latest on the blog
Happy Wednesday friends!
It is hard to believe that it has been a full year today since our beautiful Rhone River Cruise! I am excited to share a few final reels of this beautiful adventure beginning with our first two days HERE!
Last night on IG I shared a reel all about our embarkation day and our beautiful day in Arles! Before you read anymore here, I would be honored if you would please head on over to watch, comment, and like this reel by clicking HERE!
I understand that in the world we live in and the constant reels and pictures it may not seem like a lot, but to me this means so much more than you realize. Every view, like, comment, and share on a reel truly matters more than most people realize. Instagram quietly uses those small signals to decide whether a post should be shown to more people. When you watch, tap the heart, or leave a thoughtful comment, you’re helping the story reach someone else who might need to hear it too. For a small content creator like me, those simple moments of encouragement from this community make a real difference and help Caravan Sonnet continue to grow in the Instagram space. So please take just a quick moment to click HERE to do this!
Thank you.
If you are interested in more information about these first couple of days please click on these links below and as always feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
Embarkation Day
Embarkation Day on the Viking Delling (IG Reel)
Embarkation Day on the Viking Delling (Blog Post)
Viking Delling (IG Reel)
Viking Delling Ship Review (IG Reel)
Viking Rhone River Tours (IG Reel)
Viking Delling Stateroom 337 Review (IG Reel)
Day 2- Arles, France
Morning on the Rhone River (IG Reel)
Thoughts from Arles France (Blog Post)
The Arles Ampitheater (Blog Post)
A Walk Through Arles France (IG Reel)
Sunsets on the Viking Delling (IG Reel)
Happy Wednesday! I hope you have the most wonderful day!
You don’t need to rush across Europe to make a trip feel worthwhile. When you plan your
route with care, each stop starts to work harder for you, giving you better food and time to
actually enjoy where you are. You avoid the constant packing and long transfers that drain
your energy and instead build a journey that feels balanced. By mixing well-known cities with
quieter regions, you give yourself variety without overwhelming your schedule.
Iconic European Cities
Tourists naturally gravitate towards cities like Paris and Barcelona, and for good reason.
Each offers a compact layout that makes exploring on foot or by metro straightforward,
which saves both time and money. In Paris, you can structure your day around
neighbourhoods - start with a morning coffee in Le Marais, then walk to the Seine instead of
zigzagging across the city. Barcelona gives you flexibility - pair a cultural stop like the Gothic
Quarter with an afternoon by the beach, which helps you recharge without wasting a day
travelling.
Island Escapes
Islands offer a calmer, slower-paced way of life. The Italian charm is irresistible, that’s why a
Sardinia Holiday is the perfect getaway. You can land in Cagliari and reach quiet beaches
within an hour, avoiding the long transfers you’d face on larger islands. Renting a small car
lets you explore coastal roads at your own pace, stopping at lesser-known coves where you
won’t compete for space. Alternatively, Santorini suits shorter stays; its compact size means
you can see key viewpoints without constant travel, freeing up time to relax.
Scenic Countryside and Alpine Routes
Europe’s countryside gives you breathing room and a different rhythm. The Swiss Alps, for
example, make travel itself part of the experience. Trains between towns like Interlaken and
Zermatt run frequently and offer panoramic views, so you don’t need to drive to enjoy the
scenery. If you prefer something quieter, regions such as Tuscany let you base yourself in
one village and take short day trips to vineyards or historic towns.
Eastern European Gems
Cities like Prague and Budapest combine walkable centres with affordable food and
accommodation, which helps stretch your budget. In Prague, you can explore the Old Town
on foot and still have time for a relaxed evening by the river. Budapest offers thermal baths
that double as both sightseeing and downtime. Venture slightly further to Kraków, where you
uncover cultural sites that add depth and purpose to your trip.
Europe Done Right
A well-shaped European journey comes down to the choices you make between
destinations as much as the places themselves. You don’t need to see everything to feel
satisfied; you just need to experience enough with intention. Focus on how each destination
fits into your overall pace, and you’ll build a trip that feels coherent and genuinely memorable
long after you return.
