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FINDING PURPOSE THROUGH ADVENTURE

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Bree turned a mere $500 loan into a successful seven-figure business, only to find herself in the throes of a midlife crisis after selling it. But rather than letting this crisis define her, Bree embarked on a journey of self-discovery and transformation that has not only changed her life but is also inspiring countless midlife women to do the same.

It was through moments of deep soul-searching and a lot of Googling that she found her new path with her company, Be Somewhere Sunny. This venture is dedicated to helping midlife women transform their lives through consulting, community, and life-changing travel experiences. Bree emphasizes the importance of embracing this next chapter of life with joy and purpose, proving that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.

She organizes trips for midlife women to unique, off-the-beaten-path locations, where they can connect with themselves and others in meaningful ways. These trips are not just about seeing new places; they’re about rediscovering oneself and forming lasting connections with like-minded women.

Her journey reminds us that midlife is not a time to slow down, but a time to seek more, to explore, and to live life with an exclamation mark. If you’re looking for inspiration and actionable steps to transform your own midlife experience, this episode is a must-listen.

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Wendy Valentine: Hey, midlifers. Welcome back to another episode of the midlife Makeover show. Today we’ve got an absolutely inspiring guest who’s living proof that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and seize midlife. Oh, yeah. Meet Brie Schumacher. Did I say your name right?

Bree Schumacher: You did.

Wendy Valentine: I forgot to. I forgot to ask you before we started.

Bree Schumacher: Schumacher.

Wendy Valentine: Okay. A serial entrepreneur who turned a $500 loan into to a thriving seven figure business that she absolutely loved for 19 years. After selling her business in 2020, Brie found herself deep in a midlife crisis, unsure of what came next. But after many moments of soul searching and a lot of Googling. Google. Google. She broke free and discovered a new path through her company, somewhere sunny breed now helps midlife women transform their lives through consulting, community, and life changing travel experiences. She’s all about embracing this next chapter of life with joy and purpose. Today, Bree’s here to share the exact steps she took to break free from her midlife crisis and how you can do the same. We’ll also dive into the magic of joining other midlife women on transformational trips to amazing, off the beaten path locations. So buckle up, because you’re in for a powerful and motivating conversation.

Bree, thank you for being on the show. So happy to be here

Let’s give a warm welcome to Bree.

Bree Schumacher: Hello. So happy to be here.

Wendy Valentine: I know. I was like, oh, shoot. I forgot to make sure I said your last name right because I got a bad review from a guest that I pronounced her name wrong, and I was like, oh, s***, I better make sure from now on.

Bree Schumacher: You got it. You got it.

Wendy Valentine: And I was an easy name, you know? I was like, oh, gosh, you got it.

Bree Schumacher: You said it perfectly. And I love that we match each other’s energy.

Wendy Valentine: We’re both like, I know, right? That’s pretty hard to do.

Bree Schumacher: It is.

Wendy Valentine: So I have to tell everyone, I absolutely loved your pitch to be on the show, and I’m so humbled because I do get a ton of guest requests. I literally have probably about 300 to 400 people on the waiting list right now. And when yours came across, I think you contacted me on Instagram and then on email, but your email came through, and it was so bright and honest and, like, this is where I used to be. This is where I am now. And I just. And you were just like, so cool. I was like, all right, I bumped you to the top of the list.

Bree Schumacher: All right.

Wendy Valentine: So thank you for being, For being so persistent and positive and so amazing. Amazing.

Bree Schumacher: Thank you. Yeah. And all your adventures.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah, I know, right? I’m fun to watch. I was like, I want to be me. Wait a minute. I am now.

What was it like to go from a $500 loan to making,

so question for you. What was it like to go from a $500 loan to making, to having a six figure, seven figure business, right. And then selling it, and then, boom, midlife crisis.

Bree Schumacher: Yeah. So I think, like a lot of things in life, I never set out to be like, oh, I’m going to own a business. I think I was born to be an entrepreneur. you know, I was the girl that was, like, dressing up like a gypsy at the playground, selling fortunes to people. And, you know, I was always scrappy and had an entrepreneurial spirit. but I never expected that my business would become what it was. but I ran spanish schools for kids, and, it was just meeting this need of, there’s not foreign language, really, for elementary school kids in the US. And so it just grew organically and grew and grew. And I had this amazing team that was with me, some of them up to 14 years. so it was beautiful. I woke up every single day for 19 years. I’m not kidding. Even on the hard days. And I loved that job.

Wendy Valentine: so it was so fulfilling. But then what made you want to sell it?

Bree Schumacher: So I never planned to sell it. but my husband, we lived in Wisconsin, and I had 50 employees in Wisconsin, and about the same in Minnesota. And we moved down to the south. We moved down to South Carolina, and it was, June 20 already, like, scrambled to go online, right. And, I. I had always worked from home, so had my team. So I was like, okay, I can do this. And then when we got here, it was abundantly clear. Like, I cannot have 100 employees in the midwest and be living in the southeast. it was the hardest decision I ever made in my life because I loved that business. And, I sold it gratefully to one of my long term employees. And she’s killing it, and it continues on. but I very quickly realized how much my identity was wrapped up into that business because I lost myself after that.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah, well, you were giving so much to others. And then it was like, oh, now it’s just Brie Brie and me.

Bree Schumacher: And I think, like, even I would notice, people would say, like, what do you do? And I would be like, oh, I used to. I just, like, didn’t know who I was without saying I was the owner of Futura. Like, I just. It was such a source of pride to me. It was so important to me. And I just really. I really honestly spiraled after that.

Wendy Valentine: Been there, done that. It reminds me, I went to this retreat. It was the Deepak Chopra retreat. And they were asking, you were supposed to turn to the person next to you and say, you know, you know, I am, dad. And you finish the sentence. And then I’d. And I would say, oh, I own a healthcare clinic. I am a mother. I’m a daughter. And then the other person’s supposed to go, on, go on. And then eventually you’re just like, I am. Like, that’s so. It’s. In other words, it’s like, who are you without all those labels? Mother, sister, daughter, you know, business owner. So I can imagine. I mean, I experienced something like that, too. After going through my little midlife crisis meltdown. I was like, wait, wait, who am I? Like, who. Who is this woman?

Bree Schumacher: Totally. I remember walking along the riverfront and literally thinking, and I can’t believe I’m even saying this, because I’m somebody that wakes up pretty much in a good mood every day. I literally thought to myself, well, if I die soon, then people will still remember me by my legacy of, futuro. Like, I literally thought that. Because I thought, how am I ever going to make another impact? Like, Oh, you know, how am I ever going to figure out something that’s as important and valuable in the world as this was? you know, like, I was crying in the lowe’s parking lot going, like, oh, my God, is this all there is? As I had all these plants in the back of my car because I was trying to, like, find new hobbies, you know? but slowly I pulled myself out of this, and it’s been a really interesting journey because that was four years ago now.

Wendy Valentine: Wow.

Wendy Stone says midlife is often the seeking phase of our lives

So what were some of the things that you did to kind of pull yourself out of that dark place and get you to where you were like, okay, now I know what I want to do.

Bree Schumacher: Yeah, it’s interesting because my first business came to me. I’m not kidding, like, a vision. I woke up in the middle of the night, I wrote it down, and it became that, like, crazy. So I literally was like, God, okay, where. Where’s the vision? And crickets. Crickets. and then I was, like, googling, like, what’s a midlife crisis? Because I think when we think about a midlife crisis, especially from, like, our generation, we think about the man, like, buying the convertible and, like, you know, driving off into the sunset with his secretary. Right? Like, that’s what we think about. And so I was like, what’s the symptoms of a midlife crisis in women, you know, because I had never heard of a woman having a midlife crisis. And I think the first thing that I did is I just started telling people how I was feeling. I’m like, oh, my gosh. I just feel like, what’s my. What’s my purpose? What’s my next purpose? What am I going to do with the rest of my life? Like, is this all there is? And what was so interesting, Wendy, is that all these women that I talked to who hadn’t moved across the country, who hadn’t sold businesses, but they were in midlife, they were like, yeah, me too. And it just, like, opened my eyes to what women in midlife are really struggling with, because kind of what you talked about, like, we have, at this stage, become our responsibilities.

Wendy Valentine: Right?

Bree Schumacher: Like, I think if you think, who were you before your responsibilities? People can’t even remember, right?

Wendy Valentine: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. There was something on your website. it said, midlife is often the seeking phase of our lives. We crave more, not less.

Bree Schumacher: Yes.

Wendy Valentine: And that interesting. Yeah, it is.

Bree Schumacher: And I think what’s also interesting is the marketing towards women at this stage is all about, like, calm, right? It’s all about, like, let’s journal and let’s do yoga. But I think what women in midlife really need right now is more fun.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. We need an exclamation mark, is what we need 100%.

Bree Schumacher: Like, I’m the person going out in my emails and deleting exclamation points. That’s who I am, and I want more women to feel that. But in this time of, like, not feeling exclamation points, right? I was not feeling points. I just literally. I can’t even tell you. My husband was like, you got into some interesting stuff. Because I, like, signed up to take a b class with, like, the whole suit. Me and all the senior citizens I, like, would go on all these field trips. We were out somewhere, and there was a steinholding contest, and I was like, I’m, gonna sign up. I’m 411. Like, I’m very, very small, and my husband’s like, no, you’re not. I’m like, oh, yeah, I am. I just literally did everything I mentioned to my friend kind of how I was feeling. I’m like, I think I’m gonna start a podcast. And she was like, I think you should. I started a podcast. I, was like, I think I’m gonna host a retreat. Okay. I’m m hosting a retreat. I just literally kept saying yes and yes. and taking steps and guess what? I don’t have the podcast anymore, but I’m so glad I did it because it gave me that purpose every week to be like, I got something to do. I’m sitting at my desk, I got people I’m gonna interview, and it made me feel alive again. And I’m not going to be a beekeeper, but I’m glad I went and did that because just going and doing novel things, new things, even if it’s just going to a different part of your town and trying a new coffee shop, it gives you a shot of dopamine that makes you feel excited again.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. No, I mean, every experience is a stepping stone, I think. And unless you try, you know, you jump into a new experience, you’re not going to have that stepping stone into something else. it could lead to another experience 100%.

Bree Schumacher: And I think so often, especially at this stage, we are so in our routine, right? Like, we just do the same thing over and over again. And you think, like, how quickly time is flying by. And I think, like you said about the seeking stage, you know, we’re literally looking at, there’s more life behind us than in front of us, which I think is hard to come to that realization. But I think of it as, like, I don’t know if you remember this, but remember back in the day when somebody would turn 40, they’d be like, oh, they’re over the hill. Yeah.

Wendy Valentine: Ah.

Bree Schumacher: You’Re an old bard. And they would, like, have all these parties. And so I just started to, like, rethink that, and I was like, you’re over the h***. You’re at the top of the gosh.

Wendy Valentine: I mean, the way I feel, I’m like, m midlife should be, like, rephrased to be. I’m just getting started, you know? Like, that’s, it’s, no, it’s not. I don’t even look at it. The middle. Like, I feel like this is a new beginning.

Bree Schumacher: Yes.

Wendy Valentine: And there’s so many things that are behind you. And I’ve always said, like, you know, the thing is, you’re, you’re old enough to know what didn’t work and what did work, what didn’t work, and you’re still young enough to do something about it, right. Or not, you know?

Bree Schumacher: Right. Well, I feel like I don’t want women to get to their end of their lives and go, I wish I should have, or I wish I would have. you know, I think, like, you’d much rather be like, I can’t believe I did that. Like, that was. That was crazy that I did that thing. Like, that’s a. That’s how you should live your life at this stage, you know, you have nothing to lose.

Give yourself permission to pivot and do something different. Even if it’s just going for a walk in somewhere new

Really?

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. There’s that quote, which I wish I can memorize it, but it’s about, like, sliding into your grave sideways, like, with a bottle of wine in one hand and a, thing of chocolate in the other, but not like, you know, like, going into your grave site with a well preserved body, but instead just be like, yeah, like, I did it, and I. It amazes me, though, that people will waste so much time, myself included, on stupid stuff that’s not going to matter. Like, you’re wasting time and energy on silly stuff, like, go have fun. Even if it’s just simply going for a walk in somewhere new, a new pathway, meeting new people. Like, taking classes. I mean, I think that’s what’s cool about midlife, is most of us, it’s like empty nest or almost empty nest. The kids are old enough that you can leave. You can go do, like, take a pottery class. Who knows? Take a painting class. I met a lady the other day that she’s starting to do painting, and her paintings are amazing. I’m like, wow. Like, who’d have thunk it, you know? Like, if she had never taken that painting class? And now she’s. I mean, she could open up a museum. My God, it’s amazing. But you never know. You never know what you’re going to discover out there. And I would say, in here within yourself, right?

Bree Schumacher: And what I would say to women, like, I think this is such an important thing, like, in your life, as you’re, whether you’re scrolling social media, whether you’re out driving around, whatever, the things that you think that go, oh, that sounds cool, or, that sounds fun, or, I’d like to do that someday, go do it. Like, I literally saw on the front page of, like, our electric company magazine this thing about crabbing, and I was like, totally, husband. I want to go crabbing for my birthday. My birthday’s in December, by the way. And guess what? We went crabbing. And I’m like, this was awesome. You know? I mean, I don’t seem like the crabbing kind of girl, but, like, I just thought that sounded cool, so we’re gonna do it. And I think following those breadcrumbs of, like, that sounds interesting. And instead of being like, yeah, put it over here. Do it. Do the thing. And like you said, it could lead to a passion.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. I mean, just the same ways like, you made that decision to sell the business. I mean, you were brave enough to pivot. Sometimes we, you know, a lot of us will stay with something because you feel like you have to. You’re obligated to. No, you’re nothing. You know, give yourself permission to pivot and do something different. And many of us, I took me a while to do what I’m doing now because I was like, oh, my God, what if I fail? What if this, what if that, blah, blah, blah. What if I don’t? Or what if I don’t like it? That’s okay. Even when I took off in the rv, my best friend said, I was like, oh, my gosh, what if this is so stupid that I’m doing this? And she’s like, so what if it is? Then you sell it, you pivot and do something else. I was like, okay, that’s true. Like, we’re not stuck with anything.

