CATCH UP - Days 11, 12, & 13

DAY 11 - Another photo of you and your friends. (See the last post about me and my friends - I used all of the good pictures I have of us in that post. It's tough getting "picture time" in considering I see them only once, MAYBE twice, a year.)

Day 12 - How I found out about blogger and why I made one. A friend of mine here in Italy, Melissa Long, told me about blogger. I had visited her blog and decided "What the heck? Why not?" and made my own. Come to find out quite a few ladies I know here have one. Also, I guess it's something to do when I'm bored (being at home all day, that can happen sometimes) OR to post my latest pictures for people to see.

Day 13 - A letter to someone who has hurt me recently. Hmm. They know all of the words in my heart that need to be said to them and it would be a waste to write it out - 1) It's personal & 2) They can barely navigate e-mail, much less find my blog.

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Songs I listen to depending on my mood... Huh. Well, I ALWAYS have my stereo going while at home or in the car, & the song playing doesn't always depend on my mood. If it were to depend on the mood...

HAPPY - Any "rowdy", not "sappy" country song, not too heavy of rock, hip-hop/rap - Happy songs..duh!

SAD - People that don't listen to country music have it in their head that ALL country songs are sappy and sad. Well, you're wrong. They're not. When I'm sad I'm usually listening to a SAD country song or any other genre that the tone is low and slow and the words are touching or sad.

BORED - EVERYTHING! Artists A-Z, Songs A-Z

HYPED - Usually a good hip-hop song you can dance too

MAD - Definitely heavy rock

Day 09- Something I Am Proud of In The Past Few Days

Something I am proud of in the past few days. Hmm...There's a few, so I'll share ALL ;o)

Pride #1 - Aidan feeds himself with utensils out of his own dish now! He's been doing it for a while, but I think I've forgotten to mention it.

Pride #2 - I made an AWESOME "thrown-together" Cajun Chicken-Three Cheese Tortellini last week! It ROCKED Aaron's taste buds so I added it to my arsenal! ;o)

Pride #3 - I found out today that my older sister Morgan is giving me yet ANOTHER nephew! I'm feeling an "all-boys" generation coming, considering my older sister Tara had a boy, I had a boy, now Morgan is having a boy... LOVE IT!

Pride #4 - I've caught myself "biting my tongue" in LOTS of situations lately - Online, in public, on the phone... For me, that's good!

Pride #5 - I started my "photography", AGAIN, and was very proud to come out with some almost professional looking photos last week!

Pride #6 - I FINALLY got ONE room of my house swept AND mopped this morning! YES! GO ME!

Okay, that's enough for now!

Ciao, Ciao!

Day 08- Short Term Goals/Plans I have For This Month

Cutting to the chase!

My "short term" goals for this month:

1-Get my Fall/Winter cleaning DONE!
2-Do a rain dance to make the rain go away.
3- Wash my mouth out with soap! I think I'll just teach myself to talk like a lady, soap will come in the picture if I don't do such a great job at it.
4- Get back on the camera.

Back To "30 Days of Me" - Day 07 - Something or Someone Who Has The Biggest Impact On Your Life

Someone who has the biggest impact on my life. Well, that's easy! He poops & pees himself, eats his food with his hands, plays in the garbage cans, throws things in the toilet, pushes ALL buttons (appliance buttons, that is), he has little - no hair, he cries when he doesn't get his way or gets in trouble, he sleeps with a night-light...Shall I continue?

The person who has the biggest impact on my life is DEFINITELY my son, Aidan Scott, who is close to 16 months old. NOT that I was a "wild-child" before Aidan, but the ways I did act, he changed them COMPLETELY, long before I knew he was a "he". Everything I do, say, or even think about, a picture of Aidan pops into my head. No matter what I do, it'll always be in favor of what's in the best interest for him.

Of course there are plenty of others who have an impact on me, but i felt Aidan has been the biggest yet. <3

(I'm not TOO much of a writer because I seem to "babble" so I'm cuttin' it off here.) ;o)

Day 06 - "Favorite Super Hero & Why"

My favorite super hero - I don't have a favorite "super hero", but I can tell you a little about my hero.

My hero is an 80+ year old man, married to a beautiful & strong hearted woman. They live in a small TX town, where I spent part of my growing up days at. This man has seen it ALL, and has been through it all. From the great depression, to serving his time at Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed by the Japs, to living in Kuwait for "umpteen" years, to seeing 8 grand children & 2 great-grandchildren enter this world, after having a FULL knee replacement in his 70's - well, you get my point. He's done it all!

My hero and his wife have been there for EVERY single one of their kids & grandkids, and held their hands when they needed him to. He is the first to be at your side when you call and need help with something, ANYTHING for that matter.

My hero can fix ANYTHING! From a toy car to an actual car & anything in between!

For kids, he's a best friend. He'll let you drive his lawn mower & tractor around his 10 acres, scratch your back when you want him to, buy you anything with just a sweet, innocent smile :0) & play board games with you until 1 AM!

I could talk about my hero for HOURS, DAYS, YEARS, because that's how great of a man, husband, father, Grandad, Great-Grandad, friend...that's how awesome my Hero is.

My hero is my Grandad, Raymond Donald Hull - "Buddy"

I love this man more than any other man walking this earth right now & would be very lost without him.
*(Please don't confuse this with not loving my husband and son, because I do, and of course they are heroes in my eyes, as well.)

 Grandad with a handful of his Granddaughters, including myself.

Grandad holding baby Aidan's hands.

Day 05 - "A Picture of Somewhere I Have Been To"

 Somewhere I have Been: Well, since I live in Italy, I seem to get to just hop on a train and head to major tourist attractions. (Top 2 photos - Verona, Italia - A statue of Giulietta (Juliet) - It's said that if you grope her, it brings good luck. The second photo is of her balcony.

The third photo is of me in Venice.

Venice, Italy (Venezia, Italia as they say here) has ALWAYS been at the top of my list of places to travel to since I was a little girl. And BAM! One day I was told I get to move there! :0) I LOVE IT! The food = AMAZING, the views are priceless, the water is stinky lol, the Gondola's are expensive, but it is well worth visiting! 

Verona is a very beautiful city to visit. The only thing we have found to do there is eat, shop at expensive stores, and visit Giulietta's Garden, which is the only reason why I go.

Day 04 - "A Habit I Wish I Didn't Have" - 1 Day Late

A habit I wish I didn't have....That's easy! LAZINESS! Haha! Nah, it's not really laziness, just don't feel like doing it. CLEANING HOUSE! I LOVE to clean, but it sometimes takes me all week to do so ;0) Terrible, I know, but what else do I have to do, especially in the Fall/Winter when it's rainy, cold, or snowy out? I usually say "Tomorrow, I'm going to get up, have this house SPOTLESS, & relax with Baby A all day" aaand somehow I end up on the computer, on CoD, OR just laying around with my baby boy, or finding some stupid reason to go to the base & put off housework for a day.

Of course we ALL have MANY bad habits, but I'm pretty sure that's my worst.

Day 03 of "30 Days of Me" - A Picture of You & Your Friends

Well, this post was a little tough. Number 1. I can't pick just ONE picture of me and my friends & Number 2. I live in Italy & don't have many recent pictures of/with my friends from back home. BUT, I pulled out some older one's. Enjoy!

Ciao, Ciao for now!

**ATTN friends from back home: If you read this & don't see your picture on here, it does NOT mean that I don't love you still & that I'm not your friend anymore ;0]**

The first two uploaded photos are of my sisters, minus 3, & myself (top) & of one of my older sisters & my closest younger sister (bottom).

I could NOT live without these ladies. No matter what the situation may be, each and every one of them ALWAYS ALWAYS have helpful advice or a crying shoulder or a hysterical laugh for me! I love, love, love them more than life itself!

My girls from back home <3

Each & everyone of these girls knows a secret about me. We have all been friends since JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, some of us earlier than that. I know, without a doubt, that no matter what, one of these girls needs somebody, the other, if not all of them, are there for her! We have TONS of fun together & I have NO clue how life would have been had I not known them. :0]

I LOVE & MISS YOU ALL!

 Annastasha Coel Stoddard

"Anna-Coel"

My VERY FIRST best friend after moving to Chico in the 6th grade - met her in the 8th.

Man, words can't describe our relationship! We're more along the lines of that friendship that turned into a sisterhood. Ups & downs, & turn-a-rounds, we're still friends no matter what. I love her so so much!

Easton Hunter! And myself

The FIRST male best friend I have EVER had. This guy is open ears to ANYONE who needs somebody. He has the BIGGEST & KINDEST heart of any man I have ever known. He is VERY hard-working, smart, & funny, dedicated family man who deserves someone just as special as him. Love him so much!

My sister, Mel & her man, Danny

I am not real sure this post has enough room for the storybook I could read to you all about these two. They do deserve some recognition for being 2 of the few people that were there for me during my pregnancy. I have had MUCH FUN with this crazy couple since they started dating 5 years(?) ago! Love them to pieces!

 Mel & I 

My baby sister who I look up too.

Not sure I want to write too much about her because I could bust into tears, so we'll leave it at the fact that she is an amazing woman, strong, kind-hearted, & has been there through so much. Sisters make the best of friends for a girl, no doubt!

My step-mom, Barbara

A mother of SEVEN!

And one of the BEST mom's I have ever known. 'Nuff said.

*****************************************

EDIT!: Adding Aaron! :0]

Even though EVERYONE already knows how much of my best friend he is because I talk of it daily & nightly, ;0]

Aaron & Brandy - Aaron FRESH out of Basic Training

Aaron & Brandy circa February 2007, months after seeing each other

Helping the Chief of Aaron's squadron tack his new rank on him!

Fat Kid Kisses ;0]

Aaron & I weeks after moving to Italy

Hmmm, well, I won't be going into detail on this post due to the fact that he's my husband, & all of you reader's out there know how much of a best friend a husband really is, & all of you reader's from back home already know what this guy means to me! I love him very very much & would be more than lost without him & our beautiful baby boy!

Day 02 - The Meaning Of My Blog Name

Hmmm...the meaning behind my blog name...? Uhm, there really is no meaning. It is just a title I came up with until I decide blogging will be something I do regularly & can think of something more clever! Feel free to leave your own ideas of one for me! :0]

My Jumbled Thoughts For Today! OCT 22

I got up way too early, 7:30 am, considering I went to bed at 3 am. BUT I did get some fun booth shopping in today, & even brought home an Australian swede coat, so the vendor says. It was ONLY 35.00 USD! :0] Pinched a penny. Retail therapy, I love you, dearly. We had lunch at the Golf Course - best American food at or around Aviano, IMO. Then we went to the Auto Exchange. Boo-whooo! I fell in love with an Audi Q7 TDI - 2011. :0[ IN MY DREAMS! And here I sit at home, bored, with a rather dirty house to clean, and I am REFUSING! Ha ha haa! I hope EVERYONE has a FANTABULOUS weekend! I think I may take the boys to play in the snow on the mountain top, maybe head over to a pumpkin festival, definitely will be drinking hot cocoa mixed with milk, MAYBE I'll clean, for sure will be getting in some CoD therapy (you gamer's know what that's about!) but I will DEFINITELY enjoy whatever I do because I'll have Aidan & Aaron by my side. <3

HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday to my 12 YR OLD NEPHEW, Cole-Bob! <|;0]

Ciao, Ciao!

Stay tuned for Day 02 of "30 Days of Me"!

Me on a "pretty day" ;0]

15 Interesting Facts About BRANDY

Well first of all, I'm just going to throw it out there that I'm not much of an "interesting" person!

1. I LOVE photography.

2. I workout on a daily basis, starting yesterday. We'll see how long "daily basis" lasts ;0]

3. I have NEVER been in a full blown, physical, fist fight, but Lord, forgive me, there's a HANDFUL of people I would like to make my firsts!

4. I recently learned to HATE Chinese Food

5.In high school I was the girl who was hated & loved all at the same time. I had a TERRIBLE attitude, was very athletic, had the same friends as my younger sister, wasn't popular - but wasn't a loner or geek or whatever else you want to label it as. I was ME.

6. At the age of 18 I was, what some people called "knocked up", I like to call it pregnant. At the age of 19, on August 4, 2009 at 10:06 am I gave birth to the worlds most beautiful 7 lbs 11.9 oz 21 in long baby boy that I have EVER laid my eyes on.

7. I absolutely LOVE to travel and I have been to the following countries/states: 

TEXAS - The ONLY state I would call home!

Louisiana

Oklahoma

Mississippi

Tennessee

Arkansas

Pennsylvania

New York

Maryland

North Carolina

Germany

Italy

Austria

Mexico

And those are just a few places of travel on a very long list I have!

8.  I had the EASIEST pregnancy EVER, & I have the BEST baby every (well-behaved/NEVER cried), but I bet I have the WORST story on getting him here. We won't go into too deep of detail, but it took 24 hours, 2 hours pushing, a threat of "we're going to use the forceps or suction cup", not just ONE but TWO epidurals, PAINFUL ripening tools, my husband being the nurse, & a nurse telling me I wasn't ready to push when I was, & there Aidan was.

9. I can honestly say that the "bestest" Best Friend you will EVER have is your sister & God. I know from experience <3

10. I am VERY shy, talk loud, I'm lanky, & hard on myself. I say "do what", "huh", and "I didn't hear you" OFTEN because I'm either spacey at the moment, or deaf.

11. I graduated high school! Which being from my family, not many of us could say that. It's not a bad thing, but I'm proud of us who did :0)

12. I will argue with a meteorologist that it's not going to rain when it is pouring. I argue about EVERYTHING. 

13. I was born in the Guadelupe River town of Kerrville, & have only ever been back there 3 times in my life.

14. I colored on myself the day after my 18th birthday. I don't regret that, either. And probably will have a few more tattoos before it's all said and done.

15. Something I have held in for a long time: I used to post EVERYDAY how much I love it in Italy - they were fake posts. I enjoyed the country, thought it was beautiful, and was somewhat happy to be here, but on the inside.

-I cried almost EVERY night when I first moved here. I was 19 years old, 36 weeks pregnant, married to someone I had only been dating every so often because he was stationed in Turkey, and now I was living with him. I HATED myself and everything around me, BUT Aaron. I cried daily and nightly wanting to go back home. I cursed the wind everytime I saw it blow I hated it here so bad. But that's not the case anymore. I really do love Italy now, and will be very sad to leave it in MAR of 2012. It's beautiful, I LOVE the food, & I love seeing how others lifestyles in a different country are.

These weren't really "interesting" facts, but it's ME, and that's what these next 30 days of posts are ALL about!

30 Days Of Me, Me, ME! ;0)

Hey everyone! I'm back to BLOGGING, "sorta".

I recently saw a few posts by friends of mine here in Italia, via Facebook & the "Networked Blogs" app, that had to do with themselves, and 30 days of it! So, I'm being sucked into that hype, just like I was recently sucked into the "Like & I'll admit" hype. SO, here it goes, the start of "30 Days of B R A N D Y! ;0)

Now, keep in mind that I'm fairly new to blogging still and my blog is a work in progress!

ENJOY IT! :0)

Here are the 30 day posts:

30 days of me


Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future or about your spouse.

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

Day 24- A letter to your parents

Day 25- What I would find in your bag

Day 26- What you think about your friends

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

Day 30- Your favorite song.