Author: Terumi

Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys.  She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live.  She is also known as Scout's mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point Terrace Ground Floor room

Three Nights at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort and Club in Dana Point California

May 12, 2022

This hotel, the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort is one of the reasons I love having an Amex Platinum card. We always check Amex hotel bookings online when we are planning our trips. If you book places labeled “Fine Hotels” with this card, they usually come with perks like late check-out, breakfast, and some kind […]

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Intercontinental Los Angeles Hotel elevator to the 31st floor

Why the 31st floor is the best floor for the elevator if you stay at the Intercontinental Los Angeles hotel

May 10, 2022

In the year 2022 after everything shut down in 2020, conferences are finally back on again and Mom2.0 ( a conference I went to in 2018 and had a ticket for the 2020 conference that was postponed) this year took place at the Intercontinental Los Angeles Hotel right in the heart of downtown. This hotel […]

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Using the Trove Collective app to find Seattle family activities

Find and Share Seattle Family Activities and other travel ideas using the Trove Collective App

May 3, 2022

I was recently introduced to Trove Collective,(use sign-up code TRVE30) a new social app and I loved it so much that I signed on to be a brand ambassador. Among other reasons I found this app quite useful is that it makes it really easy and quick to find and share Seattle family activities among […]

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Pike Place Market flowers and other last minute gift Ideas for Mother's Day in Seattle

Last Minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day in Seattle 2022

May 1, 2022

I almost forgot it was Mother’s Day on May 8th this year-usually it seems like it’s later in the month. If you are looking for some last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day in Seattle this year, I have a few that you might want to try. Kitchen and Market Kitchen and Market has a […]

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1 day in Seattle

1 day in Seattle if you’re staying downtown in the city

April 28, 2022

What do you do if you only have 1 day in Seattle? I get asked this all the time from people coming for day trips from Vancouver BC, or from the Clipper in Victoria and quite often from people who are going on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle too. I’ve included some of my […]

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joshua trees in Joshua Tree national Park

How about visiting Joshua Tree from Seattle for an easy family trip with teens

April 27, 2022

So maybe you also tried to visit Palm Springs from Seattle lately and have realized that the flights are incredibly expensive and the hotels are totally full. Joshua Tree is about a 45 minute drive from Palm Springs and while I used to think of it as a camping destination, there are many options for […]

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fried chicken at Willa Mae's at the Pythian Market Food Hall in New Orleans

Pythian Market, a New Orleans Food Hall for Everyone where you can get Willa Mae’s with maybe no line up and vegetarian options too

April 12, 2022

I tagged along on my husband’s recent work trip to New Orleans and it was our first airplane trip in over two years. New Orleans had just done away with its vaccination requirement for restaurants and I am still wary of eating indoors so my food list for New Orleans centered on places that had […]

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Seattle salad ideas (this one is from mod pizza)

The best salads in Seattle that you’ll want for lunch

April 5, 2022

When the weather starts getting a little sunnier sometimes we crave fresh and more vegetable filled dishes as we get out and about. Here are a few of my favorite places to get the best salads in Seattle. I’ve tried to add the neighborhoods you’ll find these places in too. Evergreens all over Seattle There […]

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Seattle Cinnamon Roll Drive Through in Woodinville

A drive through Seattle Cinnamon Roll shop up in Woodinville that’s worth the trip

March 30, 2022

If you are searching for a unique cinnamon bun shop near Seattle, you might find Seattle Cinnamon Roll. And it’s not actually in Seattle, it’s about 30-40 minutes north of the city. But before you give up and try looking for another place, make a plan to go to Woodinville to the Seattle Cinnamon Roll […]

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Laconia Market in Snoqualmie Pass

Laconia Market: a boutique grocery, food and coffee shop in Snoqualmie Pass

March 15, 2022

To say I was excited about Laconia Market opening in Snoqualmie Pass near the Summit at Snoqualmie is an understatement. We drove past the old firehouse that it’s housed in nearly every weekend as it was renovated to watch it become the beautiful space it is now. We’ve been part-time in the mountains for nearly […]

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Pacific Sands Beach Resort in Tofino the view from 2nd floor three bedroom condo

Finding a fantastic way to multigenerational holiday in Tofino in a 3 bedroom suite at the Pacific Sands Beach Resort

March 14, 2022

If you love all things Pacific Northwest than Tofino is the type of place you probably dream about visiting too. We went ages ago for a family wedding and have been meaning to revisit ever since. So when I kept seeing Pacific Sands Beach Resort featured in contests on Instagram, I got it in my […]

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Tutta Bella at home at QFC grocery stores in Seattle

Making Tutta Bella at Home in Seattle from QFC

February 10, 2022

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Tutta Bella and their new at home meal ingredients at QFC and as always the opinions and thoughts in this blog post are my own. If you’ve been following along with this blog for a while you already know Tutta Bella is one of our family’s favorite […]

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too good to go app review in Seattle

Trying out the Too Good to Go app to help reduce food waste in Seattle

February 3, 2022

I recently heard about the Too Good to Go app in Seattle. Too Good to Go is an app that connects consumers with businesses to buy ‘Surprise bags” of food not purchased during business hours that might otherwise go to waste. I love the idea of being able to try a business, try something new, […]

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strawberry souffle pancake from Gram Cafe at the Amazing Brentwood

Souffle Pancakes at the Gram Cafe and other delicious places to eat at the Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby BC

January 30, 2022

The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby BC is quickly becoming on of my go-to places to eat and shop when we head north from Seattle to see family in Canada. I’ve been eagerly anticipating the opening of the Gram Cafe there-this is a well- known souffle pancake chain in Japan and there are a few other […]

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Goodles Mac and Cheese a new boxed macaroni and cheese product

A review: Goodles Mac and Cheese

January 25, 2022

This post is a sponsored post in partnership with Moms Meet to try Goodles Mac and Cheese and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. And as always the ideas in this blog are my own. I have really vivid memories of making and eating […]

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Alegria Cirque du Soleil in Seattle at Marymoor Park

Cirque du Soleil in Seattle with Alegria at Marymoor Park

January 21, 2022

There are so many hopeful things happening in 2022 and one of them is Cirque du Soleil in Seattle again! Alegria just opened in Marymoor Park and my family was invited to this spectacular show on Media Night to go check it out. We are in a bit of a spike (that will hopefully be […]

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Cedarbrook Cottage in Seabrook in the winter

Roadtrips from Seattle: Seabrook in the winter might even be better than a visit in summertime

January 18, 2022

I need to be careful or this blog is just going to become a Seabrook fan account. Thankfully there are hundreds of houses there to rent and we still seem to have all the time in the world to travel near rather than far. We’ve had such lovely prior visits to Seabrook so a trip […]

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Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront Pool with family who walked from Terrace Room

What is a Terrace Room at the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver BC?

January 11, 2022

A little while ago I booked a staycation for my family and my sister’s family so all the cousins could hang out at a heated outdoor pool in the wintertime. Because of covid, I specifically wanted to find an outdoor pool so that we wouldn’t have to breathe indoor air. And we love the outdoor […]

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covid-19 testing schools in Seattle and Washington State

COVID-19 testing in Schools in Washington with Learn to Return

December 28, 2021

This is a sponsored post with the Washington Department of Health and Learn to Return and the opinions in this blogpost are my own. I can’t even begin to explain how thankful my barely 13 year olds were when they were finally able to get back to school in the fall after missing in person […]

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Deer at Suncadia from our Vacation Rental balcony

A Suncadia trip in the winter thanks to the Nix the List Sweepstakes with Grand Ridge Plaza

December 15, 2021

This was a sponsored post on behalf of Grand Ridge Plaza in Issaquah Washington and Regency Centers for the Nix the List Sweepstakes and as always the thoughts and ideas in the post are my own- the winners were drawn but I’ve kept the post up just in case you’re headed to Suncadia and are […]

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