People will tell you that a vacation with young kids is a contradiction, but I beg to differ. Some of my favorite vacations have been with our kids, and not in spite of them, but because of them. It's all about having the right expectations, planning for extra stops, building in kid-friendly activities, indulging in lots of good food, and staying in a fun hotel or vacation rental. This is especially important if you have little kids that still nap or go to bed early, since you'll be spending lots of downtime in your accommodations. Obviously, it sucks to be stuck somewhere lame...but if your hotel is awesome, then those quiet downtimes may end up being some of your favorite memories! It also helps to go with friends who have kids around the same age as yours. The kids get to run around, build forts, and play games together...and you can actually have uninterrupted adult conversations once they're in bed. Back in October, we spent a long weekend in Whitefish, Montana with some friends of ours, and we had so much fun together. With four kids under four! I wrote about our experience on trivago magazine, but I also wanted to share a quick trip recap here. All the photos are from my friend Corlana of Lana Jenae Photography.

Whitefish is a 4.5 hour road trip from Spokane, along one of the prettiest stretches of highway you'll ever see in the fall. After a lunch stop in Wallace, Idaho (a darling old mining town with picturesque brick buildings), we hit larch country. Larches--or tamaracks, depending on who you ask--are these amazing trees that blend in with the pines until October, when they burst into golden flame. It's so cool to see conifers turn yellow. And not just one or two, but entire hillsides of them! This was our view for the majority of the drive...STUNNING.

Then we arrived in Whitefish: an outdoorsy, Western-style resort town tucked into the mountains, a mere 40 minutes away from Glacier National Park.

We stayed at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, and we could not have picked a better place. It was so relaxing! In addition to the rooms in the main lodge, they have luxury homes and condos you can rent which are perfect for multiple families. We lucked out and got an incredible deal on the Averill Suite (a two-story, top-level, three-bedroom corner condo complete with a tall stone fireplace and four balconies facing Whitefish Lake).

This was the view from the hotel's private beach (just down the stairs from our condo). See what I mean about picking a great place to stay?? No one's complaining about being stuck here!

You can read about the activities we did in my trivago article, but suffice it to say Whitefish was full of opportunities to get our kids outside and in nature.

We also ate reeaaally well--the restaurant scene was impressive for such a small town!

Whitefish Restaurant Recommendations:

- Tupelo Grille (I looooved Ben's chicken & dumplings)
- Pescado Blanco
- Ciao Mambo (kid-friendly, with paper tablecloths you can draw on--but make reservations, they're small and deservedly crowded!)
- Sweet Peaks (amazing ice cream with creamy, creative flavors)
- Loula's Cafe
- Piggyback BBQ
- Montana Coffee Traders
- Abruzzo Italian Kitchen
- Uptown Hearth & Azul Coffee (well worth the stop on the way to Glacier!)

And of course, Glacier National Park was a highlight! You can't be that close to one of the most beautiful places in the country and not take a day trip.

October is a beautiful time of year to visit Glacier. Not only did we see fall colors, but there was even a dusting of SNOW on top of the trees! The combination was magical, and the kids were delighted (especially Ian).

West Glacier Recommendations:

- Trail of the Cedars (easy loop hike on a stroller-friendly boardwalk)
- Lake McDonald
- Going-to-the-Sun Road

I'll end with a photo of our cute little crew. It was a true pleasure seeing them play together and become closer friends.

Have you ever been to Whitefish or Glacier? We want to go back in the summer and winter, to experience it in different seasons! Whitefish is so cute, and I know we only scratched the surface of Glacier.

Thanks to Brightech for partnering with me on this post. All opinions are my own.

Fall in Spokane is amazing. The weather is crisp and sunny every single day. And the leaves! Oh, the leaves. It seems like every street is covered with a rainbow canopy (and matching carpet) of red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. It really is insanely beautiful. When I lived in Seattle, summer was the best season for getting outside and the weather turned rainy and dreary in the fall. I got used to that, and in my head fall was the start of indoor season. But here, there's so much wildfire smoke in the air during summer that fall is actually the best time for getting outside, taking long walks, roasting marshmallows in the fire pit (cuz there's finally no burn ban!), and having the kids play in the backyard.

We haven't done much to our yard yet (getting the inside of the house furnished and organized has been our priority). But with the trees in full color and string lights from Brightech hung over our deck, I'm actually really loving our backyard right now, as it is. Could it be even better with the help of a Philadelphia backyard and tree maintenance service? Sure, but we're enjoying it in the meantime.

