A (More) Personal Way to Say "Wish You Were Here"

>> Wednesday, May 27, 2009

When we travel we send a lot of post cards to friends and family back home. Which everyone really enjoys. While we were in Boston I found a way to make the "wish you were here" postcard even better.

I discovered Hazel Mail.


With Hazel Mail you simply download a photo you have taken, create a personal post card, write your own note and then Hazel (named after the founder Michael Lato's mother) prints, stamps and mails the card for you. All for $1.50 - to anywhere in the world! (note: Hazel Mail is located in Italy and will show on your statements as Think America LLC Rome. You will pay a small currency conversion fee. I sent 5 post cards and the fee was $0.06. The currency conversion fee depends on daily rates.)

Think about it... That's less than the cost of a post card & stamp. And take a look at just how easy it is to do:


At the homepage click "Send a Postcard". Next you will upload the photo you want on your postcard.

After you have the photo uploaded click "format image".



On the format page you can rotate your photo or stretch it to fit (stretching will alter the image). If the image doesn't fit the page you can add background color. There are also a couple of frame options.

Format your photo. When you are happy with how it looks click "write message".



On this page you will see how the front of your postcard will look and you can now write a personal message in one of 8 fonts.

You can add the recipient manually or import addresses. Make sure you choose the correct country from the dropdown menu below the address section. By clicking the "add recipient" button a new postcard pops up. It will have the same photo but you can write a new, personal message to another recipient. You can do this as many times as you wish.

After you've created all the postcards you want to send click "add to cart".



Your cart page will show you how many postcards you are sending and will show you the price. You can remove postcards from your cart here.

When you have your cards set to go click the payment button.



Payment options include pre-paid HazelBucks, PayPal or your credit or debit card.

It's easy, it's personal and everyone we sent these cards to absolutely LOVED them!

The card should arrive in about a week (not any slower than sending a postcard from outside the country).

Give Hazel Mail a try the next time you want to dash off a "wish you were here" note.



Disclosure: this is not a paid post but my thoughts on a product I have actually used and like. I am, however, a HazelMail affiliate.

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Win Cruises!

>> Saturday, May 23, 2009

Be one of eight lucky families to win a Disney Channel Summer at Sea cruise on Disney Cruise Line! Enter contest here. Be sure to enter daily! Contest ends June 7, 2009 at 11:59 PM. Rules are here.

Get a Taste of Luxury with a one week Mediterranean cruise for two on Seabourn's newest ship, the Odyssey. You can enter daily! Click here to enter. Contest ends July 1, 2009 at 11:59 PM. Rules are here.

For more travel contests visit Have Kid Will Travel's Fun Stuff page!

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Not Quite Like London...

>> Tuesday, May 19, 2009

As I was editing pictures today for an upcoming piece from our Massachusetts travels I laughed when I edited this one:

British Beer Co., Plymouth, MA


It reminded me that I had taken a photo of Doug beside an actual palace guard at St. James Palace when we went to London in 2003- before we had kids. I had to go dig it up (it was taken on a non-digital camera -gasp!- but, luckily, I got it on disk). Doug was doing his best "I'm not gonna smile either" face.

Unfortunately the cardboard guy is the closest the girls will get to an actual palace guard until they are older. We decided no big cities until they can appreciate the museums. I don't want to repeat the sprint through the Museum of Archeological History in Dublin.

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The (Revised) 2009 Travel Game Plan

>> Friday, May 15, 2009

There are some amazing travel deals out there right now. I saw a $249 flight/car deal from New York to Dublin yesterday and a flight/hotel deal for London for $539. If you can afford to now is certainly the time to travel.

Budget Travel (probably my favorite travel magazine) recently published their 2009 Travel Game Plan (Revised) and put it out on their website. (You may also want to check out their Real Deals if you're looking for a great vacation on-the-cheap.)

