Deadline for the Giveaway is Tonight!

Don't forget, you have until midnight tonight to become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment. The giveaway ends at midnight tonight and the winner will be posted tomorrow!! :)

My First Giveaway!

So, I've been wanting to do my first giveaway for awhile now and was just waiting for the right product(s) or items to give away. And, voila...I recently did a post about mark's new Fair Trade line of products. I just received the products today and let me tell you, they are amazing! And I just really love that mark has decided to support Fair Trade items with this special product line.

Watch this great video from mark to learn more:

So, I will be giving away 2 of the new Fair Trade products from mark...

• The Big Fix - 15 solutions with this ultimate taskmaster blam that softens skin and improves everything from chapped elbows and heels, to dry skin, lackluster cuticles and unruly brows.
• Relief Effort - total comfort body creme

 **I might also throw some other goodies in the package**

All you have to do is become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment saying so (or if you are already a follower, say so in a comment)! You have until this Saturday, July 31 at midnight (PST) to leave me a comment and then I will use an online random number selector to choose the winner. Woohoo, so exciting! :)

Quote of the Day

"Real love is the real life that starts after the bouquet has been tossed...it's the caring and sharing that comes when life gets busy, bills need to be paid, and errands need to be run. It's laughing and teasing and working things out. It's learning and knowing what your partner needs - even without asking. It's the little jokes that only the two of you understand. Real love is building a real life together - and there's simply nothing stronger or more rewarding than that."

Not sure of source, just wrote this down a long time ago and really love it :)

Got 'Em

Remember when I made a wish list of items I was really wanting...if not, here's a reminder! And, I found these beauties on-sale from Target:

Stemless wine glasses!

You can see one in use next to my yummy dinner...wine is good!

I'd say it was a successful purchase and a check off the ol' wish list! :)

Done, Done...and Done

1. Find a place to live in Omaha (moving in the next couple of months)
So we have picked out a place for us to live in Omaha...an apartment close to base and really feels like the whole package. Plus, we'll be able to focus on saving, at least this next year! :) I am so relieved that this task is complete!!

2. Schedule movers from base
This is pretty much done...all the paper work has been filled out. I am just waiting to hear back on final dates for packing and delivering. It is such a wonderful thing that the military will move families for free!!

3. Go through clothes, papers, and anything else...GET RID of stuff we don't need!
Yeah, I am totally proud of myself for doing this one...I went through all of my clothes and had a stack of the hubby's as well. Took them to Plato's Closet first, then the rest went to Goodwill. I have also been a "throwing away" machine...for stuff that seriously needed to be thrown away and have organized the heck out of the place. I mean, it'll continue as the move gets closer, but I'm on my way.

4. Apply for jobs (tired of doing this already)
This will have to be a continuous thing...

5. Start new knitting project for expecting mother/friend
Yeah, I've had NO time between taking my trip to Omaha, catching up on sleep over the weekend, and work...hopefully, I will begin this over the weekend or next week.

6. Keep running (ran Sat. = 1 mile; Sun = ran 1 mile/walked 1 mile)
Yeah, I wish I had better news on this one...I'm not giving up on it yet. But, I've just been super busy and tired the past few days, so maybe tomorrow I'll run again! ;)

7. Start cooking dinner with things I have at home instead of buying more
Yeah, I don't like this one...it's so hard cooking for one person. But, I have cleared a few things out of the cabinets by using them for meals. I may end up having to give some stuff away...especially condiments!

8. Try not to be so stressed and overwhelmed and emotional about the move ;)
So, I feel like this is a tough one...I mean, I'm gonna continue to be stressed and overwhelmed up until the move, I'm sure. BUT, I definitely haven't been as emotional as 2 weeks ago when I wrote this...I was a wreck that week! I just got myself so worked up...but now that things are falling into place, I'm calming down and realizing that things are working out and everything will get done in time (I hope)! :)

Now this is a Craft Table!

Yeah, so I stumbled upon this yesterday while looking for decorating ideas (for the NEW place)! We will be using the 2nd bedroom as an office/craft room.

And this table is amazing...I've been wanting some sort of bins to hold/display my yarn...and this is PERFECT! I can put my yarn in the bins on one side, and my fabric on the other side...and my little sewing machine can sit on top.

*There's a really cute stool that goes with it too (maybe I could even get a stool for each side)! :)

Yeah, I think it's a definite purchase!

