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Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that your week is going well! Thank you so much for all of the love and sweet messages about my post from yesterday - and on the reel regarding my year of firsts. If you want to read the story behind this journey you can find it HERE!
I want to say that I could write an entire book on how this was truly life-changing for me. Some days I knew what I had planned to do as a "new thing" as it took pre-planning and other days I woke up excited to figure out something new as I needed something. As you read through this list- I want to point out a couple of things:
1. You will quickly see that I have only shared 195 things out of the 365 days. While I do share some very personal things below- there were other items that either involved other people or would affect other people that I chose not to share. There were also some very personal and sacred moments that I did not believe needed to be shared with the world. I do appreciate your understanding and am confident that these 195 things can inspire you in your journey.
2. You will notice that some things did require some cost, and other things- many things on this list were free. It cost nothing to walk 3 miles backwards instead of forwards or take a free online technology course or strike up a conversation with the 89- year old man that beat me up a huge hill (without being out of breath- haha) but each of them- changed my life or inspired me to see the world differently.
3. One thing I learned quickly was that sometimes the "new things you had planned" will be interrupted by life. That occurred for me through a very painful ghosting situation and was the way the year ended as my mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. What I learned though from doing something new everyday was to embrace the things that weren't the choices I would have originally made and grab onto hope in these situations. So for example, my mom joined in and we started saying we would make a point to talk to someone in the Breast Cancer center we didn't know, sit in a different chair, park in a different parking lot, etc. Choosing to find joy and hope in the midst of difficult and crushing life experiences thrown at you- truly is inspiring in itself as it reminds us of choosing life.
This past year I didn't share as much but throughout the coming year I plan to share much more and again, would welcome any suggestions!!
There are some things that I blogged about- and those are highlighted with links - if you click on them below you will be able to read more about them!
Spiritual and Inspirational (35)
2. Made reading the Bible my first thing I did in the morning
3. Stopped saying I would pray for someone and just asked right on the spot if I could pray for them.
4. Met and spent time with Rebecca McLaughlin - holding lots of conversations on Jesus
5. Listened to a new sermon or podcast each day I walked.
6. Visited a School that Changed My life
8. Started an annual tradition of seeing the boys choir in Montreal at Christmastime
9-21 Read one inspirational autobiography each month of the year
22-34. Reached out to heroes that had influenced my life- sent one thank you note a month
35. Took a different road home- which inspired exploring new places in my own hometown
Travel (22)
8. Adventured with mom in Peruges, France
9. Flew overseas by myself
13. Learned the French Train System.
14. Learned the French Bus System
15. Travelled to the Normandy Countryside
18. Visited the Garment District in NYC
19. Traveled to Canada for a hair salon
20. Discovered it was much cheaper to travel out of montreal
21. Walked DC Memorials at Night
Professional Career and Caravan Sonnet (25)
2. Collaborated with Marseille Tourism Board
4. Signed up for a press collaboration with American Cruise Line
5. Became a college adjunct online professor
6. Started the Map Letter Club
7. Caravan Sonnet turned 12 years old
8. Caravan Sonnet reached more than 6 million readers
9. Travelled to South Carolina for a Work Conference
10. Started TikTok- but made year 2 the year to really develop this
11 - 25. Collaborated with new and unique and individual brands.
Personal (17)
1. Received the first F112 Wedding Invitation
3. Saw life bloom in a place that once felt dead
5. Left Lyon a different woman
6. Decided to take a risk and start a conversation
8. Attended a wedding and was the recipient of a beautiful surprise.
9. Developed a relationship and friendship that became very dear to my heart over several months
10. Fell in love
13. Journaled through thousands of vintage book pages
14. Encouraged my mom to write a children's book
17. Rehomed a kitten to a woman who was grieving
TPT (10)
1. Attended my first TPT event
2. Applied to speak at the TPT Forward Conference 2026
4. Scheduled a meeting with a TPT seller who was an expert and it changed the course of everything (thank you Whitney!!)
5. Created a new logo
6. Solidified my brand
7. Started the process of creating a preview for every single listing (all 263)
8. Started attending all TPT webinars available (and watched previous ones)
9. Created new listings
10. Spent hours each day before and after work to work towards specific goals.
Education (15)
2. Received notification (in Viviers, France) of Graduate School Honors
4. Applied for several new graduate programs
5-10. Took Several new graduate courses
11. Continued my Dutch lessons
12. Continued my French lessons
13. Read a college textbook on Dairy Farming in the United States
14. Started up sign language classes again
15. Learned to Play Chess Online
Physical, Health, Cooking (30)
1. Started Physical Therapy
5. Tried jalapeno peppers in an omellte and discovered I loved it
6. Learned to freeze vegetables for the winter.
7. Woke up every morning during the summer to swim in the summer sunrise
8. Was cleared to start walking long distances again after months of healing
9. Spoke with a 89- year old stranger as he beat me up a long hill and was inspired to never stop
10. Started weight lifting
11-25. Tried numerous new recipes for all different meals.
