We Took the Road Less Traveled

Heidi's Southwest-Inspired Nursery

2016-09-01T20:23:00.000-04:00

I really should stop saying I'm going to do so and so on the blog on a certain date because that date always ends up passing by without my promise coming to fruition. I am the blog procrastination Q-U-E-E-N these days. Lucky (or unlucky) for me, little miss is now 4 days past her due date (KILL ME NOW) and I'm frantically trying to fill my free time with anything but thoughts of why this little babe is so darn stubborn! With all this waiting time, I finally have a moment to share Heidi's nursery with you all (silver lining?). Maybe she's been waiting for this post and NOW she'll make her grand entrance to the world? Wishful thinking, I know. This girl has a mind of her own and seems perfectly comfy with her current set up. She really should read this post and see what goodness is waiting for her on the outside...am I right?

Friends, this nursery was a true labor of love. One that I toiled over via Pinterest and Instagram while on our 3,000 mile road trip...making pin boards and trying to envision something stylish, yet girly, for a room I'd never stepped foot in. I knew what sort of nursery I wanted in our Florida house, but this rental in Cali, my mind jumped from theme to theme. I was all over the place (both literally and figuratively). Thankfully, a dear friend created a private pin board of fun things for Heidi's nursery and it was full of Southwest-inspired touches from Aztec-patterned blankets to cactus prints and boho rugs. I wasn't sold on the idea until the moment I saw THE room and found THE rug. It all fell into place from there.

A sweet, feminine take on Southwest style for a new start out West. Seemed super appropriate for this new chapter of life and now this nursery has easily become our favorite room in the house! Not hard to see why, it's the only room with new everything...and everything all in its perfect place. I love to sit in the glider, morning light streaming in, and think about the sweet sounds that will someday fill the room. It's where I come to pray for Heidi and the kind of person she'll be, the kind of life she'll lead. It'll be the place where lots of beautiful memories will be made. Gives me chills just thinking about it all. But on to the details!

The crib and crib mattress were the only two pieces of the nursery we brought with us from Florida (thanks, Mama B!). The rest, well, I had 7 weeks to scramble and shop for once I'd landed on a theme. Needless to say, most of my third trimester meltdowns were nursery-related. Amidst unpacking boxes and trying to get the rest of the house functional, all my heart wanted to focus on was this tiny 12'x13' room. I ended up hating almost every decor option at stores like Babies R Us and BuyBuy Baby, so most everything I ordered from places like Etsy, Target, and Amazon. Because of that, we spent a good amount of time waiting for nursery mail to arrive week after week. Talk about frustrating! I got to be REAL good friends with the UPS, USPS, and FedEx men. They probably thought I was a hoarder with all the packages they were delivering. As we rounded the corner into week 39, all pieces were delivered and tiny details hung and polished. Nursery complete!

**the Moses Basket is a family hand-me-down...my mom used it for me and my sister, my Aunt with her daughter...and now our little Heidi. :)

Moroccan Pouf: Maison Marrakech | Glider: Wayfair | Pillow & Throw: Target| End Table: Nate Berkus for Target | Heidi Book: Amazon

I'm not sure why I felt the need to get this room 100% finished before Heidi's arrival. Part of me thinks it's because I had a beautiful home ripped out from underneath me (dramatic, much?) and I wanted this one room to be PERFECT. She deserves it...heck, I deserve it. The other half of me was nesting so hard I couldn't see straight. Either way, I'm so happy it's done and that it all fell into place so much more seamlessly than how I typically decorate a room. Totally a God thing. Probably ridiculous to say out loud, but He's been in the details of every aspect of our move and this pregnancy...nursery was no exception.

And now we wait. Wait for girlfriend to drop it low and make her grand debut into this crazy, crazy world. I'm BEYOND ready to see her face and snuggle the crap out of her. And ready to be done being pregnant. Am I allowed to say that? Who knows...but I am. We've tried ALL the old wives tales and "labor-inducing" foods ever suggested and big fat GOOSE EGG to it all (for my next trick, I'll stick my thumb up my rear and whistle Yankee Doodle from a mountaintop--that should do it!)...so save your comments. Sorry, that's sounds harsh, but the sheer quantity of unsolicited labor advice I've gotten these last couple weeks has me wanting to murder well-meaning humans. Baby rage is still alive and well in me...save yourself! I've decided all those who've gone into labor after eating eggplant parmesan or spicy food or getting pedicures have done so out of pure coincidence. Their bodies were already ready for baby and mine's just...not. Not yet, at least. She's gotta come out by 42 weeks, so come hell or high water I'll be birthing a babe before long. I just need to not psych myself out during the agonizing wait. Easier said than done, right, mamas?

Custom Book Ledge Shelves: Dunn Rustic Designs | Hanging Wall Planters: Amazon | Yarn Wall Hanging: NW Urban Cottage Shop | Ivory Striped Swaddle Basket: Pottery Barn Kids | Woven Rattan Book Basket: Target

Oh, and I should mention, that ADORABLE Aztec Alphabet Print was designed just for Heidi by my amazingly talented graphic designer of a cousin. I found something similar on some website wanting a bagillion dollars for a wrong color print, so I asked and she worked her designer magic. Couldn't be more in love with the result! Don't worry, we won't teach Heidi from that alphabet, but it's one of my favorite fun details of her nursery. Had to shout it to the world. Thanks, Linds! Another BIG shout out to the husband for putting all the furniture together and hanging everything on the walls. There's a special seat for you in heaven, I just know it. ;) D also hung the pendant light after a heck of a fight with it. He's come a lonnggg way, folks. Proud wife right here.

Longest (and most rambling) nursery reveal ever? Likely so. But I want to remember every tiny detail until the day I die, so blog it all, I said! And I finally did. You're welcome, you've made it to the end, and thanks for reading. ;)

Side note: if you've got some good baby vibes, prayers, positive juju, and/or love to send our way, we could use it! I need this baby girl in my arms, like, yesterday. COME ON, HEIDI! We are SO ready to meet you!

Road Trip Essentials

2016-07-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

[My stay and this post come to you c/o TownePlace Suites by Marriott. While there are sponsor links throughout, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support this blog!]

D and I truly are no strangers to road trips (we've driven the 10+ hour route from FL to NC too many time to count), but this cross-country move was definitely the longest and most tedious one we've ever endured together. Maybe because I was 30-ish weeks pregnant, maybe because our car was loaded down with an extra 900 lbs...probably both. After logging in over 3,100 miles on the road from Central Florida to Northern California, I feel like I learned a thing a two about road tripping...most notably, the things you need to take/do in order NOT to kill yourself and any of your travel partners along the way. HINT: you may still want to kill yourself and/or your travel partner at varying points in your trip...but not because of boredom. Road tripping is just plain HARD sometimes. You're a liar if you say it's not. I may or may not still be delirious from our journey...jury's still out on that one.

Tasty Snacks - You've got your gummie bears, your pistachios, your granola bars...those are just a few of our favorite travel treats (and local roadside fresh fruit stand scores, too!). But whatever you choose, try and have a good mix of healthy and non-healthy items, just to keep it interesting. Also, bring a small cooler with bottled water and drinks for the kiddos (if you've got them in tow), so you won't have to keep dolling out $3 at every gas station you stop at. Just replenish your cooler every morning with free ice from your hotel and boom, you're back on the road!

Camera - Don't just rely on your your iPhone for road trip pictures...grab your DSLR and keep it on the dashboard. You never known what gorgeous scenery you'll see just outside your windshield! Our drive through Colorado had me snapping photos and recording Snapchats the entire way. You may only do one big road trip in life, so be sure to document it all. Side note: I also recorded a handful of beautiful miles via our GoPro sitting up on the dashboard...and took a few dozen films with my Instax Mini, just for some unique ways to capture the experience. If you have either of those, bring 'em along as well!

Comfy Beds - Some days while on the road, the only thing I look forward to at the end of the day is a clean, quiet room where I can safely lay my tired head. Towneplace Suites has been our saving grace this particular road trip. We stayed at various ones across the USA (Savannah, Atlanta, Nashville, to name a few) and spent 10 consecutive nights at one here in California before we moved into our new home. As extended stay hotels go...Towneplace Suites is the best (especially where military families are concerned---military discounts available)! FREE hot breakfast & coffee each day, FREE wifi, spacious rooms with kitchens and large bathrooms and closets for storage, fitness centers, pool, BONUS...they're pet friendly! Plus, they're always located in great areas close to loads of local attractions and dining options. As a military family, we've stayed in LOTS of hotels while in transit to new bases, but Towneplace Suites continues to rein supreme for those long stretches of displacement.

UPDATE: Towneplace Suites just began their partnership with Weber Grill! Starting today, the extended-stay hotel brand will roll out new high-end Weber stainless steel Summit® Gas Grills at more than 100 hotels across the U.S. and Canada.

"Barbeque enthusiasts staying at TownePlace Suites hotels can beef up their stay with unlimited access to new premium grills, tools, spices and seasoning in the outdoor patio area. Inventive recipes inspired by TownePlace Suites' In a Pinch market and created by Weber Grill Master Kevin Kolman can be downloaded from TownePlaceSuites.com. Available recipes include All American Steakburgers, corn on the cob with basil-Parmesan butter, and more. All guests need to do is B.Y.O.M. (bring your own meat)!"

Good Tunes - Good music changes everything. It's critical to keep you from losing your mind while on the road, especially when conversation wanes and you just want to zone out a bit. We had our iPhones full of songs we loved, but we blew through all of those the first 2 days of driving. When we hit dead spots in radio reception or areas where only 3 stations were available and they were all country music, we were thankful we also had Sirius XM Radio. D got a 2 month free trial and boom, our music woes were solved! 90s on 9 was my personal favorite, but we also got a lot of mileage out of 80s on 8, Pop2k, Z100 and Y2Kountry.

Comfy Clothes - Seems like an obvious recommendation, but I saw so many road-tripping gals wearing wedges and strapless dresses. IS THAT COMFORTABLE? WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VISIT? There is literally no one I was trying to impress at the Tennessee Visitors Center or the 7-11. NO ONE. So, I opted for my most favorite maternity shorts, tanks, and slip on sandals. But if your eggo's not preggo...choose breathable, flexible pieces that are easily packed and cute, yet comfy for the long haul. And don't forget those sunnies!

Road Trip Toiletries - Chapstick, Wet Wipes, hand lotion, tissues, oil blotters for your face, and a hair brush...just a few things I had in the glove box ready to go when it was time to get out of the car and face human beings. Going through multiple climates and elevations, my skin got so dry, so the chapstick and lotion were godsends. The wet wipes were useful for sticky hands and for nasty rest area bathrooms {shudder}.

GPS - Self explanatory. While getting lost can be fun, it can also delay your trip and add extra hours of unnecessary headaches. I love a good old fashioned paper map (and having an atlas on hand is quite fun to look at from time to time), but a GPS will be the most efficient way to get from here to there.

Safety Gadgets - Spare tires, jumper cables, first aid kit, flashlights, a screwdriver...you clearly don't want to have a reason to use them, but better not pull out of the driveway without them. Murphy will find you! Just my two cents. ;)

Sun Visor - If you travel the open road in the dead hot of summer, make sure to have one of those nifty reflective sun visors to put in your front windshield when you're not in the car. We drove through the "American Heatwave of 2016" and thank our lucky stars we had that thing! Plus, it's a nice little deterrent for looky-loos if you decide not to lug your whole life into your hotel room at night.

Pillow, Blanket, and Windex (yes, Windex) - If your driver is a sweet one and doesn't mind the quiet, it's always nice to catch a few zzz's in the passenger's seat. I, for one, almost never sleep in the car (I feel like I might miss something and want to keep D awake, for safety reasons), but I did bring a pillow for my bum and to support my back for those long segments of driving. As for the Windex...you can't take pretty photos out your windshield if it's covered with bugs, now can you? One small bottle and a few paper towels go a long way in keeping your car looking fly...less.

Cash - Keep a couple bucks or coins on hand for grabbing extra snacks or for paying any tolls you may run into while on the road.

Anything else you'd add to this essentials list? Shout it out!

Happy road tripping!

Florida to California PCS: The Road Trip

2016-06-08T14:02:00.000-04:00

3,100 miles, 11 days, 8 different stops, and 7 hotel stays.

#FLtoCaliRoadTrip

T-10 days till go time!

So, there it is...that's the route we'll take on our 11-day journey across the good 'ol US of A. This Northern route approach will have us logging almost 50 hours of driving. FIFTY. I know, kill me now. But, we've got enough stops planned to break it up quite a bit. Here's a better breakdown of our plan:

STOP #1: Atlanta, Georgia - Here we'll be logging in another sure to be FABULOUS stay at Towneplace Suites (this hotel chain is perfect for road trip stays for couples AND families alike) and hopefully enjoying some iconic burgers & shakes at The Varsity. We've been to Atlanta before so we're not gonna go too crazy exploring, especially since we've only got maybe 13-16 hours in the city. Plus, the drive from our starting point in Florida to Hotlanta will be the second longest leg of our trip (clocking in at an annoying 7 hours). I'm sure by the time I get to the hotel, I'll want to kick my feet up and chill.

STOP #2: Nashville, Tennessee - Even though we've also been to Nashville before, we were young (hello, 11th grade!), so we're excited to get to explore a little more. We'll have a good chunk of time here in Nashvegas...roughly 24 hours, but who's counting (me, I am--we've got a schedule to keep, unfortunately!). We're still undecided on whether we just wander the city or if we should hit up a backstage tour at the Grand Ole Opry or a couple hours at the Country Music Hall of Fame (thoughts?). We know FOR SURE that we want some good southern food (biscuits, preferably) and to buy Heidi some baby cowgirl boots. Because when in Tennessee, am I right?

STOP #3: St. Louis, Missouri - Another city I've visited once at a young age, so we're not spending a whole heck of a lot of time here either. But, I do want to show D the Gateway Arch (not that you could miss it) and we'll probably hit up Delmar Loop for some shopping/eating. I would LOVE to do the City Museum, but thanks to being pregnant, it wouldn't be nearly as fun. Next time!

STOP #4: Kansas City, Kansas- This may be the stop I'm most excited about. Not because I've never been here (hint: I have...like 5 times), but because we get to spend 3 days staying with my Kansas cousins! After a few days cooped up in a car, we'll be SO thrilled to have some quality time with some super familiar faces. Plus, KC is a really fun city and D has never been! Hoping to share the goodness of KC BBQ and Boulevard Brewery Beer with him. We've also got a date with a swimming pool. Can. Not. Wait.

STOP #5: Denver, Colorado - This will be our longest, most boring drive of the whole trip (8.5 whopping hours of midwest nothingness, yay!). So once we get to Denver...a city I HAVEN'T been to before (but D has, whomp whomp), I have a feeling we'll grab a bite to eat and pass the heck out. Not much time for sightseeing, but we did get a hotel with a view of the Rockies, so at least we're looking forward to that.

STOP #6: Moab, Utah - I'm super excited to make a stop here in Moab. We'll be staying at an fun motel just outside of Arches National Park and will get to spend a decent amount of time exploring the gorgeous rock formations inside the park. No hiking for us (thank you, Heidi), but we'll still drive through & stop at all the scenic pull-offs for a good taste of one of Utah's most treasured natural attractions.

STOP #7: Salt Lake City, Utah - Salt Lake will be another fairly quick stop, but that's alright with us. Aside from eating at some cute local eateries, the only thing I really want to do is explore Temple Square. Our hotel is just around the corner from it to make visiting super easy on my sure to be exhausted body. I wish we did have a little bit more time here just so I could meet up with some fun bloggers I've gotten to know. Hopefully this won't be our only time in town!

STOP #8: Reno, Nevada - the "Biggest Little City in the World"...if you would have told me we'd be making a pit stop here, I would have laughed at you (Vegas AND Reno in one pregnancy? You gotta be kidding me!). But we had an extra day and instead of facing a third 8-9 hour drive straight from SLC to Cali, I decided we'd stop and see how Reno compares to Vegas. We're staying right on the Reno "strip" at a casino/spa resort, so while D tries his luck with the roulette wheel, I might cash in on a prenatal massage. I'll have earned it by then, right? ;)

FINAL DESTINATION: Sacramento/Roseville, California area - At this point, I'll calmly get out of the car and kiss the ground. We aren't 100% sure yet where we'll be laying our heads when we FINALLY arrive to the Golden State, but I do know I'll be so darn thankful...and ready to hit the ground running on the house-hunting front (UPDATE: staying at another fabulous Towneplace Suites for the next 8 days!! HELLO, FREE HOT BREAKFAST AND COFFEE!). We aren't buying a house in Cali (I wish I had that kind of cash flow, plus we'll only be here 2 years), so a rental it will be. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed we find something perfect for our little family of 3.

As much as I want to hit this road trip hard and make the most out of our first big move cross-country, being preggo comes with more restrictions and less fun. My sole goal is to make it across without giving birth, ya know? My doc has been on top of that and so far, baby girl and I are healthy as can be. Even so, we're going to try to make this trip one to remember. How many times does one get to road trip across America? If you're military, often...but we like to think this will be our only chance. I hope I don't eat those words later.

Because the travel blogger in me can't let this opportunity go to waste, I'll be documenting the whole crazy adventure via Instagram and Snapchat (username: Caseadilla1016), so feel free to follow along! There will be exciting sights to see along the way and likely a whole lot of delirious car chat (and singing--consider yourselves warned), so help keep us entertained! Also, if you have any suggestions for great restaurants for us to try in any of the cities above, shout 'em out! We're always down for recommendations from past travelers. It's how the travel world goes 'round.

And as always, if you've got some spare good vibes and prayers hanging around...we could still use them! We're getting closer to that light at the end of the tunnel feeling, but we've still got 3,100 miles and a few questionable hurdles jump before we can breathe again. It ain't over until I'm surrounded by my belongings in a nice home in California, amen? AMEN! Oh, and baby girl...stay nice and comfy in there for at least 10 more weeks, mmmkay? Peace out, East Coast!

**Cool road trip map itinerary planner via Roadtrippers**

Sanibel Island: Babymoon

2016-05-31T11:30:00.000-04:00

The last 2.5 months have been a total whirlwind of change. With a pending cross-country move, a house to sell (it's SOLD, thank goodness!), and an entire life to pack up and restart in a new state 3,000 miles away, it was safe to say D and I needed some time away from all the chaos. Even amidst the the busyness that is this military life, we wanted to take a moment to relax, recharge, and celebrate our baby girl in a way that we both love...on vacation! Since writing about our Florida Bucket List the end of last year (and thinking we'd have 2 more years to try and check things off that list), I knew our babymoon destination would have to come from that short list. It wasn't long before reservations were booked and off we went to Sanibel Island for 4 sweet days of sand, sea, and celebrating our little Heidi.

Sanibel is just about as dreamy as islands come. Palm trees and lush tropical greenery line all 33 miles of this gulf coast town and the water...oh, that GORGEOUS turquoise water...was so blue & clear that it sparkled in the sunlight. Everything about Sanibel was quaint, from the colorful beach shops and non-chain restaurants to the charming B&B's and 25 miles of scenic bike trails, the island felt like our own secluded slice of paradise those 4 bliss-filled days. Instead of staying at a large resort, we opted for a small inn on the Eastern part of the island called Song of the Sea. It was perfectly beachy, came with a continental breakfast each morning (hello, fresh Florida fruit!), complimentary bike rentals, and swoon-worthy views of the coast that kept me starry-eyed each day. There's nothing like waking up to salty sea air in the morning. Heaven must be a beach...MUST be.

