For some, like us, October is a reminder of pregnancy and infant loss.  This October has been marked as my 4th loss.  This one made it to 11 weeks but we did not know until my 12-week appointment.

I came so close to starting to fill out the early weeks in the baby book I bought.  Constantly battling in my mind to share the news or keep it hidden because…what if?  I bought a sweet ultrasound pic frame to match your big brother’s and sister’s frames.  Names started coming to mind.  Wondering what you might look like, how would you interact with your siblings, what characteristics would you share?

Thanks to COVID precautions I attended the appointment alone.  I waited in silence as the doppler searched my abdomen for a heartbeat.  The Dr. mentioned the little peanut was hiding so she would try to grab the handheld ultrasound machine.  I knew what she was doing and I knew the answer then.  This wasn’t the first time for me.

We proceeded with the handheld which found an image but she could hear no heartbeat.  On to the traditional ultrasound room.  The tech tried and searched but she knew as well.  I don’t envy their job in this moment.  To have to tell a mother that their child no longer has a heartbeat when it was so strong just 4 weeks earlier.

As I write this, the process is not over yet.  I had 3 options to decide how I will deal with pregnancy loss this time.  I honestly don’t remember being given an option for my second miscarriage.  The other two happened naturally before I knew what was going on.  We are waiting on surgery, a D & C, or Dilation and Curettage.  The same surgery that gave me my scarring, that prevented us from conceiving in the first place.  It has risks as do the other two options but in my opinion, this will have the least emotional toll on me.

We’ve never considered ourselves religious but we’ve never shut it out either.  We listen when others speak about their different beliefs.  We find that we relate to some things and question others.  Lately, it seems God is being placed or maybe I’m seeing him easier.  

When we first found out about the pregnancy, we believed that it must have been meant to be.  My husband and I have never been able to conceive on our own.  Both children that we do have here on earth were conceived with fertility treatments.  So, to have had this happen the way we are “supposed” to was a miracle in itself.  It must have been meant to be.

But what now?  Was this loss meant to be?  Did we have too much anxiety about becoming parents again?  Did we put out the wrong vibes?  Maybe I didn’t push hard enough about needing extra medical support early in my pregnancy.  After all, 41 is old even in today’s medical standards for being pregnant.  Add to that our fertility issues, surely it shouldn’t have been taken so lightly.

Now we wonder, what is the lesson we are to learn from this?  What growth are we to gain?

There is nothing that can be done to change what has happened.  We will get through our grieving and life will go on.  I’ve done this enough to know that I need space to process but I also need to talk about it.  Especially, with my family.

It’s so easy to shut down.  To not share what you are going through.  We keep it in to avoid feeling it, to protect others, to avoid pity, and for so many other reasons.

Everyone grieves differently so I don’t want to write a post that says this is what you need to do to heal.  I don’t know that exact answer.  I know what works for me most of the time and that is all I can suggest.  Read further for ways that I am dealing with pregnancy loss.

How I am coping

Let it out – Cry, scream, speak in tongue.  Whatever works to let it out.  Your body needs this release.

Talk to others (when you are ready) – My communication consists of texts right now.  I can’t get through a conversation if we are going to talk about our loss.  I can share more through text to those that I want to share with.  You could also consider letters, journals or whatever form of communication feels best.  Seek out professional help as well.  Therapy is often a taboo subject but can be very helpful when processing different events.  You can find other suggestions for mental health wellness here.

Take all the space that you need – That may mean getting away or it may just mean staying silent for now.  It can also mean telling family and friends that you don’t want to share any more right now (or ever).  It may mean taking some days off from work.

Find a way to keep busy – If you are at home all day and left to your thoughts you can quickly go dark.  Try to find little things to occupy your time and mind while also giving yourself a chance to grieve.

Accept help – If someone is offering to do something for you, let them.  You can choose what is okay if multiple things are offered.  It’s hard to say yes, I get it.  I have told people “I’m fine” on multiple occasions but I have also accepted.  In those moments, it is nice to just be.

Ways to help others dealing with pregnancy loss

Again, everyone grieves differently so I can’t speak to what will work for everyone.  I am simply sharing the things that I appreciate in these moments.

Offer but don’t push – If you feel inclined to offer to do something, do so but don’t force it.  Give them just a couple of options to choose from.  It can feel overwhelming when it is an open-ended question like, “What do you need?”.  Things that have been offered;

• Watching the kids
• Providing a meal
• Availability to talk
• Company with no pressure to talk about it

Mind your words – No one really knows what to say in these moments but we always feel that we need to make it easier on the grieving person/family.  Less is often more in this situation.  Let them know how sorry you are and that you are here for them.  Try not to add phrases like, “this too shall pass” or “you can try again”.

Give them space but don’t disappear – If they decline help or to talk accept that but continue to check-in.  When you first share such news, you are often flooded with condolences and offers of help but then you are just left to deal with things on your own.  Even if they continue to decline offers, it is nice to know that someone is still thinking of you in your time of need.

I share this not to “air” my personal information but in hopes of helping others who are suffering in silence.  To let them know they are not alone.  That it is ok to talk about it or to keep quiet.

I share it to help myself process and grieve so that I don’t continue to bottle it up and stuff it down.  It feels unbearable at times and incredibly hard.  Having two others to take care of makes it feel almost strange.  We are so lucky to have the two that we do yet I yearn for this one to be a living part of our family.  It’s hard doing this away from extra support too.  We have great family and friends that have offered to travel to help and we are so thankful for that.

Fly high baby Youngs

-Kate

I finally did it!  My book is finished!  I wanted to take a second and share 5 steps to push past your inner critic (And let me tell ya, she was loud) that helped me get my book done.  

I’ve been thinking about writing this book for almost two years now.  The actual writing part was finished this winter but I let myself listen to that inner critic.  Telling me no one will read it, no one will like it, I don’t know what I’m talking about.  ALL the things!

Maybe some of those things will be true but I know that I have the experience, we all do, to write about our own experiences, what has helped us and how that might help someone else in a similar situation.

The actual writing of the book and editing is done.  Currently, it is heading to formatting and cover design.  I set a date near the end of September 2020 to launch!

I wrote this book with y’all in mind.  

As well as those just getting started or thinking about getting started with pipeline travel.  I hope I did ya proud!!  I know I didn’t cover everything but I wanted this book to focus on the beginning of the journey.

It was hard at times, to remember how I felt in certain situations.  Trying to remember all the questions I had, the places we had been (and when), sharing some of the stories.  But it felt right.  It felt like there might be someone out there that needs to hear our story, to get an idea of what it is like to travel with the pipeline or to know that they are not in it alone.

Because it was a journey to get to this point and through the writing, I wanted to share with you…

The 5 steps to push past your inner critic that helped me were;

Making a plan

It can be as simple as writing down the things you want to say.  Mindmapping, brainstorming, or anything else you want to call it.  Get the ideas out of your head and on to a piece of paper, Google docs, or any way else you want to write.  Set a timer, get your sh*t together, and GO!

Put together not only your thoughts for what you want to share but also ideas on how you want to organize it.  Think back to when you were in school and they taught you to create sections for writing.  Get your intro started, your chapter ideas, and your closing thoughts.

Taking action

After you’ve spent some time really thinking about what it is you want to share, take some time to actually do the writing.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  Put whatever comes to mind, put it in your notes.  Then you can take some time to edit and make adjustments to how you want it to flow.

Creating affirmations

Another huge help in pushing past my inner critic was creating affirmations.  Just the act of thinking about what you want to accomplish is helpful.  Then when you put them into your daily habit and repeat those affirmations.  Say them out loud!  Put them ALL over your camper, phone, house, whatever.  Use sticky notes and put them where you will see them and when you see them, say them proud!  

Making it a priority

How many good ideas have you had only to forget about them?  Scheduling them into your day makes those ideas a priority.  It took me a long time to see this one.  I always considered myself as a person that preferred to not have a schedule but so many things slip through the cracks when they are not noted.

Blocking out time in my schedule to focus on the writing helped, to make it a habit.  I do this with so many things including break periods.  It helps me to see where I’m spending my time and where I can add something else.  I use a combination of my phone calendar and a physical planner (click here for my favorite planner) to help track my days.  Below is a screenshot of my calendar when I was in the thick of things.

Be consistent

This one ties into Making it a priority as well.  In order to make a habit, you have to stay consistent.  That may mean setting it up at the same time/day.  It may mean setting a set time period.  Consistency also means that if you miss a day, you pick right back up.  Don’t go down that rabbit hole where you find every excuse because you missed one time.

If your interested in more info on creating or resetting a routine, read here.

There you have it, 5 steps to push past your inner critic.  

• Making a plan
• Taking action
• Affirmations
• Making it a priority
• Be consistent

These steps can be applied to just about anything you are trying to achieve or when you feel that self-doubt creeping up.

My book was a big hurdle but I’m so glad I was able to get it done.  What hurdles are you ready to cross off your list?

My hope for this book is that it will help future pipeline families.  I hope it resonates with those of us in the middle of it and I hope that it inspires you to go after your dreams.

I’m building my launch team and would love for you to be on it! 

If you are interested in reading this book and helping spread the word, please reach out below or send me an email at travelingwivesclub@gmail.com.

Do you ever have the best intentions but often let things distract you or get in your way?  

I wrote this post back in May and in true fashion, I forgot to publish it.  Most of what I wrote is still an issue however our home projects are on hold since my husband was able to go back to work this month!  He had been off since last September so it was a welcome opportunity, to say the least!

Read on to learn four ways to stay focused in times of chaos.

I am struggling here!

Not just because we are limited on where we can travel and stores to frequent but all the projects.  I think we have started (and almost finished) more projects now than ever before.

Some have been needing to get done.  Others started out of boredom.

Have you ever heard of the squirrel or shiny object syndrome?  In a nutshell (see what I did there!), you start something but then get distracted by something else that sounds or looks even more exciting.  That sums up my life and really highlights quarantine life for us right now!

I have been struggling to figure out what I want to do when I grow up.

The good news is that I’m willing to try new things.  The bad news is that I often don’t give that thing long enough to figure out if it is where I should be.

Can you relate?

