Friday was our fourth time on Hilton Head Island Beach, and it didn’t disappoint. While the tide was high, so was Linley’s energy! It was busier and the beach was narrower than we were expecting, but we still enjoyed some time with our feet (and paws) in the sand.
We can never leave Hilton Head Island without stopping at Hudson’s on the Dock for lunch! It’s a tradition after all…
Until next year, Hilton Head!
Media taken Friday, October 30, 2026 on Hilton Head Island 🏝️
The title of this post is pretty self-explanatory, but everything is better with Alex. Big things like traveling far away or little things like taking Linley on a walk are all exponentially better with Alex around.
We had some fun times in Europe recently, and of course we always do right here in Atlanta. Whether it’s day-to-day or a big adventure, I can’t wait for more!
Photos taken in October, 2026
No one will ever love me like you do
No one will ever look at me like you do
No one will ever listen to me like you do
No one will ever welcome me like you do
No one will ever come close to you
The way you make me feel
The way I laugh around you
The way you bring the playful side out of me
You’re my best friend and I can’t thank you enough for that.
Did you know you can rescue your best friend?
Alex, Linley and I spent time with loved ones in Michigan a couple weeks ago, and it felt good to be back. Our experience there solidified long-term friendships, drew lines in the sand with others, and I was able to meet three virtual friends in person for the first time. While certain chapters closing is always hard, the closure and healing I found in my home state was not only meaningful, but necessary.
Alex had only been to Michigan one other time (in the dead of winter, so he could appreciate the lovely summer-into-fall weather!). Linley hadn’t been back since we moved to Atlanta in 2023, and my first time back last year was a flop. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it again anyway: this trip was exactly what we all needed.
Media taken Saturday, September 5 – Friday, September 11, 2026 in Michigan.
I’m wide awake at 2:45am (which is highly unlikely me) because I’m so sad the fun of this week is over. I wish my mind didn’t think like that, but sometimes I long for the moments that just passed.
I know tomorrow (well, technically today) I’ll be in a better mood during my walks with Linley and throughout my conversations with Alex, but for now, I’m hearing them snore next to me, anxiously awaiting our next adventure.
We live about 20 minutes away from a bamboo forest trail that begins with a lovely dog beach! While I miss the Great Lakes very much, this kind of dog beach on the river is something Linley and I never experienced before coming here. Alex and I had so much fun encouraging Linley to explore, especially while jumping up on the rocks!
Our local Gwinnett Stripers baseball team hosted another Wet Nose Wednesday where pups are allowed at the games. They’re super fun and feature foster dogs as well, and any organization that supports rescuing is a winner in my book! We had so much fun and we can’t wait to go back next month. This was Alex’s and Linley’s fourth game today, and was my third.
Yesterday (still feels like today to me because I’m up late 😅), I enjoyed one of the best days of my summer yet. Alex, Linley, two of our best friends and I floated in Helen, Georgia. We laughed, we had to navigate rapids and crowds, and Linley received tons of attention per usual. It was the perfect day with people I love. We then stopped for lunch nearby with the kindest server, Jordan, and enjoyed some mountain views at a local winery. This day was so perfect that I didn’t want it to end!
While I’m sad this week is over, I know we’ll have several fun memories to come this summer, too! And I’m going to cherish the days we already had together this week. 😌
Media taken Saturday, August 25, Wednesday, August 19 & Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Last weekend, Alex, Linley and I spent time in the Chattanooga area with my French tutor, her husband Jon and their dog Buddy. Janet and I have been working together virtually since April of last year, but we’ve never had the opportunity to meet in person until last Thursday evening.
What I love about language and travel isn’t *just* the language and travel; it’s the people. The people you meet along the way make experiences so much more fulfilling, and Janet has embodied that and then some for me. Janet holds me accountable, is an expert in not only learning French but five other languages too, and is my biggest cheerleader when I can’t find the right words or when I accomplish something difficult.
Everyone learning a new language needs a Janet, and every traveler needs a Geerlings family. I strive to be like Janet with my ESL students and change coaching clients alike: by cheerleading and holding others accountable to achieve their goals.
Thank you to International Language Cafe and The Chattanooga School of Language for bringing Janet to me!
Here were some highlights from our weekend together:
Not pictured: Linley and Buddy playing non-stop, Linley trying to jump in the Guinea Fowls’s crate, all the laughs while playing cards and all the memories around the dinner table. 💛
Media taken Thursday, July 30 – Sunday, August 2, 2026 in Chattanooga, TN
We started our east coast drive on Friday, July 3. Of course, we had to stop in Virginia to see the Corrigan family! We wanted a chill Friday night after a 10+ hour drive; however, Alex ran over a nail and had to get it fixed once we got to our AirBnB. We grabbed food at a restaurant within walking distance from where we stayed, turned on Love Island, and quickly went to bed.
On the Fourth, we had a great day with my best friend, Carolyn. Carolyn and her husband Ryan have been integral parts of my life for the past 12 years. I’m close with both of them, their families and their family now that they have two daughters and three fur babies. I wouldn’t have gotten through some of my darkest times if it weren’t for Carolyn’s love, support and humor – so seeing her again recently was wonderful.
We spent the entire day at their home in Leesburg. We enjoyed breakfast and lunch before Ryan went to work, enjoyed time with the girls and Sully, and we laughed throughout the entire day. While Carolyn’s and my quality time isn’t the girls trips and travels like we used to have, I value that we’ve brought each other into our lives as much as we have with over this decade worth of friendship.
Before leaving Virginia, we wanted to check out Georgetown’s waterfront while we were in the area. Linley was a smiley boy and we loved strolling through the cobblestone streets.
…and then we were on the road again!
Photos taken Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5, 2026.
I can’t put into words how grateful I am to be living in a city that hosted the World Cup. Not only did Alex and I have the amazing opportunity to go to a game, but we enjoyed watch parties throughout the city with our closest friends.
From seeing our wonderful Mayor Andre Dickens speak in Old Fourth Ward Park (where Alex and I got married last year), to cheering for Spain in a crowd of Saudi fans at the Mercedes Benz stadium, and watching the final game with our besties, it was an incredible month here in Atlanta. I’m already grieving! I’m so proud of my city, my friends and my chosen family for making this such a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Thank you, ATL, for being a great host city for the World Cup!
My next post was supposed to be about the amazing weekend we’d be having with Ellie, and how another Thing 1 & Thing 2 puppy party was taking place. But the truth is we lost sweet Ellie last night before we could see each other again, and we’re completely devastated. 🌈
Ellie will always be Linley’s best friend and our sweet girl. She was Lin’s partner in crime, and her smile and strut turned the heads of many neighbors and friends of my pawrents. And she’s one of the only pups Linley was willing to share anything with, including me on morning walks and his favorite snuggle spot on the couch.
We always made Ellie and Linley take silly photos together, and I’m so grateful we did. We all shared so many memories together and our shenanigans during sleepovers and holidays are moments we’ll never forget.
We’ve been emotional because we wish Ellie were here with us this weekend. I’ll never forget all the weekends and holidays we shared. I know Ellie is bumping into other dogs up there and is zooming toward all the good food with her tongue out.
We love you forever, Miss Elle Belle!
Foreign exchange and study abroad programs have changed my life, even since before I was born. In the 80s, my grandparents wanted to host a foreign exchange student so my mom and uncle could experience a new culture right at home. They welcomed Kjell into their family, and I finally got to meet him in person in 2016 (our photo together was taken in 2022 during my second visit).
When I was in high school, I met Saskia, who was a foreign exchange student from Germany, and instantly became my best friend. 15 years later, she’s still my bestie and I can’t wait to see her get married in Germany this October! Here we are also pictured in 2022.
Speaking of weddings, I can’t forget to post about Carolyn! Carolyn and I were roommates when we studied in France, and we’re from completely different walks of life. She’s been my best friend for 12 years now, and I’ve seen her get married (I was even her MoH!), seen her have two daughters… I can’t wait to see her next month!
My grandparent’s openness toward other cultures and people encouraged mine, and that’s something I wish I could thank my grandpa for today. 🥹
Nervous about hosting a foreign exchange student? Do it anyway! It can benefit you for generations, like it has with my family. Nervous about taking the trip? Go anyway! You never know who you’ll meet; it could be a bestie for 12 or 15 years, like the two that I have!
It’s hard to believe that we returned from one of my favorite places over a week ago. Asheville, North Carolina has been such a special place for me ever since I first volunteered there in 2015. Asheville is where I’ve had some of my best hikes, have met some of my closest friends and even considered it to be a potential home.
Last weekend Alex, two of our best friends, Linley and I all headed to the mountains for what was supposed to be a weekend full on sunshine, hiking and outdoor time. Instead, we got rained on 95% of the time and had to deal with that during most of our hikes. We still made the most of it and it was fun to get away for a long weekend.
We hiked some new spots, some of my previous favorites (including Cedar Mountain, which I wrote about in my latest post!) and enjoyed quality time together. We even ate at a newer place downtown called Posanas, where Linley got to enjoy his own doggie dinner, too!
Rain or sun, I would highly recommend heading to Asheville for your next mountain getaway! I can’t wait to go again.
We all do it: we compare ourselves to others, we compare present day to the past… it’s human. And last weekend I couldn’t help but compare where I’m at now vs. where I was at in 2022.
On my trip back at Chicago from Asheville in 2022, Linley was by my side through some hard times. One of my best friends called me on my drive to tell me that she was expecting her first child, meanwhile I was telling her that a divorce was in my foreseeable future. I was so excited for all my close friends going through such amazing milestones in their lives, meanwhile I was at the loneliest point in my marriage and physical location of Chicago.
Last weekend I took Alex and some of our friends to the same spot Linley and I enjoyed four years ago. Although it was rainy, we made the most of it. And it’s really similar to my life right now: it’s a literal and metaphorical rainy season, but I’m making the most of every moment and am enjoying the rain as it comes.
To think in 2022 I was struggling in my family dynamics, certain friendships, my marriage, location and career. Now my biggest worry is that I won’t be able to make it as a solopreneur, but have never felt more loved and supported.
Photos taken in 2022 and 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina
