31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 9

Oh what a nice day, it was again gorgeous weather wise and after a nice easy start, a run for MiB, a run for me (but to the commissary, LOL) we started our day. I did an experimental recipe for lunch and we both agreed it was a keeper. May tweak it a little but we liked it. What's not to like about pizza, I love pizza, MiB loves pizza and this recipe is less calories then "real" pizza so it's win-win!

Before you make a determination, give it a try, it is made with a grain free crust...yes, I know sounds nuts but it really was good. The crust was made with 2 cups steamed cauliflower, 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, 2 T cottage cheese, and 2 eggs. Sprinkle in a generous amount of garlic powder and Italian seasoning along with a little black pepper and you have the crust.

Ready to be steamed!

The process for me was this:

I clean a head of cauliflower and steamed it in my Pampered Chef steamer with a couple tablespoons of water; it took 7-8 minutes.  I wanted it more steamed rather then less since I was going to food process it, if I were eating it I would go less. Cool it for a bit, then put it in your food processor, with the seasonings, cheese and eggs. Process til smooth, Here's the tricky part, it's pretty sticky at this point, so I put some parchment paper down on my baking sheet (I used an airbake rectangular sheet; rather then my Pampered Chef pizza stone for this) and spread it out with a spatula. I tried to get it as even a possible. Then I baked it 450* for 15 minutes, it was a nice golden brown. When I do this again I will attempt to "flip it over and get the otherside golden as well" about half way through.

Before baking the second time

Then you top is with your favorite sauce, cheese and for us zucchini, onions and roasted red peppers. Though I would roast my zucchini before I top the pizza next time as it did not get quite as "done" as we would have like, but it was still good, just a tad bit firm.

Over all, we thought it was awesome, the crust did get more brown on the edges were it was "thinner" so I will try to spread it better to keep that from happening and again, I am going to try and cook both sides. I still have enough steamed cauliflower to do it again so I will later this week and I will tweak some more, I may try more cottage cheese less moz, but we'll see.

 

 Just before cutting and eating!

Hope you have a fantabulous Sunday, we are just back in after a Sunday Drive around the East Reservation and also a few errands. Just so you know this was NOT an original idea, I saw it on another blog that I sometimes read. You too, can read the blog post with the original recipe here and there are some other tips on making it too!

We have already had mashed cauliflower and love it as substitute for mashed potatoes so this was not such a stretch for us to try this but for some I realize it will be a real stretch, I say give it a whirl, you may love it, you may not, but you won't know til you try it!!! I plan to try the granola bars off this site at some point as well! And yeah, I will probably blog it!

31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 8

What a beautiful day in LA. We had a LATE night, so we got a slow start on our day. However, we did make it to the AFSA Picnic where MiB played on the kid toys. It was a great day for a picnic and we enjoyed meeting some new folks. It was great to put faces with names and meet the "other half" of some of the folks we had already met.

After the picnic, which we did not actually eat since we were talking and playing, we went to a new diner. Yep, well it's a onefer, we went once and won't need to go back. The cheeseburger MiB had was not able to finished, barely started actually...what I got was okay but nothing to bring me back. That's a neat thing of living in so many different places you get to try lots of different eateries. Unfortunately, since arriving here in LA we are not having much success of what we would define as "good". But we are still taking suggestions and looking for places on our own.

Short and Sweet today, military life was pretty simple, the night was long, phone calls and such, but the day was great. It will be early to bed for us and tomorrow will be a new day! We shall see what it holds...I do know there is a parade scheduled and also maybe a movie for us :)

31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 7

WooHoo, it's Friday, yeah, I am ready for the weekend! It's been a busy week here in the blue. Actually, I think the weekend preceding this week was busy so starting out this week I was already feeling a bit run out.

Tonight we are doing AFSA BINGO. Not sure I am ready for this experience but it is for a good cause so I'm good for at least a onefer! Since AFSA is such a HUGE supporter of the military locally and worldwide along with going to bat for us in Washington DC we like to support them as well. AFSA is a leading advocate for military benefits, they are amazing in their efforts to make sure our men and women in uniform are well represented on the hill. It's a great organization and are proud to be a part of it!

In other areas today I am spending some much needed time doing those little things around the house that need to be done but when you are in and out so much they sometimes get forgotten. I have cleaned the bathtub and all the toilets along with several loads of laundry. I have also downed three cups of joe. I will be up late tonight so I am not so worried about caffeine consumption. I hope to tackle mopping floors before the afternoon gets away; I also plan to do a little dusting. IF I still have a few moments I will also run the vacuum.

After BINGO we are going to Taco Mania. This will be another first for us. I'm excited! I heard it's pretty good. I also just got the name of a good Italian place I hope we can try it next Wednesday. Notini's is the name. I know we are Italian food snobs but that is what happens after you live in Italy, what can I say, I'm sorry! But I will let you know what we think of this place after we try it. We also got the name of another pizza place, PieWorks. Not sure when we will try it since we just had pizza last night. And this need to lose a few pounds body of mine cannot have pizza again for awhile!

So happy Friday to ya, I'm ona roll and need to get back to the little chores on my to-do list for today! This whole blogging everyday is TOUGH. I really admire those who have much more meaningful and relevant post then I but I am committed to the task of doing it daily so you get what you get and that's all I have to say about that!

31 Days of Miltary Life ~ Day 6

Last night we chose to "celebrate" with some new found friends. Actually celebrate is a little off, we went out together before he heads off to the AOR. If you are non military acronym savvy that just means he is going to be now be working in an area that isn't very safe. Deployment is another word for this. It is usually a negative word in our business. However, that is only typical on the spouse end. After all, we are the ones staying behind to be both mom and dad, continue to keep everything running smoothly and maintain a sense of sanity. Not easy! The member that goes isn't on vacation, but they are in the fight so to speak. For the most part they are loving the experience of feeling like they are making a difference, working nonstop and days passing quickly but months drag on. They are on the tip of the spear, gaining knowledge and wisdom that only "boots on the ground" can, they are observing first hand what many never will. It's a proud moment. Being in the AOR is a honor and many while hating the being away from their own families part do and would return again and again. Serving in this environment is unlike serving anywhere else. I cannot fully describe it but I have been around enough to know that these men and women in uniform volunteer to go back again and again because they love what they do. They are America's best and they are proud to serve!

Good luck Chief F! We will help as much as we can on the home front while you are serving on the forefront.

As far as my journey today I attend Suicide Awareness training. While not a real fun brief to go to I did picked up some new insight. Suicide happens, it happens in all walks of life and unfortunately we see if far too often in the military. I'm reminded again to be very sensitive to certain signs and behavior of those around me and not to just let an off day or comment go, dig deeper. It was a good refresher.

Oh and I think even though I am on this 31 day roll I will still do Thursday Thoughts:

So today my thoughts are:

• Smitty's was darn good!
• Road trip to MO coming soon...
• Wedding bells will soon be ringing.
• B I N G O this Friday night, then tacos.
• Suicide training, necessary but not at all fun!

Just to clarify, the wedding bells are NOT LilBlue but my niece.

31 Days of Miltary Life ~ Day 5

 

Today is a milestone for us! And since 1984 we have celebrated this day. It was on this very day back in 1984 that MiB asked me to marry him. PLEASE NOTE this is NOT the day we got married just the day that he asked!  It is the day I said, "YES"! We celebrate this day every year, we make it special, we do fun things. One year I got him a tie and told him I would "tie the knot with him again any day" other years we just take the time to go to dinner, just us and away; other years I have made a special dinner; he has also been the dinner maker...he does an awesome steak on the grill with a baked potato and a nice green salad!. There have been several years where we have not been together on this day but we still try to make it special. we usually do cards. We have done funny, serious, sentimental and even homemade. I have filled his car with balloons, he has brought me flowers, and even candy! It's just a day we celebrate in our world.

 Oh yes he did!