Within the last year, I have started a blog, a book, a Virtual Assistant business, and a real estate course.  At the house, we have started a garden, an office, a new cleaning routine, homeschooling, a new workout, meal planning, and what feels like so many other things.

My blog is neglected, to say the least, my book is not published yet and my VA business continues to morph its services.  The light at the end of the tunnel is that we did finish the real estate course and I can finally check SOMETHING off my list of start-ups.  Although, I’ll still be waiting for the COVID restrictions to lift before I can take the exam for the state.

***Edit, the office was completed as well as the garden back home before we left for NC.  Two more checkmarks!

All of this while we are still trying to educate our children, keep up the house, and keep them away from too much screen time.  What happened to the days where you could send your kids outside until mealtime or plop them in front of the “boob tube” and there was no judgment?!!

What I’ve found that is working for us so far,

Scheduling/planning

I take time on Sundays to sit down and look at the week to see if we have any appointments or if I have a crazy busy week for work.  Then I think about the things I want to do and feel for the week. I make sure to squeeze in fun things along with business/school.  

I take out my calendar and write it all down.  I am not a fan of having a schedule because I’m not always great at sticking to it.  So, this is more of a guide for us.  It lets me know what things I have to stay on point for and where there may be some flexibility.

If your routine needs a revision, click here to read more tips.

Blocks of time

I have to break up my day for work so that my kids are not completely zoned out on electronics.  So, I break my work tasks into 1-2 hour blocks.  Giving myself a time limit helps me get a bit more focused and I can generally get a lot done.  My work time is broken up with things like cleaning, cooking, playing, and doing schoolwork with the kids.

Use your resources 

Take advantage of what is around you and your area.  I have fully embraced grocery pick-up instead of shopping.  It saves me time and money!

Extra time with family means we get to learn even more about each other (and fun new ways to annoy each other)!  My daughter recently started helping my mom (we are a multi-generational family) in the kitchen at dinner.  She is learning some skills and they get extra quality time together.  The kids also enjoy fishing with my parents which usually means a cast or two and then eating all the snacks packed for the day.  These are great bonding moments but that also means that we are able to squeeze in focused work blocks or some alone time!!

Need other ideas for social distancing, click here.

Get outside

Taking time to go outside has helped me so much!  I need that fresh air and sunlight to help refocus my mind.  Some days it may only be for 15 minutes but it can still be beneficial.  Let your mind relax for a minute and just look around.

***Edit, Our place in N.C. has a pool so, we are getting lots of pool time.  Which means the kids are learning to swim!

More reasons to get outside!

There you go!  Nothing too fancy or hard to do, just a few ways to stay focused during moments of chaos.  Take some time to schedule/plan your week, break your tasks down into blocks of time, utilize whatever resources are around you, and get outside!  If you need some planner suggestions check out The Happy Planner, The JourneyGuide or The Living Well Planner.  I personally, use The Happy Planner but with my shiny object syndrome, I’m always on the hunt!  LOL

(No affiliation with any of the above planners, just recommendations)

I would love to hear from you!

Any other squirrels out there?  What has been the hardest for you lately?  What have you found that is working for your family?

Pop your comments/questions down below and while you’re at it, follow me on FB or IG to see what we’ve been up to lately.

As always, thanks for reading!

–Kate

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season whether you made it back to your home state or are out on a project. 

I know ours has been eventful between gatherings, travels and just about every possible illness for each of us at different times. Seriously!  We have been through the flu, pneumonia, vertigo and all kinds of sinus issues! 

That has only played a small part in my absence here. I’ve also started a business and am in the process of writing a book. Both have taken a significant amount of time over the last few months. 

I wanted to jump on here to let you know I’m not done!  Don’t worry, I have plans for 2020 and it involves more writing here on this blog. I am at the tail end of my book and then it is ready for editing!  I am so excited to get the book out for everyone to see so I’m putting my energy to finish that. Then I can make more space to continue my efforts here. 

I have a couple guest posts coming up as well!  We all have unique stories to share whether we realize it or not. There are women out there that need to hear your experiences. They need to feel that connection. To know that others know what they are going through. That others know their troubles and their triumphs. 

I love being able to share others stories with you!  If you are or know someone that may be interested in a guest post or being interviewed for the blog, please comment or send me a message. 

Cheers to the beginning of a new year!

As always, thanks for reading!

-Kate

This was a short job and I was currently working back in Michigan.  The job was in a remote area of Maryland, closer to the WV border.  It was a beautiful little resort town that got pretty dang busy during the summer, probably the winter too!

No campgrounds close by that had any openings and the job wasn’t long enough, about 3 months, to warrant finding a home rental.  This was before Airbnb too so, finding an extended stay was not quite as easy.

Highlights

The Inn at Deep Creek– Oakland, MD

• 12ish rooms
• Very clean, spacious rooms
• Close to town
• Friendly staff
• Bars/restaurants nearby
• Beautiful scenery
• Ski resort and large lake in town

Layout

The layout at the Inn at Deep Creek was pretty standard for a small inn.  Two-level building, with a front or back deck.  The rooms were simple and spacious; bed, bathroom and a small deck that looked out to the lake if you were on the backside.  The rooms even had a Keurig in them which was pretty rare at the time.  Some I believe have kitchenettes as well.

The Inn was situated about half way on the lake and at the south end of McHenry (it has an Oakland address).  It was on a main two lane road that took you right through all the amenities.

Favorite things

The staff was so great when my husband stayed there.  Always friendly, helpful and kept things very neat in the rooms as well as the Inn itself.  The Inn had good parking for big trucks and the amenities were easily accessible.

My favorite part of the area was the outdoor opportunities!  The lake was long and had a ton of activities on it.  Lots of places to rent jet skis and boats.  There was plenty of hiking trails to explore. Our favorite was the Swallowtail Falls area.

It was also close to the Ohiopyle State Park and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.  Both absolutely beautiful areas!  We have been several times since our first visit.

The town

The town of Oakland was relatively small but has grown since we were there for the first time. Picture most small tourist-oriented towns, a few quaint shops, restaurants and a small market lined the main drag.  I don’t remember visiting a typical downtown area, most of the shops and attractions were stretched out along MD-219.  There was a cute little deli style market that we went to a couple times as well as UNO pizzeria.

Nearby

As I mentioned earlier, Ohiopyle and actually 2 of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes are about an hour to the north from the Inn at Deep Creek.  Ohiopyle offers a chance to walk part of the Appalachian trail as well as areas for fishing, white water rafting and a little rock waterslide.  Both Wright homes are open for tours with gift shops, snacks and hiking opportunities.

Continuing with the outdoor theme if you continue south, closer to about a 2-hour drive, you can access the Monongahela National Forest in WV.  We didn’t actually explore here until last year but it has some beautiful areas as well!  Blackwater Falls being the closest from Oakland, followed by Spruce Knob.

If you are interested in a bigger town you have the option of heading west to Morgantown or to the east for Cumberland.  Both offer beautiful mountain areas, shopping and a bigger selection of restaurants. Catch a college football game over in Morgantown

Overall, it was a great experience for my husband’s stay(we enjoyed visiting as well).  We have come back to the area several times since his first job there.

I hope you have found this review and information helpful!

Please remember that anything written above was my opinion and experience of the area/s.  I have also linked to the Inn’s page and McHenry’s website for more information.

Let me know if you have visited this place or surrounding area!  What did you think?

If you are curious about other places we have reviewed, click here.

As always, thanks for reading!

–Kate

I say “forever” because it really can be difficult to determine if that will be the home you will live in for the rest of your lives but it can certainly be the goal.  We bought our home with the intention of settling down for the kids so that they could establish friends and be a bit closer to family.

Looking back at our previous home purchases, it would have been difficult to make them our “forever” home. Our family doubled in size and then we added my parents to our home as well.  That little 1200 sq ft ranch would have been a tight fit for all of us and our things.

Luckily, when we chose to buy and then again, when we chose to sell it worked out in our favor and we were able to make a profit to help go towards debt and our savings for the next purchase.

These previous purchases allowed us to build up some savings and knock out some debt so that this was an option for us when we were ready to start thinking more about our future.

Here are just some of the reasons we thought it was a good idea to plan to buy a home before leaving the pipeline…

Pay down now with the potentially larger income

If you have little to no debt besides your home left you can take anything extra and apply it to the home. This will help pay things down even quicker and save you interest!  Also, depending on how early on you start doing this, you have the potential to have NO house payments when you are done traveling with the pipeline!!  How amazing would that be?!

Can afford your dream home

Choosing to buy your future home now may mean that you can afford some or all the things you want in a home.  With the bigger paychecks and your other debt paid off it gives you a bit more flexibility in getting what you want.  To some that may mean building a home.  To others it could be a bigger home or high-end finishes.  Whatever your dream home means to you, you have the potential to work it in to your plan if you start thinking ahead a bit.

Make necessary improvements during layoffs

If your option was to build or buy a fixer upper, buying that home ahead of time gives you space to work on it at your pace and fix things up as you go.  This way it is ready by the time you come off the road. You can work on it little by little during any layoff periods.  Another option is to pay someone to work on it during your work periods but obviously this comes at an additional cost.

Start accumulating things/equipment/toys you may want after done traveling

Getting a home ahead of time allows you to start decorating, fixing and gathering any tools/toys you may want to have when you are home.  You can take your time picking out your furniture, paint colors, fixtures, etc since you are not living in it now.  This extra time allows you to slowly update anything you may want to replace.

Rent out the home until you are done traveling

If you are worried about an unoccupied home that you are paying for consider renting it out.  You could rent it to someone you may know or trust. Utilizing a rental property management company who will screen your tenants for you and generally take about 10% for their fee is another great option.  These companies also have a team that is available if something goes wrong and needs to be fixed.  And if god forbid, someone needs to be evicted, they know how to handle the situation.

What’s great about this too, is that depending on your mortgage payment you may be getting that paid for you by your tenant!  How great would it be to have someone else making your payments for you!!  Even if they are not making the full payment they are still helping to pay it down faster.

Debt reduction is key!

