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Sometimes You Have to Make Time for the Adventure

Life has been BUSY. Between the restaurant, real estate, content, our other businesses, and the million little things that seem to come with living in the middle of nowhere, it’s really easy to look at all of these incredible things around us and think, I’ll do that eventually.

And, I finally had the time.

Adana and I loaded up and headed out for a day on the Rio Grande, and almost immediately I was wondering why it had taken me so long.

Having someone beside me who has spent nearly two decades guiding people on this river made the experience even more special. She knows this place in a completely different way from the river, the landscape, and all the little things I probably would have floated right past without noticing.

And getting an entire day to catch up with one of my closest friends while floating through Big Bend?

Pretty hard to beat.

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Big Bend Looks Completely Different From the Water

I’ve seen Big Bend from a lot of different perspectives. I’ve hiked hundreds of miles out here, driven the backroads, and watched more West Texas sunsets than I can count. But seeing this place from the Rio Grande was completely different. It all just slows down.

You’re surrounded by desert and mountains, but right along the river there are these beautiful stretches of green. You’re sitting low on the water looking up at this enormous landscape around you, and suddenly places you’ve seen a hundred times feel completely new.

For someone whose brain is pretty much always going, there was something really nice about having nowhere else to be.

And, that’s a pretty perfect day.

Another Reminder of Why I Love It Here

I’ve said it a million times, but Big Bend has a way of reminding me why we chose this life. There’s always something else to explore. And I think I’ve also realized that living somewhere beautiful doesn’t automatically mean you take advantage of it. You still have to make the time to go do the things.

It’s easy to get caught up in work and tell yourself you’ll hike next week, explore that road next month, or float the river someday.

This was my reminder to stop saying someday quite so much. It was a good life lesson this week.

Come Float With Us

Of course, I brought the camera along.

I put together a new YouTube video from our day so you can experience a little bit of the Rio Grande with us, from getting on the water to some of the incredible scenery along the way.

WATCH:

FLOAT THE RIO GRANDE - WATCH HERE

If you’ve ever wondered what Big Bend looks like from the water, this one’s for you.

And if you’re like me and have something you’ve been saying you’ll do eventually...

Maybe this is your sign to finally go do it.

A Quick Weekly Slice Update

And speaking of life getting a little crazy...

I’m behind on the Weekly Slice.

If you’ve been following along on social media, you’ve probably seen that we’ve had quite a bit going on with the weather lately, and things around here have been a little wild.

So, I’m sorry for the delay, but this week’s Weekly Slice is coming! I have plenty to catch you up on, and I’ll have it out this week.

Thank you, as always, for following along with our adventures, reading these little updates, watching the videos, and supporting this crazy life we’re building out West.

Love you guys.

Mallory

Mundy Out West

I’ve been SO excited to finally start sharing this series with you.

Camino Diaries

This summer, we walked nearly 500 miles across Spain on the Camino Francés, and I documented the entire journey. Now I’m turning all of that footage into our Camino Diaries YouTube series and Part One: The Pyrenees is officially LIVE!

In this first episode, I’m taking you all the way back to the beginning. Getting from our tiny town in West Texas to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port was an adventure in itself, and then came the moment we had been preparing for: we started walking.

We crossed the Pyrenees, stayed in Orisson, made our way through Roncesvalles and Zubiri, met pilgrims from all over the world, ate some incredible food, experienced our first communal pilgrim dinner, tackled some brutal descents, and eventually walked into Pamplona.

And y’all… those first few days were beautiful, hard, emotional, and absolutely unforgettable.

There were so many moments when I looked around and thought, I cannot believe we actually get to do this.

This series is going to take you through the entire Camino with us, from the places we stayed, what we ate, the people we met, the hard days, the beautiful days, and all those little moments that made this trip so special.

So grab a cup of coffee (or maybe lace up your walking shoes) and come walk the Camino with us.

WATCH: Camino Diaries Pt. 1: The Pyrenees

Camino Diaries: Part One

And this is just the beginning. Part Two: La Rioja is coming next!

If you watch, leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I’d especially love to know if walking the Camino is something that’s ever been on your bucket list.

Buen Camino! 🤎

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THE WEEKLY SLICE- WATCH HERE

And I realized something while I was putting this week’s Slice together:

I really don’t mind working hard when I love what I’m working on.

I know I talk about work a lot, but I genuinely love what I do. I love building businesses and figuring out how to make something better. I love creating, marketing, and sales. I love seeing an idea turn into something real.

There’s always another project, another idea, another system to improve, another goal I’m chasing and somehow, that never feels boring to me.

LDP

The beginning of this week was mostly spent catching up after our Labor Day power outage.

When something like that happens, the power coming back on doesn’t mean everything immediately goes back to normal. There’s cleaning, reorganizing, restocking, figuring out what was lost, and basically getting everything back in order.

By Wednesday, we were back at it and Wing Wednesday was BUSY.

I ended up on the pizza line by myself, which definitely kept me moving. There’s something about being back there when tickets are coming in that reminds me just how much I love our little restaurant.

Thursday through Sunday slowed back down quite a bit. Thankfully, when we looked at the numbers, they weren’t terrible.

But I am officially READY FOR BUSY SEASON.

We’re already starting to book some pretty large carryout orders, which is always one of those little signs that the season is changing.

Bring on the people. Bring on the pizzas. We are ready.

Speaking of the seasons changing...

I am SO ready to get back into Big Bend National Park.

It’s just been too dang hot lately, so I haven’t been hiking nearly as much as I want to. But cooler weather is coming, and I cannot wait to get back on the trails.

I also want to start bringing you guys along for more of it.

One thing I’m really trying to think about as Mundy Out West continues to grow is what you actually want to see from us.

More hikes? More Big Bend tips? Terlingua recommendations? Behind the scenes of the restaurant? Remote living? Business and entrepreneurship? Day-in-the-life content?

Hit reply and tell me. I really do want to know what you’d like to see more of.

One of My Favorite Brand Deals Yet

This week also included one of the coolest brand collaborations I’ve gotten to do.

My dad and I spent the day in Presidio creating content around a new business that just opened there, and the whole time I kept thinking...

How is this my job?!

Getting paid to create content, spend the day with my dad, explore one of our Far West Texas communities, and help introduce a new business to the area?

What a dream.

I’ll be sharing that one very soon, so keep an eye out!

And it’s another reminder that so many of the things I’ve been building for years are starting to connect from the content, the businesses, my education, Mundy Out West, this community, and none of it happened overnight.

But little by little, it’s turning into something I’m really proud of.

Expanding Into San Antonio

My real estate work is growing too!

I’m expanding some of what I’ve been building into San Antonio, and I’m really excited about what that could turn into.

The more I do this work, the more I’ve realized that helping people and businesses create systems around growth is where I thrive.

Give me a problem involving marketing, sales, recruiting, lead generation, systems, or business development and my brain immediately starts going. 😂

I love looking at what someone is currently doing, figuring out where the gaps are, and building something that can actually scale.

Marketing and sales are basically my love language.

And getting the opportunity to take more of what we’ve built and expand it into another market feels like a really exciting next step.

Out West Prints Is LIVE

I’ve also officially relaunched our Big Bend online boutique!

Out West Prints is where I’m bringing together all the things I love creating: Long Draw Pizza merch, Terlingua gear, Big Bend-inspired designs, West Texas goodies, and plenty more coming.

Shop Out West Prints

Creating merchandise has become one of my favorite creative outlets. I love taking an idea that’s been floating around in my head, turning it into a design, and then seeing someone actually wearing it.

And with Christmas sneaking up on us, these make such fun gifts for the person who loves Terlingua, Big Bend, West Texas, or maybe just wishes they were here. 😉

There are LOTS of new designs coming, so this is just the beginning.

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The Lesson This Week

Nothing huge happened this week.

And maybe that’s the point.

Sometimes growth looks really exciting from the outside. Other times, it looks like sitting at your computer, answering calls, making pizzas, fixing systems, designing shirts, cleaning up after a power outage, and showing up again the next morning.

I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to create more freedom for myself. But freedom, at least for me, was never about not working.

It was about having more choice over what I’m working toward.

And right now, I’m working on things I genuinely care about.

There are still bigger dreams ahead. There are still things I’m trying to build. There are still days when I wonder if I’m doing enough.

But I also know that I really love the life I’m building while I’m building it.

And that’s pretty freaking cool.

Love you guys. Thank you, as always, for reading, watching, shopping, visiting the restaurant, sharing my content, and supporting all of these crazy ideas of mine.

See you next week. 🤎

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Weekly VLOG

I always reflect on life around my birthday. There’s something about another trip around the sun that makes you look at where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re headed. And this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about how easy it is to constantly move the goalpost (which I do a lot).

There are days when I feel like I’m not doing enough, I’m not far enough along, I’m not where I want/should be in life. I should have built more, accomplished more, figured more out. There are still some really big goals I haven’t reached yet.

But then I remind myself: I dreamed about the days I’m living right now.

I own businesses with my best friend, we control our schedule and life, I get to create, and live in a place that I love. We’ve built a life that a younger version of me would be so proud of and think it’s pretty freaking cool.

So, going into 36, I’m trying to hold both things at once: I can be incredibly proud of where I am AND still want more for my life. I’m also letting go of these weird standards that I’ve forced myself to live up to constantly that create more stress around things that bring me happiness.

But trust me, there are some BIG dreams I’m working toward right now.

I’m not quite ready to share all of them yet, but I will say this...

There will be travel involved.

A Very Expensive Labor Day Weekend

My actual birthday was great and filled with a lot of work. 😂 We did plenty of celebrating over the summer, so this week was all about getting Long Draw Pizza ready for Labor Day weekend. And Labor Day turned into a DOOZY.

A very, very expensive doozy.. $$

If you’re reading The Weekly Slice, I’m assuming you’re at least somewhat familiar with Terlingua, but our business out here is extremely seasonal. The summer is really slow which is why most of us close for a month or two. Labor Day is usually one of those weekends that gives us a much-needed boost and helps float us until our busy season really gets going.

Unfortunately, that did not happen this year.

We were rolling on Saturday evening, getting busier by the minute, and excited because this was the weekend we were waiting for.. But, a massive storm cell moved in and rocked our little town of Study Butte (right outside the park, next to Terlingua). It tore down 7-8 power poles (allegedly) and we were done.

Power outages aren’t exactly unusual when you live this remotely, so initially we weren’t too concerned. Usually it’s a couple of hours, sometimes a day during a particularly bad outage.

This one lasted more than 48 hours, in the West Texas summer heat.

Our propane supply started draining, which became another concern because we would lose all of our food at the restaurant. We had to make a call on Sunday about not opening which would put our staff in a very hot restaurant and propane would drain substantially. This was the right call but it still sucked.

And, then BOTH generators at our house stopped working, which meant an unexpected trip to Alpine to buy another one on Sunday.

This outage cost us thousands of dollars. OUCH.

Does it suck? Absolutely. But living and owning businesses out here has taught me that you have to prepare for the unexpected because eventually, the unexpected will happen. It’s also one of the reasons I’m such a big believer in not putting all of your eggs in one basket. I’ve intentionally built multiple streams of income over the years, and weeks like this remind me why. When one business gets hit by something completely outside of your control, having other income coming in matters. I have had times in my life where we lived very broke and I promised myself by God’s grace that I would never live like that again. When things like this happen, the constant hard work and sacrifice pays off.

I’m also VERY grateful I married a prepper. 😂 Andy somehow always has a plan, a backup plan, and probably a backup for the backup. He does everything he can to keep us comfortable when things go sideways out here.

If you’ve been following along on social media, you already know that POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED. 🙌 The house is cool and comfortable, and we all slept like babies.

This reason is also why your Weekly Slice is arriving a day late this week. LOL. I hate excuses but I need my computer to write, upload, and all the things.

Meanwhile, Out on the Ranch...

Before all of the Labor Day chaos, I also got to spend some time with my dad, who has moved out to our place on the ranch. This was our first place before we moved out here full-time and my heart is literally so happy when I’m out there. We’ve had it for sale but a part of me never wanted to sell it so I’m happy he’s enjoying it.

It’s completely off-grid, so it’s been really fun watching him get settled and figuring out a totally different way of living.

Even better, an amazing company recently sent me a product that was PERFECT for using out there, so we got to spend some time shooting content around the property. I can’t share everything quite yet, but if you’re into off-grid living, remote life, or just seeing how people make life work wayyyyy out in the middle of nowhere, I think you’ll like this one.

I’ll share more soon!

Content, Brands & Another Big Goal

I’ve also been working with a couple of really fun brands lately, which still blows my mind sometimes.

One of my big goals for this next year is to sign with an agency.

I’ve spent years building Mundy Out West, learning social media, working with brands, creating content, and figuring things out as I go. I really feel like I’m ready to take this side of my business to another level.

AND...

My Facebook and TikTok is finally making money! Yay!

There are plenty of times when creating content feels like you’re putting an enormous amount of work into something without knowing exactly when (or if) it’s going to pay off.

And then you get one of those little reminders: Keep going, the work compounds.

A Chilly Update 🐾

I know so many of you have been asking about our little Chilly girl, and I’m very happy to report that she’s been doing really well.

We’re still giving her subcutaneous fluids once a day. She’s eating a ton, she’s acting like herself, and she’s still right here by my side. After everything we’ve gone through with her, I don’t take a single normal day for granted.

Thank you to everyone who continues to ask about her and send her love. That tiny dog is my whole world, and seeing her feeling good makes me happier than I can explain.

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New From Out West Prints 🌵

Long Draw Prints got a makeover and a new name!

I have some new shirts up at Out West Prints.

I’m loving the new Terlingua, Texas University Tee. It’s that classic collegiate look with a little West Texas spin, and it’s exactly the kind of Terlingua shirt I wanted to wear myself.

Shop the Terlingua, Texas University Tee

Going Into 36...

If this week taught me anything, it’s that life can be incredibly beautiful and incredibly inconvenient at exactly the same time.

I can celebrate another year of life while spending my birthday working. I can be grateful for our restaurant while being frustrated about losing one of our most important weekends. I can celebrate new income streams while watching another one take a hit. I can have huge dreams for the future while being deeply thankful for what I already have.

Maybe that’s what I want 36 to be about: wanting more without missing what I already prayed for.

I’m proud of this life.

I’m proud of what we’ve built.

And I’m really freaking excited about where we’re going next.

Thank you for being here for another year of it.

Here’s to 36. 🤎

And hopefully... fewer 48-hour power outages.

-Your friend in Terlingua,

Mallory

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WATCH THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

And honestly? I’m ready.

Labor Day weekend is coming up, which is usually a busy one for us, and Thursday also happens to be my birthday. I’ll officially be turning 29 for the seventh time, so please respect my privacy during this major milestone. 😂

Our visa program doesn’t start until October, which means we’re heading into this holiday weekend pretty short-handed in the kitchen. So yours truly will be back where you’ve seen me plenty of times before: making pizzas. And I’m actually excited about it because, y’all... it’s time to make some money! Your girl has spent some cash over the last couple of months.

This week itself has been slow, and I’m incredibly grateful for our crew for hanging in there through the summer. Seasonal business is such a strange thing because you can go from wondering where everyone is to wondering how you’re possibly going to feed everyone who just walked through the door.

And we know what’s coming.

That little pizza place can get absolutely slammed, and as crazy and exhausting as those nights can be, I love it so much. There’s something really special about seeing a place you’ve poured so much into completely packed with people.

Some BIG business news...

I also have something new I’ve been working on that I’m really excited to finally share.

Over the years, I’ve had so many people ask if I can help them with their marketing, social media, branding, or overall online presence. I LOVE that side of business, but I’ve also had to be realistic about my time. Between my work in real estate, the restaurants, Mundy Out West, content creation, and everything else we’re building, I simply don’t have the capacity to personally execute marketing for other businesses.

So instead of continuing to say no, I’ve partnered with an amazing team that can do the heavy lifting.

They offer marketing services for small-business owners, along with additional services specifically geared toward real estate agents, which obviously fits perfectly with the world I work in every day. If you’ve been wanting to rebrand, improve your marketing, or finally get some help actually executing everything you know you should be doing, I’ll put my links here so you can check everything out.

Marketing & Rebranding Services

I’m really excited about this because I’ve always loved connecting people with the right resources, and this gives me a way to help more business owners without pretending I somehow found more hours in my week.

Mundy Out West hit a milestone!

Speaking of marketing and content creation...

MUNDY OUT WEST IS OFFICIALLY MONETIZED ON FACEBOOK! 🎉

I’ve been waiting for this for over a YEAR.

My Facebook engagement has been incredible, and I’ve continued posting and building that audience even when I wasn’t making anything directly from the platform. So finally being able to monetize something I’ve already been putting so much time and energy into feels like a huge win.

It may seem like a small milestone from the outside, but this is one of those reminders that sometimes you really do have to keep showing up before you see the payoff.

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And then there’s BELIZE...

Remember when I told y’all you’d be the first to know if anything happened with our bar?

Well...

WE GOT TWO OFFERS!

And, we’re under contract!

A lot of you know that we own a bar in Belize, and it’s been another really fun chapter of our entrepreneurial story. We built it up, learned a ton, made a lot of memories, and now we feel ready to let someone else take it from here.

Our agents down there have been awesome, and we’re really hopeful that we’ll be able to get it sold.

And once we do?

Well... there might be some new adventures in the future.

That’s all I’m saying for now. 😉

The Camino Content is FINALLY coming!

I’m also almost finished editing the first episode of our Camino Francés series!

Going through all of that footage has brought back so many memories, and I cannot wait to finally start sharing the entire journey with you. The first episode will be up this week, and then we’ll start making our way across Spain all over again, but this time from the couch instead of on foot.

As summer officially comes to an end and we head into fall, I keep thinking about how much can be happening even during seasons that feel slow.

The restaurant was slow this week, but behind the scenes we’re preparing for busy season. But, slow doesn’t always mean stagnant.

Sometimes the quiet seasons are when you’re building, preparing, planting seeds, and getting ready for whatever comes next.

And I have a feeling there’s a lot coming next.

Thank you guys for continuing to follow along through all of it: the pizza, the businesses, the travel, the big ideas, the wins, the hard stuff, and all of the random adventures in between.

Here’s to a busy Labor Day weekend ahead, another trip around the sun, and whatever this next season brings.

Love you guys! 🤎

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WATCH THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

And after the last few weeks, I don’t think I’ll ever take a good, somewhat normal week for granted again.

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WATCH HERE

Personally, we still have a lot going on, but my little dog has been in much better spirits. We’re officially over a week of her feeling better, eating, playing, and acting more like her sweet little self, and it has been such a blessing to watch. We’re still giving her subcutaneous fluids at home, which has honestly been one of the harder things we’ve had to learn. We were originally told she needed them three times a day, but we’ve been doing them once or twice a day depending on how she’s feeling, and that seems to be working better for her right now. We’re continuing to work with her vets and pay close attention to how she’s doing.

I don’t know exactly what the future looks like with kidney disease or how long things can stay stable, but right now, I’m trying not to live too far ahead of today. She’s happy and acting like herself, so we’re enjoying every single bit of that. After how scary the last few weeks have been, seeing her personality come back has felt like the biggest gift. I’m praying we have a whole lot more time just like this.

We also had another big life moment this week: my stepson moved away to college. It’s one of those weird combinations of being incredibly proud and incredibly sad at the same time. We’re so excited for him and everything ahead, but it’s definitely an adjustment knowing he’s starting this whole new chapter of his life. My house is so empty!!

And, work itself was pretty slow this week, but somehow we were still constantly on the go. I spent most of the week back in the kitchen because Andy wasn’t feeling well for a couple of days, and then he helped Davis get moved into his new apartment. That’s the funny thing about owning a small business, a “slow week” doesn’t necessarily mean a slow life. There is always something that needs to be done, somewhere we need to be, or a hat that needs to be switched.

I’m also very excited about the season coming up and the crew we will have working. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such amazing people. It’s going to be a great one!

Outside of the restaurant, I’ve finally started uploading all of my Camino footage and getting into the editing process. Y’all, there is SO MUCH footage, but I’m so excited to start putting it all together and sharing the entire journey with you. Walking across Spain was such a huge experience in our lives, and I don’t want to just throw together a highlight reel. I want to tell the whole story and show the hard days, the funny moments, the beautiful places, the people we met, and everything we learned along the way.

