Smarty Pants Mama - Solutions to Travel, Cooking & Life

A Typical Cuban Breakfast

February 16, 2015 By: Caroline Murphycomment

"When in Rome" is a saying I try to adhere to in our travels. If you are traveling to South Florida, particularly Miami, you must enjoy traditional Cuban cuisine. From una medianoche sandwich to una tosatada to ropa vieja to una frita visitors must enjoy the savory flavors of the island that are now replicated, quite perfectly, in the states. A Cuban breakfast just like the Cubans on Calle Ocho or even Havana bring a coffee and buttered bread to a whole new level. A Cuban breakfast is ... [ Read More ]

Valentines Day in Miami, Ideas for Couples

February 3, 2015 By: Caroline Murphycomment

The most romantic night of the year is upon us. Valentine's Day in Miami has the potential to be incredibly romantic for the moms & dads living in South Florida. Driving towards the beach, eating a delicious dinner and maybe even spending the night (without kids) at a swanky hotel, sounds like a perfect night. Or maybe getting the babysitter even earlier and finding sometime to relax in the spa or let your husband sneak away and hit a few rounds of golf, or maybe he'll even spa ... [ Read More ]

The Act of Gratitude, It’s Our’s to Teach

January 26, 2015 By: Caroline Murphycomment

You know the moment I'm thinking of - the moment when your son/daughter are handed a gift from a friend - and then nothing happens. Those next few seconds are very important. Showing gratitude, like, "Thank you Aunt Sally for the gift!" is what we want to hear. But does it always happen? I recently shared my experience on teaching the act of gratitude to children on TampicoIsColor.com. I encourage you to visit the post and read about the three primary ways for our children to show gratitude ... [ Read More ]

Skewered Buffalo Chicken Bites

January 25, 2015 By: Caroline Murphy5 Comments

Wether you are searching for a recipe for the Big Game celebrations, a birthday party or dinner for you and the kids, these Skewered Buffalo Chicken Bites paired with Naturally Fresh Lite Blue Cheese dressing, will always be a hit. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:18] The Naturally Fresh dressing pairs great for these Buffalo Chicken Bites with a kick - thank you hot wing sauce! Similar to traditional wings that we all like to dip in blue cheese, my Skewered Buffalo Chicken Bites, are ... [ Read More ]

Carnival Vista Sailing European and NY Waters in 2016

January 25, 2015 By: Caroline Murphy11 Comments

You've read my experiences with Carnival. You've seen the fun we've had aboard the Breeze, Sunshine and Freedom. You know how I am obsessed with Carnival's speciality restaurants. I'm thrilled to announce that Carnival is kicking it up another notch for families (if that's even possible!) Here's the video that was the first enticement made to fellow media at the #TakeInTheVista event in NYC this month. (You'll see my cameo - look for the girl in the pink shirt!) In May 2016 ... [ Read More ]

How to Plan a Family Cruise

January 14, 2015 By: Caroline Murphy2 Comments

I'll never forget the first time I set out to plan a family cruise. We were invited by Carnival to enjoy their new ship, the Carnival Breeze. My youngest was nearly 19 months and the oldest was 6. Making the decision on taking the family on the cruise was difficult. I had no idea what to expect when traveling with a toddler on a cruise and beyond. We have since been on 3 family cruises and each of them have been fun and some of our greatest travel experiences. Plan a Family ... [ Read More ]

Polaroid Cube Review for Family Travel

December 19, 2014 By: Caroline Murphy2 Comments

The Polaroid Cube arrived in the mail. Sitting in a box, the girls and I tore into it, anxious to know what this 0.9 lb piece of technology would do. We were invited by Polaroid to experience the Cube. We charged it up and got to work. (See our Polaroid Camera Reveal video) For nearly 10 days, the Polaroid Cube accompanied our family to school drop off, pick-up, soccer, gymnastics, ballet and most importantly a weekend trip to Disney World. It hung out in my big purse and my back pocket at ... [ Read More ]

Win a Polaroid Cube

December 17, 2014 By: Caroline Murphy19 Comments

The holidays are upon us and all we want is to provide a wonderful time for our friends and family. We love smiles. We love happiness. We love the look on a friend's face when they open up the present and instantly smile with true appreciation. Want to win a Polaroid Cube to provide true happiness to a gift recipient in your life? I know you do! This #polaroidcube is the happening item with this kids! They love it! #polaroidcube #ad A photo posted by Caroline Murphy ... [ Read More ]

My Daughter Screams When I Brush Her Hair

December 12, 2014 By: Caroline Murphycomment

This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them. Brushing a child's hair can be highly frustrating. Dealing with the knots and attempting to detangle isn't in any way an easy task. The whining and crying that often comes is even worse. Who can ... [ Read More ]

Unstoppable Moms Have No Sick Days

December 4, 2014 By: Caroline Murphycomment

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour for The Motherhood on behalf of the makers of Children’s MOTRIN® and received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own. I have to say that I was challenged these last 30 days. Although we started with my 8 year old being the most prepared patient at her annual check up, we ended with our home with the stomach flu. I've shared our story of how 3 out of 4 of us got it ... [ Read More ]