How to survive a road trip with your kids

When I tell people that my kids – ages 5 and a half and 20 months – have never been on a plane ride, I get a lot of "Whaaaat?! They need to experience this!"

Well, guess what? I know my kids, and I know they just aren't ready to survive the simplest plane ride right now. And honestly, I'm not going to pay for a vacation where I'll have to worry about screaming, crying and whining on a plane. I can worry about that crap at home for free!

So right now, my hubby and I resort to road trips. What do we do to make them somewhat hassle-free? Here's what we do during a three-hour car ride:

• We hit Michaels and Dollarama for new things the kids have never seen before, like pack-and-play coloring kits, small toys such as cars, even stickers. 

• We create a "family-friendly" playlist in advance, which does NOT include "Old MacDonald" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb." The key here is "family-friendly" – the music has to be tolerable among the adults, too! So our playlist consists of a lot of Kidz Bop compilations, fun Disney stuff from Frozen, and music from Glee. Quick tip: turn your car ride into a carpool dance party, à la James Corden's carpool karaoke below: 

• Keep a portable potty in the car, such as this one, as well as plastic bags to pee into.  (FYI: make sure the bags don't have any holes!) This also means you need to make sure hand sanitizer and baby wipes are well within reach – keep them in the front seat with you, too. 

• Don't pack snacks in the trunk; keep them with you in the front seat so that they're easily accessible. 

• We plan our pit stops in advance. This isn't the time to worry about your children's sodium and sugar intake, people. Stop at McDonald's and get them a damn Happy Meal. 

And finally, keep your expectations low. When you experience a kiddie meltdown, know that the car behind you is probably going through the same thing. Don't worry, it may feel like a thousand years, but this car ride will end, and when it does, you will feel awesome.

Do you have anymore tips to add? Let me know!

Review: Crock A Doodle Mississauga

My creation looks a bit juvenile, but it's the experience that counts! 

My five-year-old daughter and I both have crafty thumbs, and with a "craft corner" in my family room piled high to the ceiling, it was time to move a project out of the home.

Recently, we headed to Crock A Doodle Mississauga on a Saturday afternoon, where we each painted a pottery creation. Was it worth our time? Here's what I've got to say as a "baby savings" mom:

Pros:

• Lots of items to paint, including different dishes, boxes and figurines. My daughter chose a princess and I chose a small mug; both were $18 each. (The larger and heavier the item, the higher the price. Prices for teeny-tiny items started at $6.) At first I thought, "Mother Goose, isn't this kind of expensive?!" But when you think about it, this price includes your studio time, paint, clean-up and kiln-firing. 
• A very bright, relaxing studio environment, with lots of seating for customers. 
• The studio also provides different paint brushes for you to experiment with.
• Don't worry, you won't get kicked out! You're free to take your time. My daughter and I took over two hours. 
• Staff is super helpful and friendly. They even helped me with painting a blurb on the bottom of my mug. 

Cons:

• When I went to pick up our projects post kiln-firing, I noticed I was a few dollars overcharged. Instead of cash back, I received a $5 credit. For customers who don't wish to come back in the future, a credit could be a problem. 
• Crock A Doodle Mississauga wraps up your pottery in brown paper and bags it for you. However, the wrapping was kind of chintzy; there wasn't even enough paper to fully protect both my mug and my daughter's princess. 
• Definitely not toddler friendly! There are way too many breakable items at hand; it's best to leave little ones under 3 years old at home. 

Overall, even if I didn't get my $5 credit, I would still return; I'm already planning my next visit, where I'll create a gorgeous mandala-inspired platter (yes, I'm fully aware I sound like a little old lady with no life, but hey, painting pottery is healthier than drinking!).

Visiting Crock A Doodle Mississauga was quite a memorable moment between myself and my daughter; if you need some one-on-one time with your crafty child, I highly recommend spending time here.

Have you been here before? I would love to know your thoughts; sound off below. 

You won't believe what I bought for $6.99...

Here's one thing I'm constantly amazed by as a parent: kids really do grow fast. And I mean fast!

My five-year-old daughter's shoe size went from size 8.5 to 10 practically overnight (ok, more like within a few months, but you know what I mean!). I'm proud she's so healthy and strong, but I'm also a little bummed by the extra costs in shoes.

And of course, she needed shoes during the "off season." For instance, we had to buy new winter boots last week, which happened to be the end of freakin' winter! So instead of paying full price for boots that would only be worn for a week, we went thrift shopping. 

Hello, Kid to Kid Mississauga – we bought a pair of kid's Cougar-branded boots for $10. And now that the weather is getting warmer, my daughter's going to need outdoor shoes for school. Luckily, we found these Skechers below for $6.99 (and the lights still work!). 

Skechers, size 10 for $6.99 from Kid to Kid Mississauga (and they still light up!)

Wanna know something sweet? We sold our old Snugli baby carrier, a few pairs of shoes and an old dress of my daughter's at Kid to Kid Mississauga; I got a $12 credit, so I used it towards the shoes and a few shirts. 

So really, I paid nothing for today's purchases!

