Grace Notes
Music ♪ Travel ✈ Lifestyle ❁ Blog ✎
Music ♪ Travel ✈ Lifestyle ❁ Blog ✎
The Power of Flowers, Welcome 2023!
Throughout time flowers have been an endless source of inspiration. Flower fossils dating back millions of years suggest that flowers have been around practically since the beginning of time, yet we never tire of their beauty. Flowers cross all boundaries and cultures and even with different symbolism or customs surrounding them, their appeal is something we can all agree on…
Cheers, London 🇬🇧
As a final wrap-up of our trip to England last summer, I am sharing some of the iconic sights around London. Our trip would not have been complete without seeing Big Ben, the Tower of London, riding a double-decker bus, and all the many touristy things to do when visiting London. During a downpour, we escaped the rain and wandered through the legendary Westminster Abbey. There is so much to see, and I hope to return to…
Fanciful London 🫖
From high tea to grabbing a cup of coffee, London offers so many fanciful experiences. We visited London during the Queen’s Jubilee, so the atmosphere was particularly festive. Around every corner were elaborate window displays complete with large floral arrangements. Below are more details about my favorite four stops in London, Sketch, The Ritz, EL&N, and Mr. Fogg’s House of Botanicals…
The Chelsea Flower Show & Sweets Galore
My first impression of England consisted of elaborate floral displays, fabulous shops, and the scent of roses. This is no surprise considering the Chelsea Flower Show is renowned for its atmosphere. We set off for the show straight from the airport as the day we arrived was the last day of the show. Despite…
Touring Hampton Court Palace
Last summer I had the pleasure of visiting Hampton Court Palace, just outside of London, with my mom and sisters. This fascinating palace with its Tudor and Baroque sides are surrounded by incredible gardens. Rich with history, it's a great place to visit before seeing the musical Six at the West End which is about King Henry VIII’s six wives. He brought all of his wives to…
The Cotswolds: Stepping Into a Storybook 📖
While in England, my sisters, mom, and I had the pleasure of spending several days in the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is a region of rolling hills and meadows in central-southwest England. With so many charming towns, it was hard to choose which ones to visit. We truly felt like we stepped into a storybook! Stories are a very fitting topic since…
Visiting Sudeley Castle: The Fabled History Within Its Walls
One of my favorite outings in the Cotswolds was visiting Sudeley Castle near the town of Winchcombe. At Sudeley Castle, you can walk in the footsteps of some of history’s most notable characters in the beautiful gardens and learn about the castle’s famous inhabitants. There are ten magnificent gardens to explore, each with its own unique style and design. The castle was once the home of Queen Katherine Parr…
Happy New Year 2022 - Let's do this! ☺︎
As I scrolled through Pinterest this morning, the quote above really struck me. In 2021, I had a distinct moment of surrender where I stopped waiting. Not only did I stop waiting, but I stopped searching. It was then that I was able to experience my “year of the phoenix.” As the year 2022 approaches…
Bachelorette Weekend in Scottsdale
Scottsdale was the perfect place to celebrate my sister, Sophie’s upcoming wedding. From relaxing afternoons lounging in our heart pool floaties to trying new dishes at Sumomaya and The Canal Club, the whole trip was a blast! One of my favorite moments from the whole trip was leaping into the pool and gazing into the night sky…
The Paint Mines 🎨
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is off the beaten path, but worth the effort to find. In El Paso County, near Calhan, Colorado, the Paint Mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by the native Americans to make paint. Brightly colored bands, caused by…
Garden of the Gods ⛰
The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is a registered National Natural Landmark. We took a detour on our way back to Kansas City from Santa Fe, and I’m so glad we did! This place just blew me away with its incredible natural beauty. It was so fun to discover a trio of dinosaurs…
Meow Wolf 💥
Wow, Meow Wolf was by far my favorite place we went in Santa Fe. Some say that you shouldn’t look up pictures of the exhibit before you go so that it’s a surprise, but the even the pictures can’t capture how amazing it is! I could’ve stayed for hours just admiring each creative detail and area. From refrigerators you could walk through…
While in Santa Fe 🏜
Oh Santa Fe, it felt amazing to finally go on a trip after not traveling for over a year! The adventure began with a road trip through Hutchison, Kansas, where my grandparents grew up. When finally arriving in New Mexico, the architecture was the first thing I noticed. The terra-cotta colored, adobe buildings showed off the city’s mix of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences…
Jungle Adventures in Costa Rica 🐒
As the sun rose over the treetops, streaks of color soared across the morning sky. The macaws were awake. They stopped to snack on the tree by our deck overlooking the mountains. We hoped to see them return at nightfall. The monkeys…
When Road Trippin’ was Easy 🚙
With the declaration of the corona virus pandemic, 2020 makes us realize how many things we take for granted. Last summer, when we didn’t even question the ease of travel, I discovered how much I enjoy a classic road trip. We cruised through lush farmland, across impressive bridges…
Nashville On My Mind 💭
I have Nashville on my mind in light of the devastating tornadoes that recently swept through the city. Last spring I visited Nashville for the first time and it captured my heart. I was instantly drawn to this place whose culture revolves around music…
Sparklin' Waters 🚣🏼♀️
Dubrovnik was the final stop on our cruise, and I found it utterly enchanting. It’s quite stunning with its Baroque buildings, limestone roads, and ancient city walls overlooking the Adriatic Sea. I had no idea of what to expect of Dubrovnik, so I was surprised to discover that this would be my favorite stop on the cruise…
Charming Cobblestones
If you only have one day to explore Mykonos, Greece, make sure to stroll through the residential areas to see the island’s charm. It’s cobblestone streets and colorful accents on the white houses were lovely! There is even the occasional pelican…
Sunny Santorini
Santorini is one of the many islands in the Aegean Sea. The plethora of white-washed houses upon the magnificent cliff made a stunning first impression. Some of these houses had blue pools on the cliffside overlooking the sparkling waters of the sea…
Beachy in Corfu 🌊
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It’s known for its whitewashed houses, Byzantine churches, the remains of Venetian fortresses and Greek temples. We chose to do a beach day since…