Mackenzie Miller: A Wandering Scribbler

I like to write. I like to travel. Sometimes I combine them.

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Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Paris

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My Favorite Hiking Trails in Northern Italy

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How to Survive an Overnight Flight with a Lap Child

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How to Use Credit Cards to Help Your Family Travel Cheap or Free

A while ago I wrote about 5 Beginner Travel Hacking Tips You Can Start NOWtravel hacking.  One thing for sure, is that most people agree credit cards play a huge role in travel hacking.  Because I don’t know everything about credit cards or using them to create a massive amount of points, I found someone who utilizes credit card point programs to show how you can use credit cards to help your family travel cheap or free.

Guest Author: Margie at DQ Travel

Would you like to know how a family of 4 (with two teachers as parents) travel around the US for cheap or free? Besides getting an online deal, the best way to do it, in my opinion, is to get a new credit card. However, if you are someone who does not pay their bills at the end of every month, you could find yourself in some financial trouble. I recommend this strategy to people who are responsible organizing their finances and do not carry balances on their current cards. What I am proposing does not require any extra amount of money. What it does require is that you change how you spend your money. 

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Here is my advice on using credit cards to help your family travel cheap or free

1. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Rewards Card

I vote this the best all-around travel card for many reasons:

A. The signup bonus is very nice. 

It is currently at 50,000 points (6/11/18) if you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. 

50,000 points can get you at the very least 2 round-trips American Airlines tickets. It can likely get you more because they have a TRAVEL PORTAL which you can use on many airlines and it gives you 25% more, meaning you actually get $625 worth of travel that can be applied to any airline at any time. If you add an authorized user (husband or wife), and they use the card, you get another 5,000 points – So that’s really 55,000 after the first 3 months!

  B. Think about your expenses.

You do not need to come up with a way to spend $4,000 in 3 months – Here are easy tips to make it:

– Is there any bill that you can link to a credit card? A cable, phone, internet, water, electricity bill? Maybe even a tuition payment? All of these are very easy to link and can gain many points without doing very much work except the online set up once. 

 – What do you use your credit cards for? You should be using them for practically everything! But of course, making sure you are paying the bills at the end of each month and not overspending. 

 – Do you have a big purchase coming up? use this card to help meet the minimum spending

 By doing those things, most people will be able to make the spending limit. Then after the 3 months, use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and see all of the options you have! 

C. There is an annual fee for this card $95 (however it is not applied the first year).

I honestly have kept this card for 5 years because there is tremendous value in it. A HUGE advantage is that you can transfer points to other loyalty credit cards like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG. 

D. You can transfer the points you accumulate to many other travel partners (huge benefit).

More on the ways to use this below.

2. Get a Marriott, Hyatt or IHG credit card

I did not do this at the same time as the Chase Sapphire card. I started with the Chase Sapphire first to "get my feet wet" and focus on changing spending from a debit card to only using a credit card for purchases. In about 6-9 months, once I felt comfortable, I applied for a Marriott credit card. Marriott was a brand I often stayed at anyways and had some points from their rewards program. There was a signup bonus and then every year anniversary you get a free night stay at a Category 1-5 (meaning not the ritzy ones but still good ones). 

  Then a year later I applied for a Hyatt credit card, and 6 months after that, I applied for an IHG card. Each card has its own benefits, yet the reason I got all three cards in the span of a couple of years is due to how much you save. Each of these cards does have an annual fee associated with them, but they are worth it! Think about it... if you are committed to traveling each year and are going to travel anyways, you are going to spend $ on a hotel.  So, each annual fee is about $85 (all 3 have it waived the first year)... don't you spend more than $85 a night anyways for a hotel room? Basically, you are getting the hotel night that you were going to spend at least $150-200 for the $85 annual fee. See, isn't the annual fee worth it?

  Each year I am getting 3 free nights of hotel (on the anniversary of the account opening) -  a Marriott night, a Hyatt night, and a Holiday Inn/Crowne Plaza night and I am paying ($85, $85, $50 respectively in annual fees). In addition to that great benefit, you can also transfer any Chase Sapphire points to any of these accounts. This means if you have 14,000 points in your Marriott account and a free night requires 15,000 points, you can very easily transfer 1,000 points to get your free night. This is one of my favorite and most used benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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3. Get an Airline travel card (American, Southwest, United) and use their sign-up bonus to get you where you want to go!

Option 1 

Most cards waive the annual fee for a year, and then in year 2 you can cancel it!

Option 2

If they do not waive it the first year, pay it because it is still a huge savings! Here is why... if the signup bonus is 50,000 points (that is usually two free tickets) then you are essentially paying an annual fee of about $80 for 2 plane tickets (very worth it to me). If you are taking your family, you are getting two tickets for free and then all you need to pay for are the other tickets (still a discount) and when you charge it to the card, you are getting plenty of points to use later. Even if you cancel the card after a year, you have still accumulated many points and if you have the Chase Sapphire card, and you booked on one of their airline partners like Southwest or United, you can transfer Chase points into your airline rewards account and get yourself closer to another free flight.

  Hopefully, my strategy helps you understand the benefits of using travel credit cards to help your family vacation cheaper.

Author Bio: I’m Margie... a teacher turned family travel blogger. Since I got married 12 years ago, my husband introduced me to the joys of traveling. With our two kids, we have traveled around the country and our goal is visiting all 50 states before they graduate high school. I started the blog to keep a record of our travels and share with others how we travel so frequently on a budget and any other useful family vacation tips.

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Packing List for a Month in Europe with a Toddler

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A Quick Guide to Ferries in Helsinki

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New Post has been published on https://awanderingscribbler.com/2018/06/29/how-to-find-quality-time-as-a-couple-on-a-family-vacation/

How to Find Quality Time as a Couple on a Family Vacation

Guest author: Cerise Roth-Vinson, Enchanted Vagabond.

Our first date many years ago took place on a secluded beach in Baja, Mexico which set the tone for a life of travel and adventure together. Since then, we have explored all over the world with our two kids. We have become experts at how to find quality time together when traveling as a family!

For the first 10 years, we traveled as a couple and had unlimited time together. When we adopted children now ages 7 and 11, travel became more hectic and our time was in high demand. A family trip is great for bonding and spending time together, but it’s also a chance for my husband and me to relax and reconnect. We typically have lengthy trips of several weeks or longer with our kids, so building in time for adult conversation is essential. The kids are amazing and adorable and we love spending time with them on vacation. But, we also make time together as parents on vacation a priority using these tips.

Here are the best ways to create quality couple time on a family vacation.

1. Book an AirBnB or vacation rental

Hotels and hostels were fun when it was just the two of us, but once we started traveling internationally with our kids it became expensive and not relaxing. Now, we book an AirBnB or vacation house anytime we travel. The extra space of a rental house or apartment is essential! We can enjoy a leisurely coffee in bed or retreat to a lounge or sitting area together where we are out of sight and we can focus on our own conversations. Access to a kitchen also means the kids can be more independent with access to snacks or breakfast items. By doing our own cooking, we plan for the kids to eat first and then we sit down to dinner just the two of us after they go to bed. A recent trip to Australia was fantastic because we had lots of places to retreat to while the kids played. Staying in a vacation rental is the easiest way to create couple time when on a family vacation!

2. Find an affordable hotel with a family suite

Adjoining rooms or two hotel rooms is an option we have used, but it comes with a big price tag. This strategy for creating privacy or having enough space as a family on vacation is expensive and often cost prohibitive for a longer trip, but is great for a night or two. An alternative to two rooms is to book a suite. A hotel family suite provides a sitting area and often a pull-out sofa bed that kids love.

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3. Request a room with a deck or balcony

Select a place to stay that has a private deck or balcony. When we stayed in Hawaii, most condos and vacation rentals have a lanai or outdoor space. We make it a part of our daily routine so the kids know in advance that around sunset we take an hour or so together to enjoy a glass of wine and chat. The more you create a routine around finding time with your partner, the more your kids will respect this time and interrupt only if they really need you. A deck is great in the morning as a couple so you can sit and plan the day with minimal distractions.

4. Travel with a pop-up tent

When the kids were even littler, we traveled with a pop-up play tent that doubled as an extra bed at night. The kids created their space for reading, playing or even napping. This gave us some time together while they were occupied in their own private area.

5. Pack an outdoor picnic blanket

When indoor space isn’t possible, we find a spot at a park while the kids play. Put down a blanket under a shady tree and relax together while kids play and meet new friends. Even better — bring a few toys that kids can be independent with like bubbles, water squirters or tennis balls. On a recent trip to the US, I booked a vacation rental next to a park just for this purpose and it was great!

6. Pick your airplane or train seats

Failure to plan in advance on a train ride in Taiwan a few years ago led us to the brilliant discovery of intentionally booking our seats in configurations that allow parents to sit together while still supervising the kids. The kids sit together in front or behind us. Another option for seating that gives you couple time to chat and get a break from your adorable kids is to request adult seats on the aisles with a kid on either side. Siblings who are older can be extra helpful with kids on a plane or train because the confined space limits a lot of activity.

5. Pack an outdoor picnic blanket

When indoor space isn’t possible, we find a spot at a park while the kids play. Put down a blanket under a shady tree and relax together while kids play and meet new friends. Even better — bring a few toys that kids can be independent with like bubbles, water squirters or tennis balls. On a recent trip to the US, I booked a vacation rental next to a park just for this purpose and it was great!

6. Pick your airplane or train seats

Failure to plan in advance on a train ride in Taiwan a few years ago led us to the brilliant discovery of intentionally booking our seats in configurations that allow parents to sit together while still supervising the kids. The kids sit together in front or behind us. Another option for seating that gives you couple time to chat and get a break from your adorable kids is to request adult seats on the aisles with a kid on either side. Siblings who are older can be extra helpful with kids on a plane or train because the confined space limits a lot of activity.

7. Pre-load movies and podcasts on an iPad or tablet

Like most parents, we like to limit the amount of time the kids spend on electronic devices, especially on a family vacation. But there are those times when a movie is just the solution! Pre-load a tablet with some new movies or download YouTube videos they can watch offline. We have a portable charger device and a headphone jack splitter so they can both watch a movie. On a recent trip to Japan, our son listened to podcasts for kids like Wow in the World or Story Pirates for the longest time and really enjoyed this alternative to staring at a screen!

8. Stay at an all-inclusive resort with a Kids Club

When we traveled to the Philippines with kids recently, we splurged and stayed at a Shangri-La resort, famous for their family-friendly amenities like pools with lifeguards and an AdventureZone where kids are supervised by trained staff. Scheduled craft activities and a huge play area are lots of fun for the kids while adults can go snorkeling or get massages together.

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9. Travel with another family

Planning a vacation with another family or bringing your family members is a great way to create opportunities for time as a couple when traveling. On a trip to Vietnam, we shared a large AirBnB house with family friends. Having other kids and two more adults made it easy for one or two adults to watch the kids while we went out for great hikes or happy hour at sunset. We love traveling with other families or a grandparent!

10. Plan a beach vacation

Of all the types of adventure trips we take as a family around the world, the best family vacations are those with access to a pool or sandy beach now that we have kids. Water is nature’s wonder toy when it comes to kids having fun. You can relax on a towel or lounge chair while kids are playing within supervision distance. Our trip to Cambodia with the kids is still memorable because the kids were exhausted from hours of playing at the beach.

11. Bring walkie-talkies or a baby monitor

Our young kids are more willing to be independent if they know they can call for us or reach us. We are also more open to allow them to play outside or on a different floor of the house if we have communication. A baby monitor is small and packable and can also create peace of mind if you’re relaxing on a patio outdoors or enjoying a long soak in the tub.

12. Take the kids to a trampoline park or indoor play area

The same tips and tricks that work at home can also work when on a family vacation! Search Google Maps or TripAdvisor for popular indoor playgrounds and activity centers. Kids get a chance to burn energy while you and your partner can supervise from a distance while still carrying on a conversation or planning the next day of your trip. I love a good win-win situation!

There are lots of creative ways to make sure your family spends time together to become closer while also carving out couple time on vacation. I’d love to hear what works for you! You can read more authentic advice on where to stay and what to do with kids for families who travel or to find out where we go and what we do when we travel internationally with our two kids by visiting Enchanted Vagabond.

About the author: 

I am a busy, expat working mom who loves to travel the world often with my family. I blog from Taiwan about traveling in Asia as a diverse family, travel with school-age kids and tweens, expat life, being a foodie, and my love of local markets. My two favorite items to travel with are my Swiss Army knife and ukulele!

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My Favorite Things About Helsinki

Helsinki.  What do you think of?  Maybe the cold? Well, yeah it’s cold.  What else?  Well I’m here to tell you what else.  On our recent trip to Scandinavia we stayed in Helsinki and explored the city with my local-ish sister while she was living there.  I had been to Helsinki a few years ago and really enjoyed my time.  Now that I brought my son back with me, I wanted to put together a post about some of my favorite things.

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My Favorite Things in Helsinki

1. The Coffee

I love coffee.  I think any parent, especially one of an infant, and one traveling would agree that caffeine equals happiness.  In Helsinki, that happiness is everywhere.  When I say Finns love their coffee, I’m not joking.  Coffee comes in different strengths for consumption throughout the day, flavors, and brands, making buying coffee for our apartment a much more thoughtful process that when I usually grab whatever can from the shelf.

2. The Sea

I love being on the water.  We took a ferry to Tallinn for the day and got to see all of the crazy boats carving their way through the icy water.  We took a ferry to Stockholm as well and spent the night on board and watched all of the little islands float past us.  We also, and I couldn’t recommend this more, took a dip in the Sea Pools in Helsinki.  The Sea Pools are like the tourist version of what I’m sure happens most places around Scandinavia.  Basically there is a warm pool, and then a pool made from the water in the harbor, and is about that same temperature.  You alternate between the two pools as well as taking a break in the Sauna.

I braved the icy water a few times but definitely enjoyed getting back into that warm water.  This isn’t something for little kids though, and luckily I had some people to watch Andrew while me and my sisters tested our nerves.

3. The Market

The market down by the harbor is what I love about markets.  There was tons of food, tons of little bits to look at, and tons of weird things to oogle.  Especially after being out the in the cold, to come in, yes, have a cup of coffee, and warm up was a more than welcome relief.

4. The Weather

I did just say it was cold, but, as someone who now lives in Texas, and hates the feeling of sweating by just existing, I enjoy being cold, rather than hot.  I like bundling up in jackets and boots and hats.  Andrew didn’t even mind being in his little stroller cozy.  When we went in March it wasn’t too snowy (except for a few dustings), and we were able to explore and have the excuse to go into shops to warm up (look around).

5. The Price

So Helsinki isn’t cheap like you would find in Eastern Europe or (better yet) Southeast Asia. BUT, compared to the rest of Scandinavia, it’s a welcome respite from the very expensive meals and hotels.  We spent the longest amount of time on our trip in Helsinki which was partially planned that way for cost, and because my sister was living there.  Taking a hop over to Estonia gives an even better value for your money.  And while Finland isn’t technically Scandinavia, there are a lot of the same esthetics you’ll see elsewhere and plenty of unique finds that make Helsinki a must-see on your list.

6. The Convenience for Baby

For anyone looking to take your baby or even toddler on a trip for the first time, Helsinki (and Scandinavia) is a great place to start.  I’ve found that many other countries in Europe don’t have all of the conveniences in place that Helsinki had for baby.  I always found a changing table (and a clean one) when I needed it.  The public transportation was easy to use with a stroller, and there were always high chairs or play areas when we needed them.  They also had plenty of selections for baby food, formula, and diapers.  Now, that’s not to say that other cities around the world aren’t baby friendly.  I just found that I had a great experience with my son in Helsinki and know that it would be a great choice for other families with young children.

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If you ever find yourself going to Scandinavia, definitely check out Helsinki.  With a great atmosphere, friendly culture, and overall baby-friendliness, it’s a must-visit for families.

Have you ever been to Helsinki?

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9 Ways to Help Baby With Jet Lag

Jet Lag is one serious drawback to travel.  Factor in a small child who hasn’t quite mastered sleeping through the night, and you might be asking for trouble.  

Some symptoms might go beyond just being tired or cranky.  Your little one might have a loss of appetite, have some tummy troubles, headaches (though they might be able to tell you this), and just be irritable and confused.  A combination of these can make any trip into a nightmare.

Luckily, you can try to help your little one before you leave home and lessen the effects once you’ve arrived.  

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Here are some tips to get your little one prepared for your big adventures.

Before Travel:

1. Try to push naps or bedtime closer to the time zone you’re traveling to.  

If you’re going east, start the bedtime routine slightly earlier each night (if going west, hold off on bedtime).  By slightly altering your baby’s schedule it won’t be quite as jarring when suddenly you’re staying up 6 hours later, or going to bed 8 hours earlier.

2. Get baby used to sleeping in different places.

 If your child has only ever slept in one or two locations, it might be difficult to get used to a new place (or a few) so suddenly.  Try to move the crib into different places in the room, or a completely different room. Sleep in the pack n’ play instead of a crib, or better yet, take a few small trips away from home to get in a completely new environment.  This might not be directly related to jet lag, but when a baby is fighting sleep and already overwhelmed, adding in the fear of a new place doesn’t help.

3. Try to schedule flights that will coordinate with naps (or not).  

My child is a pro at sleeping on planes. Between cuddling me, the bounce of the plane, and the white noise, he’s asleep within minutes of takeoff.  So I always try to schedule our flights around nap times or overnight. This helps him stay on a semi-decent schedule. If your child doesn’t sleep on planes, scheduling overnight flights on purpose probably won’t work for you (though it’s not always avoidable).

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During Travel:

4. Head out.  

Even if it’s bed time in your home time zone, get up, get out, and get some sun.  One of the best ways to fight jet lag is to trick your body into living in that time.  The sun automatically helps trick your brain. And, if you’re lying in bed, you’re obviously more likely to snooze, than if you’re out adventuring.  It’s the same for your baby. With all of the excitement of a new location, they will hopefully avoid sleeping until it’s a better nap time, or an appropriate time for bed.

5. Immediately change to the new time zone.  

Avoid the urge to live by your home time. Use the current time to plan your baby’s schedule like you would at home.

