Penny Pinching

12:37 AM Edit This
So I'm taking the kids to the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference this year and we will be staying in the conference hotel. I can't imagine having to herd three under 5 in to the car and back out again for every snack and meal so I need to provide them in our room. The problem with this is just that it's not very simple. With the food sensitivities it's really rather hard. Let's start with a simple sandwich. The only gluten free bread that tastes worth eating and keeps for more the 24 hours comes frozen but you can keep it in the fridge. It does NOT taste ok cold. It doesn't microwave well either. The only way to eat it is slightly toasted, at least that's the only way my family will eat it. The room has a microwave and a mini refrigerator so I bought a little toaster oven to bring too. It was under $25 and if I eat more than one meal out of it, I have saved more than I spent. Remember no dairy, wheat or soy so fast food isn't even a possibility. Eating out even for just me and the kids is two entrees and that usually comes to around $20-$30. The boys eat a lot of food, you would be shocked what they can pack away. I'm also bringing a small crock-pot to cook dinners in. I might make oats for breakfast in it too. I have some frozen muffins to have for desserts in the toaster oven and can bake a tray of frozen fries and veggies easily. I am bringing the blender base and the blender cups for our green smoothies. I would really, really like tea so the water kettle is coming too. Cooking takes dishes and spices and well, food so I already have two suit cases packed full of kitchen type items. I have a suit case full of toiletries, vitamins and toys and a tote full of books and art supplies too. The large suit case is suppose to hold bedding, the non standard stuff like my two travel pillows I never sleep with out, the larger waterproof mat, the bed rails and our clothes. Now I'm worried I won't have room for the clothes, lol. That's 4 bags, 5 if you could the diaper bag, one large plastic tote of diapers, one toaster oven box and a large collapsible cooler that's still collapsed right now. I have gone over the list over and over and I can't figure what to cut so I guess this is really what I need to take the kids away for a week. Am I crazy? Yes I am, but I'm prepared......