The Smiling Spirit

Summer is in it’s peak! Summer vacation is halfway over. The temperatures are rising and if you’re home with your kids like I am, you’re probably looking for things to do to keep them busy. Busy children are happier children and busy children have MUCH happier mothers!!

I love that my boys are older now. They require a lot less immediate supervision. I like to carry a book. Then if I stop at the park on impulse, I have something to relax and amuse me while they burn off their excess energy.

But speaking of doing things on impulse… we do that a lot around here. The boys will be restless and bored and I will just suddenly say, “Okay, let’s go!” and we hop in the van and go wherever we end up. After we ended up somewhere wishing we’d planned better a few times, I created my “Impulse Kit”. Now I get it together when the kids get out of school and I keep it in my van. We rarely need anything that’s not in this VERY simple kit.

Here it is!

One towel. I have 2 boys with me usually. Two towels is too much of a sacrifice for my bathroom.

Never know when there might be swimming!

One blanket. I carry a sheet.

Cover up with it, sit on it, cover dry seats!

One folding chair.

ALWAYS comes in handy!

One sun umbrella.

So inexpensive & SO much healthier than sunblock!

Seriously, I think mine was $10 and I had to buy the extra plastic ground screw for like, $8 but it was worth it. It screws into dirt or gravel or sand. This umbrella is shade for ANYWHERE!

Easy to carry and assemble.

The plastic screw fits right on the bottom.

One melt proof snack for everybody.

Three plastic grocery bags.

One first aid kit. Mine is only 4 bandages, a small squirt bottle of peroxide and a washcloth.

One box of baby wipes.

Two writing/drawing tablets.

With this “Impulse Kit” in my van, I feel free to stop anywhere because whatever we encounter, we have what we need. We like to stop at the creek, beach, park and for ice cream through the summer during the day. Carrying these things in my van sure beats the heck out of stopping to plan and pack before we go.

I’m just a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl. I still plan, I just plan on my impulsiveness and plan in advance :D

A quick note: I used to carry bottles of water in my van because you never know when someone will REALLY need a drink. I don’t do that or suggest it anymore. When plastic bottle get warm, they release toxic chemicals into the water inside. Then you drink the chemical laced water. Not good! These chemicals have been linked to serious hormone imbalances just to name ONE!
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