26. Walked 3 miles backwards one morning
27. Tried a day without makeup
28. Spoke with multiple health practitioners about the supplements that I am taking (weeded out some from before and introduced new ones)
29. Learned to say the alphabet backwards
Hobbies and Technology (25)
1. Remembered my love of photography in Viviers, France
2. Started dance again
3. Started creating junk journals for personal use- not just for the Etsy shop
4. Created a Scrapbook of our Rhone River Cruise
6. Learned how to use Edits for Reels on Instagram
7-25. Took 18 different AI, Technology, coding courses online.
Camp (8)
1. Witnessed the tree farm my dad and I planted grow taller than me just like he said it would when I was bedridden.
2. Spent time alone on the shore
3. Cleaned out some of my grandmother's camp (from our move from TN)
4. Set up our tiny back porch - and enjoyed so much time out there
5. Connected with new friends through walking and hiking
6. Learned to use a water pressure machine
7. Prepped the little boat
8. Welcomed numerous visitors and guests
Physical Posessions- Car, House, Camp, Etc. (8)
1. Watched HP turn 100,000 miles
3. Watched our neighbors house burn to the ground on Thanksgiving Day... and experience a miracle of protection over our house and car and belongings.
4. Found a trustworthy repair man that turned out to be an incredible blessing
5. Changed Car Insurance to save money
6. Signed up for a monthly car wash- to help in the winter to save the car from rust due to salt and sand
7. Hired someone to take care of our lawn so I did not have to mow
8. Hired someone to take care of the snow in the driveway so that I did not have to worry about shoveling (turned out to be the BEST decision for the coldest winter in a long time in the north country)
I hope that this has inspired you to start your own lists! Please share with me ideas as I in the midst of year 2 and always looking for ideas!
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Happy Monday friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Last night on IG I shared an update on dooing something new everyday! Before you read anymore here, I would be honored if you would please head on over to watch, comment, and like the less than 45 second reel by clicking HERE!
I understand that in the world we live in and the constant reels and pictures it may not seem like a lot, but to me this means so much more than you realize. Every view, like, comment, and share on a reel truly matters more than most people realize. Instagram quietly uses those small signals to decide whether a post should be shown to more people. When you watch, tap the heart, or leave a thoughtful comment, you’re helping the story reach someone else who might need to hear it too. For a small content creator like me, those simple moments of encouragement from this community make a real difference and help Caravan Sonnet continue to grow in the Instagram space. So please take just a quick moment to click HERE to do this! .
Thank you.
I am excited to share more in depth about the past year here on the blog in the future but this reel shares an overview of somethings that truly changed and shaped my life this year.
Happy Monday - I hope you have an amazing start to this new week!
Happy Friday friends! Last night on IG I shared a fun little reel...Before you read anymore here, I would be honored if you would please head on over to watch, comment, and like the less than 20 second reel by clicking HERE!
I understand that in the world we live in and the constant reels and pictures it may not seem like a lot, but to me this means so much more than you realize. Every view, like, comment, and share on a reel truly matters more than most people realize. Instagram quietly uses those small signals to decide whether a post should be shown to more people. When you watch, tap the heart, or leave a thoughtful comment, you’re helping the story reach someone else who might need to hear it too. For a small content creator like me, those simple moments of encouragement from this community make a real difference and help Caravan Sonnet continue to grow in the Instagram space. So please take just a quick moment to click HERE to do this! .
Thank you.
Happy Friday!
Happy Friday friends!! I hope that you have had a lovely week! I am so grateful to spend time with each of you in this sweet space each day. I love catching up together for these "friday favorites" posts! I hope that you enjoy these items!
First- if we are connected on Instagram thank you thank you thank you for the love and support this week - especially for your prayers as we spent Tuesday in the Emergency Room with mom. I shared yesterday on stories the scary experience that we had, and I just want to say thank you for your love and support during this very difficult season.
On a related instagram ntote- If you have not seen the reels from this week, you can find them HERE and if we are not connected on Instagram please stop over and say "hello" I would love to connect there!
Thank you for all of your support, love, likes, and comments and just viewing and watching my reels. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it truly is - so thank you!
