Naptime on the Road: Eating & Traveling with My Family

Two years ago my husband and I spent a fun few days in Napa Valley to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We instantly fell in love with the area, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to be invited to return this fall to attend a seminar with Panasonic. They were debuting a really cool new countertop induction at the Culinary Institute of America with Chef Gabe Kennedy and I had a blast participating in the event. Here are a few highlights from the trip:

Earlier this summer we took a lovely vacation to Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Though I went to college in Maine I never spent much time exploring the coast and I was so glad to finally have the chance. Boothbay is about one hour north of Portland and is in a world all its own. The town is quaint and laid back, and the lobster shacks are bountiful. Here are a few things we loved about our visit:

Last month we took an amazing family vacation to Costa Rica. Since it wasn’t a work trip I didn’t go crazy documenting on social media. But I took a bunch of non-family photos I’d love to share today. We had never been to Costa Rica and heard nothing but amazing things about it before we went. After a week there I can confidently say I totally understand why people love it so much. The weather is incredible, the scenery is beyond gorgeous, and it everyone we met had a fun, relaxed vibe. Here are some of the highlights from our trip:

Last week I spent an inspiring two days at the General Mills headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. I have a long history as a Cheerios eater and have bought their cereals for my children for many years. While I express concern in general about things like artificial colors and ingredients, I don’t worry about that with their line of cereals. This recent announcement put my mind at ease.

Still, I was so curious to learn more about General Mills since it a big food company which can be a bit mysterious and hard to crack. Here a few things that I learned and came to love about the company

Earlier this week I shared my favorite places to eat in Cooperstown, New York. Today I am going to share my favorite things to see while you are there (in addition to the Baseball Hall of Fame, of course). Otsego Lake: Summer on Otsego Lake is nothing short of paradise. Be sure to take a […]

It’s been a few years since I updated my Cooperstown Travel Series and this is the perfect time to do it. Every time I return there are a handful of new restaurants and places to eat, thanks in part to the emergence of the Cooperstown Beverage Trail. Some of these places I’ve loved for years, others I’ve come to know recently and have become instant favorites. There is something here for everyone to enjoy.

Every summer we visit my brother, Uncle Will of Burgers and Chorizo Wraps fame, at his home in Rochester, New York. We love catching up with him and Sancho at their home and taking in the sites of the city. I’d never visited Rochester before he moved there and we’ve come to know it as a lovely city. There are lots of fun things to do with kids and we always have a nice time when we see him. If you are planning to visit Rochester here are six things that are really fun to do while you are there

Today I am deviating a little bit from all things food and travel to give you my French pharmacy picks. For many years I’d heard that French pharmacies are the best place ever to buy beauty products. They carry entire lines of French-made skin care that can’t be found stateside. These jars of lotions and potions are touted to be as terrifically effective as Le Mer (which I’ve only sampled because I can’t afford a whole jar), but can be purchased at drugstore prices. Before we went to Paris I researched favorite products on Goop, Design Mom, and the The New York Times. so I could build a good shopping list. Then the three of us I hit Citypharma Du Four to pick up some of our own. Here are my top product picks:

If I could shop in one city for the rest of my life it would be Paris. (Sorry, New York, but it’s true!) Like many women, I’ve always loved French style and prefer French clothes for my children when I can afford them. There is something about the timeless tailored look in classic colors like navy, white, and creams that appeals to me. When I was in Paris with my mother and daughter last month here were some of our favorite spots to shop:

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Paris, France with my mother and daughter. Three generations together in Europe for a week of sightseeing and fun. We’d been planning it for almost a year and we could’ve pinched ourselves we were so excited when the trip actually came to be.

For this trip I thought I’d write a few posts about things we did and saw in specific categories like sightseeing, shopping, etc. Traveling with three generations, the youngest being 7 years old, meant strategizing on everything from meal times, to playground breaks, and museum waits. It all worked out well and we had a marvelous time. Hopefully my recaps, as well as a few tips, will help you on your future trip to Paris, as well!

The beauty of the time difference was that we were up and at ’em bright and early every morning. This made it easy to grab one more breakfast at Oxbow Market (we were hooked on the breakfast tacos) before heading to Mumm Napa to start the day with a little bubbly. It was the first sparkling wine we’d tasted in the region and were pleasantly surprised. The winemaker at the winery is trained in France and they use the same method champenoise in Napa, so the product is very close to its French counterpart. We also tried their sparkling cabernet which we found quite unique.

This spring I am making for my winter cooped up indoors with some terrific travel opportunities. I feel so lucky and grateful! Last month was Napa Valley, this month I am heading to Paris. The last time I was in Paris I was a 15 year old backpacker with a taste for pain au chocolat. […]