How I Pack for Daily Activities

Okay so yesterday I gave you some background on why I am attempting this post today! I’ll tell you what, I’ll show you how I stay sane, if you promise what items you use that I might be missing. Deal? Deal!

Yesterday I mentioned I have 3 lists I use! So let’s get started, shall we?

1. A Packed Cooler: After using a small cooler bag that I purchased at the Christmas Tree Shoppe for $4.99 several years ago, I tried this year to find a more heavy duty one that would stay colder longer. I found one that promised to stay cold for 54 hours. I am still trying to figure out how much ice need to have in it to keep things cold enough in the massive heat we are having right now in Ohio. Hoping I didn’t waste my money! Here are a few things I always make sure I pack in the cooler before leaving the house each morning and these are on top of lunches that we may pack for picnics:

• Juice Boxes (at least 2) – in the cooler months I usually purchase a pack and leave them in the truck. In the summer, I try to keep enough in the truck for at least one of my friends.
• The boys water bottles (these were featured in a post last year) and let me tell you how much I STILL LOVE these Thermos bottles! These bad boys will keep water cold most of a hot, steamy day if I add enough ice.
• Z Bars by Clif - The boys LOVE these, they are healthy and don’t need to be refrigerated (but the chocolate chip ones will melt)! So in a pinch, if we are stuck somewhere and hunger strikes I don’t mind using these as a meal or a snack!
• Apples – I love the versatility of apples. Especially now that the boys don’t insist I cut and peel them. Easy to pack, virtually no mess and good for me and the boys!
• Extra Water bottles for me
• A meal replacement bar, such as my very FAVE from Larabar or a Fiber One Bar.

2. A bag full of emergency clothes: Now before you say to yourself, I don’t have extra clothes or money to buy extra clothes. I found that KMart has cotton mix n’ match shorts and shirts for $2.88 a piece (up to 5T). Do I like them? NO! But for emergencies, wouldn’t a “not so in my clothing style” outfit beat a soaking wet or muddy “just fell in a pond” outfit? AND, I realized if I pack an outfit that is nice and comfy, I don’t have to pack separate pajamas (which I used to do). Because if worse came to worse they could always wear these outfits to bed, if necessary.

From top to bottom:

• A sturdy bag
• Emergency Medical Kit
• Wipes! (come on – what mom doesn’t need wipes all the time)
• A towel – which is a NECESSITY during the summer months with splash pads in almost every playground!
• Carter’s emergency clothes: includes a cotton outfit, underwear, pull-up AND a diaper. You never know what he will need !
• Evan’s emergency clothes: includes a cotton outfit and underwear.
• Socks: One summer morning I took the boys to a museum that had a children’s play place that REQUIRED socks. Fortunately for some reason, the boys had tennis shoes on. But normally my kids NEVER wear tennis shoes during the summer months. So as soon as I got home, I added socks to the bag!
• Swimming Trunks – again you never know when you might end up at a park with a sprayground.

3. Emergency Medical Kit: Now here is where I am a little uneasy about how much you need to really pack! I mean, I know ideally I should have ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that I would possibly ever could use in an emergency. But I don’t. I tried to think about just the things that would be helpful if we were stuck at a park and needed a band aid or one of the boys had an allergy attack, or we were going to stay outside in the sun. You know what I mean?

I just got this one at Target this week! I love it because it is soft, zippered and flexible. It was free with a purchase of 3 items that I use anyway! Each spring time, I check all the expiration dates and replenish.

From top to bottom:

• tissues
• Itch relief spray for such things as poison ivy, rashes, bug bites
• Children’s Suncreen 50
• Scissors
• Hydrocortisone cream
• bug spray
• anti-bacterial wipes
• sterile wipes
• Children’s Ibuprofen (I cut the instructions of the box and keep it in the bag also)
• Chidlren’s Tylenol (I cut the instructions of the box and keep it in the bag also)
• Children’s allergy medications (I cut the instructions of the box and keep it in the bag also)
• Adult Ibuprofen
• Neosporin
• Finger nail clippers
• Tweezers
• Various Sizes of band aids

So there we have it! My must haves to make life running around with preschoolers a little less stressful! I want my boys to enjoy exploring and spur of the moment trips without having to limit them or worry about a messy situation.

Now it’s your turn. What do you keep in your vehicle. If there is something that I am missing that would be helpful please leave me a comment!!!!