Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Thoughts, Fears & Pre-Deployment

 Just before my husband leaves for deployment is the worst. I hate having down time. To me, it gives my mind too much time to race around and settle on thoughts I don't want to think about. There is so much stress, but I think the most stressful part is before they go. The 'what if's' and all the unknowns. You never know when you'll get that first phone call from them after you see the bus or plane leave with your heart on board. Your phone becomes a part of you. Now you're the crazy girl who eats, sleeps, showers and pees with a cell phone attached to your side; but it's better than the alternative of missing that call. Then there's sleeping while they're gone. Sleep becomes that elusive animal that you only hear about in storybooks and fairy tails.

Helping pack the gear to keep them safe, the photos to make their tent a home away from home and the little notes you hide among the gear and uniforms to lift their spirits at unexpected times. There's also the other side to the pre-deployment craziness. I love sending my husband care packages! When else do you have an excuse to buy so many cards, jerky, miniature Christmas trees or an Easter basket for a grown man a Marine? I start my care packages before my husband even leaves. That way I can start sending them almost the day he leaves. While he's away doing pre-deployment training, I'm at Target and the like finding little things that will make the time go by faster (for us both). Need care package boxes and supplies? You can call 1-800-ASK-USPS and they will bring everything you need right to your doorstep. Does it get more convenient?!

So, here is to care packages, Hershey's kiss countdowns and a safe and fast deployment!

Gotta-Love-A-Give-A-Way!

@paperandcake is giving away an HP Photosmart Printer! Go enter to win! http://www.paperandcake.blogspot.com

  The link above is to a birthday giveaway from Paper and Cake. I just found her blog today and LOVE it. What is better than cute paper and photo crafts? Oh yeah, a printer that helps you do it! Even better, a FREE printer to help you craft. Enjoy!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Chi Town Here I Come!

  Another week closer to our upcoming deployment. I always have mixed feelings around this time. As we get closer I just want it to be here and have him gone, then when the day gets here I wish for more time. This will be our 3rd deployment, so it's not like we haven't done this dance before but it never gets easier.

  I will be flying out to Chicago tomorrow for a meeting with the Battalion and some of the other wives. I don't know how I always end up working with my husbands Battalion, but I do. Oh wait, I get voluntold, I remember now! I'm happy to help so don't get me wrong but if it's anything like this last deployment there will be some unhappy wives/girlfriends/family members. During our last deployment I was pregnant and had 200+ family members to keep up to date and answer their questions. I have higher hopes for this go around though, we're with a new Battalion. Time will tell though!

  I know one thing is for sure, this won't be like our last two deployments. One thing the Marine Corps is good for is keeping you on your toes. It is an ever changing beast that takes no prisoners. How you ask? My husband had just gotten home from the field, we were driving to San Diego from Monterey when we got a call from the Colonel. A few 'Yes Sirs' and 'Will do Sirs' later my husband got off the phone and says, "I'm going to be deploying." WHHHAAA??? Turns out my husband impressed the Colonel and he wants him to deploy with the company that's going out next. I find it ironic and a little funny though. You do a good job at work and you're supposed to get a raise or a silly plaque. In the Marine Corps, you do a good job and you get sent to a war zone. I know the year just started, but I am ready for 2012 to get here soon and have this all behind us. Who's with me?

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Easy as Chicken Potpie

This is one of my favorite go-to easy dinners! You can make this with lots of short cuts too; you know, for those days when the kids are running around like wild children and your husband is in the field or deployed. With my husband actually home I took the long road and roasted the chicken myself (as opposed to the usual store bought rotisserie chicken). Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does!



Here is everything you'll need for your potpie.
Which will be made into....
First, melt 5tbl butter in a medium pot. Once melted add in 5tbl flour.
Whisk butter and flour together for 3 minutes.

Slowly add in the chicken stock, continue to whisk until mixture becomes thick (about 5 minutes)
 Remove from heat and set aside to be used later.

In a large skillet melt 2tbl of butter and saute onions until soft.
Add in carrots and thyme and cook 5 minutes more. Mmmm, starting to smell AMAZING!

In an 8x8 baking dish place one of the pie crusts and add in the onion & carrot mixture.In the same skillet melt the remaining butter and saute the mushrooms. Put in the salt & pepper and cook until the moisture has evaporated. Add to the potpie.Next put the chicken and sauce mixture into your potpie and mix it all up. Lay the other crust on the top and fold the edges under.Cut two 2" slits in the top of your crust.Place your beautiful Chicken Potpie in the oven and set the timer.Dish up a serving..... grab a glass of your favorite wine and the kids sippy cups and enjoy!


Full Recipe:

Ingredients...

1 stick unsalted butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flout, plus more for rolling the crust
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
4 carrots, chopped
1 10-oz package button mushrooms, steams trimmed and caps quartered
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 store bought rotisserie chicken (or your own roaster chicken), meat shredded
1 10oz package frozen peas
1 store bought pie crust  

Directions:

Heat oven to 425F. Melt 5 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisking constantly, slowly add the flour and cook for 3-5 minutes. Still whisking, slowly add the broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the thyme and carrots and cook 5 more minutes. Transfer to your baking dish. Melt the remaining butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook about 2 minutes then reduce the heat and add the salt and pepper, simmer until the liquid evaporates. Add the mushrooms to the dish along with the chicken, peas and the reserved sauce. Toss it all together. Roll out the pie crust on a floured surface until it is slightly larger than the baking dish. Lay the crust over the top and fold edges under. Cut two 2" slits in the top and bake about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden. Reduce the heat to 350F and bake until the filling starts to bubble, about 25 minutes.
 
