Welcome to Simplicity Relished.
Hello! I’m Daisy, a social entrepreneur, writer, and fellow adventurer. I’m here to help you finally follow your heart, explore the world, and live courageously.
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A getaway guide to Douro Valley, Portugal’s wine country
There are destinations that are worthy of a thoughtful visit once in a lifetime— and once might just be enough. And then there are places that beckon you right back, even as you depart. Douro Valley is one of those places for me. Portugal has so much to offer...
Lisbon, Portugal: a travel guide for curious wanderers
Our Lisbon Portugal travel blog with our favorite views, food recommendations, and the way to wander through the city.
Hello 2023: where we’ve been and where we’re going
Happy 2023! As I type this, I realize the last time I wrote a "hello new year" post was when we entered 2020 (here it is). What a whirlwind swept us all— all of humanity— shortly after those days. I'm not sure how to measure the stretch of time from one January to the...
A Slow Travel Guide to Kerala, India
It calls itself "God's Own Country" for a reason. Kerala might be one of the most naturally beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Between winding backwater canals and brilliant diving kingfishers and rolling misty hills with hidden waterfalls, this Southern Indian state...
An enchanting 2-week road trip through the American Southwest
Welcome to the mystery, the land of enchantment, the wild west. With vibrant light, flourishing wildflowers, rugged rock formations and fascinating history, the region we call the American Southwest is bound to captivate any visitor, no matter what century they visit....
How to spend a glorious day in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, holds some of India's most famous gems. After our weeks of working and exploring in Udaipur, entering the Pink City felt like a return to something familiar, even as it was absolutely brand new to me. As part of India's popular Golden...
Our journey to India and Udaipur travel diary
My childhood dream of visiting India finally came true: the story of our travels to Udaipur, and the exquisite people we met there.
Fall harvest season & life in California
How I’m embracing our local seasonal produce and falling in love with California again.
A few thoughts on finding joy right now
Between mid-June and late July this year, I started to really feel it: an incoherent, rootless bone-tiredness that settled in and couldn't be lifted. 15 months of pandemic endurance, and my defenses had finally crashed. I felt entirely depleted. And I'm embarrassed...
The most unique things to do in Mendocino, California
Expansive bluffs that tumble into rich turquoise waters. Nearby ancient forests that tell stories of old. This is Mendocino, a wild and tranquil retreat from the Bay Area. It's an absolute delight. It's no secret that I'm in love with the California coast. Growing up...
How to read more books in 2021
Many of us have long had the goal to read more books each year. These practical tips have helped me increase my reading significantly and I hope they help you too.
A road trip guide to California’s gorgeous central coast
Discover California’s stunning coastline while remaining socially distanced.
Forest bathing: a simple guide for wellness and relaxation
Many of us think of the great outdoors as a place to be active— complete with gear from REI. National parks are for hiking, rockclimbing, fishing, mountaineering, and sleeping only if you can manage to carry your belongings on your back. For some (and sometimes for...
5 reflection questions for the close of 2020
There are myriad labels we can use to describe the events of this year, but “pleasant” is not one of them. A global pandemic that has taken too many lives. Destructive natural disasters that point to our climate crisis. The exposure of systemic racism in the US, and...
How to travel from home: a guide to creating experiences that inspire
"When will we be able to travel again?" I used to think this question had a clear answer. But considering how this pandemic has unfolded, I've realized that maybe it's no longer the right question to ask. Maybe a better question to ask is— what makes travel so unique...
Turning 30: dreaming beyond this moment
As I write this, I'm coming off of a week that felt particularly catastrophic. We're in a global pandemic. The US west coast, where we live, is ablaze like never before. People are missing, the air is dangerous to breathe. Massive injustices plague our communities...
I graduated from business school. Here’s what I learned.
No cap, no gown, no frenzied march around campus in a sea of cheerful graduates. The Class of 2020, from middle school to graduate school, skipped commencement this year, and I am among them. While the temptation is to allow our current pandemic to engulf any...
How we’re spending our last summer in Connecticut (socially distanced)
When we moved to New Haven two years ago for my MBA program, we never imagined this season would end in a global crisis. Lately, the pandemic has contributed to how challenging it seems to truly close this chapter. In just a few weeks, Aaron and I will leave the East...
Pursuing a dream when no one can show you how
One of my personal heroes, Jacqueline Novogratz, launched her second book this week. As the founder and CEO of Acumen, Novogratz is extraordinary for her achievements; but what has always taken my breath away is her vibrant, honest storytelling. When I was beginning...
How we’re pivoting our life and business this year
2020 was already going to hold immense change for many of us. Perhaps you've been looking forward to your family growing or your career advancing. You may have had a wedding or two on the calendar. Perhaps you were gearing up for a big trip, or a big move. Aaron and I...
Simple morning and evening routines during quarantine
Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, our lives seemed to be moving at breakneck speed. I, especially, had abandoned any past commitment to slow living when I realized that I could do so much more with my time if I just... crammed it all in. I'm embarrassed and humbled...
Coronavirus survival: one breath at a time.
Our current global crisis has catalyzed numerous reactions, from individuals like you and me shuttered away in our homes, to large multinational organizations working to respond in time. Amidst all the advocacy, commentary, and reporting (and much of this is...
Travel guide to Mérida, Mexico: history, art, and swimming in cenotes
If you're looking for a special, off-the-beaten-path destination in Mexico, then Mérida in the Yucatán might be it. With a beautiful historic town, stunning local art, unique cuisine, and magical caves for swimming, Mérida makes the perfect quiet getaway. You'll be...
Hello 2020: where we’ve been and where we’re going
As I look back over 2019, I feel a rush of emotions. The highest highs and lowest lows met us this year, across 4 continents, over multiple months. Some of the travel was for our nonprofit that works with communities in Latin America. Other travel was for family,...
Why you should visit Stockholm in the fall
Do a little research on visiting Stockholm, Sweden, and you're likely to find lots of recommendations for the summer. And it's with good reason: the Swedish capital comes alive in the summer months when days are long and the weather is warmer. But what about the fall?...
Passionate people don’t trade their calling for the world.
Not everyone believes that people are called to existence for a specific purpose. But I happen to. And I have spent a lot of time thinking about this lately. One of the most common questions asked of graduate students is "What's next? What will you do with your...
This is 29: what I’ve learned from a year of adventure
I turn 29 today. Not to be dramatic, but I look back on the past year and feel like I died and came back to life multiple times. In many ways, this year was one of the hardest I've ever experienced. It also required more courage than I ever thought possible. Twirling...
25 magical places to eat in Mexico City: bucket list for foodies
We might have said "Mexico City restaurants are on the rise" ten years ago and not been entirely late to the game. But today, the culinary scene in this global capital is nothing less than a mature, full-blown bonanza. And there's good news: you're invited. The fact...
How to visit Banff National Park: Canadian Rockies Travel Guide & Map
I still can't believe these places are real. The Canadian Rockies hold numerous dramatic mountain landscapes and turquoise lakes that explode with color. Unsurprisingly, Banff National Park is one of the most visited parks on earth. And for good reason. The fame of...
On giving and receiving better advice
When it comes to making thoughtful decisions and pursuing our goals well, good advice is something we crave. We also want to be the kinds of people who offer that good advice to others— it can be such a rewarding way to contribute. I recently joined the advisory board...
How to spend 7 incredible days in Patagonia: itinerary and guide
Mountains that thunder, rivers that glow. Creaking glaciers that stretch for miles. Condors, guanacos, and flamingos that fill the sky, the earth, and the water. Patagonia is nothing short of magical. And many people would be scandalized by a trip as short as...
The perfect Paris weekend guide to food and frolicking
Paris, city of light. Paris, city of love. Paris, home to the world's favorite writers, designers and artists. Paris, the city we promised each other to visit once every five years to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We all (want to) have a Paris story. But visiting...
48 Hours in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico: full itinerary & map
Mexico's wine region, Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, is growing in popularity as it rises to the top of international lists for culinary and wine-tasting adventures. But first, a story about what brought us there. We were nearing the end of our season in...
A first-timer’s guide to Buenos Aires, Argentina
"It's like Europe!" If you've heard someone say this about Buenos Aires, they're not entirely wrong. There are beautiful buildings modeled after Paris. There are broad avenues, stunning gardens, and as colonial history would have it, many locals who can claim Italian,...
Hello 2019: where we’ve been and where we’re headed
2018 was a whirlwind of a year, filled with more change than we are used to. Most significantly, we traversed across the United States to begin a new chapter of life in Connecticut while I pursue my MBA at Yale. This uprooting after more than four years in Los Angeles...
The simplest fall picnic for an afternoon of chasing foliage
Simple things make me happy. But lately, I've discovered that an inundation of life changes can make us forget the simple things. Like a fall picnic on a crisp, admittedly colder-than-average day. It's not that hard to pack a bag of cheese and goodies and go sit under...
4 ways to live deeply when you’re busier than ever
Year 1 of my MBA program is in full swing and I feel like a bit of a phony. I'm surrounded by classmates who worked really hard to get here. Conversations often dance around the battle scars of merger-induced all-nighters or volatile client crises that eventually...
Heading to Yale for my MBA!
If you had met me 4 years ago on the day of my college graduation—or anytime before that— you probably would not have thought of me as the business school type. And for the most part, I'm still not. My work experience has been a hodgepodge of independent consultation,...
Our China Adventure: poems, gardens, and painted dreams
Our trip to China was six months ago. Yes, it's taken me this long to write and publish something about it. Lately I've found myself searching for deeper meaning as I travel, not simply wandering for wandering's sake, or for writing a useful guide. Trust me, I'm still...
The Vulnerability Tradeoff
Sometimes I wonder whether there's anything I fear more than failing in plain view of others. And I'm not talking about your average "this is my first time" failure; I'm talking about "I worked really hard and I did not succeed" failure. Maybe it was because I grew up...
Rome off the beaten path: a wanderer’s guide to the eternal city
I love the Spanish Steps. And the Trevi Fountain. The Pantheon still takes my breath away. And the first time I sank my teeth into a delicate lasagna in the Piazza Navona, I thought I'd discovered culinary gold. Rome is where I fell in love with travel. When I was 13,...
2018: Looking back, looking ahead
We've just returned from an 18-day trip around the world. Aaron discovered an unusual route that would take us east from Los Angeles to Rome, Rome to Taipei, Taipei to Shanghai, and Shanghai to LA. All nonstop. So on December 12th, we packed our bags and left for the...
Autumn In Kyoto: Where To Find The Best Foliage (with a map!)
Autumn in Kyoto is something else. Bursts of color occupy the stretch between earth and sky, spreading wide at the tops of trees, trickling down in fallen leaves, crunching beneath your feet. Having lived in New England, my expectations weren't low. But there was a...
Alive, not perfect.
There’s a woman named Anne at my church. She is the picture of authenticity. She catches us off-guard with her honest, knowing smile. She builds rapport without uttering a word. Anne grew up dodging bullets in east Africa. She now lives in Pasadena with her two...
Resisting chaos with quietness: 4 simple practices
We live in an age where we feel as though everything matters and nothing can wait. Between headlines, notifications, and the regular demands of our work and home life, it is all too easy to go through an entire day (or week) doing nothing other than responding to what...
Oaxaca, Mexico: a guide to the city of delights
(Updated in 2020) This is a guide to Oaxaca City, Mexico. It's also a bit of a memoir. We spent a week there absorbing its magic, wandering its alleys, and tasting its impeccable food. I want to remember all of it. And I want you to know about it-- where to eat, stay,...
TROVE: the new ethical clothing brand you need to know
The past month has been quite the whirlwind. From Oaxaca to Guatemala back to Los Angeles, I feel ready to be in one place for a while. It's in the moments between journeys that we are able to absorb and process all that we've experienced. And even though I've been...
Cambodia: Travel Guide and Photo Diary
Cambodia is a place I'll never forget. I grew up dreaming of visiting, and in April of this year, I finally did-- with two of my best girl friends from college, one of whom just finished two years with Peace Corps there. If you've ever to traveled to Southeast Asia,...
3 years of marriage: 3 truths I’m grateful for
Today, Aaron and I celebrate 3 years. 3 years since we said that we do-- do vow to love, cherish, endure, laugh, adventure, advocate, serve, and give-- with each other. And it's weeks like this (months like this, really), when I am grateful for the opportunity to...
How to build a summer capsule wardrobe (+ free worksheets!)
I'll admit it. My passion for capsule wardrobes has waxed and waned. Back in the early days of this blog, I literally committed to 30-or-so items for 3 months, and made it happen. That was then, this is now. What I learned in that process is that limiting your...