High Five For Friday 12/20

Hello! Happy last day of work before the holidays to most of you! I've been feeling guilty about being excited for the "break" since I don't have school or a full time job. I guess my main excitement comes from the fact that I get to spend uninterrupted time with the cute man in my life. I know that he is so ready and so deserving of a break.

{ONE}

I feel like I am finally getting the hang of this stay at home wife thing. This week I was so busy and felt like I didn't even have a minute to sit down. And that was after I turned down a couple of social events because I was sick. I feel like I know how to keep myself busy and fill my days with meaningful things. I keep wondering how I will fit everything in if I ever start working full time. 

{TWO}

I was thinking today and wondered why I was so busy this week and then I realized I spent most of my time making holiday treats. I love holiday baking and Jake asked me if I could make treats for all of his coworkers and Marines. My grandma sent me a cake-pop kit, which I have had horrible luck with in the past. I decided to give it a try again, despite everything in me telling me not to. Even though they were a pain and so time consuming, they turned out well and I kind of enjoyed myself. I felt very proud looking at my 85, yes 85, cake pops. My mouth literally dropped when Jake late came home and told me he needed treats for 40 people. I picked my jaw back up, ran out to the store, and made more treats. We also had a cookie drop for the single marines, so I was pretty much baking any free moment this week. It made me miss my momma, who always makes the best holiday treats and is always so giving around the holidays. It was exhausting, but it made me happy knowing Jake was so proud to hand out my masterpieces and that I might have made some homesick Marines smile. 

{THREE}

Speaking of holiday treats, I was at the exchange preparing for our trip. I was buying every travel size toiletry in sight and decided I wanted to pick up a few things for our stockings. They have aisles and aisles of Christmas goodies set up right now, which is nice because we can feel like we aren't missing our favorite holiday stuff from the states. But seriously, what is up with the holiday candy situation? That stuff is super expensive! And ridiculous. There were boxes of chocolate the size of my entire upper body. Who needs that much chocolate??

I did run across some excellent Ghirardelli chocolates. I have been doing everything in my power to stay away from sweets, but between baking and other sweets we have gotten, I am like the freakin' cookie monster. I can't stop eating sweets! I have never been like this, potato chips have always been my weakness. I can really tell the different in the way I feel and look when I eat sweets. It makes me realize why I care so much about eating clean. This new year is so needed so I can "give up" sweets all together and get them out of my house and out of mind!

This bag had eggnog, peppermint bark, and pumpkin spice. I had some self control and put this back on the shelf and only got a small thing of peppermint bark for Jake's stocking. 

{FOUR}

Monday I went to lunch at Dean's Kitchen, a cute cafe, with a friend. I was so happy to find out that this island has so many cute cafes and places other than sushi and ramen. I have always loved cafes that have character and good food, and this island sure delivers. I have a list of all the places I want to try while we are here and I sometimes get overwhelmed. Slowly, I am crossing everything off of my list. 

{FIVE} 

We leave for Thailand on Sunday. I almost wanted this week to go slowly, not because I'm not excited, but I feel very unprepared. I don't know if it is because I planned the trip spur of the moment or if it is the first big trip I have planned myself. I am just nervous I am forgetting something or haven't made the proper arrangements. I also get overwhelmed by wanting to plan every minute and at this point I haven't made a specific day to day plan. I decided I wanted to go with the flow and decide things as we go. This may be stupid, but it may be to our benefit. We will see! 

This weekend we are doing our little "Christmas" celebration and packing, which we always seem to put off until the very end. In less than 48 hours we will be off on a crazy adventure!

Linking up with Lauren, Darci, and Jennie