Pages, Places& Paces

What I’m reading, where I’m going, and what I’m bringing

The books I’m reading, the trips I’m planning, and my journey to my first Disney half marathon — plus the things I’m using, loving, and thinking about trying along the way.

Currently training for: the Disney Half Marathon, January

Pages Places Paces Best Of Worth Reading Worth Packing →

Pages · No. 01

What I’ve Read & Recommend

The books and audiobooks I’ve just finished, plus the books and series I can’t stop recommending.

WHAT I JUST FINISHED READINGIron Outlaws MC: Florida — S. ColeSee This Week’s Reading Journal →
WHAT I JUST FINISHED LISTENING TODungeon Crawler Carl — Matt DinnimanSee This Week’s Listening Journal →
CAN’T STOP RECOMMENDINGProject Hail Mary — Listen to This OneRead Why →
CAN’T STOP RECOMMENDINGKindle+ (formerly Kindle Unlimited): The Only Reason I Can Afford My Reading HabitRead Why →

Places · No. 02

Where I’m Going, or Wish I Were

Disney trips, cruises, family travel, and the trip research I do way too far in advance.

PLANNINGApparently I’m Going to BookCon 2027Read the Plan →
TRIP RECAPWe Booked Australia on Monday and Left SaturdayRead the Trip Recap →
TRAVEL TIPSWhat Actually Worked on Our 16-Hour Flight to Australia With a 6-Year-OldSee What We Packed →
DISNEY / FAMILY TRAVELDisney World With an Almost 2-Year-Old: What Actually Worked for UsRead What Worked →
TRAVEL TIPSWhat I Actually Pack When Flying With a 6-Year-OldSee My Packing Lists →
CRUISE TRAVELWhat I Actually Pack for a Cruise With a KidSee What Earns Space in Our Luggage →

Places · Disney World

Disney World

We’ve spent enough time at Disney World to have our favorite snacks, must-do experiences, and a few opinions about what actually makes a park day easier. Here’s where I’m sharing the things we’ve learned, the places we love, and the little traditions that keep us coming back.

PARK TIPSHow We Avoid the Crowds at Disney World (Most of the Time)From Halloween party days and Lightning Lanes to our favorite fireworks spots, here’s how we’ve learned to enjoy Disney World without spending the entire trip fighting the crowds.Read Article →
WITH A LITTLE ONEDisney World With an Almost 2-Year-Old: What Actually Worked for UsWhat we learned on our first Disney trip with an almost-2-year-old: the stroller switch, the MiniMeis that changed everything, why we started taking real midday breaks, and a free packing checklist.Read Article →
WHERE WE STAY7 Reasons We Love Staying at Disney’s Fort WildernessWhy bringing our camper to Disney gives us the perfect mix of park days, quiet evenings, golf-cart rides and a little bit of home.Read Article →

Paces · No. 03

Come run with me

I’m training for my first Disney half marathon. Follow along for the successes, the fails, the unrelenting Florida heat and sweat, and everything I’m figuring out along the way — including what’s actually working for me.

THIS WEEKCome Run With Me: Five Miles, Sore Thighs & Another Strava FailNovember 2–8 · Read the Latest Update →
THE STARTI’m Not a Runner. I Run.Come Run With Me →
GEAR I’M TRYINGWomen’s High Support Sports Bra — All In MotionWhy I Like It →
RACE DAYDisney Half MarathonJanuary 9, 2027 →

Evergreen library

The Best Of

My strongest content from Pages, Places & Paces — worth discovering anytime.

PAGESThe Jacksonville Rays: One of the Best Hockey Romance Series I’ve Read→ PAGESProject Hail Mary: The Audiobook I Can’t Stop Recommending→ PLACES7 Reasons We Love Staying at Disney’s Fort WildernessWhy bringing our camper to Disney gives us the perfect mix of park days, quiet evenings, golf-cart rides and a little bit of home.→ PAGESBest Of: Lotus Motorcycle Club Series by Cala Riley→

Permanent library

Worth Reading

Books and audiobooks I’ve read, listened to, loved, reviewed, or decided were worth telling you about.

