Experiential Father's Day Getaways

Happy Monday!

Now that we've made it through Mother's Day, it's about time to get ready for Father's Day, so I want to share two great ideas for experiential getaways in Michigan!

Below are more details, but first a photo:

Hej Fellow Remote Workers! Visit Sweden for an Out of Office Office Experience!

I've been working remotely since March 17th 2020, and I feel blessed and lucky to have a profession and work a job that makes it possible to get my projects done from anywhere in the world - granted I have my laptop and a stable internet connection.

A study and initiative from Sweden makes me kind of jealous though. Don't get me wrong, my back porch or local coffee shop in southern Arkansas is fine and dandy, but can it really compete with the landscape and temperatures in Sweden?

Photo credit: Tina Stafrén/Visit Sweden

Sweden’s New Initiative ‘Out of Office Office’ Offers Remote Workers Offices in Nature

(If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full Disclosure) 

Sweden now encourages workers to bag-check their remote setup and have an unforgettable workcation in accommodations close to nature without compromising on internet connectivity. In a newly conducted case study, well-being increased by 22% as participants felt less depressed and more calm, harmonious and happy when working and living close to nature. Through the Out of Office Office initiative, Sweden hopes to boost workers’ mental health in a time where remote working increasingly is taking a toll on many people’s well-being.

Travel Tuesday: Dishing Through Setouchi Japan’s Distinctive Dining Scene

On today's Travel Tuesday I'm taking you back to Japan's Setouchi Island region. While last week's post was focussed on wellness, today we will dive into the culinary scene. 

When one thinks of Japan’s Setouchi Islands region, visions of pristine beaches, sparkling blue waters and a thriving art scene might spring to mind. However, this peaceful, authentic region of Japan, which spans fully 700 islands and seven prefectures surrounding the Seto Inland Sea, also boasts a diverse climate that yields some ancient—and even delightfully quirky—culinary experiences.

via Setouchi DMO

When visiting this fascinating country, be sure to titillate your taste buds with a serving of “hidden sushi.” While visually simple at first blush, turn the so-called “Bara Sushi” dish upside down to reveal a hidden underbelly rife with gorgeous ingredients.

Travel Tuesday: Visit the Onsen in the Setouchi Region, Japan

Traveling to Japan is definitely on my bucket list. I'm a huge fan of Sharla from Sharmeleon/Sharla in Japan, Chris from Abroad in Japan (sliiiight crush on him. thanks British accent), and of course Norm form Tokyo Lens. Experiencing this beautiful country through their eyes/lenses gives me a bad case of Wanderlust. 

Last week Japan's Setouchi region was brought to my attention, and I love what I see! Even though I sadly haven't visited there myself yet, I want to share it with you.

Setouchi is a city located in southern Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

via Setouchi DMO

Visiting an onsen there is pretty high on my to do list, besides, of course, visiting Tokyo and other urban parts of Japan. It’s been a long road but now, more than ever, we are ready to embrace unique healing experiences in a whole new way and the Setouchi region of Japan is truly the wellness center of Asia.

Deck Your Walls With Travel Stories! // Photowall.com Coupon Code!

Earlier this month I took you on an imaginary trip to Sweden. This week I want to show you a way to bring your dream vacation spots, own photos, or wonderful art into your own four walls! And – it’s a Swedish company! Photowall.com!

(I was provided with a free product for my review. All opinions are my own. I would never endorse a product I don't like or believe in. If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full Disclosure)

Photowall.com reached out to me again. Remember, they already helped me turning my bedroom into my favorite room of the house earlier this year by letting me pick a wall mural. You can see everything here:  https://www.grapefruitprincess.com/2020/02/new-year-new-home-photowall-sweden.html

Make sure to put the 25% off coupon to good use! More info can be found on the bottom of this post.

My boyfriend and I had to skip this year’s trip to Europe (due to known reasons).

How to Alleviate Pandemic-Related Stress // Visit Sweden Shares Tips!

Lockdowns, isolation, and working from home have caused elevated levels of stress for many people: 45% of Americans say they experience anxiety because of the pandemic, according to a UN report. But there are ways to alleviate the stress. Research shows that spending time in nature lowers stress levels – one of the many benefits of grabbing a few minutes to enjoy some greenery or planning a getaway in the great outdoors. 

Photo: Martin Edström/imagebank.sweden.se

The positive effects were tested through Visit Sweden’s very own initiative, “The 72-Hour Cabin,” with participants from major cities who had demanding jobs. They were examined before and after spending three consecutive days in the Swedish countryside where they slept in glass cabins next to water. The study proved that being outdoors surrounded only by nature dramatically reduced negative emotions and lowered stress levels. 

Do you watch "Yellowstone"? // Take a Ranch Vacation Here

Yellowstone, the wildly popular cable television series starring Kevin Costner, has sparked newfound interest in the Rocky Mountains and specifically luxury (dude) ranch vacations. Red Reflet Ranch, a 28,000-acre guest ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, has experienced a surge of guests booking five-figure vacations because of their love for the show. Red Reflet even hosted one guest who asked to be called "Kacey" during his stay. In case you do not know, Kayce Dutton is the heart-throb son of Yellowstone Ranch owner John Dutton (played by Costner) on the show. The boom of RV travel, road trips and staycations due to COVID-19 has also bolstered demand for these exclusive getaways. 

(If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full Disclosure) 

via Paramount Network

Below are a few world-class guest ranches where travelers can experience the luxurious cowboy lifestyle of the Dutton family on Yellowstone. 

The Arches National Park Looks Nothing Like The License Plate

Road trips and cross country traveling must be one of my favorite things to do. I've visited a bunch of our beautiful National Parks (and adding more to the list every year), and enjoyed my time and the scenery there! When designer and illustrator Amber Share discovered that there are 1-star ratings for each and every single one of the 62 parks, she decided to to illustrate each park along with a hand lettered 1-star review as a way to put a positive and fun spin on such a negative mindset.

If you are a business owner dealing with negative reviews on Yelp, Facebook, Google etc. - this post might brighten up your day a little when you see that nature (or God's creation) literally has to deal with this, too. Isn't it ridiculous?

Well, I've picked a few of my favorites to share with you on here, but please make sure to head over to Amber's website to see all of them! You can even order prints, mugs, and cards with your favorite designs.

Things to do in Arkansas - Walk on the Bottom of a Lake!

Happy 2020 everyone! I'm sorry it's been so quiet around here. I promise to do better! I have to many things I wanted to share, like pictures of my trip to Europe, tell you about me renovating a house and moving.. So much was going on. I hope one of these days, when I'm unpacked and handed over the keys to my old apartment, I'll be able to sit down, work on posts, and get them out to you.

Even our little road trips aren't as frequent anymore right now. But after seeing it on the news, J and I went on a little adventure past Saturday. Lake Monticello is about an hour away from where we live. The lake is undergoing a drawdown so that the dam can be repaired and the fish habitat rebuilt.

Meaning: We were able to literally walk through the lake, on the bottom of the lake since it's drained.

I posted a few pictures in one of my Facebook Groups, and after that post went viral, I though I'll have to share some photos on here, too. I did MINIMAL editing, because the photos I took are very true to what it looked like that day. Enjoy!

The Taste of Home // Getting my German Groceries here in the USA!

I came back from my trip to Europe a little over two weeks ago, and realized I forgot to do one major thing: more shopping!

But I sure forgot to hit the grocery store to buy some Knorr and Maggi seasonings, and probably more Lebkuchen, Domino Steine, Marzipan Kartoffeln, and all the other German Christmas goodies. Thank goodness I can now find most of the things right here in the USA, and I can even go shopping at my local World Market! I found so much online, I sure have to plan a visit this weekend.

It's Fall, Y'all! Time for a Apple-Caramel Getaway!

It's fall... well... let me take that back - a little. I know it's fall somewhere, but here: not so much. We are still having temperatures in the upper 90s every day. On top of that, my car's AC went out a week ago, and when I went to get it fixed Monday, the Buick dealership didn't have the piece they needed. So I hope it will come in today as promised. My Encore is a rolling hell right now, and I take about five showers a day.

In a little over a week we will head to Germany though! I'm excited to spend time with my family and friends - and of course to see and feel FALL! Make sure to check back. I will most definitely share a few highlights of my trip on here and my YouTube channel!

