November seemed a lot calmer than October, but things are changing just as the leaves did.
November was a good month and Iâm excited to practice more mindfulness in scheduling, peacefulness and achieving my goals.
November 2025 Gratitudeđ
hiking
Second annual November Stone Mountain hike
Last year during Thanksgiving weekend, your favorite Tracey Trio hiked Stone Mountain. We decided to do this again, and plan on going on this family hike each year.
Hearing Lin crunch through the leaves, talking with Alex and feeling the sun and wind on my cheeks always makes for a great afternoon together. Being in nature with my two favorite fellas is the best way to spend an afternoon!
After rounding our favorite trails along the water, we decided to check out the quarry and learn more about the granite that was mined here.
Until next time, Stone Mountain! âď¸
Media taken Friday, November 28, 2025
National Hiking Day: Linleyâs special adventure
Iâm a few days late here, but I wanted to tell you all about Linleyâs unique experience he had on National Hiking Day! I had no idea Monday was coincidentally this national day, but Linley took a hike with a cool group in Atlanta.
We found Two Chicks and a Pack at a local block party earlier this summer (East Atlanta Strut). It was an awesome event with tons of dog-friendly vendors, and they even had an agility course and show for professionals! When Alex and I saw the van, and ultimately Linley smelled his way to their booth, I was super excited to learn all about this group.
Two Chicks was founded by this awesome woman named Laraine and her best friend. Now thereâs an entire team of people who transport and hike with dogs. How it was is that you sign up for a certain day and time, they come scoop up your pup, and they take your dog hiking in a pack! Itâs that simple. This was a great alternative from doggy day care, as his previous one in Atlanta failed to inform us that kennel cough was going around, and Linley was recovering from that for nearly a month.
Linley did such a great job getting into the van and crate (that part surprised me haha) and was apparently leading the pack! He got to meet so many other people and dogs, and got to hike at Arabia Mountain in Georgia (Iâve lived here two years and Iâve never even been there!) Linley absolutely loves meeting new dogs and people, exploring new places and peeing on all the things, so they knew he was in heaven!
I canât wait to sign Linley up for another hike in early December!
Photos taken on National Hiking Day, November 17, 2025 at Arabia Mountain, GA.
Another wonderful weekend⨠(pt. I)
One of the many things I love about Alex is that he cherishes weekend adventures the same way I do. I used to plan all this fun for Lin and me, and the fact that Iâve actually taken a backseat on some of that is rare. Itâs great to be with someone with the same enthusiasm and âzest for life,â to put it cheesy!
Thursday was super fun because we saw three French metal bands at one of our favorite venues, with one of our favorite friends. Justin and Alex have been best friends since middle school, and over these past couple years, heâs become one of my besties, too! We even met one of the screamers from Resolve, and I got to practice a little French when buying my new hat.
Friday afternoon, we took a family walk around the pond where we got married in March (just steps away from our apartment), and I just reflected on how happy I am and how fortunate I feel to have Alex and Linley in my life.
Friday was also great because Alex bought tickets for an Edgar Allan Poe speakeasy event. We thought it was going to be more of a stereotypical speakeasy, but instead we got to watch for performers recite some of his most famous works. Not to mention they served us four strong cocktails in the course of 90 minutes⌠itâs a good thing we took an Uber! Afterward we took some fun pics at a local burger joint, and even took a Waymo home. âTwas a fun time!
Saturday was a blast because we checked out Amicalola Falls State Park with Linley, and this used to be a point on the Appalachian Trail. The falls were beautiful, the hike was challenging but fun, and Alex survived all the spiders! Linley was getting a ton of compliments per usual, which always fills our hearts up with joy.
After our lovely hike, we drove up to a resort at the top of the mountain. We took in the views and the sunshine on our backs before grabbing some lunch.
We chose to head back into downtown Dahlonega, where we had lunch before our camping trip last month. Itâs hard to believe how fast time is flying this summer and fall⌠but weâre trying to soak up every minute of it.
To round out the day, we went to one of our favorite wineries for a bottle of red, beautiful views and more sunshine. We had a great time, but it was strange because a little girl on the patio was also Linley, and her parents were upset that they shared a name! It was odd, and they shouldâve been honored to share a name with our perfect pup, to be honest! At least Linley wasnât offended đ¤Ł
I would say, âmore weekends like this, please!â but I already know that every weekend with these two is filled with adventure, laughter and love.
More to come on yesterdayâs adventuresâŚ
Media taken Thursday, October 9 – Saturday, October 11, 2025â¨
Old things with new people
Iâm going through a wave of friendship loss again, similar to what happened in 2022 and 2023. The foundation that I built here in Atlanta a couple years ago when I first moved here is shaky now, so Iâve been trying old things Iâve always enjoyed with new people.
I went on a friend date recently and I needed a little encouragement from Alex and Linley beforehandâŚ
A couple Saturdayâs ago, Linley, Alex and I all went kayaking together. Although I used to take Linley kayaking all the time in Michigan, this was our first tandem kayak experience with Alex. It meant so much and I look forward to being on the water with them again.
And afterward, we went to a spot we love but normally donât go to for brunch. Linley got some food so thatâs all that really matters!
What was really new for me was joining a Meetup group for hikers! Alex, Linley and I joined a group called Lawrenceville Hikers, which is for members in Atlanta and the metro area. We checked out a new trail, which ironically connected to another trail we hiked last year, and met some cool people (and some cute pups!) We even set a participation record! We look forward to joining more group hikes this year.
Although things feel hard with friends right now, Iâm trying really hard to find where I belong. đ
Photos taken Friday, August 15-Sunday, August 17â¨
East Palisades Dog Beach
When I lived in Michigan, I always took Lin to the beach. We visited Empire Bluff Trail and Beach annually until we moved to Atlanta, and even explored the Upper Peninsula and other wonderful spots on Lake Michigan. The water has always calmed me, and it always brought out the puppy in Linley!
My favorite memories from my year in Chicago were taking Linley to the Montrose Dog Beach every morning at sunrise. Sunrise always meant more to me than sunsets, because the start of something is always better than an ending (in my opinion). While going through the divorce and losing my job, those morning moments with Linley got me through and gave me the clarity – and joy – that I so desperately needed at the time.
Iâve been having some introspective moments here in Atlanta lately. I love the city, but need and want to explore more nature here. I have the urge to go whitewater rafting again, and I really need to find a community of people who want to be out in nature more than just day drinking on the weekends. I canât wait to do more exploring here this summer since we wonât be going on a vacation until October.
Alex and I found a great dog beach to take Linley to, and Iâm so bummed that we didnât do this sooner (but better late than never!). I loved seeing Linley play and dig in the water, he was a great listener when he started to stray away, and he was super brave in the tides. It instantly brought me back to memories from Michigan, Chicago, Asheville, Montana, Washington state and more.
I look forward to more beach memories with Alex and Linley â not only this summer, but forever. đ
Media taken Sunday, July 6 at East Palisades Dog Beach in Atlanta, GA.â¨
Alex and Linley go hiking!
Iâm lying awake, feeling an incredible lack of patriotism this year, but trying to grasp the positive and what is actually going well in my life amidst the chaos.
Yesterday while I was working, Alex decided to have a bro day with Linley. It was super sweet and thought it was such a cute idea! My two favorite fellas went to Stone Mountain for a morning hike together, and it was adorable to follow along in their adventures whenever Iâd get a text from Alex. đ
Hereâs some of the photos they took together from their morning stroll:
Photos taken Thursday, July 3, 2025 at Stone Mountainâ¨
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe did not disappoint! From the food and drinks, to the beautiful hiking, and all the crazy weather in between: I highly recommend paying this unique town a visit.
Highs
- Our AirBnB was awesome! It was the quintessential desert stay that we wanted and needed. We also enjoyed nice breakfasts there each morning; Lin enjoyed sitting at the table with us! đ
- The rail yard near our place had some amazing breweries, and it was cool to see the trains roll by while we walked and enjoyed our time in the area.
- It took forever to find a good, dog-friendly spot for dinner, but once we did it was worth it! We enjoyed good food and spicy margs before our next day of adventure.
- We had a very fun, windy hike in the morning during our full day there. We almost got lost of the hike, but luckily we didnât, and it was great to beat the crowd and the heat!!
- Our lunch spot was wonderful and I enjoyed some of the best nachos to-date. They also let Linley hang out inside with us, and he was getting all the attention per usual.
- After an eventful drive, we hung out at a brewery outside of the city center, and had a blast making it a restful part of our afternoon.
- We stopped by a really cool pottery bar for a drink before dinner, and it was fun to watch people make pottery while we had great martinis out of pottery glasses!
Lows
- Santa Fe really isnât as dog friendly as Iâd thought it would be. Even some places donât seat you outside during certain days or times of the week⌠in hindsight, I wish weâd spent more time in Albuquerque as opposed to Santa Fe.
- Linley actually had some bad altitude sickness in the morning on our second day there! Iâd had it bad in Peru with my mom in 2018, so I knew all the symptoms he was experiencing. He bounced back in time for the hike, but definitely look for warning signs in yourselves and pets (nauseous, cold and shaky, etc.)
Buffalo
- We really had a wild full-day of weather, including a dust storm AND a snow storm in the same day! It was wild, but very cool to experience.
Photos taken Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Arkansas
Our first stop on the honeymoon road trip was Arkansas, which may not seem super glamorous, but it didnât disappoint! Here are some of my favorite photos and âhighs, lows and buffalosâ from the first state on our journey:
Highs
- Our AirBnB in Russellville was amazing! 10/10 would recommend the home. Seeing Linley run around in a yard was a big plus, too.
- Hiking in the Ozarks was amazing! Although rainy at first, this was an underrated hiking spot that everyone should check out at least once.
- The distillery we found in Little Rock was amazing! They had the best service and St. Pattyâs Day drinks, and we ran into some kind strangers there and along the way.
