Packing For Our Trip to Israel

My husband and I are taking our first international trip that is scheduled for later this year, and we are going to Israel! I've been so excited as I prepare for it. Reading other travel blogs, gauging what we have versus what we need. I'd happily fast forward through most of this year just to get to that point! 

 

Traveling is so much work though! So much goes into preparing yourself for it. For someone who has only ever taken about week long vacations with the family, I'm certainly learning a lot. Trips overseas are a whole new experience for me. I can pack a bag. I can handle flights. Domestically speaking, that is. However, I've been learning a lot about packing for trips that involve more than a week in a foreign country. Here are the top 3 things that I think everyone should know. Hopefully, there will be more posts on traveling to follow. 

Tips and tricks I've been learning.

Tip 1 - Don't do check-in luggage if you can avoid it! Luggage gets lost, delayed or damaged. My in-laws can attest that. And we all know the response from the airlines. "We are not responsible." One thing I have seen time and again is that travelers are sticking to carry on. Cheaper fees, less risk. So that is the way we have decided to go as well. I bought this one for my husband's birthday and plan to get myself one later on. Both of these are TSA regulation for carry on's. The smaller one qualifies as a personal bag, while the larger one is considered standard carry on.

Tip 2 - Sensible shoes are a must. Walking over rough terrain and the uneven cobblestones are common over there. So having a good pair of shoes (and inserts for long days) is the proper path to take. I decided to get Puma shoes. I had a pair years ago. They lasted forever, felt amazing and went with anything.

Tip 3 - Condense where you can. Here is something I hadn't ever needed to do before. Since my husband and I are planning to be gone for just under 2 weeks, we have certain things we need to bring that could take up a lot of space. If you are familiar with my blog, you know by now that I have a broken back. Over the counter medicine is my go-to for the hardest days. I don't go blindly - 9 mile treks every day are about average for this particular trip. I'm probably going to cry myself into exhausted sleep at least once. Deep in my heart I know, it will be completely worth it. I typically need to rotate through Ibuprofen, Aleve, and Extra Strength Tylenol. I also use Excedrin Tension Headache for the migraines I get. But we buy the big bottles of these. I don't want to waste precious space on lugging them around. What to do? I saw this amazing idea of taking a plastic box with dividers instead.

I tried looking at a couple stores near me, but couldn't find one similar enough that had more sorting capacity. That is when I decided to check out Amazon. Talk about options! After going through several of these alternatives, we decided that the Pillsteer Travel Pill Organizer was the best.

It has 8 large compartments, comes with labels and it is waterproof! While I don't foresee taking it for a dip in Israel, there could be other times in the future where this feature can be appreciated. With this, I can easily carry enough pills for the both of our needs, that will last the whole trip. I don't want to have to stop off somewhere and look for meds. I will be prepared! 

                                                              My personal pharmacy!

It fits in my hand.

 Side note! 

This is one of the best $13.99, I have ever spent! Especially because of their customer service and dedication to excellence. This ships from an Amazon warehouse. My package was 'lost' temporarily. On the day it was scheduled to arrive, the Pillsteer company reached out to make sure I was satisfied with my order. Sadly, I didn't have my order yet. They told me to reach out to Amazon since there was no delivery updates to go on, but keep in touch if there were any problems. Amazon gave me a little of a run-around at first. I ended up waiting a few more days than was expected. Right before requesting a refund, however, the package finally arrived! I'm glad it did. I had been in contact with the customer service rep again. She told me to request a refund and they would gladly send my money back. After I told her I got it, she asked what I thought of it and said they would send me a free gift! So now I have two for the price of one.

Journey to Pain Relief: Chiropractor Care

Speaking of chiropractic care, that is another option found to assist in pain relief and treatment of the causes themselves. For me, my main issues that has caused all these others is scoliosis. I've been told, that there is a chance that it can be slightly repaired by chiropractic adjustments. And I'm not the only one. My supervisor at my last job, had some of the same problems I have. She lives in pain like I do. She was referred to a chiropractor. They can be pricey, even with insurance. So be careful. 

By the way, if you are in the San Antonio area and need an amazing house-call chiropractor - Dr. Alexandra (Alex) Sweeney and her husband are the ones you want to call! They were fantastic. They came after work, so I didn't have to miss work. I served them dinner one night. We even had a blast talking about nerdy things! My kids loved having them over. Highly recommend them. Plus, you get serviced for half an hour at $75. Deep tissue massage and adjustments. They bring their equipment to you. You can also split this price and time with others. Make it party! Save money and feel great at the same time. 

I would suggest checking your insurance to see what is covered. Then call around and see what they have to offer and pricing. There are some great options, but as I mentioned, they can be very pricey. Know what you need. You don't have to be a doctor, but at least have an idea of what is wrong with you or causing you pain. You don't want to be given a run for your money (because sometimes, that's all they are after!) so get an idea of what you are looking for. 

Some posts from the Twigtale experts that I enjoyed

I was browsing the blog posts on Twigtale. They have some really useful things concerning raising children and the problems parents often face. I got permission to repost a couple that struck me as being especially helpful. I suggest you check them out as well.
As a parent, I have to learn to step back and let my children grow. They have to learn some things by experience. Part of that is getting bumps or scrapes. Its those awkward moments of meeting another child and finding out how to interact with them. This is what Twigtale expert, Dr. Wendy Denham, PhD had to say on this issue:

 

Tuesday Toddler Tip – Let It Be, Knowing When Not To Step In

Like the Beatles said… one of the most important things parents have to learn is when not to step in to the rescue. Tempting as it may be!
Try not to rush in and save your child from uncomfortable experiences, whether it be an awkward social interaction at the park, difficulty holding a crayon or figuring out how to use a toy. These experiences provide invaluable learning experiences for your child in seeing that they (and you!) can survive these feelings, and that feelings (even hard ones) come and go. This builds frustration tolerance and an ability to persevere through difficulty. If you’re not sure what to do, try narrating their experience. This can be just the facts, eg. ‘You’re really trying to hold that crayon and it keeps falling down’. Or maybe you notice how they’re feeling eg. ‘you’re really frustrated because you’re trying to hold that crayon and it keeps falling down.’ Your child will feel like you are paying attention, and that you understand. You are helping to give them the tools and introduce them to the all important language of feelings and emotions.
Toddler Tip brought to you by our new Twigtale child development expert Dr. Wendy Denham, PhD.

The other post I thought was a good one, was posted by the Twigtale Team:

Guest Post: How To Raise Clear, Confident & Kind Girls

Raising a Girl:  A Blog Entry from our Twigtale Co-founder.

Raising two daughters, in LA, in the 21st century?  Terrifying.  I jumped at the chance to attend, Tandy Parks‘  class on “Raising a Girl.”  She had awesome suggestions on how to raise “clear, confident and kind” girls, and below are 3 of my favorite take-aways.
1) Focus on the Internal, Not External
One suggestion Tandy had to help our daughters cope with modern society’s obsession with aesthetics is to avoid focusing on their looks.  Instead, focus on something from within.  Instead of saying “you look pretty in that dress,” try saying “oh, you look happy in that dress.” It will help your daughter learn to find pride in who she is, not what she looks like.
2) Celebrate Your Daughter’s Emotions – ALL OF THEM!  
Help them learn it is ok to be angry and assertive!  Tandy suggests that the “mean girls” phenomena is likely a result of parents telling their daughters to “be nice” and “good little girls.”  These statements teach girls to internalize their anger.  We need to teach our daughters how to openly, and appropriately express their emotions – which will lead to more confident girls with better conflict negotiation skills.
3) Activity and movement is key!
We need to encourage our daughters to move their bodies, so they ultimately have confidence in their physical skills, develop assertiveness and learn to take appropriate physical risks.  Helping your daughter find confidence in her physicality is a great way to combat society’s unhealthy image of beauty and sexuality.
Tandy Parks, MPH is a parent educator in Santa Monica.  She hosts multiple discussion groups for parents every month.  She also is available for individaul consultation: http://tandyparks.com/index.htm

Leading Lady discount and Bra Fit tips

I got some interesting info to share with my female readers recently. And I also have a discount for you all from Leading Lady http://www.leadinglady.com/ . Below I have given you a copy of the tips they share in finding your perfect bra fit. And they have kindly given me a code for you (my wonderful readers) to use should you choose to purchase a bra from them. It gives you 15% off your purchase. The code is MCBLOG1950.

BRA FIT TIPS

The three most important factors in selecting a bra are: Fit, Comfort and Support.

Proper fit is essential to the health of your breasts. The right fit will help prevent sagging, chafing and keep breasts dry, supported and comfortable in even the most strenuous conditions.

So, how do you achieve the perfect fit? Leading Lady’s fit-conscious designer shares her tips for achieving the ideal fit, maximizing comfort and ensuring proper support.

Here are some common signs you may not be wearing the correct size:

If you can see part of your breasts sticking out of the neckline or the underarm, your bra cup is too small for your breast.

If the bra cup looks wrinkled on your breasts, it is probably too large.

