Depression is not all-encompassing of the range of mental illnesses that 1 in 5 women experience either during pregnancy or after delivery. The better term to classify these changes in mood is less commonly known, but on the rise– Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, or PMADs. Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are the most common… Read More My Resources for Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia
Recently, I announced that I was taking over 2 months off for baby bonding leave and I was met with a lot of questions and curiosity. It turns out a lot of women don’t really understand maternity leave and bonding leave, including my coworkers who had already done it twice before and had to do… Read More The Nitty Gritty of Maternity and Bonding Leave in California
Every year on February 1st, avid hikers and waterfall chasers wait eagerly for 8am Arizona Time, ready to pounce on the highly coveted Havasupai permits for the year! And this year, you’re in luck because in 2020, February 1 is on a Saturday! Since I made the journey myself in 2017, I have been giving… Read More How to Get a Permit and Visit Havasupai in 2020
Where else can you hike and see 10 waterfalls in one day, AND walk behind 4 of the waterfalls?! Silver Falls State Park is one of the coolest Oregon State Parks to visit because of its high density of waterfalls (large ones at that!) in one state park! The “crown jewel” of Oregon State Parks, I definitely think this place is not to be missed!… Read More Silver Falls State Park in Oregon – A Guide to the Trail of Ten Waterfalls Day Hike
There’s something about tulip fields that just looks so magical. I love all types of gardens, but tulip fields have such a distinct look. And maybe it’s that OCD in me, but I love how organized the rows and rows of tulips grow and those perfect leading lines of vibrant and sturdy blooms that make… Read More Visiting Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Oregon for Sunrise
I first heard of Black’s Beach during my SoCal years, since my high school bestie attended UCSD and she was always an adventurous one. (Yes, same one I went to Havasupai with last year!) We would often hang out at La Jolla Shores when I visited her, but she would frequently tell me that Black’s… Read More Hiking to Black’s Beach via Ho Chi Minh Trail in San Diego
I’ll be honest. I never set foot in REI unless I am shopping for a North Face jacket. When my husband and best friend decided they wanted to plan the backpacking trip to Havasupai on their own, I was a little nervous. I just wanted to hire a tour group that would provide (almost) EVERYTHING.… Read More A First-Time Backpacker’s Guide to Packing for Havasupai
If you don’t really care to read about hiking to Beaver Falls, that’s okay! But you should scroll through to see some of these super cool photos of an unreal hike! 🙂 Beaver Falls is not really a large of a waterfall like Mooney Falls or Havasu Falls but rather a series of smaller waterfalls flowing in… Read More How to Hike to Beaver Falls in Havasupai
Before I go into detail about the hike, I wanted to make sure people know that they should do a little physical preparation if you plan to backpack to and from Havasupai. The first thing everyone asked me when I got back from Havasupai was, “How was the hike?!” And for those who didn’t know… Read More Preparing Physically for Havasupai
For me, food is a big part of travel. Growing up, we used to not care as much, but we also didn’t have as much of the luxury to splurge on fancy meals, especially when traveling! I remember going to New York with my family when I was 6 or 7, and we would eat… Read More Dining at the Intercontinental Bora Bora