I don't need to tell you about string lights. You already know the visual warmth, magic, and ambience they can add to a patio, deck, pergola...really, any space. But let me tell you about these string lights real quick. They're energy efficient LED bulbs patterned after Edison bulbs, so you get the nostalgic warm glow without the energy bills. They're made to withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures so you can use them year-round. AND they come in a 48 ft strand! Connecting a bunch of short strands is kinda my pet peeve, so I was really excited about that. One long, continuous string of lights looks so much better!

These string lights are currently on sale for $42.99, which is one of the best prices I've seen for a 48 ft length. I know outside weather is winding down, so maybe your brain has totally moved on. But string lights also give off such a cozy and enchanting vibe when they're hung inside, especially during the holidays! So you might want to snap some of these up while they're such a great deal, and add some magic indoors (you can always string 'em outside next year). They'd be cute in a kid's room or an attic with sloped ceilings...like this!

Besides a wide selection of string lights, Brightech also sells other lighting with on-trend designs at really affordable price points (almost everything is under $100!).

Thank you to HomeAway/VRBO for partnering with me on this post. All opinions are my own.

We just got back from a fun trip to Whitefish, Montana and we're missing vacation already! So we decided to plan another weekend getaway with some friends in January. I'm so excited! Winter vacations are awesome, because they give you something to look forward to during the darkest and dreariest months of the year. But "winter vacation" means something different to everyone. Some people seek out snowy weather for a classic white Christmas, or head to the mountains for an annual ski vacation. Others want to escape the cold and dream of laying on the beach. I found six dreamy vacation rentals throughout the U.S., to suit six different winter vacation styles. I'm curious, which one appeals most to you?? And see if you can guess which one fits me!

1. Have a private mountain to yourself for the ultimate ski vacation.

Let's kick this list off with a super cool and unique opportunity. HomeAway/VRBO is giving away a once-in-a-lifetime ski experience with Eagle Point Resort in Beaver, Utah. The winner and up to 19 friends will get private ski instruction, a $5,000 travel stipend and a three-night stay in this luxurious cabin. Imagine skiing down powdery slopes with no other skiers, boarders or lift lines in sight, plus $5,000 to spend on your travels, and a gorgeous cabin to come home to. I'm not even a skiier and that sounds absolutely amazing!!! The sweepstakes just kicked off yesterday, so click to enter here.

2. Trade your winter coat for a swimsuit, a beach, and gloriously warm weather.

For those of us that live someplace where it snows November-March, sometimes there's nothing more appealing than escaping the cold. Florida and Hawaii will always be popular in the winter, but for a more budget-friendly destination that's equally sunny, try San Diego! It also boasts beautiful sandy beaches and lots of fun activities...and can you believe this cute condo is just $159/night in January?!

3. Meet up with friends in a cozy lodge for a weekend of games by the fire.

In the summer, I'm a go-go-go kind of vacationer. I want to see it all, and I've got a major case of FOMO. In the winter, I can actually relax and enjoy a slower pace of life. When it's snowing outside, it feels just right to sleep in, drink coffee all day, play games, and cuddle up by the fire. This gorgeous lodge gives off all those cozy winter vibes, and is located just a couple hours from us in charming Leavenworth, WA.

4. Watch the Northern Lights dancing in the sky from your own private hot tub. 

Seeing the Northern Lights is on many people's bucket list, and for good reason. They're awe-inspiring! I've seen them in Iceland, but you don't have to fly all the way there to make this dream come true. Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, especially in the winter when nights are long and dark. A hot tub is a must so you can watch them in comfort every night!

5. Take advantage of off-season rates and enjoy lakefront views on a budget.

In July, this same home would go for $345/night, but in the winter it's only $155...and it has 3 bedrooms! Split it with friends for a super budget-friendly weekend, or have it all to yourselves for a romantic getaway. Couer d'Alene, Idaho is a cute resort town with great restaurants and fun winter activities like a "Journey to the North Pole" cruise that shows off the city's holiday light displays.

6. Get caught up in the holiday buzz and feel like you're in a Christmas movie.

There's nowhere better for holiday magic than New York City. Giant glittering Christmas trees, elaborate store displays, ice skating, snow falling, and energy and excitement all around you. Whether you go for Christmas or watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve, NYC is a special place to experience the holiday season.

What's your favorite idea? And what did you guess for me?

