Playing tourist

Today is my blogiversary, how exciting! Too bad I forgot because Nicole and I were out playing tourist and having an awesome time! We spent the entire day on a tour called the Freedom Trail, it goes all the way around Boston and is highlighted by a red line on the sidewalk.

Even though there is a red line leading you around, we still managed to get lost like 15 times lol there are parts where the line is hard to see, so technically it wasn't our fault. We saw some really amazing sites today, along with very historical ones. We Saw the USS constitution, and the USS Cassis Young. I was SOOOO ecstatic because since my love left, I've felt so lost without Navy all around me! Today it was everywhere. 

 

 (USS Constitution)

 

(USS Cassis Young)

After that we stopped for lunch, and then continued on our trail. We saw three graveyards with tons of famous historical people like Sam Adams, and James Hancock. I was really creeped out, but they were amazing to see. The stones were extremely old and fragile, most were from the 1700's. 

We saw a gorgeous view of Boston from the bridge, Old City Hall, some beautiful churches, and the holocaust Memorial.

I heard a lot about this place called Mike's so we made sure to take a detour from our little trail to have a pastry, and I'm glad we did. We shared am espresso canoli because it was huge. Totally worth it though, oh it was delicious!

By far my favorite thing we saw was the Dog Tag Garden. It brought up so many emotions at once. It's a "Garden" full of dog tags, there is supposed to be one there for every single person who's been lost in the war with Afghanistan. It was heartbreaking to see them altogether like that. I had to sit there for a minute to take it all in. 

I collect shot glasses, so I managed to pick up several today, a regular Boston one, one from Cheers the bar, and one from the constitution, along with an adorable "We Can  Do It!" Rosie t-shirt! This weekend we have plans to go to Maine and I can't wait! We're also gonna head to New Hampshire sometime Next week before I leave. So I'll get to add two more states to my list. After the long day we ended up walking 5 miles, so now we are lounging on the couch watching it snow outside. So excited for the rest of our adventures!

Wining & Dining

I think by the time I leave here I will have gained 10lbs! we've done nothing but have delicious food and drinks! Today is my sixth day in Boston, we went to a little winery in Nashoba, and it was so cute. We did a wine tasting and even got an extra sample, then we had this amazing lunch. I had a Salami and Brie sandwich. The bread was a little too crunchy, but other than that it was delicious. We had some amazing wines. My favorite was the last one, it was a desert wine called Plum Blush. 

I absolutely LOVE Nicole's nana she's so funny & sweet! I think I've met Nicole's entire family while I was here! I even met her GREAT grandmother today. Tonight  we are going out for dinner and drinks at one of her favorite places, Fire & Ice. I'm  pretty excited since with the bad weather we were stuck in the house for a couple days, and today has been absolutely gorgeous!

Have you met dug?

while there will always be a place in our heart for Mojo, we have added a new addition to our little family. There will neverbe a dog that can replace Mojo, he was one of a kind, but we need the puppy-ness in our lives again, we miss it dearly! So, I'd like you to meet dug. He is now 6 weeks old and as soon as I get back from Boston I will get to snatch him up and take him home! I can't wait to have a puppy around again! I have really missed it! I've been taking photos of him as  he grows, and a few of you may have seen some of them already, but I thought I'd share! My hubby has really enjoyed being able to see the photos since he is away, it lets him feel like he's still a part of it all. <3

His mommy's belly.

Feb. 17th, he was born.

One week old, next to his humongo brother.

two weeks.

three weeks.

 four weeks, he finally looked like a dog.

five weeks!

 and my mom sent me this one for six weeks since I'm not there!

wordless wednesday

 

New layout!

I thought it was time for a new layout since I'm back in the mood to blog, hope you enjoy it! (:



 

Househunting

It's coming to the time where I am starting to try and find a new house for when I move back. Problem is, I am still 1,700 miles away from where we are stationed so it's not turning out to be ab easy task. I may just be too picky, but I am so worried that I am going to get something I don't like and become very unhappy with if I am not there to at least see it before I sign the lease. 

