Back to School for Me!

Hi all!

I start school today!!!!! It actually felt like forever due to the move. I stopped going in Europe back in mid March. I am excited and super nervous. I actually missed my school routine and now that I am somewhere new and still adjusting it's really nerve-wrecking.

The schedule I have is pretty intense and there is a lot I must do schoolwise. Not mention at home. I have birthday parties to plan, I have a guest from Germany coming, I have a husband who will be TDY for 3 weeks and of course normal day to day mom stuff. EEEK. So it's really hard for me not to feel overwhelmed.

I hope to continue to blog. Another thing on my plate, but it will help me plan and structure things as odd as that sounds. When the kids go back to school, I hope to have some freedom. My youngest will not be in school which will be a little hard, so I have to plan and plan to keep him entertained as I dedicate 40+ more hours to school on a weekly basis.

Any moms in school who reads my blog?

I did have a pretty awesome break. 6 countries 3 continents and a big move. I think this was the best school break I've ever had so now it's time to work hard! Because when I do, my kids do as well!!!

Happy back to school!!!

My worries.....

I sit here at this computer. "Butterflies" are break dancing in my stomach. This whole morning has been spent sporadically praying, looking for a confidence boost from anything with a pulse, any power in the universe.

Since maybe the end of 2011. Everything new makes me extremely nervous. I've always been a bit nervous and very shy, but this is a new feeling. I always feel sometimes I run my mouth too quickly, thus my dreams runs away with it. I know it's weird, but I can't be the only person who feels this. Maybe someone else does a little? Maybe you? Who knows. In 2012, I tried to be a bit more reserved. Some things I just couldn't be reserved about like, finding out our next move. But after I made the big post on Facebook, I deleted it the very next day. I got worried because I wanted it sooooooo much for so many years, I think it will, too, perish like other big events that I've hoped to happen and that's never come to light over the years. So I keep quiet about it, rarely talk about it, hoping others would forget. There is a lot that must be accomplished and I am of course a big worrywart about everything.

Today, I am just discussing a smaller transition. The transition into a new semester of college. Everyone who I share my worries says, "no worries, you got it" and I appreciate it so much. But I still haven't found that confidence within myself. I am in my Junior year and I know things will get harder from herein and I am worried about juggling a family, planning our last bits of travel in Europe, and all the preparations that comes with moving to another overseas location. It's so much and I don't want to sacrifice anything, although I know I will. But all of these are important to my mental well being. We did plan some trips, but decided on easier trips, we are in the midst of getting everything together for our move quite slowly, but the pace will hasten in the coming months. I haven't even factored in my husband's work and his work trips. I am a nervous wreck. That month off from school I realized that I really, really enjoy being a stay-at-home mother. I love spending time with the kids, cleaning, cooking beautiful meals throughout the week. But with things in life you want really badly like a degree for me so I can help my husband support the family after he retires (soon!). I just realize more and more that taking the easy route will keep me at a plateau and I have to make a big effort to work out a plan where I can juggle everything.  I may not be cooking everyday, jet-setting every month, have the cleanest house on the block. But I hope to be able to indulge in some little pleasures, while working damn hard to accomplish my goals. 

My college semesters are broken down into 2 sessions. Each session is 8 weeks long. So a 16 week curriculum is condensed into 8 weeks. So everything is fast paced and a bit of a adrenaline rush. The last session of the Fall semester, I thought I chose a class I believed to be difficult and a class that I believed would be kind of easy to get through. I thought WRONG. Both classes were a challenge and I was constantly doing school work. I worked even harder because we planned a 6 day getaway. I didn't want to get behind. Though that 6 day getaway was refreshing, I had a lot of work to catch-up with when I got home because I didn't want to look at ANY school work that whole time we were away. So it took me a couple weeks to get on top of things only dive into finals, final projects etc. So I was chin-deep in school work until the session was over. We planned a winter weekend getaway months ago thinking the semester would be over on the last day of class, but I still had a final project due the Monday after the last class. I was so exhausted when that semester was over and then after the semester was over, we took another trip and we had to dive into all the Christmas festivities. I was exhausted and I am in so much fear that this will happen again. I am happy I had such a difficult session so I can learn from my mistakes and try to be prepared for something similar happening throughout my college career. 

This semester I am taking a Digital Media class and Statistics. I've been worried about it since I found out that it was a required class for my degree. So it is definitely a class I want over with and done especially with my previous math class fresh in my mind. The Digital Media class is an upper-level class so of course I am worried and want to do my best. Mid semester I am taking a seminar class. So I have three classes this semester. I am a wreck, but I really hope I come out it alive at least.

Sommer J's Relaxed to Natural Journey!

I wasn't sure when I cut all my hair off after having a micro braids in WAY too long whether I was going to stay natural. My impatience and watching many many "BIG CHOP" you tube videos inspired me to chop my hair off. I really wanted to go natural because my hair was thinning badly, it would stop growing after a certain length. Perhaps because I didn't put a lot of TLC into my hair. Back when I was in college, I'd keep my hair braided up under a bandanna and my hair grew so fast and very long. Then I let little girls play in it along with the stress of another transition in my life (moving out on my own -forcibly) and then joining the military feeling like I let everyone down because of my declining college grades was NOT good for my hair one bit. I don't have any pictures from that time, but I was known as the "the tall girl with long pretty hair" sometimes it was "tall girl with pretty curly hair" when I'd stretch my relaxers and wear braid outs or wash n goes (on relaxed hair!). I then joined the military, my hairdresser begged me to go natural years ago, but i thought it would be too much work, and I had to look neat and tight as a military member. Oh how uneducated I def was. From then on my hair went from bad to worse. With my multiple pregnancies, busy life, bad coloring jobs by my self, bad perms, bad weaves, my poor hair got no love. Even when I thought I was trying. I really was. Lets begin!

This is me about 2 weeks after delivering my youngest. I had lots of braid styles the months prior to his birth. It grew thicker, not much longer. However....

We moved a few weeks later and transitioning, getting settled in our new life, my hair's health definitely took a toll

I looked to weaves to help retain length. That didn't work. The hairstylist criticized my hair's health with no advice. and the weaves never looked good after a couple weeks

\

2nd weave

Hats were my friend...particularly this wool hat in all climates. 

I didn't want to go back to the same salon so i removed the sew in myself. Hoping to see some length I was sorely disappointed and cut my hair

Still very unhappy with my hair and my appearance I got a haircut. Hoping for a pixie cut, I didn't get one just a normal cut. It was cute for maybe a month

So then I went searching for hairdressers who did braids, preferably home visits as my husband was deployed. And thankfully I did! She did an amazing job! They were so tight not one braid fell out...not sure if that's good or bad, especially for a hair novice like myself

They started looking tired after 3 months, but I had no time and no help with my husband deployed so they were in my hair for 5 months!

I started removing them myself even went out for drinks with a friend. My trusty hat! LOL

BIG CHOP END OF OCTOBER 2011

Finally, I HAD IT! Watching you tube about natural hair journeys, a feat I nearly took on in'08 but chickened out. I considered be natural this time, but wasn't sure whether or not I would perm my hair in the next months. 

I didn't take many pics because i was very self conscious. That HAT again.

MONTH 1 November

Then the inevitable happened, my brother died. I didn't give a flip about my hair. When I went back to the states, my sister offered to braid my hair, a break and kind gesture i sorely needed at the time.

December

Low maintenance hair sorely needed during the holidays and grieving stages

January

Did an uneven cut on my braids. Was annoyed at its length ;-)

February

Hair is getting old

March

Debuted my hair to most of the world. Got a lot of compliments. This is a twist out btw 

April

I had these braids for a month in a half this is at the tail end lol.

June no pics from May. This is me and my Stepson and my littlest man!

 

I picked out the coils in July :-)

I straightened and colored in July. A bit of a disaster. but I deep conditioned like a champ

In August my hair started looking and feeling healthy again

Awesome wash n go!

My Curly Babies

This is a two day old twist out which I stretch using the multiple pineappling method. So much easier than twisting every single night!

September's shrinking wash n go

Going out on a date with the husband in October

Finally tried Naptural85's winter wash n go as i had some length and I loved the results! And my wash n go looked a lot more stretched than normal!

Twist out in Scotland cute styles didn't hold up while we were in the UK due to sooo much rain!

December in Switzerland I had a only the front with the twist out and the rest of my hair in twists with conditioner in a baggie under my beanie!

Same method in Austria. Only I had bantu knots! The front is a bantu knot out

FINALLY a two  day old wash n go side fro. Looks like my wash n goes are looking a bit longer!

I am not going to preach to anyone about going natural. I did this for me! Some days I dream of the a relaxer then I remember how limp and weak my hair was. My hair now fights back and will let me know if a style or product I am using is wack. This journey is perfect for ME. There are a lot of women who use relaxers and their hair is amazingly healthy. Women no matter what race, hair type you are, all your hair wants need is a little tender love and care. You will definitely see the results.

