Things to take when you travel lightly.

I always pack light when I travel - just a carry on and a small backpack.

Here is the list I take:
1.  Enough underwear for 5 or 6 days.
2.  Depending on where I am going 1 or 2 pair of long pants (Northern Europe can be cold sometimes even in the summer).
3.  2 or 3 pairs of shorts.
4.  4 shirts.
5.  1 light weight rain jacket - For cold nights and for rainy days.  I usually wear this on the plane and stuff the pockets full of things I need.
6.  Travel size laundry soap for washing my clothes in the sink.
7.  Portable clothes line - From REI.  I usually rig it up in the bathroom.  Make sure your clothes are light weight and can dry overnight.  (Do wash in the morning so it will be dry by the next morning.)  If you are really lucky your hotel will have a towel warmer and that will dry clothes in 1/2 the time.

I like this one because it can suction cup to the shower wall or you can tie it up too.

8.  Travel adapter and converter - Most electronics like phones and ipads have a wattage that can go in any country, but check the small print on the equipment to make sure.
9.  ATM card - I can usually get cash out of ATMs at the airport - beware though.  Some things look like ATMs but they are money exchange machines and will charge you much more than a normal ATM.  Look for the word that looks like bank.  Avoid anything that says exchange.  In Europe so many things take cash, you'll want to get a couple of hundred dollars at a time because it avoids ATM bank charges and hassles.  My credit union actually allows me to pre-order Euros (or other currency, but it takes a week to come in.  Not all banks do this.
10.  I take travel size shampoo and soap because you never know if your hotel is going to have it.
11.  Travel size fan - you never know if you will have air conditioning or not.

This one is great because it folds and it runs on battery or can be plugged in.
It's also surprisingly strong.

12.  A small travel bag - like a purse - that has a strap that goes across my body.  It also turns into a fanny pack if I want to use it like that - but I don't.
13.  A foldable bag that can become a bigger bag if I need to have additional luggage later.
14.  1 pair of sandals and 1 pair of tennis shoes.  2 or 3 pairs of socks.  I usually use tennis shoes when doing a lot of sight seeing because it requires walking a lot.  My sandals can be worn with dresses and skirts too, but they are comfortable.
15.  A book to read on the airplane.
16.  Earbuds with a microphone to watch movies on the plane and to make calls from computers (Google Voice, Skype)
17.  I always set up Google Voice right before I leave so the calls and texts go to my e-mail and I don't have to spend the money when I answer my phone.  When you have Google Voice on your computer, it will let you make free phone calls to anyone in the USA.  It does cost money - I think 10 cents a minute - to call anyone not in the USA.  I created a video to help my Mom set up her Google Voice.  Here it is:

Countries I have visited

A lot of people ask me what countries I have visited, so I decided to list them here.

1.  New Zealand (Visited 3 times) - I lived there for 1 1/2 years on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I went back after my student teaching in Tonga for $25.  Then I went again in the summer of 2013.
2.  Canada - I went to Niagara Falls right after I got back from living in New Zealand.
3.  England (I have been there 2 times).  With my friend Bonnie and her cousin Ang.  Once over night trying to get home from Ireland.  If the airport counts, I have been there 3 times.
4.  France (Twice).  Once with Bonnie and Ang and once with Spencer.
5.  Scotland (Once).  With Bonnie and Ang.
6.  Italy (Once).  Went with Sandy and Spencer.
7.  Vatican City.  (Once) With Sandy.
8.  Slovenia.  (Once). Just drove through. Almost got arrested there coming back from Croatia  because I didn't have my passport stamp from Italy and I was there illegally.  Who knew?  Lol.  If anyone asks, I didn't visit Italy, I visited Slovenia! (At least that is what my passport says.)
9.  Croatia (Once) with Sandy because it was there and we had a wonderfully fresh fish on the Sea.
10.  Spain (3 times).  Once with Suzanne, twice more to visit friends and participate in Pueblo Ingles.
11.  Ireland (Once) with Spencer.
12.  Mexico - (Once) on a cruise with Bonnie.
13.  Bahamas (Once) - on a cruise with Bonnie, John, Christie, Trenton, and Jessica.  (40th birthday for me, Bonnie, and Jess.)
14.  Australia. (Once) - with Cindy.  I visited a few friends who live there.
15. Tonga.  (Should be number 3).  (Once) I lived there for 3 months and did my student teaching there.