You should not be using any of the under-bust elastic as part of the cup. If you are, it means the cup is not big enough for your breast.

Your bra should sit down on both your front and your back. If it is pulling up, the band is most likely too large for your frame and you will not get the correct amount of support.

How can you achieve your ideal fit, support & comfort?

Fit

Look at yourself in a mirror. Your breasts should appear supported and sit up on your chest.

Remember that many women are between sizes, so you may need to try a size up or down to get the best fit.

Read the fit guide. Every company has their own idea of what represents the best fit so this is a great way to make sure the cup and band sizes are correct for you.

Comfort & Support

Make sure the shoulder straps of your bra stay in place when you are in motion. If they slip off the shoulder or cut into the shoulder, adjust the straps or try a different size bra.

Wider and padded shoulder straps will help to keep weight stress dispersed over a larger area for greater comfort.

Adjustable shoulder straps will accommodate your individual needs, depending on your height and the weight of your breasts.

Remember

Replace your bras when they are worn out and no longer provide the support you need.

Consider the use of the bra. You should have a wardrobe of bras for various activities.

Whether you’re shopping for an everyday bra, want something pretty for a special occasion, need a good workout bra, or are looking for a leisure or sleep bra, consider the following:

Wirefree Styles

Make sure that the center front of your bra has some “sink in,” which means the cup sinks in toward your chest.

Look for a bra that gives you added support on the side of the cup. Styles with side slings help keep your breasts lifted for a nicer silhouette.

Wirefree bras are often more comfortable for a full figure bust or a woman who has experienced irritation from an underwire bra.

Underwire Styles

A properly fitting underwire bra can enhance the shape of a breast but make sure the wire sits correctly on your chest. The wire should not sit on your breast but should form a frame around your breast. Be sure the wire does not irritate your skin or breasts.

Make sure the side height is correct for your size. The wire should fit comfortably against your body at both the underarm and the center front. If the wire is too high under the arm, you will be uncomfortable and it may cause irritation. If the wire is too low under the arm, your breast will not be completely covered. If the wire sticks out between your underarm and your arm, your breast is likely pushing the wire out because the cup is too small.

Front Closure

Whether your front closure bra has hooks & eyes or clasps, make sure the closures feel comfortable and support your breasts. Some may have too many hooks, while others may not have enough.

Front closure styles are designed for easy dressing and are especially great for women with mobility issues who are unable to reach to the back to secure bras.

Look for a style that has a slightly wider plush section on the eye half of the closure, to avoid irritation from the hook & eye connection.

Back Closure

Make sure the back closure has at least three closures. Four closures will give you more flexibility with the bra as your size may fluctuate. However, it is always best to wear your bra on the first or second row of eyes. If you consistently use the third or fourth row, you may need to increase your band size.

Make sure the closures have enough padding for comfort.

Wear bras that are best suited to your individual needs.

Full Figure Bras

The fuller the breast the more support is needed, so look for a bra that has both encapsulation and light compression so that you still have full range of motion but have less strain and sagging.

Great support means a bra that encapsulates the breasts.

Compression is helpful to prevent your breasts from bouncing. Remember -- breasts move in more than one direction, up and down as well as side to side.

          Maternity or Nursing Bras

It is even more important to have support at this time because the breast changes size with the advance of pregnancy and when it is either full of milk or not – when nursing, your breast can change size many times a day!

Look for just the right amount of compression so that your breasts do not bounce. Too much compression will not be comfortable because breasts are more sensitive during pregnancy and nursing.

Stay away from cups that have added material or features that can cause irritation on sensitive breasts or nipples.

 

A little info about Leading Lady:

Leading Lady is a premiere intimate apparel company dedicated to creating comfortably functional, remarkably affordable, stylish and easy-to-wear bras, camis and sleepwear. A family owned and operated business, Leading Lady has been expertly tailoring nursing and full figure bras for top brands and retailers across North America for more than 70 years. Leading Lady’s comprehensive line of nursing and full figure intimates – including sexy stretch lace wire-free and underwire bras, supportive and seamless sport and yoga bras, and cozy sleep and leisure bras – can be purchased directly on LeadingLady.com.

Leading Lady is proud to celebrate “Leading Ladies” everywhere through its products, programs and philanthropic activities. Leading Lady is dedicated to arming new moms with the support – physically, intellectually and emotionally – they need to nurture their babies through breastfeeding and committed to supporting a variety of organizations and issues relevant to women across the country. Follow Leading Lady on Facebook,Twitterand Google+.

 

***I was not paid to post this. Nor was I given anything in exchange to post this.***