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Traveling the World in a Pandemic

3/17/2020

1 Comment

 
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This Pandemic life is weird. So weird. 

I could go on and on about the tragedies of this virus... life tragedies of losing or thinking about losing those you love and the realistic tragedies of worrying about losing your small business, not being able to pay your bills and all of the economic issues that this is causing. 

But I am here to talk to you all about trivial stuff. 

Schools are closed. Travel is pretty much closed. Zoos and Museums and Aquariums are closed. Even church is closed. 

What should a wandering heart do when confined to their home? And I am SURE that some of my fellow travel/discovery/adventure lovers are a bit troubled/anxious about not having a trip on the books or having to cancel their plans. So what can we do to entertain ourselves and our kids long enough to follow the rules/recommendations required to hopefully protect our families and communities? What can we do to somewhat satisfy our thirst for adventure and wonder? 

I have some really cool resources to share with all of you. 

Share them with your kids, share them with other people your own age and hey, share them with your grandparents, parents and the elderly. I know my Papa, my Grandma and my husband's grandma have been enjoying seeing the world from their computers. 

These links are easy and generally take you right to where you need to be. I have them sorted by Landmarks, Museums, Zoos and a few other activities. Enjoy wanderlusting a bit while we all stay home. 
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LANDMARKS
Versailles - https://artsandculture.google.com/project/versailles
National Parks - https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service
Tower Bridge, London-  https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/tower-bridge/ugEFp7aCM3BIiA?sv_lng=-0.07670989908956471&sv_lat=51.5061485330904&sv_h=117.7749823814594&sv_p=12.162013151743352&sv_pid=qao5YXmJq469asudlxdyXw&sv_z=0.9999999999999997
Stonehenge - https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history-and-stories/stonehenge360/#section-1 
Scott's Hut, Antarctica  -https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/scott%E2%80%99s-hut-and-the-explorers%E2%80%99-heritage-of-antarctica/4wE0hFnKrfZkWw?sv_lng=166.4173991294906&sv_lat=-77.63616621268466&sv_h=65.7162863753052&sv_p=-13.755496069053052&sv_pid=xpbI0_dgYzBfNcUP0ayA-w&sv_z=0.9999999999999997
The Acropolis -  http://acropolis-virtualtour.gr/ 
Machu Picchu -  http://www.peru-machu-picchu.com/map.php 
Pompeii- https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7489468,14.4848331,3a,75y,346.35h,74.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1e-bu_kis-dL1BnVGZhDdw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en 
The White House -  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-white-house 
The Vatican -  http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html 
Giants Causeway - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/features/take-a-virtual-tour-of-the-giants-causeway
Yellowstone - https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Yosemite - https://www.virtualyosemite.org/
Shakespeare's Globe Theater- https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/shakespeare-s-globe
Blarney Castle - ​https://www.virtualvisittours.com/blarney-castle/
​Mount Vernon, Virginia-  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/george-washingtons-mount-vernon  ​​
The United States Capitol - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/us-capitol
Buckingham Palace - https://www.royal.uk/virtual-tours-buckingham-palace
Westminster Abbey - https://www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/virtual-tours
The Great Wall of China- https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china 
The Taj Mahal -  https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/taj-mahal/UwGKcX7FFM5U4g?sv_lng=78.04199578168942&sv_lat=27.17376226664116&sv_h=7.5&sv_p=11&sv_pid=vQAmRxAVGgXXQmPcT8d0cQ&sv_z=0.999999999999999/ 
The Eiffel Tower -  https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/explore 
The Cliffs of Moher - https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/virtual-visit-tour/
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Disney World - https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/disney-parks-launches-first-ever-360-degree-panoramas-on-google-street-view/
Disneyland - https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8117612,-117.9190477,3a,75y,55.45h,84.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFxPJBNyHBQVVf01IwGd2Ng!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The Sydney Opera House - https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/sydney-opera-house/KgGPW2YWtcHpBg?sv_lng=151.2135034733324&sv_lat=-33.85845058282505&sv_h=8.999&sv_p=-13.299999999999997&sv_pid=opBj2MqN2Mk4yX5QdZPYDw&sv_z=0.9999999999999997
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​​MUSEUMS
Musée d'Orsay, Paris- 
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/musee-dorsay-paris?hl=en 

