travel adventures Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Inspired & Strong | Making the Best of Every Day with Stacy

Today’s post is a continuation of my Letter to Gram. If you are jumping in, head on back to that first post about how writing a letter to your loved one can be therapeutic. This letter is the second part of my letter to Gram and about how much changed that first year I had the opportunity to take care of her.

Dear Gram,

Our journey continues. After 16 years in Richmond, I needed a change. I was not happy with my job or the dating scene. I met a friend of a friend who was moving to Thailand to teach English. It sounded like something that I just needed to do. I had the same feeling in my stomach as when I moved to California. I just knew I had to go.

As I was considering moving to Thailand, Grandpa voiced his opinion and didn’t really want me to go. He was about to turn 90, and I think he was scared he wouldn’t make it until my return. Maybe he knew his health was failing. He had been in and out of the hospital the year prior with his congestive heart failure, but he always bounced back. I don’t remember you telling me not to go. I only remember your support and you probably told me Gary and Shar used to live there, too! I think you were excited for me to go on a crazy adventure, and I couldn’t wait to see the world.

Even though I was only gone three months, I did miss Grandpa’s 90^th birthday bash, and I am really sorry that I did. He was so happy and many of his old players and students came back for the occasion. Mom did FaceTime me so I did get to see you dancing with the toy soldier and got to be a part of some of the celebration.

I also missed the beautiful birth of my nephew. I knew there would never be a time that I wouldn’t miss something so I will never regret going to Thailand and gaining all that I experienced. But I also wish I could have been in two places at the same time. (of course! I am a Yes, Woman!)

I ended up coming back from Thailand for Christmas to see the family and my new nephew who was only 19 days old. That Christmas of 2015, Gramps got sick. My sister asked him if he wanted to go to the emergency room and he said yes. So off we went. He had fluid built up around his lungs and ended up having a longer stay than any of us wanted. I remember you not wanting to leave his side, and I wish I would have talked the staff into letting us both stay to be with him. I didn’t realize how much you felt the need to be there until I was the one who wanted to stay with you in the hospital room. I am sorry that we didn’t let you stay. I know the staff said it was a liability, and we didn’t want you to fall and get hurt either, but I finally realized how much you truly wanted to be there. And how lonely the hospital room can be.

After a week of Gramps being in the hospital, we all decided I wasn’t going back to Thailand. I had some wonderful adventures and saw nine new countries including Germany, Finland, Sweden, and The Netherlands so I decided I would stay home and spend time with you and Gramps. My house in Richmond was rented until September, and I was unemployed. Gramps spent a month in rehab while you and I stayed with mom. Finally, we decided to take Grandpa back home to Pennsylvania with Hospice Care. It was going to be a big change, but I would move in and be there for you both.

We made it home and my cousin across the street helped me get Gramps in the house. It was not an easy task, and I am not sure how we did it. Grandpa was so upset that we weren’t in your condo in Florida and once he saw the hospital bed in the living room, he seemed deflated. I think maybe it was his last wish to be in sunny Florida before he passed on.

My mom came up a few days later but after a week, Grandpa’s body couldn’t fight anymore. We called the priest in for the anointing of the sick and all prayed together with my sister on the phone. The next morning, he faded out and was gone. I am sorry, Grandpa, that I was not there to hold your hand as you headed toward the light. And I am sorry, Gram, that you barely made it to tell him you loved him one more time. It seemed to happen so fast, and I hate that we were not all there for him in those final moments.

That week was full of preparations. We planned with the funeral home and family started arriving in town. Although it was great to see everyone, it was sad, sad circumstances. After the dust settled, it was just you and me. I wasn’t sure if you would last two days, two months, or two years, without him. You just lost your best friend, and I wasn’t sure you knew what to do next.

It was February 2016. We just lost Gramps. It was snowing. I didn’t have a job yet therefore, we made fires, watched the snowfall, and watched black and white movies all day. We didn’t go out in the cold if we didn’t have to. About a month later, my high school girlfriends talked me into volunteer coaching for the high school softball team. Then one of my college girlfriends offered me a job at a local dairy isle. What a change from the field of education! We had a wonderful summer once the weather turned. We zoomed around town in my little convertible EOS, watching softball games, eating ice cream, drinking wine, and going out to eat at our favorite restaurant, Venango Valley. I reconnected with high school and college friends and was enjoying being with you and being back in my hometown.

