Let's Talk Glasses

I've been a glasses wearer since I started to notice I couldn't see the board so well in 10th grade math class. My prescription is pretty low; I just need glasses for seeing at a distance and driving. I used to not wear my glasses very often, only putting them on when driving or when needed in class, but I find I wear them much more often these days. I guess I realized I like to see clearly at all times, and glasses now can be quite stylish!

I was recently contacted by Firmoo and offered a free pair of glasses in return for a blog post, so of course I obliged! I have ordered glasses online before, so I had my prescription ready and knew what style and shape of glasses might suit me best. I selected my glasses pretty quickly; I got a pair that is just about as close in shape to my previous pair as could be, but I went for a fun tortoiseshell color!The glasses arrived promptly, complete with a case, pouch, tightening kit (I know!), cleaning cloth, and, I will pause here to remind you- all for free! The glasses seem sturdy enough; I've been wearing them for over a week and they clean much better than my last pair, which, as any glasses wearer knows, is a simple pleasure in life. They are light and don't put pressure on my nose or head, odd as that may be to notice. I love the look and style of this pair. I actually had a girl in class say she thought my glasses were cute when we were doing start-of-semester introductions, so I gave the class a quick advertisement for firmoo.com, haha. What college student wouldn't be interested in a free pair of glasses, though?!

If you are less sure of what glasses might look good on you, or just want to play around and try something new, Firmoo has a convenient try-on service on their website, where you can upload a photo of yourself and virtually "try on" glasses before making your selection. Oh- and they also have prescription and non-prescription sunglasses! The best part is- they have a first pair free program, where, you guessed it, you get your first pair of glasses for free! Glasses are not inexpensive, so getting good service and a quality pair of glasses for free is pretty amazing. The only thing I don't like is the name of the company, it just doesn't roll off the tongue, but I can deal.

Have more questions? Find out more here!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Note: The glasses were free. The opinions were my own. Yada yada yada.

MLK

via

Today I remember not only the works, words and writings of one man, but the efforts of all those he inspired. Because this day, especially this day, is about so much more than one man, or two men, or if you think Beyonce did our national anthem justice. 

I've been reading quite a bit of Martin Luther King's words for class; he makes it easy to believe in rational change and in the good of society, and he does not hide the hardship of it. He believed in nonviolent revolution, strategy, and love. And yes, equality, and the power of a dream.

"Where do we go from here? First, we must massively assert our dignity and worth. We must stand up amid a system that still oppresses us and develop an unassailable and majestic sense of values. We must no longer be ashamed of being black. The job of arousing manhood within a people that have been taught for so many centuries that they are nobody is not easy."

"And I must confess, my friends, that the road ahead will not always be smooth. There will still be rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. There will be inevitable setbacks here and there. And there will be those moments when buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted. We may again, with tear-drenched eyes, have to stand before the bier of some courageous civil rights worker whose life will be snuffed out by the dastardly acts of bloodthirsty mobs. But difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future."

- Martin Luther King "Where do We Go From Here?"

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Weekend Away

We are spending the weekend at a military marriage retreat at the Great Wolf Lodge! It is pretty awesome, but more on that later!

UPDATE! Ps- The Pens won their first game of this very late starting season! Hooray!

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- From the desk of Mrs. M

The Week in Photos

mozzarella and pesto grilled cheese/ salad/ new Erin Condren planner for 2013/ Rifle Paper Co goodies

first time using the bread maker- beautiful dough!/ waiting at the dentist/ morse code

grocery shopping/ playing with a remote control helicopter/ Texas/ gifts

taking down Christmas/ planning/ outing/ organized dresser

free glasses from Firmoo/ Zero Dark Thirty/ tuna salad/ hockey is back!

kitties took over my Baylor sweatshirt/ Army badges/ helping laundry/ His and Hers tea time

pre-class reading/ biting her nails/ sphere and cubed ice! 

turkey wrap for lunch/ back to school outfit/ Baylor!/ moose head

cats in the window/ what's in my bag/ curried turkey and rice/ arm party

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Curried Turkey with Rice

This evening I made an adapted version of this curried turkey and rice recipe I found. I thought it needed something more than just ground turkey, spice and diced tomatoes, so I added some veggies I had in the fridge. I began by sauteing chopped onion in olive oil, then adding the turkey. Once the turkey was cooked I added the bell pepper and mushrooms, and cooked them for a while before adding the curry powder. I probably used about double the amount of curry they suggested (about 2 tsp), and I put in the full can of diced tomatoes (because what was I going to do with the other half?). I added some salt and pepper here and there, put in some chopped cilantro at the end of cooking, and that's it! It was quite delicious, and simple (and smelled amazing)!