Our Sanibel days were spent waking up early for sunrise walks on the beach, lounging by the pool, searching for shells on the beach, exploring the island by bike, and chowing down on local seafood by night. We talked about our days in Florida and how we felt we didn't fully appreciate our time in the state until it was being cut short. We reminisced about the last 5 years of our lives together...from Germany to now...and how crazy our journey has been. We tried to picture what our lives in California might be like with a baby and a whole new set of responsibilities on the horizon. And we prayed for our sweet girl, our move, and our marriage. There were some tears (mostly mine), but a whole lot of clarity and time to make peace with the big changes we both were still trying to wrap our heads around. Those moments, just the two of us, remain in the forefront of my mind as we continue to navigate our way through this move. I fondly look back and take solace in the words we said and plans we made every time I feel overwhelmed with all the tasks still before us. Thank goodness for the inception of the "babymoon"...trendy as it may be, it was too good for our souls. Two babymoon believers right here.

If you're interested in making Sanibel your babymoon destination (or just a super fun vacation, for those not expecting), here's a few places you should try hard to not miss:

Sanibel Lighthouse
Pinocchio's Italian Ice Cream Shop -- love their signature animal cracker topping & the Dirty Sand Dollar flavor is delish
Over Easy Cafe -- order the cinnamon roll to split!
The Island Cow Restaurant -- go early as the wait times can be outrageous in peak summer months.
Matzaluna Craft Beer and Pasta -- ate the best meatballs OF MY LIFE here. If you get sick of seafood easily, Matzaluna is a wonderful reprieve.
Periwinkle Way Shops
The Bubble Room -- located on Captiva side of island
If your hotel doesn't offer bike rentals, you can rent some at Finnimore's Cycle Shop
Sunrise along the Eastern coast of the island or at Lighthouse Beach
Sunset at Blind Pass or Turner Beach

If you need help planning or booking your Sanibel getaway, I know a good travel agent! A little shameless plug, I had to. Email me at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com ;)

A few tips for planning the perfect babymoon:

Travel before you're 30 weeks! We only had a free long weekend around the time I was 22 weeks and it turned out to be just perfect. I wasn't too big to enjoy lots of activities, but still pregnant enough to be offered free ice cream and prime sunning spots. ;)
Minimize your travel time. Drive no more than 6 hours and stop every two hours to stretch your legs.
If you're a maternity body pillow lover (I'm obsessed with my Leachco Snoogle Body Pillow), bring it along with you! And grab a king-size bedroom reservation to add extra comfort.
Don't forget to pack pregnancy-friendly sunscreen (I LOVE this kind from Kiss My Face) and all your vitamins, belly creams (big fan of Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter), bug spray (I use Cutter All Family 7% DEET Bug Spray), comfy breathable clothes/shoes, healthy snacks, and a water bottle to keep hydrated.
Is your destination safe from Zika Virus? Sanibel is! Avoid any babymoon destinations with Zika Virus travel restrictions. For more info on the virus and it's affected locations, click here.
Check with your OB before you travel! Typical recommendations are to not fly after 36 weeks and most cruise lines won't allow you to cruise after the 24th week of pregnancy.
Make time for naps or ample down-time between activities. Be active, but know your body's limits while pregnant. Don't overdo it!
Document it all! We brought along our FujiFilm Instax Mini and took loads of fun Polaroid photos to put in Heidi's baby book. We also Snapchatted (find me at Caseadilla1016) much of the trip, so now we have little videos to share with her when she's older.

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory"

-Dr. Seuss

STAY: TownePlace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings

2016-05-11T12:19:00.001-04:00

A little over a month ago, I was approached to be a part of partnership opportunity with TownePlace Suites by Marriott for their 2016 "Military Spouse Squad" Blogger Ambassador Program. D and I have been Marriott Rewards Points travelers since living abroad with the military, so I felt the partnership to be quite the serendipitous one...especially with our pending cross-country move this summer!

Being a military family, we're no strangers to traveling, staying in numerous hotels for long periods of time, and trying to make the most of locations we aren't familiar with. Thankfully, extended-stay hotels like TownePlace Suites exist to help make our travels with the military (and for fun!) so much easier. For our Orlando adventure last weekend, we were visiting Walt Disney World for one last jaunt around the parks before we're no longer Florida residents. Sad!!

While we love staying on Disney property, sometimes we like to opt for more space, amenities, and a lower price point without straying too far from the parks. When we heard TownePlace Suites had just opened a new hotel outside Disney's West Entrance this past February (making it a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel), it was a no-brainer! With amenities like free HOT breakfast, plush bedding, and speedy on-line check in, we felt right at home with Towneplace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings for our 2-night stay.

Upon arriving, we were highly pleased with the beautiful, modern design and the overall layout of the room. Plenty of space for our luggage and room to move around without feeling cramped. We always love having an in-room fridge to store snacks and bottled water, so having a FULL KITCHEN at our disposal was even more of a bonus! D was quite impressed with the amount of closet space our Studio King room had. He's big on hanging up his clothes to avoid wrinkles while we travel (that military boy). Happily there was also a iron and ironing board in our room.

As for me, a fluffy bed with lots of pillows is always my favorite part of a hotel stay. TownePlace Suites made this 6-month pregnant lady very happy by having extra pillows on hand for my finicky sleep habits. Needless to say, we were happy campers all around.

Perks of staying at TownePlace Suites:

FREE Wifi in rooms and throughout hotel
FREE Continental Hot Breakfast (ours had giant Mickey waffles!)
Customizable elfa closet system through their partnership with The Container Store.
Fully equipped kitchen (plates, cups, bowls, pots, cooking utensils, full-size fridge etc.)
Spacious Suites with more than enough room for luggage and a few family members.
Giant TowneMap of local area in lobby with neighborhood tips for dining. Local area brochure guides in room (in participating locations).
Pool and outdoor green space available.
Laundry facilities and fitness center on site.
Pet-Friendly!!

With a large portion of TownePlace Suites located near military bases (and attractions that appeal to military and civilian families alike), this extended-stay brand is dedicated to supporting the military community and making life away from home a little easier. Now that we've had a taste of the good life, D and I looking forward to a handful of TownePlace Suites stays in cities across the USA during our Florida to California road trip next month! Stay tuned!

Connect with TownePlace Suites via Facebook and Twitter!

From One Sunshine State to the Other...

2016-03-24T18:05:00.000-04:00

West Coast is the best coast, they say. Well, I guess we'll find out if that's true because S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E!!! Team Cote just got orders to move to the great state of CALIFORNIA!

No, you don't need to adjust your eyes. You read that last paragraph correctly. We're moving. To California. THIS JUNE. Cue panic and shock and all of the freak outs.

Have we been keeping a secret? Nope. Was this in our plan for 2016? Not a chance. Were we supposed to move this year? Negative. Are we excited? Welllll...yes and no. Is this the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard? YES, DEFINITELY. Here's the skinny on life as of two weeks ago:

Back in January, D got word that he had been selected for a very prestigious list of 60-some top-vectored officers in his career field. Big deal, super proud, he's a rockstar (for real). From this list, a board of important higher-up, big wig-types had the task of placing select officers into spots for 26 different jobs around the world. Long story short, we thought it was a long shot that D was get chosen for a spot. I should stop thinking anything is too crazy for the Air Force because lo and behold, D was selected for a job at a base in Cali and now here we are! Preparing to move to the West Coast for the first time in either of our lives.

To say all of this is blowing my mind would be a serious understatement. In fact, I did lose my marbles the morning D broke the news to me (as one would expect from a hormonal pregnant woman). I'd really washed my hands of the idea that we might even have the slightest chance to be selected for a new job. I know that seems like I don't think much of D and his stellar Air Force performance as an officer, but there were so many other factors involved in selection that I didn't give it a second thought. Probably why I feel so blind-sighted by it all! For the record, D is a bit shocked, too. Also for the record, even though this was totally not in our plan, I'm so darn proud of that man o' mine! He's really the cream of the crop in more ways than one.

Where does that leave us now? Well, for one thing, we've got a house to sell in less than 3 months time. So, that's fun. I'll be 7 months pregnant traveling 3,000 miles cross-country...also SUPER fun. And we get to do all the other typical "moving with the military" appointments and paperwork and pack-outs as with any other move (plus a slurry of doc appointments for yours truly). Needless to say, I'm pooped just thinking of all that we have to do in such a short amount of time. BUT we've done it before and we'll hike up our bootstraps and do it again! If I can move to Europe for 3 years, I can surely handle moving to California, right? RIGHT, YOU GUYS?!

If I could drink wine right now, I'd need ALL of it.

Having an extra layer of stress because our pending bundle of joy isn't ideal, but it's also not the end of the world. I have to keep reminding myself that hundreds of women/families do this each year, so it's not like I'm reinventing the wheel here. It is, however, more than I wanted to handle during this special time in our lives. I'm slowly trying to let go of the romantic ideas of a perfect nursery, seaside delivery, and spending the next year sharing mornings by the ocean with our little beach baby. I hate the abyss of unknown that will be the last few months of my pregnancy. There's only so much we can do from here in Florida, so some important baby-related details will have to wait until we finally make it to Cali. Feeling a bit out of control (and me no likey), but onward we march.

From the research I've been feverishly doing these last few days, I think I'm really going to like the medical facilities/hospitals in our soon-to-be new home city. I'm thankful that I'll be able to stay with off-base OB care since the base doesn't have that (much like our current base here in Florida). So, that's a bright spot in all of this. Not to mention, the base we'll be moving to is a hop, skip, and jump away from insanely gorgeous destinations like Napa Valley, San Francisco, and Lake Tahoe (yay!). We've always wanted to venture out west and explore, so the travel opportunities that are about to be afforded us are endless and so exciting! Even with a little babe in tow! Can you tell I'm clinging to all the little silver-linings I can find? I am. And rightly so. This is a major life change among some already major life changes happening for us this year, so we need all the little bright spots we can get. Is Tuck going with us? That's an issue still to be determined. He's an old fart that doesn't do well with change and I'm a pregnant fart that is slightly neurotic and we're worried how those two will mesh so far from our lifelines (re: my parents). So, we have some pros and cons to weigh out, but it's likely he'll be back with his grandma and grandpa. That KILLS me, but he'll be a much happier (and less neglected) pup living with them.

