Favorites, Home, Nature, Seasons

September in Wisconsin

  • Hoodies and flip flops
  • Leaves in raucous colors
  • Blue heron on the fishing dock
  • Bonfires and smores
  • Gracious gray skies melting into the lake
  • Wild turkey in front yards
  • Skittish deer darting into the tree line
  • Boats beginning to be pulled out of the water and put up for winter storage
  • Open windows on cool nights
  • Brilliant sunshine
  • Pumpkin patches
  • Corn mazes
  • Hay rack rides
Events, Favorites, Memories, Work

Things I’m Really Proud Of From My Time At Grow Clinton

  • Representing both Clinton, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois in my tourism role, bringing both communities together for the betterment of each
  • Developing multiple collaborations with the Clinton Herald including Visitor Guide and weekly articles
  • RAGBRAI, especially after less than 7 months on the job
  • Efforts with Iowa Scenic Byways and the Mississippi River Parkway Commission to represent the Great River Road
  • Designing ads for the first time… lots and lots of ads
  • Developing 4 digital passports for the community and guests to use
  • Deep collaborations with the Showboat Theatre to advertise in new and unique ways
  • Being part of the Frahm art installs/selfie stations
  • Embrace the Winter
  • Ultra Mega Capture The Flag In Heritage Canyon
  • Creating a focused and strategic advertising plan
  • Helping develop the Bound For the Kingdom Christian Music Festival
  • Elevating existing events that deserve lots of recognition, like Christmas in the Canyon, the LBPA Art & Wine Walk, and the Riverview Bacon & Brew Fest
  • Making contacts with tourism professionals across two states
  • Getting lots of news attention from QCA stations
  • Helping fund both The Grove and Wildness, two of the earliest pieces of the emerging arts culture in Clinton thanks to Gabi Torres
  • Parachuting elves
  • So many more things than I can list. Thank you all. I have loved my time here and will remember it with fondness. <3
Books, Favorites, Holidays, Words, Writing

Books I Have Loved (in honor of World Book Day which is today, April 23)

  • Death to Deconstruction
  • The Time Traveler’s Wife
  • The Post Birthday World
  • The Westing Game
  • Open Heart, Open Home
  • Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better
  • Me, Myself & Bob: A True Story About God, Dreams, and Talking Vegetables
  • Seriously… I’m Kidding
  • Love You Forever
  • On The Day You Were Born
  • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
  • Tom’s Midnight Garden
  • Glass Castle
  • Giraffes? Giraffes!
  • Juicing the Orange: How to Turn Creativity into a Powerful Business Advantage
LISTS

Things I Did For the First Time on My Vacation Recently

  • Snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef
  • Attended a concert at the Sydney Opera House
  • Saw a live production of West Side Story
  • Fed a kangaroo by hand
  • Ate kangaroo (not the same kangaroo)
  • Ate crocodile
  • Saw koalas in person
  • Hiked in Australian botanical gardens
  • Took a 9 day cruise
  • Rode a light rail, train, and city bus all in the same day
  • Visited multiple malls connected by underground tunnels
  • Crossed the international date line (twice)
  • Ate passion fruit
  • Performed CPR for 30 minutes

Lists of All the Things You've Never Wondered About