I was asked to participate in the #MyHappyPlace campaign, sponsored by Walgreens. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.
Okay, your happy place. Where is it? Ready, go.
Is it the beach? Your bathtub on Saturday night with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and the latest US Magazine? That campground in the mountains where your family makes memories every summer? Your bed on Sunday morning while the kids are still sleeping and your first cup of coffee’s in hand? All good choices, by the way.
I have a handful of happy places that factor into my sanity compass all year round, but one of my most favorites is where we spend the month of July–at my dad’s cabin, “Camp Bliss”, tucked in the woods of a quiet Northern Michigan town where folks settle into slow, easy lake life in the summer and the air smells like “up north”–a combination of evergreens and Oak trees, campfires and breakfast bacon.
Here’s the tricky part though–in order to get to that happy place, we have to spend 24 hours trapped in a less dreamy scenario–a minivan with three bored kids, piles of suitcases and a stretch of flat highway that offers us nothing but views of giant billboards advertising adult superstores and truck stops for the first eight hours of the trip. Insert nervous laughter.
How in heaven’s name do I not go crazy? Strangely enough, I’ve actually come to enjoy this part of our trip. Not like sitting-on-the-beach-and-watching-the-sunset kind of enjoyment, but more of a ha-ha-isn’t-this-fun-we’re-making-memories kind of enjoyment. Also known as: This is fun, but Jesus take the wheel.
A few things we keep in mind in making a great adventure of getting to our happy place?
1. PACK THE SNACKS.
24 hours in the car means we get hungry, we get bored, we need a lil’ sumthin’-sumthin’ to put a pep in our step. Golden rule of long road trips? MOMS GET CHOCOLATE. I mean, isn’t that part of all of our happy places?
Heidi introduced me to barkTHINS Brand Snacking Chocolate several months ago, and I’m hooked. I had a long hard month of sugar detox, but I’m definitely treating myself this summer to some guilt-free fun snacks, and barkTHINS are my sweet treat of choice for the car–snackable slivers of dark chocolate paired with real, simple ingredients. I love the dark chocolate with almonds and sea salt best, but we’ve also tried the pretzel ones (kids’ favorite), and they’re delicious. Salty/sweet combos are my favorite, and barkTHINS dark chocolate (no milk chocolate) are the perfect combination of salty and sweet with good textures added (they also have coconut with almond and mint varieties). It’s snacking. Elevated. So before we head to “camp,” we swing by Walgreens and pick up our barkTHINS.
Once the snacking in the car is taken care of, other ways we find our happy place in a minivan on the road?
2. SET TRAVEL STANDARDS LOW AND MAKE ROOM FOR CHANGES.
I don’t expect that the car is going to stay organized and crumb free, I don’t expect that the kids are going to be perfectly behaved, and I don’t expect that everything I’ve mapped out is going to go exactly as planned. We shoot for it but understand that part of the fun of these kinds of adventures is that it gets a little messy. We don’t even book all of our hotels on the way up because we don’t know what to expect–we might want to stop after six hours in the car and call it a night or we may be motivated to just keep on drivin’.
3. MAKE LITTLE ADVENTURES ON THE WAY.
See a sign for the biggest ball of yarn? A great park? The world’s best coffee? Veer off the course a little and make an adventure on the way. There are so many other little happy places on the journey besides that big one you’re shooting for at the end of the trip. We turn our road trip into a vacation in itself and try and stop and smell the roses along the way.
4. PACK ENTERTAINMENT.
Are we technology free on our road trips? Heck, no! If mama needs chocolate, kids need some good entertainment. The kids watch movies and play on iPads for a lot of our trip, but we also pack new books, car games and fun entertainment like Wicky Sticks, coloring books and crayons, car bingo and conversation starter questions. And for the adults? Podcasts and audio books! I’m actually so looking forward to having some good solid time to catch up on podcasts.
5. BE SILLY, HAVE FUN.
One of my favorite things about our road trips is how much fun we have. We turn up the radio for sing-a-longs (Hamilton and Moana soundtracks), madly honk when we cross state lines, take pictures of funny things we see, wave to other people on the road and have contests for who gets the most honks from other cars.
We’re currently on the road, creeping closer to our destination right now, but definitely finding many happy places to enjoy along the way.
If you’re packing up and getting ready for summer travels as well, from June 3 to July 29, you can get two 4.7oz pouches of barkTHINS for $8.
Happy snacking, happy travels!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walgreens. The opinions and text are all mine.
jen says
You should stop in Clare, MI and check out cops and donuts!
Joanne Miracle says
Not sure of your route but FYI… 75N & 75S bridge from KY to OH is down to one lane because of construction that will last 60 days. My husband will be traveling home through it from Cincinnati airport later tonight I can update you on the traffic conditions once I ask him. Safe travels and ENJOY Michigan ????
Cindy says
We will be up in Petoskey and Charlevoix for a few days next week. We usually go for Cherry Festival in Traverse City but want to avoid the crowds this year. Your drive will be worth the fun you will have!!!
Karen says
Will you adopt me?!! I’m old enough to be your mother…but please let me join your family…I would be fine with it all…the good…the bad…and the ugly! 🙂
Safe travels and please say Hi to your Dad and Gary!
Love, from Wisconsin
Federica says
Dear Kelle,
I hope to put this as gentle as I intend it to be and hope English as second language won’t make it any other way.
I appreciate your way of writing and follow you from time to time. I also think you are really advocating for DS and I feel your authenticity in the emotions you describe as a mother, as a person.
I’n not at all disturbed by your sponsored posts because that’s clearly declared. I imagine your photos are so perfect because of high quality equipment and skills.
I’ve only got some “doubts” or better curiosity about some things. I asked myself if I would dare to ask you if you were my real friend and yes, I kindly would.
1. Do you have someone who comes to clean the house, do some ironing, ecc.? I ask because there’s never a spot, a stain, a wrinkle in yours and kids dresses and because you work, you travel a lot and rarely talk about the burden of laundry or similar stuff. I mean as something regular not decluttering once a year.
2. In your post about Gay Pride you talked about your agent I guess press/writing agent but do you also have a social media manager? I ask because in some posts there are photos taken by someone else and some of them are really styled. I mean the photo setting, the dresses, accessories, colors, make up is all very accurate. I guess you have got those skills but I feel the presence of some helpers/assistants.
Hope it can sound gently because I’m not at all an hater, a troll or criticizing or wanting to “unmask” anything. When I’m with other working moms we often share the way we do things and how we juggle it all. Still is not to tell you “Kelle, you are not true”. You are true in your writing. But publishing posts and photos is your job, you are doing it greatly and it would be natural to do it with the help of some other professionals like an editor/manager/photographer as for magazines photo shootings.
Hope you feel like answering but is not necessary. Have a great July!
ciao
Federica
sadie B. says
I’m curious….what are your favorite podcasts to listen to?
anne Wolking says
Have so much fun on your trip up north! Not sure where you are in your journey but in Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati there is heavy traffic with the bridge repairs.
If you need a happy place break from the traffic stop by Reality Tuesday Cafe in Park Hills, KY. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump back onto the expressway and their food, drinks and pastries wonderful. Plus, the staff will warm your heart. For real life. They will. I take the kiddos every Saturday – its tradition and definitely our happy place 🙂
Hempsoft says
What a lovely blog thanks for sharing i really enjoyed it.
Brady says
Kelle, this yearly summertime road trip and month in Michigan is seriously inspiring to me. Also, this is one pretty amazing sponsored post…I now most definitely will be trying barkTHINs.
Charity says
I’m driving from
Naples to Michigan and back in November with a 13 month old and 3 year old. Is it gonna be as bad as i think… ahhhh!
Selina says
Love your honesty and your travel tips.
For me managing expectations & expecting the unexpected are key to not going crazy on the 14 hr drive to visit our parents interstate.
Car snack game must be on point- speaking of which your bark thins choccie looks amazing!
ellen patton says
You have a way with words!!
Rebecca Black says
Will you please do a post about your favorite podcasts?