Athena started school in Frisco, Texas on August 15th. The community made it the best first day of school ever. Many of the families in the neighborhood gathered together to walk the kids to school. They chalked the sidewalks with positive messages for the kids and made the first day a memorable one. This is life in Frisco. Continue reading
After months of planning and careful consideration, our big move back to the US has arrived. We bought a house in Frisco, Texas. A lot of people asked why Frisco? We’ve traveled around the world and lived in many different places. We made Montreal our home out of necessity, not desire, and we wanted to consciously choose the best place for us as a family. Frisco is constantly rated one of the best places in the US to live for families with top schools in the country. Couple that with more than 250 days a year of sunshine and a remarkable cost of living and Frisco kept coming up on the top of our list. Our daily life has already been greatly enhanced in Frisco with easy access to entertainment, theater, arts, sports, and dining. Our beautiful home is large enough to host guests and the backyard is the private oasis of my dreams. There is an international airport 30 minutes away and there are endless road trip opportunities. We’re loving the transition. Continue reading
This post affects over 1 billion Instagram users and it’s one of the saddest posts I had to write because I’m a victim. I used my Instagram account as a major part of my business and income stream. With nearly 150,000 followers, almost 800 posts including photos of myself, my six year old daughter, and our travels, and thousands of hours of relationship building and audience growth, it was hacked and stolen. I was trapped in an automated loop with Instagram, never actually speaking to a human or receiving any help. It was like someone broke into my house and set it on fire, burning it to the ground. Here’s what happen and a list of ways you can protect yourself. Continue reading
It’s no secret that I love sailing. There isn’t much that makes me happier than spending an afternoon on the ocean with my family. For the last few weeks, we’ve been living in Playa Del Rey, California and we’re within walking distance to Marina Del Rey. Watching the boats sail by brings up my happiness level tenfold but, of course, I want to be on every one of them. After looking into the sailing options from Marina Del Rey, I found Mojo Sailing. We booked an afternoon with Captain Jim and enjoyed the best part of the day from aboard Mojo. Continue reading
Legoland California recently unveiled the tallest LEGO building in the United Stats just a few days before Independence Day. Athena and I attended the special opening to get us in the July 4th spirit. Accompanied by our best friends, we watched the red, white, and blue confetti rocket through the sky as Legoland California unveiled the One World Trade Center in the newly remodeled Miniland New York, located in the park’s Miniland USA. We always love exploring the park, but it’s such a treat to experience special openings. Athena soaks up the royal treatment yet she’s always appreciative and filled with wonder and excitement. Continue reading
Last week during our northern California trip to Shasta Cascade area, we stayed in cabins, camped in tents, slept in a loft next to a river, hiked to mountain tops and deep valleys, explored caves, kayaked rivers, and had close encounters with birds and bats. There were tons of first time experiences and opportunities for adventure, but the best part of the trip was horseback riding at Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Athena rode on horses before but I have a feeling this is the one that she’ll remember. Continue reading
We’ve been to Knott’s Berry Farm a number of times now, but we always fight traffic to drive up on the weekend and deal with lines and crowds. It stresses us rather than creating an amazing day with lasting memories. We wanted to experience Knott’s in a bucket list way with minimal guests in the park, minimal hassle to get there, and maximum fun all around. We planned the perfect Knott’s day including an over night stay at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel, dining at the best restaurants, and a visit during the slowest day of the week, Monday. It paid off tenfold and we had the best day at Knott’s Berry Farm yet. Continue reading
Legoland is our favorite park in California. We love the staff, the rides, the food, and the hotel, but we never make enough time for the water park. With so much to experience in one day, I usually feel like we need to choose between spending the whole day at the water park or the whole day in the main section. Last week, though, we found the perfect balance between the main park and the water park. Here’s how we explored Legoland Water Park the bucket list way. Continue reading
I didn’t take the decision to send Athena to school lightly. She’s only five years old but she’s traveled the world with me and learned so much along the way. She is outspoken, friendly, compassionate, and she doesn’t see the color of your skin as anything but beautiful. She’s been parasailing, panning for gold, roller coaster riding, hiking, sledding, horseback riding, paddleboarding, and surfing in California, snorkeling in the Caribbean and Thailand, skiing in Austria, California, and Canada, drum dancing in Greenland, sailing in Thailand and California, rock climbing in Canada, and ziplining in Canada and Costa Rica. She practices different languages in each new country and she sees the world with wonder and joy. She may not remember it all but it has already shaped her into part of the person she will hold on to for the rest of her life. This year marked D-Day (decision day) for us. Would she go to public school and travel less? Or would we continue to travel the world and homeschool? I decided to send her to school after years of careful consideration. Here’s why. Continue reading
Athena is officially a kindergarten student. She started school this week and I keep shaking my head at the fact that I have a child in school. When I started Bucket List Publications, she wasn’t even born and now she’s enrolled in a French Immersion school in Montreal. Where did the time go? How am I the mother of a child in school when I still feel like a kid myself? And with Athena off to school during the days now, I need more of a purpose. What should I do with my time? A job? Volunteer? Exercise? Write a book? Pick up a hobby like day drinking? (Just seeing if you’re paying attention.) I feel lost. Is this how all mothers feel when their kids go to school? Continue reading
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