Hallmark Movies to Inspire Travel

It’s no secret that Hallmark movies are some of my absolute favorites! During this extra time at home, I have been watching all the Hallmark movies and also dreaming of traveling again.

The other day, while watching some movie reruns on Hallmark Channel, I came across one that was set in another country. I started thinking about the Hallmark movies that feature other countries, and I realized there are quite a few. So that inspired me to write this post.

If you can’t travel right now, you might as well daydream about it and live vicariously by watching about other countries on TV, right? For all my fellow Hallmark lovers and travel lovers, I have compiled this list of the best Hallmark movies that inspire travel, organized by season.

Winterfest

Love on Iceland

“Love on Iceland” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Kaitlin Doubleday and Colin Donnell. It follows Chloe (Doubleday), who organizes her college travel group to go to Iceland. Her ex (Donnell) shows up and sparks fly. This movie is set in Iceland, and the sights are beautiful!

Love Ever After

Love, Romance & Chocolate

“Love, Romance & Chocolate” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp. It follows Emme (Chabert), an American on vacation in Belgium, who teams up with Luc (Kemp), a local chocolatier, to compete for Belgium’s Royal Chocolatier. This movie is set in Belgium.

June Weddings

Destination Wedding

“Destination Wedding” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Alexa PenaVega and Jeremy Guilbaut. It follows Ellie (PenaVega), who is the Maid of Honor for her sister’s wedding, having to team up with the Best Man and her ex Greg (Guilbaut) to put together the wedding when the bride and groom miss their plane. This movie is set in Mexico.

Summer Nights

A Summer to Remember

“A Summer to Remember” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Catherine Bell and Cameron Mathison. It follows ER doctor Jessica (Bell), who is struggling with her working hours and goes to Fiji for vacation. While there, she meets and forms a bond with a co-owner at the resort named Will (Mathison). This movie is set in Fiji.

Love at Sea

“Love at Sea” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega. It follows Olivia (Alexa PenaVega), an event planner who has something to prove. She sets sail on a cruise ship planning out a culinary event, only to butt heads and have to work with the cruise director Tony (Carlos PenaVega) one-on-one for the event. This movie is set on a cruise ship.

Love on Safari

“Love on Safari” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Lacey Chabert, Jon Cor, and Brittany Bristow. It follows Kira (Chabert), who travels to South Africa to sell a safari that she inherited. After meeting head ranger Tom (Cor) and learning about the safari, she starts to second-guess her decision to sell. This movie is set in South Africa.

Paris, Wine & Romance

“Paris, Wine & Romance” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte. It follows Isabella (Lilley), a family winery owner who enters a wine competition in Paris. Once in France, she befriends Jacques (Jeannotte), her biggest competition, with something to prove. This movie is set in Paris, France.

Pearl in Paradise

“Pearl in Paradise” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha. It follows Alex (Wagner), an adventurous photographer, who teams up with a novelist, Colin (Polaha), to find a mysterious pearl in paradise. This movie is set in Fiji. It is one of my absolute favorite Hallmark movies and definitely inspires traveling to Fiji.

Rome in Love

“Rome in Love” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Italia Ricci and Peter Porte. It follows Amelia (Ricci), an unknown actress who is cast as the lead in a remake of ‘Roman Holiday’. While in Rome, she meets an aspiring journalist/writer (Porte) who gets the exclusive story on her. This movie is set in Italy.

Stranded in Paradise

“Stranded in Paradise” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Vanessa Marcil and James Denton. It follows Tess (Marcil), who loses her high-powered job and travels to Puerto Rico to save her career at a conference. While there, a hurricane strands her on the island, and she meets a world traveler (Denton). This movie is set in Puerto Rico.

Summer Villa

“Summer Villa” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Hilarie Burton and Victor Webster. It follows Terry (Burton), a writer struggling to write her next novel, and a chef (Webster) trying to get over a bad review, who both end up renting the same summer in a villa in France. This movie is set in France.

