With the Spring Break season in full swing and summer vacation a few short months away, it’s travel season. I can speak on this with some authority because I live a few miles from the beach and the tourists have invaded. So, for me, the travel season means traffic jams, crowded grocery stores, and figuring clever ways to beat the heat and the crowds. Of course, traveling with kids comes with its own perils. Many of them, in fact, but there are some amazing products on there to help ease the pain a bit.

A great, lightweight stroller is an absolute must have for any family, but it’s never more important than when you’re traveling. My pick for an on the go stroller is the Maclaren Volo. It’s uber light at only 8.4 pounds, folds compactly and has a carry strap. Which I’ve actually used and it was a total lifesaver. $119 (at Babies R Us) might sound like a lot for a basic lightweight stroller, but if you’ve pushed a cheap knock off you know it’s worth it for the nice smooth ride and maneuverability. The generous storage basket is also great for all those souvenirs you pick up along the way!

If your traveling with smaller toddlers or babies, a good comfortable baby carrier is a lifesaver. After all, if you wear your baby you can have your hands free to take all those vacay pics you’ll upload to your computer and never print.  One of my favorites is the lillebaby EveryWear Carrier because it is so lightweight and can fold up to fit in your diaper bag when not in use. You can wear your child in 3 different positions (depending on their age) and use it with the hip carry up to 43 pounds. (As if you didn’t already feel like a Sherpa lugging everything but the kitchen sink on vacation.)  The EveryWear is available at giggle.com (5% cash back!) for $100.

Whether you’re traveling to a beach house, hotel or staying with family, the PeaPod is a genius product that may change your life. It will certainly change your sleep habits for the better, and as any sleep-deprived parent knows that is like finding the golden ticket. The PeaPod travel bed is like a mini little tent just for wee ones that folds up to fit into a tote smaller than a backpack. It comes with a blow up mattress that is actually quite cushy so it‘s the perfect place for tots to sleep when on the go. And at $89.95 at One Step Ahead, it’s cheaper than most travel cribs See, I told you it was genius!

And, if you are traveling to the beach, I’m sorry but nothing says family beach vacay like the LL Bean Tote. These things have been around forever and there’s a reason. They’re awesome. And surprisingly affordable especially with 2% Cash Back from ShopAtHome.com. (The Large Tote with Monogramming is $36.95.)

No matter where your travels take you, have fun! Yes, traveling with kids can be a challenge, but it’s also extremely rewarding.

Happy Shopping!

Kate over at TheShoppingMama.com is hosting a ShopAtHome.com-sponsored giveaway where two very lucky winners will get $100 each to Sephora! Here’s a little bit of what Kate had to say:

Every year for the past couple years I’ve made the same new year’s resolution: to be a little more “put together” and wear make up like a grown up. I totally admire those women who always look beautiful – hair brushed, makeup applied, tailored outfit. Me? I’m lucky to put on chap stick and brush my hair. It’s not for lack of loving beauty products! I just love, love Sephora. So, no matter what kind of mama you are, ShopAtHome.com has a great giveaway to pamper you and get you beautified!

Head over to Kate’s blog, The Shopping Mama, to enter for your chance to win $100 at Sephora!

We all have our reasons for enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, and there’s plenty to love. The delicious spreads of tasty food and accompanying gluttony, the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade, football games on the television and family matches in the yard.  But, for the true shoppers out there, Thanksgiving marks the Day Before. The Day Before millions will hit stores nationwide hunting for the best deals of the holiday season on Black Friday. Yes, for me, Thanksgiving is all about the official start of the last minute holiday shopping season.

I must confess to being one of those Black Friday shoppers who traveled a few miles to the shopping mecca (aka the Outlet Mall) last year. Not really out of the ordinary. Until I tell you that I went with my 12 DAY old baby and two year old son. It was, well, DUMB and I don’t recommend it. But, I couldn’t resist the urge to shop for those once a year bargains. So I loaded the stroller (an accessory that no matter how sleek, will always prove cumbersome while fighting crowds around the 50% off rack in babyGap), packed a diaper bag and hit the largest outlet mall in the country.

Despite the inevitable crowds, lines and hassle, for many like me nothing stops the yearly Black Friday pilgrimage to the  local shopping mall to experience the thrill of victory (“$50 off a Wii gaming system!”) and agony of defeat (“Zhu Zhu Pets are Sold Out!” ).

But, there’s an alternative to hoofing it around the mall and driving from store to store on Black Friday. Wait a couple days and shop from the comfort of home and participate in the  online shopping phenomenon that is “Cyber Monday.” Cyber Monday is the Monday following Thanksgiving when online retailers hope you’ll make purchases you put off, couldn’t find or avoided in brick and mortar stores.

It’s no wonder Cyber Monday has grown in popularity in recent years.  (Consumers reportedly spent $846 million online on Cyber Monday 2008.)  Shopping online is comfortable (there’s no need to drag newborns from the comfort of home) and easy. With all the information on the internet, it’s simple to find sales, comparison shop, and locate coupon codes online (um, hello, ShopAtHome!).

Even with all the benefits of skipping the madness that is the mall on Black Friday, I must admit that I’ll probably hit the mall again this year. But, I’m leaving the kids at home. I won’t be making that mistake again. Whether you’ll brave the mall or shop in your pj’s from home, happy shopping! And Happy Thanksgiving.