Top Food/Drink Containers for Kids

Food/Drink storage containers - who would have thought I would ever be blogging about food and drink containers? But... when you become a mother, you know... food and drink storage becomes a "thing" in your life. You want to find products that are easy to travel with, are compact enough for little fingers and products that are durable. And - most important, are going to make your life EASIER. I've searched high and low for some products for my 4 boys... it's not always easy.

Here are my TOP Food/Drink Containers for Kids:

Catch Bowl -The Catch Bowl has been a wonder for us! Food that spills, you can literally CATCH!

Stay-Put Suction Bowls -Suction bowls are a saving grace! They stay put! Perfect for babies and toddlers.

DripStik -Say GOOD-BYE to messes, drips and spills! With summer coming, every child needs one!

SippyPal Straps -
Never lose sippy cups on a walk/stroll again! Heaven for parents.

Mac & Cool Quick Cooling Dish -No more waiting for food to cool! Your kids will love this.

Toy Organization

Santa visited my 4 boys on Christmas Eve and left lots of toys...

Under our tree were puzzles and Legos and cars and trucks and games... all for the boys to enjoy and play with each other.

I don't know how it is in your home, but in my home... toy time is the fun time and clean up time is the not-so-fun time. As a matter of fact, it usually turns into "Mommy" picking all the toys up while the boys are in bed. Well, not anymore. I was smart this Holiday season, I purchased some toy organization "stations" for the boys. After all, the New Year is all about starting anew and getting organized - well, here is my attempt on the toy front.

Here is what I recommend for your toy room, living room or child's bedroom:

1. Collapsible Toy Box and 4-Cubby Organizer available at One Step Ahead:


I love the ruggedness of this toy box. You can fit so much stuff in here... not to mention, I love the natural hue. You can also monogram it, too.

2. Lift and Hide Bookcase Storage Chest available at Target:

This chest is plastic, so it's extremely lightweight. I love that this is small enough for your 2 yr old to really use. It's easy and accessible and can fit anywhere. Also - it's very easy to clean, just wipe with a damp cloth.

3. Children's Storage Bench available at Toy Boxes & Storage:

This is a show piece within itself. I fell in love with the artwork and beauty of this toy chest and bench. This is ideal for your child's bedroom or playroom.

4. Whitney Brothers Toy Storage Box available at Walmart:
What I love about this toy storage box is that it's see-through. I think that is so perfect for young kids. Ideal for I Spy games!

5. Pottery Barn Kids Canvas Buckets:


Hands down... my favorite. I love having buckets for different kinds of toys. Trucks. Trains. Blocks. Crayons. Everything is neatly organized and out away for the night. Plus, they are so adorable to have around your house.

Time to Get Organized Mom

Now is the time to put those resolutions into practice.  And for many moms that means getting organized.  Rather than try to tackle revamping the entire house, let's start with basics--your handbag/diaper bag.

If you're like me, your bag becomes a dumping ground for juice box straws, bandaids, notes for school handwipes, diapers and more.  I have two big problems. First, I am lugging around too much stuff. And second, when it comes time to find and essential item, they all seem to have gravitated to the bottom of my bag. 

Solution: The weekly bag dump.  Every Sunday night I literally dump everything out or my bag.  Here is the system

1. Toss trash. Be sure to shred receipts with sensitive info. or file in appropriate folder. Enter phone numbers from scraps of paper into your phone and place all appointments into your weekly calendar.
2. Baby quick change kit. I use a babyspareware bag that comes loaded with a cotton back-up outfit, then add diapers, wipes and a slim changing pad (Dwell baby has a compact  option that is easy to wipe clean).
3. Pair down that wallet.  Day-to-day life only requires a credit card, ATM card, drivers license and cash (maybe your health insurance card too).  All those store credit cards, checkbooks, and gift cards should be stored in a safe spot at home.
4. Skip the coin purse.  Dump your coins into a piggy bank.
   
5. Check out your key ring.  Are you carrying keys to doors you never open?  Take them off and toss them or stash them in your home safe.
   
6. Stock mom essentials--Hand wipes, charged cellphone, small notepad and pen.
   
7. Cosmetics--hand lotion, lipstick, etc, are placed in a small clear makeup bag. Opt for sample sizes whenever you can to cut down on bulk. 
8. Forget about plastic toys and pacifiers.  Think about adding a piece of teething jewlery
   --fashion and function. Bigger kids can use that notepad and a pen for quick games of hangman.
   

It helps to start with a bag that is loaded with compartments to keep you organized.  Timi & Leslie bags come with a removable bottle tote, changing pad, detachable wristlet (for mom’s essentials---cell and wallet), key fob, dirty clothes bag and more.

Why not get your year off to an organized and fashionable note with the Timi & Leslie's Mod Patent Tote. Forget about feeling frumpy—today’s mom can take part in all the latest trends. Look for it this week on Totsy.com.