Author llmckenzi

The Traveling Fab Five turns 1!!!

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Recently The Traveling Fab Five turned one!! Yayy! I am beyond thankful for all the love and support you all have shown me. I started blogging back in 2012 but life took a crazy turn and writing got put on the back burner. Fast forward to a year ago, my husband was about to start his third year of medical school and another one of my kiddos was about to start school. I was desperately trying to find a hobby to keep me busy while staying home with our youngest. I told my husband I wanted to redo my website, start fresh and really commit to blogging this time around. Go big or go home, right? So here we are a year later.. 10 wonderful articles that I have put my heart and soul into. I am so grateful for the people who have checked out my page and shared it. Last month I was approached by @LifeofaMedStudnt and was asked to share my life & tips of a medical student’s wife. I was beyond honored to be approached by them in the first place, so I obviously said Yes!! You can read my article here:  5 Tips for Surviving Med School

Medical school has not been an easy journey for my family. We have been faced with medical problems with our children and dealt with the ongoing financial burden that comes with being a medical student. My husband is now a fourth year medical student and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are looking forward to the next chapter in his medical career. We hope that you continue to follow us on our crazy journey and enjoy our traveling tips. Thanks again for all the love and support!

Happy Travelin’

 

How to survive a Staycation: Spring Break Edition

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As much as I love to travel, sometimes it is just not in the cards. Spring Break is just around the corner and my family and I have come up with some fun cheap ways to enjoy Spring Break without breaking the bank!

Have a picnic– Living in the south the weather over spring break is usually optimal for a picnic in the park or even in your backyard… not so much for my snow bunny friends living up north! If you can’t make it outside or if you’re like me (an indoor kind of gal) then you can always have a picnic right on your living room floor. Put down a blanket and pack up lunches and snacks. My kids like to invite their favorite toys and stuffed animals to join us.

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Go to the zoo or aquarium– We are lucky to have a zoo right down the road from us. For Christmas my mom bought us a yearly membership (Thanks mom!), which is not only a great gift but also a great way for us to get outdoors and learn about some animals! My kids like to go to the zoo a few times a month and it never gets old. There is also an aquarium about an hour away from us that we enjoy. We especially love going during special offers like buy one get one free tickets or $10 off. Check out Groupon or the zoo/aquarium website near you to find special offers like these.

Build a fort– There is nothing more fun to my kids than spending the afternoon building a fort right in our living room. Forts are quite a treat in our house. The key to a perfect fort is to use lots of blankets and pillows! The only thing more exciting than building a fort is watching movies in them!  We usually get in our pajamas, snuggle under the blankets and enjoy a special snack. Sometimes we will watch an old favorite and other times we check out the local Redbox to rent something new. As much as we enjoy going to a movie theater, it can get quite expensive for a family of five. This staycation idea is guaranteed to save you some money so dust off the DVD player and enjoy a family movie night in your new fort!

Have a game night– We love playing games! They are all a huge hit in our house. If you don’t have any board or card games you can make some! Bingo is easy fun game to make at home. My kids like to make their own bingo cards using stickers. Just make sure you have a few of the same exact sticker so that you can make a matching set. If you don’t own any Bingo markers you can use a snack to mark your bingo cards. Any type of small snack that fits inside your bingo square will work! My kiddos also enjoy games like Simon Says, which doesn’t require a board or cards at all!

Put on a puppet show– Make good use out of all of those mismatched socks and make puppets out of them. Another household item you can use to make puppets is paper bags. You can decorate them with markers, glitter, stickers or whatever art supplies you have on hand. My kids love to put on shows for us in our living room. This is a great cheap activity that is sure to make some fun memories.

Have a scavenger hunt– This is a great backyard activity that your kids will love! Pretend you are pirates and hide gold coins (found at the dollar store or left over from Halloween) all over your house or backyard. This activity is weather permitting however if you are unable to be outside then you can pick a room in your house instead! You can also draw a map of a room in your house or map of your backyard and have the kids find specific items on the map. Another option is to put things in Easter eggs and hide the eggs in your backyard.

Make a photo booth– All you need is a camera or phone to take the photos with. Use a sheet or tablecloth to use as your backdrop and you can use props like left over Halloween costumes or even make masks and props out of construction paper. My kiddos had a blast creating our own photo booth!

Make play dough– As a kid my mom would make play dough every time we had a play date. I have since passed down the tradition and make play dough with my kiddos now. It is a fun easy craft that is ready in minutes. This recipe is my favorite, enjoy!

Materials

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • Food coloring
  • Saucepan
  • 1 cup flour

Directions

  1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
  2. Remove from heat and add flour.
  3. Stir, then knead until smooth.
  4. Store this dough in an airtight container.