Bree Schumacher: You’re not stuck. I love that. And what you just said about what your best friend’s advice is, like, one of the pieces of advice I love giving people. And it’s the what if exercise of, like, okay, so you want to start a business, ask yourself, what’s the worst that could happen? And, okay, it fails. And then what? Will you get another job or you start another business? Like, you realize that the worst case scenario is never that bad. Like, the rv. Will you sell your rv and you go do something different?

Wendy Valentine: You know, like, it’s not a big deal, and you still get this little bitty blink of time and eternity. Like, what are you gonna do with it? And to not have any regrets when you get to the very end, and.

Bree Schumacher: Sometimes the things that you don’t like doing, I think, make the biggest impact. Like, I, lived in South Korea for a year, teaching kindergarten. I hated living there. It was really hard for me. But guess what? That was the inspiration for my spanish school. If I had not had that really hard year, that 20 years of my life would have never existed, you know? So sometimes, like, you try something and it’s a. It is a horrible failure. It doesn’t go great, but it ends up being one of the most pivotal things for you. So, like, doing the thing, even when it’s not perfect, even if it doesn’t turn out, is still valuable experience.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. I think of life like a buffet. You go sample what you want, you know, or sample it all. Sample all of it. And then you’ll figure out what you like, what you don’t like. If you like it cool. You go back for seconds. If you don’t like it, then fine. Now, you know, you just give it to the server and be like, here, take this back. But, if you’re not going to know unless you try 100%.

Bree Schumacher: And I think the other thing is like, because I, like I said, I was not getting the message of what I was supposed to do with the rest of my life. I was filling my brain with other people’s voices. Like, I wouldn’t go anywhere, I wouldn’t wash the dishes, I wouldn’t do anything unless I was listening to a podcast or reading a book or asking people their, what do you think I should do? and it wasn’t until I got quiet and started to listen to myself and my own voice, which is always there, that I started to get real direction. And I think in this day and age of social media, right, like, oh, there’s this person saying they can make, you know, $30,000 a month, you know, doing, selling things on Amazon. And all of a sudden you’re like, off on this side track when really you’re like, I don’t want to sell things on Amazon. I’m a painter, or I’m a whatever. Like, if you can be quiet long enough to hear your own voice, you.

How do you think you’ve evolved since selling your business

You already know.

Wendy Valentine: Yes, you already know. it’s funny you read my mind because I was just going to bring that up because sometimes, like, when you just let go and detach, that’s when you get the answers. But when we’re trying so hard, when we’re, like, holding on so tightly, then you don’t get it. But if you just release and let go, then it just comes to you. Then you’re like, oh, my gosh, yes. Yeah, I was gonna say too, like, the craving more. and I think definitely, for sure, I feel like midlife women are craving more. They don’t know what it’s that what. And that is when I think, just like you did, just like I did, you just get out there and experiment and explore and have fun and give yourself permission to just be and,

Bree Schumacher: Right.

Wendy Valentine: And I think you evolve as you do that. I mean, how, how have you evolved since you’ve sold that business into where you’re at now?

Bree Schumacher: It’s so interesting because as hard as that was, like I said, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I am so much like, I feel like I’m so much more of a well rounded person because of all the things I tried. Like, I bought two condos and renovated them. I never in my life had thought that, like, I went and learned about money, and I made some investments, okay? I was like, I grew up on food stamps. I had never envisioned I would do anything like that, you know? I just, like, there’s so many things that I. That made me a more.

Wendy says most women would say their life is good

Well, more curious about what’s happening with other women at this stage, because something that I think that’s also really interesting is that most women would probably say, well, their life is good. They don’t have anything to complain about. Their life is full. But what they’re missing is that it’s not fulfilling.

Wendy Valentine: Exactly.

Bree Schumacher: It’s not exciting. That’s the piece. But they can’t put their finger on it because really, they don’t have anything to complain about. Right.

Wendy Valentine: Yep.

Bree Schumacher: Your life should be more than just mediocre, you know?

Wendy Valentine: I’m so glad you brought that up, because it reminds me of me, of years ago where I had this, like, aha. Moment of contentment versus complacency, and I had this argument in my head of, like, oh, when, like, wendy, come on, just be pleased with where you’re at. just chill. Like, why do you have. Why do you have to crave more? Why do you want more? Why you got to do more? Just be content. And I was like, no, I feel like I’m complacent. I feel like I’m just settling. I was like, I don’t want to settle. And I feel like life is extraordinary, but sometimes we try to make it ordinary by limiting ourselves.

Bree Schumacher: Yes. Right. And I think. I think also a lot of times at this stage, we’ve lost a little bit of our bravery.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah.

Bree Schumacher: and I think, why is that? You know, I don’t know if it’s because, like, ignorance is bliss, and so when we’re younger, we’re like, you know, I’m gonna go study abroad, or I’m gonna go do all these crazy things. And then as we get older, you know, we’re, like, more calculated. We have more knowledge. Right. And we, I think, just don’t take the risk. But, like, those are the moments when you feel the most alive.

Wendy Valentine: Yes, I know. Well, and we should, like, give ourselves credit for some of the things that we’ve done for the last 20, 30, 40 years. Right. I mean, raising children. Hello. That’s kind of challenging. That right there should be like, okay, I think I can start this business, or I think I can move to another state or another country or whatever. It’s like, I feel like we just don’t celebrate ourselves enough and give ourselves credit.

Bree Schumacher: Totally. And I love that you said that, because I. When I was in this whole midlife crisis moment, I made a bucket did list. Because I think we think of, like, a bucket list, right? Like, these. All these things I want to do. But I was like, look at all the things I actually did do. You know, I started multiple businesses. I jumped out of an airplane. I, like, I was like, I did all these things. Like, I actually did them. And when I think women take the time and write those things down and they don’t need to be jumping out of an airplane. But like you said, like, I, you know, I was a single mom. I raised these kids by myself or whatever it is. Like, when you make that list, you’re like, oh, I actually am pretty powerful, you know?

Wendy Valentine: Yes, exactly.

Wendy says your purpose evolves if you allow it to

I know you said something earlier about purpose. Oh, what did you say? Gosh dang it. I was going to try to remember it. Something about, like, finding your purpose again or something. I always feel like your purpose evolves. It’s not one thing I used to think, like, okay, and it doesn’t always have to be a vocation. It doesn’t have to be a career. Your purpose, right? I mean, we all have purpose. And your purpose evolves if you allow it to. And, you know, one of these favorite quotes is, of mine is a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there. So if you want to grow as a woman, you do have to get outside of your comfort zone. And it’s usually like, we’re the ones have to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone.

Bree Schumacher: Yeah, absolutely. And I 100% agree with you about the purpose, because I think that’s actually what was tripping me up, is I kept looking at it like this giant question, like, what’s my life’s purpose?

Wendy Valentine: Like, it’s this one big thing.

Bree Schumacher: That’s why I was like, where’s the. Where’s the answer for this? And, one of the other things that was helpful for me is I started asking, instead of, like, what’s my purpose? I started asking, like, how can I serve? Like, how can I use my gifts and talents to serve the world? because I know I want to make an impact. And that actually helped really bring a little bit more clarity to me. and kind of feel like there’s just something I’ve always been drawn to working with women. You know, in my business, even though I had, you know, 100 employees, I would say the majority were women, and all my leadership team was women. and I really, like, all of a sudden felt this really interest in midlife women because I saw the way midlife women were struggling or reading things. Like, women after 44 are invisible to the world. What?

Wendy Valentine: I actually did not hear that until I started the show. And I was like, that’s weird. Why would we? And I feel it’s, you know, you become more visible yourself. It’s. By putting yourself out there more. You’re the one. Like, we’re the ones that are in control of the dimmer switch. Nobody else says, I Used to blame everybody else. Like, oh, he’s making me dim my light. No. Okay. I actually allowed that. Like, I have. I have control over the dimmer switch. I can brighten my light or I can turn it down, but.

Bree Schumacher: So I think it really, like, brought this, like, okay, you know, what do midlife women need? And, it was interesting because with my spanish school back in 2005, I started running trips to Guatemala. And, it was funny because I would, like, make, like, a one page flyer and word. And, like, it was very loose. Like, it was very loose. but over many years, I would run these trips, and I got this idea of, like, I’m gonna run a trip just for midlife women. And of course, my strategy of running this trip was very different because I was like, midlife women don’t want to stay, like, in somebody’s house with, like, you know, weird bathroom, whatever. Like, so I curated this trip to Guatemala with my same partners I’ve had for 20 years. But, like, at a boutique hotel, farm to table restaurants, and then all the authentic stuff in between, like, you know, going, like, right in the back of a pickup truck to go to a coffee plantation or, going to mayan women’s cooperative. Like, I put it together. Like, I say, it’s like, immersive experiences with pops of elevated moments throughout, you know, like, elevated restaurants in a nice hotel, but, like, super cultural and authentic. And I was like, well, this is an experiment. You know, I have had really good luck working with just women. Like, no drama, just beautiful experience in my company. But I’ve heard nightmares, right? of women getting together and whatever. And so I was like, let’s see how this goes. And Wendy, it was the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever experienced. I can’t even tell. you m. It was so much more impactful than all the other trips, all those years that led up to it, because I saw something happening. These women, yes, we went to beautiful places, and they saw a new country, and they went off the beaten path, but they became friends with each other, and then instantly. And then also, I just saw them come alive literally before my eyes. Like, I think showing up there as just you, not as a mom, not as a wife, not as a business owner, not as an employee, not as a friend. Like, you’re just you. It strips down to that core of who you are, and you just see, like, the laughter, the smiles, the joy. just. It was the most beautiful thing. And we climbed a volcano in the Guatemala, and there were just, like, these moments. Like, there was a woman on the trip. She’s around my age, like, late forties, and she had gotten a heart transplant, and, she had lost her husband. Like, all. I mean, all these things. She had gone through chemo. She had all these things, and she, made it to the top of the volcano, and we are all there, like, oh, my gosh.

