Tips from a Wanderer...

It's no secret that our family loves to travel. Between the opportunities we have through my Scentsy business and the experiences we can't wait to have, we are always thinking about and dreaming about our next adventure.

It never fails when we return from a trip that we have friends, family and even strangers asking how we are able to take such fun trips and find such neat places to eat, sleep and play, all while not totally depleting our bank account.

So, here we are with my top tips on becoming a expert Wanderer. While it isn't all of the tricks I use, these are the ones I get asked about the most.
Ready? Let's dive in!

1. Where to stay...

        We have 2 favorite ways of finding a place to rest our travel weary heads. One takes a little planning and the other is for those last minute escapes of whimsy or the "we've been driving forever, let's pull over and stop for the night."

        The first is Airbnb. We were introduced to the Airbnb concept in Nashville some years ago and have never looked back. Using Airbnb gives you the flexibility to find a space that suits your family to a T. Have a big family or big group going? Skip having to book 2-3 separate rooms at a hotel and find a big house to rent instead. This is not to say in the least that we aren't big hotel fans (we are!), but there are times where, when traveling on a budget, you can find some stellar deals on some beautiful  & most immersing places to stay using this avenue. For instance, on a trip to Charleston, SC years ago, we were able to stay in an apartment over a garage in West Ashley (gorgeous area) for a week for $287. For that area, a hotel would have likely tripled that cost.

       I've had many friends say they are nervous to use Airbnb because it's someone's house. Pro tip: Read every review and leave your own after you stay.  It is the BEST way to get a good understanding of what you're walking into. Also be sure to read all the details of the home & things like cancellation policies.

          The other tool we love to use for those last minute hotel needs is HotelTonight. It's an app that can be made to make those very last minute hotel stays. You can search based on your destination, or, if needing to pull over for the night, use the location tracker to see what's nearby. The later in the day you book, the lower the rates get. (They want to fill up those rooms!). If you have a large group, this may not be the right fit, but if it's just a few of you, it's pretty great. While you can't choose the type of room you want at checkout, you will know exactly where you are staying & I've had great luck asking the clerk at check in if they have a specific room available.


Pro Tip: Take a Scentsy mini warmer or our=wall diffuser (coming Fall 2019) and create an intentional scent memory for every trip you take. Scent memories will automatically tie you right back to that incredible destination (and keep your space smelling great in the meantime)



2. What to eat...
   
        Admittedly, I focus on this aspect a LOT when we travel. We love to try new foods and explore what is regionally & the specialty of where we are. I am the gal that will refuse to eat Red Lobster if I'm in Maine. Let's just get real.
        One of the best tips I have for finding what is the best of the best, without getting caught up in chains or tourist traps is Instagram. Yep, Instagram.

         Using IG to search for foodie related hashtags has led us to some incredible eats. So what do you look for? Well, recently we traveled to Austin and so I hopped on IG, hit the search button typed in the following (one at a time of course): #Austin #Austinfoodie #Austineats #Austinfood Then I'll scroll through the pictures that come up and click on whatever looks drool worthy, find out where it's from and go follow their account. On that trip, one of the discoveries was this small, but stealler breakfast joint, Bird Bird Biscuit . Without my IG search, I would have never found this tiny, tucked away gem and it was worth EVERY calorie.

        Another "never has failed us" tool is the TVFOODMAPS App. If you are a Food Network fan, this app is for YOU! You can search a specific city or hit the search to see what's close to you that has been featured on shows like Triple D, Unique Sweets, and more of your favorite TV Food shows. On that same trip to Austin, we discovered Cooper's BBQ through this app and found the most insanely delicious, hands down BEST brisket I've had in my life. It's ruined me on all other brisket.

3. What to do...

     While Google has it role here, my standbys are always Instagram & Pinterest.

      With Pinterest, I can find fellow bloggers own adventures and see what's popular in a certain area simply by typing the city's name in the search box. I do not like getting sucked into tourist traps, so using Pinterest to see what locals love to do is a great way to make the most of your time.

    As with food, I use Instagram to explore what's fun in a city. I use the same method of hash tag searching, but generally will find all I need using the destinations name. For instance, this last weekend we were headed to Denver for a quick 48 trip. By searching #Denver, I found a really neat installation currently being held at the Denver Museum of Art.

    Both of these methods allow you to see what the people who are living in, and others who are visiting, are doing and will save you a lot of time and research.

As mentioned before, because of my business as a Scentsy consultant, we get the opportunity to travel frequently. Whether it's because we've earned an incredible incentive trip or are heading to a regional training or our annual Scentsy Family reunion, we have been to some incredible places over the last 10 years. Those events alone have taken us to Disney World, Disneyland, Charleston, Cozumel, Cancun, Vegas, Dallas, Denver, & many other big and small cities across the US.

The other thing my Scentsy business allows is the freedom to visit other destinations on our personal wish lists. It has helped create time and the financial flexibility to become Wanderers and we take every opportunity we get. We are big believers in memories over stuff around here.

If you have your own travel tips that are your 'go tos' we'd love to hear them! Drop them in the comments below and share your travel smarts with us!

-Amanda

           

Falling down the rabbit hole...

The struggle is so real. Am I right? The struggle to feel like you're doing a good job.

Like you're valuable.

Like you're enough.

Like people like you.

