This Thanksgiving was extra special because we celebrated with our son, Eli, for the first time! My parents and father-in-law joined us for a cozy Thanksgiving at home, where we enjoyed a delicious feast and the company of family. Eli, of course, stole the show with his adorable smiles and infectious laughter.

Becoming a mom was a dream come true, but it also ignited a new passion within me. I’d always dreamed of starting my own photography business, and the birth of my son gave me the final push I needed. Joining Made for Mothers has been a game-changer. This supportive community of mom entrepreneurs has given me the confidence and knowledge to turn my dream into a reality. From learning the ins and outs of business to finding amazing collaborators, I’m grateful for the village I’ve found.

This year is our final Christmas as a family of three! We stayed home for the holidays and had a very relaxing and cozy Christmas with our pup, Tori. Check out some of my favorite decorations and ornaments from this holiday season’s decorations.

Omaira Sanchez is a business owner at Hair By Omaira. She is extremely welcoming and focuses on her clients and making them feel comfortable and happy. Her studio is small, quaint, and the perfect space to feel like you are getting a personalized hairstyle. You are the one and only client seen during your appointment, so you get Omaira’s full attention. She uses high-quality products and is incredibly attentive to detail.

For the last day of our Lynchburg vacation, we decided to spend a day at a brewery. Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows location in Roseland, VA was more like a resort than a regular brewery! We rounded out our vacation in Lynchburg with dinner and walking downtown to visit the LOVE sign.

On our way home from the Natural Bridge Caverns, we took a detour along the Blue Ridge Parkway making stops at the Arnold Valley Overlook, Apple Orchard Mountain Overlook, and Peaks of Otter Lodge.

The Virginia Safari Park is a drive-thru attraction that lets you drive through the park while the animals roam and will walk right up to your car. It was really fun being able to just roll down the window and actually reach out and pet the animals… something you don’t get to do when you visit the zoo!

The next stop on our vacation was a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Many people know about Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello, but while in Lynchburg, we learned that he also had another home in Poplar Forest. He would often come to this home as a private retreat. He’d visit for two weeks to two months at a time. As we walked around the property, we could see why he was so attracted to the beautiful land!

The Natural Bridge Zoo has a wide variety of animals from goats, birds, and turtles to giraffes, elephants, and tigers. Read more about my favorite stop on our 4th of July adventure around Natural Bridge, VA.

Dinosaur Kingdom II is a tourist attraction located just over a mile down the road from Natural Bridge State Park. This was by far the most bizarre stop during our week-long trip to Lynchburg, VA. I didn’t know what to expect, but this place took us on a wild ride through fictional history.