Truth be told, we are excited. I'll be even more excited once we start making big check marks on our "to-do" list, but excited just the same. If you have any California or moving cross-country tips for us, please, we're all ears! And if you have any prayers or words of encouragement to spare, we could use a few (or a lot) of those as well. While our world seems totally upside down at the moment, we continue to trust in God's plan for our growing family. His plan is always much more wonderful than ours, I just need to get outta my head and get onboard!

Cali, here we come!

In Case You Missed The Exciting News...

2016-02-17T10:40:00.001-05:00

We've been keeping a little secret...

Baby Cote on board! Our greatest adventure begins late-August!

(Also, hi friends! Now that the cat's out of the bag...and the morning sickness has finally left me the heck alone...I'll be back to blogging a little more regularly. Not all baby stuff, promise! Missed you all!)

Blending Traditions: Christmas at Home

2015-12-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Steeped in tradition, the Christmas season is one we all look forward to rolling around each year. In our family, as I'm sure it is with most, there are dozens of traditions that make the holidays feel like the holidays to us. Some we've passed down from generation to generation, others we've recently acquired as our family trees branch off into newer branches. When D and I moved to Germany in 2011, we couldn't go home that December, so we spent our very first Christmas alone as a couple. Even though we couldn't be with family, we still kept with our Christmas traditions from home...so family never felt that far from our hearts. As the years passed by, we also began to adopt holiday traditions from our gracious host country. These days, we've got a good blend of family customs and adopted traditions that make our Christmas just that much more special.

Christmas traditions may vary from country to country, family to family, person to person...but one thing we all can agree on is that they bring us all together during a magical time of year. Here are just a few of the ways holiday tradition has influenced Christmas at Haus Cote...

When I graduated college and D were in our first year of marriage, I decorated the WHOLE DARN HOUSE. I loved going to Garden Ridge (my Greensboro peeps know this) and buying all the Christmas decor I could stuff in one shopping cart. Obsessed, just like my momma (who has a Santa Claus shower curtain, not kidding). With all the moving we do thanks to Uncle Sam, I've slowly opted for simplicity in my holiday decor. Because lugging around 15 tubs of Christmas decor is a bit much, no? These days, we do a tree, preferably real...but I've got love for the fake ones, too. This year, thanks to the Florida heat, we're going fake...and I'm cool with it. Less pine needles to micro-manage all month, that's for sure! With the tree comes our extensive collection of ornaments we've collected on all our travels. Next year, I'm afraid I might have to be one of those people who has two trees, because we're bursting at the seams with ornaments I can't bear not to hang (thank you, Lord, for your abundant travel blessings!). My favorite ornament? I love all the ones we acquired at the German Christmas markets we frequented. Especially the pickle. While not exactly something the Germans claim as their own tradition, the fun of "hiding the pickle" continues to spread joy to tourists and locals alike.

Another fun piece of holiday decor I brought home from Europe is a wooden sled we found at a Polish antique shop in Bolesalwaic. It adds just the right amount of rustic kitsch to our living room and reminds me of the fabulous antiques stores I used to wander through during our travels. We also have a few German smokers and authentic nutcrackers scattered around the house. I couldn't leave Germany without snatching up such famous Christmas handicrafts! They'll be pieces I pass down to generations to come.

This is a tradition we haven't quite started yet in our family just yet, but it's waiting in the wings for when we have children. Families all over Germany participate in Sankt Nikolaus Day at the beginning of the advent season. Children leave out their shoes the night of December 5th, and wake up on the morning of December 6th to find all sorts of treats left in them from jolly ol' Saint Nicolas! It's such a sweet and meaningful tradition for countries all over Europe, but experiencing it firsthand while living in Germany made it all the more exciting. We loved hearing the church bells ringing in our town as Sankt Nikolaus (or der Weihachtsmann) wandered through, signifying the start of the Christmas season. I like to think of this holiday tradition as a sort of "Elf on the Shelf" for Europe. If the kiddos are bad, twigs and coal are left in the shoes instead of treats. In some areas of Germany and Austria, these bad gifts are given by Sankt Nikolaus's evil counterpart, Krampus!

I happily adopted many traditions from our time living in Germany, but none more tasty than the mug of piping hot gluhwein. Oh, the many mugs of gluhwein I've consumed the last 4 years. I bet you could wring me out and it would all be gluhwein, no joke. When the holiday season rolls around, it doesn't take me long to dust off the 53 Christmas market mugs I collected abroad (yes, you read that right) and make my first batch. In fact, I love the stuff so much, I spent quite a few hours in the kitchen perfecting my own mulled wine recipe. Don't worry, you can find it here. As long as I am living, this spiced holiday libation will be a part of our Christmas season.

Since the year D put a ring on my finger, I've mailed out a Team Cote holiday card. It's a tradition most celebrate, but one I credit to my mom, who has faithfuly sent out a holiday card from our family since I was a little girl. I used to watch her spend hours flipping through catalogs, choosing the card that reflected the perfect sentiment for the year. Once they were delivered to the house, she would sit on the couch with her address book and blank envelopes and hand-address each card, allowing me to place a stamp on the finished ones. There are years I think, ehhh, maybe I won't send any out (I'm too busy, too tired, too cheap)...but then I remember how much joy they bring me when I receive sweet cards from my friends & family. So, I continue the tradition. Even hand-addressing them just like mom. :)

The holidays are largely driven by food...good food. And rightly so. Food and tradition go hand in hand so well! There are SO many incredible treats that have become Christmas staples in our family. Every year, my mom makes a large batch of Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes to Northerners, as I've been told) and gives them out to the mailman, friends at church, and family across the country. We're always lucky enough to snag a few morsels before they're divvied up, thank goodness! We also make sugar cookies from scratch in fun Christmas shapes and decorate them with colorful icings and gobs of sprinkles. This is a food tradition we've been a part of as far as my memory will go. I remember many Christmases at MeeMaw's house, all the grandbabies around her tiny kitchen table, rolling out dough, covered in flour. A tradition I most definitely will be keeping around for years and years to come (you can read more about this family tradition here). OH, and that yummy, caramel-colored doughy ring on the right there...that's our Christmas Day Monkey Bread. It isn't Christmas Day until those and Granny's Sausage Balls arrive on the breakfast table!

Sometimes they match, sometimes they don't. Sometimes I wear them after Christmas, sometimes I hide them in my pajama drawer until, well, forever. No matter the year, we open our Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve...a tradition my mom started when we were a bit older and had an appreciation for such a quirky pre-Christmas gift. Truth be told, it a gift I always look forward to, mostly because I'm curious to see whether we'll all get silly Santa onesies or something more fashionable. Even while we lived abroad, D and I continued the tradition between the two of us when we celebrated Christmas far from home. I mean, who doesn't love new jammies?!

The culmination of all traditions through the holiday season come to a head this day. It's the Big Kahuna, so we send it out with a bang! The kids (even now that we're not quite kids anymore) are the last to wake...we always find mom and dad in the kitchen sipping coffee and waiting patiently for us to come barreling down the hall. Now that we're older, we have enough restraint (although not much more than before) to be able to eat breakfast as family rather than diving straight into the presents. A smorgasbord of monkey bread, coffee cake, bacon, and sausage balls are the typical fare. Calories don't count on Christmas morning. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Once breakfast is done, we all grab a spot on the couch and the gifts are distributed. Stockings are opened first...then on to the good stuff! Instead of diving in all at once, we each take turns opening a gift...and round and round it goes until all gifts are opened. Takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R (especially when all family is in town), but that's just how we like it. Christmas lasts longer this way (in our minds, at least).

After the living room is turned into a wrapping paper war-zone, we usually call or Skype with our Kansas family...then spend the rest of the day Christmas movie watching and snacking on holiday treats until Christmas dinner is served. Again, calories don't count and a holiday ham is always in attendance. My dad's face in this last photo...the most accurate portrayal of his disdain for photos ever captured. God love 'em. ;)

I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into our holiday traditions!

What are some favorite traditions you hope to pass down to your family someday?

**Be sure to check out all the holiday tradition and cheer found across the globe over on the Expat Holidays landing page on MontgomeryFest! Happy holidays to all!**

A Florida Bucket List

2015-12-08T09:58:00.001-05:00

With sunshine and good times on high almost everyday, there are few things not to love about the great state of Florida. When D and I got orders to the Sunshine State in 2014, we knew we were in for loads of beach days, Disney trips, and experiencing unlimited days of summer. So far, we've done all that and more, but there's still so much to see and do here! As much as we traveled around Europe those 3 years living abroad, we've had high hopes to keep our travel bug well fed. Thankfully Florida has no shortage of incredible destinations fit for exploring. One interesting observation we've made our short 1.5 years living here thus far...this state is HUGE. 65,755 sq miles sort of huge. Crazy, right? Living in Germany, we were able to drive 2.5 hours and be in Belgium, or France, or the Netherlands. Drive 2 more hours and we were in Switzerland or Italy. If we drive 3 hours North, South, or West from our current...we're still in Florida. With so much land to cover, we figured it was time to jot down the Sunshine State sights we just have to see. Without further adieu...here's our Florida Bucket List!

So far we've already visited: St. Augustine, Orlando, Tampa, St. Pete, Destin, Cocoa Beach, and Daytona Beach. That's primairly why you won't find any of those places on our current bucket list. We've already hit 'em! But you should, too. And I swear I'll blog about them...someday. ;)

The first time I ever heard of Sanibel Island was from my German landlord's wife, Tanya. No kidding. She and her family visited the states a few years back and spent a week on the Florida gulf coast and said Sanibel was one of the most beautiful beaches she'd ever seen. Which is a big deal considering she's traveled all over the world! From that moment on, I knew if we ever got stationed in Florida, Sanibel would HAVE to be on our "must-see" list. Sanibel Island is most known for having beaches covered in millions of colorful shells making it one of the best beachs in Florida for shelling. The vibe of this island is seclusion, so rest and relaxation are the only two modes you'll need to set your watch on.

