Our experience competing in a national puzzle championship…

At the start of last month, we were given the opportunity to compete in the pairs AND teams division at the 2025 USA Jigsaw Nationals, thanks to Ravensburger. Most of the time when we tell people this, their first reaction is always, “Wow, I didn’t know you guys were so into puzzling!” We then joke back, “Same!”

Over the last three years, Chad and I have puzzled every now and then for the therapeutic aspect of the activity. So, it was quite funny when we had to wipe our minds of the comfort and peacefulness of puzzling for leisure, and aggressively replace it with the pressure and exhilaration of puzzling for sport. Let me tell you, it’s a very different feeling when there’s a giant timer rapidly ticking away as you race against some of the most skilled puzzlers in the nation.

You would think that we would’ve been stressed out of our minds during the competition. But, we were both surprisingly calm during both the pairs and teams championships. Because we don’t advertise ourselves as pro-puzzlers, and we knew we were there simply for the unique experience of it, we didn’t feel too much pressure to place high hahaha. Our top priority was making sure we were capturing quality footage of the event and crafting a solid story of our personal experience competing.

We took our time during the pairs competition and got 352 pieces (out of 500 pieces) together before the timer ran out, and we’re quite pleased with what we were able to accomplish, especially since we didn’t get the chance to practice before flying out to DC. The following day, thanks to a whole lot of convincing from Peter (from Claire and Peter), we tried our hand at speed puzzling AGAIN, but in a team of four, and managed to finish a 1000-piece puzzle within two hours.

While in DC, we delighted in its vibrant food scene and got a taste of what life would’ve been like if we settled down in a big city. Every evening, we would see a wave of lively young professionals out and about, walking their dogs, hitting up the gym, or meeting friends at bars and restaurants. During the days, you’d see them dressed in suits and business casual attire, grabbing takeout at delis and cafes, or walking alongside co-workers with lanyards and badges for a big corporate office.

It’s common for us to imagine what we would be doing and where we would be living if we never decided to dive into the world of travel and content creation immediately after graduating college. We would without a doubt be very different people with very different friends and outlooks on life. I know we could have thrived in an environment like that and found joy in the convenient beauties of city living and stability of a corporate schedule. But, I also feel remarkably grateful for the life we do have in our quiet, small town in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

One of the most impactful lessons I learned (so far) in my 20s is that there’s no perfect place to be. No city, no property, no neighborhood, will ever come without its own set of flaws and challenges, and it’s truly up to us to see the magic of that location.

For quite some time, it was difficult for us both, but particularly Chad, to feel content with settling down. It’s hard to NOT imagine all these alternate lives in which we could live, especially when we travel to so many stunning, fitting, and charming destinations across the globe. We live in a society that proclaims that things can always be better and that we should always strive for more. But, we’ve found that the harder we tried to reach for something greater, the more difficult it was to feel content with what we already had.

Discontentment is a topic that I feel is often avoided, but a struggle that I’m sure people of all ages experience time and time again. It’s such a relatable feeling, but one that’s hard to admit to, because it often times comes with a shower of unsolicited advice, pity, and judgement. We’re here to say that you’re not alone if you find it hard to feel content every now and then. It’s human nature to crave for more!

Something we’ve found to be helpful when feeling discontent is honing in on gratitude. When we start to focus on what we do have, versus what we don’t have, life just starts to feel a lot more wonderful. A glass half full is always more hopeful and uplifting than a glass half empty. This is not to say that practicing gratitude strips us clean of discontentment forever. It’s a feeling that will inevitably repeat itself over and over again, but remembering to be grateful and living for the present are outlooks that have always gotten us out of the rut.

Living back in my home state and in the mountains of Appalachia has brought unparalleled joy and comfort for us, and now that we’ve witnessed its beauty in all four seasons, we know we definitely made the right choice in putting roots down here. We’ve come to realize that we’re southern American souls at heart, and the hospitable culture, familiar flora and fauna, and slow drawl of the accent makes us truly feel at home.

My hosting era continues…

For the month of April, my friends and I decided to host a spring tea party with an earring making workshop. As always, these gatherings are potlucks, so no single person has to stress about doing all the cooking, and the ladies have been getting more and more creative with each passing event! I decided to make a floral herb goat cheese log with pansies, lemon thyme, parsley, and wild onion from my garden, and also some Earl Grey tea cakes with whipped cream cheese frosting, orange zest, and edible homemade flower-fetti (a fun and healthy alternative to sprinkles)!

I crafted the tea bar to feature five loose leaf teas– one black, one green, and three herbal, and I made a lavender syrup for anyone who wanted a sweetener. We sipped on hot tea while putting together polymer clay earrings, led by a local jewelry artist in the group, and the afternoon was lovely in every sense of the word. I’m thankful for this season of life where I (1) have the time, energy, and passion for planning these monthly gatherings and (2) have local women who are also prioritizing community and friendship as I cherish my hosting era. Until next month!

Taking a day trip back to up Chattanooga to experience Ruby Falls–

In the middle of April, we were invited by the social media team of Ruby Falls to travel up and experience the magnificence of their caves. If you haven’t heard of Ruby Falls before, it’s the tallest underground cave waterfall open to the public in the United States. It’s located near Chattanooga, Tennessee, which means we got to venture back to the city we were based out of from 2022 to 2024.

I’ve gotta say, I was extremely impressed with Ruby Falls and the experience of it all. We rode a speedy historic elevator down to the start of the underground trail and walked through a spectacle of lights and breathtaking cave formations to the star of the show– the rushing natural waterfall at the very end. Between the high production film about how the cave was discovered and named, and the intentional mood lighting along the entire underground trail, we were blown away by the whole experience.

Ruby Falls is a great destination for families, couples, and travelers looking to get a beginner’s taste to exploring caves. It’s approachable, entertaining, memorable, and safe, and we were happy to have partnered with them on this special day trip!

We are currently exploring our 33rd country…MOROCCO!

As you read this newsletter, we are exploring the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert and camping in Merzouga, a small Moroccan town near the Algerian border. I’m going to save all the details of our Moroccan adventures for the next newsletter, so stay tuned to hear all about it!

Travel medical insurance we HIGHLY recommend for your next trip–

Before our recent trip to India, we booked SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Essential plan for short-term coverage. We hoped we wouldn’t need it…but, when I unexpectedly had to be admitted into a hospital for nearly a week, SafetyWing covered the entire stay and all our medical bills. It was one of those moments where we were SO grateful we had travel medical insurance, and from now on, we will ALWAYS be getting coverage for our trips, big or small. Here is why we see the value in SafetyWing and why we think you should also use them on your next trip:

Reliable when it matters. From sudden illnesses to motor accidents, this coverage has your back in any travel situation, no matter how serious. We can affirm from our own experience that they will pull through.
Flexible options. The Essential plan is ideal for shorter trips or budget-conscious travelers, while the Complete plan includes routine checkups, mental health support, and ongoing care for longer-term travel. There are plans for every budget!
Adventure-ready. We often travel with expensive camera gear and book adventurous activities, so having optional add-ons for electronics theft and adventure sports gives us some extra peace of mind.
Easy to use. Everything is handled online. That means no phone calls, no confusing forms, and no hassle!

We are proud to be partnering with SafetyWing as we continue to explore the world! If you’ve got a big trip coming up this summer (or even a short one), definitely consider checking out their travel medical insurance.

New travel videos on YouTube–

Our first impressions of India: We explored Kochi for 24 hours and shared our first thoughts on the food, people, and history of Kerala, India! Here is the link to the video.

Our Washington D.C. vlog: We returned to D.C. to delight in its vibrant food scene, but to also compete in the 2025 USA Jigsaw Nationals! Here is the link to the video.

So, where are we heading next?

Our next trip will take place in June, and we will be flying to Spokane, Washington, to visit three other travel YouTubers for a week and a half! Sammy and Tommy, Eric and Sarah (and baby Juniper), and Adam and Kathryn from Adventures of A Plus K have been great friends of ours over the last few years, and we always try to make an effort to see each couple at least once a year. After filming one video in Spokane, we will be enjoying several days by the lake and soaking in the peace of a Northwestern American summer!

Until then, if I’m not editing our entire Morocco video series to the sound of crickets, katydids, and cicadas, you’ll find me outside, tending to all the herbs, fruits, and veggies in our raised beds. I hope May brings flowers, sunshine, and festive celebrations for all the mothers out there! Here’s to the last month of spring!

MOST SINCERELY,

Claire (and Chad)

Seeking contentment and competing in a national puzzle championship…