Before I begin I have to ask, “What do you think of my outfit?” I went to the Loft at Crabtree Valley Mall in North Carolina. They had it in XS Petite, but I needed it in XXS Petite, so I had them call up another mall. That Loft had it. I told them to put it on hold. I’ll be there soon. When I got there, it was on sale for 40% off, but I had an additional 15% in my Loft Reward Points. But guess what, a few days later it went on sale for 65% off! So I drove back to the store, and harassed - I mean politely asked - them to return it and do a price adjustment. So guess what - you won’t believe it - I got this all for $15.99, originally $150. Never buy something full price. If you couldn’t tell, my mom was an avid shopper and a good one at that. I am not. I shamefully have to admit that I, a 34 year old woman, was still having most of my clothes picked out and bought for me by my mom. When someone really close to you whom you love dies, there are a lot of firsts. The first birthday without them. The first time you walk into their house and are overwhelmingly reminded of them in every little thing you see. The first time you realize you used the past tense instead of the present tense. The first time you pick up the phone to call or text them and realize you can’t do that anymore. The first time you wake up from a vivid dream about them and are crushed that it isn’t true. And, the first time you have to pick out your own outfit and can’t ask them what they think of it. Like for this occasion. My mom thoroughly enjoyed shopping for all of us even more than herself because that’s the kind of person she was. A true giver at heart. Recently, a social worker came to our house to interview us for our adoption. She asked me, “What was your childhood like?” I had to pause. My childhood? Were there words to describe it? I simply said, “It was amazing.” It was amazing for my brother and me because of my parents. We lived next to the Taylors and there were a lot of other kids in the neighborhood. My mom was a neat freak like her mom, my grandma. But our front door was always open and people were constantly coming in and out of our house. Kids would run in and kick off their shoes. She would run to get out the snacks and then run over to the door to wipe off the fingerprint smudges on the glass. Then, she would get down on her hands and knees to scrub up the footprints, only to have another little kid trod his muddy shoes into the house. She didn’t care. She loved it. My parents literally let us in every nook and cranny in the house. We were in closets, crawl spaces (that area in between the family room and bathroom in the basement), beds, office, garage, etc. Nothing was off limits. I’m the same way - I allow the kids anywhere.It was fun for us kids! Her greatest joy was serving others and if others were happy, she was happy. For a few summers, she would help organize the neighborhood carnival in our yard. She came up with the idea to take the money we earned, donate it to Catholic Charities, and then spend the day helping out there. At first, we were like “C’mom Mom, really?” but as always she was trying to teach us a valuable lesson on helping others and treating all people with kindness. She was constantly the shuttle to my friends and Kyle’s friends. She drove us around everywhere. Kelly and Stef Yawwwnnn, as she would call her, would sit up front, so my mom would get the gossip and 4-1-1, as she would say to them. I had every reason to be 100% embarrassed by her. The voices she made. The quirky, hyper dances she did. And the way that she was always around because she volunteered for.every.thing. Hot Lunch. Script at Church. Homeroom Mom. Class Field Trips. Volunteering at Catholic Charities. But I never was. Because she was awesome. Even in high school, our house was still the place to hang out. We’d somehow always end up back at our house after a successful Friendship Day Celebration. If you don’t know what Friendship Day is, look it up. I just want to say directly to my friends and Kyle’s friends, she loved you. A lot. She'll always be the first teacher to Kyle and me. So many trips to the library. So many books read. Every Christmas had to include some type of educational toy. And for dinner each night, we each had our meal served on either a Presidents or Map of Each Continent placemat. It’s no wonder Kyle knew all the presidents in order in Kindergarten and then went on to be a two time geography bee champ (I only ever got 2nd place. She must have served him more meals on the continent placemats than she did to me.) Now, I would like to recognize some important people in my mom’s life. Her nieces and nephews…Jeff, Mike, Jason, Jeremey, Ryan, Sheryl, Jenna, Casey, Amy, Chas, Sarah, and Jack. She loved you and your children all so much and cared about you all probably to a fault. Her childhood, high school, college, and later year friends. She talked about you often. In fact, we just enjoyed a nice lunch with you, Kathleen and Mrs. Anghie. Her best friends, Jackie, Lisa, and Tammie, she loved you so much as well and I’m so glad she was able to go on a Bucket List Trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons this summer. She was so excited to go and had a blast. Except she did tell me that it was too cold and she never had enough socks on. Our family in New Jersey, she really enjoyed our last trip this summer for 4th of July. I thought it was perfect, and we really enjoyed each other’s company. Thank you for welcoming her into the family when she married my dad. Her siblings, Teri, Marla, Charlene, and Charlie thank you for taking care of her as her older siblings. You also helped her check off another bucket list item and see New England in the fall on your sister's trip (sorry Charlie). James, my husband, she always raved about how great of a father you are to Henry. Always know that you were like a son to her. Caroline, you are our newest addition. She was so pleased that Kyle found a “nice, young lady” a phrase that she said for years. She took comfort in knowing Kyle has you. My mom also struck up some unlikely friendships with a lot of people. I would laugh at the relationships she would get herself into and shake my head in puzzlement wondering how she ended up FaceBook Video Chatting every week with a young man whom she delivered meals on wheels to or texting back and forth with a podcast listener of Kyle’s or somehow bringing another kid into the house after Kyle and I moved out. Yes, that would be DJ. DJ was our ornery little brother from the Big Brothers program. My mom and DJ were quite the pair and I can say that each of them touched one another’s lives. DJ passed away in March, and I’m sure he was eagerly awaiting for my mom to come, so he could convince her to take him to the mall and buy him something, which let’s face it, you never had to convince her to go to the mall. I know she was so proud of Kyle and me. She instilled in me that love for teaching and learning, and I’m a teacher today because of her. Thank you, Mom. Because you were such a great teacher to me, I’ve been able to be a great teacher to countless students and a mom like you were to Henry. Your impact will be felt for many years to come. Kyle, she was so proud of you too for educating people on new, untold stories. She loved being part of the Barstool Community and an honorary Yak Mother. She always thought how funny and creative you were. Dad, you and her made a great team. Her strengths were your weakness and vice versa. You were the one who could make her laugh the most, and that’s something I’m really going to miss. And finally, to my Henry, you aren’t here today and are too young to fully understand, but one day I hope you read this and know that you were Grandma’s greatest joy. She’ll always be kept alive in our hearts. So to Dad, Kyle, James, and Henry I’ll never be able to replace my mom or do half the things that she did, but I promise to you that I’ll still get you Easter baskets even when we all are well over 30, 40, 50, 60 years old. I promise that everyone will have an equal number of Christmas presents to unwrap. I promise you, Henry, that you will get your red peppers and chicken noodle soup because, “Lauren, he’s got to eat his veggies and protein.” I promise that I’ll get you new library books every week like she did. I promise that I will pack peanut butter pizza, apples, and a pack of crackers whenever we go out to save money on buying food. I promise that we will continue playing trivia, and we will always save an empty seat for her. I promise that I will send you Brain Candy. Maybe not every day like Mom. I promise that I’ll *try* key word, try to learn how to make bean burgers and burrito bowls and clean the house like she did. But most importantly, I promise that I will do my part in getting you all to Heaven because faith was more important than anything to her. My mom hasn’t had the easiest 12 years. She had two previous brain aneurysms and surgery. She had breast cancer. Skin cancer. Osteoporosis. Somehow fell down the stairs and broke her arm. Somehow fell down doing a fancy ice-skating trick and fractured her shoulder. And as of recently, a fear of dementia. But we had a running joke in our family that nothing, absolutely nothing, was worse than getting sunscreen in your eyes. She would come back from chemo and tell us about it, but we would say back, “Well, that sounds bad but was it worse than getting sunscreen in your eyes?” It was only fitting that the last Sunday mass she ever went to was at the beach when we went the week before her death. We were at the beach earlier that day and my dad got sunscreen in his eyes. He was in bad shape. So there we were listening to the Gospel of Matthew detail how Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water when we looked over at my dad. His eyes were closed. His face was beat red. And tears were streaming down his face. My mom and I couldn’t stop laughing throughout the whole Gospel. In fact, she let a burst of laughter out that could be heard throughout the whole church. So remember that when you feel the immense sadness of missing my mom. Because it could be worse. You could have sunscreen in your eyes. But that was my mom. Laughing through all the suffering and continuing on serving other people. She was always hard on herself. Never giving herself enough credit. But my mom had the most beautiful faith, the greatest love for the Lord, and the kindest of hearts. My heart will always ache for her. Like someone just told me, Great lives equal great grief and it would be a disservice to my mom if losing her was anything less than devastating. Mom, I’m so happy that you are in an eternal state of joy with Jesus and Grandma and Granddad as well, looking down on us. Until we meet again, I miss you, I love you, and I’ll continue to do everything in your honor.
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Hanging Rock State Park has been on my bucket list to visit with my son for a while. A few years ago, I did the Hanging Rock Trail by myself and learned about how much the park has to offer. I vowed to come back. But this time with my son. He loves hiking. Hanging Rock State Park is about a 2 hour road trip from the Raleigh-Durham area. So a few weeks ago, we packed up our bags and set out for the park. First Stop: Lower Cascades FallsLower Cascades Falls is a hidden gem of North Carolina. It's one of the most beautiful waterfalls of North Carolina. Well... I don't know how much of a hidden gem it is anymore because it can get pretty busy. I suggest going early. Put this address into your GPS as it is not in the main part of the park: Address: 2143 Hall Rd, Westfield, NC 27053 Lower Cascades Falls is formed by Cascade Creek dropping down a 35-foot stone wall. Cascade Creek actually stems off from the lake inside Hanging Rock State Park. The Lower Cascades Trail is one of the shortest at Hanging Rock State Park (0.4 miles one-way), another reason it’s among the most popular. The hike begins with a mix of gravel, dirt, and rock before transitioning into a set of stone and wooden steps. Once there, you are greeted by a beautiful waterfall with a pool to wade in. *Pack water shoes and a bathing suit* I suggest letting your kid take the lead. My son had fun wading in the pool, climbing over all the works, and exploring the little creek that trickles down past the waterfall. Pack a lunch and a book and then just sit and soak up this majestic site. Second Stop: The Visitor CenterAddress: 1005 Visitor Center Drive, Westfield, NC 27053 We love to stop at the visitor center of any park to get a map, stop to use the bathroom, or learn more about the park. we stopped here, got a map, and planned out the rest of our day. A lot of trails are accessed from the Visitor's Center including Hanging Rock Trail. Third Stop: Hanging Rock LakeAddress: 2847 Hanging Rock Park Road, Westfield, NC 27053 A very short drive from the visitor's center is Hanging Rock Lake. We stopped here to eat our packed lunch and then decided to swim at the lake. Swimming Fees: $6/day for 13-year-olds and up. $4/day for children from three to 12 years old. Boat Rentals: ($7/hour) I thought that the lake was perfect for kids. There are lifeguards on duty, sand to play in, a calm lake to swim in, diving boards, boat rentals, changing rooms, bathrooms, concession stands, and a shelter that overlooks the lake with cozy rocking chairs to enjoy a treat in. We spent a couple hours here. Fourth Stop: Hidden Falls and Window FallsAfter the lake, we had one more short hike in us. We drove back to the Visitor's Center and started the Indian Creek Trail. Hidden Falls is 0.4 miles from the parking lot with Window Falls another 0.2 miles away from there. We hiked to Window Falls and turned around and came back. It was a 1.2 mile hike which was just the right length for my 4-year old. He started to grow tired after that. Fifth Stop: Cugino Forno PizzeriaWe drove to Winston-Salem which was on our way for the drive back to Raleigh. We stopped at Bailey Power Plant. Here's the description of this cool part of town: Bailey Power Plant offers a unique mixed-use environment at the epicenter of downtown Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter. This renovated building offers retail and office space and plenty of amenities—like being within steps of Bailey Park and a block away from Long Branch Trail access points. Enjoy expansive outdoor gathering spaces, communal break areas, conference rooms and innovative building design (including some historical pieces from the building’s past as a working coal-fired power plant). There are two nearby parking decks available in addition to ample street parking. We had pizza at Cugino Forno Pizzeria which is located right next to Incendiary Brewing Company. Pizza and beer after a long day of hiking! Perfect way to end the day.
In early 2019, I gave birth to my parents’ first grandson. One would think that that event would epitomize the year as the “biggest thing to happen” in the Bauer-Barrett family. But, alas, it just wasn’t so. For my brother, Kyle Bauer, although perfect, was starting his first full year working at Barstool and had what is now dubbed the Cocaine Incident which cemented its place as the “Biggest Thing to Happen” that year to our family. I’ll never forget that day. It was a glorious spring day. I was still reveling in maternity leave when I decided to take my son in his stroller to an evening Wine and Sip event at a local open air shopping and dining plaza. I was deliciously sipping on the sweet peach and pear aromas of a Selbach’s Incline Riesling, my first wine since the pangs of labor and delivery and wistfully staring at my beautiful cherub asleep in his pram. Soaking it all in figuratively and literally. Suddenly the vibrations of my IPhone rattled me out of my dreamlike state. It was my mother. I answered. “Lauren. It's your brother. Please pray for him,” she said. My Mom’s Origin StoryMy mom, although very talented in her own way (She has quite the eye for design), has always been lackluster in the content creative and athleticism departments. While that might sound harsh to you, when you come from or marry into a family who is constantly doing bits, writing blogs in their heads, or plotting their next scheme, lack of creativity will get you ridiculed. And my poor mom was no exception. When we played board games that required well thought out, creative answers, we would scoff at her one-word bland answers that oozed with her trying to be funny and risqué like her “poop” to our “Carter Huffman peeing his pants during the SVS Bomb Scare” in a game of Salad Bowl. “I wonder who wrote poop?” We would say dripping with sarcasm. Or we riddled her with insults when we discovered she couldn’t even paddle during a white water rafting trip because she was too uncoordinated. “Hey, mom, what college sport did you play again? Oh wait…none. Hahaha.” But we accept her because she is exceptional at cooking and cleaning. HOWEVER, before you start to pity poor Mrs. Bauer, know this, my mother would not be deterred and was tenacious in her own sense, especially when it came to her precious, perfect boy, Kyle. Despite her lack of ability in both athleticism and creative content she makes up for that in her desire for us to pursue athletics and creative content. She cried when Kyle and I decided to quit baseball and softball/basketball to focus solely on wrestling and running respectively. She lamented the fact that for years Kyle's Twitter humor, pranks, and gags were going unnoticed by big name companies like Barstool itself. "Why won't anyone hire Kyle? He's so funny." "Kyle deserves to be more than an intern. He's hilarious." "I just want Kyle to be happy and do something he loves. Why can't other people see how funny he is?" "Did you see Kyle's latest Twitter post, Lauren. It had me in tears." She would bemoan all those sentiments to me on the phone as I tried to inject quips about my own day of teaching. "I tried to teach my students the how to use context clues in reading, but it fell on deaf ears. Ha ha. Did you find that funny, Mom? Mom? You still there?" "Yeah..." But my comment was brushed away only to be reminded about the Craigslist ad Kyle had trolled. I was no Kbnoswag to my mom. For she was Kyle's biggest cheerleader and ultimate Momanger at that time. And like any good Momanger and their children, there bounds to come a time when the two come to blows (pun intended). And for our mother and son pair that time was the Cocaine Incident. Kyle is Hired to BarstoolKyle was hired to