Explore With Nola

08/08/2026

08/06/2026

What if the question you've been trying to answer with your head... is actually a question your hands need to solve? 🎨

That's the heart of Art-Infused Coaching.

Not a paint party. Something deeper — using the creative process as a mirror for the inner journey. What you paint reveals what you're ready to see. What you can't quite get right on the canvas often points to exactly what you're working through in your life.

I've watched clients gain perspective in a single brushstroke that years of journaling couldn't reach.

If you're in the middle of a transition — retirement, an empty nest, a career pivot, a "what now?" moment — I want you to know: there's another way through.

Art classes are open now. Come paint your story. 🌿

Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. — Dr. Nola K.

[Link in bio / ExplorewithNola.com]

08/05/2026

🎨 Have you ever noticed that sometimes the answers you've been searching for show up... while you're making something?

That's not an accident. It's the heart of Art-Infused Coaching.

When we create — when we pick up a brush, mix colors, make marks on a page — we bypass the part of our brain that's been overthinking everything. And in that space, something opens up. Self-awareness. Perspective. A sense of direction that felt impossible to find before.

Art-Infused Coaching isn't an art class (no experience required!). It's a coaching process that uses creativity as the doorway. Together, we explore what's calling for your attention, what's keeping you stuck, and what your next chapter might look like — through conversation AND through making.

My clients gain real perspective, find their footing, and move forward with a quieter, more confident inner voice.

I am currently accepting only a few new coaching clients. If something in this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Send me a message or drop a comment and we'll find a time to talk. 💙

08/04/2026

You want Caribbean water views WITHOUT the Caribbean heat? 🌊 Let me tell you about Traverse City, Michigan — because it completely surprised me!

Pulling up to the bay, I had to do a double-take. That brilliant blue-green water? It looks EXACTLY like what you'd see on a Caribbean island or along the shores of Pensacola, FL. But the air? Cool, and crisp.

Traverse City is one of those places that has to go on your Michigan must-see list — right alongside Mackinac Island. Head up the peninsula and you'll find wineries dotting the hills, massive sand dunes, and sailboats gliding across that gorgeous turquoise water.

And here's the quirky thing that stopped me in my tracks — boats sitting on hydraulic lifts anchored right in the bay. Imagine driving along the water and spotting a pontoon or ski boat just... perched up in the air like it's waiting for takeoff. Completely unexpected and honestly a little fascinating!

This is exactly what Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. is all about — getting out there, seeing what surprises the world has waiting for you, and sharing it so others can experience it too. ✨

Have you ever been to Traverse City? Drop a comment and tell me your favorite spot! And tag a friend who needs to add this to their bucket list! 👇

08/04/2026

There's a moment — right in the middle of a life transition — when the old version of yourself doesn't quite fit anymore, but the new one hasn't fully arrived yet. 🌿

That liminal space can feel terrifying. Or, if you let it, it can feel like the most creative opening you've ever had.

I've lived it. After decades of structure and "shoulds," I found my way back to myself through paint brushes, candle wax, and a lot of quiet mornings.

Here's what I know now: reinvention isn't about starting over. It's about coming back.

What's one small creative act that has helped YOU find your footing during a big life change? Drop it in the comments — I'd love to hear. 💬

Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. — Dr. Nola K.

08/03/2026

🚙✨ Stop 5, JEEP ROAD TRIP: Pictured Rocks, Upper Michigan — and I was NOT prepared!

Let me back up. I thought "Upper Michigan in August — perfect!" What I did NOT think about was standing on the shores of Lake Superior as the wind whipped off the water. First stop? Finding a coat. Yes, really. Dr. Nola K. had to buy a coat in August. Zero regrets. 😂

🌊 THE GREAT LAKES SHOULD NOT BE CALLED LAKES. They're oceans. I saw Michigan, Huron, and Superior — every one stretches so far you cannot see the other side. They deserve so much more credit.

🚢 The Pictured Rocks cruise at sunset was one of the most beautiful things I've witnessed. Sandstone cliffs rising right out of deep blue water — layers of red, orange, gold, and green — and because we're so far north, the sun sets LATE. We were on the water in the most golden light. Pure magic.

🔒 The Soo Locks blew my mind. Watching massive ships get lifted and lowered through a water elevator is engineering at its finest.

🐻 The bear ranch was a culture moment. Coming from the Smoky Mountains where "leave bears wild" is gospel, seeing people feed and photograph bear cubs was jarring. Not wrong for them — just a real reminder of how wide and varied our world truly is. That's exactly what exploring does.

