Wet Bags 411

If you've read my blog before you've probably read reference to wet bags (or moist bags). These things are wonderful. They essentially replace plastic ziplock baggies which makes Kari The Hippy happy. As soon as I realized I could make them, it was on. I've been perfecting my technique for a while now, and am sorry to say that I sent some of my earlier versions to my family for the sole reason that I'd rather they be using ugly wet bags than plastic ziplock bags that would be thrown away.

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I've been a little busy trying to make gabs and get them up on Etsy.com. Etsy.com is a website that people like me (a SAHM) who have no resources can make things and sell to the public.

Now, the pros to using a wet bag!!

Environmental- Use wet bags instead of plastic baggies for snacks, sandwiches, fruit, veggies, etc. With so many sizes out there, you can use a wet bag for everything!

Ease- Since they are reusable, you don't have to worry about buying plastic baggies. You always have them available! Just throw them in the wash with almost any load (probably not whites with bleach!).

[almost] Childproof- since they are fabric (and the one's I've been making have a ribbon loop to attach to a 5 point harness) they can take a beating (and will stay in arms reach of your child if you attach it to the car seat, stroller, etc.)

Style- There are so many to choose from, you can match your child's theme, or your personal taste. You can have a camo print one for your son and a cupcake print one for your daughter. You can buy plain manly ones for your husband to take to work, and pretty girly ones for your lunch.

Uses- As stated above, you can use them for any food item since the PUL fabric lining will keep that moisture inside. You can buy small ones for food and large ones for baithing suits, dirty diapers or the ocational accident that happens when you're out and you have a 4 year old who doesn't realize he has to go potty.

Interested in checking some out? This is my shop on Etsy.com.

Kid Ventures in Pismo Beach

Wow. Wow wow wow. WOW. I loveKid Ventures in Pismo Beach. I found it online, and decided that we as a family should go today. It was a little more expensive than I prefer- I'm used to Playwerx where we pay $10 total for entrance. This place was $20 total, but as a whole day, would be totally worth it. I didn't find out until we were close to leaving that they close early on Saturdays and Sundays for afternoon birthday parties. But I had made the lunches, and packed everything else, so we decided that three hours should be enough for the kids.

This place has it all. A grocery store. A diner. A fire engine. A pirate ship. A giant castle with two slides and a play area underneath. A disco room. A nursery complete with babies and doll-size high chairs, cribs, etc. An art room. A library. Each section I just mentioned has child-size accommodations which allow the kids to pretend they work at a diner, grocery shop, etc. Complete with costumes, props and cameras in every room which are fed into a big flat screen TV in the Parent's Cafe which is in the center of it all. Provided your children will play without your presence (Genny won't but Glenn will) you could sit and have a coffee or smoothie, or any of the yummy selections off the menu while your child plays happily- all the while keeping an eye on them via the cameras aforementioned. Each 'room' has a giant window cut out of the inside wall so that parents can see in if they need to, but it still gives the feel of a room all itself which I think enhances the imaginative play inside.

The only down side besides the price? The location. It took us 45 minutes to get there, so it's a bit of a drive. I'm not too worried about it, we have plenty of selections up here (not like this though!) but when I find myself going to San Diego for an appointment for Genny, I think we may end up at Kid Ventures after.

Legoland Sea Life Aquarium

Yes, I've been absent for a while now... I apologize to anyone who was reading me regularly, I didn't do it on purpose, life just got in the way of blogging. I've been concentrating on my wet bags and trying to sell those, so all of my free time is devoted to them. It's 8:44pm on Saturday night and I have been itching to blog about two adventures we have been on this past week, so here's the first one: Legoland Sea Life Aquarium

At the kids' birthday party one of our neighbors gave me two adult admission tickets to the Aquarium. I kept forgetting about them and realize two days before they expired that the expiration was coming up. I invited my good friend to go with me, and we just had to pay for our two older children (although she surprised me by paying for Genny).

The Sea Life Aquarium was pretty cool. It was almost like a maze of tanks in different forms. Some you could pop your head into (a 'bubble' built into the tank so you could be 'inside' without getting wet), and others were almost like a bubble itself, looking like it may burst if you touched it. There were [of course] Lego statues throughout and at the halfway point there was a large Lego castle for you to add to or take apart. They had starfish to touch, as well as pencil urchins. The experience reminded me of Okinawa and some of the dives I had been on. It was very nice to remember those since it's been so long.

The kids had fun, but it was hard to keep track of all of them. It was oddly busy on a Thursday morning, but my friend was the best because she kept an eye on all the kids instead of just hers, which helped out a few times. We ended the trip with lunch outside at the restaurant, we brought our own but hid in the corner so as not to be asked to purchase something or leave. As is custom for any museum-type trip, I bought a book, a funny one about a minnow which has giant eyes that are weighted so always look at you as you turn the book.

I didn't get many pictures because silly me brought my double wide stroller which was about the most annoying thing you can imagine. Between the stroller and the kids, I was a little busy. Sorry, this will have to do...