​The Lourve, Paris-  https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne  https://www.youvisit.com/tour/louvremuseum 
The Auschwitz Birkenau State Museum - ​https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/auschwitz-birkenau-state-museum
The National WW1 Museum, Kansas City- ​https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-world-war-i-museum
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center  - ​
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-underground-railroad-freedom-center
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum- ​https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-baseball-hall-of-fame-and-museum
The British Museum - https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/ 
​Tate Modern -  https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern 
​The UK National Gallery -  https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours/google-virtual-tour
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, DC -  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/united-states-holocaust-memorial-museum
​The Museum of London -https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/about-us/business-services/venue-hire/museum-london/3d-tour
​The Natural History Museum (UK)  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/natural-history-museum
​The Benjamin Franklin House, London-  https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/visit/virtual-tour/
​The Imperial War Museum, London - https://www.britishtours.com/360/imperial-war-museum
The Charles Dickens Museum, London- https://dickensmuseum.com/pages/interactive-tour
The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam- https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/van-gogh-museum?hl=en   
​Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam -  https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/rijksmuseum/iwH5aYGoPwSf7g?hl=en&sv_lng=4.885283712508563&sv_lat=52.35984312584405&sv_h=311.1699875145569&sv_p=-5.924133903625474&sv_pid=fOVcUXQW2wpRf33iUmxEfg&sv_z=0.9999999999999997​
​Anne Frank House, Amsterdam - https://www.annefrank.org/en/museum/web-and-digital/ or https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/anne-frank-house
Uffizi Gallery Florence - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/uffizi-gallery?hl=en
Fondazione Cariplo Milan -  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/fondazione-cariplo
Museum of Tolerance LA - ANNE FRANK EXHIBIT  -  http://www.museumoftolerance.com/visit/exhibits/visit-anne-frank-exhibit/#
The MOMA, NYC  -  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/moma-the-museum-of-modern-art
The Getty, LA - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-j-paul-getty-museum
The MET, NYC - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art
The State Russian Museum, St Petersburg, Russia - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-state-russian-museum-st-petersburg
The Ohara Museum of Art, Japan - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/ohara-museum-of-art
The Olympic Museum, Switzerland - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-olympic-museum
The Frick, NYC - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-frick-collection
The Guggenheim NYC -https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/solomon-r-guggenheim-museum 
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, DC -  https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-portrait-gallery
Tokyo National Museum - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/tokyo-national-museum
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-israel-museum-jerusalem
The Botero Museum, Bogata Colombia - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/museo-botero-bogota
The Fords Theatre, DC - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/fords-theatre 
The National Museum of Art, Mexico - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/museo-nacional-de-arte 
The Acropolis Museum, Athens - https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/acropolis-museum/IwFUpQvIJ1QDVA?hl=en&sv_lng=23.7282032&sv_lat=37.9681684&sv_h=30&sv_p=0&sv_pid=t65OTdI1BloiINk1Y00BqQ&sv_z=1

