Europe Trip Planning

We just booked our trip to Europe!  This is my first time so I'm excited and nervous!  We'll be spending 3 nights in London, 3 nights in Paris, 3 nights in Venice, 3 nights in Florence & 3 nights in Rome. If you have any suggestions (things to see and/or along the way) please let me know!

If you need help planning your next vacation contact Cameron here!

Another Cross-Country Trip...This Time With A Cat!

My Mom decided to join us in this adventurous lifestyle so we packed up her 2 bedroom apartment, sold/donated mostly everything she had, and she and I drove from Ohio to Washington State.  Just over 2,500 miles towing a Uhaul trailer with a 30-pound cat in the car with us was one exhausting trip!

How do you travel with a cat and a cat litter box? Short answer..... DON'T!  My Mom wanted to get a large dog crate so the cat could be contained and have enough room for himself and his litter box, so I did.  It took up the entire back seat, but the litter box and the cat fit in it quite well. About 30 minutes into the trip the cat hasn't stopped crying but decides to go into the litter box and kick it everywhere!  Yep, it made it into the front seat too.  I quickly did some research to see how long a cat can "hold it" and I was VERY surprised to see 24 to 48 hours was the answer, although that was way longer than I needed it to say.  We weren't traveling more than 12 hours a day so the next day the litter box was gone!  We brought it into the hotel room at night with us and all was well, at least regarding the litter.

We knew traveling with the cat was going to be rough so we asked the Vet for some meds to help keep him calm.  I swear she gave us the equivalent of cat meth because he was never calm he just kept meowing, well until about 3 hours before we were done driving each day but then again all night!  So neither the cat nor I got any sleep on this trip!

Each night, I'd unload the vehicle get Mom (with her walker and oxygen) in the room then go back out in the freezing cold to put the cat (in the large doge cage) on a dolly (yes a dolly) and then reload it all again in the morning.  

We had 5 nights in hotels! I booked each night online a few hours before we were ready to call it a night and enjoyed most of the rooms along the way. We only ran into one issue regarding cat-friendly hotels and that was because the app I used didn't allow me to specify what type of animal I had or that I had an animal at all.  My advice, if you are traveling with a pet call before you book online to make sure the hotel allows your type of pet.  If you book online I'd call after you book too because some of the hotel booking sites don't allow you to note that you have a pet, so make sure the hotel knows you're coming so they can confirm that your reservation is in a pet-friendly room. One of the hotels we booked said it was pet-friendly but when we showed up they said no cats. I usually call before and again after just to make sure they save the correct room for me, of course, this was one time I didn't.  Fortunately, the manager refunded the fee and there was another hotel just down the road.   

Overall, the trip went very well!  We had a few laughs, no one peed their pants and no car accidents. We were VERY thankful it wasn't a repeat of our last cross-country trip (just Mom and me) which ended in a totaled vehicle, a few concussions, and a broken neck.  I also learned I'd rather travel with my puppies any day of the week versus a cat. Sorry Momma I'm just not a cat person.  🤣

Have you traveled with pets? Tell us your story..... 

Summer Follow-Up

What an interesting year! Just like everyone else, COVID-19 changed everything we had planned for 2020.  No concerts, no cruises, no large get-togethers, blah, blah, blah.  

In an effort to "social distance" we ended up spending summer tucked away on a beautiful lake in Wisconsin. It wasn't all fun and relaxation though. 😂 Cameron's Mom bought an old hospital in Wisconsin that she is remodeling (Cats Castle) and since we decided to stick around for the summer we "got to" help her out with some major projects.  Our bodies hurt, but we got A LOT done!  

We are happy to be back home in Washington well before it gets too cold in the mid-west.  Hoping everyone is well! Stay safe friends!

Quarintine - Stay Home Order

Well, the Stay Home Order has been in effect for about three and a half weeks now (since March 23rd) here in Washington State with about two and a half weeks to go (until May 5th) and like most others, we have gotten a few chores done, ate more snacks than usual, and had a few drinks "Quarintini's" on occasion.  Of course, we had to get a Keg of beer to kick-off quarantine Clashy style. Knowing what day of the week it is has been a typical struggle here, but overall it is business as usual for us.

