Summer Dreaming, Summer Exploring at Americas Footprints

My latest blog is up at Americas Footprints.  It is on activities you should try over the summer.  Below is a glimpse, but check the full article out here.

The summer travel season is upon us. Do you have plans yet? I know I made plans months ago and can't wait to get going, and doing, all the things I want to!

Whether you are planning a large trip or having a stay-cation make sure you take the time to explore your family roots too. Here are 5 ways to squeeze some family history fun into your summer time downtime.

1. Create a photo collage from summers past.

2. Take a virtual trip through your ancestral towns

3. Make ancestor trading cards for the younger (or young at heart) generations in your life

4. Take the time to write about your heirlooms so others will know where they came from

5. Document your life, since you are the absolute best person to do that

I hope you get out there and make the most of the next few months by trying a few!

Love, loss and self curating

This week my latest post on America's Footprints went live.  It is titled "Don't Leave it For The Kids: The Art of Self-Curating."  I am going to be honest with you.  The post was a hard one to write.  However, it was necessary.

You see, my mother passed away unexpectedly a few months ago.  Maybe you have noticed the last
few months of odd posting and near radio silence on my business social media.  Sorry, it may be a while before I am back up and running at 100%.

Me and my mother on
my wedding day

The week after my mother's death we started the process of cleaning, pitching, organizing and moving my father in with us.  As I did that, with the wonderful assistance of my husband and mother in law, all I could think of was a conversation I had several years ago over lunch with Denise Levenick, whose is also known as The Family Curator.

We were having lunch talk about something, what I cannot remember, but she told me that she self -curates.  I have to admit I must have gasped and looked at her funny.  Then I distinctly remember her telling me that she was serious, 'cause there were just somethings that her kids just didn't need to know or see.

I mulled that over, mostly because too many of my ancestors were the type that burned everything "not useful" after someone died.  to be fair, I am also a collector and it hurts me to throw something sentimental away. Now though, I totally see her point of view.

In the near future, I may begin to self-curate a few items myself.  It may hurt me, but in the long run, it will be well worth it.

Do You Collect The Stories of Your Female Ancestors?

This month I wrote a post for America's Footprints commemorating March as Women's History Month.    I talk about how we should honor and remember all of our ancestors no matter how big, or small, their deeds.

Here is a small snippet from the post:

My mom is an amazing woman. My grandmothers lived through so much. The women in my family, well, they amaze me. 

March is National Women's History Month and I always try to research a woman ancestor who I know little about. Everyone has a story to tell, but many times it is the women who get overlooked in our histories. Yes, they are at times harder to research, but does that make them less? 

Not in my book. 

Some of my favorite stories growing up were told to me by my grandmothers about the strong women in their family. Now, I say strong, but I honestly do not think if they were alive today they would say that. To them the women they descended from did what they had to survive, they did not do anything out of the ordinary, but to me they did oh so much.

If that hooked you, Click here to read the rest of the post.