dog treats

So for Christmas, my little brother got me "The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook Kit". I couldn't wait to use the cookie cutters to make Zombie and Eevee Taco (more on my dog that has two names later) some delicious treats! The first recipe I tried was the "Tuna Melt" (pictured above). They turned out great! I was worried because I'm not gifted at all when it comes to baking; it takes me a lot of practice to get a recipe right usually. This one seemed to work perfectly.

Now the real test came - would my picky eater (Zombie) like the treats? I have watched him spit out treats that other dogs would fight over! Well:
He went crazy for them! Both dogs did in fact. I watched my chihuahua jump 3 feet in the air to try to get one. I'm so glad because this will save us lots of money in the long run. Also, they should be gentle on Zombie's sensitive stomach as they are gluten-free and corn-free. I tried one, and it was alright. I think dogs have better taste buds than humans.
I'm sleepy, so I'm off to bed!
love,
chianne

p.s. I'm only 15 Swagbucks shy of my third Amazon gift card! How many Swagbucks do you have?

Clutter?!

Since we know we are moving in the near future (and I know Devin won't be here to help me), we've been trying to "bust the clutter". I feel like we've already donated so many things to the D.I. and there is still so much STUFF. We dropped another huge box yesterday and I feel like my house still is not any less cluttered. This is going to be harder than I thought. My lovely best friend, Erin, will be the first to attest to the fact that I have a SERIOUS issue with throwing stuff out/donating it. To help with this, I'm trying a few new things.
First, I've been tapping into the site FlyLady.net. It has some very helpful tips if you live in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). It pretty much has my name all over it.
I'm also going to be following Amy over at The Finer Things as she hosts her own
Declutter Challenge.
I'll let you know how it goes. I have yet to set any specific goals, but I know one big thing I need to focus on - getting rid of clothes! I have so many things I haven't worn in years but I am convinced I should keep "just in case", and I need to let it go! I have clothes that are too small, too big, and everything in between. This will be the hardest for me. Wish me luck!
Love,
Chianne

Swagbucks

Just thought I'd let anyone who reads this know why I have the little Swagbucks swidget off to the right side there...It isn't an ad. I've actually put that there of my own accord.
Swagbucks is a GREAT! I first heard about it from some blogs I was reading to learn recipes, and I thought it was [another] scam. I did some research and discovered its completely FREE and it isn't a scam at all. All you do is use their search engine (which is powered by Google) to search the things you typically search and every now and then BAM! you will earn a Swagbuck or 3. Also if you look over at my swidget it says "Swag Codes" at the bottom...you can click that and check if their is a "Swag Code" currently available. Occasionally Swagbucks will post a free code on the swidget, their facebook, or their blog and it will tell you on there where it is. These codes gain you extra bucks for paying attention. And here's the best part...
They have their own online store you can purchase TONS of things from. From airline tickets, to games, to gift cards, and MORE. I've been doing this for about two months and just use the search engine and I've already purchased TWO Amazon.com $5 gift cards. So I've already earned $10 for doing what I already do online.
And one more benefit...if you get your friends to join with your referral code, you get a Swagbuck everytime they do! (up to the first 100 bucks)

Are YOU getting paid for doing your usual online searches? I am!!
Join and be my friend at http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/chianne

love,
chianne

So this is the new year...

It is amazing what a difference a day makes.
Yesterday, saying Devin was going to boot camp next year or in a couple months still made it feel like forever. Now today, it is seeming ever so close because he is going this year. To make it feel even brighter on the horizon is to say he is going NEXT MONTH! That is crazy and exciting. We are constantly praying for a sooner date. Knowing my personality, I would handle better if he suddenly had to leave within a day or two (or even a week) and not had to dwell on him leaving as it built up weeks before. That's how I like to do things [aka flying by the seat of my pants]. It reminds me of when I first moved to Utah. I only decided to move about a month before I actually moved. This enabled me to get my crap together and go. If I had sat and thought about it for months, I would have never actually done it, and I would have missed out on a lot of things God had in store for me here.
On another note, Devin heard from a recent graduate of boot camp and was able to find out more regarding church at Cape May. He discovered there is a church choir he can join to sing in the services on Sundays. Though he was told it is not the "typical" choir but more just group of recruits praising the Lord whether they can sing well or not (Though I'm sure it is a joyful noise!). This is making Devin really excited and is stoked to know he'll have more ways to break of the constant physical and emotional stress by going to choir practice, praising the Lord with other recruits, and then singing in the chapel on Sundays. He was even informed there are instruments available to play with the choir, and guitars were listed. ;)
We are still super excited to get this chapter of our lives started!
Happy New Year! (Geeze, I remember when the year 2000 happened..how quickly a decade passes!)
Love,
Chianne

To the future...

Devin leaves for boot camp on February 23. This means his [tentative] graduation date is April 16th. We are both so excited and can't wait for this part of our lives to begin. Devin swore in already, which means they are already counting the time towards his 6 total years of service. It was a short ceremony and they will do another one on February 23 right before he leaves. (The first time you swear in they consider you part of the reserves. When you swear in on the day you leave, you are swearing into Active Duty). Devin's already been studying so much to learn both the lingo and the alphabet. I've been learning with him so now we play fun games like "Say the license plate in the military alphabet" and "call the rooms of the house by what the Coast Guard calls them." It's definitely entertaining and confusing. (Did you know they call water fountains the "scuttlebutt"?) Devin stays in contact with the recruiter in case he gets the opportunity to ship out earlier.
What's been a great blessing is his job at Wal-Mart. We weren't so positive about it at first (the pay is crap), but unlike Buy Low, they fully support his decision to join the military. They understand his desire to leave early and will keep him in their system for ALL 6 YEARS in case when he's out he wants to go into management there (HAHA its the thought that counts?). They also are very sensitive to give him a day off when he has needed to go up to MEPS to swear in and such.
Devin led worship at church this past Sunday...he does this ever now and then if he has one off or something. I was scheduled to work, but luckily enough, we were slow so I got off in time to surprise him at church to see him play! It is so encouraging to hear my husband lead a body of believers in worshiping God. Which leads me to another topic - Devin was concerned about church life around boot camp. Well he did a little research and they ask two people of each group to be "Religious Petty Officers". They get to lead prayers in the morning and at night and lead the prayer at their graduation ceremony. They also get to help out at the chapel. Devin is so excited for this. They have several different church services at the chapel on Sundays and the recruits are encouraged to attend one of their choice. If they don't have one that fits their beliefs they will bus them off base to one. Its good to know Devin's beliefs will be encouraged while he's away.
That's about all for now. It's December and that's CRAZY. haha.
Love, chianne