Miami Mini Moon Plans

We fly to Miami tonight and I don't think I could be any more excited than I am.

And I'm really proud of us because we finished packing and we're not completely winging our plans (which is what I expect of myself).  We sat down and created a tentative itinerary with some wiggle room if we want to change something... or if the weather is uncooperative.

*I've updated the tentative list to reflect what we actually did.
To see how everything turned out, take a look here:
Miami Adventures Part I
Miami Adventures Part II 
Miami Adventures Part III

Tonight:
Arrive 10:30
Settle in and take a walk for snacks
Drink champagne in the room!

Thursday:
Breakfast at the hotel
Beach/Pool Relaxation
Naptime
Dinner @Joe's Stone Crabs
Drinks/Slushies @Wet Willie's
Walk back to the hotel via boardwalk

Friday:
Breakfast at the hotel
Bayside Marketplace
Walk
Lunch @Kush for some Gator*
Ice Pop @ Morelia Gourmet Paletas
Walk to the Wynwood Walls
Beer Tasting @Boxelder Craft Beer Market- I really want to try the South Beach Fat Kid** which is a cider with blueberry, coconut, glazed donuts, slim pickens Mead and Cider from Florida with a 6.2% alcoholic content and I know Baros will want to try some of the IPAs. 
Uber to Little Havana
Have a snack @Azucar Ice Cream Company for some artisanal ice cream and sorbet.
Back to the hotel
Dinner @ Yardbird
Midnight Swim

Saturday:
Breakfast with my oldest friend and her family
Light lunch at the hotel bar
Beach time!!!  No cameras or technology allowed for a fully disconnected afternoon
Naptime
Dinner @Katsuya for a Miami twist on Japanese
Ice Cream @Häagen-Dazs
Walk back to the hotel

Sunday:
The Beach at Sunrise for pictures
Breakfast at the hotel
Pool Relaxation
Finish Packing
Airport at 11:30
Flight at 1:30
Home by 6ish


To see how everything turned out, read here:

Miami Adventures Part I
Miami Adventures Part II 
Part III coming up soon

*I really wanted to try something alligator and maybe frog legs, but it was incredibly hard to find restaurants with those dishes. I don't know if it was my google search info or if there just aren't that many restaurants serving gator.  A bunch of times I searched, google would lead me to amazing looking restaurants like Yardbird... but there was no gator on the menu... We went to Yardbird and Kush!

**Sadly, they ran out of the cider I wanted to try BUT we tried a strawberry cider instead!

How to Pack Efficiently:14 Tips

I actually like packing...
but I know a lot of people really hate it.
You either start packing weeks in advance or the night before in an epic craze of panic thinking "What do I bring?" 
And then, typically, you over pack.
It's standard and so easy to do.

The beginnings of packing in the Kaynak home

The first times I traveled alone, I definitely over packed.  I would pack the night before leaving, regardless of how long the trip was (even the times I studied abroad and left for a year) and by the end of the night (usually early morning at that point), I would have a stuffed-to-the-brim-suitcase with no room for adjustments.  And I would have no idea what was actually in the suitcase.
None.
It was crazy.  I would get wherever I was going lugging this heavy case and then use hardly anything in it. I wouldn't even have room for souvenirs or anything to bring home because of it.

I don't remember what the turning point was, but a while back, I realized that there was a better way to pack.  I read articles, watched YouTube videos, and slowly revamped my packing style for the better.

I'm not going to lie, I'm still notorious for packing the night before, but even so I'm a much more efficient packer.  I don't carry heavy bags filled to capacity any longer. I usually only bring a small rolling carry on and a small to mid-sized back pack. I don't fill either of them so I can buy something if the mood hits.  I even help my friends pack and reorganize when we're traveling together.

So how do you do it?  How do you pack more efficiently?

1. Be organized:  Create a list of what you think you need. 
2. Be realistic: Narrow down your list.  If you're going somewhere for 7 days, you don't need 20 outfits. Even if you're going to have special evenings out, you realistically only need maybe "10 outfits".  If you're going somewhere for a weekend, you need even less.  Even if you're going on a long trip, remember, you can always do laundry if need be. 
3. Get the Right Bag(s): Get a smaller bag than you think you need.  I tend to only travel with a

   

   My travelling back since 2006

   carry on since I hate checking my bag and then waiting for it in baggage claim so if you only travel with a carry on, get one with multiple compartments.  You don't need the largest one available because you want to make sure that it fits in the overhead compartment . If you're going to be on a small plane, there is a likelihood that your big carry-on will not fit and you will have to check it even if you don't want to (this happened to my friend when we were traveling to Guatemala).  I've been traveling with the same carry on for over 11 years now and it's the perfect size for any plane.  I think I've been forced to check it one time during all of my travels. If you're traveling with checked luggage, make sure to check the size and weight allowance for airlines.  And get the smaller bag!  You will be far less likely to go overweight with a smaller bag. 
4. Pack Items that are Complementary: Rather than packing single use items to create 10 individual outfits, pack things that work together. For a weekend, pack 1 pair of shorts or a skirt and then 2 shirts that can be worn with it.  If you're bringing several dresses, pack a simple cardigan or jacket that can be worn with all of them. Pack colors that will complement each other. That neon yellow dress that specifically only matches one pair of shoes you own and nothing else? Skip it.  The goal is to pack things that can be easily worn in different combinations. 
5. Pack Transition Items:  If you know you'll be going out to dinner at nice places, pack a few things that will transition well from Day to Night.  You don't have to pack a whole separate wardrobe for the evening. Have an item you can use to dress everything up. 
6. Think About What You'll be Doing on Your Trip: Are you going to be a tourist walking everywhere?  Bring comfy breathable clothing and comfortable shoes. DO NOT bring NEW shoes. You will regret trying to break in rock solid shoes while exploring a new place.  Your feet will hate you.  Are you going to spend your vacation at a tropical resort doing nothing but drinking margaritas? Bring 1 or 2 swimsuits (3 or 4 if you'll be there for more than 5 days and you want to mix it up). You probably don't need your heaviest hiking boots.  Going to a wedding? Don't bring 4 options. Narrow it down ahead of time. Will you actually work out? We all plan it, but realistically are you going to run or train. If yes, pack for it. If not, leave your extra gear at home and take a long walk instead. 
7. Bring what You Love: Bring the clothes and shoes that you know you love.  Don't bring the shirt that's been sitting in the back of your closet for the last 5 years. If you haven't worn it, you probably won't on vacation either. This is with certain exceptions, of course. If you're going to a wedding, and there's a dress you've had for a long time but haven't worn because you've been waiting for the right occasion... Pack it! If you're ambivalent about it, find something else to pack. 
8. Learn to layer: Going somewhere cold?  Pack thin layers of light-knit sweaters and thermals. Don't pack bulky sweaters and jackets. Instead, wear layers with your heaviest sweater, shoes and jacket on the plane.  You'll stay warm in the air and keep your bag just a little lighter. 
9. Check with the Hotel: Check what amenities the hotel you're staying at offers.  Don't pack towels as most hotels have towels.  If you regularly blow dry your hair, check to see if you're hotel has a blow dryer in each room, so you won't have to pack yours. 
10. Go Light on Toiletries: I don't pack toiletries most of the time since most hotels offer shampoo, conditioner and body wash. You can request extra if you start running low and I recently discovered that many hotels will carry toothpaste and even toothbrushes which you can request at the front desk.  If they don't, you can always buy most toiletries cheaply at a local pharmacy.  If travelling abroad, do check the currency to make sure it makes sense to buy any extras.  
11. Go Light on Accessories: Don't bring a ton of accessories.  Bring the things you know you'll use.  If you're missing something, you can always get a souvenir. Don't bring an umbrella. Instead, if you're worried about rain, pack a light weight poncho or rain jacket that can be squished into a tight space.  
12. Roll your clothes: It's more space efficient to roll your clothes into neat logs. Folding is OK,

    

    so much more neat with rolling!!

    but rolling is better.  Do NOT just throw everything in there!!  Each article of clothing takes up more space when tossed in carelessly. Anything that might wrinkle like suits and dressier attire should be folded at the top of your suitcase to avoid wrinkles. 
13. Organize by size and weight: Shoes and your heaviest items should go into your bag first. Bonus if you pack socks inside your shoes since they then take up less space and also helps delicate shoes hold their shape.  (Super Bonus: You can  throw a dryer sheet in with your socks inside your shoes, so your socks and other clothing don't take on the odor of shoes.)
14. Pack Your Personal Item: Your personal item can hold your technology and some more of your clothing. It's really efficient because you add to your packing space and if for some reason your carry on has to be checked at the gate, you'll still have everything that you need at your fingertips.  I usually travel with a backpack and then roll my purse (if I need one for the trip) into it as well. 

So, those are my tips for easier packing on your next trip.  Does anyone know any other tricks for packing efficiently?  I'd love to hear them!  

For our mini moon, I packed us into this little suitcase and 2 backpacks, and I'm pretty sure we're still bringing too much!!

Adventures in the Neighborhood

I live in a great neighborhood with wonderful views of NYC and whenever Baros and I can, we go for walks to explore.  We love to see the skyline and feel the breeze.  And we love to take goofy pictures, too.

My Beau and I 

Cherry blossoms and NYC

Love this view

Moonlight and NYC

Looking at the view

That glow on water and my baby

Rainbows over NYC

Lucky to see that view

Reflections at sunset

Me and my blue shoes

NYC beauty

NYC and the park view near our house

Panorama view

I love these walks.

