Confessions of a Shopaholic

Last week, James and I decided I would be packing up my life for the past 8 months in New York and moving back home to Washington state. I am so overwhelmed with excitement!!! Until....I started packing. OK?

So, initially I started packing January 1st. It was the day of the new year, which is also the year my husband is coming home. We made it to 2010, and I was looking forward to him coming home that I needed to start packing. I'm not crazy, just excited, that's all.

In the beginning of February, I started feeling like I was hitting a breaking point. Time was crawling, things were just not going smoothly for me at all, and I found it harder and harder to get out of my bed everyday. I would have much rather slept til July and forgot the time in between. I had called our apartment complex and asked them to add me to the list in May for an apartment. Our original move date was set for mid May. Until, I called them the other day to ask them about a waiting list, and they told me apartments are going quick with the arrival of three brigades coming at the same time. That was the final decision. I'm moving at the end of March.

If you know me, you know that I'm pretty much the coolest procrastinator ever. I like to wait until the last minute for everything. Which is OK with me.I deal really well under pressure and I work better when I have a little stress going on. But, the second I found out I was moving sooner, I had to pack. I cleared out my whole entire rent-a-room. (Why I brought half the junk with me in the first place, is still unknown. I didn't use half of it while being here the last 8 months). Lets bring the xbox. Lets bring the rockband. Lets bring ALL of my clothes. Yea, ALL of my clothes. I'm a female? I have enough clothes to support a small country. Why I feel the need to bring my 10 bathing suits (it snows 6 months in NY), every single shoe I own, and every single pair of pants I own is beyond me. I got them here. That's what mattered at that point. Now the question is, how do I get them back? I have added to my clothes and shoe collection. That doesn't help.

So I started putting items in more boxes, and just sporadically placing them in the spare bedroom in my parents house to get them out of the way. Not realizing how much crap I had already placed in that room. Last week when I cleared out my closet and decided to take all the boxes from the spare room and put them back in my closet, it was then that I sat on my rent-a-room floor and started hysterically laughing to myself. The thought that I was laughing about was....."How am I going to get all of these boxes, plus the rest of my clothes, and a suitcase inside of my tiny cobalt?" Oh the stress. Oh the wonder of WHY I need all of my clothes. I can't part with them because I love them so much. Giving them away is like taking a toy from a toddler. I will NEVER stop crying. So I guess I will just have to make do. I will have to figure out how to fit all of my random "bring this to NY for a year" junk into my car and drive it with me across the country. Confessions of shopaholic.

This is just PART of what I'm taking:

"Things I Love" Thursday!

Things I Love...




Pike Place Market Seattle,WA:









Mt. Rainier wherever I go:







Mt. Si:





Ft. Lewis:

Gang.

Client: Are you in a gang?
Me: EXCUSE ME?
Client: Are YOU in a gang?
Me: Do I LOOK like I am in a gang? I wear pink, and make-up. Do I look like a gang member?
Client: You have an upside down Celtic Cross tattoo on your wrist.
Me:Just because I have a tattoo of a Celtic Cross doesn't mean I'm in a gang! It does have a meaning behind it.


The nerve of some people. I always encounter this when some smart ass wants to inquire about my tattoo as if its any of their business. Um, its not. And if you ask about it, you don't start the conversation off by asking if I'm in a gang. Rude much?

The meaning of my Celtic Cross tattoo is for the Irish blood in me. I come from a very Irish family, with a very Irish last-name. My great grandparents travled here from Ireland on the boat. To me, that's pretty awesome. Not everybody can say they had family members come here to Ellis Island from another country. I was brought up eating corned beef and cabbage every St. Patrick's Day, and attending the St. Patrick's Day parade every year. To me, having a Celtic Cross on the inside of my wrist, is pretty unique and an expression of what I am and where my family originated from. The reason it is facing towards me, and not towards others is because it was my own personal decision. I want to be able to look down at my tattoo and smile because of the family I come from. Its really that simple.

Tattoo's are an art and a form of self expression. I'm a girly girl. I wear pink, and make-up and love doing my hair. I also love sweatpants and hoodies and bumming around when I want too. I also wear baseball hats and go to baseball games and watch sports. I'm just your everyday gang member! Riiiight.


My "gang" symbol.

Hey Sunday! Your back so quickly!
You wonderful relaxing, bring on the Monday headache day!
At least.....you brought the sunshine today.


It was so nice to wake up this morning to the sun beating
through the windows of my rent-a-room and the sound of melting
snow running through the gutters. Well, I could have
probably done without the sound since its so annoying to wake up too.
But is it a sign the snow is leaving us? I hope?

Never mind. Weatherman JUST said more snow tomorrow. AWESOME.

Well at least I got the chance to go outside and enjoy the day today.
I waited to see which one of my neighbors would open their pool
first in this heatwave of 35 degrees. People of New York do weird
things on semi-nice days of winter. They wear shorts, and drive with
their arms out their windows like its 90 out. Gotta love it.

So thanks weather dude. You just ruined my "could have been a good Monday" mood.

Ugh. Monday. The most dreaded day of the week for me.

Yuck.




Enjoyin' today's sunshine!

Lock of Love Success!!

Today was the Locks of Love marathon at work!
It was a HUGE success!
We had 15 hair donations!
FIFTEEN!!
That's A LOT of hair!

Our longest pony tail to be donated to
this awesome organization was 26 inches!
The woman sat down in my chair
and said..."Cut it off, I want to donate."

GASP! I had a hard time cutting this
amazingly LONG 26 inches of hair off this woman's head, but
it is going to a great cause for a medically ill child in need.

What a great feeling to know we supported a wonderful cause!
Great job to all my co-workers for making this event
such a huge success!





All of Us Girls in Pink for Locks of Love!

Valentines Day....3 years later.

Its Valentines eve, and I'm sitting here on my rent-a-bed
wrapped in my zebra snuggie,
listening to my dog snore next to me.
This year is pretty similar to last years Valentines eve. Alone.
James was in NTC last February. Wow, times flies.
Just when you think Valentines is over with for another year,
it punches you in the face.

I do not "not" like this holiday, but its a bit overrated
and just a way for hallmark to make more money on their
cheesy cards that everyone else is buying for their loved ones.
Its like going to Walmart and buying that cute shirt you see.
Like nobody else shops at Walmart and wont buy that shirt too.

I don't understand why people feel
the need to think its a slap in their face if they are single.
Nobody says "You need to celebrate Valentines Day or else..."
Or else what?
For the single people, its a way to
save money and your diet that you have
been on since New Years, or so they say.

Really though, don't you think its a bit more "romantic" or "special" to
write on a piece of paper your own feelings for that special someone?
If it were me, I'd rather receive that, then the same card my
next door neighbor just got from her husband. (just sayin)

The first Valentines Day for James and I was when he was in basic.
Instead of buying him a card that told him
how much I "liked" him, I made him one.
Complete with the little hearts you learn to
cut out on construction paper in kindergarten.
You know, the ones you fold the
paper in half and cut up and around?
That was from my heart.
And I knew that nobody else was
going to send him the same exact card.

This year, I also sent him something I made.
It reminded me of the first Valentines Day we spent "together" but apart.
Sitting in the kitchen, in the same exact spot, three years later, making something for James.

Except this year is different then that first Valentines Day.
I don't just "like" him, I'm completely head over heels in "love" with him.

20 Weeks Left!!!

On your mark. Get set. Go!!!!!
That's today's motto.

It is February 12, 2010 and we have officially
reached the 20 week countdown until my amazing soldier is back home.
All day today, I fluttered around on cloud nine.
I counted the weeks on the calendar and got up and started dancing.

I hope these 20 weeks fly by as fast as the last 32 weeks have.
I have so much to look forward too these next weeks ahead.
I'm looking forward to being back in Washington in May.
I can't wait to set our apartment up, and get things situated
for my Soldiers arrival back home.
I'm even taking notes on ways to decorate our apartment.
Thank You HGTV!

But most importantly,
I'm excited to lay eyes on him again for the first time in 9 months.
Even if I'm in the bleachers waiting for
the moment to just latch on to him.
I wont be able to peel my eyes off of him and
I know this already.
I get tingles and butterflies just thinking about it!

20 weeks! Its all downhill from here!

My Hair is Pink!

Yep, its PINK!
I love it.

The salon I work for is having a "Locks of Love" marathon.
So to honor the "Locks of Love" foundation, we each put a strip of pink in our hair.
It's such a good feeling to be taking part in this event.

The marathon will be on February 20th. We will have raffles and prizes, along with food and fun for everyone who joins us. "Locks of Love" is a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under the age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
"Locks of Love" creates a unique need for children by using donated hair to make the highest quality hair prosthetic's.

We are all really excited to be one of the salon's in our area to accept "Locks of Love" hair donations. Any 10 inches or more of hair can help out these less fortunate children in need! Hoping for a great outcome during our marathon. I will post pictures after the event takes place!





Rockin' the Pink!

"Things I Love" Thursday!

Things I Love...

Dark Chocolate




Eat Pray Love




Rhianna's New Album: Rated R




Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash

I Have Realized....

I'm such a lucky girl....and when I say lucky, I'm truly lucky.
I have learned a lot throughout the time James and I have been apart due to his heroism, sacrifice and bravery for our country.
For one...James is my best friend. I never thought in my whole life, I could ever find a love like ours. To know that he is not just my husband but also my best friend, is the best gift I could ever receive.

Everyday I wake up and roll over wishing I could fling my arm or leg around him.
He is my security every time he's with me. Whether were driving in the car and a pan-handler is reaching through my side of the car for change, (that did REALLY happen) while James is yelling at him to "back away" in English and the homeless man only speaks Spanish. Or, he is making a wooden door guard out of 2x4's for me to stick under the door handle for when he is gone training for weeks or a month. He always makes sure I am taken care of. Whether he is protecting me, or just wrapping his arms around me.

We love to get in the car and just drive. Grabbing our camera's and just going is one of my favorite things to do with him. We rarely have a set destination, but we find fun in wondering where we will end up. And we always have tons of pictures when we get back. (Well he does, because I am somehow camera illiterate and can't take good pictures like he can. HELP!)

It's amazing how he is so far away, and can still put a smile on my face everyday we are apart. It doesn't matter if its through an email, instant message, or a phone-call. I'm always left smiling for the rest of the day. It's so comforting to answer the phone to him on the other line. I never knew I could love an email, instant message or phone-call so much.

That's one of the little things I have always taken for granted, but now realize how important it is to me.

I've also realized how true the saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is. Everyday I miss him more then I did the day before. And that's a lot. That's like all the miles it takes to get all the way around the world times a million. I never knew I could miss somebody so much. Especially when minutes feel like days and days feel like an eternity to get through. But ya know, its the little things James and I have been through or done together, that get me through everyday. All I have to do is look back at the memories we have already made together, and it keeps me pushing through and staying strong. I'm surrounded by our pictures all the time.

He's always with me, no matter how many miles, bodies of water, or continents stand between us. I love that I can lay my head down at night, and even though he is not here, he is STILL the last person I see and kiss before I go to bed (and yes, I kiss my picture frame).

I LOVE YOU J-DUB. :)

"Things I Love" Thursdays!!

"Things I Love"

I've decided to do a "Things I Love" Thursday. I will post things I love every Thursday on my blog. It's a great way to share who I am.



I Love...

My Soldier




Audrey Hepburn




The Smell and Taste of Coffee




When I Get Mail



This is just to name a few...stay tuned for next week!

Bologna Can Blow Up?

I came to the conclusion when I walked out of the house for work this afternoon that I HATE TODAY. My emotions are all over the place. They aren't stable in one place, they are EVERYWHERE. Its been about 5 days now since I talked to James, and that plays a major part of why I feel the way I do. I feel like I can't talk to anybody about it because all they say is "He will call, don't worry." If its one thing I can't stand during this whole deployment its the words "Don't Worry."
How can I not worry? He is my husband. The person I married for the rest of my life. I love him more then life itself. He is fighting in a war-zone, but "Don't Worry." Half the time when someone says that to me, I just wanna touch their face with my knuckles. I DON'T always know what he is doing, but he does inform me when he will be away for a while. Its easier when I know he will be out for a while vs. having a blackout and not knowing what the hell is going on. Just because he informs me of being away, it DOESN'T stop my emotions from going insane.
I can assure you, I do worry and will worry until I see his number come up on my phone or his name in my in-box. So please stop saying "Don't Worry!!"

Two things that actually made me smile today:

1. My dad bought me a smiley face cookie. I loved that because it made me smile.
2. My friend Kellee always puts me in a good mood when I'm feeling sad. Our facebook conversation today went something along the lines of this:

Kellee: Bologna can blow up?
Chelsey: It sure can.
Kellee: I didn't know that.
Chelsey: I like blowing peeps up.
Chelsey: Not like human beings. The marshmallow.
Kellee: LMFAO. Im laughing because I read it right the first time and the second sentence was just hilarious.
Kellee: I like to put two peeps in the microwave facing each other with toothpicks because they stab each other when they blow up.

We like to crack ourselves up, along with making each other laugh our asses off. Our conversations always have some random thoughts or made-up quotes in them. These two little things helped put a smile on my face.
I'm so fortunate to have such an awesome friend to help me through this. She always understands because she is living the same life. I'm also fortunate to have two amazing parents. They always know how to make me feel better. Even if its with a smiley face cookie.
Oh, and something I ordered for James came in the mail today. I was SO EXCITED when I opened it up. Its a secret. He can't see it until the day he gets home. That little thing made me jump up and down with excitement. So that's 3 things that made me smile today. I am missing him so much. I can't explain the emptiness and the feelings that keep bottling up in the pit of my stomach. I'm so ready for this all to be over with.

I hope tomorrow will be a better day. At least I have a 4th thing to smile about: I have the day off.


The Smiley Face Cookie from Dad!



"Fightin' Peeps"

I HATE Monday Mornings and LOVE Monday Nights

I Hate Monday Mornings.
I never get a good night sleep on Sunday nights, knowing that I work early Monday morning. I love my job as a hairstylist, but on Mondays, I'm not fond of standing on my feet first thing in the morning. And no matter how hard I try to get up at a reasonable time to make it to work on-time, I never succeed on Mondays. It's not like I did anything over this weekend. I don't do much on the weekends anyways. And lately, the weekends have just been ridiculously boring. But this morning, my alarm went off, and the sound of Loony Tunes was ringing in my ear. Yes, that's my alarm tone. Believe me, its a cute tone, but it is the most annoying thing to hear first thing in the morning. I end up screaming "I hate you Bugs Bunny" every Monday when I hear it. This is a little bit of how my Monday morning routine works:

• Alarm Rings at 7:00am/I scream at Bugs Bunny Ringtone
  
• I throw myself out of bed after hitting snooze 17 times (literally)
  
• I sleep walk to the bathroom and take a shower
• I venture back into my room to get ready after I sit and stare at the floor for about 15 minutes thinking about how much I hate Mondays.

(By this time it is now 8:15am and I need to be to work by 9:00am with a 17 minute drive there)

• I finally put on my face (minus the mascara-that comes later)
  
• I throw my hair in a clip(I can do my hair @ work) and pick out the simplest clothes because I hate Mondays.

(It's now 8:38am and need to be to work at 9:00am with still...a 17 minute drive there)

• I make it down the stairs, let the dog out, and grab a breakfast bar to go
• I grab the 4 bags I carry with me to and from work because I like making more work for myself
• I go out and finally start my car to warm up for 5 mins (by now its 8:45am and I still have a 17 minute drive)
• I get in the car and realize I forgot some item inside (cellphone, a bag, etc.) It happens every Monday morning
• I finally pull out of the drive way and start my 17 minute drive to work at 8:50am still without any coffee in my system. Coffee is my drug of choice. So every person who pulls in front of me, or gets on my bumper on the way to work, is going to get the Monday morning road rage.
• 9:07am, I have finally arrived at my job until 3pm.

Im a coffee lover. I have to have atleast 2 and a half cups of coffee on a Monday morning to even put me in my routine and snap me into my bubbly self. When 3pm eventually rolls around, I drive home in a better mood because in 5 hours, The Bachelor will be on. My dad goes off to bowl on his bowling league, and my mom and I sit in the living room, drink our favorite Cafe Mocha's from Tim Hortons and watch our favorite Monday night show. We yell during commercials, and get all hyped up on the drama that takes place. That is my "escape" from reality for 2 hours. Im missing my husband so badly right now. I miss him every single day more and more. When I dont talk to him for days, it puts me in a funk. I hate feeling funky. It makes my whole body hurt. But on a good note: Today is February 1st. This means I can rip January off the calendar and watch it make its way down the paper shredder because its over and done and Im one month closer to seeing the love of my life. Its such an exciting feeling!! Im signing off now, I can hear my Cafe Mocha calling me and The Bachelor will be on in 22 minutes.


I LOVE Tim Hortons


"The Bachelor"

Baby Its Cold Outside

Its been freezing here in NY for the last 4 days. We actually caught a nice break a week ago from the frigid temperatures that seemed to last all through December and January. It was in the 40's! That's a heat wave for us! People drive with their windows down with smiles on their faces because the sun is shining. A little vitamin D cheers us New Yorkers right up!