And it doesn't just stick to one area, does it? It's spreads like a disease that moves from how you're parenting, how well you're doing your job, if you're contributing well enough your friendships, loving your spouse enough and even how we view our bodies.

Then the enemy comes in with what seems to be the world's largest magnifying glass. Even the areas you feel like you have under control seem to start showing wear. LOOK HERE! he says. Showing you every tiny failure as though you've just doomed all man kind.

The struggle is real.

I've recently had a few experiences that have made me fight spiraling down into the realm of nonsense. In my family, we call this falling down the rabbit hole. An Alice in Wonderland reference. Some small, some bigger, but the end game the same. The argument in my head of whether the thoughts floating around were true and worth hanging on to or lies of the enemy that needed to be thrown in the trash can as soon as they came across my mental "desk". File 13'd if you will. The troublesome fact is that often, not much trash gets taken out. Instead, I hold on to it like a hoarder or all the things. Today has been one of those days. A few very separate moments that I've rabbit holed into one big "I'm doing nothing right" wad.

Here is an example of what has ensued lately when I step too close to the hole.

(insert Alice yelling "Bye Dina!" as she tumbles through the dark)

"Am I a good enough leader? Am I inspiring my team? Do they even like me? What if they don't like me, but are just dealing with me because it's all they've got? I mean, if I was, this, this, and this would be different. I must really be messing up."

"I saw so and so at the store today. They didn't even acknowledge me. I wonder what I did? Do they think I did something? I wonder if they're talking about me behind my back? What are they saying? That's not even true (my answer to my made up theories about made up gossip)."

"Man I'm messing up this mom thing? I mean, if I wasn't my kids wouldn't be so hard headed and talk back, right? They would be gentle and kind and show the manners I'm working to teach them. They'd pick up their clothes and wouldn't fight or use their wit to throw word darts at each other. Practical princesses. But they're not and it's my fault."

And then the most pathetic one of all. Ready for it?

"Why isn't anyone commenting on my FB post? I mean, it's helpful and funny and all the things, but no one even liked it. Maybe it's me. Maybe they don't like what I post and so they just keep scrolling wishing they could somehow delete me without me knowing"'

Friends. If my daughter had those thoughts about some social media post she'd made I'd have to resist the urge to pop her upside her head and ask why on earth she was associating her value with thumbs ups and passing comments. So stupid. So so stupid. 

But I did it. 

And you do it too, don't you?

I think as a woman, this is so common, but I dare not say that men don't also fight the same battle, but in silence. The fight for self worth and learning to fully disconnect the lines we mistakenly draw between every day life stuff and who we are.

The fact is, leadership doesn't always come with reassurance and we have to be okay with that.

Sometime people have stuff and don't see you. Legit don't see you and how selfish of us to decide it's all about us. Like maybe they have other stuff going on. Hard stuff. So selfish.

A dirty towel on the floor doesn't mean you're breeding serial killers.

"Likes" don't equal love.

So how do we fight back? How do we quiet the voice of despair and let truth scream louder?

How do we stop just before following the rabbit down his hole?

I mean he is awful cute. Stopwatch and all. But alas, what follows when we get too close to the hole is we inevitably tumble down it's treacherous dark spaces with a world of chaos and confusion at the end. A place where nonsense is King. 

I think the first part is to protect yourself from even getting that close.  When the thoughts and ideas begin, to immediately treat them like some obnoxious balloon and pop them. Not today balloon! Not Today.

Second, I think we need to recognize how upside down those thoughts are. Even Alice saw it. 

Those thoughts that turn into other thoughts and spiral out of control are typically 99% false, but we've given them a crumb of truth and let them swallow us whole. Look at those thoughts and truly break them down. Instead of focusing on what you think you've done wrong or why you don't think you're good enough, flip the mirror, so it's right side up. 

Why do you do right? Many things I'm sure. 

What are you good at? So, so much.

Do you lead with your team's dreams and best interest in mind? Then you're enough. Good job!

Are you respectful of others, treat them well and stay out of gossip? Then you're enough! Bravo!

Do you teach your kids to love people, show compassion and work hard? Then who cares about the wet towel! You're killing this parenting thing!

Is what you posted on social media something that encourages, makes people laugh or inspires? Then does it really matter if they hit that dumb thumbs up button? You've made Facebook a brighter place instead of adding to it's darkness. I applaud you!

Greater than all of this, though, we need to remember in Who's image we've been created. Whether you're a believer or not, I fully trust that you and I both were created from a loving Father who thinks we are pretty fantastic and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

And His Word is filled with the reminders of how valuable we are. Not how valuable WE THINK we are. How truly, unequivocally for certain, for sure, no questions asked, VALUABLE we are.  Does this mean you'll wake up tomorrow with never having to deal with self worth issues again? No. But it should remind you that you can fight back. With an arsenal of promises from His word and the ability to flip the mirror. To recognize the false and ridiculous thoughts that begin to fill our heads like a bucket of water. To quickly drive holes in that bucket to help them fall right back out again.

That's where our power lies.

So tomorrow, should you indeed wake up, or maybe you're even struggling today, with thoughts about everything you're messing up or doing wrong. Stop. I'll stop with you.

Take a step back (away from the hole, flip the mirror and remind yourself of what you're doing right.

Change the perspective, focus on the good, nay, even great, and give yourself some credit.

That rabbit is cute and all and tea time looks sort of fun, but that Queen of Hearts is waiting for you and she's only after your head heart. Don't even bother to show up.