Artist Moms
One Family’s Jaw-Dropping RV Renovation & Family Life On The Road
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Paige Jones
Jul 14, 2021
When contemplating life on the road with one’s family, a beautiful, minimalist trailer that mimics a chic house isn’t what typically comes to mind. But for photographer and mama of two Paige Jones, she and her husband wanted a cozy space that felt like home when hitting the road indefinitely with their two sons—Crosby, 5, and Lou, almost 3. So, they bought a trailer and revamped it to resemble the colorful Portland home they sold late last year.
The Joneses have now been living in their revamped RV for 8 months (6 of those on the road) and have learned a lot about family life on-the-go. From a rundown of their impressive RV renovation to tips on what travel-friendly toys they packed, Paige shares it all in our inspiring feature below.
Speaking of toys—the masters of fun, educational products over at Manhattan Toy asked Paige to pick out her favorite car-appropriate toys to take into their home-on-wheels. From brainy matching games to SEL-centric magnetic sets to tiny instruments and Star Wars stuffies (plus, the most adorable mini-cameras), you can check out her favorites while making a summer travel wishlist of your own!
This story was brought to you by Mother + Manhattan Toy.
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- Meet Paige Jones, on-the-road mama of two, inside her beautifully renovated RV.
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- "We spent a long time researching the type of trailer that would work best for our family. Ultimately we landed on our Fifth Wheel Trailer, it’s a Grand Design Solitude 377MBS. We liked that the largest space in the rig is the kitchen/dining/living area, as that’s where we spend most of our time. We also loved that it has two separate bedrooms, which gives us some privacy from the boys (and vice versa)! My husband was constantly searching RV sites, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace and every avenue possible. We ended up finding our rig in Idaho and Keith drove out from Oregon to buy it!"
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Paige's first on-the-road toy choice: Manhattan Toy's Beats To Go. Ideal for ages 18 months on up, this musical toy includes a drum, a pair of drumsticks, washboard, cymbal, and 7-key xylophone.
Three legs on the underside provide stabilization so little ones can jam without their instrument wobbling away. Plus, there's a handle on the side for easy carrying and elastic straps underneath for storing the drumsticks.
Beats To Go, $29.99, Amazon.
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"Lou is our musical child. He’s always been drawn to music and loves playing with any instrument he can get his hands on. I love that this toy can fit on his lap during our long car rides and can be stored under their beds when they are done with it."
Beats To Go, $29.99, Amazon.
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- "We really only brought one piece of art with us, and it’s a print from our favorite Portland shop, The Yo! Store. We are also big fans of our couch from Burrow and our ceiling lights from Cedar & Moss."
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"We’ve been living in the trailer for eight months and have been on the road for six! We’ve logged roughly 7,500 miles up and down the West Coast."
"Some highlights have been Death Valley, Alabama Hills, Mammoth Lakes, and all of the magical coastal areas in Oregon. We wanted to spend this time visiting friends and family that we haven’t been able to see throughout the pandemic and also hit some wishlist spots along the way!"
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- A look at the aforementioned Burrow couch, Cedar & Moss lights, and living room, dining room, and kitchen set-up.
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- "When we sold our home, the plan was to travel for a year but we are really feeling called back to Portland. More importantly, we feel like our eldest son, Crosby, should start kindergarten in the fall. He is an extremely shy and gentle soul, but has started coming out of his shell recently and it feels like the right time to get him enrolled in school and put down some roots again."
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Paige's second Manhattan Toy choice is the Making Faces Magnetic Set. Ideal for ages 3 on up, little ones will have fun making faces with this set, which features 3 magnetic boards for creating faces using over 30 punch-out magnetic facial pieces. It also comes packaged in a 10x10-inch travel box.
Making Faces Magnetic Set, $16, Manhattan Toy.
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"Anything small is obviously really wonderful when space is limited. But quality is so important too. Try to invest in toys that can withstand some wear and tear. Also try and go for interactive toys that are carseat-friendly!"
Making Faces Magnetic Set, $16, Manhattan Toy.
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With the Making Faces Magnetic Set, kids can match one of the 8 suggested feelings—happy, calm, sad, worried, scared, sleepy, angry, and excited—or create a face of their own.
Making Faces Magnetic Set, $16, Manhattan Toy.
