Five Stunning Locations For A Much-Needed Health Retreat

April 6, 2018 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Life can get stressful. In fact, it does get stressful and from time to time, we can find ourselves yelling a hearty “I need a break!” Well, I’m here to tell you that you do, and it’s a very well-deserved one at that! What I’m also here to tell you, however, is to consider setting aside the sunny beach holiday with all of its sandy towels and awkward sunburn, and swapping it in for a health retreat. A holiday focused on you, your well-being and your health is exactly what the body and mind need when the going gets tough. Wondering where to go? Check out my personal top five of the hundreds of locations you could choose from!

Istanbul, Turkey

While Istanbul is rife with spa resorts to enjoy, I actually suggest that you bypass the resorts completely and just enjoy Istanbul on your very own city break. Home to some of the world’s most hospitable people, you could find yourself completely refreshed just walking the streets enjoying some of the finest food and most exciting tourist destinations within the city. Of course, if you do want to opt for a spa resort or at least a luxurious hotel, you could try out the Titanic City Hotel, or maybe the luxurious Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel! [Read more…]

A Day in Dublin – Seeing the Best the City has to Offer in Less than 24 Hours

February 28, 2018 by Kathryn 9 Comments

When my husband and I flew into Dublin to spend ten blissful days exploring the country of Ireland, we knew we were in for an incredible experience. And I couldn’t have been happier that our journey started near the capitol, so that we would get the chance to spend a day in Dublin before we headed off across the country.

day-in-dublin-castle-hotel — Checking out the view from the balcony in our castle hotel room!

Our castle hotel was in the Dalkey region and on our first day, we napped to get over our jetlag and then spent the rest of the day wandering through the picturesque spot. The quaint shops, ocean view and towering Dalkey Castle had us falling in love with Ireland immediately. But we were even more excited to dive into the heart of Dublin the next day, and we planned our excursion carefully so that we’d be able to make the most of our visit.

Getting Around

Even though we had a rental car, we were informed at once that driving in downtown Dublin is not a great idea. The streets are just too crowded, and parking is minimal. Instead, we took the DART to the downtown station and then got passes for the Dublin Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. This tour travels to over twenty different spots, visiting all the most popular landmarks in the city. And, as an added bonus, the bus features a tour guide that shares facts about the city and its top attractions along the way. [Read more…]

Tips for Traveling with 2 Under 2

February 23, 2018 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Traveling with kids is a challenge, and that’s especially true with two kids. When both are also under two years old…well, let’s just say challenging probably isn’t a strong enough word! Today Katelynn from Hampers and Hiccups is sharing her tips and tricks for making traveling with 2 under 2 just a little bit easier!

When I was pregnant with our second baby, my husband and I were considering taking a trip over to Wales, UK to see my aunt and her family before Sweet Girl turns 2. This would put us in the air with 2 under 2 for, oh, about a million hours. It’s a long trip from our home in Saskatchewan to their doorstep in Wrexham.

While we were still chewing this over, my father-in-law brought up the idea of taking the entire family down to Maricopa, Arizona. The timeline was the same as our dream trip! All these conversations were taking place before we even had a second baby, but I was sure we’d be able to do some traveling with a rambunctious toddler and a 6-month-old. So, we agreed to the Arizona trip and decided to save Wales for another year. When we head off, Sweet Girl will be 23 months old, and Pip 6 months old.

Now that Pip is born, and Christmas is over with, I’ve started focusing on our April trip to Maricopa. I was half-planning the whole time, but just in my head. Now I’m actually making lists. And holy moly is there lots to consider!

This will be our first real trip with kids. No more carry-on luggage only. We’ll be waiting at the baggage carousal with the rest of heavy packers. [Read more…]

7 Accessories Every Woman Needs in Her Beach Bag

September 16, 2017 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Oh, the beach. It is one of those places that we all dream of spending a warm, sunny day enjoying – maybe with a book or drink (or both) in hand – but sometimes the reality can be a little jarring. Especially if you find yourself without the necessary accessories. We all know that every beach outing requires sunscreen and a good bathing suit, but there are a few things that we sometimes don’t think about until it is too late. So, before you head off to the beach next time, make sure that you grab these seven accessories to throw in your beach bag.

A Great Beach Bag

First and foremost, if you need to fill your bag with the right beach necessities, you need the right beach bag. This bag needs to be large enough to meet all of your needs, have tons of pockets and compartments that can keep precious items away from the sand, be durable and sun resistant, and still look super cute and stylish. Thankfully, there are tons of companies that have this formula all figured out, so finding the right bag shouldn’t be too much of an effort. Check out Swim Wear Galore beach bags and find the perfect bag for all your beach days. [Read more…]

Must-Visit Historic Sites and Attractions Near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

July 30, 2017 by Kathryn 9 Comments

Canada’s 150th birthday celebration has been full of all kinds of excitement, but what I’ve loved most about the occasion has been getting the chance to see more of the beautiful and diverse country that I call home. Ford Canada has been helping bloggers across the country explore some of the hidden treasures near their homes and recently I had the chance to do just that in the 2017 Ford F-150 Lariat!

Since I have a baby on the way, my husband and I decided not to venture too far away from our hometown of Saskatoon, but we soon realized that we didn’t have to travel very far for amazing experiences! On our first day, we drove to Fort Carlton, a Saskatchewan heritage site that was once an important stop on the Hudson Bay Company’s trade route.

One of the best things about this site is the fact that it’s so hands-on. We had the chance to feel the difference between the different types of furs that trappers brought to trade, see some of the iconic Hudson’s Bay blankets used by trappers and learn about the most popular items in Fort Carlton’s general store. [Read more…]

3 Reasons to Take Your iPad or Tablet on Your Next Family Vacation

May 30, 2017 by Kathryn 3 Comments

For many, there’s a new code of conduct while on the annual family vacation: no electronics! If your kids have their noses stuck to their smartphones, iPads or tablets, they will miss the world around them, and you’ll lose out on valuable family bonding time, which is usually the point of the vacation in the first place. It can be advantageous to bend this rule during the trip to and from your destination, however, and here are three reasons why you should still take your electronics with you when you travel.

1. Importance of Entertainment While Traveling

It does not matter if you travel by train, plane, or automobile; your children will become bored quickly. The excitement of traveling to the fun destination will wear off as the minutes tick by and the inevitable and repetitive “Are we there yet?” is enough to drive any parent to the brink of insanity. No matter how many times you tell your kids it will be X hours until you arrive at your destination, they will ask the question again.

[Read more…]

Plan the Perfect All-Inclusive Family Vacation this Winter with These 4 Tips

November 10, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

I’ve always believed that travel provides endless enriching opportunities for both adults and children, so travel has always been a priority for my boys and me. From a simple road trip to an exotic cruise, we’ve had the chance to enjoy all kinds of adventures together. But one of my favourite travel getaways with my boys has always been a trip to an all-inclusive resort. I love the hassle-free experience of knowing all our food, drinks and entertainment are included with our stay, while still having ample opportunities to explore the local attractions on day trips and excursions.

But like any vacation, proper planning helps to turn a good vacation into a great one! And if you’re considering escaping the cold this winter on your own all-inclusive family getaway, these four tips will help ensure that your trip to one of the best all inclusive resorts is the best one ever!

Vacation with Friends

If you have close friends with kids, consider vacationing together as a group! Not only do extra people make the vacation more fun, but many resorts will offer a discount to larger groups. That means you save money, your kids have more friends to play with and you can plan extra activities like a ladies’ spa day or a big group breakfast get-together! Make sure to also check for special deals that allow kids to stay and eat for free to save even more money! [Read more…]

3 Memorable Monuments Everyone Should Visit on a South Dakota Family Vacation

August 26, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

One of the things that often amazes me about travelling is discovering how many majestic places are hiding just a short distance away from our own home. This summer, Jeremy and I decided to discover some of those places by driving to the Black Hills region in South Dakota to check out some of the wonders it had to offer. From our home in Southern Saskatchewan, the drive is less than eight hours.

We had the chance to take the brand new 2016 Ford Edge on our adventure and it made every minute of our trip a smooth, comfortable experience for both us and the boys. Once we were there, I only wished we’d visited sooner! If you’re planning on making a trip to the region, these three mind-blowing monuments should be on your family’s must-visit list. [Read more…]