Travel - sparkleshinylove

Roxymandy April 16, 2015

How Having a Toddler Has Ruined My Vacation Vibe

I work to travel. I spend countless hours devising ways to get out of town every week whether it's just for a weekend, or for a week in a foreign country. My husband and I have been to 21 different countries together, so travel is a big priority for us.

When we decided to have a child, I remember saying to my husband that we needed one last trip because we didn't know if we would be able to travel again with a child. That last vacation was to a lovely all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean with lounger chairs by the pool, drinks near the ocean, late nights and even later mornings.

Fast forward to months later, we had an infant and I needed a vacation. I was desperate to go anywhere really. I sold a trip to my husband by talking about the importance of our first family vacation, and the much needed calling for rest.

At 7 months we took our son to Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. I had never packed so much gear in my entire life. Gone were the days of trying to fit as many shoes as possible into our bags – instead I was sacrificing clothing for diapers, wipes and snacks. I was determined to bring enough pre-mixed formula bottles that we wouldn't need to wash a bottle (talk about expensive), and I wanted to bring every type of snack and food he needed so he didn't eat any resort food. I was stressed about our child eating at a 5 star resort – it was insanity.

After packing everything in sight (including bedding for his crib and wipes to sanitize everything in our hotel room), I stressed about every detail. Where would our son nap? Would his life jacket fit? Did I have enough toys? What if he got sick – did I pack every type of medicine he might need? I am pretty sure I was exhausted before we left.

Funny enough I packed magazines and books for the plane and resort – none were opened or read. There was the stress of making it through the flight without bothering other passengers with him being fussy, and making sure his ears didn't painfully pop. And the terror of changing a diaper in the airplane bathroom. The terror. Then at the beach we were making sure he didn't eat any sand, or get sand in his eyes. Sunscreen was applied every half hour, and always making sure his life jacket was on before entering the water.

Believe it or not, after all of this we had a great vacation. I spent so much time worried, it's amazing I had any time to unwind. It's hard to complain when you spend time in the Bahamas, so I have to say the vacation was well worth it. I was starting to yearn for those lazy vacations in the sun sleeping all day, and dancing all night.

Fast forward to 2.5 years later, and we have also travelled to Lake Placid, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos together as a family. The stress has calmed a bit as our son has gotten older, but those magazines and books are still rarely opened.

Last week my husband and I went away on our first vacation without our son. We have done overnight trips away, but this was the first real trip where we were gone for 4 days to Las Vegas.

We made it – this would be our vacation where we could be lazy, we could do whatever we wanted, and I could finally read a magazine uninterrupted!

We had an amazing four days, but something unexpected happened. I was feeling a little guilty about leaving our little toddler behind.

We have been a team of three for a while now, and we left one man behind. As I strolled through shops, lazed by the pool with a magazine, and danced into the late hours of the night as I had always wanted to do, I felt like something, or someone was missing.

It didn't help that when we called home he didn't want to talk to us. Not because he was angry or sad he was left behind – he was afraid if I talked to him on the phone I would come get him from his beloved Papa and Duchesses house (he calls my mother the Duchess) so he didn't want to speak with me. He was in good hands, and so happy to be with my parents the kid wouldn't even take my phone calls, but I still found myself wishing he was with us.

When we have our son on vacation the additional stress of airplane travel, safety in the water and eating foreign foods, and planning naps are compounded into our trips. Now without him on a trip I have the stress and guilt of not having him with me and missing him.

Although he cried when we picked him up to take him home (I was feeling really loved!), the next day he told us "you don't go on a trip without London". Maybe he is right.

Roxymandy February 10, 2015

Tips + Must Have Items for Flying with a Toddler

In the couple of years we have been flying with our son, we have learned the hard way what you desperately need to survive those few hours spent trapped inside a plane with no chance of escape.

Do you remember the days of flying sans-children? Choosing a movie to watch during the flight was probably the hardest decision. Order a drink, maybe grab something from the flight attendant as she swings by with the food cart. Maybe even read a magazine or a book purchased at the airport in anticipation of all that free time on the plane. No need to plan a thing.

Things are a little different now. I don’t know about you, but the thought of hopping on a plane stresses me out. I am one of those people who spends a lot of time worrying about if my son will bother other passengers.

