MarytheKaytheBlog

Sweetie, quit flushing the toilet, and Honey, did you take a pitture of the moe-tel room??

I try really hard to be fancified sometimes.  I brush my hair, and apply fresh lipgloss before checking into new hotels.  But, honestly?  When my rough and tumble entourage (family of 4) climb out of our minivan in front of a respectable hotel, I feel like the Beverly Hillbillies are on the move.  It's even worse when I am traveling up North, and I have to speak to someone in my normal Southern (okay, sometimes country-sounding) drawl. 

 

I try to rein in our daughters who are wild from riding in a car all day long.  But, truth be told, I am every bit as excited as they are to see all the cool stuff in every new place.  Ooh!  Check out the cool shower!  Look--there's an old sink in our room!  Oh yeah, the bed IS comfy!   Oh, the free lotion smells so good!  Here--let me have some!

 

So, just picture the Beverly Hillbillies meet historic inn in Maine, and you will get a pretty good picture of our visit to the very lovely Whitehall Inn in Camden, Maine.   

 

I know a week and a half ago I promised you I'd show you some pictures of the inn...and today I am making good on that promise.

 

*Insert exciting harmonic organ chords here*  So, without further, adieu, here they are, folks--"pittures" of the very lovely, you HAVE to stay there if you ever get the chance, the Whitehall Inn of Camden, Maine.

 

*insert wild screaming and clapping here*

 

  You should check out the Whitehall Inn website.   It's a beautiful website--complete with the Whitehall's fascinating literary and cinematic history!!  (Hint:  Edna St. Vincent Millay and Peyton Place movie)

 

 From the moment we pulled our luggage across the front sidewalk, we could feel the rich history of the inn--History that goes back even farther than 1901, when a young widow, who had spent her honeymoon in Camden, bought an 1834 Sea Captain's house.

 

 The front door opens into the warm and inviting Millay Room, where the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, a local Camden girl, entertained guests at a masquerade ball one evening  in 1912 with a poetry reading, and a song on the Steinway grand piano--which still sits, waiting for guests to play.

 

Our girls were thrilled with the antique typewriter, which the friendly staff supplied plenty of paper and quaint postcards for them to practice typing!  That kind of friendly accomodation of my children warms this mama's heart--and makes a lifelong fan!

 The Front Desk.  Why, oh why did I not take a picture of the antique round table in front of the desk that held the large basket of orchard apples??  Those apples spoke to me.  They said, "Welcome to our inn.  Please take one of us, and walk out to the front porch, sit in a rocking chair, and enjoy." 

 

When apples talk to me, I listen.

 

One of my FAVORITE moments at the Inn.  I had about 6 minutes all alone, sitting in that 3rd rocking chair there, enjoying the best-tasting apple I've ever eaten, listening to the fountain gurgle, and smiling as people came in and out of the front door.  Perfect moment.  (Where are my daughters,  you ask?  Why, if you look closely, you'll see them in the front window, still tapping away on the antique typewriter.)

 

My 2nd FAVORITE moment at the Inn was at breakfast the next morning.  Glory be, the Whitehall Inn may be my favorite breakfast EVER.  Sadly, I did not take a picture of my lovely food...cause I et it all up too fast.  But, just close your eyes and imagine a small glass of the sweetest fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a bowl of the ripest cantelouope, strawberries, kiwi, honeydew, watermelon, and heavy silverware, and cheesy scrambled eggs, salty bacon....  Okay, I have to stop, or I will (as my dad would say) have a running fit. 

 

Did your cell phone battery die?  No worries!  The Whitehall Inn is at your service:

 

Can't you just imagine the phone calls that have happened here in the lobby over the last 100 years? 
 

 

Would you care to follow me up the curved staircase to see our rooms?  They are just up 1 flight of stairs--adjoining rooms 12 and 14.  Just knock--the girls are already in there, inspecting everything and fighting over who gets what side of the bed tonight.

 

 Both rooms had 4 poster beds in the prettiest honey-colored wood.  (maple?)  The white sheets were absolutely DIVINE.  Their website says the bedding and sheets are "imported" and I am sure they mean "imported from Heaven."

 

 The girls' bedroom was connected to our room with a tiny black and white tile bathroom--through that door on the left.  The black and white tile instantly took me back to my grandmother's tiny black and white tile bathroom in Florida.  I smiled a lot in our bathroom that night, remembering my grandmother and her own historic house.

 

Oh, I don't want to forget to mention how CLEAN our room was!  The Whitehall Inn is quaint and historic in all of the very best ways.  The wood floors throughout the Inn were absolutely spotless!  And, moe-tel t.v. lover that I am, I am very pleased to tell you that the Whitehall was not historic in their selection of electronics.  Both bedrooms were equipped with tasteful flatscreen televisions and remotes. 

 

Oh, and the friendly staff at the Whitehall Inn are helpful in directing you to all the wonderful parts of Camden, Maine. 

 

We got to take an afternoon cruise on the Appledore Schooner, and see gorgeous sights like this:

 
 

We also got to spend a little time shopping at many of the unique stores in the lovely downtown.  Okay, if you must know, we spent an HOUR in the Planet Toys store spending Nana's souvenir money (Nano Bug, gummy lobsters, and bottlecap jewelry-making set), and about 30 minutes going through other stores saying, "But, you already spent your money!"

  (photo courtesy of my cute husband!  Isn't it a beautiful pic???)

Okay, I've done tole you enough now.  If you aren't already in LOVE with the Whitehall Inn and Camden, Maine, then you must be a crochity person who doesn't like nice things and friendly people.  And if you don't want to eat the best breakfast of your life, then you just go on eating your cold muffin and gummy oatmeal. 

 

But, you NICE and SMART people, book yourselves a room right now at the Whitehall Inn...and when you get there--tell them MarytheKay sent you!!!

 

When they say, "WHO???"  Just tell them, "Never mind..."

 

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How to Get Rid of those Pesky Fruitflies

 If you followed along last week on our Great Bike Challenge, you know we've been out-of-town for over a week.  When we got home from Maine, we had a little problem.  Fruit flies.  We were welcomed home by the friendliest sort of fruit flies--they just swarmed to welcome us!

 

Those pesky things are VERY annoying!  They seem to come from nowhere, and honestly--give me the heebie jeebies.

 

I did a little bit of research, and found a VERY EASY WAY to escort them...well, onto their final resting place, that's where!

 

Don't you love a solution that uses common household products?  To get rid of fruit flies, all you need are 3 things:

  1.  A bowl

  2.  Apple cider vinegar (or soda, fruit juice, or wine)

  3.  A drop or two of dish soap

 

Pour about an inch of the apple cider vinegar (from what I read, white vinegar does not work nearly as well).  On top of the vinegar, put a drop or two of dish sop, and stir just a bit.

 

Leave the dish out overnight, and watch those fruit flies take a nosedive to eternity.

 

The vinegar/dish soap trap works really great--but don't forget to take care of the things in your kitchen that are attracting any flies.  Put any fruit sitting out into the refrigerator (or throw away).  Wash any dirty washcloths or sponges, wipe up any spills or messes.

 

(I'm sorry if there are any fruit fly animal rights' people reading.  Just rest assured the fruitflies died happy--swimming in the apple cider vinegar.)

 

The Day Before the Start! Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Well, we're FINALLY here!!!  After 3 long, adventure-filled days in the car, we have arrived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine! 

 

(In case you have no idea what I am talking about, my husband and daughter are about to join a great group of bikers, who will ride 280 miles across Maine in The Great Bike Challenge to help raise support and awareness for Kids Across America Kamps)

 

All the bikers have arrived, and they're all getting ready to begin The Great Bike Challenge!  The weather is absolutely gorgeous today--sunny, but not too hot.  Walking around this evening was just perfect. 

 

Since we arrived in Old Orchard Beach late last night, we had the whole day to explore and play on the beach! 

  
You can't tell here...but the water is COLD!!  A little cold water wasn't going to stop our girls from a whole lot of digging, moat and castle building, shell collecting, and running around on the beach today!

 

 

This place was a GREAT FIND!!!  If you ever come to Old Orchard Beach, please stop at Dolce Crema Caffe' for a yummy lunch, a dish of heavenly gelato, or some coffee and a pastry.  We were blown away by the excellent service.  We later found out the great guy that helpeld us was actually the owner, Mike.  Mike made us feel like VIPs as he chatted with our girls about what they wanted for lunch, and served us like we were his favorite customers!!  (Who knows?  Maybe we were!  We are a friendly, smiley sort.)

Mike suggested I try the BBQ chicken panini with carmelized onions  and sharp cheddar.  He had me at carmelized onions!   The sandwich was perfect.  Dave ordered the chef salad, and kept bugging me until I would take a bite of cucumber and cherry tomato.  WOW.  I don't mean to go on and on about our lunch--but the vegetables tasted garden fresh, crisp, and full of summertime flavor!

 Oh, but can we talk about the gelato?  Because you KNOW I had some gelato for dessert!  I chose large (yes, yes, I did!) because with the large size, you could have 3 different flavors.  I had a trio of tart fruityness--red orange (my favorite!) mandarincello, and pink grapefruit (whoo, tart!)
 

 Well, you KNEW there would be pictures of lobsters on a trip to Maine!  I do not want to disappoint!  Look at this friendly fella--he gave his life so that we could have yummy lobster on our first evening here.  Thank ya, Larry Lobster.  Your generosity will never be forgotten.

 

  Okay, hurry and take the picture--Larry is HOT!  But, look--Larry is giving a little goodbye wave to his friends and family back home.  However...come to think of it...I'm not sure any lobsters actually read this blog...  Gotta work on that lobster marketing.  (Poor Larry...his wave was in vain...)

Note Sara Beth's face here...She said something SMELLED FUNNY.  She had a dinner of delicious french fries--which she requested to please eat away from the funny smelling lobster food!

 

 Ah!  Were you wondering if there were any of the bike crew in this post?  Well, lookie here--a whole table full of bike crew friends!  All enjoying the lobster, potato, and corn dinner at the local Lobster Festival.  I believe Mark and Chris there are enjoying their very first lobster.  They gave the experience a thumbs up!  Thanks to Mindy for instructing all us lobster novices on the proper way to crack open Larry's little claws and tail.  And, Sarah--who is always looking to serve and help!!  Love her!
 

Old Orchard Beach has a really great evening vibe.  Of course, the perfect temperature made the night seem even more perfect! 

UPDATE ON THE EVENING VIBE:  Let me insert here that I am not appreciating that evening vibe now that I am in our condo, and ready to go to sleep.  The vibe sounds like it is still going strong.  I just wish the vibe would go on home, and put itself to bed!  Enough vibe, okay?

We had a great time walking around, taking in all of the sights.  Even stopping to enjoy a little dessert! 
 

Nothing like  a little lemon Italian ice to finish off a really great day! 

 

Tomorrow the bikers will pull on their spandex and line up at the start!  (Time to get good eye contact with the bikers...if ya know what I mean!)

 

Check back later--I'll try to upload some pics of our lovely Old Victorian condo room. 

Travel Tip: Don't Be Nasty Dirty

Did you happen to catch my post last week about our family traveling to Maine to participate in a benefit bike ride for Kids Across America Kamps?  (You didn't?  Well, click HERE to catch up!)  Oh, but wait--let me be more specific--our family is DRIVING to Maine.  As in 3 days in the car.  But, once we get there, it will be so worth it.  We'll be in Maine during the Fall Leaf Season!!!  I've not been to Maine before, but I hear they serve lobster everywhere...even McDonald's!  (Thank you, Annisons, for that tip!)

I'll be blogging all about the bike ride experience, and of course, all the funny things that seem to happen to our family on the road.  So be sure to tune in next week to follow us across the U.S., and across Maine!!

You can imagine I have been busy running around trying to get organized for this road trip.  As I've been organizing clothes to pack, I realize we will need to do laundry while we're on the road.  No worries!  I am planning ahead!

I am taking 3 things, so that our family won't have to be nasty dirty:

  

1.  Powdered laundry soap - 1 cup per ziploc

I measured out 5 laundry loads (5 ziplocs) and put all 5 into a large ziploc...all sealed up nice and tight!  (Do you hear my OCD talking here?!)

 

2.  Quarters for hotel washers/dryers - in a ziploc

I put the quarters ziploc in with the laundry soap ziplocs

 

3.  My trusty collapsible mesh laundry basket (one of my all-time FAVORITE THINGS)

I threw in the large ziploc containing laundry soaps and quarters...I like to call this baby:

Have Laundry Soap and Quarters, oh and also a Laundry Basket, Will Travel!!!  It's a catchy little phrase--after you say it, oh, about 6 times.  Try it and see!

(You didn't actually fall for that, did you?  Seriously?  Did you just say that whole phrase out loud 6 times???)

Okay, GPOA WDM, (Grumpy People Of America Who Doubt Me), I know what you're thinking... "That is all well and good, but that laundry basket TAKES UP SO MUCH SPACE!"

(I totally just read your mind, didn't I, grumpy person?)

Well, I would have to say:  Au contraire, mon frère!!

You seem to forget that I called it a COLLAPSIBLE laundry basket.

You really have to pay attention to keep up around here.

I present to you:  Exhibit D:

 

Well, folkth, thath all I have for you in today's episode of Travel Tipth:  Don't be Nathy Dirthy.

OH!  One more thing!!!  Only 3 more days to enter my Celebrate Fall Giveaway!!! 

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South Dakota or Bust: Our Family's Roadtrip!

 
This past week our family went on a week-long roadtrip!  You know--since we work at a summer camp, our summer vacations are usually the first week or two of school.  No worries!  Since we have feet in both worlds of homeschooling and a homeschool academy, we just take textbooks along, and do homework in the car.  (I guess you could call that "carschool" or more specifically "minivanschool.")

This was no ordinary roadtrip.  This was an all-out South Dakota or Bust roadtrip!  Since we've been telling my parents for years how great South Dakota is, they joined us for this trip!  Yes, there were 6 of us in our Dodge Caravan.  And, yes, we still love each other.  Amazing, huh?

We did do lots of research beforehand, to help make this trip the best possible.  I thought I'd write a couple of posts outlining some of our favorite things.  Who knows?  Maybe one of these posts will inspire you to plan a South Dakota roadtrip.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

Today, I thought I'd give you an overview of our trip, a map of our roadtrip, and an itinerary, listing some of the highlights. 

First--here is the map of our roadtrip

 

View Larger Map

 

Here was our South Dakota  itinerary:

Friday - Drive to South Dakota, sleep at grandparents' house (in SD)

Saturday - (A-B) Drive across South Dakota on Hwy. 44 - through the Rosebud  Indian Reservation.  This is not an especially pretty drive...In fact, it is downright depressing.  But, we felt that part of understanding South Dakota's rich history, is understanding the plight of the Native American.  We had some really great conversations as we were driving this route.

Arrive in Wall, SD (B), just in time for dinner at the ever-famous, ever a tourist trap, Wall Drug Store!  Now, please understand that calling Wall Drug a tourist trap is like calling Disney World a tourist trap.  As long as you understand Wall Drug is filled with tourist trap shopping, then you can appreciate its quaint side--the side that is filled with hundreds upon hundreds of old photos and newspaper clippings, as well as a kids' outdoor paradise to run around, after being cooped up in the car all day.

Sunday - (B-C) Drive through, hike, and tour around the Badlands.  The Badlands are a national treasure.  I can promise you, you haven't seen anything like them!  Be sure to have plenty of water bottles and snacks in the car this day, so that everyone is hydrated and happy as you are hiking around.  Your kids will love you for letting them run around, and climb up the impressive mountains of dirt!

 

Sunday-Monday - (C) After a day in the Badlands, make the short drive into Rapid City, SD.  We stayed at the La Quinta, which was connected to the WaTiki Indoor Water Park.  Our girls literally squealed when we drove up and they saw the glassed-in waterpark! 
While in Rapid City, we saw some really great attractions.  I'll go into much greater detail in a post dedicated specifically to Rapid City.

Bear Country

Reptile Gardens

Storybook Island park

And, of course WaTiki Indoor Water Park

Tuesday - Wednesday - (C-D) Make the 30-minute drive to Keystone, SD (D)--home of Mount Rushmore!  Here are some of the things we did in Keystone:

 
Mount Rushmore (spent the day here)

Custer State Park

The Needles Highway

Walking tour of downtown Keystone

Panning for Gold

Rushmore Cave

Wednesday - Thursday -- (D-E) Drove East across the state to DeSmet, SD (E)--Homestead of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Oh my word!  If you love the Little House on the Prairie books/t.v. show, then you HAVE to visit the town of DeSmet!  I have never found better tours, friendlier tour guides, or more hands-on exhibits!  This was a definite highlight for our entire family!  This is also where our family spent the night in a covered wagon!  What???  Oh, YES I did!  I'll dedicate a whole post to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead experience!  And, of course I'll post pictures of the adorable covered wagon where we camped out!

Friday - Drive to grandparents, and spend the afternoon resting, re-grouping, and repacking!

Saturday - Vacation's over!  Drive home.

Now, RAISE YOUR HAND if you want to take this trip yourself!!!

 

Three Cheers for South Dakota!

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The Night that the Lights Went Out...on my Internet Connection

Hello, all you computer savvy people of the world wide web. This is Marythe Can't for the life of her make this hotel wireless internet work tonight!!! (Insert tears and curse words here. But not bad curse words...maybe only a crap or two. Hehehe, she said crap, didn't she? This must be one of those edgy blogs like Dooce or The Blogess. Okay, I am giggling now...because I may possibly, hopefully show up on someone's search for those million hits an hour blogs...and then I'd probably be the cause of someone else's cursing. Because they wanted real edge--and not my make-up sounding fluff, albeit honest, little bitty blog. Does anyone have any idea what I'm even saying here? Well, that makes 2 of us.)

Wow, that's a lot of stuff in parenthesis, huh? This here is what we call "content." Can you say (making this up as I go) "content?" Very good!

So, what Ima tryin' tuce tella you people, is that after a beautiful night of wireless internet at this hotel last night...tonight ees no working. Even though the nice front desk clerk assured me (my husband, actually...I made him call) that their internet is workiing fine, just fine--ees no es workinga for me.

And, I had a very fun post all planned...all ready to link up using one of Mama Kat's writing prompts: Describe your childhood neighborhood. My working title was: The Madison Widow Ladies. I just know that title is riveting, and you are now crying your eyes out at the thought of not getting to read it...But rest assured. I am a stubborn ole gal. I will write that post if it's the last thing I ever do. As God is my witness my family will never. Be hungry. Again. Sorry--got a little carried away there in the potato field with Vivien Leigh.

Instead of a Cabana Boy this trip, I sure wish I had a computer expert to store in my suitcase... I bet it is something very simple that I am not doing to connect tonight... Like, not connecting the Pop3 blah blah to the Wanport blah blahgity blah blah. Which is exactly why I made my husband call the nice front desk guy...in case he asked any technical questions.

In closing, would anyone like to congratulate me on typing out this riveting bunch of nonsense on my teensy tiny Droid cell phone keyboard? My thumbs are totally cramping up right now from the teeny peck pecking, but you guys are totally worth some measley thumb cramps. It's too darn bad I don't get paid to write this blog...because I could totally claim Workman's Comp on the crampy thumbs.

Goodbye for now, my dearests. I love ya all with the sincerest affection, and good old fashioned knuckle-bumps. In case you don't already know, I'm not one for much friendly prolonged hugging. So, to love me is to love the knuckle bump.

Sending affectionate bumps your way...Until we can once again meet in the World Wide Web...And now...let's check out this hotel's HGTV or Food Network...

Traveling with Kids: I've Gotta Go Potty!!!

This post is brought to you by my Sis-in Law.  If you get squeamish at the mention of potty words, then LOOK AWAY!  Let not thine eyes look upon this post, for it will mention potty words galore like "tinkle, pee pee, tinkle town, wee wee, and wuh-whoa" (as my girls love to say). 

This handy little post will address all of the above potty words, and how when traveling, those words can be just ordinary, run-of-the-mill, conversational words...and not incite sudden and extreme agitation upon the mutha.

What this post will not address are these potty words:  "poo poo, dukey, and/or bump bump."  (I'm sure my mother and father will be so proud of this post.)  When those words are spoken during travel--you are on your own, honey!  Don't blame me if those words cause you to swerve off the road, and yell in a louder than necessary voice, "Are you SURE???"  Nope, I've got no help for the bump bumps of travel.  Like I said--this post is all about tinkle town.

As I am sure many of you are traveling with your kids this summer, I thought I'd pass along 3 helpful tips when you hear those fateful words, "I've got to go potty!"  If you're like our family, and seem to travel thousands of miles without ever seeing a gas station, then these tips might be helpful.

Traveling Potty Tip #1:

My Sis-in-Law's brother has 4 little girls, ages 8 years-8 months.  4 little girl bladders were enough to motivate them to figure out this genius solution--they travel with a child's potty chair!  Oh, but that's not all!  They take a maxi pad, peel off the adhesive strip, and stick it at the bottom of the little potty to help collect the tinkle and keep it nice and tidy!  Whenever they are traveling on a lonely stretch of road (and it's a proven fact children never have to go potty when a gas station is within 10 miles), and someone cries "potty," they pull over on the side of the road and use the little potty.  Genius!   I call that--convenient, timely, and tidy!!

Traveling Potty Tip #2

This is actually my own potty tip--invented out of desperation--where all good inventions are born.  When traveling, we always take along about a dozen large-size Pull Ups.  I stash them in the back seat pockets, along with several plastic grocery sacks.   Usually about 10 minutes after we have passed a beautiful, brand new gas station, one of our girls will call, "Tinkle town!!!"  No worries--we just pull over, and she is able to slip on a Pull Up, and then put the wet Pull Up into a plastic sack for disposal.  The next time we pull into a gas station, we dispose of the goods.

I have to be honest...sometimes on those lonely stretches of road, I have contemplated traveling with Adult-size Pull Ups (okay, they're called Depends, if you must know!)  But, for now, I always waltz into the gas stations along the way, to use their facilities.  Because, guess what?  When you use the facilities, it is only polite to make a purchase!  And nothing helps a trip go faster than a fresh Coke with good crushed ice and maybe a pack of M&Ms to help it wash down!!!  I'm only trying to be polite, ya know!

Traveling Potty Tip #3

You all know I have daughters.  So, naturally, my traveling potty tips are for GIRLS.  Those of you with boys have it easy.  Or, so I'm told.  It appears to me that boys are equipped with built-in travel potties.  All they need is a quick pull-over and a small patch of grass.  Or, a small mayonnaise jar.  Just be sure the mayo lid is securely tightened before any sloshing or jostling may occur.

Traveling Potty Tip #YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN

As I mentioned earlier, I have no tips for the bump bump needs from the back seat.  We have used the child's potty chair before, but I'm sorry--the removal and cleaning afterward is just icky gross!  Do any of my gentle readers have a suggestion?

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WFMW: Ahhh, Organized Travel Tips!

 

Tools of the (organized) travel trade:

Nothing can make me shriek, "Eeeeek!" more than traveling with kids cross-country in a minivan.  However, I have learned a couple of tricks that help me say, "Ahhh."  (A little help in the form of caffeine and snacks from every gas station along the way doesn't hurt, either....  However, those things make my husband say, "Eeeeeek!  So there's a mighty fine balance to navigate.) 

 

1.  Travel Bag - Since we're talking about travel in a car (rather, minivan), my favorite favorite travel bag is this one:  It's Vera Bradley, and let me just state here that I am not making any money whatsoever by linking to this amazing site.  However, if Vera finds it in her dear heart to compensate me with any of her products, I would not object.  No mam.  Anything Vera would do, too.  I love it all! 

You might think this duffel is too expensive for a weekend travel bag, but I will say that it is a hardy bag.  I've had mine for over 10 years, and it shows little to no wear.  You can toss it in the washer, if needed.  What's not to love about a darling bag that lasts?  Plus, Vera puts her discontinued fabrics on sale several times a year.  I bought my daughter a large duffel at Christmas, and paid half price!

 

2.  Pop-up Laundry Basket- Ohhhh, can you feel my love here?  This is one of my FAVORITE things.  However, please let me give the proper credit.  My sweet sister-in-law, whom I actually call one of my sisters, gave me one of these several Christmases ago as one of her "Favorite Things" gifts.  Indeed, it is!  This folds up into a teeny tiny thing, so that tucking it into your bag for a trip is easy. (I actually store mine in my travel bag, so I never forget it!)  Once you arrive at your destination, pop out (literally) this magical tool, and the organization of your hotel room is well underway!  Having a laundry basket on a trip gives the whole family a place to throw the dirty laundry...instead of, you know, the bathroom, under the bed, in front of the door...  Once you're ready to leave, just grab the full laundry basket, and stuff it in the car.  Because it is mesh, it will squeeze into any ole place you want it.  (You can purchase these at Wal-Mart in the "laundry aisle."  For some reason, I couldn't find it on Walmart.com.)

 

 

3.  Bins, Bins, and more Bins!- Can a girl own too many organization bins?  The answer to that question is "No!"  For car trips, I typically pack 3 bins.  1 bin for each of my daughters as her "Travel Bin"--in which I pack books to read, coloring books, a ziploc of crayons and sharpened pencils, a notebook, a couple of toys, and a small dvd player and movies.  The 3rd bin I pack with snacks and travel medicines (I always travel with Motrin, cough syrup, Benedryl, diaper cream, and Aquaphor.)

I like these collapsible bins from Target.  They're lightweight, and easy to store when not in use.

 
Happy organized travels, friends!  And, that is just redundant, isn't it?  Happy travel IS organized!!

 

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