Family Vacation in Athens

I just returned from an absolutely amazing week long family vacation in Athens, Greece.  I went with my parents, husband and the two babes.  My dad lived in Greece for quite some time in his younger years and we were able to meet up with a childhood friend who showed us around a little.  Although Greece seems to be on everyone’s bucket lists, I’ve found mixed reviews on Athens.  My guess is that those who wouldn’t return, only visited the well known attractions (ie. Acropolis) and didn’t venture out.  I would suggest that if staying longer than a few days, to rent a car as there is so much to see in nearby areas.  Otherwise, the surrounding neighborhoods provide plenty of charm!

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#BehindTheFeed

I began capturing my life through instagram a couple of months ago and found that I loved being able to put some moments in these tiny, neat, little squares.  I posted a photo once or twice per week and was excited when people actually liked one of them.  As my gallery increased, so did my likes per photo and it made me feel great.  I found myself looking forward to these likes but if they were slow to accumulate, I questioned myself and my recent photo.  Any of this sound familiar?

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Capture Memories Like NEVER Before

Capture Memories Like NEVER Before

The hubs is a bit of a techie nerd and as for me, well, I’ve always said that technology hates me.  Really.  I haven’t met anyone who has issues with their computer suddenly stop working or their phone refusing to answer calls.  So you can imagine my eagerness to learn about a new way of capturing memories through technology when it was brought to my attention.  But I have to say that after seeing it inaction, I’m a believer.  I absolutely love it and won’t go on a trip without using it.

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2 Day Family Vacation in Rome

Rome Vacation in 2 Days with kids

If you’ve been following me on Instagram (shameless plug), you know that my family went to Rome last week for a quick vacation.  Italy was one of the countries I wanted to visit before we left Europe and everything seemed to align so we made an impromptu trip.  I’m so glad we did because we were able to see so many beautiful places and eat some amazing food!  We were there for 1.5 days (I know, crazy! I wish we had more time!) and had 2 children with us (age 4 and 1). 

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How to Buy Designer Clothes for Cheap

How to Buy Designer Clothes for Cheap

I had never been one for designer clothing, purses, shoes, etc. until one day, I realized that the $10 purses I had been buying were only lasting me a month or two before the zipper or strap broke and I had to replace it.  But it was only $10 so no big deal, right?  Wrong.  I decided to purchase a $150 leather purse as a major splurge and gift to myself and 2 years later, I still had the same purse. 

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Lodging: 5 Tips for a Cheaper Stay

Lodging: 5 Tips for a Cheaper Stay via monkeysmiles

There are many pieces to the puzzle of how to travel and depending how you book, lodging can either help your money situation or completely blow your budget.  This is how our family is able to stay at some of the most luxurious and unique places without breaking the bank.

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Book Your Airbnb/HomeAway Stay Like a Pro

How to Book your Airbnb/HomeAway Stay like a Pro via monkeysmiles

You’ve heard about this awesome (semi) new way of staying at your dream location other than a hotel but you’re not quite sure you’re ready to take the plunge or how to maximize your experience without taking a big risk.  Check out the amazing situations I’ve stumbled into and what I’ve learned along the way to help you on the road to booking your stay like a Pro through Airbnb or HomeAway.

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Stop OVERPAYING for Diapers

Stop Overpaying For Diapers via monkeysmiles

If you use disposable diapers and buy them from big box stores, I can guarantee you’re paying too much.  How do I know? You used a coupon and a 5% discount card AND the store gave you a gift card for purchasing the diapers?  Yep, you’re still paying too much.  I’m going to sound like a big diaper nerd here but I don’t care because I’ve saved a TON of money and you can too!

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6 Tips: How to Fly on a Budget

6 Tips: How to Fly on a Budget via monkeysmiles

I’m so excited to share these tips on flying for less cash out of your pocket.  I am all about travel and exploring Europe while I’ve had the chance to be here but I want to do it with as little cost to us as possible.  This is what I’ve discovered about flying during our travels.

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