Today ‘s Top 10 is My Top 10 Essential Road Trip Necessities. I’ve broken them down into my essential items, Hubby’s essential items, the boys’ essential items, and then the family’s essential items.
My Essential Road Trip Items:
#1 snacks
#2 camera
#3 phone and car charger
Hubby’s Essential Road Trip Items:
#4 GPS unit – Has saved our marriage more than once when we have been on a road trip.
#5 hotel reservations
#6 money
Boys’ Essential Road Trip Items:
#7 blanket and pillow
#8 books – The more the better.
Family’s Essential Road Trip Items:
#9 clothes
#10 books on tape – We love listening to stories while we are driving from destination to destination. It makes the drive seem so much faster.
Join me next week for when I discuss my Top 10 Ice Cream Flavors.
What is something that you need for your road trips?
Today I’m going to share two gluten free breakfast ideas on this blog and then two more on My Food Journey for a total of four ideas.
Since going gluten free, it’s difficult for me to find breakfast foods that are gluten free even though some hotels offer free breakfast. Typically those free breakfasts have waffles, cereals, and pastries with limited amounts of fruit. Sometimes there is yogurt provided also.
I’m primarily gluten free and dairy free/ lactose free so that makes it more difficult. (I do eat some dairy.)
All of these are for road trips not when you fly unless you pack some of the breakfast items in your suitcase and check it in.
Breakfast #1 is overnight oats.
Items needed:
Mason Jar
1/2 c. Gluten free oats (rolled oats)
1 c. Milk of your choice (almond, cashew, soy, or coconut)
2 tsp. Seeds or nuts
1 tsp. cinnamon or other spices (vanilla powder, cardamon, or even nutmeg)
1 to 2 tsp. sweetener (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar)
Optional Items:
1 to 2 Tbsp. chia seeds
1/4 c. freeze dried fruit or dried fruit
Method:
Place all of the items in the mason jar.
Stir up or shake the jar once you put the lid on the mason jar.
Place in the fridge in your room or a cooler that has ice in it overnight.
The next day take the jar out of the fridge or cooler.
Enjoy cold or allow to come up to room temperature.
I use freeze dried blueberries or peaches and almond slices in my oatmeal.
I buy small containers of almond milk for the breakfasts.
I also add some unsweetened applesauce in my overnight oatmeal.
Breakfast #2 is hard boiled eggs.
Before you leave for your road trip, boil some eggs. Make sure to store them in a cooler with ice. Eat the eggs with some of the fruit from the free breakfast. If you are not dairy free, also eat some yogurt for a more balance breakfast.
You can also find already cooked boiled eggs at places like Trader Joes and sometimes gas stations.
When you are ready to eat the hard boiled eggs, place the egg in a mason jar with water. Place the lid back on the mason jar. Shake for about 30 seconds to a minute. The shell will come off easily.
Please go to my other blog – My Food Journey for two more road trip hotel breakfasts.
The next morning, Mom decided she wanted to stay in the room so that I could go out and get photos of the college and Artisan Center without her hindering me. (It takes her longer to walk around.)
Before I left, I had breakfast. The motel had a continental breakfast. I could not eat much of the food. I took some eggs and sausage. Then I cut up an apple I had brought with me and warmed up some water for my oatmeal.
The first stop I made was to the Artisan’s Center. We usually stop there on our way to and from Disney. When we stopped there in 2009, we began to listen to Harry Potter. The Imaginative One ended up listening to all seven books in the next 6 months.
There is always interesting crafts there.
After I left the Artisan Center, I drove to the town once more. As I was driving to town, I found a decorated hand at a local bank so I stopped so I could get photos of it.
I went to the town after visiting the Artisan’s Center.
I found more of the decorated hands while in the center of town.
I also stopped in a soap store. The lady who was working in the store was so sweet. I ended up getting some soaps and this bath bomb.
Once again I took photos of the beautiful flowers in the center of town.
I stopped in the college bookstore and signed up for a tour of the college. It was a free tour.
While I waited for the tour, I walked around the artisan area of the bookstore.
Join me next Saturday for more of our visit. I’ll share more about the college in that post.
I got a new book called “My Top Ten.” It’s a journal with topics such as “My Top 10 Favorite Artists” or “My Top 10 People I Would Have Lunch With.” I bought it to help with possible blog topics.
I’ve decided that every Friday I’m going to share a list from the journal.
When I was pregnant with the Wee One, the third trimester was just awful. I had a lot of preterm labor scares. I went to the hospital 3 times prior to his actual birth because of false labor. Once was by ambulance.
I had been traveling between buildings that school year. Right before leaving the middle school, I started having Braxton Hicks contractions. I drank a bottle of water while driving between the buildings. The contractions would not let up so once I got to the other building I mentioned how I was having contractions. It was decided that it would be best for me to go by ambulance to the hospital. Once I got there, the contractions stopped which was a good thing.
Another time was during my college class I was taking. A classmate drove me to the hospital to be checked out. When the nurse found out I was a student, she thought I was a high school student. Funny thing is that I was 30 years old!
A week before the Wee One’s birth, I once again had Braxton Hicks that wouldn’t let up so once again we were at the hospital.
Four days later on Father’s Day, early labor started and I was miserable Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. He was on his way. There was no doubt about it.
The day before he was born, we went out to the girl scout camp and hiked. Yes, you read that right. I hiked the day before the Wee One was born. Then I went to Young’s Dairy and was absolute miserable so we went to the doctor’s to check me out.
Out hiking – The last photo of the Imaginative One being an only child.
They told me that I was in labor but it was not time to go into the hospital just yet.
The Imaginative One and I took a walk that night. He was so sweet when I needed to stop every once in a while to catch my breath. He knew his mommy was in pain.
The next morning, I went to Walmart to spend a gift card from my grandma in Pennsylvania. That’s when the contractions picked up.
I laid down when I came home from the store. I could barely talk or walk. I tried to nap but the contractions were so strong. It was time to go to the hospital.
My sister took care of the Imaginative One while we were having the Wee One.
I don’t remember what time we got to the hospital. All I can remember is that at around 9 or so, the nurse said I was going to be the next patient to have her baby. I didn’t think I was ready at that point because I was only dilated to maybe a 6 or 7.
Between 9:30 and 9:45, I felt him move into the birth canal and I knew it was time.
The nurse allowed me to push when I felt it was necessary which really helped.
At 10:22 (22:22 by military time) on June 22nd, 2005, the world welcomed a new person who is the master of his destiny. He does not allow his small stature define who he is as a person. His personality is bigger than life.
What they did not tell me was that he had his cord around his neck. That’s why the nurse allowed me to push when I felt it was necessary. She did not want me to worry. She just wanted him to be born safely.
The day after his birth
Happy 12th birthday the Wee One! We love you with all of our heart.
I’ve been on summer vacation for the past almost month. (May 26) Some of the items have been completed or about to be completed.
Travel
Rochester, NY– I’ve already taken this trip. I’ll start sharing blog posts about my trip as soon as my Berea, Kentucky trip blog posts are completed in late July. I got to visit 3 of the 11 Finger Lakes, Letchworth State Park, and the Seneca Park Zoo. I took over 1400 photos during the 6 days I was in the Rochester area.
Folly Beach, SC – Folly Beach is located about 20 minutes from Charleston. My whole family – mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, niece, nephew plus my family are sharing a beach front home. I’m so excited because it’s going to be the biggest one I’ve stayed at while there.
Toledo, Ohio / Louisville, Kentucky– The boys have Boy Scouts camp in the Louisville area. While they are gone, we plan to go up to Toledo so that we can see the Toledo Zoo. That’s the only zoo we haven’t been to in Ohio. During that same week, we will travel down to their camp for family night. We might be taking them home from camp.
Hershey, PA – While the boys at the Boy Scout camp, the Imaginative One will be turning 14. So he and I are going to go visit Hershey to celebrate his birthday once he is back from camp. He’s wanted to visit Hershey for 5 or so years.
Pittsburgh, PA – Labor Day would have been my sister’s birthday. I’m going to go to Pittsburgh to celebrate her 40th birthday. It was a special place for us. We traveled there at least 5 times so it’s fitting to go there.
Reading
I have three items on my bucket list involving reading. The first two help with the third.
#1 – I’m playing Cozy Mystery bingo on Goodreads. This bingo has culinary themes. You sign up to play bingo. The moderator chooses teams. Each team is given a bingo card. Every week, you are given a new theme. It is up to you to find a book that fits the theme. Then you read the book and write a review on the book. Once all members of the team read a book on a theme, you request a stamp. Once a team gets five in a row they win the bingo.
#2 – I’m also reading through the cozies. I have different themes that I need to find books that fit that theme. Then I read the book and put it on my list.
– One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.) –
– One from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
– One from craft related (any kind of hobbies – knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
– One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
– One from British cozy mysteries (example: Belinda Lawrence series)
– One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
– One holiday based (set during any holiday – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)
– One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
– One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
– One is your choice! (freebie!)
Again this is from Goodreads.
#3 – Complete the Adult reading program at my local library. I’ve already read 6 books so far this summer.
Work
I’m taking an online class about ADHD. Fortunately for me it’s a self paced class.
I also have a seminar about Growth Mindset. I’m excited about the seminar because it’s going to be the theme for next school year.
House
Get it clean in preparation for next school year.
Staycation
I don’t have any real plans just yet. However, once I’m done traveling, the boys and I will probably do some fun day trips around the area. This year it’s going to be less than normal.
