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Bethany's Blog, Travel Bug

On the Road… Again & Again!

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Traveling frequently by yourself or with your significant other? Sure, no problem. Big family trip once a year with plenty of time to plan and prep? Easy peasy. But what if you’re a big family, traveling frequently? How do you do it, keep your sanity and still enjoy it?
 
When we set out to start our family 12 years ago, we vowed that we would fit out children into our lifestyle as opposed to forming our lifestyle around our children. One of the many proclamations you make pre-parenthood when your kids are still hypothetical 🙂 As a couple, we loved exploring this great world, going on trips, visiting new places and didn’t want that to end once we added babies to the picture. While not as easy as we may have thought it would be, we’ve still tried to keep that wanderlust alive- both for our personal enjoyment, and to plant that travel bug in our kiddos at a young age.

Living overseas, we traveled more than ever! We knew our time in Japan was finite, and want to see and do as much as we could. Traveling with a large family has definitely come with a learning curve- I use to dread packing for trips- it would take me forever to get prepped and packed. But now, I’ve come up with systems that have made it far easier, and dare I say… even enjoyable?! 🙂

So here are my tips and tricks that have changed the travel game for my family…

    • Create a “PACKING JOURNAL“- Pick any kind of notebook/journal, and use it to write your packing and to-do lists for all of your trips. (I started using one of my husband’s Tactical Green Military Log Books years ago, and it works perfectly!) A few weeks out, I start the list by looking back through my journal and finding a similar trip we took recently- skiing, Disney, beach, etc- as the packing needs for each are different. This gives me a starting point and keeps me from reinventing the wheel every time. Then, I break the list down into what to pack for who and to-do lists for the days leading up to the trip. Keeping the lists from all the trips together just makes it easier. It helps me remember everything with less brainpower. It’s also a fun walk down memory lane. Bonus points when I remember to go back after a trip and add notes of things we needed but didn’t have!

    • TOILETRIES– remembering to pack up your face routine, razor, contacts, etc the morning of a trip stresses me out- I’m always afraid I’m going to forget them. So, I bought duplicates of these toiletries, in travel size when possible, and keep them in my travel toiletry bag!

    • TRAVEL TOILETRY BAG – I use the same one every trip (current fav Toiletry Bag), so I don’t unpack/repack it each time. Having it ready to go puts me ahead of the game!

    • TOOTHBRUSHES– something so simple, but remembering to throw them in last minute is just one more thing. So I buy bulk packs and throw in them in my travel toiletry bag. Bonus- my kids think a new toothbrush is the coolest thing. Win Win!

    • CHARGERS– I keep a small bag packed with chargers so we’re not rounding them up all the time. I keep this in my travel toiletry bag so it doesn’t go missing. (If you’re a parent with kids who steal your chargers, you get it!)

    • KID CARRY ONS – If your kids are like mine, they will try to bring everything and the kitchen sink on trips with them. For ours, we’ve enacted the “1 carry-on rule” like the airlines 🙂 This bag is what will sit with them on the ride, and should include anything they need to stay entertained during the trip. The kids pack their own bags- if it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t go! Whatever comes out of it in the car, goes back in it. This avoids the problem of loose things all over the car!

    • Stay ORGANIZED AT HOME– Keep staples packed and ready to go. Keep like items together –> Ski gear all together in a bag. Swim gear all together in another bag. Camping clothes together in another bag.

    • TRAVEL BAGS– my kids LOVE to use their own small suitcases, but with a large family, it’s not always possible to travel with that many- space is at a premium! So I typically pack each person in their own color Packing Cubes and then load them into our Thule Duffel Bags. This way they can go on top of the car in a roof carrier much easier than suitcases. After the trip, I gather all of these and store them together for the next trip. This avoids the step of tracking down the bags when it’s time to pack again!

    • CARD/BOARD GAMES– Our family loves to play games, especially on trips. Sushi Go, Taco Cat Goat Pizza, Uno, Rummikub have all been lifesavers on many trips. I now keep one To-Go Game Bag with all of these games packed and ready to go so we can throw it in easily. (I use the rest of this pack to store all of our board games- ditching the boxes saves so much room!)

    • DIRTY CLOTHES BAG– I tuck several of these into our bags so everyone has access to them during the trip. This keeps dirty clothes out of the clean clothes, and makes packing up to go home easier. Once home I collect all the bags and do the laundry right away to help reduces the post-trip hangover!

Traveling can be stressful, but avoiding the stress of packing and prep will help get your adventure off to a great start! Give these tips a try and you might just find yourself hitting the road more often!

