About - Designing A Life Fantastic

Woman inside the Alhambra

Passionate traveler and lifestyle blogger

Meet Robin

Bringing more joy into my life…

Hi! I’m Robin, and like many, the pandemic upended my life. I was stuck at home, balancing kids, work and household responsibilities. I felt trapped, but it was tolerable. Then BOOM, my life was completely turned upside down when I lost my job. After 16 years at the same organization, my career ended in the blink of an eye (via a black Zoom screen, no joke).

To balance out the stress of unemployment and looking for work, I realized that I need to bring more joy into my life. Yes, big moments are fun and make you happy. But joy isn’t only found in the big, life-changing moments—it’s in the small, everyday things that make us smile. It’s the cup of coffee in the morning (iced coffee for me thank you), a laugh with a friend, the bear hugs I get at school pickup, being outside in nature, or taking a moment to appreciate a beautiful sunset. I needed to stop waiting for the “big” events and start noticing the little joys that surround me. Joy is in the details, and it’s often the simplest, most ordinary moments that bring the most happiness, if we choose to notice them.

And now it’s time to write a new story for myself. One filled with adventure, travel, laughter, community, prosperity, abundance and—most importantly—joy.

So follow along if you’ve ever felt stuck, found yourself stalled out or are wondering how to bring more joy into your life. Join me on this journey to design a life you love and (hopefully) you’ll be inspired too!

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Robin | Family Travel & Joyful Living

thejoyfulrobin

564

Burned out and bored AF mom looking to get her spark back through travel & adventure, thrifting & sustainable living💕
📍 NYC | 🌎 28+ countries

Mar 1

As a working parent, things sometimes slip during the week. And this week was CHAOS since it was winter break and the kids were home allllll week.

Todays’s agenda:
-Morning workout
-Vacuum and mop floors
-Clean the kitchen
-Put laundry away
-Tidy up play area (so many Legos)
-Go grocery shopping for the week ahead
-Drop off latest round of purging
-Take pants to be hemmed (short girl problems😕)

Do I love spending my Saturday like this? Nope. But sometimes, adulting calls. A clean home brings me joy, and my sanity depends on it.

Drop a 🤪 if you’re tackling a weekend reset too! And follow @thejoyfulrobin for more joyful (and real-life) moments of parenting, home organization, and making life slightly less chaotic.

#weekendvibes #momlife #workingmoms #cleanhomehappyhome

As a working parent, things sometimes slip during the week. And this week was CHAOS since it was winter break and the kids were home allllll week.

Todays’s agenda:
-Morning workout
-Vacuum and mop floors
-Clean the kitchen
-Put laundry away
-Tidy up play area (so many Legos)
-Go grocery shopping for the week ahead
-Drop off latest round of purging
-Take pants to be hemmed (short girl problems😕)

Do I love spending my Saturday like this? Nope. But sometimes, adulting calls. A clean home brings me joy, and my sanity depends on it.

Drop a 🤪 if you’re tackling a weekend reset too! And follow @thejoyfulrobin for more joyful (and real-life) moments of parenting, home organization, and making life slightly less chaotic.

#weekendvibes #momlife #workingmoms #cleanhomehappyhome ...

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Mar 1

I used to avoid decluttering because it felt overwhelming—where do you even start when everything feels like a mess? But then I realized that decluttering isn’t about doing it all at once. It’s about making small, intentional choices that add up over time. I recently spent 15 minutes a day decluttering for 30 days, and the difference was amazing. I even found my favorite earrings that I thought were lost forever. That little win reminded me that decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of things—it’s about finding what truly matters. Like jetting off to Paris with 24 hours notice✨

Less time spent cleaning = more time for fun
Less decision fatigue = more energy for joy
Fewer distractions = more focus and creativity

If you’ve been putting off decluttering because it feels too big to tackle, here are five simple ways to make it way more manageable:

1. Start small – Instead of trying to declutter your whole house, pick one drawer, shelf, or category (like shoes or coffee mugs). Small wins build momentum!
2. Set a timer – Give yourself 10-15 minutes to declutter and stop when the timer goes off. No pressure to finish everything—just do what you can.
3. Use the “one-year rule” – If you haven’t used it in the past year (and it’s not a seasonal item), you probably don’t need it.
4. Have a donation box ready – Keep a bin in your closet or garage for items you no longer need. When it’s full, drop it off at a donation center—easy!
5. Declutter as you go – Instead of saving decluttering for one big project, make it part of your routine. Toss expired food while cooking, donate clothes while doing laundry, or clear out your bag once a week.

Decluttering doesn’t have to be stressful—it can actually be fun and freeing when you do it in a way that works for you.

What’s one area you know needs a little decluttering? Let me know in the comments!

Follow along for more ways to add joy to your everyday.

#declutter #reellove2025 #designingalifefantastic

I used to avoid decluttering because it felt overwhelming—where do you even start when everything feels like a mess? But then I realized that decluttering isn’t about doing it all at once. It’s about making small, intentional choices that add up over time. I recently spent 15 minutes a day decluttering for 30 days, and the difference was amazing. I even found my favorite earrings that I thought were lost forever. That little win reminded me that decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of things—it’s about finding what truly matters. Like jetting off to Paris with 24 hours notice✨

Less time spent cleaning = more time for fun
Less decision fatigue = more energy for joy
Fewer distractions = more focus and creativity

If you’ve been putting off decluttering because it feels too big to tackle, here are five simple ways to make it way more manageable:

1. Start small – Instead of trying to declutter your whole house, pick one drawer, shelf, or category (like shoes or coffee mugs). Small wins build momentum!
2. Set a timer – Give yourself 10-15 minutes to declutter and stop when the timer goes off. No pressure to finish everything—just do what you can.
3. Use the “one-year rule” – If you haven’t used it in the past year (and it’s not a seasonal item), you probably don’t need it.
4. Have a donation box ready – Keep a bin in your closet or garage for items you no longer need. When it’s full, drop it off at a donation center—easy!
5. Declutter as you go – Instead of saving decluttering for one big project, make it part of your routine. Toss expired food while cooking, donate clothes while doing laundry, or clear out your bag once a week.

Decluttering doesn’t have to be stressful—it can actually be fun and freeing when you do it in a way that works for you.

What’s one area you know needs a little decluttering? Let me know in the comments!

Follow along for more ways to add joy to your everyday.

#declutter #reellove2025 #designingalifefantastic ...

4 2

Feb 27

When you sell something on FB marketplace and they show up and try to low-ball you. “I know you listed it at $40, but now that I’m here, you’ll take $20, won’t you? Won’t you?”

I once had a guy show up with HALF the right amount we had agreed on for two solid wood bookshelves and fancy Crate and Barrel baskets. HALF! 😡

Has this ever happened to you? Did you sell the item anyway?

#thrifting #sustainability #reellove2025 #adventuresinteselling

When you sell something on FB marketplace and they show up and try to low-ball you. “I know you listed it at $40, but now that I’m here, you’ll take $20, won’t you? Won’t you?”

I once had a guy show up with HALF the right amount we had agreed on for two solid wood bookshelves and fancy Crate and Barrel baskets. HALF! 😡

Has this ever happened to you? Did you sell the item anyway?

#thrifting #sustainability #reellove2025 #adventuresinteselling ...

6 11

Feb 27

Our dining room used to be a dining room…and our foyer was a chaotic playroom where we were constantly knocking over block towers and stepping over stuffed animals. I finally had enough.

One weekend during nap time, we swapped the dining table for the toy shelf—and wow, what a game changer. Independent play skyrocketed. The wood block and magnatiles structures got taller, more elaborate. Art projects more colorful and complex. Best of all, their messy creativity is now contained and out of the way. No, it’s not necessarily tidier, but I’m embracing this phase while it lasts—because pretty soon, the only games they’ll be playing are video games.

Have you ever repurposed a room for something totally different? I’d love to turn a bedroom into a walk-in closet… a girl can dream, right?

Drop your creative home hacks in the comments!

Save this post if you’re thinking about a room swap!

#homeorganization #reellove2025 #independentplay

Our dining room used to be a dining room…and our foyer was a chaotic playroom where we were constantly knocking over block towers and stepping over stuffed animals. I finally had enough.

One weekend during nap time, we swapped the dining table for the toy shelf—and wow, what a game changer. Independent play skyrocketed. The wood block and magnatiles structures got taller, more elaborate. Art projects more colorful and complex. Best of all, their messy creativity is now contained and out of the way. No, it’s not necessarily tidier, but I’m embracing this phase while it lasts—because pretty soon, the only games they’ll be playing are video games.

Have you ever repurposed a room for something totally different? I’d love to turn a bedroom into a walk-in closet… a girl can dream, right?

Drop your creative home hacks in the comments!

Save this post if you’re thinking about a room swap!

#homeorganization #reellove2025 #independentplay ...

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