52 Weeks of Self-Care: Weeks 5-8

winter road and covered bridge

February Self-Care Roundup

Week 5

Make Time for Stretching

Stretching can help improve flexibility, reduce tightness, reduce stress, and protect your muscles from those fierce workouts you’re doing. Whether you’re doing it before a cardio workout, after a HIIT workout, or right before bed, make some time in your week to add this step to your wellness routine.

For me, yoga is the best way to stretch, so I’ve been trying to take a class twice a week.  I love to start and end my week with a class.

yoga studio

Looking for ways to stretch at home? Try these free online stretches:

10 Gentle Yoga Stretches For Beginners For Head To Toe Flexibility

Want a video? Try this 10-Minute Total Body Stretch

Looking for tools to help you stretch?

High-Density Foam Roller

ProStretch The Original Calf Stretcher

Chirp Wheel+ Foam Wheel

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40 Useful Items for a Cruise

The items I packed for a cruise were so different from the things I usually pack for a trip.  It was exciting getting to research and shop for items I don’t usually buy.  You know me…I asked everyone’s opinions and read lots of blogs to see what I would need. I bought some and borrowed some, and am so thankful for all the recommendations. Here are 40 useful items for a cruise:

Luggage Tag Holders

You check your luggage when you get to the ship so these are a must since you have to attach the paper luggage tag they make you print out.

Lanyard

When you get on the boat, they give you a card with your name/picture on it.  You have to pull it out all the time because it’s your room key. It is also used whenever you get a drink or get on/off the boat at ports.

Magnetic Cabin Hooks

Who knew the walls and door were magnetic? You can use the clip to hand your lanyard so you don’t forget it when you leave the room. You can also use them to organize cruise daily schedules.

Non Surge Protector Power Strips

My room had 2 outlets so it was nice to have more spots to charge my hair straightener, phone and computer chargers, and blow dryer.

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52 Weeks of Self-Care: Weeks 1-4

woman reading a book and drinking tea

52 Weeks of Self-Care: Weeks 1-4

WEEK 1

START A NEW BOOK

I love nothing more than getting lost in a good book…the characters, the setting, and all the adventure.  It’s a great way to transport yourself to another world. 2023 is the perfect year to try new books, or even new genres. To help you find a great new book, take a peek at some of these recommendations:

2018 Book Gift Guide

2019 Book Gift Guide  

2020 Book Gift Guide 

2021 Book Gift Guide 

Best Summer Reads of 2022 

WEEK 2

GET BACK TO YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE

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Reykjavik in One Day with Kids

view of Iceland

 

Iceland is the new “it place” to travel to and some people are deciding to add a few days there as a layover. If you have one full day to explore Reykjavik, Iceland, the capital, you may want to get an early start because there is so much to explore in this picturesque port town.  I decided I wanted our time in the city to be about culture and our time in the countryside to be about nature. So how can you do Reykjavik in one day with kids? 

Here is my itinerary for a full day of fun for the entire family:

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Simpson Bay Beach Resort

THE VILLAS AT SIMPSON BAY BEACH RESORT & MARINA

Photo Credit: Simpson Bay Beach Resort

Simpson Bay Beach Resort

Since my younger daughter was having fun at sleepaway camp, we thought it was the perfect time for my husband and I to take our oldest daughter away on a trip since she will be heading off to college a year and a half. Since we’d been to St. Martin two times before and always loved it, we knew it would be an amazing destination for our getaway. The Simpson Bay Beach Resort had everything we would need for our stay.

After a long day of flying from Boston (we had a delay and a long layover…yuck.), we finally felt the Caribbean sun on our face and could smell the salty air. Check-in was fast and informative and we couldn’t wait to head to our suite since we didn’t know what to expect.  Our jaws dropped when we saw what our accommodations looked like.

Click here to read all about our stay

Review of Oyster Bay Beach Resort

oyster Bay Beach Resort

Photo Credit: Oyster Bay Beach Resort

There’s nothing crazier than the weeks leading up to the holidays, so there’s no better time to get away for a long weekend before the hectic season starts. I actually had a credit to the Oyster Bay Beach Resort, which they allowed me to apply to our stay, so my friend and I packed our bags, hopped on a flight from Boston, left New England behind, and headed to the Caribbean.

Click HERE to read all about our stay!

50 New Year’s Travel Resolutions

vintage suitcases

New Year’s Travel Resolutions

Resolutions are often hard to keep, but travel resolutions help me brainstorm ideas for ways to create family memories. Push yourself to have new adventures, remember old memories, and daydream about future trips. You can also use these to create Travel Bucket lists. Take a peek at mine. Here are some ideas for 50 New Year’s Travel Resolutions.

Whatever you decide to do this year, I hope you have a wonderful year making lifelong memories! Cheers!

Take a solo trip, whether it’s for an overnight or a week.

Do a weekend girls trip/ guys weekend.

Try something that brings you out of your comfort zone.

Stay in a hotel close to home.

Recreate a cocktail from a great night out.

Go on a food tour/ pub crawl/ brew bus.

Head to a winery to sample new wine.

Visiting vineyards in Napa

Sample an exotic new food.

Go camping…or glamping!

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52 Weeks of Self-Care

yoga on a beach

52 WEEKS OF SELF-CARE

After a few health scares this past year, I discovered the importance of self-care. Sometimes we try so hard to take care of others that we neglect making time for ourselves. Self-care allows you time to relax, recharge, and be present in the moment. It’s important to focus on both physical and emotional areas in your life.

Self-Care and Travel

I love to practice self-care while traveling and it often becomes some of the best parts of my trip.  I love to head to a spa for a signature treatment, enjoy sipping coffee in a courtyard while people watching, breathing in the salty air at a beach, and taking time to put down my camera and be present in the moment. This year I plan on recreating these moments from the comfort of my home.

Not sure where to start? Well, let’s do this together.

 I’ve come up with 52 weeks of self-care that I plan on completing this year.  I will do one each week.

Follow along on my Instagram Stories each Sunday.

Don’t miss out…give a CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM. I’ll provide plenty of DIY options, share products I use, and give you links I find.

(These are not in any order. I’ll bounce around the list with whatever feels right.)

52 WEEKS OF SELF-CARE

Make time for stretching

Enjoy a facial

Sip on a warm cup of tea

Using Essential Oils (more…)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours!!

Portuguese Paella

mytravelingkids.com

Being raised in a Portuguese home meant I was surrounded by the most amazing meals.  There were no canned spaghetti and meatballs, and no frozen dinners.  (There was also no peanut butter and fluff sandwiches…but I guess I forgive them for that.) Food was prepared with fresh ingredients and with recipes handed down from generation to generation.  A while back I created a cookbook filled with family recipes for my girls to use when they have their own families.  I’m hoping to instill the joy of cooking together, sitting down to share a meal, and laughing over great conversations at the dinner table.  This Portuguese Paella is perfect for Christmas Eve, Christmas day or New Years Eve. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

 

Portuguese Paella

Ingredients:

¼ cup good olive oil (never buy the cheap stuff)

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