Kicking the habit

I've been smoking cigarettes for 2 1/2 years. I know, I should know better because I am a medic and I am fully aware of the consequences of smoking. I've tried quitting before, unsuccessfully. Every time I have tried to quit I began feeling lightheaded, nauseous, moody, and extremely bitchy. I lasted about a day, maybe two, without a cigarette. Or maybe it was just one but it felt like forever. The physical effects of nicotine withdrawl were enough to keep me hooked, to keep me smoking. See, when I began smoking, I'd do it for the nicotine high I would get from the cigarettes. I kept smoking until one day I smoked a cigarette and discovered that the "nicotine high" was no longer there but by then it was too late. I still felt the urge to continue smoking.

I'm ready to quit smoking though. I am tired of smelling like cigarettes. I do not want my daughters to smoke because their mom is a smoker. I don't want my teeth to turn yellow. I don't want my smoking ways to reduce my body's healing ability. Besides, it sucks to be in a frenzy when I realize I have one cigarette left and no time to go buy more or when I can not find my lighter as I am trying to smoke.

I bought some Nicorette lozenges to assist me to quit smoking. So here we go. Day 1. I've popped a lozenge in my mouth and it's been sitting in there forever now. The package says it will dessolve in 30 minutes (because you're not supposed to chew or swallow it) but it's been in for at least an hour and it is still there. Initially, the taste was disgusting (I bought the mint flavored, should've gone with the cherry). I'm sticking it out though. I am going to quit smoking. This time I am serious. I hope.

Keurig

I used to hate making pots of coffee. I was never sure how much coffee to put on the filter to get the perfect coffee cup. I'd either put too much and have some super strong coffee that was not safe for consumption or not enough and made my coffee look like water. The Keurig is the most amazing coffee machine known to man. The k-cups already come pre-filled with coffee so all you do is add water and pop a k-cup in...a few minutes later, voilà! Paul bought me this keurig almost a year ago. I love it so much that I bought one for Paul and had it mailed to him in Afghanistan, so now he too can enjoy the amazingness that is the keurig while on deployment.

The Toy Box

Iwas extremely fed up with Elise leaving her toys all over the place...the game room, living room, kitchen, my bedroom (ok, mine & Paul's bedroom). So I decided to buy her a toy box to store all of her toys in and to keep her room organized.

I looked on-line at ToysRus.com and took my time in deciding on a toy box for Elise. I wanted to make sure it had received good reviews on-line...was it going to be flimsy? Was it going to come apart after a few months? Was it cheap looking? Was it bad quality? After much research I found it, the perfect toy box for my little princess. I ordered it on-line (because the actual store did not have much of a selection). I waited patiently every day for it to arrive. I'd check the front door every day...and finally, a few days ago it came in the mail!

I was so excited! In a huge cardboard box...there it was. I could not wait to open it. I think I was more excited about the new toy box than Elise was. I opened up the heavy box and in pieces...there it was...in pieces. I had no idea this thing was going to require assembly!! Wth?! I figure it would already come assembled and all I would have to do would be pull it out of the box. Great...I paid around $100 and I still have to put this wooden thing together...now I was not so thrilled about this whole ordeal.

I went into the garage and took Paul's phillips screwdriver. I laid out all of the wooden pieces on the floor and began to assemble this thing. A few hours later and countless bruises on my legs....there it was, perfect. Elise absolutely loves it! And it looks great! Who knew I could be such a handy woman.

Green Beans

I'm a huge coffee drinker. I've been drinking coffee since before I was 5 years old. How do I remember that? Well, I was in Mexico with my grandmother for a year before I started kindergarten in Cicero, IL. Every morning my grandma would make her cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and that was when I began my love affair with coffee.

I have always been an avid Starbucks coffee drinker. However, in Afghanistan (OEF 09-11) 2009 we only had a Green Beans coffee on the FOB...and no Starbucks. Thankfully Ft. Campbell has both a Green Beans and a Starbucks on post.

While in Afghanistan, I began drinking Green Beans coffee. Green Beans holds a special place in my heart. My husband Paul and I had our first "unofficial" date at Green Beans in Afghanistan back in June 2009. The first birthday present Paul ever bought me was also in Afghanistan, we had been dating a little less than a month and his gift to me was a gift card to Green Beans, which was absolutely perfect!

Since our return to Ft. Campbell in November 2009, I have only had Green Beans a few times. Strangely enough, Green Beans is about 3 minutes from the Aid Station and TMC...and Starbucks is like a 10 minute drive.

Yesterday I really needed some caffeine and figured it would be best to lay off the Red Bulls for a while, even if they are sugar free. I looked at my watch and realized that I would not have enough time to run to Starbucks. But I really wanted coffee!! Then I thought about running into the shoppette and buying a cup of their French vanilla, which actually wasn't very appealing to me at the moment. Finally, I realized that Green Beans was right next door to the shoppette and so Green Beans it was.

As I took a sip of my caramel latte I was transported back to Afghanistan and back to that first date with Paul.

Valentine's Day

I don't usually celebrate V-Day. Last year Paul and I went to F. Scott's in Nashville (because that place holds meaning to us). But this year I didn't care much for celebrating this dreaded hallmark holiday. I did, however, receive some gorgeous flowers from my sister! She sent me stargazer lilies (which are my favorite) and iris flowers.

I also took Elise out to dinner at....HOOTERS!!! hahaha. What better place to celebrate v-day than with hot wings, ranch and a blue moon.

Side note: yesterday was Tinkerbell's 3rd birthday. Tinkerbell is Elise's dog (which was a gift from my sister). She is a mini schnauzer and the cutest little thing ever!

Salmon

Last night I finally cooked salmon for dinner. I have never eaten cooked salmon before and was nervous that it was going to turn out bad. I've had raw salmon before, in sushi. I am a HUGE fan of sushi and had the most amazing sushi and sashimi in Southern California. *Note: Sashimi are thinly sliced pieces of raw fish* The salmon sashimi was by far my favorite. The rich, buttery consistency of raw salmon was amazing! (Another note: I tried sashimi at Hananoki here in Clarksville, and it was NOT the same!!). I am trying to eat healthier while Paul is gone, I need to drop a few pounds, and fish is supposed to be good for you, right?! I prepared my salmon with lemon and lime slices, fresh basil and mint leaves, plain white rice on the side and asparagus (which is quickly becoming one of my favorite veggies). It didn't take very long and at the end of it...an amazing dinner for Elise and I.

15 Days...

My amazing husband, Paul, left for Afghanistan 15 days ago. This is only the beginning of the deployment and I already want him to come home. Not only am I an Army wife, I am also a Soldier. I would like to believe that because I have "been there, done that" I am a little more understanding when it comes to deployments in the Army. I wish I could have gone to Afghanistan with him but maybe in 6 months I will have the opportunity to join him.

Today I drove to the store and bought a few things for Paul's 1st care package from me. I almost cried while I was in the store because sending him a care package really means that I will not be seeing him for a year. We have been apart before, a month for OPT, 2 weeks at the Rolls Royce engine course, 3 days at Jaxport...and of course I missed him while he was gone but I comforted myself by remembering he was coming home in a month, in a week, in a day. Now, I will have too many days, I don't know how many weeks, and at least 11 months.