Turning 41 and Wandering: One Year of Blogging and Big Plans Ahead

Turning 41 has me feeling reflective, grateful, and, honestly, just a little in awe of how fast life is moving. This past year brought big moments: my blog turned one, Pickleball became even more of a constant in my life (despite a minor setback), and our family packed in some memorable travels. From personal growth to planning our next big adventure, here’s a look at what’s been happening—and what’s coming next.

Life Lately

We’re about a month out from our 2025 Big Summer Trip, and we’re seriously excited!

My girls are turning 10 and 12 this summer, and I’m starting to truly understand what people mean when they say, “They’ll be grown in the blink of an eye.” This past year has flown by and brought a handful of fun adventures along the way. Some of our highlights include trips to Palm Coast, Alys Beach, New York, Disney (a couple of times!), and New Orleans.

Next up: London, Paris, and a Benson Boone concert in Austin, Texas—we can’t wait! We’re even brainstorming a 2026 Big Summer Trip. I’ll keep you posted!

The Blog

I’m a couple of months late celebrating the first birthday of my blog, but better late than never! I was pretty active on here for the first 8 or 9 months, but once trip planning ramped up for our fast-approaching London/Paris vacation, I just couldn’t keep pace. And then there’s my “real world” job… only so many hours in the day, right? So, once our summer travels wrap up and the kids are back in school, I’m looking forward to really unpacking my thoughts and sharing all the details from this big trip. I can’t wait!

Pickleball

Self-Improvement

I’ve also been focusing on ways to build healthier habits, budget and save more effectively, travel smarter, and plan for the future—both financially and emotionally. I try to multitask in all aspects of my life. With this in mind, I try to make use of my nearly hour-long round-trip work commute. So, I’ve been listening to Audible! Here are some insightful books that I loved and recommend:

• Atomic Habits by James Clear – His backstory is inspiring, and he teaches practical strategies where small changes can make significant differences in your life.
• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey – He’s old-school, but his no-nonsense advice is helpful if you’re looking to reset or refocus your financial goals.
• Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar – a thoughtful, research-based look at what actually brings joy in life.
• How to Win at Travel by Brian Kelly – A must-listen if you’re into points and miles, but also full of valuable tips for creating smoother, more memorable travel experiences overall.

I’m always on the hunt for good books—especially ones that inspire positive change or offer practical advice. If you’ve read or listened to something amazing lately, I’d love to hear about it!

What’s Next

Thinking back to why I started this blog, I wanted to try my hand at something creative and worthwhile. I wanted to write—and actually get better at it along the way. But as the year went on, the blog started to feel more like a checklist of “useful” travel posts rather than a space for creativity and connection.

In this next year, I’ll still be sharing our travels and experiences with the hope of helping other families plan their own adventures. But I also want to slow down and be more present during our trips—taking time to journal and really soak in the moments. I’m planning to add a section to each post where I reflect on my personal feelings before, during, and after each trip. So, let me know if that resonates with you.

And finally, I want to say how happy I am that you’ve stumbled across my blog, and thank you for being interested enough in me to check out these off-kilter posts.

Blogging Year 2 Vision Board