Second, here are some of the favorite posts from the last week:
Monday TPT/ Teachers Pay Teachers / Education Posts
Tuesday Travel Posts
.jpg "January, February, March Book, TV and Movie Review")
Thursday Health Thought Post
I hope that you have a wonderful Friday and weekend friends! Thank you for making this such an incredible space to come to and connect with every single day. I am so blessed!! I will see you here tomorrow!
Happy Thursday friends! I originally wrote this post back in 2013, when during my health journey I was going to the Emergency Room frequently. It has been a long time since those days- thankfully- and trips to the ER are infrequent. But this week, if you were following along on instagram, you probably saw that my sweet mama needed to go to the ER and it reminded me of this post that I knew I wanted to update. So please read this updated post and let me know if you have any questions on how to have a smoother emergency room visit.
As I mentioned to y'all in 2013 when I shared about creating an emergency room bag , I wanted to suggest a couple of things that can help you have a smoother emergency room visit. These tips are in no particular order but I hope that they will bring you some help for those unexpected and unwanted trips.
(1) When you arrive at the ER make sure to clearly and specifically state what the symptoms are that you are dealing with. If you can't breathe- make sure that you state that immediately.
(2) If you don't feel that you are being listened to by the check-in nurse and if you feel that you need more attention then ask for the charge nurse. If you still do not have the attention that you feel that the situation needs feel free to ask for the head of the ER nurse or a patient advocate.
(3) Don't shout at anyone- be calm but be persistent in a respectful way. This can be extremely hard if you are in the midst of an emergency, but try to remain as calm as possible. I know that this sounds impossible.
(4) Remember the reality that ER visits are meant to be for serious issues and life-threatening emergencies. If you don't fit into either category you probably will not be seen for several hours.
(5) Before taking a medicine double check that they are aware of your allergies. It is not uncommon to see several different nurses or doctors in one visit. Some information- especially important information- can sometimes be lost in translation.
(6)If you notice that someone is not washing their hands when they come into your room gently remind them to do so. (You don't want to go into the ER with a broken arm and come out with the flu.)
(7) Ask questions.
(8) Don't be afraid to speak up for your needs. Waiting is appropriate but if your loved one is very sick and you need attention don't be afraid to ask for a nurse to come help.
(9) If you are going to drive yourself (or have someone drive you) and you are not going to come by ambulance consider calling your doctor to alert the ER that you are coming (if it is a serious situation).
(10)If you can try to go early. One statistic stated that most ER's are busiest at 7pm.
(11) Make sure to ask if you can go to the bathroom or eat something. Certain tests are compromised by eating.
(12) If you are not comfortable with your doctor request a specialist or a more senior ER doctor. You have the right to do so and if it is necessary use this right!
And finally...
(1) When you arrive at the ER make sure to clearly and specifically state what the symptoms are that you are dealing with. If you can't breathe- make sure that you state that immediately.
(2) If you don't feel that you are being listened to by the check-in nurse and if you feel that you need more attention then ask for the charge nurse. If you still do not have the attention that you feel that the situation needs feel free to ask for the head of the ER nurse or a patient advocate.
(3) Don't shout at anyone- be calm but be persistent in a respectful way. This can be extremely hard if you are in the midst of an emergency, but try to remain as calm as possible. I know that this sounds impossible.
(4) Remember the reality that ER visits are meant to be for serious issues and life-threatening emergencies. If you don't fit into either category you probably will not be seen for several hours.
(5) Before taking a medicine double check that they are aware of your allergies. It is not uncommon to see several different nurses or doctors in one visit. Some information- especially important information- can sometimes be lost in translation.
(6)If you notice that someone is not washing their hands when they come into your room gently remind them to do so. (You don't want to go into the ER with a broken arm and come out with the flu.)
(7) Ask questions.
(8) Don't be afraid to speak up for your needs. Waiting is appropriate but if your loved one is very sick and you need attention don't be afraid to ask for a nurse to come help.
(9) If you are going to drive yourself (or have someone drive you) and you are not going to come by ambulance consider calling your doctor to alert the ER that you are coming (if it is a serious situation).
(10)If you can try to go early. One statistic stated that most ER's are busiest at 7pm.
(11) Make sure to ask if you can go to the bathroom or eat something. Certain tests are compromised by eating.
(12) If you are not comfortable with your doctor request a specialist or a more senior ER doctor. You have the right to do so and if it is necessary use this right!
And finally...
(13) "The American College of Emergency Physicians says that sometimes a patient will come in with mild symptoms, and while they are waiting, their medical condition worsens. It's very important for emergency patients in waiting rooms to notify the triage nurse if they are in pain or if they start to feel worse. If they are still concerned, they should ask to speak to an emergency physician or a patient advocate. People should not leave the emergency department without being seen."
