Luggage & Travel Accessories

Keep Kids Busy When Out to Dinner

Fine family eateries have long known the art of successful family dining is often about letting the kids make art on the table. And, no, not the food variety. Many restaurants offer crayons and write-on menus but you never really know what you are in for when you dine out. Is there anything worse than a lame menu and those waxy crayons that break and don't work? What's up with the places that give you a yellow crayon and a menu photocopied onto green paper to color on. Do they really want to hear that tantrum?

Best to BYO and take matters into your own hands and keep this Doodles at Dinner Pad in the car somewhere. It's a whole stack of tear off placemats that promise to entertain. Not a lame one amongst them. Just be sure to pack some decent crayons to go with (we like this tin of high quality Stockmar crayons) and you may actually get to enjoy your own meal.

June 30, 2008 in Gear Reviews, In Car Entertainment, Luggage & Travel Accessories, Travel Books | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Must Have List Pads For Every Traveler

Whenever I go on trips I’m always writing lists of things to do, things to bring, things not to forget etc. I invariably forget to write something down and then I kick myself when I get to my destination having forgot that one item. Which is why I am so glad I found Buttoned Up’s TravelPrep.pad and lobotoME’s packME pads.

travelpreppadinside1.jpgButtoned Up’s TravelPrep.pad is really great for helping to start the ball rolling on getting your trip together. TravelPrep.pad helps you to make all of the reservations and not forget the little details in planning your trip.
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lobotME makes the packME pad, a checklist type pad for when you’re ready to start packing. It’s absolutely wonderful, and it has columns so you can pack for more then one person. The fact that I can pull these two pads out, and not have to ever think out what needs to be done on my next trip, is such a wonderful time saver. Plus the price is so right, how can you not get them?
 
Car & Caboodle Readers: Precious Personalities carries both pads and you can get 15% off of your entire order by using code MWS15

June 26, 2008 in Clutter Control, Luggage & Travel Accessories | by Candice Kahn | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Envirosax: the answer to all your shopping bags needs

 

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Need a cute earth friendly shopping bag?  Envirosax are the answer. I ordered one of these bags because I wanted to appeal to my fashion side, while being green. When they arrived I was in love!

Envirosax are made from a wipeable polyester. They are 19.5” by 16.5” open and roll up to a tiny  4”bundle.  Each bag can hold the equivalent of 2.5 plastic grocery bags. In addition, they can hold up to 40 lbs. I’ve put three half gallons of milk in each bag. The handles fit nicely over my shoulder, which is a bonus when carrying groceries and a child into the house.
 
I now keep six of them in my car's trunk and one in my purse at all times. I even use them in the mall when I’m shopping. 
 
When Envirosax came out with kid friendly designs on their bags, I immediately bought one for each of my boys. What a great way to teach my children to take care of mother earth! I keep them in my diaper bag so that when we’re out together they can feel like they are helping their mother too.
 
Car & Caboodle readers: Bailey Bea carries Envirosax, and is giving our readers 15% off her store when you use code CC15 (case sensitive)

May 29, 2008 in Clutter Control, Luggage & Travel Accessories | by Candice Kahn | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Kids Off to Camp? You'll Need This...

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Most camps want you to clearly label all your kid's possessions. Finding the right supplies can be tricky but we've had great success labelling our kid's possessions with custom labels from Mabel's labels. These are essential for camp but great for daycare kids and kids in elementary school as well - our motto is "label it or lose it" and given the many trips we have made to lost and found (finding our labelled goods) in the last few yrs, these labels have more than paid for themselves.

Watch the video for some pointers on how to get all your camp gear labelled and ready to go.And don't forget to order some stationary for those priceless letters home.

 

May 15, 2008 in Luggage & Travel Accessories, Quick Picks, Trip Planning & Family Travel Tips | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Retro Travel Style Comes Home To Newport Beach with Halsea

halsea.jpgHalsea bags, suitcases and travel goods are so nice you almost need a whole new car to go with them. I'm thinking old/new. A shiny convertible Mercedes circa early 1960s for me please...

They are certainly inspirational enough to plan a whole trip around. Salt air, flip flops, sand between your toes... these are the images and emotions the beachy line conjures. The luggage is not inexpensive but is the high quality sort that is meant to last you decades and become family heirlooms. And the good news (for us family types) is that their laminated fabrics ensure they are durable enough to withstand the spills and thrills of travel en famille.

After much online success the company has opened a flagship store at 409 31st street in Newport Beach, CA. If you are in the area, peruse their entire line at the store, as well as home goods that will make you feel as if you are on perpetual beach vacay. They have an awesome line of mirrors, table goods and pillows and will be selling their signature laminated fabrics from the shop as well.

Armchair travellers, shop for Halsea online.

April 9, 2008 in Luggage & Travel Accessories | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
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MrBNYC's Bags for the Booty in your Boot

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Got a plethora of kid gear floating around in the trunk of your car? Contain all your "stuff" enthusiasm with one of these excellent Mega Totes from MrBnyc. They are perfect for coralling everything from baby gear to soccer equipment, to groceries. The bags themselves are super huge, super lightweight and keep your booty super organized to boot. These hold up to 150 lbs of family gear. Now that's some serious tote bag capacity.

 

 

March 6, 2008 in Car Accessories, Gear Reviews, Luggage & Travel Accessories | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: bags

Travel Smartly with Dwell's Weekender Bag

Dwell Baby Weekender Bag

New from Dwell Baby is their Weekender Bag - perfect for packing your baby's belongings for a short weekend away.  Available in four different patterns and handsomely accented with leather handles,  a shoulder strap, and a luggage tag.

DwellStudio Weekender Bag - Transportation Pattern  |  $230 at Giggle

January 17, 2008 in Luggage & Travel Accessories | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: bag, dwell, luggage

Grab this swicki from eurekster.com