Barstool in the fall of 2018 and the whole family celebrated his accomplishment. And they also began to live and breath Barstool over the next few months. "Lauren, are you watching the Rundown? Did you read Kyle's latest blog? I think Big Cat likes Kyle. This is the best news." "Mom, I'm in labor. Can we speak about this later?" But as January turned into February and February into March, my mom began to pivot. If you know my mom, you know that she can pivot better than any NBA player. "I'm worried about your brother. I just want him to settle down, find a nice girl, and move to North Carolina to be near us." "I'm concerned about Kyle. I hope he isn't getting into drugs." "I don't like all these people commenting mean things about my son." "I hope Kyle is always staying humble and kind. Lauren, will you text him to remind him that. See if he is still going to church while you're at it." "Did you see what Kyle wrote in a blog, Lauren? He mentioned drugs. He told me that he doesn't do them. Do you think he really meant that?" "Kyle should just stick to the Craigslist blogs. People like those. I don't know why he has to write about p****y and women like that. It's disgusting." "Lauren, Kyle has a chance to win a trip to Vegas with Dave. Let's hope that he doesn't win. I don't want him going to that city and partying and all that debauchery. Also, you know your brother, he's shy. He doesn't like all that attention...." The Cocaine IncidentWell, as the story goes, Kyle did, in fact, win a trip to Vegas. Things went well from the start for our little hero. His quirky, weird brain antics were winning his boss and the rest of the fans over. Once again my mom pivoted faster than my husband walking into Harrison, Arkansas. "Did you see Kyle? He wore the same shirt as Dave. How funny. People thought he was funny." "Did you see the video of Kyle copying Dave's moves? Hilarious. About time people see what we see. Your brother is funny." "When Kyle gets back to New York, he needs to put himself out there more. He needs to be on camera." Kyle's schticks were pinging my mom's dopamine levels and making her higher than...well, Kyle was about to be. But then she got The Call on March 29 and she performed better than Chen Meng at the 2021 Summer Olympics with the way she was pinging and ponging back and forth. “Lauren. It's your brother. Please pray for him,” My wine hazed brain tried to muddle through every possible scenario about why I would have to pray for Kyle.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have come up with that he got kicked out of his hotel for cocaine residue and his subsequent phone call to Dave telling him that he got kicked out was posted on the internet. I was trying to comb through the details my mom was sobbing on about. Cocaine residue. Women. Security. New hotel. Pay for with his own money. Phone call posted on the internet. Pleaded with her that it wasn't his cocaine. Women. Met at pool. Partied in Kyle's room. Left the Cocaine. Will he get fired? Pray. Find God. Ping. It didn't make sense, but it should come as no surprise to me that out of all the tomfoolery in the Sin City that, of course, Kyle would be the one to get caught. "So, he's saying that the cocaine that he absolutely didn't do came from someone he met at the pool?" "That's what he saying. But I don't know what to believe." "He should just tell everyone that the cocaine came from a Pool Flooze." But just at that moment the band struck up Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac and my mom couldn't hear me. "What did you say, Lauren? A Pool Flooze? Apool flooze? April Fools! That's it, Lauren. You're a genius." She then quickly hung up the phone to do damage control for Kyle's return to the office on April 1. Pong. And the rest, as they say, is history... In SummaryMy mom has always been the best Momanger to Kyle. Although the two can sometimes be at odds with one another, she is always looking out for his best interests and is currently on a ban from watching anything Barstool related with Kyle in it because she was providing too much input. However, I'm sure the guy who keeps texting her is giving her updates (shout out to him!) But we all know that she'll be back. Like any good manager. In all seriousness, though, my mom, like my dad, is the best. She has an extremely generous heart, and we are just as much part of her coaching tree as we are Doug Wanoy's. And to end, let's all join my mom and collectively say a prayer for Kyle tonight. ***Please consider leaving a tip, so you can get more blogs like this*** Buy me a coffee And if you're a parent, check out my parenting guide Now What? Mindful Parenting Checklists for Life’s Hard Moments.
Meet Jack Bauer, the cousin of KBNoSwag and the Most the Most Secretive Member of the Family7/13/2023 *So I guess I'm just fully committed to writing blogs about my family this summer.* *Thank you for all the donations. They are helping with our adoption. And if you haven't, please consider leaving a tip.* ***Please consider leaving a tip, so you can get more blogs like this*** CLICK HERE TO TIP As we weave our way through Bauer Family lineage, today we will draw our attention to one of the most interesting members of our family, Jack Bauer. Birthed in 2001, Jack Bauer, a young man of honor, has lived a tragic life in his short years on this earth. In a kidnapping attempt gone wrong, his wife was killed, but his daughter was spared, and then Jack was left to raise his daughter alone. Spiraling into endless grief, Jack largely spent a season of his life cooped up mourning the loss of his beloved wife, but his boss ultimately helped pull Jack from the depths of despair only to be killed himself in an airplane accident. Jack then hit rock bottom and fell into a serious heroin addiction. Jack, being the brave and tenacious man that he is, eventually kicked the heroin addiction but not before he was fired from his job. A short time later, Jack had to end things with his new boss in order to avoid being blackmailed which then led him to faking his own death. After 5 years of more perilous and indescribable events happening to Jack Bauer, he decided to lay low and pretty much vanish from thin air and America's air waves. Birthed in 1997, my cousin, Jack Bauer (yes, that's his real name), came well before the above-mentioned Jack Bauer of the TV show 24 and lives a vastly different life. The Jack Bauer we are detailing today is the only son of Wick McBauerson. He resides in New Jersey and works as a solutions analyst. He recently got a promotion! In his leisure, he enjoys rock climbing and cheering on the Mets and Knicks. A self-proclaimed movie buff, Jack is a law abiding citizen and an overall outstanding guy. Jack Bauer, largely avoiding the public eye, doesn't engage in social media content and has no earthly idea that Kyle or myself are speaking and blogging about him. And that's all we know about our younger cousin. We have hit the end of the road, for now, of our Meet the Members of the Bauer Family sequence. I'll perhaps be back later to touch on Bo Bo, although you can learn all about our instrument baby grandma in the hit podcast You Can't Handle the Truth. My mother deserves a blog on her own. Wick is someone you just have to meet in person. My three female cousins are super interesting. My cousin's husband was a child actor. We all know that I'll eventually have to blog the Fall of Doug Wanoy: The Man Who Flew Too Close to the Sun. But for our next blog would you like...
Sound off in the comments. ***Please consider leaving a tip, so you can get more blogs like this*** Buy me a coffee And if you're a parent, check out my parenting guide Now What? Mindful Parenting Checklists for Life’s Hard Moments.
