Travel

A Decade of Love, Loss and Lessons

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This decade has been filled with change, pain, joy and so much growth.

In this decade I graduated from college, moved 8 times, bought and sold my first home, married and divorced, got my fur baby, a few job changes, started my blog and Mary Kay business, lots of travel, many new friendships and said goodbye to some loved ones.

Several things didn’t turn out like I had planned, yet some turned out better than imagined . The good and the bad are all part of God’s plan.

Highlights from this past decade:

Several beautiful weddings and celebrations filled with love!

Love and marriage led to lots of precious babies… seriously my friends make some cute kids!

Moved 8 times Terre Haute -French Lick- Medina- Richmond-Indy apartment- First Home in Indy- Fishers- Nashville

I played hostess with the mostest

I was a jet setter to 3 countries and 29 states! Total state count is 33 with the goal of 50 by 50.

Blessed with inspiring, strong, loving and supportive women #squad

Lessons – graduation to real world, dog mom, exploring new cities, golfing, fishing with an open face reel, fitness, overcoming obstacles, welcoming new experiences, and being grateful for every moment with my loved ones.

Began my Mary Kay business and started to regain my confidence

Overall top 3 lessons:

  1. Put it in God’s hands
  2. Show grace, gratitude and kindness towards yourself and others
  3. BOUNDARIES

Cheers to the decade that shaped me.

I’m looking forward to a bright future full of love , grace and gratitude!

Happy New Year!

XOXO,

Cecee

Thank you, Next …2018 recap

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2018 … I can go on about all the struggles and challenges you hit me with. Challenges that caused me to feel so broken, but I will just say Thank You, Next.

It’s ok to be broken and sometimes some of the pieces are so broken they will never be fully restored to what they once were. Now I can pick up all the pieces and rebuild into something new.

2018 also had some beautiful highlights that I’m very grateful.

In January, I turned 30 and celebrated in a big way with friends locally then off to Cali!

February was low key, so low key that I hardly have any photos from the month. I did enjoy a Valentines dinner with my friend Laura and Indy Taco week with Ben and Elizabeth.

March, I started back on track with counting Macros, played in the snow, joined friends in a St.Patrick’s Day pub crawl, and hosted my family for Easter.

April was my favorite month of travel! I went to a Stanley Cup playoff game, Austin, TX and Virginia. I spent a lot of time with friends.

April was also very scary as a lump was found on my breast during my annual exam. At 30 years old, I had to go in for a mammogram to determine if I had breast cancer. Thankfully, I am ok and must continue to monitor. I urge all to be diligent about their health.

In May, I traveled to Vegas for Kristi’s bachelorette party, met my friend’s little boy, enjoyed time around the pool and planted a garden.

June was Wine Fest, fishing for Father’s Day, and Indy Pride.

July I did a fun 4th of July photo shoot for a blog, hosted a brunch pool party, attended my cousin’s bridal shower, went on a girls trip to French Lick then onto Nashville,TN and the biggest challenge was when I backed a boat trailer and learned how to fish with an open face reel 😊.

August was a lot of working on the house as I decided I wanted to put it on the market in September. I played in my ladies golf league all summer along with an outing for work. Lots of pool days, a date night, kept grinding in the gym and cheered on Kevin as he and his partner won their division at CrossFit Summer Bash . I am beyond grateful for the time and help my family and Kevin provided in order to get the house ready. I basically was a regular at Lowe’s all month.

September was a whirlwind hosting my last Labor Day pool party at the house, listing the house, lake life, traveling for work meetings, MI vacation, Candlelight Tour, and cousin’s wedding.

September also began the next series of health issues and vet ER visits for Pippa.

October I accepted and offer on my house, said bye to my blonde locks, had a packing party and passed out candy on Halloween for the last time at my home on Wawasee Court.

In November, Pippa and I said our final goodbye to our home on Wawasee Court and moved in with a friend in Fishers. I then had more work travels and met Barbara Bush! I traveled back home for the Christmas tree lighting at West Baden Resort and Thanksgiving.

In December, Jessica and I decked the halls and hosted a cookie exchange, I made a Christmas card, I traveled to Austin to help Annie pack as well as celebrate her 30th, work trip to Nashville, Christmas celebrations and then a trip to Wilstem Guest Ranch.

2018, I thank you for the beautiful moments and the lessons.

Now 2019, I know you are full of growth potential, but please don’t be as stressful.

XOXO,

Cecee

Changing Seasons 

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Just like the leaves of fall change can be beautiful, but it can also be messy. In the past month or so I have had a ton of change from expanded territory for work to selling my first house. My life has been a whirlwind!

