Here we go again

As I’m writing this my room is a disaster. Full of clothes, suitcases, gear, etc. I can’t even see the floor.
I’m checking off things off the list and stressing and worrying about what is going to go wrong while I live that single mom life…. Again.

No this is not a divorce post, or even a deployment post. This is just a weird chapter in our lives that we swore we would never do. We chose to live separately while he does the Sgt Major academy. A year long school in Texas.
We never would’ve chose this if our lives weren’t where they are now.

The kids are getting older and have a routine, a system. And on the backend of covid and remote learning and all that came after that. Uprooting and moving for a year just to turn around and move again.

So, here we are. Dreading the move, yet wanting to get it over with. I am treating it like a deployment in my head. It makes it easier that way. But also planning out our visits through the months, busying our schedule with activities and what not. It definitely makes the time go by faster.

Now I’m off for another getaway. Going to the mountains with my man for an early anniversary trip.

I highly recommend doing that with your spouse. Prioritize your time alone together. Even if it’s not a big trip just a weekend or week or whatever. Even if you need to do a "stay-cation". Go someplace within a couple hours but do something you’ve never done. Life is too short to just sit at home doing the same old thing. We already did that during quarantine right?!

Cchhhanges

 I am now preparing for another chapter of our lives to start. Probably going to be the most difficult one.
I’m hoping and praying it won’t be. 

Being an Army wife is always a roller coaster ride. We never really know what’s next. Things can change at the drop of a hat. Everything is always temporary. There is more times apart usually then there are times together.

This time we made the decision but we are still nervous about it. Second guessing constantly if it was the smartest, and best decision we could’ve made.

The hubby will be heading down to Texas for Sgt Major Academy and we have decided to stay behind in Colorado and not go with him. This is just a school so it’s only for the school year (well basically year). I don’t know why the Army doesn’t treat it like a school where they just go and come back. But it was considered as a PCS move (permanent change of station). So we were required to move with him for just a year. That means change schools, move our whole house, change doctors etc. Then when the year was up move to an entirely new place all over again. You see the problem here. The kids are in school. Our daughter being in middle school that’s a huge deal for her because she’s at that age. She would have to change schools for 8th grade then move again and start high school all over again. It doesn’t seem ideal at all.
In Colorado we are settled we have a church home and church family. We have support and the kids have friends.

In my head I’m trying to think of it as a deployment but with perks because he can come visit during breaks. Hopefully on 4 day weekends as well. We will keep busy during the school year too. I have a busy workload. Hopefully the kids will be in some kind of activities and we will just take it a day at a time.

Then when it’s all done with. We will find out where we will be moving next and hopefully it will be our last move and we can get ready for retirement.

These are all the hopes but sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Separation is never easy. I wish we didn’t have to choose this but it seemed the better option out of two really crappy options. Much like the presidential election (HA!) So here we are gearing up for another year apart.

Pray for us and our little family. 

Cruise Tips from a first timer (Norwegian)

 

 

 
As we are getting into spring break and summer vacation plans. I thought I would compile a list of tips specifically for Norwegian. I've only cruised with Norwegian but these can probably be for any cruise line. If you are planning on flying to a destination then jumping on the cruise you are already spending a ton of money. You want to save most of your money for shopping, eating local food (they don't have that on the ship)

1. NO on buying an internet package. You have wifi to at least text, pictures don't really go through on the ship (iMessage only). But you’re so busy doing activities, eating and exploring at ports it’s not necessary. Some ports have WIFI and you can do all your internet or social media posts there.  If you absolutely can’t live without just do the social media package. Then you can at least DM, Facebook message those who you can’t text.

 

2.  Stateroom with a balcony is the way to go! Plenty of room for two people. If you were going as a family I would get adjoining rooms or a suite. It would feel too crowded. Unless you don’t plan on staying in your room at all. I'm claustrophobic and the idea of a small enclosed room with no windows or small window gave me anxiety. 

 

 

 
3. Packages: Specialty dining. Not worth it. you get plenty of complimentary food and it’s decent and different atmosphere in those places. Buffet style, casual pub restaurant, fancy evening. You can save your money for the local fare etc. 

 

 

 
4.  Alcohol package. I’m not a drinker and the hubby is on occasion. But you have to get the package for everyone in your room,  if they are under 21 they have to get a soda package. While the idea sounds awesome. It doesn’t really pay for itself. $99 a day per person. So that's 11 beers in a day or Speciality drinks for a 7 day cruise? $700 per person if I’m not mistaken. Not enough time. Especially if you are on a tour most of the day. And soda is cheaper then that. Best idea if you are going to drink is make yourself an alcohol budget and pay for for an occasional drink on board. 

 
5. Shore excursions. There are pros and cons to these tours. It can be hard if you like the freedom to do your own thing. Majority of the time is spent driving on the bus. Which can be nice but when you only have so much time on a port it can be constricting. However, with the tours the tour guide always has stories and local tips and information. Also you can skip some lines for tickets because they get them for you and leads your group away from the crowds. We didn’t buy tours separately which you can do there just wasn’t time and with Covid we stuck with the cruise line. If there was a problem or we were late the ship would wait for us. It’s not guaranteed otherwise. Some ports have shuttle busses that will take you close to town or into town every ten minutes. Some places are close enough to walk into. With the shopping and restaurants close by. Just be back in enough time to board the ship. 

6. This tip was from our amazing travel agent. Wherever you are going especially an overseas cruise. Get there a day before and leave a day after the cruise ends. It felt like everyone came straight the airport to board and then rushed to get the airport after the cruise was done. We didn't skip too many lines at the airport, but we definitely had a great time having those extra relaxing hours to see the sites some more and have some amazing Greek food that we wouldn't have been able to.

7.  Covid might be lessening up now but check your specific cruise line, and airline about mask mandates. In the summer the disposable ones were a lifesaver. I have a cotton one but in that heat it was just too much. The cruise required us to wear the masks in every populated area unless you were eating and drinking. Plus if you lose one its no big deal. Just stock up on those. 

8. They play a lot of the same stuff on the stateroom TV's. But I always travel with my ipad and download movies or shows on Netflix or Amazon that we can watch and not worry about getting wifi. 8b. Don't forget to get a travel pass for your cell phone. Keep it on airplane mode until you need it. Iphone users stay connected to wifi so you can just send messages and call when you need to.

9. My favorite things I bought before the cruise. I did so much research since it was my first time. Some were good suggestions some I could've done without. 

1.  A combination fan/power bank/ flashlight. It was so hot everywhere, especially in the crowds. This one was very lightweight and compact that it can easily fit in a backpack or pocket.
2. Anti-theft backpack! I got a large that fit my Ipa. It has lots of hidden compartments and comes in different colors. 
3. Lanyards. just picked these up at the dollar tree. Perfect for carrying around your ID cards they give you for the cruise. You have to use these for everything, food, entrance to ship, etc. A lanyard is a great way to keep from losing it. 
4. Luggage tags. These long ones are meant for your cruise ship tags. They don't really tell you that beforehand. I wouldn't have known if I didn't see a youtube video about it. 
5. Packing cubes. I LOVE These I have used these for every trip now and I need to get more. They have handles that make it easier to grab if you have one specific thing like pajamas. It was able to fit so much stuff in them.
6. Jewelry organizer. This was a trip I wanted to accessorize. Especially at some of the ports like Mykonos everyone is so fashionable. This cute little bag was so cute and fit so much. I even got a matching charger bag (later) that fits all my phone chargers and headphones.  

 

   10. Take all the pictures and all the videos. But also take time to be present, and just enjoy the places you are at. EAT ALL THE FOOD! Sometimes more than one desserts! Go see the shows because they are free! Play the games! We had such a blast and would probably do a cruise again!

 

 

Fashion Friday

 Hey folks the countdown has begun and I'm already losing my mind. I need all your helpful moving tips. You're road trip hacks for the kids. Give me all the info! Overload me because I'm a planner and I need to make my plans so I can have some illusion of sanity. I know there's gotta be some new hacks, new devices to help with the transition, help with travel for the kids. Anything to give me so peace. 

Thank you in advance!

P.S those super cute leopard shows are from Walmart!!

Walmart for the win!!

Fashion Friday {Rest and Relaxation}

Summer is almost over and with a possible move on the horizon I am already contemplating my fall/winter wardrobe. Each year it seems like the summer season and my summer wardrobe don't last very long. I'm always behind. I can never seem to buy things ahead of time. Right now my brain is still in the spring cleaning mindset. I just want to get rid of so much stuff. That could also be because I didn't finish my summer clean out projects. I have barely even gotten though one book on my summer reading list. Confession it's still the same book list as last summer. 

You might think I am putting too much stuff on my plate. Right? It's summer I should just have no plans and no lists. Just relax and enjoy things. I am trying that out slowly in all areas of my life. 

Social Media: 

I've been not posting as much. That way I don't have to rush to having something every day. 

Which has been my little motto for a couple of years now. While I do love an aesthetically pleasing IG grid. I always felt too much pressure. Felt like I needed to compare to those who do. While there is nothing wrong with that. I wanted to focus on what was best for me. 

I even have in my bio "no rhyme to my reason". Which means you won't find carefully planned color schemes, types of photos etc. You will just find me, my life, and my family. I don't like a lot of rules when it comes to expressing myself through my creativity. 

Blogging (writing), fashion, photography are all my passions. I want the freedom to do that in a no judgement zone. I want to be relatable. That's why I don't apologize for not always buying a ton of brand new, brand name clothes. I'm real and want to be relatable. I'm a frugal, budget conscious army wife. That's a 100% me! Like it, love it or leave it.

With that said I am seeing a lot of people posting these very thoughts. No more of this portraying a perfect, picturesque lifestyle. I was onto something! 

Blogging:

I haven't been planning blog posts in awhile either. I've been working on just organizing my life. I have seen a decrease in my views/comments. That's okay though. This is meant to be outlet. I'm sure the right person will come along and read what I have to say and it might help them, entertain them etc. I know I may not be best writer. I know I'm horrible at grammar. If you are one of those people who edit everything a person says.  You will not find commas in the right place here mr. That's just fine as well. I'm honest about myself. 

Home:

I have been here in Georgia for about three years now. I still haven't gotten it exactly how I wanted it. That's why I haven't shared the decor on here as much as I would've wanted. Now with limited time left here it's almost pointless. I promise to post an as is home decor to show my barely there process. Hope for the best in the next place to really dig in and stop being indecisive about everything. That's the hard part about moving around so much. I want to put a lot into a home but then life happens and before I know it we have to move again. Only 5 years left til retirement though!! 

Career:

I've taken a step back from doing photography as a business. I've done a lot of passion projects. But haven't put a lot of effort or time into it. There are a lot of photographers around here and really hard to compete with. So I decided to put everything into my music. Every extra dollar, every effort, every extra second into working on my craft. Music is my true passion. It's what I want to do for the rest of my life. But I still want to have my hand in all of my passions. My focus is just one thing at a time right now. That might show  in my blog. I've dropped a lot of weekly posts. In fact this is the longest blog I've written in a long time! 

To sum everything up. I've slacked off in some areas. Put too much pressure on myself in some areas. But in the most important areas I have been confident and content. 

I hope that inspires you to take a step back and reevaluate as well as find what you are truly passionate about and pursue it. Not just follow what everyone else is doing.

Happy Friday!

Fashion Friday {New beginnings}

It's April. Spring is in full swing by now for most of the country. How are you feeling about it? Are you bombarded by pollen and can't see past your watery eyes? Are you enjoying the nice weather and all the flowers in bloom? The promise of a new beginning. Either way I hope you can appreciate the constant of the seasons changing. No matter how hard it rains there's something new that always comes from it. There's always hope! Stop and smell the roses and all that. There's so much around us to bring us joy. Find the joy and cling to it!

...and with that said this weeks look!

Hat, Bodysuit, Necklace: Forever21, Jeans: Pacsun, Boots: Belk