Growing up, I was fortunate enough to travel a LOT. I’ve visited every single state on the eastern seaboard, from Florida all the way up to Maine; I’ve taken a month long trip to Europe; I’ve visited many of the major cities in the US, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and more; I’ve travelled to nearly a dozen national parks; I lived in Hawaii for over a year; and most importantly, I have a deep love for my home state of North Carolina, and love to “travel” and see beautiful sights without ever crossing state lines.
So whether you’re wanting ideas for your next vacation, or tips on how to fully appreciate all of the beauty NC has to offer (hint: there’s a LOT), you’ve come to the right place.
Several months ago, I had an idea: What if my husband and I took all five kids and the dog camping? My husband and I took just our puppy camping last summer. I had found out that I was pregnant only one day beforehand, and we spent the whole weekend excitedly planning and daydreaming our … More Our First Campout with Five Kids
The last weekend in July, my husband, my oldest daughter, and I all flew to Utah for a quick weekend trip. My parents helped make this trip happen, as they wanted as much family in town as possible for my brother’s wedding on July 25th, and I am super thankful for their help! My husband … More A Quick Trip to Utah Valley
For the past several years, when asked what my favorite memories were, I would rattle off the usual suspects: Getting married. Seeing my daughter smile for the first time. Finding out I was accepted to law school. Giving birth to my twins. But through it all, there’s always been something else, something a little different, … More Tackling Timpanogos
Before I had the twins in February, and really before I started law school in the fall of 2024, I was a trail and ultra runner. It feels like a lifetime ago. My husband and I would drive to the mountains on our weekends without the kids, and run anywhere from 15-25 miles. In the … More Coconino Cowgirl Dropout
As the twins get older and I continue to heal from pregnancy and birth, I am finding myself getting more and more stir crazy. Before they were born, I was determined that having twins wasn’t going to stop me from doing anything I would normally do pre-twins. Whether that was hiking, traveling, working, … More The Twins’ First Trip to the Mountains
A few months ago, when the twins were maybe five weeks old, an idea popped into my head one day:
‘Kevin and Thomas should go camping together!’ I don’t know what prompted the idea. Maybe it was because I felt bad that with the twins’ arrival, my stepson was now … More Marshmallows, Mishaps, and Memories
For Christmas this year, my parents were kind enough to fly me out to California with them to visit my grandparents, who live near Huntington Beach. My mom’s twin sister and her husband also drove in from their home up north. My grandparents have lived in their house for a long, long time, and I’ve … More Christmas in California
Living 5000 miles away from home, and in a very different environment, nothing is more exciting or comforting than going home to Carolina for a few weeks! This past December, I made it my goal to squeeze in as much Chick-fil-A, Kimono, Cracker Barrel, Bojangles, Krispe Kreme, hiking, Mom’s cooking, sibling adventures, and MJ quality … More Winter Break
Step by Step Parenting 