Fashionable 4th???

4th of July is pretty low-key holiday around our house. Yesterday was spent grilling and hanging out, watching our neighbors set off illegal fireworks (always amazes me that people do that, so dangerous!) and just enjoying a midweek day off.

Since I like to look at what people are wearing, I decided to investigate images of 4th of July "fashion". Here are the best ones....

The shoes make me think of the Wizard of Oz (in blue) and the shorts, well those look like something right out of the backwoods of Kentucky (no offense to Kentuckians!) Seriously ladies, I hope none of you would be caught dead.....The dress, well I think its a fun costume-as long as people understand its meant to be a costume, NOT something you wear any old time.

And more....

This is a little girls dress and for a little girl on the 4th-super cute! Again, this is a costume-not an outfit you want to subject your child to on a regular basis!!!

Lastly....

These just scare me. Who wears their nails like this any more? And how can you do anything productive with these claws???

Next week, I'll be checking out Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale. I got a special "early invite" as an account holder with their rewards program, and it just so happens I have a gift card that I've been hanging onto since my birthday! (I squirrel gift cards away and give myself little pick-me-ups with them all year long!!!)

I'll post about Nordstrom and what I found! Hope everyone had a fun and fashionable 4th!!!

My favorite workouts!

Today I thought I'd post about something that I have a huge love-hate relationship with. Regular exercise. I know my body needs it, both physically and mentally. I get incredbly edgy when I don't workout at least 5 days a week, and as I get older, my body needs more and more in the way of regular exercise to remain in the slightest bit of shape!

However, I also really like to do a lot of...nothing. I like to lounge in bed late in the mornings, dozing and watching television. I like to lay on the couch, or sit on my back deck, with a good book. My mind often fights any notion of working out, and I can always think of a hundred excuses as to why I just CAN'T exercise today.

Yet, I still do it. And since I know this is a battle that most of us face every day, I thought that sharing some of my favorite ways to exercise might be an inspiration-not just for you, but for me as well!

RUNNING
I've been running since before my son was born, about 14 years now. When I started, it was more like a snails jog. I'm not really much faster now, but my endurance has definitely improved! Running is great because its not a costly endeavor-buy some good shoes and a decent sports bra, and you're set. I also like that I can simply step out my front door-no getting in my car and driving to where I need to be. I can put my ipod on (in public places, no running on dark trails with music in my ears!) and just go.

Those who have thought about running but are intimated by it should read the book "No Need for Speed" by John Bingham. Its a great intro to running and the author really embraces running for fun rather than turning it into a big competition.

And in regards to the competitive part of running, I think that signing up for a 5k is a great way to motivate oneself to run. There are always a wide range of both runners and walkers at ALL races. Many people run simply because they enjoy it, for fitness and for health. Your only real competition when it comes to running is your own head and your own goals.

An interesting thing about running is that it is mostly mental. I have been very surprised by my body and what it can do. Friends who are runners used to tell me "If you can run six miles, you can run 12." and surprisingly, its true. We can always run further than we think we can.

YOGA
Its kind of funny that I have developed an affinity for yoga. My brother is a yoga instructor, an amazing one, and for SO many years he tried to get me to participate. I would, here and there, but just couldn't get into it. It just never seemed like enough of a workout for me, and it felt slow.

Then one day I decided to try a hot yoga class. 90 minutes spent in a very hot, dim room sweating my ass off with other sweaty people! I came out of that class feeling both drained and rejuvenated, almost reborn (as hokey as that sounds).

Since then, I've been going to yoga at least a couple times a week, for almost a year now. I am so much more flexible than I used to be (I am tight as a piano wire for the most part) and my body just feels better.

My favorite classes are the hot flow classes, which use vinyasa yoga and move at a pretty quick pace. I seldom go to the 90 minute classes now, prefering the 60 minute stints as they are a little more manageable for me mentally (90 minutes is a LONG time!). I love the flow classes, and I love the sculpt classes, which involve using light weights with your movements.

