Since my cancer diagnosis in April 2024, I have made sure to live my life to the fullest doing the things I love! The adventures that I have participated in have eased my anxiety and fear during my cancer journey and reminded me that life is a gift. Below is a list of all my adventures so far! I hope that they inspire you to plan your own and continue enjoying life throughout your cancer journey!  

Couple getaway:

June:

• Stayed at the gorgeous Salamander Middleburg to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The grounds and accommodations were exquisite. 

Family Gatherings:

May:

• Celebrated my Dad’s Birthday in New Jersey - we had a celebration at my parents’ home for my dad. Always good to be around my family.
• Celebrated Mother’s Day in New Jersey - took my parents to Renault Winery and had a relaxing Mother’s Day brunch in a beautiful and quaint atmosphere.

June:

• Attended the Ethiopian wedding celebration of a family friend’s son with my husband and parents. It was a beautiful night with wonderful people. 
• Coordinated a surprise party with family and friends for my husband’s milestone birthday at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at the National Harbor, MD. 

July:

• Had a family weekend getaway at Hershey Park with 14 family members to celebrate my nephew’s birthday! We had an AMAZING time staying at the Villas at the Hershey hotel. 

September:

• Celebrated my sister’s birthday by surprising her in New York city to have dinner at Frida Midtown with her and her amazing THIS IS IT NETWORK team.

Girlfriend Weekends:

June:

• Coordinated a weekend getaway with my childhood girlfriends in Long Beach Island, NJ. We stayed at Hotel LBI – it was wonderful! The hotel was beautiful, quiet, and the perfect place to have a relaxing weekend with forever friends! 

September:

• Coordinated a weekend staycation with one of my childhood girlfriends in:
• Alexandria, VA
• Staying at Sheraton Suites in Old Town Alexandria and dining at Chart House and Royal Restaurant
• National Harbor, MD
• Staying at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center and dining at Grace’s Mandarin 

Museums:

May:

• Visited the Kreeger Museum - The Kreeger Museum is an inspirational museum in Washington, DC. The visit with my husband fulfilled my love for learning.

Live Events:

May:

• Attended City Dance Gala at the Kennedy Center - The arts bring me unspeakable joy! For fun, I take Zocabeats dance classes at the City Dance studio and had the pleasure of attending the organization's gala.

June:

• Surprised my husband for his milestone birthday:
• Took him to the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival –to enjoy the unity themed production and “celebrate the life and joy of great music”.
• Took him to Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Virginia Beach, VA at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater. We had a blast and had a nice overnight stay at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center.

September:

• To celebrate my recovery and my return to work, my husband and I went to the Kennedy Center to see Ben Folds' DECLASSIFIED® series with Madison Cunningham, Yasmin Williams, and one of my favorite artists of all time – Rob Thomas. It was a magical night! 

Learning & Development:

June:

• Started taking Master Class lessons to strengthen my understanding of brain health. 

May-July:

• Took voice lessons at Middle C Music to focus on the joy of music and to help me control my breathing. 

September:

• Attended the Atlantic Festival 2024 in Washington, DC - A two-day gathering where participants engage with today’s most significant issues through interviews, film screenings, book discussions, networking opportunities with some of the world’s leading thinkers and influencers.

October:

• Attended the Capital Coaches conference in Fairfax, VA - gained valuable coaching insights and practical tools, while networking with supportive colleagues.

Spa:

May:

• Had a Deep Tissue Massage at Unwind Wellness Center - Georgetown - Massages help me to relax my mind and body. 

July:

• Had Deep Tissue Massage at Hershey Chocolate Spa – loved every minute. It was the perfect experience prior to my surgery.

Volunteer:

May:

• Served as a member of the Metro DC International Coaching Federation (ICF) International Coaching Week planning committee and coordinated a week of programs to educate individuals about the coaching profession and strengthen their capabilities. 

June:

• Became a member of the Metro DC International Coaching Federation (ICF) Learning & Development committee to develop annual programming for the Metro DC coaching community. 

October:

• Selected to be the Breast Cancer Survivor speaker for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

If you would like support in planning your own adventures, please complete Tenki Adventures Intake form today!