If you can't go to Germany, but Michigan sounds great, I want to share a WONDERFUL fall getaway with you today:
The Apple-Caramel Getaway!

Has the apple got your eye? Stay at The Hotel Saugatuck for an apple and caramel lover’s getaway! Start your visit at the nearby Crane Orchards where you may hand pick your own apples. The Hotel Saugatuck will cover up to 10 lbs of you apple picking - that's a lot of apples! Then return to the lakeside property in the evening for a private in-room caramel fondue for two. The Hotel Saugatuck will provide the hot caramel and a selection of toppings so you may dip and ‘decorate’ your freshly picked apples.

Crane Orchard apples include: Gala, Jonagold, Golden Supreme, Fuji, Macintosh, Golden Delicious, Blondee, Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, Ida Red, Empire, Mutsu, Jonathan, Braeburn, Cortland, Cameo, and Northern Spy.

This add-on getaway package is available September through late October, 2019. It costs $35.

Living in the Natural State

We basically went from winter straight into summer here in southern Arkansas. Well - with a few tornados in between... Right now I'm sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine, upper 80s and (as of now) a nice breeze and low humidity. This will change soon though. Summertime is super hot and muggy round here. I really enjoy the long sunny seasons though! As long as you have a bottle of water in your backpacks, you are good to go to enjoy everything the Natural State has to offer.



(I was provided with a free product for my review. All opinions are my own. I would never endorse a product I don't like or believe in. If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full Disclosure) 

Speaking of backpacks - have you ever shopped at Backpacks.com? If not, you should give them a try. They have the right backpack for all walks of life, a curated selection of backpacks to carry with you on your journey through life. You will find a coupon code at the bottom of this post, so make sure to use it when shopping on there to save some bucks.

Crater of Diamonds State Park // Win a Fashion Backpack! ($249 Value)

We just came back from visiting the only diamond mine in North America open to the public. As you probably know, we are road tripping and backpacking/hiking quite a lot. I've tried my fair share of backpacks, but recently found my new favorite. The best backpack for work and adventure? My pick is: American Shield Backpack.

(I was provided with a free product for my review. All opinions are my own. I would never endorse a product I don't like or believe in. 
If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission. Full Disclosure) 

  

They sent me the one pictured above a few weeks ago, and it soon became my favorite. It has an inner 15″ laptop compartment, 8 small inner pockets, 1 front pocket, 2 external side pockets, 1 back pocket and 1 strap pocket. Enough room for pretty much everything. The American Shield Granite 25 Backpack I have boasts textile lining and Oxford Fabric, high quality straps, buckles, and zippers built to last.

And you know what? American Shield sent me another fashion backpack YOU can WIN on here! Just enter the Rafflecopter on the bottom of this post for your chance to win.

Back to road tripping. So especially since we remodeled a 1977 Scamp camper, we go see places even more often. Our most recent trip lead us to the Murfreesboro, AR, area. There are two things this small town is famous for: Trout Fishing, and DIAMONDS! Yep, you've read that right: You can find real diamonds in Arkansas.

After a medium successful fishing trip in the morning, I packed water, snacks, and diamond digging essentials (aka plastic containers due to lack of anything else) into my Granite 25 Backpack, and off we went.

Style Artist Lounge @ Art Basel, Miami // Recap

  

Karl Marx Birthplace // Wordless Wednesday LinkUp

Link up below:

Wordless Wednesday LinkUp // CHI Millennium Park

Link Up below...

Wordless Wednesday LinkUp // All the Way Up over Bakersfield

Link Up below...

Wordless Wednesday LinkUp // Greetings from Louisiana!

Link up below...

Chicago Mural // Wordless Wednesday LinkUp

Link up your (Wordless) Wednesday posts below:

Make Your Dream Trip a Reality— With the Help of Airbnb

You’ve no doubt seen the blissful treehouses, fairy-tale castles, and chic apartments available on Airbnb, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably bookmarked a few as travel inspiration. The home-sharing website is famous for inspiring fantasy vacations, but did you know it can also help you save for that dream trip?

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive commission.

Getting started