Mommy Hacks - Sick Season Preps!

Oh, it's that time of year!  

Colds, stomach bugs, and sore throats!  

Hopefully this list of 10 top tricks all moms should know and do will help!

Are you ready for this??????????

1) Line the bucket!

Yes, this tip came from a friend and I will totally be implementing this one ASAP.  The throw up bucket is not "new" to me but putting a trash liner in it is just something I didn't think of at 2:00 am.  Usually I just grab the hose.  But... now I'm ready. I just lined my empty 5 gallon ice cream bucket and put a few extra's under there on the bottom, for a quick change.

2) Speaking of throw-up...

Peppermint hard candies, and even a strong flavored cough drop can help get that yucky taste out of a little ones mouth.  You could even use a lollipop.  Sometimes candy is ok.

3) The sick prep bag

I'm a bag person.  I really like having bag for every occasion.  During sick season I prep a bag for each of one of my kids.  It's great to have ready for a back pack, or a diaper bag, or my purse. Heading out the door with a less than well child, just grab and be prepared.

Things to include

• purse size Kleenex
• chap stick (for chapped lips or even chapped noses works on both)
• a small tube of Aquaphor (for the hands after sanitation or again, the chapped nose)
• hand sanitizer
• empty Ziploc - for the used Kleenex
• RX - based on the kid 
• nose spray
• Benadryl rapid melts
• Pepto or tums chew-ables
• chew-able Motrin or Tylenol 
• (obviously only if the kids are old enough to manage have access to meds)
• Cough drop or Vitamin C drops
• a fun band-aid - because when you don't feel good a paper cut can end your world.

4) Used Kleenex piles... oh gross!

A great idea is to get the boxes that are cubes, use an empty one as a trash for the used ones.  Either tape, glue, or rubber band them together.

Don't have a empty box.... grab a gallon sized Ziploc.  Fill, zip, and toss all those germs away!

5) Get some rest - but "I'm too achy to sleep".  

If keeping their eyes open to watch a movie keeps them awake when they should be resting.  Try a CD or audio book.  Swing by the library, buy one and keep it on hand or download the free app from your library and just download one.  Close your eyes and listen,  and rest!

6) Body aches, detox bath time!

Might I suggest keeping some Epson Salt on hand.  It's really cheap, and helps a ton.  There are so many "recipes" for the perfect detox bath.  But, I find Epson salt and sleepy time tea bag thrown in a tub helps a ton.

7) Medicine baskets, get 'em prepped now! 

 You need to have 3 major baskets in your medicine cabinet - your 3:00 am self with thank you.

1. wound care
2. cold / allergies / respiratory
3. stomach / flu / digestive

If you want to get fancy and OCD... and a smaller basket for each of your family members.  When the crud starts to take hold, put the correct meds in the correct person's basket on your counter with a list of times etc for doses.  It's helpful when adults play tag-team on care knowing when the last dose of meds were given and how much.  And you won't mix up small children's with older children's meds.

8) Germ barriers, sick beds

Ok, so you should know I am a germ-a-phob.  I mean like really, really bad.  Sick kids on a surface that I can't throw into the washing machine creeps me out.  So, I make a sick bed on the couch.  A king sized fitted sheet over the whole thing, keeps my couch clean and washable.

9) Never run out

This might be obvious, but go out and get what ever medicine, creams, oils, refills, and Epson salt you need.  And get some back ups.  My main tip is have everything on hand at all times.  Here are must list of things to never run out of EVER!

• Benadryl (never know when you have an allergy reaction and need a quick dose)
• Mucinex
• Motrin
• Epson salt
• thermometer (have extra batteries on hand)

10)  I'm bored, and sick, and whinny...Mommy!!!!!!!!!!

So.... I got nothing (other than audio books).  We all struggle with this.   My biggest advise on this one is to remember to get out that hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes out and wipe down that IPad, cell phone, remote control, light switches, door knobs and start on that laundry you have sheets, towels, and pillow cases to wash.  At least YOU won't be bored!

Get Busy Mama, there is no time for you to get sick!

8 Tips and Tricks to Cruise Travel... the things I didn't read about when I searched for tips!

OK.. so I have been on one cruise... yep one!  It was the first vacation my husband and I had kid free in 10 years.  To be specific we went on the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas to Bermuda (these observations are based on that ship and line).
Perhaps a normal person might think that one cruise is not enough to write a tips and tricks blog post about but... I have never been considered normal.  So, here are a list of things that I  did not read about on the massive amounts of research I did before our cruise.

1) The whole pre-booking thing... yea that's a joke.  I was so worried that the spa would be booked up, or the excursion would be full or we would miss out on something if it all wasn't totally planned out and pre-booked.  What a load of nonsense :)

Tip - Let me assure you that the pre-booking best rate for the spa is not the best rate.  Did you know they have daily specials for the spa.. like really great ones!  These specials range from $89 - $135 and they cover a mixture of wonderful things like while getting a facial, you also get a head, neck, hand, and foot massage. They are usually 50  minute appointments and you are able to upgrade them for $20 here and there to add hot stones for an extra 25 minutes to a massage etc.  They have to be booked that day, so yes.. call and book early but I never had a problem getting in.  Just check the daily compass (the little daily newspaper they deliver to your room of all the daily activities).

2) Internet....... it's crazy expensive on the ship and is very limited.  Royal Caribbean's web-site said for one device it would be around $90 for the week.  Well... it was more like $150 give or take or $39 a day.  It was very slow, and did not allow for Face Time which was what we had planned on using for talking to our kids (you know using the whole Wi-Fi thing on the apple phones to avoid international cell charges).

Tip... just wait until you get to your destination.  Buy a drink, get free wi-fi for an hour, or buy the area service for $20 for 3 days.  The connection was great, we were able to face time all over the harbor, and had zero problems.

Extra Tip... the area service I was even able to use on the ship, as long as I was port side on the deck, so debarking etc, was not necessary.

3) The Soda Drink Package - it's a decent deal.

Here's my tip.  The cup you get is just like every other person who got the package too, so there are like 1379 cups roaming around that look just like yours.  And they haven't been really "washed" all week. So, you do not want to mix up your cups.  My mind went to a hair band or something to put around the actual cup to differentiate it from the others but  my hubby thought of something better, permanent, and doesn't get soggy when rinsed.  Nail Polish on the lid.  Yep, a little dot of nail polish on the lid does a world of good, just use a different color for each person.  Yes.. I travel with nail polish...if you know me in person you know this to be a true statement!  A real reason a Julep addiction comes in handy.  Don't judge.

4) My time dinning - We loved it!

Tip - At first I was totally prepared to have different servers every meal, however.... since we made our reservations at the start of the dinner time hours of when we estimated our arrival, the matradee sat us with the same servers every night!  And they were wonderful!  Cosmina and Dexter, they made our cruise something special!  They remembered what we liked, didn't like, they suggested things that they new we might  not know to order or what have you, and Cosmina made me the best hot coco every night with milk, frothed etc.. all because the first night I asked for creme... it was the best way to end the night!  Loved our servers and we still had the flexibility to eat at different times based on our island adventures and show times.

5) Restaurant Package - it's kinda expensive to add extra nights eating in additional cost restaurants, however there are two ways to do this and not go crazy.

Tip - we signed up for a package get 3 restaurants and get 25% of your total bills at those places. You have to double check our bill and make sure they got that info from the computer that you signed up for it, but  it saved us about $50.

Tip - most of the restaurants have these lunch specials - it's like a buffett so you don't get the extra special stuff.. but for the sushi bar it's a great way to eat there, and not spend a ton, plus free champagne.

6) The Bed.  Ok, so maybe I'm really spoiled, but no bed is equal to the bed at home and spending 7 nights on a bed that's well... less than what I am used to is hard.  I would suggest traveling with a memory foam topper with a down feather topper... not possible..?!?  What.. yeah, well that would be difficult.

