Get to Know LaLa Momma

Well, I decided to start a blog as a way to express my everyday thoughts in the hopes that it will relieve some of the stresses of life, being a busy career woman, step mom, wife, and new mother in LA. So, as my first post, I thought I would tell everyone a little bit about myself so that they can see where I'm coming from, literally and figuratively.

I was brought up, for the most part, in the Midwest with my Mom and 3 siblings. I also have a half-sister and a stepmother who lived nearby with my Dad and I saw often growing up. Our family was pretty normal, as far as I'm concerned. We had a nice house in a great neighborhood where you can ride your bike up and down the street, sled down the driveway when it snows, and play "ghosts in the graveyard" with the neighborhood kids when it gets dark. We had enough money to where, if there was ever an issue, I was unaware of it.  Life was pretty good. As a preteen, my Mother re-married and, as my stepfather was a Captain in the Air Force, we moved to Europe for 4 years which, at the time, seemed like the end of life as I knew it.

Of course, as you can imagine, it was more like the beginning of life as I knew it! We spent 4 years there, traveling throughout Europe and learning about other cultures and how life outside of "the states" really does exist. It was one of the best times of my life and my experiences there will forever be ingrained in my heart and in my mind. If you have never taken a trip outside of the country, and especially if you've never gone outside of your state, this is something that you absolutely should put at the top of your to-do list! It is an amazing experience for anyone, young or old, to travel outside of your "world" for just a moment.

I digress...

So after we moved back to the states, I finished High School and went off to college, without a clear idea of how to achieve my life-long dream of being a filmmaker. By the time I graduated, I had a plan! I would move to LA - big city of dreams - and use my Advertising degree to get into making commercials and eventually start making movies.

Well, ten years in LA later, I have yet to start my star-studded filmmaking career, but have gained so many blessings along the way! It took a bit of growing up and some crazy days in my 20s, but I now have a loving husband, 3 wonderful step-children, a brand new beautiful baby girl, a good job, and an awesome God who gave it all to me!

So here I am, writing this blog so that I can share all of these blessings with whoever wants to hear about them! So why LaLa Momma, you ask? Well, there can be many interpretations of this nickname I have given myself. Of course, LaLa can signify Los Angeles (la la land) which has shaped so many of my life experiences throughout the past 10 years. Or LaLa can be attributed to my new daughter, as I have so affectionately nick-named her. LaLa can even describe my love for music, as I have been close to music from birth, being a part of a very musical family.

Whatever I can draw from the meaning of my nickname, I am here to share my everyday dreams and insights and I hope that what I share will bless, inspire, or at the very least, entertain you.