52 Weeks of Self-Care

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…)

December 12, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Books to Help With Your New Years Resolutions

Every December, I start to look at my life and evaluate what I could do to make it even better for the upcoming year. I think of things I like to do that brings me joy. For example, this year I want to entertain more. I love to cook and try new cocktails, so cookbooks are definitely on my Christmas list. I love unique cookbooks…check out a few amazing ones I’ve found. It is also a time to make some new habits like journaling, traveling, and becoming the best you possible. Here are a few books to help with your new years resolutions!

The Unofficial Witcher Cookbook

By: Nevyana Dimitrova & Trey Guillory

The Unofficial Witcher Cookbook: Andrzej Sapkowski’s epic fantasy saga of the witcher Geralt has captivated pop culture for nearly 30 years. Through books, graphic novels, TV shows, and video games, the witcher’s adventures have brought audiences face-to-face with monsters, sorceresses, kings, and destiny. Now, you can have your very own taste of the legendary adventures of a witcher.

The Unofficial Witcher Cookbook is filled with 50 recipes ranging from humble meals and tavern stews to bountiful feasts fit for a king, including:

Prized Potato Soup

Blacksmith Dumplings

Feast of Ham and Nightshade

House Specialty Soup

Honey Cakes for a Coin

And more!

This cookbook is perfect for die-hard fans of The Witcher, as well as those who just can’t get enough epic fantasy in their life.

The Van Life Cookbook

By: Susan Marque

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November 28, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

2022 Christmas Gift Guide

Looking for a unique gift for everyone on your list? Here are some amazing companies that offer great products! Show them you truly know them by giving them a gift that compliments their personality. Check out our 2022 Christmas Gift Guide:

Clever Fox

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I don’t know about you, but I can’t get through my day without my planner. I use it to make lists, plan projects, and strategize everything I need to get done. Organization is my way to prevent stress and make plans for my future. It is a wonderful way to track your goals and help you increase your performance.

I love the high quality of all their products. There is so much thought that went into all the details of the books. The covers are beautiful and look wonderful on my desk.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

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November 25, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

2022 Food and Beverage Christmas Gift Guide

Food and beverages have a magical way of transporting you to new destinations. It’s a great way to learn about other cultures and encourages you to be a bit adventurous with your meals. Other times, it is a way to encourage you to relax, recharge, and reset your day. I stop what I’m doing every afternoon to have a cup of tea, take some deep breaths, and get ready for my second half of my day and give myself a little self-care. So what would be a great gift for those foodies in your life? Look no further. Here is our 2022 Food and Beverage Christmas Gift Guide!

Raw Spice Bar

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pinned a recipe on Pinterest then never getting around to it because I don’t have the spices in my pantry or the spices are too hard to find at my local grocery store. Raw Spice Bar does all the work for you by not only giving you amazing recipes, but also by providing all the spice blends you’ll need. Food has the power of transporting you to new places and the recipes they give you are from across the globe. It’s a wonderful way of exploring new cultures and getting your family to be more adventurous with your meals. I love that you can play around with the recipes and add ingredients or omit the ones your picky eaters won’t try. I also love their website because you can get so much information about the countries these spices/recipes came from. For example, there are articles such as: The Etiquette of Ethiopian Meals and Adobo’s Reign in the Spanish Empire.

WHAT SPICES DID WE GET?

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November 22, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

2022 Beauty Christmas Gift Guide

Self-care is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give someone. Taking a few minutes every day to do a face mask, nourish your skin, apply a body butter, or take a deep breath of an essential oil can add up to a stress-free day. I am very conscious of what my daughters and I use on our bodies and these companies share the same values. Enjoy our 2022 Beauty Christmas Gift Guide

SPArty Girl

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

Self-care should be learned early on in a girl’s life. SPArty Girl encourages girls to give themselves some pampering, relaxation, and fun. Their boxes can contain beauty products, accessories, candy, and many more fun treats. I know every girl would love to open one of these boxes!

SPArty Girl has great gift boxes that would make wonderful gifts for any occasion. They include fun themes such as: Slime Kit, Manicure Kit, Tie-Dye Kit, Bath Bomb Kit, Lip Gloss Kit and more. I love that they have a wide range of gift boxes so there’s something for every girl on your list.

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November 21, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

2022 Candle Christmas Gift Guide

2022 Candle Gift Guide

No matter how crazy our day goes, I always try to light a candle to set a calm mood in our house. The flickering of the flame and the relaxing scent sets the tone and a calmness wash over us. Candles are the perfect Christmas gift for someone special…family, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, holiday housewarming hosts, etc. They are also wonderful ways to pamper yourself and we all need some of that! Enjoy our 2022 Candle Gift Guide.

