How It All Began

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People love to say the digital space is saturated. Too many blogs, too many influencers, too many voices all shouting at once. But I could not shake the feeling that there were still so many stories out there waiting to be told. Hidden gems. Local heroes. Places we have been a hundred times, but never really seen through the right lens.

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That is why I created EatLoveTravelPlay™ Magazine. Not because the world needed another lifestyle brand, but because I knew it needed this one. A place where we celebrate the magic in the everyday, the flavor in the small moments, and the joy of discovering, or rediscovering, what makes life so deliciously worth living.

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This is not just about eating well, traveling far, or having fun, though we absolutely do all of that. It is about perspective. About curiosity. About noticing the details, like the way a candlelit bar feels like a reset button, or how one perfect bite can turn into a core memory.

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And yes, sometimes it is also about a splash of Prosecco.

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A Second Act Worth Savoring

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I started EatLoveTravelPlay as I was getting ready to turn 50. And let me tell you, this season of life is wildly underrated.

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I found myself surrounded by a beautiful tribe of humans who, like me, love sipping bubbles on patios, feel completely at home wandering through Tuscan gardens with an Aperol in hand, and know the value of a 5 o’clock dinner reservation. We will be in bed by 9, thanks very much.

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We have raised kids, built careers, navigated heartbreaks and breakthroughs. And now we are unapologetically carving out space for joy. For travel. For food that makes us swoon and stories that make us feel seen.

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Starting this magazine was not part of some master plan. It was a leap of heart. I did not wake up one day and decide to be a digital publisher. I just kept sharing what I loved. Local spots. Travel tales. Cocktails that made me smile. People who inspired me. And somewhere along the way, this community started growing. You showed up. You read, you cheered, you said, “More, please.”

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The Plot Twist

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Here is the part most people do not expect. I do have my Sommelier certification, which means I have spent real time learning how to taste intentionally, how to decode notes, how to pair, and how to tell the story inside a glass.

 

But my curiosity did what it always does. It wandered.

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Because the more I leaned into flavor, the more I realized something. Scent works in a remarkably similar way.

Fragrance has notes. Cocktails have notes. Wine has notes. And just like the right pairing can elevate a meal, the right scent can set the entire mood of a night before the first sip ever hits your lips.

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That is how Sniff This, Sip That was born. A series where I blend two worlds I love, fragrance and cocktails, wine, and spirits, and bring you along with me as your Scent Somm.

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I am not here to be a technical fragrance critic. I am not going to talk atomizers and batch codes. I am Team Consumer, always. I care about how a scent feels, where it belongs, what it reminds you of, and what you should order when you wear it.

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Think of it like this. I will help you match your fragrance to your moment. Your date night. Your brunch. Your solo hotel bar era. Your “I need a win” Wednesday.

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Why EatLoveTravelPlay?

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Because those four little words are everything.

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Eat. From street food to fine dining, we believe every bite tells a story. If there is a cheese plate, we are ordering it. If there is a secret menu, we are asking for it. Food is culture. It is connection. It is comfort and curiosity wrapped in a napkin.

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Love. Love is at the heart of it all. Love for local businesses. Love for the humans behind the hustle. Love for the places that feed our souls and the people who show us the way.

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Travel. Whether we are hopping on a plane or just venturing down the road, we do it with eyes wide open and hearts even wider. Because travel is not always about distance. It is about discovery.

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Play. We are here for the joy. The laughter. The detours. The moments that do not go as planned but become the best stories. Life is too short not to dance barefoot, try that cocktail with the chili rim, or book the trip just because.

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So What Is EatLoveTravelPlay Really?

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It is part guide, part diary, part love letter to life.

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It is where we shine a light on the makers, bakers, chefs, and storytellers. It is where we champion small businesses, share the good stuff, and invite you to come along for the ride, from Arizona to anywhere the story takes us.

 

Whether you are here for the local gems, the big adventures, the little luxuries, or the newest Sniff This, Sip That pairing, we see you.

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You have found your people. The ones who are old enough to know better but still young enough at heart to chase the next great story.

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So let’s eat with gusto. Love like we mean it. Travel with curiosity. And play like nobody’s watching.

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Welcome to EatLoveTravelPlay.

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Krista Carpenter-Beasley

Founder & Chief Joy Finder | EatLoveTravelPlay™
Eat with heart. Love with intention. Travel with curiosity. Play with joy.