A guide to traveling with children from one mother to another.

This is #sponsored post brought to you by Kohl's. All opinions stated are that of my own.

Growing up as a kid, I remember associating summer with two things: no school and the beach. Every year around mid-July we would make the big family trip in our gold caravan to Hilton Head Island. My mom was always a big planner so she would start her packing about two weeks prior to departure, but I always held out until just hours before we left—at 3 a.m.. My dad had one rule during the trip: keep the stops to a minimum. Which meant two things— use the restroom during gas refills, and pack smart for the car. 

Since then, I have kept that same tradition with my family: pack smart for travel.

It's only the beginning of July and my husband and I have already taken the kids on two trips totaling 10+ hours of travel time. That doesn't even include the big one this month where we will travel a total of 25+ hours in 7 days. It's not a first for us, and we are not in the bit nervous. We have traveled these same trips with one 18 month old, then one 2.5 year old and a 6 month old, and this year a 3.5 year old and an 18 month old. Every time the trip goes smoothly {in the crying department} and that is because mama comes prepared.

These year I'll be traveling with my trusty products in hand:

1. Infantino Diaper Kit and Changing Pad  : This does not leave my bag at any time. It's the biggest lifesaver when traveling, whether near or far. It's compact, fits nicely in my bag, and saves me the hassle of worrying to find a place to change the baby especially when we make pit stops.

2. Infantino Roomy Neoprene Back Seat Storage  : You know how everyone has a junk drawer {or 5} in their home? Well this is my junk drawer for my car–a good looking one might I add. The kids' sunglasses go in here, little cars, tissues, crayons, and anything else I need thrown in for that certain trip.

3. Boon Trunk Snack Box One of the key components to surviving a long trip is food. It's one of my tricks that I pull out my sleeve when all else has failed. Want this? Want that? How about this? And what about that? The best part about this box is that I don't have to ask, I just hand it to them and they decide. It closes up nicely and we are done. Of course I would not let my 18 month old near this wonderful contraption because I imagine he would have a ball just throwing everything around, but my three year old really enjoys it and even helps me out by handing food to the little one. It's also great to throw in the diaper bag wherever we may be for snack time as well. The large component can hold a full-size peanut butter sandwich, and while traveling in the car we just have soft food options that are easy to eat with no worry of choking, but once we are out of the car we literally throw anything and everything in the slots. Make it fun and colorful.

4.Munchkin Travel Tray: Is by far one of the greatest products ever invented. Actually I am pretty sure two summers ago when we went to Hilton Head Island with our daughter for the first time, I kept telling my husband that there needs to be a product out there that is allows children to rest their things on without it being hard and dangerous for the road. This travel tray is just that—soft, easy to use, and fun. There are little slots on the side for the kids to keep their crayons, a little snack holder for them to keep their snacks in, and a nice surface to either color, push cars around on, read books, or even something to hold their lunch while they eat. There are two clips, one one each side, that can help steady the tray as well.

5. Soft Booster Seat: This is by no means a must for surviving the car trip, however, it is definitely a must-not-leave-home-without product. I say this because you just never know when you may have to stop, and you may just never know where and if they have boosters. My child will not sit in a highchair, and this thing is simply easy to throw in the trunk and go. Also it will be great to have for the condo once we reach our destination.

6. Oxo Snack Cup: Remember how I said I wouldn't trust my little mischievous 18 month old with the snack tray above? Well this is the solution to that: a spill-proof snack cup. He simply puts his little hands in it, and reaches for the food without any spilling it. Then of course yells "MO, PEEESE" when he's all out.

7. Itzy Ritzy 2 pk mini reusable snack bags: This is another great options for snacks and is even more compact than the cup and fits in a small pocket of a bag.

8. Moby Wrap: I added this one in for the mamas with smaller children and especially those traveling by plane. This is a complete lifesaver for those little ones that just want to be in your arms and you still need a free hand to say wrangle the older sibling {or siblings}. Although you may not use it in the car, it's one of my must-packs just in case type of things.

9. Summer Infant 3d-Lite-convenience stroller: Another item that while you may not need while actually driving or flying, you will definitely use while out and about away from home. They highlights of this one is how well it folds up and little space it takes up in the car.

10. Eric Carle My First Smart Pad Books Set: A fun and interactive learning activity pad for the older toddlers that need to keep busy.

11. Soft learning toys for the little ones From flash cards to soft balls, soft rattles, and plush toys—the little ones need something new and exciting when those tears start rolling in. I had to pack a "surprise" bag last year when Graham was 6 months old that was stuffed with soft toys that he had never played with {older sister's old toys}, and anytime that sad face would come on: SURPRISE! Really genius if you ask me.

12. The catch all diaper bag: Because mama always told me, "Never leave home without one!"

I'm looooving

This free printable chore chart that we hang in the pantry and E fills with stickers throughout the week.  Fun fun, and free.

Jamming to a toddler Christmas CD in the car with E. Nothing like some good old jingle bells in the summertime. Yes, I said Christmas for the second time in a week.

Hearing Graham add more and more words to his vocabulary and his little personality shining through with everything he says, the way he acts, and even in his crazy rambunctious aggressive ways. Boy oh boy.

Saltwater shoes saltwater toddler red. I cannot believe that we are just now discovering them. Where have they been all my life {Elli's life every summer, spring, and fall}.

This cuddle bug. He will just crawl over to you and want to cuddle. All the time. With anyone, but especially mama.

Cooler temperatures that give us the opportunity to go to the park without burning our little bums. I have to say though, G is at the point where he wants to go to the "big" area and we all know that the "big" area always has those ridiculous holes on each side and therefore my mama heart gets all sorts of anxious and then I'm all like---it's time to go.

Zazzle and their adorable lunch boxes. The design plates on the front our interchangeable which means that I'll be getting a few more. To the kids though? It's just a new shiny toy.

The fact that gap had free shipping with no minimum purchase the other day and I snagged some jeans for G that were originally $34 for $6. Need I mention again... free shipping? People get a high off weed, I get a high off deals. Truth.

Websites that show me how-to-draw step by step. Confession time here in the midst of a "I'm loving" post: I google {all the time} how to draw things—such as a rose, the statue of liberty, an eagle, etc. The end result is of course nothing A+ art worthy, but good enough my friends, good enough.

The library and all of its perks. Honestly, I need to be bringing those ladies and gentlemen cookies every week. The fact that we get to benefit from things like story times and endless amounts of amazing books to read to the kids is great, but then we discovered the Overdrive App and we were introduced to an entire new world—the world of free E-books.

Cooking with my little ones. I know, mess. But really, it's kind of fun. Minus the mess, of course.

Hug. Big, fat hugs

 
Going to a festival tonight, a parade tomorrow, and celebrating with my family with fireworks.

What more could this mama need.

An Outdoor Oasis, Appetizer Party, and a Happy Mama.

Thank you Kohl's for this #Sponsored post. As always, all opinions stated are that of my own.

One thing that I learned growing up is that good company is needed for the soul.  It's something that enriches our lives and reminds us of how important it is to keep meaningful relationships going—whether it be friends, family, or both. Preferably both.  Top it off with delicious food and you have yourself what I like to call a home run.

Ever since we moved into our home four years ago, my goal has been to not only find the time to fill our homes with family, friends, and good old fashioned food, but to also find my niche in entertaining. To be honest with you, since becoming a mother, it has been one of those "hobbies" of mine that fell to the back burner. Finding the time to not only entertain and plan, but also to cook and set up, was at times exhausting when trying to still maintain our normal day-to-day with two young children.

Instead, what I have learned is to relax, take it down a notch, lower my crazy expectations that I have set for myself, and to figure out how to make it work, and more importantly—how to make it easier on myself.
 

When it comes to summertime, we find ourselves spending most of our time outdoors. From lunchtime to dinnertime to all the time in between. That is as long as it's not storming/100 degrees out. If not, then we are outside. So when our family or friends decide to come over around this time of year, we always try to plan something quick and easy, but if nothing else then something where we can find ourselves outdoors conversing in good company.

One thing that I have fallen in love with is the idea of an appetizer party. An appetizer party is always fun and something that I enjoy to do because it means that we can make the platters ahead of time {less time wasted cooking while our guests are here}, it's a much easier set up, and I'm not bursting out of my pants by the end of the night {sometimes}. And when I say easy clean up, I also mean kid-proof clean up. We used to do the glass plates and glass cups outside and I quickly learned that that was just plain silly.

Insert here the solution: Sonoma Outdoor Mason Jars with Straws   and Sonoma Outdoor 8-pc. Wine & Plate Party Set   . They are kid-proof, bright and durable, and so easy to clean up. For the placemats, I went with the bright and vibrant Fiesta Zigzag placemat  . They completed the set-up and I could not be more pleased. Not to mention I could actually let me little michievious duo actually run free and touch this and touch that and not worry.

Of course I could not leave them hanging at the party, so they got themselves their own little table {Step2 Sit & Play Jr. Picnic Table } and matching set up {without the wine glasses of course}. Might I add these two have been obsessed with their table since it arrived last week. It came with five pieces and it was literally snap this in, snap that in, and you're done. I set it up myself guys and that's big. It will be able to get through many summers I am sure, and I am already in the hunt for a little umbrella for their table.

I know it isn't anything fancy and over-the-top, but that is exactly why I love it. I love that I can be simple but fun at the same time and that it takes an entire load of worry off my chest. Plus the food tastes so much better when it's on pretty plates.

For more inspiration, checkout Sonoma Outdoors at Kohl's.

Discovering New Animal Facts on the Daily

I am part of the Parragon Book Buddy. I received books to review, however, no compensation was received for writing this review. All opinions stated are that of my own.

Did you know that you have a bigger chance of dying from a bee sting than you do from a shark? It is reported that less than 10 people day a year from a shark attack, and approximately 1,000 die a year from a bee sting. 

Did you know that hippo milk is bright pink?

 

Did you know that dogs have 18 muscles in their ears?

I didn't, but I do now.

 

I originally thought that this book would be super interesting for the kids as they grow and we continue to learn more and more about the animals in our environment, but I have to be honest here and tell you that it's the book that I grab with me when I go to the restroom, to sit on the couch and lounge, and even the one I throw into my work backpack. I will send my husband random texts throughout the day says.... "Did you know..."

 

I think he is getting tired of my facts.

But I love facts. I love stimulating the brain. I love to learn.

This book is full of great pictures and genius layout that allows you to actually remember what you read.

Here is the details on the book for purchase: Discovery Kids 1000 Strange but True Animal Facts (ISBN 978-1-4723-4646-9, $5.99, paperback)

 

Also, we received a pretty neat dinosaur book that I cannot wait to take out once Graham is a little older. Full of stickers and fun dinosaur scenes.

Stickersaurus  (ISBN 978-1-4723-4654-4, $5.99, paperback) opens out into 7 giant story scenes showing the streets, cityscape and skies of New Dino City. With over 50 reusable stickers and super-stretchy dinosaur character, children can read the story panels and create their own action-packed scenes. 

 

Check them out!