How the HP TouchSmart Web Printer Helps Me Travel

A couple of weeks ago I received the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web Printer. I had played with it a bit at a conference in September so I was excited to actually have it in my home and see what it could do.

Let me tell you... It can do a lot! The touch screen is so easy a 3-year-old can do it! And set up was quick and painless. For a full rundown of this great printer I invite you to read my review at Iowa Geek.

What I want to share here is how this printer helps me travel. I made a quick video to show you how it works:




The most obviously helpful app is, of course, the Google maps. You can either touch the map to pinpoint your destination or you can type in the name or address. Right now the maps feature can only show you the destination, it can't map a route. But that ability is coming- which will make this an even more handy feature. Especially when I forget to map our drive before I put the computer away!

The feature that I think I will get much use out of is the fact that I can scan information to a thumb drive. No more reams of printed paper stuffed in a binder for reference.

Of course the apps for coloring pages, crafts and games will come in handy with the girls. And even for me.... Four levels of sudoku anyone?

Travel Goodies from HP

Even if you don't have an HP printer you can use these great freebies from the HP Creative Studio. Travel themed coloring pages, car scavenger hunt, car bingo, travel games, luggage tags, print at home scrapbook layouts and more.


Disclosure: I received the TouchSmart Web printer from HP to use and review.

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A Gift for the Traveling Family

I have to admit, the commercials made me skeptical. I'm a failure when it comes to foreign language. I completely bombed jr. high Spanish; my girls know more espanõl from watching Dora than I do. I tried learning Gaelic from a book and CD but couldn't get beyond what I already knew: craic (pronounced crack; it means fun, entertainment, enjoyable conversation) and slainté (pronounced slanj; it's a toast meaning good health or "cheers").

So when I was asked to try Rosetta Stone I was hesitant. What made their approach so different? Well, they treated me like a 3 year old. That's not a bad thing. Not many of us can remember a time when we didn't speak. But if you have children you know that they learned to speak by listening and observing you. And that's how Rosetta Stone works; you listen and observe. Within minutes I could identify girl (cailín) and boy (buachaill), woman (bean) and man (fear). The software went on adding plurals, eating, drinking, walking, reading, swimming- all quite seamlessly. I was learning new words without even trying!

The software has a voice recognition system that helps you with pronunciation along with a visual system that helps you match the words and phrases to the correct images. It's really quite nice, but difficult to explain. To see it in action click here. To try it yourself click here.

I used the Irish and, after listening to me for a few nights, Doug tried it too. We were both very impressed and are planning to buy the full set soon. I really like that it comes with Audio Companion CDs that I can load into my iPod and listen to anywhere.

Rosetta Stone is kid friendly and easy enough for a 3 year old to use. Both of my girls tried it and asked to "play the Irish game" again. (Just a thought for Rosetta Stone- a Nintendo DS version would be amazing!) Rosetta Stone is available in 31 languages including English (British- which I must say I am intrigued to play with!), French, Spanish (both Spain and Latin America), Italian and Chinese.

If learning a new language is on your New Years resolutions or a foreign vacation is in your plans Rosetta Stone can help achieve your language goals. As for me, I hope to be speaking decent Irish by May.

Disclosure: Rosetta Stone let me demo the software online and sent me a headset to try it.

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Looking For a Not-Ugly Camera Bag?

I've found one! When I bought my Canon Powershot SX10IS Digital Camera I searched high and low for a camera bag that wasn't ugly. Of course I found what I wanted through etsy which led me to the designer's home page, Wicked Stitch Designs.

I created a video tour of my camera bag; I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch it.



I love the bag; the fact that I could pick the fabric and "make it my own" was a big plus! Also the versatility of the strap: it can be worn over the shoulder, cross body or as a backpack. Customer service was top notch. My questions were answered quickly and the bag was to me in just a couple weeks!

Disclosure: I paid full price for this bag. I did not receive any sort of compensation for this review; I just wanted to share this great find with my readers.

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Sale at Family Travel Gear!

Family Travel Gear 24 hour sale August 7, 2009- save 15% on everything! Just use code 824HRM09 at checkout!

Traveling with kids made easy!

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Head Snuggler Winner

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

13 

Timestamp: 2009-07-15 18:53:52 UTC

Congratulations to

Amanda B. said...

Tweet Tweet! @ajbeede

Don't forget: Special savings for Have Kid Will Travel readers: To receive a 15% discount simply complete your purchase at www.melrosekids.com and then email info@melrosekids.com and mention this blog post along with your name and you will receive a credit.

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My Top 10 Geek Gadgets for Road Trips with Kids

I wrote a guest post over at Road Trips for Families about my ten favorite geeky gadgets for road trips with kids.

You can view the article by following this link. Let me know what you think!

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The Head Snuggler Puts and End to Drooping Heads : A Review & Giveaway

Ah, yet another product that I wish I had invented. An idea so simple, so needed and only now is it being addressed.

If you have a little one in a car seat you know what I mean. On any given car ride little ones tend to fall asleep. And very soon their little heads are so far forward they are practically touching their bellies. If your child is older, like Brenna, they may go sideways. Either way it looks uncomfortable.

I spent years trying to address this problem; Doug or I would lean into the back seat and straighten the girls' heads only to have them nod back down within minutes. I couldn't think of anything to solve the problem short of tying their heads down- and I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have been comfortable.


When I first saw the Head Snuggler I wasn't sure it would work. It's a really simple idea. I figured Caelan's little head would just nod right out of it. I should learn to not make judgements until I try something. Because it worked wonderfully.

It fit easily on the car seat (it also fits on strollers) and didn't bother Caelan at all when I put it on after she fell asleep. I even pulled it down to shield her eyes from the sun. Brenna, who rarely naps, has requested one for her booster- just to cover her eyes.

If your child naps in the car and gets "droopy" I highly recommend the Head Snuggler. It works.

You can buy the Head Snuggler online for $20.99 + s/h.

For Have Kid Will Travel readers: To receive a 15% discount simply complete your purchase at www.melrosekids.com and then email info@melrosekids.com and mention this blog post along with your name and you will receive a credit.

Melrose Kids has offered a head snuggler for one of my readers in the green with polka dots design.

To enter just leave a comment.

Want more entries?

• For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  
• Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify. (This can only be done once per site. Duplicate comments will be deleted.)
• Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
• Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link. (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Does your kid's head droop when sleeping in the car seat? Check out the head snuggler! Plus a giveaway! http://bit.ly/9UZ20 )
  
• Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
• Add my blog to your Technorati favorites
  

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends July 14 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner July 15. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

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Safety Tat Winners!

Just a reminder: get your 15% savings at Safety Tat on orders of $15 or more! Offer expires July 10, 2009. Simply enter code HaveKidWillTravel at checkout (type as seen, no spaces!)

Click the image below to be taken directly to the website!

And now for the winners!

Winner #1:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

19 

Timestamp: 2009-07-08 20:15:07 UTC

Cindy B. of Montana July 8, 2009 2:13 AM

tweeting http://twitter.com/sendtocindy/status/2529134170

Winner #2:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

4 

Timestamp: 2009-07-08 20:16:39 UTC

myfourkids July 2, 2009 10:56 PM

These are great - and I love how they last so long too!! I would use them at the county fair, when we go camping, any where we go with a large amount of people!!

Winner #3:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2 

Timestamp: 2009-07-08 20:18:19 UTC

Andie Anderson July 1, 2009 10:19 PM

I just subscribed to HKWT! Thanks.

Thanks to everyone who entered!All winners have been emailed and have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear from the winners in that time a new winner will be chosen.

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Safety Tat Savings!

Justa few days left to get your 15% savings at Safety Tat on orders of $15 or more! Offer expires July 10, 2009. Simply enter code HaveKidWillTravel at checkout (type as seen, no spaces!)

Click the image below to be taken directly to the website!

