I grew up in an old house, which is probably why I love historic homes so much. Whenever I travel, I like to tour manors and estates, which are often lifesize time capsules. So while Jon …
A Visit To Hildene
A Look Back At Japan
I have been so lucky to have the opportunity to travel a lot each year. From California to Colorado, France to Iceland I’ve seen some of the amazing beauty our world has to offer. And though …
The Biltmore Estate Up Close & Floral
Two weeks ago, we took an autumn drive to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I thought the trip would be pretty quiet for me. I’d write in the hotels, enjoy the food, and sleep-in while Jon …
That Time I Went to Japan And Tried on a Kimono
After a few months of thinking about it, I decided I wanted to share my experience trying on a kimono, the traditional Japanese ensemble that dates back to the 8th Century. Now, I’m not one to …
The Lost Flowers of Kyoto
I love taking pictures of flowers, so it’s no surprise that a stroll through the Kyoto Botanical Gardens was one of my favorite days touring in Japan. I spent hours wandering among the most beautiful and …
The Best Day at Kyoto’s Fox Shrine
Where do I even begin with the magical location that is Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine… It is, of course, a tourist trap – though one that despite my reservations about being neck-deep in crowds, completely merits …
The Overwhelming Task of Learning a New Language
Well, I finally did it. I signed up for French classes, and it only took me ten years! After all this time, knowing I was to become a French citizen sometime after my marriage, I put …
Scenes from a Tokyo Cat Cafe
I love cats. My little tuxedo baddie, Ernie, is enough proof of that. But when we went to Japan, I was a bit hesitant about visiting a cat cafe, mostly because I had read a few …
A Lesson in the Japanese Art of Ikebana
My trip to Japan was incredible and full of many memorable moments. Unsurprisingly, one of the things I enjoyed the most was taking a lesson in ikebana – the unique and minimalistic art of flower arranging. …
A New Year of Challenge and Adventure
I love New Years! Beginning again is such a simple idea and yet somehow always needed. Each time the ball drops it feels cathartic, like I’m shaking off all the troubles of my past and looking …