Spice Madam

When you have teenagers, it gets harder and harder to find things you can do together. One of the things I most love to do is get the girls in the kitchen with me. We love trying new dishes while we’re traveling and we’ve had fun experimenting with cooking new ones this last year. I love trying exotic meals but some ingredients can be both hard to find and intimidating. Spice Madam gives you the spices you’ll need to make a meal from a specific country around the world. It is the perfect way to spend a night at home!

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE SPICE MADAM

One of my favorite things about this box is it gives you a link to music from the country. Throw it on as you’re cooking or eating to set the mood.

I also like that they tell you how difficult each recipe is. The chef hats in the upper right corner of the recipe card indicate a skill level from 1 chef hat (easy) 2 chef hats (medium) to 3 chef hats (harder). They encourage you to challenge yourself.

Finally, you know I love a company that gives back. Every box of Spice Madame sold supports a non-profit that impacts youth education.

WHAT COMES IN EACH BOX?

March 31, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

Roaming Raddish

I love cooking with my girls. We talk and laugh the whole time! It is a great way to teach them life skills and also that it’s ok to improvise. Roaming Raddish is a cooking subscription box that gives you everything you need to create meals from around the world! Let me tell you all about our exploration of Peru!

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

With this fun box you can explore a new cuisine each month with ingredients and recipes that bring new culinary experiences to your cupboard and kitchen. Even though I love to experiment with new ingredients, I find I don’t make ones that require elaborate ingredients. This box provides almost everything you need to make some fabulous meals. All you have to provide are your own protein and produce.

Learn all about the spices and ingredients in your box!

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

March 25, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

15 Cookbooks that Inspire Travel

One of the best things about travel is the FOOD! Eating local cuisine can tell you a lot about the culture. Being Portuguese, I know that lots of love goes into our food and that the best memories are made around a dining room table. Since we’re not using our passports right now, a great way to “travel” is to discover new places through their food. I love to gather my family in the kitchen, put on some music, and start giving everyone a task of chopping, measuring, stirring, and tasting. Here are a few of my favorite cookbooks.

Here are 15 cookbooks that will inspire you to travel the world:

PORTUGAL: Taste Portugal 101 Easy Portuguese Recipes (Volume 1)

(I can’t wait to buy her second book!)

by Maria Dias

SPAIN: Catalan Food: Culture and Flavors from the Mediterranean

by Clarkson Potter

March 22, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

Solo Travel…15 Things You Can Do Alone

Solo travel can be intimidating but also good for the whole family. I love my kiddos but it’s also nice to get away and have some “Me Time.” My kids don’t mind because they know I recharge, regroup, relax and come back with much more patience. My husband doesn’t see the fun in traveling alone and often asks me why I’d want to do it. Friends seem shocked when I tell them I’m doing a solo trip and ask me if I’m bored and what I could possibly do while I’m there to entertain myself.

Here are 15 things you can do when traveling alone:

Dinner

You’ve got to eat so why not make the most of it. This trip is all about you so find something the rest of your family may not enjoy. I always find it’s the perfect time for sushi, Thai, or Indian, since not everyone in my family will eat it. It is also a great time to get room service, pour a glass of wine, and eat pizza in bed without anyone asking if they can have a bite!

Get Lost

I plan everything out when I’m on a trip but when I’m alone I often leave down time to wander the streets or take a drive to see where it will lead me. I’m open to changes in plans and welcome last-minute adventures.

February 26, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

Harraseeket Inn (Fall Visit)

One of my favorite destinations in Maine is the coastal town of Freeport. It oozes New England charm and has everything I could want in a vacation…the ocean, restaurants, boutiques, farms, and lots of outdoor activities. When staying in Freeport, there is only one place I stay…The Harraseeket Inn. It has cozy rooms, a delicious on-site restaurant, and is the perfect location to call your home. However, what keeps me coming back to the inn is the staff. They are attentive without being invasive and they welcome you to the inn like it is their home.

Read all about my stay. Click HERE!

February 16, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

15 Ways to Save Money While Traveling

Who doesn’t like to save money when possible? Traveling can be expensive, but with a bit of strategizing you can bring down the cost. Try these 15 tips on your next vacation and your wallet will thank you.

15 Ways to Save Money While Traveling

February 12, 2021 mytravelingkids.com 13 Comments

Adding Tea to Your Wellness Routine

One of my favorite escapes is brewing a cup of steaming tea, grabbing a fluffy blanket, and snuggling on the couch with a good book. A cup of tea is not just a drink, it is an experience. It can be used to wake yourself up after a late night, relax after a challenging day, heal you when you’re not feeling well, and a way to join together with friends and family. For me, 2021 is all about wellness and self-care, and I can’t think of an easier way that with a cup of tea. Here are some easy ways to incorporate tea into your wellness routine:

WHY DRINK TEA?

February 1, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

Blue Lagoon with Kids: 10 Tips

When many people imagine Iceland they immediately think of the Blue Lagoon. Pinterest is flooded with pictures of this amazing man-made geothermal pool. It is a great way to start or end your vacation since it is so close to the airport and the whole family will have fun there.

Here are 10 tips on doing the Blue Lagoon with kids:

January 22, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

My First Time Glamping!!

There was a time when I would go camping. I think we all remember the start of a new relationship where you would pretty much do anything just to spend time with one another. You want me to sleep in the middle of the woods in a sleeping bag, on a hard ground, in a tiny tent, and wash my hair in a lake? Sounds like fun babe, let me pack my bag. Fast forward 20 years and I have a new appreciation for my mattress, blow dryer, and some electrical outlets. Glamping is a trend that has taken off in the last decade for many reasons. Some people like the fact they are leaving a relatively small footprint. Others enjoy being one with nature without having to sacrifice comfort. And some people are looking for once-in-a-lifetime accommodation experiences like luxurious tents, lighthouses, tree houses, and tiny homes.

COLLECTIVE RETREATS

The creators of Collective Retreats designed this concept because they love travel and believe in its power to help people connect- to places, to people, and to themselves. They have built these retreats that make it possible for luxury to coexist with ruggedness. After spending just one night there, I think they have hit the nail on the head because I left feeling relaxed, recharged, and more connected to nature than I’ve felt in a long time.

Click here to read all about my first time GLAMPING!!!

January 15, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

20 US Trips I Want to Take

An important lesson COVID-19 has taught me is to not take travel for granted. When I start getting that travel itch, it helps to think of all the amazing places we can go someday and all the adventures we can do together. Creating a list of travel dreams can help you see that one day we will grab our passports, pack our bags, and head out to make some memories.