Skip to content

New to Homeschooling? Check out the Homeschool Beginner’s Guide

  • Home
    • Contact
    • About
    • Press & Media
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Homeschool
    • The Homeschool Beginner’s Guide Ebook
  • Motherhood
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • Health
  • Travel
    • Disney
    • Cruising
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Parties
    • Pinterest Mom Summer
    • holiday
      • Easter
      • Christmas
        • Christmas Gift Guide
      • Halloween
  • 22 Adventures in 2022
ShopDiana Blinkhorn2017-07-20T23:21:04-05:00

Hey! I'm Diana!

Thanks for visiting thegrayruby.com. I hope you will be inspired to make magic out of the ordinary moments. Here I share our adventures of traveling with kids, mom hacks, and tips to make life a bit easier and more adventurous

Let’s Be Friends!

mrsblinks

mrsblinks
✨Nice, France I was able to sneak away from Pa ✨Nice, France I was able to sneak away from Paris (and the family) for a few days to surprise my sister with a bachelorette weekend in the south of France!! We spent our time in Nice, and I fell in love with the city. It has the French charm with a coastal touch. Here are some of the things you must do on your visit. ✨ Stroll along Promenade Des Anglais and stop for a swim in the ocean to cool off. ✨ Visit Old Town Nice and take pictures as you walk the quaint and narrow Mediterranean streets while stopping in street cafes and local shops. ✨ Try some wine. We found the best wines at La Part Des Anges. The staff at this charming wine bar were so kind. We loved it so much we went twice! ✨Relax at a beach club. Sit in a chair, under an umbrella, and enjoy your aperol spritz for the day. ✨indulge in delicious food. We had no trouble finding amazing restaurants in Nice. I highly suggest finding a spot in the old town. The food and ambiance can’t be beat. And if you are wondering: “is Nice family friendly?” The answer is “YES!” I will definitely come back with my kids one day. It’s a charming city with so much to do! #familytravel #travelingfamily #familieswhotravel #familytravelblogger #explorewithkids #familytraveltips #familytravel #kidstraveltips #familytravelblog #travelingwithkids #travelfam #kidsthattravel #welltraveledkids #ourtravelgram #22adventures #nicefrance #southoffrance #nicetravelguide
I love this picture ✨ But this picture also bri I love this picture ✨ But this picture also brings up a lot of complicated feelings. Feelings of fear, of guilt, of disappointment. I told you how we had a horrible first day in Paris. How it started with a bad flight, almost getting my phone stolen, and then having to call the paramedics 😞 I blamed myself for a lot of it. “Did I push them too hard??” “Is traveling like this even the right thing to do??” “All the planning, and packing, and work to get us here, and I couldn’t make this magical for them??” I hate how bad moments make us forget all the good that’s around us. We had good moments that day… a lot of them! ✨We drank hot chocolate in a famous cafe ✨and ate a delicious Nutella crepe ✨and we walked this beautiful street together ✨and my kids saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time I would say that’s a pretty amazing first day in Paris, right??!! Once I started to really think logically about our first day experience I realized that it was a really hard day (no denying that) but it was a really good day too! There was magic happening all around us and for the rest of this trip I’m choosing to look for it even when it feels like it isn’t there! #familytravelblogger #welltraveledkids #explorewithkids #ourtravelgram #travelfam #familytraveltips #22adventuresof2022 #familytravelblog #familytravel #travelingwithkids #kidstraveltips #pariswithkids #paristraveltips #eiffeltowerwithkids #kidsthattravel #paris #eiffeltower
Paris food diary ✨ ✨Cafe des Arts et Métiers Paris food diary ✨ ✨Cafe des Arts et Métiers - we stumbled upon this restaurant by accident. Delicious food and a cute terrace with fringe umbrellas ✨Madelines in the metro station ✨Grom - another accident but it was so good we went back again. ✨Coffee and smoothies from Pret. Easy and accessible. ✨The famous steak frites from le Relais de l’Entrecôte. They only have one thing on the menu, but you know it’s good from the line that forms outside every night. ✨Matcha Latte from Lou Lou. I wish I could show you all the delicious and healthy options we had for brunch. Açaí bowls, banana pancakes, and a lot of vegan options too. The terrace was adorable. ✨Nutella Crepes from a stand by the Eiffel Tower. ✨My European drink of choice…an aperol spritz. ✨Melon salad from pink mama, one of my favorite restaurants ever. ✨Had to add in Hazels mocktail from Pink Mama too. The staff was so friendly and kind to the kids. #familytravelblogger #welltraveledkids #explorewithkids #ourtravelgram #travelfam #familytraveltips #22adventuresof2022 #familytravelblog #familytravel #travelingwithkids #kidstraveltips #paris #pariswithkids #paristraveltips #pariscafe #eiffeltowerwithkids #kidsthattravel #eiffeltower #parisrestaurants
This is the story of a little girl who loved Paris This is the story of a little girl who loved Paris before she ever visited ✨ The little girl with the French name. The little girl who had a Paris café themed birthday. The little girl who had Eiffel Tower decor in her room and instantly loved anything she saw that had a Paris theme. The little girl who held onto a t-shirt that said "ready for Paris" for over a year, counting the days until it was her turn to visit. When the little girl saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle for the first time she actually cried tears of joy. And every time I see this picture I do too. There is something about seeing your kids at their happiest that is just magic ✨ And instantly, the weeks of packing, long flights, jet lag, and our difficult first day were all worth it. I would definitely do it all over again to give her this moment ✨ #kidsthattravel #familytravelblogger #welltraveledkids #explorewithkids #ourtravelgram #travelfam #familytraveltips #22adventuresof2022 #familytravelblog #familytravel #travelingwithkids #kidstraveltips #Paris #pariswithkids #paristraveltips #pariscafe #eiffeltower #eiffeltowerwithkids