Tip - Under our bed was 2 extra down toppers all wrapped up in a trash bag for the turn over day (day you get off and others get on).  Well... I stole those suckers and stripped our bed - laid those things down under our sheets for some added padding.  It wasn't the best ever, but it was a step up.

7) The Shower - it's super small.  I mean like really tiny.  I'm a 5' 6"  - 110 lbs skinny girl and I simply could not shave with out splashing the bathroom into a wet mess.  Image what my 6' 3" - cough, cough sized hubby felt like in that thing.

Tip - the spa, has a locker room were the sauna's are.  And guess what... they have full sized showers in there, totally private with a curtain.  Yep, I visited the sauna daily and I was always the only one in there - each and every day.  I cannot promise  your fellow cruisers will give you the sauna all to your self, but if you are sharing a room, just really need a good shave.... I'd suggest throwing your showering stuff in a beach tote, treating your self to a sauna treatment and just showering there.

8) Excursions - 

Well first I feel like I need to explain what happened to us.  We had 3 days on the island. On the internet (part of the whole pre-booking thing) they had a day at the beach as an option for day 1.  Well we didn't find out until we got on the ship that we arrived at 3:00 pm that day, not really enough time considering the private beach place closed at 5:00.. so they automatically pushed that to the next day. And while that is great, we already had snuba booked for day 2..so we had tickets for two different excursions on the same day.  We took them to the excursion desk, got a refund on the day at the beach and just go the lay of the land that first day.  Our day 2 - our snuba was cancelled due to rough wind, however since they already had us there etc... they let us snorkel for free.  Day 3 we left open because we didn't know what to pre-plan.  What we ended up doing was rending a moped and exploring the island - it was the best day ever!

Tip - Don't over plan, don't be afraid to roll with the changes, and if you are so over schedule you will likely miss the little things and places that didn't get the "featured" stop on the web-site.  We found the best mini golf place with literally breath taking views and locals that were amazing.  Also, the best fudge is found in the Clock Tower mall!  You will thank me for that tip, seriously...  I know fudge... it is the best!  Things are cheaper and have more options once you get out of the "tourist trip areas" and you will never have the time to find those things out.. if you over schedule and rely on the ship to bring it to you.

Side note... on our first day we literally walked like one block to the "private beach on the harbor" it was $5 entry.  This was the exact same place they charged us around $38 a person in advance to have a "day at the beach" plus like $16 for transportation.. it was a block, along a side street with zero traffic, you could see it from the boat... we barely crossed a street... kinda ridiculous.

Have fun and cruise away!
Although they have a kid area.. I really would not suggest taking kids on this boat, it's more adult friendly and I'm pretty sure my kids would have lost interest in 36 hours.  We however, never lost interest!  Black Jack anybody!

Mommy Hacks - Home Edition

Mommy Hacks - Home Edition

The Mommy Hacks have been some of my most popular posts.  

I truly believe every mom no matter how "together" she might have "it", she is always looking for ways to make it better, make it fun, make it work for everybody in the house not just her.

#1 Problem: NO YELLING IN THE HOUSE!!!!!

Tired of yelling across the house.... "time for dinner"...... "hey, time for dinner".... "guys, turn of the mine craft and get your boo-hinnys up here, now"...."if you don't get up  here by the count of 3 your grounded until your 50".  Sound familiar?

Solution:

Doorbell.  Yes, a simple battery operated door bell (found mine on clearance at Target for $5) and put the noise making part in the playroom, and the button where you are.  Push button, a loud ding dong happens.  A few classical training exercise with your kids and boom!  They come when you call, or ding dong.  No more yelling, threatening, and loosing your totally awesome mommy cool.

#2 Problem: Dinner Time!

Why do they have to eat 3 times a day and have snacks?  And why oh why does dinner have to happen every night?!!  Right?  You know you have thought that!

Solution:

If your like me and you need dinner inspiration you need it like... now.  I don't have time to go through all my cook books or troll the internet for an hour I need to start cooking now.  Here is what I did.  I ripped those cook books up and made my own with the pages.

