I am a spirited blogger from Chelsea, MI who thrives on adventure, creativity and exploring the world through the lens of my camera (even if it’s my phone). When I’m not chasing sunsets and amazing views, I spend time with my heart dog Maizie. If travel, creativity and a dash of blunt honesty (with the occasional F-bomb) sparks your curiousity, you are in the right place.
His grip tight on the bottom of my T-shirt, Robby walks close to my back with his freckled face peeking around my arm. We shuffle together around a corner and…
**AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!***
THUD
I am almost pulled to the floor on top of Robby as he stiffens and falls to the ground at the sight of the hollow eyed zombie that appeared out of the darkness ahead.
Giggling, Robby accepts my offer of a hand to help him up, and he resumes his place behind me, gripping my shirt as the zombie disappears back into the darkness…
A conference designed to help you grow as a writer, increase your social media reach and to set and achieve your blogging and social media goals, Bloggycon is also great fun for the whole family.
During the day while I am absorbing the wisdom and inspiration of engaging speakers, my family happily leaves me behind to conquer the rides at Cedar Point.
In the evening, I join them for a haunting good time in the spine-tingling scare zones of the park – scare zones that become ever more intense after dark…
When was the last time you took a selfie with a zombie?
Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point
Just steps away from the fun on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, our suite at Hotel Breakers welcomes us after an exhausting day of fun. Beautifully remodeled, the suites include two double beds and a pull-out couch in the living room area. To save a bit of money, we also bring meals and snacks with us to store in the mini kitchen.
Hotel Breakers gets our vote for comfort and convenience.
Bonus: Bloggycon attendees who stay at a Cedar Point resort for 2 (two) nights during the conference will receive up to 6 (six) 3-day passes valid for Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores that weekend. The number of tickets you receive will be based on the number of registered guests per hotel room (per Bloggy Conference ticket).
Double Bonus: Guests at Hotel Breakers enjoy a 1-hour early entry into Cedar Point!
Boardwalk to Cedar Point
Interested in Bloggycon?
I’m not a person who attends a ton of industry conferences – I mean really, when would I find the time? However, Bloggycon is one that I don’t like to miss.
Always great to see friends made in previous years!
2018 will be my fourth year attending and without fail, I leave the conference inspired and bursting with creative energy. I have also connected with many other bloggers who continue to inspire me on a daily basis, and who I look forward to seeing each year at the conference.
It was a perfect “between the busy” moment spent with Hockey Bob. An opportunity to talk about the past week, share funny stories and just enjoy being together on our walk to the Chelsea Farmers Market at the new Palmer Commons event space (304 S. Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118).
There is nothing better than spending a one on one trip alone with one of my kids – getting to know them as an individual, bonding, making memories. Over the years I have noticed that the most memorable mother daughter trips have a few things in common…
1. A common goal or project
The easiest way to ensure that you spend your time together bonding and making memories, is to plan the trip with a common goal or project in mind. This common goal can be as simple as a puzzle that is worked on in a rural cabin after peaceful days of hiking, a location scavenger hunt or a photo challenge like the “11 photos you should take if you want to” that Riley and I created to rebel against an article indicating that you should not take these photos. The best thing about photo challenges is that the end result is a collection of photo memories. Google “photo challenge” for a premade list, or inspiration to create your own!
The requisite “jumping” photo for our annual photo challenge
2. Plan for rainy days/changes in plan
Even the best laid plans can be derailed by weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Always be prepared with a backup plan. When visiting Hocking Hills, our backup plan in case of rain was the same as our common goal – working on the puzzle in the cabin. We lucked out and it didn’t rain, but it was nice to know that no matter what happened we had something to do, together.
3. Try/learn something new together
Riley and I went rock climbing for the first time one our mother daughter trip to Hocking Hills, Ohio. Alex and I went paddle boarding in Santa Rosa, California. Be brave, be adventurous. Zip lines, haunted houses, cross country skiing – there are so many things to try! It doesn’t matter if you fail, or whether you ever do it again. What matters is that you experience something new, together. These are the life moments that you will never forget. Next up – a Segway tour. I have no idea where, but it’s on the bucket list!
Rock climbing in Hocking Hills, OH
4. Make time for familiar activities that you already enjoy
One of our “try something new” activities on a family vacation years ago was geocaching. It has now become an activity we do nearly every time we travel. Whether finding the physical “treasures” of a traditional cache or discovering the beauty of our travel location with an earth cache, geocaching is usually a can’t miss activity for a mother daughter trip. Whether it’s hiking, an Escape Room or mini golf, be sure to make time for familiar activities.
Geocaching in Hocking Hills, Ohio
5. Create traditions
Make your mother daughter trip an annual tradition. Make it a priority to spend at least a weekend together, with no responsibilities or distractions other than the plans you have made with each other. If you find an activity that you both enjoy that can be done anywhere, make it a tradition to do that (or a variation of it) each year during your scheduled trip. Or even as a small getaway for the two of you from a larger family trip. For example, always follow the same photo challenge list, or always try a famous restaurant or new food. Riley and I intend to do our “11 photos you should take if you want to” challenge during each new mother daughter vacation. 11 identical but different photos of our adventures, each with it’s own story or private joke.
Do sunsets look the same, wherever you travel?
6. Visit the same place every year…or make it a point to explore a new place each year
So far, my daughters and I have primarily visited new places each year for our mother daughter trips. Alex and I have had the places chosen for us by default, as her figure skating schedule dictates dates and locations (I am NOT complaining, as Portland, Oregon and Santa Rosa, California were gorgeous and so much fun!), while Riley and I have stayed driving distance but with more freedom to choose the final destination (Hocking Hills, OH; Silver Lake Sand Dunes, MI). When traveling to more familiar places with the whole family, we do have favorite places to “get away” to – one we would recommend is Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, our must see when vacationing at Nana’s house in Fort Myers, Florida. Whether you hike or drive, Ding Darling is well worth the visit.
A Ding Darling Sunrise, Sanibel Island, FL
7. Find unique/cool places to eat
Whether it’s VooDoo Donuts in Portland, or the best hamburgers in Michigan, be sure to check out the food recommended by locals. We have had ice cream for dinner, searched out food trucks, and eaten at festivals. Make it a point to seek out food that you cannot get at home. (And seriously, if you are in West Michigan, go to Brown Bear in Pentwater and get a burger)
Lunch with the Coliseum Comets at the block of Food Trucks in Portland Oregon. All that variety and Alex chose pizza – go figure.
8. Make time for nature/quiet time
This one is tough for me. I tend to feel like I always have to be planning something, going somewhere or “accomplishing” something, – when the whole point of the mother daughter trip is the person with me. All of the goals, projects and adventure are secondary to the relationship that those activities are intended to foster. So take a nature break. Hike. Make time for quiet togetherness. Walk together, sit together, talk, listen. Enjoy the beautiful person and relationship that your mother daughter trip is intended to celebrate.
Do you take annual trips with someone special? I would love to hear your stories, tips and suggestions – comment below!
We all have regrets
Forgive yourself
Offer Grace to others
Every day make an effort to be a better version of yourself
Pay it forward
Tell someone how much you appreciate them
Let the past go
Breathe