Mindful Living - And other things I've never thought of!

Healthy Living Class

I started a 15-week healthy living class on January 8th.  Perfect timing for New Year's Resolutions.  Today the teacher mentioned that we should live mindfully in everything we do.  So, when we do anything we should focus on that things.  The first week's assignment was to be mindful about our eating.  Think about how the food tastes instead of eating them in a hurry or with distractions.    I am always multi-tasking.  I grade papers, have facebook open, and the TV on.  My teacher suggested I do one thing at a time and do it mindfully focusing on the task at hand.  Novel thought! 

In Italy, 2 years ago, I had no problem focusing on the taste!

Healthy and Delicious!!!!!

Meal Planning for One Doesn't Take Long.

We were also supposed to plan our meals and snacks a week in advance.  The problem with this is that I am single and although my brother lives with me, he is a vegetarian.  So, it's only me eating the food. I made Chicken Tortilla Soup, froze half of it, and still it lasted me for a week.  I didn't even get to the second meal I planned for.  Lol.  So, I have a bunch of veggies waiting to become stir-fry.

Moving More

When I started this class, I decided I was going to dive head-first and follow all the directions.  I started to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.  My first day, I walked around Lake Johnson - a 3 mile walk with hills as a bonus.  (The next day I bought better tennis shoes.)  I have been doing various exercises depending on the weather.  I've been doing the Just Dance on the Wii, Wii Fit, Yoga, other other exercises.  Thanks to Barbara, Kathy, and Helen for going on walks with me!

 This video is my nieces and nephew doing the Just Dance during Christmas Break last year.  There is no way I'm going to show you me dancing!  I really wanted to show my brother Kenneth dancing, but I'll save that blackmail for another day!

Tiffany Trent's Traditions in Tennessee

We have some rather unusual Christmas traditions as I am sure all families do.  Here are a few of mine:

First Tradition - Puzzles

We seem to always do a puzzle, it always takes up 1/2 the kitchen table.  This year Mom found a puzzle that we hadn't finished. I guess when we didn't have time to finish it a couple of years ago, we folded it up.  When we unfolded it this year about 3/4 of it was finished. So we did that one in about 10 minutes, but we still haven't had our full fix, so we're going to either open a Christmas present up early or go buy another one.  

Second Tradition - Chex Mix

I am the designated Chex Mix maker.  In fact, I have a sister, Emily, who does not live close to TN, so she is rarely home for Christmas.  She says that she misses my Chex Mix, but she never makes it for herself or her family.  If I am not there, it does not get made.  Go figure.  We used to be traditionalists and make it in the oven with the original recipe.  Now we have moved on to the microwave and make several varieties, but we also have to have the original.  All the recipes are found on http://www.chex.com/Recipes/Default.aspx - we have yet to find a bad recipe!  Although, we are happily going through the recipes to see if one is better than another!

Traditional

Puppy Chow

Third Tradition - Games

We always play games during Christmas and I am very likely to get at least one game for Christmas.

This is not Christmas or TN, but whenever family gets together, the games come out! 

Personal Tradition - Animoto Christmas Cards

I am horrible at sending cards in the mail.  So, I decided to play on my strength as a technology geek and create Animoto Christmas cards.  I get to show what I've done with friends and get to play on the computer.  Here are the two I've done so far:

December 2012

December 2011

Winter Time Blues and Healthy Goals

I just finished talking with my health coach - it's pretty cool actually, it's free and she calls me and asks me how I'm doing and we set goals and then she asks me about my goals.   It's a part of my state health plan.

I told her that I was a complete bum last weekend and didn't do anything or go anywhere even though fun things were happening.  I work and come home and work again and then I don't want to do anything.  I even turned down free dinner and game night!  My coach reminded me that it is getting darker sooner and maybe it's just the winter time blues because I'm not getting enough sun.

My goal for this month:  Do something social every other weekend and exercise 3 times a week.

Ideas

1. Dinner at Hibernian Grill - in the library with the fireplace.  (A winter tradition.)



2.  Movies with friends - when is Les Miserables coming out?



3.  The Apex Nativity display and the Messiah sing along - on my birthday - Dec. 8th.



4.  I want to see a musical - I'm not sure what is playing or where it is playing, but surely something good must be playing during the Christmas season.




