Cloudroft, New Mexico - The Packing Process

Any time we take a trip, even for just a couple of nights, there is a couple weeks of planning out what to pack. Once I know the where, have the when, have the accommodations and vehicle figured out (if we are renting a car), then I need to know what we all need to bring. 

For instance, there's the car ride. Snacks and waters are a must. With this many people (4 of whom are kids), we always need to have that purchased at the grocery store before leaving. Buying such at the convenience stores are insanely priced! Not to mention, my husband eats snacks to help himself stay awake during long drives. 

Speaking of long drives... 

But what to do during long rides? How do the kids stay calm and not want to punch each other? For that, we often bring handheld game devices. Some of them will even nap. However, I'm adding a new element this time around. I had these dry erase game boards in a 'travel' drawer that I was cleaning out. I had picked them up one summer at the Dollar Tree, but I wouldn't be surprised if you can find similar ones online. I found this one on Amazon. I talked to my husband about turning them into tools for a friendly car ride competition.

We agreed to offer a prize for the first one who gets a bingo. Then a second (much bigger) prize to the first one who gets a blackout. I didn't think the kids would jump on such a thing. Maybe the girls... but I was pleasantly surprised when at least one boy agreed to join in the fun. This should help with the car ride a bit. 

Then comes the place we are staying at. Once we arrive, there are things that are needed besides just clothes and toiletries. For instance, my husband doesn't sleep on bedding provided. Hotel, Airbnb - doesn't matter! So I have to pack an extra large blanket that we lay on top of. And a couple blankets we use to cover up with. Gave up on trying to bring pillows too. The joys of being a germaphobe in your older years, I suppose. 

This has led to us deciding to rent a vehicle for the trip. Well, that and the fact that we need an AWD vehicle due to possible ice and snow while we are there. Lots of hills where we are going. Our SUV wouldn't be able to handle that. But since we are renting, we are going for a bigger SUV while we are at it. Something with space for the kids to spread out. And to have room for the luggage. 

Lastly, I also have to pack a hiking bag. Not a big one, but one that can hold things we don't normally take on vacations. My husband surprised me with wanting to actually walk/hike the Osha Trail out there! He knows I like that sort of thing. So I'll be lugging a backpack with hiking things as well.  

What are things that you pack for trips, that others might not think of? 

The Ice Queen and Her Lair

What happens when your daughters no longer want a blue haired Rainbow High doll? For me, I see Ice Queen in the making! 

It started with a box actually. A shoebox. And an Elsa doll who needed her ice castle. So I started renovating it. But then Elsa changed her mind and moved into the mansion with the rest of the dolls. Yes, my daughter is quick to change her mind. So things get redesigned pretty often. It seemed like such a waste to just toss the box though. So I gave it some more love and way more details! 

Next came the doll. My girls weren't as excited about Rainbow High as they were about the made-to-move Barbie or Monster High dolls. Big heads or something like that. I love their jointed bodies and soft, vibrant hair though. I have a couple set aside for future projects. This one just screamed for a bit of a makeover in a cold way.  

I had thought about repainting her face, but then decided against it. I'm not as proficient with that type of project and she was just too pretty to do that with. So I swapped out her outfit. I trimmed her hair. 3D printed a crown that is jeweled with beads. And gave her some handmade bling.  

The box windows are from My Froggy Stuff printables. I printed out a marble pattern for the floor and part of the walls. Tried to make it look like her castle leads to the sparkling snow-covered world outside. Used an empty perfume bottle with fake plant pieces to give her frozen world some greenery.

The chandelier actually glows in the dark too, thanks to glow-in-the-dark filament from a printed piece. 

Cloudcroft, New Mexico - The Planning Process

My husband decided we should take a weekend trip for my birthday this year. Things have been crazy busy. And I don't see it slowing down any time soon. A week after my birthday, there will be one kid turning 16. Another week or two after that, I should have two high school graduates, both looking for jobs and planning out their next life steps. The stress has definitely taken a toll. Probably the biggest reason my husband suggested the trip to begin with. 

He had a friend at work that talked about amazing camping trips he would take to a village  called Cloudcroft in New Mexico. And yes, it is called a village. The spectacular views around it draw all kinds of people. Now... I'm not big on camping. We did it when I was a kid, on Nana's farm, in the tent that collapsed on my brother and I when the dew fell... then again as adults... both of those times in recent years were also fails when bed time came. So instead, we decided to take a different approach. We are going to stay in an Airbnb.

This is a huge first for us. Nothing against hotels we usually stay at, but these offer up so much more for a comparable price. First off, we will have access to a full kitchen. I plan to cook while we are there (at least some of our meals) to save on eating-out costs. We can also keep warm, as the area is still in some heavy winter weather with sporadic snows. The cabin we chose is near enough to get to hike the Osha Trail. 

My husband is not such a big outdoors guy, but for me, he is willing to occasionally walk or hike some trails with me. This one is a decent size at about 2.5 miles long. So I will be packing one of our backpacks to bring along simple things like water and snacks. And maybe a small first aid kit. In case someone trips and falls. Oh, and I won't forget the sunscreen! 

I have also started researching various places in Cloudcroft, as well as in the nearby village, Ruidoso. We want to visit the local Calvary Chapel in Ruidoso, too. 

From what my research of the area shows, we are going while winter is still fairly strong. And we will be high up in the mountains. So... winter gear is a must. We may actually get to use those coats we have! Crazy, huh? But here in Texas, that isn't a big possibility. Even during winter months. I think I used a heavy jacket once so far. Can you tell I'm excited for the wrong reasons? Yep! So here we go. Let's see what planning out ahead of time will do for our time in New Mexico! 

Summer Fun with a Pool?!

Yes, for some of us, winter is finally getting into gear. Some of you have been dealing with ice and snow for a little while. Not here in Texas. Some days, we are still looking at 70 degree weather. All while we were watching Christmas creeping ever closer. With weather like that, it feels wrong to have Christmas so close. But whatcha gonna do?  

How about get a pool? Yep, you heard that right. After all, we have the weather for it. So why not? Coleman's Pools partnered with me to share my latest product review - a giant pool! 

*Disclaimer - I was sent this product free in exchange for sharing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine or others I shared the pool with.* 

I love getting to try stuff out and then let you know what my thoughts. So when they offered me a pool, I got really excited about it.  Not really for myself. This pool, I decided to share with some friends from church. I got her the biggest pool they had to offer. 

This bad boy is 22' in diameter! Talk about a monster size... It is above ground and comes with the pump. They had to deliver it via really big truck and a pallet jack. My sons barely managed to get it inside. Here is the box next to my tallest son who is just over 6' tall. 

I couldn't wait to let my friend know. This was going to revolutionize their summer fun next year. But we couldn't wait that long to show it off, now can we? After all, best to get the word out before sales see them flying off the shelves. 

So, after getting it to her house, they got it all set up and ready to bring on the fun in the summer! She said it was crazy easy to set up. A single person can do it. For them, it took about 2 hours, plus the filling time. It is deep enough that younger kids, maybe 4 years and under, will need flotation devices unless they are good swimmers. That is how deep this thing is! She and her family are so excited about the up-coming summer fun they will be having.  

Coleman has pools in various sizes, that also come in a variety of styles. This ones gives off the wood look, but you can find others to fit your preferences. 

Walmart.com has a lot to choose from. I found the one we got HERE. Looks like it is running about $1,200. You can go to the source at BestwayUSA.com. They are the parent company, I believe, of Coleman products. However, at the time of writing this review, their website says they are out of stock. So you might have to keep checking back. You might also sign up to receive updates and deals. 

What do you think? Are you a pool person? Let me know in the comments down below!