Frostbeard Studio

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I’m not sure if you know this, but I am a former middle school language arts/reading teacher and I am obsessed with books. I’ve been in book clubs for over a decade and there’s nothing I like better than roaming through a book store. Frostbeard Studio has a unique candle concept…all their scents are inspired by characters, stories, and the love of reading. I was so excited to discover this candle company for book lovers!

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October 19, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Carakits

What do I love about Carakits?

When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, you immediately want to help them. However, most of us don’t know how to help the physical, mental, and emotional needs of loved ones in treatment. Carakits help you find comforting products that are practical, treatment-safe, and free from harsh chemicals, dyes and strong fragrances. I love that all items hand-picked by cancer survivors.

What kit did we review?

Chemo Care Package – “Essential Healing Kit”

Product description: This is the kit we wish we’d received before or during chemotherapy: a medicine cabinet makeover. This women’s chemo gift basket is a do-it-all mix of practical products to manage chemo side effects plus comforting extras to pamper her throughout cancer treatment as well. PJ colors may vary. Sizes are always exchangeable.

What products were included?

Lip balm (This lip balm comes in an adorable package and will moisturize and hydrate lips.)

Mother of All Creams (This cream works especially well on feet, which tend to get dry and cracked. It can be used on other dry patches as well.)

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October 4, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

September 2022 Product Roundup

Summer is coming to a close and the kiddos are back to school. So much fun stuff to look forward to… pumpkin lattes, apple picking, and the stunning leaves that are changing all around us. Several of you noticed we didn’t do any Monthly Product Roundups this summer. You’re right. We decided to live in the moment and focus on family. Now that fall is here, we’re back and can’t wait to share with you some amazing products we fell in love with this summer! Enjoy the September 2022 Product Roundup!

Kind of Wild Wines

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

I like to eat/drink organically whenever possible and I try to be aware of what I put in my body. Conventional wines can use a long list of chemicals in the vineyards and winemaking that end up in the soils and in the finished wine you drink. Kind of Wild Wines not only cares about the wine, but also about the farmers. They believe you’re supporting growers across the globe who believe in creating a sustainable future by improving soil health, diminishing soil erosion, keeping natural waters free from chemicals and having a positive, lasting impact on the local ecosystem.

We loved all of the wines and they were wines I would definitely buy again. The labels are gorgeous and I love that they give you coasters that match them.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

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July 25, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Tips for Going to Farmers Markets During COVID-19

My weekly trip to the farmers market is one of my favorite things about summer. There’s nothing like it…musicians playing in the background, farmers telling you when the vegetables you’re holding were picked, and hearing the young sons of the fisherman saying they helped catch the tuna we’ll be eating that night. A farmers market is a great place to bring kids/teens. Here are 10 Tips For Going to Farmers Markets:

HELP PLAN MENUS

Kids will be more likely to eat a meal if they had help planning it. Each week, give them a new item off the menu to plan. For example, each week they can plan the main dish, a side, and a dessert. Give them full rein on it and although you can offer suggestions, let them do most of the work. Whatever they plan, they will be responsible for helping cook.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Give each person in the family the task of choosing something your family has never tasted. Is there a type of cheese that looks interesting? Is there a veggie that looks odd? Have them ask the farmer for suggestions on how to cook it.

PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY

Give your kids a job while at the market. Give everyone reusable bags and have them hold your purchases. Teach them how to choose ripe produce. Give them the task of paying.

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July 18, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp

A few years ago, my friend Julie and I were miserable because our girls went to sleepaway camp for two weeks. We were missing our kiddos, obsessing about whether they were OK, and we started asking ourselves why we even send them. Is it really worth being away from them for such a long time? After feeling sorry for myself (and making a really big mojito) things started to come into perspective. The girls LOVE camp and they are lucky to be able to have this experience. So Julie, as we head into another summer of our girls being gone, let’s think about all the things they gain from sleepaway camp.

INDEPENDENCE

I can be a bit controlling at times (OK…my girls sometimes call me their ‘smother’) so camp gives them a chance to make some decisions on their own. They get to choose what activities they do during free time, when to write home (only once last year for my youngest…big sigh), and when to brush their teeth (I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times that actually happened!). Camp gives them the chance to make unexpected choices like when my older daughter chose to go on a long bike ride with a group of girls she didn’t know and ended up having a great time.

SOCIAL SKILLS

When you are placed in a cabin with 11 other girls, it is a crash course in social skills. You learn to be cooperative, respectful, and empathetic. This is a great chance to learn problem solving since there are bound to be disagreements.

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