Hey Y’all! Most of you know I’m originally from Dallas. I’m a born and raised Texan and take great pride in it. Working in TV News means a lot of moving. So far, I’m on move number two! I’m more than a year into my move to Coastal Virginia and love it. I’m fortunate to work for a great news station, with a fantastic management team. TV journalism is a cutthroat industry. Yet, my bosses are not only understanding and appreciate my social media prowess, but push me to be a better reporter and anchor. Plus, it helps whenever something happens with my Dad’s health, I can go home. Of course, I miss home every day. That’s why I am partnering with Your Own Maps to bring a piece of Dallas to Norfolk. The San Francisco-based startup created my custom map poster and handles the entire printing process.

This console is the first thing you’ll see upon walking into my apartment. Whether I’m coming home from a hard day of breaking news or coffee with friends, I enjoy seeing a glimpse of home. I love white walls, so I wanted my custom map poster to be a bold color. I already have touches of navy in my apartment, so my color choice was obvious. There are six different styles, including a limited edition circular one, available when creating your map. One reason I really enjoy Your Own Maps is how customizable the map can be. Upon typing in a city, you can zoom in or out as far as you would like. I chose a fairly zoomed out option, but love how the major highways and streets, including 75 and 635, are still recognizable.

Your Own Maps was started when Humphrey, the co-founder, wanted to commemorate his trips to Austria and Switzerland. However, the regional maps he saw in local shops, couldn’t easily be brought home. Now, he wants the community to be able to relive their experiences, give the gift of a memory or explore the world through a custom map poster. When I see my map of Dallas, I think of my family, of my childhood memories and of my goal to return as a respected reporter. Plus, Dallas as a city makes me feel at ease, which is why I love going back so often. The maps come in two different sizes and can be portrait or landscape.

My custom map poster of Dallas sits right next to another prized possession of mine: my Blue Angel frame from when I flew in the F/A 18 Hornet. My flight was definitely one of my favorite adventures from Coastal Virginia. It’s also easily one of the best days of my life! You can read all about my flight experience, including how many G’s I handled here.

My entryway console needs to be a functional space, not just decorative. I keep work items including tech stuff and other large items in the drawers. Also, since they’re in drawers, this keeps the look clutter free. I started keeping my fresh flowers on the console instead of the kitchen counter so I have more workspace there. Plus, I love how it breaks up the blue between my custom map poster and the Blue Angel frame. My new favorite candle is this Voluspa one, which is very light with fruity hints.