And these are a few of my favorite things.

Gift Guides

Travel

Exploring Our Favorite Places & Moments (mostly chasing food, coffee, and sunrises)

The Guides

Travel

Madrid

Travel

We visited Madrid as part of a two-week trip to Spain with four stops (Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Barcelona) in March 2025. It rained a lot and felt moody which I really liked because it felt like an invitation to sit down, have a cup of coffee, and read. Madrid and Barcelona are very different from one another and I was glad we visited both on this trip!

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Travel

Barcelona

Travel

Our family has visited Barcelona twice together. The first time we visited (2018), our son was only 5 years old and my husband was there for work. That trip lit a spark for me—not only because of how it expanded my own understanding of the world—but because I saw travel opened up something for my son.

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Travel

Chicago

Travel

I lived in Chicago for almost twenty-five years and developed a short list of favorite coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants. These are the spots our family looks forward to going back to when we visit and the recommendations I share with friends!

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Travel

Home

Creating a Home That Feels Like You (while shopping resale and fun local spots)

The Guides

Home

Kathleen Finlay

Home

We ended up going back and the artist, Kathleen Finlay , was working at the gallery that day. She was so lovely and didn’t even tell us right away that it was her painting but we were so glad she did.

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Home

Holmes County Pottery

Home

My sister gave me a beautiful pitcher from Holmes County Pottery (OH) which we have on a side table in our kitchen so when she asked if I wanted to meet her kinda halfway between Columbus and Akron for their Fall Open House, it was an immediate YES!

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Home

Tiny Bowls

Home

I absolutely love tiny bowls and have started collecting them when we travel. Each time I use one for a snack or s part of a charcuterie spread, I think about where I got it and it brings back great memories. Tiny bowls are also very easy to carry home in a full suitcase!

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Home

Food

Celebrating Life Through Cooking & Dining (+ a lot of coffee)

The Guides

Food

Banana Blossom

Food

We recently spent a long weekend in Cleveland and our friend took us to Banana Blossom Thai Cuisine. Banana Blossom is women and Asian owned and the vibe is warm and upbeat. All of our dishes were delicious.

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Food

The Seasoned Farmhouse

Food

When we first moved to Clintonville (Columbus, OH), I was delighted to find the The Seasoned Farmhouse, a boutique cooking school, in our neighborhood. For my fiftieth birthday, my siblings bought me a generous gift card which has allowed my husband and me to attend two classes over the past year

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Food

Two Tigers Coffee

Food

Two Tigers Coffee is an amazing coffee shop located in Clintonville (Columbus, OH) and is a must-do if you’re visiting or a local! My husband, dog, and I go most mornings and love the warm vibe and conversations with the owner, Tony.

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Food

Gift

Finding Joy in Thoughtful Gifting

The Guides

Gift

For Cozy Cooks

Gift

If you are looking for a gift for a home cook or someone who loves beautiful dishes, I have ideas. These are all items I have in my home so I am speaking from experience.

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Gift

Uncommon Goods

Gift

I have been shopping at Uncommon Goods for years now. I love giving personal, unique items from independent makers and if I am not able to find those items throughout the year or I need to ship something, I find this the best path to find items I feel good about giving without having to deal with shipping them myself.

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Gift

Universal Yums

Gift

I am a big fan of Advent Calendars and … candy. Years ago, I gave my son a one-year subscription to Universal Yums and we all loved it so when I saw they offered a candy and chocolate Advent Calendar, I knew we had to have it. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting for December to arrive!

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Gift

face planter with glasses and red lipstick on a stack of cookbooks

Rachel Yantis is the voice behind rachel loves guides and lives in Columbus, OH with her husband, son, and doodle named Oz.

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