4 Road Trip Necessities {PLUS a Winner-Takes-All Giveaway}

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by LunchSkins, HarperCollins Publishing, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, & Berkshire Blanket. All opinions are my own. 

Our family has become seasoned road warriors over the past couple of years. My husband and I met and lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 8 years. With his family living in Michigan and mine in West Virginia, we often made the 17 hour total trip without stopping (except for of course to fill up and take quick potty breaks). Fast forward to the kids; there was a 3 1/2 year period where my husband had to travel back and forth from Michigan to West Virginia (sometimes with a kid or two in tow) twice a month. Aside from putting a lot of miles on our vehicles, we also learned that when traveling with kids, there are 4 Road Trip Necessities we never left home without! The kids and I just got back from a 4-day trip to Michigan and I'm excited to share the products we used to cover our road trip must-haves!

1. Food

I'd say of all the things we take on a trip, whether it's a full meal and/or snacks and munchies, food is my top necessity for any road trip! Unless I'm eating Chick-Fil-A, I'm not ever a fan of eating fast food and I especially hate filling my body with unwholesome ingredients and then leaving it to sit in my gut for hours on end. Now when we travel, I always pack everyone a fresh meal to eat and recently discovered LunchSkins which makes food storage easier, tastier, and recyclable!

Lunchskins

Lunchskins bags reduce single-use plastic pollution right from the kitchen counter. Our dishwasher-safe reusable bags can be used again and again, and our new recyclable paper sandwich bags are easy to use once and toss.

Recyclable + Resealable Paper Sandwich Bags, 50-ct. Box

Meet the NEW Paper Bag: the FIRST + ONLY 100% plastic-free, recyclable, sealable paper sandwich bag! Made from toxin-free paper, these bags are the perfect alternative to plastic sandwich bags. We've thought of everything (including designing the box to fit perfectly in your kitchen drawer) to empower you to make a difference with the way you snack. With our unique, patent-pending stay-fresh design, these durable paper bags are 100% home compostable + perfectly sized for food storage at home or on-the-go! 

 As a Mom of four kids, I've packed a lot of lunches over the years and this is the first time I've ever used a sealable paper sandwich bag. Based on taste alone, I'll never go back to plastic! I packed turkey sandwiches for the family in the early morning hours before we left, threw them in our canvas cooler and hoped for the best. I have a serious fear of soggy bread, and by serious I mean extreme gag reflex. We didn't pull out our lunch until 5 hours into our trip and boy, I've never tasted a packed sandwich so fresh and crisp! It  was as if I had just made it on my kitchen counter. With FREE-Shipping you never have an excuse to run out of these awesome sandwich bags!

Reusable Sandwich Bags (Velcro)

Designed to fit a sandwich bag perfectly, this best-selling reusable bag has a multitude of uses. Our award winning colorful style options create and eye-catching display.

Aside from the fact that this is the perfect bag for any sandwich, my kids really loved all of the different styles. My 8-year-old son, Elijah, is an animal lover and adored the red and white dog-covered bag we got from Lunchskins. Celebrating all of my children's personalities just added one more reason to love these products!

Reusable Sandwich Bags (Zippered)

Use these food-safe, dishwasher safe bags for sandwiches, snacks, school supplies, travel accessories, craft supplies, toiletries and more. Practical and stylish, these zips are the perfect replacement for disposable plastic bags.

Say yes to never having to mess with those fussy ziplock closures! Though you can use these bags for sandwiches, I found them to be perfect to bitesize snacks, including chips and fruit!

  Don't miss out on this fantastic product! Click HERE to find all Lunchskins has to offer!

2. Books

Zondervan Publishing

Long hours in the car give kids the perfect opportunity to read. I only have one that gets carsick from reading (I have that problem too), but for the others a couple of good books go a long way to pass the time. I love ordering a book or two for each of my kids from Zondervan Publishing. I never have to worry about the content and for me that's probably what I love most about their publications. Check out a couple of their newest books:

Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets

  In the newest Berenstain Bear Living Lights title, The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets, Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear love their pets Little Lady, Gracie, Swish, and Cutsie … they are just like part of the Bear family. So when Preacher Brown holds a special Blessing of the Pets service on Sunday, the Bear family joins in. But what starts as a peaceful gathering of Bear Country neighbors and their animal friends on the lawn of the Chapel—including dogs, cats, rats, goats, and even a snake or two—ends up needing a little heavenly intervention.

Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps & Gran

  In The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran, the newest title in The Berenstain Bears Living Lights series, Mama, Papa, and the cubs decide it’s high time they honor Grizzly Gramps and Gran. It’s almost Grandparents Day and the Bear family has never celebrated this special day before. So working as a team, the cubs, with a little help from Mama and Papa, come up with a fun and creative way to show Gramps and Gran just how much they are loved and appreciated.

I'm Going To Give You A Bear Hug

  I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug. Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep. 

 You will find something for every reader at Zondervan! These books were perfect considering I have one kids who loves animals, our road trip was in part, to see Grandparents. The Bear Hug book was especially adorable and it's become a very favorite bedtime book of my youngest, Levi.

  Click HERE to check out Zondervan books!

3. Movies

Adults, remember when you were young on those long car rides dreaming about what it would be like to actually have a TV in the car? Now, even if your vehicle doesn't have a built-in DVD player, there are portable systems available for every budget. I know, I know, car rides are the perfect time to cut the electronic cords but you and I both know that one hour in the car to adults is the same as 10 to a child. In our family, we're totally okay with taking their minds off "are we there yet" and letting them relax and have a few laughs with one of their favorite movies. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment always has the newest flicks and some of the classics that everyone in the car can enjoy!

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

The Lego Movie

The LEGO® Movie, the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO® adventure, directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller is an original 3D computer animated story that follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.

The Lego Batman Movie

In the irreverent spirit of fun that made The LEGO® Movie a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble—LEGO Batman—stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Storks

Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for global internet retail giant Cornerstore.com. Junior (Andy Samberg), the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when the Baby Factory is accidentally activated on his watch, producing an adorable—and wholly unauthorized—baby girl. Desperate to deliver this bundle of trouble before the boss gets wise, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, race to make their first-ever baby drop, in a wild and revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks’ true mission in the world.

 Our family still has yet to watch "Fantastic Beasts" (ya'll will have to fill me in on if you liked this one or not), but we are huge fans of the Lego movies! My kids have the greatest time laughing, especially at The Lego Batman. Storks is incredibly cute and adorable! Even though I was keeping my eyes on the road, even I enjoyed listening to the movies and smiling as I watched my kids taking a break from the monotony of the road and sharing some laughs with each other.

  Click HERE to select all the movies you want to take on your next road trip!

4. Comfort

If you are a follower of Our Southern Style you have heard about my undying love for my Berkshire Blanket products! In fact, our whole family fights over who's turn it is to snuggle with our favorite blanket. Levi insists he can't sleep without it! When we're facing the uncomfortable feeling of hours sitting in car, there's something about having a soft pillow and blanket that makes the ride bearable. My amazing friends at Berkshire sent along some of their new products for kids and they turned out to be perfect for our trip!

Berkshire Blanket

Cuddly Buddies U-Neck Pillow

Kids love Parker Puppy because he can go anywhere they go. Aside from being incredibly cute with his brown body and big puppy-dog eyes, his U-shaped design will keep them comfortable during a long trip or at nap time.

• Fabric: VelvetLoft®
• Size: Pillow is 13 x 14 inches
• Warmth: All season
• Fabric height: Medium 

Levi really loved his U-Neck pillow and like most young kids who fall asleep in the car, this pillow helped to keep his head from falling during his naps. The Parker Puppy is super soft and adorable. He's become one of Levi's favorite travel companions!

Cuddly Buddies Toddler Pillow

  Just like a real dog, this little puppy will follow your children wherever they go. You'll love their new plush best friend as much as they do when you see how comfortably they snuggle his brown spotted body. When playtime is over, just unzip the cover and give him a little doggie bath!

• Fabric: VelvetLoft®
• Size: 12 x 16 inches
• Removeable outer cover

Our Cuddly Buddies animal pillows are rectangular shaped, and always ready for a hug. Their friendly faces stick out of the pillow, and they look adorable sitting on a bed or shelf.

 Elijah is my animal lover. For him, even his stuffed animals hold a lot of value and it's always a struggle for him to pick just one or two that are going to accompany him on a trip. Even though this pillow is classified a "Toddler" pillow, it's really perfect for any kid. This pillow is as soft as velvet and with his friendly face, it's like taking a pillow and favorite stuffed animal all in one. Elijah especially loved sharing movies and relaxing with his new favorite Cuddly Buddy!

Cuddly Buddies Footie Throw

Your kiddo will love the playful style and cozy warmth of our Mermaid Tail, featuring a foot pocket perfect for tucking in little toes! Imaginatively designed with colorful scales in sea blue tones, this throw is a great companion for both rest and play.

• Size 44 x 50 inches
• Super-soft VelvetLoft fabric
• Cozy foot pocket
• Lays flat for naptime or cuddling

The footie throw from Berkshire was new to us and Eva was excited to officially have her very own Berkshire! She was even more excited to find out that she got one shaped like a mermaid tail. Nobody in our family likes having to keep socks and shoes on for a long drive and turns out this blanket really was perfect to use on our road trip. With the foot pocket (equally as soft on the inside as the outside) Eva got to let her toes enjoy some freedom, but still kept them warm and cozy. I was pleasantly shocked at how big the blanket was! Eva is 9 and above average for her height, and this blanket was big enough to cover her from toes to her neck. Talk about comforting! This adorable blanket comes in several other styles for both boys and girls! If you don't have her own Berkshire Blanket you are missing out! It's still one of my favorite companies to review for and I jump at every chance to bring any Berkshire Blanket products into our family!

  Click HERE to visit Berkshire Blanket and choose your favorite!

WIN IT!

Just in time for one last Labor Day Weekend Road Trip, Thrifty Nifty Mommy and I are teaming up with these great companies to give one lucky reader the ultimate, One-Winner-Takes-All Road Trip Giveaway!

One lucky reader will win the products below including, books from Zondervan Publishing, the DVD movies featured in this post from Warner Bros Home Entertainment, U-Neck Pillow and Footie Blanket from Berkshire Blanket, as well as 2-pack Sandwich and Snack bag pack plus a box of the Recyclable + Reusable Resealable Sandwich Bags from Lunckskins! To enter, just use the Giveaway Tools form below. Giveaway open to United States, ages 18 and up. Ends 9/1/17 at 11:59PM EST.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received the item pictured above in exchange for facilitating this post. Our Southern Style and Thrifty Nifty Mommy are not responsible for prize fulfillment. One winner will be randomly selected using the Giveaway Tools random selector and notified via email. Once notified, the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Google. Void where prohibited.