This week it's really hitting home that summer's over. Not only are the kids fully back in school (well, except for my daughter who keeps getting excused for doctor appointments due to breaking her wrist on Day 2 during PE!), the weather has also officially turned on us. I know those of you not familiar with the Seattle area probably won't believe this, but we really do get gorgeous summers. It's also not unheard of for those summers to stretch all the way to the end of September. This … [Read more...]
Family Travel: Circumnavigating the Globe
*Post contains affiliate links Ok, back to my secret... While working away behind the scenes of here, I've also been planning a deluxe trip half-way across the world, in Bali, to celebrate my 15th wedding anniversary. I've got lots of stuff I could share about this trip including where we went and why, how we ended up completely circumnavigating the globe (Seattle to Bali via Tokyo on the way there, and Bali to Seattle via Dubai on the way home) and how we did all that traveling in only … [Read more...]
Don’t Even Think About Heading to Disneyland without these 13 Essentials
*Post contains affiliate links. I’m not the type of vacationer to get super hung up on schedules and plans once we’re there, but I also don’t want to waste any time looking stuff up or figuring things out when we could be taking in a show or screaming with delicious delight on the kids’ favorite ride. Plus, there’s enough waiting around at Disneyland as it is, no need to test the kids’ patience any more than necessary, right? One of the things I found most helpful in my planning were lists … [Read more...]
Why Dinner and a Movie Isn’t Enough to Keep the Spark Alive
Being a parent to young kids is no joke. There's a lot on our plates; busy schedules, sleepless nights, and the responsibility to keep those little ones well fed, stimulated, learning, happy and just alive! One important part of parenting as a couple is also keeping the spark alive, something that is often a lot easier said than done. But science is here to help. Studies show there's one big thing couples can do to stay happy and sane while dealing with it all. So what's the … [Read more...]
27 Must-Know Tips for Happy Family Travels
If there's anyone that's qualified to write about how to travel with kids, it's our talented contributor Kaley. She's currently living in Vienna, Austria with her husband and two little girls and "on a mission to see as much of Europe as possible before heading back stateside". Her blog is full of gorgeous photographs of her family's travels to places like Berlin, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. She also shares lots of smart tricks she's learned along the way, including how to make a DIY … [Read more...]
Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa: An Insider’s Guide
All this month we're talking about New Year's Resolutions and today I am SO VERY EXCITED to finally share with you one of the most amazing experiences of my life, which came about from a 12th-hour New Year's resolution- to travel more as a family. This story is actually a little crazy, and more than a little out of character for my Type-A self. Here's how it all started... It was early November last year when three important things happened. First, I came across a very compelling … [Read more...]
An Inside Look: Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge
It's about this time of year that the folks in my neck of the woods start making plans for family vacations come spring. (It's somewhat of a natural consequence of the start of the rainy season.) But our family isn't joining them this year for two reasons: We did the vacation thing BIG last year and it seems prudent to keep it much more low key this year Our youngest is at the perfect age (20 months) for making the idea of a plane trip or long lines at an amusement park sound … [Read more...]
An Organized Car In Time For Summer Travel
Is your car road trip ready? If not, don't fret. Our resident professional organizer, Annie, is here with a summer-themed post for Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life today that will get you there in no time. She's got lots of great tips as well as some handy product recommendations. (I've been meaning to buy the last thing on her list for ages - this is just the push I needed!) The summer months are fast approaching, and with them, lots of day trips and long-haul journeys. Regardless of … [Read more...]
Travel Tip: Magnet Magic
Now that we've just barely finished unpacking all the boxes (inside at least - the garage is a different story), guess what - we're packing some bags and hitting the road to visit our family lake house in Montana. Naturally, a 7 hour road trip calls for breaking out the big guns and this idea from Kaley is one of my favorites. Hope you can use it too! With summer in full swing, we have been doing a lot of traveling (get more of our tips here). Planes, cars, even buses. And no matter … [Read more...]