The Big Move : The Tucson Travelers Leave Tucson

Well folks, our life just took another crazy turn—this time in a fun and exciting direction!

For those who don’t know, Shane and I left Lowe’s back in 2012 to take an extended vacation (which is actually why I started this blog in the first place) and then pursue new careers. Shane eventually got a job as a part-time USPS carrier, and we really tried to make it work for about a year. Unfortunately, he was only getting about 8–16 hours a week, and a full-time position didn’t seem likely anytime soon.

So in 2014, we decided it was time to make some big changes to help create a better future for ourselves.

Shane made the decision to go back to Lowe’s and take the fast track back into management. After applying for several positions across the United States, he finally landed an interview with a store in Utah. Long story short—he absolutely nailed the interview, and within two and a half weeks we were saying goodbye to Tucson and hello to Orem, Utah!

This crazy move has definitely sparked my adventurous side. I’m so excited to explore our new home and everything around it. My goal is to create a checklist of destinations and share our experiences as we explore them.

Right now I’m unemployed, which has made getting started on this project a little easier. I will be getting a job soon though, so our adventures may slow down a bit—but I’ll still make a point to share them here whenever we get the chance.

Hopefully some of our experiences will be helpful for others looking to explore this area too. Stay tuned for fun updates and more checks off my adventure checklist!

For now, here’s a little photo story of what life has looked like over the past few weeks…

One of my new favorite websites/apps RoadTrippers.com

Our journey we took once with a U-Haul towing my car, and again with Shane's truck...

A farewell dinner with the family at our favorite Mexican restaurant. 

Shane's best friends helped us load the U-haul all day!! They are amazing

On the road. Oh did I mention we had two cats to travel with as well.. The first trip was a long 13+ hours.

Our first time checking out Shane's new store. Felt like it was worthy of a snapshot!

Weekend two... The drive back up in Shane's truck. I had my camera so I was able to take a few pictures from the road!

We weaved in and out of storms all the way up Arizona. On the bright side storms bring rainbows!

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We stayed the night in Page to break up the trip a little bit. View from our hotel.

Shane enjoying the view

Leaving Page

Welcome to Utah!

Loving the colors

I thought this looked like a fish

changing scenery

What we look like on a road trip!

We're here! We arrived with our last load of stuff on Shane's 30th birthday! Figured we would take a drive down to the lake and found a beach. Not sure if I am a fan of getting in this water but it sure looks pretty! 

Checking my first task off my list! I really wanted to ride the Front Runner so we took it into Salt Lake to pick up my car from the airport! The front runner was big, clean and a fun ride, but the green line (the one we had to transfer on to go east/west to the airport) was gross and smelly. I will try to avoid that one.. 

A Beautiful Wedding in Florida

Mom’s Beautiful Wedding in Florida

Sorry for the delay in posting. Better late than never, right?

Our trip to Florida was absolutely amazing, and my mom’s wedding was truly beautiful. It was such a special day, and I could not be happier for her and my new stepfather, Luis. Seeing the two of them so happy together made the entire trip worth it.

The wedding was held at the lovely home of one of my mom’s friends, and it turned out to be the perfect setting for such a joyful occasion. Surrounded by family, friends, and sunshine, it felt like the kind of day everyone will remember for years to come.

I loved getting to spend time with all of my family. My brothers were there, along with my aunts, cousins, and now my new stepbrother and stepsister. Seeing everyone together in one place made the celebration even more meaningful.

The ceremony itself was beautiful. Watching my mom walk down the aisle and exchange rings with Luis was such a touching moment. You could feel how much love there was between them and how excited everyone was to welcome our families together.

After the ceremony we took lots of photos with family and friends, celebrated the newly married couple, and enjoyed the evening together. The kids even had some fun decorating the car with “Just Married” messages for the happy couple before the after party.

It was a perfect day, and I feel so lucky to have been there to celebrate such an important moment in my mom’s life. 

Florida Bound: A Wedding and a New Life Update

Big News and an Exciting Trip Ahead!

I’m writing today to share some exciting news about an upcoming journey. Next week Shane and I will be heading to Florida for five days to see my mom get married!

I am so thrilled to be going home for such a wonderful occasion. My mom is truly the greatest woman I know, and anything that makes her happy makes me happy too. It means so much to be able to be there and celebrate such a special moment with her. Of course, there will be plenty of fun vacation pictures to share when we get back.

I also have another big update.

I have officially put in my two weeks notice at my current job and will be starting a new position as soon as we return from Florida. My new employers run a commercial real estate company, and I will be working on the accounting side of the business.

I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity. It seems like a place where every day will be both fun and challenging, which is exactly what I’ve been looking for. And, of course, it will be nice to start bringing home a few more dollars as well.

Lots of exciting changes happening all at once!

My next post should be filled with pretty pictures and priceless memories from the wedding trip.

Arizona Skies: Super Moon, Monsoon Storms, and Fireworks

Arizona Skies

The skies in Arizona have been nothing short of spectacular lately.

Between the Super Moon, the start of monsoon season, and Fourth of July fireworks, there has been no shortage of amazing views lighting up the sky.

Traveling is always exciting, but sometimes it’s nice to sit back and appreciate the beauty that already surrounds you.

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Super Moon Rising

The Super Moon was incredible to watch. It rose with this deep red glow and within minutes slowly shifted to a bright white as it climbed higher into the sky. It was one of those moments where you just stand there watching it change and realizing how quickly the sky transforms.

Monsoon Season

We also had the first monsoon storm of the season roll into Tucson. I headed up near “A” Mountain to watch the storm move across the desert.

The lightning shows during monsoon season are always amazing. Watching the sky light up across the mountains while chasing lightning with the camera made for a pretty unforgettable evening.

Fourth of July

And of course, you can’t enjoy summer skies without a few explosions of color.

I watched the Fourth of July fireworks from “A” Mountain, and the view over Tucson was perfect. Fireworks bursting above the city with the desert mountains in the background made for some really fun shots.

One of my favorites ended up looking almost like outer space.

I have been spending a lot of time experimenting with the camera I got for Christmas, and I am finally starting to understand the manual settings a little better.

Honestly, I wish I had taken the time to learn it sooner. Now that I’m figuring it out, I’m realizing how much beauty you can capture just by adjusting a few settings and being patient with the shot.

Stay tuned because I plan on sharing many more photos as I continue learning and playing around with the camera.