BIKING
A few years ago, I invested in a decent bicycle. Its not a top of the line, crazy-expensive bike, but at $500 was not a cheapie from Walmart either! That bike has become one of my favorite modes of transport AND exercise. Its a Specialized brand, Ariel model. It is mainly for bike paths, but can be used in moderate trail riding (like hard packed dirt on flat ground-not ruts or lots of gravel.)

For me, it is perfect. I'm more of an urban girl so my bike riding tends to be around town on the bike paths and sidewalks. When my son was a baby, I had a different bike (still a nice one but not as fancy as the one I have now) and I got a bike trailer, or Burley as they are commonly called, and he and I would go out almost every day.



Biking is low-impact and can combine going somewhere with working out, which makes it less of a chore and more of just a fun thing to do.

THE GYM

Okay this comes last because honestly, its NOT really my favorite thing to do. BUT...I do like the results. It is really important to do weight bearing exercise and to go beyond cardio. When I manage to add weights to my repertoire (I try for twice a week, but with all the other workouts I like to do, sometimes once a week is all I can fit in) I can tell a difference really quickly. My big farm girl arms (DNA from my grandma....) get toned and less fatty, my stomach gets flatter and my legs leaner.

Its hard for me to be in the gym for more than 45 minutes, I just want to get my workout done and get OUT of there, but it serves its purpose. Plus my membership is very affordable, just $19 a month via Planet Fitness.

No matter what kind of exercise you choose, the best thing you can do for yourself is make time to do SOMEthing every day. EVERY DAY!!! Not three times a week. Not when you feel like it. You do it, and you get it done. If I can drag my sorry self out of bed to an 8am yoga class, hating every minute of dragging myself there, you can do it too. And having kids and/or a job is no excuse. When my son was a baby, I had a jogging stroller that I used all the time, as well as my bike trailer. Now that he's older, I try to find stuff we can do together. Today it was a nice 45 minute bike ride and then some soccer drills in the back yard (where I re-discovered that I suck at soccer. My sweet boy tried hard not to laugh at me....) I get up in the morning before work and go run, bike, whatever I need to do to get myself moving. It really is a necessary part of life.

Once the workout is over, you will be so happy. This much I can promise! And not only will your waistline thank you, your heart and other organs will be grateful, as will your mental health. Regular exercise, every day, is the best all-around thing you can do for yourself. So do it!!!

Time...and so it goes

My son and I went horseback riding on Friday. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time. I'd purchased a Groupon for a trail ride as part of his birthday gift, and figured we better use it!!
Here are a few pics of our day!

I was thinking last night about how time seems to go by so fast, the older you get and the busier life is. How its important, in this crazy world, to remember the things that ARE important. Because someday, all of us will be at the end of this journey. I have tried, in my children's lives, to create memories for them that they can reflect on and hold onto. And I hope they will look back at those memories and understand that even though I am not a perfect parent, my love for them IS perfect, every day and every minute of my life. If they can know that, and end up happy, strong, self-sufficent and productive, I've done okay. I hope.

Family is a beautiful gift, albeit a flawed one. Because when you're dealing with human beings-complex, mercurial, unusual creatures that we are, its bound to get messy. We all have different perceptions on life and how it should be, on situations, on how we were treated and how we treated others. But at the end of the day, I just want my family to know that they are all THE important thing in my life. Despite my flaws, my own issues, my mistakes, my love is always crystal clear in my heart.

Hold onto those you love, and those who love you. Because you never know when the day will come that its your last day, or theirs. Hug your mom, call your cousin, take your kids on an adventure! Life is such a beautiful thing, and giving your family the gift of your time and love is one thing you will never look back on with regret.

Anyway, I'll stop with the rambling and close with a favorite quote:

"This is my one and only life. And its a great and terrible and short and endless thing. And none of us come out of it alive."

Go live. And go love.

Birchbox for June....

The theme for June's Birchbox was "JetSet" with goodies for summer and goodies for travel! Here's what I got....



1. Beauty Blender- A makeup brush and sponge cleanser. Soy based and guaranteed to keep your brushes clean. I usually just soak mine in a sink of warm water every few months, so I doubt I'll be buying the full size of this, but I'll still try out the sample.

2. Comodynes Self Tanning Intensive-I used this yesterday and it works pretty well, although I prefer either a spray (Banana Boat spray tan is my favorite) or a lotion (Jergens is a good one) for my tanning needs. I think this is a great travel item though and tossed the other sample of it into my travel kit for beach vacations this winter...

3. Number 4 Super Comb Prep and Protect-This is a spray-on, leave-in conditioning treatment for hair. I tried it and I think I might be ordering some of this. I always struggle with dryness and frizz (yes because I treat my hair like crap, I know) and this really made a difference!!! I wasn't sure about the smell initially-its different. But not bad different. Just "what is this smell?" different. I liked it after a couple uses.

4. The Balm Cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen. This doubles as both a lip and cheek stain. I'm not much into stains and it was pink, which isn't a good color for my lips....cute little tube though and I bet other girls would LOVE it. It does stay on well, through wine and food!

5. tili bag-Okay how fun is this?! A cute little plastic baggie that meets TSA requirements for getting your liquids through security when you travel. Its really a frivolous thing, since a regular plastic bag works JUST fine. But its SO cute!!!! I'll be using it for sure, and probably ordering more.

6. John Varvatos cologne for men-In honor of Father's Day they tossed in a sample for the guys in your life. I gave it to my guy, but he's out of town so I haven't been able to see how it smells on him. Cologne usually smells quite delicious on his lovely skin though, so I anticipate liking it!

That's it for June's Birchbox. Remember if you haven't signed up, go to their website and check it out. Its a really fun and inexpensive way to try new items. Plus they have tutorials and lots of great sales!

Finally! Review of Dinair Airbrush Kit!

So I've been making vague promises about reviewing the Dinair Airbrush makeup Kit I was lucky enough to win via Denise Richard's website! I finally took the time to get myself in gear and create a review of this very cool product, and I apologize for taking so long. I tried to prepare a review once before but the pictures I took just didn't turn out. And since this is a product I probably wouldn't use for every day, I had to wait until I could give myself both enough time to try the kit properly, but to take pictures that might actually show you how it works!

The kit I received was the starter kit, which consists of these items:

Your "spray gun" with attached motor, a various assortment of foundation tones so you can create your  own unique colors, eye colors and cleaner. It also comes with an instructional DVD and tons of tutorials. I started, after reviewing the tutorials, with a loaded "gun"

My first try was a little messy, as you can see the foundation on my hand. That was operator error and has nothing to do with the sprayer. The technique is you put a few drops of foundation in the top loader of the sprayer. The applicator is attached via a rubber nozzle to the motor, which plugs into any outlet and has a easy on-off switch. Right behind the top loader, you can see a small grey button. That is what you use to control your spray. You also want to make sure you are holding the sprayer at least 4 inches from your face (that seemed to be the perfect distance for me anyway.)

Here's my blotchy "before" face....

I carefully sprayed, using as smooth and even of a sweep as I possibly could. Now this was my second try at using the kit, so I knew not to use too much (my mistake last time) and to apply slow, careful layers. Here is the result....

As you can see, it definitely smooths out skin tone and dimishes those fine lines and spots. I like the polished look this kit gives! It is really the perfect addition for anyone wanting to look super fabulous for a special event or party. My only complaint is this stuff is kind of like shelac! It goes on and STAYS on. Which again, might be attributed to operator-error. I think I'm still a little heavy-handed in my application and need to practice more.

The Dinair Kit retails for about $200, which makes me even happier I won it! I don't know if I'd spend that much for something I will use only for special occasions. But I think for a makeup artist (or someone who wants to be one) its an excellent investment, or if you just love the idea of looking photo-fabulous on a regular basis!!!

I'm very happy to have been able to add the Dinar Airbrush kit to my collection, and I will certainly be using it again. I might even try it on some of my girlfriends if I can talk them into it and they don't start running away when they see me coming with my "gun"!!!

For the Guys.....

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd post about men's personal care products! Here are a few things I think are pretty awesome and fun items for your dad, brother, husband, boyfriend or even for YOU!

Neutrogena for Men shave cream is a great choice for shaving.I think Neutrogena always puts out a consistant product, and their men's line is no exception. Especially for sensitive skin, and we all know how sensitive our guys can be!!

Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer is a favorite of my boyfriends. I like it too, it has a nice clean scent and isn't sticky. Containing blue algae extract and sea parsley, this is a manly lotion that us girls can use too!

If you have a tattoed guy, this lotion is the perfect choice for new tattoos or just to keep the colors bright on the ones they have. H2Ocean Ocean Care Tattoo Cream is non-sticky and scent-free, with added moisturizers like jojoba oil and rose hip seed oil.

For a solid and reliable skin care line for men, you can't go wrong with Clinique. Their men's line is tried and true, excellent on all skin types and has a wide range of products for all your man's needs.

And for those who like a little scent on their guy....

This is still a favorite of mine. Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein. Always a great smelling cologne,

and one that stands the test of time (hence the name Eterniity? LOL)                                                  

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day, and you were able to honor your dads, husbands,              significant others, family and friends in a special way. I think a good dad makes for the backbone in many a strong woman, and I hope everyone got the chance to give their dad a big hug (and a cheesy card!)                                                                                                                                                      

                                       

My First Giveaway!

So awhile back I posted about the Great Sephora Mix-up, in which my Sephora order got totally mixed up and I was shipped a bunch of products I didn't order. Which ended up not being a bad thing-I got several tubes of Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer, a great BB cream that I LOVE....

However, I received four of these little beauties in my Sephora box, and thats really more than I need. Besides, if Sephora was kind enough to let me keep what they shipped me in error, I figure I might as well share the wealth a little....

So here's the deal. I'm going to give away these two extra tubes. They are a .85oz size, which will last a long time. Both medium shades. You will love this stuff and want to order more.

In order to be entered in my very random drawing, there are two options. If you are new to my blog, go to Facebook and "like" my page. If you are already a reader and supporter of Winter Girls, share my page on YOUR Facebook page so that some of your friends might decide to like me too!

Next Friday, I will do a totally random drawing and pick two people to receive the goods! I apologize in advance, but this drawing is going to be limited to US addresses only-I absolutely love it that those in other countries like my blog and page, but as a girl on a budget, I can't afford to pay international shipping costs!

So if you are a US resident and would like a chance to win, either "like" me on Facebook or (if you're already a fan) share my page on your page!  Thanks and good luck!

My new favorite hair product!

Being the product junkie that I am, hair products are no exception and I'm always on the lookout for something new and fabulous. My poor hair is horribly mistreated, mainly by me-I am the first to admit that I over-color, don't go to the salon as often as I should, and wash too often (I try to wash only every other day but as much as  I workout and as much crap (ie; hairspray) as I use, it doesn't always happen.)

I was at the mall the other day and stopped in at L.A. Style and Retail to see what kind of goodies they might have. I picked up this:

From TIGI, Bed Head Colour Goddess Leave-In Conditioner. Purported to help prevent fading, dullness and drying (all issues I deal with), this conditioner keeps your color pure and your hair smooth.

I have to say, I LOVE this stuff! It is lightweight enough to keep my fine hair from being all weighted down, but provides conditioning and gets rid of that frizzy look. And it smells sooooo good! Kind of coconutty and Hawaii-ish.....

I picked up the version for redheads, but they have a blonde version as well. I would highly recommend this to anyone who deals with dry hair or gets tired of color fading quickly.

More this weekend on new favorites, and I think I'll try to FINALLY post about my Dinair airbrush kit!!! I know, I'm lame, I've been saying that for awhile.....

Nothing like a little Sephora love...

Here's what I got in the mail this weekend from Sephora....

A new Sephora Perfecting Ultra-Smoothing Primer, which I wrote about last week and I absolutely LOVE and recommend! Also a new perfume-"Twirl" by Kate Spade. I'd run out of my usual favorite, Hanae Morie, and was using a sample of this I received from (who other) Sephora! Everyone complimented me on it soooo much (especially my boyfriend, he loved it....va-va-voom!!) that I decided to give it a whirl...er, a twirl!

And of course a couple samples, Lorac Face "selfTANtalizer" and Shiseido Bio-Performance corrective serum. I'll let you know how those work.

Off to work, hopefully lots of blogging this weekend. What would YOU like to hear about???

Bike riding days....

Summer has finally arrived here in the far north, and I am loving it. I'm not one for crazy outdoor adventures or adrenaline laced experiences, but I do love my bike. I bought it a few years ago and I ride it several times a week.

What I don't love so much, is my helmet.....

Yes, go ahead and laugh. I know I look like a space alien with a giant brain. Its terrible. And even though I'm a tame rider, sticking to the bike trails and rarely venturing onto the street, I know a helmet is a must. So, I recently decided to find something that is as rare as a Sasquatch sighting...a cute helmet!

Here are a few of the ones I found...

I like that these don't look like helmets, a cute concept.

I thought these were super-cute! But they didn't match my bike, and we all know that the helmet MUST match the bike!

These are just scary:

And if I could find it in my size, I'd truly love this one....

The search continues, I'll post a pic when I finally find the magical bike helmet of my dreams. In the meantime, you might see my big alien bike helmet-head riding around town. Its kind of horrible, but at least my giant brain is safe!

A Sephora Must-Have

One thing that I think is important to consider using when your skin starts aging a bit is a good foundation primer. I know, I know, one more thing to add to your regime-does it ever end? Nope, not really!

Anyway, I received this sample of Sephora's Ultra-Smoothing Primer awhile ago but hadn't used it. I finally decided to give it a try, and I have to say I am hooked!

A foundation primer is a great way to smooth out those fine lines that foundation or powder can settle into. It gives your skin a beautiful, clean palette to work from when applying makeup. The first time I used it, it felt a little weird. It isn't creamy like a lotion or foundation. Instead, it is a gel-like substance that goes on and dries almost instantly on your skin. It seemed tight initially, but once I applied my foundation, I was amazed at how even and smooth my skin looked!

I recommend Sephora's brand, not just because I have a mail-order love affair going with them, but because this is an excellent product.

Speaking of amazing smooth skin, I finally tried my Dinair Airbrush Makeup Kit. I wasn't happy with the pictures though, so my review will have to wait another day or two....stay tuned!

Time machine!

I was feeling a little nostalgic today, so I thought I'd give myself (and everyone else at my expense, but thats okay!) a laugh and dig through some old pics to showcase my "fashion" sense of long ago....

Let's start with 1982 or so. I really love how the frosty pink lipstick plays against the color-coordinated outfit. And the white plastic belt, along with the "popped" collar! If you look behind me, you can see the Sears family photo....priceless!

1985ish here. Like my RayBans? Everyone had to have a pair!

Moving on into the early 90s. The mullet is finally growing out. Still color coordinated with my denim mini skirt and lighter denim top. And look at those button covers, omg!!!

This is at a friends wedding. See my awesome padded shoulders. No more mullet, thank God. And as you can see, "bumped" hair was incredibly popular during that time....

Every girl needed a fanny pack. And white keds.....

Oh sweet Jesus. In addition to the denim hat with the flower, note the padded shoulders and crocheted type vest. Vests, oh they were HOT!

My small town modeling stint. I still love that hat! Love hats, period! My hair is shorter here, and button covers were still in style!

I think its always fun to look at old pics and reminisce, I had a lot of fun back in the day, and while I always didn't make the best decisions (fashion and otherwise!) I do think life is all about learning. And I've taken away some great lessons from those days, growing and learning, always striving to become a better person. And a better dresser.........!!

L'Oreal Youth Code

I've been using this for about a month now....

It is supposed to help diminish age spots. You know, those brownish discolorations that start invading your skin as you get older?? I'm lucky because I am quite freckled (who knew that my freckles, which I hated as a child, would become my saving grace as an adult!) so the spots don't show quite as much. I did start noticing some on my cheeks, however, some from aging, some probably from sun damage in my wayward youth.

I apply this morning and night, under my regular moisturizer. I like it first of all because it absorbs quickly and feels really nice on my skin. And most importantly, it works! I noticed a fading of the brown spots on my cheekbones in just a couple weeks. After four weeks of use, they are hardly noticable.

So if you are starting to get those funny little patches, I recommend trying Youth Code. It will help fade those spots and give you a nice glow!

This month's Birchbox!

My Birchbox arrived yesterday and I wanted to show you all the goodies it contained!

This month's samples included:

Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream-Use twice a day to fight aging. It smells good (I hate weird smelly lotions!) and goes on smooth, absorbing quickly into the skin.

Dior Diorshow Extase mascara-Most of my readers know by now that I'm a mascara junkie, so this was an exciting little treat! It also has a fat brush for fuller coverage.

Dior Miss Dior Perfume sample-This one was a little flowery for me, but I tossed it in my "travel supplies" kit and will take it with me when I'm on a vacation somewhere. Sample perfumes are perfect for traveling, especially for me since I almost never check luggage.

Kerastase Shampoo and Kerastase Masque-Kerastase is one of my favorite shampoos, another great item to put in my travel kit. And the deep conditioning moisture masque is something my perpetually dry hair can definitely use...

Notecard-They included a cute little postcard style notecard, which I will use when I send out a hello to far and distant friends!

If you haven't signed up for Birchbox, you should check out their website. For $10 a month, you get a different box of goodies and samples each month. Its always fun to get stuff in the mail! And you can order the full sizes of the products you like on their site, as well as enjoying articles and video tutorials.

It is $10 well-spent, in my opinion!!

The Lush Life

I recently made a quick trip to Seattle, and got to stop in at one of my favorite bath stores, Lush. Lush carries an extensive array of anything and everything you could need for your bod, from amazing bath bombs to yummy lotions. Here's what I got:

Whoosh Shower Jelly is a fun shower gel. It smells great, of course, and is kind of like putting jell-o on your loofa! But it works wonders on your skin, leaving it smooth and fresh.

It bounces! The sales person also recommended putting it in the freezer before using, for an even more refreshing feeling. Haven't tried that yet...

I also got this-

Nope, not a soap. This is actually a body butter type product. You soften it in your hands and rub it on your legs, arms, etc to give a nice bronzing glow! Smells wonderful and gives a hint of color without any orange tones. I like this because I generally avoid tanning or sun, so anything that gives me some color is appreciated!!

Later this week I will hopefully be able to test out my new airbrush makeup kit that I won from Dinair. I'm excited to try it, it retails for well over $200 and is supposed to create a professional, "red carpet ready" look!! I'll be posting about it!!

Outfit of the Day

I am in the first week of my new job. Eventually, I'll be wearing a uniform every day, but until the uniforms arrive, its business casual attire. Here's what I wore yesterday....

The skirt is from Macy's, purchased a couple years ago as part of an ensemble. The shirt that goes with it has long been retired, but I still really like the skirt. It think its a flattering cut and it goes with a lot of different tops. The sweater is a recent purchase from a local store, Lulu E. Bebe. I like Lulu because they offer fashionable, fun and unique clothing items-and most importantly, their prices are usually very affordable (that sweater was around $30 I think.) The beige tank top underneath is from Old Navy, which as I always say, is a great place to shop for basic wardrobe items. I cannot for the life of me remember where I purchased the necklace, and the boots are eons old, picked up on the sale rack at JcPenneys I think.

Starting a new job is always a little daunting. I'm very excited to be embarking on a new career path, and don't plan on leaving this job any time soon (getting too old for this!) Change and new things are always a challenge for us it seems, we get so entrenched in our daily routine, it throws everything off when we have to do something new. But I think its important to embrace change as much as we can-because it is what keeps our minds fresh, keeps us learning, keeps us on our toes!

Give your brain a jump-start and change things up in your life a bit. If you've been afraid to make changes, things you know you should do but just can't seem to get over that fear of falling-just do it. Change is what life is all about, and thats not a bad thing!

Go Big or Go Home!

I picked up a new mascara the other day and was a little surprised when I opened it to find this:

New from NYC cosmetics, Big Bold Mascara packs a punch when it comes to lengthening, defining and volumizing-and a big fattie of a brush to boot!

I'm always on the lookout for a mascara that really makes my lashes pop, and NYC mascaras are both affordable and good quality. I've tried several of them, and I'm usually happy with the results. This mascara was no exception, coating my lashes perfectly in the first application. I admit, I was a little nonplussed at the brush, and don't know that the "plump" brush style is much more than a marketing tool to make you think you are getting bigger lashes, but it does seem to work just fine.

So if you are looking for an affordable ($5.00) mascara that works, I recommend the NYC brand, and if you want to go big, try their Big Bold mascara!

Our Weekend Away....

I've been a little MIA from my blog, but have a good excuse! I decided to escape daily life for the weekend with one of my very favorite people, my son! We took off for San Diego, enjoying some time on Mission Beach and a day at Seaworld...

I've always loved travel and I like to think I've instilled that same love of seeing new places in my kids-mainly because I almost always take them with me!

We enjoyed pooltime, and Shamu was awesome!

Traveling with kids can be fairly easy, if you are prepared (and patient!) My son was about 5 weeks old the first time he went on a plane, and he's always been a pretty good traveler. However, I always tried to plan in advance for any possible issues. Here's a few things I always, always did with my kids when they were small.

1. Make them a goodie bag. I used to make a goodie bag for each of my kids to take on the plane. I would give it to them after takeoff, and it contained things like crayons and little coloring books, small toys, snacks and gum.

2. Tire them out. We usually flew the evening flights when they were smaller, mainly because they would sleep. Of course, I never got much sleep so I had to deal with my own grogginess-but at least I wasn't dealing with them being tired and cranky on top of ME being tired and cranky!

3. Bring a binky and a bottle (if you do those) for babies/toddlers and gum for older kids. Ascent and descent of the plane can cause air pressure changes in the cabin that can REALLY hurt tender ears. Giving them something to suck on helps a lot. Be prepared to nurse during takeoff and landing if you don't use bottles or pacifiers.

4. Bring EXTRA-as in extra diapers, food/drinks, and an entire extra change of clothing! Because good lord if your baby has a "blowout" or gets a little air sick, you will REALLY wish you'd brought it. Also make sure to throw in an extra t-shirt and/or sweater for older kids. You never know when they might either get sick or spill something too. And if you check luggage (I seldom do) its good to have some extra clothes just in case your luggage gets misplaced. On the other hand, less can also be more. Don't skimp on bringing diapers and such, but you also do NOT necessarily need to bring the giant stroller, playpen, bouncy chair, etc. I always managed with an umbrella stroller, which you can fold up and fit in the overhead if necessary. And I never brought more accessories than I absolutely needed!!

5. Remember that if you are bringing an infant on board, you are not guaranteed an extra seat unless you buy it! Be prepared to have your baby on your lap, and plan accordingly- you may have to check your carseat (you can do this at the gate, along with your stroller) If you are concerned about it, it might be worth it to spend the money and buy them a seat.

6. Most importantly, have fun and try not to stress! Kids can be great little travelers, and I think that they can really get a lot out of seeing the world from an early age.

My son and I probably won't be taking any trips that are just the two of us again for awhile, I'm starting a new job and won't be able to travel for at least a few months. But we are always planning our next adventure, and I'd like to think that our travels throughout the years have given him an excellent perspective on the world and people around him.