Copenhagen eases into your senses quietly and intentionally, then suddenly all at once. During my recent visit, I found myself moving slower, noticing more, and wondering how an entire city manages to feel so balanced, thoughtful, and happy.

Copenhagen was named the Happiest City in the World for 2025, and after spending time wandering its neighborhoods, canals, bakeries, and museums, I started making a list of the reasons why.

Despite the 110+ degree summer heat here in Phoenix, my studio has been buzzing with energy, ideas, and clay-covered hands. What began as a simple experiment with four wheel-thrown, donut-shaped forms quickly turned into a deeper exploration of shape, meaning, and story.

More than 15 years had passed since my first visit to Mexico City, and this year, I felt the pull to return. I had two great reasons: celebrating my birthday and attending Zona Maco, Latin America’s biggest contemporary art fair. I traveled with two close friends—one a regular visitor to CDMX, the other experiencing it for the first time—so we had a lot of ground to cover in just three and a half days.

Athens. Just saying the name pulls you back through time—temples on the hill, philosophers in the Agora, gods in marble. It’s one of those cities that lives vividly in the imagination, and being there in person? Even better.

Morocco was a sensory rush from start to finish. We explored five cities in ten days, each bursting with energy, history, and intoxicating color.

For my mom’s 80th birthday, my brother and I wanted to do something unforgettable. Egypt had always been high on her list, so we made it happen—a trip that turned out to be as meaningful as it was awe-inspiring.

Naoshima Island, also known as Art Island, in Japan's Seto Inland Sea is an inspiring haven where art, architecture, and nature seamlessly converge.