Goodwill purchases help support a culinary training program

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, 2018

This 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 […]

Read More
Hanging out in the rain at the Crocheted Net Playground at Whoa Studios in New Zealand with kids

How far would you travel for the most perfect playground and a family-friendly meal?

January 25, 2018

There are many reasons to travel to New Zealand’s North Island.  The scenery shouts “take photos of me” every where you turn, the food is delightful and the people are absolutely charming and friendly.  There are bubbling geysers, mountain adventures and sheep dotting the lush green hills.  And there is Hobbiton.  (I’m sorry we didn’t […]

Read More
Old Gundam Robot statue in Odaiba

Low tech and high tech toys that are faves in my house right now

January 22, 2018

  The 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 […]

Read More
Where to eat in Seattle with kids, the

A restaurant that’s been cooking here a little longer than all the poke, and it’s not just for tourists in Seattle

January 13, 2018

Do you know which Seattle restaurant I might be talking about?  Although Seattle seems smitten with poke these days and new trendy restaurants are popping up daily, I love a Seattle restaurant that’s been cooking awhile.  And we’ve eaten so many great meals at Ivar’s Salmon House in South Lake Union that I thought this […]

Read More
Visit Tanaka Farms in Irvine California with your family to find out more about where your food comes from

Tanaka Farms in Irvine California is a great place to take kids to learn where food comes from

January 8, 2018

Do 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 […]

Read More
Stop in Squamish for Family Friendly activities and restaurants

Whistler Canada with kids and a fun place to see bald eagles and eat along the way

January 4, 2018

When 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 […]

Read More
Hello 2018 photo of Ularu Australia taken by Terumi

New Year Goals (Hello 2018!)

January 2, 2018

So here we are on the first day of 2018 and I love how shiny new a new year feels.  There is sun and sparkly light in Seattle today and already that is something to be thankful for.  And how many of us are still trying to savor the blur that was 2017?  (Both my […]

Read More
Looking for last minute gifts in Seattle and beyond

Are you a last minute shopper who still needs gift ideas?

December 21, 2017

I totally get you!  I’m a last minute shopper too and there are still a few places you can shop and get what you need in time for the big day. Now is the time I start shopping at places that use shoprunner two-day shippingor who have the ability to order online with in store […]

Read More
Where to eat at Seatac Airport-this is Lady Yum

Five delicious places to eat at Seatac Airport

December 15, 2017

Are you headed through SeaTac airport any time soon? I totally wish I was! We are finally getting our air travel plans for the new year together but until then I need to travel vicariously through anyone who gets to go on a trip in the next little while.  I recently visited the airport not […]

Read More
A place to play with STEM building toys in Seattle with kids

A place to see all the computers in Seattle (The Living Computers Museum and Labs)

December 8, 2017

I had a year’s membership to the Living Computer museum and I didn’t even know this museum existed. Because we had a MoPop membership we kept seeing information that it included a year to the Living Computers Museum and Labs. For some reason I thought it would be just a place that grownups could go […]

Read More
Holiday decor at the lobby of the Pan Pacific for the Whistler Day Spa

A solo mom afternoon on a family trip to Whistler

December 4, 2017

I have created this post in partnership with PrAna and the ideas and opinions are my own. Sometimes you find a brand that just clicks right with your soul.  PrAna’s mantra of being ‘clothing for people who live fully, play long, and travel well’ speaks to me and I love that the clothing I’ve tried […]

Read More
Napkins from Minted make great gifts

More than cards at Minted for your holiday shopping

November 28, 2017

I’ve partnered with Minted to check out their holiday shopping ideas in exchange for credit on their site and as always the ideas and thoughts in this post are my own. Have you checked out Minted lately?  I was in Target recently and noticed a new wall display with gorgeous cards by Minted artists.  I’ve […]

Read More
Walkway to hidden Noguchi Garden from South Coast Plaza

Shopping Outside at Noguchi Garden and South Coast Plaza (Orange County, California)

As 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 […]

Read More
Tacoma Museum Pass for families in Tacoma to see museums

An experience gift idea for families in Tacoma with the Tacoma Museum Pass

November 18, 2017

Who else is trying to find more ways to give the gift of an experience rather than something tangible this year?  As someone who gets a lot of joy from adventuring, I’m always on a quest for a way to share this with the people I love too.  I was really excited when I heard […]

Read More
Hotel Andra Lobby in Seattle

A tech filled lunch that helped me with my holiday shopping and might help you too!

November 14, 2017

I was a guest at a Techlicious and Consumer Technology Association event In Seattle to lunch and learn about tech gift ideas for the holidays and as always the ideas and opinions in this blog are my own. I’m not always the earliest adopter of tech.  Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed and feel like […]

Read More
Fancy Cars at Seattle Auto Show

Checking out Electric and Hybrid Cars at the Seattle Auto Show 2017

November 10, 2017

I attended a media event to preview the Seattle Auto Show so I could check out the electric and hybrid cars and as always the opinions and views on this blog are my own. The 2017 Auto Show is in Seattle this weekend and I was so excited to check out the new electric and […]

Read More
Instagram Stories help make decisions

A few things I’ve got my eye on in Seattle and beyond thanks to Instagram Stories

November 8, 2017

Doesn’t it feel like we have the whole world at our fingertips lately?  I so love Instagram and the community it creates.  Last week I was at Costco and I saw an awesome-looking snack from Nature Valley and I wasn’t sure if I should buy it.  I asked about it in my Instagram Stories and […]

Read More
Cabin life in the mountain with kids

Heading to the mountains with our new portable speaker

November 3, 2017

This post is sponsored by Verizon however the thoughts and opinions in this post are mine.  I’m watching snow flakes float out my window on the EARLIEST snowfall I’ve ever seen in Seattle in years-are you as excited as I am to start the weekend already?  And even though we’re only getting a dusting here, […]

Read More
Tuft and Needle mattress showroom in Seattle

Why I need a whole new bedroom now thanks to my mattress

November 1, 2017

I am going to have to overhaul my bedroom.  This all started with an invite I received in my email from Tuft and Needle for the opening of its brand new Seattle store.  This online mattress company from Phoenix was coming to Seattle and wanted influencers to check out their new brick and mortar store in […]

Read More
Make way for duckling in Boston with kids

How many nights do we need in Boston with kids in tow?

October 25, 2017

Forgive me if I never realized that Boston Massachusetts was a family travel destination. On a flight in August this summer I almost thought we had mistakenly boarded a flight to Disneyland instead of Logan international as the flight was packed with families headed to the East Coast.  Why were so many people traveling to […]

Read More