Category: Archive

What to Do When You’re Stuck in Your Car on A Backcountry Roadtrip

Miranda3 Comments

Yikes, it’s raining outside and you’re on a roadtrip.

You’re now cooped up in your car and have to figure out how to entertain yourself.

There’s only you (and a dog, in my case) and the car…

What do you do?!

That’s a great question, and one I found myself facing for a little while on my most recent trip to Colorado.

A little afternoon thunderstorm popped up and we had to get in the car for a bit.

That got me thinking…

What about heavy rain for hours?

Maybe heavy rain for days?

As many of you may not know yet, I’m prepping to do this for 6 months to 1 year full-time at the end of next summer.

Here are some ideas for what to do when you’re stuck in your car on a backcountry roadtrip.

8 Things to Do When You’re Stuck in Your Car

This is a growing list, as I guarantee I’ll figure out some new things to do.

  1. Play with a deck of cards. You can play a number of games alone or with a partner. A good game of solitaire can make plenty of time go by in the car.
  2. Read a book. This is a foolproof way to pass time. Choose something that you consider a guilty pleasure. That will make your time feel luxurious.
  3. Take a nap. This is my favorite camping past time. I love taking a nap in the car in the middle of the afternoon. Enjoy the sound of the storm around you!
  4. Do some work. I know, I know. Not the most exciting thing to do, but if you get work done while it’s raining you can take more time for yourself when it’s not.
  5. Meditate. Use the time to dive deep into your consciousness. Let the sound of the rain outside take you higher into yourself. Be fully present.
  6. Clean up a little. The more time you spend in your car, the dirtier it gets. Clean your windows and hard surfaces. Use your vacuum if you have one.
  7. Do some much needed grooming. You can take a little wet wipe bath in the car, use a disposable toothbrush, comb your hair. Do some self-care.
  8. Brave the rain. Yep, if there’s no lightning and it’s just raining lightly, just take a hike in the rain. Enjoy the sound and feel of the rain on your skin.

It doesn’t have to be a boring suckfest while you’re stuck in the car.

Take advantage of what you have around you!

Miranda & Violet’s Travel Updates

We’re headed to my mom’s in a couple of weekends to spend time with her for her birthday. We’re also going to try to fix my bed. 😊 After that, we’re headed to Montana in November!

Nature: On Periods, Chipmunks, and LNT Principles

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Ladies, this one is mostly for you, but fellas are more than welcome to read on for the trials and tribulations of starting a period unexpectedly.

You know when you are certain that you won’t start your period on a trip?

“It’s two weeks away,” I thought to myself as I looked at the tidy kit of feminine hygiene products in my bathroom drawer.

“It’s definitely not going to start that early,” as I closed the drawer.

Mother Nature and the Outdoors

Honestly, I don’t mind dealing with my period while I’m on a roadtrip. I use a cup and it’s pretty easy to clean out and reuse. It’s a great option if you’re trying to be more sustainable, as it reduces the number of feminine hygiene products that go into the waste system. You can easily clean it in your camp kitchen kit, too.

The problem is when you don’t have any of your beloved products with you and you’re forced into an alternative. I don’t use tampons, so that leaves me with pads as a crappy alternative to them. They’re wasteful and largely kind of ick to deal with.

The great thing about this particular trip is that we were camped not far from Pagosa Springs. It was about a 15-20 minute drive to Wal-Mart where I was able to pick up some products. We needed water anyway, and I needed to do some work, so it wasn’t a completely wasted trip.

However, my first trip into town wasn’t spectacular.

Leave No Trace and Animals

Yeah, we all try to avoid hitting animals. Sometimes our reflexes are too slow, or we’re expecting the animal to move.

For me, it was a sweet little chipmunk.

I thought he would do what the squirrels in Texas do – they dart out of the way at the last minute, either continuing across the street or turning back.

My little chipmunk friend did not do that, and I ran over him.

I do my best to ‘Leave No Trace‘ when I’m outdoors. I like to leave my campsites better than I found them.

This was not the case on this trip.

In addition to the poor chipmunk that was left for the buzzards (or vultures? Not sure what’s in Colorado), I had a bee situation at my campsite.

I poured my dog some dry food and topped it with some freeze-dried chicken bites. It’s the only thing that encourages her to eat when she’s hyped up.

The bees in my camp SWARMED her food and her water bowl. They ate the freeze-dried chicken bites over the course of a few hours, and they drank her water up over the night. It was BIZARRE, but it was an LNT failure on my part. Zoom in to see the bees on her food!

