This is the last of this link up and I'm a little sad. This was a really fun one and thanks to Whiskey Tango Foxtrot for hosting it! I'm going to tell a secret about my very last photo. It's just me. I mean the REAL me. Mousse in my hair, moisturizer on my face, chapstick on my lips and that's it. No makeup (because chapstick is really just moisturizer for your lips), no hairstyling (in fact it's still a little wet in that picture), just me being me. It's a little intimidating to post but it's real. And I like real.

If you want to learn a crazy thing about Japan go visit me over at My Life as a Sailor's Princess where I'm guest blogging today. And of course, meet the Sailor's Princess while you're there.

Do you ever have so many things swimming through your brain that you sometimes forget it all? I know, it sounds nutty but that's how I'm feeling. I have a pile on my desk of everything I need to do in the next few weeks and it's overwhelming. I'm a very organized person and it's been an adjustment for me to live in a house with someone who isn't- even when he's cute! Luckily the being cute really helps Aaron's cause so he never gets in trouble for being unorganized. I just have to stay on top of things. I do notice when he has a day off (so about once a month!) our home is much messier. Not because he makes more of a mess but because when he's around I find I want to clean less and spend time with him more. It's not a bad trade off.

Tomorrow my friend Ashlee and I are spending some time at the Arts & Crafts Center here on base. They have some really fun things and we're excited to go jump right in. I love being crafty and I'm making a goal to do more fun projects and make my un-paintable military house a home!

Also, tomorrow I'm buying a guitar. Wish me luck with that one.

I recently found an awesome blog called Linky Here that's basically a directory for linky parties. It's pretty cool, they organize the parties by day, by theme, and by season so you can find the link up that fits you. If you host a linky party go add yours to their directory so people know where to find you!

Okay, enough of the random. I did a little guest post today over at The Ellie Life. I wrote about sharing your story through blogging {click to read} and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

And since every post is better with pictures, this was Twink waiting in the car for his mama.

In a lime green hoodie.

It's another Monday. This was a good one though because Aaron got a surprise day off. Of course he worked all weekend so it was his only day off for a while but we'll take it either way. We snuggled and played games and ran around with Twink. It's my idea of a perfect day. To end it all I'm linking up with Mo @ New on U for a few confessions.

• I confess that I just cried through the entire episode With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept. OTH #316. It breaks my heart every time.
• I confess that I spoil my puppy. A lot. He has more toys and eats more treats than any puppy I know. But he's so cute I find myself doing it without even realizing it. Aaron is just as guilty of this.
• I confess that I need to spend more time writing on my own. REAL writing. Not blog writing or silly writing. But I love blog writing so much.
• I confess that at this moment I am craving Cadbury Creme Eggs but instead I'm eating chips and salsa. It's not quite the same thing but I'll make do. 

Happy Monday Everyone!

Today I'm hosting Miss Ellie on my blog and I'm very excited about this. She's only 15 but don't let that fool you, she's got some pretty big dreams. She's recently started her very own organization with the ultimate goal of making a difference in young women's lives. She's here today to talk to you about her mission. Enjoy!

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Hello to all you hello, also I love you readers! My name is Ellie Coburn and I blog right over here. 

I'm a new blogger, and would just love your support over there. We are currently in the middle of a little giveaway.  Interested in a large ad space on my blog + some store credit to the fabulous forever21 store? Click here.  Ironically enough though, I am not here in light of my little blog. I am here to share with you...my cause.  Earlier this month I started a non-profit organization called Speak Now. today I am here to tell you a little about the cause.  -Our Mission-

-What that means-We at Speak Now see many young women who are actively ready to change the world or pursue their dreams. In the fear of being outspoken or being told that their ideas are inadequate or wrong, many young women hold back. it is out goal at Speak Now to give voice back to these women and encourage them to soar with their fabulous voice.  -Goals-Short term goal: Successfully reach our "Facebook drive" goal.  Our Facebook drive is simple. Get 1,000 supporters on Speak Now's Facebook page as a backbone for the foundation. Sort of like our cheer team. The very best thing about Speak Now, is that for each like we receive on Facebook 10cents goes to our cause. That's right, a dime for a click!  So head on over to our page and like away!  Long term goal: Ultimately we hope to open up a safe house in southern California for teens to come and feel loved. This house would be a sort of "welcoming committee" to young women who want to feel bold and beautiful. It would be a place for them to educate, create, and inspire. With the pressures off....we hope to create an environment that inspires these girls to collaborate with inspirational speakers and thinkers. The "Speak House" has a tentative goal of being up and running by the summer of 2018.  To help, please head on over to the Facebook page to get started and instantly donate a dime. To stay involved with Speak Now and other events you can become a gfc follower on my blog! You can also find my blog, The Ellie Life on Facebook and Twitter.  We hope to see you around! 

For more questions or information on Speak Now just browse the sites provided or contact me at: eacbells@yahoo.com  Have a most wonderful day! 

Alternatively titled,

Twink could join the circus.

I know, it's just a few little tricks.

But he's only 7 months old.

For those of you who haven't trained a puppy, this is progress.

Especially with crazy puppy energy.

I'm pretty sure he's a genius.

Forgive me.

I just love my puppy. 

Please forgive the video quality.

It was recorded on my iPhone.

A Picture a Day in February. Part 3.

Third time's a charm (or so they say). Linking up over at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot for more photo fun!

"I try to find something to love in everybody. Even if it’s a small thing. There’s always something… there has to be." -Chloe

Okay, so the movie Chloe is totally weird but this gem did come out of it. This is exactly how I feel. As I've grown up I've realized there is something to love in every person I meet. If you can't find something to love about a person you're not looking hard enough. And yes, some people you have to look REALLY hard. But I promise, it's worth it. Everyone has something good about them. I feel so sad when I see people picking themselves apart. We shouldn't be focusing on the negative things in life! There is good in this world and it's worth looking for. An example of this come from the movie Mean Girls. Remember that one? In the scene I'm thinking of the girls are looking in the mirror, picking themselves apart. They don't see what young beautiful girls they are. All they see are their perceived imperfections, such as "My hips are huge. I hate my calves. I've got man shoulders. My hairline is so weird. My pores are huge. My nail beds suck." When I watched this scene I just laughed... why can't we focus on the good things about our bodies? I know, it's not always so easy. But it's worth it if you can focus on the good. Three things I like about my body:

• I like my smile. I have cute little dimples that show through when I give a real smile and I think they're pretty special (so few people have them).
• I like my eyes. They're blue/green/hazel/whatever-color-they-feel-like-being. Seriously. I usually call them green because they stick to that range the most. They're pretty though. They're the windows into me!
• I like my hands. I have slender fingers and pretty nails. They look lovely with nail polish on them and my skin only has a few little scars (all from myself- I'm a klutz to the bone).

Okay, that list was a lot harder to write than I thought. Every time I thought of a body part I immediately thought of what I don't like about it! Why is that so ingrained in us? It's terrible. I think everyone should take a piece of paper right now and write down three things they like about themselves (more specifically your body) and if you're brave enough leave it in the comments section. I'd love to hear what you like about you. It's probably harder than you think, but it's worth it. It's worth it to remind yourself about the good. It's worth it to look for the silver lining (every cloud has one). It's worth it to dig a little deeper. Usually you're surprised by what you find. And what better place to start looking for the good than in the mirror?

Today I'm linking up here 

(I know it's Tuesday for me but it's Monday in the states so I think I get a free pass):

{This post started out as something completely different but evolved... I love when that happens}

We took Twink to the dog park for the first time yesterday and it was quite the adventure for him. At home he is king of the roost. He's got us wrapped around his finger and he knows it. And he's quite fearless. He'll jump and run and play and bite (although that last one is discouraged). So we take him to the dog park and since it's cold and snowy still there are only 2 other dogs there. One BIG dog that looks like a golden/lab mix (has to weigh more than I do) and one medium dog that looked like a pug (probably about 20 pounds). Then there's Twink who's a little chihuahua (weighing in at just 6 pounds). We walk in there, Twink on the leash, and they both run over to say hi. The pug's version of saying hi is to molest Twink and try to bite him when he wasn't looking. The golden's hi was more friendly but probably more scary because Twink's whole body was about the size of his face. Needless to say Twink was terrified. We learned the hard way that outside of the home Twink is very timid and don't even sniff the other dogs to try and make friends. I'm going to try and socialize him more but since we live in a very secluded place there's only so much I can do. Hopefully more trips to the dog park will pull him out of his shell. Once the other dogs left him alone he had a lot of fun exploring his new surroundings and Aaron and I got some very welcome time together. 

Today I Made Pretty Things (and Bought Some, Too).

Today I went with my friend Ashlee to a class on wire wrapping for Sea Glass. Sea glass is so beautiful (see pics below) and can be found on the beaches around us here in Japan. So why not make lovely jewelry out of it? I already knew the basics for wire wrapping to make earrings but today I learned some fun techniques for making swirls and loops and other pretty things. I love creating my own jewelry and I'm a little annoyed at myself that I left all of my tools in Utah when I moved. I didn't think I'd need them here! Silly me. Today's pieces aren't perfect by any means but they were so fun to make and (in my opinion) a great first effort. Next time will be even better.

I also got to go shopping. Oh, the shopping in Japan... It's wonderful! There's something for everyone here. I can lose myself for hours in the shops and be perfectly happy. I found so many wonderful things, including presents for my sweet sisters back home. However, this cameo necklace is just for me (I can be a little selfish). I have a mild obsession with cameos. I have a whole collection of them (at least 10) in brooch/necklace form. They're all unique and they're all beautiful. I search antique shops everywhere I go to find new and interesting cameos and whenever I find the perfect one to add to my collection I probably get more excited than I should. My newest one is already a favorite and I cannot wait to wear it!

It's that time again- Link it up at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! 

It's official, I'm a military girl. Haha, kidding, I have been for a while. Melissa Jaine does a fabulous interview series for military girls on her blog that I've been reading for months now. Today I'm being featured on it and I'm so excited about this! Go check it out and tell me what you think!

Valentine's Day, to me, is special. It's a day to remind the wonderful people in your life that you love them. Sometimes the haters say "It's just a made-up holiday" (so is every holiday) or "I don't need a random day to remind me of love" or "single's awareness day" but honestly, does it kill us to have one more day to celebrate love? I often joke I should have been born in the 60's (I would have made a great flower child, minus all the drug use). Peace and Love are what I preach! And love is what makes the world go 'round.

We were all a little spoiled this year. Twink got new chew toys (and wore an adorable heart sweater I got him), Aaron got hats & legos (he's 5 years old at heart), and I got perfume and pretty things (my hubby knows me well). And of course, we got too many treats to eat in one sitting- we would all get very sick. I made heart muffins for breakfast and for lunch I picked up a heart shaped pizza. Seriously, how cute can it get? Aaron is grilling me a special dinner of steak and lobster and we're staying in tonight. My idea of a perfect date is my husband, my puppy, good food, a scary movie, and a blanket to snuggle up in. I'm a pretty lucky girl, I'm getting it all this year.

This is a little love note for the ones I love.


To my husband, Aaron.
You make me laugh when I don't feel like laughing, hold me tight when I need it most, and take my hand all the moments in between.

I love you always.

To my puppy, Twink.
When I need a moment to forget the world your puppy loves are where I turn.
You always remind me that life is carefree and happy, even when it's not.

To my parents.
I got my passion and zest for life from you. And my ability to love unconditionally.
You are my biggest cheerleaders.

To my sisters.
We share our secrets, our laughter, our tears, our clothes, our shoes, and our love.
I couldn't ask for anything better.

To my brothers.
You are my comic relief in life. You go out of your way to help me out.
And you always have my back.

To my in-laws.
You helped make Aaron the wonderful man he is today. 
And you love me too!

To my (best) friends.
You stick with me through thick and thin. Laughter and tears. Ups and downs.
We are never bored when we're together.

To my (blog) friends.
Thank you for reading me. Thank you for writing you. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Who knew that my love for writing could bring such wonderful things?

Much Love from Japan!

Happy Valentine's Day!


PS I also wrote Aaron a little something that you can see here.

Ashley @ Adventures of Newlyweds issued a Short Story Challenge last week. I know, I'm a little late on the completion date but better late than never, right? I love to write and I do it every day, but only for myself. I usually don't share my writing with other people. I'll admit to being a little nervous over sharing this very rough draft with my readers but sometimes you have to do things that scare you. So without further ado, I give you my (untitled) short story. Enjoy!

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I could just make out the windows high in the castle wall. I’m so desperate to reach them. I’ve been traveling for days with no company but my own mind. I can feel the blisters on my feet pulse with pain. My knees are weak and my mouth is dry. I was ready to give in to despair when I saw the distant light. Oh, dear light! Do you know what you mean to this terrified traveler? Shelter, warmth, perhaps even a place to lie my head down and sleep a while. Most of all you mean the end of my fears. Or maybe just the lessening of them.

I’ve been running for three days now. I only know because the sun falls behind the trees for hours and makes it difficult to continue my journey. I sleep in stolen moments, too scared to close my eyes, too tired to keep them open any longer. Now I must stop and breathe and contemplate my next move. I’ve always known this day would come, when I’d have to leave everything I love and run. Run for my sanity, and my life. As I try to catch my breath I berate myself. I was too comfortable in that life. I knew the risks. I knew the danger. But that life was wonderfully simple and on a hot summer’s day I’d let myself believe that it could truly be mine. I’d let go of the fear and my vigilance had waned. I became careless. I’m sure that’s how they found me. I must have slipped up. I must have done something wrong- something that exposed me for who I truly was. And now they’ve found me and I am running.

I know they’re close. I can feel it. I’m sure the only reason I’ve made it this far is they haven’t yet figured out where I am going. The curtains will fall from that mystery now that I see the glimmer of light. They’ll see it too, and then they will know. I can only pray those within the castle are prepared. Pray none of them has been as foolish as me. I cling to that hope, knowing only it will get me through. I can do this. I can do this. I have to believe it.

I know these woods now. They’re as real to me as my beating heart and my throbbing feet. I haven’t been here since I was four but I can’t forget a place like this. The castle seems far off but I know it’s only a matter of hours before I’m pounding on the front gates. I pause just a moment more and then I’m off again. Moving swiftly and silently. This is why I came alone. I know she would have left everything and come with me but I couldn’t risk it. My heart wishes for her. My heart is stupid. I move faster now. I weave through the trees. I feel the breeze on my face. It’s so close. I hear them behind me. They are not as skilled or as silent as I am. It no longer matters; I’ll be inside the walls before they can catch me. I finally emerge from the trees and the large wooden doors suddenly seem so close. I allow myself a moment of relief as I’m running. If truth must be told, I didn’t think I’d make it. And then I’m there, at the doors, and pounding with all my strength. I step back as they fall open. My heart drops to my stomach and terror floods my senses. I now know my entire life has been a lie, not to others, but to me. My father’s rule number one was Never Trust Anyone. How could I have guessed he was talking about himself? 

Because it's my blog and I can post whatever I want

I think you all should know

Aaron is having his first day off in a month.

We're doing something fun to celebrate.

I'm not sure what yet.

Also, I painted my nails black because I'm cool like that.

My puppy is busy being adorable right now.

And I linked up today, just for fun.

You should, too.

 

Amira @ Shades of Gray organized an awesome pen pal program a few weeks ago. She asked if we wanted a pen pal, we answered yes, we got paired up. Simple, right? And because of Amira I met Jane. 





Jane is a fellow milspouse and the lucky lady lives in Hawaii. Seriously, how jealous am I? You guys want to live in Japan with my 27 degree weather? I want to live in Hawaii! Jane has a cute Etsy shop called Jane's Cellar where she sells beautiful handmade creations that remind me of summer and romance. 





Of course I wanted one as soon as I saw them. Then I received a package in the mail for Valentine's Day from Jane, complete with my very own rosette necklace. It was even in the perfect colors for me (seriously, half of what I wear is pink/purple/red)! You can't top that. I absolutely love it and I'm already planning the perfect outfit to wear with it (possibly for Valentine's Day, even though we're staying in). Hopefully she'll love her V-day present half as much as I love mine!

PS On a completely unrelated topic... Does anyone else watch TV shows, get way too emotionally involved, and then feel really silly? I just caught up on One Tree Hill and I'm seriously feeling anxiety. Over a TV show. Judge me all you want, I've been watching it since season 1 way back in high school. Now I feel old.

A Picture A Day In February. Part 1.

This month I'm linking up with Whiskey Tango Foxtrot for a photo a day challenge. I take so many pictures every day but it's fun to have something specific I'm looking for. Take a peak at the others who are joining in the fun!