Summatime!!! It is officially summer this weekend with summer solstice this Friday, June 21! I am so excited for the start of the sunshine season. Not only does summer equal sunshine and ice cream and days at the beach and time spent outdoors, it also means summer vacations!

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Last summer my husband S and I spent two weeks in the Greek Islands for our honeymoon and yes, it was incredible (stay tuned for travel guides!) This year we are staying closer to home for the summer with lots of Pacific Northwest adventures planned. Seriously, PNW is best in summer!

We've already been to Whidbey Island for wine tasting and the Gorge Amphitheater to see the Dead & Company. We have an end of summer trip to the Hood Canal on the books for our anniversary and we are currently in the midst of planning for the rest of June, July and August. Any suggestions? We are contemplating Mt. Rainier, the Washington Coast, another island visit to Whidbey (or another island or 2 or 3), the Painted Hills in Oregon, Portland (OR), and a few other fun spots!

Do you have any fun trips planned for summer? If so, you're in luck! I've rounded up some of my favorite items to add to your summer vacation packing list. From cotton voile tops, to gauze-y wide leg pants to leather sandals, each of this items is absolutely worthy of a summer vacation suitcase or weekender addition!

Gift Guide: JetSet & Wanderlust

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It's Gift Guide #2 of this holiday season! For this gift guide, I included fewer, better gift ideas perfect for the wanderers, jetsetters and travelers in your life, or even for those with just wanderlust in their hearts.

I was inspired by my travels of this past year, including global destinations of Amsterdam, Athens and the Greek Islands of Naxos, Paros & Santorini, as well as our more local Pacific Northwest destinations that included the Oregon Coast, Tacoma, the North Cascades and Camano Island.

These gifts pair perfectly with travels to near and far!

Opt Outside: 5 Essential Items For Exploring Your Local Parks This Summer

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com.

Summer is the perfect time for taking advantage of summer weather, stepping outside and enjoying local parks! I have long been a lover of City parks, both large and small. Parks offer a refuge amidst the hustle and bustle of traffic and people, a place to catch a glimpse of nature in an otherwise cement world, a spot to enjoy a swim, walk, hike and bit of sunshine or shade, depending on the day.

Parks are the perfect location for a picnic, gathering of friends or breath of fresh air. I like to think of each park I visit as a little haven to be discovered by the visitor passing through. From New York's Central Park to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to Seattle's Alki Beach, every City park is unique and worth a wander.

Whenever I am in a new City I love to visit at least one new park. In addition to the opportunity to spend time outdoors, I also find parks offer some of the best places for people watching and enjoying the local culture.

Seattle has over 485 parks and 3 are in walking distance from my house in the West Seattle neighborhood. In just these 3 parks I can find hiking trails, a community garden, a dog park, tennis courts, ball fields, playgrounds and a spray park the neighborhood kids love!

A few of my favorite Seattle parks include Golden Gardens, Alki Beach, Green Lake, Volunteer Park, Lincoln Park, Seward Park and Westcrest Park. All these, plus many others, are well worth a visit if you live (or find yourself!) in Seattle, particularly during the beautiful Seattle summer season.

Whenever I'm planning on heading outside to explore one of my local parks in summer, I always make sure to prepare with 5 essential items to make my experience even more enjoyable, which I'm sharing with you today!

Lighten Your Footprint When You Travel With Samsonite ECO-Flex

Thank you Samsonite for sponsoring this post.

Samsonite ECO-Flex 20" Expandable Spinner ~ 32 Recycled Plastic Bottles were used to make the fabric for this bag!

I am always looking for ways to lighten my environmental footprint when I travel. From what I pack, to how and where I travel, I am always considering how it might impact our planet. I love that I can now walk (fly, bus, drive, sail, travel . . .) more softly with Samsonite's ECO-Flex line.

Known for durability and reliability, Samsonite is launching something completely new! The ECO-Flex line, part of the ECO-Nu line, has fabric made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Both good for the environment and thoughtfully designed with the traveler in mind, Samsonite Eco-Flex Spinner Luggage is a great way to lighten your footprint when you travel!

I recently took my Samsonite ECO-Flex 20" Expandable Spinner (with fabric made from 32 recycled plastic bottles!) for a "spin" to Fauntleroy in West Seattle. The Fauntleroy Ferry Dock serves both Vashon Island and Southworth, providing numerous opportunities for a day or weekend trip on Puget Sound or the Olympic Peninsula.