Motherhood

Find someone who will watch every season of 30 Rock (or Brooklyn 99 or Parks & Rec or The Office) with you at least a dozen times. That’s your person.

Just thought maybe someone would need to see this rooster right now. One of our favorite memories of Key West is seeing all the roosters roaming around. Kind of missing the Keys and being on island time for a few days. What vacation spots are you dreaming of right now?

Hi! My name is Lewis, which means Renowned Warrior. Very fitting, because one of my hobbies is destroying things for fun. Other hobbies include opening the fridge door for the dog so he and I can feast together, calling 911 from my dad’s phone then leaving the phone unattended in an empty room, and climbing on any and all furniture, especially if my mom says it’s not safe. And I look dang cute while I cause mayhem.

This is me, fresh off a 4 hour flight flying solo with 3 kids ages 1, 3, and 5. Somehow we’re all still smiling, still excited for the adventure ahead of us. Travel with kids isn’t always glamorous. It involves long flights, crammed hotel rooms, and more snacks than you can imagine. But it’s still 100% worth it for our family. Something I learned on those cross-country flights was that it truly does take a village. The way people came together to help out when they saw me doing my best to keep 3 little ones entertained continues to astound me when I think back on it. One of the stand-out moments, though, was on the @southwestair flight back to Florida. I was exhausted, and we were all so thirsty, but our water bottles were empty. When the flight attendant came to take our drink order, I was all set to politely decline, because I was *terrified* of one of my kids spilling a drink, since we had forgotten to bring sippy cups with lids. That kind woman took one look at me, leaned in conspiratorially, and offered cups with lids for all my kids. She got on their level and asked if they wanted apple juice, provided them with extra snacks, and in general just made our day. It seems like such a small gesture, but in that moment I could have cried at her kindness. I was overwhelmed thinking about the task ahead of me, and she made it that much easier. And if that weren’t enough, later she came by and asked if she could hold the baby for me. He was squirmy and sick of being cooped up on my lap, and she recognized that and offered to give me a break. I was stunned and so moved. Maybe it didn’t seem like that big of a deal to her, but for me to have a few minutes with my hands free to help my other two kids was such a relief. I wish I had gotten that kind woman’s name, because she truly made what could have been an impossible flight bearable and even fun. To me, that’s what travel is all about. Forming community, meeting new friends, helping each other out, and seeing the humanity in other people. So, yes, even though travel with little kids is HARD and EXHAUSTING at times, we will keep on showing them the world. #southweststorytellers #contest

No wonder the laundry never gets done 😂

Let’s talk Disney! I’ve always considered myself the type of traveler who loves digging deep into culture and language. You know, going past the surface. I’m usually not much of a theme park person, but there’s something about walking through the gates of Disney World. Everything is just so dang magical! And seeing that magic through your kids eyes is something you’ll always remember. Are you planning a trip to Disney at all this spring or summer? If so, I’ve got a few resources for you to check out on the blog. Today I updated an old post with some great tips for visiting Disney with a baby, and last week I shared lots of fun day trips you can make from Disney if you need a break from the parks. Click the link in my bio for lots of Disney content!

Lewis discovering this slide was steeper than he thought feels like a metaphor for how juggling motherhood, writing, blogging, laundry, and sleep is going this week. Anyone else?

{ #ad } Whether we’re finding the best donut shops or hitting the beach, Pippa and I love traveling together. When we make our packing lists, we agonize over shoes, trying to narrow it down to one or two pairs that are comfy enough to walk in, but cute enough to match our travel outfits. THE SEARCH IS OVER! We love our @talariaflats, because they take up almost no space in our suitcases and they match everything. Plus we can wear them all day without our feet hurting. I call that a mother/daughter travel win! . . #talariaflats #foldableballetflats #foldableflats #balletflats #talariatravels

A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend 💕

When you get to ride on a train and it’s the best day of your life 🚂

Weekend adventures 🦒

Is it spring yet? Can’t even complain about these cold Florida temps because of the arctic blast happening in the Midwest. Let’s all look at beach pics and think warm thoughts!

Never in a million years did I think I would get to call myself a travel writer/blogger. There are still days I can’t believe this is my life. I’ve wanted to be a writer since KINDERGARTEN and thanks to the internet, I get to make that dream a reality. (Took a roundabout path as a Spanish teacher, which I think really helped refine my grammar and gave me more travel opportunities!) Also the fact that I get to involve my kids in some of my travels is a dream come true. It’s tiring work, and a lot more goes into it than people realize, but I still think I have one of the best jobs on earth. I’m writing an ebook about what I’ve learned in my first year as a travel writer. If that interests you, what information would you like to see included?

Last weekend we were discovering a cool new beach town and seeing old ruins, jellyfish, the tallest lighthouse in Florida, and a gorgeous sunset. This weekend all 5 of us were sick at home and it was rainy and cozy and we watched Boss Baby more times than I can count. I’ve come to appreciate both types of weekends for what they are: precious time together as a family. (But if I HAD to choose I would probably pick the beach 😜).

Pretty lucky to call these little guys my coworkers 💕

Me: Let’s travel and see the world and experience other cultures and see things from other people’s point of view! My kids: Let’s travel and try different ice cream in every city we visit!