Just Book the Trip: Why Seaside—and Those Christmas Plane Tickets—Reminded Me to Choose Memories Over More Stuff

If you're anything like me, you're probably juggling five (or let’s be real—ten) different roles at any given moment: mom, wife, business owner, home manager, side hustler, carpool driver, snack-getter… you name it. Life is full. Beautiful, chaotic, purpose-filled—but full. So full, in fact, that we often shove our own needs, dreams, and rest all the way to the bottom of the list. And then we wonder why we’re exhausted, short-fused, and stretched too thin.

That’s exactly where I was when I booked a trip to Seaside.

It wasn’t a “convenient” time. (Is it ever?) Harvest—yes, harvest—literally started the day we left. We had to rearrange schedules, prep all my client work, figure out childcare, and of course, make sure my husband had a solid plan too. It felt a little chaotic... okay, a lot chaotic.

But I kept thinking about how often we, as women, wait—for the “right” time, for everything to be perfectly aligned, for someone to give us permission to finally come up for air. And I realized: that time might never come unless we create it.

So I booked the trip anyway.

And honestly? I’ve reached the point in life where I crave less clutter and more memories. Less hustle, more intention. Less stuff in my hands, and more peace in my heart.

That’s why this past Christmas, I did something a little different.

Instead of wrapping up more sweaters, gadgets, or “cute-but-forgotten-in-a-month” gifts, I gave my mom and sisters something else: plane tickets.

Yep. I booked us a girls’ trip to Seaside.

It was part surprise, part therapy, part dream come true. And as we boarded the plane, I had no idea just how deeply this trip would shift something in me.

The Gift of Being Present

Seaside welcomed us with ocean air, white sand, and the kind of sunshine that soaks into your soul. It was a full reset—not just for the body, but for the mind and heart too.

We laughed over morning coffee and breakfast dates, laid on the beach with zero agenda, and stayed up way too late talking about everything and nothing. No packed schedules. No timelines. Just us.

Somewhere between the slow mornings and the salt in our hair, I realized how rare and important this was—time together without responsibilities chasing us down.

We’re all women with full lives: jobs, kids, homes, side hustles, you name it. And like so many women, we tend to put ourselves last on the list. This trip reminded me how powerful it is when we pause long enough to reconnect with ourselves and each other.

Trips Over Things: Why It Matters

I’m more convinced than ever that experiences are the best kind of gift.

We won’t remember the lotion set or the candle we got last year, but we’ll remember the sunset we watched together, the sand between our toes, the inside jokes, and the deep conversations that reminded us who we are outside of the roles we carry.

That’s why I’m making this a tradition. One trip a year—whether it’s far away or just a short drive. One moment to hit pause. One memory to carry with us.

And listen—did it feel a little wild to buy plane tickets as Christmas gifts? Totally. But it felt even wilder to realize how much we all needed this. How badly we needed time away to come home to ourselves.

Just Book the Trip (Yes, Even When It’s Inconvenient)

There’s never a “perfect time.” We had to shuffle schedules, line up babysitters, and say no to other things to make this happen. But I’m so glad we didn’t wait. Life doesn’t slow down to make space for you—you have to claim it.

So here’s what I want to say to you, friend: just book the trip.

Whether it’s with your sisters, your mom, your girlfriends—or by yourself. Whether it’s Seaside or a little Airbnb an hour away. Give yourself permission to get away, laugh a little louder, breathe a little deeper, and remember that rest is not something you have to earn.

Your Presence is the Real Gift

The biggest takeaway from Seaside? This: we are allowed to enjoy our lives.

Not just in the big, Instagrammable ways. But in the small, sacred moments we often miss when we’re rushing around checking boxes.

This Christmas, I gave my family a gift they’ll remember forever. And in return, they gave me the gift of being present—with them, with myself, and with the moment.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign—this is it.

Book the trip. Make the memories. Give the gift of time together.

You won’t regret it.