We’ve become seasoned pros at traveling with kids. I am not one to buy a lot of baby gear (less is more in my book.) But here are some kid items we’ve used when we traveled that were very helpful. Of course we always adjusted what we brought based on the trip and what phase the kids were going through. Moses could fall asleep in a hotel bed even when he was a baby so we forgot about the baby crib. But Roman needed one to fall asleep so that became a priority. Here is my list of 10 favorite travel gear for kids.

1. Toddler Headphones. My kids have free reign with the ipad on these flights. Throw in a pair or two of head phones and with luck the flight will be uneventful.

2. Car Seats Travel Cart. On trips where we will be in cars a lot we don’t bring our stroller. Instead we add this cart to the car seat so we can wheel it and check it at the gate. It turns the bulky car seat into a stroller, just for getting through the airport.

3. Kid Backpacks. It’s time they started pulling their own weight, make them carry their own goldfish crackers! Fill these with snacks, stickers and activities. The kids are ready for their adventure.

4. Cute Hats. Dress your kids cute, let them make friends while they are happy. You never know when you’ll need forgiving glances later on in the flight.

5. Disposable Bibs. These don’t take up space and you thrown them away like a napkin when the meal is over. Easy peasy.

For the whole list and sources continue reading.

6. Knife and Peeler. This may be a stretch for “gear” but it is my favorite trick for traveling with kids. When you are on the go convenient healthy foods are harder to find. I started bringing along these tools and then in the mornings I prepared some fresh fruits and vegetables I got from the market in baggies. Instead of reaching for the Doritos they reach for carrot sticks.

7. Portable High Chair. I love this chair. It’s especially great for visiting Grandma or somewhere you’ll be staying for a while. Baby has a place to eat without taking up too much space.

8. Bottle Brush. We bring one of these along with some dishsoap in a little baggy for cleaning bottles and sippy cups (which are a pain to clean if you don’t have one.)

9. Portable Crib. We love this portable crib,  it folds up so small and is easy to take around. Sometimes the baby crib at the hotel can be suspect in its level of cleanliness, sometimes its nice to bring your own.

10. Umbrella Stroller. A small lightweight stroller that is easy to carry and check at the gate. We love this stripey number.

Those are my favorite 10, what are your favorite items for traveling with kids?

This tablecloth blew my color loving mind – what a dramatic piece that drives the entire mood of the room! I couldn’t help but indulge in the ombre goodness. I am very tempted to try dip-dying on my own on a smaller scale – Maybe napkins!

Photos By : Idha Lindhag / 01. Gem Stone Set / 02. Yellow Pillow / 03. Ombre Tumbler / 04. Ghost Bar Stool / 05. Pink Serving Spoons / 06. Bowl Set / 07. Vintage Mint Lamp

This genius project is by Alexis Birkmeyer and I love it. These plates would be so great for a kids party or even just for dinnertime. Kids can create scenes from their food before they eat it. My kids loved these plates and it even got my picky eater to eat more vegetables. It makes mealtime just a little more fun. This project is super easy. You can make up your own drawings (they are so simple) or you can download ours below.

Find the full instructions and photos after the jump.

Supplies Needed: Free printable template (download here), an oven-safe plate (we used the medium size of these), a Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Marker, a pair of scissors, a pencil and a ball point pen.
Step 1: Trim the template along the outline so it sits inside the rim of the plate.
Step 2: On the back of the template, color a thick band of graphite over the design with a pencil.
Step 3: Put the template graphite side down on the plate. Trace over the design using a ball point pen. This will transfer the graphite to the plate. When you remove the template, you’ll have a light outline to trace over.
Step 4: Shake your pen to get the paint mixed up, then press the tip down on scrap paper to get it flowing. Trace the graphite lines in continuous strokes. If you mess up, the ink is very easy to wipe off with a damp paper towel or touch up with a q-tip.
Step 5: Once the designs have all been transferred, allow the plates to dry for 24 hours. Then, to permanently set the glaze, bake the plates in a 300° oven for 30 minutes.
Step 6: Serve up with lots of colors and shapes of vegetables. Bon Appetit!

Concept, styling, and photos by Alexis Birkmeyer.

The landlord lives far away and the apartment still needed to be painted and floors redone so we offered to manage the repairs so we could move in faster. It’s been fun to make decisions about the floors and paint colors since you usually don’t get to do that stuff as renters. It is small so it shouldn’t take too long to decorate. I’m hoping to share some good before and after pictures in the next month or so.

Have you ever lived in a small apartment? Any tips?

It’s Mother’s Day week! And if your mom has a fun sense of humor these printable tattoos might be the perfect thing to add to her day. Just order this tattoo paper, download the PDF and print! They are super easy to make and we had SO much fun putting them on. Just remember to put the letters on right side up! Unfortunately we turned the B upside down on our first try. Ooops!

Click the image below to download the free Tattoo template!

There’s nothing cuter than kids putting on a great show, which is why videos of such performances tend to go viral on YouTube. As long as you love sharing videos with your social network, why not do so for a cause? Gap — in the spirit of its bright new kids line, Cabana — has teamed up with Debbie Allen to produce a video of her teaching the “Cabana Cha Cha” to students at her Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). For every video share, Gap is donating $1 to the school, which is a non-profit committed to expanding the reach of dance and theater arts for young people in the greater Los Angeles area.

Gap’s Cabana line is as bright and vibrant as the funky cha cha dance moves featured in the video short. And it’s fun to see Debbie Allen — known for her role in “Fame” as well as on “So You Think You Can Dance” — leading the eager dancers decked out in madras plaid, striped rompers, and playful ruffles and fringes. Check out the Cabana Cha Cha video for yourself, and then share away with your  friends. Every dollar counts!

Click through for full instructions and photos.

Materials Needed: Plastic Bottles (the cheap thin ones are easiest to work with), Spray Paint, 2 Metal Rings, Scissors + Exacto Knife, A Thin Gauge Wire.

Step 1: Cut Bottles in half and cut varying sizes and shapes of petals out of the top and the bottom.
Step 2: In a well-ventilated area spray the flowers in different colors and let dry.
Step 3: Take the flowers made from the bottom of the bottles and cut a circle in the center big enough for the top of the water bottle head to fit through.
Step 4:  Take the stacked flowers and wire them on two sides to secure them to the metal ring.
Step 5: Once the flowers are wired to the rings attach the two rings using three wires hung evenly.

A special thanks to Alexis Birkmeyer and Heidi Jo for helping me!

Starting your day off right is pretty important so why not do it with tasty food and friends. Brunch is always a good idea – especially if it’s casual, calm, & simple. I recently attended a brunch hosted by Kinfolk Magazine and experienced exactly this. I thought I would share what the aesthetic was like at this particular gathering. Enjoy.

Photos by : Laura Dart via Kinfolk Magazine / 01. Eames Chair / 02. Burlap Bag / 03. Whiskey Bottle Holster / 04. Antelope Pronghorn / 05. Chalkboard Tablet / 06. Galvanized Pail / 07. Dish Towel