Photo Blogging Challenge – Eight

The March photo blogging challenge was “eight“.

It’s celebrating the 8th anniversary of the photo blogging challenge.

8 birds

There’s a restaurant called “Old Mill” that has birds in the pond. I lucked into a photo with 8 birds in it.

8 sides

My 3 year old daughter loves her magna tiles. She made this and I proudly took a photo.

3 children watch 5 chickens

I love this photo from the Franklin Park Zoo. I get 8 from the 3 children watching 5 chickens. My daughter is the one farthest from the camera.

8 cupcakes with light green jelly beans

My sister in law baked cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day

Found 8

This photo is my favorite that I got for this challenge and it’s actually the first one I took in March. My daughter and I were walking in Quincy and I spotted the rock.

Photo Blogging Challenge – Change and Hope

The January photo blogging challenge was change and hope

There’s a saying in MA, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute”. The weather is changing constantly.

Here are some pretty photos of cloudy sky outside my balcony window

And of course, an expected weather change in MA in January – snow

In clear but cold weather, I took my daughter for a walk to the city common. We happened to see a couple and their family walking to City Hall to be married – boy did that fill me with hope!

You know what else gives me hope? Quincy has a free COVID-19 testing & vaccination site!

In January, I was tested for COVID-19 and thankfully it was negative. (My toddler daughter just shared a bug with me.)

This was the testing site

I hope that those participating in this challenge had a restful and healthy January. Happy new year and on to 2021!

Photo Blogging Challenge – Thankful

The November photo blogging challenge was “Thankful“

This was actually a month of photo taking that I had too many to choose from!

Despite the pandemic, I’m thankful that we’re still able to safely enjoy outdoor activities with our toddler

This was written as we left the Blue Hills Trailside Museum

Playground in Quincy

Looking at an emu at a zoo in North Attleboro

Every once in a while I remember to get myself in the photo, so here’s a selfie I enjoy

I’m also very thankful for our family!

This photo was taken on Thanksgiving

Uncle David waves at Elise

Here’s a bonus because I still can’t believe I caught it without trying. I was at an online fundraiser for The Samfund that had Tig Notaro as a speaker. Look what I caught when I excitedly taking a photo of Tig! (My name on the thank you donors scroll)

This monthly photo blogging challenge is facilitated by PJ of the Northeast Bloggers Network.

Photo Blogging Challenge – The Great Outdoors

The October photo blogging challenge was “The Great Outdoors“

I had a fun time with this one!

My toddler loves walking on trails with me and her Dad! Little adventureer

Walking in Quincy

Speaking of Quincy, the city we live in, that’s my normal “great outdoors”

When my husband and I dropped off our ballots at City Hall, we were treated to a rainbow in the fountain

The rest of these are from weekend trips to Cape Cod

Cranberries about to be harvested

Sunset over the water

Walking on a beach at low tide shows tidal pools

Looking forward to seeing everyone else’s photos!

Take a walk – Tower Hill Botanical Garden and Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail

I had a great weekend! Got in adventure and at least a 2.5 mile walk on Saturday and Sunday.

Tower Hill Botanical Garden was beautiful. The flowers were awesome and their mythical creatures exibit was adorable.

Treefolk

Looking at the kraken

Bigfoot

The Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boylston, MA are definitely worth the visit and I am surprised that it took me so long to realize they’re there.

Sunday, we went down to Cape Cod to visit family.

Then we saw the ocean

Also, just because this made me laugh, enjoy this movie theater sign

Thanks for virtually joining me on my scenic routes!

Quincy Chalk for Justice

On July 3rd there was a beautiful event called “Chalk for Justice” in support of Black Lives Matter.

I was proud to attend with my husband and daughter!

Here are some of our photos

My daughter and husband are on the left

Black Lives Matter

That’s my daughter on the drawing she worked on with Dad “Equity Justice”

Quincy 4 Justice

End racism now

No Justice No Peace

Listen to students of color (2 Instagram accounts have been sharing student of color experiences at Quincy high schools)

Say their names

The city barricaded the statutes on city hall plaza – I don’t understand the fear of kids and chalk

This photo is of my friend K – wearing the backpack

I’m happy we could participate but it’s disappointing that the city decided to have 50 cops present for a hundred people, mostly kids, drawing with chalk!

Here’s a Patriot Ledger article on the event: ‘Chalk for Justice’: Quincy groups protest racism through sidewalk art

Black Lives Matter Quincy

Like most of the USA, my city of Quincy, MA is disheartened by the repeated news of black people being killed at the hands of police. Different names – same senseless deaths!

On Tuesday night, some of my friends in Quincy Neighbors Mutual Aid & March Forward Quincy planned what they thought would be a small vigil with maybe 25 attending.

4,000+ of us showed up – nearly all wearing masks

The vigil and march stayed peaceful.

My husband, daughter, & I were amongst the attendees. I was pleased to see many other families there as well.