*contributed post*
There are moments in life when everything changes quietly… and then all at once. For me, that moment wasn’t just illness—it was what came after.
Years of fighting for my health led to something I wasn’t prepared for:
over $500,000 in medical debt.
Not because of reckless choices. Not because of poor planning.
But because life sometimes asks more of us than we ever imagined we could carry.
And maybe you understand that.
This Is Why I Created This Guide
Over the years, I’ve slowly, steadily paid off $260,000 of that debt.
Not quickly. Not perfectly. But consistently.
And somewhere along the way, I realized something important:
People don’t just need financial strategies. They need hope, clarity, and a place to begin.
So I created something I wish I had back then— A simple, honest, step-by-step guide for rebuilding financially after overwhelming circumstances, illness, or starting over.
My Free Guide Is Now Available
“How I Paid Off $260,000 in Medical Debt (and Where I’d Start Again)” is now available as a free download in my Stan Store. Click HERE!
Inside, I walk you through:
→How to stop the financial spiral and gain clarity
→ The truth about medical debt (and why it’s different)
→ How I reduced my debt by over $200,000 through negotiation
→ A simple, sustainable plan that actually works in real life
→ What I would do differently if I were starting today
This is not a complicated system. It’s not overwhelming. It’s practical, gentle, and built for real life—especially when life feels heavy.
If You’re in a Hard Financial Season
I want to say this as clearly as I can:
You are not behind. You are not alone. And you are not stuck.
Medical debt—like so many financial burdens—often comes from situations we didn’t choose.
But it is something you can move through. One small step at a time.
A Quiet Invitation
If you are rebuilding financially—after illness, loss, or simply a difficult season—This guide is for you. From someone who has sat with the bills, made the calls, and walked this road slowly…
You can still build a beautiful life.
Download the Free Guide
You can download your free copy HERE:
And if you’re walking this journey, I would love to stay connected:
→ On Instagram for daily encouragement
→ Here on Caravan Sonnet for deeper stories
→ And through upcoming resources designed to help you rebuild with clarity and dignity
Live elegantly. Spend with dignity. Rebuild—one step at a time.
Thank you for all of your prayers for mom's appointments on Friday. We have some plans in place for next steps and are also prayerfully considering other things for the weeks, months, and years ahead.
Thank you for your prayers for wisdom and for us as we continue to process and
plan wisely. Mom and I headed home last yesterday, grateful and a bit overwhelmed from a (good) overload of knowledge and expert wisdom from Sloan Kettering- but mostly humbled with gratitude.
We appreciate your prayers for both of us as we arrived back home late last night and approach the week and weeks ahead. I am finishing up the last several weeks of an intense semester plus full time work responsibilities and some additional behind the scenes things. Most importantly mom will be approaching radiation in the next month and we appreciate your prayers for that. Thank you for all of your love and support.
PS- Sloan Kettering is simply amazing. From the minute you walk in to appointments you are met with such kindness and care- not only for patients but as a caregiver. I (not the patient) always feel so seen in this journey. Sometimes even the caregivers and loved ones need the warm packs to Thank you Memorial Sloan Kettering!
Most teachers also use this time to stock up for next year while everything is discounted! Grateful for each of you and the work you’re doing in your classrooms every day!
AND... I want to give you a FREE GIFT!
Thank you so much again for all of your support of the shop! I know I say that all of the time, but you are a blessing! I am so glad you are here! And to say thank you, I want to share about a small thank you gift that you can receive!!! Community matters deeply to me, and your reviews truly help this small, independent shop continue to grow. So I am offering a small gift- if you leave a review in the Caravan Sonnet Shoppe, you can choose one FREE resource (up to $3 in value) as my thank-you.
How it works:
1. Leave a review on any resource in the shop
2. Email me at caravansonnet@gmail.com
3. Tell me which resource you’d like
4. I’ll send it to you directly as an attachment
It’s my way of saying thank you for supporting thoughtful, real-world teaching. Truly—it means more than I can say.
