Wanderer – Fort Williams Park (Gallery)

The state of Maine has always held a special place in my heart.  As a kid, we camped at Hadley’s Point Campground just outside of Bar Harbor, Maine constantly.  When I was able to take my wife Becky to Acadia National Park 10 years ago, it was when I made my decision to invest in camera equipment to showcase the wildlife I came across during my hiking and outdoor escapades.

We were fortunate enough to be able to take a long vacation this year, the first in roughly 5 years.  In typical form, we had a lot planned, but left plenty of wiggle room in case our plan took a scenic detour.  Not wanting to lose a half day to driving, we got up at 1:30am(!) to reach our first stop at daybreak – Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  You know I had my Ningxia and Ningxia Nitro before starting that drive to keep me on point. 😛

Goddard Mansion @ Fort Williams Park , built in 1853-1859

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Debut of The YL Wanderer

Not all Who Wander are Lost…

Greetings!  My name is Derrick and I am a self-proclaimed wanderer.  I hike, I explore, I live.  Fueled by Young Living supplements and a desire to see and experience as much as possible, I want to share my journey and sights with you.

Whether I am photographing nature and wildlife, hiking the great outdoors, experiencing local food and drink, or traveling… there should be something for everyone in my eclectic wild lifestyle.

Future Wanderer posts can be found under the new category ‘Wanderer’ on the YL & Free website.  Below is a brief teaser of a place we recently stopped at, and turned into much more than a visit to a popular lighthouse…

Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

How To Clean a White Kitchen Sink Without Bleach

First, let me start by saying how much I hate this! No, I am not Cinderella and I do not have a song and dance with cute little animals helping me clean the house every day. And #icanteven hire a cleaning service because HELLO!, type A / OCD / germaphobe / you’re cleaning that wrong / don’t cross contaminate the entire house personality is in FULL CONTROL FREAK MODE! I just HAAAADDDD to have an 1870s Farmhouse as our first home with a big white kitchen sink. W H A T  T H E  F R E N C H  T O A S T?!! How am I going to clean this without asphyxiating myself with chemical-filled cleaners and choking to death? Been there, done that. Hence, what you see in the before pictures … Grossness because I was trying to figure out a BETTER WAY!

Why is the “Family Wound” so deep?

As I write this I may still be coming from the wounded place. I am writing this for your wounds. I see them. I hear them. I feel them. The pain family can inflict can be traumatic, horrific, make you feel black out rage & hurt, literally strip you of everything you thought you were, and make you feel like you don’t exist in the world all at the same time. All of these feelings I am talking about are caused by emotional pain. I am not talking about physical pain.

With every ounce of my soul I firmly believe that “blood is NOT thicker than water.” As a child I never understood the “correct” way to say that quote. Why? Because I knew from a very young age what a garbage human was. It never made sense to me. We have the same blood yet you treat me like I don’t exist – or you are mad at me that I exist.

Summertime Skincare Routine

This post is a month or two late. We had forever Winter and no Spring so by the time warmer weather arrived it took me longer than planned to get out of my Winter funk. Once I got out of my funk my priority was running out the door spending lots of time outside like I typically do in Summer. The longer nights, more energy, and staying outside till 4:00 am in front on the fire pit with friends are the nights I long for! Well, maybe not staying up till 4:00 am like I used to because now in my 30’s this girl needs as much beauty sleep as she can get especially for great skincare.

This post will be your holy grail to all your summertime skincare needs. I’m going to jump around all over the place because that’s what this Gemini girl does in the Summer, but it will be packed with loads of quality information for you to use and tons of my favorite, must-have summertime product recommendations. Keep in mind I use even more products in the Summer because the heat, humidity and living in air conditioning on those dangerously hot days does a number on my skin. Going from freezing AC if you’re in the office aka 2nd winter to going outside into Summer sweatfest. The drastic temperature change is a rough one for my sensitive self. And yes … sweatfest just became a word!

Top 2 Must-Have Essential Oils for Bugs

Hello Friend! I’ve been impatiently waiting to open all the windows and air out our house now that Spring (feels like Summer) has finally decided to make an appearance! I love having windows open and being outside, but I do not heart the bugs that come inside my home when I do this! And I do not want to choke on chemical sprays either like I used to in the past.

Springtime Skincare Routine Part 2

Last week you learned all about how to have great skin from the inside out in Part 1 of my Sprintime Skincare Routine. As I’m writing this I am still under the blankets freezing, a little cranky, borderline hangry, and it’s supposed to snow tomorrow?! Nope, #doneaulting today. Where the f*ck is Spring?! Let’s just all use our imaginations and at least you’ll be prepared with your Springtime Skincare whenever Spring decides to finally show up.

With all season changes, not only do my emotions go to #allthefeels but my skin loves to get a little crazy too. There are a few of my year-round staples for skincare that I can use, but with every season it’s important to also

Springtime Skincare Routine Part 1

As we shed those extra layers of clothing, blankets, winter weight, and that “wonderful” winter depression, now is the time to take extra special care of our skin. I’m that girl that runs outside on the first warm, sunshine day looking all deranged and groggy from the winter hibernation. I LOVE being outside (in warm weather of course)!!

Lock Me Up and Throw Away the Key

Jesus take the wheel! How many of you reading this have been judged on one thing OR Every. Little. Thing. You. Do?    Pause and think about that for a moment while I paint you a picture.

All-Natural Mattress Freshener

Spring is coming…right?!  Current situation outside is 2 feet of snow and a complaining me who’s arms are jello from roof raking buckets of snow.  This recipe I concocted in the heart of winter while ringing in the new year with GermFest 2018.  It can be used ALL YEAR ROUND!