Welcome! This blog is a recorded journal of part of my life; a lifestyle blog that features a little bit of many topics such as travel, photography, running, hiking, crafting, sewing, gardening, health, food, and parenting.
This blog is a transfer and continuation of my original blog which I started in 2011 to allow our family and friends to follow our life while we were stationed (Air Force) in South Korea for a year. It developed into a photo travel blog as I explored that country and traveled to others. Original blog: www.johnnieandangela.blogspot.com
In 2012, we got stationed in Hawaii and had baby C. The blog then transformed into a record of my pregnancy and then became our daughter’s baby book so that our loved ones, whom we lived far from, could watch her grow (including J, who was gone for work for most of my pregnancy and much of C’s first 3 years). Unfortunately, housing in Hawaii (we lived in 3 long-term houses and 2 short-term houses) presented environmental challenges which caused Dulce, C, and I to all develop separate health issues (on top of the pre-eclampsia and c-section I was already recovering from) which took years to recuperate from, made more challenging by the fact that J was away so often. During all that time I stopped blogging to focus on healing us all.
When we moved from Hawaii in 2015, J took a ‘life-changing’ trip to Uruguay for language school en route while C, Dulce, and I went ahead to the mainland and began renovations on our next home. We were stationed in Georgia from 2015-2017 where J deployed for an entire year. After that, we were stationed in Virginia from 2017-2020 and were there when the world shut down due to Covid. J retired from the Air Force in 2020 and his next career was on hold due to the pandemic, so we bought an RV and traveled the country full-time for a year. After our travels, we bought a beautiful “forever house” in Gig Harbor, Washington. Life was lovely but it felt “off”. In an effort to fix it, I agreed to an impulsive decision to move to Seattle in 2023, but shortly after moving, I learned that the love of my life hadn’t been who I thought he was for the past 8 years… it is my greatest disappointment. Had I known before what I learned after, I never would have agreed to move to Seattle. Life in city has been challenging, isolating, and has negatively impacted C and Dulce. We are still in the city for now but planning our next move for the summer of 2026.
Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we thought they would, because we are meant for something different. I now see the blessing in the breaking; the ending I didn’t want is the new beginning I didn’t know I needed. I’m thankful for the opportunity to start over and create something better for my daughter and I on my own terms. I was painfully forged in the fire and will forever carry scars that may never fully heal, but I am stronger for it. What is there to fear when you’ve already walked through flames? Sometimes the thing you are avoiding is the very thing that will set you free. Be brave. Go live your life and live it well.
Who I am:
My name is Angela. I am a 40-something year old Pennsylvania girl now living in Seattle by way of 22 homes within 8 states and 2 countries. I’m a mama to one fantastic kid (C) and one sweet senior dog (Dulce). I have a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology, and certificates in Plant Based Nutrition and Medicinal Plants. I have had careers as a school teacher (teaching in 5 states), an Instructional Technology Specialist at a university, and a photo studio photographer and manager. I am a mom, a teacher, a photographer, and a maker.
What does a “A Lot and A Couple” mean?
The name “A Lot & A Couple” came about because of my daughter. When she was 3 years old and I would say to her, “I love you a lot,” she would reply, “I love you a lot… and a couple.” I chose A Lot and A Couple as my blog and business name because it is a message of love and it allows room for growth.
Thank you for joining me!
