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July 2019

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4 Essential Tips For The Best Miami Family Vacation

The fall season is upon us and winter is just right around the corner. You may be dreading the cold and dismal fall and winter months, and thinking of packing up the family for a fun in the sun Miami beach vacation.

This is certainly not uncommon. Every year snowbirds flock to Miami and surrounding areas. And really why not? Flights are relatively cheap, depending on where you are coming from, and a few weeks of soaking up vitamin D on the beach can have mood lifting qualities.

This vacation sounds relaxing, but what if you have a partner and pack of kids you will need to bring along. Vacationing with your family can be a bit stressful, especially when you hotel bedroom is full of sand.

However, it doesn’t need to be.The following can serve as your playbook to having the best Miami family vacation ever. Let’s dive in!

  1. Don’t Book A Rental Car

This essential tip for the best family vacation is an important one. It can save you hundreds of dollars, and help keep your sanity when it comes to driving in traffic with kids for hours on end.

There are a few reasons to skip the rental car for your trip to Miami. One is the traffic. Traffic in Miami is not fun, especially with kids. The Miami locals will admit that the driving aptitude is pretty bad and dodging traffic can be difficult while listening to your GPS directions. Add in bored backseat kiddos and stress levels can rise.

Another reason to skip the rental car is parking. Parking in Miami is a million dollar business for the city. Fees are high and parking is somewhat limited on the weekends. If you plan on driving to the everglades or the Florida Keys, you can simply rent a car for specific driving adventures.

  1. Think About Location When Booking Accommodations

The number of accommodations in Miami is endless. From downtown to Miami Beach, there are tons of options, but not all are created equal. To have the best Miami Family vacation, you want to think about location and do a bit of research. This will cut down on travel time from place-to-place, and ensure you are in the area that will maximize family fun.

For example, if you and your family are heading to Miami to enjoy the beaches, be sure you are close to said beaches. There are a lot of hotels in the area that say they are close to the beach, but they are a bit of a walk from them. Downtown Miami does not have beaches, so if beach is what the family wants, Miami Beach is a better choice.

When traveling as a family, it can be difficult to find a big enough hotel room. One of the best parts about Miami as a family vacation destination is that there are a lot of affordable luxury condos and Miami south beach vacation rentals.

  1. Be Sure To Explore Miami

Miami has a lot more to offer than just the white sand beach and beautiful turquoise water. The coolest part about visiting as a family is the different cultures, arts, and food ready to be explored, enjoyed, and eaten.

A short Uber drive from Miami Beach will transport you to places like Little Havana. This Cuban-centric neighborhood has some of the most vibrant culture and delicious food in Miami. If you like coffee, this is a must-go destination, because Cuban coffee is delicious and packs quite a punch.

For a more trendy art scene walk around the Wynwood area to see exceptional graffiti art, and the new generation of Miami. Places like the Wynwood Walls is a great photo opportunity for the kids, and stop by a local restaurant that is eco-friendly.

  1. Save Money By Not Tipping

You and your family will be out and about eating at fun and tasty restaurants daily, but in many cases you can save money by not tipping. How much is a dinner out for the family? Probably pretty expensive and expect that bill to be about $20 to $30 more in Miami.

Not tipping does seem kind of harsh, but it is not what you think. Most restaurants in Miami will add a 15 percent to 20 percent gratuity, commonly called “service charge” to your bill after the state tax even.

Check the bill and examine it closely. If there is a service charge, or some other large charge, it is probably the tip, so you can skip tipping more. Unless the service was amazing, than have at it and leave as much tip as you want.

Have The Best Miami Family Vacation

The above four tips are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to family vacationing in Miami. They are, however, a few of the most important that can ease the potential stress of traveling as a family, as well as save you money. Do you have Miami vacation tips? We want to hear them.

As a teen, it can be difficult to find jobs with the flexibility to allow for homework and a social life, which is why babysitting has always been an attractive option. With so many job boards and fake posters out there, it can be difficult to tell what a real opportunity looks like. Babysitting jobs for teens used to come the old-fashioned way — from a friend, a neighbor, an aunt or uncle, church, or other social organization. But they were not very well organized, and more importantly, not always the best fit for a teen looking to break into the working world, build experience, and save money. Many of the jobs teens have traditionally had, such as working at a grocery store or in fast food, can get in the way of your studies, sports or other afterschool activities (which can all help your college applications), or your social life. Sometimes, due to high rates of workplace injury or robberies, fast food jobs can be outright dangerous. Babysitting remains a great way to save money, it’s just a matter of finding the right jobs.

Thankfully, in today’s cyber-connected society, there are plenty of safe and streamlined possibilities for teens looking to earn extra income by babysitting. Below are 4 simple features of better babysitting job sites that mean teens can find babysitting jobs near them.

1.Favorites lists: A good job site that connects teens with babysitting jobs will have an easy-to-use way for families to save a list of their favorite sitters. When it comes to babysitting part time, often families find that their number one pick is unavailable on the night that they need to get out of the house. Using a favorites list on a site like Sitter.com means they have quick access to a list of people they know and trust.

2. Notes on user profiles: When potential employers are able to keep notes directly on your profile (private notes, that is), they have an easier time sorting through their notes from interviews. It makes the hiring process easier and it’s one of the reasons employers keep coming back to sites like Sitter.com that use it.

3. Identity protection: This is an extremely important factor for teen babysitters who are just making their first foray into the workforce. Teens are constantly barraged by unsafe methods of contact through websites, email scams, and apps. A reputable site for teen babysitters will ensure safety and privacy by providing a way to mask personal phone numbers and email addresses, so that only legitimate employers can contact you.

4. Customer Support: Any good job board for babysitters will offer customer support for those who are experiencing technical difficulties, or need assistance with their online profile or contact details. Be sure to check out blog articles and advice on creating an effective profile that will attract families. Make the most of the resources available to you and find out how you can start searching for jobs and making sure families know how to find you. You can also find advice on preparing for interviews and presenting yourself professionally.

It’s easy to find a job babysitting; start your search in the right place today.

What do you get when you cross a disaster movie with a heist flick? A film like this sounds great on paper, and with Melissa Bolona in Category 5, this sounds like it could be a good time for any fan of this kind of crossing genres. Movie goers will be treated to Category 5, Rob Cohen’s next project on Nov. 5, 2017. Bolona is slated to be featured in the upcoming film.

Category 5 is a film about a meteorologist and a treasury agent trying to stop a group of hackers from infiltrating and stealing $102 million from a U.S. minting facility. Melissa Bolona is set to play the role of Sasha. While little is known about the character and her role in the movie, fans of Bolona and her work should be in for a treat when the film drops this November.

In her acting career, Bolona has been in over 20 different films and television shows since 2013. She is slated to appear in 8 different productions this year alone, and her acting career is only becoming more pervasive in the film industry. Melissa Bolona’s Category 5 appearance is not her only big role for this year. She is also set to play the role of Amethyst Stone in The Year of Spectacular Men. Between these two films alone, Bolona is making waves in the film industry.

Her rise to stardom is building momentum and showing very little cause for slowing down. At this rate, Bolona could be headlining any multitude of films within the next few years. For more information about her acting ventures and future plans in the limelight, go check out Melissa Bolona’s IMDB page to find out where you can see her next film on the silver screen.

While holidays are supposed to be a period of relaxation, it can be quite stressful if not managed properly. Enjoying a holiday is less about the destination and more about the mindset that you bring and the preparations that you have made. This is a concept that is yet to be mastered by those who are new to the holidaying experience. It would be a great waste of resources, and time, if you came back from your holiday more stressed than when you arrived. Luckily, this guide includes tips that you can follow to ensure that your holiday lives up to your expectations.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the art of living in the presence and immersing yourself in the experiences you are currently exposed to. In a holidaying sense, it means setting your mind in ‘holiday mode’. You won’t have a restful holiday if you spend every waking minute making business calls or worrying about issues that you left back home. Unplug for a while and enjoy your holiday destination. It helps if you had made adequate arrangements in your professional and personal life back home before you embarked on your vacation.

