Hallway

I shifted some pictures around the apartment... most of them made their way into the hallway. I was tired of displaying my sacred White House photo with President George W. Bush and Dick Cheney in my bedroom. I wanted it to be out in the open along with my pictures with Mr. Fielding and Mr. Farren... along with my diploma and whatnot. So that got me thinking, why not make a wall with our accomplishments? Since Andrew just finished boot camp and we have some excellent photos of him with his uniform and also with his platoon from boot camp, it would be great to re-arrange them so they would all be together. Take a look!

Bedroom Transformation (2010-2011)

So since things have constantly been added to our apartment, I thought it would be interesting to check my pictures and see just how far our apartment has come. We moved in the last week of August 2010 (hard to believe we've been here a year and 3 months already, time has flown by!). Since then, our apartment has really become warm and cozy. I just love it. It is exciting to find great deals and come up with new ideas for sprucing it up! So far we have yet to spend over $400.00 on any piece of furniture (except for our dining room table & chairs). I am proud of the unique pieces I have been able to find, and would like to share it with yall. Here goes nothing!

That brings us to what it is today... 

Not to mention the ADORABLE and UNIQUE Jewelry Armoire I got at a small vintage store in Vienna. $85.00. Can't beat that! I was having a hard time finding anything online for a reasonable price that was semi-attractive and sturdy... and I stumbled across this on Craigslist and figured I'd check it out.. which led me to Maggie's Timeless Treasures. Lovely and affordable. I enjoy hunting for these unique pieces. It just takes some effort.

The info is here: 

Maggie's Timeless Treasures 
320E Maple Ave. East 
Vienna, Va. 22180 

Our 1st Marine Corps Ball

So our friends from church Adam and Poppy were kind enough to get us discounted tickets to the Marine Corps Ball for Henderson Hall- Ft. Myer. It was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Crystal City. It was fairly small, we were told, but we only paid $20.00 a piece, so no complaints! We had a really fun time! I am definitely  looking forward to going next year when Andrew actually has a unit and I am more prepared. I had about 1 week to get a modest dress and everything else that comes along with a formal event. Unfortunately, I did nothing extremely formal for my dress, but I will get better use out of the dress I purchased since I have a friend who is getting married in the temple this winter that I can wear the dress to. Here are some pictures:

Gotta get my toes done

Simple hair

Hott shoes

All dressed up

The handsome PFC

Decided to try my bangs down

US

Kiss for the camera?

At Adam and Poppy's before the Ball

Name card

Handsome Marine

PIES

So since Andrew has practically been gone for the past 6 months I have to keep myself busy so I've picked up baking. It was something I actually have really started to enjoy doing and plus it takes up a lot of time... which is always good (perhaps not for my school work). So far I have made 2 pumpkin pies, 1 blueberry pie, 1 cherry pie, and 2 apple pies. I am progressively getting better... and I learned how to make the crust myself so that is awesome too. I also have made a lattice top and cut slits in my apple pie (designs). Oh yeah, and I made a homemade rice krispy treat for dinner with the Wallaces a week ago.  Here are some pictures for proof!

Uncooked blueberry pie... sloppy, but 1st time making a lattice top

Cooked blueberry pie... used canned blueberries and it was way too much juice

2nd lattice top, cherry uncooked

Cherry cooked... canned cherries

Pumpkin pie

Rice Krispy Treat, homemade

Bottom of the pie crust for apple pie

This time I actually cut up fresh apples, peeled them, sliced them, tossed them with lemon juice, and threw in a little nutmeg, sugar, flour, and cinnamon. 

1st uncooked apple pie... 3rd lattice top. I'm getting fairly good at it.

Cooked apple pie. YUM!

2nd apple pie...same ordeal with the process for making it- fresh apples, etc. This time I tried a design for the venting. Turned out pretty nice... and tasted delicious too!