Santorini is more than just the iconic blue-domed rooftops you’ve seen in photos – it’s an island shaped by one of history’s most powerful volcanic eruptions. On our visit during our Mediterranean cruise, we explored the famous village of Oia, watched the sunset over dinner in Fira, and discovered the island’s unique winemaking tradition, where vines are woven into wreath-like baskets to protect the grapes from the harsh winds. A stop at Santo Wines offered stunning views and surprisingly delicious wines, making it a highlight of our trip.
🏰 San Marino: Three Towers & Timeless Views in Europe’s Oldest Republic
We visited the charming country of San Marino, a tiny gem surrounded entirely by Italy. As the world’s 5th smallest country, it sits atop a mountain, crowned by three iconic towers. We strolled through the town, reminiscent of an Italian hilltown like Montepulciano, and hiked the Witches’ Path to the second tower. Though we didn’t have high expectations, it quickly became one of our favorite stops of the trip. Since Venice now restricts large cruise ships, our Mediterranean cruise docked in Porto Corsini (near Ravenna), offering an excursion to San Marino with a scenic 90-minute bus ride.
Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Universal Studios and Wizarding World of Harry Potter in One Day
We’ve visited Universal Studios Orlando four times and Hollywood twice, always spending most of our time immersed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We’ve also combined trips with Disney World for the ultimate theme park experience. Here, you’ll find our itineraries and tips to make your visit truly magical!
Split is the second largest city in Croatia and was the filming location for the city of Meereen in Game of Thrones . We explored two iconic filming locations – Klis Fortress, which served as Meereen during the slave rebellion, and Diocletian’s Palace, where Daenerys’ dragons were chained in the dungeon.
As Game of Thrones fans, Dubrovnik has been on our bucket list for years, and it lived up to the hype. Our tour guide was an extra in many scenes and we saw a ton of filming locations, including many from King’s Landing and a few outside the city such as Oberyn’s duel arena and the Tyrell gardens. We also explored on our own a bit, including walking the entire length of the city walls and getting phenomenal views of the city and Fort Lovrjenac. If you’re a GOT fan, we can’t recommend Game of Thrones Dubrovnik Tour highly enough! ![]()
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Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise: Puerto Rico, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, St. Kitts, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent
We embarked on our first Virgin Voyages cruise, setting sail through a stunning lineup of Caribbean islands – Puerto Rico, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, St. Kitts, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent. Before boarding, we made a quick stop in Orlando to revisit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. Our adventures were nothing short of epic: we climbed a volcano, explored a Pirates of the Caribbean filming location, and bouldered along a breathtaking beach. Between the adrenaline rushes, we soaked up plenty of sun, unwinding on pristine shores and swaying in our balcony hammock as the ship carried us from one paradise to the next.
Celebrated friendship with my gals with a fabulous Galentine’s afternoon tea where love, laughter, and sweet treats took center stage! Enjoyed an elegant spread of heart-shaped tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts, all paired with a selection of delightful teas. This cozy and festive event was the perfect way to celebrate the love of sisterhood. 💕☕✨
Valentine’s Decorations: Cricut Crafts and Valentine Trees
Take a look at my Valentine’s designs made with my Cricut Maker! I breathed new life into wine glasses, wine bottles, mason jars, whiskey bottles and pillows, turning them into festive masterpieces. I also crafted elegant wreaths and charming wall décor, and even transformed my hanging candles into Cupid’s dreamy cloud of hearts. And for the grand finale – I gave my Christmas trees a romantic makeover, turning them into whimsical Valentine’s trees!
The 97th Academy Awards are tomorrow! I managed to watch 15 of the nominees this year, including all 10 Best Picture nominees. Overall, I’d call this a down year for movies, but there were still a few bright spots. Here are my picks (not predictions, mind you) for this year’s awards:
Best Picture
Dune: Part II
Sci-fi is my favorite genre, and the well-regarded Dune book franchise is one that I’ve tried to get into but just couldn’t. But the films? Impeccably made. Director Denis Villenueve and cinematographer Greig Fraser have catapulted themselves into the conversation of best in their respective fields. And plot-wise, this was an improvement on its predecessor. Much like Oppenheimer last year, no other Best Picture nominee comes close to Dune in sheer spectacle. For that reason, it’s my top pick.










