The Simplification Operation

 Though I've never liked trinkets and useless ornaments with no purpose, I am by no means a natural minimalist. Simplifying my life involved a lot of change for me, both physically and emotionally.

 As I sit here typing I'm about to embark on my third move since arriving in this country. Finally we have found something a little more long term. I'm moving out of my current place because it is a vacation rental and already full of someone else's (the owner's) stuff. I can't deal with it. Seriously, it's one thing to have your own clutter but when it's someone else's !?! Being here has made me more aware of what junk we just don't need. This place has boxes of crayons, spices, empty pop bottles, old magazines, I could go on... I guess the owner keeps them so they can use them when they visit, to each their own. I can't take it anymore.

  Being surrounded by so much stuff is overwhelming. I can't concentrate, I just wander around in circles, paralyzed by clutter. Clutter has an effect not only on our physical state but our mental one.

  There are some that will read this and think they are already minimalists. If you have a second closet full of clothes or a cabinet full of fancy items you only use once a year, or maybe never. You are not a minimalist. Organized, maybe. Minimalist, no.

  I'm not judging, I've had that box of crayons. I've had a packed closet. I'm telling you, it's better over here on the other side. I'm able to pack all of my belongings in a few hours, I can find what I want when I need it and it feels great! Planning for this move got me thinking about the simplification process and I thought I would share some of the ideas that helped me.

  First, give yourself time. When I started this process I wanted to get everything done quickly, it took longer than I'd hoped. The more you get rid of, the more you will find. There's a good chance you've got more stuff than you think.

  Make a list. Some choose to go room by room, others prefer to go by category. Whatever you decide, write it down and go through items methodically. You might decide to go through the junk drawer (you know you've got one), or a storage closet. Do the first thing on the list and move on to the next one. This will help to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

  Take a half hour each day or a few hours once a week, whatever works best for your schedule.Just do something regularly.

  When removing items, start with what you no longer use. It might still be useful but if you haven't taken it out of a drawer, or closet in a long time it's no longer useful to you. Think about donating it, or giving it to someone who might appreciate it.

  Next move on to items that you don't love. Maybe it's a nice dress but it makes you feel uncomfortable. Get rid of it, only keep items that you love and make you feel great!

  Now there's the stuff that cost a lot of money, it's still good, and it would be a waste to get rid of it. Sell it. If you can't sell it and you're still not using it, keeping it isn't saving you anything. It was still a waste of money because you are not using it! Get rid of it, we all make mistakes. Move on.

 Here's where it starts to get harder. Those items you still like but know very well you rarely use. What worked for me was putting it in a bag and out of sight. If I didn't miss it or find myself needing it, I let it go.

  And then there's the keepsakes. There are some things you will not want to let go of and that's o.k. When making your decision about what to keep try to decide if it is something that you will be willing to put on display or in a box. If the answer is that the keepsake will be kept in a box, take a picture of it and let it go. An item in a box isn't making a difference in your life, it's sitting in a box getting old.

  What to keep? Keep what you love. That dress that looks perfect every time. The jeans that work with every outfit, and that blender that always makes the perfect smoothie!

  By keeping only what you love, you appreciate what you have, enjoy using it, and feel good every time you get dressed.

Less stuff, more peace.

You Will Have To Pay The Tax: How to get through the airport in Managua with minimal hassle.

  How can I put this? Pack as little as possible. Then pack less.

 I've heard tales of people going through the Managua airport with ease, however, that has not been my experience. If you have anything slightly out of the ordinary someone will find some way to give you the run around. My family and I have been hauled over to what I like to call, 'The Tax Room' for a spear fishing gun, a cat, and a drone. There are spear fishing tours here in Nicaragua but never mind that. Inspectors eyes light up on sight of such an instrument, here it comes..."you don't have proper documents, you will have to pay the tax." Upon bringing in my cat with all the proper documentation, which I paid for and checked thoroughly, I was asked to come into the back room and told that I would "Need to pay the tax". They also wanted to take my original documents because they couldn't make a copy due to their copy machine being out of ink. They didn't get these docs. but it took a fair amount of time, convincing, and aggravation to finally get an, "O.K. Leigh, you can go." On our last trip in my husband tried to bring in a Go Pro drone. He had searched for information on whether or not he could bring one into Nicaragua but information was hard to find and apparently he didn't look hard enough because, guess what? Drones that fly over 30 m. are illegal in Nicaragua. Again the inspectors eyes lit up. Seriously, they get pleasure out of this, I'm sure. "You cannot bring this into the country, it is illegal. We will hold it for you until you leave" Our other option was to have it shipped back at the cost of around $400 uninsured. If they lose it, which is a 50/50 chance, you have paid someone to steal your item. We decided  my husband would fly back to the U.S. that day and ship it back to Canada from there. There is a daily holding fee at the airport for confiscated items and no guarantees it will be there when you return. Consequently, I was lectured at the hotel where I was staying about being more prepared and not booking last minute, since I needed extra nights while my husband was off to Florida. Gong show, it was a gong show. Note: calling them liars won't help your case, in the instance that you too are a mom who's had enough of peoples' crap in the middle of the night.

  Electronics are something that they love to tax so bring as little as possible, you should be ok with your cell phone but if you don't need your lap top or portable speaker, leave it at home. Pack only what you need for clothing and enjoy the beautiful beaches and rich culture, it's worth it. They tried to tax me on my camera but I think my face told them to lay off this time, and I was able to pass.

For travel photography prints go to society6.com/wanderlandstudios

Masaya, Nicaragua

 I've been to Masaya twice now but I need to go again. It's busy, dusty, crowded and hot but it keeps me wanting more.
 The streets are colourful with a lot of activity. I don't normally like busy places, I like a more relaxed vibe but there's a feeling and a character about Masaya that I love.

Our reason for heading to Masaya was to visit the Artisan market. There are two markets that I know of, the 'old market' which looks like the new market to me, caters to tourists. It is held inside a cool looking building that looks like an old fort. The inside of the market has hand made items neatly displayed and easily accessible. You will pay for this convenience though, prices are higher, you may barter and get a better deal but not great. 

Streets bustling with horses, bicycles, and taxis. There's a unique old world mixed with modern world feel to Masaya. It's fairly surreal walking around this place. There's a smell of dust and the tropics. The sound of horses pulling carts clicking by at the same time as the sound of a motorcycle whizzing past so close you feel the wind blow your hair. There's an artistry to Masaya and I think that is my favourite part.  

Streets were packed, it was hard to get a clear picture of the market.

Inside the 'old' artisan market

If you see this street, you're almost at the Mercado Municipal. 

You will have to walk a few blocks further from the old market to get to the mercado municipal.

Workers at mercado municipal.

Inside mercado municipal is crowded and hot. Bring water and travel light. I didn't even get to see the whole market, I felt like a mouse maneuvering through a maze. If you get lost just look for the light, follow the light...

If you're not a shopper you may not like this place but I love treasure hunting and I love hand made goods. If you like a bargain and enjoy the treasure hunt, this is the place for you.

We also stopped in at Kaffe Cafe Bistro which is worthy of mention. The food was good, portions generous and character was rich. The price was reasonable as well, prices ranged between about 100 to 300 cordobas give or take (about $4 to $12 u.s.)

Super cool powder room at Kaffe Cafe Bistro.

What To Pack For A Tropical Destination

 When I was planning to travel to Nicaragua, I could not find a good list of suggestions for what to pack so now that I'm here I thought I would share what I've found to be useful.

 Rubber shoes: The weather is hot and humid, rubber stands up to the climate. Flip Flops will be your best friend, they are open, comfy, and light. If you plan to go hiking you may need some heftier shoes. That said, there are some brands that seem to do better than others.

 For every day wear I like Havianas brand flip flops. I brought a couple of different brands down and my Havianas have lasted the best. Thankfully, Havianas can be found at a few shops down here for around $20 U.S.

 Crocs. Yep, Crocs. I don't personally own a pair but if you need a closed toed or different style of shoe other than a flip flop these are the brand most people prefer. If you are going to be walking down dusty or muddy back roads for any length of time Crocs are easy to clean and comfortable. The shoe version of a rubber boot, practical and less hot than a full on boot. I hear they are making some prettier styles now... If you plan to wear Crocs this is something you will definitely want to purchase before arriving. Prices of Crocs are 2 or 3 times higher here than what we would find them for in Canada or U.S.

 For moderate hiking, I've had Keeners brand shoes recommended to me. I haven't done this kind of hike yet so only sharing what others have said. Serious hikers will want to bring the hot and sweaty shoes designed for the job, built with adequate support.

 Cotton, Linen, and Rayon. For clothing I prefer loose fitting, light items that allow for a breeze to flow through.
 My favourite dresses are from the brand Pink Stitch. 100 % rayon, light and breezy. I frequently wear dresses casually as they are easy, and yes, breezy. Perfect for layering over a swimsuit.

 Light cotton shorts and loose fitting cotton or rayon tanks. If you can find Gauzy cotton tops, even better. I like Roxy brand cotton shorts and beach pants, and I've found some nice rayon pants at stores like American Eagle and Garage. I looked around at several different stores and online before I left Canada, these kind of pants were hard to find and they were only available seasonally at the stores where I did find them.

 I like a good Kimono as well. They work great to throw over a swimsuit and also to cover your arms from the sun without making you hot.

 Baggy beach pants for cooler days, I never wear jeans and anything tight feels stifling. The locals wear jeans though, so if you're used to the heat maybe you will want to bring a pair.

 Swimwear:As mentioned previously, I brought some swimsuits with me but they were not exactly practical for the waves in the ocean. If you are going to be in the surf you will want a sturdy swimsuit with ties so that you are able to tighten it up so it stays on. There are couple of brands available locally. Both Dkoko and Mgsurfline make swimsuits built for surfing.

 A double walled stainless steel water bottle. I haven't been able to find them in Nicaragua and I wish I would have brought one. They are invaluable when dealing with a tropical climate when hydration is important. Nothing else will keep your water cold for any length of time. Swell and HydroFlask are two brands that I know of.

 An umbrella for when it rains, and when it's hot.

 Back up power for your devices.

 A light hat with air holes for ventilation.

 A backpack, you will likely be walking a lot.

 A couple of pairs of sunglasses.

I'm not getting paid to recommend these brands, this is just information I would have found helpful when I was preparing to come down to Central America.

 If you can think of anything I've missed please feel free to share your recommendations.

Eyes Wide Open

 I've talked about some of the challenges since we got here so I wanted to share some of the good stuff. The benefits far out weigh the challenges for us and that's why we're here!
 - We get to have fresh fruit smoothies every morning if we want. Fresh from the trees sometimes and certainly more fresh than we were able to get in Canada. Yumm!

 - Our food is not modified so we can pick the seeds out of a watermelon and grow our own if we so desire.

 - We don't have to stay indoors most of the year because the weather is frigid. We've never liked the cold, and I hate dressing up in a huge parka trying to walk around like the stay puffed marshmallow man.

 - Warm wind, warm rain, warm weather, palm trees, the beach.

 - Passionfruit margaritas.

 - When the power goes out, my kids run outside to see how bright the stars look in the night sky. They've seen worlds underwater, swam in the Caribbean sea and a volcanic lake.

 - We haven't been to a mall in months.

 - Everything is new, like a child exploring for the first time, eyes wide open. Some things are scary some amazing!

 - The people. Yes, there have been some that try to take advantage but by far the majority of people that I've met have had a generous and kind spirit. I've had my neighbour bring me food and even a big bunch of bananas from the tree. So many, I couldn't eat them all! I love watching kids get inventive, playing baseball with a stick and an almond (that takes skill) or making music with nothing but their hands and feet.They are having a lot of fun and they are doing it without taking selfies that look like product placement ads.

 - Life here is about living. If you have the chance to step outside the commercialized world, for a holiday, to work abroad, or to start over I encourage you to do it! The bugs are bigger but I've lived outside of town in Saskatchewan and there are some big and biting things there too. Don't believe the hype.

- We have some cool shops run by people that have put their heart into their business. Nicaraguan made surf bikinis, you will need a sturdy bikini that is made to handle the waves, I learned this when I skinned my knees on the sand trying to stay low and get my suit back on after being tossed by a wave!

- Family run restaurants with fresh cooked food where people talk to each other...without the use of a cell phone. Kanye probably hasn't eaten here but I promise the food's still good.

- This place has a way of opening our eyes to what's real and what's real is beautiful!

Exploring volcanic rocks at low tide