...if you guessed the lodge with games, you're right! Actually, all of these sound pretty amazing to me, but I'm a sucker for cozy winter getaways. The snow falling outside, a fire crackling in the fireplace, games and mulled cider with friends, a hot tub with snowy mountain views, plus a cute town nearby with good restaurants and twinkly Christmas lights...sounds perfect!

No matter where you go, I am a huge fan of staying in a HomeAway or VRBO (vacation rental by owner). Especially now that we have kids, we always end up spending a big chunk of time in our vacation rental, so it's important for it to be comfortable! If we're traveling with friends, a shared common space is a must so all the adults can hang out once the kids are in bed, and we like the option to cook meals in the kitchen (after all, it's not that relaxing to go out to eat with little kids, and we save money by cooking!). In the winter, we're even more likely to stay inside for a good portion of our vacation, so choosing a unique and beautiful vacation rental is critical since it's a huge part of our experience. We look for one with a hot tub, a fireplace, a big table for games, and a pretty view.

If you haven't done it yet, stop scrolling now and enter the Homeaway/VRBO  "Win the Mountain" sweepstakes! It just launched yesterday and runs through Saturday, November 17th. If you win because you heard about it here, maybe you can take me as one of your 19 friends?! ;D But really, if you win I'm going to be so happy for you!!!! (And a little jealous). What a truly unique and memorable experience!

A couple weeks ago, I shared our plans for Ian's room: a boy's bedroom that's playful and fun for a little boy, but can also work as a guest room occasionally. Today, I'm going to show you the finished photos! This was a quick project. We didn't paint or do anything labor-intensive, so the part that took the longest was assembling the bed--which we finished in a couple hours. Ian helped with the process and had so much fun! He's super proud of his new room and his big boy bed (emphasis on the "big"--how many two-year-old's get to sleep on a king size?!). Our plan is to eventually have Ian and Emmett share this bed, but for now he gets it all to himself, lucky kid.

This room came together on a pretty tight budget. I was originally going to get a vintage-style iron bed, but Ben wanted to find something upholstered to prevent head bonks. I found this channel tufted platform bed for about $300 (for a king size!) and had a coupon which made it even better. It's quite low to the ground and the headboard is also pretty short, so I don't know if  would recommend it for everyone, but it's totally perfect for a kid's room.

The mattress was also an awesome budget-friendly find. There are so many of these "mattress in a box" companies nowadays. We love the convenience and we find them very comfortable. And honestly, we can't really tell a significant difference between the more/less expensive brands, so I didn't want to spend a ton--especially since this room is primarily for a little kid! I found this mattress on Amazon for $250 (yes, for a king!) and it had great reviews, so I decided to give it a chance. It's SUPER comfy, and I actually love that it's more low-profile. The 6 inch height means it's easy to move and lift, there's room for fitted sheets to get a nice deep tuck, and it doesn't cover too much of the headboard. Ian sleeps great on it, and I think adults will be very comfortable as well. The brand is Cr Comfort & Relax, and I'd purchase from them again! They sell several other mattresses too, if you want one that's thicker.

The item that really made this room come together in my opinion is the plaid rug from Momeni. I absolutely LOVE it for a kid's space! It's low pile, easy to vacuum, and doesn't shed. And the pattern is so cute and playful, without being too "little kiddish." The colors are great for a boy's room too! I'd definitely recommend it.

My other favorite item is this canvas map of the world. I wanted some kind of art over the bed, but since his head is right there, it couldn't be sharp or heavy--just in case. This map fit the bill perfectly. Lightweight, safe, and super cute for a kid's room. And only $69, which is pretty great for large-scale art! I love that it's somewhat educational too. We've been showing Ian countries we've been to, as well as where in the world his grandparents are from. He already loves pointing them out!

Last but not least, the bedding. We got Ian the softest blue sheets (they're budget-friendly too). Then, I grabbed a king size comforter we already owned and draped a soft, textural rug from Lorena Canals over the foot of the bed. It's meant to be a rug, and the best kind for kid's rooms (it's machine-washable!). But the 5x8 size is also perfect for a king size blanket...soft and cozy, although perhaps a bit heavy.

The nightstand is one we used to have in our previous guest room. I thought about getting him a matching one, but in the interest of keeping this room budget-friendly I decided a chair would work just fine for the other side. The art, dresser, and tree bookshelf are all from when this room was a nursery, and the Roman shade is too!

Overall, we're so happy with how this room turned out, and I think it'll perfectly suit the dual purpose of being a boy's bedroom and a guest bedroom when this house gets rented out. Any questions for me??