A couple of my favorite tips from the article:

Kayak, which is always one of my first stops for Travel Deals, has a new Insight tool that displayes other people's search results out of any airport you choose. You'll want to click the "more" button on the left side of the page and Insight will show under the Research header on the opening page. Click it and see what Travel Deals other people have gotten- in real time!

Layaway for travel from Gate1. You put down a deposit (from $100 to $200) and pay the rest in installments. Just be sure to read the fine print for pay-off dates- 45 days prior to land vacations and 4 months prior to cruises.

Check out the rest of the article for other travel ideas and deals.

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Win One of 70 Trips to Curacao

You can enter daily at www.curacaotreasure.com to enter to win one of 70 trips for two to Curacao. You'll also be entered for the chance to win half a million dollars... Contest ends May 23, 2009.

For more vacation contests visit the Fun Stuff page at Have Kid Will Travel!

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Winners!

>> Sunday, May 10, 2009

The winner of the Towel Down 3-in-One Beach Towel is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

80 

Timestamp: 2009-05-11 01:29:19 UTC

Congratulations

Rita A. said...

I am a subscriber

She also said she would like the fish pattern in a previous entry.

And the Janine King Fronce Tote goes to...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

118 

Timestamp: 2009-05-11 01:38:15 UTC

LitVamp said...

Gorgeous work! The multi-use totes are perfect!

Winners have been notified via email and have 3 days to respond. If I do not receive a response within that time a new winner will be chosen.

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Win a Labor Day Vacation to London!

>> Friday, May 8, 2009

I love London. Doug & I visited in 2003 before we had kids and I would love to go back. This trip for 2 on British Airways includes 5 nights lodging. London has so many great things to do... And it's so easy to get around on the Tube.

Enter the contest here. Enter by June 30, 2009. Rules are here.

For more travel contests visit the Have Kid Will travel Fun Stuff page.

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I Got a Janine King Fronce Tote! Want One?

>> Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I managed to hold off since last fall... But, while wandering through Boston and saying, one too many times, "I really wish I had a Fronce (pronounced fron-say) tote," I finally decided to spend my small amount of saved "fun" money (which takes a while to add up, by the way) on the bag I had been visiting online for about 4 months.

When I contacted Janine King with a question about the bag she very graciously offered to send along a bag for me to give away (she's good like that).

So, at the left you can see my great bag. Don't look at me, OK? It's the bag we're focusing on...

First- look how huge it is! It's amazing how much stuff I have put in here! This past weekend I had a folder with confirmations for event, hotel & dining, two bottles of water, my wallet, camera, Flip, business cards, iPod, 9" Acer laptop, Moleskine planner and makeup case in it. And I had room to spare! Dimensions: Approx 14” across the top, 16” tall, 18” across the bottom. 5” boxed corners at bottom

Second: I love that the strap is adjustable so I can carry it over my shoulder or across my body, depending on how much stuff I have in it. Shoulder strap adjusts from 22” to 42” allowing for most body types.

Third: I utilize this bag mainly for travel because it is roomy without being too dull and practical. It has three interior pockets for organization (think camera, video, iPod, pens, etc. Interior pockets: Two are approx 7"x7" and one is approx 4"x6") It also has a key clasp- which is great because your keys would be hard to find at the bottom of this bag! The bag doesn't zip closed but the top is firmly interfaced to keep it upright and it almost molds to your body. Besides, a pickpocket would have to have some seriously long arms to get into the bottom of this bag without you knowing. (That said, you should carry your ID, passports & large amounts of cash on your person when you travel.)

For all the specs on this great bag visit Janine King Designs. While you're there check out the huge sale she's having! Bags are ready to ship and the prices are incredible! (I've already bought a gadget keeper for my iPod, a wristlet to match my mini computer sleeve and the Big Beautiful Tote in Bermuda Stripe Raspberry - it's gorgeous! You should get the last one!)

Want to own a Janine King Fronce Tote?

This contest has ended
I have a bag identical to mine (in the gorgeous Asian Cherry Blossom) just waiting for one lucky winner.

To enter head over and take a gander at Janine's bags. Leave a comment and tell me what strikes your fancy.

Want more entries?
  • For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  • Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify.
  • Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
  • Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link. (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Win an amazing Fronce Tote from Have Kid Will Travel & @JanineKingBags! http://bit.ly/oWCKn )
  • Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
  • Add my blog to your Technorati favorites Add to Technorati Favorites
Open to anyone with a mailing address- worldwide!

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends May 9, 2009 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner May 10. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

This giveaway is part of the Give It Away Now blog carnival hosted by Mom Most Traveled. For more great giveaways click the button below!

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Janine King Kindle Sling Winner!

>> Monday, May 4, 2009

Before I announce the winner I just want to remind you all that Janine King Designs has a HUGE SALE going on now!

And the winner is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

54 

Timestamp: 2009-05-04 16:27:52 UTC


Congratulations Wendymoon said...

Here's my tweet:

http://twitter.com/Wendym00n/status/1670182249

I hope- ok, I know- you'll love it!

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It's Almost Beach Time! A Giveaway from Family Travel Gear!

>> Sunday, May 3, 2009

OK, we don't have a beach that we visit here in Iowa... But we do go to the pool. And the park. And the Towel Down 3-in-One Beach Towel will come in really handy for practically any outdoor activity with the girls.

This is a great backpack/tote bag/ family size beach towel... all in one.

Towel Down Features:
* Material is 100% cotton velour.
* Towel size is 40 inches x 70 inches. It's HUGE!
* Large double chamber pockets (bag) measure 24" L x 19" W.
* Corner pockets measure 11" x 10".
* Easy washing instructions

Talk about multi-tasking! It will hold all of our "necessary" pool toys. It will make it easy to pack park playthings- and give me a clean, dry spot to sit down! And I can wear it as a backpack when Caelan decides that she "just can't walk anymore".

Family Travel Gear is giving away one Towel Down 3-in-One Beach Towel in your choice of design!

This contest has ended
Visit Family Travel Gear, check out their offerings (and the Towel Down 3-in-One Becah Towel) and tell me which design you would choose if you win. Respond in the comments.

For an extra entry subscribe to (Have Kid Will Travel (you can do this near the top of the page in the right column) or add my button to your blog. Leave another comment telling me you did so.

For even more entries blog or twitter this contest. Leave another comment with the blog link or your twitter id so I can confirm this entry. (Tweet as often as you like! Copy & Paste: RT @iatraveler: Win a great multi-purpose tote/beach towel from Have Kid Will Travel & Family Travel Gear! http://bit.ly/rkJbF )

US & Canada only, please.

Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends Saturday, May 9 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner May 10. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

This contest is part of the Give It Away Now Blog Carnival hosted by Mom Most Traveled. For more great contests click the badge below.

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Win a Trip to Ireland!

>> Friday, May 1, 2009


Share your favorite travel photos at Budget Travel to enter to win a trip to Ireland. (Oh, yeah, you know I'll be doing this!)

Prize is:
* Round trip economy class airfare for two (2) from a gateway in the US with direct service to Belfast, Shannon or Dublin
* Six (6) nights' hotel accommodations- including one night in a castle- with breakfast each day (Yum! Irish breakfasts are great!)
*Seven (7) days' car rental

Five (5) entries per person. Contest ends May 18, 2009. See all the rules here.

Winners will be chosen by Budget Travel.com's editors - and the Budget Travel online reader community.

Visit BudgetTravel.com/contest to enter.

To see more fun travel contests visit the Have Kid Will Travel Fun Stuff page!

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Thank You for Visiting!

Thank you for visiting and reading of our adventures. I hope you are inspired to travel with your kids and I hope I gave you tips, tricks and maybe destinations you didn't think of!

Come back often!

PS Information is accurate when published.

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