As far as relating this to military life, well, sometimes you have to make your own fun, your own traditions, your own way. You don't usually have blood relatives around, so you make it with who and what you got. It works and it's fun! Everyday is not a celebration, but I recommend ALWAYS taking the time to celebrate; take time to smell the roses so to speak. Life is way too short and too precious not to celebrate. And celebrate the little things right along with the big. We have seen families lose loved ones unexpectedly, it's not fun, so be a celebrater, doesn't matter that it's not a BIG day, make it BIG in your world, fuss about the great things, make a party out of an accomplishment little or big cause it's those things you will remember and will hold on to as some of your best moments! Trust me, so get out there and find something to celebrate or make something up, life is good, but you may have to work at it sometimes to get it that way.

In 2009, I made note of this day... and I did it again in 2010, the post from 2010 has more of a military life feel to it as we were far apart. But both are a pretty good read if you have the time!

31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 4

Calendar Meetings...these are typical and help get information out. The ones here are awesome. Other places awesome as well and then not so much. Really, as with many things military or not, it all depends on your leadership. You have all sorts of different leaders and leadership styles; everyone is different so you just learn to roll with it and realize not everyone is like you or thinks like you but as long as the we all keep the big picture in mind it will be fine. Sometimes, TRUST ME, that is easier to type then to walk...we'll leave it at that :)

These meetings also provide an informal gathering time to get to know the other spouses on the leadership team. It's really nice to be able to get to know the others and be able to enjoy each other at the various functions you attend together. I prefer not to have to make mindless small talk every time I see someone because we never see each other anywhere else. It is very nice to know that so and so just returned from seeing a new grand baby or that unfortunately someone just had a death in the family or that their child is on the football team, in the band, running track or whatever. It's neat to actually learn about the others and then be able to really talk and enjoy each other and you cannot do that if you never get to know them. So it's my experience that these gatherings are good!

However, I will say some do this better then others and I have been at things with people and we have sat next to each other and chatted and I learned about them and then see them again and we "re-meet". Yes, it's true and it's awkward, I hope I don't become like that. However, in defense, you do meet many, many people and keeping it all straight is a chore, but the ones you seem to see over and over again, I do remember them and I find in wonderful when they remember me but when they don't I feel odd. But our motto is adapt and overcome, so we do.

We meet monthly for our calendar meetings, during the busy season it might be more, during other times we may go 6 weeks, it just depends on the business going on around us that we support and attend to! Again, it's a necessary thing and depending it can be fun and educational!

Until tomorrow, salute smartly and press!

31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 3

Life is too short not to know your neighbors. Especially when you are military and you never know when you or them may be moving. It happens quickly so over the years we have developed a jump in attitude cause you just can't take that wait and see route in this business. So we are the newest kids on the block and have not really had the opportunity to meet the rest of those on our street. We were planning a "New Kids on the Block Party" to remedy that and I happen to mention this to another relatively newbie in the neighborhood and she said they would like to join in with us...then we thought we would ask the other semi newbie down the street to join in as well. Thus the planning coffee was scheduled! This morning we met for coffee/tea and formulated our gathering plans.

It's all set for next Monday, that's a holiday for us so we thought what a perfect way to end a long weekend! There will be food and goodies and I know a good time will be had by all who attend. Invitations are printed and ready to be delivered, we divided and will conquer the semi circle this evening. I can't wait, we will finally meet the neighbors :)

Part of the reason for the gathering stems from the fact that no one came to welcome us to the neighborhood when we moved in. To us that was odd, I mean we are all in the same boat, military families, H E L L O, we should know each other, really! And do life together, after all, this isn't just a J O B, it's a lifestyle and a pretty unique one at that. So having great friends as neighbors makes it so much more fun! I could be all up in arms about the nonwelcome we got but I'm not. I'm just not going to let that happen to anyone who moves in on my watch! (Which they have and we've already been over and took goodies). I mean I know it's been super hot here and people have not been out and about but I still want to get to know you! I also notice that people are pretty busy around here, but so am I, I still want to get to know you!

Since the par-tay is during this 31 daysathon, it WILL be a blog post! So if you want to know how it goes come back to visit and read all about it!

Until Day 4, enjoy your world!