Finding more money to add to your budget for necessary self-care time like going to the gym, a dance class, activity, or simply getting an ice cream with the family one day a month can be freeing. But how do you do it? I have a few not-so-secret tips to how I add new things in my budget when needed (because something always comes up) that have been super helpful. Scroll down to discover a few money savers that will work for you!

1. Coupon Apps

The savings found in coupon apps alone is so important that I've written a post about some of the top ones I use. Click here to read 6 Shopping Apps That Save a Ton. Theses apps include both store loyalty savings with percentage discounts and apps that reward you in cash for certain purchases. Depending on what you purchase, you can save a chunk in your grocery or general bill by checking your shopping list with these apps first and remembering to use them in-store.

2. The Other BYOB

Bring your own bags, everywhere. Some stores, like Target and Whole Foods, will take 5 cents off your bill for each bag you bring, so it helps to offset the charges for buying beverages.

3. Selling Stuff

Find a local buy/sell/trade group on Facebook and list the baby/kids items that your family doesn't need or hasn't used in a long while. Sometimes kids items move faster when you take them to a local consignment store, but you don't get as much money in return, so try option one for a week then take what you can to a consignment or antique shop (some give you instant cash for worth, others pay you monthly after items sell). Alternative number three? Donate the items and use the write off in your taxes.

4. Cash Back Sites

I've written about using cash back sites before, and you might think this couldn't save much but it does! Whenever I'm about to buy a Groupon or anything online at all I go to ebates.com (referral link) first. Through this website I saved money on airfare to Kaua'i last August and got $200 back. Before I make a purchase on Amazon, Target or Groupon's website I always go here first to get some money back (and save even more when I combine this with a Groupon discount code of the day).

5. Coupons

Whether it's from the newspaper or online, coupons help! If I'm shopping online I do a search for a coupon code before checking out, and if I'm headed to Target I print out their online coupons before I go to combine with the Cartwheel app and any mobile coupons I may have.

6. Barter

If you're really great at meal prep but not so much at fixing drains and you know someone who is a plummer that could use some meal prep in their life, trade services! Whether you're a business or individual the old barter system can come in handy and save some dough. Most of the advertising on my other more local family website is barter work, which has allowed me to afford getting my daughter horse riding and swim lessons when my monthly budget didn't allow for it. Yes, the cash itself would be great, but it's better to have the opportunity than none at all. A lot of people would rather trade than pay out of pocket.

7. Clearance

Check out the clearance section any time your at the store to see if there's an item that might be great for someone's birthday or holiday gift then store it. This will save you the expense of a full-price gift and the frazzle that comes with realizing you may not have a gift for someone yet. Just try to keep it to two bins of gifts because it can become an added expense and take over a lot of space if you're not careful.

8. Rewards Programs

Depending on what you're into, there's probably a rewards program that offers either a deeper discount, freebie or money back as a thank you for your loyalty. I'm signed up with several restaurants and stores for birthday rewards (post coming soon), and also get free treats for using my Starbucks gold card, or any of my store rewards cards.

9. Mystery Shops

Becoming a mystery shopper is a great thing for going out to eat at a restaurant or picking up something new from a department store every once in a while. You get to pick which shops you apply for and they aren't too time consuming. They don't always pay much at all, but do compensate for whatever you need to buy.

How do you stretch your monthly budget? Share your tips in the comments below! (No links, please.) For ways to find the time to add your new hobby to your day, check out 4 Secrets to Making Time to De-Stress Before You Combust.

The post 9 Ways to Make Room in Your Budget For New Expenses appeared first on Navigating Parenthood.

Coconut lotions, creams, oils and things made of coconut are pretty big right now . . . kind of like how green tea and then pomegranate and then kale were all “the” super food at one time. Water is no exception — even Costco sells a variety of coconut waters. So it's no surprise that a Bay Area local worked to create a coconut water filter which sets his water pitcher and filtration system apart from virtually every other water filter on the planet. Yep, coconut water filter! The Soma carafe and water filter ($49) has a trendy San Francisco district name with a look just as fashionable, and the earth-friendly intellect the SF Bay Area loves to be known for.

Have you ever looked at what's inside your water filters? It's carbon! That can't possibly be healthy, or safe for the kids. The coconut filter Soma uses is plant-based, biodegradable and free of that chlorine taste you may typically get when using a water filter. I just love the video on Soma's website that explains the filter in depth. The filter doesn't take the fluoride out of your water (that's a plus when your kiddo needs fluoride!) but it does reduce color, odor, chlorine, and bad taste from your water, as well as take out any other things that shouldn't be there. It's been given a gold seal from The Water Quality Association, and lasts about 60 days.

After checking all of this neat info out, I noticed something big on the Soma website — they their proceeds and $12.50 of every special edition yellow carafe purchased to Charity: Water! Savvy Every Day strives to share valuable tips, products and services with its readers and the focus is always on products or services that are environmentally friendly or philanthropic in some way. When a product or service is both Earth and people thoughtful (and is simply just a great product) it's a must-share. The Soma carafe and filter made my list after I read about Charity: Water, for sure, but they also make sure that sustainability is a part of every step in their production process right down to the packaging.

I reached out to Soma and they sent me a carafe with filter in July to test out at home for #SavvySummer. With the Kaua'i posts and several others I held on to this gem for just a bit longer so that I could really give you the best review possible. I adore this carafe and just felt like my pictures didn't do it justice and kept trying to take more. But now it's time to tell you about my experience, because I think the Soma carafe would be a fantastic addition to your holiday table setting in 2014 and 2015. It would even make a fabulous gift for newlyweds, friends, neighbors, or parents.

I'll admit that I'm terrible at actually reading directions so when the Soma carafe and filter arrived I read the set up instructions where you clean out the filter before use, then I filled up the carafe and overfilled it. I even added the water wrong. The carafe is designed to look chic at family parties or special dinners, but to be more functional than a simple carafe alone. It has a pouring lid with the coconut filter that prevents spills and keeps water fresh. The lid has a little circle on top that looks like a button. This is the area you're supposed to hold under the sink to fill the carafe with water. Filling the reservoir twice will fill up your entire carafe and six 8 ounce glasses. I was really surprise by how many times I filled up a glass with water and yet there was still water left in the carafe! Now the carafe itself is larger than I expected it to be based on images I had seen online, but the makers tested it in a lot of different fridges to be sure it would fit in a ny fridge and it definitely fits in mine with room to spare. The hourglass shape also makes the carafe easy to hold, and the fact that it's a tempered glass gives me peace of mind when it comes to thinking about BPA and other chemicals, as well as breaks. I love that I can simply place the carafe (not the filter) in the dish water too. It can be tricky trying to wash European carafes, but this German-engineered carafe is so simple to clean (and shatter proof)!

Overall, I think this is one of the best water filter/carafe combos out there — it's safe for families, fashionable, just as affordable as the other guys, and is conveniently sent to you so you don't have to worry about hunting for it at the store. The best part? While you're nourishing your family with healthy water, you're also providing clean water for families in need elsewhere. I love that.

Savvy Every Day was sent a Soma carafe with one filter for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was given. All opinions belong to the writer alone.

The post A New Kind of Coconut Water For the Whole Family appeared first on Navigating Parenthood.

A family visit to Kaua'i isn't complete without learning about the beautiful plants covering the land, so I contacted Na ‘Āina Kai (or “Lands by the Sea”) Botanical Gardens, Sculpture Park and Hardwood Plantation about touring as a family while in Kaua'i. The nonprofit Lands By the Sea started as the personal garden of Joyce and Ed Doty — the two loved to create vast, themed gardens connected to culture, and wanted to open their sort of “secret garden” to the public for everyone to enjoy, and to educate the public about tropical nature.

My family and I were signed up for The Family Tour ($35/adult, $20/child), which included an educational walk through the beautiful formal gardens then ended in the “Under the Rainbow” Children's Garden and play area. When the tour started each child was given their own small paper bag with their name on it to use for items they collect while on the tour. Our guide would stop at a plant and explain the benefits, where it originated from, and why it's here. Then she would ask the tree or plant for permission before taking something from it, and share the remarkable scents of the variety of Plumeria, or the potent aroma of rosemary.

Throughout the gardens, there's a marriage between nature's beauty, and the man-made beauty of the sculptures created by local artists. Every section of the garden tells its' own story, yet fits within the larger landscape and overall theme of the entire grounds. Each Family Tour of the gardens is different as guides cater to the interests of guest. If families want to learn more about everything in the garden then the guide will share very interesting information with them, but if visitors just want to look at all the pretty gardens then guides won't focus on the tips and info as much. My tour group was a mix of both so our guide touched on some neat info — like how orchids are parasitic plants that can grow onto the branch of a tree in the right conditions, and that Naupaka helps with jelly fish and mosquito stings.

While passing some exotic flowers, we picked a few to smell and collect for the kids' treasure bags. The kids also had a chance to feed the Koi fish in Ka’ula Lagoon (which both the kids and fish loved). This fun little feeding time broke up the tour a little — great for kids who easily lose interest in listening to others, or looking at plants. We continued to the full-size hedge-maze then made our way to the “Under the Rainbow” Children's Garden, which is when the kids really got excited — OK, I did too, it's amazing!

After walking under the rainbow and through the gates, a large water sculpture of Jack and the Beanstalk sits in the middle of a splash pad. The sculpture shows Jack cutting the beanstalk as the giant chases after him. But it also shows the entire story of Jack using mosaic tiles at the base of the sculpture. Next to the fun water play area, is a gecko-shaped maze, a kid-size train, a country cabin with rocking horse, and Rubertree treehouse.

Also just past the water area, you'll find an impressive Navajo Compound, complete with sculptures by Susan Kliewer forming scenes, like baby wolves playing together, or goats looking up at their owner.

Kids can walk through the realistic scenes in this themed area, and  check out the “caves.” There's also a jungle environment within the children's garden — complete with monkey bars, a monkey, a tunnel, a tree house, slides, and plants and trees to fit the kiddo theme — peanut butter, jelly, chocolate, and vanilla. My favorite thing in the play area is the wine barrel airplane — but there are a lot of great things to see in the Children's Garden and play area. It's nice that Na ‘Āina Kai offers a Keiki Day every so often so that local kids can play in this fun-filled area all day at an affordable rate.

After visiting “Under the Rainbow,” I was given the opportunity to see another part of the gardens where school kids may go on tour before they visit the children's play area. It's an edible garden and sculpture park with a mealtime theme. Kids aren't allowed to try the fruits in any of the gardens due to potential allergic reactions, but the tour begins with breakfast foods, and plants named after them — like sausage.

After breakfast, we drove through lunch, appetizers, dinner, dessert, and circus. Like the formal gardens, there are sculptures throughout, and a lagoon (complete with fisherman). I tried saw a a sort of spicy fruit — a Surinam Cherry — for the first time, learned that just one of those cherries have enough Vitamin C for an adult's daily intake. I also got the chance to taste a passion fruit and “ice cream” plant.

Na ‘Āina Kai is about a 45-minute or so drive from Poipu, where we were staying, but it's definitely worth the drive, because there's so much to see (like Waimea Canyon) on the ride back. I highly recommend adding Na ‘Āina Kai to your Kauai vacation plans — it's beautiful, educational, and has so much to see! The only thing I would like Na ‘Āina Kai to work on is adding more markers around major plants for visitors to see what the plant is called and some tid bits about it.

The post Na ‘Āina Kai: Secret Garden of Kaua’i appeared first on Navigating Parenthood.

There's no denying that one of the major things that can bring families together is food. But eating out at a swanky restaurant to celebrate something special isn't always in the cards for mommies or daddies because we can't all afford the expense of eating out and paying a babysitter  . . . or even find the right sitter! Which is exactly why I was so thrilled to celebrate my 30th birthday (yep, I'm feeling super old now) and wedding anniversary at Tidepools while at the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort and Spa.

