What a week! So much has happened at the Utah house, I’m actually headed back up there today because there are so many decisions to be made. All of this back and forth, leaving my kiddos and hubby behind are starting to wear on all of us I think. This weekend my sweet husband surprised … Read more
I feel so fortunate to work with some of the best companies on the planet, and HomeGoods is definitely one of them. Back in 2012, HomeGoods ran a contest on Facebook for fans of their page. I, of course, being a huge HomeGoods fan couldn’t help but enter…the prize was a $250 gift card! Visions … Read more
January was a crazy travel month for me. When I bought my ticket to Alt Summit back in mid 2016, I had no idea where life would be taking me at this time in 2017. I was grateful that this year Alt Summit moved to sunny Palm Springs and so it made the travel much … Read more
Known as one of America’s premier vacation destinations, Los Angeles is the Entertainment Capital of the World. It’s hard to visit California, without a stop in this vibrant, energetic city full of history, culture, shopping and dining…not to mention the miles and miles of some of the most beautiful coastline you will ever see! There … Read more
Nothing gets me into the Christmas spirit more than heading to a fun place that is decked out for the holidays. We were very excited to be invited to visit Knott’s Merry Farm this last week to check out the fun and festive things happening at the park. Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates the merriest of … Read more
This weekend was such a welcome few days of fun and relaxation. I was out of town last weekend for work, and John has been working like crazy lately, so we definitely needed some fun family time. We were very excited to be invited to visit Knott’s Spooky Farm this weekend to check out the … Read more
“Bright light city gonna set your soul on fire.” You can’t think of Las Vegas and not think of neon signs lighting up the vivid skyline. But what happens to those iconic signs when hotels change names or are imploded to make way for the latest and greatest? Thank goodness for the Neon Museum and … Read more
When we were planning our Europe adventure, we were going to be gone long enough that we felt fairly comfortable leaving some plans open ended and kind of letting life take us where it wanted when we were on the road. One of those happy little unplanned surprises was a quick one night stay in … Read more
John and I both happen to be history majors who share a particular interest in 20th century American history, in particular WWII for John…so needless to say, visiting Bayeux was high on our list while spending a few weeks in France. Bayeux is a charming little French town located on the Aure river in the … Read more
When it came time to plan our summer across Europe, the South of France was high on my list. I envisioned planting myself in some Provencial home out in a beautiful field and letting the children roam with the goats and spend long days picking lavender and wildflowers. I didn’t realize that along with beautiful, … Read more
A trip up the California coast is always a good idea, and when there is a cute boutique hotel like The Hotel Carmel to stop and relax at, it’s an even better idea. A mix of modern and cottage architecture, 27 guest rooms some with fireplaces, others with views of the hotel’s intimate courtyard. Relax … Read more
This week’s Destination Design takes us to one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles. Located on La Brea in an historic building dating back to 1928, that in true Hollywood style, it boasts it’s own famous past. According to Eater LA, Charlie Chaplin built the Spanish style brick building, complete with gothic arches, … Read more
When John and I were looking for a getaway, we knew that the south was one place we could go that would feel like a real vacation where we got to experience life that felt a little different than ours here on the west coast. We settled on Charleston, SC, but we also knew that … Read more
I had been to Paris before, but I had never visited the Sacre Coeur. This time, we made it a point to visit the Basilica located in the Montamarte, on the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. The Montmarte is a bit of a gritty neighborhood and it was interesting to … Read more
Welcome to Destination Design, a new feature here on the blog. This is something I’ve been wanting to start for awhile, and I’ve finally decided to just jump in with both feet. I have a question for you… When you are browsing the internet, what makes you stop in your tracks and say WOW!? What … Read more
Paris is known for for great shopping, and it did not disappoint. There are lots of great articles all over the internet about shopping in Paris and which neighborhoods offer the best shopping whether you are looking for high end fashion or home decor in the City of Lights, but I wanted to share a … Read more
Alright Fixer Upper fans… this edition of travel Tuesday is especially for you. In October my husband and I had the chance to visit Dallas on business. Of course when I heard “Dallas” all I was really thinking about was Waco. As a huge fan of the Fixer Upper show and especially the cute Fixer … Read more
In a city like Paris, with SO many historic things to see, amazing museums and incredible monuments, it can get very expensive very quickly to visit them all. On our visit to Paris we read about the Paris Museum pass and decided that it would be a great option to allow us to see a … Read more
The weather in Bruges, Belgium is chilly. The warmest month is August, and even then, temperatures rarely get out of the 60’s. Days are sunny, so be sure to pack sunscreen, sunglasses and hat, but layer, layer, layer. Long sleeve shirts, a sweater and a coat with comfortable denim and some cute flats will have … Read more
If you are wondering where to stay in Paris next time you visit, look no further. I’m sure you have seen the commercials on TV recently for apartment rental services talking about not just visiting Paris, but living there, and that is the experience I want you to have. When we were planning our trip … Read more
Traveling throughout Europe last summer has made recent events in Paris and Brussels hit a little closer to home. The possibility of terror attacks and concerns about staying safe while traveling abroad were constantly running through my mind as we planned our trip and as we traveled through foreign airports, train depots, and on every … Read more
I love to travel and explore the world with my family. Nothing makes me happier than planning and preparing for a new adventure. When we headed to Europe for the summer I wanted to make sure that we all stayed as healthy as possible so we could enjoy our time together. I was happy to … Read more
After a wonderful 10 days spent in London, we were excited to head off to the next destination of our family vacation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. This was our first travel experience within Europe and boarding a plane in London to head from the safety of a country where everyone spoke English to head to a place … Read more
Amsterdam is such a charming city. When we visited I wanted to get a chance to visit a bit outside of the city too. Haarlem Netherlands was recommended by several friends, including Rick Steves, 😉 and after reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom I knew it was the perfect day trip from Amsterdam … Read more
Visions of Amsterdam canal houses and bicycles were running through my head when we set out planning to visit Amsterdam. I knew that I wanted to stay on a canal, in a traditional house, but beyond that, I didn’t know anything about where to start looking or where exactly in the city was best to … Read more
When we planned our 3 months in Europe, we decided that we would both start and end our trip in London. Because there was such a long period of time between our stays, I didn’t worry about making reservations before we left home in June. I figured we would play it by ear and pick … Read more
It’s no secret that I am a picture fanatic! I usually have at least two cameras with me at all times and try to capture as many of our family’s adventures and as much of every day life as I possibly can. I am a memory maker! Last week we were invited to visit Knott’s … Read more
At any time of year, London is one of the best cities in the world to visit, but Springtime is like no other! We were there near the end of Spring and the weather was amazing. When I say amazing, it’s still London weather, so you’ll still need your wellies and coats, but you can … Read more
Fairy tales are real! Those pesky little trolls we read about as kids…well one of them is alive and well in Seattle living under the Aurora Bridge. The Fremont Troll is sure to delight your kids when you visit the Fremont District in Seattle. When we were planning our trip for the family and looking … Read more
As the mom of a little girl who practically lives in a princess dress, and a boy who has grown up with Lightening McQueen and Mater as his best buddies, we have spent more than our fair share of time visiting all of our favorite Disney friends up the street at The Happiest Place on … Read more
