Hello!
I’m writing to you from the passenger seat of the car, en route to the airport.
The kids are listening to our favorite children’s story podcast, Circle Round (you’ve got to cue this up).
We’re heading to Scotland and Italy, for reunions on both sides of my family (YUP)!!!
Many of you know I’m first-generation American, descended from nomads or refugees as far back as we can trace. (I wrote about this in a recent post on being “poly-geographical” and Italian meatballs).
So crossing the pond to go back “home” feels… a lot of things!
Traveling is my biggest passion. It’s in my blood.
But traveling with kids is a whole different beast.
Before kids, planning a trip involved buying a plane ticket. Sometimes one-way.
Now, it entails buying plane tickets for every member of the family ($$$ stress), mapping out rental cars, trains, hotel rooms, and packing for three.
I don’t know how my mother made it seem effortless with FOUR kids.
But, we are extremely privileged to have family welcome and host us in various places, and maintaining a direct line of connection with my known father-line and mother-line is quite possibly the most important family value to me.
Being raised in a multi-cultural, bi-lingual home - with the opportunity to travel abroad and visit family - was a huge part of my identity growing up, and influenced my entire life.
Above all, it gave me a deep appreciation for food and the way it brings people together.
I discovered from an early age that food is THE universal language.
Leading up to this trip, meals have looked more like snacks as I scrambled to pack, so I’m especially excited to gather around the table with my immediate family and relatives to share slow, locally-inspired meals and conversation over the next two and a half weeks.
(You can follow our travels and meals on Substack Notes and Instagram!)
In the meantime, whether you’re traveling, preparing to travel, returning from travel or simply craving some easy, end-of-summer snacks that can double as meals, I wanted to leave you with...
My *10 Yummy, Healthy Snack Hacks* - illustrated by yours truly!
Print and put it on the fridge so that everyone can be empowered to make food when they’re hungry.
Many of these “recipes” can be made by your littles - there are options for every age!
And if you missed the August Meal Plan, you’ve got to check it out. It’s the best one yet.
If you’re not a paid subscriber, you can grab it and ALL past meal plans and recipes for $5.95/mo (that’s ONE matcha latte folks!) to support my drudgery in the kitchen. (Gotcha! You know I LOVE it!)
I LOVE YOU ALL!
Give yourself big hugs.
You’re doing GREAT. (Which is what I tell myself when my kids have chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.)
♡ Emma
Love these ideas! Perfect for when you need something simple.