A Little Book Talk...

So, I'm intensively working on a book proposal, to head off large trade publication agents. Although, for BTSOD I think a print on demand book would be best. I am scheduling maybe 2-3 seminars (probably at my house!) with small groups of parents to discuss certain aspects of the book and to share information and concerns regarding the book. More updates closer to February of 2010. I also will have a link where you can order it. I think, there is definitely a need for a Travel with Infants and Toddlers Guide book, and a few people have already recognized that. I would really like more traffic on this particular blog because I seem to get a huge response on Twitter. So, please everyone, recommend this blog to people... and there may be good things for you in heaven.

Update on 13 December-

The class has ended and I have just drafted my schedule for everything. I'll be posting it here soon.

A Huntington We Will Go...

Off to the Huntington Library! Papa has a 3 day weekend due to the changing of the floors. This will be the first time we will be taking the girls, and we can have them running around the grounds and enjoying all the ponds and fountains. Then after, we will be enjoying a couple days in LA, and we might even see a good friend this weekend.

This is all we could think of for a short, fun family vacation on our ever so tight budget. We are members of the HL, so no admission. Our lodging will be minimal- because we are staying on our free stays-- (after 10 nights with hotels.com you get a free 1.) Food is all we really have to pay for, and breakfast is free at the hotel.

Our car, which is a 1998, 2 door Honda Civic, has about 197,000 miles on it. It's still beautiful and wonderful and we call him Pedro. He is getting a maintenance check early in the morning and this is basically where all our money is going. He still gets about 27 miles to the gallon.

We will post a bunch of pics, but I am just glad to be away from the grind of work and household stresses. The next weeks, we will be refreshed for Emmy's 1st Birthday and Thanksgiving.

MacLAren: Stroller Recall, Also Saftey Then and Now

Hey you guys! My favorite stroller company, based in the UK, Maclaren is having a massive stroller recall in the US, and you can pick up a repair kit for free. I am assuming at most major retailers where you can buy Maclarens. Here is some info about it...

http://recall.maclarenbaby.com/

I have always loved this company, and sorry to hear such an unfortunate engineering mishap has occurred. Such a good product and I am certain that the engineers have already corrected the problem-- and the new strollers will be safer.

Safety Then and Now

I was talking to a more mature, uncle of mine who told me, in the 50's they used to play with mercury from thermometers and rub it all over their fingers. The mercury could would turn pennies into silver. They would play with firecrackers (scary ones) all the time and burn their fingers. Some of his friends even blew their fingers off. But the next day, there they were, playing with with those firecrackers again, minus friend who blew his fingers off, of course. Or in the Philippines they would run behind the DDT truck that was smoking all the mosquitoes out, behind the smoke and laugh and scream...

Now move forward a couple (or three) decades when I was a kid, (between the age of 5 and 8). I was left with my two cousins (about a couple years older than me) to cook our own meals, and pretty much fend for myself until my parents got home from work. I have no recollection of my brother in all of this. Was my mom there? I thought she was working? Hmmm. I would freak out now if a 5 year old was cooking a meal in a microwave. Or, we would just play in the streets, for hours until it got dark. Hello? Molesters? Serial Killers? Getting hit by a car? Accidents? Getting burned? H1N1?

Am I a paranoid mom? Did my parents neglect me? I can't even leave the girls in the car to pay for gas at the counter... this all has to be meticulously planned. Am I just paranoid? Am I making life harder? IS life harder?

I remember wanting to badly ride in the hatchback portion of my cousins station wagon, with blankets and pillows. I remember having so much fun riding on the freeway in the back of a flatbed truck, no seat belts of course. There were no airbags, seat belt laws in cars. No bike helmets, elbow and knee pads. I wasn't a child of the safety recall era. Even car seats were fairly new back then. There weren't little water gauges telling you that you need to tilt the car seat up about 2 degrees, so that your infant can best survive a head on collision that way. And, if you even think about forgetting to put a harness on your dogs, while they ride the car, you are the anti-christ. Knowing everything then, that I know now, would I have died or been seriously maimed before I reached 19?

