Live today as if it is your first, last, and greatest day of your life.
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Author: momonthegoinholytoledo
Huge fan of living life to the fullest! You're only given one life, it is a gift, don't waste it! I'm a mom of 3 and enjoy sharing and living this philosophy with my kiddos...I share our adventures, experiences, the extraordinary and mundane.
Ever had one of those days? One of those woe is me days? One of those days where nothing is going right, maybe you woke up late which now means that the entire house is running late. The dog puked in the corner, cat missed the litter box, and you forgot to switch around the laundry the night before so those clean clothes you planned on putting the kiddos in are wet. You forgot to have kiddos make lunch the night before and now you are searching the cushion of your couch for any sign of change so they can buy lunch and you can experience mommy guilt for the crap they will be consuming later in the day. You finally get everyone fed, dressed, out the door, in the car, buckled, and find that you are on E!
I know I have experienced days like that and when I do have days like that I tell myself I have two options. One; complain, complain, complain and make everyone else’s life miserable too by spreading my negativity. Or, I can look on the bright side, there is always a bright side, I don’t care what anyone tells you, there is always someone else who is worse off. So, the bright side is that I have a family that depends on me to get the party started, so to speak, in the a.m. I have k-9 and feline friends. I have a washer and dryer to wash my children’s clothes. I am fortunate enough to live in a country where schools do provide a lunch for children (in this rationale beggars can’t be choosy but I do think that the food served at schools needs to be reevaluated) should their parents not be able to provide food. Lastly, I am fortunate to be able to have a vehicle to drive my children to school, activities, and errands.
Another trick that I find that really helps me when I am having a woe is me day, STOP THINKING ABOUT ME. Stop the pity party before it starts, there is a bigger picture out there, it isn’t all about me. “My Own Little World” by Mathew West expresses this quite eloquently.
So, have you had one of those days? How do you cope?
God knows moms have enough to worry about when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their children. That’s why I am thankful for Rudi’s Organic bakery.
The best things in life are free. Free from (anything bad like) synthetic ingredients, chemical pesticides and fertilizers. When we say organic, we mean it. Our products are USDA Certified Organic, which tells you that at least 95% of our ingredients are organic. This is good for you, your family and the environment. (Source:http://www.rudisbakery.com/)
So, you can see why moms don’t have to wonder what’s inside Rudi’s bread. I believe we have an unwritten code as moms, if we have come across an amazing product, technique, or the like we need to share that with other moms. And share we did…..
When you come across a product like Rudi’s, that gives moms peace of mind, a celebration is in order. So we got out our Pom-poms and then headed to Health Foods by Claudia to purchase our Rudi’s organic bread (they offer Rudi’s entire line of bakery products and a slew of other amazing organic products, I highly recommend Health Foods by Claudia. And, good news, if you aren’t local they are launching their e-store soon, check it out) and invited over all our playgroup friends.
We packed the house, literally! We welcomed 14 magnificent moms and 16 amazing little kiddos. We decided to keep it simple and a bit traditional. While Rudi’s offers hot dog buns, hamburger buns, rolls, tortillas, wraps, bagels, English muffins, and sandwich flatz we decided the best way to introduce Rudi’s was the most practical way, the way in which moms often utilize bread, the good old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The PB & J is a staple in most of our moms’ lives. Whether it is packing a lunch for school, meeting up at the zoo, going to the park for a picnic, the easy to prepare, climate controlled, and fan of most kiddos is the PB & Jelly. But we added a twist. The kiddos had the option of making their own sandwich. They could select the Rudi’s bread they wanted, spread the PB and J, and then select a fun cookie cutter shape.