Happy Friday friends and HAPPY Shopping!!
Click HERE to go directly to the Caravan Sonnet Classroom!!
Hello friends!
Lately I’ve been reflecting on how much our lives are shaped by the communities we surround ourselves with. Some of those communities are found close to home: the familiar faces we greet at church each Sunday, a neighbour who stops for a chat on an evening walk, or the friends we gather with around the kitchen table for coffee and conversation.
Other connections appear in quieter ways, through shared interests, faith, and the simple joy of finding people who see the world through a similar lens.
In a busy world that often feels scattered and hurried, those relationships can become small anchors of encouragement.
The Beauty of Shared Values
As life unfolds through different seasons, many people discover that the relationships that matter most are often rooted in shared values.
When people share a common perspective on faith, family, and purpose, conversations feel easier and deeper. There is a sense of understanding that turns even ordinary moments into something meaningful.
For many of us, faith is a central part of that connection. It shapes how we approach life, how we care for others, and the kind of community we hope to build around us.
Community in the Digital Age
While face-to-face friendships will always be special, the digital world has quietly created new ways for people to discover communities built around shared beliefs and interests.
Some people join online reading groups or prayer circles. Others participate in discussion forums or creative communities that bring together people from different places but similar outlooks.
One example is SALT, a Christian dating app created for believers who want faith to be part of their relationships from the very beginning. Unlike many mainstream dating platforms, the app focuses on helping Christians connect with others who take their faith seriously.
Members can highlight their interests, values, and personality traits on their profiles, which helps conversations begin with a sense of shared understanding.
Several features are designed to encourage genuine interaction. The Online Now feature allows users to see who is currently active on the platform, while global search makes it possible to connect with people across different countries. SALT also hosts live audio gatherings known as Table events, where users can join discussions about faith, relationships, mental health, and everyday life.
For many people, these kinds of spaces feel less like traditional social media and more like welcoming communities built around meaningful connection.
A Gentle Reminder
In a culture that often celebrates busyness, it can be easy to overlook how important community truly is.
Yet the friendships we nurture, the conversations we share, and the people who walk beside us through life’s different seasons often become some of our greatest blessings.
Whether those connections grow through quiet moments in our local communities or through thoughtful conversations across the world, they remind us that we were never meant to walk this journey alone.
And sometimes the most beautiful part of life is simply discovering the people who share the same faith and hopes along the way.
*contributed post*
Happy Wednesday friends! Today I am so excited to share more about our stay at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Marseille, France! If you want to see an IG reel all about our stay click HERE! This really was the perfect way to start our Rhone River Cruise Trip! If you are going on a Rhone River Cruise (in the direction of Avignon to Lyon) and are looking for a place to stay before - I can't recommend this property enough!
There are certain places that quietly shape a trip—not because they are extravagant, but because they offer something increasingly rare: ease. Our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Marseille Provence Airport was exactly that. Close to the airport (less than 2 miles away), a soft place to land just outside the rhythm of the city—simple, calm, and far more beautiful than I expected for the price point.
First Impressions: The Kind of Arrival You Hope For
We arrived after a long overnight flight—one of those travel stretches where time blurs and sleep never quite comes. And y'all this is where this stay mattered most.
Instead of navigating a busy city center on little rest, we stepped into something entirely different: quiet, light, and immediate calm. The staff were genuinely warm and welcoming—from the first pickup a at the airport shuttle, gracious in that way that makes you feel taken care of without effort, and most importantly it felt like they understood exactly what travelers need in that moment: ease, kindness, and a place to simply exhale.
For us, it became the perfect transition point—a gentle landing before the journey really began.
The Room: Simple Cozy-Luxury, Done Well
Our room was exactly what I look for when traveling to Marseille- a clean, safe, quiet room, but it became so much more than that. If you saw the instagram reel (click HERE)- you will understand how we were completely shocked at the large picture window in our room that showed incredible views of the bay area. We didn't even ever turn on the TV - when we were in our room we simply just kept looking out at the window watching the beauty and settling in to this quiet space that felt more luxurious than you could imagine.
