No Fear... kind of...

I did something crazy. Something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I have put myself out there on a YouTube channel. I am making a video diary of my weight loss journey. One of my greatest fears is when people think I'm incompetent. I work really hard to give people the best impression of myself but being on YouTube is a completely different experience. I have no control over what people think of me.

I know nothing about video editing. I am using my Iphone 6s. I am editing with whatever software is on my computer. Basically my YouTube channel is everything outside of my comfort zone. Why am I doing this to myself?

I am doing it because I want to grow. I want to stretch myself. Here are my 10 life goals for the next 10 years:

1) I want to travel the world.
2) I want to write a book a year.
3) I want to be a public speaker who empowers and inspires others.
4) I want to be completely out of debt.
5) I want to be a successful beach body coach.
6) I want to be my healthiest self inside and out.
7) I want to remodel the dream home that I currently live in.
8) I want to raise good and kind adults who change the world.
9) I want to make it possible for my husband to retire early.
10) I want to save 1 million dollars.


Why am I sharing my goals with you? These are the reasons I'm putting myself out there on this blog, on YouTube, on Instagram. I want to make a difference in the world. I want to help people become the best version of themselves. I want to become a public speaker and writer professionally. I don't get to those goals by sitting comfortably at home playing video games and watching TV.

I am challenging myself one day at a time. Right now I am focused on one main goal. That main goal is to become my healthiest self inside and out. My entire focus is on making healthy choices for me inside and out and that's scary. The scary part isn't so much the workouts or the nutrition but changing and being vulnerable yet growing a thicker skin. I can't let myself care about what other people say about me. I cannot have any fear.

Healthier choices mean I wake up super early, I workout on program, I pack my lunches, and I live on a schedule. Healthier choices mean I do not let people take advantage of my kindness. They mean I leave situations that are bad for me mentally and drag me down. Healthy choices mean I choose my friends more wisely. Healthier choices mean I stick up for myself and I say no to what I don't want to do. Healthier choices mean I get to choose how I spent my time.

Healthier choices mean I share my story with the world because maybe just maybe I can help one person out there. It means I don't sit and dwell on a difficult past but push towards a brighter future. It means I fall in love with my husband more and more every single day.

Healthier choices are sometimes uncomfortably choices but that's okay. My choices are stretching me and helping me grow into the healthiest version of myself inside and out.

Gratitude List:

1) I am grateful that my 30 days of blogging are almost up. (Only 5 more days)
2) I am grateful for a school that sponsors free events for my kids to get to go to.
3) I am grateful that my children like to be outside.
4) I am grateful that I push myself.
5) I am grateful for to do lists.
6) I am grateful when I finish a good book
7) I am grateful for water bottles
8) I am grateful for time to pack my lunch
9) I am grateful for a lunch pail
10) I am grateful for a working lunch.

Things I have accomplished

1) I have survived summer break.
2) I have prepared my budget spreadsheet for one of my three departments at work for the year.
3) I have organized my  work desk.

Question:

What are you afraid of?

Living Life in Balance

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Yesterday was the first day of my work year. I love my job with all of my being. My work motivates me and keeps me going. There is always something new to learn or something different happening and I am kept on my toes 100% of the time. This is exactly the kind of work I have been wanting to do my entire life. 

Doing what I am doing at a small university was a dream on my goals list for YEARS. In all honesty I didn't think it would ever happen again. I didn't have a college degree. I had experience in the field but from back when I attended college for two years. Working at a University was a pipe dream for me. After I left my job working in sales I took some time to re-evaluate. 

A friend of mine offered to share her timeshare down in Florida with me. I had never been away from my family for 10 days and I really needed a break. While I was on vacation I took a stab at getting a job at one of the local universities. Before I left my vacation I had a schedule for an interview.

Photo by STIL on Unsplash

I will never be more grateful for that call or that interview. The issue I have with loving my job so much is that if I am not careful I will work ALL the time. I am a workaholic. I have to diligently keep my work and life separate. If I do not I will bring work home or never leave. Even now if I have a day off during the week I usually find myself at work. 

How have I learned to keep my work and life balanced? Well to be honest it is a work in progress but here are 4 tips for keeping work and life in check.

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1) Do not check emails at home.

