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The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

“The Year of Less:” How A Journey To Spend Less Leads To So Much More

Life Over 30 | May 7, 2018

I read a lot of books, but rarely, do I love them enough to write a whole post on why I loved it and how it’s positively impacting my life. So, with that being said, I felt the need to share one book I read recently that should be shouted from the mountaintops. It’s called “The Year of Less.”

We just used credit card points to travel free to Europe. If you're going to be spending anyway, why not put your credit use to work to score cheap travel?

How To Use Credit Card Points To Travel Free

Travel | April 12, 2018

We used credit card points to travel for free…we didn’t pay for a single hotel during our 2 weeks in Europe. Do you want to travel for free?  Heck yes! Chances are, you’re already using credit cards to pay for things, but did you know you can use credit card points to travel free? It’s true! I funded nearly my entire two… Continue Reading

Things To Love About Barcelona

Travel | April 3, 2018

After our last trip to Europe, we’ve come to believe there is never a bad time to visit Barcelona!  Among people who travel, there are plenty of folks who don’t seem to think traveling in winter is a good idea.  While it’s true, there is nothing better than hitting the beach in a coastal town like Barcelona in the summer,… Continue Reading

What I Love About Sharing My Home As An Airbnb Host

Uncategorized | March 28, 2018

Once I realized home ownership was proving to be more expensive than I realized, I became an Airbnb host. I couldn’t be more happy with my decision.

Little Ripples: Finding Value In Mistakes & Joy In Small Progress When You Reclaim Your Life

Joy Inducing Tactics | March 19, 2018

This was a “we never take selfies anymore” selfie on the super rare occasion when I don’t have Hermione hair and I put lipstick on. We live in a super awesome, previously unimaginable time where you can log onto Facebook or surf some ultra-hip hashtags on Instagram and you’ll easily see a myriad of people who have crafted their own… Continue Reading

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Welcome!

Because you were born for more than putting your dreams on hold between 17 & 65. Reclaim your sense of adventure, become financially free & live your dream life before you retire. Learn more >>

We're on this adventure together to reclaim your life despite a 9-5! Get inspirational guidance on your own amazing journey with my weekly email.

Women traveling solo: don't let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

Women Traveling Solo: Why I Recommend It

Women traveling solo: don’t let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

After a routine blood test that showed some abnormal thyroid levels, I'm recommitting myself to my health. How? I'm doing Whole30.

Wonder Quest #1: I’m Doing Whole30

You know, it’s going to be a long time until I retire. I think about my future, and right now if I keep going on at the rate I’m saving, I will hopefully be able to retire in 18.5 years, at the age of 50.  I’m 31 as of this writing, so you can imagine, that’s a lot of years… Continue Reading

When traveling to a foreign country, planning is your friend. Check out these 5 important things we recommend handling as soon as possible.

5 Things To Do Before Traveling To a Foreign Country

When traveling to a foreign country, planning is your friend. Check out these 5 important things we recommend handling as soon as possible.

Follow the adventure on Instagram

Life’s moments are made better with our pets. ❤️

Joey had been with us for nearly 4 years, made possible by the kind folks of South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue. I picked him up, intending on fostering him for a few weeks and ended up falling in love with his sweet spirit, exuberance for anything food related and his lovable derpiness.

Previously, he was kept in a small cage with two other terriers, all day every day and used as a stud. When he was no longer profitable, he, like plenty of others, was surrendered to rescue.  He was blind in one eye, needed teeth extracted and had skin lesions from life in a cage. 

Life hadn’t been easy for him, but I’m glad a rescue was there to give him a second chance, and they trusted me to give in his second chapter.  He was a well travelled dog and he was the Best Pup on our wedding day in Marfa.  Last night we said goodbye. Hubs and I will miss him dearly, but savor the moments and adventures with our little tank. 

Adopt, don’t shop.  Support your local rescues and give your fur kids an extra squeeze for Joey tonight.
“Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked “Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked me this before. To which, I answer- life is full, wonderful, and I am grateful. 

I believe he asks because before kids, I had a very different lifestyle. I traveled to Europe by myself, started businesses, donated a kidney, ran half marathons, got my master’s degree.  I lived a full life, then too. I was fiercely independent because I had to be.

I’m still that person, but fortunately I have more people to share it with. I also have to be more vulnerable than ever.

I had years to find myself and don’t plan on losing that woman I forged. Being a mom has also helped me heal some of the hard parts of the experience I had with my own mom. (I didn’t see that last part coming.)

Being a mom can make you lose yourself.  For me, it’s helped me discover myself once more. Grateful for this day and so many days - I’m just happy to be here. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone. I hope you discover yourself, heal what you need and feel the love today and everyday.
Just took my Strengthfinder test and got Empathy | Just took my Strengthfinder test and got Empathy | Responsibility | Harmony | Relator | Positivity. Which is not the same at all as when I took it 10 years ago. 🙃 

I think a few things have changed, but I’m a heck of a lot happier now. Anyone else geek out for personality tests and have you taken this one? Also- drop your enneagram!
I would like to say that the day we tied the knot I would like to say that the day we tied the knot was the happiest day of my life, but I’m lucky to say that every day since has been the happiest day.

Even in the blurry busy days after the youngest arrived, the nights we had challenging conversations, the terse moments and the moments of vulnerability- these were happy, deep, beautiful days together. 

I look back on this moment, and the many that followed and and am grateful still we chose to do this dance together.

Thank you, husband, for giving me a year of the happiest days and the promise of all our tomorrows. Love your face. ❤️
I spent a lot of my 20’s chasing, sorting and fi I spent a lot of my 20’s chasing, sorting and figuring out. I hustled, usually working two jobs and a passion project on the side.  By my 30’s I was burned out. I had spent plenty of holidays alone, weekends with no idea how to slow down and low grade anxiety about ever being enough.

I’m in a new chapter in my life and am so grateful for the weekends I have with the people I have.  Being a small slice of my stepson’s life, watching him grow and challenge himself has been so healing for me.  Slowing down to take time to watch a game, watch cartoons and do kid stuff, now with fresh eyes, has been so healing for me.  Have you played with a Nerf gun lately without looking at the clock or opened a fresh can of Play-Doh to make a make-believe pizza? It’s magic. 

As adults we spend a lot of time with Netflix, wine and chores in our downtime. Becoming a mom gave me an excuse to slow down and play- essentially what I would have considered “wasting time” before.  Grab a coloring book or head to the park, it may just save your sanity. 

Weekends look so different now, but I have three of the best guys in my life to grow with.

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