It would be difficult to visit Ireland and not see boxes of Butler's chocolates. There are cafes scattered around the country and boxes of their chocolates can be found in train stations, airports, and gift shops. Our first exposure to Butler's, though, was in New Zealand way back in 2006. A new cafe opened in our local mall that specialized in chocolates and hot drinks. The flavours were intriguing and they had the best mocha. Getting a box of Butler's became a special treat for us and we said ... Read More
travel
Where to Get American Food in Edinburgh
I LOVED our time in Edinburgh and was sad to leave. We had moved there intending to stay but it turned into a less than two year home. Reasons happen and we're pretty good at rolling with the punches but it still hits me that we're not currently on vacation and heading home to Scotland soon. The funny thing with me and expat life is that for the most part, I'm perfectly fine with having left the States. I miss my friends because we all know that I'm much better at staying in touch when I see ... Read More
Six Reasons to Take a Road Trip Instead of Flying
There are several reasons to take a road trip instead of flying, but for me it mostly comes down to three things: budget, timeline, and preference (I'm of course talking about those trips where driving is a possibility in the first place!). If you’re on a tight budget, a road trip is going to win almost every single time. However, if you’re on a strict timeline and not as strict of a budget, flying is probably a better option! There are some flights that are cheaper than driving solo (say, ... Read More
How to Plan a Family Road Trip on a Budget
When we knew we were leaving the States, I knew that I wanted to take the girls (and Scott!) to Asheville, North Carolina, which is where my grandparents lived. I spent so much time there growing up and the area is so special to me. I had avoided it for a long time because I felt like it would hurt too much to go back but I was suddenly desperate to share such an important part of my childhood with my family, especially with not knowing when the next opportunity would be. We lived outside of ... Read More
Flex Pass: An Overview of the New Disneyland Passport
Star Wars Galaxy's Edge is coming in hot. Disney has been playing with their ticket pricing system; even requiring reservations to get into Galaxy's Edge after it opens. However, that was just the beginning. Disney recently announced a majorly restructured annual pass. It's designed to restrict and curtail the crowd levels in the parks while managing to enforce less blockout dates. The Flex Pass may just be the annual pass of the future, but it will mean more planning from Southern California ... Read More
Best American Road Trip for Families: Route 66
Best American Road Trips for Families Like many Americans, I grew up with road trips as my main source of travel. I learned at a young age how to watch the scenery go by as we drove for twelve hours straight. We haven't gone on nearly as many road trips as I would like in recent years--it's just seemed easier in all ways to fly. I think the idea of the great American road trip is coming back, though, as we try to slow down and explore places more in depth. One of the best American road trips ... Read More