The Great American Road Trip Travel Tips

The Travel Mom, Emily Kaufman, frequently appears on The Steve Harvey Show and The Today Show to share her insider travel trips. If you’re planning a great family road trip this summer, she has some ideas to pack your vacation full of fun and great memories.

The Road Trip is a Big Part of the Vacation. First, remember that the road trip is part of the vacation and not just a way to get there. In fact, some of my favorite memories are from the cool places we stopped along the way to our vacation destination. So make sure you build in time to stop at unique roadside attractions, beautiful spots in nature and take some time to enjoy your favorite summer treats like ice cream.

The First Sustainable Ice Cream Trail. In fact, July is National Ice Cream Month and you have to check out the first Sustainable Ice Cream Trail created by natural oral care leader Tom’s of Maine. It features ice cream shops in 14 states that not only give back to the community, but they make their delicious ice cream (or gelato) using local ingredients with no artificial ingredients.

Now, if you have sensitive teeth like 40 million of us do, you usually have to skip eating ice cream but Tom’s of Maine new Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste uses a patented combination of arginine and calcium carbonate — both derived from natural sources — to seal the pathways to sensitive tooth nerves to help block the pain.  It is the only toothpaste currently available in the U.S. to use this technology.

You’ll get rapid relief when you apply it directly to a sensitive tooth with your fingertip and gently massage it for one minute. Continuous use provides long-lasting protection so make sure you pack a tube in your suitcase and enjoy the great ice cream and gelatos around the country. Go to TomsOfMaine.com\icecream for more information.

Ways to Keep The Kids Entertained in the Car. Next, let’s talk about how to keep the kids entertained while you’re in the car for the long drive so they’re not constantly asking, “Are we there yet.”

I’ve always been a fan of loading up a boredom buster bag packed with lots of toys, coloring books, games, and snacks.

Also, bring several cookie sheets to use as a lunch tray, magnet board, or even a hard surface for coloring. Although electronic gadgets and video games will keep the kids occupied, I like to encourage moms and dads to get the kids to enjoy the scenery and play old fashioned road trip games to create family memories.

How to Find Hidden Nature Spots Just Beyond the Highway. Finally, make sure you stop at beautiful places along the way to enjoy nature. ExitTheHighway.com has a map of some hidden gems in nature located throughout the country that lie just beyond the highway. You might even find a great spot for a picnic and that’s so much nicer than grabbing a quick lunch through a drive-thru.

So before you hit the road, take note of these travel tips from The Travel Mom and have the best road trip ever.

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Busy Moms Kitchen Survival Guide

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, or a working mom, busy moms need help and no one knows this more than Emily Kaufman and she shared some time saving and money saving solutions in the kitchen for busy moms.

Start with snacks. Moms want snacks for kids that are easy to make and also nutritious, so just bundle plenty of cheese sticks, fresh fruit, and pre-cut raw veggies together in a large container and place them in the fridge so kids can serve themselves when it’s snack time.

Dinner made simple. Now, getting dinner on the table is a daily chore. As busy moms, we need to feel confident in the food we’re serving our family, but don’t always have time to make a home cooked dinner. That’s why I like Banquet frozen meals that have provided wholesome meals wholesome meals for more than 60 years and they’ve recently been made even better.

Customer feedback is important to Banquet and that’s why you’ll find more food, more meat and more real, quality ingredients like mashed potatoes made with real cream and 100% natural chicken breast in place of dark meat. In fact, the Salisbury Steak Meal has 25% more food and the Chicken Pot Pies now have 20% more meat. You’ll also get real white meat chicken in popular kid favorites like Chicken Fingers and Fried Chicken dinners. Banquet meals are available in the freezer aisle at grocery stores nationwide for under $1.25 and you can find out more at banquet.com.

Beverages on a budget. Keep beverages simple at the dinner table and throughout the day. Children should drink six-to-eight glasses of fluid each day and water is a perfect drink at meals when you dress it up with a wedge of lemon. It’s easy to make and also easy on the budget.

Delegate tasks to the kids. Finally, get the kids to help out in the kitchen by delegating simple and age appropriate chores to little helpers, tweens and teens so it’s not “all on mom.” From setting the table, doing the dishes and even taking out the trash.   You can make an old fashioned daily chore chart and if your familiy is plugged into smartphones and tablets, there are several apps, like Chore Monster, that make chores fun for kids.