But, I do love snow. Its one of natures most beautiful creations. Plus no matter what age you are, you still find yourself sticking your tongue out to catch those icy flakes.The smell of firewood when you walk outside, or the little kids next door building a snowman are the little joys of winter. Sometimes, I get this urge to stick my tongue to a frozen pole. I always know what the outcome will be, but always try to pretend its not going to happen. I like driving in snow, when I'm the only person on the road. You would think with New Yorkers, most of them would know by now how to travel on icy, snow covered roads. Sadly, most of them forget. Its like...wheres the fire? Because I'd sure like to warm my hands up by it.
When its -2 here, you find yourself sitting around the house because its just to cold to go outside. That's pretty much what I did all weekend. My bedroom, bathroom and living room were the 3 rooms I saw this weekend. I have plenty of things I could have gotten done around the house, but the energy to accomplish such, just wasn't there. Nothing feels better than warm pajamas, a book and a warm cup of coffee when its this cold out. Having James here to be cooped up with would be even more amazing.
I remember last year we both bundled up and played in the first Washington snow fall. I really felt like a little kid. We made a huge snowman in the park across the street, and found little items around the park to use as props. He was the jolliest, biggest snowman I have ever made. Until, the next day when his head was missing. Poor guy. We sure did have a blast that night, making snow angels, a snowman, and hot cocoa. On cold days like these, while he is away, I always find myself reminiscing of all the fun things we have done. I cannot wait until he returns home so we can keep making more! Im signing off for now because the Grammy's are on! Another reason why I love winter!

My "little" Snowman in WA.
"Jan. 2009"

A Little About Us!!

Im new to blogging! I thought it would be a great way to share my life as an Army Wife! There are many of us out there living the military lifestyle.

For starters, James and I were both born and raised in upstate New York. We met one chilly night in October 2006 at a coffee shop, unexpectedly! I thought he was cute, so I talked to him. We talked at that table for 2 hours straight. I learned a lot about him in those two hours. But he never mention the Army. A few weeks later, he called me and told me he was leaving for basic. I agreed to writing to him during his training, even though I wasn't too thrilled to be "talking" to someone in the military. I thought military and it scared the life out of me. I had a career as a hairstylist, and my path in life was blooming. I never thought I could pick up and leave all of it behind. Love does amazing things. I corresponded with James through training, and really got to know him through those letters. I didn't really start falling for him until January of 2007. He was amazing. He was something I dreamed of my whole life as a little girl. Hoping and praying that one day I would meet my prince charming and live a wonderful life. He showed up at the most unexpected time, when I had given up on love and dating after a bad long term relationship. I believe fate brought us together. We married in April 2007 after he graduated from basic and got his orders for his station. I packed up and moved. It was a fairly quick process from the time we met to the time we got married. It was like two strangers getting married and starting a life together. We had so much to learn together, and mixing the Army life into it, made it a little complicated at first. Our first year of marriage was rough. Sometimes we felt like we were hanging on by a very thin piece of thread. We tripped over hurdles and went in slow motion over speed bumps, but looking back I wouldn't want to change a single thing.

James and I have been married almost 3 years now. We have an amazing love. A unique love, that many people dont get a chance to experience. Its the hurdles we overcame that helped us build this strong, everlasting bond. We are both curently going through our first deployment together. I never believed absence makes the heart grow fonder until now. We are in month 7 of this deployment. In the beginning I never thought I would have the strength to get over the pain of him not being here. Its crazy how as a military wife, you have this underlying strength you never knew you had. It took me a while to realize that strength was there. Once I got into my routine of living life as best as I can, while pressing the "hold" button, it started to get a bit easier. Its no way in hell EASY to ever experience a deployment, but Im making it through. One day at a time. Sometimes one second at a time. Some days are great, and somedays I just dont have the energy to even get out of bed. I moved back to NY to be with my family and continue with my career as a hairstylist. My family has been the best support group through all of this. Ive learned some really valuable lessons during this experience. Ive learned who my true friends are and that its impossible to explain to some people exactly what deployed life is like. I have made a great new friend a long the way. Her hubs is in the same unit as mine, and she is my battle buddy! I'd also like to Congratulate them on their new marriage! We talk everyday, and share our daily accomplishments and happy times, along with our awful days and screaming sessions. I talk to James as much as we possibly can. Email has become a good friend of mine. Seeing his name in my inbox or hearing his voice on the phone at 2am are what holds me together. This is my life. I vowed to stand by my man through thick and thin, til death do us part. I didn't ask to take on this challenge, I chose to do it, and I wear a smile on my face everyday because he is my hero. A hero who is sacrificing his life for our freedom. So I rose to the challenge, and we found the strength to make sacrifices. I love my life being married to my very own G.I James.

Graduation 2007

::Now Always and Forever::