Surprise! We're going to Miami!

Baros and I legally got married 6 months ago (almost to the T) and we had the big wedding with family and friends less than a month ago. So with all the craziness of planning a wedding and working like crazy to pay for life, we never even planned on going on a honey moon.

We decided instead to do a couple of mini moons that way we'd get to escape at different times this year for some periodic relaxation . I love the idea of a long vacation, but the last couple of times I took off for a longer holiday I came back more tired than when I left. We thought that a few mini moons might give us some more frequent relax time.  Plus, we'd get to see more of the U.S.A this way.  Each mini moon could be spent in a different city in a different state and since one of our Bucket list goals is to see all of the 50 states, we thought this would be a great way to start the challenge.  I've been to 20 states and Baros has been to 10 states, but we've only been to two of those states jointly (NY and NJ) so we have a lot of exploration to do together!  <3  We can start with a few mini moons this year and then next year we can do some global travel as well.

However, we didn't even plan our first mini moon because we've been too busy. Even now, several weeks after the wedding, we haven't stopped moving.  Work has been pretty busy for me and it's skyrocketed for Baros (which also happened after our court wedding too... sooo maybe we should just keep getting married for working purposes!).

That being said, we are incredibly lucky and grateful because Baros' best friend and his girlfriend have decided to organize and send us on our first mini moon.  I think they know that left to our devices we might never go anywhere at least not for a good long time!  Silly workaholics!

So Surprise!  We're going on a mini moon in two weeks!

We're leaving on the 30th once I get done with work and we come back in the late afternoon on June 2nd.

So where are they sending us?

At some point I'm going to get a map and pin our trips too... But for now, Thank you shutterstock!!

They're sending us somewhere in Miami, but the rest of the details are still a surprise.
We can't wait!!!
We definitely need a break after the last few crazy weeks.

I can't wait to plan and plot our activities... even if a lot of those activities will involve laying on a beach or by the pool!
I'm excited for relaxation, delicious food and drink and definitely something adventurous.

I would love to go to the everglades and ride an airboat to see some amazing wildlife.  Or go parasailing!  And then try some crazy local specialties like frog legs and gator!

Other than that I'm open for suggestions!

Our Couple's Bucket List...

Baros and I have been married for 6 months now and have been living together for more than a year already.  But we haven't had much opportunity to travel together yet. Since we're constantly working to get out of debt (yayyy, expensive college!!) it's been hard to plan anything major especially since any extra money went towards our bigger wedding last month.

But now that we can, we're going to get organized and go on some Mini-Moons to places we've never been. And we'll have some amazing adventures too.

So we've come up with a Couple's Bucket List of things we'd like to do over the years.  It's a pretty epic list that I imagine we'll add to even though I don't know if we'll finish everything due to the various injuries both of us have incurred over the years. But it should be a lot of fun trying to check things off.  I think that this list will grow and change with us.

It's a long list so I organized it into different categories to find everything to check it off more easily.

Lodging

1. Stay in a ritzy hotel
2. Stay in a hotel with a Jacuzzi
3. Stay at a quaint bed and breakfast
4. Stay in an AirBnB
5. Stay in a tree-house
6. Stay in a bungalow (bonus if it's over water)
7. Stay in a tent/Go Camping/Glamping
8. Stay in an Ice Hotel
9. Stay in an Igloo

A gorgeous treehouse*

Transportation 

1. Fly together
2. Fly first class
3. Ride in a helicopter
4. Go on a roadtrip
5. Take a Boatride (first time in Boston)
6. Take a cruise
7. Ride bikes together
8. Ride a tandem bike
9. Rollerblade together
10. Go horseback riding
11. Go sailing

First Class Dreaming*

Relaxation and Cultural Activities

1. Sleep under the stars 
2. Eat on a balcony overlooking a beautiful view
3. Get a couple's massage
4. Spend the day at a spa
5. Relax in a natural hot spring
6. Visit a butterfly sanctuary
7. Watch a sunrise together
8. Watch a sunset together
9. Watch a sunrise and a sunset in the same day 
10. Go apple picking 
11. Make fresh pies
12. Go berry picking and eat fresh berries in the sun
13. Have a picnic
14. Get "snowed in" at a cabin
15. Cuddle by a fire
16. Visit a vineyard/distillery
17. Take a pottery class
18. Take a cooking class together
19. Visit a cheesy tourist trap
20. Act like tourists in NYC
21. Perform in Central Park
22. Go to Comicon
23. Go to a zoo together (first time in Philadelphia)
24. Go to an aquarium (first time in Boston)
25. Go to a museum (first time in Boston: The Science Museum)
26. Go to an art gallery (first time in Providence)
27. Go to a county fair
28. Kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel
29. Play mini golf together
30. Go to the Renaissance Fair in costume
31. Ride camels at Ren Fair
32. Visit a National Park
33. Go to a tropical paradise
34. Go whale watching
35. Enjoy the view from the top of a lighthouse
36. Rock out at a music festival
37. Go to a major league baseball game
38. Go to a major basketball game
39. Go to a major hockey game

New England Whale watching* ... we could go anywhere... but New England is so close

Adventures

1. Go to an offbeat destination
2. Swim with wildlife
3. Go scuba diving
4. Go snorkeling
5. Paddle a rowboat
6. Go kayaking/canoeing
7. Go Paddle-boarding
8. Go parasailing
9. Go bungee jumping
10. Go skydiving
11. Go white water rafting
12. Go surfing
13. See a coral reef
14. Go air boating across gator infested swamp
15. Do the polar bear plunge (aka: I'll go in, he'll take pictures)
16. Swim in the Atlantic ocean together
17. Swim in the Pacific ocean together
18. Ride a jet-ski
19. Go skinny dipping
20. Visit an epic waterfall
21. Go hiking
22. Cliff Jump holding hands
23. Hang glide 
24. Go Zip lining
25. Walk on a suspension bridge
26. Trek up an active volcano
27. Explore a cave 
28. See/walk on a glacier
29. Go dog sledding
30. Go snowshoeing
31. Go snowtubing
32. Go ice skating
33. Go sledding
34. Go to an amusement park together
35. Go to a Disney Park
36. Go on a big roller coaster together (The Cyclone at Coney Island) 
37. Do a color run or other 5k physical challenge together
38. Visit all 50 states  (6/50)

*These are not my images.  I found them on google and have linked to the websites where they are from.  As Baros and I complete our bucket list, I hope to replace those images with our own!! 

To New Adventures

Welcome to my Adventure blog where I'll write about the travel, food and general adventures that my hubby and I go on.  So let me introduce myself.

My name is Alissa but you can call me Ali.

I'm an Italian American Jersey girl and I just re-married my love, Barbaros (call him Baros) last month. We got married in court this past November and then had the big white wedding down in one of the Monmouth County parks.  We became #happilyeverKaynak (because I'm cheesy like that).

The past six months have been a crazy whirlwind of planning and hectic multi-tasking while working a full time job.  We had a short engagement since we liked the idea of a spring wedding.  Plus, we were trying to stick to a budget, so we figured in just six months, it was less likely the cost would spiral.  We stayed within reason of our budget and it was wonderful. Happiness!

That being said, my DIY tendencies and laid back nature did get the best of me.  March and April, right until the day-of, were spent finishing wonderful, yet time consuming, DIY projects.

And now that it's all over and our beautiful day has passed by, I realize I miss the activity of planning and being creative.  I miss the creative outlet.

About 4 years ago, maybe 5 now, when I lived in Italy, I used to have a food blog (which is still up but inactive for 3 years mangiables.blogspot.com) .  It was great, I got to talk about all the food that I experienced that year abroad and all the food I had been making prior to that.

However, I moved back to the states and I lost my motivation.

That, and I got a full time job with a ridiculous schedule that kept me insanely busy. I was a teacher at an ESL school with a split schedule and a crazy amount of grading to deal with.

I stopped blogging. I was too tired to do much of anything creative.

Eventually I found some other temporary creative ideas.  Two years ago, I started making and selling Crowns and Wreaths, but it's an expensive habit to maintain when a good portion of your creations go to yourself and to family.  I'm still making things but now at direct request and, well, for our wedding.

It's time to get back to writing.

I'm very excited to start this blog in conjunction with a travel journal on paper.
I've always been a big fan of traveling, of exploring new places, foods and cultures. And my husband is the same.

We've decided to start with easy trips.  We're not going on a big Honey moon, so instead we're going to try to do a few Mini Moons in the USA.  In another year or so, we'll travel internationally to Turkey to see his family.  I've never met his mom and dad in person, so I'm so excited to meet them and to finally experience Turkish culture first hand.  We tried to go last year, but unfortunately our tickets coincided with Embassy problems for US citizens so I suddenly couldn't get a visa and our plans went up in smoke.



So this year, we'll start our stateside adventures on a budget while we save for bigger travel and life in  general.  And I'll document it all here.  I'm excited to write and share pictures about our crazy adventurous lives. I even got a new instax mini 8 camera to play with.

And on paper, I'll capture notes as we travel and slowly decorate it to my heart's content.

Yesterday, I even started the first page.  It felt so nice to start cutting paper and making messes.

And today, here I am, actually starting this blog.  I feel good about this. I feel motivated and happy to share.

To New Adventures!!!