Tag: Travel

Shari’s Ramblings & Question for YOU

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Hello dearest reader… can you tell I am up-to-date on my Bridgerton episodes. Not sure I should be proud of that but oh well.

This isn’t my first time in the past year popping on the blog to type out my thoughts, ramblings, etc. However, this is the first time publishing in awhile. You should see all the “drafts” we have (or have had) in the past year.

Although nothing is new, there are so many things that are happening. My little one is almost TWO. How? How does time go so fast but yet so slowly. I can honestly say I have enjoyed this past year so much. The new words, sentences, mobility, laughter, emotions, interests, obsession’s, and love that have surfaced from my toddler in the past months are amazing to experience and witness. She is an absolute sweetheart and I am honored to be her mama. TWO was always my favorite age with my nieces and nephews and now that my little girl is entering that age… I am SO EXCITED to see what this year brings and cannot wait to capture more memories as a family.

I am still processing that we are in the THICK of SUMMER! Like, what? Summer is such a sneaky thief in the Pacific Northwest. The mid-west/east coast has been on summer break since May, the west coast it’s only been since mid-June which was about 3 weeks ago. But the mid-west and east coast will start their back to school groaning in a week or two so NOW, now is the universal (really National) time for us all to just be on SUMMER MODE. I am HERE for it! With a heatwave cruising through town this week we have pulled out the water toys, and adorned our swimsuits several times since the fourth of July. For us, summer will fly by as August hits with a backpacking trip, visits with family, my travel for work, and then our family cruise to Alaska. I am not focusing on August though. I want to enjoy July. Celebrating K’s second birthday next week, my company summer picnic, and a few weekends of summertime peace. Ahh bliss.

Why come on the blog now? I don’t know. Because I felt like it. Because I want the blog to be a place I enjoy writing. I enjoy connecting with a few of you. Trust me, I know what to do. I know how to engage you. I know how to post and be authentic and charming in stories on Instagram. I know what topics you might be interested in. I know what my “favorite things” are that you might be intrigued by. I know what meals you might enjoy me sharing with you or my latest workout routine (ps. I own a treadmill now). But do you really want to see that? Do you really care about what I am doing when you have so much going on in your own life? That is my internal struggle. Because half the time I don’t want to know what other people are doing, I just want to focus on my job, my family, my life. I don’t want to get bogged down with tips and tricks from others or some unrealistic ideal that the latest influencer is trying to make relatable when there is NO WAY you’ll ever have the house, the family, the situation that they have. Comparison is unavoidable when we are glimpsing so accessibly into tiny sections of other people’s lives.

I say all that, yet, I am a hypocrite because I do enjoy scrolling on social media. I do enjoy the occasional recommendation on a good book, healthy recipe, or workout routine. Which is why I know you probably do too. Or maybe you struggle with it in the same way I do. Wanting to consume but also feeling like life is too short to live vicariously through others. I digress. I guess the point I am trying to make is that… I haven’t been avoiding The Salty Exchange Blog or Instagram for any particular reason other than feeling like you don’t need ANOTHER thing to digest. Or maybe it’s because I want you to enjoy coming here, to our little slice of the internet, as much as I do.

With that said, dear reader, friend, acquaintance… what do you want? Inquiring minds would like to know how you feel on this topic? How do you enjoy consuming blogs or Instagram posts/stories? What would you like to see here? Let me remind you, Kendall and I are normal mamas, wives, friends, sisters, and daughters just tryin’ to get a parking spot at Costco, not feel so overwhelmed with weekly meal planning, and mostly… love on our families in such a fleeting season.

Shari: Babymoon Plans

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If you know me, you know that I am a planner. My life usually consists of getting overly excited for the next trip or outing. There are so many reasons I love traveling that it could be a whole blog post on it’s own but I will spare you those gushy-details for another day. Today, I want to focus on the term that people like to use for the “last big trip you take before a baby arrives.” This trip is referred to as The Babymoon. Similar to a “honeymoon,” the babymoon is suppose to be special and time for the future parents to connect, relax, and unwind a bit before the baby arrives.

My husband and I went back and forth on whether or not we were going to plan an official babymoon. We talked about a trip to Alaska to admire nature and stay in a cute and cozy VRBO, we discussed revisiting our cancelled honeymoon plans in sunny Kauai since travel there is easier now (in less covid times), and we talked about a local, cost-effective, and relaxing weekend getaway (we love simple trips too). None of those ideas actualized and we started to give up on the idea because time is ticking and we both have work travel planned. More on the work travel in my next post. Anyway, we both want to go somewhere warm and between baby showers, maternity pictures, and every-other-weekend time with the kids… our options to get-out-of-town looked pretty slim.

