Samantha, Author at Have Sippy Will Travel

Is dealing with termites yourself an option?

April 7, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Many people ask whether it is possible to deal with termite issues themselves. If you have a termite problem, or you want to prevent one from happening, it may seem like a good option to try and deal with the issue rather than calling on professionals to help. If you are thinking of doing this it’s worth remembering that dealing with termites is not easy and that if these pests are not handled properly they can cause a lot of damage.

You may feel more comfortable calling a professional like an Aurora exterminator to control your termite problem. If you do decide to try and deal with the issue yourself then you need to know that there are two different methods available to deal with termites; barrier treatments or baits. It is possible to use a combination of both methods.

Using barrier treatments for termites

This type of treatment helps to deal with termites in two ways; it can help prevent termites from entering the structure of your home and it can help to prevent termites that are already in the structure from reaching the soil from which they get the moisture they require. Using a liquid termiticide enables you to treat your property close to any termite infestation you have. The problem with doing so is that you may have to drill through concrete in order to get the solution to where it needs to be.

This can be a difficult task to complete. It’s a lot easier if you can apply a termiticide directly to the area where it is needed. If you have a crawl space around your home then you should be able to do this. It’s worth noting that the barrier treatments you can use to help control termites only last for between five and eight years on average.

Using termite baits

Many people use termite baits as an alternative to barrier treatments; many also use both methods at the same time. Termite baits are placed into the ground with the aim of having termites eat them. Once the termites are attracted to the baits they eat and they are poisoned. It’s fairly simple to lay baits where a colony of termites has been discovered. You can also lay baits in order to keep an eye out for termites around your property. This type of treatment is ideal if you are worried about using pesticides or if you have previously used barrier treatments and been unsuccessful.

If you suspect you may have termites on your property, or if you want to try and prevent a termite infestation, then you can use either of these methods. As you can see there can be issues involved with doing the work yourself and you are certainly not guaranteed to be successful. You should also remember that termites can do a considerable amount of damage to your home if they are not dealt with in the correct manner. Often people find it easier and more successful to hire a professional to deal with a termite problem in their property.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: check in

Simple, Safe Multiplayer in Slither.io

April 7, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Children love playing video games, but not every game provides a positively ideal experience. As parents, we want our kids to have fun, and we want to worry as little as possible. Slither.io is an easy-to-learn, simple multiplayer game that dodges the many pitfalls of other modern titles.

Enter a nickname, and move your mouse to play. Within a few seconds, you can enter the competitive world of Slither.io. Loosely based on Agar.io game (which your children might already play), Slither.io puts all players together in one giant arena. Your snake, which starts out small, will follow the mouse cursor. Simply lead the reptile towards glowing pieces of food, and it will grow. Longer snakes are also bigger and move faster. Basically, the more you eat, the better you are.

Slither.io is a great option for both younger and older kids. There aren’t any complex controls to learn, key combos to memorize, or lengthy instructions to read. When the game begins, your snake will start moving. From there, you can choose to slither in a straight line towards food, or try to trap other players with your tail. Advanced players might use their snake’s length to perform quick moves and knock other players out of the game. Whether you choose to play offensively or defensively, you have an equal chance at earning a spot on the leaderboard.

Overall, the graphics in Slither.io game are quite pleasing. The vivid, glowing orbs in Slither.io are offset by a dark background. There aren’t any flashing lights, strobes, or other potentially eye-straining visuals. Unique skins and smooth gameplay keep the experience interesting and enjoyable for hours on end. Best of all, we don’t have to worry about gruesome violence, inappropriate chat room content, or paying for in-game upgrades.

These days, the uncensored Internet can be a very dangerous place with far-reaching consequences. Even seemingly innocent games have chat rooms that allow bullies and strangers to interact directly with others. Slither.io allows no such negativity, and it keeps the action simple. That’s why I recommend Slither.io for kids—and adults, if you’re interested in joining the fun.

Filed Under: gaming Tagged With: apps, check in, tech

LEGO® AMERICANA ROADSHOW: BUILDING ACROSS AMERICA

April 7, 2016 by Samantha 2 Comments

LARGE SCALE LEGO® MODELS AND FREE BUILDING ACTIVITIES WILL DELIGHT ATTENDEES OF ALL AGES

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Bridgewater Commons will host THE LEGO® Americana Roadshow, a highly visual, educational and free traveling installation of larger than life LEGO® replicas of some of our nation’s most beloved landmarks.

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My son and I had a great time searching for all of the landmarks in LEGO form, and figuring out what we have seen and what we have yet to. He also loved the extra fun activities, like building his own monument to take home, building race cars to play with on the LEGO tracks at the mall, and even entering into the competition- he built a LEGO creation, and left it there to be displayed.

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Ten one-of-a-kind, large scale models of American Landmarks made completely out of LEGO® bricks by LEGO® Master Builders – including the U.S. Capitol Building, White House, Supreme Court, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and Old North Church – take over Bridgewater Commons and entertain customers with stunning visuals and fun facts.

WHERE: Bridgewater Commons, 400 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

WHEN: Saturday, April 2 through Sunday, April 17

Exhibition Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm

Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm

ADDITIONAL ON-SITE VISUALS AND ACTIVITIES:

LEGO Brick Play Area: Children of all ages can build whatever their imaginations dream up
LEGO Building Activity: Attendees can build their LEGO® Americana Roadshow inspired models and take it home with them
LEGO Scavenger Hunt: Attendees can collect a special LEGO® prize after completing the LEGO® Americana Roadshow scavenger hunt.

Stop by when you can- the mall also has a LEGO store, it’s a fun afternoon trip. My son had a great time.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: lego

Distracted Driving Month and how to combat it with @Megabus #ad

April 7, 2016 by Samantha 1 Comment

In order to raise awareness on how dangerous Distracted driving is to everyone on the road from the driver themselves, or the passengers or to other drivers on the road.

A safe alternative to driving while distracted is, not driving. Instead take a bus. Megabus is one of the most reliable cost effective ways to get from city to city across the country. Megabus.com is an affordable, express bus service offering city center-to-city center travel for as low as $1. Megabus.com operates service to and from more than 120 major cities in North America from 23 hubs in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Gainesville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, San Francisco, St. Louis, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Washington, D.C. and Toronto.

Megabus is a leader among double decker bus lines. They have:

1. Invested $1.5M in a central support system which monitors all the buses activities in real time supported by a staff 24-7. With a SmartTire alert system, speeding alerts, real time and GPS tracking. The GPS tracking system allows megabus.com to identify any low bridges and automatically lowers the suspension when going through planned routes with low clearance, like the Lincoln Tunnel.
2. Put seatbelts in all buses in 2007, which is not currently a federal requirement.
3. Instituted a policy requiring two drivers onboard between 12 and 5 a.m. and drivers are required to take nine hours off in between shifts instead of the required eight hours.
4. megabus.com utilizes GreenRoad Eco-Driving Technology: GreenRoad gives drivers the information, tools and motivation they need to drive safer. The system detects risky maneuvers and warns drivers so they can self-correct in real-time. GreenRoad analyzes more than 150 maneuvers, across 5 categories – acceleration, braking, lane changing, cornering, and speeding. At the management level, powerful analytic tools let megabus.com identify potentially hazardous areas and problematic trends before they lead to serious incidents.

Personally we enjoy a road trip as much as the next family, but for daily commutes my husband does take mass transportation and thoroughly enjoys it. That may sound strange- but remember, we live in NJ- AKA the land of eternal traffic. It can easily take 2 hours to go 12 miles in rush hour traffic, and that’s not a joke. Mass transit helps, a lot. And it’s easier then driving.

The ability to nap, read, or play on his portable gaming devices in the hour long commute is a great way to wind down at the end of the day and leave work at work and leave the stress at the office.

Megabus is also great for students coming for the weekend or holiday, relatives coming in to visit, or just to take a trip toa new city for the day, weekend of longer. Whatever the trip is, pick safety and fun and pick Megabus.com

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of megabus.com. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: traveling

A Guide To The Very Best Ways To Save On Travel

April 6, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

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There’s something extremely exciting about visiting new places and learning about other cultures. The only problem with travelling is the cost – vacations rarely come cheap. While you might find a deal on your accommodation, for example, your flight tickets may end up costing you an arm and a leg. Travel can be a lot of fun, but if you’re not smart about it, it can leave you with an empty wallet and a drained bank account.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost you the earth to travel abroad. If you know all the best tips and tricks for saving money on travel, it can actually be relatively affordable. To make travel a little more budget-friendly, we’ve compiled a list of all the very best money-saving travel tips. From booking your flights to choosing where to stay, we’ve got you covered. For everything that you need to know to cut the cost of travel, keep reading.

Avoid peak time travel

The price of flights varies significantly depending on the day and time that you choose to fly. If you want to save on the cost of plane tickets, the best thing to do is avoid booking for peak times. A peak time ticket can cost up to three times the amount as an off-peak one, so it’s worth being choosy about when you travel.

Try out a few different dates and times and see what the price difference is between flights. You’ll often find that on weekdays, daytime flights are the most affordable. While on weekends, flights late at night and in the early hours always tend to cost less. If you take the time to compare the best times to travel, you can significantly reduce the cost of your trip.

Use travel comparison sites

It’s not just about the time you travel at, but also who you choose to fly with. There are plenty of online comparison sites that allow you to not only compare the cost of flights but also show you what the cheapest airline is. Don’t be put off using budget airlines just because they’re seen as being cheap. They work just the same as standard airlines but they charge around half the price.

Of course, it’s not just flights that travel comparison sites can help you to save money on. They can also help you to save on the cost of accommodation, by showing you the best low-cost accommodation options. Take the time to use comparison sites and you can ensure that when it comes to the cost of your trip, you keep it as budget-friendly as possible. One of the best travel comparison sites is Skyscanner.net, so take a look and see if you could save.

Collect air miles and travel points

Have you ever heard your fellow travellers talking about their air miles and how they cut the cost of their trip? Air miles can be a great way to cut the cost of your travel, as they can be put towards the cost of your plane ticket. If you have enough air miles, they may even completely cover the cost of it. The question is, how do you build up air miles?

The easiest way to gain a lot of air miles quickly is to sign up to a credit card that comes with a big incentives scheme. Some credit card companies offer up to 100,000 travel points to new sign ups, so applying for a credit card is definitely worth considering. To find out more about the best credit cards for saving money on travel, check out Upgradedpoints.com and have a browse. There’s plenty of information on here to help you make an informed decision about the best card for you and your travel needs.

Obviously, you also earn points every time that you fly. You can also earn points by shopping in certain stores and using specific websites to order products online. Even buying your weekly food shop could give you air miles, if you shop in the right place, that is. Some hotels offer a travel points scheme as well, so before you book, it’s worth finding out about this. Want to save on the cost of travel – make air miles your best friend.

Book early or last minute
You might have already heard this one, but it’s definitely worth repeating. One of the best ways to save on the cost of travel is by booking your flights, accommodation and transfers either early or late. The best option is to book early so that you have plenty of choice over what you select. Booking late may save you money, but it won’t give you much choice.

If you’re going to book last minute, you need to be decisive. As well as using last minute booking websites, it’s also worth looking on the websites of your flight company or hotel of choice. Sometimes, the cheapest deals are on the company’s direct website, so it’s always worth starting there. You can find out more about last minute deals by visiting Nerdwallet.com.
Book tickets to attractions in advance

When it comes to keeping the cost of travelling low, it’s not just about how you travel and where you stay. The expense that comes with getting out and about while on vacation can be high. However, if you opt to book tickets to sights and attractions in advance, often you can save on them.

Many places offer a 10 percent discount for booking online, as well as group deals. So if you’re part of a big travel group, it could be worth booking everyone’s tickets together. By ordering your tickets in advance for each sight and attraction, over the course of your break, you could save a lot. So this is definitely something that’s worth looking into.

Save on food with deals apps

To save on the cost of food – restaurants can be expensive, use deals apps. There are plenty of apps that not only work at home but also abroad too. So before your trip research the best ones for where you’re going and download them. You can then get an idea of the types of deals on offer and which are the best places to eat and drink.

There you have it, all the best tips and tricks for saving on travel. It’s no secret that going abroad can be expensive, so any way that you can save is worth thinking about.

Filed Under: parenting, travel, traveling Tagged With: travel

The Discovery of King Tut Exhibit in NYC #TutNYC

April 5, 2016 by Samantha 2 Comments

King Tut is one of the most famous Egyptian pharaohs, not because of what he accomplished, but because of the (fairly recent) discovery of his tomb, which was never found by raiders. Because of this, all the treasures as well as his entombment were undisturbed all these many years. We were able to learn much from this discovery, and King Tut has become a household name.

The discovery of his tomb and the wonders enclosed in it are the subject of the newest exhibit at the Premiere Exhibition at 5th Avenue in NYC. The exhibit is a very cool experience unlike any museum you have ever visited. Because all the originals are in Egypt and not allowed out of the country, this is as close as many of us will ever come to seeing the treasures of Tut’s tomb.

Instead of placards and dry information, you are led through an exhibit hall which acts as your time machine, bringing visitors through the discovery of opening King Tut’s tomb and all the of hard work and hazards associated with doing so. From rooms set up to look exactly like those in the tombs (right down to the direction statues are facing) to true life sized replicas of gold leafed sarcophagi, it is a very interesting exhibit. The amount of craftsmanship and detail brought to the public is intense, with tons of information and interesting facts about King Tut and his role as pharaoh as well as the man who discovered the tomb, Howard Carter.

This exhibit is fun for both kids and adults bringing together facts and actual physical items to make a learning experience many can enjoy. Open every day, but with a special family day of activities April 10th if you are interested.

Sunday, April 10th

11am, 12pm, 1pm:

Returning to our exhibition by popular demand:

Museum Hack tours of our galleries

2-4pm:

The Mummy Makers of Egypt

Egyptologist Tamara Bower will read from her new book, “The Mummy-Makers of Egypt”, and will lead craft activities featuring the mummies, hieroglyphics, and more.

3pm, 4pm, 5pm:

Family Tours

In these drop-in tours of our galleries, Egyptologist Dr. Phyllis Saretta guides visitors around the exhibition, telling wonderful stories about the Golden King and his treasures.

The Discovery of King Tut is located at Premier Exhibitions 5^th Avenue, 417 5^th Avenue (at 37^th St.) in New York City. For tickets and more information on the exhibition and the upcoming Family Sundays, go to www.TUTNYC.com.

ABOUT THE DISCOVERY OF KING TUT, NEW YORK:

Seen by millions of visitors worldwide, The Discovery of King Tut takes visitors back more than 3,000 years to trace the story of the boy king who reigned for a decade and died suddenly at age 19. This thrillingly unique experience explores the legendary tomb and its treasures as they were at the exact moment of their discovery. Visitors can feel the rush of excitement as they step into a moment only ever witnessed by Howard Carter’s excavation team, view more than 1000 precisely crafted replicas and reconstructions and discover the story behind one of the most iconic moments in history.

The tomb’s magnificent burial goods have been reproduced exactly down to the finest detail by expert Egyptian craftsmen and renowned Egyptologists. These exquisitely crafted replicas and reconstructions, allow visitors to step into the wonder of the discovery as if the original excavation in the Valley of the Kings has been reopened. Crucially, the exhibition also brings together a collection that can only be seen separately elsewhere, even in Egypt: because the king’s treasures are kept in the Cairo Museum. In addition, Tutankhamun’s beautifully painted tomb in the Valley of the Kings has been stripped of everything but his mummy, the outer coffin and the stone sarcophagus. By contrast, the exhibition experience culminates in exact reconstructions of three chambers from Tutankhamun’s tomb, revealing themselves just as the discoverers saw them. A radioplay-like audio tour based on Howard Carter’s diaries, video documentaries, extensive texts and object descriptions and unhindered access to the objects together provide an exciting, as well as informative, experience for all the senses. The Discovery of King Tut is now scheduled to run through May 15, 2016. Tickets are on sale now at www.TUTNYC.com.

Filed Under: entertainment, review Tagged With: Museum, NYC, travel

#HighStrungMovie opens April 8th

April 5, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Disclosure- I will receive compensation for this post. All opinions are my own and honest.

My son and I recently saw the movie “High Strung” , which opens in theaters April 8th. We both enjoyed the movie, which was full of dancing (of all kinds and varieties), music, and some stars of one of our favorite TV shows, “So You Think You Can Dance”. In fact, one of the companies that helped make the movie was the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which is the brainchild of the show’s hosts and producer Nigel Lythgoe and director Adam Shankman to help bring dance to everyone.

The show had a light plot, and of course a love story- the love of arts, but also of a young, down on his luck violinist and a blonde ballerina.

My son was able to meet choreographer Dave Scott, who has also appeared on So You Think You can Dance, as well as stars of the movie Keenan Kampa and Nicholas Galitzine. He loved seeing the people on the big screen in person, especially Dave Scott (whom he has been watching for years).

Please also join us for a Twitter Party tonight at 9pm EST to chat with the movie’s director, Michael Damian, and win great prizes.

About HighStrung:
In a city where only the best succeed, two radically talented people from opposite sides of the tracks need to find harmony to achieve their dreams.

RUBY ADAMS is a dancer from the Midwest on scholarship, living her first day in New York City. JOHNNIE BLACKWELL is a British musician, playing for money in the subway tunnels. Ruby’s world is classical and disciplined; Johnnie’s is improvisational and street smart. When a hip-hop battle gone wrong throws these two artists together, they immediately clash but can’t deny it when sparks begin to fly. Their lives quickly get entangled in the pitfalls that come with competing in New York City. With the help of a dynamic dance crew called The SwitchSteps, Ruby and Johnnie must find a way to save Ruby’s scholarship and keep Johnnie from being deported.

In an action-packed extravaganza combining cutting edge hip-hop with contemporary and classical dance, the two must navigate their opposing worlds and prepare for a competition where winning or losing will change their lives forever.

Watch the Trailer: https://youtu.be/v3Xi1yEDN7U

High Strung opens in theaters on April 8th. You can find a list of theaters on http://www.highstrungthemovie.com.

Filed Under: entertainment, movie, review Tagged With: movie, twitter party

#HighStrungMovie Twitter Party Tonight!

April 5, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Last night, my son and I went to go see the preview of the new movie, High Strung. We both really enjoyed it, and my son especially loved the music and dancing- really, what the movie was centered on.

If you are a fan of music, dancing, and fun movies, you will want to join our TWITTER PARTY tonight at 9 PM EST.

You can follow along by using the hashtag #HighStrungMovie , and tweet along to win prizes and find our more about the movie and it’s stars. Director Michael Damian will also be tweeting with us, and you can win super cool prizes like Joseph Nogucci necklaces, Pastry dance shoes, and so much more.

About HighStrung:
In a city where only the best succeed, two radically talented people from opposite sides of the tracks need to find harmony to achieve their dreams.

Watch the Trailer: https://youtu.be/v3Xi1yEDN7U

High Strung opens in theaters on April 8th. You can find a list of theaters on http://www.highstrungthemovie.com.

Filed Under: entertainment Tagged With: twitter party