Anyone there?! New Blog

Hello! Anybody there?! It's been quite a long time and a lot has changed in my life. I've started a new blog, so please come follow along!

Where the Green Grass Grows

The moment of truth...or more like hours of truth

Tonight is a big night. This past week my husband has been out in the field and tonight he is supposed to find out his MOS and where we will be stationed next. Basically our entire future!! Well it feels that way anyway. It's been about an hour since he said they were waiting to hear. I'm freaking out to say the least. I've paced the house, Ive cleaned. I've looked out the peep hole at every tiny noise I hear. My best friend that I've made out here and I are texting back and fourth like crazies just waiting for any word from our husbands. Now, I've settled with drinking a beer and watching Army Wives. This is such a big moment for us, and it's taking so long!
I'm just praying we don't get Okinawa.
I know I haven't blogged, like I said I would, but I just had to write something. One day I will look back on this moment, remembering sitting in this apartment, by myself, waiting for the big news.
Fingers crossed!

I'm blogging?!

I can't believe it has been over four months since I last blogged. The title of my blog has never felt more true. It has been quite a journey. 

If you are reading this and still follow me, you're awesome. 

It has been a hell of a last four months, but I've never been happier. I plan to tidy up my blog, update some pictures and the layout, and try my best to do a recap. Now I'm kicking myself for not documenting all we've done: a move across country, a new job, new friends, and the plunge into full on military life that we've been waiting so long for. So, hang tight while I get back into the swing of things.

One of my new favorite pictures of us, in DC, our new "backyard".

Update Before the Dity Move

I know, I know, I'm the worst blogger on the face of this planet! There's just been soooo much going on the last few month. So, I decided to do a little update with pictures, but first, we received orders (finally!!!) a couple weeks ago and tomorrow is our last. day. here. I can't even believe it. So, naturally, the last couple weeks I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. It didn't help that this was smack dab in the middle of the holidays too! So, in roughly 36 hours the hubby and I will be on the road to move across country. Hello Virginia! I am so excited though, a bit nervous, but excited. Now for some pics...

Hubs and I at a friends ugly Christmas sweater party!

Christmas gifts! Scored! I can't wait to use my new Kitchen Aid goodies in our new place!

Christmas day :)

Christmas day with my little (not so little) brother, Grandma, Grandpa and Mom.

We went over to my dad's a few days after Christmas. Hubs made dough nuts with my little brother and sister.
What a good brother-in-law!

Last night out with the crew!

Our last time at our favorite sushi place :(

One of the worst parts of leaving home and moving is all "the lasts" and goodbyes. :(

It's never fun, but we finally get to start our new life and I am beyond excited for that!

And who knows, hopefully in a year or so we'll be at Camp Pendleton and so close to home!

Book Swap and Book Club

I received my book from my partner Heather the other day! I got Sarah's Key! Thank you Heather!

I can't wait to read it. Anyone read it already?

Currently, I'm reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'm really liking it! Here's what it's about:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

This is also my 25th book this year. As long as I finish it by the new year, I'll have achieved my goal of 25 in 2012. Woohoo!

The Ball and Christmas Cards

Last night was our first ball! We had such a great time together and with friends. Lots of partying, that is for sure!

Only at the Marine Corps Ball do they give out flasks! Haha

I can't wait for next years and to see where we are! 

And since I now have a lovely new picture of us, I just ordered our Christmas Cards! 

I ordered from shutterfly, aren't they cute!?

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Re-done Dresser

I've had this dresser since I was born. My mom doesn't remember where she got it from, but when she was pregnant with me she re-stained it! It held my clothes when I was a baby and through my childhood. More recently, it's held all kinds of crafting and scrapbooking supplies. For a while now I've wanted to re-do it myself, since the look is outdated. Especially those handles! Can you say granny? It's no Ikea dresser though, this thing has lasted great for 23 years! Which is why it was worth the vamping up, rather than just buying some cheap dresser to replace it. So this weekend I got to work!

When I started I found this...

Made in the USA! Woot woot! You don't see that too much anymore. Definitely a keeper.

After a couple different trips of Ace Hardware where I picked out these cuties, 50% too! They were a steal at 4 bucks each.

And after hours of sanding, painting, sealing, and waiting for multiple coats to dry in between, she was finished!

I am so happy with how it turned out! Especially since I really had no idea what the hell I was doing. It will definitely be sticking around for quite some time, and will be put in my own daughters room one day! 

Boxes Galore and an Etsy Future!

The last two days in a row I received special surprises in the mail box! Who doesn't love little mystery boxes!? My Love Club box and my Birchbox came! 

I have to say, I am a HUGE fan of Love Club. I do like Birchbox, but for me personally, there just is nothing better than handmade crafts and goodies. The tea and honey are amazing, I'm enjoying it as I'm typing now!

Also, I wanted to announce that I am opening an etsy shop very soon! It's called Little Lovely Lotus. I'm going to be selling my crochet goods and my bracelets, and what ever other hobbies I pick up in the future! Here's a sneak peak of some items. If you follow me on Instagram you've probably already seen some.

Slouchy Beanie!

Skull Scarf!

Bead Bracelets!

I can not wait for my shop to open and I hope ya'll will stop by!

Brand New Car and Love Club!!

This week is already turning out to be better than last week, and it's only Monday! Woohoo. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

I got a new car!!! 

I got a 2012 Honda Civic, and I love it!!! I'm telling you, I am living in luxury compared to my old Jeep. It has a digital dashboard, Ipod/USB hook up. I can even put pictures on the little screen as a screen saver! Every girl needs her wedding picture in her car! As you can tell, I'm in love. 

Also, I FINALLY got into Love Club!

Have you heard of it yet? It's a monthly subscription box with all kinds of hand made goodies! Check out the website here club.justlove.ly Once a month you get a super cute decorated box, filled with small girly handmade things! Here is their description 

What is LOVE❤CLUB™ ?

A delivery service providing an assortment of accessories, beauty products, paper goods & unique items from a handful of our favorite businesses each month.  With a love for supporting independent and handmade, you get the best products from shops that range in size.  From newly launched to amazingly established, we all work together as a community!  No month is alike and can feature anything from a candle and journal, to a necklace and organic caramel.

Heather runs the whole entire thing on her own. She is also a blogger! Check out her blog here blog.justlove.ly The wait list for the club is pretty long, I've been on it for about a month and I still didn't get an invitation that way. I follow Love Club on Facebook, and there were a few extras left over this month that were posted and if you got one you were now in the club! I was so excited, and couldn't believe I got in!

It's only $12 a month and that includes shipping! Such an amazing deal, and she promises that the worth of each months box is at least $20. 

If you get on the waiting list or once you get a subscription, please put in my name, Cheyla Snyder, that I referred you! I'll get extra points!

I can't wait to get my box and share with you all the goodies I got!

Not a good week

It's safe to say I am glad tomorrow is Friday. This week has been one of those weeks.
First, September 11th is always a sad day. While it reminds me how proud I am to be an American, it is still a sad day. Then, my car decided to not start once I got off work. It had to be towed. First world problems, I know. It is still extremely frustrating, especially since we just spent $1000 fixing other things on it about a week ago! I think I may be getting a new car this weekend. We also found out that hubby's report date for TBS has been pushed back another month. He originally was supposed to go last December. It has been a whole year that we have been put on hold. We just want to get out of here and start this already. If it gets pushed back again, I really don't know what I'm going to do. Just scream and have a temper tantrum I guess, since there is nothing I can do about it.

On another note, I usually do not talk politics on here, but this particular issue just completely boggles my mind I can't stand it. First, I pray for the Americans and their families who were just killed in the terrorist attacks on our embassies. I also pray for the Marines who were just sent there to protect, yet it has been repored they are prevented from carrying live amunition. All I can say is if true, I think that is rediculously abhorrent. If that was my husband being sent over there, basically unarmed, I would flip out. I do not understand why this administration is more worried about apologising to everyone and afraid of hurting everyones feelings than they are for standing up for our country.  Okay, I'll step off my soap box now. We will see where this all leads.

Hopefully, I can get a reliable car this weekend, and next week is a better week.

The Amish; Books and Shows

I don't know what it is, but I've always had an interest in the Amish way of life. I don't mean that I want to live that way, but I just find it interesting. Same with the Mormons who practice polygamy. I'm obsessed with the show Sister Wives. I just find peoples life styles and religions that are so drastically different than mine to be fascinating. And I mean this in a completely respectful way. 

I'm currently reading Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. It deals with a murder in an Amish community. A newborn baby was found dead in a barn and no one is admitting to being pregnant or having the baby. One girl is charged with the murder, but the Amish do not believe in our legal system and her family does not want her to have a lawyer. I'm about half way through and so far it's great. It seems Picoult really does her research before writing, even though it is fiction. I've learned quite a bit about the Amish through just reading and I really enjoy it.

Also, starting this Sunday on TLC is a new show called Breaking Amish. The show will follow five young people who are Amish who go to live in New York City. I can't wait! 

Anyone else interested in this stuff too, or am I just a weirdo? Haha

Starbucks Gift Card!

Livingsocial is currently having a great deal for Starbucks lovers! Of course, that would be me and I do have my gold card. 

Oh yeah, I'm official.

Anyway, the deal is 5$ for a 10$ gift card! How can anyone even pass that up with Pumpkin Spice Lattes on the way?!

http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/448600?rpi=78495880&ref=personalized-link-box-78495880&rui=35556361

Just click on the link and it will take you right there! Also, if three people buy it, I'll get mine for free! Same thing can happen for you if you buy it and blog about it!

Insta Tuesday

Follow me: mrs__snyder

My baby sister and I from my wedding. She started kindergarten this week!

I can't believe how big she is getting!

It was also her birthday this past weekend. How cute is her cake!? 

If you couldn't tell, the theme is a Barbie pool party!

Hubby and I on Balboa Island a few weeks ago. I wish we were still there!

This is my little guy that I nanny. Love him! It's been so hot lately, except for this day. I was very excited to put him in cute fall clothes!

Some delish home grown heirloom tomatoes hubby and I enjoyed one evening. They are drizzled with olive oil, balsalmic vinegar, and some salt, yum!

Lastly, this came in the mail for my last semester at school, woop woop! 

Faith. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

I'm in bed reading this right now. It's very good. It's also my first Jodi Picoult and I will be reading more from her.  Anyway, I came across these few lines and absolutely love them, I just had to share.

"There were things I knew for sure: That I had been loved, once, and had loved back. That a person could find hope in the way a weed grew. That the sum of a man's life was not where he wound up but in the details that brought him there. That we made mistakes... And I remembered something else that makes us human: faith, the only weapon in our arsenal to battle doubt".

Bird Biscuits

This is a fun and very easy little activity I did. I plan to do it this week with the older boy I nanny.

It's also fun to see every few days how much the birds have eaten!

What you need:

3/4 cup Bird seeds

1 Tbs Flour

2 Tbs Water

Mix everything together in a bowl. On a baking sheet, lay down a piece of foil. Spray with some non-stick.

I used a heart shaped cookie cutter. I placed it on the sheet and packed in the bird seed mixture. Then I took a skewer and made a whole near the top, so you can later string it with ribbon, string, yarn, whatever you have lying around. Then, just carefully lift up the cookie cutter, and the biscuit should hold its shape! Bake them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 350. 

Here they are just out of the oven.

And here is one hung up!

Pugs n Pals

I think I've mentioned before that my mom fosters pugs? 

We're part of an organization called Pugs n Pals in the Southern California area. If you're in the area and are looking to adopt a pug, or even foster, check out the website!

We just got two last night. They were an "emergency pick up". 

The story is that these two were part of the organization a few years ago and were adopted.

The owner was not taking care of them very well and Pugs n Pals has been trying to get them back for years.

When someone adopts from the organization, they have to sign a paper that says if they are mistreating the dogs, or are unable to care for them at any time, they have to give them back. 

So, for years they have been trying to get them back, but the owner would not cooperate. 

Apparently yesterday evening this owner brought the dogs with him to adopt a cat! 

The people at this other place, knew about the whole situation and called Pugs N Pals!

They took the dogs and hid them until one of our people could go pick them up, then my mom went and met them and took the two boys home.
Yes, basically they were dognapped!

They were being eaten alive by fleas, constantly scratching. You could tell they were being driven insane from it. They are also too skinny. The poor things. They are happy now though! They both got nice long baths, flea medicine and food! 

Here they are

This is Austin. He is super sweet, tiny and a little goofy! His tongue is always hanging out the side because he teeth are all messed up!

This is Nigel. He's a spunky guy with a big head for a pug!

It was so sad when I first saw them. You could tell they were miserable, but now they are happy and right at home!

Today there is a fundraiser for Pugs n Pals. They are going to have a photographer for the dogs and all kinds of stuff to sell to raise money! They asked if anyone would make some baked goods to sell, and I was right on board. I made these pug-cakes! How cute are they!?

Hopefully they can raise a lot of money for the pugs!

Insta Tuesday

It's my first time doing this link-up! It is a little late, but it is still Tuesday for me!

I'm a little bit of an Instaaddict, so I had to.
Also, if you look over to your right ---->
you'll see I added some buttons, so follow away!

Come link up with Taingamala!

My anniversary gift from hubby. I LOVE my apple necklace.
I love apples for that matter, it's a teacher thing. Ya know?!

 

 Hubby and I went out for date night on Friday.
This is at my current favorite restaurant called Gyu-Kaku.
It's Japanese BBQ, where you grill a lot of your own food.
SO good and SO fun!

This car was parked outside of our house. I decided I needed it.
Hubby said he would make it happen. Ha

Yum. I had this delicious Bloody Mary on Sunday from a local restaurant
called Mama's on 39. Maybe they have them else where? Not sure, but their Mary's are bomb!

Book: Secret Lives

I recently finished reading Secret Lives by Diane Chamberlain and absolutely loved it!

Here is the description :

Actress Eden Riley's decision to make a film about her mother plunges her into a shattering confrontation with her own past, irrevocably altering her life and the lives of those she loves. Her mother, Katherine Swift, was a renowned children's author who died when Eden was very young. Now Eden, recovering from a divorce and disillusioned with her glamorous life, returns to the childhood home of the mother she barely knew. She moves in with her uncle, archaeologist Kyle Swift and his wife, Louise.

Eden gets more than she bargained for when Kyle gives her the journal her mother had kept from the age of thirteen until her death. Eden is spellbound by the powerfully written, intimate diary that chronicles a life of hardship, madness and tragedy. But her fascination turns to horror when she discovers the shocking truth about her mother's life. 

Eden turns for comfort to Ben Alexander, Kyle's colleague, not knowing that Ben has a secret of his own that could ruin Eden and her career. Now Eden must make a heartbreaking decision as she struggles to lay the ghosts of the past to rest and come to terms with her own future. 

About half, maybe a little less, of the book is the journal entries of Eden's mother. I didn't think I would like this, but it turns out I really enjoyed it. Usually when I read books that have a two part story, where it goes back and fourth either between characters or time periods, I usually really favor one over the other. Not in this story. I absolutely loved both. I connected with the characters in this book more than I have in a long time. Go. Read. This. Book!

Update!

I've been horrible lately, I know. I really want to try to get back into blogging more regularly. Here's what I've been doing the last couple months. This is going to be a long, pictured filled post, and I will love you if you read through to the end!

To start, I graduated! Woohoo! I graduated Cum Laude from California State University Long Beach with my BA in Liberal Studies and a concentration in Child and Adult Development!

Mom and little brother (who's not so little)!

My last time walking through campus :(

We went to Niagara Falls with my family! It was so amazing. Niagara was for whatever reason something I never thought I had to see, but I am so glad we went!

We went to Fort Niagara! I love the history stuff.

Love the reenactors too!

Niagara lit up at night! So beautiful!

American side of Niagara

Canadian side

We're ready for Cave of the Winds!

This was one of the coolest things we did! Getting soaked and hit by the falls was awesome!

Hiking around Niagara River.

We also recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary! I can't believe it has been a whole year since that perfect, magical day. We decided to go to Palm Springs for the weekend to celebrate!

LOVE Palm Springs!

One year!

This Marilyn statue travels around the country and a lucky city gets to keep it for a year. This year it's Palm Springs!

Palm Springs' Aerial Tramway climbs around 8,000 ft to the peak of  Mountain San Jacinto.
So much fun!

At the top we hiked one of the many trails.

On top of the world!

Hubby trying to count how old the tree was. Good luck with that! I think he got to about 60 and decided that was enough. He wasn't even half way through the trunk yet!

It was an awesome first year anniversary, and an awesome first year at that. I can't wait to see where we're at for year two! Also, if you read all that, I love you!