Thrift Shopping Tips

If you really want to reap the rewards of thrift shopping. check out a few of my tips below: 

• Sign up for e-mailing lists for coupons, announcements on special sales, etc. 
• Join "clubs", like Value Village's Super Savers club card for better deals. 
• Find out what the thrift store's conditions are for selling items to the store and getting store credit in return. FYI: Kid to Kid Mississauga can be extremely picky in terms of buying used stuff and they do take awhile to scrutinize the condition of each item submitted (i.e. frays, treads on shoes, scuffs, etc). 

I have yet to purchase gently-used clothing through social media, but I'd love to know your thoughts and tips on this. Sound off in the comments section below. 

3 Little-Known Tips For Saving Money For Your Family

As an avid money-saver, I can appreciate couponing, but let's be realistic: who the heck has time for that?!

I was totally into couponing a few years back (I even had a coupon book!). But now that I have two kids, organizing coupons is the least I want to do right now. So here are three tips I swear by when couponing feels like a daunting task:


1. Just because it's sold at Costco, it doesn't mean it's cheaper. 
Although Costco sells diapers, sometimes they aren't better priced. Let's break it down per unit: I just bought Huggies size 5 right now for 20 cents per diaper from the Real Canadian Superstore. Costco, however, is selling the same size and brand for over 10 cents more.

2. Carefully watch the prices ring in at the checkout. 
Make sure your items scan through at the right price. And if they come in at the wrong price, ask the store if they have any policies for "correcting" this error. At the Real Canadian Superstore, they will take $10 off the item that scans in wrong. Depending on what you buy, this means you leave with a freebie!

*Note: this is not an ad for the Real Canadian Superstore, it just so happens that I've come across great deals there in the past month.

3. Visit your library for access to free downloads.
Check your library to see if they offer access to free downloads. For instance, at the Mississauga Library, you can use your login to download music from Freegal Music. And from firsthand experience, Freegal has some impressive selections, including Kidz Bop, The Wiggles, and music from Glee and Empire. (And yes, I downloaded "Drip Drop" from Empire!)

From dinners to entertainment deals, what are your tips for saving money for the family? I would love to hear your feedback - post in the Comments section below or join the Adventures in Baby Savings Facebook Group here. 

Your Guide to Buying Gently-Used Clothing And Toys For Babies and Kids in Mississauga

With the winter season quickly approaching, I wanted to compile a resource for buying gently-used baby and kid items in Mississauga, Ontario.

Babies and kids go through clothes and toys quickly; I figure why not purchase used items and save some money for Christmas gifts, am I right? Aside from social media connections, check out these worthwhile Mississauga resources:

Value Village
Referred to as "The Village" by my mommy friend, their Halloween section (with new costumes!) has the best prices from what I've seen locally. Clothes are usually decent quality, but what I also appreciate the most is the way items are organized by size and/or age.

Talize
I find the used clothing here a little dated, but depending on what you're looking for, they're slightly better quality compared to Value Village.


Kid to Kid Mississauga
Out of all the gently-used clothing places I've been to, this has THE best quality in used shoes. Prices are impressive, too! Bonus: if you sell your used items to the store, they'll give you cash or a store credit worth 20% more. (My advice? Take the store credit if you've still got kids. Think of it as "trading.")

Mom-to-Mom sales
Check out your community centre or parks and recreation guide for upcoming events; vendors consist of different local parents selling used clothes and toys. Sometimes these sales consist of an admission fee, but usually they go towards a great cause.

OutGROW OutPLAY sale events
Events happen twice a year; register as a consignor and OutGROW and OutPLAY will sell your old clothes (plus toys and baby equipment) for you. Or, hey, just shop around. Also, when you volunteer your time at an event, you can get up to 80% off your purchase.

Did I miss any other Mississauga stores or events? Let me know if I did; just leave your comments below, thanks!

Kindergarten Lunch Products That Work!

Wondering what to use to pack your kindergartener's lunch this fall?

I have two kids, one is going into senior kindergarten and another is almost 10 months old. With that, the following are my top two container choices that work for my whole family:


1. The First Years Learning Curve Take and Toss Feeding Variety

First off, this pack is perfect for a clan with kids of all ages. With sippy cups, snack containers, and utensils, these BPA-free dishes are durable and easy for little hands to open and close by themselves with no difficulty. A great value for its multi-use; I've seen it at Walmart, as well as Amazon.ca (28 pieces, $16.98). Worth every penny, trust me. 

2. Ikea's Pruta Food Containers

My daughter was able to open and close these containers by herself since she was three years old. They're microwavable, last forever and I love how I can use these for either my daughter's lunch or food storage at home. (Check out "Awesome (And Affordable!) Products for Kindergarten Students" here for more info on Ikea's Pruta containers.)

What do you use to pack your little one's lunch? Post your answer below to share. 

Got a crafty kid? Then save your empty egg cartons

My kid loves to paint, but I hate cleaning up afterwards. (Wait, who actually enjoys cleaning up after their kid?!) 

So anyways, I have a corner in my house that makes me look like a semi-hoarder of craft materials. The weird thing is, I have A LOT of empty egg cartons because I figure one day I'll make use of them. And last night I had a mommy epiphany to do this to an egg carton when my daughter requested a painting craft: 

Now after she's done painting, I only need to clean the paintbrush, as I just have to toss the carton and paint away. I don't know if this is a no-brainer or what, but it made me feel like Martha Effen Stewart. 

What are your shortcuts for cleaning up after your kids? I'd love to know your answers.