Add a Donation Bin to Your Laundry Room

Well, hello there!  It’s been a while.  We were on vacation and this week I’ve been in full force, get back on track, ready for school mode.  That means taking inventory on the clothes situation for the kiddos.

It seems like every time I turn around, my kids are sporting something that has suddenly become too small overnight.  Then I wash it one last time before I send it off, yet somehow it ends up in the daily rotation of clothes again.

Not anymore, my friends, not anymore.  I added a donation bin to my laundry room so I can pop those outgrown items into the bin right out of the dryer.  Yes, yes, that is some good stuff!

The true story on how this bin ended up in my laundry room wasn’t for that purpose.  It was actually to hide a hole in the wall that I didn’t want to patch.  This is a prime example when something good can come out of pure laziness.  Love it when that happens!

{the happy hallway} Teal Painted Floors

Welcome to what I call the happy hallway.  These floors make me feel like I’m on vacation at a little beach cottage.  There’s just something about the combo of the color and the subfloor’s raw quality that makes my heart happy.

This shot probably captures the color of the floors best.  It’s Behr’s Porch and Patio Floor paint in Heritage Teal.  I used low-lustre because it shows less defects in the floors than a gloss would and is less slippery for crazy little feet.

When my husband came home to see that I pulled the carpet out of yet another space, he was about to call in back-up for some intervention.  I’m so glad that he took the leap of faith with me once again. 

I used the same process as I did with the gray and white striped floors in the playroom.  Speaking of which, things are moving along and I’m starting to reload and finish up a few projects in there.  Here’s a sneak peek.  The chair is awaiting a facelift and a few tweaks on the table.  Stay tuned…

Have a great weekend!

…Kim

{guest post: Kendra Thornton} Traveling with Kids

Hello there!  Today I have a special guest post from travel expert Kendra Thornton.  She is a travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman and proud wife and mama of three.  Kendra is here today to share some helpful tips for traveling with kids.  Welcome, Kendra, take it away! 

………………………………………………………………

Hi Everyone!

I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

On the Road with the Kids for a Great Late Summer Getaway

The summer may be winding down as the school year creeps closer, but there is still time to plan a fun family vacation.  A family getaway is one of the best ways to not only relax, but to bond with your children and make cherished memories that will last a lifetime.  The best way to ensure a spectacular late summer getaway that everyone will love is to do a little planning ahead of time.

 

Break New Ground

We all have our favorite tourist spots to visit.  However, as the kids get older, going back to the same vacation spot loses its excitement for them.  Try going somewhere new this year, and even get input from your children about where to go. Present them with a few options you’ve researched and see if they have a place they’d really like to go. The kids will be far more excited for the trip if they have some input, and feel some ownership of the trip.

 

Fitting a Mountain of Clothes Into a Molehill of a Suitcase

Packing is a chore.  It's especially difficult when you're packing for yourself and your children.  Fortunately, technology can step in to ease the burden.  Try out a packing app like Packing Pro on your smart phones or tablet, and ensure you don’t forget anything while still fitting everything into your suitcase.

 

Mac and Cheese Is Always in Season

Part of the vacation fun for me is getting to try new foods.  For my kids, it's a different story.  Some of them just can't seem to get by without their staple foods like mac and cheese and grilled cheese.  When I choose a hotel, I carefully review the hotel’s restaurant (if it has one) and some online menus for nearby restaurants.  I used a site called Gogobot to read user reviews about different Orlando hotels, and was able to find one that was family friendly and offered a free continental breakfast (who doesn’t love pancakes?!). I always want to ensure that at least one place has a kid’s menu to keep my kids happy when eating.

 

Schedule Some Downtime

Visiting a new destination is exciting.  With so many tours to take and museums to visit, it's easy to fill up every day with activities.  However, it’s very important to schedule some downtime.  While I can sightsee all day, my kids sure can't.  Your kids need time to rest and relax. Maintain a regular schedule with regards to meals and sleeping.

 

Looking Glam, Feeling Great

When on vacation, it feels great to dress chic. Travel in style this summer, and do so for cheap! Load up the towels and swim shoes in a lovely tote bag when walking to the beach, all while sporting your favorite sunglasses.

The summer’s end is rapidly approaching, and there is no better time to start planning a vacation than right now! I hope these tips find you well, and remember to have fun on your family getaway!

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Thanks for the great tips, Kendra! I’ll have to check into that Packing Pro app and Gogobot would be super helpful for planning ahead for my little eaters.  We have one more trip ahead of us before school starts and we are heading to a super small town, so Gogobot may just be a lifesaver!

You can find Kendra on Twitter and on her website here.

{organization} Cord Control

Feeling a bit under the weather this week, so I haven’t finished the upstairs’ hall just yet.  In the meantime, I thought I’d share a super simple solution to house chargers or ear buds.

Last week, I gave my daughter an old gum container to put her charger in and she took it from there.  It seems she has caught the washi bug too because it got washi-fied.

Love these gum containers.  So many options.  Cord corral, a home for paper clips, safety pins, loose change, snacks, you name it.

Travel Tip: The “Hotel” Bag

My sister-in-law and her family just drove 4,000 miles cross country, through 14 states for a week in the Smokies and one with us in Michigan.  Aren’t you tired just thinking about it?  But this gal is organized, which is half the battle, especially on a trip with little ones.

If you’ve traveled with family and have to make a one night hotel stop on the way to your destination, you know what a pain it is to lug each person’s suitcase into the hotel.   Being the organized guru that she is, my sister-in-law has a “hotel” bag.  This bag contains what they need for one night in the hotel for each person.  In her case, that’s one bag for four people. 

It includes just the basics:

• PJs
• toiletries
• change of clothes
• bathing suits, if there’s time to take a dip
• maybe a book

Genius, right!  Much better than lugging four suitcases out for a one night stay, don’t ya think? 

What do you do to make traveling easier for your family?

Check out my past posts for more travel tips.  I’m thinking the burrito technique would work well for the hotel bag and there would definitely be room for some shower curtain hooks too!

• Packing: The Burrito Technique
• Pack Shower Curtain Hooks for Your Next Vacation

Have a good one! Be back soon…

…Kim