We're so excited to feature Angelica as a Connoisseur: the creator of not only one but TWO popular lifestyle blogs, based in DC. She is delightful and lovely and absolutely brings the party wherever she goes... she's also a frequent TV correspondent, you may recognize her from TV :) Get to know her a bit, below!

‍

We so admire your deep love for exploration and travel. How did your love affair with travel and new experiences begin?

‍I grew up in such a small rural town in NW Ohio that I longed to explore what else was out there. As soon as I started earning my own money as a tween, I always put aside money just for travel. The first place I ever visited outside of my hometown & my grandparents' house in Kentucky was Toronto, Canada when I turned 15. 

You have some wonderful ideas for ways to safely have fun outside in the DC area during COVID. What are some other ways you’ve been able to quench your thirst for new experiences during this wild year?

‍I find it very fun to become a tourist in your own city. I find a couple hours each week to go explore different neighborhoods that I haven’t visited in a while. It’s amazing how cocooned we all actually really are in our own neighborhood bubbles. Another way is to hop in the car and go on a roadtrip. They don’t have to be long car drives--most of my finds are within 30-60 miles of where I live. I love visiting Baltimore, Williamsburg & Richmond. The Delaware beaches are also super close.

Your children are often with you on your adventures. What tips do you have for families that want to travel and explore safely during COVID?

‍Having a plan is super helpful. You don’t have to be a Type A to get some basics down as part of the routine. Always have your essential pandemic appropriate supplies like additional masks, hand soap, bottled water, paper towels, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. I have been a germaphobe from the beginning of time--so I feel like I’ve been planning for this my whole life. I really love embracing a travel lifestyle with a 50/50 rule: I prepare and "itinerize" half of the trip with a solid outline, and then leave 50 percent to just be free to explore without firm plans and expectations. My kids and I are always a little on the free spirited side, but my husband is super Type A and has to have a blueprint and a structured time line. This accommodates both personality types. 

"I really love embracing a travel lifestyle with a 50/50 rule: I prepare and "itinerize" half of the trip with a solid outline, and then leave 50 percent to just be free to explore without firm plans and expectations. My kids and I are always a little on the free spirited side, but my husband is super Type A and has to have a blueprint and a structured time line. This accommodates both personality types."

You recently joined the board for United Women on the Fly - tell us a little bit about how you got involved, and what tips you have for someone curious about fly fishing.

‍Heather Hodson, the founder of United Women on The Fly and I were connected by a mutual friend--just one of the beautiful things about social media. While exploring ways to diversify her team, she thought of me and invited me to join the team and fly fish in Washington state with them last month. It was one of the best experiences in my entire life and I’m so happy to be part of this extraordinary community of female anglers. I’d love to share my tips in a list for Compell'd! ‍

You’re famous for the expert curation you bring to your site, Clarendon Moms, and we know how important it is to you to continue to support your local community. What has surprised you most about this community of moms you have built?

‍Thank-you for that acknowledgement. Means a lot to me! I think that moms are superheroes that don’t ask for praise or any validation. This amazing community of women really work hard to connect and remain helpful to one another by sharing their time, their resources and in a lot of ways simply by sharing their own experiences with each other. Sometimes being vulnerable and letting another mom know that they aren’t alone in topics like how hard it is to breastfeed or how to find time to get pampered without feeling guilty can make all the difference in the world to someone dealing with those issues.

"Sometimes being vulnerable and letting another mom know that they aren’t alone in topics like how hard it is to breastfeed or how to find time to get pampered without feeling guilty can make all the difference in the world to someone dealing with those issues."

‍

Thanks so much, Angelica! We can't wait to see your fly fishing list in Compell'd :)