My Last Weekend in Monterey:

I know I have said it a lot lately, but I really can't believe it is already here... This was my very last weekend in Monterey. Very bittersweet! 

I'm going to start this weekend off with Thursday evening. We met our friends Kris and Katy at Monterey's Fish House for our last dinner together... So sad. And it didn't actually hit me until after dinner when we were hugging and saying goodbye... It was official... I have started saying 'goodbye' to my friends here. The only bright side is that they are Navy too, so our paths should cross again! I sure will miss them!

Friday I had the honor of hosting (with my good friend Elizabeth) a beautiful baby shower for our good friends Cassie and Kate (who are both due this summer with boys). One thing I have learned about being a part of this military community, is that you become so close to the friends you have made, as well as their families, and watching all of the little ones grow up. So it will be very hard to not be near each other when Cassie and Kate bring these little men into this world, especially since they were both there in the hospital for me after Charli was born. All I can say is Thank God for blogging/Facebook/Instagram right?!  

The shower turned out perfect, and it was such a great time spent with friends, honoring these two beautiful momma's and their boys! :)

Saturday was the start to a wonderful Mother's Day weekend (and my very last Saturday in Monterey...)! Saturday morning we went to breakfast in Carmel at From Scratch, followed by a much needed pedicure!

 So delicious, and way too much food!

Saturday afternoon we took full advantage of the beautiful weather and headed in to the Valley to do some wine tasting! (Then realizing that this would be my last time going in to Carmel Valley, we had to pull off the side of the road to capture this view)

I sure will miss this!

There was a new winery that had opened up not too long ago, and I have been wanting to check it out, so with this being my last weekend here we decided to go! It was a perfect afternoon spent with my family! 

Um, how stinking precious is this? Daddy's little girl!

Momma's sweet little love!

It's Mother's Day weekend... Had to get pictures! ;)

After we got home, it was off to Cullen and Bennett's Birthday Party! I cannot believe Cullen will be 4 tomorrow, and Bennett will be turning 2 in June. I met them when they were 2 and 3 months old. We have been so lucky to be a part of their lives for these past 2 years, and sure will miss them after we leave. (The good thing is they are also heading back to the East Coast, so hopefully we will get to see them again!)

Charli also had lots of fun at the party, and went down the baby slide for the very first time (with Daddy's help of course) and she loved it!!

And getting some lovin from Ms. Elizabeth!

Then it was back to more school work, more TPC, and more packing...

Sunday was the best first Mother's Day I could have asked for! Steven let me sleep in, followed by him and Charli bringing me a wonderful breakfast in bed!

And yes, watching TPC on the iPad!

 I am spoiled I know! He is too good to me! Fresh Tulips! :)

After breakfast I came downstairs to this...

Wow!!  Can't wait to blog from my new iMac in Charleston! :) (And I would have been just as happy with the card that had Charli, Bailey, and Bogey's hand/paw prints on it! And maybe the See's Candies chocolates I got! ;))

Then this afternoon, Steven had a picnic packed and drove us out to Lovers Point to enjoy the sunshine, the beauty of the coast, and our little family! It was such a perfect afternoon, I couldn't have asked for more! 

It was truly a special day and I feel so loved! I am the luckiest Momma there is! 

As you can see it was a busy (yet amazing)weekend!

I hope you had just as an amazing weekend!

Happy Mother's Day:

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommy's out there! I hope your day is as special as you are! 

 I am so excited to be celebrating my very first Mother's Day! Ever since I was a little girl, I always said "I want to be a mommy when I grow up", and I thank the Lord each and every day that he saw me fit to do so. I am so lucky to be Charli's Mommy and couldn't imagine my life without her! There is no other job that I would ever want, than to be her 'MaMa'! I owe everything that I know about Motherhood to the most amazing mom there is! Thank you mom for helping me, guiding me, supporting me, loving me, and most of all doing all of those things for our little Charli Adele! 

Happy Mother's Day Mommy! I am so lucky to have such an amazing woman to call mom. She is my teacher, my best friend, my rock, and I don't know what I would do without her! I always prayed that one day, I too would be a mom, and that I could be at least half the mother she is! Thank you for always being there for me, thank you for teaching me your ways, and thank you for being the best Nana our little girl could ask for! Happy Mother's Day Mommy!   

'The Love between a Mother and Daughter is Forever'

And Happy Mother's Day to the most amazing Mother-in-Law! You raised the perfect man, who I call my husband and Charli can call Daddy! He wouldn't be the man he is today without you as his Mother! Thank you for being an amazing Grammy and I hope your day is full of love and laughter! We love you so much! Happy Mother's Day!

Now on to spend this glorious day with the two loves of my life! I am one happy MaMa right now! 

Happy Mother's Day! xoxo

11th Cavalry:

It is hard to believe that exactly one week from today, I will be saying goodbye to the place we called home for two years. This home will forever hold a very special place in my heart! This was the first home that Steven and I shared as husband and wife, this was my first home as a Navy wife, and this was our first home as a family of 3! A lot of firsts for my family happened on 11th Cavalry, and I will forever be grateful for them all! 

So my friend Kate, who is also moving the same time as us shared a blog of their home, and I found it to be an absolutely perfect thing to do as well, and something to do for every home we have as we move around the country! You can also visit Kate over at daffoldilshope.blogspot.com, you won't be disappointed that you did! ;) Thanks Kate for the inspiration on this post! :) 

It will be very bittersweet to leave this house, as it holds so many precious memories for my family, but I cannot wait for this next chapter in our lives and to be so much closer to our family! This blog post is probably more for myself and my family, as I know we will continue to re-visit this post and remember all of the wonderful times we shared in our very first home together! But I thought it would be fun to share with you all as well!

"Home is wherever the Navy sends us" 

Our front entry way. The oar was from our wedding, and we had guests sign it, and the candle and vase was the centerpiece from Steven and I's "couple table" at our wedding! The rope vase was a little DIY that I did.

The half bath downstairs by the front entry

Standing by the front door looking in to the front living room. Clock- Pottery Barn, Sailboat pictures- from Monterey, Pillows & Blanket- Pottery Barn

Another angel of the front living room

Heading up the stairs. Flag- Pottery Barn

View from the stairs looking down. Coffee table book- Big Sur California

From the front living room looking into the back of the house (Dining Room and Family Room). On the buffet- Magnum Hall wine that was consumed at our Rehearsal Dinner and then signed by our guests who attended, Wine Cork Lamp- Handmade by me! Wine Barrel Lazy Susan- Pottery Barn

And from the back family room looking to the front

Table and Chairs- Pottery Barn, Wreath- Target: Smith & Hawken, and yes, that is our wine fridge in the corner! ;)

The back family room area. This is where I normally sit in the morning, sipping on coffee, watching the Today Show!

The Kitchen

The Backyard

The office area at the top of the stairs

 The master bedroom. Headboard, nightstands, bedding- Pottery Barn, Lamps- Home Goods, Lantern- Target: Smith & Hawken (my favorite section if you wanted to know)

Charli's room (and someone who just woke up from her nap) ;). Crib & Changing Table- Pottery Barn, Bedding, Pillow, Curtains, Basket Liners- Pottery Barn, Bookshelf- Handmade by Daddy, Lamp- Handmade by mommy, 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' sign- Handmade by Mommy (check it out here)

Guest bedroom. Bedding- Pottery Barn, Headboard- Vintage find from a garage sale in Carmel, Our other finds from that day are here Nightstand (there is a matching armoire to my right)- My furniture as a little girl that will be handed down to Charli when she grows out of the nursery! 'Be Our Guest' sign- Handmade by me!

This is our home, before it gets packed up into a bunch of boxes! 

Happy Thursday!

Recipe: Bang Bang Shrimp:

For the past month we have been trying to focus on cleaning out the pantry, so it has been "eat what is in the fridge and pantry because the movers won't move it" kind of dinners... (soups, grilled chicken and veggies, pasta), still good dinners, but just nothing fancy, and no new recipes. But tonight, surprisingly I had everything on hand that I needed to make my Bang Bang Shrimp! (One of our favorites!)

This recipe was given to me by my best friend Christie. She used to come over while Steven was out to sea or deployed, and we would have girl nights and she would cook for me! (Yes, she cooked for me!) As you may recall, I am not a "cooker" (although, lately I have been pretty amazing in the kitchen, I'm not gonna lie!) :) Any who, this recipe was one we did a lot, and it is amazing! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayo

1/4 cup Sweet Thai Chili Sauce

1/2 spoon full of peanut butter

Srirachi Sauce to taste (I usually use about 4 drops)   

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Take peeled and de-veined shrimp and cover in cornstarch

(I had frozen cooked peeled shrimp in the freezer so that is what we used. Thaw first.)

Fry shrimp in vegetable oil until golden brown.

Pour shrimp in bowl with mixture and toss until well coated.

And voila! :) Super simple and super yummy!! We usually serve it over Basmati rice, but tonight it was just over white rice (just as delicious)! 

And "In The Kitchen for Charli" tonight was fresh avocados, fresh yams (steamed a little), fresh pears (steamed a little), and grapes cut into halves! (Grapes are now one of her favorites!!)

Time to say the Blessing! :)