*So I guess I'm just fully committed to writing blogs about my family this summer. *Stoolies are the greatest! The amount of support and donations were incredible. I can't thank you enough. Today's Doug Wanoy's birthday (7/18). We are going to trivia tonight, so help me buy him a $150 Old Fashioned. * ***Please consider leaving a tip, so you can get more blogs like this*** CLICK HERE TO TIP Who is Syd Barrett?Our next stop on our journey through the Bauer Family is Syd Barrett. Syd Barrett is the oldest brother of the Bauer Brothers. *Side Note* There are three Bauer Brothers. The youngest (Jack Bauer's father), Wick McBauerson, perhaps might be the funniest of them all. He, however, has no aspirations to create content and lavish in the limelight but would rather create an app as a family, so we can get rich. Anyway... Although only a year apart, Syd Barrett is everything that Doug Wanoy is not. Doug is a troll that lurks behind a computer or in the shadows waiting to pounce on his next victim. Dare we say it, Doug, at his worst, might be perhaps a little mean. Syd is front and center, a Gallagher if you will, who marvels us with his slapstick humor and observational antics. Dare we say it, Syd, at his worst, might be perhaps a little cringey. Doug wishes to divide people with his escapades. At family gatherings, Doug will meticulously count the number of alcoholic beverages my cousin's husband consumes, so he can shame the unassuming lad later on. Syd yearns to unite people with his escapades. Syd will dress up in costume and perform song and dance to entertain the family with one of his many games he makes us play; all while pushing through his wife yelling, "[Insert real name], will you wrap this up please." Doug's goal is to get the family to argue. For example, Doug will whisper to Kyle's girlfriend (new to meeting the family) and ask if everyone is being nice and talking to her. He will coerce her to name the names of the people who aren't engaging her in conversation, so he can shame them. Syd, on the other hand, craves for the family to fawn, flaunt, and flock to and over him. For instance, Syd, at 60 + years of age and with a double hip replacement, will find a tree to climb and get perilously close to falling over the edge all in the name of the family to scream his name to get down. He is our family's paradigm of Michael Scott; his only wish is to be loved and admired by his family no matter the cost even if he has to sell his soul and time in the process. Does he need to be liked? Absolutely not. He likes to be liked. He enjoys being liked. He has to be liked, but it’s not like this compulsive need to be liked, like his need to be praised. We will explore three types of Syds today. Syd, the Card Guy Syd, the Podcaster Syd, the Godfather Syd, the Card GuyThe below excerpt was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul... For many, Jesus and Santa are the two main guys of Christmas. They steal the show. And although Jesus is definitely the reason for the season in our household, there is another guy who is almost just as important to our family every holiday season. It’s the Card Guy. We have a long-standing tradition on my dad’s side of the family of having a card contest over the years. What started out as a friendly game of voting on which Christmas card was the best to be sent to my uncle and his family turned into an all-out fierce competition of judging, alliances, secret voting, song and dance, tears, fights, and carefully crafting the perfect and funniest card for half a year. We’ve had family members become the Griswalds, Kardashians, Joe Biden and Obama, Doug Trump, and Ralphie and Randy from a Christmas Story all in the name of the Card Contest. And out of that, the Card Guy came to life. The Card Guy is my uncle. On the eve of the contest he transforms into character wearing a jean vest full of Christmas cards from days of yore. The lights dim, the music sounds, and he bursts into the room almost magically singing and dancing the opening number. Usually a spoof on a popular song. It’s oddly reminiscent of Michael Scott performing at the Dundies. Throughout his entire performance for the night, he does a spectacular job of hosting the contest. He divides the cards into categories: Nature, Religious, Landscape, and the biggest, most coveted one of all- the Picture category. Then, he dazzles us with his jokes, wit, charisma, and charm until he ultimately crowns the winner of the night. For a while, the Card Guy was on top of the world. But over time, we became greedy and hungry for victory. We pushed the Card Guy for more. More jokes. More songs. More pizzazz. And we riddled him when the contest dragged on for too long. We belittled him when our cards didn’t win. We booed him when his jokes didn’t land. We demanded him to perform like he was some kind of show puppet and not a real person with real feelings. We couldn’t see it, but the Card Guy was cracking. The pressure was too much. Finally, he hung up his hat and announced his retirement. Some family members made feeble attempts to encourage him to perform again, but he simply wouldn’t do it. But with the birth of children, weddings, surgeries, and the like, the family wasn’t able to be together at Christmastime for the past few years. We made some tries to have the contest over Facebook, but it was missing something. It was missing the Card Guy. With the last years being so hard we all needed something to unite the world during the holiday season. Someone to bring peace and simplicity back into the homes of America again. We needed the Card Guy. But more importantly, we needed the Card Guy because he unites our family together. He makes us laugh. He makes us value family traditions. He gives us hope that despite everything that has happened in the world, we will always have each other to lean on, fight and make up with, and ultimately create long-lasting memories with. Ones we can tell our children about. 2020 wasn't the year for traditions to be forgotten. It was the year for them to be remade, rebirthed, restored in any way possible. It was the year for Card Guy. The Card Guy TrailersThese videos are edited and produced by my cousin who is the most adept with content and production in our family. The Blair Card Project The Covid Card Guy Part 1 The Covid Card Guy Part 2 Sampling of Christmas Cards Over the Years |
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing 4-year old. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
*So I guess I'm just fully committed to writing blogs about my family this summer.*
*Thank you for all the donations. They are helping with our adoption. And if you haven't, please consider leaving a tip.*
***Please consider leaving a tip, so you can get more blogs like this***
CLICK HERE TO TIP
*Thank you for all the donations. They are helping with our adoption. And if you haven't, please consider leaving a tip.*
***Please consider leaving a tip, so you can get more blogs like this***
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Who is Doug Wanoy?
Doug Wanoy is a heavy Lib. A Serbian Hero. An activist. An advocate. A pickleball player. A Kansas City Chief's fan. A troll. He is everything and he is nothing all at once.
Someone who set out to do his work in anonymity has suddenly gained some notoriety and now people are left with some burning questions...
Is Doug Wanoy Kyle? Is Kyle Doug Wanoy? Is Doug Wanoy me? Is it all one elaborate scheme? What is real and what is fake?
And that, my friends, is all part of the Doug Wanoy's Coaching Tree 10 Step Protocol.
Someone who set out to do his work in anonymity has suddenly gained some notoriety and now people are left with some burning questions...
Is Doug Wanoy Kyle? Is Kyle Doug Wanoy? Is Doug Wanoy me? Is it all one elaborate scheme? What is real and what is fake?
And that, my friends, is all part of the Doug Wanoy's Coaching Tree 10 Step Protocol.
Doug Wanoy's Coaching Tree 10 Step Protocol.
#1 Change Your Persona Often
Any good ruse master knows that if you change your Twitter Bio or Facebook picture often enough that no will expect anything or be none the wiser.
By doing this, you are guaranteeing that nothing can be traced backed to you.
"Oh no, that is Doug Wanoy the wannabe football ref. I'm Doug Wanoy the Serbian hero. We are absolutely not the same person."
By doing this, you are guaranteeing that nothing can be traced backed to you.
"Oh no, that is Doug Wanoy the wannabe football ref. I'm Doug Wanoy the Serbian hero. We are absolutely not the same person."
#2. Commit to the Bit
Always, always commit to the bit. Even if you have to play the long game. Even if you have to throw up a poll. It is worth it it.
Exhibit A
During Christmas vacation a few years ago, Doug Wanoy started to grow a Fumanchu. He offered a prize to anyone who could point out something different about him. This game taunted, rattled, and drove family members to the point of insanity trying to guess what it was.
But Doug Wanoy waited patiently and finally weeks later my husband guessed it.
Exhibit B
Exhibit A
During Christmas vacation a few years ago, Doug Wanoy started to grow a Fumanchu. He offered a prize to anyone who could point out something different about him. This game taunted, rattled, and drove family members to the point of insanity trying to guess what it was.
But Doug Wanoy waited patiently and finally weeks later my husband guessed it.
Exhibit B
#3 Don't Be Afraid to Take Things Too Far
There comes a point in your training where you are going to need to step out of your comfort zone, rattle a few feathers, and take things too far. You might even sacrifice Civic Integrity all in the name of a prank.
When you have mastered this art, you are ready.
When you have mastered this art, you are ready.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
#4 Be Competitive Even If You Have to Sacrifice Your Own Enjoyment
I'm not talking about just sports and games here. You need to have the drive to win no matter what you do.
- Jogging down the side of the road and someone else is jogging? WIN.
- Taking a trip to Manitoba Springs, CO and want to hike the Incline? Leave your loved ones behind even if they are gasping for oxygen and WIN.
- Going on a white water rafting trip with your wife, 16-year old daughter, and 10-year old son without a guide in your raft? You must be the first raft to finish and WIN.
- Doing a fun father-daughter scavenger hunt for Father's Day? Soak yourself in sweat and WIN.
#5 Infilitrate Snake Identification Groups
Snake Identification Groups are easy targets.
They take pride in their snake sightings. You take pride in messing with them.
They say venomous. You say poisonous.
They say the snake is harmless. You say the snake is lethal.
You garner (garter for a snake pun) sympathy. They ask you to stay.
They take pride in their snake sightings. You take pride in messing with them.
They say venomous. You say poisonous.
They say the snake is harmless. You say the snake is lethal.
You garner (garter for a snake pun) sympathy. They ask you to stay.
#6 Always Fake Outrage
One of the most important rules in the protocol is to fake that you are outraged by someone's innocent actions.
If someone says, posts, or writes something remotely on the side of obscene, offensive, or off kiltered, you are to be outraged no matter of the outrageous actions you have done in the past.
This takes any and all attention away from whatever you did. Because we all know you did something.
If someone says, posts, or writes something remotely on the side of obscene, offensive, or off kiltered, you are to be outraged no matter of the outrageous actions you have done in the past.
This takes any and all attention away from whatever you did. Because we all know you did something.
#7 Support Your Loved Ones
You must always support your loved ones. Even if you are 100% wrong. Teach others to do the same.
Exhibit A
My mom and I bribed people to subscribe to the Yak.
My mom and I bribed people to subscribe to the Yak.
Exhibit B
My one and only comment for a while on my blog about Kyle. I didn't know who Doug Wanoy was at first, and I was deeply saddened.
My one and only comment for a while on my blog about Kyle. I didn't know who Doug Wanoy was at first, and I was deeply saddened.
Exhibit C
Dean (aka my dad) comment on my blog about MLB stadiums. At first, I thought it was a real person who liked my blog but then he tried to get me to buy him tickets to a game.
Dean (aka my dad) comment on my blog about MLB stadiums. At first, I thought it was a real person who liked my blog but then he tried to get me to buy him tickets to a game.
#8 Be Vehemently Wrong
Be wrong about something so absurd and spend hours arguing about it for the sake of it.
Once I overheard my dad and my cousin's husband arguing over who is more athletic: Cross Country runners or Lebron James.
As a former cross country runner collegiately, I appreciate how right he is.
Then, you know what to do next.
Once I overheard my dad and my cousin's husband arguing over who is more athletic: Cross Country runners or Lebron James.
As a former cross country runner collegiately, I appreciate how right he is.
Then, you know what to do next.
#9 Annoy Pickleball Groups Relentlessly
When you think you've annoyed them enough, go back for more.
Go until the Pickler does an article about you.
Go until the Pickler does an article about you.
#10 Be the Best
In all seriousness, my dad is the best. Everyone he meets loves him. He is so willing to help everyone and go out of his way to make someone feel comfortable or help someone in need.
He was the best dad growing up and still is.
He is retired from actual work (not trolling) but yet he wakes up at 5am to Uber in order to help raise money for our adoption.
Although I think he spends most of the Uber ride trying to see if people know who Kyle is and ultimately who he is, he doesn't have to be doing this.
Raise a glass for Doug Wanoy tonight.
He was the best dad growing up and still is.
He is retired from actual work (not trolling) but yet he wakes up at 5am to Uber in order to help raise money for our adoption.
Although I think he spends most of the Uber ride trying to see if people know who Kyle is and ultimately who he is, he doesn't have to be doing this.
Raise a glass for Doug Wanoy tonight.
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And if you're a parent, check out my parenting guide Now What? Mindful Parenting Checklists for Life’s Hard Moments.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
Ahh Kyle, my perfect brother.
What many of you probably don’t know is that Kyle has been perfect for a long time. His perfection has reigned upon us long before Barstool was even a glimmer in his eye and the No Swag moniker graced us with its presence on Twitter.
No, his perfect era commenced the moment the eye liner goatee was drawn upon his tiny face and he donned the oversized suit jacket. The moment he transformed - nay became - his most coveted persona, Roger Chan.
Who is Roger Chan? Let me first back up to an interview conducted by the Starr** Magazine back in 2022.
What many of you probably don’t know is that Kyle has been perfect for a long time. His perfection has reigned upon us long before Barstool was even a glimmer in his eye and the No Swag moniker graced us with its presence on Twitter.
No, his perfect era commenced the moment the eye liner goatee was drawn upon his tiny face and he donned the oversized suit jacket. The moment he transformed - nay became - his most coveted persona, Roger Chan.
Who is Roger Chan? Let me first back up to an interview conducted by the Starr** Magazine back in 2022.
Roger Chan
The Rise of Bauer and Company (aka B Co)
We are all familiar with Kyle’s successful singing debut Dragonfly Sinner (Salmon Sunset) in the band Gaze, but fans of the 5’6, “stronger than he is short,” singer will be shocked to know that Kyle was in a singing and acting troupe years before the Gaze men were nailing it in in Southern California by rocking, rolling, and banging. Annals of Bauer History will confirm there was once a group called Bauer and Company that Kyle was in, but, of course you don’t know that because Kyle is too humble to tell you about it.
The year was 1997 and Kyle, a tiny tot, was hanging out with his two older female cousins and Lauren, his older sister in New Jersey. Like any other bored youths of the time, they came up with the idea to start a band.
And that was how the birth of Bauer and Company came to be.
“Yeah, my cousins and sisters forced me to wear fuzzy sweaters and twirl and sing and prance about to songs we wrote. Little did they know that they were pushing me into eventually being part of the Gaze community…Nick, Donny, our producers, and all our fans. I owe my success to B and Co,” Kyle, the smallest newborn, responded when asked what he credits his newfound fame and fortune to.
Bauer and Company topped the charts with hit songs like “I Don’t Care Where We Go,” “I Don’t See the Beach,” and “I’m a Little Seal Girl,” (which was later found to be directly stolen from Nickelodeon's As Told By Ginger).
The group spent their summers touring and performing all over New Jersey in their grandma’s and aunt’s/uncle’s houses and producing videos for their special out on Home Videos.
But the fame and success of singing wasn’t enough. They decided they had to break into the acting world.
Kyle's highlight reel of Bauer and Company
Bauer and Company Take Acting By a Storm
The quartet, together with their dads: Doug Wanoy, Lauren and Kyle’s dad and also a heavy Lib on Twitter (who is bound to take things too far one day and get canceled by the masses) and Syd Barrett, their uncle (not to be confused with singer and guitarist Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd), host of the podcast You Can’t Handle the Truth with their grandma and who also has an alter ego on social media (Syd isn’t his real name), took acting by the storm all over the BROAD entryWAY of the house.
