New to the area? Sick of your regular spots? Fairfield County is Connecticut's gold coast and there's lots to explore. I moved to Darien, Connecticut, when I was around six years old, and aside from a couple of years when we lived in Hong Kong - it's where I called home for the majority of my life! After five years in Chicago, my fiancé and I moved to Stamford in 2023, and honestly, really struggled to find our footing at first. We were spoiled rotten when it came to our selection of high-quality, (relatively) low-cost restaurants in Chicago. After about a year of living in CT again, there are good spots - you just have to dig a little deeper to find them. Look no further - here's my list of tried and true eateries. From upscale restaurants to delis - this guide has you covered! If I've missed anything or if you need recommendations on anything else - let me know!

The vibrant city-state of Singapore is nestled at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. This tiny island nation is a harmonious blend where tradition meets modernity. Singapore has a captivating history and rich cultural heritage that is celebrated through its diverse blend of ethnicities, languages, and religions, but most importantly its food! Singaporean food has many influences from around the world but  Malaysia, Indonesia, China, India, and the UK. It sounds so random but it's the best amalgamation of cuisines from all those countries and more. What's particularly great about Singapore is eating out is actually very cheap! Singapore is known for its Hawker Centers, think a food court but without the dodgy food, where you can usually try Singapore's best-known dishes. You have to try Hainanese Chicken Rice, Nasi Goreng, Roti Parata, Char Kuey Teow but feel free to branch out from my favorites.  I first visited Singapore when I was 6-months old. My dad was born and raised in Singapore. Whenever we go, it's one big food tour ensuring that we eat our favorites at least one time before departing. Here are some of our go-to spots, in addition to a few other places that are highly rated that I haven't had the chance to visit yet. This guide focuses on my recommendations for the best food and drinks in the Lion City but as always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Singapore! Just reach out to me directly (:

Looking to explore Ireland down the country road less traveled? The west of Ireland is the perfect place to unplug, unwind and experience the true heart of Ireland. I love traveling as much as I possibly can and live by two travel rules. Firstly, I have to have at least one trip booked at all times and secondly, I have to visit at least one new place each year. I went on my first flight at two-weeks old (to Ireland funnily enough) and I’ve been back to visit every year since. It’s the only exception I make to rule #2.  I’m a third culture kid meaning I was raised in a country other than where my parents were raised. I was born in London to an Irish mother (who was born in Arizona but raised in Ireland) and an English father (who was born and raised in Singapore). We moved to Connecticut when I was 6, Hong Kong when I was 13 and back to Connecticut when I was 15. In an effort to keep my brothers and I in touch with our maternal Irish roots, we spent eight-weeks each summer on the west coast of Ireland in Spanish Point, County Clare.  Spanish Point is a little seaside village along the Wild Atlantic Way about 45 minutes from Shannon Airport named after two boats part of the Spanish Armada that shipwrecked off the coast in 1588. It’s a perfect little spot to retreat to with lush, green, rolling hills, breathtaking cliffs, freshest air, and friendliest people. There are so many things to do within a ~30-minute drive from Spanish Point making it the perfect place to stay without spending too much time stuck in the car. There is so much to see in this tiny but wonderful country and you might feel pressured to bop all over the place to squeeze in as much as you possibly can. If you take anything away from this piece, it's to lean into slow travel. Ireland is the perfect place to enjoy the journey instead of just the destination, immerse yourself in local culture and connect with charming locals. Plan your trip to have no real set agenda at all. You’ll be so surprised at what you stumble upon. 

I have visited Ireland at least once a year of my 27 years and in more recent years, I have opted to fly in through Dublin because the flights are significantly cheaper and way more frequent than to Shannon. As a result, I tend to have a day or two in Dublin on either end of my trip to see friends, family, and the wonderful city of Dublin! I had all my Dublin recommendations in various Notes on my phone for the longest time. Since we're getting married in Ireland in May 2024, I thought it was as good a time as ever to compile all my recommendations and some other people's recommendations (thank you Kenzie, Shannon and Greg) into one Local-ish Guide to Dublin for our guests traveling to Ireland. Dublin is Ireland's capital and largest city on the island's east coast. The River Liffey (or the Sniffy Liffey as my Auntie Sandy calls it) runs right through the center of the city dividing it into Northside and Southside, and out to Dublin Bay which feeds into the Irish Sea. Dublin, which translates to "black pool" in Irish, was founded just south of the Liffey by the Vikings in 841. Ever since Dublin has endured a turbulent history but has prevailed and been shaped into the 21st-century city it is today. At the very end of this document is an overview of language(s), currency, climate, live weather, the best time to visit, public transportation, what to pack, and of course, travel tips! As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Dublin or the rest of Ireland! Just reach out to me directly (:

The vibrant city-state of Singapore is nestled at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. This tiny island nation is a harmonious blend where tradition meets modernity. Singapore has a captivating history and rich cultural heritage that is celebrated through its diverse blend of ethnicities, languages, and religions. Singapore was once a small, old fishing village on the edge of the jungle. It went through an incredible transformation and turned into the bustling metropolis and the global economic powerhouse that it is today. Despite its futuristic architecture, Singapore's history is preserved throughout the city such as its lush green spaces, colonial black and white bungalows, and Peranakan shophouses. Singapore has so much to offer. The world-class Changi airport, immaculate cleanliness, vibrant street food culture, efficient public transportation, low crime rates, and strict governance (most famously, the chewing gum ban) to name a handful. The only downfalls I can think of are the insane heat and humidity as Singapore sits right on the equator. So why local-ish? I first visited Singapore when I was 6-months old. My dad was born and raised in Singapore. Funnily enough, one of my mom's brothers has lived there for 30 years and we've had a handful of other family members (on both sides) live there over the years too. I've lost count of how many times I've visited but it's definitely one of my favorite places in the world and feels a bit like home. If you've never been to Asia before, Singapore is the perfect destination to start with. It's like a stepping stone to the rest of the world. Here are all my recommendations on what to do, see, eat, and drink in Singapore. Scroll to the bottom for an overview of everything you need to know before booking your trip to the Lion City. As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Singapore! Just reach out to me directly (:

In 2017, I studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy, and just about died and went to pasta heaven! From January through May, I ate like a queen. I honestly have no idea how I afforded to eat out as much as I did. But it was worth every cent! As soon as I was confirmed into the Lorenzo de'Medici program, various friends of friends sent their recommendations and guides for Florence to me. I inherited a wealth of inside knowledge about Florence like the secret bakeries, wine windows, and where to find the cute bartenders. I referred to these guides religiously in the first few weeks of getting my footing before establishing my own favorites around the city and starting my own Florence food guide. There's no doubt in my mind that there are newer additions to the Florence restaurant scene since I was there in 2017. This is just a compilation of my favorite places in Florence from someone who lived there for 5 months! This food guide is like my original Google Doc bullet point list had a baby with my food Instagram, @my600lblife. I've removed any eateries that are no longer in business but kept all my original commentary from 20-year-old Maeve who apparently was only concerned a good deal. Some of them make me giggle and cringe a little but they're authentically me and it's just like my favorite saying, "If you're not cringing, you're not growing." I've included a lengthy list of tips for dining in Italy, a breakdown of the Italian courses and their English translation, and of course, my favorite (and not so favorite) restaurants in Florence including pasta, pizza, panino, caffe, aperitivo, gelato & more! Please tag me on any pictures on Instagram (@maevecutts) so I can live vicariously through your travels to Florence! As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Florence! Just reach out to me directly (:

When I first moved to Chicago, 5 years ago, I created a list of every restaurant I wanted to try. I'd add restaurants as they popped up around the city or friends recommended them, and check them off after I went. I've always loved food, trying various restaurants, and documenting my meal with photographs and videos but when I started planning events for work I got vastly more into keeping up with new restaurants and sharing recommendations. My knowledge of the Chicago restaurant scene increased tenfold. Here's my tried and true list of favorite restaurants all over Chicago broken down by cuisine: American, Asian, Breakfast/ Brunch, Dessert, Italian, Latin/Spanish/Mediterranean, Markets, Pizza, Rooftops, Seafood & Steak.

This was my second time visiting Croatia but my first time visiting Dubrovnik. I loved it so much and can't wait to go back hopefully very soon! Croatia will always have a special place in my heart because it's where we got engaged on July 22nd, 2022! Croatia is like Italy's second cousin-- it shares the same maritime border, the Adriatic Sea, has a heavy influence of truffles in its cuisine, and celebrates dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). For our quick 72-hour trip, we basked in the sun, read good books, got a couples massage, and swam in the sea as many times as we could! Croatia was once part of the Roman Republic and, much later in history, part of Yugoslavia. It has a brutal history of war specifically its most recent civil war resulting in its independence from Yugoslavia which took place from 1991 to 1995. This rich but tragic history has shaped Croatians and their culture into what it is today. Many locations across Dubrovnik and Split were used for filming the hit TV show, Game of Thrones. There are lots of tours offered to see the various locations but you certainly don't have to be a Game of Thrones fanatic to visit Dubrovnik, Croatia. We didn't meet one Croatian who had watched the show themselves just like ourselves. Croatia has over 1000 islands with crystal clear water and pebbly beaches for a fraction of the price compared to its neighbors. It's what initially drew me to visit this country along the Balkan peninsula. Here's everything we did throughout our 3-day trip in Dubrovnik plus a few additional recommendations.

For the past couple of years, Sarah, my best friend from college, and I have planned a girls trip in the winter months to escape the seasonal depression of Denver and Chicago. It's one of my favorite weekends of the year filled with self-care, shopping, fresh air, and copious cups of tea. We intentionally plan this weekend to have little to no plan so we can be more present. There's no better place to unwind than along the California Coast. Everything in this guide has been tried and vetted by yours truly! As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Big Sur! Just reach out to me directly (:

I'm Maeve and I'm 50% Irish (hence the Gaelic name haha). I have visited Ireland at least once a year of my 26 years and to no surprise, it's my absolute favorite place on earth! My family is primarily from the Shannon and South-East regions of Ireland. My mom and her three brothers were raised in Limerick, my granny was born and raised in Limerick City, and my grandad was born and raised in Cahir, Co. Tipperary. Like many Irish families, we have relatives spread out across the country too. I know Ireland pretty well for never having actually lived in the country long-term. I grew up spending 8-weeks of my summer in Spanish Point Co. Clare with a bunch of my cousins---just as my mom and granny did when they were younger. When the weather was great we played in the grass, swam in the sea, milked cows, rode horses, and just lived outside all day long. But there were weeks when it felt like the rain never stopped and I can guarantee that 6+ stir-crazy kids were a nightmare to take care. As a result, our parents would take turns going away on overnights or mini staycations within Ireland. Ireland is majority lush, green, rolling hills and winding country lanes. There is so much to see and do. However, just because you'll likely spend your days in your wellies trekking through the countryside, there is NO need to forfeit the finer things in life when it comes to your accommodation. Here's a guide to 10 luxurious hotels across Ireland perfect for a couple's getaway. The majority of places my family or I have visited ourselves and the others are on my travel wishlist. As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Ireland! Just reach out to me directly (:

For the past couple of years, Sarah, my best friend from college, and I have planned a girls trip in the winter months. It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. This year's trip was to Sedona, Arizona over the first weekend in March! Unfortunately, we got a little unlucky with the weather as it snowed 8 inches the night before we flew. They typically only get a couple of inches all winter so unfortunately, it meant it was too wet to hike most of the area. But we didn't let a little snow hold us back! We still tried a few hikes and explored the area. Here's everything we did over three days in Sedona. Everything in this guide has been tried and vetted by yours truly! As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Sedona! Just reach out to me directly (: