I’m an Air Force wife and mother whose currently taking a year off from work while my husband completes a one-year Dental residency in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Before moving to Vegas, I was a TV Anchor and Reporter in Columbia, SC and Augusta, GA
I’m using this year to figure out what I want out of life: to go back to news, stay at home or something in between. My blog will focus on life, love and mainly my hobby: cooking. I grew up learning how to cook Italian, but have developed a real love of modern southern food, I have an obnoxious obsession with garlic salt that I incorporate into most dishes.
As they say in the biz…”Stay Tuned”.
Proverbs 19:21
~Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.~
*Jillian*
I’ve enjoyed reading through your blog, Jillian, and appreciate your transparency on your not-so-proud stay-at-home mom post. Proverbs is a great place to turn for wisdom about that. Writing is something you can easily do from home, especially with a background in journalism. The blogging is a nice outlet, too. But those things will always be there. The young years with your little one(s) will truly be gone before you know it, and I know when you look back from the other side of motherhood on your decision to put your career as a news anchor on hold to be at home with them, you won’t regret that decision. By the way, where’d your husband go to dental school? My husband and I have two children in their second year of dental school in San Antonio now.
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Thank You, Jennifer! I also really enjoyed your post on “Housekeeping Matters: 5 Habits that Help” it’s important to remember that there’s a higher purpose to life’s daily activities, no matter how small they seem. My husband went to Dental School in Augusta, Georgia. He hopes to do an orthodontic residency in San Antonio if the Air Force will let him! Best wishes to your kids in dental school, the second year is the hardest!
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Hi, Jillian – I am loving your blog. I also have young children and am currently staying at home – I do a bit of freelance journalism (print), as time allows. My husband graduated medical school in 2010 (at the age of 33) and is now in his fourth year of ENT residency – it’s a five year program. He is currently applying for one year fellowships in head and neck surgery and reconstruction. He is also in the Army Reserves Medical Corps. We seriously have a ton in common. Oh, and I think that you look amazing. I read about your journey towards increased health after your baby, and I commend you for your hard work and dedication to nutrition and exercise – and your willingness to keep a bit of wine in your diet! 😉 We are down the road, in New Mexico, as well. Take good care of you, your hubby and that precious little girl. Warm wishes, Shanna
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It does seem that we have a lot in common! I’ve only been to Albuquerque, but driving through was just stunning!
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Found your blog after you started following mine- what a life change! I have made career changes myself, going from a teacher to a wedding planner, and back to teaching again when I got the itch to start up again. I look forward to reading more from you! Your blog looks beautiful. By the way, I was just in Vegas and ate a great restaurant called eat. Have you ever been?
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Thanks for the follow…and the compliment on the blog…I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing sometimes! I haven’t been to eat, but I just looked up the reviews and we’re going to have to try it. I love finding good restaurants off of the strip. I try to buy organic when I can find it, great topic to blog about. I’m going to have to try those hummus burgers!
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Thanks! Let me know what you think if you get to try it, it was seriously one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Good coffee too! What is the availability of organic produce in Las Vegas? Do you have a Whole Foods or equivalent type store?
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I will, we need a good breakfast place to take guests (you get a lot of them when you live in Vegas 🙂 when they’re in town. We do have a whole foods and fresh market, they are a little ways away from I live, though. Our local grocery store has lots of organic meat and veggies, they just don’t always have *every thing* I’m looking for. Take Care!
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I am glad to have found your blog thanks to your follow on mine. I am looking back on your stage of life, having raised two daughters and now enjoying having a couple of grandchildren. My wife and I lived in Las Vegas for two years – not my favorite place, but we enjoyed the friends we made while we worked there. My boss was retired USAF, and he took me to Nellis for a visit. I retired in 2011 to start traveling the world. I don’t miss working at a job or career one bit.
Good luck in LV, and I will follow along with your stories. – Mike
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Mike, thanks for checking my blog out. Your travel posts are incredible. When my husband is no longer a resident, I hope we can travel even more. We actually love living in Vegas, I love all of the outdoor stuff to do and having world renowned restaurants near by isn’t half bad either! But we are only stationed here a year, so we’re trying to soak it all in. It’s good to hear that you don’t miss work. The thing that gets me when I think about going back…is having to request vacation time…and I know there’s no way anyone will give me what the military gives my husband. So, for now, I’m just trying to enjoy. I’m excited to see where you’ll head to next, take care.
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Let me know if you still love Vegas after Memorial Day. That is about when it hits 100 degrees every day. People always say, ‘It’s a dry heat.’ But I couldn’t handle it. You are right about great restaurants. My favorite was Viva Zapata, a Mexican place on the NE side of town. Fresh tortillas made while you watch! Mmm. 🙂
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Ha! We’ll see. We’ve been here since August…we didn’t go outdoors much, but I heard the real heatwave was in July. I’ll keep you posted 😉
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Cooking is a fun hobby to have!
