I swear, every day, it seems like I only have one speed– go, go, go. Between soccer practice and school stuff and my own work, it seems like many days, I don’t even get two seconds to breathe. While everyone who knows me would argue that I love a hectic pace, which is true (I can’t seem to sit still for long when it comes to getting things done), it doesn’t leave a lot of room for “me time.” That’s why most of my life requires an on-the-go attitude… and all of the “stuff” that goes with it. Because sometimes when you’re on the go, life doesn’t go according to plan, and sometimes that means mom becomes a little bit of a momster, here are my 5 absolute must-haves for being an on-the-go mom, so you can stay a little more sane.

A portable charger for my cell phone. Okay, moms, how many times have you been in the middle of taking a picture and…. battery critically low. Your camera on your phone won’t even turn on, and you’ve missed the perfect opportunity to Instagram that stinkin’ adorable shot of your little one on the bike or whatever else they’re doing. I always try to carry a portable charger with me, because I don’t always have time to charge at home– when I’m there for a short time between heading out for the grocery store or gymnastics practice. This keeps me charged up, regardless of where I’m at.

Spare shoes. No, I’m not kidding. Have you ever had one of those days when you’ve gone out to eat, open the car and… there’s your child without shoes? Zach has a habit of peeling his shoes off right after I put them on, and sneaking out the door before I notice he’s left them behind. A similar issue? The other day on my way to physical therapy, I put on my favorite pair of flip flops, got there, stepped out of the car, and the strap broke. What the heck? So, because we’ve all had those days, I always stash a pair of spare shoes in the car for each of us– just in case. (Note: in the winter, same goes for spare hoodies, because you never know what’s going to happen).

A quality planner. Seriously, I love my Google Calendar, but sometimes things just need to be written down. I like having a small planner that I can write appointments in physically to make sure I’ve got them in my memory. I couldn’t live without a planner to keep my life a little more organized and sorted.

I’m not kidding– a single day can contain a deadline here on the blog, projects for my consulting work, school work for Zach, soccer for Jeffrey, gymnastics or soccer camp for Zach, doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, and more… if I didn’t have a planner to keep things straight, I’d probably lose my mind.

A guided meditation app. Okay, so here’s the deal. When you’re a busy mom, you rarely have a zen moment. I like apps like Headspace that allow me to find a little bit of zen in just about 10 minutes– without putting too much time in. It’s a lifesaver for those stressed-out moments, and can be done at home, in the car, or anywhere else. As long as your phone is always charged (see my first must-have!), you’re all set for guided meditation… because sometimes doing it on your own doesn’t happen when things are a little hectic.

Snacks. Seriously, moms, how many of you can relate with getting a little bit hangry? You know– that hunger anger. Portable snacks like Chobani Flip are a lifesaver.

What I love is that Chobani Flip is a great collection of sweet snacks– they come in a ton of great flavors, like the new ones: Coffee Break Bliss and Strawberry Summer Crisp– that pair delicious Greek Yogurt with natural mix-ins. Coffee Break Bliss is a low-fat yogurt that has biscotti and chocolate (yum!), and Strawberry Summer Crisp is a low fat strawberry yogurt that has golden graham crackers and white chocolate to flip right in.

See, Chobani is the #1 Greek Yogurt brand in America, and it’s for good reason, too. The delicious flavors are made with fresh milk from cows that haven’t been treated with rBST, and Chobani proudly has no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or flavors. You can help Chobani Greek Yogurt kick off summer with 15 new product varieties they’ve released as a part of their #HelloSummer campaign!

It’s one of those snacks that helps me beat that kind of hunger-stress I get, and it’s so nice to have the mix-ins attached to just “flip” right into the yogurt. It’s perfect for bringing along on a park play date, having for breakfast, or enjoying as a night snack.

As an on-the-go mom, I think sometimes we just wake up with this plan of how a day is supposed to go. I know I fall asleep at night with thoughts running through my head of the plan for the next day, and in my mind, it’s always this blissful day where nothing goes wrong– phones stay charged, shoes stay on, and no one has a sassy hunger attitude because practice ran long. But reality? Well, it doesn’t work that way. And for those days that I oversleep and realize I’m running out the door for an appointment and haven’t eaten breakfast, or those days when practice runs long and we’re all having a little hunger crankiness, it’s good knowing I have a back up plan– like spare shoes, and some meditation to make sure that I don’t actually pull my hair out (it’s a possibility at times). And, of course, Chobani Flip, because it helps me squeeze a little break into my busy day, so I can go back to being a mom, and not a momster.

 

What is the most stressful part of your day? I’d love for you to tell me about it in the comments below! (And give me YOUR best tip on how to cope!) Looking for something delicious to get you through your day? You can find out about all of the great Chobani products on their website, including all of the latest additions to the Chobani line as they say #HelloSummer!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.