Packing this time was a little bit harder now that Valerie has become more mobile. Valerie has made such big strides in milestones! Now, she can crawl as fast as lighting. She claps and waves to/at everyone she sees (which is super cute, but can also make for some awkward encounters in public sometimes). She can stand with or without a support but will only move her feet if she’s holding onto something/someone. Her hair is finally coming in more, AND she’s got seven teeth!! Three of which just showed up last week. 

We are also seeing a lot of progression toward communication! I can definitely tell she’s trying to say words to me even though I can’t understand them most of the time. BUT she will respond to me signing sometimes. AND she’s given me the sign for “Milk” and “More” and got excited when I acknowledged her signs!! The effort does pay off if you stick with it! I am still trying to catch her doing the sign on camera. I’ll share when I finally do!

After getting the taste of success using sign language with Val, I really would like to try and start early potty training. I’ve heard of many people starting before their little ones are even a year old. Some success stories say they had finished potty training before their child is even 18 months old! (Here is another moms blog about this method.) I also had a very close friend share her positive experience with early training. I am intrigued to say the least.

Going from Shingletown to Lake Havasu City,The other two things we are thinking could be really useful on the road is a baby gate system and some floor foam mats to help with baby proofing and creating a softer play space. What we discovered while in Shingletown in a home with all wood floors and a learning to crawl/wall baby is that head bonks are constant!!! And Valerie wants to touch the ground one thing in a room I’d like her to stay away from. Hence, the baby gate and mat idea. However we will have to see what we can fit in the van. I’ll keep you posted if we pull the trigger!

Valerie’s birthday is coming up and I am feeling both excited and a little sad. I love watching her light up as she learns new things everyday, but I also am sad that she feels so grown up already! Even though I’ve spent 365 with her, I can’t get enough! We get to spend a week in Florida for her birthday week with some family from the east coast, so there will be two mini parties for her. I can’t wait to share pictures! 

Until next time! Cheers!

The post From Shingletown to Lake Havasu City, Arizona appeared first on wayfaringFTM.

I have always been big on budgeting. Before we went out on the road (the first time) we looked at what we spent each month and made a few simple decisions to help us better live within our means. Here are five different things we did that have done to cut our monthly budget down.:

One car, no payment.*

This one was a no brainer for us. Bryce worked from home and we were planning on being on the road with a trailer. One vehicle is all we needed. We still could share a vehicle while we were in Austin because I was pregnant/planning to stay at home and Bryce got to continue working remote. And now we are back on the road. This might not work for everyone, but this definitely cuts our monthly spending a great deal. We save on a second car payment, extra insurance costs, AND gas. Not to mention we get pretty decent gas milage in our Honda Odyssey minivan!

(*We had not had a car payment for the past few years thankfully. However, we are still making payments on the van. It will be paid off before the end of this year though which will help us to lower our monthly spending even more!)

No more Netflix or other unnecessary subscription services in our monthly budget.

This was a little tougher for me. When we looked at how we could cut our budget down while we were on the road, we wanted to go as minimalist as possible. We said goodbye to Hulu, ESPN, Disney+, and Amazon prime. I also cancelled our wine subscription and Apple Music. The only exceptions were subscriptions for Spotify and Apple storage for our cell phones. Because we are on the road taking endless photos and spending countless hours driving we justified keeping those in our monthly budget.

Paperless statements, Autopay, and Auto-delivery when available (and convenient).

This “hack” may only save a few dollars here and there, but they add up! I was amazed at how much I could lower my monthly budget with this trick. Some services offer small discounts on your monthly bills by going paperless, or having an automatic payment/purchase each month. I set up paperless statements for my cell phone bill through Verizon and set up an automatic payment and save $10.00 each month.

I also set up an “automatic repeat delivery” with Petco. It saves me 5% on my repeat order as well as free shipping. Also, I am getting a larger bag with a lower cost per pound in general for buying in bulk. Which Petco also does not offer in their storefront locations. I also am saved from having to find a Petco (or other pet store close by) and make the trip to pick it up. To me it feels like a win, win win. 

The only downside is that I have to make sure I update our address as we travel so that it doesn’t ship to an old address. It’s happened only once so far, and I definitely kicked myself for the loss. I have similar repeat orders set up with other things we use, too. And like I said before, you will be surprised at how big of a difference these small amounts can make! 

More simplistic meals at home, eat out less.

Eating at home seems like an obvious solution to stop overspending, but it isn’t always an easy choice. Life can get SO busy. A day flies by and then by dinnertime cooking sounds miserable. Thankfully, I’ve got one of the best husbands in the world and he usually is our dinner chef. (He is also the health nut in our family, which really works out!)

Keep credit cards paid off.

As little income wasted on interest charges the better. Also, less frivolous purchases because there’s no room in our van. No extra stuff can be added without forethought. Keeps spending down on those random on a whim purchases and helps with any creeping credit card debt. 

Not every budget cut can happen overnight. It took me a couple YEARS to get my credit card debt fully eliminated (and thankfully Bryce was more fiscally responsible than I was in college). In order to make a difference in your living costs, you have to plan your budget and then: STICK. TO. IT. What’s important is remaining disciplined and not letting yourself stretch your spending over what you have in your plan. Also, don’t let yourself get hung up on what you can’t do, but rather what you CAN. If you can’t get rid of your credit card debt right away, see what payment amount you need to begin to lower the balance and make sure that is your monthly payment.

This is not to say ‘never use your credit card until the balance is paid off’!!

Of course, your credit score is extremely important. So I would like to clarify that if you’ve got credit card debt, you do NOT have to stop using your credit cards until the balances are paid off in order to be successful in your budgeting. However, you will need to keep yourself accountable of your spending in the month and make sure that you are only spending what you can pay off each month (in addition to your payment that is lowering your overall balance).

Overall, You must live within your means, eliminate reoccurring debts, and make room for savings in your monthly budget if you want to eventually get out of the paycheck to paycheck rut.

Living out of a minivan surely helps us not buy too many frivolous things. (There isn’t a whole lot of extra room, so we have to figure out what we’re taking out of the car before we buy anything new.) While we know that we can’t stay on the road forever, living with as minimal monthly debts and eating at home helps us sustain our nomadic lifestyle (as well as staying with family along the way)! 

SIDE NOTE:

I read a book when I got out of college that blew my mind and really got me thinking about the concept of the paycheck to paycheck “rat race” we all participate in. The book is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. (That is a link to the book for sale on Amazon, but there is also the direct website you can visit here.) If this post interests you, I would HIGHLY recommend giving this book a shot. It is a really quick and easy read. Its been mentioned by Forbes, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and other major news sources, so I know the book has made an impact on more than just me! 

If you know of another good book about budgeting, I would love to hear about it! Comment, or send me a message here!

The post 5 ways we lower our monthly budget appeared first on wayfaringFTM.

“Stay present for each step of your journey. We don’t go from one place to another in a gigantic leap. We get there in increments, by going through each feeling, each belief, each experience one step at a time. 
Sometimes when we pray for miracles, what we’re really praying for is help in skipping steps, for shortcuts. The simple act of acceptance, of returning to each step of our path, can often bring us the miracle we need. Then we see the truth. The real miracle is one always available to each of us: it’s the miracle of acceptance. We can go where we want to go, one step at a time.

Stay present for each step of your
journey. Trust each stage. Many things
are possible for you if you accept that
the fastest way is one step at a time.”

Staying present is something I have been consciously working on for at least a few years now. I have a tendency to get stuck in my head sometimes. It can be about worries I have for what might happen. Or something already happened, but not as I would have envisioned or liked. I have been finding myself doing exactly as Melody’s wisdom says. Wishing for a way to skip ahead to future plans that seem more exciting. But what that is doing is causing me to miss out on the great moments that are happening everyday! 

Every so often I need a reminder to stop thinking about what I have planned in the future. Look around me and appreciate something about the day I am presently living. Mother’s day weekend was a great time to practice. The holiday weekend felt so different this year. It was my first Mother’s Day weekend celebrating as a mother myself.  While we didn’t do anything super fancy, it didn’t matter.We spent the weekend with friends doing outdoor activities and enjoying each others company. And for the first time in quite a while I stopped wishing I could just fast forward to my next exciting plan. 

[See image gallery at localhost] Melody is SO right in the end when she says that the fastest way is one step at a time. When you are living presently you are enjoying each moment more. Enjoying each moment makes time seem faster. Rather than spending time waiting we need to be enjoying the journey each day. The other thing that comes up for me when thinking on this is my connection to the people and world around me. Without the important family and friends in my life, the journey wouldn’t be worth it. And sometimes I don’t think that I share my love and appreciation enough. This year, that is something else I would like to work on. 

So, happy Mother’s Day Y’all! And Happy Mother’s Day, Ma! (Who I’m sure hasn’t heard it enough in my lifetime.) I love you and appreciate all you’ve gone through with me in life. I wouldn’t be who I am today, or be here at all without you.  I’m sorry we weren’t around to celebrate with you this weekend! 

xoxo, Briana

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It isn’t easy to create a consistent routine with an infant!

For the past few months I’ve thought about how I would put together what my daily schedule looks like, but I have STRUGGLED! Mostly because every time I’ve felt really good about my daily routine with Valerie for more than a week something shifts! Then its back to feeling out of sorts again. Whether it’s a sleep “progression”, teething troubles or something else it always feels like somethings changing.

So how do I create a daily schedule for myself when I may have to adapt to the changes of an ever growing/evolving baby? Short answer is, A LOT of flexibility. I leave lots of wiggle room in my scheduled blocks of activities to leave room for adjustment. I also try to give myself some “cushion time” to get things done. Other than appointments which have set times, I try to allow adjustability in my scheduled weekly errands/chores. So if I need to get to the grocery store, but I am just not keen on going I can push the trip off a day or two. I think it’s important not to be too hard on myself for allowing this kind of flexibility in my schedule.

Valerie just turned 10 months old, and we’ve been going back and forth between 1 and 2 naps a day for a week or so. If we have a two nap kind of day, here is how our day might look. I’ve got two different days that I noted down below so you can compare them & see how my day might fluctuate. I have to stay flexible when I make my plans for a day based on what time we get up in the morning and how we slept that previous night. 

Daily schedule possibility #1:

7:00 – 7:30       Wake up (sometimes earlier than Val, sometimes not)
W/U – 8:30      Morning milk, diaper change, play time
8:30 – 9:15       Breakfast (cook, eat, clean up Val & Kitchen)
9:15 – 10:00     (ish) Solo play time/Ms. Rachel time (Mom does house chores if possible/up for the tasks)
10:00 – 10:30  Mom breakfast/Val Snack sometimes
10:30 – 11:30   (ish) Diaper change, wind down for nap/fall asleep
11:00 – 12:30   (ish) NAP TIME! (Mom works on blog, reads, quiet chores or rests also)
1:00 – 2:30       Wake up, snuggles and milk, diaper change, play time
3:00 – 3:45       Snack time (Val & Mom)
3:45 – 5:00       Diaper change & Dad play time (Mom relax time)
5:00 – 6:00      Nap time if able. Otherwise Ms. Rachel & sometimes more mom milk time 
6:00 – 6:45      Dinner & clean up 
6:45 – 7:45       Wind down, bath (if needed)
8:00 – 8:30      Bed time for the night (mom either sleeps also or can watch tv, read, etc.)

Daily schedule possibility #2:

6:00 – 6:30     Wake up (Normally not earlier than Val. *Sigh)
W/U – 7:30     Morning milk, diaper change, play time
7:30 – 8:15      Breakfast (cook, eat, clean up Val & Kitchen)
8:15 – 9:00      (ish) Diaper Change, Play time/ms Rachel time (Mom does house chores if possible/up for the tasks)
9:15 – 9:30      Wind down for nap/Fall asleep
10:00 – 11:00  Wake up. snuggles and milk, diaper change, 
11:00 – 12:30   Play time, read books, get outside.
1:00 – 1:45       Snack (banana, yogurt, avocado, etc)
1:45 – 2:30       Diaper change wind down for second nap 
2:30 – 3:00      Fall asleep for 2nd nap
4:30 – 6:00      Wake up, sometimes snuggles and milk, diaper change. Then Playtime or Ms. Rachel (if mom needs quiet time and dad is cooking)
6:00 – 6:45      Dinner & Clean up 
6:45 – 7:45       Wind down, bath (if needed)
8:00 – 9:30      Bed time for the night (mom either sleeps also or can watch tv, read, etc. (sometimes she gets wild!)

My focus as a FTM is to find the things I CAN keep consistent in my day-to-day routine.

One of the things that bothered me when I became a mom was all of the posts I was seeing on instagram and facebook about daily schedules. It was all about proper wake windows for babies and sleep training techniques. It all seemed overwhelming. I was already just trying to get through a day and then found myself consistently worried about what things I might be doing wrong because of some reel I saw. It was maddening and confusing. Especially because you could see another reel that would negate the first one. 

What I have learned is to focus on the things that I can do that create consistency in our daily routine, especially now being on the road. There is no perfect daily schedule other than what works well for you and your little one. For us, the schedule may not be the exact same each day of the week. However, we always have a good breakfast and, for now, at least one solid snack throughout the day (that’t not Mom milk). We aim to get outside every afternoon, even if its just for a few minutes after our morning nap time. And everyday we make sure that both Bryce and I spend time engaging and connecting with Valerie.

I just need to remind myself sometimes to let go of needless expectations.

Before I became a mom I would stack my days with tasks to get done and I would force myself to get through all of my daily “assigned responsibilities”. If I didn’t finish my own set expectations for the day I would feel lazy and unproductive and get down on myself for lacking the discipline to follow through. But nowadays if I did that, I would feel lazy and down quite often. Becoming a mom I’ve had to learn to give myself much more grace.  

Now when I am looking at my weekly errands and planning my week I try not to stack too many tasks into one day. That way, if we are having a rough day we only have to get through (or reschedule) one errand. If I have to reschedule, I am making progress on letting myself change plans on the fly. I try to plan to get through my daily errands either before or right after our first nap of the day so that Val is hopefully rested and happy. If I have to have two errands happen on the same day, I try to break up our time in the car. Or, if I can find a park close to one of our errands I will make a point to try and stop for some playtime before we head home. 

It has taken me some time to adjust to a different lifestyle than I grew up knowing, but I am loving being a stay at home FTM. Creating and maintaining a daily routine has been a little more challenging for me, but necessary for me. And it is SO worth the struggle to get to stay home with my little one. I’ll keep you updated on how my schedule changes as Val gets a little older and we adapt to her becoming a toddler. 

Until then! Cheers!

Briana

The post A FTM’s Daily Schedule with a 10 month old appeared first on wayfaringFTM.

Last year we  were still moving into our 2 bedroom apartment in Austin. I’m not sure if the moving company had even dropped our things off yet. (We were probably still living with just two camping chairs and our new mattress in the apartment still!) I was 7 months pregnant and had been having complications on and off. We had been traveling in a small Subaru Crosstrek with our two dogs. And, I believe, we had more things than we have with us now in our much larger minivan.

