Happy Birthday to my little one! 15 trips around the sun! Is it too much to ask for time to slow down a little bit?#happybirthday #thisis15
Mar 22
It’s finally spring, which felt like the perfect excuse to make a dessert that is perfect for spring and summer.
These Pistachio Pudding Bars are the most Midwest dessert ever, and I first had them back in Indiana at my best friend’s mom’s 4th of July BBQ years ago. Still one of my favorites.
The full Recipe is on the blog. Link in bio.
#retrorecipes #easydessert #midwestrecipes #nostalgicfood #springbaking
Mar 20
Did you know in Sri Lanka they have bread tuk-tuks?
They sound like ice cream trucks… but they’re delivering baked goods instead of ice cream.
Once Amy and I realized that, we started chasing them down like little kids.
Now when I hear an ice cream truck at home, my brain doesn’t think ice cream anymore…
It thinks bread tuk-tuk. 😂
Travel changes you in unexpected ways. @maddy_pat_mad #srilankatravels #breadtuktuk #srilanka #tuktuk #traveltipsandtricks
Mar 19
One of the best things about Japan is that you don’t need a list of viral restaurants.
We never planned our meals around famous spots, never stressed about where to eat, and somehow every single thing we tried was amazing.
From street food to tiny neighborhood restaurants to snacks we grabbed on the go… we seriously didn’t have one bad meal the entire trip.
Japan might be the only place where you can walk into almost anywhere and know it’s going to be good. #japanfood #japaneats #japantravels #tokyofood #kyotofood
Mar 18
If you’re headed to Ireland but short on time, this is a great itinerary that gets you out of Dublin and into the beautiful Irish countryside without a lot of long drives. ☘️
We left from Dublin and visited Glendalough on the way to Kilkenny, stayed two nights at Mount Juliet Estate, stopped at Jerpoint Abbey, visited the Hawkeye School of Falconry, and spent our last night back in Dublin.
It’s scenic, easy to do in a few days, and one of our favorite trips.
I have the full itinerary up on the blog if you want all the details. Link in bio. And by the way, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️
#irelandtravel #irelanditinerary #familytravel #ireland🇮🇪 #travelwithkids
Mar 16
Ireland has that ability to sweep you off your feet and temporarily affect your parental judgment… 😂
In our defense, it was during the day, our kids are a little older, and in Ireland, pubs are surprisingly family-friendly.
Most pubs allow kids when they’re with an adult, usually until around 9pm. So yes… you can still get the pub experience even with kids in tow.
If Ireland is on your list, I have our full 3-day itinerary up on the blog with all our favorite stops.
Hope you have a happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️
#happystpatricksday #irelandtravel #travelwithkids #familytravel #momlifebestlife
Mar 16
We had four days in Tokyo with the kids, and this is how we split up our time.
Tokyo is huge, so having a rough plan made a big difference, and this schedule ended up working really well for our family.
We stayed at Mimaru Suites Shinjuku West, explored Asakusa, Harajuku, Shibuya, TeamLab Planets, DisneySea, and somehow still found time for 7-Eleven snacks, Denny’s Japan and numerous Raman shops. 😄
If you’re planning Tokyo with kids, feel free to save this for later.
Our Full Japan itinerary is on the blog. Link in bio.
#tokyowithkids #japanwithkids #tokyoitinerary #familytravel #japantrip @mimaruhotels
Mar 15
Just reminiscing about Japan. Shibuya Sky is a must if you’re headed to Tokyo. It offers the most breathtaking 360° open-air view of the city.
If you want sunset tickets, plan ahead because they sell out fast. We weren’t able to get that coveted sunset time slot. But honestly, the nighttime views are just as spectacular.
Tip: If sunset tickets are gone and you really want to be up there for sunset, try booking a time a little earlier. Once you’re up there, you can usually stay awhile, which means you may still catch sunset without needing the exact time slot. Tickets generally go on sale 14 days in-advance starting at midnight Japan time.
Tokyo completely lived up to the hype, and this view was one of the highlights of the whole trip. I have our full kid-friendly itinerary linked in my bio. #shibuyasky #tokyotravel #tokyotravelguide #japantravel #beautifulview
Mar 13
Who else is already thinking about, or reminiscing about summer travels?
The weather has really warmed up here, and it has me thinking about last summer’s very toasty trip to Japan.
I mean… you can literally see the sweat spots on my dress in this photo. It was that hot. 🥵
But hey, we were hot in Japan, so I’m not complaining… too much.
Japan is going to be hard to top. It was such an incredible experience, and the kids loved every minute, especially Tokyo.
I have our full Japan itinerary linked in my bio if you’re planning a trip there.
Right now I’m in the middle of finalizing this summer’s travel plans, and honestly, I didn’t even think we were going to be able to go anywhere this year. We’ve had a lot of setbacks lately… but then the most incredible opportunity came up that I just couldn’t say no to. I’m so excited to share more about it soon. #summertravel #japantravels #japantravelguide #kyotojapan
Mar 13
It’s been a year since we added this little wisteria wonderland to my daughter’s room, and I swear it still feels just as magical as the day we hung it up.
For those wondering how I keep it clean, nothing fancy here… just a feather duster once a week and it stays looking perfect.
If you want to create your own touch of Wonderland, I shared the full supply list and step-by-step directions in the link in my bio. #girlsroom #girlsroomdecor #wisteria #diydecor #girlmomlife
Mar 12
Jumping on this trend because the 90’s were freaking awesome! What a time to be alive.
For me, the 90s were high school, college, acting & modeling, my first reporting job, backpacking through Europe, and meeting my husband.
It feels like I lived 10 different lives in one decade…back when life was simpler, slower, and unplugged. Would you go back to the 90’s? #90sthrowback
Mar 11
If you’re looking to get tickets, be sure to grab this offer! Exclusive 30% off* tickets for BEETLEJUICE at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts from March 31 – April 5 from Broadway San Jose! Click UNLOCK before selecting your seats and enter the code: BLONDE for this special offer. *Valid on evening performances in select seats only. Offer is processed as 30% off the base price of each ticket. Ticketmaster fees apply. Not applicable to previous purchases. No refunds or exchanges.
The show is based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, BEETLEJUICE tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Entertainment Weekly calls it “A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND THE SOUL!” #broadwaysanjose #beetlejuiceonbroadway #theater #beetlejuice #bayareafun
Mar 9
Happy International Women’s Day! ❤️
Here’s to raising strong girls, staying strong ourselves, and learning as we go.
Cheers to all the women out there doing their best, changing the rules, and showing up anyway.
We obviously took these photos years ago when my mini-me was still actually mini…
now she’s taller, sassier, and definitely stealing my clothes.
Posting old photos feels a little illegal on Instagram these days,
but it’s Women’s Day…
and I’m a woman…
so today, I’m making the rules. #internationalwomensday #happywomensday #stronggirls #momanddaughter
Mar 8
