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June 29, 2017 by Krista

5 Travel Apps You Need for the Greatest Road Trip in the World

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripTreats #CollectiveBias

 

Hello, I’m so glad you stopped by! So, you’re going on a road trip? I love to travel and have since I was young; but, things change when you travel with kids. The thought of driving anywhere with children in the backseat for any extended period of time can be overwhelming, even for experienced travelers. There’s lots of activity ideas for kids to do in the car all across the web (here’s my car activities for toddlers), but have you made the planning and getting there part easier too? I’ve got 5 travel apps for you to put on your phone to help you get the most out of your next family road trip.

Want to share your summer road trips? Check out this Summer Road Trip Giveaway for a chance to win prizes worth over $3,400 in gift card packs!

Road trip treats & 5 travel apps for the best road trip ever!

 

GETTING THERE IS HALF THE FUN OF A ROAD TRIP

You might be wondering why you need these travel apps or how can some apps help you have a better trip. But, I speak from experience. We are road trip travelers. My boys have never been on a commercial flight in any of their short lives; but, they have countless thousands of miles logged on the highways and byways of the western U.S. Just last summer, we drove over 5000 miles and spent 6 weeks of our 8 week summer break traveling on the road. It was incredible and full of learning experiences.

Want to know the biggest thing I learned though? When getting there is part of the fun, the entire trip is more memorable. My boys were so busy having fun, talking about their many adventures, and reliving their favorite parts that they forgot to fight with each other!

 

DON’T FORGET THE ROAD TRIP SNACKS!

And snacks. In a car full of boys, you gotta have snacks. RITZ is a family favorite in our travel snacks and we love the RITZ Crisp&Thins. They are similar to potato chips, but are oven baked and have 50% less fat per serving than leading regular fried potato chips.

My boys favorites are Sour Patch Kids. They usually repeat “Sour. Sweet. Gone.” just about every time they eat some and we love sharing them. But, one of my favorite road trip snacks is Sunkist® Soda. That’s what my dad always drinks on road trips and it’s practically tradition. It’s just not a road trip without some Sunkist® Soda, so I was pretty excited to find the 12oz bottles in an 8 pack at Walmart. They are the perfect size for road trips!

5 Travel Apps you need for the best road trip in the world In Store Photo

 

TRAVEL APPS TO GET YOU WHERE YOU’RE GOING

There is nothing more frustrating than being somewhere you aren’t familiar with and having a backseat full of tired, whiny kids. The hustle and bustle of traffic buzzing around you while you try to navigate on foreign roadways doesn’t have to be stressful though. These travel apps will help you:

  • Find your way with reliable maps and turn-by-turn directions.
  • Make fuel stops quickly and efficiently without costing you extra money so your travel budget can go toward having fun!
  • Discover attractions, landmarks, and other areas of interest you might have otherwise driven right past without even a passing glance.

Are you ready for a great road trip? Make sure these travel apps are loaded on your phone so you can have the best trip possible.

 Travel Apps you need for a great road trip and don't forget the snacks!

 

THE 5 TRAVEL APPS YOU NEED FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE ROAD TRIP

I know how frustrating it is to be in an unfamiliar location and your information is incorrect; however, no app is ever 100% perfect. In all of my experience, these are the travel apps I keep coming back to using over and over. Some of these travel apps have mobile websites that occasionally work better than just the app itself; so, if you’re having problems with the app, try the mobile website before you completely write it off. Ready? Let’s go!

 

EVERY TRAVELER NEEDS A GOOD MAP

1. Google Maps. My go-to app when I’m in a new place or even just trying to get to unfamiliar places in my hometown. Of all the map apps I’ve tried, this one has been the most comprehensive and reliable for me.

The turn-by-turn directions are super helpful when there’s kids in the backseat, traffic is unfamiliar and you don’t know where you’re going. Being able to download the maps in case you’ll be going somewhere without cell service is really a nice bonus too.

Must-Have Travel Apps App Store

Must-Have Travel Apps Play Store

 

5 Travel Apps you need for the best road trip in the world Google Maps

 

QUICK AND EFFICIENT AND BACK ON THE ROAD

2. GasBuddy. This is so, so helpful when looking to refuel quickly and get back on the road. There are lots of amazing things to see on a road trip, but I don’t consider gas stations to be one of them. And, as hard as I wish, I don’t have an endless trip budget which makes this travel app an essential for me.

With GasBuddy, it’s easy to quickly find a place to refuel close to the freeway and know that you’re not paying more than necessary so your  travel budget can be used for much more fun stops than gas stations. It’s easy to have a passenger look up fueling stations before you get there or use the option to find gas stations near your current location.

Must-Have Travel Apps App Store

Must-Have Travel Apps Play Store

 

5 Travel Apps you need for the best road trip in the world GasBuddy

 

DON’T MISS ANY OF THE BEST STOPS

3. Roadtrippers. I stumbled across this travel app while I was planning our summer of road tripping last year and I’m so glad I did. Some of the reviews complain about glitches and problems, but I haven’t ever had any issues. However, I don’t use this app for mapping and navigating, only for planning so maybe that’s what makes the difference. This awesome travel app is like a map of the candy store – it shows you exactly where there are cool things to see, do, eat or even stay. We were able to see some really neat things that we would have driven right past otherwise.

Enter your route, choose your desired categories, the distance you’re willing to travel from your route and watch the magic happen. You’ll be presented with your specified points of interest all along your route. You can add them to your trip so you’ll have a list of all the cool places you are interested in seeing and can refer to it along your way.

Must-Have Travel Apps App Store

Must-Have Travel Apps Play Store

 

5 Travel Apps you need for the best road trip in the world Roadtrippers

 

GET OUT AND SEE WHERE YOU’RE AT

4. AllTrails. If you love hiking, you have got to install this app. Even if hiking isn’t your thing, download this one while you’re on the road. This is one I was introduced to recently and we have been loving it just for exploring around our area. While traveling this summer, we plan to use it to help the kids run off some energy without stopping at yet another fast food restaurant.

AllTrails will show you all the walking paths and hiking trails in your current local area or you can search any area and see what it has to offer. It’s easy to spot the difficulty rating of easy, moderate or hard. You’ll also find a star rating of how much other hikers have enjoyed that trail. You’ll find total distance, elevation increase and whether it’s a loop trail or one you hike in and back out and a brief trail description so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into before you go. The perfect way to let the kids run off a little energy!

Must-Have Travel Apps App Store

Must-Have Travel Apps Play Store

 

5 Travel Apps you need for the best road trip in the world AllTrails

 

KEEP THE GOOD FEELINGS GOING

5. Spotify. Or another audio app that will help keep both the driver and passengers engaged. After research, trial and error, and weighing our options we decided Spotify is right for our family. There are lots of great apps out there though. Find something that will engage your family – whether it’s music, audio books, car games or maybe something else. When the seat belts get tight and tempers get short, change the whole mood of the car with your secret weapon – entertainment!

Must-Have Travel Apps App Store

Must-Have Travel Apps Play Store

 

5 Travel Apps you need for the best road trip in the world Spotify

 

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET FOR THE GREATEST ROAD TRIP IN THE WORLD?

Do you have travel secrets that make your road trips absolutely amazing? Are you headed out on the open road this summer? We want to hear about it! Don’t forget, you can enter this giveaway for a chance to win over $3,400 in gift card prize packs! What are you waiting for?! Get over there and get your entry in today! And grab all your road trip treats at Walmart this summer.

5 travel apps you need for a great road trip... and don't forget the snacks!

June 6, 2017 by Krista

How to make DIY Sunscreen that will protect your family

Hi there! I’m thrilled you’re here today! Summer is about to hit with full force and sunscreen sales are increasing dramatically. Here, in the desert, we’ve been putting sunscreen on for a few weeks already. My oldest is allergic to one of the major brands of sunscreen and I’ve never loved slathering all those chemicals on my kids – or myself – especially after the research I did on sunscreens last year. So, I decided to try making my own DIY sunscreen.

While the initial cost was more than a bottle of sunscreen from the store, I had enough supplies to get my family of 5 through all of last summer – we spent 6 weeks of our 8 week summer traveling and were outside A LOT. I also only used a fraction of the ingredients, so I didn’t have to buy anything this year. Overall, it’s evened out to be comparable to the cost of sunscreen from the store and it’s actually good for your skin. If you don’t want to recoup your costs over time, this would be a great project to split with a friend or two.

DIY Sunscreen that provides chemical-free, good-for-your-skin protection with ingredients you can pronounce

DIY SUNSCREEN: PROTECTION WITHOUT THE CHEMICALS

I will let you do your own research on sunscreen because my goal here isn’t to try to convince you that homemade is right and wonderful and store bought is wrong and bad. We are actually a divided house on this matter. From personal experience, I prefer homemade sunscreen. My husband does not. We still use store bought sunscreen and our home is definitely not an organic, all-natural only home (she types as she sips her Vanilla Coke).

I simply want to offer another option to what’s out there. Using chemical-free sunscreen is an option. It’s relatively simple to make, it will protect your family and it is good for your skin. My favorite thing about DIY sunscreen is that it doesn’t make me feel oily and greasy. I hate feeling sweaty, which often happens when you’re out in the sun, and it is 100 times worse to have that feeling compounded by an oily lotion. That has been a huge complaint of mine since I was a child and this homemade version solves that problem for me. This DIY sunscreen feels like any other body lotion I routinely use.

DIY SUNSCREEN: THE PROS AND CONS

What’s the benefits of making your own sunscreen? Well, here’s what I discovered last year. The actual making part is relatively easy. However, not everyone loves homemade sunscreen. My husband prefers the stuff from the store, while I prefer the homemade stuff.

PROS:

  • All natural ingredients – no allergic reactions to unknown chemicals
  • Easy to make in small or large batches
  • Protects as well as store bought sunscreen with no harsh chemicals
  • Costs about as much per ounce as sunscreen from the store – if you want to off-set the initial cost, share ingredients with some friends.
  • Doesn’t feel greasy after application

CONS:

  • Slightly whitens skin – doesn’t bother me any, but this is a definite downside for my husband.
  • Lower SPF – Did you know that an SPF 40 is not equivalent to 2x the strength of an SPF 20? A SPF 20 blocks about 94% of UVB rays, a 40 blocks around 98%. We’re so fair skinned that we reapply every couple hours and a lower SPF doesn’t make much of a difference for us.
  • Takes a little longer to apply – This is the biggest reason my husband doesn’t like homemade sunscreen, however our leftovers from last year are spreading better now.

 

DIY Sunscreen made with natural ingredients that are good for your skin

HOW TO MAKE DIY SUNSCREEN

Making your own sunscreen lotion is easy, once you find your ingredients. However, I’ve tried to make that super easy too. I’ve included links to the exact products I use in my sunscreen. I buy from Bulk Apothecary and have since 2011. I’ve always been happy with their products and their pricing is hard to beat (although shipping sometimes feels a little pricey). The only thing Bulk Apothecary doesn’t have is the Raspberry Seed Oil, which you can get on Amazon. You could probably find all the ingredients on Amazon, but it can be hard to know what quality you’re getting. I trust Bulk Apothecary.

I use this kitchen scale to measure out my ingredients and highly suggest this method if you can. You’ll get more precise ratios. I did include measurements in tea and tablespoons too, but your results will be more reliable if you use the weight measurements.

This sunscreen recipe has an approximate SPF 37. You can omit any of the ingredients and still create sunscreen, but it will change the SPF and possibly the physical make up of the lotion. I’ve included each ingredient’s purpose; so, if you do omit something, you’ll know what you’re losing. Okay, ready to protect your skin with all the good stuff?

 

The purpose of each ingredient:

Beeswax – makes the lotion waterproof, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.
Coconut oil –  natural SPF of about 2-8, anti-bacterial, natural moisturizer, full of anti-oxidants
Jojoba oil – natural SPF 4, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal
Aloe vera – soothes skin irritations, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, natural moisturizer, helps make sunscreen easier to spread
Unrefined shea butter –  natural SPF of 3-8, natural moisturizer, good source of vitamins for skin, anti-inflammatory
Zinc oxide – sun protectant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging properties
Vitamin E – can extend life of the sunscreen, natural moisturizer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory
Raspberry seed oil – natural SPF 30-40, anti-inflammatory, can substitute carrot seed oil; this is expensive, but you don’t use much and it’s worth the SPF protection – you could get 24 batches of sunscreen with a 2 oz bottle

 

Materials/Ingredients:

Makes enough lotion to fill a 3 oz cosmetic tube

  • 10 grams (1 Tbsp + 1 tsp) white beeswax | Get it here
  • 26 grams (1 Tbsp + 2 tsp) coconut oil | Get it here
  • 10 grams (2 1/2 tsp) jojoba oil | Get it here
  • 10 grams (2 tsp) 1x aloe vera Liquid | Get it here
  • 15 grams (approx 1 Tbsp) Unrefined Shea Butter | Get it here
  • 20 grams (4 slightly heaping Tbsp) non-nano zinc oxide powder | Get it here
  • 1/4 tsp liquid vitamin E | Get it here
  • 1/4 tsp raspberry seed oil | Get it on Amazon
  • double broiler or a small pot and a glass jar (I use an old pot and a small measuring glass or a mason jar)
  • wooden skewer or small spatula or whisk
  • ziptop bags
  • cosmetic tubes to put your lotion in (I found empty soft squeeze tubes at Walmart last year in their travel cosmetics, but when I looked this year, they didn’t have the same kind. I got what they did have and they are stiffer and harder to squeeze. I don’t like them as well; this is the kind I prefer.)

Instructions/Directions

SET UP YOUR DOUBLE BROILER

Step #1: If you’re using an actual double broiler, follow the directions it comes with. If you don’t have a double broiler, you can use a pot and glass jar. This is my method. Fill the pot with water until it is about 4 inches from the top. Place on the stove burner.

Step #2: Measure out all your ingredients with the kitchen scale and put them in the glass jar. Put the glass jar in the water on the stove and turn the stove on to low-medium heat. You want the water to come to a rolling boil. Once achieved, turn down the stove if you need to. You just want to maintain that rolling boil. Too rapid a boil can tip your jar and your sunscreen will be ruined.

DIY Sunscreen made with all natural ingredients at home

MELT AND MIX YOUR SUNSCREEN

Step #3: Let the ingredients melt and liquefy. Stir with your skewer, spatula or whisk to thoroughly combine. It should be white in color and creamy in texture with no lumps. The bubbles will pop as the lotion cools.

Step #4: Remove from heat, turn off the stove, and remove the jar from the water. Be CAREFUL!! The jar will be VERY HOT! Let the lotion cool for several hours to room temperature, stirring occasionally to keep combined.

DIY Sunscreen will get creamier in texture and whiter in color as it melts

 

In the photo below, you’ll notice there is 3.5 oz of melted lotion in the measuring cup. You’ll lose some of the volume to the jar and zip bag when you transfer the lotion. It will also condense as it solidifies. A 3 oz cosmetic tube is the size you want.

Stir your DIY Sunscreen as it cools to keep a smooth, homogeneous consistency.

Note: I actually tried pouring the hot lotion directly into the cosmetic tube and skipping the ziptop bag. It worked… alright. The tube didn’t melt like I worried it might, but it got pretty soft. This tube was a thicker plastic than the tubes I prefer, so a thinner tube may melt. The biggest issue though was mixing the lotion while it cooled. It’s really hard to mix anything well when there’s no room to stir it up. If you want a well mixed lotion, let it cool in the jar and use the ziptop bag.

FILL YOUR COSMETIC TUBES

Step #5: Using the skewer, spatula or whisk, scrape as much of the cooled lotion into a ziptop bag. Snip a small corner off the bottom of the bag.

Step #6: Carefully, fill the squeeze tubes with the lotion by squeezing it out of the bag and into the cosmetic tube. Squeeze the lotion to the bottom of the tube occasionally so you can fill the entire tube.

Transfer DIY Sunscreen to cosmetic tubes for easy transportability and on-the-go use all summer long.

 

That’s it. You just made your very own sunscreen! Use and store as you would any other sunscreen lotion. The shortest shelf life of these ingredients is 1-2 years. The vitamin E may help extend that. You’ll know it’s gone bad if it has an acidic or rancid oil smell. If so, toss it and start over. The leftovers from the batch I made last year are still going strong though.

 

DIY SUNSCREEN THAT PROTECTS YOUR SKIN & YOUR FAMILY!

DIY Sunscreen made with all natural ingredients and doesn't leave you feeling oily

 

If you’ve been wanting a different option than all those brightly colored bottles lined up on the store at the shelves, something with ingredients you can pronounce, something that will protect your family’s skin without harsh chemicals, then making your own sunscreen is a great choice. You get to choose exactly what is in the sun protectant you’re putting on your skin.

I have loved making my DIY sunscreen over the past year. If I can do it, you can too. So, get out there and have a safe summer! Protect your skin with DIY Sunscreen!

May 24, 2017 by Krista

9 Summer Printables You Need to Enjoy an Amazing Summer Break

Hi there. Are you ready for summer? We still have 3 weeks of school left here. Which means I have 3 more weeks to come up with a game plan to keep my kids from fighting all summer long. Luckily, I’ve discovered some great resources that I think are going to be super helpful. If you’re looking for ways to not only survive summer, but to make it an irresistibly amazing one, check out these 9 summer printables that will  help you create a summer your family won’t soon forget!

Summer Printables to Enjoy an Amazing Summer Break

KEEP THE KIDS FROM FIGHTING AND CREATE SOME AWESOME MEMORIES THIS SUMMER

If the thought of all your kids all together ALL SUMMER LONG makes you a little nervous, I get it. My boys have kicked their sibling rivalry into high gear lately and the idea of being with all of them all of the time for 8 weeks makes my eye twitch a little. While I’m a firm believer that kids shouldn’t be entertained all of the time, I also know from experience that bored kids are bickering kids. In order to keep the peace – and my sanity – I plan to have a few activities that I can turn to when things get a little too crazy.

These summer printables are perfect because they mean less work for me. Sure, I could design similar ones myself, but time is worth something to me. When all I have to do is print them out, some minor prep work and they are ready and waiting for when I need them most, I am willing to spend a few dollars. These are all printables offered by The Dating Divas so you know the quality is awesome, the designs are gorgeous and I love that I can save them on my computer and use them again and again.

9 FABULOUS SUMMER PRINTABLES for an amazing summer break

SUMMER PRINTABLES THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE

These summer printables aren’t just for the stay-at-home mom who now has to fill day after day with memory-making activities. There are a huge variety of printables that will fit into just about every kind of summer plans you can imagine. Find the set – or sets – that best suit your family and make it a great summer! There’s something for:

  • Stay-at-home moms and dads
  • Family camping trips
  • a Stay-cation you won’t soon forget
  • anyone looking for a way to serve others and brighten someone else’s day
  • families celebrating summer birthdays
  • anyone looking to spend more time with their kids
  • anyone wanting to make some great summer memories

 

9 SUMMER PRINTABLES YOU NEED TO ENJOY AN AMAZING SUMMER BREAK

Make this summer a summer of memories! All you have to do is download your favorite summer printables, save them to your computer, print them out and do some minor prep work and you’ll have a fun project waiting for you and your family to enjoy together. Click through on the images below to see complete details on what’s included in each printable pack. Ready to check these out?

