Surviving Our Income Tax Appointment

It's Income Tax Time! My husband and I have always gone into an office to get our taxes done just in case something goes wrong or we fill out something the wrong way. This post is about how we took our 5 and 2 year olds into an office and how they behaved well in a cubicle for our appointment that lasted an hour and a half: 

1. We Prepared Before-Hand: Whenever there is a chance for me to print off forms and fill them out at home, I do. The Tax Office told us what forms to fill out and what documents to bring with us when we called to set up our appointment. I found all the things I needed and once I filled out the forms, I put them all into an accordion file. 

All of our papers were safe from the rain and kids in this folder

2. We Brought Quiet Activities: I have done a few posts on all the quiet time activities I have for my kids (link here to Ultimate Busy Bag Post). I brought our Restaurant Kit (link Here) with us as well as some small blocks and this V-Tech Tablet my youngest got for his birthday but it also helps my oldest with his letters and numbers. Most of the time my youngest sat in my husband's lap coloring and eating while my oldest sat playing with the V-Tech toy, then the blocks on the floor since he decide the blocks needed to fall down after he built a tower with them. 

Our Restaurant Kit, V-Tech tablet toy and blocks

3. We Had Snacks: Snacks are the #1 thing that keep our 2 year old from having meltdowns every minute! We always have packed with us: a sippy cup with half juice/half water, fruit snacks, some type of cookie and some type of cracker. This time we almost brought extra cereal in a snack container, mini water bottle, mini juice bottle, cereal bars and extra fruit snacks. 

This is not all we took with us, there was a lot more! This was all that was left!

4. When All Else Failed, We had the Tablet with Headphones and Movies: I don't know where my husband got this headphone splitter years ago but it helps us out so much! I brought their headband headphones (LOVE THESE!!), Tablet and tablet stand. We ended up not needing this until the very end. My youngest was okay watching a movie after he got tired of sitting on my husband's lap while my oldest sat on the floor building with the blocks.

Headband headphones, headphone splitter and tablet stand. My oldest has his tablet for nap time right now.

5. Mommy's Secret Weapon! I didn't end up needing this Secret Weapon but I had it stashed away in my purse in the event I needed to calm or bribe one or both kids to behave. It works every time! 

We did it! We got through our appointment with one meltdown from each kid but it was quickly resolved by a snack or new activity! No one had to go to the car or take a kid home, no one got stressed out and no weird looks from anyone so I would call today's appointment a success! 

Happy Mommy-ing!

Surviving 2 Under 6 While Flying Alone

We are going on our 7th snow day and I am finally feeling almost normal sick wise so I finally unpacked the last of our stuff from our trip to Disneyland.
I flew with my two boys (ages 5 and 2) alone and I prepared and researched activities, apps, and snacks for months prior to our flight. I OVER-PACKED AND OVER PLANNED! I had so much packed that my bag would not zip closed! 

I had:

•  2 coloring books
• 2 packs of crayons
• felt street Busy Bag with toy cars
• the pill box pom pom color game
• a Melissa & Doug Water Wow
• Travel pack Color Wonder
• a kid's tablet
• an old phone with baby games
• my Surface Pro
• headphones for us all
• a headphone splitter
• blankets for both kids (I wore a blanket scarf)
• packed breakfast boxes
• 2 kids' thermoses (I purchased a bottle of water, a bottle of apple juice to split, and a highly caffeinated soda for me once we got through security)
• a bag of suckers for the take off and landing
• extra snacks
• extra clothes (pants, socks, shirt for youngest and shirt for oldest)
• 3 times the amount of diapers and wipes I normally have (8 diapers and a full thing of wipes)
• both disinfecting wipes and travel spray
• travel flush-able wipes for my oldest
• 2 extra pacifiers (his Wuby pacifier with animal attached and extra pacifier)
• my wallet 
• my keys
• my IPod (which I forgot to charge) 
• pill box with medicine for us all
• an external battery pack with three charging cables
• the homemade bib my friend made me (since my youngest won't use the disposable bibs, he just stares them off)
• a wet bag in case I needed to change them
• my zipper pouch that had odds & ends (lotion, chapstick, tide pen, pouch food straw attachment, toy teethers, extra pacifier clip, band aids, diaper rash cream, sunblock stick) 
• and of course my stroller! 

Holy crap! No wonder the bag didn't zip shut! Even with my oldest carrying his own backpack and my youngest little backpack being clipped to the stroller... I still carried a diaper bag and a computer bag plus blankets. We did have about an hour layover both going and coming home but but the time we deplaned, found the bathroom to go potty and change the diaper, then find a store to get some snacks, and a Dr. Pepper for mommy and found our next gate we had maybe 20 minutes before they called us to board the plane so not very long. 

Everybody's kids are different. Some kids need a bunch of activities to keep them entertained and don't like to eat or snack all the time. I quickly found out I did not need half of the stuff I had brought with me:The toy cars were fine but I didn't need the street because there wasn't enough room to build it. The pom pom game got thrown on the ground under the seat in the airplane so that didn't work. My oldest liked his Color Wonder little pack better than the bigger coloring book with the small colored crayons because they easily got lost and the Color Wonder markers were easier for him to find and put away. My youngest didn't like either coloring option because he just threw the markers and colored crayons on the floor and tried to color on the seat. However he did really enjoy the Melissa & Doug Water Wow coloring system. 

It's cardboard with a little non drip water pain that you color on to reveal things in the picture. It's about 3 or 4 pages long, nice size pages that once you've colored them all you wait for them to dry and then you do it again! It kept him entertained the longest.

The suckers, although they were hit, caused both of my kids to become very very hyper and that's just not something you want when you want them to sit still and be quiet on a plane full of people! So for my kids coming home instead of the suckers on takeoff and landing, I gave them some medicine (Kid's Tylenol and Kid's Dramamine, not at the same time! Kid's Dramamine on take off so they would go to sleep and Kid's Tylenol, 1/2 their normal dose, little bit before landing). The pill box also had: Aleve, Sudafed, Pepto Bismol, Anti-poop medicine, Dramamine, Kid's Tylenol tablets and Kid's Pepto Bismol. 

On our layover they ate the breakfast boxes I made them which had: mini muffins, pop tarts, dried apples, yogurt melts for my youngest, cereal and breakfast cookies. They could eat whatever they wanted because they both had the same things (expect the yogurt melts) and it was a huge success making nose the only issue I had is I packed them vertically so a little spilled but not much. 

The tablets were obviously a huge hit! I got a bunch of their favorite games and about four of their favorite movies downloaded to work in airplane mode. I also purchased $5 headphones per each kid. The problem was my youngest didn't like having his headphones on and my oldest headphones broke halfway during the trip so that meant no movies and Note tablet because neither one of them could use my earbuds. I wish we would have gotten these before the trip but for Christmas we got them headband headphones, it's exactly what it sounds like it's a soft headband that goes around their heads and it has built-in speakers that go over their ears. They're about 20 bucks each depending on where you buy them from, and they're perfect we should have purchased them before the trip because both my boys have fallen asleep in the car wearing them and my youngest no longer has an issue wearing them and they don't fall off at all. So if you have kids with tablets I highly highly recommend you purchase some headband headphones especially for your kids that are younger! They are a lifesaver and my youngest's currently stay in our diaper bag so that when he wants to use my phone at the grocery store I don't have to hear it anymore. Plus the headbands fold-up and the ones we got are washable, the speakers come out and we can wash the headband.

On Left: The new headband headphones we love! Plus they have a volume restriction so the kids can't turn up their tablets too loud. The old phone for my youngest and their shared tablet (although it's really more used by my oldest) and the headphone splitter under it and the cheap, always falling off kids' headphones on the right.

I limited the amount of fluids both my boys drank before getting on the airplane and since I gave them medicine on take off, they slept the majority of the flight. My oldest did not need to use the bathroom on the plane and he was very good at holding it till we got to the airport and found one. I could've pack only 3 or 4 diapers and would have been fine with a travel-size pack of wipes for my youngest instead of the 10 I packed and a full thing of wipes. It would have saved me a lot of room in my diaper bag! And although it's always nice to have extra clothes in your diaper bag, both my boys are older -they're not babies anymore so I probably could have left my extra clothes in my suitcase and not packed in the diaper bag. And I also didn't need my an extra clothes for both my boys packed into a Ziploc bag and my wet bag both in my diaper bag. I should have simplified my odds and ends pouch - I didn't need a sunblock stick in my diaper bag for the airplane. I didn't need 3 charging cables for the external battery pack, and I really should have charged my iPod the night before!

So the next time I fly with my kids I will make sure that I have a simplified packed diaper bag with:

•  3-4 diapers (Hopefully next time I will not need diapers at all)
• travel wipes
• still both travel-size disinfecting wipes and travel spray
• a zipper pouch (band-aids, food pouch attachment, chap-stick, diaper cream, travel lotion, 1 pacifier with extra clip)
• travel flush-able wipes
• the pill box with medicine for us all

Activities for my boys (in each of their backpacks):

• a charged tablet with a couple of their favorite movies
• headband headphones
• their favorite blankets
• Color Wonder travel set for my oldest and the Water Wow for my youngest
• 1 toy car each
• snacks

I added carabiner clips to both their backpacks so when I had to hold them, I could easily hook them to the stroller 

My tip for you Moms is - don't overthink it. You know your kids, and most likely you'll be the one carrying everything. You don't need to take everything in the kitchen sink just take what you think will entertain your kids the best and keep them well-behaved on the airplane.

 Happy Mommy-ing!

Diaper Bags for 2 Under 6

My kids are growing up so fast, it's not something I can stop. But as they can older, there is less and less that I need to have with me at all times. We are going to California in about a week and a half and I decided to go through my diaper bags to see what I need to bring along with us. In going through my diaper bags, yes I have three, I discovered that there are a lot of items that I had packed that I don't really need anymore because my oldest is in school now so it's really just me and my youngest most of the time and my youngest is not a baby anymore.

My Fully Loaded Bag:

This is my JJ Cole messager bag in Leaf Print with matching pacifier pod.

In the front pockets I have my oldest's flush-able wipes.

Sunscreen in stick form because it goes on better than the lotion kind and tissues.

Cardboard book, Monkey Mat, Mamga-Doodle and toy tethers

The blue toothbrush holder has bendy straws and the other container has eating out supplies.

Inside there are tons of pockets that I love! Everything fits perfectly!

I have sipper pouches with first aid needs.

Another zipper pouch with medication.

The back pocket holds my stroller straps that came with the bag and an owl that I loop around a cart for my oldest to have a place to hold on to and stay close.

Here's everything from my bag laid out!

 Top Row: Pacifier wipes, Boogies Wipes, Wipes, small Apple Juice, a clean onesie, a burp rag, a swaddle blanket.

Second Row: Arm and Hammer diaper bags, Clorox wipes, Marshall snack box, Lysol travel spray, toothbrush holder with bendy straws, eating out container, Manga-Doodle.

Third Row: Skip Hop Walk-Along Stroller Handle, diapers, Ipsy bag with medication, Monkey Mat, toy tethers, tissues.

Last Row: Wuby pacifier animal, zipper bag with first aid supplies, cardboard book, sunscreen stick and Flush-able wipes.

 That's a ton of crap! Here's a closer look at what I carry in the zipper pouches and containers:

First Aid Pouch: Pad, Diaper Rash Cream, Band-aids, thermometer, baby lotion, Neo To Go Spray, chap stick and teething gel

Medication Pouch: Gas Drops, Pain Reliever tablet, Pepto Bismol tablets, liquid Pain Reliever and dropper

Snack Box: I love this box! May gifted it one birthday and it's awesome! It's hard so snacks won't turn to crumbs. I keep a pouched baby food, crackers of some type, fruit snacks and cookies.

Eating Out Container: This was a Pin I saw to use a Crystal Light plastic container to hold things. At the bottom is a folded up napkin to keep the bottom clean. May found these toppers for the baby food pouches that screw on so it's easier for my youngest to drink them, toddler spoon and fork, water bottle attachments to make it easier for my kids to drink from and not spill, a fold up spoon that came with my husband's tuna pouches, disposable bib and regular bib. 

That was my normal, use everyday bag. I have a smaller bag that is easier to just grab and go:

I got this from my Aunt when we announced our pregnancy for our oldest! I love this little bag.

It holds just enough!

This is everything from my little bag laid out: Sunglasses for both boys, Ipsy bag, Swaddle blanket, wipes, tissues, toy cars, disposable fork & spoon set, toy tether, diapers, and Flush able wipes

Ipsy Bag: disposable place mat, disposable bib, fold-able spoon, extra pacifier, lollipops, boogie wipes, rash cream, medication for both me (pink case has allergy medicine, pepto bismol and Aleve) and the kids, baby lotion, band aids and a pad.

And finally, I have a back pack that is a cross between a diaper bag and my purse. I use it when we go to the zoo or hiking or whenever I don't feel like carrying 2 bags: 

This is my Thirty One Sling Back Bag and I love it! It looks small but it holds everything I need! On the sides are two mesh pockets that I put sippy cups in.

Inside there is a ton on room! 

The front pockets are perfect for the small stuff. 

Normally I have in this bag: an extra set of clothes for my youngest, diapers, stick sunscreen, tissues, pacifier wipes, hand sanitizer, chap stick, lotion, wipes, Flush able wipes, and my Ipsy pouch. I normally only need to add my keys and my wallet in order to take this bag.

Inside the Ipsy pouch: a pad, disposable bib, boogie wipes, pill case with pepto bismol & allergy medicine, a lollipop, Aleve, diaper rash cream, band aids, antibacterial ointment and kids' pain reliever tablets.

Those are my diaper bags! Next week I'll be posting my carry ons for our trip and in a few weeks, I'll post how I pack my Toddler diaper bag. 

Happy Mommy-ing! 

Coupon Binder

I am by no means an extreme couponer. But I do like getting things cheaper than normal. When I go grocery shopping I have all my coupons laid out, I have my store loyalty card digitally pulled up on my computer, I write down a list of dinners for 2 weeks (our pay period) and check off what I already have on hand. It takes me a good couple hours to get ready to go grocery shopping. Why would I do all that work? Why not just go shopping and not worry about planning ahead or the fuss of coupons? Because I save, on average, $24 to $30 dollars on items we use all the time!  That is what makes it whole it to me! 

My original coupon binder looks like this:

I organized it in order by most important, when my kids were really little the most important thing for us to save on was baby items. Now that my kids are older and I've been doing this for a few years I only really shop at one store. I used to write everything down that I needed on a pad of paper and then rewrite it in the order that I get them at the store that takes a lot of mental work. So I figured there had to be a better way that I could go grocery shopping and not miss using any coupons for items that I was buying. And I'm a mom so remembering last minute is always so stressful. So I decided to reorganize my coupon binder in a way that reflects the items within the store I go to. 

First I wrote down seven different categories for my 7 different dividers and this is what I came up with:

Then I came up with subcategories per divider like under the food there is boxed in canned food.

Next it was time to redo my coupon binder. The simple as getting my label maker out and relabeling my dividers.

Then I rearrange my coupon so according to their new dividers and subcategories.

And finally I had this many pencil pouch left over from my busy bags that I purchased from the dollar store. I figured it was a better place to hold all the coupons I am going to use for my next shopping trip instead of the plastic sandwich baggie I was using because the pencil pouch actually fits in the binder.

And that's it I'm ready to go! Not only do I have all my coupons better organized, and a new place to put all of my coupons I'm going to use, but my list fits perfectly in the pencil pouch couldn't be simpler!

Happy Mommy-ing!

UPDATE: What's In My Purse

I did a post about what I keep in my purse (link here) for life's little emergencies a few months ago and the organizer I had was not really working for me. I love many of the Thirty One products and they have come out with a bigger purse organizer called the "Super Swap It Pocket" and it works so much better! 

The size difference is very noticeable!

 I also added some eyeliner, dental floss, pre-packaged individual tooth picks from a restaurant and a fold-able brush to my "just in case bag" because you never know. I now have a full mini makeup kit in my purse. I'm a mom and it's always nice to be able to look your best in a short amount of time. 

The "Super Swap It Pocket" has so many pockets! It holds everything and it gets its name because of how easy it is to Swap it from one purse or tote into another. Now I don't need to take everything out of my purse when I need a bigger one of my stuff and the kids, now I just lift it up and out and into another tote! 

I have always believed that the more organized you are, the easier life is. If you have everything in its place (and put it back once you're done using it, that is key!) then you will always know where to find it! Thirty One products offer many great organization solutions for everyone! check them out at https://www.mythirtyone.com! 

Happy Mommy-ing!