This past weekend my family and I went on an impromptu trip to Minneapolis. We wanted to look at furniture at IKEA and take the kids to the Mall of America. I went on hotels.com looking for a room that was nice, inexpensive and close to the mall.
I was lucky enough to book a Hampton Inn and Suites, only .5 miles from the mall and included free wireless, a pool and free breakfast for only $99 a night. But it was worth so much more.
First off, we got there late and they hadn't given our room away (like my husband feared). The beds were SO soft. The next morning, breakfast was awesome. Scrambled eggs, waffles, yogurt, cereal, doughnuts, bagels, sausages, apple and orange juice and milk...it was great.
We spent all day (7 hours) at the Mall of America. When we returned, the kids were pleased to see their "babies" (fluffy the dog, Buzz Lightyear and Cabbage Patch doll) lined up on their made bed. We decided to hit the pool--just to wear the kids out a bit more. After the pool, I asked the front desk for a place they could suggest for pizza. They handed me a flier for a local pizza joint with coupons! SCORE! I also asked if it would be possible to wash out the kids cups (we had bought at the Disney Store). Not only did they let me use their kitchen area to wash out the cups, they also informed me that I could get milk from the kitchen area for the kids!
The next morning, breakfast didn't disappoint. They had added French Toast Sticks to the menu. YUM! With a family of five, free breakfast saves us at least $40/day!
Check out was a breeze...and they offered late check out of 11 AM. Next time we go to Minneapolis, we'll be sure to stay at the Hampton Inn and Suites near the Airport/Mall of America.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tip Tuesday: Leave the Bows
I learned this trick the hard way and have been waiting to share my wisdom with other mommies!
The bows on the presents...if you're like me and you have to travel "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house" you know the problem. You've got your gifts all nice and pretty, with a bow.
By the time you get to Grandmas, the bows are crushed and your wrapping job looks like you did it blindfolded.
Rather than putting the bows on before hand, I just leave them off of the gifts. I bring a bag of bows and put them on the presents as I'm setting them under the tree at Grandma's (and in our case, ma'ams) house.
It saves a lot of headaches, stress and honestly, more stress is the LAST thing a mom needs at Christmas.
The bows on the presents...if you're like me and you have to travel "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house" you know the problem. You've got your gifts all nice and pretty, with a bow.
By the time you get to Grandmas, the bows are crushed and your wrapping job looks like you did it blindfolded.
Rather than putting the bows on before hand, I just leave them off of the gifts. I bring a bag of bows and put them on the presents as I'm setting them under the tree at Grandma's (and in our case, ma'ams) house.
It saves a lot of headaches, stress and honestly, more stress is the LAST thing a mom needs at Christmas.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Shuffle Saturday: Take Time
Last weekend my family went to Minneapolis for the RightOnline Conference, a Conference for Conservative bloggers to learn and hone their skills in writing, tweeting, blogging and learn about policy issues. We also heard some great speeches from possible GOP nominees.
Thursday-Saturday evening, I was focused on the Conference. My husband was nice enough to keep the boys (yes, all three) occupied so I could focus on learning, taking notes and networking.
There's nothing like being stuck in a hotel room with three kids under the age of 5 to make your apartment feel HUGE when you get home.
Anyway, my husband went to the mall with the boys, drove around downtown and locked himself in the hotel room with the boys. Once my conference was over, it was time for some "family time". We decided to head to the Minnesota Children's Museum and by luck, it was a Target free Sunday. Every third Sunday, Target pays for all admission fees to the Museum. What a deal!
We parked in the ramp and in the skywalk on the way there, we discovered a McDonalds! It was our cheapest meal while in Minneapolis! We grabbed some breakfast and sat down with the boys. Liam, our 5 year old who never met a stranger, greeted an older gentleman who was sitting at the next table. At first we thought he was a typical older guy, as the conversation started out about how all of his friends are dying...but we hung in there and learned so much.
He told us about how he was 82 years old and still swims a mile and a half a day. He told us about how he swam at the University of Minnesota in college. And he did diving as well. And he traveled in a show with a man who came to be Greg Louganis' coach. Liam told him he loved to swim and wanted to be a swimmer when he got older. The old man smiled and said, "Swimming and diving is a great sport."
The old man talked about swimming and diving. He talked about diving off of a board when the board was made of wood. He discussed how he wore WOOL suits when he competed. And then he came over to our table and pulled out pictures. A plethora of old, black and white pictures that were worn over time and years spent in his wallet. Young men, most gone now, wearing wool suits and smiling. The legs of the suits went to their knees. The large buttons keeping the suits up around the shoulders.
This is only an example of what the suits looked like. The one he showed us was more "wooly" and longer in the knees.
And then he talked about how most of his friends are gone. His friends he swam with in college. His friends he toured with in the diving show. All gone. I turned to him with a smile and said, "Tell you what. How about when Liam goes to the University of Minnesota and swims, you come to his meets?" He smiled, nodded his head and said, "That sounds great."
I never caught his name. He never said. I didn't think to ask. I was so interested in his stories. All weekend we were so caught up in our schedule and keeping on schedule. But some of the best time spent on the entire vacation was the time we didn't schedule.
When we took time to stop.
To listen.
To hear what the lonely man at the McDonald's in the skywalk had to say.
And I think he enjoyed having someone to talk to.
Thursday-Saturday evening, I was focused on the Conference. My husband was nice enough to keep the boys (yes, all three) occupied so I could focus on learning, taking notes and networking.
There's nothing like being stuck in a hotel room with three kids under the age of 5 to make your apartment feel HUGE when you get home.
Anyway, my husband went to the mall with the boys, drove around downtown and locked himself in the hotel room with the boys. Once my conference was over, it was time for some "family time". We decided to head to the Minnesota Children's Museum and by luck, it was a Target free Sunday. Every third Sunday, Target pays for all admission fees to the Museum. What a deal!
We parked in the ramp and in the skywalk on the way there, we discovered a McDonalds! It was our cheapest meal while in Minneapolis! We grabbed some breakfast and sat down with the boys. Liam, our 5 year old who never met a stranger, greeted an older gentleman who was sitting at the next table. At first we thought he was a typical older guy, as the conversation started out about how all of his friends are dying...but we hung in there and learned so much.
He told us about how he was 82 years old and still swims a mile and a half a day. He told us about how he swam at the University of Minnesota in college. And he did diving as well. And he traveled in a show with a man who came to be Greg Louganis' coach. Liam told him he loved to swim and wanted to be a swimmer when he got older. The old man smiled and said, "Swimming and diving is a great sport."
The old man talked about swimming and diving. He talked about diving off of a board when the board was made of wood. He discussed how he wore WOOL suits when he competed. And then he came over to our table and pulled out pictures. A plethora of old, black and white pictures that were worn over time and years spent in his wallet. Young men, most gone now, wearing wool suits and smiling. The legs of the suits went to their knees. The large buttons keeping the suits up around the shoulders.
And then he talked about how most of his friends are gone. His friends he swam with in college. His friends he toured with in the diving show. All gone. I turned to him with a smile and said, "Tell you what. How about when Liam goes to the University of Minnesota and swims, you come to his meets?" He smiled, nodded his head and said, "That sounds great."
I never caught his name. He never said. I didn't think to ask. I was so interested in his stories. All weekend we were so caught up in our schedule and keeping on schedule. But some of the best time spent on the entire vacation was the time we didn't schedule.
When we took time to stop.
To listen.
To hear what the lonely man at the McDonald's in the skywalk had to say.
And I think he enjoyed having someone to talk to.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Food Friday: Travel Snacks--And A Trusty Jug
As you're well aware, we traveled in the car with three boys under the age of 6.
Granted it was only four hours. But it was four hours. I knew we needed snacks of some sort. Because "it's only four hours" quickly turned in to "it hasn't been four hours?" 20 minutes outside of town our kindergartner asked, "Are we there yet?"
I picked up some snacks before the trip. I knew we'd need something to drink and I was excited to see that individual bottled waters were on sale at Target. I picked up animal crackers and Pringles to munch on. Pringles isn't something we usually purchase but it was in a seal-able container and a little less messy than regular chips. Animal crackers are something everyone can enjoy and aren't as messy as regular cookies. But it wasn't the snacks purchase that ended up surprising me at the end of the trip.
Boy, I was I glad I bought the bottled water. You see, when you're traveling with a kindergartner, you have to be prepared for anything. On the last leg of our trip, 30 miles from the nearest rest area on I-35 (and only 10 minutes since we left a gas station and said "are you sure you don't have to go), he announced, "I have to go potty." Ug.
I said, "Can you hold it?"
"No. I have to go real bad. I can just go in nature," he said, pointing to the farmland. I knew that wasn't going to happen. We were not going to risk ourselves pulling over on a 70 MPH Interstate just to let him tinkle.
So I did what any mom would do. I chugged my water jug empty and handed it to him. "Put your penis" (yes, we use the medical term for reproductive organs in our home) "in the jug and go pee". He laughed, looked at me, and then knew I was serious.
To be honest, I couldn't believe I was saying it. But, a mother has to do what a mother has to do. He giggled the entire time he was going to the bathroom. He handed the pee jug back to me (um, thanks) where I put the lid on and put it in our garbage sack.
So if you're potty training or have small children who really can't hold it, it's always helpful to have a container that can double as a pee jug. You never know when you're going to need it. It's better to have pee in a jug than pee all over the seat, the clothes, the car seat, the kid etc.
Thanks, Target, for having bottled water on sale. If it hadn't been for the sale, I don't think I would have bought it. And we would have a mess on our hands.
