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Backwards N High Heels

Balancing work and play while wearing many hats (I mean heels).

Surviving The Beach With Kids

August 15, 2016

Surviving-The-Beach-With-Kids_BackwardsNHighHeels-Blog
I was going to title this Blog post – Beach Hacks or Tips for Beaching With Kids. SEO friendly post titles that get straight to the point of my message. But, as I reflect on our beach vacation (you can read all about it – Here) I realized, those titles, just won’t do.

No, sometimes, it is straight up survival mode around here. And, well, sand and waves, you really are no exception.

Children are tough little cookies and they require more work and attention when it comes to beach planning than I myself every did.

I pretty much took three things to the sandy shores – 1) a beach chair 2) a magazine 3) a cold beverage. I was set.

Yeah, not so much anymore. Thank goodness my in-laws rent an oceanfront home each year which saves us from completely thinking ahead, as we merely run across hot coals, I mean the sand, to the house for said items. But, while we do have that advantage to our stay, I still find the following beach tips necessary to share.

  1. Zip Lock Baggie It

    I have a Lifeproof cell phone case, but that does not mean I confidently leave my phone on my towel or in the cup of my beach car. No! I still zip lock baggie that baby. I even will throw extra bags in our cooler. They are great for holding a pacifier, snacks, random seashells found on the beach and that precious cell phone!

  2. Baby Powder

    Sprinkle some of this magic pixie dust on your little ones feet and legs to easily remove sand. It is much better than rubbing a towel against your child’s skin which can easily irritate.

  3. Dig A Bed

    I know, you are thinking… “What?” Laying a towel on the sand and climbing under the umbrella, while sounds appealing actually is the worse “mattress” you may sleep on in your life. Have you tried? It is hard! And, yet, you see parents do it over and over for their kids. Use the palm of your hand to scoop the sand left and right to create an indent (almost like a cradle). Then lay a towel over the sand and place child. We even do this for the older kids, creating mini recliners in the sand.

  4. Pack Snacks… And Well!

    Unless you want to make multiple runs from the ocean to your lodging, pack some great snacks. Always prepare to be on the beach for a length of time. Even if you are not! We pre-make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, gummies, pretzels, goldfish crackers, etc. Try to pack individual snacks so nothing goes to waste and you can accommodate multiple people.

  5. Freeze Water Bottles & Use As Ice

    This tip accompanies the tip above. Food safety is a must. Especially on a hot beach. Keep cold foods cold with frozen bottles of water. 1) They tend to last longer than heaping piles of ice and 2) They are multi-purpose. As they melt you eventually have water and we also use the bottles to cool down. Placing the bottle against the back of our necks for some instant relief.

  6. Beach Towel

    This Towel for the win! My sister-in-law, Abbey scored this great beach find. It repels sand! Yes. You read that correct.

  7. Water Shoes

    This was a total whim, but I am glad I purchased and packed. When we got to the beach we were greeted by lots and lots of jellyfish. They were in the water and all over the shore. Within the first hour, my oldest niece was stung three times and she never went in the water! I packed the shoes for the rough ocean floor but these provided some comfort and piece of mind for walking across the jellyfish invested shore. Try These or These!

  8. Pack A Spray Bottle of Vinegar

    For the fries, y’all! Just kidding. Hence the tip above and the jellyfish dilemma and possible stings. I had always heard, you pee on a jellyfish sting. I think that public form of medicine is looked down upon. Vinegar does the trick! We actually learned that from a lifeguard. Vinegar takes the sting out.

  9. Reusable Shopping Bags

    These make great beach bags! Coming from a self-proclaimed, “fashion girl” – skip the beach bag fashion. Unless you are in Saint-Tropez… no one cares! These are great for toting sandy towels and toys and they rinse up and dry great. Seriously, save your money.

  10. 5 Gallon Bucket

    Can’t you tell from the photo above? My dear daughter and our young nieces and nephews enjoyed every single moment with this bucket! Fill that sucker up with ocean water and watch the kiddies frolic around it like it is a magic well or something. No, in all seriousness, it is great for quick washes of the hands and feet, for sand castle play and for even quick dunks from the sun.

Do you have a beach tip that I missed? If so, share in the comments section below. Happy beaching!

Enjoyed this post?  Awe, thanks. I am blushing. We can connect through facebook || twitter || instagram || pinterest || bloglovin’
TOMS Shoes

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Family, Travel TAGGED: Backwards In High Heels, Backwards N High Heels, Backwards N High Heels Lifestyle Blog, BackwardsNHighHeels, Beach Hacks, Beach Tips With Kids, Beach Vacation, Being A Mom, Mom Advice, Motherhood, Parenting, Parenting Hacks

Summertime Parenting Hacks

June 3, 2016

So, it rained about 22 of the last 30 days, but then Mother Nature was all like “Hey, hey Summertime, I am feeling ya,” and blessed us with some very warm, hot days.

No, I am not complaining! I promise. I have been longing for sunshine and warmth and sunshine oh, and warmth. You catch my drift?

But, let me let you in on a little secret… hot summer days with a toddler. Yep not the same, as pre-baby. I NEVER sit anymore. I chase. That is my new mode. I am in chasing mode. I also have sunscreen on my hip for the first sign of redness. My beers actually turn warm before I can finish, because I place them down to again, chase a toddler and then I forget where I put them. I get nervous about bare feet on wooden decks – splinters. Bare feet in lawns – bees. Bare feet in gravel – unidentifiable sharp objects. Basically I am a scaredy cat!

So, when I stumble across life hacks for parenting, I am all like, “Hallelujah! Can I get hellz yeah, Momma?!” And, then I high five myself. Let me indulge you.

1 – Toys On The Go
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_WipeContainer_BackwardsNHighHeelsSource
Recycle and reuse your empty wipe containers as to-go, toy canisters for outdoor and on the go summer fun. Who cares if they get filled with sand, dropped in mud, dropped in a puddle. You can easily clean off and reuse.

2 – Mess-free PopsiclesSummertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Mess-Free-Popsicles_BackwardsNHighHeelsSource
I find myself shivering at the thought of sticky, sugary juice melting in the hot summer sun, all over little hands. Yuck! Especially when you are outdoors and not near a public restroom. Double yuck! Pack cupcake tins during your next picnic. It will surely intrigue the kids and protect them and you from a sticky mess.

3 – Bug Free Drinks
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Bug-Free-Drinks_BackwardsNHighHeelsSource
Yep, cupcake tins in for the win again. (Totally did not mean to rhyme there). Anyways, cover sugary, sweet drinks with a cupcake tin to protect bees and insects that stake their claim in your summertime beverage.

4 – Protect Your Phone
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Phone-Protector_BackwardsNHighHeels

Always, always pack a zip lock baggie if the following equation is taking place. You + child + water = Disaster! I tend to throw my cell which also has a lifeproof case, in a zip lock baggie too. Maybe I am crazy? Overly cautious? Or all subconscious.

5 – Cool Off
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Cool-Off_BackwardsNHighHeels
Source
How cool is this? I am totally down for this during the hot summer months. Cut some sponges into cubes, string together and soak in cold water. Then when your little is hot, place around their neck, to naturally cool them off. If they are a baby or toddler, they may chew on the sponges which will help with their gums and cool them down.

6 – One-Stop-Shop Bag
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Cool-Off_BackwardsNHighHeels 4Source
A one-stop-shop bag is a must! Band aids, Tide-to-Go and medicine, can each have their moment to shine this summer. So, let this bag do its job. Only, thing missing? Mommy’s tequila. Just kidding. Maybe?

7 – Mess Free Bubbles
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Mess-Free-Bubbles_BackwardsNHighHeels
I found this picture on Pinterest with no link. Boo! I even tried Google image search and it just showed Pinterest shares, but again no link. How smart is this? I mean I cringe at the thought of handing over the wand and tube to my bubble loving baby. She just lacks… grace, let’s say.

8 – Bug Free Sandbox
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Bug-Free-Sandbox_BackwardsNHighHeelsSource
So, I have no clue if this works, but you bet I am going to try it! Apparently, cinnamon keeps the bugs away, so once you sprinkle throughout the sandbox and stir, goodbye bugs, hello sweet smelling sand, oh, no – do not eat that, child!

9 – Keep the Baby Pool Clean
Summertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Keeping-The-Pool-Clean_BackwardsNHighHeelsSource
Yeah, okay, so I needed this hack a week ago. We have filled and refilled the baby pool twice now. And, rain and pollen have dirtied the pool, yet again. Cover your baby pool with a fitted sheet to keep the water clean. There, done.

10 – Sand RemovalSummertime-Hacks-For-Kids_Sand-Removal_BackwardsNHighHeels
So apparently Baby Powder and sand, well they do not mix! This easy summertime hack is so simple! Just rub some powder between your hands and then rub across skin. Goodbye sand.

So, there you have it. Some summertime parenting hacks. Do you have some secrets to add to the list? If so, share in the comment section below.

Enjoyed this post?  Awe, thanks. I am blushing.  We can connect through facebook || twitter|| instagram || pinterest ||  bloglovin’

 

 

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Family TAGGED: Backwards In High Heels, Backwards N High Heels, Backwards N High Heels Lifestyle Blog, BackwardsNHighHeels, Mom Advice, Mom Life, Motherhood, Parenting, Parenting Hacks, Summertime

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