Last Minute Summer Travels

Trying to get in one last trip before schools starts?  I know we've been juggling life & travels for a while now.  It feels like we've lived out of the car and out of suitcases for most of the summer...and most of the summers and holidays before this one too.  Most of the time, I'm driving 7-9 hours in a car by myself, with two screaming kids.  I've found a few ways to keep the peace and thought I'd share a few tips.  I hope it makes your last "farewell to summer" trip go smoothly as well!

Tip 1:  Plan ahead to avoid down time. 

Books are a good place to start.  Here's a few of my favorites with photos from Amazon.com.

Available at your local library, bookstore, or to find this on Amazon, click HERE.

Great for the under 12 crowd, available on Amazon HERE

These "Fun For The Family" Guides are essential for day-trippers.  Just do an Amazon search using the words, followed by your state or location you want to go to.  **My personal favorite!!

Know where you're going, if there are cool stops along the way, and what to do once you're there.  Nothing kills a trip like "down time" for my family.  "Down time" means the parents are brain dead for on-the-spot ideas which leads the kids to whining, grumbling, claims of boredom, all followed by arguing and fighting over where to go next. Down time must be prevented at all costs.

Tip 2: Pack It Yo'Self, Kid!

Your kids need their own suitcase, backpack, travel doc kit, sleeping bag, pillow and blanket.

Photos from Kidstravelzone.com

One year for Christmas, my kids each got their own suitcase, backpack, and lunch kit.  They're all matchy matchy and personalized, and my son has used his for 4 years now.  That's $$ well spent, if you ask me. The backpack & lunch kit have been used for school, but also double as "doc kits" for toiletries and medicines when we travel.  The kids are responsible for packing each of their own.  The backpacks are for toys only.  Only what fits and zips nicely inside, are allowed.  A blanket, stuffed toy, and lovey are usually tucked inside pillowcases.  Two lovies only!  Max!  It's a rule, otherwise my kids would pack 50 stuffed animals for trips.

For the suitcase, 4-5 outfits max and only 2-3 pair of pjs!  Even though we usually travel for a minimum of 7 days at time, and yes, I know kids go through 3 outfits a day....4-5, max!  Really, where do you ever travel that you can't find access to a laundromat!?  For the boys, tees & shorts.  Sundresses for the girls, less to pack.  Pack a pair of crocs for each.  They go with everything and can get wet and be washed off.  What else could you need!?

My favorite luggage for kids sites to go to are:

www.kidstravelzone.com
www.potterbarnkids.com
www.landsendkids.com

Tip 3: U Pick, I Pick - What to Put in the Backpacks

I always pick edu-ma-cation-al items, like the great products below.  I also throw in a few dry erase boards, markers, crayons, and movies to save my sanity.  The kids throw in ipods, dsi's and leapsters.  Hey, I try.  Besides, I don't mind the electronics and I've learned that instead of making them use their headphones....it's better that I swipe their headphones and blare my own ipod into my ears as loud as safely possible.  That way, 4-5 hours into the trip, I can tune out the sibling arguing going on in the back seat.  If I can't hear it, it can't drive me crazy.  It's my "tired of nagging at them" and "it's best to let kids work these things out themselves" parenting technique.  Don't judge. 

VIA

VIA

Happy travels!

Back To School Shopping- Already

Got a jump start on back to school shopping yesterday.  I don't have everything completely checked off the list yet, but found some super cute packs and supplies and just had to share.  My daughter starts kindergarten this year and needs a new backpack.  She's had a great pack since she was a toddler, but it's starting to rip and tear.  Yesterday, we found this cute pack at our local PBK store.

Image Source

If you don't have a store near you, you can also order online or through a catalog...and of course it can be personalized.  But for the sake of "stranger danger", I don't normally blast my child's name all over the backpacks.  I know, I sometimes border helicopter tendencies...and I don't care. 

We also got the matching retro lunch box.  It's huge and holds a lot of food.  Which is good, because she's always hungry. We choose the matching, no excuse me, coordinating one in "navy daisy".

Image  Source

We also went out for a pencil pouch.  I've learned over the years that pretty much anything you buy at Wal-Mart or Target is usually crap, but we gave it a shot.  No, I'm not a snobby person....I just hate spending my money on things that break, tear, and wear out in less than a week.  My son was given a leather pencil pouch in 2nd grade, and that thing is still ticking.  I'm pretty sure it's a leather bank or money pouch....and it's darn durable.  So, he still uses that, and I was looking for something similar for my daughter even though they're not the prettiest.  I had no luck in stores, but did find an aqua colored one online.  I thought it might work, but decided to keep looking.  So on to ebay I go, nothing.  Then, to good ole' etsy, and I found this....

Image Source

...and I'm swooning like a cartoon character with hearts floating out of my head.  I know it's pricey, but it's cute, and monogrammed.  Enough said.  Besides, she'll use it as a toiletry kit too...or an arts supplies case...or a polly pocket holder...and she'll have it until she's married and has to change her initials, and she only starts kindergarten once, and I'm supporting an individual artist instead of a big box chain store. 

At least, that's how I'll justify a $15 pencil pouch to my husband.

I just think it's cute, and matches, no excuse me, coordinates, with the new backpack retro lunch pack.

If you like the new digs too, you can do a little shopping for these items here:

Pottery Barn Kids, backpack and lunch pack
Home Lush Etsy Shop, multi-purpose pencil pouch

Something New

So today's post is not going to be inspirational or even very interesting. But, considering it's been over a month since my last post, I really thought I should get back up on the horse. Things have just been crazy! We finished out the last of summer, travelling a little bit more. We went up to Philadelphia to stay with friends - lots of fun! Definitely something I'll have to elaborate more on - and post some pics of. That is, when I get control of my laptop back. Currently, Mike and I are sharing one...and a car. He started some new work about 2 weeks ago and takes the laptop to work everyday. Considering I only get two days a week, 3 hours each day (while both kids are at school) to get everything I want to do "done", it's been a challenge. Not to mention the 2 weeks of 103 fevers and asthma attacks I've been nursing. Such is life, I guess. Meanwhile, Mike's photography skills are really taking off. He's been snapping away, then I edit, post, makes books, etc. Loving do that - so much fun! Again, something I'll have to post more of. I think soon he'll have his own .com up and running - really looking forward to that!
Ok - I'm back on the horse! So, I must move on....off to shower, grocery shop, clean the house, get the laundry done before practice, make a few crafty things with only 2 and 1/2 hours left to do so. Oh! And Grampie needs his computer back anyway. Did I also mention I'm living with my in-laws???