Month: May 2015

Road Trip Survival Guide For Kids

Posted on by sarcasticwife

 

Road Trip Survival Guide For Kids

 

There was a time in our lives when my hubby and I would take a week long vacation every year in Mexico. The beautiful condos overlooking a breathtaking beach, swimming pools and cabanas were incredible.  Ohhh and the luxuries of a day spa, gym, shopping and restaurants…. Awe, I remember it like it was just yesterday. I miss those days…..

Fast Forward:
Well, six years and two kids later, we have yet to take a vacation. Unless you consider an unbearable 3.5 hour drive to Albuquerque, NM once or twice a year as a “vacation”.
Here’s how that plays out…
The Road Trip:
How can one little girl continuously scream at the top of her lungs for 3.5 hours straight!? (Not even an exaggeration) The other kid is asking, “are we there yet?” every 10 minutes. I ask myself every single time, “WHY DO WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES!?” By the second hour, my anxiety level is straight through the roof, I can’t breathe, I’m hyperventilating and crying! About the last half hour of the journey the screamer finally falls asleep. I can finally breathe and I’m taking pictures of her sweet sleeping angelic face! (This is my road trip induced Bipolar Disorder)
albuquerque-sign-theamazinglife
And then after a couple of days:
Repeat road trip hell & anxiety-attacked-bipolar episode above.
Fast forward to the present:
So, now we’ve decided to finally take a real family vacation this summer! Woo-hoo! Right? Well not exactly…
We’re DRIVING 8 HOURS to San Antonio with the “screaming machine” and the “are we there yet” broken record.  Wish us luck…
 Road Trip Survival Guide For Kids
Here is the list I’ve  compiled of road trip must haves our family cannot live without.
  (I’ve included a few resource links for your convenience)
  • Snacks-  Lots and lots of snacks!! It’s harder for kids to scream while their mouths are occupied with cookies and fruit snacks.
  • Portable Potty–  Because no one has to go potty until you are 15 miles away from the next rest area!  Double-bag the potty with grocery bags or trash bags for a quicker clean up.
  • Kid Approved Music–  I like to use Kids Bop because we get to hear versions of the popular music we love without the worry of an occasional F-Bomb.
  • DVD Player– Because it shuts everyone up.
  •  Kids Tablets– Because kids cannot live without them these days.
  • Headphones!!– This is a no brainer.  The headphones are so we can enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet without having to listen to the movie Frozen for the 5 billionth time.
  • Kids Car Seat Trays–  An easier way for kids to eat, drink and do activities without making a huge mess.
  • First Aid Kit with Tylenol & Allergy Meds–  Even if its just a scratch; they won’t stop crying until you put a band aid on it.  Just put a damn band aid on it!!!
  • Hand Sanitizer–  Because germs are gross.
  • Treasure Box–  A box full of new (cheap dollar store) toys!! Every hour they get a surprise from the treasure box which will keep them entertained for at least a few minutes.
  • Smart Support Backpack–   I cannot tell you how many times it has saved my life.  My kids hated being in a stroller.  They would rather be on our back where they can see everything while they are still contained from running like wild animals. Not to mention,  they usually fall asleep quickly without a fuss. I’ve had so many parents ask us where we got it. So here it is!!

Good luck on your family vacations!

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Laundry Guide To Save Your Sanity

Posted on by sarcasticwife

Okay I’ll admit it…

I’m probably the least domestic work-from-home mom you’ll ever meet. In fact, I’m probably the least likely person to give you advice about laundry. So, how did I create this Laundry Guide to Save Your Sanity? Well, quite honestly I’ve had a housekeeper for as long as I can remember and I depend on her as much as I depend on my right arm. I’ve never had to worry about having an uncontrollable mess, dirty dishes or piled up laundry. I knew she would always come to my rescue. That is, until one dreadfully sad, sad, sad day… she quit. Did I mention, sad?

The one thing I miss the most is having our laundry done. How do people do this stuff!? Let me get this rant out of the way… I HATE LAUNDRY!!

(Continue reading to find a Laundry Guide to Save Your Sanity)

laundry guide to save your sanity

So, now I have to come up with a simplified procedure or I give up and drown in this sea of laundry.

Personally, the problem is not getting the laundry washed and dried. It’s getting the laundry put away that is incredibly monotonous. I end up throwing in the towel and leaving the clean clothes in a pile on my bedroom floor.

Best. Wife. Ever… Right?

After, mountains of clothes and many, many unsuccessful trials and miserable failures, I finally found a routine that works for me. Here it is…

Laundry Guide To Save Your SANITY

Divide the clothes into these categories:

Pants
Shirts and Sweaters
Underwear, Socks and Undershirts
Towels and Blankets
Misc

Do not, I repeat, do not throw in one or two shirts with your pants load or vice versa! This may sound ridiculous but trust me, it’s an O.C.D nightmare. You will be thankful in the end. Laundry Guide to Save Your SanityRather than separate by just colors, I find it easier and less chaotic in the end to put away the clothes that are in these categories.

When I get pants out of the drier I lay them out flat in a pile and start placing pant hangers on all of them. Same with the shirts and sweaters. Since underwear, socks and undershirts are all things that need to be folded, they all go in the same load.

I find it easier to get into a faster rhythm if I’m doing all of the same category instead of switching from shirt hangers to pant hangers and folding undershirts in between matching socks. This may not be rocket science but it was a breakthrough for me when the laundry actually started getting put away!

I challenge you to try this Laundry Guide to Save Your Sanity for one week and let me know how it goes!

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Have a great day!

 

 

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