Is it weird to say I'd love to watch alligators from the comfort of the seat of an air boat? Truly a sentence I'd never thought I type out...but it's true! And I feel like the coolest place to do that would be in the Florida Everglades. Spanning 1.5 million acres in Southern Florida, the Everglades wetlands preserve is full of beautiful mangroves, sawgrass marshes, pinewood forests, and is home to hundreds of different animal species. Who wouldn't want to explore the world's largest remaining subtropical wilderness? And the whole air boat fascination? Well, let's just say I have a need for speed. ;)

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"Named for Princess Amelia, daughter of George II of Great Britain, Amelia Island is the only place in the United States to have been under the dominion of eight different flags. It’s been home to an array of cultures and colorful characters: Timucuan Indians, European explorers, pirates, bootleggers, Gilded Age millionaires, and shrimpers all make up the colorful tapestry of this treasured island’s rich history. They’ve left behind a legendary legacy (and much to explore.)" -- AmeilaIsland.com

Not much else to say except, when do we leave?

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I'm sure you aren't surprised that a beer fest is high on our list of things to do while living in Florida. D's a major beer snob and well, I'm along for the ride! After living in the land of beer for 3 years, D and I both grew to love frequenting all of the German (and Belgian) beer festivals that seemed to happen more often than not. In moving back to America, we were pleased to learn that Florida has a strong craft beer scene and loves festivaling just as much as any German would. Not only is Key West an incredible vacation destination (we got a nice taste of it during our Disney cruise this past spring), but it's also holds one of Florida's coolest beerfests of the year. Key West Brewfest is held every Labor Day weekend and draws in thousands of island-going visitors from all around the USA. With over 150 beers to sample, it's easy to see why we've got to get our festival on at least once while we're Florida residents!

So, we're laying in bed one night flipping through the channels and D stops on the Travel Channel and this gorgeous scene of a couple canoeing down a palm tree-lined river. The commentator mentioned it being a "best-kept secret," a "secluded paradise," a "unsuspecting gem in the middle of the state." Well, I was hooked. Turns out this secluded paradise is in the middle of Central Florida! Wekiva Island is a favorite local gathering spot on the Weikva River and just outside the Wekiwa Springs State Park. This natural area is chock-full of outdoor activities like canoeing, kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding, swimming, and volleyball. Or you can spend the day sunbathing and vegging out on their "river-banas" (river cabanas in case you were confused) and festive Adirondack chairs lining the Sweetwater Canal. Visit in Florida's cooler months and you can enjoy S'mores at their riverside fire pit. Sounds dreamy doesn't it? I'm already planning a post-holiday de-stress session around that fire pit. Thanks for the recommendation, Travel Channel!

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Operated as a SCUBA dive training and recreational facility, Devil's Den Springs in Williston, Florida has quickly become a popular place for nature lovers and divers alike. Devil's Den is a subterranean river thats roof has collapsed, leaving a cave-like den formed by the exposed body of water. Not only is it known as a wonderful place to dive, but it's also quite the snorkeling gem. While not quite a cave, it could be the closest thing to a cave dive (or snorkel) you can get in Central Florida...so why not?! Plus, it's such a natural beauty! Reminds me of Mexican cenotes. Feel free to Google away.

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Will Smith said it best "Party in the city where the heat is on...all night on the beach till the break of dawn"...yeah, Miami, you're on our list! Miami is one of those vibrant cities that you are just drawn to. The beaches, the nightlife, the Cuban influences, the art deco buildings...I'm getting psyched just typing about it. D is originally from a town outside of Miami, so he loves to tell me about all the cool things this iconic Florida city has to offer. South Beach is what I've got my eye on. I can just see myself on the beach in front of a luxurious surfside hotel, cocktail in hand. Can't you see yourself there too? Let's just go, ok?

Basically any place with "nap" in the name, I'm on board. Doesn't hurt that this is also ranked one of Florida's most beautiful beaches and that it's only a few hours drive from our home here in FL. While I love living a 10 minute drive from our own beach here on the East Coast...there's just something about the Gulf Coast that is totally swoon-worthy in its own rite. Turquoise waters and a white sand beaches have a lot to do with the swooning, to be honest. While we're here, we'll probably venture inland to Sarasota and see trouble we can get into there. We hear there's lots of fab restaurants to be found. Beach and then food...sign me up!

How cute is he?!?! Located in Marathon, FL in the Florida Keys, The Turtle Hospital is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles. Once they're back in tip-top shape, they're released back into their natural habitat. In addition to helping rehab these beautiful sea creatures, the hospital also aims to educate people about sea and beach pollution while also doing research with local universities on how to aid turtles in their ocean homes. Visitors to the Turtle Hospital can take educational tours of the hospital facilities & rehab center, as well as feed the turtles!

Have you ever been to any of these Florida destinations?

Share your experiences! Any Florida sights we should add to the list?

Walled city of Valletta, Malta

2015-12-02T10:10:00.000-05:00

As I might have mentioned a time or two, Malta was never really on our travel radar. I like to think of this stop on our Adriatic cruise as a bit of bonus...mostly because we had no clue what to expect from the country, but also because it gave us a good excuse to add another exciting destination to our ever-growing list of places we visited while living in Europe. When I started researching the port of Valletta and sights we "couldn't miss" prior to sailing, photos like this and this from Pinterest kept popping up in my search. What are those GORGEOUS balconies doing here and why is this city FULL of them?! Instantly the architecture of Valletta was fascinating. Not only is the city surrounded by stone walls and Mediterranean Sea, but the streets are narrow, hilly, and lined with these colorful balconies. I've never seen so many in my life! More on those in a bit...

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Valletta has much to offer the history buff. With over 320 monuments and numerous well-preserved 16th century buildings related to the founding of the Renaissance, you'd be hard pressed to see and learn about it all in just one day. Sadly, we had just one afternoon to explore. Per the usual...all I wanted to do was wander around and snap photos. So, that's precisely what we did!

In the 17th century, Valletta became the epicenter of the Maltese balcony architectural trend. The increasing influence of the Baroque movement had much to do with these ornate, and in many cases, colorful, verandas popping up on buildings all over the city. In addition to balconies being a prominent architectural feature, they also held important socioeconomic roles in determining certain classes of individuals. Today, those roles are much less a factor for their existence, but remain an important part of Maltese history nevertheless. Keeping with tradition, the balconies also provide a canvas for showcasing religious and parochial favor during feast days. There are dozens of types of them adorning city buildings across Valletta, but the most common (and the most interesting to photograph, in my opinion) are the closed wooden balconies. They're reminiscent of the Victorian bay windows famous to San Francisco, but with a hint more charm and in much greater number per square foot of city street. I was the epitome of a tourist that day...with my camera and head turned to the sky down every alley we wandered. Hard not to be transfixed on such a eclectic place like Valletta.

Valletta gave off such a cool vibe, even aside from its captivating architecture. I loved standing atop one of the city's many hilly streets and peering right out over the water. The shops, the restaurants, the streets...all bustling with locals and tourists alike. Even though the city was compact, it felt quite large, especially looking at the city from the bow of a cruise ship. City walls have a way of making any community feel commanding. Would I recommend a visit to Valletta? In a millisecond. This city (can Malta as a whole) was such a pleasant surprise to us.

I've got one last post to share from our time in Malta. For one 10 hour day, we sure did cover a lot of ground! Coming soon...the caves of the Blue Grotto!

Marsaxlokk, Malta

2015-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

After our sunrise sail into the gorgeous port of Valletta, we hopped off the ship and boarded a bus set for a few different sights around the island. First being the most colorful of them all...the sleepy fishing village of Marsaxlokk! I'm still not quite sure how to pronounce the name of this place (I'm the worst at remembering these details), but what I am sure of is its instant charm. As if the turquoise sea wasn't already colorful enough, the amount of boldly-painted fishing boats scattered about the harbor made this seascape just about as fun as they come.

Marsaxlokk means "Southeasterly Port" (which is much easier to say) and has been in almost constant operation for thousands of years. Primarily used as a fishing hub, this well-loved village just a short drive from Malta's Mdina is home to hundreds of fishing boats (known as luzzus to the Maltese) and some seriously scrumptious Mediterranean-caught seafood. The morning of our visit, we wandered around the harbor, gawking at the colorful vessels and enjoying the fragrant smells of fish dishes wafting from dozens of waterfront restaurants lining around its parameter. In case you were curious as to why the blue, yellow and red color-scheme is found on almost all the luzzus...well, that's a tradition handed down from fisherman to fisherman over many, many years. In addition, if you look closely at the luzzus, you can see other features that set them apart from less colorful boats in the harbor. The high, pointed tips found at each boat-end are just one characteristic. Another? Well, the Maltese can be very superstitious, so many luzzu carry the traditional eye symbol faceted to the outside of the boat to ward away the evil's of the sea. Who could blame them, what with having to battle choppy waters and thwarting sea creatures day in and day out.

We were lucky enough to witness a few luzzus getting fresh coats of paint from their owners as we wandered the seaside promenade. Each fisherman seemed to take great pride in his vessel, even if it was hard to decipher one luzzu from another. I also began to fall in love with the village itself. There was no shortage of al fresco dining and rustic doors in this Maltesian wonder. Our good fortune continued as we were introduced to local Maltese artisans selling their wares at a large outdoor market. I picked up a few lace souvenirs as well as some colorful jewelry from a man making his own pieces right along the water. Tourism was very much alive and well in Marsaxlokk!

Snacking on some fresh shrimp balls we found from a local fisherman's seafood shop, we continued our exploration deeper into the village. Just behind the market stood a beautiful stone cathedral and beyond that, quiet color splashed alleyways (my favorite!). Rustic seaside charm oozed its way from the sun-soaked streets straight into my heart. Yet another one of those too-cute-too-be-true places that make you truly appreciate the opportunity of travel.

If Malta makes it to your bucket list (and it should), add a stop in tradition-filled Marsaxlokk to your itinerary. You must see the luzzus for yourself!

Stay tuned for more seascapes around Malta!

Sailing into Valletta, Malta

2015-11-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

A lot of people turn their noses up to cruising for various reasons. Too confining, short time in each destination, too much food (insert eye rolls, there's no such thing!)...so on and so forth. But there are experiences unique to cruising (or being on a boat, even) that most rarely consider. Even I was oblivious to these perks before our first sailing in 2013. Coming into each port (and in many cases leaving it, as well), can provide some of the most incredible views of your entire visit to a country. Case and point, our sail out of Venice at the beginning of our Adriatic cruise, our foggy float through the fjords of Montenegro, and our sunrise sail into Valletta, Malta pictured here today.

Surprise, surprise...another walled city! Seemed to be the theme of our Adriatic sailing...as were gorgeous vistas. We arrived to the port of Valletta just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon, making for some beautiful sun-washed clouds and golden streaks across the city's walls. As with every sail into port, D and perched ourselves on our balcony with over-hard eggs and toast and watched as Malta began to wake up before us. These moments are what I truly cherish about the cruising way of travel. Had we not been on a ship with a 7am wake up call...we would have never witnessed this side of Malta. Seeing the country from the water...commanding walls surrounded as far as the eye can see by shimmering sea...just adds wonder to an already exciting day visiting a new country.

Corfu, Greece: Paleokastritsa Beach

2015-10-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

This was my first experience ever laying on a beach in Greece. Well, sort of. We waded into the water on a resort beach in Mykonos a few cruises prior, but this was our first true beach day on a Greek Island. After finding the best bird's-eye views of Paleokastritsa Beach from above, we finally made it full circle and spread out our beach towels on the shell-laden sand. It was a hot day. Hotter than I expected Corfu to be in mid-May, but much welcomed compared to the chilly days we had still been having back in Germany during that time of year. The beach was small, just a cove maybe a fraction of the size of a long stretch of North Carolina beach line. But that water! The prettiest turquoise blue I had seen in a long while. That in itself was worth the whole cruise! This little beach cove was perfectly Greek...the fishing boats, the tanning locals, and beautiful scenery all around. Even a quiet seaside restaurant serving fresh seafood, gyros (my favorite!) and generous slices of homemade baklava. We spent a good bit of our afternoon in and out of the water and in and out of the restaurant noshing on local wine and spanakopita. It was one of those experiences you feel lucky to be a part of the whole time you're experiencing it. Do you know that I mean? I kept looking over the water thinking, "I'm not sure what I did to deserve to be here right now, but thank goodness I am!" Greece is definitely a favorite of mine, forever and always.

If you find yourself with a few hours (or days) to kill in Corfu, make some time for a lazy beach day. Paleokastritsa might not be the most hopping beach town full of bars and water sports, but it's just sweet enough to make a weary traveler thankful to be traveling.

The Path to Paleokastritsa

2015-10-14T10:41:00.001-04:00

White-washed walls, blooming bougainvillea, sea breeze wafting through the streets...these were the Greek Island gems that greeted us our first moments in Corfu. We departed the ship early, really early in fact, and headed straight for the car rental office to pick up our teeny-tiny Aveo for a day of island exploring. Having been to Mykonos and Santorini on previous cruises, I was familiar with Greece and its incredibly beautiful towns. But this day was devoted to finding prime beach real estate. It wasn't a surprise that we were rewarded with gorgeous scenery all along the way.

We had our sights aimed on Paleokastritsa, a sweet seaside village on the Northwest coast of Corfu. Its most notable attributes? Steep slopes of olive groves and citrus orchards, ocean caves, and turquoise coves lined with seafood restaurants and resort life. It's no wonder Paleokastritsa has long been considered one of the most beautiful areas of Corfu, and we were dying to see every square inch of it! But before we could dip our toes in the Ionian Sea, we had to make our way through some perfectly Greecian hillside villages. With just an arrow pointing to the "Path to Paleokastritsa," we began our journey.

I honestly have no clue the name of this small village (still kicking myself about that one, although it could be Makrades, maybe??), but it was just about as quaint and rustic as Greek villages come. There was a woman sweeping her front doorstep who started up a conversation with us as we made our way along the stone streets. Her words were all in Greek and we understood next to nothing, but she was full of smiles and seemed happy to have new faces exploring her quiet town. She pointed us towards the town's museum, a building with one room covered in old photos of every event the village had ever held. The pride in her eyes as she pointed to this photo and that photo, explaining each as quickly as she could. Even though the language barrier had us struggling to express our own thoughts, it wasn't hard to understand how important this village is to her and her family. The slow days, the simplistic living...it made me ache for a small village life of my own.

We spent a good hour just wandering around, snapping photos and chatting with our new friend. As our tummies began to rumble, we quickly decided that instead of walking the whole way down to the beach, we should hop in the car and park closer to the ocean. Ease of travel was wisdom we gleaned from our time in this serene island village. In our final moments here, we experienced another awe-inspiring vista of Paleokastritsa and its beaches, making our count a whopping 4 stunning vistas viewed in just a week's time (with 7 more days to go!). Collecting those "pinch me" moments...there's nothing quite like it!

October is National Plan a Cruise Month!

2015-10-05T15:47:00.000-04:00

Not only is October the greatest month of the year (ahem, my birthday may have something to do that fact) but it's also the start of National Plan a Cruise Month!! Yes, it's a real thing, don't look at me like that. ;)

For the month of October, the cruise industry has come together to help everyone fall in love with cruising by featuring unprecedented cruise vacation offers – from chances to win dream cruise vacations each day of the month (#CruiseSmile) to receiving the best cruise deals and promotions available on the high seas. National Plan a Cruise Month aims to put cruise vacations in the spotlight and hopes to help travelers discover all the incredible experiences that a cruise vacation offers while putting to bed any common hesitations to the cruising way of travel. From now until October 31st, several cruise lines are offering special deals for travelers who book a cruise, including promotions offering as much as $1,500 in savings in addition to free upgrades and bonus packages once on board! If you've been thinking about booking a cruise for the end of this year or anytime in 2016...now's the time to pull the trigger, guys! With just a deposit, you can reserve your next cruise vacation at incredible pricing AND with bonus perks! I'll be sending out my October eNewsletter this week and it's chock full of these insane cruise deals. Sign up here, if you haven't already!

In addition to the deals featured by all the major cruise lines, for THIS MONTH ONLY I'll also be sweetening the pot with FREE ONBOARD CREDIT, exclusively for my clients! Refer a friend and they also book a cruise, then YOU get an additional special gift from me! You can use this onboard credit for lots of things while sailing...purchase your celebratory "set sail" drinks, sign up for an at sea wine tasting, reserve a romantic dinner for 2 at a specialty restaurant, finally get that pedicure you've been ~~needing~~ wanting (ahem)...so many options, all on me!!

Why choose to book your cruise with me? Because I'm super fun, really cool, and giving you free money, obviously. But if that's not enough to sail you my way...not only will you be working with a seasoned cruiser (I won't tell you I'm going on 2 cruises this month, nope, I won't) and certified travel professional, but you'll be supporting a small business in the process! D and I are so grateful for the opportunities RLT Vacations has brought to our family and it's because of awesome travel-lovers (like you) who've trusted me to share my love of cruising and tailor it to their own cruise vacation needs. I would love the opportunity to work with you and get you sailing on your dream cruise in 2016! Remember, my services are 100% FREE! And I've made it super simple to get in contact with me. Just click right on the words below, fill out the form, and BOOM. You'll have a cruise no obligation quote from me within 24 hours! I'm not in the business of making people wait for fun. ;) Hope to chat with many of you soon!

Win a Day Bike Tour of Paris For Two!

2015-10-02T09:42:00.000-04:00

"Paris is always a good idea" - Audrey Hepburn

There was a time when I thought that statement might not hold any truth. Before ever visiting Paris, I always assumed it was just one giant tourist trap. I had little desire to go there, but went just to get that coveted check mark on my bucket list. After our trip there in 2012, I all but ache to go back. I pegged this famous French city so, so wrong for too many years! There's truly something magical about Paris. Not sure if it's the tasty food, the architecture, the romance culture, or all the iconic landmarks, but there seems to be a common theme found among travelers...Paris totally captures your heart. You want to hate it, but all its wonderfulness bleeds right in and takes hold of you, whether you expected it to or not. I often look back on our time there and think fondly of picnic dinners on the Champ de Mars, the macarons at Lauduree, the way I felt the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle against the moonlight...all things that just scratch the surface of why our time there was so lovely. You may come into a Paris visit with reservations, but you'll come out of it with more than just an appreciation for art and French champagne. You leave with an insatiable urge to go right back and do it all over again. Guess Audrey is on to something after all? ;)

Speaking of Paris and making memories...do you live in Paris? Have a trip planned to the 'City of Lights' soon? Love riding bikes and eating baguettes? If so, this is one giveaway you'll surely want to enter. One lucky blog reader will win a day bike tour for two courtesy of the lovely people at Fat Tire Tours-Paris (airfare and accommodations in Paris NOT INCLUDED--giveaway for day bike tour only). All you have to do is follow the prompts via the Rafflecopter widget below and boom...you're entered! Good luck, travelers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Winner will be selected on October 10th and notified on October 11th. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway open to those 18 and older. Winner receives a voucher for day bike tour for 2 in Paris from Fat Tire Tours. Airfare/accommodations to Paris NOT INCLUDED.**

Old Town Kotor, Montenegro

2015-09-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

After our morning spent on top of Mount Lovcen in the village of Njegusi, we decided it was time to explore a bit of Kotor Bay up close...more notably, Old Town Kotor. I often remember our Adriatic cruise as the cruise full of beautiful walled cities. We spent time in Split, Croatia as well as Dubrovnik (very famous for its ramparts)...later on in our sailing we visited Malta's walled capital Mdina. Much to our surprise as we were arriving to Montenegro, Kotor was also a walled city! There's just something about a city surrounded by stone walls...the history, the weathered architecture, the whimsical Old World characteristics you often find hidden around every narrow alleyway. You almost never leave a city like this feeling anything but enchanted.

Old Town Kotor revealed wonders similar to those we found in Dubrovnik; white-washed stone streets surrounded by mountains and sea, fresh clothes swaying in the wind, a smattering of gelato shops and al fresco restaurants (hello, fresh seafood!)...everything that makes a walled city a traveler's dream. Likely why it's alluring new visitors by the thousands each year.

What did we do with our time in Old Town? Well, I imagine the same as most...we walked part of the wall (you can go all the way up to Our Lady of Health church and take in more awesome views, but since we already saw a bird's-eye view at lunch, we only walked a fraction of the walls), ate fresh salmon steaks and sipped Montenegrin wine on the square, and wandered a few of the open-air markets scattered about the city center. All in an afternoon's work exploring on the Adriatic. ;)

It was safe to say we were pleasantly surprised with our day in Montenegro. Lots of sunshine, beautiful scenery, and even though we only experienced 9 hours in the area, we felt like we got a good feel for what life is like here. Living history is this best kind of history, wouldn't you agree? Add this one to your bucket list, friends.

...Scenes from our day in Corfu, Greece to come!...

STAY | Gaylord Palms Resort Orlando

2015-09-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last August, D and I were just beginning to get settled into our new lives in the Sunshine State. We'd been in Florida for almost 2 months and were finally living in the home we'd bought prior to leaving Germany. Unfortunately, those blissful two months of new home ownership were clouded by the fact that we were still missing all of our belongings. Not a pot or pan to our name. As the military goes, they're not the promptest with shipping household goods across the ocean, so we were sleeping on rental mattresses (weird, I know) and doing a lot of microwave cooking. After our mattress rentals were up, we still had 1 month of air mattress sleeping before we were slated to be reunited with our own comfy bed. We were ok with that for a couple weeks...but one Tuesday morning we woke up both aching and sore from the uncomfortable sleep conditions. At that point, I'd had it. A few tears were shed (all mine, of course) and D suggested we do what we do best when faced with less than desirable life situations...go on vacation!

It was a stay-cation, to be honest. Orlando (and a few uninterrupted days at Disney) was the only place that seemed to shed any light on our discouraged, mattress-less attitudes. We'd just got our Disney annual passes and hadn't really gotten to use them to their full potential, so I powered up the laptop and searched for a nice place to recoup our exhausted bodies. Last minute Disney Resort hotels were slightly over the budget we wanted to pay just to sleep well, so I looked into our Marriott points account and realized we'd racked up quite a slurry of them during our time overseas. A few clicks later, we booked a weekend stay at a resort I'd only ever heard amazing things about...the Gaylord Palms Orlando.

Upon arriving, we knew we were in for a treat...this place was massive! The resort doubles as a conference center, but even so, the property still wow'd us with acreage (63 of them--you can see it from the interstate) and its beautiful tropical landscaping. After our super smooth check-in process (and being upgraded to an atrium view room, eek!) we decided to check out our room and take a wander around the resort. I think the most notable architectural feature of the Gaylord Palms is the hotel's massive 4.5 acre glass-enclosed atrium. Inside the atrium, guests can discover a variety of themed environments based on popular Florida destinations like Key West, the Everglades, and St. Augustine. It's really a sight to behold! So much lush greenery, it feels like you're entering into a secret oasis the moment you walk through the door.

Our over-sized Emerald Bay Atrium View guest room mirrored the ambiance of a private residence with French door terraces (our room had two!), luxurious decor, and plush linens. Each of our terraces overlooked the expansive atrium which filled with ethereal light from the sun each morning. The room decor, well, it was right within my style profile. Clean, modern, and with an air of fun sophistication--not something all resort accommodations can boast! I was slightly obsessed with the carpet...it was insanely comfortable for hotel flooring. Almost comfy enough to sleep on! We also loved the thoughtful little details (like the granite vanities, the deluxe bathroom toiletries, and video check-out). The Gaylord Palms really showcased its dedication to world-class amenities and service throughout every moment of our stay.

All rooms at the Gaylord Palms Resort Orlando include:

Wireless high speed internet access
Mini-refrigerators with daily replenishment of 2 bottles of water
Safes with laptop charging ability
Ceiling fans and in-room coffee maker
Complimentary transportation to and from Walt Disney World parks and Disney Springs each day

I couldn't think of a more peaceful way to start the day than enjoying my coffee (fresh from the on-site coffee shop downstairs) on our private balcony each morning. You could hear the trickle of the natural area waterfalls in the distance, adding serenity to an already luxurious Florida escape. Every day we spent at the Gaylord Palms had me wishing we had just one more to savor. Plus, the property had so many unique areas to explore, you need more than a short weekend to experience everything this resort has to offer.

One of my most favorite resort features was the adults-only South Beach pool. D and I spent a half-day ordering poolside cocktails and reveling in the Miami-inspired pool deck lined with palm trees. We felt just like we'd been transported to the white sands of South Beach! And if you've got kiddos in tow, I'm positive they'll find Cyprus Springs Family Water Park as a splash-worthy way to end a long day of Disney adventuring.

With just a 5-minute drive to Walt Disney World and showcasing a plethora of resort amenities like restaurants, lounges, unique shops, a full-service spa, on-site child-care center and entertainment venues, it's easy to see why the Gaylord Palms Resort Orlando is a prime destination for Disney and Orlando lovers alike. Two BIG thumbs up from Team Cote! We can't wait for our next stay!

Want to experience the luxury of Gaylord Palms Orlando for yourself? Email me at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com and we can get you booked today!

Montenegro: The Village of Njeguši

2015-09-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

Our final stop at the top of Mt. Lovcen, was the small village of Njeguši. When our bus pulled up, I was a little less than enthused. It didn't look like much--just a few weathered stone buildings, some barns, and a handful of local vendors with their wares for sale on make-shift stands. But as we started wandering around and learning the history of the village, I began to see Njeguši with a new set of eyes. With the mountains hovering all around and fields of wild grass covering every square inch of land, the character of the this small mountaintop village began to shine through.

Njeguši, while quaint, is quite famous for its well-preserved traditional folk architecture. It's also popularly known for its smoked ham (prosciutto) and local cheese (called Njeguški sir and Njeguški pršut--say that five times fast). And fun fact...according to a 2003 census, this village only had 15 inhabitants. A bit outdated, but if I had to guess, there might be 40 people here now. 60 if you include the wild roosters and feral cats.

Nowadays, the village is a popular place for tour groups to stop. This gives Njeguši some much needed income as it's a tough commute down to Kotor Bay for many of the village locals. Those who don't work outside the village sell their handicrafts and smoked meats to happy tourists. It seems to be a win/win situation for all. I know I sure appreciated the salty bite and sip of wine after that hair-raising bus ride up the mountainside! After our snack we continued on wandering the village roads, inspecting abandoned buildings and taking in the greenery. It was such a nice reprieve from the busyness of our cruise ship. Like exploring someplace hardly changed by the passage of time. If folklore and smoked ham are high on your "love" list, maybe a stop in Njeguši could be in order for you. Do vijenja!

High Above Kotor, Montenegro

2015-09-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Annnd I'm back to the Adriatic Cruise recaps! When I last left you, I wrote about our foggy sail into Kotor Bay through the beautiful Montenegrin fjords. If that wasn't already stunning enough, we still had a full day of touring Old Town Kotor and a quick jaunt up Mt. Lovćen to get a bird's eye view of Kotor Bay. I say a quick jaunt, but really it was an all morning adventure driving 17 kilometers of mountain-hugging roads with 25 hairpin switchbacks, each one revealing a vista more gorgeous than the next. If you are prone to any ounce of car sickness, this is a dare-devil drive you'd absolutely want to skip. But the reward at the top? Almost worth a whole month's worth of stomach aches.

THOSE. COLORS. Like a picture-perfect painting of a destination most people hardly blink an eye at. Montenegro is an up and comer in tourism, so take note, travelers! This seemingly untouched city won't be crowd-less for long! At the top of the mountain pass, the views stretched right over Kotor Bay and far out into the sparkling blue Adriatic beyond. Nothing but lush, green mountains, tiny villages, and ocean from every vantage point (and maybe a fancy cruise ship--so thankful we were the only ship in the bay that day!). We stopped for photos (of course), then made our way to our final mountain top destination of Njeguši, a village nestled snugly within Lovćen National Park. More from Montenegro to come!

Village Life: Kaysersberg, France

2015-09-10T12:03:00.004-04:00

Could you not just eat this place up? Alsatian villages are the absolute cutest. As if Colmar didn't provide enough swooning for the day, we decide to make a pit stop at another vineyard-engulfed village before heading back to Riquewihr for the night. Kaysersberg, a village just 11 km north of Colmar, was equally as charming but on a smaller scale. There were maybe 15 streets total...but an abundance of overflowing flower boxes, colorful facades, and tiny shops filled with wine, cheese, and more French sweetness than one could ever handle. If you Google Earth this town, you'll see vineyards wrap around every square inch of it (same with all the little villages dotted throughout Alsace). A wine-lover's dream if there ever was one. There wasn't much to do here but wine and wander-it-up...but my camera sure was happy, and so was my heart. Joie de vivre at its finest. These tiny towns hidden among the grapes are what my traveling soul yearns for. Simple and quaint, yet unique as a snowflake...no two hold the same quirks as the next.

As the French say, "Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimes beaucoup!"

Kasyersberg (and Alsace) in a nutshell. ♥

Coffee Talk v.13

2015-09-02T16:21:00.001-04:00

Things I'm loving lately: this salsa, the 21 Day Fix Pilates Fix workout, the Try Guys (the labor simulation and extreme swimsuits are too much), this book, this dress (and it's on SALE!), this song, Taylor Swift's music video for Wildest Dreams (giraffes!), this nail color, this beach towel, this print and color palate, and this 3-ingredient cookie recipe (cheat day necessity...also, sneak a few chocolate chips inside the middle...NOMS).

