5 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Road Trip

Taking a family road trip can be a fulfilling, bonding experience, but many parents can view it as the Mount Everest of family holidays. But with these 5 tips for taking a road trip with children in mind, you’re assured a fun and relaxing holiday. Explore a country from behind the wheel, and maybe even hire a motorhome for your trip to ensure maximum comfort and ease. Check out our advice, and then let the adventure begin!

Pack The Snacks

No one is pleasant when they’re hangry, so avoid this at all costs. Purchase snacks before the trip to ensure you don’t have to overspend at petrol stations and resort to unhealthy choices. Kids on a sugar high are not ideal in such a small space, so aim for nutritious food that is low in sugar. Also avoid big meals, as this can cause travel sickness. Ideas include:

• Rice crackers and rice cakes
• Popcorn
• Nuts and dried fruit
• Sliced fruit
• Vegetable sticks and hummus, or another dip
• String cheese
• Sandwiches 

Pack food in portions, to avoid hassle on the road. And be sure to pack heaviest things, like drinks, at the bottom to avoid it getting crushed. Speaking of drinks, pack enough water and juice to keep everyone hydrated! 

Keep it fun

Boredom is the biggest danger during a road trip, as it leads to whiny, impatient kids. Defeat boredom by planning ahead, and having plenty of family car games. Classics like “I Spy”, “I’m Going on a Picnic” and “Travel Bingo” are ideal, as it keeps everyone focused and occupied. But also bring activity books, which can be found in any bookstore and will keep them entertained. 

Bring a CD that the whole family can tolerate, for when they’re more tired and just want to listen. I like downloading an audiobook (Harry Potter is great for slightly older children), as I find it more bearable than a children’s CD on repeat. 

Always have a backup. And by back up, I mean electronics. When things get really dire, an iPad or Laptop with a film will be your only salvation. Hopefully, it won’t reach that point, but be prepared.

Stops

Plan your stops in advance. This has two effects. Firstly, it gives kids something to look forward to, so they’ll ask to stop less. If you have set stops you also won’t be tempted to stop too often and ruin your schedule. Secondly, it ensures you stop at the right places. Avoid stopping at boring gas stations with overpriced shops and toilets, and instead, plan to stop somewhere with a playground for the kids to stretch their legs. Give a specific time that you’ll be at a stop, to avoid it running on. Another place to stop one day would be a beach or pool, perfect for a long day of driving. Have their splash stuff packed somewhere easy to grab, in a waterproof bag.

Packing

Make a list before your trip starts of everything you need to bring. Consider snacks, spare clothing, blankets and more. Pack clothes for each day separately, to make mornings easier, with a spare jacket on hand. 

Don’t forget to pack the following:

• First aid kit (including travel sickness pills!)
• Baby wipes
• Hand sanitizer 
• Power banks for electronics
• Small trash bags for on the road

If you’re heading abroad, be sure to check the rules for each destination you drive through. Some countries require you to contain certain documents or safety items in the vehicle at all times, so don’t be caught unprepared!

Destinations

When traveling to multiple destinations with young ones, planning ahead is vital. Make a list of each place you want to visit or things you’d like to do, and then look around each for things your kids would love too! Try to switch between preferences, to ensure smiles throughout the car. By camping with your motorhome each evening, you also give kids the room to run about and stretch their legs. Aim for a campsite with a playground - or even a pool- for the happiest of children. If you’d like to visit museums, aim for ones with interactive exhibits. 

How To Survive Traveling With Your Family With Most Of Your Marbles.

In the weeks leading up to our last trip across the world to Melbourne, Australia, every time I thought about the 29-hours of flying, coupled with being away from home for 21 days, I could barely sit down I was so riddled with anxiety. As a result, I spent weeks leading up to the trip planning, prepping and organizing like a crazy person. 

In order to alleviate some of that anxiety, I made preparing for my son's needs on our journey my first order of business. And... Well...  I TOTALLY overdid it. In an effort to save you the same overthinking, preparing and worrying, below are my, 5 Sanity Saving Tips For Family Travel.

1. Choose Your Seats Wisely: Seat choice is crucial when flying with your family, especially if you don't want to sit anywhere near them! (Kidding... Kind of...) The goal when flying with your family is to sit as close to the front of the plane as possible, and of course, the ever important window seat is crucial for entertaining your child in flight. If you are flying a carrier that does not offer early seat selection, call the airline and inform them that you are flying as a family and see what your options are. The seats could make or break your journey, so make sure you get the best ones you can!

2. FOOD! Food is essential. In fact, it is the one thing that should be considered if nothing else when prepping for family travel. My rule of thumb is to consider how many meals, including snacks, we will need, and then pack accordingly. TIP: Make sure to pack plenty of healthy, low-sugar snacks.

3. Child-size Pillow and blanket--Even when flying, most long haul flights provide each passenger with a blanket, but it's more like an oversized paper towel. The pillow is laughable, at best. The last thing you want on a flight or long car ride is a freezing child. Plus, you'll have way more luck settling a child into a favorite blanket than a paper towel or your jacket. TIP: When flying, the pillow is EPIC for keeping your child's head and your arm comfy. Trust me, smashed up against the side of a plane holding a sleeping child is a recipe for a numb sore arm.

 **Photo: Ollie passed out at LAX waiting for the connection to Melbourne, Australia. 

4. Let your kid pack their bag. Explain that ONLY the things that fit in the bag can go, so choose their favorite things. Once your child has finished packing, throw in a favorite book, crayons and a coloring book, if not already packed. The bag is "THEIR BAG" to look after and dive into during downtime. 

5. Pack light and limit carry-on. It's hard enough navigating a large airport with a child in-tow, it's another to do it with six bags! If at all possible, pick an airline that allows the first bag to fly free, or, consider the idea of paying to check one large bag, especially if you have multiple connections. 

BONUS TIP: Pack as light as possible. You will buy plenty along your travels and will need room in your luggage to bring things home. 

Five Tips For Tear-Free Family Travel (Parents included!)

After dragging my son around the world and back, I feel pretty solid about sharing a few tips for meltdown free family travel. So, if you're dreading heading to grandmas for the Holidays, or even trading bitter temperatures for warm sands, I can help make the trip not suck, because regardless of the mode of transportation or destination, one thing remains the same, the kids are coming and you need to prepare. 

1. Pack as light as possible. Between the gadgets, toys, clothes, blankets, bedtime bears and favorite pillows, it's easy to over pack. Very easy. Combat this by making a list of essentials for each family member, and stick to it. It's not like you're leaving for good, it's a week! 

Road Trip Tip: Check to make sure the headlights and taillights are working. Give em' a wipe while you're at it. Double check tires' air pressure and tread and look for nails or debris that could be potentially dangerous. You may want to invest in an air freshener too!

2. Snack Attack. Whether it's a hungry kid or a chatty kid, snacks will come in very handy.  Skip the traditional sandwiches for bento box lunches to keep kids busy.  Also, have a bribe treat. The go-to to your kid won't turn down. Like a scooby-snack. This is your miracle worker. Don't leave home without it.

Road trip snack TIP: Freeze small bottles of water and use them in the cooler instead of ice. The frozen bottles will keep things cold and the cooler from filling with melted ice that sloshes back and forth with every turn, begging to pour out all over the floor of the car.

3. Floors Are For Feet Only. Let's face it, the floors can be valuable real estate when traveling, but not so great for the person losing the foot space. Free up the foot space by hanging bags on the back seat. Backpacks fit nicely over the 'shoulders' of the seat or secured by the headrest. When in flight, slip things over the back of the tray table to free floor space.

4. Check Your Tech. Before embarking on any trip, check your tech; replace the batteries in your camera, charge everything, and bring a car charger. Pack all tech stuff in the same bag. When it comes to a crying kid over a dying tablet, the last thing you'll want to do is search four bags to find it. 

5. Set expectations very low. With all the planning, comes high expectations. Kill them. Now. Expect everything to go wrong. Make sure the children think they are on their way to hell and it will take hours to get there. The lower the expectations and understanding that shit happens, the happier everyone will be. 

Road trip tip: Whether you're traveling with a child or not, invest in a box of baby wipes. The pre-moistened wipes clean messy faces and surfaces in a pinch, and without stinky harsh chemicals! Not to mention, those little wipes will be a lifesaver at those grimy roadside and airport bathrooms that haven't seen an attendant in at least a decade.

The 2018 Guide To The Safest Sunscreens For Babies and Children

Each year, the Environmental Working Group examines hundreds of sunscreens. In 2018, 216 beach and sport sunscreens achieved a green rating in EWG’s 2018 Sunscreen Guide. These sunscreens received an overall score of 1, and a green rating for ingredient hazards. 

After narrowing down the field to the top 216, the EWG selected products unambiguously marketed for use on babies and children by including those with the terms “baby,” “kids,” “little,” and/or “children” in the product or brand name. Then filtered out products with ingredients that EWG considers particularly worrisome, like formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. 

In the end, only 23 sunscreens passed with the highest safety rating possible. They are as follows, in alphabetical order.

Adorable Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+

All Good Kid's Sunscreen, SPF 30
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Lotion Sunscreen, Sensitive Skin, SPF 50
Badger Kids Sunscreen Cream, Tangerine & Vanilla, SPF 30
Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Baby, SPF 50
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Baby, SPF 30+
BurnOut Kids Sunscreen, SPF 35
California Baby Calendula Sunscreen, SPF 30+
COOLA Suncare Baby Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
Equate Baby Zinc Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, SPF 50
Goddess Garden Organics Kids Sport Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Hawaiian Sol Sol Kid Kare, SPF 50
Kiss My Face Organics Kids Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30
MDSolarSciences KidCreme Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 40
Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen, SPF 50
Nurture My Body Baby Organic Sunscreen, SPF 32
Sunology Mineral Sunscreen, Kids, SPF 50
thinkbaby Sunscreen, SPF 50+
thinksport Kids Sunscreen, SPF 50+
Tom's of Maine Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
TruBaby Water & Play Sunscreen, SPF 30+
TruKid Sunny Days Sport Sunscreen, SPF 30
Waxhead Sun Defense Baby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen, SPF 35

FUN FACT: While U.S.Sunscreen standards are not as rigid as Europe, improvements are being made.

To read the entire EWG Sunscreen report to check on the Top Rated Beach and Sport Sunscreens or Safest Moisturizers with SPF, Click here.

Yummy Healthy Homemade Popsicle How-TO

Did you know, you can make superfood popsicles with ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen?
It's true.

 If you have yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit/greens and/or juice you have AWESOME popsicles waiting to be made. Just pull out the Dixie cups and craft sticks, then pour and freeze.

It's seriously THAT simple!

In fact, not only do I save money by making my own popsicles, I waste less too! I open the produce drawer and start grabbing the things that need to be used; spinach, kale, apples, oranges, strawberries, bananas... Then throw them in the blender with yogurt, juice or coconut water.


My favorite molds, and I know plenty of moms who agree, are mess free and safe for kiddos. Silicone, food grade popsicle molds with lids.

OK, now that the molds are covered, it's time to move on to the super-duper easy part, making the popsicles!

These Peanut Butter Banana Ice Pops are SO simple and great for breakfast on-the-go too! Add Peanut Butter, Bananas, honey, almond milk, vanilla extract and a pinch of Himalayan salt, then blend, pour, freeze, eat!

These Peach Smoothie Popsicles from Brit + Co are a summer staple for me. I LOVE peaches and so does the kid. Sometimes I throw in chocolate shavings for an extra sweet treat!

These layered Berry + Yogurt popsicles are super healthy and festive for Memorial Day!

Tip: To make those fancy layers pour one or two layers in at a time then freeze. Repeat.

Looking for the REAL breakfast of champions? Look no further than these Yogurt Parfait Popsicles.
Mix greek yogurt with a little honey, grab berries and granola and start layering. Add smoothie mix-ins like protein powder or superfood powder for an extra kick.

Hate throwing away leftover melon?  Puree it, then mix in a little coconut water, juice or yogurt to give it a smoother texture.

Can't be bothered to blend? Slice the fruit, stick a stick in it and freeze. Chocolate optional. (As if.)

I'm sure you get the point, Homemade Superfood Popsicles are easy and yummy. Now, go dig in the fridge and make something magical!

Check out all of my superfood and not-so-healthy favorites, including boozy Pop-tails on my Homemade Popsicle Pinterest Board!

Get my favorite molds on Amazon: They double as great on-the-go snack containers too!

                                                                 

11 Travel Hacks That Will Change The Way You Travel

It's the 2018 travel season and no doubt you're planning a trip, somewhere. Before you go check out the eleven amazing 2018 travel hacks below. They will change the way you travel and make your next trip so much friggin' easier! (Don't forget to Pin your favorites!)

1. Roll your clothes to pack twice as much in your suitcase.

2. Make wholesome meals for on-the-go. Save money and a belly ache by making instant oatmeal packs. All you need is a cup and hot water!

3. Two words, Battery Backup. You can buy battery back-ups on Amazon for five bucks!

4. Freeze water before going through airport security! It's cool, I promise.  But they must be FULLY FROZEN. No water sloshing about.

5. Use a plastic bag to make instant hands-free entertainment.

 6.  A car crash or any other unfortunate event on a holiday is scary, especially in a foreign country.  So should you find yourself in Australia, and need to find good criminal lawyers in Sydney, find them there, before you go, even if it's not necessary... yet.

 7. Use a rolled up belt to keep collars from smashing.

 8. The shower cap is magic for dirty shoes...

9. Is everyone hogging the USB chargers in the hotel room? Plug your's into the back of the TV!

10. Don't let your razor go gross, use a binder clip to keep it protected. 

11. This may be the most important tip... SCAN YO' SHIT!  Always scan all important documents, front, and back and email them to yourself. Also, scan front and back of credit cards. You may need that cancelation or theft number on the back. Be safe. Not sorry.