Children on Board: Tips For a Safe and Fun Family Road Trip

The temperatures are just right to load up the car, grab the kids, and hit the road. There’s so much of this great world to see, and exploring it with your family creates memories of a lifetime. If this is your first time traveling by car with your children, however, you’ll need to do a little extra prepping. A long car ride with multiple children in the car, if not properly planned for, can result in anything from sibling fights to a disabled car on the side of the road. 

Our Roadtrip to Tennessee and Kentucky

How can you make sure you and your family have a fun and safe road trip? Simple, just follow this advice below. 

Safety First

Above all else, as parents, you want to keep your kids safe. Safety should be a priority when planning a road trip as there are a lot of things that could go wrong as you’re driving along. From a flat tire to an accident, you want to make sure you’re prepared. Here are a few road trip safety tips:

• Have the car serviced- before getting on the road have your mechanic inspect and repair any damage to your vehicle. Let them know you’ll be going on a road trip so they can ensure your car can handle the distance. 

• Check your insurance - make sure that you are fully insured before your next road trip. If you are in an accident you don’t want the stress of having to pay for the damages and health bills. If you don’t presently have coverage, you can find liability, collision, and sr22 quotes online and sign up for instant protection. 

• Pack a first aid kit - you never know who could end up with a boo-boo while you’re traveling. Rather than having to find a nearby hospital or pharmacy, you should make sure to pack a first aid kit in the car. 

The #firstAidKit that will be in our #car always. We love to #travel but we always have just a few things but now we have a complete set. #travelerPreparedness #inCaseOfEmergency

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Mar 13, 2018 at 3:28am PDT

Don’t Forget Entertainment

The other part of making sure your family has a fun road trip is to pack lots of entertainment. You’re going to be confined to a car for hours at a time. Your kids are used to having the freedom to run wild throughout the day and, therefore, may become antsy if they’re not entertained. This leads to senseless sibling fights. Some ideas for entertainment include:

• Electronics - mobile devices can be a lifesaver when trying to entertain children of all ages. If you pack a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, your children can play games, watch movies, do research, listen to music, and more. Be sure that you also pack a car charger with several ports so you don’t run out of charge. 

• Books - reading is fundamental and is a great way for your children to unplug for awhile. Packing books of interest can keep them occupied for hours. 

• Snacks - you don’t want to witness the outcome of a bunch of hungry kids crammed in a car together. Bring healthy but appetizing snacks along for the ride. This saves money and helps to ward off those hunger pains. 

• Music - chances are your children aren’t interested in singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall over and over, so it’s probably a good idea to download some jams. Radio can be very finicky on the road so you want to have options. Creating a playlist can give you guys something to jam out to for several hours. 

Plan Stops - you may be able to go hours in a car without needing to stretch, use the bathroom, or grab something to eat, but it’s going to be a lot harder for your kids. To break up the monotony of being on the open road so long, plan stops in between your home and your destination. Try to make it places of interest so the kids get to have a little fun before getting back into the car.

Rest Stop in Cincinnati Ohio

You’ve seen enough family movies with sibling fights and “are we there yet” to know that if you fail to plan, you’re planning on spending hours in a car in the midst of chaos. The above-mentioned tips will make sure that your family remains safe and that your children are so entertained that they forget how long they’ve been traveling.

Old Mill District, Pigeon Forge #Tennesse

We didn't get to  see the beautiful and quaint village of Old Mill Square until on the third day.  Had I  made  my research before going there, I would have loved to explore more and experience their hospitality with their southern  food and treats.  We discovered this when we were looking for a place to eat.  Unfortunately, we didn't know  that there is an  Old Mill Restaurant  there where you can eat Southern food.  That's what we missed out on. 

Anyway, I told my husband that we should go back there the next day so we can take a picture of Pigeon Forge's beautiful landmark.  The Little Pigeon River  is a favorite spot for tourists to take pictures with.  The first time we saw it,  it was crowded.  So I am glad that on the day that we had to go to Hartford Tenessess for our white water rafting adventure, there was no one there yet so we had the place all for ourselves.   