Then December came and you broke your hip (the first time). I couldn’t let what happened to Gramps happen to you so I vowed to be with you 24/7 and I broke you loose from the rehab center. Once you were back home, your spirits picked right up, your attitude changed and you were walking around the house with your walker in no time. You became more dependent on me, but I was just happy you were doing well.

That February, after your fall, we both were sad and depressed because of the weather, and we were tired of being cooped up in the house. We needed a change. Therefore, we took off for Florida. It was perfect timing because that is when I met my Prince. You seemed to like him right from the start and that was the beginning of more crazy adventures, but now there was three of us.

Making the change and being able to take care of you led me to so many wonderful things in life. I reconnected with amazing friends and got to spend more time with them. I also met new friends who grew to love you and your presence. And of course, I met my husband. We all miss you more than you know.

(to be continued…)

In Pilot's Wife

Pilot’s Wife

March 29, 2022 No Comments

As you know I am a Pilot’s Wife. Many of you may think that being a Pilot’s Wife is a glamourous lifestyle full of travel and adventure. And yes, I must admit that is true most of the time. But if you marry a pilot like mine you are never home! And you have to be independent, flexible, and confident.

When we travel, many times we travel on standby. And some of you think that means we fly for free. That is not the case. Even with standby, there are costs involved. And it varies depending on the airline and how long of a flight we are trying to get on. Yes, it is less expensive but you are not guaranteed a seat. Many times that means hours in the airport or running from one terminal to another to try to catch another flight to get you where you want to go.

I have learned that if you fly standby and you are offered a seat you take it. This also means that sometimes I get a seat and Jeff doesn’t. Or Jeff gets a seat and I don’t. Then you have to resort to backup plans and running from one gate to another. The other thing it means is that we don’t usually get to sit together on a flight. Sometimes I am in the back, and he is in the cockpit. Or he is on one side of the plane, and I am on the other. When you fly standby, you take any seat you can get! And you have to be okay flying next to strangers and not your partner. If possible, the gate agents will try to seat us together but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

Since becoming a Pilot’s Wife, I have become better at reading departure screens and using travel apps. Our favorite travel app is FlightView. You can see nonstop flights between cities. You can also track flights to see their arrival and departure times. It really is a great app. Another app I like is Kayak. It searches for low fares between destinations. I like to look on Kayak first then book on the specific airline website.

Another thing you need to get used to becoming a Pilot’s Wife is being alone. As you read before there are single people and there are relationship people. You are better at being lonely or better at being annoyed. Jeff and I make a great team because I am better at being lonely and he is better at being annoyed! I was a single, independent woman for 10 years before I met Jeff and became a Pilot’s Wife. I think those years prepared me for my role as a Pilot’s Wife. Jeff will go on trips for work. He may be gone two days. He may be gone for two weeks. And I am home… alone… since Sweet Gram is gone. I am responsible for the many possible mini disasters that usually occur the second he walks out the door. Sometimes the A/C goes out. Sometimes a cockroach scurries across the floor. Sometimes a big ass spider or a little black snake invades my space. And in these instances, I am the one responsible for getting that little creature out.

Being a Pilot’s Wife is a great adventure. I am grateful for the 11 different ski resorts, 20 states, and 6 different countries we have been able to go to over the past five years. I am grateful for the new friends and family members I have met along the way who have become some of my very best friends.

I wouldn’t give up being a Pilot’s Wife for anything. But if being a gypsy, being a big bad bug killer, a game-time decision-maker, a traveler of the world, and a woman of no routine is not your thing, then being a Pilot’s Wife is not for you.

In Family

Vegas Baby

March 1, 2022 No Comments

For Christmas, we bought Jeff’s two sons concert tickets to see Metallica and Greta Van Fleet in Las Vegas. We like to give them memories rather than material things from time to time. It was going to be a three-day family trip to Vegas to see Jeff’s favorite band.

This concert was the second time all three guys have seen Metallica together. Jeff took them for the first time when they were just nine and eleven. Now look at them, all grown up!

When Jeff was buying tickets, he asked me if I wanted to go. I am not a huge Metallica fan but I am a Yes Woman so, of course, I said yes to Vegas and the show! Needless to say, all of us were excited about the trip.

Although we had some difficulties with our flights being delayed and canceled, we all made it to Vegas by midnight on Thursday. We stayed at one of the newest casinos called Resorts World. The hotel and casino were beautiful! They had about five pools which would have been awesome had it been summertime or the weather just a bit warmer!

Both boys are over 21 now so we had a few beverages at the hotel bar when we all got in. Not much gambling took place the first night as we just scouted the hotel and casino and took a little stroll down the Strip. Friday, after breakfast in the hotel, we decided to walk down the Strip to a few of the casinos. We spent a lot of time in Caesar’s Palace enjoying the shopping and people watching. We also walked through the Venetian. It was like we were in a different world and very similar to my time in Venice. I loved the canals and someday maybe we will have enough time for a gondola ride in Italy. Treasure Island was also very cool.

Once back at the hotel, we hit a few slot machines and roulette tables then got ready for the show. We went down to the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Blackened Whiskey sponsored the concert pre-party, and we were only a short walk to Allegiant Stadium. Everyone was excited and ready for the show. We missed the first opening band but got there right in time for Greta Van Fleet. They are a young band but the lead singer has a very distinctive voice similar to the lead singer of Led Zepplin. They put on a great show.

Next up Metallica. The crowd went wild! Even though I didn’t know many of the songs they were great performers, and it was an amazing show. They played all of their classics and a few of their newer songs. It seemed everyone knew all of the words except for me. We were up in the back corner and you could feel the heat from the fire near the stage. I really enjoyed the show and am so glad I am a yes girl.

After the show, we walked back to House of Blues and then got a car to our hotel. We gambled a few dollars away, saw the amazing Luke Bryan at the Craps table, and went to bed. Luke also had played that night at Resorts World. Maybe we will see him again in concert someday.

On Saturday, we made our way to the airport to all go our separate ways back to Florida. It was a memorable weekend with the boys, and I was glad to spend some quality with them. It’s crazy to think I am technically their stepmom. I came into their lives when they were already adults so they did not need another mother or anyone else telling them what to do. Now at 21 and 23, I am excited to be their adult friend and maybe a bit of a mentor should they ever want or need my advice.

I think it’s hard to go into a relationship at any point when there are children involved. I am thankful that we all get along, and that we can spend time together as a family. Although I have only known the boys for a short five years, I am really proud of the wonderful young men they are becoming. They have so much to look forward to in life and are at such a fun age. I remember being 23 and wondering where my life’s journey would take me. They now are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives and who they want to become.

Even though they probably don’t even think of me as a stepmom, I do hope when they find their significant others, and if they choose to have babies that I get to become Gram, Babcia, Nana, or some type of Grandma-figure. I really can’t wait to spoil the little ones!

All in all, I am counting my blessings that Sweet Gram led me to My Prince which led me to two amazing stepsons. I look forward to spending more time together with them, getting to know them better, and creating more memories together as we take on more family adventures.

In Travel Junkie

Glenwood Springs

January 11, 2022 2 Comments

Jeff and I headed out west to visit some really good friends prior to our ski week in Taos. Although it took us seven hours to get there because of the weather and traffic, it was well worth it. As soon as we pulled into the little town of Glenwood Springs I loved it.

Upon our arrival, our friends had a delicious feast waiting for us. They knew we would be hungry after our long drive. We had some amazing homemade pizza, pesto-filled mushrooms, marinated chicken, Greek pepper salad, wine, and great conversation. The next morning, we got to see the beautiful mountain views from their deck in Glenwood Springs.

That day we went skiing at a local ski resort called Sunlight. I really enjoyed it. It was a beautiful bluebird day. We started on the green runs, and Jeff even gave me a few ski tips. I started feeling a little more comfortable. Clearly, he’s a better skier 🙂 Watch this video!

The resort had a great vibe. It was customer appreciation day so they had a costume contest and donut eating contest sponsored by Sweet Coloradough. They also had a DJ and everyone was dancing and playing cornhole. It became my second favorite ski resort behind Deer Valley.

Later that evening, we went downtown Glenwood Springs for dinner and drinks. We went to Riveria Supper Club. We sat at the bar until our table was ready. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The table before us stayed longer than expected so they treated us with a free appetizer and round of champagne. We didn’t mind waiting and loved the freebies! The four of us split salmon, beef stroganoff, a burger, salad, and bone marrow. We were all a bit tired so we just headed back to the house for a nightcap.

Instead of skiing the next day, we decided to go on a snowmobiling tour. We woke up to a downpour of snow. It was a blast! Jeff and I rode together. The guide led us through the trees and up and down the trails. Then we stopped in a wide-open field, and they let us free ride for 30 minutes or so. I took the sled for a few spins and had so much fun. It was a snowy day so we didn’t get to see the majestic views from the summit, but eventually, the clouds broke up, and it turned into a beautiful sunny day. We continued on our journey, and they took us on a new trail. We had a group of about 10 snowmobiles and everyone was riding pretty good so they kept us out about an hour longer than normal, which was awesome but by the end of the ride, By the end, I was frozen to the bone.

Our trip to Glenwood Springs was short but very sweet. I really enjoyed the mountain town and the beautiful views. Check out the bighorn sheep we saw on our way out of town. Sunlight was a really fun and cute local ski resort that I can’t wait to visit again.

In Fitness and Nutrition

New Year, New You

January 4, 2022 No Comments

It seems every January, people make resolutions that they don’t keep. They think it’s a new year, it should be a new me. Instead of being realistic they go for the gold and end up quitting before they even get started. This year, make your resolution mindful and realistic. Reread the post Eat Better and Move Better and focus on becoming 1% better every day. What baby steps can you make to meet your goal? The more steps you take and the more progress you see the more likely you will be to keep going.

It’s hard because, after the holidays and all of the parties and gatherings, you want to be a new you in the new year. But try to evaluate where you are now and where you want to go. Then be realistic about the amount of work you will need to put in. I am not trying to discourage you. I just want you to be honest with yourself. Whatever your new year goals are…what does it take to get there?

Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Run a race? Quit drinking? Quit smoking? Eat at home more often? Eat less fast food? Travel more? Do a Spartan Race or a mud run? Hike a mountain? Ride a bike? Whatever you decide, write it down, and determine your short-term goals. Remember the end goals are like marathons, not sprints. You are not going to lose 10 pounds in 10 days. It takes time. So start small. Start with two pounds a month and by next year the new you will be 24 pounds lighter! And next year, you can continue and soon you are down 48 pounds, and you can keep it off because you have changed your lifestyle and not gone on some fad diet.

I talk a lot in this blog about how we eat and how we move. I first learned to eat healthily at Bill Lawrencen’s Personal Fitness in Meadville, PA. If you are in the area, go now, and start Dream Team. You won’t be sorry. He gets some serious results. You can also participate virtually. Check out the website. To this day, Jeff and I continue eating a lean protein, the right carb, and a healthy fat at every meal. When we eat out, we make as healthy of a choice as we can, and usually, we order fish or lean meat and veggies.

If your goal is to travel more then decide how often do you want to go? How much do you want to spend on each trip? Then make it happen. Do a little each week or month to get you there. Look for deals on airlines. Look at the low-cost carriers. Try to pack minimally and don’t pay for a seat or luggage. There are many ways to travel inexpensively. Also, look at credit cards that give you miles.

Whatever your goals, it’s a new year for a new you. Start small and take baby steps. Jeff and I had our two-year wedding anniversary on December 31st. One of our new year’s commitments to each other is that every month we will do one of the Five Love Languages. We did them the first two years of our relationship but haven’t made a conscious effort on them for the last two years. Each month we will pick a language and make a day of it. To find out your love language and that of your partner or even a family member, click here.

Whatever your goals, I wish you a safe, happy, and healthy new year and new you! Stay strong and be inspired each and every day!

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

In Travel Junkie

Copper Mountain

December 14, 2021 No Comments

As you read previously, every month from January through March, there is an airline ski week. The 2021 season has begun! This year the ski weeks are Copper Mountain, CO, Taos, NM, Telluride, CO, Squaw, CA, and there is an international ski week in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. My husband has been going for almost 10 years now, but I am just starting my fourth season.

The second ski week of my life was in December 2019 at Copper Mountain. It wasn’t an official ski week but we had opportunities for discounted lodging and ski lessons. I participated in a few lessons and learned a lot! It was very helpful. That week is a bit more low-key. Three airlines get together, have an ugly sweater pub crawl, a white elephant Christmas exchange, and camaraderie. It’s a wonderful week.

In 2019, we weren’t able to find anyone to watch Gram so as you know she goes where we go. I didn’t realize how high the mountain was but she had no trouble with the change in altitude. She was such an amazing woman.

Last week we went to Copper Mountain again, and it all came back to me. The memories, the fun times, the shot ski’s and the missing her. She loved the snow and the Christmas lights. She would have been so happy to see it all again. The holidays are always hard when you have lost someone but the first one without them seems to be the most difficult. And here we are coming up on Christmas without Gram. Although I am excited to see the kids and my mom, I am going to miss sweet Gram supervising us while we try to make some Polish pierogies. (Although this is not her recipe, it is very similar.)

Copper Mountain is a great ski resort and mountain. They have plenty of green and blue runs which are the easiest and it isn’t really a confusing mountain. All the ski runs are together for the most part. All the greens are on one side, the blues in the middle, and the blacks (the most difficult) on the other end. There are a few parts where they mix but it makes it easy for those who do not want to get stuck up high on the mountain with no easy way down.

I have improved my skiing over the past few years. I think I have now skied 33 days in my life. Woo hoo! I am feeling a little more confident but when I start going fast, boy, am I scared to death of wiping out! I do love it. I love the different places we go and the opportunity to see the amazing views from 10,000 feet in the air.

Hopefully, I continue to improve and do well. Being up so high is absolutely breathtaking with the snow-capped mountains. It really is something special. Even if you don’t want to take the chance of skiing down the mountain, going to a mountain top resort and staying a few days to drink hot chocolate is absolutely worth it.

In Pilot's Wife

Time To Go

November 16, 2021 2 Comments

We left northwest PA just in time. My husband had a trip and returned home Saturday morning. The weather was a mix of sleet and snow when I picked him up. The roads were still too warm for anything to stick but I could smell it. Snow was coming. It was time to pack up and head south.

Usually, we get to Pennsylvania in June. This year, we went to Virginia for six weeks to spend time with the kids so we didn’t get settled in PA until the middle of August. By the time we got there, everyone was going back to work and summer was pretty much over.

It went so fast, and we couldn’t believe it. It seemed like we just didn’t have enough time to enjoy the area. It is truly so beautiful in the summer. The days are long, the weather is beautiful, the creeks are made for kayaks, and the back windy roads are made for motorcycles. Because we were so late getting to PA this year we decided to stay at Gram’s House a bit longer. We got to enjoy the full beauty of fall. The leaves were beautiful reds, greens, and yellows. Then, of course, we had the chore of raking them all up, too! Although we could have left a few weeks ago, Jeff had a few more trips, so we decided to stay.

A few weeks ago, it rained and rained. I escaped for about four days with a friend to Florida for some sunshine. We came back for the weekend and then Jeff had another trip. I spent the week trying to get things packed up and the house cleaned. Finally, it was time to go.

It’s always sad to leave wherever we are. We have such amazing friends and even though we are never home, we never want to leave.

I saw in the forecast that snow was coming. It was cold. It was getting dry. The heat was on. I picked up Jeff in that sleet, and we both decided it was time to go.

We had one last fun night out with some friends. The next day we woke up and to our surprise, no snow was falling down. We shut down the house, packed up the Jeep, and got on the road. The weather was cold, but no rain and no snow.

A few hours later, we got a couple of texts from our friends. One of them said, “I’m glad you got out of town when you did. This sucks!” Then we got a few pictures from our friend Meghan. Although my husband was relieved we didn’t have to leave town in a snowstorm, I thought it was beautiful, and I was a little sad that we missed it.

It’s always nice to be in the snow when you know you get to go back to the sunshine and warmth. I am ready for the sun, the boat, the beach, and the beautiful paradise of southwest Florida. But I did feel a bit of sadness about missing the first real snowfall of the season in northwest Pennsylvania.

Driving from Florida to Pennsylvania or from Pennsylvania to Florida is one of my favorite things to do. We take our time and drive a few hours a day. It takes us four or five days but we stop along the way and see amazing family and friends who are en route. So although it’s sad to leave one place when it’s time to go, it’s a great adventure getting to the other.

Picture of woods by @momma_d.3

In Travel Junkie

Sunshine

November 9, 2021 No Comments

Last week, my friend, Alison, and I went to Florida for four days to get out of the rain and cold and get into the Florida sunshine. We found roundtrip tickets from Pittsburgh to Fort Myers on Spirit. I have written before about how much I love Spirit and how if you buy your tickets at the airport counter you save up to $23.99 each way. I am not saying wait until the last minute and get your tickets. I am telling you if you know the dates you want to fly and are at the airport then go to the Spirit counter and buy!

It’s amazing how much weather can impact my mood. The week before we left Pennsylvania, it was cold and rainy. It seemed like it was never going to stop raining. Finally, it did but it was still cold. The sky was gray and my mood was down. Jeff was working, and I wasn’t motivated to go to the gym at all. It was too cold to go out of the house! Even though we only had a few weeks left in PA I was really glad Alison talked me into going to Florida for a few days. I couldn’t wait!

Alison and I went to Florida with no plans and no agenda except to get our boat home from storage. Our goal was to enjoy the sunshine, sit by the pool, and maybe go to the beach. I also wanted to work out and eat well.

We arrived late Sunday night and just went to bed. The next day we got up early, did a good workout in the garage, and got ready to go. Two of my husband’s friends were coming over to help us bring the boat home from storage. Because my husband always drives the boat, I wasn’t comfortable bringing it home by myself. I was glad we had some reinforcements. It was early in the morning and the Florida humidity was down so for us girls, it was a bit chilly! But the sunshine was out and it felt wonderful on our faces.

The guys made me drive the boat all the way home. I did a decent job although I did find myself out of the channel twice and in very low water. Oops! I need to get better at watching those channel markers! I got it all the way home but needed help docking it on our lift. Anyway, I definitely need more practice but I am usually having too much fun on the boat to drive. Plus, it is a center console and you can’t get much sunshine under the cover. So, usually, my Prince drives us around.

We made it to the gym every morning and had coffee by the pool. We saw some of the most beautiful sunrises (see featured image above). One of the days, we decided to head downtown. I showed Alison around Fort Myers, and we stopped by a few different bars/restaurants. Soon our afternoon was gone. I told Alison how Gramps always took us to a homemade ice cream shop called the Love Boat. We decided we had to go. So much for eating well 🙂

The next day we decided to go to the beach. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot or humid with a slight breeze. We found a little spot in between two restaurants. We had our chairs, our cooler, and the sunshine. It was a perfect beach day. It wasn’t overly crowded but it seems the snowbirds are coming back to Florida earlier and earlier and staying later and later every year.

That evening we met another one of my great friends (who was once Jeff’s wingman ) for dinner at a new restaurant in town called Oxbow. The restaurant is right on the river. We sat outside so we could enjoy the sunset and the water. The atmosphere was wonderful. The food was ok. I definitely would go back but hopefully, the next dish is more delightful. The three of us had such a great night talking, laughing, and being outside.

Later that night, Alison and I sat outside. We knew we were going home to snow flurries so we wanted to enjoy the outside as much as possible. We lit our little gas fireplace and talked the night away.

But soon it was time to go. I hope I always appreciate the sunshine of Florida even though we live there most of the year. It makes me happy to wake up to the rays coming through the window. It lifts my spirits. Even if you can only go somewhere for a few days, take the opportunity to relax and get some sunshine on your face. It does wonders for the soul.

In Pilot's Wife

Never Home

October 26, 2021 No Comments

For the past three years, Gram, Jeff, and I have spent winters in our Florida home and summers at Gram’s House in Pennsylvania. We lost Gram in February and life just hasn’t been the same. I have felt lost and sad without her. It really hasn’t gotten any easier. I still miss her face and her smile. But it seems since she has been gone we are never home.

Even though we have always traveled with Gram, there were some trips Gram couldn’t do. So she and I would have some downtime at home. We would sit by the pool or the fire and watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. But since she has been gone, I have had more freedom to go and now we are never home. I am not sure if this summer is going to be our new “normal” but it has definitely been a whirlwind.

Since Jeff and I left Florida in June we have been going nonstop. It is one of the benefits of being a pilot’s wife. He can work from anywhere, and we have some travel benefits. We decided each summer we can try a different area for a month or so. This past summer we decided on Virginia. Over that six weeks, we had many adventures with the kids and created some wonderful memories. But we didn’t get “home” until mid-August.

We left Virginia and headed to West Virginia for Jeff’s uncle’s memorial service. Although the circumstances were sad, it was nice to see his extended family and for me to meet more of his family. The first weekend we were home in PA the family came up for my mom’s surprise 70^th birthday party, then Jeff had training in Kentucky so we spent a week there with friends. Then it was September, and we were off to Virginia for my niece’s birthday. On the way home, we flew to Texas to get Jeff’s mom and spent a few days in West Virginia again with his family. We met friends in Pittsburgh on the way home and went to a Pirates game. For the first few weeks, we were never home.

The next weekend we met up with friends from Chicago that were in the area and had a nice bike ride through the country roads before we drove back to Pittsburgh and flew to our Florida home to check on the house, run the boat, and have dinner with a few of our Florida friends.

On the way home, we met some of Jeff’s high school friends in Pittsburgh and had a great time catching up with them. I thought we were going home but that weekend we drove to Columbus for the Ohio State game. Again, never home. They won which means I am allowed to go back for another game. It was Grandpa’s rule that if you went to a Steeler game, and they lost you weren’t allowed to go back. Jeff seems to have the same rule!

The next weekend we were actually in our small town. We had a campfire in our backyard then went on a wine walk the next day. It was so nice to be around friends and enjoy the area in which we live. The next week my mom came up, and we drove up to Buffalo and the Falls. It really is amazing how many different areas we can get to within a few hours of our summer home.

The next thing I knew it was October, and I felt like I was never home. We seemed to have missed the summer in PA. Now it was time to head to Nashville for the Spartan race. It was such an amazing weekend with the girls, and I loved the Spartan race. I can’t wait to do it again! From there I went to meet my mom and the rest of the family in the Outer Banks, and Jeff was off to work. It was a beautiful few days at the beach with the kids. They love fishing and playing in the waves. It’s amazing how fearless they are of the water. My brother-in-law caught a shark, and they thought it was the coolest thing.

Sunday we went to the Steelers/Broncos game in Pittsburgh. Again, we met up with Jeff’s high school buddies. We had another fun night although it made me miss my grandparents so much. They loved going to the Steelers’ games and had season tickets for years. We also made it to a Browns/Broncos game in Cleveland a few weeks later where we met up with friends and family. The first time I rooted against the Broncos then I had to cheer for them against the Browns. But they lost and our friend, SuperFan, was in his glory for beating them.

The next weekend was a friends’ weekend and we were finally home! We met up with a couple of girls that I went to college with on Friday. Although I hadn’t seen them in a few years, we picked right up where we left off. The next day we went to my friend’s annual pumpkin party. There, we were surrounded by friends I have known since elementary school and a huge bonfire. One of the perks of living in the country. Again, it was so nice being around people I have known forever. That Sunday our friends from the gym invited us over for brunch. We ate a delicious meal and then played Sequence with her daughters and their boyfriends. It was the old fogies against the young bucks and of course, the young bucks won. But it was a wonderful Sunday afternoon and really fun to play a board game with friends.

We have been in our summer home for 10 weeks although it feels like 10 days because we are never home. Yes, our life seems crazy at times but sitting around doing nothing is not our thing. People ask us how we keep track of where we are going and the Google shared calendar is the only way we survive. We share Jeff’s work schedule, our crazy life schedule, and my social schedule when Jeff is gone. If we didn’t have our calendars, we wouldn’t know what to do.

It’s hard to believe we only have about three weeks left in our “summer” home. The weather is starting to change getting colder and wetter. Although it is absolutely beautiful, it’s about time to go south.

It makes me sad to think about leaving. We love the people in northwest PA and our time here. It seems wherever we are I never want to leave. And maybe because wherever we are, we are never “home”. I always want more time. I didn’t want to leave Florida for the summer. I didn’t want to leave Virginia after our six weeks there. I don’t want to leave Pennsylvania for the winter. I guess that makes us lucky that we have such beautiful, amazing friends and family wherever we are that it always feels like “home”. Mostly, I just wish I could be in three places at the same time!

The featured and fall images were taken by my friend and an amazing photographer. Follow her @momma_d.3

In What We Eat

Countdown to Cancun!

April 23, 2021 No Comments

In three weeks we are heading to Cancun, Mexico with some friends. I am very excited. I have never been to Cancun, and I hear it is absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite blogs for traveling is The Blond Abroad. I went to her site and found the top 10 things to do around Cancun. Her blog shows some amazing pictures of snorkeling and scuba diving. I am thinking Jeff and I will get a chance to practice our scuba skills that week. I am excited and terrified at the same time. I am hoping, just like with skiing, the more I do it, the better I will get.

