Designing A Life Fantastic -

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…

Woman with wallet not spending money

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

How It Started I started doing no-spend days before I had kids — mostly…

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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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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…

Plymouth Village

A Family-Friendly Weekend in Plymouth, MA: History, Museums and Harbor Walks

July 17, 2025September 22, 2025

Plymouth, Massachusetts—often called “America’s Hometown”—is a rare mix of living history and seaside charm. From walking the decks of the Mayflower II to chatting with costumed interpreters at Plimoth Patuxet,…

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thejoyfulrobin

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Burning it all down to create a life I’m obsessed with ✨
Simple swaps, mindful living, joyful adventures
No perfect vibes, just what works ⬇️

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Jul 4

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If you’re going Spain this summer, skip the sangria and order a tinto de verano. Tourists drink sangria, Spaniards drink tinto, red wine mixed with a lemon lime soda, served on ice. It’s chilled, bubbly, less sugar than sangria and my favorite drink in Spain. To me, it’s summer in a glass.

Save this for your euro summer planning 🇪🇸

what’s your fav summer drink?

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic.

If you’re going Spain this summer, skip the sangria and order a tinto de verano. Tourists drink sangria, Spaniards drink tinto, red wine mixed with a lemon lime soda, served on ice. It’s chilled, bubbly, less sugar than sangria and my favorite drink in Spain. To me, it’s summer in a glass.

Save this for your euro summer planning 🇪🇸

what’s your fav summer drink?

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic. ...

79 0

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Jul 3

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We rarely do the more touristy things in NYC, but this one has been at the top of my bucket list for years: climbing all the way to the crown of the Statue of Liberty

A few things to know before you go:

👉 The Crown Reserve tickets sell out months in advance, so book as early as you can. The crown is actually much smaller than I thought it would be.
👉 Be careful when booking your tickets. Many sites only offer grounds access. Statue of Liberty Tickets is the only authorized seller of tickets INSIDE the statue.
👉 It’s a steep climb but the views (and the experience) are absolutely worth it. There are 354 steps from the ground to the crown, including NARROW spiral staircases intertwined in a double helix.

If you’re visiting New York, this is one adventure that’s worth planning ahead for.

If you’ve been to the crown, what did you think?

Save this post for your next trip to NYC and share with your travel buddy!

What NYC attraction would you like to see next? Lmk so I can play tourist again 😁

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic.

We rarely do the more touristy things in NYC, but this one has been at the top of my bucket list for years: climbing all the way to the crown of the Statue of Liberty

A few things to know before you go:

👉 The Crown Reserve tickets sell out months in advance, so book as early as you can. The crown is actually much smaller than I thought it would be.
👉 Be careful when booking your tickets. Many sites only offer grounds access. Statue of Liberty Tickets is the only authorized seller of tickets INSIDE the statue.
👉 It’s a steep climb but the views (and the experience) are absolutely worth it. There are 354 steps from the ground to the crown, including NARROW spiral staircases intertwined in a double helix.

If you’re visiting New York, this is one adventure that’s worth planning ahead for.

If you’ve been to the crown, what did you think?

Save this post for your next trip to NYC and share with your travel buddy!

What NYC attraction would you like to see next? Lmk so I can play tourist again 😁

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic. ...

71 4

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Jul 2

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Underconsumption isn’t an abstract concept in our home. It’s a habit we’re building in front of our kids, one boring unglamorous choice at a time. Save this for the next time you wonder “do I need this?” Spoiler alert: if you have to ask yourself that question, you probably don’t 🤫

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic.

Underconsumption isn’t an abstract concept in our home. It’s a habit we’re building in front of our kids, one boring unglamorous choice at a time. Save this for the next time you wonder “do I need this?” Spoiler alert: if you have to ask yourself that question, you probably don’t 🤫

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic. ...

6 2

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Jun 30

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My kids don’t have a packed schedule. They have lots of time for play, and they also know it’s not my job to entertain them when they are bored. Sometimes they read a book or take a nap, but other times they build the most amazing creations. This soccer stadium is one of the best yet.

How do you handle it when your kids tell you they are bored? Do you give them ideas of what to do or play with them?

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic.

My kids don’t have a packed schedule. They have lots of time for play, and they also know it’s not my job to entertain them when they are bored. Sometimes they read a book or take a nap, but other times they build the most amazing creations. This soccer stadium is one of the best yet.

How do you handle it when your kids tell you they are bored? Do you give them ideas of what to do or play with them?

Hi, I’m Robin 👋 I believe in buying less, buying better, and prioritizing experiences over stuff. And probably eating out more than my bank account would like 😆 Follow along as I document the messy, imperfect journey of buying less, living more and designing a life that feels fantastic. ...

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