So, it’s no secret that I love to travel, experience new things and new places but there’s something extra special when it’s all five of us experiencing something together for the very first time and that’s exactly what NYC at the holidays was for our family of five. It has always been on my bucket list to get there in the month of December, especially since we are currently only a few hours away on the east coast so Mike surprised me a couple weeks before we went. Let me just say, it was spectacular. Crowded but spectacular.

Naturally, I had a list of everywhere we were hoping to hit and in about 24 hours no less but we all pounded the pavement when we got there, walked our tails off, went to bed late, woke up early and had the best time in the process. We were able to get to the Rockefeller tree, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Radio City, 5th Avenue storefronts, Times Square, Magnolia Bakery for their famous banana pudding, FAO Schwarz, The Today Show, Central Park and couldn’t leave without an NYC hot dog. It still feels like we didn’t even scratch the surface and all that city has to offer so hoping to get back to check out the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and 911 memorial, all of which Mike and I have seen but something we want the kids to experience as well.

Fun fact: Capri’s first show ever was Frozen on Broadway at the St. James Theatre when she was two!

When my mom mentioned she was thinking about getting Noah a polar express train to put around our Christmas tree, my boy mom heart grew even bigger, if that’s possible, but I couldn’t think of a better gift for him and at this sweet tender age of 2. It was then that I knew this holiday season would be centered around all things trains and I made it my mission to find a few spots around town that would accomplish that goal.

Looking back, I’d say it was an absolute success and my eyes and ears are already open to finding an actual polar express train ride for the 2024 holiday season.

There truly is nothing like seeing your toddlers eyes light up in pure joy but especially around Christmas time when everything is extra magical! Even more special was he made his older sister’s eyes sparkle extra bright (and Mike and mine, if I’m being honest!) too sharing in that excitement with him. 

My thirties in one word? THANKFUL.

Going into a new decade, it really is crazy to look back on the last decade and see how much went on in those 10 years. We had our three amazing babies, moved to a new city, moved into a new home, had life-saving brain surgery, expanded the cousin crew, went through a few failed fertility treatments and one successful round of IVF, traveled to some amazing places as a travel director, had my jewelry line in a popular downtown Annapolis boutique during Covid, tried my hand at homeschooling and failed, started a little beauty product side hustle from home, attended a few fun filled family weddings and many more memories I will forever look back on fondly. So I truly thank you, thirties for a great decade and very much looking forward to the next decade!

To name a few personal goals …get my hospitality management certification, embark on real estate endeavors with Mike, visit Savannah, get back to Disney and plan a family trip to Africa! I’ve decided it’s going to be fabulous. 

San Antonio, Scottsdale, Scotland. Three very different places, three different parts of the country/world but the three different places I’m thankful I had the opportunity of visiting for work this year. I have been to Scottsdale but had not been to San Antonio or Scotland and to be honest, neither were really on my very long bucket list of places I hope to travel to but that’s exactly what I love about traveling is that just when you think you know the places you want to go, it surprises you with a new destination and opens your eyes to a whole new world you otherwise wouldn’t have thought to get to. San Antonio is known for their River Walk and it really was incredible! Just make sure you don’t fall in after too many margaritas because you can either be arrested or fined even if it is an accident. 

Scottsdale has always been an overall fun spot in my mind with the stunning scenery, beautiful hotel properties and absolutely delicious food. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was where I stayed and I was told on three separate occasions by hotel staff that I need to return at Christmas because it is a must see, which proves my point! I would never think Scottsdale at Christmas time but now I will. 

Scotland was obviously a longer trip and I’m so glad it was because I got to see much more than I had expected. We stayed in St. Andrew’s and if you’re a golfer reading this, no doubt your ears just perked up. Even not being much of a golfer myself, at least not yet, I completely get the fascination! The Old Course is the oldest golf course in the world and considered to be the “home of golf” because the sport was first played on the links at St. Andrew’s in the early 15th century. I could practically feel all the history soaking into my pores from simply walking over the infamous bridge on the 18th hole! I wish I could have had Mike join me at the tail end of the trip but since schedules wouldn’t allow, we will absolutely be getting back there someday. And last but not least, try the haggis. Just do it. Can’t say that you’ll thank me later but you’ll just be proud to come home and say that you did. I do however, recommend trying it deep fried, trust me, it helps. 😉

When I really stop to think about this life, what I want to leave behind, what I want to accomplish, who I want to be, like I did after you passed, the legacy you left behind is a goal I will strive to achieve every day. I know your life wasn’t perfect, as none of ours is, but your style was effortless, every conversation was filled with love, your faith was inspiring, your optimism was contagious and your adventures were endless.

