My family and I travel a lot. This year was our first plane trip with the kids, and they did pretty well. However, after we came home, I learned something about the pillows on planes that completely grossed me out. Did you know that airlines don’t change their pillowcases after every flight?  That pillow the airline just charged you to use is probably covered in germs ( I know Ewwwwwwwwwwwww).  Some germs that can be spread include MRSA which can live on that pillowcase for up to 90 days!  Another gross thing you could get is lice too.  Completely grossed out now?

Have no fear though because Travel With Me has come up with JetHeads which is a disposable pillowcase.  All you have to do is slip one of these pillowcases over your airline pillow, and you can breath easier. JetHeads Disposable Airplane Pillowcases are made of a soft and comfortable, non-woven fabric and come 2 to a pack. They are also made in the USA.

What are you waiting for?  Make sure you order at least one set of these for  your next flight.  I know I am!

We all get those itches that we just can’t scratch. I know I have had to look around the house for ruler or anything that can get that itch that no one can reach. I now have my handy dandy backscratcher.  Let me tell you, this thing is awesome.  It can reach anywhere on my back.  It actually works better than me itching!  (I have long finger nails and can draw blood without trying sometimes). They are eco-friendly and are handcrafted out of wood by local USA craftsmen in Maine and Tennessee. They are made out of walnut, cedar, aromatic cedar, cherry, oak, and maple.  Now, these are so easy that anybody can use them:

When my one year old got ahold of it, he thought it was a sword, and it made it through that beating. You can even buy telescoping back scratchers which is smaller version of this that would make great stocking stuffers. If you’ve ever had an itch you couldn’t scratch, you need to get one of these awesome backscratchers!

A book you must have in your home is Frankie: The Walk ‘N Roll Dog. This story will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it’ll make you hug your pets and kids and tell them that you love them.  It also was just awarded National Best Book 2008 Award by USA Book News in the Children’s Picture Book Non-fiction softcover category, so I am not the only one who thinks it is great!

This story is about a little dachshund.  We learn about how she met her family and what their family life was like.  We also learn about a terrible injury she endured (a ruptured disk in her back) and how she lost the ability to walk.  She had surgery with only a 30% chance of every walking again.  She outfitted with her wheels that you see on the cover of the book.  Now, I am not going to give away how the story ends, so you’ll have to get the book to see if Frankie walks again.

The owner of this dog actually wrote the book, and it is a true story.  She is from Wisconsin (which is where I am from), so I personally identify with where this story takes place.  The illustrations in this book are awesome too.  The story is written at a level, so that all children can enjoy it and walk away with some good life lessons such as always look for positive solutions to overcoming and enduring challenges, don’t feel sorry for yourself, and having compassion for the physically challenged.  These are three great lessons that our children (and even adults) should learn and live by.  This book also opens a line of communication between you and your children too.  I know that Madison, my 4 year old, had a ton of questions for us after we read this.

This is a book that I really think everyone should take a look at and read.  We can all benefit from the life lessons in here.