Wendy Valentine: Celebrating each other.

Bree Schumacher: Yes. it’s so beautiful. And this thing that was this experiment. Right. Of, like, I think I’m going to throw this trip out there. I’m like, that’s it. That’s my next thing. Like, is combining my lifelong love of travel and, like, not your typical type of travel. Right? Like, this is authentic, like, off the beaten path kind of travel with women that I’m passionate about. And it’s somehow. I call it midlife magic.

Something happens on these trips. I think sometimes we forget we’re human beings that need connection

Something happens on these trips. It is the most m beautiful thing.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. And you add a little spontaneity in there and connection. Right. I think sometimes we forget we’re human beings that need connection. That’s how we’re built for connection. Right. With other human beings, but especially with other women.

Bree Schumacher: And. True.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah. And being in different places, getting outside of that comfort zone together, doing things together, and cheering each other on. That is so cool. I want to go.

Bree Schumacher: It’s so cool. You should. Their trips are awesome. But one of the things, like, there. There was a woman that came on my last trip, and she had traveled. She’s traveled all over the world and traveled very similar to me, like, off the beaten path. And so she told me even she’s like, I was a little bit skeptical about, like, what’s this trip gonna do for me? And she literally said, this is the best trip I’ve ever been on because it changed my life. And she. She pointed out, like, two moments of, like, where she was struggling on the volcano, and the other women were like, we don’t doubt you. You got this. And they were, like, helping her get out the way of cheering her on. And then also just like, you know, every night when we would get ready to go out to dinner, we’d meet in the lobby, and women would come out, and we’d be like, oh, my God, I love your earrings. Right? I. And she just said, like, oh, my gosh. I just felt so seen and so celebrated.

Wendy Valentine: Visible, yes.

Bree Schumacher: Like, you know, I think sometimes, like, even if we have a, spouse of many years, they’re not like, oh, girl, I love your earrings. I think there’s just something about women that makes you feel celebrated, and it’s just, I can’t. There are no words to describe, like, what that feels like when you get this group of women together that are just true cheerleaders and champions for other women. It’s beautiful.

Every year, I do a crazy trip. I think it’s a bucket list for people

Wendy Valentine: So the places you go, is it places you’ve been and the stuff that you’re doing, is it stuff that you’ve done?

Bree Schumacher: So, this is a good question. So my little sister and I, she’s 17 years younger than me. Every year, we do a crazy trip. We go to the Amazon. We, like, you know, take a hot air balloon off our coffee country in Colombia. We do something crazy. And I feel so alive on those trips. Like, and they kind of sustained me through the long winters in Wisconsin where I live. Like, it was the thing to look forward to. And I feel like these trips are, like, that’s what I want women to feel like. This is the thing I’m going to look forward to. So I started just offering Guatemala because I’d been going to Guatemala. M all these years. Right. And I know the people. and then this coming up here, I’m so excited. We’re going to Cuba. M my first trip sold out six months in advance, but I have a second Cuba trip coming up because it’s. I think it’s a bucket list for people.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah.

Bree Schumacher: And, this has been under wraps, so this is a big reveal. But we’re, gonna do a trip to the Amazon. yeah.

Wendy Valentine: Wow. In Ecuador.

Bree Schumacher: And this. It’s funny because I’ve been to the Amazon in three different countries, and this one, I call it, like, Amazon light, like bougie Amazon. I’m like, not all the women want to do the Amazon like I do, but this is like a hotel with a pool, and, like, it’s still going to. We’re going to go to an indigenous, you know, community and meet the people in the Amazon, and we’re going to, make balsa rafts and, you know, float down the river and very cool things. But, like, it’s not going to be roughing it.

Wendy Valentine: I was saying, like, as a woman, at my first question be like, oh, what do I pack?

Bree Schumacher: Like, oh, actually, that’s part of the fun. Like, what do you wear to the Amazon? And, like, how do I look? Like a cool amazonian woman.

Wendy Valentine: Right, exactly. Oh, my gosh, how fun. I know. I was on your, website, too. It said on here. yeah. Overnight in a hotel made completely of salt. Like, different experiences taking a boat over crystalline waters. And how do you pronounce this? Boco. Stel toro.

Bree Schumacher: Yeah.

Wendy Valentine: Hundreds of starfish. touring the belizean jungle with a local shaman and learning how his family cultivates chocolate. Staying in a luxurious treehouse. Oh, my gosh. In the heart of the Amazon. Spotting pink dolphins in the wild. I didn’t know they had pink dolphins. Milking cows. I want to do that. And making homemade tortillas on a nicaraguan farm. Oh, my. Practicing Spanish with a native speaker in a bustling market in Guatemala. Drinking wine at the highest elevation winery in the world. Oh, my gosh. I would be like, an instant buzz.

Bree Schumacher: That was sedona. That’s an interesting experience. They were like, we don’t normally do tours, as my sister and I, like, peeled the fence.

Wendy Valentine: So how many women typically go on one trip?

Bree Schumacher: That’s a good question. so I max the trips out to 15. Cuba with me, they’ll be 16. I made an exception because it was so popular, but, I really want to keep them small. I had actually gone on a couple group trips, not the ones I ran through my spanish school, but I was a participant, and both of those trips were on big buses with a ton of people. I literally can’t tell you a single person’s name from any of those trips. But our trips still to this day, on WhatsApp, everyone’s like, good morning. Drinking my Guatemala coffee and, like, wishing we were together at the restaurant or, you know, I think keeping it small keeps those relationships and makes the women that come by themselves, because a lot of women come by themselves, which is really brave and awesome. They still feel like we’re all part of the same team, like, we’re all there together. As opposed to think if you get over that, then people break up into little groups, right?

Wendy Valentine: Yes. Right.

Bree Schumacher: Don’t want that to happen, you know, I want everyone to feel like.

Are most women single or in a relationship on these trips

Wendy Valentine: I’m curious. Are most women single or in a relationship?

Bree Schumacher: That’s a great question. it’s all over the board. Is it?

Wendy Valentine: Yeah.

Bree Schumacher: A lot of women.

Wendy Valentine: That’s nice because I would think, like, if you’re okay, if you’re single and you’re like, oh, I really want to do something, but maybe your friends don’t want to do it or whatever, and it’s nice to join a group of women, and then if you are in a relationship, like, hey, I’m going to go take a little trip myself with some girlfriends. And I think that’s awesome.

Bree Schumacher: It is.

Wendy Valentine: I mean, plus, travel can be intimidating if you don’t know where to go and what places to stay, right? So it’s. It’s nice to have someone to coordinate all that, and you just show up with your suitcase.

Bree Schumacher: And that’s exactly part of, like, the reason why I started doing this is because you see so many women that, like, all the friends are texting, like, oh, we should do a trip. And then guess what? Nobody schedules two years down the road. Like, or maybe your husband has no interest. My husband likes to travel, but we have three boys, so we don’t really go anywhere together. So this is it. But, like, maybe you have a significant other that has no interest in doing, like, an off. You know, they want to go set an all inclusive, and you’re like, no, I want to. I want to do something deeper. But like you said, they have no one to go with or they are intimidated by these countries, or they don’t speak Spanish or whatever. And women can come on our trips with no travel experience, no language experience. They can come by themselves, and we do everything. They can just show up, you know? And, I even run two little mini orientations before every trip so that the women are prepared, like, what to pack for the Amazon jungle and also, like, a little bit about the culture and all of the things. So I really make sure that women are prepared because, yeah, a lot of them maybe have never done anything like this before, and they’re, like, intimidated, but by the time they get there, they feel at ease.

Wendy says booking a trip gives you something to look forward to

Wendy Valentine: Well, when you decide to come to Madera, Portugal, I will be your guide, Wendy.

Bree Schumacher: It’s on the list. I have a dream trip list, and I’m putting Madeira right there on it.

Wendy Valentine: it is so magical here. I mean, it’s like a little Hawaii. They say it’s so nice. Yeah.

Bree Schumacher: Oh, I love it. And, I love seeing your pictures with your little dog sitting at the. At the table, like, in, like, a little kids. It looks like almost like a high chair.

Wendy Valentine: I know. Yeah, I know. She’s. She is. She’s like a little person. She’s like the whole island knows her. They’re like, oh, hi, Daisy. Or margarita in, Portuguese, which I’m still learning. Portuguese. Oh, my gosh. It’s tough. It’s tough. I know how to order a drink and get some bread. That’s it.

Bree Schumacher: I hear you. I hear you. After living in South Korea for a year, I can say two beers, please. I can’t say one beer. I can’t say three. I can only say two beers, please. That’s it.

Wendy Valentine: That’s actually. That’s where. That’s where Daisy is from. She’s from South Korea.

Bree Schumacher: Oh, yes.

Wendy Valentine: She flew all the way from South Korea to Dallas, Texas. Isn’t that crazy? They had the cutest little doggies there, though. Oh, my God. I was like, oh, my gosh. I’m so tempted to get another, you know, I was going to say, though, too, it’s nice when you book a trip like that because it gives you something to look forward to. You can mark it on your calendar, and just that alone is like, oh, you’re like, okay, three more months. Two more months. One more month. You feel like a kid again. Like it’s Christmas coming up, you know, 100%.

Bree Schumacher: And that was what I would experience on these trips with my sister. I’d get, like, my lonely planet. I would read it like a novel, front to back. Like, reading about the country. I’d watch all the vlogs about the place we were going, and I actually read that that anticipation actually gives you the same amount of excitement as the actual trip. and so I 100% agree with you. And if you live in a cold weather place, like I did for my majority of my life, having something, you’re like, oh, in February, I’m going to Cuba. Like, that sustains you through the winter, you know? So I agree with you 100%. It’s. It’s.

Wendy Valentine: What are.

What are some of the cool things that you’ll do in Cuba

What are some of the cool things that you’ll do in Cuba?

Bree Schumacher: Oh, I’m so excited. You know, of course, we’re going to do the, like, quintessential, like, going in the old cars done. The mole cone, the convertibles, you know, the colorful old cars. we’re going to go out to the beautiful Vinales valley and go to, like, a centuries old tobacco farm and, you know, meet the old men that rolled the cigars. We’re going to do a sunrise hike where there’s coffee at the top of this mountain and the national park. We’re going to take a salsa class. We have a surprise last night. there’s just so many. It’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be amazing. And we’re, in the Vinales valley. We stay in casas particulares, which are, like, the people’s homes. But everyone was like, what? I’m like, it’s not like, study abroad. Like, you have your own door and your own bathroom. You don’t have to, like, hang out in the people’s living room. Like, don’t worry. but they are in the community, and so I think it’s just really neat. and we’re gonna go to a farm there and have a farm to table lunch. I mean, it’s just, it’s an amazing itinerary. I’m so excited.

How has this changed you going through all this travel business

Wendy Valentine: Oh, my gosh, I love it. How has this changed you going through all this, like, doing the different trips, and just even in the last year, how do you feel? I know you mentioned earlier how you feel a bit different, but just more heightened, more excited.

Bree Schumacher: I feel so excited. I feel so alive. And one of the things that I noticed, and I think this is important for, like, all women to notice, is what I was gravitating towards, because I was doing lots of different things kind of, over the last, you know, couple years. And I noticed that the thing that I wanted to work on was these itineraries. And even if it was just me tracking who sent their passport in, like, I was excited to do it. And so I just saw that, once again, the way that I felt when I had futura, where I was excited to Monday morning, sit at my desk that came back, and it’s such a good feeling to be like I’m doing something that I’m really passionate about. I think I’m pretty good at, excited about, but also that is making an impact. And I see in the feedback not only in real time, but also in the things that people email me when the trip is over and reading how they felt. I’m like, my heart is full. and I decided this year I’m going to hire some group experience leaders so that I can continue to grow this business, because I’m like, I’m onto something. This is that thing, like you said of, like, go do the thing and make yourself alive again and make yourself excited. Give that exclamation point. And now that I’m going to have more people that can help me run the trips, I can have more trips, which means I can serve more women. So I’m, so excited about that.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah, just. Just you adding the exclamation mark. Gives other women that permission to add the exclamation mark to their lives. Just so cool. The nice butterfly effect.

Bree Schumacher: Yeah. And I. And I believe enthusiasm is contagious. And anyone that knows me knows I’m like, oh, my gosh, the light is amazing. Let me take your picture here like this. You know? And I think, I think then people feel that, and then they want to spread it to other people. And like you said, it’s a butterfly effect. It’s very contagious.

Wendy Valentine: Well, you’ve been such a bright light for me. I’m so, so glad you pitched your story to me.

Bree Schumacher: Yes. I’m resourceful. Yes.

Wendy Valentine: So awesome. So how can we find you so.

Bree Schumacher: You can find me@besomwhersunny.com? that’s where you can find all the trips. And stay tuned because they’re going to keep rolling out. So get on the email list because they sell out super fast. and I’m on Instagram at be somewhere sunny and Facebook. Somewhere sunny.

Wendy Valentine: it’s funny, I was thinking you could have named it breeze somewhere some breeze. Somewhere sunny. No, that’s a mouthful. Breeze somewhere shiny. So, yes. So be somewhere sunny.com. yes. Adorable website, too.

Bree Schumacher: Love it. Thank you. It’s brand new, so I appreciate that. Awesome. It was so good to, like, I feel like, meet you kind of in person.

Wendy Valentine: I know. And I hope that if anyone out there, you know, listening, if you decide to book a trip, let me know, and I want to know how it goes. That would be so cool. And then they could come onto the show, too, and tell about it. That would be awesome.

Bree Schumacher: See butterfly.

Wendy Valentine: That would be so cool. Yes. Seriously, if someone goes to Cuba, you better tell me about it. Or the Amazon.

Bree Schumacher: Yes. And the Cuba trip for May is going to be rolling out in the next week, so stay tuned.

Wendy Valentine: Yeah, that’ll be here before you know it.

Bree Schumacher: It goes by so fast. It goes so, yeah, super exciting stuff in the works of us.

All right. Thank you, Wendy. So great to chat with you

Wendy Valentine: All right. Thank you so much.

Bree Schumacher: Thank you, Wendy. So great to chat with you.

Wendy Valentine: Thank you, everyone. Have a great day. Have a sunny day. Somewhere sunny.

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