Review & Giveaway: CARES Restraint System

As a flight attendant, one of the most common questions I receive from traveling families besides "Do you have extra diapers on board?" is "Have you ever heard of the CARES Restraint System? Is it really that easy?"

Well, thanks to **, not only can I say I have heard about it but I've also had the opportunity to actually test it out on a recent flight to Maui.

First of all, let me tell you that anything that will decrease the amount of things I need to lug to the plane is always a blessing in my book.

Secondly, it was really easy to install. The only thing is that you'll need to temporarily put down the tray table of the person behind you and they may not always be the most cooperative people on board. However, once they realize that it will not interfere with their "personal space" in any way, they're usually pretty understanding.

Third, Baby Bug loved that she could sit on the plane's seat like her big sister. Plus it helps that she's always been really good about strapping into her car seat. To her this was a treat!

Overall, we loved using the CARES Restraint System and would highly recommend it to anyone traveling with young children. However, just be prepared to explain to the flight attendant what it is. Even though we (flight attendants) have all been informed that the CARES System is FAA approved, many may not have seen it in person yet.

The CARES Restraint System sells for $74.95.

Giveaway: Guess what? I have a CARES Restraint System to give away to one lucky person! To enter:

• Stop by CARES before midnight, August 2nd.
• Then come back and mention in comments one step on installing it. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified on August 3rd.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn more entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to CARES.
  
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

Shop Till the Card Doesn't Swipe #2

With Summer just around the corner, I thought I'd share some really great items for those who may be traveling this season.

Packing Cubes from eBags - This 3-bag set comes in small for toiletries, medium for pjs and underwear, and large for regular clothes. The theory is that you would pack these items in the specified bag which would then make it easier to unpack at the hotel. Small bag goes in the bathroom, medium bag goes in the drawer, large bag goes in the closet. Being an organization fanatic, I actually like this idea! The set sells for $25.

CARES Airplane Safety Restraints for Infants & Toddlers - I have yet to see anyone use this on my flights but it seems like a good idea. This restraint is for kids from 1-4 years old and takes the place of lugging around and using a car seat. I kind of like that! It's been approved by the FAA and is available at Amazon.com for $75.00.

Luggage Tags & Passport Covers from Kit2Fit - Ever since a passenger walked off the plane with my rollerboard, I've been trying to find a luggage tag that would make my generic black bag stand out from the crowd. I love the colorful and modern patterns Kit2Fit has! Tags are $9.99 and Passport Covers are $19.95.