Being a travel agent is just the cat's pajamas. I just won a 3-day cruise on the Oasis of the Seas from my agency. A FREE CRUISE, GUYS. Just for booking fabulous vacations for other people. I never thought in a million years I'd find a job that I love AND that it would be one that rewards me for hard work with travel.

D and I are running Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5k at Animal Kingdom this November and I've been seriously slacking on the run training. 3.1 miles isn't a suuuper long way...but in the Florida heat/humidity, it's rough. Have I been training in the heat? Nope. This should be fun.

I had the best meal of my life at GEMMA at the Bowery Hotel in NYC a couple weeks ago. Still swooning over the food, the wine, and the rustic, yet modern Italian ambiance. If there was ever such thing as a restaurant spirit animal, this place would be mine. I'll do a complete review at some point, but just in case any of you are heading to the Big Apple soon...EAT HERE and thank me later.

We're in the throws of hurricane season here in Florida. Erika allllmost made her way here to induct D and I into the Florida hurricane hall-of-fame. Thankfully, she died out over the Dominican Republic this past weekend, but I was having myself a ~~major~~ little meltdown over flooding and wind damage and power outages (oh my!). The season's still young, but we're much more prepared now that Erika put the fear o' God in us. Thanks, Erika?

These photos...ALL of the feels. Tuck turns 9 this fall and some days I can't help but be heartbroken by the little white hairs slowly appearing on his face. He's as spunky as a two year old, but time marches on.

I had a hot dinner double date with this chica and her hubby last night! The stars aligned and our meet cute finally took place. It was glorious, as expected (Annie is total gem!). Our expat statuses brought us together via the blog world years ago, now margaritas, girl talk, and Downtown Disney sealed our friendship for life. What a Tuesday. Ain't blog world, grand?

Do NOT watch he movie Aloha unless you want to be totally confused for an entire hour and 45 minutes. I love Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Emma Stone, and Bradly Cooper, but I feel like they all bit off more weird than they could chew with this one. Anyone else see it? Thoughts?

I watched the VMAs. Correction...I cringed through the VMAs. I knew better. I knew if I watched I'd hate every darn second because Miley Cyrus was hosting...and because I'm old and have no clue who half these artists are. But it was worse than bad. The production value, the music, the people...even Taylor Swift couldn't save it. Tori Kelly had the best performance (she killed it), but I was already checked out at that point. Thank goodness I turned the channel before Kanye got up there. President??? I hope the good Lord comes before I ever have to see what a country he'd govern would look like. MTV has really gone downhill these last few years. Or am I turning into a prude? Either way...the VMAs are dead to me.

Instagram's new landscape update. Can I get an AMEN and HALLELUJAH? 'Bout time! Now if we could just get clickable links added, we'd have the app to end all apps. If you've been living under a rock and have idea what I'm talking about...catch up here.

October is National Cruise Month, guys! You know how much I LOVE cruising, so next month I'll be posting quite a few things about cruise travel. Everything from tips & tricks to making the most out of your cruise vacation and dispelling all those cruise misconceptions, all the way to fun cruise recaps (because I've still got lots of those!) and cruise deals from all the major cruise lines so you can get sailing, too! There might even been a chance to win a free booking credit coming to those cruise-lovers who book a sailing with me during October...so stay tuned for more details (sign up for my monthly eNewsletter to be first in the know for travel deals & promos!).

Tell me something good...what's new in your world lately?

Alsace Dreaming: Colmar, France

2015-08-28T09:33:00.000-04:00

Skipping around again...but I felt like taking a trip back to France (Alsace, to be precise) and sharing another part of our incredible 6th Anniversary weekend away to French wine country. If you remember from my post a little over a year ago (if you actually remember, 500 bonus points to you), D and I spent 3 days sweating our butts off during a European heatwave while simultaneously being totally enchanted by the villages of Riquewihr, Colmar, and Kaysersberg in the Alsace region. Today's photo montage is courtesy of Colmar...another insanely adorable town filled to the brim with fine wine, ultra stinky cheese, and oodles of French charm.

Our day started with breakfast at our sweet B&B in Riquewihr. Fitz the cat was my furry breakfast date along with 5 pains au chocolat and a frothy cafe au lait (D was there too, of course). After reveling our petit déjeuner, we hopped in the car and made the 20 minute journey through the vineyards to Colmar's city center. We really had no plan for the day...except for wandering the city, sipping Pinot Blanc, and making googly eyes at the colorful half-timbered homes lining the cobblestone streets. So many beautiful alleyways, so little time!

Colmar reminded me a lot of the little villages scattered about Germany...and rightly so, as Germany is just a hop, skip, & jump away from Alsace and influences the area greatly. Some people spoke French to us, others spoke German...so it was an interesting, yet familiar dynamic. We spent some time wandering through farmer's markets and watching tiny boats float down the canals in Petite Venice. It was all very sweet and French, just as you'd imagine it to be. The wine was equally lovely, although less sweet than the German Rieslings I'd been used to (which I enjoyed). The only thing we didn't love? The heat. Far from Colmar's fault, but we didn't stay in the city as long as we would have without the scorching temps. C'est la vie, as they say!

I really have no recommendations for particular shops or restaurants you should try here. I know, worst travel blogger ever. But we honestly popped in and out of random places just to get shade and, if we were lucky, a bit of A/C. I remember eating a tasty salad Niçoise and D had a super cheesy tarte flambée, but where exactly we dined, I have no recollection. What I do remember is that Colmar is picture perfect and we would love to go back and experience it again...minus all the sweat and humidity, of course. If you ever find yourself with a weekend to spare in France, make sure Colmar and the Alsatian wine country is a stop on your list.

Just Passing Through...and a Starbucks Giveaway!

2015-08-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

Hello! I'm Casey...the writer behind this blog, who hasn't typed a single sentence here in almost a month. I'm definitely not apologizing for being absent because apparently, according to some invisible blog world rule book, it's frowned upon to do that (sorry, not sorry then?). However, I will tell you I've been off doing life and enjoying the crap out of it. That's usually how it goes, when you're busy and filled to the brim with good stuff around you...blogging leaps to the back burner. Things settle down and then you remember, "OH! I have this place I used to like to write in...maybe I should get back to that." Me, in a nutshell.

Long story short, here's my month (and a few days) in review:

-Spent 4th of July back in NC with family (seriously lovely).

-Stayed in NC for the following 3 weeks while D had another AF training in Ohio. Why? Because why the heck not? Lots of mommy and me time logged.

-Came back to FL for 4, maybe 5 days, celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss with my handsome stud muffin of a husband, and then jaunted off to NYC to spend a 8 days with my little sis. Felt incredible to do that whole unpack/repack thing. It had been a while!

-Walked basically 800 miles around Manhattan, Jersey, & Baltimore during my trip (ate a lot and didn't gain a single ounce, thank you!). I should have told you guys that I'm on Snapchat prior to this trip because my Snap game was on point that week. Been on this thing for almost a year and only ever snapped my family--lame, I know. You can find me at Caseadilla1016.

And now I'm back home and sad panda about it all being over.

I'll elaborate more on all the fun I got into later, but today (and this rest of this sure to be hellacious week) is devoted to slowly reducing the length of my never-ending to do list. I basically ignored the non-urgent stuff during my NYC trip, so now I'm heavy eye-rolling at crap I should've done. Story of my life. Anywho, I'm drinking all the coffee, embracing the carpal tunnel, and pretending I don't have piles of dirty laundry burning a hole in my floor today as I'm slapped back to the reality of a post-vacation Monday. Worst kind of Monday, innit?

To help YOU make it thought whatever kind of week you're bracing yourself for, here's a chance to win $45 worth of Green Tea Lattes or Birthday Cake Pops at Starbee's (my new annoying name for Starbucks, thanks Wendy!). Enter the Rafflecopter below and I'll have my fingers crossed for ya! Oh, and big thanks to Rebecca of Caravan Sonnet for hosting and the fab gals below for co-hosting!

As for you guys, we'll talk later this week, ok? Adding you to my list. ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Foggy Sail Through the Fjords of Montenegro

2015-07-20T09:47:00.000-04:00

Back to the Adriatic Cruise recaps! I swear one day I'll be done writing about this trip. The little gaggle of photos I'm sharing today are from our early morning sail into the port in Kotor, Montenegro. Up to this point, we'd sailed out of Venice, visited Slovenia, and stopped to explore two ports in Croatia (Split & Dubrovnik). We'd seen some pretty incredible views from all sorts of locations...the top deck of our cruise ship, from lakeside trails and tender boats, from city walls and sea cliffs...how much more fabulous could the views get?! Enter the fjords of Kotor Bay. All of the heart eyes!

All week long we'd heard that we should not miss the sail into Kotor Bay, that it's one of the highlights of the whole cruise. Of course we were chomping at the bit to get to Montengero to see what all the fuss was about. Wrapped snugly in our bathrobes, we excitedly flung back the curtains to our balcony stateroom at the butt-crack of dawn and watched as magic unfolded before us. Mountains, sunshine, and a thick blanket of fog hovering just above the water greeted us as we floated through the narrow fjords. It was truly enchanting. We ordered room service that morning because I just couldn't peel myself away from our balcony and those ethereal views. As we continued sailing, the sun began to burn off the fog, uncovering the sea and low-lying villages along the water's edge.

Around every bend, more fog and more tiny villages popping up like roses. It's like the whole fjord was asleep under a fluffy white blanket until we sailed passed, parting the fog. A total dream! As we got closer to the port, the mountains got higher and the villages bigger. The sea was like a sheet of blue glass underneath us. I'd never seen anything quite like it. Needless to say, the welcome to Kotor was warm and enchanting, so we knew we were in for a treat during our first visit to Montenegro. More loveliness to come!