To accompany the PB & J moms brought grapes, cheese sticks, yogurt, carrots, apple sauce, juice boxes, milk, etc. to share. The moms in our playgroup are so amazing; they are so kind, compassionate, and considerate of others and this was definitely apparent at our play date. Most moms might think I was nuts to have 14 moms and 16 kiddos in my home especially since it is on the market and there is a chance that a prospective buyer might want to see our home the next day. But not me, the moms in our playgroup are such good moms; it is evident and reflected in their children’s behavior. They are also great friends; they did so much between bringing food to share, helping set out food, and clean-up that I actually got to enjoy the play date too. Thank you Playgroup-in-Toledo moms for being such wonderful moms and great friends; I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life.
After lunch we finished up our play date with a trip down to the park. What better way to conclude a well-balanced meal than with some activity. The kiddos had fun playing on the playground, swinging, and chasing after bubbles until their little bodies couldn’t go any more. Then it was time to head home where I hope all the moms got to have a little bit of a break while their children napped.
As if the bread, cookie cutters, playdate, park, etc. weren’t enough! The kiddos also received a Let’s Doodle Lunch sheet that allows them to create their own masterpiece and then submit that to Rudi’s and they will place that custom designed masterpiece on a sandwich box for the kiddos. AND, and each child has a chance for their custom design to be the Official Rudi’s Sandwich box! Sound like fun? Wish your kiddos could participate? They can!! Click here to get your kiddos art work on a sandwich box for FREE! ( Also, May1-31st, Rudi’s is running Get a dollar, Give a dollar, you can get $1 off coupon and Rudi’s will give a dollar to the celiac organization of your choice)
All of us moms agreed that Rudi’s was delicious and the kiddos seemed to enjoy the bread too! However there is the issue of the price and yes, if we are being totally honest it does cost more than non-organic breads. However those non-organic breads contain preservatives and additives that do not contribute to a healthy well-balanced meal. As moms we know that our children are what they eat. I know I have witness the effect that highly processed food have on my kiddos. They are often lethargic and left craving more highly processed food and that is a road I do not want them going down. I would rather spend a few more dollars today for healthy, organic food for my children then spend thousands years down the road trying to fix organs that processed foods have damaged. My children are worth it! Are yours?
Please share your thoughts. Have you ever tried Rudi’s organic bakery? Would you? What is your take on organic foods?
It is that time of year again, wedding season! I become a kid in a candy store when I see the elegant envelopes in our mail box. I tear them open like a child delving into their gifts Christmas morning eager to see what’s inside. The paper, fonts, and phrases so delicately and gracefully announce the future union of husband and wife. I am an advocate for marriage and I realize the time, energy, disagreements, financial obligations, and work that goes into a wedding. So when I open that envelope and see that I have been invite to witness such a magical, holy, and emotional union I am truly honored. In fact, it rather makes my day; I find it difficult to remove the grin from my face. That is until I finish reading all the wedding ceremony and reception details. I am finding that these days the invitations far too often include the following words, ADULTS ONLY. It is then that the huge grin on my face fades to a frown.
As a child I remember attending weddings, becoming excited when the entire church rose as the gorgeous bride walked down the aisle in her breathtaking gown. I remember the magic that occurred when they exchanged vows and were announced Mr. and Mrs. The experience of attending weddings encouraged a dialog about marriage, why we marry, and the importance of marriage. In fact; children attended so many weddings back then that they could actually pretend to get married and make that pretend wedding look pretty realistic. These days’ children are not welcomed to weddings like they used to be, which I find moronic. Forgive me if I am wrong, but isn’t one of the purposes for the union of husband and wife to bear children, have a family?
Marriage is already getting a bad rap. A considerable amount of people prefer to “shack up” instead of proclaim a commitment before God, family, friends, and future generations. Apparently, at least based upon one television show, Whitney, the reason they prefer to “shack up” is because it is nice to know your partner is there because they love you, not because of a piece of paper. Funny, I wonder how that “love” will hold up when you are deathly ill, when you lose your job and are caught up in financial woes, when you have to care for an ailing parent, when you are up 5 times in one night with a sick child, when you are so exhausted that you can’t give one more ounce to another individual. It is in those moments that the union, bond, promise, COMMITMENT comes into play. That euphoric love feeling does fade but COMMITMENT, UNION, PROMISE and VOWS are what maintain the relationship through the tough times and make the good times that much more enjoyable.
