The Story of Clark and Cru
Welcome to the Blog!
This is a space where I’ll be writing all about vacationing with kids, with a focus on specific destinations around the world.
Posts such as:
What to Eat in London
Top 10 Things to See on Your First Trip to Bali
How to Get Your Kids Excited for Your Upcoming Trip to Costa Rica
Airplane Travel Hacks with Toddlers
How to Be a Sustainable & Respectful Tourist in Hawaii
5 Reasons to Make the Trek to Europe with Kids
And So Much More!
But before getting into all those fun posts—let me introduce myself!
- FIRST COMES LOVE -
Prior to having kids, I used to live, breathe, and work just to travel. My only fear in life was not being able to see enough of this world before my story ended.
Where some people fall in love with designer purses or nice cars (no judgement to those who do) I fall in love eating handmade pasta in a little Tuscan town, wearing my same old dusty travel pack. I’d rather line up at airplane gates than for the newest iPhone, and like the meme says—my husband knows not to waste money on jewelry; all I want are round-trip tickets to adventure.
Not to be dramatic, but during my dad’s last year, we didn’t talk about material things; we reminisced about the vacations we went on together—the reefs we explored while scuba diving, the football games we hung our heads at (the 90’s/00’s were tough as Miami Dolphins fans!), the mountains we climbed, and the beaches we walked. I aspire to create just as many memories with my own kids to look back on.
- THEN COMES MARRIAGE -
I’m blessed to have found a man
who shares my passion for life. Prior to kids we lived a pretty spontaneous life. Working in hospitality gave us the ability to travel—sometimes for weeks at a time to different parts of the world. We bought homes, flipped homes, we were on the West Coast and then on the East Coast of our state, lived with my parents for small bits of time in between some of those—but one thing stayed constant—we traveled. We were so reckless in the best way, driven by seeing the world and man do I feel like we did!
- THEN COMES BABY IN A BABY CARRIAGE -
Four years ago, I was promoted to my hardest (and most rewarding) job yet—Mom. Today, I have two little boys whose middle names are the namesake of my brand—Clark and Cru and the names I will be referring to them as in this blog.
Cru is my rambunctious, funny, always keeping me on my toes four year old. Strong-willed since day one, my incredibly smart early bird. He is and will continue to be the source of all my newly acquired grey hairs and constant need for botox injections. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though—for that high-energy little boy is going to rock this world one day.
Clark is my kind natured, calm, sleeps until 8am (didn’t know kids actually did this!) almost two year old son. He lives for hugs, cuddles, and soft blankets. I’m not sure what his future holds as he’s still developing that sweet little personality of his, but I can confidently say he’ll be the most loving, loyal friend and companion to whoever he welcomes into his circle one day.
- THEN COMES MORE LOVE -
I have five years of experience teaching elementary education, a degree in hospitality, and an MBA. It’s a total grab bag of degrees, but somehow, I’ve found a way to weave them all together into my business, Clark and Cru.
A store offering unique kids’ travel companions for destinations around the world. Each book includes travel journaling pages, fun location-specific activities, and kid-friendly information about the places they’re exploring.
What started as a desire to ensure my kids fully experience the culture of each destination has grown into a desire to help your kids do the same! If you haven’t had a chance to check out the shop, you can find it here—www.clarkandcru.com.
I’ve been building Clark and Cru Travel Journals for about two years now during nap times and after bedtime. This; however, is my very first step into blogging—and to be honest, it’s the step I’ve nervously kept simmering on the back burner. I spend most of my day talking to two toddlers—what if I can’t find my adult voice to write this? I’m leaning entirely on the advice of my sweet friend Brianne, who, at the beginning of this whole venture, told me it doesn’t have to be perfect—just post it. PS If you are also looking for that good surge of confidence in your business—she is the best! You can find her at https://briannefleming.com/ and on her Making the Brand podcast.
So please, have grace and patience while I find my blogging voice. I look forward to this journey and I hope you do too!
Until next time—Adventure Awaits!
Jenn