Banned From Flying: My Son's Favorite Lunch

On Monday I will publish an article about how to travel with a child who has severe allergies. If you (like me) have children without allergies, you'll probably think "don't care" and skip right past it. And that's fine, because you don't need to think about the logistics of traveling with a child who could go into shock from sitting next to someone who eats the wrong thing. But I want to share with you why I think this is important, and why I care, and why I will took the time and energy to write these articles. Most importantly, I want you to understand why you should care too.

Back when I first started this website, I recommended that parents pack peanut butter sandwiches for travel days. I packed them myself. PB&J is easy, it doesn't need refrigeration, it tastes good, and it is a great way to get some protein.

And then one day, a reader politely and gently told me it wasn't a great idea. She shared that "people with allergies can react from the smell or particles in the air or on the seats." I realized she was right, and I updated the text of the article, but secretly I thought "I'm still going to do it" and I had a thousand reasons: "I'm busy," "My son is a picky eater, and this is his favorite lunch" "The chances of sitting near someone with an allergy are small."

The next time we headed out of town, I started to pack him PB&J, and then a funny thing happened... I felt guilty and I packed something else. And in my guilt, I started to be more aware of this issue, and started to be more open to messages in the media about severe allergies. Gradually I learned things like:

• The incidence of food allergy has doubled in the U.S. over the last 10 years and scientists don't know why.
• Peanut allergy doubled in children over a five-year period (1997-2002).
• The incidence of food allergy is highest in young children – one in 17 among those under age 3.
• About 3 million children in the U.S. have food allergies.
• Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction.
• A recent analysis of data from U.S. hospital emergency departments (ED) estimated a total of 20,821 hospital ED visits, 2,333 visits for anaphylaxis, and 520 hospitalizations caused by food allergy in just a 2 month period.
• Death can be sudden, sometimes occurring within minutes.

Bit by bit, I started to notice more news stories and blog entries about parents who travel with kids who have severe allergies. As DeliciousBaby grew, I started getting periodic tips or questions from parents of allergic children struggling to make their own family trips work. Bit-by-bit the issue became real to me.

Finally, a few weeks ago I started looking for good resources I could link to. I didn't find anything that felt "complete." I asked around, and nobody could point me to one an a resource as detailed as, for example, my recent posts on Breastfeeding on a Plane. I realized that it would be a service to my readers to write more about traveling with severe allergies. I sent out a query, and the stories I got back were nothing short of inspiring, and some of them even brought tears to my eyes.

Finally, I'm beginning to put myself in the shoes of a parent with a child who has a life threatening allergy. I realize that every fiber in my body would tell me to keep my child locked up safely at home. I would want to feed her food I made at home made from produce I grew in my own garden and flour I milled myself. And I'm guessing the parents that I heard from feel that too... but they know that doing that would be wrong for their child, wrong for their families, and wrong for themselves. So they put their kids in school where some well meaning parent might send peanut butter cookies as a snack one day, and they fly across the country or across the world.

They travel not just to visit family, but also to explore new places and cultures, and to have family time, and for all the other reasons that our family travels.

The stories I heard ranged the full gamut of experience. I heard from parents who had nerve racking trips made more difficult by well intentioned strangers who offered their child food when they weren't looking. I heard from parents who had amazing experiences in places as far reaching as France, Spain, Vietnam, and Morocco. Parents told me how they make it all work, from wiping down every surface on the airplane seat, to shipping food ahead, to interviewing local bakers in a foreign language, to renting apartments where they can cook each meal themselves.

And each of them seemed to feel that the experiences they had made the strain and worry worthwhile. In every email message there was an amazing spirit of willingness to make it all work. Why do they do it? Just for a vacation? To check some things off on a list of monuments? I think it's something deeper, I think these parents are giving their kids THE WORLD.

And what they need from the rest of us is simple in comparison. It's nothing really. Don't pack a bag of nuts or a pb&j in your carryon, don't offer a child a snack without asking the parent first, and the next time you see a parent trying to set up a nut-free zone around their child on an airplane, say "come sit next to me." Because really, if we can't help keep each other's children safe, then who will help keep our children safe?

Filed Under: allergies eating-with-kids travel-health

17 comments | Posted on June 20, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Money Saving Tips the Travel Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

Most budget travel articles tell you things like where to find the best hotel deals or give advice like "find restaurants where kids eat free." Those are great tips, but they keep you firmly rooted in expensive travel industry products and services. This article focuses on tips you won't hear from big travel magazines whose revenue comes from hotel and airline ads.

1. Consider credit card companion fares (and get more than one)
   We fly from Seattle to California several times per year with our family of four. Let's assume a roundtrip ticket costs $300 (it is often much more). Instead of paying about $1200 per trip, we pay about $850. That's a savings of $350. If the fare is higher, we save even more.

   How do we do it? We use the $50 companion fare tickets that come with our credit cards, and we have enough accounts to accommodate all our planned trips

   Here's the math:
   Base Fare for Paying Adult $300 x2 = $600
   Credit Card Annual Fee: $75 x2 = $150
   Companion Fare : $50 x2 = $100
   ---
   Total for two adults and two children: $850
   

   Most people assume that you can only have one Airline credit card per airline per family, but in reality I have never had a problem adding additional cards and associating them with my frequent flyer number. Just make sure you don't actually USE all that extra credit to run up debt!

2. Re-negotiate your rates
   Most travelers (myself included) like to reserve hotel rooms and rental cars well ahead of time to make sure they'll get what they want. That's a fine strategy, but don't forget to check prices again a few days before your trip.

   Rental car prices often go down as dates get closer, and few car agencies have cancellation fees. A day or two before your trip is a great time to search the rates again for substantial savings. Hotels sometimes offer last minute specials, and most allow changes up to 24 hours before scheduled arrival.

3. Save Money on a Hotel By Not Staying In One.
   A hotel isn't your only option when you travel. Home Swaps (where you find a family who wants to trade homes with you for a few days, a week, or even months) are becoming more popular. You can find home exchanges all over the world on websites like HomeExchange.com

   Worried about having someone else in your home? Reputable, high quality apartment rentals are also available all over the world. Many are in central locations or historic neighborhoods that have few affordable hotels. Apartment rentals can be much cheaper than hotels, especially for families who normally reserve two adjoining rooms. Having a kitchen in your apartment or swap means that you can save even more money by cooking your own food, fresh from local markets, instead of dining out for three meals a day. Many apartments also have a washing machine, which means that you'll save money on expensive hotel laundry services and be able to pack lighter.

   The best rewards of a swap or apartment rental aren't monetary though, they make your trip better by giving you more space and better opportunity to meet locals.

   Check out our tips for finding a reliable vacation rental at Choosing a Vacation Rental

4. Save even more on vacation rentals
   Rental property owners don't like to put all their eggs in one basket and often work with more than one agency, some of which have cheaper rates than others. Sometimes owners even rent directly on Craigslist or VRBO. There is no easy way to find out, but as you search different rental agency sites you will often see the same properties appear over and over.

   Many rental apartments are used primarily by long-term business travelers, making them even more affordable during November and December when business travel is light.

5. Flying is Not Always Fastest or Cheapest
   On the East Coast, bus service between major cities like Boston and New York has become so competitive that you can sometimes find fares as low as $1. Traveling with Kids over 2? Unlike most airlines, many bus services and Amtrak offer discounts for children, making your overall cost lower. For example, on Amtrak passengers 2 to 15 years of age usually ride for 50 percent off the full adult fare. Infants ride free.

   Not only can train or bus travel often cheaper than flying or driving, but it can actually be faster that when you add in the need to get to the airport early, travel time to airports located outside the city center, baggage claim, and inevitable flight delays. If you are traveling with young children, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much more quickly the trip passes when children can explore the different cars on a train instead of being cramped in an airline seat.

   Trains really beat out air travel and driving in Europe where fast trains often connect cities like Paris and London or Madrid and Sevilla and gas prices are double the prices here in the US.

6. Self-Cater and Eat Where Locals Eat
   Ordering room service for breakfast is not only expensive, but all that waiting takes time away from sightseeing. Consider buying a carton of milk and a box of cereal or bread and jam to keep in your room. If you start your day with a simple breakfast, you'll be able to snack at that great local bakery you discover once you leave the hotel.

   Lunch is a great time to have a picnic made up of local specialties from a farmer's market or grocery store. Shopping where the locals do means that you can sample the most expensive gourmet food items cheaper than you can eat out. Not in the mood for a picnic? Want to try one of the hottest restaurants in town? Lunch is a great time to eat a fancy meal because prices can be half (or less) of the cost for dinner at the same restaurant and reservations can be easier to get.

