Related Group Blog

One day in Chattanooga - making the most of the last of Spring Break

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:37:50 GMT

A perfect uplanned weekend - Chattanooga and Johnson city

Let's be honest, this was not our most glamorous spring break. The big project of the week was reorganizing the girls' bedrooms. Exciting in the long run, chaotic in the moment, and not exactly the story you lead with when everyone gets back to school and starts trading vacation highlights.

So I did what any reasonable person would do. I crammed as much as humanly possible into one Friday. Greg was out of town for a fishing tournament, so we were on our own. I loaded up the girls, swung by to pick up my mom and sister, and pointed us all north. The day didn't even come close to disappointing us.

We headed to Chattanooga first, then Johnson City the next day to watch my niece Gabrielle perform her senior concert at ETSU. Two days, two cities, and more memories than I could have planned if I'd tried.

Friday: Top of the Mountain

We started by heading straight up the mountain to Massey's Kitchen . If you haven't been, go. The ambience alone is worth the drive. Sitting on top of Lookout Mountain on a perfect spring day with no schedule breathing down your neck is its own kind of luxury.

The food matched the moment. Everything we ordered was exceptional. Audrey got a chicken salad sandwich that might be one of the best I've had outside of my own kitchen, and the pizza was cooked to absolute perfection in a beautiful oversized pizza oven you could see right from the restaurant. But the real highlight came from the most unexpected place. My mom spotted the head chef photographing a dish and did what any self-respecting Southern woman would do, she stopped him to ask what it was. He explained he was testing a few things for the upcoming seasonal menu. She told him we'd be happy to help. He laughed, said he hadn't even tried it yet himself, took it back to the kitchen, came back out, said it was good, and left it with us.

Chopped linguine (which I didn't know was even a thing) topped with the most perfectly cooked shrimp scampi I've ever had. We devoured it in minutes. It's not on the menu yet, but watch for it in late April/early May. I would make a return trip for that dish alone.

The Hang Gliders (and the Eagle)

After lunch, we drove over to watch the hang gliders and paragliders at Lookout Mountain Flight Park . We've been a handful of times over the years and always seem to arrive when conditions aren't quite right, everyone set up, waiting on the wind, nothing happening. Not this time.

We had barely parked when the first paraglider lifted off. Then another. Then another, one by one, like they'd been waiting for us. Reese was ready to sign paperwork and get harnessed up before the second one was even in the air.

Then a hang glider launched, which started a whole chain of takeoffs. I caught some incredible video, but my favorite shot is a still: a hang glider and an eagle circling each other, both rising on the same thermal, the mountain below them and the open sky above. Magical is not a strong enough word.

The Mandatory Stops

No trip through Chattanooga is complete without a few non-negotiables, and Friday afternoon delivered on all of them.

Mr. T's Pizza & Ice Cream - my mom has been coming here since she was young, and it's one of those places that earns its legacy. We each got our selections and Audrey loved hers so much she came back for a second full cone. Zero regrets.

We dropped my sister off for an airport run (her husband and son were flying in from a work trip for Gabrielle's performance) then made a beeline for Southeastern Salvage , which I genuinely cannot explain in a way that does it justice. I tell clients about it all the time because nowhere else can you walk in and find architectural doors, one-of-a-kind lighting, vintage furniture, art, rugs, vanities, tile, and completely unexpected finds all under one roof. This trip they even had clothing, which was new to me. We stayed until they closed, which is the only way to do it, and left with a few things we couldn't talk ourselves out of.

Dinner was at Rib & Loin , one of two restaurants I genuinely miss when we're not in Chattanooga. The other is Ankar's Hoagies (go for anything, stay for the onion rings!), and conveniently they're in the same parking lot, so the decision always sorts itself out once we arrive. We split two loaded baked potatoes with pulled pork between the four of us, which was exactly the right call after an afternoon of ice cream.

SeaLight Festival at the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park

We ended the night at the SeaLight Festival and it was the perfect bookend to a day that had already given us everything. It's a walk-through experience with hundreds of hand-crafted illuminated lanterns inspired by traditional Chinese lantern festivals. Each piece tells a story and the whole park just glows in a way that's hard to describe without sounding over the top, but it really is that pretty.

The girls skipped through tunnels of lights and inspected every detail of each piece. It felt completely in step with the mood of the whole day, unhurried, surprising, a little magical. The experience ends in a tent with live performances - I looked it up and the group is called the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe. We watched a juggler, a yo-yo performer, and an acrobat who balanced on a unicycle while catching stacked bowls on his head. The girls were absolutely wide-eyed through the whole thing.

We slept well that night.

Saturday: Gabrielle

We woke up early and made the drive to Johnson City to spend a little time with my niece before her big show.

Gabrielle is a music education major at ETSU, and this was her senior concert, her and one classmate taking turns showcasing everything they've built over four years. Not a choir to pick her voice out of. Just her, a stage, and a room full of people who love her.

I don't think any of us had a dry eye by the end.

She is such a remarkable talent. I had absolutely nothing to do with her getting here, but I couldn't be more proud. She has a year of student teaching ahead before she graduates and becomes some very lucky school's music teacher. Watching her stand on that stage as a fully grown woman, while all I could see was every version of her through the years, is one of those moments you just try to hold onto. I feel so old and so full at the same time.

It was such a treat to be there.

Chattanooga is one of those cities that rewards you when you let it. No rigid plan required. Just go.

Nice Day Three and Travel Home

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:02:10 GMT

Final day in nice: castle hill views, boat ride, beach magic then the longest travel day ever

france series - part 8

A Slow Morning & One Last Chance to Pretend We Live Here

We woke up a little sad knowing it was our last full day of pretending we didn’t have jobs or responsibilities. The morning light poured across the kitchen as breakfast cooked, and for a brief moment I wanted to quit everything, apply for dual citizenship, and move into that Nice Airbnb forever.

Our host had suggested we visit Colline du Château , so that became our first stop.

Colline du Château: Views Worth Every Step (or Drive)

The drive up was stunning, but the views from the top were on an entirely different level. Nice stretched out below us—the sea, the rooftops, the curve of the coastline. It was one of those views you want to bottle up and keep for later.

We noticed people attaching locks to the railings just like in Paris. In the crowded areas of Paris, vendors swarm you trying to sell locks for ridiculous prices, but earlier in the trip we’d found one for one euro and never used it.
So we left it here.
Maybe not perfectly legal… but perfectly us.

We walked along the trails exploring, and then came the BOOM. A massive, unmistakable explosion echoed across the hill at exactly noon.

We jumped. Hard.

A quick search and google informed us that Nice has fired a noon cannon for 150+ years, originally because a very punctual Scotsman wanted his wife to know exactly when to serve lunch. Now they use a large firecracker instead of a cannon, but the tradition lives on.

Only in Europe do you get history this delightfully petty.

Lunch, Yachts & Seeing Nice From the Water

From the top of the hill, we looked down at a marina full of yachts and decided a boat tour was the perfect next step.

On the way, we stumbled into one of our favorite lunches of the entire trip. The kind of meal where everyone stops talking because the food is that good.

The boat tour offered a totally different perspective of Nice—gliding along the coast, watching the cliffs and buildings shift with the light. We spent half the tour using Google image search to guess how much the yachts cost. Spoiler: too much. The tour guide on the boat told of some of the famous people that own homes and yachts in that area.

A Wandering Afternoon in Old Nice

After the boat ride, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Old Nice—tiny streets, colorful buildings, café smells drifting through every corner. We found a few final souvenirs, including my favorite: small painted tiles you drop essential oils onto. Beautiful, functional, and not clutter. Win!

A Final Beach Evening & One of My Favorite Family Memories

For our last night, we drove closer to the shoreline to spend the evening on the beach. Parking in Nice was wildly easier than Paris; we simply searched “parking” in Google Maps and options popped up everywhere.

We’d packed the girls’ swimsuits so they could finally get into the water. Watching them climb the rocks, slip, squeal, and laugh turned into one of my favorite memories of the entire trip—just two girls being kids in the Mediterranean Sea.

We wrapped up the night with one more outdoor dinner and then grabbed a bottle of wine to drink on our balcony. The perfect ending to a perfect last day.

THURSDAY: The Day I Feared — Travel Day Chaos

This was the day I had been dreading:
The end of vacation AND a messy flight plan.

Originally, we had a direct flight from Nice to Atlanta. Then the airline “adjusted” it. Then “adjusted” again. Eventually, we ended up with a layover in New York that made no sense with our internal clocks.

We left Nice at 2 p.m.
Landed in NYC at 5 p.m.
Except our bodies were convinced it was midnight.
No real food.
No real sleep.
Just confusion and airport lighting.

Our flight to Atlanta didn’t leave until 9 p.m. and we landed after 11. By then, vacation mode had evaporated. Fully gone. If adult tantrums were socially acceptable, I was close.

But we made it—and were greeted by the world’s best Uber driver who had waters, chargers, ambient lighting, great music, and exactly the right level of small talk. A tiny act of kindness that hit exactly right.

Takeaways From the Final Days in Nice (and the Journey Home)

Visit Colline du Château early. The lighting is beautiful, parking is manageable, and the views are unmatched.
If you hear an explosion at noon, don’t panic. It’s tradition. And it’s loud.
Boat tours are worth it in Nice. Gorgeous views and a relaxing pace.
Old Nice is ideal for souvenirs —especially consumable or functional ones.
Rock beaches = pack water shoes or keep sandals on. Graceful walking is impossible.
Nice parking is easy compared to Paris. Search “parking” in Google Maps.
Don’t rely on original flight plans. Airlines can and will change them.
Kind strangers (and kind Uber drivers) matter more than they realize.
Let the final day be slow and unscheduled. It helps soften the transition back to reality.

Nice day Two

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:10:25 GMT

Nice to italy & a meal in a stranger's home

france series - part 7

Why Italy?

When I started researching day trips from Nice, the options were almost overwhelming - coastal towns, hilltop villages, Monaco, Eze, Menton. But the one that kept jumping out was Italy. Specifically, how close it was. Close enough that I started doing the mental math and realized: the girls could legitimately say they visited both France and Italy on this trip. In a single day.

We were doing it.

We rented a car instead of taking the bus so we'd have the freedom to stop whenever something looked interesting, which, as it turned out, was constantly.

The Manual Transmission Surprise

At the rental counter, the woman mentioned something about a manual transmission in the same casual tone you'd use to describe the weather. I processed this information, looked at Greg, and silently transferred all driving responsibilities to him without a word. I can operate a stick shift if my life depends on it. It did not depend on it. Greg took the wheel like a champ and didn't complain once, which is either a testament to his character or proof that the views made it impossible to be annoyed about anything.

The Drive

I don't have adequate words for what this drive looked like. Mountains, cliffs, the Mediterranean glittering below, tiny towns tucked into hillsides like they'd been placed there specifically to be photographed. Every turn was a postcard. We pulled over more than once just to stand there and stare, and even the photos we took don't come close to capturing what it actually felt like to be in it.

If you ever have the chance to drive the coast between Nice and the Italian border, just do it. Trust me on this one.

Getting Wonderfully, Completely Lost

Before we left, I'd booked us a meal through Cesarine - a platform that connects travelers with home cooks across Italy for private meals in their actual homes. When our host asked about dietary restrictions, I told her we had none and to just give us the full experience. She said she would.

Then Google Maps got involved.

Instead of taking us along a normal road like a normal GPS, it routed us up a pathway so narrow and steep that at one point we hit a hairpin turn that was, genuinely, the exact width of our rental car. I stopped to take a photo. Greg did not think this was the appropriate response to the situation. Once he navigated the turn, somehow, we found ourselves on what could only be described as a footpath. For feet. And maybe, generously, a scooter.

I called our host. She asked where we were, paused, and said "Stay where you are. I'm coming to get you."

Turns out Google had sent us through her family's private access path to their shared greenhouse. Not a road. Not even close to a road. We followed her back to the actual road feeling equal parts embarrassed and delighted, and pulled up to her home where the smells coming from the kitchen immediately made every wrong turn worth it.

The Meal

I didn't take many photos out of respect for the intimacy of the whole thing, but I want to try to describe it anyway.

She told us she was serving a typical Italian Sunday meal, and she meant it - fresh focaccia, handmade pasta, roasted vegetables, and a rabbit stew that I was slightly nervous about and then immediately obsessed with. We talked about her family, her life, Italian culture, history, everything. By the end of it, sitting around her table full of food she'd made for us, she felt less like a stranger and more like someone we'd known for years.

The entire experience cost us $0 out of pocket because we'd booked it through credit card points. Which somehow made it feel even more magical - this extraordinary, generous, completely unrepeatable meal that we almost didn't let ourselves have.

Monaco, Eze, and a Very Close Call

Stuffed and happy, we drove a little more along the Italian coast before turning back toward Nice. The only time-sensitive item left on the day was the Fragonard Perfume Factory tour in Eze - you don't need a reservation, but I knew when the last tour of the day started and I did not want to miss it.

Traffic through Monaco and Monte Carlo slowed us down considerably. We didn't stop - a decision I already want to revisit on a future trip - and pulled into the Eze parking lot with minutes to spare. They let us join the final tour of the day, which was short, engaging, and left me wanting to smell everything.

The gift shop was one of the better souvenir stops of the whole trip. The small fragrance sets were beautiful and actually useful - my favorite kind of souvenir, the kind that doesn't just sit on a shelf collecting dust.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

Renting a car from Nice is absolutely worth it for a day like this. Parking was manageable, the freedom was invaluable, and the views from behind the wheel were unreal.

Request an automatic transmission unless you're confident with a stick shift. Don't assume.

If Google Maps takes you somewhere that looks too small for a car, it is too small for a car. Trust your instincts over the GPS on this one.

Cesarine is one of the best things we did on the entire trip. It's intimate and unlike anything a restaurant can offer. Book it.

Build in extra time if you're driving through Monaco. The traffic is not a rumor.

For souvenirs, the Fragonard gift shop in Eze is a great option - thoughtful, packable, and something people will actually use.

Nice Day One

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:28:33 GMT

Train to nice & our first night on the riviera

france series - part 6

Leaving Paris (Way Too Early… Again)

Audrey and I are natural early risers, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on the day. This morning it was a blessing — we had to be up, packed, and walking to the train station by 7:30 a.m., luggage in tow.

It was a haul. But it also turned into an accidental goodbye that I wouldn't trade. The streets were quiet, the bakeries were just setting out their pastries, and Paris at 7 a.m. with no agenda felt like a little bonus chapter we didn't know we'd get. A peaceful send-off from a city that had completely delivered.

The Train Ride: A Surprise Favorite

I did not expect the train ride to Nice to become one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. And yet.

The countryside rolled by like a movie — tiny towns, vineyards, open fields, all of it beautiful enough that I kept wanting to tap Greg and say "wait, can we just get off here?" We couldn't, obviously, but the temptation was real at every stop.

The kids settled in with snacks and books, and somewhere around hour three, Reese borrowed my phone and filmed a full dance routine in the aisle. Her little device was still sitting on an orange Metro seat somewhere in Paris, and the girl had content to create. We let her have the phone. Some things are worth it.

It was peaceful and beautiful and exactly the kind of forced stillness a family needs in the middle of a big trip. No agenda, nowhere to be for a few hours, just watching France go by.

Arrival in Nice

We pulled into Nice around 2 p.m. and immediately felt the shift — warmer air, coastal breeze, a completely different energy than Paris. Our Airbnb was only a few blocks from the station, which was one of the reasons we'd chosen it, and the walk over was easy.

Our host met us at the building and spoke almost no English. I met him with Google Translate held up like a microphone, and we had a surprisingly functional conversation about appliances, house rules, and where to leave the key. Technology is remarkable.

The elevator, however, was not remarkable. It was comically, aggressively tiny — the kind of small that makes you wonder if it was built as a joke. One adult, one suitcase, sharp inhale, don't move. We made many trips. We also just took the stairs sometimes. We laughed the entire way up every single time, which honestly was a perfect introduction to our new home base.

Once we made it up with all the bags and all the people, we walked straight to the balcony and just stood there. The view was everything we'd imagined when we booked it months earlier — the one I'd kept coming back to in all those late-night listing searches. It did not disappoint.

First Walk, First Dinner, First Impression

We didn't stay on that balcony long before heading out to explore. Almost immediately we found the rocky beach, which was a major win for Greg and the girls — they are rock people, through and through. Shells, driftwood, interesting stones — they will find every single one.

Walking on a rocky beach barefoot, though, is a humbling experience. It is physically impossible to look graceful. People around us were attempting it with varying levels of commitment and universal failure. We kept our shoes on and felt very wise about that decision.

We wandered until we found an outdoor restaurant for dinner — slightly more touristy than we usually go for, and there was one extremely loud American nearby making sure the entire patio knew his full life story. But the food was good, the breeze was perfect, and after a full travel day it was exactly the low-key evening we needed.

Walking home that night, we already knew: Nice was going to be a good one.

A Few Things Worth Knowing for Your Travel Day

Take the train instead of flying between cities. It's scenic, comfortable, and so much less stressful than another airport.

Download Google Translate and learn the conversation feature before you go. It made our check-in completely seamless despite a total language barrier.

If your accommodations might have a European elevator, pack accordingly. Or just be prepared to laugh.

Stay near the train station if you can. The convenience on arrival alone makes it worth it.

Wear sturdy sandals to the beach in Nice. The rocky shore is beautiful and will absolutely humble you if you try to walk it barefoot. Newborn giraffe energy, every time.

Paris Day Four

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:18:29 GMT

Montmartre magic, lost treasures, & Seine Dinner cruise

france series - post 5

Montmartre — The Artistic Heart We Missed Last Time

One part of Paris we completely missed on our first visit was Montmartre , and it kept coming up as a “must-see” for this trip. The night before, I found a walking tour with a few spots left, so we booked it and had a plan.

We took the Metro to the meeting point… and somewhere along the way, a small black bag disappeared forever. (Parenting tip: maybe don’t let your 8-year-old carry valuables unless you’re ready to track their every move!) That bag had her little phone — basically a camera and game device — plus her allowance card. As we waited for the tour to start, she realized it was gone. Checking through photos on my phone, I saw it sitting on the orange subway seat at our previous stop.

Thankfully, the Paris Metro has a lost-and-found system. We filled out a report just in case, but realistically, it was probably gone for good. We chose not to let it derail our day and moved on.

Croissants, Moulin Rouge & Stories from the Streets

Breakfast croissants in hand, we stood right in front of the iconic Moulin Rouge — such a surreal moment to see it in person! We passed the café from Amélie, refilled our water bottles at one of the cleanest fountains in the city, and wandered through streets dripping with artistic history.

Our guide shared the story of Dalida , a legendary French-Italian singer with a beautiful but tragic life. According to tradition, rubbing her bronze bust brings good luck in love. Of course, Reese jumped right in on that!

Montmartre’s charm was completely different from the rest of Paris — with its winding streets, unique architecture, and hidden corners. We stopped by a tiny vineyard where the wine is auctioned every year for a local celebration. The guide admitted the wine isn’t great, but the tradition certainly is.

Sacred Beauty: Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The tour wrapped up at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica . The line looked intimidating but moved quickly, and the inside was absolutely worth the wait. We snapped tons of photos on the steps, with Audrey literally dancing her way down to the street below.

Unplanned Adventures: Lunch & Dinner on the Seine

We grabbed lunch at a spot recommended by our guide, then wandered a bit more, soaking in Montmartre’s unique vibe. Since we had no plans for the evening, I decided to book a Seine River dinner cruise last minute through our credit card rewards — my favorite travel magic trick!

Sipping wine and strolling by the river, the girls tried crème brûlée for the first time. Audrey’s mind was blown — it’s now a staple at home, even if Costco’s version isn’t quite the same!

When we boarded the boat, we found our table beautifully set with rose petals — a romantic touch for the four of us. The girls loved the tomato appetizer, and the views of Paris at night were simply unbeatable. The food was a bit touristy, but the experience was priceless. The cherry on top? A chocolate Eiffel Tower dessert that Reese raved about for months.

The Scam Cart Ride: A Not-So-Romantic Ending

After our dreamy dinner cruise, we spotted a line of pedicab-style carts waiting by the river. Greg thought it would be a fun way to end the night; I argued the Metro was just across the bridge. But with those big, sad eyes looking at me, I caved.

The driver promised a 15€ total ride up the hill to the Metro. We squeezed into the tiny cart—clearly overloaded—and chugged along, laughing all the way. But then, surprise! We ended up at a different Metro station, and suddenly the fare was 15€ per person. What?!

We stood our ground—60€ for a one-block ride was a no-go. The driver suddenly didn’t understand English and started yelling. A nearby woman intervened, scolding him and threatening to call the cops. He snatched the 20€ we’d offered and sped off.

Just when we thought it was over, Greg spotted the scammer trying the same trick on another family. After some shouting and threats to call the police (or toss him in the Seine), the scammer finally fled.

We were done. An Uber later, we headed home, exhausted—but with one unforgettable Parisian story to tell.

Tips & Takeaways from Montmartre & the Seine Cruise

Track your valuables: Kids love carrying things, but keep an eye on important items—especially on crowded public transit.
Explore with a guide: A walking tour can bring hidden stories and traditions to life.
Don’t fear unplanned evenings: Spontaneous bookings like a dinner cruise can add magic to your trip.
Try local treats: First-time experiences like crème brûlée can become lifelong favorites.
Remember, it’s about the experience: Sometimes the setting and moments mean more than the meal itself.
Every trip has its stories: The mishaps often become your best tales later!

Paris Day Three

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:30:13 GMT

Market mornings, Behind the scenes Bakery Magic, Unexpected protests

france series - part 4

A True Parisian Market Right Outside Our Door

One thing I really wanted the girls to experience was a true Parisian market. Lucky for us, the famous Aligre Market was just steps from our apartment. We wandered through colorful stalls, sampling fresh fruits, crusty breads, and tempting treats. After picking up some goodies to take home, we dropped them off before heading to a special bakery experience I’d booked.

Behind the Scenes at Miss Manon Bakery

Originally, I booked the “Paris French Bakery Behind the Scenes Experience” through a travel site, but then realized it was available on our credit card rewards portal — score! The value was $342 when we booked it, and we got assigned to Miss Manon , a cozy bakery nearby.

Our host welcomed us warmly (and with plenty of delicious samples), then took us downstairs to watch baguettes being made. Soon, it was our turn to shape some dough — let’s just say our attempts didn’t quite match the professionals’ flawless rows! Upstairs, we learned about financier cakes, baked some from scratch, and even rolled croissants. We left with boxes full of everything we’d made — the perfect edible souvenirs.

When Protests Become Part of Your Travel Story

On our way to the bakery, we noticed armed military gathering in the streets. We asked our host if we should be worried, but she said protests are just a normal part of Parisian life. True to form, on our way home we walked right through a protest.

At first, it was calm, but as the crowd grew tighter and the chants louder, the nervous energy rose — especially since we had no idea what the protest was about. Thanks to Google Translate, we figured out it was about immigration. Once we passed through the thickest part, all was fine — but next time, we’ll definitely take a different route with kids in tow.

Exploring Without a Plan — A City Seen Differently

After dropping off our bakery treasures, we hopped on the Metro with no real plan — something wildly unlike me! We visited the iconic Louvre Pyramid and took photos, including a fun family project: spelling “Lyons” with pictures of objects shaped like letters. It gave us a fresh way to see the city and kept the girls engaged throughout the trip.

Notre Dame Rebirth & Artisan Stories

Greg and I had visited Paris last time right before the Notre Dame fire. This time, just weeks before its reopening, we arrived during an event featuring artisans who had helped with the restoration — sculptors, woodworkers, craftsmen. We got to meet them, see photos of the restoration work, and hear their stories. It was an unexpectedly moving moment.

Ending the Day on a High Note

We wrapped up the day with an incredible meal at a little restaurant we stumbled upon, practically dancing our way through every bite. A perfect Parisian evening.

Paris Day Two

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:08:40 GMT

Disneyland paris (with zero planning!)

France series - part 3

The Secret Surprise

I am genuinely terrible at keeping secrets. If I buy a gift, I've usually hinted at it within 48 hours. If I plan something fun, the anticipation of telling someone almost always wins. So the fact that we kept Disneyland Paris a complete surprise from the girls until the morning it happened felt like a personal victory on par with the trip itself.

We'd never done a Disney trip as a family. Part of that was intentional — the Florida version always felt like it required its own separate vacation just to plan the vacation. Fast passes, dining reservations booked months out, color-coded park maps, rope-drop strategies… I've watched friends do it beautifully and I have nothing but respect for them. It's just never been my thing.

But one day at Disneyland Paris, tucked inside a trip to France? That felt exactly right. Manageable, special, and completely ours to do however we wanted.

The morning of, I borrowed a shirt from my sister — a Disney fanatic who owns a shirt that says "I'm done adulting, I'm going to Disney" — and wore it down to breakfast while Greg filmed the girls waking up. Audrey stared at it for a solid few seconds, genuinely confused, before it clicked. Their faces when it did? Worth every second of keeping that secret.

First Croissants and Zero Expectations

We grabbed what would become the first of many croissants on our walk to the train station and headed to Disneyland Paris — the girls' first Disney experience ever, and the first time Greg or I had been since we were roughly their age. We went in with zero expectations, no plan, and absolutely no idea what we were doing.

We arrived just as a parade was wrapping up and jumped right in — watching characters dance and sing, wandering wherever looked interesting, saying yes to whatever came next. It was probably the most unprepared we've ever been for a full day out. It was also one of the most fun.

The Highlights (As They Actually Happened)

Our first stop was the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, which hit me somewhere deep in my childhood memories. By lunchtime I was so hungry and so overstimulated that the only photo I managed to take was of the dessert buffet. No regrets.

The Minnie ears were acquired — obviously, non-negotiable — and we kept moving. It's a Small World was exactly what you'd expect: charming, classic, and the kind of song that lives in your head for three days afterward. But the unexpected star of the day for me was the Buzz Lightyear ride, specifically because Buzz was shouting instructions at us in French and I found that genuinely delightful.

The girls drove us around in the little cars. Reese and I — the designated thrill-ride pair in this family — snuck in a roller coaster while Greg and Audrey took the pirate boat. Audrey was briefly devastated that Woody's pullstring didn't make him speak French. We caught part of the evening show, looked at the crowd already funneling toward the train station, and made the very smart decision to leave before the chaos.

On Not Having a Plan

I've spent years feeling vaguely guilty about never taking the girls to Disney. But watching them experience it for the first time — with no comparison point, no expectations, nothing to measure it against — was actually kind of perfect. Everything was new. Everything was enough.

Disneyland Paris turned out to be exactly the right place to try the no-plan approach. We didn't maximize anything. We didn't rush. We just wandered our way through the day at a pace that felt, honestly, very French. We saw what we saw and loved what we loved and left when we were ready.

No spreadsheet required.

The Best Accidental Discovery

One of the reasons we chose our Airbnb was that we could walk home from the train after a long day — and that decision paid off in a way we didn't expect. On the walk back, we stumbled onto a pedestrian street filled with painted games and activities for kids. Reese named it "activity road" on the spot, and it became one of those unplanned moments the girls talked about for the rest of the trip.

The best discoveries usually are.

A Few Tips If You're Considering Disneyland Paris

These aren't rules — just what made the day feel easy and fun for us:

Download the app. It's the only planning tool we used and it was genuinely all we needed — ride closures, wait times, done.

One day is enough. It lets you be relaxed about what you do and don't get to, which changes everything.

The train drops you at the entrance. Shockingly simple.

Leave before the final show ends. Getting on the train before the crowd rush is a gift to your future self.

Bring a small bag for the things your kids will absolutely not carry themselves — including, in our case, the drawstring backpack we bought specifically to carry the Minnie ears they also insisted on buying.

Leftovers, but better

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:29:39 GMT

Leftovers, but better

Leftovers That Didn’t Feel Like Leftovers

How Greg turned two restaurant leftovers into a family meal

We are notoriously bad at leftovers. I always joke that we’re just taking them home so we can throw them away there instead. Most of the time, it’s not enough to feed all of us again, and since we all eat at the same time, it just doesn’t make sense to save a half-portion of this or that.

But this time was different.

We’d gone out to a Mexican restaurant and ordered all different things. Mine was basically a mess of lettuce and sour cream, so that one didn’t make the trip home. What we did bring back was half a burrito and another dish with rice, veggies, and a chicken breast.

For dinner the next night, Greg took one look at it and got to work. He chopped up the chicken and mixed it with the rice and veggies, pulling everything together into one mixture. He even kept the chorizo from the burrito separate - just in case it was too spicy for the girls. Then he grabbed some leftover wonton wrappers we still had from the viral dumplings we’d tried earlier that week.

Using a mini muffin pan, he pressed the wontons into little cups, filled them with the rice, chicken, and veggie mixture, topped them with a little cheese, and baked them at 375 until the wontons were golden and crispy.

We served them with the leftover restaurant salsa and some crema we already had in the fridge.

What started as leftovers from two people turned into a brand-new meal that fed our whole family and honestly, it was so good it deserved more than just a quick post on Instagram.

Leftover Wonton Cups (The Not-a-Recipe Recipe)

Ingredients (use what you have):

Leftover cooked chicken
Leftover rice and veggies
Optional: chorizo for us was mixed and used on the adult(spicy) side of the pan
Wonton wrappers
Shredded cheese
Salsa, crema, or any sauce you love

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Chop leftover chicken and mix with rice and veggies.
Press wonton wrappers into a mini muffin pan.
Scoop filling into each wonton cup.
Top with shredded cheese.
Bake until wontons are golden and crispy (about 10–15 minutes).
Serve with salsa, crema, or whatever you have on hand.

Why This Works

This wasn’t about following a recipe - it was about looking at what we already had and letting it become something new. Mixing everything together made the portions stretch, the wonton wrappers made it feel intentional (and fun), and suddenly leftovers didn’t feel like scraps or repetitive.

It fed our whole family, kept food out of the trash, and reminded me that sometimes the simplest meals - the ones you don’t plan at all - end up being the ones you remember.

If you’re not usually a leftover family either, this might just change your mind.

Kayaks>Boats

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:11:25 GMT

Why kayaks worked better than boats for our family

Greg loves to fish, and we all love to be with Greg. That combination alone rules out a lot of “simple” solutions.

A boat, for example, sounded great in theory. In reality, it came with a long list of questions we didn’t want to answer:
Where would we store it?
Which lake would it live on?
How do we get it there and back?
What kind of vehicle would we need?
And did we really want to add another monthly payment to our lives? This one was a quick and easy - no!

What was a yes came in the form of kayaks — specifically, wider, more stable fishing kayaks that don’t feel like you’re going to tip over every time you shift your weight. Once Greg discovered that people could comfortably stand and fish from them, it was game over. And when Greg thinks about anything, it means research is coming. Hours turned into days of YouTube videos, comparisons, reviews, and deep dives until he landed on something in the NuCanoe realm. Not long after, he found Westbrook Supply - which, as it turns out, is less of a store and more of a gathering place for people who are very serious about kayaks. From there, narrowing down the final choice became part of the fun.

One of the best things about kayaks, especially fishing kayaks, is how customizable they are. Greg is constantly tweaking his setup, adjusting things to make the experience more efficient, more comfortable, or more suited to whatever he’s working on that season. It’s never really “done,” and honestly, that’s part of the appeal for him.

For our family, this setup ended up being perfect.

Greg can go kayak fishing anytime - solo, focused, fully in his element. At the same time, the rest of us can easily join in because our kayaks are just standard, lightweight ones that we can carry by hand and launch ourselves. No special equipment, no complicated logistics.

While he fishes, we explore. We paddle into smaller streams, check out islands, and follow whatever catches our attention that day. We’ve seen otters, turtles, and all kinds of birds — which is how I discovered I had officially entered a new stage of life: the day I downloaded a bird identification app. You record the sound or snap a photo, and it identifies the bird. There are certain moments when you step back and think, Wow. I’m really old now. Downloading a bird app was one of those moments.

Our trailer can back his kayak right into the water like a boat launch, while we can still pull ours off and launch on our own. Again — flexibility.

Greg loves exploring lakes. The girls and I are firmly river people. Rivers come with their own learning curve, though. Even after doing it many times, we still struggle to gauge how long a trip will actually take. Greg might want to stay in one area fishing for a while, while we stop every few minutes to explore something new. Planning becomes… optimistic. Our solution has been to find a boat ramp near where we want to get out, drive to the entry point together to unload everything, and then I take the car to the exit location and Uber back. It’s not fancy, but it works — and it lets us enjoy the day without stressing about logistics mid-float.

Another unexpected perk of our setup is the motor on Greg’s kayak. Most of the time, we don’t miss having a motor at all — we’re mainly there to explore and enjoy being on the water. But when we’ve been floating downriver for a while and everyone is tired and ready to be done, we can tie our kayaks together, hook onto his, and let him motor us back to the car. It’s the best of both worlds.

Why a Kayak Fleet Worked Better Than a Boat

Looking back, choosing kayaks over a boat gave us a lot of unexpected benefits:

No special vehicle needed to tow the small trailer
I can take the girls on my own - our kayaks are easy to carry and launch
Storage in our garage, no paid storage required
Significantly lower upfront cost than a boat
(Though, in full transparency, with all the accessories and “just one more upgrade,” I’m not entirely convinced we couldn’t have bought a small, used boat by now)
Freedom for Greg to go alone and enjoy quiet time — without a boat full of singing, dancing females accompanying him

Kayaks gave us flexibility instead of forcing us into one version of how time on the water should look. Greg gets serious fishing time. We get exploration, adventure, and togetherness. Sometimes those overlap, and sometimes they don’t - and that’s okay.

What started as a practical decision turned into something better than we expected. Not a compromise, but a setup that actually fits our family. And if you ask me, that’s worth far more than a boat.

Kayak Tournament Fishing - But from the Spouse's Perspective

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:53:29 GMT

Thoughts from the spouse

Kayak Tournament Fishing —

From the Spouse’s Perspective

Kayak tournament fishing is one of those things that sounds simple until you realize it very much is not. It has rules, systems, gear, terminology, and an endless supply of opinions about what works, what doesn’t, and why this particular lure is clearly superior to all others this week.

This post is not for the people who care about any of that.

This is for the spouses.

Greg loves fishing. He really loves fishing. And kayak tournament fishing has become one of those hobbies that lights him up — the kind that sends him down hours of research rabbit holes, YouTube deep dives, and conversations that include words I nod along to but do not retain. And that’s okay.

For a while, I thought supporting him meant I needed to care more about the details. I tried. I asked questions. I attempted to remember the difference between things that all looked identical to me. I wanted to be interested because he was interested. But the truth is: I’m just not passionate about fishing. And pretending I was didn’t actually help either of us.

At some point, I had a conversation with my ChatGPT (who I’ve named Gabby because I talk to her like a friend) about this exact thing. I was frustrated with myself for not being able to meet his level of enthusiasm.

Gabby came through by saying - You don’t have to share his passion to support it. Caring about him doesn’t require caring about tackle.

It is so obvious but freeing. That idea helped me reframe a lot. Reframing is something I’ve learned to rely on because when I can understand why something matters, it becomes easier to accept it without resentment or guilt.

Fishing, for Greg, is therapy without calling it therapy. He would never go to therapy, but fishing gives him a quiet space in our chaotic life where everything slows down and the noise fades. It’s stress relief, clarity, and grounding all rolled into one. I genuinely love that for him — even if I’m still figuring out what my own version of that might be.

It’s also the perfect outlet for his challenge-minded brain. He isn’t just throwing a line in the water and hoping for the best. There’s strategy involved - research, evaluation, patterns, weather, water conditions, gear choices - all working together toward a plan for the day. That process feeds his creative and analytical mind in a way that not everything does. And when I zoom out even further, perspective helps. He could be pouring this energy into a lot of other things - cars, golf, video games - things that could be more expensive, more dangerous, or honestly just more annoying. All of a sudden, fishing doesn’t seem so bad.

Kayak tournaments are interesting in their own right. The fish are caught, measured on a board, photographed, and released — which sounds straightforward until you’re doing it in the heat, on a hot board, with a fish that very much wants to return to the water. Early tournaments came with plenty of stories that ended in, “It was on the board and I was about to get the picture and it jumped.”

There’s a learning curve. There always is when someone commits to something like this.

What matters more than the mechanics, though, is the community. Kayak tournament fishing has given Greg people who speak his language - people who can talk endlessly about what’s working this week, what’s changed since last week, and why this small adjustment matters. Those conversations are meaningful, and they deserve space to exist without me needing to participate fully.

We went to the award ceremonies for the first few tournaments. We stood off to the side, a little family groupie section, cheering him on like it was completely normal to be that excited about fish photos. Eventually, we realized we were the only ones doing that. And that was okay too.

Not every part of someone’s passion needs an audience.

Supporting someone doesn’t always look like understanding the details. Sometimes it looks like listening without trying to absorb everything. Sometimes it looks like making room - physically, mentally, emotionally - for something that matters deeply to them, even if it doesn’t light you up in the same way. Greg gets time on the water. He gets challenge, growth, and community. I get to love him without pretending to care about which lure did what in which conditions last Tuesday. That feels like a fair trade.

If you’re the spouse of someone who has fallen hard into kayak tournament fishing (or any niche passion), let this be your reminder: you’re allowed to opt out of the details and still be fully supportive. Loving someone well doesn’t require matching their enthusiasm - it just requires respecting it.

And sometimes, it requires naming your ChatGPT, asking it for advice, and realizing you’re doing just fine.

Creamy Bratwurst Pasta

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:11:54 GMT

Recipe for creamy bratwurst pasta

Simple ingredients, big flavor - our kind of weeknight win!

Creamy Bratwurst & Spinach Pasta

A silky, cozy pasta that comes together fast — and earned the official “shoulder hit of approval.”

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Serves: 4–6
Why we love it:

Creamy without being heavy
Uses pantry staples + leftover sausage
One-pan sauce with tons of flavor from the browned bits

About This Recipe

We had homemade bratwurst in the freezer from a recent sausage-making day and wanted something different from the usual grilled or skillet-style prep. This pasta ended up being the perfect solution — taking bratwurst out of the casing and using it just like sausage adds variety without extra effort.

And if you’re wondering about the shoulder tap in the video… a few years ago, after an especially incredible first bite of something Greg cooked, my instinct was to hit his arm and blurt out how good it was. Totally accidental — but it stuck. Now, when a meal is really that good, the girls (especially Reese) give him the “shoulder hit of approval.” This dish definitely earned it.

Greg browned the meat in stainless steel (hello flavor), built a silky sauce right on top, and made a last-minute call to add sun-dried tomatoes (HIGHLY recommend).

Ingredients

Bratwurst & Aromatics

1 lb bratwurst (about 5 links), removed from casings
1 medium onion, diced
2 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, minced

Creamy Sauce

8 oz cream cheese, cubed
1¼ cups heavy cream (or milk)
1½ cups grated parmesan
Salt & pepper, to taste
Pasta water, as needed

Add-Ins

2 cups fresh spinach
Sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers (optional but encouraged!)

To Serve

Pasta of choice, cooked al dente

Instructions

Brown the bratwurst.
Heat a stainless pan over medium and cook the bratwurst until deeply browned, breaking it into pieces as it cooks. Transfer the cooked meat to a plate but leave the browned bits in the pan — that’s your flavor base.
Sauté the onions.
Add the diced onion to the same pan and cook until softened.
Add butter + garlic.
Stir in the butter and garlic. Cook just until fragrant — don’t let the garlic brown.
Build the creamy sauce.
Add the cubed cream cheese and pour in the heavy cream. Whisk until smooth and fully melted.
Add parmesan.
Sprinkle in the grated cheese and stir until the sauce is creamy. Keep the heat low so it doesn’t boil.
Use pasta water to thin as needed.
Season + add greens.
Add salt and pepper, then toss in the spinach and let it wilt.
Finish with bratwurst + extras.
Add the bratwurst back to the pan on low. Fold in roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes if using.
Serve.
Toss with cooked pasta and enjoy immediately.

Notes & Variations

Swap spinach for kale or arugula.
Use Italian sausage if you don’t have bratwurst.
Sun-dried tomatoes add a deeper, tangier flavor; roasted red peppers make it sweeter and brighter.
Add a splash of lemon at the end for freshness.

Recipe blog 1

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:07:11 GMT

Pulled ham

Details of making pulled ham

Paris Day One

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:01:27 GMT

Arriving, Settling in, and the magic of the eiffel tower

france series - part 2

Touchdown in Paris — Jet Lagged but Thrilled

We left Atlanta at 8 p.m. and landed in Paris at 10 a.m., which sounded like a perfect setup - fly overnight, sleep on the plane, arrive rested and ready. Spoiler: we did not sleep. Not even a little. We landed on pure adrenaline and the kind of delirious excitement that makes everything feel slightly surreal.

Our first milestone happened before we even left the airport: the girls got their first passport stamps. It sounds like a small thing, but watching them hold out those little blue books and see them stamped for the first time felt like the whole trip just became real.

We grabbed an Uber to our Airbnb, dropped the bags, changed clothes, and headed straight out to figure out the Metro and make our way to the main event.

A Street Artist, the Police, and Our First Parisian Adventure

We wandered down toward the Seine, still pinching ourselves a little, when a street artist approached and offered to sketch the girls. We said yes immediately - how could you not?

Halfway through the first sketch, the police showed up.

The artist didn't even flinch. He just kept drawing while we all stood there frozen, doing that thing where you look at each other silently trying to decide if you should run, stay, or pretend to be deeply interested in the river. The officer let him know he needed to wrap things up and move along. The artist nodded, completely unbothered, and kept drawing.

They came back. He was still drawing.

By the time both portraits were finished, the police had returned a second time and everyone parted ways peacefully - the artist unhurried, us slightly breathless, the girls completely delighted. We later learned that street vendors in Paris need permits to sell their work, which we did not know going in. What we did know was that we'd accidentally become part of a little underground Parisian street scene on day one, and the sketches are some of my favorite things we brought home.

Dinner Inside the Eiffel Tower

The plan for the evening was dinner at Madame Brasserie, a restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower that I'd booked entirely with credit card rewards points. It's exactly the kind of thing I would have talked myself out of paying for - $628 for dinner felt wild, but with points it felt like the most magical free meal of our lives.

We arrived to photographers snapping pictures, chatted with other families waiting in line, and then rode the elevator up to what I can only describe as genuinely surreal. Our server was wonderful, the views were unreal, and we got a photo with the Olympic rings still on display from the Games held just weeks before our trip. Sitting inside the Eiffel Tower, watching the sun set over Paris while the girls tried new dishes without a single complaint - it was one of those moments where you just think: we actually did this.

Running on Fumes

We had every intention of staying long enough to watch the Tower sparkle at night. By 8:20 p.m., all four of us hit a wall simultaneously. We'd been awake for going on 40 hours, and the choice was either leave gracefully or risk a full family meltdown in the shadow of one of the world's most romantic landmarks. We left gracefully.

No sparkle show. Zero regrets. We'd earned our sleep.

Day One Takeaway

Our first day in Paris wasn't about seeing everything. It was about arriving - really arriving - and letting the city settle in around us. A passport stamp, a sketch from an almost-arrested street artist, dinner inside the Eiffel Tower, and enough sense to go to bed before things went sideways.

Not a bad start.

Planning for France

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:49:42 GMT

How We Planned Our Family Trip to Paris & Nice (Without Losing Our Minds)

France series - Part 1

A realistic, family-friendly guide to planning Paris + the French Riviera with kids

I'll be honest: I am a recovering over-planner. The version of me from ten years ago would have had a color-coded spreadsheet, a laminated daily itinerary, and a backup plan for the backup plan. That person still lives in me, but she's been slowly outvoted by the mom who just wants her kids to have fun — the kind of fun that actually sticks.

This trip to Paris and Nice wasn't cheap, but it also wasn't reckless. It was thoughtfully planned in the places that mattered and intentionally left open everywhere else. One or two things a day, with plenty of room to just be there. To wander down a street because it looked interesting. To stumble into a protest, or a street artist, or a cannon going off at noon for reasons that are completely unhinged and also completely wonderful.

I know my kids may not remember every detail of this trip. But I hope they remember the feeling of it — all of us together, a little lost sometimes, laughing more than we expected, making memories we didn't even know we were making yet.

This first post is the un-sexy one: the planning. But stick with me, because the rest of the series is where it gets really good.

Choosing the Cities: Paris + Nice

Paris was never a question. But we also knew ourselves — if there's an opportunity to see one more place, we're taking it. France has so many regions that feel like their own separate storybooks, so I started narrowing things down by train routes. East toward Strasbourg, north toward Belgium, south toward the Riviera — every direction felt like a completely different adventure, which made choosing almost painful.

In the end, we asked ourselves one question: what part of this trip would be new for all four of us, not just the girls? That made the decision easy. We went south to Nice.

Booking Flights (and Why We Flew on a Thursday)

Once the cities were set, I went straight to flights. After searching every option I could find, I landed on a Thursday departure that saved us a meaningful chunk of money — enough that pulling the girls out of school two days early felt completely justified.

I'll also confess that I briefly — very briefly — considered booking the cheapest Delta option, which would have had the kids seated nowhere near us on an overnight international flight. Greg shut that down with a single look. Apparently "character building" has its limits, and an 8 and 10-year-old sitting next to strangers across the Atlantic is past them. Sometimes marriage is about gentle reality checks.

Choosing Where to Stay: Hotel vs. Apartment

When Greg and I visited Paris years ago, we stayed in hotels through a tour group. It was lovely, but this time I wanted something that felt less like tourism and more like actually living there, even just for a few days. So apartments it was.

My goal was simple: find something walkable to the Metro, in a neighborhood with real life happening around it, at a price that left us enough budget to actually do things once we got there. Greg and I spent weeks sending each other listings, debating locations, and second-guessing ourselves.

We finally found a Paris apartment we loved and submitted a booking request — only to get denied because of a calendar error on the host's end. Back to square one. But honestly? The place we ended up with was better. Great location, exactly the right size, and it felt like ours the moment we walked in.

