Wife of a Sailor has changed this to a monthly thing. Instead of being every Friday, it will be the first Friday of every month! So look forward to it! And don’t forget to check out all the other amazing MilSpouses! Here.

1. What is your favorite winter memory?

Being snowed in at a cabin in Gatlinburg with my husband for our anniversary during his R&R. It was amazing. We were in a beautiful cabin together and had beautiful views of snow covered mountains. Gorgeous!

2. What is your current favorite TV show?

Once Upon A Time! I’ve always loved fairy tales and this show just adds to all my favorite stories. It’s awesome!

3. What was your favorite thing that happened in January?

Well, we went back to Gatlinburg again (3rd time in a year!) to celebrate our anniversary and attend a marriage retreat. GORGEOUS resort. We had a blast!

4. What is the best sound in the world to you?

The sound of my husband sleeping peacefully next to me. After going through a year long deployment, I savor every moment with him. (Even when he bugs me!!)

5. What is the biggest lesson you have learned as a MilSpouse (or significant other)?

Hurry Up And Wait! I’ve learned that I can’t make solid plans for anything because SOMETHING ALWAYS CHANGES!!! My family is always asking me if we can do stuff weeks or months down the road and I tell them, I won’t know until a few days before!

This week has been pretty good. I haven’t started doing my pilates videos, but I have been exercising. Squats and walking, etc. My legs hurt! I kinda want to get some hand weights so I can work on my arms too. Maybe soon.

I have also been working on my projects. They are coming along quite nicely, however I have started another one! I’m trying to keep my focus on the two original projects though.

As for getting the apartment back together, it is getting there. We are moving our coffee table to my parents house so we can have more room in the living room. I’m excited about that! We have an awesome ottoman to use in the living room. My office is almost completely back to normal and I just have a few more things in the dining room. I still need to work on our bedroom but I have a couple more weeks to do that. Yay!

I hope everyone is working on their goals. Don’t forget to link up! (Click on the image above)

I have always loved anything formal. It comes down to the whole Cinderella – Gone With The Wind – Princess thing. What girl doesn’t want to dress up and feel like a princess?! Since I never had a prom I just assumed my wedding would be the only time I could dress up that formal. Well, I’m getting another chance!

We found out yesterday that sometime this spring/early summer there is going to be an Army Ball that my husband’s unit is going to! I’m so excited! Even my husband hasn’t been to an Army Ball. So now I’m looking up dresses and etiquette on military formals. Granted the formal etiquette isn’t nearly as strict as it used to be, I’m a southern girl. I want to be my best!

My husband just asked me if I was done looking at dresses, since we’re getting ready for our date night. I laughed and said “I’ll be looking at dresses for months!” I apologize in advance for the multitude of mentions about dresses, military formals, etiquette, etc that are sure to be on my blog for the next few months! To say I’m excited is a bit of an understatement.

If you or anyone you know has had any experience with military formals, I’d love to know more!

I’ve seen several bloggers posting about a specific word to inspire their goals for this year. I thought that was pretty brilliant so I decided to join in. My word for 2012 is Prosper.

pros·per/ˈpräspər/

Verb:   1. Succeed in material terms; be financially successful: “his business prospered”.
2. Flourish physically; grow strong and healthy.

I love the definitions of this word. It is perfect for my goals for this year. Especially since my biggest goals are to lose weight and getting our finances in order. Pretty fitting, huh.

I plan on blogging more about my goals throughout the year. What they are (since I’m still coming up with them!) and how I am in my progress. I am also doing the 3 in 30 challenge so I will be working on specific goals each month.

I’m really determined to keep up with my goals this year. I’m hoping the 3 in 30 challenge will help with accountability. Of course it would also help if my husband would remind me! Haha! I’m sure he will. It is much easier to work on your goals, or heck anything, when you have someone to help you and encourage you through it.

I would love to know what some of your goals are! And if anyone is interested in having an accountability partner, I’m open for that!

My goals for this month are simple. I need them to be, otherwise they won’t get done!

1. Exercise at least 3 days a week. I got some Pilates videos for Christmas and I am looking forward to trying them out!

2. Get the apartment back to normal. My 2 stepdaughters were here for two weeks and since it’s a fairly small apartment, things kinda got messy. So I’m working on cleaning and decluttering a little bit every day.