 

SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS PACK

If you don’t know where to start, this is for you. This Summer Boredom Busters Pack has activity cards to keep that boredom monster at bay! Have a lemonade stand, do some random acts of kindness, or write letters to family and friends. There’s an adventure journal to keep track of all the awesome things you do this summer. Reading trackers, summer schedules, calendars, chore chart bingo and road trip games are some of the other great activities included in this pack. Beat the “I’m boooorreed” with these great summer printables. 
summer boredom busters

 

ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE PRINTABLE PACK

This was included in the Summer Printable Bundle and I am super excited to use it when we hit the road this summer. The Road Trip Adventure pack includes something for everyone in the car – yep, even the grown-ups! A new activity every hour will get you there before you know it. There’s games and printables for the kids and there are printables for your next getaway with your sweetie too!
Road Trip in a Box

FAMILY CAMPING ADVENTURE PACK

If you’re headed out camping, this fun kit will help keep everyone happy… and out of the fire pit! There’s some fun activities to help your family acclimate to life in the great outdoors. You’ll get a packing list and a to-do list to make sure you take everything you’ll need for an awesome adventure, a camping menu, camping games, scavenger hunt and a fun s’mores kit to make the best part of camping just a little bit better.
The cutest ideas for a family camp-out!

FAMILY STAY-CATION ADVENTURE PACK

If staying home is more your speed this summer, make your next staycation one for the books with this Family Staycation Adventure pack. Officially invite your family to your special family time with some fun invitations. There’s a fun bucket list and a customizable itinerary you can fill out together so you’ll be sure to make the most out of your vacation time. Activity ideas to help you make sure it feels like vacation, instead of being stuck at home will come in handy if you need some help coming up with ideas to keep everyone happy and entertained. Plus, there’s a little something special for you and your sweetie after the kids are in bed. Ooh-la-la!
fun staycation printables

BABYSITTER IN A BAG: COOKING ADVENTURE PACK

If you just need something to do for an evening, the Babysitter in a Bag ideas are perfect. While designed for you to leave with the kids and sitter while you go out, there’s no reason you can’t stay in and do it with the kids! I think I’d probably want to watch my kids enjoy these printables, they look like a ton of fun! The Cooking Adventure includes a kid’s recipe booklet, a DIY chef hat, printable games, activity place mat, a clean up list and more! Your kids will get to explore the kitchen while they learn and play! I am going to save this one for an afternoon and do it with my kids! babysitter cooking kit

 

BABYSITTER IN A BAG: CAMPING ADVENTURE PACK

If actually going camping isn’t in your plans, bring the camping to you! Everyone will enjoy the best parts of camping and they will still sleep like little babies in their own beds with this Camping Adventure pack. Camping without my kids up at the crack of dawn? Yes, please! This pack includes scavenger hunt, games and other great camping ideas, plus a recipe for easy indoor s’mores. It’s the best of both the indoor and the outdoor worlds!
babysitting camping ideas

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PACK

Do you have a summer birthday in your family? Celebrate in style with this fun Birthday Celebration pack. There are printables for both the kids and the grown-ups, so you’ll have what you need no matter what. You’ll get decor, activity ideas to fill the day with amazing memories, gift embellishments and fun photo booth props too! Everything you need for an unforgettable birthday!
family birthday ideas

CHEER UP PRINTABLE PACK

If you are looking for something nice to do, a way to pass a little bit of time doing something kind and productive, this Cheer Up pack is exactly what you need. It’s bright, fun, and happy and is sure to help you put a smile on someone’s face. You’ll get a card to put all your well wishes in, tags to fancy up any special goodies or treats you want to include, decor to make your box extra cheery and more! The best part is this is designed to go in a box, so it’s perfect for mailing if your recipient lives far away.
ideas to cheer up a partner

 

MINI MOM & DAD DATES PACK

My middle little guy asks me every so often, “Mom, when can you and me spend some time together? Just us.” It pulls at my heart strings every single time and that dreaded mommy guilt starts gnawing away. I try to make time for all my boys, but it can be hard when you’re outnumbered. That’s why I love this last pack.

If you want to spend quality time with your kids, this Mini Mom & Dad Dates pack will help you do just that. Make it a big deal and give your child an invitation to the date. Not sure what to do? There are mini questionnaires that will help you figure out what you child is most interested in. There’s tools and resources to help you plan your little dates and there’s even 5 ready-to-go mini dates to help you get started. Summer is the perfect chance to take a little extra one-on-one time with your kids and this printable pack will make it a snap!
fun activities with mom and dad

 

 

GET YOUR SUMMER PRINTABLES NOW TO CREATE A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

There’s 9 ideas to help you keep the chaos under control and the memories sweet and happy all summer long. My boys laughing and giggling together is one of my favorite sounds in the whole wide world. I’m so excited for school to finally end so we can focus on playing together. It’s crazy how fast they grow up and I want to squeeze all the memories and fun in that I can while they are still little and want to spend time with me.

I know their bickering makes the days long, but they are numbered. I’m doing my best to make them count. And, yes, that even includes having memories prepped and ready to be made. I’m so glad these summer printables will be part of our summer break!

Which summer printables do you want to try first?

The Printables You Need for an Awesome Summer Break

July 19, 2016 by Krista

Period Preparedness Car Kit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #UBKForMe #CollectiveBias

 

Hi there, friend! I’m so glad you’re here today. I’ve got a question for you. Are you ready?

Have you ever had an unexpected visit from dreaded Mother Nature, or Aunt Flo, or ‘that time of the month’ or whatever else you may call it? Yes, that’s right. Your period.

I know, you’re probably thinking we don’t know each other well enough for this conversation. But, hear me out.

There’s nothing quite like that unexpected surprise. You’re having a fine day and then WHAM! There it is. No warning, no nothin’! And those are your favorite panties, right?! Happens to the best of us, I promise.

But what’s worse than a surprise visit from every woman’s least favorite aunt? A surprise visit when you are out and about and completely unprepared! Maybe you’re even on vacation. Or out with your favorite girls.

On-The-Go Period Preparedness Kit - Everything you need when you need it most!

But, don’t worry! There’s a way you can avoid that awkward situation! I’ve got exactly what you need: A period preparedness car kit.

Here’s what this kit can do for you:

  • Enjoy your vacations, your shopping trips, your lunch dates or date night, your beach trips, and your girls’ nights out, even if your period interrupts you.
  • Have the confidence that you can handle any situation Mother Nature might throw at you, even when you’re away from home.
  • Never have to beg your girlfriends (or a stranger!) for feminine hygiene products again! You might even become the go-to hero among your girlfriends.

Do you want that confidence? Click that yellow next arrow to keep reading and I’ll tell you exactly what you need to do to stay confident and comfortable, no matter when your period strikes. And how U by Kotex® can help.

On the next page you’ll get the full supply list and directions on putting your Period Preparedness Car Kit ready to go.

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April 15, 2016 by Krista

DIY Cell Phone Charging Station

I’m so glad you’re here! Have you ever needed to charge your cell phone somewhere than you normally do? Just wait until you see the Cell Phone Charging Station we’re going to make today!

But first, I have a couple questions for you…

  • Do you reuse what you can?
  • Do you like to recycle?
  • Is it something you are teaching your kids to do?

We do recycle. But, we don’t spend a lot of time doing it. We have a recycle bin under our kitchen counter that collects tin and aluminium cans, glass and plastic containers. Every two weeks, we sort it into the recycle baskets and set it out with the trash. Mr. Napping takes our cardboard to work and recycles it there, since we can’t do that from our residence at this point. We spend less than 20 minutes a week in our recycling efforts, but we are still reducing waste that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

I also re-use empty containers and things around our home. Old spice bottles makes great maracas. Empty toilet paper tubes are fun to make into play binoculars, race cars and rain sticks. Empty, clean tin cans are great for organizing pens, pencils, crayons and other art supplies. Reusing these items are just as much for the sake of fun, and recycling is just a bonus!

Care to Recycle Phone Charging Station Repurpose

There’s lots of things you can repurpose and reuse. And what you can’t reuse, you might be able to recycle. Most recycling is done in the kitchen. Have you ever thought about recycling in the bathroom?

WHERE DO YOU RECYCLE?

A 2016 consumer survey on in-home recycling habits, conducted in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., shows that 34% of regular recyclers admit that it never even occurred to them to recycle in the bathroom! They found one of the main reasons people don’t recycle personal care products in the bathroom is a lack of tools and resources; only one in five recyclers have a recycling bin in their bathroom. We don’t! Do you?

Here’s a couple recycling pointers you might not know:

  • #1 and #2 plastics are the most widely accepted plastics in curbside and town recycling programs
  • #5 plastic bottle collection is increasing, but it’s still not generally accepted in curbside and town programs
  • Plastic tubes and plastic films are not accepted
  • Plastic caps can be left in place
  • Pumps need to be removed and discarded in the trash
  • Rinsing the bottles before recycling is appreciated

Care to Recycle Phone Charging Station Repurpose Recyclables

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. have created the Care To Recycle® program to encourage recycling of personal care product packaging and as a gentle reminder to extend your recycling habits outside your normal areas. Care To Recycle® wants to help parents extend recycling habits outside the kitchen and into the bathroom. We can involve our children in the fun and ease of recycling and reusing.

Here’s a fun, quick and easy little project that will help you reuse and recycle things you use in the bathroom.

RECYCLED DIY CELL PHONE CHARGING STATION

Care to Recycle Repurpose Empty Bottle into Phone Charging Station

Materials:
– Empty plastic bottle large enough to hold your phone. I used an Aveeno lotion bottle. The stress relief lotion is amazing (because as a mom of three boys, I have stress. Lots and lots of it). The bottle is a great size for reusing. If you don’t want to reuse it, it is recyclable.
– Rubbing Alcohol and Cotton Balls
– Permanent Marker
– Scissors, Razor Blade and Craft Knife. You can get by with just one, but I ended up using all three of them.
– Washi Tape

Care to Recycle Phone Charging Station Repurpose Materials

Directions:
– Start by washing out your empty bottle. Get out all the gunk and goop. Keep rinsing…. Almost there. Great, it’s goop-free now.

Here’s a video of the next five steps. Watch me do this project in less than a minute and a half. Or read through the directions below. If you get confused, come back and watch the video.

– Remove the label. The lotion bottle I used just had a sticker label. It took a little coaxing on one corner – we’re talking like maybe 30 seconds tops – but the label came up relatively easy. If you can’t get it off or don’t want to deal with it, you’ll be covering it up in a few minutes. Taking the label off just gives you a cleaner, less textured surface to deal with when you’re covering your bottle.
– Use the rubbing alcohol to clean off any sticky residue left behind by the label.
– Take the permanent marker and draw the basic shape of the area you want to cut out. You will need enough space to put your phone into and take it out of the container. I opted to turn the bottle upside down and thread the USB charging cord up inside the bottle opening. If the majority of the cord is inside the bottle, hopefully it won’t get pulled on, played with or caught on anything and damaged. You could leave the bottle upright and just drop the cord in the bottom too.
– Then I thought It might be nice to be able to hang the charging station on the plug and keep it all together that way. I cut a hole in the back of the bottle large enough to put my plug through.
– You can go back over any stray permanent marker lines and clean them off your charging station with rubbing alcohol. Wax on, wax off and you’ve got yourself a clean bottle again.
– Now, it’s time to get fancy. I didn’t want just a boring charging station hanging around, so I used some washi tape and stuck it to the bottle. I only did the front, but you could do the whole thing if you wanted. I like washi tape because it’s easy to use, it’s simple to make adjustments if you make a mistake and it’s easy to remove if you ever decide you don’t want it anymore. You can still recycle the bottle that way.

 

That’s it. Your cell phone charging station is ready to use! What I really love about this is that there are so many possibilities! And, I turned the cut out part of the bottle into a sink spout extender in our bathroom so Little N can wash his hands without needing to be held! Double score!

Care to Recycle Phone Charging Station Repurpose Water Spout Extention

Do you have any great repurposing hacks? Leave a comment and tell me about it!

 

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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I'm Krista. Ringleader here on While He Was Napping, wife to my handsome Mr. Right & momma to my THREE energetic boys, Big J (9), Little J (6) & Little N (4). We FINALLY added a beautiful little girl to our family last December.

I’m knee-deep in Tonka trucks & Thomas trains. I survive our crazy days with Vanilla Coke, Sonic slushies, sweet snuggles and little giggles. When I tuck them in tight & kiss them good night, I get a little time to create & just be me.


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