tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58617352024-03-07T17:53:06.109-07:00You Heard MeClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.comBlogger739125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-86502203048158806002010-10-18T07:25:00.001-06:002010-10-18T07:40:43.510-06:00How You Can Help!Happy Monday!
Sometimes Mondays are just DULL. Right? Well today, you can do something to spice things up. What's that, you ask? Go shopping!
My cousin's family is working through the process of adopting a child from China. As you probably know, this is an extremely pricey process. So much money has been provided thus far, and this is the home stretch. Help them meet that goal in the following Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-41159148746000165462010-08-31T12:57:00.000-06:002010-08-31T12:57:44.154-06:00First Month Down.Today marks the end of August, and with that, the end of my first month of doing Crossfit.
So far, I've loved the crap out of it. I can tell I'm strong, and I think my body is loving the challenge of a different workout every day. My weight is down a bit, though that may be due to a whole lot of cereal and not a lot of real meals these past three days.
The challenge now is that gym where I Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-45382165419286927562010-08-12T18:20:00.000-06:002010-08-12T18:20:59.157-06:00Crossfit, Week 2.My latest exercise endeavor is Crossfit. If you're not familiar with Crossfit, it's basically hellacious. With that said, after the work out is over, it is amazing. After just under two weeks, I definitely feel strong, and empowered.
The idea is that you are fit and ready to do anything you want—any athletic activity or challenge you face should be doable. I LOVE that idea.
I have been Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-27927330924907330412010-08-12T17:22:00.000-06:002010-08-12T17:22:11.268-06:00Another Plug for Swagbucks.For the next two days you can sign up for Swagbucks and if you use the code BackToSchool and you'll get 70 points just for signing up!
Basically, you'll use Swagbucks like you do Google. You'll accumulate points, and get to buy stuff with them. I go for the 5$ Amazon gift card which is a measly peasley 450 points. I can usually accumulate that in about a week.
If you sign up through the link I Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-74566498834494085412010-07-22T08:36:00.000-06:002010-07-22T08:36:47.013-06:00Product Review: Collapsible Salad Spinner of Wonder!So I really like kitchen gadgets, as you may know. I haven't had a salad spinner in years, but since I don't go through all that much salad while Matthew is around, I haven't really needed one.
When I started doing the CSA Box this summer, I realized I'd need something to help me dry all those beautiful greens I was getting. So... I purchased a salad spinner at the PX. The one I got happens to Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-20917410473232376272010-07-22T08:24:00.000-06:002010-07-22T08:24:21.915-06:00Another Thing.So I don't want to harp on ol' swagbucks TOO much, but I wanted to mention something.
I get the 5$ Amazon gift cards because they seem to be the "best deal" in terms of how many swagbucks you need to purchase them. You can use as many as you need on a given purchase, so it works out.
As of today, I've made $25 worth of Amazon cards! Woot! Thanks to you guys who signed up and are searching and Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-28352953464936025262010-07-15T07:15:00.000-06:002010-07-15T07:15:06.452-06:00How to Win Swagbucks.I'm so excited to see some of you have signed up for swagbucks! Here are the basic ways you can win:
1- take the daily poll
2- click through the special offers- you don't have to accept any (I never do), but when you do, you are awarded 1 sb
3- download the tool bar, and open it once a day- you'll get 1 sb
4- once you've been a member for 7 days, go to the Trusted Surveys... you don't even have Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-15216175041162862562010-07-14T07:05:00.000-06:002010-07-14T07:05:52.566-06:00Swagbucks.
I've invited some of you to use Swagbucks through e-mails, but I wanted to put a plug for it here. Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you for searching with points. Those points add up, and you can"buy" things with them through the swagstore. So far, after using the site for about a month, I've won $15 in Amazon gift cards! I spend a total of about 5-10 minutes a day searching on it, and Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-39718765956689894022010-06-19T19:13:00.000-06:002010-06-19T19:13:08.954-06:00What I've Been Eating.Here are a few things I've been eating (from the first two weeks or so of the deployment):
First, this is my most recent vegetable box (I got it a week ago today). Some of the fruits of this have landed in some great meals!
Here's a "wedge" salad I made with some fresh blue cheese dressing.
Basil Pesto made from the basil from my box.Salmon, salad, and sweet potato with cottage cheese.Artichoke!Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-61628533166993790542010-06-02T19:45:00.000-06:002010-06-02T19:45:51.585-06:00My New Appliance: The Bug Catcher.On fabulous appliance I have at my house is the Bug Catcher.
The tricky thing about it is that often, since bugs go up to lights, it requires Matthew to lift it up so it can reach them.
But it always gets those bugs!
Witness:
Bug Catcher lifted into place:
Bug Catcher obtains bug:
Bug Catcher gloats in triumph:
So glad I bought one!Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-81455386527145377962010-05-31T12:03:00.000-06:002010-05-31T12:03:34.630-06:00Memorial Day.On the 20th of May, the Brigade cased its colors. This means they place the flags of each battalion and of the brigade in a casing, and then they are taken to where they will be flown next (Afghanistan). This picture is of all the battalions in formation (you can only see two of them, and they are only partial representations of the battalions).
The Sergeant Major and the Commander of Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-87379659202427591582010-05-31T09:19:00.000-06:002010-05-31T09:19:01.871-06:00CSA Box #1.This year, I'm thrilled to be a part of a Community Supported Agriculture group. I bought a half share, which means I get a full box of vegetables every other week. I picked up my first box on Thursday, and Matthew laughed at me as I giggled with pleasure upon seeing the contents of the box.
In the first box I got: 2 heads of iceberg lettuce, 3 heads of romaine lettuce, giant green onions, a Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-13965028578895554092010-05-26T15:15:00.002-06:002010-05-26T15:15:53.474-06:00Updating on the Other Blog.Are you reading the other blog?