🌲 Upper Michigan gave me strong New England vibes — birch trees, pine, saltbox houses, sturn people, and signature foods, like pasties.

Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. This road trip keeps delivering. 🙌

Next stop: Traverse City! Drop a ❤️ if you've been to the UP — I want to hear your favorite spots!

👉 ExplorewithNola.com

08/02/2026

Mackinac Island, Stop #4 of the Jeep Road Trip Series has officially stolen my heart. 🧡

I've been dreaming of Mackinac Island for YEARS. Ever since I watched "Somewhere in Time" and fell in love with the Grand Hotel, I told myself — one day. One day I will get there.

That day finally came, and friends... it did NOT disappoint.

The ferry ride from Mackinaw City was surreal. As we pulled up to the island, I kept thinking — I'm stepping back in time. The waterfront, the carriages waiting at the dock, the smell of fudge already drifting through the air. It was everything I imagined and more.

And here's the thing about Mackinac Island that makes it unlike anywhere else in the world: NO CARS. None. Zero. You get around by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, and that's it. (Okay, there are a few hidden emergency vehicles — but you'll never see them!)

The Grand Hotel lives up to every bit of its name. Massive, gorgeous, nostalgic, and beautifully dated in the most perfect way. Those flower boxes! Those columns! I stood there just taking it all in.

I have SO much more to share about this place — the butterfly sanctuary, the old fort, the fudge (obviously 🍫), even a golf course unlike anything you've ever heard of. Stay tuned.

This is what it means to Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. ✨

What's on YOUR bucket list that you've been putting off? Drop it in the comments — let's talk about it!

08/02/2026

What are you waiting for? 🚢✨

Not a rhetorical question. A real one.

There's this thing we do — we put our bucket list in a drawer labeled "someday." We say we'll take that trip when work slows down. We'll book the cruise when the timing is better. We'll go when the kids are grown, the schedule clears, the stars align.

And one day we look up and realize the stars have been aligned for years. We just weren't watching.

The bucket list isn't a destination. It's a decision.

What's one thing on yours that's been waiting long enough? Drop it in the comments. Let's make it real. 💛

And if you've got a cruise or bucket list adventure you've been putting off — I'd love to help you plan it. That's what I do. Visit ExplorewithNola.com or send me a message.

Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. — Dr. Nola K.

08/01/2026

🌿 Happy Friday, friends!

Here's a little something I've learned from years of making things: you don't have to finish to feel good about it. Sometimes the best creative days are the ones where you just... start. Mix a color. Light a candle. Put something on the page.

Creativity doesn't have to be productive to be worthwhile. Sometimes it just has to feel good.

If you've been wanting to bring a little more handmade beauty into your home, this is your gentle nudge. 🙂 My original folk art paintings, hand-poured sculptural candles, and art prints are available through Explore with Nola — each one made with love and a whole lot of happy Friday energy.

Head to the link in bio, or comment below and I'll share details!

Wishing you a weekend full of something you love. 💛

08/01/2026

🗺️ JEEP ROAD TRIP — Stop 3: Mackinaw City, Michigan!

We made it to one of the most charming little towns on the water, and I am SO excited to share it with you! Mackinaw City sits right on the bay and has this incredible, old-world tourist town vibe that just makes you want to slow down and wander. And that's exactly what we did. 🚙✨

THE WATERFRONT is stunning — a beautiful mix of sand and stone along the beach, with the water stretching out as far as the eye can see. And the Canadian geese? They OWN this town. Everywhere you look, they're just living their best lives. 😄🪶

THE SHOPS are pure delight — fudge shops, ice cream shops, souvenir spots, you name it. If you have a sweet tooth, this place will not disappoint! (Fair warning: bring your appetite AND your wallet — everything here runs on the pricier side, so plan accordingly before you go!)

THE BIG MOMENT though? Tomorrow, we hop on the ferry to Mackinac Island! I cannot wait to share that adventure with you. It is on so many bucket lists for a reason.

Here's the thing about road trips like this — you don't just see new places. You DISCOVER things you never knew existed, you LEARN something new around every bend, and you come home with stories that INSPIRE others to get out and explore too. That's the beauty of it all. 🌍

Explore. Discover. Learn. Inspire. 💛

Have you ever been to Mackinaw City or Mackinac Island? Drop your best tips or memories in the comments below — I'd love to hear from you! 👇