I’ve also been putting more energy into Mundy Out West, creating new social media content, brainstorming what’s next, and designing new prints for the website and Long Draw Pizza. There are so many fun things in the works right now, and I’ve realized how much I genuinely love this creative side of my life.

And I think that’s my lesson from this week.

Pay attention to what makes you come alive.

I’ve spent a lot of my life believing that success meant constantly chasing the next accomplishment, building something bigger, or doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing. But the older I get, the more I realize that a good life isn’t just about what you’ve accomplished. It’s about whether you actually enjoy the life you’re building along the way.

Sometimes your passion isn’t going to arrive as one giant, obvious calling. And, sometimes it’s hidden in the things you can’t stop talking about. It’s the project you keep coming back to and the work that makes you lose track of time. Or, it’s the idea that keeps popping into your head even when you’re supposed to be doing something else.

You want to pay attention to those things.

You don’t have to blow up your entire life tomorrow or have the perfect business plan or know exactly where it’s going to lead. But you can start giving the things that make you happy a little more room in your life.

Go ahead and try the thing, make that video, start that business, or even take that trip. You should lean into creating more art, learning a skill, or even chasing a crazy idea.

Life has reminded me pretty loudly lately that none of us know exactly how much time we get. I don’t want to spend mine building a life that looks successful from the outside but doesn’t feel good on the inside.

Find the things that make you feel most like yourself and go after them.

That’s what I’m trying to do, one week at a time.

ICYMI: THE WEEKLY SLICE - YOUTUBE SERIES

Love you all,

M

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And I think the fact that I somehow filmed ALL of my YouTube footage in slow motion and didn’t realize it until I started editing pretty much sums up where my brain has been lately. So unfortunately, there won’t be a Weekly Slice on YouTube this week! You just have my terrible writing.. Ha!

My mind has been all over the place, and it feels like we have a million different things being thrown at us at full speed.

First and most importantly, my little dog is still here with us. We’re slowly learning what is working, what isn’t working, and how to navigate her chronic kidney disease. We’re administering subcutaneous fluids at home, researching constantly, talking to people we trust, and trying our best to make decisions based on how she’s feeling and what her bloodwork is telling us. It’s hard because we’ve been giving conflicting information and suggestions so I’m trying my best to advocate for her and what we feel is right based on how she’s acting.

We’ve had a couple of really bad days where I truly thought we were at the end, only for her to perk back up, eat, run around, and start acting like her cute little self again. This dog is my heart, and this has easily been one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. I’ve never lost a pet as an adult, and navigating the uncertainty of it all has been excruciating.

At the same time, work hasn’t exactly slowed down. We’ve been finalizing paperwork for our visa program, figuring out a new restaurant schedule, making a new hire, and somehow being much busier than we anticipated for August. Then Wednesday, a storm rolled through and knocked out our power because apparently we needed one more thing to add to the list.

Life has felt like a lot lately.

I’m trying really hard to take things one day at a time and keep my stress levels down. Between everything happening around town, our businesses, personal life, and worrying about Chilly, there are moments when it all feels incredibly heavy.

But there has also been a lesson in all of this and I’m realizing that I don’t have to solve everything today or have to know what next week looks like. And, sometimes the only thing I can do is take care of what is directly in front of me, make the best decision I can with the information I have, and trust that we’ll figure out the next thing when we get there.

I’m also being reminded over and over again how much the people around you matter. I’m so grateful for our friends and family who continue to show up for us, for the lessons even the difficult seasons bring, for my faith, and especially for a partner who is beside me through every bit of this crazy life.

So that’s where I’m at this week. I’m taking it one day at a time, trying to give myself a little grace, and reminding myself that not every week has to be productive, perfectly documented, or wrapped up with a pretty little bow.

Sometimes getting through the week is enough.

Sorry there’s no YouTube video this week. Apparently filming an entire vlog in slow motion isn’t ideal. 😂 We’ll try again next week.

Love you guys. ❤️ Mean it.

-Mal

A verse that has helped me this week:

The Lord gives his people strength.

The Lord blesses them with peace.

Psalm 29:11

Link to the Camera I’m using for YouTube that everyone keeps asking me about:

Best Camera

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We had a great reopening weekend at Long Draw Pizza, and after being away for the summer, it felt so good to be back at the restaurant, around our people, and settling into our normal routine again. I even had a couple of days to catch up on work and spend some evenings relaxing by the pool at Lajitas.

WATCH HERE

Then, the week went downhill pretty quickly.

One thing I’ve promised myself with Weekly Slice is that I’m going to share real life, not just the highlight reel. I love the life we’ve built and what we get to do, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

Entrepreneurship isn’t for the weak.

There are nights I lay awake thinking about the responsibilities that come with owning a business. The decisions Andy and I make don’t just affect us, but our staff, our customers, and the people who depend on us. When you’re the person in charge, sometimes it feels like you’re not really allowed to have a bad day. There are things that still need to get done, people still need you and things, and the business keeps moving whether you’re having a great week or a really hard one.

I’ve also taken a little step back from posting lately. I absolutely love sharing Terlingua and Big Bend, but sometimes the messages and comments about what’s happening here become overwhelming because this isn’t just a place I post about online. This place is our home, our livelihood, and our lifeline. And, yes we’re doing everything we can to protect it.. in our way.

Wednesday night, our little chihuahua, Chilly, got really sick again. I stayed up with her all night, and early Thursday morning we took her back to the vet. Her kidney levels were high, and our vet wasn’t sure she was going to make it. We chose to hospitalize her again and see if fluids would help, and thank the good Lord, they did.

After a very long couple of days, we were able to bring her home. She’s been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and we’re now giving her fluids at home three times a day. We’re leaning on a dear friend who has been helping us through this, getting additional opinions, and doing everything we can to make the best decisions for her.

Andy and I don’t have children together, and these dogs are our babies. I’ve been an absolute wreck and haven’t slept much, which makes it hard to focus on work and everyday life when you’re so worried about something you love.

We don’t know what the future looks like with Chilly, and we know there may eventually be some really difficult decisions ahead. For now, I’m just grateful she’s home.

I’m so grateful I get to hold her, love on her, and have more time with her.

WATCH HERE

This week reminded me that you can love your life and still admit when it’s hard. And, you can be grateful and overwhelmed at the same time. You can also love being a leader and still feel the weight of leadership.

More than anything, I’m grateful for our family, friends who have become family and for our faith. They’re the foundation that keeps us grounded when life gets hard.

This wasn’t the happiest Weekly Slice, but it was real life. Right now, we’re taking things one day at a time, loving on Chilly, leaning on our people, and remembering how much we still have to be grateful for.

Here’s to a gentler week ahead.

-Mallory

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Every year, Andy and I try to sneak away for a few days before the seasonal madness begins. Once Spring Break hits, life becomes a whirlwind at Long Draw Pizza, so we’ve learned how important it is to recharge before the busy season starts. This last year, we decided on Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, which was exactly what we needed.

If you’re looking for a vacation where your biggest decision is what you’re going to eat or which pool chair to claim for the day, this is the place.

The resort grounds were absolutely beautiful and everything was immaculate, lush, and incredibly nice. We decided to book a room with a private plunge pool, and I can honestly say it was worth every penny. We spent every afternoon in our plunge pool because it was so quiet and relaxing.

One of my favorite parts of the resort was watching the sunsets. And, every evening seemed more beautiful than the last. We also discovered a quiet overlook behind the beach bar that had a couple of lounge chairs that became our favorite beach spot.

While you can’t swim in the ocean around Cabo because of the dangerous currents, we loved walking along the beach. The coastline is absolutely stunning, and we even saw whales in the distance.

The staff made the experience even better. Every single person we interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely wanted to make sure we had a great stay. And, man do they work hard! You could tell they had an excellent team.

Since I don’t drink anymore, I look for different things when booking an all-inclusive resort. For me, the priorities are simple: adults-only, great food, and a relaxing atmosphere. Secrets delivered on all three.

The food honestly exceeded our expectations. From the buffet and room service to the specialty restaurants each evening, every meal was consistently delicious. We never felt like we were settling just because it was an all-inclusive.

Looking back, this trip was exactly what we needed before heading into one of our busiest seasons of the year. Sometimes the best vacations aren’t packed with excursions or nonstop adventure, yet they’re the ones where you slow down, unplug, and simply enjoy being together.

If you’re considering an adults-only all-inclusive in Cabo, I’d absolutely recommend adding Secrets Puerto Los Cabos to your list. It gave us the reset we needed before diving back into another busy season in Terlingua.

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(This is my personal opinion and not sponsored)

-Mallory

I’m so excited to officially share that The Weekly Slice is now a weekly YouTube series alongside this newsletter.

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For a long time, I’ve wanted to create something that goes beyond the perfectly curated moments you see on social media. Life isn’t always a highlight reel, it’s the early mornings, the long workdays, the unexpected challenges, the small victories, and everything in between. This series is my chance to invite you into the real life of building businesses, chasing big dreams, exploring Far West Texas, and figuring it all out one week at a time.

Every Monday, you’ll receive this newsletter along with a brand-new episode so you can follow along with everything happening behind the scenes. My goal this year is to grow this YouTube community, so if you enjoy the videos, I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d subscribe.

Youtube Channel: Mundy Out West

This Week’s Slice:

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind.

We made it home after a summer full of travel and immediately jumped into getting Long Draw Pizza ready to reopen. We were organizing the restaurant, catching up on life, taking care of our sweet Chilly girl, and getting everything back in order, and it’s felt like we’ve been running nonstop.

This past Saturday, we finally reopened our doors, and I can’t tell you how good it felt to see so many familiar faces again. There really is something special about this little pizza place and the people who walk through our doors. It’s a reminder of why we chose this life in the first place.

We’re also welcoming back most of our team and getting everything ready for the busy season ahead. We even added a couple of new menu items that I’m really excited for everyone to try, especially our new Caprese Pesto salad.

Honestly, there haven’t been any huge adventures this week. It’s mostly been work...lots and lots of work. But that’s part of building a dream too.

One exciting change this year is that we’re planning to be open five days a week for most of the season. That’s a big shift for Andy and me, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this next chapter looks and feels like.

If you’re planning a trip to Big Bend this fall or winter, we’d absolutely love to have you stop by Long Draw Pizza. Be sure to come say hello! We’re always grateful to meet the people who follow along with our journey.

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Until next week,

Keep chasing the dream, building the dream, and living the dream.

— Mallory

We’re officially home after a seven-week adventure, and it feels so good to be back in West Texas.

If you missed the journey, Andy and I spent the last five weeks walking the Camino de Santiago across Spain. We started in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and walked nearly 500 miles all the way to Santiago de Compostela. It was, without question, the most incredible trip of my life.

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What made the Camino so special wasn’t just the distance, but how immersive the experience was. We weren’t just walking through Spain; we were living it. We stayed in small villages, met people from all over the world, experienced the local culture, and learned lessons that I know I’ll carry with me forever. It was also the most physically and mentally challenging thing I’ve ever done. I’m still processing everything we experienced, and I can’t wait to share more with you.

I’ll be releasing a full YouTube series over the coming weeks that follows the entire journey from start to finish, and I’m so excited for you to experience it alongside us.

After Spain, we weren’t quite finished traveling! We flew to Alaska and spent a week aboard the Star Princess, exploring glaciers, wildlife, and some of the most beautiful scenery we’ve ever seen. I’ll be sharing those adventures soon, too.

Getting home was an adventure of its own.

We arrived just as heavy rains rolled through West Texas, causing flooding that left us stranded about a mile from our house. Thankfully, my dad came to the rescue with my Jeep and got us home safely. I absolutely love when it rains out here and how it transforms the desert, but it also creates quite a bit of chaos!

As wonderful as traveling is, there truly is no place like home.

We’ve spent the last week getting everything ready to reopen Long Draw Pizza on August 1. While we were away, we had several projects completed at the restaurant, so it’s been a busy week getting everything back in order and ready for another season.

It’s also been an emotional week for us. Our sweet little dog became very sick and spent four days in the animal hospital in Alpine. She’s home now and continues to recover, but we’ve been making daily trips back and forth and keeping her in our prayers. She’s our little baby, and seeing her sick has been incredibly hard.

This weekend, we finally slowed down for a bit and escaped to our condo in Lajitas. We squeezed in nine holes of golf before the desert heat reminded us who’s in charge! If you’d like to come along, I just posted a new YouTube video from the weekend:

🎥 Watch here:

One thing became very clear to me during these seven weeks away.

Now that I’ve finished graduate school, I have the time and energy to pour into something I’ve dreamed about for a long time: building my YouTube channel into something special.

Over the next several months, you’ll see a lot more long-form videos, weekly adventures, behind-the-scenes looks at life in Big Bend, our businesses, travel, hiking, and everything in between. If you’ve enjoyed following along on social media, I think you’re really going to love what’s coming next.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, I’d be so grateful if you would join me over there:

▶️ Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@MundyOutWest

Your support truly means the world to me, and I’m so thankful you’ve followed along on this journey. Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or just recently found my little corner of the internet, thank you for being part of it.

I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to share more adventures with you soon.

See you next week,

Mallory

We’re walking the Camino de Santiago, the Frances Route. This route starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, and winds all the way to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

500 miles.. on foot.

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I’m receiving a lot of questions about the Camino and what it is..

For those of you who don’t know, let me give you a little background because this is one of those things that’s hard to explain until you’ve felt the pull of it yourself.

The Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of St. James, is one of the most ancient and celebrated pilgrimage routes in the world. It winds across Europe, from France, Portugal, the northern Spanish coast, and beyond, which all meet in the cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where the remains of the apostle Saint James are said to be buried.

The Camino Francés, or French Way, is the most famous of all the routes. First described in the 12th century in what may be the world’s first travel guidebook, the Codex Calixtinus, it has since attracted millions of walkers, making it the most popular Camino route of all. Starting from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees, it crosses four stunning Spanish regions, (Navarre, La Rioja, Castilla y León, and Galicia) passing through Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, and León before arriving at Santiago.

People walk it for all kinds of reasons like faith, adventure, and sometimes just to figure out life. Along the way there are medieval bridges, UNESCO-protected cathedrals, an ancient iron cross that pilgrims have marked with stones for centuries, and a castle of the Knights Templar. It is, in every sense of the word, a journey.

Last year, Andy and I walked the Portuguese Route. It changed us in ways that we knew we would be back again. And, less than a year later, we will be doing it again.

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Here’s what I learned on the Portuguese Camino: your pack will humble you.

I carried a full backpack last year. By the end, my shoulders were wrecked and a wrecked shoulder, it turns out, travels straight down to your hips. I was compensating with every step, and my body hated it.

We decided to use a suitcase transfer service where your luggage gets picked up each morning at your accommodation and delivered to your next stop. This allows me to carry a lighter pack this year which I’m excited about.

With the suitcase transfer handling the bulk of our gear, I’m walking each day with an 18L Osprey day pack (linked here: Osprey), which is light, fits perfectly, and carries everything I actually need on the trail:

• My Sony A6400 camera (more on that in a second)

• Tripod for content

• Change of clothes

• Foldable sandals because the moment you get to your destination and take your hiking boots off, you want something on your feet immediately

• Rain jacket

• A few other trail essentials

And clipped to me: my Cotopaxi fanny pack (linked here: Cotopaxi) for my passport, license, and money.

I brought my Sony A7III last year. I love that camera. It is also an absolute brick to carry for 500 miles, and I felt every ounce of it.

This year I made the switch to the Sony A6400 which is significantly lighter, still shoots beautiful content, and actually makes me want to pull it out instead of dreading the weight. If you’re planning a Camino and you’re a content creator, learn from my expensive lesson: go lighter. Your footage will be just as good and your shoulders will send you a thank you note.

Here’s the full packing list for anyone planning their own Camino and wondering what actually makes the cut:

• Hiking poles

• Athletic dress

• 3 pairs of socks

• 3 t-shirts (linked here: Studio Smooth)

• 1 long sleeved t-shirts (linked here: Old Navy Hiking Long Sleeve)

• 3 pairs of shorts

• 2 pairs of hiking pants (linked here: Hiking Pants)

• Underwear & sports bra

• Zip-up jacket

• Swimsuit

• Water Bottle

& care essentials like blister cream, band aids, kinesiology tape, shampoo & conditioner bars, etc.

Best sunscreen face moisturizer (linked here: Shaklee)

Sleep Gummies (linked here: Lemme)

When you’re walking 500 miles, you stop caring very quickly about having outfit options and start caring a lot about weight, function, and whether something dries overnight.

I will be sharing this entire journey with you: the good days, the hard days, the blisters, the views, the albergues, the café con leche (I’m excited to try) at 7am in some tiny Spanish village where nobody speaks English and somehow you feel completely at home.

The Camino has a way of giving you exactly what you need, not always what you expect. Last year it gave me perspective. This year I’m walking lighter, in every sense of the word, with my husband by my side.

Buen Camino, friends. Be sure to follow along!

-M

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What a weekend it was at Long Draw Pizza. This was our final busy weekend to close out the 2025/2026 season, and we ended it with another record-breaking year. We are so, so grateful. To everyone who came in, tried us out, sent people our way, bought merchandise, and supported us here on social media: thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for keeping our dream alive. It means the absolute world to us. We were also incredibly lucky to have an amazing team this year, and we get to celebrate them next weekend at our end of season pool party. They deserve all the kudos!

We leave a week from today! Living out in Terlingua, getting to the airport is an adventure in itself, so we’re actually heading out a day early to give ourselves some breathing room. Our route goes Midland to Dallas to Madrid, then a flight to Pamplona and a bus to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, where we begin our walk on June 5th. If you’re new here, my husband Andy and I are walking 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. I plan to document as much of the adventure as I can, though posts may be slower than usual while we’re on the trail. When we get back, I’ll be releasing longer-form videos on YouTube, so please subscribe so you don’t miss them:

https://www.youtube.com/@Mundy_Out_West

And here’s something I don’t think I’ve shared yet; when we finish in Santiago, we fly to Seattle to board an Alaskan cruise with our family. It is going to be the most incredible summer, and I cannot wait to share every detail with you all.

As the season winds down, my brain naturally shifts into planning mode: what can we do better, what do we want to change, what comes next. I had a couple of weeks packed with appointments to get things in order before we leave, and one of those experiences was honestly the worst I’ve had in a professional setting in a long time. I won’t go into detail, but it was a real reminder of how one bad interaction can shape someone’s entire perception, and as a business owner, that’s a lesson worth sitting with.

This is my last Weekly Slice until we return! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for following along on all of our crazy, beautiful adventures that we get to call life. I love you guys so much!

FYI: Long Draw Pizza will be closed starting next Sunday, May 31st. I’ll update with official opening date soon.

Your Local Terlingua Friend,

Mal

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It’s called FM 170, also known as River Road. And, if you ever find yourself anywhere near West Texas, it is the one thing you absolutely cannot skip.

FM 170 runs roughly 120 miles through one of the most remote and rugged stretches of land in the entire country. It connects the border town of Presidio in the west to the eclectic outpost of Terlingua in the east, cutting straight through the heart of Big Bend Ranch State Park along the way.

The road earns its nickname by doing exactly what it sounds like, hugging the Rio Grande for mile after mile, with Mexico sitting just on the other side of the water. At points you can look across the river and see another country so clearly it almost feels surreal. It’s one of those rare drives where the road itself is the destination, not just the means of getting somewhere.

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The landscape out here is constantly shifting. One moment you’re in wide open Chihuahuan Desert, the kind of flat, dusty expanse that stretches as far as the eye can see. Then the road starts to climb, winding up into dramatic rock canyons and mountain passes before dropping back down again. It will twist and turn, snaking around curves, and crests hills that reveal views so unexpected they almost don’t feel real. At the highest point on the drive, you can see both Texas and Mexico simultaneously; with the Rio Grande cutting through the valley below you.

Much of River Road runs directly through Big Bend Ranch State Park, and it is massive. The park covers over 300,000 acres of Chihuahuan Desert wilderness, making it the largest state park in Texas, and one of the least visited, which is part of what makes it so special.

The park offers far more than just the scenic drive. There are 238 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Primitive camping is available throughout the backcountry, and the remoteness of the location means the night skies out here are some of the darkest and most spectacular in the state. If you’re into astrophotography or just want to lie on the hood of your car and stare at the Milky Way, this is the place.

Along the road itself there are designated pull-offs and scenic overlooks that give you a chance to step out, breathe in the desert air, and take it all in. Do not rush past these as every single one of them is worth the stop.

River Road is remote in a way that most people aren’t prepared for. This isn’t a scenic drive with rest stops and coffee shops along the way. It’s an unforgiving West Texas wilderness, and it demands a little respect and preparation.

Gas: There are virtually no gas stations along the route. Fill your tank completely before you start, either in Presidio on the west end or Lajitas/Terlingua on the east end. You don’t want to run out of gas out here.

Water: Bring significantly more than you think you need. The desert heat is serious, especially in the summer months, and there are no services along the road.

Cell Service: It is essentially nonexistent for the majority of the drive. As much as I want to tell you that you don’t need cell service and to just “enjoy”, it’s important to prepare for as you go out and explore.

Timing: Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. The drive itself can technically be done in an hour and a half, but if you’re stopping at overlooks, getting out to take photos, and actually soaking it in, plan for most of a day. You want to start early, especially in summer, to avoid the worst of the heat.

Night Driving: BE CAREFUL. There is usually wildlife on the road and the complete absence of lighting can make it dangerous after dark.

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There’s something about River Road that’s hard to put into words until you’ve actually done it. It’s the kind of drive that slows you down in the best way, where you find yourself pulling over constantly, stepping out of the car, and just standing there taking it in. The scale of the landscape, the silence, the history, the feeling of being somewhere that hasn’t changed much in centuries: it all adds up to something that feels genuinely rare.

We live in a time where most scenic destinations are crowded, over-documented, and carefully managed for mass tourism. River Road is none of those things. It is raw and quiet and almost entirely overlooked. You might pass a handful of cars the entire drive. You might pass none.

If you’re planning a West Texas trip, whether you’re coming for Big Bend, Marfa, or just passing through build River Road into your itinerary.

You won’t regret it.

Living the dream,

Your Local Friend in Terlingua

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The week was also full of appointments, which led to more appointments, all things that piled up during season and need to get done before we leave for Spain. It’s officially catch-up time.

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Speaking of Spain, we leave for the Camino in two weeks from tomorrow and I am SO excited! We are all packed and ready to go. This week I’ll be posting about what I’m bringing and where to find all of the Camino content, so stay tuned for that. If you’re new here, my husband Andy and I will be walking over 500 miles across Northern Spain this summer. We did a shorter version last year and it was an incredible experience. I cannot wait to bring you all along for this one.

We also celebrated my sweet husband’s birthday yesterday! It wasn’t an over-the-top kind of day, but he got the entire day off, which, if you know our life, is probably the best gift of all.

A little heads up: there will be two more issues of the Weekly Slice before I take a summer break. But don’t worry, we will do a major catch-up when I get home and I’ll have so much to share!

One more thing: I’ve decided to focus a lot of my energy in building the the Mundy Out West YouTube channel.

If you’re on the platform, I would love for you to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Mundy_Out_West.

And if you watch my videos, please leave a comment telling me what content you want to see: I promise, I read every single one.

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Not much of an update this week, just know your friend in Terlingua has been enjoying her down time. Ha! The weather is hot, the time slows down, and the sunsets get even better during these summer months. I appreciate every single one of you.

-M

And I’m here to tell you that what you’re seeing is the highlight reel and nothing more.

My husband and I own two restaurants. And it is the hardest thing we’ve have ever done.

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It’s Not Easy

The money will always go out before it comes in. There is no version of owning a restaurant where you aren’t watching the numbers with one eye while trying to run a business with the other. You’ll write checks bigger than your thoughts on a regular basis. The equipment breaks at the absolute worst time, food costs spike, and a slow week doesn’t care that you had a great month. And, the expenses don’t pause because you need a moment to catch your breath.

You build a team, you train them, you invest in them, and then a holiday weekend rolls around. The weekends you need to be fully staffed, the weekends that can actually move the needle for your bottom line, the weekends you’ve been counting on and the time-off requests start rolling in.

Nobody tells you about that part. Nobody posts that moment where you’re staring at the schedule at 10pm trying to figure out how to make it work with half your team gone. But, you do it any way and somehow it always works out.

No one thinks about how your entire livelihood depends on the success of the business. The stress and anxiety that comes with it is unexplainable. There are one hundred moving parts, a million questions, and a responsibility that takes over your life.

The Question That Lives in Your Chest

There’s a question that every entrepreneur knows and the one you may not say out loud. The one that lives in your chest on the hard days, quiet and heavy:

Can we really do this?

I have asked myself that question more times than I can count.

And somehow, the answer turns out to be yes.

And, it’s not because it gets easier or there’s some magic moment that arrives and the hard parts disappear. But because you dig into something you didn’t know you had, and you pull it off.

The schedule gets covered, the week turns around, the doors stay open, and another day happens.

You pull it off, and that becomes the answer.

What Social Media Gets Wrong About Owning a Business

Here’s the thing about the highlight reel, it’s not lying, exactly. Those good moments are real where the house is full and the pride is strong. The days when everything clicks and you look around and think I built this; those happen, and they’re worth every hard thing that came before them.

But social media skips the part in between. It skips the 6am and the midnight. It skips the loneliness of being the person who has to hold it all together when everything in you wants to sit down and cry.

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking at someone else’s business and thinking it looks effortless: it isn’t. I can promise you that. And, what you’re seeing is the result of a thousand hard days that never made it to the feed.

And if you’re a fellow business owner reading this at the end of a brutal week: I see you. I feel you. We’re all in this together.

Why We Keep Going

I’m not going to wrap this up with a bow and tell you it’s all worth it in some easy, tidy way. Because it’s not easy, it’s messy, and anybody who tells you otherwise is selling something.

But, what I will tell you is this: there is something on the other side of can I really do this that you cannot find anywhere else. You won’t find it in a salary, not in a title, not in anything someone else built for you. It’s this particular feeling of pulling it off when you weren’t sure you could. It’s keeping the doors open day after day. It’s writing paychecks that support other families. It’s meeting new customers who give you a great review.

That feeling is worth it. You won’t feel it every day but enough days which makes all of this worth it.

Owning a business will ask more of you than what seems fair and it will test you in ways nothing else will. It will have you questioning yourself at your lowest and surprising you at your highest.

And if you’re built for it, you’ll keep answering yes.

Always keeping it real & cheering you on,

M

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Indian Head Trail is one of them.

Here’s the thing about living somewhere people travel from all over the world to visit, you learn fast which places the guidebooks get right and which ones they miss entirely. You won’t really find the Indian Head trail in the guidebooks, but that’s for good reason.

This trail sits on the western edge of Big Bend, accessed from outside the park off Highway 118. You will want to look for Indian Head Road just north of Big Bend Resort & Adventures. It’s easy to blow past if you don’t know it’s there. You will want to follow the dirt road for a little over a mile until it dead-ends at the park boundary. You’ll walk through a small gate and follow the faint trail until you see an information side.

