Travel Fantasy: Cinque Terre

With the weather being super lovely lately I've been daydreaming about sand covered feet, the smell of sunscreen, refreshing morning swims, summer freckles and long lazy days on the beach. Those photos of the ever beautiful Italian spot, Cinque Terre make me want to hop on a plane right about now. Le sigh!

My darlings, are you planning a summer vacation this year? If you could go anywhere, where would you go this summer? xo

P.S: A few more photographs of this awesome spot and this dreamy hideaway.

P.P.S: More travel fun here.

(Photos by Jeff Curto, Elia Locardi, Lomoody Mo via Italian Fix)

Vacation photos: Amsterdam

As I mentioned before, Alex and I recently took a (very) spontaneous four-day trip to Amsterdam to visit my college friend and explore the city, while Toby stayed home and guarded the fort. It was a whirlwind adventure! Thank you again for all your tips! Here are some photos, if you'd like to see....
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Vacation photos: Amsterdam

As I mentioned before, Alex and I recently took a (very) spontaneous four-day trip to Amsterdam to visit my college friend and explore the city, while Toby stayed home and guarded the fort. It was a whirlwind adventure! Thank you again for all your tips! Here are some photos, if you'd like to see....
Read more »

Modern Day Robinson Crusoe

Ever dreamed of swapping your life for something totally different? Well, in 1962 a British journalist, Brendon Grimshaw has done just that. He bought a tiny little island in the Seychelles called Moyenne, where he created a life for himself. Today, Brendon is 86 years old and still enjoying his Robinson Crusoe lifestyle of freedom and amazing views. He wakes up each morning to 109 giant tortoises, 2000 beautiful birds and 16 000 trees that he planted over the years with the help of locals. In 2009 he was approached to create a documentaryabout his life and the island that he loves so much after investors wanted to buy it for development. Here is the trailer:

I for one, can’t wait to watch it. How about you? I love that he doesn’t want to sell the land and wants to preserve the natural life on the island. Way to go, Brendon! xo

P.S: Also, this adorable twosome and this special place in Kenya.

(Photos by Mark D. and Alamy for Daily Mail via Wilder Quarterly)

Supermoon Saturday

Crikey, fancy experiencing something out of this world beautiful this weekend? Well, tomorrow on May 5^th there will be an extraordinary event of supermoon occurrence. It’s a phenomenon that doesn’t happen often and it occurs when a full moon is at its perigee - its closest point to the Earth on its elliptical patch. Tomorrow, exactly at 11:35pm ET the moon will reach that special peak point and then we can see it all big, bright and even more breathtaking!

So if you have a chance - grab a blanket, some chilled wine, your favourite cheese and enjoy the evening under the stars and the glowing moon.  I know, I will! See you there:)

Totally romantic, don't you think? xo

P.S: You can read more about it here.
P.P.S: Also, this stunning midsummer night in Poland and the magical Aurora Borealis!

(Photos of last year's supermoon via Zurmat and Flickr)

Summer Essential #3: Beach bag

BAGGU just came out with their summer tote bags--in bright neons and cute patterns. How perfect to have around for daytrips, the beach and picnics! They're made of ripstop nylon, and scrunch up into a little pouch when you're not using them. Thumbs up.

P.S. More summer essentials, and a perfect summer ponytail...

(Top photo by Frances Tulk-Hart Photography)

Summer Essential #3: Beach bag

BAGGU just came out with their summer tote bags--in bright neons and cute patterns. How perfect to have around for daytrips, the beach and picnics! They're made of ripstop nylon, and scrunch up into a little pouch when you're not using them. Thumbs up.

P.S. More summer essentials, and a perfect summer ponytail...

(Top photo by Frances Tulk-Hart Photography)

NYC Date Idea: Sailing on the Hudson River

As I mentioned, I'm currently trying out a Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone, since it's supposed to be the best phone for social media. A couple weeks ago, I shared a post about 15 meals for toddlers, and now I'd like to share our favorite New York City date: Sailing on the Hudson River. It's like a mini vacation! A couple weeks ago, we snapped some photos on a sail, if you'd like to see...
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NYC Date Idea: Sailing on the Hudson River

As I mentioned, I'm currently trying out a Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone, since it's supposed to be the best phone for social media. A couple weeks ago, I shared a post about 15 meals for toddlers, and now I'd like to share our favorite New York City date: Sailing on the Hudson River. It's like a mini vacation! A couple weeks ago, we snapped some photos on a sail, if you'd like to see...
Read more »

About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head. (Seriously.)

The funniest thing we discovered in Amsterdam was definitely this classic children's book. The title? "About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head." Look inside...Read more »

About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head. (Seriously.)

The funniest thing we discovered in Amsterdam was definitely this classic children's book. The title? "About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head." Look inside...Read more »

Motherhood Mondays: Biking in Amsterdam

I'd love to share our Amsterdam photos later this week, but in the meantime, want to see some crazy photos of bikes in Amsterdam? Here goes...
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Motherhood Mondays: Biking in Amsterdam

I'd love to share our Amsterdam photos later this week, but in the meantime, want to see some crazy photos of bikes in Amsterdam? Here goes...
Read more »

Crazy news: We're going to Amsterdam!

So, I have some crazy news: We're taking a (very) spontaneous quick trip to Amsterdam! Leaving tomorrow!! Here's the story: We were planning to take Toby to Europe this summer, but we priced out the flights, and it was prohibitively expensive. (Summer flights to most major European cities started at $1400; and we'd need to buy three.) We figured our Europe dreams were dashed, until we realized that if we squeezed a trip in April, the flights were much less expensive—and the overall trip would be doable if we stayed for just a handful of days.

So! We decided to plan a less expensive family vacation this summer in the midwest, but to scratch our Europe itch, Alex and I are taking a quick trip to Amsterdam this weekend! We're going for just four days, while Toby stays home with his beloved babysitters (since a weekend trip to Europe—with long flights + jetlag—would be no fun for a two-year-old). I'm so excited to visit Amsterdam: I've always wanted to see the cool houseboats and even cooler bikers. Also, one of my best friends from college—Penny—is living there right now, and we can't wait to see her.

This is all so exciting and heady—I'm the least spontaneous person ever, so it's funny/thrilling to be heading to a big city without any planning. If you have any Amsterdam tips, we'd LOVE to hear them! Have you ever been?

Weekend round-up coming up, and sending you a big kiss! Eeks!
P.S. I've written a bunch of posts for next week that I hope you enjoy.
(We'll miss this little dude)

Crazy news: We're going to Amsterdam!

So, I have some crazy news: We're taking a (very) spontaneous quick trip to Amsterdam! Leaving tomorrow!! Here's the story: We were planning to take Toby to Europe this summer, but we priced out the flights, and it was prohibitively expensive. (Summer flights to most major European cities started at $1400; and we'd need to buy three.) We figured our Europe dreams were dashed, until we realized that if we squeezed a trip in April, the flights were much less expensive—and the overall trip would be doable if we stayed for just a handful of days.

So! We decided to plan a less expensive family vacation this summer in the midwest, but to scratch our Europe itch, Alex and I are taking a quick trip to Amsterdam this weekend! We're going for just four days, while Toby stays home with his beloved babysitters (since a weekend trip to Europe—with long flights + jetlag—would be no fun for a two-year-old). I'm so excited to visit Amsterdam: I've always wanted to see the cool houseboats and even cooler bikers. Also, one of my best friends from college—Penny—is living there right now, and we can't wait to see her.

This is all so exciting and heady—I'm the least spontaneous person ever, so it's funny/thrilling to be heading to a big city without any planning. If you have any Amsterdam tips, we'd LOVE to hear them! Have you ever been?

Weekend round-up coming up, and sending you a big kiss! Eeks!
P.S. I've written a bunch of posts for next week that I hope you enjoy.
(We'll miss this little dude)

The Phenomenon of Monarch Butterflies

Crikey, have you seen anything as surreal as this? Each year during wintertime millions of Monarch butterflies migrate from the Rocky Mountains in Canada to the warmer weather in Michoacán, Mexico. Denni, who took those photographs in the Chincua Mountain Sanctuary, said that she couldn't believe her eyes as the whole place was filled with colourful butterflies and the only sound she could hear was the beating of their wings. What a treat, isn't it? xo

P.S: Also, this butterfly tree and the breathtaking gardens of Marqueyssac in France.

(Three top photos by Denni - Chic Muse via Honestly...wtf, last two photos: via Eleanor Hall and by Mario Vazquez)

A Firefly Squid Sea in Japan

Crikey, remember the glowing lake in Australia? Well, here is another jaw dropping gem - firefly squids in Toyama Bay. If you fancy experiencing something out of this world, you should totally visit Japan between now and the end of July. During this time those glowing tiny creatures surface to the top of the sea in massive numbers and put on an incredible lights show. I read that this particular spot in central Japan became a total magnet for tourists in recent years, and just looking at those photos, I'm not surprised. Wouldn't it be cool to camp out on the beach, watch stars, chat and wait for them to pop out of the water? Smitten! You? xo

P.S: How about this enchanting forest also in Japan?
P.P.S: Or this charming spot in Germany.

(via Amusing Planet)

Hidden Cave Pool in Mexico

How would you fancy a dip in the secret blue cenote as the locals call it? This little slice of heaven is hidden in the Ik-Kil park on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It's open daily to swim, dive, snorkel and have plenty of fun in the crystal blue water. (And the entry is only $3). Just imagine spending hours floating about, catching the sun and listening to the sounds of the water. Bliss! Have you been there before? Would you go? xo

P.S: Also, swimming over Manhattan or with Manatee.
P.P.S: Remember the serene jellyfish or the breathtaking ocean pool in Sydney?

(Photos via /by Elizabeth, Miguel Angel Sanchez, Victor Diaz & Pablo Damonte)

British Lavender Fields

Let's end this rainy Thursday on a dreamy note with blooming lavender fields in Sussex, Great Britain. Looking at those photographs, I can almost smell the calming scent of the lavender mixed with fresh spring air, can't you? Just imagine taking an afternoon stroll across the never-ending fields of goodness - totally relaxing! Are you in? xo

P.S: Also, cherry blossom avenue in Germany and yellow fields in Bulgaria.

(Photos by Amber)

Travel Fantasy: The Beetlebung Farm

How fun would it be to enjoy a spring or summer weekend at the Beetlebung Farm on Martha's Vineyard? Gabriela did just that last summer. She spent her days harvesting fresh products in the morning sun, weeding, mingling with the locals and at night dining in the most magical greenhouse there is. Her photographs give such a cool vibe of the modern day farming life and a proper tickle to try it yourself. I’m sold and totally craving a slice of the nature:) How about you, loves? xo

P.S: Remember this cool NYC rooftop farm?
P.P.S: And this charming backyard glasshouse in New Zealand.

(Photos by Gabriela Herman)