On the outside, Tidepools looks like an adult-only date night restaurant (it's one of the Most Romantic U.S. Restaurants on OpenTable) — it's basically thatched-roof bungalows atop a koi-fileld lagoon next to the ocean! But  the restaurant is actually very welcoming to the whole family. Tidepools offers both adult and keiki (children) menus with fresh seafood and meat options, healthy veggies, and yummy sea salt bread (kind of tastes like addictive pretzel bread) served with garlic butter. Because Tidepools is so inclusive of the whole family, you can still enjoy an amazing dinner out without the pressure of finding a sitter, or feeling like you're ruining other people's evening by bringing the kids (but Camp Hyatt has evening sessions if you want the alone time).

In keeping with the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i open design, Tidepools has large open shutter doors that overlook its' koi-filled lagoon, giving diners the feeling of an enclosed space that is also extremely open and connected to the natural world. The space is intimate  but not far off from the Salt Water Lagoon at the resort, or even the ocean itself. You can sit at a table inside, or if you have a larger party, choose to reserve one of the larger private tables set out more on the water, away from the rest of the tables.

My daughter, S, had some fish food leftover from when she fed the fish in the lagoon earlier (the hotel lets kids feed the fish daily at 9 a.m.), so she immediately started tossing fish pellets in the water for the koi to devour while we waited for our server and to order. The koi loved her generous portions and swarmed toward us — it was quite a site and kept her occupied when she would have been otherwise cranky and tired. Some little birds paid us a visit and serenaded us with song as well (no predators on the island, so there are a lot of chickens and little birds, which I actually loved).

S ordered the Chicken Katsu with jasmine rice, vegetables and homemade katsu sauce for $12. Her food was pretty tasty, but she especially enjoyed the rice (and buttered bread mentioned above). The online menu says that the kids meal includes a small salad and scoop of ice cream but we didn't get either of those with her meal. She was given an activity menu and some crayons to keep busy while at the restaurant, though, and S had fun watching the fish swim around next to us.

I ordered the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi with coconut-jasmine rice, papaya-avocado relish and roasted banana-macadamia nut sauce ($42). The sauce is so delicious that I had to ask for extra — it compliments the mahi mahi really well. The fish is soft and fresh, so the crunch of the macadamia nut is perfect! I really enjoyed the flavors of my dish.

My husband ordered the Chef Special of the day. I can't remember what it was called, but it had lobster, swordfish and scallops with coconut rice and asparagus for around $46. I'm not typically a fan of scallops because they usually come out chewy, but the scallops in this dish were cooked to perfection. They were like butter, only even more delicious, and the lobster was just as good. I think I ate most of my husband's meal before he could. For dessert, we took a recommendation from Yelp! and had the Molten “Lava” Cake — ice cream, chocolate streusel, raspberry coulis, and salted English shortbread for $12. It was good (and it had a birthday candle!) but I don't like sea salt on things (as an ingredient, yes, but not as a topping) so I personally didn't care for the salt on the shortbread (sour and salt). It's a craze right now, though, so I'm sure many people love the idea of salty shortbread.

Overall? I give Tidepools a 4 out of 5 stars for being a family restaurant — they have food options and entertaining sites for kids, but I can see the open shutters being an issue with some curious children, and would like if the kids meals came with a drink of some sort and the salad listed in the menu. The prices are expected for the gourmet food you receive from California native, Chef Jayson Thompson, but slightly cheaper prices would make dining at Tidepools affordable to more families. As far as my rating as a restaurant for dates? Um . . . 5 out of 5. I need to go back and order all the lobster!
Savvy Every Day was given the menu items shown to try for this review, but the opinions are of the writer alone and no one else. This is not a paid post.

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Puka Dog is well-known in Kaua'i for using the ever so tasty Aunty Liliko'i Hawaiian Mustard, and offering island-inspired relishes like mango or pineapple in their veggie or sausage dogs. But locals and tourists alike also enjoy the super sweet fresh-squeezed lemonade made-to-order by cup right before your eyes. Use the below video for a rough estimate of Puka Dog's lemonade recipe to try with the kids at home (and enjoy)!

Ingredients and Tools

• 1 lemon (sliced in half)
• 1 shaker
• 1 manual juicer
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 3 cups ice
• 1 cup

Directions

1. Juice both lemon halves into the shaker
2. Add sugar and throw in the second lemon half
3. Pour about 3 cups of ice in with water
4. Shake and pour
5. Enjoy and repeat!

