5 travel must haves

Passport Wallet//

This is soooo convenient!! I purchased mine from Marine Parents on Instagram, it's custom made and super cute! When we travel, I'm the one who takes care of the booking and reservations.  So when we travel I handle the passports and paper work.  Before I got this wallet, I would just get a folder and put the paper work and passports in there.  Since I used a folder I would need to bring a backpack or a large purse.  When I travel on a plane I try to bring the least stuff I can on the actual plane.  After I got this, I could put my passports, paper work, and boarding passes all in one small wallet.  The back of the wallet has a place for all my paper work and inside the wallet can fit up to 6 passports.  This easily fits into my purse, so I don't have to carry a backpack.  Makes my life a whole lot easier!  Having all my important docs and passports in one place makes checking in a breeze!

Power Bank//

This is a lifesaver!  I brought the smaller one we own, its an Anker, has 1 usb slot and is good for about 3 charges.  I bought my from Amazon, one of the smartest buys ever! When we travel, we travel with 2 ipads and 2 iphones.  Depending on how long the flight lasts, layovers, hours driving, this baby comes in handy and has saved me from meltdowns. haha  When traveling, outlets aren't always readily available.  Weather its to recharge my kids' ipads to keep them calm on the plane or to give my phone a lil more juice for an emergency call....a power bank is a must have.  They are great just to carry for every day use.  Now they are small and slim and can fit into most purses.  Just know that it has to be in your carry on luggage and cannot be packed in your check bag. :)

Camera//

Duh!  When traveling you want to take pics of all your memories and sightseeing!  I use my Panasonic Lumix GF3, its user friendly, takes great pics and is light weight.  I alsobring 

my phone also, but I like to take better quality pics with my camera.  I use my phone pics for the quick uploads to FB and IG.

Hat//

Hats are so in style right now.  I'm wearing a fedora, got it from a local store.  Adding a fedora to any outfit definitely styles it up!  When traveling, especially to sunny places, it serves two purposes....looking stylish and keeping the sun out of your eyes.  I love wearing a hat when getting on a plane, I don't have to worry about my hair getting all messed up , I don't spend any time on it when getting ready and I get static while on the plane and the hat helps me cover my mop up.  Then I have a hat for pool/beach time.  Such a light and helpful accessory!

Cross body bag//

Out of all the types of bags I own, this is the most convenient for me when I travel.  This one is from Forever 21.  I find that it stays out of my way for the most part and since I carry a medium size one I'm able to bring a decent amount of stuff.  I used to carry a big travel bag {ie LV neverfull} but then after I arrive at my destination, I'm stuck with a big bag that gets in my way and barely has anything in it.  I would then pack other purses to use while on vacation, but that meant more stuff in my luggage.  Now a days I try to pack as light as possible, and I pack things that are multipurpose.  So I use a cross body when I travel.  It stays out of the way, is stylish, and convenient!

Since we just got back from vacay, I thought I'd share my 5 must haves while traveling.  All 5 have been a HUGE help

Read Across America

In most schools across America, March is read across America month.  Celebrating reading and the almighty Dr. Seuss. Just because we live overseas doesn't mean we can't participate. haha We'll Amelia goes to a DODEA school so lots of stuff is just like being in the states. Unfortunately Amelia wont get to participate with most the activities since we'll be on vacay for half the month.  But, we're gunna make the most out of the time we are here.

M is already on leave so we decided to volunteer at Amelia's class to decorate their door for the Read Across America door contest.  So happy that he came with me because we were the only parents that volunteered.  Plus Amelia was so excited to see us in her class and her teacher was super grateful!  We were more then happy to help!

 M and I were able to tackle most of the door ourselves.  We picked Dr. Seuss' Oh, the places you'll go as our theme.  I LOVE this book.  Its' been a favorite of mine ever since I was a lil girl.  I was more then happy with this theme.  It was a fun task to do together for our lil sweet pea and her class.  Her teacher was so stoked, she just wants to personalize it with a lil something for the kids.  I can't wait to see the finished product!  Fun times

Got my badge!  The bathrooms are so small and cute!

Couples that volunteer together, stay together!

LOVE it, turned out soo good!

Sunday's Best

This year, I really wanted to grow spiritually.  I've struggled with my faith for awhile now and every year it weighs more on my heart.  So that's why I've made it a point to focus on my religion this year.  M and I have struggled  with it too.  I grew up catholic, he bounced around a few churches and religions.  We couldn't really find a happy medium.  Well, I wasn't really willing to budge.  {I know such a B} I was scared, Catholicism was all I knew, for a long time I thought he would convert.  Change is very hard on me, especially when I was younger.  We got married in a Catholic church and baptized both of our kids in the Catholic church, because that's all I knew....it was a safe bet.  But here was always a part of me that felt like it wasn't the right fit for our family.  I know how the church can be and how intimidating it can be , M was always such a good sport and very supportive.   I knew I wanted something different for our family, to be comfortable in a church and to have religion in our household. 

For the first time in a long time, I agreed to go to a church that wasn't catholic.  This was a BIG {huge, gigantic,ginormous}  Truth be told, I was always so scared.  The catholic church is so intimidating, I thought that's how most churches were going to be like.  So I asked a friend {who grew up catholic too} about where she goes and she told me of this church that was so friendly and welcoming. 

The first Sunday of 2015 we went to Calvary Church.  It was like a breath of fresh air.  It was so different.  When we left, I felt like I understood what the pastor was talking about.  I understood the passage in the bible in a whole new way.  I was able to understand the passage and I could relate to it in my everyday life.  After the service we went out to eat and M and I were talking about the church.  We talked about how much we liked it there,   I was so happy to have found a place that fits our family. 

We've gone every Sunday since, and every time I'm more convinced that this church is great for us.  I'm definitely not knocking the catholic church, it was really great for me growing up.   I've learned a lot from it and its word.  It got me through a lot in my life.  It was great for my mom, dad, brother , sister and myself before I was married.  But once you get married and have a family sometimes what worked for you growing up with your family, doesn't always work the family you've made.  As of right now, its still very new for us.  Its still the same bible and the same teachings, just in a different way.    I feel so terrible about waiting so long to find a church for our family.  I guess, its better late then never.  I'm just so happy for myself and my family.  2015 you are so awesome so far!!!

Our Sunday routine now consist of church a lunch out.  Last Sunday we went to one of our favorite sushi spots!! Yuuuum