.jpeg "hilton garden inn marseille / marseille, france")
The Details That Matter
For me- I had hopes that it would be a very nice stay. A place that would be safe for two women traveling alone and it was much more than that! It was a stay that truly was a resort like oasis and despite being near the airport- you never felt like you were at anything but a lovely resort in Southern France.
The "small" details added up:
1. A seamless airport shuttle that removes any stress on arrival (and taking us back and forth for travel into Marseille the next day and for when we left the property to meet up with the Viking Shuttle Service) and was absolutely lovely. The small mini-vans make you feel like it is a luxurious car service, not a simple hotel say.
2. An on-site restaurant with a terrace that feels relaxed, not rushed and also provides room service which we used two nights so we could watch the sun set from our room. They also were very accommodating to my allergies! The food was delicious y'all and extremely affordable.
3. A pool and outdoor space that invite you to linger just a little longer - there are lots of places to sit, linger, and just enjoy the beautiful property.
4. Staff who are attentive, kind, and consistently helpful. We found this with all of the staff- and they were just amazing. They were attentive, kind, and just genuinely welcoming. We arrived so exhausted and when our credit card wouldn't work to pay the security deposit, they helped us with the details and said not to worry about it. (Once our bank opened up I of course went back down and took care of this, but the kindness to two women who had a brief issue with their bank and couldn't deal with it with the time difference was just exceptionally kind. We had paid for our stay but for some reason the bank briefly blocked the additional charge thinking it was fraud.) The staff's reaction set the tone for everything. I admit I was near tears being so tired and their kindness immediately just changed the entire situation.
These are the kinds of touches that quietly shift a stay from fine to memorable.
.jpeg "hilton garden inn marseille / marseille, france")
Affordability
This is where this stay truly stands out.
There’s a narrative in travel—especially in the South of France—that beauty must come at a high cost. And yet, this stay gently challenged that.
The Hilton Garden Inn Marseille Provence Airport offers something I am increasingly drawn to: affordable cozy-luxury.
Not in a flashy sense—but in a grounded, intentional way. A place where you can rest well, feel taken care of, and still travel thoughtfully.
The amount we spent? $109 (US) each night. This includes taxes and everything. Y'all. Absolutely unbelievable considering the other properties were ranging from $400-$1000+ in Marseille.
A Perfect Pause Before the Rhône River Cruise
This part felt especially aligned for our trip. We were preparing to begin our Rhône River cruise with Viking—traveling from Avignon to Lyon—and this stay became the ideal in-between.
Instead of rushing, we had space to rest, reset, and arrive well before continuing on.
If you’re planning a similar itinerary, this is such a strategic (and peaceful) choice:
1- Fly into Marseille
2- Stay here to recover from travel
3- Explore Marseille at your leisure
4- Then continue on to your cruise departure point
It transforms the start of your trip from exhausting → intentional.
Location: A Different Way to Experience Marseille
While it’s not in the heart of the old port, the ability to travel to Old Port was incredibly easy. This location offers a different kind of rhythm:
1. Close enough to explore Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, and the surrounding region
We actually considered renting a car prior to our trip and exploring more of the region. If you are able to do this I would highly recommend it. With my work schedule and the amount of vacation days I have this was just not possible, but would definitely recommend this. We opted to spend our one full day between arrival into Marseille and the day we embarked on the cruise in Old Port Marseille and took the bus and train to get there. It was incredibly easy from the Hilton (we simply took the shuttle from the hotel to the airport where we got on a bus) and that is definitely something I would recommend.
2. Removed enough to actually rest
Despite being so close to the airport- it was incredibly quiet and so restful. After our day in Marseille we actually came to the conclusion that it was much more restful where we stayed then if we had made our way into Old Town like we originally considered.
3. Ideal for early flights, transitions, or slower travel days
The Hilton Garden Inn Marseille was absolutely lovely and I can't recommend it enough. If you have any questions please let me know!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
