6 Tips for Road Tripping with Kids

If you following me on facebook or instagram you may know that we are on an epic road trip right now.  About a week and a half ago, we left our home in Southern California and drove our vintage trailer, Riley, all the way to Alaska. Our kids were troopers as we travelled over 3700 miles in 6 1/2 days.  They are not strangers to traveling and long road trips, but this was the longest trip we have ever taken.  I don't think I am an expert, but I do think I have a lot of experience traveling with kids, so I thought I'd share a few tips that help make Road Tripping with kids a little easier.

1. Snacks are #1! Being prepared with healthy choices for snacking and meal times, is sure to save you both time and money. We bought an electric cooler that plugs into the cigarette lighter for this trip. I knew I didn't want to have to mess with buying ice everyday, so this seemed like a good investment. Because we were traveling with our little trailer, we committed to cooking most of our meals.  And actually we only ate out a couple of times. But, having fruit, veggies, and cheese for snacking was really helpful. We kept Snack Catchers full of healthy treats and munchies and leak proof sippy cups full for Olivia at all times.  And by using great products like these from Munchkin, we didn't have to worry about unwanted messes and spills.  

2. Break in the middle of the day. We like to drive early in the morning and then again late into the night.  This way our kids can sleep the first couple of hours before we stop for breakfast. Then we plan a good long stop in the middle of the day so that we can stretch our legs and enjoy the sites.  We planned lunch breaks around lakes and points of interest.  Then when we'd drive late, they could fall asleep in the car and we could get a few more hours of the road behind us. Leaving at 4:30am and driving till midnight, did leave Lonnie and I with very few hours of sleep. But, coffee was our friend and we took turns driving so that the other person could rest.  

3. Be Flexible! If there is a gorgeous lake, a museum, historical site, wildlife or just an awesome donut shop - take the time to stop and play for 30 mins.  You are guaranteed to have happier travelers.  Remember the joy is in the journey. Yes, you do want to reach your destination, but some of the best memories are made along the way.

4. Keep them entertained! Ok, I know the temptation is to show movie after movie, to keep them happy and quiet. But, you can limit screen time and still have happy travelers. We are huge podcast junkies, and there are some great ones out there specifically for kids. Check out Storynory, The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd, and Ted Talks Family + Kids.  Music can be a great distraction as well as classic car games like I Spy. And definitely a favorite movie when tiny travelers are feeling weary is totally fine. My kids definitely watched a few and it's totally ok.  

5. Stay Organized! This is completely for my sanity. But, if the car is a disaster, it's uncomfortable and can feel even more crowded then it is. We love the i-Hide carseat organizer from Munchkin.  It keeps the iPad tucked away, and keeps toys, sippy cups and snacks in arms reach. If everything has it's place, you feel a little more in control.

6. Bring that one special thing.  For Olivia it is her bunny and her Owl Nightlight. Be sure to pack that one thing that your kiddo has to have in order to sleep.  We don't pack any tools when we travel and camp.  Kids can be very entertained by just rocks and sticks.  But, when it comes to bed time, softies and security blankies are a must.  These items can also help you child sleep in their carseat when you are driving both early in the morning or late at night.  

This post is sponsored by Munchkin.  Thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible. 

Mad About Plaid

Well, Happy Thanksgiving friends.  We are in Idaho enjoying some time with Lon's family.  I've definitely eaten way too much, so tomorrow I'm staring the day with a long walk.  It's fun to visit cooler weather and have an excuse to wear plaid and layer up.  I told you I'm loving plaid lately.  So I had to find plaid for the kids. 

I've recently been so aware of how quickly my kids are growing.  Denali is all of a sudden taller then me, Dylan is quickly out growing everything he owns and Olivia just isn't my baby any more.  I know I won't regret taking too many pictures of my kids.  So, for now I'm freezing this moment in time.  In the hustle and bustle of life and all the things that are piling on my plate, I don't want to wish these years away. I want to enjoy every minute I have with these kiddos of mine. 

I found these shirts for Denali and Olivia and this sweater for Dylan layered with a plaid shirt (similar to this one).

Thanks P.S. from Aeropostle for providing paid shirts for my kiddos this Winter. 

3 Tips (from a teacher) to Help Your Kids Have a Successful School Year

I'm taking a break from my usual diy/design posts to share something that is close to my heart - my kiddos and their education. I know everyone is Back-to-School now and in the full swing of it.  I've shared before, but I was a Elementary School teacher and I have a BA in Elementary Education. And, so sad for my kids, but my husband is also a teacher. He's the nerdy High School Biology teacher. We're pretty passionate about our kid's education and their success in school. We were and are public school teachers and our kids go to their local public schools. Schools, districts and teachers can be far from perfect, but no matter where your kids attend school, parents can help facilitate success for them. So, today I'm partnering with the California Milk Processor Board (Got Milk?) to bring you 3 tips that we use to help ensure our kids get the most out of their school experience.

1. Fuel the mind and body!

This probably seems pretty obvious but, good nutrition and strong, healthy bodies is where it starts. My kid's definitely eat junk from time to time but, I really try to make sure they eat a balanced diet daily. Breakfast is important. Parents have to make sure that their kids are arriving at school fueled for the day. For us, a big glass of Milk is #1 in the morning.  From time to time, Denali (who is almost 13) will skip breakfast or chose something sugary. She will admit that she crashes before lunch can come when she makes those decisions. I try to keep a few healthy options on hand, so they feel like they can have a choice. And I cook a homemade meal and we eat dinner as a family most days.

To encourage my kids to drink more milk, sometimes fun paper straws and cute milk bottles do the trick. Making it feel more like a treat is important.

2. School - it's your kid's job!

Kid's need to know that they have responsibility in life and SCHOOL is their JOB! It's not our job as parents, it's theirs.  We are their to support and encourage them, but the buck stops with them.  Since our kids were in kindergarten, we've (mostly my husband) have talked to them about future careers and college. They know that they will be going to college (a good college) and choices they make now, WILL affect their future. Denali and Dylan, my older 2, already have colleges picked out and degrees they want to pursue. Will their choices change, have they changed many times? YES, but college is not an option. Just like adults, kids need to have a purpose and goals.

3. Be the teacher's pet!

No, I really mean it. A little butterying up goes a long way. I'm telling you this from a teacher's perspective. Your child's classroom experience can be a whole lot better if you support and even give your child's teacher treats. Teachers are under paid and face a lot of struggles these days. A coffee gift card or movie tickets for their day off will show you care. And if you have time to take it a step further, be the mom or dad that volunteers. Any little effort will be noticed and as a result, your child will be noticed! In my opinion a happy teacher is going to be a better teacher. This may sound like bribery, but really I'm just suggesting practical ways to support your child's teacher. It really doesn't have to be much.

I hope you find my tips helpful. Do you have some great ideas or advice for helping assist success in school? I'd love to know what works for you. I hope your kids are having a fantastic school year. Be sure to check out Got Milk? for more about the health benefits of Milk.  The site has some GREAT recipes for kiddos and grown ups (like Lavender London Fog Lattes and Cinnamon Rose Lattes).

If you aren't a Milk believer yet, here's the facts folks:

Milk is a source of protein: There are 8 grams of protein in every 8 oz glass.
Milk has 9 essential nutrients:
Calcium
Protein
Potassium
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Vitamin A
Riboflavin
Niacin

And milk can help grow healthy hair, strong nails, strong bones and it prevents risks of cavities, promoting strong teeth.

Got Milk?

This post is sponsored by The California Milk Processor Board (Got Milk?). All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. 

Mini Mint Kitchen

You may have noticed by now, but I LOVE the color green.  I blame it on my red hair, and the fact that my mom always dressed me in green. And I am really drawn to that Jadeite Green shade. It's kind of called mint right now. But, when we first got married, I inherited a couple jadeite tea cups from my husband's family. And being the good Martha Stewart fan that I was, my love for jadeite grew more and more. So, I decided that I'd paint Olivia's little play kitchen minty green.

Well, actually it was Denali's kitchen that my dad made for her first birthday (that was almost 11 years ago). My two oldest kids played and played with this kitchen.  Finally about 4 years ago I moved it to the garage, because I thought they had out grown it. And now Olivia gets her turn with it.  But, it needed a fresh coat of paint after all those years.

I pinned this mint kitchen a while ago.  I can't justify painting my cabinets now, while they are still so new. But, let's pretend I had a second home or a cabin in the woods, believe me, I would definitely have a mint kitchen. So, for now we are going to just go with Olivia's mini version.

source

Here's what it looked like before.

It was cute, back in the day, but I love this new color combo of green and gold (like my geometric pillow).

I'm kind of a thrower and don't like to keep a lot of stuff. But, I'm so glad I kept this, even though I didn't know I was going to have a 3rd baby.  We really haven't bought any new dishes or play food.  All of Denali's stuff really held up.  Olivia is having so much fun with this kitchen.  This kitchen has probably been all three of my kids favorite toy during their toddler and preschool years.

Don't you think this new paint job really updates this little kitchen?  And are you with me on how fabulous that real mint kitchen is?  Would you be brave enough to do something that trendy in you kitchen?

And this little cheeky face was just too cute not to share.

Back to School

Well, it's that time again. My kiddos headed back to school this morning. It's always exciting and a little bit of an adjustment after a summer of fun. But, I know they will do great.