Here are some photos I took of the vigil and march

Sign saying “Black Lives Matter in Quincy too”

Large crowd beginning to gather

Black Lives Matter in front of the statue of John Adams

Businesses feared violence and boarded up (didn’t happen)

My husband holding our daughter

Taking a knee to honor George Floyd

Koch is the Mayor of Quincy and that’s sadly a direct quote on the sign – specifically said about the vigil/march the sign was being held in!

Silence is compliance

Stop the Stigma 5K

One mile of my 5k walk (before my phone ran out of battery – oops)

May is mental health awareness month.

I am a firm believer in the “mental health is health” movement.

I am also a proud Major Depression survivor.

That doesn’t just happen and therapy and medication are what helped me. Whatever helps you – get help! Don’t suffer in silence.

Stop the Stigma 5k benefits Interfaith Social Services and their mental health counseling. This is the first time the event had to go virtual – due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I raised $350 and if you would like to donate, visit interfaithsocialservices.org

I walked on Monday of Memorial Day at Abigail Adams Park in Weymouth. My husband and daughter joined me for some of the walk.

The walk was scenic but a bit surreal due to being in a pandemic still!

Unseasonably cold in May

Coronavirus safety sign

Wait for me Mom!!!

Flowers and water view

I’m glad I am back being active and it’s great to have my daughter involved. (She turns 2.5 this month! I feel like I blinked and time jumped.)

In my work life, I got a new nonprofit fundraising job a week before MA issued their stay at home advisory in March. Working from home (part time) with my daughter home too requires a lot of scheduling around her sleep – but our family of 3 is getting through fine. We’re grateful.

Boston Travel Show 2020

I had a wonderful time attending the Boston Travel & Adventure Show on Saturday.

I was originally planning to bring my daughter but I left at her nap time and I didn’t want to wake her so she stayed home with Dad. I’d forgotten how fun it is to attend events like this solo and be able to talk without having to always have eyes on your toddler!

Thank you Visit Miami for having a photo station. (I’m pretty bad at taking selfies and I missed my husband being around to snap a photo for me.)

Here are some photos from the show floor:

I was excited to learn more about 2 local food tours, Bites of Boston and Rhode Island RED

I think I’m going to plan a date night with my husband to try them both out.

I’m lucky that I live so close to RI. It’s a very short drive and I’ve done many trips to Providence for just a few hours to attend The Lady Project events.

My favorite booth to visit was Wanderful and they hosted the blogger panel I attended later in the day. They’re a company dedicated to women’s travel and I’m very intrigued.

I also spent some time at the Global Beats Stage watching Bharata Natyam performed by Natyamani School of Dance.

The panel I attended in the afternoon was “So You Want to Start A Travel Blog?
A Conversation with Boston’s Top Travel Influencers”

Moderator: Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful
Panelists: Brianne Miers, A Traveling Life
Lillie Marshall, Around The World L and Teaching Traveling
SanTara Cassamajor, The Gorgeous Ingredient

I’m pretty lucky that MA has such a wonderful blogging community – that I’m already friends with Lillie Marshall and Brianne Miers. (Small world, Brianne and I both have backgrounds in the nonprofit space.)

I’m so happy I was in the audience for this panel both to cheer for my friends and learn.

It made me feel better to realize they made the same “rookie mistakes” I’ve made. They don’t have social media all in the same name. Nor do I, my twitter handle is what my AOL IM username used to be. That’s dating myself – huh?

My blog name is also a bit too limiting now that I blog about more than fitness, but I don’t think I’m going to change it since I have my instagram in the matching name.

My next travel adventure will be to Seattle, WA in February for a wedding. Too long of a plane flight for my daughter so it will be an exciting husband and wife get away.

Are you planning any travel?

Have you been to the Travel & Adventure Show when it’s come to your area? I recommend stopping by!

 

Disclaimer: I received free admission to Travel & Adventure Show – all options are my own

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Looking Forward to Boston Travel + Adventure Show

I’m very much looking forward to to the Boston Travel & Adventure Show this weekend (January 11th and 12th).

Last year I had a great time and I have a feeling that my daughter is going to enjoy it even more now that she’s two and can engage more.

New for 2020 is the Taste of Travel Stage

Feed your senses at the NEW Taste of Travel Stage, where you’ll experience travel like never before. Join chefs from around the world as they prepare cuisines from destinations represented at the show, live from the show floor. The best part? Each visitor will receive a sample from the culinary demonstration, free with your ticket to the show!

 

I also hope to catch some performances on the Global Beats Stage.

I also just found out 2 of my favorite bloggers will be speaking on the 11th so I’m definitely going to that panel.

Savvy Travel Theater

So You Want to Start A Travel Blog?
A Conversation with Boston’s Top Travel Influencers

Moderator: Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful

Panelists: Brianne Miers, A Traveling Life
Lillie Marshall, AroundTheWorldl.com and TeachingTraveling.com

Have I gotten you excited yet? I have a discount code to share! STAYFIT2020 – good for $10 tix ($5 discount)

Let me know if you plan to attend and maybe we can coordinate our visit.