Recovery Is Possible + An Easy Way You Can Help Fight The Opioid Epidemic

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #LICDrugDisposal

Did you know that with the current Opiod Epidemic, 197 Americans die every day from a drug overdose? (Source: National Center for Health Statistics) While that number is alarming, think about how high that number climbs when you think of all of the people who are affected by drug use; the parents who are desperately trying to protect their children, the spouses who are trying to make things work praying that things get better, the children who are caught in the middle, the employers who are left trying to cover shifts, and the addicts themselves who are left feeling embarrassed, guilty and shameful over their decisions and inability to control it. Addiction is a family disease…because it impacts everyone.

Addiction is a disease that doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are a male or female, old or young, educated or not, rich or poor. It grabs a hold of anyone it can and it holds on with vengeance. The stigma that comes with it are painful and causes many people to hide – whether they are the addicts or the loved one of an addict. The face of addiction is blurred because people are afraid to tell their story. But the good news is that recovery is possible. If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, then they/you are not alone. Knowing that you are not alone on this journey and that it is safe to come forward, I think, is a huge first step. It was for us.

My family is one of countless families across the country who are dealing with addiction. We live in a prominent area, in a nice house. We drive a nice car. You see us at gymnastics and band concerts. But behind closed doors, we used to carry a big secret. We didn’t want to have people know. We were afraid of how they would react and what would they say. Would they think we were bad people? Bad parents? But the truth is, lifting that burden and sharing our story has been powerful. And life changing – not only for us, but for the people that it has inspired. That’s why I was so excited when LifeInCheck Drug Disposable asked to partner with us, not only to educate people on their awesome program, but to tell our story to put a face and a story behind addiction.

Our Story (The Short Version)

Dustin always has been the life of the party. He just has ‘that’ personality. Everyone gravitates to him, talks to him, wants to be around him. He has a way of making everyone feel special and you can’t help but just be relaxed around him. He experimented in high school with drinking and some drugs. His world at 18 was two things: instant gratification and fun.

When he was a senior in high school he fell in love. A different love. An unconditional love. He and his high school girlfriend had a baby. Fatherhood gave him a love he had never felt before. Unfortunately, when his son was two he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and spent the next 18 months in a hospital ultimately to lose his battle with cancer.

Emotions weren’t something that he knew how to handle. And emotions and heartbreak on that level were things he couldn’t and didn’t want to accept. What followed was guilt, self hatred, bad relationships and decisions made with good intentions, but that seemed to fall short.

A few years later, he was in a stressful marriage with a few more children. He went to the doctor for a knee injury and was prescribed powerful pain medications. While his prescription ran out, his desire for the medication didn’t. Soon both him and his wife were in a severe active addiction to prescription drugs and eventually heroin.

Dustin had a long few years of getting clean, including a halfway house, a relapse, a ton of work and a lot of hard reflection on learning about himself, his patterns and how to change his way of thinking. He left his toxic marriage, was awarded full custody of his three children, and has worked on beginning his life for the first time.

I am so proud of him and his passion for the recovery community. It hasn’t always been easy. TRUST me. Addiction impacts everyone and is a fight that you team up together to overcome. But I’m beyond overjoyed at the journey he has been on, we have been on and our family has been on. He runs and chairs local meetings, sponsors and helps people in the recovery rooms, shares his story and the hope that recovery is possible. He is still the life of the party – only this time, the party is a little different. He makes sure that every person knows that they are valued, worthy of good things and good people. He makes sure to let people know that they are more than their addiction and that there is hope.

How You Can Help

One way that you can help is to just be open to understanding. Addiction doesn’t plague ‘bad people’. It can happen to anyone. It can be noticeable or it can often times be hidden behind closed doors. Being open and understanding makes people feel safe to come forward for help. I have attended countless meetings with Dustin in the past and I can’t tell you how much that I have learned from the paths of other people. Even though our paths have been incredibly different, at their core, our paths can be very similar. The saying of ‘more alike than different’ has been proven to me over and over again.

Saturday, October 27th 2018 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. It is an easy way that everyone can help fight the opioid epidemic in their own neighborhood.

LifeInCheck has created this tool to help you safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Simply enter your city and state or zip code and search radius and we will provide a list of safe drug disposal locations in your area. Using them is incredibly easy. You just go, drop in your unused or expired medications in the box and that’s it!

It is a discrete, safe and responsible way to dispose of your expired and unused medications. How does this help?

  • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately fifty-four million Americans over the age of 12 have used prescription medications for non-medical reasons at least once in their lifetime. LifeInCheck has created this tool to help you safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Simply enter your city and state or zip code and search radius and we will provide a list of safe drug disposal locations in your area.
  • Patient disposal of unused medications today takes many forms, from flushing down the toilet or pouring in the drain, to throwing in the garbage, or worse. More often than not, the end result is damage to our environment, drug diversion or the drug being abused by others. In an effort to assist in reducing these issues and bringing awareness to the massive opioid crisis that is plaguing many families, LifeInCheck created a Drug Disposal program that provides consumers with a safe option to discard their unused or outdated prescription medications in secure receptacles located across the US.

We headed over to get rid of some unused prescriptions and expired medicine. While the medicines that we had weren’t considered addictive or opioids, they have been collecting dust. I am almost embarrassed at how old this bottle was! It literally took us 30 seconds to properly dispose of! Here is a list of things you can and cannot bring to dispose:

  • Drugs Accepted at Receptacles:
    • Unused or expired prescription medication (Including Schedule II-V controlled substances)
    • Unused or expired over-the-counter medication
    • Pet Medication
  • Drugs NOT Accepted at Receptacles:
    • Schedule I controlled substances
    • Illegal drugs
    • Thermometers
    • Inhalers
    • Lotions/Liquids
    • Aerosol Cans
    • Needles
    • Hydrogen Peroxide

If you have unused prescriptions or expired medications, please use this tool to look up a location near you. Our location was inside a local hospital. The staff was all friendly and helped direct us to the area. But honestly, you can’t miss the green box! It was seriously, the easiest thing ever!

One day we will share our full story (but it’s a long one!), but sharing the hope of recovery is our passion. If you or someone you love has a story to share on addiction or the opioid epidemic, feel free to share here or with your own friends and family. People do recover! Dustin is a living testament to that. Recovery has given me my best friend back, his parents their son back, and most importantly, his kids a father back. By sharing, listening and with things like the LifeInCheck Drug Disposal Program we can all take a huge step in working together in our families and communities.

       

Pumpkin Spice Everything – 31 Things For The Pumpkin Spice Obsessed

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice obsessed? Yeah, me too. Good news is that it is pumpkin spice season! Woo Hoo! To celebrate Starbucks’ release of the pumpkin spice latte (August 28) I thought that I would round up some of the best, most spectacular, most pumpkin-spiciest things out there. If you are obsessed with pumpkin spice too, then this list is for you. We’ve got a bit of things for you, for your home and even for your dog.

(Pssst! Did you see our pumpkin spice slime?)

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice For You:

I love a good t-shirt! And the pumpkin spice t-shirts have not failed! Here are a few of my favorites:

Flannels, Boots, Footballs and Pumpkin Spice (above)

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

My Favorite Season is Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Spice Spice Baby

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Sweaters, Top Knots & Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

You Had Me At Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

And for your mini….Best Friends Forever Dress

More Pumpkin Spice Picks For You

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice For the Home

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Yummy Pumpkin Spice Things To Eat

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice…For Your Dog

Because, duh, your dog is probably pumpkin spice obsessed too.

Pumpkin Spice Everything...Things You Need If You Are Obsessed With Pumpkin Spice

Don’t forget to pin our Pumpkin Spice Obsessed List!

Be sure to check out some of our other fall round ups including:

  • Fall Women’s Fashion – Both You And Your Wallet Will Love
  • Fall T-Shirts Your Closet Needs
  • Girls’ Fall Boutique Looks At Bargain Prices
  • Fall Decorations For Your Home

       

How To Adopt A Soldier & What To Send – Family Service Project –

How To Adopt A Soldier & What To Send

How To Adopt A Soldier And What To Send

Volunteering as a family is something that is really important in our household. We are truly grateful for what we have and also for where we have been. At one point, we prayed for the some of the things we have now. And some of the things we have now, we never even imagined we would accomplish. Funny how life works, isn’t it? While we consider ourselves far from where we started, we never want to forget the beginning of our journey. Which for us, gives us motivation to stay humble and make sure that our children grow up knowing how lucky they are, that giving back isn’t something you do for Instagram likes and that serving others is way of life.

Sometimes, finding places to volunteer with kids can be tricky. (You wouldn’t think it would be, but we were surprised – especially when the kids were younger!) But volunteering to send cheer to our military members is a way not only for even the smallest family members to help with, but it lets you volunteer at home and at your own pace. Sometimes, I would love to donate financially to organizations, but it’s not in the budget for that month. But we always have some room for postage or I can pick up a few things on sale for a care package! Plus, the kids always have so much fun with these projects!

(If you are looking for more great family service projects – check out this list of 16 ideas!)

How To Sign Up To Adopt A Soldier

There are so many organizations that you can sign up with! Here are a few to get you started:

How To Adopt A Soldier And What To Send

What do you do when you adopt a soldier?

Well, that answer depends on what you sign up for! Some sign ups are for just letters while others are for care packages. Some are even for handmade items (like baked goods, paracord bracelets, cool ties or hats and scarves)

This should go without saying, but I know life gets busy sometimes, but please, if you sign up to adopt a soldier…please, please, please be sure that you follow through! When you adopt one, they are taken off the list from someone else being able to adopt them. Sending things out in a timely matter is crucial! Some organizations that you can volunteer with may have you make a commitment such as one letter per month. Even with good intentions, make sure that the time commitment is something you can do.

How To Adopt A Soldier And What To Send

What do you send when you adopt a soldier?

There are so many things that you can send! Letters (or for younger children, pictures or artwork) is always appreciated! Keep in mind the different kinds of weather that packages must travel through as well as time. Sometimes it can take a long time for your package to reach it’s final destination not only due to distance but also due to security screenings. If you are sending holiday specific items, they need to be sent early as well as edible items need to be things that won’t melt or expire. (Many places say food items need a 6 month shelf life.) If you are packing a care package, here are some general ideas:

How To Adopt A Soldier And What To Send

Shipping Tips For When You Adopt A Soldier:

  • Use a durable, heavy duty box (the post office will help with free shipping supplies!)
  • Put items into plastic baggies in case anything breaks or leaks

Other Things To Consider When You Adopt A Soldier:

  • Try to get your neighborhood involved! Host a care package party and invite your neighbors to come and help package items to send out. Neighbors that can’t attend may still offer to donate items and/or money to help cover postage. You can Download a flyer here!
  • Host a sock drive
  • Don’t forget that while many care packages are made with the service men in mind, there are service women there too! FeminineHow To Adopt A Soldier And What To Send hygiene products and girly things are always in need!

How To Adopt A Soldier And What To Send

I hope this helps you and your family while you adopt a soldier! Don’t forget to pin!

This post contains affiliate links

       

I am grateful for the dirty dishes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PalmoliveMultiSurface #CollectiveBias
grateful for the dirty dishes
Have you ever had one of those days? Our Internet has been out for the past few days and they have been working on the water pipes so no running water for us today. I feel like I’ve gotten so behind. I am awesome when I’m on a schedule. But I haven’t been able to be on my schedule for a few days now. (No internet is a huge problem when you work from home!) Ironically, without the internet you would think that I would have time to do some housework, but that’s when having no water becomes even more frustrating!
So I decided there had to be a different way to look at it!
So today….
I am thankful for my sink of dirty dishes – it means we’ve been well fed.
I am thankful for receiving my electric bill today – it shows we’ve had electricity.
I am thankful that my son’s teacher emailed me to let me know my son is pretending about a headache to get out of his work – it shows she cares.
I’m thankful that there are books, toys, and games on our floor – it means my son has plenty to play with.
I’m thankful that we have dirty laundry that needs to be done – it means we have plenty of clothes to wear.
I’m thankful for Josh’s bus stop being at the end of our neighborhood – it means I’m able to walk.
I’m thankful for the new gutters that we need, the windows that should be washed and the bushes that need trimmed – it means we have a home.
lincoln and george
I’m thankful that I get woken up at 5:00 in the morning by our puppy – it means he’s almost potty trained! (YAY!)
All of these things that maybe I’ve complained about in the past should really be looked at opportunities to be thankful. Gratitude is being thankful for what you have. I have so much that I am thankful for but sometimes, like the dishes or the laundry they get overseen.
1.0
Now, even though I’m thankful for the dishes and I’m thankful for my kitchen that is all messy from the dinner I was able to cook for my family, that doesn’t mean that cleaning it has to be my favorite! Luckily, I have a secret weapon to help me!
17345205262_491256ea97_k

When I was at Walmart I found Palmolive Multi-Surface. I like the fact that one product can not only clean my dishes, but also tackle that marinara sauce on the stove and clean up the counters! (Plus, it smells good!) After a few weeks of testing it out, it’s tough on getting the mess gone! And Palmolive® Multi Surface eliminates 99.9% of bacteria (*staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and E. coli ((157:H7)) from dishes and hard non porous kitchen surfaces.

THAT’S important stuff!

clean kitchen

This is tough on all the messes I can dish out in my kitchen! Cleaning the counters? Check! Getting the stove top clean? Yep. And those dishes? They sparkle!

I get a clean kitchen and only have to use one product! Saving me time and money!

See? Even more things to be grateful for!

What things are you grateful for?

       

5 Things I Couldn’t Be Without

5 Of My Favorite Things

I thought it would be fun to do a weekly series on some of my favorite things. So welcome to I’m Totally Obsessed With…

5 things

So I know it might sound crazy – being obsessed with plastic containers. But I am. Completely! When I cook dinner we usually have leftovers. Now, I can pack them in these handy containers and I have my own freezer meals. Plus, they are great for cooking ahead of time! Delicious, portioned meals ready to go. It’s been helping my budget and my weight!

5 things 2

I’ve had this Yankee Red Raspberry Candle under our candle warmer non-stop this week. It smells so delicious. It smells like, well, summer.

5 things 3

I’ve been watching House of Cards since it came out. I just finished up the current season and now, I can.not.wait for the next season to start. (Come on Netflix, hurry!)

5 things 4

It has rained non-stop it seems like for the last week. Rain, mud and puddles are everywhere and when you have a puppy who needs to be at the dog park rain boots become a necessity. I’m beyond obsessed with these herringbone boots! There are tons of other prints available – pick your print!

5 things 5

I’m a huge Pandora fan, which is how I found Boyce Avenue. I listen to them ALL the time! Think your favorite songs redone to cool acoustic versions. Seriously. Love.

obsessions

So you tell me. What are you loving this week?

This post contains affiliate links.

       

30 Before 30 List

Writing a 30 Before 30 List

Last week was my birthday. The big 2-8. It was one of those birthdays that had me saying that I could no longer claim I was in my early twenties or even mid twenties. (I know, last year was a stretch!) And in just 2 short years I would be 30. There is a lot that I wanted to do before then!

My twenties went by way to fast. A lot of growing up and self discovery. I used to have a bit of anxiety about getting older. But I honestly believe that this year will be better than the last and that my thirties will be better than my twenties.

A friend suggested that I write a 30 Before 30 list. I loved the idea of celebrating my 30th birthday in two years, but also the completion of 30 goals. I also loved the idea of going into my thirties feeling on track, confident and happy.

So here is my list! What would you put on yours?

5 financial goals before 30

Financial

– Pay off my debt. 95% of my debt is student loans, but student loans or not, I want them all gone. It would be amazing to go into my 30’s debt free!

– Make the 700 Club. My credit score, well, sucks. And that’s the nicest thing I can say about it. Stupid decisions made and now I’m paying the price. However, I don’t have that much debt other than my student loans. So, I’m working hard on doing things the right way and getting it cleaned up.

– Create a savings plan. I love my job. I really do! Blogging has some amazing perks – working from home, finding out about new products, doing what I love, etc. But one thing that it doesn’t have is a benefits package. I really need a savings plan in place.

– Learn about the different kinds of investments. I’m honestly not that knowledgeable in the different financial terms, investment opportunities and the best way to utilize them. I would love to learn more so I can start making the right decisions.

– Get a better Credit Card. The credit card I have now has a high interest rate, but I’m hoping that with my credit score improvements I can close this account and get a better one!

Personal Finance Books

Here are some books that I’m planning on reading to help with my financial goals:

5 Health Goals To Have Before 30

Health

Take my vitamins everyday. And stop forgetting to take my medicine! I’m so horrible about being consistent with it. You would think it wouldn’t be that hard, so I’m not sure how/why I keep forgetting!

Give up Diet Coke. Ok. This is supposed to be a realistic list. 🙂 Drink 6 glasses of water and 2 glasses of green tea. Then, if I still want something then I can treat myself to a Diet Coke. And who knows, maybe my soda will be a good motivation!

Eat real food. Get rid of junk and make foods myself instead of buying them.

– Get the body that I’ve been talking about getting. That means losing the extra pounds and working these muscles out! I want to go into my 30’s feeling good and confident!

Run (yes, actually run) a 5K. I actually hate running. But that might have something to do with it being hard and me not being very good at it. 🙂

6 Places To Go Before 30

Places To Go

– Go to the Kentucky Derby

– Start an Annual Camping Trip

– Take a trip to the amusement park.

– Stay in a tree house hotel

– Take a cruise

Go to Bangkok

7 Things To Do Before You Turn 30

Things To Do

– Complete a 365 Photo Challenge

– Decorate our home with cool antique pieces

– Find a place to volunteer regularly

– Be more active in our church

Build a fantastic wardrobe and define my personal style

– Go tailgating

– Buy the perfect piece of art

7 business goals before 30

Business

– Publish an E-Book

Master YouTube

– Get professional head-shots taken.

– Get half a million page views in a month.

– Write for another publication.

– Speak at an event

– Reach 250,000 total social media followers

30 Before 30 List

 

What is on your list?

Don’t forget to pin!

 

This post contains affiliate links.

       

Good Workout Songs To Add to Your Playlist

15 good workout songs

I don’t know about you, but I am so much more productive with music on! In fact, I don’t think I can clean, cook, or blog without it on! You know what else I can’t do with a little musical motivation? Workout!! So since I’ve been trying to workout a little more these days I asked around and got my friends help filling up my play list. So if you are looking for good workout songs — here is a list to get you started!

Girl on Fire (Alicia Keys)

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (Beyonce)

Yeah! (Usher)

We Run The Night (Havana Brown)

Push It (Salt n Pepa)

Get The Party Started (Pink)

Sabotage (Beastie Boys)

Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera)

On the Floor (Jennifer Lopez featuring Pit Bull)

Die Young (Kesha)

Work B***** (Britney Spears)

Burn (Ellie Goulding)

Hear Me Now (Hollywood Undead)

Can’t Hold Us (Macklemore featuring Ray Dalton)

Feel This Moment (Pitbull)

So there you have it 15 good work out songs to power you through your next sweat session!

disclaimer

       

Wedding Vacation: Day 3 – The Flume

Day 3 of our vacation we headed over to hike up The Flume. Of course as soon as we got there it started to rain. But luckily, it only lasted a few minutes.

Glacier boulders

The first thing you come to (there actually quite a few throughout the park) is a glacial boulder. They are huge!

Creek

Flume hike

Josh and Andy at Table Rock

Josh and Andy at Table Rock.

Flume hike 2

The Flume is a natural gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. The walls of Conway granite rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet and are 12 to 20 feet apart.

flume hike 3

The Flume was discovered in 1808 by 93-year-old “Aunt” Jess Guernsey when she accidently came upon it while fishing. She had trouble convincing her family of the marvelous discovery, but eventually persuaded others to come and see for themselves. At that time, a huge egg-shaped boulder hung suspended between the walls. The rock was 10 feet (3m) high and 12 feet (3.6m) long. A heavy rainstorm in June of 1883 started a landslide that swept the boulder from its place. It has never been found. The same storm deepened the gorge and formed Avalanche Falls.

Flume Hike 4

Avalanche Falls

Avalanche falls

Avalanche Falls

Mount Liberty Mount FlumeThe rest of the hike is just as gorgeous. There is Bear Cave, Liberty Gorge, a covered bridge, Wolf Cave (if you are prepared to crawl through!) and beautiful views. Above is Mount Liberty (it looks like George Washington laying down), Mount Flume, and Mount Osseo.

Udderly Delicious

After our hike it was time for some much needed ice cream. Our favorite ice cream spot in Lincoln was Udderly Delicious.

udderly delicious1

They had lots of flavors and even had gelato and frozen yogurt. Josh had just chocolate on this trip (he later went all out and got chocolate ice cream in a cone! haha!) and as you can see above Andy went crazy at the sundae bar!

we got married here

Then we met with Bill, our wedding officiant. See up there? THAT’S where we got married!! Isn’t it pretty? And, YES! I’ve been getting your emails! Wedding photos are coming! 🙂

sunset

sunset2

It was a perfect day in New Hampshire!

Don’t miss out! Read about Day 1 and Day 2 of our vacation.

Tomorrow I’ll show you our trip to Loon Mountain! It was a blast!!!

       

Wedding Vacation Day 2: Welcome to New Hampshire

Welcome to New Hampshire

Last time we talked wedding vacation we were in Vermont (you can read about it here). Day 2 of our vacation had us arriving in New Hampshire! We were super excited to get to the state line!

Honestly New Hampshire is such a beautiful state! Even now, a month after we’ve gotten back Andy still says “Do you want to move to New Hampshire?” “Are you ready to go back to New Hampshire?” Once you go – you will fall in love!

Resort

We quickly found our resort and it was wonderful! We stayed at The South Mountain Resort in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Resort 1

 

Our room had 1 bedroom, 2 bath, kitchen and living room.

resort master

swimming

We had a nice big balcony that walked right out to the pool and hot tub. Not to mention a nice view of the mountains!

hot tub

However, we spent a lot of time at the indoor pool and hot tub. I’m not sure if it was the fact that it changed colors.

hot tub2

Or the waterfall. But that’s where he liked to play. 🙂

pizza

For dinner we headed to Elvio’s Pizzeria. If you are ever anywhere near Lincoln, NH you HAVE to eat there!! Josh said he’s eaten a lot of pizza before but nothing compared to Elvio’s!

pizza2

Andy and I agree! We’ve never had pizza better before! We ended up eating there twice on vacation it was so good! Now whenever we eat pizza or I ask “What do you want for dinner?” Josh always answers, “I wish there was an Elvio’s Pizza in Indiana.”

Tomorrow I’ll share with our trip to the Flume!

       

Our Wedding Vacation – Part 1

1.Beginning of vacation.Car ride

We left for New Hampshire on May 29th. It was a LONG drive – about 17 hours long! We packed up and headed out.

Josh was amazing on the trip. In fact, I think he was super excited. He got to open travel presents every time we entered a new state. And he had hours to play video games and watch movies without me telling me to turn it off. I think that was his favorite part. 🙂

grape fields of new york1

Indiana’s scenery is well, flat. So we were excited when we started seeing new things! I never knew how many grape fields were in New York! I think Andy and I may have to take a weekend and go visit the wineries!

We drove through Upstate New York and it was so beautiful. I wish we would have had time to explore the little towns nestled in the hills. I’m sure they had some amazing antique shops, beautiful views and awesome small shops.

Country Inns and Suites

We stopped for the night in Rochester. We stayed at Country Inns & Suites and I have to say I was really impressed! And before I go on, no, Country Inns & Suites didn’t pay me to say that. Actually, they don’t even know who I am. 🙂 The hotel was really, really reasonably priced. (And you get a discount from booking online!) There was all of the regular hotel ‘stuff’ – indoor pool, work out room, free wifi, and free breakfast (with a waffle machine – Josh was very excited.) BUT they also had cookies waiting inside! They also had a library of kid’s books available to check out. I loved that! The entire staff was super friendly and for under $100 it was above and beyond my expectations. The next time we travel we will for sure be looking for a Country Inns & Suites to stay at!

11.Car ride.Vermont-001

The next day we left and finished off the rest of our trip. We were really excited to start seeing all the mountains!

13.Car ride.Dairy Barn.Arlington, Vermont.Milkshakes-001

We stopped in Arlington, Vermont for gas and lunch. It was a tiny little town. The Arlington Dairy Bar had all kinds of burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Not to mention they made the best milkshakes. Ever. EVER.

15. Car ride.Vermont-001

After lunch we got back on the road. We were just a few hours away from our Mountain destination. And geez were those mountains BEAUTIFUL. Even from the highway. 🙂

Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about the beginning of our adventures in New Hampshire!