Marlena Renner
Marlena is mom to 6-year-old Joshua and has been married to her husband, Andy, for 10 years. They reside in Alton, Illinois where he is the head athletic trainer for Alton High School. Her parents both grew up in Kirkwood, and even though she spent most of her childhood in Montgomery City, MO, she had a feeling she would end up in St. Louis someday. She worked in minor league baseball after college, eventually landing for a season with the River City Rascals. She worked for the St. Louis Blues, Stifel Theatre, and Enterprise Center for 13 years before the pandemic stopped so many things. Today she is the email specialist for Caleres, which means shoes … all the shoes.
New Orleans – Family Vacation Edition
When we found out my husband's national convention was going to be in New Orleans we were excited— a perfect place for us to get away. The universe sometimes has plans for us and...
Racing to Indianapolis
Summer time is road trip time! We are excited to re-share this travel post with you!
Another summer, another opportunity to turn one of my husband's conferences into a family vacation spot. This June, we...
Hermann, Missouri: Your Getaway Guide
If you’re looking for a wine-and-food road trip this summer, might I suggest Hermann, Missouri? I grew up not far from there, so when I get to share it with friends, it's always fun....
Let’s Play Cards… and Not Just “Go Fish”
There's more to card games than War and Go Fish! In honor of "Play More Cards Day," I compiled a list of our go-to games that only involve cards! Every game on this list,...
It’s National Book Month – Get Inspired for Your Next Read
What is better than a good book? To help celebrate National Book Month this October, I've compiled a list of some of my son's favorite books, along with a few selections from my personal...
Spina Bifida Awareness Month: Meet Katelyn
As October is Spina Bifida Awareness month, we are resharing a post from 2022.
"Can I ask why you're in a wheelchair?"
It's a pretty simple question and one that I should have asked years ago.
I...
Omaha: One Last Road Trip This Summer
Looking for a road trip destination? We are re-sharing this post about Omaha that ran in August, 2022, for inspiration!
Another month, another conference for my husband, Andy. This time we found ourselves in Omaha,...
Prepare For National Pokémon Day on February 27
I don't know when Pokémon ™ entered our world, but according to an in-depth conversation with Josh, it was approximately two years ago. The complicated names of dinosaurs were replaced with just-as-complex names of...
Alton: A Food Tour to Savor
Dining out in Alton, IL just got easier, thanks to these recommendations!
It started as a simple question, “Where can you eat in Alton?” And as I started rattling off my list of favorite things...
National Read a Book Day: It’s Not Just for Bedtime!
Happy National Read a Book Day! This is quite possibly one of my favorite unofficial holidays on the calendar. Full disclosure: almost every day is read-a-book day for me.
I do not know when my...