There was no hip dysplacia, reflux, ADD, or schizophrenia in toddlers. Hell, there wasn't even autism. There was just fussy babies and the croup. Allergies were sort of non-existent, there were kids who could run, and kids who couldn't. Don't even get me talking about breast feeding vs formula nowadays. They finally decided after 20 years of messing with it, the best way to avoid SIDS is the Back to Sleep method. (baby on back.) first it was baby on tummy, then to side, back to tummy and now to back again. Second hand smoke? That kid just has a chronic cough. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Nah. Remember Fredo in the Godfather?

Today, it's Amber Alerts and Code Adams. The other day someone tweeted (before calling police) that they were involved in a hit and run with the description of the car and they found the person in minutes. There are amber alerts, and sex offender websites and even an application for your iPhone where it will BEEP if a sex offender is within range. Dad is no longer drunk, unemployed and absent. He is now recognized as a an official "deadbeat dad."

Then at about 7 or 8, I want to say Trick or Treating was changed forever. News stories about people putting needles and razor blades in candy had everyone checking out their loot before they could eat it. Even taking their bags to the airport or to the Police Station to get their bags x-rayed. (Now, if you go to the airport with a mask, you will get shot.) If you get X-rayed you need a lead cover. People started chastising the old lady who made homemade popcorn balls for the past 30 years, for not having a pre-packaged seal on her treats.

I'm not saying we were worst back then, or even now for being better. I'm not even saying the old lady who made popcorn balls wasn't a terrorist, and I'm not saying she is. There are these things called studies, and science and polls, and life experience that teach us which things are good, and which things are bad. All in all we don't really know because it's constantly changing. As we speak, there is a new disorder, a new vaccine, a new disease, a new serial killer, a new urban legend...

So, I guess, do what makes you feel safe within reason, or you might go crazy thinking about it like yours truly.

GAP CASTING CALL

Here are the pics we decided to use for the Gap Casting call. You can vote once day I believe for each kid. Please vote for the first Myla picture because they cant combine the pic votes. Thanks everyone! have a good week and don't forget to vote every day. After the first initial time, it's just a click, so don't let that hinder your clicker fingers.

VOTE FOR MYLA!

VOTE FOR EMILY!

Fall Weather & Trips for November

Andy is going to Chicago to attend a business conference. We were at first, thinking of trying to tag along- his room is paid for, and we would just have to take care of airfare and personal money. But, financially, we just won't be able to swing it this time. We would need about 800-1000 if we want to eat, go to the Shedd Aquarium etc. That, and practically, Andy would have been working day and night- so this time around, he is on a recon mission for us instead. We have received all the info as to how we can do it next time, if we are lucky enough to have extra funds. I have a few friends in Chicago, so we might just make it a family trip on our own.

Of course we have to go on a couple overnights for some weekends. So we have a weekend in November reserved for the Huntington Library. We have an extra day off, so no vacation days will be used. When we first went, we were in the middle of a heat wave and the grounds were impossible to move through. Now, it is chillier and we will take the girls (of course) and be able to enjoy the gardens fully.

I love, love fall weather. I love cloudy, chilly, almost rainy and rainy weather. I was really meant to live in the UK or something. Being born and raised in San Diego, where it's sunny almost year round... I get depressed about the sunny, perfect, weather quite often. I think both the girls like the cooler weather, as when we went up to San Francisco and we had to bundle them up, they looked like they were having such a good time.

Advantages of Colder Weather:

• For picnics, and just snack toting- food and milk doesn't get spoiled as quickly, you might even get away with not having to bring a cooler. A lot of baby bags have insulated stuff- that keeps the hot things hot and the cold things cold.
• Socks. I just like socks.
• Layering. Some summer stuff can be layered, light pants can go under dresses, boys long sleeved shirts can go under tee shirts etc. I love Baby Legs. Baby Leg Warmers that you can throw over leggings, under dresses, even wear on arms (yours or your kid's!) And when you are trying to make a quick diaper change, they make it much easier.
• You can stay out longer. You don't have to worry about little ones getting sun stroke and heat exposure. Also, the little ones are less likely to get tired right away.
• Places to go are less crowded and busy.
• Everything is pretty much cheaper, admission, flights (except for the days before and after major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.), hotel room rates, etc.
• Souvenirs from little trips during the cooler seasons make great Holiday gifts. So, multi task and do some small holiday shopping (be sure you can pack it on the plane!)

