Happy Anniversary

Today is our 2 year anniversary.

1. Our first picture together 2.USMC Ball 3. Engagement Photo - Palace of Fine Arts 4. Engagement Photo - Stinson Beach 5. Wedding 6. Wedding 7. Honeymoon 8. Thanksgiving 2012

It has been the most exciting, fun, adventurous, hard, loving, amazing, wild ride that I could have ever imagined. I wouldn't want to live my life with any other person, on this earth. We have grown, gone through easy and hard times, learned, supported each other, tried new things. And all of this: together. 

Cheers to a million more years just like the last 2 (ok, well almost 5)! 

Day 28: Only Pictures

A few of my favorite places:

my grandparents old house.

stinson beach.

san francisco.

san clemente.     venice.     switzerland.     Challenge: Only Pictures

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day.

I am going to take today to thank all of our service men and women.

Dear Service Men and Women,

Thank you for the sacrifices that you make each day serving our country and protecting all of us civilians while placing yourself in potentially dangerous and life threatening situations. Some of you fight and die in the line of duty and I want to send my most sincerely condolences to your friends and families and my most utmost gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice that you made, to protect me, my rights, my liberties and my family.

Thank you.

These two little words don't do justice to the amount of respect and esteem that I hold for each of you.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, there are no other words that can be used. No words do you justice. 

I do not, personally, know anyone who has been killed in action; however, my husband knows plenty, and mourns their loss every day. With their RIP dates are listed on our calendars we celebrate their memory and will always remember, never forget. 

I do, however, know many men and women who have served or are still serving our country and I pray for your health, courage and safe return every day. 

While I am one of many blessed women who's husband deployed twice and returned home unscathed, my heart aches for the families and friends of those who were less fortunate than I and are suffering from such a loss that I cannot even begin to pretend to imagine. Please know that I am praying for you as well. Praying for you to have strength, courage and to heal. 

May all who have fallen, rest in peace and know that we are forever in debt to your memory, your courage and your sacrifice.

We love you.

La Tache

---

Challenge: A Letter to Your Readers Memorial Day 

Day 26: Something I Read Online

I found a couple of articles recently that I thought were great!

3 Reasons to Travel While You're Young

I absolutely believe in this. Traveling when you are young allows you to experience new cultures and experiences. 

A Mountain I'm Willing to Die On
I loved this article. Please read it.

"Traffic jams are to be tolerated. People are to be celebrated."

--

Challenge: Something You Read Online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.

Day 25: Something Someone Told Me About Myself

Alright, the first two stories that came to my mind = mean things I have been told...

Story One:
A sweet fellow student said that I had a big forehead and proceeded to call me "five - head"

Story Two:
In high school, I was "made fun of" for having hairy arms.
exhibit a: a fellow student said that I had "man" arms.
exhibit b: (back story: one of my best friends, still to this day, and I decided that we wanted to grow out our leg hair and then get it waxed. Yes I know, whhaaat? ha) so When we went to get our legs waxed the esthetician (we will call her) was telling us a story about how she had a client who was really hairy. I looked down at my arms and recounted the story above and she looked at my arms in disgust and said, "yeah you do have hair arms, you look like a monkey"

Yes, lets just say: my 14 year old self was absolutely mortified. So ever since, I have been extremely self conscious of my "hairy" arms and big forehead. (in hindsight - which is always 20/20, my arms aren't that hairy and my forehead isn't that big...)

But as my mom always told me, they were all just super jealous of me...right?!

--

Challenge: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)

Day 24: Top 3 Worst Traits

(1) I can be a little judgmental... I am working on this this year - I promise

(2) I am neurotic quirky in that I like everything things to be a certain way

(3) I can't whisper, I may get my husband myself into a fight

---

Challenge: Top 3 Worst Traits

Day 23: Things I Learned Outside of School

This is a tough topic!

I would say that the number one thing I didn't learn in school is how important it is to take care of your skin. Your skin is the only skin you will ever have, so it is of the utmost importance to take the best care of it that you can. Use the best organic and chemical free products you can find, if you have to go without happy hour once a week to afford the good stuff, go without and splurge on the skin care products. I mean, your skin is what everyone else sees before you even open your mouth. Why not make it as clear, clean and healthy as you can??

Seriously. 
Wear Sunscreen. 

Just put it on. You will still get a nice glow without all of the potential damage the sun can do to your skin if you don't put it on at all. Especially put it on your face. If you don't put it anywhere else, slather it on your face and pay extra attention to your sweet button nose and the top of your forehead.

Seriously.
Wear Sunscreen.

As I have gotten older, not that I am old, please, I have noticed that some lovely sunspots are surfacing. At first, I thought they were cute freckles, and then I realized that that spots only showed where I have ever been sunburned. Not good. Now I spend my morning ritual trying to cover them up and pinteresting at home remedies.

Seriously.
Wear Sunscreen.

Drink lots of water. Keep yourself hydrated so you can keep that natural, beautiful glow to your skin.

--
Challenge: Things you've learned that school won't teach you

Day 22: Rant

1. Don't put your cell phone on the floor of a public bathroom - you know that you put it on your face, right? 2. When flushing, always close the toilet lid - there are all kinds of particles flying around after your flush, you don't want all of those particles on your toothbrush, right? 3. Please don't drag your feet when walking, it's annoying for everyone 4. Use your blinker when driving 5. If you say you are going to do something, do it! If you aren't going to do it, don't say you will 6. Retire your microwave, like, yesterday 7. Take breaks at work - step away from your desk to rest your eyes and body, it really is important to take care of yourself, it's the only one you've got 8. Travel to places that have different cultures than your own - it's the best way to learn about people 9. Work out to keep your mind and body healthy, take your vitamins and stretch 10. When I am sitting outside on the phone, don't come up to me and start up a conversations, hello? I am on the phone!
This went from a rant to an advice post - ha! Sorry, I'm not sorry...
Challenge: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel.