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Freezer Bag Fashion
Rated by 2 members
"Why is Rebecca wearing Anna's pants?"
Given the three-year age difference between my girls, it was a legitimate question.The girls had gone to spend the night with a relative, and it was clear that they'd picked their own clothes from the selection of outfits and spares I had put in the overnight bag. How Rebecca had managed to squeeze herself into several-sizes-too-small leggings was a credit to the inventor of spandex.
I was worried.
The girls were 7 and 4, and Michael and I had planned our first vacation without the children. We would be gone from Monday morning until Thursday afternoon. In that time, the girls would stay with two different relatives and visit a water park, go to the movies, and dine in at least two restaurants. I had visions of Rebecca wearing shorts that revealed more of her business than anyone had a right to know. I knew, too, that, left to their own devices, the girls would create fashion ensembles suitable only for Rainbow Brite. These were, after all, the same children who had convinced their father that wearing patent leather party shoes to the park was a good idea.
As I packed and repacked their suitcase, I tried to keep outfits together, each girl's items on separate sides of the suitcase, and panties, socks, and hair ties with each outfit. I knew, though, that once the suitcase was turned on its side to be carried, dumped in a frantic effort to find something "important," and otherwise mauled, my efforts would be in vain. By the time I came home, someone would surely have appeared in public wearing a pink princess skirt with a purple-and-red-striped tank top.
Retrieving a large zip-close plastic bag from the kitchen for toiletries, I was inspired and brought the whole box into the bedroom. Armed with the bags and a permanent marker, I soon had each outfit individually bagged, complete with accessories, and labeled with the wearer's name. I even indicated on each bag's label what type of outfit I had packed, so that anyone could pick, at a glance, the right outfit for both weather and occasion.
The girls came home with a suitcase full of dirty laundry and empty bags that, by putting a label over my original notations, I was able to use again and again.
And, most significantly, Rebecca was wearing her own pants.
Member Comments On…
Freezer Bag Fashion
LOL...I JUST started using this last month for my son (now 8) and pseudo-adopted daughter (5) when we went camping. I always put everyone's stuff in plastic totes, to keep the weather and critters out. This time I decided that I was tired of spending most of my week refolding clothes and trying to determine what was already worn. I put each of the little ones' clothes in "outfit" bags, complete with undies and socks...incase they wanted to wear sneakers, yeah right! It worked out great! When we unpacked we left the empty baggies in the boxes for next time. It relly allowed the kids to be more independant, and this way I knew they'd match. :)
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We have always used this trick when traveling. We even use this same trick for our emergency bin in the car. Each girl has their favorite color, so items are placed into baggies that contain their specific color. Another twist on this is to take an outfit (pants, underwear, socks) and place them inside of their coordinating shirt. I then roll the shirt into a nice log (with the other articles of clothing inside) and place inside the suitcase. I manage to pack lots more in the suitcase this way, and each shirt has a complete "outfit" so Dad or someone else can help dress the girls (handicapped) in a pinch. It always works well for us. And with the emergency bin in the car, I don't have to worry who has what, I just pull out the necessary color coded bag and we always have what is needed.
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This is a wonderful idea which can be carried over to other venues! I have used small plastic bags and little craft baggies when I am teaching kids how to do a craft/project. Especially when you have a lot of young ones who haven't quite got the hand-eye coordination thing down yet. You can place all the pieces to a craft (I usually have clip art to glue or something else) in a small bag and give one to each child. This is a lot easier than going around and passing out each individual part.
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Good idea. We usually only vacation a few days at a time, so I only pack clothes that coordinate (if the purple and red top isn't in the suitcase, you can't pair it with the pink princess skirt). That way no matter what pants come out of the bag, the shirt will be fine. Also, each child has their own little suitcase so their clothes stay separate.
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We have been doing this for years! It works great when you take the kids on vacation too. We pack an entire week's worth and I label it by day since they do coordinating outfits (esp. at Disney...lots of photo opportunities). It works great. I like to use the 2 gallon sized bags (or 2 1/2) which work great when the weather is colder and we have bulkier items, like jeans and sweaters.
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I think this is a wonderful idea!!! My DH, DD7, & DD9 ar all coming to Disney World for the first time this summer. I have been trying to get everything organized early and have been wondering how I was going to pack their bags. This is my first REAL vacation EVER. Needless to say I am excited!! Thank you so much for the help.
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I have done this for my sons for scout camp for a good ten years. It is also very helpful in keeping their clothes dry when it rains. In addition,you know which clothes they DID NOT wear while they were at camp and they still come back clean - which is most of them.
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We just make a detailed list, then they all pick and pack all their own stuff. If someone forgets something they just have to do without or borrow from another family member. One of my sons just left his swim trunks at home this past week. Our Bible Camp has an awesome swim pool, he swam in some shorts and his underwear and was fine! We just figure it out. I try to limit my use of zipper bags, it seems as though we just waste so many and they are sort of expensive. We just do alot of digging through our bags (which is free and a treasure hunt) With a family our size we usually have plenty with us anyway.
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I have also done this for my kids - works great! I also include unders and socks for the outfit! Keep the great ideas coming!
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