Moms Minivan Blog

Join MomsMinivan.com at PBS Parents.org

2009-06-26T13:07:00.004-04:00

Last summer I had the pleasure of appearing as a featured "expert" at the PBS Parents website to talk about keeping kids entertained on the road. This week I have been invited back!

We are discussing ways to save money when traveling with your kids on the road, and creative ways to keep the kids entertained in the car without emptying your wallet.

Please click over and join in the Q & A discussion!

Multimedia message - Bonnaroo Bound!

2009-06-11T13:56:00.001-04:00

Moms' weekend getaway with friends. In the car line for Bonnaroo! 40 license plates so far!

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2009-05-04T22:02:00.000-04:00

Roadtrip Mom at the wheel! This is the only way to drive.

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2009-04-04T13:14:00.000-04:00

It does exist! We signed the book along with all the others who have left their mark at the mailbox at the very end of the island.

Melissa and Doug Travel Games

2009-04-04T10:49:00.003-04:00

My cousin Kirsten is taking a road trip with her kids this weekend in Oregon and found some great new products she recommends! They are called "Flip to Win"

Here's what she says:
We got Hangman and the Travel Bear Hunt - and both are good. Memory looks fun. There are No parts to lose except the pen on Hangman (which has a clip to store the pen when it's not being used).

Here's More:

These fabulous, travel-style games bring new fun and convenience to old family favorites
Innovative flipping pieces won't get lost
Includes one game board with erasable whiteboard, self-storing marker and eraser
Great for the road and at home

Sounds great! Definitely worth checking out "Flip to Win".

Thanks, Kirsten! Have a great trip!

~ Road Trip Mom ~
Momsminivan.com

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2009-03-31T14:58:00.000-04:00

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2009-03-30T11:01:00.000-04:00

On the road again! Have ipod will travel!

Travel Gear Shopping Coupon March 16, 17

2009-03-15T21:40:00.004-04:00

Shop and Save for road trip gear!

On St. Patricks day the coupon code: 3STPAT09 will save Family Travel Gear customers 15% on every product except the CARES (Child avaiation restraint) harness. The coupon code can be used on both March 16 and 17, 2009.

They have great stuff to help make traveling with kids easier, and MomsMinivan.com gives them two thumbs up on service and quality! Shop at Family Travel Gear!

Hit the Road without Hurting your Pocketbook

2009-03-11T19:35:00.003-04:00

Don't let your tightened budget put a crimp in your fun. There are many ways to save money, even on a road trip to help cut the costs. I've put together an article with lots of useful ideas to get you started on the following topics:

Plan Ahead for Meals and Snacks
Plan Free Entertainment for the Kids for the Road
Adopt Good Driving Habits that Save Gas
Call Ahead for Overnights On The Road
Plan Your Route
Save Money At Your Home While You are Away

It can be found on my website at http://www.momsminivan.com/savemoney.html

Hit the road, have fun and be safe!

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2009-02-06T15:20:00.000-05:00

On the road again. Hitting the skyway this time!

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2009-01-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

On the road home!

Mobile Blogging!

2009-01-17T15:50:00.002-05:00

Road trip in mom's minivan!

If you can see this photo, then I have achieved sweet success! I am trying something new with my phone - mobile blogging! I sent this directly from my phone while we are on the road. We're off to a sports competition about 3 hours from home. Now you can join us while we are on the road anywhere!

Survey Says!!

2009-01-05T13:51:00.003-05:00

I need a little help from my readers. I'm sure you have noticed that I run ads on my site to support it and help me keep it going. My ad company needs demographics on my readers so they can make sales pitches to the wonderful sponsors that buy my ad space. In short, I need more data!

Please do me a big favor and take this totally anonymous survey about MomsMinivan and it's users.

The survey does not ask for any personal info such as an email or your name or anything. Just generic stuff like how old you are, how big your household is, etc. They will not sell you anything, I promise!

http://www.momsminivan.com/survey.html

I couldn't keep this site going without my readers. You're the best. Thank you!

Say Cheese!

2008-11-21T11:13:00.012-05:00

I bought myself a new digital camera recently for my travels. In the past, I've owned two different Sony digital cameras and have had issues with the display screens on both of them, and have even had to send them back to the factory for repair. Eventually Sony refused to continue repairing what I felt was a factory defect and should have been covered by the warrantee. But I digress.

I really wanted to talk about my new camera that I LOVE! I got the Cannon PowerShot 1100IS, which is one of the top selling cameras, and I can see why. It's so slim and sleek, and the view screen is large. It's easy and takes great pictures. It also shoots movies, and is a versatile all-around camera, perfect for me to shoot pictures of my family and travel adventures. I took a little time learning how to use it, and I also bought a bigger memory card for it that holds a lot of pictures.

Which brings me to another product that I am now using. I have so many photos on my computer now, that I worry about losing them before I can get hardcopy prints made for my albums, or even after I've printed them for that matter. After my experiences with Hurricane Katrina, I have seen first hand how tragic it can be to lose all of your family photos!

