Hello, Mama! I’m absolutely thrilled to have you here and can’t wait to share a bit more about myself. When the idea of starting a motherhood blog was first tossed my way, I’ll admit, I was a bit lost. A blog? Me, a writer? Not exactly. But as I let the concept sit, something inside me told me it was time to challenge.

Motherhood doesn’t mean the end of the road; it’s the start of a whole new journey filled with exploration. When I first became a mom nearly seven years ago (and four kids later), I had no clue what life with children would look like. I knew I had to teach and feed them, but beyond that, our daily life was a blank canvas. Through this journey, I’ve realized it’s perfectly fine to write your own story and not conform to society’s expectations.

But before we dive headfirst into this transformation, let’s begin with…

WHO AM I?

Well, for the most part, I go by ‘Mama,’ ‘Mom,’ and ‘Mommy’ in these parts of the house, but my real name is Tandra. I’m a military wife, proudly raising four kids, and we’ve called a variety of locations home, most recently we PCS’ed to the East Coast, NYC to be specific (for those not familiar with military life, that’s when the military uproots us).

You know how it goes in the military – you never quite know where they’ll send you next, right? We spent the last six years stationed in Texas, and we dearly miss the family-oriented culture, playdates with friends, the beautiful nature parks, and that glorious weather.

I’ve prayed a lot the last two year that we were stationed in NYC that maybe one day, both God and the military will guide us back to Texas. There’s something special about that place, the adventures we took as a family, and all the memories we made that we dearly missed here in the city.

And wouldn’t you know it, God listened, & the military is sending us on another adventure back to San Antonio, Texas in the summer of 2024. If I said we were excited, that’d be an understatement.

BEFORE BECOMING MOM

Let’s start at the very beginning, a small town in West Virginia where I was born and raised, and where I met my husband during college. My educational journey led me to not one, but two master’s degrees, one in Child Development and Family Studies and the other in Rehabilitation Counseling. I had grand aspirations of making a difference in the lives of children and their families.

My career took me through various mental health settings, including adolescent rehabilitation, foster care, family counseling, school counseling, and community outpatient counseling. I also had the pleasure of instructing eager minds at the university, a role I cherished. All of this continued even through my first pregnancy.

However, when my son came into the world, everything changed. In an instant, I knew I couldn’t go back to work. I wanted to be there for him, and I was fortunate (or should I say blessed) to be in a position where I could stay at home with him. Fast forward seven years, and three more incredible children later, and here we are.

My days are now filled with shuttling my older two kids to and from school, wrangling the younger two at home, acting as an executive chef, housekeeper, interior designer, accountant, adventure planner, cheerleader, teacher, and, when the day winds down, a loving wife and mother.

THE BLOG

Now that you know a little more about me I want to welcome you to my lifestyle blog!

I’m absolutely thrilled to be on this journey, not quite certain where it will lead, but entirely convinced that if I can help just one mama, it’s all worth it. As time unfolds, I’m certain it will evolve, but here’s a taste of what you can expect: motherhood + military life, recipes, home, travel, and photography.

As a military spouse, I’ve discovered the art of creating a warm and welcoming home, regardless of our ever-changing surroundings. Rooted in the philosophy fo slow living, my heart finds joy in savoring life’s simple pleasures. With a camera in hand, I capture the beauty of our adventures, while my soul yearns for new experiences and discoveries.

I’m thrilled to share these passions with you on this blog, where we’ll explore the magic of homemaking, photography and embracing life’s adventures together.

Let’s embark on this beautiful journey together and enjoy the simple, meaningful moments of life.