Questionable Choices in Parenting

Laughing at life as a parent so they don't commit me

The Best Apps to Download When Traveling With Kids

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We all have our favorite apps on your phones and tablets, even our kids. However, if you are getting ready to travel with your kids, now is the time to update and freshen a few of the apps that will keep your kids entertained while you travel.
Toca Life Vacation– This fun app has endless possibilities so your kids won’t get bored after playing the game for a few minutes.  All of the settings for the app are vacation-oriented an airport, airplane, a hotel, a beach, and sightseeing in the town. Kids can choose from many characters they can then move around and interact items. They can ride in the hotel’s elevator, sit in the pilot’s seat of the plane, put things through the X-ray machine at airport security, or shop for souvenirs. Your kids will love recording two-minute chunks of their own voice as they move things around on the screen. The app will ask permission to use your device’s microphone and to access the camera roll.
Sago Mini Road Trip– For this simple, rules-free app, kids take Jinga the cat on a trip and then guide him along the way in a number of adventures. So while you are traveling, so is Jinga. From driving, packing, and taking pictures, your kids will love this app. It’s simple to play are great for preschoolers.
This Is My Car Mechanics for Kids– Another fun app for travel, this one allows kids to play with the inner workings of their car.  This Is My Car helps to introduce and teach kids all about different car parts, how each part is connected connected, and even car safety. Who knows, if you have a little car trouble while on your vacation, maybe your kids can help with the new knowledge from this app.

Road Trip Tips-Eating On-The-Go With Your Family

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When you are hitting the road with your kids, you may need to take a break from driving to feed your family. However, eating out with kids is not always smooth sailing. So to make sure everyone is fed and that you avoid restaurant meltdowns, here are five road trip hacks for eating out and snacking on-the-go.
Check Please- If you stop to eat at a restaurant, try this hack. As soon as your food arrives, ask for the bill and for to-go containers. This way you can make a quick exit if you are in a time crunch or your kids are melting down.
Cooling Down Food – Save yourself from passing out from blowing on too hot food by asking for a separate plate to come with your child’s meal. Usually the side plates aren’t hot and you can cool the food faster on another plate–a few ice cubes help too. You can also do this if you are eating in the car.
Order Dessert- I was never a fan of having my kids’ meals come before ours until I started ordering their dessert to be served the same time as the adults’ entrees. Now they’re happier because they get their meals sooner, and we’re happier because we eat our meals in peace because they’re digging into their yummy dessert.

Simple Car Maintenance Tips for Busy Parents

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Any busy parent likely spends a lot of time in their car – from school drop off and pick up to shuttling the kids to their activities and a million other chores. But even if you are packing on the miles in your car, it can be really easy to overlook routine car maintenance. So knowing just a few easy tips and reminders can make sure car troubles never slow you and your family down. Here are five tips to start you and your car onto long journeys together.

1. Turn Down the Tunes-  This one is easy because all you need to do is turn down the volume and take a listen to your car. Do you hear a squealing when you hit the breaks or when you apply the gas? Do you hear or feel a vibration? What about when you turn the steering wheel? Any sound is a clear sign that something needs to be fixed or adjusted.
2. Let the President Check Your Tires- Take a penny and place it in the grooves of your tire. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered, your tires are in good shape. If you see the top of Honest Abe’s head, you need to get your tires replaced ASAP! Bald tires are no joke. This quick test can also tell you a lot about your car’s alignment and give you clues to bigger issues.  Try this on all four tires and in different spots of the tread.
3. Wait a Minute Mr. Postman- No matter how long you’ve had your car, it can have a recall. Don’t ignore these recall letters and be sure to care of these problems now so you don’t have bigger problems later.

Things to Include in a Travel Goodie Bag for Your Kids

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If you’re planning a road trip with your kids, you’ll need to pack more than just a few suitcases and grab directions to your destination. Kids get antsy in the car. Even though electronics and snacks will get you and your kids pretty far, why not pack travel goodie bags.  With a little prep, you can create a few goodie bags that will ensure you and your kids arrive happily to your destination. Not sure what to pack in the goodie bags? Here is some inspiration that is inexpensive, easy to put together, and that your kids will love to play with while on your road trip.
A few tips when planning the goodie bags:
Start with small paper bags that you can fill with goodies. These bags are also great for holding all of their new treasures but are perfect for quick cleanup as well. Be sure to create bags for both legs of your trip-to and from home. If you and your kids will be in the car for many hours, you may want to break up the trip with multiple goodie bags. Pick a few destinations along the way. When you pass these destinations, the kids can open their surprises.
Here’s what to put in the bags:
Head to the dollar store and grab a few of these items to pack in the bags.
1. Travel games and card games
2. Small Lego sets
3. Beads and strings to make necklaces and bracelets.
4. Notebooks and pencils to journal and draw pictures while you travel.
5. Word search  and crossword books
6. Coloring book and crayons
7. Window clings to decorate the windows in the car.
8. Flash card games for preschoolers and older kids
9. Dry erase boards and dry erase markers
10. Snacks and special yummy treats

Apps for On-the-Go Parents

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From managing your kids, your home and your work-things never stop for busy parents. So you need apps on your phone that will make your life a little easier. From saving money, managing all of your to-do lists and finding the best places to take your kids to burn off some energy, here are five apps busy moms and dads need  to download today.

Yowza!!– This money saving app actually sends you coupons and other deals right to your phone based on your location. So wherever you are-you’ll be able to easily save money. According to the app, most coupons come directly from the manufacturer so you can expect to save big. Coupons can be scanned from your phone, so there is not clipping and holding onto paper coupons involved.
Remember the Milk– If you are always making to-do lists, then you need this app. Remember the Milk helps you create and manage multiple to-do lists. From daily to weekly tasks everything is easily organized and you can even receive reminders when you have an event of activity coming up.
Kids Meal Deals– If you are on-the-go with your kids, there are plenty of times that you will need to stop and grab some food for them. However, this app will help you save money on their meals. This app will show you all of the restaurants with kids’ meal deals near your location. This also includes the restaurants where kids eat for free. The app is often updated so you have all of the current deals and can compare the offers. This is a great app to use in your hometown and when you travel.

On-the-Go Snack Ideas For Your Kids

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Whether it is a quick trip to the store or a long trip to grandma’s house, snacking in the car is a way to keep everyone full and happy. So to make the snacking easier and less messy, here are a few on-the-go snack hacks that everyone in your family will love.

  • You can still have a healthy snack that is prefect for being in the car. Fill a small plastic container with sliced fruit and attach a plastic fork to the top of the lid with masking tape.
  • Take your favorite yogurt to-go but skip the spoon. Just pack a straw so when you are ready to eat, just poke a hole into the foil wrapper and drink your yogurt. This also works for kid’s squeeze yogurt tubes.
  • Load up the bottom of a small plastic jar with hummus, peanut butter, or another type of nut butter and then pile in the veggies like carrot sticks or celery. Now you can use the veggies to dip, but everything is  in one convenient container so there is less mess and less containers in the car.
  • Freeze water bottles and use them as ice packs in your cooler. When they thaw, you’ll have a refreshing and cold drink. Plus you won’t waste cooler space on ice packs.

Click right here to see the entire list!

Valentine Treats and Activities for Your Little Sweeties

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Fun fact: I LOVE Valentine’s Day. I love all the hearts, flowers, and candy. But what I really love is making this sweet day even sweeter for my kids. Aaron and Lyla joined me at TLC to make a few Valentine’s Day treats and activities, and I really think you are going to love what we did. Check it out!

Click right here to see the video!

Winter Car Hacks that Will Get You on the Road Faster

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f Old Man Winter has been dumping lots of snow, ice and frigid temperatures, then your car is probably showing the side effects of winter. From frozen doors to icy windshields, here are a few hacks to get your car ready to roll even in the coldest weather and snow.
You can’t start your commute if you can’t get inside your car! Those freezing temps and ice can make getting into car seem impossible. A few squirts of antibacterial gel will quickly unfreeze your door locks. The trick here is the alcohol in your hand sanitizer! It actually melts the ice and allows you to safely open your car. If you can plan ahead before the cold weather hits, spray cooking spray on the inside of your doors to prevent them from freezing at night. The cooking spray keeps the water that runs in the cracks of your door and the rubber parts from freezing overnight.
Ice on your windshield not melting fast enough? No one wants to stand outside to scrape their windshields, so use this cheap and easy DIY de-icer. Mix three parts white vinegar with one part water into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto your windshield before it gets cold and snowy outside to stop the ice from forming.

Here’s What Parents Should Pack in a Winter Emergency Car Kit

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Winter may only last for a few months, but the cold weather can make traveling with your kids a little tricky. Whether you are just running errands or you have some travel planned with your family, it’s a smart idea to always be prepared. So beyond just the basics that you have ready for your kids-like snacks, small toys, and a fully stocked diaper bag-you may want to consider creating an emergency kit that will stay in your car all winter. These kits are easy to make, are inexpensive to put together, and can be stored very easily in your car. If you ever need any of the items when you are traveling with your kids, you will be glad you took the time to put this kit together. Just grab a small plastic box with a lid and stock up on these items to make your own DIY Emergency Car Kit.
The basics:
• A First Aid Kit with lots of band aids and antibiotic cream
• Hand Sanitizer
• Blankets, gloves, and hats- for you and your kids
• Travel Wipes and diapers (add a few and be sure to refill when you have used any of your supply)
• Change of clothes for you and your kids including warm socks (again, remember to change out sizes and refresh if you use any of the clothes)
• Roll of dog poo bags (you will find a million uses for these-if you need to wrap them around your shoes for make-shift boots, dirty diapers, or wet or dirty shoes, or for the times you need to do a quick clean up)
• Tissues