The post Video: Make Fresh-Squeezed Hawaiian Lemonade appeared first on Navigating Parenthood.

Vacations can be surprisingly stressful: finding out activities to do, a bedbug-free place to stay, good food to eat, and sights to see all while staying within budget and appeasing all most family members is tough! I've discovered that Grand Hyatt Resort Kaua’i and Spa makes a lot of that easier for families. Even before I became a mom I was a sort of a consumer critic and this place has totally surpassed my expectations. Reading about it online certainly isn't enough, but I'll try to be as informative as possible. Here are some amazing features at Grand Hyatt that are huge perks to families (some of which you may not see in other online descriptions). Read through them all then share your favorite in the comments below!

1. The Bathroom

The bathroom has a double vanity sink in its own spacious room, easily closed off from the rest of the general room area, and is large enough for multiple family members to get ready in at once. The toilet is in a stall, complete with telephone and a remote control for the smart potty's built-in bidet. Not only is this toilet amazing for potty training toddlers who tend to miss a bunch or get toilet paper stuck (say goodbye to wet wipes!) during serious potty breaks but it's been known to make adults giggle the first time they use it as well.

2. The Forgotten Must-Haves

Parents are schedule keepers, problem solvers, coordinators, and so many more things for the kids and spouse that sometimes doing things can feel rushed and items are missed or left behind. (I forgot my toothbrush after making sure to get the husband and kiddo's toothbrushes for the trip.) The Grand Hyatt must totally get this because they give guests little travel size versions of most common toiletries that may be needed but were accidentally forgotten. Need a toothbrush? They have it. Forgot soap to wash baby? They'll send you a whole little travel kit!

3. On-Site Laundry

Whether you over-packed or under-packed, chances are that your family will find some mud in Kaua'i. Rather than packing your muddy items, letting a food stain set in on your kiddo's new shirt, or having to deal with the mountains of laundry when you get home, opt to use the complimentary washers and dryers at Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa. Each wing has its own laundry room for guest use and some laundry soap for about $2 (or you can bring your own travel size laundry soap and it's free). Simply set your clothes on the desired cycle then head to the pool or another activity for about 30-45 minutes before returning to move your laundry to the dryer.

4. Flavorful Health-Centered Grub

Hotel restaurants are often labeled as convenient and expensive, but not always good. Though I only went to here (review here), The Dock, Llima Terrace, and Seaview Terrace (4 of the 9 restaurants available at the Resort) the food was always delicious. Each restaurant showcases island flavors in a different way, but mostly with the use of passion fruit, guava, macadamia nuts, pineapple, and papaya. Because Kaua'i is an international destination, the restaurants offer gluten-free, organic, and vegetarian options on both the adult and keiki (children's) menus.

5. On-Site Activities

Though there are plenty of activity tours in the area, Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa is so packed with things to do that you almost don't need to even leave the resort on your vacation! There's a calendar with scheduled activities for the month, as well as daily activities available as part of a guest's stay at the resort (and even a luau). Some of the activities are: workout classes for all fitness levels, parrot talk time, lei making, water slide races, hula lessons, and ukulele lessons. I made it to an aqua aerobics class on my last day in Kaua’i and it was super fun. I’m so out of shape that lately I couldn’t handle an hour-long workout class, but doing the intense workout in the water (and Jen, the fabulous instructor) made it fun and doable.

6. Camp Hyatt

Kaua’i is a beautiful island with so much to do, but not every activity on the island is for kids of all ages. If you have a child under 7 or 8 (the minimum age for most tour activities around Kaua’i), then Camp Hyatt is a vacation saver. Kids ages 3 and up can attend camp for half a day, full day, or at night for about $60-$80 a day depending on the amount of time you choose. My daughter was given a full day at Camp Hyatt for this review, and so that I could enjoy a spa day at Anara Spa on my birthday. While S was there she met with parrots, made a picture frame, played with a giant checker board, and made new friends. The camp counselors even took her to the pool for a bit. I don’t trust people with my daughter very easily, which is why I’ve never had a babysitter who isn’t my mom or sister, but I immediately trusted the camp staff and facility for the day.