And don't forget to enter my contest to win a sample pak of Safety Tats!

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No Throw Keeps Things in Reach

I'll be honest, when I was first approached about trying No Throw I initially thought, "My girls are too old for that" and almost sent an email to decline their offer. After all my girls rarely use a stroller and if they throw something I make them retrieve it.

Then I remembered how often I have to turn when we are in the car to fetch a sippy cup or no-spill bottle of juice. Or how many times I have tried to maneuver myself into an impossible position to rescue a drink from under an airplane seat. I accepted the offer to try this product.

I was quite impressed with the item I received. It was very easy to use, made of quality materials and attractive in purple with butterflies. It's also "slippery" material which Caelan loved. She spent quite a bit of time just feeling it. It worked just as advertised; with the juice tethered to the car seat Caelan could easily pull it back. In fact, she would knock it off just so she could "go fishing". The only down side: she is also able to undo the velcro that holds the cup secure. Fortunately she is also able to tighten it again, which made for a fun game.

Because of how it is created No Throw can be used for more than just cups. Loop it around a favorite lovey or toy to keep it from falling from the stroller. Yet another "why couldn't I have thought of this" product.

More About No Throw

No Throw was created by twin sisters with young sons who loved to throw their cups. You can now find No Throw in Walgreens locations throughout the US as well as in baby boutiques and select grocery stores. It is available in a wide variety of colors and patterns (including trucks, princesses, zoo animals, numbers and letters) and retails for only $5.

This is a great item not only for travel but for every day with a little one!

Want to win a No Throw?

To enter leave a comment telling me how often you have to fetch cups for your kids!

Want more entries?

• For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  
• Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify. (This can only be done once per site. Duplicate comments will be deleted.)
• Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
• Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link. (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Does your little one drop bottles or cups? No Throw review at Have Kid Will Travel + giving one away! http://bit.ly/1avDD6 )
  
• Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
• Add my blog to your Technorati favorites
  

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends July 8 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner July 9. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

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Safety Tat - A Review and Giveaway

I've been a fan of Safety Tat since I first found out about them last August. My girls love to wear them, they are cute and fun and they give me a little piece of mind. Recently Safety Tat came out with new designs in their Quick Stick Write-On tats:

Super cute, yes? We received a 3-pak to try and the girls were super excited to use them. Brenna chose to put hers on her arm while Caelan decided hers should go on her leg.



Here's a closer look (I probably shouldn't have put my phone number on them- it kind of loses the effect with it pixelated. But the designs are cute.)

Safety Tats are very easy to put on. Unlike regular temporary tattoos they do not require water; you simply press them on the skin. Once they are on you write your information.



The girls have been wearing their Safety Tats for over a week now. They have been to the pool, the park, a family reunion and have survived an afternoon of slip 'n' slide and water balloons. They still look great and the ink hasn't run. (Again, the effect is ruined as I pixelated my phone number. But I did leave one number visible as an example.)

Safety Tats can last up to 2 weeks and are removed by simply peeling up from the corner- kind of like a Band-Aid.

Safety Tats can be customized on the website with up to 2 lines of information and come in many designs including dino, flowers, cats, dogs and butterflies. Also available are allergy Safety Tats, school info Safety Tats and medical Safety Tats. There's also an ICE line for tweens.

Personalized Safety Tats begin at $19.95 for a pack of 30. The Quick Stick Write-On line begins at $7.99 for a 4-pak.

Order before July 10 and you can receive 15% off your order of $15 or more. Just click the button below to be taken to their website. Enter the code HaveKidWillTravel at checkout (type as seen- no spaces!)


Disclosure: I am a Safety Tat affiliate

Want to Try Safety Tat?

Safety Tat is offering 3 (three) sample paks to send to my readers. These are great for summer activities: camp, VBS, summer festivals, state fairs... Anywhere you go with your kids. To enter leave a comment telling me where you would use Safety Tat.

Want more entries?

• For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  
• Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify. (This can only be done once per site. Duplicate comments will be deleted.)
• Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
• Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link.
• Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
• Add my blog to your Technorati favorites
  

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends July 7 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner July 8. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

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Ibiza Convertible Flight Tote by Hayden-Harnett

I love a great bag. And a great travel bag? I'm so there. So when Mom Select sent me this Ibiza Flight Tote last week I was pretty excited.

In the past week I've gone from adoring this bag, to wondering if it would work for me, and back to really, really liking it.



When I first opened the bag I was in awe of its size. It is huge. Which will make it seriously great for travel. Then I touched the leather trim. Soooo soft. As I started to play with the bag I found huge "hidden" pockets- two in the front with those fancy leather pulls and one in the back, all sheltered under that soft leather. Nice.


The bag's interior is roomy with three divided pockets on one side, a deep zippered pocket on the other and a lightly padded section with a snap tab to hold a laptop, magazines or files.

So far so good, right?

Then I filled the bag, like I would for a trip. And I began to have my doubts. First problem: I have a 17" laptop. It fits, but it was a hassle to get it into that pocket. I didn't feel like the long leather strap was really supportive enough to carry that large of a laptop comfortably; if I took it off the shorter shoulder straps were too short for that much weight.

But, I decided to really try the bag before I wrote it off. And, after two days I've come to really appreciate this bag and I can't wait to use it on an actual trip.

Here's what I like:

• I don't actually take a 17" laptop when I travel; I take an Pink Acer Aspire One, 8.9" that weighs 2.2 pounds. I carry it in a wonderful Janine King Laptop Sleeve with the cord and accessories in a matching wristlet. Both items fit very nicely in the pocket.
• The "hidden" pockets are absolutely huge! The single back pocket is the perfect place to keep travel documents safe and organized. It can easily hold a large passport/ ticket folder. And since it is close to your body it's safe.
• The two front pockets are great for those odds and ends that you always end up carrying when you have kids: notebooks, pens, crayons, playing cards, food.
• The three divided pockets on the inside kept my phone, iPod Touch and business cards easily accessible.
• The zippered pocket on the other side is roomy enough for a medium wallet or to keep make-up and toiletries.
• The size of this bag... Wow. It is huge. I could easily fit a one gallon bag with a change of clothes (undergarments, shirt, socks) and a pair of comfy shoes in here. As well as a book or two, a couple of magazines and snacks. And still have room.
• It can be worn over the shoulder or cross body.
  

The only remaining issue I had was with the straps. Luckily Hayden-Harnett has a How to Wear Your Ibiza page. And there I found my answer. If I unhooked the strap from one of the O-rings (which is just gorgeous. I wish there was a good photo of the O-ring somewhere because it is practically art), ran it through the opposite O-ring and hooked both clasps to the same O-ring I had a perfect length, perfect tension strap.

It was almost as if the clouds parted and I could bring myself to love this bag again. OK, that's dramatic, it did feel a little bit that way...

One more great feature of this bag- which truly makes it wonderful for travel with kids or a weekend jaunt... It "downsizes". On the rear of the bag are three snaps and leather loops at the bottom corners. Simply snap, clip those O-rings through the loops and you have a smaller bag. You can put in a few smaller items and have room to expand for souvenir stops and shopping excursions. Or just the weekend farmer's market.

The specs:

The tote is made of a sturdy nylon twill and can be spot cleaned. The leather requires a quality leather cleaner.

The bag measures 19" long x 18" high.

Available in olive (this is the one I have), smoke blue, red, chocolate and violet.

Price $198




This post made possible by

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Fun Free iPod Touch/iPhone App

I got an iPod Touch a couple of months ago. I love it! Funnily enough I have no music on it. I also don't have any videos or movies. What I do have are some great apps- most of them free!

One of my favorites, which is great for travel (and education) is the USA Factbook Free app by ADS Software Group. You'll find it in the education category.

It includes

• Documents: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation & the US Constitution
• State information: flag, seal, capital, area, etc.
  
