What a month. September has been a month of joy, of growth and of empowerment. I feel the most myself that I have in a long, long time. I’m awake, alive, and filled with passion. Our home life is beautiful and we’re hitting goals here, and my work life is coming together in a beautiful way, and I feel so lucky to have a really wonderful group of friends.
Travel Planning This Month
This month, most of the trip planning I’ve been doing is wrapped up in my Peru 2027 trip! There are still a handful of spots left for you to join, if you’re interested! We’ll be doing the Salkantay Trek, touring the city of and remains around Cusco, and visiting one of the World Wonders: Macchu Picchu! I’d love to travel with you! This trip was finalized this month which means it’s 100% happening! So, grab your hiking boots and daypack and lets take an adventure together!
Travel This Month
This month was a big month for travel for me! I took a group of twelve women to ECUADOR! This was my 40th country I’ve visited, which felt huge, but it was also my first trip I hosted, which felt even bigger. What’s crazy is, these accomplishments feel so low on what brought me true and visceral joy from this trip! We had the best group of women I could’ve ever asked for. We saw some truly incredible things, laughed unbelievably hard and made connections that are deep and true. I loved this trip so, so much! We did all kinds of insane activities and were absolutely go, go, go! But I’m so glad we were because we got to see and do more than I even expected. But Empowered in Ecuador was the perfect name for this trip, because by god, we felt empowered by each other, what our bodies were capable of and what our minds were capable of.
Travel Laughs and Mishaps
This blog post isn’t long enough for all the laughs we had in Ecuador, but it was constant. Our guide told us we were the craziest group she’s ever had, but in a good way! Honestly, that’s exactly how I wanted it to be!
I did cry in the middle of the Amazon Jungle. We went on a night hike, which I was already hesitant about because I’m not a huge fan of bugs, but when I was told that this was going to be 30 minutes, I figured I could handle anything for 30 minutes. I was excited to see some frogs and lizards, and even okay with snakes, but it was basically all huge bugs! I did okay for 30 minutes. I wanted to be “voted off the island” one hour in. 1 hour and 30 minutes in, I’m asking the guide when it’s going to wrap up. At 2 hours, we turned all the lights off to hear the noises and experience the dark – honestly, I didn’t mind that at all, until, something huge flew past my ear and I definitely let out a little gaspy-scream. Then, uncontrollably, the tears just started streaming out. 20 minutes later we were finally out of the jungle and back at the lodge. Vivian very sweetly bought me a double gin and tonic and we turned the night around, but it was definitely a mishap for me. But travel makes you vulnerable and humbles you and that’s exactly what that moment in the jungle was for me.
Blog Posts from September
August 2026: A Monthly Roundup – This is a monthly roundup, just like this one, from last month! Check out everything we got into, what I read and more in August!
How to Turn A Day at the Creek Into Magic – The economy is rough right now. I know we’re feeling it deeply, and I wanted to write a little post about something you can do near or far – visit a creek – and how to make it feel extra special!
Hiking To and Around 12 Lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado – After my third visit to this national park this summer, I realized we’d been to 12 lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park now, so I wanted to put together a post that compares them all and gives info all in one spot.
Notes on Hosting My First International Group Trip – September brought me a great, big, beautiful new adventure – hosing an international trip for 13 amazing women in Ecuador. I can never articulate exactly what this trip meant to me or will forever mean to me, but I put some of my thoughts into words this post the day after everyone went their own ways home and in Ecuador.
Quote of the Month
Don’t let anyone tell you your dream are too big; they have no idea what you’re capable of!
What I Read in September
Physical Books I Read
I’m still making my way through To Shake the Sleeping Self. It’s been a really beautiful story thus far. I honestly thought I would finish it while in Ecuador but I was beat every night by bedtime. This is the travel tale by Jedidiah Jenkins on his journey biking from Oregon to Patagonia – which is a place super dear to my heart after visiting this year. I’ve been enjoying his storytelling and I’m looking forward to finishing this book next month.
Audio Books I Listened To
I continued to the ACOTAR series knowing that the upcoming new release is right around the corner. However, I did take a bit of a break to listen to a random free book from Audible and it was super disappointing. Now I’m listening to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I’m really genuinely enjoying.
Most Popular Post in September
Things to Know Before Driving Shafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park, Utah – I love when a Moab post does so well on my site because I love Moab so deeply. This post will have you feeling ready and confident for your trip up (or down) Shafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park.
Most Popular Instagram Post
This one seemed to hit home for people as the U.S. Government is selling off, destroying and pillaging our public lands. I will fight for every inch of our public lands any way I can.
Wild Motherhood Journey
This month, my wild motherhood journey was one about reclaiming my wild. I spent 12 days away from my kids and it was beautiful to come back home and tell them all about the amazing things I saw and experienced in Ecuador. It’s gorgeous to see how our adventures are already shaping Charlotte at the age of 5.5. She is currently “saving money for a flight to Mexico City.” She’s diligently asking Papa for a dollar every time she sees him because “she wants to adventure”. Hearing her say all of this makes me so joyful that she sees our adventures and wants more, is curious and wants to explore.
Local Adventures in September
We had several local adventures this month because it finally started to cool off. We’ve done so many local trails, I took the kids to the local zoo with my dad one day, and we went to the Discover Center here in town a couple of times too. We try to keep our local adventures very kid-centered, which feels good to do.
I had two Women’s Hiking Club Meetups as well, which were really lovely. We had 33 women come to our meetup at Sequiota Park and then 55 come to our meetup at Busiek!
Taking Care of Myself in 2026
This month felt like a month of taking care of myself. I am trying hard to make some big changes in my own life and I feel like I’m making huge strides in that this month. I have put my life, my passions and my forward progress on hold for a long time, and this has been the month that my eyes have just really been opened to where I’m appreciated, where I’m making the biggest difference and how I’m finding my own path to “setting the world on fire” – something my grandpa always said he thought I would do, but didn’t – and it’s feeling so empowering, so beautiful, so exciting, and a little terrifying.
Home and Life in September
Matt joined me at the age of 36! We loved getting to celebrate him! Our kids are still growing like weeds and are enjoying school so much. They’re both in a snuggly stage, which I adore. CJ is currently obsessed with seeing the world, which makes me so proud, and LJ is obsessed with “jokes” that are truly nonsensical but his emphatic laugh afterward bring me so much joy.
Whats Coming in October
In October, we have a handful of fun things coming our way! We’re kicking the month off with a trip with my brother’s family to Tulsa! We love going to a really amazing free, local outdoor play space there. Then, we’ll probably go to Tulsa’s zoo at some point, eat some good food, maybe go to a brewery and I’m personally going to try to talk the fam into going to the Bob Dylan Museum.
We have a week of camping planned later in the month, that we’re kinda tossing around what to do with that. It’s hard to decide what to do. We’re trying to stay in a specific budget, but also don’t want to camp just for the sake of camping. So, I think we’re going to cut it a bit short. But it’ll be our last camping trip of the year, so we don’t want to cancel it all together.
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