Not-so-fancy pants {Semper Stylish}

I have been living in my cut-offs this summer.  My not-so-fancy pants pair perfectly with every.single.top in my closet. My favorite combination has been a fancy top with my not-so-fancy pants.  I love the chic contrast of it!  And it's the perfect outfit combination for looking put-together but not overly stuffy while running around town.

Lace top, cut-offs, lots of bracelets!  And Big Puppy.  She's a necessary accessory.

Sequin tank, cut-offs, aviators (I have to give a little nod to the military since I'm not wearing a "Get Some" t-shirt or anything green.)!

Aviators and roots...what's more chic (cheap?) than that? ;)

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Aviators...

What's one to do when aviator sunglasses arrive in the mail?  Try them on everyone in the house, of course!

An innocent goodbye...

The day that Hubby left for his first combat deployment was a bittersweet day.  The little boys and I went with Hubby to the flightline to see him off.  Boy #1 was ecstatic to be at "dada's work."  His excitement just couldn't be contained.  The innocence of it was heartbreaking.  He just didn't know what this all meant--what was about to happen. 

We walked out to Hubby's aircraft as a family, desperately wanting to hold on to every last second.  After a long hug and whispers of forever love and one more kiss, I took Boy #1's hand, put Boy #2 back on my hip, and walked away from Hubby and his aircraft.  As we walked away from him and into our deployment life--our life without him at home--the tears I had been holding in all morning couldn't be held back anymore.   They streamed uncontrollably down my face, even as Boy #1 began happily skipping around me in circles and Boy #2 gleefully cooed on my hip.  

Our temporary family of three made our way to the place where we were told we could watch Hubby take off.  Boy #1 saw my tear-streaked face, and with his sweet toddler sensitivity, he gently grabbed my hand and stared at me for a few seconds with a furrowed brow and concern in his eyes.  I smiled at him, told him I was ok, and wiped the tears from my face.  He let go of my hand and continued his skips and squeals of excitement. 

My son's sweet innocence put a smile on my face that day.  He knew nothing of deployments, combat, fighting, or danger; only that he loved his daddy.  

During the most unsettling of days--with news of close calls, accidents, deaths, and terror--I wish I had that childlike innocence.  I wish I could happily skip around in circles and be blissfully naive, just like Boy #1 was on the day Hubby deployed.  

Of course, I can't go back to a state of naivety.  All I can do is look forward to the day when I can go back to that same spot on the flightline to watch Hubby land and walk right back into our happy family circle.  

Little old ladies of the commissary...

The little old ladies at the commissary are always drawn to me and my little boys.  We get lots of smiles, "aren't they cute"s, and an occasional story.  Today, I received a fair warning from a little old lady in the commissary.

While selecting my avocados, this little old lady made her way over to Boy #1 in our race car shopping cart and started chatting with him.  It was obvious that she found a lot of joy in my sweet son.

She continued smiling as she pulled me in close to her and said with a dreamy look in her eyes, "Oh, sweetie.  Just wait until they're teenagers."  I thought she was going to tell me something sweet like how much boys love their moms.  No.  She finished her statement with, "There will be lots of tooting."

I laughed out loud right then, then continued laughing to myself as I finished my grocery shopping.  That little old lady's comment on the joys of raising boys made the dreadful task of shopping at the commissary with two young boys an experience to laugh at.

Thank you, little old ladies of the commissary!

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Ode to OD green...

I love OD green.  I think it's a great (and subtle) way to show my Marine Corps pride.  But only when wearing a "Get Some" t-shirt is not appropriate.  ;)  

OD green walking shorts, coral shirt, gold bracelet, snakeskin wedges.   

OD green walking shorts, floral blouse, vintage necklace, bronze ruffle sandals

Don't you just love my model poses? ;)

Lace t-shirt, OD green pleated linen skirt, vintage necklace, bronze t-strap platforms.

OD green cargo capris, gold sparkle racerback tank, tan leather jacket, leopard platforms.

OD green pleated linen skirt, cream pin tuck tank, brown gladiator sandals, gold and leather bracelets.  

Do you show military pride in your style?  If so, please share in the comments!

I wondered...

It was obnoxiously sunny and beautiful on the day I dropped Hubby off at the boat to begin our longest separation ever. We made our goodbye as quick and painless as possible, just like we had discussed. Hubby grabbed his sea bags and made his way towards the large floating barge of steel that would be his home for the next little bit. I buckled Baby back into his car seat and started the car, but I couldn't bear to leave just yet. I sat in the car and watched as Hubby walked away from our little family.

I don't cry in front of Hubby when he leaves. I want him to see me as strong and capable while he's away. I know that he knows that I do cry eventually. But those tears make the goodbye so much harder. I lost sight of Hubby and reluctantly put the car into drive.  It was only then that the tears started to fall. Big, hot tears that can't be held back, no matter the will of the person behind them.

I drove through base slowly, minding the 25 miles per hour speed limit and countless stop signs that hosted crosswalks full of young sailors. My tears and tissue to my eyes were not invisible to these young guys, and my semi-public grief brought on a few stares through the windshield.

I wondered if they were used to seeing sad military wives, if they were used to the tears that probably frequently surrounded them at the shipyard. Did they know that their wives and children looked similar to my sad state when they left home on one of those ships? Or did they think the strength they saw in their wives' eyes as they said goodbye was permanent? I wondered if I was ruining the facade that all military wives uphold--ruining the secret that we're not strong all the time.

A deep breath and one last tear later and my outburst was over before I left base. The facade came back up while the sadness and loneliness persisted. But I could drive by those young sailors now looking as if my world hadn't just sailed away from me. Maybe now they could see a face of strength and courage. Maybe that would encourage them as they thought of their own families.

I wondered.