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Babcia and Yia Yia!, Notes on Planning and Packing, Study Hall: Essays On Travel

Your Travel Wardrobe Is In Your Closet. Right Now.

You hear it all the time! Create a capsule wardrobe to be a successful traveler. It makes any potential packer think that they need to order and buy specialty clothes to only use when there’s a suitcase at hand. Not so fast! We, here at Babcia and YiaYia, think that you might be selling yourself and your closet a little short. That’s right, we think you probably have far more than you think to complete the perfect travel wardrobe.

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In fact, we think that you probably have clothes that you love to wear that could be the foundation for that super elusive capsule wardrobe that all the rage. But where do you even start? We’ve got some easy steps to help!

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Weed out what won’t pack well.

You already know all of the things in your closet that are high maintenance They wrinkle fast and never wash well. You probably pull them out once or twice a year. They probably won’t pack very well anyway. Additionally, you probably know what kind of weather your head toward so out of season stuff is not part of your packing equation.

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Choose a color.

You know the color. It’s your favorite one and you pair it with black and white all the time. Ours is blue. It goes with our complexions and never fails to photograph well. You probably have this color weaving in and out of every rack in your closet anyway.

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Set out your neutrals.

Black. White. Denim. The gang’s all here! These are the pieces that go with pretty much anything. These wardrobe basics are the foundation to your mix and match packing style.

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Edit out the cliche items.

It’s time to do a double take. Is there anything in your potential packing pile that screams tourist? Message tees? Super bold colors that scream “pick my pockets”? Shoes that say “I have no idea how to travel comfortably with style”? Now is the time to edit those items out of your capsule concept.

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Start to mix and match.

Now that you’ve got yourself focused. It’s time to start pairing items together so that everything you take pulls a double shift. We start with the amount of days from take off to laundry. Do you have seven days until laundry? Then you need 5 bottoms in cool weather and 6 bottoms in hot weather. (Why six? Try sweating all day and then trying to look refreshed for dinner.) Seven days also needs 6-7 tops. There are many people who will give you different numbers but sweat doesn’t lie. Match them together. Make those outfits. Then make sure each top has a different bottom that will make a new look.

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Minus one for dresses.

If you like dresses, simply subtract one for every dress you plan to pack. Just remember that every dress you take needs to pack well. It also needs to be useful. Dresses for a rafting trip won’t do you much good but an easy to use maxi dress might be just perfect for evenings in Paris.

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Weave in the layers.

No matter what the weather, we always pack a wrap, a cardigan, and a scarf. Sounds like overkill? Well, we find that we use every single item every single time. Wraps are perfect as a double for plane blanket or pillow. Cardigans cover up if it gets a little too breezy. Scarves can cover bare shoulders or shorts in a pinch if you need to cover up at a particular site like a church or mosque. The most important thing about these pieces is that they go with every single outfit we bring.

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Finish off with three pairs of shoes.

You are definitely going to need walking shoes. These will most likely be your bulkiest shoes and you will most likely wear them on the plane just like us. Additionally, you are going to want a pair of shoes that turns all of your outfits into a smarter look for evening. This may be a pair of flats or sandals. The point is, they elevate your look somehow to give you a little oomph. Lastly, you may want to add in beachy flip flops or a second pair of walkers depending on your needs. The most important thing about any pair of shoes you choose is that they go with every outfit you just made for your travel capsule wardrobe.

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Take it for a test drive.

Now, weeks before your trip, take all of those picks and pack them up. Zip that suitcase closed and put it in the corner. Try not to open it for three or four days. Then, take it all out and decide if it’s a keeper. We promise you probably only need to change out a few items. You’re ready to make a shopping list of the very few things that may be missing.

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We bet you feel a lot better!

We told you! You DO have a lot of items to contribute to a great travel capsule wardrobe. While you may want to add in a few last items, your closet is already full of great pieces to travel with. One last tip: take things that you love but may be expiring soon. If you need to ditch them for a little extra packing space on the way back home, it won’t hurt too much. Happy travels!

