Cozy Winter Outfits

We are setting off for a cozy winter retreat and ski weekend. My plan for packing includes three daytime non-skiing outfits. There are some constants: long champ bag, beanie hat, initial necklace, leggings, bean boots, infinity scarf, pearl earrings, tortoise shell watch.

  

1. Hand me my book and a bourbon - plaid button down shirt, oversized wool academic sweater + constants

2. Let's make hot cocoa and play candy land - henley waffle shirt with buttons, fair isle  wool sweater + constants

3. Brewery and a walk anyone? - plaid button down shirt, cashmere camel cardigan, green field jacket + constants 

When I am planning travel, I use three techniques to minimize overpacking... 

• Fiddlethings... I try to minimize my jewelry and make-up. I always use the same accessories for the whole trip... my signature pearl earrings and tortoise shell watch always seem to come. I don't do a lot of makeup usually just a bb cream, mascara baby soft lip balm and Tarte blush tint. It is winter so you will need a moisturizer for your face and hands.   
• Think outfits... Don't bring a bunch of shirts and pants you won't use. I pack entire outfits from the underthings to the outer layer and roll it up. If you want to bring even less use the same outer layer  and just change the inner layers
• Space concerns... I love leggings, they take virtually no space and are extremely comfortable. I try to wear your largest most rugged shoes when you travel and try to bring only one pair. 

Although I was raised in a military family and I did serve in the Navy there are some creature comforts I do enjoy. Not that I wouldn't be fine without them, but there are three I love to bring where ever I go...

• A good book, even if I don't think I will have time to read, I love bringing a book along. 
• Slippers, in a hotel or a house rental you don't want your bare feet to get cold on a carpet that who knows the last time it was steam cleaned 
• Blanket, a small throw that you know is clean is lovely to have in the car, on a plane or cuddle up on the couch... yes, I know there are blankets there, but it is nice to have one that you know is clean. 

As always, much love, many blessings, and happy winter!

Ski Weekend Sundries

I am so thankful to have wonderful family friends. We started out as the Michigan Girlfriends Club, then became Michigan Wives. I'm pretty sure in a few years we will be the Michigan Mom's Club. Thankfully, we all got married around the same time and had children around the same time, so now we tend to vacation together. We have a wonderful system. Each person brings one dinner and one breakfast for every two days we are there. We also bring cocktails and wine as well, but those proportions are a little fuzzy. Nonetheless, this is my sundries list for the weekend: 

• Chili - premade and frozen so a quick heat up in the pot and we are ready to go
• Corn bread mix - normally I like to make things from scratch but vacation is a wonderful time for convenience
• Hot Cocoa and Marshmallows - as required for any ski weekend
• Pancake Mix - make all of it and freeze the leftovers, that way, you can just heat up what you want later
• Sprinkles and Whip Cream - this does double duty for both the pancakes and the hot cocoa
• Cocktail du jour - for me this trip it is a Hot Toddy which is concocted with an elegant mix of warm ginger ale, honey, cinnamon, lemon and bourbon
• Red wine - a lot of it
• Coffee, coffee filters, sugar and tea 
• Good quality olive oil, pepper and salt 
• Some freshly baked cookies

Fresh items that we will bring along include: 

• Milk
• Butter
• Juice
• Veggies and Dip 
• Fruit 

There are a few kitchen things I bring as well just because I feel rather unsettled without them: 

• Sharp chef's knife
• Cutting board that is dishwasher safe
• Vegetable Peeler
• My hot cocoa maker and electric frother (this fun for the children, rather than a necessity) 
• Glass water bottles 
• Drop water filters 
• Venturi wine aerator 

That should be about it, it is only three days after all. As always, much love, many blessings, and happy weekending!

Play Time on a Family Trip

Discussing motherhood, is like discussing religion. It is deeply personal, and every mother is unique, every child is unique, the relationships are unique twice. Nonetheless, I believe the most important thing you can do, for your child, is to be emotionally available for them. Part of being emotionally available for me is play time. Play time is so important to the development of young person's mind and social skills. I think all too often parents look at playtime as free time for them. Not that children shouldn't be given freedom, but I think adult attention not supervision is craved by children, and boundaries given them a feeling of safety and security. Now that I have rambled, I will sum up my position by stating, play time on a family trip should be enjoyable for both the parents and the children. Here are some of my son's favorite playtime activities, and they are all portable and perfect for a weekend away. 