5. Travel - I have a 3 day weekend - where should I go?

Windows, Money, and Traveling in Ireland

A few thoughts: 
1.  My "10 minute" walk to the hospital is actually 30 minutes.  I finally timed it today door to door.  The Irish walk fast, but not THAT fast!

2.  Why in heaven's name do people here want the window open when it's freezing outside?  Irish people say to get "fresh air".  They said the same thing in New Zealand and I say let them go outside for fresh air and keep the heat on inside with the window closed!  I finally told the B&B lady that I have allergies and I'm allergic to nature - which is true, but very handy to use this time!

3.  Spencer is doing much better!  I took him out for an hour or two today to tour a little of Galway, with the doctor's okay.  He must be feeling much better because my pocketbook is feeling it!  He wanted to tip everyone he bought something from - he tried to tip the grocer, the shop clerk, the vendor, and everyone else!  He did it all with my money!  Finally I started paying for things myself instead of just giving him the money!  I think he knows how hard people work and wanted to show them how much he appreciated their work.

4.  Note to self:  Always assume you will be somewhere for longer than you think you will be there.  I assumed I would be in Ireland 2 days and I've been here a week and 2 days.  ALWAYS bring a blow dryer.  ALWAYS bring fingernail clippers.  ALWAYS bring laundry detergent and a clothes line. I don't care if it's an overnight trip, I'm bringing them!  Lesson learned (twice).  This summer I was in Utah and got an e-mail from Pueblo Ingles and they invited me to do a last minute program in Spain.  So I went from hot hot Utah to cold North West Galicia, Spain.  I also stayed for 3 weeks.  No blow dryer, not enough laundry detergent, no clothes line, and no fingernail clippers.  Now I have fingernail clippers that say "Porto, Portugal" and "I love Ireland".  

Miracles Do Come True, Either That or I Found a Pot of Gold at the End of the Irish Rainbow

Miracle # 1 - Rainbows

When I walked out of my B&B, I was excited because I had booked a tour to see the Cliffs of Moher - A wonder of the world. I was waiting in the rain and suddenly I saw the beginning of a rainbow and it grew and grew until it was a full rainbow.  I saw 6 rainbows today.  The last one was with Spencer at the hospital and it was the biggest, brightest and if you look closely, you can see it was a double rainbow.

The last rainbow of the day at the hospital.

An earlier rainbow.

Miracle #2 - Rain and No Rain

We started off going to a family farm and the rain had not come to the farm, so we climbed the mountain, had great views, and dry ground.  It was pretty steep, so thank goodness it was dry!

Farm Stop - Sunny and Bright

The farm was on the side of a mountain so we went on a hike and saw some of the beautiful sights - that is the Atlantic Ocean in the far background of the first picture.

A typical stone wall.

A literal grass roof.

At this family farm they offered
cakes, pies, tea, and coffee.  Read the sign carefully!

Notice Rain while we are the bus. :) 

The Cliffs of Moher

The observation deck to see
the Cliffs of Moher

Please notice that it is
bright and sunny after
raining hard while we
were on the bus.

 

 

So sunny I need shades!

This is a shop built into the mountainside.

Another Sunny Stop

Miracle # 3 - Friends

I am a person who needs people around me.  On the first tour - to Kylemore Abby, I found 2 single girls around my age who I got to know pretty well.  On this tour, on the first bus, I met a Mom and daughter from England and they were so nice!  At the farm I found a Brazilian girl who was also traveling alone, so we became immediate friends.  Then, when we stopped for lunch we found a guy from Poland who was also on his own and we included him.  (3 friends from 3 different continents.)  Although this was nice to have friends, it was not a miracle.  The miracle came after the tour was done and I was finished visiting Spencer in the hospital.  I was tired and it was dark, so I decided to take a cab home.  The cab stopped in front of my B&B and literally when I got out I saw the Mom and daughter walking on the sidewalk.  They invited me to dinner, but I had already eaten, so they told me that they were going on a walking tour of Galway at 12:30 tomorrow and invited me to go with them!  They said that they had decided to take a shortcut and their shortcut took them in front of my B&B at the exact moment my cab pulled up.  The daughter, Charlotte, had just said, "I wonder if we'll see Tiffany in town."  And there I was in front of them!  It was surreal!

Thank you Heavenly Father for looking after me and loving me so much!!!!