Dec 10

My Holiday Thanks: No Phones ($50 Visa Giveaway!)


Twister Wrap

I didn’t know that 3 hours in a car together could be so meaningful!

It started like this. A few weeks ago as my family and I headed out of town for a long Thanksgiving weekend, we asked everyone in the car to put their cell phones on the center console. Check! All cell-phones lined up and turned off.

Cell phones

Not having time for lunch, we went through fast food KFC for a quick Twister Wrap and popcorn chicken, eating on the road. It’s funny how when we’re all eating at the same time, there’s often silence. But that didn’t last for long as we devoured our food (thank goodness for extra paper towels in the car), and the chatter picked up again.

Sticky fingers

A favorite in our family for years has been listening to Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. Now I must admit, when the kids were younger, they didn’t always get the humor. But this trip was different. Even our oldest says, Dad, I actually like GK now!

Trader Joe's Joe Joe's

Those words were music to his dad’s ears, as we munched on our favorite Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Joe Joe mint cookies (sorry, Girls Scouts, these win any day over Thin Mints!), sticky-fingers and all (again, paper towels came in handy!).

Viva paper towels

As we headed down the highway, I found myself drifting off to sleep with PHC playing through the i-Trip. I don’t know how long I was asleep, but I awoke to GK singing the old hymn, Day by Day … it was beautiful.

Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what he deems best
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

I lay there, half asleep, giving thanks and taking in the words. And then realizing how quickly life is passing, next year our family unit won’t be quite the same, as one son heads off to college. Thanksgiving may not happen as it has in the past 4 years. As our kids get older, and life changes, we may be starting new traditions.

The short three-hour road trip in the car together, ending with these words: Where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average (GK’s ending to every podcast), and then the idea to take away phones and settle in and engage with each other, became a BIG thanks and a great way to start off the holidays for me, as a Mom.

It’s the little things that count. Ones that take effort, but that take us deeper with one other.

WIN a $50 VISA CARD
Comment to win: Do you keep extra paper towels in your car, or what do you do for sticky-fingers or emergencies in the car?

TWEET, FB, or POST
Tweet, post on your blog, or Facebook (come back and tell me), and you’ll get 2 chances. Even with no blog, you are eligible to win.

WINNER ANNOUNCED
Thank you VIVA® Diva Café, for this generous giveaway. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 14th. Perfect, and and just in time for Holiday Shopping!

(This post was sponsored by Viva Towels. For fun, fork-free recipes – including videos – and snappy entertaining ideas, get over to the VIVA® Diva Café).

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Comments

  1. Kim says:

    WE have extra napkins and the individual packs of wipes in our van. The individual packs of wipes are nice because they don’t dry out. That is the worst, when you reach for the wipes to clean up a mess and they are all dried out!

    One other note we love the Trader Joe “Dunkers”! The hard cookies / scones with a little white frosting on them – they are perfect for dunking in your hot tea! Wish TJ’s was closer!!

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  2. Bridgit says:

    I keep paper towels in the back of my car …for messes that come up while not home/car stopped …such as picnics. I keep a pack of wipes up by the drivers seat …to hand out as needed/car moving. Hahaha …yes TP in the back with the paper towels! bridgitgatlin@yahoo.com

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  3. I keep wet wipes! Lots and lots of wet wipes!!!

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  4. Sallie says:

    We don’t keep papertowels but I always take a roll of toilet paper with me (rather have that than not in an, uhm, emergency). Most often I do have a baggy of wipes in the van as well but TP is better than nothing for hands, if need be :-)

    We listened to PHC on one of our recent family trips, too. And we also have our oldest getting ready to go off to college. I find myself wanting to make everything we do lately have lots and lots of memories.

    Thanks for the chance to win the giftcard!!

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  5. Sallie says:
  6. Gay says:

    baby wipes, baby!

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  7. Kim Cahill says:

    Ugh! It seems we eat wayyyy too many meals in the car! I am like most of the commenters – try and always have baby wipes and paper towels. Back-up plans are always a stash of restaurant napkins and germ-x wipes in my purse!

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  8. Kirstin says:

    No I don’t carry paper towels…not because I don’t want to, but I usually don’t think about it. Usually I grab extra napkins at restaurants and leave them in the dash compartment and if it’s empty we scramble around looking for something!!

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  9. Kim Jackson says:

    I don’t have any paper towels in the car…..but believe me…I need to. Thanks for the advice

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  10. April says:

    I keep several items in my car. I keep a travel pack of wipes in the glove box, a roll of toilet paper (that’s a great conversation piece when a friend gets in the car), and a hand towel.

    Let me explain the toilet paper (lol). Last summer while attending the several baseball games at the local park, more than once were we left without toilet paper in the bathroom. Hence the “carry your own” motto. It just stayed in the car and has come in handy several times for runny noses etc.

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  11. BrendaDe says:

    no papertowels, but we keep a pack of baby wipes in the car for sticky fingers — which we need frequently with a 5 and 7 year old!

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  12. Lori H says:

    We always seem to have a plethora of fast food napkins in our car. But paper towels sound like a good idea!

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  13. Charity says:

    Baby wipes! I still have a baby, so we always have those on hand. But I think when my babies aren’t babies anymore I’ll keep wipes around – since they’re already moist, they do the trick!

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  14. Deb says:

    Yes! Always a roll or two of paper towels! We use them for the meals we eat in the car, picnics, and spills. I also love having them for drying the windows after we drive through the car wash. A quick wipe on the outside and then the inside and the windows are sparkling!

    deb

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  15. linda t says:

    We love family road trip and always take Viva with us. Seriously, the only paper towel I ever use. Yes, it costs more… but I can rinse and reuse that same square over and over. My little grandbaby can’t stand sticky fingers and so she loves them too.
    Hope I win, it would be a wonderful birthday present :)

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  16. April says:

    Tweeted about it too – http://twitter.com/mommy2two

    [Reply]

  17. I keep a small packet of wetwipes in my bag. When we go on longer car trips I always take heaps of tissues or kitchen roll. Just incase, something always gets spilled or sticky!

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  18. Deb A. says:

    We keep napkins in our van! Lots and lots of napkins!!!

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  19. Lisa says:

    Absolutely! I have experienced quite a few “accidents” traveling with my little ones over the years. And now that they are teens, it had become habit…and always comes in handy. Thanks for the offer!

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  20. Dawn W says:

    We keep extra napkins in the center console as well as a container of wet wipes. Can’t tell you the number of times those two things have saved us from near disaster. You’d think with teens the need would have been eliminated… not so!

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  21. Robin says:

    Alas, just two in the car these days. I miss the family trips but love it when we gather for holidays. Grandchildren will be added this year God willing and that will probably make this year one of the best!

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  22. Kathie says:

    I keep hand wipes and always grab a few extra napkins from fast food restaurants to throw in the glove box! Thanks for offering this great giveaway!

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  23. Maggie Pugh says:

    We always have napkins in the car and also keep handi-wipes in the glove compartment. With 3 little granddaughters they come in very handy! I enjoy your blog! Blessings to you and your family.

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  24. An extra roll of paper towel, two old bath towels, a box of tissues, a container of wet wipes and a partridge in a pair tree.

    We travel 24 hrs each way to my folks and have an easily car sick daughter. We take it all with us and hope we need half.

    Great giveaway!

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  25. Rhonda says:

    Yes, I keep napkins and/or wet ones! A must with kiddos! ;o)

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  26. Jennifer says:

    I should keep paper towel in the car. We can ysuaalt find a napkin from a fast food stop in the glove box but not always.
    Smiles!

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  27. Kristen says:

    We always ask for extra napkins, so we have quite a stash. I also try to remember to bring wet wipes of some sort.

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  28. Jenni says:

    I used to keep paper towels when I had a car, but in my SUV they just roll around, so I have a stash of napkins.

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  29. Lynn G. says:

    We always have extra napkins and wet wipes in the car. The wipes are great for those sticky little boy hands.

    Lynn
    keithlynn6@msn.com

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  30. Absolutely! We have Viva towels in the dashboard (they sent me a sample a while ago), and now with a 5 month old, a healthy supply of baby wipes in the backseat. :)

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  31. Sounds like a glorious trip. We often find ourselves having a “mobile meal”. How fun that you took the cell phones to eliminate the constant “texting” we all seem to find ourselves doing.
    As for sticky fingers, I’m the queen of the wet wipes. I have them everywhere.

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  32. Mary K says:

    I have a pack of wet wipes in my purse. Papertowels in the car would be a good idea though!

    [Reply]

  33. Stephanie says:

    Whenever we eat fast food I always take extra napkins and throw them in the glove compartment. We always have a stack in there for sticky fingers, runny noses, and spills.

    [Reply]

  34. Esther says:

    We keep a canister of Target wet wipes in the car. Since our kids are 3 years and 8 months, wet wipes are a definite must–although, somehow Mom and Dad seem to use them more to clean up spilled coffee!!
    I’m glad you had a wonderful holiday. It’s really nice to turn off technology and reconnect to one’s family.

    [Reply]

  35. Christie says:

    Napkins – all those extra ones we get when we go through the drive thru go in the glove compartment and here in MN wet wipes tend to freeze this time of year so pretty much the kids lick their fingers – gross but works the best!

    [Reply]

  36. Karina says:

    I was just thinking as I read your post, wow, those are really nice paper towels from your picture. Then I scrolled to see they are the ones sponsoring this giveaway! I’ll have to look for those in the store.. they look more like a reusable washcloth vs. paper towel..nice. And if I had some yes I would put them in the car, but as it is, I do not keep any in the car. I try not to eat and drive and don’t take road trips I’m sorry to say!

    [Reply]

  37. Michelle says:

    Its always something different. Sometimes I happen to have paper towels, sometimes baby wipes, but most often I find myself using a napkin and wetting it with a bottle of water that there always seems to be one of.

    [Reply]

  38. Deb Wire says:

    I keep the ends of paper towel rolls in my car and also I buy the inexpensive baby wipes to keep for sticky clean ups.

    [Reply]

  39. Denise says:

    Oh yes, we keep napkins and paper towels in our van! We’ve had too many spills and learned the hard way that we need to be prepared!
    Our family has made many road trips, and we loved to listen to Focus on the Family tapes as we travelled. We have great memories of many laughs shared while in the car together.

    [Reply]

  40. Kelli says:

    No papertowels but always, always extra napkins from fast food stops in the glove box. I drove a van for 11 years (I called it my second home:)), the boys are all teenagers now (college, high school, middle school) and we were never in a vehicle together so we “downsized” to a car that gets 40mpg. Funny thing is, when the oldest is home from college and we are all headed to the same place (church, dinner, etc) they all want to ride together!! I’m sure it’s quite a sight to see us all pile out of this small car!

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  41. Denise says:

    I posted on my blog! =)

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  42. Caroline says:

    To be honest, we usually don’t eat anything sticky in the car. But on the off chance that we do I will pack a roll of paper towels.

    [Reply]

  43. GiBee says:

    I always, always, ALWAYS keep wipes in our car. They are life savers in many, many ways. And my husband is a napkin horder. Not sure why, but he always grabs extra napkins and shoves them in the glove compartment.

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  44. Helene says:

    We don’t keep anything in the car because we never eat in the car. The family members that live the fartest away from us are a 2 hours drive away, so there’s no need for food. We do keep Purell hand sanitizer in the car, which also works for sticky fingers.

    [Reply]

  45. Kelsey says:

    All the napkins collected from drive-thrus stay in the glove compartment, plus a kleenex box, keep us fairly clean on long road trips. I love your commitment to turning off cell phones; my husband and I do this periodically as well!

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  46. Melissa says:

    We have an assortment of napkins, tissue, sometimes paper towels and wipes. It’s always a good idea to have some extra something for just in case.

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  47. Shana says:

    I always stash the extra napkins from fast food in the car and we usually always have wet wipes with us too!

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  48. Sara says:

    With four little ones, we are in trouble if we don’t have paper towels, napkins, wet wipes, etc. in the car!

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  49. Sarah from WI says:

    Extra napkins from fast food restaurants stay in our glove box.

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  50. ursula says:

    Yes, we keep Wet Wipes in the car- the disinfecting ones since we’re all paranoid about the H1N1 virus…….
    and when I can, I swipe extra napkins from the pizza place

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  51. Libby says:

    A roll of paper towels would be a hairy mess (eww) from our three dogs who often join us on trips.
    We keep small napkins and wipes double wrapped hidden in the glove compartment from the hairy beasts. Lint rollers abound in our car, but they don’t work well on paper towels. (smile)

    Anyway, glad you are preparing emotionally for the “tradition” changes. Both our girls are married as of this past summer. Thanksgiving 2008 (prepared by a french chef) was spent in Shanghai, China at a restuarant with our youngest daughter and friend who resides in Beijing.
    This year we spent the day with our eldest daughter and her husband’s family. So different from our norm!
    I’m learning, over the years not to hold on to our “traditions” too tightly.

    Oh, we like the Dark Stars from TJ’s. ;-)

    [Reply]

  52. Gina says:

    We always have paper towels and usually napkins in the glove box! For sticky messes we just usually squirt on antibacterial stuff and use the paper towel to wipe everything clean. I always seem to forget about wet wipes, then they get all dried out!

    Sounds like a great time driving with your family!

    [Reply]

  53. Courtney says:

    what a great idea! Disconnect everyone, so you all can connect with one another. I like it.

    I carry wet ones and paper towels.

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  54. Donnetta says:

    What a great giveaway! We always have extra napkins tucked in the pockets of the car doors. Of course, now that we have a little one again wet wipes are also an option tucked in the back for emergencies of many kinds. :-)

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  55. I always have wet wipes in the car since I still have a baby. They are always in my diaper bag, handy. I also use these wipes called “Boogie Wipes”. They smell like grape. haha!

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  56. Donnetta says:

    Just posted this link on my FB fan page! :-)

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  57. Just tweeted @albcarlson =) Sharing the love.

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  58. Janneh says:

    Being a mom of little ones, I usually just use wipes. Before that we carried paper towels though!

    I heart TJ Joe Joe Mint Cookies!!

    I’m looking forward to the days where I can actually have meaningful conversations with my children. Somehow, discussing Winnie the Pooh isn’t quite deep enough! :)

    [Reply]

  59. kelly o says:

    wetones singles in the car. lifesaver for sure.

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  60. Ellen says:

    The individually wrapped wipes are nice for the car as they don’t dry out. When we had little ones, I would pack a wet washcloth in a ziplock if I knew we were going to be eating something messy. And NEVER toss an extra paper napkin… toss those into the glove compartment… they WILL come in handy!

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  61. Mmmm…those cookies look DIVINE! And yes – how cool that everyone gave up their cell phones for family time?!?

    Yes, we DO still have a roll of paper towels in the truck (even though I stopped using PTs a long time ago! Once it is used up, I will be take along homemade wipes any time we go somewhere lengthy. =-D

    [Reply]

  62. deb meyers says:

    beautiful, Sandy!

    I keep drive-thru napkins in the car. This time of year, with snow, there is always some form of wetness outside the car to dampen the napkin.

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  63. Lynsey says:

    I usually keep baby wipes in the car. Of course, that is because my kids are still babies! I love Viva paper towels and will probably keep a roll in the car when the kids get older and I forget to put in the wipes!

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  64. Elizabeth Duan says:

    I have a 1-year-old, so we always make sure to keep baby wipes in the car!! I love Viva paper towels though!!!

    [Reply]

  65. Tamrah T. says:

    We always carry a bottle of water in the car, either to drink or a simple washing for hands and face. If that doesn’t do it, I keep wet wipes in my purse for backup. Towels? Those are in the truck for heavier duty uses.

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  66. Tamrah T. says:

    Posting on our FB page, too.

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  67. rachel balee says:

    I always have baby wipes in the car. They work for everything! And of course crackers too! You can never have enough with 4 little kids. Thanks for a great giveaway!
    rachelbalee@hotmail.com

    [Reply]

  68. Mary Beth says:

    Paper towels are a must in our car, along with, yes, T.P. for emergencies in the mountains:). We also carry blankets, flashlights, emergency rations. Boy, maybe we overdo it, but if we took away everything else, we couldn’t do without the paper towels. No way!

    Have a blessed Christmas this year.

    [Reply]

  69. Lady Dorothy says:

    We always tuck the extra napkins from fast food places in the glove compartment. Since we don’t have little ones at home anymore, those napkins seem to suffice. In my ideal world, I like to keep wipes in the van. But, again, since we don’t use them as much without children, they seem to dry up anyway!

    [Reply]

  70. Lady Dorothy says:

    I just shared this on Facebook!

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  71. Linda says:

    I never allowed much eating in my car, but I have a stash of napkins in the console and a box of tissues. My boys like McDonald’s drive thru as much as anyone but we always waited until we got home – it’s only a couple blocks! And we don’t often take my car on road trips.
    Glad to hear you are savoring your togetherness, because oh yes! the times they are a-changin’. When the college boy comes home next year you will be surprised at how he takes over your house! And this is only the first one…
    Enjoy your holiday season together, and say hi to Paul for me!

    [Reply]

  72. Tammy DuBose says:

    I wish I were organized enough to remember to pack a roll of paper towels. I usually have to rummage through my purse for a tissue.

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  73. Serena Abdelaziz says:

    I keep diaper wipes in my car ALL of the time, and I bring paper towels for trips.

    A MUST with 5 children….

    Oh, wow, I would LOVE a $50 gift card. I enjoyed reading of your family trip. Thank you!

    [Reply]

  74. Serena Abdelaziz says:

    I facebooked it! :)

    [Reply]

  75. Dianne says:

    We almost always have extra napkins from a previous dinner in the car trip.

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  76. Maryann says:

    I’ve got paper towels, wet wipes and lots of napkins.

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  77. Laura says:

    Yes, I always have paper towels in the van. I also have frisbees that can be used as plates;)
    Laura

    [Reply]

  78. lisasmith says:

    Love, love, love the cell phone tradition…brought tears to my eyes to hear you talk about next year :) enjoy this one!!

    Used to keep wipes under the front seat when the kids were little…I always try to keep extra plastic grocery bags there too but with all the reusables I’m not able to do that as much anymore. Now I always keep tons of extra napkins in the console.

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  79. Sara says:

    We always always always have wet wipes – good for some many things, noses, tushies, hands, spills – love them.

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  80. We always keep baby wet towels in the car in case. But no paper towels.

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  81. I tweeted :)

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  82. Lauri says:

    Oh I thought you were gonna say you were going to give the child who didn’t succomb to the temptation of using the cell phone the entire trip, would win a $50.00 visa gift certificate….:) almost seems like I would have to use that as the incentive in the first place…not to mention for me and my husband…yikes….:)

    [Reply]

  83. Jessica says:

    We carry wet wipes and paper towels.

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  84. Alana says:

    What? Eat in my car?? ME??? NOOO… Ok, I confess there is a large stash of drive thru left over napkins and wet wipes in my car for my personal ketchup emergencies!

    [Reply]

  85. jennifer says:

    Baby wipes – even though we’re past the baby stage, we use them to wipe up spills on the car carpet, the console, the dash…We have a 3 year old and even though we said we’d never allow her to eat messy things in the car – well, we do :-) Baby wipes are great for wiping down the straps of the seat belts because they leave no paper residue behind. They’re great for last minute wiping of hands and face before we head into church etc. I could go on and on…baby wipes are a must have. And they smell great too!

    [Reply]

  86. Lynne in NC says:

    Yes! we keep extra paper napkins and paper towels in the car. We also have a tub of wipes for the really messy messes. Thanks for sharing about your time in the car.
    The photograph of the cell phones all lined up is a reflection of the five individuals that make up the family Coughlin.
    Peace.

    [Reply]

  87. Karen M says:

    Great giveaway! I have been known to keep a whole roll of paper towels in my car for emergencies (ie: car sick toddler!) Usually, I just grab one of my many wipes in the diaper bag for sticky fingers, though!

    [Reply]

  88. midwestmom3 says:

    We keep paper towels and baby wipes in the car. We need both on a very regular basis!

    [Reply]

  89. Tami C. says:

    Baby wipes rock, we keep baby wipes in our cars (yet we no longer have babies)!

    [Reply]

  90. Nicol says:

    I probably should keep paper towels in the car. I guess I haven’t really thought about it. With two small kids, I always have a diaper bag and thus always have baby wipes. I find they work great for sticky fingers.

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  91. Care says:

    I always keep a container of baby wipes for sticky fingers and a container of wet-ones for germy fingers. They come in SOOOO handy with three little boys!

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  92. Angie says:

    I always have baby wipes AND paper towels in the car. You never know!!!

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  93. Liz E says:

    We dont keep paper towels in the car but we do keep a box of baby wipes handy and the side console has a stash of take out napkins, for our just in cases!

    [Reply]

  94. tina says:

    We keep the bacterial hand sanitizers in the car! MUST!

    [Reply]

  95. My kids are 6 and 13 and I still use baby wipes! I also have hand sanitizer in ever door. Great giveaway :)

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  96. Jackie says:

    What a fun and meaningful time you had. We do keep wipes in the car. They come in handy for sticky fingers of course, but also when using public facilities of any kind. Smiles! Now that our 2 sons are grown and married, my 2 daughter-in-laws (my girls as they are called) love to share in and create more family traditions… or our family trivia! That has been a joy to my heart!

    [Reply]

  97. karol says:

    i have a little emergency kit in the car that consists of baby wipes, clorox wipes, kleenex, bandaids, hand lotion, lip balm, pencils, pens, crayons, paper, coupons, and extra hair bands. that little kit has come in handy a number of times.

    [Reply]

  98. Brenda says:

    Yep. I keep paper towels under a seat, and collect extra napkins from all the coffee stops throughout the day. I work from my car, so I’m in there alot, with at least one or two people other folks along for the ride.

    [Reply]

  99. Randi says:

    With five kids, I wish I ALWAYS had wipes or paper towels but it seems that I’m always missing them when disaster strikes.

    [Reply]

  100. teresa says:

    Well I must say…I had chill-bumps while reading your post…especially the part about things changing…new traditions being made and old ones left behind.
    This is one of the hardest things to face as life moves forward…so quickly.
    The photos were enduring.
    Loved the cell phones!
    So real…such a great post!
    XXOOXX

    [Reply]

  101. Julia in WDM says:

    Yes, with four kids, we keep paper towels in the van. They are usually under the seat of our youngest child.

    [Reply]

  102. Debbie says:

    I always save extra napkins from eating out and keep them in the car. They come in handy very often.

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  103. Julia in WDM says:

    tweeted! Thank you –

    [Reply]

  104. Kasey says:

    Yes, we always ask for extra napkins when we go through a drive through. Other wise, we keep a container of Wet Wipes.

    [Reply]

  105. AJ says:

    My “bag of tricks” now includes:
    - paper towels
    - handiwipes
    - antibacterial hand soap
    - an extra plastic bag for garbage

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  106. Beth says:

    We do keep paper towels in our van! My husband is one of those “old-fashioned” men who always checks the oil when he gets gasoline. But, we often get gas at Sam’s Club, and they don’t have a supply of those towel dispensers (their way of cutting costs, I guess), so the paper towels are not only used for messes, but are great to check the oil with!

    [Reply]

  107. Melissa S says:

    YES! Always a roll of paper towels in the trunk- or in the car if we are traveling. Always have a roll. I also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the glove compartment. With three young kids, under 9, if we are traveling any sort of distance, I also have a box of wipes!

    [Reply]

  108. Deborah says:

    We keep the extra napkins from takeout, and a box of tissues. If we’re headed out on a trip, we add the paper towels. We never seem to need them, but as soon as I leave them home I’ll wish I hadn’t.

    [Reply]

  109. Janice says:

    When we eat out at fast food restaurants, we always have extra napkins. Instead of throwing them away, we keep them in the glove box. Good in emergencies!

    [Reply]

  110. Kelly says:

    I keep extra napkins from fast food restaurants in the glove compartment!

    Thanks Viva!

    [Reply]

  111. Katrina says:

    We do keep paper towels in the car when traveling …. and along with them baby wipes (even though our kids are now 11 and 10).

    [Reply]

  112. Suzanne says:

    With 4 kids still in carseats, I have an entire basket in the soccer-mom-mobile with all emergency essentials, and YES, paper towels are a must…as are 4 changes of clothes, diapers & pull ups for days, wipeys, wipeys, wipeys, first aid kit, and probably a kitchen sink deep down in there!

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  113. jenny says:

    What a sweet post, Sandy! I love that you were able to visit with your husband and kids on your road trip. It makes me reconsider how often I tell my 4 LITTLE ones to quiet down while I’m driving.

    And to answer your question…we’re still using up baby wipes, now that our twins are potty trained–to the car they went! They’re perfect for sticky fingers. :)

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  114. mooki says:

    yes, we keep paper towels in the car! Extra napkins, moist towelettes, kleenex….. my kids are always teasing me when we leave a fast food restaurant that I can just throw away the leftover napkins rather than stash them in my ziploc bag! (however, more than once they have come in handy!!!!)
    My car looks like a travelling house sometimes, but with kids you need to have ‘stuff’….

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  115. Maureen says:

    With my little ones, I am all about Wet Ones. I keep paper towels in the kitchen, laundry room, garage (for outside play) and every bathroom.

    Your family time sounded lovely – so much to be grateful for….

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  116. I do keep paper towels in the car. They have been a lifesaver (or at least an upholstery saver) many times!
    smchester at gmail dot com

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  117. Ad K. says:

    I keep paper towels, extra napkins ,wipes and hand sanitizer in my car. I’m one prepared grandma! Also a blanket and a towel, kiddie books and an etech a sketch.

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  118. Jennifer says:

    I use baby wipes for all our sticky fingers and faces! My kids are six and four and a little out of the diaper bag stage, but I always keep a travel size baby wipe package in my purse and glove box.

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  119. Suzanne B says:

    Yes , I do have paper towels in my car………glad I’m not the only one!

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  120. Becky B says:

    Definitely wet ones wipes. Thanks!

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  121. heidi golden says:

    oh yes – paper towels, baby wipes, antibacterial wipes, kleenex, extra starbucks napkins….you name it i have it!

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  122. I don’t have paper towels, but my kids are young enough that I have diaper wipes! Amazing little suckers!

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  123. Annie says:

    I always have napkins (leftover from fast food places) stuffed in my console or purse. Back when I was young, my Mom would always have a mason jar of water with a washcloth inside for road trips. ha ha I can remember having to use it a time or two!

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  124. Pat n Fl says:

    I keep extra napkins and my car and now that Chic-fil-a gives out hand wipes I keep some extra of those also.

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  125. Chinamama4 says:

    My children are 10, 7, 5, and we’re preparing for the adoption of a 2-year-old. Of course we have paper towels in the car! And wet wipes. And extra plastic grocery sacks.

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  126. Lynda says:

    We don’t keep paper towels, but we always keep baby wipes in the truck!! Baby wipes can get anything off! Even Sharpie! So I make sure I never run out of wipes in the truck.

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  127. Holly says:

    I have extra napkins, plastic bags & a first aid kit-all necessities!

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  128. Victoria says:

    We keep napkins in the car for those messy times. We just pick up extras whenever we get food at a restaurant.

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  129. Angela says:

    We love GermX handy wipes in the car! And our staple right now is Baby Wipes and they will be for several more years!

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  130. Amy says:

    Yes, we keep paper towels in the car. A necessity!
    Thanks!

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  131. I always have an extra package of wet wipes in the car (with a 3 and 4 yr old, this is sort of a prerequisite to any car trip!). Paper towels are a good thought though…just would need to find a good place to keep them.

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  132. MG says:

    Have to have paper towels …. cannot stand sticky fingers. :)

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  133. Susie says:

    Unfortunately just call me Miss Unprepared. I sometimes have a few leftover napkins in the console if a spill occurs. Once my hubby spilled an entire Dr. Pepper in his lap and we had nothing to use for cleanup. Even after that, we didn’t learn our lesson. I facebooked and tweeted this. Who couldn’t use a little extra a Christmas:)

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  134. Luke's GiGi says:

    With my 3 year old grandson around quite often I keep a can of wet ones. Very handy.

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  135. Melissa says:

    Always paper towels and antibacterial wipes. Always!

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  136. julia says:

    The picture of the cell phones was priceless! way to go C family! I pray you start a trend with families on road trips encouraging them to unplug!!
    xo
    j

    p.s. no paper towels… but definitely towlettes and of course they are lemon,lavender scented, :) i am so high maintenance :) )

    [Reply]

  137. Darla Leatherman says:

    always extra napkins

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  138. Wendy says:

    Even though my kidlets are now 9 and 11 (almost 10 and 12), I still carry baby wipes under the front seat. I can’t tell you the number of times they have come in handy!! Great for spills and wiping germy hands after a trip to the playgrounds.

    I have thus far held off the “when do I get a cell phone” questions from my kids, but when that inevitably happens, I am going to remember your trick and put those phones in “time out” on occasion.

    Merry Christmas.

    Wendy Herman

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  139. Sharon says:

    Hi, I usually have plenty of extra napkins on hand as well as wet wipes for those stickier messes.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Happy Holidays!
    Sharon
    slw_kerr@yahoo.com

    [Reply]

  140. karna says:

    I always have napkins available from eating fast food…they give you so many…good leftovers…sometimes fries fall on the floor too tho. ;)
    Love your blog
    karen

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  141. Melissa D says:

    I have baby wipes stashed all over the place — small ziploc bags of them in each behind-the-seat pocket, a large pack in the way-back side slot, and of course my three go-bags for the kids each have a pack. And I keep another small ziploc of wipes and a diaper in my purse for emergencies…. But wait, there’s more! — a large beach towel in the far back (for wet slides or wet kids) and tons of paper napkins in the glove box round it all out. They’re all well-hidden so it doesn’t look like the Brawny Man is hiding out in my minivan. But they’re in there, and they get used!

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  142. Brittney says:

    If I’m lucky, I’ll find a few extra napkins from fast food in the glove box. But usually I don’t keep anything in the car.

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  143. Angela Murphy says:

    Paper Towels, WetWipes, and napkins…. we are messy bunch!! ;)

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  144. Kelly says:

    paper towels in a plastic tote of good “car things” to have just in case which also includes an old blanket for everything from wrapping flea market finds to keeping warm, having a picnic, etc., napkins in the glove box, Kleenex in the center console.

    My favorite thing I keep in my car is a pair of scissors. They have come in handy SO many times.

    Kelly

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  145. beth chapman says:

    we don’t keep extra paper towels in the car , we usualy use napkins from stops along the way. we love your blog great ideas

    [Reply]

  146. Angie H. says:

    With kids from 12 to 1 we keep lots of items in the car for sticky fingers and dirty mouths. Baby wipes, paper towels, extra fast food napkins, and antibacterial gel. There’s always a mess of some kind to wipe up but it’s all good with me.

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  147. Linda says:

    I often keep baby wipes in the car for sticky fingers and germ free hands.

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  148. Shawn says:

    I try to keep those little moist wipes in my purse, but Viva is always in our home… my favorite since I had babies and used Viva for baby wipes… I should keep them in the car!

    [Reply]

  149. Cheryl says:

    I keep a roll of paper towels in the trunk of my car and a travel size pkg of baby wipes in the glove box.

    [Reply]

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