“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” — Maya Angelou
My kids and I both love gardening. Indoor gardening. Outdoor gardening. We love it all. Gardening is something I started doing with my kids when they were small and I'm tickled that they still love it today. If we could be outside planting all year long we would, unfortunately, winter…
It's never too early to start thinking about your matching holiday pajamas. I learned my lesson a few years ago when I waited until the last minute to find our seasonal pajamas. As a result, I ended up having to choose from whatever wasn't sold out. It was slim pickings. …
Pointillism art is a perfect rainy day activity. Actually, it's perfect for any day. It's great for kids because it's a fun and unique way to approach painting. They like it because it's not hard to do. Parents will love it because it only requires only a few simple materials. …
I admit that I am a bit of a sun-worshipper during the summer months. Having some color on my skin is something I love. Don't get me wrong, I never head outside without a some SPF and a good wide-brimmed hat. I just feel and look healthier when my skin…
This summer my husband and I were able to, against all odds, sneak away for a kid-free night in Saugatuck, Michigan. While we were there, we happened to dine at a restaurant that featured a Smoked Old Fashioned on its menu. This cocktail voodoo was unknown to us, a smoked…
I'm usually too busy through-out the day to make a healthy lunch for myself. I'm more of a grab-n-go type of gal when it comes to lunches. Unfortunately, most lunches that I go to grab aren't as healthy as I'd like them to be, and does “coffee” count as lunch?…
I love Succulents. The temperate climate here in California is the perfect weather for them. I have lots of them planted around the house. They look great in their pots and planted in the ground, but when I saw a beautiful succulent wall at a local restaurant, I knew I…
I start counting down the days to summer break as soon as school starts in the fall. Being a parent of school-age children can be exhausting. Being a parent of a child with special needs on a school IEP is a whole different ballgame. Both of my children are on IEPs. …
Plumeria is one of my favorite tropical flowers. You can find plumeria trees blooming all over the Hawaiian islands. It's a simple, yet elegant flower that emits the sweetest of aromas. I was ecstatic when I first learned that I can grow my very own plumeria tree from just a…
*This posts contains products that were kindly gifted to me. I'm always on the lookout for good, all-natural, anti-aging skincare. A gal like me, who's over 40, wants to soak in all of the anti-aging creams and jellies that I can get. That's why I was so excited when I…
I took a lot of time researching which Greek Island would be best to spend some time to unwind and relax. The island of Naxos kept popping up in all of my searches as a favorite for families. After spending a week here, I’m happy to say that this was the perfect island for our family.
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades Islands and has so much to offer. It has beautiful beaches, charming mountain villages, a fun city center, ancient ruins, and tons of authentic Greek hospitality.
These are just a few photos from our time here. I have so many notes, photos, and videos to sort through and share once I get home. #naxos #naxosisland #naxosgreece #familytravel #travelwithkids
Just living my best #mamamia life in Greece right now. #travelgreece #dancingqueen #naxos #naxosisland #dancelikenooneiswatching #dancelikenooneswatching
A little Mama Mia fun while in Greece. I can’t even begin to tell you how much bribing went into getting her to do this with me! Let’s just say there will be lots of shopping in our future. The poor thing could barely move during this video without the towel falling off her head. 😂 #mamamia #greece #greecetravel #greecesummer #santorini #momdaughter #momdaughtergoals #momanddaughter #momanddaughtergoals #angeleyes
I’ve come to the conclusion that in order to save money we must travel more! 😂 Is Santorini expensive? You betcha! It’s one of the most expensive Greek islands to visit. But to be honest, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be - especially coming from California, particularly the Bay Area. For the four of us to dine at a restaurant with an incredible caldera view in Santorini is still less than it is for us to eat out in the Bay Area. 🧐 Even our one bedroom, caldera-view apartment with a private pool costs less or about the same as some of the Disney hotels we’ve visited. I guess it’s not just about traveling more, but more like we need to travel to Greece more! 😂 I can’t wait to see what our next stop, Naxos has to offer. Everyone has told us that it’s beautiful, authentic, and is reasonably priced. I may never leave! #santorini #travelgreece #wanderlust #familytravel #greecesummer #oiagreece #travelcosts
What is the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen?
I’d heard that the sunset here in Oia, Santorini is one of the most beautiful in the world, and now after seeing it for myself, I have to agree. There’s just nothing else like it.
Santorini is our first stop in Greece. I already feel like I’ve taken 1001 photos and videos. Sorry in advance for flooding your feeds with white buildings, pink bougainvillea, blue domes and Greek life. #oia #oiasantorini #santorinigreece #santorinisunset #familytravels #greece🇬🇷 #summertravels #wanderlust #europesummer #greecesummer #travelgreece
We’ve been in London for the last 48 hours in a jet lagged stupor. We only had two official plans this time for our two days here. They were Afternoon Tea at Brigit’s Bakery and a visit to the Churchill War Rooms. The rest of the time we wandered around cute little neighborhoods and places like Hyde Park and Kensington gardens, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, China town and Paddington.
London was an extended stop over on our way to Greece. I just love London. We need to make sure we allow more time to soak it all in the next time we visit. Have you ever extended a layover and made it an official part of your trip? #london #familytravel #londontravel #travelwithkids #europesummer #summertravels #hydepark #brigitsbakery #churchillwarrooms
Getting comfortable in coach, especially with kids, is not an easy feat, but it is possible. We fly to London soon, so I’ve been looking at my checklist on how to stay as comfy as possible in Economy class. I have a full list of tips and tricks on how to stay comfortable in coach up on the blog right now. Link in bio. Do you have any secrets or tips for staying comfortable in economy class? #travelhacks #economyclass #economyclasstips #traveltips #internationalflights #summertravel #familytravel #travelwithkids
Just wanted to show off my lavender. I am in love with lavender at the moment. I planted a little bush a few years back and it has turned into a mini field of lavender in my own back yard. Do you love lavender?
Happy July. Happy Monday. Happy Summer. Happy second half of the year. Just happy to be starting something new. The first six months of 2024 have actually been pretty crummy and stressful for us, so here’s to hoping that things start to turn around during the second half of the year 🤞 . #summervibes #wishfulthinking #truth #optimism #happyjuly #corvette #littleredcorvette #californiadreaming
You better believe I’m making room for this skirt in my carry-on! Seriously, it’s the best twirl skirt I’ve ever found, and it’s ridiculously comfortable and lightweight. I have it linked in my bio and on my LTK if you want to check it out. #whiteskirt #twirlskirt #summerfashion #summerstyle #travelstyle #packing #greecetravel #greecestyle #vacationfashion #freepeople #ltkfashion @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/4K1FP
I know I’ve been sharing tons of travel lately because, we leave next week for a month and I have travel on my mind. Even though I’ve been busy with packing, I have also been making cobbler after cobbler with all the fresh berries and fruit that are in season. So far this year I’ve made cherry, cherry/blueberry, blueberry, and apricot. This recipe is just so delicious and so ridiculously easy that I thought I would share. I have the full recipe up on the blog. Link in my bio. #cobbler #cobblerrecipe #blueberrycobbler #easybaking #easyrecipes #summerrecipes
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Mom of two, seeking a little sanity in the everyday.