What to Wear for Memorial Day Weekend

Hey hey Friends! Summer is almost here, and it's time to get your vacations on! It's also the weekend to celebrate members of the military past and present. I always want to do my part by paying respects to men and women who have sacrificed  greatly for our freedoms. One way I love to  honor service members on Memorial day, is by wearing the colors that represent our flag. Today I'm sharing an outfit I styled for this weekend. Check out my tips on how you can put together a similar look! Stylish Off the Shoulder  Dress This dress screams summer and is so versatile for many different climates.  I love off the shoulder looks for warm weather. Here in the Northwest summer days are usually warm, but the evenings can get quite cool.  Always keep a jean jacket or short sweater around to layer with a dress of this type. I 'm in love with the unique print of this dress from FAIRWEATHER CANADA.  I found it recently in Kelowna B.C. on the way back from visiting my mu...

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Untold Italy Pocast Interview: A Solo Trip to Northern Italy

  Unotld Italy: A Solo Trip to Northern Italy Grand Canal Venice: Vaparetto ( Water Bus) in backround Last month I had the honor of being a guest on the Untold Italy Podcast.   ( don't judge me ha, I said so and ya know a lot, it was my 1st time!) I was interviewed by Katy, the host and Travel Writer of the blog Untold Italy.   I would be thrilled if you downloaded the show and listen to Episode #66.   If you are new here , WELCOME !

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56 Things I've Learned in 56 Years

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An Exciting Day at Portland Japanese Garden

This post is in collaboration with Portland Japanese Garden.  We received tickets to the garden, in exchange for a review. *Affliate links contained in this post. If you click to reserve, no additional fees are incurred .  I'm excited to share my tips for visiting the Portland Japanese Garden , in Oregon.  I usually visit the Portland area twice a year.  It is a beautiful Northwest city, and has outstanding outdoor experiences to enjoy. If you require accomodations while in Portland, check these out!

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Lake Chelan WA: 10 Amazing Tips for a Summer Getaway

Are you planning a summer trip to Lake Chelan? Well so isn't everyone else and their dog, ha!  Chelan is on of Washington State's most popular summer destinations.   It may seem impossilbe to book a trip here at peak time, but it can be done.  I'm sharing my TOP TEN TIPS for a TRIP TO LAKE CHELAN   and surviving the summer crowds.

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Gig Harbor Gondola: A Magical Experience to Add to your Bucket List

* *This post is in collaboration with Gig Harbor Gondola. We received a complimentary ride in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. As mentioned earlier, I went on a trip to Italy last fall .  Most travelers who visit the beautiful city of Venice; dream of riding a gondola.  I had a moment of insanity ha, and decided to forgo the ride . The pricetag for 20 minutes was quite spendy.

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How to do a Tropical Staycation in the Backyard

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking does not obligate you to purchase.   As we know, traveling and life are not much fun these days. With all the restrictions and closures, how is one supposed to put on a happy face?! It's tough, so we make lemons out of lemonade and make the best of it. We had plans to travel to Hawaii this summer.  If you've been around here awhile; ya know I looove warm tropical getaways! Since we can't jet off right now; I decided to bring the tropics to my backyard. It totally picked up my spirtis and inspired me to make plans for the islands later.  I hope this post will inspire you as well. Whatever you can do to make yourself and others happy, will go a long way. HOW TO DO A TROPIC STAYCATION IN THE BACKYARD Buy Decor at Dollar Tree Dollar Tree offers an amazing assortment of tropcial decor, to create your island getaway. For 20.00 or under, you 'll be in an "aloha state of mind"  before you know it!  You can enjoy a backyar...

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Tommy Hilfiger: Stylish Summer Looks to Copy Now

Summer clothes that are both stylish and comfortable, can be hard to find.  If you live in the Northwest or Canda, summer days are warm and the nights are cool.  I have you covered with stylish, sporty picks from designer Tommy Hilfiger. Costco is your casual, style headquarters for name brand fashion. A great selection of pieces are available for a fraction of the price. Brands such as Calvin Klein, Gloria Vanderbelt, Nike, Addidas, Levis are frequently found at warehouses across the U.S and Canada.  I purchased all pieces in today's post at Costco here in Wa state. Today I'm sharing 4 looks you can mix and match to dress summer chic. Tommy Hilfiger Classic Tee Dress This sleek and comfy tee A structured dress should nip in slightly at the waist , hug the hips, skim the thights and end above the knee.  Knit Body Embroidered Logo Soft Stretchy Cotton Fabric Available in navy blue and scarlett red Flat seams Logo tape along sides Tommy Hilfiger Windbreaker I changed o...

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Venice Italy: A Solo Traveler's One Day Guide

All photography: copyright @mapleleopard As a person who had never traveled abroad, it was scary to jet off to Italy alone . As mentioned in a previous post, the trip was planned with a friend who could not go at last minute. Rest assured, travel in Italy as a solo female traveler is perfectly safe.  The only worry is picpockets. If you keep eyes on your belongings at all times, you'll be fine.   As you can imagine Venice is hugely popular. If you decide to stay the night, reserve hotels and experiences several months before departure date.

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Best Things to do on a Girl Trip to Madrid

BEST THINGS TO DO ON A GIRL TRIP TO MADRID  Guest post from the team at Madrid -Discovery, in Spain.  This post has affliate links. If you purchase through my links, you can do so with no additional fees.

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