Directions:
– Cut the scrap fabric to fit around your zip top bags (approximately 6″x14″).  Be sure to allow for seam allowance and approximately 3/4″ of an inch to sew the baggies in place.  Just a basic rectangle.

– Cut the shorts/pants to the same size as the scrap fabric.  You can use another piece of scrap fabric instead of the shorts, but I liked the idea of having the pockets on the inside.

– Place the right sides of the fabrics together and straight-stitch three of the sides together.  Press the seams and flip the fabric right side out. (Sorry for the lack of photos… apparently I was in “project mode” and forgot to get pictures of this part).

– Cut a length of ribbon approximately 18-24″ and place it inside the open seam.  Fold the seam and straight stitch it shut, sealing the ribbon inside.  For a road trip bag that will stay together a little better, make two ties by cutting two lengths of ribbon and placing each approximately an inch and a half from the ends of the pouch.

–  Decide how many baggies you want to include in your road trip bag and count them out.  Lay them out with all the zippy sides together.  I ended up having to pin the bags to the pouch to keep them from sliding so badly while I stitched them to the road trip bag.  I used sandwich -sized bags.

– Fold the pouch over on the bags, closing them inside and sew a straight seam up the outside of the pouch.  It will make a little tab on the outside of the bag.

– Sew a long (I did about 6″) strip of Velcro on one side of the ribbon.  My ribbon was long enough that it wrapped back on  itself, even when the road trip bag is full, so both of my Velcro pieces are on the ribbon.  I would suggest filling your bag before you attach your other piece of Velcro so you know just how much space inside the pouch you’ll need.  This placement will make it easier to replace the Velcro/ribbon if the time ever comes.  I’ll just have to un-stitch a small portion of the side seam, replace and stitch it back up – rather than worrying about any picking of my actual fabric.

I would also suggest putting the “hook” side facing toward the road trip bag (but actually located on the ribbon) and the “loop” side facing out from the road trip bag.  This way, you won’t get scratched by any exposed Velcro, because it will be the softer loop side and not the scratchy hook side.

That’s it.  You’re finished!  Now just fill up those baggies and stash the good stuff away for when you need it.  It is such a convenience to have all those little “needs” all in one place, easy to get to and even easier to find.  And pick up is a cinch.

Need some ideas of what to fill those baggies with?  Here’s the goodies I stashed in mine:
– bandaids, first aid ointment and alcohol wipes
– toothpicks and flossers (stray popcorn kernels are one of my biggest pet peeves!)
– tylenol, ibuprofen, and excedrin – make sure you have dosing directions and amounts on all medications in case you need the information later.
– antacids
– chapstick, Tic Tacs, rubber band and a few bobby pins
– nail file, nail clippers, safety pins and safety scissors
– small box of matches and a butane lighter
– extra batteries for devices commonly used
– super glue
– small bottle of lotion, hand sanitizer, and anti-itch cream
– feminine hygiene needs
– Q-tips and a small pair of surgical scissors
– extra empty zip bags
– a cold compress and small fabric bandage (Ace bandage – I unrolled it and folded it so it would fit better)
– a small screwdriver and bit set
– an eyeglass repair kit
– pen, pencil and paper

Hopefully, you wouldn’t need to use all of these items on a single vacation, but it is extremely nice knowing: one, you have them if you need them.  Two, you know where they are.  Three, it’s compact enough to be packable, but not so small it gets lost.  If we got lost somewhere and needed to abandon our vehicle, this is one thing I would take with me and I wouldn’t even complain about having to carry it.

Have you checked out the previous {Kids on the Road} posts?  You can find info on Planning Your Trip, What to Pack, and How to Pack it in the previous posts.

1.  Crackers.  Many, many kinds of crackers.  Peanut butter, cheese, goldfish, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Club and Ritz are a few of our faves.   Bite-size pieces are the best, as it minimizes crumbs and mess, but they can be a little more spendy.  For some reason, it seems to be harder to get the same thing in your mouth multiple times, but a one-time straight shot is usually more successful.  Sometimes a little convenience is worth the money.

2.  Veggie Slices/Dices.  Carrots, fresh green beans, sliced bell peppers, broccoli pieces, cucumber sticks, grape/cherry tomatoes. avocado slices (stored in a small snapware container with a pickle fork), celery sicks with peanut butter and pickles are big hits at our house.  I would much rather my kids eat this stuff.  They are happier and fuller for longer.

Source

3.  Fruit slices.  Apples, grapes, bananas, peaches, mangoes, apricots, oranges, and just about any kind of berry make our family’s top faves list.  Firmer fruit, like apples and oranges, can be stored in zip top baggies.  I usually store our softer fruits in small snapware containers.  If you want to avoid the hassle of keeping track of your plastic storage, you can find cheap containers at the Dollar Tree.  If they come home, great.  If not, no big deal.  Or you find that empty, sealed, super moldy container that was lost on your trip… just pitch it.  No sweat.

Source

4.  Cheese slices and string cheese.  We LOVE cheese.  LOVE.  So, we will buy 2-3 bricks of different kinds of cheese and slice it up before our trip.  (Brie is my favorite!)  We can then snack on it with the crackers or alone.  Of course, my kids love string cheese and we usually take some of that too.  There are also individually wrapped cheese slices available for purchase in lots of stores.  Not the fake cheese, the real stuff.  That’s an option as well (and there’s less prep time involved).

Source

5.  Water.  We take a case a water on just about every trip we go on.  Warm water is better than thirsting to death… or that’s what I tell myself.  Ick.  It’s incredibly convenient to not have to remember to grab water every time we go and do something though… beach, park, swimming, or anywhere else.

Source via Amazon

6.  Beef  Jerky.  Both my kids and Mr Napping love beef jerky.  We ration it out a little at a time to the boys.  I will often take the jerky beforehand and cut it into small pieces that my boys can handle without it being a choking hazard.  Be sure to store it in an air-tight container.

7.  Dry Cereal.  My kids, specifically Monkey, will eat dry cereal all day.  In fact, that’s usually how he eats cereal, even at home.  We choose varieties low in sugar and somewhat healthy like Cheerios, Chex, Kix, Life, and Frosted Mini Wheats.  Occasionally, something like Fruit Loops or Corn Pops shows up in our box… but I have no idea how that happens.

Source

8.  Granola bars.  I like to have snacks that are a little more substantial when we are traveling and miss a meal or what something besides fast food.  Granola bars work well and my boys can feed themselves.  You can find low-calorie varieties if you prefer.

9.  Fruit Cups and Applesauce Cups/Pouches.  We love applesauce.  Monkey can eat a whole bottle by himself in less than a week.  Applesauce pouches are incredibly easy and convenient and even Gator can (sorta) feed himself.  He’s still mastering the whole “don’t squeeze it” concept, but he usually does pretty well.  My boys also love fruit cups, but this requires a little more help.  These are good for quick pit stops.

Source via Amazon

Target has a system where you can fill your own pouches.  I really like these; however, the whole system is kinda spendy.  Mr Napping rigged up a little contraption for us using one of the pouch lids and a pastry bag.  The pouches screw onto the pastry bag and make it easier to squeeze the pureed fruit and veggies into the pouch.

Source via Target.com

10.  Treats.  Sitting in the car, strapped in a car seat for hours on end is incredibly monotonous.  Offer a little reward or incentive for good behavior.  Some of our favorites include: Pringles, Cheetos, Pirate Booty, fruit snacks, fruit leather, and the occasional fun size candy bar.

I use a large-ish cardboard box (usually a diaper or wipe box, we tend to have those around pretty much all the time) to store everything in. It sits on the floor within reach, is easily contained and it’s easy to take inside when we stop.  Cold items are stored in a (or some) small, soft-sided coolers on top of the box.  This works for us… for now.  Someday the boys will be in charge of their own snacks; I can’t wait to stop being the food police on road trips.

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.
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Yesterday we talked about what to pack.  I always have a back-up bag in my car to help our trips and outings run smoothly.  It’s a life saver and more than once I have been incredibly grateful that we have the stash.

Today, I’m going to run down a few different techniques and tips for packing.  This will maximize your space and ease multiple stops.

– Clothes.  Roll those babies.  If you’re careful, you can roll them with very few wrinkles, fewer than if you fold them for sure.  You will be able to pack more into less space if you roll.  My hubby is 6-foot-3.  His clothes are big.  They take up lots of space.  By rolling our clothes, we can still share a single – albeit somewhat large – suitcase.

Photo Credit and some more great packing tips

– Shoes.  Stack pairs of shoes, with the soles together.  Then alternate heels and toes so that you stack the heels of one set on the toes of another set.  You can stack shoes in a suitcase with your clothing and not have to worry about dirty soles marking up your clothes before you’ve worn them.  You can also put your shoes in plastic grocery sacks to keep the soles off your clothing.

– Toiletry Items.  Package liquids in zip top bags.  Same with toothpaste or anything else you don’t want to clean up if it spills.  Keep your toothbrush in it’s own baggy to eliminate the need for a toothbrush cover.  Mr. Napping keeps an M&M’s mini tube to hold Q-tips.  I bought a small travel pack of Q-tips once and just refill the pack every time we travel.  Pack feminine hygiene products in a plastic-lined, small cosmetics pouch for privacy, easy access and a water-resistant case.  You can easily take your bag of supplies to the restroom without everyone knowing just what little secrets you’re carrying.

– Hair Stuffs.  Get empty, travel-size bottles for your styling products.  There is no reason to take more than you’ll need.  Smaller bottles are easier to pack, lighter to carry and conserve that precious space.  I use a Bracelet Box to hold a few claw clips, some bobby pins and rubber bands.  Give up your gigantic brush and get a travel-friendly sized brush for the road.  Don’t give up features you like, just think small.  Consider a curling iron/flat iron combo and a travel-size hair dryer.

This isn’t the exact box I use, but this 2 pack on Amazon would totally work.

– Medication.  I use small plastic bags (like those used in jewelry making), labeled with water-proofed labels (a Post-It with packing tape over the top) for my pills.  I include the name of the medication, dosage instructions, and any other pertinent info.  All the baggies get stored in a bigger baggie.  Liquid medications are kept in their original containers.  Most of our liquid meds are for our kids and if we need them, we usually need them for several days.  Those are the one things I would rather have and not need, than need and not have.  Our kids almost always seem to get some kind of bug when we travel though.

– Food.  I pack small, soft sided lunch bags with fruit slices and cheese.  Much better snacks than sweets.  I found small, plastic thermos-style bottles at Michael’s for $1.50/each.  I got one for each of my boys and they were perfect.  I saw similar bottles at Wal-Mart today as well, back in the baby section with the other kid’s eating supplies.  These were the perfect size for little hands – bigger than a juice box (and filled with water instead of sugary juice) but not so big and heavy that their little hands can’t handle them.  We usually clean out the fridge and take a cooler with us too.

I pack dry snacks (like cereal, granola bars, beef jerky, nilla wafers and animal crackers, popcorn, ect) in zippy bags.  I swear by these Munchkin Snack Catchers.  They don’t eliminate all mess, but they sure help keep it under control.  Follow the link to get them on Amazon or I’ve found them at Wal-Mart, also in the kid’s food supplies.  I can fill the snack traps as my boys empty them.  This serves two purposes.  I can monitor how much they are eating and, if they do spill, it’s a limited amount.  Which also means we don’t lose the whole bag of snacks when Gator dumps it in his car seat.

– Kid’s Entertainment.  I will go more in-depth with this in a couple days.  You have got to have things for your kids to do.  It’s hard to sit still, especially if you’re strapped down for hours and hours and hours and hours.  Right?  Whether you choose to go the electronic route of in-trip entertainment, the more conventional method or a combination of both, everyone will be happier if you take the time to plan some fun and a few distractions.

– Momma’s (and Daddy’s) Entertainment.  You’re stuck in the car too.  Make the most of it.  Grab that stack of magazines you haven’t had time to read.  That book you’ve been wanting to read, tuck that in your purse (or on your e-reader).  Read in the car make you sick?  Audio books are fabulous.  But they can get spendy quick.  Check out your local library.  You might be surprised at what you can find.  Mr. Napping has read (actually listened) to many, many books this year.  All while he’s driving (which he does a lot for work).  Those monotonous hours don’t have to be a complete waste of time.  Allow yourself to do some of the things that you are usually too busy to do – (Soduko?  Reading?  Candy Crush Saga?  Go wild and give yourself a pedicure…?)  

Did I miss anything…?  What are your tips and tricks for packing?

Another tip… real quick.
If you are making multiple stops, like we did on our last trip, it can be helpful to pack for each place you’ll be stopping.  That way you will minimize the amount of baggage you have to take inside.  What you don’t need or have already used can be left in the car and cycled so it’s out of the way.  This will, however, usually require more bags, so if space is the bigger issue this method may not work as well.

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.
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Welcome back.  Hopefully you got something out of yesterday’s post.  Although it is the lame and boring part, planning your trip is a huge part of a successful trip.  If you take only one thing away from yesterday, please let it be the Map Tracker (toward the bottom of the post).  Totally a life saver and I will so be doing that again for our next road trip (in two weeks!).

Now this ultimately depends on where you are going and who you are taking with you. Obviously, you wouldn’t take the same things on a camping trip as you would take on a beachfront va-cay, right?!  So, the “what” you take depends, but there should be certain things you ALWAYS take, no matter where you are going.  Even a day trip to Grandma’s or a day at the park.  I call this the Emergency Bag.  It’s all the things I forget from time to time, but are a serious inconvenience to be stuck without.  I usually keep this bag packed and in the car all the time, just in case.  I rotate things out every month or so or as needed (when the items need to be washed, for example).

The things I would never dream of leaving home without:
– a package of wipes (I prefer the Costco Kirkland brand because the package seals quite well and they don’t dry out as badly).  We use wipes for EVERYTHING.  Sticky hands, messy faces, dirty diapers, quick sweat wipe up (icky!), shopping cart wipe downs, restaurant table clean up, and so much more.  We went to church with one wipe once.  Longest three hours EVER.

Photo Credit and additional info on Kirkland Wipes

– extra diapers and pull-ups (Some parents refuse to use Pull-Ups, but I have found them to be invaluable.  Monkey is still mastering the whole potty thing and pull-ups are soo much easier to use on road trips.  We treat them just like underwear, but if he dribbles or has an accident, it is a billion times easier to clean up and you don’t have to carry around wet undies… ew!  And have you ever been without an extra diaper… the reasoning behind that one is pretty self-explanatory.)

– a small, light-weight quilt or blanket for the park, the water park, wrapping produce from the grocery store when we forget the cold bags, the whiny child that insists he is cold, blocking the sun from the other child that thinks he will melt before we get home, wrapping up a mostly-naked child after some kind of bodily-fluid eruption that soils every article of clothing they were wearing, a seat cover to make post-road trip clean up as easy as a load of laundry (who likes to vacuum the car, really?).  We use the blanket.  All.  The.  Time.  Seriously.

– a first aid kit.  You can stay pretty basic with a few band-aids, some antiseptic wetwipes, and some first aid ointment.  Or go all out with one of those mega kits.  We have one somewhere in between the two extremes.  I’m prepped and ready for any minor boo-boo or playground ouchie, but I don’t have a portable medics station in the back of my car.  You can find ideas for a long-term car emergency kit in a post from January 2012.  Or a more expansive kit in the 72-Hour Kit post or the First Aid Kits post.  One of the $10-$20 kits you can buy is sufficient (or make your own, of course).

Photo Credit and Additional Info on First Aid Kits PS… just laugh at the site address.  The info is actually applicable. Besides, I know I’d want a First Aid Kit if zombies were after me…

– extra clothes.  For everyone.  Kids are messy.  They have little radars that seek out dirt, grime, water and everything else that can potentially make a mess.  And then there’s the sick kids and the dirty diapers.  Basically, it’s just better to not have to wear that stuff.  Extra clothes are a must.
– water and snacks.  I’m not talking about food or days.  Just things to get you through that unexpected traffic jam or passed the wreck on the highway.  When errands take longer than expected and the kids are hungry before you anticipated.  In our house, we are very familiar with the concept of “hanger – hungry anger” (not those things you put clothes on…).  If my boys (or Mr Napping) gets hungry, they get ornery, snippy and whiny.  It’s so much easier to carry granola bars and water than reason with a hangry 3-year-old.

This may sound like a lot, but spend a little bit of time figuring how to pack it all up and it doesn’t take up much room in your trunk.  A medium-sized duffel or tote bag is all it takes.  We keep the blanket separate because we use it so often.  Got a stow-and-go minivan?  Total score, just don’t forget about it.  =)

What’s on your must-have list?