The hope is that most passengers will be understanding, but that is normally not the case. On our flight to Bermuda last year a woman whispered to her friend (in my husband’s ear shot) before we even took off that she was going to contact the airline after the flight to ask for her money back because our son was going to be noisy. I am so proud to say my son didn’t make one peep that flight, and my husband smartly waited hours after the flight to tell me this.

Please note that these toddler travel must have’s do NOT include books, magazines or any other plans which include you relaxing, napping, or losing concentration for even a moment.

Umbrella Stroller

First up, bring a stroller! The airport is a huge place, let alone if you are driving to the airport you may not have the chance to park close. Having a stroller will also allow your family to go through a special line up for security clearance as well which will save you lots of time. Your stroller can be brought right up to the airplane door, and it will be waiting for you as you step off the plane so you don’t have to worry about it coming off the plane with your luggage. We usually bring a small umbrella stroller on trips such as this Summer Infant Lite Stroller

Formula, Milk, Juice or Baby Food

Formula, breast milk, juice and baby food (in small containers) are permitted in carry-on baggage.

When my son was 7 months I was nervous about cleaning bottles on one of our trips, so I took four cases of these Good Start Ready To Feed bottles on the plane without a problem!

When my son moved up to regular milk I brought a couple cartons of my own. Not all shops in the airport carry milk, and there is no guarantee it will be on the plane either. Depending on where you sit on the plane, it could take ages before that cart even gets to you, so if you need formula or milk, bring it! Otherwise be sure to buy water or juice at the airport.

Don’t Board First, Board Last!

Do you really want to have that extra 30 minutes on the plane? Give your child some extra time running around the airport to get good and tired. You don’t need to board first even if the airline allows you to. Boarding last means that hopefully everyone is already seated, and once you take your own seat it will only be a short time before you get on your way.

Easing Take-Off Pain

Bring a pacifier, a bottle, or bring out a timely snack to get your child chewing to avoid their ears popping. Try to time things so you can give them a snack or their pacifier just as you are taking off.

Food, Food, and More Food

Not only should you have snacks
for the flight, you may want to bring an actual meal for you child as well. Prepare for the worst – you may get on the plane and there could be a mechanical delay where you are trapped in your seat for hours. That snack cart could be completely raided before it gets to you and what you want could be sold out. Either pre-order your food with the airline (this can be done online), or pick something up in the terminal to save you from a hungry toddler.

Unseen Toys

Bring something that will get them excited! Hide a few toys in your bag that your child doesn’t see until they sit down on the plane. Bring old toys they haven’t seen in a long time, or new ones that will get them excited. The smaller and lighter the better. Raid your local dollar store. Be sure to put most of those toys away during your trip so they are excited to see these toys on the way home on the plane.

Kid Safe Earphones

If your child really does want to watch a movie (which could be the best-case scenario), volume limitingearphones are a great investment. They are normally lightweight and smaller than regular earphones, and because of the volume controls there is no risk of your child damaging their ears.

A Fully-Loaded iPad

Charge that battery and load up that iPad! New Apps, TV shows and movies chosen just for your child could get you a long way on that flight. You have to plan for the worst – like the TV’s not working on the plane. Show up prepared with child-friendly media for the flight, or for the customs line at your destination’s airport.

Check out my list of my favourite toddler Apps here.

Nap-Time Preparedness

What could be better than having your toddler distracted by a movie? Taking a nap!

To save yourself from lugging around a blanket on your trip, wear a large scarf that you can wrap them in so they can get cozy. One of these blanket scarves would be perfect.

Precious Trip Items Stored in the Carry-On

If your child can’t live without pacifiers, their teddy bear, or that formula you carefully packed, make sure they are in your carry-on! The worst thing that could happen is a lost luggage situation, and something your toddler needs goes missing. Keep what you need desperately with you on the plane where you can see it!

In the end, try not to be like me and don’t worry so much about what other passengers think. The most important thing is that your child has a safe and happy flight, so just do the best that you can.

Safe travels!

Roxymandy January 23, 2015

My Weekend with Rimowa Salsa Air Luggage

Tragically, this year my suitcase finally kicked the bucket. It lasted 9 torturous years with me trying to shove as many shoes as possible into it until it was bursting at the seams.

I’m actually surprised it lasted this long considering all of the times different airlines said it was waaaay overweight, the way it got knocked around by baggage handlers, and the fact it travelled to 16 countries.

