For San Diego Moms and Moms-To-Be
Dana is one half of the duo Dana & Jayson in the Morning on ALT 949 in San Diego.
Time for another in the series of 'Why Mommy Drinks'!
This week, after a weekend trip to Palm Springs included an eye-opening trip to Joshua Tree, the end of the trip involved a trip to a local saloon. Find out what had Dana reaching for something on draft in the latest edition of Why Mommy Drinks.
My Baby Might Scream on This Flight & I Didn’t Buy You a Treat Because You’re the Adult
New York Times editorial argues that truly civilized moms traveling with kids should bring goody bags for their fellow passengers. Ummmm…really?
I almost fell over when I read that, but what are you thoughts?
Click HERE for the FULL ARTICLE
(StatePoint) The best way to get your kids to stop asking “are we there yet?” is to never have them ask in the first place!
With some smart planning you can enjoy your next family vacation from start to finish — including your travel time getting to and from your destination.
Packing
A fun and easy vacation starts with smart packing. The key is not to pack too much so your family isn’t hefting heavy luggage from place to place.
It’s all about sticking to essentials when selecting clothing, beauty products, guidebooks and electronic devices. Take neutrally-colored clothes that you can mix and match, and don’t bring too many pairs of shoes. If your vacation isn’t very long, only take two pairs per family member: one to pack and one to wear. Rely on hotel toiletries or take multi-use products, like sunscreens that combine with moisturizers, or shampoo and conditioner combos.
Don’t bring every guidebook you have! Take only one and use the Internet to supplement it on your tablet, phone or laptop.
Transportation
The old saying “getting there is half the fun” can actually be true if you plan wisely for your family getaway. Traveling by train, for instance, is a great option. With the city-center to city-center convenience of rail travel, you save time and can relax along the way.
This is especially true for a European family vacation, as train travel allows you to discover historic and culturally rich destinations up close through your train window. Rail travel in Europe can also be a great value, as it continues to be a popular destination for vacationing families with the strong U.S. dollar.
Along with discounts and local bonuses, kids ride free on select rail passes — the Eurail pass product line, the Swiss Travel Pass, the German Rail Pass, the France Rail Pass, and several BritRail Pass products. Plan ahead when looking to get rail passes, train tickets and reservations by contacting a service like Rail Europe. The company combines maps, schedules and fares of over 50 different train companies, creating a one stop shop to easily plan and book European rail travel. Contact Rail Europe to book your travel by visiting www.raileurope.com or by calling 1-800-438-RAIL.
Lodging
Traveling with a family is like traveling with an army. The key to success is logistics. When it comes to hotel rooms, make sure to check ahead so rooms are equipped with what you need.
Don’t be shy about asking for mini-fridges, cribs, high chairs or extra roll-away beds. And when you are checking in, ask if your hotel has any extra amenities for kids — such as games, coloring books or rubber ducks for bath time.
And check in advance to ensure sleeping configurations work for your family, paying attention to such details as separate sleeping areas or alcoves.
A little smart planning can help your family go a long way on vacation!
(StatePoint) Winter can be an especially perilous time to be on the roads. Snow, ice, fog and longer nights present challenges to drivers that can lead to crashes.
People do less driving in winter, yet we have more crashes per mile driven. Some 10,780 people were killed in car crashes between December and March in 2013 — fully one-third of the total for each year. Non-fatal collisions also occur with greater frequency in winter months.
You may be an ace behind the wheel when the sun is shining and roads are dry, but driving in winter weather can be a different story. Drivers need to recalibrate and adjust their driving for winter road conditions.
“Travel can be treacherous when roadway surfaces are compromised during winter storms,” says Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council (NSC). “The good news is that in-vehicle technologies can help drivers by providing advance warnings and preventing loss of control.”
NSC and the University of Iowa recently partnered to launch a campaign called MyCarDoesWhat, to educate drivers about vehicle safety technologies designed to prevent crashes. The MyCarDoesWhat campaign offers three major pieces of advice for driving in wintry conditions:
• Slow down. This is the golden rule of winter driving. Drivers frequently underestimate how long it takes to brake and how difficult it can be to steer on slippery roads.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on slippery surfaces. It will diminish your control over the car and reduce your reaction time in the event of a skid.
• Bridges and overpasses freeze before roadways, so be alert in cold weather when approaching a bridge.
While a careful and skillful driver is always a vehicle’s best safety feature, many safety technologies can help prevent or reduce the severity of winter-related crashes.
They include:
• Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) help drivers maintain control by preventing wheels from locking up. Your ABS works differentlythan traditional brakes, and requires you to drive differently too. It delivers and releases precise braking pressure to each wheel as needed, so you shouldn’t pump the brakes when you have ABS. Just hold them down firmly and look and steer in the direction you want to go. They may buzz and vibrate when the ABS has activated.
• Traction control helps you accelerate without spinning out on slippery surfaces.
• With electronic stability control, your car’s computer helps sense when you may be losing control around a corner or curve and can stabilize your car if it begins to veer off your intended path.
• Adaptive headlights adjust to changing roadway conditions — such as curves — to provide optimum illumination along the roadway during the long winter nights and periods of low daytime visibility.
“Driving in snow and ice requires much more focus on the conditions and an ability to adapt to an ever-changing, slippery environment,” says Daniel McGehee, director of the Transportation and Vehicle Safety Program at the University of Iowa.
Research shows that most consumers are unsure about how some potentially life-saving vehicle safety technologies work. To get better acquainted with your car’s features and learn important winter driving skills, visit MyCarDoesWhat.org on Twitter and Facebook for videos and tools.
With the right knowledge and skills, you can make your winter journeys safer.
(StatePoint) An estimated 94.8 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home for the holidays, according to AAA.
To help ensure holiday cheer, the travel experts at Extended Stay America have partnered with the ultimate holiday traveler, Santa Claus. Who better than the “Official Hotel of Santa” to offer some great holiday traveler tips?
Picture Perfect Packing
Not everyone has the luxury of a reindeer powered sleigh and a magical satchel to effortlessly transport gifts. Here are some foolproof packing tips.
• Make a list and check it twice. Separate your essentials from your desirables, and be realistic with luggage limitations.
• For travelers that belong to a frequent flyer program, take advantage of perks like free first checked bags or discounted early boarding rates. Use program discounts to transport multiple gifts at a flat rate or to ensure that more expensive items that you’d prefer to carry on have ample space in the airplane’s overhead bin.
• Save gift-wrapping for once you’ve reached your destination to avoid extra TSA scrutiny.
‘Home’ for the Holidays
Avoid overstaying your welcome at relatives by lodging at a home-like space of your own. An extended-stay style hotel with affordable nightly rates means family fun instead of family feud. Unwind in a spacious guest room and enjoy upgraded amenities, including free in-room Wi-Fi to stay connected to those far away and flat-screen televisions with premium channels to watch holiday favorites.
On-site laundry centers allow for light packing on long trips and fully-equipped kitchens with full-size refrigerators provide the option to dine in or reheat leftovers.
Bring us a Figgy Pudding
Don’t let being away from home limit you to store-bought dishes for holiday potlucks. If you’re staying at an extended-stay style hotel, take advantage of an in-room kitchen to whip up a savory course or no-bake sweet treats, like drop cookies, fudges and cereal bars.
Seasonal Savings
Santa enlists the support of helpers to ensure his big travel day is stress-free. Holiday travelers should do the same. Consider the help of rewards programs to relieve budget stress.
Many point-based loyalty programs require significant time and investment before you see any benefit. For valuable savings, enroll in one offering instant rewards, coupons and discounts at national retailers, rental car companies, restaurants and more.
Avoid Cabin Fever
Budget-friendly activities keep holiday spirits high. Enjoy winter festivals, ice skating, caroling, a friendly game of your favorite sport, or a car ride through the area’s most festive neighborhoods.
‘Tis the Season for Giving
Spread a little charitable cheer to those less fortunate. This time of year lends itself to many service opportunities, so identify an organization or give back on your own with a special project. Simple gestures to spread goodwill include anonymous gifts, over-tipping for services or packing stockings for the homeless.
More holiday travel tips and information can be found at ExtendedStayAmerica.com.
Don’t let holiday travel be a source of stress. With smart strategies, an affordable and joyous holiday travel experience is possible.