Sun, Sand & Romance

“Sun, Sand & Romance” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Tricia Helfer and Paul Campbell. It follows Kate (Helfer), who reconnects with an old friend (Campbell) while her boyfriend works too much during their vacation in Mexico. This movie is set in Mexico.

Fall Harvest

Forever in My Heart

“Forever in My Heart” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Merritt Patterson and Jack Turner. It follows Jenna (Patterson) and Charlie (Turner), who fall in love in Ireland but life tears them apart. Five years later, they have reunited, and love blossoms again. This movie is set in Ireland.

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas in Rome

“Christmas in Rome” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Lacey Chabert and Sam Page. It follows Angela (Chabert), an American working as a tour guide in Rome. She agrees to give Oliver (Page), a New York businessman, a one-on-one tour during Christmas. This movie is set in Italy.

Royal Movies

Most of Hallmark’s royal movies were filmed in Romania and have such gorgeous sights that inspire wanting to travel. Many are Christmas movies, and some are just sweet love stories. Check out these fun royal-themed movies!

A Princess for Christmas

“A Princess for Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Katie McGrath and Sam Heughan. It follows Jules (McGrath), who travels with her niece and nephew to a castle in Europe and unknowingly falls for a prince (Heughan).

A Royal Christmas

“A Royal Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Lacey Chabert, Stephen Hagan, and Jane Seymour. It follows Emily (Chabert), who finds out her boyfriend Leo (Hagan) is actually a prince. They wish to marry, so they travel to his country to get his mother, the Queen (Seymour), approval.

Crown for Christmas

“Crown for Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Danica McKellar and Rupert Penry-Jones. It follows Allie (McKellar), who, after getting fired from her job at a ritzy hotel, takes a job as a nanny in Europe only to discover that her boss is the king (Penry-Jones).

Royal Hearts

“Royal Hearts” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring James Brolin, Cindy Busby, and Andrew Cooper. It follows Kelly (Busby) and her father Hank (Brolin), who travel to Europe to take a look at a home he inherited, only to find out it is a castle with a kingdom.

Royal Matchmaker

“Royal Matchmaker” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Will Kemp. It follows Kate (Lenz), a New York City matchmaker who is hired by a king to find his son Sebastian (Kemp) a suitable wife.

I love anything that combines two or more of my loves into one. And this list of Hallmark movies with travel inspiration does just that! I hope they inspire you to get out and start planning your next adventure too. What is your favorite travel-inspired movie? Let me know in the comments below. Happy watching and adventure planning!

Candy Alternatives for Easter Egg Hunts

Last year was my daughter’s first time doing an Easter egg hunt, and because she didn’t eat much candy at the time due to her age, I tried to find non-candy options for the eggs. This year will be my son’s first time participating in an egg hunt, and I plan to continue the tradition of using a majority of other items as alternatives for candy.

If you’re like me (not a big sweets eater) or you try to limit your children’s candy intake, you don’t have to dread doing an Easter egg hunt. There is good news! There are many options for items you can use in place of candy. Sometimes you just have to get a little more creative. Here are some of the favorites in our house to use as candy alternatives for Easter egg hunts.

Stickers

These are a favorite in our house. Both of my kids love playing with stickers and making crafts with stickers. They’re inexpensive to use as well. Just tear off one or a couple and stuff them in the Easter eggs.

Little Rubber Duckies

My kids love rubber duckies (we have quite the collection), so I used these last year for my daughter. They both love them and continue to play with them now a year later.

Bouncy Balls

These aren’t good for my kids currently (choking hazard due to age), but for older kids, bouncy balls are a great option. I know I loved playing with bouncy balls when I was a kid.

Loose Change

One of my childhood favorites during Easter egg hunts was getting eggs with loose coins. If you have children who like to save their own money, this is a great option for them. They can collect some money, and you can get rid of some loose change clanging around in your wallet.