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"This is another interactive toy for the boys that can be easily tucked away when they are done with it. They love making silly faces with the magnets and it’s great that it sticks on our fridge and other metal furniture in the rig. I'm constantly finding new silly faces around the space."
Making Faces Magnetic Set, $16, Manhattan Toy.
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- "The space needed to be light, airy, and homey. I wanted it to be an oasis for our family after long and sometimes chaotic days on the road. I really wanted everyone to feel at home, and not like we were on a 'trip.'"
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- "We gutted most of the trailer, but kept what we could. We ripped out the flooring, a fireplace, some cabinetry. We added a new kitchen area and bunk beds for the boys. Tossed all of the chunky brown furniture and replaced it with a custom bench in the dining room and a white couch because I like to live on the edge. We hired people to help us with the paint, flooring, and cabinet installation, and did everything else on our own. My husband even installed some solar panels to help us be able to boon dock (camp without hookups) for extended periods of time."
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"I want to be a minimalist so badly! It’s definitely not in my nature. I think all parents of small kids can relate to feeling like you need 'all the things' to keep the kids entertained and happy, especially during the rough stay-at-home pandemic days. All that said, though, the purge was one of my favorite parts of this experience. We had a garage and Instagram sale and shed so much STUFF. Then, we rented a small storage unit for some of our larger, irreplaceable items."
"I couldn’t believe how many things we accumulated over the last six years living in our house. We really have learned that we can live with so much less and I hope we can hold onto that moving forward."
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A couple favorite Manhattan Toys on the boys' sparse storage shelf.
Beats To Go, $38, Manhattan Toy.
Making Faces Magnetic Set, $27, Manhattan Toy.
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- "It’s been a wild ride and such a wonderful experience. I’m really proud of all of us for taking this leap and making the most out of this weird season of life. Living in close quarters comes with highs and lows. We've grown so close as a family and I love witnessing all of the sweet moments I'd miss if the kids were in another room or a different floor of a house. But the tight space is also one of the hardest parts of the experience. We can definitely drive each other crazy! In the end, life on the road has taught us so much and I know that all of us will take what we’ve learned during this trip throughout our lives."
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- "We’ve really been blown away at how well the boys have adapted to life on the road. I was worried they would be homesick for our old house but it’s never been an issue. They love their 'house on wheels' and are always excited about exploring new places."
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"Crosby is five and Lou is almost three, so they both have different ups and downs. The long car rides can get rough with Lou and he gets very emotional when we leave a place he really loves. I can’t really think of a low for Crosby, he’s really thrived through this experience. He’s become such an adventurous, independent kid, we’re just so damn proud of him."
LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper Plush, $24, Manhattan Toy.
LEGO Star Wars Chewbacca Plush, $24, Manhattan Toy.
LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Plush, $24, Manhattan Toy.
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- "For the past few years, my husband has worked from home and most of my work is done at home when I’m not out on photoshoots. There wasn’t a big change for us in that regard. But living in a RV takes a lot more maintenance and work than living in a house. The dishes are never ending, things need to be fixed constantly, and we are always trying to figure out where we will be parked next. So, we both have been stretched pretty thin. It’s definitely been a big challenge to balance it all and we are still figuring it out. The most important thing we’ve learned is to speak up and ask each other for space and help when we need it. And try to communicate and prioritize what needs to get done."
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Next up on Paige's on-the-road toy pick? These officially licensed Star Wars plush collectibles from Manhattan Toy!
Kids will have fun acting out their favorite Star Wars scenes with these adorable LEGO-style stuffies. Durably constructed with a soft body and flat feet, each stuffie can stand upright on shelves as room decor when not being snuggled.
LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Plush, $24, Manhattan Toy.
LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper Plush, $24, Manhattan Toy.
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"We are in the midst of a full blown Star Wars obsession over here. It’s been such a fun interest of theirs that we can really enjoy as well. They have never been big fans of stuffies, but these little guys blew their minds and will have a permanent spot in our lives for a very long time."
LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper Plush, $24, Manhattan Toy.
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As will Manhattan Toy's popular Subi! game. The math-centric toy teaches the meaning of a number by connecting it to a pattern of objects. Families can start with simple matching games, then add more complex math puzzles as skills progress!
There are three main ways to play and learn with this fun-filled numbers set—match the written numbers, drawings, and patterns, practice number sequences, or turn it into a game of memory! Plus, you can create your own games and puzzles to help encourage number recognition skills and solving basic math problems.
