WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is an organization which connects volunteers with farm hosts around the world. The host typically provides food and accommodations in exchange for four to six hours of daily labor. It’s an incredible opportunity to gain an education in
It’s 7:15 a.m. on Monday morning and the fifth alarm that you’ve set on your cell phone is chirping. You’re late. After frantically throwing off the sheets and pulling on a red skirt and lime green top (never mind that they don’t match), you take
There are few things less desirable than a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie. We reach for them when we’re little and continue sneaking them in our lunches as we grow older. They’re the one treat (and perhaps I’m biased) that will never tire. With so
There are things in life that are absolute chance (like what color you’ll land on in Monopoly and how many times in a row you’ll flip a coin to heads), but there are other things you have to work for (like the type of person
The bravest thing one can do is to let go of what isn't meant for them. Physically, mentally and spiritually. This act requires bravery because we're inclined to stay safe in our comfort zones, but it is through stepping outside, into the bright and warm
Nothing invokes nostalgia like chocolate marshmallow s’mores. Who doesn’t remember sitting around the fire, roasting marshmallows and then sandwiching them between a pair of graham crackers and a Hershey’s chocolate bar? It melted on contact to form a deliciously gooey swirl of chocolatey marshmallow contained
Everyone looks forward to spring break, and rightfully so. With temperatures slowly rising, spring is the time to invite the ones you love to help welcome the lengthening of days and changing of seasons. For some, spring break might conjure memories of late nights, pool parties
For those who love exercising, almost every workout option is enjoyable -- going for a long run, lifting weights, or swimming laps. However, for those of us who find it a little more difficult to be passionate about working out we need a boost, and
Whenever it’s time to take a vacation we describe it as slowing things down, taking time off, getting some R&R and clearing our minds. Yet, in the summer we ship off to crowded beaches and during the colder part of the year, to packed ski
For those days when errands are a plenty, Taylor Nelson and One Sparrow Creative demonstrate that style doesn't have to be an item crossed off your to-do list. Kimono: Forever 21 (similar) Ruffled Tunic: Free People (similar) Hat: Free People - Dress: Vintage Belt: Francesca's Socks: Free People Sandals:
So, you're going to start a blog. You have a name, an idea, and a template in WordPress, Blogger, or Tumblr. You may even have a post or two up. Great work! But now what? Here are some basic blogging tips to start you out on the right
Sometimes you just want to submerge yourself in a story -- to stay up too late because the book is just that enveloping, or seriously reconsider breakfast if not eating means covering more pages. Each of these sagas (saga: from Proto-Germanic sago meaning long, heroic narrative)
Families come in all shapes and sizes. What intrigues us about them is that no two are alike, no two are composed of the same people, the same talent or, commonly, not even the same genetic makeup. Sometimes, families come together easily while others take
There are two types of people in the world: those who use guidebooks when they travel, and those who don’t. I’m firmly in the guidebook camp – I want to see the best, taste the best and drink in the best that a city can
I am a self-proclaimed student of the vine; the grapevine, that is. I feel fortunate to have been the recipient of very good wine guidance for much of my adult life. A love of learning is easy to acquire when the subject is so deliciously
Although Rhett Butler frankly—and famously—refused to “give a damn” about Scarlett O’Hara, why can’t we, to this day, even attempt to shelve the classic that the leading lady of Gone with the Wind has become? Perhaps the most iconic southern belle ever to grace the
Before my husband and I left on our trip for the Middle East, I had hoped that I wouldn’t come home the same. I wanted to be changed and challenged in some long-lasting way. We rode camels with the Pyramids as our backdrop, explored the ancient
One of my favorite things about summer is the access to fresh, organic fruit to make scrumptious, homemade jams. I love experimenting with different combinations by using fresh herbs and edible flowers with succulent, ripe fruits. While summer was still a long way off, I
Hand-crafted cocktails are kind of all the rage these days. I dig it. I'm all about the freshly squeezed juices, crazy unique bitters, and the extra attention to detail that come with them. Trendy or not, bring it on. One particular drink that I just
Florence has been guide-booked more times than most, yet there still seems to be an ever evolving list of medieval shops and centuries old craftsmen to see. Perhaps that’s the nature of somewhere beautiful: it continues to unveil itself as time continues to age it.
One of my favorite times of the month is when my husband and I sit down with hot tea and our bills. We lay everything out on the table, papers everywhere and Earl Grey in our nostrils, and then organize our financial structure for the
My menswear journey began in the unsuspecting Mecca for all fashion business: Las Vegas. I was 21-years-old, oblivious to the likes of Barbour, Gant Rugger, J. Lindeberg, or Carlos Campos, and I was new to Sin City. The word “tradeshow” brought to mind a stuffy
With its ability to inspire and enrich our lives, art provides an unparalleled respite from the constant distractions and troubles that we face. It allows us to reconnect with our spirits in a profound way. It’s an incredible gift to be able to create art,
“I never gave up painting, I just changed my palette. ” Ray Kaiser Eames (December 15, 1912 – August 21, 1988) made up half of the creative duo that spread modern American industrialism to the world. She and Charles Eames reconstructed the relationship between design and
1. Patiently, hopefully, work toward your dreams. As a young girl I dreamt of Ireland. My grandfather taught us traditional Irish songs, and constantly had them playing at his home. I collected shamrocks, watched Irish films, and hosted St. Patrick’s Day parties every year. I loved
Nestled along the shoreline between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, Seattle is both home and on the travel bucket list of many an individual. Fisherman, coffee fanatic, art enthusiast, rain lover, techy, outdoorsman, and the list goes on, Seattle boasts mass appeal to a smorgasbord
Louiza Babouryan is a Los Angeles based fashion designer who mixes textiles and textures rather than color and print. Made of luxurious silks, wools and linens, Louiza’s collection is minimal, yet romantic, creating a juxtaposing signature style filled with graceful details. In addition to being
Thank you. It doesn’t really matter how they’re delivered – it just matters that they are. In our rush to get to the next thing, don’t forget to express your appreciation. A barista once said he was so moved by the fact that a customer looked
Gabrianne slid into the last seat at our restaurant table. She was twenty minutes late. Rather than apologize, she pumped her fist as she sat down. “I made it!” The rest of us laughed, and once Gabe was in her seat, she proposed a toast. “To
Living abroad can be incredibly rewarding, but let’s be honest, it also comes with its sacrifices. Although we make many new friends, learn to trust strangers and speak new languages, we also find ourselves missing our own country, culture and beautiful family members. Things that