The Man of the House

With Husband gone, I have taken over the role of Mr. Fix It.

First, I changed the shower head in the bathroom, which was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.

Then, Mom and I built a grill. Not nearly as easy as the shower head, but we still got it done!

More recently, I tackled a much larger project: the car. You see, the AC in the car was broken. The first quote I got to fix it was $150. The second quote, which I got from the place on post, was only $39. Little did I know, the mechanic there thought he could pull one over on me because I'm a girl and would not actually be fixing the AC for that price. Even though I asked for confirmation of the work I was getting done, he only checked the AC for that $39. To actually fix it would be another $200. Naturally, I was not happy when I discovered he had flat out lied to me and I let him know it. I also let him know that I would be taking my business elsewhere. And that place was Checker.

After a phone call to my dad, I decided that I would just fix the AC myself. So one trip to Checker and $35 later, I found myself staring at the engine with absolutely no idea what I was looking for.

[my view]

So I googled it. After I knew what I was looking for, I spent the better part of the afternoon staring at the engine, trying to figure out where the mystery part was. And then I found it. Twenty minutes later, I was in the car, cold air blasting, on my way to Taco Bell for a celebratory taco.

I'm sure Husband never thought he would be coming home to a plumber, builder and mechanic!

I sure hope he knows how lucky he is to be married to a badass like me.

Grown-up Girl

Sometimes being a grown-up isn't fun at all. Like when I have to move 3,000 miles away from my home with only the essentials. As if that wasn't stressful enough, when I got here, I realized that the condo I rented was dirty and disappointing. Then I went to pick up the car and it wouldn't start. So I had to buy a new battery. While I was waiting for AAA to install it, I noticed that the tags were expired. I ended up having to pay for new tires and an alignment before I could get them renewed. Top all of that off with moving our stuff out of storage in the constant rain and the last week has been pretty hard.

Thankfully, I had Mom with me. She's the only reason I didn't have a full blown mental breakdown. She was absolutely amazing and helped me make the apartment feel like a home. She helped me pick out my pretty, new couch and even bought me a dining room table, rug, coffee table and vacuum. My apartment that started out as a disappointing mess ended up feeling a little bit like a home.

[Sorry for the crappy pictures]

Sadly, Mom had to go back home and now I'm forced to become a real grown-up girl and live on my own for a while. Some moments it doesn't seem so bad. Others, it feels absolutely impossible. Hopefully I survive.

Megan Who?

I've been thinking lately that it's about time I share a little more about me. Then I saw Beckie participated in a link up called 100 Facts About Me and I decided to play too. But I can tell you right now, thinking of a whole 100 facts about myself is not going to happen. But some is better than none, right? Ok, here we go!

#1: I am terrible at sharing feelings. In fact, I hate it.

#2: I'm a lefty. But I do most everything right handed because that's the way my brother taught me.

#3: I don't eat anything from the ocean. Or anything with the bones still in.

#4: Water is my favorite beverage. I never go anywhere without a bottle of it. I blame Arizona.

#5: I love shoes. Heels are my favorite but husband won't let me wear them around him because they make me taller. It's very sad.

#6: I am ridiculously naive and extremely gullible. Not a good combination in my experience.

#7: One of my goals was to grow my hair long enough to cover my ta-tas. Now that it is, I refuse to cut it.

#8: Brand New is my favorite band of all time. But country music is my true love.

#9: Husband and I want 3 kids. But we will not be naming one of them Ariel. Even though Husband really, really wants to. Gag. [Sorry if your kid's name is Ariel.]

#10: I've been told that I'm very bossy. But I can't help it that people just listen to me, can I? Husband is the only one it doesn't work with. Even my giant brother listens to me.

#11: I hate being alone. I get lonely instantly and I have no idea how to entertain myself. I'm kind of freaking out about staying alone in Hawaii until Husband gets back. I may not survive.

#12: I have my own waxing pot and we have a love/hate relationship. My eye brows look fantastic but I always seem to forget how painful bikini waxes are until the wax is already stuck on.

#13: My alarm clock is never set for a logical time. In high school, I woke up every morning at 6:27am.

#14: I'm a Chevy girl at heart but I drive a Dodge. And all of my vehicles have been trucks. Unless you count Husband's girly car but I did try to veto that one.

#15: Mom is my very best friend. Even when I'm away, I talk to her every day and I can tell her anything.

#16: Caffiene and I don't get along. And my insomnia has gotten so bad that even my sleeping pills aren't really helping.

#17: I am a giant wierdie and I don't try to hide it at all. I make up words and make wishes on my "birthday minute" and tons of apparently crazy things.

#18: For a class assignment I had to choose my most valuable possessions. I chose family and Husband's love and didn't get full points because my choices were not tangible things. I'm still bitter about it.

#19: I had Invisilign braces for about 9 months because I felt like my teeth were crooked. I still wear a retainer at night because I'm terrified my teeth will move. Husband makes fun of me and asks if I "have my teeth in" like I'm an old lady with dentures.

[Pre-Invisilign and also my 21st birthday]



[After Invisilign and baby nephew, Max]

#20: I have incredible self esteem and think I'm pretty amazing. Nothing can really convince me otherwise, even mean people and drama starters.

Twenty is good, don't you think? How about this: If there is anything else you really want to know about me, just ask. Email or comment and I promise I'll answer because I'm really not shy and besides sharing feelings, I don't hold back either. 

Puppy Karma

Quite some time ago, I was driving close to home when something caught my eye: a little black puppy on the side of the road! Of course, I knew I had to try to save him so I very carefully came to a stop on the road next to him. Trying my best not to scare him away, I slowly opened my door. Then the craziest thing happened: instead of trying to run away, the little black puppy looked right at me and charged full speed ahead! Without hesitation, he jumped into my car, landing right in my lap. Shocked, I just closed the door and finished driving home, puppy and all. 

On the short ride home, we fell in love. That little puppy just sat calmly in my lap, waiting patiently to see his new home. Sadly, mom had other plans for him. Looking at his collar, she discovered that Howie already had a home and forced me to return him. When a little freckle-faced kid came to the door to claim his puppy, I felt a little better about returning him. But I would never forget Howie.

Thankfully, he didn't forget me either because recently, mom and I turned onto our block to see Howie in the neighbor's yard! Beyond excited, I instantly went to scoop him up where he just settled into my arms, best friends once again. We hung out for a while, but eventually, mom made me give him back [again]. Again, the little boy answered the door [who lets their small children answer the door to strangers anyway?] and took Howie out of my arms, not at all excited to see the return of my favorite little dog.

As I slumped back home with a frown on my face, mom gave me a little pep talk about how returning Howie was the right thing to do. I begrudgingly agreed, sad that poor Howie couldn't be mine. Our good deed didn't go unrewarded long though, becasue a few steps later mom looked down and saw our prize:

A whole dollar! But I have to say, next time I find Howie, I'm keeping him unless I get a 20!

If You're Happy and You Know It...

After I threw myself a nice little pity party, I realized that, of course, I have a thousand reasons to be happy, even with my husband half a world away. Really, how could I have forgotten how awesome my life really is?! Here are a few reasons I have ditched my Negative Nancy attitude:

• My mom, aka the best mom ever, used her awesomeness to get me the BEST Christmas present ever! A homemade, black and white apron with Mrs. Liberato embroidered on it! I have been wanting one for a while now and she surprised me with it! It's even better than I imagined.

• My pink Reebok butt shaping shoes. Obviously that's not their official name but you get the point. Mom got them for both of us when I first got home months and months ago and I have gone down 3 sizes since then! Needless to say, I absolutely love those shoes [and my new, smaller butt]!

• A good book and a candle lit bubble bath...or really anything that helps me forget to be stressed about school and deployment. P.S. Bath & BodyWorks new Dark Kiss scent is my new favorite! It smells amazing.

• Victoria's Secret gift card...need I say more?

• Most importantly of all, I have pretty much accomplished my goal of Kardashian hair! I do wish my hair would grow a little longer but for now, I am perfectly content with my semi-long, dark curls.

And really, who can be grouchy when they have Kardashian hair?

I love you, Mom

My mood has gone from bad to worse these last few days.

I feel like stress is coming at me from all directions lately and I can honestly say that I am a mess.

Good thing I have the most amazing mom ever.

She buys me ice cream and gives me pep talks when I'm sad.

I just love her.



There's a first time for everything.

Today, 3 months into deployment, I missed my first phone call from hubby.

And I cried, and cried and cried.

And then my mom bought me new shoes to make me feel better.

And they're so beautiful that I smiled.

And I felt better.

But I'm still missing hubby.