Not to mention having the honor to watch your children grow up, have families of their own, even get to witness the next generation grow up in over a dozen of your great grands is truly inspiring. So every year we do our fondue night or I make a genoise cake for Mike’s birthday or see a fleur di lis, I will think of you. In my mind, you woke up every day (even on the bad days I’m sure) grateful to be here, with a positive attitude and a smile on your face and I will strive to do the same. 

What an incredible 90 years of life you truly lived. You will be oh so very missed. I promise to keep your legacy alive and well.

Love,

Your granddaughter

I had the opportunity to attend a Christmas concert last month that was in honor of my friend, Christine. She passed away in an arson fire on Ohio State’s Campus 19 years ago at the age of 19 so on the 19th anniversary, it was decided it would be the grand finale and I knew I just had to be there. Seeing her amazing family, being there with my immediate family and catching up with the old crew from high school brought happy tears to my eyes. We will always share memories of Christine and it went without saying how grateful we were all able to be there, hug each other in person and enjoy an evening celebrating our girl during her favorite holiday, Christmas. There truly was a feeling of holiday magic in the air and no doubt Christine’s spirit was all around us. Not to mention, it was a good reminder of how precious life really is, which people so quickly tend to forget in their day to day lives. Don’t take it for granted.

This. This right here is exactly why I’m okay saying goodbye to glam temporarily  …this little guy, covered in peanut butter, bananas and french toast at breakfast this morning and the only thing he wants to do is hold my arm for what I’m guessing is additional comfort but it’s something we enjoy almost every day. Are my clothes typically covered at the end of meal time? Usually, but it’s just he and I and it’s the absolute best. 

Cheesy? Yep! Should I change it? Nope! You would be as excited as me too if you saw your very first humpback whales this past Spring off the coast of Maui!

This particular work trip took me to this destination right in the middle of whale season and they worked in a whale watching expedition for us on the front end of our stay and safe to say I’m officially obsessed with these amazing creatures.

Did you know they travel back and forth from Alaska to Maui every year which ends up being around 3,000 miles? Did you know there is nothing for them to eat in Hawaii and that they play, birth, mate and then go back to Alaska to eat in the Spring? Did you know the babies only stay with mom for a year? Follow me for these sporadic whale watching facts.

This month has become an extra special one for us because it’s the month (St. Patrick’s Day to be exact) that I received the call from Shady Grove to tell us the amazing news that our fresh embryo transfer stuck.

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I remember thinking that I’ll just let it go to voicemail since three phone calls before this one was only to say, we’re sorry, again, no baby. The phone rang and I let it go to voicemail. Then I checked my phone, assuming they had left a message but no message. A couple minutes passed by and they called again so this time I couldn’t help but answer. It was my nurse and doctor and he said, “We only call together when there’s good news …Sara, you’re pregnant.” I started to cry and couldn’t stop saying thank you over and over again. Once Mike and I had a moment alone, he gave me this sweet, little St. Patrick’s Day onesie in our few quiet minutes of celebration so the girls wouldn’t sense anything (even though a whole new set of nerves came into play for me). We couldn’t believe it and still look at our rainbow baby like how are you real?!?

There’s something to be said for the luck of the Irish and our Irish angel, Grandma Carol, who was no doubt smiling down on us with her Irish eyes that day.

I don’t know about you but I’m someone who likes to keep, edit and revise an ongoing travel bucket list and this one has been on the list since we moved out east. This summer, we finally pulled the trigger and made it to the beautiful Nemocolin Resort in Pennsylvania.

It’s almost like I strive to have a “locations on demand” Rolodex saved in my notes for immediate family vacation spots, extended family vacation spots, couple vacation spots and girlfriends vacation spots that I can pull out at a moments notice whenever the travel bug strikes, which is usually often. This particular spot is such a unique one too because I feel like it could honestly fall under each of these categories. It literally has something for everyone.

For only being there for 2 nights and 3 days we managed to get in seeing the wild animals, playground, ice cream parlor, a lot of time on the pool slide, merry go round, putt putt golf and I feel like we barely scratched the surface. Not to mention, we didn’t have to leave the property once. Also, if you’re a fan of architecture, I highly recommend checking out Fallingwater on the way out of town!