Lifestyle – Page 4 – For The Love Of She

Because Mom

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, your life is one gigantic moment. You literally are in constant motion. Do not fret though, today I am sharing some great last minute gift ideas that are sure to put a smile on every moms face and touch every moms heart!

I’m going to start with my favorite gift that I have come across this Mom’s Day season and I think the reason I like it the most is because it is the most sincere gift of all. One of the retailers I follow is: https://walkinlove.com/ . They actually posted a challenge on their blog, called the “#oneminutemomchallenge”. The purpose of the challenge is for you to record a one minute video to your mom and send it to her and then challenge others to do so as well. We all get so busy in our day to day lives that we lose sight of actually communicating with each other, so I love this idea! The video can be uploaded and saved by moms and replayed nonstop! I can only imagine the amount of tears of joy this challenge will be bringing this Mom’s Day! You can find the challenge through the website: https://walkinlove.com/ , or you can download the walk in love app from the app store on your smart phone, or you can find it on youtube at the link below.

The next best thing to your sweetness, is actual sweet stuff! That’s right, cookies! Mom is always cooking for everyone and never has time to make something sweet just for her. What better way to make her smile, then to send her something sweet! There are some great promotions going on right now at Cookies by Design and they do same day delivery! You can find everything sweet they have to offer on their website:

https://www.cookiesbydesign.com/

Every mom wants to be spoiled at least one day a year and what better way to spoil them then with jewelry?! It’s such a timeless gift that they can wear everyday or just when they want to think of you! One of my favorite places to get and give jewelry from is Kendra Scott. They are still offering shipping by Mom’s day if you order by today! They are also offering a few specials on their site today and have a variety of gift giving options such as this earrings and necklace set picture below! The link for their website is:

http://www.kendrascott.com

Last, but certainly not least, for those of you that have completely run out of time and options, there is the good old fashioned gift cards! I myself, as a Mom, can attest that I LOVE receiving them! There are literally so many options you can choose from nowadays that you practically can’t go wrong with this choice! From your mom’s favorite Boutique, to Spa gifts cards, Visa cards, Starbucks, Craft stores, I mean you name it and there is a gift card for it somewhere!

I hope this helps some of you out with your last minute ideas and took a little stress out of your life, even if for a moment! I would love to hear about some of your mom’s day gifts, so feel free to leave comments! As always much love and wishing all my mom’s a happy and blessed mom’s day! xoxo – SheShe

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018

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The Dreamers

As a little girl, I always had a love for fashion. I would sneak into my moms closet and play dress up in her clothes as often as I could, because I loved her “fancy” dresses and heels! Then, as a teenager, my sister and I would frequent the many shops up and down Montrose and Westheimer looking for the most unusual items we could find to wear to make a fashion statement. After getting married, having my beautiful children and a career, my love for fashion has never faded. When my daughter reached High School, we opened an online boutique and we had sooo much fun with it! However, she went off to college, as they do and it was too much for me to manage on my own at the time, so sadly, I had to close it. Wanting to still be involved and constantly being asked where I shopped or for fashion advice, I decided to start doing a OOTD Post through my social media sites. This was very enjoyable, as I got to play dress up everyday again and share it! Still wanting more out of my platform, such as being able to share inspiration, charities and health concerns, I set goals to expand to a blog.

In January of 2018, I achieved that goal, and “For the Love of She” was born. Through my various media platforms I have been able to share many Heart shares, as well as my true love, that of fashion. I have had many highs and lows throughout my journey and it’s far from over, but I have never given up on my dreams. I’ve been given so many great opportunities and met so many other amazing and inspirational people through this journey that have sustained my purpose!

The most recent opportunity being, to be a Brand Ambassador for an awesome locally owned business, LHTX Brand! I’m honored and excited to begin this journey with them and look forward to this adventure! They are based right here in the great state of Texas and believe in making their products here. Their line is both motivational and empowering, two of my favorite characteristics! I am a huge fan of theirs and their story, which can be found on the website:

https://www.lhtx.us

The moral of this blog is to never lose that childhood enthusiasm, those dreams you made a promise to go after, go get them!

“ To the dreamers, wide-eyed believers, hanging on to hope by a thread. To the soulful, heart open, hopeful keep on charging ahead!” To all of the little girls playing dress up in their moms closets, to the little boys playing races on their bicycles, never stop dreaming!

