What do you have to lose? How many times have you thought about just going for it and backed out at the last minute?

Well I actually don’t have that issue.

Never.

I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum actually, as I’m always game for a last minute road trip and ready on a whim for a crazy adventure. While I am a meticulous planner with numerous notes of bucket list locations and hikes just waiting to be completed, I thrive on the thrill of touching down in a new town and jumping out into the unknown.

This learned habit wasn’t always ingrained, as I have had to harness this need for extreme adventure after years of being so introverted and uncomfortable in my own skin. Now I see this as one of my biggest strengths and superpowers.

What’s the point of having big dreams but no intent to go after them? Be bold. Be brave. Fight for what you want and what you deserve. I hate when people comment “oh you are always so lucky”…. Really?! While I’ll take any four leaf clover when I see one, if you put in the work, I truly believe good things are bound to happen.

While I’m very critical of myself and always nitpicking every detail, I also live life with no regrets. What an empowering way to wake up every day!

Open every door that comes in your path and you will naturally have a wealth of experiences that will propel you forward into a beautiful and meaningful life. Make it count!

Everyone naturally has a different answer…. but have you really ever thought about it?

Occasionally on a long hike, I let my thoughts wander and this is a common topic I ponder. Over the years it fluctuates slightly; however, I am usually fairly consistent and in tune with my deepest desires.

LOCATION: A 3-5 mile hike is a must, preferably ending in a blow your mind cliff side overlook or cascading waterfall. Then I would take off on my jetski full throttle into a deep orange sunset!

HOBBIES: I am notorious for having a very healthy amount activities that I am passionate about. From racquetball, mountain biking, sunset seeking, National Parks, climbing via ferratas, baking, roadtrips, cruising, Duke basketball junkie, massages, movies, volunteering, writing adventure blogs, reading crime novels and (believe it or not) a guitar hero junkie!

FOOD: in no particular order, I would indulge in a Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate, 2 Bojangles biscuits (egg & cheese + Boberry) and an Island Green from Tropical Smoothie. For dinner, it has to be Pizza Hit stuffed crust cheese pizza. Dessert would be either Publix chocolate quarry frozen yogurt with Reese’s magic shell or Oreo pudding. OMG!

PEOPLE: any day getting to play with my 5 beautiful nieces & nephews brings an immediate joy to my soul. I’m fortunate to have my parents close by too. And my close group of best friends is such a comfort in this crazy world & I wouldn’t want to do this life without their undying support.

However you choose to spend your time, I hope you carve out for whatever is important to you and just go for it. YOLO!

Any excuse to jet off to the Sin City? Yes please!

While airline prices skyrocket for the craziness of Super Bowl, I sneak in on a $100 RT flight Wed-Sun just prior for a girls weekend. We crash at our mentor’s beautiful pad just 10 mins from the infamous strip and have a built in local tour guide.

These ladies have a contagious energy that feeds my relentless pursuit of more. And we are off…..

We dive right in to the widespread festivities at the exclusive NFL House to smooze with a wide range of industry professionals and soak in ideas from all the sponsor activations. It was so exciting to meet up with other powerful women in our cohort in their element, making things happen!

Then we jet off to a local favorite show of the Bronx Wanderers and even woke early the next day to squeeze in an inspiring adventure to one of my favorite day trips just 45 mins away at Valley of Fire State Park (which never disappoints).

We switch gears to join the grand opening of a new pizza joint adjacent to the Wynn and then crash the Minnesota Vikings VIP shindig.

Squeezing every last ounce of the next day, we troll the strip checking out all the sponsor activations, stop in each specialty merchandise pop-up location, take lots of selfies at each hotel’s unique backdrop, skip the ridiculous lines at the NFL Fan Fest and the list goes on and on.

We even skipped out to Red Rock Canyon to climb some more cliffsides (brutal windchills) and drive the scenic loop just a mere 20 mins from the strip. Then the endcap….. I snagged a last minute ticket to the awe-inspiring new Sphere venue to a see the one and only U2. What an amazing experience!

No regrets. Ever.

When I was craving a last minute adventure getaway for the extended Memorial Day holiday weekend, it was an unexpected delight to find this hidden gem. For weeks my feed was filled with beautiful hikes and natural arches in a virtually unknown area in eastern Kentucky.

So when a $50 RT flight popped up to Lexington, I took the plunge and started researching local must do hikes. And then my best friend Tessa decided to tag along for a girls weekend too.

We found the perfect tiny, log home to base out of at the local campground and dug in for exploration. Within close proximity were endless arches and natural bridges to our hearts’ delight, as we found numerous short trails to enjoy.

Even the local hippie pizza joint was tasty; otherwise we hit up the grocery story to enjoy some quiet nights hanging out at our own quiet pond view. Of course we found a summer ice cream social and frequented this joint a couple more times to get our sweet fix.

My highlight was the high energy via ferrata climbing excursion, while Tessa loved the unique endcap kayaking in the underground mine.

Don’t miss this underrated spot as we barely scratched the surface of all the trails available nearby and the scenic drives were just as impressive. And an added bonus…. we didn’t have to fend off the big crowds usually attracted to the national parks.

Talk about a hiker’s paradise! This state park has eluded me for years and we finally made the extra effort to visit.

With 19 waterfalls cascading through rock formations like in a fairytale, it was a perfect dose of serenity. We combined the Gorge, Indian and Finger Lakes trails to trek for 5 miles in the cool, shaded confines of this gorgeous slot canyon.

Around every winding staircase were endless fractures of rock carved into the cliffsides like pancakes and naturally formed plunge pools created a zen ambiance. It was truly awe inspiring to just be present. And they had cute names of the iconic areas posted along the route including Lover’s Lane, Rainbow Falls, Devil’s Staircase, etc.

After a quick stop for ice cream upon conquering the 180 step uphill climb, we meandered back through the gorge taking numerous selfies and people watching (even though not much hiker etiquette was followed with all the summer tourists).

Last stop at the bookstore and this excursion was definitely worth the roadtrip. Watkins Glen is a must do in central NY!

Everyone says that once you visit Glacier National Park in remote, northwestern Montana it will instantly become your favorite. Let’s put that theory to the test….

Being that this is my 53rd out of 63 US national parks, my expectations are sky high. Also, I had to wait almost 4 years to get back here after I begrudgingly had to cut this icon from my whirlwind US tour post Covid (just couldn’t justify the extra five hour one-way x 2 detour).

Starting in Apgar near the west entrance, I made the investment for a new annual park pass & beelined to my first hikes. After a long drive, it was a blessing to get my legs back under me on the easy Trail of Cedars boardwalk, amongst all the towering trees in a lush forest. This led to the Avalanche Lake 4.5 mile trek, which started with a breathtaking canyon carved out by the rushing waters below. After a steady incline through a forest, we finally dumped out at the clear, hidden lake surrounded by a towering peak that was intermittently covered by a very dense fog.

I made a pit stop at the historic McDonald’s Lodge, saw the historic red open air buses & walked the creek area, which is the largest of the park’s 250 lakes.

After searching for a few small souvenirs, I easily found my nearby hostel for just the night, which was on a working ranch. Then a quick shower, heating up a sandwich & I quickly fell asleep after an exhausting day of travel & exploration.

Day 2 I jumped out of bed at 6am to finally drive the infamous Going to the Sun Road & that’s another blog post coming soon!

Did you do it? If you know me……

Once in a lifetime opportunity in the most remote place in the entire world, HELL YES!

The build up was more excruciating than the actual plunge into the abyss at the elusive Deception Island. After a near perfect Drake Passage crossing, we equally enjoyed 4 days of 2 excursions each to explore the iceberg lined narrow passageways of northwestern Antarctica. The weather was so cooperative that we were treated to extra time onshore and navigated areas rarely seen in the short tourist season. We had fully expected and mentally prepared to dive in on day 3, but our extended jaunts in the zodiacs pushed our jump back another day.

So after summiting the eerily black and red tinted volcano just as the thick cloud cover gave way, we bounded down to our vessel gently floating in the protected bay far below. We were called down by cabin to the mud room, where we were greeted with blaring 80s music and a shot of whiskey! Half of the 129 passengers summoned up the courage to strip down into just bathing suits and brave the brutal waters. Once in a lifetime right?! 100%. And we were told the water temps here were at least 10 degrees warmer than the open waters from yesterday, so I took any little bit of reprieve as a win.

Stepping up to the steel tight outer door with a glimpse of terror in my eyes, I was strapped to a thick tether before promptly being summoned down the 5 steps to the side platform. Without time to second guess, the 2 crew counted 3, 2, 1…….

I screamed bloody murder and braced for impact. My toes hit the water first and sheer panic settled in. I fought to resurface quickly and escape from this madness. After slipping twice on the icy steps, I was pulled out into a warm bathrobe in less than 10 seconds and back within the safe confines of the ship. My internal temperature regulated quickly and, just like that, another bucket list adventure had been conquered. And I have to admit, it wasn’t THAT bad!!!

The day finally came where my brother’s family was being deployed over to Germany for 2 years and it hadn’t hit me yet that I couldn’t just jump on a $50 1.5 hour flight on a whim to partake in some much needed snuggles.

With their 3 very distinctive personalities taking shape, I can’t imagine how much they will be changed by this experience and as they grow into the next stages of their young lives. I can see they are excited yet nervous, and I pray that this experience is amazing.

I can’t wait to be one of their first visitors and take them on mini European day trips to see far off castles and walk through historic ruins.

So today I am sad….

Carter is my little buddy and we have a special, unspoken bond. He gives the best snuggles and my rough housing nemesis.

Emma is the wild child who is naturally good at everything she attempts. She is fiercely headstrong and has boundless energy.

Olivia was the Gerber model baby and my original partner in crime. She is my bestie and growing up way too fast.

So to delay more tears, I’m already tracking flights and starting the ticker down for eight months until the end of busy season. Or just maybe…. I can find a string of five days in the fall to squeeze in a surprise international getaway!

Want an instant adrenaline rush?

I was seriously nervous that my best friend had signed us up for a cliff side via ferrata on day 1 of our last minute Kentucky adventure weekend. While I was super pumped, I knew this was going to be a huge stretch out of her comfort zone.

Nonetheless, we plowed through the safety briefing and clipped in to begin our climb up the rock face of a gorgeous ravine. It quickly got real as the exposed ledges gave way to only minimal crevices to traverse across. After only a brief panic attack, she conquered level 1&2 and I couldn’t have been more proud of her.

I continued onto the intermediate course and was in my element. With a big smile plastered on my face, I enjoyed a nice sweat and intense physical exertion scaling up the challenging route. After taking a quick lunch break and allowing my fingers to recover, I resumed my quest to achieve my goal of walking the elusive suspension bridge. Section 4 was a serious test that had my forearms severely bruised from hooking into the iron rungs for slight breaks from the grind and my legs wobbling with every push to the next shelf. But I persevered to enjoy the “break” of the wooden walkway and rounded the jagged corner to a brutal uphill stretch. I attempted most of section 5 and eventually ran out of steam and grip strength, so bailed out while I could still save myself instead of the embarrassment of having the instructor come to rappel me down to safety.

What a rush!! Highly recommend this relatively unknown hobby because it will push you to the brink of failure, but will empower you in the same breath to be your own hero!

As a frequent rental car user, it’s always a treat to be rewarded with a convertible upgrade. The cool aunt status jumps instantly!

After a whirlwind, last minute 72 hour trip to celebrate my nephew’s 5th birthday, I had to endure a brutal 3am wake up call to catch the first flight back home/work. He personally called to invite me, so naturally I had a flight booked within the hour without hesitation (yes, I’m totally wrapped around his little finger).

Well….. at Monday 3:15am sharp, I stumble outside to brace for the uncomfortable 39 degree wind in my face to a dead key fob. And of course this is one of the few times in my life where there isn’t a spare attached, so I frantically jiggle the manual key hole for another 10 mins with no luck while lying on the concrete using the flashlight from my cell. Not one of my best moments! I reluctantly wake my brother up & he was also unsuccessful. So I call the emergency roadside assistance hotline. They suggest that I grab an Uber (which normally wouldn’t be a challenge but I’m smack in the middle of an army base, so virtually impossible to get clearance) and go to the local car rental counter. Again, it is now 3:30am and no one opens until 7am. So back to square one…. I wake my sister in law up to see if they have any spare circular batteries, which is another hard no.

So inevitably, I miss my flight and immediately rebook for the following morning on my own dime as there are only 2 seats left. I try to fall back asleep on the couch for a few hours, which is nearly impossible. But can you imagine the surprised faces on the kids when I pop out from underneath a pile of blankets as they take their first bite of cereal? Priceless…. especially since it is his actual birthday!

So at 7:30am we drop the kids at school and find the closest Batteries Plus to hopefully be back in business. But another small wrinkle, as my purchase won’t ring up on the register. After multiple attempts, I finally get 2 batteries comped & we head back to the base. The battery swap out is an immediate success and fortunately the next morning I don’t have my own Groundhog Day & arrive back home in Orlando without more incident.

Now the task of getting reimbursed by the rental car company for the extra day I had to extend, second flight bought, home airport parking fee and the invaluable work time lost…..