• A 3 ring binder, a stack of sheet protectors and dividers.  One day I tore my cook books up!  Literally, I took an exact-o-knife and took the pages I wanted, the recipes I actually would use and organized them in a way that works for me.  I cook best by figuring out the ingredients I have first.  If I have sausage, I then go to that section of my binder and see what I have to choose from.  I don't have to go through 15 books, or thumb through a bunch of recipes I won't use or don't have ingredients for.
• Don't be afraid to throw away the recipes you will never use, get rid of those books you never have time to read.  Make one go to book and just add things as you go through life.  Or at least do this for your daily type of meals.  If you have to keep books for your happiness of the written word, then keep them for your fancy cooking days and don't overwhelm yourself on regular days.

#3 Problem: Unexpected Sick kid! 

Well they are all unexpected but at least we can usually figure out when our sick seasons are going to be and be prepared for the "right kind" of treatments.

Solutions:

1) Be bag ready.  What I mean by that is have some pre-made treatment bags to have ready in your medicine cabinet.  I keep a bag in each of my kids cubbies in the winter season.  One usually battles sinus issues and the other ear issues.  So, that's what our "go to bag" has in it along with a few other things.  This bag is to take with me in my purse or their backpack.  It's a great travel item.

Each bag as these items

• Kleenex
• empty zip lock - for used Kleenex's
• hand sanitizer
• chap stick (because chap lips follow every cold)
• Aquaphor lotion (because chap noses follow every cold)
• Nasal spray (our is prescription, I also put in our RX ear drops depending on the kid)
• a band-aid - because every sick thing ever needs a band-aid to truly help the sick :)
• a few cough drops
• I've started adding some chew able Motrin now that my kids are older and I can trust them not to eat them as a treat

2) Have your medicine cabinet grouped into categories.  I have "bins" labels with cold/allergies, flu/stomach, and wound care.  This is helpful replace something. Also, in the middle of the night when most serious sickness rear their awful head you don't have to fumble through a mess of things.  Keep thermometer, otoscope, flashlight for throats and nose sucker in a easy to access bin since that's usually the first thing you need to access.

#4 Problem: School Papers Everywhere!

Where are your spelling words?  Mom, I can't find my reading log! I have to sign that permission slip for your field trip.. where did I put that?  I can't do my homework, I can't find a sharp pencil! Sound familiar?

Solution:

Make one place.  I repeat.  1 - just one place.  Not one for this and another for that.  Just 1!  Did I say just 1 place yet?  Well... just one!  Here is our place

there is a power strip hidden behind these sorters for charging cords.

I found these fantastic mail sorters at Home Goods.  I painted the front part with chalk paint.  We keep clip boards in there for spelling words, reading logs etc.  All library books from school go there, along with their charging kindles, and a dry erase board.  Also the very back section is where I put their "keep" things from the school year as it goes along, at the end I will put these in a keepsake file I have for each kid.  Pencils, dry erase markers, erasers, highlighters and rulers are also kept here.  We use a reward system of tickets for spelling tests so that is what the containers are for on the edge.  If it's not in this spot.. then it's not in this house!

Obvious the decoration theme changes as the year goes round!

#5 Problem: Finding joy in the mundane "TO-DO" list.

The bathroom needs cleaned, the dishwasher is full again, and I am not looking forward to that stack of bills.  Yea.. I get that!  It doesn't sound fun, or joyful or how I want to spend my day.

Solution:

 If you have the flexibility to choose, then exercise that right!  What do I mean by that? Well... here is what this thought process looks like in my life (this could be an entire blog post so pardon my quick overview).

This week, I have a to do list. It is not organized by days, priorities or anything so type A as that.  In fact it's not really organized at all other than all those items need to be done.  How do it get through it you ask?  Well.... I wake up and ask myself, "what are you in the mood for".  "Out of all those things, what is the thing (or things) that I can see myself having the most fun with".  Many things come into play with this process.  Such as weather, if it's nice I don't want anything real time consuming because the kids are going to want to be outside.  I have personally found rainy days are great days for me to pay bills, write blog posts :), and do organizing projects.  Maybe today I have a lot of energy and those days are good days to clean!