DREAM BIG! Xoxo-SheShe

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018

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Admin Professionals Day: In Appreciation

My dad had many famous sayings growing up, but one that always stuck with me was, “You should always take care of the people that take care of you.” He was a smart man! As an adult, and a Director of Administration, I know now exactly what he meant. On the daily, my day begins before I ever even leave the house. Phone calls, emails, text messages…. and then errands before I even arrive at the office. My life is generally a moving target from one moment to the next! That is at best. I try and organize my days and my week as best as I can, but as you all know, life happens, schedules change, issues arise. With all of this being said, I would NEVER get through one single day without the amazing support staff that I have. They are there each and every day, without fail taking care of details that I could never get to, so that I can manage the tasks at hand. My “tribe”, as I lovingly call them, think of the papers that will sit there for a month because they know I will never have the time to file them myself, the data entry that may seem minimal to them but saves me a million seconds each day, the filtering of phone calls so I am not wasting time on sales calls, the creation of invoices so I can quickly log in on the go and pay them, the purple pens (because they know that’s my favorite color) and of course the countless coffee runs to ensure I keep running! The list is honestly endless and I could not be more grateful and appreciative for them. Thankfully, there is a day that is dedicated JUST to recognize the amazing and awesome peeps these Administrative Professionals are!

In todays blog I am going to list a few ideas to help celebrate Admin Professionals Day! Hopefully this will give those of you that have some of these awesome individuals in your life as well, some great ideas to celebrate them!

Tiff ‘s Treats: Tiff’s Treats does fresh out of the oven cookie delivery! This is a great way to surprise them with something sweet for all the sweet things they do all year for you!

The website is: https://www.cookiedelivery.com/onlineordering/orderlogistics.aspx

Edible Arrangements: Edible Arrangements offers a healthier alternative, while still catering to their sweet side. They deliver fruit arrangements of all varieties and also offer chocolate covered options as well. The website is:

https://www.ediblearrangements.com

FTD Florists: Flowers are always a beautiful way of showing appreciation and they brighten up the day too! If you know what your Admin’s favorite flowers are, make it even more personal. Try and ensure they get their favs delivered to really give them a surprise! The website is : https://www.ftd.com

Gift Cards: Yes, simple and yet so appreciated. The list of gift cards that staff appreciate and would love to receive is countless. A few favs are Starbucks, Target, Chic Fila, and good old fashion Visa/Mastercards. These can be given in unique and fun ways as well, such as in a Starbucks coffee cup, or with balloons and place one inside one of the balloons! Just a few fun ideas.

Breakfast or Lunch: You can not go wrong by bringing the most important meal of the day, Breakfast! How about bringing some fresh baked muffins from a local bakery and some coffee! Or having a hot lunch delivered from a nice eatery? ! More than that, share some time eating with them and reminding them of your appreciation for them!

Cards Or Letters: This is one of my all time favorites. I love giving cards and writing letters to those in and out of appreciation. This is something they can read, keep and recollect on in the future. Absolutely priceless!

Words: Above all else, make sure you verbalize your appreciation. Words are by far the best form of appreciation you can ever give someone. Let the people who work long hours, late nights, early mornings, weekends, endless calls, meetings, through sickness, day after day, without hesitation, know they are important and valued!

And to all of my loyal tribe and to all of you faithful and hard-working Administrative Professionals doing what you do each and every day, I thank you! Happy Administrative Professionals Day!!! As always, much love and appreciation – XOXO – SheShe

April 25, 2018June 13, 2018

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Bluebonnets, It’s A Season In Texas

That’s right Y’all (In Texas we say Y’all – translation is you all!), Bluebonnets are in full bloom here in the great state of Texas! For those of you that are not familiar with this gorgeous flower, let me introduce y’all. The Bluebonnet is the official state flower for the State of Texas, registered in 1901. The flower was named for it’s blue color and sunbonnet shaped petals.

Each year the flower blooms in early spring and can be found in central and south Texas. The Bluebonnet is known worldwide and is extremely popular for being photographed during it’s bloom. When in bloom, it is practically considered a season here in Texas, otherwise known as, “Bluebonnet Season”. Although, not an official season, we here in Texas take it pretty seriously! (so much so, that it is myth that it is considered illegal to pick them!)

Tourist flock to the State every year to get pictures of these gorgeous flowers. Driving up and down the interstate, you see cars parked along side of the road for miles, with people out in the fields taking pictures. It’s difficult not to smile being amongst these beautiful flowers!

There are several locals that live along the interstate that open up their private properties to travelers to stop and take photos during this popular time of year. One stretch of highway that is well known to the locals and extremely popular during the blooming season is Highway 290. Specifically the stretch between Chappell Hill and Austin, TX. When driving this piece of the highway, there are several spots where you can stop and get some great photos of the Bluebonnets.

