House Hunting In North Carolina

Pardon my absence peeps.

The Brookes Fam is off
searching for a place
to live for the
next two years.

Fayetteville,
here we come.

I'll check back in and
show you what we find!

Guest Room Part 2

This is Guest Room
Part 2.

If you missed part 1,
here it is...

That was our way of
making grandma
(our very first house guests)
feel welcomed,
special,
and very much honored.

Now that we are a bit more seasoned
with prepping our guest room,
here are a few more tips
to extend that welcome even further.

Fresh flowers
Alarm Clock
Empty drawers
(okay, only 2, but that's something, right?)

a pair of generic readers
for the +40 crowd

Mirror for sprucing up.

Wish I would have thought of this one
a long time ago...
guest book.

How much fun would that have been
to have started this way back when,
spanning all
all our guests over the years,
and all our duty stations?

Better late than never, right?

Hand written welcome note

Goodie
"welcome to dc"
baskets

Uncle Mike and Aunt Les
adult version:
mags, cliff bars, water, granola

Izzie and Little A
kid version:
DC coloring books, new box of crayons,
sidewalk chalk, candies, bottle of water.

I think the candy in the baskets was the biggest hit.

So if you haven't seen me for a while,
I'm off making family memories
with my peeps.

Tell me ways YOU welcome lay down the welcome mat...

Friday Eye Candy: White Flooring

I would like to think
I am an
equal opportunity
blogger.

Remember this post?

So here is it's counterpart...

cococozy

ArhZine

arhDecor

designboner

Take Sunset

So tell me which do you prefer?

black
or
white
or
something in between?

Favorite Freebie: Book Club

Any book lovers out there?

I admit it.
Guilty as charged.
Wholeheartedly.

One thing I've done consistently in my life
is make sure I'm involved in a
book club.

Can't find one?
Start one.

Meet at someone's house.
Meet at your favorite coffee shop.
Meet at you fave place for a quick sammie
or a long lunch.

This is what I know about
Book Clubs.

They make you read.
Knowing you have a "must be read" deadline
lights the book-reading
fire under you.

It's a good thing.

Book Clubs open doors to books
you wouldn't normally chose for yourself.

Another good thing.

Chat with the ladies.
Commiserate.
Connect.
Use your brain.

This is our book pick this month.
Bossypants
Tina Fey

Just started it.
Found myself laughing out loud
waiting for my daughters next track event
while others looked on
wondering who the crazy lady was.

I didn't care.
It was that funny.

Oh goodie.
I've only just begun the book.
I know I've got more laughing to do.

Got a good book club?
Would love to hear about it...

Wardrobe Wednesday: Modern Trousers

Look.

It's not Thursday!
Yeah.
I remembered.

Here are the
Modern Trousers
from Gap.
(Remember this?)

And you know I waited for that
coveted 40% friends and family
coupon before I pulled the trigger,
add another 5% for using my
Banana Card
(kept at zero balance so no worries)
Not bad for $38 buckers.

beaded gold necklace: F21,
stripped Tee: H&M,
belt: Targ

Only downfall to the lovely
Gap trousers...
must be accompanied with heals.

What did I sign up for?
How often to I wear heals anymore?

Okay,
note to self.
Must "bring it",
occasionally.

Tell me about YOUR Wardrobe Wednesday...

Cousins Are Coming!

Yes!

This is why we are
bursting at the seams.

Would you look at those faces?

We have missed those girls
like there is no tomorrow.

And we get them all to ourselves
for one whole week.

But there is a bonus!

Along with the cousins
come the parents who belong to them!

Yeah,
these guys.

They are all the best.

We can't wait to show them
a "nations capital" good time,
fill up our family love tank,
eat too much,
toast to our health,
and just chill with the fam.

My girls have missed
their sweet cousins
something awful.

Can't wait, gang!

Tell me about one of your mini family reunions...

Navy Life and Your Circle of Friends

One thing I know for sure

the Navy Life
is not always
an easy road.

Sometimes it can be tough
leaving your network of life behind
starting over:

new friends,
new social structure,
new activities,
blah blah blah.

It ain't always easy
being the new gal.

One thing I have found to
be solid and true
revolves around your

Circle Of Friends.

Ladies, this is where your wealth lies.

I feel like the richest gal in the world.

It is my friends
that ground me,
talk me off ledge after ledge,
humble me,
carry me,
support me,
are there for me.

I look to them.
I confide in them.
I revere them.
I value them.
They are worth more to me
then any amount of money or possession.

I will protect them with my last breath.

I know my friends
keep me healthy.
They keep things real.
They put things in perspective.
They tell it like it is.
They put me in my place
(in a good way).

Each duty station our family has lived,
I have been lucky enough to make at least one
great connection.
Those connections don't go away.
Regardless of miles or years,
they become part of my circle.
No one keeps track and we pick up
right where we left off.

Those are the best.

I can only hope that I have given
a fraction of what the amazing ladies
in my circle have given to me
over the years in
friendship and support.

Women are powerful.
But even more powerful in numbers.
Surround yourself with amazing women.
Their gifts are limitless.

Build your circle.
Protect your circle.
Rely on your circle.

I know I have.

Tell me about
your circle...