This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Shinesty. I was given merchandise from the store in exchange for a review. No additional compensation was given. All opinions are entirely my own. I’m fairly certain you know I’m no fashion trendsetter, but I do appreciate nice looking clothes that are comfy and fit my lifestyle. Let’s face it; I’m a mom of two young children who spit up, spill and rub whatever sticky concoction they last got into, onto my clothes. To me, it’s just not worth it to spend money on clothes that aren’t worn often. Most days I’m sporting a t-shirt and jeans, leggi ..read more

Hello friends! It’s been a while, I know.  I’ve taken some time off to devote time to my family. I’ve been doing a lot of reflection, which prompted this post. As of late, I’ve been torn about what to share or keep private on social media. I don’t share every family outing we take, mostly because I don’t have the time to snap many, if any pictures. Aside from that, I’ve been cautious with what people will think about the content of my posts. Then I realized, I don’t care what people think anymore! Recently, my husband came home from work with red roses in hand, complete with a note he’d ..read more

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of 1 Natural Way, a TRICARE breast pump provider. All opinions are entirely my own. Pregnancy and parenting is a challenge in itself, but take into account the military lifestyle and you’ve got your hands full! It’s one thing to handle separations, moves, and deployments as a couple and a whole other ballgame adding kids into the mix. It can seem scary and overwhelming but these tips can help you feel more at ease about becoming a military mom! Decide Where You Will Deliver Do you know what Tricare coverage you have? There are different options ..read more

Social media is one of the outlets that is fundamental for me keeping my sanity. Literally. As most of you know, I suffer from depression, anxiety and PTSD that at times can be extremely crippling. This makes it difficult for me to get out and about and socialize as much as I’d like. Thus, social media provides an avenue for me to connect and communicate with family and friends from afar and new ones as well. I enjoy scrolling through and “liking” others’ joyful moments and milestones, but rarely do I see or hear the “real life” nitty gritty moments – the dirty house, kids behaving like tiny t ..read more

I’ve never been one for making New Year’s resolutions because I know myself; I’d either forget what they were (thanks ADHD) or make an excuse not to follow through, then feel guilty for failing. Resolutions are not my thing, but goal-setting is. In my mind, resolutions are more like things you wish could happen and don’t tend to last very long. Goals on the other hand, are concrete, substantial and consistent. When you have a goal there’s a clear-cut plan to follow it up. And if you can’t tell from my other posts, I’m an annoying stickler for planning. When it comes to finances, having a ..read more

I’ve made it through 2017 without losing my mind! Go me! The year flew by in a flash. Though 2017 presented many challenges and let-downs, it also brought about many wonderful experiences I’m thankful for. Below, I’ll share some of them with you! As always, I’m immensely thankful for my family! Michael has settled into his new job (he switched branches) and is home a lot more. He still has TDYs and more deployments are always a possibility, but we’re grateful for any additional family time. This year, we welcomed the birth of our second rainbow baby and celebrated the first birthday of our fir ..read more

Hello? Is anyone out there? It’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged and oh how life has changed. We welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world and have transitioned from a family of three to a family of four! I couldn’t be more thrilled! That said, I didn’t anticipate how difficult this transition would be for me. I’ve heard moms say going from one child to two is a piece of cake, but that has not been my experience. I’m not sure of the age difference of their children, but mine are 18 months apart and it’s a challenge for this mama, especially when they both decide to have a meltdown sim ..read more

Happy autumn to you! Though the temperatures here are still in the 80s, I’ve fully embraced the autumn mindset. Sweater weather, changing leaves, apple cider, cozy scarves, pumpkins, warm socks, scented candles, Halloween, and the best part of all, the birth of my second little boy, are all on the horizon to make this autumn a magnificent one!  As for a life update, things have been pretty mellow but joyful around here. Two weeks ago I took Jack on an impromptu road trip to visit my grandmother who was in the hospital for surgery. He pleasantly surprised me and was a champ in the car! Gra ..read more

There is a lot of advice floating around about what matters you should discuss before marriage, but many of them do not pertain to military relationships. I’ve been getting a lot of emails from military girlfriends asking for my “professional” opinion as a therapist on whether they are ready to get married. I can’t give personal advice because I don’t know the specifics about their individual relationships, but I can offer some general advice that will ensure you have a solid foundation for a successful military marriage. Marriage in general is a life-altering, wonderful, exciting decisi ..read more

Picture it. You’re a first-time mother out in public with your baby. You’re still in that stage where you’re paranoid you didn’t bring everything in the diaper bag and are wondering if your baby is going to behave or cry up a storm. Then, someone asks you, “Is he/she a good baby?” This is one of those questions that drives me batty and stirs up an urge inside of me to slap someone. What kind of question is that? It is said there are no stupid questions, but I assert this is a completely asinine one. Like a mom is going to say, “No, my 3 month old is the worst baby ever!” Stupid, stupid, stupi ..read more