Pay It Forward Friday ~ Summer Travel Tips for Families

Kendra Thornton has been packing her bags and traveling the world since she visited the Bahamas at 3 months old.  She is 37 and a mother of 3. Before being promoted to the full time position of mommy, Kendra was the former Director of Communications at Orbitz where she was able to travel all around the world.  Kendra also appears regularly as a travel expert on ABC, CBS, NBC and CW affiliates across the country to share travel trends, tips and deals with millions of viewers every year.

To connect with Kendra, contact her via her website, Thornton PR or on twitter @KendraThornton

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Summer Travel Tips for Families

Whether you are looking to travel to Walt Disney World, the Grand Canyon, or New Orleans, you will likely want a vacation that all members of the family are excited about. Once you’ve settled on a destination, you can begin to do a bit of planning. With special attention paid to the needs of the kids, you can craft a trip that will leave everyone raving for years afterwards.

1) Eat Healthy Breakfasts

Because you will likely want to squeeze the most out of each day, you should be sure that your family eats a nutritious breakfast every morning. At Walt Disney World, many family-friendly Orlando hotels offer tasty breakfast platters to their guests. Even if you are staying at a smaller hotel, however, continental breakfasts will usually be available more often than not. Eating at the hotel will also stop you from gorging on theme park food, which can be quite expensive.

2) Research Your Hotel Options

 

Consider family-friendly hotels whenever possible. Indoor playgrounds, for example, will give the kids something to do during the evenings. Elegant suites will often have refrigerators, freezers, and microwaves. Having a miniature kitchen in your hotel room will allow you to prepare meals on the fly. The fridge, in fact, can be stocked with milk, juice, fruits, and vegetables. It’s great to read reviews before you make any decisions.

3) Set Aside Time for Adults

Though much of your energy will likely be devoted to showing the kids a great time, give yourself some time to relax with your husband. You might agree to watch the kids for an afternoon, for example, while your husband goes golfing. You might also hire a babysitter while the two of you crack open a bottle of champagne on the balcony.

4) Try Audiobooks

Audiobooks can be godsends in many ways. They can be easily downloaded to the latest electronic devices. For kids who have grown tired of listening to music, books are good alternatives. Make sure that you bring along some headphones so that others in the vehicle are not disturbed.

5) Bring Along Hygiene Kits

Planes, trains, and hotel rooms are not the cleanest places on the planet. By packing a hygiene kit, you can quickly clean airplane tray tables and hotel fixtures. Airplanes, in fact, are not typically given full cleanings until the end of the day. Sanitizing wipes can kill germs on contact. Hand sanitizer, meanwhile, can be used before meals.

 

In the end, you will need to think outside the box a bit as you go about planning your vacation. By turning to audio books, hygiene kits, and healthy breakfasts, you can create a wonderful experience for everyone involved. The world, as they say, will be your oyster.

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As a way to share the blogging love and meet new bloggers, I have "Pay it Forward Friday."  This is where I periodically feature fellow bloggers with different interests and from new areas.  If you are interested in writing a guest post for "Pay it Forward Friday," feel free to send me a message!  I would love to feature you!!

Alexis

Pay It Forward Friday ~ Sweet Corn Exchange + Recipe

Spring has sprung, along with one of the sweetest treats of the season - fresh sweet corn! Over the last few years, sweet corn has become a spring vegetable that’s just as highly anticipated by those in the know as the season’s first peas, asparagus, and radishes. Available nationwide, fresh sweet corn is harvested throughout the spring – good news for anyone who wants to get their hands on some today!

Our recipe for Charred Corn Tacos with Radish Zucchini Slaw combines the sweet irresistible crunch of grilled corn with refreshing herbs and spring radishes all topped off with a squeeze of lime and creamy cheese. It’s a dish that tastes just as good as it looks and though it’s great for vegetarians and anyone eating gluten-free, it will satisfy even the most devoted carnivore. It’s the perfect dish to prepare if you’re eager to warm up the grill on a warm spring day and can be made just as easily indoors. 

 

Charred Corn Tacos with Radish Zucchini Slaw

 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper

4 ears corn

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon maple syrup

1 jalapeno, seeded and thinly sliced

3 tablespoons torn mint leaves

3 tablespoons torn parsley leaves

3 tablespoons torn cilantro leaves

1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces or 70 grams) crumbled feta cheese (or another salty, crumbly cheese such as ricotta  salata or cotija)

1 cup red radishes trimmed and thinly sliced
1 small zucchini
Salt
10 to 12 small (6-inch) soft corn tortillas

Brush the corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Over a hot grill or an open gas-stove flame char the ears of corn until well-blackened but not completely burnt. Remove cobs from heat, and when cool enough to handle, shave off kernels using a large knife and reserve. 

In a small bowl, combine the onion and all but a teaspoon of lime juice and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup, jalapeno and 2 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and a pepper. Set aside. 

Cut radishes and zucchini into tiny matchsticks. Toss radishes and zucchini together. Pour the remaining lime juice over the radish and season with salt to taste. Add more lime juice if desired. Set aside. 

Coat the bottom of a cast-iron skillet with olive oil and wipe it out so only the thinnest slick is left behind. Heat the skillet on high. Once hot, cook each tortilla for about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side, until lightly blistered.  

While you finish heating your tortillas, in a large bowl, add the fresh herbs to the corn kernels. Fill each taco with a few small spoonfuls of the corn mixture, the maple syrup and lime onions and jalapenos, a bit of the radish-zucchini slaw, and top with crumbled cheese. 

YIELD: 10-12 servings

About Florida Sweet Corn Exchange

Surprising to many, Florida is the largest producer of sweet corn, and has been for over 50 years. Their long growing season lasts throughout the winter and comes to a peak in April and May, just in time for a place in your favorite spring dishes. You can find helpful tips and tasty recipe ideas to please even the pickiest eaters, big and small, at www.sunshinesweetcorn.com.  Sunshine Sweet Corn is grown by family farmers in Florida from premium and naturally bred corn varieties. Sunshine Sweet Corn stays sweeter longer so it arrives at your local market fresh and delicious. It is best to eat sweet corn the day you buy it but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.  


Alexis

Pay It Forward Friday ~ Is Football Becoming Safer?

John O'Connor is a full time husband and father, part time outdoorsman and a new blogger.  He has an extreme passion for healthy aging and living a healthy lifestyle. 

Check him out at Blogging With John O.

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Only a few years ago, very few people paid attention to the
long-term effects of playing football. A series of high-profile reports, however, has changed this, and many people are now beginning to see how dangerous football can be if safety procedures are not enforced. Fortunately, football has become considerably safer in recent years, and parents should rest assured that efforts are underway to make the sport even safer.  Over the past couple of years, the NFL has been implementing and changing many rules to help make the game not only safe for professionals but also for teenagers who play in high school/college and young children who are playing recreationally in pop warner leagues.   As parents it is our job to make sure that our children are safe at all times.  Here are some injuries that are not just common in football but in many other contact sports as well. 

Concussions

Concussions have received more attention in the past few years than any other type of sports injury, and new studies have shown that multiple concussions can lead to lifelong problems.  In the past, concussions were not taken as seriously as they are today.  Many athletes who suffered from concussions sometimes did not even come out of the game they were playing in.  Other times they would be diagnosed with a concussion and end up returning to play too early before they were properly healed.  

Common symptoms of a concussion may be a headache, nausea, confusion or dizziness.  More serious concussions may result in permanent memory loss or even hearing loss.  If hearing loss occurs and is serious enough, hearing aids may be used to help increase hearing levels.  Fortunately, there are now some ways to mitigate the damage done by concussions and help to try and eliminate situations that result in severe hearing loss. The following guidelines should be implemented not only my parents but by coaches and athletic trainers as well:

-If a concussion has been suffered, the player should seek immediate assistance and be checked out by a primary care doctor.
 
- A injured player should not return until symptoms have completely resolved for at least five days.
 
- Protective headgear must be worn at all times in all sports.

-Not only should head gear be worn, but it should be worn properly.
 
- Proper hitting technique in football and other sports can help protect against concussions and other head related injuries



 
Knee Damage

Knee damage is also very common in all sports, and many athletes will suffer at least minor knee sprains along the way. While it can be difficult to prevent all knee injuries, responding properly to knee injuries can lead to better outcomes down the road. A popular injury to the knee is the ACL tear.  The ligaments around the knee, especially the ACL help in supporting the knee when running, jumping, rotating and landing.  When torn it makes participation in sports very difficult. 

Again, strict guidelines should be implemented, and parents should be educated on how they can help their children prevent ligament tears and the signs they should be looking for if their child may be suffering from a torn ACL:

-To help prevent ACL tears, specific balance and strength exercises can be done to strengthen the muscles of the leg and around the knee.

-Children should only participate in strength and conditioning programs if they are old enough and have been cleared by their doctor.  

-Athletes should perform necessary warm-ups to keep muscles loose throughout practice and games.  

- A doctor should be contacted if there is any question about a knee injury. Many severe knee injuries begin as minor injuries and worsen over time because they are not checked out.

 
Heat-Related Injuries

Two very common injuries that can occur from playing sports especially in the summer months of the year are dehydration and heat strokes.  There are many things that we as parents can do to help prevent dehydration and heat stroke from happening to our children:

-  -Always wear sunscreen.

-  -Hydration is a must.

-  -Not only should our children be drinking plenty of water during games and practices, but they should also be gradually drinking water during the day leading up to the game or practice.  

-  -Children should wear lightweight clothing that allows the body to breathe and sweat properly.  Along with lighter shaded clothing that does not attract the sun.

-  -Practice and games should be played during the hours of the day that aren’t the hottest.  Morning practices and late evening games would be the best bet.

Sports are great way to teach kids valuable skills and proper exercise, but there are some risks involved in all sports. By following safety guidelines and ensuring that kids and parents are doing all that is possible to try and prevent against injuries, sports can be enjoyable for all who are involved. 

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If you would like to be a part of my Pay It Foward Friday segment, please email me.

 
Alexis

Pay It Forward Friday ~ The Lady On Top

The Lady on Top

Hellooo ladies! My name is Sabrina Gomez.  I'm a 20-something single mom born and raised in the Magic City. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Florida International University. I’m the CEO of a successful marketing firm, Cresco Media, in which I manage day-to-day campaigns for Fortune 500 clients. As if this wasn’t enough, I recently got engaged and I’m planning a huge destination wedding while making plans to move internationally for the most fulfilling opportunity of a lifetime. My day-to day responsibilities include making sure monsters don’t come out from under my four-year-old’s bed, the wedding invitations are the right shade of purple, and making it on time for the 8 a.m. conference call at the office on four hours of sleep.

As if I didn’t have enough on my plate, I decided to add part-time blogger to my list. I’m the woman behind the The Lady on Top. Name got your attention, huh? I know what you ladies are thinking. It has nothing to do with all that fun stuff that goes on behind closed doors. The Lady on Top is a blog dedicated to empowering and helping women unlock their full potential.

I’ve always been passionate about being a positive role model to women. I enjoy giving advice that is able to make a positive impact in a woman’s life, whether it be in business, relationships, or the day-to-day challenges facing us women. I’m passionate about inspiring and empowering women to live to their fullest potential. I’m a firm believer that we can be successful in business, be a full-time mom and also be a great wife to our husbands without comprising one or the other.

With my blog, I open the doors of my life to share my experiences with you and make a positive impact in your life. We women go through similar situations, and I’m the friend who encourages and motivates you to overcome the situation you’re facing.

I also create the opportunity to showcase talented women who are making it happen in the community in the hopes of reaffirming that women have the capability to accomplish extraordinary things. 

The Lady on Top serves to help you, empower you and inspire you to do greater things because that’s what all women are capable of doing! 

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Do you want to be featured on Pay It Forward Friday?  Just email The Exhausted Mom!

Alexis

Pay It Forward Friday ~ Parenting With Compassion

Meet Vanessa:

A mother to three incredibly curious little girls ages 8, 6 and 3.  A lover of all things 'creative' from sewing to crafting to baking and cooking to poetry and obviously, writing.  Her blog, Mama Scribble, is filled with memoirs as well as inspiration and a pinch of creativity here and there.  

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Parenting With Compassion

 

Can we all agree that being a parent is hard work? Great, thank you. Let’s move on now.

My biggest challenge in parenting is remaining kind toward myself. I place enormous amounts of energy on expectations that are simply unrealistic, i.e., to keep my garage organized and clean, to not let the dirty laundry go past four days (ha!), to have my house in perfect shape for unexpected visitors (yeah, sure!), etc. These are just a few of them!

When those ‘unrealistic’ expectations don’t get done so commences the complaining and the coming down on myself as the “parent that just cannot handle it all.”  (Insert sigh)

This is the part where I talk about being compassionate toward one self. Compassion falls on a wide spectrum but it can be applied to just about everything. When I am compassionate toward myself, it reminds my children that I am not only imperfect, but that I’m also learning along the way and this is quite okay. When I am compassionate toward my children, they see that no matter how many mistakes they make, or how many times they spill their drink or leave their shoes in the middle of the walkway or forget to turn the running water off in the bathroom, that they too are learning along the way and this too is quite okay. Alright, the shoes in the middle of the walkway is just plain annoying, but you know what I mean.

Instead of getting caught up in the minutiae of details about my expectations, I stop, look around and ask myself, “what are my children really going to remember from all this?” This is a valid question because it makes me stop and say, “I’m an imperfect human and there is nothing wrong with it,” because at the end of the day my children will remember the emotion they took from how I treated myself and them and not so much the way the house looked, or whether all their clothes were neatly folded in their drawers. Nope. The emotion and compassion that they experienced is what will stick to them. Period.

In essence, parenting with compassion starts with myself. I cannot expect any better from my children if I’m harder on myself. They will always emulate what I show them. They will glean from my attitude towards myself. Parenting includes loving and mothering or fathering ourselves along the way.

Parenting with compassion reminds us that we’re not perfect but we’re doing our best. We’ll have good days, bad days, great day and days that we wish to forget and this is all quite okay. Be kind to yourself because we’re all in this together.

xo,

Vanessa

www.mamascribble.com

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 If you would like to be featured on Pay It Forward Friday, email me!

Alexis

Pay It Forward Friday ~ Empowered and Uplifted

Meet Barbara Greene, teacher & Mary Kay consultant:

 

Barbara believes that everything happens for a reason or to prepare you for challenges that come your way. 

After graduating from Barry University in Miami with a bachelor's degree in Sports Medicine & Athletic Training, she married her college sweetheart.  Together they have raised two beautiful children, Gavin, 8 and Shannon, 6.  A busy full time mom, she currently teaches preschool.  

Barbara is also a Mary Kay consultant.  She teaches in a different way with Mary Kay; this time with skin care and mineral color cosmetics...a far cry from three year olds.  "I love teaching and Mary Kay has given me the opportunity to teach while sharing the gift of hope."  

I recently had the chance to get a make-over from Barbara, as well as a lesson on how to recreate the "smokey eye."   Besides it being apparent to me that I should not be going out of the house without make-up, I learned techniques about my make-up application that I have been doing wrong all this time.  Did you know that if a product doesn't say "eye" on it, you shouldn't use it on your eyes?  Yeah, I didn't.

BEFORE

AFTER

How do I look?  Very Kardashian if I do say so myself.  And the whole process wasn't as long as I thought.  Maybe I don't have to do my make-up in the car to save time...

 

Not only is being a Mary Kay consultant important to Barbara, but The Mary Kay foundation is very dear to her heart as well.  When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, it was the kindness of foundations like Mary Kay that gave her mom the quality care she needed.  Strangers donated selflessly to the cause.  Now Mary Kay has given her the privilege to give back while beautifying women. 

"My Mary Kay business has given me more than what I would have dreamt of.  It gave me the sisterhood I needed after losing my Mom to cancer, the encouragement to build my career, and the financial freedom to provide for my family."  Barbara's Mary Kay business has truly given her the gift of hope and the gift of freedom.  The most important gift was helping her to set her priorities to be God first, family second, and career third! 

To learn more about Mary Kay and The Mary Kay Foundation, visit their website at MaryKay.com.

Let Barbara help you find your outer (& inner) beauty!  You can visit her Mary Kay website for personal beauty consulting. 

Pay It Forward Friday is a way to showcase individual talent and businesses.  Want to be featured on Pay It Forward Friday?  Feel free to email me and let me know a little about yourself.

 

Alexis

Pay it Forward Friday ~ Fabulous Summer Bottoms: Dorothy Perkins Edition

Amanda is a South Florida based stay at home mom to a beautiful 15 month old girl.  Being an "AntiMom" is not a baby or mom hater, or all things “mom”.  But since finding out she was pregnant, she vowed to never become the type of mom that loses her identity just because she now has a child.  "I didn’t do things the conventional way my entire life, why would having a baby change that?"  You can check out her website The Anti Mom Blog or find her on Twitter @AntiMomBlog or Facebook The Anti Mom Blog. 


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Fabulous Summer Bottoms: Dorothy Perkins Edition

I know as a mom, we put everyone and everything before ourselves.  Along with this neglect, our fantastic children slowly suck the life out of us during the day, leaving us tired and covered in something sticky.  My mission in life, well since having my daughter, has been trying to find the balance between being a great mom and still being able to stay true to my pre-mom self.  One of those things for me is shopping. 

I have a slight problem/obsession, but I love fashion and the way a great outfit makes me feel.  Some might think of that as vain, but when you look good, you feel good...a trendy domino effect, if you will.

Now that summer is here and slowly melting us away here in South Florida, I like to keep up on deals and great finds for all the latest summer trends.  I came across this great website called Dorothy Perkins and am in love!  Fashion-forward trends for great prices can’t get any better than that!  

Since summer is in full swing, you have to have a few staples beyond a bathing suit.  A good pair of shorts or cropped jeans are a must.  Here are a few pairs of bottoms that everyone should add to their summer wardrobe and they are all under $50!

Jean Bermuda Shorts $39

Jean Bermuda Shorts
These are my absolute favorite this summer!  I wear mine practically every other day.  If you are chasing after kids or meeting a friend for lunch, these are perfect for any day of the week.  And if you want to go on a casual date night with your significant other, throw on a pair or cute wedges for that extra "oomph."

Colored Jean Shorts $27

Colored Jean Shorts
Along with the bolds, sweet pastels are making their way into the limelight.  Try a cool mint color or even a light peach.








 
Colored Jeans

Colored Jeans $39

Color is in and is everywhere you look.  They are showing fantastic bold and bright fabrics that can give an outfit that extra pop.  A great pair of colored denim jeans, like these blue ones, paired with a simple white tee will make a great summer outfit.  The white – well they are classic summer all the way!


 

Maxi Skirt – Striped $35

Maxi Skirts
I love love LOOOOVE these skirts!  You can dress them up or down with either a pair of wedges or cute sandals.  So breezy and cute…and beyond comfortable!


 

Rompers starting at $21

Rompers
It’s not summer without a cute romper!  I love these things and they are everywhere.  Great for cover ups or just a quick outfit when you are in a rush.  These 3 are great options.  Whether you like shorts or capri length, rompers are perfect for a relaxing BBQ or a fun summer party!

 



These great finds will help spice up your summer wardrobe without breaking the bank.  Double bonus!

I want to thank Alexis & all her fab Exhausted Mom readers for having me!  Be sure to come check me out over at The Anti Mom for more weekly fashion postings on the latest trends (next week will be the top 5 summery tops under $20!) and of course some other random shenanigans!




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As a way to share the blogging love and meet new bloggers, I have "Pay it Forward Friday."  This is where I periodically feature fellow bloggers with different interests and from new areas.  If you are interested in writing a guest post for "Pay it Forward Friday," feel free to send me a message!  I would love to feature you!!

Alexis

Pay it Forward Friday ~ Balance After Baby

Katie Moore is a stay at home mom for her daughter and an active blogger living in North Carolina.  Katie discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things "Mommy."  She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people!  To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or on twitter @moorekm26.


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After giving birth, it took me a while to get back into the rhythm of everyday life.  Everything seemed to change; however, as mothers, women can make this adjustment to having a baby quite efficiently.  Known for our innate multitasking skills, we’ll continue to add activities to our packed schedules over time—exercise and healthy eating are just two of them.

Start Slow
Soon after I came home from the hospital, I was ready to get my body moving again with some light exercise and stretching.  Based on factors such as if you’ve had a Caesarian birth or a natural birth, the intensity level of exercise will vary from mom to mom.  Before starting any exercise, I recommend talking to your doctor. It was one of my best decisions because he helped me make think realistically about my exercise plan and weight loss goals.  Just as my doctor gave me advice on options before my labor on choices like pain management, circumcision, and cord blood banking; my doctor helped significantly with my post-partum choices as well.

Exercise
Early on after my delivery, my agenda was filled with reminders to exercise to get back in shape.  Though I often felt overwhelmed by changes that my body had gone through, I soon realized that exercise was an essential element for getting back my pre-baby shape.

For women who’ve had a Caesarian birth, I recommend asking your doctor for a light exercise regimen. Picking up your baby, doing light chores, nursing, and bending are all that a mother recovering from a Caesarian section should be doing in the way of exercise.

For women who have had natural birth with no complications, walking and stretching are good exercises to begin within a week or two after coming home from the hospital.  Light chores are good exercise and so are Kegel exercises, which you can do anywhere!

Breastfeeding
Any breastfeeding is good for a new baby and a new mom. It was a tremendous help for getting back into shape because it helps burn extra calories.  Remember that if you are breastfeeding, you have to take in extra calories to support your milk production.  However, don't feel guilty if you are unable to breastfeed. Your baby will be fine, and you will get your pre-baby figure back, too.