7. The Education

Throughout the resort there area opportunities to learn about the Hawaiian culture in many ways: From volunteering opportunities while in Kaua’i to lei making and hula dancing. The hallways of the resort also have different historical facts showcased on the walls, and a card explaining a Hawaiian story or bit of history is left on guest beds with a piece of chocolate at turndown service every night. Kaua’i itself is educational, though. Just walking around the resort, and down to the beach allows parents a moment to talk about fish and birds (in Tidepools’ pond), smell the flowers, notice the bright colors, hear the ocean, and feel the texture of the popular bumpy Kaua’i leaves (saw them everywhere we went).

8. The Pools

The Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa gets quite busy during peak season, but with several multi-level pool areas it never feels like there are too many people in the pool at once. In fact, I felt like my pool time with family was rather exclusive because all the guests are so spread out between hotel activities and the many pools. There’s an adult-only pool for ages 14 and up, a kids area with a mini slide, a huge water slide for older kids and adults, a real looking (and tasting) salt water lagoon, and at least 3 hot tubs.

9. The Design

The pictures online are beautiful, but when you walk into the main lobby you're transported to the bliss of 1930s island living. Everything is grand, open, and beautiful (I am in love with art deco). The lobby is enclosed, but open to the ocean. The ceilings are high and grand, and the use of Hawaiian woods and sea-like colors create a serene scape. The resort is also stroller, wheelchair and cane friendly.

10. The Staff

Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa pays attention to every little detail from the look of the very real seeming Salty Water Lagoon in the pool area to the appearances of all of the pleasant, happy staff (My family checked out another well-known hotel on the North Shore of Kaua'i and the staff didn't all have the clean hotel uniforms or pleasant demeanor). I visited the resort during my birthday and wedding anniversary so staff took note of these special occasions and made it even more special with a “happy birthday” or “happy anniversary,” as well as surprising us with gifts in the room like a giant heart made of orchids the night we returned from a luau. There were a ton of honeymooners, anniversaries, birthdays, and even weddings at the resort, but the staff made us feel as if ours was the only special occasion happening (and I could tell they did the same for others).

Insider Tip: Sign up for the Hyatt Gold Passport (free) to get discounts on meals and earn points toward a free stay. If there's more than 2-3 people in your group it may benefit you to sign up for the Grand Club during your stay too.

I was not paid for this post and my opinions are my own. I was given a free day for my daughter to attend Camp Hyatt for this review.

The post 10 Things Families Should Know About Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa appeared first on Navigating Parenthood.

Waimea Canyon in Kaua'i is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of Hawaii — It's vast, gorgeous, and a must-see if you are ever in Kaua'i. The best part? It's a scenic adventure open to young and old of all abilities. Families can choose to view the canyon from the observation deck or hike to a closer view-point. There's a men's and women's restroom available (but bring your own seat protector, hand soap and towels) near the observation deck, and you may find some local fruits for sale in the parking lot as well. When I went, there was a truck selling sugar-crusted dried pineapple, fresh mango, and even dragon fruit.

*Click on the photo boxes below to enter a large gallery slideshow!*

If you're a tad more adventurous, there's a trail that leads to a better vantage point of the canyon a little ways away from the observation deck area. You can either drive down to the first stop to park and start your hike, or drive a bit further down for a clearing where you can park to cut your hike in half. If you park in the first spot like my family did then you're in for a narrow, up, down, and rocky hike. (It definitely isn't boring.) If the whole family is going, be sure to bring water, dress appropriately, and bring some snacks. You can find more tips on hiking at my post for National Parks Depot, here.

After about 20 minutes or so of hiking you come across a clearing (where we found a car had parked and wished we had done the same). At the clearing the path splits with the 45-minute or so hike to the waterfall to the left and a 5-minute or so hike to the canyon viewing point to the right. (We decided to look for the waterfall and went left.) If you venture to the waterfall be sure to bring a carrier for your little one(s) and wear a swimsuit. The hike takes nearly 2 hours in total (not including time spent at the waterfall), so be sure to have everyone use the potty before you start.

Want to know what the hike might be like? Check out my (shaky) video from the last 15 minutes or so of the hike below.

Planning a trip to Kaua'i? Check out The Best Inflatable Kayaks You Can Buy

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