Traveling with Kids Tips and Tricks

I'm a travel junkie, and if I can find a good deal on a flight or hotel, I'm there. With two pre-school aged kids in tow, it's essential to have entertaining distractions to keep them happy while waiting for a layover to Portland or during the six hour car ride to Pennsylvania.

Here are my most successful finds so far:

Color Wonder and Water Wow coloring books are amazing. For real. I picked up three of each for a recent six hour car trip, and they were a huge hit. My kids played with them for hours and hours, and the Water Wow pages dried quickly on the dashboard as we worked through the rotation. I even tucked them in my purse for a dinner out so the kids could color while waiting for our food. I especially like that the Water Wow books are reusable and not as disposable as other coloring books. Did I mention that both of these won't get colored marker on your kids hands, clothes, nose, or seat? Yes, please.

I'm not a fan of fast food, especially when sitting in the car for hours with a heavy burger in my gut. When we're in the car, or even heading to the airport, long enough that we need to eat a meal, I pop into our local grocery and pick up their Munchables for the kids from the deli cold case. They're like Lunchables, only not over-processed and gross. My son likes one with turkey, crackers, cheese, and grapes. My daughter goes for one with chunks of chicken, pita, grape tomatoes, and a cucumber dipping sauce.

DVDs and ear phones with splitter are a requisite for any trip over three hours. Don't feel guilty about letting your kids plug in, either. Nobody has time for that kind of kid guilt.

Audio books  are great for passing time and enjoying longer books that would otherwise take you weeks of bedtime sessions to get through. I like to stock up on them at the library before each trip. We've especially enjoyed The Cricket in Times Square, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and Farmer Boy.

On that note, library books and DVDs are budget friendly resources and feel new to your kids and keeps them engaged. Traveling is expensive enough, so I don't want to blow too much money on entertaining the kids on the way there. The library is the perfect solution.

A packable pail and small pool toys are well wroth their space in the suitcase. My kids are huge fans of these new Finding Dory dive toys.

Vacations mean an escape from the ordinary, and that goes for food, too. When picking up ordinary car snacks, like banana chips and peanuts, each member of the family gets to pick fun vacation snacks, too. My kids always pick Annie's gummy bunnies, and my husband and I gravitate towards salty, crunchy junk food like Gardetto's Snack Mix or a bag of Munchos. Go for it.

What are your travel go-tos?

Wavy Pop-Up Dinner

For our latest pop-up dinner, we decided to picnic at a little visited Ann Arbor landmark, The Wave Field on the University of Michigan's North Campus. Designed by artist Maya Lin, who also designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., the rolling mounds of grass are nestled between campus building that provided the perfect amount of shade on a warm summer day. 

We wanted this dinner to welcome summer and the fun that the season brings with it. Pop-up dinners are really just fancy picnics, and we embraced that vibe with our choices for the meal. We stuck with simple picnic fare but amped it up with nice linens, place settings, tables, and chairs.

We started with several summery drinks, including honey lemonade, a rhubarb shrub, and lime and ginger. Drink prep was done at home and poured into glasses (and honey bears!) minutes before guests arrived.

Appetizers were simple and followed a wonderful formula: something sweet + something crunchy + something pickled + something from a pig + something aged. I picked up the meats from a fabulous Italian grocer on our way back from vacation in Pennsylvania.

We had a great time chatting about the end of the school year and summer travel plans, and I was reminded why casual happy hour conversations are always one of my favorite parts of a dinner party.

Dinner included fried chicken (that I had catered and picked up on the way to the picnic), potato salad, arugula salad with shaved parmesan and cherry tomatoes from the Farmer's Market, and homemade biscuits with honey butter. 

We had strawberry shortcakes with the last berries of the season, scored from Farmer's Market that morning, for dessert, and sipped our cold drinks until the sun went down. At a little before 10:00 everyone pitched in to clean up and tote everything back to the cars, and with everyone's efforts it took less than 10 minutes. 

As happy texts flew back and forth on the way home, we all agreed that the picturesque setting and tasty comfort food was made all the better by the good friends we enjoyed it with. Cheers to good friends who make every get-together a special occasion. 

Mommin' It

When shopping with a best buddy for a simple pair of black pants she needed for her new job, we suddenly found ourselves standing in a Chico's being asked what our Chico's size is. We chuckled over the sales woman's joyful indoctrination into Chico's culture because we understood that we had crossed a threshold greater than Club Chico.

Texts full of jokes about working out a Curves and shopping at Dress Barn ensued until I found myself making a decidedly mom purchase: a Land's End rash guard top for me, not my kid.

As I eased into my new suit (with slimming features!) and rash guard top, I settled into a comfortable realization of my own.

I am seriously mommin' it. How do I know?

It's not just my new pool attire.

I'm rockin' my mom shoes (although I'm thinking about adding these thin strapped beauties or these pearled pretties).

Furthermore, the only thing I love more than Boden prints is that many of their dresses have pockets for my cell phone, keys, and miscellaneous Legos I pick up and can't bring myself to throw out.

The ultimate test of whether or not you're mommin' it is if your wardrobe includes a piece of maternity clothing that you totally kept because, well, why the hell not keep something with flattering lines and forgiving fabrics?

So, mom it all over town, my friends, and know that you're in good company.

How are you mommin' it?

(Photo of Grace Kelly, mommin' it at the pool in her one piece suit.)

Freeform Friday

School is out for the summer, and life is good. We're spending our first day of vacation in our pajamas until noon, and then we'll head to the pool. Oh! We'll also go catch the long awaited release of Finding Dory. Where do your weekend plans take you?

With Dory getting her own movie, this is a fun idea for other Disney/Pixar spin-offs. If Bing Bong had his own movie, I'd buy a ticket.

I'm loving my new Gatsby tote bag that I picked up from our local book store.

I'm using up the four pounds of rhubarb I got earlier this week by making this wonderful rhubarb crisp and more shrub.

After taking a fresh pasta making class, I picked up a shaping tool so I can make the easiest pasta shape ever. The dough, shaping, and cooking time (two minutes!) come together so fast, it's my new favorite weeknight meal.

I've been cruising through this graphic novel and completely understand all the hype around it. 

Kid Book Club

What happens when you're the kid of two English teachers who like to host parties? You have a kid book club, that's what.

Over breakfast recently, my five-year-old asked if he could have a book club for kids, just like the kind I have with my girlfriends. With a twinkle in his eye, he enthusiastically listed off friends he'd like to include and his plan: each kid brings a favorite book, they all hang out and read, pass books around, and then the adults can read a couple books to the whole group.

How could I say no to that?

So, we're going to give it a try. Here is our plan:

Kids can bring a favorite books related to a single theme for each meeting including:
animals
adventure
summer
family
art
humor
transportation
food

One of my favorite parts of my book club is the snacking (!), so these meetings will be held after lunch with fruit, dessert, and drinks.

My son said he'd like to have an animated story playing at the beginning, so we'll pop in a Scholastic Storytime Treasure DVD that's related to the theme of the meeting.

We'll let people arrive, eat, and get settled for the fist 30 minutes.

Next we'll have a quiet book pass, with the books kids brought to share, for 10-15 minutes. Kids can read independently or quietly with a parent.

A couple parents, including the host and anyone else who feels like volunteering, will read a couple books to the whole group for story time.

The meeting can end with open play while parents mingle and chat until it's time to go.

I'm excited to give this a try because I love helping my son's idea come to life, and I'm elated that he sees how fun my book club is and wants to try one himself.


Any other ideas or things to add?

Fast Rhubarb Ginger Shrub

After trying a rhubarb shrub at an amazing local distillery, I snapped up a bunch of rhubarb when I saw it at the Farmer's Market and thought I'd give it a try. While perusing recipes, many called for a simple mixture of rhubarb, sugar, and vinegar, but they also required the mixture to sit in the fridge for three to five days.

Not having the patience for that, my husband found this gem and whipped up a batch so fast that we were sipping fantastic drinks in under an hour.

2 pounds rhubarb, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 (7-inch) piece of ginger, cut into 1/4 inch pieces (no need to peel)
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups sugar

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is broken down and a mushy, spreadable consistency. Some chunks of ginger will still be hard.

Put a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and ladle in a large scoop at at time, using the back of the ladle to press the rhubarb mixture to release the juice. Scrap the bottom of the strainer occasionally. Repeat until all rhubarb has been pressed. Using a funnel, pour rhubarb shrub into a glass jar with a lid. Cool to room temperature, and refrigerate for a week; it might go longer than that, but I'd be shocked if you didn't drink it faster.

We enjoyed our shrub with gin, fresh lime juice, and a sprig of mint. I'm also excited to recreate the drink I had at Ann Arbor Distilling Company with gin, grapefruit Pellegrino, and rhubarb shrub. Hell, this is so good I'd even pour the shrub over a bowl of vanilla ice cream and call it a day.

Hello Summer!

The end of the school year always calls for a grand gesture to usher in summer vacation. So, embrace a spirit of playfulness and dive in!

Here are some ways you can kick it off right:

Have a backyard ice cream social with a giant banana split. We made ours by buying a new gutter, lining it with tin foil, pre-scooping ice cream onto trays before the party, then slicing bananas when it was time to serve. A couple friends pitched in to help spread whipped cream, sprinkles, and cherries. Big wow factor with minimal effort.

Get out the sprinkler, Slip 'N Slide, or whatever water toy you have for the yard and get crazy. Seriously. It's the summer, and it's your duty as a parent to show your kids how the pros squeal as you dart through the icy spray.

Do something decidedly summery! Go swimming. Jump off the high dive. Eat at a drive-in restaurant. Have a picnic outside. Take a bike ride. Go kayaking. Eat popsicles on the front steps. 

Get out of town! For the second time in the last couple of years, we booked a short trip away as soon as school gets out. Hiking, swimming in the awesome hotel pool, and making s'mores in the fire pit are the perfect way to hit the reset button. 

Make a summer bucket list. Last year my kids and I put together a list of parks, museums, and gardens we wanted to visit on sunny days, and we made a habit of trying a new one each week (and heading back to favorites as we made our way through the list!). 

Host a pop-up dinner party. If you think they're too much effort, just remember that a dinner party at a clever, outdoor location means you don't have to clean your house.

After the kids go to bed, have a beverage on the porch. Sunset isn't until after 9:00 p.m., so grab something cold, kick back, and soak it in, my friends. 

Need more inspiration? Check out these awesome ideas for how to celebrate big and small occasions. 

How do you plan on kicking off summer vacation?

Freeform Friday

The weekend is nearly here, and I'm looking forward to a graduation party for a favorite former student and my book club, which revolves around day drinking and care-free conversation, with a dear group of friends.

Here are some things that kept me busy and entertained this week:

Work friends gathered for happy hour drinks at Ann Arbor Distilling Company this week and delighted in their insanely wonderful libations.

I've been sucked into a new book this week, A Window Opens, and I'm pretty sure I've met my spiritual twin. The narrator is a writer and mom who loves her Fiestaware dishes and put on her best Boden outfit for her interview. Check, check, check, check.

Have you been to the peony garden at the Arb yet? It's a must-see (and smell!).

My kids and I have been waiting for months for Finding Dory to come to theaters. Only one week to go, and the perfect way to celebrate the first day of summer break!

I love to collect vintage things, mostly pottery and linens, but I picked up a ton of vintage Fisher-Price pull toys at a local thrift store when my son was learning to walk a few years ago. Little Snoopy is my daughter's favorite right now, and they both get lots of smiles when she takes him for a walk.

Say This, Not That

Everyone has a pet peeve when it comes to little speech patterns we hear in others.

Maybe you cringe when you hear people add an unnecessary "s" to the store they shop at; perhaps your mom was a stickler for "good" and "well." Surely we've all heard someone respond to a bathroom request with, "I don't know, CAN you?" Har har har.

