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.
On the Road with Chevy to the Florida Strawberry Festival
Recently, I was invited to test drive a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer. I jumped at the chance to drive a car with a beautiful, clean interior. I lovingly refer to my current car as a...
Never Underestimate the Power of “Happy Mail”
When I was a kid, running to the mailbox to see what the post person delivered was really exciting. Fast forward to today and getting the mail is never high on my list of...
3 Ways I Teach My Kids the Value of Money
My second grader is currently working on a math unit on counting money. This got me thinking about how we teach kids the value of money. The future will likely hold a time where...
7 Mindset Resolutions for a Positive New Year
I've been hearing some people say that in lieu of an actual list of specific resolutions, they have mindset resolutions.
I really liked this positive twist on the old practice. I also thought it would...
How to Implement The Four Christmas Gift Rule
We are constantly bombarded with holiday media telling us to buy, buy, buy. It can be tempting to get just one more good deal in the form of a toy for our kids at...
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...