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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!