6. Be flexible.  

Even if your baby is very scheduled at home, that doesn’t mean she will be while traveling.  Realize that sometimes you can’t avoid a snooze in the stroller, or he’ll be super active at bed time.  Just try to keep it the same, while also allowing some wiggle room.

7. Build in a day or two after arriving.  

If you have time, keep the first day or so pretty free of major activities.  While I’ve said it’s great to stay busy to avoid feeling sleepy, sometimes your baby just will not be enjoying his time.  An extra day can add in a buffer for him to get used to things before trying to hit all of the activities.

8. Stay hydrated.  

Try to push water or milk on your child to keep them hydrated and help fight the side effects of jet lag.  It will also help because, for the most part, a full tummy is an easier one to sleep on.

9. Bring comforting items.

 If your child as a certain toy, a blanket, or maybe they’re attached to you, let them have those comfort items.  I’m not saying give in to every peep your baby makes for that item if it’s interfering with other things. But let me comfort themselves however they know how.  

And remember, if your child is feeling the effects of jet lag, his sleep will go back to normal.  This won’t last forever and eventually his or her body’s normal rhythm will begin again. And, it was all worth it.  As difficult as it might seem in the moment, you’ll always have those memories of traveling with your child, and depending on their age, they might too.  It’s worth it to be able to show them the world. Even though jet lag is a menace.

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Packing List for Scandinavia in March

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Our Scandinavia Itinerary

In March we spent about 2 weeks traveling across Scandinavia. We primarily planned the trip to go visit my sister living in Helsinki.  But also wanted to spend time in other Scandinavian cities.  I’ve been to many of them, but Andrew never had.  So we made a great jaunt of it.

If you followed along on Instagram, (which you should be doing…) then you might be curious what our itinerary was.  I’ve set created a breakdown so you can copy us or get the bones for your own trip and cater it to your own needs.

Overview

Day 1: Fly Wichita Falls to Boston

Fly Boston to Reykjavik, Iceland

Day 2:  Day Tour in Iceland: Golden Circle

Day 3: Fly to Oslo, Norway

Day 4: Lillehammer

Day 5: Fly to Helsinki, Finland

Day 6: Sightseeing in Helsinki

Hockey game

Day 7: Sightseeing in Helsinki

Market Square

Day 8: Ferry to Tallinn, Estonia

Day 9: Sightseeing in Helsinki

Pools

Day 10: Overnight Ferry to Stockholm

Day 11: Arrive in Stockholm

Day 12: Sightseeing in Stockholm

Day 13: Fly Stockholm to Iceland.

Overnight in Iceland

Day 14: Fly to Boston

Overnight in Boston

Day 15: Fly to Wichita Falls

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5 Beginner Travel Hacking Tips You Can Start NOW

Travel Hacking is this crazy thing that you hear of once in a while on Facebook.  Someone used points or credits to get a free roundtrip flight from Atlanta to Thailand with stops in Europe and Australia in First Class with stays in high-end hotels right on the beach. All completely free.

That sounds amazing (and admittedly not very realistic).

But that takes a TON of work.

I’m not trying to dissuade you from travel hacking.  There are so many people who are gaming this system and seeing amazing results like the example above.  Not joking.

In a travel hacking group I’m in on Facebook, a man used points to pay for his honeymoon for over 4 weeks in 8 different countries, staying in all luxury hotels and flying first or business class.

But it’s not going to happen today. . if you are thinking of planning a trip with your family to Europe in 3 months and haven’t started the points game, you probably won’t be able to pay for your trip with points.  That guy from the example above was probably saving up his points for years, and worked extremely hard basically every day to maximize his output

BUT, if you have some general plans coming up for later in the year and in the future, you can definitely do it.  Just start now.  While I am still in the beginning-isn stages of travel hacking.  I have successfully used points to greatly offset the cost of my trips.  I have had free flights or free nights in hotels, purely from accumulating points or taking advantage of promotions. It’s addicting.

I wanted to put together 5 things a beginner can do, RIGHT NOW, to get started in travel hacking so that some day you’ll be able to take that first class flight around the world and pay nothing out of pocket.  And in the more short term, get a free night stay here and there or even a free flight.

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5 Beginner Travel Hacking Tips You Can Start NOW

1. Sign up to join rewards or frequent flyer programs

This is the very beginning.  You need to have an account with companies like Marriott, Hyatt, Southwest, or American Airlines.  Choose the companies that you regularly use or want to use.  You can’t start to accumulate points if you don’t have anywhere to store those points.

I always sign up for the loyalty or frequent flyer programs even if it’s the first time I fly with an airline and I have no intention of using them in the near future.  Sometimes you can combine points from partner companies and you don’t want to miss out on those points- however small they seem right now.

2. Use the same companies over and over

This is really hard when just starting out because you usually want to fly with the cheapest airline to same money right now.  In the long run, though, you’ll be able to accumulate points from those flights much faster when using one company rather than spread over a few.

Choose an airline that has a hub or is based in your home airport. With Dallas being our main airport, we have a few options to choose from. For flights directly to Wichita Falls (which we sometimes use because of the convenience) we stick with American. Stick with them as much as possible and gain status with that company.  Not only will you be accumulating points, but you’ll also be seen as a loyal customer and get rewarded with upgrades or other perks. (but be aware, you usually need to fly A LOT to see these benefits.)

3. Look for company promotions.

Many hotel chains, like Wyndham (I just got their email ad for this today) often have promotions to stay 2 nights and get 1 free.  You can save money immediately on your trips by using these promotions and at the same time accumulate points for those stays that you can use on later stays to even further add to the savings.

4.  Find credit cards that offer sign up bonuses

This is where many people get the bulk of their points.  Sign up bonuses are everywhere.  You’ve probably seen those ads: “Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and get 50,000 points.”  Take a look at your preferred airline and look around for their company credit card or a credit card like Chase Sapphire Preferred that allows you to accumulate points to be used on a variety of airlines.

Credit cards offer a variety of benefits just for having them.  Some, like… allow you to use the lounges for…. Most airline credit cards get you free or additional baggage for your flights, so already a great savings if you find yourself needing to pay for baggage regularly.

Note: You need to have a decent understanding and control of your finances.  You have to pay off your credit cards every month and make sure you don’t get into debt or trouble.  Only sign up for cards that you can actually afford and that you actually plan to pay off every month.  Getting some bonuses isn’t worth damaging your credit.

5.  Complain

Now, hear me out.  I’m not saying to just whine and cry over every little thing that happens to you.  Because guess what, travel can be annoying, but it’s annoying for everyone. But if you have a legitimate complaint, even a small complaint, let someone know.  POLITELY.

My most recent example: A few months ago I booked a stay at a hotel in Dallas the night before a very early morning flight. To summarize: I had a 6 month old who needed a safe place to sleep (I don’t co-sleep. Freaks me out). Hotel manager, over the phone, said they had a crib. They didn’t have a crib.  I got no sleep.

I wrote a note to corporate, politely explaining my frustration. They were kind and gave me a free night at any of their hotels.  We used it at a hotel in San Antonio directly on the River Walk that I never would have spent the cash on.  EVER.   So…. it was worth it to us to point out an issue.

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Hopefully some of these tips will help you get started in this game.  If you want more in-depth information on credit cards that might fit your financial situation or travel dreams, look at The Points Guy.  He has a ton of information to take you further into travel hacking.

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Must-Haves for Winter Travel with an Infant

You know winter means cold.

You know babies need extra gear to begin with.

Winter is no different.

I grew up in very cold weather in Buffalo so I’ve always been aware of how I handle cold weather what I needed for the cold travels.  When I had a Andrew we were living in Texas (still are) so it rarely got cold.

I’ll admit that I lost a little of my northern skin since living in the south. But at least I could always deal and I still had thick jackets and gloves for layering.  But my little Texan baby, being born at the end of spring, had no idea what cold was.

When I was planning our trip to Buffalo for Christmas, I made sure to look at his clothes and what we would need to bring with us.  Now that we’re planning for Finland and the rest of Scandinavia, I wanted to go over it again to see what else he might need now that he’s a little bigger and more mobile

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Here is what got us through a cold winter in Buffalo, and what we are bringing with us to Finland.

1. Car seat cover

2. Stroller Muff

3. Baby Balaclava

4. Fleece Bunting or one piece snowsuit 5. Gloves 6. Warm hat

7. Long-sleeve Onesies

8. Fleece Booties

9. Sunglasses

10. Tissues

11. Face wet wipes

12. Hand sanitizer

13. Medicine, nose drops, tylenol

14. Baby lotion

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If you’re looking to travel during winter with your little one this list is a great place to start.  Head over to our Facebook group to get more advice and ideas from other traveling families.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at you extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links. You can also see my full Disclosure and Terms and Conditions (you know, the real boring stuff).

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15 Home Office Essentials

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Everyone who works from home should have a great office.  Even if you’re not exactly rolling in the dough you can still have a functioning office to keep the house running, have a place where kids can do work, or just an escape to go watch youtube videos (I do way too much of that).

