BLOGIVERSARY

This past week was my blogiversary.

 I can't believe I have been blogging for TEN YEARS!! What started out as something to showcase my outfits, do little DIY projects etc, has evolved over the years. There's definitely been ups and downs. I have had a great outlet to share my thoughts, family adventures, my creative projects, etc. I have been able to continue to practice my writing. 

There's always the awkward part of putting your life in the public eye. It always opens you up for negative comments, unsolicited opinions, people copying you, and so much more. 

This has been the “social media” before the social media for me over the years. 

I'm not even sure if people read this thing anymore. Not when you can see images on instagram, listen to the podcast to hear my thoughts on things. But I do appreciate the people that have stuck with it with me over the years. 

I'm not sure what the future will bring but until then. 

Here's to what started it all and I give you another outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restfulness

 Took a week off of work. I was in desperate need of a recharge. Doing this thing on my own has been overwhelming to say the least. 

It made me think of different ways you can rest. 

1: Sleep in. {Don't set an alarm, keep it on do not disturb, turn it off entirely}

2: Stay in PJ's all day and do absolutely nothing. {Devotional/Bible time}

3: Let the kids watch TV all day {So they leave you alone}

4: Do some light cleaning {Maybe a small project that you have been putting off.

5: Journal {Do a brain dump of all the thoughts and feelings that are stressing you out}

6: Take a shower/bath and binge watch something on your personal device. {Top it off with some kind of dessert}

Teacher appreciation

 A lot of kids have gone back to school already. Some go this week. Some have another week or so.

I now have so much more appreciation for teachers. Every year there has been new things I’ve learned that they do that has me in awe. First with remote learning and how difficult that was just for my kids but the lengths the teachers went was so amazing. And how quickly they adapted to the new norm.

Fast forward to last year when I started working at a daycare. Man! That can be so exhausting. Towards the end of the year I took over the preschool class and was actually teaching more. I am definitely not a teacher but I am a mom so that definitely helped. A lot of work and planning went into it. I’m so thankful for the people who have the great ideas and put them on Pinterest.

Here we are at the start of a new school year. I had the whole summer off. I know it will be my last here before moving again. So I know this is short lived. But I have been busting my butt with my co-lead teacher in preparation for this first week of school. Printing curriculum, classroom setup, logistics, schedules, organizing closets, and cabinets.

I accidentally revealed to everyone that I’m an organizer and I’ve been tasked with such things already. It’s been insane but I’m glad I can help others not be so stressed. I am exhausted!!
I’m not even teaching the hard stuff like “real” teachers!

Shout out to all the teachers that I know. As well as the rest of them. This is no easy job. They should be getting paid way more!

Get your kids teacher a little something today. I guarantee they need it already. 

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?!

Spring Cleaning turned Summer purge

 

 

 

 Has your spring cleaning itch happened yet?

I've been there for a bit now that the sun is out I've been cleaning out the fridge, the bathrooms. I'm starting a pile! HUGE PILE of clothes to get rid of. My closet has become quite overwhelming at this point. I need things to go like yesterday. I am starting to feel like a hoarder. 

Since I have the summer off Spring cleaning has turned into a summer purge at this point. It's ridiculous. I'm getting rid of so much stuff. Things i've held onto for years whether its clothes or kids toys or whatever. If we haven't used it its out! 

Maybe we will end up living that minimalist lifestyle. I don't even feel like we have that much stuff. But when it's all piled together it just gets out of hand so fast. With another move on the horizon for us I hate just moving it from one house to another house. Never even pulling it out of a box. 

If you are interested in the clothes from any of my outfits. Check out my closet on Poshmark

 

SHOP HERE

 

 

 

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. 

Things I learned in my 30's ....so far

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm fairly new to the 30's gang. Right there in the middle. In fact it's so new that I actually keep forgetting how old I really am. People ask me how old I am and I have to think for a moment before I blurt out the wrong age. My kids are getting to the point where they will gladly remind me of my age and how "old" I am. I don't feel old though, I feel exactly the same age. My mind has just grown, aged like a fine wine I suppose. I appreciate all the lessons learned, all the healing that has gone on throughout the years. 

So much so that I wanted to compile a list of things I have learned. Not just to share but to have a reminder right here when I want to go back and look. 

 

 

 

*I have learned that there is no competition. Each person was given skills, talents, etc and in Gods timing for them that's when they will succeed in what is meant for them and their life.

*Stay in your lane. Mind your business. Pay attention to what's going on in your own life. Don't worry about what other people are doing.

*Everything you tend to not like about yourself or that you are insecure about will end up being cool or trendy after awhile. So don't sweat it!

*Stay away from toxic, unhealthy relationships/friendships they will suck all the joy out of your life. 

*Boundaries are so important. Figure yours out and stick to them. 

*Having good friends that will check you and hold you accountable is a good thing! 

*Don't be afraid to try new things and go to new places. There's so much out there in the world that we are meant to experience. Don't let fear hold you back.

*It's ok to not have a credit card, car loans, etc. Don't feel like you have to keep up with other people. Slow and steady wins the race.

*Trust in your gifts they were given to YOU for a reason. Don't doubt yourself you have a story to tell, that will inspire others.

*Stress will literally make you sick and take years off of your life. 

 

* If you make fun of yourself, or put yourself down. You are giving everyone else permission to do so too. 

I know that I am not done learning things. There's so much more in life, more people to learn from. Take the time to learn, see, hear, absorb, and heal.

Cheers to the 30's club!