In that light I give you the snack preparedness kit:
Included in a large tupperware container are peanuts, raisins, pretzels, and fig newtons. I have everything sealed in an plastic bag. I also have extra snack size baggies for doling out individual portions (cause handing over a big bag of snacks is a guaranteed spill waiting to happen and then you are out a good months worth of snacks!). I also have a big, empty, plastic water bottle. I endeavor to fill our individual Sigg bottles to bring in the car everyday before I pick up Kid from school... just in case an adventure awaits... but sometimes I forget. With this extra bottle always in the car I can fill it up at any water fountain or sink I come across.
I have a car storage cube that it all fits in, in my trunk, and I also have a roll of paper towels, a box of individual wipes (they don't dry out), and a picnic blanket (that folds and zips into a handled tote... it's awesome) that I always have in the car. I cannot tell you how many times having those things around have SAVED THE DAY!!!
Other things I keep in the car at all times:
a pair of socks for each kid (indoor playstructures demand this... it's good to be prepared)
a few diapers, wipes, and gallon sized plastic bag... for storing the emergency dirty diaper
a light hooded sweatshirt or windbreaker for each kid & me
a roll of toilet paper (um... not all park facilities have TP... you can thank me later)
sunscreen
baseball hats/sun hats for the kids
All this stuff easily fits together with the snack bin in one of those small car storage cubes (you can get 2 for $9.99 at Target).
When we get to school and a friend asks us to join them at the park or the pool or the museum we can ALWAYS say YES.
And that means that we never have to miss out on stuff like this:
It also means we never have to fork over big bucks to Mc Donald's or a snack stand because we are starving and melting down and need to eat RIGHT NOW. It really only takes a couple minutes to put this together and it will save you both money (& calories!) later on... I promise. FYI
The key to making this work is to use these things when they're really needed. I keep the bin in the trunk. If the snacks were out where the kids could see them/get to them they would be gone within a week of help-yourself-snacking on the way back from school. If I know we are going somewhere I pack snacks for that day and keep the reserves for unexpected outings.
ALSO
In the summer I keep a tote bag filled with:
beach towels, some suits, small floaty for Baby, noodle for Kid, and sand toys
In the winter I keep a pillowcase filled with:
one wool blanket, a flashlight, and a couple of chocolate bars (hey you never know!!!)
(In Michigan when it is really cold I also had -20 sleeping bag in the trunk)
I am a full believer in being prepared so as to ensure you'll NEVER need it.
12 comments:
You forgot a dirty towel. Or not a dirty towel, but not a "good" towel. We use this for wiping dirt off of feet (one of the enemies of moms with rear-facing toddlers!), wiping off still wet play equipment, wrapping up shells gathered on the beach, drying off after it unexpectedly pours rain on you, and of course, wiping up whatever bodily substance comes shooting out of your child when you're least expecting it.
I also have one of those picnic blankets and WE. LOVE. THAT. THING. seriously. We eat lunch at N's office a couple times a week and we literally used that blanket at least twice a week last summer. I also used it when Gup was little at the park. I have one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Kel-Gar-Kids-Sun-Dome/dp/B00005C45K (or something similar) and I would put that in the bottom when he was just a wee one. I imagine I'll be doing that a lot this Summer since Gup will want to run around, and Beta will be laying and cooing. . .
I'm glad Spring has Sprung for you! Send it up this way, k? I actually cleaned my car the other day because it was "nice" out. It was 40, raining and my driveway was covered in ice, but hey, what better time to empty the car, shuffle and install carseats!
Towel! Good one. I usually use one of the 1000000 random blankets that get left in the car. But a good old towel is good idea.
It's 49 and raining here as we speak. The weather has been all over the place. But the daffodils are up.
Nice. Very, very nice. I'm a big fan of the emergency snack. :)
Ladies this post was obviously a flop.
What gives?!
I was totally psyched for this post!!
Also, anti-bacterial hand soap. And of course, a well stocked first aid kit.
Hey, is that iLife (or whatever it was called) still working out for you?
Torey,
I need to re do it for our new house. I was actually thinking of filling everything out as I do the taxes since all the info is there.
I still think it's a valuable resource.
Beats me -- blame it on peeps starting the friday night shenanigans early?
Are you sure you're not Mormon, lol?
Amy,
Ahhahahaha! ... you know sometimes I wonder about that myself ;)
if we lived closer, i think we'd be best friends!
Amy,
Oh thank you :)
Ever since you wrote about how great your bread was with freshly ground flour I haven't been able to get it out of my head. A reader sent me a link to the closest LDS Cannery... I have got to be the only non Mormon who would go there... LOL... it is funny how much all the LDS stuff has infiltrated my life since I started blogging.
your preparedness is almost scary!
ALthough I keep an extra pair of sandals in the car. And water, and of course the emergency kit.
And a wrench.
I used to also keep my gym stuff, and a nice shirt...
Post a Comment