A winner and 2013 goals review

First things first, the winner of my blog-a-versary giveaway is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Mrs. Duh! I sent you an email with more information. Thank you to all who entered and who continue to be fans of my blog. 

Even if you didn't get a chance to enter the giveaway (or chose not to) please take a moment and answer the poll on my sidebar. I would like to know more about what you would like to read on my blog. It is easy to get caught up in weekly features and other happenings and not pay attention to what you enjoy reading - so tell me! I personally plan to include more "tell-all" posts - that are open and from the heart. I don't want to turn this blog into purely an information delivery and house project blog (though I enjoy those too!) I want to utilize the journal aspect of the blog and, well, get more personal. Hopefully, I can implement that during the month of April.

Speaking of April, did it sneak right up on you too? I tell ya. I really thought we had a week or two of March left. Anyway, it is time to review my goals and how I did during the (much too speedy) month of March.

Expand Mind

1. Did I read at least 1 book? Not cover-to-cover. I started a book, but most "free time" has been spent on studying and taking AFTB courses to finish my instructor hours. (I start teaching in two weeks!)

2. Did I develop any skills? I started a spin class which I had never done before.

3. Did I teach/tutor at least 1 child? No tutoring.

Increase Wealth

1. Did I payoff any debt? We made more than minimum payments on all our debts, but no complete payoffs.

2. Did I increase ER savings? No. But we just set up an allotment to make sure this changes in April.

3. Did I increase additional savings? Yes. I increased it by about $20 this month.

Advance Career

1. Did I attend at least 1 event? I attended many events this month. I foresee this being the cornerstone of my business for most of the year and it is very exciting!

2. Did I write at least 1 article? No articles this month, but I started the process of a semi-long-term writing deal with the blog. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available.

3. Did I make steps toward finding a mentor? Yes. I made small step towards finding a mentor through the Rising Professionals group. I haven't finalized the details yet, but I am excited to have the experience!

Enhance Home

1. Did we make progress on the guest bath/bedroom? No new progress. We are keeping our eyes peeled for a guest bedroom set and then I will have the foundation to organize and decorate the room.

2. Did we make progress on clearing the Radon? Not so far. Still waiting for the weather to warm up and our budget to accommodate.

3. Did we make progress on the outdoor projects? Yes! This past weekend we tore out the rotting deck and rebuilt the joist and floor boards. We still need to seal and paint the deck, but here are a few snaps of the progress:

Improve Health

1. No smoking? Still smoke-free!!

2. Did I eat healthier? Until last week, yes. I made lunches from home and focused on veggies and low fat meals. Last week, however, we grabbed pizza and ate at restaurants a few times because we were so busy. Bad!!

3. Did I take a multi-vitamin? Not regularly. This one is so simple and yet so difficult. 

Three long, beautiful years! {Giveaway!}

I can hardly believe that three years ago, today, I started this lowly blog amidst my first year of law school and our first deployment just hoping I could find solace on these virtual pages.
And I did. 

A few highlights of the three years: 
I've written over 700 posts, had over 36,000 pageviews and 2200 comments!
My most viewed post: Organizing Heaven
Blogger URL with highest referrals: Ash and Matt (Thank you!!)
Top 3 commenters: JG, Michelle, and Jen (Double thank you!)
My favorite post (of this year): This one

This blog has been my light during the darkest days and my friend when I felt alone. It has helped me build a network of lifelong friends and brought me into the military family better than anything else I have known! It has connected me with people around the world and led me to business advancement. Mostly, though, these pages allowed me to be myself, explore my opinions, and develop myself each and every day. 

I am eternally grateful.

In celebration of THREE glorious years of blog-hood, I am hosting a giveaway!

A Julep gift set! Contains:
"Simone" polish (lavendar) & "Debra" polish (cement)
Rock Star hand creme
1 bonus manicure/pedicure item (hand-picked by me!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enter using the Rafflecopter above. The giveaway ends at midnight March 31, 2013. The winner will be announced on April 1.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Thank you for reading, commenting, and being my friend. You are appreciated!

A Few Quick Things

I just wanted to stop in (amid a whirlwind catch-up after spending my Sunday hovered over my toilet with a serious stomach bug) and remind you a few big things going on in the blog-world.

Today is the day for first-round voting for Military Spouse of the Year! This is first time I've participated in voting (for no particular reason) and there are so many amazing ladies nominated. You can only vote once per email address and the voting is only open today - so take 5 minutes of your lunch break/kiddo's nap/down time and head over to check it out! 

My personal favorites: 

Lori Volkman, long time mil-spouse and MSJDN board member who is a fierce advocate for military spouse's wishing to pursue higher education and professional careers. Check out her FB profile.

Jacqueline Goodrich, wounded warrior spouse whose support for wounded warrior families is unsurpassable! She was a personal inspiration early in my blogging career, encouraging my to continue the path! Check out here FB profile here.

(My honorable mention, since I only have two email addresses with which to vote) Angela Caban, Founder of Homefront United Network and avid mil-spouse advocate and all-around sweet lady! Her FB profile is here.

Second, today is the only day for Jantastic Swagbucks opportunities. 

Check out my original post for details!

If you do not already follow me on Facebook, I have one especially good reason why you should - every couple of weeks I post a note with a list of giveaways I find around the web. Some I enter, some I don't - but all of them are great opportunities for you to find new blogs to read and win free stuff!

Finally, stay tuned this week for a couple great posts: a review of NEOChalk Chalk Pens; a peek at my new coffee bar; and another look at my 2013 goals.

Happy Tuesday-that-feels-like-a-Monday to y'all!

Winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 Years!

I cannot believe I have been blogging for 2 years!

