Showing posts with label Clever Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clever Tips. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

How to Pack 2 Suitcases for 4 People for a 7 Day Vacation


Last week was a fun, crazy, exhausting and memory filled week for us.

My parents took the whole family (thank you, thank you, a million times…thank you) to Disney World.  

Since this was the first plane ride for the kids, I really didn't want to deal with 4 suitcases.

So I thought and planned and made a few Miner adjustments to the packing. 

I was able to get all of our clothes in just 2 suitcases.

Really...2 suitcases for 4 people for 7 days.


Photo by Dennis Ure

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Things to Do... 


                 
Have you ever hiked up a mountain? 

I’ll admit, it isn't my favorite activity, but when I get to the summit there is a sense of accomplishment like no other.

At the end of this weekend I looked around my laundry room and I noticed something.

It was like the Mount Everest of dirty laundry in there.

We held a family bridal shower for my brother and his fiance, so there was little time to get down there. 

My mom and brother did fold some of our clothes though. I am so thankful for them.


Now I need to get back on track....no more piles of laundry.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Peeling Potatoes


I have a little confession….

I have been cooking dinner lately and I am kind of enjoying it.


Now I am no gourmet, but I can make garlic mash potatoes and really scrumptious homemade Mac n Cheese.


So today while I was peeling the beautiful organic potatoes and almost peeled the skin off my finger {true story} I thought, “There has to be a better way to do this.”

Then I remembered…

Mary Ann from Gillgan’s Island.

Stay with me.

My dad sent me a you tube video a few months back on how to peel a potato the easy way.

So my friends…here it is. I wish I had remembered it earlier when I was cursing our peeler and wishing I was finished!


But it’s all good. I can make a few Miner adjustments next time. 







Sunday, September 8, 2013

Things to Do... 


                 

Have you ever hiked up a mountain? 

I’ll admit, it isn't my favorite activity, but when I get to the summit there is a sense of accomplishment like no other.

At the beginning of summer vacation I looked around my laundry room and I noticed something.

It was like the Mount Everest of dirty laundry in there.

The end of the school year had gotten too busy even for me…the gal who doesn't schedule much of anything.

So I hiked up this mountain and finished all of the laundry before we packed for Disney. That was not fun and after that hike I was definitely in need of a vacation.


Monday, July 15, 2013

6 Things We Couldn't Live Without in Disney World


Remember how we made it to Disney and back with just 2 suitcases for 4 people for 7 days?

True story!

I got a lot of emails from people asking me about the size of our suitcases… they are medium/large, but fit in the overhead on the plane, so technically we didn't have to check them.

But our suitcases didn't just have our clothes.

There were a few other things that I couldn't live without in Florida.



{1} Ponchos

It rained almost everyday while we were there.

And I think that Disney World is the only place on the face of the earth where people go about their business in the middle of a thunderstorm… including going swimming. At home we would run for cover.

We got our ponchos at the Dollar Store. They weren't as sturdy as the ponchos sold at the park, but they were $1 as opposed to $15.

And they fit in my bag.

{2} Speaking of Bags….

I used a smallish/medium bag with zipping pockets and an adjustable strap that I could where cross-body or shorten the strap and make it a waist pack.  It held a water bottle, the ponchos, snacks, phone, and my travel wallet. Hands free fun!

{I went all semi-fanny pack…and it felt so good!}



{3} Wicking clothes

It is hot in Florida.

{I know. Hi, my name is Captain Obvious.}

The days that I wore wicking shirts and socks were days that I was way more comfortable than when I wore cotton. 

{4} Stroller

My boys are 7 and 5. Too old for a stroller? Not for Disney. According to my mom’s pedometer we walked approximately 50 miles in 5 days!

The house we rented had a stroller available…what luck! The boys traded on and off, but one day we rented a stroller at the park so that they both had one.

Honestly, for the older kids the park strollers were better….they were sturdy plastic with bigger wheels that were easier to turn.

And if you are hopping to another park hold onto your receipt and you can pick up another stroller at the new park on the same day for no extra charge! What a life saver!

{5} Glow sticks

It drives me bananas to pay $10 or more for glow stick products at theme parks.

I almost had a heart attack when my 5 year old bought a blinking light up Mohawk head band for $10 with his souvenir money.

But hey...it was his money.

{Has he actually worn it? No.
He says he doesn't want to look silly. Really?}

So I stocked up on glow sticks…again at the Dollar Store. It kept the kids busy while we were waiting for the Electric Lights Parade.




{6} Babysitting for the Kids

And the most important thing that we couldn't live without on this trip...a parent's night out! But how do you do that when you want to go out with all the adults you are traveling with?

Kid's Night Out...there are many resorts that over this. But the one we found was amazing....The Neverland Club. It is at the Polynesian Resort which is right at the main gates of Disney...walking distance actually.

Plus you can get the bus to Downtown Disney from the resort. The kids can go frm 4pm-12pm. It is $11.50 per kid per hour.  {Totally worth it!}They are served dinner and the play and play and play. The kids had an amazing time. So
 did we!





What are some of your must haves for Disney World? I would love to hear, so I can add them to my list for our next trip.










PS...Before we went on this trip we also had a visit from a mouse...in our house! Most people would not think finding a mouse would be fun, but it was!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

How to Pack 2 Suitcases for 4 People for a 7 Day Vacation


Last week was a fun, crazy, exhausting and memory filled week for us.

My parents took the whole family (thank you, thank you, a million times…thank you) to Disney World.  

Since this was the first plane ride for the kids, I really didn't want to deal with 4 suitcases.

So I thought and planned and made a few Miner adjustments to the packing. 

I was able to get all of our clothes in just 2 suitcases.

Really...2 suitcases for 4 people for 7 days.


Photo by Dennis Ure

Sunday, June 16, 2013

More Tips for Creating a Gallery Wall



One of our family rules is Follow Your Happy.  I know I have said this before, but I'll say it again....gallery walls make me happy. I did a post about them with ideas last summer and I still love looking at those collections when I pass by.

Other things that make me happy...listening to the crickets outside while catching up on reruns of "Friends", chocolate chip cookies, and summer vacation.


So if creating a  gallery wall of your very own would make you happy too... here are more tips.


Monday, April 1, 2013

No Training Wheels

5 Minute Fix for Uneven Candle Wax


My oldest son started reading around age 3. Listening to him made my heart sing {I am a reading teacher, after all}.

And he made it look easy....a natural.

But when it came to riding a bike without training wheels, he gave up. It scared him.

I don't blame him...it is definitely scary.

I am hoping that this is his year though. I will bite my nails all the while he is learning. I will pray that he doesn't fall and skin his knee.

I just know in my heart of hearts that soon I will see him zooming up and down our quiet little lane in the summer sun.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

My Favorite Free Fancy Fonts 

(Say that 3 times Fast)


In between catching up on The Vampire Diaries and The Bachelor (Don't judge...I know you watch them too) we have been working diligently to finish some projects around the house.

This week we've tiled, painted, put up sheet-rock, painted, finished molding, and painted. We have been doing a lot of painting...good thing I enjoy it! Why are we doing all these projects? Big decisions are on the horizon.

Anyway, for now I whipped up a list of my favorite free fancy fonts just for you. I dare you to say that 3 times fast. Some of these I have used on my mantel chalkboards...here and here.




Enjoy!


{Trina}

PS...All of these fonts were downloaded from dafont.com. It is super easy too!


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Fall into Christmas Planning



Technically, it is still summer until September 21st, even though we are back to school and fall decor is trending all over Pinterest. And all to soon we will go apple picking, to the pumpkin patch, and possibly hit up a house or 50 on Halloween. For right now though, it is a good time to "fall" into a Christmas planning mode.

In past years, I have been known to start shopping for Christmas in January.  In past years, I have been the first on Facebook to announce that I have started my shopping.  That was not the case last year or even this year for that matter. The kids are busy, playing sports and going to birthday parties and I have little energy time to think about stocking stuffers now.

However, the countdown has begun.  So let's make a few Miner adjustments this year and get in the right mindset! Are you with me?



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Pantry Makeover (Part 1) - The Snack Shelf


I live with boys, all boys. So let's face it...this place is a mess a lot of the time and they eat everything in sight. I swear they have a hollow leg.

Most of the time when you open my pantry (which I very much dislike, but it isn't changing for awhile) it looks like this.

The chaos before

That is an instant headache right there. I just need to walk away. Anyone have a glass of wine?

I decided yesterday that it is time to organize it. It is time to make a few Miner adjustments. So I put on my big girl panties and got to work.  Since the boys ask for snacks constantly and I am lazy and don't want to always cater to their every whim  (Hey, we are trying to make independent little people here), I made the snack shelf easy for them.

What you need:
Sandwich bags
Containers large enough to hold said bags

I took out all of the snacks and read the serving size on the boxes/bags.
Then I made baggies with the serving sizes for each food.

It was just that easy.  Plus, now the snacks should last longer, because the little people are not pouring too much into a bowl at one time.

This is what the snack shelf looks like now. It is progress.


I didn't think it looked quite finished though.  So of course, I went to my old stand by...the Cricut and labeled the bins.

And now let my assistant show you what the shelf looks like...



I am in love (with that guy). The shelf is pretty awesome too!

After - for now

Making school lunches will be a breeze in September.


Ways to get the Little People involved:
1. Have them count out the serving sizes (counting practice)
2. Let them earn a penny for every piece they count. (money)
3. Put the bags by type of snack (sorting)


How is your pantry working for you?


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