Top 10 Travel Tips For Couples From Hotels.com

July 12, 2010 by theplus
Filed under Travels

Top 10 Travel Tips For Couples

No matter how much you are looking forward to spending some quality time with that special someone, traveling together can be a bit stressful; regardless of whether you have been married for decades or are just testing the waters as a couple. So what can you do to ensure a blissful getaway? Here are a few surefire ways to keep the fires burning without getting burned.
1. Both Contribute to the Planning – It’s important that you both feel like you have a part in the trip’s success. A site, like hotels.com, is great because you can check out all accommodations from bed & breakfasts to boutique hotels, vacation rentals to spa resorts. Take the virtual tours, read the guest reviews, check out the location relative to the sites you want to see and book it, together.
2. Work with Each Other’s Strengths – During planning, if one of you is a savvy researcher then perhaps that person can do the destination investigation while the other could be responsible for booking the flights or hotels. Working with each other’s strengths is even more important while traveling. Who’s the control freak (I mean backseat driver) between the two of you? Come on! Admit it?! Maybe you should drive while your partner navigates. Don’t be afraid to play to each other’s strengths versus struggling through a situation.
3. Pace Yourselves – Rome wasn’t built in a day and you can’t see it all in one either. Trust me! I know how fantastic it is to be on vacation sans work and children, but take time for the small moments and some relaxation. Factor in downtime for your vacation as well as extra time while sightseeing. You never know when you will want to spend some additional time in a museum, on the beach, or sampling the vineyard’s newest harvest. And you’ll appreciate not having the pressure to be on time or the disappointment of missing out on an opportunity.
4. Communicate – Seems simple enough, right? Are you tired? Are you hungry? Do you want to stay in this town for another day? How quickly we forget that we are not mind readers. Be sure to let your sweetheart know what you’re thinking before it’s too late to do something about it. When traveling, you are out of your normal rhythm and routine so it’s important that you are sharing your needs and desires even if you are used to your honey knowing what those things are.
5. Take Time for Yourself – It’s important on vacation to have some time for you, whether to relax or explore. That’s when the tips above are most useful by working together, communicating and taking the time to really enjoy your trip; you should be able to get some coveted “me time”. For example, you could check out the local village shops while he takes in a round of golf.
6. Do Not Disturb - Our sleep patterns can really wreak havoc with our vacations. Is your sweetie a snorer? Plan ahead and pack those earplugs. Who’s the morning person? Be kind to your special someone and allow her that precious time to sleep-in by perhaps following the tip above for your “me time” and take a walk around town or read a few chapters of that book you have been wanting to peruse.
7. Try Something New to Both of You – If you frequent the same destination then make sure you change it up by finding something new to do each time you go. Experiencing something for the first time is a great way to bring a couple closer together. So whether the destination is new to you or perhaps it’s that zip-line adventure that you both have always wanted to try, give it a whirl…together.
8. Budgets and Splurges – Let’s face it money is often an issue for most couples. It is important for a couple to understand their vacation budget, if they have one, before they embark on their trip. It’s not fair to either person to feel constrained or overly frugal while traveling. So know before you go! Allow and anticipate for splurges like dinner at that trés romantic restaurant you stumbled upon or a piece of locally created art.
9. Use the Hotel Concierge - Here’s what frequent travelers know; the concierge can make things happen. They often have discount tickets to area attractions, know the best restaurants and want to help make your hotel stay special. Tell the concierge if your stay is to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, etc. and see how he/she can help you make it memorable.
10. You Don’t Have to Go Far to Get Away – A vacation is merely a break for the ordinary. And sometimes staying in a nearby resort can feel like you are one million miles away. A staycation, or vacation close to home, is often a great way for new couples to test the traveling together waters as well as to have some fun. It’s also a great way for couples with children to have some alone time without the worry that comes with traveling away from your children.
Think you and your partner deserve a vacation? Remember to enter the Hotels.com “I Need A Vacation” sweepstakes!

Shared By: The Plus Size Mommy

Tags: couples, hotels.com, Sweepstakes, vacations, win

Old London Bagel Chips Review & Giveaway*

April 15, 2010 by theplus
Filed under Foodie

10 Comments

Old London has packed more crunch into the cracker aisle with the introduction of Bagel Chips, a light and flavorful snack with a tender crisp bite. Each low-fat chip is sliced thin and twice-baked for a healthy way to snack throughout the day. All flavors are made with all-natural ingredients, making them a delicious, smart and convenient snacking choice. They are ideal to eat alone, and also go great with soups, salads and dips.

Some people have tossed a few French Onion Bagel Chips into French Onion soup or used the Garlic & Herb Bagel Chips in salads instead of croutons.

There are tons of ways to eat these chips. They are great even alone. I recently had some friends over for a get together and used them for appetizers with dips. They were a hit. My friends all asked where I got them. The favorite flavor was French Onion while the least favorite among my friends was the Garlic & Herb. I liked them all! It was a great way to try out the bagel chips and to share them with others to see what they thought too.

You can get a ton more recipes, and learn about more of the Old London Products by visiting : www.toastforeverydayhealth.com

They have a lot of great and unique recipes. Also while there, you can enter a fabulous sweepstakes to Win a Vacation to Hollywood!

The sweepstakes is open now through June 30th, 2010.

Also right HERE on my blog, One lucky subscriber will be selected by random.org to win 3 boxes of the Old London Bagel chips!

Here is how to WIN (winner can only be in 48 continuous USA States to win) :

Fan - OLD LONDON on Facebook Here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-London/281866554036?ref=ts&v=wall leave a comment that you did = 1 entry.
Fan my Facebook page Here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-London/281866554036?ref=ts&v=wall#!/pages/The-Plus-Size-Mommy/208847305617?ref=ts comment and tell me you did = 1 entry
Follow me on Twitter here : @plussizemommy comment and tell me you are = 1 entry
Tweet the Following : ”Old London, Bagel Chips – create a new, unique dish & Win http://twurl.nl/5qm7i0 ” = 1 entry
Use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post. – comment letting me know which you have done = 1 entry per way
Comment and tell me which recipe you would like to try off of the Old London Website Here : www.toastforeverydayhealth.com = 1 entry per comment up to 5 total.

This giveaway begins NOW and will end on April 29, 2010 at 7 PM EST. Winner will NOT be emailed. Winner will be posted to this site by April 30th, 2010. Winner will have 48 hours to email me to claim their prize.

Thank you to all who enter and Good Luck.

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – I was sent a variety of the Old London bagel chips to try in order to taste and review them. All of my opinions are my own and not in any way swayed from the company.

Tags: appetizers, bagel Chips, Foodie, giveaway, Old London, recipes, review, Sweepstakes

Blue Light Specials are BACK at Kmart!

November 11, 2009 by theplus
Filed under Me

6 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

Blue Light Specials are back, and to celebrate in style Kmart will be giving shoppers on Twitter a chance to win a $50 gift card everyday! In addition to the chance to win daily, everyone following @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $500 Kmart shopping spree – how cool is that?!

This sweepstakes runs from November 12^th until December 23^{rd !!!}

Winning couldn’t get easier – all you have to do is follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter from your personal Twitter account and issue a Tweet everyday using our hashtag:#KmartBLS. Each day is a new opportunity to win, so the more often you tweet – the better your chances are to win a Daily prize!

For more info on sweepstakes details, check out: http://tr.im/kmartBLS, and for Official Rules: http://tr.im/kmartBLSrules.

Of course, this is all in celebration of the return of Bluelight Specials at Kmart! There are over 40 great Bluelight Specials throughout the weekend in-store, and other great offers online at Kmart.com, too, only on Saturdays and Sundays. A little preview for this weekend’s (11/15 – 11/16) Specials: