liberty is RESTRICTED!

my parents encouraged me to apply for an ROTC scholarship when i was applying to colleges (primarily because University of San Diego was $40k++ a year), and when i got the scholarship, they said, why not take it?  you can always drop it after a year, with no obligation. 

nearly six years later, here i am. fully obligated. which means when we've been underway for 48 days straight (with 300 of our closest friends...and by friends i mean coworkers...and by coworkers i mean those people that you would really prefer to see a lot less than you actually do), we've finally pulled into a port, and, shockingly, people got drunk and hooked up.  unfortunately, these same people did this hooking up on the ship.  so, there goes our liberty.  

good things about not being able to get off the ship even though we're in port:
1) can't spend money on alcohol.
2) can't spend money on pretty much anything. excluding my online shopping habit, but that's a problem underway, too.
3) don't have to spend money on a hotel room.
4) i don't have to 'waste' a cute outfit...

...okay, that cute outfit one? now i'm really reaching.  i am sooo annoyed that we are stuck on the ship (and i'm running out of food!  i'm down to my last easy mac!)!  ugh! why would people hook up ON A SHIP when we're in a port, you ask?  because not everyone is allowed to stay out overnight.  oh, those poor, sex-starved people.  crappy that we're all getting punished for it.  

anyyyyways, more exciting news: Stella + Dot spotted on Real Housewives of Orange County last night!  looove it!  please remember, if you're ordering Stella + Dot jewelry, to order it through my Independent Stylist site, www.stellanddot.com/alannastrei , as opposed to going to the corporate site, so I can track it for my Save the Children Haiti Relief Fund donations!

in final amazing news, check out the lineup for stagecoach this year:

i hope that we make it back in time!! keep your fingers crossed for me!
oh btw, it looks like we won't get extended after all - so if you live in san diego, open up your calendar to come to a stella + dot trunk show, or to host one of your own - it's free, and you can earn free jewelry!

finally, thank you so much for these two awards i just received:
And thank you to the super sweet (and funny!) JM at The Tale of a Southern Belle who gave me the:

"The Sunshine Award is given to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blog world. I am now going to pass along the sunshine and present this award to some of my favorite bloggers who make my day "A Sunshine Day!"
1.  Meet the Stonekings 

2.  Confessions of a + Size Girl

3. Everything is Better Pink 

4. Hot Pink Leopard and Pearls 

5. Previously Plump

"This award means you're really going places, Baby. You'll still be blogging about your great adventures 10 years from now, and I'll still be reading them."

The Rules: * Link back to the blogger who sent you this award

* Post where you would like to be in 10 years

* Pass it on to 5 other special bloggers!

Thank you to Becky @ Meet The Stonekings - she is the cutest and totally someone i would be friends with in real life!

hmm...10 years from now...

wow, this time two years ago, i would have had an entirely different answer-i was living with an emotionally abusive, controlling boyfriend, about to graduate from college and join the navy.  i am in such a different place now, and so grateful for that (even though it was quite a messy breakup - police called twice, my parents flying out to move me out - every tacky, COPS/white trash style scenario possible.  still so embarrassed that i made such an amazingly poor judgment of character).  

but now! now, i am so, so blessed!  i have two incredible best friends, i have no debt and healthy savings, i am fully qualified in my job (yay!) with a promotion and big raise in may, and i am happily, joyfully single.  in 10 years, i'll be 33, and hopefully my life will be amazing.  i'll have linked up to a junior officer recruiter (unless i picked up lateral transfer to public affairs officer!) and will be working in the big, bad corporate world (with REAL CLOTHES, no more uniforms!! yay!!), i'll hopefully be in a serious relationship, i'll be fit and un-sundamaged, and i will look back fondly on my twenties...which means i need to get back to san diego and start living them!

Your turn!  this award goes to:

  1. Destined for Royalty 

2.  Nautical By Nature 

3. Preppy 50 and Loving Lilly

4. Pink Champagne

5.   Sarah Elizabeth

now tell me, does anyone want any souvenirs from thailand?  it's allegedly on our port visit list (a little place called phuket!), and i would love to send you a postcard! just comment with your email, and i'll get your address!