7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise with cabins (including all meals) starting at $399 per person, double occupancy (there is a single supplement as well).

On this 8-day, 7-night cruise, you’ll set sail from Miami aboard the newly built MSC Divina and cruise southeast towards St. Thomas, then onward to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, before heading back to Miami.

We took an Eastern Caribbean cruise for a week and enjoyed it so much we stayed on board another week (never even had to move out of the cabin)!  FirstBorn thought the ability to order pizza 24/7 meant he’d died and gone to Heaven, while the dearth of children on board caused kid counselors to fight over PITA!  Cruises are very budget-friendly, since all meals are included, lots of free entertainment morning, noon and night and there’s no requirement that you have to book day trips through an exceedingly overpriced cruise line…

Rates for the Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando start at $89 for a two-bedroom King Suite with available dates into June.

Stay at Four Points by Sheraton Orlando Studio City in Orlando for rates starting at $41.  Dates Available into June.

Dixie Stampede, Silver Dollar City, and more of Branson’s famed theaters and theme parks are all within a short drive of this family-friendly Radisson hotel where rates start at $55 a night.  And a big plus: It’s pet-friendly!  An onsite concierge can help line up transportation and tickets to virtually any local event. When you’re not swept up in the bright lights of Branson’s 76 Strip, the hotel itself has plenty to keep you occupied onsite, including an indoor pool, a sports bar, and a restaurant.

$15 for Two Groupons, Each Good for $15 Worth of Mexican Food for Dinner at Taco Grill & Salsa Bar ($30 Total Value).

$35.99 for Salmon or Steak Meal for 2 with Wine at Zest Bistro at Lemon Tree Grocer (Up to $72 Value).  You can choose from salmon, ribeye, NY strip, or chopped salad. Limit 1 per person.  We’ve eaten here a few times and never been disappointed – their skinny fries are fantastic!

$15 for $30 Worth of Sushi, Japanese, and Thai Food at Dao Sushi and Thai Restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace.

Should not do food posts when hungry…

This handsome cast-iron gate keeps babies and pets safely corralled without sullying home interiors. Accented with New Zealand pine-wood inserts, the gate easily blends into decorating schemes, much like a love seat upholstered with chameleon pelts. For convenience, the gate’s entrance can be opened by a single adult hand and arrives with all the supplies necessary for pressure or hardware mounting.

 $39.99 ($89.99 value) for this Regalo Home Accents Extra Wide Gate. Free shipping and returns.  Boy, this sure beats the plastic ones that cost just as much!  Limit three per person; additional two as gifts.

• Cast-iron gate
• New Zealand pine-wood decorative inserts
• One-handed easy-close handle with safety-locking feature
• Includes gate, 4″ and 6″ extension kits
• Fits openings 29″–44″ wide
• Also includes pressure and hardware mounting accessories
• Weight: 10.5 lbs.
• Dimensions: 29″—44″x30″

$24.99 for a luxury satin 4-piece sheet set, sizes up to California King. Multiple colors available – I grabbed this “bold” pattern, but they have ivory, gold, white, red…. Free shipping and free returns.