Pace Yourself

If you are in a particularly exciting holiday destination, then you will be tempted to try and sample all that it offers during your first day. Try to fight that temptation. Trying too much within a short period of time will diminish the pleasure that you get from each activity. It might also lead to you getting a physical and mental burnout which will spoil the rest of your holiday. Any experience that you may miss out due to time can be enjoyed when you next revisit the destination.

Your Body Is A Temple

While you are expected (actually encouraged) to let loose a bit during your holiday, keep your revelries to acceptable levels. Too much drug and alcohol consumption will negatively affect the enjoyment that you derive from your holiday. It will also leave you more susceptible to being a target for pickpockets and muggers. If the local public transport system is unreliable, keep safe by hiring a vehicle. Never forget to have a reliable caravan insurance for your hired vehicle, with the one sure insurance caravan cover being highly recommended. This is not accounting for the short term or long term health effects that they may cause. You can take part in some health boosting activities such as yoga which are usually available in most holiday resorts.

Ditch Toxic Tech

Technological advancements have made our lives much easier, but they have also become quite addictive. Spending too much time glued to your mobile device or laptop during your holiday will make you miss out on enriching experiences. Ditch the phone and experience what your holiday destination has to offer. Only use your tech devices to check in periodically with your loved ones or to document memorable experiences.

Leave work at work

No matter how important you are to your company’s operation, they can handle a few weeks without you. If you feel that the ‘void’ you are leaving behind in your workplace is too big, then maybe you should take more time to make arrangements for your holiday. Part of ‘unplugging’ means leaving your work commitments behind and committing to the holiday experience.

Polyamory is a complex and controversial topic, even in 2017, and there is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding the subject. Frankly, although it’s supposedly in “fashion” in some circles these days, many people use the term inappropriately, and confusion is king. Let’s start this article off right by defining what Polyamorous Relationships and Polyamorous Dating really are, as compared to other types of relationships:

Definitions:

Monogamy: When you choose to be with one other person, and only one other person for life. True monogamy is actually extremely rare.

Polygamy: When one person has multiple spouses. This is almost always a man with multiple wives. Outside of a few outlying areas on the globe, also very rare.

Serial Polygamy: Also known vulgarly as serial monogamy, but serial polygamy is actually the correct term. . This is when a person goes from one relationship to another in series. Technically it’s not monogamy as you are switching partners, you are just doing it in SERIES. This is by far the most common method of dealing with romantic relationships. Sometimes there is a romantic or sexual “overlap” as people go from one situation to another.

Swinger: A swinger relationship is one where a couple are together, often cohabitating, and emotionally involved, but choose to invite others for sexual play. Swinger relationships are varied, but they are defined by the fact that no sexual activity is supposed to take place unless both of the parties in the relationship are at least in the room.

Open Relationships: When one or both parties date and have sex outside of the relationship, with the consent of the other party.

Polyamorous Relationships: When more than two people decide to get together and form a committed relationship with each other.

It should be noted that polyamorous relationships are by far the most complex relationships out of the whole bunch noted here. It should also be noted that people in polyamorous relationships generally don’t seek sex from people not included in the relationship. This is one of the main differences between the swinger lifestyle and the polyamorous one, and it’s important not to confuse the two.

How to Make It Work:

If you are poly-curious and want to try your first poly relationship, that’s commendable, they are very rewarding in many ways, but keep in mind that they are tricky and have to be managed properly by all concerned. Here are some pointers we have drummed up that can help you navigate a poly relationship successfully:

-First and foremost, keep in mind that everybody in the relationship has their own will, and will act on it accordingly. If it’s tough for a couple to communicate successfully, you can imagine as you start to up the numbers how it gets exponentially more difficult! But if everybody is committed, it is possible.

-Another fundamental is that people have to agree at the very start of the relationship to make a rock-solid commitment to not play favorites in any way, shape, or form.

-Everybody should get thoroughly tested with a complete STI panel before sexual activity commences, because, as you can imagine, if one person brings a bug into the relationship, chances are everybody is going to get it sooner or later!

