Mar 11

10 Things To Make You Happy Today and They’re FREE

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

It’s been said, “The best things in life are free.” Here are 10 things I love that are FREE.

  1. Entrance to great museums. We love hitting the museums in our metro area on days when entrance is free. We also love the museums that don’t charge an admission fee. We learn so many things and spend a great day together and it doesn’t cost us a dime.
  2. Quiet time with my husband. There’s something incredible about that hour or two between putting my kids to bed and putting myself to bed. It’s the fastest few hours in my day, but some of the best hours I get to spend with my guy.
  3. Cashing in on double coupons. If you hit a good sale and you are using multiple coupons, you can actually get some items for free or even make money by purchasing certain items. It’s the same high that retail therapy offers without the credit card hangover—and the guilt – later.
  4. Snuggling with my girls. Each of girls still really likes to snuggle up in front of the fireplace and watch TV with me. I know the day will come – sooner than later – when they’ll no longer be comfortable being that cuddly, so I treasure the times we get now.
  5. The library. I know it goes without saying, but I love nothing more than loading up my arms with a stack of good reads for me to enjoy with the girls and a few just for me. There’s nothing better than reading a good book – except doing it for free.
  6. The park. No matter how big or small the city is where you live, there’s always a park full of happy kids working off all of their energy. It’s a great place for a mom to enjoy some down time while the kids work up a sweat.
  7. Facebook. For a busy mom, this is an invaluable way to keep up with old friends, share information quickly, and it’s just fun (and moderately addicting).
  8. Game Night. We get a little competitive at our house, so game night is never boring. We have to remind ourselves to put the kids to bed some nights because we get so into going one more round.
  9. Skype. It’s a great way to keep in touch with family and friends that live far away. It’s great to be able to see and speak to those we love and miss. It makes them not feel so far away.
  10. Taking a walk. We live in a beautiful neighborhood, surrounded by natural beauty. It’s easy to get caught up in the stresses of home life, but a stroll around the neighborhood reminds me about the bigger picture.

 

Question: What’s on your list of favorite FREEBIES?

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Mar 04

Need a Vacation Destination? Check Out This Top 10 List

Guest Blogger, Tried and True Thursdays 3 Comments »

 

Guest blogger, Alan, shares his list for 10 trips great trips for families. They’re all places kids will love. How many have you visited?

1. Niagara Falls, N.Y.

 Situated on the border between the United States and Canada, this is a great American treasure. The America side is called American Falls, the Canadian side is called Horseshoe Falls. There is an IMAX Theatre you can’t miss which has a stunning film about the falls.

On the Canadian side: The Dinner Theater is a good place to visit with the kids. You can enjoy a meal while you take in the family entertainment.

Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory: This is a short drive away in Queenstown Heights. You’ll be able to view thousands of different types of butterflies.

Niagara-on-the-Lake: Consider taking the drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Considered by many to be the prettiest town in Canada, the drive allows you to take in the scenery, and the tour only takes around 30 minutes.

2. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Fla.

 Walt Disney World is the largest, most visited resort in the world. It spans more than 25,000 acres. Walt Disney Resort is a must-do at least once in your lifetime. There are massive queues for some of the attractions and some parts need updating, but it’s an experience that you and your kids will never forget.

3. Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.

 This is the largest canyon in the United States spanning over 277 miles and is 18 miles wide. There are many different ways you can explore the canyon by train, plane, or helicopter tour.

4. USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

If you want to educate your kids on a little bit of history and hit the beach in one trip, then head to Hawaii. Pearl Harbor is history that our children should never forget.

A guided tour of the ship will keep your kids happy.

5. The Star Toys Museum, Baltimore, Md.

Carrying over 12,000 items, this is Thomas Atkinson’s collection of all the best “Star Wars” memorabilia. You have to make an appointment to get the tour but admission is free. It’s a non-profit organization; however, donations are accepted.

6. Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.

Sleep under the stars at one of the best places to camp in all 50 states. Yellowstone, the first national park in the U.S., has many different types of wildlife in the park to view and photograph. You might even run into a bear or two. Yellowstone is also known for it geysers, including the most popular attraction, Old Faithful.

The kids can apply to be junior rangers. A visit to the IMAX Theatre is also a good idea to see the park up close from a unique perspective captured on film.

7. The National Zoo, Washington, DC

 This 167-acre zoological park has more than 4,000 animals and 500 different types of species, including pandas. Admission is free but parking is $20. Be sure to check out the kid’s farm area.

 8. Civil War Battlefields, Gettysburg, Pa.

Getting a sense of the history of the United States is so much easier when you can actually stand where history was made—including walking on the battlefield. This was the scene of the war’s bloodiest battle and the location of Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech. Trips like this give the kids a much better perspective of our country’s history and they will love the moving tributes at this site.

9. Mount Rushmore, S.D.

One of the most famous man-made attractions is Mount Rushmore. It represents the first 150 years of American history. The four presidents carved into the side of mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

If visiting during the evening, don’t miss the lighting ceremony.

10. The Statue of Liberty, New York City, N.Y.

Probably the most famous landmark in America, every kid should make at least one visit to this remarkable symbol of freedom. Make sure you get out to Liberty Island and climb the stairs to the 10th floor observatory. The boat also stops at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum which is a welcomed bonus.

Alan Murray is the webmaster for http://www.baby-names.tv/ . The site has a lot of information on more than just baby names, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and much more (Check out pregnancy info HERE.).

Question: What would you add to the list?

Note: Short on cash? Check out these tips for great travel savings from last week.

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Feb 25

Spring Break: Six Tips for Finding Deals

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

Had enough of winter? Ready for some sunshine and relaxation? Plan a getaway for spring break and take a break without breaking your bank.

Here are a few tips to have you soaking up the sun under budget.

1.       Get off the beaten path. Skip the obvious hot spots and pick somewhere you’ve always wanted to go besides Cancun, Hawaii, or Disneyland. Most major cities have great attractions for families and national parks are still a great deal for families. (Check out next week’s post for ideas on must-see places for families.)

2.       Buy a Citypass. If you’re hitting a big city, then this can save you long lines and lots of cash, and you’ll still see all the main attractions.

3.       Subscribe to save. A lot of websites will deliver “the deal of the week” to your email to notify you of good deals on airfare and hotels. Be sure to subscribe to email feeds for airline frequent flier programs, TravelZoo.com, and About.com/budgettravel.

4.       Hold out for a good deal. Track airfare rates on sites like Yapta that will alert you to good deals to your favorite destinations.

5.       Skip the hotel. Instead of a hotel, consider doing a home exchange, using hotel points (similar to airline miles), or renting a condo or timeshare. This is especially helpful if you’re traveling with a large family and you need more room to spread out and want access to a kitchen to save on food costs.

6.       Snack on this. I always pack a small suitcase, full of water bottles and snacks, so we can grab and go at Costco prices instead of becoming a slave to convenience stores. Once the bag is empty at the end of our getaway it’s a great place to stash souvenirs from our trip.

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Feb 18

What’s Your Love Language?

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Even though The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman isn’t new it’s a classic. The heart of the matter, according to the author, is that we all have a way we like to receive love from others and that is usually the same manner in which we reciprocate our love. However, others in our life may not speak that same love language and as a result, we should not only identify our own love language but also those of others we love.

I took this quiz many years ago and discovered I didn’t fit into any one of the three areas but instead was an even split between all three — touch, gifts, and praise. My husband laughed out loud when he heard the results of my quiz. I defended myself and said, “What? It makes me well-rounded and easy to please!” He quickly replied, “Or it makes you high-maintenance.”

So, if you dare, check out this great widget on my blog (bottom right hand column) to take the quiz. Invite your spouse or significant other to discover what their love language is too. (Thanks fellow blogger, and occasional guest poster, Joy, for the tip on the great love languages quiz widget.)

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Feb 11

Tornado of Love

Tried and True Thursdays 4 Comments »

One Valentine’s Day many years ago my husband and I were caught in a tornado.

Luckily the only major damage we experienced was to our plans for the night. The entire area lost power and every restaurant and grocery store was closed. When we got home from work and pondered our “romantic” night ahead, I was optimistic we could salvage our night. My optimism quickly faded, however, when I realized the power outage would mean we would be eating cold food out of a can and freezing our behinds off in our small two-bedroom apartment since our heater was electrically powered.

Because we were powerless in every way to turn our pathetic Valentine’s Day into anything more than a very long, very cold night, we vowed to never have a bad Valentine’s Day again in the years to come. So, here are three tried-and-true ways to celebrate Feb. 14 so you don’t end up huddled around a candy cane-scented candle leftover from Christmas pondering its ability to heat a room.

1. Go out on Feb. 13.
Once we started shelling out the big bucks for a babysitter my husband and I decided that crowded restaurants and long lines only added up to an expensive night. We discovered that going out a day early meant empty theatres and no need for reservations.

2. Celebrate with the kids, too.
I usually make a “red” and “pink” meal and we eat from festive plates with our young romantics. Start with a shrimp appetizer, dive into spaghetti and meatballs (Lady and the Tramp-style) and then wash it all down with cherry 7-Up.

3. Nothing beats a great movie.
After dinner gather everyone on the couch and watch a kid-friendly romance like “Enchanted” or “Little Manhattan.” After the kids are tucked away, flip on the classic chick-flick “The Notebook” or the guy-friendly “First Knight.”

Question: What’s your favorite romantic movie?

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Feb 04

The Secret Is Out: An Expert Shares Tips on Bra Shopping

Guest Blogger, Tried and True Thursdays 1 Comment »


By Amanda Farmer (guest blogger)

I people watch. I see you at the mall. I see you with your friends. And honey what I see isn’t always pretty.

For example, this week as I was sitting at lunch – Subway to be exact – a co-worker of mine and I were people watching. A woman walked in wearing a too-tight blouse exposing four lumps. Four lumps don’t look good. It’s not attractive and it’s not sexy.

I can’t help myself. As a manager at Victoria’s Secret, I’ve been dishing out advice for years and I love to turn my people-watching into one-on-one bra consultations. But since that might not go over so well, I’ve agreed to be a guest blogger.

So here’s my advice just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Problem Area No. 1: Your bra is too small.

Diagnosis: If you’ve got four lumps then your bra is too small. If the cup comes up half way or if it doesn’t completely cover the lump then your bra is too small.

Solution: You probably need to buy a larger cup size. How do you know? The underwire of your bra should cup the breast tissue. Need a way to test it? If you push the outside of the underwire what do you feel? If it fits properly you should touch your ribcage. If you find breast tissue instead, then you’ll know that the cup is too small.

Problem Area No. 2: Your bra is too big or the elastic band is too stretched out.

Diagnosis: If the band comes up in between your shoulder blades then you’re in the wrong size. You either weren’t buying the right-sized bra or you’ve stretched out the band over time.

Solution: Buy a new bra that fits properly. This one is dead. Gone. Put in the grave. Cover it with dirt. It’s a done.

Problem Area No. 3: Your straps are creating gouges in your shoulders the size of the Grand Canyon then your straps are too tight. Ladies tightening the straps won’t help lift them up. Bra support comes from the elastic band being fitted properly.

Diagnosis: If you can’t get two fingers underneath the shoulder straps, then they’re too tight. This pulling will only wear out your bra faster and your bra will be dead.

Solution: Loosen the straps until you can fit two fingers underneath the straps and make sure your bra is fitting appropriately in other areas.

Problem Area No. 4: Buying a bra that doesn’t fit right. Many ladies spend $10 on a bra and then they get $10 of support from it.

Diagnosis: Having any discomfort when you wear your bra or having any of the previous three problems.

Solution: First, you should get measured every six months. Forget what size you’ve been for the last 10 years because it’s probably not the size you are today. Once you’ve been sized you need to be fitted, too. Let the associate come in and show you how it should fit.

Solution No. 2 (if dealing with an associate one-on-one is too uncomfortable): Make sure the center of the bra in the front is directly in front of the center of the bra in the back. You should imagine an arrow shooting directly through you. Also the hook should be on the center hook for proper support.

Other Tips:
Straps falling off your shoulders? Pick a wider strapped bra.

Don’t be afraid of lined bras. A lined bra will give you coverage so you won’t show throw. It will also give you more cupping shape. Besides, no one wants to see that you’re cold.

A padded bra will give you cleavage enhancement. But be careful to not buy textured bras that will show through the fabric on your shirt. Like some texture close to your skin? Flat lace can be worn with everything.

What color is best? Nude can be worn with everything and should be worn with white tops. White on white makes it see-through. Black should never be worn with white. It’s just tacky.

How many bras should I own? At least three: one to wear, one to wash, and one to rest. Bras need a rest from all of their hard work. If you wear the same bras multiple days in a row you will stretch it out faster.

How do I wash my bras? If you choose washing machine expect your bras to last two months. Instead wash them by hand and then lay them flat to dry. This will add an extra six months of life to each of your bras. Buying additional bras will lengthen the life of the bras you already own if you rotate and wash them correctly. Also, lingerie bags don’t count as hand-washing. In between hand-washing your personals you can take them in the shower with you and freshen them up with body wash and then lay them flat to dry.

Can you offer special advice for the super-sized or super-small? There’s a bra for everyone. Try specialty stores like Victoria’s Secret, Lane Bryant or Torrid if you’re a living large. More petite ladies should try European sizes at specialty shops.

How much should I spend? Bra shopping is an investment so you get what you pay for. Don’t be afraid to spend $20 or more per bra. If you care for them properly they’ll last longer and offer more support along the journey.

Question: More questions? Ask Amanda by sending me an email at ann@3girlsandapug.com. Don’t worry. It’s anonymous.

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Jan 21

Making a Budget You Can Live With

Tried and True Thursdays 2 Comments »


Whether your bottom line has been hurt by the economy or not, chances are your financial future has been on your mind. Many people have made it a priority to get their personal finances back on track.

Today’s post about creating a family budget is the first in a series of several posts about making 2010 a great financial year for your family.

Experts recommend using the 70-20-10 rule to have a successful roadmap for spending. Here’s how they break down your monthly paycheck:

• Living expenses should consume 70 percent of your budget. This includes housing, food, utilities and transportation.

• Twenty percent should split three ways, with the first 10 percent going towards retirement. (See next week’s post for more information on planning for retirement.) The last 10 percent should be split in half, with 5 percent set aside for building up your emergency fund (which ideally covers your living expenses for three to six months) and the other 5 percent going towards a specific savings goal (like buying a new car or saving up for a down payment on a house.

• The final 10 percent of your budget should be allocated towards debt repayment. You begin by paying down the highest interest debts first. Once those debts are paid you add the additional money to lower interest debts and pay those off faster. If you’re lucky enough to not have debt, then you can use that final 10 percent to invest in interest bearing savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, etc. You should consult an accountant or financial advisor to make sure you’re choosing what is best for your financial situation.

Other tips for saving:

1. Keep time on your side. It can be fatal to rip open your 401K statement these days, but things are on the upswing and most people still have plenty of years before retirement to recover their losses.

2. Don’t touch your long-term savings to fix a short-term cash flow problem. It can be tempting to dive into your nest egg to put a band-aid on your current problem. Always try to find another solution first.

3. Budget in some fun. It’s unrealistic to think you’ll never go on another vacation or eat another meal out again. Budget in some fun extras and then you can enjoy them when you pull out your wallet to pay that night out on the town instead of feeling guilty.

4. Consult a pro. Sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot. Call a professional financial planner and get their opinion about your strategy and goals. They may be able to offer you advice that could save you tons of money.

Question: What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

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Jan 14

Chips Saved Me, But Not the Salty Ones

Tried and True Thursdays 3 Comments »

We were having issues in our house with our kids picking up after themselves and following through on what they were asked to do. At the end of my rope, I reached for the chips. Not the salty kind that take years off your life, but the thin, plastic kind that save my sanity because they get my kids moving faster than you can say “hot potato.”

Seriously, we’ve all been there: tired and worn out from the constant nagging and then partially losing our minds because we feel like our voice is at an octave than only dogs can hear (except for our own dogs). Or maybe it’s bedtime and you’ve tried every “Super Nanny” technique you can imagine, but the kids still won’t go to bed and stay in bed.

In my exhausted and exasperated state I remembered an incentive program a dear friend of mine used with her kids. I thought I’d give it a try, and I can now report after a month of doing the “chips” program that I am one happy momma.

Here’s how it works:

We bought a package of poker chips from the drug store for $3. We have three daughters so it was easy to assign each girl a color. We did red, white and blue in corresponding birth order so it would be easy to remember. If you have more kids you may need to write their initials on them with a Sharpie pen.

Next we decided to dole out so many chips each day in areas that we were struggling with. For example, our girls can earn chips for cleaning up (after themselves and during our 10 minutes of cleanup at the end of the day), obedience (no talking back, doing things when asked, etc), and contributing in a positive way to the family (i.e. doing nice things for one another without being asked and generally not being a pill).

I also decided to assign them one extra “challenge chip” for an area that they were working hard to improve in. I let them make suggestions on what this challenge might be, and they actually hit the bull’s eye and chose exactly the same things I would have chosen. It helps that they bought into the idea and they were able to identify their own weaknesses. (Phew! We’re finally progressing.)

Next is the part the kids will love: cashing in their chips. The way we structured it was that each chip generally has the value of five minutes of computer time, playing on the Wii, talking on the phone, watching TV, etc. They can also cash in 5 chips for extra dessert or 7 chips for a playdate with a friend. We let the kids decide what fun things they’d like to do in their spare time and then we assigned a chip value for it.

During the day we “catch them doing good things” and give them extra chips and we take chips away if behavior tips the scales on the other end. At the end of our bedtime routine we spend 5 minutes and have the kids evaluate how they’ve done with earning their chips and then we decide together if they earned it or how they can improve and earn it tomorrow.

I think this program is great because it not only motivates kids to do the right things, but it gives us opportunities to reward them in a positive way. It also gives an instant way to punish them for bad behavior even if we’re at the store, in the middle of dinner, or out of energy to dive into a big flare up. It also helps them manage their money. I’ve seen them counting up the chips in the bank and then budgeting out their chips based on how they’d like to spend them.

Here’s the proof that the program works. This week my daughter was begging me to find ways she could help around the house. My four-year-old who has been known to hold marathon crying sessions at cleanup time sucked up her tears and put away her dollhouse toys in less than 5 minutes. I’ve even seen my children go out of their way to do nice things for one another multiple times in the past month.

I think this program works for kids of all ages –including teenagers. Give it a try and then report back on how it’s going for you. I’d love to hear success stories.

Question: How do you motivate and reward your children?

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Jan 01

Goodbye to 2009! Life’s Good Again in 2010?

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

Progress.

That’s the word I’d use to describe 2009.

Not just for me personally, but for many others who found 2009 to be a less-than-easy year. You can always look back through a difficult patch in retrospect and see how much you’ve really progressed, even though it felt like you were hardly putting a dent in the path laid out before you while you went through it.

Sure, the road was marred with pit holes and steep inclines at times, but the future from where I stand has wide vistas revealing several paths that look promising, full of adventure and opportunity. Last year on New Year’s Day I tried to put an optimistic twist on all of the realities that weighed on me. I, like many others, felt that 2008 had been a truly trying year, but I had “hope” (a word I now have a greater understanding of) that things could turn out OK.

In the end there were no great miracles in 2009. There were no fairy godmothers to wave their wands and make all of the tough stuff disappear. The only way things could get better was for me to take control of the situations that plagued me and my family and turn things around. Some things are dramatically better, others turned out better than I could’ve imagined, and others are still in process of improvement. Or in other words, it’s progressing.

I find New Year’s Eve to be very cathartic and rejuvenating. I’m not one who likes to dwell on the past and I probably enjoy thinking about the possibilities of the future more than I should. New Year’s is a great time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we want to go, what has worked well and what still stands in need of improvement.

Ironically, I’m not a fan of making New Year’s resolutions. I’m a goal-oriented person, but I’ve learned that making goals that are unattainable or immeasurable just sets one up to fail. Instead, my tried-and-true way to make progress (there’s that word again) in my goals in to set out a plan. Imagine yourself embarking on a great hike as you start your goals for the year.

1. Before you can climb the mountain you must pick the hike you want to take to get you to your destination. I pick one area of my life and work from there. For example, last year I worked on my personal health. I’d been plagued with issues after giving birth to my youngest child and was in a bit of denial that my medical theory of “time heals all things” was in fact not working out so well. Since my daughter was 3 ½ and I still had some major issues plaguing me I figured I better try another route.

2. Chart the course and evaluate how long the hike will be, where dangerous situations may arise, and where possible side routes lie to shorten the journey and make you a safe and smart hiker. I make a plan. I begin to write down all of the problems that go into making this a big issue and then identify possible solutions to those problems. For me this meant writing down all of the health problems I was facing from my failing gall bladder to my achy tooth.

3. Before you embark you gather supplies, double check your supplies, ensure you have enough water and snacks, lace up your boots, and then head out. A good checklist does the same for us in helping us reach our goals. After looking at all of the possible solutions I make an action list of things I can put on a “to-do list” that will get me closer to a solution. In my case, I began prioritizing which issues were most important and what doctors I needed to consult and what changes I need to make to take control of my health.

4. To get to the top of the mountain every hiker begins the same way – by putting one foot in front of the next. Finally, I began chipping away at the to-do list so I can reach my solution. While that meant going through lots of doctors visits, dead ends, testing, and other misery it was worth it in the end. I’m now in amazing health. I feel better than ever and I’m able to move on to other areas to focus on. Consistency and diligence, although not synonymous, are equally important, like our two legs are in carrying us through the hurdles we face. These are often our sorest and our strongest muscles at the end of an exhausting journey.

Question: What is your goal for 2010? What was your goal last year?

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Dec 31

Essential for New Year’s Eve

Tried and True Thursdays 1 Comment »


Here’s a few things you need for a great New Year’s Eve.

1. Words to the classic song, “Auld Lang Syne.” (See below)
2. Good friends and food. (Recipe for an easy dip — a can of chili, mixed with a package of cream cheese, heated and served with corn chips.)
3. Lip gloss for the big midnight smooch to ring in 2010.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

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