I finally did it. I bought new luggage. After years of using the same soft, spinner carry-on suitcase and personal item bag, my frugal self broke down and replaced them—both out of necessity and curiosity. First, necessity. The strap on my favorite bag to stuff under the airplane seat was starting to tear. And stuffed …
Continue reading Best Luggage and Carry-On Essentials According to a Frequent Traveler
Read this former Michigander's recommendations for top places to visit and things to do in the Lower Peninsula, along the northern part of Lake Michigan.
As a former Michigander, I visited the U.P. multiple times during my childhood and even as an adult. Yet, none of those trips took me further than Mackinac and Sault Ste Marie—the areas easiest to get to from the Lower Peninsula where I lived at the time. When I left Michigan, getting to the more …
Continue reading Our Trip Itinerary for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Don't let the number of boat tours overwhelm you. Book this one. Keep reading for photos and quick answers to common questions about the tour.
Read about my experience in Carvoeiro, Portugal and the surrounding Algarve region, including food, excursions, and top beaches.
As a regular Amazon shopper, these are the top products I purchased in 2026—the ones that truly WOWed me.
Tune in for songs of faith that hit on recovery topics and trusting God with difficult situations.
We renovated our mid century modern house TWICE in THREE YEARS. See the before and after photos—and the story behind the renovations.
My husband John and I thought we were temporarily relocating to Florida for six weeks, but we ended up staying three months. We own a short-term rental in Apollo Beach, FL, and finally took the plunge on adding a pool to the property. (No pun intended.) John wanted to oversee the pool construction project, and …
Continue reading What I Learned from Temporarily Living in Another State for 3 Months
Protein bars have been my adventure fuel of choice for yearssss. They're portable and filling, and some brands actually taste good, too! That last part is especially important. They MUST taste good. But years ago, I learned that dairy was wreaking havoc on my gut—and I was upset. How could I give up some of …
Continue reading Best Dairy-Free Protein Bars
