Since August 1, 2016, our beautiful sweet furbabies Cosmo and Dexter have spent 50 nights at our home. The rest of the time they’ve been staying at Grandma and Grumpa’s house, sometimes …
Latest in How can I help?
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Today is bittersweet: we closed the sale of our first family home, the little yellow house on Surrey Road. The first house I ever bought. The house we brought Dexter into when …
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It’s been a while, huh? When I started this blog last year, my intent was to write weekly, but after our European home exchange, I dropped the ball and only wrote a …
- Mental Health and WellnessPersonal Blog
Whole30 on the Go: The hardest thing I’ve ever done
by Ashley10 minutes readNever in my life have I coveted vegetables. Never have I stared longingly at a plate of scrambled eggs. Never before have I thought to myself, “Man, I could really go for …
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You may be familiar with this rocks and sand story. There are many variations of this story. You might be more familiar with the version of “Big Rocks” relating to time management, …
- 8. Remember What MatteredPersonal BlogPlanning and Travel Hacking
Unaccording to Plan
by Ashley8 minutes readAs a second grade feminist, I was convinced I’d be the first female baseball player in the MLB. I’m not entirely sure why I thought this: I had been the worst t-ball player …
- How can I help?Mental Health and WellnessPersonal Blog
Forget Your Troubles, Come On, Get Hygge: Fighting off SAD the Danish Way
by Ashley8 minutes readSAD sucks, which is why I might be mildly obsessed with hygge.
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Thanks to the generosity of my best friend’s family, Justin and I were able to plan a long weekend getaway to the mountains of North Carolina. Since our January vacation plans fell …
- 1. Know Why You're Going2. Know Your Travelers3. Choose What Matter Most4. Leave Room to Breathe5. Wander Intentionally6. Spend Where It Matters7. Pivot Without Panic8. Remember What MatteredHow can I help?Planning and Travel Hacking
Planning a Three-Week Road Trip that includes Home Exchange, Hotel Points, and Visiting Friends
by Ashley11 minutes readMonths of research. Hours spent comparing flight prices. Countless nights debating destinations and routes, followed by whimsical dreams of far away cities and interesting people. The weeks and months leading up to …
- Mental Health and WellnessPersonal Blog
Finding My Inner Hippie: Attending Paleo f(X)
by Ashley6 minutes readLast year, when I was working with my amazing and life-changing nutritionist, I was feeling particularly gung-ho about eating clean and getting my health on track, so when I heard about the …
- 2. Know Your TravelersMental Health and WellnessPersonal Blog
Alone, Together: How to travel with your spouse without killing each other
by Ashley5 minutes readPicture this: It’s our last night of our four day weekend in Budapest. We’ve walked our legs off, hitting every corner of this beautiful, historic city. We’ve eaten so much food, seen …
- 6. Spend Where It MattersDestinationsFloridaHome ExchangePersonal BlogUSA and Canada
Our Babymoon Adventure: the Space Coast, home exchange, and a non-Disney Disney Vacation
by Ashley15 minutes readIt’s been a minute since I’ve posted here, and I do keep meaning to post about the awesome trip to London I took with my dad several months ago, or the week …
- Traveling with Kids2. Know Your Travelers4. Leave Room to BreathePersonal Blog
Learning to Travel with a Baby
by Ashley5 minutes readI’ve done a terrible job of updating this blog in 2019, but with good reason: In March, I became a Mama to the sweetest little guy, and he’s been taking up pretty …
- How can I help?Personal Blog
Self-quarantining and social distancing during the pandemic
by Ashley3 minutes readAs cities and states around the county lock down, and other countries go into full-out quarantine mode, the Schwannema household has decided to get an early start on what might become a …
- Mental Health and WellnessPersonal Blog
Covid-19 Silver Linings: Finding some positive amidst all of the negative
by Ashley7 minutes readThe global impact of the Covid-19 is surreal and unprecedented. The news is incessant, and I find myself constantly scrolling, waiting for an update, waiting to find out the next terrible thing …
- How can I help?Personal BlogWorkcations
How to Separate Your Personal and Professional Lives While Working At Home
by Ashley9 minutes readFor many years, I was a workaholic. I had a terrible time disconnecting at the end of a work day. In fact, there was no real “end” or “beginning” to my work …
- How can I help?Personal Blog
Patience and Fortitude: What I Learned About My Grandmother’s Catchphrase
by Ashley5 minutes readMy paternal grandmother, who insisted we always call her Grandmother, died when I was 17, so I never got a chance to really know her and vice versa. While I think that, …
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“No amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well made cocktail.” — David Sedaris Being married to a cocktail enthusiast has its benefits. For one, it means that going out …
- 2. Know Your Travelers8. Remember What MatteredDestinationsEuropePersonal BlogTraveling with Kids
#TBT: The Time My Dad Tricked Me Into Eating Squid
by Ashley6 minutes readI’ve always been a less-than-adventurous eater; I ate PB&J sandwiches or peanut butter & crackers every day for lunch from Kindergarten through 5th grade. (Not kidding. Not even a little bit.) As …
- Planning and Travel Hacking1. Know Why You're Going4. Leave Room to Breathe6. Spend Where It MattersHome ExchangeHow can I help?
Say Yes to the Unexpected: the Joy of Home Exchange
by Ashley5 minutes readOften, people get specific ideas of how a trip should go or places they need to visit. I know, I’ve been there! We can easily be blinded by our own expectations, and …
