It’s no secret that Key West is undoubtedly one of my favorite places in the world. With the sunny days, tropical landscapes, vast ocean views and boundless activities to immerse yourself in, it’s certainly not surprising either. After finding myself answering some of the same questions time and time again, I thought it high time […]
When planning an upcoming vacation, isn’t one of the first things we do, a quick Google search of “things to do” in said location? I know it’s one of the first things I do because even when I am planning on spending most of the time on the beach, I also know my skin will […]
The #1 most common question asked, by those ready to take on Key West is undoubtedly, “Where is the best place to stay?”. With good reason. This southernmost island in the continental USA may only be 4 miles long by 3 miles wide, but there are boundless options for travelers when choosing accommodations. The first […]
Along the banks of the muddy Mississippi River, lies the small town of Hannibal, Missouri. If you were born in or spent any time residing in the Show-me-State, you’ve likely not only heard of, but know a bit of history about Hannibal. Mark Twain was a famous author that wasn’t born in Hannibal, but raised […]
Six years ago, I was blessed to have landed a job with an amazing, small specialty pharmacy as their Director of Nursing. I cherished this job for many reasons; good pay, top notch co-workers, two owners/bosses that went above and beyond for the employees. The employees spent time here, learning about ourselves and what makes […]
2020 was undoubtedly a hard year on most everyone in this world. Last year, however, meant a lot more hardships to me than just having to stay quarantined at home or having to homeschool my kids. To me, 2020 was the most emotionally tolling and mentally draining year in my life to date. It was […]
I love summer more than anything. My motto is: “The hotter, the better”. And I mean every word of that…. Until Fall arrives. Fall in Missouri is like this end-of-season gift that we’re blessed with right before the hell that is a Missouri winter hits. Around here, Fall brings cooler temps, sunnier days and all […]
After getting burned out on camping years ago, when we had one toddler and our lives revolved around her, we put camping away on the shelf of things that were just far too difficult to enjoy at the time. With all the packing of toys and diapers and snacks and things, it all seemed entirely […]
Last month was our 9-year wedding anniversary. We don’t always make a big to-do about it but since we hadn’t done such in several years, I felt called to make a big to-do about it this year. Next year will be the big 1-0 for us and I’m hoping for not just a big to-do […]
Summer on the horizon means many things to me. Smore’s roasting over an open fire, lazy days spent floating on the river, cozy evenings under the Big Dipper on my back patio, and state park camping trips with the kiddos. The last one on that list has only begun to inch it’s way back, after […]
Adventure and exploration in our fine state of Missouri is one of the many joys in my life. To find something that I never knew existed, right in my “backyard” is thrilling to me in a way that I can’t even explain. Last month, we kicked off camping season with a trip to St Francois […]
Last year in August, we took the kids and my mother-in-law for an end-of-summer beach vacation to Pensacola Beach. We stayed at a fantastic condo on Gulf Breeze Island and we had amazing views out every window. (If you want more info about the condo we rented, e-mail me for more details and I’ll send […]
Two years ago in May, we decided to take a vacation to St Louis. This was an atypical decision for us. We live only two hours away from St Louis and can go any time we want, so we usually vacation at the beach or well, usually it’s just at the beach. This particular year, […]
The bloodiest 47 acres in America. That’s the first thing you’ll read when you log on to the Missouri State Penitentiary’s website. Well, I don’t know about you but that’s enough advertisement for me… Sign me up! Lucky for me, I’ve got several friends that wanted to take a walk through black holes and haunted […]
2019. The New Year. A time for fresh starts, self-reflection and a renewed sense of hope and purpose. With every new year, comes the time when we ask ourselves, “What do I need to improve on in the next year?”. Some people want to lose the weight they’ve been battling with or learn a new […]
Post originally published on September 27, 2018; Post update published on September 30, 2021 Is taking a trip to Key West, Florida on your radar? That’s great! It should be! In fact, let’s take it one step further from your radar to your calendar right away. First thing’s first, let’s discuss the best times to […]
There are a few things in life that I know to be of concrete truth. Politicians are liars, there is no love like a mama’s love and Florida is God’s favorite state. Plain and simple. The evidence is in the many, many beaches that this beautiful state was blessed with on both sides! With the […]
Our fourth day on the island. Our final day on the island. I always feel a little melancholy on the last day of vacation because I know the end is near and I never want my vacations to end. Sunday was our fourth day and it started with a gentle sunrise and a cup of […]
We woke up, intentionally, bright and early, day three on the island. We managed to get up before the sun peaked over the horizon and ate our blueberry muffins, purchased the day before from the Anna Maria General Store (read more about the general store from Day #2, here) on the screened in porch of […]
After a restful night of sleep and a long overdue morning of sleeping in (you know, the three kids and all), Robby and I woke to a beautiful, sunny, Anna Maria morning. We made a pot of coffee in our Tarpon Treehouse kitchen, threw on some lounge clothes, and enjoyed our morning cup of joe […]