You might be saying to yourself, I will never clean the bathroom if I wait for a day that I "feel"like it.  My response, I think you would surprise yourself.  I have learned to follow my own rhythms,  identify when is my best time of day, days of weeks, etc to accomplish something on my list.

I've done the whole Monday = dusting, Tuesday = vacuuming and I hated it!  My weeks are not always the same, they fluctuate. My moods are not always the same on Monday and neither are my kids attention spans to allow the same activities on a set schedule.  I realized when I made myself do things on a schedule I dread doing them. It took way longer, and I don't go the extra little tid-bit to make it great!  This way, all my stuff gets done, quicker, and usually more fun.

Now the day you pay your bills.... well.. I got nothing for you there other than reward yourself when your done!

Mommy Hacks - Easy Peasy ways to save money in less time on stuff you have to buy.

Yes, I use coupons, and Cartwheel, but that's not what I'm talking about.  

All that stuff requires time, newspapers, or printers, or forethought.  

These simple things do not.

1) Buy (or put) things in pumps!  Yes.. switch to pumps!  Use generic empty pumps and fill them with things like shampoo, body wash, and dish soap.  

First it started as an experiment, my boys were going through twice as much body wash as the rest of us.  So I put it in an empty soap dispenser I had under the sink, I told them how many pumps would be enough, and BAM it worked. Then I realized my 4 year old was just opening the shampoo bottle and pouring it in the water to make bubbles like every night while I was getting her clothes ready.  So.. I this time I bought a shampoo that came in a pump and it was wonderful!  Now, my whole family is switched over to pumps for all shower products and it's easier to stocked, cleaned, and I buy about 50% less now because they aren't over using and wasting it.

 

(hint - even if you don't like the brand these pumps are great find on a a clearance isle and put your own product in it, it will save you time from shopping less and money from wasting it)

I now use my dish soap that I buy in a "regular" bottle and put in in a "pretty" pump bottle.  Again, less waste and it looks pretty!

image source

2) Laundry Soap (and dish soap) Packs -  not liquid or powder.  No matter how many "loads" the package always says I don't feel like I ever that much out of the package.  It might say 105 loads but it still only lasted me 2 months and with the average 10 loads a week... that just doesn't add up.  These new Packs are great.  They really do last 105 loads.  It's way awesome... another very cool thing.. it takes up less space, and it's way lighter!  I hate carrying heavy detergent up stairs to the laundry room.  Yep.. I'm that lazy.

3) Reusable Lunch containers - save the earth, and save buying baggies, plastic forks, and snack sized everything.  Just buy regular packaged things and put what you need into divided boxes.  It cost more for less when you buy snacked sized things, and most times they are more "processed".  Personally love this product and this mom entrepreneur who created them!  You can buy it through the link below.  

Buy with this link

EASYLUNCHBOXES.COM

As for drinks... we use a thermos with chocolate milk (just like the ones they get at school) but I buy it by the half gallon or gallon.

4) Use a cloth towel instead - Paper towels get expensive.  Good back to the "good ole' days" and use a hand towel instead.  Yes, you have a bit more laundry, but hey your saving money on detergent now so that helps :)  Plus less paper towels, means less $, also less trash, which in turns means less trash bags and trips taking it out.  All around a good idea!   I have put an extra (well ventilated) trash can in my pantry that we put towels that need washing so it's easy to grab a clean one and keep germs to a minimum.  I also use wash clothes (old rags) to clean with instead of "cleaning wipes".

7 Steps to make morning's better! - Mommy Hacks

Now, let me preface.  I am NOT a morning person.   I'm not really a night owl either.. in fact... I really like sleep, any time, any way. I like to sleep.

However, every morning the quiet small, buzz, of my alarm on my phone wake me up.  And I get 15 mins to myself in the tub.  Then... life starts.

In order to get that 15 mins to myself, and still let me kids sleep as much as they can I have found several ways of making life easy in those not quite away minutes of the morning where we all have to get up but none of us want to.