One of my favorite spots to take pictures every year of the Bluebonnets is the First Baptist Church of Chappell Hill. The Church is located at 7675 FM 2447 , Chappell Hill, TX 77426. There are literally hills and fields of Bluebonnets located all around the Church, as well as a gorgeous Red Barn! In addition, the Church allows visitors to park on their property while you take your photos. The hospitality in Texas just can’t be beat! Here is a link to their website:

https://fbcch.net/

I am sharing some of the gorgeous photos from my road trip to see and enjoy our gorgeous State Flower! Hope you enjoy and feel free to share any memories you may have of your experiences and travels of our great State and our gorgeous State flower, the Bluebonnet! xoxo- SheShe

April 1, 2018April 5, 2018

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Not Going Down Without A Fight

Today’s Blog is my story of strength, of growth, of learning and of hope. For those of you that are new to my blog, welcome! I am so glad you picked today’s post to stop in on, as it will be one of my most important and valuable. My name is Shelia, better known to most as SheShe and I have Epilepsy. I was diagnosed almost four years ago. Epilepsy is a disease that affects the nervous system. It is usually diagnosed when a person has had at least two seizures that were not part of another medical condition. Six out of ten persons diagnosed with epilepsy will live their lives without a known cause. 1 in 26 people in the U.S will develop Epilepsy at some point in their lives.

My journey with this disease began on an early January morning as I awoke in the back of an ambulance, not knowing where I was or how I got there. I was confused and very afraid. My body was sore and I had no idea why, as I had no recollection of anything leading up to arriving in the back of that ambulance. My husband awoke early that morning to me having seizures and he thought I was having a stroke. He had no idea what was happening and was frightened and called 911. This is what led to me awaking in the back of the ambulance and realizing that was the beginning of my life forever being changed.

I saw many doctor’s and had many tests ran over the course of the next few days. All with no answers as to why or how this could have happened. With no “conclusive” evidence of anything, the neurologist at the time, told me I was under extreme stress and I needed to “chill out”. I can not make this stuff up folks, those were literally his words. I was confused and upset, but he was the doctor. Needless to say, not even a month later, I ended up wrecking my car , due to what we now know was a seizure while I was driving. Then, the final straw was a road trip headed to visit our in-laws, I starting seizing in the car. My husband had to rush me to the ER, where once again I woke up not knowing how I got there or what happened. At this point, we knew something was definitely seriously wrong and we went to see my neurologist, Dr.Phillip Blum, MD.

It was confirmed. I had Epilepsy. How could this be? I was a thirty something, that had never had any serious health issues before in my life. I worked out regularly. Lived a pretty healthy life style. We were in shock.

Turns out, anyone can get Epilepsy, at any time. It does not discriminate. It can be caused from blunt force trauma such as concussions, or you can actually be born with it. There is no true cause for Epilepsy. And, sadly, there’s more, there is no cure. Once diagnosed, you will be on meds to reduce and or help eliminate the seizures. The meds are not guaranteed and the side effects are inherently awful. The first set of meds I was put on made me lethargic. I felt depressed and out of it on a daily basis. I could barely get out of bed. After discussing the side effects, I was switched to another medication. This medication was definitely better than the previous but still had side effects. My dosages have to constantly be monitored or I get extremely sick. Any metabolic changes, weight changes, hormone changes, all effect my meds.

This may seem simple, but yes, there is yet another symptom which adds to this medication dilemma, making it all the while worse. Another symptom is insomnia. My neurologist has prescribed meds to aid in falling asleep, however they give me nightmares. My brain does not want to shut down at night. It literally thinks it’s time to run the New York marathon come bed time. This leads to lack of sleep, which is a huge seizure trigger. In addition, my metabolism never slows down so I struggle with weight loss.

Again, issue number one million and one with Epilepsy, it leads to other health issues. I have developed a heart arrhythmia since being diagnosed with Epilepsy. On a good day, my resting heart rate is 90, most days it’s between 100- 120 the whole day. If that is not exhausting, I don’t know what is. I have been prescribed meds to slow down my heart rate, however we have realized that if I take them daily, versus every other day, it slows down too much. For those of you keeping up with the med count, we now are at three different prescribed meds for three different issues all from one disease, Epilepsy.

Slurred speaking is a symptom that is both embarrassing and frustrating. The simplest of words, I stumble over and I will ask myself, why can’t I say that word?! It is extremely embarrassing and I will have to stop and literally slow down my speaking like I am learning the word for the first time. It’s always random words and always unpredictable when it happens. The most recent episode was yesterday and the word was “newest”. You would think, what is so hard about saying that, right?. I don’t know. I can’t explain it. It literally can not be explained. These are part of my daily struggles, struggles that people can’t see or don’t know about.

Memory Loss is another symptom of Epilepsy and is by far my least favorite. I would rather be nauseous every day of my life and get to keep my precious memories. This symptom saddens me to the core. I get in conversations with friends, co-workers and family and I don’t recall things. In the beginning, it angered me, to the point of resentment towards God. These were moments of my life completely wiped out from my recollection. Why would He do this to me? I know now, He had greater plans for me to be a light for others walking in the dark. I began keeping a journal. I write down thoughts, important events, daily activities that happened. Happy thoughts, sad thoughts, trips taken. . .Memories. So, if the day does come when I can’t remember them, I can read them over and over again!

I am a firm believer that everything happens in our lives for a reason. This disease has by far been the most challenging obstacle I have ever had to face. There have been times I have cursed and cried and felt like giving up. There are days when I literally can not physically function out of pure exhaustion, but I do. I go on. I have learned that each day is a gift, each memory a bonus. I am not promised today, or tomorrow, so for this moment, I am going to live it to the fullest. Enjoy all of it. Travel to new places, be kind to those who need it, give with everything I have and above all else love with all I have in me. I will advocate for my disease and for all of those who are sick with diseases of all kinds. I can not promise you easy days are ahead of you, but I can promise you that you will not have to face them alone.

My wish for all of you is that you educate yourselves on theses diseases. You can find out more about Epilepsy at:

https://www.epilepsy.com/

Help when and where you can. Show compassion, care for each other and above all else, LOVE. Much love to you all – xoxo – SheShe

March 26, 2018

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Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. A saying as old as time, however as hurtful today as it was a hundred years ago. The sad reality is you would hope that with time and knowledge, would come compassion, empathy, kindness and love of people. This subject is one that is very near and dear to my heart, as I myself, have been dealt a few hands duirng my lifetime (and that’s more then anyone should). With that being said, it has taken me the greater part of my life to realize, it’s not me, it’s them. In today’s blog, I want to share some knowledge and understanding with you, that I hope will change your life in a positive way too!

Mirror Mirror– Make sure you are a reflection inwardly of what you want in return. The qualities you desire out of others, should be qualities you give in return. When you radiate good vibes, it’s contagious. If they don’t catch the vibes , hey – you still have a great aura about you, and isn’t that really what life is about? Happiness?!

Judge Less, Love More – There is only one judge and His day will come. It’s not up to anyone to raise judgment on anyone. Mentally and emotionally, this can break a person down to the point of despair. I have suffered from judgement on many different levels, none of which have been easy to handle on any of the levels. On a professional level, being a female has resulted in judements against me that were both hurtful and damaging. On a personal level, because I am not an extravert, I have been called hurtful names, of course all by those that don’t know me. It didn’t make the sting any less at the time, but realizing now the negative equity it holds in my life have made all the difference. This part is important, so pay attention… because this is where it gets hateful, dramatic and messy. People are so quick to “look” at others and cast judgment on their looks, their intelligence, their stature, their class and even their story, WITHOUT walking in their shoes, WITHOUT knowing their story, THEIR HEART. What we learn from and take away from this is that their opionion does NOT matter. Ask yourself these questions, are these people important to you? Do they even know you? Hopefully the answer is no, because anyone who truly loves and cares about you, will not judge you, or be taking part in judgement of you.

Know Your Worth – I am a middle child. You ask, why does that matter? I have struggled the majority of my life to figure out where I fit in. I was not the first or the baby. I was placed in foster care at a very young age and bounced around from home to home before I ended up living with relatives for awhile. My mom eventually was able to receive custody when she was back on her feet and had remarried my stepfather. I fought for attention by thinking that if I was perfect at everything, I would be noticed and loved and wouldn’t have to be sent away. So, I made straight A’s, didn’t talk back, was in church every time the doors were open, and did everything in my power to be the perfect daughter. This carried over into adulthood. With my children, I was home room mom, team mom, you name it to be be the perfect mother (beacuse I was not going to have anyone accuse me of not being a good mother)! And because I eqauted perfection with love. I thought by trying to be the perfect mom, my kids would love me more. Yes, I know how wild that sounds because my kids love me to the moon and back and it has nothing to do with what I can or have done for them and everything to do with my unconditonal love for them. This also carried over into my professional life. Any job I have ever had, I have strived at being perfect. Good was just not good enough. I had to work hard, harder then anyone else to satisy my own fears of not being good enough. After years of mental and emotional abuse of myself, this took a toll. See, the thing is, I was good enough. I always have been. I love to learn new things and I don’t settle for being unresolved. Challenges are exciting to me and I am loyal as the day is long. I know my worth, I don’t need anyone else to validate it for me. It was never about me being flawed or being imperfect. I let those negative situations around me direct my sense of worth. My resolution for you today is to know your worth and never take discounts. Do not let uncontrollable situations, negative people or unfortunate circumstances define you. Challenge yourself each day to remember that it is just a situation, or just a circumstance or just a mean person, honestly. It is not you or your fault or in anyway definitive of your work ethic, your personality, your dreams, or your character!

