This past weekend we attended our first regional event for our LPA district. While I love eating out, when you’re paying for everything away from home, while still paying for your home (wouldn’t it be cool to suspend your mortgage if you weren’t there?!), that can be a weighty financial burden. So, we did what anyone would do. We packed food and gift certificates- which we used to treat ourselves to dinner!
In our cooler we had:
This stash, plus a stop for a bunch of bananas, got us through 2 breakfasts, a lunch and snack times without hesitation. We ended up treating ourselves to coffee (because we are coffee snobs) as well as a special baked good from a local bakery, Plum Beach Bakery. For $1, their glorified dough boy left Dave and I stuffed! So, while we can’t control the price of fuel or tolls, we can control our food costs with some planning!
Best tip: PACK WATER BOTTLES! Even when you’re traveling and cannot bring a cooler of food (say on an airplane), you can always bring water bottles for everyone in the family. For this trip, we brought enough water so that we would not have to drink from the tap, but when we fly, we bring empty Nalgene and CamelBacks so we know that we can fill them up at a bar (just remember to tip the tender) and board with it!
And what else do we struggle with as parents who want to travel? Ahh… The dreaded hotel room-with-a-child situation. Addie too big to sleep in a Pack n’ Play and the hotel cribs are often not full size, so those are a no-go, too. A big bed? By herself? No rails? No thanks.
But wait!
Those decorative pillows are not for naught! They are for bed rails!
From The Sea Crest Hotel website (Falmouth, MA)
Using the large cylindrical pillows under the fitted sheet, I created bumpers along the sides of the bed. Addie was able to sleep by herself, safely, while Dave and I watched over her and cringed each time she kicked… knowing it would have been his face, or my back, had we not put what we had at hand to good use. Sharing a bed with your child is a beautiful thing- until the day your child becomes a smallest bucking bronco one has ever seen.
She only looks innocent. Don’t let her smile fool you.
What travel-hacks have made your life easier? Share below!!!
I love seeing this post after chatting to you the other day about movies and snacks! I think you’re on to something! Seriously, Addie looks beyond adorable in that big bed. I bet she had a blast!
Courtney Buteau recently posted…{Recipe} Rhode Island-style Pizza Strips
Packing Twizzlers sounds like a great idea to me! 🙂
martinkadelux recently posted…Life Hacks for Traveling Parenting Moments…
Great tips! If I’m living at a hotel for awhile I always bring packets of instant oatmeal and paper bowls. You can make oatmeal easily with the hot water in the coffee machine or so many hotels have free coffee/tea for guests; just grab the water in the lobby.
Jessica @ KeepingMommySane recently posted…Come Join Me at the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half & Festival (Discount Codes!)
Great idea!!!!
martinkadelux recently posted…Life Hacks for Traveling Parenting Moments…
These are great ideas Chelley! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Melissa Hillas recently posted…Kismet Tulum ~ A Tribal-Chic Eco-Resort
I hope they help!!
martinkadelux recently posted…Adelaide has achondroplasia
Great tips Chelley! We do all of those! 🙂 Love the pic of Addie at the end- too cute! 🙂
Great minds think alike!
martinkadelux recently posted…Adelaide has achondroplasia
Great tips! I’ve never been a big bring-your-own-travel-food person (much to my wallet’s dismay) but you suggestions are quick, simple finds. Thanks!
Andrea recently posted…That’s From WHERE? Talbots. That’s Right. Talbots.
I think my wallet would leave me for someone else if I didn’t bring some things from home 😉
martinkadelux recently posted…Adelaide has achondroplasia