Dirt, Doodles, and Diaper Bags: Welcome to the Journey!

Ever since becoming a mom two years ago, I’ve had ups and downs with reconciling where and how I can fit all the things that used to make me feel like me.

I always thought I wouldn’t let having a kid stop me from things like creative projects and outdoor adventures. I thought the amount of time I’d have for these things wouldn’t change, I’d just bring the kid along. But boy, did things change. The everyday demands—working, chores, mothering—seem to leave only one hour at the end of a weekday, or maybe some half-days on weekends. Honestly, it can leave me feeling a bit inadequate for titles like "creative" or "hiker."

I'd often have doubts like...

Am I a creative? I like to make art and sew, but... surely I can’t call myself creative since I don’t do it every day and no one pays me for it.

Am I a hiker? No, surely not. I don’t go every weekend or try to summit every mountain like I did in my twenties. I’m not "hardcore" like the "real" mountain people.

Am I a mom? This I can say with my whole heart Surely I am. I have the little socks strewn randomly around the house, the abrupt middle-of-the-night wake-ups from a bad dream, and the 100,000 pictures of my family on my phone to prove it.

Why I’m finally starting this blog!

I’ve wanted to start a blog for a long time, but I wasn’t sure if I could commit to just one topic. Would it be nature? Creativity? Motherhood?

None of them felt right on it's own. What resonated more was all of it. Life is full of changing seasons. Some seasons I'm in a season of high creative output, other seasons I have outdoor adventures booked for every weekend, and yet other seasons where all the above is on pause for hibernation.

I want to keep this space open ended enough to allow me to explore these topics to whatever depth I feel called to share. 

What you can expect here

I’ve organized this blog into three main categories:

• The Trails: Outdoor adventures, hiking tips, and the reality of adventuring with young children.

• The Field Notes: My creative endeavours—sketches, art inspirations, sewing projects.

• The Basecamp: My thoughts and experiences on the journey of motherhood.

  
  

Expect this space to be experimental, raw, and a bit chaotic (just like my brain). If you’re cool with a messy approach to life and blogging, I can’t wait to get to know you.

I hope you stick around!