Long time no see, folks!

Well, I've been absent a long while, but I"m going to revive this blog to the best of my ability.

My last post was in September of 2013 and many things have changed since then.

January 2014 I began the process of joining the United States Navy. By May, I was on my way to boot camp, and in July I was officially a U.S. Navy Sailor.

I went through Navy Mass Communication Specialist A-School at Fort George G. Meade, MD, at the Defense Information School. After 8 months of education, May of 2015 I went to my first command, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East in Norfolk, VA. I was slated to deploy with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group on USS Gravely in November, but a physical altercation between my husband and me caused my command to hold me back. My husband was arrested and I became a single mom almost two weeks before I was to deploy.

Now it's 2016, and I am slated yet again to deploy in May this year with USNS Mercy.

Obviously that doesn't describe everything I've learned and encountered, but in a nutshell that's what I have been up to.

I hope to keep up with the blog now that my life is settling down into something easier to handle.

Lily is doing very well as a Navy kid.  She's joyful all of the time and I'm really going to miss her while I am overseas. I know, though, that I will be able to bring back many experiences to share with her :)

Halloween Hijinx



 I walked into Wal-Mart on September first to see the beginnings of Halloween shopping. I stopped dead (hehe) in my tracks and realized I was not prepared for this year. What was I going to do?! AHHH!!

Lily loves Halloween too!  October, 2012

Halloween has always been my favorite Holiday.  Sure, you get presents on Christmas, but for some reason the thought of dressing up and prancing around the neighborhood with friends and family gathering candy takes the cake for me.  What's better is now I can dress Lily up now, too!  Double the fun for the Mama!

Last year I did a costume review for Anytime Costumes (see review here) and dressed Lily Bud in a cute Lion costume once Halloween came around.  I was definitely more excited than she was! 

Last year I came up with my own costume on-the-fly as I honestly had let the idea slip past me.  Lily was taken care of so I didn't have too much to worry about.  Right?  Well, I ended up looking like a vampire pirate.  It was a little cool, but frustrating when I was totally uncomfortable walking up and down the street with everything falling off.

NOT THIS YEAR!

This year I have taken the early initiative to make sure my family is prepared for Halloween with a cute theme that is not only fun but affordable and comfortable. 

What theme is that, you ask?  Drumroll.... (badabadabadabadabada...)

Little Red Riding Hood!!!

 

Lily and I are going to be Red Riding Hoods and Joseph will be the Wolf.  Thought about being the grandma, but I already have some components of an adult Red Riding Hood costume and surprisingly none of the grandma.  Nope, no nightgowns, robes or slippers here.  Weird, huh?  Always preferred shorts and a t-shirt...

Anyway, for affordability's sake we went to the thrift store today and picked up some wicked-cute baskets for a dollar each for candy-holding and to transport goodies to Grandma's house.

Thrift store love <3



As I get more things together I will update here.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping Halloween affordable and fun? If so, totally share :)