HELLO!
I'm Julie! I am a traveler, reader, SCUBA diver, problem solver, dream chaser, and former country innkeeper.
Sometimes the biggest adventures begin when you finally decide to take the leap.
For more than twenty years, I worked as an executive and personal assistant. in Palm Beach County. It was a safe and familiar career, but if I'm being truthful, it wasn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I dreamed about doing something completely different—I just had to find the courage to actually do it.
In 2020, I finally took the plunge. Together with my family, I traded office life, beautiful beaches, and scuba diving in Jupiter, Florida, for the mountains of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where we bought a country inn. Suddenly, my days were filled with guest rooms, gardens, reservations, laundry, maintenance, marketing, decorating, problem solving—and dozens of other jobs I had absolutely no idea came with the title “innkeeper.”
For the next five years, the inn became much more than a business. It was a huge part of our lives. It challenged me, stretched me, exhausted me, made me laugh, cry, and occasionally made me wonder what on earth I had gotten myself into, and taught me more than I ever expected to learn.
Somewhere along the way, I started thinking, I really need to write this stuff down.
The Adventures of Owning a Country Inn grew out of those five unforgettable years—the funny stories, the difficult days, the wonderful guests, the unexpected jobs, the lessons learned, and all those moments that made me stop and think, Did that really just happen?
LIFE AFTER THE INN
Selling the inn closed one chapter of my life, but I'm definitely not finished with adventures.
These days, I call Virginia home. I'm writing, working on new projects, and enjoying the freedom to ask one of my favorite questions:
“Where should I go next?”
And after five years of being the person responsible for making sure everyone else had a wonderful stay, I've discovered something else…
It's rather nice to be the guest again.
But there’s more to me than my years as an innkeeper. Here’s a little about the people, passions, and faith that shape my life—and the adventures I’m still looking forward to.
FAMILY
Family comes first and foremost in my life. Whether I’m hanging out with my sister and her fiancé, spending time with my sweet mom, or gathering everyone together, family time is simply the best.
SCUBA DIVING
I’ve been a certified diver since 2015 and am now a Master Diver. Since moving away from South Florida, diving takes a little more planning, but it’s still one of my greatest passions—and I make it a priority to get underwater whenever I can.
ADVENTURER
I definitely have the wanderlust affliction—I want to go everywhere! After visiting more than 70 countries, my list somehow keeps getting longer, and I’m always ready for the next adventure.
DOG MOM
ENTREPRENUER
ENTREPRENUER
My journey as a dog mom began as a puppy raiser for a service-dog organization. I later became a breeder caretaker to a sweet Labrador and Golden Retriever, whose puppies went on to train as service dogs. Being a small part of helping these incredible dogs change lives has been such a rewarding experience.
ENTREPRENUER
ENTREPRENUER
ENTREPRENUER
After five years as an independent innkeeper, I wasn't quite finished creating! My family and I developed KooseKort, a fun and entertaining card game that has become my latest entrepreneurial adventure.
ANIMAL LOVER
ENTREPRENUER
ANIMAL LOVER
Animals are my jam! Whether they’re flying through the air, swimming in the sea, or anything in between, I want to be around them. Bears and lions, however, I’m perfectly happy admiring from a safe distance—they can kill you!