Things I Love

I come across a lot through travel, work, and everyday life… and every now and then something really stands out.

This is where I share those.

Things I’ve found along the way that I genuinely love – some practical, some just because they make me happy.

If it’s here, it’s something I use and enjoy… and honestly, we can all do with a bit more of that.

Things I Love Posts

summer skincare essentials - top 6 products
Summer Skincare Essentials: My Top 6 Products
Summer Skincare Essentials: From sunscreen and SPF lip gloss to protective hats and sunglasses, these are the products I rely on to protect my skin and eyes during a California summer.
A group hug between three people: A woman in a mermaid outfit with red hair, a man in a gray shirt, a woman in a tan shirt.
Live Theater in Los Angeles: The Little Mermaid
There are certain movies that instantly transport you back to childhood, and The Little Mermaid is one of them. If you grew up loving The Little Mermaid and are looking for live theater in Los...
felix grey reader glasses - gifts for her mother's day gift guide
Gifts for Her: Beautiful Pieces She’ll Love for Years
Finding the right gifts for her isn’t about buying more. It’s about choosing something truly lovely. Something she wouldn’t necessarily buy for herself. Something unique...thoughtful, beautiful, and just indulgent enough to make her feel loved....
jesus christ superstar actors
Jesus Christ Superstar at The Nocturne Theater in Glendale
Just outside Los Angeles, in Glendale, California there's a well-known theater called The Nocturne Theater. It used to be called the Glendale Centre Theater and has been part of the local arts community for many...
The Best Carry-On Luggage for Frequent Travelers
I travel a lot. For work, for stories, and for life. And about 99% of the time, I travel with a carry-on only. Yes, call me a control freak, but I prefer to have my...
2025 Holiday Gift List: Things I’m Obsessed With (and Actually Use)
I test a ridiculous number of brands and products all year, and most don’t make it past a single shelf shuffle. However, some stand out, and I've curated my 2025 Holiday Gift List with the...
Our Place - kitchen essentials review
Kitchen Essentials I Swear By: My Our Place Favorites
What I love about Our Place is simple….their pieces look good in my kitchen, they’re non-toxic, and all of their pieces do more than one job. Things stack, nesting actually makes sense, clean up is...
Quiet Luxury: Why Quince Nails It Every Time
I used to think ‘luxury’ meant swiping a card on Rodeo Drive or grabbing a last-minute splurge at an airport designer shop. I had my logo era (who didn’t?), but these days I’m happily on...
Here are my go-to summer outfits that have been on repeat all season long—light, packable, and perfect for every kind of warm-weather day.
My Favorite 2025 Summer Outfits (And Where to Find Them)
Summer is in full swing, and I’ve been living in breezy dresses, comfy sandals, and fun accessories that take me from beach days to rooftop cocktails. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite summer outfits...
Wall art for college students
Affordable Wall Art for College Students: Big Wall Decor
It’s that time of year when teary-eyed parents across the country get ready to pack up minivans and SUVs, load boxes of Target essentials, look for cool wall art for college students, and prepare to...
Escasa Tequila Blanco Review
Why Escasa Tequila Is About to Be Your New Favorite
If tequila is your jam like it is mine, you’re going to want to try Escasa Tequila. Good tequila isn’t just a drink, it’s a whole mood. I’ve built a solid tequila collection over time,...
holiday cards
2024 Holiday Cards: Why BasicInvite.com is my Holiday Favorite!
With the holiday season just around the corner, now’s the time to start thinking about your 2024 holiday cards! Finding the perfect cards to reflect your sentiments can be tricky, but Basic Invite makes the...
My Top 5 Melinda Maria Jewelry pieces
Elevate Your Everyday With Melinda Maria Jewelry
When I think about which jewelry to wear, I always consider what vibe I'm feeling that day. Jewelry has the power to not only add the finishing touches to an outfit but also change my...
5 tips to elevate a guest bathroom
5 Tips to Elevate A Guest Bathroom
Living in Hermosa Beach means there's always a steady stream of houseguests, and I absolutely love playing host to our friends and family. Given the limited space in our beach house, I'm constantly on the...
basic invite holiday cards
Basic Invite Holiday Cards: The ideal place to shop this year!
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and you know what that means - it's time to start thinking about holiday cards! As a mom, I always want to make sure our holiday cards are perfect,...
midlife beauty with Laura Geller Beauty.
Why Laura Geller Beauty collaboration with Wheel of Fortune is amazing!
There's a reason Laura Geller Beauty is on my 2023 Holiday Gift Guide: Ultimate Self-Care Gifts. Laura Geller and team pulled out all the stops to introduce their limited edition collection and collaboration with the iconic...
Beach sunsets are good for the soul
Beach Sunsets: 6 Reasons They Feed the Soul
The beach is like a big old hug for your soul, and beach sunsets are the highlight of my day. Unwind and recharge with beach sunsets. Let the breathtaking beauty of the sky at sundown...
annie the musical - broadway on hollywood
Annie The Musical – Broadway in Hollywood
Live theatre creates a special energy between artist and audience, and the beauty of live theatre is each performance is a unique experience, creating memories that last a lifetime. It's unpredictable, emotional, and beautiful to...
sustainable holiday cards for 2022
Best Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards | Paper Culture
It's the most wonderful time of the year 🎶  I absolutely love Christmas! And choosing the perfect eco-friendly holiday cards is a way to cherish the holidays, and a photo card is a fun way to...
date night with Los Angeles chamber orchestra
Date Night: The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Immerse yourself in the world of classical music with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Be captivated by the power and emotion of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and the West Coast premiere of Shelley Washington's 'Both'.
9 best travel essentials you can't leave home without
9 Best Travel Essentials You Can’t Leave Home Without
Here are the 9 Travel Essentials I never leave home without
JMMF benefiesta 2022
JMMF 2022 Benefiesta fundraiser
The Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation (JMMF) 2022 Benefiesta fundraiser was hosted at the stunning home of Ron and Stacy Harrison in Hermosa Beach after a two year pause due to Covid.  The Jimmy Miller Memorial...
PHOTO CREDIT : Kevin Parry Thomas Dilley performing StarDust Choreographed by Dwight Rhoden
Complexions Contemporary Ballet: Stardust
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in beautiful Beverly Hills exudes glamor and elegance with lavish architecture both inside and out. It's the PERFECT place for a date night, and even more perfect...
Body Traffic SNAP performance
BODYTRAFFIC at The Wallis
The Wallis Annenberg center for the performing arts is located in beautiful Beverly Hills and is seeping with beautiful architecture both inside and out. The Wallis is an exquisite performing arts center, and I've had...
the art of banksy
The Art of Banksy Exhibition – London
The Art of Banksy, is the world's largest exhibition of privately owned Banksy artwork being showcased in a huge warehouse space in Covent Garden, London. Banksy is one of the most famous street artists in...
Contra-Tiempo: joyUS justUS
Contra-Tiempo: joyUS justUS
Review of Urban Latin Dance Theater's Contra-Tiempo: joyUS justUS
ABBA The Concert: Date Night!
Studies show it's important to take time away from life and the kids to connect with your significant other.  We recently carved out time for date night to see 'ABBA the Concert' at the Segerstrom...
love actually live in Beverly Hills, christmas movie
Love Actually Live: Los Angeles
If you're looking for a night filled with charm, holiday spirit and nostalgia this holiday season... RUN to see Love Actually Live in Los Angeles at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.  'Love...
Comfortable Cariuma sneakers are great for travel
5 Reasons You Need Cariuma Sneakers for Travel
Discover the joy of walking through on your travels with stylish, eco-friendly, and comfortable Cariuma sneakers. The'll put a bounce in your travel experience with every step.
little black dress musical
Little Black Dress The Musical!
If you’re looking for a really fun night, grab some girlfriends, put on your little black dresses, and head out to see Little Black Dress The Musical. I took some girlfriends to see this last...
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About the Author

Hi! I’m Samantha

I’m a travel and health writer, marketing and brand consultant, breast cancer survivor, and mum to two young men who are, without question, my greatest achievement.

This little corner of the internet is where I share the real stuff – family life after cancer, raising young men, and our travels around the world. It’s sometimes beautiful, sometimes messy, but always authentic, all told with my dry (and sometimes slightly naughty) British humor.

You’ll find travel tips, honest reviews, and the places, products, and moments I genuinely love.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Follow Me on Instagram
@SamanthaKuhr
  • Welcome - my blog got a facelift…bless her…she was looking a little tired💕 There are lots of new faces around here, so I thought I’d introduce myself and tell you why My Travelling Circus exists. I’ve always dreamed of being a travel writer. Long before Instagram, TikTok, influencers, affiliate links, or even the idea that you could make a living online. Back then, it was just a place to share stories and photos from our travels. 🌎 Then life took a wobble. At a routine doctor’s appointment, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a dark time. My boys were young, and I genuinely didn’t know what the future would hold. During treatment and recovery, I spent a lot of time in bed. So I started writing. I documented everything. The cancer journey. Family life. The places we’d traveled. The memories we’d made. 💕🌸 To be honest, I think part of me was creating a little corner of the internet where our stories, our photos, and the adventures we’d shared together would live….Just in case I didn’t. Twelve years later, I’m still here. (woot woot!) 🙏 The boys are now young men. Social media exploded. The internet changed. And somehow, this little blog grew alongside it. What started as a personal project became a business, a community, and one of the greatest surprises of my life. Today, My Travelling Circus is where I share family travel, destination guides, travel tips, honest reviews, wellness, family stuff, and life after breast cancer. And if you’ve found your way here, I’m so happy to have you. If you’d like to follow along, I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d subscribe to my newsletter. I promise not to fill your inbox with junk...just stories, travel inspiration, and the occasional adventure.🌸💕 (link in bio) Thank you for being here. . #travelblog #traveltips #traveltheworld
  • Sometimes you need a reminder that there is still so much good in the world 💕🙏 Today, three rescued sea lion pups were released back into the ocean after being cared for by an incredible team of people @marinemammalcare 🦭 . Watching them head home is proof that when people come together to help, amazing things can happen.🙏 Welcome back to the wild, little ones. . #animalrescue #wildliferescue #goodnewsmovement #animalrehab
  • What a whirlwind few days in NYC with the Fastbreak.AI team celebrating being named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026✨ . Broadway shows, piano bars, late-night drinks rotating the city, and somehow squeezing in actual work. New York really is the city that never sleeps. Let’s do it again! . If you’re planning your own trip to NYC, I have everything you need here: https://www.mytravellingcircus.com/2025/10/13/48-hours-in-new-york-city-first-timers-guide/ . #nycguide #thingstodoinnyc #newyorkcity #visitnyc
  • Why have I never been to Chelsea Market in NYC? . #chelseamarketnyc #seedandmill #newyorkeats #travelblog #chelseamarketny
  • I love finding restaurants that are fun for a group dinner and @descansorestaurant is the perfect spot. We did the Plancha dining experience, where the chefs cook everything right on the sizzling grill at your table, and it feels like dinner and entertainment rolled into one.🔥 . Our carne asada and Pork Loin Alambre were cooked to our preference right in front of us, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and somehow didn’t feel heavy at all. . And the cocktails… very cool cocktail menu. We tried the Coco Verano (with Don Fulano Blanco, Cointreau, Fresh Coconut, Pressed Coconut Water, Agave, Lime) and the house fav. Cucumber + Sal (El Tesoro Blanco Tequila, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, Cucumber, Cilantro, Lime and Black Sea Salt). The margaritas were very much flowing at our table.🍋‍🟩 . The whole experience is social, interactive, and feels like sitting around a taco stand with friends while everything’s cooking fresh in front of you… which actually is where the founders took their inspiration 🇲🇽 . Descanso has locations in LA and Costa Mesa and is perfect for birthdays, date nights, girls’ dinners, or taking out-of-town guests who want a fun LA dinner experience. Save room for dessert… or settle into their very impressive tequila bar for an after-dinner drink.🍸 #DescansoRestaurant #PlanchaDining #LosAngelesRestaurants #MexicanFoodLA #LAFoodie
  • Lucky me - I got to spend Mother’s Day under the sea watching The Little Mermaid at the Nocturne Theater in Glendale with my very own Sebastian❤️ . The theater is staged in-the-round, so the entire undersea world happens all around you, with the characters sometimes only a couple of feet from the audience. The costumes are gorgeous and beautifully designed to bring the underwater world to life. There was even a performer doing aerial acrobatics on an aerial rope above the stage. And of course, you already know the songs…the pure voice of @jennamaewhite as Ariel is Disney magic 🐠🦀 . One of my favorite parts was watching the little girls arrive in their Ariel dresses, beside themselves with excitement, and at the end, the cast came out to meet them and take photos…so lovely 💕 . Such a sweet way to spend the afternoon with my boy. If you grew up loving The Little Mermaid, definitely try to see this one before it leaves Glendale. . The Little Mermaid @thenocturnetheatre Dates: May 8th – June 14th Location: 324 North Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203 Show Length: 2.5 hours (with intermission) . #thelittlemermaid #thingstodoinlosangeles #theaterinla
  • Four countries, no backtracking - our Balkans road trip was fabulous. Here’s the loop we drove:🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪🇦🇱🇭🇷 - Flew into Dubrovnik (Croatia) - Dubrovnik to Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina) - Down through Kotor and Budva (Montenegro) - Over to Shkodër (Albania) - Back to Dubrovnik (drop boys at the airport) - Dubrovnik to Korčula Island (Croatia) - Korčula to Split (Croatia) - Split to Dubrovnik (Croatia) We explored coastlines, islands, mountain roads, old towns… so much culture packed into two weeks. I mapped the full route and shared exactly how we did it (what I’d do again vs skip) over on the blog - link in bio if you’re thinking about it.🌍 📍Save this one. https://www.mytravellingcircus.com/2026/04/25/easy-balkans-road-trip-a-one-week-loop-from-dubrovnik/ . #balkansroadtrip #balkans #croatiawithlove #travelblogger
  • Our Place on Abbot Kinney in Venice just feels happy. Yes, I work with Our Place…but I also cook with their pots every single day and don’t get me started on their WonderOven 💕 . Also special shoutout to my @marcellanyc Signe Dress - the pink is even more vibrant in person . If you’re in LA be sure to visit their flagship store 📍 Our Place, Abbot Kinney . See my full OurPlace product guide here: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/921589 . #summerdress #ourplace #giftguides #kitchenware #marcellanyc
  • I just got my box from @seoulbeautyclub and tried a few of the full-sized products… and this combo was so good. I started with the Nuborn Cell Donkey Milk Collagen Cream (10%) and put it on before the mask for instant dewy, glow. 💕 Then I used the Nuborn Cell Dalgyal Mask, a Korean skincare peel-off mask with collagen and bakuchiol. The texture is super smooth going on (the built-in spatula makes it easy), and it dries clear. Then it peels off clean in one piece.🌸 . My skin feels hydrated and smooth. I Also tried the honey retinol “shot”- which is really more of a serum and it layers really well. . All full-sized, which I love. #seoulbeautyclub #koreanskincare #midlifeskincare #koreanskincareroutine

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