Showing posts with label travel accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel accessories. Show all posts

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska

I recently traveled from Kansas City to Omaha, Nebraska for a long weekend.  The family trip was focused on celebrating my dad and niece's birthdays.  Our whole reason for going was to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo.  We spent the entire Saturday there seeing the animals and attractions.  It didn't disappoint!  I will highlight a few of our favorite attractions.

With 2 separate entrances, it was easy to get into the zoo and start our day.  First stop was the Desert Dome where we learned all about the different deserts of the world and the animals that inhabit them.  The indoor exhibits were nice to see and get out of the heat and humidity of the summer.






The next stop was the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion.  I love butterflies.  So this was perfect for me.  The inside was full of greenery and plants to create a beautiful setting.  Searching for butterflies didn't take long.  They would fly close overhead and one even landed on my brother's hat.




My favorite zoo animal is the giraffe.  So, when I heard you could feed them, I was so excited.  Seeing these amazing creatures up close was my favorite part of the day.   Don't miss this opportunity!!





Of course we would stop and feed any animal that we possibly could.  You can see some of the family kids feeding the fish here.


Our last stop of the day was Stingray Beach.  You could buy food to feed the stingrays.  What an experience!!  The kids loved this.  Getting up close and personal with these animals was a great way to end the day.


 So, if you are ever in the Omaha area, the zoo is a must see.  There are so many other features and attractions that we didn't have time to see on this day.  Guess we will just have to go back again!!

If you are looking for more information on the zoo
go to their website HERE.

**Disclaimer:  My family and I were provided tickets as guests to the zoo. 
All opinions are my own.   


    Thanks ~ Nichi

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!



8 Best Travel Accessories for any trip


We travel several times a year.  Some just as adults, other trips with our kids.  Over 20 years of being together as a couple, and many many trips later, we have come up with 8 of our favorite travel accessories.  These items will make a huge difference in packing, entertaining kids, and organization.

#1 - Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are amazing for organization and making travel easy.  We roll all of our clothes and pack them into the cubes.  Each cube is great for separating the types of clothes you take...swim suits, underwear, casual clothes, dress clothes, etc...  They can also be used for bathroom accessories.  We each have our own color coordinated set of cubes so that we know who each cube belongs to when unpacking.  Plus, if security has to go through your suitcase, it's an easy less-messy way to do it. 
#2 - Card and Travel Games

You never know when a rain storm or crazy weather will occur.  So, we take travel and card games with us everywhere we go.  They have come in handy when the kids are hanging out in the room, at a restaurant waiting for food, by the pool, or waiting on rain to pass.  Our favorite new find is Uno Splash.  It is your favorite UNO game, but waterproof.  Perfect for a game at the pool! 



#3 - Shoe Organizer

This is probably my favorite organizing accessory.  We discovered a few years ago that we needed something to organize a weeks worth of bathroom products.  Rather than having them scattered across our resort's bathroom counter, we used a shoe organizer.  It is hung on the bathroom door for everyone to use.  This makes it easy for you to see all of the products, but keep them out of the way.  If you have little kids, put their stuff at the bottom.  Adults or taller kids can use the top. 
















#4 - GoBreezie Towels

I've done a post on these towels before.  See it HERE.  GoBreezie towels are the perfect travel companion.  They roll up and have their own storage bag.  They are great to save your seat at the pool, take to a yoga class, or dry off at the gym.  Made of a soft microfiber, the towels are comfortable and stylish.  Order your own HERE and use the code HELLOSUMMER for a 15 % off discount.



#5 - Towel Clips

Want to keep your pool towels in place?  Keep them from blowing away?  How about having a hook for your pool bag or coverup?  These simple and affordable clips are the perfect solution.  I keep them in our pool bag for the summer and take them on trips.  They help reserve seats and make it easy to identify where our items are.  They are sturdy enough to hold up a pool bag, save your cover up from getting wet, or clip other items to the chair.







#6 - Insulated Cups


No one likes their ice melting in their cups, or a watered down drink.  We take insulated cups on every trip.  Whether it is the beach, mountains, or a local weekend trip, they keep your drink fresh and ice cold.  Plus, if you have a vinyl cutting machine, you can personalize them like we did.  We like the Ozark Trail cups shown below.




#7 - Noise Machine

If you sleep with a noise machine, hopefully it is small enough you can just take it with you.  We (including each kid) have slept with a noise machine for years.  The kids have since they were born.  The noise drowns out cars driving by, dogs barking, storms etc...  On vacation, they provide a comforting sound of home. 

#8 - Bags/Baggies

I'm one of those people that likes to be prepared for anything.  So, one of my favorite accessories are simple bags or baggies of all sizes...sandwich bags, snack size, quart and gallon.  You never know when you might need one to pack a snack for the pool, keep sand and shells from the beach, or bring home liquids that you bought.
 



    Thanks ~ Nichi

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

GoBreezie Towels Review


Did you know there is a towel out there that is versatile enough for the beach, pool, yoga, etc...?  And....you can easily take it with you?  
The GoBreezie towel is a high quality microfiber that is durable to last for years.  



Each towel comes with a matching pattern drawstring bag for travel and carry.  They fold or roll up for easy transport.  The color options are made to provide something for everyone.  From bright to neutral, you can make your own statement. 

I carried my towels to the pool last week.  While getting organized, I hung the bags on the fence.  It was a convenient and fun way to display them.


After laying them out on the chairs, I was amazed at the softness of the fiber.  
They are a thin material, but very comfortable to relax on. 




They absorbed water quickly after drying off from swimming.  
When I got home, I hung the towels up and was amazed at how fast they dried.  
No soaking wet water-filled towels to deal with. 


I can't wait to take these towels with me on our family trip to Mexico this summer.  They will pack easily and be the perfect travel accessory.

So, if you are looking for a great towel for water activities or travel....this is it!!  

Visit GoBreezie and use this code "HELLOSUMMER" for an extra 15% off of your order.

Special thanks to GoBreezie for providing me with products for this review.  
All opinions are my own.

Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!



Travel Accessories: Enteraining Kids on a Road Trip



It doesn't matter how old your kids are, they still need entertainment on a road trip.  Over the summer we took a trip from Kansas City to Tennessee.  My girls are 10 and 14 years old.  You may think they can entertain themselves.  And, yes, most of the time they do.  However, I like to have surprise activities to keep them from getting bored or fighting.  I teamed up with Oriental Trading to show you some products to help your kiddos, and you, keep sane.

I'm always amazed at the different license plates that we see along the way on a road trip.  Maybe you played that game when you went on vacation as a kid.  Well, a License Plate Travel Sticker Book is the perfect way to keep track.  My girls loved logging the different states along the way.



And who doesn't love tic-tac-toe?  It is a simple game that all ages can enjoy.  This Tic-Tac-Toe Game from Oriental Trading is great because there are no loose pieces.  Yep, that's right!!  Put it in your purse for a restaurant or pull it out in the car or hotel room.


Hangman is another blast from my past.  Kids still love to keep each other guessing with this game.  This Flip-To-Win Hangman Game is another great product without little pieces.  It even says "Great for Travel" on the packaging!  Everything is attached with cords.  Just flip away!



Sometimes, the parents have to get involved in the fun.  We spent some time doing coloring pages on the porch of our cabin.  I felt like a kid again!  It was fun to slow down and spend some time with my girls.  


The last item that I surprised the girls with were sun catchers.  Oriental Trading has numerous designs to choose from.  We painted the flip flop sun catchers.  They were fun for them to create and dried quickly by using the coordinating paint.


**Oriental Trading sent me products for this post.  All opinions are my own.

  Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!


Travel Accessories: MochiThings Products

If you like to be an organized traveler like me, you love travel accessories.  Recently, while preparing for a road trip, I went on the search for a travel log or diary.  While searching the internet, I came across the site www.mochithings.com.  I was in heaven searching through all kinds of terrific organizing and travel items.  I would like to share two of my favorite products with you.

The first one is the Slim Purse Organizer.  This product helped me organize all of the little things that seem to fall into the bottom of my travel bag.  I was able to keep it all in one place, plus slip it into my big carry bag for extra organization.  Who doesn't love all of the extra pockets available with this item?!?!  Front pockets, back pockets, even extra pockets inside!!





The second one is the Wind Blows Travel Planner.  It is a small and perfect planner to document your trip.  My favorite features are the pocket in the front, daily planner section, and back cover pocket.  The pockets allow you to keep tickets, receipts, business cards, etc...handy and on one place.




For more features of the organizer and planner, head over the MochiThings website and see for yourself.  You will never take another trip without them.  While you are there, look through all of their terrific products and tell them I sent you!

**MochiThings sent me products for this post.  All opinions are my own.

  Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!