Granted it was only four hours. But it was four hours. I knew we needed snacks of some sort. Because "it's only four hours" quickly turned in to "it hasn't been four hours?" 20 minutes outside of town our kindergartner asked, "Are we there yet?"
I picked up some snacks before the trip. I knew we'd need something to drink and I was excited to see that individual bottled waters were on sale at Target. I picked up animal crackers and Pringles to munch on. Pringles isn't something we usually purchase but it was in a seal-able container and a little less messy than regular chips. Animal crackers are something everyone can enjoy and aren't as messy as regular cookies. But it wasn't the snacks purchase that ended up surprising me at the end of the trip.
Boy, I was I glad I bought the bottled water. You see, when you're traveling with a kindergartner, you have to be prepared for anything. On the last leg of our trip, 30 miles from the nearest rest area on I-35 (and only 10 minutes since we left a gas station and said "are you sure you don't have to go), he announced, "I have to go potty." Ug.
I said, "Can you hold it?"
"No. I have to go real bad. I can just go in nature," he said, pointing to the farmland. I knew that wasn't going to happen. We were not going to risk ourselves pulling over on a 70 MPH Interstate just to let him tinkle.
So I did what any mom would do. I chugged my water jug empty and handed it to him. "Put your penis" (yes, we use the medical term for reproductive organs in our home) "in the jug and go pee". He laughed, looked at me, and then knew I was serious.
To be honest, I couldn't believe I was saying it. But, a mother has to do what a mother has to do. He giggled the entire time he was going to the bathroom. He handed the pee jug back to me (um, thanks) where I put the lid on and put it in our garbage sack.
So if you're potty training or have small children who really can't hold it, it's always helpful to have a container that can double as a pee jug. You never know when you're going to need it. It's better to have pee in a jug than pee all over the seat, the clothes, the car seat, the kid etc.
Thanks, Target, for having bottled water on sale. If it hadn't been for the sale, I don't think I would have bought it. And we would have a mess on our hands.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Shuffle Saturday: Travel Safely!
Already this year we have had one severe blizzard under our belt. You know the dreaded weather with freezing rain turning to ice, heavy, blowing snowflakes, and drifting on the highways, followed by falling temperatures. Not fun unless you are cozy inside.
Last weekend, while this storm hit the upper Midwest of the United States, I remember being curled up in front of the computer reading the Detroit News about how motorists were stranded along highways in Northwest Indiana, the hardest area hit of the storm, for up to twelve hours. Thankfully, everyone remained warm and safe in their cars waiting for rescuers until the stormed finally passed.
With the Holiday season upon us this week, I hope everyone has safe travels on the roads. With all the Christmas shuffle, remember to take a few minutes to prepare for the journey. Here are some tips I remember my dad taught me growing up, instilling them into my head.
Remember that ultimately it is better to stay home when advised to be off the roads per the weather report. However, should you be out and about in a bad snowstorm, follow these tips. If you get stuck, stay in your vehicle and wait for help.
Last weekend, while this storm hit the upper Midwest of the United States, I remember being curled up in front of the computer reading the Detroit News about how motorists were stranded along highways in Northwest Indiana, the hardest area hit of the storm, for up to twelve hours. Thankfully, everyone remained warm and safe in their cars waiting for rescuers until the stormed finally passed.
With the Holiday season upon us this week, I hope everyone has safe travels on the roads. With all the Christmas shuffle, remember to take a few minutes to prepare for the journey. Here are some tips I remember my dad taught me growing up, instilling them into my head.
- Make sure your gas tank is at least half full at all times to avoid running out of gas and freezing.
- Plan your route and tell someone ahead of time.
- Winterize your vehicle to have in excellent, working condition.
- Rotate your tires before winter and keep them properly inflated and in good condition.
- Check to the bulbs on your headlights, making sure they work at all times.
- Remove snow from headlights when scraping the car.
- Fill your windshield with anti-freeze fluids for washing your windshield and check the wipers.
- Carefully watch the road and appropriately slow down for bad weather.
- Always buckle up for safety.
- Have a fully-charged cell phone with you for long trips in bad weather.
- Keep a shovel in the trunk.
- Store a bag of sand or cat litter in the trunk for traction.
- Place an ice scraper near the front dash board.
- Have available a tow rope.
- Keep a heavy blanket or old sleeping bag in your back seat for easy access.
- You may want a flashlight.
- Bring along a candle and matches.
- Make sure to throw in a book to read.
- Carry a portable weather radio.
- Store lock de-icer.
- Throw in some water bottles and snack foods for the trip.
- Have long jumper cables close by in the trunk.
Remember that ultimately it is better to stay home when advised to be off the roads per the weather report. However, should you be out and about in a bad snowstorm, follow these tips. If you get stuck, stay in your vehicle and wait for help.
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