Therefore, three weeks from today, I will be in a swimsuit on boats, at the pool, and at the swim-up bar. I want to feel good and confident in that bathing suit. I know most women think everyone else has a better body than they do, and we’d be happy if we had her body. But you know what? That girl with that body feels just like you do. For some reason, we are never satisfied with what we have.

So I have three weeks to get it together, to eat healthily, not cheat, and make good choices. Overall, Jeff and I eat pretty well as you read in “Eat Better and Move Better”, and we try to have lean protein, healthy fat, and the right carb at every meal (either a “high energy carb” after a workout or a “low energy” later in the day) as we learned from the owner of our gym in Pennsylvania. Of course, life happens and we aren’t as strict as we should be. It’s time to get strict with my nutrition and consistent with my workouts. Today instead of a recipe, I am sharing a sample “day in the life” of Stacy. This is how we try to eat 90% of the time. When big events are coming up we tighten up a bit…less ice cream, less cheese, less alcohol. I hope this helps and gives you a better idea how you could incorporate this lifestyle.

Stacy’s Suggestions for Eating Better

We go to the gym in the morning, therefore, most of our caloric intake is over by 11 am. This lifestyle can be a little bit complicated until you truly understand it. And even then there is always more to learn. If you want to work on your fitness and nutrition, I suggest Bill Lawrence’s Personal Fitness in Pennsylvania. He may work with you virtually as well. (Make sure you tell him I referred you :)) Here is the list of what I eat almost every day.

Pre and Post Workout– 1 scoop BLN Recovery Protein and 1 scoop of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides before and after my workout.
First Breakfast (about an hour after finishing a workout)– 1 egg, 3 egg whites, 1/2-1 cup spinach, scrambled, and Ezekiel toast (a tiny bit of avocado butter or almond butter). The egg yolk is your healthy fat but you can add a little flaxseed to your eggs if you want more. You can also add lots of other veggies here to your scramble. You can also make an egg sandwich or have over easy and skip the veggies. Lots of options with eggs.
Second Breakfast (about an hour after your first breakfast)– 3/4 cup of granola cereal (Ezekiel is the best but harder to find. We use Kashi or Cascadian Farms. We try to find the one with the least amount of added sugars), 1 cup berries (I like blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries), 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (we add 1 scoop of BLN Complete which is vanilla protein powder to it for our protein. If you use another protein, just add a tablespoon of flaxseed as well). If you don’t want to use protein powder you can add homemade turkey or chicken sausage for your protein.
Lunch- salad with lots of veggies and a lean protein (canned tuna, canned chicken, 1 cup of shrimp, or serving of chicken or fish), and homemade dressing.
Snack– 1/2- 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese, flaxseed, and grape tomatoes (if you like fruit then put fruit in your cottage cheese 1/2-1 cup).
Dinner– lean protein of your choice (I have been doing fish all week seasoned with spray EVOO and Nature Seasons), your choice of veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, asparagus, or cabbage)
Snack– 3/4 cup non-fat, plain, Greek yogurt with one scoop of vanilla BLN Complete Protein. Since you are going to bed soon you don’t really need a carb here. BLN has flaxseed in it but if you don’t use it, add a 1/2- 1 tablespoon. I use the protein powder for extra protein as well as to flavor the disgusting plain Greek yogurt 🙂 You can also use powdered peanut butter for flavor, or a little bit of honey and cinnamon. There are a lot of different flavors of protein powder or collagen that you could add to the yogurt to make it taste pretty delicious!

Generally, this is the plan we try to follow throughout the year. However, sticking to it and not cheating is what I plan to do for the next three weeks until we are off to Cancun! Try to incorporate some kind of physical activity each day whether it’s going for a walk, doing one of the Weekly Wednesday Workouts, or something else you enjoy. I have been doing CrossFit six days a week which includes an active recovery day to give my body two days of “rest”. I also have been doing 8-minute abs and Romwod every day. Try to drink plenty of water and if you drink “pop”, try to give it up or limit it to a day or two a week. I have been trying to drink 50-60 ounces of water a day and only one cup of coffee with Quest liquid protein as creamer. I hope this helps. If you want other ideas for meals or a sample meal plan based on your preferences and needs, just let me know.