Worthwhile travel accessories

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Packing

I recently went on a trip to Europe with my family, so I had the opportunity to test some new travel gear, and I decided to share what I found useful. First, as I said in a previous blog post, I wholeheartedly stand by my dual-sided compression packing cubes. Not only do they help keep everything organized in my suitcase, they also help clothes take up a bit less space! I actually tried compression bags (the kind that have a one-way valve so that you can roll them up and expel air from them), but the cubes are definitely my favorite. They accomplish the same thing, but have the advantage of looking good and being much more practical in both open and closed states, so I’m sticking with them. I slip an AirTag in each suitcase, which gives me peace of mind by letting me track my belongings. I also like using TSA-approved combination locks, which make my life easier because I don’t have to also keep track of a key. Pro tip: Use the same code for all your locks.

The easiest way to travel light is to bring fewer clothes than you need for the trip and do laundry on the go. I love having my laundry travel kit for just this purpose! It also comes in handy if I (or one of my kids) get a stain and we need to treat it as soon as possible, before the trip is over.

Toiletries

As for toiletries, anything that comes in a gel form (moisturizer, shampoo and conditioner, hair lotion, etc.) goes into Go Toob + silicone bottles, which have a wide mouth that makes filling them (and cleaning them) easy. Meanwhile, true liquids (like mouthwash) go in Nalgene bottles. Both of these are completely leak-proof, and I am particularly happy to have found those Nalgene bottles – everything I had tried previously for mouthwash had leaked, but these are perfect! I then put my toiletries and personal care items in my Bagsmart toiletry bag, which has convenient clear compartments, multiple zippers, and is easy to hang behind a door.

Purse

I needed a cross-body bag big enough to carry my essentials (like a purse but also for travel items like water, sunscreen, passports, etc.); however, it had to be small enough that I could take it with me into museums and churches, where backpacks or large purses are not allowed. So I bought this medium-sized Travelon anti-theft cross-body bag and loved it! It was absolutely perfect for my needs, and I even had extra room in there for a few souvenirs. It doubled as my personal item on the plane. It was very useful during this trip and a great investment for future ones! I also got an RFID card holder so that I could carry an ID card, a few credit cards, and some cash, without the bulk of the rest of my wallet.

Children’s safety

Finally, if you have children older than 4 and want to keep them safe in vehicles, get a MiFold seat. This ingenious device folds up very small, and helps adjust a vehicle’s seatbelt to be safe for smaller kids, so that you don’t have to worry in a rental car or cab. I’ve used them for the past 6 years and absolutely love them! This time around, I also tested out SafetyTats, which I actually used on my kids’ clothing instead of on their skin. It allows me to write down a phone number when I can be reached in case we ever got separated, and the adhesive worked incredibly well – I could remove it from one shirt and apply it to another for a whole week!

8 Organization Hacks for Families with Kids

As any parent knows, keeping a home organized and orderly is no small feat, especially when kids are involved! From toys and clothes to school supplies and sports gear, kids tend to come with a lot of stuff that can quickly take over the house. Fortunately, with a few smart organization hacks, it’s possible to maintain a tidy, clutter-free home even with children around.

Here are some of my top organization hacks for families with kids!

 1-      Create designated toy zones. Instead of letting toys take over the entire house, consider creating specific zones where they can be stored and played with. This could be a toy chest or pull-out drawers in the living room, a playroom with shelves or cubbies, or a basket in a corner of your child’s bedroom. By keeping toys contained to specific areas of the house, you can both keep things tidy and help your kids stay more focused during playtime. This also prevents a collection of toys from growing out of control, since it sets a limit to how many toys they can have – when toys no longer fit in the designated space, you must get rid of some of them.

2-      Use storage bins and baskets. Bins and baskets in various sizes are a great tool for organizing all sorts of items, from blankets and throw pillows to stuffed animals and small toys. Consider getting a few different types – some with lids for items that need to be hidden away, and others that are more open and accessible. You can have your kids help you label the bins and baskets with words or pictures to make it easier for them to put things back where they belong. (I recommend having no more than a few different types of containers in the same space, though, to keep the overall look cohesive.)

