Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

travel tips

Keep Calm and Carry On (Your Luggage)!

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I am a reformed over-packer.

In fact, phrases like “emergency outfit”, “extra jeans just in case” and “after dinner shoes” were once in my vocabulary! However, a combination of checked baggage fees, managing two energetic little boys and – okay, it’s really all about the checked baggage fees – made me rethink my packing technique. Now, more often than not, we do carry on luggage only! Since we travel so often, after just one year I was able to purchase four airline tickets from Toronto to Orlando with the money I saved on checked baggage fees alone. Crazy, huh?
Today, I’m sharing a few of my fave tips for travelling with carry on luggage only!

1. Edit your wardrobe. Here are two things I want you to remind yourself of when packing for any vacation: 1) plan whole outfits, not items of clothing,  and 2) people RARELY (if ever) notice or care what you’re wearing. Seriously. …

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You Can (Totally) Leave Home Without It

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Until now, all of my “Travel Tips” and “What to Pack” posts have focused on what to take on vacation. You know, the must-haves for mom, families and children alike. However, it occurred to me this morning that often, we needlessly complicate the process. Packing cubes! Reminder notes! To-do lists! We know how to keep on top of the things we need to take, but what can we leave at home?
12783999_1566234280334864_1614171988_nToday, I’m pleased to share tips for things you can absolutely, positively, totally leave home without.

(Sounds like your kind of list? Me too!)

1. Your Life Story. Take a peek at your wallet. If you’re travelling with your Social Insurance Card, every credit card and store card you own, your membership cards, frequent customer cards and more, you’re travelling with too much damned access to your entire life story. Edit, friends! In the unfortunate event that your wallet is misplaced (or stolen), you don’t want to add identity theft to your list of troubles. …

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Vacationing with Kids? Piece of Cake.

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NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only. 

The original concept for this post was to share my very best tips for vacationing with kids. After all, I’ve got kids… and I’ve travelled with them…. so that makes me supremely qualified to dole out advice, right? Right?

The thing is, I wasn’t always down with family travel. I actually avoided it for years, rationalizing that any vacation where you’re forced to bring your kids along is NOT A VACATION at all. If my suitcase was headed down south, the last thing I wanted to pack next to my swimsuit was swim diapers.

However, that’s in the past. Because somewhere along the way, I realized that vacationing with kids is not scary at all! In fact, with a little preparation and a lot of patience, it’s actually one of the most rewarding things in life. And after I sucked it up and took that first family vacay, we’re somewhat stealth travellers. Case in point: since 2012, my kids have been on an airplane 18 times. Crazy!
20140819_115521 (2)So maybe I haven’t quite reached “expert” status, but I’m certainly confident enough to share my favourite tips for vacationing with kids. It’s just what worked for us – and for those families embarking on their first trip together, I’m hoping my suggestions will work for you too. …

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I’m The King of the World! #FisherPriceonRoyal

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I very seldom hand over the reigns to my blog, but when my 4-year-old son Ryder requested to guest blog on my site, I just couldn’t resist. Long time readers will remember the last time he did so – over two years ago – with his piece, “Big Brother Blues“. This time, the subject matter is much more cheery: our recent adventure with Fisher-Price aboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas.

Of course, he may have employed a ghost writer to help just a little – but I promise, the opinions are all his own. And fair warning – it’s a lengthy, detailed account of his entire time on the cruise ship – but if you’re looking to take a family vacation in the near future, you really should read what he has to say. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and see how Royal Caribbean makes family travel a breeze. Take it away Ryder!

Hello Readers! It’s Ryder again, Lena’s boy. Two weeks ago, my mom – along with her fellow #FisherPriceMoms – took our family on a great big cruise ship. In fact, it was the biggest cruise ship in the entire world! At first I was scared because it meant leaving home for one full week, and then I was sad because I realized that I had to miss school (which I’ve recently come to love). But when we walked onto the ship, it was like I was entering another world. My Mommy kept using the word “majestic” over and over, and my Daddy said “freaking huge” a lot. To me, it was simply my sweet little dreams come to life.

Our first night there, we had a chance to meet all the other families and children who would be traveling with us. My Mommy calls these women #FisherPriceMoms, and they’re just the nicest Moms ever. And, they had a few pretty cute daughters, if you know what I mean…. but more on that later. Our first night was simply magical, because Mommy and Daddy were so at peace. Long after Reid fell asleep, I stayed awake and peeked at them through lidded lashes. They sat on the balcony, quietly talking while Mommy’s hair swayed in the breeze. I’ve never seen her so restful in the evening, and Daddy was grinning from ear to ear. I knew it would be a wonderful trip….

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I’m Leaving… On a Jet Plane…

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… and then boarding a cruise ship. With my family. Including my toddlers. Whom I’ve NEVER traveled with before.

Oh. My. GAWD.

As you know, part of my job as a blogger is to attend relevant press events, trips and conferences. Sometimes, it’s the launch of a new product; sometimes, it’s a little bit of content inspiration that allows me to publish a better post. In the end, the information often helps me share with my readers in new and interesting ways.

This time, it’s a real-life example of how to make the best of a family vacation – courtesy of Fisher-Price – on a 7-day, Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas Cruise of the Western Caribbean.

Okay, first the obvious – I am so fortunate to have been extended this opportunity, and my family, along with the families of #FisherPriceMoms Play Ambassadors from Canada and the US, are thankful to Fisher-Price for arranging one of the most majestic press adventures ever. Truly, one of those moments where you feel rewarded for your efforts and blessed at the same time.

Second, the not-so-obvious – I am FREAKING OUT. My kids have never been on an airplane, much less a 17-deck ship. Combining the two activities together? Heart palpitations over here. Plus, being away from the comforts of home for over a week is also a little intimidating – believe it or not, the last time I left my house for more than 7 days was over 10 years ago!

And so I’ve done my best to consult packing lists, have made mental notes of the little things that my boys can’t do without (like Ryder’s blankie and Reid’s Little People) and I’ve asked friends and family who’ve traveled with kids to share their “must-haves”.

(So far, Children’s Gravol, Goldfish Crackers and LOTS of gummy treats tend to top the lists.)…

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