• Games
• Hoot Owl Hoot - a board game with cards that is cooperative. The object of the game is to get all six owls back into the next before daylight. 
• Let's Go Fishing - a motor skills development toy, players have a small fishing line and they try and get fish of a certain color
• Hungry, Hungry Hippos - this is more of a fun game where players make their plastic hippos gobble up as many marbles as possible. In the end, children practice their counting when they total up the marbles.
• Sneaky Squirrel - a motor skills development toy, players have a darling squirrel tweezer and they try and get acorns of a certain color depending on the spinner
• Candy Land - a darling game where players draw cards to see which spot they move to. Its education value is on color coordination and counting, when you count the places. 
• Learning Toys 
• Wooden Tiger Spelling Toy - my son is just learning to sound out letters, but I love this cute spelling tiger. You can use it to spell five letter words, it is very portable and darling. 
• Spelling Puzzles - These flexible foam spelling mini puzzles are quick, easy, and provide both the educational benefit of learning to spell but also the social benefit of confidence. 
• Imagination Toys
• Playdough - what child doesn't love play dough? I don't know one. Play dough can super enjoyable and so portable. Worst case scenario to trash the lot of them and buy new ones for a few dollars after the weekend is over
• Balloons - blowing up balloons and jumping on them, throwing them around, are a wonderful way to entertain children. Because they do take up space I recommend playing with them in a family room or children's space. 
• Kazoos - small, fun, and endlessly entertaining. Probably the most easily played children's musical instrument, and a parade is great fun. 
• Bubbles - small, portable stimulating for young and older children. As a bonus, whether you are going to the beach in the summer or the mountains in the winter bubbles outside is endlessly entertaining. If you blow them outside when it is below freezing the bubbles will freeze and fall to the ground. 
• Crayons - a little bit of paper and some free time and children's imagination can go wild. My son prefers it for me to color on the same sheet of paper with him. But it is great pre-writing skills for him to develop, and I love to color. 
• Books and Videos
• Seasonal books - I rotate our books so that the novelty effect adds to the excitement of reading a "new" book. I think all children love books and there are some that adults can enjoy also. I love Skippyjon Jones, Steam Train, Dream Train, Arctic Animal Books. 
• iPad - the ever present iPad. While I don't enjoy copious amounts of children's videos I do think some are very educational. My son currently enjoys Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Doozers, and Dinosaur Train. 

Whatever you choose to bring with you and your family on your weekend trip, involve your children in packing. I use a large "Boat and Tote" bag from LL Bean. Whatever fits in the bag goes, if it doesn't fit, it doesn't go. I also wrap new books and toys as presents. It adds more meaning and excitement. It is also a wonderful positive enforcement tool.

Another important tip to remember, is to bring toys that can be shared, if you are going to a house where there will be more than one child. One kazoo, or one silly straw would probably get more than its fair share of germ sharing, so best to bring multiples. 

As always, much love, many blessings and happy family time. 

Cozy Ski Weekend Retreat Packing List for Mom

I am not a skier. I have only skied once in my life. To my dimmed recollection, I was a much less than graceful on the slopes. Nonetheless, I love the idea of my son being a good skier, like his father and his father's family. I also have watched White Christmas, too many times, and love the idea of a cozy ski lodge and wonderful family evenings. We are off to Wisp, with our wonderful family friends. My husband and son have their own ski packing list, but here is mine and it also includes a few things for the house as well. 

• Cozy warmth
• Two warm oversized wool sweaters
• Two button-down shirts, one flannel and one chemise
• Two long-sleeve pullover shirts  
• Four leggings
• One pair of jeans
• Four pairs of cozy socks
• Duck Boots
• Two pairs of ski socks
• One set of base layer wicking tights and shirts
• One fleece jacket
• One waterproof over jacket
• Two sets of waterproof pants
• One set of waterproof gloves
• Flannel Pajama Pants
• Moccasin Slippers
• Cashmere beanie hat
• Infinity Scarf
• Puffer Down Vest 
• Wool Coat
• Fun Times
• Kids games (Hungry Hippos, Candy Land, Fishing, Sneaky Squirrel and Hoot Owl, Hoot)
• Kids books 
• Deck of Playing Cards
• Currant Candle
• A good read (All the light we cannot see)
• Reading glasses
• Hot Cocoa
• Red Wine
• The makings for Hot Toddies
• Carry All 
• Vera Bradley Duffle Bag
• Long Champ Large Tote 
• Wallet
• Phone
• Charger