The hike itself is just under 2 miles, nearly flat, and takes less than an hour at an easy pace. I’ve been many times and every time, it gives me something new.

I want you to understand what’s actually out here, because I think people walk past it without realizing what they’re looking at.

The boulders at the base of Indian Head Mountain are covered in petroglyphs and pictographs, carvings, and paintings made by human hands thousands of years ago.

There are also grinding holes worn into the bedrock, bowls carved over generations by people processing seeds and plants, and a small natural spring at the trail’s end. In the Chihuahuan Desert, water is life. People returned to this spot for thousands of years, and you can feel the weight of all those return trips.

Staring at the pictographs is almost spiritual. And, that’s what this desert is, if you slow down enough to let it be.

Since I live here, let me tell you what the internet won’t:

There is no shade. Pack more water than you think is reasonable and then add more. In spring and summer, temperatures climb fast and they climb mean. At least a liter per hour, more if you’re bringing kids or older folks.

The dirt road is fine in dry weather for most vehicles, but after rain it becomes a different thing entirely. If it’s rained recently, wait.

Come at sunrise if you can. The light on those boulders in the early morning is worth the alarm. Indian Head Road is also one of the best stargazing spots near the park, dark enough out there that the sky actually does what it’s supposed to do.

Bring your Big Bend pass. The trail is inside the park boundary even though you reach it from outside.

No camping, no pets, no wheeled vehicles on the trail. Pack out everything you pack in. There are no facilities out here, and that’s exactly how it should be.

Do not touch the petroglyphs. Do not take artifacts from the ground. And please, please do not add your name to anything out there.

Vandalizing archaeological resources on federal land is a federal crime: up to $20,000 in fines and two years in prison. But honestly, the law is the least of it. The real cost is what gets lost and never comes back.

This place was here long before us. With the right kind of respect, it’ll be here long after.

From your local friend,

Mallory

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Our season has officially ended at the restaurant, and the change of pace has been such a gift. I’ve had more time to slow down and really connect with people, and I’ve met so many incredible humans at LDP who follow my content. It genuinely inspires me to keep creating. This is my favorite part of the work: the people. We get to meet amazing individuals from all over the world, and that fills me up in a way that’s hard to describe.

On another note, my final grade is in.. I am officially a graduate of Arkansas State University with my Master’s in Strategic Communication in Social Media! I learned so much in this program and have seen real progress in building my own brand. I can’t wait to see what comes next. I look forward to creating, coaching, and consulting more in the future!

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We also got out on the trail this week and hiked one of our favorite trails, Indian Head. If you want a truly spiritual experience, walk where our ancestors did. You should see where they lived, experience the pictographs. This place is so special and so rich with history.

Indian Head Trail - Big Bend National Park

We are three weeks away from our journey.. Camino de Santiago, here we come! Now that grad school is behind me, the excitement is really building. If you’re new here: my husband Andy and I are walking 500 miles across Northern Spain this summer, and I’ll be bringing all of you along with me. We walked the Portugese Way last summer and it was an incredible experience. This one, though, is going to be something else entirely.

Catch up on our trip from last summer here:

Camino de Santiago - Portugese

We’re still working out our summer schedule at the restaurant and I’m not quite sure what things will look like yet. I’ll update you all as soon as I know more. Thank you so much for your support!

-M

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Three years ago, everything changed. I went from having a structured career to being completely unemployed and at the same time, completely self-employed. There was no safety net, no guaranteed paycheck, no clear roadmap, but just a decision that we was going to figure it out. No matter what.

Today, I work for myself in every sense of the word. I contract with Keller Williams, co-own two restaurants with my husband, create content full-time, sell merchandise for our restaurant, and I’m in the process of launching something new that I’m really excited about. It didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely didn’t happen in a straight line. It’s been messy, uncertain, and at times extremely overwhelming, but also the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.

Because when you bet on yourself, you don’t just build a business: you build a life. And that comes with a different level of responsibility. There are no off days, no one else to point to when things don’t go right. You wake up every day and decide if you’re going to show up and make it work. That’s the part most people don’t talk about.

I’ve always been a worker. I love the grind. I love the day-to-day, the problem-solving, the constant movement forward. I’m a visionary, but I’m also someone who genuinely enjoys putting in the work. There are long days, intense pressure, the figuring it out as you go. That’s what makes this life work. Dreaming is easy. Executing is where most people stop.

There have been moments over the last three years where it would have been easier to go back and choose something stable, predictable, and comfortable. But I knew that wasn’t the life I wanted. I wanted ownership. I wanted freedom. I wanted to build something that felt like mine. So I kept going.

If you’re sitting on an idea, a move, or a decision you know you want to make, take this as your sign. Not in a cliché way, in a real way. Go after it. But understand that this path will ask more of you than you expect. It’s not about chasing comfort, it’s about chasing purpose. It will push you, stretch you, and force you to grow.

Chase your passions like you’re on fire. Go all in. Because your dreams are yours: no one else is going to build them for you. This is your life.

Cheering for you.

-M

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A lot of work, a lot of creating, and a lot of thinking about what’s next… because I officially finished grad school.. WHOOHOO! 🎉 It’s one of those milestones that feels big, but also a little surreal. Like, okay… now what? And truthfully, I’m really excited about that question. Stay tuned.

At the same time, this was our first real week of business slowing down. After the chaos of busy season, it’s honestly nice to take a breath. But if you own a seasonal business, you know the deal. When things slow down, it’s not time to coast, it’s time to prepare. Summer is coming, and we’re already shifting gears to make sure we’re ready for it.

And speaking of what’s next… we officially leave in less than a month for the Camino. I cannot even explain how excited I am. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to start sharing everything: what we’re packing, our plans, and how we’re getting ready to trek over 500 miles across Spain. It’s going to be a full journey, and I want to bring you along for all of it.

I’ve been in the gym every day, really focusing on getting my body ready to move. That’s been a non-negotiable for me lately. We also made a last-minute decision that I’m very okay with for our trip. We’re using a suitcase service, so we won’t be carrying everything on our backs every single day. That said, we’ll still have our daily backpacks, so packing is still strategic. I’ll show you exactly what we’re bringing soon.

Outside of work and prep, there were some really special moments this week too. I got to help my goddaughter get ready for her prom, and she looked absolutely beautiful. And yes, we do have a school out here. It’s small, tight-knit, and the kids here are just really good humans. It was fun to see her experience something like that in a place like this.

We also made it a point to get outside this weekend because the weather was just too good to waste. We stopped at the Contrabando Movie Set, one of our favorite quick spots, and I shared more about it over on Substack.

And speaking of Substack… it’s been so fun. Seriously, thank you for being here. Getting to connect with you all, whether it’s online or in person, has been one of my favorite parts of this whole journey.

I’m already working on a content plan for when we get back from our summer travels, and I want to build it around what you actually want to see. So tell me, what do you want more of?

Because we’re about to ramp things up in a big way.

-M

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