Be the Light – It always saddens me how people think that blowing out someone’s candle is gonna make their light shine brighter. Take the workplace, for example. I am a firm believer in teamwork makes the dream work. (The ol’ there is no I in team). You are only as successfull as the team you have behind you. With that being said, it truly kills me to see people looking and I mean literally looking for dirt or fault or drama within the team. The negativity negates any chance of cohesiveness and therefore there will never be success. Think about this for a second. If you find a better way of doing something than your coworker (that is in their wheelhouse), how beneficial would it be for you to share it with them? Let me break it down for you. 1) You would be building a relationship of trust with that coworker by sharing it. 2) You would be contributing to the overall success of the company by providing a smoother process 3) You would be setting an example to your team of teamwork and success. 4) This is the most important – it’s the right thing to do.

The second scenario in the workplace is, say your coworker has been given a project and instead of doing it themselves, they delegate it out to you or have other coworkers basically piece it together for them and then take all the credit for it and literally do not mention you or the other coworkers at all. What do you do? Nothing. That’s right. You read that correctly. I’m gonna ask you to pay close attention to this part. Anyone that lacks integrity and thinks that they earned the praise honestly will eventually get burnt. I know what you are thinking, yeah right. Trust me. If they did not know enough to complete the project they were asigned on their own to begin with, they will drown themselves. Now, with that being said, let me offer up a little further advice to you. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. If you know this coworker is capable of such lack of integrity, do not entertain their reqest in the future. The main objective is to always give off the vibe you want to get in return. A positive workplace leads to employees wanting to be better and do better because they are happy and again, isn’t that what life is about? Aren’t we working to be happy?!

Be You, Do You, Own You – You are you and that is your Power! Unique, diffrent and all together flawed is what makes us ALL BEAUTIFUL! For the longest time I had self confidence issues and would worry myself sick about what people thought about me. Was I too fat? Too thin? Was my hair straight enough or curled just right? And let’s not even talk about style. For those that know me, I have always loved fashion, but was always concerned about what others thought about my choices. Were they trendy, classy, trashy, old, etc? In the end…yesterday, today, in this moment or the next, it won’t matter what anyone else thought. What matters, is what makes me happy. True happiness comes from within. It’s not something you can achieve from anyone else. Who cares if someone doesn’t like your swimsuit! They don’t have to wear it and chances are, they won’t!(so it’s a win, win)! What i’m wearing does not define me, my character, my heart, my life. My clothes, my style, is something that brings me joy, and to me, for me, there is nothing greater in life then to have joy. Never be ashamed of who you are, the struggles you have been through, the struggles you will undoubtly go through, or the triumphs you have achieved (no matter the size). True beauty is not what we see, it is what we do. It’s our actions of kindness, empathy, giving, and above all else love for one another.

One of my all time favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou

“People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

If you don’t take anything else away from this post today, take this – Kindness is free. Doesn’t cost anyone anything and yet it can literally change someone’s life. All it takes is a smile, a kind word, a compliment to completely turn someone’s day around, and you never know just how much it may mean to them. My challenge for you today is two fold.

Be kind to yourself – the world is hard enough on you already
Be kind to others – when you can’t find kindness, be the kindness you wish to see

Please feel free to share your stories and comments. I always love to hear from you! Much love – xoxo- SheShe

February 22, 2018August 28, 2022

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Bucket List Travels: Jackson Hole Part 3

Who has ever dreamed of playing in a winter wonderland?! Well, this is the place for you! Jackson Hole and the surrounding areas has more than enough activities to put a smile on everyone’s face and keep it there! In today’s blog, I will list just a few of the activities we were able to take part in during our winter vacay in Jackson Hole.

The Snow King Mountain Resort – The Snow King Mountain Resort is located right at the edge of town. You can literally walk there! This place is a play land for all ages. There is skiing, tubing and even a Snow Coaster!

That’s right, you read it correctly. They even have a snow coaster that rises up high above the mountain, in some places over 400 plus feet. The view is amazing and to be honest, I could not stop laughing the whole ride, out of pure joy! I can’t tell you the last time I have had so much fun. The down hill tubing is just as much fun and is completely exhilarating!

Again, I found myself laughing the whole way down, feeling like a child again! https://www.snowking.com/experience_jackson_hole/

Teton Village – Just a short drive outside of Jackson is Teton Village. This quaint little village nestled at the base of the Teton Mountains and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a definite yes on your to do list. The village itself is beautiful and you feel like you are in a fairytale book being there. From the shops to the coffee shops, it’s amazing! There is also a gondola ride up the Teton Mountains to the restaurant where you can eat waffles and drink hot chocolate, while taking in the views! There is also skiing available at this resort as well. We got a ton of our souvenirs while visiting the Teton Village! For more information , http://www.tetonlodge.com/jackson-hole-wyoming.aspx

Scenic Safaris Snow Mobile Tours – By far, this was my favorite activity of our vacation! I highly recommend this to everyone! The entire process was seamless from beginning to end, which is hard to say about any excursions to be taken while on vacation. The company sent a bus to our hotel the morning of to pick us up and take us to Yellowstone National Park. The driver was extremely friendly and actually was pointing out landmarks along our drive to us and explaining their history. Upon arriving at our destination, we were greeted with a full course hot breakfast in the beautiful lodge. Then they fitted us with snowsuits, snow boots, snow gloves and helmets. How cool is that?! They provided us with snow gear!!! Trust me, it is truly a blessing because it gets COLD on the snow mobiles on the tour. They really do think of everything. Once everyone was all geared up, off we went into the wild blue yonder of Yellowstone National Park on our snow mobiles. This was the most beautiful scenery I have ever scene in my life! I literally caught myself smiling at the majesty of it all. We rode the snow mobiles up to the Old Faithful Geyser, where they had a hot lunch waiting for us inside another lodge. We finished eating just in time for the geyser to erupt! To say that this was an amazing sight to see would not do it justice. To be in the great outdoors and get to witness part of nature, part of history, is just breath taking! Definitely something I will never forget. The tour also takes you across the continental divide and to some gorgeous waterfalls along the snake river. You will also get to see a hot spring and some Sulphur pits along the trail. They allow you to pull over and take photos at several magical spots along the tour so you are sure to bring back some awesome pictures to capture the memories! You can find out more information here, https://www.jacksonhole.com/things-to-do/snowmobiling.html

The National Elk Refuge – This is one of the first sights you will see when driving into Jackson, Wyoming and rightfully so. The Elf Refuge is a huge piece of the history of this entire region. To really understand the importance of the refuge and the circle of life, you need to make this part of your itinerary. We visited the Jackson visitor center and took the horse drawn carriage ride through the refuge.

Our guide gave us the history of the elk and how they were almost completely wiped out and that led to the creation of the refuge. He also told us many unique and interesting facts about these beautiful creatures, such as that they actually shed their antlers every year. Yes, they sure do! So, those beautiful antler archways you see in town square, were not from slaughter! The refuge actually allows the local Boy Scout troop to come out to the refuge each year and help collect the antlers. They are then allowed to auction them and keep a percentage for their troop and the rest of the proceeds go back to the Refuge. It’s just really awesome to learn about these animals and how they have survived and continue to survive, despite the population integration. It’s great to see everything the refuge does to ensure their survival and history remain in tact. The refuge also offers sleigh rides when the snow is thicker. On our trip, it was thin enough that we were able to take the carriages out. This is another activity that I highly recommend and that you will remember for years to come! To find out more, visit https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147509854

This is only a snapshot of the adventures awaiting you when you visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There is so much more to do and see here that we will certainly have to make another trip (and not to worry, I will blog every detail for your traveling pleasure)! I would love to hear about your adventures here as well, so please feel free to comment away! As always much love and wishes of fun and safe travels to you all! xoxo – SheShe

February 18, 2018February 18, 2018

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Bucket List Travels: Jackson Hole Part 2

Welcome back to the second part of the travel blog featuring Jackson, Wyoming and the surrounding areas! In part one we covered the arrival, airport and the beautiful White Buffalo Club Hotel. In Part 2, I would like to share some of the amazing eats we had while visiting Jackson and the surrounding areas.

First things first, let’s talk food! That’s what we all want to know when we travel somewhere, right?! What’s good to eat?! Let me just say, that for such a small jewel on the map, this little town is packed with dining. We wanted to try as many places as possible, so I will give you a quick list and review of the establishments we were able to get to during our visit:

Coffee Shops – Cowboy Coffee Company, This was probably one of my favorites spots during our stay. I am an avid coffee drinker (literally can’t even without it)! The atmosphere is cozy and inviting with both high top and low top tables, as well as a comfy seating areas with a sofa and chairs. Each morning, there was always the locals , as well as tourists to be found there starting the day off right with coffee, tea and or hot chocolate, while enjoying conversation amongst themselves. The coffee shop also offers several breakfast items, such as croissants and tacos on their menu. I personally tried the coffee, hot tea and breakfast croissants and all were delicious and served with a smile! To add to the charm of the coffee shop, it is pet friendly and we actually got to spend one of our mornings with one of the local pet “celebrities” and he was beyond adorable!

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Lunch/Dinner – The Local, So, we actually dined at this restaurant for Lunch one day and for Dinner another evening. Completely different atmosphere for each, but both were exceptional. The Lunch was a very laid back, casual dining experience. We actually ate at the bar top. We tried the Bison burger and the Pork Lettuce Wraps. Both were delicious. The Dinner atmosphere was a much more sophisticated atmosphere. The prices were much more expensive and the menu was highly refined to fine dining. We tried the chicken and the fish and they were equally as delicious. The wait staff was gracious and extremely nice.

Liberty Burger – This was another favorite of mine. The restaurant is two stories with windows across the front (so if you are lucky you get a table with a view). The interior was decorated in a contemporary theme that was bright and the staff was friendly. The menu consist of a multitude of burgers with a variety of add ons, such as eggs, avocado, bacon, etc. They also offer yummy shakes for dessert!

Pizzeria Caldera – Who doesn’t love a great Pizza?! This little gem cooks everything from scratch in a stone hearth oven right before your eyes. Just walking in the front door downstairs, you can automatically smell the amazing aromas of the pizzas in the oven wafting through the air. In addition, they also serve a soup of the day and offer salads and pasta as well. Like many of the restaurants near the famed Towne Square, the front is lined with windows, so you have a beautiful view of the town and the surrounding mountains while enjoying your meal.

Bubbas BBQ – You will definitely want to come here hungry! The portions are huge and you get plenty to eat. They also offer a salad bar option in lieu of your meal or you can add the salad bar to your meal. Let me just say that even the salad bar is abundant! My favorite two items were the baked beans (flavor was amazing) and one of their specialty items is a BBQ Bloody Mary! That’s right, you read that correctly! A BBQ Bloody Mary cocktail and it is delicious!

Dornan’s in Moose – , This restaurant is located right outside of Jackson in the nearby town of Moose. It is a local favorite and a historical landmark for the area. Many of the musicians that have come from this area got their start right here at Dornan’s. There is a tribute wall in the restaurant with pictures and stories

of the talented stars. The menu consists of a variety of food to include burgers, fish, steak and pasta among other things. One of the best qualities of the restaurant is the awesome view, as it is nestled at the bottom of the Grand Teton Mountains!

Snake River Brewery – This is a young, trendy atmosphere. It is a true brewery so there are actually huge stills within the restaurant, which is pretty cool to see. They offer a ton of different ales from the area, as well as specialty ales. There is something for every beer palette! The food menu is a bit on the light side, meaning it is fairly limited in offerings. Mostly finger type foods and or burger or American cuisine offerings. One of my favorite items on the menu was the pretzel with the cheese sauce!

Fast Food – There is a McDonalds, a Wendy’s and a Dairy Queen in town for those of you that need your fast food fix!

Please keep in mind this is just a quick summary of a few of the many great places to eat! You could literally plan a vacation based around just eating because there are so may great places to try in Jackson! Hopefully this list will enlighten some of you on meal planning and I would love to hear about your eating experiences in Jackson, so please feel to share those in the comments! Stay tuned for more on this awesome destination, as I will be sharing activities in the third part of this travel blog series! Happy Travels! xoxo- SheShe

February 10, 2018February 18, 2018

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Bucket List Travels: Jackson Hole Part 1

We all grow up dreaming of places we would love to visit, but very few ever make those dreams a reality. We put it off, thinking there will always be tomorrow or I just don’t have the time! This year one of my goals is to stop putting off those tomorrows and to make time for those “bucket list” dreams. To start out my list, I’m sharing the first destination on my list, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Yes, it’s a little piece of heaven tucked away in the gorgeous Teton Mountains.

Our trip to Jackson Hole was a winter trip, taken in late January. We flew into Jackson Hole Airport, which is located in the Grand Teton National Park, making it the only Airport in North America that is located in a National Park. On the descent into the airport you are surrounded by majestic mountain peaks and gorgeous winter foliage covering the mountainside. At first glance, it truly looks like a post card or something straight out of a movie. The airport is small, so upon landing, you exit the plane right onto the airport ramp and walk to the terminal. Once inside the terminal, you are greeted with Mimosas and a warm hello from the staff! Where else are you gonna get that kind of treatment?! You immediately feel welcome and invited!

A short drive down the rode from Jackson Hole Airport, is the little town of Jackson. Nestled in a valley right in the middle of the mountains! You can literally look in any direction standing in Towne Square and see Mountain Ranges surrounding the quaint and ever charming, Jackson. Speaking of Towne Square, it’s a real spot in the middle of town. Yes, indeed, a park, with a sweet little ice rink, park benches and nostalgic monuments. The ice rink actually hosts events in the winter season that you can go and watch. The Towne Square Park entrances are archways made entirely of elk antlers! As odd as it may sound, they are truly beautiful pieces of art and embody the history and charm of the town. Jackson is widely known for the Elk that come down during the winter season to feed in the huge Elk Refuge located right outside of the town. The antler arches are made from elk antlers that are shed from the local elk and have been collected from the refuge once the elk head back up the mountain in the spring. Another cool factoid, is that the town boy scout troop gets to gather antlers each year from the refuge, post shedding and are able to auction a portion of them to go towards their troop. The remainder of the auction goes back to the Refuge. What an awesome sense of community this little town has going on! Love it! The town boasts LOTS of shopping, for all. There are several souvenir shops, boutiques, art galleries, candy shops and even furniture and interior design stores. You will definitely not be leaving empty-handed as there is something to be found by all!

We stayed at The White Buffalo Club Hotel. To say that this Hotel is charming, would highly understate it’s value. The Interior is decorated with furniture and décor that represents the rich culture of the great outdoors, while still being cozy and warming! We stayed in the Fireplace Suite, which keeping true to it’s name, had a unique fireplace that was two-sided. One side was of course inside the sweet, while the other side was outside on a private balcony. The suite also offered an oversized bathroom, with a large custom tiled shower and large bath tub to soak in after a long day of fun in the snow. Not to forget about the enormous wardrobe we travel with, the suite had a walk in closet with plenty of room for all the “extras” you know you will need to buy while on vacay! The Hotel offers complimentary breakfast in the Restaurant downstairs, which boast a gorgeous fireplace surrounded by wine racks encased in glass. The ambiance is beyond relaxing and cozy. It’s a great way to start your day! To top things off, the Hotel will also book any excursions you wish to do while visiting for you (such as snow mobiles, dog sledding, skiing, etc). The staff was extremely accommodating and courteous to us, always speaking to us and making sure we were take care of. And last, but not least, the location was perfect! We literally walked everywhere from the Hotel. It is only a few short blocks from Towne Square and there are several notable eateries nearby. The White Buffalo Club Hotel is definitely a recommendation if staying in Jackson is in your future plans. You can find their website at: https://www.whitebuffalohotel.com/

Please check back for Part 2 of the Jackson, Wyoming Blog where I will be sharing some of the many activities there are to do while visiting Jackson and the surrounding area. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it! xoxo- SheShe

February 7, 2018February 18, 2018

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Journals are Life

Writing has always been one of my favorite things to do. Yes, I know how weird that sounds reading it and even saying it out loud. Most people think of writing as a chore and literally dread the thought. However, I would like to introduce you to a new way of thinking today on the blog.

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Epilepsy. To say that it was life changing would honestly even be an under statement. I was scared, angry, sad, I literally ran through every emotion imaginable. To be fine one day and wake up the next in the back of an ambulance with no recollection of how you came to be there is a whole new way of life. To add insult to injury, with each seizure, I lost memories. Precious memories, important memories, memories. Until this happened to me, I never knew or even realized the importance of a memory, a moment, an action, a word, all of it. This new realization made me sad and depressed.

One day, at one of my many doctor’s visits, he said something to me that resonated with me. He recommended that I start keeping a daily journal (of course, his agenda was for a health record), but it turned on a light for me! I literally went home that day and started writing. Not wanting to lose another memory from this disease, I began using writing as a tool, but it has become so much more for me. I have found that it brings me joy to write down the events of the day, stress relief to express my feelings and frustrations, and peace to know that I have captured it all in my writing. If there ever comes a day when I can’t remember, I will have these precious journals to go back and read! And, who knows, I may never “need” them in this way, but they will always be a great read in the future! Hope this enlightens you or brings you a new perspective on journal writings! Please feel free to leave comments on your writing experiences, as I always love to hear from you! XoXo – SheShe