It’s important to note that this plan may not be for everyone.  Your current situation will determine whether or not this is something you could do.  If you currently have quite a bit of debt and no savings, I would consider paying that off and getting an emergency fund (about 6-8 months of bills) saved up first.

If you don’t know where to start with debt reduction check out these resources:  Dave Ramsey who I referenced in this post.  Another great resource for money saving tips is from Ruth Soukup’s blog, Living Well Spending Less.

The debt snowball vs debt avalanche

As you pay off each bill of debt try following the avalanche method.  This method has you pay off the debt with the highest interest first and then take that payment and apply it to the next high interest debt.  You continue to do so until everything is paid off. This is a great method to use but can be a bit more difficult with those of us receiving unreliable or unsteady income.

For that reason, I prefer to use the snowball method.  With the snowball method you focus on the smallest debt first.  Not only can you often pay something off quicker but you also get that satisfaction quicker of knowing you knocked some of your debt out.  This can often help keep you excited about paying things off and continue to do so.

Ready?

Get your debt list going! Gather all your debts owed except any mortgages.  List them out with the amount owed and monthly payment.  If you are opting for the avalanche method be sure to get the interest rate as well.   Organize your list based on which payment method you will be using.  Then start tackling that debt!

We followed Dave Ramsey’s plan initially and have tweaked things as we have gone along.  With the plan we were able to knock out several credit cards, a personal loan and our truck.  The thing is, if you want the plan to work and continue to work, you need to stick to it and then continue following it!

What happened is that we did not…we upgraded our trailer to a brand new one, rolling our loss in to the payment.  We bought a used vehicle but used financing.  The only thing we have maintained regularly is our savings.

Looking for a boost?

Pick up a side job or two to help pay down that debt or house even faster!  There are quite a few different options for finding flexible jobs that work with our travel.  If you need some help finding ideas, check out my post here!

Let’s recap…consider having a plan to buy a home before leaving the pipeline so that you are not scrambling when it is time to come off the road.

Follow these tips to get you started:

• Pay down debt
• Save at least 6-8 months expenses
• Find your dream home and purchase
• Consider renting out home to help pay it down
• Pay off your dream home or at least half by the time you want to stop working on the road

Let me know if you have done this, are planning to or have different ideas!  I love hearing from you so please leave a comment below!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Kate

Today is our son’s first day of Kindergarten and I am sitting here crying like a baby.

I’m doing it for all the typical reasons;

• He’s growing so fast
• His first experience of school
• He was nervous (and so am I)

But one of the biggest reasons I’m sitting here is because my husband isn’t.  He should be here.  He is missing out on these big occasions.

No, he is not dead. No, he is not in the military.

He has something else that keeps him away…the pipeline.

Have you heard of it? Probably just the protests, right? A topic for another time.

In case you have not heard of it…our country is full of pipelines that run under and above the ground. They crisscross our nation like the veins in our body, providing a supply of liquid and gas that our country depends on.

They help transport liquid petroleum and natural gas to help create products we use EVERY DAY like our cell phones, TVs, fuel for our cars, heat to our homes, etc.   You can read about pipelines here.

Another story, another time.

Let’s get back to our story…

The kids and I decided to come back about a week before so I had time to get the school supplies from the list, figure out timing (for driving), plan out lunches (I’m failing here) and overall scheduling.

We also wanted to give our son a bit of time to adjust back home before entering a new situation.  To have time to run around and enjoy summer at the big house.  To get used to sleeping in a new bed and place.

It is such an exciting time and yet so hard on our family.

For an undetermined amount of time we will be apart from my husband, their daddy.  He is staying back to work, to provide for our family. Unless he gets laid off soon, we most likely won’t see him until around Thanksgiving break.  He is about 8 hours away and that is just too hard on two littles for a weekend trip.

This is a job that we chose before we had children.  My husband has worked so hard to get where he is and has become damn good at what he does. As a family we support him!  We know it will be hard and the visits will not come often enough but it is a short-term game at this point.

Although, this was a choice we made, it doesn’t make it any easier.

The kids and I get to be back in our home.  Making new friends and enjoying our new town.  We get to check out our festivals, sports and whatever else we can find.  We have all these things to keep us busy along with navigating school and all the things that come along with daily life.

While it can be fun doing these things, it is also bittersweet.

It’s hard for me to not think about the fact that he will miss out on different activities or the excitement of making a new friend.  He will miss out on the bedtime routine, the homework and even simple things like pickup and drop-off.

He doesn’t get to hold our sons hand at the dentist when he is scared.

He doesn’t get to wipe our daughters tears away when she gets hurt.

But he wants to.

He doesn’t get to teach them how to ride bikes.

He doesn’t get to snuggle with them every night.

But he wants to.

I often don’t send him as many pictures when we are apart.  Not because I don’t think that he should see them.  I worry about how it will affect him.  I don’t want him to miss them more than he already does but I don’t want him to miss out either.

We know there are options.

Trust me when I say that we have talked about a lot of them.  Our minds have changed several times already.  We know there are options for schooling.  Homeschooling or to just change schools whenever we moved is an option.

I know many families that are doing these things successfully and it works for them.  But each of us is different.  We feel this is what are family needs right now.

