Today I am excited to share with y'all a bit more about the #ADK50falls challenge and specifically about the Split Rock Falls, a waterfall that we visited several weeks ago.

If you are doing the challenge then I would highly suggest planning to see both Split Rock Falls and Rice's Falls (you can read about it HERE) at the same time as they were located somewhat close together. If you aren't familiar with the #ADK50falls challenge, you can read about the places that I have been going as part of the challenge HERE (I started last year) or read about the entire challenge HERE.  

Simply put there are 50 waterfalls that you hike and visit (5 require proof with photo that you were there) to complete the challenge. For those of you who love hiking and being outdoors this can be a great suggestion during this time with the COVID restrictions of hiking certain mountain trails. It also can show you unique parts of the Adirondacks that you may have never discovered. I definitely have been feeling that with the waterfalls that we have visited and explored the last several weeks and look forward to sharing more!

If you would like to know just basic facts about the falls please just scroll down to the bottom of the post where I will be sharing basic information to help those who want to know more specifics about each of the falls in the challenge.


It was a beautiful and easy hike to get down to the bottom and there was no one else around at this time of the year so we had the place to ourselves.

All throughout the hike down there were "baby" little waterfalls and it just made the adventure a little bit more beautiful!

Photo by Andre Furtado from Pexels

How well are you looking after yourself? Many of us have asked ourselves this question, especially during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Are we eating well, are we looking after our immune system, are we worrying too much about worrying too much? 

Changing your lifestyle and living your best life isn’t as hard as we might think. It’s about the small steps to make the giant leaps. Work through your biggest concerns and start to think about whether you could take action. Then ask yourself how. You need to set reasonable goals that have longevity. Too often we make massive changes, suddenly and this can lead to a burn out which then makes us feel defeated and could put our mental health at risk. 

Start with your diet. Perhaps you already eat a healthy and varied diet; however, there are ways you could make changes to increase your health and reduce your risk of certain diseases. The new buzz word in the diet industry is vegan, but you don’t have to throw away all your leather shoes to get involved with the dietary benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Opting for a whole-foods plant-based diet could help you reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Removing meat from your diet could also help you find more energy and avoid injuries. There is a myth that humans need to consume meat to reach their protein requirements. However, a plant-based diet can deliver all the protein we need. Look at cows; they eat a diet of grass and legumes, no meat in sight! They have large muscles and strong bones! If you want to try the plant-based diet, you could consider protein supplements until you understand what your body needs https://steelsupplements.com/ is an excellent resource for researching what is on the market. 

Exercise is another fundamental of a healthy lifestyle, but heading to the gym or running through the park isn’t everyone's idea of fun. There are some great low impact strengthening activities you can do, including pilates. Many elite athletes, such as dancers, do pilates as part of their training. It offers a whole-body strengthening and flexibility routine. It will improve your posture and muscle tone while increasing your balance and help with joint mobility. You will also find pilates is excellent for relieving anxiety and tension so it can have a significant benefit on your mental health too. 

Finding time for yourself is essential. If you aren’t happy, then your physical health can suffer. Depression can even shorten your life and lead to physical illness. Many of us overlook our mental health as we have such busy lifestyles. It’s easy to take some time out, even if it is just to read a book, have a hot bath or better still take part in a hobby, where you can focus only on one thing you love. You may also find talking to someone will help you to work out any serious concerns you have. 

Now is the time for you to start living your best life, so make some small changes and see big results in your health, happiness and future! 

*contributed post*

Image via Pexels - CC0 Licence

Of all the adventures that we can have in our lives, exploring the world, finding new places, experiencing great things - one of the biggest journeys we can have is with our own bodies. Health is everything, as we soon tend to discover if it gets taken away. And keeping a healthy mind and body is what enables us to go on all the fantastic trips that we live for. Many of us take our wellness for granted while nothing is wrong, but really we should take a proactive approach to maintaining our health. So if you know you haven’t always done the right thing when it comes to looking after yourself, how can you make sure you do better in the future?

People who fill their body with harmful chemicals - be it from smoking, drinking, taking unnecessarily prescription medication or even eating too much processed foods - are asking for trouble. Our body maintains a delicate balance, and adding in these toxic substances is a little like adding the wrong type of fuel to a car. It might run on alright for a while, but sooner or later, it's going to break down. One way to avoid this is consider a creatine supplement for women! Optimal health relies on cutting these things out of your life entirely, or taking a very moderate approach to consumption, providing that you don’t have an addictive personality. But also look at minimizing things like excessive sugar, which can be just as damaging for you. You’ll soon feel the beneficial effects once you get over the first week or so, and in the long term your health will be so much better off.

Make Regular Health Appointments

Many people take a ‘if it's not broken, don’t fix it’ approach to their bodies. They do the bare minimum and only seek professional support if a problem develops. But if you truly value your health, it's a better idea to keep on top of those appointments - get a physical exam once every six months, don’t skip check-ups with the dentist or the opticians, keep your physio appointments regular and even think about a hearing test - you can learn more about that before going along. Prevention is definitely better than cure, and health professionals can often spot and correct minor problems before they develop into more serious matters. 

