How is October already over? I can’t believe the sun is setting as early as it is, that it’s now my favorite time of the year – Christmas time; yes that starts November 1st for me, and I made some pretty life changing decisions this month, at least for me. I am very content, very inspired and very excited about things to come. I’ve had really solid times with my friends, my family and my kids. I’m building such a strong community, and I am loving watching my life become more and more of what I want.
Travel Planning This Month
Travel planning this month was weird and a little unlike us. We took a hard look at an upcoming trip to Ponca and actually trimmed it down. I think the next 14 months especially are going to be much more intentional. Our adventures will be focused on new experiences, a lot of time spent outside and getting back to our roots of budget travel. We have some financial goals and we’re working really hard to make those happen so that our dream way of living can become a reality.
Travel This Month
We kicked off the month with a little family trip to Tulsa with my brother and his family. For those travelers with kids, Tulsa is a surprisingly wonderful destination if you’re within a couple hours of drive time, which we are! First, I made a stop that I had been wanting to visit for a few years – the Bob Dylan Center – which is in Tulsa. Kids were free to visit, which made it a more reasonable stop for Matt and me at $15 per person. As a huge Bob Dylan fan, I really enjoyed this, but I would say if you’re more of a casual listener, I would probably skip it. Then, we spent all day Saturday at The Gathering Place. It’s a 60+ acre park with play equipment built straight from a kid’s imagination: think a snake playhouse you can climb on, a slide down a blue heron, a giant ship, castle towers with rope bridges) it’s just incredible! You can even ride paddle boats for free – you have to be at least 5 to be on the boats, so we haven’t done that yet. But, like I said COMPLETELY FREE! We started our day there, popped over the American Solera for a beer and smash burgers, and went back until our kids simply couldn’t go any longer. It was glorious. We also ate a few fun places, went to their mall and walked around and stocked up on our favorite ramen from their Asian market which sells it by the case.
We took our last camping trip of the year this month. And it was so sweet. I’ve been falling hard for these slower, sweeter camping adventures. Trips that feel like living on the road – a feeling I’m aching for more and more. This month, we went down to our normal spot in Ponca and that meant a place that feels like home away from home. We did some hikes, we spent hours and hours outside, and the goal of hiking felt more like just being outside and enjoying it. We weren’t in a rush, just letting the kids go at their own pace, and letting CJ journal on the trail. It was so good, so sweet. I feel like it changed a bit of the way I’m exploring with them. We also found an old mill (I love old mills) in the Boxley Valley owned by the NPS and I happened to find it on a map and we got to tour it! I love seeing something new in an area I know so well! Plus, my kids got to get another Junior Ranger Badge!
Blog Posts from October
September 2026: A Monthly Roundup – This is a roundup, much like this one, but from last month.
Things to Know Before Visiting Ecuador – When I get back from a destination, I love to do these posts. They’re general, practical info like currency, but they’re also more than that. They’re snippets and tidbits you’ll only know because you’ve been there, and they’re things I would want to know before visiting.
Things I Would Do in Quito, Ecuador – This is basically a brief city guide to things I would want to do again in Quito if I were to go and spend time or be going for the first time. Ecuador blew me away and I greatly enjoy the time I was able to spend there!
8 Reasons You Should Take a Group Trip – Back in 2014, I swore off group travel. However, earlier this year, I took a group trip as a traveler, and fell deeply back in love with this form of travel and now I’m hosting group trips! Want to know what made me believe in these trips again a decade later? Check out this post!
Quote of the Month
“Be open to believing people’s actions, and revoking access to your energy when necessary”
What I Read in October
Physical Books I Read:
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins – I finally finished this. Ironically where I had paused a bit was right before the he entered Ecuador. After I picked the book back up, making more time for myself to read again, I realized that his adventure was slightly coinciding with a my South American adventures (Ecuador last month, Patagonia this February, and Peru in 2014, but coming up again next year), Jed took this journey with a lot of questions, and I appreciated his candor in writing them and his vulnerability of exploring those questions with us as he took this journey. He questions of faith were ones I especially related to, as someone who was deeply intrenched in my church as a teen, and letting that go as a late teen. This book made me think, inspired me, and it also made me feel that deep joy and connection that only travel can bring.
Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver – I’m working my way through this collection of essays by Mary Oliver. I’m a huge fan of her poetry so it’s a fun changeup to read some of her essays.
Audiobooks I Listened To:
ACOTAR SERIES – I had been listening to the ACOTAR series again because of the new release this month. I wanted to refresh my memory of this series before embarking on the next part of this journey.
Bad In Bed by Ali Hazelwood – This was my first book by Ali Hazelwood, she’s the author of The Love Hypothesis which is getting a film adaptation. As far as romance novels go, I really enjoyed this one. It’s the friends with benefits trope, for sure, but there’s some really good character building of the two main characters and a sweet little twist.
Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros – I enjoyed this look into the characters I love so much in the Fourth Wing Series. While it wasn’t the same thrilling tale as Fourth Wing because I knew they all made it, but it was still interesting and deeper character building.
Most Popular Post in October
Best Hikes in Northwest Arkansas – Because we live so close to the border of Northwest Arkansas here in Southwest Missouri, we have spent a lot of time in that gorgeous part of the state. Arkansas is exceptionally pretty in the fall, so I love that this post pops off every fall because it means people are enjoying that space!
Most Popular Instagram Post and Reel
Wild Motherhood Journey
I’ve been trying to implement that our kids come home from school and immediately go outside for the first 30 minutes they’re home. Preferably with me. I love being outside with them. The first half of October was brutally hot, still, and I wasn’t home to really put this into action because I worked, a lot, in October. But it’s a goal to continue this in November and even maybe be able to expand it a bit because I will be home.
My biggest joy-filled moment of wild motherhood, though, was a day I got home right around dark, but the kids wanted to play outside. Instead of simply saying – it’s dark, no – the three of us went outside in the moonlight and played. It culminated in one of the sweetest and funniest moments when Charlotte was pushing Liam on the swing and they were just telling each other knock-knock jokes. It was so sweet and I felt so much joy.
Also, I briefly mentioned above that we hiked on their terms at the end of the year. On their pace, on their abilities. It was eye-opening and so much fun!
Local Adventures in October
I hit up a lot of local greenways and hiking trails this month. I love all of the wonderful fall weather. I love the cool mornings and temperate days. I even did a couple of new trails in my own backyard. I had two amazing Women’s Hiking Club meetups and then got outside with some friends a few times too! It was absolutely a month to be outside.
Matt and I had a lovely staycation weekend where my parents watched the kids so we could have uninterrupted time together. We intended to go out of town, but in order to save some money, we stayed home. We did some local hiking and greenway trails, we ate out a couple of times and just enjoyed our home with no kids making it messy again. It was a really lovely time.
Taking Care of Myself in 2026
This month I quit my job at the brewery. It’s a big, scary step. I’ve been at the same brewery for over eight years and while it has brought me a lot of joy, beautiful friendships, moments, and opportunities over those eight years, it was also weirdly stressful, I wasn’t feeling very valued. I’ve been wanting to launch For the Love of Wanderlust as a full-blown business for a long time, but didn’t have the time, so I’m giving myself the next eight months (give or take) to see if I can make it work for me as a full time situation. So, your views, your reads, your likes, your clicks, all of it, are so greatly appreciated! (These pics are from my last two shifts, one at each location.)
On a much, much smaller scale, though, I’ve been working my way through my teeny weeny national park crochet project. I’m doing all the national parks in order of when my family of four has visited the national parks. I obviously want to make it to all 64 national parks, so I can’t wait to watch this little work of family art grow. It’s one of those things that I hope one of my kids want to have after I die. Haha.
Home and Life in October
Our home and life was pretty normal. Not in a bad way, but just a living life with ease kind of way. Our biggest change in our home is that Liam officially has a big boy bedroom! He’s got a new, fun twin-sized bed, the changing table top has been removed and we got the room all situated. He was so excited and then spent the whole next week wanting to be near his big boy bed.
We did enter the nesting season this month. Trying to cultivate a clean, organized and cozy house. To be honest, we live in chaos, a lot. We fill our days, which I love, but it doesn’t always leave a lot of time to clean up the clutter around the house. So, Matt and I have started on one end of the house and we’re just deep cleaning our way across it. Especially as we’re entering the time of year that we’re inside a whole lot more. It’s so much easier to feel content and cozy in a home that’s clean. A home that’s calm.
Halloween came and went. We always host family and friends for chili. It was a smaller group this year, but it was also a cool, wet Halloween, so we didn’t hit up as many streets as usual with our little Spiderman and Tinkerbell.
What’s Coming in November
As I just mentioned above, I’ve left my job at the brewery, and my last day was the 30th, so November means I get to be truly full-time working on my blog, my trips and my hiking club! So, I’ll be spending a ton of time behind my computer and in the community to try to truly make this dream work. I’m officially a full time travel blogger. Wow, that feels cool to say.
Even cooler than that, though, our sweet little “baby” Liam will always be the baby of the family, but he’s turning four this month! How is that possible?! He’s such an incredible little boy. He’s sweet, curious, a genius at building structures with the most incredible imagination, has the sweetest little voice, is the best at sticking at his lower lip when he mopes and gives the best hugs. This year, Liam truly made friends at school, forged stronger bonds in general, became even more fearless and reckless in the outdoors and his language skills just exploded! I love watching him grow and I can’t wait to see what “FOUR” brings him.
I hope that October was a beautiful month for you and brought you in to your cozy season, and left you feeling grounded. I also hope that November inspires you and brings you joy.
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