travel – The Great Kaysby

18 Parks In 21 Days

My maps app wouldn’t let me put all of the stops on one trip plan!

A couple of years ago, LilKsby and I were standing in line for a roller coaster, and we met someone who was working on going to 7 different amusement parks in 10 days. We didn’t get to chat much because there wasn’t a long line, but I remember thinking that it sounded like a fun adventure! After that day, I didn’t give the adventure much thought; however, over the past few days on a long car trip, I got to thinking about two things. One was that it would be fun to research travel itineraries and blog about them. The second was remembering the amusement park anecdote. Both of those things got me thinking about if money were no object, what would be a great amusement park journey?

Thus…18 Parks in 21 Days!

For this particular itinerary, I recommend starting at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, KY. Its proximity to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport provides an easy start to the trip as travelers could fly in from all over the country, rent a car, and be at the park within 30 minutes of landing as there is less than five minutes between the two. I also recommend purchasing a season pass while at Kentucky Kingdom. The pass will be beneficial at other parks that are owned by Herschend as they provide admission discounts to season pass holders. https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/

Following a day in Louisville, head south on I-65 for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to Bowling Green, KY. Here you will find Beech Bend which has an amusement park and campground. Highlights include The Kentucky Rumbler roller coaster and Sea Dragon which was purchased from MJ’s Neverland Ranch. It is a small park with a big heart! https://beechbend.com/

Next up is a drive to the Midwest experience Six Flags Saint Louis which is actually in Eureka, MO (approximately 4 hours, 52 minutes). Thought it currently has the Six Flags name, this park has been sold and is already being independently operated. In 2027 it will no longer retain the Six Flags name. https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis

Staying in the Show Me State, the next destination is one of the aforementioned Herschend Family Entertainment properties. Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO is approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes from Six Flags. Of all the parks that I have not been to that are on this list, this is the one that I want to visit the most. Why? They have rides and a cave! I have loved both since I was a kid! https://www.silverdollarcity.com

After a day in Branson, I would travel north to Kansas City, MO (approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes) to experience Worlds of Fun! When I would visit family as a child in the summer, I would always see ads for Worlds of Fun. For the sake of nostalgia, I added this park to the itinerary though it is a bit out of the way (if there can be such a thing when it comes to fun). Once again, I recommend purchasing a season pass. Several of the parks on this list fall under the Six Flags umbrella since they acquired Cedar Fair which will allow benefits to be used multiple times. As of this publishing, World of Fun is operating as a Six Flags park. After the 2026 season it will operate under its new owner: EPR Properties. https://www.sixflags.com/worldsoffun

So far on this journey, I have intended for parks to be visited on consecutive days. If you leave each park with an approximately four hour travel time around 7 pm, you can easily be halfway done with your drive – accounting for a brief dinner and fuel stop – and in bed at a hotel by 10 pm. Leaving the hotel by 8 am will provide 9 hours of sleep plus time for breakfast while allowing you to be at the next park by 10 am. The trip following Worlds of Fun is the first exception where more than one day will be needed for travel. The trip from Worlds of Fun to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL will take approximately 8 hours. This park is north of Chicago, and extremely close to the Wisconsin border. If you’re like me and have a goal of seeing all 50 states, you might as well check Wisconsin off the list by going through it! https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

The next stop on the journey (approximately 3 hours and five minutes) is Indiana Beach in Monticello, IN. For a park that isn’t owned by one of the major amusement park conglomerates, this one has a lot of attractions! https://www.indianabeach.com/

Staying in the Hoosier State, journey south approximately 3 hours and 52 minutes to Holiday World/Splashin’ Safari! Of all the parks on this list, this one is my favorite! We went here several times as a kid, and everything that made this park special then is still present today! This park has always provided extras like free parking, free sunscreen, and free non-alcoholic drinks. It is also the only amusement park that I have been to where one of the owners – a member of the Koch family – came up to us to ensure we were having a good time. https://holidayworld.com/

Last up on the first half of the itinerary is Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH (approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes). If you only get to do one thing at this park, ride The Beast. This incredible roller coaster lives up to the hype! I especially recommend riding it in the dark! There are also several other great coasters at this park! As it is now owned by Six Flags, that season pass will come in handy again! https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland

At this point, you could easily loop back to Louisville and end the journey if 9 parks in 10 days has been enough for you. If you’re still up for more adventure, head north for approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. Personally, I have never been to Cedar Point, but I have heard from MANY roller coaster enthusiasts that THIS is their park of choice! https://www.sixflags.com/cedarpoint

Once the day at Cedar Point is complete, travel approximately three hours and two minutes to West Mifflin, PA. Here you will find one of the oldest parks on this list: Kennywood. Given I have only been to PA in the off-season or for romantic mountain getaways, I have never been to any PA amusement parks. That said, Kennywood constantly comes up on travel blogs that I read. It’s 125 years old, and they have this great combination of old school rides and modern thrill rides! Add On: After I wrote this portion, I went to an amusement park with LilKsby, and we met three young men who work at Kennywood! They shared that some of their rides are among the oldest – and best kept – in the country. They also recommended Phantom’s Revenge for Hyper Coaster enthusiasts! Oh, and they told us that Kennywood is also a Herschend park now. https://www.kennywood.com/

Following the day filled with nostalgia and excitement, head to Hershey, PA (approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes) to experience Hershey Park! This is another park that has been recommended to me by coaster enthusiasts, but this one was recommended with a caveat. We all know that if you are traveling with children, you should make sure that there will be something they can ride based on their height (and sometimes weight). According to my source, this park is where they ran into the most difficulty finding something for their child to ride as they were too big for most of the kids rides, but they were not big enough for most of the thrill rides. Keep in mind that this would have been about 10 years ago. I also personally understand this frustration as the first time I went to Kings Island as a kid, I was in the dreaded in between stage (this was before they had a water park too). That aside, it looks like a great park from the Hershey complex parking lot. Be sure to checkout Hershey’s Chocolate World while you’re in the complex! This portion is open year-round, and I can attest to how much fun it is! https://www.hersheypark.com/

Next up is the shortest drive of the itinerary at approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes (which means you can enjoy Hershey Park even later)! This will take you to Dorney Park in Dorneyville, PA. This park opened in 1884! Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Lehigh Valley, at Dorney fun can be had by all ages be they ride enthusiasts or interested in shows! https://www.sixflags.com/dorneypark

After Dorney is the other drive where I recommend taking a travel day. Clocking in at 5 hours and 55 minutes, the trip to America’s Historic Triangle is the second longest on this journey. However, since the next park is in the Triangle, there is PLENTY to see and do on the travel day besides sit in a car. Side note, in the future, I will do a full blog on America’s Historic Triangle as part of my upcoming – and yet untitled – series about homeschooling and travel. Once you’ve rested up and perhaps brushed up on some history, you will be ready to tackle a place that was not part of the triangle during the Revolution: Busch Gardens. This park has rides, shows, and animal experiences! Oh, and they have a WIDE variety of food options beyond the standard amusement park fare. https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/

Another short drive (also approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes) will take you to Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. When it was originally built, Kings Dominion was designed to be a sister park to Kings Island. This provides a level of familiarity for those who have been to Kings Island as some of the rides at Kings Dominion are the same. However, the Rapterra roller coaster sets them apart from their sister! Rapterra is the second ever winged coaster built in the US. Fun fact, the first one was built at Holiday World! https://www.sixflags.com/kingsdominion

Three more parks to go! Can you believe it??? Next up is Carowinds in Charlotte, NC just about a 4 hour and 45 minute drive from Kings Dominion. Carowinds is also a Six Flags park, and if you are making this trip in 2027, you will get to try what will be the World’s Largest Log Flume Ride! They are also known for Fury 325 which America’s tallest and fastest Giga Coaster. https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds

After a brief stay in North Carolina, it is time to head to Georgia! In approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes, you will arrive at Six Flags Over Georgia. This is the last Six Flags property on the list, and I think it will be worth it! They have a multitude of attractions for the whole family! https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia

Last but not least, it is time to make the approximate 4 hour and 7 minute trip to Pigeon Forge, TN to spend time at Dollywood! Dollywood is the final Herschend property on this list and my favorite of their holdings that I have visited. Mr Kisby, LilKsby, and I have been to Dollywood during the summer and at Christmas. During both seasons we were able to experience great rides, entertainment, and food! There was something for all of us to enjoy! Dollywood is a must visit! https://www.dollywood.com/

If you bought a roundtrip ticket when flying into Louisville, you will need approximately 4 hours and 31 minutes to loop back to Louisville from Pigeon Forge. Afternoon or evening flight? You might as well pop back into Kentucky Kingdom again! After all, you’ve driven over 4,250 miles and spent 2 Days, 18 Hours, and 52 Minutes doing so. One way ticket? Spend the night at Dreammore Resort or Heartsong Lodge at Dollywood. Amazing accommodations! You can then fly home from Knoxville.

And there you have 18 Parks in 21 Days!

I would love to know what parks you’ve been to that are on this list and what you think! Drop a comment!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Ready, Set, Travel!

Daily writing prompt

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

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Given that I started this blog to be about food and travel back in 2018, I absolutely love this question! Of these options, the only one that I have not done is a bike trip (neither motorcycle or cycling). Also, I should note that for me “cross-country” is limited to about half of the country. However, I have found that my preferred method of travel completely depends on the type of trip. For example, I have only ever flown for business trips. The last two times that I flew for business it was a matter of wanting to be away from home as little as possible. When it was just me and Mr. Kisby, it was no big deal for the two of us to hop in the car and go on extended road trips for business or pleasure. We would take our time and explore the areas we were visiting. Since LilKsby has come along, I try to be gone from home for business trips as little as possible. It has become standard to fly out super early the morning the conference starts and fly back immediately after it ends. Along the same line, I have also greatly consolidated how far I’ll travel for business by car. What can I say? Family comes before career for me!

Now if it is just a fun trip and my family is with me, I’m choosing to travel by train or car. I love how much of the country you can see with these two methods. I actually have two train trips on my travel bucket list. One is for New England in the Autumn, and the other is going West to see the plains and mountains. I am also a big fan of cross-country travel by car (provided you have the time) because of the number of things that you can stop and see randomly. Some of our greatest adventures have been when we see a sign for something and go see it on a whim!

Bus travel is interesting because you can see a lot and do not have to worry about doing the actual driving, but with the bus trips I have done, you lose some flexibility. However, I loved the time I did a bus trip to Chicago with my aunt because we did not have to deal with Chicago traffic, and we got to see A LOT of awesome sites! That trip was a little different because the bus dropped you off for a weekend. Other bus trips that we’ve done were more precise guided tours. Those have little flexibility because if you’re not on the bus when it’s time to leave, you are left behind (kind of like if you’re not on the boat at the cruise port when it’s time to go). Although these trips had the big bonus of taking us to way more places than we would have visited independently and being part of the tour allowed us to skip lines at some of the places.

I guess you could just say that if it involves travel I am for any method of transportation if I have the time!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Reality & Me

Picture this. I’m in my kitchen preparing a meal for our family today, and I get to thinking about how pleased I am that I am using mostly leftovers to create a new dish. It makes happy to not be wasting food, and even though cooking is not my favorite thing to do, I like that I am able cook a warm meal when there is snow covering everything. (Seriously, we were prepared to eat sandwiches for like a week if the power went out in the storm.) As I was cooking, I got to thinking that this is not the kind of meal that you would see on a reality TV cooking or baking show. However, it was the kind of meal that you would see in a lot of people’s homes. That got me to thinking, if I was responsible for coming up with reality shows, what would the content cover? Immediately, I thought of three that would be for me!

Cooking Show – This show would go beyond just what happens in the kitchen. I would want to teach families how to meal plan based on a grocery budget, how to make the most of the weekly ads for their favorite grocery store (mine is Kroger, and I checkout the new ad every Wednesday!), and how to prepare quick, healthy meals that only utilize common ingredients. None of that you have to buy a giant thing of an herb that you will only use one sprig of nonsense! I would then take a family shopping for the week, help them prep their meals, and discuss ways to reuse any leftovers. For example, if they had pork tenderloin as the main dish one night, then they could use the leftovers for sandwiches the next day. I have come to believe that a lot of people want to make better meals at home, but they could use some real guidance as opposed to cooking shows that are either to gourmet or seem more focused on chaos than learning.

Travel Show – I would want to showcase something that most people would not think to visit. Perhaps I would do a world tour of museums or visit a variety of National Parks. My goal would be to feature places that appeal to an array of interests while also being open to those not wanting to take out a loan just to go on vacation. There would also be specific episodes geared towards families, married couples, and single adults.

Art Show – Can we all agree that performing arts shows have basically been done to death at this point? I think it would be cool to see a visual arts competition. I’m thinking something like Bob Ross level of calm where people just paint some Happy Trees and see who comes out with the best painting after a given time. I have great memories of watching The Joy of Painting on Sunday mornings, and I feel like the world needs more art like that. I realize you can just watch most of it on YouTube, but the competitive aspect would be a lot of fun!

If you were in charge of reality TV, what would your content cover?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

A Place Where Dreams Are Born

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?

“My home where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of lovely things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever in Never Never Land!”

Remember those iconic words from “Never Never Land”? As a child (before growing up), Peter Pan’s home checked all the boxes for a favorite location! It had pirates and mermaids; it had a secret underground house and a cave! Not to mention the fact that it was an island. Plus, there was a lot of singing which is always fun! JM Barrie knew how to create a place that felt personal to us yet familiar to all.

Unfortunately, as we grow up, sometimes we forget how to find our own Never Never Land. We become so busy with the mundane – jobs, bills, etc – that it can be hard to take time to visit different places much less figure out a favorite. Sometimes we even stop dreaming about seeing exotic places that to us would be like Mermaid Lagoon or Pirate Cove. However, one thing I have realized is that to be a favorite place to visit, the location does not have to be exotic. In fact, some of my favorites have always been simplistic. So what are they?

As a child, my favorite place to visit was my Grandma’s house in Kansas. Oddly enough, I never called it Grandma and Grandpa’s. Where they lived had a lot of things we did not get to enjoy at home. They had Sonic for getting Limeades; they had Casey’s for getting Taco Pizza. Plus, there were a lot of cool touristy things to do that never really changed which provided comfort and nostalgia. Bonus, they had Keno before it was popular. It was fascinating to sit and watch people play!

Fast forward to adulthood, and I still enjoy sitting and watching people. Though I will say the locations have changed a bit. Now I also have way more favorite places to visit including:

Half Moon Cay (favorite Carnival Cruiseline Port)

Niagara Falls (favorite place to see waterfalls)

Holiday World (favorite theme park)

Anywhere With Mountains or a Campground (favorite place to unplug)

Museum or Art Gallery (favorite learning experiences)

Gettysburg (favorite Civil War battlefield)

America’s Historic Triangle (favorite general historical area)

St Louis (favorite place with lots of free activities)

Buc-cee’s (favorite place with clean bathrooms while traveling)

The more I get to visit new places, the more I find myself adding things to the list! They may not be Never Neverland, but they are places where dreams are born!

What are your favorite places to visit?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

The Wonder of a Weekend Getaway

Who can relate to not being able to completely relax at home? Maybe you’re distracted by dishes in the sink, thinking about laundry that needs to be done, or just feeling like you’re “supposed to be doing something productive” because you’re at home. I can absolutely relate to this! That is why I struggle with the concept of a relaxing “staycation” even if going to do fun activities during the day. To combat this, I have found that one of the best ways to relax, recharge, and reset is the Weekend Getaway.

What constitutes a Weekend Getaway? In my book it is spending a night or two away from home with family, your significant other, a friend or friends, or yourself. My idea of a Weekend Getaway also involves a place that you can easily drive to in three hours or less. The location does not really matter as much as the ability to unplug from everyday life. You can spend your Weekend Getaway in a hotel, tent, cabin, rental property, etc…whichever you find the most relaxing! It might even change based on the activities that you have in mind for the particular Weekend Getaway!

For me the best Weekend Getaways involve things I cannot do at home. For example, one of my absolute favorite things to do is to order room service or have food delivered and eat it in my pajamas while in bed. I find it super relaxing to eat something tasty while also being super comfy! Another favorite activity is to write while I am on a Weekend Getaway. I find that when I am away from home it can be a lot easier for me to focus on my writing as there are way fewer distractions. This can also be applied to reading! If I am with other people, I also love chatting, playing games, and doing activities like hiking, visiting museums, going to zoos, attending food/beverage tastings, and shopping. I am also a huge fan of little things that I do not have at home like super hot showers, tubs with jets, and fireplaces! Oh, and if it is summer and water activities are available, I’m there!

But the most important part of the Weekend Getaway? Returning home feeling rested and recharged. There is restorative power in getting out of your routine (i.e. comfort zone)! I highly recommend a Weekend Getaway at least once a season as a way to restore balance!

Do you think Weekend Getaways work wonders? What are some of your favorite Weekend Getaways?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

With Infinite Time, I Could…

Daily writing prompt

What could you do more of?

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Everyone has the same number of minutes in a day: 1,440. The way those minutes are spent varies from person to person, but one thing always seems to remain constant. There never seems to be enough time in the day for everything that a person wants to do. However, with infinite time, I could think of a few things I would do more!

Paint – I love painting, but when I sit down to do it, I want at least two solid hours of painting time.
Scrapbooking – I love looking at pictures and making precious pages of our best memories. I also enjoy scrapbook competitions!
Writing – Really working on doing this more. I really want to finish my second non-fiction book soon, and the topic seems very pertinent.
Video Games – Since I was five, I have loved playing video games. I will 100% own up to the being that adult who loves to game.
Puzzles – I love compelting puzzles! Once I start one, I become hooked on completing it. We have stayed up until 3 in the morning completing puzzles before!
Traveling – I love to travel! If time (and money) were infinite, this is where I would be.
Sewing – I love to sew, but again I need bigger time blocks to do it!
Exercise – I would love to spend more time walking, doing yoga, and swimming!
Working – I work what most would consider “side hustles” and more time (and energy) would be great for these!
Studying – I love learning! With more time, I would take a lot more free courses online or watch more instructional videos.
Improve my piano skills and learn guitar!

It’s hard to work all of these into your schedule when you also homeschool and enjoy being involved in community activities! Maybe I should give up sleep, LOL!

What would you like to do more?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

I Love to Travel, But…

As you may recall this blog started as being focused on travel and food. Though I’ve gotten away from that in recent years, today I’m returning to my roots albeit with a different spin. Upon returning from a recent trip, I found myself thinking “I love to travel, but…” with a list of a few of things after the but. The thought was finished with some of these:

…but I miss Mr Kisby and LilKsby when they are not with me.
…but I miss my pets.
…but I miss MY bed. It seriously does not matter how comfy a hotel bed is, it is not the same as your bed.
…but I miss MY shower. There is nothing like coming home to my shower with my usual water temp and spray settings! Plus, hotel water tends to wreak havoc with my skin.
…but I miss MY comfy chair. My six year old recliner covered in a fuzzy blanket is my most relaxing place to sit. I’m in it now! LilKsby and one of the pets are sharing it with me!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who can relate to the “I love to travel, but…” sentiment. What are the things that would follow your “but…”?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

What Do You Do?

Whenever I am at a networking event, the question that is always asked is simple: “What do you do?” My first thought when I hear the question is usually some lyrics from the 2001 song by City High called “What Would You Do?” If you grew up in the 90s/00s you know the lyrics – “Boys and girls, wanna hear a true story? Saturday night was at this real wild party” – and iconic voice of Ryan Toby! After that quick thought, I usually give my quick answer, but then as my day continues, I tend to get really contemplative about the question: “What do you do?”

Sometimes I giggle and think the answer to “What do you do?” is clean a lot of poop and vomit. This answer is not glamourous and is not at all reflective of my entire day, but it’s what I tend to think after cleaning up after the Princess Cat with IBS and the Goofy Cat that gets way too many hairballs for being a short hair. Once I even laughed while doing this because I got to witness an ant literally eat shit and die. The reality is that cleaning up after animals is a very small portion of the day, but it does provide the grossest response and most comical considering there was a caricature made of me as a teenager scooping the litter box.

So what do I really do?

I suppose the best answer is a little bit of everything through a variety of channels!

Be the Queen of Our Castle – includes homeschooling, household activities, travel planning, and more! See my previous post: https://thegreatkaysby.com/2024/05/30/help-wanted-stay-at-home-parent/
Bring people joy and hope by offering skincare and glamour consultations and instruction (joy) and fundraising for community events (hope) through my MK business.
Publish! Being a published writer was one of my DREAMS for as long as I can remember. I started writing short stories in elementary school, and it has always been a sometime hobby of mine. Never in a million years would I have believed that the dream of seeing my work in print could become a reality. Then along came a super supportive husband – Mr Kisby – and the self publishing tool called Amazon KDP. Since August 2023, we’ve published 42 titles (some are lined notebooks). Even if we never make a dime, the creative process has been super fun and rewarding!!! thegreatkaysby.com/letters-lore
Teach/tutor others! Just because I left teaching doesn’t mean the desire to teach left me. I use my love of teaching to first and foremost homeschool LilKsby, but I also use it to tutor others online. I absolutely love helping people prep for the ACT, become better writers, and assist with College Application Essays! To me teaching skin care and glamour is even a form of using my joy of teaching. I will always find fulfillment in teaching others!
Volunteer and help those who need a voice to have one! I used to do this a lot more, but I realized that my over extending myself to help others was taking a toll on my home life. It can be very easy to neglect those you love – including yourself – when you put all of your energy into helping others. However, I have found that what you fill your cup first, you can give a lot more! You might even find creative ways to do so! One of my favorite organizations? Camp TESSA!
Listen to music from the 90s and 00s! There is no mood lifter for me greater than jamming out to boy bands and bubble gum pop. Currently listening to BSB and *NSYNC on loop! There is also something about listening to music live that is good for the soul. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is, but when you can feel the rhythm coursing through your veins, it is life changing!
Re-watch shows/movies I’ve seen a million times! This one is because it is a comfort. Hearing familiar jokes, crying familiar tears over endings even when you know they’re coming, seeing your favorite faces who feel like your friends is comforting. Obviously, I know that Niles Crane isn’t real, but there’s something about the comedic portrayal by David Hyde Pierce that always makes me think that I know this guy, and I’m laughing with him and not at him!
Read! I believe that being an avid reader is a gift. Reading books opens up the doors to so many great things! You can immerse yourself in fantasy worlds, experience emotions that you never would have encountered, learn new skills, and make travel plans all from reading books. Libraries are one of the greatest assets that we have in the world!
Artsy Stuff! Typically I hate to use the word stuff; however, I don’t really know a better word to sum up all of the artsy things that I do. Sew? Check. Scrapbook? Check. Paint? Check. Draw/doodle? Check. Find creative ways to repurpose things? Check. I like to think of myself as Glue Gun Guru!
Be outside! Now, I don’t do this one as much as I should because I sweat and am chunky. However, there is something invigorating about hiking, gardening, kayaking, swimming, etc. It gets me in a great mental space! Even just walking outside for a few minutes at night to look at the starts is game changing.
Planning! I love to plan things! This is why at different times in my life I’ve thought that it would be cool to be an Event Planner or Travel Agent. (Especially this one if it means discounted travel. Remember this started as a food and travel blog!)

The reality is that I do a lot of different things even though sometimes I’m sure it appears that I just post on social media all day (usually it’s a clue that someone is sick, I’m on a long car ride and not driving, or doing an idle activity like watching TV because try as I might, I cannot only do one thing at a time typically).

I want to know, what do you do?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Shoot for the Moon

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among stars” is a quote often attributed to Norman Vincent Peale. When you Google it, a lot of people have said the quote and fully determining its origin seems rather impossible From time to time, I have even said this quote when speaking with people. In fact, one year when I was still teaching, I had this quote on my classroom door as an attempt to motivate students to do their best. Along with me other great minds like those of Oscar Wilde, Brian Littrell (the recent Savannah Bananas intro is a sure sign of his genius), Mary Kay Ash, and Les Brown have said this same quote at some point in their respective careers. Since the first time I heard this quote, I have loved that it is so simplistic while at the same time being extremely deep. To think that if you try your hardest, even if you come short of the goal, you will have had so much success in the process!

Lately I have been wanting to blog a lot, but I have found that I haven’t had a lot of deep, meaningful pieces of wisdom to share. Instead of just blogging anyway which could have lead to inspirational pieces, I’ve been doing a lot of other activities. Some of the activities were just for fun like summer vacation, visits with friends, a road trip to IKEA (when the nearest one is three hours away, traveling there totally counts as a road trip), amusement park trips, and more. However, other activities have been like shooting for the moon and landing among the stars. These are the activities that took some getting out of my comfort zone, time, and effort; these are the activities that are life changing.

The first activity that was life changing involved the State Fair. If you’ve read my blog since 2018, then you know that I have always enjoyed the State Fair for the food. What you may not have known is that I have always dreamed of entering the competitions at the State Fair. I’ve talked about it for years, and for years I never did anything about it. This year – as part of my mission to be more fearless at forty than ever before – I finally entered the State Fair. I shot for the moon by entering two photos, five scrapbook pages, and two sewing pieces. One of the photos advanced to the final round of judging, and one of the sewing pieces placed second in the category. More importantly than the outcomes from the judges, were the outcomes that I felt from landing among the stars. Just from finally entering the State Fair, I was reminded of just how much I enjoy my various hobbies. I find them relaxing, and I find that I love creating. Seeing pieces come together to create a whole when you are working on a project is so satisfying! If you’re an artisan, you know exactly what I mean. The biggest star from finally entering? It made me want to do more next year! In fact, I’ve already started planning some pieces. For someone with time management and organization issues, this planning “star” might just be the most important takeaway I could have from finally entering!

My second life changing activity has to do with overcoming fear of not being in control. Back story here, you have to understand that I have always said that I hate flying and am afraid of it. Some of this was probably rooted in the fact that my first flight when I was twelve was in one of those like three passenger planes. It was a short trip, but the plane shook a lot and though the views were cool, the overall experience was terrifying. It took me another twelve years to get back on a plane, and when I did, I realized that flying wasn’t as bad as I had made it out to be. However, I still did not like it. I just always felt safer driving myself than trusting my life to a pilot that I’ve never met. This summer after another 16 years, I got on a plane again. I wasn’t overly thrilled by it, and at times leading up to the travel, I was sure that something was going to go horrifically wrong. However, I knew that taking a plane trip was going to be the only way that I could attend a business conference while minimizing the time away from home. On some levels the fact that I was even willing to book the flight was like landing among the stars before the trip even occurred!

Fast forward to the trip occurring. When I booked my flights, I purposefully booked aisle seats so that I wouldn’t have to look out the window. I thought this might help me to be able to pretend that I was in a car or on a train instead of flying in a plane. For the majority of the flight there, I kept trying to look out the window. So on my way back, I actually switched my seat to a window seat. Guess what? I was mesmerized the entire flight home! The world looked so beautiful from the plane! Also, I know it sounds cliché, but I felt so close to Heaven and calm while flying. I felt like this trip finally made me feel at peace with flying, and I look forward to what doors this willingness will open for me! I’m so thankful that instead of landing on moon by staying in my driving comfort zone, I landed among stars and now feel like I can do anything!

Finally, one recent final activity has been like landing among stars. For as long as I can remember, I have had an interest in writing and journaling. Shocker right that someone who blogs would be interested in these things? I’ve also always wanted to somehow find a way to publish some of my original ideas. I’ve not really wanted to make a lot of money of it, but I always thought it would be cool to see something I contributed to in print. Through a collaboration with Letters & Lore (checkout the new page on my site about them), I am getting to do just that! I’m not sure what will come of it, but just the learning process has been fun. Even if we don’t make it to the moon, the stars we’re landing among are amazing!

Wow! I wrote a lot more about this than I thought I would, and it is getting late. I have an early class tomorrow (side note, taking free classes has also led to star like growth), and I should try and get some rest. I hope this inspires you to shoot for the moon, but if nothing else, this blog is getting me back in the groove!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

39 While 39 – Complete

If you’ve been with me for a while, then you know two things. One, last year I sat out to complete 39 fun things while 39 years old. Two, tomorrow I turn 40. I’m excited to say that I’ve completed 39 things!!! I’ve actually completed a lot more than that, but I finished my list. You will note that my list changed throughout the year. This is a reflection of my own personal growth throughout the year. My most important takeaway has been that it is okay to change what you want in life because that is a sign that you’re growing! I’m so happy with how much I’ve grown over the last year and how much I’ve begun living by my priorities. I could get very philosophical about this, but instead I’ll share my accomplished list!

✓ Ride a roller coaster – rode a couple of them at Dollywood. Wooden roller coasters are still my favorite!

✓ Ride a train – also happened at Dollywood! It was beautiful looking down at all the Christmas lights!

✓ Finish the green and gold dress – I started creating this dress in 2012 when we still played Amtgard. When we stopped, I stopped. Now it is finished, and it is beautiful!

✓ Take a vacation – We took several! Made it to Pigeon Forge area twice, America’s Historical Triangle, Nashville, and Rough River. Looking forward to more travel this year!

✓ Sushimas – First once since 2019! I loved seeing all of our friends and bringing back traditions!

✓ Bet on the Derby – Felt so grown up to bet on the race from my phone. Looking forward to getting my $9 check!

✓ Go kayaking – Nothing like being out on the water to make you feel one with the universe!

✓ Finish Baby Books – LilKsby is turning 4 soon, so I’m elated to say I finally had time to finish his books!

✓ Play pool – I love playing pool! Did this on my birthday last year and in Gatlinburg!

✓ Go to a cave – We had the wonderful opportunity to take our nephew to Mammoth Cave last summer.

✓ Enter a competition for creativity – I’ve always wanted to enter a Christmas tree competition! I came in like 12th out of 31!

✓ Calendar Album – Made an album out of all the calendars LilKsby has made for presents.

✓ Complete 1 Year Frame – I had bought one of these my first year frames before LilKsby was born. Finally completed it!

✓ See Dr Strange 2 – Fun movie!

✓ See Thor Love and Thunder – Great movie!

✓ Read 12 Books – Finished 13 and have started 14!

✓ Watch Young Sheldon 3 and 4 – Glad I did because Seasons 5 and 6 have been amazing!

✓ Watch Step By Step – Great throwback to my childhood!

✓ Go to GenCon Online – Gaming is fun in person and online!

✓ Wedding Scrapbook – After almost 11 years, mine and Mr Kisby’s wedding scrapbook is complete!

✓ Order a t-shirt quilt – Wanted to do this for years! Can’t wait to get it back!

✓ Go to an art museum – Virtually visited the Van Gogh Museum!

✓ Make a state fair entry – have a few ready to go!

✓ Go to Gatlinburg – Great trip! Highly recommend Cade’s Cove!

✓ Go to the Tulip Farm – Beautiful local farm! Love supporting friends!

✓ Complete 10 Coursera Classes – took classes for fun and business!

✓ Complete 5 paintings – painted for myself and Christmas gifts!

✓ Go to JR Neighbors – I’m proud of us for trying something new.

✓ See the BSB DNA Tour – Amazing show with amazing people!

✓ Complete NANOWRIMO – Loved starting this book! Can’t wait to edit and publish!

✓ Go to a winery – Not only did I go to one, I also became a member!

✓ Write Letters for Book – Completed a book with letters from me to Lil Kisby!

✓ Watch The Game Season 2 – This show is epic! There needs to be a Season 3!

✓ Finish a Bible Study – Learned about love being the greatest gift of all!

✓ Go to a pumpkin activity – We went to the Pumpkin Wagon!

✓ Try a salt cave or salt room – So relaxing! I’ve been twice now!

✓ Write 10 fan letters – This was so fun! I never got any responses, but it was fun to do!

✓ Get a Casey’s Taco Pizza – My favorite pizza! I only get them when going west. Hope yo have another soon!

✓ Go to the State Fair – worked it and went as a guest! Love it!

Not on the list? Transitioning from full time working mom to stay at home/work from home mom. Hands down the thing I did while 39 that has helped me be a better wife, mother, and person while also improving my mental and physical health. I challenge all of you to take risks, do things you enjoy, and make your next year the best year!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

39 Things Update

If you have been following me for a while, then you know that back in May I published a blog about 39 things I want do while 39. Well, it is now January and the big birthday is getting closer every day. A lot of times right now I look at my list and start to panic because I am behind on my goals. However, this year I am very pleased with how my goals are going. So far I have…

Rode a roller coaster – rode a super fun adult one at Dollywood and the kids one! I love wooden roller coasters!
Rode a train – did this at Dollywood too! Really cool train ride up the mountain!
Taken a vacation – I’ve been able to go on a few of them! Highly recommend making the trip to the America’s Historic Triangle!
Hosted Sushimas – We hadn’t had this event with friends since 2019, and it was wonderful to get back together!
Gone Kayaking – Nothing like the open water for relaxing, planning, and thinking!
Played Pool – one of the best perks of our cabin in the Gatlinburg area! I hadn’t played pool with my parents in years.
Gone to a Cave – Took our nephew to Mammoth Cave for the lantern tour. Highly recommend! Other recommendation? Don’t give the lantern to a teenager who will walk fast and leave you behind!
Entered a Creative Competition – Entered the city Christmas tree competition! 12th place of 31 is not to shabby in my book!
Made a Scrapbook of LilKsby’s 2021 and 2022 Calendars – put this in the category of things I previously never made time to complete!
Completed LilKsby’s First Year Frame – Same as above!
Saw Dr Strange 2 – Loved this movie! Then again, I was a HUGE fan of Wandavision!
Saw Thor Love & Thunder – I laughed so much that I wanted to cry!
Watched Young Sheldon Seasons 3 and 4 – Not as good as TBBT, but the supporting characters are a lot of fun!
Watched Step By Step – I love seeing all the old TGIF shows again! Fun fact, Staci Keanan who played Dana is now a hot shot lawyer!
Attended GenCon Online – Love gaming! Miss going in person!
Gone to Gatlinburg – We made it to that area twice! The time we drove through Gatlinburg, we totally saw a bear crossing the street.
Completed 5 Paintings – I’m so happy to have gotten back to the canvas!
Saw the BSB DNA Tour (again LOL) – Almost 30 years and they are still amazing!
Completed NANOWRIMO – I love writing, so this is always a fun challenge!
Gone to a Winery – Shoutout to Forest Edge Winery for being fantastic!
Gone to a Pumpkin Activity – We went to the Pumpkin Wagon, painted pumpkins, and carved pumpkins!
Wrote 10 Fan Letters – As a kid, I loved writing fan mail! So I thought why not try it again? I wrote 10 letters and sent them. We will see if I get any responses!
Gone to the State Fair – Worked it and went as a visitor!
Got a Casey’s Taco Pizza – I’ve had two, and they are still the most tasty pizza on the planet!

Something you will notice from my list is that some of the goals were not on the initial list as some of the initial goals have been removed and replaced. I account this to changing circumstances in life and my priorities shifting. Once I switched over to Work from Home Mom life and homeschooling, I started realizing just how much I enjoy goals that can be completed at home. Along the same line, I also realized that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to be able to complete goals. Plus, as we grow as people, the things we want to do change. So even though I haven’t met all of my goals yet, I think I’ve already learned the most important lessons from 39 Things While 39: Your goals in life will change as you change, and this is an acceptable part of personal growth!

Stay tuned to see what all gets completed by my birthday!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Thanksgiving – Open for Business

A couple of days ago, I saw a sponsored ad on Facebook for Big Lots Thanksgiving sales. I don’t have feelings one way or the other about a sale at Big Lots, but I was curious to see the comments. They seemed to be equally balanced between “How dare you be open on a holiday?” and “Great! I might come shopping!” I can be understanding of both perspectives. On one hand, it is wonderful when families get together for the holidays on the holiday. On the other hand, some workers rely on the extra holiday pay, some people don’t celebrate holidays, and some people spend time with family while shopping. Aside from both sides of the Big Lots argument, I started thinking about if people were just applying these arguments to retail stores, or does it bother them that other establishments are open on holidays?

My first thought to this question was that I am glad essential care places are open on holidays. Twice in my life, we have been thankful for emergency health services being open on the holidays. The first was when I was ten. We had family visiting from Kansas for Christmas, and my cousin got really sick. Luckily, the hospital emergency room and a pharmacy were both open for the holiday. The second instance didn’t impact me directly, but the memory is crazy vivid. We were in Oklahoma having Thanksgiving with family, and my uncle’s neighbor accidentally got run over by the car he was repairing. Literally ran over! Guess how glad we all were that medical professionals were working that holiday? Seriously, the neighbor may not have lived otherwise. We were thankful for all of those working that played a part in those instances!!!

I understand that medical facilities are a far stretch from Big Lots, but gas stations aren’t that far of a stretch from Big Lots. I’ve been very thankful that gas stations are open for holidays. We’ve almost always traveled for holidays be it for 20 minutes or 12 hours. Guess what is necessary for travel? Gas! I can also say that never were we the only customers at gas stations on holidays. There were always other people getting gas, using restrooms, and getting travel snacks.

Speaking of travel, on holidays we have also been very appreciative of hotels and restaurants being open for breakfast. Yes, a big part of Thanksgiving is eating, but those meals are usually later in the day. I still remember a delicious diner on Thanksgiving morning in Oklahoma. It was close to the hotel where we were staying, and they had the best waffles with strawberries and whipped cream on top! Seriously, I remember them almost 30 years later! Likewise, we’ve also been appreciative of restaurants open on holidays when we’ve had relatives in the hospital. When a close relative’s life is in the balance, the last thing you want to do on a holiday is cook a big meal at home. Also, and I say this from experience, there are only so many hospital cafeteria meals you can eat. Even if the food is decent, it is unsettling hearing “code blues” announced on speakers when your relative is in ICU/CCU. Sometimes to keep your sanity, you need a non-hospital cafeteria meal on a holiday!

Another essential to keeping sanity is having entertainment. How many people watch football on Thanksgiving and Christmas? I’d almost wager that some of the people acting like Big Lots is the evil incarnate for being open on Thanksgiving are watching the NFL today. In my head, I hear them arguing “Those players get paid millions! They know what they signed up for! Their families can have Thanksgiving another day!” What about the officials, the parking attendants, the concession stand employees, and the stadium maintenance staff? When you’re watching at home, there still has to be people working on site that make the game experience possible. Likewise, how many people have been to the movies on Thanksgiving or Christmas? I have! Growing up, we would go as a family. It was always fun after a meal early in the day. Also fun on a holiday? Watching parades! I’ve never seen a single person complain about all the people who have to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas to make parades happen. I’m sure thousands of people have to work to make these parades happen!

So if we are thankful for medical services, travel services, and entertainment being open on holidays, why do people get so bent out of shape about stores being open? Is it because people like saying “greedy retail establishments”? That doesn’t make complete sense given travel services and entertainment also generate income on holidays. Is the root of it because people like to complain about things they don’t understand? Whatever the argument is, I hope that everyone who reads this has a blessed holiday season!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

100,000 Miles

You know those moments where you can always remember where you were and how you felt? Last week, we experienced one of those moments! I would tell you where I was, but some info has to stay classified; however, I will tell you that I was so excited, I couldn’t stop laughing and shrieking with glee! What was so exciting? Princess Zippy crossed 100,000 miles! Princess Zippy is the third car I’ve ever owned, and she’s the second one that I remember excitedly waiting for 100,000 miles! I’m not sure why I feel like this is such a major event. Perhaps because of all of the joy that she’s brought into our lives!

Princess Zippy came into our lives at a time when we were desperate for a new (to us) car. Old Blue had become to expensive to repair, and we needed a car that could take us on a business trip in five days. Luckily, I had started looking and test driving the last time Old Blue gave us fits. Plus, I had a dream of owning a Kia since they first became popular (you know, back when if you looked at them wrong they would dent). We were very lucky to find a Kia with extremely low mileage (she’d been a dealer car) under our budget! So the memories began quickly!

Since we got Princess Zippy, she’s traveled the country! She’s taken us to Dallas, Myrtle Beach, the Poconos, St Louis, Nashville, Gatlinburg, and more! During these road-trips, some of the best conversations have been had! For as long as I can remember, one of mine and Mr Kisby’s favorite things has been the philosophical and passionate discussions on car trips! These trips have also involved more laughter than the law should allow! Some of the best laughs have been had during those slap happy late night hours! These conversations have also seen goals set, affirmations made, and business tips exchanged! Oh, and the music! The music of road-trips has been so much fun! There’s nothing like flying down the interstate jamming out at the top of your lungs! Bonus, Princess Zippy even survived two break in attempts while in overnight parking (in a place not mentioned above). The score? Princess Zippy not getting opened up two and potential robbers zero! I cannot wait to see where else she travels!

Beyond trips, Princess Zippy is part of the greatest event of our lives: she brought LilKsby home from the hospital! Boy, talk about a terrifying drive! Never ever has 35 MPH felt so fast and dangerous. Princess Zippy has safely gotten us from the infant seat stage to the rear facing convertible seat phase to the current forward facing convertible seat saga, or as unlike to call it, “The now I can throw things at you while you drive” saga. Side note: never let anyone tell you a car seat can’t be put in the middle of the backseat of a Kia. It can too! Princess Zippy’s been a school on the road, helped LilKsby learn locations (by the way it would be GREAT if every McDonalds couldn’t be seen from like two miles away), and been a major part of his ever developing since of direction. He’s only three, but he can tell you if you’re taking the wrong (not normal) way somewhere, and he’s also mastered traffic lights, stop signs, and which roads we use the most! I love our family time in Princess Zippy!

In addition to family fun, Princess Zippy has been my main business transportation. She taught us the value of hatchbacks when I was at an outdoor vendor event, and it started raining. We literally threw everything in the hatchback and sat watching the street turn into a creek! She’s my advertisement on wheels, and she’s become a conversation piece when I meet mom’s at toddler/preschool events. How cool is that?

I realize it may be weird to be so excited about a car, but Princess Zippy has been with us through a lot. I can’t wait to see where the next 100,000 miles takes us!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Dream Job Day

Today was Dress Your Dream Job Day for mental health spirit week at my school. To those that know me this may come as a shock, but being a teacher is not my dream job. Teaching is a job that I enjoy most of the time (let’s be real we all have our negative days), but if I could be absolutely anything in the world it would not be my choice. As a child I would’ve have told you that I wanted to be a country music star like Reba; as a teenager I would’ve told you that I wanted to be a lawyer with a house just like Cher’s in Clueless. Those were all jobs that sounded great because I equated success with a lot of money. Nowadays, I equate success with living comfortably (note, I didn’t say rich) and doing a job you love. So what would be my dream job? I have a few!

1. Travel Critic/Travel Planner – I have always loved traveling! For as long as I can remember, I have loved exploring new places. In fact, part of the reason I started this blog was to write about food and travel. You can go back and checkout those early posts for fun! I still think it would be the best job if someone would pay me to travel!

2. Pro-Gamer – I was 5 when the first Nintendo came out, and I have loved video games ever since! I went through a major WoW phase, and I love The Sims (seriously I’m writing because my game is updating)! I also love board games, card games, and tabletop RPGs. If I could get paid to game, that would be a dream come true! I think it would be amazing to just stream myself playing games and have people watch. We started doing this during the pandemic on our Twitch Channel HouseofKs. TheGreatKaysby is also on Twitch!

3. Awareness Advocate – I would love to get paid to give a voice to those without a voice. I want to stand up for what is morally right for those who cannot speak for themselves. This would bring lots of joy to my heart!

4. Samantha Stephens – I want to be Elizabeth Montgomery on Bewitched. If I could twitch my nose and do all of my chores, my house would be immaculate! Also, I love that she dressed up for dinner every night. That alone would give me an excuse to wear my Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired pearls every day! Bonus? If I’m Samantha Stephens, I can travel by popping in and out of places. Oh, you want a croissant? Let me pop over to Paris and bring one back!

There are also other jobs that I think would be fun to do just once so you can say you’ve done them. For me these include bar tender, yoga instructor, karaoke host, tour guide on a historical tour, and seamstress (I kind of do this voluntarily). All of these would be fun once, but I think they would get old if done day in and day out.

What’s your dream job?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Unplug to Recharge

I’m by far not a Transcendentalist. I tend to function better when I have a set routine, and even though I have a unique sense of style there is nothing groundbreaking about how I dress. I’m also too concerned with covering the amount of gray in my hair to say that I march to the beat of my own drummer. Even the unpopular things I’ve been involved with throughout my life such as theatre, medieval reenactment, playing video games, playing tabletop games, and writing have somehow become mainstream. However, there is one part of transcendentalism that I totally get: nature.

For me nature is where I go to unplug and recharge. (Unplug is kind of a loose term, but I’ll explain that in a minute.) There is something about being out in nature whether it is hiking, swimming, or sitting in a cabin looking out at the trees that helps me to feel peaceful and relaxed. This weekend was spent sitting in a cabin in the woods surrounded by family, and I can say that I haven’t felt this relaxed going into a work week since last May when a weekend was spent in a cabin in the woods! It was wonderful to unplug from all of the responsibilities of home! I don’t know about everyone else, but I struggle to truly relax at home. Even when I’m reading, writing, sewing, etc there is always that voice in the back of my head saying “You should be doing x, y, and z!” With that mantra in my head, it’s impossible to be totally serene at home. However, in a cabin, I can unplug that little voice and relax!

Relax and unplug for me is probably different than a lot of people. I still played on my phone while unplugging, and I still used my laptop. The difference is that instead of working, I used my devices to research things I would like for Christmas, order Christmas pajamas, and look at gifts for LilKsby. Not a bit of work was done! I also finished one book, read another book, and started a third one (all Stephanie Plum novels)! My only to do tasks all weekend were eat, hangout with family, and sleep! It was also relaxing to be able to go on a trip without having to go on the interstate. Back roads are way more relaxing! The best part of the weekend? The relaxation has continued even at home tonight. I’m not even stressed about going to work tomorrow!

I’m so thankful that I was able to spend the weekend in nature, unplug from everyday life, and recharge! Are you recharged for the week?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby