Why I Use a List when I go on a Road Trip

When I go on vacation, I always make a list because I don't want to forget something. I do really well with making a list.  It is so expensive when you forget to pack something and you have to pay for it in a hotel gift shop or a beach store. They know you don't really have much of a choice so they charge whatever they want. I remember when we went to Disney World and I forgot to pack aloe. I ended up spending $14 on a bottle of it because I was so sunburned. It's also really important to remember to take with you some travel essentials when you go on a cruise. There is no other option to shop anywhere except locally and if you are at sea you are out of luck. I also remember a time when CD players were still big having my batteries run out at the airport and having to buy batteries at the airport to listen to music. I know I didn’t really need the batteries, but it helps when I listen to music when I fly. It makes the flight go by so much faster.  Sometimes you don't want to go to a big store or that's just not an option. Depending on where you visit, you may not have access to a car.  My aunt and uncle live in the mountains and the closest store is thirty minutes away. I love visiting my aunt and uncle because we just hang out and watch movies and chat the whole time. We sometimes do a little sightseeing and have a great time.  You can prevent these worries by making sure you have everything you need when you’re traveling. When you are driving in the car, it can waste time if you have to stop at a store that you can't find. 

As you are packing for your summer trips check out my list of road trip essentials.

Poisonous Snakes at the Rest Stop

It’s important to be safe at rest stops. We love to travel and go on day trips. One time we were coming back from the outlet mall in Ellington Florida, it started pouring really hard as it tends to do in Florida. We had to pull off the road because we couldn’t see anything. It was honestly pretty scary and not safe to continue driving. Thankfully we found a rest stop to just stop at and wait out the rain. As you know, rain storms like this usually don’t last long in Florida in the rainy season. After the rain stopped, we decided to get out and use the restroom. As the rain was clearing and I could actually see the signs that were right in front of me, I saw a warning sign for snakes. Not just your garden variety of snakes, but venomous dangerous snakes. If you know me at all, you know I hate snakes, venomous or not. I was pretty scared to get out of the car, but we had a fairly long drive. I was very aware of my surroundings that day.

I was used to alligator signs and occasionally seeing an alligator off in the distance, but snakes was a new thing. I have been in situations where snakes were probably present, but they didn’t make themselves known to me or I would have freaked out. I think I am more scared of snakes than alligators. I could just cut up the alligator and deep fry it. I have heard horror stories about rest stops. I am sure you have heard them too about women being kidnapped at rest stops and people hiding in their backseats waiting for them to return.  While most of them are probably just urban legends, it is good to be vigilant with your safety especially if you are alone.

Here is my post about Rest Stop Safety.

Eating Healthy on the Road with a Picky Eater

My son Noah is the pickiest eater in the world. He is very specific about what he wants to eat, he has a really hard time trying new things. He is stubborn like his mama. He won’t eat meat. He won’t eat chicken nuggets. He won’t eat hot dogs, or fish sticks. When we travel it can be a total pain to feed him. He doesn’t really have any options at McDonald’s or Wendy’s. He used to just get apples and milk or sometimes ice cream and milk. I have learned that while I would be fine with McDonald’s, Noah isn’t good with it, unless I let him get ice cream. That is a great treat every so often but not for a meal. I have started packing him foods and stopping at places with healthier options. I used to be able to eat McDonald’s and other fast food a lot, now it is an occasional treat. I am getting older and I feel that it makes me feel sick and greasy if I eat too much.

We don’t have allergies but it would be harder to eat on the road if your family did. Noah is pretty good about eating the stuff I pack him like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Honestly, the only “fast food” Noah eats is Steak N Shake and Panera. I don’t consider either fast food. He will occasionally eat Subway because they have good cheese sandwiches and lettuce. That’s what he told me a week ago. I don’t really mind though, because he’s not obsessed with fast food like I was when I was a kid. I only got it once a week but I loved it so much. It was my favorite thing about Thursdays or spending time with my dad because I knew I could have fast food. Of course I love my dad but fast food was just a huge bonus. I think it’s important to start good eating habits young and when you are traveling it’s difficult to remain consistent. 

Here are my tips about Eating Healthy on the Road.