Moments of Musing

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Through the Years: Looking Back on my Decade via Blog Posts

Filed Under: 2010-2019, 2010s, decade relfection //



There has been so much change over the past 10 years. With the changes have come growing pains, joy, celebrations and sorrow. The overarching feelings I am feeling are gratefulness and happiness, though.

Take a look back at the past 10 years via my blog posts:

2010

I graduated Penn State with honors, traveled to China, and started law school. (My blog did not exist yet so no blog posts.)

2011

I met my husband. I made a decision that had been weighing on my heart. Later that year, my husband moved to Hawaii and we decided to have a really long distance relationship.

2012

I celebrated the new year in Hawaii. During my husband’s deployment, I launched my blog – this was my first blog post. I kept my blog a secret from people I knew for almost five years.

2013

I graduated law school, got sober, briefly lived in Hawaii, and moved to Chicago where I was a prosecutor. My husband and I won a long distance relationship contest! Later that year, I used the Southwest plane tickets we won to meet him and family in Vegas, where we met, and we got engaged!

2014

My husband got out of the military and joined me in Chicago (homecoming post). We got married and honeymooned in Brazil.

2015

My husband and I moved from Chicago and moved to Brooklyn, NYC. I decided to continue my career in a different capacity, working for a nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending intimate partner and gender-based violence. We celebrated our first year of marriage with a trip to Quebec City.



2016

We announced our first pregnancy and that summer became parents to our firstborn, Sebastian!

2017

I publicly re-launched my blog and launched my blog Instagram account- follow me! We vacationed to Disney, announced our second pregnancy, and became homeowners!

2018

My cousin Abby passed after a 2.5 year battle with cancer. A month later, we became parents to our secondborn, Rafael, who brought light and love into our lives after a hard period and very difficult loss of Abby. I celebrated my 30th birthday in Boston.

2019

My blog and Instagram business picked up, a career goal came true for me when I started working from home and my husband became a full-time business grad student. We took family vacations to Puerto Rico and Disney. My husband and I celebrated five years of marriage with a trip to Colorado by ourselves!

I am so excited for what is in store in 2020 and beyond. My biggest hope, though, is for a lifetime of health and happiness with my kids, husband and family.

Get Out of Your Own Way

Filed Under: empowerment, encouragement, kindness, positivity //

Photos by Captured Group

I remember reading other blogs and then scrolling on Instagram and feeling tinges of inferiority. How could I get there? What did I have to do? Eventually, I decided to focus on my goals and on community (versus competition) and slowly but surely saw a difference.


What I’m trying to say is: I got out of my own way. I stopped waiting for tomorrow. I stopped judging. I stopped merely wishing. I stopped letting doubt, fear and worry consume me. And I started believing. I started connecting and collaborating. I started doing. 

Though I am not yet where I hope to be in my career, I am closer than I was when I was just standing still and stagnant, when I was keeping myself from growing at all. 

So to you who wishes to be more and/or who so badly wants more, I say: 

YOU hold your power to do more, to have more, to be more. Stop standing in your own way. 

Get out there and take that chance you have been wanting to take. The dream you have dreamt of executing. The plan you have thought about for what feels like every waking minute of everyday. Do what it is that you want. Do what it is that will make you excited. 

You might succeed. You might not. We do not know what will happen for sure. But at least you know you will have believed in yourself to take the next step. And do not be discouraged. If you fail, learn from it… and try and try again. 

I know you can do it.

I’m rooting for you. 

My Husband is an Instagram Husband

Filed Under: blog, content photos, Marriage //

Instagram Husband, Instagram Husband tips, Instagram photos, Husband photographer, brand photography, supportive husband, supportive spouse

How do you get your husband involved in photographing content for you?

I’ve been thinking about this topic because it came up in an Instagram support group of influencers and bloggers.  I know it can be a common struggle among bloggers and influencers to get your partner involved in taking photos for your content. What it comes down to for me is my husband’s willingness, and quite frankly desire, to help me build my brand and business.

