What's in Your Bag?

We carry everything in our purses / tote bags / backpacks / diaper bags, don't we?  I don't even know how my husband makes it through the day with only a wallet. Perhaps, that explains the periodic surge in "man-purses" being fashionable. But, I digress.

Although I've shared what to pack in many of our day-to-day bags - suitcases, swim bags, gym bags, lunch boxes, etc. - in my "Pack Your Bags" posts, I don't know that I've dumped out my purse.  For the fun of it, let me tell you what I've got in there.  And of course the fun part - I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.

I should probably be clear here that this is "what's in my bag today, right now, in this bag." I change my purse with the weather and the agenda of the day. I'm not alone in that, right?  If you've got more than usual to carry, or hanging out at the park with the kids rather than having lunch with the girls or going to work, or trying to look cute with a teeny purse that holds just a lipstick, your phone, and your driver's license.  That's why we need so many purses.

What's in my purse (today):

• my calendar/date book (the green thing with the black rings) - yes, a paper-based schedule which I write in with a pen or pencil and is stuffed with random business cards, receipts, and post-it notes. I know, I'm a dying breed, but its a search I go through every year - my next calendar.  This is the flexible, ring-binder - so far, I like it.
• knitting - I'm mid-scarf right now.  I like small projects that fit neatly in my purse, you never know when you're going to get stuck somewhere with nothing to do and I can only read my friends' Facebook posts so many times.
• 1 pair of glasses - I have three. I'm somewhere between denial that I really do need glasses all the time and the time to go get a new pair that will combine reading and distance glasses.
• nourishment - because I'm a snacker, I try to carry healthy options so I have less excuses to stop for french fries or donuts (note - this does not always work.)
• pink notebook - because I need somewhere more permanent than my calendar to write notes.
• business cards - I'm an indie-writer and a blogger. I'm my own boss, employee, marketer, and agent. I've always got to be ready to promote my blog and my book, Life in Spades, and make connections.
• book of prayers - my sister-in-law gave me this for a birthday gift. I did not realize I would turn to it so often.
• lipstick - why would anyone ever leave home without it?

What's in your purse? What's your "never leave home without it" item?

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On the Road Again! Summer Vacation Roadtrip

Since we have thus far survived our family road trips, both domestic and international, we are setting out another one this summer. Starting at our home in Maryland, we are heading north for about a fortnight.

When I tell people these are my vacation plans, the response in return is often a quizzical, "Really?" I know - how crazy to think logging a couple hundred miles with four kids in a car is some kind of idea of fun. So, let me say - I do realize that it will not be all peaches and ice cream (though, there will be a fair share of that.) There will be some fussing, arguing, and tears, from me included, but by the end, we'll have another collection of memorie, everyone will appreciate their own bed, and, if we're lucky, the kids will have figured out the Rhode Island is not an island, Boston is a city, and Canada is a whole 'nother country.

But while I get going, here's answers to a few  of the questions I've been asked about our journey.

What do we do to stay entertained in the car for that long?
That is the pain of road trips, right? What are you going to do to keep everyone from throwing someone else out the window?  For many, electronic gadgets and in-car videos are the obvious answer. Though I don't have in-car screens, the kids do have some electronics, but I try to limit their screen time, even in the car. Then we turn to the old-fashioned favorites - singing contests, look outside & find/ Eye Spy/ scavenger hunt type games, and audiobooks.

For the scavenger hunt, give the kids a list of things to find looking out of their window. Make it as easy or hard as you like, depending on the age of the kids and how long you want this to last. Our first list included items like 2 people on a motorcycle together, a person in a costume, a church, an animal, other than a bird, and a landmark.  Buried in a video game, I bet no-one would've even noticed the dog training center and might've missed the Statue of Liberty.

We checked out a pile of audiobooks from the library. I usually let the kids pick them out themselves - it's best if they all agree, or at least 2 so there's not a carload of pouty faces. This time, I also picked a couple from the adult shelves in case there's a leg or two whe everyone is sleep but me, i.e., the driver.

Do you stop and eat?
In between destination cities, I actually try to limit the stops for meals, though I will pull over in a second for a fruit stand or ice cream shop. Meals on the road can add up (dollar-wise) and take up time. Since I don't like long drives, I don't like stopping for long meals. I try to keep the cooler packed with lunch meat, cheese sticks, fruit, boiled eggs, and juices, as well as breakfast-type foods, too - cereal, granola bars, milk boxes, for the days we're out early.
 

At our destinations, I try to pick hotels with breakfast included. It's so much easier (and less expensive) to get kids down an elevator, fed and out for the day, than getting out and then having to find breakfast.

How do you pack for all those people?

I try to minimize the number of bags we have to carry into the hotels, since the kids and I will already have our backpacks and tote bags and the cooler. This go round, I've got all of our clothes packed in two large suitcases. I split all of our clothes, putting half of everyone's clothes in each bag, that way, when I check in, I only have to bring in one suitcase and the toiletry bag.

In the toiletry bag, I have  all of our personal grooming stuff - shampoo, condition, body wash, toothpaste, etc. Although hotels do provide the basics, it's not enough for five people. Plus, with sensitive skin and hair issues, I like to have my own products for a long trip, at various hotels.

Really? This is vacation?

If we were home, we'd spend the summer laying around the house, every now and then going out to the zoo or local museum or catching a movie, sleeping in, fussing about watching too much TV and going outside more. Why not take all this excitement on the road?

Pack Your Bags: Conferences

There's a conference/convention for everything isn't there?  Sorority, civic and social organizations, PTA, moms, bloggers, yarn, scrapbooking, food, comic books, music - you name it, there's a large gathering of interested folks.

For your next conference, for whatever reason, don't forget to pack these important items that I have found to make it all a little bit more manageable and enjoyable.

Shoes, shoes, comfortable shoes!  I admit, picking out a good pair of shoes could top any list I happen to write (what to take on vacation, what to consider first in an outfit, how to spend your tax refund), but for a conference, this is an important one.  Conference center floors are hard - they are concrete and no, despite what you think you remember, they may not have been carpeted - and the centers themselves are huge.  Even if you insist that you've got to wear cute shoes during the conference sessions (understood), be sure to carry comfortable walking shoes for when those heels have had it.  You don't have to go straight to the sneakers that will mess up your look, go with a nice ballet slipper or loafer, depending on your outfits.  A tangential note: if you are not staying at the conference hotel, stay somewhere in walking distance so you don't have to rely on the conference shuttle, which can often have a long wait.

Shoes to match the outfit and shoes to actually walk around in

Business cards and/or address labels.  Make sure you have business cards, you don't want to be the person jotting down your name and number on a program cover or scrap of paper that's going to get lost in someone's conference bag.  Especially when there are several low-cost, easy options to get your own set of cards.

• Use an online printer, like VistaPrint, or local office supply store, like Staples or Kinko's, to get  calling cards printed - pretty designs, all the basic info.  (At home, I also tuck them into my kids backpacks when they go to school or on a field trip.)
• Purchase blank cards at the office supply store and print your own if you don't need a lot or are creative like that.

When you receive a card, be sure to jot a note on the back about the person - why would you contact them again?  I also keep the cards I collect together with a binder clip or in an envelope so they don't get lost in my conference bag.

And the address labels?  For those mailing list sign-up sheets at various vendors because I'm lazy in writing my contact info.  It's also useful for sticking on your various items that you would like to have returned if you lose it.  Use those free sheets you get in the mail from charities or make custom ones on your home printer.

Luggage tag.  If your conference is giving out bags, as most do, you will then be carrying the same bag as the other hundred or thousands of folks there with you.  And someone will invariably pick up the wrong bag.  Identify your bag with a unique luggage tag, a keychain, a strap cover, or something.  Forgot to bring one?  Pick up a give-away from a vendor, paperclip some doo-dad to the handle.  When I've forgotten something,  I end up tying some yarn (which I always have) onto one of my handles.

My sorority conference bag, personalized with paper-clipped on flower and tied-on ribbon

A shawl or cardigan.  You've been there - movie theatre, restaurant, meeting, friend's house - and the air condition is all the sudden on blast and you're freezing.  Throw a light cover in your bag so you're ready for the change in temperature.  Carry a neutral color to match everything, or your bright favorite color just because it makes you happy.

E-devices & apps.  We're all so digital and electronic now - cameras, phones, tablets, iPods - you can't imagine a conference without them.

• Bring your chargers - Don't we all hate seeing that red battery or "low battery" signal while we're away from home.  You can always find somewhere to charge back up and some meeting places even have lounges specifically for that purpose.
• Charge and carry your portable charger for when I'm in the middle of the business sessions and can't get to a plug. This is helpful, too, when I'm working at a vendor event for my book, Life in Spades, as the vendor booths often are not supplied with an electrical cord.
• Download the conference app. The first time I went to conference with an app, I wasn't really sure it would be that useful. But then I realized how much easier it is to pull out my phone and check my schedule to figure out what room I needed to go to next, rather than my program, flip to the right page, read through all the sessions - all while balancing my coffee and not getting jostled by the crowd.

All my chargers and electronics in one easy-to-find place

Snacks.  I am a snacker, check my bag any day and you are likely to find a bag of trailmix or nuts or an energy bar in there.  For conferences, this is a definite, because when I'm hungry, I get really impatient if there's a long line at the snack bar or if they've run out of what I want by the time I get to the counter.  And the long lines are inevitable - hundreds of folks on the same schedule, hungry at the same time.

Coffee.  Ahhh, caffeine.  I carry instant coffee, not my favorite option at home, or bottled, pre-made Starbucks. You have to have a plan when you are among thousands of folks, all trying to get a cup of coffee within the same 10 minutes before the meeting session starts.  It's a back-up to the coffee that should've been in my room or hotel lobby and if I can't get to the coffee shop a block from the conference, which is most likely emptier then the counter near the meeting space.  I've also found liquid creamer in the stay-fresh cartons! Wonderful, because I don't like powdered creamer. This and a coffee pot in my room and I can get my day started.

Lipgloss.  I'm amazed at the difference a swipe of gloss will make on your otherwise, tired, make-up-less face.  So I've got one in my make-up bag, one in my purse, and throw one in a conference bag, just to be sure.

Gather these must-haves for your next conference.  And if I've left off any must-haves, let me know.

 (This post was originally written in 2012, but I've updated a few items, particularly the tech-y notes.)

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Pack the Car with Snacks & Fun

It's one of those days.  I'm getting in the car in time to get to school #1 before the bell to pick up a kid - and for the next five hours will be making a circuit around the county from dentist appointments to after-school activities to school pick-ups to church.  The kids are in rotation as I drop one off, pick up another, go back and get another - you know how it is.  And the schedule is tight, so I don't really have a bunch of time to stop and pick up a snack for that one, roll through McD's for a smoothie for that one - who will tell the others that they got something from McD's and then I've got to stop again.

We should be home in time for dinner (so, yes, it's a crock-pot day, too) but in the meantime, I will have a carload full of folks who are soooo hungry.  The snack bag to the rescue!

Snacks for the hungry ride.

I carry a snack bag for these long, car-ride days.  Not just for the sake of snacking while bored, but because they probably will be legitimately a little bit hungry - the kids eat lunch rather early in the day and have athletic activities after school.  I pack non-perishables, then I can leave it in the car until it needs replenishing.  Cereal bars, crackers, water and juice.  I will bring along grapes (an easy, no-peel, no-mess fruit), too.  And yes, there's even stuff for me - don't we always forget ourselves?

Other stuff to keep in the car for the after-school mini-roadtrips?  School supplies and entertainment.

• Pencils & erasers for the kid who forgot theirs and needs to do homework
• Flashcards, even though they don't use them in school, but it's still a good way to study math facts and spelling words.  You can have them write their spelling words on index cards when they first get their list.
• Books that they are supposed to be reading for school. Or fun reading just to be entertained - my son loves those amazing facts and greatest record books.
• Small toys or games - Or pieces of a game, like the cards from a Trivial Pursuit game.
• Playing cards - they can play when sitting and waiting

With all of this time in the car, there is also all the wrappers and paper and trash that inevitably finds their way into the car door handles (which my kids think are convenient little trash cans that a car fairy comes and cleans out), onto the car floor, and in between the car seats.  I saw an idea - on Pinterest, in Real Simple, who knows - to use a plastic container for a trash can.  The flip-top kind you use for cereal or sugar in your pantry.  I happen to have two empty ones and I just happen to have two rows in my car.  Let's see how that works out.

Share in "Comments": What else do you carry in your car?

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Pack Your Bags: Back to School!

“You must be a teacher – getting ready for back-to-school?” The cashier commented as he began ringing up my notebooks, pile of composition books, couple dozen pencils, and peeked into my cart full of school supplies.

“Actually, no, I’m not.  These are just for my own kids.”

With four school-age kids, there’s a LOT of school supplies.  And it adds up.  Here’s some ways I’ve found to save a few dollars (and my sanity) in checking off our supply lists.

Stocking up for the school year

The bag: Of course, the kids need a bag to carry all of their stuff to and from school; most popular is the traditional backpack.  Before you purchase a backpack that's too small or too big, consider the age of your child, what they will be carrying, where are they carrying it, and the comfort of carrying it.  Does your kid ride the bus or get picked up at school or do they walk home?  Do they have to bring home textbooks or do they keep a set at home?  Will those wheeled back-packs fit in their locker?  

Spend a little extra on bookbags and lunchboxes.  I know, that doesn’t seem like a savings tip, but in the long run it is.  I purchase my kids’ backpacks from Lands’ End and they’ve lasted a few years through school, vacations, and camp.  The key is to pick a design that they won’t get tired of before the bag wears out.   We replenish lunchboxes every school year.

School supplies

• Take the school supply list with you when you go shopping, then stick to it.  If the teacher is asking for 24 crayons, don’t bother to get 48, no matter what the 7-year old tells you.
• Take the kids with you.  I generally prefer to shop without my kids, but I do take them school supply shopping.  1 – Because it’s their stuff, so they get excited about school by picking out their folders and notebooks and all that.  2 – Some of the sale items are a limited quantity per person.  Put each child in line with their own stuff and their own quantity limit.
•  Buy at least 3 of everything on the list now while its on sale, not including binders and big stuff like that, but pencils, crayons, notebook paper, etc.  Send one to school, put one away in your stash for when your kid runs out and tells you at bedtime she needs more glue for tomorrow, and put one at your homework station/supply basket.  Put a few extras pencils and crayons in a school box in the car for doing homework on the go.
•  Consider the store brand.  Sure, there are certain things that you have to have the commercial brand just because, for instance, crayons.  But other stuff, like pencils, if it doesn’t matter, compare prices.
• What will they need for an upcoming project this semester?  Think back to last school year or ask parents of older students about this year – are there any big projects that might require specific supplies?  Last year, my daughter had a research project and everyone else in the county must’ve been assigned one at the same time because there wasn’t a 4”x6” lined white index card anywhere to be found.  They aren’t on sale right now, but I still picked up a pack to save the aggravation later.  Also consider those tri-fold science fair boards and report covers.
• Maximize your savings - use all your coupons, discount cards, send in the rebate forms.  I went to Staples and found that they have a school supply discount card – you get 15% of your total, the card costs $10 and is good through mid-September.  Do the math to figure out if it’s worth it for you.
• For some of the big purchases, wait until school starts or at least, don’t use the product and hold on to the receipt.  My second middle schooler’s supply list for 6^th grade math includes a super-duper calculator that runs about $120.  I don’t recall my older daughter needing it for that math class, so I bought a much less expensive one for now.

Once you've brought home your haul of pencils and scissors and papers - make sure it doesn't all end up in Lost & Found or someone else's desk.  

Mom's labeling supplies: sticker labels, Sharpie, label maker

• Label all your kid's stuff.  With a sheet of stickers (order some low-cost stickers from online vendors or print your own), a Sharpie, and a label maker (I love my label maker!) you should be able to get Little Susie's name on everything she owns.  
• Don't forget their clothes!  Think your Little Tyrone is the only one with that red jacket?  Take a walk past the Lost & Found rack one day, you'd be surprised the stuff kids lose.  There are vendors who print iron-on labels for clothing or you can use a Sharpie, a regular one or I found some specifically for fabric.  

We're almost done checking off our supply lists - I think we've got one more binder to get.  Any other supply-shopping tips?

Pack Your Bags: For a Fun Day Out

Yesterday, we hit an odd busy day – the kids were busy with tennis, swimming, school orientation, summer work, but somehow all were to be done by 11 am.  We had nothing to do the rest of the day.  So while everyone was out, I packed some sandwiches, sliced up a watermelon and filled a couple of gallons jugs with water and sweet tea, and threw it all in the cooler.  Next, I grabbed up their bathing suits and a change of clothes.  I made my bus-route of picking everyone up, then headed to the beach.  Its about an hour drive and was a fun something different to do for the day.

As much as I enjoy staying home and letting the kids go off to find their own adventure, I also like packing them up and wandering around town.  We might go to the zoo or the museum, head off to find some great ice cream, or go to a park we haven’t been to before, or at least in a while.  Obviously, not necessarily any epic adventure, just a change of scenery.

My tote bag, cooler, and picnic blanket - ready for a last minute plan

To be ready for a spontaneous day, it’s helpful to have summer supplies on hand.  I have a couple large totes to corral all of our stuff and a few constants that stay in the bags, so we’re ready to go kinda easily.

• A picnic blanket – I picked up a durable one at Target, and another disposable-if-needed one at $5Below.
• Balls – basketball, tennis – for a stop at the park or entertainment while waiting for a sibling
• A towel – just because
• Wipes

I also asked a friend, Adrienne Lynne, a busy mom of 5, what she carries in her Utility Totes (like the blue one in the photo). Here's what she said.

I use this bag almost every day, well at least one of the 10 that I have! (Yes, I said T-E-N!!!) This is the most versatile bag I have ever owned. There are so many different uses for this bag, but right now, this bag holds all of our summer fun car activities. With five kids, I always have to be prepared for fun, and since it’s summer, and we are on the go constantly, I have to carry “fun” with me! So, this week in my Large Utility Tote I have the following:

• 2 Basketballs

• Several Frisbies

• Bubbles

• Blankets

• Towels

• Sidewalk Chalk

• Tennis balls

• Tennis racquets

• Zipper Pouch filled with bug spray, sunscreen and handi-wipes

• Notebooks

• Crayons, pens, pencils (in my Mini Zipper Pouch)

• Trash bags

And I even have room for a few extra items that I may grab on the way out the door!

We seem like-minded in also carrying a smaller bag for other stuff we just might need.  I use a collapsible basket, Adrienne has an Organizing Utility Tote.   

• In mine, I have: a magazine or two, hand wipes, a jar full of change (parking meters and bubble gum machines), a small bottle of lotion, and a couple of crayons.  
• Some of the stuff she carries:  I keep some magazines and notebooks in the main compartment at all times. I always have a little extra room for those last minute additions, like camera, jacket, etc. just in case! And then the pockets…there are seven-pockets on the outside and I can fill each one easily! I always have at least 2 water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, and still have room for my keys and my cell phone!

I’m sure every mom worth her melted crayons has a stash of fun stuff in her car.  What’s in your trunk that we’re missing?

Click here to order your Utility Tote through my favorite 31 Consultant, Sakima.

Workout on the Playground

Kids' playground or a moms' gym?

Question: When could you fit in a quick work-out?
A - while waiting for my kids during their sports/dance/play/school/tutoring activity
B - while watching my kids run around the playground
C - on my way home from work, before I get distracted by chores and TV

I'll admit, during those hours of chaffeuring my kids, I often use the time to read or crochet, if there's not time to go home and cook dinner.  But sometimes, I use that waiting time to exercise.  I mentioned in my post yesterday, and in others, I consider this my "mommy workout" - not because the exercises are specific to mothers, but that empty time, waiting for kids is a standard motherly activity.

Part of the "mommy workout" is accepting two fundamental principles.

1. my own health, fitness, and mental sanity are all as valuable as that of anyone else in my family.
2. my children will be able to swim / hit a ball / throw a ball / sing / dance / play / do anything without me watching them every second.

Moms, you will also have to accept these ideals not only to fit in your exercise, but for any time for yourself, whether its to wander around aimlessly in the fresh air, read, take a nap in the car, go grocery shopping, or whatever other manner in which you want to use your found free time.

But, specifically for the workout regimen, you have to plan it into your schedule or you’ll just put it off until the next day.  Here's some ways I've managed to fit in 30-45 minute workouts into a busy day.

• When I walk the kids to the bus stop or take them to school, I go in my workout clothes and sneakers, so I don’t have to return home – that’ll get you everytime.  Dishes, laundry, and checking email can quickly thwart workout plans.
• Look around for workout space nearby - a well-traveled walking path or public park, a running track, soccer field, or tennis court at the school, convenient sidewalks through the neighborhood.
• Keep your other kids busy, too - if you have the other siblings with you, consider some activity for them while you are working out.  A track (if available) is great because you can run/walk, and they can do the same or play on the field in the middle of the track and still stay within your eye-sight.
• Do something with the other waiting siblings - but something that's really a physical challenge or exertion for you, not just pushing them on the swing (that's good, of course, as a mommy, but if that really counted for exercise, my arms would look like Serena Williams, and trust me, they don't).   Hit tennis balls (doesn't matter if either of you are very good), play soccer, or go for a walk/run around the neighborhood.  My son and I race in the pool (yes, he always wins; no, I don't "let" him, he actually beats me).
• Swim laps or do aqua-exercises while your kids are doing their swim lessons.
• Find some like-minded moms if you’re the social type.  Mention to some of the other moms that are sitting around at dance practice that you’re going for a walk and they just might join you.

A school track is a great enclosed workout space - mom can exercise, kids won't get too far away

In the Pack Your Bags: Work-out on the Go post, I checked with my personal trainer friend, Valerie Merriweather about the stuff to put in your gym bag.  She suggested that we keep this packed bag of essentials in your car so that you are always ready.

My portable gym stays in my trunk

I'm going back to Valerie for some creative ways to get a quick workout in no time.  Since working with her on this post, I've already added jump-roping and the fast half-laps to my run around the track - great for the heart-rate!  And of course, check with your doctor, consider your personal fitness level and health, and all that medical stuff before you jump out there in a new exercise routine.

Getting in some exercise on the playground

• Jump rope at the park (15 minute minimum)
• Perform a circuit of jumping jacks, walking lunges, push-ups, bench squats, and modified or regular Burpees.  Do 2-3 rounds of 8-15 reps. Be prepared to sweat!

The best way to perform a Modified Burpee is to do the following:

1.  From a standing position drop to the floor in a push-up position.  Hold.

2.  Bring the knees into the chest and once you place your feet on the floor either stand up or jump up.  That's one rep.

Advanced Burpee

1.  From a standing position drop to the floor and perform a push-up. Don't hold the position.

2.  Immediately bring the knees into the chest and once you place your feel on the floor jump high (your toes should be pointed). 

3.  Repeat the next rep right away.  No rest.

 The Burpee is an advanced exercise so I recommend the modified one to start with and progress to the advanced level once you can easily do 15 modified Burpees.  

• Do a round of squeeze-it exercises.  Squeeze or tighten your abs and hold for 30 seconds, then squeeze your butt and hold for 30 seconds.  This is an ideal exercise to do especially if you’re manning the fundraising table – it’s private and it works!
• Perform a series of step-ups on a bench adding a plyo-hop at the top of the movement to increase the intensity
• Do a set of bear crawls across a field (people might stare but they’re probably jealous)
• Perform a set of bodyweight rows using a playground equipment bar. 
• Do some hanging leg raises using an overhead playground bar (Make sure your knees touch the elbows; 2 sets of 15 is your ab workout for the day!)
• Run half laps as fast as you can around a track and do a recovery jog or walk for the next half lap.  Do this 2-4 times for the best results.  You’ll feel like an Olympic mom.
• Dance to your favorite tunes

Whatever you do, make time to workout.  Even if you can’t get the gym there are plenty of things you can do to stay fit on the road.

Read more about Valerie's go-to workout essentials at www.fitwellsolutions.com/blog.

And, in this heat - stay hydrated!

Pack Your Bags: Work-out on the Go

Moms, answer this question:
I do not workout regularly because:

A – gym membership is too expensive

B – I’m too busy

C – my kids are too busy

D - I don’t know what exercises to do

E – all of the above

If you answered this question at all, keep on reading.

Motherhood is a wonderful thing, but keeping up with kids and eating birthday cake every weekend and the leftover French fries can be a challenge for any fitness and weight-maintenance goals.  With four kids, I’ve gone through that many cycles of weight-gain and loss, complete with diets (Flat Belly, South Beach, yeah – all of that) and exercise.  As the kids have gotten increasingly busy with their own activities, it’s harder to find time to workout.   I’ve figured out that I can use the time I spend waiting around for them to fit in some exercise.  I run around the track while they are at swim practice, hit tennis balls during basketball practice, run around the neighborhood during play rehearsal.  I mix in some light strength-training with hand-weights, too.  It’s my “mommy workout”.

After the birth of one of my kids, I found Valerie, a personal trainer who was also a mom, and she helped me to get back to a shape other than round.  This wasn’t on the Oprah/Beyonce level, she didn’t move into my house and bring a personal chef or anything like that.  We met for an hour once a week and she helped me come up with a workout plan I could maintain on my own.  I asked her to share some tips for fitting in a workout while shuttling kids to their activities and watching them at the playground.

Top gym bag must-haves so you can workout anywhere

There are things you can do while shuttling kids that will keep you fit, maximize your time, and reduce any I should’ve worked out guilt.  One of the best things you can do is to keep a gym bag in your car at all times.  In addition to the gym bag - water, towels, sports bra, and fitness shoes - I want to give you some of my favorite must-haves that won’t weigh your bag down and might even bring some new life to your workouts. 

As you can see, I have a variety of items in my bag; they don’t take up a lot of space but they play a vital role in my fitness.  Here goes from left to right.

• Jump rope - This handy piece of fitness equipment is light yet very effective for an intense workout.  Studies show that 15 minutes of jumping rope is equivalent to 30 minutes of walking.  The beauty of jumping rope is you can do it just about anywhere.  The next time you take the kids to the park try jumping rope; even if you can only jump five minutes at a time (in-between the swing, slide, you know the drill), before you know it you’ll be at your 15-minute goal.  I use and highly recommend the Buddy Lee jump rope. 
• iPod – Studies show that music can make the difference in your workout.  The better the beat, the more likely you’ll workout at a higher intensity.  Be sure to have several workout tracks to go with your various workouts: intense, moderate, and cool down with stretching. 
• Notebook – Tracking your workouts is good for several reasons.  First, it gives you feedback of your progress and second, it can help you vary your workouts to prevent boredom.  I track different workouts and use my notebook to make sure I’m reaching my goals.  However, you use it, make it a habit to update to see your workout patterns and you’ll see better results.
• Skincare stuff – Tom’s Deodorant, Arnica Gel, and Neutrogena SPF 70 sunscreen.  I don’t recommend antiperspirants when you exercise since sweating helps rid the body of toxins - I personally don’t want to prevent toxin release.  Arnica Gel is my go-to gel for after workout soreness or bruising (I bruise very easily, it’s in the genes).  It goes without saying that you need a sunscreen of 30 SPF of higher.  It’s helpful to wear a hat and sunglasses too.

I'll come back tomorrow with Valerie's tips for exercises to do on the go.  In the meantime - pack your gym bag for a great workout!

Valerie Merriweather is the founder and Chief Exercise Officer of Fitwell Training Solutions in Silver Spring, Maryland.  As a busy mom of four, Valerie is passionate about helping women find their fitness niche in the midst of hectic schedules and family responsibilities.  She shares her insight at her blog, Curling Iron for Your Body Not Just Your Hair as well as Fitness at Any Age where she serves as a Discovery Health Fitness expert.  Valerie is a regular contributing writer for her community newsletter, Northwood News and leads the highly successful Fitwell Personal Boot Camp at Forest Knolls Elementary School.  She is a sought after consultant and speaker on the topics on health and wellness for busy moms and teaches seminars on how to make healthy living a reality for families.

For more health and fitness tips connect with Valerie on Facebook or on Twitter at #vmerriweather.

Pack Your Bags: for a Picnic!

Summer, according to my own non-scientific, unofficial, research, is the most popular picnic season of the year.  Even in my own household, we’ll opt for the backyard rather than the dinner table on a pleasant evening.  And at the beach?  I don’t know that we’ve eaten a meal without a healthy portion of sand in it.  We pack lunch for the middle of the day, and then will pack up a hot meal to go back to the beach after the sun has started to go down a bit.  It's one of my favorite spots during the summer – toes in the sand, wine at hand, and dinner in the basket nearby.  And of course, we have our twice/week picnic – brunch and dinner poolside at my kids’ swim meets.

For our simple picnics, daytrips, and swim meet, I routinely pack some of these easy-to-prep and carry meals.  I’ve noticed that kids don’t actually eat as much as you would imagine when they are out having fun, so I keep the food simple and quick-to-eat.

• Wraps – a tortilla, filled with shredded veggies, lettuce, or spinach, a meat option (cold cuts, salmon, chopped chicken) and/or cheese, a dressing to keep it from being dry – wrap individually in foil, label if they are different fillings
• Seaweed wraps – also known as kimbap or sushi rolls – a sheet of dried seaweed, filled with rice, meat and veggies
• Quesadillas – 2 tortillas, pan grilled with mixture of meat and cheese in between
• Sandwiches – cut them differently (horizontal vs. vertical thru the middle) to indicate different fillings
• Boiled eggs
• Bagels
• Cut fruit, grapes, berries – cut the rind off of melons to reduce the weight and save space 

For some expert tips on packing a picnic basket, I asked Danielle Rozier, Owner/Chef of Savory Gourmet Catering, if we could take a peek into her picnic cooler.

To start, she fed me this bit of etymological trivia – “the word picnic is derived from the French word "pique nique" to describe an outdoor meal. The earliest versions of picnics come from the Middle Ages when members of the upper class would "dine out" during a hunt.”  Great for a round of Jeopardy or to impress your fellow picnickers.

• When packing for a picnic, make sure you keep non-perishable foods (trail mix, potato chips, etc.) separate from perishable items. This will save cooler space and ice for items that need to have it. Remember, the more you pack in the cooler, the less cold it will be. An ideal percentage is 50% food and 50% ice.
• Pack your cooler in reverse order. Put your dessert in first, the entree courses next, then, the starters last - you won't have to search everywhere in your cooler to find the food for the next course and will keep the cooler cold longer.  (I love this idea, why didn’t I ever think of this?)
• Freeze beverages (that are not in cans) the evening before - they can act as additional ice in your pack. If you're worried about condensation, wrap them in aluminum foil (which may preserve coldness longer) or put in ziploc bags. Even if you don't freeze them, make sure they're cold before packing.
• Use plasticware to pack food for individual servings to save time and reduce the need for serving utensils.
• Always create a picnic packing list, so you will never forget to bring the bottle opener or blanket again.

-       Blanket

-       Napkins

-       Plates

-       Silverware

-       Serving utensils

-       Cups and wine glasses

-       Corkscrew or bottle opener

-       A knife

-       Cutting board

-       Condiments

-       Salt & Pepper

-       Garbage bag

-       Sunscreen

-       Bug spray or citronella candles

-       Camera

-       Damp wipes or cloths for washing up

• But what are the chances the ground is wet? To ensure a good dry place, use a nylon/fleece blanket (perfect for outdoors) or consider taking along a tarp to go under your blanket as well.  (I found two new damp-proof picnic blankets this season – one at Target, one at $5Below.)
• When considering the perfect picnic place, find one that fits the weather conditions. If it's hot, look for a place in the shade, such as a sheltered picnic area at the park (hold the cooler there and your guests will thank you for that), if it's windy consider a place on the side of a hill (rather than the side with the wind!), and if it's cool find a place that is nice and bright (remember the sunscreen!).
• Picnic baskets are very stylish, but think of using a cooler as well since it will keep food cold and act as a table.
• If your food will be open, keep bugs away by keeping it protected when not in use. Consider napkins with weights (such as small rocks); put one on each corner.
• Always throw away any perishable food that has been left out for more than a few hours, even if it is tasty.

I am a list-maker, so I really like Danielle’s tip about making a checklist of your picnic supplies, but I would also add the obvious – the food!  When having a big dinner at home or packing for a cookout or picnic, I like to make a list of everything being served so I don’t forget a crucial part of the meal.  Can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten the salad, the cranberry sauce, or the dessert, when I’ve failed to check off my menu. 

And be sure to clean up after yourself when you are done.  Pick up your trash, put out your bbq coals, and leave the place as nice as when you arrived.

Enjoy your picnic!

Thanks to Danielle for her tips!  Through her catering company, she combines her passion for food & people. The combination of her southern background, natural instincts for food flavors and her Cajun cooking mastery has made Chef Danielle’s food sought after. You can say that her food is a combination of Savory (delicious flavor) and Gourmet (using the freshest and best quality ingredients). For more information, check her website www.savorygrmt.com and to keep up with entertaining tips and delicious recipes, “like” her on FaceBook.

Pack Your Bags: for festivals, fairs, a day out

The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival opened yesterday on The Mall near the Smithsonian Musems, kicking off the summer festival season in Washington DC.  Each year this festival covers two or three varying themes – a little something for everybody. This year’s themes are Campus & Community, celebrating land-grant universities; Citified, focusing on the DC neighborhoods around the Anacostia River; and Creativity and Crisis, with a display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The events are free and there are food vendor tents and a marketplace.

With our busy sports schedule, I hope to get down there for a day.  A friend of mine is one of the behind-the-scenes festival planners and it was her invitation that first drew me and the kids there; we’ve gone when the themes were Asia and Latin America and really enjoyed the food, music, and displays.

Through the summer, we’ll also probably get to the county fair, the zoo, and other outdoor wandering around events.  We’ve already spent a day out a couple weekends ago for the Girl Scouts’ 100^th Anniversary Rock The Mall celebration.  Being well-supplied and prepared helps to make the day enjoyable.  Here’s a few things that we carry.

The bags:

• a backpack or a large tote bag, either an over the shoulder or across your body type, rather than a regular purse to be able to carry more stuff and not be as concerned if it gets dusty or spilled on. 
• a soft-sided, insulated tote for snacks and water; this also with a shoulder strap.  I don’t like hard-side coolers for walking days because they are more cumbersome to carry. 

What to carry:

• A washcloth – consider wetting it and carrying in a plastic sandwich bag for sticky fingers and dusty hands
• Water bottles for everybody – more convenient, cheaper than buying water while you are out
• Cash, in small bills – easier for getting quick snacks from vendors or souvenirs
• Fully-charged cell-phone – its obvious, but how many times have you walked out to find its only half-charged?
• Snacks, lunch – even if you plan on eating your lunch there, pack some munchies for the inevitable “we’re hungry and we’re going to die if we don’t eat right now” moments.  Sometimes the point of the Festival is the food, so I’d rather carry my own trail mix and fruit, and save my spending for the international vendors or the BBQ stand or whatever is the real Festival fare.  As a vegetarian, I like to carry a little something, a peanut butter & jelly sandwich or a protein bar, just in case I'm stuck with French fries as the only option.
• Sun protection – sunscreen, hat
• First-aid (the basics) – a bottle/tube of Neosporin, some band-aids, a few aspirin/pain relievers - all in a plastic sandwich bag or pencil pouch so you can find it easily

Strollers or baby carriers - note to new moms: I personally didn’t like strollers for these type of walk around days.  Yes, it’s a great way to move the baby in his own little vehicle, but it can sometimes be cumbersome in crowds and places that may not be stroller-friendly (getting up and down steps at museums or escalators on the Metro, or dirt paths).  If you go with the stroller, leave the super-duper one at home and go with a more compact umbrella stroller.  I personally, preferred the baby carriers you strap/tie on to you; these also made me feel more secure that someone wasn't going to snatch my baby and run away.  Think about what works for you.

Identify your kids - when we went to the Girl Scouts’ anniversary, we boarded the Metro as three troops with somewhere over 30 girls, heading into a sea of over 200,000 girls all with the same t-shirt on.  On the chance we might lose one, we employed a few tricks to identify them, many gleaned from Disney World experiences.

• Tuck a business card with your cell phone number in each kid’s pocket.  I made troop cards for the Girl Scout day; for my own family, I’ve had cards made (real cheap from VistaPrint) with our names and cell phone numbers, you can also make them yourself.  (I also do this for camp and other outings when they’re away from me.)
• With a Sharpie, write your cell-phone (but not your name) on the inside of your kid’s arm - a good idea for little kids who might be too frantic and upset to remember their other IDs.
• Write your name and cell-phone on the inside of their t-shirt, near the hem – either directly on the shirt or on masking or fabric tape.
• The Girl Scout day was the extreme example, requiring us to identify our troop by our specific tie-dye design, but in general, dressing your bunch of kids in the same color helps with the “what were they wearing” part – I can point to another of my kids and say “they look just like this one.”
• Take a picture of your kids with your digital camera or cell-phone before you head out.
• Be careful about putting your kids name visibly on their clothes.  Some lost-child experts and police warn against this because it could give potential predators the in that they need, being able to say “hey, Susie, I’m your mom’s friend and she wants me to bring you to her over there”.  My Girl Scouts thought it would be cute to put their names on their shirts and I agreed, but then reconsidered and decided not to.  Too bad you’ve got to think like a bad guy sometimes.

Oh – and don’t forget your comfy walking shoes, whether sneakers or sandals.

Enjoy the festivals!

Pack Your Bags: for Vacation!

Plane, train, automobile, boat, bicycle – it seems that we have some innate need to get out of town as the mercury rises.  When my family and I hit the road, it almost looks like we’re moving out; truthfully, when we just go out for the day, it looks like we’ll be gone for a week, so you can imagine when we actually go away for a week.  I’m bad at packing – I’m very indecisive (what do I want to wear, what shoes match) and feel like I need to pack for every possibility (what if some other thing comes up and I need a formal gown). To pare down to a manageable load, I turned to a friend for packing tips. 

Dr. Quinetta Roberson is a professor, who teaches, speaks at conferences, and vacations around the country and abroad.  I’m pretty sure she’s on track for a platinum Frequent Flier card for every airline and a Golden passport.  This month alone, she’s touching down in at least 5 countries and 3 continents, with 1 suitcase!  Here’s how she does it.

Yes - all in 1 bag!

I prefer not to check bags given that you never know what kinds of airport shenanigans will occur (especially with a layover that is less than an hour), so I usually try to fit everything in a carry-on. However, when I am doing two cities and/or have various events that require different fashions (e.g., teaching, black-tie, causal, etc.), I will take the larger suitcase and check it.

Pick your clothes & shoes

My rule of thumb: grab everything I want to take and then cut the amount of clothes in half. Also, I try to pick a color scheme (e.g., black or brown) so that I can limit my shoes to a few pair (e.g., heels, flats, formal, etc.).

Steam your clothes before you pack

I hate ironing. I especially hate ironing when something I iron is going to end up wrinkled after a long trip. The packing envelope does a good job in keeping garments in pretty pristine condition, but they have to start in pristine condition. Given my distaste for ironing, my mother bought me a steamer last Christmas ... and it is my new lifesaver. I can wash, steam, and pack the night before a trip and still look professional and put-together when I get to my destination.

Pack compactly with a Container Store packing envelope

This packing envelope from The Container Store changed my life two years ago. I was going to a formal wedding in Barbados, teaching for two days in Milan, and then going on vacay for two weeks in Madrid and Barcelona. However, I only had 45 minutes layover between international flights (enough time to get through customs and get to the gate), so, I needed everything to go in a carry-on. The premise of the envelope is that it helps to pack garments compactly so they take little space and don't move around in the suitcase, yet stay in presentable condition. This medium envelope is supposed to hold 10-12 items, but I was able get about 18 things in it.  This is now my must-have when I am traveling for any length of time.

Keep clothes on their hangers

I keep professional and formal wear on plastic hangers so that after the clothes are dirty, I can just fold and put them into the suitcase and discard the hangers (a good space-saver).

Organize your electronics

Several years ago, I came across this electronics carrier on www.ebags.com. Because there are six individual compartments in the carrier, I can keep my cameras, international cell phone, chargers, etc. separate and easy to access. A pet peeve is leaving a charger or adapter in a hotel, so this helps me to keep track of everything.

Pack it all in!

Shoes first.
I typically put the fancier pairs in shoe bags.

Optimize space by putting underwear 
in the spaces between the shoes.

After the shoes etc., the packing envelope fits in one side of a large suitcase (it fits across the whole width of a carry-on), thus leaving room for the electronics carrier, purses, jewelry envelope, etc. on the other side.

The hangered garmets go last 
(so they don't get smushed)

Done and ready to head to the airport!

Thanks, Quinetta.  That seemed easy, right?  I plan on using some of these tips later this summer when I go on a trip all by myself for my sorority’s conference - yeah, me! – but I know that limited number of shoes things is going to get me.

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