3-      Install hooks. Whether you’re dealing with backpacks, jackets, or sports gear, having plenty of hooks around the house can go a long way in keeping things organized. Consider installing hooks in your child’s bedroom, in the entryway or mudroom, and in the garage. You can even get creative with the placement and appearance – for example, you could hang a few hooks on a reclaimed wooden board and mount it to the wall for a rustic-chic look. Just make sure that the hooks are low enough for the kids to reach!

4-      Simplify your child’s wardrobe. Kids can accumulate an impressive number of clothes, but just like us, they tend to wear the same few items over and over again. To cut down on clutter and simplify your child’s morning routine, consider curating their wardrobe to include only their favorite pieces, making sure that everything fits them and that they have enough seasonally appropriate items. You can also try doing a capsule wardrobe by choosing a limited number of pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. (I like to buy my sons neutral pants and colorful shirts, so they can’t really go wrong when they get dressed by themselves.)

5-      Utilize vertical space. Even if your home is on the larger side, it’s important to make use of every inch of space you have. Consider using vertical space to your advantage by installing shelves or cubbies, or even hanging a shoe organizer on the back of your children’s bedroom door. This is a great way to store items that might otherwise take up valuable floor space.

6-      Get creative with labeling. Labels are a great way to keep your home organized, but they don’t have to be boring! You can use fun graphics or assign colors to different categories (like green for sports gear, blue for sidewalk chalk and bubble wands, and so on). You can even have your kids help you design the labels as a fun family activity.

7-      Make cleaning up fun. It’s important to remember that organization doesn’t have to be a chore. Get kids involved in keeping the house tidy by turning it into a game or a race, or play upbeat music while you work. By making organization a positive experience, you’ll all be more likely to stick with it long term. You’re also instilling good habits in your kids and teaching them life skills.

8-      Have a donation bin. Use a large box (such as this one) to store any clothes, toys, and books that have been outgrown. Once it’s full, donate the contents!

In conclusion, keeping your home organized with kids can be a challenge, but with a few smart hacks and a little creativity, it’s absolutely doable. By creating designated toy zones, using storage baskets and hooks, simplifying your child’s wardrobe, utilizing vertical space, labeling, and making clean-up fun and practical, you can maintain a tidy, clutter-free home that’s both functional and beautiful. Remember, organization isn’t a chore, it’s what makes your life easier!

Books

A while back, I saw this t-shirt with a dragon that said, “It’s not hoarding if it’s books.” And in that moment, I couldn’t help but agree!

Obviously, there can be such a thing as too many books, but most of the time, people love each one of them so much! The problem is that for many, getting rid of books is heartbreaking, because books are not just paper – they are sentimental objects. The Washington Post had a good article about this recently, with author Fran Lebowitz as one of the subjects – she owns 12,000 books! At that point, I imagine that they would become clutter, in the sense that they would physically be in the way of her living her best life. She can’t bear to part with them, but it’s interesting that she is aware of the issue enough to have designated book heirs in her will.

Our collection of books often represents who we are, or at least who we hope to be, and the fact that we want to expand our mind is a good thing. When author Laura Lippman was faced with this, she had a realization. “Studying my shelves, I realized there were four categories: books I had read and may one day reread, those I had not read but hoped to, those I had read but was never going to reread, and those I was never going to read. The next thing I knew, I had gone into a culling frenzy, pulling almost 100 books in the latter two ­categories.”

There’s a Japanese term that I want to bring up here: tsundoku. According to that article, “it’s a noun that describes a person who buys books and doesn’t read them, and then lets them pile up on the floor, on shelves, and assorted pieces of furniture.” To me, that is the line in the sand:  a tsundoku acquires books almost mindlessly, and perhaps that compulsion could be focused on other objects instead. It’s no longer about the individual books, but about amassing objects without using them. Books are meant to be read!

I advocate mindfulness, in the sense that I recommend you be both aware and honest with yourself. Be aware of how much space your books are taking up versus how much space you would actually rather use for something else. Be honest with yourself about how many books you will have time to read, or whether you really want to indefinitely keep a certain volume that you’ve already read. (The answer can be yes, but not if the whole book collection grows unchecked.)

