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Designing a Life Fantastic

Designing A Life Fantastic

  • lots of hearts

    Classroom Valentine’s Day Ideas That Are Fun, Affordable and Low-Waste

    Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is still very much a classroom tradition.…

    read more
  • Plitvice Lakes Croatia

    Two Days at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

    Croatia had been on my travel wish list for a while, and when we…

    read more
  • Woman with wallet not spending money

    Why You Should Try a No-Spend Day—or Month

    How It Started I started doing no-spend days before I had kids — mostly…

    read more
  • Plymouth Village

    A Family-Friendly Weekend in Plymouth, MA: History, Museums and Harbor Walks

    Plymouth, Massachusetts—often called “America’s Hometown”—is a rare mix of living history and seaside charm.…

    read more

Welcome!

I'm Robin; traveler and lifestyle blogger.

I'm on a mission to bring more joy into my life. Follow along as I share travel tips, life hacks, easy sustainability swaps, design inspiration and more.

get to know me!

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Lifestyle

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lots of hearts

Classroom Valentine’s Day Ideas That Are Fun, Affordable and Low-Waste

February 5, 2026February 5, 2026

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is still very much a classroom tradition. We did them once, in Kindergarten, and making 50 valentines was more stress than fun, and…

read article
Plitvice Lakes Croatia

Two Days at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Croatia had been on my travel wish list for a while, and when we finally made it happen, there was one place I knew we had to see: Plitvice Lakes…

read article
Woman with wallet not spending money

Why You Should Try a No-Spend Day—or Month

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

How It Started I started doing no-spend days before I had kids — mostly as a fun little challenge to help me jump-start my savings. I wasn’t always consistent back…

read article
Plymouth Village

A Family-Friendly Weekend in Plymouth, MA: History, Museums and Harbor Walks

July 17, 2025September 22, 2025

Plymouth, Massachusetts—often called “America’s Hometown”—is a rare mix of living history and seaside charm. From walking the decks of the Mayflower II to chatting with costumed interpreters at Plimoth Patuxet,…

read article
cluttered messy kitchen

20 Ways to Declutter Your Home to Transform Your Space (and Your Mind!)

June 14, 2025November 24, 2025

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. I've been actively decluttering my home for the last six months, and I'm already…

read article
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Meet Robin!

World traveler, twin mom, concert t-shirt wearing novice chef ready to break out of my boring life and to design a life fantastic.

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  • lots of hearts

    Classroom Valentine’s Day Ideas That Are Fun, Affordable and Low-Waste

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thejoyfulrobin

710

Show up as you are, leave better than you came
Opting you out of perfection & into presence 🤍
📍Live from NYC
If it’s here, it’s worth it ⬇️

thejoyfulrobin

View Instagram post by thejoyfulrobin

Feb 21

Open post by thejoyfulrobin with ID 17973004187841429
I should have added outfit repeater bc I’m wearing a pink dress from 2022 in most of my fav videos 😆 

2026 is the year I embrace my Capricorn energy and become the best version of myself and create my dream life. No shopping hauls, only realistic daily life, learning new habits, low consumption inspiration, finding joy in the everyday, and lots of family adventures.

I should have added outfit repeater bc I’m wearing a pink dress from 2022 in most of my fav videos 😆

2026 is the year I embrace my Capricorn energy and become the best version of myself and create my dream life. No shopping hauls, only realistic daily life, learning new habits, low consumption inspiration, finding joy in the everyday, and lots of family adventures.
...

12 1

thejoyfulrobin

View Instagram post by thejoyfulrobin

Feb 16

Open post by thejoyfulrobin with ID 17915657520127397
Week 6/52. Quick trip to see family. Downtown Annapolis. Balloons for the birthday girl. Doughnuts from @sandyponydonuts 😋. Seafood tower, steaks, martinis. The 2,000 piece puzzle is still not complete. 

And one 50 degree day to tease us that spring is on the way #designingalifefantastic #lifeinpictures

Week 6/52. Quick trip to see family. Downtown Annapolis. Balloons for the birthday girl. Doughnuts from @sandyponydonuts 😋. Seafood tower, steaks, martinis. The 2,000 piece puzzle is still not complete.

And one 50 degree day to tease us that spring is on the way #designingalifefantastic #lifeinpictures
...

4 0

thejoyfulrobin

View Instagram post by thejoyfulrobin

Feb 15

Open post by thejoyfulrobin with ID 18386353513152547
I decided to opt out of the buy-more-upgrade-repeat cycle and start designing a life that feels lighter and more joyful. Less clutter. More travel. Smarter money moves. Sustainable habits that actually stick.

I share what’s working, what I’m unlearning and how I’m teaching my kids to value experiences over stuff.

If this is something you struggle with, lmk in the comments and I can help you reframe your thoughts around consumerism. 

If that sounds like you, follow along. We’re building wealth and peace at the same time over here ✨

I decided to opt out of the buy-more-upgrade-repeat cycle and start designing a life that feels lighter and more joyful. Less clutter. More travel. Smarter money moves. Sustainable habits that actually stick.

I share what’s working, what I’m unlearning and how I’m teaching my kids to value experiences over stuff.

If this is something you struggle with, lmk in the comments and I can help you reframe your thoughts around consumerism.

If that sounds like you, follow along. We’re building wealth and peace at the same time over here ✨
...

1 0

thejoyfulrobin

View Instagram post by thejoyfulrobin

Feb 14

Open post by thejoyfulrobin with ID 18079766852023605
When I was single, Valentine’s Day, was such a BIG DEAL. If I didn’t have plans (aka a date) for Valentine’s Day, I felt bad about myself for most of February. Fast forward to now with my family and we don’t even celebrate this holiday. No candy, gifts or fancy, overpriced restaurant dinner.

Looking back, I wonder if all of the childhood pressure of valentines and who received more “show of love” was the problem. We are training our kids from a young age to expect presents for every holiday, to equate love with gifts. How will they feel when the gifts stop??

I am so glad that our school does not celebrate Valentine’s Day. Students are not allowed to bring in cards, candy or toys. It levels the playing field and doesn’t force families to celebrate holidays they don’t celebrate. 

Is this sounds like you, let’s be friends. Let’s normalize not making every holiday an opportunity for over consumption. Let’s save our time, money and resources for things that really matter 💕

When I was single, Valentine’s Day, was such a BIG DEAL. If I didn’t have plans (aka a date) for Valentine’s Day, I felt bad about myself for most of February. Fast forward to now with my family and we don’t even celebrate this holiday. No candy, gifts or fancy, overpriced restaurant dinner.

Looking back, I wonder if all of the childhood pressure of valentines and who received more “show of love” was the problem. We are training our kids from a young age to expect presents for every holiday, to equate love with gifts. How will they feel when the gifts stop??

I am so glad that our school does not celebrate Valentine’s Day. Students are not allowed to bring in cards, candy or toys. It levels the playing field and doesn’t force families to celebrate holidays they don’t celebrate.

Is this sounds like you, let’s be friends. Let’s normalize not making every holiday an opportunity for over consumption. Let’s save our time, money and resources for things that really matter 💕
...

13 4
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