Win Book on Cheap Travel

January 11, 2012 by 1 Comment


Do you dream of exotic places and amazing travel adventures? Do you think that the best you can do for a vacation is what you can see from your back porch? Do you think that travel is just for the wealthy and famous? Then maybe you need to read this book – Shereen Travels Cheap.

This book offers many online resources that will let you find the vacation options that fit your budget. But it doesn’t give you any excuses for being lazy. Once you find your set budget that you can spend, then explore these online options that will help you think outside of your traditional vacation ‘box’ that many of us get locked into. If you have 5 days and $1000, why should you settle for a trip to the closest beach if that same money could get you a trip to Paris? Hmmmm…. this is definitely a new way of thinking for me.

My family loves to travel. We have explored many of the attractions in our local ‘backyard’. But after reading this book and checking out some of the websites the author suggests, we may be expanding our next vacation to a whole new level.

Book Description
Are there places you want to go but never do because you think you can’t afford the travel costs? Do you plan your vacations on a budget, but find that your budget doesn’t get you very far from home? Shereen Travels Cheap was written for you!

This entertaining book will teach you how to plan the vacations you have always dreamed of taking, but for a lot less money than you ever thought you would spend. Using a combination of proven tips and techniques and the best the Internet has to offer, Shereen [Read more…]

Filed Under: giveaway, travel

Winter the Dolphin- an inspiring true story

January 11, 2012 by 21 Comments

When planning a visit to Clearwater, Florida, no trip would be complete without a trip to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. While it has been a Clearwater institution since 1978, it recently became quite famous for one reason- a little dolphin named “Winter”.

When little Winter was only 2 or 3 months old, she became tangled in a crab trap line, wrapping her into a “C” shaped position and (in short) killing her tail. Her peduncle (The lower trunk, extending from the dorsal fin to the fluke. The peduncle is very muscular and generates the power that propels dolphins through the water at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour) was ruined, and needed to be amputated.

Found in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, several rescues collaborated to save her and bring her to Clearwater. None of them thought she would live, she was very young and small, and her injuries were very severe. While not a malicious attack, and purely accidental, she was still very stressed and this was very damaging to her and her hormones, which can have long term effects- as was having to be formula fed. Winter had no mom to protect and love her. She was named Winter because that is when she was found- in December of ’05.

She was with humans 24/7 for continues care, quality control, treatment, etc. After about 6 months, several cautious surgeries, weaning onto solid food, and the first prosthetic tail ever made incorporating a joint- Winter was placed with an older female “companion”, [Read more…]

Filed Under: animals, family, kids, movie, travel

A Train Ride with Clifford the Big Red Dog on the LM and M Railroad

January 11, 2012 by 21 Comments

What can be better for any kid then a train ride? How about a “Train Ride with Clifford the Big Red Dog” on the LM&M Railroad? Yeah, that is SIGNIFICANTLY better!!!

If you are in the Warren County, Ohio area- or are planning to be (and you should be! They don’t call it “Ohio’s Largest Playground for nothing!) there is one stop that any train lover, large or small will need to make sure is on your itinerary- the LM&M Railroad!

“The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (LM&M Railroad) operating from Historic Downtown Lebanon offers scenic train rides through Southwestern Ohio in Warren County. These nostalgic train rides present passengers with the opportunity to learn about local history and railroad operations while creating everlasting memories with family and friends. The unique location of the Historic Downtown Lebanon grants visitors the ability to experience the local splendor through shopping and dining in the charming tourist town. More information about the LM&M and it’s history can be found by checking out our history page!”

While we were there, the event going on was a train ride with Clifford, the Big Red Dog. I could not have been more thrilled- because you all know how much my Little love dogs! I mean really- trains AND dogs? Done! The LM&M Railroad was awesome for kids- the train even had a little snack station in the back where you can pick up drinks and snacks if you forgot to bring any along. One word of warning- BRING BUG SPRAY, the playground was crazy buggy- and there are no bathrooms on the train itself- the ride isn’t long, but if you are potty training, just beware, and perhaps use a pull-up vs. underpants, [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids, travel

Village Ice Cream Parlor- a fun stop in Downtown Lebanon, Ohio

January 6, 2012 by 25 Comments
If you are craving something sweet, but don’t want to eat in some chain restaurant, I know the perfect place for you! Not only can you get a full menu of delicious and well made meals at a family friendly price (served to you by a friendly staff, as well!) but you can find a delicious and wide array of treats, ranging from the old fashioned favorites to new and interesting finds the kids will love.
You’ll step back in time when you enter the Village Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, a historic parlor located in the heart of downtown Lebanon. Known for old-fashioned ice cream sodas and famous faces who have visited, it’s a must when visiting this historic town. What is their claim to fame? “Enjoy the continuing tradition of historic Lebanon Ohio’s great soda fountains…The Village Ice Cream Parlor offers classic concoctions and homestyle cooking.” And I have to agree- this was a fun place to be. I felt like I stepped into another era- the restaurant was set up like an old-fashioned soda shoppe- because it is!

In operation as it’s current ice cream parlor and restaurant since [Read more…]
Filed Under: family, food, travel

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied While Traveling

January 5, 2012 by 10 Comments

Kids are notorious for bad behavior when it comes to travel. On a long road trip they will whine, cry,
fight, and basically bounce off the walls. And when it comes to getting through an airport, more than
one parent has turned around to put items through the security scanner only to turn back and find their
tyke has wandered off. Then of course there are the chair-kicking and constant questions that will have
other airline passengers giving you dirty looks throughout the flight. But what can you do? Children are
little balls of energy! Short of running them around the terminal a few times before a plane takes off or
asking the pediatrician if ADHD meds might help, you’re just going to have to find ways to deal with your
little angels during a trip. Here are a few that just might do the trick.

1. Frequent stops. There’s no better way to break up the monotony of a long road trip than by
taking frequent rest stops (at least every couple of hours) to stretch, grab a bite to eat, and take
a gander at area attractions. You can look at a map to find stops along the way and then search
area attractions ahead of time, but if you have a smart phone and decent reception, you can use
apps like Foursquare or Roadside America to find local entertainment and roadside attractions
(respectively) that may divert your kids during the trip.

2. Books. Older kids should be able to while away a good chunk of time with an age-appropriate
novel, especially if they are avid readers to begin with. But even if your kids aren’t particularly
interested in reading (or they’re still a bit too young to remain focused for very long on the
task), think about getting some [Read more…]

Filed Under: travel

Travelling Overseas With Young Children

January 4, 2012 by 11 Comments

The common wisdom is that children and overseas flights do not go well together. The many hours of travel, the lack of familiar resources, and the constant responsibility of caring for your child make it that the benefits of such a trip are often not worth the costs. Instead, parents stick to shorter, less glamorous trips while young kids are in tow. The overseas trips are consequently the domain of young couples and empty nesters.
But this belies the point that there are still many parents who travel with children overseas, often times for a job or family reason rather than for a vacation. While such trips can be stressful with youngsters in tow, they are certainly manageable – so long as you are prepared for the challenges. Here are a few suggestions to help insure that you are:

Allocate More Funds

Travelling with children is always more expensive than you think, so your best bet is to be flexible and have money easily available. This may mean taking a cab instead of the subway or going to an amusement park rather than sitting on the beach. You’ll also never know when you may need diapers, medication, toys, or various other items. On this note, it’s good to always carry no foreign transaction fee credit [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids, travel

GoGoBabyz- Travel Stroller/Carseat G!VEAWAY

January 1, 2012 by 731 Comments

Strollers always have some new feature to make you say, “Wow, great idea”. Today we are looking at GoGoBabyz new stroller the Urban Advantage. What makes this stroller unique is only has three wheels, two in the back and one in the front. This makes tight turns a breeze and even fitting it in the trunk seems a bit easier.

The stroller is for children from new born to 45 lb.s with a touch of a button it folds up quickly and easily. There is a large storage compartment underneath and the tires are airless, so no blow outs while traversing the wild streets of the city, lol. OR, the not so wild streets and sidewalks of suburbia 🙂

Little Man says about the stroller- “oh- mom, it’s comfy!” and I have to say it was a very smooth ride. It has 4 cupholders- one for me, one for him, and one for when Kamikaze joins us, with one left. So if you have more then 2 kids, or daddy comes along, you are good to go. It has lots of storage, and the sunshade is of course, a must have feature in any stroller. You also need the snack tray- which swings out for easy in and out- daily, don’t we? It’s also good for playing with all the toys our little ones carry with them everywhere, LOL.

It was super easy to put together- it took my husband less then 20 minutes to do. The ride is so smooth, it feels like you hardly have to push it at all, and more then once I have pushed it one-handed (what can I say- cell phones ring, toys drop, hats fall off, you know how it is!!!) and it was so not an issue. Even when the road gets bumpy, the stroller just keeps truckin’!

A few more features of this stroller that I love are;

  • 360-degree front-wheel swivel and a slim
  • Easy to maneuver around tight corners and narrow store aisles
  • Airless 12-inch wheels
  • Provides easy handling and a smooth ride on urban sidewalks or dirt paths
  • Cushioned four-position reclining seat back
  • Adjustable leg rest
  • Stroller collapses easily with the one-handed folding system.

You can pick up lots of accessories for this stroller on the site, too- such as rain gear, a larger sun shade, a twin adapter, and the like 🙂

Next up is the GoGo Kidz Travelmate. The Travelmate is a wonderful attachment for anyone who goes traveling with toddlers. This attachment is in simplest terms wheels that attach to a car seat which make it very easy to roll the car seat around. The Travelmate has a telescopic handle and two 5 inch Razor wheels.


This attachment makes it so much easier then lugging around a car seat. Not only is your little one off their feet, but the car seat now has wheels and is easy to move around. Have you ever tried to travel while toting around a carseat? And then the stroller??? NOT FUN! You need a seat for your child on the plane, and you need a stroller for the airport, and when you land. This makes things so much easier. Plus then you won’t need to rent a carseat when you land and get to your rental car 🙂 BAM- covered!

Now onto the real fun parts. Recycling! GoGo Kidz now offers recycled versions of both their Travelmate and Urban Advantage. A recycled unit is one that has been refurbished [Read more…]

Filed Under: baby, giveaway, kids, review, travel

Taggarts Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant In Canton, Ohio

December 23, 2011 by 11 Comments

My Son and Meema had a great time in this old fashioned Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant. The food was good, the waitress was sweet, and did I mention the ice cream? This may be one of those times when a picture is worth more then anything I can say to you.

Established in 1926, Taggarts is a Canton landmark. Wrought-iron “ice cream parlor” chairs and high-backedbooths, combined with the old wood and tile floors, take you back to the charm of the twenties.

The furnishings and decor take you back to another time- and so will the sundaes. Yes, there is food there- but the real star (I think) is the assortment of ice creams and floats you [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, food, travel