The long weekend in Turks & Caicos 🇹🇨

My family and I just came back from the long weekend in Turks & Caicos. I thought I'd share some pictures while they're still fresh in my mind. This was our first time visiting the island. Oh my goodness! What a stunning place! One of the most beautiful destinations I've ever visited. We stayed in the heart of Grace Bay. Last year, Grace Bay was ranked as #1 beach in the Caribbean and yes, it's as gorgeous as everyone says! The water is breathtakingly beautiful - crystal clear and the most stunning shades of blue I've ever seen. We packed a lot into a few days: Spent our days soaking up the sun, jet-skiing across Long Bay Beach, snorkeling and exploring Half Moon Bay and Iguana neighboring islands. Feeling very grateful for this time together in such a beautiful place. Outfit details: Blue dress, black dress, white dress, bucket hat.

• Where to stay: Seven Stars
• Where to eat: Coco Bistro, Caicos Cafe, The Deck, Casa Nonna, Mango Reef, Bugaloos
• What to do: Book a half day (or a full day) boat ride, rent a jet ski. Reputable companies: Caicos Dream Tours, Island Vibes Tours and Caicos Island Charters.

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The long weekend in Turks & Caicos 🇹🇨

10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Turkey

Continued our journey from Greece to Turkey on our 10-day Mediterranean cruise 🇹🇷 It’s probably my least favorite country I’ve visited.

📍Kusadasi, Turkey 

📍İstanbul, Turkey 

📍Attractions: The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar.

It is very crowded, with both locals and tourists. We were constantly approached by aggressive carpet, leather, jewelry sellers. The experience was rather overwhelming. On a positive note, Turkey is a country with a rich history, beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture. If you’re going to visit just one tourist attraction in Istanbul, I’d make it the Blue Mosque. It’s truly beautiful! Glad we got to see all the main big attractions of the city but honestly, Istanbul is not a destination I’d go back. Up next, Italy!

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10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Turkey

10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Greece

My husband and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary last September. We took an incredible 10-day Mediterranean cruise sans kids and we loved it so much. I wanted to share our experiences just in case you're interested. There were 2 of us, 4 countries, 10 destinations and a lifetime of memories. I've done quite a bit of research and decided to go with Norwegian Cruise Line on the Viva. As with everything in life, cruises have their pros and cons. Depends on what you’re looking for. A cruise could be the perfect vacation. For our anniversary, I wanted to sample the Mediterranean countries but didn’t want to deal with different airports, pack/unpack multiple times and plan activities for 11 days. We booked the 10-Day Mediterranean cruise with NCL almost a year ago and couldn’t be happier. Some days we were out all day and some days we just chilled by the pool. Woke up every morning to a new beautiful destination but slept on the same bed every night. I’ve been on 6 cruises with Royal Caribbean in the past but this was our first time cruising with Norwegian. The Viva made its debut in August 2023. The ship is only a year old. Everything still looks and feels brand new. While RC cruises are loaded with family-friendly attractions, NCL cruises are a bit more adult-oriented. I only saw a few kids onboard. I got to check a few destinations off my bucket list. It was a positive experience for us and we would cruise with NCL again. 

📍Athens, Greece

📍Santorini, Greece

📍Mykonos, Greece

📍Attractions: Fira, Oia, Red Beach, Paradise Beach, Kamari Beach. Three Bells of Fira.

First up is Greece 🇬🇷 We flew into Athens a day earlier just in case there were delays but thankfully, everything went smoothly. Athens is a vibrant city that worth a visit. We stayed at Nikiou Suited and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I love to experience independent/boutique hotels while traveling. The apartment is modern, absolutely spotless and the location can’t be beat. It’s walking distance to the Acropolis and lots of great restaurants and shops. From Athens, we took off to Santorini then Mykonos. Greek islands are beautiful! I can’t get enough of whitewashed houses and blue domed churches. As someone who always book things way in advance, you don’t need to do that. Taxis are readily available as soon as you get off the ship. The driver drove us around the island for 6 hours for 100 euros. It’s the best way to explore the island. In Mykonos, we took a bus to Paradise beach for 2 euros/person. Greek islands are walkable destinations. Public transportation is also great. If I have to pick between Santorini and Mykonos, my vote goes to Santorini. If you want beach time, Mykonos is a better choice but they are pebbly/rocky beaches. Those 2 are the most popular ones but there are so many other gorgeous islands in Greece 💙 Up next, Turkey!

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10-Day Mediterranean Cruise :: Greece

Happy New Year! 🎉🥂

I hope you all had a Happy New Year and are staying warm. 2025, we are here! Where did the time go? Our 2024 certainly had its ups and downs. We lost my mother in law unexpectedly at the end of January. My husband lost his job 2 weeks later. Followed by a couple of trips to the ER due to health conditions. At one point, we couldn't seem to catch a break. Thankfully, things started to turn around the 2nd half of the year. My husband and I both landed a new role and we couldn't be happier. We also welcomed our new nephew to the world. Our AirBnb survived Helene and Milton with 0 damage. We went on an epic trip to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. The kids are doing well. Courtney is a sophomore and thriving. She is a busy kid with school, volunteering and shadowing medical professionals. Madelyn is in 7th grade. She brings light wherever she goes. As for us, we always have this deep desire to travel but 2024 was a year for the books. The year 2024 in travel:

• Jan - A ski trip in PA
• Feb - Seattle, WA
• March - Jamaica
• April - St. Pete, FL
• June - Honolulu and Maui, HI
• July - Chicago, IL
• Sept - France, Turkey, Italy, Greece
• Dec - New York

Here's to a fresh new year filled with success, happiness and more trips around the world (Vail, London and Switzerland are our destinations so far for 2025). I don't set goals but instead, I focus on daily intentions and making every day more productive. I am a list lover! I have several to-do lists on my phone. They keep me focused. Ticking off a to-do list is so satisfying. Complete a bunch of small accomplishments will make up a big achievement at the end of the year. Here's to 2025! Link to my dress here.

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Happy New Year! 🎉🥂

Hawaii Recap :: Oahu

From Maui, we took a short flight to the island of Oahu. I decided to stay in Waikiki because we didn't have a rental car. Parking can be super expensive and challenging in Waikiki. We took a doors-off helicoper ride over Oahu. A bucket list item for sure. To see the island from the air was awe inspiring. The experience was a thrill of a lifetime. That was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. We were able to squeeze some of most popular tourist attractions in 3 days. All in all, we love Hawaii. It was my 2nd time being in Hawaii. My husband and Madelyn's first time. Such a beautiful state. We'll be back for sure.

Locations/points of interest/companies we have used:

🏨 Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach

👨‍🏭 Pearl Harbor National Memorial

🚁 Magnum Helicopters

🦐 Giovanni's Shrimp Truck - OMG! Mouth watering

⛰️ Diamond Head State Monument

🐠 Shark's Cove in North Shore - Absolutely amazing!

🐠 Hanauma Bay - This is the #1 spot for snorkeling in Oahu. You need a reservation in advance. If you cannot get a reservation, try Shark's Cove. It's just as amazing.

🌺 Toa Luau - Recommend to book in advance

🛍️ Ala Moana shopping center

🚘 Used Turo for one-day car rental to visit North Shore

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Hawaii Recap :: Oahu