Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination: Consistently Curious -

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“Ping!” Another notification echoed in the room indicating another email I received that I had yet to respond too. With a heavy sigh, I bent over to finish cleaning up the yogurt my daughter decided to paint the walls with. It had been a rough day. I managed to damage the car, was feeling the effects of some unwanted health issues, all while dealing with a wild toddler who refused to take an afternoon nap. It is truly a wonder that I get anything done some days. That evening when I had a moment to scan my emails I received a lovely email stating I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award. This exactly the sunshine I needed in my day.

A Little Ray Of Sunshine

The Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination is given by bloggers to other bloggers whom they feel display positivity, creativity, and sunshine via their blog. I was taken aback that a fellow travel blogger whom I admire, thought highly enough of my little blog to nominate me. It was exactly the ray of sunshine I needed in my day. It was a reminder of why I started my blogging journey only a few short years ago. To provide positive experiences, tip and travel destinations that inspire others to collect memories and not things.

I would like to thank Jen at Travel With A Plan for bringing a little sunshine into my day by nominating me. Here is a little bit about Jen and her blog.

Travel With A Plan

Jen doesn’t miss a beat when planning amazing itineraries for her family vacations and trips. Having a husband and three adventurous boys makes this outgoing mom one that ensures her family “maximizes the fun and gets the most “bang for our buck” because we Travel With A Plan! Not regret.” -Jen

Jen puts together amazing travel itineraries that take the stress out of planning that perfect vacation. I love that she only features ideas and itineraries that her family has done and that has worked!

Questions I Was Asked For The Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

How would you describe your blog to a person that has never visited it before?

Our family travel blog, Consistently Curious, explores places off the beaten path that will spark your curiosity and provide inspiration for families traveling with children or without. We are not full-time travelers, just the everyday family that makes the most of each day off. When we are not traveling we enjoy being a tourist in our hometown of Cincinnati.

What was the inspiration for you to start your blog?

I have always had a passion for travel and I didn’t want to stop traveling after my daughter was born. After overcoming terrible post-partum I found the voice I thought I lost in writing. I embraced my love of travel and writing to create Consistently Curious and share with others, great family-friendly destinations, travel tips and more.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

Self-care is vital and I will be the first to admit I don’t do nearly as much as I should. Carving out a few hours to spend on a date-night with my husband or going out with friends can be rejuvenating. I find that taking care of myself often includes a nice long shower, reading a few passages from the Bible or simply just taking a minute to do nothing but enjoy a beautiful day.

What is your favorite season and why?

My favorite is season is autumn. The changing leaves and cool evenings mark the arrival of my favorite holiday, Halloween. I love hiking in the fall as the forest pops with brightly colored leaves. A cozy campfire, endless smores, and apple cider round out a perfect autumn day.

If you could live anywhere, where would that be?

The Oregon coast. Once you have had the opportunity to take in the beauty of the west coast it is hard to go back. Oregon is full of National Parks, outdoor adventures and a booming foodie scene. While I love traveling around the world, coming back to a peaceful spot overlooking the ocean would be my dream.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

The best part of blogging is when one of your followers sends you a message and it is a picture of them doing what you had written about. It is when someone takes time out of their busy day to tell me that they enjoyed an article, asks for advice or let me know I inspired them to do something. When I know that I have helped a fellow traveler create a wonderful lifetime memory, that is the best thing about blogging.

What has been the biggest challenge in maintaining a successful blog?

Finding time to write. Managing a household and staying at home with my two-year-old daughter does not yield much time to concentrate and write. For me, writing has to take place in a quiet room, by myself with limited distractions. Note the yogurt “Van Gogh” that was painted on the wall earlier happened in the mere five minutes I choose to take a potty break. However, I wouldn’t change it for the world. My family will always come before my blog, so if that means I choose to go to the park and out to ice cream instead of spending the evening writing then so be it.

Mountains or beach?

I am definitely a beach bum and am grateful my daughter and husband are too. I love it when my daughter asks me if we can go to the beach, which happens to be weekly. The mountains are full of beauty, but they will never beat out the crashing waves and salty air that I love so much.

What are the most important things you hope to pass on to your readers?

Get out there and create those memories. People wait weeks to try an experience in town, a whole year to take a vacation, years to take a trip of a lifetime. Life is to short to wait, so if you can, go. Go to that park, go see that friend, go on that trip because you never know how much time you have left.

What is your favorite post that you created? Why?

I have two; one prior to Sophie and one after she arrived. The one prior was our trip to Niagara Falls. I was brutally honest about our experience and is still one of our favorite trips to date. The second is our Untold Stories of Traveling with a Toddler. Truly a must-read for anyone who is traveling with a little one tow.

Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

I would definitely say an extrovert. I love meeting new people, trying new things and am not afraid to strike up a conversation in an elevator. However, as I have gotten older I tend to enjoy more time to myself or with just my family.