Marie Kondo says that a book is meant to be read when it comes into your life, so she believes that you should not have a pile of books to read. I must say that this is a point on which I disagree with her! It wouldn’t make sense to go through your pantry or freezer and get rid of everything you don’t plan on eating this very week, right? I feel that it’s the same for books. I love having a small pile of books that I’m looking forward to reading! The trick is simply to keep it manageable. For example, if you read a book a month and have a pile of two dozen books, that means it would take you two years to get through that pile, assuming that you didn’t buy or receive any new books in the meantime (and that’s not exactly a reasonable assumption). You could ask yourself whether each of those books still interests you as much as when you first got it, or if perhaps some of them have been made into movies that you could watch instead. You can also make more time to read.

When it comes to donating books, I find that it’s become harder to do lately. There’s a surprising number of non-profits or charitable organizations that give books or need books, but will only accept brand-new ones, not pre-owned, even if they are in great condition! You could consider sending books to prisoners or troops. You can pass books on to friends who might enjoy them, or sell them at a second-hand bookstore (just make sure you don’t walk out of there with more than you came in!). I also donate books to my local library; some people donate to hospitals, retirement homes, schools, or daycare centers. If you have a Little Free Library near you, that’s a perfect spot as well! As for Laura Lippman, she started a subscription service to mail off her books. “It wasn’t my books that defined me, that shaped the writer I’ve become. It was what was in them—and what is now in me. My memory is a poor one, but I retain from books what I need to retain, usually one perfect image or a dazzling passage. Books deserve to be read, not preserved on shelves where they won’t be cracked open again in one’s lifetime. It’s a mitzvah to pass along titles that I love, a way of playing matchmaker between great writers and avid readers.”

The clothes chair

Do you have a “clothes chair”? You know, a chair that sits in the corner of your bedroom and on which you pile clothes that have been worn once and are too clean to be put in the hamper, but not clean enough to be put away? Do you see it as an eyesore, as something embarrassing? Well, I’m here to say, don’t! There’s no reason to feel shame about that chair – as a matter of fact, I encourage you to fully welcome it in your room!

Most people have one, because they are just very practical. And its practicality is exactly why I think it’s perfectly fine to have it! It allows you to keep some clothes there, relatively unwrinkled, so that you can get another wear out of them before washing them. As long as this system works for you (or as long as you can *make* it work for you), it’s all good.

The key is to avoid letting it get out of control. Ideally, you should still be able to see the chair, and to distinguish individual pieces of clothing; otherwise, it looks like a pile of clutter. Make it a point to look there first when you get dressed, so that items don’t linger there too long and don’t become part of the scenery. You can also decide to grab items off of the chair and throw them in the wash to round out a load of laundry you need to do (e.g. all the white items, or all the delicates).

Don’t mix very clean clothes and definitely dirty ones! Dirty clothes should go straight in the hamper; a load of clean clothes from the dryer can be set aside before being folded, if you must, but do set a time to take care of it promptly (the sooner the better, to avoid wrinkles). Even then, it’s a better idea to dump those clean clothes on the bed or in a laundry basket rather than risk mixing them with those on the chair.

If the chair *really* bothers you, consider draping clothes over a blanket ladder, or set aside a small area of your closet specifically for this if you have the space. Another idea to make it look more intentional is to get a clothes valet, also called a valet stand. Again, don’t let things pile up too much!

Bonus tip: If you don’t know where to store your pajamas during the day and you want them out of sight, try folding them and placing them under your pillow.

Advent calendar options

I know what you’re thinking – Halloween is just barely over, why are you posting about Christmas already? Well, bear with me! Those of us who fill our own Advent calendars need to get it done before December 1st, so… it’s gotta happen this month. If you’re like me, you don’t want to buy a bunch of trinkets at the dollar store, because then you’ll just end up with a bunch of clutter. But, if your kids are like my kids, they will become *completely* blasé about the chocolate on day 3, and you’ll need some variety in there to keep things interesting.

I figured I’d give you some ideas of things that don’t usually become clutter, as they are meant to be used up. Note that these can also make good stocking stuffers or Hanukkah gifts, or even party favors for the classroom on your child’s birthday or on Valentine’s Day. Let me know if you have other ideas!

Knick-knacks that are not disposable so much as consumable:

• individual-sized bubble wands (0.2 oz.)