I couldn’t even approach the food to get it out of their reach. I had to leave her bowl of dry food out overnight where it was certainly eaten by a raccoon or something. (No bears came around us, but I was super worried about it.)

I had no idea what to do in this situation. What DO you do when a swarm of bees is eating your dog’s food?!

Friends, I’m learning so much as I take these practice trips. I’m learning what not to do, what not to leave at home, and where not to camp. What have you learned recently on your trips?

Safe travels, friends!

 

Personal Safety on a Backcountry Roadtrip: Dogs, Weapons, and More

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Traveling on the road can be a little frightening.

A lot of times I have to spend at least one night in a rest area.

It may or may not be one of the nice ones.

And then when you get into the forest, there’s a whole other set of potential hazards.

Keep reading for my eight tips on how to stay safe while you’re traveling on highways and in the backcountry.

8 Tips on Personal Safety on A Roadtrip

I’ve spent a few nights in rest areas, both alone and with my dog. Some of them are those nice rest areas with restrooms and storm shelters. Others are just picnic areas that have a couple of tables and trash cans.

Here are my tips for staying safe on the road:

1. Keep your front seat empty.

If you need to make a quick escape while you’re parked in a rest area, having a bunch of junk in the seat will slow you down. Keep it empty, and make sure you’re able to get to it quickly if you’re sleeping in the back.

2. Have your keys handy.

In line with keeping your front seat empty, it’s a good idea to keep your keys handy in case you need to hit the panic button or leave quickly. Just try not to accidentally set off the alarm! I’ve done that and it’s embarrassing. 🙃

3. Try to fill up with gas before you get below half a tank.

This is just a general safety precaution when you’re traveling to the backcountry. You may not see a gas station for a while, so keeping your tank full prevents getting stranded at night or along a deserted road with no cell reception.

4. Dogs: A Risk and A Benefit

Having a dog is a great deterrent for ill-intentioned people. My dog lets me know when someone or something is close to the car. They can, however, be a risk to wildlife if not properly trained and restrained when appropriate.

5. Weapons and Their Usefulness in the Backcountry

The only “weapon” I carry is my dog and a knife that I use for cutting food. It’s a sharp knife, but it’s definitely not intended to maim someone. My suggestion is to carry weapons at your own risk – you might do more harm than good with one.

6. Tell Someone Where You’re Going

This is a big one if you’re traveling solo in the backcountry. I always tell my mom where I’m going to be camping, at least a service road or something, and I always try to stop at a ranger station to get safe camping intel.

7. Stay Vigilant if You’re Solo

Being alone in on the highway or in the backcountry can be a scary experience, especially if it’s your first time. Stay aware of your surroundings, know where your things are, and be vigilant about the people around you.

8. Don’t Stress Too Much

Chances are, you’re safer out on the road than in a city. Don’t stress too much and let the “what if’s” ruin your trip. Use these tips to keep yourself grounded and prepared for anything that may come your way.

These are pretty simple tips that can help keep you safe. I’ll have a whole blog on wildlife safety, as it’s an entirely different beast. (Haha, pun intended.) For now, let me know what you do to keep safe when you’re out on the road!

Miranda & Violet’s Travel Updates

You can read a little about our most recent trip in the first Roadtrip Roads Series. We’re headed out Thanksgiving week to visit my best friend in Montana! We’ll do some boondocking and some hotel life, but it’ll be a nice trip.

Safe travels, friends!

Roadtrip Roads Series: San Juan National Forest, FSR 629

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Ever wanted to take a trip into a national forest, but are unsure if your car can make it?

Are you intimidated by forest service roads and going into the backcountry?

Have you been thinking about buying a new car for roadtrips, but aren’t sure what works best?

This series is for you.

I’m going to delve into the roads I’m traveling and let you know how my Subaru Forester handles the forest roads.

We’ll also look at some of the highways I drive and how the views stack up – roadtrips are about the drive, aren’t they?

Roadtrip Roads: Forest Service Road 629

Since I arrived on a Saturday, I didn’t get to stop at the ranger station to find a camp spot. Thankfully, I downloaded the MVUM for that district ahead of time and knew where I was headed.

I drove down County Road 600, also called Piedra Road, until it turned into a dirt road across a cattle guard. FSR 631 is just past the Turkey Springs trailhead, then FSR 629 turns off of that.

