Something You Might Want To Make
You can still link your projects to We’re Organized Wednesday until Saturday. Here’s one I thought you might want to make if you have any road trips planned this Summer with your kiddos.
Nap Time Journal made this backseat car organizer out of 2 towels. She shows you how here.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway too.
Filed under Car, Children | Comments (3)
Organizing the Car for Summer
Is the trunk of your car or back of your van ready for Summer? I like to be prepared for impromptu picnics, playing at the park, or cleaning up a messy kid. These totes are so inexpensive, maybe $4 each. I have 3 of them I keep in the van. This one is for reuseable shopping bags and yes it’s full. I use all of them when I go grocery shopping.
This tote holds a volleyball, soccer ball, frisbee, lacrosse game and kites. The kids love to play on the playgrounds at parks, but when they get tired of that they’re ready to play one of these other games. They like that mom and dad can join in the fun too.
I keep a first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, paper towels, wet wipes, water bottles and 2 picnic blankets in this tote. I feel like we’re ready for almost anything.
The totes fit across the back of the van with room in the front for camp chairs. The chairs are used for watching baseball and soccer games or just watching the kids play at the playground.
Anything can be used to organize your trunk. Try using reuseable shopping bags, empty ice cream containers, collapsible totes or a laundry basket to keep things corraled.
Now if it will just stop raining here.
I’m linking to:
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Hooking Up at House of Hepworths
Friday Fun Finds at Kojo Designs
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch
Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios
Trash To Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented
Filed under Car | Comments (14)Picnic Anyone?
Today is WHY NOT ORGANIZE SOMETHING Wednesday. Who wants to spend time organizing during the summer months? Probably no one except me, but it can help you get out of the house faster with the things you need for a fun day. So lets just do some fast organizing to have items ready we might need as we’re out and about during the day.
I keep three crates in the back of my van filled with items we might need throughout the day. In the first crate are picnic blankets and a small tarp. In the second crate are reusable grocery tote bags. These are great for grocery shopping, of course, but also swimsuits and towels, treats for the park or movies, games and activities for longer drives. There’s also paper towels and wet wipes for messes that are bound to happen. In the third crate are things I need for the gym, a first aid kit, soccer ball, baseball gloves and ball and a frisbee for fun at the park. There’s also room in the front of the crates for umbrellas and folding camp chairs.
I keep a picnic basket by the front door packed with essentials and ready for an impromptu picnic. Inside are plates, napkins, utensils, cups, wet wipes, water bottles and juice boxes. Just add sandwiches, fruit and cookies and your ready for lunch at a park or in the mountains. If I were lucky enough to live by a beach, I would have my picnic there.
I think I bought this basket at Shopko a few years ago on clearance for only $5. It’s not very big, but it’s perfect for a lunch picnic with the kids and it’s really sturdy and easy to carry. I love the blue gingham material inside.
Take some time today to gather your picnic and outdoor fun items together, so you don’t waste time looking for everything you need at the last minute.
Filed under Car, Family | Comment (0)Organize Your Car for a Trip
Have your kids pack a small backpack or bag to keep with them in the car. They can include electronic games, action figures, books, coloring books, colored pencils, drawing paper, MP3 player, travel games, etc. Clipboards are great for a flat surface. Don’t forget the earphones and batteries, if needed. Make your kids responsible for their things and returning them to their bags when their done playing. My kids like to nap on long trips, so they also have their pillow and lap blanket with them. A DVD player is a lifesaver in the car on long trips, so we let each kid pick out 2 or 3 DVDs. Reusable grocery bags are perfect to hold all the DVDs.
Don’t forget the snacks. As soon as we say we’re going to be in the car for more than an hour, the kids are all of the sudden starving. Some of the things my kids like and are easy to clean up are grapes, baby carrots, snow peas, goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, teddy grahams and licorice. I put them into snack baggies so they are individually packaged and size appropriate. A small cooler is perfect behind the front seat to hold drinks and fruits and veggies. We only drink water in the car so if it gets spilled it doesn’t matter. Don’t forget to pack your husband’s and your favorite snacks too. Bring along your favorite music and/or books on tape. It helps to keep the driver awake. I pack my favorite book or magazines that I never seem to have enough time to read. I’m like my kids, I like to nap too, so I bring along my blanket and pillow.
Each kid should have their own suitcase. I like the one’s with wheels so they can pull their own bag when we get to the hotel. They stack and fit in the trunk or back of the van really well.The main thing while traveling in a car with children is to make sure they have access to all their things to keep them occupied, so you’re not having to turn around constantly. Happy children make happy parents while traveling.
I can’t take credit for this, but I thought it was such a good idea that I’m passing it on. I’m going to try this on our next trip. You individually wrap enough things for each hour of the trip for each child. It can be small toys, food treats, small games, easy non-messy craft projects, etc. I would go to the dollar store and see what fun things you could come up with from there. Every hour or at certain mile markers or towns have your kids open a “gift” so they have something new to keep them entertained. They can even play with it for awhile and then trade with their siblings, for even more variety. I’m all about getting to your destination and still liking each other. Happy travels!
Filed under Car | Comment (0)Organizing Your Car
· Get in the habit of filling the gas tank when it is half empty. Nothing’s more aggravating than being on your way to an appointment and having to stop for gas. Plus in an emergency you may not be able to stop for gas.
· No one leaves anything in the car that does not belong there. Before you get out of the car have the kids take everything in their area into the house. Just remember to put everything where it goes immediately.
· Cargo bins are a simple way to keep things from rolling around in your trunk or back of van.
· Keep sports equipment in the car in cargo bins or sports bags. Sometimes kids have practice and/or games 3-5 times a week so just leave it in the car instead of lugging it back and forth from the house.
· Take-out Menu Binder. Slide one take-out menu into each page protector. Attach coupons to the menu if you have any so you don’t forget to use them. You can also include addresses, maps and directions in your binder.
· Front Seat Car Organizer. This can include clipboard, pens, pencils, sticky notes, phone charger, blank paper, “To Read” file, highlighter, blank note cards, Sudoku game book, etc. I read through my file or play Sudoku while I’m waiting for the kids after school.
· Keep an envelope in the glove box for maintenance receipts and warranties.
· Make it a habit to check the car’s lights and wiper blades every time you adjust the clocks for daylight savings.
· Use your glove box. Include wet wipes, small first aid kit, headache medication, tire gauge, hand sanitizer, car registration, insurance card, warranties, maintenance receipts, tool to cut seatbelt and break window, etc.
· Keep a litter bag in the car and don’t forget to empty it.
· Reuseable grocery bags need to be returned to the car after unloading them so they can be used again next shopping trip. I love these bags because they can hold about 3 times as much as a regular plastic bag. I’ve had mine for about 6 months and they still aren’t wearing out.
· Emergency Kit. This can be held in a cargo bin. Include flashlight, fire extinguisher, rope, AM/FM radio, jumper cables, tools, maps, compass, long range walkie talkies, extra batteries, flare and reflective triangles, first aid kit, blankets, water and food. Food needs to be something that can be fine in climate changes like protein bars.
Our van decided to quit running about a month ago so we bought a new one. Well new to us anyway, it’s a couple years old. One of the main things my husband and I wanted was storage, bet you couldn’t have guessed that one. We have stow and go everywhere and love it. The kids even put things back, because they think it’s fun. I’m sure that will wear off, but for now it’s great. With 4 kids that I still have to run everywhere we spend a lot of time in the car and having it equiped with what we need takes a lot of stress off me. Happy and Stress-free Driving.
Filed under Car | Comment (0)