7 Steps to make morning's quicker, easier and more pleasant!

 Don't worry they are super easy!

source

1) Battle of the clothes... everybody say's pick it out the night before.  That is good advise, trick is to make it fun!  I have painted stick people on my kids wall with command strips to hang the pre-picked clothes out and see how they look :).

A friend of mine has a great idea... she grabs the clothes and drops them item by item down the hall, down the stairs etc, to get the kids dressed as they migrate to the breakfast table.  I thought this was very fun!

2) Rage against the pop-tart :)... Many things can be made in advance, and in bulk.  Muffins, cinnamon rolls, my favorite is pre-making and freezing my own egg, cheese, and sausage biscuits.  Takes 1 1/2 mins to heat up and boom... breakfast is served.  They are healthy and filling.

3) Keep it quiet!  Shhhhhhhhhhhhh.......... I don't like to be yammered at first thing in the morning, so I don't do that to my kids.  We talk quietly, and sparingly until breakfast is over.  When we are all ready to talk about the day, we aren't already annoyed :)

4) Have a pump up song in the car!  We do have to a bit of something to start the day off right.  So, my kids either get the mommy "Good Morning" song made up by yours truly, or a quick little top 40 (top 40 is still a "thing" right?) in the 2 min car ride to school.  They usually choose the radio song.  I don't get that.

source

5) Say a kind word and hug before they depart!  That's kinda the simplest ever!  My kids count on that everyday, they notice when we forget.

6) Everything in it's place! 15 mins the night before saves 35 mins in the morning, and your mind, and smile!  Just get it put in the backpack, backpack in the right spot, anything else that you need in the morning where you need it. You will sleep better and the morning will be better.

This is ours :)  Everybody has a cubbie!  A place for their coats, shoes, gloves, etc...

7) Say a prayer for your child's day, their teachers, and their friends / foe's.  This is for you, when you get that moment at a red light or as you drive away as they run into school, or as you sit down at your desk before you open your e-mail.  Say a little prayer.

Here is mine... "Please God, please protect my children.  Let them know they are loved, and smart and special and my whole world.  Help them remember they are safe, and precious just as they are.  Help them on the playground find the kind friends, and help them be the kind friend to those that need them.  Please give the teachers enough patience and energy to last the whole day.  Help them connect to my kids and teach them how they need it and from where they are.  Dear God, put your protecting hands over the whole school and make a safe bubble all around the school. Amen"

 Hope your mornings are AwEsOmE!

Time Change - 3 things you need to do!

Twice a year Mommy Hacks!

Oh it's the good kind of time change ... you know the one... where we actually get an extra hour in the day instead of loosing one!

  Honestly we as moms usually hope for an extra hour of sleep, and maybe a few of us will achieve that goal, but the rest of us can use that extra hour to get some life saving mommy stuff done.

We have all heard the saying "use it or loose it" right.  

Well, either get that extra hour of beauty sleep or make the best of it!

source

#1 - Get that Car Bag in order!  

I mean with real life useful stuff.  Things that really matter.

Here is a picture of mine,

Items to include,,, 

• clothes in season for all 3 of my kids (example - I switched from light weight to heavy weight items and added warmer hoodies / fleece coats. (yes I include socks and underwear)
• Check the sizes and make sure everything will fit all kids through the rest of the year
• extra hats and gloves for each kid - somebody will loose a glove - it will happen
• an extra sweat shirt for myself (maybe an additional adult size t-shirt as well)
• extra clean up stuff (that's in the ziploc) hotel sized soap, lotion, comb, a wash rag etc.  It's just nice to know I have it if needed.
• bottle of water to use with soap if needed

I have a Town and Country - I'm a huge fan of the Stow and Go!  

That's where I keep this bag.

Other things I keep in my car at all times! I update these things at the beginning of the summer each year.