Our rendition of King Arthur (clips have been edited and shortened). This is produced by my oldest cousin who was a theater major and now theater teacher. She is actually probably the most talented of the family.
They would perform plays complete with curtains and all in front of their moms and grandma before the adults begged them to do more but to film it first instead.
Kyle, the little thespian that he is, always took on the lovable role of the perfect, tiny boy.
Kyle, the little thespian that he is, always took on the lovable role of the perfect, tiny boy.
When asked to describe Kyle’s acting chops, Kyle’s cousin who wishes to remain nameless because she doesn’t the crave attention like the men in the family, said this:
“Kyle, while he never had the shining star role, was always the missing puzzle piece to the whole production. The adorable way he didn’t make eye contact with the camera was endearing. He was also well trained. I remember in one Christmas play we performed he refused to wear a coat in one of the outdoor scenes. I guess he didn’t like the way it felt, but his sister, Lauren, was furious that he wasn’t committed to the part. Not wearing a coat because of the fabric? Odd, this tic? you ask. Some may say so, but I don’t think it was odd at all. The audience ate up all of Kyle’s little quirks. I just think Kyle knew how to play each of his parts to perfection. Has he told you about Roger Chan yet?
“Kyle, while he never had the shining star role, was always the missing puzzle piece to the whole production. The adorable way he didn’t make eye contact with the camera was endearing. He was also well trained. I remember in one Christmas play we performed he refused to wear a coat in one of the outdoor scenes. I guess he didn’t like the way it felt, but his sister, Lauren, was furious that he wasn’t committed to the part. Not wearing a coat because of the fabric? Odd, this tic? you ask. Some may say so, but I don’t think it was odd at all. The audience ate up all of Kyle’s little quirks. I just think Kyle knew how to play each of his parts to perfection. Has he told you about Roger Chan yet?
Roger Chan and the Perfect Family
After doing some digging around, we came across a certain recurring production that the four cousins would put on called The Perfect Family.
Based upon our research The Perfect Family was a reality hit TV show-esque production of the lives of four family members who were…well perfect.
Who was this family? The Chans. The mother - Mary Chan. The father - Roger Chan. The daughters - Melissa and Theresa Chan.
When asked if this family was portrayed after a family of Asian descent, the actress portraying Mary Chan stammered, “Asian? No, umm we just assumed they were a suburban white family who lived in New England. Shoot…is that bad? We just really liked the name Chan (after Julie Chen, the host of Big Brother) and various iterations of it. Hey, listen, we were just kids. Don’t cancel us.”
When Kyle was asked the same question, he responded “I have a half Asian girlfriend so technically I am a half Asian boyfriend, so I’m allowed to have portrayed a character with a half Asian name. I also am a Black uncle. So there’s that…”
We, here at the Starr**, aren't quite sure what that means, but we will let it slide .
Kyle played the role of Roger Chan and his portrayal of this character earned him a #7 spot on Most Memorable Bauer and Company Characters.
Here is what is said about him from a description of the character from 2005…
Father Knows Best - Father Christmas. Father Time. The Founding Fathers. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All great fathers, but they pale in comparison to this father: Roger Chan. Kyle Bauer took on the role as the breadwinner for the Perfect Family, the Chan Family. Although shorter than most men, Kyle’s heart and love for the Chans made him the greatest father there ever was and ever will be. Perfectly quaffed with a tiny brown mustache and perpetually cloaked in his sports jacket and tie, Kyle became the man we wish we could say, “I love you, Dad,” to on Father’s Day. He wrote poetry, brought syrup home from Vermont, shaved till his chin was velvety smooth, and cared for his children and wife with love. We here at the Starr never saw Kyle so accepting of a role and so willing to yield to its power. We all think that if Kyle turns out to be half the father he portrayed as Roger Chan then his kids should count their blessings and thank their lucky stars. If only everyone in the world could be so lucky.
Based upon our research The Perfect Family was a reality hit TV show-esque production of the lives of four family members who were…well perfect.
Who was this family? The Chans. The mother - Mary Chan. The father - Roger Chan. The daughters - Melissa and Theresa Chan.
When asked if this family was portrayed after a family of Asian descent, the actress portraying Mary Chan stammered, “Asian? No, umm we just assumed they were a suburban white family who lived in New England. Shoot…is that bad? We just really liked the name Chan (after Julie Chen, the host of Big Brother) and various iterations of it. Hey, listen, we were just kids. Don’t cancel us.”
When Kyle was asked the same question, he responded “I have a half Asian girlfriend so technically I am a half Asian boyfriend, so I’m allowed to have portrayed a character with a half Asian name. I also am a Black uncle. So there’s that…”
We, here at the Starr**, aren't quite sure what that means, but we will let it slide .
Kyle played the role of Roger Chan and his portrayal of this character earned him a #7 spot on Most Memorable Bauer and Company Characters.
Here is what is said about him from a description of the character from 2005…
Father Knows Best - Father Christmas. Father Time. The Founding Fathers. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All great fathers, but they pale in comparison to this father: Roger Chan. Kyle Bauer took on the role as the breadwinner for the Perfect Family, the Chan Family. Although shorter than most men, Kyle’s heart and love for the Chans made him the greatest father there ever was and ever will be. Perfectly quaffed with a tiny brown mustache and perpetually cloaked in his sports jacket and tie, Kyle became the man we wish we could say, “I love you, Dad,” to on Father’s Day. He wrote poetry, brought syrup home from Vermont, shaved till his chin was velvety smooth, and cared for his children and wife with love. We here at the Starr never saw Kyle so accepting of a role and so willing to yield to its power. We all think that if Kyle turns out to be half the father he portrayed as Roger Chan then his kids should count their blessings and thank their lucky stars. If only everyone in the world could be so lucky.
Roger Chan highlight reel
Yes, Kyle, as Roger Chan, and his affinity for his family and the Lord, was the epitome of perfect.
But after he broke away from Bauer and Company and couldn't rely on the scripts provided for him by his older cousin and the scriptures given to him from Lauren his Confirmation sponsor, Kyle's perfection was questioned.
He had some underage drinking and cocaine incidents, and he was struggling to find his place at Barstool.
Yeah life was no picnic for our star stunted boy and he was in a rut.
That is until he decided to literally pick Nick, put his thang down, flip it, and reverse it (the it being his "in a rut" phase). Now his career has taken off and his perfection is reigning down on us again.
But we never had any doubt, did we? Because Kyle has always been a perfect boy.
But after he broke away from Bauer and Company and couldn't rely on the scripts provided for him by his older cousin and the scriptures given to him from Lauren his Confirmation sponsor, Kyle's perfection was questioned.
He had some underage drinking and cocaine incidents, and he was struggling to find his place at Barstool.
Yeah life was no picnic for our star stunted boy and he was in a rut.
That is until he decided to literally pick Nick, put his thang down, flip it, and reverse it (the it being his "in a rut" phase). Now his career has taken off and his perfection is reigning down on us again.
But we never had any doubt, did we? Because Kyle has always been a perfect boy.
And if you're a parent, check out my parenting guide Now What? Mindful Parenting Checklists for Life’s Hard Moments.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
Only 5 hours from our home in Raleigh, North Carolina, Savannah was a perfect place to start our summer vacation.
The historical, picturesque city located on the coast of Georgia has plenty to do, eat, and see with kids.
I highly recommend packing up the car and spending a long weekend here.
And trust me - you won't even have touched all the great restaurants Savannah has to offer.
The historical, picturesque city located on the coast of Georgia has plenty to do, eat, and see with kids.
I highly recommend packing up the car and spending a long weekend here.