-People often enter into these types of relationships to do away with routine, but routine can still set in if you’re not careful! Everybody in the relationship needs to be committed to fulfilling each others’ fantasies at least once in a blue moon to keep things fresh and keep everybody interested.

With these tips, you may just be able to construct a little community that stands the test of time and serves as an example for others to follow.

Katrina McGhee is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and a strategic advisor for cause related organizations across America. For over 20 years, she served as a senior executive for two of the world’s most recognizable non-profits, revolutionizing the way women were ignited to take charge of their health. Realigning her knowledge and experience of inspiring wellness on a global scale, Katrina now serves as a women’s empowerment advocate, an inspirational leader and a pioneer of social responsibility. Whether she’s transforming a corporate culture or inspiring individuals to achieve unimaginable success, McGhee is a powerful agent of change.

Formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Director of Marketing for the American Heart Association, McGhee’s work in the non-profit world gained her national recognition as a leader in the world of wellness. As a high level executive, she was on a strong path to a, “perfect life,” until she underwent a radical life revolution. After so many years of what she calls, “running the universe,” the women’s wellness champion crashed and burned. McGhee realized that, in trying to manage everything, she lost control of the most important thing – her own life.

Armed with a steely determination to love herself while still serving others, McGhee transitioned her life away from her high level status in corporate America and, in 2012, she created Loving on Me.  Loving on Me is THE online “inspiration destination” encouraging women to defy their status quo and embrace purposeful, empowered living. For the past six years, through Katrina’s example, and via blog posts, videos and a thriving social community, over fifty thousand women have joined her tribe, getting equipped with the tools they need to lead in every aspect of their lives. Affectionately known as LoveLights, the tribe also supports organizations committed to the education, empowerment and well-being of women around the world.

Katrina’s first book, “Loving on Me! Lessons Learned on the Journey from MESS to MESSAGE,” defines her quest to inspire women to aim higher. This tale of transformation chronicles McGhee’s own journey toward self-worth while providing readers with the tools they need to ignite their own personal revolution. Readers are inspired to “go get their more,” by examining a world of endless possibilities and releasing the limiting barriers imposed by themselves and others.

McGhee is passionate about helping people reach their highest heights in all aspects of their lives. With years of business experience, she is uniquely poised and skilled at igniting change at individual and corporate levels in areas including leadership, personal branding and business development. Through her Loving on Me Academy, she provides online courses that empower audacious women to lead, inspire and succeed. She also offers customized corporate training programs to foster excellence among the next generation of nonprofit leaders, and shares her transformative messages of self-love and empowerment as a featured speaker at conferences and educational events.

September 13, Katrina McGhee joined the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) as they launch their new Leadership Development Workshops (LDWs). Women’s empowerment, gender equality and career advancement have been some of the most discussed news topics of the past year. These one day WFF LDW workshops, coming to 12 cities this fall, will enable women to accelerate career growth through with nationally-recognized speakers, supported by 365-day content and ongoing learning touch points with workshop leaders and fellow participants.

Workshop co-leader, McGhee says of her role with the LDWs, “participants will not only be equipped and ready to take the next step in their leadership journey, they will also have built a strong network of other women leaders with whom they can learn, network and grow throughout the year.” In addition to the full-day workshop, registration includes membership, monthly webinars, quarterly networking & Book of the Month Online Meet Ups.

The workshops launch September 13, in Dallas, TX at the Westin Galleria, 13340 Dallas Parkway. Sessions follow in 11 cities throughout the fall: Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, New York, Toronto, Orange County, Denver, Washington, D.C. and Orlando. Visit https://workshops.wff.org to learn more and for registration details.

Katrina’s empowering new book, “Be Bold, Be Brilliant, Be YOU, Lessons from the C-Suite to Catapult Your Career,” will be available November 23, 2018, which falls on Black Friday this year.

McGhee believes in, and is an example of, BOLD action. Her goal is to inspire big thinking, while delivering the tools that ignite life-affirming transformation to everyone she meets. Through it all, she works passionately to inspire women around the world to love and embrace themselves and each other, and to be empowered to be in the driver’s seat in every aspect of their lives.