You Can Keep Your Chocolate Covered Bacon

Saturday night, Gene and I went to the San Diego County Fair! We hadn't been since 2010 when we first arrived in San Diego! That year there were all kinds of CRAZY foods you could try, that I just didn't work up the nerve to try. Most were things that didn't appeal to me... at all... like deep fried butter. You bet your butt I bet it was delicious, but I wasn't putting it in my body!

This year there were even more things that made us stop and say to each other "Really? People stand in line to BUY that... to eat?!" Deep fried cheeseburgers, sloppy joe's made with a Krispy Kreme doughnut bun, and two pound turkey legs wrapped in a pound of bacon were among some of the ones that stuck out to me. There was also a two pound chicken breast on a stick... what chicken did that come off of?

We have really been enjoying The American Baking Competition and my FAVORITE baker, Francine, made a chocolate peanut butter bacon pie in the first episode. The judges liked it. I've been hearing about chocolate covered bacon and was too nervous to try it at the fair back in 2010. This year, I was determined not to let the fair come and go without trying it...

I have to be honest: I'm not a fan. It was more like chocolate bacon bark... if that makes sense? It was like salty chocolate? There was too much chocolate and not enough bacon? There was just something off about it and poor Gene ended up eating all but one tiny piece of our carton of chocolate covered bacon.

We regretfully had french fries with Gouda and bacon on them- they were DELICIOUS but our tummies did not like fried food after MONTHS of not eating any! We will be going to another concert down at the fair and I already know what I'll be eating- pineapple and chicken! YUM!

I have to say, I think chocolate covered bacon is the most adventurous thing I've ever eaten! I asked folks on instagram and Facebook what the craziest thing they've ever eaten was and got some interesting responses- silkworms, jelly fish, chocolate covered bugs (which I think I would try), and pig's feet stew! Now it's your turn: what is the most adventurous thing you have eaten... or would eat if presented the opportunity?

Planning a 4th of July Cookout

I'm a LIBRA, folks. This means I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to entertain! Sadly, we don't do all that much entertaining. The last get together I hosted was back in February! So when the thought to have a cookout for Gene's department for the 4th of July hit my little brain, I asked him if I could and I am maybe getting carried away!

We are so lucky that with Gene's job right now, part of his department is in the hospital and part of the department is out back at a warehouse (he does supply and materials stuff). Right there at the warehouse is a basketball court and a little grilling area! SCORE! We are going to throw a cookout for lunch and have a really great time celebrating (since the hospital was not getting a 4 day weekend). I can't help but think of the folks in the department who just don't have any family and won't get to attend a cookout this summer!

So the planning is beginning! We are thinking of just doing hamburgers and hot dogs as something easy to eat, but I've been looking for healthy sides! We're headed to Costco this weekend to price check things and this is what I'm thinking the menu will look like:

• hamburgers and hot dogs (with ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish. Cheese for the hamburgers as well as lettuce, tomato, onion.)
• Skinny Taste fiesta bean salad
• Thug Kitchen potato salad (warning: clicking on the link will take you to Thug Kitchen. I would give it a NC-17 rating for language. If that's not your thing, I will post a verbally cleaned up version after I make it next!)
• fresh melon and pineapple
• soda, water, tea or lemonade
• cupcakes and ice cream cups 

What do you guys think? I'm so beside myself nervous and excited to throw an awesome party for the department! I can't wait to share how everything goes! Even though it's not at our house, this is the first big event I'll be throwing: any pointers to make it fabulous?

I'm toying with the idea of a cookout playlist, but with 50+ people, that could be tricky to get a good mix! I'll share more on that later though!

Home Life, Yumminess, and A Good Read :: Thankful Thursday

I used to participate in a blog hop where I would list the things I was grateful for, thankful for, and blessed with. I don't really know what happened to it, but it kind of fell by the wayside. Maybe it's still happening and I fell by the wayside? Then there was a blog hop where we would get together and share little things throughout our week that made us appreciate life a little more, the things that seemed so little but that meant so much. Then that kind of fell by the wayside. Maybe it's still happening and I fell by the wayside?

However the story unfolds, I wanted to take a moment out this morning to share some of the things I am thankful for! There are times in life when the bank accounts are low, you just burned dinner, and the dogs won't stop barking (or the baby won't stop crying!), but there is surely something to always remind you how very blessed you are.

I don't know where this came from... at all.
I saw it floating around on Facebook with no clue how to find it's owner!

• MY HUSBAND: You guys, now matter what kind of mess I am, I know he still loves me. No matter what we're going through, I know we can make it because of him! He is my absolute rock- keeping me centered and grounded and I couldn't have asked for a better prince charming!
• OUR FURBABIES: We only have one car, and Gene has needed it for work the last week. Though they might bark up a storm at the slightest of things (like a lizard climbing a fence a mile away from the house!) they keep me such great company during the day so I don't feel so lonely!
• PALEO TREATS: Gene is a snacker who always has to have something to munch on after dinner. Maybe I'm not feeding him a good enough dinner? I think it was how he was raised though. Paleo Treats are such a great thing for me to have on hand and know I am giving him a dessert made with natural ingredients and no filler!
• SHAKEOLOGY: Here again it's about the nutrition we are so blessed to be able to give our bodies! Gene has started drinking a shake with me in the morning and I know we are kicking our days of with the healthiest meal we can possibly provide our bodies. That gives me such a sense of calm since sometimes he can't eat lunch!
• A GOOD BOOK: Right now I am still reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling. I feel like I've been reading this book all year. This month I am setting time aside in the sun to read and relax in the afternoons! I have a few more books on my shelf to get to this summer and it will happen! 

What are you thankful for these days?

Compartmentalizing

There is nothing I love more in my life than compartmentalizing everything and being organized. I have a drawer with only socks, one with only panties, one with only sports bras! I don't like things to get all mixed up and confusing. Same goes for the kitchen: one cupboard for nothing but cups, mugs, glasses with a different one for just plates and one for just pots! In our living room I have a shelf for DVDs and Blu-rays  but I take it a step further: one box for chick flicks, one for horror, one for Christmas movies and one for all those silly action movies Gene loves!

Is it any wonder that when it comes to my online life I try to be the same way? It has gotten me feeling VERY overwhelmed lately and made me want to just step away from the computer and forget all about blogging and Facebook and twitter and whatever else! As much as I'd like to say "I blog for me!" (don't bloggers just love to say that?!) The truth is I LOVE to blog for you too!

But when you have a lifestyle blog, an attempted foodie blog, a twitter, a personal Facebook page, a blog Facebook page, another blog Facebook page, a health journey Facebook page, a chocolate Facebook page, an instagram, a vine, a Google plus... all the compartmentalizing takes it's toll on you!

So here's the question, friends:

Do you mind if I bring it all together on one blog, on one Facebook page, on one centralized ELIZABETH? How do you feel about seeing fun, food, fitness, dates, Navy events, chocolate, gifting, hiking, running, cooking, eating, outfits... ALL of that in one place? Would that be ok with all of you? Feel free to weigh in on Facebook too!

It's time for me to work on getting everything in ONE spot!

Pledging Three More Years

Even as a Navy wife, there are moments in life and things I take for granted. Gene goes to work every day and has an amazing department full of great men and women both civilian and Navy. I don't really talk about his work too often, because quite frankly: I don't know too much about it! He leaves, works at a hospital, and comes home in the evenings with some stories you'd never believe if I told them (like the day a civilian husband head butted his Marine wife, while she was recovering from outpatient surgery!). Those in his department that are Navy are either corpsmen or LSes (whatever that means! See, I don't know a lick of it!).

Every chance I get to learn a little more about Navy Life, I take! I was humbled and honored to hear I had been invited to a reenlistment of one of the sailors in Gene's department!

I can't believe I grew up in a Navy town, and have known Gene since January of 2008 and yet here it is: May, 2013 and I am just now seeing a Navy Reenlistment!

Dress and Jacket: Lane Bryant, Spring 2012
Bracelet: Stella & Dot, Winter 2011
Necklace: A gift from Gene from his WestPac Deployment 2011

It was an experience that I hope I remember, especially as Gene advances in his career. So many times I hear that Officers wives are hoitsy toitsy or maybe not connected to the enlisted community and I truly hope to not fit into this mold! The folks from the department who were able to make it out to the pier for this young man's reenlistment then had lunch at Ruby's! There were about 20 of us and it was an absolute joy to spend an hour talking to them, getting to know them, and hearing their stories!

Being able to be at a reenlistment, where a young man was dedicating another three years of his life to the service of this country made me so much more appreciative of the sacrifices so many men and women in the military make. Gene and I are in this together, but there are so many, like this young man, who have nobody out here with them! His family is back in the south and that made being there for him, to celebrate him, all the more necessary! I for sure hope to attend more reenlistment ceremonies and of course: what kind of wife would I be if I didn't mention how very proud I was of Gene! What an honor to be a part of this young man's special day!