Between living expenses, medical bills, furniture and baby things to acquire we were feeling a little strapped on cash when we first moved in. We  ended up having to spend a much larger amount on a last minute place to stay while we waited for the beginning of our lease. We also were waiting on our trailer to sell which meant we didn’t have much cash on hand. I spent every morning for the first few months of our lease stalking facebook marketplace and craigslist for good deals on pieces of furniture we could use. I found all of it, had it picked up and hauled back to our place for under $1200 total. (Although I didn’t lift any of it of course).

This year, we went on the road the same month we got the keys to our apartment. Everything we own is now either in a storage unit in Austin, or with us on our trip. The minivan is worlds more comfortable than the Crosstrek for travel. We have plans to travel through the end of the year, possibly part of 2024. And we have our now 10 month old daughter and two dogs traveling with us.

There’s a little more breathing room in our budget with medical bills paid off, family to stay with for a couple months to cut our costs down and no need to collect any new baby things while we are on the road (for the most part). Rather than drowning in debt, we have our credit card paid off each month. And by July 15th we will have all of our “rent” paid through the end of the year. We have plans to start saving money for Valerie’s future as well as our family’s future. And we have the cashflow to follow through with our plans realistically.

  I keep seeing the shifts in our lives as we go along, and I am so excited for the future we have unfolding. While we have a clear-ish plan, nothing is set in stone past December. It truly feels like this is a new chapter of life. We are hopeful that by this time next year we might be able to get back into a house of our own, although we know that might be far fetched. We also have thought about finding another year lease, or potentially just staying on the road until the time feels right to buy our forever home. But, we will see what wisdom this year brings us.

Until next time, Cheers! 

The post One Year Difference – A reflection appeared first on wayfaringFTM.

Call the airline to find out your specific airlines policies on traveling with a lap child.

Make sure you call the airline you will be flying with after you’ve secured your tickets to add your little one as a lap child. Ask about any specific policies they have about traveling with an under 2 infant. If not mentioned, as about any extra bag allowance or stroller. I would also ask about a breast pump bags (if you carry it separately from your diaper bag). Some airlines allow them to travel with you and not count as your included carry on or personal item. Or, if you will have formula, I would ask about what you can bring with you.

You will want to double check that your departure and return flights are with the same airline also! You may need to call a second airline to ask about their policies. I would make sure that your little one is added to your flight back home and assure that you wont run into any issues with anything on the return trip because of policy differences. 

Dress for Success! Planning your travel attire can make all the difference.

So far each time I’ve planned a day of airport travel I’ve tried something a little different each time. What I’ve found is what I choose to wear can make the biggest difference. When I am picking my airport outfit I have a couple clothing preferences: Shoes that are easy to get on/off, a comfortable nursing specific top/sweatshirt combo, and a wearable baby carrier. If I keep these three things in mind I will be as prepared as possible for flying with an infant.

Comfort for me really is the key.

Ultimately, if I’m comfortable in my clothes I can push through most airport irritations. I will always wear slip on shoes of some kind WITH SOCKS! Even if its hot, or if it’s a short flight and I can shower when I get to my destination I make sure I have socks on for going through security. It could just be me, but I am not a fan of being barefoot in the airport. Having socks is also convenient on the plane in case you end up feeling cold on the plane, so for me they are a must.

Give baby easy access to their milk on tap. 

Flying with an infant for me as a breastfeeding FTM means that I also need quick/easy access getting her milk. Also, knowing that I will most likely wearing a baby carrier most of the day means that I need a nursing friendly shirt for certain. I don’t want the hassle of trying to pull my shirt up enough for her to feed in a carrier while we walk through the airport. (Nor do I want that much of my midriff exposed while I breastfeed anywhere really.)
Breastfeeding access can get complicated if you don’t consider what layers you might need while you are traveling also. Because we will traveling, I invested in a couple different sweatshirt options that are nursing & baby wearing friendly. This way I can add/remove a layer to keep us both comfortable and keep nursing access even when I am wearing Val in a baby carrier. (If I didn’t have a nursing specific sweatshirt, my alternative choice for a layering garment would be an oversize zip up sweatshirt with a hood or an oversize cardigan.)

The right carrier choice is important!

The final piece of my airport wardrobe is a wearable baby carrier. I want it to be “wearable” so that I can have it on under my sweatshirt to save space in my carry on if possible. There are multiple different carrier options that fit this requirement that I personally like for the airport. My favorite for going through security would have to be my Mumsie overalls though. There is no fuss getting baby in and out of my Mumsie and they are technically my pants so I can’t take it off and forget it somewhere. They also cause the least amount of extra bulk since its the least amount of additional fabric to wear. (If you haven’t seen these yet, check them out!) I will do another post to talk about the different carriers I like to use for different reasons, because it is honestly kind of killing me to list a favorite here. 

The only kind of carrier I am sure to avoid in the airport is my ring sling. The metal part of the ring causes you to have to take it off going though security. Other carriers like wraps or half buckle carriers that only have plastic clips can be worn through security which is much easier. Nothing is more stressful than trying to juggle your shoes, laptop, stroller, and a baby in a security line. Whew!

The Doona is a game changer when flying with an infant
(and the storage bag attachments for things + storage sack for Doona at gate)

This may be singlehandedly one of the best investments I made for us when it came to traveling with a baby. Everything about a Doona simplifies traveling with your infant. It is both a carseat and a stroller. The wheels simply up/down to switch between use cases. Making adjustments as baby grows is super easy. You can use it with or without its base which just tops the cake for traveling more simply. The hardest part for me was figuring out how to get the carseat to release from the base when used in the car. The Doona folds up small enough to go through security on the belt with your baggage if necessary, although a couple airports have just manually looked over the Doona and brought it through a separate gate when I’ve flown.

Plus, there are multiple attachment accessories that really optimize it perfectly for travel. My favorite is the attachable storage bag you can use when the Doona is being used as a stroller. The Doona has a couple compatible options for drink/bag holders for the handle of the stroller. There is also extended sun shades, a rain cover, and multiple other accessories. I found that the storage bag for the back is the only real must for me. It is great to use for storage since you don’t get the typical bottom basket other strollers have. When flying I keep an extra blanket, an extra book or two, and the small bag I use to put the Doona in at my airport gate. 

Make sure to bring only the essentials with you in your carry-on or diaper bag.

Want a pro tip on flying with an infant? Make sure you pack your carry on to allow easy access to your essentials. Depending on if I am flying with my husband or if I am traveling alone with the baby I may organize myself a little differently, but generally I want to make sure I can quickly grab the necessities: diaper change things (obviously), snacks (both for baby and you!), water and extra clothes for you & baby in case of a blowout or spill. Normally I also keep an extra baby carrier at the bottom of my carry on. It doesn’t need to be as easy to access since I wouldn’t need it unless a blowout really made a mess, but its always nice to have a backup plan. 

KEEP. IT. SIMPLE. SILLY.

The last time we flew I brought SO many different things with us on the trip to entertain Valerie. While I had endless toys and snacks on hand, Valerie ended up being far more entertained with the airplane safety card in the seat back pocket and an empty cup from the airplane attendant. Other than some snacks and her sippy cup, she was not really interested in anything I had for her. (Also, we tried to use baby ear muffs we had Val, but she wasn’t down to wear them for long.) I learned to just keep it simple when it comes to entertainment and just bring a spill proof cup, some easy non messy snacks (Like crackers or melties), and 1-3 small toys/books (and a device charged for watching some Ms. Rachel for sure lol). 

Breastfeeding during take off and landing.

One tip I got from multiple sources is, if breastfeeding, make sure to try and breastfeed during takeoff and landing. It is supposed to help the baby adjust their ears to the changing altitude. This definitely makes a positive difference in my experience. I will also add that I try to plan flights that depart between 9-11 so that I know Valerie will be up for a couple hours beforehand and therefore be tired and ready to nap around the time we board if thats an option. That way when she gets a good feed in during take-off she also might just take a solid nap.

In tough moments, take a deep breath and go one step at a time.

Thankfully I typically always travel with my husband. Nothing beats having help when you’re flying with an infant. We’ve had our share of tense moments while traveling through airports. In those overwhelming moments I have found it best to remind myself (or listen to my husbands gentle reminder) to just take a deep breath. Decide the next best step and then take it. Stay present and before you know it the stress will have subsided.  

So far, I feel we’ve blessed by travel gods. Valerie has really made flying with an infant seem easy for the most part. And I’ve not encountered any unpleasant passengers while traveling. In fact, most of our flights Val has either been very social and had a blast interacting with the people around us or has slept through the flight entirely. It seems too good to be true. Now that she is really crawling and getting more mobile I know it will change things for us and I am a bit nervous to say the least. I will keep this updated as I discover new tips as we continue to travel together! If you have any tips that you think might be helpful for me on our travels please share them with me by leaving a comment or send them to me directly! 

Until next time, Cheers!

The post Tips on Flying with an Infant appeared first on wayfaringFTM.

The weather the first couple weeks we have been here has been a mixture of snowy and rainy with a few days of sunshine in between. That being said we haven’t gotten to get out too much yet. But now that we are some warmer days ahead we plan to get another few good hikes in.

Here are baby friendly hikes we’ve found in the area: 

1. Chamise Peak Trail (4.8 miles total)

   This was my first real hike postpartum. I have been a little nervous to go out hiking with Valerie because there are just so many unknowns. This hike was a great jump back into the outdoors and give myself a good challange. It is a decent hike length and the generally gradual incline makes the elevation climb on the way up manageable. There are lots of trees all the way up, so you have access to shade on/off. I would recommend a hat, some water, and at least a small snack or two if you wanted to do this hike. There are also plenty of benches along the way up to rest and take in the view, which is beautiful glimpses of the Sacramento River and Mount Lassen all the way up!
   My husband and I went with his friend and his kids (both of which are much older than Val). We brought the stroller with us, and while I say the hike is baby friendly I will also specify that I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s stroller friendly (unless you have a stroller meant for trails and things). We ended up leaving ours behind switched Valerie into a baby carrier. We picked the stroller back up on the way down, but I wore here until we got back to the car.  In the future, I would either make sure we had a beefier stroller, or commit to baby-wearing for the hike. 

     
    

    

2. Random Viewpoint jaunt on CA-44

   This was really nothing more than a random pull off on the highway. The road was closed to car traffic, but you could still turn off onto the road and park along the side. Then it was only a short walk to the viewpoint on foot, and the view was definitely worth it! I was expecting a view of the mountains being in this area, but this was beyond what I anticipated. It was great not to be in any rush so we could pause and take a breath (and a few photos). Sorry I can’t be more specific as to which viewpoint this was. All I know is this was on the way to Burney Falls.  
    

3. Burney falls (1.2 mile loop)(.3 miles to bottom)(350 ft to viewpoint from parking lot)

   If you are going to be anywhere close to Redding, I would HIGHLY recommend you check out Burney falls. It is just breath taking. The falls are large and seem to trickle out all the way across the wall of the falls. There are multiple spots for viewing too depending on what you might be up for. You can park and literally walk less than 500 feet to a parking lot view. Although, it’s a much better picture (and more fun in my opinion) if you can make it the .3 miles down to the bottom of the falls. Unfortunately, we were not fully prepared so we did not do the 1.2 mile loop. But if we have time, I would definitely come back. 
   This one had a paved path all the way down so you could easily bring any stroller. Hiking down to the bottom of the falls is not too steep either. Make sure to use your parking breaks though if you stop to take a quick photo of the falls on the way down! The incline is still enough to cause your stroller to take a cruise on its own. This would also be a super easy walk to carry your baby even without a stroller. (If we were to do the 1.2 mile loop I would stick to carrying Val rather than using the stroller.) On this trip we did a little of both. The stroller got us down to the bottom, then became our storage cart while I used my Didygo to carry her back up. 

    

   

4. Crystal Creek Falls (.7 miles total)
   This was another stop we made that was pretty short, and totally worth it. It is more of a short walk than a hike. The parking lot is a little tight, but after you find a spot, its just over 1/4 mile to the falls. There isn’t much elevation change to deal with either. I would definitely say this is a stroller/baby friendly walk, but because of the short distance we didn’t bother to bring the stroller. On one side of the falls there are some calm pools of water kids can play in that aren’t too deep, and theres ton’s of rocks to sunbath on. There are also picnic tables close by which could make this a good spot in the summer to come splash around with the family and have a snack.

   (picture of whiskeytown falls coming soon!)

5. Whiskeytown Falls (2.8 miles total) (This is the next spot!)(Check back soon!)

(Here are some of the other gorgeous falls you can see in the Shasta area. I will let you know which ones we make it to check out while we are here!) If you are going to be in Shingletown proper, check out what we found worth checking out in town here!)

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• Much more minimalistic way of living
• Different Location options.
• More comfortable (at times)
• Cleaning/maintenance responsibilities
• Different stress-ers between locations
• We now have our baby traveling with us!

Living on the road has made us be more minimalistic.

I mean, obviously, we can’t fit as many things into our minivan as we could the 5th wheel. While we have less stuff with us I don’t necessarily think of it as a downside to van life. So far with the things we’ve brought with us, I feel like I’ve got everything we need! (I’ll keep you updated if that changes, lol.) When I started packing, I did a lot of research about how I could get the most out of my suitcase space. (I go more over packing in my previous post. Check it out here.) I had to pack less clothing overall, so I had to be smart about what I chose and make sure I could have clothes for all the different weather we might encounter. Not to mention a few nice things to wear for the wedding’s we’ve got on the calendar this year!

It is also interesting to see the different ways our thought process has shifted on this trip. When we are at the grocery store, we are only buying things we are going to eat in the next couple days. We don’t bulk buy anything or store extra gallon water bottles. The goal is go have minimal kitchen/food items to transfer between our short term homes outside the essentials we brought with us.  

Van life has opened our location options!

It might seem silly since you can park an RV almost anywhere, but for us van life has opened our location options. What I found when trying to book RV sites was that RV parks mostly ended up being located on the outskirts of major cities (which makes sense if you think about it). Also, not every park offered the monthly spot discounts we needed to afford to stay. So, normally our drive into town to experience the city/town long and more expensive in our big diesel truck (which also wasn’t very city friendly at times). In our airbnb van life we can be closer to the town/city we want to see. This way it really gives us a taste of what living in these different places would be like.

With van life we can also stay in places that might have a little bit colder weather this time around. I saw snow for the first time in close to 3 years just last week! Living in the trailer we tried to stay in as warm of weather as possible during the winter months which really limits your location options. When it was cold outside it was tough to keep the trailer warm and you always felt a cold draft. It was just uncomfortable and not enjoyable to be in an RV around freezing temperatures and snow.

(Place picture of map. Photoshop stars on destination location ideas)(See our planned route and must see sites for this year here.)
(Star:Austin, lake havasu city, redding, shingletown, eugene, portland, bend, billings, denver, minnesota (?), virginia, maryland, florida)

Moving from place to place is entirely different between RV and van life!

There are definitely still stress/anxieties of moving to our next “home”, but they are not at all the same as in RV life. Before when we were traveling with an RV moving was much more of an ordeal. The morning we left was like a small marathon. I would secure everything inside the trailer, fill up our water tank, and pull in all of the slides. While I did that, Bryce was cleaning up outside decor/items, clearing our grey/black tanks and making sure we unplugged and stored our power cord & hoses. Then he would double check we had a full tank of gas in the truck before we hitched the trailer on to take off. In order to leave we also had to have planned a safe route for the drive with the RV.

A safe driving route with the RV entailed a couple things:

• There are NO low bridges on-route.
• There are lots of truck stops/travel centers along the way for easy gas fill ups.
• Not too mountainous of travel.
  -this would keep truck running smoothly. (No overheating. Easier on breaks overall)
  -this also cut down travel time. climbing a mountain range slowed us down significantly.
• Look at the weather to avoid severe weather. (Wind & ice especially with the RV)

After we had a route planned the next challenge was finding a safe/comfortable place to stay overnight night. It was tough to know how far we would be able to drive in a day. It seemed that no matter what our ball park plan was either we felt we stopped too early, or bit off more than we could chew and were pulling into our reserved spots late at night. Either way traveling weekends felt exhausting.

Pulling in late and knowing we had another long day the next day we wouldn’t unhitch the trailer. This blocked our access to the generator, so we didn’t have lights or running water in the trailer. We would leave the slides in, and all just hunker down for the couple hours we might be able to sleep before jumping back in the car the next day. Stopping early made it easy to have time to unhitch the trailer and get out the generator if needed, push out the slides, and get comfortable for the evening. However, it also stretched out how many days we had to travel in total. And as I mentioned, a morning on a traveling day is stressful. If we chose to press on a little further, we would have trouble finding a safe place to stop that was quiet enough to get sleep. 

Traveling now in the van is much more simple.

Now with van life, the difference is that we really only have to consider A few things. First, how many hours we spend in the car and how many days in a row we have to travel. Since we are traveling with Valerie now we need to keep our hours in the car within a reasonable range. Secondly, we also need to stop early enough in the evening to maintain somewhat of a nighttime routine with Valerie so that we can all get to sleep.

Lastly, I make sure to pack a small “overnight bag” to give us easy access to some basics. This will have an outfit or two for each of us, pajamas, a hairbrush, our toothbrushes & some toothpaste. Really the only similarity moving from place to place between RV and van life is that it’s still important to look and avoid severe weather when we’re on the road. 

There is bound to be tons of differences traveling now that we have a little one!

Not everything about van life is easy, whether we are comparing it to van life or not. There are a few challenges we have run into that I would imagine have been easier in our RV life. Mostly these are things to do with having a mobile infant on the road with us now.

Finding baby-proof & baby safe spaces are tough

We already had a few requirements that limited our airbnb options. One must for us is a full kitchen wherever we stay so we can eat at home frequently. We either need a king bed, or two smaller beds to make sure we can all sleep comfortably. We also have to have a pet friendly place since we have Zita traveling with us. Most of the time we also are looking for airbnb’s that have a couple other luxeries we didn’t have in the trailer. We try to find a space that has a fenced yard of some kind for the dogs, and access to a laundry room. But none of these have been as difficult as the new challenge of baby-proofing.

Creating a baby-safe space is one of the more difficult challenges we have come across since Valerie just started crawling a few weeks ago.  In airbnb’s we are going to have an extra curve ball because it will be a new space each month that we have to find baby proofing solutions for. Had we still been in our RV baby-proofing would be easier because we could use the same solutions in the trailer no matter where we were. 

Routines are also more tough on the road. In Austin, I was really finding a rhythm with the gym and a group of mom friends. I had sign language class with Valerie every week and was looking forward to starting swim lessons with some of the other moms. Being on the road makes that kind of routine feel very fleeting. Nothing really feels like a routine when you only do it for a couple weeks and then have to research opportunities all over again. But I knew that would be a challenge on this trip because that was also a challenge of RV life. 

But after all is said and done, Van life is just more comfortable.

There are just SO many things that seem to be easier about van life versus RV life. Living in a home, whether it is a small apartment or a house, makes the biggest difference. You have more space to move around and live in. There’s access to a full kitchen (as per our requirements). Not to mention a real bathroom sink and toilet. Never again will I have to worry about poop pyramids leaving a lingering smell in our RV! We also will not have to worry about utility bills other than our cell phone. 

The other thing about van life that is easier is there is no maintenance to anything other than our car and our wardrobe. Both the truck AND the trailer almost had consistent different things that needed some TLC. And nothing was easy or cheap to get done professionally nor am I very good with power tools. I felt overwhelmed with the different things I kept learning I needed to do in order to keep the trailer in tip top condition and was baffled by how much more expensive everything was to own and take care of a diesel truck. All I need to do now is keep a space clean, which is easier when you have a limited amount of stuff. And we just stick to the rule that if we get anything new, we have to get rid of something else to make space for it.

I would say that the only difference I like less between RV and Van life is that now we are traveling and staying in someone else’s home. When we had the RV, it was all our own. But we have everything we can really want with us, other than family and friends. But this trip will be all about stopping places to see our loved ones so we really do have a little bit of everything we need no matter where we are. <3 

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The drive into town is also just jaw dropping views one after another. You are surrounded by mountains almost all the way around it feels. Here are some of the shots I’ve got the other day headed into Redding:

We’ve got about two months left here. My goal is to see/do as much as I can until we have to pack up and move to the next spot. While Shingletown itself is small, there are tons of things to do up in this area. I’ll keep updating this post to share the cool places we’ve been seeing. The weather has been tough since we’ve gotten here. California has been seeing a lot of rain lately, which is good for the state! It desperately needed the water and snow pack to help the drought here. However, it has made us not as keen to get outside and explore much.

Our Airbnb is a hidden gem.

Being inside the past couple weeks hasn’t been terrible. The area we are in is peaceful and quiet. There is an acre of property with a fully fenced yard so we can let the dogs out to roam the yard, which they LOVE (and I love not having to walk them out in the rain & snow!). There is a full kitchen, and a small grocery store just up the road for essentials if we need. (Although we have been going down the hill for groceries more often because of the price differences.) We’ve been relying on the wood stove to heat the house since its still pretty cold out up here. I love the way it makes the house and yard outside smell when you pull up.

[See image gallery at localhost] Out here, we are surrounded by thick forest so no matter which window you peak out it is beautiful and scenic. Bryce, Valerie & I have been just walking the mile-ish up the road and back to get some exercise in when we aren’t going into town to get to the gym. It really feels a little magical living out here. I have liked the feeling of home life we’ve had here. I am excited for the weather to clear up through so we can enjoy getting outdoors more.

Daily life in Shingletown (All the great places we found in town!)

Food & Fun:

(Pictures of Higher Ground Menu)

• Higher Ground Coffee Shop
  So far, our favorite spot in town most definitely. They have pretty good coffee, and awesome people working there. They are so warm and friendly it was easy to feel at home right away. It has been fun to meet and chat with all the local regulars that come in and I could easily see myself fitting in with the life in Shingletown. There is a full breakfast and lunch menu offering with a weekly soup. There are tons of options on the menu & most of their baked goods are made in house also! I’ve eaten there a few times now and I’ve not been disappointed yet. 

(Picture of Pioneer hillside pizza menu & Val inside)

• Pioneer Hillside Pizza
  I’d say the local pizza place is our other potential favorite spot. Although we normally avoid pizza and choose healthier alternatives, we’ve eaten here at least once a week since we got here. The pizza here is really good, I can’t exactly put my finger on what exactly it is about it though. The pizza place is cash only which is kinda cool, but also kinda inconvenient. 

The Shingletown life essentials:

• Shingletown Library
  The library is small, but still has quite a book selection to check out as well as to purchase. There are fax & printing services available & computers that are free to use. They also have audiobooks and movies you can rent. It has been our other hotspot for free wifi. The internet connection is the toughest part about life in Shingletown. Bryce needs to have a solid connection for work. That means while we are here, he’s got to find a couple places that he can work from everyday. Having the library as another resource for a good read AND free wifi is great! 

(picture of  Zita) 

• Shingletown Animal Clinic
  Having to make a trip to the vet is never exactly fun, but sometimes things happen. We recently had to go in to the vet for our older dog Zita. We got an appointment within 24 hours of calling  and went in the next afternoon. I really appreciated the attention & care we got from the vet Dr.Lydon. We got a simple (hopeful) solution to the issue we came in with AND a suggestion to help with her tremor that she’s had for awhile. AND the visit didn’t cost an arm and a leg!  It’s nice to know that we’ve got a reliable source for veterinary care while we are here. 
• Reeds
  Reeds Grill/Market is exactly that. It is the local grocery store, but also has a great deli that offers soups, salads, sandwiches and sides. It is great to have a source for groceries close by since Redding is about 35 minutes away. Things do cost a little more than some grocery stores down the hill though, so we have tried to do the bulk of our grocery shopping when we go into town.   

If I had the chance to visit again, I would definitely come back.

It has been SO good to be able to reconnect with our friends here. I know we’ve been missing the community we had when we lived in Oregon.   The only downside is having a long commute into the city and the trek back up to the house is a little rough on a vehicle. We’ve seen multiple cars overheated and broken down on the side of the road so we are being extra cautious with taking care of the van while we are living here. But overall, Bryce & I love the feel of life in Shingletown. It has a small, but great community and really does feel like a hidden gem of a place. 

The post On the road: Life in Shingletown, California appeared first on wayfaringFTM.

The wedding was a BLAST! I had so much fun dancing and drinking (probably too much) tequila. Thankfully my mom was there to help Bryce and I look after Val so we could have a little extra freedom for a few hours. I was sad when it was over and time for us to be responsible and head home. My brother Brett also brought his camera to the wedding. He was taking photos all night so I can add more photos once he sends those to me.

Puerto Vallarta was SUCH a great experience.

I had never been to Mexico before this trip, and I had been a getting a little nervous to travel with some of the news headlines I had been reading. But after spending one afternoon out and about in downtown I was much more at ease. We saw tons of cool shops, ate tons of local food, and soaked up a TON of sun. (I’m going to try and get some of the videos I took up on here, but it may take me just a little while.) Before the end of the trip, my brothers and I talked about a potential to come back yearly for a family vacation in the future. I seriously hope we follow through with that!

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