I now totally understand why this hot chocolate ge I now totally understand why this hot chocolate gets as much hype as it does. 10/10 would recommend making this stop a priority when you vacation in Paris with your kids ✨ #kidsthattravel #familytravelblogger #travelfam #familytraveltips #22adventuresof2022 #travelingwithkids #paris #pariswithkids #pariscafe #carette #paristravelguide #hotchocolate
The Best cafés in Paris ✨ One of the things I The Best cafés in Paris ✨ One of the things I love most about Paris is the café culture. Its more than just coffee and pastries, its a social gathering. A chance to immerse yourself in the city. The cafés and their terraces are intricately linked with the Parisian lifestyle. There is a café at every street corner. Some of them are even really famous (I am sure you've seen a few of these all over your IG feed) I made it my mission to visit as many cafés as possible on our trip to Paris. Yes, I know, very Important research 😉 Here is my honest opinion on some of the most popular cafés in Paris and which need to make your list. 1. Café De Flore This cafe was all over my feed before I left on my trip and for good reason, it is visually stunning. As you walk up it takes your breath away. We visited in the afternoon so we opted for an aperitif. Just be prepared to pay for the famous café name. 2. Carette This might have been my favorite of all the cafés, known for it's famous chocolate chaud (hot chocolate). It was delicious, honestly everything was. It was very busy so I was a bit disappointed we couldn't sit on the terrace so visit early to beat the crowds. 3. Les Deux Magots One of the most famous and maybe oldest cafés in Paris. I was actually surprised how big it was which was really nice because it was one of the few places we didn't have to wait to be seated. 4. Angelina This is the one on the list that we didn't get to visit. There was an extremely long line out front and the girls weren't having it. We did order to go and although it was delicious it wasn't the same as having the whole experience. Be prepared to wait for a table no matter how early you get there. I would love to know which café in Paris is your favorite so I can add it to my list for "future research" 😉 #kidsthattravel #familytravelblogger #welltraveledkids #explorewithkids #ourtravelgram #travelfam #familytraveltips #22adventuresof2022 #familytravelblog #familytravel #travelingwithkids #kidstraveltips #Paris #pariswithkids #paristraveltips #pariscafe #cafedeflore #caretteparis
Adventure 13 of our #22adventuresin2022 is… Par Adventure 13 of our #22adventuresin2022 is… Paris, France ✨ We’ve been dreaming of this moment for so long. Even though this is a literal dream come true we’ve had quite a few “hiccups” along the way. More details coming soon!! #welltraveledkids #travelhacks #tipsfortravel #instatraveltips #kidstraveltips #exploretheworld #familytraveltips #travelfam #kidtravel #familytraveltribe #familytravelblog #familytravelblogger #luxuryfamilytravel #familytravel #adventurefamily #collectingmemories #travelingwithkids #travelideas #22adventuresin2022 #familytraveler #summertravel #explorewithkids
Top tips for packing minimally: ✨ it’s all in Top tips for packing minimally: ✨ it’s all in the prep work - start planning your outfits at least a month before ✨ think about the type of trip you are taking… beach, city, mountains. Pick out your favorite activities and plan the exact outfits you will wear ✨ don’t worry about “what ifs”… this leads to overpacking. Yes it’s good to be prepared but the 1% chance of rain doesn’t mean you need a rain jacket. If you do forget something you can buy it there ✨stick with neutrals for you and your kids. You will get a lot more use out of what you pack. ✨only bring clothes you LOVE and feel great in. If it’s a “maybe” than it’s a “no” ✨packing cubes will help you maximize your space ✨ if you are going to Europe bring two toiletry bags, one wet and one dry. Some airports are pretty strict about the one clear bag rule so don’t overpack. separating them will make it easy to remove. I hope these packing tips were helpful. Trust me, packing less seems like a huge project at first but it does make traveling so much easier. What’s your best packing hack???? ✨ #22adventuresin2022 #packwiththeblinks #packinghacks #packingcubes #packingtips #minimalpackaging #travelhacks #traveltips #familytravel #familytravelblog #familytraveltips
Adventure 11 of our #22adventuresin2022 is @peppap Adventure 11 of our #22adventuresin2022 is @peppapigthemeparkflorida Where are my Peppa Pig fans at?!? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Come and visit this adorable theme park with us and find out what you should know before your visit. #peppapigfl #NickFamilyInsiders @nickjr #peppapig #welltraveledkids #ourtravelgram #floridatravel #kidsthattravel #exploringfamilies #globaltrotter #kidtravel #familytravelblogger #familytraveltips #visitflorida #travelingwithkids #familytravel #familytravelblog
While I’m stressing over packing cubes and capsu While I’m stressing over packing cubes and capsule wardrobes, these two are just playing mermaids. 🧜‍♀️✨☀️
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Halloween Home DecorHalloween Home Decor15K Total Shares
Halloween Bucket ListHalloween Bucket List14K Total Shares
Must Have Halloween Books for KidsMust Have Halloween Books for Kids13K Total Shares
Hazel’s My Little Pony Birthday PartyHazel’s My Little Pony Birthday Party8K Total Shares
A Secret Garden First Birthday PartyA Secret Garden First Birthday Party7K Total Shares
Star Wars Birthday Party For GirlsStar Wars Birthday Party For Girls7K Total Shares
FacebookInstagramPinterestYouTubeTiktok
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to Top