Each July, I pack up my car and my kids and we set out for Rhode Island, my home state. It's a long day in the car but we make it work and it is all worth it when we pull into the driveway of our rental and take in the salty air. Aaaah... In April of this year, I started to worry about my beach rental deposit. The pandemic wasn't winding down. Traveling between states wasn't OK. Would our trip even happen in 2020 or would it be another thing scrapped like so many other activities? Turns out YOU CAN take a pandemic beach trip here's how we did it. Pandemic Pre-Trip Prep Work Before we left I did a ton of research about what the state we were traveling through expected of any visitors. So far we were in the clear and not expected to quarantine upon arrival. I talked to the … [Read more...]
Helpful Tips For Knowing Where To Start With Your Home Renovations
When it comes time for home renovations, it can be overwhelming to know what projects you want to do. One of the best ways to decide where you should invest your money is by looking at where you spend the most money. If you're constantly repairing or patching your roof, maybe it's time to look into replacing it once and for all. Or if you're spending time and energy washing your still-dirty dishes after they go through the dishwasher, maybe it's time to look into a new dishwasher. The same goes for any part of your house. Knowing what's outdated or malfunctioning is a great place to start when considering home renovations, even if it's just for aesthetic purposes. Here are some of the top ways to identify where renovations are needed. Where Do You Spend The Most Money? As stated … [Read more...]
Traveling is the Gift The Keeps on Giving
*Disclosure: This compensated partnership is between Nakturnal and my blog. TMC also uses affiliate links for compensation. All opinions are 100% my own. V & E through the years. Remembering When One year ago last month I had the honor to stand alongside my best friend, Erika, as she pledged her love in a sunny vineyard wedding ceremony. The scene was a Southern California winery. Guests traveled from all over the country, including Alaska where the bride and groom reside. I, myself, came from clear across the country to spend a few days helping her and the groom. I look back on those memories now fondly. It was a time spent with wonderful people and in many different parts of Southern California. A whirlwind but a great one. It made me realize that travel is the gift … [Read more...]
News, Notes, & 1950s Fashion
What's new with all you quarantina's this week? Still staying cozy, baking, and zooming? Me either. I'm done. I am so officially done. I'm not complaining because I do actually like not driving my kids ninety-bazillion places each day and barely taking time to eat or read a book or talk with my spouse. I like our quiet evenings at home where we aren't in a rush for showers and mid-week fire pits are now a thing. However, I'm so over my roots, missing my friends, and not seeing family. That part blows. News Then this happened this past weekend. This has not sucked. It has been a ray of hope and sunshine and grace. Not going to lie, it's also a nice distraction for the kids right about now. Meet Gracie. Everyone needs a little grace. So far as Gracie comes out of her … [Read more...]
News, Notes & Favorite Earth Day Things
How is everyone doing right now? I mean, really, how are you doing? For my family here in Virginia, we have been in quarantine for over a month. We are in our second week of distance learning for our kids despite them being out since Friday, the 13th. It's been a challenge. However, we now realize that the slower pace suits us in a lot of ways. Still, we miss our friends. We miss their faces. We miss our church family. Truthfully, I'm in a full Lymes flare up the likes of which I haven't experienced since 2018 when I was in full treatment mode. I've been put on new drugs and anti-anxiety meds and I'm breaking out like a hormonal teen but I'm weeks away from turning 44. I feel so pretty! Sigh. Some days I don't know if I have got a handle on things or not. Some days I am barely … [Read more...]
Parenting Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Tips for Parents
@priscilladupreez (unsplash) This is an unprecedented time in our world and, understandably, there are many questions and concerns due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The shut down of schools, business establishments, and restaurants combined with social distancing, and self-quarantine have resulted in major changes to how we navigate our daily lives. Families with children of all ages are impacted by these changes. Parents are creatively looking to adapt to new routines to support their children while seeking to establish responsibility, peace, and joy in the household. The balancing act can bring both rewards and challenges. Staying at home and following the directives from government officials is important. We all need to find safe and meaningful ways to support our children, one … [Read more...]
One Fast Healthy Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast
This breakfast recipe I'm about to show you is one of my favorite healthy breakfast options. It is one of the first steps I take daily to ensure that I am building a healthy body both inside and outside. I want to keep my body as strong and clean as possible to ward off flare-ups from my chronic Lyme disease. Clean eating and anti-inflammatory diet help a lot. Long Ago in a Galaxy Far Away... Actually, it was December 2017 and my Lyme doctor told me to eliminate all sugar (unless it was natural), dairy, alcohol, and gluten. Dreadful news to hear during a holiday season. I needed to clean up my food to reduce the level of inflammation in my body and help eliminate the massive amount of full-body pain and fatigue I was dealing with daily. Lyme disease is a great imitator and it loves … [Read more...]
My Personal Perspective: Supporting Abortion Rights
Abortion is a topic that has been at the center of countless debates, discussions, and controversies for decades. It's a deeply personal and often emotionally charged issue, and I believe that supporting a woman's right to choose is not just a matter of policy but a fundamental aspect of respecting individual autonomy and bodily sovereignty. My perspective on supporting abortion rights has evolved over the years. It's not a decision I made lightly but rather one that emerged from a combination of personal experiences, research, and empathy. At the core of my belief in supporting abortion rights is the fundamental principle that individuals should have control over their own bodies and reproductive choices. No one else should dictate what a person can or cannot do with their body. I … [Read more...]
How Can I Help My Teen Be A Safer Driver?
For a teen, there's nothing more exciting than passing the driver's test. Being able to drive gives them a new source of freedom and responsibility. But for parents, seeing your child get behind the wheel of a car is stressful, to say the least. Auto accidents are one of the top five most common types of personal injury cases, and in auto accident cases it's important to hire a car accident lawyer or personal injury lawyer to defend your child's rights. It's estimated that 80% of bumper scratches occur when a driver is parking their own car. It takes a lot of time, patience, and communication to feel better about your child driving. But the good news is there are a few ways you can reduce your teen driver's risk of getting into a car accident while they're behind the wheel. Make … [Read more...]
Finding Yourself & Fighting Through Chronic Illness
In the winter of 2018, my illness was raging and using my body as a battlefield. Chronic illness warriors, you know what I'm talking about. At my weekly therapy session, I described to my therapist about how my inability to work, be busy and "normal" had shown me a new side of myself, except it wasn't quite so new. In fact, I was getting reacquainted with the old me. The base me. The me I knew as a child and as a teen. I Lost Myself to the Busy. I think that's fairly normal. Once I realized this I also quickly noticed how much I missed that quiet person. I'm an introvert. An introvert with strong opinions, who loves light but finds beauty in darkness. Having the real me back was eye-opening. Finding the essence of who I am at my core again was exhilarating and also something I … [Read more...]