Tag Archives: Baby

The Most Beautiful Sight in the World at Riu Palace Cabo

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Hotel Riu Cabo

I’ve seen heavenly beaches around the world, some with turquoise waters so clear that you question reality and others with soft white sands that cushion your feet like pillows, but no view could compare to what I saw today at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas. I guess it could have happened anywhere. It wasn’t so much the beach that inspired me as the people, or person, surrounding me. Today, Athena lifted my heart to a new level of joy. The happiness on her face as she ran down the beach in her big, pink dress and messy hair was life-changing. I am a mother and every second of my life is more beautiful because of it.  Continue reading →

To All Parents

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Jetton Park, NC It’s hard to believe how quickly time passes. My baby is turning into a little girl who understands me, talks to me, and listens to me. My baby is turning into my best friend who I share everything with on a different level. She has taught me that the world is our playground and to see beauty in everyday life. When I look into her eyes and see me looking back, I know that my life will never feel empty. I love her more than all of my greatest accomplishments combined.

To all other parents out there, we are blessed. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite family moment this year?

10 Tips for Flying with a Toddler

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Traveling-with-a-Toddler

Your bags are packed and you’re ready to embrace that international family trip… but your child is no longer an infant and a whole new world of challenges await. She’s walking, talking, and ready to go, go, go. Does that mean your vacation has to be memorable for all the wrong reasons? Athena, now 15 months old, and I travel alone regularly. We’ve already flown internationally more than a handful of times, managed over-night delays and lost luggage, and still view travel as a wonderful adventure for the whole family. Check out our 10 tips for traveling with a toddler and make your travel feel like an actual vacation!
Continue reading →

How to Travel with a Toddler

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Too many tour companies claim to offer family travel experiences only to venture to their Carowindssite and learn that families must not consist of babies. I have a 14 month old and I want to travel the world. Where are all of the true family tour companies? Even Adventures by Disney, yep, that’s right, Disney, has a minimum age of four. No wonder couples are putting off having children until later in life. Are we really that restricted when we have children? Are toddlers not considered part of “family travel”? Are there no other adventures parents out there that would like to bring their children to experience new countries and cultures?  Continue reading →

Back to My Stompin’ Grounds – Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

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We are an Island, a Rock in a stream
We are a People, as proud as there’s been
In soft summer breeze, or in wild winter winds
The home of our hearts, Cape Breton…

No matter where I go, when I go, or how long I go, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia will always beCeltic Colours Cape Breton Nova Scotia my home. I’m returning with my daughter, Athena, from October 6th-14th for the Celtic Colours International Festival, the ultimate taste of Cape Breton culture, music, and dance. For nine days in October, the Celtic Colours International Festival presents an extensive line-up of community events and concerts all over the island. Cape Breton is home to a unique combination of music, culture, and tradition; I want to become a tourist in my home town and soak up the island’s living Celtic culture. With an ambitious schedule and an open heart, I can’t wait to become part of the action and revel in Cape Breton’s spectacular Autumn scenery and entertainment. Continue reading →

Forefront in Safety – Frontier 85 Car Seat

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Babies grow in the blink of a eye! It seems like yesterday that I was shopping for pregnancy clothes and now I’m putting away the bouncy seat and selling the 0-3 month clothes. Just yesterday, I needed to decide whether to buy size 2 or 3 diapers. Where does the time go? I don’t want to forget products that are absolute necessity so I try to stay on top of things by planning ahead. Since travel is as important as food and water in our lives, and Athena spends hours in the van happily playing with her toys and looking in the mirror, we figured that it’s never too early to think about a larger car seat. Britax is always busy working on new products with innovative safety, comfort, and ease-of-use features to meet the needs of both parents and children, making them the perfect choice for a car seat for Athena. We’re cheap when it comes to clothing and novelties, but when it comes to safety, we want the best. After countless hours of research, we decided that it doesn’t get any better than the Frontier 85! At the forefront in harness design, impact protection, and comfort, the Frontier 85 will be enjoyed by Athena for hours of travel and adventure. Continue reading →

Joovy for My Bundle of Joy and Yours (Joovy Giveaway Included)

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It seems like just yesterday I found out that I was pregnant with Athena. Now, she’s four Joovy Products Reviewmonths old! How did that happen? I felt so prepared for her arrival. We had everything that we needed to take her home and comfortably welcome her into this world, but she is growing so quickly and she learns something new every day. She laughs; with the cutest little giggle, she can melt my heart. She recognizes my voice; when I sing, she is instantly soothed. She looks intently at me; when she watches my every move, I know that I’m the most important person in her world. She’s actually growing out of her clothes and tummy time gets longer almost daily. The time had come to put away the 0-3 month clothes and think about crawling, walking, and eating solids. For a few of our most important baby product needs, we chose Joovy. They recently introduced a new line-up including a walker, a potty, and a step stool. Things change so quickly, I figured I would get all three and be prepared for the next few “steps”. After all, the last four months went by in the blink of an eye. Continue reading →

Feeling Like a Kid Again – Nova Scotia, Canada

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Flying a jetpack, seeing a wonder of the world, sleeping on the beach, taking a helicopterFamily Travel flight lesson, giving birth, finding the best Italian restaurant, volunteering for a new organization, and seeing immediate family may seem like an odd grouping, but it’s just part of my 2012 Bucket List. It wasn’t until this month that I’ve been able to accomplish one of the most important items (Obviously under delivering my baby girl). On July 7th, 2012, I returned to eastern Canada so Athena could meet her family. The complete happiness that filled my grandfather as he held her in his arms for the first time was one of the most memorable moments of my life; the look on my mother’s face when she gazed into Athena’s eyes warmed my heart; and watching my little sister, Gabriella, play with Athena like I played with her made me feel like I was in the Lion King and listening to Mufasa talk about the circle of life. Although only number 7 on my 2012 Bucket List, seeing all of my immediate family was one of the greatest highlights of the year.   Continue reading →

Introducing Athena Ceilidh Carter

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My daughter, the light of my life, my pride and joy, Athena Ceilidh Carter, was born on April 2, 2012. She came into this world with a joy that surpasses anything else in life. Her tiny coos and infectious smile warm my heart and soul. I could spend hours watching her sleep, move, or look at me.

Athena is the accumulation of all of my dreams. The rest of the world became a blur in the background and my family was clearly in focus. She was more important than a lifetime of bucket list adventures. My life had a new meaning. I was a mother! Continue reading →

Go Away – All About Travel

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When it comes to flights, vacations, or any form of travel, I enjoy convenient, one-stop shopping. Spur of the moment is what I’m all about; I’d love to hop on a plane and fly somewhere new and unexpected at the drop of a hat, but with a newborn I need a little bit more structure for the time being. While planning an upcoming flight, I thought I would give a travel agent a try. I was riddled with questions about traveling with newborns, but I didn’t know who to contact. Should I call the airlines? Should I search online? Where do I search for guidelines for traveling with children? Travel agents offer the one-stop shopping that saves time and provides less stress, leaving me to focus on other, more important, things like my baby girl. Travel expertise and friendly customer service make taking advantage of a travel agent worthwhile. My agent, Dortha, at All About Travel used her knowledge and expertise to ensure that all of my travel needs were met and all of my questions were answered. If you’d like to take all of the stress out of travel, try a travel agent.  Continue reading →