There are two cornerstones of good everyday health, and those are sleep and exercise. Making room for both in your life is hugely important. Ensure that you have good sleep hygiene and are getting seven hours a night of quality rest to feel fully recharged, and take at least 30 minutes of heart rate-raising activity each day. The trick is to find something you love and stick with it, whether that is a spin class, a game of tennis with a friend or even an at-home yoga routine. If you manage to gain control of your diet, your sleeping habits and your exercise then you have the keys to future proofing your health and making sure you have many more adventures to come. 

*contributed post*

Happy Friday friends! It is hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since I first talked about my Ebay store, Caravan Sonnet Factory on here! (You can read more about it HERE!)

I shared last month how this is a "newish" Ebay store called Caravan Sonnet Factory (you can find it HERE!). I say "newish" because I haven't used it in a few years and then this past summer started using it again a little bit and then started in the Spring majorly using it and realized I never shared about it here! 

Over at Caravan Sonnet Factory I am selling new and gently pre-loved pieces for the hopeful and adventurous heart to create a beautiful and affordable cozy-luxury life. I look forward to my items going to happy new homes and welcome offers on each of my items! 

Sales from Caravan Sonnet Factory go to help cover the costs associated with my medical treatments over the last decade. As with all of my Stores, Blogs, and Etsy shops a portion of sales goes to Charity.

This past month has been a BUSY month on Ebay as I have been selling lots of clothing, craft items, shoes, and some small personal items. I also decided to branch out and start listing some bigger pieces so I am excited to learn more about this and keep growing my inventory!

Any other Ebay shop owners on here reading this? How has your shop been going for you?

Thank you so much for all of your support! If you are interested you can find my Ebay store HERE!

-I Corinthians 2:3-5, The Message-

*original post written in August 2017 prior to Lori Loughlin's departure from the show*

Over the past week my heart has been broken in a thousand pieces to see what is happening around our country and to those that I call my brothers and sisters. I honestly don't see "color"... I see people and hearts. I hate and loathe that this is even a topic that needs to be addressed as I naively hoped and believed that we have come so far since the "days of old". My heart is broken that this is obviously not the case and to all who are hurting I see you and my heart is with you. 

To my black friends, I stand with you. I fight with you. I am behind you.

To my former black students, I am so sorry that you have entered a world that we discussed in history class should have been just that... never to be repeated. I am so sorry that walking down the street no longer feels safe. You are not walking alone. I am walking with you.

To my future foster/adopted children who may be black, I promise to fight harder for a world safe for you and everyone to be in.

I am not an expert in this conversation at all and I love that y'all know my tender heart in these matters bleed open but instead of letting emotions run things I have been searching for ways to "help".  Here are just a few of the things that I am doing to help support the change that we so desperately need in our broken country...

*engaging in the tough conversations with my black friends and loved ones

*weeping with those who weep

*speaking out here on social media and in my sphere of influence (which we all have)

*signing petitions

*writing to representatives and demanding that things change

*supporting movements for additional police training

*supporting black owned businesses

*taking training classes on how to be a foster parent who is aware of these issues and knows how to best face a system that may be full of racial bias

*supporting our black leaders

*encouraging conversations in the classroom that address these issues

and praying... praying for our country, our hearts, and our brokenness....and praying for George Floyd's family and loved ones during this time. I am truly so very sorry.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

-Desmund Tutu-

Image Source

Road trips. They’re something that features on many of our bucket lists, but relatively few people have ever gone on one! This is absolutely bizarre. If you have a car, you already have the main thing you need to take to the open road. All you need to do now is put a little planning and organisation in place! Sure, beach holidays may be appealing. Jetting away to sit on sandy shores or kick back on a sun lounger beside the pool is relaxing and enjoyable. But if you have more of a sense of adventure, a road trip can tick more of your boxes. You get full control over where you go and when. You can take diversions if you discover new things along the way. Plus, it’s a great bonding experience for whoever you decide to travel with! So, here are a few pieces of advice that can get your planning into action!

Decide Where You Want to Go

First and foremost, you need to decide where you want to go. The world is your oyster when you go on a road trip. You can stay relatively close to home. You can go further afield. You can take a day road trip. You can go for months on end, travelling between borders and even overseas if you can find the right ferry or tunnel to do the trick. So, sit down and look for locations that particularly appeal to you. Pinterest tends to be great for providing ideas and inspiration.

Decide When You Want to Go

Next, it’s time to consider when you want to go. Will you need time to save up? Will you need to organise time off work? Do you want to head away over a set period when weather is favourable? It’ll take a little focus to make sure all of these things come together.

Decide Who You Want to Travel With

Another important decision you’re going to have to make is going to be who you want to be your road trip buddy. You can go alone, but having some company is generally advised. Driving for long periods of time alone can quickly grow boring. Plus, if you have someone else who can drive with you, you can share driving responsibilities and get to places faster! Just make sure that your chosen person is a good driver, insured on your vehicle and that you know your options for filing a claim if anything does go wrong while they’re behind the wheel.

Pack Lightly

When the time comes to head away, you’re going to have to pack up your belongings that you’re taking with you. Now, when you road trip, you have a whole car. This means you can carry more than when you’re backpacking. But resist the temptation to fill your vehicle. Still only take what’s necessary and leave some room for some souvenirs!

Road trips really can be one of the most exciting and fun forms of travel. If you decide that this is a plan for you, the above advice should help you to get started on planning the perfect trip!

*contributed post*