Good day all! I am Amanda, mother of Salvatore (2) and Giada (6 months) and spouse of Jeff. I was born and raised near Lynchburg, Virginia. I went to college at the Virginia Military Institute.
Post-college, I went to work at the Institute and eventually moved back home and entered the restaurant field. There, I quickly fell head over heels in love with fine food, wine, and beer. I loved learning about all the variations and combinations of each and how you arrived at the final mouth-watering taste.
Over the next few years, another love won my heart. I moved to upstate New York to be with my military spouse. Upon moving to New York, I landed a job with the airlines. My boss, whom I call “Mother Eagle”, told me it’s a job I would either love or hate; there was no in-between. And boy was she right! I loved every minute of my job. Plus the added perk of being able to fly for free helped. I excelled at my job and eventually traveled all over the country working in different airports. It was perfect considering my military spouse was deployed often, we didn’t have kids and it kept me busy.
We permanently changed station {PCS’ed} from New York to Alabama where, unfortunately, my “mil spouse” and my job didn’t see eye to eye. My job won the battle. I wished my mil spouse all the love that I could, and I still hope that he finds happiness.
My job sent me to Marquette. Yep, the Great White North, or at least that’s what I always told my friends and family when they asked what the UP was like. During my time in Marquette, which I absolutely loved, my friendship with my now-husband Jeff changed into a relationship. By March of 2018, we made the decision for me to move to our current home in Swartz Creek.
April of 2018 brought Salvatore James and 17 months later Giada Eleanor was born!
I eventually left my job with the airlines, a job that I miss most days. But I found a new job(s) working for the United States Postal Service, as a hearing reporter for the Social Security Administration, a Virtual Assistant for a community impact organization, and as a mother.
My days are often a blur of organized chaos, but so far I’m still balancing all the plates. My downtime is spent reading, listening to audiobooks, binge-watching the latest Netflix while enjoying a piece of chocolate and a glass of something. Mostly it’s water but sometimes my glass if full of deep, dark, dry red wine. I prefer to spend my time outside with the family and the dog–who has her own IG!
I can’t wait to share and connect with this community. So here’s to learning, loving and laughing! Cheers!
