdown: FIVE flippin' DAYS.

"HOO" Are We?

First order of business...In case you are like me and would rather donate than waste water, my sweet friend Kelly is raising money for Pancreatic Cancer in honor of her father. She even created an FB page where you can buy her gently used, adorable clothes and ALL the proceeds go to the cause. You know it feels way better to donate than to pour ice cold water on yo'self.

On the quest of deciding what I want to be when I grow up, I've realized that any job I've ever had that involves event planning has always made me the happiest. The only problem is that most of those jobs require many hours on nights and weekends, and Will and I don't want to have opposite schedules. Well, I may not be getting paid for the event planning I'm doing now, but I get volunteer hours and the events are during normal work hours! We just won't go into how many hours I spent painting on nights and weekends, because at least I got to do that in the comfort of my own home.

Okay, so what did I put all that effort in for? We just had our kickoff event for the new year of the Fort Rucker Community Spouse Club. It was a Membership Exhibition and sets the theme for the whole year, which is "HOO" Are We?. A great way to focus on getting to know our members and incorporate cute owl decor.

I got to hang out with some of the most amazing females in the world {like, the whole world}, and promote awareness for causes like Operation Homefront and Team RWB. Oh, and there's cake...really, really, really good cake. I tried to say no, but I couldn't ignore the marble bliss.

The highlight though, was my sexy soldier showing up and telling me I did a good job. Anyone in the world can tell me I'm good at something, but it means way more coming from him. He's as happy as I am that this event is over...maybe more. I know this because when a friend asked for volunteers to plan our Ten year Reunion, he flat out said no before I even entertained the idea. We may or may not be having a reunion, but I can't do it all.

As for answering the question "HOO" am I...I'm a wife, daughter, sister, friend, volunteer, chef, tutor, housekeeper, and anything else I feel like being on a given day. The more I try to accomplish, the more I realize that anything is possible. "HOO" are you?

Things I Should Be Ashamed Of, But I'm Not

Confessions and guilty pleasures are pretty similar in my book, and this is especially true because I don't feel guilty for anything. Why should we feel guilty for things that make us happy? I guess that's kind of the point of blogging about guilty pleasures; the more we embrace them, the less stigma they have.

Confession
...I may be the only person in the world that DVR's 7th Heaven. I loved the show back in high shool, and I love it even more now. It's like revisiting old friends that you can always laugh and cry with- no judgement. Great life lessons too. Seriously.

...I know that I don't need new clothes or shoes, but I still find reasons to shop. I guess I do feel a little guilty for materialistic reasons, but at least I'm using my allowance and I still sell/donate old clothes too. I wish I could say that this is all of it, but I take up the whole Master closet too. Whoops.

...Hobby Lobby is like crack to me. I walk in those doors and could get lost for hours. Yesterday, I had to stop myself from buying Christmas decorations because I don't even know what I have stored. Talk about jumping the gun.

...I have cut my workouts down to 30 minute at home workouts. I may never see my abs again, but at least I'm consistent. I always go through phases so this could change again, but I'm not complaining. I feel like this is a much more realistic regimen for health vs. unrealistic goals.

...Speaking of never seeing my abs, I have never met a Chimichanga I didn't like. We tried a new Mexican restaurant last week, and even though we were trying to be 'healthy', I ordered the Chimichanga appetizer. Appetizer calories don't count, right?  If you are ever in the Dothan area, check out Cactus Flower for awesome 'California style Mexican'.

The last confession is more of a PSA turned novel. I don't care about the Facebook Messenger hullabaloo, but the Faebook/Instagram  problem is pissing me off. Ever since Facebook bought Instagram I have had a horrible time sharing photos between the two apps. I don't share every photo, so it wasn't a priority to figure it out, but I finally had to sit down and sleuth it out. It's not because you tag people in your photo, it's not something you need to change on Facebook,or any other lame reason I came across. It's within your Instagram settings!

But for reference, I won't be installing the FB Messenger app. I couldn't care less about all the rumors going around, I just don't want to give up more room on my phone for an app I would use once in a blue moon. No thanks. Now you should wish me luck as I try to put my house back in order. I kind of want to go back to work just to pay someone else to clean. Boy that sounds lazy, but maybe one day...one day ;)

Grown Ups Can Prank Too

I'm so excited that today is the big event, which means my owl project is over! Don't get me wrong, I loved painting and the helping with this event, but I need a break and to put my house back together without five foot owls taking up the sitting area, dining room, and garage. A special shout out to Will for putting up with it all!

I think I may blame the shenanigans from this weekend on temporary paint fume insanity. Without going into too many details or fully admitting to any particular activities, I have a few pictures that can speak for themselves...