During the process of trying to prepare my house for the market, all the showings, traveling for work then packing to move I quickly became overwhelmed. I am beyond grateful for my family and friends who stepped up to help me with tasks and listen to all my frustrations.

Now I am moving on from my beautiful home to the unknown. For the first time I don’t have a plan for my future. My house was packed up and split between my parents, a storage unit and my friend’s house. Thank goodness for my sweet friend for letting me move in.

I am working on embracing the beauty of the unknown even though it terrifies me. Closing chapters and saying goodbye to places, things and people is very hard and scary. Sometimes it takes closing one door for a better one to open. I am excited for the future and wherever it may lead.

Moving on to new adventures!

XOXO,

Cecee

Seeing the wildflowers through the weeds

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I recently traveled to Austin, TX to visit my little, Annie. If you haven’t visited Austin I highly recommend going. This was my third trip to Austin and I can never get enough of this city! The food , shopping and nearby state parks make it a perfect vacation destination! You could potentially end up craving ROBERTO’S BRAZO FUERTE QUESO from Tacodeli all year long. I count down the days for that wonderful cheat meal!

April in Austin provides the beauty of blue bonnets and other gorgeous wildflowers along with overall wonderful weather. I wanted to experience the beauty of the wildflowers as well as a state park this trip so we visited Inks Lake State Park. The park is beautiful with a wonderful lake, waterfalls and wildflowers. Hiking around the park, enjoying a picnic on the rocks by a waterfall and searching for wildflowers was my favorite part of the trip. I do wish I had packed some sunscreen!

I wanted to search for the wildflowers as someone told me that I am a wildflower and I completely fell in love with the term. Wildflowers are sporadic, they sway where the breeze takes them, and they are beauty amongst the weeds.

Even though there are aspects of life I prefer having planned vs swaying, I have made an effort in being more sporadic and accepting of moments. Everyday life, like weeds can be overwhelming. Taking time to search for those beautiful moments can be challenging, but worth it.

During our hike I reflected on all the times that I continued to worry about what’s next and the path to get there. There was no clear direct path or plan leading us to this field of beautiful wildflowers, but we still found them. Appreciating the moments and beauty in little things is my goal as I often get wrapped up in my own mind and easily overwhelmed.

Visit Austin and parks around the city, embrace beautiful moments and don’t let the weeds overwhelm you!

XOXO,

Cecee

Who’s that girl

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I am always such a planner. I make list and agendas daily. When I go on vacations I have everyday planned and outfits planned for each day.

I decided on my first trip to the New England area I am not going to have a plan. The only thing that was planned was my flight, rental car and air bnb from there it was only opportunities!

My friend Kate who just accepted a new job and will be moving to New Jersey this week from Richmond, VA met me in Boston airport this past Thursday. We picked up a rental and thank goodness she shuttled me around as I have been driving a ton lately!

Instead of taking the GPS recommended of I95 we took the road less traveled up route 1 and discovered cute coastal towns. I was slightly disappointed that there was not more fall foliage to see along this route, but due to the unseasonably warm weather the leaves were just starting to change.


Our first stop and one of the highlights of the trip was in Portsmouth, NH. This coastal town was so quaint and full of restaurants and shops. Of course I was in search of lobster rolls and Portsmouth did not disappoint.


From Portsmouth we drove up to Westbrook a small town outside of Portland, ME to check into our Air Bnb. We then found a grocery store for some wine and snacks. 

For dinner we went next door to a bowling alley restaurant.

We then had a fun evening of laughs with chutes and ladders along with Lincoln logs at Air Bnb.

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Exploring Portland was the only plan on Friday and we found the speckled ax coffee.

Portland is very interesting to say the least. Vibes were so different than Portsmouth.


Restaurants were wandered into based on what felt right and some locals recommended other places to try- Nosh and   Allagash Brewery.


Saturday we got up and headed to Boston. I wish we did 2 days in Boston vs Portland, but that just means another trip now! Wandering around Boston with no map and stumbling into a farmers market, cobblestone roads and some Boston lager along with so much history was amazing! 


We decided on a low key dinner and evening as we were exhausted from walking 6.5 miles around the city and knew 5:30 am alarm would come way too soon. We found this awesome place where you build your own hummus/Mediterranean bowl and it was so good!


 

The entire trip I took naps as needed and over indulged in great food, drinks and tons of laughs! 

 

Top 3 favorites from the trip were:

New Hampshire-Portsmouth

Chutes and ladders

Lost in Boston

Learning to enjoy the moment and not trying to plan everything was refreshing! 

Now thinking about my first solo vaca to discover even more about myself and in the world!

Xoxo,

Cecee