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Things to do in San Diego with Kids!

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As a homeschooling mom, I'm always on the lookout for exciting and educational experiences for my kids. Our recent trip to San Diego, California, turned out to be a fantastic mix of both. We stayed in a lovely VRBO in Encinitas (just north of San Diego), which served as our home base for a memorable two week long adventure.  The city of San Diego does this amazing promotion each October. All October long, kids eat, stay, and play for free, while parents enjoy great deals and big-time savings on many San Diego attractions, museums, meals and more. We took full advantage of this amazing opportunity. Here's a glimpse into our journey through this beautiful coastal city. Encinitas: Our Charming Home Away from Home We chose Encinitas as our lodging destination, and it couldn't have been more perfect. Our VRBO rental was not only comfortable but also conveniently located. Encinitas, with its laid-back vibes, stunning beaches, and vibrant downtown area, quickly won our hearts. I ...
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#5 Reasons Why You Should Road-trip With Your Kids And Some Tips for a Successful Adventure

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Many parents look at me in shock and horror when I talk about road tripping with kids. Our longest one-way venture was about 13 hours, with stops. I’m a huge advocate for travel as a family, but specifically road trips. Road trips cultivate an environment for learning and growth with your family.  Here are my top reasons why you should choose to road trip with your family, and I’ll include some of our favorite tips for success.  Journey > Destination  Did you know that being aware and present in the moment over time has been found to decrease stress and mood swings because you have more control over your thoughts? From a young age you can begin teaching your children to embrace the journey of life and be present in the moment instead of having eyes fixated on what is not yet here. This idea of embracing the journey, being present in the now, is something you can teach your children so that they will be happier adults. Young children already do this instinctively! That ...
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Story Time: The Princess and the Slave

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Are you an older sibling? Did you have the opportunity and pleasure of shaping the mind and well-being of another human far earlier than you should have been able to? That was me. My name is Juliana and I was a terrible sister.  As a young girl, I spent a lot of my time at home with my little sister. We were unsupervised in a normal 90's kid kind of way, I think . One of my favorite games to play was what we called, "The Princess and the Slave." The premise of the game was, I was the princess and my little sister was the slave. Pretty simple. I'd say something like, "Fetch me my slippers," or "Your Majesty is parched and is in need of some water." And little Angelina (that's my sister's name), would hop up and do all that I commanded. I had it made. She was thrilled that I would play with her and I was thrilled to be the boss. I was born bossy. But I'll never forget the day my little sister stood up to me, the princess .  It was a norma...
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Story Time: Dr. Pepper Commercial

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 Story Time: It was the early 90's. A young 7 year old Me sat on the hot bus after a long day at school. My stop was the 2nd to get off so my bus time was brief. I never knew how much of a luxury that was in bus riding terms. Every morning, the bus would pick me up from right across the street from my house at 7:30am. It would make one additional stop to pick up the Echols kids, and then off to school we'd go. The same thing when I'd head home; one stop before me, and then my sister and I would be dropped off right outside our home.  Little did I realize that some kids rode the bus for what seemed like hours. My brain never thought twice about the long bus ride for other kids.  But I can recall this one day riding home. We were stopped at the stop light outside the 7 Eleven around the corner from home. I used to frequent this 7 Eleven to indulge in their ice cold slurpees. I have this distinct memory of sitting on the bus, imagining myself in a commercial. Kids are laughi...
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Today, I'm a writer...

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 I woke up this morning and decided I would write. Not just at home in my journal or in letters to loved ones, but out loud in the wide open. For years I've been waiting for the right moment to begin, or the right opportunity to inspire me and send me whirling into a writing frenzy. I don't feel like I am in a frenzy, so to speak. However, the whirling may be an accurate assessment. But what can it hurt to start imperfectly? What can it harm to try, and maybe struggle a bit? Surely I've struggled in worse ways before. So, why not write? I hope to bring joy to others; maybe make some laugh a bit, cry a bit, and deeply ponder about things that matter much and little. 
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