Go on a mystery ride– Mystery rides are a huge hit in my household. We like to get in the car and just see where we end up. Sometimes we have a destination in mind while other days we just drive in a random direction. When I was a kid my dad would take us on all types of mystery ride adventures and they are some of my favorite memories to this day. Some mystery rides that we have taken in the past are to an ice cream stand, our favorite restaurant and the beach. Our ultimate mystery ride was to Disney World! (but this obviously is not a cheap staycation idea, haha!)

Hope you enjoyed my tips on how to survive a staycation! If you have any other staycation ideas please feel free to add them in our comments section!

Happy Travelin’

Disclaimer: These are my own opinions and experiences. I do not work for Disney, Redbox, or Groupon. I do not receive compensation of any kind from these companies. 

Traveling on a Med Student Budget

llmckenzi 1 Comment

 

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I am a stay at home mama on a limited budget. We are constantly cutting corners to stay afloat. Medical school was not built for families, especially one like ours with children who have medical problems. We live off student loan checks that only come twice a year and a per-diem paramedic job that my husband has on the side to help us get by. So now you are probably wondering how we manage to travel so much on a shoestring budget. Well let me tell you it’s not easy!

  • We budget. I know this is a given since we are in medical school but everything we do is budgeted for. We even budget on vacation. It’s important to make a plan of all your travel expenses including hotel, food, and souvenirs. We even try to over budget in order to make sure we have some room for unplanned necessities.
  • We put a little bit aside each week. Taking as little as $25 out of your paycheck every other week can add up to $650 at the end of the year! That can easily pay for a relaxing getaway or a fun family weekend.
  • We stay with family whenever possible. Not only does that save us on hotel cost but it also fills our “home sickness” gap since we live in SC and most of our family live up north.
  • We drive everywhere! Our mini van was the best purchase we have ever made! It can easily turn into our home away from home when traveling. Plane tickets for a family of five would cost a fortune. So we drive, and if we can’t drive or afford to fly then we don’t go. Someday my husband and I dream of traveling the world on a “Doctors salary” but until then no First Class for us!
  • We bring food from home! Not only does this save us some serious cash but also since I have two children with food allergies it gives us the peace of mind that everything they eat is safe. We always make sure to pack breakfast and snacks since those are the most convenient meals to travel with. We do enjoy eating out every once in awhile but only if it’s in the budget! Another way to save some money while on vacation is by splitting or sharing meals. We can order two adult meals and it will easily feed four of us. We also eat a lot of pizza when traveling because a large pizza will feed us all, and it is so cheap!
  • We use travel points from our credit card. We put gas and groceries on our credit card each week then pay it off. By doing this we earn points that we use to pay for things like airfare & hotels. We love using the Disney Chase card because we can convert our points to Disney dollars and use it when we vacation in Disney. Nothing makes a Mickey bar taste sweeter than knowing it was purchased using your free credit card points!
  • We use websites like Priceline, Orbitz & Hotels.com. Last year we had to travel to Boston quite often because of my son’s medical condition. Over the course of a year we stayed in over ten hotels. If you book ten hotel nights using the Hotel.com website you earn a free night stay. We just recently used our free hotel night and stayed at a gorgeous hotel in Charlotte, NC. Priceline comes in handy when we have an idea of where we want to stay but also a price point to stick to.  It has been super helpful to be able to stay on budget while finding fabulous four and five star hotels. Priceline is also good for last minute travel deals. Orbitz is a great tool because you can earn Orbucks. Every time you book with them you can earn a number of Orbucks, then you can use the Orbucks to pay for future travel on the Orbitz website. You have to sign up to earn rewards though!

My husband and I made a pact prior to him starting medical school that we would never get too busy making a living that we forgot to make a life.  Now go out and see the world! Go to as many places as you can! You can always make money but you can’t always make memories (especially Disney memories)!

I look forward to hearing other ways you and your family save on travel!

 

Happy Travelin’

 

Disclaimer: These are my own opinions and experiences. I do not work for Disney, Orbitz, Priceline, or Hotels.com. I do not receive compensation of any kind from these companies. 

Ten Fabulous Traveling Tips

llmckenzi Leave a comment

This year my family & I have been fortunate enough to be able to take some amazing trips. We have traveled to Disney World, Boston, MA, Washington, DC, Durham, NC, Wilmington, NC, Hilton Head, SC and Jacksonville, Fl. While some of these trips were planned some were also spontaneous adventures. Our family loves to pack up the car for a night or two and take the kids on a mystery ride. Over the years we have mastered the art of the road trip. I thought I would share a few tips with you.

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1. Hangers- Most hotels already have some in your room however if they don’t then I recommend bringing some from home. We use hangers to hang our wet bathing suits on. Genius, I know right! This saves us some coin, so we don’t have to use the hotel dryer. There is nothing I hate more than coming home from a trip with your suitcase smelling like stale pool water (gross!). Most Disney World Resort hotels have a clothesline in the shower, so I recommend bringing clothes pins, since they take up less space.

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2. Bins- Most of the time you can find these bins in my office filled with all sorts of fun finds. When we are traveling I empty it out and fill the drawers with food for my boys, since they require special allergy friendly diets. The key is to find bins that are portable but also are not too heavy when you fill the drawers with food. The bins work out great in hotel rooms since there is usually not a lot of extra space to store food. When traveling to Disney World we like to pack extra food for the entire family so that we do not have to eat out as much, which saves us a lot of money in the parks!

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3. Collapsible Hamper- I picked up this beauty at the Dollar store. Since we are a family of five we have a lot of laundry! The hamper comes in handy so that we do not have to put dirty clothes in our suitcase with our clean clothes. It also makes going to the hotel laundry room a lot easier!

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4. Toy organizer for your car- We bought this toy organizer a few years ago and it was worth every penny! Trust me, you and your car will thank me for this tip! There is nothing worse than taking a road trip with kids and arriving to your destination to find your backseat looking like a bomb went off! I have found that a Dollar store shoe organizer does the trick just as well!

5. Prizes/ Car Games- After a few hours in the car I am sure your little ones have already played with every toy they brought with them. This is when I get the mom of year award… before the trip I will go to the Dollar Store or hit up the Target dollar bins and buy some small games & toys. I will then randomly hand out a few of these prizes to keep the little ones entertained for the remainder of the trip. Our family loves car games to pass the time. One of our favorite games is Eye Spy. Although after a while you may tire of the same trees, cars and billboards. Once your little ones learn how to read you can play the license plate game which is always fun. Another tip is to save unopened kids meal toys. My kids get so excited for kid’s meal toys, it is like Christmas morning all over again!

6. Plan Breaks- I like to get to our destination as fast as possible but when traveling with little ones I have found that planning breaks ahead of time is a must! I like to find stops where the kids can run and play. I have found that most outlet shops have playgrounds that are a great way to get some ‘ya yas’ out before continuing on with your trip. We also like to pack a lunch, have a picnic and maybe do a little shopping. If you don’t have access to any outlets or malls along your journey then you can also turn a rest stop into a fun adventure. You can have your little ones play tag or simply just run before heading back in the car. Don’t forget to have everyone empty his or her bladders before getting in the car! I can’t even begin to tell you how many times we have left a rest stop just to have someone say five minutes later that they need to use the bathroom.

7. Portable DVD player- This is my secret weapon! My kids can tell you that it takes us about 4 movies to get to Disney World, ha-ha! Whenever we are about to take a long car ride we hook up the DVD players even if we decide not to use them. They are a wonderful distraction from the long hours in the car plus who doesn’t enjoy a few hours of screen time!

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8. Snack Bag- This was a gift from another Disney loving family like us! Anytime we are planning to leave our house for a few hours we take our snack bag along and fill it with allergy friendly snacks for our boys as well as some breakfast & lunch food so we can stop and have a picnic. Most highway rest stops are filled with junk food or fast food so bringing healthy treats from home is super helpful and saves you some money.

9. Overnight Bag- Some of our road trips are 10 hours or more so we like to stop at a hotel for a night and get a good night sleep before continuing on our adventure. Instead of bringing in 4 suitcases into the hotel for just one night I usually pack an overnight bag for the entire family. I will pack pajamas, a change or clothes and a bathing suit (if the hotel has a pool) for everyone. I also like to do this when we travel on a plane too just in case the airline happens to lose our luggage. Also, when traveling to Disney World, the Magical Express will pick you up and take you to your hotel then magically your suitcase arrives at your room a few hours later. While waiting for your luggage to arrive however, it is nice to have quick access to a bathing suit or a fresh change of clothes after a long day of travel.

10. Blow up tube- I purchased this one at the Dollar store. I keep it in our suitcase as a back up if I forget to bring our Puddle Jumper life vest. A blow up tube is perfect for traveling because its compact and all you need is a little hot air! There is nothing better than arriving to your hotel after a long day and taking a dip in the pool! Also a great way for your little ones to get some energy out before heading to bed.

If you have decided to fly instead of drive to your destination, I have found that the cheapest flights are best to book on a Tuesday at 3:00pm six weeks prior to your trip. Our family has also found that last-minute travel websites like Priceline are amazing for saving a ton a money at the last minute. We have stayed at 4 & 5 star hotels for a quarter of the price and sometimes we have booked them an hour prior to arriving! Hope you have found these travel tips helpful!

Happy Travelin’

World of Snacks: Magic Kingdom Edition

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One of my favorite things to do while on vacation is eat! It is one of the few times of the year when you can “cheat” and stuff your face with all things sweet and savory without feeling guilty about it! Every time I travel to Disney with the Fab Five we look forward to those morning, afternoon & late night treats. Here are some of our favorite treats that you won’t want to miss the next time you are at Magic Kingdom!

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Dole Whip: This is a classic Disney treat that will keep you cool on a hot day. Dole Whip is a cross between soft serve & Gelato and comes in Pineapple & Orange flavors. You can get it alone in a cup, twisted with vanilla soft serve or as a float (which is Dole whip in a cup with pineapple juice). Our family favorite flavor is the Pineapple Dole Whip. It’s fresh, fruity and makes a great midday snack! You can find Dole Whip at the Aloha Isle stand or at the Sunshine Tree Terrace, both in Adventureland. If you can’t make it over to Magic Kingdom you can also find this treat at the Pineapple Lanai over in the Polynesian Village Resort.

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Waffle Sandwich: This little hidden gem is not to be missed! You have your choice between two kinds of waffle sandwiches: sweet & fruity or sweet & spicy! The sweet & fruity sandwich consists of fresh fruit with a Hazelnut Spread on a fresh waffle. The sweet & spicy consists of a breaded chicken breast bathed in a sweet and spicy special sauce with creamy coleslaw and fresh arugula (Note: the picture above was ordered with coleslaw on the side). It’s a party in your mouth! Both sandwiches are quite large, so you may want to split it with someone! Our family favorite is the Sweet & Spicy Chicken Waffle sandwich. While considered by Disney as a snack, we often get as our full lunch. You can find these at the Sleepy Hollow refreshment stand just before you enter Liberty Square. There is a catch though: these amazing sandwiches are only made from 11:00am- 5:00pm!

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Le Fou’s Brew: My little Disney Addicts are obsessed with this drink! Le Fou’s Brew is a frozen apple & marshmallow drink topped with a passion fruit froth. Now the description may not sound like much but I assure you it is a taste sensation! It comes in a souvenir Gaston or Belle mug however you can also get it in a regular plastic cup for half the price. You can find this treat at Gaston’s tavern over in Fantasyland. It pairs well with a cinnamon roll which you can also find at Gaston’s tavern. The cinnamon roll is warm and moist with gooey icing and the slightest hint of maple that explodes with deliciousness in your mouth. It is quite large however and is best shared with others. We love to grab a Le Fou’s Brew & a cinnamon roll before grabbing a seat near the fountain just outside the tavern to watch the Wishes Firework show!

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Mickey Pants Ice Cream Sundae: Let me tell you this ice cream sundae is quite the treat and you get a unique Disney souvenir out of the deal. The Mickey Pants Ice Cream Sundae is extra special because you can only find it at the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor in Magic Kingdom. It comes with one scoop of vanilla ice cream, one scoop of chocolate ice cream & one scoop of strawberry ice cream. It is then topped with hot fudge, strawberry & caramel sauce. It is covered in whipped cream, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and of course a cherry on top! The last time we picked up one of these treats we were able to customize it with vanilla & Oreo ice cream, covered in hot fudge, whipped cream & a cherry on top. The Mickey Pants Sundae is actually a spin-off of the “Kitchen sink” ice cream sundae which literally has every ice cream flavor & topping in it that you can think of… Hence the name! The Kitchen sink can only be found at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Update: Beaches & Cream Soda Shop now also sells the Mickey Pants Sundae!

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Popcorn: I know this one doesn’t sound very unique but let me tell you, Disney’s popcorn is the best! It can be found at multiple places around the park. Let your nose be your guide! Disney likes to pipe in certain scents around the park so you will smell this salty buttery treat from a mile away! I love that Disney has such unique containers for their popcorn. My favorite container is a mine train cart that resembles the mining carts you would find at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride over in FantasyLand. Recently Disney has launched this amazing deal for popcorn lovers like me. You can buy a special refillable popcorn bucket and have same day unlimited refills for a small fee at any popcorn cart located in any of the parks. Just make sure to leave room for more park treats!

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Cotton Candy: This treat is a favorite of my Disney Daughter. Once you enter Magic Kingdom and start to walk past the Confectionary it is the first thing you smell. The sweetness just spills over into the streets and takes over your senses! The cotton candy is sweet, fluffy and light as air. It comes in many different colors and can be found in bags or plastic containers. If you’re looking for some Disney Magic, go to the Confectionary on Main Street at night before the Fireworks and head on over to the cotton candy booth. Sometimes they hand out free samples of freshly spun cotton candy but only if you say the secret word (no worries if you don’t know the word, there is often a clue that is a dead give away).

So there you have it! These are just a few of our favorite sweet treats found at Magic Kingdom! I’d love to hear about your favorite treats, so leave me a message in my comments section! Be on the look out for my next World of Snacks article featuring another amazing Disney Park! Until next time…

Happy Travelin’

 

 

What’s in my Disney Park Bag!

llmckenzi 2 Comments

My family & I LOVE to travel, especially to Disney! Our favorite thing to do is wake up early and head to the park before it opens to get the best view of the park opening show. Then we spend all morning and most of the afternoon at the parks. We usually will break in the late afternoon and head back to our resort for a swim and some dinner. Then back to the parks we go, for the evening and for the fireworks! It’s not unusual for us to spend ten hours a day in the parks. In our past trips our park bag used to have everything but the kitchen sink in it! However, over the years we have downsized a bit and only carry the must need essentials. I thought I’d take a minute and share with you what we carry in our park bag!

1. Ponchos- This is a must have if you are traveling to the South where a chance of rain can make Niagara falls look like a leaky faucet. We bought these Disney ponchos at a Target outside of Disney World for less than $5! The quality is great and more than half the price you will pay in park.
2. Sunscreen & Hand Sanitizer- Living in the South I have learned not to leave the house without these! Let’s face it… It’s Florida. It’s called the Sunshine State for a reason. It gets super hot (even in the shade!) so make sure you protect your skin! The best time to reapply is while you are waiting in line for rides or shows. It kills two birds with one stone! Not only are you killing time, but you are protecting yourself from a sunburn! Trust me, nothing ruins a vacation like a bad sunburn! Now Disney may be one of the cleanest vacation spots I’ve ever been to but let’s face it.. Germs are everywhere and you can’t always get to a sink to wash your hands. That’s why I never leave the house without packing some hand sanitizer. Trust me, you will thank me later!
3. Water Bottles- In Disney you will easily walk an average of six to eight miles a day so make sure to keep hydrated! One of the great things about Disney is that you can go to any Quick Service restaurants and ask for a cup of ice water for FREE! Yeah you read that right, I said FREE!! How awesome is that!? My family and I like to fill our water bottles up with ice before we head out to the park so it can melt all morning & when you are ready to rehydrate it has melted into ice-cold water. If you don’t care for tap water, you can buy a water bottle with a built-in filter at your local Target or Wal-Mart.
4. Head phones- Anytime we go some place where there may be loud noises, loud music or fireworks these are a must for our kiddos. We carry these small compact Kids Noise Canceling Headphones in our bag. I bought them on Amazon and they were a steal ($15) for how much we use them! My son even prefers to wear them on airplanes too!
5. Post-lts- Post-it notes are not only great for writing down notes and reminders but also a lifesaver when you are at a public restroom with automatic toilets. If you place a post-it over the sensor it won’t flush while your little one is trying to use the potty. This little trick was a life saver since our daughter was terrified of automatic toilets! Post-its are also great for kids to draw or write on when you’re at a restaurant or waiting in the long line. My kids & I love to kill time by playing tic tac toe on them!
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6. Portable Fan- We got this particular fan as a gift but you can find them in the parks for about $20. Once again that Florida sun can be brutal! These come in handy to help cool our kiddos down, so we can keep truckin’ along through the parks. There is nothing worse than your kiddos melting down because they are literally melting! If you are looking to spend a little less, I also found a similar fan at Babies R Us for half the price. The best part about these fans is that they can clip onto anything!
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7. First Aid Kit- This is a must especially for long park days. I bought this at target for $1 but you can make your own at home with a ziplock bag, band aids, blister band aids, & some Neosporin. Even though you’re on vacation… accidents happen, so I like to be prepared! On a few occasions now I have made the mistake of wearing the wrong park shoes and boy was I glad I had blister band aids on hand! Another pro tip is to throw in a few extra ziplock bags so you can take home any left over snacks you might not finish in the parks.

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8. Portable charger- I bought this one at Target for $5 but Disney now has portable charger stations throughout the park. For $30 you can buy a similar charger and once the battery dies you just bring it to one of these charging stations and Disney will replace it for free! Disney also has designated charging locations where you can just bring your phone charger and plug it in to charge while you rest your feet and enjoy some good ole people watching! One of my new favorite spots is in Magic Kingdom next to Rapunzel’s Tower in Fantasyland. There is an area next to the bathrooms with benches and tables to relax, grab a snack and charge your phone. While you are relaxing you can also try to find all the Hidden Pascals!
9. Trading Pins & Lanyard- My kids love to trade pins with cast members in Disney. They usually start off the day wearing their lanyards but end up taking them off pretty early in the day. I keep them in our park bag so if they decide to do an impromptu trade with a cast member we already have them on hand! A great tip is to buy used pins on eBay before your trip for a fraction of the price! Fair warning though: If you are going to trade pins bought outside of the park then make sure they are authentic Disney pins or cast members won’t trade with you!
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10. Pen & Autograph Book- Getting character autographs at Disney is a must! Every trip we take to Disney we make a special book and fill it with autographs. It is a nice souvenir for each trip! A great tip is to pack a larger pen or Sharpie since some characters can’t hold the smaller thinner pens with their big awkward character hands. We bought this Mickey pen on our very first trip! My husband couldn’t believe I spent almost $10 on a pen but we have used it for every trip and it works the best for characters of all types to use.
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I know what you must be thinking…. Our park bag is not very pretty! However, it is the most comfortable bag to carry on your back all day and night. I recommend finding a bag that is not only comfortable, but one that has plenty of pockets and storage space as well as one that is durable enough to handle the hustle and bustle of park days and the crazy Florida weather. Hope these tips will help you pack a great park bag for a magical trip!
Happy Travelin’

Disney tips for kids with food allergies

llmckenzi Leave a comment



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  1. Plan ahead! You can never be too prepared for a trip. There are so many great tools out there to help you plan ahead such as websites and books. Two websites I find to be most helpful are the Disney World website which lists their menus and answers most questions you have. They also have a separate website called the Moms panel which is a group of moms and a few dads who frequent Disney so you can ask them questions and they do their best to answer it in a reasonable time. Another website I find helpful is Allears.com It is not owned by Disney but it is just as helpful as the Disney website.

 

  1. Once you make your reservations online or over the phone you can add any allergies to your reservations to give the restaurant a heads up on what to expect.If you are making a reservation online once you get to the last page before you confirm your reservation, this is were you can add special requests. Click on the add button and it will take you to another screen.Screen Shot 2016-07-05 at 5.52.53 PMOnce you are on the Special Request Screen you can add your allergy requests by checking off the boxes that pertain to you. Also if you need more assistance you can e-mail Disney at SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com or call (407) 824-5967Screen Shot 2016-07-05 at 5.53.48 PM

On our very first trip to Disney World I had e-mailed the chefs ahead of time to make sure they knew we were coming. This was super helpful when dining at O’hana. The Chef said she was able to put aside a brand new waffle maker just for my son to make sure it would not be cross contaminated for him! I have also called Disney before (the number listed above) to order special cakes for special occasions.IMG_2726

 

  1. Tell your server you have an allergy in your party. Disney is so wonderful when it comes to accommodating you and any food concerns you may have. Just be sure to remind your server so the chef can come out to the table and speak to you. Once the Chef comes over, you can let them know all your allergies. They will do their best to create something for you. I have been to a few restaurant’s that were unable to make my son anything because he has so many allergies. But this is very rare & luckily I had already brought a back up meal for him just in case Disney was not successful in accommodating him. So when in doubt bring a meal or snack from home. Disney allows you to bring food into all of their parks & most restaurants. We have never had an issue bringing special food from home for our boys with allergies.

 

  1. Be sure to write down any names of Cast members that went above & beyond for you and your party so you can let Disney know at the end of your trip. Disney loves to reward the cast members who made your trip extra magical.

Happy Travelin’

 

Travelin’ with Allergens (Food that is!)

llmckenzi Leave a comment

My son has several different food allergies, which makes traveling and going to restaurants a bit challenging. On the up side finding soy free, dairy free and egg free products is a lot easier now a days. You no longer have to go to specialty food stores! I buy most of my son’s special food products at our local grocery store and I buy them at a reasonable price, which is always a plus! Here are a few tips that I have learned over the past year that may help you out!

Tip 1: Don’t forget to read food labels!

I cannot tell you how many times I have forgotten to check a food label… I would have never of guessed how many allergens could be hidden in a product! Most parents of children with food allergies know how important it is to read the ingredients label. In my house, to make life easier for me and for my family, my son has a special shelf in the food pantry that has all of his allergy free foods. I also label all foods in my pantry and in my refrigerator with a giant black “X” if that food is not safe for my son to have which makes sure that I don’t accidently give him something he cannot have. Even at restaurants I ask to read the ingredient listed on all the food that my son will be eating.

Tip 2: Don’t be afraid to leave your house!

Every time my son has an allergic reaction to something I immediately change into overprotective mom mode. I know that I cannot protect my son from the world (even though I try!) and after a few days of rashes and vomiting I soon realize that he is a toddler and needs to be a toddler! Luckily my son does not have life threatening allergies or else I think I’d be a complete basket case.

Tip 3: Don’t be afraid to bring food from home!

Lunch totes

Whenever I leave the house I always remember to pack my son snacks or even a full meal to bring with us. Having your child’s favorite foods on hand can be a lifesaver when you are out somewhere and you want to buy yourself (or your other child) a treat that contains allergens. I bought a lunch tote on clearance at Target at the end of fall that is the perfect size for traveling. I also bought a cheap ice pack at the grocery store for $0.79, which fits perfectly in the bottom of the bag. I take the tote pretty much everywhere… Even into restaurants!

Tip 4: Don’t be afraid to eat at restaurants!

Restaurants over the past few years have become very accommodating to people with food allergies. If I know ahead of time that we will be eating at a restaurant I will go onto the restaurants website and research the menu. Most chain restaurants have a special menu for people with food allergies. Then when I arrive at the restaurant I will inform the server what my son’s allergies are so that he or she can inform the chef. I have yet to find a restaurant that has not found something for my son to eat.

Tip 5: Don’t be afraid to fly!

The TSA and most airlines have recently made flying with food allergies easier. The TSA allows you to bring milk, juice, and formula for children in your carry-on bag.  These items are excluded from the 3-1-1 rule! (Check out the TSA website for an explanation of the 3-1-1 rule) Also, before you travel make sure to check out the TSA’s website on items that are on the ‘prohibited list’ to ensure that you can bring it through security without any issues. I also brought a note from my son’s pediatrician that listed the items he is allergic to and the items that we therefore had to bring in our carry-on (i.e. Rice milk). Before you book any airfare though, you should look up the airlines policy on traveling with allergies. In a few days we will be traveling with Jet Blue ourselves and I was amazed to find out that they make sure you are seated in an area that is free of allergens (such as peanuts). If for some reason they are unable to accommodate you then they will reimburse you for the airfare.

Even though having a child with food allergies can be challenging at times. With good planning and preparation you can travel with them have fun and keep them safe!

Happy Travelin!

Jet Lag = Melt Downs

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My goal is to give you tips on how to travel with kids so I wanted to share a story with you and give you 4 quick tips from my most recent trip to California with my four year old.

Tip 1: Some airlines offer great deals on flights for “Black Friday” aka the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Last year, on a whim, I decided to take them up on this great offer and purchased a round trip ticket from Boston to Los Angeles for a steal of $250! That’s right I said round trip! I have yet to find an offer as great as this one! The downside to this deal is that you need to plan your trip anywhere from ‘as soon as possible’ to only three months out. Due to my budget I chose to book our trip on the very last week I possibly could in order to save up some extra money for spending.

After calculating the numbers (2 adults + 2 kids= $1,000 for plane tickets) my hubby and I decided that since the trip was to visit my best friend that I should be the one to go. Then after numerous discussions about how much I would miss my hubby and my children we made another decision to make the trip a girls weekend for my four-year-old daughter and myself. The next day I was so excited to tell my daughter the great news! Finally she would be going on a plane again… (my daughter thinks plane trips are the coolest thing in the world!) This brings me to my next tip.

Tip 2: Don’t hype up a trip to a four year old that is over 100 days away. It will only lead to him/her asking you everyday “are we leaving today?” My advice is to create a countdown calendar when the trip is 30 days away. This way he/she can visually see how many days before your big trip and this will help keep you sane!

Tip 3: The day before you leave make sure you give your kids a late morning nap especially if they have to wake up at 3:00am the next morning. Also, put them to bed an hour early. Trust me, you will thank yourself when you have to wake them at the crack of dawn!

On the morning of our trip, my biggest fear was airport security. To my surprise the security guards were AMAZING! They were so nice to my daughter and could tell she was nervous so they made sure that she didn’t leave my side. Next we boarded the plane, which was also a pleasant experience, because some airlines will let you board after first class with kids under 5 so you can get settled and not hold up the boarding process. The flight was 6 hours long (which feels forever especially when you did not get any sleep the night before. Tip 3 would’ve come in handy right about now!) I came prepared with toys, games, movies, books, and magazines for her and my own entertainment.

After landing in LAX and rushing through the airport to baggage claim my daughter mentioned she was hungry. I told her we would get some lunch soon which I quickly forgot about in the hustle and bustle of the airport. My best friend picked us up and our trip began without missing a beat. Our first stop was Hollywood Blvd for some star searching and shopping. At this point I am exhausted (there is a 3-hour time difference) but I am eager to see what the Hollywood fuss is all about. Soon we came across the Disney Soda Fountain & Studio Store and that’s when I have the fabulous idea of ordering us some ice cream for lunch (it is vacation of course!). We eat, enjoy then carry on. Our next stop was the Santa Monica Pier, which brings me to the greatest tip in the world!

Tip 4: Make sure to plan or pack healthy snacks, meals and stay on a schedule!  After parking at the pier, my daughter throws the most dramatic temper tantrum that I have ever seen her throw. Which then made me realize it is 2:00pm (when in her world is really 5:00pm EST aka dinner time) and all she has eaten all day was a piece of a muffin and some ice cream. So frantically I run up and down the pier looking for a quick bite to eat. I was able to get her to eat a few bites of a burger and some fries. About 20 minutes later the second meltdown began which would have been avoided if I had followed my own tip and stayed on our Eastern Time zone schedule!

Before the Meltdown….

Fortunately the next day was a new day and I made sure that I was going to stick to our normal schedule with plenty of healthy snacks and meals for the rest of the trip! Hope these tips help you on your next trip!

Happy Travelin!

My travel bag aka my purse!

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I am a busy mama on a budget who is always on the go! Here are a few things I always keep in my  travel bag (aka my purse) to keep my little ones busy and clean! All 10 of these items you can find around your house or buy for $5 or less!

1. Baby Wipes- These are not only good to clean baby bums but they are awesome to clean up messes, sticky faces and hands. You can find travel size packages in most drug stores and super stores.

2. Hand Sanitizer-  Soap and water is not always available and trust me you will be greatful when your little one touches something gross and you are able to sanitize their hands before they put them in their mouth! Small containers of these can always be found near the cash register in most stores.

3. A Pen & Paper- There always comes a time when you need to write down a address, a phone number, or even a quick grocery list. It also comes in handy when you want to try things on in a store dressing room but you need something to keep your little one busy. My daughter loves to draw and doodle, so this always comes in handy! My junk drawer is filled with free pens my hubby gets at work. I bought a small note pad at the dollar store that is the perfect size and allows my little one to be an artist on the go!

4. A First Aid Kit- I always expect the unexpected that way I am always prepared. I cannot tell you how many times I have been to a play ground when a little one has gotten hurt. Having bacitracin and a band aid can really save the day. You can create your own kit with a travel soap dish and fill it with a few bacitracin packets, a few band aids, some alcohol wipes, sterile gauze pads, and a small roll of tape.

5.  My secret weapon- A small travel size coloring book, with a few crayons(usually primary colors work best) and a pack of stickers. When boredom strikes a coloring book and crayons always saves the day!

6. Bubbles- Kids love bubbles and best of all they are cheap! I found travel size bubbles at the party store for less than a $1.00! You can make your own bubble solution with 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons light karo syrup or 2 tablespoons glycerin, 4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, Mix together and have fun!

7. A Hair Elastic- They come in handy when you need to keep hair out of your little ones face. You can also use them to tie off the bottom of a shirt that is too big or tie to the back of shoulder straps to keep a tank top from falling down. I also found them useful to hold up my pants when I was pregnant and not ready to commit to maternity clothes (I would tie one end around the button on my pants and loop the hair tie through the button hole and tie off in a knot). Another tip: dont waste your money on expensive hair ties in the mall when you can find great strong hair elastics at the dollar store!

8. Coins- As the head of the laundry department in my house my motto is ‘finders keepers.’ This means all the loose change I find in my hubby’s pockets is mine! Change always comes in handy when traveling with kids, especially quarters! Most malls, grocery stores, toy stores, and super stores have machines in the entrances or exits that are filled with little toys, stickers, and snacks. Being a stay at home mom I have a slim budget but sometimes if my little ones have been well-behaved during errand runs I like to reward them with a treat that wont break the bank. My kids love the sit-on rides in malls and outside department stores (that only take quarters of course). Sometimes it’s these little things that make your child’s day go from good to great and make you “the BEST mom EVER!” (as my daughter says!) Another good reason for keeping coins in your purse is for parking meters (that dont take credit cards).

9. Sunscreen- Unfortunately my kids got my irish skin which means I always need to stay on top of keeping their skin protected from our enemy (the sun!). Having this in my purse has been a life saver when we spend the day at the playground and I forget to bring their hats. You can find small tubes of sunscreen in the travel section as well as most drug stores or super stores. You can also find the travel tubes at the registers of these stores in the summer time (this is when I usually stock up).

10. Healthy Snacks- Some great snacks that I keep in my purse are foods that are both healthy and wont spoil over time. Whole grain cereals,  crackers, all natural fruit snacks, and trail mix make great snacks (just to name a few). My son has food allergies so I always make sure I have a safe healthy snack alternative for him. You can find small portions of these snacks and many more in your local grocery store, super store and/or drug store.

ps. The purse above is my everyday travel bag (aka purse). Since I am a bargin shopper on a budget I bought it at the outlet stores on clearance and saved 60% plus I also had a 30% off coupon so it was not only a wonderful Anniversary present from my hubby but a steal as well!

Happy Travelin!