HOW WE TRAVEL FOR (nearly) FREE!

     In the last 16 months, we've earned over $23,550 in free travel!

Let me tell you how...

In March 2023, I learned about Travel Hacking, applied for a recommended credit card and began putting all our spend on that one card, treating it like our debit cards and paying it off weekly so we don't accumulate debt. Between our personal expenses and our two businesses, Nick and I quickly hit the minimum spend and earned the sign-up bonus. Once we had done this with a few credit cards, we saved up enough rewards points to take our first paid-with-points trip. So we booked five nights in Clearwater, FL for July 2024!

Without Travel Hacking, we would not have been able to afford such a nice family vacation, so we were hooked and decided to keep using credit cards strategically to travel as often as possible.

Here is a breakdown of our free travel since July 2023:

5 nights with Nick and Ivy in Clearwater, FL

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

3 nights with my sister, Mary Ashley, outside of Atlanta, GA

1 night with my sister, Maggie, in Columbia, SC

1 night with my sister, Elizabeth, and our kids, in Charlotte, NC

2 nights with Nick and Ivy in Savannah, GA

2 nights with my friend, Emily, in Asheville, NC 

2 nights with same friend, Emily, in Charleston, SC

5 nights + flights in Cancun with Nick for our 16th wedding anniversary 

Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Cancun

7 nights + flights in Cancun with Nick and Ivy for Spring Break

2 nights with my friend, Emily, in Chapel Hill, NC 

3 nights + flights with my sister-in-laws in Key West 

1 night by myself in downtown Greenville, SC

3 nights + flights for family reunion in NJ

7 nights with Nick, Ivy and my parents in Panama City Beach, FL

6 nights with Ivy, my mom, 2 sisters and my nephew in Charleston, SC 

Hyatt Ziva Cancun

That's 50 FREE nights in hotels, resorts and all-inclusives in the last 12 months!

Also, many of those places, we also used points for flights and only had to cover taxes and fees from our own pockets!

Isn't that insane?

Plus, we've already booked another five nights in Cancun for our upcoming 17th wedding anniversary and seven nights to visit my cousin in London during Spring Break 2025, we have more points to spare as we try to decide what other travel we'd like to do in the near future and my credit score has increased!

Wild Dunes, Charleston, SC

If you're ready to save money, travel more and improve your credit score, I suggest you start with this personal credit card like I did. I love this one because you can transfer to Travel Partners like Hyatt and a handful of airlines.

Once you've hit the minimum spend with that personal card, I suggest you go through their business cards. This business credit card has an elevated offer right now of 120,000 rewards points!

Even if you don't own a business, you can still probably get a business card. Have you sold something on Marketplace? Count that as your business! Think of some way you've earned cash, even a side hustle, and use that to your advantage to sign up for some amazing business cards.

Finally, download the Travel Freely app to keep track of your credit cards and points earned and the Hyatt app to dream and plan how to spend your points!

This Impressions by Secrets is where Nick and I are spending our upcoming anniversary. I see that it costs around $1,000 per night and we are staying five nights for FREE!

Don't miss out on FREE travel...If you need help, send me an email at nickandemilystewart@me.com and I'll share my advice based on what I've learned about Travel Hacking since March 2023!

Key West

Why there's no such thing as "overnight success"

It’s said that it will take you 10,000 hours to become an expert in whatever it is you’re working on.  

Here’s what that looks like:

-Right under 5 years of working 40 hours per week.

-Or just about a decade of working part-time. 

-But at just one hour a day, it’s gonna take close to 30 years.

We often see people who have “made it” and forget the minutes and hours and days and weeks and months and years and decades they have put in.

It’s not really a matter of talent, but of grit. 

For over 2 decades, I've watched my sister, Mary Ashley, paint, sew, crotchet, bake, play piano and create jewelry. She's spent her fringe hours crafting and learning. Not only have I seen her improve, but I have the jewelry and artwork from her past and present that shows the visible growth she's made over the years.

Check out her table at last week's neighborhood event:

Her products are beautiful!

But she's not an "overnight success". She's put in tens of thousands of hours at this point. Which means that you can also become an expert in something you're willing to devote your fringe hours!

So, what’s something you want to achieve? Become a well-known photographer? Own a successful small business? Win an Ironman triathlon? Be a famous pianist? Write a best-seller?

What is it that you want to be really good at, maybe even the best? Are you willing, like Mary Ashley, to put in 10,000+ hours of work to get there?

The years will pass anyway...we might as well work towards our goals.

Comment below with your dream that you're willing to put in 10,000 hours to achieve.

To see and purchase from Mary Ashley, find her on Instagram @maryashleyowens and on ETSY

How to pack for 3 nights in Key West in ONLY a backpack!

As I booked our flights to Key West, I found out that I was going to be charged $60 for a carry-on! That's nuts. A personal item is allowed, though, so I decided I'd simply bring a backpack since it would be free and challenge me to pack light.

Next weekend, we have another flight that charges for carry-ons and will each be taking only a back-pack, so this was good practice to confirm it can be done!

Here's my Key West packing list:

• 2 dresses
• 2 shorts
• 1 pair yoga pants
• 2 tanks
• 1 long-sleeved shirt
• 1 sweatshirt
• 1 bra/2 sports bras
  
• 2 socks
• 4 underwear
• 2 bikinis
• 1 hat
• 1 pair birkenstocks
• 1 pair tennis shoes
  
• sunglasses
• waterbottle
• kindle
• airpods
• 1 pair pjs/cozy socks
• minimal toiletries/jewelry
• a mixture of Peppermint and Digize essential oils
• a mixture of Valor, White Angelica and other calming essential oils

All this fit in my old LLBean high school backpack and saved me from paying for luggage or carry-on! It was the perfect amount of items for eating out, shopping, paddle-boarding, boating and hanging out.

What's the lightest you've ever packed for a trip? Please share in the comments below!

I QUIT SOCIAL MEDIA

Yes, it's true. I quit social media.

If you followed me online, you may have been shocked (or wondering where I've been), but it was actually something I considered for years before I indefinitely signed out.

Since I didn't have a smart-phone until 27-years-old, I rarely used social media other than loading photos after trips. And by loading, I mean from my digital camera to my laptop to FaceBook...my, how times have changed!

But in 2013, I began selling Young Living Essential Oils and found social media to be the best way to do it! 99% of my business was done online, which, for a minimalist and traveler like myself, was a dream!

Even better once I became a mom in 2020 and wanted to stay home with my daughter, while still earning money.

However, years of being online and coming up with daily content began to wear on me and I found myself constantly googling things like "How to quit social media and still grow a business" as I tried to find a way out.

And it wasn't just that I was tired of posting, but I was becoming more and more aware of my new daughters little eyes on me, wanting to copy everything I did.

I want her to read books, play with friends, help with chores, go on walks, spend quality time with us, learn about self-care and all the little things that are building her character, moment by moment. I don't want her to think screens and social media are the goal.

But, she wants to be just like me.

So, I have to be who I want her to be.

Eventually, I woke up one morning last November with this unrelenting conviction to get off of FaceBook and Instagram and, though I fought it for a few hours, I didn't feel at peace until I followed through.

Since that day, I've increased how many books I get through a week, taken more afternoon naps, hung out more often with friends, kept up with my chores with a better attitude, tried new recipes, enjoyed vacations so much more without feeling like I need to be posting about them, spent more quality time with Nick, spent more time in Bible studies and in quiet thought, slept better at night, stopped procrastinating as much as I have done in the past and even enjoyed my time with my daughter, Ivy, so much more.

Even without social media, my business is still thriving, and I feel so much more at peace since I'm finally honoring my convictions.  I won't say I'll never get back on, but for now, you can find me here, sharing my thoughts on my blog.

Have you ever considered quitting social media? Please share in the comments below.

My Favorite Holiday Diffuser Blends

Did you know that scent is the strongest tie to memories?!

Maybe that’s why the smell of bonfires, Christmas trees, coffee and cookies transports me right back to the holidays!

Do you want to keep those holiday scents around? Here are some of my favorite combinations to throw in my diffuser lately:

Sugar Cookies:
4 drops Stress Away
4 drops Joy

Candy Canes:
4 drops Joy
4 drops Peppermint

Home Sweet Home:
4 drops Orange
4 drops Clove

Christmas Tree Lot:
2 drops Pine
2 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
2 drops Idaho Grand Fir
2 drops Cypress
2 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce

Want to keep it super extra simple?

Simply diffuse a few drops Christmas Spirit oil on its own! It smells amazing.

Holiday scents hold some of our most treasured memories!🎄

What are your favorite scents during Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Comment below👇🏻

Use my Code SHAREYL for 10% off when you order through my link HERE!

The Rules of Minimalism

I've tried many different minimalism approaches over the years. There's lots of ways to get started, so here are some of my favorites:

90/90 Rule - Donate items you haven't used in 90 days and don't plan to use it in the next 90 days.

Unsubscribe, Unfriend and Unfollow - Stop getting updates that leave you with negative feelings.

The Rule of 1 - Only keep 1 of an item, like one pair of yoga pants, one purse, one vase, etc.

Let empty space stay empty - Don't fill a space just because it's empty.

Live within your means - Create a budget, stick to it and only buy if you can literally pay cash.

1 in / 1 out - Buy a new winter coat? Donate the old one. Buy a new set of towels? Donate the old ones.

Your house is for living, not storing - If you need storage bins to organize you stuff, you have too much.

1 calendar item per day - One you have one event scheduled, consider that day full.

Get rid of unused furniture - Create empty space by keeping only useful furniture.

Don't buy decor - Use hand-me-downs and gifts for an eclectic (and free) look.

Use your cell as a phone - Turn off all notifications so the only thing you hear is a phone call.

What's another minimalism rule you've heard and enjoy sticking to? Please share!

How To Have A Minimalist Christmas This Year

Do you have a minimalist in your life and still need to find them a Christmas gift?? Here are some ideas of things that they might love, but won't add to the amount of things in their home:

1. ENTERTAINMENT: give your minimalist tickets to the movies, theatre, or a concert, vouchers for dance or cooking lessons, tickets to a baseball game or something like it.

2. GETAWAY: take your minimalist to a spa resort, camping, on a short road trip, a day at the beach, play tourist in a new city or help them cross an item off their Bucket List.

3. PAMPER: gift your minimalist a manicure, pedicure, facial, hair cut or hair treatment, massage or something that would help them relax and feel refreshed.

4. DATE: take your minimalist out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, or anything that's one-on-one and involves good food.

5. CARDS: give your minimalist a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant, iTunes, kindle books, etc.

6. SUBSCRIPTIONS: subscribe your minimalist to something like Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Netflix or a gym membership.

7. TREATS: treat your minimalist to homemade baked goods, their favorite toiletries, supplements, essential oils or make-up, flowers, fancy dark chocolates, local honey or anything that is edible or consumable.

8. SPOIL: pay for your minimalist's season tickets to a local theatre or favorite sports team, house cleaning, landscaping, home renovations.

9. UPGRADE: maybe your minimalist has everything that they need, but wouldn't mind making improvements.

10. SUPPORT: donate to your minimalist's favorite ministry or organization.

11. NEEDS: ask your minimalist what they need or want and gift them exactly that item!

If you have a minimalist in your life, it doesn't mean you can't give them gifts. Just remember that minimalists truly enjoy living simply and having less💕

PUMPKIN SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS

Preheat to 350

4 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon sugar

Whisk together and let sit for 5-10 minutes

Then, add in 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

Mix until you've got a huge ball of dough

Roll the dough out into a big rectangle. Cover top with two handfuls of brown sugar (about 1/2 cup) and then sprinkle on Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon until brown sugar is covered. At least do 1 Tablespoon of PPS and Cinnamon, but add more if you want!

Roll up, slice into about 10-12 rolls and place on baking sheet. No need to let rise, throw them in the oven now and bake for about 20-25 minutes. You might have to check the center of one to make sure it's cooked to your liking.

Now it's time to frost!

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 Tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon Vanilla (optional)

Now add in that Pumpkin Pie Spice until you're happy...I added and mixed until I got a nice mocha color. Be warned, I used so much PPS that the rolls had a kick to them (I think from all the clove). Also, don't be afraid to double or triple the frosting recipe if you like extra!

I promise these are super easy. I can whip them up in 20 minutes and by the time they've baked and are on our plates, it's only been an hour!

Try them this Saturday morning!

PS - if you're not into PPS, just use cinnamon in the rolls filling and leave it out of the frosting!

Let’s Stop Treating Men Like Children

I’ll always remember my Grandma Jackson refused to watch shows where men (specifically husbands) were portrayed as dumb.

Once she pointed that out to me, I realize how many shows do that!

It’s so disrespectful.

But it’s not just TV and movies, I’ve seen it happen, right in front of me, over and over again.

It’s so sad.

But this is what I’m sure of: Men can succeed at work, take care of their home, spend time with their family, be involved in church and cultivate meaningful relationships.

I see Nick do it well!

So, what if instead of treating men like they’re dumb, we show them we believe in them and watch them excel because of our support?

I always find that people turn out exactly how we expect them to, so let’s choose our thoughts and language wisely.

Why don’t we stop telling men how to do their jobs, rolling our eyes like they can’t care for things at home, quit calling it “babysitting” when they’re simply being a daddy, dragging them to events, setting them up on “play dates” with other men and not taking their advice?

I know, I know, it goes both ways and no one’s perfect.

But it’s got to start somewhere and treating men like men is a good place to begin.

How To Go Vegan TODAY

Going vegan wasn’t all that hard for me, but every now and then I’ll be reminded of something I used to enjoy. I know that I could eat that item again if I wanted to, but feeling good just feels so much better.

Have you been interested in going vegan but aren’t sure where to start?

Here are my tips:

1. Focus on what you can eat and don’t dwell on the few things you’re avoiding. You’re really only cutting out three things: meat, dairy and eggs. But, you can eat EVERYTHING else: all fruits, all vegetables, all nuts, all seeds, etc, leaving you with tens of thousands of options.

2. Fill up on what you enjoy. I love juiced oranges, sliced pineapple, dates and avocados covered in lemon juice and salt.

3. Be willing to experiment. I used to hate salads, but now I’ve figured out my favorite recipes and actually crave them.

4. Educate yourself. The more time I invest in learning about how food is related to health, the more I’m motivated to eat well.

5. Read labels and say no. Dairy (and other crap) is in everything and not everyone understands diet restrictions, so don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

I know it’s tempting to eat whatever is easy, whatever’s put in front of you and whatever you crave. I know. But, I promise that putting some boundaries on food will leave you feeling better in the long run.

Balance Is A LIE

As a mom, I often feel like I’m doing everything.

And nothing.

My days are consumed with putting together meals and snacks, loading and unloading the dishwasher, washing, folding and putting away laundry, running errands, vacuuming and mopping, meal planning and grocery shopping, scrubbing toilets and showers and on and on.

At the same time, my days are also consumed with trying to spend time with friends, volunteering with our church and participating in studies, working out, and spending lots of time with Ivy, reading books to her, allowing her to help me around the house, talking to her and playing with her and spending roughly 3 hours awake with her nightly because she's not a good sleeper.

It feels busy, all day, everyday.

But, I often look around, at the end of the day, and wonder what I did with all those hours.

I feel that I'm doing everything I can, and at the same time, I feel like I should be better.

Better about staying in touch with friends, better about eating healthier meals, better about deep cleaning, better about working on our small business, better about working out and losing the last bit of baby weight, better about reading my Bible, better about doing educational play with Ivy, and better about getting out to do stuff with other people.

I feel that I should do better, but to be honest, I'm mostly consumed with being a mom, wondering if this is good enough to be considered "my best".

I want there to be a balance, but I can only do so many things well at once and this is it. So, for this season, my minimalist house might be untidy and somewhat dirty, my vegan meals might be a ton of rice and beans, my reading list might be mostly kids books, my friendships might be lots playdates and my date nights might be take out and a movie we’ve seen a million times.

This is my new normal and this is a 24/7 job.

There’s no way to balance it all, so I’m focusing on what’s most important right now - Ivy - and I’ll figure the rest out along the way💕

The Cheap, Lazy Girl's Guide to Essential Oils

With all the tips, tricks and recipes all over Pinterest, using essential oils can seem overwhelming.

Let me just go ahead and confess here…I’m slightly cheap and lazy. So, if my friends want to get together and DIY, I can get onboard. Who doesn’t love girl-time? But, when left to myself, I’ll just order the products that are already made. Easy peasy.

If you’re like me, you want a healthy lifestyle, but you don’t want it to be rocket science. Am I right? So, I put together a list of suggestions to save your money and keep things simple.

Aka, “The cheap, lazy girl’s guide to essential oils”:

🌱snag Young Living bottle labels and throw them on your caps so that you can stop wasting time and quickly find the essential oil you’re searching for
🌱soak your empty bottles in epsom salt and add 1/4 cup to 1 cup salt to your baths (the epsom salt draws out the last drops of essential oils out of the bottles)
🌱clean up those same bottles, grab Young Living AromaGlide Roller Fitments and DIY your favorite roll on recipes
🌱pick up spray caps (from gotoilsupplies.com) and turn your clean, empty bottles into DIY sprays like makeup setting spray, mouth spray, stinky puppy spray, etc…
🌱remove the cap from your favorite oil, place a few toothpicks down into the bottle, put it on any surface and enjoy the scent without having to turn on your diffuser
🌱keep a pitcher of water next to your diffuser to skip walking back and forth to the sink
🌱buy multiples of your favorite oils and keep one in each room you spend time in…don’t forget your purse (again, skip the walking back and forth a million times)
🌱replace all your cleaning supplies with one product: Thieves Household Cleaner
🌱stock up on oils for cooking and baking, like Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Lemon, etc., and use them instead of the fresh stuff that often goes bad too quickly

I know living a healthier, toxin-free lifestyle can seem expensive, but just think of it as an investment in your health! It’s worth it and over time, you can find your own ways to save money and keep things simple.

Already do so? Share your tips below!

***Order your essential oils HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off!

Do you feel "off" when you travel?

Although traveling is my absolute favorite, it doesn’t always leave me feeling my best.  When I get home, it usually takes me a few days to a week to feel back to normal.

Do you struggle with the same issue?  Wanting to get out of town, but finding you come back more tired than when you left?

Here are some of my favorite travel hacks...try them out on your next trip and see if they help you as much as they help me.

-Drink tons of water, so much that you might need to stop at every rest area.  I’m failing here currently. Yes, it’s annoying, but it will help keep your skin clear, your digestion working normally and give you energy.

-When it’s time to eat, choose the best option available to you.  If it’s a smoothie, perfect!  If it’s a veggie pizza, that’s good too!  And make sure you bring lots of snacks for the times when you can’t find a decent place to eat or the munchies hit you when you can’t make a food stop.

-Use your essential oils, everywhere, all the time.  Diffuse En-R-Gee to stay awake while driving, swipe on StressAway when nerves are high, take a whiff of AromaEase when the motion gets to you and massage Valor into the soles of your feet when winding down for the night.

-Download a ton of your favorite Podcasts.  When you’ve been on the road for a while, you’re tired and you’ve run out of conversation, you’ll be glad to fall back on these.

-Wear comfortable clothes, bring a sweater in case you get chilly and wear slip on shoes (if you like to relax without shoes in the car) so that you’re not taking your shoes off and putting them on at every rest stop.  Double points if you bring a pillow and blanket for naps 😉

 Comment below with your favorite travel hacks!

***Order your essential oils HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off :)

My Go-To Packing List

With all the traveling we've done, I've found it helpful to simply keep a packing list handy all the time so that when an adventure strikes, I can throw everything together without too much thought.

Save this list for your next trip to make things easier on you!

Packing List

Toiletries:

toothbrush

toothpaste

shampoo

dry shampoo

deodorant

comb

soap

body lotion

sunscreen

spf makeup

blush

mascara

lipbalm

ibuprofen

DiGize essential oil (for stomach upset)

Thieves essential oil (for staying well)

White Angelica essential oil (for keeping calm)

Peace&Calming essential oil (for good sleep)

Valor essential oil (for good sleep)

Misc:

waterbottle

sunglasses

iPhone/charger

AirPods

Kindle/charger

Diffuser/charger

***Pack these items for only up to 1 week and do laundry if your trip lasts longer than that:

1-7 pairs underwear

1-3 bras

1-7 socks

1-7 tops

1-3 bottoms

1-3 dresses

1-2 pjs and warm sleep socks

1-3 exercise outfits

Outerwear and Accesories:

birks (warm weather)

boots (cold weather)

tennis shoes

bathing suits, coverup and sunhat (warm weather)

jacket, scarf and beanie (cold weather)

Am I missing anything that's on your packing list? If so, please share!

***Order your essential oils HERE and use code SHAREYL for 10% off!

Do you feel different when you spend time outside?

I remember when my sister and I watched “My Octopus Teacher” on Netflix.

If you haven’t watched it, Craig was a burned out film-maker who began free-diving daily. He comes across an octopus and decides to return to her everyday.

Though the documentary was surprisingly touching, what struck me the most was Craig’s commitment and determination even through discomfort. The water was cold, there was danger around him, he was usually alone, sometimes he even went diving at night.

He never missed a day.

I can’t think of anything that I’m willing to commit to every single day, especially if it’s uncomfortable. And it caused me to realize that my attitude keeps me from the real world around me.

Most of my days are spent indoors. I’ve got heating and air. The TV is often playing or, if not, music on my iPhone. Everything is cushy and clean and safe.

But what if I committed to doing outside activities daily? No matter the temperature. The noises of nature. Dirt, bugs, sun, rain, wind. 

Craig talked about how the cold water was hard at first, but then he began to crave it. His time in the ocean calmed and centered him and even went as far as to improve his human relationships. I believe that it was because he became more focused on what’s real.

If I’m not careful, I stay inside all the time. It’s too hot outside. It’s too cold outside. It’s raining. I hate the bugs. It’s boring. I don’t have a plug and my phone is dying. Etc. But, what if I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and committed to daily outside activities?

And the ironic thing is…Ivy is much happier when we are outside🥰