Subi!, $13, Manhattan Toy.
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"This little game is such a fun one to play with both my 2- and 5-year-old. Lou loves to count and find numbers and Crosby loves to play memory with it. It’s rare to find a 'board' game that works for both boys and this one has been a hit. I also love how compact it is, such an easy on-the-go game!"
Subi!, $13, Manhattan Toy.
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- But first...coffee. Ideally, really good coffee from this La Spaziale espresso maker!
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- Some special pieces by H&M, Shop Amber Interiors, Mae Woven, and The Yo! Store fill the shelves.
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The next tiny, travel-friendly treasure chosen by Paige: Manhattan Toy's Little Nook Berry Bunny and Little Nook Bluebell Bear.
Both toys are safe for babies on up and include a soft plush animal with removable clothing, a sleeping bag, pillow, and keepsake box.
Little Nook Bluebell Bear, $17, Manhattan Toy.
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The toys encourage imaginative play and motor development. Each miniature plush stuffed animal comes with their own little bed made from a richly decorated and durable heavy paper keepsake box with lid. They are designed to be an easy gift for newborns and toddlers with a place to write the child's name, too.
Little Nook Berry Bunny, $14, Amazon.
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Crosby getting his Little Nook Berry Bunny ready to bed.
Little Nook Berry Bunny, $14, Amazon.
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Meanwhile, Lou tends to his Little Nook Bluebell Bear.
Little Nook Bluebell Bear, $17, Manhattan Toy.
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"The boys love these sweet little stuffed animals and spend so much time putting them to 'sleep' in their little beds and boxes. They talk about how they are being good daddies and are so gentle with them. It’s really sweet to watch. I love how small they are and it’s another great toy for them to play with in the car."
Little Nook Berry Bunny, $14, Amazon.
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"Living this type of life really forces you to just roll with things a bit more. If you are typically a strict routine type of family, you’ve got to be willing to let some of that go. You won’t be able to control everything and that’s ok! You’ll quickly be surprised at how adaptable your kids are and if they aren’t stressing out about things like a late bedtime or meal, you shouldn't be either."
"I’d also add that if you’re planning on making a big jump like we did, make sure to take the time to explain everything to your kids, make them a part of the big decisions. Get them involved in the entire experience so they can take ownership and pride in it."
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- More pretty, minimal details in the revamped bathroom: towels from Woonwinkle, market bag from IKEA, a plant from Target, wall hooks from Amazon, and a colorful hanging found on eBay.
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The last Manhattan Toy that Paige chose is perhaps the most obvious for a photographer mama: the Natural Historian Camera
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For 1 years old on up, this four-piece set includes a wooden camera body and attached neck strap with three interchangeable lenses: clear, green, and kaleidoscope.
The woven fabric strap can open and close so little ones can capture the moment with ease. It fosters imaginative role play, as well as visual, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
Natural Historian Camera, $12.99, Target.
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"As soon as I gave them these sweet wooden cameras they both started shouting, 'We’re just like you Mommy!' Needless to say, they are my favorite toys now. It’s not your typical wooden toy, it’s much more interactive. I love how the interchangeable 'lenses' have different effects. The kids also really love the little strap so they can wear them around their necks."
Natural Historian Camera, $12.99, Target.
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Say CHEESE, Mama!
Natural Historian Camera, $12.99, Target.
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"Before this experience, I would say that my husband and I did a lot of 'tag team' parenting. My husband would work in his office all day, then I’d hand the kids off to him and handle dinner and start my work 'day' while he was in charge of night/bedtime."
"We still tag team here and there, but the majority of our time is spent together and it’s been really beautiful. We both are working the same amount, but have really prioritized family time in a new way. We know that this is a once in a lifetime experience and we want to make the most of it. I know that when we settle back down we will make more of an effort to prioritize family time and not get back into the same tag team rut."
Natural Historian Camera, $12.99, Target.
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"We will definitely hit the road again in the future! Once we get settled, we'll sell our rig and get something a bit smaller for shorter trips here and there. The space is amazing for our current situation, but it's much easier to tow something smaller. It'll be so fun to renovate another rig!"
Natural Historian Camera, $12.99, Target.
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Keep following along with Paige and her family over at @paigejonesphoto on Instagram.
And be sure to visit ManhattanToy.com to shop the travel toys in this feature and many more!
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