No flight - Packing

When we do not fly and we are taking a trip for four days or less I pack in possibly a unconventional way, but to me it is so much more relaxing than putting everything in a suitcase. I pack in a laundry basket, yes I said I pack in a laundry basket.

Here are my thoughts about why I pack in a basket. 1. After the trip is over all of your dirty laundry is in a laundry basket already 2. Lots more space is around if you do not have a zipper 3. If you put a put a blanket on the top (I always do because I know most hotels do not wash the comforters) you can still stack extra items on top in the car if needed 4. Easy to place on a rolling hotel cart 5. Overall I think I pack more efficiently in the basket because I have space without the top 6. If you have a small child it is a time saver too because you can carry it around dumping stuff in as you are leaving if needed. Ok I have tons more reasons but you get the point I think it's gravy!!

Try it on your next trip!! Let me know how it goes!!

Travel Tips of the week

We love to travel so these are some tricks we use:

1. Stick a dryer sheet in your suit case(s) when you travel because it helps keep all your belongings smelling great!
2. Save space by putting socks in your shoes
3. Use your largest purse for your personal item to get more carry on
4. When traveling with small children don't forget to bring something they love to play with plus a surprise toy or toys to distract when needed
5. Wrap bottles of shampoo and such with clear plastic wrap then a ziplock to prevent bad leaks
6. Check the weather before you go and pack items you might be able to wear a few times or items that will dry quickly after a quick wash in the sink or laundry
7. Think about shipping a few items for an extended stay
8. Pack extra ziplock and trash bags for dirty laundry plus packing up items you may have purchased on your trip
9. Wear socks during travel... Everyone takes their shoes off where you do at security Yuck!!
10. For long flights purchase food and drink to carry on with you plus have your own ear buds in case of an in flight movie
11. To pop your ears fake a yawn then to pop a babies ears gently make sure they are drinking something on take off and landing

I have tons more but I'm running out of steam with it being 2:02am I think I will try to sleep now! :)

Spring It...

Excited about Spring because I LOVE this season! I just started my Spring cleaning list with cleaning out all my makeup products.  It is so important to clean out your makeup stash because you wouldn't want to get an infection in your eye or get bacteria anywhere on your face for that matter.  I clean out my stash about every month because I use a lot of cream and/or liquid makeup therefore they go bad more often especially your mascara I replace that every month because I have seen someone that received more that awesome lashes from old mascara!

 

I also love love Spring because it is a great time to hit the open road running! I just bought some new running gear and I am excited to plan out my goals for this year. Last year I did my first 5k, 8k, and I was running 6-7 miles by the end of summer each time I ran .

My sweet child and I enjoy Spring by planting plants, playing ball outside, grilling some pineapple with coconut milk, bubbling our neighborhood, and MANY other outdoor activities. Plus, I do not know about you but, I love dressing him in cute little Spring clothes!!

My Husband also loves Spring because he can put us to work on making our yard look better plus he gets us into at least one major outside project. This year we have selected to get our front porch redone and take out our deck putting in a bigger wooden deck or replacing it with a concrete patio! Excited to post photos after everything is done!!!

Last but not least on our list for Spring is cleaning, which oddly enough I love, AND traveling some!!!

Hope you are having an awesome sunny first day of wonderful Spring!!!!! 

Source: marthastewart.com via Sprial on Pinterest

Baby in Arm Travel Prep - GO

The BEST thing that ever happened in my life is that I became a Mother. 

I didn't believe it at first when everyone would say it is the best thing and the HARDEST thing that you will ever do.  TRUE... so true!  My heart is torn in one million directions everyday with every step my child takes because it is so hard to know you are a good Mother and that you really are doing a great job!  Today I was reminded that I need to give myself a break of being so critical of everything I do when I called to make my baby a doctors appointment.  The nurse I was speaking with asked me if I would consider keeping her family members 8 month old twins.  Mind you she doesn't really know me THAT well and we only visit this Doctor every so often and that is the only place I see her, so when she said that I was blown away.  She said you really are a great Mother and I can tell you are all about teaching children so that is why I was thinking you would be great at keeping these babies!  WOW what a complement!!  Then she told me that just from the time she was around me and my sweet baby she could tell that I wanted an army of them (which I do!) to surround myself with the unbelievable love that comes along with it (YES!).  I thanked her A LOT and of course I started thinking about one thing I DO think I do well as a mother - traveling with my baby in arm!

My husband and I love to travel so when we had our child we were cut off from that for a short time, but then the first trip we really went hyper planning on making sure that our life (aka baby) was 100% a travel lover too!  In doing that we started figuring out what would make it easier for sweat pea to travel.  We even took a 5 hour trip across the US testing how far we could travel with a child.  It was a difficult and stressful process at first because we wanted to make sure it was going to be a smooth and happy experience for us all.  To start out we researched and researched getting as much information from other people with children that we could, calling the hotel asking a million questions about everything they could offer (such as a refrigerator in room), really investigating what was in the area to do with a small child, planning our daily routine with allowing naps/downtime, and most importantly what to pack.

Flying with a child especially a child under 2 is interesting because the TSA does allow more items when you have a little one to try to make it easier on you! TSA Site traveling with Children list link
I was still nursing our baby on the 5 hour flight so I didn't need to worry with the guidelines for milk and such, but I did take a the few following items for the flight:

• Thin blanket serving 2 purposes (1 cover up the baby 2 covering both of us while nursing)
• Wrapped new little toys that he had never seen 1 per 20 mins of the flight so he would be entertained
• snacks
• diapers/wipes/Vaseline/disposable sacks
• Little jacket
• Portable DVD player with DVD's
• Small pillow to rest arms because we didn't purchase him his own seat
• extra set of clothes and things I carry on in case the one checked bag is lost
• Car seat - it is a must no way around it (you can rent, but we had a good travel lite one)
• Very lightweight stroller

Such a success with our little travel lover sleeping the entire flight :) dealing with the time changes and everything well too!! 

Day travel see above we packed a day back pack with:

•  Water
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Little monkey had a few toys and such for him to have
• Wipes/Diapers/rash cream/disposable sacks
• Hand/face germ wipes
• Snacks
• Money etc
• Camera
• Bib
• Wash clothe
• Table topper (little plastic sheet so the food doesn't hit dirty dining tables - kids put food all over the tables so if they are not use to a plate this is a good way to keep it all clean)
• jacket just in case of weather

As you can tell in the pic above the DVD player and blanket packed were a BIG hit when we were trying to get ready for bed plus he loved the different hats I had for him as well!! 

We are preparing for a trip to Tennessee this weekend so I am filming a crazy video on how I try to prep for a trip just to show you what I do in greater detail!  I will post it below after we get back so I can add a review of some things I wish I wouldn't have packed and things I wish I would have packed just so you know what worked! 

HAPPY TRAVEL TUESDAY TO YOU AND YOU BABY!!! :)

Travel - Zaragoza Spain

My Husband and I lived in Spain for about three months which allowed us to travel around Europe.  Our lovely home away from home was in Zaragoza Spain.  We loved experiencing a different culture, but during our trip we found that the people there really are not much different than the people we love at home.  Everyone that helped us worked with my Husband and they were all very welcoming.  Here is an official description of all that Zaragoza has to offer at - Wiki Travel Information .

Our experenice was amazing!  We took many walks in the beautiful city center (Free WIFI too) around the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Pilar and the Ebro River:

We traveled everywhere throughout Zaragoza by the City bus and it was a wonderful way to really take in a lot of sites plus easy to pay with a city bus card pass.  We also were there during one of their festivals called Festival El Pilar which is packed full of entertainment, bull fighting, amazing food/drinks (TAPAS), and such an amazing display of love of their culture.  Here is a photo taken of the amazing floral arrangement in the middle of the city center that was in tribute to the Virgin Mary:

I could go on and on about this trip because it was fun to try new foods, try a new language, and have so much fun while learning a LOT!  If you are in Spain during the week of October 12th especially stop by Zaragoza to check out the Festival El Pilar, stay in the city center so you are near all the action, and enjoy a fun time!!  

Travel - Bahamas

My Husband and I LOVE to travel.  One of our favorites destinations was our honeymoon when we visited the Bahamas for a week. 

This is a link of the resort where we stayed:
Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort

These are photos we took of the resort that was like a postcard:

Not only is this location beautiful, but you get so much when you stay there all included in the price.  We had as much food/drinks and fun that we could fit into just a weeks time.  It was really wonderful.  One of the activities that we took part in was snorkleing and after the shock of being put into deep water with tons of fish wore off we had a great time looking at everything under the water!  Of course we played hard, but we also relaxed while eating some really great food each day at all of their on-site restarants and buffets!  Our room was always stocked included in our price with food and drinks as well.  Here I am chowing down on some of the good stuff they had:

Off of the resort we had an adventure by bus to the straw market where we purchased one or two things to take home with us then we got on a fun water taxi to visit the beautiful Atlantis Resort which has all kinds of things to do in and around their grounds!

All in all I would for sure visit the Bahamas again because they are a big tourist hot spot and they depend on money from tourism there so everyone is more than hospitable every step of the way!! 

Some travel tips for the Bahamas: Make sure you have a small day backpack for short trips if you plan to leave the resort, sunscreen, light clothing that will dry fast, good sandels because you do a lot of walking around on different surfaces, fun dancing dress clothes that are comfortable, address book because believe it or not we made some great friends there, and a water proof camera so when you do water sports you can take some photos!