Designing A Life Fantastic -

Detailed view of the iconic Statue of Liberty in New York City under a clear blue sky.

Climbing to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty: What to Know Before You Go

We rarely do the touristy things here in New York. When you live in…

easter eggs

How to Build a Low-Waste Easter Basket Your Kids Will Love

Easter is one of those holidays that sneaks up on you. One minute it’s…

lots of hearts

Classroom Valentine’s Day Ideas That Are Fun, Affordable and Low-Waste

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is still very much a classroom tradition.…

Plitvice Lakes Croatia

Two Days at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Croatia had been on my travel wish list for a while, and when we…

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I'm Robin; traveler and lifestyle blogger.

I'm on a mission to bring more joy into my life. Follow along as I share travel tips, life hacks, easy sustainability swaps, design inspiration and more.

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Detailed view of the iconic Statue of Liberty in New York City under a clear blue sky.

Climbing to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty: What to Know Before You Go

July 11, 2026July 11, 2026

We rarely do the touristy things here in New York. When you live in the city, there's this unspoken rule that Times Square and the double-decker buses are for visitors,…

easter eggs

How to Build a Low-Waste Easter Basket Your Kids Will Love

March 23, 2026March 24, 2026

Easter is one of those holidays that sneaks up on you. One minute it’s February, and the next you’re throwing stuff in a basket. Here’s the thing: Easter baskets don’t…

lots of hearts

Classroom Valentine’s Day Ideas That Are Fun, Affordable and Low-Waste

February 5, 2026February 5, 2026

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is still very much a classroom tradition. We did them once, in Kindergarten, and making 50 valentines was more stress than fun, and…

Plitvice Lakes Croatia

Two Days at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Croatia had been on my travel wish list for a while, and when we finally made it happen, there was one place I knew we had to see: Plitvice Lakes…

Woman with wallet not spending money

Why You Should Try a No-Spend Day—or Month

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

How It Started I started doing no-spend days before I had kids — mostly as a fun little challenge to help me jump-start my savings. I wasn’t always consistent back…

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thejoyfulrobin

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Raising kids & trying not to burn the planet down ✨
Living proof you don’t need more stuff to have a great life
No perfect vibes, just what works ⬇️

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Aug 4

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Step into of the most relaxing experiences in NYC rn at @parkavearmory until August 9.

Clinamen, an immersive installation by French artist and composer @celesteboursiermougenot, transforms the Armory’s enormous Drill Hall into three circular pools where nearly 800 white porcelain bowls float across the water. As they gently drift and collide, they create delicate, chime-like sounds. The installation composes itself in real time, so no two visits are ever the same. Amid the constant noise of New York City, this is a rare chance to simply sit, listen, and be present.

LMK if you go! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to relax.

📍 Park Avenue Armory, NYC 🗓️ Closes August 9 — don’t miss it.

Save this post for your weekend plans and send it to someone who loves discovering unique experiences in the city.

#clinamen #nycartshow #designingalifefantastic #nyc

Step into of the most relaxing experiences in NYC rn at @parkavearmory until August 9.

Clinamen, an immersive installation by French artist and composer @celesteboursiermougenot, transforms the Armory’s enormous Drill Hall into three circular pools where nearly 800 white porcelain bowls float across the water. As they gently drift and collide, they create delicate, chime-like sounds. The installation composes itself in real time, so no two visits are ever the same. Amid the constant noise of New York City, this is a rare chance to simply sit, listen, and be present.

LMK if you go! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to relax.

📍 Park Avenue Armory, NYC 🗓️ Closes August 9 — don’t miss it.

Save this post for your weekend plans and send it to someone who loves discovering unique experiences in the city.

#clinamen #nycartshow #designingalifefantastic #nyc ...

2 0

View Instagram post by thejoyfulrobin

Aug 4

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Step into of the most peaceful experiences in NYC at the Park Avenue Armory @parkavearmory until August 9.

Clinamen, an immersive installation by French artist and composer @celesteboursiermougenot, transforms the Armory’s enormous Drill Hall into three circular pools where nearly 800 white porcelain bowls float across the water. As they gently drift and collide, they create delicate, chime-like sounds. The installation composes itself in real time, so no two visits are ever the same. Amid the constant noise of New York City, this is a rare chance to simply sit, listen, and be present.

📍 Park Avenue Armory, NYC 🗓️ Closes August 9 — don’t miss it.

LMK if you go! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to relax and listen.

Save this post for your weekend plans and send it to someone who loves discovering unique experiences in the city.

Step into of the most peaceful experiences in NYC at the Park Avenue Armory @parkavearmory until August 9.

Clinamen, an immersive installation by French artist and composer @celesteboursiermougenot, transforms the Armory’s enormous Drill Hall into three circular pools where nearly 800 white porcelain bowls float across the water. As they gently drift and collide, they create delicate, chime-like sounds. The installation composes itself in real time, so no two visits are ever the same. Amid the constant noise of New York City, this is a rare chance to simply sit, listen, and be present.

📍 Park Avenue Armory, NYC 🗓️ Closes August 9 — don’t miss it.

LMK if you go! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to relax and listen.

Save this post for your weekend plans and send it to someone who loves discovering unique experiences in the city. ...

1 0

View Instagram post by thejoyfulrobin

Aug 2

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I’m always looking for fun and interesting things for us to do on NYC, especially free, fun and interesting things to do.

(This is an updated post from last year and the voiceover disappeared 🤷‍♀️)

Today (August 1) kicks off the first of 3 Summer Streets where the roads are closed from Dyckman Street down to the Brooklyn Bridge. We hopped on our bike and headed downtown.

After our ride, we enjoyed brunch down at the South Street Seaport and then headed home.

The next summer streets are August 8 and August 15. If you’re in town, I hope you check it out.

And if you need a bike, the city has free bike rentals and a code for free @citibike. Check the website site!

Comment STREET and I’ll send you the link to the city’s map, list of activities and info on free bikes. I did the searching for you 😆

What are your favorite summer in the city activities?

#summerstreets #NYC #summerfun

I’m always looking for fun and interesting things for us to do on NYC, especially free, fun and interesting things to do.

(This is an updated post from last year and the voiceover disappeared 🤷‍♀️)

Today (August 1) kicks off the first of 3 Summer Streets where the roads are closed from Dyckman Street down to the Brooklyn Bridge. We hopped on our bike and headed downtown.

After our ride, we enjoyed brunch down at the South Street Seaport and then headed home.

The next summer streets are August 8 and August 15. If you’re in town, I hope you check it out.

And if you need a bike, the city has free bike rentals and a code for free @citibike. Check the website site!

Comment STREET and I’ll send you the link to the city’s map, list of activities and info on free bikes. I did the searching for you 😆

What are your favorite summer in the city activities?

#summerstreets #NYC #summerfun ...

4 0

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Jul 30

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There is a direct correlation between clutter and anxiety, and I’m tired of feeling overwhelmed every time I walk in my apartment. To finally get control of our stuff, I’m getting rid of 1,000 items and I gave myself a deadline of Labor Day. I was losing count so I made a tracker to keep me motivated and organized.

If you’re also in a season of decluttering, comment 1000 and I’ll send it to you.

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I’m sharing the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic.

There is a direct correlation between clutter and anxiety, and I’m tired of feeling overwhelmed every time I walk in my apartment. To finally get control of our stuff, I’m getting rid of 1,000 items and I gave myself a deadline of Labor Day. I was losing count so I made a tracker to keep me motivated and organized.

If you’re also in a season of decluttering, comment 1000 and I’ll send it to you.

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I’m sharing the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic. ...

2 0

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