• First Vacation after Coronavirus: Long Weekend in Destin and Crab Island

    We just came back from an incredible long weekend with some of our closest friends.  We originally planned to visit Drew’s best friend and his family, who welcomed a new baby girl in January, in March.  However, with the coronavirus in full swing we decided to postpone until May.  While I was super hesitant given that restrictions had just been loosened, I am very happy that we decided to go.  I did not realize how much our entire family was craving some normalcy and socialization with close friends.Many of our friends in Atlanta travel to 30A for family vacations.  We always go to South Carolina beaches, and never experienced the…

  • Things I Learned at 32 (and wish I knew earlier!)

    Life is funny, you learn things as you go and look back and wish you implemented things sooner.  Today, I am sharing with you a few things that I started doing at 32 (and wish I did earlier!).  If you are younger than 32, try them out and if you are older than 32 and don’t do these things—well, there is no time like the present! Things I learned at 32: Wash your face: Say what?! It literally took me until this year to regularly wash my face.  Gross, but true!  I have ridiculously sensitive skin and felt like washing my face irritated it more than it benefited.  Well silly me,…

  • Stress Relief Techniques During The Quarantine

    Week four of the coronavirus quarantine and its time to find new stress relief techniques in our household.  We have been indulging more on our adult beverages and running/biking to relieve stress.  While the extra runs are certainly great for the body, the alcohol consumption is definitely not!  After many discussions, input from others (thank you friends on social media!) and online research; I complied a list of activities that hopefully will provide joy and stress relief to others during this crazy period. List of Stress Relief Activities:  Journalling: If you haven’t tried journalling now is a perfect time to preserve your memories of this crazy time and destress by…

  • Taking Family Photos with Toddlers: Our Family Pictures 2019

    Wow, getting ready for family pictures can be super stressful.  After 4 years of getting pictures done (really 6 if you include engagement and wedding), you would think I would have it mastered–but no such luck!  The most important lesson I have learned is to go with the flow when it comes to taking family pictures.I set my expectations super low this year and it really helped us relax and get some fantastic pictures.  I feel like in years past, I put so much pressure on us to take good photos and everyone to be happy–but the reality of it is that toddlers will act how they want and you…

  • Camping with a Toddler and Baby: Our Trip to Balsam, North Carolina

    We just got back from our first camping trip as a family of 4.  I was apprehensive about camping with a baby and a toddler, but boy I am so happy we did!  Drew grew up camping with his family and Boy Scout troop and finds it important that we raise our boys loving the outdoors.  I am more of a “city girl” when it comes to the outdoors, but figure that since camping is so important to my husband I could either “join em” or be left out.For our inaugural camping trip with Walker (we went camping with Reid when he was 15 months old), we went to a…