kids' play area at the Panama Hotel in Seattle

Seattle restaurants with play areas for kids that you might want to know about if you travel here with your family

April 24, 2019

It’s been a long time since my kids have needed a play area at a restaurant but I remember the days when it was so much easier to eat with the kids or eat with friends together with ALL of our kids when we knew there was an area that the little ones could hang […]

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Why you need to see Prince from Minneapolis at MoPop if you are an Instagram Influencer

April 10, 2019

In the Instagram world there is so much talk about how to produce a “good” Instagram feed.  Do you hire photographers?  Do you choose a specific filter?  And how do you create and curate your own style?  I recently went to Alt Summit in Palm Springs where over 1500 creatives gathered to talk about trends […]

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If you have 24 hours in Nagoya you have time to visit the Toyota Kaikan Museum and Plant Tour and the Toyota Commemorative Museum with kids

If you love Toyota cars or visiting factories, you need at least a night in Nagoya Japan

April 4, 2019

A few years ago, my husband ended up in Nagoya Japan for work to see a Toyota Factory at the Toyota Kaikan Museum and Plant Tour and he wouldn’t stop talking about it-apparently it was the most amazing factory he had ever seen.  For many people this would have been a comparison of maybe one […]

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eating out with kids in Ballard Seattle at Gather Kitchen and Bar

A Ballard neighborhood restaurant with travel inspired fare that you need to know about now in Seattle

April 1, 2019

If you haven’t been to Ballard lately it might be easy to get lost. There are so many new buildings and restaurants popping up everyday! (And isn’t that like the rest of Seattle these days too?) I was invited with my family to Gather Kitchen and Bar to try out their menu and because we […]

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where to see cherry blossoms in Seattle and around the world in Spring

Cherry blossoms in Seattle and around the World in Spring

March 24, 2019

I know it’s supposed to be the groundhog that tells us that it’s spring but for me it’s totally the cherry blossoms.  When we seem the fluffy pink blooms pop up like party confetti balls in Seattle I know it’s time to celebrate that the worst of our winter weather is over and we’ll likely […]

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wander your way at the Loews Hotel 1000 Seattle in downtown Seattle near the SAM and Pioneer Square

Wander your Way and Live like a Local at Loews hotel 1000 in Seattle This Spring

March 12, 2019

As a Seattle family who lives close enough to bike to the heart of the city, we haven’t stayed at a ton of Seattle hotels and I keep getting asked by visitors who are heading here about where they should stay.  I was totally excited to be invited to the Loews hotel 1000 with my kids […]

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visiting miyajima, an island near Hiroshima Jima using our rail pass on a 10 day trip to Japan with kids

Planning for a 10 day trip to Japan with kids

March 6, 2019

Are you thinking of traveling to Japan? There are a few airlines that currently fly directly to Tokyo from Seattle like Delta and ANA and flying to Tokyo is only about an 11 hour flight from Seattle.  In the time it takes to fly there, you can watch about 4 movies, have a quick nap, […]

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Everlast Bags in Jeffrey Gibsons art at Seattle Art Museum

If you have ever sold an Everlast bag on Craigslist, you might have met Jeffrey Gibson

March 2, 2019

I was invited to see the opening of Jeffrey Gibson’s “Like A Hammer” exhibition at Seattle Art Museum the other day and it’s the type of honest, colorful, modern and inclusive art that speaks to your heart and I really want my kids to see it. We love visiting art museums together and we usually […]

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waterfront dining and a new menu from Chef Nick in Seattle at the Fisherman's Restaurant at Miners Landing

Why you want to dine at Fisherman’s Restaurant at Miners Landing if you haven’t been there in a while

February 22, 2019

Did you know your stomach is made up of two halves-the dessert side and the food side? Sometimes the food side gets full but then the dessert side might still be hungry too. This is what chef Nick Novello told us when my friend and I were hosted at Fisherman’s Restaurant in Seattle at Pier […]

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celebrating less is more in 2019 with FAGE Total Split Cups with 30% less sugar

Celebrating less is more in 2019 with FAGE yogurt

February 10, 2019

This post is sponsor by FAGE; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I feel like 2019 just started but somehow we’re already two months in and I have no idea how we got here. The days definitely fly by quickly and it’s easy to see that if I don’t live them with intention, it […]

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club lounge access at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre hotel is great for families visiting vancouver bc

The Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre hotel: another fabulous place to stay if you’re in Vancouver BC with kids

February 6, 2019

I can’t figure out if I call Vancouver my hometown or my home away from home nowadays but it’s where we spend a lot of time and it’s where the hubby and I grew up.  We usually hang out with family in Coquitlam or Richmond BC when we’re not at Granville Island, or reminiscing at […]

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Terumi learning to cook with chef Katie Chin in Seattle with Ling Ling at Blue Ribbon

Learning some quick and easy side dishes for Ling Ling potstickers and Chinese New Year with chef Katie Chin

January 31, 2019

This post was sponsored by Ling Ling, all opinions expressed in my post are my own Last week I was invited to a fun cooking event hosted by Ling Ling in Seattle to learn how to make yummy side dishes for Chinese New Year to accompany their tasty potstickers. Ling Ling makes pork and vegetable, chicken […]

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Richmond BC is a great place for families to stay near Vancouver BC

Why Richmond might be a great home base for families traveling to Vancouver BC

January 27, 2019

Is Vancouver BC on your travel bucket list?  As someone who grew up in the city I can’t believe how much it has changed and grown over the years.  We now live in Seattle, about a three hour drive away, and we head back to Vancouver often to see family and it’s still one of […]

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Testing out the Whispbar Tesla Ski Rack on a trip to Whistler with kids and stopping to charge at the New Whistler Supercharger at the Fairmont Hotel

Using a Whispbar Tesla Ski Rack and Supercharger from Seattle to Whistler

January 16, 2019

Thank goodness for Craigslist because my husband was able to purchase a barely used Whispbar Tesla ski rack for  less than the heftier price tag it usually comes with which is so nice when you’re dealing with anything Tesla and we wanted to add a ski rack so we can do some winter road trips.  We […]

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Fun at the Audain Art Museum with kids a delicious breakfast at the Wildflower Restaurant and finding the best hot chocolate in Whistler

Brunching with little kids at the Wildflower Restaurant and an adventure in art at the Audain Art museum in Whistler

January 9, 2019

What do you do with little ones who don’t yet ski when the rest of the family is out adventuring in Whistler?  My sister and I were visiting friends at their cabin in Whistler over the holidays and everyone else went out skiing and we stayed back to adventure with her three year old twins. […]

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florence with kids on a family trip to Italy

Family Travel Planning for 2019 with #emeraldcitylife

January 3, 2019

Thank you 2018, you taught us to be grateful and savor our days a little more.  Do you take a bit of time to think about the year that just passed before starting to plan the next year’s adventures?  I’m currently in the process of travel planning for 2019 and so far I’m almost certain […]

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Happy Lady Happy Card Review-trying out the Happy Lady gift card at Cheesecake Factory Seattle and other merchants

Yes you can buy happiness with Happy Cards

December 17, 2018

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Happy Cards and as always the ideas and thoughts in this post are my own. So here’s a happy way to buy a great experience gift! I recently learned about Happy Cards and not only are they gift cards but they are gift cards that pair your […]

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my 12 fans visiting Santa wearing their Seahawks jerseys

Last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers that you can still order today

December 14, 2018

This Last-minute gifts list includes some items I received as samples and also contains affiliate links where I might receive a commission.  It’s the last sprint before Christmas and if you are getting really sweaty and frazzled trying to dream up gift ideas I have a last-minute gift ideas list that might help you out […]

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learning about Anko USA an Australian store coming to Washington at Black Bottle Bellevue with Jenny Cookies

Meet Anko, your new favorite store

December 12, 2018

*Sad to hear that as of June 2020, Anko is closed but keeping this up to remember that we had this store here for a little while.* If you live in Seattle and have shopped at Bellevue Square recently you may have noticed a new store in the mall.  This pop-up called Anko is an […]

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Visiting Enchant Christmas Seattle at Tmobile Park is another choice in Holiday events in the area and Sunday might be a good day to go because of free parking. Enchant Seattle is an indoor light festival

Why going to Enchant Christmas in Seattle on a Sunday might be the best deal

December 5, 2018

*PPS Enchant Seattle is back in 2024!! *PS I originally wrote this article last year when Enchant first arrived on the Seattle scene.  Enchant Christmas is back in Seattle for the 2019 winter Season with the theme of “Enchant Mischievous” at T-mobile Park!  We were invited the other night for a media preview and I love the updates […]

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