This lowly blog started as a private online journal designed to give me an outlet as Al deployed and I embarked on my journey through law school. Two years later, my blog has connectd me with wonderful women around the country, some who have become close real life friends and given me exactly the support system I needed. Now, I am ready to graduate law school, join my husband in Colorado and start the next phase of my life!

As a HUGE thank you for your readership *ahem* friendship and continued support, I am hosting another giveaway!

Spring Relax Package
Feeling Good book
1 nail polish (color TBD, at my discretion)
Package of peach iced tea
Spring pen and stationery set


The giveaway will end on 3/28 and be announced on 3/29. Please follow the Rafflecopter below to enter - and HAVE FUN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Poll

I added a poll in my sidebar ---->

Please take a moment to answer and help improve my blog! 

And stay tuned tomorrow for a giveaway to celebrate my 2nd Blog-a-versary!

Winner, Winner!

Congratulations to Nicole for winning the "You Love a Man in Uniform" giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you all for entering!

Stay tuned this week for a follow up giveaway as I prepare to celebrate my 2-year Blog-a-Versary!

In the meantime, enjoy your St. Patty's Saturday and have a green beer for me.



Winners!

There were so few entries for my giveaways that I changed it up a bit.

That, and I was tired and emotional when I left El Paso the other night and never picked up a chotskie for the 3rd prize.

Instead, I will be giving away a $10 gift code for Amazon.com!

You can use it on anything you'd like.

Winner #1

The winner of the Jenny the Milspouse Comic Book is...

Whitney from Everything Happens for a Reason

Winner #2

The winner of the nautical bracelet is...

Mrs. K. (and her preggo belly!) from Mrs. K. and Captain J

Winner #3

The winner of the Amazon.com gift card is...

Just a Girl

Please e-mail me by Friday with your address so I can send your prizes.

Thank you for celebrating my Blog-a-Versary with me!

Blog-a-Versary Celebration: DAY Three

Welcome back to day three of my blog-a-versary celebration!

{Don't forget to go back over the last couple days and enter my giveaways.

So, far entries are limited so you have a good chance of winning something.}

Today, I want to look forward to the next year.

Things I expect will happen; things I hope will happen.

This year...

...I will finish my second year of law school

...I will move in with my husband in El Paso, then back to Minnesota, and then into a home with my husband in Minnesota (whew! That's a lot of moving!)

...I will write my long-paper for graduation

...I will complete my summer goals list

...I will get a job for my return to Minnesota

...I will learn to cook a week's worth of amazing meals

...I will spend 3 whole months in the same state, city AND house as my husband

...and I will love on him every second of every day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I do have a prize for the third day, but I am not going to reveal exactly what it is.

I leave in the morning for El Paso, to visit Al for a long weekend.

{Hence how late this post is. I've literally been scrambling all day to pack, run errands and get various other things taken care of. Oh, and, well, I've just had other things on my mind.}

So, the prize for this week will be El Paso themed. Something kitschy from the airport or a random tourist gift shop. Something so tacky it's awesome, because, that's how much I love my readers!

You don't need to enter for this final prize. Anyone who is entered in the previous two, will automatically be entered for this one. You can NOT enter this giveaway by itself. If you want the El Paso prize, you must enter one of the other 2 giveaways.

Stay tuned Monday when I announce the winners and reveal the third prize.

Have a great weekend (although I definitely think mine will be better!)

Blog-a-Versary Celebration: DAY Two

Welcome back to day two of my blog-a-versary celebration!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway from yesterday, by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Today, I wanted to reflect on this past year and everything I have been through since I started this blog in March of last year.

In the past year...

...I celebrated my 26th birthday at Target Field, keeping the tradition alive

...I paid off my car and my credit cards, eliminating all debt other than my school loans

...I finished my first year of law school (and actually didn't totally and completely hate it) making some great friends along the way

...I celebrated my sister's 21st birthday with her

...I got a new job (and left that job 10 months later to focus on school)

...I moved from one apartment to another, losing a significant friendship

...but gaining a new one

...I welcomed Al home from Iraq

...I started my third semester of law school (which turned out to be the hardest so far!)

...Al proposed while home on post-deployment leave

...then we enjoyed our first Christmas together in 2 years

...married my best friend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You, my beloved readers, have been through all of these things with me.

I can't begin to thank you enough for your kindness and support during the tougher times and your friendship in sharing in the good times.

Today's giveaway is this cute bracelet I found:

I thought it had a fun nautical feel to it. It could be worn with jeans and a t-shirt or with a dress and cardigan. Either way, it's fun little bracelet.

And it can be yours with one very simple step:

Simply tell me your favorite post from this past year.

Scroll through my archives, or perhaps you have one that stands out.

Just leave me a note in the comments and you're entered!

This contest will end, along with the others, at 23:59 on Sunday night.

Have fun!

Happy Blog-a-Versary!

It's my blog-a-versary!

I have been blogging for ONE YEAR. Such an occasion calls for celebration!

My blog-a-versary celebration is going to last for THREE DAYS!

Each day I will give away a lovely prize to my readers who join the party.

Tomorrow, I am going to look back over my last year and give a highlights reel of where I've been. Wednesday, I will look forward to the next year and what it has in store for me.

Today, however, I want to open the proverbial door of communication and give everyone an opportunity to ask questions they might still be wondering about me. I encourage you to look at the Me, Him and Our Story page above and look through the You Asked page first to get an idea of where to start with your questions.

The give-away part is simple:

You get one entry for every question

{I will not avoid any questions without a reason, and it's unlikely I will even do it then. I would like to avoid as many duplicates as possible, so look through the links above first!}

Now, what do you win?

I have another copy of "Jenny the Milspouse" Comic Book

(like the one I gave away earlier this month)

This contest, along with the other two, will close on Sunday, March 27 at 23:59.