Ninja Mommy Hacks: Life with 2 Minions and lots of wine!

EBATES!     In 15 days I have made $90 in cash and $30 is pending travel.      You start at the EBATES website and simply shop like normal online.  The referral link within Ebates makes you money. How it's legit:  1) Amazon says "hey EBATES send me people to shop"  Ebates loads up the % back and posts it.  You start on the Ebates webiste and click the Amazon link, it sends you to Amazon KNOWING you will earn cash back.  2) You shop on Amazon like normal (be sure to stay in that referral link) and BAM % back in your EBATE account the next day.    It is THAT easy!  *** Note: There is a Chrome Extension that follows you when you are online, so if you go to Amazon without starting on EBATES, it knows and will show you a pop-up "do you want to earn % back thru EBATES?  Click here to activate" 3) Cash is sent to your Paypal account (or paper check) every quarter.   This alone pays for our spending mo...

As always I explain our my family spends 25K a year on vacations while still have a $630 a month daycare bill.  1) Working REWARDS!       a) Disney Chase Credit card.  2% back .  Use if for EVERYTHING except 3 things.  We have one of us cruise for free on Disney every other year.   AND Disney Vacations are 6 months 0 % interest.        b) Costco Citi card!  We make over $1500 a year back from 2 cards and the Executive Membership.   That cash (sent as checks you cash at Costco registers) is used to pay for our entire Carnival Cruise this spring break!    Gas = 4% cash back.  Travel = 3%   Eating out = 3%  Costco= 2% cash back.             c) Alaskan Airlines Credit Card-   companion fares, free baggage, miles.        d) EBATES!    In 8 days I have made $63 in cash and $30 is pending travel. ...

Ok Ninjamoms, you know me...I will give you the good and the bad. We spent Thanksgiving week 2018 there, 7 days.    My kids are 8 and 4.   Note most all inclusive resorts have the same amenities, all you can eat/drink, high shelf liquor, 24 hour room service, etc. I will be touching on the things we LOVED that set Moon Palace Grand apart from the rest.   YES: 1) The rooms are huge!  We had an adjoining family suite- 1 King bed in one room, 2 Doubles in the next.  Jacuzzi in both rooms,  large bathroom...  it was literally too big.  2) Mini bar w/FULL hard liquor pour spouts (hello Captain and Coke all day everyday). They will bring you wine/champagne if you ask for it.   (as always travel with dollar bills for tips) 3) The food on site was probably the best I have eaten in Mexico. 4) You have access to the other 2 resorts on the property (Sunrise and Nizuc).  Sunrise has a Japanese restaurant (hello Sushi...

Ok people... the bottom line:  Yes, it's worth the $100 per ticket for the Halloween Party!  NO, do not even DARE add on a 2nd day to enjoy the park.  You won't enjoy the park, cause there are a million others with you.  Not FUN! Here is my advice: 1) arrive right when you can at 4pm- and go straight to Calif Adventures!!!   Enjoy that park while you can!  I noted 5 min wait times for some of the rides. 2) When the Halloween party starts at 7pm, head to DLand.  Stay away from Main Street- they are ushering everyone OUT and only the wrist bands (your ticket) gets you on rides/candy. 3) Bring 3 bags extra for all the candy you will get (the good stuff, it's Disney... they spend $$  on candy). 4) Spend your time on the RIDES and enjoy the shorter wait times.      -This will mean trying to convince your kids to not do the candy lines...  good luck. Did not work for my kids.   Hence the 10lbs of candy we brou...

Note: Military only hotel! Here are my tidbits: 1) The beach is amazing for kids!  Gentle waves where my 3 year old can sit in the surf and play without being SUCKED into the ocean. 2) Hotel food is pretty good!  The Breakfast buffet is amazing!  $18 per adult, but even if you wanted to save money and head to IHOP 2 blocks up-- it comes out to the SAME price!  Barefoot bar has chili dogs for $6.   Warriors lounge has a good happy hour.   There is a ROOM RATE with Breakfast Buffet, chose this rate!  Saves you money if you want to eat on site daily.  3) PX on site, and it's a good size.  We got cereal and milk for breakfast each morning when we wanted to save money.  BEER and wine selection!   Save $$- buy your liquor there! 4) Rooms are not that big...  2 beds, and a bathroom.   Patio is a good size, but of course you will need to watch the little's as they are out there. 5) Rooms have a s...

We just spent 1 night at Tenaya Lodge (March 29, 2018)- and we fell in love.   Here are my tidbits:  website:  Tenaya Lodge Do this:  1) Prepare for the price.  Regular rate is $479, but the calendar shows some (weeknights) as low as $169.    SO WORTH IT! 2) Budget!   Almost everything is extra $$, but you are in Yosemite (ok, more like 1 mile to the gate), the scenery is amazing and you get what you pay for! 3) Ice Skating rink  ($15 approx per person)-  It's covered outside.  Not sure if year -round 4) in winter (snow) they have FREE sledding runs, just bring your sled!   Below was start of spring, we had to walk down the  hill towards Archery to sled.   A short run, but my littles had a blast. 5) Other things to do:    Arcade/game room $, Archery $, Nature Hikes $, Tour in a nice small bus of Yosemite $$, Yoga for kids $, morning stretching $, Paint Nights $$, and MORE!...

Hello everyone!  6 of us girls went on the 3 night Carnival Cruise to Ensenada, where I did NOT get off the boat- I was there to relax, read, and chill.  1) Carnival impressed us!   FORGET YOU PRINCESS, I will be sticking to Carnival and Disney until further notice! Why... 1) the Food was amazing- everywhere (except room service, skip that)! 2) our Cruise director led amazing lobby parties every night 3) Stand-up Comedians you see on Comedy Central, doing multiple shows each night. 4) RELAXATION to the max! 5) the Club.. yes I went clubbing.  By that I mean I sat with my glass of wine and chair danced to some amazing music- alone!  My buddies all went to bed. 6) the naps where children cannot interrupt me! 7) The waterslides looked amazing, going in early March = too cold! 8) the Library!  I found Girl on the Train, and read it in 4 hours!   Bring a book, and swap it out with another! 9) Dinner dance parties while you eat.. GREA...