• Maps: regions & roadways, highways, ancestry, territories & more
• Anthem (with lyrics and sound) and flag information
• Major cities
• Presidents: including previous occupations, military service and education
• Quiz: capitals & locations

It's definitely a fun and educational app. Great for keeping older kids occupied while you drive or fly- and educated on your destination!

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My Favorite Things: Moleskine City Notebooks

I love a good notebook. Though I claim to be a geek of all things "techy" there is really nothing better to me than paper and a pen. So when I found the Moleskine City Notebook for Boston I was enthralled. I now had a great book to note our explorations, thoughts and information from our time in Massachusetts for a future visit and to reference when I write about places we've been.



The city notebooks are small, pocket sized books measuring 5.4 x 3.7 x 0.8 inches and each is customized for the city it features. Bound in basic black, the city is stamped on the spine.

The Boston notebook, for example, has a subway map & station index and 32 pages of zone maps & a street index. Dublin, which I also have, features the DART map & station index and 18 pages of zone maps & a street index. Both also have blank pages (54 and 76 pages, respectively), 96 tabbed pages for city files, 32 detachable sheets for notes and an expandable pocket on the inside back cover. Also included are sticker tabs to name some of those page groups and tracing paper to map directions for your sightseeing (they conveniently stick to the pages).

My Boston book doesn't just contain Boston information, however. I named tabs "South Shore" and "The Cape", for example. In the Dublin book I have tabs set up for other counties in Ireland.

These notebooks are not travel guides, rather a great place to compile your own, ultimate travel guide. I recommend taking notes in this small journal and packing it for your trip instead of carrying around three or four books that each only have a tiny bit of information you want. Plan your vacation before you go, gather information in one place and have it easily accessible. Take notes while you explore: Shops to visit? Restaurants to try? Closest tube station? You won't forget if you write it down.

In addition, this little book is a great way to relive your vacation. You can read your notes, remember what you ate and recall that funny little shop you happened upon. I open mine often, just to remember our adventures.

Moleskine City Notebook is available for 44 cities across the globe. Moleskine City has the complete list as well as basic info, updates and curious facts.

"For every traveller who has any tast of his own, the only useful guidebook will be the one which he himself has written."
~Aldous Huxley

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A (More) Personal Way to Say "Wish You Were Here"

When we travel we send a lot of post cards to friends and family back home. Which everyone really enjoys. While we were in Boston I found a way to make the "wish you were here" postcard even better.

I discovered Hazel Mail.


With Hazel Mail you simply download a photo you have taken, create a personal post card, write your own note and then Hazel (named after the founder Michael Lato's mother) prints, stamps and mails the card for you. All for $1.50 - to anywhere in the world! (note: Hazel Mail is located in Italy and will show on your statements as Think America LLC Rome. You will pay a small currency conversion fee. I sent 5 post cards and the fee was $0.06. The currency conversion fee depends on daily rates.)

Think about it... That's less than the cost of a post card & stamp. And take a look at just how easy it is to do:


At the homepage click "Send a Postcard". Next you will upload the photo you want on your postcard.

After you have the photo uploaded click "format image".



On the format page you can rotate your photo or stretch it to fit (stretching will alter the image). If the image doesn't fit the page you can add background color. There are also a couple of frame options.

Format your photo. When you are happy with how it looks click "write message".



On this page you will see how the front of your postcard will look and you can now write a personal message in one of 8 fonts.

You can add the recipient manually or import addresses. Make sure you choose the correct country from the dropdown menu below the address section. By clicking the "add recipient" button a new postcard pops up. It will have the same photo but you can write a new, personal message to another recipient. You can do this as many times as you wish.

After you've created all the postcards you want to send click "add to cart".



Your cart page will show you how many postcards you are sending and will show you the price. You can remove postcards from your cart here.

When you have your cards set to go click the payment button.



Payment options include pre-paid HazelBucks, PayPal or your credit or debit card.

It's easy, it's personal and everyone we sent these cards to absolutely LOVED them!

The card should arrive in about a week (not any slower than sending a postcard from outside the country).

Give Hazel Mail a try the next time you want to dash off a "wish you were here" note.



Disclosure: this is not a paid post but my thoughts on a product I have actually used and like. I am, however, a HazelMail affiliate.

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I Got a Janine King Fronce Tote! Want One?

I managed to hold off since last fall... But, while wandering through Boston and saying, one too many times, "I really wish I had a Fronce (pronounced fron-say) tote," I finally decided to spend my small amount of saved "fun" money (which takes a while to add up, by the way) on the bag I had been visiting online for about 4 months.

When I contacted Janine King with a question about the bag she very graciously offered to send along a bag for me to give away (she's good like that).

So, at the left you can see my great bag. Don't look at me, OK? It's the bag we're focusing on...

First- look how huge it is! It's amazing how much stuff I have put in here! This past weekend I had a folder with confirmations for event, hotel & dining, two bottles of water, my wallet, camera, Flip, business cards, iPod, 9" Acer laptop, Moleskine planner and makeup case in it. And I had room to spare! Dimensions: Approx 14” across the top, 16” tall, 18” across the bottom. 5” boxed corners at bottom

Second: I love that the strap is adjustable so I can carry it over my shoulder or across my body, depending on how much stuff I have in it. Shoulder strap adjusts from 22” to 42” allowing for most body types.

Third: I utilize this bag mainly for travel because it is roomy without being too dull and practical. It has three interior pockets for organization (think camera, video, iPod, pens, etc. Interior pockets: Two are approx 7"x7" and one is approx 4"x6") It also has a key clasp- which is great because your keys would be hard to find at the bottom of this bag! The bag doesn't zip closed but the top is firmly interfaced to keep it upright and it almost molds to your body. Besides, a pickpocket would have to have some seriously long arms to get into the bottom of this bag without you knowing. (That said, you should carry your ID, passports & large amounts of cash on your person when you travel.)

For all the specs on this great bag visit Janine King Designs. While you're there check out the huge sale she's having! Bags are ready to ship and the prices are incredible! (I've already bought a gadget keeper for my iPod, a wristlet to match my mini computer sleeve and the Big Beautiful Tote in Bermuda Stripe Raspberry - it's gorgeous! You should get the last one!)

Want to own a Janine King Fronce Tote?

This contest has ended

I have a bag identical to mine (in the gorgeous Asian Cherry Blossom) just waiting for one lucky winner.

To enter head over and take a gander at Janine's bags. Leave a comment and tell me what strikes your fancy.

Want more entries?

• For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  
• Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify.
• Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
• Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link. (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Win an amazing Fronce Tote from Have Kid Will Travel & @JanineKingBags! http://bit.ly/oWCKn )
• Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
• Add my blog to your Technorati favorites
  

Open to anyone with a mailing address- worldwide!

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends May 9, 2009 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner May 10. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

This giveaway is part of the Give It Away Now blog carnival hosted by Mom Most Traveled. For more great giveaways click the button below!

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It's Almost Beach Time! A Giveaway from Family Travel Gear!

OK, we don't have a beach that we visit here in Iowa... But we do go to the pool. And the park. And the Towel Down 3-in-One Beach Towel will come in really handy for practically any outdoor activity with the girls.

This is a great backpack/tote bag/ family size beach towel... all in one.

Towel Down Features:
* Material is 100% cotton velour.
* Towel size is 40 inches x 70 inches. It's HUGE!
* Large double chamber pockets (bag) measure 24" L x 19" W.
* Corner pockets measure 11" x 10".
* Easy washing instructions

Talk about multi-tasking! It will hold all of our "necessary" pool toys. It will make it easy to pack park playthings- and give me a clean, dry spot to sit down! And I can wear it as a backpack when Caelan decides that she "just can't walk anymore".

Family Travel Gear is giving away one Towel Down 3-in-One Beach Towel in your choice of design!