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I agree!
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My dad was in the Air Force! So glad that you stopped by my blog!
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We love our military life! Thanks for stopping by here, too!
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You are just too adorable! I’m in the Charleston SC area, too bad I didn’t get a chance to watch you in Columbia while you were here! I do hope this year helps you find your path… I believe a little of everything is always a great option!! Looking forward to following you and your adventures!
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Thank you, Marie! I love the Charleston area! Whenever Andy and I had a free weekend, we would go to either Charleston or Savannah. Loving your blog, thanks for stopping by mine.
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Thanks for your visit Jillian…it has led me to your lovely blog! 🙂
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Thanks for checking me out! I’ll be sure to keep up with you!
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I love your blog and am excited to hear more 🙂 I, too, am a stay at home mom. I quit my job shortly after I had my son. It was nothing special I was just a cashier at lowes. Once I quit my job I discovered my new love, cooking. My son is now 2 and loves helping in the kitchen. It makes it so fun something special for him and I to do together. 🙂
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I’m excited to follow your blog as well. Isn’t cooking fun?! I loved it when I was working and now I love it even more now that I have more time to plan!
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Dear Jillian, I can tell I am going to love your blog . . . the recipes look wonderful and we need more blogging voices like yours that are transparent, enthusiastic, warm & homey and with a tinge of wisdom and sophistication and humor. You are also fortunate that blogging can be used as a sort of means to document your little guy’s life . . . back in the dark ages when my son was a baby we did not have nearly the wealth of technology and easy resources to catalog photos, writing, etc. Lastly, you two have to be the cutest couple I’ve seen in a long time: happy blogging!!!
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Thank you so much. I’ve really enjoyed blogging so far. It’s given me a way to write again…only I can write about whatever I want instead of writing about press conferences and local crime! Thanks for following along!
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Thank you for following my blog, look forward to catching up on yours!
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Thank you and right back at you 🙂
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Hi Jillian. It was nice of you to leave me a comment on my blog and also nice to find yours. Look forward to reading more. And thank you to your husband…for his service! 🙂
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I will definitely tell him! Thank you b
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Hi Jillian! What a lovely blog you have here. I look forward to reading through and trying some recipes . Thanks so much for visiting and following my blog.
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Thank you so very much! I look forward to following along with you!
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Hey Jillian! We just nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Hope you accept it. Check it out here: http://confusedbawarchis.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/sunshine-award/
Aditi & Nikhil
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Thank you so much! I will work on this later today 🙂
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🙂 will look forward to reading your post! In fact just today I was telling my best friend about your latest post. She has a 6 month old boy and was telling me her stories about traveling with a baby 🙂
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I hope I did everything correctly, but it’s now up!
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Oh yeah! We loved your answers! I’m on to reading your favourite posts now. 🙂
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Thank you so much for following my blog. I look forward to reading yours.
Jovina
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Thank you, Jovina! And same to you!
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Hi Jillian! I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. You have a lovely blog. You can go to http://foodieonboard.com for the details.
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Thanks, so much. I will look into it as soon as possible. I really appreciate your kindness!
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Hi Jillian!
please come over to http://www.theveggysideofme.com and see what award is awaiting you!
😉
Laura
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Thank you SO very much! I actually just accepted the sunshine award, so I’ll have to pass on this one, BUT I so do appreciate it!
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Hello there! 🙂 I nominated you for a Liebster Award. http://wp.me/p4bcab-xM
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Thanks so much! How kind of you 🙂
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Lovely blog! I am so excited to have found you! Thanks for the follow, by the way. 🙂 I can’t wait to see more of your posts. God bless you and guide as you figure out what to do in the future. Life can be so confusing. We just found out we are being transferred as a family to Arkansas. We currently live in Michigan, so it will be quite a change.
Smiles!
~Kloé ♥
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Glad I found your blog. Thanks so much for stopping by and checking mine out. Good luck in Arkansas…that is definitely quite a change! We are still waiting to find out where we will get stationed next.
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Thanks, it is a change! Wow! Yeah, do you have to move a lot with your husband being in the service?
Just started following you!
~Kloé ♥
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This will be our second move, but we are relatively new to the Air Force, so we will see! Thanks for the follow!
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I am a new mom to a 5 month old and am really enjoying your blog. I have had some trouble adjusting to this huge life change called motherhood and taking time off from my career and being able to relate to someone else is great. Your tips on weight loss and exercise to traveling with baby have been so helpful. I would love to see more posts!
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Thank you so much for letting me know! It is a tough adjustment, but it gets better with time. Thank you for following along!
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