Amanda & Seth Kendler
ER clinical pharmacist & ER doctor, spouses, lovers of travel.
our love story
Seth (my city spouse) and I met in the Emergency Department at work in Abingdon, Virginia. Prior to working together in person, he actually called me from a remote facility with a consult/complaint regarding our heparin drip protocol. After that phone call (which took place in the middle of a statewide computer crash aka work DISASTER) I said to my boss, “I am not going to like this guy.” Once I met him in person, I realized he was one of the most compassionate and intelligent men on the planet. Seth left his name and number on a piece of paper for me one evening before leaving his shift, and the rest is history. To sum it up – he is my person. He proposed on a 3 week trip around Europe in 2019 and waited until my mom, daughter, and brother joined us towards the end of it. The proposal went down on a bridge over the Seine River in Paris with a backdrop view of the Eiffel Tower. I know, it sounds like a movie scene! He even flew the jeweler from Chicago to Paris to deliver the ring to him in person for enhanced secrecy. It was absolutely a fairytale proposal and he has helped me build a fairytale life for us and my daughter, Brooklyn. We are so appreciative of the blessings we have in life, but it is the experiences together that we crave. A mixture of some luxury and adventure would best describe our ideal trip. We hope that sharing some of our travel adventures with you will inspire you to see the world and all it has to offer. We are never too old to gain knowledge about different cultures and reshape our perspective on life, because that is what travel can do for all of us.
Amanda (country spouse & main Blogger)
I am a wife, mom, animal lover, and clinical pharmacist from a very rural town in Southwest Virginia called Swords Creek. The town I grew up in doesn’t even have a single red-light and the closest grocery store or McDonalds is a 15 minute drive out to a slightly larger town. I grew up in a beautiful valley surrounded by woods and some neighboring cows. If it snowed, we might not be able to leave the house for a week. For fun, my older brother and I played in the woods and would go sleigh riding with a couple neighbor friends that lived across the field (when we weren’t fighting over the dial-up internet). My family used to load up in the car and drive at least an hour on the weekends just to eat at a steakhouse. Other than a couple of trips to Myrtle Beach SC, the only traveling I did before graduating high school was for tournaments or camps within my home state or surrounding ones. I had no idea that other kids in the world didn’t live a life that revolved around sports – basketball, softball, volleyball, golf. This was my whole life and my way to see more than my home town. Looking back, I never really knew anyone who did travel even though both of my parents were educators. I went to school with some kids who had never been outside of our town, never eaten at a fast food restaurant, and maybe never would. Traveling is a privilege. It is an unattainable luxury to so many. My first big trip and airplane ride was at the age of 19 to Waikiki, Hawaii. I remember thinking, “Wow. This is what is out there?!”, and wishing so badly that my family could see what I was seeing. I was so scared that I cried on the airplane along with a scared child seated in front of me. My mom nearly broke down when my plane took off. I had no idea how to pack, how a layover worked, and what to do in an airport. The following year, I went with my mom to the Bahamas for a really basic stay and it was incredible. We cried when we had to come home. It was several years later after becoming a mother and earning my PharmD. degree before I was able to do any major traveling again, aside from a handful of East Coast beach vacations. To this day, I get awestruck when I am able to visit different parts of the world. I always take videos of my surroundings such as busy streets or beach sunsets so I can share with my friends and family back home. I love making people feel like they are there with me, seeing what I see, hearing what I hear, because I feel so appreciative. These videos are very useful later when I am missing vacation! My husband grew up very differently than I did in the city of Richmond VA. He is a lifelong world traveler and has taught me so much about culture and navigating our travels. Sometimes I feel like the spark of travel would be worn out for him if he didn’t love seeing it through my eyes. We take my 11 year old daughter with us everywhere we can, so we can see it through her eyes too. I am frequently hit up for advice on planning trips. I couldn’t believe it when people first started telling me that I inspired them to travel more, and even leave the country for the very first time! I find it so fulfilling to help others plan their adventures or share tips from our experiences, because I know how it feels to be overwhelmed or intimidated when planning. Now I confidentially organize a majority of our trips, including our complex split-stay in the Maldives. I also take trips with just Brooklyn and myself, which is really special. If a country girl like me can do this, anyone can. I started this blog in preparation for our dream honeymoon, and life has deterred me from finishing more times than I can count. Working the front lines and planning a wedding during the pandemic (3 times thanks to Covid), getting new jobs, and moving to a different state motivated me to finally find my outlet. The stress level was real! This is for fun, for inspiration, for my own documentation, and finally something that is no pressure (like a code blue or stat IV compound in the middle of the night with no technician). I am not a writer. I proudly sound like cornbread when I speak, but I have a voice and experiences worthy of sharing with others. I will be releasing old blogs from before my website was launched, and have plans on writing many more of past and future trips! Feel free to connect with me with questions, destination suggestions, or feedback!
Get in touch
Amanda’s social media information is below. Feel free to connect and reach out with any questions or advice. We are always looking for new adventures!
2 responses to “About Us”
-
Amanda,I’m so proud of you. I love your travels and adventures. I love your free spirit and your view of life. Keep your eyes and heart open to what lies ahead.
Your “cornbread” talking 1st grade teacher.
-
It made my day to read your comment, Mrs. Hess! As one of my all-time favorite teachers, your words mean so much to me. I hope I am blessed enough to share many more adventures!!! Thank you!!! ❤️
-
2 responses to “About Us”
-
Amanda,I’m so proud of you. I love your travels and adventures. I love your free spirit and your view of life. Keep your eyes and heart open to what lies ahead.
Your “cornbread” talking 1st grade teacher.
-
It made my day to read your comment, Mrs. Hess! As one of my all-time favorite teachers, your words mean so much to me. I hope I am blessed enough to share many more adventures!!! Thank you!!! ❤️
-
Leave a Reply