So happy to have support from my great family. Look for a video soon featuring me and my husband. Oooh boy

14 months natural and hopefully for the rest of my life :-)

Pumpkin Festival at Ludwigsburg Castle

Going to school has really put a damper on family time during the week with the family. I wake up, cook breakfast for my boys, study, cook breakfast for my younger two, and study/do classwork/homework for my classes, prep dinner, then it's off to school, come home, get kids in bed, more school work, prep breakfast depending on the day. I really treasure the weekend with my family. We usually do family stuff on Saturdays and Sundays is laundry day, laying in bed, preparing for the week. Rarely time for fun true family quality time, so I really treasure weekends more than ever these days.

This Saturday we went to the beautiful town of Ludwigsburg. I was impressed with every bit of it. It reminded my husband and a bit of Brussels, Belgium with the huge green beautiful park right next to palace grounds. It's beautiful, eclectic, and so quaint. We went there for the 13th annual pumpkin fest featuring all things Swiss.

Alps

Gourd House with Heidi

Swiss Flag

 There were all kinds of gourds, great food featuring different pumpkin/squash, fun for kids, libations for adults, pumpkin carving, different decor to buy for the home. It is definitely worth exploring if you live or are in Southern Germany from 31 August to 4 November. This is our last Autumn here and I plan on making the most of it!

Delicious pumpkin soup

Fun the Hay

chillin at the palace

They were determined to find a princess! There was a wedding at the palace so we sort of did meet a princess for the day!!! No photo with her because they were too shy lol.

Also worth a visit if the playground in the huge beautiful green park called Baerenwiese. It reminds me a large tree house. My children wanted to spend the rest of the evening there but we had to pick  up my eldest from his grandparents' home.

Next weekend we're going to pick apples in Mainz. Both of these trips were recommended by my friend from DIY Frau. Check out her DIY, cooking, and travel adventures!

Thanks for visiting!!!

Food, Hair, and School Update- Mobile Style

HEYYYYY! I've been kinda busy lately. I've been itching to blog about food because I've been trying out some really cool recipes. But I don't have time. Unless you want photos from my camera phone and I post recipes with them? Let me know if you want the recipes or a link to where the recipe can be found and I'll be more than happy to share!

Anyway, I just wanted to share that I am currently FIFTY FIVE credits away from graduation!!!!!! I am not sure how long it will take me, but I am happy to have a concrete number. As far as my classes now, I have a test tonight, and a midterm next week. Why the hell am I here? Because I am sharing an update with you all(procrastinating). You've been very kind and supportive of my journey. I try not to talk about it too much, because talking about any one subject all the time gets tiresome....though I don't know when to shut up about food.

My hair? So far no breakage. I started doing twist outs,  then I put mini(and mean mini) pineapples in at night as they were quicker than twisting and  it stretched my hair way better. Then I just got really busy and I do wash and gos every.single.day. lol. I am def going to need a trim soon!

                                 Ordered this from target! LOVE THEM!

Next Day after using the Keratin Deep Condition

I wash and go every damn day. So shiny and crazy!

OK can't post a blog without photos!

Food from my mobile. I cook breakfast almost everyday. I also prepare dinner earlier in the day so my husband can finish it when he comes home. That way he and the kids have fresh homemade dinners every day. My husband is also eating less carbs so we're trying a variety of new dishes with less carbs.
                                 Avocado Egg Cups

                                 
                                 Mini Frittata

                                 Avocado Egg Cups with Chorizo

                                 Avocado Egg Cups with Chorizo and Homemade Salsa

Cowboy Breakfast for my man, Bison Steaks and Eggs

                                  My little man helping make Almond Flour pancakes

                                 My son's favorite burger- Beef and mushroom burgers

I've made some great waffles but I have to say, Yeast Waffles are the BEST!!!

                                 Yeast pancakes!! Just in case you don't have a waffle iron

                                 Gluten Free Coconut-Blueberry Waffles

                                 Bacon, Egg, Toast cups

                                 Egg, Bacon, (McMom)Muffin

Gluten Free Almond Pancakes! Great but a bit eggy tasting but the family loved them. Will def experiment with this

I just want to thank you all for the support. I rarely lookk at blog stats, and being a wishy washy blogger I always expect to see maybe 10 views maybe even 25 at the most on my post, but it seems like you still kinda care. Thank you! I will try to keep up with any blog. Y'all know you will see at least 10 in a night.