TRAVEL
Enter all the contests and go on all the trips: parenting advice for my kids after winning our trip to Kauai
February 28, 2018Of course I’m going to tell my kids to study hard and do your best and try to be a good person wherever you can: they totally need a baseline. But more than telling them to go to college, or plan out now who they are going to be when they grow up, or even […]
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When a clothing brand reminds you to be mindful of packaging
February 25, 2018I was really excited to try a few pieces from PrAna’s spring 2018 line-a cute black sweater and capri yoga pants-on our recent trip to Kauai. Have you heard of this clothing brand? I love so much about it-PrAna is stylish, comfortable, great for travel and easy to wear and I’ve partnered with them before […]
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A new Tesla electric car charger in Lynnwood and pondering going completely gas-free
February 13, 2018A couple years ago when we first got our Tesla we were a little apprehensive about buying an electric car for a family car. We had one option for charging on the way between Seattle and Vancouver and with all the long-driving we do to see relatives between here and there we didn’t know if […]
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Deciding where to California adventure on a trip to Mom 2.0
February 7, 2018I’m headed to Mom 2.0 in May and a dear friend of mine has promised to meet me in California after the conference in Pasadena so we can have an adventure like we used to in college pre-kids. For us from the Pacific Northwest, California means shopping, palm trees, beaches and yummy food. So now […]
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A driving solo adventure in Orange County I want to repeat with family and friends
February 2, 2018In my dreams I’m a fearless traveler, stylish carry on in hand, passport in the other and I’m ready to take on any adventure life whispers to my heart. In reality though, I’ve got a bag-load of responsibilities, schedules to coordinate and I’m still a little choosy about which way the wind blows me; sometimes […]
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Learning how to be an auction winner with Goodwill and what kind of used snowshoes you should buy if you’re in Seattle
January 30, 2018This is a sponsored post for Goodwill and as always the opinions in this piece are mine. I visited with Goodwill in Tacoma to learn about their mission and learn about their online auction site: www.shopgoodwill.com Let me preface this tale with a little bit of back history. As a mom of energetic twin boys […]
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Low tech and high tech toys that are faves in my house right now
January 22, 2018The holidays are over, the decorations are packed away and we’re about a month into all the fun toys that have arrived at our house. (I can’t take credit for the decorations being down…that’s definitely the hubby’s doing. I would have them up all year round but not because I’m festive….) And of course […]
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Tanaka Farms in Irvine California is a great place to take kids to learn where food comes from
January 8, 2018Do you love knowing where your food comes from? I recently did a poll on my Instagram Stories and I was so excited to see that an overwhelming majority of people care about the story of their food. I feel the same way. I love hanging out on factory tours and finding locally made things. I […]
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Whistler Canada with kids and a fun place to see bald eagles and eat along the way
January 4, 2018When I was a kid, I grew up in a small Vancouver suburb and we used to be able to drive to Whistler and back for a day trip. We had our favorite places to eat, like Ingrid’s which is still in Whistler, and we would always stop at the McDonald’s in Squamish along the […]
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Shopping Outside at Noguchi Garden and South Coast Plaza (Orange County, California)
November 28, 2017As I frantically scan the internet and virtually shop for cyber Monday deals, I’m wondering how many people truly opted outside for Black Friday? Do we really hate shopping all that much or is there is a difference between shopping to see innovative and beautiful things and shopping aimlessly hoping to get a deal on […]
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Women’s Small Business Month at Zulily
October 13, 2017There are so many world-renowned businesses that have their roots in Seattle and when I see their names in other places when we travel it’s hard to believe that these companies ever started small. When I drive past the zulily headquarters on the way to Pike Place Market, this business is no different. I remember […]
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STEM toys for back to school and a cool place in Seattle to learn all about tech
September 11, 2017When you have family who is in the know, you get to try a whole bunch of neat toys. We recently received this Star Wars Sphero toy and it’s like having our own miniature moving R2D2 in our house. We were already very familiar with Sphero because the boys used it at school and I […]
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Things I would not have seen in Boston with my kids if it wasn’t for CityPass
September 2, 2017With 9 year old kids who have traveled to many places you would think we would be aquariumed out by now, but I was still pretty curious about the New England Aquarium because I had heard a lot of fabulous things. We were staying at family-friendly Residence Inn Boston Seaport and the aquarium was a […]
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A bittersweet birthday cake anyone can make
August 16, 2017I take baked goods very seriously. I’m not always very good at chemistry, or measuring or even following directions very well, so I truly appreciate how magical it is when a bunch of ingredients come together in an oven and make something spectacular like a birthday cake. I know birthday cakes are special and every […]
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An almost Car-free trip with the Victoria Clipper to Vancouver Island with kids in about 48 hours or so
August 6, 2017As much as we Seattleites die a little when people say “Pike’s Market” instead of “Pike Place Market,” it’s probably a little the same up in Vancouver when people think Victoria BC and Victoria Island are the same place too. As neighbors to the south, we know that Victoria Island does not exist, but Victoria […]
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A great place to learn to Skateboard and an over the top Sounders experience in Seattle
July 31, 2017I need to preface this post with how much I do not like blood and guts. I am terrified of anything that remotely has to do with injury and if anything like that happens around me, I have the potential to become an even bigger ordeal than the patient. So I really don’t mess around […]
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Shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with Groupon
July 26, 2017This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Groupon Does anyone else think about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with glee every July in the Pacific Northwest? I almost missed it this year because I’ve been so busy catching up from our time in Australia that I forgot to put the early access date on […]
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On Bookmarking the Hyatt Regency Bellevue for Christmas or just a weekend staycation from Seattle
July 7, 2017My kids and I were guests of Visit Bellevue Washington during our stay at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, but the thoughts and opinions expressed below are my own. A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to spend a “mom and me”night in Bellevue Washington with my two 8-year old guys. Because of my husband’s work […]
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On Stopping by the new Angel of the Winds Arlington Supercharger
July 3, 2017The other day we were driving up to Vancouver from Seattle when a new Tesla Supercharger popped up on our navigation dashboard. Apparently a new Arlington Supercharger opened up a little while ago to add one more charging option along this drive route and we thought we would check it out. We usually stop in […]
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Do I need to book a tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills near Amsterdam with kids?
June 12, 2017Before you book a tour to see windmills in Zannse Schans near Amsterdam, you need to decide a few things. Are you a tour person? Do you like to travel in groups? And do you want to miss an opportunity to walk by a chocolate factory on the way? It is not hard to travel […]
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