Man, this makes me miss the ol' Homecoming days! Sometimes I wish my husband was less of a man child, but more often than not, I'm happy he keeps me young and gives me reason to partake in harmless pranking. In case you are wondering if TP'ing someone's house is still fun at this age...I can vouch that it is!

In closing, let me leave you with a sweet treat for the kid in all of us:

I whipped that up the other day and it tastes JUST like a Samoa Girl Scout cookie with only 250 filling-satisfying- healthy{ish} calories! Ah-MAZING, and yep, it takes me back to my Scouting days. I hated selling cookies, but I loooved eating them. Now I can have the shake anytime I want and don't have to wait for those little scout ninjas to stock up. That's what adulthood is all about...eating cookies and pranking people anytime we want.

My Husband...Spending Time On The John

The weekend is here and we had grand plans for the weekend. Had being the operative word. We were supposed to have family dinner, karaoke, and even hit up Panama City Beach, but you know what? As Will wrapped his arms around me and broke the news that the plans were ix-nay, I couldn't have been more happy. How could I be upset about spending more ALONE time with my husband and maybe even finding time to relax. I think we both need it.

Especially since we had a little miscommunication this week, and things got kinda weird. I learned that I cannot hold him to promises made after we imbibe with friends without at least confirming said promise once his mind has become clear. Otherwise, I end up having a fight with myself because he has no clue there is even an issue. Do you know how hard it is to have a fight with yourself? I don't recommend it.

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but there is just something entertaining about sitting on a toilet in a random backyard. Shoe-less, mind you. Gah, I just can't stay mad at that face! He's just plain ol' amazing and I can't wait to 'make up' tonight. He asked me on a stay-at-home-date, and I expect to be romanced ahemcoughcough. 

Sorry I'm Late, Boss!

Technically I don't have a boss, though Will likes to think he is. I passed out at 8PM last night, but woke up knowing I didn't have a blog post ready, to which he replied: "I'll allow you to post late tomorrow." Whether I wanted to listen to him or not, I was back to sleep not long after that. I guess I really have been busy lately, and I wasn't looking forward to waking up early for lab tests AGAIN. Yep, I had to fast twice this week, had to wake up early twice this week, and had to have blood taken TWICE THIS WEEK.

Confession || I use the fasting as an excuse to eat like crap, which makes me feel like crap :(

Confession || Things are really good these days, but I still feel like something is missing.

Confession || I wish I were home with my Dad for his birthday.

I will always be a Daddy's girl, and couldn't be anymore proud of my wonderful, loving father. At least I got to see him last week, and I'm already counting down the days until I see him next. He showers me with hugs, love, and has always makes me feel like a princess. He most definitely taught me to set the bar high, and I'm thankful for that. To the best daddy in my world, Happy Birthday and I LOVE you!

Hi. My Name Is Janna, And I'm A Habitual Overachiever.

**IF YOU ARE READING THIS BEFORE 9AM PST**

You should visit the Authors Publish Facebook page and vote for me! You don't have to like their page or do anything funky. I wrote a 'Six Word Story', and all you have to do is find my comment at the top of the comments in the contest and click 'like'. Easy peasy, and I'd be forever grateful. I submitted last night before I realized that it was the kind of thing you needed votes for. I doubt I'm going to get the 300+ votes I need in time, but I figured I'd try. Personally, I think my six word story is purdy powerful. Just sayin'.

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Alright, so we all know I'm new to the whole spouse club-volunteer-thing. It's been less than three months since I even joined the club, and now not only am I Secretary, I keep volunteering myself for stuff. What's worse, is that it's not even jobs they ask for volunteers for. I am creating NEW jobs for myself. What does that mean? Well, for example, we were going over decorations for an upcoming event and we needed owls. We planned to buy some little statues, but somehow I mentioned that I can paint and the next thing you know, I was tasked with painting FOUR- five FOOT by four FOOT owls.

On top of that, I also volunteered my go to T-shirt company when they thought we couldn't get shirts made in time. This meant that I also had to wrangle up the orders and create the graphics within a 24 hour period to make it happen. Oh, and let's not forget the event 'passports' that have to be designed, because I didn't like the idea of a plain white piece of paper. So you see, I have no one to blame but myself.

I think you could say I work harder for free than when I was a real member of the work force. Whatevs, at least I'm keeping busy, I love painting, I'm the queen of tedious projects, and it really does feel good to volunteer. If only I could ditch the secretary duties, all would be great! J/K, but typing up these minutes every month may be the death of me. Well, that and the lovely Glucose test I'm taking this morning. No, I'm not pregnant, FYI. I've just had some blood sugar issues lately, and it's been a while since my sugar levels have been checked. Almost passing out a few times and blurry vision is starting to get really old. Wish me luck! Anyone that's had this test...I know you feel my pain.

