Friday's Favorites

This week's favorite thing is a sign I ordered from Etsy. It was the first time I had ever ordered anything from the website. At first, I toyed with the idea of creating this myself, but I have no creative abilities and handwriting that should never EVER be allowed to be on display. I knew the general look I wanted. I was lucky to find someone artistic and creative willing to make this for a minimal fee.

So, I ordered a wood sign with our family motto and establishment date. It's the new thing, you know, to have a sign with your family name on it. But of course, I had to be a little different and use our family name/family motto. It turned out perfectly!!

This is now my favorite wall in our home:

I surrounded the family motto sign with a wooden cross (a wedding gift), two wedding photos, and an anchor (we are Coasties, you know!). Hopefully, this collage will continue to expand as we add photos from our life together and the places we live. This will always be a work in progress, but with Team Preston at the center.

Happy Friday!

Friday's Favorites

So, again this week, my favorite product for the day is something that spoke to my frugal heart.  I was having a wonderful conversation with a friend about our newfound love of green/organic products, but our hatred of the expense. She mentioned that she had just bought a wonderful new deodorant, but could no longer use it. She had recently begun experiencing the pregnancy side effect of a sensitive sense of smell. She said that even thought this deodorant had a very slight fragrance, but she couldn't stand it. So, lucky me! I got to try it!

Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant. 

This is paraben free AND aluminum free! It works so well, too. I thought surely it wouldn't work through my long days of 6 a.m. yoga, work, errands, cooking dinner, and an evening of whatever strikes my fancy. But, I was pleasantly surprised. It feels great and has a very, very light scent that is pleasant.

Try it while doing some yoga stretches and see what you think!

Happy Friday! Thanks to a fellow Coastie wife, Jenny, for the great product, conversation, and friendship.

Friday's Favorites

Another week, another dollar. Oh wait, I like being frugal. I also like being "green." Since being "green" can be so expensive, what is a girl to do? Accept free stuff and bargain hunt!

So, this week, my favorite product is this:

Nature's Gate Lotion. I found this originally at a health food store in Tennessee. It was $10. However, it lasted from April to November - pretty dang good for an 18 ounce bottle! The lotion is thick, so you don't need to use a lot. I love this stuff! I like to cut corners, but I'm so glad I didn't cut corners when it came to choosing this product. I use it daily and my skin feel delicious all day - even in this Florida humidity and wind.

I love it even more now that I found it for $5 at our Commissary. (I may have freaked some other customers out with my enthusiasm on the Health & Beauty aisle.) Sorry, civilians, I doubt you'll find it that cheap where you live. However, it is a great investment because it has none of the icky stuff or harsh chemicals or ingredients you can't pronounce. Everything is plant derived and free of extra additives. Plus, the fragrance is almost undetectable, so that you don't walk around the rest of the day smelling like you walked through a chemical spray.

Happy Friday!

Friday's Favorites: Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day! I've been emotional and weepy all day. This is the first Veteran's Day I haven't been able to call my grandfather and thank him for his sacrifice during WWII. I also can't be with my Coastie. He is away sacrificing his sleep, rest, land hobbies, and time away from family so you and I can continue to sleep easy at night.

So, here's to my two all-time favorite men!

My Dandy:

The sweetest, sometimes crabbiest old fart, I've been privileged to know. He and my grandmother helped my mother raise her two daughters. He taught me how to drive a car, learn plants and trees, how to swim, the best places to hike, how to check the oil and change a tire on my car, how to invest in the stock market, and how to love family, God, and country.

That's me - the one with the perfect form in aerial and aquatic acrobatics.

Dandy was part of the "Black Magic" crew of a B-29 bomber out of Saipan in the south Pacific. He was a navigator, or radar tech.

He didn't talk much about his time in the Army Air Corps. But I know he was honored and humbled. He thought every boy should serve his country - it would make him a man, teach him respect, and give him a better perspective on the government, work, and loyalty.

Thanks to this man, our family is patriotic, loyal, and fiercely devoted to our independence and individuality, all while remaining dedicated and loving towards our family.

And, here's my Coastie:

I could gush about him for pages, but I won't bore you with that. Just know that I am honored to know him and feel blessed beyond measure that he chose me to be his wife. His positive attitude, his relaxed approach to life, and his willingness and passion for serving his country are truly amazing. He has taught me more about sacrifice, compromise, and living for something greater than ourselves. He is truly unselfish in love and in work.

So, thank you to my two brave, wonderful men. Thank you to all the other men and women who have sacrificed their safety, comforts of home and family, and their own agenda to be a part of a greater purpose. Thank you for allowing me to have my rights and freedoms. I do not take them for granted.

This Friday, my favorite thing is the veterans I have been blessed to love and know.