2013
How a Gas Price App Saved Us Money
We headed to Key West for the weekend. It was fantastic. The 160 mile drive from Miami is probably one of the most beautiful drives in the country. It’s filled with scenic views that take your breath away. Thankfully the Gas Buddy App on our Windows8X phone saved us $$$ on this road trip!! A […]
Win Tickets for South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Fun and Fit Event!
What are you doing this Saturday? Want to go to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival Fun & Fit Event for families at Jungle Island? I have 4 tickets ready for your family! Here’s what you’ll get to experience! A fun-filled day of food, fitness and learning at Jungle Island. A family-friendly event, part of […]
Adorable Infographic of Smartphone Love!
VerizonWireless has captured the love shared and even devastated through our mobile devices. Did you know that according to their findings, 82% of women reveal their relationship status via social media? I’m one of those. I’ve indicated that I’m married, and even whom I’m married to on my Facebook profile. Have you? Are you part […]
Baked Potato Bar for Dinner
Baked Potato Bar I love easy dinners. Who doesn’t? Add to that that, I love options. I love being able to pick what I want – yes I love salad bars. At home, we have found a Baked Potato Bar to be a crowd-pleaser. We all love potatoes and we all love (most) of the […]
Billy Joel’s She’s Got A Way: Love Songs CD
I have a special connection to Billy Joel. I hear his songs and I feel at home. Growing up on Long Island, Billy Joel is like a neighbor. The Billy Joel Greatest Hits was my very first greatest hits CD. I could and still can recite every song by heart. Many of the songs hold […]
We Did It! Our 1st Family 5K!
Yesterday morning the alarm clock went off at the same ridiculously early time it does Monday-Friday. But this time we were a little more excited to get out of bed. The four of us got dressed, grabbed water bottles and began our drive to Zoo Miami. We weren’t going as tourists to see the African […]
Another Reason to Love Big Grips
I was proivded with a Big Grips Frame and stand before our cruise in December. As you know from my previous post, it has proven to be a FANTASTIC iPad case. Although I wanted a case like this because of the kids, it has proven to be a great case for the adults too. Yes, […]
We will Run Wild at Zoo Miami!
On Saturday, February 9, we will get up as early as we do for school, put on our sneakers, grab a water bottle and head to Zoo Miami! For the first time ever, we will, together as a family, complete a 5K! The RunWild 5K at Zoo Miami will take us through the beautiful zoo, […]
Mobile Love, Just for Tom & I
Open up my text messages and I have a few dozen text conversations going on. One of those is with Tom, my husband. It can get lost in the shuffle. It’s not a big deal, but I do like to pull up his XOXO text or the one where he told me was so proud […]
Simple Kale Chips Recipe
We have heard from every magazine article, online infographic, TV show and more that kale is awesomely good for you. I have shared 3 nutritional reasons why you should wash and chop up kale for your next meal. Have you? A simple and tasty way to enjoy kale is to bake it. It reminds me […]
3 Reasons to Eat Kale
We’ve been eating kale for a number of years. We most often sauté it with a little EVOO and garlic, treating it like spinach. There has been a lot of kale buzz recently, as the nutritional benefit of the green vegetable have gotten tremendous publicity. Do you eat it? If not, you should. This week […]
Front-Facing Phone Cameras: Windows 8X vs iPhone
I read that the HTC Windows 8X phone that I am trying out as a Verizon Wireless Ambassador had an awesome camera – particularly when front-facing. The Windows phone has an ultra wide angle front camera and 2.1 megapixel, so they say. I needed to see and experience it for myself. Below are the photos […]
Watch Every Super Bowl On Demand
Just when you think you’ve seen enough football, Xfinity has even more to satisfy the football-obsessed or the Super Bowl commercial-loving fan! In collaboration with the NFL Network, Xfinity subscribers actually have access to over 140-hours of Super Bowl coverage. That’s impressive. Super Bowl On Demand Grab your remote and head to On Demand. Within Top […]
Sofia Vergara’s SAG Look by COVERGIRL
The SAG awards are done, but the pictures will leave us all with a lasting memory of the beauty of many show stoppers. I think we can all agree Sofia Vergara might be at the top of that list. I previously shared how she got her stunning look thanks to CoverGirl at the Oscars in […]
Teacher Appreciation Pinterest Craft
I did it. I found a cute Pinterest craft and did it. Best all it came out pretty cute! This coming week is Teacher Appreciation Week at my daughter’s school. I wanted to give something that was not the standard teacher mug or more generic gift certificate. I headed to Pinterest (Do you follow my […]
Windows 8X Apps for Emergencies
It might happen. It might not. But a Smart Mama must always be prepared. I’ve browsed the extensive Windows Store for FREE apps that moms should have set on their phone in case of an emergency. Here are my 3 favorites emergency apps for Windows 8X phones: The Emergency Kit: Stores personal information, including name, address, […]
Quick & Easy Soybean Oil Recipes
Finding Soybean Oil You won’t believe where I found soybean oil! In my own kitchen? Yes, I spent a good 30 minutes in two different gourmet/healthy living supermarkets searching in the expensive/speciality oil section in search of soybean oil. I returned home defeated. No soybean oil anywhere. I opened my pantry to pull out the […]
Participate in Coca-Cola’s Pay It Forward Campaign
Yesterday, I shared how somebody unexpectedly decided to pay it forward to me while I was contemplating paying it forward to someone else. It was an awesome experience! Now, here’s an opportunity for you to Pay It Forward BIG TIME through the Coca Cola Pay It Forward campaign! Secondly, learn how you can win a $100 AMEX card to help […]
True Story: My Pay It Forward Experience
My Pay It Forward Experience A week before Christmas I pulled up to the drive thru at Starbucks. The horrific tragedy of Sandy Hook was still fresh on my mind. I felt the need to do something kind, something unexpected to a stranger. I instantly thought of a kind gesture: I would purchase the car […]
5 Ways a Mom Uses a Gallon Size Plastic Bag
According to Wikipedia, the zipper storage bag was patented by Robert W. Vergobbi on May 18, 1954. I think a statue should be made of this man. He is a genius. What mom doesn’t love using zipper storage bags? I have about a gazillion ways I use gallon size bags, but here are 5 of […]
Chef Todd English Teaches Through Macy’s Culinary Council
Chef Todd English is sharing his secrets as part of the Macy’s Culinary Council. Chef recently demonstrated his pizza making techniques with food lovers at his restaurant, Figs in Palm Beach, FL this week. Of Italian ancestry, Chef has always had a passion for all things Italian. In 2008 he embarked on an Italian tour eating […]
How to Make Chicken Taco Tortilla Soup
Make Chicken Taco Tortilla Soup during National Soup Month! It’s delicious and simple! A warm bowl of soup – just the thought of it during chilly January sounds so comforting. Are you a soup person? I am and I love learning new soup recipes! Hormel recently shared their Chicken Taco Tortilla Soup recipe. It’s a pantry […]
Room Service When Cruising with Kids
Cruising with Kids Tip: Order room service breakfast to arrive just as the kids are waking up. It’s free & keeps the kids occupied! It might have been the best advice given to me before we set sail aboard the Carnival Breeze before our first trip. Each night I filled out the breakfast room service door […]
Children’s Place Styles for Cruising and New Year
Headed to The Children’s Place just before the cruise and stocked up on classic, stylish and affordable pieces! Isabella’s Girl Power graphic t-shirt from The Children’s Place just might be her lucky shirt now after being selected to play in the Hasbro Game Show aboard the Carnival Breeze in December! What are your favorite classic items […]
Second Child & The Bump On The Head
Yep, the second child is walking around tonight with a big ole bump on her head. It’s a bit nasty looking. The best or the worst part of it, depending how you look at it, is I don’t have the faintest idea how and when she got it today. Tom (@SmartyPantsDada) called out to me […]
DIY Memory Box, A Simple Tradition for Families
I previously shared how to make a Memory Box. It was a resolution of mine in 2012. I stuck to it, well, most days I stuck to it! Each day of the year, I added a little blurb about what we did. Short simple sentences of accomplishments or basic happenings. The best part of that memory […]