The Promise

I was holding my mother's hand when she took her last breath.

After 19 months of fighting cancer, after watching her battle for every single day, I made her a promise: I would stop letting others dictate who I am. I would live fully, unapologetically, on my own terms.

She never got to see the world. So I decided I would see it for both of us.

What I Left Behind

After a surprise divorce of a 25-year marriage, woven with abuse and betrayal. I'd lost everything—financially, emotionally, spiritually. While caring for my dying mother, I was simultaneously dismantling a life that had never really been mine.

I left the house. Sold the stuff. Walked away from the conventional path.

I bought a sailboat.

I named her SV Bonnie Lass, after my mom, Bonnie Sue. That decision changed everything.

What I Discovered

For over 20 years, I've been a photographer—capturing love stories, celebrating families, documenting the moments that matter most. But through my own unraveling, I discovered something deeper:

Real beauty doesn't need polish.

It lives in the raw, messy, unfiltered truth of who we are. Trauma reshapes us. It weaves strength from sorrow. Our scars become jewels that reflect the beauty of survival.

The ocean became my sanctuary—the place where I remembered what it feels like to be fully alive. Connection only happens when you stop pretending and start living authentically.

What I Offer Now

I don't live in a house anymore. I live on the water, no more dusty shelves and square footage.

Living aboard my sailboat, I've created something I wish had existed when I needed it most: a space where you stop documenting life and start living it. Where you don't celebrate what's expected, you reclaim what's real.

I curate unforgettable getaways tailored to your vibe, vision, and budget—intimate experiences that give you stories to tell, a legacy to leave, and love to pay forward.

Choose your sanctuary: Breathtaking marina views. Poolside mornings with mimosas. A sunrise sailing charter. Wine on the bow at sunset. An enchanting treehouse or serene mountainside villa. Cascading waterfalls. Pristine beaches. However you design it—we've got you.

We offer weekend escapes, five-to-seven-day experiences, and adventures throughout. For solo travelers, couples, proposals, elopements, small celebrations—and my favorite: women's retreats. PROJECT PHONIX

For the Women Who Need This, just getaways.

PROJECT PHOENIX is not just a getaway; it's an escape—designed for women seeking to reset, heal, connect, and rest.

Whether you're navigating the aftermath of trauma or divorce, feeling overwhelmed by life's weight, forging a new path, or simply craving well-deserved time surrounded by beauty—these retreats are crafted with you in mind.

Using my story of loss, betrayal, and healing, I'm creating something that empowers other women to choose themselves.

For Mom.
For my daughters.
For everyone still finding the courage to choose themselves.

Welcome. You're exactly where you need to be.