I was cleaning my office the other day and thought about what I have and what I would need to have a functioning office because I do try to use my office for writing though, and like to make it as cozy as possible I decided to share my list with you to give you an insight into my office life and inspire you to have a more productive space.  Here is my list of items that keep me productive and motivated.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”20″ up=”20″ down=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17998″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

1. A Designated Workspace

This seems obvious but if you’re going to really have an office and really be productive you need a space just for work. Before I had my own house I never had my own office. I never even had a desk. I would work at the kitchen table, from the couch, or a coffee shop. These are all places that many people get work done, but I’ve found I’m so much more productive when I’m in my space. I have less distractions and when I enter my office my mind knows it’s time to work. Admittedly it’s harder and harder to do work from my office with a little one needing attention often, but when he’s sleeping or with Dad I try to escape to my office to capture some productive moments to myself. Your office should feel good to you and you should feel that same level of productivity and motivation that I do when I step into my office. Decorate it to your style and make it your own.

2. A Desk

No office is complete without a desk. Mine is just an old kitchen table we were gifted. We could definitely find a different desk if we wanted, but I like how big it is so I can spread out my papers and not feel cramped.

3. A Great Chair

I love this office chair we were given. It’s comfortable so when I do manage to sit and get work done for long periods of time I am comfortable. Not to mention I have such a bad back now (thanks to poor posture and a baby that’s getting heavier by the minute), so it’s nice to remind me to have better posture and remain comfortable.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17990″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

4. Planner

My Favorite office item. I write everything down in my planner from when things are due, to appointments, to conferences, to what I need to do that day. It makes me feel more organized and I actually get things done by planning out my days and weeks.

5. Notebooks

I need somewhere to write down all of my ideas or take notes. I also use notebooks for journals.

6. Folders

I tend to like things in hard copy rather than online. I print out to do lists or business resources to keep myself organized and put them in these folders. If you are able to only use the computer I am jealous of you. Not only are you saving trees but you have so much less STUFF around. I cannot though, so I need folders to organize all of my papers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

7. Wall Organizer

Because I am stuck in a paper-filled world, I need to further organize these papers and folders with this cool wall organizer. I have a wall organizer from IKEA where I keep items that I want easy access to.

8. Bookshelf

It’s obvious that if you have books you need a bookshelf. I also love how they make an office feel. Is it just me that loves the idea of books because of how much information they contain? It’s all right there for us to access. Just me? Okay…

9. Colored Pens

When writing lists or in a journal I usually stick to just black pens, but I love colored ones for organizing my planner or creating idea maps. It’s much easier for me to visualize what I need to do when colors stand out for different reasons.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17987″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

10. Laptop or Desktop (or Both)

I’m lucky enough to have both. I tend to use my laptop more, just because it’s more mobile and I can take it to the living room to hang out with Andrew, or out of town. Sometimes though, I use the desktop, or both, and multitask what I’m doing.

11. Printer

A printer is obviously a necessity for someone who prints a lot. Not only that but I often have to print, sign, scan, and email back forms so this is essential for my office.

12. External Hard Drive

Once I spilled water on my laptop. I lost EVERYTHING. I’m paranoid now and back up all of my files to an external hard drive. I actually have two. One that is an exact copy of my lap top’s hard drive and one that contains files and folders for things I don’t need on my laptop for daily use or are just too big to be stored there permanently.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17993″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

13. Office Basics

Stapler, sticky notes, pencil cup, tape, scissors…- You get the picture.

14. Spotify

I NEED music when working. If it’s too quiet I cannot concentrate and my mind wanders. Spotify is my favorite place to find music. I’m sure you know all about it but if you don’t, go check it out. You can create playlists or use someone else’s from the free lists. It’s free to use (with ads) and you can listen to basically anything you want.

15. Coffee

Not exactly an office supply but it might as well be. Since having Andrew, and getting much less sleep than I’d like, I need coffee to basically just survive.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”30″ up=”20″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]So there was my list of Home Office Essentials.  Hopefully you were inspired to create a home office of your own or at least redecorate the one you already have.  If you have a perfect home office, show me! I am always in awe of those with decorating abilities. PLUS, I’m obsessed with office supplies.

Let me know in the comments![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17922″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_separator type=”normal”][vc_column_text]

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Photo Essay- Wichita Falls, TX

By now, you know that Wichita Falls, TX is my new hometown.  Because we’ll be here for a few years, because our child will be born here, and because I just want to start “traveling locally” more, I’ve been spending a lot of time wandering around our town. I’ve been practicing my photography and because I’ve put together a good collection of photos I thought I’d share my photo essay of Wichita Falls.  Hopefully I can inspire you to either visit our little town, or to travel around your town to look for great photo opportunities.

If you enjoy these photos follow me on Instagram.  I share most of my photos over these and would love to see some of yours.

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Texas Bucket List

It would seem that we’re Texas residents now. I can’t believe we’ve been here almost a year already. While we’ve managed to do a good amount of things in our new state, we have so many left. We have crossed off a few major list items while living in Texas: buying our first home, and having our baby here. But there’s so many travel things we want to do around the state. Luckily we have three more years here so we have plenty of time to cross these things off of our list.

I’ll cross off the list as I go so check back to see what I thought of these destinations!

Here is my list!

San Antonio River Walk

See The Alamo

Space Center Houston

Big Bend National Park

State Capitol in Austin

Visit the Texas State Fair

Natural Bridge Caverns

Run Dallas Marathon

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Padre Island National Seashore

Attend SXSW

Eat at The Salt Lick BBQ in Austin

Visit the Shiner Brewery

Fort Worth Stockyards- We stopped at the Stockyards on our way back from Killeen. We were driving through Fort Worth and decided to stop by and see something we hadn’t yet. We walked around a bit, ate some great steak at Riscky’s, went into shops, and gawked at some longhorns. It was a cute place to go and we might possibly go back with our little one.

See the Marfa Lights

Eat at The Big Texan in Amarillo– This is another one we visited while living in New Mexico. Our town was tiny and Amarillo was one of the cities closest to us. We ventured to Amarillo one weekend and decided to follow the signs to the 72 oz steak. We didn’t actually attempt the 72 oz. challenge. Only a crazy person would, but we watched as two people tested their stomachs and we sipped on beer and ate much smaller steaks.

Go to a Dallas Cowboys Game

Visit Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo-I might technically be cheating with this one. We visited here when we were still living in New Mexico, but hey, it’s still in Texas. This was one of those sites you always see pictures of and really want to visit. It was definitely a cool sight but was way smaller than the photos make it out to be. If you’re around Amarillo definitely stop to check it out. Otherwise… I don’t know if I would make the trek out to West Texas just for this.

Celebrate the Day of the Dead in San Antonio

Go book shopping in Archer City

Visit the Czech Stop in West– We stopped at the Czech Stop before we even knew it was a “bucket list” item. We were on our way back from Killeen and an unsuccessful stop at Magnolia Farms in Waco. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stop at a Czech themed bakery. They’re not exactly on every street corner. Since my time living there a few years ago I tend to love anything about the Czech Republic so it was easy to stop. On a Sunday morning it was packed inside and the line was nearly out the door. The breads, pastries, and other goodies smelled amazing and I want to make another trip down there to stock up.

Attend a Rodeo

Drive the Bluebonnet Trail

Camp in the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Visit Palo Duro Canyon

Climb Enchanted Rock

  What do you think of my list? Let me know what I need to add. I know there’s some hidden spots in this huge state I’ve missed.

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Frank & Joe's Coffee House Review- Wichita Falls, TX

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wichita Falls, surprisingly, has some great little places for coffee. When I first found out I’d be moving here I didn’t have high hopes. I know it was going to be better than Clovis, NM, where we were before, as far as more stores and shopping and just city things in general. But we were still in a smaller city, a few hours from anything major and I just didn’t know what to expect. It took me a few months to visit Frank & Joe’s, I’m not sure why, but once I did it’s the first place I think to go when I want to get out of the house to get some work done.

My first visit I was meeting with a local writer and social media professional from the area who I’d been emailing to get to know the area. She asked to meet with me at Frank and Joes to chat and I’m so glad she did. After our meeting I texted Steve right away to tell him we needed to come back. I was so excited that this coffee shop excited close to us and that I would be able to use it for work in the coming years.

Inside there are some cozy sofa chairs and couches. There’s also long tables with plenty of seating as well as smaller tables for sipping your drinks. Outside there is a pet friendly covered patio with more tables to continue working outside. There are study rooms that can be rented out where you can get some extra privacy. I have yet to use these but I’m sure if I got desperate to get some alone time for work I would definitely look into it. They look pretty cozy.

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Info:

Hours: 6am- 10pm everyday Small study room: $8 Large study room: $10

Other features:

Drive thru Mimosa bar on Sundays Beer selection Merchandise for sale from local vendors

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My Thoughts

Since moving to Wichita Falls this is one of my favorite places to come to write and do work on the computer. There are plenty of places to sit, even outside on the patio, so I never worry that I won’t have a comfy spot to set up. I like their extensive drink menu and like to try out something new when I go. Another thing that I like, or will like when I can drink again, is that they have beer in cans and on tap. Sometimes coffee just isn’t going to cut it so it’s fun to have beer available at a coffee shop. They usually have a pretty good selection and, when I can test them out, I’m sure Steve and I will stop by there more often to try them out.

They have a small food menu and while it’s usually enough to get me through a long work session, it’s not exactly drawing me into the shop. When I am hungry and want to go to a coffee shop this isn’t where I go. Not that that should stop you from popping in. It has great atmosphere, a great drink menu that keeps evolving, and is in a great location in town.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]