   Be on the lookout for great locals restaurants. Fodors guides do a good job of listing cheap eats that have terrific food, but you can also find your own by watching for out-of-the way places that are packed with locals even at off-hours. Need more help finding restaurants? Check out our articcle on Finding Great Local Restaurants on Your Vacation

   Carrying bottled water and snacks with you each day (buy them at a local grocery store) can save a lot of money over the course of a trip. Better yet, help the environment by packing your refillable water bottle and carrying it with you each day.

7. Take Public Transit, not Taxis, Tourist Busses or Rental Cars
   Taxis can be expensive (and hard to flag down when you need them most). Rental Cars often end up being more difficult than convenient when you are visiting a city with traffic or expensive parking. Instead, invest in a great map (we like the Streetwise Maps and Michelin's Spiral Bound city maps) so that you can find your way around. Next, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the local subway system and bus routes.

   If you like to plan ahead, many cities have their bus maps online and make it easy to find your route using the start and finish addresses. Google maps also has maps for many bus systems Planning ahead isn't necessary though, you can use the bus maps available at bus stops in your destination and ask for help from locals.

   Busses and subways have day passes or multi-day passes that can save you even more money.

8. Bring Less
   The less you bring, the less you'll spend on baggage to carry it all in, and you won't risk over-weight fees or extra baggage fees. Families often think they are doomed to multiple checked bags and extra baggage fees, but here are some helpful tips to help you cut down the bulk:

   • Instead of bringing everything with you, rent or borrow what you need at your destination (or better yet, figure out how to do without it). For example, if you're headed to visit family, consider buying inexpensive baby items to keep there. It might be cheaper and easier over the long haul. For example, some car seat carriers cost just as much as a second car seat that you keep at grandma's house. Renting at your destination is always cheaper than a trip to the chiropractor after your return home…
   • Order disposable items to be delivered to your hotel instead of carrying them with you. Amazon.com sells diapers, wipes, snacks, disposable sippy cups, and other baby items and there is no delivery charge if you spend at least $25. Most hotels will accept deliveries that arrive before you do as long as you have a confirmed reservation.
   • Check out our article on Packing Light With Kids for more ideas.

9. Look for online coupons to attractions and restaurants
   For those who plan ahead (even the night before) there are a variety of discounts at popular amusement parks, tourist sites, and restaurants. Amusement parks have multi-day passes or special rates for admission late in the day. Museums often have one day per month where admission is free. Cities often combine popular attractions into city passes, and you can often find online coupons for attractions and restaurants.

   Start by checking the websites for the attractions you are visiting. Next, use Google to search for coupons online. Discounted tickets and coupons can also be found on Ebay (but make sure that you understand the transferability and expiration dates of the tickets). Once you have arrived at your destination, you can also ask your hotel for discount coupons or ask about auto club discounts at the ticket booth.

   Buying discounted tickets ahead of time not only saves you money, but you can often skip the lines as well.

10. Don't break the bank on travel toys
    Parents can be so desperate for the kids to behave on the flight that they buy lots of expensive toys and games hoping to keep everyone content. One or two is ok, but there's no need for more than that. Bring books, music, activity books, and simple crafts or check out our helpful tips for Entertaining Your Child on a Plane and packing Travel Toys You Already Have at Home

Filed Under: budget popular

19 comments | Posted on June 19, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

New Guide: Products To Make Family Travel Easier

I get lots of questions from readers about what products (and especially which toys) we use when we travel with our two kids.

We are minimalists when it comes to buying a lot of specialized travel gear, but I do have a few great recommendations, and I have pulled them together into one place. Nobody can buy their way into our guide and everything I list is something I have personally reviewed and would recommend to a friend.

So... to see my favorite strollers, slings, car seat carriers and more visit our products guide or just click through to our favorite toys for keeping kids busy on a plane.

0 comments | Posted on June 16, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Favorite Family Travel Articles This Week

The SoulTravelers3 family has been traveling through Europe for over a year. In their latest article: How to Do You Do Extended Travel and Mini-Retirements they describe how they make it all work, from planning to budget to some of the logistics to arranging a trip like theirs. If you dream about traveling for more than a few weeks with your family, head over and check it out. You might also want to watch the popular YouTube video of their daughter playing Violin around the world.

