"And though she be but little..."

I've been mulling over this post for quite some time now. It all started several months ago when my mom advised me to think deeply about my approach to parenting in all its various aspects: discipline, media consumption, food, instruction, etc. What did I want my children to love? Know? Believe? How would I cultivate that? How would I discipline and, more importantly, why would I discipline in a certain way? Why teach Mac a certain schedule? Why encourage certain food habits?

I admit that, at the time, I was overwhelmed by the prospect of writing my own personal Parenting Manifesto. I flagged the email and every day, as it sits in my inbox, I vow to sit and write down my thoughts on these Deep Matters of Great Importance.

Time has passed and quickly. Another child on the way, planning to do, meals to cook, husband and child to love. And then one night, in the not too-distant past, I found myself flipping through the latest edition of Restoration Hardware (I say "edition" because it is literally volume-sized). I was eagerly looking for their nursery collections. After I laughed hysterically over their $69 crib sheets (organic, mind you) and marveled that every room was, in fact, the same palette--oatmeal + one other pale hue of your choice--I noticed something that really, really bothered me. 

You see, I had ventured into the children's section of the magazine, complete with meticulously organized, color-coordinated, and basically perfect rooms. (Before I continue, let me be clear: I love the idea of a meticulously organized, color-coordinated, perfect room and half of my disdain over these designer rooms stems from the fact that I will never attain them). I flipped very quickly through the girl rooms and noticed the usual ballerinas, flowers, princesses and butterflies, all in different shades of cream, pink, purple, and sparkle (less of the latter because the mantra of RH is Never Flashy, Always Monochromatic). And then I slowed down, as I saw page after page of really cool boy rooms. Gone were the chandeliers and ethereal angel wings. Instead, these rooms were decorated by maps, constellation charts, sports memorabilia, and vintage airplanes. These were active, imaginative, adventurous rooms. The girl rooms? Passive. Sweet and lovely, but very passive.

Now let me stop you right there. This is not a treatise on gender equality or nature vs. nurture or any of those other issues. And guess what? I'm going to decorate Little Girl's nursery in shades of white and pale pink. There won't be airplanes hanging from the ceiling. There will be flowers, and all sorts of pretty, feminine things, although NO butterflies. They are insects, thank you very much. No, I think what bothered me was that I wanted my Little Girl to be just as adventurous and inquisitive and active as any little boy. And the girl rooms in RH were just plain BORING compared to their boy counterparts. I want to encourage Little Girl to be brave and strong and true and honorable and adventurous and inquisitive and intellectual. And I want her room to be a reflection of that.  I want Mac to be brave and strong and true and honorable and adventurous and inquisitive and intellectual. She is a girl; Mac is a boy. How these traits manifest themselves will be different in each of them because they are different. But I don't want her growing up thinking that adventure and action are Mac's domain. 

As a child, my parents did a wonderful job of cultivating these very things in me. My room decor in junior high (and dare I say, high school--I was not popular) consisted of vintage Yankee pennants, historical memorabilia from the American Revolution, the Felicity American Girl doll (because, guys, she saved the day and helped the Americans against the British!), and books books everywhere. A book about a girl who ran away from her aristocratic family to become a sailor. Books on Molly Pitcher, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton. Classics such as The Lord of the Rings, Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables, The Chronicles of Narnia, Little Women, The Princess and the Goblin. Books by Jane Austen, George MacDonald, William Shakespeare. I read and read and read, and when I took a break from reading, I ran outside with my siblings and played Adventure. I wanted to be a heroine of the tallest order, to Do Something Great. Of course, now I realize that Doing Something Great may look very inconsequential and ordinary indeed. But I digress. 

I think I have Restoration Hardware to thank for spurring me on towards my Parenting Manifesto. I have realized that I want to create a beautiful and feminine room for Little Girl. One with pink and flowers and gold accents. But also one that imbues strength, bravery, adventure, and an inquisitive mind. Just like Mac's room, and yet, so different.

And so, I have come to the point, however convolutedly, where I can start to write down these Deep Matters of Great Importance. But you'll have to wait to read them

'til next time.

Going Dutch

The Daxon Clan headed to the Netherlands over the July 4th weekend and a) we had an absolutely wonderful time and b) we literally almost melted in the heat. A heat wave hit Europe over the weekend of the 4th, reaching triple digits and nearly killing every expat used to turning on the A/C for temps higher than 75°F. Newsflash: what makes a normally semi-sane toddler stop sleeping and cry incessantly? Unmitigated, sweltering, sweat-pool inducing heat. In our genius, however, we decided to visit friends of ours in Rotterdam, who had the brilliant and generous idea of getting out of the urban sauna and escaping to their family's beach house on the North Sea. It. Was. Glorious. And for more reasons than the constant, cool breeze.

Eat your heart out, Don Quixote.

Mac n' cheese

But let's go back to the beginning of our trip. Our first night was spent in Delft, which is so quintessentially Dutch I'm not sure I need to describe it. A few words will do: 17th century architecture. Canals. Boats on canals. People in boats eating food on canals. Bikes. People on bikes. Tall, beautiful, blond people on bikes. Bikes and beautiful people everywhere. The End. I highly recommend Delft, but only if you can get over the fact that you will never be intrepid enough to bike at high speeds in narrow lanes and will never look impossibly attractive while doing so. If you can get over the fact that you'll never be Dutch, you'll love Delft. And the Netherlands, for that matter.

Blond people. Eating. Boat. Canal.

Sugar-dusted perfection 

Visiting William of Orange

On Friday, we headed to Rotterdam, where we met up with the Vissers (impossibly Dutch; see above). We met the Vissers about three years ago when they were visiting D.C. and attended our Dutch Reformed church. They were generous enough to invite us for the weekend and it was honestly the most refreshing weekend of fellowship we've had in a long time. Jan Jaap and Christine have three young boys and they took to Mac instantly (and vice versa). I'm not sure what was more fun--watching Mac play his little heart out with his new besties or having stimulating and meaningful conversations with friends. As mentioned above, the Brilliant Vissers led the way to the beach on Saturday (where we stopped sweating after 48 hours of nonstop moisture), and we had the privilege of meeting their entire extended family. Mac was in heaven, specifically owing to a tot-sized, fully automated Audi and loads of kids right around his age. We went to the beach for a bit and Mac had his first ocean experience! I felt like we had somehow managed to end up at a resort with good friends. The whole weekend was a deep, restful sigh.

Mac has exquisite taste.

Heading to the beach.

Christine and I

Melt-in-your-mouth stroopwafels

Besties

On Sunday, we attended church with the Vissers. A few observations: everyone goes to church, at least in the town we were in. On the drive to church, we saw people everywhere biking to church. All the women wore hats, much to my delight. Older women wore any variety of hat, while the younger girls wore white, knit berets. We loved singing Psalms with our brothers and sisters even if we had no idea what we were saying and were most definitely butchering the Dutch language. I will say, Ben and I were deeply confused when, right before the sermon, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, opened a small sweet or mint. The sanctuary was overtaken by a distinct rustling noise as everyone reached for their treat. Ben and I were obviously not in the know and were the only two in the large congregation to remain mint-less. 

Mac was thrilled by wooden shoes.

The town of Marken displayed an excellent sense of humor.

That afternoon, we said goodbye to our friends and headed north to Waterland. We spent the next day exploring Marken, a traditional fishing village frozen in time; Edam, where cheese reigns supreme; and the Zuiderzee Museum, an open-air museum where traditional Dutch ways of life from the turn of the 20th century are recreated. The day was accented by long drives through polders (did you know that nearly 17% of the land mass of the Netherlands is reclaimed from the sea?), old windmills (historically, they controlled water levels in the polders by way of an Archimedes' screw), peaceful canals, and dairy cows galore.  The towns are reminiscent of Holland's economic and maritime supremacy during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, with most boasting harbors and architectural remnants of vibrant trading centers. Now, however, the towns are quiet if beautiful, and the overwhelming sense is one of peace and a relaxed quality of life.

The fishing village of Marken 

Hand-knotted fishing nets

Traditional Dutch clothing

Tuesday marked the last day of our trip. I managed to pick up what will doubtless be one of my most prized possessions--a Dutch oven with a Royal Delftware lid. Cooking has never been more beautiful. And with that, we sped home. Actually, I lie. Our demon-possessed GPS took us through the heart of Utrecht for some ungodly reason, adding an hour to our journey. Mac decided that road trips are for the birds and screamed approximately 75% of the five-hour trip home. I started crying because Mac was crying and because that is what I do when pregnant. Ahhh the restful family vacation. All ended well and we (I)  have been busy every since planning our next adventure (starting in t-minus 13 days). 

Stay tuned.

'til next time.

Get To It

I think Travel is a lot like Style. It is a personal reflection of who you are as an individual. And each person has a unique Style. A unique approach to Travel.

I see this and I get the travel bug every time.

Let's take Ben for instance. This guy is 100% action from the time he wakes up until the minute his head hits the pillow (and of course he falls asleep immediately...how?!). A typical conversation with my husband goes something like this: 

Him: "Hey babe! I've got a three-day weekend next week. Where are we going?" 
Me: "Ummm, well, I'd thought that it would be nice to stay at home and sort of relax. You know, since we got back from our previous trip yesterday."

As our date of (another) departure approaches, my nerves slowly coil themselves into tense springs, ready to explode at any moment. I obsess over the lightest possible packing method, plan our route to the last detail, and fall asleep thinking about how much I hate packing for three in one suitcase. I worry about leaving the house clean, do last minute loads of laundry, and, the night before we leave, I usually have a teensy weensy panic attack because Ben just wants me to sit down, relax, and watch an episode of The Wire instead of worrying or packing. His response to my fretting? "You've got plenty of time!"

Ben is the Energizer Bunny of travel. And I'm not so bad myself. I just need a good recharge, where Ben just keeps on going. We make a good team, actually, because I balance out the insanity in him and he pushes me to relax and enjoy life moment by moment. We've developed our own travel style...types of places we prefer to stay (apartments via Airbnb), what we like to see (historical sites or food-related attractions), our own pace (walk walk walk explore explore explore eat eat eat), and things we really have no interest in (guided tours for instance).

The look Mac will give you if you suggest staying home this weekend.

Here's the thing, though. That's just us! My good friend, Leah, and I were talking the other day. We have different travel styles and we both know it. And she made the excellent point that people just travel differently and that that is just fine! She is right. When I read travel blogs or articles, I am often really intimidated by that person's Travel Approach. The person that intimidates me the most is the laid-back-yet-effortlessly-chic traveler. Gah. One, I'm not laid back. Two, although I dream of looking super fashionable when I travel, often I'm rocking whatever I have that is mildly in fashion (that I own) and some shoes that are comfortable (if unfashionable). But I always feel like I should look a certain way, relax a little bit more, and be more savvy at this because, after all, we do this a lot!

There's no right or wrong way to travel. As long as you are respectful of the host culture, avoid being rude to locals, and leave flora, fauna, and national treasures the way you found them, you're good to go. Granted, a desire to blend in and experience the true culture of the place never hurt anyone.

By plane, train, or automobile - it doesn't matter where you go, just that you do.

If some of my friends traveled with us, they would not like the way we travel. They would never choose to prioritize the things we do, stay where we do, eat what we do. And guess what?! That's great! The point is, just travel. Just get out there and do it, wherever you are, no matter how small the day trip or how grand the destination. It doesn't matter if you're visiting Tishomingo, Oklahoma or Paris, France. It doesn't have to be expensive or exotic. It doesn't matter if you have children or not (granted, they make the process infinitely more complicated...but still worth it). It doesn't matter if you are the super laid back crunchy traveler with the cool yet annoyingly massive backpack (there should probably be commas and hyphens somewhere in there, but oh well). It doesn't matter if you want to lay on the deck of a cruise ship and not move for seven days. It doesn't matter if you couldn't care less about history (well, maybe we should have a chat). Who cares if you're not effortlessly chic in Paris (trust me, I agonized over this one...how do they do it?!). You're traveling. You're getting out into the world and experiencing part of it you haven't before. Well done. Now get to it.

'til next time.

Peas: The Second Taste

Don't worry. There's no third taste.

Happy Friday.

Currently Reading: A Review

Augustine of Hippo: A Biography

Masterfully written by Peter Brown, this monograph is a very satisfying read. Brown explores the personal aspects and philosophical underpinnings of Augustine's life and beliefs. Especially helpful is his discussion of the different strands of philosophy that influenced the intellectual and cultural elite of Late Antique society. Brown's prose is a delight, using simple yet beautiful sentences to communicate complex issues. This book is a must for anyone interested in Late Antique society and religion, church history, or Augustine himself. The author of this post, is, however, woefully behind in her perusal of Brown's work due to her absorption in the following volumes.

Dinosaur Roar

Co-authored by Paul and Henrietta Stickland, this book explores the physical and behavioral characteristics of dinosaurs. Speed of movement, size, and demeanor (fierce vs. meek, sweet vs. grumpy) of this extinct species is discussed with pointed description and vivid illustration. Indeed, the glossy, full-color nature of the pictures is one of the great attributes of this book. More discussion of social interaction between dinosaurs would be appreciated, but overall, a highly recommended volume for those interested in the scaly creatures. Content best absorbed when read repetitively.

The Going to Bed Book

This monograph, by Sandra Boynton, explores the nighttime behaviors of several different animal species. Her thesis is clearly presented: several species(lions, pigs, rabbits, a nondescript lumpy brown creature, moose, etc.) practice the same nocturnal rituals before dormancy. These rituals include communal bathing, the choice of appropriately-fitting pajamas, pre-slumber exercise, and finally, the embrace of sleep. Regrettably, there are several logical holes in Ms. Boynton's thesis. She does not explain how such a variety of species has managed to gather together on a large boat, or why the animals are on the boat on the first place. She also does not address why the animals are exercising in their pajamas or why it is necessary for them to do so right before bed. These issues aside, the book is a pleasant, if brief, read.

The Little Blue Truck

Authored by Alice Schertle, this book explores social interactions between a little blue truck and a group of farm animals (perhaps representative of the relationship between technology and the natural world). Schertle suggests that the two do not merely coexist but enjoy the presence of the other in a relationship akin to friendship. This friendship and the cooperative nature between the two (The Little Blue Truck and The Animals), is put to the test with the arrival of The Dump Truck, a large technological being who dismisses those who have little agency (The Animals). The narrative tension is resolved when, in a crisis, The Animals come to the aid of The Little Blue Truck (and, as a result, The Dump Truck), thus signaling to the larger truck that mutual cooperation and kindness is the key to a functioning society. Unlike many books, this one is pleasant to read ad nauseam.

The Search for Modern China

Jonathan D. Spence begins his history of China with the fall of the Ming dynasty and traces the empire's evolution until the present day. Spence discusses many dynastic turnovers and cultural developments in a manner that is comprehensible and enjoyable, if not readily pronounceable. The Search for Modern China is an excellent introduction to a history that is daunting to the novice. This book deserves more attention than the author of this post is currently giving it.

Peas: The First Taste

You're welcome. Happy Friday!

Traveling with Children: Tips from the Field Part III

Good morning friends! I've returned safe and sound from Beijing after a lovely trip. I'll catch you up to speed on my adventures in the next post, but for today, I've got a few more tips to share on traveling with children.

Let's dive in!

How to Pack

Pack light. This is my number one tip. Every travel guru says the same. Now, this is easily enough done when you are packing for yourself, but add a baby into the mix and it becomes so much harder. That being said, when we travel we usually take one moderately-sized suitcase for the three of us (we use an older model of this suitcase and love it). I’m not going to detail exactly what I pack, but it isn’t much - for any of us. I had to make peace with the fact that neither I nor my child were going to look super fashionable. I will say, lightweight, drapey tops and scarves are a go-to for me.

If you're addicted to coffee like I am, I'd recommend packing packets of instant coffee, like Starbucks Via. The places we stay rarely have any coffee-making capabilities, so unless breakfast comes with your room, plan ahead. (Thanks for this tip, Sara).

I use travel-size toiletries for just about everything. I hate filling up travel containers with my specific shampoo, so I just buy whatever brand is available in the travel aisle and go with that. I now have a bin in my bathroom solely dedicated to travel-size toiletries.

I highly recommend these travel cubes. They save space and keep each person’s clothes separate.

Reisenthel is a German brand that makes high-quality, durable bags (of all sorts). I swear by their Wrapcosmetic travel bag. I fit all of my cosmetics and toiletries in this bag and manage to squeeze in most of Mac's toiletries too.

We pack so that everything can be carried or worn by Ben and myself. For example: Ben wears Mac on his front, wears the diaper bag/backpack on his back, and pulls/lifts the suitcase. I wear M’s cot on my back, have my purse cross-body, and Mac’s stroller over my shoulder. This doesn’t matter so much if traveling by car, but if you’re not, this is essential.

I skip the traditional diaper bag when traveling and use a backpack.

Pack enough food and diapers to get you through one day past your arrival date and then buy more at your destination (this requires verifying that you will be staying near a grocery store). Sometimes, it is just easier to pack enough food and diapers for the whole trip, but this depends on how much room you want to take up with these things and on your destination.

I pack a few lightweight toys for Mac – stacking cups, cardboard blocks, an interactive toy, etc. Lightweight is the key. 

This is a very lightweight toy.

I keep all of our travel documents on my person at all times. This means five passports, three driver’s licenses, and Ben’s military orders. I highly recommend this wallet for organizing/carrying lots of documents. It is large enough to hold all of the above in addition to currency and is stylish enough to use as a clutch on an evening out (I can't think of the last time I've actually used it this way!).

Parental Survival

We try to protect Mac’s bedtime as much as possible when we travel. Sometimes this doesn’t happen, but we try, especially since he is out and about during the day. This is sometimes frustrating because we would like to go out to eat and enjoy the evening, but the stress of doing that with Mac past his bedtime often isn’t worth it. So here are my tips for enjoying an evening in (after the baby is asleep):

Grab some groceries and cook dinner (check out my last post on why renting an apartment is ideal) or, if you don’t have the ability to do that, buy some salami, cheese, bread, and wine and set up a picnic on your bed.

Always bring a laptop or tablet, as well as a set of earphones. We’re not smart enough to have bought a splitter yet, so we hunch together and share a set. Verify that the place you are staying has Wifi and rent a movie! Ben and I have enjoyed many evenings watching a movie, drinking wine, and eating bread, cheese and fruit. The best part? M is (hopefully) sleeping!

I always carry a roll of plastic dog-poo bags with me for M’s diaper. Trust me, if you are staying in a place where the trash is not emptied daily, these things really come in handy.

If you are visiting a large city and want a night out, use a babysitting agency like this one. I was very hesitant to use them at first, but after reading many good reviews, I decided to go out on a limb. We were extremely pleased with the babysitter the agency provided and felt very safe leaving Mac with her. It is a little on the pricey side, so we wouldn’t be able to do this for every trip, but it is definitely worth it once in a while (ala, Valentine's Day in Paris).

Valentine's Day sans Mac

And that's all I've got, folks! I hope these insights into our travel life were helpful.

Next post, I'll write about my adventures in Beijing!

‘til next time.

Traveling with Children: Tips from the Field Part II

Hello all! I hope your weekend was less eventful than ours. Mac decided to inhale popcorn into his lungs instead of swallowing and digesting like the rest of us. We spent Saturday night in a German hospital, where Mac received a bronchoscopy to retrieve the wayward kernel shell. It was a fascinating insight into the differences between the American and German healthcare system. But more on that in another post!

I left off last post with tips on how to fly, drive, and ride the subway with a baby. Today, I’m going to tackle eating on the go and where to stay. In the next post, I'll talk about how I pack and will share a few insights into how Ben and I make the trip enjoyable for the two of us. (As before, I am not being compensated in any way to endorse any product I mention below.) Let's get to business!

Eating on the Go

As I mentioned in my last post, eating out with Mac is my least favorite part of any trip we take. My first recommendation is to ask your host for child-friendly restaurant recommendations. Be forewarned, however. We did this in France and our host's recommendation led us to a white-tableclothed restaurant. Child-friendly in the U.S. means something completely different than in Europe. Here, it seems, it merely means that the restaurant is okay with having a child in their establishment. No crayons or paper tablecloths here.

Mac was unimpressed with the French cuisine

I have found that almost all German restaurants have highchairs. France is a different story, however. I recommend bringing a simple, portable high chair like My Infant Seat.  It slips over the back of most chairs, and, with the help of a clip and several ties, transforms from a small bundle of cloth into a very effective high chair. We took one to Paris, stuffed it in M’s diaper bag, and used it often. Keep in mind that a stroller can work as a chair as well, but I prefer not to use this in a small or nicer restaurant. We have also used the backpack carrier as a highchair, although mostly in our lodging and not in restaurants. Just set it on the floor, and voila, your child is restrained. 

In addition to the cloth high chair, I always pack a plastic spoon and plastic bib in M’s diaper bag. They’re easy to clean. Enough said.

Ben and I always have a game plan in a restaurant. We try to order fairly quickly and abstain from feeding Mac very much until we have our food. We have discovered several foods that are very portable and take Mac a long time to chew, thereby helping him wait for the main course (I’ll touch on these foods below). Once Ben and I receive our meals, we both feed M off of our plates. This usually allows us a fairly leisurely meal (read usually, not always) in which we order wine, an appetizer, main course, and sometimes, dessert. The key is to feed M fairly slowly. At the end of the meal, as Mac begins to get fussy, Ben packs him up and walks him outside while I get the check. We also have an Emergency Backup Plan which we have, to date, only had to use once. If Mac completely loses it and we are not done with our meal, one of us will take him outside and walk him around while the other finishes their food. Then we switch. We still haven’t figured out if asking for to-go boxes is something that is done here. Obviously this is not a problem in the U.S.

We have found a few foods that we always bring with us on trips. I mentioned bringing formula packets in my last post. These are great for flying, but also for any other trip where you will be on the move during bottle time. Another option is shelf-stable milk. This is easy to come by in Germany, but I am less sure about its availability in the States.

These “squishes” are golden. We stash a few in the diaper bag just in case Mac has no interest in solid food or if we are on the go during meal time. They are high in protein and usually have some grains as well. I choose these over fruit/veggie based squishes because they leave Mac full for a longer period of time. These are also great for a child who has not yet progressed to eating off an adult’s plate.

I mentioned above that we have a few foods that we take to restaurants as “appetizers” for Mac. Dates are fantastic baby appetizers. They are easily portable, sweet, and take a long time to chew. Mac will take twenty minutes to chew through three to four dates and by that time we usually have our food. We also often feed M from the ubiquitous bread bowl.

Ella's Kitchen Organic Nibbly Fingers are my new favorite travel food and fit into the "great appetizer" category. They are dense, soft granola bars that are high in fiber, very filling, and, you guessed it, take a long time for M to chew. Throw a few of these individually wrapped bars into a diaper bag and you’re set. 

Last but not least, Babybel cheese and string cheese make a great on-the-go food (don't worry, I do not buy the cheese on Amazon). I don’t worry much about the cheese getting warm, since we usually don’t travel more than 12 hours without a chance at some refrigerator time and they are individually wrapped.

Backpacking Europe

Two other key things. One, most of the foods I mentioned above are finger foods. Mac loves to feed himself and letting him do so usually distracts and amuses him. And two, one of the most helpful things we have EVER done is to put M on scheduled meals. He eats meals around 8 AM, noon, and 7 PM and has a bottle or snack at 4 PM. M eats when we eat, more or less. Obviously there are exceptions (meltdowns on planes, for instance), but most of the time, he sticks to the schedule. This frees us from carrying around loads of food and from constant snack breaks. Mac doesn’t expect to eat between these times and is usually content.

Where to Stay

We realized early on that no one in our family sleeps well if we are all in the same room, at least not with M at this age. Our entire approach to lodging revolves around this principle.

I always try to use Airbnb to arrange our lodging. I usually book an entire apartment with at least two rooms. This way, we can put Mac down in one room (usually the living room) and Ben and I can relax in our room for the rest of the evening. Obviously, two bedrooms are ideal but price is often the limiting factor for us. Renting an apartment also means we have access to a kitchen, which is wonderful because we don’t always eat dinner out. We will often skip a restaurant, grab some groceries, and cook dinner for ourselves. This allows Mac some play time after a busy day on the go and preserves the sacred institution of Bedtime.

If we have to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast, we try to book one that has a bathroom large enough for M's cot to fit. No lie. I know it sounds gross and weird, but it works very well. Ben and I get completely ready for bed before M’s bedtime, put him to bed, and then close the door. I will say, however, that the last bathroom break before bed can be seriously hilarious, as it requires very stealthy ninja skills.

Where's M? I bet you can figure it out.

I talked about our travel cot in the last post, but just in case you didn’t get the message, IT IS AMAZING.

Last but not least, we always always always bring our iPad and use a white noise app. We put it in the room (or bathroom) M is in and turn the volume up. This means B and I can whisper without waking The Beast.

And there you have it! I'd love to hear about your travel hacks, frustrations, or victories. Drop me a line below and let's talk travel.

I'm heading to Beijing tomorrow to visit my sister, but look for the next post on Friday. I'll write about how I pack and some tricks Ben and I pull to actually enjoy our trip.

'til next time.