Multi-tasking children’s toys…

As a busy mom and as Miss Plan It All, I am constantly trying to come up with ideas to keep my boys ages 2 and 10 months entertained while we are out.  Especially if we are going out to eat at a restaurant.  I pride myself in the fact that for the most part my boys are well-behaved.  But, like all kids, there comes a point where they need to stay busy and they will find a way.  That is why  I figured it’s best for me to keep them busy than to let them find something on their own to stay busy with.  Like, banging the silverware on the table at a restaurant.  Let’s be honest, no one likes that sound and I don’t want to be that parent who is being stared at by others who are trying to enjoy their meal.  So, I came up with a few ideas that have helped us while out in public.  I hope this helps other busy parents out there and if you have ideas to share with me, please bring them on!

Bath books- you know the ones that are plastic and kind of puffy.  These are great because you can easily wipe them down after the kids have smeared food on them and they don’t take up too much space in your diaper bag.  Or if you are like me, in your restaurant bag.  Yes, I have a bag already ready in the car with these items in it, so it’s always there for us.

Bath squirts- these usually come in a themed pack.  I like the animal ones or the little people ones because you can play pretend with them.  They are fairly inexpensive, so if you lose one or forget one you don’t feel bad.  These are great for restaurants because they are easy to wipe down, you can pretend they are eating too which will encourage your child to eat as well or try something different and they don’t make noise.  I recently found little cars.  These are great because they don’t roll off the table.

Place mats- the disposable kind.  You can find these pretty much at any kids store and even in the grocery store.  These are great because you stick them onto to the table.  They usually have characters the kids recognize and kids can write on them or color them.  Another added bonus to these, is that if you have a baby who is teething and insists on gumming the table, you can rest assured they are not actually putting their mouth on a dirty table, that while yes, it has been wiped down, remember it has been wiped down with the same towel all the other dirty tables have been wiped down with.  (sorry for the visual)

Foam letters (the small ones)- I use these in the tub as well to teach my toddler the alphabet and numbers.  Toss a handful of these in the bag.  They are easy to clean and educational as well.  And also quiet!

A special toy- right now my toddler is into Cars, with  Mater being his favorite character and Thomas train.  I keep these in case there is a delay in being seated or our food is taking too long and my other options are not working.  I have not used these often.  They are not as easy to clean because they have a lot of crevices perfect for hiding food and if we lose one, well, they are NOT cheap!  So you might regret it.

Snacks- limit these so you don’t ruin their lunch or dinner.  Usually a few gold-fish go along way or for the baby, the Puffs.  They work well too.  My toddler usually wants the puffs if he sees me giving them to the baby!

And last but not least and perhaps the most important for me:

Plastic rings- these usually come in a pack of a million.  Just kidding, but a lot.  You can connect them to each other and hang them on anything.  These come in handy because you can attach them to the toys I have mentioned above and prevent your little ones from dropping or throwing their toys all over the place.  In order for these to work you have to get a little bit creative with the toys though.  I take a hole puncher and punch a hole in the toys, this way I can thread the rings through the hole to keep them in place.

Of course most restaurants offer crayons and a coloring page to keep kids entertained, which is great.  However, my kids are not there yet.  They will not color quietly and wait until their food arrives. They will eat, break, throw and poke themselves with the crayons, crumble the coloring sheet and throw it on the floor.  So for now, this is what works for us.

Road Trip Continued….

Hello readers!  I apologize for not updating sooner, but of course my laptop crashed.  Something Miss Plan It All never plans for.  So here is the skinny on where we are.  Thursday, the day before out trip actually began, was crazy town at my house.  My toddler woke up feeling sick, I had a last-minute Dr’s appointment, I had to see a client and I had promised a friend I would pick her up from the hospital.  Wow, can I add more things to my plate on the day where all I should have been doing was packing and finalizing our trip plans!  I managed to complete all the tasks and add a Dr’s appointment for my toddler.  Dr. checked him out said probably nothing.. just viral, could not give him anything.  All she said was, he will get better and GOOD LUCK on your road trip/vacation.  While I was glad to hear there was nothing wrong with him and that we could manage the fever, panic set in as well.  I thought, great now we are going to be on the road and my poor baby is not feeling well.  Kids are very resilient though, I knew he would be fine in two days tops! 

So, I finished packing and running last-minute errands late Thursday night and left only the last-minute things for Friday morning.  Our goal was to be out of the house by 9 a.m.  Well, that did not happen.  My toddler woke up a couple of times through the night, so needless to say, we had a rough night.  All and all, we ended up leaving by 10:30 a.m.  Not bad at all.  So then the fun began!

On the road Day 1:

Kids did just fine in the car to our first stop which was about  three hours.  We decided to stop at a McDonald’s that had a play place so that my toddler would get to stretch out, play a bit, eat and then go.  Great idea, until we get to the McDonald’s with the play place and it was slammed!  People everywhere,  I really think it was one of the smallest McDonald’s I had ever been too.  The play place area was fine, except for the fact that the air conditioner was not working and we are going through a heat wave in what seems to be the entire East Coast of the United States!  WOW!  We managed to get out just fine, bellies full, diapers changed, potty breaks for us too, all is well! 

On the road again.  Georgia bound!  We drove another three  hours and made it to Cordel, GA.  We pulled into a gas station that really seemed like it put us back 40 years in time.  And of course, it was slammed.  Got gas, I managed to change the baby in the front seat of my car, he is really too big, but I managed and decided to drive down a bit more and go to the rest stop.  We made it to the rest stop and it was lovely to find that none of the bathrooms had a changing table.  Really!  No changing tables at a rest stop where people go to rest and change babies diapers.  So, my husband changed our toddler on a bench where they were both attacked by nats.  It turns out that there are Buffalo Nats that bite.   Not bites on the boys, but it is nice to know that biting nats exist! 

Back in the car, headed to our friends house in Dallas Ga, where we would be spending the night.  The last half hour of the car ride was challenging.  The baby was done with being in the car seat and my heart breaks at the sound of his cries.  He is such a good baby, never complains, never cries or fusses.. that when he does I know he needs to be in my arms!  So, thankfully we got to our friends house soon after the fussing and he was fine. 

It was so nice to visit the Miller’s.  I finally met their baby girls who is beautiful.  What a lovely child.  We had dinner, gave all the kids baths and put them to bed.  I was pleasantly surprised that the baby went to sleep right away in the pack-n-play that he never sleeps in, and that my toddler slept just fine in his inflatable toddler bed that I bought just for the trip and to make the transition to a big boy bed once we get home.  I had to lay there with him for a bit, but then he was fine.  I must admit, it was rather difficult for me to get out of the inflatable bed because it is so low to the floor, but I managed. 

Then we got to visit with our friends, talk and catch up.  Lovely evening.  Day 1 down… 8 days to go!

 Stay tuned..

 

Planning the road trip…

We are two days away from taking off.  As promised, as Miss Plan It All, I will be giving updates on what I have done and will do to make this trip with the boys as smooth as possible.  By now, you probably know we are driving to my husband’s home town in Indiana, with several stops along the way.  It’s me, my husband our two-year old and our 81/2 month old.  Yesterday I started my day with writing the list of things we would need for the boys and I did my shopping for things we did not already have.  I also started sorting out what I was going to pack for all of us.  Decided on the following: 1 weekend bag for boys and for my husband and I.  Since we would be staying at two different places over the weekend, I figured there would be no need to carry out everything we are bringing.  Sounds like a brilliant plan, until I have to decide what outfits for weekend bag and what outfits for rest of week!  Yikes! I have my work cut out.

Today, my husband took my car to get one of those things installed on the top for extra storage!  Extra storage???? What, the trunk of my midsize SUV is not enough.  I guess not.  Now, I have to make sure I don’t park inside a garage for the next two days because my car won’t fit.  I believe the thing is called a Tulle or maybe that is the brand.  Anyway, point is we have more room for more stuff!  The up side to this extra storage unit is that I won’t be able to reach it.  So my husband has to get up there each time.  The down side to this extra storage thing is that I can’t reach it.  So I better keep what the boys will need on hand.  You know they are going to want something that is up there as soon as we get moving!  Here is my list of items to pack.  Hoping this post helps my readers in case they are crazy enough to take a road trip!

Things for boys:

Daytime: Diapers, diaper cream, baby wipes, baggies for poopy diapers, 2 outfits per child, per day.  Total days = 9, total # of outfits needed= 18 plus one each for photo w/ great grandpa, plus 9 pairs of PJ’s each, socks for both and shoes for the 2-year-old! Bibs, and tons of burp cloths!

Bath time: Wash cloths, soap, bubbles, bath toys, bath mat, bath ring for little one, rubber duck that covers faucet (yes, we need that for safety), hooded towels (i love their towels), tooth brushes/toothpaste  and baby lotion.

Meal time: Baby food for little one, place mats (the kind that stick to tables, but remove easily when done), spoons, baby snacks, sippy cups, bottles, binkies, bottle brush to wash, regular & disposable bibs, meal time toys and books (keeps them entertained while waiting for food), hand wipes, Clorox wipes (i wipe down all table tops prior seating them, I am a clean freak), paper towel and extra wash cloths. High chair cover for little one, booster seat and tray.  Teething rings for little one. Insulated bag for bottles/sippy cups/etc.

Play time: toys, and by toys I mean mainly cars, books, movies, dvd player, SUNSCREEN, pool floats, swim gear, swim outfits, swim diapers, large zip lock bags for wet clothes

Sleep time: (Naps & night), night diapers, blankies, sleep toys: penguin, dog and car, pillow for 2-year-old.  My own bedding… I don’t like hotel sheets for their cribs or pack & play..

Things for parents: Clothes, shoes, toiletries.. LOL… keep it simple.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update… packing continued and additions to the list above that I probably can’t think of right now!

Road Trip

Our first family road trip is approaching.  It’s just me and the boys making our way to my husband’s home town in Indiana.  I am excited because we will be making several stops along the way and seeing some friends, but I am getting nervous.  I think about how the boys will do.  It will be interesting to see my two-year old’s reaction to the new places he will see.  Not sure how my 8 1/2 month old will do.  He is a very laid back baby, so fingers crossed!  

At least I can count on my planning skills as Miss Plan It All, to plan ahead and try to foresee as much as possible.  The most important thing is that the kids remain entertained and as comfortable as possible along the way.  That said, I will be picking out favorite toys, videos, books, games (for toddler) and my newest favorite thing to do in the car with him, flash alphabet letters at him to recite.  We are up to F. 

 I will start researching some of my go to resources for tips on trips and will share.  Stay tuned for the rest of the packing list and updates on how the road is treating us. 

 

 

Time with friends

Lately it seems that I need a long holiday weekend to reconnect with old friends.  I guess it’s because my time is consumed by everyday things that just happen.  My family has first place in my life and everything and everyone else comes after.  That is not say that I don’t think other things or friends are important.  I just have to find a way to manage my time to include spending time with friends, new ones and old ones alike.  I am sure there are many women out there who feel like they could use an extra three or more hours in their day.  I wish I had eight extra hours in my day to help me keep up with my friends!  However, since I know there is no one out there that can grant me that wish, I will just have to manage my time better.  Here are a few things that come to mind that I will try.  I hope my plans help those who read this post or at least they help you find ideas of your own.

I have friends with kids and without.  You would think that doing things with the friends that have kids would be easy because we have that in common.  WRONG!  It is not as easy as I thought it would be.  I used to think I could just put a play date together and that my girlfriends and I would have that time to catch up.  WRONG!  Yes, we have time together but not time to catch up!  Instead, we are playing with the kids and making sure they are playing safely, nicely and sharing.  Don’t get me wrong, I love doing that too, but to truly spend girl time with my mommy friends, I have to put a new plan in place.

Here is my plan for my mommy friends: Start a Girls Night!  Even if it’s after we all put the kids down and let dad watch them.  Even if it’s only for an hour.  Pick a place to meet outside the home.  Staying home or going to someone else’s home defeats the purpose of girls night out.  It does not have to be a place where you have to spend a lot of money.  A bookstore with a cafe can be a good place to catch up or a coffee-house.  If there is a nearby mall with a courtyard, that could work to, or a nearby park where you could bring a picnic or a bottle of wine to serve (drink responsibly).  If you absolutely have to meet in someone’s home, make it fun by adding a theme to the evening or playing a game.

Here’s the plan for my friends who are single and don’t have kids (of course you are counting on dad or a caregiver to watch your kiddies).
Pick a day or night to go out with them and do things that I can’t normally do with the kids in tow.  Like, go to a movie and watch a chick flick, spend the day shopping , lay out by the pool or at the beach, go do dinner and indulge!  It is easy to pick an activity to do with your single girlfriends.  I like to remind them, that I cannot do all the things they still do, like go bar or club hopping (if they are still into that) and that I cannot be their wing woman.  Most of my single girlfriends understand that I am no longer into the “club” or “bar” scene (neither are they for that matter), but that I do like to spend time with them and join them in what they like to do.

What about the out-of-town friends?  If you are like me and you grew up in a different city than where you live now, went to school out-of-state, and then moved to a different city after college.  That leaves you with a lot of great friends in a lot of great places.  How to keep in touch with each one is a challenge.  Thank goodness for Facebook!  This plan is a little bit harder to put together.  Let’s face it, you only have so much vacation time to spend and just because you are on vacation, it does not mean your friend are. My plan is to catch up with these friends by phone or Skype at least once a month.  It may not seem like a lot of time, but it is reasonable for me and that way, I get to talk to them not just read their status updates on FB.  If it just so happens I will be near their side of town at any given time, I will make a plan to meet up with them and their families even if it is just for a couple of hours.  There is nothing like seeing old friends.

Last, I love being a host!  All my friends know that my home is open to them whenever they are on my side of town.  They can count on staying at my place or meeting up somewhere nearby.  Luckily for me I am in Florida which lends itself to be a great vacation getaway for anyone.

A simple closet

I love the look of something neatly organized.  I started with my own home and since my closets are the spaces that I have to see and get into often I got to work on them first.  It’s funny how ALL the closets in my home are full and we are only a family of four.  When I opened my linen closet I was horrified by the disarray that stared back at me.  After all, I offer Organizational Services to my clients!  What if I had a client over one day and they saw this, the horror!!!!!  I got to work immediately.  I started by selecting and buying the type of storage containers I would use.  This meant a shopping trip!  Yet another reason to shop, which is a favorite past time of mine.  I chose simple lined wicker baskets, different sizes to fit different items.  Once purchased and in the house, it was time to get organized.  You can tell by the pictures below that it looked cluttered.  The easiest way to de-clutter an area is by getting rid of things you don’t use.  If it has not been used in a while, you don’t need it.  You can donate your items to a church, the Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local thrift store.  I gave my unwanted items to my mom, who is trying to condition a new home in another country where they are getting ready to relocate to.  ( I will blog about that another time, stay tuned!)  Once, you de-clutter, you want unfold and refold everything you will be storing so that it all fits properly in your bins.  I like to make sets of everything.  Since this was my linen closet, I coordinated sheet sets by size, towel sets, etc.  Everyone has their own way of finding things in their home.  Therefore, I suggest organizing things in a way where they will be easy to find and easy to put away later.

After completing my closet, I loved looking at it.  I know I was just staring at wicker baskets neatly placed on the shelves, but it was really satisfying to see a space look so neat.  A project like this may take about two hours to complete, but the time you will be saving later is worth it!  If you don’t have the time to invest in a project like this, a professional organizer can complete a task like this and many others.  Most professional organizers like myself are willing to work with any budget and any space.  The key is to have an organized home, which will free up more of your time in the long run.

Tips- Measure your space to make sure you get the right size storage solutions.

Purchase all your storage items of the same type, same color (or pick a color scheme that coordinates) and pair the sizes up.

Clean up the racks you will be putting your brand new storage materials on.

Fit your new storage items according to size to get a uniform look.

You can store big items, like comforters or quilts in a big bag, and store them out of sight.  Mine are to the right of all the baskets, where they can’t be seen!