Hotel Reviews .... to believe or not beleive!

Have you ever use TripAdvisor.com to help decide which hotel to stay at for your next vacation? I have. Tons of times. Actually just this summer we were planning a summer getaway with my parents to Boca Raton. My mother, a corporate travel agent, had wanted to stay a the Boca Raton Resort and Club. I, the tech-savvy family member, went online to see what what others thought of it. Throughout the TripAdvisor.com website I read dozens and dozens of review, great, good and even some bad. Some where so good that I started wondering who wrote it, others were so bad that I started thinking if the reviewer just was in a bad mood or maybe even the hotel's competitor faking a review. Well, we took our chances and enjoyed 4 wonderful days. The hotel was great, although we did encounter an inconvenience or two that the bad reviewer had mentioned. Ironic.

Here's a great article that I recently came across on AOL Travel, written by Carrie Nieman Culpepper, that offers some great tips for you and me on how to discern which reviews are real and which may be fake. Great article!

Don't Get Stuck in a Dump! How to Determine if Reviews by "Real Travelers" Are Fake

Article Shared via AddThis

Coupon Codes - Now Organized

Ever spend a ridiculous amount of time searching for that online coupon code for Kodak to use for your Holiday cards or are just curious if there are any discounts out there to use at Amazon.com before you make your purchase? I'm sure! With the tight budgets we Smart Mamas are attempting to stick to, it is essential to find ways to save any dollar possible. I recently came across CurrentCodes.com and it has helped me! I hope it can help you! CurrentCodes.com is a directory, organized alphabetically and by merchant, listing of current coupon codes that can be used for online purchases. The codes are current and include additional information, such as stipulations and expiration date. Check it out.

Want to be a School Volunteer this Year? 20% Increase!

Did you know that the desire to volunteer in a child's classroom has increased by 20%? According to a groundbreaking new study titled "The Economy's Impact on Back to School," GreatSchools and Harris Interactive have discovered this tremendous gain in desire to volunteer. (To see report: http://www.greatschools.net/news/back-to-school-poll-results.page )

With the challenges of today's economy parents are looking for ways to make this school year the most productive and affordable. While this increased desire, I wonder if the data will transfer to actual volunteer hours. I imagine that with job security never so fragile, parents may feel apprehensive asking for a few hours to dedicate to their munchkin's classroom. At the same time, with the increase in unemployment, more parents may be available.

I can honestly tell you that in my years of being a classroom teacher I cherished the times a parent was able to offer a helping hand. I hope each Smart Mama will be able to find the time to support their munchkin's or local school this year. Wondering how you can help a classroom teacher this year? Here are some ideas!

Try offering to...

1. read a book aloud to the class- once a week, month, semester...
2. organize the class library
3. purchase additional supplies (you would be shocked if you knew the amount of personal money that a teacher devotes to her classroom)
4. put up/down a bulletin board
5. make file folder games
6. join the PTA/PTO
7. tutor a student
8. help out at recess/lunch
9. share your career for Career Day
10. photo copying
11. laminating
12. organizing worksheets

The list goes on and on and on. Just ask! I'm certain your munchkin's teacher will think of something! :-)

Check out www.GreatSchools.net for more ideas!

One-a-Day - Take a Stand! Breast Cancer Awareness!

Looking to have some fun and support a great cause??? I thought so! Check out One-a-Day's new online breast cancer awareness program TAKE A STAND at http://www.oneaday.com/takeastand! On the site you get to create your own "character" by uploading your picture, adding hair, clothing and skin tone, and lastly having the opportunity to make it in honor or someone. I chose to dedicate it to a classmate from HS who is showing fascinating strength in her battle with breast cancer. Also for each character you make, One-a-Day will donate $0.10 to either The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society or Breast Cancer Network of Strength. You get to pick which one!

Here's my character!

To see my character up close: http://www.oneaday.com/takeastand?doorId=390&clientId=194&mId=31224511.3

Fresh Air Fund - Vacation for the Inner City

I spent a summer in college as a camp counselor for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Baltimore County, MD. Baltimore City children were invited to attend this camp abut 20 miles north of downtown Baltimore. It was fantastic. For many, if not most, it was their very 1st time leaving the city, seeing nature and seeing farm animals. I remember one little boys words of amazement when, at the age of 11, saw a horse for the 1st time.

Currently there is a unbelievable organization who is allowing experiences such as that for children of NYC. The Fresh Air Fund (www.FreshAir.org) a not-for-profit organization helps to provide a real summer vacation for the children. The kids are hosted by generous families all over the country who invite them to their home to spend part of their summer vacation. How wonderful!

As a Smart Mama there are a number of ways you can support this great cause.
1. Host a child for some time this summer. Click here to learn more about hosting!
2. Donate a few dollars to support the program.
Click to learn more about donating.

I would love what you think of this program! Please share a comment!

Smiles
Caroline
SmartyPantsMama.com

Attention Coke & Diet Coke Drinkers!!!

Do you save your soda bottle caps with the Coke Rewards number? If not, start doing so! On MyCokeRewards.com you can enter the reward number and watch your Coke points accumulate! The points can be redeemed for a variety of different sweepstakes and products!

Right now, MyCokeRewards.com is holding, what I believe, an excellent opportunity for Coke drinkers to help their local schools! Your points can be donated to schools to then be redeemed for materials and athletic supplies! So essentially, you can be a SMART MAMA by drinking Coke! How great is that!

As an added bonus, fabulous Coke drinkers who donate their points to schools will be entered into a sweepstakes to win free tickets to see NBA All Star LeBron James' film More Than a Game! One winning family of four will also get the opportunity to attend the movie's premiere on Sept. 22 in New York City. All points have to be entered on MyCokeRewards.com by August 31, 2009.

Smiles,
Caroline

SmartyPantsMama.com

UPromise Back to School Savings!!! Win $10,000!

Yes, Back to School time is around the corner, I can hear the celebrations already!

With this challenging time Smart Mamas need to find a variety of ways to save all the pennies possible. Beginning July 26th, UPromise is doing their part to help Smart Mama families by providing 1 - 25% cashback on back to school purchases! That's sounds FANTASTIC to me! Wait, it gets better! Also beginning July 26, 10 current or new UPromise members can win $10,000!!! Can you imagine the endless ways you and your Smart Mama family could use that! Join today!!! Save today!!!

FrumUs.com - The Online Collection Envelope!

Class gift for the teacher, gift for your parents from all the kids, a friends birthday or retirement....think of all those times where a group gift is appropriate yet always such a pain to organize! I recently learned about FrumUs.com (yes, it's a u NOT an o in their spelling of from.)

Starting a collection is very easy on FrumUs.com. Some basic steps are outlined, including the recipients name, adding your PayPal account info, collection end date and more. In no time you'll be ready to "promote the envelope". Promoting the envelope is the electronic way of passing the envelope around the office to collect money for a baby shower gift, retirement gift, etc, except, it is done for you online! How awesome is that?!?! A message in your colleagues email inbox will alert them of how and where to contribute to the gift. When you reach your collection end date you can easily transfer the money into your bank account and use it as needed!! No more cashing random checks, counting change or feeling awkward asking the janitor for a few bucks!

Go try it out and let me know what you think!!!

Smiles,
Caroline

SmartyPantsMama.com

PBSParents.org - Great tips!

Driving to Grandma’s house? Or have an exciting getaway in store? Here are some great FREE ideas courtesy of PBSParents.org to keep kids of all ages engaged during family trips!

• Have a sing-a-long! Sing your favorite tunes from Sesame Street along with other songs…


• Take turns playing games with your child. Find something inside or outside the car and have your children guess what you see by giving hints. Explore the world like Sid the Science Kid


• Invite your child to be an "alphabet detective" by finding all the letters around them. Players might find an "a" in a road sign and a "b" on a license plate and more – take a page from the Super WHY gang and have fun with the alphabet.


• Use "car time" to talk to your child about everyday activities and events, whether it's how leaves change color in the fall or what makes a great friend. Maya and Miguel know that happiness is the greatest when it’s shared!
  

Thanks PBSParents.org for sharing those fantastic tips!

Smiles,
Caroline

SmartyPantsMama.com

Kideos.com - Online Video Catalog - Just for Kids!

I've found just what you need for quick, easy entertainment for your little one! Kideos.com! It's the one stop shop for all your child video needs! Kideos.com provides dozens of videos, organized in a kid and adult-friendly format! All videos are kid-loved and parent approved.

Categories range from Baby Einstein to Wiggles and everything in between!

Yes, we are each capable of Googling or searching through YouTube for similar videos, but why spend the time when Kideos has done it for you for free! By becoming a registered user, at no charge, you can organize the video choices for your munchkin based on their interest.

Check it out! Let me know what you think!

Smiles,
Caroline

SmartyPantsMama.com

Worth a laugh!!! I'll pay you.....to.....

So what are you willing to pay for your husband to tell 10 random strangers that his wife is always right?? :-) What are you willing to pay to have your neighbor cut is overgrown grass? What are you willing to pay to have....

Get the point???

PayPal has launched a rather humorous new "service", Do Stuff for Money! On the site you can wage a challenge to a friend or stranger to do something for money. It could get hysterical with the right participants, expensive with others and I'm guessing annoying with a few.

Check it out! Let me know what you think!

https://www.paypal-dostuffformoney.com/