You have probably read by now that United and US Airlines have joined American Airlines in charging customers to check even one bag. American Airlines is taking their fees even further by weighing carryon bags This news is disappointing, but not surprising, and checked bag fees can really add up for a family of four. I've seen lots of hacks on-line, from wearing your coat and heaviest shoes, to attaching things to your bag with carabiners. At the end of the day, though, the best solution is to travel light. You'll have more energy to keep your kids from kicking the seat in front of them and to enjoy your destination if you haven't worn yourself out carrying mountains of baggage through the airport. For our past few trips (4-5 days each) we've fit everything pretty easily into two carryon bags. One of the best rewards is not having to wait in baggage claim after we land! Check out our Top Tips for Packing Light and our Packing Lists. We also like this Handy Reference to Domestic Airline Fees

SimpleMom has a great step-by-step article about keeping track of your online recipes on del.iciou.us. Del.icio.us is website that lets you bookmark and organize your favorite web pages and articles, and it is a great way to keep track of all the activities, restaurants, and ideas you've found when you are planning a family vacation. SimpleMom's instructions work just as well for travel as recipes, so if you are looking for a better way to organize the information you find online, give it a try.

I have written before about what a great resource MommyPoppins is for families traveling to NewYork. The site's new New York City Neighborhood Guides for Families just made it even better!

I always enjoy Chitlins and Camembert, a blog by an American woman who married a Frenchman, moved to the French Countryside, and had two (adorable) kids. This week's post Chocolate For Breakfast reminded me of how I loved browsing the baby food selection on our first trip to Paris with 6 month old E. After reading countless times in US baby books not to give chocolate to small babies, I was simultaneously shocked, delighted and amused to see chocolate flavored formula and chocolate rice cereal!

Want to do more camping or outdoor activities with your kids? Parenthacks is collecting family camping tips and hacks and will publish them for us all to read. Want more? Head over to OutdoorBaby and learn from a family who has done just about every outdoor activity I would care to imagine with their child. (by way of TravelSavvyMom

Thank You:
Thanks to Blog-Friend Sheila at Perceptive Travel (and Family Travel) for mentioning me in her list of travel bloggers on Twitter. As she points out, Twitter is a great place to ask friends and other twitterers for travel ideas and recommendations. My twitter name is @deliciousbaby, and if you're on Twitter, I'd love for you to "follow" me.

1 comment | Posted on June 16, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Most Popular Articles in May

May was a busy month! We had some really great articles, and our number of visitors grew by over 50% over the total for April. Many of my readers helped spread the word by mentioning DeliciousBaby in their personal blogs or posting about us on their favorite message boards. Every one of those posts helped new people discover us, and I want to say Thank You!

1. Easy Hack for Credit Card Transaction Fee Refund The deadline for this refund has passed, so why not check out some of our great Ideas for Tracking Travel Expenses instead.
2. Flying With Babies Toddlers and Kids
   
3. Airplane Carryon Packing List for Travel With Kids
4. Ten Tips for Keeping A Toddler Busy on a Plane Flight
   
5. Our Favorite Travel Toys
   

0 comments | Posted on June 13, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Picture Of The Week: Crawling In Gaudi's Batlló House

When we were in Barcelona with the kids last October, our best trick for seeing cultural sights was to wait until they were both napping (D in the sling & E in the stroller. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

Here's a picture of newly-awake D crawling through Gaudi's beautiful Batlló House. We're glad she woke up. She was fascinated by the beautiful tile mosaics and we enjoyed showing them to her.

0 comments | Posted on June 12, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Insider's Guide to Barcelona's Secret Gardens

This is a guest post from Julia Fossi, a co-owner of Fish and Chips, Barcelona's first and only traditional fish and chip shop. Co-owners Julie and Julia are both young mothers who moved to Barcelona over seven years ago. They met in a local moms group and decided to start a business together. Between them they have 4 kids, 2 cats and one dog, so they are experts in finding great activities for kids in the city. In this article, Julia shares her favorite "Secret Gardens"... places where you can take a young child to run and explore in the middle of the bustling city.

Had we known about Julia and Julie's traditional Fish and Chip shop located in the Raval, we would have checked it out during our Family Vacation to Barcelona. It sounds great for young kids and picky eaters.

I want to share my favorite ideas for "Secret Gardens" to take your kids to in the heart of Barcelona.

