I feel like if I were to live in Japan, Kyoto would be the place. It is so family-oriented and seems a little less shiny in a way. Everywhere you look there is a mom on a bike with a kid strapped to the back of it. It was comforting to see that since I was walking around with my young kids. GETTING TO KYOTO FROM TOKYO: We spent about 3 days in Kyoto. The easiest and fastest way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto is by using your Japan Rail Pass to travel by bullet train to Kyoto main station. The bullet train portion only taking about 2 hours…
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Traveling to Japan for the first time!
Last year, I remember getting an email from Scott’s Cheap Flights alerting me that there was a price drop for flights to Japan during ‘Cherry Blossom’ season. Japan has been on our radar for a long time now. My son is super into ninjas and always talks about Japan randomly. I remember reading the email and saying to myself, “Oh wow!” It was a great deal! I then showed my husband and he said, “Alright, let’s book it”. It was at that moment that I immediately felt anxious. It was weird. Why now, after wanting to go so badly did I feel like this? I guess it’s because I didn’t…
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Two of the best pumpkin patches in San Diego!
Pumpkin Station – Mission Valley If you live in San Diego, then you’ve probably seen the Mission Valley Pumpkin Station right of the 8 freeway. It’s conveniently located in central San Diego which makes it a breeze to get to and a great meeting point for spending some time with family and friends. A huge plus for me is, that the parking is a cinch! They have a huge lot full of free spaces. I don’t know about you, but I always consider this a win! Especially when you have the little ones in tow. This pumpkin patch is simple, small, and PACKED with things to do. It’s a great…
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The BEST homemade Enchilada Sauce on the planet!
This recipe is a WINNER! I absolutely love it. It reminds me of what you get at a legit Mexican restaurant. It’s authentic, a cinch to put together, and you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry. This sauce keeps in your fridge for about 5 days after you make it and you can even freeze a batch to use later. Easy! And the best part is, that it’s not that spicy so my kids enjoy it as well. It’s also a million times better than the canned stuff. Keep in mind, that you don’t have to use this sauce only for enchiladas. There are hundreds of ways you…
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A day in the town of Julian, California
This year I made the decision to want to try to take the kids apple picking. The reason I say it like that is because, it can be kind of a pain. Our local San Diego orchards are about an hour away, up windy roads. It’s not all that convenient. Plus, if I’m being honest, apple picking takes about 15 minutes at the very most! So it’s like, why put all that energy into it for 10-15 minutes of fun? I just had to remind myself that my kids only get one childhood and each memory counts. Another reason for my hesitation is because most places up-charge the apples by…
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The most amazing Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins!
I don’t know what it is, but every year around this time I get the crazy urge to bake. Anyone else? Right now my mind is wrapped around all things pumpkin, so I’ve been experimenting with a few recipes. This one hit the spot. They are filled with warm spices and gooey chocolate. I hope you enjoy! Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). You will need a 12 cup muffin pan. You can butter or spray the muffin cups with a non stick spray. Or you can line the muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking…
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Alaska Excursions and Highlights: Helping you see Alaska, 1 port at a time.
During our 7 night cruise, we visited 4 different ports. Icy Straight Point, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. They were all so different and had plenty of things to do. Icy Straight Point was probably my least favorite of the 4 because it was so small. It’s not even really a city, it’s more like a camp. It was kind of strange. If I were you, I would stay on the ship for this stop or book a whale watching tour. Don’t waste your time walking around. Plus, they don’t have any service on the Island. No WIFI, nothing. It takes a really special person to want to live there. In…
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Disney Cruising is the only way to see Alaska!
Alaska Blog: Disney Cruising is the only way to see Alaska WOW! What an adventure this trip was. It was a great balance of adventure and relaxation because, we decided to take a Disney cruise. This allowed us to be as adventurous as we wanted without exerting too much energy, like on our last trips. It’s so nice to be able to come back to the ship after a long day and just drop the kids off at the Kids Club, while us parents have some wine and downtime. I found a great deal on a 7 night Disney cruise that left out of Vancouver. The reason it was so…