 

Emily Kaufman, has been a leading “mom expert” since her first television appearance in 1996. She was a contributor to Good Morning America, has numerous appearances on The Today Show and is a regular contributor to The Steve Harvey Show, offering practical lifestyle, travel and parenting tips and advice. 

Holidays on a Budget & Ways to Make the Season Easy

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be stressful, too, since many budgets are squeezed to the max. Lifestyle expert, Emily Kaufman, has some tips on how to survive the holidays on a budget using the latest technology, apps, and some old-school ideas to make preparing for the season easy.

Smartphones Come to the Rescue During the Holidays.   Smartphones have become a part of our daily life and are a great tool to stay on top of your budget this holiday season. During the holiday shopping rush, mobile banking app alerts are a great way to stay on top of your budget. They can help you manage your accounts while you are on-the-go. In fact, according to Bank of America’s second annual Trends in Consumer Mobility Report, more than half of Americans have tried mobile banking and a majority of users are receiving mobile alerts that can flag a low account balance (which can help avoid overspending), unusual activity and deposits received into your bank account.

Bank of America is seeing an increasing interest in mobile alerts with customers receiving more than 1.5 million push alerts each day. You can download their app or find out more at BankofAmerica.com.

The report also found that nearly three-quarters of Americans actually sleep with their smartphones nearby and 35% say it’s the first thing they reach for in the morning which may be especially true if you’re traveling during the holidays and using your smartphone alarm to wake you up in the morning.

Ways to Save if You’re Going Home for the Holidays. Staying with family and friends is a great way to ease your budget if you’re headed home for holidays since staying in a hotel will definitely add your travel expenses. If you’re hosting guests during the holidays, you can give your guest room an easy and inexpensive spruce up that not only helps your guests get a good night’s sleep, but also protects your mattress and pillows over time. AllerEase zippered mattress and pillow protectors create a barrier between you and allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander that can disrupt your sleep and collect in mattresses and plush bedroom surfaces. These protectors and pillows create a clean comfortable sleep environment, so guests rest easy during the holidays. They also make great gifts! Get them at Target, Kohl’s and Walmart and online at Aller-Ease.com.

How to Find Great Holiday Deals. A lot of deals can be found when you shop locally and YP has an easy-to-use app that is the “go-to” authority on the best local shops and businesses for holiday shopping at home or when you travel. You can maximize efficiency and do more in less time with all the info you need in any U.S. city or town right at your fingertips on your mobile phone. You can download the YP app for free at Google Play, Apple for mobile and the Apple Watch. You will also love the gas-finder feature that helps you find a gas station that has the cheapest tank of gas in your immediate area. You can find out more at YP.com.

Online Shopping Still a Great Source for Last Minute Gifts. If you’re short on time for holiday shopping, you can order great gifts online and a new trend you’ll see this season is companies that use a NOT-com web address.

Driftaway.coffee, (that’s dot-coffee, NOT dot-com) is perfect for the person who has everything. For as low as $36 for 3 months, Driftaway has a personalized coffee subscription that’s a great tasting gift and is customized to fit your coffee preferences. Also, check out Betterbox.life (that’s dot-life, NOT dot-com). BetterBox has gift box subscriptions specifically designed to inspire you each month and has themes like gratitude, mindfulness, and improved sleep – all designed to make life happier.

So don’t stress about the holidays when you have new ways to navigate through the most wonderful time of the year.

Fall Fun in the Sun: Emily Kaufman has Ways to Save on a Florida Vacation in Ft. Lauderdale

Fall is here, but in case you’re missing the summer weather, ’tis the season for fall fun in the sun and some great off season travel deals. The Travel Mom, Emily Kaufman has the latest on some fall vacation and getaway ideas.

Fall is a great time to travel since the weather is terrific, the summer crowds are gone, and you can get incredible travel deals. Also, airfares tend to be lower and now, gasoline prices are low making a fall road trip a good value. Greater Ft. Lauderdale is a great fall travel destination because it’s a short flight or a short drive from many mid-west and east coast locations.   With over 27 miles of beaches, 300 miles of waterways, and lots of fun things to do when you get there, it’s a great fall getaway.