UPDATE: This also makes excellent leftovers!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Erin Condren Planner 2

I recently acquired my second Erin Condren planner. I had my first one for about four months before it was stolen, and when the new year came around I decided I had to get a new one. Let's face it, it's hard to go back to any old planner after experiencing the level of organization that comes with an EC planner. You can see my first post on the planner here, and this time I decided to give you a quick look at how I use it, as a grad student/wife/dedicated planner. It's pretty simple.

The planner has three sections labeled "morning," "day" and "night." I use the morning section to record the happenings of the day- class times, meetings, appointments, etc. I use the middle section to list assignments due that day, or on the weekends I write my To Do list here. The bottom section I use to write what's for dinner each week day, keep track of workouts, reminders, and any other info for the day.

I don't really color code things, though I have a large variety of colors to use and will select things to stand out when needed. I generally use black or blue pen. The first time around I didn't use too many of the stickers that come with the planner, but I've already been using them more (I just have to use a regular ultra fine point Sharpie to write on them as opposed to other pens). I also use washi tape when the occasion calls for it! :) Such as marking multi-day events.

Anyway, that's all there is to it!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Going on a Trip

I finally did it, I booked my flight to Boston for spring break! I'll be there March 10th-14th (I like to give myself time at home over breaks to chill and catch up on school work, so I'm not going for the entire break). I feel bad because Kyle will be at a month long deployment training at the time, so I will have to board the kitties, but I'm trying to not think about that. I can't wait to visit somewhere new, and see so many friends that have happened to move up there in the last year or two (Tracy, sister, Emma, Allie).

image via

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Sunday Social: Reintroduction

I haven't blogged in some days, though I do have some posts planned, so I thought I'd join this linkup today!

What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging?
My blog is called From the Desk, because after I got married my friends gave me custom notepads that said "From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson" on the top; it was the first time I saw my new name in use. I have been blogging since April 2011; I was inspired to start after my husband had a blog for a few months!

Why do you blog?
I like to take pictures and I like to share about my life (though I don't claim it is super exciting or anything; follow on your own accord). I am very secluded and far from any good friends, so blogging helps to share goings-on with friends and family, and gives mean outlet to write whatever I want.

What is the first blog you ever followed?
It was a while after I started blogging that I was made aware of the whole blogging world, actually. I think my sister introduced me to Cupcakes and Cashmere as I was planning a wedding and so was Emily (among other things).

What is your favorite blog post you wrote in 2012?
Umm. I didn't have anything that jumped out without me having to go through and remember what all I wrote (actually my favorite posts were from when Kyle got back from deployment and we had our first Christmas together, but I always seem to forget that was December 2011, no longer last year). I guess I'll say: What I Learned From Deployment. As it's looking like we will be gearing up for another one this summer. Oy.

What are your blogging goals for 2013?
Uh. I don't really have any? I have a vague idea to write a post each week about something social work related, even if it's just an excerpt from a class reading or a rambling post on my thoughts about the state of mental health care. I guess that's as close to a "goal" as I have for this thing.

Top 3 Favorite blogs to follow?

Rebekka Seale (formerly, Dear Friend)

My husband (Seek Arete)- he doesn't post often, but it's cute when he does!

Studio DIY- I went to undergrad with Kelly's boyfriend, and she has a wonderfully crafty site! 

image via Studio DIY

- From the desk of Mrs. M

The Week in Photos

I've mostly been sick for the last week, so it's not too exciting. 

clothes den/ Influenster Holiday VoxBox/ New Year nails/ date night

date night continued/ grapefruit and grapefruit Airborne/ Sole Society bogo shoes

cat hugs/ nails/ maiden name/ sick toes getting fresh, cold air

meal kit/ heart/ Darwin/ Kelly Moore bag

D/ first time out of the house in a while/ dinner I couldn't taste/ mint logic

dumb parking/ HOCKEY IS BACK/ Hux helping me organize/ Thomas Henry Huxley

books from a friend/ garlic baked chicken/ cute husband/ textbooks arriving

egg whites, mushrooms, peppers, onion/ rainy day/ My favorite/ southwest stuffed peppers

- From the desk of Mrs. M

What the Year Will Bring

At first glance this year appears to be one, the first in many, with no big events, changes or plans. And while that may be true, this is also the year where Kyle and I will know a lot more about our future- where we will be moving to after I graduate, when we can have kiddos(!!)...big things like that. Kyle's contract with the military is up December 2013, and we are looking at his reenlistment possibilities, as well as non-military options. I'm not sure when we will know (it's sounding like sooner rather than later), but it is exciting that this is the year that will give us a better picture of what our future will look like. :) Always good for a planner like me. I'm excited to see where this year will take us, even if it doesn't take us there until next year or the years that follow!

Also this year:
- finishing up first year of grad school and starting the second
- 2 year anniversary!
- Kyle and I both turn 25
- possible probable deployment to Afghanistan :(
- Kittens turn 2 years old
- possible trip to Boston

- From the desk of Mrs. M