HHello again! I’m finally back from New York City and I’ve missed this little corner of the world. Time away was refreshing — a chance to step out of routines, savor moments, and return with fresh energy and new ideas to share.
Having my husband with me this time made the trip even more special — those slow cappuccino mornings and wandering through the city together were priceless.
If you like ambiance while reading, there’s a Nora Jones video embedded at the bottom you can play for a little extra soundtrack as you read.
Arriving home after a lovely vacation always comes with the small shock of reality — the overflowing inbox and the tasks that piled up while you were away. Still, the journey is worth those inconveniences. Travel fills you with fresh perspective and energy that carry through ordinary days.
Cafe Moomah, SoHo
I’ve been fortunate to see many beautiful, historic places around the world, and I never take that for granted. Those memories are gifts I return to often.
NY Public Library
Strawberry Fields, Central Park
I have countless travel memories tucked away: drifting through Venice in a gondola, riding the Orient Express across Swiss hills, sailing the San Juan Islands, and sipping tea in Victoria, B.C. I’ve slept in castles and monasteries, listened to crashing waves from creaky inns, inhaled the scent of orange blossoms and sea air, and admired the Black Forest and the art of the Musée d’Orsay.
I’ve watched dolphins near Lanai, wandered cobblestone streets in Budapest, stood inside ancient churches, and soaked up the music and cafe culture of cities like Philadelphia, San Francisco, Nashville, Santa Barbara, and Seattle. Each place left a distinct impression — colors, textures, sounds, and scents I still recall vividly.
Listing those places feels like counting blessings. That’s part of why I love blogging: it lets me relive and share the beauty of life a second time.
My umbrella and me on the rainy streets of NYC
You don’t need to travel far to experience beauty. Choosing to notice the small, lovely things around you — a light, a scent, a texture — brings richness to everyday life. Real life isn’t always picture-perfect, but savoring special moments, big or small, helps them become lasting memories.
Adventures can be grand or local; what matters is how they stay with you. I like to focus on sensory details so I can revisit those moments later and keep them alive.
A party in NYC we weren’t invited to, but couldn’t resist enjoying their striped tent and string lights as we walked by — ambience created by fabric and lights.
Stealth photo in Anthropologie, Rockefeller Plaza.
Going “out to see” the beauty around us is a gentle reward after expending energy on daily work and responsibilities. It’s a way to recharge, re-energize, and reconnect with what matters.
Going “out to see” and experiencing something beautiful can be a wonderful form of therapy.
Where do you go to recharge and renew?
As a child, I loved rowing in the canal behind my grandparents’ home on Camano Island and pretending I was out at sea on a grand adventure. That imaginative spirit never left me. Whether by boat, on foot, or in a cozy cafe, I still love to go out and see the world around me.
So take some time to notice and seek out beauty close to home or far away. Those moments will stay with you long after the trip is over.