And trust me - you won't even have touched all the great restaurants Savannah has to offer.
The Logistics
The Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Bonus Morning Before We Left
Suggestions/Recommendations
- Traveled by car from Raleigh, NC to Columbia, SC where we visited Congaree National Park and stayed in an AirBNB right outside Columbia.
- Traveled with my husband and son.
- Stayed in an AirBNB in Savannah near Forsyth Park.
- Stayed 3 days, 3 nights.
The Itinerary
Day 1
- We left our Airbnb from Gaston, SC by 9:30 and made it to Savannah a little before noon.
- The first place we stopped was LEOPOLD'S ICE CREAM - this ice cream place can get crowded and the lines long, so it was recommended that we get there as soon as it opens (which is 12 Noon). And we didn't have to wait at all!
- Since we couldn't check into our AirBNB until 3:00 PM, we walked the squares of Savannah, including CITY MARKET, a lovely square with shops, restaurants, and museums (very kid friendly) and stopped in shops like THE PARIS MARKET, a store with books, antiques, and unique collections (not the most kid friendly).
- With some time still to kill we drove to WORMSLOE HISTORIC SITE just to take pictures of one of the most photographed places of all of Savannah.
- We also stopped to play on one of the two playgrounds of FORSYTH PARK and take pictures near the famous fountain.
- Checked into AIRBNB and got ready for dinner at THE PIRATES' HOUSE, a restaurant kids will love for its pirate theme. We made reservations ahead of time.
- We walked to the river and RIVER STREET and just strolled along the path near the river.
- Went to bed
Day 2
- We woke up and had a delicious brunch at COLLINS QUARTER in Forsyth Park. I highly recommend this!
- We walked to the GEORGIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM and the SAVANNAH'S CHILDREN MUSEUM, which are all operated under the same corporation because we bought the package ticket. We looked at the old trains at the Railroad Museum and rode the handcar and train ride which operates by the hour. We then left for the all-outdoor children's museum which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED. 100% recommend! 5 stars!
- Got caught in rain storms but that gave us a chance the ride the free DOT SHUTTLE which takes you around the city.
- Took a break at our AIRBNB.
- Drove to near River Street (parking on River Street is hard) and had dinner at HUEY'S ON THE RIVER, a lovely dining experience with a view. You can't make reservations here, but we got in no problem; however, it was a Thursday evening.
- We then walked back to CITY MARKET to get candy and chocolates from SAVANNAH'S CANDY KITCHEN and a wine slushie (for moi) from THE GEORGIA TASTING ROOM (You can do a $3 wine tasting here). We then hung out in the square enjoying live music.
- Went to bed
Day 3
- We woke up, had breakfast, and then drove the 30 minutes to Savannah's beach on TYBEE ISLAND. We spent 3 hours on the South Beach.
- We had lunch on THE DECK, an oceanfront restaurant. I got the shrimp and lobster roll which was AMAZING.
- Took a break at our AIRBNB.
- We went to dinner at the 5 SPOT MIDTOWN.
- After went back to the RIVERFRONT and RIVER STREET (there's so much to do there), we walked along the river. This time it was a Friday night, so more people and live music were out.
- I wanted to see the view of the city, river, and sunset, so I went to the roof of ROCKS ON THE ROOF. I recommend going here without kids.
- We got cookies from BRYD'S FAMOUS COOKIES and called it a night.
Bonus Morning Before We Left
- Played one more time at Forsyth Park + they have a Farmer's Market on Saturdays.
- Coffee from GROUND ESPRESSO and book browsing at the BOOK LADY BOOKSTORE.
- Final pictures in the square of the trees and Spanish Moss.
- Hit the road.
Suggestions/Recommendations
- Visit without kids to do more of the bar and brewery scene.
- Take a ghost or trolley tour.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
In our quest to see all the National Parks, we knew that we had to make a pitstop to Congaree National Park on our way to our vacation in Savannah.
Congaree is only 3 1/2 hours from our home in Garner/Raleigh, North Carolina, so it was a no-brainer that we stop here.
We went in mid-June. Although the mosquitoes weren't bad, BRING BUG SPRAY!!
However, I'll be honest, I've been putting this park off for a bit because I've read that it ranks near last in rankings of National Parks.
And while it's not TERRIBLE, I can see why it ranks near last when there are parks like Yosemite, Grand Tetons, and Glacier out there.
But, if you're like us, and "have to" stop at this park to get them all, I have some activities to do with kids to make your stop worthwhile.
Congaree is only 3 1/2 hours from our home in Garner/Raleigh, North Carolina, so it was a no-brainer that we stop here.
We went in mid-June. Although the mosquitoes weren't bad, BRING BUG SPRAY!!
However, I'll be honest, I've been putting this park off for a bit because I've read that it ranks near last in rankings of National Parks.
And while it's not TERRIBLE, I can see why it ranks near last when there are parks like Yosemite, Grand Tetons, and Glacier out there.
But, if you're like us, and "have to" stop at this park to get them all, I have some activities to do with kids to make your stop worthwhile.
Canoe Cedar Creek
Canoeing CEDAR CREEK was the main event of our stop at Congaree.
We drove to Columbia, SC first to pick up our canoe at RIVER RUNNER OUTDOOR CENTER.
There are other places to rent canoes/kayaks or even take a tour, but since we were driving down from Raleigh same day the tours were all too early.
The pro about renting our own canoe was that we could control the pace and how long we spent on the creek.
With our 4-year old son with us this was ideal in case he got antsy and wanted to turn around.
The con was that we had to unload and load the canoe on and off our car by ourselves, which was a pain when we had to put it back on the car.
We actually had trouble but the customer services from River Runner was A+ because the woman who worked there FaceTimed with us to help.
For the actual trip, we drove to Cedar Creek Canoe Launch/Kingsnake Trailhead to launch our canoe.
We floated down the creek first which was easy and didn't require a lot of rowing. After about a half hour, we turned around to go upstream which required a little more rowing but it wasn't too strenuous.
The whole trip was about an hour which is perfect for a 4-year old.
Overall: The trip was enjoyable. We saw some turtles and that was it. However, it wasn't spectacular and reminded me of floating down the river in Raleigh, NC. The landscape and scenery were about the same.
We drove to Columbia, SC first to pick up our canoe at RIVER RUNNER OUTDOOR CENTER.
There are other places to rent canoes/kayaks or even take a tour, but since we were driving down from Raleigh same day the tours were all too early.
The pro about renting our own canoe was that we could control the pace and how long we spent on the creek.
With our 4-year old son with us this was ideal in case he got antsy and wanted to turn around.
The con was that we had to unload and load the canoe on and off our car by ourselves, which was a pain when we had to put it back on the car.
We actually had trouble but the customer services from River Runner was A+ because the woman who worked there FaceTimed with us to help.
For the actual trip, we drove to Cedar Creek Canoe Launch/Kingsnake Trailhead to launch our canoe.
We floated down the creek first which was easy and didn't require a lot of rowing. After about a half hour, we turned around to go upstream which required a little more rowing but it wasn't too strenuous.
The whole trip was about an hour which is perfect for a 4-year old.
Overall: The trip was enjoyable. We saw some turtles and that was it. However, it wasn't spectacular and reminded me of floating down the river in Raleigh, NC. The landscape and scenery were about the same.
Harry Hampton Visitor Center
When going to National Parks, I always like to see the visitor center, so we drove the 11 minutes to the HARRY HAMPTON VISITOR CENTER.
From there, we had easy access to the BOARDWALK LOOP, a 2.6 mile loop through the park. We walked on that for 10-15 minutes instead of doing the whole loop.