Eixample Beach
When Cerda laid out the plans for the modern Eixample neighborhood, his idea was to create blocks that held everything the resident needed for a glorious life. Each block was to consist of a square of blocks with shops and offices on lower floors and residential apartments higher up. Each of these blocks was to have a central communal area with parks or gardens to be shared by the residents of the block. Unfortunately, in almost all of the blocks greedy owners and realtors distributed the inside ‘Illas’ (literally islands) and built on them. However, a few remain or have been reclaimed by the local council for communal use. My favorite, just a few blocks from Placa Catalunya called officially ‘Torre de las Aiguas’ and known by the locals as Eixample Beach is one of these perfect little hidden gems that visiting parents with toddlers should know about.

Called Torre de las Aiguas due to the 19th century water treatment tower in the middle, the local council has created a paddling pool around the beautiful tower that is knee deep on an adult and therefore perfect for toddlers and kids up to around age 7. Around the edges a small ‘beach’ has been imported with lots of shade from tree cover. Along the back wall there is a row of Victorian style changing cubicles and showers. There is something very serene about this space, perfect for a family trying to get away from city bustle with kids. It feels like a little island paradise in the middle of a thriving metropolis. The only thing missing is refreshments, so take a picnic, water wings and plenty of sun block. The quietest time of day is afternoon (around 3pm) when most Catalans have gone off for siesta. This is a great activity for kids up to about seven years old.

Torre de las Aiguas is only through the summer months, usually June through September and costs just a couple of euros per person to get in. It can be crowded between the end of June and the beginning of August and during the first two weeks of September. The entrance is tricky to spot. It has a typical red and white council name plack on the wall and it is an entrance way with a tunnel through to the other side of the buildings. Peek through and you will see the outdoor space and changing huts on the other side. Don't be afraid to ask a local for help. Address: Carrer Roger de Lluria 56, between Carrer Diputació and Consell de Cent


View Larger Map

Parc de la Creueta del Coll
My second secret garden, Parc de la Creueta del Coll, is far enough out of town to ensure that it is never too crowded, but close enough in for a short 1/2 day trip. Parc de la Creueta del Coll is again a park with an outdoor paddling pool but on a much larger scale and a little deeper. It is big enough and varied enough to accommodate a larger number and age range of kids than Torre de las Aiguas. There are canoes with monitors for the slightly older kids to try out and the water never gets deep enough to be out of standing depth. My kids learned to swim up there and there is loads of space around the pool to sit and relax and sunbathe as well as a couple of kids play areas and a ping pong table.

The recently redesigned and rebuilt park is open all year round but the pool or rather ‘lake’ is only in use June through September. As with Torre de las Aiguas, you will need to bring a picnic (although there is a little kiosk to get ice creams or bottles of water)

A taxi ride from the center of town to the park in suburban Vallcarca would cost no more than 10€. To get to the park by Metro, take green line L# to Vallcara, and then follow these directions to Passeig de la Mare de Déu del Coll, 77, 08023, Barcelona, Spain on Google Maps The walk is about 1.2 kilometers.
View Larger Map

The park is also accessible by bus, either no 28 from Placa Catalunya or no 25 from Gracia. The bus takes a bit longer, but drops you off right at the entrance to the park. The address is Pg Mare de Déu del Coll 77, Vallcarca, Gracia, Barcelona

Parc del Laberint
My third and final secret garden is again a little out of town and accessible by bus, metro or taxi. Parc del Laberint is as the name suggests dominated by a citrus tree maze or labyrinth which is great fun to try and find your way around- for all ages. The neo-classical gardens surrounding it are very serene and tranquil even at the height of summer due to restrictions on the number of people allowed to enter. The entrance fee to the part of the garden that holds the maze is just over 2€ with concessions but outside the pay area there are kids play areas, picnic areas. a café kiosk and lots of gardens and park to explore. The easiest way to get there is by metro to the station Mundet on the Green line (L3). The park is about two minutes walk from the station. Exit the station on the mountain side of the main road and head towards the circular motorbike racing track (velodrome) just in front of the entrance or ask a local for help. The address is La Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona 08035.

I hope you find my suggestions helpful and interesting. Of course there are lots more places I could suggest and would be happy to help anybody out with advice if they want to drop us an email. Please come see us if you are in Barcelona. You can find our child-friendly fish and chip shop at: Fish and Chips SCP, Rambla del Raval 26, 08001 Barcelona, Tel: 93 4411134. Email:info at fishandchipsbarcelona dot com.

2 comments | Posted on June 11, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Warning: Unsafe Rental Car Seats

This week, our local ABC station re-ran their coverage of our story about unsafe car seats at Advantage Rent A Car. For those who missed the story, we found car seats that were filthy, broken, and in one case at least 12 years old.

Please avoid renting a car seat when possible. When there is no good alternative to a rental, be very careful to make sure your rented car seat is safe. Few states have laws regulating safety standards for rented car seats, and when they do, rental agencies don't always follow the law.

Since the news coverage ran, I have heard from many parents who had similar experiences at big name-brand rental agencies all over the country. I should note that Advantage has cleaned up their act, but not everyone has, so please plan to bring your own seats or rent with caution.

Here's the link to our original article: Advantage Rent A Car's Unsafe Car Seats

And my safety tips for renting a car seat:
Safety Tips: Car Seats and Air Travel
Checking, Renting, and Carrying a Car Seat When Flying

Have you had a scary experience renting car-seats? Let me know in comments.

Filed Under: carseat safety travel-tips

3 comments | Posted on June 9, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Weekly Link Roundup: Travel With Allergies, Money Saving Tips, and More

Family Sues Airline For Endangering Child
There have been a slew of articles this week about a family who is suing American Airlines because, they claim the airline endangered their son who has a severe peanut allergy. Most of the commentary I've read about this story has been negative and focused on the amount of the award. My opinion differs. While I'm not a fan of big lawsuits, and I generally don't think that they are the most effective way to effect social change (and this one is a stretch since the child did not have a severe reaction onboard the flight), I do think American Airlines is in the wrong here.

American Airlines written policy is that they do not serve peanuts on their flights, and the family was repeatedly assured that nuts would not be served on their flight. No airline can guarantee a nut free flight, but some do go the extra mile in serving non-nut snacks or setting up nut free zones around an allergic child.

Once on board, with the airplane doors closed, the plan changed, and nuts were served in first class and sold to passengers in coach. The flight attendants not only refused to set up a peanut-free zone around the child (whose allergies are so severe that airborne peanut dust could trigger a reaction), but according to the Newsday, they "badgered her about her request, saying to honor it would discriminate against other passengers."

According to WCSH6 News, the parents say that if they are successful in their suit, they will donate the entire judgment to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

Airline policy aside, I cannot imagine anything so heartless as to endanger a four year old child over someone's "right" to eat a peanut snack instead of, for example, pretzels. I have been researching tips and ideas for parents traveling with allergic children, and I've gotten lots of wonderful input from parents who travel with children who have severe allergies. I'm looking forward to putting all that insight into one place in an article I will publish next week.

Packing Medical Records
Parenthacks has a great suggestion that would work well for travel: Store Kids Medical Information on USB Drive. While our kids don't have allergies (and all the extra medical information that entails) we do carry a printed emergency contact list with us when we travel. I store it in an inexpensive clear waterproof "envelope" I picked up in REI's kayak department.

Money Saving Tips
Travelodge UK has a limited selection of rooms for £19 per night. As you'd imagine, lots of restrictions apply, but if you are looking for a bargain in the UK, it's definitely worth checking out. (By way of EuropeAlaCarte)

Worried about high ticket prices at the big amusement parks? Smart Money has some great ideas for Saving Money on Amusement Park Admissions

Travel Tips
Travel Savvy Mom has a funny and useful round up of 10 Family Travel Tips You Can Actually Use

Decorating With Maps
Design Mom has some great ideas for Decorating With World Maps. I cannot wait for her followup post, but there are already some great ideas in this post and in the comments.

Thank You:
Wandalust featured DeliciousBaby as their top Family Travel Blog

Sheila at Family Travel did a lovely feature of our articles on Nursing and Pumping When You Travel, and Parenthacks and Mama Knows Breast also linked to the series.

4 comments | Posted on June 8, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

My Three Year Old Wants To Plan His Own Vacation

We've been hearing more and more imaginary stories from E lately, and I am just loving it! He came home from school today and announced that one of the kids in his school is headed to New York. That lead to the following conversation

E: I am going to go to New York too. Mommy and Daddy and sister are going to go with me.
Me: What are we going to do when we get there?
E: Eat pretzels and run around the city and play

That is exactly what I'd like to do this weekend too. Now if we can only find someone with a real credit card.

0 comments | Posted on June 6, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us