These roads are super easy to drive on, if not slow moving. It’s a compacted dirt & rock road. You can easily take a car down these roads a bit, it’ll just be a slow trip!

There is plenty of dispersed camping out there, and we only had to drive a few miles down the road to find a place to camp. We had a great spot, minus the bees!

San Juan National Forest Dispersed Camping

We had a rough trip this time.

I thought I forgot my laptop charger, only to realize after I got home that I did pack it. I needed it because I planned on writing on this trip.

I forgot my pillow and water, so I had to stop at a Walmart that was sold out of most water. I did buy a pillow, though!

The bed we built broke during my first afternoon nap.

I started my period two weeks early, and was totally unprepared for it.

I ran over and killed a chipmunk. That was the worst.

Our camping spot was home to a swarm of bees, but thankfully I didn’t get stung. Fun fact: I’ve never been stung by a bee so I have no idea if I’m allergic!

My dog accidentally gouged my thigh when she was barking and growling at an off leash dog in our camp site.

I decided to take my dog to the Great Sand Dunes and she hated it.

We came home a day early because I needed to get work done. That’s when I found my charger. So cool.

Anyway, we still had a great time. It was a bit hot, but we learned a lot on this trip. The bed needs to be fixed, but I’ve got someone that can help with that.

Miranda & Violet’s Travel Updates

Our next trip is to… Montana! We’re going to visit my best friend for Thanksgiving. We’ll get a hotel for this trip, though. I can’t wait for this trip. I’ve been wanting to visit Montana, so naturally I was thrilled when my BFF moved there. It’s a long drive, but it’s going to be so great!

Safe travels, friends!

Backcountry Roadtrips: A Cursory Guide for Novice Explorers

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Everyone knows what a roadtrip is, right?

You hop in your vehicle and take off down the road with no real destination in mind.

But what about a backcountry roadtrip?

What IS the backcountry?

This short blog is going to cover what a backcountry roadtrip is and isn’t, and give you some tips on how to get started.

What is a backcountry roadtrip?

First, let’s define the backcountry. Merriam-Webster defines the backcountry as “a remote undeveloped rural area.” That’s a pretty accurate description of the places you can explore when you take a backcountry roadtrip.

The backcountry is the wilderness. It’s the public lands we own. It’s our national parks and forests.

When I take roadtrips, I usually visit national forests. National parks are very restrictive about where dogs can go, and national forests allow them, most of the time even off-leash.

So, for me, a backcountry roadtrip is a long drive out of Texas (we have limited public lands) to the southwestern states where there are ample public lands to explore.

Okay, so, what makes your roadtrip a backcountry trip?

Well, when you get into national forests and start driving down forest roads, you’re heading into the backcountry. Dispersed camping sites are available for free, and there are no amenities available. You will likely be without cell service, and you’ll be entertained by nature.

A backcountry roadtrip simply means you’re taking a drive into the wilderness for a night (or longer) of camping under the stars (or in your car, as we do!)

Aren’t backcountry roadtrips just camping trips?

This is a great question, but nope!

Most people that camp head out to their favorite campgrounds or State Parks. While there might be a bit of a roadtrip on the way to the park, parks are usually well-populated and far from wild.

To really be in the backcountry, you want to be in a place with no amenities (that means no bathroom!) and as far from those luxuries as possible. There might be other people camping around you in dispersed camping sites, but they’re out there to see the wilderness as much as you.

There’s also backpacking, which is hiking into a campsite with all your gear in your pack. We’re not doing that either (well, Violet and I do sometimes, but not frequently any longer since someone hates tents.)

We’re taking a roadtrip down a forest road into the backcountry.

We’re not off-roading. We’re not camping. We’re not backpacking. We’re on a backcountry roadtrip to see as many places as possible.

When Violet and I take roadtrips, we usually spend one or two nights in the same place, then move on to another national forest or campsite. It’s not unlike backpacking, where you pick up and move daily, it’s different and we can travel further. We plan ahead so that all of our food is ready to cook (or just eat, in her case), and we know exactly how to pack the Subae up for a quick escape.

How to Get Started on Your First Backcountry Roadtrip

I’ve already written a piece (linked above) on some general planning tips, but here are a few quick tips for getting started on your first backcountry roadtrip:

  1. Find a destination that inspires you. The best way to ensure that you have a great roadtrip is to find a destination that makes you feel something. For example, I LOVE Colorado, but driving through New Mexico to get there, something always called out to me. My first backcountry roadtrip was to three national forests in NM.
  2. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. You’ll likely come up with a list of places you want to visit, but for your first trip, start with somewhere closer to home so you have more time to spend sightseeing. Violet and I try to stop at state parks for hikes and such (okay, to use a clean bathroom honestly) on our long roadtrips.
  3. Know where the nearest ranger station is. Actually, visit your nearest ranger station before you head out to your campsite. The rangers have great information on the best campsites, roads that are closed and sites to see. It’s also a good safety precaution if you’re traveling solo as I do.

Don’t overthink the planning phase, and allow yourself to go with the flow. Something will always go un-according to plan. (Anyone ever watched Corpse Bride? “♫According to plan…♫”)

On my first trip, I didn’t have any cell service the first night to tell my mother where I was going to be, so the only person who knew where I was likely to be was the ranger I talked to at the station.

On our third night, when we made it down to Lincoln National Forest, the ranger station was closed and I couldn’t get camping intel. That was a tough afternoon finding good camping, trying to read an MVUM for the first time.

Things happen, so just be flexible!

Miranda and Violet’s Travel Updates

We’re headed out at the end of this week to the San Juan National Forest! We’re leaving sometime on Friday, getting back probably Wednesday or so. I’ll share a trip report when we get back. Also, I’ve got a couple of pieces of content I’m working on for you all: a definitive guide to backcountry roadtrips (it’s going to be a big one!) and my 2019 roadtrip gear list.

In the meantime, safe travels, friends!

How to Plan a Backcountry Roadtrip in 8 Easy Steps

Miranda3 Comments

Roadtrips are the quintessential American vacation, with summer destinations like Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park.

But what if you want to take a roadtrip and get off the beaten path?

Like, really far off the path even.

Like, “you would be happy not to see anyone else for days” far.

There are some key things you need to keep in mind when planning a backcountry roadtrip.

Planning a Backcountry Roadtrip

Everyone plans differently, and you may try a few different plans before settling down on a solid routine. Below, I share some of my tricks for planning a backcountry roadtrip.

  1. Know your car’s limits. This one is the most important thing I can recommend before taking off down national forest roads. While some people will tell you that you need 4wd to get everywhere, an AWD with suitable ground clearance will suffice. However, there are plenty of forest roads that are just fine, if a little bumpy, for cars! I’ve seen it, people have done it. Just know what your car can handle.
  2. Pick a location that inspires you. Don’t just settle for the closest place – pick a place that calls to you. If you’re going to be alone in the backcountry, you want to see sights that leave you in awe.
  3. Download an MVU map for your destination. Motor vehicle use maps (MVUMs) tell you where you can drive in national forests, what roads are seasonally closed, and where dispersed camping is. They are usually broken up by ranger districts, and you can pick them up for free at the ranger station.
  4. Visit the ranger station before you find a camping spot. I do this on every trip I take! This is a great way to let someone know where you’ll be, and rangers provide good intel on the best camping sites. You can pick up other maps from the ranger station, as well.
  5. Do a pre-trip packing run through. Roadtripping in your car can get pretty cramped. If you’ve never taken a solo backcountry roadtrip, you likely have no idea what all you will need. Pack everything ahead of time, load it up, and see how everything fits.
  6. Plan your meals ahead of time. After the views, camp food is the best part of any roadtrip. Try cooking a few meals at home to see how easy they are to prepare. Take food that you love to eat and plan to take an extra day of food just in case something happens.
  7. Take everything in stride. Things will go wrong! You will get stuck in traffic, the ranger station might close early, and you may have a hard time finding a camping spot. That’s okay! You’re on a roadtrip. Things happen and you will need to be flexible.
  8. Have a backup plan. Just in case you can’t find a dispersed camping spot, have a backup plan for camping at night. I highly recommend the iOverlander app. It is a great resource for finding free camping sites. You may be stuck sleeping in your car, but you’ll wake up to a beautiful sunrise.

Planning a backcountry roadtrip doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little bit of pre-trip planning, you can have a wonderful experience in national forests and on public lands.

Miranda and Violet Travel Updates

Violet and I are headed out on a roadtrip next week or so! We’re headed to Pagosa Springs and I can’t wait! We’ll be camping in the San Juan National Forest, so long as there is adequate camping. I’m looking forward to a break!

Want more roadtrip tips? Follow my blog! Safe travels, friends!

3 Smart Tips for Organization on the Road

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If you’ve ever taken a roadtrip, you know how crowded your vehicle can feel.

In a short period, it can start to feel, well, claustrophobic.

With all of your clothes, gear and equipment in your car, plus the family or the dog, there’s barely any room left to move around.

So how do you keep your space fresh and organized?

Have you been considering some car organizers, but don’t know which ones to purchase?

Keep reading for three tips on organizing your car for a roadtrip.

3 Tips for Organizing your Car for a Roadtrip

  1. Keep your car clean. This is probably the most important tip I can offer to a novice roadtripper. I don’t mean the exterior of your car – you do you on that front. Rather, keep the interior of your car cleaned out so that when you do get ready for a roadtrip,  you are ready to throw everything in the car and just go. And on this note, get yourself a little trash can that attaches to your gear shift. It will go a long way in keeping your car neat and orderly.
  2. Invest in organizers for your car. Organizers that hang from your seats are a convenient way to store items and keep everything in its place. I have a set of organizers that hang from the back of my seat – they have pockets and pouches for me to slide in bottles of water, my tablet or laptop and any other miscellaneous items I carry with me. These keep the backseat of my car organized.
  3. Practice your packing routine. I cannot emphasize this habit enough. If you are planning to roadtrip regularly and you want to make it easy to get on the road, take some time to put all your stuff together before you hit the road. Planning out where you want to stack all of your stuff will save you time and energy when you get ready to head out on your adventures.

These three simple tips for organizing your car will go a long way in keeping your car roadtrip ready (but don’t forget to check your tires and oil before you leave!) Stay tuned for more roadtrip tips from me in the future! Have some tips of your own? Share ’em in the comments!

Miranda and Violet Travel Updates

Violet and I are headed out on our next trip at the end of this month. We’re headed to the Pagosa Springs area of Colorado to spend some time in the San Juan National Forest. We are so looking forward to this trip! I only have one more thing to order before we go, otherwise I am set!

Enjoy my tips? Follow my blog for more roadtrip tips! Safe travels, friends.

 

This post contains affiliate links. You can help me earn a little extra roadtrip cash by clicking them and purchasing the items I recommend. There’s no additional cost to you – it just helps me! Thank you for your support, friends!

How I’m Going to Get Paid to Travel on the Road Full-Time

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I guess this is a manifesto.

It’s certainly me trying to manifest my dreams.

Have you ever felt called to do something and you just knew you needed to tell people about it to hold yourself accountable?

Well, you are all my accountabili-buddies now.

I’m taking a page from Anastasia Allison’s book and manifesting my dreams. Some time ago, Anastasia, the founder of Kula Cloth, wrote a blog post about how she was going to get paid to hike.

Like most of us, I’m sure she put all of her hopes into that dream, but maybe never expected it to flower. Yet, she’s now the owner of a very successful (and environmentally-friendly) small business! And she pretty much gets paid to hike. 😉

Manifesting Your Dreams

A year ago, I realized a dream I have – to travel full-time out of a vehicle (right now my 2015 Subaru Forester) with my dog, Violet. I want to see all of the scenery that the states have to offer, and I want to experience the outdoors with my dog while we still have each other.

You see, Violet is my first dog. She’s my best friend, and I love showing her new things. We have a pretty special bond, though who doesn’t with their dog? But one day she will pass, and I will be left with only my memories of my precious girl. So, we’re going to see and do all of the things we can while we have our health and life.

To do this, though, I need to be able to make money. Even with free camping, I still have a car payment and student loans to pay off! And I need to be able to support our gas consumption, as well as our food consumption.

How in the heck am I going to do this, I asked myself.

This is big!

Living out of your car!

What in the world, Miranda….

Getting Paid to Travel

A few months ago, I realized another dream – to be a writer full-time. I applied for a job that I ultimately didn’t get, but it sparked a fire. And guess what?

I CAN WRITE AND TRAVEL.

Yes, yes. What a coincidental set of dreams. I’ve started freelance writing already, and am polishing up my SEO skills so that I can eventually have my own SEO and marketing agency. I still have to figure out the mechanics of this, but it’s a while off.

Here are my top 3 ways to make money while I travel:

  1. Content Marketing: I still have to work this out with my blog, but I intend to write content for SEO, either for a company or on my own.
  2. Sponsorships: I am hoping with my content marketing and SEO knowledge, I’ll be able to leverage sponsorships with companies I love.
  3. Freelance Writing: As a side gig, I am going to do freelance writing on a contract basis. This won’t pay all the bills, but it’ll give me some extra income.

Miranda & Violet’s Travel Updates

I have my apartment through July of 2020, and then I plan to leave. In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out other ways to make money. Sponsorships, my artwork, etc.

If anyone has suggestions on ways to make money while you travel, hit me up!

And if you have tips on learning more about SEO, drop them in the comments.

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me and Vi, but I know it holds travel and writing. Until next time, friends.

 

Sleeping with my Subae

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Yes, yes. I’ve named my 2015 Subaru Forester, Subae. She IS my Subae. Without her, Violet and I wouldn’t get to travel the country and see the sites. To show her how much I love her, my mother and I (mostly my mother) built a bed for the back of her! It’s designed to fit in the 2/3-size bigger seat when it’s folded down. It stays in the back of my car all of the time because I’m too lazy to take it out, but I’m also really proud of it.

We just took an old memory foam mattress topper and cut two pieces down to the size of the platform, so it’s a thick mattress with some massage table sheets and a couple of fleece blankets. It’s too hot with all of that for the summer, but I do plan on taking it out to southern Colorado at the beginning of next month.

Here are some pictures of it without the mattress and everything.

The slats are from Ikea and were cut down to fit inside the base. The front legs are longer to reach the ground of the back of the Subae, and the back legs are just tall enough to make it (mostly) level. It’s easy to take apart and put back together, so I can take it out to get to my spare tire. I can also lift the back part up and get to it if need be. It’s pretty comfy, and the head of it just sits under the sun roof, so I have a skylight! Violet also got a new bed, because she needed something nice, too. 🙂

IMG_4905

Hers is an inflatable pad made by a company called K9 Sport Sack with Klymit technology. I trust it will hold up to her pretty well. We’ll see in a couple of weeks! Overall, I am super happy with our sleeping arrangement for our trips. I still need to figure out some storage solutions, but we’ve got most everything worked out. I got a new seat cover for the back of the car so it will keep the hair off as much as possible, and I bought a DC vacuum for the car, too. We’re going to make it a home!

What’s My Age Again?

Miranda2 Comments

Today I turn 33, which isn’t a particularly significant number beyond me questioning whether I’m 33 or 6 some days. But I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my “fiscal” year, and all that I’ve accomplished since my last birthday. I think this is a tradition I will keep up every year – an annual gratitude post, to thank myself for working so hard on becoming the best me. So, without further ado, check out the progress I made in a year!

  • Started meditating on a daily basis – this is such a big deal for me. I never thought I’d be a person who COULD meditate, much less one that WANTED to meditate. But here I am, freshly writing this blog after listening to my daily Calm.
  • Started seeing a therapist weekly – just this one challenge for the year was worth the struggle it took to get there. I am a different person, more myself, since the day I walked into my therapists office. I’ve made so much progress just in there that I could almost stop the list here!
  • Started an art business – woohoo! This is still a challenge for me, as I am learning how to run a business, market myself, and still create. I love how much work it takes to get noticed, for some reason. It’s nice, though sometimes disheartening, to have such a challenge in front of me.
  • Took my first working roadtrip – my favorite adventure of the year thus far was my recent trip to New Mexico. It was a struggle to find adequate coverage where we were camping all 3 nights, so I had to work around that and figure out how to work while still enjoying all that New Mexico offers in the way of scenery.
  • Began a healthier relationship with food and alcohol – one of the things my therapist recommended was a book called Intuitive Eating. It’s drastically changed my relationship with food and my body, and it’s even helping me control my bingeing habits with things like alcohol and sugar. I am so thrilled with the progress I’ve made on this front!
  • Planned my dream life – this is the biggest one yet. A year ago, I created a dream of what I wanted my life to look like. I wanted to travel, I wanted to create, and I wanted to give my dog and myself the best life possible without being traditional. I set a goal of being “van life” ready by the age of 35. I cannot believe it’s already been a year since I envisioned that dream, and I am actively working towards making it happen!
  • Had my first interview in 7 years – as part of creating my dream life, I know I need flexibility in my work. That means non-traditional work sometimes, and it means remote work. I had my first interview a couple of weeks ago, and while I didn’t get the job, it was refreshing to be looking for a new challenge.

There ya have it – my gratitude, “ta-da” list for the last year. What about you, friends? Do you take time on your birthday to reflect on the last year of your life? A gratitude list is a great way to lift your spirits, and I encourage you all to try it out! You don’t need to share it publicly if you don’t want to, just write it down in a journal or on a piece of paper, and then smile to yourself. You’ll feel better immediately! Until next time, friends!