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MY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

We are Shades of Rae, your favorite single parent adventurer!

#singlemomstrong

Follow my single parent journey on my Instagram feed.

  • Guess who sang in her first Christmas music recital this morning? Miss @theemersonrae! So proud of you little one! ❤️💞❤️
    laraelobdell
    Guess who sang in her first Christmas music recital this morning? Miss @theemersonrae!...
  • One year ago today, I took the first steps in taking my own life back from years of multiple domestic violence relationships by packing up my personal belongings, my two-year-old toddler, and began a 10-month-journey of moving in and out of countless safe homes provided by friends, family, house and pet sitting for strangers, and ultimately living out of my car while driving across the country to begin a new abusive-free chapter in life as a single mom.⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ As I unpack each box from my past life into my new home, I am undoing more layers of past memories and facing them head-on. There are so many moments lately where I want to pack my car up and hit the road again to just avoid dealing with it! But I know it wouldn’t fix anything or take away the memories or pain or abuse. So I’m sitting with, and allowing the emotions to flow through me, as I gently accept them, love them as a part of me, and ultimately forgive myself. Grace upon grace...⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ #graceupongrace #livingmybestlife #selfempowered #selffulfilled #selflove #domesticviolencesurvivor #domesticviolencethriver⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ +⁠⠀ Two Neighbors Fashion photography by @laraelobdell.⁠⠀ Amanda Sun Dress by @twoneighbors. http://bit.ly/TwoNeighbors.⁠⠀ #twoneighbors #ambassador #ethicalfashion #USA #American #floridakeys #lifestylefashion #floridakeysfashion #ethicallymade #lifestyle #women #neighbors #sisterhood #womenempowered #womenempoweringwomen #femalephotographer #selfie #portrait #womeninphotography #woman #photographer #laraelobdell #photosister
    laraelobdell
    One year ago today, I took the first steps in taking my own life back from years of...
  • To be honest, the last month has been a pretty challenging. While I work on getting my photography and marketing consulting business going, I had to grab a job - any job - to get us by. So I started bartending evenings and weekends without any experience. Sink or swim, baby! + This meant my hourly wage of $10/hr went straight to the sitters and another big chunk of tips went to daycare school who takes excellent care of Em during the day. Total price for childcare = $500 PER WEEK for me to work. + The first couple of weeks were busy but then my tips - which are 100% of my income after paying childcare - dropped to $12-$47 a night because of the dip in the holiday season. Ouch. + Then Em got sick. Then I did too. At the worst of the bug we caught, I hopped over to a new resort and began orientation and training in a busy restaurant. It’s a nice place to work, my coworkers are fantastic and I’m working hard to learn the lunch, happy hour, dinner, and bar menus. No pressure! + The last couple of days Em and I are finally on the mend, the daycare school gave us a scholarship through the end of the month, month, I work three afternoons and two nights a week and my awesome neighbors just offered to help me with childcare those nights, a sweet and special man bought us a real Christmas tree, and I had just enough left over after robbing my piggy bank to cover rent today. Whew! + I guess what I really want to say is how thankful I am for all the small gestures from new friends, old friends, and complete strangers who have been my “village” and really kept me afloat this last month. I’ve been struggling and it’s been difficult keeping up my strength during all the transitions this year. I’m pretty exhausted and it’s all definitely taken a toll on me. However, a big corner has turned, all of these life trials are only temporary, and today is a sunny beautiful day with a new start.💖 + + + #Singlemomstrong #singlemom #warrior #thewayofthewarrior #myheorsjourney #herosjourney #daringgreatly #domesticviolencesurvivor #domesticviolencethriver #nurturing #loving #mother #photographer #inspiring #woman #brave #weak #strong #beautiful #toddler #daughter #photo #shiningbright
    laraelobdell
    To be honest, the last month has been a pretty challenging. While I work on getting my...
  • So proud to have photographed and modeled for the new @TwoNeighbors sign in the #FloridaKeys for their store in La Jolla, CA! + #repost • @twoneighbors Shop for peace! @twoneighbors #madewithlove #madeinisrael #twoneighbors #shoplocal #shopsmall #shoplajollavillage #shopsmallbusiness @laraelobdell @abouttownmagazines + + + #ambassador #ethicalfashion #USA #American #israeliproduction #israelifashion #Palestinianembroidery #peacemakers #peace #fashion #ethicallymade #lifestyle #women #empoweringwomenn #selfie #portrait #photographer #laraelobdell #photosister
    laraelobdell
    So proud to have photographed and modeled for the new @TwoNeighbors sign in the...
  • Members of the @dolphinresearchcenter and pop in as often as possible to visit all our happy friends there!🐬❤️🌴☀️ +⁠ #livingmybestlife #selfempowered #selffulfilled #selflove #domesticviolencesurvivor #keyslife +⁠ +⁠ +⁠ @twoneighbors tan tote bag http://bit.ly/TwoNeighbors is my everyday go-to bag! + #twoneighbors #ambassador #fashionphotographer #lifestylephotographer #ethicalfashion #USA #American #floridakeys #ethicallymade #lifestyle #women #neighbors #womenempowered #womenempoweringwomen #femalephotographer #selfie #portrait #selfportrait #woman #photographer laraelobdell #photosister
    laraelobdell
    Members of the @dolphinresearchcenter and pop in as often as possible to visit all our...
  • We’re snuggling in bed - both of us sick - and my little girl gives me a big hug and says “we’re best friends.” Well that makes me a little teared up! +⁠ #livingmybestlife #selfempowered #selffulfilled #selflove #domesticviolencesurvivor #domesticviolencethriver⁠ +⁠ +⁠ +⁠ Two Neighbors sun dress #fashionphotography by @laraelobdell.⁠ http://bit.ly/TwoNeighbors.⁠ + #twoneighbors #ambassador #fashionphotographer #lifestylephotographer #ethicalfashion #USA #American #floridakeys #ethicallymade #lifestyle #women #neighbors #womenempowered #womenempoweringwomen #femalephotographer #selfie #portrait #selfportrait #woman #photographer laraelobdell #photosister
    laraelobdell
    We’re snuggling in bed - both of us sick - and my little girl gives me a big hug and...
  • laraelobdell
    "Dream Big, focus small." - Robin Roberts +⁠ #livingmybestlife #selfempowered...
  • Happy Halloween! . . . #keyslife #singlemomstrong #singlemom #warrior #thewayofthewarrior #myheorsjourney #herosjourney #daringgreatly #domesticviolencesurvivor #domesticviolencethriver #nurturing #loving #mother #artist #photographer #writer #inspiring #woman #brave #weak #strong #beautiful #photo #photography #shiningbright #shiningorca #laraelobdell #photosister #shadesofrae
    laraelobdell
    Happy Halloween! . . . #keyslife #singlemomstrong #singlemom #warrior...

NEVER ENDING FOOTSTEPS

From Miami to Seattle, to San Antonio-Seattle, to Portland-San Francisco-San Diego-Los Angeles-Hollywood-Long Beach-Santa Barbara-Seattle, to Miami-Orlando-Miami-The Florida Keys-Seattle, and now beginning a 3,500-mile road trip across the United States car camping with my little girl. Life as a single parent is about courageously living life bravely by continuing to put one foot in front of another and enjoying every moment of the journey.

Miami, FL

August 2017
Seattle, WA

August 2017
San Antonio, TX

April 2018
Seattle, WA

April 2018
Portland, OR

October 2018
San Francisco, CA

October 2018
San Diego, CA

November 2018
Los Angeles, CA

November 2018
Hollywood, CA

November 2018
Long Beach, CA

November 2018
Santa Barbara, CA

November 2018
Seattle, WA

November 2018
Miami, FL

February 2019
Orlando, FL

February 2019
Miami, FL

February 2019
The Florida Keys

February 2019
Seattle, WA

February 2019

4,103 Mile Road Trip Across the US with a Toddler as a Single Mom.

It does take faith to take big steps in life, it is scary to do and there is risk involved, but there is affirmation in success if you are on the right path. God continues to affirm, affirm, affirm. Do everything you can do to follow God’s criteria, and He is faithful every time.

You’ve got to be daring. You’ve got to be gutsy. You’ve got to be prepared to change the path you’ve been on for a bigger picture.

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We are Shades of Rae, LaRae and Emerson (that’s us!)

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