Blog Archives

Secret Santa

Posted on December 22, 2011
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It’s Secret Santa season for sure! Like last year, I participated in Secret Santa gift swap again this year. Thank you so much for organizing this lovely holiday tradition, Wife of A Sailor!

My Secret Santa package arrived already at the end of last week, and I had a great intention not to open it until tonight, right before leaving for Chicago. And I was able to control myself but it was my beloved husband who was dying from the curiosity. He kept asking and asking if I am going to open the box, and when I am going to open it. So eventually a couple of days ago I gave up, and actually let him to open it – such a big kid. Next year he should sign up for the Secret Santa too!

Anyways, I couldn’t believe what I saw. First of all, the most beautiful packaging – how thoughtful to gift wrap inside the box. So clever! I am gonna steal this idea for my next year’s Christmas mailing purposes. And then out comes a purple, overflowing stocking. A book and selection of Starbucks teas! Yummmm! I have to admit, I already tasted a couple of tea flavors. Winter Dream Tea together with gingerbread is such a delicacy! And then the book. I will be glued to it on our flight from Alaska to Chicago. No Turning Back by Ryan Anderson, a soldier awarded with Purple Heart who lives the life and is a true American. I can’t wait to read this book. What a great choice by Shana, my Secret Santa – you found a book that I haven’t read, and the one that I can’t wait to read.

Thank you Shana at Tiara’s & ACU’s!

 

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MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #67

Posted on December 17, 2011
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Only a week to go to Christmas, and a couple of weeks to the end of 2011…. Christmas preparations are still work in progress but at least we got all of our Christmas cards out more or less on time, as well as presents have been purchased – or at least I have a great plan in place. Finally.

Tonight hubby and I went to see Anchorage Ballet’s Christmas 2011 performance that consisted of some more contemporary dance pieces as well as the most loved pieces of Nutcracker. It was a real blast, and we had so much fun. I would have loved to see the whole Nutcracker ballet but unfortunately there were only few shows in Anchorage, and at the time I woke up to book tickets, all the good seats were gone. Oh well, hopefully next year! However, Nutcracker music and ballerinas never fail to make that Christmas feeling.

This is the last MilSpouse Friday Fill-In this year. Always awesome  Wife of A Sailor will come up with new questions in 2012, so stay tuned, and join the fun – either now or next year!

1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more organized with all the things I need to do and tasks I have to juggle with. I am hoping that better time management will eventually give me more free time. I don’t know if it is just wishful thinking but we will see!

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to participate and finish an Ironman race…

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is our move and new duty station.

4. One change I’d like to see next year is for people starting to care more about their health and well-being.

5. My plans for NYE include not sure yet….. maybe checking out the fireworks in Anchorage downtown, and having a friend or two over at our house.

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MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #64

Posted on November 11, 2011
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I hope you have had a wonderful Veteran’s Day! And hopefully you have taken a moment in your day to thank those who have served or currently serve this wonderful nation.

“But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, Is their monument to-day, and for aye.” -Thomas Dunn English

This past week has been another hectic one: work, school, travels…. so more updates to follow but meanwhile, check out some new OpLove Sneak Peeks at the KominiakPhoto‘s Facebook site, and enjoy the Friday Fill-In – questions provided by Wife of A Sailor.

1. Freedom is taken granted way too often, and I would hope people showed more respect to those who step up and defend our freedom and values.
2. Veterans are not always getting the credit and respect that they deserve.
3. This country is a land of free, and provides us with endless opportunities – thanks to those who have stepped up to defend our values and way of living throughout the centuries.
4. Veterans Day means time to thank and respect the brave men and women who serve and have served. However, Veteran’s Day is not a one day out of 365 but we should show the appreciation and respect to them every day.
5. A hero is someone who stands for something greater, and has strength and courage to do what needs to be done.

 

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November. Already.

Posted on November 3, 2011
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It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just behind the corner, and Christmas is not that far away. And I have no plans as far as Christmas presents go, quilted Thanksgiving table runner and placemats are still in pieces. Or actually the pieces have not even been cut yet. This week has been one of those extremely busy ones. Lots of school and work things to do – papers, midterms, and more papers. So I am looking forward to tomorrow, and being done with one of the bigger midterms.

Halloween up here in Alaska was chilly but not as windy as last year. However, we had less trick-or-treaters than last year, and hubby has been carrying leftover candies to work. Better get them out of the house before I start snacking them…. actually I don’t have a whole lot of craving for chocolate. I did taste one of each flavor – four or five – that we had for Halloween visitors, and started to feel so sick afterwards. Apparently no chocolate for me.

This weekend will be a blast. I am doing a couple of photo shoots, the other one being an OpLove session. While most of my photography is for commercial clients and my photo agencies, I really do enjoy these family sessions. They are such a blast, and especially with the Operation Love, I am so glad to share my talent with wonderful military families.

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Getting Social

Posted on October 19, 2011
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I finally decided to step up and volunteer in the military community. I have been thinking of this for quite some time – whether or not I should get a bit more social with other spouses. And then I found the Officers’ Spouses’ Organization on the base, stopped by in their meeting, met a bunch of awesome military spouses. A couple of weeks later I found myself being responsible for group’s monthly newsletter.

My first newsletter is going out next week so this week has been full of catching up on graphic design and testing various tools that I could use for putting together my creation. So far so good. My newsletter is coming together by using Pages’ templates that I have been (successfully) modifying for this particular purpose.

In fact I am so excited about this newsletter responsibility that I have a hard time to put the laptop away and crawl to the bed in the evenings. There is always that one thing I’d like to add tonight …. and one thing leads to another, and time keeps flying by: a couple of hours later I am still adding “small things” to the newsletter or polishing the design, choosing colors and so on. I’m getting addicted to the creativity that through computer-based design.

Speaking of newsletters…… Military Spouses out there, what kind of topics are you the most interested in? What would you love to have in the perfect spouse club’s newsletter?

Lastly, a friendly reminder about the Anniversary Giveaway: you can sign up for the drawing until October 29, 2011, by following and commenting this post.

Also, check out Kara’s Happy-Go-Lucky, and join the Mingle Blog Hop!

Happy Go Lucky

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