Saving Your Sanity: Tips For Flying With Children

travel with kids

Most parents would agree that traveling with young children is stressful. Children, as a rule, do not like to be enclosed in limited spaces for long periods of time. This, in addition to the other discomforts of air travel (such as airplane turbulence and ear-aches), tend to make them irritable passengers.

Helpful tips for planning airplane trips with children before the flight

Book reasonable flights

A long-haul flight is not a great idea for toddlers or younger children. Rather than booking a long direct flight, it is advisable to break the journey with connecting flights. Stopovers can be a great opportunity for parents to relax and the kids to stretch their legs and get excited about the airports and duty-free shopping.

Choose good seats

It is important to book the flight early so you can have a choice of great seats. Seats on the aisle rows are usually best for people traveling with children. Also, look out for seats with wider leg room and close proximity to the airplane restrooms.

Parking

If you’re parking at the airport, you can avoid expensive parking charges by reserving a parking spot close to the airport. This can ensure a smooth transition during departure and arrival. Got Parking is a great site where you can search, compare and reserve parking near the airport. You will also have 24/7 shuttle service and security cameras to keep things safe while you are away. 

Pack effectively

It’s usually helpful to make a list of items that should be present in the carry-on bag. By writing a list, you make sure that important things are not left behind. Important items within the carry on should include:

  • Food and snacks such as sandwiches, fruit, and crackers
  • Any prescription medication that your child needs
  • Diapers for younger children
  • Change of clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Favorite games, books, coloring books, and crayons
  • Favorite small toys and puzzles
  • Earplugs

On the day of the flight

  • Leave early enough

It is important to arrive at the airport early because of the waits at the security gates. For early morning flights, ensure that the kids go to bed early on the day before the flight so they can wake up refreshed and excited for the trip.

During the flight

There are several activities that can be planned to keep children occupied and entertained during the flight. Some popular activities include:

Magnetic games

These are affordable travel games made of magnetic game pieces that stick to the game board. With a variety of board games like chess, checkers, and bingo, kids can be kept occupied for hours.

Books

Older kids can choose the books they want to bring along during the flight. For younger kids, reading a favorite book can keep them entertained and on their seats.

Coloring books and crayons

Coloring books and crayons are important items that can keep children entertained during air travel. Some airlines may also provide coloring books or crayons for their children passengers.

Toys

Surprise kids during the flight with a new toy or small stuffed animal. This small and inexpensive surprise can be delightful to children.

Playing Cards

Bring along a deck of cards and play fun family games such as Go Fish, Uno or Monopoly.

Guess Who

This fun guessing game can be accomplished with Post It notes. You can make everyone write the names of 3 people on different post-it notes. All the notes are then put into a hat and each person takes turns pasting the note on their forehead. The person wearing the note can then ask up to 20 guessing questions to find out the person written on their forehead.

Portable DVD player, favorite movies and video games

If iPads or other electronic devices are allowed during the flight, downloading your kid’s favorite video games will keep them entertained for hours on end. And, as always, they will love to watch their favorite movies on the DVD player.

In-flight entertainment

Most airplanes usually have in-flight entertainment for children. Check the kid’s section for their selection of kid-friendly movies, music and video games that can be enjoyed in the air.

Check with the airline

Always ensure to call the airline ahead for any special requests. For children with food allergies, it’s important to inform the airline so they can make special food provisions.

For parents planning airplane travel in the upcoming holiday period, a combination of these age-appropriate strategies can be used to make airplane travel a delightful experience for the entire family.

Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Universal Pictures at Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.

Jurassic World

One of the most anticipated summer blockbuster movies of the year is coming to DVD and Blu-ray just in time for some fall fun. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is set to release on September 18.

“Three years after the Jurassic World theme park was closed down, Owen and Claire return to Isla Nublar to save the dinosaurs when they learn that a once dormant volcano on the island is active and is threatening to extinguish all life there. Along the way, Owen sets out to find Blue, his lead raptor, and discovers a conspiracy that could disrupt the natural order of the entire planet. Life has found a way, again.”

To add to the excitement, Universal Pictures has created a Walmart Exclusive Limited-Edition Blu-ray Funko Giftset. The set includes a Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copy of Fallen Kingdom with several bonus features. It also comes with a 2-pack set of Funko Pocket Pop! Keychains which features two of the main characters: Owen and his beloved raptor, Blue.

We have not seen the movie yet, and are looking forward to checking it out when it is released. My kids have been talking about seeing it for a while now. I’m old, and remember being scared out of my mind when the original Jurassic Park came out in theaters when I was a kid, LOL.

My son really loves the Funko Pop! keychains as well- he collects keychains, and has quite the load on his backpack. I’m not even sure how he carries them anymore.

This exclusive giftset can only be found at Walmart, ready to be picked up on September 18. Make sure you get yours early, they might run out.

Top 10 Costumes for 2018

Wondering what to be this year for Halloween?
Or maybe you want to avoid the costumes you’re going to be seeing  most when Halloween rolls around this year? We’ve got the answers for you, regardless of what you are wondering.

red riding hood costume

Browse the articles to find out which costumes ranked most popular this year according to Costume SuperCenter. With the latest trending movies and shows, you might anticipate some of these, but we think you might be surprised by others—so don’t miss out.

We decided to go as “The Big Bad Wolf”- even though the wolf costume we chose was more adorable then scary- and Red Riding Hood. The kids are all over the place, which is unusual- they usually like to do a theme as a group, but hey. They grow up, and they have their own independent minds, so. Things change.

The kids are going as an angel, Freddie (of 5 Nights of Freddie), and Black Panther. Not cohesive, that’s for sure, ha.

I think that, of these, it seems that Black Panther will be everywhere, as will Freddie. The Angel is a pretty standard Halloween costume, so I am sure we will see a few of those, as well. What are you going as this year? Or have you yet to choose?

 

Fall Flavors

New fall flavors from some of our favorite brands are here. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a sucker for “seasonal flavors”- I’m not sure if it’s because I know I can only have them once a year, or that it’s because it enhances the season for me in some way, but I really look forward to and enjoy the flavor changes that come seasonally.

If you are in the mood for chocoloate, Godiva has some fun options, including the NEW GODIVA Limited-Edition Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice G CUBE.  These square boxes are full of individually wrapped GODIVA truffles, in the festive “pumpkin spice” flavor that so many people look forward to- or look forward to making fun of, while they consume it in secret. Haters. Want to get a few boxes? Besides pumpkin spice (which is delightful) you can also get  Dark Chocolate Vanilla, White Chocolate Coffee, Dark Chocolate Mint, and other options. $11.95 for a 22 piece box.  You can also get a Signature GODIVA Pumpkin Spice Truffle Flight which is super cute- truffles wrapped to look like little pumpkins. $15.00 for a 5 piece set.

pumpkin spice

For an indulgent yogurt, good enough to be a dessert, try NEW noosa Pumpkin Spice MatesThese new (made in limited batch) pumpkin spice noosa mates are made with noosa’s signature rich and creamy yoghurt, with real pumpkin and spices, then topped with Purely Elizabeth brand granola, white chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds. It’s noosa’s take on a fall classic, and it’s fantastic. The kids love it, and so do mom and dad. The textures are a delight, and the flavors are perfect. You will find yourself scraping the cup for the last bits. $2.49 retail price, product finder on noosayoghurt.com.

pumpkin spice

Still feeling dessertish? Kraft Heinz just came out with two flavored whipped creams that pair perfectly with all sorts of your favorite foods. Reese’s & Hershey’s Whipped Cream Toppings now come in peanut butter and chocolate flavors.  These are fun on your all your desserts like cookies or brownies, but are fun toppings on healthier desserts like fruit bowls, as well. Fun facts for parents- these whipped creams are made with 100% real cream from cows not treated with rBST growth hormone, and without high-fructose corn syrup, oil ingredients, and artificial sweeteners or flavors. Retails between $2.99 and $3.99, check for prices before you shop. Who likes to pay more?

 chocolate whipped creme

For a more “grown up” treat, check out Harvest Pumpkin Ale from Samuel AdamsThese fall inspired beers brewed by Samuel Adams are brewed with “real pumpkin and a blend of caramel and roasted malts to create a rich depth of malt flavor perfect for the crisp days of fall” (according to Samuel Adams). If you are into all things pumpkin spice, and want to “spice it up” a little more, this might be right up your alley. Not all of us are drinkers, but for those who like to indulge now and again, this would be a flavorful fall imbibement. Prices vary by market and by what count you’d like to purchase.

fall flavors

Reasons To Pick A Villa Rental In Mexico For Your Next Family Vacation

Traditionally, going for a vacation with family members would automatically mean finding rooms in a five-star hotel. Well, things have changed significantly, and people are shying away from them especially those travelling in groups. Villas are the ideal option for groups due to several advantages. Luckily, most of the holiday hotspots have a wide array of villas that one can rent, and you should not miss out on one when travelling with your family.  But why choose these villas when you could stick to the conventional hotel rooms? Read below and check out the top reasons to pick a rental villa for your next family vacation;

 

Cost

When going on a vacation with your family, you must have set a budget that will cater to your needs when travelling. The accommodation part is one of the most significant elements of the budget, and it would really help your vacation if you managed to save some money by getting a cost-effective place to stay. Villas offer you a cost-effective place to stay and do not be swayed by the hefty rates. All you need to do is to calculate and you will understand why. When travelling with family, you will only need to get one vacation villa that will accommodate all of you rather than booking several hotel rooms for everyone. This is particularly applicable for large families since the children can easily share the rooms while the parents stay in one room thus saving on costs. Aside from that, vacation villas do not charge the same way hotel rooms do as you only have to pay for the time you will be spending in there. There are no per night rates, and one can leave and come back at their own discretion.

 

Freedom And Privacy

When you go on vacation, you wish to enjoy the company of your family and not having hotel attendants bothering you every time. Hotel rooms do not offer this privacy as the attendants have to come and check on the rooms every day. Aside from that, travelling with family will mean that you share hotel rooms and you might want to have your own time to clear some work or meditate. Villas offer you this kind of privacy since most of them are built like regular homes. You can always take some time off and clear your work in the study if you do not want to stay in the main lobby with the rest of the family. You have several places to spend your time, and you could relax in the garden, verandah and terrace among others. The experience of staying in a vacation villa is just like living at home since you get the privacy you have at home.

 

When you rent a villa with http://enjoymexico.net, you are not restricted to the stringent cleaning and other routines specified in hotel rooms. Therefore, you can wake up at your own time and schedule your day as you deem fit. You do not need to wake up before a specific time for you to have the breakfast made by the hotel since you can make your own. In a nutshell, you get to enjoy the freedom by renting a villa when you go on vacation with your family.

 

Better Experience

The experience of living in a villa cannot be compared to that of staying in a hotel room. The level of personalization is high, and you basically have your place to enjoy. Villas give one access to a wide variety of facilities based on how much they can part with, and you get to stay in a place that you want. Hotel rooms are often rigid, and all you can do there is to sleep, wake up and have a shower. You can choose a villa with the kind of facilities you want and give your family a treat during their vacation. Staying in a villa is like living at home away from home. They are family friendly and offer a perfect place for members to bond and share their experiences as opposed to the hotel rooms that separate all the members and make it hard to share time together.

 

Availability

If you wish to travel to places that are far away from the tourist hotspots, it can be hard to find a decent hotel. Luckily villas do not have to be in these areas, and they can be found in any location. This way, you won’t be forced to travel for long distance since the closest hotel you found was located far away from your area of interest. Booking one is a sure way of ensuring that you are closer to where you need to be and you will have plenty of space to enjoy your time there. The fact that these villas may be away from the tourist areas means that you can stay in a more residential part of the town, away from the tourist buzz and loud noises. You can blend with the locals, shop for food in their markets and enjoy some things that you would not have had you opted for the hotels.

 

Flexibility

Vacations do not always go as planned and some things can come along way and change the course of things. Do you have an extra family member joining the vacation after you have already scheduled for everything? Do you expect some guests during the holiday? A villa offers you the much-needed flexibility when dealing with such unexpected scenarios. You could host family gatherings, welcome guests and even host an extra person on your holiday if they turned up late without incurring an additional cost.

 

The reasons why you need to book a villa for your next family vacation have been laid out, and you have no reason to stick to the conventional hotel rooms again. Save money and ensure your family members enjoy the experience of visiting that place by looking for a home that will accommodate you. Your vacation will be delightful and no one will be willing to go back home when that time comes.

 

Roto Rooter for Your Clogged Drains

It is very annoying and can be time consuming when your sink or drains begin to back up. Never at a convenient time (although, really, when is there a good time), our good friend Murphy always makes sure that it’s when you are in a rush or have company. Sometimes, though, a quick fix can be had.
roto rooter
We recently tried Roto-Rooter on one of our clogs, and I can tell you that this is not a staged photo. For real. Our bathroom sink has been super annoying, backing up regularly. Not much has helped it, and we’ve tried pretty much everything. Sometimes, you just need something to get the water  moving in a pinch.
clogged drain
These are the kinds of situations you will be glad you have Roto-Rooter on hand. Just follow the directions on the Roto-Rooter bottle, and pour half the bottle down the drain. After it cleared, we flushed hot water down the drain as the directions stated. The clog disappeared, and the water moved down the drain as it should.
There are quite a few options of RotoRooter products. You can check out thesite, http://rotorooter-products.com to see the full line of options.
Here is a video with some tips from Roto-Rooter;


If you end up in a messy situation, it’s always good to have some Roto-Rooter on hand. Having to run out to the store with a clogged-up sink is never fun, it’s one of those things that’s just better to have on hand when you need it. No one likes running around, especially for things like this.

Head to the website, and see which product best fits your need. Keep some on hand for your next emergency, it will make your life that much easier.

Earth Mama Organics NEW Mineral Sunscreen

Just what you have been looking for – a new mineral sunscreen family from Earth Mama Organics – 6 products – thoughtfully created for adults, kids, and babies. These are made with the most premium and safest ingredients available – they are reef-friendly and non-nano as well, which means that they won’t be harmful when worn into fragile ecosystems. (So much better for the environment, I can’t imagine why all brands aren’t doing it at this point.)

organic sunscreen

What’s IN these sunscreens is just as important as what’s NOT. If an ingredient is available organic, that is what gets used.

Each ingredient is purposefully sourced with great consideration — to boost the sunscreen’s SPF value, moisturize, or ensure it’s safely gentle on uber-sensitive skin.

What’s not in them? Chemicals that are potentially harmful to people, coral reefs or the planet like:Oxybenzone, octinoxate (or other chemical sunscreens), artificial fragrance, nano particles, or parabens. These are better for you, the fish, other animals, and the environment as a whole- there is no good reason NOT to use these.

The first thing you think when you hear “mineral sunscreen” is pasty white, right? Not these.  Earth Mama sunscreens – just visible enough to see the spots you missed during application, which is always helpful with kids who won’t stay still, or to make sure that you actually remembered to do your arms.

Get @Bose at @BestBuy #bosesmartspeakersatbestbuy #ad

Superior Bose sound. Unlimited entertainment possibilities. The new Bose family of smart speakers and soundbars has built-in voice control from Amazon Alexa that puts millions of songs at the tip of your tongue. And with Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® compatibility, you can wirelessly stream whatever you want, however you want. Plus, future software updates will add new features.
Plus, future software updates will add new features.
Control goes way beyond voice. Enjoy one-touch access to the music you love or manage it all from the Bose Music app.
Bose smart speakers
Want more music in more rooms? The new Bose family of smart speakers and soundbars works together. The Bose Soundbar 700, designed to be the world’s best soundbar, delivers an unmatched combination of sophisticated design and exceptional sound. The stylish Bose Soundbar 500 has a thin profile that fits discreetly under your TV, while its powerful acoustics fill the room with sound. And the Bose Home Speaker 500 delivers the widest sound of any smart speaker.
bose
Control goes way beyond voice. Enjoy one-touch access to the music you love or manage it all from the Bose Music app. Want more music in more rooms? The new Bose family of smart speakers and soundbars works together. The Bose Soundbar 700, designed to be the world’s best soundbar, delivers an unmatched combination of sophisticated design and exceptional sound. The stylish Bose Soundbar 500 has a thin profile that fits discreetly under your TV, while its powerful acoustics fill the room with sound. And the Bose Home Speaker 500 delivers the widest sound of any smart speaker.