If you are packing for a weekend trip or a week-long trip, you don’t want to be saddled down with too many suitcases are that are overflowing with too much stuff. But over-packing is easy to do and usually happens in the last few moments before you zip up your suitcase. So before you leave home and feel tempted to toss just a few more things into your suitcase, here’s how to avoid over-packing.

• Down Size Your Travel Toiletries – No need to bring the full sized bottles for your shampoo, conditioner, and shampoo. Grab travel sizes or use the ones at the hotel.
• Pack Clothes That Can Be Worn More Than Once – Pack a pair of comfy leggings that you can sleep in and then work out in the next day. If you’re taking a dress, add a belt or sweater to change up the look of the dress. When it comes to shoes-less is more!
• Pack More Tops than Bottoms – Plan a few outfits around your favorite pair of jeans rather than different pants, skirts, or bottoms for each outfit.
• Pack One Color Palette – To make sure you can reuse your outfits and not have to pack your entire wardrobe, stick to one color palate and create outfits around that color. So if you are bringing black pants, pack a sweater that will work with a dress you are packing too.
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If you’ve ever suffered with motion sickness, you know how miserable you feel and even when the car ride stops. So that’s why all pet lovers can sympathize with our beloved dogs if they have anxiety about traveling in a car or get motion sickness when they join you on a car ride.

Fortunately there are a number of things you can do to make the next trip with your pup run more smoothly for you and your four legged friend.

Pack a sick kit – Pack towels, plastic bags, dog enzyme cleaner, and water to clean and water for your dog to drink in case your dog does get sick. Give them some time to recover with fresh air and water.

Travel on an empty stomach – Just like you, nausea is always worse on a full stomach for dogs. On the day you’ll be traveling, be sure to reduce or skip your dog’s morning meal, but be sure to offer water.

Keep the car well ventilated – The key for helping your dog feeling well while traveling is keep the air moving in the car. While you are nice and cool in the driver’s seat, the temperature might be much higher in the back of the car. Try lowering the windows a few of inches to allow the fresh air into the car. Even if you are a little chilly, the cool, moving air may help reduce your dog’s nausea and discomfort.

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Sitting at home sipping hot chocolate while you watch the snow fall outside sounds like the perfect way to enjoy a winter wonderland; however, when winter strikes, we don’t always have the luxury to just sit at home watching the snow. We usually have to get outside and drive in the snow. So before you grab your keys and head outside to take on the snowy roads, here’s a few reminders of how to stay safe while driving and traveling in the winter.

• It can be tempting to just start driving and hope all of the snow just comes off your car-but don’t do it! It’s dangerous for you and other drivers. Don’t start driving until you have cleared the snow from windows, headlights and the top of the car.
• Always keep your gas tank full to prevent the fuel line from freezing.  Also if something happens, and you are stranded, you’ll need that full tank of gas to run the car heater until help arrives. If there is snow or cold weather in the forecast, don’t forget to fill up your gas tank.
• Be sure you have a winter emergency kit that includes blankets, snacks, a phone charger that will work in your car, and water.

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I usually describe myself as a very organized-unorganized person. Elaborate organizations systems just don’t work for me, but as a busy mom that is always on the go, I have to find ways to get organized and stay organized. When it comes to all of the things that I must have in my car and the things that just so happen to find their way into my car, I need quick, easy, and effective organization systems to keep my car from being overtaken with “stuff.”  So here are a few easy ways to get your car organized even if you aren’t an organized person.

• An old popsicle mold will fit into your console and is perfect for keeping everything organized and stops smaller items from falling to the bottom and getting lost.
• Grab a few carabiners from the dollar store and attach them to the back of your headrest or the passenger side headrest. These handy hooks will be perfect for holding your purse, diaper bag, umbrellas, or for loading up your grocery bags. This awesome hack prevents the bags from spilling over and keeps your bags organized.
• Don’t toss old cosmetic bags because you can re-purpose them in your car. Toss these handy zippered bags into the glove box to keep all of your important documents organized and together.
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If you’d love to have a spotless car-inside and out-but you just don’t have the time, here’s a few car cleaning hacks that will clean the mess in record time.

• If your cup holders are looking pretty grimy, this hack is perfect for getting out every piece of dirt. Start by grabbing a plastic cup or mug. Put the cup inside of an old sock and soak the outside of the sock with a glass cleaner or with dish soap mixed with water. Just be sure the cleaner can cut grease. Then put the cup into each cup holder and twist and turn the cup to scrub the mess. For extra messy cup holders, spray some of the cleaner inside the cup holder to loosen up the dirt.
• Get headlights and taillights super clean with toothpaste-be sure to grab a tube that contains baking soda. Squirt a generous amount of toothpaste onto a soft rag and using a circular motion, rub onto your car’s lights. The texture off the toothpaste is great for removing the grime and dirt from your lights. I was surprised well this works and how much my lights needed cleaned!

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