Recreation & Entertainment for All at MarLee Travel

Wahm Addicts University and Social Site

2009-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

While the economy rears its ugly head, many of us have found peace and tranquility knowing that we have a very unique home to go to at Wahm Addicts Social. Within this arena you will find tons of fabulous people that are dedicated to succeeding and helping each other out no matter how ugly the economy may be at the moment, and the good news is that we ARE succeeding.

Within this venue, we are now offering very low-cost classes available to anyone that will help you beat this economy and regain the confidence that you might have had in the past, but are now a bit frustrated or learn something completely new. Membership to Wahm Addicts http://wahmaddictssocial.ning.com/ is free to anyone, and there are tons of groups to join, also free, to help you along.

We support and promote your business in many areas. We offer free and low cost advertising to meet your needs. While advertising WAHM Addicts social network we are in fact promoting all our members who reap the rewards. Join today and join in the rewards.

Yes, there are many networking groups out there, but we must tell you that this is a very unique and helpful group, not to mention friendly. We are already at 500 members and growing on a daily basis very quickly. There is a reason for that, and it is not because it is free. The team leaders and members alike are friendly, decent, trustworthy, and on the ball in all aspects. Our mission is to help you, and because we are doing our best to do just that, people are noticing it and want to become a part of a family rather than a group that is all about ads and promotion. While naturally there is some of that in every group, we try out best to help people from all walks of life. As the old saying goes…It is not always what you know, but who you know that plays an important part in business as a whole, and to know these very unique individuals is a blessing in disguise.

As the New Year approaches, our goal is to move forward and support each other. There is nothing better than having a home to go to, whether it is in your personal lives or your business lives.

From our house, so-to-speak, to yours, we wish you all much joy this holiday season, and a wonderful New Year, and hopefully you will have joined us in our mission to support the small business owner, and each other.

Peace, Love and Joy,

Sincerely,

Krista Clyburn, Creator of Wahm Addicts Social Network
Ellen Levinas, MVA,
AND our Wonderful
Wahm Addicts Leadership Team and Members
www.wahmaddictssocial.ning.com - We Satisfy the Craving!
www.wahmaddicts.com
www.wabizbox.com - It's in the Box!
www.thesamplebag.com - It's in the Bag!

iEmporium Sizzle features MarLee Travel & Online Shopping Boutique

2008-12-05T21:50:00.000-08:00

It is such an honor to be a part of this sensational e-magazine. The iEmporium Sizzle has such amazing creators and great content featuring wonderful merchants with unique products and services. We are so excited to be included among them and featured in the iSizzle special Christmas edition.

View this masterpiece by clicking on the icon below. See MarLee Travel on Page 10 and Online Shopping Boutique on Page 13.

If you want to be a part of iSizzle, become a member of iEmporium at http://www.iemporium.ning.com/

WAHM Online Shopping Extravaganza

2008-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

News from our WAHM Corner

No need to get the keys, get in the car, drive to the zillions stores or the malls to get all those gifts on your list. Get the kids off to school, or send the wee ones to play, and lounge in your pjs or not...and take out the credit and debit cards and shop til you drop right at your computer.

And where are you shopping you ask? Well, you will be shopping at the online stores owned by moms who work at home. This week and next week there are many WAHM stores having online shopping parties so you can fill those stockings for the holidays.

Here is a list of the holiday shopping online parties:

Wahm Addicts-Online Festivals
When: Fri Dec 5, Wed Dec 10; 7:30pm – 10 pm EST
Where: http://wahmaddictsparty.blogspot.com/
Featuring: WAHM online stores

Nowa’s Party Zone-Winter Wonderland
When: Dec 3-Dec 6: 11am – 9:30pm EST
Where: http://www.nowaspartyzone.info/
Featuring: WAHM online stores; discounts & sales; giveaways;And grand prize winter wonderland basket~ $58.00 value ~shown above

Carole’s Party Central-Christmas Extravanga
When: Fri Dec 5, Mon Dec 8, Fri Dec 12; 4pm – 10pm CST
Where: http://2mysuccess.info/ Click on Carole’s Party Central
Featuring: WAHM online stores; Great vendors with great products; find great deals and specials

Online Shopping Mall-Holiday Shopping Showcase
When: Tues Dec 9 & Wed Dec 10; 6pm – 9:30pm EST
Where: http://www.onlineshoppingmall.ning.com/
Featuring: WAHM online stores selling gifts, jewelry, candles, holiday décor & more for your holiday gifts

Free Home Business Post-Vendor Holiday Party
When: Wed Dec 10 2pm – 4pm CST
Where: http://freehomebusinesspost.ning.com/ and go to Party Room
Featuring: WAHM online stores selling great products- perfect for gifts for the whole family

The Diva Within-Online Vendor Party
When: Wed Dec 10; 6pm – 9 pm EST
Where: http://www.diva-within.com/ and go to Chat-box
Featuring: WAHM online stores for your holiday gift shopping

Wahm Forum
When: Sat Dec 13; 6pm EST
Where: http://www.wahmworkathome.heavenforum.com/
Featuring: Contests & Free Basket Giveaway

Cruising is the Best Family Vacation!

2008-12-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

Cruising is the Best Family Vacation!
by Maddy Cohen

Vacation time is looming on the horizon, and you still haven't found the perfect place to go? Perhaps, when Jupiter aligns with Mars, the Great Idea will hit and you'll frantically make the calls --and pay the price. The family will have its vacation after all.

But Mom, will you get to escape to a spa for the afternoon just by taking an elevator?
Dad, will you be able to sprawl out on a chaise and not have to make one decision all day, except what flavor margarita to order?
Teens, will you disappear for hours and not get any flack when you show up because, after all, you can't have gone far anyway?
And kids, will you get to watch new-release movies all evening while your folks are out and not need a baby-sitter?

If your family is like ours, you've been to a few lakes, a few beaches, the mountains, a few big theme parks, a couple of major cities. Maybe you have a time share or rent the same cabin every year. No doubt, you've eaten in every chain in America. But after a while, you get tired of the long car rides, tempermental weather, high admission prices and pit stops.

Most of all, you tire of the stress of wondering, "Will this be a great vacation?" When you consider that the cost of an average Boomer family vacation is about $3,000-$6,000 for a week of fun in the sun, it's understandable that no family wants to feel ripped off or emotionally unfulfilled when they get home and have to face the rat race.

In our case, the questions and complaints ended on our first family cruise. We all got to do exactly what we wanted, sometimes together, sometimes not, but no one felt compromised and no fights ensued. Sounds miraculous, doesn't it?

Although Matt, my 11 year old, began cruising with us at the age of two, we had not tried it as a foursome until our nine year old, Ben, joined us on what is becoming the next classic family vacation, the Alaska cruise.

The scenery alone would have been enough, but now that we have experienced the curative powers of cruising, I don't have to hawk the concept to the tough customers in my house. After all, Matt and Ben have walked on a glacier, panned for gold, steamtrained through the Klondike--well, those are tales we'll tell in good time.

I can assure you that unless you suffer from thalassophobia (yes, it's real; fear of the sea), you won't find a vacation experience that offers more to each member of your family.

To those of you who are nature lovers and tend toward soft adventure, I can tell you that seeing bear and eagles close-up in Alaska, swimming with the sting rays in Grand Cayman, and birding in Costa Rica, all possibilities on cruise ships and merely the tip of the, excuse the mention, iceberg, is a fabulous experience, especially when the family does it together, bonding all the way.

As terrific as whitewater rafting or sleeping under the stars are, an entire vacation without a hot bath or air conditioning might make certain family members just a bit touchy. But with cruising, the kids build a context for their lives, Dad gets the video, and Mom doesn't have to cook or pick out a new restaurant for the evening.

Unlike resort vacations, you're not continually sizing up restaurant menus to figure out if you've gone off the deep end of your food budget, or nixing an activity toward the end of the week because you've spent too much overall.

Yes, we've had fun at Club Med and other all-inclusives, but the evening activities and dining on cruise ships are a lot more grown up. It's really nice at day's end to go on a date with your spouse, knowing the kids are being entertained in kids' or teen programs, or safe asleep in the cabin with night patrol checking up on them.

I can dissect every earthbound vacation we've taken and identify the good, bad and ugly, but why bother? There are at least 10 top reasons why family cruising beats a vacation on terra firma. Try a few of these on for size to see if you can picture yourselves in our shoes:

You don't have to be together all of the time, but you won't have to worry where everyone else is.
You can be together as much as you want; swim, play bingo, take an excursion, play basketball, see a movie, and you won't have to figure out what else there is to do. There's always something.
You can eat your meals together but you don't have to eat the same kind of food.
Thanks to buffets and grills, the kids can eat on their own if they're old enough to make decisions.
Kids have the option of kids' programs instead of dragging around with the old folks.
Vice versa.
You don't have to worry about the kids getting lost; in a day or two, they'll know their way around better than you.
You'll be staying in a beautiful environment without stained carpets or worn bedspreads.
You can drink and not worry about driving back.
You can see a show, gamble and go to a party all in one night without having to call the baby-sitter.

I must stress that one family's Big Red Boat could be the Titanic for Princess customers. It's very important that, based on your family's needs, ages and lifestyle, you select the right ship for you.

After you've made that decision, you'll find the specifics of planning for, shopping for, packing for, and experiencing cruising family-style here in the family and kids' sections of CruiseMates.

Best of all, our community of cruisers enables you to communicate in advance with other families like yours -- and kids like your kids -- who'll be with you on your cruise. Everyone who's on to CruiseMates can get acquainted beforehand and eliminate those first few days of feeling "new." (You've got to check out Kuki's advice on how to hook up in advance --he's The Man on that subject!) Making friends in advance of departure can enhance the experience so much for everyone in the family.

When it's time for the family to decide, "To cruise, or not to cruise?," don't harbor any reservations. Everyone at CruiseMates promises you'll be on those message boards the day after you get back, converting more innocent families to the ways of the waves.

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Cruisemates at Cruisemates.com is an unbiased website with resources for everything you want to know about going on a cruise

Cruise Italian-style in the Tropics

2008-12-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to take a cruise. The rates are at their lowest and you get to escape from the cold on this Italian-style 7 day cruise sailing December 28th. Ring in the new year on a romantic cruise. Click here to see all the details

This offer won't last long, so be sure to email MarLee Travel at marjoy88@aol.com or visit us and contact us for more deals like this at http://www.marleetravel.4mydeals.com/

Click here to see all the details

Cruise Map and Itinerary Below

Click here to see all the details

Vermont Fall Special Offer

2008-09-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Basin Harbor

To Book this offer, email us at marjoy88@aol.com

A Recent Visit to Jamaica, My Island in the Sun

2008-09-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

By: Marjorie Randall , Referring Travel Agent and Owner of Marlee Travel

As my flight descended over the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea surrounding Montego Bay, I reflected on the warmth of the ocean and the calming waves on the white sandy beach I used to enjoy and it was as if it were welcoming me. After going through the long lines and the formalities of the local immigration my next stop was baggage claim where I discovered my luggage did not arrive with me. The airport personnel were however reassuring and convinced me that the luggage should be on the next flight that night. I have to say they handled the situation very professionally and I did get the luggage to begin a well needed getaway. I couldn’t wait to get a fresh look at the island I last visited some five years ago and to get to the beach for a swim.

It was surprisingly much warmer than I expected and I was glad I heeded my friends’ warning to dress accordingly. Montego Bay had a few surprises for me. The Airport had undergone much improvement and the landscape of the city had changed so much. There were so many new developments and traffic was everywhere. They drive so fast on the narrow streets; I was expecting an accident to happen anytime. I love the hilly countryside in Montego Bay though, and I was lucky to be staying with my friend, who has a lovely view of Montego Bay. The view is breathtaking and the sea breeze exhilarating. Oh!! How I miss home.

Being away from the island for so long, I now crave the fruits and foods I missed. There were mangos, avocados, naseberry, sweetsap,.ginneps, papayas, jelly coconut and breadfruit all available on the trees just waiting to be picked. Oranges and tangerines were out of season but I sure enjoyed the fresh supply of all the others and I had my daily fill. Talk about hospitality and generosity. If you don’t have fruit tress but your neighbour has, you can call it yours too. You will never go hungry here. Every family I visited ensured that I had a taste of the local foods, ackee and salt fish, served with cooked green bananas and fried bammy. Yummy!!! I am also on a vegetarian diet so fresh fish fried or steamed was always on the menu.

Of course I had to visit the resort areas. There are so many new hotels under construction in Negril and Montego Bay. The Riu Hotels seems to be in every town, Montego Bay, Ohio Rios, Lucea and Negril. I visited the one in Negril and was really very impressed with their service and the relaxed atmosphere. What intrigued me though was how huge these new hotels were. They covered many acres of land and I wondered if tourism was doing that well. I guess they are doing something good, coupled with the beauty of the island which sells itself. For more on Hotel Rui, see our separate post on this wonderful hotel.

Hotel Riu, Negril, Jamaica ~ A Review

2008-09-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

By: Marjorie Randall, Referring Travel Agent and Owner of MarLee Travel

The Riu Hotels seems to be in every town, Montego Bay, Ohio Rios, Lucea and Negril. I visited the one in Negril and was really very impressed with their service and the relaxed atmosphere. What intrigued me though was how huge these new hotels were. Hotel Riu is a Spanish Hotel chain. The locals are saying that history is repeating itself as the Spaniards are back – (Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1494). The Negril hotel lies along the beautiful seven mile white sand beach approximately 48 miles from Montego Bay. It features 420 deluxe guestrooms and is just minutes away from Negril’s shopping area and nightlife. Yes, it’s all-inclusive and some of the staff is required to speak Spanish. They pride themselves for their hospitality and superior service from the moment you check in. First rate food and drinks are available free to guests around the clock and you can dine at any of the tempting buffets and the a la carte specialty restaurants or enjoy a drink at one of their cozy bars. They offer activities and entertainment for the entire family, among them beach volleyball, table tennis snorkeling, billiards sauna and Jacuzzi, gym, live music, night club and a variety of theme shows. You can also enjoy their on-site spa.

The Riu has all the amenities for a restful vacation. I was captivated by the spectacular views from the guestrooms overlooking the turquoise Caribbean and beautifully landscaped grounds. Oh! The sunset views are spectacular. The sunset seems to change colors from a golden hue to fiery red. It is the perfect place for an island getaway and the ideal holiday choice for couples, singles and families.

Weddings at Rui Negril

Rui also offers great wedding packages. They are dedicated to making the wedding and honeymoon experience an unforgettable one and they have the surroundings to do just that.

One of their wedding packages offers a complete ensemble of services for the perfect wedding as follows:

RIU Caprice Wedding Package 2009 includes:

* On-site wedding coordinator to help plan the special day

* Caprice decoration set up for the ceremony location for the wedding group

* Bouquet of flowers for the bride and a matching boutonniere for the groom

* Two rose petals bags

* CD or recorded music during the ceremony

* Twenty four color photographs

* Reception dinner for the wedding group at one of our specialty restaurants

* Wedding cake for the couple and all the guests

* Sparkling wine for the couple and all the guests (during the Main Toast only)

* Natural or Chocolate body exfoliation for the bride and groom

* Aromatherapy massage for the bride and groom

* Deep-tissue or Lomi Lomi massage for the groom

* Manicure, pedicure and hairstyle for the bride

* Ten percent discount on all spa services for the bride and the groom (restrictions apply)

* Complimentary room upgrade for the couple subject to availability upon arrival (External Jacuzzi Suites are not included)

* Late check out for the couple subject to availability upon arrival

* Breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding

* Surprise gift and fruit basket

* Minister/Judge service & wedding certificate are included* Witnesses if required

Your ceremony options are: religious wedding; civil wedding or renewal of vows. So whatever couples need, the Riu Negril will give you just what your romantic heart desires. Contact us at marjoy88@aol.com if you would like more information on destination weddings at Riu Hotels, or any other destination.

Help us help others ~ In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

2008-09-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Support These Worthy Causes

iEmporium

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! iEmporium is having a silent auction on Sept 15 through 20 to benefit Childhood Cancer Research. Bidding starts today, Monday, Sept 14th. Help spread the word and help support this wonderful cause, visit http://www.iemporium.ning.com/

Reading About Me and Zarstar Designs are 2 businesses owned by 2 work at home moms, Lisa and Ally, and members of Our Milk Money (http://www.ourmilkmoney.com/). They have organized a fundraiser to help two special little girls. Please visit http://ourmilkmoney.com/news/n/27 to see details on how you can help.

Secret Samplers is holding an online fundraiser in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. They are hosting an online Garage Sale with proceeds going to The Make-A-Wish Foundation!

Visit http://theultimateadspot.ning.com/ to participate in the garage sale and help support Make-A-Wish and grant wishes for terminally ill children! The Online Garge Sale will be held on the weekend of September 26-28th!

Beads of Hope® sells exquisite handmade beaded jewelry to increase childhood cancer awareness and donates at least 10% of proceeds to cancer research. Shop at Beads of Hope to support this cause and help a child’s fight with cancer. To shop or find out more about their mission go to http://www.beadsofhope.com/ and visit their blog at http://beadsofhope.blogspot.com/

Introducing Suzi Homemaker

2008-09-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

Meet the talent and the Work-At-Home-Mom behind the Suzi Homemaker business. Suzi Crowder, mother of three young children, has an embroidery and sewing business that fashions the most scrumptious creations. Learn about her and her passions as she is this month’s featured member at the online social network of the Online Shopping Mall. Visit http://www.onlineshoppingmall.ning.com/ to see her complete bio and all Suzi Homemaker has to offer including the beautiful products and gifts featured in a slideshow.

To see all of Suzi Homemaker's products, visit her website by clicking on the banner below

Contest at MUIB- Join MUIB today or Pay the Price

2008-09-04T15:53:00.000-07:00

Check out Moms United In Business
Become a member now for free
There will be membership dues after September 14th
The benefits as a member are tremendous

if you're a WAHM

with support and resources

to help you succeed in business
Visit the website and see for yourself
Join today ~ You'll be sorry if you don't

Contest details at: http://moms-united.blogspot.com/2008/09/muib-contest.html

Giveaway Contest at Finders Keepers Jewelry

2008-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

Summer Sale now on at Finders Keepers Jewelry
Get 10% off first purchase or Earn Free Jewelry

Enter our Giveaway Contest for a chance to win
a necklace or bracelet from Finders Keepers
The winner will be chosen ramdomly on October 1, 2008
To enter, send us an email at mordaniels@yahoo.com
in the subject put October Finders Keepers Giveway
and provide your full name in your email message
Good Luck!

