My Must-Have for Washington State

It is completely ironic to post about my North Face rain jacket today because there isn't a single cloud in the sky.  However, it has rained at some point during 11 out of the past 14 days here in the Pacific Northwest, so I feel this post is deserved, nonetheless.

This jacket is really perfection as far as rain jackets/wind breakers go. It is super lightweight (which makes it wearable during the drizzly days) and fits well, and most importantly, it is very waterproof.  The hood is adjustable so that it won't blow off during squalls (we've had some of those, too), and the color selection is fabulous.  

Mine is a really dark teal/forest green with mint green lining, but this jacket comes in a million colors. 

Side note: I did not pay retail for this jacket thanks to Navy Exchange, but I think its probably worth the $90 price tag if you get as much use out of it as I have!

Rainier Inn

I've already mentioned various reasons why I like it here at Fort Lewis, but here are some specifics about our fabulous living conditions at Rainier Inn.

 My husband has a desk! This is where he spends most of his time if he isn't at the hospital or sleeping, so it's a luxury to have an actual desk (rather than a really grody armchair or nothing at all).

Do you see that blinding light?! Its natural because we have two windows (even if they don't open... what a fake out)! I won't speak about the situations in which we did not/barely had windows...

The kitchen!! Doesn't it look fancy?! There may or may not be a non-stick All Clad pan hiding in one of those cupboards... 

These two things are just icing on the cake of living on Fort Lewis.  1) The view (even though seldom because of the clouds and rain) of Mt. Rainier is spectacular! 2) The sweet black kitty living in one of the rooms on the first floor of Rainier Inn.  I talk to him when I see him sleeping in the window in the mornings and afternoons. You would too!

Storage

Slowly but surely, it is becoming a reality that in a week (emphasis on the eek! part) we will be homeless!

Our most recent reality check?

We signed the lease on our 10'x20' storage unit!  Whew... 

Another reality check is the state of our living room/dining room, but I will just leave that to your imaginations (boxes, space bags and packing products everywhere).  I don't want to scare anyone!

Speaking of which, I better get going on some more packing... the never ending battle!

The Start of Something New

Obviously, there are a bazillion changes taking place in our home right now.  An unexpected purchase today put one of the changes in the front of my mind.

Feel free to laugh... I tried to.  

The thing is that I LOVE to cook.  Not the open-four-different-packets-and-combine kind of cooking, but the everything-is-better-when-made-from-scratch kind of cooking.  Never in my worst nightmares have I pictured myself with a kitchen consisting of a crock pot and a "Pasta Boat" (cringe) in a hotel room!

Don't get me wrong, I really am not complaining.  Really... I just thought I'd share this semi-hysterical turn that my culinary exploits have taken!

Also... I'll be sure to give y'all an update once I actually have the pleasure of using the darn thing.