We also know there is always a way to make something work.  So, for now we are finding ways to make being apart work for our family. Technology certainly helps.  FaceTime is often used as signal allows.

Our family talks daily, even if it is only for a few minutes.  We keep the kids informed on what is happening and encourage them to be engaged in the conversation.

Please don’t mistake this post as looking for sympathy.

We know this is the path that we have chosen.  We have a plan and right now, this separation, this difficult situation is a part of that plan.

This post is more for those that are also experiencing this same situation.  I just want you to know that you are not alone.  There are others going through separation just like you.

It may not be for the same reasons but they know the heartache you feel.  The questions you have unanswered.  They have family and friends that just don’t understand.

There are others that loved this lifestyle but now want it to change so desperately.  Some are trapped financially and trying to figure a way out.  Others just love this work and are not ready to walk away from it.

Whatever the situation, there are others out there that are negotiating similar situations.  Trying to do the best for their family.

This post is for you. I hope you know that there are others out there, experiencing similar situations with our travel lifestyle. You are not alone.

Ways to help ease the separation…

• FaceTime, Skype, Zoom are great tools to have so that you can have a sense of connection.  They help by providing you with video calls.  You get to see each other while you chat.  We do this daily as long as he has a decent signal.
• Talk.  I’m mean really talk.  Separation makes things seem worse than they are sometimes.  You need to be able to share what you are feeling so things don’t get mixed up or lost in translation.
• Put yourself in their “shoes”.  Try to see things from the other person’s point of view.  Both parties are struggling with different things when separated.  My husband is so good at this, I need to do better.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in whatever we are dealing with that we don’t always stop to see what they are going through also.
• Make time for visits as often as possible.  Obviously this varies on distance and schedules but if you can make something work, DO IT!
• Find support.  Talk to people that can relate or are at least willing to listen.  If you need help finding places for support, check out my post about some resources here.
• If you don’t like the situation, make a plan to change it!

If you can relate and want to share, I would love to hear from you!  Drop a comment below!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Kate

I don’t know about you but I do not enjoy cooking in the camper kitchen to begin with but when you add high temps…I’m out!  Between chasing the kids out of the kitchen area, searching for my ingredients and getting the pans warmed up I was already in full on workout sweat mode!

I finally started using my brain and coming up with a few ideas on how I could keep it a bit cooler in the kitchen.

Are you ready to learn about my top ways to keep your camper kitchen cool in the summer?

Read on sister!

Meal Prep

One of the easiest ways is to prep your food in the morning when the temps are cooler outside.

Meal prep is nothing new but doing it to help keep your camper kitchen cool in the summer may be a new idea to some.

If you focus on doing the cooking in the morning you get two great advantages;

1. You can relax in the afternoon because most of your dinner is done
2. You don’t have to worry about that boob sweat as you prep your sweetie’s dinner

I don’t know about you but both of those reasons alone have my vote for early morning cooking!

Now if only I could get my act together and actually put that plan in to action!

Don’t fear though if you are not a morning kind of person, there is still help!

Meet your new best friends – The Crockpot and Instapot

These two are great at helping keep your camper kitchen cool in the summer because they keep the steam/heat inside a lid and once again all your prep is done and your food is just in there cooking itself!

The crockpot is great because you generally just throw all the ingredients in and let it cook for a set period of time.  If you have one of those fancier ones it will even put it on “keep warm” after the cooking period is over.  One of the issues that occasionally may happen is that you overcook the meat and it turns into a mushy mess, depending on the recipe and meat.  The other issue relates to comparing it with the Instapot, you may dirty more dishes with the crockpot.

The instapot is super helpful in that it can do a variety of cooking tasks!  You can saute it, then pressure cook it…think a roast where you want to sear the meat first.  One less dish right there!

It’s great for boiling eggs, making chili, and more!  Some models have options for baking, soups, and homemade yogurt.  You can find the model I currently have here and other RV needs here!  I even have a few accessories to go along with it.

Use your convection oven(newer models) instead of regular oven

I have found that the convection oven puts off a bit less heat than the regular oven in the camper. Both get a bad rap for cooking in a camper though.  The regular oven is so small, a pain to light and it often seems to take forever or burn your item to a crisp!

The convection oven is still on the small side but bigger than the regular oven.  You don’t have to bend down or get on the floor to light it (or light it period)!  It can still be tricky though as it seems that you can’t always go with the same temperature or cooking time as what is called for in a typical home oven.

If that is still too much heat in your kitchen try these options…

Use your fire pit

Fire pits are great because they take the cooking outside.  Sure, you may have a side item or two that you want to do inside but those can be a simple choice or at least something that requires less heat.

There are a lot of great meals out there that can all be done over the fire.  You can seriously cook just about anything over a camp fire!  If you are like me and need help getting creative over a camp fire check out Pinterest for some suggestions.

This one is great for that nostalgia feeling of camping too!  Bonus points because your kids might think you are cool for starting a fire AND cooking over it too.

Checkout my Pinterest Board for more great ideas!

Use your grill

Another great option for cooking outside is a portable grill.  Depending on what type of grill you carry with you will determine how much you can actually cook on it.  We just tote around a little one that could hold a couple steaks or plenty of burgers/dogs for a small gathering.  We like to keep it simple!