Then we realized our kids are going to Hawaii with their mom the first week in May and it would be the perfect time to get out of town too (while I am still allowed to travel). I personally don’t want to travel past 32 weeks but I am allowed to travel until 36 weeks. That first week in May hits the 31 week mark for me and our last opportunity to get out of town and hopefully enjoy some sunshine! So we booked our trip to visit some friends in Arizona where we plan on doing a whole lot of… nothing. I foresee a large amount of time spent in the pool or lounging by the pool in my very pregnant future… eeek we cannot wait! Babymoon to Arizona here we come!!!

Disclaimer **before you try to tell me that it is going to be too hot or that I wont want to travel, just don’t. I’m excited for the opportunity to travel but of course I will listen to my body and do what is best for myself and the baby when the time comes.

Here are some examples of babymoon ideas both expensive and affordable (save or pin this to reference later). Babymoons don’t have to be complex or complicated, if anything I’d think you’d want to unplug and relax. Get away and enjoy your significant other (pre-baby) and take some time for yourself before finding time for yourself becomes a little more challenging.

Splurge Babymoons:

  • Spa weekend getaway (locally The Post Hotel has been on my list)
  • Go somewhere sunny but make sure there is a breeze (highly recommend San Diego)
  • Explore a coastal town (Oregon Coast is a favorite for a relaxing yet beautiful getaway)
  • International travel (Mexico, Europe, somewhere you’ve always wanted to go without a baby)
  • Vegas.. last hurrah?! (but with mocktails)

Affordable Babymoons:

  • Rent a nearby vrbo or cabin to just getaway and unplug
  • Book a hotel in a nearby city that you’ve always wanted to explore
  • Road trip somewhere close by to visit a friend or family
  • Take a much needed night of self-care and takeout
  • Staycation with a theme, if you’re going to stay home make it fun!

Updates and Thoughts on COVID-19

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Updates and Thoughts on COVID-19

Hey friends! We have been MIA for about a month. Shari and I were both super busy and needed some time to really focus on people, events, and ourselves. We are happy to be back! Our month away has shown us A LOT about where we are in this whole pandemic. With that said, read on for our thoughts, experiences, and questions.

COVID Updates from Kendall:

We’ve had mixed feelings about this topic. I mean, what is there to really say? Shari and I birthed The Salty Exchange during the height of the COVID lockdown. We spent hours talking about when things would get back to “normal.” Over the past 18 months we’ve seen our friends and family members all express their opinions, hopes, and fears to varying degrees. We’ve all worn masks, missed each other, dried our hands out because of hand sanitizer and hand washing, and we’ve all wondered what was next. It’s been an interesting time…

As a current resident of Vermont (and undoubtedly the safest place to be in during this pandemic), we’ve had our fair share of worries and woes. We’ve missed our families (TX and WA). There’s been cuts to our paycheck (thankfully that’s remedied now). Our proficiency with Zoom, FaceTime, and WhatsApp video chats has matured. In recent months, things have begun to open up more. With the vaccine available to the masses and a hopeful vaccination rate on the rise, there was a small sliver of time this year where it felt… familiar. 

It was during this sliver of time (May-July) that my husband and I were lucky enough to see our immediate family members. We had a steady stream of guests for about 2 months straight. While this was a lot of work on my end as the hostess, I wouldn’t trade it for a minute. It had been two years since seeing my husband’s family. That’s far too long to go without seeing the people you love. As these reunions were taking place, Vermont was also lucky enough to hit our 80% vaccination goal. Life was starting to happen. Literally. I saw life coming back to the streets of my small state. 

I still see that life. I still see that hope. My husband and I have done our part. We have vaccinated ourselves and anxiously await the day we can get Rosemary vaccinated. I don’t know when it went from “we are all in this together” to making the vaccine political. I get that there is a strong group of people who don’t like vaccines. I getcha- I may think differently than you, but that’s totally fine! I care enough about you to vaccinate myself to protect you. Even with all of these new variants like Delta and Lamda (WTF- Lamda sounds scary), I have hope. But every day I feel that hope slipping a bit. The anger of being asked to wear a mask seems pretty extreme and just too much for some. Why is it too much? I am genuinely asking. Is a mask really an infringement on your rights as an American? Because I just don’t see it but I am open to hearing your reasons why. Seriously. Let’s talk.

