About Me
Welcome to Catherine's Joy, a mindful travel and lifestyle blog dedicated to exploring the world responsibly and promoting imperfect sustainable living. I'm Catherine, and I'm thrilled to have you join me on this joyful journey!
I started this blog in 2018 as a way to sharpen my writing skills, but along the way, I discovered my passion for sharing travel experiences, my life in Chicago, and life’s little joys.
I didn’t grow up traveling much—my childhood was spent in a small rural town in Wisconsin, rarely venturing far from home. That all changed in Summer 2017 when I took a three-week trip to Europe. It sparked something in me, and wanderlust quickly took over. With each new trip, I discovered my passion for planning meaningful travel experiences and wanted to share tips and itineraries to inspire and help others.
When I first launched Catherine's Joy in 2018, I was working in formal education in Wisconsin. Shortly after, I moved to Chicago with my now fiancé, John, and began working at an aquarium, where I combined my love for animals, the environment, and education by creating and teaching engaging content. We now live just a little ways out of the city with our 6 year-old black lab/border collie mix, Elvis.
Though my blogging journey has been inconsistent—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—one thing that’s remained steady is my appreciation for the natural world and my desire to explore it. Travel, wildlife, and the environment have always been at the heart of what I do, and I’m excited to continue sharing that joy with you.