Sharing a recap of our experience with the Barcelona gluten-free food tour.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having a great week. We’re enjoying being back at home even though we’re definitely missing our Spain adventures. After 5 weeks in Europe, I definitely got used to that life 😉

Something we learned during our trip: how much we all LOVED Barcelona. It was our first time and since the Pilot wasn’t able to make it to the part of the trip – he was there for the last four days of our time there – we told him we just have to go back.

A major highlight: the gluten-free food tour, lead by Dvir Bar.

As you guys know, we’re major foodies and love checking out new foods and restaurants locally and when we travel. I’ve been strict gluten-free for two years now as part of my healing journey, and back in January, we learned that P had a severe gluten sensitivity. While I’ve been around the gluten-free block for a while, P is still learning.. and is sometimes (very understandably) disppointed when there isn’t a gluten-free option for her.

To brighten her Barcelona day, I did some research for gluten-free options, and discovered that Barcelona is a HAVEN for gluten-free food options and that they had popular gluten-free food tour. I signed us up instantly.

When the day arrived, P and I were pretty pumped about it. Liv was a good sport and excited to try some new foods.

Our guide, Dvir, was absolutely wonderful. He spoke English (our group of 11 people wer

Sharing my wellness must-haves for travel! 

Hi friends! Happy Monday! I hope that you had a great weekend and that my friends who were celebrating Easter enjoyed a beautiful holiday. We had brunch here at the house, went to see King of Kings with friends, and had dinner to celebrate Trevor’s bday with the fam. It was perfect.

Our Spring Forward challenge starts TODAY so if you’re looking for a lil wellness reset, sign up here.

For today’s post, I wanted to talk a bit about travel wellness must-haves. Some people pack super light and I’m like, “How can I cushion my mini Somavedic so it doesn’t break?”

Maybe one day I’ll be a carry-on only girl, but for now, I just have too many things I like to have with me. I tried to focus on solely the essentials for this post and included all of the wellness goodies I bring when I travel. Affiliate links are included below because many of these are products I’ve used and loved for many years. Thank you so much for supporting the blog by shopping through my links!

If you have any faves to add to the list, please leave them in the comments below!

Travel Wellness Must-haves

Compression socks

These are such a gamechanger for long flights and drives. I can’t live without them because they really help with circulation and reducing swelling. I’ll also get up and walk at least every couple of hours unless I’m sleeping. I’ll wear a jumpsuit or comfy pants when I travel (no leggings) so no one can tell I’m in full grandma compression mode. These are the best. 

Rest Eye masks

These are one of my can’t-live-without eye care products, but they are amazing for overall eye wellness, especially if you deal with dry eyes on flights. I use one every single morning. They help to open the oil glands and increase the oil production in your eyes, which lubricates them, and it’s super relaxing. Try them here. 

Hand sanitizer

While I don’t think that we should abuse hand sanitizer, I think it’s important to have on hand when you have kids and they’re touching everything, and for traveling. There aren’t always convenient spots available to wash hands, and this is my Read more

Sharing my tips on how to use credit card points for travel. Check out all of the details here!

There are some things in my life that I regret. That one time I moved to Tucson and was having a crisis and got bangs. Quitting my MBA program when I was more than halfway finished. Aaaaand not signing up for reward credit cards sooner.

We often heard our friends talking about credit card points, but since we had debt in the past, it was something we avoided. We kept hearing about free flights and lounge access, so about 10 years ago, we decided to go for it. It’s been a total gamechanger. Since then, we have traveled multiple times for free, enjoyed hotel upgrades, lounge access, and have been rewarded for everyday spending through points.

How to use credit card points for travel

How to Use Credit Card Points for Travel: Maximize Rewards for Flights, Hotels, and Lounge Access

In this post, I’m going to share some tips on how to maximize your credit card rewards for travel and share my experience with the American Express Platinum Card, including its pros and cons. I’ll also share my favorite tips for getting the best airfare deals!

Ways to Use Credit Card Points for Travel

1. Free Hotel Stays & Upgrades

Many travel credit cards allow you to redeem points for free hotel nights at major chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. Some cards also offer automatic elite status, which can lead to room upgrades, late checkout, and free breakfast. When I book through the Amex travel portal, we’re able to see which rewards we’ll receive, whether it’s late checkout, early check-in, a resort credit, or a room upgrade when available. You also get $200 credit each year for their Fine Hotels & Resorts collection.

(Free room service at our upgraded Venetian suite in Vegas. Our flight was also free)

Tip: Look for transfer partners where your points stretch further. For example, American Express Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Hilton Honors but often have promotions offering extra value. Sometimes you can get 2 for 1 points so it’s worth it!! You can do this directly through the American Express website.

2. Booking Flights & Scoring Airfare Deals

One of the best ways to use credit card points is to book flights. You can redeem points directly through your card’s travel portal or transfer them to airline partners for even better value.

Best ways to find airfare deals:

Use Google Explore: