Tag Travel Tips

The Best of Greenville,SC

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Before my husband had received his acceptance letter to medical school we knew we wanted to move south. We loved everything about the south from the southern charm to the Barbecue and the Sweet Tea! Once we found out we were moving to Greenville, SC we were more than thrilled! I am going to share with you all of our favorite things to do and places to eat in Greenville, SC! So pack your bags because your next adventure starts now….

Let’t start in the heart and soul of the city… Downtown Greenville. This little city is filled with everything you need from nightlife to southern culture to the fine arts. While living in Greenville we saw some amazing plays such as Junie B. Jones meets Pinkalicious to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. It even has something for the kids like Mice on Main which is a well known scavenger hunt made up of tiny bronze mice that are hidden up and down Main St! (Can you find them all?) While you’re downtown be sure to check out Falls Park on Reedy River. This gorgeous park is located right in the heart of downtown. It has a footbridge so visitors can take in the picture perfect view, it also has plenty of nature trails, picnic areas and of course the Reedy River in all of its glory!

Since we are downtown lets take a trip to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate! This museum is the first children’s museum in the US that is a Smithsonian affiliate, and trust me it shows because this place is amazing! The exhibits range from a children’s hospital, to a news studio, and a Publix market! My kiddos loved the Construction Zone as well as the Reedy River Bend! If you are traveling with little ones this is a must do!

One of my absolute favorite things to do with my kids downtown is the Greenville Zoo! I love that the parking is FREE! There is also a huge playground out front with plenty of picnic tables and sometimes the Kona Ice truck will even pay a visit, so be sure to have some cash on hand. Most of all I love the animals! The zoo is on the smaller side but that is fine by me because it means, most kids will be able to walk it with out a stroller. They have a great selection of animals to view from Giraffe’s, to an Orangutan, to the Red Panda’s and the African Lions! What’s not to love! My favorite time to visit is in the fall just before Halloween when the weather is cooler and this is also when the zoo holds a special event called Boo in the Zoo. The zoo is decorated for Halloween and on select days your kids can go trick or treating in the zoo. Be sure to go early because this event is very popular!

Forget to pack something or are you looking for a quick bite to eat? Then I have the place for you! The Haywood Mall has it all, from great stores to delicious food. When we first moved to Greenville, this mall had just started it’s renovations. So we have seen how far it has come over the years. Our favorite store is the Palmetto Moon, it is where we bring all of friends and family when they come into town to stock up on Greenville, SC one of a kind merchandise. Our favorite restaurant is the Cheesecake Factory, because who doesn’t love a 30 page menu and the cheesecake is to die for! My favorite is the Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake, so yummy! Even if you aren’t in the mood to shop or snack, this mall is a great place to get some exercise on rainy days, so lace up those sneakers and grab a friend to join you!

If you are looking for a place for little ones to burn off some energy or to watch some planes take off then check out Runway Park at GMU. This park is located right next to the downtown Greenville airport and you have a front row seat to watch some incredible aircrafts take flight. The park has picnic tables, a small track for kids to run or ride scooters on, plenty of benches for parents to sit back and relax, and the playground is our kiddos favorite because it is aviation themed. I will warn you this place gets pretty busy on the weekends so go early!

One of my favorite things to do in the Palmetto State is eat! (Food is what the south is known for!) South Carolina is known for the best southern food around! My husband stuffed his face with shrimp and grits, collard greens & barbecue! Although his biggest weakness comes from a gas station called QT in the shape a maple frosted donut, haha. These donuts are delightful and don’t forget to grab your QT cup to grab a drink to accompany this tasty treat! I, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough of the biscuits! I don’t know how South Carolina does it but I have never eaten more delicious biscuits in any other state in my life! I have two favorite places to eat biscuits. My first favorite place is Biscuit Head. Here the biscuits are literally the size of the plate, so I suggest sharing. What I love most about this place is the Jam Bar! Every jam, jelly and butter is made in house and is fresh daily and you can mix match and blend till your little heart desires. I am a big fan of the classics and the strawberry jam is my favorite. My second favorite, is Maple Street Biscuit Company. I lucked out big time because Jacksonville, FL happens to be the headquarters of this wonderful business which means even in Florida I still get to eat my favorite biscuits! Score! What I love about Maple Street is that they take my two favorite things, chicken and biscuits, and put together one of the most unique menus I have ever eaten. I also love how the question of the month is different. So each visit seems like a new experience. The one thing that is hard to find in Greenville is good pizza. The closest thing we could find to good pizza was a place called Copper River Grill, they have the best Stone fired BBQ Chicken Pizza around. I also, highly recommend ordering a side salads as well, mostly because they come with a butter croissant that melts in your mouth that is drizzled in a sweet glaze. Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds!

If you are traveling in the summer and are looking to beat that Carolina heat check out the Greenville County Waterparks! Greenville has three small waterparks: Discovery Island Waterpark, Otter Creek and 7th inning Splash. Discovery Island is our favorite it has a small lazy river, two water slides, and a great water structure that our kiddos loved to play on! Another great summertime activity is catching a ballgame at Fluor Field and if you are Red Sox fans like us than you are in luck because the Greenville Drive happens to be the affiliate team for the Boston Red Sox!

If you are traveling in the winter months our favorite thing to do is to get in the car turn on some holiday music, grab some hot chocolate from Dunkin Donuts (since I am a New England girl) and check out the holiday light displays throughout the city. If you are looking to extend your car ride, take a day trip to Asheville to see the lights at the Biltmore. Another holiday treat is ice skating on Main St also known as Ice on Main! To the folks of Greenville this is a must do holiday activity!

I hope you love the Palmetto State as much as I did! If not then bless your heart! One of the best things about Greenville, SC is the people who live there. You will never meet nicer people in your life no matter where you travel. These people will give you the shirt off their backs. They bring a whole new meaning to southern charm and hospitality. Now every time I travel and hear a “Hey Y’all!” it brings me back to the upstate and the amazing memories we’ve made there!

Happy Travelin’

Disclaimer: This article is based on my opinions and is not affiliated or being endorsed by any of the companies listed above.

Surviving the Holidays… On a Budget!

llmckenzi Leave a comment

Tis the season to be jolly, or in our family tis the season of birthdays, holidays and stretching our budget very thin! Over the years I have learned a few ways to embrace the joys of the season, without blowing our budget. After all, this is the time of year to spread holiday cheer so I am going to share my favorite tips with you…

Start Saving Early– I learned early on that in order to actually save for the holiday season sometimes that means you have to put a little bit a side each pay check starting in January. This amount can be as little as $10 a week. Some banks even have special programs called holiday savings accounts that are designed so you can only pull the money out of the accounts on designated times of the year, to prevent you from spending the money.

Get Crafty– Everyone loves handmade gifts! Every year my husband and I bake cookies and make peanut butter balls that we wrap up and give as gifts. Not only are these delicious treats but people seem to really love getting them as gifts! Some other ideas I have done in the past are made photo books, candles, ornaments and knitted scarves! So whatever your crafty talent may be, you can put it to good use!

Shop Around– (and I don’t mean department stores…) I’m talking about checking out yard sales and online market places for used and gently used items. Sometimes you can even get items for free or for half the cost as the department stores asking price. You just need to be willing to put in the extra TLC and give it a good cleaning or a fresh coat of paint.

Split the Cost– When buying a larger gift for someone, sometimes you can split the cost with another person or a group of people like you might split the check with a large group at a restaurant. I have done this in the past and it works out great when everyone contributes. It is a wonderful way to get that special someone the gift that you want to get them without breaking the bank!

Cheapest way to Travel– This can get a bit tricky! If you need to fly during the holidays be sure to save up for your flights ahead of time and be sure to book the flights early or as soon as a deal hits. There are tons of flight tracking websites that can help you find good prices for the flights and cities you are looking for. Some can even help you find deals for last minute travel. To save on the cost of hotel, ask to stay with friends and family instead. My advice is if you have to travel during the holidays always look into your cheapest transportation options. Ever since we started having children, we are always comparing flying versus driving for our family of five. Holidays have become more complicated for us and, because of that, it is cheapest around the holidays for us to spend the holidays at home. If family wants to visit then they are welcome too! Just be sure to chose the best option for you and your family!

Shop Online– As much as I love shopping in stores, sometimes it is just better for my budget to shop online. Especially when the store offers free shipping or with free curbside and/or in store pick up. Shopping online keeps me sticking to my list and my budget! Plus you can compare the cost with other retailers with a click of a button.

Swap Names– My three kids love to buy each other gifts around the holidays but our budget can’t be stretched for nine extra gifts. Swapping names saves us a ton of money! To do the swap, we have everyone put their names in a hat and each draw a name. Then we give them a set dollar amount limit and take them to the store and let them shop for one another. The best part about this is they get really excited to see their brother or sister open their present since they put a lot of thought into their gift. Some schools even offer holiday store programs where the students can shop for gifts at school and they will even wrap the gifts at school. We have done this in the past as well.

Shop Sales– I am a clearance rack shopper, a couponer, a discount store hunter, you name it I will hunt down the sale to find the best price. So don’t be afraid to do your research and find the best coupon or the best store price for the item you are looking for. Also, don’t be afraid to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These can be hit or miss depending on the item you are looking for but sometimes they can save you a pretty penny! My husband and I love shopping on Black Friday at the outlets. We get some great deals plus it’s the perfect date night! Win-Win!

Stock up on Promotional Gift Cards– Anytime I can take a survey or refer a friend, I get a free gift card. I stash it away for the holidays. These make great gifts or can be used to buy great gifts for the holidays! For the foodies in your life be on the look out for restaurant gift card deals in the winter months. Many restaurants like to have promotional gift card deals where you buy a certain amount in gift cards and you get a bonus gift card for free. Just make sure you check to see if the gift cards have a use by date before you stash them away!

Yankee Swap or White Elephant Gift– I love these gift swaps because they are outside the box. Usually you play these types of holiday swap games at parties but I have done them with family as well. It is a great way to mix up the holidays, plus it’s an easy gift that stays within our budget. If you don’t know what a Yankee swap is, it is when you bring a wrapped or unwrapped gift to an event. Usually the gift has to be under a certain price point and most of the time it is cheap! The gift is usually something practical like a candle, a blanket, sometimes if it is an adult gathering you could do wine or scratch tickets. Then you draw names or numbers and when you are called you pick a gift and unwrap it and you chose to keep it or swap it with another person for another gift. It is a fun little game. White elephant has the same rules except the twist is that the gift is usually something silly like toilet paper or used gift cards. The point is usually to buy or find the most outrageous gift… plus it makes the game more fun! These are great games to play if you are hosting a party so everyone goes home with a gift and plus its a fun game that everyone wins.

So there you have it folks, I hope you enjoyed my tips! I also, hope you have a season of savings, a season of cheer, and to top it off a wonderful New Year!

Happy Holidays!

8 Fabulous Tips for Surviving Road Trips with Kids

llmckenzi 2 Comments

On the road again…

After moving south for medical school, my husband and I thought we would never be able to afford to travel until after he graduated. Boy, were we wrong! We have traveled more during medical school than we have at any other time in our lives. Prior to med school we agreed that we would not just put our life on hold and try to enjoy this new life adventure to the fullest. We saved as much as possible and with the help of these eight simple tips we have been able to travel the East coast on a budget!

Tip 1- Drive– We found that we could never afford five plane tickets on our budget so we drive everywhere. It only costs us one tank of gas to get to Florida from our home in South Carolina and it costs us three tanks of gas to drive home to Massachusetts. As you can see driving is a no brainer.

Tip 2- Bring your own food– I cannot even begin to tell you how much money we save when we bring our own meals from home. It saves us time because that is one less stop we need to make along the way.

Tip 3- Play car games– Growing up we did not have fancy electronics to keep us entertained when taking long road trips. Even now, my kids and I enjoy taking a screen time break to play some good ole fashion road trip car games. One of our favorites is the license plate game where we try to find the most unique license plate states. You can even pass the time with a game of eye spy! This game is a favorite of my younger kiddos since they can’t read license plates yet.

Tip 4- Pack a potty seat– I know this tip is more for potty training but I have found that sometimes your kiddos just have to go and there is no potty in sight for miles. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times the potty seat saved us from a potty disaster!

Tip 5- Bring grocery bags and Zip-lock bags– Now is the perfect time to make use out of all those grocery bags that you have stored away. Grocery bags come in handy to control the trash chaos that can happen in the back seat on a road trip. You can never bring too many! I will never forget what our car looked like after our first road trip. It looked like a tornado passed through my car! Zip-lock bags are my best friend when traveling because when it comes to road trips my kiddos cannot stop snacking and they never seem to be able to finish anything. Using a zip lock bag I can just bag it and save it for later. They also double as storage for car chargers or cords and are great for holding small toys with little pieces that you don’t want to lose in your car.

Tip 6- Bring muffin tins– Muffins tins are perfect for travel because they are small enough to place on your child’s lap but also the holes are deep enough that you can put snacks and meals in them. A bonus tip: Muffin tins double as additional drink storage, so you’re welcome! We also like to use these special travel divider plates that I keep in our car year round. It is perfect for travel because it has a food separator to keep your condiments from spreading into your other food.

Tip 7- Bring pillows and blankets– I hate sleeping in the car without a pillow. It is so uncomfortable! I never leave for a road trip without bringing my pillow from home. I also bring blankets to layer on us since it is easier than driving in hot stuffy jackets.

Tip 8- Drive at night– My husband loves to drive at night. With less traffic and cars on the road it saves time getting to your destination. It makes the trip go by faster because we put the kids to bed in the car then when they wake up in the morning we are almost to our destination. He loads up on coffee and snacks and will pop in an earbud to listen to podcasts to keep him alert and pass the time.

Hope you enjoyed my road trip traveling tips! For more traveling tips be sure to check out my article “Ten Fabulous Traveling Tips.”

Happy Travelin’

Traveling to Walt Disney World with FPIES

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As many of you may know my youngest was diagnosed with FPIES (Food Protein Induced Entercolitis Syndrome) as an infant. FPIES forever changed our lives. The outside world suddenly became a terrifying place to bring my infant son because all it would took was a single crumb to turn our day into a medical nightmare. The FPIES foundation was not only an amazing resource but also a ray of light in the darkness of this disease. They became our only support and guided us to where we are today. I am forever grateful for them, their support and their resources. 

Recently, the FPIES foundation reached out to me and asked if I was interested in writing a blog article for them about traveling with FPIES. Not only was I honored to have the opportunity to give back to them for all they have done for us but they also asked me to write a Disney article! (One of my favorite subjects!) Please join me in spreading FPIES awareness. I hope you enjoy my article Traveling to Walt Disney World with FPIES

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’

Travelin’ with Allergens (Food that is!)

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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!