I often feel triggered by the news. The numbers of those dying are too high. The number of people not trusting science is too high. For me, I have yet to see anyone die from the virus. I know of people who have passed on because of it or are currently sick. Truthfully, it’s hard to process. We should care more about this stuff; specifically, we should care more about the prevention of diseases and viruses than we do.To not take the threat of this pandemic seriously means you are ok with the circumstances. It means you don’t really value what is right in front of you. You must be incredibly privileged to think you can beat it. It’s just the flu right? Well, surprise! People die of the flu. All the time. And it isn’t fair. It should be stopped. So when did trying to find a better cure or treatment plan become political? I have said it before and I will scream it again: I saw my mom die of the flu. And it was pretty much the same way people are dying of COVID. I can hardly think of that time without a pit in my stomach. I wasn’t even supposed to touch her because they were worried about us picking up her virus. But I still snuck in a last kiss. That’s the most basic and human thing I have ever done. I couldn’t let her go without hoping she felt it. Even if it meant I could get sick. So, for her, I vaccinate. And I ask that in her honor, you do too. 

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Even if it turns out this is all a hoax, don’t you want to know that you did all you could to protect your family? Your friends? Your life? Don’t you want to know that you cared enough to do something? 

COVID Updates from Shari:

When Kendall and I decided to write a Covid Update in August, I thought I’d have so much insight after just helping pull off the first in-person conference for my company since March of 2020. But to be honest, I don’t have much more insight. This is still a confusing time in life as we enter into what is undoubtedly another slough of restrictions and social navigation amongst family and friends. 

Immediately before we left for San Diego, the CDC issued new guidelines for wearing masks indoors (including those that are vaccinated). My company informed us that all the employees would be abiding by this new information; so I promptly washed all my masks and packed them in my suitcase. Our event made national news as the first conference held at the San Diego Convention Center in 18 months. The event went as smoothly as it could with a significant drop in attendance (we missed our International attendees) but the smiles on faces, the side conversations that felt naturally unnatural, and the slightly awkward networking that proved how out of practice we are… was worth the distance, safety, and vaccination to be together again knowing we had done our part in it all. As a result, our event was outbreak free and we are so thankful everyone had a good time.

Now that I am back home and have a few moments to reflect on the past week in San Diego, and simultaneously take in the emerging news, I am torn. I just witnessed the connection and embrace of humanity in-person again. The reality that we are going backwards with variants and the spread of Covid again is a bit much to accept. I see meme’s from both sides of the coin and honestly… it feels like we are entering into an interpersonal civil war rather than one against the real enemy that is the virus. As a nation we are not a team. We are kids bickering going from one conspiracy theory to the next. Social media is our battlefield and it is obnoxious to say the least. Maybe it is my personality that causes me to be appalled by conflict or maybe it is the fact that adults seem to enjoy playing the devil’s advocate and it’s extremely exhausting. 

Whatever it is, I long for some good news. So here it is…

Today I am celebrating the fact that a good friend of mine is on the mend after fighting for her life last week due to Covid and pneumonia. I couldn’t imagine losing her (I am sure I will write more about this eventually) but in the meantime, let’s work together for goodness sake. It is a helpless feeling when your friends or family are sick and I don’t wish it on any of you.

Shari: Travel Reflections

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Shari: Travel Reflections

In 2020 I was set to have the best travel year of my life. Obviously it didn’t happen… however, I would like to reflect on the life-changing trip I snuck in just before the pandemic and how extremely grateful I am that I got to experience another country before COVID struck.

In September of 2019, I went with a group of my coworkers to Guatemala with an organization called Medical Teams International (MTI). I had never traveled very far outside the country except to bordering countries. Canada hardly counts since the maple leaf country is in my backyard. Traveling to a distant place isn’t new to me though… I’ve traveled to Hawaii several times, taken a week-long family cruise to Alaska and even a small two-night cruise to Mexico but nothing fully prepared me for my week-long trip to Guatemala. 

The culture, the food, the cars, the countryside, the people…it was so much to take in.

My expectations weren’t elaborate. I wasn’t expecting a desert wasteland, nor was I expecting ancient ruins, or a tropical jungle. Guatemala felt surprisingly similar to home. Instead of the PNW dome-shaped snow capped mountains, the mountains there were pointy, hot, and active. Exactly what I imagined a volcano to look like. Guatemala’s countryside was decorated with lakes, beautiful valleys, and green lush forests. The landscape had so much depth and variety. 

Our tour of Guatemala (mainly by bus) from Guatemala City, to Chicaman, to the village where we worked- San Sebastian Beleju, to Antigua, and back to Guatemala City. I couldn’t get enough of the views and the hillside village where we spent the majority of our time. We were there to partner with local MTI staff to install latrines and hand washing stations alongside some of the village contractors. Although our work was physically demanding and took a decent amount of time and focus; we were able to install a total of 20 latrines, benefiting 20 different families in the village. 

They showed their appreciation by giving us a welcome ceremony, offering us food when we were in their homes, and at the end of the week in the village we received hugs and a few more verbal exchanges; we tried really hard to learn some of their language throughout the week. It was the most rewarding experience because we got to feel welcomed and loved by people so far away from our own home. We were able to experience firsthand their joy, their livelihoods, their homes, their food, and a glimpse into their beautiful Guatemalan culture. 

My team left the trip feeling nothing but gratitude for the gift of travel. We were able to play tourists for a few days of the trip but the most special time was in the village immersing ourselves into another culture and way of living. It put our face-paced American lives into perspective and left us craving another opportunity to explore this glorious and diverse planet. Again, I am so thankful I was able to do this trip before the world shut down, before travel became limited to none, and my canceled trips became my new reality. 

I haven’t lost hope for my next adventure and I hope, someday, to visit Guatemala again.

Where are you eager to travel? Have you ever been to Guatemala?

Kendall: Hopes for Travel in 2021

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Ah, travel. You sweet, sweet tease. As we wrap one year of the pandemic under our belts, I am starting to really feel some travel fever. I know my husband and I had hoped to take our daughter to Spain this summer (we had been planning this since May 2019). International travel just doesn’t seem to be on the radar this year. Additionally, I really had wanted to take my family to Boston this past Autumn; yet another trip left on the road of pandemic despair. SO. What are my hopes for travel this year? Well, that’s a little tough. 

My family and I in the BTV airport in January 2020 BC (before Covid)

What I really want is a trip to Las Vegas with my husband. I want to go to the spa, I want to eat good food, I want to drink some drinks, and I want to see a show. AND I want to do this all without my kiddo because I need some connective time with my husband to make up for all the date nights out that we haven’t had the opportunity to have! If you know me, you know that Vegas is NEVER on my list of places to go; the fact that I want to go speaks to my desire for some fun!

On the family side of things, I really want to do something most east coast centric. What better place to visit than Boston? My husband has never been and I know he would love it! Rosemary would love all the sites and walking. It’s an easy drive from Vermont to Mass and would be ideal for a long weekend trip. 

Another place I was hoping to get away to this summer was Portland, Maine. I was lucky enough to meet my bestie, Kate, there in the fall of 2019- before the world stopped. Rosemary accompanied me and was a champ on the five hour car ride. Portland had such a fun vibe, great food, and friendly people. I know that would be a great spot to journey to as a family. Issy and I would totally eat our way through the trip- with zero regret. 

And finally, we currently have plans to visit some close friends in the greater Sacramento area for Thanksgiving. Not only would Issy be able to travel the short distance from there to Tahoe to ski, but I could spend some good quality time with our friends that are basically family. And I know Rosemary would relish in playing with her Auntie Aillene. But alas…

What’s going to be realistic, safe, and practical? We don’t want to travel anywhere in the thick of the pandemic and be “those” travellers. I also realize that life goes on and we have to figure out ways to adapt and “get back out there.” As a family, we also need to prioritize our finances to start planning for a big international trip to Spain in 2022 (come on, 2022!). The truth is that we want to see people, places, and things. We want to be responsible. Some people say you are stupid if you travel. Others say to follow the rules, be aware, plan, and you will be fine. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Yeah, follow the rules of the place you are going to in terms of safety (think masks, quarantine, etc.). And yeah, think critically. Look at the realities of the travel destination’s numbers, policies for the pandemic, and any reviews from others who have traveled. 

I can tell you that IF we do decide to travel and need to purchase plane tickets, we will not be using third party platforms to buy them. We have heard some horror stories from our family and our friends about not being able to get their money back/even rebook their tickets. While airlines can also be challenging, it’s one less “person” to work around if something happens. One less fee too! 

We can’t stay locked in our homes forever. Well, actually, we can. And I have no problem following the guidance of my state lawmakers and of course, the federal government. I look to these people to light the way for all of us. I also expect that if someone is coming here to Vermont, they have to follow the rules. At present, you have to quarantine. And you bet your butt I expect all friends and family who hope to travel to check on that information before they travel and then be able to comply. Because #rulesarecool.

Anyways, where do you want to go? What is your ideal travel schedule? What have you learned from traveling? Give me all the advice!