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June 29th, 2012

My Top 5 Product Picks for Road Tripping!

This post is sponsored by Snuggle Bugz. Starting today, Snuggle Bugz is celebrating Canada Day by offering 5 days of Daily Deals. These deals won’t last — each day there will be one amazing deal – but just for that day!

Our family is heading out on a road trip to spend Canada Day up at a cottage. We’ve got our share of travelling under our belts, but I always find I can use a few extra things to keep things rolling smoothly. So I took a good browse through the Snuggle Bugz website and I’ve picked my top 5 wish list items for road tripping!

#1: A Booster Seat for my Big Boy

My son is now four years old and this big boy needs a larger car seat to be comfortable. I’d love to put him in the Britax Parkway SGL. In addition to receiving the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (I checked the site and all of Snuggle Bugz boosters have this same high rating), I like this one for its extra layer of padding for comfort and the removable cover for cleaning.

Britax Parkway SG®<br/><br/>The Britax Parkway SG® booster seat is a great booster for your toddler!<br/><br/>Return Policy: This item is final sale. No exchanges or refunds available.<br/><p> </p><br/><p>Britax - Parkway SG - Onyx</p><br/>

#2: A Stow’N Go for my Sanity

I would love to put a Stow n’ Go organizer on the back of both of the front seats so that each of the kids can have their own things (yes, where the sibling cannot touch them!) and in a spot where they can access them easily. Also, it is a total pet peeve of mine when the kids rub their dirty shoes on the back of the seats! With these organizers, at least all the dirt will be on their things (insert evil-mother-laugh here).

Keeps everything organized and easy to find when you need it. Our seatback organizer does it all with seven full sized pockets and two drink holders in a washable, waterproof fabric. The top fastens around any headrest while the bottom fastens around the

#3: A Portable Blind (aka A Parents’ Best Friend)

It’s happened to me before: You arrive to a rental cottage or hotel only to realize that there is no black-out blind – gah! This means that the kids will be up and crawling on you at 5 am! No, no, dears … with a portable blind, they can get a nice deep (and long!) sleep. You might even manage to get a morning coffee in peace!

Gro Anywhere Blind:<br/>Portable blackout blind for when it's still too light to say night night! Anyone who has stayed away from home with little ones will know that it can be tricky to create a snoozy sleeping environment when there is too much light fl

#4: A Suitcase of their Own

Not only do I find that it makes packing easier when each child has their own small suitcase, but it helps for morning and bedtime if they are not sleeping in the same room. Stella already has her own suitcase from her Nan and Grampy, and I’d love to treat Max to this Skip Hop Zoo Luggage. Not only is it just plain cute, but kids just love to have their own special suitcase!

Zoo friends roll along for travel fun! Little kids will love rolling through the airport or to Grandma's with their own Zoo luggage. Sized perfectly for carry-ons and overnight trips, Zoo luggage is sturdy enough for everyday use or distant journeys. The

#5: Don’t Forget the Night Light!

Kids can feel a bit nervous sleeping in a new place, but if they have their night light from home, it adds a whole lot of comfort at bedtime. I like the Mobi Glowmate because not only does it offer a nice light in the bedroom but if your little guy or gal needs to get up in the night to go to the washroom, he or she can simply grab it and carry it along in the hallway.

• Kid-friendly grab-n-go charging<br/>• 15-minute dim-to-sleep mode in all colors<br/>• Long-lasting Li-Ion battery<br/>• Auto-On when lifted or during power outage<br/>• Soft...Friendly...Safe<br/><p> </p><br/><p>Mobi -

Do you have any favourite road trip tricks to share? Do tell! And don’t forget to visit SnuggleBugz to check out their daily deals to celebrate Canada Day EH!

p.s. I went to the Snuggle Bugz daily deal already this morning to take a peek. You need to provide your name and an email to check it out … today’s deals are particularly great for the new parent! There’s a high-end baby bouncer that’s regularly priced at $89.99 discounted down to $39.99! But there’s other deals as well on smaller products, like Born Free bottles priced at only $2.99 each!

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May 12th, 2012

Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 4)

Stella, who is almost 10 years old, and I have just returned from Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica, where we were invited to experience the resort. If you’re a parent and you travel to the Carribean during winter, then you’ve likely heard of Beaches Resorts. This chain of resorts is known for providing an above-and-beyond experience to families and their young children. But what about the “tween”? When your child is not a “little kid” nor are they a teenager, will this resort be a good fit? Here, Stella, will share her journal from the trip. I have not edited (or even corrected the spelling even though it makes me twitch!) so that you can read an unfiltered tween’s perspective.

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The Last Day in Paradise

By Stella, 9 years old

Well, today was our last day but we did the most fun thing. Today’s highlight is …. Mystic Mountain!!!!!

First we got on a tour bus and drove for a bit. We saw LOTS of “jerk centeres”. In case you are wondering a jerk centere isn’t a place for jerks. Jerk is a spicy meat. So at a jerk centere they sell meat.

Once we arrived at Mystic Mountain we took a while to get organised.

At the entrance to Mystic Mountain

Then we got on a ski lift that pulled us over the rain forest. It took 15 minutes.

Looking down, while on the Mystic Mountain lift to the top

Looking back at our friends behind us, while on chairlift at Mystic Mountain

Then we got to a little plaza and got in line for the bob sled ride. Once it was my turn on the bob sled I hopped in and got my seat belt on.

Here is my Mom getting ready for the bob sled ride

Suddenly the ride started and I shot off around a sharp corner. I was going very fast and breathing hard as the bob sled zig-zagged in full throttle. Finally ended after a sudden stop. I’m surprised I’d say this but I wanted to go again!

And here she is while on the ride!

We stoped at a gift shop and I bought two post cards and a shirt that said “Jamaicia, No Problem”. After that the kids and I had a quick swim. The water was kind of cold and the pool area was shalow so I stuck to the water slide. It was okay but a bit slow.

Next we went down to were you zip-line. We got all our harnesses on and went on a hike to the first zip-line. The instrucktor taught us how to zip-line and we were off!

Whoosh! Here I am zip-lining through the jungle!

We went on a bunch of zip-lines. But then we got to the Repel!

Dun Dun Dun!!!

I’ll tell you what repel is. The repel is basicly falling out of a tree holding on to a rope.

The repel: An illustration from my journal

So after the repel we went on one last zip-line after crossing an awesome wobbly rope bridge.

The awesome rope bridge

The last zip-line was the longest one. Ethan and I had to go with a grown-up because we were too light.

So we got on the ski lift again and headed back to the front office. I bouht a parrot carving and then hopped on the bus back to the resort.

Me and my friends back at the Beaches Boscobel Resort

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And with that, we have the conclusion of Stella’s travel journals from Jamaica!

We stayed in the Beaches Boscobel resort from Tuesday, April 24 and checked out on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 and using the online site, a similar stay in 2013 would cost you $2,094.00 (April 23-27, 2013). That’s $523.50/night and includes accommodation, meals, drinks, kids club, and a full spectrum of resort activities. (Airfare or additional off-site activities such as Mystic Mountain are not included in this cost.) Travelling off-season like this really makes a luxurious all-inclusive resort far more affordable and Beaches also runs a Single Parent Fun package (May 1-24 and Sept 4-Oct 31) during which the single supplement fare is waived.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Beaches resort experience (you can read my thoughts here) and would definitely return. However, in my case, I think I would select a different resort than the Boscobel one because although the pools were A-MAZ-ING, I didn’t find the beach particularly inspiring. I know many people don’t even swim in the ocean, so it wouldn’t be an issue for them, but next time I come to Jamaica, I’d like to try the Beaches Negril or the Beaches Sandy Bay because they are located on the famed Seven Mile Beach. (I also dream about hitting a Sandals resort – the all-inclusive just for adults!)

I travelled with some very talented writers on this press trip and you can read about their experiences as well:

Whale and weather watching in Jamaica, by Lori Knowles in the Toronto Sun

The Mother/Child Vacation, by Jen Maier in Urban Moms

A Review of Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica, by Rhonda Carrier in Take the Family

End of The Jamaica Journal, but the Travels aren’t over!

If you’ve been to a Beaches resort and would like to add your thoughts, please do! Also, if anyone has any specific questions about the resort, I’d be more than happy to answer them. Jot down a note in the comments below and I will respond!

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April 30th, 2012

Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 2)

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Let the fun begin

By Stella, 9 years old

I had a busy day* today, so I will tell you about the highlight. Day 2′s highlight is ……. Golf Lesson From a Pro!!!!!!!

First we got on a tour bus and drove down to the golf course. On the way we saw little houses, fruit shacks, schools and a “Wallmart” wich was really a guy selling stuff handing on a wall!

After driving on a really bumpy road for half an hour or so we pulled into the driveway of a golf course. Then we met one of the staff of the golf course who told the kids to load into a golf cart and the manager of the golf course led the grown-ups on a tour of the golf course.

Sandals Golf & Country Club

Ethan, Josh and I crammed into the back and Emmett sat in the front with the driver. We drove for about 5 minutes until we reached a driving range were we got off. There we met a golf pro. He tauht us the golf grip. In the golf grip your hands are close together and your thumbs make a line.

He demonstated how to drive the golf ball. We practiced driveing the golf balls for about an hour or two. It was really fun! After that the grown-ups came back from their tour.

Then we hitched a ride on golf carts and after a quick bathroom brake we boarded the bus again and headed back to the resort.

Julie’s additional notes:

* The busy day also included: a breakfast with the characters from Sesame Street, a full tour of the resort, play time in the water park, a swim in the ocean, and last but not least, a delicious dinner. (Yes, we slept very well!)

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April 29th, 2012

Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 1)

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The Welcome

By Stella, 9 years old

I woke up at 4:00 am so I wouldn’t miss the plane. Once we got on the plane we flew to Philadalphia and quickly got on our flight to Jamaka. It was 2 hours long. When we finally got to the airport we got into a shuttle and went on a 1 and 1/2 hour ride to get to the resort. All the plants and senery were beautifull!

At the resort we got shown were the Child Center and the gift shop were. We headed inside and the staff gave us a drink. We were brought to our rooms. It was so warm outside, I loved it.

The first thing we did was head down to the beach. The ocean was so nice. Then a wedding started and we left because mom thought I would ruin it by acidently stepping on a sharp rock and yelling “Ow” right when they were getting married.

So we headed to the water park AND pool AND slides. The slides were my favourite in the water park. The first slide I went on was the green slide. I was all, “They paint it green because it’s esey,” and “it’s only in a tube to look scary.” I was mistaken. Halfway there I thought it was over so I sat up and opened my eyes and realised it wasn’t over. Just about then my adrenaline kicked in and I forgot about the saftey position and just screemed. Then I got chucked out sideways into the water. By that point I just stuck to the smaller slides. Then we had some “curly frys” and a Jamacin paddy.

After that mom and I challenged each other to go on the grey slide witch isn’t verry steep but verry curly. But at the top we chickened out and went on the orange one instead. By then we had gone on all the slides but the grey one. So I went on the grey one. It was funner than I was thinking.

Finally we dryed up and had dinner at Arizona’s, a Tex-Mex resterant.

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April 25th, 2012

Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy

Hello my lovely bloggy friends, Stella and I are now in Jamaica (my Jamaica 101 post)!

We were invited to come and visit the Beaches Boscobel resort in Jamaica and it’s actually our first “girls’ trip” together. Beaches Resorts cater specifically to families, so we are here to experience the resort and its activities to the fullest. I will be telling you all about it … but first, I want to tell you about the trip to get here.

To fully understand my title, can I ask you to watch this video below? I find it hilarious, but it is 4 minutes long. If you don’t have 4 minutes, tune in at the 2-minute mark where he begins a bit on air travel. (I’ll wait while you watch it, okay? Cool.)

Alright, so not long ago, I wrote a post ~~whining~~ noting how I’d grown tedious of air travel. Stella has been around the world and back to Australia three times, as well as to Cuba and on some small commuter planes on the Big Island of Hawaii, but not since the age of six. When she was six, we came back from a year abroad in Australia and have been settling in to a new home in Ottawa. Now, she’s nine.

Flying with her was a complete revelation to me because, to her, everything really was AMAZING! We got up early to get to the airport and even that was exciting — the getting dressed in the dark, the drive to the airport with the adrenaline and wondering if Mom would miss the plane (since she is late for virtually everything!), and then going through the whole check-in process.

While I’m filling out paperwork and wondering about a variety of travel-related worries (Where are the passports? what did I do with the camera battery? Did I remember to pack underwear? I hope my son doesn’t miss us too much? Where are the passports? I did remember to put my liquids in a separate bag, right? What time is it now? Where are the passports?) she was looking around the airport wide-eyed and saying hello to all of the security staff.

When we’re on the plane and it’s about to take off, she is almost bursting out of her body in excitement! I guess she doesn’t remember flying much when she was younger, or the experience is just far more fascinating now that she’s older. Then, we’re up in the air and she is breathlessly telling me, “Look! We’re above the clouds! Look! I can see the ocean! Look! The houses below look like little toys! Oh. My. This is sooooo cool!”

While she is doing this, I am trying to smile and nod my head in agreement while in my mind, I am thinking “Oh Lord, should I take one of those emergency anti-anxiety pills?” I usually sit down and dig right into my book and pretend I’m sitting in my living room, not in a small metal machine that is flying us through the air. But she’s not accepting any of that — she is absorbing the experience to the fullest … she knows that everything is amazing and she wants to share it with me.

Then when we need to transfer planes in Philadelphia, we realize that we need to take a shuttle bus across the tarmac to another section of the airport. I’m thinking in my mind, “Pain in the butt.” She’s thinking out loud, “Awesome! I hope I get to hold one of those poles!” (You know the metal vertical poles in public transport that you hold on to so you don’t fall over? That’s what she is so excited about.) Then, we’re on the tarmac and she is not even speaking (yes, this is unusual for her!) because she is taking in everything so carefully … the planes, the trucks used to gas-up the planes, the whole bit. I realize that this actually *is* pretty cool because I’ve never really been on a tarmac from this perspective.

When, at long last, the plane’s wheels touch down in Jamaica she whoops out loudly in happiness.

Honestly, if for no other reason, *this* is why you should travel with your children. Kids are so good for us adults. Everything really is amazing and they open our eyes again to the amazing-ness of every day all around us.

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