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Our First Trip as Family of Four to Boulder, Colorado
The first time traveling with a newborn is always nerve-wracking, but traveling with 2 under 2 was even more overwhelming. We wholeheartedly believe that exposing children to things when they’re young pays off in the long run! So we decided to take a short weekend trip to Boulder, Colorado, just 2 hours from our home in Colorado Springs. A weekend of hiking, dining out, and exploring downtown was just what we needed after not traveling for months during my third trimester. Where to Stay for a Weekend in Boulder, Colorado I searched for somewhere close enough to downtown that we didn’t have to drive very far, but also close enough…
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Memorial Day Weekend in Croatia
Sitting with my feet propped up on the fence at Camp Stine in Starigrad, Croatia, I listened to the waves gently crash against the rocky shoreline. We watched as the sun slowly set with shades of pink and purple hues, causing the clouds in the sky to be illuminated in the same colors. A boat passed by and we saw him all the way in, enjoying the hum of the engine and speculating about the mission he was on. Memorial Day Weekend in Croatia was off to a great start. We drove basically non-stop (7 hours) after Stephen got off staff duty at 6 am to make it to our…
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Camping in Croatia: Reviews of My Favorite Campgrounds
Croatia has easily become one of our favorite countries since living in Europe. There’s something for everyone – beaches, waterfalls, forests, hiking routes, fresh seafood, and fine wines. On top of it all, campgrounds in Croatia take camping to a whole new level. You can take your pick from secluded forest campgrounds along the river to a spot overlooking the sea with a front seat view for Croatian sunsets. To be frank, I had never tent camped prior to moving to Europe. I grew up “camping” in an RV, motorhome, fifth-wheel…basically anything besides a tent. I was pretty hesitant when Stephen wanted to take a road trip last summer and…
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How We Afford to Travel
When I went back to the states to visit my hometown, a group of friends and I started talking about travel and a few of them mentioned how they too wish they could travel as often as Stephen and I do. My response was: you can! I tried my best to convince them that we used our money differently, but they just weren’t buying it. And it really got me thinking…what do we do so differently that allows us to travel and not be thousands of dollars in debt? Sometimes I even forget that we are a ONE INCOME family and as you’re reading this, keep this in the back…
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Checklist for Traveling Abroad for the First Time
So you’ve made the leap! You’re going on an epic trip abroad for the first time? Or maybe you’re reading this because you’re debating traveling and you’re wondering how hard it is and what needs to be done? Well, I’m here to reassure you that with this checklist for traveling abroad for the first time and a little bit of preparation, you’ll be well on your way to exploring incredible places and making memories that will last a lifetime. How do I know these things? Because I was once in your shoes. Before I left everything behind for love and moved across the ocean to sweet Italia, I decided in…
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A Weekend Guide to Tuscany
Tuscany is an ideal getaway if you love castles, wine, rolling hills and green fields galore. Here's a weekend guide to Tuscany and all the points of interest in Monteriggioni, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, and San Gimignano.
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A Tuscan Winery Experience – Castello di Verrazzano
Tuscany is the type of place you see in love stories, like Under the Tuscan Sun, and then dream about going to one day. It is undeniably a region full of postcard material. Famous in Italy for its rolling hills, food, and most significantly wine, there is so much to see and do in Tuscany. Choosing A Tuscan Winery For Valentine’s Day weekend, we traveled to the Chianti region of Tuscany. We stayed in Monteriggioni and decided to do our first winery tour and tasting just a few towns over in Greve in Chianti. Recommended by a friend who had been there recently, we chose Castello di Verrazzano as our…
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Surprise Visit to North Carolina + A Unique “Bucket List”
When I waved goodbye to my parents and Presley at the airport three months ago and moved to Italy, I could literally feel my heart breaking. I wasn’t sure how I could make it living so far from my family for the first time in my life. Somehow I survived those first 48 hours of emotional roller coasters (you can read about that here). Only a few people knew for all those months that I’d be making a surprise visit to see my family – one was the bride that was getting married (the main reason I was going home), and the other a best friend that I knew I…
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My Reason Why
As 2017 comes to an end, it only seems right to reflect back on all that has happened throughout this life-changing year. First, let’s go back to the beginning of my blog and my WHY.
