Some weeks are smooth and easy, and then there are weeks like this one—where the house feels like a three-ring circus, and I’m just trying to keep up. Between misplaced remotes, unexpected messes, and Ma and Uncle R keeping me on my toes, I’m convinced our home could be its own sitcom. Honestly, I wouldn’t…
Pull Up a Chair
Friday Conversations – February 7, 2024
I am more than a little late getting this posted today. I honestly almost skipped this week because I am in the middle of doing a few other things to catch up from January. This Week in the wilderness I have been just attempting to catch up with everything that I allowed to fall behind…
Friday Conversations – January 24, 2025
Can you believe January is almost over? It feels like just yesterday we were ringing in the new year. This week has been a whirlwind, but as always, there’s plenty to share. This Week in the wilderness I’ve been in a decluttering frenzy, tackling everything from junk drawers to old email inboxes. It’s amazing how…
Friday Conversations – January 17, 2025
Happy Friday, friends! January is trucking along, and I’m just trying to keep up. This week has been full of unexpected surprises, including some laughs courtesy of life at Shady Pines. This Week in the wilderness This week, I tackled my neglected stack of to-do lists. While I didn’t get everything done, I did manage…
Friday Conversations – January 10, 2025
Hey there! Another Friday, another chance to look back and laugh. The January blues might be setting in for some, but here at Shady Pines, the antics and midlife moments keep us on our toes—and, occasionally, in stitches. This Week in the wilderness Work projects have been piling up, but I managed to squeeze in…
Friday Conversations – January 3, 2025
Happy Friday, y’all! It’s the first Friday of January, and if this week is any indication, 2024 is going to be one wild ride. I hope your new year has started off on the right foot. Mine? Well, let’s just say it’s been a mix of resolutions, reality checks, and a lot of laughter. This…
Friday Conversations – December 27, 2024
Well, we made it through Christmas, and now it’s that weird lull between the holidays where no one knows what day it is, but we’re all too full to care. This week was a blur of wrapping paper, leftovers, and the occasional nap. Let’s chat about the holiday aftermath and how I’m gearing up for…
Friday Conversations – December 20, 2024
We’re five days away from Christmas, and I’m over here wondering how I’m going to survive the next 120 hours. This week was an emotional rollercoaster of last-minute shopping, wrapping paper mayhem, and trying to avoid the urge to eat everything I baked. Let’s catch up on the festive chaos and see how I’m managing…
Friday Conversations – December 13, 2024
It’s Friday the 13th, in December, no less—so naturally, this week had its share of unlucky Maents. Between holiday shopping mishaps and more cookie dough disasters than I care to admit, it’s been… interesting. But here we are, still standing and still searching for that holiday spirit. Let’s chat about this week’s misadventures and what’s…
4 Ways To Make Any Travel Experience More Amazing
Whenever you are traveling anywhere, you are probably going to be keen to make sure that you are making the most of it and that you are enjoying it as much as possible. The good news is that there are all sorts of things you can do to help ensure that, and it is going…