Thus, with society portraying that it is okay to live with a person, that marriage isn’t necessary, it disheartened me that much more when I glance down at a Wedding invitation and see ADULTS ONLY. It seems like the New Age or, sadly, what has become a rather unorthodox thing to do these days is to invite children to a wedding, which is why I would like to give praise to my cousin and his wife for going against the grain and inviting children to attend their wedding.
Our kiddos can’t stop talking about their wedding; they had such a wonderful time and will remember it always. In fact, that was the first wedding 2 of our kiddos had ever attended and only the second that our eldest had attended. Our son was very excited for the entire process, he felt so special to be a part of something so monumental. He had so many wonderful questions that would have otherwise never been brought up without the experience of attending a wedding. The highlights of the evening, from a child’s perspective was, the beautiful bride (I agree, her dress was gorgeous, it looked vintage and her makeup and hair complemented the dress perfectly), trolley, bubbles (hello, a child’s dream come true, bubbles at church, AWESOME!), the Wedding Day Fun activities packet & crayons, the chocolate covered mint Oreos, the photo booth (they had a blast with the hats, glasses, etc.), cake, and dancing! I have to admit, I think those were my favorites too, in addition to the amazing itinerary provided that included various local destinations to pass time between the ceremony and reception. Those included fun family destinations such as, Firehouse Museum, Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, Curtis Park, Ypsilanti Riverside Parke, and more. I also really enjoyed the venue, Wellers Inc. was gorgeous, a wonderful backdrop for pictures outside and inviting décor inside.
Five minutes after we left the reception….and yes, our little man is still wearing his medal from the Olympics held at his preschool two weeks ago.
Congratulations to Rob and Desiree!!
May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children’s children. May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
What are your thoughts regarding children at weddings? For it….against it…..indifferent?
Moms mark your calendars!! On Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Kirkland’s Home stores are having a grand opening of a new store in Crossroads Centre. You know the amazing Kirkland’s stores that contain everything you need to meet all your interiors’ design needs? Yep, that’s the store!! But wait; it gets even better, not only can you shop where the designers shop (or at least this Interior Designer) but as part of the celebration, Toledo personal organizer and decorator, and owner of In Its Place, Ltd., Lori Eckel will be offering free one-on-one consultations. (Okay, you have my permission to give out a woo-hoo!!)
The grand opening events will be the weekend before Mother’s Day. I think we all know a mom who can never find her keys, steps on toys in her house, or is always racing against the clock (and yes, I meet the criteria for all the above). So, in the spirit of crazy-busy moms everywhere, Lori has some great suggestions to help de-stress, increase productivity and creativity, get the family’s daily schedule flowing more smoothly, and actually make parents more punctual. Here are some of her tips and tricks:
· Put limits on toys: The less they have, the more they actually play with them. If you don’t have the heart to purge the toys, then ROTATE them! Remember, the less they have, the less that needs to be picked up.
· Drive through: You can run a lot of errands without ever getting out of the car – pick up prescriptions, dry cleaning, hit the bank and more. This way you’re not dragging the kids in and out of the back seat, you’re not making impulse purchases at the cash register, so you’re saving time and money, and not bringing home more stuff you don’t need.
· Merge errands and make it family time: When the kids are old enough, leave one in the dentist chair, with one observing while the sibling is having his or her teeth cleaned. Meanwhile, mom can go shopping across the street with the third child. Then have the dentist’s office call on the cell phone when they’re done. Kills two birds with one stone!
· Start chores from an early age: Kids love to help. Start them out early and make them feel important when they accomplish small tasks.
· Contain it: Setting aside a drawer for mail, bills, or kids’ drawings you want to keep isn’t helping. Get expandable file folders, a filing cabinet, or even collapsible storage containers – and use them.
Lori can help guests of the grand opening events get started on the baby steps to find out what systems or routines would work to keep their families organized. She can also help get plans in place to follow through. We may not all need professional help, but many of us aren’t solving our organizational problems alone.
Lori Eckel strives to help people de-stress their lives and reclaim their space. The owner of In Its Place, Ltd. is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and part of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, and when she takes on the task of organizing your home or office, she’s all about making it FUN! On Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, Lori will be at the grand opening of the new Kirkland’s at Crossroads Centre in Rossford. She’ll share tips and tricks on purging, downsizing and decorating to help organize your home and give your family a less hectic daily routine.
Again, just to recap, the Grand opening celebration and FREE personal organization and design consultations with Lori Eckel Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Kirkland’s ― Crossroads Centre
9830 Olde US 20
Rossford, OH 43460-1723
Do you have a room that is dying for some finishing touches, furniture, accessories, etc.? Maybe you have an organizing question you would like to ask a professional organizer? Please share….
On this date 9 years ago my husband and I stood before our friends, family, Priest, and God and proclaimed our love, trust, bond, and commitment to one another in Holy Matrimony. I remember walking down the aisle with such joy in my heart. I had made a considerable amount of important decisions in my life but when I said “Yes, I will marry you” that was by far the most important! Two years and much planning later, I walked down that aisle stood before everyone, and confidently proclaimed “I do”.
I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Susartandfood Blog. It is such an honor to be nominated especially by such a creative and respected blogger. Susartandfood Blog contains examples of their gorgeous art work and many delicious recipes that are easy for me, a more culinary challenged individual (there are also great photos so that you know if you followed the recipe correctly and exactly what your food should resemble) to follow, and more. Thank you Susartandfood Blog!! And thank you to all of you for taking a moment out of your day to visit this Mom on the go, it means a lot to me.
Now, onto the rules for accepting this award, which are as follows:
1. Thank the award-givers and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 7 or 8 Bloggers.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.
Here are 7 random things about me….
I choose to count my blessings as opposed to my problems.
I have recently formed an obsession with Spicy Buffalo Wheat Thins. I like to crunch then up and place them over lettuce and then crumble a little blue cheese on top, YUM!
I love to paint, in a past life, before children (B.C.) I used to enjoy a clean canvas, oil paints, and a cup of coffee. One day I will get back to painting but for the time being I have more important hobbies to dabble in like building with Legos and designing Barbie doll dresses.
If I won the lottery I wouldn’t tell a soul but I would secretly pay off my friends and family’s debts.
I would love to go to Alaska some day on a family vacation.
Some days I can’t wait till bedtime!
Other days I become so overjoyed and caught up in pure mommy bliss that it is difficult to hold back the tears. For I know they will be all grown up in the blink of an eye and I so desperately want to cherish and remember it ALL! (tissue please)
I hope you enjoy reading what these moms have to say as much as I do. If you know of a great blog I didn’t mention please share, I am always on the lookout for funny, versatile, mommy bloggers.
Moms have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could just run away from home and check into a hotel, or better yet, a Marriott Suite? Just to get away for a few hours, to do whatever your heart desires and not be responsible for one gosh darn individual, activity, group, chore, etc.? I fulfilled that dream this past week and I thought it only fair to share with you, other hard-working parents who also deserve to run away from home every once in a while.
My husband was in his college roommate’s wedding which was held in Fort Wayne Indiana. So we made arrangements with my parents to watch the children over the weekend and we headed for Fort Wayne. Once there my hubby had to tend to his groomsmen responsibilities, you know, get his suit, change, take pictures, etc. So that meant that little old me would have to be all alone for 4 hours. Oh dear, what to do? HELLO, live out my ultimate mommy moment!
