The Syracuse that Rocked My World - Part 2
Nick is a friend of a friend’s. A perfect stranger but quick to become a friend. Nick approached the trailer and as one thing led to another he say, “You guys probably eat out a lot. How does a home cooked meal sound?” My heart jumped for joy. Seriously. There was nothing like being welcomed into his home. Nick and his wife Emily had prepared an incredible dinner and before anyone started, Nick blessed the meal. I felt instantly at home and wanted to cry thinking of how much
The Syracuse that Rocked My World - Part 1
Today I was welcomed into a new world. It’s a world of beauty, talent and skilled communication. It’s a world similar to ours yet wildly different. It’s a silent world and it’s the deaf world. Three women approached the tent today. Two were deaf and one was their translator. Christine, Cecelia and Lindsay taught me so much. I listened closely to Christine, the translator, as Lindsay and Cecelia explained the challenges of growing up in the “deaf world.” I was taken back by th
A Lesson and a Confession
You can see it in someone’s eyes when they are distracted. It’s that look of “I’m listening, but I’m also thinking about cooking dinner tonight, the errands I need to run, and my to do list for the next 3 days.” Well, I’ve got a confession. I’ve been that person. I’ve been the girl who is listening but sometimes only kind of… I can juggle a million and one thoughts in my head while simultaneously updating my instagram account, planning my future career and buying plane ticket
Lovers or Fighters?
They say Virginia is for lovers, but I think it’s actually for fighters. The fighting spirit here in Lynchburg is ambitious, determined and driven. One after another people have come to share their stories of overcoming the lowest of the lows and seeing joy in the toughest situations. These people are impressive. I met Stephen, who has cerebral palsy. As he struggled to get out each word, he managed to say, “Never give up. Always keep trying.” I was completely covered in goos
Sleeping Under the Stars
This weekend was spent in the great outdoors. After driving through the beautifully winding roads and far enough into the mountains to loose cell reception, we made it to Hanging Rock State Park in North Carolina. We pitched tents, hung hammocks, put on sweats and got cozy near the fire. That night was spent telling stories and eating delicious gumbo after it was warmed over the fire. There’s something magical about loosing cell service. It’s the perfect time to escape all th
Tea Time!
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” – Henry James At Laura’s Tea Room, afternoon tea really is a ceremony. Carol and Eleanor, a mother-daughter team, opened a tea house 7 years ago and recorded their aha moment in 2009. They were later chosen to become a commercial for Mutual of Omaha. Watch their moment, here. This year, we reached out to this sweet team to catch up and see how they were doing 6 years l
A Sweet Southern City
Spanish moss, gorgeous fountains, delicious restaurants and a casual stroll down River Street was all I needed to be hooked on Savannah. This town is simply stunning. It’s warm, southern charm welcomed our crew in as we had the opportunity to record stories from some of the sweetest Savannah locals. Savannah is sweet in more ways than one. We met Adam, a local chocolatier, who shared both his chocolate treats and his story of finding artistry through pastries with us. He is a
My Favorite Driveway
There’s honestly nothing better than pulling into my driveway. That feeling of security, peace, joy and excitement where all I want to do is jump into the arms of people I love most. Nothing beats walking into that house. Standing in the kitchen, catching up with everyone over chips, bruschetta and a pomegranate martini. My house is a home. I can only hope that one day, I will have a home that is just as welcoming as my parents’ home….or I could just buy it from them in 20 ye
The Couple in a Trench Coat
And then a couple huddled together covering themselves with a trench coat and hidden under an umbrella wandered over to the Aha Airstream and in a creaky/sketchy voice asked: “Is this where the aha tour is?” As I turned around, I was prepared to sweetly smile and kindly direct them…although honestly, I was a little creeped out. Suddenly, the trench coat was tossed off and umbrella lifted to reveal my very two favorite parents standing there with a dozen roses of all different
Sheer Talent
Last weekend was spent touring through Nashville with dear friends and wow, did we have a good time! It began at a brewery, followed by a delicious dinner and then the highlight of my weekend came as we walked into “The Big Bang.” Needless to say we stayed at this dueling piano bar for hours as musicians performed a variety of songs from Ariana Grande to the Rolling Stones. I stood in awe as they laughed, joked and spattered the keys with their fingers making the most beautif
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