This contest has ended

Visit Family Travel Gear, check out their offerings (and the Towel Down 3-in-One Becah Towel) and tell me which design you would choose if you win. Respond in the comments.

For an extra entry subscribe to (Have Kid Will Travel (you can do this near the top of the page in the right column) or add my button to your blog. Leave another comment telling me you did so.

For even more entries blog or twitter this contest. Leave another comment with the blog link or your twitter id so I can confirm this entry. (Tweet as often as you like! Copy & Paste: RT @iatraveler: Win a great multi-purpose tote/beach towel from Have Kid Will Travel & Family Travel Gear! http://bit.ly/rkJbF )

US & Canada only, please.

Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends Saturday, May 9 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner May 10. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

This contest is part of the Give It Away Now Blog Carnival hosted by Mom Most Traveled. For more great contests click the badge below.

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Janine King's New Kindle Sling: A Review & Giveaway!

Not long ago I told you that Janine King had a new item: the Kindle Klutch. Specifically designed to hold a Kindle this bag is very nicely padded and has a sleek look that would make it great even if you don't have a Kindle to carry in it.

Well, Janine King Designs has gone one step farther by creating the new Kindle Sling. The dimensions are slightly larger than the Kindle Klutch (measuring 10"x 8" versus the 10" x 7" Klutch) this bag reminds me of a larger version of the Passport Purse (which I truly love!) with an adjustable strap that can be removed from the bag.

If you don't have a Kindle the Kindle Sling would make a great bag for day trips when you only need a few things.

Like all of Janine's padded bags the Kindle Sling contains a core layer of 1/4” foam padding that’s shock absorbent, anti-static and water resistant. I personally have 6 of her bags for my computers, iPod, camera & Flip and can tell you that they are better padded than many bags you buy in retail stores. I completely trust her bags with my electronics.

I have, sitting beside me, the exact Kindle Sling pictured above to give away! The Asian Cherry Blossom print has to be one of my personal favorites; it's bright but still goes with practically everything.

To qualify visit Janine King Designs and take a look around. Don't miss the HUGE sale (I just received notice that Janine has added more items!!) she's having! What strikes your fancy? Tell me...

For an extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel (you can do this near the top of the page in the right column) or add my button to your blog. Leave another comment telling me you did so.

For more entries either blog or twitter this contest. Leave another comment with the blog link or your twitter id so I can confirm this entry. Tweet as often as you like- just be sure to leave a comment every time! (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Win the new Kindle Sling from Have Kid Will Travel & @JanineKingBags! http://bit.ly/k4y4e)

International entries ok!

Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends May 3 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner May 4. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

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St. Patrick's Day Savings at Family Travel Gear

On March 16 & 17, 2009 Family Travel Gear is offering a 15% savings on every product (except the CARES Child Aviation Restraint) just by using code 3STPAT09. This is a great time to get that travel gear you need for summer vacation!

A few of our favorite items:
Trunki Ride On Suitcase & Freida, the limited edition Trunki

Snack & Play Travel Tray

Trayblecloth (Family Travel Gear is an authorized retailer for Love to Travel Products)

Talus XL Backseat Organizer

Every order receives personal attention and is shipped quickly. All items are tested by Family Travel Gear before they are added to inventory. This is my first stop when I need to order travel supplies.

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Behind the Camera? Get in the Picture!

As "the one behind the camera" I rarely appear in our travel photos. Which really kind of, well, sucks. I wonder if my kids will look at the the pictures of themselves with their dad in all the wonderful places we go and wonder, "where is mom?"

Thanks to my camera's delay feature I can sometimes prop it somewhere and place myself in the photo. But, more often than not, there is no place to set the camera.

Or maybe you're a solo traveler... I know this would have been wonderful when I was exploring Ireland on my own.

Enter xshot, a light weight, telescoping "pole" that attaches to your camera. It extends to over 3 feet but collapses to only 9 inches and weighs just 5 oz.

It also works with video cameras!

Prices: US $29.95, Canada $36.94 (incl. shipping), international $54.95 (incl. shipping)

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