After that, we wandered around the visitor center looking at the displays. If you have more time do the JUNIOR RANGERS PROGRAM with your kids.
I've also heard that Fall is the best time to visit.
From there, we had easy access to the BOARDWALK LOOP, a 2.6 mile loop through the park. We walked on that for 10-15 minutes instead of doing the whole loop.
After that, we wandered around the visitor center looking at the displays. If you have more time do the JUNIOR RANGERS PROGRAM with your kids.
I've also heard that Fall is the best time to visit.
Congaree Vines AirBNB
My favorite part of our trip to Congaree National Park was actually our AirBNB at CONGAREE VINES.
This rustic log cabin is situated on a vineyard and is, according to Henry, "just the cutest."
There is no TV, so it's the perfect place to unplug and be "unbusy." There are two beds. One was small and perfect for Henry.
My favorite part was the outdoor kitchen and hammock. I could have spent the whole day reading in the hammock. It was just so peaceful.
Do yourself a favor and book a stay at this quaint place.
This rustic log cabin is situated on a vineyard and is, according to Henry, "just the cutest."
There is no TV, so it's the perfect place to unplug and be "unbusy." There are two beds. One was small and perfect for Henry.
My favorite part was the outdoor kitchen and hammock. I could have spent the whole day reading in the hammock. It was just so peaceful.
Do yourself a favor and book a stay at this quaint place.
Overall
Maybe because we live in North Carolina, I felt like we were at any city or state park near Raleigh. In fact, I think some of our city parks are better than this NATIONAL PARK.
But nevertheless, I recommend spending 1/2 - 1 day here and then pairing it with traveling to somewhere else like Savannah or Charleston.
But nevertheless, I recommend spending 1/2 - 1 day here and then pairing it with traveling to somewhere else like Savannah or Charleston.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
I love trivia. I would consider myself decent at it, but the thrill of it is what makes it fun.
The vibes are good. You don’t have to make awkward small talk. The food and drinks are good.
The past year, my mom, dad, brother, husband, and I assembled a pretty good team and went around Raleigh doing trivia. We did well and placed a few times.
So, back in March, when we decided to start the adoption process, I knew that I had to host a trivia night fundraiser to help raise money to support our birthmother.
But you can throw an insanely fun trivia night fundraiser for any reason to raise money.
Just follow these steps…
1. Pick a Venue
Obviously, since this is a fundraiser, we needed to make it as cheap as possible without stiffing our guests of fun.
We decided to hold it in our backyard which was perfect. The weather cooperated for us. It was a beautiful spring evening.
I highly recommend having in it a backyard because there is little you have to clean up.
We decided to hold it in our backyard which was perfect. The weather cooperated for us. It was a beautiful spring evening.
I highly recommend having in it a backyard because there is little you have to clean up.
2. Invite Your Guests
I used Evite, a free online invitation website. I was able to customize my invitation with all the details for our trivia event.
I could even link the invitation to a fundraising account called Pledge, so guests could see where to donate.
Evite notified me every time someone RSVPed. I could even send out messages to all the guests with updates.
I could even link the invitation to a fundraising account called Pledge, so guests could see where to donate.
Evite notified me every time someone RSVPed. I could even send out messages to all the guests with updates.
3. Choose Your Food
I posted in an adoption Facebook group about ways to serve food on a budget.
I was unsuccessfully able to get any restaurants or stores to donate food, but if you are able to do that, go that route.
Instead, someone recommended a nacho bar. Here are the ingredients (feeds about 25-30 people):
Lastly, we bought cases of water, beer, and seltzer along with two bottles of wine.
In all, we spent less than $200 on food.
I was unsuccessfully able to get any restaurants or stores to donate food, but if you are able to do that, go that route.
Instead, someone recommended a nacho bar. Here are the ingredients (feeds about 25-30 people):
- Tostitos restaurant style chips ( I bought 6 bags for our group)
- Gordo's nacho cheese
- Salsa, 1 of them was the avocado one
- Sour cream
- sliced black olives (2)
- 2 jars of nacho jalapenos.
- 3 cans of the Hormel chili with beans
Lastly, we bought cases of water, beer, and seltzer along with two bottles of wine.
In all, we spent less than $200 on food.
4. Gather Your Supplies
Here is everything we needed for the party. We either had all of these things or borrowed from people.
- Tables and chairs
- Microphone to read the questions
- Corn hole
- Trash bags
- Speakers to play music
- Printed out trivia sheets for each team
- Laptop with the questions on it and an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the points each round
- Lanterns for when it got dark (I got 2 for $5 at Target)
- Prizes for 1st and 2nd place (We did a gift card to a brewery)
5. Come Up With the Trivia Questions
Having played trivia before I have some knowledge of the typical categories and questions used.
Since not everyone is a trivia buff like me, I knew that I had to make the questions not obscurely hard but not ridiculously easy that there was no competition.
I decided on 5 categories with 8 questions each and a final question.
My 5 categories were
Some of the questions took just a quick Google and then I picked out the ones I liked best from the list.
Others, like the Chevy Runs Deep category, I made up on my own. In this round, every answer was also a type of Chevy.
For example, one question was This U.S. lake is 1,645 feet deep making it deeper than the Empire State Building is tall.
The answer is Tahoe which is also a type of SUV made by Chevy.
I then decided to do a Final Question where points were tripled.
Players were given 10 U.S. cities and then had to place them from North to South geographically.
The trivia should last from 1-2 hours.
Since not everyone is a trivia buff like me, I knew that I had to make the questions not obscurely hard but not ridiculously easy that there was no competition.
I decided on 5 categories with 8 questions each and a final question.
My 5 categories were
- Fictional TV Show Cities
- Celebrity Mashup
- Chevy Runs Deep
- Science
- Books and Literature
Some of the questions took just a quick Google and then I picked out the ones I liked best from the list.
Others, like the Chevy Runs Deep category, I made up on my own. In this round, every answer was also a type of Chevy.
For example, one question was This U.S. lake is 1,645 feet deep making it deeper than the Empire State Building is tall.
The answer is Tahoe which is also a type of SUV made by Chevy.
I then decided to do a Final Question where points were tripled.
Players were given 10 U.S. cities and then had to place them from North to South geographically.
The trivia should last from 1-2 hours.
6. Come Up With Rules
As you can see from our trivia sheets, we had rules. Every trivia night needs rules and a particular format.
Here were our rules:
Adding in the wager element allowed for an interesting twist and more team strategizing.
My husband was the DJ and had fun mixing the music between rounds.
Here were our rules:
- This game is intended for fun and friendly competition…so have fun and be friendly.
- Please don’t shout out answers!
- Teams may consist of no more than six (6) players.
- The use of web-enabled electronic equipment, cell phones, and books is not allowed.
- Decisions of the judges are final.
- There will be 5 rounds and a final question.
- Each round, you can wager 1-8 points for each question. You can only wager one number once. For example, I would wager 1 point for a question you are unsure of and 8 points for a question you’re absolutely sure on.
- I’ll read all the questions twice. At the end of the round, I’ll play a song, and you’ll have until the end of the song to turn in your scoresheet.
Adding in the wager element allowed for an interesting twist and more team strategizing.
My husband was the DJ and had fun mixing the music between rounds.
7. Host the Event
The event was so much fun! We raised our goal for our birthmother, and we have a special memory to share with our child one day.
Remember to send “thank you” cards after the event is over and share on social media.
That’s it! Super Simply and insanely fun!
Remember to send “thank you” cards after the event is over and share on social media.
That’s it! Super Simply and insanely fun!
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
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