I have debated flying there for a weekend to just go and look at various places, or renting a car to drive down while I'm in Boston. I'm so frustrated over it, even though I'm supposed to be on vacation, I feel like if I don't start worrying about it now, then at the least minute I'm going to be screwed.... How many of you have had to deal with this? What helped you make the final decision?

States I've Visited

I know, I know... my list is kind of pathetic, but I'm working on it! RIGHT now as a matter of fact I am IN Massachusetts with Nicole from Flip Flops & Combat Boots.

I've been here only FOUR days and already we've done sooooo much! 

We had margaritas...

We went shopping since we're horrible packers & then we had scorpion bowls.

  We saw Wayne Brady, 

while drinking more...

Yesterday Nicole had a Scentsy & Avon brunch, and we didn't drink much, but we did have yummy mimosas & wine!

Today we have no plans so far, I think we are relaxing & recovering from the weekend. Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Kevin Needs a Kidney Benefit Auction

My Friend Kevin has Cystinosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes kidney failure. Kevin had a transplant in 2008, but has been fighting acute rejection of the transplant. The transplanted kidney is no longer viable and he needs to start emergency dialysis and he needs a new transplant.

I am raising funds to help him cover his medical costs that aren't covered by insurance. Kevin has already had about $2000 out of pocket expenses related to the transplant surgery. Since care is ongoing after a transplant, the costs are also ongoing, and out of pocket costs are expected to be around $4000 more. 

I have started an auction to raise money for him! The auction will be held on my jewelry page on face book from April 8th-15th. If you'd like to donate you can email me at MrsGambizzle@yahoo.com to get more info. Otherwise make sure you stop by and check out all the amazing things that have been donated! and above all PLEASE spread the word, the more people who see it, the more money we can make for him. 

You can see my page here: http://www.facebook.com/gambizzlejewels

You can read his story here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kevin-McCallas-Fundraiser/137379516316268

New video!

Pictures for new video!

I wanna make another Mili video (: If you have a picture of you and your hero you'd like to be included email it to MrsGambizzle@yahoo.com ♥

Keep Calm

I'm convinced this should be the Milspouse motto <3

It'll be all okay

 It's not often that a song can make me cry... but this one had me crying though the entire thing.

Hooyah

Hooyah: is the war cry or battle cry most commonly used in the US Navy. It is also used to say Ok or understood or is sometimes used to show enthusiasm and as a vocal gesture which is used to show pleasure, satisfaction or excitement about an event, evolution or even a person.

Today is definitely a day for HOOYAH! (: Y'all know i can't say why, but lets just say I've sent out four care packages & I've got eight more to go! Here are a few things I'm also loving today...

I think with a few changes, this would make an awesome tattoo.

 

Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times

That I though would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' CrAzY

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you 

I'll take the chance

Oh, can't you see it baby

You've got me goin' crazy

Wherever you go

Whatever you do

I will be right here waiting for you

Whatever it takes

Or how my heart breaks

I will be right here waiting for you

Prayers for Kevin

hi ladies! I have a special request today! When I started high school I had a rough time, I made one really amazing friend though Kevin. We hung out every day and we did everything together, people always thought we were dating but we were just really good friends. We kinda lost contact a little while after he left for college but I still think about him, and I am very thankful he was there for me. I recently found out that he is very ill.

He has Cystinosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes kidney failure. He had a transplant, but he's now been fighting acute rejection of the transplant for 3 months. Kevin needs to start emergency dialysis and needs a new transplant. His wife, several family members, and even friends have stepped forward to donate a kidney for him and so far none of them have been a match. 

I hate that he is going through this because he is such an amazing person. They are having fundraisers to help with medical expenses that insurance won't cover, so please if you are able, make a donation ANYTHING helps, no matter how big or small the donation.

If you want to donate just copy and paste this link in your browser:

http://www.ntafund.org/find-a-patient/profile/index.cfm/patient/AE014631-B03E-DB13-DB8B64F91908204A

If you are unable to make a donation at the least, keep him in your prayers! 

Come Home Soon

Mojo to Mijo

As most of you know a couple months ago we lost our precious Yorkie Mojo when he was attacked by a dog. He was such a great companion, he always knew when I needed cheering up, or when I just wanted a cuddle buddy. We have missed him dearly and decided to add a new baby to our family. Meet Mijo! Pronounced (MEE-HO) for those of you who don't know Spanish, it means "my son". When we had Mojo we often called him "Mojito" as a nickname because my husband's grandmother calls EVERYONE Mijito, or mijita and so it reminds us of her. So we thought we'd honor Mojo by naming the new little guy Mijo. 

He was born on February 17th and he weighed 2.75oz. You're probably asking how I know all this? It's because my mom has bred Yorkies for several years! Mojo came from her as well. I've been taking pictures to send to my love every few days since he can't be here to see him. He's really enjoying it, since we didn't get Mojo til he was 4 months old so he never saw pictures of him when he was small. Mijo is 11 days old now, and has just barely doubled his weight, he's now at 6oz. and he's almost as long as my hand. He's so adorable!

his eyes should open ANY day now and I can't wait, that's when they actually start to look like dogs! He's also turned out to be the smallest in the litter. Check him out next to one of his brothers who now weighs 13oz. He's a big guy lol

and here's his adorable mommy, Karlee... She's such a sweetheart, and I hope he turns out just like her.

Mili Mondays: Oh I'll be the one to break my heart

It's been a whiiiiiile since my last Mili Mondays post, but hey I have been SUPER duper busy with deployment, business, blah blah blah right... well today's guest blogger has a GREAT post to share with you so I hope you enjoy it, and show her some love! 

 

 

"Oh I'll be the one to break my heart"

 

It sounds like I'm a Debbie Downer huh? I'll explain what I mean more in a second! But first, I would like to thank Mrs. Gambizzle for the opportunity to make myself a better and more wholesome blogger :) And I would also like to apologize to her for waiting on me for so LONG! Well anyway...I'm in the midst of planning my own wedding which is coming up on March 19th! AH! I have been fantastically busy with making arrangements for people to visit, to making invitations, creating my flower arrangements, etc. Planning a wedding, ESPECIALLY a Marine wedding is pretty difficult.

And this leads me to my next point.

The song I took my quote from is called "I feel it all" by Feist. I think many of you have heard of it, but not know it by it's name. It's a beautiful song! Anyway, it kind of describes the craziness of life right now.

My life is:

unorganized

on hold

hectic

running a million miles an hour

stressful

joyful

I bet the last one has you confused huh? Well, the aforementioned things have to do with breaking my own heart. As many of you very well know, you can't set your heart on things with the military.

You can't.

It stinks. But, it's a part of a grander scheme of things that sometimes...well...I simply don't understand. When Mr. Z and I got engaged, we were shouting from rooftops squealing for joy! But After he left and after the feeling of happiness subsided because of the planning, we went from running around doing victory laps to running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

But this mostly has to do with my attitude.

Sometimes I feel like shaking my little fist at the Marine Corps for not giving me the date I want, for not giving Mr. Z and I a honeymoon, and for being a pain in the rear end when it comes to getting leave. BUT! That is breaking my OWN heart. I know this is what Mr. Z chose to do and I know this what I also signed up to do with him.

So thank you Marine Corps for allowing me the privilege of being part of silent ranks.

And thank you Marine Corps for reminding me that something I need to learn in life is patience, sacrifice, and love. 

In case you didn't get it, that was the joyful part.

"wild card inside"

 

You know the cool part though? I get an experience that not very many women get to live through. I get to fall in love with my one and only over and over again. It is a wild card :) You get to pick and choose the cool things about it. Maybe I won't be saying this later...but I am now. 

And that's all we can hope for right? :)

Well, wish me luck with the remainder of wedding planning! :) 

We'll see you on my graduation...err...wedding day! :D

Blessings!!!! ♥