Works For Me Wednesday: Disney Deal!
I mentioned that I’m a Disney Vacation Planning Specialist in this post a few months ago. I don’t mention this fact very often because this is my personal blog and you know what they say about mixing business and pleasure.
However, when I saw the deal that Disney is offering for select dates in 2009, I knew that I had to post about it here. This is one of the best deals I’ve ever seen!
Here are the details:
Buy 4 Nights and Get 3 Nights Free!!
- When you purchase a four-night/four-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. Magic Your Way hotel and ticket package for stays most nights from Jan. 4 to April 4, 2009, and April 19 to June 27, 2009, you will receive three extra nights of hotel accommodations and three more days added to your theme park tickets for free.
- As a bonus, anyone traveling on this package from Jan. 4 to March 29, 2009, will also receive a free $200 Disney Gift Card to spend on merchandise, dining or other Disney fun.
An example: A family of four can get a 7-night stay at a Disney Value Resort and a 7-day Magic Your Way base ticket for each family member for as little as $1271. The package can be booked now through Dec. 20, 2008.
The number of packages allocated for this offer is limited. If you were ever thinking of taking a trip to Walt Disney World, this is the time to go!
If you would like to receive a no-obligation vacation quote, click here to get started planning your trip.
To see other Works For Me Wednesday posts, go to Rocks In My Dryer.
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WFMW: Inexpensive Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas
I know why parents have parties outside their home. I’ve had a few myself. You just can’t beat the convenience of making one phone call to the evil rat (ie Chuck E. Cheese) or Bouncy Gym from Hell place and have them take over everything. Trust me, I get it.
There is only one problem. Like many other things in life, convenience comes at a price. These types of shindigs tend to cost a small fortune. Since I’m not in the possession of any sized fortune, I have opted to have many of my kids’ parties at home. It may take a bit more effort and planning, but overall home parties can be just as fun.
One easy way to save some money is to bake your own cake. I was shocked at how much it would cost to purchase a sheetcake from the bakery. There was NO WAY that I was going to spend that much on something that would just be eaten up or thrown away.
There are so many ideas online and most don’t really need any special skills or supplies. I usually ask my kids what kind of cake they want and then hunt the internet for an easy variation.
Have I mentioned how obsessed my daughter is with pandas? I wasn’t surprised when she asked me for a panda cake. Specifically, she wanted a pink cake with a panda on top. I stepped up to the challenge and came up with this masterpiece.
(By masterpiece I mean pathetic attempt at cake decorating. Can you even tell those creatures are pandas?)
Even though I was disappointed with the way the cake turned out, the bottom line is that the cake was for 7 year old kids. Luckily, I have found that kids are pretty much forgiving and will be impressed with anything you do.
I made a controversial decision for this party. I decided to forego the handing out of goody bags. Shocking, I know. How on earth would the kids ever be able to go on living without all those quality crappy toys and nutritious teeth rotting treats?
Don’t worry-the girls didn’t leave empty handed. I had them each make their own party favor. I picked up $1 frames at the craft store and each girl got to paint them the color of their choice. After letting them dry a few minutes, we decorated them with sparkle foamy stickers. I then took a picture of everyone and printed it out on my home printer. Before the girls left, I inserted the picture in the frame. They were thrilled with this favor. The best part is that I’m sure they will treasure it for way longer than a junky plastic toy.
Here are the finished favors:
What are some of your best frugal party tips? How do you feel about goody bags? Do you bake your own cakes? Tell me your philosophy on kids’ parties.
To see more Works For Me Wednesday Tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer
Friday Eye Candy–The Sugar Daddy Edition
You know what they say. Men are like wine. They only get better with age.
Well, not all of them, but these celebrity hotties surely did. With their graying hair, rugged good looks, and old fashion manners, these guy have the total package.
After looking at the comments from a few weeks ago, I see that a few names kept coming up again and again and again.
I decided to take these repeat offenders and use that to make our list of the top 10 hottest “Sugar Daddies” of Hollywood. In order to be considered a “Sugar Daddy” the guy had to be over the age of 45, be remotely successful (i.e. rich) and be very easy on the eyes.
(Yes, I know I lowered the age a bit, but I just had to so that I could put my favorites on the list. Since it is my blog, I can change my the rules whenever I feel like it. Get over it.)
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Pierce Brosnan (55)–A favorite of Smellyann, Heather, Jen E, Alyson, and my friend Kate. I think his popularity has really picked up since his role in Mamma Mia (which I still haven’t seen).
So popular, that I thought he was worth two pics. One in color and one in black and white. You can thank me later.
Harrison Ford (66)–Picked by The Angel Forever, Shannon, Emily, and Alyson. I’ve never been much of a fan myself, but I’m impressed that he took on the role of Indiana Jones and I have to admit that he does look pretty hot in this picture.
Sean Connery (78)–Picked by Alyson, Kailani, Amanda, and my friend Kate. The oldest “Daddy” on our list. I know he is best known for his James Bond role, but every time I look at him I just think of that SNL celebrity Jeopardy skit with Will Farrell.
Mel Gibson (52)– I hesitated putting him on the list, since he went a bit crazy for awhile there. I think he’s decided to lay low lately because I haven’t heard him call anyone sugar t*ts in the past couple of years. Mel was picked by my friend Kate and Jane-Holly.
Tom Selleck (63)–Picked by my friend Kate, Jane-Holly, and Jenny. I think he is one of the only guys in the world that can get away with wearing a mustache and looking sexy.
Sam Elliot (64)–Picked by my friend Kate, Jane-Holly, and Carrie. He’s the only other guy who can rock the ’stache.
Richard Gere (59) –Picked by Firah, Meg. Gere has always looked like a “Sugar Daddy” to me. Even when he was only in his 30’s. I think it was the premature gray, but whatever. It totally works for him and I am really excited about his new movie, Nights in Rodanthe.
Colin Firth (48) –Oh how can Mr. Darcy be almost 50?!! This is just unfathomable to me. He would definitely be MY TOP CHOICE!!! But it looks like I’m going to have to share him with Firah.
Bruce Willis (53)–Picked by Wawa, Jean and me. I had the biggest crush on him in the Moonlighting days. My love affair with Bruce peaked when he had that song and video, Respect Yourself. I taped it off of VH1 and would watch it over and over again. He is still a hottie, but I want to give him props for the really mature way he has handled the divorce and subsequent remarriage of his ex-wife Demi Moore. Super classy!
George Clooney (47)–Last, but definitely not least, I bring you the pick of Marie, Carol, Kailani, Amanda, and me. There is no doubt about it. George Clooney is one handsome guy. Even though he just barely makes the cutoff for this list with his age, I can see that he will be a favorite older celebrity for many years to come. His looks are timeless and he just oozes sex appeal and charm. Yummy!
Honorable mention goes to:
Jeff Goldblum, Donald Trump, James Morrison from the show 24, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Costner, Denzel Washington, Kurt Russell, Hugh Laurie, and Michael Douglas
Sadly, Daniel Craig at age 40 is not able to make the list. He’ll have to wait a few more years. Sorry Alyson and Jane-Holly.
For this week’s Aloha Friday question, I would like to ask you who your favorite NFL hottie would be. I’m going to make up a “Reasons to Watch Football” list and I desperately need your help putting it together. I’m really not a big fan of football since the guys are so covered up with all their gear, but I know there have got to be some cuties underneath all those pads and helmets.
Leave me a comment and let me know who you think should go on this list.
To find more Aloha Friday questions, visit An Island Life.
WFMW: 5 Secrets To A Clean House
Jenny at Absolutely Bananas has asked for some advice about ways people keep their houses clean. She asks this like there is some sort of secret to doing it. You know what? I think there is.
I believe that there is an Ancient Society of Neat People that holds the key to how to properly keep your home tidy. It is an exclusive club that you are born into. Sometimes I think that the members of this society keep this a secret because it makes them feel superior to those of us who are in the Messy Club.
I’m in the Messy Club.
Surprisingly, all of my friends are neat. Every single one of them. And I’ve watched them. Oh yes, when they weren’t looking I’ve picked up on some of their housekeeping ways.
(I also keep thinking that maybe if I hang around with them long enough that some of their neatness will actually rub off on me, but unfortunately this hasn’t happened yet. Yes, it seems only the yucky things like lice, pink eye and the flu are contagious. You can’t catch the cleaning bug.)
I’ve also watched countless hours of Clean House, Clean Sweep, Mission Organization, and Neat (which, by the way, is my third favorite thing to come from Canada after Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) hoping that maybe they will accidentally leak some of the society’s ancient secrets.
I’ve struggled with this all my life and over the years I have learned a few things from all this observing. These five things have really worked for me when I do them. The key is finding the motivation to actually doing them on a consistent basis. I think that is the real secret. The secret that the members will never give away and the shows will never reveal.
Hopefully these tips will be helpful to Jenny and any other “domestically-challenged” individuals out there:
1. Go on a Cleaning Blitz: I set my timer for as much time as I have or feel like dedicating to a given room. It is usually about 30 minutes. Then I work like a maniac to straighten, dust, vacuum, etc…
2. Make The Job Fun to Get It Done: This could be just putting on some music or maybe listening to a book on cd or a podcast while you clean. (My mom swears by having the tv on, but that has never worked for me. I get too sidetracked and end up sitting down with my feet on the couch. I do better with just listening to something fun or interesting.)
3. Reward Yourself: It is important to reward your efforts. There are many different kinds of treats, but you have to find out what is most motivating to you. Maybe it’s a bubble bath or an hour with a good book after your cleaning blitz. (I’d love to say my treat didn’t involve chocolate, but who am I kidding.) I’ve even set long term goals with bigger and better treats in the past. For example, if I vacuum every day for a week, I might treat myself to going to see a movie or a bottle of red wine. I’ve even thought of trying to reward myself for a month’s worth of progress with something really awesome like a massage, but sadly I haven’t been able to stay focused enough to do that..
4. When In Doubt, Throw it Out: If you haven’t used something in the past year, get rid of it. If you aren’t sure whether you may need it or not, I always lean toward just letting it go. If it’s not something that is used on a regular basis, it is probably a good chance that you don’t need it. It is so much easier to clean if you have less clutter sitting around.
5. There Is No Perfect Time To Clean: Look for small bits of time to do mini-jobs. See a finger print on the wall, grab that Magic Eraser and wipe it off. Crumbs on the floor? How long would it really take to sweep it up? Probably not even five minutes. It’s these little things that really start adding up and keep the house looking great.
Now, if I could only follow my own advice. See I know what to do, but just have trouble actually doing it.
For more great tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer.
Edited to add that this post is also part of Jenny’s Housekeeping Tips Carnival.
I am so looking forward to reading all the good tips everyone has to share!
WFMW: Five Ingredients Or Less
I’m such a lazy person cook. If the dish involves too many steps or too many ingredients, I’m not inclined to try it.
That is why I was so excited to see the theme of this week’s Works for me Wednesday is Five Ingredients or Less Cooking.
The first recipe that came to mind for me was My Famous Easy Fish Dish. (It isn’t actually famous in the being followed by paparazzi sense, but it sure is a favorite in our house.)
This is so simple to make and very yummy!
Here are the ingredients:
- 1 lb Fish of your choice (Flounder, salmon, tilapia, mahi-mahi, rockfish, -whatever you like)
- Italian Dressing (enough to cover fish in bowl)
- 1/2 cup Mushrooms (sliced)
- 1/2-1 cup Cheddar Jack Cheese
Directions:
1. Clean fish and put in a bowl. Pour enough italian dressing over fish to cover. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate.
2. In the meantime, slice mushrooms and grate cheese (if necessary).
3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
4. Place fish on foil. (You may want to use some sort of non-stick spray.) Top with mushrooms. (See photo)
5. Grill for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.
6. Top with cheese and grill until melted (usuallly about another minute or so).
That’s it. We usually serve wild rice,peas and salad with this.
Now I’m not saying this is the healthiest option, but it does beat fast food. Plus, if you buy organic salad dressing, fat-free organic cheese, etc.. it would help to make it a bit more healthy.
Click here to see more great, simple recipes.
If you haven’t yet entered the Movie Madness giveaway or taken part in the Movie Madness Carnival there is still time. If you love movies, you’ll definitely want to head on over.
WFMW: FREE Movie Passes
Anyone who knows me or reads this blog knows that I love movies. I just don’t like to spend what seems like our entire life savings on a ticket. And don’t even get me started on the snacks. They are so out of control with their prices.
This is why I have mastered the art of scoring free passes. It is actually easier than you may think. I’ll share some of my secrets with you.
First, check out the following local (to you) websites:
- Radio Stations
- Newspapers (large and small publications)
- Local TV stations
This is how I get most of my passes. These sites are the best resource because for whatever reason, they are constantly giving them away.
Next it is time to check out some other more national websites:
In addition to the above sites, there are a couple of blogs and forums with great info on screenings:
Of course if you live near a big city (especially NY or LA) you’re more likely to have more screening opportunities. You really don’t have to check the sites daily. I have them bookmarked in a folder and I look to see if there are any interesting screenings that I might want to see about once a week or so.
Good luck! If you score any free passes, let me know. You could maybe even review the movie you saw for my Movie Madness Carnival on July 1st. Click here to learn more about this and leave me a comment on this post to let me know if you will be participating.
For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit Rocks in My Dryer.
WFMW: 3 Tips For Saving Money (and Sanity) On Vacation With Kids
Here are a few things I’ve learned while on vacation this week that I thought would be worth passing along:
1. If at all possible, stay at a hotel/motel that provides a free breakfast. This has been wonderful. All they offered was cereal and bagels, but it saved us a lot of money from having to go out to a restaurant each day.
(A backup plan for a hotel without the free breakfast would be to purchase cereal bars and juice boxes for a very light breakfast in the room. Now if only we would have packed a lunch today and ate at the car instead of spending $45 on lunch at Busch Gardens. Holy Cow!!)
2. If you are going to an area attraction, check the local supermarkets, fast food places, etc.. for coupons. We scored $12 off Busch Gardens and Water Country USA tickets at the local McDonald’s for a single day admission. That saved our family of four almost $100 on the two theme parks.
(Just remember to actually put them in your backpack so that you don’t have to take the stupid tram back to the parking lot to get them out of the car because you got all the way up to the stupid ticket booth and realized you forgot them.)
3. If you are taking a road trip, visit Momsminivan.com before your go and print off a variety of really fun games and activities for the drive. My kids are having a blast trying to find all fifty states with the license plate game. The site also has songs, some Bingo games and a neat printable Battleship game. It is definitely worth the visit.
(We do have a portable dvd player but the kids haven’t asked to put it on once since this trip began because of all the fun they are having with the printables. This has been great but I do think it is time to break out the movies because all the interacting and creating lifelong memories is getting kind of old. I’ve only managed to read about one chapter of my book and that just isn’t right. I never knew there were so many different kinds of license plates for each state. I seriously don’t care that there are so many different kinds of license plates for each state. I’m beginning to go a little crazy from looking at so many different license plates.)
For more Works For Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer.
Works For Me Wednesday: Summer Boredom Busters
The Movie Madness Carnival is still going on. If you haven’t already entered my movie gift basket giveaway, go here now. The deadline to leave a comment and be eligible to win is Wed, June 4th at 11pm EST.
The theme of today’s Works for Me Wednesday is the “Mom, I’m bored..” edition. I hear these words way more than I would like and it drives me CRAZY!!! I am so looking forward to reading everyone else’s ideas this week! My sanity depends on it!
Although I’m no parenting guru, I do have a couple of ideas that may be helpful to you.
The first one is actually one that my son’s behavioral therapist (he is on the autistic spectrum) had us do for him, but it really works well for both kids and would probably be helpful for any family.
We post a schedule up on the refridgerator with the day’s activities. Instead of having something that is set in stone, I came up with little magnetic cards that have pictures and words to reflect the things we do daily. Here is a picture (Don’t look too close at my dirty fridge.):
So, how does this keep them from getting bored?
Kids thrive on structure and I think they are less likely to be bored when they know what is expected of them them during the day. They are no longer wandering around aimlessly trying to figure out what they should do next. We stick to the same general routine for the most part, but I like the idea that the cards can be moved around if needed.
Basically, I put the chart up the night before or in the morning after we get up. And let me tell you, if I forget they are totally upset. They really do enjoy having the schedule up on the fridge. The kids love removing the cards after they finish doing something. It is almost like a checklist for them.
My kids are reading now, but this would work for younger children if you had pictures. I do recommend laminating the cards because they will last longer. I just used peel and stick stuff that you can get at your local Office supply store.
My other idea is something that I haven’t tried yet so I’m hesitant to recommend it, but I’ll just throw it out there in case you may not have thought to do it. I’m going to help the kids to work on creating their own blog this summer. They can type a few sentences about their day or special events (ie Vacation, 4th of July, etc..).
They are 6 and 8 so I think this will be a lot of fun for them, as well as be great writing practice. It could turn out to be a complete disaster but we’re going to give it a try.
For more boredom busters, visit Rocks in my Dryer.
Works For Me Wednesday: FREE Manicure or Pedicure
Last week I talked about how to make your manicure last longer. Well, I wasn’t thinking that I’d be talking about manicures again this week because I didn’t want to give the impression that all I do is think about my nails. Let me assure you, this is not the case. I’m lucky if they get filed regularly.
I did, however, run across a deal that was too great to keep to myself. Basically, all you have to do is buy some shampoo and conditioner or hair color and you get a free Manicure or Pedicure. Here are the details:
- Purchase two (2) bottles of specially marked participating Herbal Essence Shampoo and/or Conditioner product.
- Visit this website and enter your two qualifying UPC codes.
- Print your redemption form.
- Mail your completed redemption form listing two (2) valid UPC codes along with original receipt(s) (no copies accepted) of the Herbal Essences participating qualifying products* to:
Herbal Essences
c/o TLC Marketing
1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
You should receive your voucher within 4-6 weeks of receipt and verification. Please allow one week for verification.
*Please make sure to include your original receipt(s) and completed redemption form listing two (2) valid UPC codes. If any of this information is not included, your submission will not be accepted. All materials must be postmarked by 12/31/08.
There is a ton of fine print, so if you are up for reading it you can go here. To find out the location of participating salons in your area, go here. Just enter this inactive code: TLCHE5029
To make this deal even sweeter, go to this website to print off a $2 off of 2 coupon for Target only to use toward Herbal Essences shampoo or conditioner.
To see more great tips, visit Rocks In My Dryer.
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Just a Reminder…The Movie Madness Carnival is less than a week away on Tuesday, June 3rd. You can learn more about it by reading this post.
Works For Me Wednesday: Manicure and Pedicure Tips
Here’s a quick tip for making your manicures and pedicures last longer. Before getting into the shower, put some Vaseline on the nails. This will keep the polish from coming off in the hot water. I’ve tried it and it really works!
For more tips, head on over to Rocks in My Dryer.
Just for fun…What color polish should I buy for my next pedicure?
#1 #2 #3
I’m looking at this new line of polish called Nicole by OPI. There are a couple of things that I really like about this brand. First of all, it doesn’t contain DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde. All of these ingredients are linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity and allergies. Each time a bottle is purchased, OPI’s Colors with a Conscience program makes a donation to one of four charities including the Starbright Foundation, Rock The Vote, Gilda’s Club and American Oceans Campaign.
Painting your nails never felt so good!
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