Emily Draper
Emily grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She graduated from The University of Arizona with a degree in Business Administration, where her love affair with all-things desert began. She originally moved to Tampa in 2009 to be closer to her then-boyfriend, now-husband, Kyle. Together, they have two amazing (and amazingly strong-willed!) kids, Charlotte and Connor. Since starting a family, Emily has also lived in South Carolina and Metro Detroit, before returning to the Tampa area in 2017 to franchise a fitness studio, Red Effect Infrared Fitness http://redeffectfitness.net/. In her spare time, Emily enjoys fitness, essential oils, reading, country music and anything crafty.
How Volunteering on Thanksgiving Changed My Experience
Thanksgiving is a holiday that brings family and friends together. But what do you do if you don't have a group to gather with? I ran into this dilemma one year in college, so...
My Daughter’s First Experience with a Bully
I remember looking at my oldest within the hours and days after she was born and thinking, "I never want anyone to hurt this sweet little girl's feelings." Was this a weird, random, emotional...
It’s Possible to be a “Well-Rounded” Stay-at-Home Mom
I was a stay-at-home mom until my youngest was in kindergarten. This choice was made because it was what worked best for our family. My husband often worked long hours and we moved around...
6 Tampa Bay Bike Trails That Will Get Your Kids Motivated to Ride
When I was younger most kids I knew rode bikes for fun/transportation. It was just a rite of growing up. I recently stumbled upon this article and was saddened to learn that may not...
4 Tips for Making Moving Easier for Kids
I lived in the same house for my first eighteen years. My parents then moved our family during my senior year of high school. That was the first of nine moves during the second...
Why Survival Swim Lessons Were the Best Choice for My Kids
I guess you could say our swimming lesson journey technically began at a friend's wedding reception. At that time my daughter was just over a year old. One of the other guests began telling...
How Do We Get People to Stop Driving Around School Buses?
There have been many rites of passage for my two kids since starting elementary school. Having a backpack full of school supplies, trying "hot lunch" in the cafeteria (and behaving appropriately while eating it!)...
Why I Love Having Two Kids Close In Age
There's a saying something along the lines of "nothing worth having comes easy." If the author of this quote wasn't directly referring to having kids, they definitely should have been. My friend and I...
15 “Other” Uses for Diaper Rash Cream
If I've learned one thing as a parent, it's that every child is different and every parent is different. What works well for one person might not work at all for you. Diaper rash...
Nonprofit Spotlight: American Heart Association Tampa Bay
As most moms will probably admit, we don't always make ourselves a priority. It's easy to let things fall to the wayside, especially when it comes to our health. According to the American Heart...