Mini Nail Polish Bottles

For your girls, get some little nail polish bottles. You can find cute mini bottles at the Dollar Store or Walmart, Target, etc.

Beaded Necklaces & Jewelry

Try some necklaces and jewelry pieces too. My kids love the little party beaded necklaces, so I used these as an alternative. I also picked up a couple of zipper bracelets at Hobby Lobby to use last year.

Chore Coupons

If you want to try something different, try giving chore coupons. (i.e., write up some coupons that your kids can exchange in when they don’t want to make their bed or they want to get a break from doing dishes for one night, etc.) Whatever their daily chores are, or something that can fit in that area so that these coupons feel like a reward and treat to your child is a fun option.

Matchbox Cars 

My son’s favorite toys right now are his Matchbox cars. I’m planning to get some for his Easter egg hunt this year. You’ll have to get slightly bigger eggs than the standard size, but the cars are small enough that you should be able to find a size that will work.

Tiny Dollar Store Toys

The Dollar Store is a great place for Easter egg hunt options. They have a variety of toys, and they are inexpensive. Pick some tiny toys or stickers, etc that will fit into your Easter eggs and roll with it.

Basically, anything small that fits inside the easter egg you plan to use for the hunt can be used as a substitute for candy. I try to use things that my children already love, so it is a win for both of us. Happy Easter!

How to Get Your Disney Fix While the Parks are Closed

I know for many with season passes, having Disney theme parks closed is a hard adjustment. Even though I don’t live close to a park currently, I was so shocked when they closed down. I understand why, but I still daydream of being able to go to the parks again soon. I know I am not alone in this feeling.

Disney is such a magical place and a special staple in most people’s lives. Just because the parks are closed doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy that magic at home. Here are my top tips to still get your Disney fix and keep the magic alive while the parks are currently closed.

Disney+

This is probably the number one thing most people think of to get your Disney fix while the parks are closed. We are in the process of getting Disney+ soon, and I cannot wait for it! Even if you don’t have Disney+, a good old-fashioned DVD or Blu-ray of any of the wonderful Disney movies will work the same way.

There are so many options between animated movies and live-action movies. Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior are also great options for those with cable. In our house, we watch at least one Disney movie a day typically, and it brings so much joy to all of us, myself included.

Disney Karaoke

Break out those Disney soundtracks and karaoke tracks. My daughter loves singing around the house lately, and it is my favorite thing. She is usually singing a Disney song, so this is a regular occurrence in our house.

Disney Dance Party

Everyone loves a good dance party. This goes along great with the karaoke option too. Make a new TikTok dance challenge to a Disney song, dance along as the songs play in a movie, or sing and dance just because.

Disney Character Dress Up

Do your kids like to play dress up, or are you just looking for a way to keep them entertained for a while? No better option than to dress up as your favorite Disney characters and make a themed day out of it.

Read Disney Books

I want to bet most everyone owns at least one Disney book. I know we own a bunch! Take them down off the shelf and read away. The Little Golden Disney books are some of our favorites.

Disney Arts & Crafts

One of our favorite activities is arts and crafts. I love doing themed crafts for the different seasons, and my kids love anything that involves drawing and painting. Why not combine arts and crafts fun and make some Disney-specific crafts? We have made quite a few Disney crafts throughout the years in our house.

Put on a Disney Play

As an actress, it makes me so proud that my daughter loves acting out scenes from her favorite Disney movies. Try putting together a little makeshift Disney play of your favorite story with your kids and have fun with it!

Write Your Own Disney Story

Get creative and work with your kids to write their very own Disney-style fairy tale story. You can also write a story based on Disney characters. Kids are so imaginative, and this is a great option to build some Creative Writing/English skills in so that your kids are learning while having fun.

Make a Disney Bucket List

Every child dreams of going to Disney at some point. When I was a child, my biggest dream was to work for Disney as an actress. Even as an adult, I still have Disney dreams. Make a bucket list of things you want to do related to Disney and bring your whole family in on it. Ask your kids and partner what they would like to include. Write down the list now and keep it to check off items later when you can.

Disney is literally everywhere. In our house alone, we have many books, movies, and toys that are Disney-themed. My daughter’s room is also The Little Mermaid-themed. I have been obsessed with Disney since I was little and have shared that love with my kids. Share your favorite thing to do Disney-related in the comments below. And have fun keeping the Disney magic alive!

Spring Bucket List Activities

I started my seasonal bucket list activity idea posts back in the fall, continued it in the winter, and wanted to keep it going now for the spring. I know a lot of things are on hold right now, but we will get back to normal again, and I can’t wait to do so! I wanted to share with you these ideas so that you can do what you can now and save the rest for later.

Do you want some spring activity ideas for your family? I have compiled this list of fun spring activities to add to your Spring Bucket List!

Plant Flowers

Flowers are the biggest draw during the spring. With the weather getting warmer, the pretty flowers start blooming. I absolutely love flowers, and my favorites are lilies. Whenever I redo my flower beds, I always plant new flowers. It’s fun to mix it up and plan where you plant them.

Blow Bubbles

Grab the kiddos and/or pets and break out those bubbles! Everyone loves chasing and watching bubbles. See who can blow the biggest bubble, who can pop the most, or whose bubble travels the furthest.

Draw with Chalk

One of my favorite things about spring is the warmer weather and getting outside more. Sidewalk chalk is one of our family favorites. My kids love it, and I enjoy getting creative drawing with them too.

Plant a Garden

Do you have a green thumb? Have you ever thought about growing your own food? Go for it now. Planting a garden can be a fun activity for the whole family. Pick your favorite fruits and veggies and plant away.

Go to a Baseball Game

One of my favorite things to do anytime (but especially in the spring) is going to baseball games. I grew up going to Minor League games and even worked for a Major League team as an adult. I took my daughter to her first game at just three months old and can’t wait to take my son to his first game! It’s a great time to relax, try a yummy treat, and hang out with friends. What’s not to love about that?

Catch Fireflies

As a child, I loved watching fireflies. I have many good memories of chasing them around and catching them in my hands or a jar to watch them twinkle. Such a great evening activity.

Go Berry Picking

Who doesn’t love fresh fruit? I always loved picking strawberries in the spring. You support a local farm, get some yummy (and healthy) fruit to bring home, and get a cute photo opp. So much fun is waiting to be had at berry farms in the spring.

Visit the Park

If your kids are anything like mine, they must be obsessed with the park. It’s a great way to get their energy out and have some outside playtime. I love watching my kids learn how to climb and conquer fears by playing at the park.

Fly a Kite

This is such a fun activity for the family. Get a little kite for every person or take turns. Head out to an open area or the beach and watch your kids’ excitement as they experience flying a kite.

Spring Themed Crafts

Arts and crafts are a huge hit in our house! Think of all the fun you can have creating an Easter craft or making hand/footprint bunnies and flowers. There are so many fun ideas for crafts. Browse Pinterest and Google for some spring ideas.

Paint Easter Eggs

And speaking of crafts…what better spring craft is there than painting Easter eggs? I’ve only done this like once, but I am so excited to try it with my kids. Such a fun activity and cool Easter decorations to have on hand for springtime.

Have a Picnic

Make a simple meal, grab some of your favorite snacks, take your family to your favorite spot, and enjoy a picnic. I love this idea to just get outside and spend time with your family. If you don’t want to go far, you can always have a picnic at home. Just set up a blanket in your yard.

Go to the Zoo

One of the things I’ve been looking forward to the most this year is going to the zoo. Both of my kids love animals. I love seeing them excited and learning all about the animals that they love. It’s a great time to walk around and have fun as a family.

Pick Wildflowers

Who doesn’t love collecting wildflowers? It was a favorite of mine as a child, and my daughter has taken up picking flowers along our neighborhood walks. It’s such fun keeping an eye out for different kinds of flowers, and it brings so much joy for all of us to see them in a vase at home.

