United We Stanley Collage Kit - To Italy and Back

Andddd we just couldn’t wait another second. 🤩 We are toooo excited for this. Y’ALL! Our first United We Stanley Collage Kit is now LIVE! 30 high quality photographs that capture some of the highlights from our Italian Adventure! Whether you use these images as wallpaper on your phone, wall decor for your favorite room, lively backgrounds for flat lays or anything else you can think of, we hope that they will bring some fun and creativity into your space! We know that these times have been challenging as we've all been stuck inside and endured a lot of heartache, so we wanted to share some of our most cherished memories from Italy with y'all to remind you to find the light in the darkness. Thanks for tagging along!

-Britt & Will

Purchase Our "To Italy And Back" Collage Kit on Etsy!

How We Redeemed Our Honeymoon on Our Anniversary in Krk Island, Croatia

Remember that time we left for our honeymoon to Croatia the day after our wedding, were denied boarding on our layover in Rome, got rerouted by the airline who lost all of our bags, had to spend our honeymoon fund on new clothes and spent hours on the phone trying to figure out what the heck was going on? Well, we couldn't forget it. As gorgeous as Dubrovnik was, when we would look back at our photos from our honeymoon, we would be like “Wait, did it actually look like that in person?!” Our brains were so cloudy from stress that we couldn’t even appreciate the beauty and celebrate like we imagined we would on our honeymoon.

For our anniversary, we wanted to redeem our Croatian experience, so we decided to celebrate one year of marriage in a country that deserves happy memories. Now, we can finally look back on our chaotic chapter of long distance, wedding planning, honeymooning, and moving to Italy and laugh it off. We are beyond grateful that we had the opportunity to go back and rewrite this story for ourselves. When we think of Croatia and our honeymoon, we’ll think of this trip instead. Although it's been a while since we took that trip, we wanted to share our itinerary with y'all since we loved the island so much in case you were thinking about taking a trip to Croatia this year after all of the travel restrictions are lifted.

Our Destination of Choice - Krk Island

After our experience in Dubrovnik, we decided we wanted something a little more relaxing and adventurous for this trip. Dubrovnik was beautiful, but busy. We were looking for somewhere that helped us truly feel like we were "getting away." We came across Krk Island on Pinterest after hours of searching for a destination that sounded like we were looking for and one that we could get to by car.

Although Krk Island seems to be an undiscovered hidden gem of Croatia, it is actually the country's largest island! Located in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Bay, just 30 km from the city of Rijeka, Krk Island has been called ”the golden island”island since ancient days and is loved and admired for it's mild Mediterranean climate, favorable geographical position and a wealth of diverse natural and cultural beauty. Because of its rich cultural heritage, Krk is even called the cradle of Croatian culture. Fun Fact: In the early 20th century, it was also called the sixth continent. Despite it's size, Krk Island has a small-town, local feel that will have you feeling welcomed, taken care of, and relaxed. It was a perfect place for our "Honeymoon Redemption Trip" and we are thankful that God led us there.

Cities of Krk Island:

Town Krk: “Capital” of the Island located on southwest coast of the island, population of about 6,000. Among the towns on the island, the City of Krk (Krk Town) is considered the centre. The status has been there from the beginnings of life on the island, and it is justified with an urbanised look and town features.

Malinska: Popular tourist town on the north-western part of the island, population of about 3,000 people. Malinska is one of the most popular tourist centers on the island of Krk, especially for young people, thanks to its beaches, hotels and numerous private apartments.

Njivice: Small tourist settlement on the north-western part of the Island, population of about 1,000 inhabitants. Known and appreciated for its organization, beautiful beaches and excellent restaurants.Njivice is one of the favorite destinations for young people, it has good hotels and a popular campsite.

Omisalj: Also situated on the north-western part of the Island, population of about 1.800 inhabitants. Situated at 85 metres above sea level, it dominates the almost three kilometre-long bay. This kind of privilege was particularly interesting even for its prehistoric inhabitants, as Omišalj has existed for more that 10 thousand years.

Vrbnik: Situated on the east side of the Island towards the main land, this town is a spectacular view arriving from the Sea, population about 1,200 people. Vrbnik is the city of the Glagolitic, Francopan princes, sacred artifacts, cellars and fortifications. Famous for it's whiite wine, it is also an example of urbanization integrated in an inseparable way with unspoiled nature.

Punat: Situated opposite to Krk in the Krk bay, population of about 2,000. Punat is a well known nautical centre with large marina and is the heart of the island for cultivation of olives.

Baska: Properly the most well know touristic destination on the Island, situated at the south end and has a population of about 1,800 people. This cultural and historical center with its old stone houses and narrow streets, has been a tourist destination since the 19th century, and has developed into a popular resort. It is known for its inscribed stone monument from 1100, for its many surrounding beaches, and its long tradition in tourism.

Stara Baška (Old Baska): Situated in the southwestern part of the island, there are only 112 inhabitants. Locals are mainly engaged in tourism, fishing, sheep farming and beekeeping which is favored by an abundance of aromatic Mediterranean herbs. The sea is very clean and the beaches are rocky, enclosed by high rocks, with backdrops covered with white stones and sand.

Friday: Krk Island

415 – Leave for Krk Island

815 – Arrive at Suzy Tours

Tourist Agency "Suzy-tours" Ulica Slavka Nikolića 51 - Krk GPS coordinates: 45.031072, 14.568596 Opening hours: 8.00 - 19.00 h Tel: +385 91 5748669

830 -1000: Get Settled in Bungalow with Breakfast & Mimosas

1000 - 1300: Explore Krk Island by Bike, Beers at the Local Bar

1300 - 1500: Lunch & Shower

1500 - 1700: Take a Walk Downtown with the Pup

1700 - 1830: Get Ready & Make Homemade Dinner

1830 - Night End: Cocktails in the Secret Garden of Volsonis

Our AirBnb for our Croatian Vacation was located in the town of Muraj, right outside of downtown Krk. Before leaving Vicenza, we went grocery shopping and packed plenty of champagne so that we wouldn't have to worry about spending time and money in restaurants for every meal. We also had our pup with us, so timing our meals with letting her out was a great way for us to make the most of our days. We highly recommend grocery shopping if you're staying in an AirBnb and want to spend more time relaxing and adventuring together than sitting in restaurants. If you're a foodie who experiences culture through your taste buds, you can always pick one or two meals to cook at home and splurge on a highly recommended restaurant for your meal that you choose to eat out!

After getting checked in, we kicked off the day by getting unpacked and settled while playing music, sipping on mimosas and making breakfast. We wanted to spend Friday relaxing and soaking in the atmosphere of Krk Island. Our favorite trips are always the ones where we really take time to explore and experience the city like the locals do. After breakfast, we grabbed our bikes and took an off-road path through the olive groves to get downtown. The trails turned out to be more challenging than expected, but we were able to snag some amazing photos along the way and have some funny memories from this unexpected physical challenge!

Once we made it downtown, we navigated the streets and got familiar with the landmarks. We briefly visited the castle and enjoyed watching some street performers who were doing archery and juggling sticks. We stopped by a local brewery and enjoyed some post-bike ride beers that we felt were definitely earned. The weather was perfect to spend the day out and about and we are thankful we just let the town guide us through the day! Our itinerary was a loose structure, but we honestly didn't pay much attention to it!

After enjoying our beers, we headed back to the AirBnb to grab lunch and let our pup out. We showered, made a quick bite to eat and then decided to drive back downtown and explore a little more of the afternoon scene. We hung out for a while and let our Moonie enjoy the excitement of city life before heading back to make dinner and get ready for the evening.

For our first night on Krk Island, we decided to seek out the "Secret Garden" of Volsonis in the old part of Krk town. This underground Speak-Easy was hidden within a gorgeous garden terrace and embedded among ancient Roman ruins. Volsonis is a great find for those who love well-made specialty cocktails and an authentic, private type of atmosphere. It was actually pouring down rain while we were there which actually made for an even more moody vibe which was really memorable. We highly recommend visiting this bar if you find yourself on Krk Island!

Saturday: Beach Day in Old Baska & Exploring Vrbnik

800 - 1000: Breakfast and a Stroll

1000 -1300: Stara Baska (Old Baska)

1300 - 1500: Lunch

1500 - 1700: Explore Vrbnik with Moonie

1700 - 1800: Drop Moonie Off & Freshen Up

1800 - Night End: Nada Jazz Night in Vrbnik

On Saturday, we woke up to find another gorgeous day and started our morning off with homemade breakfast and a quick stroll with Moonie. After getting beach-ready and packing a bag of snacks and beverages, we headed to the beaches of Old Baska, which were recommended to us by our Uber driver the night before. We drove ourselves and found street parking on the side of the road right above the beaches. It's easy to spot where the locals were parking and walking down. These unique, rocky beaches with panoramic views sure did not disappoint and we really enjoyed the local-feel. It was clear that this wasn't a touristy spot which made for a relaxing, more private experience!

After spending the day catching some sun, we headed back to make some lunch and take our pup on another adventure. We had heard great things about the town of Vrbnik, so we decided to take a family trip over to explore another gem of Krk Island. Vrbnik, is a medieval town set atop a limestone outcrop half-surrounded by the Adriatic Sea. You can feel the history and humble way of life as you walk down the narrow streets. As we trekked from one end of the city to the other, we stumbled upon a rooftop restaurant and jazz bar that had the most incredible view! We fell in love with the energy of the guests and the staff and we just knew we had to come back for the evening. After tiring Moonie out once again, we decided to take her back to our AirBnb, made a quick dinner and immediately called an Uber to take us right back to Vrbnik! We spent the evening watching the sunset, sipping wine and swooning over live Jazz music overlooking the horizon. It was one of those nights that bring tears of gratitude to your eyes, making it one we will never forget!

Sunday: Plitvice National Park

On the last day of our trip, we took a trip inland to Plitvice Lakes National Park which is the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia. This park is a Nature Lovers dream, making it a hot spot for tourism in the busy months. The lakes, waterfalls and thick, green foliage were absolutely stunning and unforgettable and we are grateful to have seen such a unique piece of Croatia.

What You Need To Know:

- The park is open to visitors year round, with longer opening hours during summer (usually 7am to 8pm).

- There’s an entrance fee which acts as a contribution to the Park’s upkeep and protection. You can choose from one-day or two-day tickets valid for two consecutive days beginning from the date of sale. You can check out their prices here!

- National park entrance tickets are available online via their ticketing website. (Advance purchase is recommended.)

- The entrance ticket price includes transport with the electric boat and panorama train, within the framework of the selected sightseeing program, visitor insurance, and the value added tax.

- There are two entrances to the Park – Entrance 1 is for the lower lakes and Entrance 2 for the higher lakes. Entrance 2 (and therefore some of the park) is normally closed in winter (November to April).

- There is (sadly) no swimming allowed in the water

- Although we loved seeing the irreplaceable sights of the Plitvice Lakes. We do have to admit that this adventure was a little more touristy than we expected. Many of the photographs online made this park seem quiet and serene, but during our visit we were both a bit overwhelmed by the number of people and lack of privacy throughout the park. However, if you are prepared for the crowds, you'll be in heaven! We were just expecting a lot less traffic. Moonie, however didn't mind one bit!

All in all, our "Honeymoon Redemption Trip" to Croatia for our Anniversary was a huge success! I mean, how blessed are we that we got to RE-DO our honeymoon in the same gorgeous country a year later?! This trip will forever be special to us for so many reasons. Little did we know, this would be our last vacation together before finding out that we are expecting. It would also be one of our last before Williams unexpected deployment and the COVID-19 crisis. Looking back, that makes these memories even more sentimental and we are beyond thankful that we have these photos that we will cherish forever.

You Were Given This Mountain to Show Others it Can Be Moved

Sometimes the "see you laters" feel familiar. Quite effortless. Almost normal. For us, our relationship has always been a pattern of long distance, time differences and countdowns, so the ebb and flow of this military life is not new to us by any means. But other times, those moments feel unbearable. Gut wrenching. Almost crippling. Last night, was one of those times that felt heavier than usual.

With tear-filled eyes, we stood at the door holding onto each other, trying to find the words to reassure the other that everything was going to be okay and the time will pass quickly. We both know that it will be because we've done this countless times before, so this time apart will just be another part of our story like all of the other times. But no matter how hard we tried, it still ached. No matter how many times we go through the motions of this unique lifestyle, it still sucks.

I watched William drive away with a lump in my throat, wiping tears from my face. I looked down at Moonie who was also pressing her nose against the frosty glass, watching his truck pull off. She looked up at me and blinked as if she knew this was one of those times he wasn't coming right back. I decided to surrender and let the meltdown run it's course as I dropped to my knees right there on the cold tile floor in front of the door and I let the tears pour over. Moonie inched closer to me and I hugged her tightly as she sat absolutely still and stoic, embracing my uncontrollable sobs.

We always fear sounding ungrateful when we share our struggles. We know that this time overseas is a once in a lifetime experience. But, living in Italy as a military family is definitely A LOT different than vacationing in Italy as a tourist. We've recently been comparing it to living next door to Disney World but being locked out and watching all of the visitors enjoy their magical time. With busy training schedules, the language barriers and the overall inconveniences that come along with having a fast paced life in a culture with absolutely 0 urgency, all on top of constantly planning our long/expensive trips back to the states twice a year to see our daughter during William's time off, we have more days that make us want to scream/pull our hair out than we’d like to admit.

So, if you've ever wondered how Military Families could have a care in the world living overseas, just know it's not all sunshine and rainbows when you are spending most of your time away from each other. That's why it's hard to say goodbye even when it's only for a few weeks. That's why when you ask us how we're doing, we take a deep breath before we respond. That’s why we appreciate every little moment where God helps us forget how dark it can get over here. But despite the challenges, we lace up our boots, we press on, we pray harder, we make things work and we cling to the other families and each other until we do get lucky enough to celebrate the moments that remind us that we are surrounded by historical cities, famous works of art, vineyards, mountains, castles and unforgettable scenery. Because we understand that God created us for this special kind of love and it's our responsibility to show others that these mountains CAN be moved.

Photography by Gabby Jockers Photography