Photo Week, Day 7 of 7: New York (and maybe St. Louis?)

Jerry and I are going on vacation for a week (well, I say "vacation", but we're really just taking care of my sister's dogs at her house in Rockford, Illinois. This will be the longest we've been away since 2014 when we took a family vacation to Punta Cana!

To truly take a break from reality, I'm going to do something a little different this week. I've had a daily post streak going since January 1, 2020, and I really don't want to break that! So, I thought it might be fun to do a travel theme for each day and share some pictures from different trips I've been on. Each day will have a theme based on the location of the trip.

I'm preparing these posts ahead of time so I won't have to even open my computer while I'm gone. (I can still approve comments from my phone, though.) And hopefully when I get home, I'll have some good stuff to share :) 

I've been to New York a lot of times in my life (maybe eight?) and most of them were blog-related. I was there for The Dr. Oz Show, Purina's Better With Pets Summits, and as a speaker on a panel for BlogHer. (I also went to St. Louis for Better With Pets as well as The True Nature of Cats--it's hard to remember which is which when looking through the photos, and I'll have to figure it out another time. So, some of these may be in St. Louis.) But here goes... (in no particular order)

This was 1998 when I took a trip to New York with my friend Shannon's family. Here were are at Lake Placid, but we traveled to several different locations (including NYC)

This was actually in 2002, when I was a counselor at Camp Shane--a "fat camp".

Purina made Joey is own dog food

Making blankets for the animal shelter

The Twin Towers memorial--it was breathtaking

On the ferry to Staten Island

First time on a subway

My friend Mike who lives in NYC. He's getting married in October and we're hoping to save up the money to go!

Mike is a musician (super talented!) and he teaches piano lessons. The family in this (six-million dollar!) apartment was kind enough to let me sit in on their son's lesson.

Better With Pets had a kitten room. Yes, that's right. A room full of kittens!!

Recording the voiceover for my segment on The Dr. Oz Show

Arrival in NYC in 2011 for The Dr. Oz Show

This man did my make-up and I adored him

And this man did my hair--he was SO sweet!

And... the famous (or infamous?) Dr. Oz where I was a guest for his 400th episode

Arriving home from my Dr. Oz segment and the boys gave me flowers <3

My "friend group" during the Better with Pets Summits--fantastic people! I REALLY wish Purina would continue their summits--I learned so much at them and became a much better pet owner. Just ask my pets ;)

I have a full page of travel adventures--way too many to list this week--and they can be found here.

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Photo Week, Day 6 of 7: Ewen, Michigan

Jerry and I are going on vacation for a week (well, I say "vacation", but we're really just taking care of my sister's dogs at her house in Rockford, Illinois. This will be the longest we've been away since 2014 when we took a family vacation to Punta Cana!

To truly take a break from reality, I'm going to do something a little different this week. I've had a daily post streak going since January 1, 2020, and I really don't want to break that! So, I thought it might be fun to do a travel theme for each day and share some pictures from different trips I've been on. Each day will have a theme based on the location of the trip.

I'm preparing these posts ahead of time so I won't have to even open my computer while I'm gone. (I can still approve comments from my phone, though.) And hopefully when I get home, I'll have some good stuff to share :)

These pictures are from Jeanie and Shawn's property in Ewen, Michigan (the upper peninsula). We've been there a couple of times, so here are a handful of pictures from each. Shawn just retired, so they are actually moving up there soon!

It's no secret I'm not an outdoorsy person, but it's fun to hang out with my family. And Jeanie and Shawn's cabin is gorgeous! (Also, there are a couple of acres that are fenced in for the dogs--Joey loves playing with Jeanie's bassets.) Again, in no particular order...

The 10-hour car ride was a long one

My hammock is my favorite way to spend time there

Looking for Petoskey stones on Lake Superior

Eli catching frogs, like boys do (he always let them go right afterward)

"

Luke clearly loved being in the lake! ;)

My parents wanted family photos for their 50th anniversary

Jerry and Riley trying out Snapchat filters

We played LOTS of cornhole

Jerry and I actually slept in these--voluntarily--one night.

I may have been a little cold, if you can't tell

Shooting Nathan's gun--I learned that I really like shooting!  This was my favorite thing I did on the trip. (Obviously no hunting--just pop cans across the pond.)

I have a full page of travel adventures--way too many to list this week--and they can be found here.

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Photo Week, Day 5 of 7: San Diego

Jerry and I are going on vacation for a week (well, I say "vacation", but we're really just taking care of my sister's dogs at her house in Rockford, Illinois. This will be the longest we've been away since 2014 when we took a family vacation to Punta Cana!

To truly take a break from reality, I'm going to do something a little different this week. I've had a daily post streak going since January 1, 2020, and I really don't want to break that! So, I thought it might be fun to do a travel theme for each day and share some pictures from different trips I've been on. Each day will have a theme based on the location of the trip.

I'm preparing these posts ahead of time so I won't have to even open my computer while I'm gone. (I can still approve comments from my phone, though.) And hopefully when I get home, I'll have some good stuff to share :) 

I've actually been to San Diego three times, but I'm just going to share photos from one of the trips. In early 2017, I had been horribly depressed for nearly a year and something happened that just made me kind of have a break down. I seriously considered going to a mental health facility, but I decided to ask my friend John if I could go to his house for a few days to get away and see some sunshine. He and his husband Ric said yes immediately, and I was on a flight later that day.

They took SUCH good care of me and it was just what I needed! I felt a million times better when I got home. There are some pictures with several fans of From Fat to Finish Line; they happened to be meeting for a race. I didn't race, but I did go for a long run with a new friend Colin (who I'd only met a couple of days before). Here goes, in no particular order...

Before heading to the airport

Ric made this quiche for breakfast and it was divine.

Walking around on my own enjoying the weater

John and Ric took me to Hodad's for burgers--a fun place!

I thought this was a very cool looking van!

Found this on the ground... 

Me, Ric, and John

Cocktails with John after a long travel day

John's backyard cabana

So much travel, very strong cocktails, and a three-hour time difference did me in. I met Colin, though!

Ric made homemade tortilla chips and guacamole and I nearly died and went to heaven.

Jen, me, and John (from the documentary), and Nora, a FFTFL fan

Group photo in the elevator the night before the race

Getting to meet with reader Martine, who I'd been chatting with for years

With the FFTFL group before their race

On a long run with Colin (I think it was eight miles?) along the beach

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