Some may call me a "control freak"...I call it "being organized"

It's truly hard to wrap my head around 24 days in foreign countries with a toddler and 6 month old. What will we do without the bouncer? All my toddlers trucks? How many toys should I bring? But really...WHAT WILL WE DO???

You'll hear me mention the Mental Load a lot - my sworn enemy. One of the things I do to combat it is to pre-plan...EVERYTHING. You already saw my pre-planned packing, but each week I pre-plan every night's dinner (and grocery shop on the weekend), I pre-plan my workouts and put them on our family calendar every Sunday, and I also pre-plan birthday parties MONTHS in advance. My logic is simple - when you have a moment of spare time, use it to plan something in your life so future time is freed up! All goes back to being able to live with intention, especially with two little ones.

My husband, family and friends will attest that most trips I plan, I plan down to the minute. It drives them CRAZY. But truly I don't think there is anything worse than traveling somewhere and not having a clue what to do or where to go. Interesting parallel at my job - I do the same thing for small quarterly leadership meetings and big annual team meetings. In the corporate world, time is money. Thus, planning time wisely saves money.

Basically, every day we are traveling I have listed out something to do. Many days have set reservations (PSA - Europe is cracking down on tourism and requires advance reservations basically every major sightseeing location), but many days have suggestions only. Traveling with two kids, I know I will have to bake in some down time.

Florence - Neither Brennan nor I have been to Florence before though we've both been to Italy. We are excited and grateful his parents are joining us on this leg to help us adjust to traveling for the month!

• Uffizi Gallery - in the next few days I will be researching and listing out the works of art here that are must-sees!

• Ponte Vecchio

• Playgrounds along the Arno

• Duomo

• Carousel in Piazza Della Repubblicca

• Pitti Palace

• Lunch in Boboli Gardens

• Sitter for kids (shoutout to my friend Brooke for the reco) / adults dinner at La Giostra (thanks to my neighbor Taylor for the reco!)

• Pisa & Field of Miracles

• Tenuto de Spanocchia - so excited for this little farm tour!

• Accademia (DAVID!)

• Rooftop cooking class (again, thanks Taylor!)

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - This is our "recharge" week: relaxing days at farms, picking vegetables, cooking at our VRBO and wine tastings with the kids

• La Petite Ferme - local organic seasonal vegetables and educational animal farm

• EARL La Fromagerie des Alpilles - goat cheese farm

• Local Vineyards:

  • Domain de Lagoy

  • Chateau Romanin

  • Domaine Milan

  • Domaine de Metifiot

• Joel Durand Chocolatier

Sevilla, Spain - I'm incredibly emotional about going to Sevilla as that is where I studied abroad exactly 15 years ago. This will be my first time back visiting. I truly could not have dreamed I would one day come back with my husband and two children! Oh and my parents are joining us as well :)

• Cathedral and Giralda Tower

• Real Alcazar Gardens

• Alfalfa Neighborhood

• Triana Neighborhood

• Sitter for kids / Flamenco show for adults

• Horse-drawn carriage in Plaza de Espana

• Day trip to Cordoba

• TAPAS, TAPAS Y MAS TAPAS

Now let's just hope the world remains at peace so we can enjoy our trip that I've spent HOURS (days?) planning!