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Well Hello
I’m Kate
For more than a decade and a half, I’ve helped people create a life by design through my lifestyle and travel blog.
I’m a mom of 3, a full-time romance author, and I’ve been to more than 40 countries and nearly all the states.
I’m happy you’re here.
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Latest Blog Posts
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The Hotel Minibar Is a $22 Pringles Scam — Here’s the Exact Psychology Trick That Gets You Every Time (And How to Beat It)
A $7 bottle of water. A $22 tube of Pringles. A $14 Kit Kat. Hotel minibars are objectively absurd — and yet millions of travelers crack them open every year. Here’s why, and how the hotel industry engineered this trap on purpose.
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The European Cities Americans Are Flying to Instead of Paris and Rome — And Why the Math (and the Experience) Is Way Better
Paris and Rome are extraordinary. They’re also $250/night for a mediocre hotel, 90-minute lines at every major sight, and crowds that make the experience exhausting in July. These alternative cities have most of the same ingredients, a fraction of the visitors, and plane tickets that cost less.
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The Real Math on Disney Without Staying On Property — What Families Actually Save (And What They Secretly Give Up)
Off-site Disney hotels can save a family of four $300–$600 per trip. Or they can cost you time, stress, and the kind of rope-drop window that makes a difference on wait times. Here’s the actual math, the shuttle logistics no one tells you about, and what you genuinely lose.
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Vacation Rental Scams Are Getting Smarter — Here’s How to Spot Them Before You Wire $2,400 to Someone Who Doesn’t Own the Property
The new generation of rental scams uses real photos, real addresses, fake reviews, and convincing communication. People lose thousands of dollars and arrive at properties that either don’t exist or aren’t available. Here’s how the scams work and exactly how to protect yourself.
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The Best Fall Road Trip in Every Region — Specific Routes, Peak Foliage Windows, and Where to Actually Stay
Not vague suggestions — actual routes with mile markers, peak timing by week, and lodging that won’t require a reservation six months in advance. Covering New England, the Appalachians, the Midwest, the Rockies, and the Pacific Coast.
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What a Travel Writer Actually Packs vs. What They Tell You to Pack — The Honest Gap Is Embarrassing
I’ve written three packing guides and I don’t follow any of them. Here’s what I actually put in my bag for a two-week trip, why the advice I give publicly and the choices I make personally are completely different, and what that says about packing advice in general.
