Scarf Swap 2012

Who does't want a new scarf? Who doesn't want a chance to connect with someone new? I know I'm game for both! This means the Scarf Swap is a great way to kick off my fall! I heard about the swap from a fellow Pi Phi's blog who loved it last year and who is participating again.

The creator of the Scarf Swap explains why a scarf,

"Once paired up, you will send that lovely lady a fun {new} scarf for Fall.

With all of my swaps I've set a budget-- this time I'm going to suggest 

that your scarf be no more than $20. It can be more, it can be less... 

that is at your discretion and up to your deal-finding self!

Scarves are universal, one size fits all... so it's the perfect item to SWAP!

If your partner leaves their blog address, use that as a tool to get to know their style, 

favorite colors, or the climate of where they live... if they don't have a blog-- 

strike up a chat via email, Twitter, or Facebook to get insight into what they might like!

Or you may consider sending them an email to find out about their favorite colors, 

pattern preferences or even the football team they're rooting for this Fall for team color inspiration!

Maybe you'll make a new friend in the process! 

Chelsea participated last year and is excited to join up again this year. I've decided to hop in on the fun too! If you're interested head over to the Tichenor Family blog to sign and get more details!

Goals, Goals, Goals!

My bestie, Allie, over at A Teaspoon of Life put up her September goals on her blog. To see what she's striving for, go here. To those of you who have only recently been reading my blog, let me explain my wonderful friendship with Allie. We are sisters (sorority sisters) who realized how much we had in common only after I moved away. This means we now text, email, fb, blog, and TIU each other all the time. We talk more now than we ever did in college. This is weird and wonderful. haha.

One of our mutual interests in exercising so we can be healthy and eat delicious food. So, Allie and I became long distance workout buddies. We set goals every week and if we meet all of our goals each week for a whole month, we send each other a present in the mail. Allie is way better at goal setting than me and sets monthly goals as well as weekly goals. In order to try to live up to the awesomeness that is Allie, I'm going to throw out my goals for September, which seem to be going well so far.

Allie uses this sweet acronym for her goals. It is:

S- Specific
T- Time stamped
A- Attainable
R - Reward

So, here are my Setpember goals using Allie's sweet format.

#1 - Meet my weekly workout goals

S - Each week I set a goal of how many times I'd like to work out. So, I'd like to complete each week's goals
T - This means I'll have to work out at least 4 times a week each week.
A - This is doable because I have lots of spare time right now.
R - Not feeling as bad about not working out when we drive all the way to Nor Cal next month (4 days in the car each way)

#2 - Do every Tone It Up Challenge

S-The TIU challenges are really specific, so check in multiple times a day with TIU and do what it says
T - Set aside time each day to do said challenges
A - I'm hoping this is attainable, but it's my first month with TIU, so we'll see.
R - Staying in shape is reward enough!

#3 - Eat healthy

S - Eating health is eating lean, clean, and green. It means no fast food, no fatty comfort foods, and not over indulging on adult beverages.
T - This lasts all month
A - Will power, will power, will power
R - Enjoying myself in Sonoma next month and over indulging in vino while I'm there!

So, these are my goals and I'm hoping they go awesome!!!

P.S. Recipes will be coming soon, I've just been slacking on taking pics :D
P.S.S. If you want your booty kicked, check out the awesome shredmill work out at TIU. Go here for that.

How to deal with anxiety relating to Pilot Training - The Spouse's Guide

Any current or past UPT spouse will tell you that though this year is exciting and wonderful it can also be ridiculously stressful. Since my hubby started, we have had our shares of ups and downs. Lately, I've actually been feeling pretty confident about UPT. That apparently should have been a red flag that something had to change...

My hubby has informed me a month out from our Track Select date that he has completely changed his mind on what kind of plane he would like to fly. The current track choices are between T-44's, the C-130 trainer and UH-1's (I think), the helo trainer. This is a far cry from his original thoughts. Since these thoughts my were revealed to me, I had a little bit of a freak out/melt down moment, but have since moved on. This is not the only stressful moment UPT has thrown at us and I'm sure it won't be the last, so I thought I would offer up my thoughts on how I deal with the anxiety that comes with UPT.

#1 I rationally discuss the stress with my husband at a good time!
It's never good to let yourself stew just because you don't want to stress your husband during UPT. You're a couple and couples have to communicate, so as my mom always tells me when I call her freaking out, talk to your husband about it first!

#2 Have someone who doesn't live here that you can call and talk to.
For me, this is my Mom. She always understands, always listens, and when she offers advice, it is great advice. Plus, it's nice to know that what I tell her will never get back to anyone on base (First because she's totally trustworthy and second because she lives 14 hours away and doesn't know anyone else on our base).

#3 Have someone TRUSTWORTHY on base you can talk to.
I have a couple go to ladies on base who I can always confide in. They are wonderful and are going through the same stuff as me.

#4 I am continually reminded of this and have been trying to think of it first more often - PRAY about it!
I'm a Christian and I really believe in the power of prayer and God's ability to guide us. So, right now as I go through a stressful situation, I keep trying to remember Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Paul wrote this verse to remind us that even in our really tough moments that God can do more than we ask or imagine. We just need to believe and ask and know that sometimes what we think we need and what we actually need are two different things. Plus, God works in his time, not ours. In my Bible Study,  one of the speakers we watched, Priscilla Shirer talked about this verse and about how God can go beyond our beyond. I just keep trying to remember that.

My last advice is a little superficial, but still beneficial:

#5 Drink a glass or two of this after a long day

Don't be afraid to ask a friend over to have a glass with you!

#6 Bake the awesome cookie/crisp recipe I'm going to put up in my next blog!

Just remember to enjoy all the great things this year has to offer!