Have an Easter Egg Hunt

No spring list would be complete without an Easter egg hunt. This is a staple for children to celebrate Easter in April. Last year was my daughter’s first Easter egg hunt, and it was so magical watching her excitement. I cannot wait to experience my son’s first Easter egg hunt this year!

I just love this time of year as the weather gets warmer and we can get outside more. Now that my kids are getting older, I’m loving knocking items off of our bucket lists even more! What are your favorite spring activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Spring, you guys!

10 Ways to Stay Productive During Home Quarantine

This is such an interesting time. With all of the stay-at-home orders and social distancing, it is easy to feel stuck and unproductive. As a stay-at-home mom, I am no stranger to cabin fever. I have gone through my fair share of times when I get tired of being home and just feel lazy.

Don’t let this time get you down. Even with the schedule changes, you can still find ways to get stuff done. Even when you can’t get out, you can still feel accomplished. Here are my top tips for staying productive while staying at home.

1. Tackle Home Projects

What better time to work on some projects that you have around the house than when you’re quarantined at home? Life gets busy, and when you’re running to and from home, projects often get overlooked. When you’re home, you want to just relax and not work on the house. Get the best of both worlds by tackling home projects now that you’re stuck at home. Not only will you feel productive, but you’ll also shorten your to-do list and get your home how you want it as well.

2. Spring Clean

What better task than spring cleaning while it’s spring? Take advantage of your extra time at home by doing some deeper cleaning than you do regularly. Tackle one room or closet a day to spread it out and not get so overwhelmed.

3. Declutter & Downsize

Clean out that junk drawer, organize your pantry, go through your closet, and downsize. Do you have duplicate books or movies? Do your kids have toys they’ve outgrown for their age? Make a pile of things to get rid of that you don’t use so that you can resell or donate them. You could make a little, give back, and make more space in your closet. Triple win.

4. Learn Something New

Is there a new skill or hobby that you’ve been wanting to learn? No better time than the present. I know it can be hard to find the time to take up a new hobby during your normal day-to-day life. Count this extra time at home as a blessing and just go for it now! The beauty of the internet is that you can find blogs and videos to teach you how to learn pretty much everything. I taught myself to sew by watching YouTube videos, and to this day it’s still one of my favorite hobbies.

5. Focus on a Dream You’ve Been Putting Off

Life gets busy, and things get put on the back burner regularly. Believe me, I get it. But there really is no better time than now. Nothing will change for the future if you don’t start today. Do you have a dream venture you’ve been putting off? Start focusing your extra time on it now. Research and learn all that you can about it now.

I have quite a few dreams and goals that I want to really start going after. I have really been cracking down on what I can do today to get there. For me, that means doing my research and learning as much as I can now. With so much seemingly on hold, these days are the perfect time to get things in motion for what you want for your future.

6. Make Sure Kids are Still Learning

With so many schools closed (some with virtual learning and some without), now is not the time to let your kids’ learning suffer. There are amazing free resources and other homeschooling moms online that can help give you ideas. Make it fun and keep your kids intrigued by learning.

Make cookies with them for some math and measurements, do a fun home experiment for science, read books to contribute to English, do some sensory play for younger kids, etc. Is there anything they have been asking to learn or a hobby they want to try? Help them start learning it now.

7. Do Yard Work

Getting outside with the sunshine and fresh air does so much good for the body. You may not be able to go out and venture far, but you can still get out in your own yard. Springtime is the best time to get your yard work done and prepare for the warmer months ahead. Plant a garden, redo your flower beds, or simply do some regular yard maintenance like raking and mowing.

8. Keep Exercising

Just because you are stuck at home doesn’t mean you need to let your exercise and workout routines suffer. Exercising is not only good for your body and physical health, but it’s also huge for your mental health and energy. So get up and move. As long as it’s safe to do so, you can walk around the neighborhood or go on a hike. If you’re at home, you can still do at-home workouts, yoga, or a yard workout.

I, for one, have never been a fan of gym workouts. I’ve always preferred to work out at home, so this is great for me. There are a lot of great options to do home workouts with minimal to no exercise equipment. You also don’t have to do a big dramatic workout; the most important thing is to simply move.

9. Focus on Your Self-Care

During this stressful time, make sure to still take time for yourself so that you stay sane. Your mental health is important. With so many schedule changes, you need to make sure to still take care of yourself. You can do a simple spa day at home, take some time to meditate, or simply do something that you love.

Some of the biggest self-care for me is just taking time for myself to write or do yoga. Just taking some time for myself to focus on what I love helps keep me feeling productive and in a better mood. When your cup is full, you will be able to better take care of others who count on you.

10. Plan for the Future

Without finalizing dates, go ahead and plan your next family vacation. This too shall pass, and life will get back to normal again. Making plans for the future gives you hope for the end of this and something to look forward to without getting stuck in the scary unknowns of right now.

It’s hard not to be in control and not knowing when things will go back to normal. If you focus on that too much, it will bring you down. Instead, I choose to look forward to the future. I’m already mentally planning for future trips and things I want to do with my family. It makes me excited about the future again. Don’t get too caught up in the here and now. Continue to dream and look ahead.

Whether you’re quarantined or just staying home by choice, cabin fever is a reality. Staying busy and productive really helps to combat that feeling. You don’t have to stop checking things off your to-do list just because you are at home. How do you like to stay productive while at home? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

I personally love foaming hand soap. It smells amazing and is fluffy and fun to wash your hands with. One thing I don’t like about foaming hand soap is how expensive it can be, especially if it is the only hand soap you use.

I’m always looking for ways to cut costs and save. Foaming hand soap was one of the things I found. I discovered I could make it myself and help save money, so I figured, why not? And now I want to share with you the step-by-step guide I use so that you can make your own as well!

What You’ll Need

• Foaming soap pump
• Castile soap
• Essential oil
• Fractionated coconut oil (optional)
• Water

FOAMING SOAP PUMP

You’ll need an empty foaming soap pump. You can purchase new ones online on Amazon, or you can save ones you already have. I just saved pumps I had bought from Walmart of Dial foaming soap. Once the soap was gone, I washed them out and reused them.

CASTILE SOAP

I like Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap because it’s organic. I used their baby unscented soap, but they also have other scents like lavender and peppermint.

ESSENTIAL OIL

Grab your favorite essential oils for scents. You can mix and match them as well if you so choose. I personally use Young Living.

FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL

Basically, fractionated coconut oil is just liquid coconut oil. I found mine online at Amazon. It isn’t necessary to include this when making your soap, but I chose to for the benefits of helping to keep my hands softer.

WATER

Any water will do. I just used water from the filter in my fridge.

Let’s Get Started

STEP #1
Fill the soap dispenser about 1/4 of the way with castile soap. I just eyeball it.

STEP #2
Add 1 teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil into the soap dispenser.

STEP #3
Add 8-10 drops of your choice of essential oil(s) into the soap dispenser. You can do all 1 scent or mix a couple together. I was skeptical of using 10 drops because it seemed like a lot, but the scent was way lower than I thought, even using 10 drops.

STEP #4
Fill the rest of the soap dispenser with water and shake to mix. Make sure to leave room to put the pump in the dispenser. The bottles I used already had a fill line marked on the back, which was super helpful.

STEP #5
Let the bubbles settle from shaking and then enjoy your new foaming soap!

Congratulations, now you have your own homemade foaming hand soap to use! I made a total of 3 pumps my first time and only used a minimal amount of castile soap and fractionated coconut oil (see photo above). I still have plenty of product to make more. Think of all the money you’ll save doing this on your own. Plus, it’s simple and quick to make, so it doesn’t take up much time. Give different scents a try and have fun mixing and matching. Happy creating!