MC Romances 4 series · 11 reviews Browse → Hockey Romances 3 series · 8 reviews Browse → Audiobooks 1 series + standalone · 2 reviews Browse → Other Books 1 series + standalone · 4 reviews Browse →

Recurring series

Worth Packing

Things I own, things I love, things I always pack — and the things currently sitting on my wish list.

This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The Jacksonville Rays SeriesREADING

Would Buy Again

Emily Rath’s spicy hockey romance series — I reviewed all four books over in Pages.

Read the review →

KindleREADING

I Own ItWould Buy AgainAlways Pack It

One of the first things I pack for any trip. Saves my phone battery, holds more books than I could ever pack, and somehow the battery lasts forever.

Why I Love It →

Women’s High Support Sports Bra – All in Motion™RUNNING

I Own ItWould Buy Again

Supportive without the stiff feel, and no more fighting with removable inserts.

Read the review →

CozyPhones Headband-Style Wireless HeadphonesTRAVEL

Would Absolutely Pack Again

The surprise purchase of our 16-hour flight to Australia — comfortable enough for our son to nap in.

Why We Love It →

Kids’ Airplane Bed/HammockTRAVEL

Would Absolutely Pack Again

Gave our son his own space to stretch out and sleep on a 16-hour flight.

Why We Love It →

My Long-Haul Flight BackpackTRAVEL

Would Pack Again

Held everything I needed for our 16-hour flight with room to spare and was easy to navigate from an airplane seat. I love the bag—I just wish the side pockets had better elastic.

Why I Liked It →

Toniebox + Toniebox BackpackTRAVEL

Always Pack It

Screen-free, familiar entertainment that comes on every trip — kept together in its own backpack.

Why We Love It →

My Husband’s Go-To Travel Sling BagTRAVEL

Still Packing It

Sling backpack my husband found in Australia and now uses for travel

Bought during our Australia trip, this sling bag has become my husband’s go-to for travel. Perfect for shorter outings when he doesn’t want to carry a full backpack.

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See the sling bag → Found this one on our Australia trip →

gb Pockit Air All-Terrain Compact Travel StrollerDISNEY

Worked for Us

The compact stroller we switched to after our jogging stroller turned out to be too cumbersome to maneuver and park at Disney. We could fold it up and bring it along on many of the rides and attractions.

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See the stroller → Read how we used it at Disney →

GAIATOP Clip-On Stroller FanDISNEY

Lifesaver

Bring two: one clipped onto the stroller aimed at our son and one positioned for whoever’s pushing. Nobody needs to be a hero at Disney World in July.

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See a stroller fan similar to ours → Read how we used it at Disney →

MiniMeis Shoulder CarrierDISNEY

Game Changer

The carrier my husband loved. Our almost-two-year-old could ride up on Dad’s shoulders and see the park, and we paired it with the smaller folding stroller for breaks.

See the MiniMeis carrier → Read how we used it at Disney →

Large IKEA BagDISNEY

Still Recommend It

Our ridiculously simple trick: before boarding a Disney bus, everything from under the stroller goes into one giant cloth IKEA bag. It’s not glamorous. It works.

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See a bag similar to ours → See a more stylish take →

Read how we used it at Disney →

Insulated Water BottlesDISNEY

Everybody Gets One

Everyone gets their own insulated bottle. With the compact stroller, the water bottles fit underneath. Not much else did.

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See the water bottle → Read how we used it at Disney →

KAVU-Style Sling BagDISNEY

Comes on Every Trip

I moved on from the little backpack, and this sling bag comes on every Disney trip. Just the basics: a couple of emergency snacks, something to cool down, a portable charger and glasses cases.

Affiliate link: I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

See a KAVU-style sling bag → Read how we used it at Disney →

The “STUFF” BagTRAVEL

So Good I Bought It Twice

One is my travel toiletry bag and the other is our restaurant bag for my son. So good I bought it twice.

Affiliate link: I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

See a similar bag → Read why I bought it twice →