Packing up the kids for a family vacation is one of the most rewarding experiences of being a mother. A vacation with kids lets you get in sync with your family away from your hectic schedules. To get the most out of your family vacation, it’s crucial to prepare your trip with the same amount of detail and effort that you would expend for a client presentation. Here are tips and hints that will assure a pleasant vacation without any hassles.
1. Check Out Family-Friendly Resorts
More resorts are starting to offer vacation plans for families with children. In fact, the competition for this demographic is heating up, especially in the UK, and many resorts offers special packages to attract families and children. These holidays will include special amenities for kids like horseback riding and ocean excursions. For example, Arizona and Colorado have a number of ranches that cater to children and families. My family stayed at a tropical resort when we visited the island of Oahu. Finding our family friendly Honolulu resort was not hard with a little research and advice from fellow traveling moms.
2. Fourth of July Trips
With the Fourth of July coming up quickly, many families are all set for a weekend of BBQs and road trips. Fireworks in old colonial cities can be a blast for the entire family. Picnics and parades are great for kids. Washington DC, Charleston, South Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are all great destinations. Wherever you go, be certain to plan ahead and find a good spot early. Take along a cooler with refreshments, a basket with sandwiches and snacks and a blanket for a cooler night.
3. Adult Time
Don’t neglect yourself. It’s your vacation, too. Set aside time to read a book uninterrupted or to visit the spa. Your husband can watch the children for an hour while you relax or take a walk on the beach. The next day, your husband can get away for a few hours of golf or fishing. Don’t forget to set aside time for the two of you after the kids are tucked away. A candlelight dinner on your room’s balcony can be the perfect end to a wonderful day.
4. Prep for the Plane
Boarding an airplane will go more smoothly by printing out your boarding passes a day ahead of your flight. This will allow you to go straight to security and avoid the airline desks. Slip on shoes and limited jewelry will also speed up your wait. When you’re packing your carryon, make sure your bag of liquids is on top and that it is easy to reassemble. Luckily, TSA states that baby food and formula is allowed through security in excess of 3oz.
Photo Credit: Frans Persoon via Compfight cc5. Feeding the Crew
I love traveling with my family because it exposes my children to places and cultures they aren’t privy to in Illinois. Foods can be a wonderful way to introduce your children to new destination. But keep in mind that new foods can cause allergic reactions particularly in the smallest children. Try to stick to foods with ingredients your child is used to eating. Squeeze packs can be wonderful for travel, by air and car and can be an excellent snack for picky eaters.
Guest Post from Cindy Orley of Akron Ohio Moms
I think I “met” Cindy online entering blog giveaways. I had entered a few on her blog www.AkronOhioMoms.com but found more information that I enjoyed reading while I was there. I voted for Cindy in her efforts to become America’s Crescent Cook in the Pillsbury Crescent Roll contests.
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| http://www.mycrescentwow.com/vote/?WT.mc_id=partner_akronohiomom |
Please welcome my fellow “mommy blogger” friend, Cindy Orley from AkronOhioMoms.com (http://www.AkronOhioMoms.com) as she guest posts for me:
To you, the kitchen is a place to make dinner and when you are feeling extra domestic, it is a place where masterpieces are made! To kids, the kitchen is a mysterious playground with the magic of foods being chopped, mixed, sizzled on the stove, and HOT, Don’t Touch – in the oven. Think for a moment what you look like racing around the kitchen trying to prepare dinner with a hungry family waiting and next to no time to prepare anything reasonably healthy or tasty. Ok, nevermind, just think of how you must look to a kid! You look pretty magical as you glide from one counter to the next, to the fridge, to the stove, etc.
Let your kids in on the fun sometimes. Yes, fun. Spending time in the kitchen with your kids can be a lot of fun when you let it. Not only are the kids engaging in the science and art of cooking but when you spend quality time with your kids, you are sharing bonding moments that could easily turn into their favorite memories.
If this sounds too good to be true, maybe it is because you haven’t tried it. Start out with an easy recipe, something your kids already love like pizza. Really, there is something to do for any age child. Once you see what they can do, add more tasks as they get older and you get use to another chef in your kitchen. Have kids get out the ingredients, read off the recipe, stir, add toppings, and even chop the veggies.
Don’t be stressed or hurried or it won’t be fun for anyone. Ask your child to help with just one part of the meal or dessert – my kids’ favorite! As a fair warning, I should tell you that oftentimes your kitchen is a bit messier when kids help but here’s another secret, kids love cleaning up too. Again, depending on the age, kids can rinse the dishes, load the washer, scrub down the counters. If you make it fun, it won’t feel like a chore to them either.
Easy Recipe for Cooking with Kids
My very own recipe Perfect Potato Pockets is super easy to make. My 3 year old literally prepared the 90% of the recipe last week! Although it is easy, it is a family pleaser every time, no matter what the age. Perfect Potato Pockets taste like a fully Loaded Baked Potato wrapped up in a Pillsbury Crescent Roll. YUM! Your kids will love stirring in the ingredients, loading up the crescents, wrapping the crescents, and brushing on the mutter mixture. It’s just plain fun! AND delicious!
Cindy Orley’s Perfect Potato Pockets Recipe
Prep Time: 10-15 Min
Total Time: 25 Min
Makes: 4 servings (2 pockets each)
INGREDIENTS
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1 pouch (3.3 oz) Betty Crocker® Cheddar and Sour Cream instant mashed potatoes
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1 3/4 cups hot water
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1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
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3/4 cup finely chopped fully cooked ham
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2 medium green onions, chopped
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1/4 cup Bac~Os® bacon flavor bits or chips
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1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (1 oz)
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1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
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1 tablespoon butter, melted
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1 teaspoon red pepper sauce
DIRECTIONS
1. In large bowl, mix the mashed potatoes and hot water. Add cream cheese; beat until blended. Stir in the ham, onions, bacon and Cheddar cheese.[Soft Break]2. Separate crescent dough into 8 triangles. Slightly stretch corners of short side of each triangle to make longer. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Spoon 1/3 cup potato mixture on center of each triangle. Bring corners to center over filling, overlapping ends; press gently to seal.[Soft Break]3. Mix butter and pepper sauce; brush over tops. Bake at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
This recipe is in a cook-off!
This recipe has made me a Pillsbury Top 4 Finalist in the Pillsbury Crescent Cook Contest. I’m asking for you to vote for me so that I may become America’s Favorite Crescent Cook.
I would appreciate your vote for Cindy Orley at www.MyCrescentWow.com. (http://www.mycrescentwow.com/vote/?WT.mc_id=partner_akronohiomoms) Every time you vote for CINDY ORLEY, you are entered to win $5,000 too! You can vote daily until December 31, 2010. Please click on Cindy Orley (I’m the red-head) and it will have a check mark on it, then fill out your information below, create a password and hit ENTER. Once you hit enter, the page will say “Thank you for entering the My Crescent Wow Sweepstakes!” If you do not hit ENTER, your vote for me doesn’t count and you are not entered into the $5,000 sweepstakes.
I hope that you will try my Perfect Potato Pockets at your next Family Dinner!
Cindy Orley is a stay-at-home mom of 2 kids and blogs at www.AkronOhioMoms.com about everything family related, including product reviews and amazing nationwide giveaways. She has recently earned the title of Pillsbury Crescent Cook and is competing to become America’s Crescent Cook. http://www.mycrescentwow.com/vote/?WT.mc_id=partner_akronohiomoms Her recipes have appeared in Everyday with Rachel Ray and Taste of Home magazines.
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