For Nice, I found our apartment early and never wavered. No matter how many other options I looked at, I kept coming back to the same photos. Some decisions just make themselves.

Booking the Train

The Paris to Nice train was one of the things I was most excited about — and also the thing I almost over-thought. I tried to book it early and discovered I was too far out. So I made a note in my planning doc and came back when the window opened. Easy.

One thing worth knowing: TGV tickets typically open about three months before departure. Set a reminder, book early, and get a good seat. The views on that ride are worth it.

Planning the Itinerary (Without Planning the Fun Out of It)

Here's my honest truth: I can ruin a vacation with a spreadsheet if nobody stops me. So I gave myself one rule — no more than one or two planned activities per day. Everything else was fair game for wandering, exploring, and following whatever looked interesting around the next corner.

I started with a giant list of everything we might want to do in both cities, then grouped things by neighborhood so we weren't zigzagging across Paris like exhausted, confused tourists. Having loose daily clusters meant we could be spontaneous without feeling aimless. It also meant that when we stumbled onto something unexpected — and we did, constantly — there was room for it.

Disney tickets were cheapest on Fridays, which actually became our scheduling anchor and helped the rest of the week fall into place naturally. Sometimes the plan plans itself.

The Tool That Changed Everything: Google Maps

This is something I do for every trip now, and I can't recommend it enough. Before we left, I built a custom map in Google Maps with every single thing we might want to do — restaurants, landmarks, markets, bakeries, parks — saved as green "Want to Go" flags. Our Airbnb went in as a heart, so it stood out instantly.

What this did was make the city make sense before we ever arrived. I could see which apartments were actually close to the things we wanted to do, which neighborhoods had natural clusters of activity, and how to build days around location instead of logistics. Every morning, we'd pull up the map and see what was nearby. It kept things flexible without feeling chaotic, and it made sure we weren't spending half our trip underground on the Metro just to get somewhere.

Simple, free, and genuinely one of the best planning moves I made.

How We Used Credit Card Points to Save $1,902

This was the part of the planning process that genuinely surprised me. So many of the experiences I wanted to book were available through our credit card's rewards portal — and since we put almost everything on that card anyway, we had a solid stash of points ready to use. It turned things I would have talked myself out of into guilt-free yeses.

Here's what we redeemed and what it was worth:

Bakery experience in Paris: $342
Private dinner with a home cook in Sanremo, Italy: $405
Car rental in Nice: $72
Seine dinner cruise with champagne and window seating: $455
Dinner at Madame Brasserie inside the Eiffel Tower: $628

Total saved: $1,902

That Eiffel Tower dinner alone would have been a hard sell at full price. With points, it was one of the best meals of our lives and it didn't hurt a bit.

What's Coming Next

This trip was too big, too memorable, and honestly too full of ridiculous moments to fit into one post. Here's what's coming in the rest of the series:

Post 2: Arrival day, zero sleep, and our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower
Post 3: Disneyland Paris — and why not having a plan was the whole plan
Post 4: A bakery class, an unexpected protest, and a Seine dinner cruise
Post 5: Montmartre, a lost bag, and the most spectacular scam of our lives
Post 6: Travel day to Nice and falling in love with a new city
Post 7: Italy for the day, a private home-cooked meal, and a perfume factory
Post 8: Last day in Nice and the long way home

If you're thinking about taking this trip with your family — whether your kids are little or just starting to be old enough to really remember things — I hope this series gives you the push you need. Plan the parts that matter. Leave the rest open. And always, always budget for croissants.

Bon voyage.

Welcome to Related

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:06:13 GMT

Where Everything COnnects

In a world that moves quickly and demands convenience, inspiration, and trustworthy recommendations, Related brings it all together in one place. Designed as a dynamic lifestyle hub, the website connects the moments, spaces, and experiences that shape everyday living — from the heart of the home to the heart of your next adventure.

Who We Are

Related was created from a simple but deeply held belief:
H ow we live, work, eat, explore, and gather all relate to one another.

The choices we make about how we spend our time shape the way we live — and those choices show up most clearly in our homes.

At its core, Related is a kitchen and bath design studio. But it’s also a reflection of our life beyond the drawing board. The way we design spaces is inseparable from the way we cook, travel, explore the outdoors, and connect with the people around us.

Design doesn’t exist in a vacuum — and neither do we.

Related Kitchen and bath

Related K&B focuses primarily on kitchens and baths, but the work goes far beyond finishes and layouts.

Before we ever talk about cabinets or appliances, we want to know what makes a household tick :

How do you spend your mornings?
Do you cook for relaxation or necessity?
What hobbies spill into your home?
What specific need do you have that doesn’t show up in a standard floor plan?

A kitchen should reflect the people who use it — not a trend, not a template. Every design decision is informed by how a family lives, gathers, rests, and moves through their day. The result is a space that works because it’s personal, not despite it.

Related Eats

Related Eats celebrates food as a creative outlet and a connector.

This space is inspired by my husband, Greg, whose passion for cooking spans nearly every appliance ever created. Our meals are rarely repeated — not because of obligation, but because there’s a whole world of food waiting to be explored.

His love for food translates into thoughtful, intentional dishes that reflect curiosity, skill, and joy. Related Eats is a place to share that passion and highlight how food brings people together — around a table, in a kitchen, and within a home designed to support it.

Related Recreation

Related Recreation focuses on life outdoors — especially fishing.

Greg competes in kayak fishing tournaments, and as a family we love camping, exploring, and being outside whenever possible. This branch highlights the role recreation plays in shaping how we live and recharge.

The outdoors influence our design thinking more than you might expect — from storage needs to durability to creating spaces that support active, adventurous lives.

Related Travel

Related Travel shares the trips we take both with and without our kids.

It’s part inspiration, part planning — highlighting must-do experiences, thoughtful preparation, and the reality of traveling as a family. More than itineraries, it’s about showing the adventures that are waiting when you’re willing to explore.

Travel informs perspective, and perspective informs design.

Related Finds (Coming Soon)

Related Finds is a long-time dream coming to life.

I grew up in my parents’ bookstore — retail is in my blood. Related Finds will be a curated space, both online and in a small booth within a local collective near our home, offering thoughtfully chosen items meant to be given, kept, and appreciated.

The goal is simple: to be your go-to place when you need something special for the hard-to-buy-for person in your life.

Every item will be chosen with intention, story, and purpose — because the right gift is more than an object; it’s a connection.

Why Related

Everything we do is connected.

How we design kitchens relates to how we cook.
How we spend time outdoors relates to how our homes function.
How we travel, gather, and give all shape how we live and work with others.

Related exists to honor those connections — and to help others design lives and spaces that reflect what matters most to them.