If not, it's probably because you haven't been invited.
All you have to do to be invited is tell me that you want to be.
I dare ya!
[The other blog is focusing on my "Army life" in particular, and will serve a journal-ish function of this year of deployment. Could be interesting, eh?]Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-89136568868158136482010-05-21T11:39:00.000-06:002010-05-21T11:39:53.275-06:00Now Accepting Reservations Chez Claire!Come one, come all!
Approximately a week from today, I will be here with just a little beasty cat, and decent spare bedroom just WAITING to house visitors.
I hope that some of you will come for a visit sometime this year! And, in case you're really thinking about it, and you'd like to go ahead and plan to come (which I highly encourage) here is MY schedule:
June: Wide open.
July: Open until Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-48996660003717773622010-05-20T15:16:00.001-06:002010-05-20T15:17:13.518-06:00New Blog.The time is nearing. The new blog is coming. I'll still be here, but I'll be exploring the wide world of military life and, for the next year, deployment on the other one.
If you'd like to read along about those things specifically, please e-mail me, or comment, and I'll add you to the blog. It will be protected from general readers.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-37202849948331729202010-05-20T15:04:00.001-06:002010-05-20T15:10:53.198-06:00What Happens in Vegas...Ends up on my blog!
So Matthew has been on leave, and I've been done with school (though as I write this, we're back to reality, at least on his end). On Friday, May 7th, I graduated. On Saturday, we headed to Vegas. Our trip started out well-- our flight was good, and we were given drink coupons when someone sitting near us found out Matthew would be leaving for Afghanistan in a few weeks. HalfClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-9641456672930027942010-05-16T18:02:00.004-06:002010-05-16T19:06:31.323-06:00Graduated, and Back on the Grid.I have returned!There is so much to update you on, but first...You can see my glowing white skin and large nose in the middlerow close to the bottom of the picture.You can't really tell, but I'm there getting hooded.Me!Me at an angle so you can see el hood!That handsome man I married- woo!And one with the beasty.So... I did it! The program is finished and it ended with so many surprises. I was Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-73231077035774659082010-03-11T09:22:00.002-07:002010-03-11T09:30:21.883-07:00Not Much.Hi all,I keep wanting to come here and write something brilliant. I really just don't have much to say. This is probably to do with the fact that I'm kind of just here in my own little world, strumming along until school starts back up, not doing much or having much interaction (which, honestly, I'm enjoying). Don't mistake me though, I'm very happy to be on break. I've been able to write a bit, Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-24822732198808819512010-03-05T20:49:00.002-07:002010-03-05T21:02:19.185-07:00For a Month.Well, it's me and Dutchy here for a month.Matthew is off in Fort Polk, Louisiana doing pre-deployment training this month. He left Sunday morning around 4:00am (well, I dropped him off), and he should be back "no later than" March 26th. So far, so good. The first few days were rough readjusting to living alone... Dutch and I have had many interesting conversations.I'm now officially on Spring Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-29173749278854239182010-02-09T16:09:00.006-07:002010-02-09T16:55:46.682-07:00Snow Day!Today we had a snow day! Matthew and I both got to stay home! The University was closed and the post actually closed down too.2 weeks ago we had a bigger storm, but it happened over the weekend, so we didn't get to have any days off like so many others (mainly the local school districts. I think since the beginning of 2010 they've had six snow days, and I'm really not kidding about that. And yes,Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-90132293104929386152010-02-08T20:40:00.002-07:002010-02-08T20:46:10.203-07:00Week 6.This is late, but voila!Last week went mostly as planned I think... it seems like so long ago!Monday: Tonight we had Croque Monsieur sandwiches and wow! So good! I added a little salad with homemade bistro vinaigrette, and a glass of red wine. YUM! CM's are basically glorified ham and cheese, but sooooo good (combining bread, gruyere cheese, bechamel sauce, and ham can only be a good thing).Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-46331710567188067822010-02-01T13:12:00.001-07:002010-02-01T13:15:34.662-07:00Blindess, Seeing, Knowing, Identity.<!--StartFragment--> I am scared of being blind. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> Today as I walk outside in the snow from my car to the gym, I squint and try to block out some of the brightness of the snow reflecting the sunlight. I left my sunglasses, which I always wear while driving, in the car so I wouldn’t forget them inside. When I enter the gym, it takes me about three Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-27587317784054415692010-02-01T08:44:00.003-07:002010-02-01T09:09:07.504-07:00Angry Men.I have been thinking about men and anger. Angry men. There is a difference there-- an angry man and a man who gets angry are different.And for the record, I'm not thinking about this because I have any particularly angry men close to me.This semester I have a full-time schedule at school, but I'm actually only taking one class that I show up for. My other six hours are thesis hours, and I get to Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-20907650653398776952010-01-31T19:18:00.003-07:002010-01-31T19:24:21.620-07:00Week 5.Meals!Last week went mostly as planned, though we didn't end up ordering pizza. Instead, I made ribs, chicken wings, AND potato skins. And yes, we're both planning to work out extra tomorrow. Yipes! Also on Friday I added a blackberry cobbler to our Stout stew and it was a nice cozy ending to our snowy day. Sunday I did pork with some leftover wild rice I had from the chicken and rice casserole, Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5861735.post-66315105108054297232010-01-31T10:16:00.006-07:002010-01-31T12:27:12.856-07:00Cook this Soon!I suggest you make this at some point in the near future. This no-kneed bread is simple, satisfying, and lasts for several days. The penne with roasted vegetables and italian sausage is easy to adapt to what you have in your fridge, and the leftovers are great! If you're not interested in the bread, just skip down to the pasta recipe!First, you'll want to take care of the bread since it takes Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05947951720116369689noreply@blogger.com2