This historic location of Old Mill District in Pigeon Forge is gorgeous. There are unique shops inside the squares and different restaurants as well. We looked around at some of the shopping stores where you can find beautiful souvenirs. 

It's amazing that the  Old Mill General Store and Mill are still a big part of Pigeon Forge.  Imagine seeing this place which dates back to the 1800’s, it is so cool.  I am also amazed that they still grind the grains for the all of the properties inside.

My daughter would have love to see the Pigeon River Pottery.  It said that it  is the cornerstone shop and has been in continual operation for over 50 years. I would have love to see the  potters demonstrate how to make this traditional mountain craft. 

It might have been a blessing in disguise that I did not get to explore the pottery  because I would have not control myself from buying  handmade serving pieces and decorative art. The Pigeon River Pottery must have made  some of the the plates and  bowls from the restaurants that we  dined at.  

Adjacent to the  Old Mill Plaza is a the Patriot Park.  I can tell that Tennessee are big on  religion and love for military.  

Aside from the kitchen items that we missed to check out,  we also missed out on checking the food and spices at the Farmhouse Kitchen.  I bet my son would have been in heaven for  an irresistible array of candies and sweets.  Oh the sound of homemade caramel and fresh pecans at the Old Mill Candy Kitchen would have been terrific.

 I am saying all of these things that we didn't get to do and see so that when you  go there in Pigeon Forge, you will remember to check it out.  That's one  downside too when you visit a place during the hot summer  days.  You tend to stay away from  walking around, driving around doesn't  bring much fun because finding a parking space in a busy street is hard.  

 I am happy however that we were able to at least take some photos of these  beautiful river.

 This would be a great group of   images to make as postcards.  I didn't  even get a refrigerator magnet  with this mill on it, ugh... but I have a chance to order it online using my photos so it's not a big deal.  

 If I live in Pigeon Forge, I would be in this spot often.  The sound of the water is so relaxing.

The Pigeon Forge Mill or  commonly called the Old Mill, is a historic gristmill .  It is located along the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River.  The, the mill complex currently consists of a millhouse, breastshot wheel, and milldam, all of which are operative.  The history of this mill is very interesting.

 If we ever go back to Pigeon Forge, I would definitely do the things that we didn't get to do do when we were there.  I would prefer a  cooler  temperature when visiting though that way I could walk around without sweating like crazy.  

 Overall, our three-day adventure in Tennessee was awesome.  We get to see not just Pigeon Forge but part of Gatlinburg and Hartford.  We even drove through one  city of North Carolina!

Rafting in the Smokies

When my husband was still in the Navy, he went  white water rafting with his sailor buddies when they were in Australia.  He said their raft went down twice and all of them  got thrown out but he said it was a lot of fun.  So when he told me that he want us to go white water rafting in Tennessee, I was hesitant because we have the kids.  If it's just me, I would go in a heartbeat  since I  grew up in a coastal  place and being in a rough sea is not new to me.  However, when you have children with you, you will always be on a protective Momma mode.  The kids were excited about it so I went along  and  just prayed that God will protect us in the water lol.

The guides were  very friendly and  the one that's leading all of  us was very convincing.  We chose the mild one which has a rough part but not all the way the entire journey.  While she was telling us  how mild  this  one is, we were stopped by emergency people and we saw a truck  in the river.  We were glad the passengers were okay but that  really made me worried.  I was thinking, what if this is a sign for us not to go and all these worse scenario was running through my mind while we were going to our destination.  

The head of the tour guide  told us that she never saw anything like this happen before in the area.  I think that the passenger of the vehicle were new to the place and they were not  particular about the bend and sharp turn of the roads.  Their vehicle was in the middle of the river, it was scary!

Anyway, our tour guide's name was Bill, he was really good.  He even brought bubbles for the kids, he was probably  thinking that my children  will get scared. What Bill did not know is that, my kids are more courageous than me lol.   Only the five  of us adults had paddles.  He taught us what to do  during the rough part, he was a really good instructor.  He told us that in the past, he had one instance where his people got thrown out the boat and  he said that he doesn't want  that to happen again especially with the kids.  So he made sure that we listen to his instructions and not to panic.

We were teamed up with two  Norwegian guys and  they were very friendly.  They too were adventure seekers just like us.

We were not allowed to bring anything but ourselves.  They were strict about what type of shoes to wear and made sure that our floating devices were tightened just right.   They also taught us how to properly  hold the paddle which I already knew because my Dad taught me when I was  a kid.   It is important to remember the rule of the thumb and that is not letting go of the top of your paddle so nobody will get hurt on ut.  

All of these pictures were taken by  their designated photographer.  You can buy or pay for it  at the end of the tour.  See, they really get you with this one, there's nothing really  you can do but  buy it if you want  pictures of your  adventure.  I thought, it was gonna be a printed photo on a frame but all you're getting is a  thumb drive with the  15 shots of picture in it for $40.

After the  rough part was over, there was a very calm and steady part where the rafters can jump out the rough and swim for a while before  returning.   My husband and son  went  and swim but  my daughter and I stayed in the raft, I don't trust  river that I don't know about ha ha.

My children got all the splashes of water  because they were in the front.  They absolutely had a blast with this adventure.  They want to do it again in the future so I think we might do it here in  West Virginia since we have the  New River Gorge.  We did not want to start  our  experience here because the course here is a lot rougher.  Hartford Tennessee was the perfect place to start as it was milder.   

The Best Outdoor Activities in Mumbai

If you’re looking to plan an outdoor adventure filled vacation, Mumbai is the perfect spot for you. The fast-paced environment in Mumbai is full of excitement and people seeking the greatest adrenaline rush possible – it’s the perfect spot for an outdoor adventure. Here are some of the best outdoor activities you can try while visiting Mumbai to make the most out of your trip.

The ocean around Mumbai is beautiful to look at, and even more fun to explore up close and personal. There’s tons of water sport options to take advantage of, but here are a few of our favorites that you will love.

●        Jet Skiing – Jet Skiing is found at various different beaches around Mumbai and for a very reasonable price you’ll learn how to explore the water on a fast paced, adrenaline filled ride.

●        Kayaking – Kayaking may be slower paced than a jet ski, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Not too far outside of Mumbai you can find great locations to kayak in Mumbai and have a life experience you’ll never forget. Test your skills and focus with this independent and challenging water sport.

●        Trapezing – For the most adventurous, trapezing can be a great option. Mandwa beach is the best places in Mumbai to go trapezing. You’ll find yourself harnessed on the sail with your legs extended off the edge of the railing, feeling the waves and boat rocking over each wave will give you an adrenaline filled ride.

●        Stand-up Paddle Boating – another great activity at Mandwa beach is stand-up paddle boating. This water sport is one for those with stamina and strength. A challenging, but fulfilling experience will take your breath away as you paddle on the water while standing on your board.

●        White Water Rafting – white water rafting is a great activity if you’re looking to do something with friends or family. A great group building exercise for groups of three or more takes you into the crashing waters of a river near Mumbai for an experience that is sure to be unforgettable.

Regardless of which water sport you choose, you’re bound to have a great time on the water. If you want an activity above the water, here are a few aerial sports you can do during your trip. 

●        Swoop Swinging - If heights and new experiences don’t scare you, then this one is for you. Swoop swinging hoists you nearly 30 meters into the air from a body bag attached to a harness before giving you a 30 second free-falling experience that will leave you speechless. This activity is quick, but it’s one that you can’t miss.

●        Paragliding – The mountains of Kamshet near Mumbai offer a great spot for paragliding. Before beginning you receive full safety instructions and equipment, and then you’re off. Cut through the air and see views that you’d never be able to experience form the ground in this thrill filled activity.

●        Bungee Jumping – if you’re looking for a great adrenaline rush, look no further. Jumping from nearly 147 feet above sea level before bouncing back up into the sky is a rush like no other. Mumbai is one of the most sought-after locations for bungee jumping, so be sure to add it to you itinerary.

●        Parasailing – if you want a great view of the beach, parasailing is the way to do it. fly above the beaches of Mumbai to find an all new appreciation for the world around you.

●        Skydiving – at AambyValley just outside of Mumbai you can take part in an activity that many people never get to do – skydiving. The fall is quick, but it will feel like a moment frozen in time as you feel a sensation unlike any other on the way down.

●        Ziplining – Last, but certainly not least, you can go ziplining. Ziplining gives you a unique view over the treetops of the forests around Mumbai as you go from peak to peak. Take advantage of the beautiful landscape around you from all new heights with this fun activity.

You know about water sports, aerial sports, and now it’s time to talk about some activities and sports you can take part in on solid ground. 

●        Archery – in Powai, Mumbai you can challenge your mental and physical strength with a round of archery. This sport is the most fun if you take friends. See who’s the best of the best as you all aim for the bullseye and who knows, maybe it’ll be you.

●        Caving – Caving, also known as spelunking, is a great activity if you want to learn some new survival skills. Venture through caves and tight crevices with an instructor to learn the best survival skills to use in a cave environment. The adventure also offers views of some of the most beautiful caves and caverns around Mumbai.

●        Fire Spinning – if you’re looking for a unique experience, look no further. Fire spinning gives you a heart pumping experience in Powai, just outside of Mumbai. An instructor will guide you using an unlit version until you get the hang of it, but before you know it you’ll be the one spinning fire like a pro.

Regardless of what activity you’re looking for, Mumbai has something for everyone. From the most experienced adrenaline junkies to newbies looking for a small thrill, this is the place to go. Use sites like Expedia to be sure you’re getting the best price possible for your flight to Mumbai. From there, you can begin planning the vacation of a lifetime.

Planning a trip to Mumbai?  What’s on your agenda?  Tell us in the comments.

How to Spread a Little Positivity in Your Community

If you look at the news on any given day, it's hard to have much faith in humanity. Everything and everyone seems so negative. People appear farther apart than ever. Before you give up on society, know that there are groups out there who are making a difference. You've probably seen feel-good events like flash mobs on videos passed around social media. Have you ever wondered how to become part of such an infectious movement? Here's how to start a positivist movement in your community.

Remember That Words Matter

Have you ever been down and had one kind word lift your entire mood? Saying "Thank you" when someone does something nice or "I understand" to someone who's having a bad day can really have a positive effect. It will also change the way they interact with you. If you see the person ahead of you in line berating the customer service rep, try to smile and say “Dealing with the public must be hard,” when it's your turn. Remember, they aren't responsible for your high bill or other issues. They're just the low-paid employee who's stuck out front taking fire for the company.

We visited Lola Ruth, our former neighbor, this afternoon. We had a nice time talking to her, catching up. When her husband died last year, we had a hard time, we were so closed to him. He was like a real grandpa to my kids. We all miss him. Family is not always by blood, they can be friends that you meet in your lifetime. Our former neighbors are like family to us. #friends #family

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jun 23, 2018 at 5:09pm PDT

Smile, It's Contagious

Yes, it's annoying when people tell you to smile all the time. Don't wait for someone to say it. Make it a practice to find something that makes you feel like smiling. It will lift your own mood and influence the people around you. Scientific studies have shown that the simple act of smiling increases serotonin levels in the brain.

Compliments Cost Nothing

Have you ever looked at someone and admired something about them? Instead of thinking "I really love those earrings", say it. It may feel awkward at first. You may even feel like you're being phony. But, just the act of giving someone a small, sincere compliment can work wonders on their state of mind and yours.

Enhancing your positivity imprint can have a profound effect on your little corner of the world. You don't have to go big and donate piano NYC or start a non-profit. Even the smallest act of love or kindness can cause a ripple effect. It all begins with you.

After playing #badminton, we went to St. Joe’s and help with the rummage sale. We will go back again tomorrow. We’re making summer break worthwhile. If you guys wants to find neat stuff, come at St. Joe’s gymnasium in June 14, 15, 16. They have so many things from furniture to collectible stuff, you name it. #charity #rummageSale #donation

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jun 11, 2018 at 10:16am PDT