The last few months I’ve been writing a lot about travel and taking time to slow down and enjoy life. But to be honest, up until a couple of years ago, I wasn’t very good at this myself. I grew up believing that my value as a person was tied to my achievements and productivity. […]
How to cultivate courage and do more of what you love
My one word for 2017 was courage. I chose to focus on courage because, for most of my life, I prided myself on being a top-notch perfectionist. Then one day I realized that my constant striving for perfection wasn’t a strength but rather a weakness. My need to be perfect caused me to miss out […]
The surprising lessons that solo wilderness travel teaches you
Anyone who has ever traveled alone in the wilderness will tell you that some of their best experiences happened while they were solo. You see things when you’re alone that almost never occur when you’re in a group. I know firsthand that going solo can feel terrifying. But when you find the courage to lean […]
How my journey to find the best Minnesota state parks changed my life
Two years ago, I decided to embark on a journey to visit all 69 Minnesota state parks. What started as an exercise to be more courageous changed my life in so many ways. In this post, I highlight some of the most important lessons I learned along the way. I also share my favorite parks […]
How to Save Cash for Your Next Vacation and Say Bon Voyage to Debt
Are you among the millions of Americans in desperate need of a vacation but can never seem to scrape together enough cash? Maybe you make more than enough money, but struggle to save enough beforehand and end up putting it on your credit card. Perhaps you’ve already figured out the money stuff and need to […]
Why You Should Explore a New Hobby and How to Get Started on a Budget
Hiking, cycling, painting, and gardening are fun and popular pastimes. But is it possible to try a new hobby while sticking to your budget? This post shares great tips as well as justification to try something new.
7 Simple Steps to Plan Anything and Make it Happen
When it’s time to plan something, are you the person who takes charge? Or do you step back and let someone else do it? While I’m a huge advocate of playing to your strengths, there are some skills we all need to learn at a basic level. And planning is one of those skills. If […]
10 Safety Tips for Solo Female Campers
Last summer I began a journey to visit every State Park in Minnesota. Most of this journey was done alone while sleeping in a tent. Over the last year, I’ve had many inquiries from other women who are intrigued by camping solo but as a female have obvious safety concerns. So I created a list […]
7 Lessons Learned While Living in a Tent for 6 Weeks
Yup, you read that right. I spent close to six weeks living in a tent this past summer. To some of you that might sound like heaven. While others probably think I’m completely crazy. But that’s not important. What’s important are the lessons I learned from this incredible experience. Before I jump into the […]