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Heart & Stripes

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About Me

 This page has been a work in progress for months now. Figuring out how to tell you about me without telling too much. Trying to follow all the “rules” for these types of pages. It became exhausting and honestly I just didn’t know what to do. Then it came to me today, this is my blog. It’s about things that are important to me and for me to share my thoughts and views on kids, marriage, being a military spouse and life in general. There are no “rules” because it’s my page. So I am going to share who I am in a nutshell and if any of it interests you then please make sure to read my posts and subscribe.

I am a wife to an amazing man who I have been married to for six years now.

I have two beautiful little girls who are both under the age of 5.

I am a military spouse.

I am an Army Veteran who served for 8 years.

While serving, I deployed (at the beginning of the war) for 15 months and returned home with PTSD/Anxiety disorder.

I have not been in contact with my biological father for over 10 years now.

I credit my uncle with providing a wonderful fatherly figure for me to look up to. (He retired from the Army and I was very proud to follow his lead and to serve with him.)

My mother’s side of the family is Italian. Yes we are a loud bunch! LOL

I grew up going to church with my aunt, uncle, 3 cousins and grandmother. They would pick me up every Sunday morning and then after church my grandfather would have a huge breakfast spread ready for us.

When I was young, my 3 cousins and I would spend the entire weekend at my grandparents house. We would watch movies and make beds with blankets on the floor in the living room. They are some of the best memories I have as a child.

When I was younger I would go hunting and fishing with my biological father. I started hunting deer with him when I was just 5 years old.

I have a strong love of country music, trucks, jeans and t-shirts, four-wheelers and fishing. I’m a country girl at heart.

I have so many books that my husband often complains that we will go over on our allowed moving weight. I mean, I have footlockers filled of books and I buy at least 3 more each month. I highlight and reread my books and have asked that our “forever home” has a library space.

My love for coffee is on the Gilmore Girls level. Seriously, it’s a habit I will never give up!

I actually love being able to move every couple of years. It can get stressful at times but I love the adventure of being somewhere new and being able to explore it. As long as I have my kids and husband by my side then home is where ever we are.

After my parents divorced (I was eight), we moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida. I got to watch countless Space Shuttles lift off right from my own yard. Oh and I got woke up countless times from the sonic boom when the shuttle was landing. It’s something that future generations won’t experience and that makes me very sad.

I have many family members who worked on the Space Shuttle. They had a hand in getting many people to space!

I got to watch John Glenn go up in the Space Shuttle for his second mission in October 1998. He was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962 then in 1998 he became the oldest person to fly in space at age 77.

I met my husband when I was just 13 years old. We didn’t date until 2010 and months later we were married. (Best decision of my life!)

I lost my best friend because someone decided to drive drunk. My life has not been the same since that day. PLEASE don’t drink and drive!

I have very strong belief in God and my country.

I could probably keep going but I feel like these things give you a better look into who I am. I’m not a perfect person and I have most definitely faced my fair share of adversity, trials and tribulations. Heck, I still am! I feel like everyone needs an outlet for their creativity and this is my outlet. I love writing because it allows me to get my thoughts down without hesitation. It allows me to work through some of my issues by writing it out and really digging deep. I encourage you to do the same. It may not be a blog, it may just be a journal, but getting it out makes you feel like a weight is lifted. Trust me, it works!

I hope you enjoy my blog and if you have questions or just need someone to lend an “ear” then please feel free to contact me.

About Me

About Me

I am a Veteran & Military Spouse providing encouragement, advice & support while navigating my journey as a stay at home mom living with PTSD & anxiety.

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Happy Friday!! I hope everyone has had a good week. I have been busy at work with a lot of Father’s Day orders. I can’t really share them since they are gifts and I don’t want to ruin the surprise so instead, here’s a picture of another order I have on the turners this morning. What is everyone’s plans for the weekend? I’m sure you can guess mine! 🤣 #custommade #glittertumblers #milspouse #veteranowned #shopsmallbusiness
I’ve been a busy mama. I really enjoy this outlet of creativity. Check out my page @heartandstripeshandmade and give it a like. I’m just starting but there are lots of new items coming soon. 😍
Sorry I’ve been so absent lately! It’s been a crazy time for the family and I. Over the weekend we FINALLY got the house settled to the point of feeling like a home. My husband also helped me get my desk and crafting area situated. On top of getting back into my blogging I have started making homemade items such as glitter tumblers, shirts, shadowboxes, hats, etc. I’m making these items and selling them while also keeping up with the house, kids, husband and taking 5 bachelors degree classes. Needless to say, it’s hectic but I’m managing. You can check out my other page, @heartandstripeshandmade for updates on things I’m making and I’ll have a new blog post up soon. Finding some balance now. 😍 Happy Thursday!
This week has been full of ups and downs. The downs have been pretty bad and triggered my PTSD. Luckily I have a great support system and was able to wake up happy and anxiety free today. Please know that if ANY of you need someone to talk to, I’m here. No judgement, no telling you why you shouldn’t feel that way (because I know you can’t control it sometimes)...just a listening ear and someone who cares that you are here on this earth! Happy Friday friends....look to the light today. 💕😘 xoxo . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse #harrypotterquote #itstruethough #suicideawareness #youaremeanttobehere #listeningear #nojudgement
Anyone want to come do my Survey of Accounting homework? No? I don’t blame you! 😂 I actually have a pretty good grasp on it so far but they have like 9 videos I have to watch first before completing my homework. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Each video is like 10 minutes. Needless to say, I’m having lots of fun this morning. 🤷🏻‍♀️ How’s your Friday starting out? . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Yesterday it’s snowing, today (ALL DAY) it’s pouring rain. Mother Nature must be PMSing this week 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
You are a strong, loving and independent woman. You can do anything you set your mind to! I recently read that no one will want your dream to happen for you more and than you want it! That means you better stop taking no as an answer and instead of giving up you find an alternate route. You got this! . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Y’all, excuse the language but it’s cold AF! It snowed again overnight and while it’s a pretty white blanket of snow everywhere...I’m freezing my behind off! Good thing I don’t have to do anything other than take the kiddos to school and pick them up! How’s your morning going? . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Here’s your reminder to go drink some water, it will do you good! Two weeks ago if you would have been in this carpool line with me then you would have seen a Mountain Dew or a second Monster Energy Drink sitting in my cupholder. Today it’s. 33.8 oz water bottle. I am pretty proud of myself for sticking with it, even on the days I am craving that Mountain Dew so bad! But I made a commitment to myself to stick with it and instead of constantly breaking promises to myself, I’m learning to stick with it. It gets easier with every day that passes. 🙋🏻🎉💕 . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Energy has always been a myth to me. It’s something I always wanted but instead I constantly was forcing myself to get up and do things. I have had a major shift with that since starting #thedubrowdiet and it’s amazing! Y’all, I’m being 100% honest with you, I never thought having energy was possible. This might be TMI but it’s the week before my cycle. Normally I am so drained I am constantly falling asleep on the couch and feel so horrible. While I’m still a bit tired, it’s not stopping me. I’m getting everything done that I need to and here hasn’t been a single issue with falling asleep on the couch. That’s huge for me! This plan has helped me reach my before kids weight, getting those last 6 stubborn pounds off, but more importantly I wake up with energy to get stuff done and my belly hasn’t been this flat in 10 years!! Thank you @heatherdubrow and @dr.dubrow for this amazing plan! This mama needed it and even my hubs is staying awake in the evenings during our TV time! It’s a win all the way around!!! 💕😍🙋🏻🎉🍷 . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
It’s Monday morning and the temps were pretty low this morning so I decided it was a good day to use my free Starbucks drink reward. Yep, I can still have coffee on my diet plan. It’s actually encouraged but I use 2% milk and no added sugars. Since it was free I of course got a Venti! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Happy Monday! 💕 . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
I apparently have a refurb addiction. These nightstands were posted on our local marketplace and I knew I wanted them the minute I laid eyes on them. They match the desks I redid for the girls so now they will each get a nightstand to match their desk. It may seem a little crazy that I just keep adding projects on top of everything else but this stuff is what I enjoy so it’s not work to me. How was your weekend? . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
I'm trying to make this my best year yet! What about you? . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Thank you Give Parents A Break for watching the kiddos for us so we could have a date night! We didn’t get one last month because of sick kids so this one was totally needed. The hubs and I hit up Outback and even managed to stay within our diet. I even got to drink a wine because I’m in phase 2! 😍 It was a great night!!! . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
When your kiddos love watching Ladybug and you find the second season on DVD at the Dollar Tree, you buy one for each kid. 😂 Seriously, a total mom score. I can’t pass that up for $1! . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Set your goals and don't stop until you achieve them! . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Yep, I washed and dried all the clothes but they sat like this for days! By the way, they got folded/hung and put away last night. I post this to show you that we all have that pile of laundry or dishes in the sink. It’s basically impossible to get everything done even with the loads of energy I have lately. Just do your best each day and leave the rest for another day. Hey, at least it’s clean laundry! 🤷🏻‍♀️😂. . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Just working on a new little project 😍 They are no where near done but definitely starting to see my vision come to life. 💕 . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
I have a lot of new adventures I am tackling this year and at times it seems a bit overwhelming but in the end I know it will totally be worth it. Do you have new adventures on your horizon this year? Tell me about them and if I can support you in any way. . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse
Tonight is was imperative that I did some self care. I could feel a bit of my anxiety creeping in. Don’t get me wrong, I have more energy and feel healthy but my anxiety isn’t based on my healthiness. Sometimes it just rears it’s head even when I’m feeling great. So a nice long, hot and relaxing bath helped me greatly. I hope that your Thursday was amazing! . . . . . #blogger #heartandstripesblog #militarylife #militarywife #veteran #sahm #momlife #hustlehard #coffeeholic #bookworm #militaryspouse

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