Meet Dana:

There’s a place that I visited once that always stands out in my mind, when I think of where I’ve been in my life and dream of what’s ahead. It’s a quaint little village that sits high up on a cliff, carved out by the wild ocean waves of the western Atlantic waters. The people are warm and hospitable, opening their doors to young travelers with a glass of Sherry and slice of home-baked heaven.  It must be the breathtaking view of this side of the world that keeps them humble; it certainly awestruck me and left an indelible impression on my soul. The place is Sagres, Portugal, the southwestern-most point of Europe and if you’re lucky, on a clear day you can see as far as Gibraltar.

Well-traveled and handy 

I always think about traveling through Portugal and that time of my life, what it felt like to look out over the vast blueness of sea and sky from that vantage point. Life could not be more different now, nor could I be any happier. If you asked me years ago to tell you about myself, I would have said I love to travel: backpacking my way around Europe, sailing the shores of the Netherlands, long weekend trips to islands (St. Maarten being my favorite!)… I thrived on the adventure of living in different places, seeking out unique little cities to explore, meeting people and sharing stories.

I would have also told you I’m a crafty DIYer – have you seen Fixer Upper? I’m a Joanna Gaines groupie! I love the challenge of making things myself – you should see what I can do with an old pallet, a nail gun and some paint! I get creative with the camera too, taking photographs and turning them into art, or upcycling throwaway furniture with a fresh look. As much as I’d like them to, none of these things happen much these days.

My adventures are at home, as a Mom, juggling the energetic needs of a curious little man (who just started walking at the time of this writing) and as a wife to my devoted, career-driven husband. When I settle down at night, I often dream of all the exciting places and things I want to see and do with our wide-eyed wild child and think...one day!

Traveling lately consists of moving from Fort Lauderdale to New York City to Nashville and back to New Jersey (where I’m from), just in the last few years, thanks mostly to my husband’s occupation. While I don’t enjoy living out of boxes, I have learned so much in each place, the new culture and interesting people, and it has given me a taste of the life I once led, but more importantly, I think it has made me a stronger, more mindful person all around.

Touchdown

Destination living can be so much fun with so much to do, especially when you're young and carefree, but Dorothy said it right – there’s no place like home! Today, I happily have roots I secretly yearned for in a home we put a lot of sweat equity and love into, incorporating our adventures on every wall. Our family is completed with our furbaby, Liberty, a bully mix we adopted from a rescue in Brooklyn. (Animal rescue is another big passion of mine!) She is not only the biggest baby and the most spoiled in the house, but she is also the laziest dog I know, lounging in the sun or her favorite spot on the sofa...that is until UPS arrives! We have a blessed life and someday we hope to add to it, but for now I soak up every moment of watching my little boy explore the world with as much curiosity and wonder as I did.

I’m both grateful and excited to be working with this amazing team of women at CURO, bridging my experience with outreach and communications, with their warmth and passion for helping their clients, while serving one another with kindness and compassion.

I’m so happy to have landed here. Wanderlust never ceases and I still dream of far off places we’ll explore as a family, but in this moment, I find joy in the everyday occurrences, knowing that those escapades of my youth will breathe life into the stories I’ll tell my son as he grows, and will hopefully inspire him to live curiously and fearlessly, with his whole heart. I can’t think of a sweeter adventure than that.