Between the lines-book review-Backroads to Belonging by Kristen Strong

 As a military spouse,  there are times where you have to put yourself out there to meet people. For introverts, it can be a challenge to make the first move with friendships. If you have had lost friendships in the past or situations where you have felt rejected or left out, it can be hard to dust yourself off and start with a clean slate at your new home.

About 5 years ago, a group of military spouses and I read the book Girl meets Change by Kristen Strong. We had all just moved to our new base and it was great way to connect with each other. I just recently found out that Kristen Strong had written a new book called Backroads to Belonging. I had just recently moved to a new state after 5 years of living in Missouri and was having a hard time adjusting to not knowing anyone again.

This book was a true gem. Kristen is a military spouse, whose husband retired from the military. She shared such wonderful godly insights from her own experiences as a military spouse and once they were back in civilian life. She shared wonderful examples on how we can reach out in our new environments as well as sharing that its ok if a friendship doesn't work out.

I would recommend this book to military spouses as well as any mom, wife, woman feeling isolated and not sure how to belong after moving or a change in schools, church, or community.

Tops in blue!

Last night, Tops in blue, a traveling Air Force musical group came to our base to perform!
It was a free show and the hubby and I and some friends went to check it out! I thought they were pretty entertaining. They had a band that consisted of a drummer, electric guitar, two saxophones, two keyboardists and a trumpet! I though the male singers were a little better then the female and their choreography could have used a little update but overall it was quite entertaining. They started the night singing some 70s and 80s songs then moved to some of today's pop songs then to some country then love songs then a Michael Jackson tribute then ended the night with some classic American songs such as America the Beautiful, Proud to be an American and the air force song!


To all my military bloggers, I would definitely say its worth your time (especially if the performance is free) to check out this entertaining musical group if they come to your local base! To those non-military bloggers, if you are able to catch a performance, its an entertaining experience!

Just hope more musical acts and concerts come to our base in the next 2.5 years!

No Worries Wednesday-Birthday edition!

This week!

I am thankful for family and friends from afar sending me fabulous birthday wishes, gifts and love!

Chocolate covered strawberries and apples delivered to work from my wonderful bestie in NY!

I am looking forward to the long weekend and celebrating with my hubby in SA!

I am grateful for my friends I've made here in Texas for remembering my birthday and taking the time out of their day to send me a thoughtful message or take me to dinner:)

Kindle books gift card from work friends and Itunes gift card from Texas bestie!













Chubby bird charm from my handsome nephew and fabulous bangles from my Texas friend!



I am not worrying about turning 27 (yikes) and getting older, instead thinking positive about the adventures to the come this year!

Hubby's first air show!

Today my husband flew to his first air show as a pilot! I drove to meet him and it was fun! There were alot of older planes flown in WW2 era! It was a beautiful Texas day out on the runway! So proud of my hubby and all he's accomplished so far in his career!

The plane he flies and will be teaching student pilots on!

My handsome hubby!

The cockpit seat

All of this he has control over!

Hubby's pilot graduation!

Hubby receiving his completion of pilot training certificate from the base wing commander!

Pinning on his wings! It was a bit windy out, don't mind my wild hair!

All the family who came down from NY, we are in front of the plane hubby trained on the last 6 months of training!

My cutie nephew in his flight suit:)

Hubby and I all dolled up for the formal graduation dinner!

No worries Wednesday!

I've decided to start a new weekly post called No worries Wednesday where I share what I am not worrying about or what I am looking forward to or what I am loving for the week!

**I am looking forward to visitors in the next month and a half!! My best friend from home is coming to visit for a week after Thanksgiving and my family is coming down to visit the week before Christmas!

**I am trying not to worry about my husband's assignment night coming up December 1! He will find out what plane and where he will be learning to fly it for the USAF!

**I am looking forward to working at the base thrift shop again! It closed for building renovations back in April and I have been major stir crazy for the past 6 months! No luck finding a job in this area so although its only open 2 days a week, it will keep me busy, get me out of the house and hopefully find some cute items!

**I am loving, as every week, my hubby, family I get to chat with on skype,friends I chat with in person and on the phone, and reading my lovely kindle!

Low key weekend with a Book and Movie Review!

The hubby and I didn't do too much this weekend. We are trying to save money so we just went to an afternoon movie on Saturday, Columbiana, which was ok. Not my favorite type of movie but I thought Zoe Saldana portrayed the character well! Not sure if I would recommend it though.

Sunday, hubby and I went to church then he studied for pilot training and I read my book Escape by Barbara Delinsky. I started this book a couple weeks ago and read like 80 pages then thursday I picked it up again and finished it yesterday. It took a while to get into but the ending was good. The book centered around a female lawyer struggling to balance her busy schedule in NYC so she escapes to a small New England town to relax and in the end ends up happier then where she started.

Hope everyone has a good week this week and those effected by Irene are safe and without too much damage! Texas is still hot as ever with no end in sight, would love a crisp fall breeze about now!

Recent Wall decor

A couple posts ago I had talked about my interest in getting some more wall decorations for our living room and bedroom as well as hanging and framing prints and diplomas. Well here are the finished details:)
**We live in on base officer housing so we can't paint or make too many drastic changes. Also, I live in a small border town in Texas with only, and I am not kidding, a Ross, Walmart, Home Depot, JC Penny and Bealls. Closest big city with more than these stores is 2.5 hrs away!
First, the bedroom:

I got these two small wooden prints of beach chairs from Wal-mart and would love to get two more for the other side of the wall.

I got this wall art from Marshalls which ties in with the relaxing beach theme. I also got some delicious smelling candles from Ross (Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Toast!) and found this cute white porcelain dish in a small shop back home in NY!

I got this beautiful monogrammed wall art from craftcuts.com! It is navy blue and made out of birch wood!

Next up the living room:

I got the two picture frames around the clock from walmart which I love and the clock was a wedding present! The other picture frame collage I got from walmart and the mirror I got a year ago from Home Depot! I feel like the room looks more cozy with more things on the wall.

Love this photo college again from Walmart!

My friend, an amazing artist, drew this picture of the state of Texas and gave it to us:) I framed it myself with a frame from Walmart!

 Lastly, The office:

In here, I bought three diploma frames and framed the hubby's bachelors and my bachelors and masters diplomas!

I am happy with all the changes! Hope you enjoyed the pictures:)

Happy 1 year wedding Anniversary Weekend!

 A year ago today I was at the best and most fun party of my life surrounded by family and friends celebrating the marriage to my favorite person in the whole world, my best friend, and hubby! What a year it has been for us, but I feel we have grown and become closer especially since we live 1900 miles from family! I can't wait for more adventures to unfold and all the laughs and smiles along the way!

This weekend we went to Fredricksburg Texas which was super cute! We grabbed lunch at a german restaurant, went to the pacific war museum (for free thanks to being in the military:)), went in to a couple shops on main street, went to a fun pasta place for dinner, played mini golf, then found a movie theatre and watched The Green Lantern! We headed home this afternoon after having a yummy breakfast at a local breakfast place ( I had eggs benedict:))

Here are some photos from the weekend!

PS. Happy Father's Day to all the new fathers, old fathers, and grandfathers today!! 

my dad and I dancing our fun father daughter dance!

My sister, Grandpa and I last year for his 85th Birthday!