Welcome, sis! I'm so glad you're here!

My name is Madison Small and for years I've been inspired by the phrase "she designed a life she loved". My goal for this blog is to help you do just that through inspiration about travel, intentional living, and mindfulness. So dive in, reach out, and let's inspire each other to design lives of meaning and joy!

  • Reflecting on New Zealand

    New Zealand is my favorite place I’ve ever traveled. There. I said it. It’s the perfect combination of magical and unreal AND sublimely grounded and gorgeous. The effect leaves you feeling both in awe and completely at home. NZ Travel Hack New Zealand checked every travel box for me. It’s only a 6 HOUR FLIGHT from Hawaii where I was living just beforehand. The time difference is exactly 24 hours…

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  • How to Start Your Solo Travel Journey This Year!

    So you’re a strong, independent woman who wants to start your solo travel journey in 2024… But you have no idea where to start! I totally get it, sis. That was me just a couple years ago. It’s one thing to pick up a sandwich at your favorite restaurant or buy weekly groceries by yourself. Traveling to another country for a week-long vacation is something else, and can be intimidating.…

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  • Don’t Set New Year’s Resolutions: A Hot Take on An Old Tradition

    The holiday season can be so stressful. There are countless demands on time, emotions, and finances for those last few weeks of the year. And if you’re like me, the stress doesn’t stop when the year ends because then come…the New Year’s Resolutions. There’s so much pressure to turn your life around immediately, to set goals that you’ll stick to three, six, or twelve months from now. It feels like…

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  • Top Things to Do in Monterey: An Intentional Traveler’s Guide

    You’ve probably heard of the Bay Area, referring to San Francisco Bay. But did you know that there’s another bay area just a couple hours south along the coast? And it’s arguably even better than its more popular cousin! The entire Monterey Bay area is a wildlife sanctuary and makes the perfect peaceful home for sea lions, cormorants, seals, otters, whales, pelicans, and people too! I absolutely fell in love…

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