Nutrition
Check out the food pyramid on the USDA website. This gave me information on what I needed to eat and the quantities that were appropriate for me. Based on my experience, I went heavy on veggies and lean proteins.  It seemed like more work because I preferred to prepare things fresh instead of making too many bulk meals ahead of time.  But keeping everything from the food pyramid in your diet is important, as long as it’s in moderation.

Balance
After giving birth, the best thing I did was create balance in my life that included baby time, family time, good nutrition and exercise.  These four elements of life will provide you with health, happiness and a sense of fulfillment in your new role as a mother.





As a way to share the blogging love and meet new bloggers, I have "Pay it Forward Friday."  This is where I periodically feature fellow bloggers with different interests and from new areas.  If you are interested in writing a guest post for "Pay it Forward Friday," feel free to send me a message!  I would love to feature you!!

Alexis

Pay it Forward Friday ~ Eating Out Without Breaking the Bank

Meet Melanie!

Melanie is a native Floridian who has always been stellar at saving for that rainy day (and even for sunny ones!). She avoids paying full price if at all possible, and loves to snag a great deal. After becoming the go-to "Deal Detective" for her friends and family, Melanie founded the website SmartySaver.com, to share her money-saving tips, local deals and online discounts to help others stretch their hard-earned dollars. She's excited to bring deals and discounts your way, with the hopes of helping you get the biggest bang for your buck!

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Dining out is one of those areas that can chomp a huge chunk out of your budget-- and I don't know about you, but it's one of the first places that I cut back on when I need to save.  But shy of never going to a restaurant again, how can you save and still indulge?  

Here are 10 ways you can still enjoy your meals out, without breaking your bank:

• Use Coupons or buy Daily Deals - Before you dine, search online! There are so many dining deal websites these days, you almost never need to pay full price.  There's CharityDine.com, and Restaurant.com, but be sure to read the fine print, sometimes the restaurant has a minimum purchase amount required,  or won't accept the voucher on a Saturday night (that's why I'm not so crazy about those sites). 

• Check weekly deals at sites like Groupon, LivingSocial,  Double Take Deals to save an average of 50% on restaurants. If you're in Florida, you can score ongoing deals at Local Dines. Snagging a dining deal voucher is a great way to try a new restaurant, or visit your local favorites at half the price!

• Participate In Surveys - Many restaurants offer discounts on future visits when you give them some helpful feedback.  Be on the lookout for survey information on your receipt.

• Sign up for E-mail Newsletters - A lot of restaurants will email you exclusive coupons and discounts just for signing up for their email newsletter.  I get Buy One Get One free or 25% off coupons from Ruby Tuesday, Sweet Tomatoes and Pei Wei all the time just for being on the list (and they don't tend to inundate me with unnecessary emails either).

• Eat Out for Breakfast or Lunch - Many restaurants offer cheaper prices for these meals and serve the same size portions. You'll also avoid the evening rush.

• Dine Out on the Weekdays - This may not be as much fun as going out on the weekend, but you can score some great weekday specials, including Kids Eat Free (see below).  Maybe do this once or twice a month to save a little bit!

• Kids Eat Free Nights - If you have kids, why pay if you don't have to?  Places like Denny's, Friendly's and IHOP are big on these, as well as Duffy's.  Here's a list of 101 restaurants where kids eat free (though note, some apply to kids under 3). Also check out Kids Dine Free, where you can pay $19.00 for three months of dining out for kids. Valid at places like Firehouse Subs, Coldstone Creamery, Joey the Baker, Johnny Rockets and more...and valid on breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Share a Meal - Many restaurants serve super large portions--enough for two--so why not share a meal and save?  Even if you get charged a sharing fee, it will be minimal (around $2.00-3.00).  Or share one appetizer and a meal...it will still cost you less than two entrees in most cases.

• Pass on Dessert - Do you really need it?  I didn't think so.

• Order Water with Lemon - It's free and the best for your body! Plus, it'll save about $2.50 compared to ordering a soda or iced tea.

• Skip the Alcohol - If you can, skip the adult beverages since that's where restaurants add the highest profit margin and it can really rack up your bill. Not to mention, the calories!

I hope these tips help you, and feel free to let me know of any others you have that might help us all save!
                             
                                                               -Melanie


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As a way to share the blogging love and meet new bloggers, I am introducing "Pay it Forward Friday."  I will periodically feature fellow bloggers with different interests and from new areas.  If you are interested in writing a guest post for "Pay it Forward Friday," feel free to send me a message!  Would love to feature you!!



Alexis