Tips for a Successful Re-Deployment

Joe has now been home for almost a month and it has been amazing to have it home. I wanted to share with you some tips for a successful re-deployment. I did my best to have everything ready and planned for his homecoming and of course there were some hiccups, but in my opinion everything went perfect.

1. Have the house stocked with your soldiers favorite food - Joe and I have very different tastes in food. So I made sure that the house was stocked with his favorite foods. It is easy to forget about this and it is a very nice touch to make sure that his favorites is waiting for him when he gets home. They travel for almost a day, so food in the house is a must.

2. Make the perfect Sign - I searched the internet looking for the perfect sign. I looked at everything from random google searches, Pinterest, to Instagram. I invited Mal over (her artistic talents are amazing) and we made the best sign ever! It even made the front page of the Ft. Carson paper. Having a sign is a great and easy way for your soldier to find you in the crowd.

3. Find a great outfit - It always shocks me that you go to re-deployments and no one is dressed up. Your soldier has been gone for 9months to a year, you would think you would want to look good for him. It's also a place that you might meet his boss and his co-workers. I searched a ton of websites looking for a dress and ended up going with a Loft dress that I found on clearance for less then $30. 

4. Bring someone with you to take pictures - I hired a photographer, but you can also just bring a friend to take some pictures! This is a special day and you will want to remember it. You can see some of the photos here. 

5. Let your soldier sleep - Joe traveled for over 24 hours and he was tired. This is normal. It's going to be tough to sit there as he sleeps but it will be worth it to give him some time to rest. I was able to adjust my schedule to work really early in the morning so that by the time the redeployment ceremony was over I was exhausted as well. 

Re-Deployment is a very exciting and stressful time. Be flexible and just go with the flow. 

Do you have any re-deployment tips?

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Cheers to Mal!!

This week I am sending my cheers to my good friend Mallory! Mal Smiles was one of the very first blogs that I ever followed. Mal has always been one of the kindest people in the blogging world. She has given me advice on how to get the most out of blogging and how to make my blog the best it can be.

Mal / Kaitlyn / Stephanie 

It was a very fortunate turn of events when her husband DLW got stationed at Ft. Carson. I admire Mal's commitment to work, she moved to Colorado a month early so that she was able to maintain a career as a teacher, while still being a supportive army wife. Mal and I moved around the same time and she was one of the biggest supporters during Joe's deployment.

It was so nice to learn that we have a ton in common.  Mal and I both love to do anything outdoors and active. We have hiked up the incline and ran a 10K. We are also able to just hang out. It is nice to have a go to friend here in Colorado. Since Joe has returned we have been able to hang out as couples. Joe and DLW also have lots in common and they also have become friends. 

So cheers to you Mal! Thank you for being a great friend. Here is to many more years of friendship! 

Link up with Casey for Cheers not Jeers! 

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I'm Running a Marathon!!

I am excited and very nervous to share, that I am RUNNING A MARATHON!!! Joe and I will be running the Walt Disney World Marathon. This will be my 3rd Run Disney event and I am very excited that it will be my first full marathon. I always knew that I wanted it to be my first. (maybe my only)

I can't believe that a few months ago, Joe and I decided it would be a great idea to run a marathon. Looking back on it, I have no idea why we thought that. I have always wanted to run at least one marathon and I am so happy that I am going to be able to share this run with Joe, my biggest supporter. But after my last 1/2 Marathon  I was having second thoughts.

Nothing about running feels right here in Colorado. I can't make it past 2 miles without wanting to turn around and walk home. The furthest run I have done here in Colorado is a 10 mile run. I have a long way to go and not a whole lot of time to prep. I am really hoping that I can get out and put in the miles need to run a successful marathon. Wish me luck!

Have you ever ran a marathon?
Do you have any cold weather running tips?

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Easy Pulled Pork Sandwiches

I will be the first to admit that I am not much of a cook. So, I take pride when I can actually make something good. I am going to share with you a super easy, crock pot, pulled pork recipe.