For me, it's something a co-worker pointed out in a conversation about how people misuse similar sounding words that mean completely different things.

For me, it's "hilarious" and "hysterical," and I've enlisted Will Ferrel to help illustrate the difference.

VS.

That's all. Wasn't that easy?

I feel so much better now. 

What Teachers Really Want: An End of the Year Gift Guide

With the end of the school year fast approaching, here are some ideas for inexpensive, thoughtful gifts what will put a smile on a teacher's face and send her into summer with a special treat.

A cool succulent like these from the vendor I saw at the Saturday Farmer's Market are perfect and pretty easy to take care of; it was hard to snap a picture because the table was always surrounded by people admiring them. There were lots of options from $12 on up.

Help keep that teacher voice refreshed with a new water bottle from Life Factory or Klean Kanteen.

My son's teacher loves Zang candy bars, so I'll put together a basket with several of those along with Zingerman's brownies, graham crackers, and marshmallows.

A gift card to the awesome local coffee shop or cafe that's just down the road from work also makes a nice treat. Not sure which one? Ask your child to notice where the teacher's travel cup is from each morning, or ask the school secretary. They know everything.

Or, how about:

A gift card to the movie theater.

A gift card to an awesome class.

Tickets to a concert or play.

Tickets to sporting events (go Tigers!).

A membership to a local zoo or museum.

Books for the classroom or for the teacher.

Personalized stationary.

A custom rubber stamp!

A donation in her/his name to a local charity that helps kids in need.

If you feel compelled to get a mug, be sure to pick one that's awesomely tied to something the teacher did that year. English teachers are suckers for Shakespeare mugs like these, my history teacher buddies love their mugs with Honest Abe and the disappearing liberties, and you can even find something for art, science, and math teachers that will tickle their fancy.

Of course, it goes without saying that a handwritten note with specific things your child loved about their time together is the perfect compliment to anything you give. Added bonus: send a copy of that note to the principal (who often deals with complaints and loves to hear compliments).

I recommend proceeding with caution and avoiding anything that is scented (lotion, sunblock, candle, etc.) or difficult to predict if you don't know her/his tastes well.

Teachers, what have your favorite gifts been? Any items you have a drawer full of and don't need to add any more of?

Freeform Friday

This weekend is all about hitting up the pool and recharging for the final push before finals. Where are your weekend plans taking you? Any fun distractions lined up?

Here are some of my favorite distractions from this past week:

We just booked a couple of days at this resort for a quick summer getaway.

I'm obsessed with these BAKE classes at Zingerman's.

Spoiler alert for the pop-up dinner: June requires this perfect summer dessert and potato salad.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought these for my daughter and kept the case for myself; it had a built-in cleaning cloth, and I couldn't resist.

Love this tribute to directors taking chances.

I want to buy this print for my daughter in a million styles so I can vicariously live through her dino-riffic wardrobe.

(Photo of Mary Pickford and Douglass Fairbanks Sr.)

Summer Book List

One of the great joys of summer is imagining a new book poking out of my pool bag, ripe and ready to read.

With the end of the school year upon us (yay!), I'm ready to start tackling my summer reading list. Here are some great books I've read recently and others I'm looking forward to.

Graphic novels:

 Americus by MK Reed

      Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Non-fiction:

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

        The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills

        Essays After Eighty by Donald Hall (Don't let the cover scare you off!)

     Novels, YA, etc.:

        Landline by Rainbow Rowell

      The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

  

      The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

        Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

        The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

       Out of the Easyby Ruta Sepetys

        The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin 

  

Check out this great list of 14 summer reads that sent me straight to my library website where I placed holds on almost every one.

A quick aside: I hope you'll pick on my local love and notice that I'm bucking the blogging trend to link books to Amazon. Screw Amazon. Seriously. Especially when it comes to books.

Get out and walk up and down the aisles of your local book stores. Smell the books. Talk to the incredibly awesome people who work in book stores (also known in my head as dream job #3). Keep your money local. It matters.