Both my husband and I are teachers (well I'm not currently), but learning is really important to us. Lonnie is definitely a life-long learner. He always has a couple books that he's reading and they are not all fiction. He's a facts and figures kind of guy. And I feel kind of dead if I'm not pushing myself to learn something new. Learning keeps me feeling young and alive. I'm more of a doer. I want to learn a new skill or technique versus just obtaining information and facts. This blog has been a huge learning curve for me. I can do things on my computer and camera that I never thought I would know how to do. And a lot of my learning definitely happens through trial and error.

I few years ago I took a community college course in Adobe Illustrator to help with my blogging skills. I am far from an expert, and would love to learn more, but I try to play with AI as often as possible so that I don't forget what I learned and hopefully a learn something new. I also have a Bamboo drawing tablet that I got for Christmas the year before last. I don't use it as much as I'd like to, so I decided to take it out this weekend and "play". I thought I'd work on some hand lettering, and this is the end result. It's a little reminder for my kids as they head back to school and frankly for myself. I'm all about this peachy coral color right now (and my sister in law, who faithfully prints of my stuff, loves this color). And I'd be more then happy to share this simple little printable with you.  So, if you'd like a copy of this 8x10" print, just click here for the download.

Here's a couple instagrams from this morning. I have some really great kids you guys. This year I felt strongly that I was supposed to pray two things over them.  1. Confidence and 2. Compassion: I want them to be confident in who they are and I want them to be compassionate and see other's needs.

Neon Pink Party

Here it is!  You may want to grab your sunglasses, it's bright.

The inspiration fabric made it's appearance as the table cloth on the dessert table.  I had so much fun setting up and decorating for this party.  My grey dining room walls looked so great with the neon pink.   I used the neon surveyor's tape to make a backdrop of streamers.  I also printed a large number 11 on neon poster board.  It made a great photo backdrop for my beautiful birthday girl.    

The dessert table featured a few of Deanli's favorites.  For the birthday cake, I made a New York style cheesecake and topped with my blackberry curd and fresh whipped cream.  I also made this neon Happy Birthday bunting cake topper using paper clay.  I'll share a step by step of how to do this later this week.  

And I made Concord Grape Marshmallows.  Lately I'm been making a lot of marshmallows, they are really easy to make and a new party favorite. 

The super colorful squares are Trix Treats (like Rice Crispy treats, but made with Trix).  They are really pretty yummy.  My personal favorite was the Chocoholic Push Pops.  My mom got me a set of these push pops and a cook book to go with them for my birthday this summer.  These are great to make for parties because they can be made a couple days ahead and then just stored in the fridge.   I made a little stand for them by drilling holes in a piece of wood and then just painting it white.  I little washi tape around the push pops kept them in the color palette.  

Paper straws got a quick neon touch with little neon pink washi tape flag.  And glass milk bottles got a length of mason's string (that I used on the invites)  tied around the neck for a little pop of color.

I kept the goody bags simple.  White paper bag got a simple neon circle attached to the front.

We had fun roller skating and we were totally hungry for dessert when we got back.  It was a great party!

Harry Potter, Hermione, and Hedwig Halloween Costumes

My kids are huge Harry Potter fans.  Last year Dylan read all the books in about 4 months (he was in 3rd grade).  Denali started reading them shortly after and has re-read all of them a couple times.  These were great costumes for their ages.  I don't know how much longer they will let me dress them matching.  But, this was a fun year and they got lots of compliments while trick or treating last night.

A big thanks to my mother in law for knitting the fantastic scarves.  The kids love them and plan on wearing them when it's cold. 

I made Dylan's Harry Potter cloak.  It took way longer then I wanted it to, but I'm really quite proud of how in turned out.  I ended up fully lining it.  I made sure Dylan knew that this was not a costume, this is intended for REAL wizardry.  

Denali's costume was a lot easier.  We decided to go with the school uniform look.  We ended up not having to buy much.  She wore her own skirt, my sweater and shoes, and we bought her some grey knee socks. She looks so cute and kind of grown up :(.

For all my Harry Potter fanatic friends, I'll share close ups of the wands very soon, with a how-to.  I'm so pleased with the wands and they were fun to make.

I considered making Olivia's Owl costume, because technically Hedwig is a white owl, but then I found this cute costume at Old Navy for about $20.  It was worth every penny and saved me soooo much time.  And she is so stinkin adorable in it.

Olivia really started to take off on her walking this last weekend.  So, she really wanted to walk to every house, no stroller thank you very much mom.  She's got a pretty cute little waddle.  I don't think we'll have our scooter too much longer.

This shot is one of my faves, Olivia really wasn't into the whole picture taking scene at all.  We are totally torturing her as you can see.  

Hope your Halloween was as much fun as ours.

You can see more of our Halloween costumes by clicking the links below.

Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia

Cowgirl and Indian

Metamorphosis - Butterfly, Chrysalis, and Caterpillar

Wizard of Oz - Dorothy and Scarecrow 

Shark and Scuba Diver