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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.

Quick Tips To Do Norway On A Budget With Kids

Uncategorized | May 16, 2022

Now that the world has opened up for travel, it seems like it’s more expensive than ever. Some of us also are dusting off our passports with a new little one that didn’t exist before and needing to stretch our travel savings.  We ventured to the land of Vikings in March of 2022. While we weren’t super budget conscious, we… Continue Reading

Flying With A Baby: Tips For Traveling With An Infant

Travel | March 26, 2022

Welcoming a little one was a happy chapter for our family, but as new parents we worried about flying with a baby.  We knew hopping on a plane would be necessary for visiting certain relatives and we didn’t want to give up travel for the next decade. If you’re new to traveling with an infant, it can seem overwhelming to… Continue Reading

Embrace The Suck: How A Series of Sucky Setbacks Lead Me To Freedom

Uncategorized | September 23, 2019

A few weeks ago, I was interviewed on the ChooseFI podcast.  To say I was honored- even a bit confused as to how I was worthy of an interview, is a massive understatement.  I’m currently on the path to financial independence, and identify myself of part of the FI/RE community- people who want to shave years off their retirement date… Continue Reading

Experiments In Minimalism: I’m Doing A Shopping Ban

Joy Inducing Tactics | November 24, 2018

Happy Black Friday!  Though today I got some long awaited and fabulous deals on some wellness products I’ve been lusting over for months- namely a fantastic new vegan suede yoga mat from Blogilates and my favorite supplements from Onnit– I’ve been also lusting over minimalism. Over the last few months, I’ve been purging and downsizing.  I’ve been slowing down on… Continue Reading

Being stuck in a loud and unfamiliar airport due to cancellation or delay blows. Here are some tips how you can utilize airport layovers to get through it!

How To Best Utilize Airport Layovers

Travel | August 20, 2018

Being stuck in a loud and unfamiliar airport due to cancellation or delay blows. Here are some tips how you can utilize airport layovers to get through it!

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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.

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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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