bright white

Some may think white Christmas tress are tacky but I haven't been able to keep my eyeballs off of them. I'm a sucker for a whimsy inspired Christmas. I like bright greens and bold reds for our house during Christmas time.
2009:

2010:

Although I'm not putting up a tree this year or next, it's no surprise that I'm now on a mission to get one in an after Christmas sale. I see at least 3 trees in our home's future and right now we have one. I absolutely love our current one, would love a white one and then we need a MONSTER of a tree one day when I hope to have taller ceilings. Maybe the monster can be the holiday star of the house and be real. Don't you love the smell of a real tree? I remember dad and I having a teeny tiny real one when it was just him and I one Christmas. We planted in the front yard after Christmas and I got to watch it grow like me. Even after we moved, I would get dad to drive by to see how it was doing.
Checkout this white tree eye candy:

Treetopia has a great one!

shoe envy

Very much in love with the 2012 YSL shoe collection.

uphill downhill

Lee sent me Just Because flowers to my office yesterday. I snagged a very thoughtful man, huh!? I'm sure only he knows how much of an emotional wreck I truly am as of late, he def helps by making a deposit in the woo'ing department. He sure does know how to fill my love bucket.
Yesterday:

Then today, I found a surprise bloom in the middle of the bouquet!!! Neato:

Until yesterday, I haven't been much into decorating for Christmas. Crazy, right? I'm usually out the butt crazy about Christmas. Just look at my December archives. BUTT, with Lee leaving shortly after the holidays-I haven't been consumed by holiday cheer if you know what I mean. I opt out of putting lights on the house exterior, decided to forgo a Christmas tree and our house is not being enveloped by Christmas decor in every nook and cranny. We're simply not home much this month and taking it all down combined with Lee's depature is too much. However, after being woo'd yesterday and hearing that mom has the house back home all doneup just right for the holiday-my Christmas spirit meter started to teeter up a bit. Last night, Lee and I organized a couple tubs (We have 10+ tubs of Christmas decor) of a few holiday things so I can keep them out of the attic and in the garage to avoid getting tubs out of the attic on my own while he's deployed. I put a few things in the kitchen (I like a gingerbread theme in the kitchen...a copycat of my mom.), decorated the mantle and set the dining room table. We're having our friendamily over for a holiday dinner soon and I can't imagine not having an ounce of Christmas in the house by then.
Here's my tablescape inspiration:


Sneak peek: (bust'n out the China)

This just in. ANOTHER officer from the graduating OCS class before Lee got hit by an IED. Happened yesterday. Fortunately he wasn't killed but it did crush his foot and they rushed him to surgery. Again, this hits too close to home. Gosh. Right when things were starting to look up. Scary, huh? Tell me about it!

fierce & thankful

You are in control of your own success, DO NOT LET YOURSELF DOWN!
This was written in hubby's monthly newsletter in reference to his upcoming drill preparation. I just read it and wanted to share with you all. In the spirit of keeping it real and truly sharing this journey with you all, I have been incredibly unmotivated, moody and disconnected in my down time lately. Having unfocused energy isn't good for me right now and I'm determined to take control of my own destiny again. I've come to realize (by discussion with my new friend and also fellow military spouse, Lindsay) that I am fiercely independent and "Normal Erin" looks for new challenges always and it is often HARD to take the back seat and let your husband's career be the lead when you are still looking to be personally fulfilled. Although Lee is in the National Guard and this military life is temporary, it can be hard to blend two lifestyles that are so wildly different. The word deployment triggers new fears and the quantities of worries are significant and the heartache is indescribable to a spouse left behind to guard the home front.

Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Ha! Easier said than done, right?! I.Will.Try.Harder.

We have a ton to be thankful for and look forward to when Lee returns home. The training hubby is receiving is laying the groundwork for our family's future and we have the rest of our lives for me to snuggle into the nook of his armpit at night. I'm not perfect and I can't say that I'm going to dramatically turn a leaf overnight, but I CAN keep pushing forward to a more positive tomorrow.