MORE MUSEUM EXPERIENCES - 
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/streetviews
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​GARDENS 
Hidcote Manor Gardens - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote/features/hidcote-virtual-tours
Hestercombe, England - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/hestercombe-house-gardens
Chateau Bouges, France - https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/gardens-of-castle-of-bouges/2QHbPsnD3z0TyQ?sv_lng=1.672855235998292&sv_lat=47.04317471094553&sv_h=176.3355176009656&sv_p=-3.0332870241937684&sv_pid=X2ynFRJl8IcAAAQvPA94EQ&sv_z=1
New York Botanical Gardens - https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/new-york-botanical-gardens
Ephrussi De Rothschild Villa, France - https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/ephrussi-de-rothschild-villa-gardens/xQH5k1vhSD1h8Q?sv_lng=7.328606391486603&sv_lat=43.69611069477268&sv_h=166.65510612890927&sv_p=0.1949725462364711&sv_pid=CN00Irb0vf_0mT03EbCweQ&sv_z=1
Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK - https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/royal-botanic-gardens-kew/_AHcldkoXDckhw
Ge Garden, Yangzhou, China  -https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/ge-garden/zgFBWUlowFjtSQ?sv_lng=119.4436457837985&sv_lat=32.39871100151625&sv_h=2.0654957153855094&sv_p=-1.7626000785736124&sv_pid=zRs3-gkh0wQAAAQo8NAaYw&sv_z=1
United States Botanic Garden - https://www.usbg.gov/take-virtual-tour
Sissinghurst Castle and Gardens - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/features/sissinghurst-castle-virtual-tours
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​ZOOS + AQUARIUMS
The San Diego Zoo - https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
The Georgia Aquarium - ​https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/
The Monterey Bay Aquarium - https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
Ouwehand Park Polar Bear Cubs Rhenen, Netherlands - https://explore.org/livecams/polar-bears/polar-bear-ouwehand-twin-cubs-cam-2
Smithsonian’s National Zoo - https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Giraffe Cam - https://www.cmzoo.org/animals/a-z/giraffe-cams/
MORE ZOO CAMERAS HERE: https://zoocamerasaroundtheworld.com/
​​CULTURE + OTHER EXPERIENCES
The Met Opera Screenings - https://www.metopera.org/
​MARS - https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/#
Cincinnati Zoo Facebook Live Safaris - https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo
Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) — Broadcast recordings of previous opera and ballet performances will be broadcast daily for free at staatsoperlive.com.
Berlin Philharmonic -- All of the concerts and films in the Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall are available for free for the next month.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center — Free videos and livestreams of concerts are available from its website.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra — Previous concerts from past seasons have been made available for free on the symphony’s website.
The Jacksonville Symphony — A livestream of the performance of “SHIFT: Kennedy Center Bound” will take place on March 20.
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I hope this blog post gives you some unique activities to fill some of your time with. I know how strange this is for our family. But we are enjoying seeing some of these places from home! 

Please let us know in the comments which ones you decided to visit and which ones were your favorites! Don't forget to share with your friends and family, especially those in the elderly population! It's good for all of us to turn off the news sometimes! 

And don't forget, we are still encouraged to hike, bike, walk and have outside time!
Never stop exploring! 

Thanks, 
Tyler, Callie and Jakey 
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1 Comment

Springtime in the Cotswolds at our Favorite Hotel

5/17/2019

1 Comment

 
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       This year, I booked a destination elopement in Ireland. How cool is that? Well you guys know me, I am kind of like an extreme couponer in the travel world. And it's not like I charge my couples travel fees for my son or my husband haha. So if they are going to join me, I really have to budget like a madman. I tried a million different flight options and scenarios... I started with direct, and then I tried some other ideas which included everything from flying Southwest (who we have a companion pass and many miles saved with - learn more here.) to a  gateway city like NYC, Boston (great for Ireland!), Atlanta and more.

         This typically a great option for us because we live deep in the heart of the United States in Colorado and often times we stop in one of these cities anyway. Another thing I spent a lot of time looking at and messing with was Google Flights... you can look at the overall calendar AND you can look at multiple destination cities in Europe. It's a little tricky to get it to do what you want, but it works. So I looked at flying into every city from Paris to Rome and then how much it would be to fly from those cities to Dublin or Belfast. (I promise, I will do an in depth blog on finding the best flights). I finally landed on London.
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​        I found a flight DIRECT from Denver to Heathrow with United for less than $600 a person for Tyler and I and less than $500 forJake totaling up to be $1664 and then a about a week later flights fromHeathrow to Dublin with Aer Lingus for less than $400 total for all 3 of us.This saved us about $1000 vs flying from Denver to Dublin with 2 layovers in between. AND we were able to spend time in one of our favorite places for a few days. England. 
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Now this was my 3rd stay at the Dumbleton Hall Hotel which sits on the North West edge of the Cotswolds in England. I could just leave it at the fact that we've been back so many times and you would know it's awesome. BUT instead, I am going to share a gazillion photos with you and explain why we will continue to go back year after year. 

​I am ONLY going to share photos from our trip this spring. I could share a million more, but I will save them for other blog posts. ​
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1. How CHILD friendly it is

Okay, so I will admit... Jake is not their usual guest. But we have seen other families with young children each time we have stayed. They have an amazing family room with beautiful views of the property (with 3 beds and a wonderful big bathroom with a shower and a bath!) Really the two biggest reasons I say Dumbleton Hall is so kid friendly is because of the property size and setup and the wonderful staff. I will elaborate on both subjects below. 
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2. The Property 

Like I said above, one of the reasons Dumbleton is so kid friendly is the property. Dumbleton Hall Hotel is a 19th-century Cotswold stone manor House with set on 19 acres with gardens, a private lake, walking trails and forest land. As you drive up the half mile driveway through the field that is usually dotted with sheep, your whole experience begins. During this visit, the fields beyond the manor were covered in blue blooms. As a gardener, I was entranced. I never imagined a place with wildflowers so thick that you actually have to mow paths through them. And many of the rooms are situated to have views of this area. Dumbleton also has more formal gardens to walk through, pastures for sheep and their lake where there are always black swans swimming around. I cannot even begin to describe how much I personally love this property, but I will tell you Jake loves it and Tyler says it's the most relaxing place on earth and his favorite hotel we've ever stayed at. (That includes the Broadmoor guys.)  I've always been a better photographer than writer, so I will just show you instead of going on and on. I added some aerial drone shots this time! Make sure you pay attention to the details, you may catch the blue wildflowers or the white dots are sheep!
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3. Dinner on the Terrace

Every time we go to Dumbleton, we try to maximize every second there... and we are always sad to leave. So we ALWAYS eat on site. They have a more formal dinner you can make reservations, but starting in the evening you can get 'pub food' on the terrace. Which is perfect for us anyway. In the times we have visited, it has been Spring or Fall, so it is definently chilly out. But we prefer to just bundle up and sit out on the patio. I have also discovered a few of my favorite Cider Beers at Dumbleton - Rekorderlig and Koppaberg. We usually carry one around while we walk through the gardens and visit the sheep. The food is typically locally sourced. Our favorites are the Fish and Chips and the Cheese Platter. YUM. Fresh cheese in the Cotswolds is so delicious. And their fresh tartar sauce is so good, I always have to ask for a second side of it. You can also eat inside in one of the sitting areas near the bar if it is raining or too chilly. We also love doing this because we always enjoy the other guests and the staff. But our view on the terrace is one of my favorites. The gardens lining the walls of the manor are beautiful. 
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4. The Staff

I don't have any photos of the staff, but I will tell you that it's always the same people and they are always so kind and welcoming. They treat Jake like a king and do a fantastic job. The food is great, the service is great, the rooms are always clean and neat, the property is loved and even more than that, the staff members actually take the time to have great conversations with you. 
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5. The Company of the Other Guests

Part of our love for Dumbleton stems from it's small nature. It's not as small as a Bed and Breakfast... but it isn't as big as an American hotel that's for sure. The thing about Dumbleton is that it is a destination. Like I said earlier.... there is so much to do in the area, but we try to maximize every moment at Dumbleton and save our other activities for another day. You'll notice that many of the guests do the same. They come to Dumbleton, not just for a bed to sleep in, but for the whole experience. The property is big enough that you don't feel crowded or like you can't get away from your neighbors, but the hotel is small enough where you get to know the other guests in the library over a drink or when you say hi in the gardens. And Jake makes friends everywhere he goes, so we generally get to meet most of the guests when he introduces himself. One of our favorite things is that many of the older British Military regiments meet up with each other here. There is nothing like having a beer with a bunch of retired British military men and their wives. We have been paid such wonderful compliments by many of the guests on what a wonderful, polite but still spirited boy Jake is. 
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6. The English Breakfast

With every stay, you get a full English Breakfast. Complete with your eggs, British Bacon (back bacon which is thicker like sliced ham), beans, cooked tomatoes and hashbrowns. They also have an assortment of yogurts, juices, fruits, cereals, pastries and toast. 
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7. The Sheep

We LOVE seeing all the sheep when we visit. Of course its common all over the Cotswolds, but visiting them in the pastures is one of our favorite things. When we just visited at the end of April, the lambs had already arrived and it was so cute to see them running around after their mommas. Jake really enjoyed the 'baaaaaby sheeps" and scared a few of them away from the fence with all of his BAAAAAAAA-ing. 
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8. The Entire Experience 

I could write all day and tell you every detail about Dumbleton, but really you need to experience it for yourself. Because it's not really one thing or the other that makes it special. It's all of it. It's the way it looks when you come up the drive, it's walking around with a cider and saying hi to the sheep. It's sitting on the bench up by the lake or overlooking the wildflowers. It's hanging out in the library with a bunch of new friends. It's waking up and looking out your bedroom window to the fog rolling out over the forest. It's the heated towel racks. It's the crown moulding. It's crawling into a cozy bed at night with a fully tummy and a tired body from exploring all day. It's the pouring rain and green grass. It's the delicious breakfast. It's the way the light hits the building when it's a sunny evening. It's the air... some of the freshest air I've ever breathed. It's the building, it's the property, it's the people...
​It's all of it. I just love all of it. 
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BOOKING INFORMATION

To Book your stay at the Dumbleton Hall Hotel in the Cotswolds of England, please visit their website at: https://www.dumbletonhall.co.uk/

Please let them know you were referred by Callie Riesling <3 Thanks guys! 
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HOW TO TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS OF YOUR KIDS

3/2/2019

1 Comment

 
(WITH ANY CAMERA!)
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Being a professional photographer, I have an advantage here. I know my way around a camera, I already know what lighting to look for and I know the rules of composition and posing. 

That's all great. But it really doesn't mean too much when you are photographing a wild 3 year old. 

You can own all of the best equipment and it doesn't matter if your kiddo doesn't want any part of it. So here are my best tips to help you take better travel photos of your kids. 
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1. PLAN AHEAD. PACK WITH PLACES IN MIND.

Yes. I know this takes a lot of work. But it is so worth it. One of the biggest things that ruins photos is wearing the wrong clothes. This is true for the professional engagement sessions I do and for photos when we are traveling. I hate feeling out of place somewhere and I try to adapt to fit in wherever we are going. I always joke with my mom that I have multiple personalities depending on where I am. I have my Fancy/City personality that dresses in camel colored pea coats, slacks and big sunglasses. I have my California/Surfer/Central American personality (my primary style) that dresses in an excessive amount of bright colors, crochet and surf hats. Then I have my Colorado personality that wears too much flannel, ripped jeans and lives in my hiking boots. This also translates to my son Jakey.

When we are packing for each trip, I try to fit the style of the location. Our suitcase to Hawaii was very different than our suitcase to Europe or our trip to NYC. This isn't just based on the climates or the time of year and weather... but the colors in the locations, the styles that compliment the place and the cultures we are visiting.

Here are some examples of how I would dress Jake for different locations: 
London - Rugby and Khakis with a raincoat or one of his London shirts. 
California/Hawaii - Boardshorts, Surf shirt, flip flops and a trucker hat. 

Colorado/Mountains - Colorado Tshirt/Flannel, Shorts and Hiking Boots. 

Now I do try to do some other fun things like Lederhosen in Austria or his lei in Hawaii. It just kind of depends what you have and if you are wanting to buy something for it. Most everything we already have and I just try to 'style' it for the locations. 

Here are the key tips for this section: 
 * Dress for the style and culture of the location
 * Consider the colors of the area you will be in. 
 * WEAR PLAIN COLORED SHOES - the cutest outfit will be ruined. 
 * Keep it classic. Stay away from brands, tv show characters and           things that will age the photos. Paw Patrol will go out of style. 

 * Avoid neon clothes and bright clothes that will cast colors on their     faces. 
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2. BRING BRIBES.

This is another thing to plan ahead with. Even at weddings, I try to bring a bag of M&Ms for ring bearers and flower girls. This isn't something we always do, but it works great for toddlers who are jet lagged and uncooperative. If you are above bribery... good for you! ;)
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3. ACT LIKE A TODDLER TALK, LIKE A TODDLER. BE FUN!

Talk in a way they understand. Instead of saying stand there and smile. Tell them to fly like an airplane or point and moo at the cow or laugh like *Insert Disney Movie Villain here*. If you make silly noises at them or if you make it a game, it will go SO much better. "DON'T SMILE! DON'T LAUGH! DADDY'S GOING TO TICKLE YOU!" 
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4. EXPECT THEM TO BE KIDS

Lets be honest. They don't really care if you get the photo you want. At Jakey's age he is just starting to understand that photos are fun to look back at later. And that still doesn't mean he is going to care in that moment. Don't give them too much instruction. Just hang back and let them do kid things. Let them climb, let them run.
​Let them be little. 
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5. GET ON THEIR LEVEL

Being at eye level totally matters. Yeah it doesn't always work out... but it really is the best angle to capture anyone. If you get down on their eye level, they also are more likely to give you a smile or cooperate with your wishes. My knees and hips will hate me when I'm older, but the photos will be worth it! 
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6. CAPTURE THEIR WONDER

Forget everything that you want to accomplish and follow them while they experience things for the first time ever. Sure, I encourage my son Jakey to explore in pretty spots in good outfits, but one of the best things you can do is to step back and watch the wonder in their eyes. Take photos of them eating new things. Take photos of them smelling new things. The best photos come when you do it for them, not for you. 
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7. LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Seriously, go in with ideas and a loose plan... but if you expect too much, you will end up disappointed and your kiddo probably won't have any fun. 

Remember your expectations should be age appropriate too. Don't expect your baby to not be tired at naptime. Don't expect your toddler to not throw a tantrum over something completely irrelevant. Make sure you don't expect them to do things they aren't ready for developmentally either. There have been times where I have been disappointed when Jake wasn't ready for something yet. But it's all okay. Make sure your expectations are acheivable. 

8. CAPTURE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. 

Whatever age your children are at right now... they will change. They will always change. Capture what actually happens. Babies fall asleep and need diaper changes. Toddlers throw tantrums and need to ride in strollers when they get tired. Yeah, there are a lot of amazing travel photos of kids out there. But my favorite ones are the ones that are true memories. The ones who show who Jake is and how he was at that age. REAL LIFE. 
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OUR EQUIPMENT

Many of my favorite photos have come off my phone, but I do try to shoot with real camera equipment when possible. 

OTHER CAMERAS/TECHY THINGS WE LOVE:


CAMERAS FOR EVERY SKILL LEVEL

BASIC
POINT & SHOOT
INTERMEDIATE POINT & SHOOT
BASIC
SLR
BEST
MIRRORLESS

Obviously a Canon Girl... so sorry if you like Nikon or others,
​I can't recommend a system that I am not familiar with :) 
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THANKSGIVING WITH WAYFAIR

11/21/2018

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We were so excited when Wayfair approached us to partner with them this Thanksgiving! Here are our Wayfair picks for Thanksgiving! If you haven’t shopped with Wayfair yet, you are missing out!
Aaru Resin Pattern PumpkinAaru Resin Pattern Pumpkin // More Pumpkin Decorations Sitting Turkey DécorSitting Turkey Décor // More Thanksgiving Centerpieces WreathWreath // More Artificial Flowers Sirois Lumbar PillowSirois Lumbar Pillow // More Fall Décor
Nunnally Say Cheese BoardNunnally Say Cheese Board // More Cheese Boards Cavaillon Lace RunnerCavaillon Lace Runner // More Thanksgiving Tablecloths and Table Runners Metallic Finish 13 in. ChargerMetallic Finish 13 in. Charger // More Thanksgiving Table Décor Bristol Scallop 16 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4Bristol Scallop 16 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4 // More Dinnerware Sets
Place Card HolderPlace Card Holder // More Place Card Holders Siena 7.5 oz. Red Wine GlassSiena 7.5 oz. Red Wine Glass // More Wine & Champagne Glasses Classic Turkey PlatterClassic Turkey Platter // More Platters Turkey Stoneware Gravy BoatTurkey Stoneware Gravy Boat // More Gravy Boats
Padilla Autumn Leaves 20 in. NapkinPadilla Autumn Leaves 20 in. Napkin // More Cloth Napkins Scented Tea Light Candle in Pumpkin SpiceScented Tea Light Candle in Pumpkin Spice // More Candles Organic Block Print Turkey TowelOrganic Block Print Turkey Towel // More Kitchen Towels Baker’s Basics 6-Piece Pie Dish SetBaker’s Basics 6-Piece Pie Dish Set // More Pie Pans
Indus Wooden BowlIndus Wooden Bowl // More Wooden Decorative Bowls Bitter ThrowBitter Throw // More Blankets & Throws Handmade 5 ft. Blanket LadderHandmade 5 ft. Blanket Ladder // More Blanket Ladders Heavyweight 12 Pound Weighted Blanket ThrowHeavyweight 12 Pound Weighted Blanket Throw // More Weighted Blankets
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Back-trekking - Jake's First International Trip

11/3/2018

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So we are a little bit behind. Right now, Jake is 3 years old and has been to 25 different countries. But it all had to start somewhere and lately in a lot of my travel groups, I have seen new moms or mommies to be asking about traveling for the first time with their new baby. 
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As soon as his birth certificate came in the mail, we went right on down to the drug store to get his passport taken. He decided he needed to poop while this happened and it makes me laugh every time the passport control agent looks at him for comparison. We did this at 6 weeks old.  

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TRAVEL BOOKS TO INSPIRE YOUR KIDS

10/26/2018

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One of the best ways to inspire your child is to read with them. Even when you cannot afford to travel to a destination or haven't had the opportunity to visit a place yet, you can teach them so many things with books. Thankfully Amazon provides a HUGE marketplace of Travel Books for Kids, but often times it is kind of hard to sort out the good ones. Obviously we don't own all of these (we would be broke), so if we don't own them - they have been recommended by friends or are reviewed well on Amazon. Enjoy and let me know if there are any I should add to my Amazon List!

​Also Make sure you share with us if you end up getting any of them!

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HOW WE TRAVEL FREQUENTLY - WITHOUT GOING BROKE!

5/14/2018

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As far as travel bloggers go, we are kind of unique. Most of the travel bloggers you see all over social media travel full time, live in some cute little bus or have sold all of their belongings to backpack around the world. As cool as that is, we can't do that. It isn't realistic for us. It isn't a lifestyle we could sustain. And honestly, many of us look at people like that and go "How on EARTH can they Afford to Live That Way?" I know I sure do. So bear with me here while I explain why and how we choose to travel the way we do. 

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How To Stop Your Toddler From Kicking The Seat In Front Of You. (Or At Least Limit It!)

4/6/2018

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  If you are a toddler parent who has flown before, I am sure you have said “sorry” to the stranger in front of your child 500 times on a flight while trying to reason with a little person that can’t really be reasoned with. Especially if you have a strong willed little babe like I do, with busy feet and a desire to always be on the move.

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An Interview with a 3 Year Old Jake

3/25/2018

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TSA with a Baby or Toddler

3/11/2018

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   I would have to say, this is probably our most asked question. I probably get a message or email about this at least weekly if not more frequently and when I first started traveling with Jakey when he was a baby, I couldn't find ANY resources online about this topic. 
   
​So this blog post is not an official TSA recommendation.
This post is simply what I have observed about the
screening process with babies and toddlers and how I've learned
​to make the process easier on myself, my son, my family and the TSA agents working hard
to keep us safe.

Also, if you are here to knock TSA, move along... go somewhere else. They are doing their jobs to keep us safe and I am very grateful for that. I do want to mention that I do not have any actual photos of the TSA experience, that is not allowed for safety reasons. 

*** TSA RULES CAN VARY BASED ON AIRPORT + AGENT. RESTRICTIONS CAN CHANGE FREQUENTLY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE RESTRICTIONS HERE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL***



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    MEET THE FAM

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    Travel Momma

    Callie
    Destination Wedding Photographer + Momma.
    32 Countries Visited
    Favorite Travel Spots: 
    Norway + Guatemala
    Loves: Jesus, a good beach, guacamole, all of my boys, trip planning and gardening. 
    Hates: When I don't have a trip to plan!

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    The Boss

    Tyler
    Professional Driver + Business Owner.
    26 Countries Visited
    Favorite Travel Spots: 
    Aruba + California
    Loves: Hockey, microbrews, my family and when things are organized.
    Hates: Long lines. 

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    The Real Boss

    Jakey
    Toddler + Choochoo expert
    19  Countries Visited
    Favorite Travel Spots: 
    London + San Diego
    Loves: Choo-Choo Tunnels, Choo-Choos at the beach, planes, the beach, Paddington, doggies, climbing, skating, hockey dreams, Pirates of the Caribbean,  Beluga Whales and hiking.
    Hates: Ants, giraffes that try to lick him at the zoo, wearing earplugs in the ocean, being contained and the midnight sun in Norway. ​

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