To keep them safe, I am using the Picture Keeper. It works basically like a flash drive that has software on it that makes a backup copy of all your picture files on your computer to keep them safe. Sure, I could take the time to burn them all onto a bunch of CD's, but then I'd have to actually organize them, and keep doing it for every update. This thing works like my ipod and updates itself with the latest pictures every time I just plug it in. I don't have to do anything. And it holds them all (up to 8000 pictures). Super easy, and no worries. (coupon code "momsminivan" will save 10% at their website).

Cherish your memories and keep them safe. Today's technology makes it so easy, that there is almost no excuse!

Turkey Defense

2008-11-12T10:52:00.015-05:00

Here's my dad in 1981 with "Meaty", our aptly named pet turkey. Meaty was quite the barnyard showpiece. We'd raised him from a chick. And, well, kids do dumb things, and I was no exception. I teased him a lot when his voice began changing from a cheep to a gobble. I gobbled loudly at him constantly to make him gobbly-cheep back. It was hilarious at the time. As a result, he grew to dislike me intensely.

I have no idea what was going on inside his bird brain, but as a fully grown turkey, he would sneak up on me at every opportunity to attack. It was only me that he disliked. Everyone else could pet him on his bumpy red head and play with his weird warm waddle affectionately. Not me. He would pick me out of a crowd of people, flapping his wings like baseball bats against my thigh and driving his 2-inch talons into my calves. One day in my self defense, I waved a horse's lead rope and halter in his direction to fend him off, and accidentally knocked him on the head with the metal buckle. He flopped to the ground completely unconscious. I thought I'd killed him.

I panicked and tried to think of what I would tell my mother about the beloved family pet. I stroked his knobby head and told him how sorry I was. I said a prayer to please undo this mistake. My prayer was answered. About 60 seconds later he opened his eyes and hopped up, seemingly good as new. What great relief. Meaty and I pretty much avoided each other after that, managing to co-exist somewhat peacefully in the barnyard. ... until he met his untimely demise a couple of years later at the jaws of a hungry coyote.

It seems I am not the only one who has ever fought with a turkey. Recently, a friend sent me a hilarious turkey-wrestling video ad for a JennieO Oven Ready Turkey. I could totally relate. The moment the woman in the video sent her unruly turkey soaring out of her kitchen window and into the back of her husband's head, I knew I needed one of these birds. Given my special affinity for turkey wrestling, I was hooked. So, this past Sunday night I cooked the "Oven Ready Boneless Turkey Breast" from their product line, or as my family called it, "turkey boob in a bag".

I literally took it out of the freezer and put into my oven already in its cooking bag. No thawing, no seasoning, no preparing, nothing. I didn't have to do a thing or even touch the raw turkey. It seemed too good to be true. I kept re-reading the instructions for the catch. I even started to dig around in the kitchen drawers looking for my meat thermometer, until I realized it already had one of those nifty pop up things. This was one of the easiest dinners I have ever made.

All three kids gave it a thumbs up, and ditto for the gravy that came with it. Delicious. And no one was hit in the head by a giant flopping bird. …Or stabbed in the leg by a spit-angry flapping one. If only I could have gotten along as well with ol' Meaty.

Soccer Mom Minivan talk show

2008-11-05T10:37:00.000-05:00

"Soccer mom" Jeannie Tate hosts a talk show from her minivan. This video cracked me up. I totally love the dry cleaning that is hanging in her guest's face. My favorite one liner is , "It's not easy being a mother -- if it were, fathers would do it!"

This poor woman spends way too much time in her minivan!

Chinese Cootie Catcher and more

2008-10-20T11:55:00.000-04:00

More Fan Mail! After reading my article, a reader wrote in a while ago to share her experience with making a cootie catcher. She also sent the picture on the left.

Hello, my name is Abby. Today is my first time to visit your website: MomsMinivan.com. I enjoy reading it very much as it brings me lot of memories about playing games with kid. Currently, I'm working for a child centre in Hong Kong where we play games with kids.

I just want to share with you about the "Cootie Catcher". In our culture, we have the same stuff but we named it differently. we simply called it "ESWN" that stands for EAST, SOUTH, WEST and NORTH. (See the attached jpg file). Inside the ESWN, we write the "action" for the kid to do when they choose the number. For example, "sing a song", "do sit-up", "jump 10 times"....etc. Using the "Direction" as an alternative of "Color" is fun too.

Cootie catchers, or fortune tellers, are making the rounds in many different circles these days. I had another reader write recently to tell me that she was using my blank cootie catcher template for her Bible study group (She put scripture verses in the message area). It's also become a cute table activity at weddings (put love messages in the fortunes, or instructions to "kiss the person next to you" or "dance the next song"). You're only as limited as your imagination.

Classic Bingo for Travel

2008-10-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Product Recommendation from Road Trip Mom! -- Travel Bingo Shutter Card Game Set

This is not the old favorite "Auto Bingo", but it does have the nifty sliding windows that kids love. It's regular B-I-N-G-O, where the caller picks a random number from the bin and calls it out like "B-15"! Then everyone marks their cards. This one can be played over and over again since your numbers are marked by sliding the windows. A pluck of the finger marks your number!

I have found that kids will play this game much longer than the other auto bingo which is more like a scavenger hunt looking for items out side the car. Older kids especially appreciate this one. And if you offer up a prize for the winner (think lollipops, or Tootsie Rolls), you can guarantee to hold their interest for quite a while, though several games. Keep playing until everyone wins. Even the driver can "play" by having someone else in the car play the card for you!

This set has 6 cards in it, and is completely self contained. No loose pieces and no markers needed. Great for the car or a plane. A definite winner in my book. Get it here.

Elect MomsMinivan!

2008-10-03T11:04:00.003-04:00

There's an effort to elect an unknown random person as President... and it's someone we know! Watch this online video about the surprising new nominee.

Ha ha! I kill me!

Seriously, please post my website on your facebook page, myspace, and share with your friends. I need all the help I can get! Thanks readers!

Meanwhile, my favorite time of year is approaching. I really recommend these of mine if you're starting to look for free Halloween Costume Ideas or even Mardi Gras costumes.

Sale on Travel Gear for Kids!

2008-09-26T01:00:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite online stores is having a sale this weekend! Starting Friday, Sept 26th - 28th, customers can save 15% on every item in Family Travel Gear store.

Just use the coupon code: FallTravel08 at the checkout.

NC Senior Games

2008-09-21T12:55:00.000-04:00

We may have a road trip to Raleigh, NC in our future. It seems that my father is going to compete in the state finals for the North Carolina Senior Games! He's a tennis player, and he will compete in singles and double.

My dad has been a tennis player most of his life and still plays regularly. The kids are so excited to know that their grandpa is still swinging with the best of them. He's competing in the 70-74 age category. Go get 'em, Ace!

Talk Like a Pirate Day

2008-09-15T08:52:00.005-04:00

Shiver me timbers! September 19 is International "Talk Like a Pirate Day"! The creators of this wonderful day have their own website at TalkLikeAPirate.com. If you've been reading me blog over the last year, you already know that I highly recommend talking like pirates as a valid method for making a road trip much more enjoyable. You can do this any day of the year, not just this Friday. If you aren't familiar with these methods, then check out my pirate road trip article so you too can Make Like Roger and Have a Jolly Good Time in the Car. And fer even further inspiration, here's a video featuring the basics of the 5 A's of Pirate-speak. Now get going, ye scallywags!

DC License Plates - License Plate Game

2008-09-03T18:15:00.001-04:00

One of my readers sent me a message noting a US plate that is missing from my printable license plate game sheet. My dear reader noted that although Washington DC is not a state, that it should still be included in the list. I'm inclined to agree.

So, I have added "Washington DC" to the checklist of all the states for the license plate game! Now before I start getting bombarded by readers asking me to add Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, etc. I have also added a check-box for "bonus points" for spotting a plate from a US territory or other country.

Now, Go! Play! Enjoy!

Fifteen Pounds of Coleslaw, Anyone?

2008-08-28T10:08:00.001-04:00

My daughter brought home a tiny cabbage seedling from school last year with three little leaves on it. I tend to have a bad effect on plants, especially ones in pots. And due to my natural black-thumb, I never expected it to live, which is why I allowed her to plant it in the front yard. Amazingly it lived and the rabbits didn't eat it. It grew to 15 pounds. At some point, I think we were supposed to enter it into some kind of 3rd grade contest, but it didn't start getting really large until just recently, and now summer has gone by and 4th grade has started. So we are eating it instead.

After doing some research, I found that these cabbages can get up to 40 pounds or more. Still, 15 pounds for a cabbage is pretty impressive by ordinary standards.

This giant vegetable reminded me of the titanic pumpkins that grow in Half Moon Bay, CA where they hold a pumpkin festival every year. Those are definitely something special and a really fun event for kids.

Meanwhile, as you contemplate all of these monster vegetables, we'll be busy eating an extraordinary amount of coleslaw. Cheers!

Back Seat Out-Takes

2008-08-18T22:45:00.007-04:00

Some people may have the impression that my road trips are always perfect.... that we go singing down the road in perfect harmony, never fighting, never getting bored, arriving on time and never getting lost. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm as normal as the rest of you.

Even my backseat looks like the floor of a teenager's bedroom at the end of a long trip. Here's a photo as proof.

I have also posted a few random crazy moments that occured in the back seat of our minivan this summer....

I overheard this conversation between my darling daughters (aka "DD"s) during a game of Battleship on the road:

DD1: Permission to speak freely, Captain?

DD2: Permission granted...

DD1: You are a dork! (laughter galore)

Overheard game of Mad Libs ...

body part: Uvula

place: Oscar's belly button! (Oscar is our dog)

noun: vomit

adjective: vomit-like

adverb: vomitly!

Vomitly? You gotta give 'em points for creativity anyway. Makes me wonder how they would do at Scrabble.

I don't sweat any of it though. Payback will come someday when they'll be driving, and I'll be in the backseat with THEIR kids, inspired to write all kinds of stories titled, "Traveling with Kids, or Why Grandma Drinks Wild Turkey".

Full circle.