• Europe,  Italy,  Military Life,  Personal

    The First 48 Hours Living in Italy

    Whew… it has been a complete whirlwind since the moment we landed in Venice at 0900 on Monday morning. We finally made it to our new home around 1630 after an hour bus ride and waiting for a rental car to become available so we could move all 7 of our suitcases to the house. In these last couple of days, I have come to LOVE many things about life in Italy. Heated floors and light switches by the bed are possibly the best things since sliced bread. So is my husband who let me sleep for three hours but then drug me out of the house to go get…

  • a fresh start
    Europe,  Military Life,  Personal

    A Fresh Start

    In a little over a week from today, I will board a one-way flight across the ocean. With a new address, a new phone number, and my new last name….all of this feels like a fresh start – a blank slate. While it may not seem that big of a deal to many millennials or some of my fellow readers, keep in mind that I come from a small town where people don’t usually leave. This is a MONUMENTAL event for my family. I asked my dad the other day if he had ever been away from his family, even for a couple months. He simply laughed and said no…

  • North Carolina,  Personal

    Life in This Small Town

    The month of November is a bittersweet one this year. With it brings birthdays, a military homecoming, Thanksgiving, weddings, and a big move. There is a lot to be grateful for — and anxious about at the same time. These last couple of months, I have learned to treasure the little things in life, like walking with my pups to get the mail each day, dining with my parents and talking about upcoming plans, and just being in the moment. You see, before I became a world traveler, I was just a girl from a small town farm. This small community (we’re not even technically a town it’s so small)…