• temporary tattoos

• balloons (inflating them and playing with them will make my kids surprisingly happy)

• small candy canes

• chocolate

• Hanukkah gelt

• jelly beans

• mini Nutella containers (0.88 oz.)

• popcorn

• cute tissue packets

• lip balm

• crayons / pencils / erasers

• bubble bath / bath bomb

• chocolate spoon or individual hot cocoa / hot chocolate packet

• fun socks

• gift cards/tickets to an activity (movie, zoo, museum…)

Be aware of which days are weekends or early release days, and plan activities for those – just let it be a surprise for your kids!

Activity ideas:

• buying / trimming the tree

• making hot cocoa / hot chocolate

• making gingerbread people or sugar cookies

• decorating gingerbread houses

• driving out to see holiday lights

• watching a holiday movie

• doing a puzzle together

• playing a new card game or board game

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month! Given how trying last February was in Texas, I decided to write a short blog post about this topic.

This image is from Ready.gov.

A large part of preparedness in case of an emergency or natural disaster is having a plan in place. For example, how would you get in touch with other members of your household? Would your kids need to be picked up from school? Where is a safe meeting place? Which shelters (or hotels) would take you in with your pets? Which out-of-town relative could host your family and/or act as a relay for information? What would your evacuation route(s) be?

FEMA has a good guide to basic preparedness; it also has an app to locate nearby shelters and stay up-to-date during an emergency. That being said, based on user comments, the app is clumsy and likely to give you false warnings, so it might be best to download it only if you’re nervous about a specific upcoming emergency (such as before a hurricane or ice storm). If, like me, you live in Bexar County, you can (and should!) sign up for emergency notifications here. Another good way to get information is to follow your local police department and municipality on social media.

Concretely, having an emergency kit is a great way to be prepared, and it helps bring peace of mind. I’ll talk a bit about my own family emergency kit and give you a (non-exhaustive) list of its contents.

Our emergency kit contains non-perishable food items and water; you should aim for about three days’ worth of food, and 1 gallon of water per person per day. I know someone whose emergency food is stored in a freezer, and I MUST warn against that, because 1) it would spoil in a power failure, and 2) perhaps that point is moot because they would need power to prepare/reheat it or water to boil it in the first place, and those might not be available in an emergency. As for us, we focused on canned and boxed food items, though the specific foods tend to vary over time. I update my Google Calendar periodically with expiration dates so that I can replace things before they expire (we just integrate those items to our weekly menu). We also have a manual can opener and plastic utensils in the kit. After last February, we’ve decided to buy a few more gallons of water – we didn’t run out, but it would have been nice to feel more secure about it! If you have pets, their food and water should be included in the kit.

Our emergency kit also contains essentials like toilet paper, wipes, a first aid kit, a flashlight and a radio with batteries, candles and matches, trash bags, reflective tape, a whistle, and hand sanitizer. You should also keep some cash in the kit: if there’s a massive power failure, you won’t be able to get money at an ATM, and no business will be able to accept cards. This doesn’t have to be a large amount, just enough to get you through for a few days. Another good tip: we have a book of brain stretchers and puzzles along with a few pencils and an eraser. If we have to survive without power for a few days, we’ll need something to pass the time!

You can build your own kit using the government’s guidelines or you can buy a ready-made one such as these and supplement as needed. Ideally, you want your kit to be mobile so that you could take it with you in your car if you had to evacuate.

Taped on the lid of the plastic bin that houses our kit is a list of things that we would need to take along if we evacuated: important documents like passports; sentimental items like family photos; medications; clothing; toiletries; blankets; and phone chargers. For a pet, you will also need a leash or pet carrier, plus dishes for food and water. You might have other items depending in your situation, but those are the basic guidelines.

I know it’s a lot to absorb all at once (and a lot of adulting!), but you can take some time building your emergency kit. The important thing is to get started and keep at it until it’s done. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you want my help getting your own kit ready!

Update: I now sell printables to help you! Here is a checklist to create your own emergency kit, as well as a checklist to help you collect information and prepare a plan in case of an emergency.

Back to school!

For many of us, this fall is the return to normal we had been waiting for. Schools in Texas are open for in-person learning, and there is no longer an option for remote learning. The downside is that, at least when I write these lines, my school district has decided NOT to enforce mask-wearing or social distancing, despite the recommendations from the AAP, the WHO and the CDC…

If you choose to make mask-wearing a part of your (and your child’s) routine, you’ll need to buy enough spare ones for your needs. It might be one or more per person per day, plus a few extras in case one is lost, a mesh bag to wash them safely, and designated spots for the clean and dirty masks. For my children, I put labels with their name in each mask (I like the ones from Name Bubbles for clothing). Your supply may need to be replenished if last year’s masks are too worn.

This photo was taken by Jessica Lewis for Unsplash.

As for organizing the space in your home, you’ll need a place for your kids to do homework. Hopefully most of the kinks were ironed out last year during remote learning! In any case, it’s important for a child to have a dedicated place to work. It doesn’t even have to be a desk – some kids will do fine at the dining room table, while others might be more comfortable in the living room (as long as the television isn’t on). Essentially, they need someplace to sit (or stand, for the more fidgety kids) without distractions so they can work. Headphones can help cut out noise if that is really an issue. Younger kids will benefit from being close to a caregiver who can help explain instructions or redirect their attention, but older kids are typically more autonomous. Consider a rolling tiered cart to corral school and art supplies; it’ll keep them handy while also allowing you to wheel them away when the kids are done. I also recommend supply caddies and sturdy magazine holders.

You might also need to streamline your entryway. There will now be more shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, sports equipment, etc., to deal with, and you don’t want it all piling up in one place – or worse, all over the place! In our house, we limit the number of shoes any one person can keep near the door (spares go in their bedroom closet). It’s also helpful to have a designated spot for anything coming in or going out: for example, your child should know where to drop her backpack when she comes home from school, when to give you her agenda to sign, where to put sports gear… For the latter, uniforms need to be washed, so the laundry room makes sense, but other equipment might be better off in the garage until the next practice. Designate the place, then communicate it so that all members of the household are on the same page.

This photo was taken by Natasha Hall for Unsplash.

It’s also important to set up a weekly/monthly schedule and to keep it posted where family members can see it – I recommend a paper copy for your family command center and a digital copy with clickable links for ease of use from any electronic device. Free apps like Google Calendar or Cozi allow you to synch schedules for all family members. Cozi even has a grocery list that you can update in real time from any device!

My single best tip to pack a suitcase

The internet seems full of advice for packing a suitcase, much of it redundant or obvious. I mean, we all know already to pack toiletries in a resealable plastic bag and to put our heavy items at the bottom of the suitcase, right? So, I’ve decided to keep it simple and tell you about the one single thing that has improved my suitcase the most: packing cubes.

Yes, packing cubes have been an absolute game-changer for me! Gone are the days of the entire contents of my suitcase shifting during travel, or of having to riffle through everything just to get the one shirt that I wanted. With packing cubes, you can just grab the cube you need and reposition all cubes as you see fit without creating a mess! They are easy to arrange neatly in suitcases of any size.

I’m a big fan of these dual-sided packing cubes by Taskin for packing socks, bras, and underwear. I put all the items on the side with the mesh cover when I pack, then as the trip goes on, dirty items go in the water- and odor-resistant side until laundry day. I do the same for my kids. Taskin packing cubes are also expandable, which is a big help.

I like to separate my items among a few cubes (which, to be honest, are not cubes so much as rectangular prisms). On our family trip to Florida in June, I had my swimsuits and cover-up in one cube, then t-shirt-and-capri-outfits in one and skirt-or-dress-outfits in another. Some people might prefer to have one cube for tops and one cube for bottoms; one cube for business-wear and one for casual clothing; or perhaps one for their clean clothes and another for dirty clothes. It’s about whatever works for you on this trip. Obviously, I file-fold clothes in there just like I do in my dresser – that’s been another gamechanger!

I also love that packing cubes come in different colors, which is particularly useful if you are packing a single suitcase for two kids, for example. You can assign a color for each one and never have to riffle through a whole bag to get their things, since they’re visible at a glance. I also designate a color for the first aid kit so that it stands out among my black packing cubes. (Packing essential first aid items for a trip, by the way, is a great opportunity to organize your first aid and pharmacy items at home! Toss what is expired or no longer useful and replenish stock as needed.)

So, there you have it. – packing cubes. I wouldn’t live without them now!