Busy days call for simple, healthy meals.
This spinach quinoa salad with roasted sweet potato is my go-to winter salad. It keeps me full, tastes amazing, and actually lasts in the fridge. Win-win. I have the full recipe in the link in my bio. #healthysalad #saladrecipe #easyrecipe #healthyrecipe #quinoasalad
Jan 13
I want the world for them.
And I want them to experience the world.
From the time they were little, we made travel a priority, not just to see new places, but to learn, to listen, and to understand that the world is bigger than us.
So if one day they leave to explore it on their own, I’ll miss them fiercely…
but I’ll know exactly where that curiosity came from. 🌎
#momlife #momlifebelike #momtruths #travelwithkids #familytravels
Jan 10
That time I learned where tea actually comes from. ☕️ 🌱
I’m currently under the weather, parked on my couch, sipping Ceylon tea I brought home from Sri Lanka, and it instantly took me back to one of the most memorable experiences of our trip.
During our tuk tuk road trip with @largeminority , we spent a night at an old tea factory tucked into the misty hills of Sri Lanka’s tea country. It was beautiful, peaceful, and felt like stepping into another era.
We learned the entire tea-making process from the fields to the cup, and yes, we even went out and picked tea leaves ourselves.
I also learned that tea is one of Sri Lanka’s top exports. It was introduced in the 1800s when the country was still known as Ceylon after coffee crops failed. What followed was the birth of Ceylon tea, now world-famous and known as some of the best tea in the world.
There’s something special about bringing pieces of a trip home with you, especially the ones that turn into everyday comforts. 🫖
You can read more about our Sri Lanka travels in the link in my bio. #srilanka #srilankatravel #ceylontea #srilankatea #traveldiaries
Jan 9
It’s so important to keep open conversations going with our teens about the stress and pressure they carry in their everyday lives. When everything feels overwhelming, helping them find healthy ways to cope really matters, so they don’t turn to unsafe alternatives.
That’s why I want to share the message behind Song for Charlie. Their work focuses on starting conversations and giving kids healthy tools and ideas to navigate stress and peer pressure. To learn more, visit the link in my bio.
@song4charlie #connecttoprotect
Jan 9
No regrets at all. The places we’ve gone, the memories we’ve made, and getting to experience it all with my kids has been truly the best.
It hasn’t always been easy, but prioritizing travel has been worth it every time. Each and every new year I like to take the time to reflect on years past. I’m hoping and wishing for new adventures for all of us in the new year. #momlife #familytravel #travelwithkids #takethetrip
Jan 4
Who else wants to manifest an Italian summer with me? I don’t know why, but Italy has been on my mind. Honestly, it’s probably because I just finished Emily in Paris, and so much of the season was filmed in Italy. Now I just can’t get it off my mind.
You can read about our latest Italy trip and our full two week itinerary at stayingblonde.com. Link in bio. #italy #italytravel #travelinspo #italyitinerary
Jan 3
Oof… flying to or through Chicago in the winter is truly a character-building experience. 😩
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten stuck in the airport here. The moment the de-icing trucks roll up, you just know you’re in it for the long haul.
Thank you to everyone who let me rant on my stories last night. I fully like to use Instagram as my therapy in moments like this 😂
We did the math and realized we sat on that plane long enough to have flown to San Francisco and back.
Honestly, though, ending the year on this note, kind of summed up how most of 2025 went for us. Hoping for lots of blue skies and rainbows in 2026. #chicago #airtravel #wintertravel #traveltroubles #backinchicago
Dec 31
Always say yes to the opportunity - especially when it scares you a little.
I still can’t believe I thought about not taking this trip to Sri Lanka. There are always a hundred reasons to say no, but it’s that one reason to say yes that can change everything.
Driving a tuk tuk across Sri Lanka with @largeminority reawakened the adventurous version of me -the one from before kids and before my comfort zone quietly shrank. It turned into one of the best trips ever, filled with unforgettable moments and new friendships. This trip reignited my spark and reminded me that NOW is the time to start doing all the things I’ve always said I’d do “one day.”
In 2026 I’m checking a lot of things off my “one-day” list.
How about you? What are you checking off?
Also, thank you @mikeandashleytravel , for letting me use your amazing drone footage. I’m adding a drone to my 2026 one-day list too! 😂 #srilanka #tuktuksrilanka #bucketlisttravel #travelinspo #srilankatravels
Dec 29
What’s on your 2026 bucket list?
Our San Francisco to Chicago road trip is still one of our favorite family memories. Proof that a cross-country road trip belongs on everyone’s bucket list. #roadtripusa #roadtrip #usaroadtrip #travelinspo
Dec 27
And now I’m a blubbering mess. Merry Christmas 🎄 #momlife #momlifebestlife #momofteens #merrychristmas
Dec 25
Merry Christmas everyone! A day early, I know, but I’m logging off soon, since I still have shopping, cleaning, cooking, and packing to tackle. I seriously can’t believe how behind I am!
We’ll be enjoying a peaceful Christmas at home before flying out to Chicago on the 26th for some family holiday fun. Are you spending the holidays at home or are you heading out this year? #merrychristmas
Dec 23
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park after a major snowfall, take it. The beauty is absolutely breathtaking. Visiting in winter also means far fewer crowds, making the experience even more special.
We always stay at Tenaya Lodge, our go-to spot just a few miles outside the park entrance. It’s the perfect place for winter frolicking, with sledding hills, snowshoe hikes, ice skating, and cozy bonfires to warm up and make s’mores. You can read more about wintertime visits in the link in my bio.
#yosemitenationalpark #travelinspiration #wintertravel #beautifulplaces #yosemite
Dec 21
😂 I love me some Disney magic… but wow, the prices have really crept up, haven’t they?
I was comparing my annual pass from 2017 to my current Magic Key and it’s more than doubled. And to add insult to injury, that old pass included MaxPass, which was basically unlimited FastPasses every visit.
Now it feels like everything that used to be included is either gone or nickel-and-dimed.
Do you think Disney has become unaffordable, or am I just officially old and budgeting now? #disney #disneyland #truth #funny #disneymom
Dec 17