Looking for other health tips? Check out all of the Thursday Health Thoughts from the last 13 years HERE!
I hope that these tips are helpful! What are some of your best tips for having a smooth emergency room visit?
Happy Wednesday friends! It is hard to believe that we already at the end of March and we are now looking to April! This year seems to be going so quickly and I often find that I want to just grab onto the days and moments and hold them still!
Today I am so excited to share my book, movie, and TV review with y'all for the last few months! Before I start though- if you have any suggestions for me for April please let me know! I am constantly looking for new ideas so please pass on your suggestions!
Books
So my books for this month were varied and just due to the complexities of these last few months with a lot of caregiving and prep for my college courses I didn't read as much as I typically do - unless you count college textbooks haha... so here we go!
{one} To Fly Again
As we were unpacking some boxes from our move, I came across several books in a box that were in my pile "to someday read". I decided that I was going to actually sit down and read them and this was one of them. Y'all... I found it in January and it took me three months to get through because it was incredible. I actually ended up going slowly through it and using it as a devotional in the mornings because it was that beautiful and inspirational. If you are looking for encouragement during a difficult season of life and are wanting to hear from someone who has been there, I can't recommend this book enough! It is amazing. It is inspirational. And it is tenderly encouraging. You can purchase it HERE.
I am embarrassed to admit that I had started this book years ago and never finished it. I am not sure why, but the story didn't really interest me back in the day, something I am truly embarrassed to admit. After reading "To Fly Again" though I knew I wanted to read this book, and y'all it is amazing. If you haven't read it, you will be challenged by the heroism of so many people and the faith of Gracia Burnham. It is raw and real and it is incredible. I sometimes think that different stories hit you differently at different times in your life. This was one that I am so thankful that I choose to read again because my first attempt was not the right timing in my life but now ... it was so inspirational. You can find it HERE.
{three} Wintering
This book I purchased back in July many years ago and saved it for the winter season. Y'all... unfortunately it wasn't my favorite. *sigh* I hate ever giving a bad review to an author-especially with a book that I feel has an incredible premise and the concept of rest and retreat in our busy world, but I started it in January and then again in February and then in March again. And after forcing myself to read through it this past month...it just wasn't a favorite. I love the idea- I appreciated Katherine's story and could relate to a lot of it for different reasons... and there were some concepts that were good, but I honestly was bored as I read it and found a lot of the ideas and writing to simplistic, and a little out of touch. *sigh* I always want to be honest here, and want to love the book (I mean I am a huge proponent of rest and retreat and this is one of my favorite topics, especially since being sick, but I just can't recommend it. For the record- I am definitely in the minority here- it has a 4.4 star review on Amazon with thousands of reviews, so if you purchase it I would be so curious to hear what you think! (You can find it HERE!) Any thoughts?
Movies & TV
I am going to be honest and say that it has been some busy months but with a lot of recovery time for mom we have watched a bit more TV then usual...
Category: Inspirational
This show. I still don't have adequate words since watching it completely in a week in August 2024. It is soul inspiring in so many different ways and simply amazing. If you haven't watched it... do so now. I have been showing clips for one of my college courses I teach and students have been gripped as well. You will not regret spending these 8 hours of your life being inspired, learning about amazing people who were sacrificing so much to help others, and be encouraged that anyone- can make a difference.
I watched this movie back in 2019 and I am going to say that I truly believe that my original review was biased on a friends thoughts prior to me watching the movie. As a bit of background I should say that I have always wanted to foster/adopt and before I got sick was starting the process to become a foster parent. I think the route to foster care is different for every family - so I think that realistically that was portrayed really well - especially in the group meetings. I laughed a lot because I think that I met "each of these people" in my beginning classes. It is hilarious in general but if you have been through the process you will find it even more funny. I also really loved that they showed the "not so fun side" of things when talking about fostering and the challenges that are unique in doing this...
And I loved it this time y'all... if you are looking at becoming a foster parent as y'all know that I am and are heading in that direction... this true story was incredible. If you are like me and the first time was maybe influenced by someone else's thoughts then I can't encourage you enough to try it again. You can find it HERE!
3. Blue Skies
Y'all there is no word for this show except for adorable and cute and very family friendly. This show has a bit of mystery with it, an adorable dog, and just a sweet cast and it makes for such an enjoyable watch each week. In a world that feels very chaotic and angry this beautiful show with incredibly gorgeous scenery will draw you in and just provide some family friendly entertainment. It is lovely. You can find it HERE!
