31 May 2012

Save on baggage fees: Use bedsheet packaging to organize a family suitcase

Amazon: High Sierra 26" Drop Bottom Wheeled DuffleAnother great use for those thick plastic sleeves in which new sheets come packaged! Ladygoat used them to lower airline baggage fees by cleverly organizing her family's travel gear:

On a recent vacation, we used one big suitcase for all the family's clothes. I used the plastic sleeves that sheets are sold in to organize the clothes.

The plastic sleeves to kept the kids' clothes separated and organized: socks and underwear for one kid in one sleeve, shirts for other kid in another, etc. I also used them to separate complete outfits by day, so in the morning I could just pull out the package with an outfit already put together.

It worked really well - the clear plastic made it easy to see each set, so I wasn't always digging around a pile of clothes. Because the packaging is soft-sided, the individual sleeves compress well into the suitcase.

This would also help prevent the inevitable "where are the socks" questions when someone else helps get the kids dressed (or they're dressing themselves).

My husband, Rael, aka Gear Man (because he always springs for the ideal gear for every situation), swears by the Eagle Creek Pack-It travel system for keeping his clothing subdivided and crease-free. Myself -- I find it fussy and would much prefer using free(!), transparent bags.

A very organized friend used to roll together each of her camp outfits and place them in individual bread bags. Ziplocs would work too.

Any more suitcase-packing tips to share?

Related: Plastic bedsheet packaging makes great playroom storage

AndStrap the car seat to rolling luggage to "tote" toddlers through the airport

More: Tips for summer travel

30 May 2012

Pringles lid caps an IKEA cup -- making it practically spill-proof

Amazon: Pringles Potato Crisps Super Stack, OriginalAmy sends this tip from Italy, but IKEA and Pringles seem pretty universal worldwide.

It's a bit embarrassing to reveal this, but it's too good not to share.

Ikea sells a set of plastic cups that 90% of my friends with kids use (the KALAS tumbler). The other day my 3-year-old figured out that the lid from a Pringles can fits perfectly! The fit is so flawless it's basically spill-proof.

Once you pop, it makes a top! Good lidded cups are hard to find, and, with this hack, the price is definitely right.

Also: the best hacks are slightly embarrassing.

Related: Sippy cup on-the-go

More: Conversations about cups

29 May 2012

A better way to borrow/swap/sell among friends: Have On Hand

When it comes to stuff, especially baby and kid stuff, Parent Hacks Question #1 is: do you really need it?

If the answer is yes, Question #2 is: can you borrow it or buy it used?

If the answer is yes, great. But this is where a lot of us get stuck, because how do you find the specific thing you need without spending hours trolling resale shops and Craigslist?

The other side of the coin: you've got a fantastic stroller sitting in your garage. You paid good money for it, you got years of use out of it, and now you'd love to pass it on (and declutter your garage as a bonus). How do you find that person without time-consuming listings and random messages tossed out on your social network? Even if you find a taker, how do you know they will be nearby?

Have On Hand

Jason Glaspey, friend, new dad, entrepreneur and incessant problem-solver, has come up with an answer. He and his business partner are launching Have On Hand.

Have On Hand allows you to post requests for items you need. HOH will deliver that request only to the people likely to have that item available so no one gets inundated with useless information. Once there's a potential match, HOH connects you so you can make the exchange.

Have On Hand will open shortly for free beta access, and Parent Hacks readers have the first shot!

I am SO excited about this possibility not only for the decluttering and helping out potential, but because it can be a real way to break the isolation of new parenting. You can use Have On Hand to sell, swap or borrow things among your friends and community. You save money and time, you consume less, and you strengthen connections with other families. How great is that?

Find out more about Have On Hand, and sign up now to express your interest. You'll be notified as soon as it's live (your email address will NOT be used for any other purpose).

Related: How to host a clothing swap

More: Resale hacks

29 May 2012

25 May 2012

Escaping the "someday" trap

Parents of babies and toddlers take note: it's later than you think.

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24 May 2012

Green food taste test makes trying new vegies fun

So many times, the bigger hurdle isn't the food itself, but the trying of something new.

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22 May 2012

Repurpose wine bottle tote as a snack caddy

Barbara picked up this smart idea for a snack caddy from a fellow folk dancer.

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21 May 2012

Stretch rubber band "grips" around slippery shampoo bottles

This winning hack from Peanuts earns the FOREHEAD SMACK OF BRILLIANCE.

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17 May 2012

Tuck flimsy milk cartons into snug-fitting pitchers for easier handling

Peanuts found a great solution to the age-old Parenthacker question of how to make a milk carton handle.

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16 May 2012

Minimalist decluttering: share your brilliance

I'm combing through the Getting Organized hacks and am amazed by the wealth of wisdom and practical strategy there. But I'm sure there's more to talk about. Come on down to the Minimalist Parenting blog -- we're collecting even more brilliance for possible inclusion in the book.

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