Hob Knobbin' Around Fort Rucker

With all the excitement lately, I realize there have been a few key events left out. I may not get to them all, but I really want to brag about getting to be a part of the Fort Rucker Spouse Club. Now, if you had told me that I would want to be a part of something like this five years ago, I would have thought you were crazy. In fact, Will used to give my false information  to the organizations on post, because some of the groups were more about drama than support. Luckily, here it's a whoooole different story. In particular, this night was filled with good food, a few shenanigans, and an open bar. I could really get used to this!

Oh yeah...that's me down there, front and center with the Command Team spouses for the whole post. Spouses don't wear rank, yadda yadda yadda, but these high powered ladies make me feel weak in the knees. They are surprisingly pleasant, and yet awe-inspiring. Maybe it's because I've spent more time with high ranking officers than spouses, but it's very exciting to experience this new culture of the military. Plus it's a lot more pressure for me, because now I become a part of his career, as well. Needless to say, I feel way in over my head, but I'm happy to learn the ropes and support my soldier in anyway possible. At the end of the day, we are all just spouses who love our soldiers!

Some of you may recognize the dress from my Altar'd State shopping spree, but let's talk about that hair though...I haven't curled it in what feels like a year, and I realized how much I missed it. It's still a pain in the butt, but sometimes it's worth the trouble. Do any of you have a favorite {easy} way to curl your hair?

Become friends with people who aren't your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn't the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn't come from your social class. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow...

Baby Fever Or Birth Control?

Have I mentioned how amazing it is to be living close to home? Not only did my wonderful In-Laws come to stay with us recently {FIL made me a coffee table, more on that soon}, but while laying in bed Friday night, we decided to pop down to Pensacola for the weekend!

Momma made us Dumplins, we had a sleepover at grandma's, and we got to play with lots of sweet, precious, little babies. I'm tellin' ya, these kids were so cute that I almost, almost felt my uterus flutter. Normally, I would avoid a toddler birthday like the plague, but I happen to love my childhood friend Carmela enough to play Minnie Mouse for the day. It's funny that we grew up playing together and now we get to watch Savannah and her little friends form lasting friendships like ours. Oh nostalgia...

I died when she put her tool belt on and immediately started working on her jeep. Can you tell she's a daddy's girl? All I know is that I'm proud they are raising her right, because girls can play tools and cars too. But even cuter...please meet Miss Lennon.

She's my other BFF's little bundle of joy that I finally got to meet on Sunday, and she was the cutest wobble baby that I've ever held. She's gorgeous, sweet, alert, and smart, but she is all malleable and soft to the point where you never want to put her down. Unfortunately, I did have to put her down because we had to drive two and a half hours home before it got too late. Why the random picture of a dirt road, you ask?

Welp, we tried a new route that lead to a closed road, and then got rerouted to a dirt road. We giggled a bit, but there was nothing much else we could do during one of life's little adventures. Welcome to sweet home Alabama.

Sometimes life gives you dirt roads...charge your gps and enjoy the ride!

When Healthy Goes Wonderfully Wrong

I don't like to label food as good or bad and try to think of it as fuel or filler instead. That's why I look at a lot of delicious looking recipes and think that I can take them from 'bad' to 'good' with just a few changes. Recently, I had the bright idea to lighten up a Loaded Baked Potato Casserole, but even lightened up...it's still horribly delicious. At least my intentions were good, and as I put it together I really thought I was making progress.

Healthy...

Healthy...

Semi-Healthy...

Damn...

Hey, you win some, you lose some. At least I can't call it a complete loss. Tell me this doesn't look delicious. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S.

4 red potatoes, cubed

1 bag frozen cauliflower, thawed

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded

8 slices bacon, baked and crumbled

1 cup cheddar

1 cup mozzarella

6 green onions, sliced

4 tablespoons butter, sliced

1 cup sour cream + more to serve

Garlic powder, salt & pepper, to taste.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place potatoes and cauliflower in a 9x13 baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Stir to coat evenly, and then stir in half of the cheese and sour cream. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. 

While that is baking, mix the other half of the sour cream, 1/4 of the cheese and most of the bacon into the shredded chicken, and then mix it in the casserole around the 30 minute mark. Top with the last 1/4 of cheese, lay butter slices over casserole, and season with salt & pepper.

Recover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes. Top with green onion and the last of the bacon.

I'm not going to suggest you make this, but if you do I must warn you, anyone who eats it will instantly fall in love with you. Consider it an aphrodisiac of sorts, and you can take my husband's word for it. WinkWink. A man's heart really is through his stomach.