Having a Happy Road Trip with Your Kids

It is getting to be summer. For my family growing up summer meant taking a road trip somewhere fun.  Though it may sound like a nightmare, there are many advantages to taking road trips especially when you have children.  You can save money if you plan the trip correctly, you also get to avoid sitting for 5 hours on a plane with a screaming child.  There is also something very American about driving across the country and stopping at the "Mummy Alien" or whatever else you find along the way. 

I am a huge believer in no personal electronics on a road trip.  The point of sitting in a car together is to connect and bond.  It may be easier on you if you let your kids have their own little world, but when your children are grown you're going to wish you had spent more time connecting and talking instead of taking the easy route of electronics.  Besides our parents didn't let us use things like that or watch movies in cars and we all turned out perfectly fine. 

Planning

Plan your trip wisely.  Do not try to rush to your destination, enjoy the journey.  Remember that at every gas stop, your entire family is going to need to get out and potty and stretch.  If you have a young one that is in the middle of potty training, bring his or her potty and some wipes with you.  That way if you have to make an emergency stop in the middle of nowhere, they at least have a potty to sit on while they go to the bathroom.  Plan for stops at the world's largest whatever and anything else cool you see on the way.  I would also suggest planning on stopping at your motel or hotel for the night by 6 or 7 pm.  Then you have time to let your kids run around, play in the pool and explore your stop for the night.  You should also plan one long stop during the day so you can find a park and the kids can run around and play for an hour or so.  Letting children get their wiggles out at a park or a road side stop, means less wiggles during the car ride. 

Activities

Have lots of activities for your children to do in the car.  You can get some audio books from your local library that your whole family will enjoy.  You can also burn a few cds, if you can't stand listening to wheels on the bus one more time you might want to consider burning some pg songs that you like to listen to on the cds.  Play games like finding the alphabet first or I spy.  Have quiet activities they can do as well like books, coloring books, etch-a-sketch, dolls, action figures, ect.  Buy a couple surprises and have them stashed away for when times get super rough and they need a new activity.  Bring a map and let your kids follow the route on the map.  If they are young you can plot out the map for them and show them where they are and where they are going, if they are older have them plot out where they are.  A road trip is a good way to to learn how to use and read a map.

Food

This may be the most important part of the trip.  Have some cut raw veggies available, home made granola bars, sandwiches, tube yogurt, goldfishies, water, and whatever else your family eats.  If you are planning on saving money, you might consider having picnics for breakfast and lunches.  You can pack the picnics at the motel the night before, buying fresh food at a local store or bringing a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter on the trip.  Then you can all look forward to having dinner somewhere special.  My family had a rule that you can't eat somewhere you can eat at home.  This meant no nation wide chains and we got to experience local favorites.  Whatever you do, don't limit yourselves to burgers and fries.  I'm sure I'm not alone when I say eating fast food makes grumpy.  Whatever you do avoid feeding your children lots of sugary foods.  There is nothing worse than making them super hyper and then locking them in a car for hours on end.  Having lots of yummy, healthy snacks is a way to make the trip much easier on yourself and kids. 

Enjoy your trip.  The road trip is about spending time together and seeing something you might not otherwise see.  Don't get frustrated or stressed before the trip, the driving is the fun part of the experience.  Hopefully it is something you will love doing with your kids and make it a regular part of vacations. 
 

Celebrating May Day

My mother always told me it's important to celebrate the special days like small holidays, otherwise every day blends together and gets boring.  Now that I'm married and have a family, I realize this more than ever.  It is important to have silly little traditions that your kids can remember an pass down to their kids. 

May Day is celebrated on May 1st every year.  This year it will be on Tuesday.  The reason I'm writing about it now is to give you time to read and prepare how you'd like to celebrate the special day.  May Day has origins in Europe.  Each country has their own set of traditions from passing on flowers, to dancing around in the grass, to lighting large (controlled) fires.  Though everyone celebrates differently each country is basically celebrating the end of the long winter nights and celebrating the warm spring and summer days to come. 

In the United States it is traditional to celebrate spring by filling small baskets with flowers and/or treats and leaving them on the doorsteps of all of your friends.  The tradition is to ring the bell and run away before someone can catch you.  If they catch you, you are supposed to give them a kiss.  I would suggest that in this day and age you skip the kiss unless you are really good friends or family.  The last thing I want is to suggest that you to sexually assault someone. 

You can celebrate May Day any way you see fit.  The point is to start a special tradition for your family.  You can go on a picnic, blow bubbles outside, pick flowers, do an art project.  Anything you decide celebrates spring you can use as your tradition.  My family takes the more traditional route an leaves flowers for each other on our door steps. 

Leaving a basket is a nice surprise for all of your friends and family.  Not a lot of people celebrate May Day anymore, so it's a complete surprise when they open the door and there's a basket sitting there.  It gives your friends a bright spot in their day.  Who doesn't like a just because gift?

When I leave gifts, I like to leave something that can be planted in the yard.  This way the gift lasts longer than just cut flowers and it doesn't seem as wasteful. It also seems like a good spring gift because the flower I give will usually be the first plant planted in a summer garden bed. I usually go to a hardware store or a nursery to pick out something native that is a flowering spring plant.  Then to make it seem like a gift I'll find some decorative foil or tissue and a ribbon to make the plant seem like a gift not just a plant.  If I'm feeling really creative I might also make and leave a little home made card.  You can leave a plant, baked goods, cut flowers or just a basket or pail with a few little things tucked in it.  You know your friends and the age group, pick something that they would enjoy receiving.

The point is to do something nice to celebrate spring, not to do a grand gesture.  Anything that will make your friends smile or start a tradition will be perfect.  Make an average day just a little more special.  Have fun and celebrate May Day with your family!  

Going Above and Beyond for Overnight Guests

This is part two of cleaning for guests.  You will have lots house guests over the course of your married life.  There are your in-laws, kids' friends and many other guests that will enjoy nights in your house if you are lucky.  In addition to just cleaning the house, there are a few special things you can do and provide for overnight guests to make sure they are comfortable and will stay with you again and again.

Before they come or right after they get there depending on how long they will be staying, ask them if they have any allergies or any special dietary needs.  It's polite to go shopping and stock your fridge and house with food and drink that the guests enjoy, especially if they will be staying for a couple of nights.  A small gesture like the brand of water they like to drink will make your guests feel more welcome than anything you can say. 

Review the guest bathroom.  Is there soap?  Extra tp?  Does your toilet have a tendency to clog?  If it does consider subtly adding a plunger somewhere in the bathroom.  Nothing is more humiliating than having to ask for a plunger when you're a guest.  Clean towels for body, hands and face?  Are all of the surfaces clean?  Make sure the shower/tub is clean too in case your guests would like to shower. I use an electric toothbrush so I store all of my freebies from the dentist in the guest bathroom just in case someone forgot a toothbrush and needs to borrow one. 

Freshen up the guest room.  I put clean sheets on the bed, open the windows and just dust all of the surfaces.  We don't use our guest room a lot so though it doesn't get too dirty, it's probably the stalest of the rooms.  If you can, invest in a comfortable guest bed.  You don't have to spend a lot of money since it doesn't have to be heavy duty, but find a bed that's comfortable.  I don't know how many times I've been miserable and exhausted while visiting people because my bed was so uncomfortable.  Make sure the sheets are comfortable too.  I like the jersey cotton ones on a guest bed because they work for summer and winter.  They are also only 20 dollars for a set, so they feel amazing considering you only dropped 20 dollars on the guest bed.  I also store an extra blanket in the room and a fan in the summer so the guests can pick the temperature of the room. 

Doing these things don't take much time, but you will be surprised what a little effort will do to make guests feel comfortable.  When your guests feel welcome they will visit again and again. 

Fake a Clean House for Last Minute Guests

Surprise!  You invited friends from a play date at the park over for dinner tonight, or your significant other called and is bringing home dinner guests.  You look around and realize your house looks like a scene from Hoarders (well maybe not that bad).  How are you going to possibly clean the house and make a meal in a matter of a few hours? 

Take a deep breath and relax.  See my post from earlier this month on roasts or consider something in the slow cooker so you have more time to clean, but don't worry.  I'll give you a few points on faking a clean house in less than an hour.

Before you start anything considering serving your guests outside.  If you have a nice, clean, patio and the weather is nice consider having a bbq.  Guests won't mind helping wipe down a table and chairs for dinner and the less time they are in the house, the less time they have to notice dirt. 

Before you start cleaning crack a few windows.  Fresh air will make your house smell less stale and get rid of whatever odors your house normally smells like.  The fresh air will also help take away the vinegar smell or whatever products you use to clean your house. 

Clean up the clutter first.  Make sure you remove the clutter from surfaces like counters, tables maybe even the floor depending on your house.  We keep a mail tub with all of the random papers we collect and when guests come over we just move it to the desk in the office.  Honestly, you just have to move the clutter to a bedroom or office, a room the guests won't be seeing.  You can easily close the door to a messy room.  Clutter makes the house look smaller than it is, it also makes the house look messier than it actually is.  Cleaning off the clutter is the fastest way to make a house look cleaner. 

After the clutter is put away clean off the surfaces of everything.  I run a quick duster over bookshelves and the tv.  I also use vinegar and a rag and clean off the table and counter tops.  The counters may get dirty again from dinner, but that's explainable and crusty dinner from last night is not.  While I'm doing this I also take a quick check of the walls and knock down any new cobwebs and scrub any big marks on the walls. 

Peek into your guest bathroom.  Make sure there is tp, soap and a clean hand towel.  Sweep the floor or wipe down the toilet or sink if they look dirty.  You can basically clean an entire bathroom in less than 15 minutes so it shouldn't take very much time at all to check and clean anything that needs to be fixed.

Lastly, I clean the floors.  I usually vacuum them and if I have extra time I'll steam mop or use a little mop and glow to make them extra clean.  I might also vacuum off my couches if they are full of dog hair and I have extra time. 

Your house is ready!  At least it looks clean even if the bedrooms are a disaster area.  Remember you are the harshest critic of your own house.  Guests just want to spend time with you, they don't care about your house.  As long as you make them feel welcome, have fun and maybe go the extra mile to serve something yummy, your guests will have a wonderful time.

Saving Money on Your Grocery Bill

My husband will tell you and I'll admit, I am a grocery snob.  I like to buy organic and natural foods and I buy a lot of produce in a week.  We also live in an area that doesn't do any double-couponing or any special discounts like that.  My husband and I have decided to finally put our feet down and save money on our grocery bill.  We know we could save more if we made a cut in our brands and favorite things, but we manage to save money every week while still buying everything we normally buy with a few small changes.

Make a list of the food you need.  Search the store's ad before you go and figure out what meat and produce is on sale, using this information make a menu for the week and make a grocery list for that menu.  Buy only what you can eat.  Pay attention to how many lbs of meat and veggies you are buying.  Can you eat that amount of food before it spoils?  Like I said I love a lot of fresh produce so I go to the store twice a week to re-supply my fresh foods.  This may take a little extra work, but it also means I'm not throwing money in the trash by wasting food that has rotted. 

Pick a store that has a generic brand that you like.  Personally, I pick Safeway usually because they carry a generic organic brand, and let's face it they are close to my house.  If you like the generic brand you can substitute some of the of the name brands, for the generic.  I usually buy generic when it comes to my canned food and other foods that are going to be used as ingredients in meals.  If there is a taste difference, it's hard to tell when it's mixed in with a bunch of other food.

Buying in bulk isn't always cheaper!  I know this is a hard one to wrap your head around.  My husband and brother still have trouble with this concept.  When you are buying something, look at the price per unit.  It's normally on the price tag on the shelf.  Sometimes when an item is on sale it won't include the unit price.  Just because it's on sale does not mean the item is cheaper.  Take the minute to do your own price per unit calculation in your head or on a calculator.  Basically to do this you divide the price of the item by the weight (either pounds or ounces usually).  The item with the cheaper unit price is the better deal.  Keep in mind if the bulk item IS cheaper make sure it's something you will finish, if it will go back before you finish the item, it's just money going into the trash. 

Use coupons wisely.  Buying a Sunday paper may cost a few dollars, but you will probably save a few dollars in the coupons you use.  I've done the math and almost every week I save more in coupons than I spend on the paper.  Only clip coupons for items you already buy or will use before the item expires.  Clipping coupons for things you don't normally buy is a great way to try new items without paying full price but it won't save you money. 

These tips will save you at least a few dollars every week.  The money saved really adds up over a month and a year.  Even if you just save 5 dollars a week over a year that's $260.  That's an extra $260 for not doing anything differently besides shopping a little bit smarter.  Enjoy your savings!

Free Family Activities to do this Summer

This weekend was just beautiful.  I hope everyone got to spend time outside with their families.  If you are me, you were stuck trying to think of fun things to do.  I came up with this list to help others stuck like me and those that are new to the area.  This is also a great list to do with people from out of town.  It is a cheap way to give them a great tour of some of the highlights of Seattle.  Hopefully you find something new on this list that you haven't done before that you can go explore with your family.  If you haven't heard of something or want to learn more you can most likely google it or ask in the comment section and I'll help you out.

Money is tight for everyone.  Even when it isn't tight, who wants to pay upwards of $10 a person to do an activity?  Here is a list of things I've found in the Seattle area that are free and/or really cheap to do.  If they aren't free they normally just ask for a donation or a small fee like parking.  Most ideas are suitable for all ages.  Some may sound similar, but give me a break, all of these are fun and awesome ideas that I've done myself.

For this list I had summer on my mind because children are home all day and need entertaining but to be honest most of these activities can be done all year round.  You just might have to do them in the rain.

1. Free Museum day first Thursday of every month list of museums and free days
2. Play in the tidal pools
3. Hike up to the ice caves
4. Hike off the Mt. Loop Highway
5. Go to any number of local parks to play on a playground
6. Pack a picnic and use a grill at a local park
7. Play in the large fountain at the Seattle Center
8. Fly a kite (can go do it on the beach, some have competitions)
9. Visit a local farmer's market
10. Visit a free concert on the lake
11. Walk around or have lunch at Pike Place Market- be sure to visit the original Starbucks and gum wall
12. Spend weekends going to local festivals, most have free admission
13. Visit one of the old forts (we have several just a short drive away and you can spend the day with a flashlight exploring)
14. Walk the Centennial trail
15. Go to the beach
16. Visit Jetty Island, which is basically a short ferry ride to a big shallow sandy beach
17. Visit a Seattle or local public library, many have story times and activities going on for all ages year round
18. Visit the Ballard locks (I do believe they have a new name now)
19. Say hi to the Fremont Troll
20. Pay your regards to Bruce Lee- I do ask that you only go out of respect as the family does still visit the gravesite often
21. Walk around or have lunch in the international district or chinatown
22. Visit U-Village and let your children play with all of the fun fountains
23. Take your dogs to one of the many dog parks
24. Ride the ferries (some you can drive over for free and then the ferry ride back home is free)
25. Take a tour of local wineries or breweries (not free but lots of fun for out of towners and couples to do on a nice day!)

Get out there and explore Seattle!  Most importantly have a good time doing it!  Report back and let us know how your summer adventures went.  If you find something cool that I didn't list or own a business that has something I can add let me know!

Grow Your Own Food No Matter Where You Live

Spring is the perfect time of year to start growing your own food.  It is warm enough that you can plant in beds outside instead of just pots around the house.  If you take a chunk of your lawn and turn it into a garden it also means less grass that you have to mow.

There are advantages to growing your own food.  You can save money if you grow the right food.  You know exactly where your food is coming from and what kind of chemicals you used or didn't use on your food.  I find that food I grow myself always tastes best, even better than organic or from a farmers' market.  There is something about picking food right out of the sun and eating it that makes it taste amazing.  You also might get your children interested in eating veggies that they grow on their own. 

Think practically before you plant your garden.  Pick foods that you will actually eat or know a friend or family member will enjoy.  There is no point in planting foods that are just going to rot in your garden.  Also think about what food will give the most reward if you are looking to save money.  You can buy a fruit tree for under $20 and it will give you pounds and pounds of fruit over the years.  You will get the most reward for a small amount of money.  Blueberry bushes, strawberries and pumpkins are other good choices.  Look at the price of the plants, check if they are annuals or perennials, and then see how much the food costs to buy in the store.  This will give you a good idea if the food you are planting is practical money-wise.

If outside space isn't an option, you can always grow food inside your house.  For a long time I had a potted lemon tree to remind me of living in Arizona.  It eventually died when my dogs decided they liked the taste of lemon branches, but that didn't stop me from growing food.  You can also keep an herb garden in your house year round.  This way whenever you are cooking you can just snip off some live herbs and add them to your cooking.  You can also choose to dry them and store them in spice jars.  I almost always have a pot of basil and rosemary sitting on my kitchen windowsill.  You can even buy live basil from the grocery store and all you have to do is put the roots in a glass of water and it will last for several weeks.  Green onions will do the same thing if you put the roots in water after you chop off the greens.  I get two or three batches worth of green onions from one set I buy from the store.  That calculates out to 3 dollars worth of onions for 1 dollar.

Vegetable gardens are a good way to get kids interested in their food.  They get to take a hands on approach to what they eat.  They also get to learn where their food comes from and how much effort goes into each vegetable they buy at the store.  Growing your own food can be rewarding for any person at any age.  Get on your garden gloves and get out there and plant!