A charcoal grill may give you more grilling space than a portable gas one but they are also a bit messier to clean up.  You need a bit more planning as well so you get it lit and heated up before cooking.

I have to admit that grilling is not my go to cooking method.  I love the taste of grilled food but lack the skill and experience in preparing anything on there.  I usually pawn it off on my husband if he will be home at a decent hour.  Which translates in to, we don’t eat off the grill much!

Make salads

If you are not in to grilling or just want to change things up a great dinner option to help keep your camper kitchen cool in the summer is to make a salad!

Salads are one of those things that I loathe to make because in my mind there are so many different steps before you get to eat it.  Plus, I feel like they never compare to some fancy salads I have ordered at restaurants in the past.

In reality though, it’s simple and versatile!  You can keep it simple with just your standard vegetables or add in some different proteins to change it up.  I love adding some bean varieties or some quinoa!

What’s great about salads too, is that you can prep most of the ingredients days before making the salad OR make several different salads ready to eat in just a few hours.

I love the majority of recipes found here!

Well, there you have it…my top ways to keep your camper kitchen cool in the summer!

Do you use these methods now?  Do you have other suggestions not listed?  Comment below and let me know what works best for you!

As always, thanks for reading

-Katie

Can anyone relate to falling out of your routine after traveling?

These last few weeks have been CRAZY for our family!  And it has wreaked havoc on any type of schedule we have managed to assemble prior!  This has left me feeling all kinds of out of sorts and not accomplishing anything!

I am in desperate need of strategies to reset a routine and stick to it!  Who’s with me?!!

Story time

My parents celebrated 50 years (Woohoo!!!) and we (my 2 brothers, myself and our families) decided to throw them a party back in our home state.

Most of the to do list involved internet searches and lining up some vendors.  Not too much to undertake while living out of state but our home is still pretty new to us and the basement looked like a storage facility for plastic totes and cardboard boxes.

So, the kids and I headed home about 2 weeks before the party.  We were having some renovations done to the home and needed to check in on that process.  We’ve had some bad experiences in the past in other states so we just needed to make sure everyone was on the same page.

Prior to leaving I was all in on a workout program, 6 days a week.  The kids were getting settled in to a routine back in the trailer and we were starting to find some fun activities in the area.

The problem

It only took me about 2 days to get off track on my workouts.  (Need ideas for working out while on the road?  Check this post out!). Just seemed like there was SOOO much to get done each day.  Plus, once I started on our project that gave me a bit of a workout!

The first week home involved making sure things were going smoothly with renovations, getting readjusted to our home and getting some supplies.

Second week my Dad and I took on a project in the basement to get that storage facility under control! It involved building a room around our mechanicals and shelves to hold ALL those totes.  I have to say it felt so good to be working on that, especially since it was a surprise for my husband.

The secret was out (almost)!

The kids almost spilled the secret on FaceTime though!  Luckily, Grandma was nearby to intercept.

During those two weeks the focus was on getting the house prepped for the party and completing so much so that I didn’t really get much else accomplished.  The kids’ routine was off, I stopped writing and as usual, I fall in to some bad eating/snacking habits.

These habits, or lack of, lasted for the entire time we were gone and for a bit back at the trailer too.  It finally hit me what I needed to do to change things and get back to a routine again.

Of course, true to this traveling life, it will all change in another few weeks.  Story of our lives, right?!

How to reset a routine and stick to it…

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” -Tony Robbins

Assess your current routine

Sometimes it is just nice to take a break/change routine

Sometimes, we just need that interruption to help us refocus and get back on track.  The break can be as short as a few hours or as long as several days.  Whatever the duration, sometimes it is just nice to get that break from a long standing routine.

Acknowledge what isn’t working

Often times we don’t stick to our routines because there is something in there that is just not working for us anymore.  Maybe it is your wake up/bedtime.  Are you trying to do something that just doesn’t interest you anymore?

Whatever it may be, take a minute to think about the differences in your routines and what felt good to you in each of them.

Make a list of what needs to get done

Think about your perfect day.  What is involved in that day?  Do you sleep in?  When do you exercise, first thing or save it for later?  Do you make time for a hobby?  What tasks do you have to do on a daily basis?

Make a list of all the things that would make up your perfect day.  Then find a way to make it happen!

Focus on what is important to you

Knowing this information can help you set up a great routine.  Setting your day up with plenty of rest, movement, to do list items and fun things is a great way to help you stick to your routine.

What is important to us can change often.  Take time to look at what things are important and how to incorporate or keep them in your life.

You may have to reset a routine often

Obviously with our traveling routine there has to be some built in flexibility.  This can certainly cause some anxiety and chaos.  I could either not do any type of routine because it is changing SO often OR I can embrace the change and take that time to restructure/refine my routine with each new move or disruption.

Staying on track when you reset a routine

Put sticky notes out/phone reminders

Put your routine where you can see it.  Whether it is on a bunch of sticky notes or just on a sheet of paper, have it somewhere visible so you see it several times a day.

Use a journal if that is more your style.  Take time to write out your schedule in your journal and then make sure you reference it often.  The Happy Planner is one of my favorites because you can customize it to your liking!!

Set alarms on your phone when it is time to change activities.  If you are constantly checking your phone throughout the day, this may be a great option for you!  Getting those little chimes can help direct your attention to whatever task you have assigned for yourself.

Note:  If you are someone that can tune out your notifications on your phone this may not be best option.

Keep a set bedtime/wake up

Set your wake and bedtimes so that you get enough rest.  We often underestimate our bodies need for sleep, pushing ourselves until we are exhausted.

Establishing a regular wake up and bedtime helps your body regulate.  I know I am guilty of this!  Thinking I don’t have enough time to get everything done so I stay up later.  In all honesty though, it is not that I don’t have enough time, it’s that my time management sucks!

Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up, just pick up where you left off

We are humans, not robots. If you have a slip, acknowledge it and then get back on track.  If it keeps occurring, take a look at that schedule.

Is there something that needs to change?  Are you forcing yourself to do something that is not enjoyable?

Is there a way to reframe your thoughts about that task?  There will be times that we have to do something that we just don’t want or enjoy so, looking at how you think about that task may help you get through it.  If it is still a struggle, maybe it is just not the right time.  See if you can have someone else take it on for now or if you can tackle it at another point in time.

Accountability – share it with someone you know

Don’t underestimate the power of accountability.  It is nice to know someone else has your back and give you that friendly reminder of goals you have set.  Make sure you pick someone that will help you stay on track and not help derail you!

However you decide to reset a routine for yourself just remember that it is meant to be adjusted.  I know I could not maintain the exact same routine my entire life.  There are too many changes as we grow!  We need to adjust as we grow physically, mentally and professionally.

Make some space to make a plan for you and/or your family.  If you need some ideas feel free to reach out to friends, family, myself or our best pal, Pinterest!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie

It was my first experience staying in our fifth wheel but in a mobile home park.  For a time, we had lived in a mobile home park so I knew of them and a little about what to expect as far as layout.

My husband’s foreman had hooked us up with the spot and we were thankful since we weren’t finding much more at the time.  I remember the park being pretty decent size, at least 100 spots for mobile homes/trailers.

I actually didn’t mind staying in the park.  The people were pretty decent and I felt comfortable walking around the park by myself. They tended to the grass for us since we did not have a lawn mower with us.

Highlights

Enchanted VillageMobile Home park– Alton, Illinois

• 100+ spots
• Full hookups
• Close to town
• Bar/restaurant nearby
• Paved/grassy sites
• Across river from St. Louis, MO

Layout

We stayed at this park from about September 2009 to November 2009 and then again in June 2010 to October 2010.  The park was a mobile home park right at the edge of town.

All sites were back in and we had one that was backed up to a small hill.   All the sites were paved/concrete with a grassy patch on each side and had full hook-ups.  There were a few large trees for shade.

Favorite things

For me, the best part about being in Alton was the drive up and down IL 100.  It was pretty scenic along the Mississippi River there and a great place to spot bald eagles!

The next best part was Fast Eddie’s!  This place was jammin’ every weekend.  It was a bar that had an enclosed, heated outdoor area.

They served up cheap but delicious food ($.99 shrimp baskets!) to keep you hanging with the drinks and the featured band playing in the background.

We were definitely deep in to our partying phase still so this was a great find.

The town

Alton, Illinois is located alongside the Mississippi River.  It is a smaller town by most standards and had basic amenities when we were there.

The town itself was pretty easy to navigate but a little sleepy most days so we found ourselves venturing when we could.

For the outdoors, there are lots of nice trails along the river for outdoor enthusiasts.  IL’s largest state park, Pere Marquette State Park is close by with hiking trails, campgrounds and horseback riding options.

If you like your history, there are Indian burial mounds to the south.  Alton was also a big hub for The Underground Railroad with several homes still having the tunnels under them.

Nearby

Edwardsville, IL is within a 15-minute drive from Alton.  It’s a bit bigger and has a University there with more amenities than Alton had to offer.  We usually drove down that way if we wanted to hit up a chain restaurant for dinner.

Across the big river is the north end of St. Louis, Missouri.  They have a few great parks downtown as well as museums.  If you enjoy sports you can catch football, baseball or hockey here.

Downtown is pretty easy to get around whether you are walking or driving through. Don’t forget about the Arch when you are over there, it’s hard to miss!

Laclede’s landing is a great area for just walking around and exploring the riverfront.  There is an aquarium, wax museum and plenty of hotels, bars/restaurants to keep you occupied.

We spent a weekend down there, where we enjoyed a few too many libations.  Not necessarily a bad thing (in moderation) but when you wake up to the sounds of tailgating for Sunday’s football game, you quickly regret that decision!

Overall it was a good stay and experience.  As with any place, it is what you make it.  The park fit our needs and we were able to find fun things to do nearby.

I hope you have found this review and information helpful!

Please remember that anything written above was my opinion and experience of the area/s.  I have also linked to the mobile home park page and Alton’s website for more information.

Let me know if you have visited this place or surrounding area!  What did you think?

If you want to see other reviews click here!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie