Home Page - Thirdeyemom

How LifeStraw is Saving the Planet and Lives

For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like... Read More
Why I’ll Always Love Torrey Pines

"When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go".- Alexandra Stoddard There are some places in the world that seem... Read More
Discovering the Heart of Haiti’s Past at the Citadelle Henry

"Citadelle Henry is a living testimony of the determination of the people to consolidate their right to be sovereign and free, and to decide their... Read More
Finding my soul at the Playa San Josecito

"Witness and stand back from nature. That is the first step to the soul's freedom." - Sri Aurobindo Close your eyes for a moment and... Read More
A Stay in the Jungle at Amazonita Lodge

"There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and... Read More
Why Using Local Guides Matters

Over the past twenty years, the world has truly become a smaller place. Once hard to reach, remote parts of the planet that used to be... Read More
Breathless in Bolivia

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller... Read More
Reaching up to the sky on top of Kilimanjaro

If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are... Read More
Exploring the Grand Canyon: A Hike Down the Rim to Ooh Aah Point

On the last day of our October visit to the Grand Canyon, I decided it was time to take a hike down off the rim... Read More
An Afternoon Hiking at Mount Lemmon

If you have never been to Arizona, you may be surprised to know that the state is not only covered in cactus and canyons. Known... Read More

February 17, 2019

Best Hikes in Tucson: Hiking the Ventana Canyon Trailhead to Maiden Pools

One of my all time favorite hikes in Tucson is along the Ventana Canyon Trailhead up to Maiden Pools. Located adjacent to Loews Ventana Canyon resort in the Santa Catalina mountains and less than five minutes from my parents’ home, this 4.7 mile hike up the canyon is one of Tucson’s finest. Known for its spectacular beauty and magnificent views, the hike to Maiden Pools is a moderate two and a half hour hike depending on speed and stops.

February 11, 2019

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Tucson Travel Guide: How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Tucson

Tucson, with her laid-back charm and sunny disposition, has long been a top destination for travelers craving a visit to the American Southwest. With an average of over 300 days of sunshine, four different mountain ranges to choose from, a vibrant University scene and a mecca for golf courses, resorts and spas, Tucson, Arizona’s second largest city, offers a great escape from a cold Minnesota winter or quite frankly winter anywhere. I’ve been visiting for over 25 years and Tucson is like a second home to me. Here are my top tips on what to do and explore.

February 6, 2019

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On Top of Tucson’s Highest Peak: Hike to Mount Wrightson

Hands down, one of the greatest hikes in Tucson is to the top of Mount Wrightson. Located about 40 miles south of the city in the lush Coronado National Forest of the Santa Rita Mountains, Mount Wrightson and lesser known neighbor Mount Ian comprise the backdrop of any pictures taken in Tucson. At 9,456 feet, Mount Wrightson is Tucson’s tallest peak (Mount Ian is slightly smaller at 9,146 feet) and the views along the way and at the top are quite impressive. Where else in Tucson can you pass through four different ecological zones ranging from the last remains of the Sonoran desert to the Ponderosa pines and finally the Douglas Firs. In a little over five hours, you can have it all and get a challenging hike too.

January 31, 2019February 3, 2019

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Explore the World with HI USA Travel Scholarships

Hostelling International USA (HI USA) will be awarding over 86 travel and study abroad scholarships to Americans ages 18-30 who would love to study abroad but could use a little help. Check out details in this post. Application deadline is March 2, 2019.

January 1, 2019

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My Year in Review: The Highlights and Adventures of 2018

2018 has been yet another whirlwind year awash with highs and lows. It hasn’t been the easiest year yet there have been plenty of wonderful adventures, special moments, time with family and those not so pleasant yet necessary life lessons.

September 25, 2018October 5, 2018

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My Ever-Changing Path of Life

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" . - Ralph Waldo Emerson Life is a fascinating journey. It is always changing and leading... Read More

September 18, 2018October 11, 2018

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A Chat with Life Coach Elena Sonnino

Elena Sonnino is a sought-after guide for living fully in the now to step into the spotlight of your life. As a life coach, speaker, and yoga teacher, her work is an invitation to unearth and attune to inner strength and wisdom. She inspires individuals and groups to remove self-imposed obstacles and explore the unexpected. Learn all about her inspiring work in this interview.

September 6, 2018

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Uncovering the Spectacular Beauty of the Parish Church of St. Maria and Florian

Has there ever been one of those magical travel moments when you decide on a whim to explore the area around you and uncover a hidden treasure? That is how I felt late one afternoon... Read More

January 28, 2019January 29, 2019

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Gifts that Give Back: Beautiful Products that Help Fight Human Trafficking

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness month, I have compiled a list of my favorite for-profit and non-profit companies working hard to fight human trafficking. A purchase from any of these organizations goes to help victims of human trafficking not only find an escape but find a future.

January 16, 2019February 8, 2019

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How HANDS in Nepal is Working to Provide Education and Hope in the Most Remote Villages of the Himalayas

In 2010, I went on a life-changing trip to Nepal with my father to hike the Annapurna trek in the Himalayas. After that fateful trip, I began my blog and started helping HANDS in Nepal, a non-profit organization that works to promote education and reduce poverty in the remote Himalayan villages. In this post, HANDS in Nepal’s Director Jan Sprague updates us on the amazing work they are doing in some of the hardest reached areas of Nepal.

January 12, 2019January 12, 2019

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Transformational Travel to Guatemala: An Exclusive Interview with Tricia Hall

Since 2013 through a unique partnership, the Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry and the Community Cloud Forest Conservation have been offering transformative intergenerational travel trips to a remote part of Guatemala where families, couples and solo travelers alike can work side by side the local community and do good. The trip brings travelers to the highlands of Guatemala for an intercultural and educational opportunity to work with the Community Cloud Forest Conservation on projects in education and agroecology.

December 17, 2018

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Gifts that Give Back That Help Kids: Kupendo Kids

Kupendo Kids is a social impact company that is working to make a difference in Sub-Saharan Africa by selling ethically sourced, handcrafted toys that create jobs for women who need fair paying jobs to support their families. Every time you purchase a toy from Kupendo Kids, they deliver a toy to a child in need in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the perfect gift that gives back.