I absolutely love travelling and exploring new cultures, but for me, the best trip of all is always a trip back home. Tomorrow, I am flying back to the US and, as tradition demands, I am bringing souvenirs for my closest family & friends. But this time, each gift has a story and a meaning behind it.

On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which falls on October 17, I happened to have visited some of the poorest communities in Namibia, located on the dusty hills of Katutura Township in the north-western part of Namibia’s capital Windhoek. It was an eye-opening coincidence and I am extremely grateful to the members of Katutura community who invited me to their homes and shared their life stories. 

One of the simplest and yet most valuable ways in which a family can observe the World Food Day falling on October 16th, is to sit all together at the dinner table and engage in a conversation about choices we can all make to eat healthier and more nutritious food, and, at the same time, improve our global food system. It can be very overwhelming to learn that nearly one billion people (1 in 7) go to bed hungry every single day. The good news is that everyone can make a difference in feeding our planet, because the world hunger problem is not caused by the lack of food but by the deep imbalances of opportunity and resources. 

We love vacationing but this one is somewhat bittersweet. In a few days, we will have to bid farewell to Babcia Ania, the boys' grandmother, who is travelling back to Poland after a six-month-long wonderful, memorable visit. On June 8, we set off for a journey from Virginia to Buffalo en route to Toronto, where Babcia Ania will catch a flight to Warsaw. By doing it, we crossed off one item on our summer bucket list: go on a road trip!

Until a few years ago, I used to immerse myself in natural, earthy colors. I wore brown, beige, and blue and I decorated my home in brown, beige, and blue. I still like earthy colors but they are not in the exclusive realm anymore. Dominik & Filip have literally and figuratively filled my life with color. Our house and backyard are packed with colorful books and toys and we incessantly explore the world of color at playgrounds, nature centers, kids’ parties, in children’s art, and in indoor playrooms. But I have never seen anything richer in vibrant, vivid colors than the Magic Kingdom. Some call the Walt Disney World an ultimate vacation destination and in many respects it really is.  Unless, of course, you prefer peaceful and more relaxing time off...