Travel Tips

As a single Mom on a tight budget I get asked a lot how I am able to travel so much.  Well, I am a deal finder, but it takes time.  Below is an email I just sent another single Mom wanting to know any tips I had, so figured I may as well share.  Here you have it:

In no particular order: First traveling  is a priority for me. It is top on my list of what I want to be able to give my kids. However I am a single Mom of a 10 and 15 year old, and the cost of raising them constantly goes up! To make travel happen, there are things we do without: #1 is tv, I haven't had cable in over 15 years and figure I likely save anywhere from $50-$100 a month, so every month I put into an envelope (labeled travel) $50-$75 what I would guess tv would cost me. Mileage card: I am self employed and recently moved all of my bills related to the business to a mileage credit card (I like Hawaii, and have found Hawaiian miles are easy to use. I really like how they give you the month long calendar and it can show the price each way in miles or dollars, and lets you decide which leg of a trip you want to use what. For example if going and coming each cost 25k miles, but the $ prices going is $194, and coming home is $264, I will use miles on the legs home and pay for the going) *if I travel in the peak time, such as Christmas, I will ONLY let myself go if half can be covered by miles, otherwise it's not worth it Coin Jar: I have a constant coin jar that NEVER gets money taken out, this money is my travel spending money, I keep it going all year, and right before I go anywhere I roll Quarters and Dimes and take the rest to the coin-star (they charge almost 10% so the kids sort the dimes and quarters and I roll those so I don't have to pay the 10% on those) Booking trips: If a trip is short, or less than a week I have found that packages are often better as well as easier. My favorite sights are expedia and travelocity, but I spend a great deal of time picking the exact air on both as well as hotel in order to compare the cost to know for sure which is the better deal *on that note for short trips I like to spend the extra money and take a direct flight *I also use the search option on both of these sights that allows you to search for hotels that offer free breakfast. Traveling with kids, can add up if you eat out every morning. My kids are not huge breakfast eaters so the continetal breakfast works quite well. If you are traveling someplace like Hawaii (I could go on if you ever need more detail about favorite condo complexes on each of the islands), for a week or more I prefer staying in a condo. Typically they are larger than a hotel room, offer a full kitchen and sometimes a washer/dryer I almost always use VRBO. If you do use VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) be prepared to know the area you want to stay, or even better the condo complex before searching(just ask people that go a lot). You can click on a particular complex and scroll through look at pictures, calendars and prices. I usually have post its out at this point to write down the vrbo # I want to go back and send an inquirey. Prices and condos vary. The earlier you look the more likely you are to get one of the nicer more updated condos at a better prices. I typically make a list of what the kids and I like to eat and stock up on most things at Costco when we get in. Milk, sandwich goods, fruit...and such. We almost always eat breakfast at the condo and pack a lunch if we are heading to the beach...again this save $$$ by not eating out. Priceline for cars is often great, but watch the fine print their taxes and fees are steap. For Hawaii during non peak I can usually "win" a mid or full size car for under $20 a day but by the time you add their fees it's double. I've had great luck/success with Costco travel for car rentals as well, they also let you cancel at no fee, in the event you find a better deal. The biggest tip to affordable travel is traveling during non-peak times. During Christmas the deals are few and far between, it doesn't hurt to look but you will always pay more. One of my favorite times to travel has been during the kids conference week in October. At their school they have half days, so by pulling them out that week they've never missed much.....that being said having a high schooler this has gotten a lot trickier and he doesn't really want to miss school :( This fall I booked a long weekend (Thursday-Monday) with the kids to NYC, I found a very reasonable air/hotel package, right in Times Square (we are simply there to do Broadway each day),but I think because the weather will be cold and not great, the prices were low! *If ever in New York to take in a show, buy day of at the TKTS ticket booth in Time Square, they offer 40-60% off If ever looking for cheap airfare almost any California city don't forget to search Virgin America, their fares are awesome, plus its a super fun airline! Hope that helps!

Sunday Photos

After I skied yesterday, I came home got in my jammies (at 9 am) and never got out of them.  Lo and I had the most chill wonderful "day off" ever.  I think we both needed that.  My dogs on the other hand were not impressed. 
We went up Saddlerock today (while the Seahawks played, no one was out it was great) the trails are what they are for January, not so great, but it's super close, and very doable for kids and the dogs....even the basset hound!

Lo thought a ride would be nice

it came with a trade off, Rick needed to rest

This is a happy basset

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It's cold

I did something I've never done before, I got up early while the kids were sleeping drove up to Leavenworth to ski, then came home as they woke and made breakfast. I knew it was supposed to be cold, and my kids would not want to go. They are at ages now where I feel the need to respect their choice to participate or not in activities I am doing.
I'm really glad I did it and now that I'm home and warm, it feels good. Thing is I kind of imagined a full parking lot of people wanting to beat the weekend crowd, was a little surprised, and panicked to be the ONLY car, gave myself a pep talk and came up with a plan to stay on the front loop until others arrived (didn't want to be cougar bait in the back meadow). As I got ready to take off I noticed a familiar car and was so happy to see a friend, just knowing someone else was out there gave me a peace of mind. My plan was to take no more than 2 hours 15 minutes from leaving my house and getting home. I can ski and 8k loop, when it's fast in just under 30 minutes so I figured I had time for 3 loops, good plan but it was only 8 degrees out when I finished. Was having a hard time keeping my face, hands and feet warm, core was fine. 2.5 was all I could stand (20k). The beauty of driving up alone is cranking my heat up really high and listening to music. It was a perfect morning. Asked Lo what we should do the rest of the day, she said nothing, she wants to stay home, and that sound fabulous to me! Have a good weekend!

Pardon the no makeup, but check out the ice crystals in my hair, pretty sure my face is pink because it's frozen!

8 degrees...when I finished

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Fridays

This time a year I might be partial to Fridays. I get excited to wake up,  make the kids a big breakfast, work in Lo's classroom, then take off to Leavenworth and ski.
I started taking Fridays off after my ex left, mainly because I was having mommy guilt about Lo having to go to daycare at 6 am so many mornings a week. I've always been able to pick them up everyday after school, but because I work so early in the morning their Dad used to take them. When he left I adjusted my schedule for late start Mondays, then started taking off Fridays, Lo thought this was the greatest, and quite honestly so did I.

My world at the time felt like a tailspin, but I found by making myself get in the routine of heading up to ski every Friday provided a time to myself where I could think and clear my head.  It was the most therapeutic thing I could do for myself. It's since evolved, and I still love it,, but there's now a little community of women (and a few men), sometimes we carpool, we always see each other there, ski here and there together, then meet at the pantry when we're done. It's a mixed bunch, married, divorced and widowed, but we're all moms, out enjoying our time while doing something good for ourselves.

*funny note today, I got up there after my friend L but saw her a couple times out there. It was 15 degrees, which is doable it just takes a little longer to warm up. Once I got warmed up I figured I may as well stay out there, got done with 3 laps and felt pretty dang good (24k), only to go in and chat w L who had done 5 laps (40k), this woman is amazing! She's humble, gracious and provides a ton of inspiration!

Cheers To Friday!

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Simple, yet Thoughtful

I got one of the good ones, men that is. Sad to say I didn't even know his kind existed. Swimming tonight (I think a lot under water), was thinking this man does SO much for me, in so many ways. Sometimes it's the littlest thoughtful things that really make me smile. On the occasions when I have no children here and stay the night (gasp, I know) at his house. I will often go upstairs and find the bed neatly made, but on my half two, extra thick throw blankets folded in half laid out lengthwise so I will stay warm (he sleeps with practically just a sheet), it's this little premeditated thought I just love...swoon!

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Men/Women/Methow

7 couples spent a wonderful weekend in the Methow. I have lots of beautiful pictures to show, but bloggers being a B! So I will post a few I have here. In a nutshell: blessed to have such amazing, caring, compassionate and athletic friends. Saturday 10 of the 14 did a 30k ski from Mazama to Winthrop the other four skied the first 10k with us then skied back to get the cars! Awesome group of people!

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Workouts 12/30-1/6

I'm back, but only to working out for fun.  I LOVE to skate ski, and last year had the opportunity to ski for several months, several days a week with Rick.  He is the best skier I have ever skied with.  Going into this season (my 5th year) I am feeling great.  I am skiing with people I never thought I could.  I feel comfortable, even somewhat confident.   I love it, and I do it because I enjoy it.  I signed up for something big, but don't have to start training until the end of March, my goal between now and then is to stay in shape, free of injuries, and to do what I enjoy, when I want to, which will be ski until there is no snow....that being said....I think this will be my last workout post for a while!

Monday 31th- 24K Skate/1.5 hour night hike
Tuesday 1st- 20K Skate
Wednesday 2st- Off
Thursday 3nd- 1 hour swim
Friday 4th- 24K skate
Saturday 5th- 30k Skate
Sunday 6th- 22k Skate