Visit our website by clicking on banner below:

Another Great WAHM Networking Group

2008-09-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

Momdot.com is a networking group of moms who blog. They blog about everything-the cat that threw up on....; the child who threw a phone in the toilet; the mom who lost her kid in a nano second and is frantically searching; and in between all that blogging about stuff all moms go through there is also time to blog about your business and network to grow your business. The members' personal and professional life will be featured and the mommy universe continues as usual...oh yeah my cat just threw up on the rug.

Visit this blogging networking group at http://www.momdot.com/ And Oh yeah it's free to join...so what are you waiting for?

Gotta go clean up that mess now...yeah it's a cliche but really a woman's work is never done.

Secret Samplers ~ You Just Gotta Get Yours

2008-09-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Our friend and fellow WAHM, Ruby Ramberg, owns a few online businesses and does direct sales as well. Her latest venture is her Secret Samplers business which allows owners of direct sales business, small business and WAHM business to get their products into the hands of potential customers EVERY month, and at an affordable price. In the month of September, for just $5 you can have lifetime member ship at Secret Samplers. Visit the website at http://www.secretsamplers.com/ and see why you should get your Secret Samplers today.

Read on to learn more about Ruby Ramberg and her businesses as well as how Secret Samplers can help you:

"Secret Samplers" was created by Ruby Ramberg. A proud mother of three very energetic boys and the owner and founder of The Best Kept Beauty Secrets and it's sister sites:

The Ultimate Secrets Mommy Mall and The Ultimate Ad Spot

These sites were all created with WAHMs and small homed based businesses in mind. As a stay at home mom, Ruby understands the struggle of trying to run a home based business and raise kids. Therefore, she feels the need to help others with her knowledge of launching a successful busy also.

As a WAHM herself , she learned how important direct marketing is for growing your business. Getting your samples and products actually INTO consumers hands is CRUCIAL to growing your customer base and increasing your downline.

Think about your last purchase. Did you just go out and spend $50 on a perfume or cosmetic product just because you seen a commercial? Or did you actually look at the product, read the ingredients, smell the perfume? Most consumers want to know the product before spending a big amount on it. That is where we come in. Secret Samplers allows consumers to sample NAME brand products for a fraction of the price!

Another Giveaway--this one with "bling"

2008-08-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Saige Nicole’s Boutigue is having a “bling” giveaway. Read on for more details and visit them at http://www.saigenicoles.com/pages/giveaway.htm

Here are the giveaway details:

Lucky Mamma Give-a-way
This month, One "Lucky Mamma" will receive a pair of our gorgeous "Glam Girl" bling sunglasses! These gorgeous sunglasses are perfectly sized for your Hollywood Glam Girl and boast hundreds of pink, hand-set Swarovski crystals. Oh Baby! You never looked so good.

How Do I Win?Do some window shopping and return here to enter by clicking the "Enter Here" button below and registering. Be sure and leave us a comment about your favorite Saige Nicole's items in the comment section. That's it, no strings attached - not even a baby harness! Oh yeah, please remember to tell a friend or two about us and when you win - drop us a line and let us know how much you love your gift; send us a picture for our BRAG Page too. Good Luck!Information provided by Wendy Navarro, owner of Saige Nicole’s Boutique and proud mom of three.

Another Enchanted Giveaway

2008-08-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Another Enchanted Giveaway

Sandi Brown, owner of Our Enchanted Children, has filled her store with wonderful hand-crafted items for your precious little one. Visit her website today and see for yourself why others have made her store their favorite place to shop, and while you’re browsing for that perfect item, don’t forget to sign up for a chance to win a great prize. Read on for more details on how to get a chance for an enchanted giveaway….

Our Enchanted Children Giveaway-We're having a terrific giveaway to thank everyone who visits my website and signs up for the drawing between now and September 29th. All you have to do is visit Our Enchanted Children and complete the sign-up form and your name will be entered for a chance to win one of several great prizes, some of which are items especially handmade for this event. Please tell everyone you know to visit the site, browse around and sign up ~ you have as good a chance of winning as the next guy! Thanks again and Good Luck. http://www.ourenchantedchildren.com/

Information provided by Sandi Brown, owner of Our Enchanted Children. Visit her blog at http://www.ourenchantedchildren.blogspot.com/

Online Shopping Mall Grand Opening Event

2008-08-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

With door prizes, fun, and lots of shopping...that’s what the Online Shopping Mall Grand Opening Event promises for all.

Come on over to The Ultimate Ad Spot www.theultimateadspot.ning.com for this Grand Opening event and let's grab door prizes and have some fun.

When: starting tomorrow Wed-Sat, August 20-23rd from 8am-7pm each day
Where: www.theultimateadspot.ning.com

See you there!
Information by Maureen Daniels
Creator of the Online Shopping Mall “a gathering spot for merchants and shoppers”
www.onlineshoppingmall.ning.com

How To Gain Free Advertising

2008-08-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Our friend and fellow WAHM and very creative jewelry designer, Lisa of My Colorful Treasures, writes an articles giving very insightful and helpful tips about having a successful business and where to find free advertising.

Please click on the following url to see how you can get more traffic going to your business website by using free advertising: http://mycolorfultreasures.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-gain-free-advertising.html

____________________________
About the Author:

Lisa, owner of My Colorful Treasures, is a WAHM & the very proud owner, creator, & designer of My Colorful Treasures! My Colorful Treasures offers a beautiful selection of custom handcrafted affordable trendy jewelry & hair clippies! Visit My Colorful Treasures at http://www.mycolorfultreasures.com/ and her blog at http://www.mycolorfultreasures.blogspot.com/. You can get FREE SHIPPING & a 10% discount by using coupon code: FIRST10.

Tis The Season..for Giveaways

2008-08-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

Jewelry Designer Kim of Little Ladybug Designs is having a savenger hunt with the chance to win a wonderful prize. Read on for details:

Little Ladybug Designs is having a scavenger hunt! Click here to enter http://www.littleladybugdesigns.com/contact.php If you answer all 5 questions right you will be entered to win a FREE DVD PHOTO MONTAGE with 30 photos and one song. Winners will be picked randomly and notified by email after August 31st. You have 5 days to claim your prize before I pick a new winner. Only one entry per person, email, & household. All contest entries will be added to our newsletter list. Good luck and have fun!

Travel Tips ~ Before You Leave

2008-08-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

TRAVEL TIPS

Things To Do the Day You Leave

Turn water heater down to the lowest setting.

Turn your air conditioner up in summer. You want to reduce your bills, but you may have to keep the house from getting too hot to protect your pets and electronics.

Turn your heat down or off in spring or fall. Be sure to leave the house warm enough in the winter. You may want to reduce your bills, but you may need to keep the house from getting too cold to protect your pets and water pipes.

Leave shades or drapes as you normally do.

lug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have some noise in the house during part of the day.

Lock all doors and windows including basement & garage.

One Night Free at Superclubs

2008-08-16T04:34:00.000-07:00

You've heard all the raves about Superclubs, now you can take advantage of this latest special offer at this all-inclusive resort. What's included in this offer:

Luxurious Accommodations

All Meals in a Variety of Dining Options

Unlimied Premium Brand Drinks

Land and Water Sports

Activities and Entertainment

Airport Transfers

No Tipping Allowed

Call or email MarLee Travel to book this Superclubs offer or to inquire about similar offers~908-369-0879 or marjoy88@aol.com

Book by October 31, 2008 to take advantage of these savings. Rates are valid for travel through December 20, 2008. Blackout dates and restrictions apply. See below for complete details.

5th Night Free applies to all reservations traveling September 1 - 30, 2008.

At SuperClubs Super-Inclusive Resorts, virtually everything you can eat, drink and do is included in one simple up-front price. More than all-inclusive, it's Super-Inclusive. Everything from award-winning cuisine, unlimited premium beverages, fabulous accommodations, every land and water sport imaginable, even golf - and more - all included with no tipping allowed.

All on the best beaches in: JAMAICA - THE BAHAMAS - CURAÇAO - THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - BRAZIL

Call or email MarLee Travel to book this Superclubs offer or to inquire about similar offers~908-369-0879 or marjoy88@aol.com

August Newletter Sent Out Today

2008-08-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Our first issue of the MarLee Travel Newsletter went out today.

If you'd like to receive it and haven't signed up for it yet, you can sign up right here at our newsletter sign up box to the upper right hand side of this blog page. Those who have received the newsletter, leave us your feedback in our guestbook or by leaving a comment.

Best Regards,
Marjorie & Maureen

Contest! Prize Package Worth Over $2000.00

2008-07-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

Announcing Moms United In Business contest. With a prize package worth over $2,000.00 including business cards, advertising package, and much more. Visit http://moms-united.blogspot.com/2008/07/contest-prize-package-worth-over-200000.html for contest and prize details. Moms United in Business is dedicated to supporting moms professionally and personally. You can visit this network online at www.momsunitedinbusiness.com

Jewelry Palooza

2008-07-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Jewelry Showcase ~ Featuring Jewelry Designers & Stores Owned by Women

MILAN DESIGN JEWELRY

Lena Gott created Milan Jewelry Design in 2004. What started as a line appropriate for office wear, quickly turned into a bridal favorite. Milan Jewelry now designs jewelry exclusively for special events, including weddings and proms.

Brides and bridesmaids are welcome to browse the entire catalog (see link below) or contact Lena directly for suggestions. Here are a few ideas:

For a formal wedding, she recommends the following pieces:
Serena Necklace and Earrings set
Bella Chandelier Necklace and Earrings set
Leilei Bracelet
Grace Necklace and Bracelet set
Larissa Necklace paired with Cecilia Earrings

Grace Necklace & Bracelet

For a more casual wedding, she recommends the following pieces:
Melody Necklace and Earrings set
Marianna Necklace and set
Carlie Necklace and Anklet set

Melody Necklace & Earrings

A few designs work equally as well for formal and casual affairs.
Adrianna Necklace and Earrings (best selling set!)
Hannah bracelet
Dot Necklace and Bracelet set

Adrianna Necklace

The neat thing about Milan Jewelry is that the pieces are meant to be mixed and matched. The entire bridal party can wear a variety of designs and still coordinate well together.

For example, a bride might prefer the Larissa Necklace for herself because it has the most sparkle and substance, then outfit her bridesmaids in the smaller proportioned Bella Chandelier Necklace and Cecilia Earrings. The flower girl could then wear the coordinating Hannah Bracelet or Callie Earrings and the mother of the bride would look lovely in the Dot Necklace and Bracelet set. The entire bridal party would be appropriately adorned with coordinating, yet not exactly matching pieces. Notice that this example doesn’t include exact matching sets for earrings and necklaces, either. This is because although most necklaces have an exactly matching bracelet or earrings, brides like to mix up the combinations.

Some people prefer larger necklaces with smaller earrings, and some people prefer earring and bracelet sets instead of necklaces. For example, many bridesmaids order the Cecilia Earrings to compliment the Bella Chandelier Necklace instead of the matching Bella Chandelier Earrings. Another unique pairings is the Leilei Bracelet with the Adrianna Necklace.

Bella Chandelier Necklace & Cecilia Earrings

If a bride isn’t sure which pieces work well together, Lena would be happy to make recommendations based on the dresses the bride or bridesmaids will be wearing as well as bridal party preferences. Some wedding parties are outfitted in a dress style that allows for mixed and matched tops and bottoms; now the jewelry can be mixed and matched as well!

To see the entire Milan Design Jewelry collection and take advantage of free shipping and 10% off a purchase of $150 and more, visit: Milan Jewelry Design on SHOP.com.

glitter-graphics.com

THE PRETTY PEACOCK

Customized/personalized jewelry created from fine and sterling silver is my passion. Creating treasured heirlooms with loved ones' names, dates, quotes, quips...anything personal and/or deeply meaningful to an individual or their recipient is why I love what I do - it makes me feel emotionally connected to my pieces. I grew up in an East Indian household and the Indian culture is so vibrant and festive, yet always has an atmosphere of elegance and grace surrounding it. I try and emulate that same emotion in my jewelry.

Visit The Pretty Peacock online at: theprettypeacock.etsy.com and at www.trunkt.org/theprettypeacock

glitter-graphics.com

LIA SOPHIA JEWELRY

Lia Sophia has been around for over 30 years, we're formerly known as Lady Remington. We offer high-quality, designer-inspired fashion jewelry at affordable prices. All our jewelry is backed up by our unbeatable Lifetime Replacement Guarantee! We offer monthly specials, as well as our every day Customer Save Plan: buy 2 at regular price, get the 3rd at 50% off - your most expensive items are 50% off!

Our jewelry is electroplated in either rhodium (a member of the platinum family) or 24-22k gold. Our jewelry is made up of cut crystals, czs, genuine turquoise, mother-of-pearl, fresh water pearls, genuine abalone, and more.

Lia Sophia just made their big screen debut in the Sex and the City Movie! Our jewelry has been in several magazines, including Marieclaire and Cosmopolitan. Celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria love Lia Sophia. We specialize in doing home parties, however catalog or online parties are available. My average hostess gets about $600 worth of jewelry for only $60.

Even if you choose not to host a party, or do not attend a party, you can always place an order online through my website: www.liasophia.com/cathyt . Through my website you can also view our entire catalog! Our special for July is: Buy 1 at regular price, get 2 at 50% off.

glitter-graphics.com

MYSWEETYROOM JEWELRY

Welcome to Kelly's Mysweetyroom Jewelry Online Store

http://mysweetyroom.webs.com/ (homepage)
http://mysweetyroom.etsy.com/ (etsy marketplace)

The most breathtaking thing in the lives of women is jewelry. We guarantee that all Fine & Diamond Jewelry on mysweetyroom.webs.com is of the highest quality, and we provide personal care ensuring each item meets your satisfaction. Mysweetyroom.webs.com Jewelry and gifts design comes from the showcases in Asia and some items are from Greece, Italy and Switzerland, etc. Many are unique and individual. The selections represent a variety of international styles.

Thank you very much for choosing Mysweetyroom Jewelers, your hometown jewelry store on the Internet!

glitter-graphics.com

TOTAL DELIGHTS ~ Handcrafted Jewelry

Debbie and Diane are self-taught jewelry artists who together built a totally delightful website of handcrafted jewelry.

The Total Delights website is an online jewelry store filled with all sorts of handcrafted bead jewelry of any type imaginable. Top notch work with quality materials such as lots of Swarovski crystals, semi-precious and precious gemstones and Sterling silver wire and clasps. With jewelry categories such as necklaces, bracelets and pendants, a section for holiday jewelry, teen jewelry and even jewelry to raise awareness.

The website is easy to explore and shop on, photos of every jewelry piece offered, there are plenty of explanations and descriptions of each piece. Most are one of a kind, no cookie cutter designs there. The properties and powers believed to held by different gemstones, are easy to find on each page as well as a special page dedicated to gemstone meanings. A “Sold Gallery” with customer raves and photos of pieces sold in the past. When done shopping and looking around you can visit their blog that has regular updates and their newest creations, plus great info on jewelry, the care of, and hints and tips for picking the right piece. There is also a monthly contest with a beautiful piece of jewelry to be won, simply enter on the contest page.

Please shop around and buy something if it catches your eye… You never know… that beautiful piece of bead jewelry you saw today might be in the “Sold Gallery” tomorrow! See you at The Total Delights website

glitter-graphics.com

Could There Be A Zillion Work-At-Home Business Owners Ready to be At Your Service

2008-07-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Zillionaires

by Ally Loprete

Lately, I’ve really been fascinated with numbers.

This fascination has grown recently, I imagine, from creating my own internet based company. The infinite numbers to be comprehended are literally incomprehensible…and fascinating at the same time. These numbers give me enormous amounts of optimism and frighten me at the same time.

In fact, this number game is what ultimately what led me to create the concept for my business, OurMilkMoney.com. It must have been about 7 months ago that I was laying awake one evening after my family had gone to bed. I imagined that there must be zillions of parents across the country who were thinking the same things that I was. Perhaps zillions had also left their corporate day jobs to discover that staying home was by far the better way to go.
Maybe zillions of new moms also took that leap of faith, spoke to a zillion husbands and said, “I am going to start my own company and work from home so that I can stay home with the kids,” which prompted a zillion panicked faces on a zillion different men. These zillions also were to soon learn that it would be twice as much work as they’d ever expected, but vowed to make it work for the sake of the family.

If there really were zillions that lay awake the same way I’d been, going through the numbers over and over again like it was some kind of riddle to be solved, then that was at least a zillion connections I wanted to make.

Were zillions of us really choosing to take but a fraction of our previous income for double the amount of work? Yes, this was THANKLESS work, with no sick pay, no paid vacation time, no group health benefits, and no company lunches paid for…and yet, we’d chosen this new role as if it was the greatest opportunity we’ve ever had for ourselves, and it made us feel a zillion more times at home.

Were we all just insane?

It was thoughts like these that made me realize the power in numbers. If there truly were large numbers of parents out there just like me, I could certainly use their friendship and their support. In exchange, I’d be happy to lend mine.

More than that, I wanted to make a pact with all of these parents… “I’ll buy your stuff if you buy mine.”

Easy enough. Now where would I find these parents? It shouldn’t have been difficult to find them with zillions of pages of information available at my internet fingertips, so I decided to begin looking each time I made a new online purchase. I searched.

And searched.

Every time I made any purchase online, I put in an extra keyword “parent” to narrow my search and pull up a vendor who was working from home to afford the opportunity to stay home with their children.

I became more and more shocked at how difficult this was, and it frustrated me. I KNEW there were parents out there who would love to sell me their shampoo, just as much as I’d love to buy it from them! It shouldn’t be so hard to find them!

That is when it hit me like a ton of bricks. If there was no such search directory, I was going to create one. So that is what I did. I have created a way for a zillion parents to support one another, and I feel a zillion times better.

One day we’ll all be zillionaires! Or at least we’ll have made a zillion new friends in the process.

About the Author: Ally Loprete is the Owner and Operator of OurMilkMoney.com, a website designed to support self-employed parents across the country. Ally’s passion in helping others transition from full time working parent to successful entrepreneur, grew from her own experiences. She is determined to help other’s deal with the sometimes overwhelming prospect of starting a new business while successfully running a household. As a public speaker and motivator, she is resolute about creating a haven in which we can continue to thrive and encourages us to support one another in our personal journeys.

Another great place for WAHMs to network

2008-07-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Door prizes and chances to win coupons and products now and this weekend at the Ultimate Ad Spot Grand Opening ~ visit them at www.theultimateadspot.ning.com

Happy shopping! Have fun!

Calling All Moms - Get Your Mommy Perks!

2008-07-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

I was happy to get connected to a company that I think was tailor made for me. The company is Mommy Perks, a great resource for moms and work at home moms. If you haven't checked out Mommy Perks yet, click here! With free membership, an expert parenting tips blog, the GreenScene, Kid's Corner, Enter to Win page, VIP Blog business features, Resale Shop, affordable advertising, great newsletters, giveaways and more...there is truly something for EVERYONE!

I was also fortunate to communicate with Shara, the owner of Mommy Perks, and after doing so I must say I was truly inspired. And of course, now I can say, "I have my Mommy Perks." Do you?

Here's an excerpt of an article done by Business Opportunities Weblog.

What is Mommy Perks and what do you offer?
Mommy Perks is a free online savings program for moms, nation-wide. We offer discounts and perks from each business listed. We have contests, giveaways, freebies, informative newsletters, events in varying states, etc. We have secured Dr. Sally Goldberg, PhD as our resident parenting blogger - she offers free parenting tips on her blog and is the author of 7 parenting books (currently working on her 8th!). We have a great kid’s page, also, with various experts writing articles and ideas for kids about music, health, culture, arts, and crafts and more. Our GreenScene page gives simple green living tips and we have a Resale Shop coming soon - we are very excited about that (it is now open)! A safe and affordable way to buy and sell for the whole family - yay!

How does someone become a Mommy Perks Representative and how does it work?
We used to accept any mom who wanted to be a Rep. We now screen the forms more closely (which research tells us is far more effective when running a business like ours) that come through to make sure the moms are a good fit for Mommy Perks, before offering a Rep spot. We get inquiries almost daily now and many moms are unaware of the amount of time and effort we put into each Rep - to train, answer questions, give them marketing materials, run the website (which we have to pay for, of course), etc. Therefore, we do require an annual investment. Rather than make Mommy Perks a “franchise” (the cost of this is VERY high and would require that we charge thousands of dollars to buy in) we have chosen to offer Rep spots for a low annual investment of $200. This fee can be paid back with the sale of just a few ads and this way, no mom will ever need to take out a loan to work with us. All Reps earn 50% of any ads that come into their area or any ads they sell. Mommy Perks maintains the entire website and we do not charge the Reps a web fee of any kind. Reps can also earn money by referring others to the Resale Shop (once it’s open) and by selling newsletter spots, goodie bag spots in their own areas at events, etc. We provide each Rep with a press release to send out, banners, buttons, fliers, tips, ideas for marketing and more. We are growing a team… not just a business.

What do people get from a membership at your website?
To become a member (the moms) is free. Each member is entered into a shopping spree contest and will receive 2-3 emails each month from us offering tips, recipes, events, discounts from our partners, charity info - all kinds of things. They may shop the business on our site and take advantage of the discounts and “perks” by using their membership card number. They get that number after joining on our free JOIN page. They are also welcome to read the blogs and ask Dr. Sally their parenting questions - no charge.

Why did you decide to start your website? How long has it been since you launched?
The founder, Lori, started Mommy Perks as a way to supplement her own family income, after her husband lost his job (unfairly). The site was started in 2005. Since that time it’s grown at a steady pace. In 2008, Lori sold the business to me and my partner, Lorraine. We took on a new professional web designer (my work at home husband, Rick!) and since then, the membership on our site has doubled and we are now growing at a rapid pace. Some days I can barely keep up with the emails and phone calls coming in.

What are some of your long term goals?
Oh, boy, so many! To get our Resale Shop up, to add more great Reps to our team so we can continue to thrive, to offer more moms the chance to work from home and earn a living selling something that every business NEEDS: marketing! We want to always keep our rates affordable so that any small and mom-owned business can afford to advertise with us. We plan to run more events around the nation - family events, etc. We’ve been called by a couple of very large companies recently, asking to work with us in some way. I can’t give names but hopefully some of those details will come through and it will benefit all of us - the Main Office, the Reps, the advertisers and the members. We consider ourselves a “community” of sorts - moms who support each other and see the importance of supporting small business. We work hard to refer our advertisers to others who might need/want their services and products. Long-term, we hope to add more great and unique businesses to our site so we have more people to refer! I ask often if we have someone for cupcakes or lawn work or for this or that. I’d love to have someone in every category in every city for every business…

How much planning went into building Mommy Perks to the website it is today? What were some of the steps you had to take?
You don’t want to know how much time! LOL. Hours and hours and hours to get the site where it is today. Lots of changes have been made and we have listened to the input of many members and advertisers who told us how the site would function and work better. By putting a professional web designer in charge we have been able to shift from being a good site to a GREAT site. That took planning and thinking and talking through what the ‘public’ was telling us and then integrating that into a system that would work Online for everyone… everywhere. Not easy but we are getting there.

If you could go back and do something differently, what would it be and why?
Hmm… I guess if I had to pick something I’d have made sure my husband was in charge of the website sooner - LOL. He has done such amazing work and we have had so many compliments on the changes - it would have been nice if that had happened even sooner. That being said, I really believe that God is in control and everything happens in His timing. So there was a reason for all of this coming about in due time just as it has meant to. I am fine with that.

What kind of investment did it take to get started?
When Lori began the business the investment was minimal, other than her time. However, to buy her out cost me a pretty penny. We had to take out a loan, let’s put it that way. And my co-partner also had to take out a loan to buy her share. So we have invested a great deal of money and TIME to get this business to where we want it to be.

Did you have any previous experience that you were able to apply to your website? Yes, actually, we did. My husband has been doing web design and development for 20 years and has run his own home business for 10+ years (http://www.dmpros.com/). He is doing very well so he brought all kinds of wisdom and knowledge to Mommy Perks and we learn a LOT from him every day. I own another business as well (http://www.personalchildstories.com/) and have built that business up quickly with little financial investment - by making great connections and networking contacts, etc. I run workshops at local bookstores and have created custom books for people all over the country and as far as Australia. My books are in numerous locations as samples now and my networking connections have helped greatly with Mommy Perks, to boot. Lorraine, my partner, owns another business also (http://www.littletreasuresofarizona.com/). She has brought a lot of business know-how and contacts with her for Mommy Perks, too. Together, the three of us are able to share tips, market, network, finds leads, partner with others, work trades, etc.

How have you managed your time between working and parenthood?
That is a tough one. We try hard to give our kids time and attention but because we BOTH work from home, it can be rough. The kids see us working and think we ought to be playing since we are home, after-all! They don’t quite grasp that we need to have some set work hours and THEN play. We are building a home office outside right now so that we can take turns being out there and away from the main home. That way, the kids will see that one of us is working in the office at varying times and find it easier to associate work hours verses home hours.

What advice do you have for other women interested in finding a way to work from home?
I think my #1 piece of advice would be this: don’t do it if you think it will be easier. It’s not easy. It takes drive and determination to make a home business run. Just like any other job, you need to be committed if you want things to come to fruition. Nothing happens on it’s own and money doesn’t just come in the mail without earning it. If you worked at Target and did a poor job, you’d lose your position, right? A home business is no different. If you don’t put in the time and effort and great customer service, it will be lost. Period.

Take the time to think through what you like to do and what you are good at. That is key. What are your likes and dislikes? If you hate sales, don’t do sales. If you love kids, look into childcare. If you love to read and write, try freelancing. If you enjoy creating with your hands, try woodworking or glass creations. Do what you love and you will love what you do. Success, in my opinion, is not measured by sales but rather by the joy and excitement you feel after spending the day doing what you were meant to do.

______________________________________

This article is a excerpt and partial reprint of an article in Business Opportunities Weblog which can be found at http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2008/07/04/the-real-perks-of-motherhood/. Permission to reprint was granted by Shara of Mommy Perks.

The Smart Woman Manifesto - What is a Smart Woman?

2008-07-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Smart Woman Manifesto - What is a Smart Woman? By Vicki Flaugher

A Smart Woman uses her entire toolbox of experiences, talents, feelings, logic, intuition, education, and yes, even her mistakes, to live her life authentically engaged. She takes the time to care for herself, evaluate what she really thinks and feels, and acts and reacts from a place of patient love, energized compassion, and balanced accountability. Choices are opportunities and she welcomes them. Opportunity leads to her future and she faces that future with a ready and willing heart and a nimble and open mind.

A Smart Woman respects others' points of view while still making her own choices. She gives generously to others while nurturing herself. She knows the value of boundaries and is skillful in using them to build stronger relationships. She speaks up when she needs to and she knows how and when to supportively listen as she keeps her vision of peace and tolerance in sight. She knows when to walk away, wishing luck and best wishes to those who are on another path. She knows and values her true worth.

Adaptable, caring, capable, and clever, a Smart Woman embraces life and triumphantly whoops and hollers her way to joy. She claims her power and her divine birthright, as each of us do, in a myriad of infinitely beautiful and unique ways, creating a fulfilling life as a Smart Woman. She's not out to prove anything to anybody. She is here to learn, live, love, laugh, and contribute.

I believe we all have a lot to share, to communicate, to witness, and to celebrate. I would feel honored and thrilled to know you are by my side. So, what do you think? Are you ready to explore? I hope so, because today, I am making firm plans and those plans include you. I am a Smart Woman with firm plans. Are you?

Here's to you and your Smart Woman path!

Vicki Flaugher, creator of http://www.SmartWomanGuides.com, is on a mission to nurture and empower the Emerging Woman Entrepreneur, the 35-55 year old female entrepreneur worldwide starting out in business for herself. The website is a resource and community site where Smart Women everywhere can learn the how-to of starting their own business, building their business, and enjoying a passionate and inspired life.

You are invited to become a guest writer on the Smart Woman Guides. If you provide products or services to the 35-55 year old female audience, you are invited to submit your offerings for review and inclusion. Visit the site today and get involved!

Summer Travel Fuel Tips

2008-07-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

Summer Travel Fuel Tips
By Michael C Podlesny

The summer travel season is here and in case you didn't notice the oil companies don't care that you are paying $4.00 per gallon. Therefore I have done some research and located 5 tried and true methods by which you can do your best to make your vehicle as fuel efficient as possible.

MAP
Plan your route ahead of time. With GPS satellites and websites such as mapquest you have more tools then ever before to ensure you are taking the best route to get to where you are going. When planning your route eliminate as many left turns as possible. Left turns make you wait where as in most states you can make a right turn even on a red light.

SLOW AND STEADY
Have you ever heard the expression, slow and steady wins the race? Well I have updated that for 2008 and the saying goes, slow and steady helps save some gas. Keep this rule in mind. The faster you drive the worse your gas mileage will be. Consumer Reports recently did a study using a Toyota Camry and found driving at 65mph instead of 55mph reduced the cars mileage from 40mpg to 30mpg. That's a significant drop.

AERODYNAMIC
Ok so you aren't going to go out and buy some space aged aircraft to be more aerodynamic but you can lose that car carrier or luggage rack you have sitting on top of your vehicle. This creates drag on your vehicle which makes your car work hard to get to a certain MPH. Pack everything you need inside the vehicle.

LEARN HOW TO DRIVE
Ok this one is a bit harsh but it needs to be said. According to Consumer Reports hard accelerating and braking can reduce your fuel economy by up to 20%. Maintain an even speed whenever possible and use cruise control if your car has it.

OFF WHEN STOPPED
Guess what? Idling gets you zero miles per gallon. If you aren't moving or going anywhere turn the car off. If you are stopping at a fast food restaurant, forgo the drive thru and go inside. If you must go through a drive thru and are just sitting there then turn your engine off. If you are going to sit there for more than 30 second then shut your car's engine off.

As you can see there is nothing extraordinary or mind boggling about these techniques. However if you start implementing them you can help save yourself some money on gas.

About the Author:Mr. Micheal Podlesny is a freelance writer.You can read more of his gas saving tips by Clicking here, or by visiting his MySpace Blog.

Balancing Career and Family

2008-06-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

Tips to Help Balance Career and Family by: Megan Hazel

Whether you are male or female, a mom or a dad, balancing career and family can be really difficult. When you're a woman, though, the choices you have to make seem especially difficult and the responsibilities all the more great. For some reason, women are guilt-ridden with their career decisions and the choices they make about working while trying to raise their children, providing nutritious meals for their family, keeping a respectable house and keeping their husbands happy. Last on the list, of course, is finding some time for themselves. So how does a woman find time to actually feel happy with her daily activities while keeping up with all of the responsibility?

First, take time to smell the roses! Literally, you can take time to smell the roses but you can actually do this with no flowers in sight. Every day, try to look around and appreciate what you have, taking in the sounds of your child's laughter, the wag of your dog's tail, the special glance of your husband as you tell a funny joke. Sometimes, the knowledge of what you have on your plate for the day will feel overwhelming, but a little perspective goes a long way. It may be a cliché and a very tired phrase, but it truly does work. People tend to get lost in the mundane, day-to-day "functioning" instead of really living their lives. For example, next time you are worried about fitting in your exercise with your child's play date at Little Gym, forego the Little Gym and head out with your son or daughter for a run. Strap the little one in the jog stroller or if he or she is old enough, ask them to put on the running shoes with Mommy and head outside! Once outside, you can literally stop to smell the roses. Just a few minutes of gratitude a day will work wonders for your soul and automatically make your life feel more balanced.

Along these same lines, try and give yourself some "me" time once a week. Once a week may not seem like much, but if you really allow yourself to soak it in and enjoy the time spent, it will make the stress of all of the rest of the hectic days melt away. Take a good block of time on a Saturday or Sunday - 2 hours, maybe - and mark this time in your calendar in pen, not pencil. Keep a standing appointment with yourself, and honor it as you would any other. Think you are too busy on a weekend to do this? You will feel much more productive the rest of the weekend allowing yourself this little ‘refresher', rather than trying to cram some time in on a random Tuesday or other weeknight. For this special time, you can book a massage or a facial at your favorite spa. Take a couple of hours to go window shopping at your favorites stores, by yourself or with a friend. Take in a matinee with a couple of girlfriends. If your husband is willing to fly solo on a Saturday night, you can even book a girls' night out once in a while and truly let loose! Even if your budget doesn't allow for these activities once a week, you can lock yourself in the bathroom with a good book, a bubble bath and a nice glass of wine and feel good about your time alone - you deserve some!

Probably the most obvious way to balance career and family is to incorporate your family into what would otherwise be "work time". If you have a short commute to work, for example, perhaps you can drive your kids to school each morning instead of having them take the bus. In the alternative, you could have your morning cup of coffee at the bus stop with them and spend a few minutes chatting about their day and what they plan to learn in school as you sip your cup of Joe and breathe in the morning air to mentally prepare for your own day ahead. If you normally exercise in the morning and leave the house very early, switch your workout time to lunch and leave the office to go to the gym, eating at your desk when you get back. You will have more time with your family each day and get a healthy break from your pile of papers to boot.

You may need to get a little creative with your schedule, but there are definitely ways to help balance career and family. Sometimes an extra few minutes each day or a once-weekly good block of time can go a long way in helping restore your peace of mind and help you feel less harried.

About The Author:
Megan Hazel is a freelance writer who writes about women's health and career topics, similar to what consumers read in http://www.magazines.com/ncom/mag?mid=7765 Women's Health

Honeymoon In Belize

2008-06-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

Honeymoon In Belize At An Ambergris Caye Resort by: Gordon Steven

A Honeymoon in Belize is becoming a popular option, and the hard part then is putting together a honeymoon package, after deciding where to stay. A good choice would be the Xanadu Island resort on Ambergris Caye.

A Honeymoon resort benefits from being small, and Xanadu Island resort has only eighteen rooms, right on the beachfront within ten minutes walk of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. The kind of accommodation you might decide to take on your honeymoon package could well be Suite number two which is an oceanfront loft with views to die for. Get up early, about half past six, make a cup of coffee in the kitchen, go outside onto the deck, and watch the sunrise, and if you do this once, you’ll do it everyday.

Ambergris Caye is a real island getaway, and Xanadu Island resort even more so. It is hidden on a beach lined with palm trees, and what you see from your dawn and daily outlook is the turquoise Caribbean, and the white line of the reef.

The breakdown of the accommodations is a Studio, Loft, or 1,2,or3 bedrooms. Each suite is airconditioned, plus ceiling fans, cable Television, unlimited internet access, as if you’d want that on your Belize honeymoon!!

Added to that hairdryers, safe, beach towels, and not forgetting your own private deck which is shaded from the sun. There is a long pier with a thatched shade at the end and a swimming platform, so you can snorkel over the hotel’s own man made reef. There is a lovely pool, and loads of hammocks and sunbeds around the pool and on the beach.

The complimentary bikes and kayaks allow you to explore Ambergris Caye, and the bicycles are especially useful to take you into San Pedro to the great restaurants there. If your honeymoon in Belize isn’t to be just relaxing at the Xanadu, but you wish to be more energetic, then why not try Scuba Diving, sailing, fishing or take a guided eco tour to the rainforest.. In addition tours to Mayan ruins can easily be arranged.

Whilst there is no restaurant at the resort, this won’t detract from your honeymoon vacation at all, after all who needs boring hotel restaurant food anyway. There are two local markets close by, so snack meals can easily be organised in the kitchen which is very well equipped. Some suggestions for feeding yourself are George’s for breakfast, Casa Picasso for dinner, Crazy Canuck’s Bar on the beach, and Monkey Bites for breakfast or lunch.

The management team at the Xanadu Island Resort go out of their way from even before you arrive for your honeymoon in Belize to ensure you have an enjoyable and stress free time. From the immaculately maintained property, well looked after rooms, nothing is left to chance, even ensuring flights and taxis are all there when you need them. Xanadu Island Resort on Ambergris Caye could give you the perfect honeymoon in Belize, and research shows that most people who have gone there for their Belize Honeymoon would return.

Family Budget Cutting When On Vacation

2008-06-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

How to Cut Down on Your Budget When You Go on VacationBy Susan Hutson

Are you planning for your next travel vacation? Well, everybody in your family would long for a vacation after a long period of hard work at school and office. But, with travel and vacation becoming more and more expensive by the day, it creates the need for travelers to cut down on their budget whilst on vacation. Explained below are 10 common (easy) tips that would help save those travel money.

1. Take your own food and drinks: This would seem a little ridiculous; however, the amount you can save could be huge. For instance, a burger prepared at home could be much tastier and cheaper compared to those offered for sale at restaurants and hotels. Likewise, a bottle or can of soft drinks would be more expensive in hotels, whereas it would be cheaper to buy it from a supermarket. This would help you avoid instances of premium pricing.

2. If the first tip seems impractical, try this one. Have breakfast where kids could eat free or split meals. Since small children eat too little but at regular intervals, going to children-friendly restaurants that accommodate special requests for extra plates could help save you a lot of money, especially if your family has over two kids.

3. Take your own refillable water bottles: A typical family spends over $20 a day buying mineral water and by taking your own water bottles, you could save on this money, especially on long-trips. Get them refilled at your hotel or water fountains at no extra cost.

4. Make use of any offers and coupons be it for food, lodging, traveling or attractions, just simply make use of them. The amount you save could be enormous. You could find offers and coupons in local newspapers, stores, motels, hotels and even online.

5. Always rent a car: This would be much cheaper compared to the (airport) shuttle service. Likewise, it would be more flexible and convenient. If you are planning to drive to your destination, rent a car because it would save those potential expenditures and costs of wear and tear (repairs).

6. Bring your own stroller since you could simply save $8 to $10 a day at some of the attractions in your visit.

7. Make use of multi-day passes at the attractions. This is very useful since those could be used at anytime of the day.

8. Enjoy the day away from the major attractions: It would be much cheaper to spend your day at the beach or at a local playground and would be as much fun as visiting those attractions. Make use of every opportunity that is provided for free, such as the hotel's swimming pool and sports facilities.

9. Make your own reservations: By doing so, it is guaranteed that your particular needs are satisfied. Online reservations would earn you additional discounts that would help save you more.

10. Give your children a set amount to spend. This would limit unnecessary expenditures, and the children knowing about this restriction would put the money to better use.
You could save huge amounts of money by simply following the above tips, and it would give you and your family a chance to spend an additional night or two at the holidaying destination. Good luck with your journey!

Bizymoms.com has been dedicated to helping moms work at home for over 10 years. Now Bizymoms helps moms find solutions to all their daily needs like planning a Vacations And Travel. Visit Bizymoms.com today!

Weddingmoon Blog

2008-06-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

Why Destination Weddings?
Are they only for the wealthy? Not really…..

Destination weddings are a spin on the old tradition of eloping. Elopements were done in secret and didn't include guests or traditional rituals. However, destination weddings are planned events, often including family and guests and may even involve wedding traditions that are native to the location.

Why a destination wedding? The primary reasons couples choose a destination wedding are to save money, avoid the major hassles of family squabbles and planning details, and of course to have a memorable and unique wedding. Besides a beautiful location, you can mix in local cultural traditions with your own ceremony to give some excitement and uniqueness to your special day. And best of all many destination weddings are a bargain compared to the cost of hosting a big expensive event back home. Your family may be spread out all over the U.S. but your life and friends are in one place. This is becoming a more and more common scenario for couples, making it difficult to gather everyone together for a large and meaningful celebration. Because of this, destination weddings will keep increasing in popularity!

Traditionally this is how you would plan your own destination wedding:

Chose your location…and to do this, you have to do a little research.
The web is always a great resource for research of any kind.

Most wedding magazines feature destination wedding information in the back pages.

Travel sections in bookstores are another great place to research a location.

Check with your travel agent who can recommend a few good choices based on your budget and travel date. Having a wedding during the slow season can save you and your guests a small bundle on travel!

But most importantly research the legal requirements. You may need to bring specific paperwork, there may be have a waiting period or other requirements that may change your plans.

The popularity of Destination Weddings has increased tremendously and it is now estimated that over 100,000 couples a year will have one!

In the United States, Las Vegas and Disney World are two very popular locations, and both have a seemingly unlimited supply of resources and ideas.

European weddings are also becoming popular. There you can marry in an old castle, at a vineyard in France, or on a cliff in Ireland with bagpipes sounding in the background.

Tropical islands are the most popular location for a destination wedding, and Maui is currently the number one island of choice. Other very popular locations are Jamaica, St. Lucia, as well as other Hawaiian islands (Big Island and Oahu mostly). Due to years of such popularity, there are a lot of resources on these islands for you.

Available resources are important to keep in mind when picking a location. If you want to have a ceremony performed in a certain religion, or you feel strong that you must have a great photographer that specializes in black and white, or a musician that plays a particular instrument, be sure the location can accommodate your needs. Often couples choose locations where they will also have their honeymoon, or be a short flight away from their honeymoon location; hence the term "Weddingmoons."

How can MarLee Travel get you started? Easy as 1-2-3

MarLee Travel, your travel and entertainment concierge service, will allow you to research and choose your wedding or honeymoon location all at the touch of one button. Visit our honeymoon registry for the first and last stop in planning your destination “weddingmoon.”

Our honeymoon registry have done the research on the honeymoon resorts for you, so there is no need for you to go hopping on different internet sites to choose the perfect wedding and/or honeymoon location.

Reason to Choose this Registry

Find Wedding & Honeymoon Resorts

Here’s a step-by-step account of how to use our registry.

The bride and groom (B&G) choose destination from a list of prime wedding and honeymoon resort locations

B&G create registry list from items listed for that destination or use the “create your own” wizard to list ideas of their own

B&G create their wedding website and upload their photos

B&G download and print announcement cards directing guests to your site provided by MarLee Travel: Announcement Cards & Games

Friends and Family go to http://www.yoursite.com/ to read your wedding website and purchase something for the wedding couple from their registry list. Here’s an example of a wedding website: Wedding Website

Friends and Family receive receipt and gift card to fill in, send via email and print out

B&G are notified of purchase and sent gift cards via email

B&G can check account anytime to view gift details and read cards

B&G withdraw money from honeymoon registry upon request and funds are sent to them either through check or PayPal

Registry Support for technical issues or Bride and Grooms questions: 858-433-1506
Hours are 6am to 6pm Mon – Sat PST

Here are some pictures of how the registry works: How the Registry Works

Here’s an example of one of our honeymoon registry sites created by a bride and groom: Sample Honeymoon Registry

Here’s an example of a bride and groom’s wedding website: Sample Bride and Groom Website

For more information about our honeymoon registry or destination wedding email us at marjoy88@aol.com or visit MarLee Travel’s honeymoon registry at http://www.marleetravel.honeymoonwishes.com/ and start your registry for the perfect honeymoon. Or sign up for your honeymoon registry here.

Travel Blog

2008-06-06T03:04:00.000-07:00

Travel to Jamaica

Travel to Jamaica has become much easier as many major airlines and airports now offer flights to either Kingston or Montego Bay. However there are certainly times of year when it better to travel to Jamaica than others and this is especially true if you are on a limited budget. From the UK the main airlines which offer flights to the island are British Airways, Virgin and Air Jamaica. Plus a quick search of the internet and you may find other airlines that offer flights to Jamaica as well.

The high tourist season occurs from the middle of December until the end of April and you can expect to pay 20 to 40% more on flights at accommodation at these times. Certainly it is far better to travel to Jamaica between May and November when costs are much more reasonable, yet the weather is still good.

Also you need to be aware that at certain times of the year the island will become extremely busy. In January Montego Bay becomes full of visitors who come to enjoy the Jazz & Blues Festival organized by Air Jamaica. This between the end of July and the beginning of August the Reggae Sumfest takes place. Then finally in October Port Antonio comes alive and full of anglers who are entering the International Marlin Tournament.

But apart from this the island is a place to be enjoyed and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Plus it is here that there are plenty of all inclusive resorts which one can enjoy and which are situated on the islands many beautiful beaches.

Before you visit Jamaica check out our Travel to Jamaica tips and also our Hotels in Montego Bay
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_P_McNally

France Travel

2008-05-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

You will definately be excited when you travel to France. Reckoned as one of the most romantic countries in the world, France remains one of the prime travel destinations in the world, particularly for people who enjoy sightseeing on a grand scale.

French Places to See

The Louvre
There are a lot of places to travel to in France. One of which is the world-famous Louvre, which houses some of the most celebrated works of art in the world. Travel back to the time of such great artists like Leonardo Da Vinci. See for yourself the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the ancient Winged Victory. The Louvre is the largest and the most famous museum in the world, boasting an art and artifact collection that would make any traveler to France gasp in awe. Other museums that people who travel to France should look into are the Pompidou, the Musee Rodin and the Musee d’Orsay.

Avenue des Champs-Elysees
Another sight worth seeing when you travel to France is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, which was built in the 17th century. The avenue has the Arc de Triomphe at one end and the Place de la Concorde on the other. Restaurants and boutiques can also be found along the stretch.

Notre Dame Cathedral
One’s travel to France will not be complete without visiting The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. A model for French Gothic Cathedrals in the Middle Ages, the structure still stands proud, rich in history and architecture. With its large glass surface area supported by carved stone tracery, the Notre Dame de Paris remains to be one of the greatest works produced in that era.

Disneyland Paris
Children who travel to France will find the Disneyland Paris a great place to hang out. The 5000 acre resort is in itself a wonderland filled with the most exciting rides and games. Disneyland Paris in fact is one of Europe’s biggest tourist attraction.

Bois de Boulogne
The Bois de Boulogne will not disappoint any person who paid money to travel to France. Inspired by London’s Hyde Park and Regent Park, Bois de Boulogne is the favorite of Parisian walkers and tourists. Inside, France travelers can also find the Auteuil and Longchamp race courses. Another sight that any person who travels in France should go look for is the famous clay tennis court, Roland Garros, where the French Open is held. The court is all housed within the Bois de Boulogne.

Eiffel Tower
Of course, you must see the beautiful and famous Eiffel Tower. Those who travel to France would not dare leave the country without seeing this wrought iron landmark made by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.

Galleries and Restaurants
People who would love to travel in style will probably shop until they drop in some of France’s fashion squares. The Quartier Latin stretch and the St. Germain des Pres offer a wide variety of shops, from booksellers to antique shops to boutiques. The Printemps and Galeries Lafayette will also be a shopping haven for people traveling to France. There are also great restaurants inside the QL. Try Parisian pizza, the Lebanese Mezze or just a plain croissant. Visit the bars and party on with the locals. The La Java, for instance, features live Latin bands that will entertain anyone who travels to France. The Moulin Rouge, thanks to the movie, has also attracted quite a number of following.

Travel or bust!

2008-05-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

We all love to travel and take vacations. However, the average American doesn’t schedule a vacation every year to get away and get revitalized and rejuvenated. Why? Are we so caught up in staying connected that we forget that we need to take time out for ourselves? We need to spend some playtime bonding with our children. We need to get away with our gal pals and our guy pals and bask in our comradery. We need to go on a romantic getaway with our significant other so we can frolic in our coupledom. We need to check in with unadorned nature and smell the roses, listen to the birds sing and .... briiiiling…brriiiliiinng…that was a text message alert…just a minute....need to text back. Ok, so where was I?

So where can we go with the kids on vacation this year? Let’s see…how about?

Purchasing a Three, Four or Five Day Magic Your Way Ticket + Park Hopper® and get two days free!
Disney's theme parks include: the Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney's Hollywood Studios™, and Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. The Magic Your Way Base Ticket includes admission to one Walt Disney World® Theme Park for each day of your ticket. You can also choose to purchase the Park Hopper® Option that gives you the flexibility to come and go as you please through all four theme parks, and/or the No Expiration Option, where your unused days never expire. Select the Water Park Fun & More Option and visit Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

With more places to go, more things to see and more Disney Characters to meet, there's never been a better time to make the dream come true at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Enjoy a week-long vacation experience highlighted by four not-to-be-missed Theme Parks, each with a unique version of Disney magic. Discover a world of entertainment and family fun that knows no boundaries. Choose from 23 imaginative Resorts and explore endless world-class shopping, dining and recreation.

Or maybe…..Mom and Dad can take the kids to see The Wiggles concert. The Wiggles have been entertaining children for years with song and dance on the Disney Channel; now see Anthony, Jeff, and Murray perform LIVE! The stars of TV, video, and music are taking their show on the road. This show is perfect for the whole family. Tickets for the Wiggles and other family entertainment can be purchased at MarLee Travel at http://marleetravel.paradisenetwork.com/booktravel/

Now let’s take a romantic cruise with your spouse to Tahiti….Here’s one of the stops aboard The Princess Cruise:

Bora Bora is the most magical of all the French Polynesian islands. The main island of Bora Bora, home to 4,225 inhabitants, is in the center of a multicoloured lagoon, surrounded by offshore motu islets inside a protective coral necklace. The motu islets of Bora Bora are the ideal location for a Bora Bora honeymoon. Bora Bora has numerous luxury hotels and resorts, Hotel Bora Bora was the first Hotel in French Polynesia to build over water bungalows. No matter what kind of vacation you are planning, Bora Bora is a must when visiting French Polynesia. There is only one navigable pass, facing the principal village of Vaitape. A 29 km (18 miles) partially sealed road circles the Bora Bora, passing through colorful villages, archaeological sites, old Army bunkers and cannons left over from World War II. Bora Bora lies 240 Km (150 miles) northwest of Tahiti in the Leeward Society Islands. Matira beach has white sand and warm, shallow water. Bora Bora's lagoon is world-famous for its beauty.

Or how about getting away to St Johns in Antigua and relaxing at Cocobay Resort. Cocobay's exclusive getaway on the sunset side of Antigua offers many unique experiences for even the most discerning traveler providing a blissful atmosphere among gingerbread fretwork, endless sandy beaches, and plantation-style Caribbean chic. Purchase these and other romantic getaways at MarLee Travel at
http://marleetravel.paradisenetwork.com/booktravel/

Ok, so now let’s relax with our gal pals friends at a “Spa vacation.” You can go to spa resorts all over the world. Let’s check this resort in St. Lucia:

The Jalousie Plantation, where heaven meets earth. Nestled in 192 acres of magnificent rainforest and sweeping majestically down to sea, this hotel is without question located in one of the most awe-inspiring locations in the world, the majestic valley of The Pitons.

This hotel experience caters for all. As well as all land and watersports including unsurpassed scuba diving, you can pamper yourself in The Jalousie Spa and experience the local foods and delicacies in the fine restaurants and bars. All children are welcome and we have a wide range of activities that will keep them occupied and ensure that they, and you, have the holiday experience of a lifetime.

Or venture off to Italy to experience the ultimate spa escape at:

Grotta Giusti Spa & Golf Hotel Surrounded by a quiet park, in what was once a 19th century villa with frescoed rooms and spacious open areas, the Grotta Giusti Terme Spa & Golf Hotel offers a pleasant stay in a comfortable, refined setting in the Tuscan Hills. Possibly one of the most unique spa vacation locales in Italy, the thermal water of the Grotta Giusti natural springs offer a variety of therapies to soothe joints, muscles and nerves.

Book this and all your spa vacations with MarLee Travel at http://marleetravel.paradisenetwork.com/booktravel/ . You’ll be glad you did.

Well now what kind of adventure can we muster up for our guy pals. How about a fishing expedition? No, that’s not the deliverance music theme playing in your head. Let’s venture off to:

Ontario, Cananda; For this 7-day fully guided fishing trip. When booking a trip with this venue you will be given the option of which type of trip you are interested in. We have tailor-made packages-depending on the type of fish you are interested in.

Your amazing trip would start at the water docks of Chapleau; once entering the Beaver aircraft, you will immediately start to feel the peace and comfort of what Northern Ontario has to offer. You will fly at 500 feet, at this cruising altitude you will have a chance to spot many of the native wildlife. It is a truly amazing sight: with bear and moose running through the forests and wetlands. Don't forget to bring your camera! Once landing on our private lake, take your time and see what’s around.

You have two different packages you can choose from when fishing out of West Abinette; a full-guided tour; which covers your home-cooked meals, housekeeping, guiding and fish cleaning services. The second option would be a self-guided tour; in which you would be responsible for your own food, housekeeping and fish cleaning. You are provided with boats and motors for your party. Note: you must bring your own fishing gear.

Or you and your buddies can go to Costa Rica for an Indian Jones-type adventure to explore one of the most active volcanos in the world and then go deep into the cloudforests of Costa Rica to run the Narajo River and ride a giant zipline. Visit the most beautiful National Parks of Central America. It is definitely a trip of a lifetime. Book this and all these vacations and more with MarLee Travel at http://marleetravel.paradisenetwork.com/booktravel/ .

Ok folks…need a different pace. Well guys and dolls, let’s head over to New York City and take in some lights, dinner and a show:

Take this three-hour harbor cruise with dinner that is the ultimate New York indulgence. A sister ship of Bateaux in London and Paris, Bateaux New York's Celestial offers fine food, sophisticated music, and unparalleled views of the world's most magnificent skyline through its unique curved glass walls and ceiling. Fresh flowers, fine china, and linen-draped tables are just a few of the elegant touches. This exquisite mix of magnificent views, sophisticated cuisine, international wines, jazz and pop trios, and vocalist make Bateaux New York an unforgettable New York experience.

Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray! is the story of plain-Jane Tracy Turnblad who dances her way onto TV's most popular show. A big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, she has only one passion--to dance. After an appearance on "The Corny Collins Show," she is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Only in Hairspray!

Well gotta go…my cellphone is ringing and I have 300 emails to answer before dinner. Now go ahead and book that vacation. At MarLee Travel you can book all your travel & entertainment at http://marleetravel.paradisenetwork.com/booktravel/