The first day of spring is here and it’s the perfect time for another Pancakes with Pasha post! This is a place to share all the latest happenings here on the blog and in my life in hopes of inspiring you and of course – making you smile!
Did you know daffodils are my FAVORITE flower? There is something about the pretty cup shape with the ruffles PLUS the bright yellow color that just makes me smile!
Since the 1950s, the daffodil has also served as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of cancer. The cheery flower represents the hard work done by researchers and doctors working to find a cure and improve treatment for cancer of all types.
I remember when my husband was in graduate school and our budget was RIDICULOUSLY and stressfully tight this flower was sold by the American Cancer Society as a fundraiser every March – and I could afford them!!!
I would buy bunches and bunches and bunches of them from the hospital we were living next to.
This year, National Daffodil Day is March 22nd – my youngest daughter’s birthday!!
So be sure to look for this pretty flower in your area to purchase and make a difference ;).
But first a quick reminder of WHY I am calling this series ‘Pancakes with Pasha’ in case you have forgotten or are new here ;0!
I am NOT A COFFEE OR TEA DRINKER.
One night I was laying in bed, desperately trying to figure out a catchy title for this series.
And my brain was like – when I ask friends to meet in the morning, what am I asking them to do?
You can bet your bottom dollar I am thinking about where can we meet for pancakes 😂.
So there it is – Pancakes with Pasha popped into my head ;).
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In a rush?
The First Day of Spring and Pancakes with Pasha
Where I’ve Been and What I’m Currently Planning
Finland
For those of you that follow me on Instagram, you may know that my husband and I took a two week vacation to Finland for his birthday a few weeks ago ;).
That destination has been on my bucket list for years (I have Instagram to thank for doing that ;0).
It was even supposed to be our Christmas getaway in 2021 but was cancelled because Finland was not open for tourism yet ;|.
Nonetheless, we finally made it there and I have plenty of advice, suggestions, and tips for you to help you also put this destination on your own bucket list and start planning too!
Stay tuned for all those blog posts that I am really hoping to prioritize in April ;).
London
On our way home from Finland, we spent two nights in London so that we weren’t traveling on my husband’s actual birthday (March 5th).
We had so much fun celebrating his birthday going to all the Beatles sights in London with a friend of ours who we met via the company Flytographer (you know the travel photographer website I am always talking about!).
I wrote a travel guide for a Christmas vacation in London from our December 2018 trip there but definitely have to write another post with all the fun things I’ve done and places I have stayed and eaten at for the last two (and more recent) trips I have taken to this fun city!
Upcoming Spring and Summer Travel Plans
We came back and I had to jump right back in to tax season (even though the deadline for San Diego County has been delayed until October due to all the rain we have gotten this year {dumb reason – at least for the majority of us – I know…}).
But in my free time, I have started (or more accurately am now fine tuning) some fun adventures for us through the spring and summer.
This is including a visit to see our son in Boston (and finally go to Nantucket Island!), our youngest daughter’s graduation in Oregon, a mother-daughter trip to France, and lastly on my trip planning to do list – a trip to Italy with a friend to attend a Bruce Springsteen concert :).
If you were to ask me if I am a tad overwhelmed keeping all these trip planning to-do’s organized – the answer is yes. But, I have a pretty good system going that I think would probably make a decently informative and helpful blog post called how to plan your dream trip – what do you think?
Easter Brunch
And the last thing I have been starting to think about is Easter Brunch!!
I will not be changing my menu at all this year (see it here) and will probably be doing the exact same outdoor tablescape that I did last year.
I didn’t have the time to write a post with all the details from last year’s table but here are a few ideas from my tables the years before last in case you need some inspiration ;).
You can find a few photos of last year’s outdoor setup below though!
And yes – I used plastic everything (except the white chargers).
I was once again hosting a rather large group and I just didn’t have the energy to worry about doing dishes after everyone went home…
Here are the items I used:
Pink plates and gold silverware
Need a Book to Read?
Our March book club choice was “Things We Never Got Over” by Lucy Score but honestly I am only mentioning it to you because my group read it.