Changes...

Well, I figured since my blog's title and purpose is all about changes, I figured it would make sense to do a post about some of the changes coming up in my life :)

So, I've mentioned before that my husband is military and that we would be moving from California to Nebraska in the upcoming months. I feel lucky to have gotten the chance to live in such a beautiful place, such as Monterey! But, there are things that I am looking forward to in Omaha.

I just came back from a whirlwind 2-day trip to Omaha to look for housing. It was so exhausting...I was really only there to look at places for 1 full day...and I had made 8 appointments throughout the Omaha area!! That's right, 8...let's just say I was running around "like a chicken with my head cut off". If it wasn't for my GPS, I don't know how I would have made it to all of them...because I did NOT know the area and although it seems pretty easy (once you're familiar with it)...there were definitely times that I still got lost.

I was able to check out the base for a whole 10 minutes but it seems like a nice one. And my appointments ranged from places near base all the way to actually being downtown in the city (which is a way cute area from what I saw...lots of little cute shops, restaurants, bars, etc.). Although we would *love* living downtown (and found the most awesome condo overlooking the city)...I believe we have narrowed it down to an apt. closer to base. I'm happy with the decision (although seriously, it was hard to turn down the condo) because we will be saving money...which is totally what we should be doing over the next few years.

 Cute little outdoor restaurant patio in downtown (yeah that's my hand reflecting on the window while driving)

Changes I am totally not looking forward to:

-Not being near the beach
-Not being near FRESH seafood
-Not being near my knitting group and other friends I have made here! :(
-Being encompassed by bugs again (yeah, there are seriously hardly any bugs here...maybe flies, that's it)
-Living back in the humidity...although we shouldn't have to deal with it too much before winter hits
-The "harsh" winters that Omaha apparently had this past winter...um, I haven't seen snow since Jan. '09

Changes I am totally looking forward to:

-Being near a city and getting that "city" feel in the downtown area
-Having seasons again (I know I just complained about the winter, but having seasonal weather will be nice)
-Being closer to family (just a days drive)
-Having A LOT more restaurants to choose from (yeah, I definitely saw Cracker Barrel while I was there) :)
-There are tons of breweries, which the hubby will love
-More space and storage in our new place...AND we can paint!! I'm already looking for decorating ideas

I mean, it's gonna be a big change...but I think I am definitely ready for it!! I know one thing I'm ready for and that is to be with the hubby again...this time apart sucks! But I'm so proud of him, he's doing great! :)

More to come on the big move, it's really just right around the corner!

Goal-Setting for the Following Week

1. Find a place to live in Omaha (moving in the next couple of months)

2. Schedule movers from base

3. Go through clothes, papers, and anything else...GET RID of stuff we don't need!

4. Apply for jobs (tired of doing this already)

5. Start new knitting project for expecting mother/friend

6. Keep running (ran Sat. = 1 mile; Sun = ran 1 mile/walked 1 mile)

7. Start cooking dinner with things I have at home instead of buying more

8. Try not to be so stressed and overwhelmed and emotional about the move ;)

Quote of the Day

"Life is constant change. So when something comes into your life enjoy it, use it well, and when it is time let it go. Just because you own something, it doesn't mean that you have to keep it forever. You are just a temporary custodian of many things that pass through your life."

~Karen Kingston, Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui

Music to My Ears

I don't know if you've ever heard of Joshua Radin, but if you haven't, LISTEN to his stuff!! ;) My sister got me started listening to him by burning me a copy of his 1st CD. And I'm not lying, I could listen to it over and over...it never gets old. Great voice, great lyrics...watch the videos below and have a listen:

Changed my Mind

Yeah, I know, I changed my blog design again...I just wasn't feeling the other one! ;) Hopefully this is it for awhile, we will see...

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

source

That's A Fair Trade

mark will be offering these new Fair Trade body products starting next month...

To quote Wikipedia...

Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as social and environmental standards. It focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate and flowers.

There will be:

• Fresh Approach Hydrating Body Cleanser (with fair trade honey)
• Do The Right Thing Smooth Body Lotion SPF 15 (with fair trade honey and cocoa butter)
• Relief Effort Total Comfort Body Cream (with fair trade cocoa butter, olive oil and chamomile)
• The Big Fix 15-in-1 Big Benefits Lip Balm (with fair trade cocoa butter, olive oil and vanilla)

Check 'em out next month!!