1.  First Aid kit 
2. Outside kit (yes I have a kit that includes sunscreen, bug bite cream, bug spray, a little first aid kit, and wet-wipes).  Things you might need at a soccer game, or picnic, or random spur of the moment outside event!
3. 2 umbrella's (one rain one and one big sun one)
4. an outside blanket
5. all that car stuff (jumper cables etc.. IDK what all that stuff is, that's my man's job)
6. and these Mommy Musts from a previous blog post mommy-hacks-vehicle-edition-be-that-mom
7. car cell phone charger!!!! Never take it out.. ever!

#2 Do a Fire Drill!

It's not hard, just do one!  

Here is a great link to consider reading over!

practice-home-fire-drill

test your smoke alarm batteries at this time as well

#3 Create a little "Quality Time"

 with the hubby!

Ladies.... maybe take the extra hour to create a little heat with the hubby!  Just say'n, balancing a life with kids is hard.  An extra hour should benefit everybody in the house, your hubby will be pleasantly surprised!

Mommyhood made easier!

Mommy Hacks - Vehicle edition - Be THAT Mom!

Every mother out there has seen THAT "other" mom that seems to have it all together.  You know, what I'm talking about and if you don't, then you are either not a mom or live under a rock, or you are THAT mom.

I've gathered a few ideas from a group of talented mommies out there, I can't lay claim to all of these.  But, you can bet your cute lip gloss I'm going to steal them as my own and use them daily from now on.  Feel free to do the same.

Mommy Hacks Vehicle edition!

1) Note taking in the car - keep a dry erase marker in your glove compartment for a quick scribble on the window.  Yes... write on the window.  Your  not going to loose that piece of in the endless abyss of your minivan, or purse, or diaper bag, or pockets etc...  And you won't forget about it, because every time you enter or exit you will see it.  Wipes off with a sleeve.

2) Keep a cute, (best if) non-melt-able lip gloss also in the glove compartment for the times your not dressed yet, but have to run that lunch box that was left in the car into the school.
You might be sporting slippers and flannel pants, but at least you don't have that morning scary face on.
Lip gloss and sunglasses can go along way.. trust me...

3) You never out grow the need for a good package of baby wipes.  Ever!  There is always a need for baby wipes.

4) A bag of extra clothes (updated for that season and your kids' sizes) for each  kid.  Yes.. we all know the need for an extra outfit for the baby or the potty training kid but you still need things like this sometimes.  Every time we switch from Day light savings time and back I always go thru my car.  I updated a shirt, pants, socks, underwear, light jacket etc for each kid.  Usually they are the ones that were handed down, or a good buy on the clearance rack for $0.50.  The things you normally don't dress in daily, but they are mighty handy.  I've had a goat rub his poopy bottom on my kid's pants at a petting zoo, I've had a nose bleed at a soccer game and needed an extra shirt, I've needed extra underwear because "things" happen even to kids to are over potty training.  I've had a kid playing in a dirt pile getting filthy mcnasty and then fall need heat stitches.  I'm sure I would have been turned into authorities if it hadn't been for those extra clothes (and a tub of baby wipes).  Soggy socks from mud puddles before church.... I could go on.... you get the drift.

5) Keep a little cosmetic bag of those "feminine products" around.  For the obvious reasons of course, but also I've heard that pads are great first aid items in an emergency you might come up on.  There's a plastic barrier to keep the blood from your hands and absorbs a lot blood if the wound is bad.  They are handy for many reasons.  And did you know a tampon could save your life in the wild... well... read this :)

/survival-tampon/
First_Aid_Kits/Sanitary-Napkins-have-More-than-One-Use

6) The thing that has saved many a trips... an extra package of AA Batteries for the DVD headphones.  Yes... there is never a good place to buy them when they go out in the middle of a western Kansas Trip.  You will thank me for this one.  Keep them in there at all times.

7) Keep a cute jean jacket for yourself in your car.  For many reasons... refer back to #2, if you find the need for #5 and need to tie something around your waist that isn't obvious and finally because a cute jean jacket will go with almost any outfit and  make you look trendy.  Right...?!?  Please tell me we aren't past this phase of fashion yet... I depend on this way too much!

photo from http://blog.repeatpossessions.com/new-arrivals/back-to-school-with-jacky-it-jean-jacket