It was an easy enough read but definitely not a favorite of mine.
Take that as you will I guess…
Our April book choice is “The Personal Librarian” by Maria Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
I am a little less than halfway through the book and loving it so far!!
It is a historical fiction book about J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian and I am finding it fascinating learning about his lifestyle in the early 1900’s…
The hostess for April book club almost chose the book “Wrong Place Wrong Time” by Gillian McAllister which I had read back in the fall and seriously just loved!
I hope at some point someone from book club chooses it because I think the conversation about it would be amazing!
I just hope it’s soon as my menopausal brain doesn’t remember much for too long anymore ;\.
Items I Am Shopping For & Think You Might Like Too
Luggage
Since clearly I have travel on my mind lately – most of the items I am shopping for have to do with being a more efficient or at least stylish traveler ;).
I am not sure if you remember when I told you back in December that I finally decided to look like a more polished traveler and replace my twenty year old rolling REI duffel bag with a classier rolling check in suitcase.
I purchased two large Delsey Paris suitcases for my youngest daughter and I when we went to England in December and realized – okay I like this type of suitcase ;).
Then I was given different sizes of suitcases from Monos Travel. We used the check in size for the first time on my Finland trip and the carry on size for a recent conference I attended.
Here is a photo of the Delsey Paris and the Monos large suitcases next to each other for comparison:
I have now used both of the above suitcases for different two week European trips and can say they both fit the same amount of clothes and toiletries in them (even though they look like they are different sizes above!).
While the reviews of Monos Travel are amazing (I believe they say they are the Apple of luggage) and I loved the look and size of the large check in suitcase, I must tell you my Rose Quartz and Desert Taupe colors arrived in Helsinki looking like this was not their first trip.
I.E. they were seriously scuffed up and looked old! And not just a little old…
Monos sends you a magic eraser to remove any scuffs on their suitcases but there were so many and I just don’t have the time right now to fuss with that issue – so old looking suitcases it is for us ;0.
The color (when new or cleaned) of the Monos check in is much prettier to me but the Delsey Paris came back from England still looking brand new…🤷♀️
Take all that for what you will and if you aren’t even in the market for luggage – I sure hope these reviews didn’t bore you too much 😂.
Tote Bags
I recently discovered that I have somehow misplaced ALL OF MY CANVAS TOTE BAGS!!
I have no clue where they are. And having recently attended a conference and needing a tote bag – off I went to the world wide web to find some new ones.
Boy are there some cute ones out there right now so I guess my disorganization isn’t all bad ;).
Like this pretty pink flowers one which you can personalize even:
My new tote just arrived today and I personalized it with “Pasha is Home” ☺️.
Also available in a pretty blue flower:
One more cute tote that I am excited to use soon:
Other Helpful Travel Items
Here are other travel products I have found and purchased lately for all my upcoming plans ;).
Quite a few of the items listed above can actually be found all in one place in my Amazon travel storefront if that would be easier for you to find what you are looking for ;).
Fashion Finds
Below are a few of my recent spring fashion finds that I have my eye on as well for all the traveling.
Forgot to mention that I also have three weddings to attend this year so clearly I need to start looking for wedding guest dresses too!!!
The Latest on the Blog That Might Inspire You
Since spring is pretty much here (YAY!) – everything on the blog that isn’t a travel guide is all about spring and Easter right now.
I have been joining many blogging friends for the last few weeks as well to share so many different topics and ways to decorate for the season.
Here are just a few you might like:
Spring Touches in the Entryway and Living Spaces
Reasons to Install Open Shelving
Easter Bunny Decor (with plenty of links to items I have found!)
A Post Dedicated to Easter Inspiration from multiple bloggers:
I loved sharing all the inspiration with you – I hope it was helpful or inspiring to you in some way.
Or at the very least, something in this post made you smile today ;).
Thank you for being such amazing supporters of my blog and all I love sharing with you ;).
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It is always possible.
– Dalai Lama
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Have a wonderful day my friend! I hope something makes you smile today ;).
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