Lows
- Our county was a dry county, and we had NO idea! We tried ordering margs at two different places, only to realize the nearest liquor, beer or wine was at least 40 miles away! We still have a good laugh about it hahaâŚ
- Of course some family stuff had to go down during this leg of the trip, but so it goes. Alex and Linley are my family, and thatâs all that matters. đ
Buffalo
- Alex was whistling while we walked through a creepy Dollar General, and the cashier commented and said it felt like a horror movie. Way to go, Alex, for creeping out a complete stranger! đ
Photos taken Saturday, March 14, 2025.
Sweetwater Sunday Hike
Have you ever had those days where you never want it to end? Where everything is perfect and almost dream-like? That’s how Sunday was for me. Our friends Ariel and Pardon – along with their sweet pup, Tater – joined our family of three for a day full of hiking along Sweetwater Creek in the Atlanta area. Although Linley and I enjoy hiking very much, we haven’t done too much of it since moving down here — and it felt great to hit some new trails with Alex and our close friends!
After some epic hiking, we went back to Ariel’s and Pardon’s place for some delicious espresso martinis (my new favorite!). We kept the afternoon going at our favorite spot for brunch/lunch and dinner, where Linley continued to soak up the sunshine.
I look forward to many more days like this — full of laughter, smiles, good views, great conversation and nice weather.
Photos taken Sunday, March 3, 2024.
Atlanta is magicalâ¨
You heard me; I believe this place and the people here are magical! And hereâs whyâŚ
December gave me a new love for the holidays and Christmas spirit â one I hadnât felt in a few years. Alex and I had so much fun before and during the holidays that Iâm genuinely sad theyâre over!
St. Louisaâs for organ karaoke
I havenât sang or listened to karaoke in years, but our buddy Quinten told us about this old church-turned-bar with organ karaoke⌠and we couldnât miss it! Alex and I have been twice now, and Iâm sure 2024 will bring us more singing, dancing and laughing here â as well as pretending to be ping pong pros!
Botanical Garden for Christmas lights
Weâd been to the Botanical Garden with our friend Emily in September, but visiting during the holidays was a completely different and unforgettable experience. Although the drinks werenât cheap, they were good and the music, light variety and company were great. đ Alex and I were super impressed with the coordination of the lights with the Christmasy jazz playing.
Katâs Cafe for jazz music
Sticking with the jazz theme, Alex and I enjoyed ourselves at this dive club in Midtown. This wasnât as upscale as Cliff Bellâs in Detroit, but it didnât need to be! The music, atmosphere and martinis were amazing.
Cirque du Soleil for an incredible show
Seldom am I speechless, but this show blew me away! The acrobatics, comedic bits and overall production took my breath away. Iâm beyond grateful that Alex made my first show so special, and even though heâs been quite a few times, it was special for him too!
Christmas Market for a friend date
After Thanksgiving I made a new friend at the dog park, and we finally hung out before the holidays. Ariel, Alex and I had a blast drinking mulled wine, laughing our butts off and getting to know each other!
Roswell Mill for a family hike
On New Yearâs Eve we took Linley on a hike just outside of Atlanta â which was just right for all of us! We look forward to more adventures and hikes as a trio. đ¤
All media taken December 2023 in Georgiaâ¨
Missing Montana
During Linleyâs and my road trip to Washington state last month, we passed through Montana. Iâve heard from a few friends who have been there how beautiful Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park and Whitefish are, but never expected to feel like I was back in Norwayâor even in a place like Alaska. Montana blew me away in natural beauty.
What blew me away even more was the kindness of its residents. I stayed at three Airbnbâs (two heading west, and one on the way home to Chicago) and everyone was incredibly gracious. And yes, I know that Airbnb hosts âneedâ to be kind, but these Montanans werenât just hospitableâthey were true, âsalt of the earthâ people who treated you like family from the start.
My favorite Airbnb was our first one in Billings. Our hosts, Jennifer and her dog Izzy, were two of the greatest hosts Iâve ever stayed with (and Iâve been using Airbnb in Europe since 2014!). I enjoyed my time with them more than anything. It was especially nice after a LONG multiple-day drive without many people to talk with, excluding Linley who wanted nothing to do with my bad singing đ
The only downside of my trip is that I woke up with a nasty head cold the next day (not covid, thank goodness!). Jennifer was so kind and took Linley and Izzy on a walk down by the river because my head felt like a bowling ball. Again, reiterating how amazing and warmly I was treated there. â¤ď¸
This week has been a struggle: learning a new role in a new industry AND at a new company, my marriage falling apart, my happiness in Chicago fleeting, a major fight with my mom and resurfaced PTSD, a general sense of not being able to find my footing⌠itâs been draining to say the least. But Iâm grateful for my road trip memories and want to think about positive moments that have occurred recently. I hope to make and find more of these memories soonâŚ
If youâre ever considering visiting Montana â or are simply passing through â please reach out and I can send you my Airbnb info and travel highlights from Billings, Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake and Helena.
Photos taken Tuesday, April 19 and Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Traveling with the Traceys 