Winter in New York City may not sound like the ideal time to visit, but unless you're planning on heading to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (more on that later), there is plenty to see in do in NYC in the winter. I greatly enjoyed living in New York City, even if it wasn't for incredibly long, and winter was just as much fun as the warmer seasons. Dependent upon which part of New York City you're visiting some must-do things just cannot be missed. This list breaks down the most ... Read More
Mocha Frappuccino Ornament
My girls are obsessed with Starbucks, to the point that wherever we are in the world, they will squeal with delight when they see that sign. If I need to bribe or reward them, I offer up going to Starbucks. At least one of them always orders a mocha frappuccino. I know that many of you will point out that going to a local coffee shop should take priority, but Starbucks is synonymous with comfort for us--we've moved so much and my kids have now lived in three countries. Starbucks has been ... Read More
Ten Things to Remember When Hiking with Kids
I have always loved the great outdoors. I'm more of a hiker than a camper, though. Day hikes where I can enjoy the outdoors and then return to a comfy bed that night are my favorite. We've been working on short hikes as a family and are slowly building our way to longer ones. If you are looking for a fun way to spend a little more time outside with your family, hiking can be a great activity! Before you go, here are ten things to remember when hiking with kids. Trust me--these are ... Read More
Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pie
It's a funny thing--I was never a massive fan of pumpkin pie when I was growing up. I know it's the classic American Thanksgiving dessert, but I just never cared for it. Fast forward a few decades to where I'm living in another country and am massively homesick and all I've been thinking about is pumpkin pie. It's so easy to make (especially if you cheat like I did with a pre-made crust) and is absolutely a taste of home for me. This picture perfect pumpkin pie is all you need for that taste of ... Read More
Cranberry Spritzer
Here's the thing--I am super messed up all the way around when I'm in New Zealand. Fall is spring and Halloween has pink flowers and Christmas has barbecues. I want my American comfort foods for the seasons my body thinks it should be. Not only are October and November not full of pumpkin spice and roast meals here, warm drinks just don't work as the weather is warming up. I've been working on ways to get some of the northern hemisphere fall flavors in a more palatable southern hemisphere spring ... Read More
Harry Potter Studios London Tour The Making of Harry Potter
Madeline went through a phase where everything in her life revolved around Harry Potter. There weren't any shortages of Harry Potter sites and shops to visit when we lived in Scotland and we did our best to visit as many as possible. For her last birthday in Edinburgh, we got her tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London. The two of us took the train down to London for the weekend to see the show, but what she didn't know is that I had also gotten the two of us tickets to go on ... Read More