I’ve been looking forward to sharing today’s featured blogger with you all week! I personally couldn’t waited to get her interview questions back and read all that she had to share. Today’s blogger is Kathleen from Wanderlust and Mayhem, and she writes one of those blogs that is very easy to get sucked into for a good, long while (I know from experience!) She writes about some of the most fascinating topics, and I personally have really enjoyed clicking around her site lately. I hope you enjoy “meeting” her today. 🙂
Q: In three sentences or less, tell us a little bit about who you are. ☺
A: I am a mama to four very active boys and a wife to an Air Force pilot. We are all currently living a crazy expat life in Bangkok, Thailand. I grew up as an Air Force Brat; a lifetime of association with the military had led to moving 13 times in my life, and we are about to pack up for the 14th time in a couple of months. I love photography, chocolate, and traveling the world with my guys.
Q: When and why did you originally start blogging?
A: I originally started blogging nearly a year ago. I started as a way of telling our adoption story and sharing our experiences with family and friends while living in Thailand.
Q: I know you have four awesome sons. How old are they and what are some your favorite things about raising boys?
A: Jackson is 9 years old, Gavin is 6.5 year old, and our twins, Ryan and Dylan are nearly 5 years old. My favorite thing about raising boys is that they constantly keep us on our toes. Raising boys is the craziest, and most fun experience… There is always someone trying to make us laugh. Everything is funny to boys, especially if it revolves around potty talk. Raising boys is an adventure in itself, but the fact that we are raising twin boys make things double interesting. Some of my other favorite things about raising boys is the fact that that they love their mama. While they are young they are extra loving. They have so much energy and I wish half of the time that we could bottle up that energy. They don’t stop moving…ever!!! They are certainly teaching me that I better get out of my comfort zone, and learn to love to be outside and be covered in dirt at all times. That’s really the best part. These boys are making me grow as a person. Isn’t that what life’s about?
Q: When and why did your family make the big move to Bangkok?
A: We moved to Bangkok in January of 2013. The Air Force moved us here so that my husband could take a job at our U.S Embassy here in Bangkok. It has been one of the best assignments we never thought that we would get.
Q: I loved your recent post about the van window breaking and how it highlighted difficulties of living overseas. In what other areas have you all struggled while adjusting to living in a foreign country?
A: The language barrier can be very frustrating at times, but I think the biggest adjusting you have to do when living abroad is learning to fit in and accept the local culture. For example, in Thailand, the culture is to save face; that means agreeing to do things even if one never plans to follow through. It can be extremely frustrating to a westerner. But all the differences are what make living abroad such a learning experience and so much fun. Sometimes you just have to throw everything you know about America and how we do things out the window. Expat life is very easy in some ways, but in others, like the window…it can be a headache.
Q: I admire your heart and deep passion for adoption. When and why did you start 1000 Scarves?
A: We started our 1000 scarves campaign when we knew that we were going to have to change our adoption route. We know so many families that do fundraisers to help fund their adoptions. We wanted to use our already small shop of handmade items to help our family fund our adoption.
Q: What else can you tell us about 1000 Scarves?
A: We have raised some money to help our adoption and now we are opening up our 1000 Scarves program to other families to help fund their adoptions. When you purchase one of our scarves you are not only helping my family bring home our little girl, but you could be helping another family bring home their child. Finally, you are helping support the Thai community and the artisians that are just trying to make an honest living.
Q: How can people best get in touch with you to discuss 1000 Scarves more?
A: You can read all about our 1000 Scarves campaign on my blog wanderlustandmayhem.com or you can contact me at Kathleen@wanderlustandmayhem.com. We love sharing our story and helping other families to bring their children home.
Q: Where should new readers start on your site if they are brand new?
- Why I’m Doing This
- Read About The Start of Our Adoption
- Make New Friends But Keep The Old (Military Life)
And just for fun…
- Sugar or chocolate chip cookies? That is a tough one both are the best right out of the oven but I think that I would choose Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Concert or a play? Although I haven’t been to one in a while I would choose a concert.
- Tennis shoes or sandals? Sandals. After living in Bangkok, where it is constant summer, I haven’t worn tennis shoes in quite a while.
- Facebook or Instagram? Instagram. I love seeing photos along with reading everyones stories.
Find Kathleen on social media: Facebook | Instagram
In case you’re new to Whimsical September…
Hi! I’m Erica! I created the Saturday Sit-Down series in January 2017 as a way to give back to the blogging community and link readers with new bloggers whom they may share similar interests with. Click here to discover more bloggers that have been featured in the Saturday Sit-Down.
Want to be featured in this series?
I have openings starting in late 2017 and would love to feature you! Email me at WHIMSICALSEPTEMBER@YAHOO.COM to get in touch.
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Hi! I’m Erica, and I absolutely adore sharing my life on this website with you! I come here almost daily to blab about all of the things related to being a regular wife and mother in today’s ever-evolving society. I share about our new home, what’s on our kitchen table, what we’re hanging in our closets, where we’re traveling to next, my crazy 5 a.m. work outs, how I make time for girlfriends, our faith, and much more. We always have a lot of balls in the air and somewhat thrive on the chaos. I believe in the power of story-telling as a form of inspiration and entertainment, so I’m here to do both! I was born and raised in north Alabama and recently re-planted roots here again after my husband transitioned out of the Army (he is now in the Reserve and it’s going so well!) I’m a super proud mom to three little girls (ages 7, 4, and 1) who seem to be the stars of the show around here (for good reason – they’re pretty great!) I’m so glad you found me and are here reading! I hope we can get to know each other here on the blog as well as Facebook and/or Instagram. xoxo