If you’ve found my little corner of the internet, welcome! I’m Monica, a Pacific Northwest girl through and through. As much as I love to travel, there’s still no place like the PNW.
The idea for Everyday Vacation Vibes actually began years ago.
Every summer, my family and I would vacation with dear friends on a small island off the coast of British Columbia. Year after year, we’d return to the same cozy cabin tucked away in the woods.
There was something incredibly peaceful about that place. At first, I thought it was simply being surrounded by nature, away from work, soaking in the sunshine and slowing down.
But over time, I realized it was something more.
The cabin had everything we truly needed—and almost nothing we didn’t. The beds were comfortable, the living spaces invited conversation, and instead of drawers full of unused gadgets, the kitchen held only the essentials.
There was something freeing about being in a home that felt simple, uncluttered, and intentional. It didn’t feel like work. It felt like peace.
That experience changed the way I thought about home.
Inspired by our summer trips, I became determined to create a home that felt just as calm and restorative. Little by little, we began letting go of the things we didn’t need and filling our home with only what we used and loved. I wanted our everyday life to feel the way we felt on vacation.
It didn’t happen overnight. In fact, the extra time we spent at home during the pandemic gave me the motivation to finally tackle the process. Eventually, we transformed our home into an oasis that reminded me of that little cabin in the woods—the place that first inspired this dream.
Then, a few years later, my husband and I made one of the biggest—and admittedly scariest—decisions of our lives.
We purchased our own vacation home just outside Olympic National Park in Washington State, less than a mile from the road leading to the iconic Hurricane Ridge.
For years, we’d dreamed of owning a place where we could hike, kayak, paddleboard, explore the outdoors, and simply get away from it all.
But here’s the truth…
We’re not trust fund babies.
Like many families, we had a dream that needed a practical plan. So we combined our love of travel with an entrepreneurial mindset and decided our vacation home could become more than just our own escape. It could also be a place where others could experience the beauty of Olympic National Park—one of the most visited national parks in the United States.
Everything we’d learned while traveling became our blueprint.
We created a vacation rental centered around comfort, warmth, generosity, and thoughtful design. We wanted every guest to feel welcomed, cared for, and completely at home.
Have we made mistakes? Absolutely.
But every challenge taught us something new, and after four years of hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com, we’ve found our rhythm. Today, hosting isn’t just a business—it’s something we genuinely love.
And that’s where Everyday Vacation Vibes truly begins.
With my only daughter graduating from high school and heading off to college, I found myself entering a new season of life. My creative energy was flowing, and I started asking myself how I could contribute in a way that felt meaningful.
The answer was simple.
I wanted to share everything we’ve learned along the way.
Here you’ll find honest advice based on real-life wins, lessons learned, and yes…a few mistakes. I’ll share practical tips for creating memorable vacation rentals, favorite products and furnishings for both vacation homes and everyday living, ideas for designing spaces that feel peaceful and welcoming, and affordable travel inspiration for anyone who believes adventure doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag.
Most of all, I hope this becomes a place that reminds you that vacation isn’t just somewhere you go.
It’s a feeling you can create.
Whether you’re designing your dream home, welcoming guests into a vacation rental, or simply looking for ways to slow down and enjoy everyday life a little more, I hope you’ll find inspiration here.
I’m so grateful you found Everyday Vacation Vibes, and I truly hope it inspires you to live beautifully, host confidently, and wander often.
