It’s a TRIPLE POST TUESDAY, friends!
Not only am I sharing NORTHERN IRELAND PART TWO, but today, you can also catch my very FESTIVE JULY 4TH POST with Walmart plus THE BEST SIDE DISH FOR YOUR HOLIDAY !
Settle in, grab an iced coffee and make sure you read NORTHERN IRELAND PART ONE yesterday before you begin.
On DAY TWO, we woke up…
…got ready for the day (I LOVE MY SWEATER!) and…
…headed out for a walking tour of Belfast.
We did so many really fantastic tours on this vacation. Northern Ireland is steeped in history, and this tour took us around Belfast while explaining in great detail the conflict, the damage done to the city and the people, the aftermath, the residual affects of the 20+ year conflict in a very non-biased way (we will have another tour later on that ended up being very one-sided which was a very interesting perspective as well). This guide works fulltime today as a mediator between both sides (this is STILL a very alive issue for this country), so he did a really great job at explaining the different perspectives.
Walking and listening with their little ear packs 🙂 .
Do you see that it’s leaning?
I love me a river town.
It was cold, we got a little wet, but I am so happy we did this tour. To visit Northern Ireland is to learn about it’s history.
I mean, how cute is this little street?!
After our tour, we did our own private…
…whiskey tour. FYI: Our children are now really well versed in the Northern Ireland conflict AND Irish whiskey 😉 .
I love my girls!!!
I love this guy too 🙂 .
Apparently, it was a walk around, learn about the history of Belfast and take a lot of pictures day.
A photo at dinner. I talked about Kensington’s camera on Saturday’s blog post!
We walked so many miles this day and ended our night with a DELICIOUS dinner at Coppi.
We were tired, full and oh so happy to be there!
That wraps up PART TWO of our trip to Northern Ireland!
Don’t forget, you can also catch my very FESTIVE JULY 4TH POST with Walmart plus THE BEST SIDE DISH FOR YOUR HOLIDAY today too!
From Europe to Mexico, Asia, Africa, Australia, Hawaii, Walt Disney World, Universal and of course, cruises too, my travel agency would love to connect with you today about your next vacation. Contact us today!
I hope you have the best Tuesday, friends! I will see you back here tomorrow! xx
Margaret Mazoki says
Hi, just wondering. If you have any new craft ideas for 9 year olds. My grandchildren will be coming and they love crafting,thx
Mix and Match Mama says
My girls are OBSESSED with making bead bracelets! You can buy the kits everywhere (Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Amazon). My littles will sit for hours making bead jewelry.
Elspeth says
What a fun and educational day two! Love it!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Rebecca says
Shay- I have loved coming to your blog now for nearly a decade… you are always a fun and bright way to include in my morning reading! 🙂 Thank you for being such a positive light here in this internet space! The history teacher in me is loving reading all about your trip and the history you are learning! It sounds like such an interesting trip and an amazing walking tour! How fascinating to learn from someone who is still involved in the mediation process that continues to this day!! 🙂 Thank you again for sharing your life with us each day!! PS- no pressure to answer for privacy reasons- just genuinely curious… I know you mentioned Smith is working two jobs this summer- are those online so he can be traveling and being with y’all? I am also a HS Personal Finance teacher and as I share all different job avenues I love hearing how everyone has so many different ways to work these days – especially online! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU for such a sweet comment. You truly have no idea how much your encouraging and kind words mean to me. Smith has two jobs on the island and when he applied and was hired for both, they knew about his schedule this summer. They’re “14 year old boy” jobs, so they come with responsibility but certainly (and clearly) flexibility too. He’s truly excited to get back to them!!
Rebecca says
Thank YOU Shay! You have been a true blessing in my life!! And that is awesome! I love hearing that for Smith!! Have a beautiful day!!
Erika Slaughter says
I need ALL the details on what you’re eating! WHY can I not figure that dish out?
Lee Ann Vicary says
me too — it looks yummy and it’s not 8:30AM yet
Patty Anderson says
Agreed, Erika…that dish looks amazing!
Kristen says
Ha, I am trying to figure out that dish too.. a risotto of some sort w/ nuts on top!!????
Mix and Match Mama says
Yay! You’re right! It was a spicy sausage risotto with pistachios (if I’m remembering correctly?) on top.
Erin says
How do you handle hotel rooms with a large family and mixed ages? For example, what did you do on this trip?
Mix and Match Mama says
We had side by side hotel rooms at this first hotel, and it typically shakes out boys and girls.
Amy S. says
Looks like so much fun! Can you share the shoes you are wearing? I am on the hunt for cute, comfy and versatile shoes for an upcoming trip and those look so cute with all of your outfits.
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re my Running Golden Goose Sneakers. They are SO COMFY!
Stephanie says
Looks like a great time!!
As someone who is VERY jealous of Kensington and Andrew, I am dying to know if we will get a recap or any pictures from The Era’s Tour?!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! They said I can post a few pics. They had such a great time!
Cat33 says
I love Ireland! So happy you had fun in Belfast! Question – how is your new piercing healing? I think you are going to inspire me to get one! And any ideas for #12 and #13?
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh this one was BY FAR the easiest. Because of where it’s located, I cannot see it, but I’m going to assume it’s doing great because there is zero pain or discomfort.
Emily says
So sad to see that Ashby and Madeley didn’t go to the concert with Kensington! I know you took them to Disney, but they both have been there before! Taylor’s concert was a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Mix and Match Mama says
But it’s not sad if they didn’t want to go. It would have been more sad to not give them the experience THEY wanted. They wanted to go to Disney World together. They had been asking for about a year. They were SO excited and could care less about Smith or Kensington’s gifts. They were grateful and had the very best time. What’s sad is assuming I don’t know my kids’ emotions, needs, wants, likes or dislikes. I’m not fabulous in life at most things (in fact, I’m pretty mediocre at most things), but geez, I love my kids. I’m really good at loving on my specific kids. What a 15 year old girl gets for Christmas and what an 11 and 9 year old girl gets are often different.
Lisa D says
Such a great trip for your teens to learn about conflict AND reconciliation.
Mix and Match Mama says
YES!! I could not agree more.
Caroline says
Great recap! Yesterday you answered “one ingredient that always ruins a recipe” with “mayonnaise 🤢”. Yet, you have a lot of recipes that include mayo. You also say they are delicious and love them like your fish tacos and deviled eggs. So how does it ruin a recipe to you if you eat the food and love it?
Mix and Match Mama says
I am so weird. I understand the value of mayo in some recipes and over the years, have incorporated it more, but just thinking about the jar of mayo makes me gag. I don’t keep it in the house because after I open a jar and use it, I have to toss it because the jar gags me. Typing this gags me. If you put mayo on my burger, I will not eat it. If it’s on my sandwich, no way. If it’s in something where other flavors really mask it (like deviled eggs where you taste alllll the other things), I can deal with it. So weird.