 
 
EXTRA TIP.........you can put it all together early in the day (read this as NAP TIME) and store in the fridge until dinner time.













































Friday, October 15, 2010

Pack, Unpack, Rinse, Repeat

  Whenever I'm asked the question "Where are you from?" I don't really have a straight forward answer. I usually say, "Everywhere, I grew up a military brat." Mostly I call the East coast my home, mainly NoVa...for those who don't know, that's Northern Virginia. I went to High School there and attended a Virginia University. Our daughter is on much of the same path as I had growing up, although I hope she gets to skip the 19 different schools and the 15+ moves. My family is getting set to do this familiar routine again in a couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to it. Shocking, I know! We'll be leaving the West coast and heading "home" to NoVa, Quantico MCB to be more exact.

  The past few months have been crazy and not even close to your typical pre-deployment work-up. My husband has been home for 30 days since May. He was just home for two weeks which went by so fast and yet seemed so long! It's the longest he's been home since we started this insane schedule. He left yesterday for yet another 5 weeks, then he'll be home for Thanksgiving weekend and gone again until Christmas leave. And so, with my dear husband gone so much and my daughter napping well in the afternoon this leaves me with time on my hands. This is where I have some one on one time with my oven.

  Yes, you read that correctly...my stove. I love to bake! Today's creation was Monkey Bread. Oh so very yummy, doughy, sweet, caramely, goodness! Getting hungry yet? Well my friends, here is the recipe:

Ingredients:



3 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough

3/4 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cup margarine

3/4 cup white sugar


Directions:


1.Mix together 3/4 cup sugar and cinnamon.

2.Quarter the biscuits with kitchen shears. Dip shears in water after each cut to keep the biscuits from getting too sticky. Dip biscuits into sugar mixture, and place in a greased Bundt pan. Do this until all biscuits are used.

3.Melt butter or margarine, and mix in 3/4 cup sugar. Pour mixture over biscuits.***

4.Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

***Today I did a little variation, I did 5 Tbl. melted butter, 1/4 c. heavy whipping cream & 1/2 c. brown sugar mixed and poured into the pan FIRST, then place the dough balls in the pan.

  I hope you all enjoy! I'm off to pack a box or two in hopes that if I do a little everyday it won't be too stressful come moving day...but who am I kidding? I've been there and done it ALL. I think I may even have my mother beat by now with moving stories!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

The Hits Keep Coming

  Oh let the "fun" begin. When my husband came home for a short four day weekend we figured, "it might be short since you've been gone a month and you're leaving for another 6 weeks, but after that husband will be home." Boy were we WRONG! We found out the morning after he flew in that he would be deploying. After my initial what-the-heck moment we talked schedule and training and all that follows. We decided to enjoy the weekend and worry about it all when he went back to work.

  Back at the Battalion he finds out that the person who told him the original details about the deployment was beyond wrong and the deployment date was so much sooner than what we were originally told. Great. I told the husband that I needed to know what his schedule would be with the new changes. A lovely email was sent to my BlackBerry with his whole schedule mapped out for my type-A self. It's LOADED, even when my husband deployed to Fallujah, Iraq during the height of the battle there he didn't have this much pre-deployment training! I'm trying my best not to jump onto the Debbie Downer convoy but seeing that he will only be home a handful of days (and I'm being generous when I say a handful) it's hard not to.

  After our last move (Camp Lejeune to Camp Pendleton) I swore that I wouldn't drive a Uhaul cross-country, towing a car behind it solo again. Well at least I was right about some of it! I won't be driving a Uhaul (I'll be driving my car) and our daughter will be keeping me company this trip. We will be moving to Quantico, VA shortly before my husband leaves for deployment. With his rockin' schedule however, our daughter and I will be hoofing it across I-10 (or maybe I-40 for a better view!) alone.

  I am looking forward to Homecoming already and can't wait to get this next one behind us! It's amazing how strong you become when you get thrown into these situations. An amazing spouse and fabulous friends will get you through just about anything.
 

Monday, August 16, 2010

USMC style Curve Balls

  This past Thursday my husband got home from being away for a month in the field. It was so great to see him and have him finally be able to see our baby girl crawl! He was only home for the weekend as he is off on more fun adventures with the Marine Corps for another 6 weeks. While he was home for this short time we had to make a little road trip. By little I mean it took 10 hours! Thank you L.A. traffic for detaining us for 4 hours and waisting gas. About 30 minutes into our road trip my husband got a phone call. You know it's Marine Corps related when every other word is "Sir". I sat there quietly, half trying to hear what was going on and half listening to our daughter babble in the back seat to her stuffed bunny. When my dear husband got off the phone and looked at me I knew I wasn't going to like it, and then came those four little words...."I'm deploying to Afghanistan."


  My heart sank. We were NOT expecting this as his company isn't slated to deploy for another two years. He tells me that the Command was so impressed with the job he did in the field over the past month they want him to move to another company and deploy with them. I'm so proud that my husband did such a wonderful job but the little devil on my shoulder makes me think "you couldn't have slacked off just a little?" But then, that wouldn't be my husband. I'm looking forward to the next few days when we'll get more information about this deployment and the pre-deployment schedule. I am not looking forward to having him gone over the next few weeks/months/year and missing so many moments with our daughter and myself, but I'm looking forward to sending him care packages, goodies and letters. Looking forward to the butterflies in my stomach feeling when I see that strange number and it's my husband calling me. Mostly, I'm looking forward to HOMECOMING.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...