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Babcia and Yia Yia!, Intro To Travel Lit

‘Tis The Season For Travel Lit

Okay! We know! Traveling during the holidays is usually far more of a hassle than a great experience. While some of us get the pleasure of enjoying a true travel experience under the tree, most of us are either tucked in at home or schlepping somewhere we’d rather not. We hear you and we know you are calling out for a little help. Our response to this SOS is to work on your library. Books? YES!

These days, we’ve been totally inspired by the curated library on the Holland America Rotterdam cruise ship. It was completely curated to reflect a traveler’s interests. It got us thinking that sharing a curated list of books and book inspired moments for the traveler may be the best way we can wish you the best of spirits this season. So, pour a glass of wine, get yourself a great latte, and get comfy under your favorite blanket. Let’s travel, book style! 

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Use books to start your next travel dream

We can’t get enough of the grand libraries and bookshops of the travel world. Book lovers everywhere are always keeping an eye out for those amazing little places that can never be anything but delightful. Be sure to seek out the bookshops and libraries in the destination that you are going to visit. Carve out time to find the dusty corners and the sleepy cats who supervise all of the stacks! We suggest that you plot out your latest reads with this amazing find: Plotted: A Literary Atlas

Some of our favorite- but not always famous- bookstores that are worth your time are:

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  • Shakespeare and Co., Paris: Let’s talk about the line! This most famous of bookstores on the banks of the Seine can have quite the queue! But it stands the test the time. Make enough time to at least walk by it.
  • The Red Wagon in the St. Germain area of Paris: Children’s and adult books are just steps from Luxembourg Gardens.
  • The American Bookstore on Spui Square in Amsterdam: A long held American outpost, this is the place to grab a quick read before sitting down at a canal side cafe.
  • The Strand in NYC- books as decor are on display on every single wall. This bookstore is a piece of art unto itself and is our bonus pick!

Connect to your reading in more ways than one

We can’t get enough of how digital media has made book reading more accessible and portable while giving us book junkies a way to connect and share. Two of our favorites are Audible which allows you to listen to books at your own pace and Goodreads, a book loving community that let you connect and create goals to aspire to. While both of these services are by Amazon, we are not partners with them but we do love this cute little page holder that makes a perfect stocking stuffer! We’ve been busy reading and have some great picks for all kinds of travelers. We’ve added an Amazon link to each pic to make it easier to connect with these fabulous reads!

For The True Academic:

Babcia says: Go back in time and find out how the world changed as each drink was formulated. It’s fun to try and guess what they are before cracking this book open and it’s more fun to learn how they influence us to this day.

Yiayia says: Enjoy this heart-wrenching Holocaust survivor’s story. This story demonstrates that the power of love can see us through the darkest parts of our lives. Lily was liberated in 1945. She is an extraordinary woman who speaks out on the hope that evil would not happen again.

For The Romantic:

Babcia says: The first in a series of easy breezy romance stories, Julie Caplin creatively sets the scene for her classic boy meets girl stories all over the globe. Fun and fast, this is a quick read for any romance reader.

Yiayia says: Opa! When things fall apart where should you head? Santorini of course. Enjoy this romance novel on the beautiful Greek Island. Take in the blue tiled villas and turquoise waters. Let the love and beauty of Santorini wash away all your sadness!

For the Power Planner:

Babcia says: This travel journal keeps memories in an easy to update format. It’s a can’t miss for me and I so enjoy adding to it every now and then.

Yiayia says: Who doesn’t have a bucket list? If not, get started. This book gives you places all around the world guaranteed to meet all your desires. You will find hidden gems, cathedrals, castles, etc. to make your trip complete. So stop dreaming about it and get out and do it.

For The Logistics Lover:

Babcia says: Getting organized has never been so polite and Marie Kondo’s philosophy of getting organized can help any traveler reduce and streamline to better focus on the long range travel plans we all crave.

Yiayia says: With the big movement of minimalism, this book is on target. The Swedish author, Margareta Magnusson, provides an element of humor to a daunting task. Get rid of things that are not needed and are just taking up space. Hold on to those things that are dear to you and family. Start cleaning!

For The busy busy mamas

Babcia says: with so much in the news, this book gives you a good look at how certain reads wound up being banned. It makes you want to enjoy a little taste of Kansas City’s great banned books landscape.

Yiayia says: This is a must read when planning a family vacation. This is a great assistant to the busy mom. It will give you great options from cruises to all inclusive resorts.