My first year working at the university I would check my emails everywhere I was. I downloaded the work app and every time there was as ding my brain went straight to work. I would answer questions on the fly. This took time I had set aside for my family and put it back towards work. The worst part was that I was not getting paid when I answered questions from home. I make an hour wage and I make that wage only when I'm on the clock. Not checking emails at home or on my phone keeps work at work and home at home. There is nothing so pressing that we cannot handle it tomorrow.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

2) Use your sick and vacation time.

Sick time and vacation time is a benefit of working at many jobs. My first semester where I work I only took sick time when I was dying and I always, always felt horribly guilty. While confiding in one of my co-workers she reminded me Sick time was my right. She mentioned she used her sick time for appointments and if her kids needed mom home. They would not give me sick time unless I was meant to use it. What an idea! I no longer feel guilty if I need to stay home or I make an appointment or my kids need me. I do not feel bad if I need to take a personal day. That is literally what it is there for.

Photo by Fred Mouniguet on Unsplash

3) Leave your home life at home.

Keeping balance is not only about keeping work at work. Do not bring your personal problems into the work place. When you are at work invest 100% of what you have to give into your job. Do your very best. I drive about 15 minutes to work. During that time I blast my favorite music and sing on the top of my lungs. I clear my head and say a little prayer to let go of anything that is going on at home. If you give 100% when you are at work and leave your work at work you can leave with that sense of I did the very best. Your co-workers will appreciate not being dragged into your personal drama as well. This is one I struggle with because I am a sharer and I work at a caring environment where everyone wants to get to know you better. This is still something I am working on and will continue to work on.

Photo by Christa Dodoo on Unsplash

4)  Make your last task of the day something you can finish.

This may seem impossible but set aside the last 30 minutes of your day for a task you can complete. When I complete my final task for the day I walk away with a sense of finish. When I have a task open that's all I can think about while I'm at home with my family. Completing that final task is the period to your busy day at work and you can go on with your life knowing you are on the right track.

Bonus Tip:

I always clear my desk at the end of my day. I love walking in to a clean desk and it resets my mind to tackle a new day. I do not do well in chaos.

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for sick days

2) I am grateful for vacation time

3) I am grateful for personal days

4) I am grateful for a job with benefits

5) I am grateful for an awesome job

6) I am grateful for my goals

7) I am grateful for my 4th year

8) I am grateful for my education

9) I am grateful for my dreams

10) I am grateful for my office

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I work at my dream job

2) I have obtained a college degree

3) I have started my 4th year at one job.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

Does your schedule change when you are working vs when you are staying home? Do you think it is easier to stick with your goals while working or while at home? What suggestions do you have for maintaining a work life balance?

LIIFT 4 Program -- Wk 1 Results

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Today was tough! I woke up with a head cold and today is my first day back to work for the school year. I am an office manager for a small Christian University. I love my job and I'm excited to kick off the work year but it's tough heading in with a cold. 

 I was trying to allow myself to crawl back into bed. Rest feels like the best thing when we aren't feeling up to our best. I’m so glad I didn’t. My endorphins kicked in about half way through the workout.  I’m still tired and my muscles are on fire but my head feels just a little bit clearer.

Today was weigh in day for week 1:

Previous stats:

Weight 297

Chest: 45”
Right Arm: 16”
Left Arm: 16”
Right thigh: 32”
Left thigh: 30”
Waist: 54”

Hips: 55"

Total:148”

Today stats:

Weight: 286.2 (-10.8 lbs)

Chest: 44” (-1)
Right Arm: 16.25 (-.25)
Left Arm: 16 (0)
Right Thigh: 29 (-3)
Left Thigh: 28.5 (-1.5)
Waist: 50.5 (-3.5)
Hips: 52 (-3)

Total: 136.25 (-11.75)

Reminder that these are week 1 results and most people have a great week 1. I am stoked! I do not have a wk 1 progression shot because I was so embarrassed by those numbers.

Gratitude Practice

1) I'm grateful for dayquil

2) I'm grateful for my awesome job

3) I'm grateful for my co-workers who make me feel appreciated

4) I'm grateful for mini-visitors

5) I'm grateful for candles

6) I'm grateful for special soaps

7) I'm grateful for cards or encouragement

8) I'm grateful for kind emails

9) I'm grateful for longevity at my work

10) I'm grateful for the pouring rain

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I have ran 10 miles without stopping.

2) I have planted a garden.

3) I have paid off credit card debt.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

Are you working on a fitness goal? What have your fitness results looked like?

Discipline not Motivation

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Waking up at 5 am does not come naturally to me. I am a morning person but if it were up to my body I'd be up at 7 not 5. Waking up at 4 am is even harder. I love sleep. During sleep I get to escape to far off lands, fly over the moon, and do anything I want to do. Sleep makes my body feel rested and loved. So waking up early to sweat and strain is not my idea of a great time. 

According to the dictionary, motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. We look towards motivation to push us to go farther and to make progress towards our goals. Motivation comes in many forms and I discussed that in an earlier blog about "Whys" Motivation is important but that is not the reason I get up at 5 am every single morning. 

Photo by Maks Styazhkin on Unsplash

What gets me up every morning? Discipline. According to Cambridge Dictionary, "Discipline is training that produces obedience or self-control, often in the form of rules and punishments." Kind of heavy, right? I don't always wake up feeling motivated to do something even if my motivation is the purest of feelings it is still feelings. Motivation is dependent on my emotions. My emotions are sometimes all over the place. Sometimes my emotions make me want to stay in bed and do nothing but doing nothing does not get me closer to my goals.

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Discipline is my training that produces obedience to my set rules. My rules lead to my ability to achieve my goal. My goal is to be the healthiest, strongest version of myself. In order to have enough time during my day to become that person I need to wake up by 5 am at the very latest. As a result even if I do not feel like doing that I still make myself wake up and get up. I don't get closer to those goals by staying in my bed.

I hear it all the time when people fail at their goals they do not understand what happened. There is no magic pill to achieving weight loss, muscle gain, or anything. No matter what it is you want to achieve you have to become disciplined. Discipline takes practice. Discipline takes failure to become better. We were not born walking we can't pick something up and be amazing.

What does this all matter? I say have your motivation and keep it close to your heart but cultivate your practice of discipline. That is what is going to help you become a goal-getter.

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for self-discipline

2) I am grateful for second chances

3) I am grateful that I am a goal-getter

4) I am grateful for motivation

5) I am grateful my goal getting is not dependent non my motivation

6) I am grateful I work hard to achieve my goals.

7) I am grateful for programs that help me reach my goals.

8) I am grateful for inspiration.

9) I am grateful for encouragement

10) I am grateful for the feeling of belonging.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I have learned to become disciplined in the way I eat.

2) I have learned to be disciplined in the way I exercise.

3) I have learned to be disciplined in how I track my food and exercise.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

What do you think is the difference between discipline and motivation? Do you rely on Motivation to help you get things done or discipline? How has that worked out?

Pennsylvania

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

After a long drive through West Virginia we ended up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania visiting a childhood friend of mine. My friend and I had lived a lot of life together. We went to the same church as teenagers. We attended summer camp, youth events, volunteered together, went on excursions with her grandpa, and even went to the same college for a minute. There is always that moment before arriving at a friend's home where I wonder will we be able to pick up where we left off? I did not have to worry. From walking in the door my friend greeted us like we'd always been there.

Our kids took a moment to adjust to each other. After all they had barely known anything about each other and they were being forced together because of their parent's friendship and not mutual interests. Walls started coming down and playing began.

Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

I am the type of person who gets excited for my friends when I see them being successful. I have a difficult time understanding people who get mad about it. How can you be friends with someone and not celebrate their victories and accomplishments? My friend and her husband have built an amazing home together. Their property is a little bit of heaven hidden among the urban. They both work super hard to make their dreams happen and I am proud and excited they shared their space with us.

I describe their home as an oasis on a crazy journey. She has beautiful foliage, the start of an amazing tree house, a trampoline, a slip and slide, and tons of land to play on. She has two wonderful dogs and five amazing children. We are so blessed she openly shared her home and family with ours. 

While we were there we laughed and played together. I was able to sleep and get caught up with a much needed nap. I managed some baby snuggles and played board games with the kids. Our trip to Pennsylvania wasn't about visiting historic markers or seeing the sites instead we enjoyed building relationships and seeing each others hearts.

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for Old Friends

2) I am grateful for Unsplash

3) I am grateful for sprinklers.

4) I am grateful for slip and slides.

5) I am grateful for secret paths.

6) I am grateful for private playgrounds

7) I am grateful for my friends dreams and goals.

8) I am grateful for hard work

9) I am grateful for friendships that pick back up where they left off.

10) I am grateful for the sound of excitement.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I have gone bungee jumping,

2) I have danced in the rain with my children.

3) I have rode many roller coasters.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

What is your favorite memory from visiting a friend?

When Plans Change

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We were all excited to go to Washington D.C.  I have never seen the capitol of the United States and was excited to check out the Smithsonian museums. My youngest really, really wanted to see a great panda at the zoo. My husband and I were looking forward to seeing some old friends from college who live rather close to the capitol. But we had one problem...

I made a mistake. I had thought Wednesday was July 16th when Tuesday was actually the 16th. In my mind I had thought we would be arriving at our friend's in Pennsylvania on Wednesday the 16th. She thought we would be there on Tuesday the 16th. We already had commitments for Tuesday in South Carolina.

Our original plan was to leave stupid early in the morning on Wednesday and drive to DC. Tour as much as we could see in a single day then head to Pennsylvania for the next two days so we could spend time with all of our friends. However, because I made a bad call we decided to cut out DC all together and head straight to Pennsylvania. 

Photo by Rebecca Hobbs on Unsplash

This was the right call to make. We were exhausted by the time we arrived. The next day I ended up taking a 6 hour nap. The long drives had taken it's toll on me and not just from my wallet. 

I love when things work out better than we imagined. While we still feel a bit disappointed because we missed out on the opportunity to see some dear friends we were able to become refreshed and really enjoy the mountains. 

Next time we head to DC we will definitely schedule more than one day. I feel like 6 little hours with everything that is there would not have been close to enough time. When plans change they do not have to ruin your trip or your day or your life. Learning to roll with change is one of the greatest assets anyone can possess.

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for a Malleable attitude

2) I am grateful for naps

3) I am grateful for understanding friends

4) I am grateful for less driving time

5) I am grateful for future plans

6) I am grateful for the road less travelled

7) I am grateful for understanding children.

8) I am grateful for a bed after a long day.

9) I am grateful for AC in my car

10) I am grateful for picnics on the road.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I kept my family calm even when we had to cancel part of our trip

2) I navigated the mountains and tunnels of West Virginia 3 times.

3) I drove 95% of the time we were on our trip.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

How do you handle change?

Myrtle Beach

The anticipation of splashing in the Ocean began to build as soon as we spotted the first palm tree. Everyone knew that palm trees meant we were getting closer. Up until that point there were still mountainous hills and pine trees but once Caedmon spotted his very first palm tree and the conversation transformed to when they would see the Ocean and what it would be like.

Sharks who swam right up to the coast to gobble up their toes. Jelly fish everywhere. Seashells as large as their heads. Their imaginations ran wild as the miles stretched on. 

We saw our first palm tree about 2 hours away from Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach signs pointed our way every 10-15 miles to make sure we hadn't tarried off of the path. Without warning big, bright billboards for PIRATES started showing up. Now the Ocean became the backdrop for pirate stories and illustrations. Everything had an eye patch and all sentences started with "ARGH."

 Myrtle Beach did not disappoint. We had to travel on a budget as I have said numerous times. This trip was especially tight but being only 3 hours away I wanted my kids to have this experience. We gased up in Rock Hill, South Carolina and tackled the 3 hour drive. 

Here are four great activities to do in Myrtle Beach that were completely free. 

1) The Ocean

I could go on and on about the ocean. The sand was pure white. IT was so white my daughter asked me if there was something wrong with it because she had never seen such bright sand. There are seashells EVERYWHERE. Not tiny sea shells either but seas shells the size of our hands. We were there about 1pm on a Monday and the beach was not crowded at all. The ocean alone was well worth the 3 hour drive.

Logistically we did end up paying for parking. We downloaded the app Go! Park. We only stayed Oceanside for about two hours and our total cost was $4.The weather was too hot and the sun burned too brightly for us to stay much longer without melting our pale northern skin. My husband sweat buckets and was the only one to burn at all.

2) Broadway at the Beach

When I was planning our trip every single list I looked at said to go to Broadway at the Beach. They claimed this was a must see from free lists to paid. Of course we had to check it out and we had a blast! We didn't spend a dime but we played in the splash park, took numerous pictures around the area with cut outs, enjoyed some amazingly chill air conditioning, splashed in fountains, and saw tons of fun oddities. 

We are planning a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach at some point and this is one stop the kids have said over and over again they want to visit but they want to save and be able to do all of the amazing activities like Ripley's Aquarium or the dozen or so rides scattered about the area. I fully agree with their assessment. We had a ton of fun without spending any money but I think with a couple hundred dollars this location would be even greater everything is together, parking is free, and you can see a ton, have great food, and buy some awesome souvenirs. 

3) Warbird Park

 My youngest son (9) loves all things cars and planes. He absolutely adored this place. He asked me to take at least 3 pictures with every plane and sculpture. The memorial was incredibly well done. Myrtle Beach has found a great way to memorialize their soldiers. 

The park location is easy to get to. Not only did we get to enjoy the large planes but they have crisp walking paths through a wooded areas. There are benches where we could relax and watch planes come and go at the airport. I think another great highlight was seeing the helicopter tour bird landing and taking off over and over again. My son could have stayed there for HOURS even in the heat. 

4) Savannah's Playground

Savannah's Playground was a ton of fun. This was a unique play area designed to be inclusive for all children of every ability. My kids favorite was the zipline. They raced back and forth a dozen times. I wish it had not been quite as hot or they had a splash pad to cool off at because I would have loved to stay there and play for a lot longer than we did. 

The location of the playground is beautiful but a little difficult to get to. The play area expands along the side of the river to 3 or 4 different structures. My one piece of advice is follow your GPS exactly. There is a point where you have to turn and go behind a building. When you make the turn it feels like you are about to park in someone's driveway but the playground is right there. We plan to make Savannah's playground part of our next Myrtle Beach trip!

We were only in Myrtle Beach for one day. My only regret is that we were not able to stay longer. Despite being on a tight budget we truly enjoyed the experience. I do think when we go back with a bit bigger of a budget we will make even more memories but this mini-side trip wet our appetites to experience more of Myrtle Beach.

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for Myrtle Beach.

2) I am grateful for my budget.

3) I am grateful for free events.

4) I am grateful for watching my kids have wonder.

5) I am grateful for grateful kids.

6) I am grateful for a patient husband.

7) I am grateful for cool breezes.

8) I am grateful for the smell of the ocean.

9) I am grateful for all of those who work in tourism.

10) I am grateful for parking apps.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I have collected shells from the ocean twice.

2) I have enjoyed the fun and energy of Myrtle Beach and walked out without buying anything.

3) I have planned a trip to the ocean for less than $50.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

Have you been to Myrtle Beach? What were your favorite destinations?

The Road

I love flipping through photos on Facebook and seeing all the places I've gone. My favorite photos are the ones along the journey. The destinations have been amazing but there often times we overlook the journey or are frustrated with how long it has been taking.

My goal for trips with my family is to always make the journey interesting. Road trips are technology free zones. Go ahead and gasp. I know many parents (and I've been there myself) who disparately grab  for a little piece and quiet by handing their kiddos a tablet or some other digital device. After all hours and hours on end are easier when kids are distracted.

I banned technology except for music played through the sound system and I think it made our trip all the better. Was there fighting? Absolutely. We definitely had moments where we got on each others nerves. The faces on my children when they saw the mountains for the first time in their memory was something I am glad I did not miss. I'm also glad they did not miss it. The laughter, as we drove through a tunnel and my 9 year old declared, "YES!" because he really really wanted to go under a mountain, echoed through the car. 

The stops along the road allowed us view the majesty of nature. We saw the new river gorge and our jaws dropped. We stopped at cute rest areas where we played tag and sat in swings. We had picnics along the road and explored welcome centers. We splashed in out of the way fountains and explored new stores. All of these memories were built on the road.

The conversations about life, goals, and yes video games went on for HOURS. The kids turned towards each other for comfort and cuddles. They spent many hours napping and getting much needed rest when a screen would have kept them awake unnaturally. 

When we listened to music everyone was allowed to pick a song. We danced and jammed and learned to appreciate "Breakfast Burrito" and "Pink Fluffy Unicorn Dancing on Rainbows." The kids heard Santana and sang out to "The Greatest Show." We were exposed to each others culture and person. 

The road has made us look differently at each other. We do not yell as much. The kids do not fight nearly as much. My oldest and my daughter have started mending a difficult and semi-broken relationship. They have both started doing random acts of kindness to each other and looking out for one another.  

For our family the road less traveled included abandoning most of our technology. We choose the difficult instead of the easy and as Robert Frost once said, "That has made all the difference."

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for Road Trips

2) I am grateful for Tech Free Zones

3) I am Grateful for "Pink Fluffy Unicorns"

4) I am grateful for car naps.

5) I am grateful for singing on the top of your lungs.

6) I am grateful for the look of awe.

7) I am grateful for clean rest areas.

8) I am grateful for fluffy clouds.

9) I am grateful for funny road signs.

10) I am grateful for conversations about video games.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I can sing every word to the Greatest Show Soundtrack

2) I have talked for 2 hours about Minecraft with my son.

3) I have survived 13 hours with my family in a vehicle.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

How do you handle technology on the road? 

I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Thank you and have a blessed day.

5 Awesome Things to do in Rock Hill, South Carolina

Recently my family went on an awesome road trip. Our road trip took us through, over, and under mountains, down amazing gorges, over rivers, by the ocean, past palm trees, and so many other fantastic places. One of our favorite places to be was Rock Hill, South Carolina. We are blessed to have amazing friends that we were able to stay with. 

Finding a smaller town off of the normal tourist route has some great advantages. There are many fun and cool things to do. Here are 5 of our favorite things to do in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

1) Glencairn Garden

While we were there the weather was toasty. This little oasis was well worth the sweat equity we put in venturing out into the humidity. Glencairn Garden securely grabs our top spot as the best place to visit in Rock Hill. One thing we noticed about South Carolina are that there are swings literally everywhere and Glencairn is no exception. The flowers were stunning, the water elements absolutely beautiful. The memorials and sculptures hit the mark. This park has well kept pathways for a nice run, picturesque views for stunning photo shoot and so much more.

2) Fountain Park

After all the warmth from wandering around the gardens we needed to find a way to cool down. Less than a five minute drive downtown we found this amazing gem, Fountain Park. The water show was spectacular. I wish I could have seen it fully lit up at night because someone put a large amount of time into choreographing an amazing water show. We cooled off in a big and unexpected way when the fountain sent a soaking volley of water in our direction. My kids were jaw dropped and stunned by the beauty and fun this park provided us with. No visit to Rock Hill would be complete without seeing Fountain Park.

3) Shopping

The weather felt like over 100 degrees almost every day we were there. One great thing about Rock Hill is they have tons of great shopping. We wandered through the mall and found our way to Ross where Chloe and I each purchased adorable outfits for a great price. We barely scratched the surface of places to go but for a small town girl we truly had a great time.

Photo by Mariliz López on Unsplash

4) Enjoy something Cool

One of our favorite things in Rock Hill was visit Sweet Frogs. I am a sucker for great frozen yogurt. Sweet Frogs had a family friendly environment and lots of great options. We were on a strict budget but our splurge at Sweet Frogs was the perfect treat for humid days.

5) Outside

Even though it was hot my family and I enjoyed quality time outside during our adventures in Rock Hill. We made sure to hydrate, dress appropriately for the weather, and put on sunscreen but we would have missed everything if we had simply stayed inside. Stay some place with a pool, find a shady park, have a bonfire, splash in a fountain, wander through the downtown shops, or go for an evening stroll. The great outdoors is marvelous in Rock Hill.

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for Glencairn Garden

2) I am grateful for breaks from humidity

3) I am grateful for ROSS stores.

4) I am grateful for cute dresses.

5) I am grateful for sunscreen

6) I am grateful for fountains

7) I am grateful for rain

8) I am grateful for gardens

9) I am grateful for beautiful flowers

10) I am grateful for campfires

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I have build a campfire

2) I have been splashed by the Fountain in Fountain Park

3) I have helped put out 100 bags of mulch

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

What small towns have you visited that have had made an impression? Do you prefer visiting small towns or large cities?