Category: Travel

Chic Airplane Outfits for Your Next Trip

Post author By tiffany
Post date October 24, 2022

Are you looking for chic airplane outfits for your next trip? Grab your eye mask, pair of compression socks, and weird neck pillow thingy…..wait don’t grab those and instead check out this post full of the best airport outfits, styling tips for travel and much more.

This post contains affiliate links. By using my links to shop I may receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!

I think we can all agree that when it comes to choosing an airplane outfit, our ultimate goal is comfort.

Between what can be a chaotic commute, lots of waiting and ultimately siting in the confined space on the plane for the long flight, the last thing we want to worry about is an uncomfortable or fussy outfit that would only increase the stress caused on travel days.

The issue many of us come across when it comes to choosing an airplane outfit, is how to find the right balance between comfort and style.

We want to be comfortable for our entire travel experience, all the while wanting to look stylish and put together.

The best part about having a chic airplane outfit is that you can be ready to go for most occasions the second you land at your destination!

I love wearing outfits that I would feel comfortable in to go to a restaurant or go sight seeing with no need to make extra stops, change my clothes or take extra time to get ready.

My Top 3 Tips for Choosing Your Airplane Outfit:

#1 Comfortable Shoes:

This is a no brainer and to be honest, I plan my most of my travel outfits around my shoes!! I typically opt for sneakers or some kind of flat, as you can make these look ultra chic with a few styling hacks and they are by far the most comfortable for commuting.

I also like to think of the airport security when I think of my shoes, since you have to remove them I like to stick to shoes that are just as comfortable as they are easy to slip on and off.

#2 Soft/Breathable Fabrics:

I don’t know about you, but if I happened to be stuck in a hot or itchy piece of clothing on long distance flights I would be absolutely miserable.

When it comes to choosing an airport outfit, being mindful of the fabric and materials I am wearing is a must. I like to think of soft, breathable fabrics that I can move around comfortably in.

Especially when it comes to long-haul flights, wearing too tight or uncomfortable feeling clothing makes you feel very constrained and makes it difficult to move.

#3 Layers:

There is no telling what the temperature will be throughout your travel experience, but I find myself feeling cold often times in the airplane cabin, so I ALWAYS pack a layer with me.

This way, no matter what airplane outfit I’ve chosen, I know I have an added layer of warmth if I need it. Plus – this acts as a simple way to add a chic element to my look so I am ready for wherever the day takes me when I land.

Here are some of my favorite layers to complete my airplane outfits:

The Best Layers for Airplane Outfits

Denim Jacket – I love to drape this over my shoulders for a chic touch. This is a wardrobe style that works with most outfits and occasions. Pair with a cute comfortable t-shirt.
Long Cardigan – A long cardigan is basically like a wearable blanket, and it comes in handy when the flight is on the cooler side!
Faux Leather Jacket – Another style i love to drape over my shoulders and this is perfect to complete your chic look once you’ve landed!
Sweatshirt or Hoodie – A pullover sweatshirt or hoodie is a typically go-to for me. Ultra comfortable and gives the athleisure vibe perfectly.
Oversized Scarf – An oversized scarf is so versatile as it can be worn so many ways. I love to keep one in my travel tote at all times.
Button-down – I love a button-down as a layer, as it is not too warm but gives any look a polished, put together finish. A perfect airport outfit for a business trip.

Chic Airplane Outfits for Your Next Trip

Here’s some outfit combos that you can replicate for your next plane ride.

If you get cold easily

Colorful Pullover Sweater + Joggers + Sneakers

Keep cozy, warm and comfy in this outfit on and off the airplane!

I love to add a pop of color to my travel look as it makes it so fun! A simple sweatshirt and joggers outfit feels effortlessly chic when paired with colorful sneakers and a fun printed pullover.

If your destination is a warmer climate

Bike Shorts + Sweatshirt + Sneakers

BIker shorts are a go-to for me for a ton of occasions as they are just so comfortable and easy to wear! The stretchy fabric is really forgiving and the high-waisted fit is ultra flattering.

They are so chic with a great pair of sneakers and an oversized sweater or graphic tee. You can easily dress them up with some knee-high boots and a shacket as well.

If you are headed to a warm weather destination layer over a tank top or white tee for easy layering.

*Pro Tip* If you are traveling with kids, this was the best oufit for both of my daughters for air travel! They were comfortable, with no fuss in constricting shorts/pants and they were so happy to have their cozy sweatshirts as the flights can get cold.

If you want a chic outfit for right off the plane

Boyfriend Jeans + T-shirt + Shacket + Sneakers

Sometimes we don’t have the option of heading right to the hotel so if you want to still look chic yet comfy this is the outfit for you.

If I am going to wear a pair of jeans on the plane, they either have to be a looser boyfriend fit or a stretchy skinny jeans style.

I would also opt for an oversized cargo pant as they have a looser silhouette and a more forgiving fit overall.

You can feel put together and chic when you pair denim with a great pair of sneakers and a fun shacket over a basic tee.

This is a great travel outfit as long as the denim you choose are comfortable as it is effortlessly chic and works so many different occasions!

If you want a no fuss outfit

Exercise Dress + Sneakers

This dress is the most comfortable dress that I own and I love that all you need is this one dress!

If you haven’t tried an exercise dress for an airplane outfit, you need to! This is truly one of the best airplane travel outfits ever as it is SO comfortable and looks SO chic.

The exercise dresses typically have a built bra and shorts in them making it really a one piece throw on and go.

I love how flattering the fabric is and this is a piece that can be easily dressed up when you land with an oversized blazer if needed!

I also think the exercise dress would look great with a long cozy cardigan and a chic belt bag to accessorize it up.

A belt bag is another travel essential in my book, bonus points that is is just as chic as it is functional making you hands free for travel!

If you’re a mom traveling with little ones

Pullover Sweatshirt + Leggings + Sneakers

This is a classic casual outfit that makes me feel chic when done right. A cute pullover sweatshirt, a comfy pair of black leggings and some Golden Goose sneakers are the formula for effortlessly chic.

Throw on a baseball hat too to top off the look and not worry about your hair. This is a great option for really long travel days especially if you are traveling with your kids and just want something easy to travel in.

If you prefer to wear activewear

Long Cardigan + Crop Top + Leggings

Sometimes I go to the gym and think “why don’t I just wear this outfit normally?” Honestly some of my activewear pieces are so comfortable and they are made to withstand sweat and the extreme temperatures that airplanes can sometimes get so it’s a great option for a travel day.

Another good option with a long cardigan is to wear leggings and a crop top underneath! You could easily do this with an activewear set and the possibilities are endless for the colors/silhouettes you can find.

When you have short flights or long flights this is a good choice to be comfortable and stylish.

If you love matching sets

Matching Joggers and Sweatshirt Set

What’s not to love about a matching set? It’s the easiest thing to reach for and you still look so cute and put together.

I always feel more chic when I wear a matching set! Plus it takes the guesswork out of styling as it already is paired together.

Just add your favorite sneakers and a cute layer and you’r ready to go. Whether you’re in business class or first class you will be ultra comfortable and stylish in a lounge set like this.

If you want to wear basics that can be worn all week

Leggings + Crop Top + Button down

All of these pieces are great together but also can be worn separately with other outfits so if you wear this outfit, it will actually go a long way on your trip.

A button-down over a crop top and leggings, gives a pop of prep that I just love. This is a good idea for a lightweight layer to give you the long sleeves when you need them, but you can also just as easily tie it around your waist when you’re not wearing it.

If you are headed to a meeting

Jumpsuit + Denim Jacket

Obviously a more casual meeting but still when you are getting off the airplane and meeting with people, you will want to look put together and instead of traveling in dress pants, try a jumpsuit for a super sleek look.

You can wear a denim jacket over it to make it more casual but this would work with a blazer as well.

A comfortable jumpsuit may be the best chic travel outfit option ever!

Jumpsuits instantly make you look so put together and stylish, but they are also EXTREMELY comfortable especially when made in breathable fabrics.

I love to find a jumpsuit with a cinched in waist so it has a flattering fit, and pairing it with a denim jacket you can’t go wrong.

You can also find jumpsuits that look a bit more formal while still made in comfortable fabrics that you could wear right off the plane and into a work meeting if needed!

This is the secret weapon of travel outfits and definitely one you will want to recreate.

More travel outfit ideas that you can reach for every time

Here are options that I reach for often and are so easy to recreate with pieces in your closet. Think of it as a “capsule wardrobe” of sorts just for airplane travel. If you have these pieces in your closet, you’ll always be set for your next trip.

Matching Short Set

If you are shorts girl, a matching short set is a great option for you when it comes to travel! You can find really great looking knit short and sweater sets that are so chic and so comfy.

You could easily throw an oversized blazer on top of something like this if you are heading into a meeting right off of the flight.

Comfy Romper

I love rompers as I find them so girly and feminine.

Finding a romper in a comfortable fabric really is a great option for an airplane outfit as it is an all-in-one situation that looks so stylish.

You can find rompers in neutral colors and in bright colors like my pink one above!

Exercise Skirt + Graphic Tee

An exercise skirt is just as good as an exercise dress I was sharing above. They are ultra flattering, and have built in shorts underneath so you feel really secure in comfortable.

I loved how this look came together with a boyfriend t-shirt, white sneakers, a cute tote bag and my baseball hat.

This is a great option if you are traveling for a long time and want to be ready to go as soon as you land at your destination. Just throw on a denim jacket and you’re ready to head to lunch or out shopping.

Graphic Tee + Leggings + Sweatshirt wrapped around waist!

This type of outfit is truly a go-to for me at all times. I always feel effortlessly chic in a cool graphic tee and leggings. This is a great option for a travel day as you feel like you are in pajamas but you look stylish.

I love the addition of a faux leather legging to this kind of look to amp it up a bit.

Faux leather leggings are just as comfortable as regular, but do give a really chic feel and make it so easy to head right to an event or plans as soon as your flight lands! Such an easy effortless look.

Add the pop of color in the sneakers for a fun element, and the textured tote bag is a great option as it is comfortable on your shoulder and has a lot of space to hold your travel essentials.

When it comes to putting together your next chic airplane outfit, just remember to be mindful of your shoes (comfy ALWAYS wins), opt for breathable fabrics and don’t forget to grab a stylish layer to complete your look.

Loved this post? Don’t miss the below!

Stylish Tops to Wear with Leggings

How to Build a Stylish Mom Capsule Wardrobe

Our favorite family friendly getaway in Washington state

Post author By tiffany
Post date December 28, 2021

We recently went on our first family getaway since 2019! With the pandemic and having two little ones, we wanted to be on the safe side and stay home, but with vaccines available now my husband and I are feeling a bit more comfortable with taking our family out on a fun little adventure!

I’m proud to be partnering on this post with Washington State Department of Health to help spread the word about the COVID-19 vaccine. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My husband and I have both been fully vaccinated since this spring and we recently also got the COVID-19 booster once we were eligible. It was important to us that we got the booster before our vacation.

I’m also so happy that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for kids 5 and over now. Layla’s school district has done an amazing job at setting up vaccination clinics for the kids that made it so easy for us parents to make appointments and make sure that our kids can get vaccinated.

We headed to Great Wolf Lodge which is one of our favorite destinations. The last time we were there, Edie was still a baby! This time she’s a very busy toddler which was great as there was so much for both the girls to do!

I know it can still feel daunting and you may feel unsure about traveling and taking the kids to new places. I certainly share those same feelings, here’s some tips that helped us feel more comfortable with our recent trip.

Check your hotel/destination website on what they are doing in consideration of precautions on their property and any mandates that may be in effect.
Bring masks everywhere you go. We gave both the girls masks holders that are easy for them to take on/off when eating but don’t get lost or accidentally fall on the floor.
Carry extra masks with you. I always have a few stashed in my purse and car just in case.
If you have older kids, give them a fanny pack or small bag that they can carry with them and always have hand sanitizer and lotion with them. (Hand sanitizer can be very drying to hands so having the lotion will make their hands feel better)
Bring your own water bottles and water to keep in your room. It was nice for each of us to have our own water with us so that we didn’t need to make any additional stops along the way since we had a long car ride to get to our destination.

I’m so glad that we got to enjoy this little getaway during the holidays as it’s such a busy season, but being able to spend time with my kids is so important to me. I’m looking forward to making more fun memories like this with them in 2022!

COVID-19 has been so tough for so many of us. I’m so grateful for the COVID-19 vaccine which has allowed us to feel a lot more comfortable with going back to a more normal routine. Did you know that more than 11 million doses have already been given in Washington State. That’s so amazing to me and I’m so happy to hear.

Getting the vaccine and the booster was such an easy process for me and my family. I encourage you all to get the vaccine as well!

Everyone in Washington ages 5 and up is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. If you haven’t gotten it yet, now is the time to start the New Year off right. Do it for yourself, your family and your community.

If you have questions or concerns, please speak with your doctor. To learn more – visit covidvaccinewa.org.

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Why Every Parent needs a child-free vacation

Post author By tiffany
Post date February 24, 2020

We’re a family that loves to travel and we’re not afraid to bring the kids. My oldest has been traveling since she was 3 months old and with our second, we traveled to Hawaii when she was only 5 months old. And while traveling with children is so fun, it can be exhausting as well.

I recently booked a stay at the luxury all inclusive resort, Grand Velas Los Cabos for my husband and I, and it was one of the best vacations we’ve taken in a really long time. It really made me realize why it’s so important for all parents to take a child-free vacation every once in awhile.

Let someone else cook for you, all day and night

If you’ve ever been to an all inclusive resort, you know how good it is to have all meals and drinks included in your stay. But Grand Velas takes it up several notches. They have 7 incredible restaurants that serve all different type of cuisines. My favorite had to have been Cocina De Autor which is a 2 star Michelin restaurant with an 8 course tasting menu and wine pairings. It was one of the best meals I’ve had in my life! I also loved Velas 10, the seafood and steak house.

Room service was available 24 hours and even the minibar was stocked with drinks and snacks that was all included in your stay.

I never felt hungry that’s for sure! But the best part is that since there are so many options on the resort there is no need to worry about getting a car or taxi and figuring out where to eat every night. It just makes it so easy which is exactly what I needed on this vacation.

Sleep better than you do at home

I have a one year old who doesn’t sleep well so of course I’m always happy when I get to sleep without being woken up a million times a night. But what I loved about the suites at Grand Velas is that they simply made you feel like you were home. It wasn’t the typical cramped hotel room, it was spacious with a comfortable king bed and more seating.

Get some peace and quiet even by the pool

I loved that even though the resort was pretty full, it never felt crowded. We were able to get a seat where we wanted and although there were lots of families and kids around it wasn’t loud or hectic.

There is an adults only pool which is a great perk, but even at the other pools I always felt like it was pretty quiet and chill.

Get that drink that you deserve!

I enjoyed all the margaritas I could knowing that 1) I didn’t have my kids there and 2) I didn’t have to drive anywhere. Plus all the drinks were delicious! My favorite was the mango margarita on the rocks (as shown above.)

There were also a few bars that you could go to before/after dinner! Along with my husband, I was there with my sister and her friend and we all had a blast!

Relax, without feeling guilty

Leaving your kids at home can be hard, but I knew my kids were in good hands with their grandparents and I also think it’s important for them to have some good one on one time with them. At home, I can never relax without feeling guilty because there is always so much to do. It was so nice to go on vacation and let go of that guilt and just relax!

Re-connect with your spouse

My husband and I have been together 20 years and we’ve always had a great, stable relationship but having 2 kids really does make life hectic. We do date nights, but nothing compared to have a week to just re-connect and really spend time together. I think we both came home appreciating each other and our relationship that much more.

I couldn’t have asked for a better vacation and highly recommend Grand Velas Los Cabos as the best los cabos all inclusive resort. There is a reason why it’s #1 on tripadvisor!

And even though my post is all about a child-free vacation, I did want to mention that I will definitely be bringing my kids here as well! I loved that they had kid’s items on the menus as well as a kid’s club, teen club and even a splash pad for the little ones. It’s a great spot for a family vacation as well.

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Fun things to do with kids in Long Beach, CA

Post author By tiffany
Post date December 27, 2019

Traveling with young kids is never easy, but it’s always an adventure and worth the memories made! My kids are 1 and 6 and I try to pick destinations that are easy to get to, lots of activities for kids and good weather is always a bonus, which is why we recently went to Long Beach, CA for our winter vacation. They are so many fun things to do with kids in Long Beach, CA and wanted to share what we did while we were there.

From Seattle, a flight to Long Beach is only 2 and a half hours and when you are traveling with a baby or toddler, the short flight is a definite win! We flew directly into Long Beach airport which is a beautiful, open air airport. Layla was so excited to get off the airplane and directly be outside! It’s the little things like this that make me love traveling with my kids as it’s so fun to see what they get excited about.

This post is in partnership with Visit Long Beach. All opinions are my own.

From the moment we got in the car and started driving, I knew we were going to love our vacation there! We left a gray, rainy Seattle to a perfectly warm (to us) no jacket needed climate, which we all were so happy about. The warm weather allowed us to plan full days of activities outdoors.

Where to stay in Long Beach with kids

We stayed at Hotel Maya which is a gorgeous hotel overseeing the water. We rented a car and I loved how close everything was. We could get to everything, from the water to downtown, to all the restaurants and activities within a 15 minute drive. The hotel room was very spacious for the 4 of us and the food was amazing! They have a restaurant inside the hotel that looked great, but when traveling with kids, eating out at restaurants for every meal can be a bit tough. We ended up ordering room service and having a cozy little meal in our room but my husband and I agreed that it was the best room service meal we had ever gotten!

The hotel has a private beach right on their property! I can’t wait to come back and enjoy the beach when it’s warmer.

Fun things to do with kids in Long Beach, CA

Pow Wow Murals

Downtown Long Beach has a lot of fun things to do, but one of our favorites was to spot all the beautiful murals! These murals are part of Pow Wow Long Beach and you can go on their website to see all the murals and locations. All the murals are so unique and beautiful and of course, a great photo opp!

Aquarium of the Pacific

My oldest, just loves animals so I knew a trip to the aquarium was required. I had heard a lot of great things about the Aquarium of the Pacific, and I completely agree, it was one of the best aquariums we have ever been to! Not only did we get to see all sorts of beautiful fish, we also saw penguins, sea otters and even got to interact with these beautiful birds!

You can buy a little cup of nectar to feed them and it was the funniest thing to walk in and immediately get swarmed by birds. When I first walked in I had at least 10 on me! This little one stuck by and got to eat up until another one landed on my husband’s arm while he was taking my photo and then they both had to share! It was hilarious and so fun!

Lion Lighthouse

The Lion Lighthouse is a short walk from the aquarium and so worth it! The walk there is beautiful and spacious. And once you get to the lighthouse you have the most beautiful view of Long Beach! Layla loved running up and down the hills and along the boardwalk.

Christmas in Long Beach

I loved that we got to visit during the holidays as we got to do so many fun Christmas activities. Our favorite had to be the Queen Mary Christmas. The Queen Mary is worth a trip itself and I wish I had gotten a photo of the boat but trust me when I tell you that it’s something that can’t be captured on camera, you just have to see it for yourself! For Christmas they had a ton of fun activities including ice skating, a merry go round, making your own stockings and so many other activities that the kids loved. We did all of that and then even got to visit and take photos with Santa! We spent so much time there doing everything and really enjoyed it. This wrapping paper room was so fun to take photos in!

Shopping at Shoreline Village

You can’t do Christmas without some shopping right? We headed to Shoreline Village to pick up some presents for family and friends and we weren’t disappointed! All the shops there are so unique and fun to browse. We picked up some great souvenirs for ourselves too! There’s even a great arcade with lots of games and a merry go round to entertain the kids. It’s right by the water so it’s just fun to walk around and I love how brightly colored all the buildings are. We had lunch at Tequila Jack’s and I highly recommend it! The salad I got was fresh and so full of flavor and they had a great kid’s menu which I always appreciate for my picky little eater.

Pike Outlets – don’t miss Snowopolis!

We also took the kids to Pike Outlets one afternoon as it ended up raining for a little bit. It’s kind of funny as it rarely rains in Long Beach, but apparently we brought the Seattle rain with us! We never mind a little rain and it was the perfect spot to hang out for an hour.

We stumbled upon the most amazing milk shake and shave ice shop! Snowopolis did not disappoint with their unicorn milkshake. We don’t let Layla indulge in treats like this at home so having something like this on vacation, made her day! I loved just seeing her face when it came out!

One of my favorite things was seeing all the Christmas decorations but also palm trees everywhere! It’s just not something you see in Seattle, so I loved the change of scenery for us.

Family friendly restaurants in Long Beach

I have no photos of restaurants or food because if you are a parent of a toddler, you will know that meal times are impossible enough to just get them to sit down and eat much less take photos of food! LOL! But I did have to mention that we enjoyed all of our meals in Long Beach. I loved the diversity of cuisine we got to try, from Thai to Mexican to Greek. Every place we went to was very family friendly. Our very favorite of the trip was Michael’s Downtown Italian Kitchen. First of all, I loved the area, it was full of great looking restaurants and shops, this was the street right by the restaurant. Look how cute it is!

The food we had at Michael’s was so so good! From the charcuterie plate to the wood fired pizza, the food was high quality and the staff was so good to our girls. They had games for them to play and our waiter even treated Layla to ice cream! It was such a great dinner and something we still talk about!

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect of Long Beach being that I wasn’t very familiar with it. But it’s such a great spot to take your family, even the littlest ones will love it! One thing that I noticed was that even though we went to a lot of touristy areas, it never felt overcrowded. There was definitely a lot of people around but it was still spacious enough that my girls could run around and enjoy the area without having to worry about them getting in people’s way. If you are not a fan of long lines and crowds, especially during the holiday season, I highly recommend a trip here.

Long Beach is only a 3o minute drive to Disneyland which is where we headed to after and I was so glad that we started our trip in Long Beach as it was so much more relaxing then the craziness of Disneyland. If you are headed that way, make a stop at Long Beach for a few days as there’s so much to do but at the same time, it’s still relaxing and you can really enjoy your vacation! I can’t wait to head back during the summer and hit up some of the beaches my girls!

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The parent’s ultimate guide to Disney Aulani with babies

Post author By tiffany
Post date May 23, 2019

The ultimate guide to Disney Aulani with babies

If you are thinking about visiting Disney’s Aulani resort with your baby, read on for the ultimate guide to enjoying Aulani with your baby. I’m covering all the activities, tips, tricks and everything you need to know to make the trip enjoyable for you and your baby.

We flew from Seattle to Hawaii which was a 6 hour plane ride. With a 5 year old and a teething 6 month old, it definitely made for an interesting plane ride to say the least. But when we arrived at Aulani, all was forgotten about the long plane ride, we were SO happy to be there!

How to enjoy Aulani with a baby

Before our trip I had done so much research about going to Aulani and especially staying at Aulani with infants/babies and could find very little info. When I was there though, I noticed that there were a ton of babies! I’m happy that it’s a destination that a lot of families go to, even with very young babies. So, I wanted to write this post to help ease the fears for mamas like me who just want to be extra prepared when heading on vacation to Aulani with their little ones.

Book the Room or a Villa?

We split our trip and stayed in a standard ocean view room the first part of the trip and a one bedroom villa for the last half of the trip. I’m not going into full description of each room as their website does a great job (and so does a quick google search). My tip: Splurge for the one bedroom villa.

Don’t get me wrong, the standard room is still a fantastic choice and I would still book a stay there. However, for our family of 4 (2 adults, a 5 year old and a 6 month old), having the extra space to unpack and make a mess without tripping over everything made a big difference. The other reasons why you should get a villa:

The kitchen is a must have to prepare/store food for the baby, wash bottles, etc…
Lots of room for the pack and play (that the resort provides) so you don’t have to move it/unfold it each night
Plenty of space to keep a dedicated diaper changing area
Separate master bedroom to close off for naptime/bedtime so the rest of the family can still be up and watch TV/movies in the living room.
Huge tub to bathe both kids easily after days at the pool/beach
Dining area with a high chair (also provided by the resort) made it easy to get food to go and eat in the comfort or our room
Washer and Dryer in the room! Babies and kids are messy, enough said.

Activities for babies at Aulani

The resort is great at scheduling lots of events for kids throughout the days. We are not a family that is good at (or likes) set schedules. It’s so hard to get everyone ready and out the door and we end up running late which in turn make mom and dad stressed out. We decided not to deal with that this trip and just do a few scheduled things but the rest of the time, we just did what we wanted, when we wanted.

Activities that were fun and easy to enjoy with the baby

Waikolohe Pool: I loved that it was big (never felt too crowded) and shallow enough for my 5 year old to walk around in and allowed mom and dad to carry the baby around in too.
Aulani Beach at Ko Olina Lagoon: The beach was also very easy to get to and plenty of beach chairs to sit and rest in once the baby got tired. My tip: Bring your stroller on the beach! Just carry it and place it by your beach chairs so you have a shaded area for your baby to sleep.
Waikolohe Stream: The entire family loved the lazy river! You can seriously make it lazy by just sitting in the tube (I had baby sit on my lap) and let the gentle current carry you throughout the river. If your baby can sit up pretty well, you can also pop her on the top of the tube and hold her while you kick your feet in the water to have a bit more control over the experience. It was a very easy and relaxing time for all of of us!
Menehune Bridge: It’s basically a huge play structure that sprays water in certain spots and has small slides. It was perfect for my 5 year old, but don’t be afraid to bring the baby in! While big sister played, my husband or I held the baby and let her splash around too. It was never too crowded so we didn’t feel like we had to dodge bigger kids and plenty of spots for us to sit with the baby and the water splash down around us.

Is Aulani Baby Friendly?

YES! So baby friendly! I would 100% recommend coming here with a baby as you don’t need to bring a ton of gear as they have it readily available (highchair, pack and play, diaper pail and bottle warmer can all be requested!)

I’m still breastfeeding and was a bit worried that I would need to be running back to our room or finding a private spot every time she nursed but it wasn’t like that at all. Everyone there is with small kids and paying attention to their own family that nobody will even notice you (or care if they do.)

I nursed her at the pool and at the beach. The beach chairs were all very comfy and if you are able to snag a shady spot under an umbrella or by a tree, you are set!

I wore one piece swimsuits that were easy to pull down to nurse and used either my favorite nursing cover or a swaddle to cover both of us.

Milksnob cover (above) || Aden and Anais swaddle (below)

Bring your stroller

Aulani is very stroller friendly, lots of pathways with no obstructions to worry about. Even though it’s a big resort, it never felt like you had to walk miles to get to a location. I loved how each area was separate but also easily connected. Even to get food/snacks it was just a short walk from each pool or beach.

The stroller is great not just to transport baby but also a place for them to nap and still be covered. As you can see here, Edie slept very well by the pool.

We used the Ergobaby Metro – our favorite travel stroller. So lightweight and compact. It also reclines very easily for naptimes.

I also carried her which was another easy option but don’t feel like you HAVE to carry your baby. The stroller is definitely welcome at the resort and it’s spacious enough where you are not having to dodge things or even other people or strollers.

Edie is a “face out” kind of baby, she doesn’t like to face in when being carried so I love this lillebaby carrier which keeps us both happy.

SHOULD I BRING MY BABY TO AULANI?

Trust me when I say I thought about this a lot before I booked our trip. It’s okay to be scared to bring an infant or baby to Aulani. They are fussy, high maintenance and unpredictable. Sometimes it’s just easier to stay at home and not have to deal with the extra stress. But, for us, it was worth the trip. I know people say “they won’t remember it”, but you as their parent will remember it. I will treasure the memories that we made from this trip forever!

I would not say this trip was easy or relaxing. It was HARD at times especially when we wanted to make sure that big sister got to do all the fun activities that she wanted to do and working in nap times and feeding times for the baby. However, we went with the flow, made it work and all of us had so much fun.

My biggest tip when traveling or vacationing with a baby, is to let go of your expectations. Don’t try to jam pack your schedule with everything that you want to see or do. It’s just not realistic with a baby. Take it day by day, have a loose schedule of what you want to do and try the best to stick with it.

Keep a loose schedule and discuss it the night before

I like to keep my family informed the night before or what’s going on the next day that way they are aware of what time I will be waking everyone up, when/where we will be eating and any other activities that we are doing that day with a loose timeline. Sometimes everything goes as planned, sometimes it doesn’t but as long as we are all on the same page, everybody is still happy!

Going to a place like Aulani is perfect for a family with young kids as we felt no pressure to leave the resort. We had plenty to eat and do while we were there and the staff is so accommodating for families.

Stay tuned for part two where I will cover all of our activities and what you can do with your pre-school/kindergarten aged kid at Aulani! Let’s just say that Layla had no complaints!

Thank you to Aulani for hosting our stay. All opinions are my own.

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Essential Travel Items for Moms and Kids from Amazon

Post author By tiffany
Post date May 16, 2019

If you follow along with me on instagram (@tiffanyish) you know that we are currently on a family trip to Hawaii! This is our first big trip with both Layla and Edie so I wanted to be extra prepared when it came to what we packed for our 6 hour flight. I ended up making two lists, one for myself and one for the girls to make sure that we had everything we needed during travel. Today I am sharing all of the essential travel items for moms and kids and the best part is they are ALL from Amazon! Plus don’t miss the FREE Travel Essentials Printable Checklist below!

Essential Travel items for Mom:

When it comes to packing a carry-on for myself I like to keep it simple and organized. I really wanted to pack light for myself and include just the essentials I would need to get myself through the flight and to focus on taking care of

#1 Passport Wallet

This passport wallet is amazing! It has so many pockets to hold my cash, credit cards, passport and travel documents and is under $15! In Washington state we are now required to show our passports now to travel, even within the US so having something like this helps me remember to pack them!

#2 Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones are a lifesaver when your hands are full on a flight.

#3 Packing Cubes

These packing cubes help keep everything organized. I used some in my carry-on and some in our luggage. This comes as a set of 6 for under $20.

#4 Carry-on Tote

I am obsessed with this carry-on tote! It is cute and large enough to hold all of my stuff, as well as my girls things. Plus it has a slit in the back that can slide onto the handle of your luggage so that it sits perfectly right on top.

#5 Travel Tissues

These go without explanation, a travel essential for everyone!

#6 Honest Hand Sanitizer

This is my favorite hand sanitizer and it’s also safe for kids.

#7 Jet-Lag Face Mask

If I happen to get a minute to myself on the flight, this is my favorite in-flight mask to do!

#8 Aquaphor Healing Ointment

My skin and lips tend to get really dry on flights. This aquaphor healing ointment works on everything and keeps my moisturized.

#9 Stainless Steel Water Bottle

After we get through security, I like to grab a drink to take with me on the flight. This stainless steel water bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours.

#10 Luggage Set

This luggage set is great and comes with a set of 3 for under $150.

#11 Portable Charger

Another serious travel essential, this portable charger works for phones and iPads.

#12 Nike Sneakers

Comfortable shoes are key when traveling and I love these cute nikes.

Essential Travel items for Kids and Baby:

When it comes to packing for my daughters, I tried to think of anything and everything we could possibly need that would keep them happy and entertained during such a long flight. Here is what I packed for my girls:

#1 Diapers

No brainer when traveling with a baby!

#2 Wipes

Of course you need for babies but also great to wipe off sticky hands and tray tables.

#3 Carters Baby Girls Clothing Set

An extra set of clothes (or 2) for baby is a must!

#4 Changing Pad

I take a changing pad with me wherever we go! I love that this one folds up as a clutch too.

#5 Plush Rattle

A plush rattle is great entertainment for infants and this unicorn one is so cute.

#6 Pacifier with animal

A pacifier is essential on flights! They actually help so that infants ears don’t pop from the air pressure and Edie loves this one with the stuffed animal attached.

#7 Nibbly Fingers Oat Bars

Oat bars are perfect on the go snacks so we made sure to pack some of these.

#8 Fresh Food Feeder

I saw this and thought it was genius! If you are in the stage of introducing solids this is a must-have and so easy to take on the go.

#9 Plum Organics Snack Pouches

These snack pouches are another favorite for on the go snacking.

#10 Kids Water Bottle

A water bottle for my older daughter is perfect for travel, and although they are not pictured above, of course bottles for Edie were in our bag as well.

#11 Snack Catcher Bowls

These snack catcher bowls are awesome! You can fill them up with your childs favorite snacks and the soft flap lids make snack time mess free.

#12 Portable Crib

A portable crib is a lifesaver when traveling and this one is so great as when it is folded up it has straps like a backpack to easily carry!

#13 Crayola Color Wonder Coloring Kit

My daughter loves coloring and these color wonder kits are mess free and perfect for the plane.

#14 Time for a Trip Book

A book is great in-flight entertainment and I love that this one is about taking a trip!

#15 Kids Headphones

For my older daughter, these headphones are so cute and perfect when using her tablet mid-flight.

#16 Toddler Travel Bag

Layla loves to have her own bag and this rolling unicorn luggage was perfect to put all of her travel essentials in and still small enough to use as a carry on.

#17 Toddler Travel Pillow

A travel pillow is great and I am hoping will help Layla to lay down or take a nap during the flight!

#18 Kids Tablet

We try to limit screen time but when it comes to a long flight, this tablet is perfect. We downloaded some of her favorite movies and games so it was ready for her to use when needed.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLIST!

To make packing for your next trip easy, I have compiled all of my essentials into an easy to use checklist. To get the FREE Travel Essentials Printable Checklist, just enter your email below and I’ll send it over straight to your email!

[email-download download_id=”13881″ contact_form_id=”13879″].

I’d love to know your essential travel items for yourself and your kids. Be sure to share them with me and don’t forget that you can follow along with our family trip over on instagram @tiffanyish!

Love these Amazon finds? Be sure to check out these other Amazon posts here:

15 Amazon Finds to Update Your Spring Home Decor

Things I love: Must Buys on Amazon

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8 tips for Great Wolf Lodge beyond the water park

Post author By tiffany
Post date March 8, 2019

We were invited to Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA to preview the Spring-a-palooza events. We just got back and we had the best time! It was our first time and I was excited to see the water park that I’ve heard tons about from friends who take their kids often. My daughter has a small phobia of water, even bath time is tough around here, which is why we haven’t gone before. When they reached out and told me more about all the activities that they had to offer that weren’t part of the water park, I was intrigued and excited to take my family. While I know that most people probably do go their for the water park, which is no doubt, amazing, I wanted to share all the fun experiences we got to do and my tips to enjoy Great Wolf Lodge beyond the water park! But don’t worry, we did not miss out! We still played in the water park, and my daughter, water phobia and all, loved it!

8 tips for Great Wolf Lodge beyond the water park

We were coming from North Seattle and it is about a 2 hour drive, which is very reasonable. It’s also a great stop if you are planning on going to Portland, Oregon as well (or if you are coming from Portland too!)

Check the schedule and plan your day accordingly

Great Wolf Lodge does such a great job of planning all sorts of fun activities throughout the day so there is always something to do! It was easy to find the activities for the day as they listed them out in the lobby.

I recommend noting which activities and time your kids for sure want to do before heading to the water park as you’ll want to make sure that they have enough time to dry off and change into their regular clothes.

Take part in the Spring-a-Palooza activities

Great Wolf Lodge changes out their activities and events based on season and for spring there is so much to do! We loved Violet’s tea party where we got to decorate cookies and play games with Violet herself!

There’s also a bubble dance party, nightly story time and lots of spring themed craft making events. All of these are complimentary with your stay so you’ll definitely want to take advantage of them.

Get the Wolf Pass for even more activities

Great Wolf Lodge has a lot of different activities to do and can be done individually or they also have a Wolf Pass which allows you to do a variety of activities packaged into one great price. I loved having this option seeing that my daughter did not spend a huge amount of time in the water park, as well as having a 4 month old, who couldn’t yet enjoy the water park fully, the wolf pass allowed us to have a ton of fun and kept us really busy.

The Wolf Pass package includes:

Choice of MagiQuest or ShadowQuest game
Choice of classic or colored wand, standard topper or Magi belt
One Creation Station animal (outfit not included)
One Clubhouse Crew Adventure
One Paw Points arcade / attractions card (20 points)
One 12 oz. candy cup
One pair of Great Wolf Lodge goggles from Bear Essentials Swim Shop
One Glitz Glitter Tattoo
One Leather Treaty name bracelet from Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop
One experience at Oliver’s Mining Company

You don’t have to do all of them in a day, you are able to do them at your leisure during your stay.

Creation Station – Build a Bear

The current Creation Station is a lot of fun where you get to pick your own animal to stuff, but they did let us know that they will be opening up a Build a Bear which will have exclusive Great Wolf Lodge animals that you can stuff and dress up! My daughter is a huge Build a Bear fan and I can’t wait to take her back to create her own special Great Wolf Lodge animal!

Mining for Gemstones

One of our favorite things to do was mining for gemstones! You get a bag of sand and sift through it in the water and then you get to see what gemstones you find! It was so fun and so cute to see how excited she got every time she found a pretty gemstone.

Earn tickets at the Arcade

I have to mention the arcade. If your kid is like mine and loves to play games for tickets, well they will have a blast at the arcade!

We spent a lot of time in there playing lots of fun games and I have to laugh as Edie totally fell asleep in her stroller there, even though it was one of the loudest/brightest spots in the entire resort!

Head to the spa for mommy and me time

Great Wolf Lodge is not just for kids as they definitely thought of the adults too! The spa offers plenty of services for moms and dads. But of course, they don’t leave out the kids! We loved Scooops Kid Spa! The ice cream theme is just too cute.

Layla got the princess treatment with a crown, sash, glitter in her hair and even strawberry scented hand lotion! Next time we are there I’m booking us a Mommy and Me pedicure.

Use your wolf ears for fun photo opps

When you check in they hand you the cutest wolf ears which Layla loved. She loves putting bows on everything so she grabbed some of her bows to accessorize the ears and then we made sure to take lots of photos with them on.

For spring they have these cute pastel colored wolf ears which I just adore!

The gray wolf ears are usually what they hand out which are darn cute as well. And bring extra bows if your daughter loves to accessorize like mine does!

Don’t plan on leaving the resort, even for meals

There are so many places to eat at Great Wolf Lodge so it’s not neccessary to leave the resort at all! There’s casual places where you can get pizza, ice cream and more and the two restaurants where you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I admit I had low expectations for food as I’ve been to too many places aimed at feeding kids and the food was pretty mediocre. But I was really impressed with the food at Great Wolf Lodge and can definitely tell that they cater to adults too. They have lots of great menu items for the kids and Layla loved everything she tried there. The adult menus had a lot of variety and everything was so delicious!

Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs

From the moment you walk in there are so many things that your little one will want (and that you’ll want to buy for them!) The gift shop is pretty amazing as they have a ton of great stuff that is beyond just your typical souvenir. My daughter, who is a huge Beanie Boo fan, was amazed to find a whole wall of Beanie Boos and these specials ones that are exclusive to Great Wolf Lodge!

From the activities on the Wolf Pass like the Creation Station stuffed animal, to the gemstones, toys from the arcade and even a wand we ended up coming home with a lot of fun stuff! Luckily we had a bag with extra room to make sure we could fit it all in.

Pack comfy shoes for the whole family

A lot of people end up thinking of the water park and bringing flip flops but for the dry activities, you do a lot of walking as you go from activity to activity and then back to your room. I was glad to have packed comfy shoes for all of us.

If you have a baby or little one that can’t quite do a lot of walking yet, bring your stroller too! It was worth it to have the stroller considering we would have been so tired from carrying Edie around all day. It can get hard to navigate when areas get crowded so try to bring a smaller size stroller if you can.

(bonus tip!) Book a cabana at the water park

Being that we have a baby, having the private cabana at the park made it so much more easier for us. We were able to go in and out of the water as we needed and either I or my husband could stay behind with the baby or when we all went in, we were able to leave our items in the cabana without worrying about them. It was also private enough that I felt comfortable nursing Edie when she got hungry.

There are plenty of chairs around the park so it’s not a necessity but I think for either families with larger groups who want to have seats together or families with babies like us, it’s definitely a plus!

I forgot to grab a photo of the cabana but it was a large space with several chairs, a lounger and plenty of towels for us to use.

The park itself is great as there were plenty of spaces for us to play and even though there were a lot of people in the park, it never felt crowded. And like I said, Layla has a phobia of water but she really enjoyed it as there were a lot of spots where she could go in and just put her feet in the water or have it spray her legs.

There is a section for the younger kids which was a lot of fun and after a bit she even went down one of the water slides! I was so proud of her as I never thought that she would have tried it out. I think seeing all the other kids there having a blast, made her want to try it out herself.

Have fun!

We really had the best time at Great Wolf Lodge and I highly recommend going even if you have kids that aren’t huge fans of water. They really exceeded my expectations with everything from the activities to the food and the service as well. Everyone there was so kind and they all truly want you to have the best time ever.

Layla is already planning our trip back there and I can’t wait for Edie to get a little older so she can enjoy it too!