The Final Post

Family, Friends and Fellow Bloggers,

After four years, 1206 posts, and meeting 18 bloggy loves I am saying goodbye to Flip Flops and Combat Boots. This blog has been a part of me since I met Danny. I documented our engagement, wedding, a new puppy, Kaleb's visits, roadtrips, our first home and so much more. It's only appropriate with Danny's EAS date exactly three weeks away that I say goodbye to Flip Flops and Combat Boots.

I want to thank each and everyone of my readers for sticking around for so long! For all the comments, love and support. And especially to the 18 girls I met through blogging. I have made some amazing life long friends.

I hope that you continue to follow me on Instagram and Twitter (FlpFlpsNCmbtbts for both!) and that we all stay in touch. I'm also a brand new Scentsy consultant and I would love to have you as a customer! Please "like" me on Facebook to stay in touch! www.facebook.com/NicoleSadieScentsy

And soon (hopefully!) I'll be announcing a new blog to document our new adventures. Thank you again!

Love,

Nicole

Are You a College Student?

It's hard to believe that this is my fifth year not going back to school. This time of year they start showing the famous back to school commercials...back in the day I hated these commercials, it meant summer was almost over! But now? They are nostalgic. I so badly wish I was going back to school. More specifically, college.

I so vividly remember this time of year: getting new clothes, stocking up on supplies, decorations for my dorm, and of course...spending way too much money on textbooks. That was the worst.

Actually, I lied, the worst is that I still have some of those super expensive books still laying around. Books I will never even look at, just taking up space. Book that I refuse to get rid of because I spent way too much on them!

But I have a solution for all you back-to-schoolers! CampusBookRentals.com is an alternative solution to getting all the books you need! Some of the perks are:

-save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-free shipping both ways
-can highlight in the textbooks
-flexible renting periods
-we donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

Curious about how it works? Watch this video!

And just in case you were wondering. I was a History major in school. I took a ton of food history and religious history classes. I distinctly remember having to buy the book Cod. I would have loved to get the book at this price!

I was compensated for this post but all opinions are my own.

Shutterfly Long Live Summer

Do you like taking pictures? Do you like winning things? Well, then I have the perfect thing for you! My favorite photo website Shutterfly is offering some great things this summer!

For five weeks this summer (starting July 9th and ending August 12) you can enter to win some great prizes! All you have to do is "like" Shutterfly on Facebook and enter your favorite pictures! The weekly themes are...

Week 1: Americana

Week 2: Great Outdoors

Week 3: Water Fun

Week 4: Sports & Activities

Week 5: Parties & Celebrations

You could win some great prizes just for submitting your photo! There will also be weekly prizes (you can enter once per week,) weekly featured photos, and the grand prize is a trip for four to the Bahamas and a professional photo shoot!! How fabulous would that be!? You can read the official rules to the sweepstakes here.

Now get your booties over to Facebook and start entering your pictures!

I was offered a free photobook in exchange for this post but, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I really do love Shutterfly!

Salute the Troops with Buffalo Wild Wings

May is Military Appreciation Month. And my favorite restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, is showing their appreciation for everyone in the military past and present. 

I know many of you love Buffalo Wild Wings. And this month you have two great reasons to dine in (or do takeout!) One, the amazing wings. And two, by showing your military ID, VFW membership card, or Return the Favor card 10% of your purchase will be donated to the VFW Foundation's Return the Favor campaign.

This should be enough of a reason to bring your family and friends to Buffalo Wild Wings. But because they are such a great company, they are giving you another reason to dine in. When you donate, you will be given a yellow wristband. Wearing this wristband in June entitles you to 10% off your food and non-alcoholic purchases.

More than 7,500 local VFW posts nationwide will be promoting this donation drive! And you should encourage all of your family and friends to do the same! So, get your military ID ready...and go get some delicious Buffalo Wild Wings wings! Please help spread the word!

For more information please visit troops.buffalowildwings.com

About the VFW Foundation and Return the Favor
The Return the Favor campaign is an awareness and fundraising campaign to honor, celebrate and support active duty military members, veterans and their families. All VFW Foundation programs are non-political, free and require no VFW affiliation for assistance. From financial assistance for families of deployed troops to assisting veterans with benefits claims to providing prepaid phone cards for soldiers overseas, the VFW Foundation is there to provide assistance to those who deserve it most. The VFW Foundation is one of the nation’s highest rated 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
 

About Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar™ restaurants featuring a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. The Buffalo Wild Wings’ menu specializes in 14 mouth-watering signature sauces and 4 (four) seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ™ to Blazin’®. Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently 833 Buffalo Wild Wings locations across 48 states.

Another Year, Another Layout

Mrs. Gambizzle gave my blog another great makeover!

If you don't know Mrs. G...you are missing out on alot!

She makes gorgeous jewelry....

Wallets and bags...

....and tons more!

But mostly, Betty is a good friend of mine.

A year ago we were in Boston drinking having too much fun!

Thank you Mrs. G!

Check out Gambizzle Jewels on Facebook.

Attention All Followers!

Way back when I had 400 followers (and I thought that was a lot!) I decided I wanted to get to know my followers! I asked a bunch of questions and set out on a quest to follow your recommendations in a series I called You Inspire Me.

So, now that I have over 900 followers (holy crap!) I want to do it again! If you are reading, please answer! I look forward to your answers!

1) What is your name and the link to your blog?
2) Where is your favorite place to vacation?
3) If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
4) If you are a MilSpouse, where are you stationed? What branch?
5) Recommend a book, movie or recipe.
6) Tell me one thing you would love for me to blog about!

Dear Blog...

I'm sorry I have neglected you!

As you know, the computer broke on Thanksgiving...thanks to a super nasty virus. I tried to fix it, but well, my degree in History doesn't really help in that department. Since then we have been computer free. I blogged from my phone, which resulted in ugly formats and poor blogging. Oh, and to do my 2011 review it took TWO days from the iPhone! Needless to say, blogging has been very frustrating!

The plan was to only use the USO computers. That's where I spent an hour this morning....uploading 30 pictures. Holy smokes that is slow. And, since you know me so well, I am not patient!! I enlisted the help of my uber smart cousin and he helped me and the Hubby pick out a new computer.

I swore up and down we weren't going to buy a computer right away. But I couldn't pass up this deal! So, we are owners of a new laptop. And this time....we will not murder it!

So, dear blog...and blog readers...I'm back! I've missed my religious blogging and reading all of your blogs! I'll be commenting again and, of course, finding new bloggy loves!

To celebrate my return to blogging here are some pictures on events you have missed out on!

Me and Lindsey celebrated Beermas with NC Girls Pint Out!

Kaleb was here for Christmas!

My parents visited us!

Love,
Nicole

Hair Help!

It's that time of year again. Haircut!

I'm lame and average a haircut once a year...

but then I like to do something totally different and dramatic.

But I need your help deciding!

Mostly I need to know...will short make me look super manly?

Let's take a look at what you guys decided on last year....

That cute cut has grown out into this ratty mess...

These are the looks I'm considering!

Gutsy Move #1 Short!

Gutsy Move #2: Bangs!

Gutsy Move #3: Bob with Bangs

So, what do we think?

Which one could I pull off?

Or maybe you have a different idea all together!

Let me know!

Let's Take a Vote!

Yes, we're still talking about my hair. I've been saying all summer that I'm going to get it done, but I still haven't. Well, tomorrow is the day..and I still don't know what to do. Only way to choose...let you guys vote!

First, this is my hair now

 And these are the three choices!

#1

#2

#3

Now...vote!

Attention All Followers!

Goodnight Moon stole the Clothing Sale idea from me, so now I'm stealing her ideas! On Monday she posted questions to her followers. I thought it was such a great idea. I have over 400 followers, and only follow 146 blogs. It got me thinking, I want to know more about the people who read my blog!

Make my day, I'd love to get most of my followers to answer these questions! I look forward to reading your answers!

1) First things first, give me the link to your favorite post on your blog!
2) If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
3) You have one day left to live, who do you spend it with?
4) Recommend one book and one movie to me, please!
5) What's your meal?
6) Who's your favorite celebrity train wreck?
7) Tell me one think you would love for me to blog about!

Bloggy Meet Up: Edited with Poll!

I have met five lovely blogging ladies who live in the Jacksonville area.

Katie from Diary of a Disgruntled Marine Bride-to-Be

Breanna from Forever Yours, Semper Fi

Reina from Semper Gumby...The Return of Sunshine

Jordan from Southern Hospitality

Amber from Goodnight Moon

I want to add you to that list. So many of us live on the East coast...Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia...a meet up is totally do-able! We just have to plan it. We need a place and a date. What's best for everyone? I really want to plan this!

Who's with me?!

Let's start with some general planning. What month should we do it in? And where should we think about doing it? Take these two surveys so we can get the ball rolling!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

 

Happy 1st Birthday Flip Flops & Combat Boots!

I have been an official blogger for one year! What first started off as something I did out of boredom has turned into something I love doing. I love sharing stories, rants and adventures. And I love getting to know my readers. I have made some amazing real-life friends through Flip Flops & Combat Boots. And I have made some amazing blogging best friends, who I feel like I really know. I look forward to reading everyone's blogs!

My blog started off slooooow. I didn't start getting consistent comments until me and Danny got engaged in October. And only recently have I started getting a huge amount of comments on entries! I have done a few giveaways and am currently doing a swap with some awesome girls (and yes, we will do this again!) And to celebrate my blogs birthday, I'm giving military spouses presents (I have six lined up!) I love my guest bloggers and being able to share different stories and views with everyone. I have been spotlighted on a  blog, and have won two giveaways! I think that's pretty cool!

I, of course, have some favorite entries! Here are some snippets and the links where you can find the full post!

1) Anna May did our engagement and wedding pictures. These are two of my favorite engagement pictures!
2) We got into a fight..about burritos! This is what I heard: "Jeez fatty, maybe you shouldn't be eating that unless you plan to run a marathon and starve yourself for the rest of the week." This is what really happened!
3) I am obsessed with our wedding. I posted lots of pictures! here, here, here, here, and here!
4) Hubby has a feminine side! And told me not to blog about it!


Here's to more years of blogging, giveaways and fun!

Official Blogging Business: EDITED WITH POLL!

I have an idea, but I need your help. I was doing my usual blog-hopping yesterday and saw that someone participated in a swap. The girl who organized the swap paired everyone up and they sent each other summer essentials. There was a $25 limit (not including shipping.) And it looked like SO much fun! I don't know about you, but I love getting mail...and I love shopping for other people!

Before I get too excited, would anyone be interested in doing this. Also, we need a theme! Any ideas? Any feedback would be great!

POLL CLOSED! Click here to join the fun!