easy come, easy go

Vacations, no matter how well planned, usually includes hidden costs. A forgotten item, a gift shop purchase, a meal out....Whatever it is.

I have a Ford Expedition. I love, love, love my car. However, it is not cheap to fill her up! I take advantage of gas reward points programs but...the most I can get off a tank here in CA is a mere .20! However, I will take what I can get.

So during a stop to get gas, I was shocked to find a different offer from Safeway...we got $1 off a gallon! Gas was already super cheap compared to So. Cal but to get $1 off as well? Heck yeah! (Picture above is CA prices with discount. Picture below is AZ price with discount)

While driving into the Grand Canyon, Ben informed me that we had to pay a $25 fee for park entrance. As we pulled up though, we saw this sign...

See that line on the very bottom? Yep, not only did we get the day free, we got a whole year free! We congratulated ourselves on saving some more money on our trip.

At the end of our trip, Ben said to me, "Have you ever noticed how when we save money
on something, we usually end up finding it somewhere later?"

Uh yeah. Unfortunatley. After one more stop at Sonic (this was a must have), we decided not to eat out or spend any more money until we got home.

Upon arriving home, we were getting everything cleaned out of the car, and getting back into the swing of things. But then...we realized that one of the freezers in our garage, had had the door left open.

Everything was ruined. EVERYTHING. I had to throw it all away. It made me sick to my stomach to throw all that food out. I had carefully wrapped meats, frozen produce, whole chickens...ugh. All of my hard work down the drain.

I was already in a bad mood because of all this. I went out to the garage to get something out of the car. When I clicked the garage door button, the door went up and I heard a shattering sound. The lift gate on the back of my car had been left open. When the door went up, it got caught and the whole thing shattered.

After many, many tears, and a bit of chocolate, I called the insurance company. Thank heaven for good insurance. After parts, labor and paying extra for them to come to us instead of me going to them, we were looking at a little less than $500. Ugh. Do you know what I can get with $500?!

While the windshield was being fixed, I went to Costco. My husband insisted that " there is nothing good to eat" and that we needed some quick & easy foods. That "little" trip, knowing that I had to replace some of what was lost, put me back a lot of money.

Yet another kick to the gut.

Such costly mistakes that could have been easily prevented.

It was an expensive, expensive couple of days. Lots of lessons learned.

Now I am trying to re-stock my freezer with good deals...and of course, buying a lock for the freezer!

Car Crazy (pt 3)

Soooo....we have covered entertainment and food while traveling. How about keeping healthy and clean while we are on the road?

I have 2 kids who get car sick. Really car sick. The other two kids, who don't get car sick (Mason is always in the front row) don't think it is fair that they "always" have to sit in the very back. It finally came down to this...

"Would you rather drive in a car that smells like throw up OR sit in the back?" They voted to remain in the back.

Healthy:
** Part of keeping the kids from not getting sick, starts with the food that they eat. You can check out my post here to give you some ideas!

** Did you know that Dramamine is a Moms best friend? I make my kids take it. I *believe* that Dramamine has now come out with a kids version but am not 100% on that. There are generic brands also that can help you keep your costs down. I have tried things like allergy meds and they just don't work the same. Trust me.

** In the pockets of the seats I keep a container (an empty cleaning wipes container, repurposed) and it holds plastic bags. This way, we have an option if we can't pull over. Then it can just be tied up and thrown away.

**Here are a few more items I always bring with me...
*saltine crackers
*gatorade
* paper towels/ disinfectant wipes
*towel
*dramamine
*wet wipes (even for my big kids!)
*kids tylenol
* tylenol for Mom & Dad:)
*hand sanitizer
*tissues
*chapstick
* sun screen
*first aid kit

Keeping clean! I always think we won't use them...and then we need them. Some of these items are double dippers because they help with both keeping clean and staying healthy!

** toddler wipes (because they are flushable)
** baby wipes (hands and bums)
** toilet paper. A couple of rolls. Some rest areas are...a little shady. It is nice to know that you are covered!
**extra outfit for everyone---> even older kids need extra clothes! What if they spill a water bottle? Throw up? "Accidents" aren't the only way to get wet!
** I cover my seats with towels before laying car seats down. That way it stays somewhat clean in case of spills.
** garbage bags! I hook bags to the back of all the seats so that the kids can throw things away
**Every time we stop, we do a trash round up. Get everything out of the car that doesn't need to be there!

We all know that "things happen" but if we bring the very basics, you should do well!

Any other ideas on keeping kids clean and healthy while traveling?

Car Crazy (pt 2)

Yesterday I shared a few tips on entertaining kids while being stuck in a car.

For part 2 of this series, I want to discuss, one of my favorite subjects...food!

I swear whether you are driving for 5 miles or 500 miles, someone is bound to get hungry.

Our family *tries* to get on the road first thing in the morning. That way my kids can eat some breakfast, then get in the car and put a few miles behind us before they need to eat again.

However, that doesn't always work. The last time I went to AZ, we couldn't leave until lunch time. I took my kids to McD's, which they ate in the car. Then they snacked until we arrived in AZ, and then had Wendys. Worse decision ever as I had throw up all over my car. Too much greasy food is not a good thing!

So, what is a Mom to do? Well...this obviously depends on how long you are traveling, where and how you are traveling, etc.  But we are just going to pretend that everyone is traveling by car (:

Eating out:

**I get a lot of fast food coupons in the mail & through mailers. Take those with you. Some are for local areas but not all. Bring them with you to help you save a bit while on the road.


** Many fast food places have options that are not as greasy as say a bacon cheeseburger& fries. Look for options like sandwiches, chicken nuggets, wraps etc.

**If you choose to feed your children in your car, you might want to avoid: french fries (greasy and messy if spilled), orange juice( the acid can be hard on traveling tummies), milk (it smells really bad when it comes back up, ugh).

Bring your own:

**Obviously you can save time and money by bringing your own food. So while maybe not a great price for every day, things like Uncrustables/Lunchables can provide a good non greasy option and can be cheaper than taking everyone out to eat.

**For couponers, we have a lot of snack foods in our stockpiles. Grab some crackers, fruit snacks, fruit cups, squeezable apple sauces, waters, juice boxes etc. You will cut down your travel costs by a lot!

**Let your children pack their food. Give each a gallon sized ziplock bag, and let them fill it. Then they can use the bag for garbage.

Both options:
**plan to bring the "sides" and then you can stop for the main dish. Look through your cupboards, pantry stockpile etc.

**Depending on how long you are traveling, it can be worth it to stop into a grocery store for fruit trays, lunchables or deli sandwiches.

**Bring your own drinks. Waters, juice boxes, crystal light packets...

On the way home, when you don't have access to your own pantry, the grocery store can be your bff. Buying things you know you have at home is still better than repeatedly going out to eat!

Hold kids interest by letting them pick a snack (s) to take with them. Or try something new!

Anyone have any other suggestions for food? What do you do on the road to feed your kids (and yourself) and save money?

Feminine Friday

Once again, I am joining The American Homemaker in Feminine Friday. It is a fun chance for me to think about the things that make me feel feminine. With so many boys in the house, it can sometimes be hard to remember!

This week on facebook, I was lamenting the fact that I feel like I am NEVER at home, and spend the majority of my day in the car. A friend actually told me about a bumper sticker, that says, "If a woman's place is in the home, then why am I always in the car?" I laughed at that because it is so true!!

So, basically  my car is my 2nd home. I don't think there is anything feminine about a big ol' SUV. However, I am constantly thinking about what would happen if I had all my kids in the car and something were to happen. It is my job to protect my children and THAT makes me feel feminine.

Every Friday, I have designated as car day. No matter how much (or how little) gas I have in my car, I fill up. While I am filling it up, I throw my trash bag away and collect any other trash throughout the car.

Keep track of your oil changes. The easiest way is that little sticker they put in your car. I go to a drive thru so I don't even have to get my 2 yr old out! When they ask me about the millions of different options, I just say, "sorry I need to talk to my husband about that" and they don't really ask me anything else.

I carry a variety of items in my trunk for those "just in cases"...however I am going to save that for another post. (:

**While you are here, I have a giveaway going on that you are welcome to enter! I am giving away a copy of the new Phineas & Ferb movie, the 2nd Dimension and the Phineas & Ferb soundtrack. Go here to sign up!

WFMW-car kit

(the inside)



Works for Me Wednesday is over at Rocks in My Dryer for the next two weeks. So if you want to go and get some great tips, head over there!

From reading my blog, you might get the impression that I am a stay at home Mom. However, I don't consider myself to be at home...I consider myself to be an in the car Mom! From grocery shopping, to errands, to pre-k drop offs and pick ups, from Girl Scouts to Cub Scouts, to church and church activities....we log a lot of time in our van!

I have learned many times the importance of being prepared. We have been on the road to school when a child admits to not eating breakfast. Or getting caught in a sudden downpour (we live on an island) and having no towel or anything to dry off with. We have been stuck without a diaper or missing some wipes. So I finally learned what is necessary for me to keep in the car. For those just in case times!

I used to keep my car kit in a rectangular bucket. However, it just took up to much room. I had a tote bag that wasn't being used and found that much easier to move and keep in the car. I was constantly taking my bucket out for the stroller or groceries etc. This is what I keep in mine. Hopefully it will help you think of things you could keep in yours!

**an extra outfit for my baby and 5 year old
**diapers
**wipes
**formula
**water
**clean bottle
**extra camera & batteries
**towel
**blanket
**umbrella
**first aid kit
**hair things for my daughter
** a Sharpie
**word searches & pencil
**sun screen
**bug spray
** wet ones
*snack ( I don't tell my kids what is in there because they will sneak to the car and eat it while they are outside playing!!)
**an extra memory card ( I have left mine in the computer a million times!)
**Double AA batteries

This all fits in the tote bag well and it is so nice to know that it is there if I need it!