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Bethany's Blog, Lifestyle

My Story, My Blog

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Let's Get Cozy

Ahhhhh! I am so excited to finally be able to say… WELCOME TO MY BLOG!! I’m jumping into this new adventure, not entirely sure where I will land, but ready for this next journey…. so without further ado… here we go!!

…Constantly moving, reinventing myself, settling into a new home… it’s become routine for my family and I to pick up and start over. And through it all, I find myself with one main goal- to create that cozy feeling that makes me feel warm, safe, secure, at home. If I can create that feeling no matter where we are in the world, then I’m providing some continuity for my family. It’s my way of planting roots for my kids that we can pick up, take with us, and replant in the next place, without having to wait years for them to take hold. I hear all the time, “we’re only going to live here for X amount of time- I’m not going to go through the effort of decorating the house.” If I went with that thought process, my 10 year old child would never know the joy of the Fall decoration bins coming out signifying the start of our favorite time of the year. The excitement of transforming the house from a pumpkin patch to a winter wonderland. The faces of our family from generations ago that line our stairwell walls. Their brave relatives who make up our military gallery showcasing a family legacy of service to our country. The cork board that holds the tickets to places we’ve visited over the course of our lives together. The photo wall that includes a picture from every family photo shoot from the time our oldest was born through now.

These things all make up my story. My Mom has always told me that my house tells a story. When I think of it, it makes so much sense. Moving with the military can be lonely. Hard. Isolating. I could live with white walls, or I can surround myself with things, pictures, pieces that make me who I am. Make my family who we are. Reminds us that even though the walls around us and the view outside our front porch changes, we have a rich history all our own. That is our identity. And that doesn’t change when we move. It adds to our story, and we take pieces from every place we live with us. It becomes part of our story showcased in our home. From the sea glass in the mason jar collected from Newport, RI to the one next to it with broken pottery collected from the Izu Peninsula in Shimoda, Japan. From the palm tree cross from Jacksonville, FL that protects our home from hurricanes to the tanuki statue from Japan that brings us good luck and fortune. From the windmill that sat in my Grandpa’s work shed for decades, to the paper dolls my husband’s Obachan made by hand 40+ years ago.

It has taken me 15 years as a military spouse to put this into words and define my identity. I don’t have a simple recipe or guidebook on how to live the lifestyle we life, but what I do have is a desire to fill my life, my home with things that make me happy. Things that make me feel whole. Things that remind me that even as a Navy Wife, I can have a Cozy Life. And if sharing that with the world can help even one person out there find the comfort, confidence and contentment in their life, I’ll call it a win! So THANK YOU for being here with me. Can’t wait to get to know ya’ll!!

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Navy Life, Projects

Deck the Halls with Cows & Holly

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Fa la la la la! La la la la! While Christmas may be a distant memory at this point, I’m taking a look back at one of my favorite creations from the holiday season. These pieces were months in the making, as I found the blank wood cutouts for a great deal on Etsy last summer. I knew they would be the perfect gift for “The Herd” so I ordered them and tucked them away. Christmas came and went- with so many events- so wonderful but so busy- I didn’t actually get these done and gifted until January. But, I think they were worth the wait 🙂

Before I go on, if you’re not part of the Navy world, I know you’re wondering what is “The Herd,” other than literally a group of cows?! A little fun Navy tradition thrown in here 🙂 “The Herd” is the group of spouses married to the XO (Executive Officer) & CO (Commanding Officer) of the aviation squadrons here at NAF Atsugi. The CO’s wife has traditionally been referred to as the COW (Commanding Officer’s Wife), and thus, the group of them is collectively called “The Herd.” COW parties are thrown complete with cow ears and all things black & white. I’ve attended many COW parties over the years celebrating some truly amazing women… so many so that I am conditioned to find every cow themed item at Home Goods. More on COW parties later, but just wanted to explain what was behind the cow before I moved on!

Back to the project! I love crafting. I always have! Since having kids though, it’s become a lot harder. I rarely have the time to finish a project in one sitting, and I never have a dedicated space to work. Which means I’m spread out on the dining room table, which then means 1.) the family has no place to eat and 2.) my wonderful kiddos mess with all my stuff. So typically, I revert to the easier option of ordering things from Etsy that I know I could make myself. Which is why I’m so proud of this project! I first saw these cuties on Etsy in finished form, but knowing I needed five of them, didn’t want to spring for them at that price. Then when I saw the unfinished pieces for a fraction of the cost, I knew it was time to break out of my project rut.

Step one of bringing these cows to life was painting the wood- the bottom piece completely black (as well as the ear tag) and the top piece with the holes cutout white, so when layered together, they made cow spots. Adorable! Next, with the help of some twine and paperclips, I attached the two pieces of wood together, and hung the ear tag on. Then, I broke out my Cameo Silhouette, and cut the names and numbers out of white vinyl. The last step to finish off the wood pieces was adding a clear topcoat to prevent chipping and give it that finished look. The final finishing touch was adding the ribbon on top, which turned out to be scrap fabric that I had in my craft bin. The fabric gave it more of a rustic, rugged look than the ribbon. Exactly what I was after!

I just love the way these little guys look all finished! And the best part?! They can be used for anything- as Christmas ornaments, or simply home decor throughout the year. I’m so glad I made one for myself to enjoy. I hope my fellow “Herd” members love theirs just as much!

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Bethany's Blog, Travel Bug

Kyoto + Kids – Navigating Japan’s Ancient City with Littles

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Kyoto, Japan. A weekend trip. A world away. If you’ve been, you know. If you haven’t, it’s on your bucket list. And if it’s not, then it should be 🙂

National treasures | World Heritage Sites | Temples | Shrines | Torii Gates | Gardens | Geisha | Mysterious | Magical | Beautiful –> All words that accurately describe the incredible city that is Kyoto, Japan.

Once Japan’s capital city and the emperor’s residence for over 1000 years, Kyoto has one of the richest and storied histories in the world. It’s worthy of all the praise and hype that it gets. There are countless resources on the web to learn about Kyoto and plan your trip, to include: https://www.japan-guide.com/

While I have two trips to Kyoto under my belt, I’m by no means an expert on the city. In fact, while I’ve seen much of it, there is still so much more I want to explore. What I do have a great deal of knowledge about, is how to navigate Kyoto with kids in tow. And that’s what I’m here to share with ya’ll!

Now, before I give you my tips and tricks, I should remind you that I have 4 kiddos who were ages 10, 8, 5 & 2 at the time of our most recent trip. These are things that worked for our large family with a wide range of ages. Depending on where you are in your stage of life as a family, one or all of these ideas may work for you, or may not. This was my family’s experience, and I’m sharing in hopes that it’s helpful to other families like us. So, here goes… here’s how we survived Kyoto with our kiddos…

  • Hop on Hop off Bus- allows you to see the whole city, kids are entertained by changing scenery, parents can listen to the history (in multiple languages) via headphones!
  • Travel to Kyoto by bullet train, Uber to your hotel/Airbnb and then use the bus system to get to the different sites.
  • Strollers are difficult to manage on the buses & some of the cobblestone streets. Carriers are a better option.
  • There is a lot of walking in Kyoto- a lot. Little legs that may not normally need a stroller will be begging for one. We used our larger hiking style backpack carrier for our 5 year old and it was a lifesaver!
  • Use Blackcat!!! One of the best deals going in Japan. Yamato Transport, or as we call it “Blackcat,” allows you to ship your luggage ahead so it will be at your hotel/Airbnb when you arrive. That way, you don’t have to wrangle it on the trains. At the end of your trip, they’ll pick your luggage back up and return it to your front door s few days later. It’s affordable, reliable and easy!
  • When possible, make reservations for dinner. It can be difficult to walk in and get a table for 2… let alone 6! Planning ahead will make meal time much better.
  • Before kids, we planned trips around restaurants we wanted to eat at- partly because we’re foodies but also for the social enjoyment aspect. While harder to do with kids, it’s something we want them to learn to love as well, so we try to do at least one nice meal out, but do it at lunch time or late afternoon/early evening. That way, the crowds are less and the kids are more likely to be in good spirits and not melting down from the day.
  • Consider splitting up for dinner- one night my husband took our bigs out for a special sushi meal, while I stayed back with the littles and ate at the Airbnb.
  • Uber Eats has lots of great options. After a long day of site seeing, our kids were just done and sitting in a restaurant wasn’t going to happen. But, we still wanted to experience the local cuisine, so having Uber Eats deliver from a local restaurant was a great alternative.
  • Highchairs can be hard to come by, and if you find them, they likely won’t have straps
  • Have realistic expectations. This one can be hard, especially when you’ve researched your trip, seen pictures from your friends on the same trip, dreamt of seeing all the sites. With kids, you have to be realistic and flexible. That might mean being content with making it to one site that day instead of hitting three as you had planned. Going with the flow and adjusting to the moods of the day will make for a more enjoyable trip for everyone!
  • Combinis” = your best friend! Knowing you can get drinks, snacks, treats, bandaids, baby wipes… you name it… from the convenience stores means you don’t have to be Mary Poppins and pack/carry everything with you. And bonus- it’s the perfect pit stop to let the kids cool off, have some control as they pick their own snack, and use the bathroom. More than just a convenience store, make it part of the adventure!

With some planning and an open mind, your family can enjoy the journey to Kyoto as much as the destination itself!

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Bethany's Blog, Favorites, Lifestyle

Winter’s Wine- Mulled with Spice + Everything Nice

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Lazy Saturday in February, temps in the 40’s, and no place to be. It’s the perfect time for one of my winter favs- mulled wine! I’m always so surprised when I hear people say they’ve never had it before. Like sangria in the summer, it’s a staple in our house in the winter. Aside from the obvious that it tastes delicious, it’ll warm you from the inside out, make your house smell oh so good and leave you feeling nice and cozy. Not to mention the fact that it’s so pretty to look at- having a pot on the stove just makes me happy!

So what is mulled wine?! Simply put, mulled wine = spiced wine. Start with a dry red of wine (I prefer a merlot), add spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise), throw in sliced oranges and whole cranberries, and simmer. From here, there are lots of options and recipes out there. Sometimes I add apple cider, other times I add brandy. Once you know how you like your mulled wine, you can make it by taste.

If you’re thinking this sounds just like another warm wine drink called Glühwein, then you’re right! Glühwein is what they call hot spiced wine in Germany + Austria, and is traditional found at Christmas markets. Sometimes we’re lucky and find actual bottles of Glühwein- here in Japan, Kaldi Coffee Farm often carries it, which is always fun because I love the pretty, festive label on the bottle…

Kaldi Coffee Farm

But if I’m being honest, making our own from scratch is my favorite. Here’s a recipe I’m loving this winter from #wowitsveggie …

Easy Gluhwein Recipe (Mulled Wine)

Ingredients

  • 2 bottles of dry red wine
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar [or maple syrup/agave]
  • 2 oranges, sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 4 star anise
  • 6 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 cup brandy [optional]

Instructions

  1. Place a medium sauce-pan over medium-high heat on the stove.
  2. Add the orange juice and granulated sugar and stir until the granulated sugar is dissolved.
  3. Then, add in the red wine and all of the spices and fruits.The spices will be whole, not ground in a container, so their flavors will infuse into the liquid! Add the brandy if you are using it.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the mulled wine for 30 minutes. At this point, taste the Gluhwein and adjust the flavor as necessary! You may want to add a little more sugar or add more brandy if it is too sweet for you! You can simmer the Gluhwein for up to a couple hours if you have time!
  5. Serve the mulled wine garnished with cinnamon sticks, orange peel, star anise, cranberries, and more!

What’s your favorite way to make mulled wine?! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment below!

Cheers!

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Bethany's Blog, Travel Bug

Life in a Snow Globe

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live in a snow globe?! Probably not. I hadn’t either until we discovered this little slice of heaven called Hakuba…

https://www.hakubavalley.com/en/

Located 168 miles north west of NAF Atsugi, Hakuba Valley is hardly a secret as it was home to the 1998 Winter Olympics of Nagano. But to us, it’s a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of base life. Worthy of a trip every time of the year, the months between December-March are truly magical. With an over 11 meters (= 36 feet!) of annual snowfall, it’s literally a paradise for snow riders of all kinds, from beginners to experts, skiers to snowboarders. And even for those of us who are more the “après all day” types 🙂 More on that later- we’re right in the middle of ski season, and with two trips under out belt already this year and two more to come, I’ll dedicate a whole post to our holidays in Hakuba very soon!

For us, the joy is in the journey as much as in the destination. There’s a special twinge of excitement in all six of us as we load up our Delica and head for the mountains. We know we’re close when we make it to the series of tunnels, the last of which we’ve dubbed “the magic tunnel.” It’s magical because you drive through it, and poof… snow everywhere! Lining the roads, covering the streets, blanketing the trees… swirling through the air.

And that’s when we felt it- life inside a snow globe.

Sometimes the snow is heavy, almost blinding to drive in, as if someone has just picked up the globe and shaken it as hard as they can. Other times, it’s falling gently, settling ever so softly on the windshield. Yet other times, it’s dancing from the ground up as the winter winds whip the snowflakes in circles. And every once in a while, everything is still. Peaceful. A softness, a gentleness that fills you with the same warmth and contentment as your beloved snow globe on your fireplace mantle. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first trip, or in our case, your ninth, it never gets old. It’s always as if it’s your first time experiencing it! And at the same time, you welcome it like a long lost friend as it invokes a feeling of happiness like everything is right in the world.

And that, my friends, is where the magic lies <3

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