Most of you have probably heard some version of the quote, "Happiness is not a destination; it is a way of life." I read it many years ago, and ever since, I have let it simmer as I go through life. Creating true happiness and a profound love for life is not achieved by only waiting around, being excited about the big days. It’s about making the ordinary, mundane days what puts a smile on your face.

When I came to Bonanza, I didn’t quite know what to expect, but when do you ever really with something you’ve never done before? Not only did I meet the kindest (and coolest) girls I’ve ever encountered, but I also experienced a whole week that reminded me of how magical life can be, even without big, extraordinary plans. Because even though Bonanza itself is a big event to look forward to, Amanda and Elin have created a space that reminds you just how wonderful it can be to romanticize your own life.

Placing 12 girls in a villa might sound chaotic, but it turned out to be the most beautiful symphony you could imagine—a symphony where there was space for each girl to be her unique self and listen to her own beautiful needs. I love being social, but only to a certain extent. By day four, I could feel my batteries slowly draining, so I decided to take my book and spend some time reading in my room. However, instead of reading, I found myself just embracing the moment. I lay in the most beautiful blue room with the glittering sea in front of me, a slight breeze passing through the light curtains, which just softened the sharpest rays from the sun. I listened to the waves, the girls chatting by the pool, a shower running next door, and the slow rhythm of the French Basque country. It was an (almost) completely ordinary moment but felt so insanely special.

Do you know those moments that make you forget you have a phone? Forget that need (that I, at least, have) to be available and online at any moment? The week was rich with moments like these. Feeling the warm morning sun rays heating my skin after a refreshing swim, sipping my morning coffee with a Madeleine (French pastry) in hand. Enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal with 14 girls around a table set in the garden, sharing vulnerable moments and laughing simultaneously. Watching the ocean as the sun set and the surfers caught their last waves of the day.

Finding beauty in the details of your life takes practice, and I can wholeheartedly say Amanda and Elin are masters at this—you will not find a better place to soak in all the tips and tricks on how to romanticize your life. Bonanza is not only a surf and yoga retreat, it's also a girls' community and amazing food (I could really go on). It is, in all honesty, a reminder of how wonderful life can be when you are present and a lesson on how to bring that magic home and make your own life just as enchanting.

Words by @katarinaolesen, pictures by @salome.sun, @adrianamdu and @hagstein <3