So I dropped off my hubby and headed to TownPlace Suites-Marriott where I proceeded to check in, all by myself. I walked the luggage in, all by myself, not having to hold anyone’s hand. I slowly and effortless got on the elevator, all by myself. Our eldest is not a fan of the elevators so I usually take the stairs with her or I calmly walk her through the elevator ride. But not on that luxurious day, I stepped on that elevator like I owned it. I walked into the room, all by myself, and let out the hugest sigh ever. I had arrived; it was finally my moment, the mommy moment of all mommy moments, I was all by myself!! No dog to let outside, cat to feed, nose to wipe, shoes to tie, argument to put at bay, food to prepare, laundry to fold, butt to wipe, spilt milk to clean, etc. it was just me. IT WAS JUST ME!!
What to do????
So I did what any mom would do when they find themselves in this situation: I jumped on the bed, I turned on all the lights, I flipped through every channel on television, I paid homage to the ever so popular self-portraits in the bathroom while dancing and singing, I jumped on the bed again, read my book, ate some salty snacks (thanks for the Chex Mix Lilly), gave props to the interior design who designed the suite (except for one small detail that I did not quit agree with, ever wondered what you look like while taking a crap? Well now you know thanks to the full-sized mirror located across from the toilet), made some coffee, watched the Client List (scandalous, seriously), and….I know I did something else… oh, yeah, and then I attended a wedding.
Living the dream…..WOOHOO!
That’s right….I am dancing with a shower curtain because I can. Jealous?
NO KIDS….AHHHHHHH!!!!
Ever wondered what you looked like while taking a crap? Good news, just check into the TownPlace Suites-Marriott and wonder no more.
Thanks for helping this mama relax, let loose, and ultimately, even though it may not be apparent based upon these pictures, maintain her sanity Fort Wayne Indiana.
This post is dedicated to the one I love. Don’t we clean up nice? And congratulations to Adam and Brooke we wish you many happy years together!
So how was your weekend? Have a dream mommy time moment to share?
From a young age I remember going to the library on a weekly basis to get new and exciting library books, Videos, cassette tapes, and of course, the piece de la resistance, story time! I would become elated with joy when the librarian would walk in with 3 books tucked under her arm and smile big and say good morning boys and girls. A huge grin would appear on my face when she said okay; it is time for our first story. I would look at my mom for that nod that said its okay; you can sit closer to see the pictures. Once I received that confirmation nod I would rush up front and intensely listen to the words while carefully reviewing each illustration. I so enjoyed story time and I was always happy to see the story time librarian, to me she was like a local celebrity. In fact when she would approach me I found it difficult to talk, like she was some famous rock star are something. Well, I have grown but my love for adventures found in books has remain and since I now have chidlren of my own I enjoy sharing the expereince with them.
I think it is actually more exciting from my perspective, as a parent. Sure I enjoyed the library and story time when I was young but there is something to be said about witnessing your own little blessings finding so much joy in the exploration of learning. Like when my son becomes overjoyed with a book about his favorite superhero, or when our toddler claps uncontrollably during the first verse of the Itsy Bitsy Spider during story time, or better yet, our eldest daughter just learned how to read the easy reader series of books and the proud smile she bares when she completes a book on her own melts this mama’s heart. And the day when our kindergartener and preschooler received their library card was right up there with the other many milestones in their young lives (they each received their library card at age 3, so our youngest isn’t quite there. This was our choice as parents; we factored in a lesson about responsibility).
Our library, Sanger branch library has a really cool children’s reading area “A Walk in the Park” which contains larger than life scenes from the author Denise Flemings books. The children really enjoy the space; there are intricate details that capture their little eyes such as a mouse cutout in the gate and lightning bugs that actually flicker. Parents like the fact that the space comes fully equimpt with a gate and all; moms can open and shut the gate as they please thus keeping little crawlers and new walkers within eye site.
Our kiddos have grown accustom to our library routine and the librarian who does story time. And just as the story time library was like a celebrity to me when I was a child our children’s librarian has very much become a celebrity in their lives too. Our preschooler becomes so shy around her while our toddler runs up to her with pure elation, like a teenage who just met Justin Bieber. Ms. Kristin, the children’s story time librarian at Sanger branch library is definitely a local celebrity in our household. After all she is one of the few adults they have seen in their lives on a regular basis besides family. The kiddos each started off attending baby story time and now our eldest is in kindergarten and our youngest just attended her last baby story time (time to graduate to toddler story time…pass a tissue please) so she has definitely been a constant in their lives. So it was sad to hear that this past baby story time series would be her last at Sanger branch library.
We will miss seeing her on a weekly basis at our library but the good news is she hasn’t gone far. She is now at the downtown main branch library which means we just got another reason to visit, besides the awesome kids’ library that includes computer and play area, fish aquarium, car, Dr. Seuss’ Cat-in-the-Hat figurine, and more.
So, we wish you the best of luck and fun at your new library Ms. Kristin and we look forward to visiting you very soon.
Does your child have a local celebrity? Maybe it is the cashier at the grocery store, the mail carrier (ours is more like our dogs favorite local celebrity, she always has treats for our dog), care provider during the day, etc.?
If lounging at a beautiful hotel in an exciting city, sipping on the new Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè sounds up your alley, point your kids (or yourselves!) in the direction of Facebook! By simply telling Santa Margherita why their mom deserves a getaway, they’ll be entering you for the chance to win a Las Vegas Mother’s Day Weekend for two, including airfare, two nights at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and a memorable Mother’s Day Brunch featuring HGTV star and entertaining expert Monica Pedersen. Other great prizes include bottles of wine, boxes of chocolates and copies of Monica Pedersen’s new book, “Make it Beautiful.” Encourage your kids to enter or log on to Facebook to enter on behalf of your own mother!
Because Italians’ love of their mothers is internationally renowned, Mother’s Day provides the perfect occasion for America’s favorite Italian wine to introduce Americans to the delicious new Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè. The Sparkling Rosè joins an acclaimed lineup of Santa Margherita wines that also includes Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Chianti Classico Riserva. The #1 Imported Italian Wine crafted this beautiful, sparkling blend of Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Chardonnay, and a hint of Malbec in the crisp, easy-drinking style for which Santa Margherita is renowned.
The new Santa Margherita Sparkling Rose isn’t available in stores until May, but we want you to be among the first to try this delightful and refreshing wine!
What are you waiting for enter today! And it would be appreciated if you “liked” the mom (me) who informed you of this amazing oportunity.
Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Santa Margherita prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place.
Last week was our daughter’s spring break and we were all itching to get out of TOLEDO!! Since a long family vacation wasn’t in our budget we instead did a mini-vacation and you can too!! Here is how…..
1. Location: Plan your trip around family and/or friends. You know that friend of yours that moved a few years back and she has always been bugging you to visit and stay with them but you feel like your family would be an imposition? Or, maybe your sister or brother just relocated and could use the company? Kindly accept their offer, it is really easy, repeat after me, “Yes, we would love to visit”. We stayed with my sister in Dayton.
My sis: "Of course you guys can stay at my place...." I am so blessed.
2. Set ground rules for your stay. Express to your friend or family any specific that need to be followed during your visit such as nap time, food budget, avoiding souvenir traps, bedtime, etc. But do remember to have this discussion in a kind manner, after all, they are providing a place for your family to stay during the duration of your visit. Also, do not be demanding, be appreciative and kind. Bring your own towels, linens, food, etc. then be grateful for any towels, linens, etc. that are provided. Do bring a small thank you gift for your friend/family, a nice bottle of wine, something from your home town is known for (glass figurine or chocolate) or something your friend/family enjoys.
3. Travel: Keep the travel short and sweet when possible. Try to minimize your travel trip to a location that doesn’t require more than one days travel. Also, if you will be traveling in the car all day locate a park at the halfway point for children to run around and blow off some steam (you will be happy you did so once back in the car).
4. Means of transportation for travel: Gasoline prices are ridiculous so in order to keep our trip within our budget I swapped cars with my hubby. He stayed in town for work and drove around in the Yukon while I took the kiddos on our trip to Dayton in his Cadillac. True, the Yukon has so much more space and it also has a DVD player but it guzzles up the gas. So, instead of using $80 for gas I only spent $45. And since we wouldn’t have the DVD player the kiddos were each allowed to pick out a Playaway View from the library as entertainment for the travel (these are FREE as long as you return them on time). We also played a few games and sang some songs along the way.
5. Food: Traveling can make fast food very tempting, it is at every exit/rest area and it is convenient. Sure grabbing a bag and unwrapping dinner, passing it around, and tossing the trash back in the bag is convenient and requires no pre-trip preparation. However when traveling on a shoestring frequent fast food stops can quickly add up and so does the cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium. So, for your wallet and heart’s sake steer clear of fast food. Instead pack snacks and meals for the family before you hit the road. Remember to bring a cooler for any perishable foods. For our trip I packed my version of a kid’s happy meal.
I made PB & J sandwiches; packed carrots, juice box, napkin, and fun Easter candy treat in Easter buckets. The buckets not only contained crumbs and trash but the kiddos thought it was so special and fun. I ate carrots and an apple while I drove, both are eating while driving friendly foods. Also, go through your pantry and refrigerator and pack food for your vacation. Milk, OJ, cereal, fruit, veggies, PB, Jelly, bread, Coffee, and pretzels are my go to foods. Try to limit the food you purchase while on the trip but you are on vacation so be sure to budget in a splurge for dinner one night, a snack another, and of course a coffer or two or even a glass of wine for mom and dad. When dinning out at a restaurant with the entire family it is wise to discuss your budget with your children before you enter the restaurant. If everyone gets water you are already saving money right off the bat. One of the best options for dinning out with the entire family is pizza. On our trip we ate dinner at a local pizza establishment and the large pizzas were only $13. Or, if pizza isn’t your forte splitting entrees is another great idea when vacationing and if you eat your dinner earlier you can usually get the lunch price.
6. Attractions: Seek out local attractions that are free such as mega playgrounds like the one our kiddos enjoyed in Dayton.
Ask around, the locals are always eager to share all the wonderful attractions their town/city has to offer. Like the Yellow Springs Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm we visited…..
My Three Little Piggys
Old McMaxwell had a farm..
These guys reminded me of my kiddos, all they have to say is “ma..ma..ma…
Time for that special treat!!
I love the name.
Yep, that water looks all natural! Our toddler kept trying to jump in, she would have been dyed blue! Remember the movie Meet the Fockers?
I had a tough time taking pictures and running after our toddler…this is one of the girls together, cute photo huh?
We just so happened to visit on Family Day. They had a lot of fun activities for the kiddos.
Lastly, checkout your local memberships for reciprocity at other establishments located near you vacationing destination. Our Toledo Zoo Membership got us into Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for FREE!!
7. Mommy Mentality: This is one of the most important tips. As we all know moms are constantly modeling their behavior for their children and vacation is no exception. It is important that moms express enthusiasm for the attractions you will be visiting on your trip. As moms we know the difference between a deluxe vacation and a mini-vacation on a shoestring budget. However moms have the power to make that mini-vacation on a shoestring budget into a deluxe vacation memory.
Spending quality time with family and seeing some amazing attractions while making wonderful memories= PRICELESS
So, where have you mini-vacationed? I would love to hear some suggestions for places we should visit in the future. We are trying to decide where to go this summer, tell me about your home town, should it be our next destination mini-vacation?
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 