 

Travel Promotions for Sunny Florida. The fall season is typically the shoulder season in travel so you’ll find lots of great vacation deals.   Here are two that really give you a lot bang for your buck.

See You in September Promotion. Free hotels are always a great savings, right? With Greater Ft. Lauderdale’s “See You in September” promotion you can book two nights at exclusive hotels in Greater Ft. Lauderdale and get the third night for free. Rates start at $95/night at the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach and you can stay at other beautiful hotels like the B Ocean Resort, Courtyard by Marriott, and more. Here are some of the deals you get right now:

• B Ocean Resort Fort Lauderdale – rates start at $139/night
• Courtyard By Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach – rates start at $169/night
• Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort – rates begin at $95/night
• Hollywood Beach Marriott – rates start at $159/night
• Neptune Hollywood Beach Hotel – rates start at $99/night
• Riverside Hotel – rates start at $129/night
• Sonesta Fort Lauderdale beach – rates start at $159/night
• W Fort Lauderdale – rates start at $229/night

It’s available through October 12th and go to sunny.org/september for all the details.

Vacation Like a VIP Program. Everyone prefers to Vacation Like a V.I.P. and this program has affordable pricing at some of Greater Ft. Lauderdale’s top hotels and resorts like the Ritz Calrton, W, Marriott, and Hyatt Regency plus a lot of extras when you stay.   You can get the V.I.P. package through October 12^th and it includes complimentary room upgrades; $100 resort credits for spas, golf, food & beverage services; a $25 American Express gift card; and the Summer Savings 2-for-1 Card, valued at $2,000 in savings on over 70 attractions in the area. To find out more, go to sunny.org/VIP.

 

Things to Do When You Get There. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s fall events calendar is filled with festivals, celebrations and shows so there’s always something to do. Some can’t-miss events include:

Duende Festival – To cap off its centennial celebrations, Broward 100, Broward County will host Duende, a three-day public celebration of the arts, culture and community from October 2-4. Duende, which means “a quality of passi​on and inspiration; a spirit; having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity,” will feature street festivals, performance arts, concerts and a Broadway-style show featuring multiple Grammy Award-winning entertainer Jon Secada, recording artist Linda Eber and talent from hit shows including ““So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Voice,” and “X-Factor”

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show – Greater Fort Lauderdale, with its 300 miles of navigable waterways, is known as the “Yachting Capital of the World” and the “Venice of America.” From November 5-9 the destination will host the largest boat show in the world, the 56^th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. More than a billion dollars’ worth of boats, yachts and accessories from every major marine manufacturer will be displayed throughout the destination.

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival – Movie buffs will want to check out the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, November 6-22. The highest rated film festival in the state of Florida, FLIFF is a competitive film festival showcasing independent cinema from around the world, in an art house movie setting.

Visit www.sunny.org for more information.

 

Positive Changes & Fresh Start Solutions for a New Year and a New You

Each new year brings new opportunities for positive change and lifestyle expert, Emily Kaufman, has some ideas to get a fresh start with a brand new year from finance to health and other lifestyle changes for you and your family.

Get a Fresh Start on Personal Finances in 2015. According to the recent Bank of America & USA Today Better Money Habits Millennial Report, even though 80% of millennials 18 to 34 think they’ll be better off or the same as their parents, the majority say they are actually living paycheck-to-paycheck and many are falling short when it comes to saving. To get your financial life on the right path this year, Bank of America and Khan Academy have partnered to design a free website that takes the complexity out of personal finance at BetterMoneyHabits.com. The site has short videos that make personal finance topics easy to understand plus some hands-on tools for your personal financial goals. Content is organized around goals, such as reducing credit card debt or getting ready for tax season, so it’s relevant to what you want to achieve. You can get started on your desktop, tablet or mobile device.at BetterMoneyHabits.com.

Good Health is About Much More Than the Scale. Losing weight is always one of the top resolutions on everyone’s list whether it’s five pounds or fifty, but good health is more than just diet and Sam’s Club wants you to take control of your health this year. That’s why they’re offering a free health screening open to the public on Saturday, January 10th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help people keep their New Year health goals. The free screening is valued at $250 and tests health indicators like your blood pressure, body mass index and cholesterol levels. This is one of 10 free screenings that Sam’s Club offers nationwide throughout the year from now through October that cover a wide range of tests to help assess and manage your health. You can find out more at SamsClub.com.

