Feels Like Home

Maybe it's because the Army is about to uproot us again, but more and more lately I've been feeling like this place is home. It's not where I grew up, and I never intended to live here. It just sort of happened. 

When we moved here, I was pretty set against buying a house. I didn't see the point, even if Joe would end up getting out after his enlistment period. He always talks about moving back to NC, so it really just didn't seem smart to me. For several reasons, one being I trust my husband's judgement, I decided to let go. On our second round of looking at houses, I fell in love. It wasn't perfect, but it had good potential, most of the things on my 'wish list', and a nice backyard. 

I still stinking love our porch.

This is about half of the backyard.

Though I haven't done a whole lot in the way of decorating in this house (thanks mostly to pregnancy exhaustion and chasing a toddler), I still have a lot of ideas rolling around in my head about what I really want this place to look like. Some things we've done, and others are yet to come. Getting Joe's shop built a few weeks ago helped get a lot of things out of the house, and we also sold some stuff and gave some furniture back to family. (We got a ton of furniture handed down from family when we got married. It was awesome, but we've either outgrown it (goodbye, full size bed) or simply decided to downsize our stuff.)

Joe in his half-finished shop.

I also really love where we live. We don't live in a subdivision, but I like our cozy little neighborhood. We're 5 minutes from everything we need (WalMart, Walgreens, CVS, McDonald's, Dominos, Bojangles...Mexican food....okay, any food) and 15 minutes from post. All my other favorite shops and restaurants are about 20 minutes away, as are our doctors. I know my way around, and have even found a few shortcuts. 

We've only been here a year and a half, but it feels like home. It feels like home, and I don't want to leave. We have a pretty good support system, a church we love, I really enjoy our PWOC, the girls and I have the best doctors, and this house doesn't just feel like a house. 

Maybe it's because we moved here with no intentions of leaving within 3 years. We planned on staying a while, so I let myself create a sense of home. Now that I have, the Army threatens to uproot us once again. And I find myself thinking all the time.... please don't make me leave.

Picnics in the backyard are our fave.

Show & Tell Monday

Today I'm linking up with From Mrs. to Mama for Show and Tell Monday! {I promise I'm not blogging just for the linky parties these days! There just happen to be several I want to participate in lately.}

This week's topic is all about home stuff. =)

1. If you were searching for a home now, tell me what would be on your "MUST" list.

This could be a long list...

Walk-in closet(s)

Master bath with a big bathtub 

Kitchen with lots of cabinet/counter space

Laundry room

At least 3 bedrooms

At least 2 bathrooms (I'm sick of having just ONE bathroom)

Garage with space for all the man stuff

2. Show me your favorite room in a home.

Source: ivillage.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Living room: comfy, cozy, relaxing.

3. If you could have any room redone, tell me which one it would be and what you would like done.

Well, since we live in military housing we can't do much to the house itself. But our bedroom needs a serious makeover. I love our furniture, but the the comforter, lamps, curtains and deco need some serious help and love. I've been searching for a new comforter/bedspread but haven't found anything I can't live without.

4. Tell me where your favorite stores are to shop for home decor.

Ross, TJMaxx {if there's one nearby}, Target, Etsy {mainly for prints} and occasionally WalMart.

5. Show me your dream home {it can be your home, if you already have your dream home.}

This:

Source: davisframe.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Or this:

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

What can I say? When I dream, I dream big! ;-)

What does your dream house look like?

Disappointed

When you grow up in Oklahoma, you have a certain expectation when you hear words like "warning," "thunderstorm," and "stay indoors." You also grow to expect certain things upon hearing thunder. Eventually, you learn to fully believe the weatherman when he says that it will most certainly storm today, even if it's the middle of January. Crazier things have happened in Tornado Alley. Here in Hawaii, there is much disappointment to be had for the native Oklahoman.

I might have heard the weatherman say there would be storms today. I just brushed it off. Yesterday, we were guaranteed rain and I do believe it rained for 20 minutes on my side of the island before the clouds cleared. Since I was forced to stay home today thanks to good ole Aunt Flo instead of going to the museum, I saw a fictional ray of light when I heard the first rumble of thunder. Finally my day was looking up!!

I watched as dark clouds made their way toward my house, hoping they would bring lots of thunder and rain. There's nothing quite as satisfying as being home while it's pouring down rain and storming. We "crazy" Oklahomans like to sit on our porches and watch these storms as if it were simply rain. In fact, I did this a lot as a child. We'd all sit on the porch, listening to the thunder, watching the lightning and rain. I won't lie that I would jump at loud claps of thunder. I still do when I'm at home, where the real storms are.

After a while, it started to rain but even that didn't last long. The thunder would rumble every once and a while, but it was nothing exciting. I didn't see any lightning, but maybe that's because it was daylight and it doesn't get as dark here during storms as it does at home. After an hour or so, the thunder stopped altogether. It's sad. I was all geared up for some serious thunder and all of the rain that those "flash flood warnings" had predicted earlier.

Only an hour ago did the lightning start appearing. I can still hear some low rumbles of thunder, but it's disappointing. I know that the east (?) side of the island is getting hit hard with the rain, but I would at least like something to happen over here!! The best storm we've had all season was when Joe was home on R&R. It was absolutely pouring, the thunder was loud and crackly and there was a fair amount of lightning. It was almost like being home. Joe even laughed at me because I was jumping around all excited and even took a video of it. 


What can I say? I'm an Oklahoma girl, raised where summer nights were spent in cellars or bathtubs, listening to the weather radio and watching my dad "stand guard" watching the storm. I was woken up by many a tornado siren during the middle of the night and forced to run across the backyard into the safety of the storm cellar. Our schools all but shut down when Severe Thunderstorm Warnings/Tornado Watches were issued. When in a random store during a bad storm, we would think of places to hide just in case. One night after church - while Joe and I were engaged - I went home with him (because his house was closer) and hid in his parents' hallway closet with him, my SIL, my nephew and my MIL for a good 2-3 hours before the storm had passed. I'm used to hail, 60 mph winds, the loudest thunder you've ever heard, funnel clouds, wall clouds and pouring rain. So this - this rumbly thunder and sprinkling rain - is highly disappointing. 


When can I go home again?!


Here's hoping an awesome thunderstorm is waiting for me the next time I travel to Oklahoma. ;-)

Adventures in Sewing and a Tour!

Tonight, I finally put my new sewing machine to work!!! The first project I attempted tonight is a cover for my sewing machine. I gotta keep it shiny and dust-free. =) And I have some super cute fabric to use. With some help from Melissa, I got started. She gave me the first step or two via Skype and then she ran off to bed. She's 5 hours ahead of me, so she's allowed. Plus she's pregnant. Hehe. Anyway. She went to bed and I got started...

I had a couple issues when I started. One was just my stupidity and the other, well, I guess the other was operator-related too. =P The material didn't feed through the machine very well and I kinda sorta forced it through. That worked for like 5 seconds. And then the needle broke!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! Once I realized I'd broken the needle, I got really discouraged. I threw the material aside, grabbed my phone and computer (the things that travel with us when our hubbies are gone...) and decided it was time for dinner. So, I reheated some alfredo and garlic bread and sat down...for 2 hours. Then I got bored. I decided maybe I should give it another go. It's not like the machine didn't come with a manual! 

With the help of the user's guide, I realized that the needle probably broke because 1) the material is kind of thick and 2) forcing it through was NOT a good idea. Who knew? ;-) I got out another needle - a bigger one - and replaced it. I rethreaded the machine and I was off. It worked! The material was feeding just like it was supposed to and the needle didn't break! Woohoo!! This is the result of Step 1 of the sewing machine cover project.

Left side

Right side

Looking good so far, right? Well, with the exception of my incredibly crooked sewing. And cutting. I'm sure these will improve...eventually.

After that, I decided that I needed to make an envelope pillowcase. I've been wanting to make one of these for quite a while. I Googled and came up with this amazing and easy video tutorial. If you want to make one of these (and you own a sewing machine) you seriously need to watch this video. I almost cried it was so easy!! The hardest part for me was measuring and cutting the fabric. The pillow I used wasn't the same as hers so that was part of my problem the other part is that I just really can't cut straight! Other than that (and my also crooked sewing), it was so simple! I don't know how long it took me because I wasn't watching the clock. Plus, I'm a newbie so it probably took me longer anyway. Alright so, here is the before of my pillow sans-pillowcase:

Yeah, it's one of those smooshy pillows with the microbeads. I sleep/cuddle with it, and the beads are coming out of a whole I can't find. Annoying. Which is why it needed a pillowcase!!

Tada!

It's not a perfect fit, but it'll do! 

See? So much better!

I'm also planning on using the tutorial to do one - or possibly both - of the pillows on my couch. They're kind of blah and need some color. Now to find the right fabric!! I really can't wait to do more! =D 

{Aren't you PROUD, Melissa?! =D}

***

Now, for the tour part of this post. I've seen several other bloggers give a tour of their home and I decided to do one for you guys. I mean, I've uploaded pictures of our house since we moved in, but I think you can't really get the full effect unless you take a video tour!! It's really the closest thing to a real-life tour. And since none of you are very likely to visit in the next 2-3 years, you'll have to settle for the video! Enjoy! {Bonus points to whoever can count how many times I say "Okay, so..." =)}

***

Oh, I can't believe I almost forgot about this!!! After taking the video of our house, I took Jasper to check the mail. He loves to go check the mail. =) When I opened our box, there was a locker key in it. Hmmm...wonder what that could be?! I opened the locker and found this in it!

It's something I ordered from Barnes & Noble just a few days ago... What is it you ask? {If you follow me on Twitter, you already know what it is. ;-)} It was this beauty!

Squeeeeeeeee!!! =D

If you haven't noticed, I am a SERIOUS Nicholas Sparks fan. I own every. single. one. of his books. Most are in hardback, but the first ones I bought are in paperback. I need to fix that. My goal is to have all of his books in hardback. Basically because he's one of two authors that I really love. {He was my first author-love. LOL!} Anyway. I love all of his books and as soon as Melissa sent me the link on B&N's website, I ordered it! I ordered it like 6 hrs before it released, so I got the early-order discount. In the end, it only saved me about $5-$6 but hey, I saved something. AND I saved a trip to Honolulu. That's always a plus. I'm just really not a fan of driving downtown. =) I haven't started reading it yet, but I definitely will! I'm sure I'll love it just like all the rest. 

Well, anyway, I hope y'all had a good Friday! Happy Weekend!!

No Place Like Home

I never really get homesick...except for one time of year. Ok, ok maybe two. Tornado season and Christmas.

I know, I know. Most of you are probably thinking I'm absolutely crazy right now. And it's ok. But, when you grow up here...tornado season is a big deal. Spotting a funnel on a night full of tornado warnings, rough storms, thunder, lightning and hail is kind of a big deal - it's a sport.

This is where I grew up. My spring and summer nights were filled with thunderstorms and the possibility of tornadoes. I spent many a school night in the storm cellar waiting out a tornado. I didn't grow up in the heart of Oklahoma, so I didn't experience the fated May 3, 1999 tornado. I did, however, experience one a day or two later. Well, it came close. The funnel was literally right over our house. I can vividly remember hearing my mom say "It's over my house, it's over my house" while she and Dad were standing near the entrance of the cellar that was protecting us. I'm not sure how long we stayed in the cellar with my dad at the door "checking things out", my mom panicking, and listening to the tornado sirens blare on and on. Lucky for us, the funnel traveled about 15 miles before finally dropping up-river in Van Buren, AR. Those families were hard hit.

Last night, 40 tornadoes touched down in and around my homestate. {Note: 5 people lost their lives to these storms...my prayers are with them.} Meanwhile, I'm in beautiful Hawaii wishing for a thunderstorm!!! What?! It's so crazy the things you miss!!! Even when I had that freakout in Georgia I wanted it to storm. I haven't been through a decent storm since I got married! For someone who grew up with storms every spring and summer, this is a big deal. And I'm so glad that one person in my blogging realm understands. JG was super nice and posted a video of hail for me on her blog!!! (Ok, maybe it wasn't just for me.) I was totally joking when I asked her to video it, but she did anyway! It was hilarious, and totally awesome! I seriously could have hugged her for that. =) Don't get me wrong, I'm lovin' living here, but a thunderclap or two might make me feel a little more at home! Or maybe a REAL dream catcher. Ugh, there are so many total fakes. Sorry, that's what happens when you grow up in "Indian Territory."

Also, today is my Mom's birthday. =) I'm totally jealous because when I called to wish her a happy birthday, she informed me that she got a cookie cake!!! Totally not fair, Mom! I want some! But, it sounds like she had a good day and got some awesome stuff. Props to my dad for getting her new pots and pans. After 20 something years of marriage, I'd say they were well deserved! I wish I could have been there to give her a big hug, but the "Aloha" coffee mug will have to suffice for now. {Btw, my mom is a serious coffee drinker. Seriously, the woman can't start her day without the first 2 cups of coffee. =) Thus, the mug.

So, Happy Birthday to my Mom and Happy Tuesday to all the rest of you!