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Travel journals can be a wonderful way to document your family travels. With little more than a pen and paper, a journal can give your family a new way of remembering the adventures you share together. Journaling adds more to your memories by highlighting little forgotten details and can give the context to your photos that tends to get lost over time.
Here are some tips on how to start and keep your travel journal.
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It'll never happen to me. That's what I always said when anyone ever asked me if I was afraid of getting sick when visiting Mexico. And then it happened.
Last weekend I came down with a pretty bad kidney infection when in Monterrey for a family reunion. Luckily I was only a few hours from the border, so we cut our trip short and drove back to the States so I could see a doctor. Most people who get sick abroad aren't so lucky. What do you do if you get sick in another country?
Prepare!
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The third largest city in Mexico, behind Mexico City and Guadalajara, Monterrey is known mostly as a major industrial center, but it is a city rich in culture as well. Though you won't find ancient ruins here, there are countless museums, beautiful parks, and plenty of outdoor activities.
10 of my favorite attractions in Monterrey, Mexico
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Moving overseas was never on my life plan. Not that I was against seeing the world, it was just something that hadn’t come into my thinking. However, life has a way of throwing the unexpected into your life plans and I met my husband 10 years ago. With a job that has him moving every few years, I found myself living a nomad’s life. We’re about to embark on our third overseas move - and our sixth home.
I’ll admit that I’m feeling the stress but I’m also returning to some of the tools that have helped me in the past. Here are a few places you can visit to keep you sane and excited during such a big move.
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Today was a good day and we didn’t have to go far at all. As a family, we went off into the woods in my hometown and enjoyed a lovely walk into nature. It wasn’t our first but still these little adventures have a way of surprising us. It’s more than just getting in some exercise and activity in. Here’s what I learned on our walk today.
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I'm traveling to Mexico with my daughters later this month. Exciting! Yes. However, I was blindsided a couple of weeks ago when I opened up my five-year-old daughter's passport to see that it had expired on June 10th! To make matters worse, I turned my house upside down looking for her birth certificate, and couldn't find it anywhere. After a momentary freak-out, I ordered her birth certificate online, had it expedited for an absurd amount of money, and took a deep breath, realizing that I could just expedite her passport as well, and everything would work out in the end. I'm happy to say that it will. Maya's birth certificate arrived three days later, her daddy and I went in to renew her passport the same day, and we got the book in the mail seven days after that. Paying the extra $60 to expedite it was worth it, if only for the peace of mind factor.
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Travel is so much more pleasant when you know the language and understand the culture of your destination. From hailing a cab, to ordering at a restaurant, or haggling at an outdoor market, your experience will certainly be more enjoyable!
Everyone's heard of Rosetta Stone. You may even have passed by one of their kiosks at the mall or the airport. I've tried it (via a free 30-day trial last year) and it is a really great way to learn a new language. The only drawback is how expensive the software can be. If you're only looking to learn a few phrases just to get by, or want to brush up on the language you studied in high school, then you may want to consider taking lessons online. There are a variety of websites that offer free instruction in a multitude of languages, including:
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In my last post, I shared with you one of my favorite places to visit in Austin, Texas - the Zilker Botanical Garden. Staying with the same theme, but a little closer to home, today I'll tell you a little about the United States Botanic Garden.
It's been around for nearly 200 years, but somehow the United States Botanic Garden looks incredibly modern. Right next door to the US Capitol Building, it's impossible to miss the beautiful glass dome of the conservatory. Taking into account how great its location is, it's surprising that it's not a more popular tourist attraction.
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I love the beach. I love swimming in the ocean, playing in the sand, and just soaking up the salt air and sun. I'm lucky to have married a beach bum just like me. We’ve visited many beaches over the years. Some have been day trips while others have been the focus of an entire vacation. Either way, there are a few things you can pack to make the beach relaxing, fun, and stress free.
Beach towels - The only thing stopping me from bringing 10 of these is the space they take up. If you’re heading to a resort or hotel, be sure to see if they provide towels. The room can be used for other important items. If not, be sure to bring enough for your family.
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