Petra Monaco

Hey there, This week has mostly been about settling back into some kind of routine after the unexpected hospital stay and everything that came with it. There are still things we're figuring out, but mornings are starting to look a little more familiar again. For me, that means coffee, getting outside, and walking with my dog before the rest of the day gets going. There’s something about returning to those ordinary routines after life gets turned upside down that makes them feel a little less...

Hey there, September is here, which means there’s a new Wild Mug Club design, and this one comes directly from the trail. Meet Adventure Starts After Coffee, September’s Wild Mug Club mug, inspired by my hike on Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. Old Rag had been sitting on my hiking list for a long time. It’s one of those trails you hear about again and again, mostly because of the views and the infamous rock scramble. And after finally hiking it, I can confirm that the reputation...

Hey there, This week did not go according to plan. What was supposed to be a routine transplant clinic and lab day for my kid turned into a hospital admission when his blood sugar came back at 504 and his A1C at 10.6. He was diagnosed with diabetes, and we're now figuring out exactly what type and what this new addition to our already extensive medical vocabulary is going to look like. The especially wild part is that he had zero symptoms. It was a pretty solid reminder of why being...

Hey there, We've had a lot of storms lately, which hasn't always made getting out on the trail particularly easy. But all that rain brought something with it. Mushrooms. So many mushrooms. They're popping up everywhere right now, in the leaf litter, along fallen logs, tucked beside the trail, and in places I'm pretty sure there was absolutely nothing the last time I walked through. I love this part of hiking after a stretch of wet weather because the woods can look completely different from...

Hey there, I've been tinkering with Trail Side Post for a while now, and if you've been around here for any length of time, you probably know I'm perfectly willing to keep messing with something until it finally clicks. Well, it clicked. The original idea behind Trail Side Post was simple: once a month, I'd send a little piece of the trail through the mail. There would be an art print, something extra, and a personal note from me. I loved the idea, but I kept feeling like it needed more. Not...

Hey there, This week has been riddled with pop-up storms. The kind that seem to come out of nowhere, dump an absurd amount of rain on everything, and leave just as quickly as they arrived. But you know what's incredible after something that can really devastate you? The sunrise the next morning. I caught this one early in the morning, and the entire sky looked like it was on fire. After all the storms, rain, and gray skies, there it was. I think sometimes we need those reminders. The storm...

Hey there, Apparently, the woods have decided I'm collecting hearts now. Over the past few hikes, I've come across a heart-shaped scar on a tree, a mushroom that, if you look at it just so and use a little imagination, resembles a heart, and even a leaf that had curled itself into a tiny heart. I wasn't looking for any of them. I just noticed them. And honestly, that's one of the greatest gifts hiking has given me. We've had some much-needed rain this week, so the actual hiking has been...

Hey there, Another week has come and gone, and as always, it reminded me why I love living where I do. This week, Zina, Remi, and I headed out for an 8.5-mile hike to explore Laurel Prong, Rapidan Camp (President Herbert Hoover’s getaway retreat), and Jones Mountain Trail via the Appalachian Trail. There's something about setting out with no agenda beyond seeing what's around the next bend that always settles my mind. We crossed streams, wandered through the woods, and spent hours simply...

Hey there, If you've been eyeing the Coffee Before Conversation bear mug, this is your friendly reminder. This design is only available through August 31. If your perfect morning involves a hot cup of coffee, a little peace and quiet, and absolutely no one asking you to make decisions before caffeine... this bear gets you. After August, this design heads back into the woods. Coffee first. Words later. Then it's time to welcome a new face to the Wild Mug Club... Sneak Peek: August's Mug Meet...