3. Finish my 2 craft projects. I am crocheting one and cross stitching the other. They are gifts so I can’t really say what they are. I will take pictures and post after they are received!

If you have your own goals, consider joining the 3 in 30 Challenge. (Click on the image above) And don’t forget to link up!

My time as an active duty army wife is quickly coming to an end. This is my last year! My husband is set to retire in November 2012. Now I’ve only been an army wife for 2 years. And half of that my husband was deployed while I lived an hour away from post. So now I want to get as much experience as I can this year while we still live close to post.

My FRG (Family Readiness Group for you civilians!) hardly did anything during deployment, even though we had more wives! We wanted to have get togethers and events. Even though I lived an hour away I wanted to be involved. However, we did nothing. I only went to one of the TWO Battalion FRG meetings during the whole year. Our unit’s FRG never had a meeting. It was very disappointing.

A couple of weeks ago we had a unit Christmas party. It was the first one the unit has had since my husband has been here. They announced that the FRG is going to start doing more things soon. I’m so excited!! Maybe now I can be more involved. (At least until we move!)

I also joined the Enlisted Spouses’ Club. We have one event per month. Last month was a holiday party, the month before was a pottery painting party. This month is a wine tasting at our local winery! I’m excited about that! We also make a home cooked meal once a month for the Fisher House on post, which is where families of wounded soldiers can stay while their soldiers are in the hospital. We also help out the Officers Spouses’ Club every once in a while. Last month I got to volunteer for their Tour of Homes. It was amazing!!

So that is one of my goals for this year. Call me Super Army Wife! HOOAH!

Last year was incredibly hard on me. It was my first married Christmas and my husband was halfway around the world. I was extremely emotional. It wasn’t a very happy Christmas for me.

This year my wonderful husband is home! I am so thrilled for that. I’m happy that he’s home safe and that we get to spend the holidays together.

This Christmas is still going to be very difficult for me though. It will be the first Christmas without my grandparents. It will be so different. I have spent almost every Christmas in my life with my grandparents. I honestly don’t know how to have Christmas without them.

I really want to be happy for Christmas. My husband is home. We’ll have two of my stepdaughters here with us. And my aunt is coming down here for Christmas. I have so much to be happy about! But I’m also missing a huge part of my life.

Love getting to know my fellow military spouses! Feel free to go check out the other spouses! Click here!

1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get healthier! I need to lose weight, but I need to be healthier.

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to get pregnant. My lifelong desire is to be a mommy.

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is moving back to Nashville! My husband is retiring in less than a year and we will get to move home! So happy.

4. One change I’d like to see next year is my husband and I doing more for our lives. I want us to spend more quality time together. I want us to work towards our goals together.

5. My plans for NYE include probably sitting at home with my 2 stepdaughters. Hubby has to work that night.

Hello friends! How has your week been? Mine has been busy! Schoolwork, housework, being one of Santa’s elves! Ya know. The norm. Hope you enjoy this week’s questions! Don’t forget to check out the rest of the milspouses. (Click on the picture!)

1. My favorite song of the season is …. Too many to choose from! I love Carol of the Bells, All I Want For Christmas is You, I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas, etc. I love all Christmas music!

2. My aunt is someone who inspires me because she does so much. She always takes care of everyone else before herself. I think it’s high time someone takes care of her. She’s amazing.

3. If I had $100,000 to give to a charity, I’d give it to New Missions. It’s an organization that has several orphanages in Haiti and surrounding areas. They have done so much for the people of Haiti.

4. If I had a theme party, I’d make it either Christmas (right now) or Spa Day!!

5. If I had one wish for my kids/future kids/some young person I care about, it would be that they have the absolute best education and opportunities in life possible. I want my kids to know they can do or be anything they want when they grow up! Anything is possible.

Friday Friday Friday! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and will have a wonderful weekend! I’ve got a busy day so I’ll keep this short! Enjoy!

1. If I could be on any reality TV show, I’d want to be on either American Idol or Big Brother. I know, huge difference. Oh well!

2. This past Thanksgiving was the first without my grandparents. It was hard, but we did ok.

3. I’m looking forward to December because I get to spend my first Christmas married with my husband. I’m so happy.

4. One thing I’d like to accomplish this month is actually get our apartment clean and keep it that way!

5. To me, winter is a magical time. I love the cold weather because you can snuggle with your loved ones. I love all the decorations for Christmas. It really is my favorite time of year!