4. White Collar
I mentioned this in a post in 2022 (you can read more HERE) but it took us almost a year to finish the entire series and ... y'all it was such a great show. It had a mystery to it, it was hilarious, it was so well done and we decided to watch through the series again the last couple of months.
I know. I know. Yes. This came out in 2009. Yes there are some of you are laughing because you are assuming that I just like the show because of the sexy lead man. BUT y'all seriously. This is SO good. A couple of years ago Jacob kept telling me that I needed to watch this. I politely was like, "okay" and ignored it (sorry Jacob *hahaha*). But in 2022 we were looking for something new to watch and this popped up. I thought- wait didn't I hear about this, asked Jacob and then started watching and it is SO.GOOD. Why did I wait so long? I have no idea. Haha. I messaged a lot of "WAIT. Is this person bad?" haha. So if you haven't watched it yes it has a very cute man in it but it is also very very good! *smiles* You can find it on Amazon Prime HERE. Let me know what you think!
5. Amazing Race
I know. I know. Some of you are laughing because we all know how much I love this show. There is not currently a new season, but I love seeing different parts of the world...and mom and I have had to cancel several trips recently so we have enjoyed watching some old seasons we never saw. It is great and if you missed an entire season like I did, you can find a lot of them on Amazon Prime HERE for free.
If you are curious about 8 of my favorite inspirational and binge-worthy shows you can find a post all about them HERE!
If you are curious about other review lists I have done in the past you can find those posts below:
2026 Book, Movie, and TV Reviews
2022 Book, Movie, and TV Reviews
2020 Book, Movie, and TV Reviews
2019 Book, Movie, and TV Reviews
Thank you so much for reading today! What about you- what have you been watching and reading that you would recommend for me for April?
Motorcycling offers a sense of freedom and efficiency that other modes of transport can seldom
match. However, with that exhilaration comes a unique set of vulnerabilities. On British roads,
motorcyclists remain one of the most at-risk groups, often due to their smaller profile in traffic.
This article provides practical guidance to help riders stay safe, covering everything from
protective gear to defensive techniques designed to reduce accidents and improve hazard
awareness.
Conducting Pre-Ride Safety Checks
Safety begins before you even swing a leg over the saddle. A quick "BOLT" check (Brakes, Oil, Lights, Tyres) can prevent mechanical failure mid-journey. Ensure your tyre pressures are
correct for the conditions and check for adequate tread depth: the legal minimum is 1.0mm for
motorcycles over 50cc, though 2.0mm is recommended for better grip in the wet. A seized chain or a blown indicator bulb is more than an inconvenience - it's a significant safety risk.
Choosing the Right Protective Gear
In the event of a spill, your gear is the only thing between you and the tarmac. While a helmet is
a legal requirement (ensure it carries the ECE 22.06 or British Standard Kitemark), the rest of
your kit is just as vital.
Look for CE-approved armour in jackets and trousers. Quality leather or high-end textiles
provide essential abrasion resistance, while sturdy boots and gloves protect the delicate bones in
your extremities.
Staying Visible and Alert
The most common cause of motorcycle accidents in the UK is the "SMIDSY" (Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You) phenomenon at junctions. To combat this, maximise your visibility. Fluorescent
or reflective vests are highly effective, particularly during the grey hours of dawn and dusk.
Position yourself on the road where you are most likely to be seen by oncoming traffic and avoid
staying in the blind spots of HGVs and buses.
Defensive Riding Techniques
Defensive riding is the art of anticipating others; mistakes. According to guidance from
organisations such as RoSPA, riders should always leave a "safety bubble" around their bikes.
Treat every side road as a potential hazard and watch the front wheels of stationary cars for signs
of movement. By maintaining a two-second gap in dry conditions (and doubling it in the wet),
you give yourself the crucial time needed to react to sudden braking.
Knowing Your Rights and Support Options After an Accident
Despite every precaution, accidents can still happen due to the negligence of other road users. If
you are involved in an incident that wasn't your fault, it's important to understand the avenues
available for recovery and rehabilitation.
Seeking professional advice on motorcycle accident claims can help you secure the support
needed for bike repairs, medical expenses, and loss of earnings.
Handling Different Weather and Road Conditions
British weather is notoriously unpredictable. Rain not only reduces visibility but also
significantly decreases tyre traction and increases braking distances. Be particularly wary of
diesel spills at roundabouts and oily patches that rise to the surface during the first rain after a
dry spell.
When facing high winds or surface water, keep your inputs smooth: jerky throttle or brake
movements are more likely to cause a loss of control.
*contributed post*
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