sb.wandering

The reality is…

No matter how much you plan, things are not going to always go as planned. You might as well get used to that now. Unexpected parts of adventures is what makes it fun though!

Instagram is a snapshot of the exciting moments, that perfectly timed picture. But it doesn’t show you

✨the hour I spent digging snow out of my car trying to get my sunroof to close (and failing)
✨the countless failed attempts to get the fireplace to light because the wood was too fresh
✨ the silly fights because you’re both tired and hungry

The smiles were probably bribed, the epic music is probably to cover up whining or my own huffing and puffing.

I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it, here’s your daily reminder that Instagram isn’t reality 🤪❤️☺️




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Winter hikes take your hiking to a whole new level. You can do the same trail multiple times and the time you do it in snow completely changes it 😍

Here are some tips for winter hiking:

🏔 micro spikes are so helpful! Even if you don’t think you need them you will be thankful for them when coming down.
🏔 base layers/warm gear is needed but remember you’re going to warm up when you’re hiking. Layers will be key
🏔 even if you don’t think it’s necessary you should always check for avalanche conditions
🏔 you might not feel as thirsty since it’s cold but you should still be drinking water

📍Liesure Trail, Wintergreen Resort - what a great short winter trail with amazing views



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I’ve repeated this phrase to myself more times than I can count.

We each have our own season of life and just because we could run 10 miles four years ago, that doesn’t need to be the standard for what you can do today. Your life changes over the years but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Mine has changed not only with my fitness level but also with my everyday lifestyle.

I used to hike every weekend and I’d go on trips every chance I got. But then I moved further from the mountains, got a job, had kids, and that season of life cannot be the standard I hold myself to right now. It doesn’t mean it couldn’t be that way again, just that I can’t hold myself to that right now.

Here is to embracing your current season of life!





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Happy International Woman’s Day 👧🏽

“I raise up my voice not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.” – Malala Yousafzai

I heard some interesting statistics that talked about women in the outdoors.

⛺️ toddler girls are 16% less likely to be taken outdoors than toddler boys.

📉 while girls are more likely to play outside at a young age, the percentage will steadily drop. By the time they are adults 20% are in the outdoors compared to the 40% of men.

Socialization and personality starts with parents and turns to their peers once they hit their teen years. My goal as a momma to a wild hearted little girl is to start breaking this statistic. If I teach my little you don’t she has the opportunity to influence her peers who then have the opportunity to influence theirs…

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❤️ 💐 💗

“Her messy hair is a visible attribute of her stubborn spirit.

As she shakes it free she smiles knowing wild is her favorite color. “

- j. Iron word

We are coming to the end of February! Here are some inspirational quotes to get you back on the motivational train.

12 Inspirational quotes to Inspire you Sometimes all we need a little spark to ignite the fire in us -

Things I’ll remind her of when she’s in her 30s….

There truly once was a time you hated taking naps. I know you beg and plead for them now but I promise you you used to despise them.

You were the ultimate sour patch kid, either sweet as can be and all you wanna do is snuggle, or an absolute terror with a temper to match

Your fearlessness is an absolute strength. You have an older brother that you have had to match every step of the way and that makes you unstoppable.

Continue to speak your truth, be bold. Be brave. And continue to search for adventure.

To my little firecracker on her birthday,

I am so proud of the strong, independent, caring, and oh so wild little woman you’re growing up to be.

You are a sour patch kid through and through, but I love you nonetheless. No matter how much I tell you I love you, know that I love you even more than that 💕

Every time I get frustrated that you want to “do it yourself”, or that you “don’t need my help”, I am reminded that I am raising you into that little firecracker and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Just lord help me some days I have to remind myself more than others.

Happy birthday Mighty Mouse

Happy Valentines Day from these two little love bugs 💕

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To be an outdoors momma you need:

1️⃣ a good pair of hiking shoes;

2️⃣ to be outdoors; and

3️⃣ your littles to hike with

✨bonus✨ a super cute shepherd to help you wrangle said littles!

When I first moved to Virginia Beach my heart ached for the mountains. To this day when we go back to visit family, I can tell you the exact moment on our drive that I will see the mountains again. I didn't grow up hiking but I grew up out in nature and sometimes that truly feels like the same thing!

If there is one thing that I have learned since living in Virginia Beach, being near the ocean does not mean that you have to forfeit a good hiking spot. Just because you might not get the same elevation as being further inland doesn't mean it's not still a good spot to adventure!

Check out my new blog post for the best hikes in Virginia Beach ✨ link in bio ✨
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Happy Friday, y'all!!!

New Blog Post is up! Just because we don't live in the mountains doesn't mean we cant still hike, come check out some of the best hikes in Virginia Beach.

If you want to stay up to date on my posts then sign up for my email subscription and you can be the first to know when new posts are up :)

The Best Hikes in Virginia Beach Here are some of the best hiking spots in the Virginia Beach area.

Last night while my littles were playing Uno and I was cleaning up, my daughter looked at me and matter of factly told me “momma, you’re my best friend”

To which my son responded “hey! Momma is my best friend!”

Nothing has made this momma’s heart swell more than this.

The past couple of weeks I have been feeling that feeling that I think most moms struggle with at one moment or another. That “not good enough” feeling. That “I’m not a good enough mom” feeling.

There’s nothing that should make me feel this way, but the devil likes to slide in and whisper lies in your ear. So hearing them tell me this let me wake up this morning saying “Not today satan, not today!”

So today I got to spend this snow day with my two broke best friends 😂

I am proud to admit, I am a hot mess momma. I do not have it all together. 🙋🏽‍♀️

My house is not Pinterest worthy, nor is it clean on the regular basis. Let's be honest, we are making memories! 

I go into more details in my new blog post over at . Click on the link in my bio to continue reading.

“𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙.”

I want a hat that says that.

Maybe a shirt that says that.

What the heck,
I want a flag the size of my house that says that.

Because then maybe, just maybe, when I’m feeling like I’m the only one not keeping up in this race, I can look at my hat (or shirt. or flag) and realize that there is indeed no race -

And no one is winning anything.

Just remember that when you look at snapshots of peoples lives. You are not seeing the mess they pushed aside to get that picture. Or the tears that were involved to get the perfect “candid”.

Life is messy and chaotic and beautiful ❤️

Things I wish I could bottle up:

💫 That first sip of coffee in the morning
💫 The smell right before a summer rain storm
💫 The feeling in your chest the moment the bass drops
💫 Toddler giggles
💫 The feeling you get when you hit the summit

And so much more……

What would you bottle up and hold onto just a little longer?

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2021 might not have been your year, I know that it wasn't mine.

Maybe you had goals that you didn't meet.

Maybe you didn't lose that 15 lbs. you were aiming to lose.

Maybe you had goals of paying off your debt and that didn't happen.

Maybe you didn't organize the house like you wanted, or got to any of the house projects that you were hoping to finish.

Maybe you got angry with your littles when you had decided you wanted to be more patient.

And maybe, you didn't hit your reading goal for the year or your sweat goal. You didn't move your body for 30 minutes a day, or watch your monthly spending...

Maybe, just maybe, 2021 just wasn't your year.

Check out the rest of my blog post on MomsBeyond. ✨ Link in Bio ✨⁣
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#2022 *t