For the Murder Mystery Maniac

Babcia says: It’s a classic and it’s well travelled Christie brings her characters to life in this must read who done it.

Yiayia says: Reading a good mystery should be on everyone’s list. This one takes you on a destiny wedding off the coast of Ireland. Meet all the wonderful characters and decide who done it!

For the Outdoorsy Enthusiasts

Babcia says: Get back to basics as you explore the great outdoors and learn what nature is really saying to you.

Yiayia says: “I now walk into the wild.” Follow Christopher’s unconventional life choice as he leaves friends, family and job behind and heads into the wild of Alaska.

For the European Wanderer

Babcia says: You can’t miss when you get a story from a great piece of art and that’s exactly what Theresa Chevelier does with Girl With A Pearl Earring.

Yiayia says: You don’t want to pass this on by. Go along with Katy as she takes a trip she is has been waiting years to take to Positano. She is only missing one thing, her mom. Journey with her and witness how she reconciles with the past.

And one for the kiddos!

Lauren Pelkey Wally the Wandering Wallaby! This great first look at how amazing the world can be! We had the pleasure of chatting with Lauren and learning all about her travel journey and how she became a children’s author. Check out our conversation in our podcast. You can click the link below.

Try This Scandinavian Tradition

Take on the Icelandic custom of Christmas Eve reading. Pop some popcorn, put on some low music and have everyone crack open a brand new book. Happy holidays! Love, Babcia and Yiayia!

Study Hall: Essays On Travel, Travel With Alex: Europe 101

France 101: Traveling for wartime connections

Veterans Day is here. In our family, it is the kickoff to our holiday season. The holiday seems iconically American. However, Veterans Day started off 102 years ago as Armistice Day which marked the end of WWI and as the world started healing from The Great War, each nation involved created there own version of remembering. This makes the concept quite Global rather than quintessentially American and a great way to expand our horizons both patriotically and historically. Our own holiday evolved from commemorating 11-11-18 to honoring all who serve and have served. But make no mistake, there are plenty of countries that honor those who serve in their own way. I am lucky and grateful for the Veterans in my family. My dad, my husband, and a bevy of other relatives all served at one time or another. I even spent some time in uniform myself.

Finding our Ancestors for Veteran’s Day

One way other countries honor the military sacrifice is to remember the fallen. A great example of this is what you can find in France. This summer, I had the honor of meeting two veterans while I visited and the experience was life changing. My mom and I hopped into a sporty euro rental in Belgium and made our way west across the French border to an area out in the middle of nulle part- that’s French for nowhere. We were stopping to visit Private First Class Thomas McGovern. His address is one I can share: plot B, Row 18, Grave 11, Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France.

Somme

Thomas is my great, great uncle and died in the famous Battle of the Somme on September 27th, 1918. Visiting the cemetery is quite amazing. The superintendent escorted us out to the grave, among impeccably manicured grounds and explained to us the play by play of the battle and exactly what fate my uncle met. He produced a small container of sand from Omaha Beach to rub across the marble stone so that Thomas’ name was easily read. There, in the summer sun out in the French countryside, I became the first family member to come and pay my respects to him. I was all at once proud, connected, elated and humbled. It was a once in a lifetime experience!

Muesse-Argon

As our journey continued, I had someone else to check in with. The next day, we drove out to the Meuse-Argon American Cemetery to meet, for the first time as well, John McGovern. He is Thomas’ brother and, by heart breaking coincidence, he also perished on September 27th- just 46 days shy of the armistice. The cemetery that he rests in is shared with 14,000 other brave boys who put on a tin hat and stepped up to fight in an unknown world. Again, the sand, again two flags of pride and solidarity, again emotions that make one grateful and awestruck.

So on this Veterans Day, I say thank you to all of you who have served. I appreciate you all. And I encourage you put on a bright red poppy and be proud of all you have contributed to the greater good.

Maybe seek out those veterans who may not be as close as most. They may be just the thing for you and yours to learn so much about your own family and how they contributed to the greater good. There are 26 American Cemeteries overseas with over 130,000 brave Americans who are hoping a family member might visit. If you are interested, start your research with the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Poppies represent the spilt blood of the many lives that fought for liberty.