Kathryn at DaringYoungMom.com recently showed off this moment of drunken inspiration. It’s the dirt cheap trash can for your car. Sure, we’re mocking it a little, but rest assurred, we’ll be sportin’ one of these bad boys in the Family Hack urban assault vehicle. Follow these intstructions to contruct your own.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Thread the handles of a plastic grocery bag over the arm rests of the front seats.
Behold the finest food storage containers on planet earth. The IKEA 365+ Food Saver. The big deal here is the lids. The containers are available in four sizes, but the lids are all the same size. No more frustrating searches for the one lid that fits. But wait…there’s more plastic perfection.
Clear Lids for Easy Identification of Contents
Rubberized Easy-Grip Edge
Stackable
Built-In Steam Vent
Dishwasher & Microwave Safe
Cost: $2.00 to $5.00
Finally, don’t let the low price fool you. These tubs are heavy duty. By far the most substantial containers we own. Bravo IKEA! You’re always exceeding our expectations.
You’re sure to run into something you forgot no matter how much you pack, but shopping for necessary items in your new surroundings will be a fun way to explore and learn some new vocabulary. Plus you’ll have some cool and practical souvenirs of your trip (e.g. "hey, these are the socks we bought in Buenos Aires!")
2. The above rule does NOT apply to your carry-on items.
There is nothing worse than being stranded with a young child and no snacks, juice, entertainment, or clean shirt — and you definitely don’t want to have to ration your diaper stash!
Pack more diapers than you could possibly use.
Separate your diaper stash between two different bags.
Said from the experience of being stranded on a cross-country flight with NO DIAPERS — really, don’t ask.
Take at least TWO spare outfits per child.
There is no easier way to guarantee a major blow out, than to change your child into your only spare outfit!
Have spare clothes and essential toiletries for the adults in a carry-on bag.
You want to have what you need if you or your bags don’t reach your destination on time.
So far, we’ve learned about getting the best deals on accomodations and how to travel with the kids. Now, let’s look at two free tools that will keep your business humming while you’re living the jet-set mobile lifestyle…or just working at home in your skivvies.
Let’s face facts here. We all get to the point where we want to stuff something in our kids’ mouths and get a few minutes of peace and quiet. To guarantee effectiveness, this something is usually sweet. Oh but then the horrible sticky mess that ensues! I’m still not sure who thought that kids, popsicles, and the summer heat were a good combination.
Solve the problem by converting to the “popsicle-in-the-bathtub” philosophy. Mess and cleanup in one glorious efficient kid-friendly, house-friendly event. By the time they finish those popsicles, I’ll have clean kids and a new post up on family hack! Life is good.
We are a family with three small kids figuring out how to travel the world, work from anywhere while home schooling our kids. We also blather on about life hacks, saving money and cool stuff we love. Snarky bios of each cast member are here.