It’s actually mutually beneficial. I save money on a photographer and get my photos. In turn, I am able to contribute financially to our household even more because of the content.

Honestly, having an Instagram Husband isn’t just convenient, it’s crucial to my business. In all seriousness, it would all be a heck of a lot harder without his unwavering support.  


So, how does it work? He photographs, usually with my creative direction, and I edit. 

Did / does my husband love taking photos just because? No, and he still sometimes get annoyed if I’m trying to photograph special moments versus being present (I’ve worked on this, which I think is a common struggle among content creators). BUT he enjoys being my partner in all things, cheering me on, and helping me out. After all, we both want one another to be successful.

So if you are struggling with getting your partner involved, maybe you can frame it with the following ideas:

  • His/her support matters. In a newer and small business, having extra help from family or friends can go far.
  • Posting to Instagram (and other platforms) is about much more than just sharing photos on social media. It’s a business tool! 
  • You will be able to contribute more money by saving money on a photographer.
  • Simply put, it’s nice to have a supportive partner, someone who lifts up your dreams. 


I truly hope this information helps to get your partner on board. Good luck!


Wanting the best for our kids + Exciting News

Filed Under: business school, exciting news, family, life, motherhood //

As parents, we want to give our children the world. Though that might not be possible, giving them more than we had is. I’d say that’s the driving factor in most of my and my husband’s decisions. 

We think about where we are in life, and where we want to be. When I first met Tim, he was pretty set on making a career of the military and retiring from it. As a lawyer, however, the prospect of moving often (common in the military) did not seem feasible for me. And he did not desire a career of countdowns, especially when it would mean time away from our future kids. 

He explored his options. We each made decisions that would make our future —together and individually— better. 

At each juncture of our relationship, we’ve done the same evaluation, and it’s what led my husband to his next and newest endeavor… business school!  
I am so excited and proud to announce that he has been accepted into an Executive MBA program in NYC and begins classes soon! 


NYC Father’s Day Getaway

Filed Under: Marriage, travel //

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city
This post is sponsored by The Gregory Hotel but all opinions are my own. 

Over the weekend my husband and I stayed at The Gregory Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. I was really nervous because R is still nursing so I wasn’t sure he would do well at bedtime and throughout the night without having me there. Luckily, he and S stayed with my parents so there wasn’t much sadness from the boys. Plus, it was only one night. R did great, and my husband and I really enjoyed our time together. I am so glad we went through with this! (We usually opt to stay in when given the option.)

My husband and I always say we have to get out alone more but our last date night was 6 months ago so this night away was much-needed and overdue. Even though it was just one night we got to both do quite a bit and also relax. We got to enjoy leisurely walks hand-in-hand, meals and each other’s presence…cheesy but something that doesn’t happen all too often. We also got the comfortable bed to ourselves and got uninterrupted sleep. 
A stay at The Gregory Hotel would make for a great treat for your special guy for Father’s Day!

The Gregory features comfortable, spacious rooms, including robes for lounging. There is a fitness center and a bar and grill, which you can get to through a doorway by the elevators. Established in 1903, it has a rich history. There are original aspects still in tact, as well as menus and photos from that time period on display. 

Best of all, in my opinion, is its central location (and competitive rates!). Located on West 35th Street right off Herald Square and just blocks from the Empire State Building, it is in the middle of everything. While there my husband and I only took the subway once to ensure we made it in time for our dinner reservation. We walked to and from Times Square and Bryant Park on 42nd Street, and back from dinner at ABC Kitchen (highly recommend!) on East 18th.

There is so much to do near the hotel, as well as in other areas of Manhattan and NYC. From the Bronx Zoo to Central Park to Coney Island there is something to do in each borough. Be sure to kick off your summer in a great way and  book your tailor-made stay at The Gregory Hotel for the special guy in your life this Father’s Day!


Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel
Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city
Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city