Planning a family trip to Italy can feel overwhelming because there are so many incredible places to see. When we started planning this trip, we focused on creating a route that allowed us to experience some of the highlights of Northern Italy without constantly packing and unpacking. We knew we wanted a mix of culture, scenery, and incredible food, but we also didn’t want to feel like we were racing from one place to the next. Here’s our itinerary and the hot spots we’re going to as it’s my moms first time there!

There is something really grounding about intentionally preparing for a new chapter, especially one as life changing as starting a family. For us, this season has not been about doing everything perfectly or following a strict routine (although the temptation is there). It has been more about creating a lifestyle that feels supportive, realistic, and sustainable for now but also leading into the next steps in life. If you are in a similar phase, I wanted to share what this has looked like for us so far. From supplements and nutrition to tracking cycles and shifting our everyday habits, this is how we are approaching it.

Planning a wedding in Temecula wine country? This guide highlights eight of the most beautiful vineyard venues including ones that we explored. From European inspired estates to classic California vineyard views, discover each venue’s style, guest capacity feel, and realistic cost expectations to help you choose the perfect setting for your wine country wedding in Southern California.

This guide includes: Europa Village, Villa de Amore, Leoness Cellars, Truffle Pig Winery, Callaway Vineyard, Falkner Winery, Lake Oak Meadows and The Morgan Estate

When we look back on our wedding, the things that stand out most are not the big production pieces. It is the personal details that made the day feel like ours. The moments that carried family history, inside stories, and little pieces of who we are. If you are planning your wedding and wondering where to focus your energy, I truly believe personal touches go further than over the top extras. These are the details our guests may not have noticed, but is something that we treasure and meant a lot for us to have, even if no one else knew they were there or the significance behind it.

Here are a few of the meaningful touches we added to our wedding day.

After sharing the details of planning my Palm Springs bachelorette, I wanted to create a companion style guide for brides heading to the desert. Palm Springs has such a distinct vibe with equal parts retro glam, effortless resort wear, and sun‑soaked minimalism. Packing for it is honestly half the fun, so if you’re anything like me, choosing the outfits becomes part of the celebration itself.

I also wanted this guide to be budget‑friendly and sustainable, which is why I curated a style board on ThredUp. It’s the perfect place to find beautiful white pieces, designer resort wear, and unique items that feel special without the one‑time price tag. Bachelorette wardrobes can get expensive quickly, especially when many pieces are worn once, so shopping secondhand felt like a smart and intentional choice.

Every spring, my wardrobe goes through a bit of a reset. Heavy coats slowly disappear from the front of the closet, lighter fabrics start to take their place, and suddenly I find myself reaching for pieces that feel softer, brighter, and easier to wear day to day. Rather than buying a completely new wardrobe each season, I’ve been leaning more into secondhand shopping. It allows me to experiment with trends while still investing in quality pieces that feel thoughtful and sustainable. Here are my picks for Spring:

When we started planning our wedding, I knew I wanted the day to feel personal without turning the process into a full time craft project. DIY can easily become overwhelming if you try to do everything. What worked best for us was choosing a handful of projects that would make a visible impact and actually mean something to us.

If you are considering adding DIY elements to your wedding, focus on the pieces that guests will interact with or that will show up in your photos for years to come. Below are ten DIY projects that added real value to our day and felt worth the time we invested.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend a decent amount of time in the Netherlands, and honestly, it’s one of those places that just sticks with you. There’s something about the canals, the architecture, and the way everyday life seems so effortlessly charming. I’m half Dutch, both my maternal grandparents came from Holland after the war, and I still have a ton of extended family that lives over there.

Amsterdam gets a lot of the spotlight, and for good reason, but I also love getting out of the big city and exploring towns like Leiden, which feels like a step back in time with its canals, cobbled streets, and relaxed pace. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here’s a mix of things I think are really worth doing, how to get around, what to pack, and a few seasonal ideas to help you plan your trip.

A curated travel guide designed for those craving a reset during the longest stretch of winter here in Calgary. I’ve put together five destinations that offer a contrast to cold, routine, and short days, whether that means escaping somewhere warm, embracing winter in a beautiful setting, or exploring a culturally rich city.

February is often considered an ideal time to travel because it offers unique seasonal experiences, fewer crowds, and opportunities to enjoy winter landscapes, festivals, and quieter destinations at a slower pace.

No grieving spouse should also have to crowdfund their survival. When illness or loss hits a family, the emotional weight is already unbearable. Adding financial uncertainty to that moment is something we can prepare for. Life insurance and critical illness insurance are not about fear or worst case scenarios. They are about stability, dignity, and making sure the people you love are protected no matter how unpredictable life becomes.

Palm Springs holds a special place in the hearts of so many couples. The sunshine, the desert light, the mid century cool factor, and the way the landscape feels both dramatic and intimate make it incredibly appealing. We almost had our own wedding here, and during the planning process we discovered some truly unforgettable venues that feel personal, beautiful, and far from the generic hotel ballroom experience. If you are planning a Palm Springs wedding or simply dreaming about one, these venues are worth bookmarking. We investigated a lot of Estates because I have always loved the idea of staying on-site at a wedding, and the idea of an estate means you get to enjoy waking up the morning after still at your beautiful venue, and can hang with your wedding party leading up until. Here are some favourites (with pricing!) if you’re in planning mode.

I’m a big fan of celebrating each season and holiday in my own way. I love to plan a party, or event, or a get together and I love to go out of my way to make sure I romanticize the cooler months to make them feel less depressing. One of my favourite times of year is February: I crack out the fresh flowers, and open all the windows (and shades) and get fresh air circulating, I also plan an intentional Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day celebration.

When people ask me the best time to visit Thailand, I always say: December to January, especially if you want a little bit of everything: crisp mornings in the north, sun-kissed beaches, and none of the worst of the monsoon. Over my four trips, I’ve come to see December and January as the sweet spot. In the north, it’s dry, cool (for Thai standards), and misty in places; on the islands, the seas are calm and visibility is excellent.

I’ve been to Bali a few times now, and every trip feels a little different, whether it’s been with someone or on my own. If you’re visiting in December or January, expect a mix of sunshine and sudden tropical downpours. It’s not the time for constant beach lounging, but it’s the perfect season to explore quieter temples, cozy cafes, and take slow mornings watching the mist rise over the jungle. I put together 15 days of things to do and where to go if you're going for Christmas!

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that travel is one of my favorite ways to reset and feel inspired. Over the years, I’ve done trips on my own, trips with friends, and now trips with my husband (ah!) — and each experience has felt completely different.

Solo travel taught me a lot about myself and how I like to spend my time. Traveling with a partner has shown me how fun it can be to share those moments with someone you love. Here’s what I’ve noticed as the biggest differences — and why I think both are worth doing if you can.

Travel inspires us to explore new cultures, landscapes, and experiences, and what better way to keep those memories alive than by bringing elements of your travels into your home? Whether you’ve just returned from a whirlwind European adventure or spent weeks backpacking through Southeast Asia, incorporating travel-inspired decor into your home can help create a space that feels personal and reflective of your global journey.

There’s always that mix of nerves and excitement before a trip — the “did I forget something?” feeling as you’re zipping up your bag. I’ve had my share of trips where I nailed the prep, and others where I learned the hard way what not to do. Or not packed something as simple as a tshirt, only bottoms. Over time, I’ve figured out a few basics that make traveling a lot smoother.

Here’s what I always think about before heading anywhere — whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a longer international trip.

Fall has always felt like a pause button to me — it’s a chance to slow down and take your time, and all of a sudden you have time because the business of summer is over. Some people like to treat Spring as the chance to refresh a space and clean the house, but that is Fall for me. It’s the perfect month for slowing down, layering up, and soaking in all the small comforts. Discover some things that are inspiring me this season of life and this October.

I’ve been to London five times now, and every trip feels like a new adventure. This city has layers—history, culture, food, and character around every corner. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here’s a guide to making the most of London anytime of year: what to do, where to go, how to get around, and what to pack.

When we first started planning our wedding, I knew I wanted it to feel personal. Not just “pretty venue, pretty flowers” personal – but a wedding where you could see us in every single detail.

We dove in headfirst. And when I say “headfirst,” I mean our list was long. We stained own table runners, built a ceremony/reception backdrop, created a seating chart with custom limewash columns, put together a folding coffee bar, made signage, embossed napkins, designed menus, and even did custom name tags for our guests.

Looking back, it was a mix of wins, pivots, stressful late-night painting sessions, and so much pride when I finally saw it all come together. Here’s what I learned from DIY-ing our wedding decor — the highs, the lows, and the advice I wish I’d had when we started.

I spent a few days in Cascais in October a few years ago, and it turned out to be exactly the break I needed. I went mainly for a yoga retreat but made time to explore the town and slow down. Here’s what I loved, what I’d do again, and some tips if you’re planning a trip in September or October including what to do, what to pack and a couple of hidden gems.

If your brain is spinning trying to keep track of all the small wedding details — you’re not alone. This list helped me lay everything out and calm the chaos a little, and I hope it helps you too. Whether you’re DIYing your signage, sorting out songs for your first dance, or remembering things like packing a cake knife (so easy to forget!) — this checklist has your back.

Palm Springs is the perfect spot for a bachelorette party with its mix of relaxation, adventure, and nightlife. My MOH planned out a weekend of fun for a few of my girlfriends and we had the best time. We ended up spending a few more days in Joshua Tree after the weekend and went on hikes, day-tripped into Palm Springs again, hung out by the pool and had such a good time relaxing. Let’s be honest, the trip was go go go, but we certainly built in a lot of time to connect with nature.

Keeping in mind my bach weekend trip was all planned out by my MOH, here are a few other things that you can do when you’re in PS for your bachelorette if you’re more inclined for outdoors, going for drinks or just relaxing.

Palm Springs is the perfect spot for a bachelorette party with its mix of relaxation, adventure, and nightlife. My MOH planned out a weekend of fun for a few of my girlfriends and I am so excited to head for California this weekend. Palm Springs is a dream destination for a bachelorette party, combining relaxation, adventure, and nightlife into one unforgettable getaway. I’ve put together all the fun bride things I’m packing for the trip and the variety of weather we are going to experience down there between LA, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.

When we got engaged last September, I was excited to start planning the wedding and celebrations I had dreamed of years and years ago. As we sat down to make a list of all the people we wanted to invite, I realized that my large guestlist wedding no longer made sense, but most of all because I felt I had turned around and all of a sudden close friendships had changed.

I had spent the last 10 years taking off for foreign lands, and long term trips and left my groups back in my hometown to continue on with their life.

I was no longer easy to get a hold of to hang out, I wasn’t always there for birthdays, I was gone and I had prioritized meeting new people, seeing new places and in essence, leaving them.

Here is what I have experienced in planning our next steps in life and how things have changed as I’ve grown up and made the choices I’ve made.

Transforming your home doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. With a little creativity and some smart planning, you can refresh your living space while staying within budget. After renting for 8 years, I’ve tried every tip i the book to make a space feel more like home, but here are some practical tips and ideas to breathe new life into your home without breaking the bank.

Choosing the theme and colors for our wedding was one of the first big steps in making our vision come to life. For us, it wasn’t just about picking pretty colors; it was about finding inspiration that emulated the wedding we wanted. It’s no secret we love Italy, and we would have loved to get married there as well. Even though it would have been cheaper for us to get married in Italy, it would have limited us in people and we would have had a very small guest list. We decided to get married in Alberta to make sure that as many of our friends and family were able to attend.