Top 5 Translation Apps for Overseas Travelers

July 30, 2012 by 2 Comments

Being a stranger in a strange land can be fun for a while – right up until you order the
special and wind up with a plate of live squid or you hop on a train to get back to your
hotel and wake up in another country. While most people will struggle to use pocket
translation books (populated by ridiculously tiny print) modern technology can make your
trip a little easier with a slew of translation apps. Here are a few of the best.

  1. iTranslate. Okay, let’s be honest: this app is free to download but a lot of the
    features will require payment (at prices of $0.99 to $1.99 a pop). That said, there is a lot
    to love about this translation application, which features 50 languages (20 of which have
    spoken translation), a dictionary, speech-to-speech mode (handy for conversations), and
    options to save phrases. It may cost you a bit for some of the neat features, but even
    without them you get a basic translation tool that’s better than most of the offerings out
    there.
  2. Word Lens. Many travelers know the frustration of looking at signs in foreign
    countries and having no idea if they’re giving you directions to your hotel or offering you
    a bowl of fried rice. This app lets you take pics of signage in order to have it translated.
    It doesn’t have a lot of language options yet, and although the app itself is free you will
    have to pay as much as $4.99 for each one you download, but the upside is that you
    only need to buy the languages you want to use, rather than shelling out for a program
    that comes with dozens that you’ll never need. And the first time you use it to read a
    menu in France or a train schedule in Spain it will be worth every cent.
  3. SayHi Translate. This app will [Read more…]
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JAKKS Pacific’s Winx Club Toy Line NYC Launch Event- Dolls, Costumes, and a DVD

July 30, 2012 by 8 Comments

Last week, we went to a cute event celebrating the new Winx dolls from JAKKS Pacific. Girls and their families were invited to transform into Winx Club fairies with mini makeovers, enjoy delicious smoothies, dance, and eat lots of sweets, candy, and cupcakes 🙂 Little just ate and danced- and played with all the pretty girls.

Nickelodeon has a new toy doll line- Winx Club Deluxe, available at Walmart and Walmart.com.
Winx Club Deluxe is Nick’s first animated series targeted for girls. The show tells the stories of 6 friends- Stella, Flora, Bloom, Musa, Tecna and Aisha, and follows their journeys and adventures [Read more…]

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#FeedtheFamily with Target

July 30, 2012 by 8 Comments

A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Target’s Feed the Family event in New York City. Target showcased all different ways to feed your family with products you can buy right at your local Target. From soup to nuts- well, from the recipes, to ingredients, to cooking utensils, accessories, and back to school products, it really covered everything.

As a Target shopper, it gave me some good ideas. Target is one of the least expensive stores I know of to shop at, and I got some good ideas to try. I’m not that creative- so it was awesome to be poked a bit, LOL.

I thought this was a cute take on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich- just for a little variety. Take a variety of crackers, some peanut butter, jelly, and cranberries for good measure- and there you go! 🙂

And of course- every child’s favorite, mac and cheese!

They also have some cute lunchboxes and food-on-the-go containers to get ready for back to school.

Target created the expanded food layout in response to research and feedback from guests who requested more fresh food selection in the convenience of their local Target store. The new and enhanced store redesign allows Target stores to further serve as a one-stop shopping destination for busy guests who can now complete their grocery list or pick up tonight’s [Read more…]

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Great Back-To-School Clothing with @FrenchToastcom

July 29, 2012 by 16 Comments

Little Man is about to enter Kindergarten- which is both very exciting, and making me feel like a sad sack all at the same time, LOL. He will be attending a school that requires uniforms, which will make getting dressed in the morning all that much easier.

He looks like such a big boy! Everything he is wearing is from French Toast, the clothing and school uniform company. We did shop around, and I can say without a doubt that this is the fastest, easiest, and least expensive way to get his uniforms. I think it is also the best, and though this year his school is not registered with French Toast, I hope to encourage them to to so by next year. I was not thrilled having to go to a store 25 minutes away, stand in line, make my order, then wait 30 minutes more to have it filled just for a few things that needed to be embroidered. VERY annoying. French Toast does it all- plus faster, less costly, and delivers to my door with the same school uniform quality you would get in the pricey store. BLAH.

PLUS, they give participating schools 5% cash back on all orders. Why would any school that requires uniforms not [Read more…]

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, fashion, giveaway, kids, review Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sexy and You Know It? Check Yourself Out in Fresh Produce

July 29, 2012 by 6 Comments

Showing Off My Fake Simba Tattoo! LOL

Yeah man, you know you have to flaunt it if you’ve got it. (And you know you’ve got it, bow-chicka-wow-wow! LOL) Fresh Produce is a fun clothing company that I recently discovered- and adore. It was actually enjoyable to shop and choose my favorite styles and colors, and when it arrived, I was not disappointed. I love to shop, but can do it for myself only rarely. When I get a new item, and it doesn’t meet my desire or it’s description, it is so very upsetting. Then I need to deal with the hassle of returns or exchanges, and deciding if I want to bother with the company again. I am glad to say that I love the dress, and my shopping experience as well.

I’m the type of person who won’t often sacrifice comfort for fashion. Except maybe some fab shoes now and again, LOL. It can be hard to shop for dresses and tops because I have a large chest, even when I wear a minimizer. I found that this dress was PERFECT with a little half top (like a bra-cover-up) underneath it.

Fresh [Read more…]

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Dutch Wonderland- Save in PA #ThemePark

July 29, 2012 by 5 Comments

A Kingdom For Kids! It’s not just a slogan — it’s a commitment to young children and their families that beyond our castle walls is a place just for them called A Kingdom For Kids!, where family fun is proclaimed by royal decree. Since opening on May, 20, 1963, Dutch Wonderland has consistently been recognized as a premier family amusement park and has been voted one of the Top 5 Best Kid’s Park in the World by Amusement Today magazine. Having your birthday party, other celebrations, family outing, and Scouting events at Dutch Wonderland is easy with catered options, picnic lunch boxes, and cabana rentals. With attractions like ChooChoo Charlie, Frog Hopper, Dragon’s Lair, Duke’s Lagoon and so much more, Dutch Wonderland is a favorite amongst children [Read more…]

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Fort Rapids- Save On Your Ohio #Vacation @DiscoverOhio

July 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

Fort Rapids is central Ohio’s largest indoor water park resort- and the perfect family fun travel destination. Where else can you get 60,000 square feet of wet and wild fun for the whole family, all in one convenient location? Come relax and unwind in one of the guest rooms or family style villa suites, then zip down 12 unique water rides, float in the lazy river, get drenched by the 1,000 gallon tipping bucket and win big at the 5,000 square foot Gold Rush Arcade. Then, stop by the Branding Iron Grille or Copper Star Saloon for lunch or dinner. The Conference Center at Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park Resort will cater to all business and [Read more…]

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5 Travel Planning Tools You Can’t Live Without

July 29, 2012 by 1 Comment


Well-planned travel lets you maximize opportunities and minimize expenses. Whether you’re taking the family to Disney for a vacation, or whether you’re planning an executive retreat at your company, planning is an essential element in making your trip a successful one.
Accordingly, there are a number of tools you can put to use to make the planning process smooth and easy. Many of these tools are available simply by entering a web address into your browser.
Here are some of the best travel planning tools around:

1. Travel booking websites.

There are a number of these sites online, from Priceline to Orbitz and more. One of the best up-and-coming travel websites is Kayak.com, although most of the sites will provide you with similar results.
Travel booking websites give you access to pricing information for a variety of hotel, airline, and rental car vendors. They let you see what your trip is going to cost in a side-by-side comparison.
One thing to pay particular attention to when using travel booking websites, however, is that they’re a great place to start looking for prices; they’re not always the best place to buy. When you actually get ready to make travel reservations, check out alternate sites as well as the companies themselves to see if you can get a better deal.

2. Consumer review websites.

Price isn’t the only aspect to choosing your travel details, of course. If you want to have a good experience – whether it’s with the hotel, the airline, or even with a business or entertainment venue in your destination city – you need to know what others are saying about them.
30 years ago, that meant digging through the last year or two of consumer reports and hoping that your particular travel choice would be reviewed. Today, however, it’s as simple as going to TripAdvisor, IgoUgo, or another travel review website.

3. Destination travel-planning guides.

No matter where you’re headed, chances are pretty good someone’s written a book or a website about things to do and see in that destination. From Fodor’s travel guides to information published by the local visitor’s bureau, there are a wealth of these kinds of resources out there.
You need to choose your travel-planning guides carefully, however. If [Read more…]

Filed Under: travel