I spent the weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake for a wine tour with friends, and I was lucky enough to try out a new piece of luggage – the Rimowa Salsa Air.

I’d say this luggage was a big step up from the flowery (but greatly loved) canvas suitcase I previously owned.

Girls never travel light, so the fact that this suitcase seemed almost weightless was helpful since I was ready to test it’s limits.

The wheels maneuvered in all directions so it was easy to pull behind me. Once I packed it full of the necessities, it still maneuvered just as easily and the weight had no bearing on the wheels. The Salsa Air line is the lightest of the Rimowa luggage family.

The suicase also had a TSA lock integrated into the design so it could be opened without being damaged during security checks.

This suitcase is made of polycarbonate, which is practically indestructible! This is important – have you seen how your luggage gets handled at the airport? It’s not pretty. Hence why my favourite luggage had to be put down – it actually came back to me with a corner missing. You could almost see what was inside! Anyway, not only is this Rimowa suitcase durable, but it’s also very flexible. This means it will yield to pressure, but will pop back into its original form once the pressure is gone. Fancy stuff!

There is a 5-year guarantee on Rimowa’s travel and business luggage as well for any material or manufacturing fault.

There are some pretty fun luggage colours in the Salsa Air line as well! Black luggage is like a black dress – it looks good and often blends in, but if you really want to stand out then color is the way to go! I always choose color, and I think my favourite of the Salsa Air line is purple.

Overall I loved this luggage! There was a netting inside the suitcase that kept everything in it’s place, and it kept things very organized. The suitcase was lightweight, easy to manuver, and seemed to be indestructible.

It definitely helped that it was a sleek suitcase that looked great too.

To learn more about the Rimowa Salsa Air, click here.

To learn more about everything that Rimowa has to offer, click here.

Oh, and by the way our wine tour weekend was a blast! The photos in this post with me in them are from Vineland Estates Winery, which I highly recommend.

Roxymandy December 24, 2014

Our Winter Adventure at the Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain

This past summer my husband and I took our son to the Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain for a summer getaway. We had an amazing time, and were excited to plan a trip back to this resort.

This winter we needed a getaway, and we decided to head back to the Westin Trillium House.

We left our home where there was no snow and it was freezing cold, and arrived in Collingwood to snow on the ground and less frigid conditions! I requested early check in and we were able to get into our room a little sooner than regular check in at 4pm. We had the option of parking for free in an outside lot at the hotel, but we chose the $15 underground parking because it was heated, and we could easily travel right up the elevators to our room.

Our room was amazing! This time around we decided to get a one-bedroom suite, and it was perfect. Our son needed a nap, and we easily put him to sleep in the bedroom (in the crib we requested with our online reservation), and we were able to hang out in the living room. The bathroom had two entrances as well so we were able to still use it while he was sleeping.

We had lunch at the Oliver and Bonacini restaurant at the hotel, which is a restaurant we are a big fan of because the kids meals include an appetizer. Our son loves this because he feels like a grown-up.

We travelled around Blue Mountain Village to do some shopping (obviously!), and so our son could play in the snow we were missing at home. There is normally skating on the pond outside the Westin Trillium House, but it wasn’t frozen enough yet. They even have skate rentals!

As we walked around we saw horse-drawn sleigh rides tour through the Village, and we stumbled right into Santa who was taking photos with children in a gazebo. This would our son’s first visit with Santa. He was so excited to meet him! It was the first time we even attempted to visit Santa, and our son just loved him. Photos were available online after our visit, and they turned out great! There was no line up, and it seemed much less chaotic then visiting Santa at the mall.

For dinner we were craving Greek food so we went to Tholos where a reservation is definitely recommended since it’s a very popular place! It was a little higher priced then some of the other restaurants we had gone to in the Village previously, but it was very good. Our son loved seeing the saganaki (flaming cheese dish) popping up at different tables for entertainment! They had high chairs and a kids menu as well. He was really disappointed they didn’t have spaghetti and meatballs, so I tried ordering pasta in tomatoe sauce and told him the meatballs rolled away before the dish got to the table, but he gave me the side-eye and ate his meal anyway. He’s getting too smart for me.

After dinner we went to Plunge Aquatic Centre which is also open in the winter. To stay open in the winter the outside doors are closed, but people could swim from the inside to the outside since the pool was heated. Even the slides leading to the outside pools were open. Our son’s admission was free since he was under three years old which was nice, and he had a great time!

Now that our son was thoroughly exhausted, we put him to bed and enjoyed the freedom of being able to relax in the living room with the fireplace, T.V., and a great view! I made a late night run to grab some candy, Beaver Tails and Starbucks and we watched movies in our cozy room.

The next morning we had breakfast at O & B since it was just downstairs, and then we headed back into the Village. We had more time playing in the snow, and exploring the Village.

We tried to paint pottery at Crock a Doodle. I say “tried” because our son said he was excited to paint something, so we took off all of his winter gear, sat down, and then he told me he didn’t feel like painting right now. Back on went on all of the gear, and we walked around some more. Flash forward a few hours later on the way home, our son said he was ready to paint.

If we could have done pottery, it would have been really great! Children could pick something to paint from the shelves on the wall, and then could just sit down at a desk to paint. Staff were there to help or answer any questions, and items would be ready the next day at 4pm, or could be shipped home.

We had such a great time! The Westin Trillium House was decorated for the holidays with a giant Christmas tree, garlands, and ornaments all over the resort. They had Christmas movies and games being offered in different locations on the resort each day as well which was great if the weather was too cold, or just if you were looking for something fun to do.

It really seemed like the hotel was working hard to make sure all of their guests felt like they were home for the holidays, and were very comfortable during their stay. We had an excellent adventure there, and we can’t wait to go back.

To learn more about the Westin Trillium House Blue Mountain, visit www.westinbluemountain.com.

Roxymandy December 8, 2014

My Visit to Eataly in New York City

This weekend I spent time in New York City for some holiday shopping, and time at the spa. I do a trip to NYC annually, and like every other year I had a amazing time!

This time around I decided to venture over to Eataly on Fifth Avenue. Eataly is 50,000 square feet and includes 7 restaurants, a wine shop, food market, and includes private dining options and cooking classes. They even have a Guest Relations Desk to assist customers with their experience.

Eataly in New York City has shared owners including owned by Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and Joe Bastianich.

Why did I want to come here? Well, I read reviews about how amazing it was online and wanted to check it out myself. Even at the airport there were other travellers talking about visiting the Eataly location in Chicago! Another reason I wanted to check it out was that rumour has it there is one coming to Toronto.

The location in NYC is very easy to find since it has multiple entrances stretching across two streets. This place is huge!

It’s hard to explain just how big this place is! As soon as you walk in there are maps available, and staff to assist you find what you are looking for.

The market stretches across the whole space, and the selection of food was incredible.

The pasta is so fresh that I saw the staff making pasta and then pouring it into containers to hand straight to customers. It was amazing – it can’t get fresher than that.

Eataly NYC has 7 restaurants which have table and bar seats at each. The opportunity to sit at the bar was perfect for me since I was dining alone. I wanted to have a great meal, and eating at the bar made me feel a little less like I got stood up. I randomly chose a restaurant called Manzo. It was more of a formal restaurant compared to some of the others, and the food did not disappoint. The best part about eating alone by the way? I didn’t have to share the bread basket! I decided to try on of the specials, a lamb bolognaise with papardelle. I was in pasta heaven. The server said that it was the best bolognaise they had ever had, and I had to agree after eating it. The pasta itself tasted so fresh that it’s ruined some of my previous favourite restaurant pasta dishes.

After lunch I was back to checking out the market, and seeing what else it had to offer. There was a Gelateria with fresh gelato made in-house, a Pasticceria with fresh pastries and cakes, and an espresso bar.

There was a housewares section with kitchen gadgets, and a cookbook section for inspiration.

The word fresh was centered around everything at Eataly. The pasta, the pastries, the butcher – everything was made on site and that day. Even the Rosticceria was cooking rotisserie chickens and carving them for sandwiches served to a line of people waiting in anticipation. The market was extremely busy, but the space was so large that it was easy to find a restaurant with a seat, and the cash registers moved everyone quickly through lines.

If you think you would be overwhelmed with a visit to Eataly, they offer walking tours of the facility as well. I looked online for more information and found that it was sold out for a Wednesday – this place is very popular! The cooking classes look amazing – from Pizza Making to the Flavours of Tuscany, there were lots of classes to chose from. They even had a kids pastry making class which I thought looked cute.

You can shop online with the Eataly website, and they ship to Canada as well.

Eataly New York City is located at 200 Fifth Avenue, and you can find them online at www.eataly.com.