Stuff to bring when you go out in the chilly fall weather... room temperature bottle of water, hand sanitizer, (proven fact, we wash our hands less in the colder months.) Blankets for infants (of course) and a Toddler needs a snuggle also.

I am going to be working most of these holiday weekends at a retail job so we can make ends meet. More on that in a few, can't post what I am unsure of. Both the girls are excited about the prospect of Pumpkin Patches, dressing up as Darth Vader & Yoda, Turkeys and Christmas Trees. Hopefully, you'll be on the seat of your diapers and keep up with us!

Will Work for Travel

The Family and I have some exciting local trips ahead, well, in the planning still... First off, we want to go somewhere cold, within a 2-4 hour flight from San Diego so we can go on a weekend. If we can't really see the seasons, we will settle for San Francisco. This will be sometime in November. We have a couple weekends reserved for our new favorite, the Huntington Library, and also a trip planned to Disneyland for a wedding for our dear friends Tim and Chelsea. We are really, quite excited about that.

So there are hotel room nests to build, bags to pack... and I am also in the market for rolling luggage. Rick Steves, my favorite travel guru, sells a nice carry-on standard rolling luggage which I simply must get, and a lot cheaper than most. I know his stuff won't fall apart on you either.

In order to pay for these trips, I am applying for a seasonal job, cutting back unnecessary Christmas expenses and looking for deals and coupons everywhere I can find them. (For trips as well as every day household things.) Basically, "Will Work for Travel" should be my new motto. I am signed up to see some time shares that we can't afford or buy, with no intention of buying them. Just want the free trips they give away with them, and the 30 bucks cash they give you for your time. Nice.

Other ways I have made a little bit of money:

• Consumer Surveys (25-65 usd an hour, about 1-3 hours)
• consignment stores for the girls old clothes (about 100-200 bucks a drop off)
• seasonal part-time retail position
• enter free contests
• rebates, coupon cutting (this is very time consuming, but you will be surprised how much it adds up.)

Road Trip Tips!!

Portions of this post can also be seen on my Examiner Entry

As you know, we just came back from our five day Redwoods Trip. I am a packing fiend, especially for the kiddos. But my weakness has always been the overnight trip, or the short, domestic trip. I can fit both girls and my things in a 40 liter backpack for two months in foreign countries, but for a four day road trip I pack the rented Volkswagon Reuton with 5 shopping bags of food, three bags for personal stuff, two backpacks, a case of diapers, a cooler and a case of water, bedding and two strollers. For some reason, I always take too much on the short trips. It's as if my brain is saying, "We will definitely use THIS. We don't want to have to go back and pay overblown tourist prices for something simple." It really is living in luxury as they call it.

A few awesome snacks I recommend for road trips?

Two items that you can open, and toss over your toddler:

Snack trap cups with Cheerios or Gerber Puffs.

Squeezy Applesauce

Juice Boxes

Stuff we had in our cooler:

Half and Half (for me and Papa's coffee)

Case of foil wrapped juice packets

8 diet sodas

3 energy drinks.

4 yogurts

squeezy applesauce

bottled waters

Extra tips: Have your hotel info and/or vouchers, maps, paper information in one designated place, so much easier than digging.

I also like to put the designated gas money or card, in that folder or envelope also, so that I know I don't spend it on other stuff that isn't gas, also this way, we don't have to worry about it on the trip itself.

Make sure you have what you need for baby within an arms reach of you, in case you need to reach him.

Clear a spot in the trunk (if you are taking a van, this is especially helpful) where you can change diapers. If you are taking a car, make a changing station that can easil be folded or rolled up and put on the ground where you can make a quick change. Have all this stuff handy, diapers, wipes bags.

Bring your own trash bags and dispose of everything properly. Be a responsible visitor.

Driving tips:

Make sure you are both agreed on driving and being able to pull over and switch when you are tired.

Find something interesting where you should stop, if there is anything. Most of the time there is. These are the stops where you can see an Alien Diner, use the restroom, change diapers, feed the kids that need to be fed. Of course, if you are breastfeeding, your stops need to be more frequent, as we did this on our first road trip to Utah when Myles was 5 weeks old. Making the journey part of the trip makes all the stops worth it.

Back From Long Beach

I could kick myself for forgetting some things. Here I am preaching to moms about clever things you need to take, and what do I do? I forget half of my stuff! Anyway, here's what we forgot...

Blue Painter's Tape (to tape all the drawers shut for our little cruiser, as well as tape hotel washcloths to corners of tables)

Power outlet covers (4-6 of them)

extra sticky things for the tub so the toddler doesn't slip.

Papa made a nest for the toddlers sleeping quarters... I tweeted about it. It was awesome. We used the bedcovers (because they aren't very clean) to pad the bottom. Then we used, some extra hotel blankets and finally a new set of clean hotel sheets. Myles brought her blanket and her own pillow and the nest had a ring of hotel pillows around it. At the foot of the bed was Emmy's travel bed (basically a folding drawer) and we made that cozy for her. All of this stuff was on the floor so that Papa and I could sleep and not worry about them falling off the bed.

Anyway, we did alright otherwise, but we would have had an easier time if we had brought the stuff. I am definitely bringing it on our road trip because that will be all motels.

The trip was great, we saw the Long Beach Aquarium and had a great time with family. We stayed completely under budget, so we can definitely do this again! =)

Quick Overnite to Long Beach

Heading up to the OC for our lovely Cousin Ganzuzu's Bday party and to the Long Beach Aquarium on Sunday. Can't wait to take this teeny trip, as the stresses from work and whatnot make us want to take a couple days off. Budget for this small trip is small as well.

• Tickets to Aquarium are $18.95 USD. (Five dollars off, normally $23.95 USD if you buy them online ahead of time. ) $37.90 USD
• Gas will be about $25.00 USD.
• Hotel for us, is going to be about $80.00 USD.
• Food Budget $40.00 a Day

Total: $223.00 USD

Any trips we take we try, and try to pay for everything in advance. I like to use sites like www.hotels.com, which mostly books you and pays for it. One less expense to worry about. The girls are excited about the prospect of breaking the monotony. I think Memmy already has the travel bug because she loves, loves being in a new place and people watching. Myles is pretty much a veteran traveler, and she knows to stay next to us when she's in a different place. Knows about the value of new places and situations. I know this from the way she recognizes things and observes them. Let you know all about it as well as post pics. Have a great weekend everyone!

CARES Harness...

So, you no longer have to lug a car seat on the plane! FAA Approved, for children 22-44 pounds.

check out Travel Mamas for more info on the thing. It's pretty awesome, gonna order mine and letcha know how we feel about it.

Two Worlds Converge: Super Geek and Super Mom

Before my little beans were born, I never noticed the attendees who mumbled under their breath, every time a baby made a sound in a theatre, or during a panel. I never noticed how many times people exhaled in discontent every time the wheels of a stroller touched their feet in the crowded exhibit hall.

But it happens.

San Diego Comic-Con is, it’s the largest ever convention of its kind- celebrating the popular arts. Comic Books, Movies, video games, role playing games- anything and everything that at one point touched Comics or Science Fiction. It’s set up for about a quarter of a million people, at the San Diego Convention Center. The exhibit hall is where people are hawking their comics, books, costumes, zombie contact lenses... and major companies like Warner Brothers (who incidently, had a wonderful display of “Where The Wild Things Are” to advertise their new movie based on the popular Chilren’s Book. Nickelodeon had a Tribute to Sponge Bob Square Pants. Snoopy and Pikachu were walking around one of the days.

The other rooms are set up for panels and trailers and interviews with famous people and shows. there are workshops for people in the business. The panels go from The cast of Twilight to a small writer's circle with intimate Q and A's.

My conclusion, after bringing Myla when she was 3 months, and then when she was 20 months and then now when she is two as well as Emily when she is 8 months, is this: UNLESS NECESSARY, DON'T BRING YOUR BABIES. Kids over 7 maybe are great to bring on kids day, but anything under probably shouldn't attend...

Here are the reasons why:

1. After seeing Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba, although they will enjoy it for a moment and get their picture, there really isn't much more for them to do.

2. It's way to crowded. Like horribly crowded. Germs. Toes. Arms. Legs. Not a great place to take the buggers. Now, when Myles was little, we carried her in the carrier and we also had her in the stroller. But when she got older, all she wanted to do was run around. And with god reason, there were people dressed up, big kids running around like little kids. To the two year old eye, it looks like a safe place for them to play. But it's a different kind of play. And it's really hard to explain this to an anxious Toddler.

3. There are no facilities for people with babies. They do not have a place for people to breast feed (I asked) and they said it was up to the conventions to set those up. Comic Con does not set any aside- which is again, understandable. My one complaint about this, is there are a LOT of babies there. Also, there are no changing facilities. I am fine changing babies on the floor, but something irked me about seeing all of these moms in corners changing their babies like it was a dirty shame to have one around.

4. Babies make a lot of noise. During panels, people who attend Comic-Con sometimes have to wait in line for hours to get into some of these panels, and when they are trying to hear Brucs Campbell talk, they don't want to hear a crying baby. Or even a babbling, happy baby. Music to MY ears, but not to your average 2009 Super Geek Model.

So these are some of my reasons as to why you shouldn't bring your beloved ham hocks to San Diego Comic Con... I have in the past, brought an infant (under one) and she was fine in the stroller or the carrier, but toddlers definitely a reconsider. Please, if there are great reasons as to why you SHOULD or have brought your toddlers and infants to Comic Con, please put them here! I would love to hear your input.

Redwoods National Park: Planning Continued

If we were to drive to Redwoods National Park from San Diego, google maps tells us it will take 13 hours. From San Francisco, it will about 5 hours. We will have Friday Afternoon until Monday Morning to accomplish this feat. Here is our planned itinerary:

Friday:

130pm Leave SD

6pm stop for dinner, changes etc.

11pm arrive at San Francisco, check in for the night.

Saturday

5am Wake up, have coffee and hit the open road.

8am Breakfast with laid back country folk

1130am arrive at RNP, check into motel.

RNP the whole day

Sunday: Crescent City, RNP etc. Start heading south.

Monday: Still heading down south to SD.

Of course, I never, ever make definite itineraries just (general ideas) because you never know where the road might take us. Especially with me as navigator and Papa driving. HA!

Budget & Funding

We had a bad day here at the house... only because it seems like when one thing happens, another is sure to follow... first our car broke down a few days ago and that put us in a monetary bind. But it still doesn't dampen our spirits. The same day the car broke down (and I was told we had to shell over 800 USD to get it fixed), I also got the email saying I reinstated my website for travel. I believe Global Travel International is a subsidiary of Travelocity, so if you book through our site, you get those guarantees, and you would be helping fund our trip. Prices are just as competitive, just like if you were to use Travelocity anyway. BUT you would be helping us by using it instead of those other sites. =) Just click here if you want to check it out. Or over there on the right, I have the link too. Thanks in advance!

Redwoods National Park ROADTRIP!

We have decided that our labor day weekend will include a 13 hour drive to Northern California on a road trip with the kiddos. Leave Friday after work (I think Papa has a half day), car packed from the night before and head to the open road! Can't wait, as I have never seen these parks before, since I'm not really all that into "nature" as I like to joke. Then back on Monday so Papa can work the next day. (Poor guy!)

The California Redwoods are one of the "500 Places to Take Your Kids Before they Grow Up." I love road trips... packing the cooler full of ice and cold beverages, leaving the wee hours of the morning, coffee in hand... nothing but the open road in front of you and adventures 'round every corner.

But of course, we are leaving in the afternoon... and picking up Papa from work... Oh well. The sensory image was nice anyway. If you have been to Redwoods National Park before, please let me know anything that is a MUST see, aside from big-ass trees. My packing list is starting to grow... Papa & I have a couple overnights for Comic Con and for our anniversary in LA, and I will write about alone time later.

Day Trip To Seal Beach, CA

We are visiting some cousins tomorrow from the East Coast, and I suspect there will be a some shenanigans goin' on in the park tomorrow. Our fast, "To Go" from home breakfast...

For the 2 year old: a banana, cup of cheerios, about 6 ounces of milk in a sippy cup.

For the 7 month old: 6 ounces of formula

Mom: Yogurt & Coffee

Dad: Bowl of Cereal (before we drive off) & Coffee

The drive is about an hour and a half... we get gas, and some snacks along the way and coffee. Memmy has her Whoozit. (That blue whatsit you see on the right there... and Myla is bringing Loey (her cleanliness-deficient stuffed dog) and her soccer ball for the park. Can't wait to see the cousins!

For a day trip I usually bring 8 diapers each. (this is obviously an overage) a first aid kit, and a small cooler filled with waters, juice boxes and necessary milk. On a side note, I purchased this 6 pack cooler at Target that was 8.99 USD. I LOVE IT. It has probably already saved us about 20 USD in drinks alone from beverages in all the places we have been already. We will let you know how the trip went... and give you an update on the traveling.

Favorite Baby Store of Late...

Everyone knows I'm a real baby gear freak. I have a little bit of everything and always am looking for new stuff that's different, cool, travel-easy or just brilliant in general for the bambinas. I was reading a couple reviews and raves about this store called The Little Seed. It's in the LA Area, and everything they have is organic and/or very green. I'm putting together an online order now. =) Also, surprisingly, pretty affordable. Just thought I would give some wonderful kudos to The Little Seed... here... you should buy something.

Why We Love Summer... From a Family on a Tight Budget

Jar Savings from the last two weeks: 22.08 USD

Happy July everyone!

It's summertime and our household, although technically only two summers old with all of us in it, has been busy! With beautiful weather (almost EVERY darn day!) Parks and just fun afternoons at the grandparents and with friends... we wonder how it goes to quickly.

I realize not everyone is as lucky as we are to live in San Diego- with all the activities- and our fancy Schmancy Zoo, and our first Sea World Ever. So here are some things it seems, everyone loves to do in the summer time...broken down in a few easy categories. Of course, this is geared towards the young-uns and the infants... but if you have good ones for bigger kids, please CHIME IN!

Cheap Summer Toys: All simple, easy to get and clean up...

Bubbles: Babies love 'em and toddlers love em. They're under a dollar in most places. You can buy a gallon of bubbles for like 3 bucks in some places... out in the park, in your yard. You can also make your own bubbles with corn syrup and water. Kiddos can eat them too.

A Ball: plain, plastic bouncy ball. You can get em for under 3 USD at Wal-Mart, Target etc. You can play all kinds of ball games...here are some.

Sidewalk chalk: I was floored when I bought a pack of 24 sticks of sidewalk chalk for 2.99 USD. You can sweep it away, hose it away when your kids are done. There are a lot of sidewalk chalk games

Kite: Not always, the cheapest, but a pretty great investment if you get a good one. Or you can make one...

Stuff to Do:

Toy Store Trip: Go to the toy store or your local store, to look for some of the aforementioned toys, make a day of it... pack a picnic, or snacks... tell the toddler to pick a colorful ball or let him or her know what you will be doing with it.

Front Yard/Balcony Picnics: You can do this for lunch, or dinner. BBQ is always a fun way to eat dinners... make a point of doing it once a week.

Library: Most local libraries have story times, and so do major book store chains. research this stuff and get to one of these...

Local Rec Center: A lot of local rec centers have free arts and crafts, or a snack time. All across America, there is a free lunch program put on by the FDA- your 2-18 year olds can get a free healthy lunch at the rec center... this is to help relieve mom or dad with making the lunches and get the kids out to the parks. Click here for more info...

Drive-In Movie or Park Movies: bring your favorite snacks and food to the drive in or local park! Your kiddos can be rambunctious and they get to be in the car or on a picnic blanket more of a private area but also gets you out and about.

Movie Night: Make a themed movie night at your house where the dinner and the movie match. For instance, if you are watching Ratatouille, what better than to serve french themed food? Play a game having to do with the movie theme... or dress up your house in the theme as well.

Random tip: Don't forget to stock up on sunscreen!

Whatever you do, make it a fun day and a fun summer... because they get shorter and shorter every year. At least, it seems this way.

A Recon Trip to REI...

We were on a mission today to find the Kelty, Transit. It's a baby carrier/backpack for babies a little bit older, can hold up to 40 pounds of baby. I forget how much I love this store. It has EVERYTHING you could possibly need... we found kids backpacks (REI Squirt, has a H20 system/hose) and the types of shoes we plan on packing with us. The shoes we want to have are trail running shoes, and also waterproof type sandal shoes for the girls. Of course, we are partial to Eagle Creek for our actual rucksacks. Going tonight made me realize just how much stuff we are going to need for this trip. They didn't have the Kelty's but we put our name on the list for the end of the month. I could have stayed the whole time looking at the First Aid Kit Stuff. But on another note, individually wrapped things are much nicer for a person packing a bunch of stuff. Not that great for the environment, but great for your comfort while on the road.

Back from Disneyland...

Jar: 18.22 USD

We went to the Disneyland Resort from Thursday to Sunday.  The drive is about an hour and half from San Diego to Anaheim, unless you run into some traffic.  6 month old slept the whole way, and 2 year old was happy to get out of the house.  If you can. I recommend some days at home before the trip.  When we do this, a car ride for them seems nice and when we get home, they appreciate it so much more.

We checked in to our hotel, (The Disneyland Hotel) and were asked if we wanted an upgrade to their fancier hotel, The Grand Californian for one night.  We wholeheartedly agreed and we got to stay in a suite... it had a beautiful view and was ridiculously large.  Sometimes hotels in general find a candidate who might want this upgrade, and offer it to them for a number of reasons... one is someone somewhere overbooked some rooms and they are trying to move people around before the trouble hits.  Sometimes, if they see there is a returning guest, they try to see if they can give them a preview of the nicer hotel, for maybe a future visit.  

The girls enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Disney of course, has a very family oriented style of living, so things like large balconies always tiny spaces so little ones can't fall through.  Room was bare and minimalistic.  And I swear, their beds are really comfy- even more so than the Westin Dream Bed.    

Stroller:  We bought a Graco Duo Glide from a garage sale for 25 USD and take it to occasions like this- it's a long double stroller, with plenty of storage space on the bottom, cup holders and most importantly, both seats can lay down pretty well.  Also, we didn't mind if we left this battering ram outside... and kept valuables in a backpack that we carried the whole time.  

Amusement park must haves if you have an infant or a toddler:  

Stroller that folds back all the way

Pacifier Leash, 

plastic rings to hold toys, drink cups etc.  

sunscreen, 

a light blanket or an extra form of "shade" for the stroller

basic snacks, 

a small cooler

To save money:

bring a case of your own water

juice boxes

invest in a soft sided cooler

snacks

share portions of purchased food with your kids (or have them share with each other.)

have a souvenir budget

Safety Tips on The Road...Excerpt from Travel Guide for Toddlers and Infants

Jar: 15.02 USD

For reasons to be named later, I can only put excerpts from The Health & Safety Chapter in the book, on the blog.  I tried to pick out the most important things and post them on here, but of course, this is not everything, so just use it as a bit of advice.  Remember, the best thing to use is common sense because there are so many different countries with their own set of what is acceptable safe behavior and what is considered deviant behavior in their particular country.  

First Aid Kit:  You need some basics on here to have a good infant/toddler medical kit...a good start is this little pod they sell at stores like Target or Marshall Fields (on the East Coast).  It's a good start because it comes with band-aids, non-stinging cleaner, antibiotic ointment, basically stuff for scrapes and cuts that Toddlers and babies love to get.  

But, here is my First Aid Kit and it covers a wider range of ailments for both adults and the wee ones.

In a quart size ziplock container: (TSA Approved as well.)

Big Band-Aids

Regular Band Aids

Smaller Band-Aids

Non-stinging antiseptic Cleaner (we use that foam, "boo-boo juice")

Alchohol Swabs (6-8 of these)

Sting relief pads

Antibiotic cream/ointment

Small roll of medical tape

gauze

thermometer

Infant Tylenol

Infant/children's Benadryl

2 sets of earplugs

aloe vera gel

sunscreen (small, emergency bottle or wipe)

burn cream

ice/hot pack (there is the kind that is both)

small safety scissors

baby nail clippers

anti-itch cream

cortizone

Any prescription meds (if needed)

any prescription copies from your doctor

eye drops

ibuprofin

acetometaphine

blister care

Baby Proofing While on The Road:  

Blue Painter's Tape: this kind of tape works wonders for babyproofing your hotel room or any place your staying.  It comes off easily and doesn't chip or peel the paint of the furniture.  You can also use it to cover electrical sockets and tape washcloths to the sharp corners of tables.   

Misc Safety: 

Pictures: Another good idea I read about somewhere said that you should take a picture of your babies in case you get separated from them.  Is the picture an okay depiction of the babies?   Have a copy of this picture in your wallet and also have a picture of your family with your child's things, that way they can make the connection if you ever got separated.