• 3-5 lbs of pork shoulder 
• 1 large yellow onion
• 1/2 head of garlic 
• 1 cup of chicken stock
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• Barbecue sauce

Instructions 

1. In a small bowl mix all spices (cinnamon, cumin, brown sugar, chili powder, and salt) together. 

2. Slice the onions and garlic into thin slices and add to the bottom of the crock pot. Pour the chicken stock over the onions and garlic. 

3. Pat pork shoulder dry with a paper towel, place on top of onions and garlic,  and add the spices to the  pork. I treated it like a rub. 

4. Cook the pork on high for 6-8 hours. I checked mine at 7 hours and it was perfect! 

5. Remove the pork shoulder from the crock pot and on to a cutting board and strain the remaining onion mixture and keep the juice and throw out the onions (you can keep the onions if you would like). Shred the pork with 2 forks and add the shredded pork back to the crock pot. Add the stained juice and barbecue sauce to the crock pot at cook for another hour on low. 

6. Once the pork is done add it to buns with more barbecue sauce to taste and enjoy! 

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Re-Deployment Pictures are Here!

I am so happy that I have a few photos from the Re-Deployment from my fabulous Photographer Kristi Anne! I am so happy with the way the photos came out and I can't wait to have our outdoor shoot with her. Thank you Kristi for being apart of our re-deployment. Hope you enjoy the photos!

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Five on Friday!!

It is finally Friday! Yesterday felt like eternity because it snowed here and that snow turned into ice on the roads which turned my hour drive to work into a lovely 4 hour drive. I loved working in the snow, but the drive sucks. But, that is behind me and hopefully our roads don't turn into ice every time it snows. Let me share 5 happy things that happened to me this past week! 

1. Last Saturday Mal, Joe, and I ran a 10K! It was a good wake up to Joe and I reminding us that we have a Marathon coming up in January. The course was tough and actually closer to 7 miles then to 6.2 miles. But we all finished it and it was a free race, so it was a good time. 

2. Then on Sunday Mal and Dan came over to watch some football and eat some food. This was the first weekend Joe got to meet two of my favorite people here! It is so nice to have a couple  that we can go out and do things with! I made some yummy pulled pork sliders that will be up on the blog on Monday. Joe grilled up some wings and Mal brought the best veggie mix that we threw on the grill and it was so perfect. 

3. On Monday Joe got his wisdom teeth removed and we spent all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at home just relaxing. It was so nice to be able to do nothing. On Tuesday I got the most beautiful little flowers sent to the house with a note from Joe thanking me for taking care if him. How sweet is he that even when he is in pain he still puts me first. I think he is a keeper. 

4. With all of my free time on Tuesday, I decided to redo my blog. I was over the summer theme that I had going on and put together what you see today! I really like it and hope you do too! I think it is a design that will grow with me. I was thinking about hiring someone to do it for awhile but just played around with a few things and less then an hour later it was done! 

5. Last but no least! Some of my photos from Kristi arrived! I am so excited to share some with you tomorrow and through out the week! But here is one of my favorites. Who doesn't need a photo of shoes right? 

I really hope this snow stops and I can get back to my normal life. Ha I hope you all have a great weekend! 

      

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Thankful - BBB Link UP

Joe is taking over my blog again for this months Boys Behind the Blog link up with Mal and Stephanie! 

1. Who is your favorite band/musician?

It changes every couple of months, but right now Macklemore is tearing up the charts.  

2. What was your first CD/tape?

My first tape of Bone Thugs and Harmony back when they rapped slow. I am also not ashamed to say that I owned the Pat Benatar tape, so go ahead and hit me with your best shot. 

3. Who was your first concert?

My first concert was the Rolling Stones at the Syracuse Dome with my Father. I knew none of the songs and was intimidated by the 40 year old women screaming to Mick Jagger. 

4. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

My favorite Thanksgiving food is the Turkey, white meat, not dry.

5. Finish the sentence: I am thankful for...

I am thankful for Stephanie.  It was so amazing having her to come home to after this deployment.  I can not tell her how appreciative I was to come home to a furnished house and to not have any worries about bills, getting my vehicle, making appointments...  She was so supportive and helped so much.  I am also thankful she let me stop at BDubs before we came home the first night.

Joe

Check out Joe's Other BBB Answers:
October 17th 
September 19th
July 18th 

Cheers!

I am so excited to be apart of the launching of a brand new link up brought to us by the lovely Casey! I met Casey when I was a new blogger and we have been great friends since. I am loving this new link up because it gives us the opportunity to met new bloggers and send "Cheers" to bloggers that inspire us or are just plan awesome!

I would like to introduce you all to Stephanie from Army Crafter! I met Stephanie through the Cara Box Link up this past month. She is an Army Wife that loves to run, crochet, and cook! She is able to maintain a career while still being a very supportive army wife. I look up to her commitment to her husband and career. She also has two very cute dogs. She is your girl next door that seems to have it all together.

I also wanted to send some Cheers to one of my favorite bloggers Helene from Helene in Between! I am sure most of you already know her and probably know why I think she is awesome. But, I am going to tell you anyways. Helene is ridiculously funny.  Her blog has a nice balance of getting to know her and her everyday life with a fun twist of comic relief! The other really cool thing is that she is very involved the blogging community i.e. even though she is a "bigger" blogger she actually reads smaller blogs like mine! I really enjoy reading what she has to say and am often inspired at how successful she has been!

Cheers to two of my favorite bloggers! Hope you ladies are doing fabulous!

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Running Must Haves

I am back on my running schedule. I feel like I am always on and off, but it feels good to be back on. I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite Running Must Haves. I found most of these at the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Fitness Expo and I am so happy with all of the products. I normally don't wear all of them at once, but it is nice to have them in my running stash. 

Garmin ForeRunner 210 with Heart Monitor - I was really excited to get this watch. I have had the Nike Running Watch, but didn't like it because it was too big for my wrist. This watch fits much better and is easy to wear and control. The one thing that I do not like about the watch is the fact that I always have to charge it. I am also still getting use to the heart monitor. 

Sweaty Bands - I love these head bands. I was able to run a full 13.1 miles with out having to re-adjust  it at all. They come in so many different colors and patterns, you are sure to find one you love.

Running Sunglasses -  These are a must for me. Ever since my pteryguim surgery earlier this year I have tried my best to wear sunglasses. But I have not been able to find a pair that look good and are light. 

Running Belt - Very few of my running clothes have pockets, so this was a great addition to my running gear. It is the perfect size to hold my iPhone, chap sticks, key, money, and any running gels. This iFitness belt is perfect for all of my stuff that I "need" when I run.

Halo Running Visor - This is a really neat visor. I bought it more for hiking or being outdoors. The yellow band on the inside of the visor is made so that the sweat rolls off of your head and stays out of your eyes. It fits well and is easy to keep clean. 

What is your running must have?

Do you struggle with staying on a running schedule?

p.s. This is my 100th post!! So exciting. Thanks for reading :)

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Easy Green Drink

I am really a true fan of juices, even though I have never owned a juicer. I have always juiced with a blender. I have shared Green Drinks in the past but this one is an easy So, yesterday I headed over to Costco to buy a new juicer! I have shared green drinks before on the blog, but this time I wanted to share with you how to make an easy green juice. This juice can be  made with both a juicer and a blender. But a juicer will give you a much smoother drink. 

Ingredients (for 16oz of Juice):

• 2 Cups of Kale 
• 1/2 Cucumber 
• 1/2 of a small Pineapple
• 2 Celery Stalks  

1. Cut all of the fruit into small pieces
2. Add Pineapple to the Juicer
3. Add Cucumber to the Juicer
4. Add Celery to the Juicer
5. Add Kale to the Juicer
6. Mix the juice and place through a strainer

This green juice is amazing. It is so yummy and smooth. 

Do you have Juicer?

Do you have a favorite Green Drink?

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