hmmm...Thanksgiving in December?

I wouldn't want to lose my title as the worst.blogger.ever... so I just haddd to wait till Dec 15 to put up a post about the Thanksgiving holiday. Naturally.

The hubs and I were so lucky and blessed to have my entire family come from OH to NC. Mom, Dad, and both of my younger brothers! The trip was short but sweet and full of great memories.

This was the first time hubs and I had cooked Thanksgiving and lets just say, its a lot of work. I guess I knew that... but at the end of the day, I had never been so happy to put my feet up with a glass of wine!

Our Menu:

Carmelized Onion Dip

Deviled Eggs (BH&G cookbook - just the classic)

Julia Child's French Onion Soup

Ultimate Stuffed Potatoes (Southern Living Cookbook)
Bourbon-Cranberry Compote
Carmelized Onion and Herb Stuffing
Classic Campbells Green Bean Casserole (at the request of the hubs)
Cresent Rolls - out of a tube, I'm ashamed :(
Molasses Brined Turkey with Gingersnap Gravy

and for dessert... my hubs' famous spiced pumpkin cheesecake :)

Here are some pictures from the day...

GeGe and Hubs making cheesecake

I knew there was a reason I married him!

Luckily we have a big roaster that fit our 20lb turkey so I could still use the oven for other things!

Finally enjoying the fruits of our labor

I love me some carbs and bacon

Best mom and dad ever!

thankful.

nice face andrew, punishment was cleaning duty!

getting to relax this year!

tablescape



 scrabble



Marine Corps Birthday Ball

The Marine Corps birthday ball season is a special time for me and the hubs. Our first date was actually a birthday ball three years ago (courtesy of a set-up from his sister/my college roommate and dear friend). We had two balls to attend this year and we had a great time at both! OohhRah! Happy Birthday Marines!

2nd Marine Division Officers Ball

2nd Tanks Ball

Birthday Fun

Last weekend was my birthday and I had a ton of fun celebrating with my girls! This is all of us at my house for some champagne before we left for dinner and such.

We then headed to Osteria Cicchetti, an AMAZING italian restaurant in Wilmington. I had the butternut squash ravioli with a brown butter sage sauce. It was amazing (I actually with there last night with hubby and orded the same thing!)

We also had some great wine! I shared a bottle of Ruta 22 Malbec with my friend Chrissy :)

Later on we went to a few different drinking establishments and had a swell time ;)

The following evening I celebrated with my hubby at Boca Bay, a great seafood place which is owned by the same guy as the Italian place. We failed to take any pictures :( I'm not sure why!

I also wanted to link up my friend Jayme's post about a fabulous dinner her recently returned hubby hosted for some of us ladies! It was a great and delicious night! Read about Meat and Greet here!

<3 Katie

Happiness :)

My dear friend Jayme has tagged me for the Happy 101 award that has been going around. She is a  fellow Marine-Wife  and avid blogger and after reading her blog earlier in the summer, I was inspired to start my own! Unfortunately, I kind of STINK at the whole regular posting thing. But I truly, truly, really, really do want to get more disciplined and so what a better way to start blogging again then about the....

 10 things that are making me happy right now :)

1. UPDATE!!! HUSBAND IS HOME :)

YES, it's true! My hubby is home and I couldn't be happier. I missed him soooo much and life is so much more complete when he is home with me.

2. You won't hear this from any other marine wives, and honestly sometimes I feel guilty saying this, but..... HUBBY'S DEPLOYMENT ROCCCCCKKKKED.

a. He got a special assignment where he was able to come to NY state for a week! GeGe and I drove up and got to spend 7 fantastic days with our favorite studly marine :)

b. He got ANOTHER special assignment and got to go to GERMANY for 2 weeks!! I flew over to spend the entire time with him and it was my first time overseas!!!

We were able to meet up with my long lost friend Nadine who spent a year in my town doing a study abroad program in high school. This picture ^ was taken at Hofbrauhaus Munich!

^ We were able to do a lot of little side trips from where we were staying. We even got to go to a traditional Volksfest and drink amazing beer!

c. His deployment was SHORTENED because of another unit coming in to replace everyone at his location. Shortened deployment? This is not typical.

3. The third thing I am super excited and happy about is our upcoming trip to HELEN, GA!!! We won this trip at a silent auction at a recent Oktoberfest on base! Included in our trip is a restaurant gift card and a credit for wine tasting and a few bottles at a local winery :) I'll be sure to blog about it after we get back! We are both super excited to escape for a few days.

Below is a picture of us from the event. I have on my souvenir from our Germany trip, an authentic dirndl!

4. NORTH CAROLINA FALL WEATHER 

It's simply beautiful here. I'm obsessed.

5. The HOLIDAY SEASON is here! This is my favorite time of year! Hubby and I are really looking forward to sharing our first holiday season as a married couple and starting our own traditions :)

                                              

6. My "Job"
 Starting a couple months ago I am now nannying full time for an 18 month old little girl named Kaelyn. She is absolutley adorable and a really well behaved (for now) little girl. I have a lot of fun with her.

7. My BIRTHDAY!!
My Birthday is this weekend!!! Friday I am going out with the girlfriends to celebrate and Saturday night is one on one time with my wonderful Hubby!!!

8. There were Marines training the contestants on the Biggest Loser last night. It was absolutely hilarious. And motiviating. And sweet. The Marines truely are the BEST! I'm so proud of my Hubby for what he does!

9. My Parents... are awesome! Amazing! Spectacular! COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR BETTER! I love them so much and I love that they are currently in Palm Springs enjoying a relaxing and much deserved 2 week vacation to celebrate my dad's birthday and their anniversary which just happens to be on my birthday too!  

10. Did I mention my husband is home!?!?!?

Lastly, I'm supposed to tag someone to do this post for themselves! I tag Christine over at Sweet Seas! I love her blog and I love that I am one of the winners of her most recent giveaway! Thanks again girl!

I'm coming back. Very soon. PROMISE!

Meet GEGE

Last summer, Scott, my fiance at the time, gave in to my adorable baby face and decided we should get a puppy. Meet Gege! :)

 We couldn't be happier. Gege has been a great addition to our little family. With my husband gone, Gege is my companion. I am trying to keep myself busy with friends, but at the end of the night I still have to come home -- but luckily, it's not to a completely empty home. I can always count on my little pup to get very excited to see her mommy.

She is also fun to dress up :)

A Lonely Newlywed

Welp, I've gone and done it. Started a blog. Life as a Marine Corps wife has already taken me far from friends and family and I think this will be a way to help stay in touch and connected.

On May 8 of this year I married the love of my life, Scott.

On May 26, Scott left for his first deployment, Afghanistan.
Lame? yes. Not fair? correct. Upsetting? very.

There's nothing I can do other than accept that deployments will be part of my married life. It certainly isn't what I dreamed of as a little girl, but I am beyond proud, honored, and humbled to be married to a man who has chosen to serve his country.

Here are a few more pictures from the wedding to lift my spirits as of now.

Scott and his Sword Arch guys

My Bridesmaids and I before the Ceremony

My nails, shoes, and flowers of course had to be PINK, my favorite color

My Dad walking me down the aisle, a very special moment I will never forget

Marine Corps Traditional Sword Arch... Welcome to the FAMILY

My husband is a FANTASTIC dancer

Myself and some of my sorority sisters, I felt so blessed that so many could share in the day