My friend Shannon Baker and I passed the time by making nearly 200 masks, which we donated to friends, family and a local Navy Ship that was deploying and in need.  We decided that was our maximum and we donated our remaining materials to a local woman who had already made 1,000 masks putting our measly 200 to shame!  🤣

Cameron has made over 15 pounds of beef jerky in his new smoker, which was my gift to him to keep him occupied during the quarantine and of course to keep me fed.  🤣  He is perfecting his recipes and we are enjoying taste testing every one of them!

I know we are not alone in saying our plans for 2020 have changed dramatically.  So far, we have canceled/missed 2 MLB games, the NFL Draft in Vegas, a cruise, a concert, and a trip to the beach.  Fortunately, we are all healthy here tough so we are thankful for that!

We still have a lot planned for the remainder of 2020 and hopefully, we will ALL be able to get back to our "normal" lives soon!  Stay home and stay healthy everyone!

In the meantime, what have you had to cancel or reschedule?  What are you looking forward to once this is over?

So here's a good one for ya ...

Ry and I went to Walmart to get groceries, spent about an hour in the store. When we came out I said Why are my tail lights on? Get closer and the f-ing thing is running! I left my vehicle running the entire time we were in the store!! 🤣 

Cute Ideas for Camping Critters

https://goodlivingguide.com/canine-campers-dogs-want-enjoy-rv-lifestyle/

Where did you travel this month?

We love to share our adventures, but we like when you share yours with us too!  Tell us about your adventures this month.  Where did you go? What did you do? Would you go again? Did you learn anything you'd like to share with others? 

NEXUS & TSA Precheck

So during our recent trip (driving) to Canada my husband did some research on the NEXUS program and TSA Pre-check.  Mostly because the wait at the border was 50 minutes going up and about 2 hours coming back, and he saw people breezing through the Nexus lane.  Anyway, his research (as usual) was enlightening.

I like when I drive and he does research!

Turns out, when you apply for NEXUS online most of the options include TSA Pre-check.  So, if you're going to be traveling to and from Canada you should check out The Department of Homeland Security's information on NEXUS (well in advance) before you go.  You might just save a little money and time!

Things my hubby noted regarding the program:

1. Everyone in the car must have the NEXUS pass in order to go through the NEXUS line.
2. The memberships are valid for 5 years.

If you have NEXUS or TSA Pre-check we'd love to hear your experience traveling with them.  Worth it or not?

Cilajet

My 2019 Dodge Durango went back to the dealership to get Cilajet put on, and so far I am not very happy with the result. When we picked it up there were 4 big scratches down the side. The Servicer Writer was like "well we didn't do it" and I told her they weren't there when we dropped it off.  Keep in mind I have only had this vehicle for about 3 months!  She said when they put Cilajet on black paint it brings scratches to the surface.  


No one mentioned that to me and the scratches weren't there when I dropped the vehicle off. The Service Writer said they didn't take pictures of my vehicle when I dropped it off, so her manager said to just fix it.  But she felt the need to say one more time "even though I know we didn't do it".

Ugh, has anyone else had Cilajet put on their vehicle?

Snow, Snow, GO AWAY!!!

Who asked for this? Ewwwww!!!
I mean it is pretty, but I could do without it.  😜

We don't usually get snow, but when we do it is either nothing exciting or a lot more than we are prepared to handle.  We had about 8 inches in Monroe, there were branches down and roads closed.  Hopefully, everyone is warm and safe.  Enjoy the beauty while it's here. ⛄

Monster Jam

Monster Jam at the Tacoma Dome was fantastic!  Grave Digger was a fan favorite but the show stopper was Soldier Fortune Black Ops!  The heart-stopping two-wheel skill and the freestyle event gave Black Ops the opportunity to show off and he delivered!

Grave Digger

Earth Shaker

I have the funniest cousin in the world!

🤟Richie! 🤣

Clashy Wine Night

Snowman mugs work for us!
Whatever delivers the 🍷 to our mouths.

The Baker's & The Olson's