Charlie The Cavalier : August 2012

Maria Montessori's birth anniversary

Here are some Montessori ideas I like on pintrest to celebrate!

This Montessori Prep Area is AMAZING!

I love this knife set for kids to help prepare food.

http://pinterest.com/lbrennec/maria-montessori

6 Steps to Booking Your Dream Cruise- Tips to Save Money on a Cruise

My husband and I have been on 10 cruises together! Our first cruise together was to Bermuda, and we just booked our next cruise to Bermuda with friends and our 10 month old baby! Here is the process we go though to book our own cruise. Hopefully you can use these tips and find a good deal on your next trip!

Find Cruises- First we look at Kayak.com. If you click on the more category, then choose cruises, you can decide what cruise you would like to go on. They have many search options including what port you would like to leave from. If you need a flight, also look on kayak. They have search options to include when you need to be there for the cruise to leave.
Create a Spreadsheet- In google docs spreadsheet we create a spreadsheet of the cruises me like, the cost of the cruise, flight, ect and share with our friends. Remember the hidden cost of cruising including:
- Tips $10 a day
- Taxes
- Getting to the port
- Alcohol
- Soda
Find the Best Price- We then go to Cruise Compete. If you make an account, and select the cruise you choose, different agent will give you their best price. There is an options to see the reputation of each agent. Remember to also check with the cruise company, and discover card travel to see if you can find another deal.
Book it!
Pack- Traveling with a baby like us? Here are some travel tips.
Enjoy your Cruise!

Check out our cruise video from a past cruise with NCL from NYC on the NCL Gem.

Wordless Wednesday- Charlie

Philippians 3:13

From Etsy

Wedding Centerpiece Idea

Since my Mom is a crafter, she gets asked to create centerpieces for weddings. This was a trial for a wedding coming up. I think it will look great.

10 Things to Know Before Bringing a Baby to the Beach

Here is a list of things to think about before bringing a baby to the beach. This requires some planning before leaving on your adventure together. Hopefully these tips will save you time and money as you travel with a baby. I believe experiencing new things is important for you and your baby.

Pack Baby Clothes in a Separate Bag From Your Own- When you pack the baby clothes and your own clothes in one bag, finding those little clothes are hard to find. Instead of creating a scavenger hunt for yourself pack the little clothes in a separate bag. I liked to keep the two bags separate in the room I am staying so I know where to find my clothes, and where the babies are.
Don’t Bring Too Many Diapers- A day or two before leaving on a trip count how many diapers you use that day. Bring a couple swim diapers for each day too. Then only bring the amount of diapers for the days you are gone, plus a few extra. Remember enough wipes too!
Pack Baby Food In Multiple Containers- I read a story about a woman who dumped all the formula she had on the floor while on a cruise. Let’s both learn a lesson from this story by packing baby food in multiple containers so there will not be this type of accident. If you are breastfeeding you may need to think about putting extra milk in different containers. A Infant Travel Chair may also be needed if you baby is a little older.
Bring Easy to Pack Toys- Bring flat or easy to store and carry toys with you on your trip.
Bring a Baby Hat- White soft baby skin burns quickly! You may be outside for longer than you think. A hat can be helpful even when your baby takes a nap in the stroller. I have been told babies under 6 months should not wear suntan lotion. You may want to pack sun tan lotion.
How You Will Carry Your Baby?- You may have a personal baby carrier or a stroller. Think about the terrain when deciding what to pack.
Sunscreen Lotion- I was told babies under 6 months should not have sun tan lotion. They do make special baby sunscreen.
Beach Shade- If you can’t find shade under a tree, you may need to bring a beach shade that will travel easily.
Eating Sand?- Decide what you will do when your baby tried to put sand in his/her mouth. I tried to do some research on this on the internet, and didn’t find any good information. If you do, I would love to see some!
Pool- If the waves are too big for you little one, you may want to bring a small inexpensive blow up baby pool.

To read all 50 Tips please go here: 50 Things to Know About All Inclusive Resorts.

50 Things to Know to Enjoy an All Inclusive Vacation

Want to go on Vacation?

Not sure if you want to go to a Hotel, Cruise, or an All Inclusive?

This book is for anyone who is thinking about going to an all inclusive resort. A great starting place for choosing a vacation destination. Many tips and advice on Things to Think About before Selecting the All-Inclusive Resort, Food, Pool and Ocean, and General Tips.

This book also includes: 7 Things You May Forget When Traveling On an Airplane, 28 Things to Know Before Traveling With a Baby, and 6 Steps to Booking Your Dream Cruise- Tips to Save Money on a Cruise.

What People Are Saying...

This is a good guide for those looking to book an all-inclusive. It's a short read packed with tips from someone who has been on tons of these trips. The bonus? I actually got some really good ideas for how to travel with my baby too. Our 1 year old is going with us this time and I'm suuuuper nervous. - Momily

This book is great and very informative. It mentions lots of things that I never would have thought of while planning a vacation. I would recommend this book to anyone who ever plans on going on a vacation (I think that includes all of us, right?). For only $2.99 (the current price of the book, I understand it may change over time) you get a pre-compiled check list, helpful tips and much more. Don't miss out on this amazing book! - M. Messick

'50 Things To Know About All Inclusive Resorts' is an excellent book to help you go away on holiday to the right type of all-inclusive resort for you, your family and friends.

The book contains numerous tips to help you select an all-inclusive resort, such as considering the time of year and weather, the facilities available which are of most interest to you, excursions etc, on the foods you would like to eat and the beverages you would like to drink.

The book also helps you think about the type of swimming pool you would like to have access to at the all-inclusive resort and also contains general advice for your trip, such as checking in and out and ensuring you have appropriate footwear and sunglasses.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. - P. Phillips

About Lisa Rusczyk

Lisa is the creator of the blog Charlie-The-Cavalier and his Friends, Family, and Home. She is also the author of 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby. Send Lisa Rusczyk an email at lbrennec@gmail.com

Wordless Wednesday- Cheating on Charlie

Jersey Shore Tour 2012

After a family trip to Seaside Heights, we had some fun going by the "Shore Store" and "The House". We even saw the rhinestone glasses at the Shore Store. Enjoy!

Tired Little Cavalier

Thankful Thursday- Motherhood

I normally do not write much on my blog, mostly because I do not like to edit, and I write enough for my doctorate, but my friend from The Clerical Error and er witty posts inspired me to write. Losing my camera is another reason that I decided to write today too! A third reason, is a napping baby.

I thought I would share with you my spaghetti dinner stress fest yesterday. My husband is an RD. Since his RA's came back this week I decided to make them spaghetti dinner to welcome them back.

So I was cooking 3 pounds of spaghetti (Husband was working), and Maria starts crying because she wants to be held. Then the boiling water is overflowing as she crawls towards me. So I keep putting her in the far part of the apartment as she is crying and the spaghetti is sticking together. This goes on for a half hour. Finally George gets there, and luckily only the bottom 1/4 of spaghetti is solidified. But that half hour was really stressful! Sometimes being a Mom is hard, but the rest of the night was fine. Everyone had enough to eat, Maria got to be held by many people, and we all enjoyed each other's company.

I was using this spaghetti pot to make the spaghetti that I got for our wedding shower. This pot only hold about 2 pounds of pasta and not 3. I learned this the hard way, but now I know!

NCL Cruising with a Baby

As we were about to book our 11th cruise vacation at the rate we checked out a couple weeks ago, babies now are full 3rd passenger price! So we are not sure what to do now! Has anyone else had this issue? That means a 10 month old staying on a cruise ship is the same as a 20 year old in the same room.

Wordless Wednesday- Having People Over for Spaghetti Dinner

Check Out My Friends New Blog!

The Clerical Error: Gettin' My Blog On!: Let me be frank, I'm not a real fan of most blogs. I have come across a million mommy blogs chronicling the details of their little cherub...

Weis Sale 8/12/12

Coupon Matchups for Weis Week of 8/12

I bought the spend $30 get $10 back deal about 6 times. It did not work for the scott paper towlels for me. Other items it did: deoderent, toothpaste, hand soap, flushable wipes, tampons, baby wipes, and pads. I bought 5 papers and used all the coupons in different orders. Remember only 4 like coupons per order. I spent about $80 and got $80 items! Thanks for your help! I think I saved about 75%.

Yurt Camping with a 7 Month Old

This week we went camping at Little Pine State Park near Waterville, PA in a YURT!! I decided we should get away as a family. We all had a great time in our yurt. Not sure what a yurt is? Here is some pictures. At a reasonable $34 a night we had a great time. We did have to go across the street for water. But, we the rain storms we got, this type of camping was perfect with a baby. She had a great time crawling around to the bunk beds and chairs.

Calm Campers Camp in Cabins Free eBook

This summer while I was Yurting, I wrote a childrens book about camping with alliteration.

Charlie is a Tired Older Brother

Read Pregnancy Tips on the Beach!

Now in Paperback!

50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby is now in paperback. Makes a great gift!

What Does Charlie Like?

I have created an Amazon Store for Charlie the Cavalier. Hopefully I can share some stuff we enjoy with you. Enjoy!

While on our vacation at little pine state park, I wrote and took photography for my first children's book Calm Campers Camp in Cabins. I had a fun time creating the book. I can't wait until Maria and I can read the book together. You can get this book for free with Amazon Prime.

Fabulous House Friday- Before And After TV Stand

50 Things to Know Before Traveling with a Baby

1. Pack Baby Clothes in Shoe Rack- I decided to pack her clothes in a shoe rack. A spot for each day. I packed 3 changes of clothes, 3 travel bibs, and food for each day. When you pack the baby clothes and your own clothes in one bag, finding those little clothes are hard to find. Instead of creating a scavenger hunt for yourself pack the little clothes in a separate bag.

2. Don’t Bring Too Many Diapers- A day or two before leaving on a trip count how many diapers you use that day. Then only bring the amount of diapers for the days you are gone, plus a few extra. Remember enough wipes too! Remember your swim diapers!

3. Pack Baby Food In Multiple Containers- I read a story about a woman who dumped all the formula she had on the floor while on a cruise. Let’s both learn a lesson from this story by packing baby food in multiple containers so there will not be this type of accident. If you are breastfeeding you may need to think about putting extra milk in different containers.

4. Feeding Chair- A Infant Travel Chair may also be needed if you baby is a little older.

5. Bring Easy to Pack Toys- Bring flat or easy to store and carry toys with you on your trip. The stacking cups worked great on the ship and at the beach. I also like the rings for holding toys and to play with. Great for strollers or to attached to the diaper bag.

6. Plan a Sleeping Place- The ship had a pack and play ready for us. All I had to do was ask the room steward. My parents watched then in their room one day and their room steward found an extra one on their floor. A pack in play in a great place for a baby to sleep while traveling. If the pack and play is too big to bring with you, they do sell other devices for your baby to stay in one place so you can both sleep sound at night.

7. Bath Time- Remember your baby soap. I believe bathing your baby is where you are both the most comfortable. Some people can bath them in a sink. Other babies don’t mind a shower. If you prefer a tub you can purchase a collapsible tub one or bring the one you use from home. We used the shower and it worked just fine.

8. Remember Your Must Haves- I have certain things that I think works best to put the baby to sleep and keep her from crying. Remember to pack these things because if they work for you then why not bring them with you.

9. Sound Machine- We brought her sound machine. We listened to the waves while we were on the ship and rain in the yurt.

10. Pack Your Baby Medicine Cabinet- A friend recommended to me putting all the baby medicine in a small fishing tackle box to have organized baby medicine whenever you need it. This may include baby Tylenol, teething gel, and a thermometer. There may not be a 24 hour Walmart where you are traveling.

11. Bring a Baby Hat- White soft baby skin burns quickly! You may be outside for longer than you think. A hat can be helpful even when your baby takes a nap in the stroller.

12. Sun Tan Lotion- I have been told babies under 6 months should not wear suntan lotion. You may want to pack sun tan lotion.

13. Baby Carrier- You may have a personal baby carrier. Think about the terrain when deciding what to pack.

14. Stroller- Collapsible strollers work best on the ship and on land. In Bermuda they only allow umbrella strollers on the bus. Jogging strollers are nice for camping but large to pack.

15. Disposable Bibs- Disposable bibs worked great for us during the week. We had three in the diaper bag each day. We just left them to be thrown away when we were finished.

16. Ziploc Bags- Ziploc Bags are a great way to store everything! Snacks, old diapers,wet bathing suits, and old bibs. They are very helpful while traveling with a baby.

17. Pack in Large Suitcases- We decided she was too big and heavy for a carrier. We brought a umbrella stroller. So there was only 2 hands left. We brought 2 big suitcases with all of our stuff.

18. Plan Packing List Ahead of Time- Make a packing list and check it twice. You can't buy formula, food, or diapers on board.

19. Kitchen Trash Bag- Bring one of these for your dirty laundry. We put the entire families in one bag. Then when we got home, we just put the bag in the laundry.

20. Plan Itinerary Ahead of Time- We did some internet research before going on her trip. For example babies can be on buses without car seats in Bermuda.

21. Connect With Other Moms- You may not be the only one with a baby. Connect and trade stories with other Moms that are traveling.

22. Be Ready to Changes- Everything does not always go smoothly even when you are not traveling with a baby. Have many back up plans.

23. Time- Give yourself more time than you need.

24. Create a Diaper Bag List- Make a list of things you want in the diaper bag every day. Then you can pack the bag an not worry that you are missing anything.

25. Unpack- My husband and I usually live out of our suitcases on vacation. This time we actually organized and unpacked.

26. Recreate Your Changing and Feeding Areas- Put the materials you need in these areas for easy changing and feeding.

27. Reusable Food Pouch- We fed her with a reusable food pouch. We found apple sauce, yogurt, and other liquid foods to add to it on our trip.

28. Wet Wipes- Bring more than you think you need. This are great for cleaning up spills too. You never know where you will be when you might need to clean up lots of poop.

Here is more baby stuff on my pintest boards.

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