Tax Time!

I finally got our taxes done and we got back more than I thought we would. Which is always exciting! We were debating for a couple days what we were going to do with it. At first we were going to get a washer and dryer so we don't have to rent ours through our complex anymore, but then we thought about a new sofa & love seat or a sectional and a dinning room table. We were looking around at couches and everything we were finding was just not what we were looking for. We're going to have to wait until our budget is a bit bigger for a purchase like that, though we did end up finding a rug that was originally $200 and on sale for $60

We decided to look at TV's and see if there was an amazing deal or anything since we already had a really nice 52" DLP TV. The only problem was it made the living room look tiny. We stopped by Best Buy and found a 47" for $799 and they were going to give us another $50 off of that so we walked out with a new TV. We then went to Wal*Mart and Ikea to look for a TV stand. We finally ended up getting a more contemporary piece from Ikea. We still have to get the back piece that will go behind the TV, but it looks fine without it.

Here is the new setup
Our walls don't look so golden in real life.


In this picture you can see the rug (kinda)

Decisions Decisions

I posted early how we are thinking of using our tax return for a new washer and dryer, but we always think about what else we can use it for. Obviously we can pay off a bill or two with it, but I'm tired of $40 a month to rent our washer and dryer from our apartment complex. We have couches that we got off craigslist and covered them with slip covers. They do their job but obviously not something we plan on keeping forever. Since we are in a one bedroom tiny apartment I thought about getting this sectional sofa bed from IKEA.


Though, I've also been eying something like this


or


which is close to half the price. I'm assuming because it's not a sofa bed. I wish I could get the 2nd two styles in a sofa bed. If we got one of the 2nd styles we could also get a dinning room table. Haha, but then what to do with Bentley's kennel?

I totally forgot

To update on our Anniversary!
Our one year wedding anniversary was about a week and a half ago. It was a pretty relaxed day. We woke up late, Eric cooked biscuits and gravy (yum!) and slowly got ready for the day. We decided we were going to go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (I know not very fancy, but we've been craving it since we left TX and it's about a 45 minute to an hour drive to get there). Eric also took me shooting on the way to dinner for the first time. It was a blast! I finally shot his gun and really learned how to use it. I definitely feel better about it being in the house now. I do want to try a 9mm to see if it's a little easier for me to handle. We'll get up there again eventually. We forgot to have our waitress take a picture of us at dinner.. oops. So I took a few when we got home and were relaxing on the couch.





We couldn't get any pictures of me actually shooting because the place didn't allow cameras, but I kept this for a souviner. These were my last two rounds. It almost seemed like I got worse at I kept shooting haha! I think I would do better with a 9mm. If you look closely you can see there are a couple right in the crotch area (I knew I was aiming for the right place!) ;)

EEEEK! YAY!

I finally got a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer last night! YAY! I have been wanting this for so long now, but couldn't wrap my head around spending $200+ on a mixer.

We were at Lowes looking around at the washers and dryers when I saw that the Stand Mixers were on sale. I was originally looking at the Classic (unless I could persuade Eric into getting me the pink Artisan) because it was at least $100 cheaper and does the same thing. Lowes had a black Artisan originally priced at $285 (which is normally priced at $300 everywhere else) and then discounted to $199. We were still kind of on the fence and looking through what else they had when we noticed that the black one was actually $159!! SCORE! But wait a minute they didn't have anymore! :( We were allowed to take the floor model which doesn't come with a manual or two of the normal included attachments (bread hook and flat beater) BUT I already know how to use it so no need for the manual (especially when you have internet) and the 2 attachments are $30 together at most. We took the thing up to check out and got an extra 10% off because Eric is military (another score!) and then found out we also got a $30 mail in rebate and a free cookbook!

All in all I got a $300 Stand mixer for $120. I couldn't be happier! Now if only I can find a sale like that on a Keurig! :)

I can't wait to use it!!


We also found the washer and dryer we want, but can't decide if it's worth spending our whole tax return on. I really don't know if we should get something cheaper that we will probably replace in a few years or spend the extra money on something we both love that will more than likely last awhile. Hmm.. decisions decisions. I want these..

Job? Meh.. who needs a job?!

Well.. I DO! I've been on the hunt for a job before we even left Sheppard and it has proven much harder than I thought. Of course I've applied for jobs that I had little hope in getting because I'm sure there is a better candidate out there, but things like Target, Starbucks, BofA and various department stores don't exactly require much education or training and yet.. NO LUCK! I had an interview with Starbucks yesterday and I should see within a week if I'm hired. I'm just going to give up and be a housewife forever! ;)

The Air Force messed up on our DLA (Dislocation allowance) again, for the 2nd time. So now we have to wait another 7-10 business days before we'll see that money. We've been here a month and a half and should have had this money in our account before we left Sheppard. But what can you do when you have to wait for the military?

Eric got a new tattoo on his right shoulder blade and he said it was quite painful! Haha! It's healing nicely and is starting to look normal (color wise).

As always here are a few pictures..
Eric's new tattoo


Obviously I've been replaced! ;)


He stubbed his toe! Haha!


Part of our cool anniversary gift from my mom!

Bentley on the trip to FL

He had to be right in the middle of us!



Ya he was a little drugged up! :)

Finally

I've finally decided to update this thing. Well, we are finally in FL! Woohoo! We found an apartment right off base. It takes Eric 10 minutes 'door to door' to get to work. It's not exactly what we were looking for and it's a little small (Bentley lives in the dining room), but we can't beat how close it is to the base. Here are a few pictures of our apartment..

This should be our dining room, but as you can see Eric's tool box, a bookshelf, my sewing table and Bentley's kennel took over. Good thing we have a coffee table.



Don't mind that one couch is lighter and has mismatched blankets all over it.. it's Bentley's couch. Yes he has a whole couch to himself.

Eric has been off more than he's been working since we got here and it's been wonderful! He just had Christmas Eve through yesterday off. We had a great Christmas at his Aunt Jaci's house and a wonderful uneventful New Years Eve. We also went to Busch Gardens on New Years Day and had a complete blast! It was an overcast day and rained for about an hour in the morning so it wasn't busy at all! We got to ride every ride at least 3-4 times without a wait. All in all it's been a good process of checking out the new area and settling into the new place. Here are a few more pictures..