Get Kids on Track to Healthy Eating with Fruits and Veggies Disguised as Snacks.   New Year’s resolutions for better health are not just for adults. Most parents want to make sure that they’re kids are eating more fruits and vegetables in the New Year and what better way to that than to give them fruits and veggies disguised as snacks. Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Fruit Tubes are real fruit puree blends in squeezable, slim tubes with no added sugar or preservatives. You can eat them chilled or frozen and they come in two flavors: Mango Meets Banana & Pineapple and Strawberry Meets Banana. You’ll find them in produce sections at grocery stores nationwide including WalMart and Giant Eagle for just $3.99 for 10 fruit tubes. Bolthouse Farms Kids™ also has fruit smoothies and veggie snackers that have NO added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors. You can find out more at Bolthouse.com.

Finally, don’t forget that the most important secret for succeeding at your new year goals is to get started and stick with it. It’s the sum of the little things you do everyday toward your goals that help you achieve your plans.

Holiday Tech, Toys, & Gifts for Kids of All Ages

Dreaming of sugar plums is a thing of the past and with Christmas on its way, most kids have visions of the latest hi-tech toys and gifts dancing in their heads. Busy mom, Emily Kaufman, has some holiday gift ideas from hi-tech to low-tech to fit almost any budget and fun gift ideas for kids of all ages.

The Hottest Toy This Holiday Season. Each year, there is a gift that is at the top of every boy’s wish list, but this one is so much fun, that boys, girls and kids of all ages will want one. Hot Wheels has designed the first-ever flying car! The Hot Wheels RC Street Hawk can race on land and fly through the air, with its 360-degree remote-controlled steering and sleek style. Street Hawk climbs up to 200 feet in the air and performs all sorts of aeriel stunts. It’s also easy on the holiday budget at just $59.99 and is truly the ride of the future! You can purchase the Street Hawk on Walmart.com.

Batteries Not Included. Since sixteen of the 20 toys on Walmart’s ‘Chosen by Kids’ Top Toy List are battery-powered, “Batteries not included” are three little words that can put a damper on Christmas morning. But not all batteries are the same and when they are left in toys and other electronic devices for long periods, they can leak and the corrosion can destroy toys and gadgets. Energizer has solved the problem of leaking batteries with Energizer® MAX® – a long-lasting battery with Power Seal technology so make sure you have them on hand for the holidays.

Also, Energizer LED flashlights and headlights make great stocking stuffers for kids of all ages. Headlights are lightweight so you can keep your hands free for outdoor family adventures and exercise, reading a book or do-it-yourself projects around the house. Find out more at Energizer.com.

My Very, Very Busy Day! – Book for Kids with Cats & Dogs.   Banfield Pet Hospital has created its first-ever children’s book titled “My Very, Very Busy Day!” that was written to entertain and educate children by focusing on what it means to be a responsible pet owner. The book highlights how to properly care for a pet and the importance of pets receiving regular preventive veterinary care in order to remain healthy and happy. “My Very, Very Busy Day!” is available nationwide at all 880 Banfield Pet Hospital locations for a suggested donation of $10 to Banfield Charitable Trust, which provides preventive care to pets in need. “My Very, Very Busy Day!” tells the story of two four-legged friends, Captain Noodles and Kitty, as they venture through daily activities including a very important six month check-up at the veterinarian.   “My Very, Very Busy Day!” includes Banfield’s “Best Friend Promise” for children to sign which signifies their understanding of what is needed to keep pets healthy and happy, as well as their promise to become a responsible pet owner.

Finally, don’t forget that some of the best gifts are homemade or involve giving the gift of your time. In today’s busy world, time is one thing that is in short supply for families and friends. An offer to babysit or even providing a coupon for cleaning windowsm, washing the car, or shoveling snow will always mean a lot to overwhelmed moms or dads.

ABC’s of Last Minute Summer Travel

Emily Kaufman
The Travel Mom

Think you might have missed the boat on planning a great summer getaway?  Don’t worry.  Summer may be in full swing, but it’s not too late to plan a summer vacation if you think you’ve missed out on the good deals.  From road trips to air travel, Emily Kaufman, the Travel Mom, has the 411 on keeping the kids entertained when you travel, where to get last minute travel deals, great destinations, where to stay when you get there, and how families can pack the most value into their vacation dollars.

Let Technology Keep the Kids Entertained When You Travel.  Emily is a big fan of a boredom buster bag filled with snacks, games, books and technology to keep kids entertained on road trips or long flights.   So what’s her latest must have technology essential to pack?  A touch tablet powered by Windows 8 – like the Acer Iconia W3.  It’s a great in-car or in-flight entertainment center for the kids to watch movies or play games on since it can lie flat on any surface and two people can touch the screen at the same time.  The Acer Iconia W3 eliminates excess devices like eReaders, MP3 players and gaming devices since it’s all-in-one.  The cool thing about Windows 8 is that it’s made for touch, making it easier than ever for kids and parents to watch movies, play games and surf the web. Find out more at MicrosoftStore.com.

Last Minute Deals Can Be Found Online. It’s not too late to book your summer vacation if you haven’t already and if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, American Express Travel is a great one-stop-shop to book your last minute summer getaway.  Go online to check out the current deals or you can speak with one of their travel agents, that are like your own personal travel counselor, for a more customized experience.  Although many people associate travel counselors with high costs and lots of hassle, it’s quite actually the opposite since they specialize in specific destinations with an intimate knowledge of each place that turns ordinary vacations into something really special whether it’s a vineyard tour of Sonoma, a Hawaii vacation or a river cruise in the U.S. or Europe, they can create a personalized vacation for your budget.  Go to travelinsiders.americanexpress.com.

Don’t Wait to Book a Hawaii Vacation – No Passport Needed. Hawai‘i, the Big Island, has long been regarded as the island of adventure and inspiration for its unmatched natural beauty, warm aloha spirit found in its island people, and unforgettable experiences and now is a great time to visit.  Whether exploring by earth, sea, or sky,  Hawai‘i Island offers a great value for families this summer and heading into the fall and is packed with inspiring experiences that are perfect for travelers of all ages.  The youngest island in the Hawaiian chain and by far the biggest, it has five national parks including renowned Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, featuring one of the world’s most active volcanoes.  It’s also where you’ll find amazing stargazing atop Maunakea, the tallest sea mountain on the planet. You’ll find a diverse range of landscape from lush rainforests to volcanic deserts to beautiful white and black sand beaches and sometimes even snow-capped mountaintops.  Hawai‘i Island has two international airports – located in Kona on the west, and Hilo on the east – which makes getting to the island easy from major U.S. gateway cities or the neighbor islands.  Go to bigisland.org and plan your tropical vacation.

Get 300% More Out Of Your Vacation.  Embassy Suites is the hotel brand known for giving guests more with every stay, including two-room suites for families to spread out, free cooked-to-order breakfast each morning, and a complimentary evening reception every night.  This summer, as part of their pledge to help families get 300% MORE enjoyment out of their vacations, they have partnered with the Association of Children’s Museums to create opportunities for families to learn and discover, with special perks at nearly 20 children’s museums across the country.  One day a month, families staying at Embassy Suites in select cities will have access to special guest-only VIP offerings at local children’s museums like a discount at the gift shop, and some lucky families will even be surprised and delighted with free tickets!

HERE ARE MUSEUMS WHERE PERKS WILL BE AVAILABLE:

• Atlanta: Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
• Austin: Austin Children’s Museum
• Chicago: Chicago Children’s Museum
• Dallas/Fort Worth: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
• Denver: Children’s Museum of Denver
• Houston: Children’s Museum of Houston
• Indianapolis: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
• Miami: Miami Children’s Museum
• New Orleans: Louisiana Children’s Museum
• Omaha: Omaha Children’s Museum
• Philadelphia: Please Touch Museum
• Phoenix: Children’s Museum of Phoenix
• San Antonio: San Antonio Children’s Museum
• San Diego: The New Children’s Museum
• Seattle: The Children’s Museum, Seattle
• St. Louis: Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
• Tampa: Glazer Children’s Museum
• Washington, DC: National Children’s Museum
• Wilmington, DE: Delaware Children’s Museum

Visit www.EmbassySuites.com/300more for a full list of participating hotels, destination tips, and to book your next stay.