Last minute travel deals rarely work with kids, because they have plans, camps, school and possible trips to see another parent. Many travel organizations offer discounts to people who book early. The best way to curtail complaints and ensure a good time is to define what your children will enjoy most. For example, a child is probably more apt to enjoy a theme park when they are 8 and a European trip when they move into their teenage years. Although you may want to go far away for a vacation, you are more likely to believe your hard earned and budgeted money is well spent if your children are excited about the trip. Children may not crave a 2-week vacation, like many adults do. Short cruises of 3 to 6 days and packages of 7 days or less will cost less while still affording you time away from home and work. Travel to Europe during the fall and winter. Travel to South America, Central America or the Caribbean in the summer or fall. The weather might be rainier and slightly colder or hotter than the peak seasons, but you can save thousands of dollars in airplane tickets, hotels, excursions and other travel costs. There are a few different options for taking advantage of group travel discounts. Book a specially organized trip for single parents. Singleparenttravel.com offers exactly this kind of trip. They choose a few destinations each year that include good activities for children. You can choose which trip works best based on your budget. Organize a group trip yourself. If you have a sports group, church group or friends with children who are also interested in travel, you can contact a group travel provider and travel agent and ask for quotes on certain destinations. The price will go down as you sign up more people. Ask if travel is free for the group leader. Travel agents will try to book your trip without discounts, but they can usually throw something in, if you ask for it. Ask about cruise vouchers, upgrades, free excursions or other incidentals, if they can't offer an up front discount. If your children are small and picky eaters, then an all-inclusive package is preferable. Most resorts offer food to please all age levels. If you book group or all-inclusive travel well in advance, you may be able to pay a few hundred dollars each month, instead of paying a thousand or more dollars all at once. Although you would pay the same amount, you can set up a monthly budget without dipping into your savings.

Summary: Plan in advance. Choose your destination based on what your children will enjoy. Book a shorter vacation. Travel in the off-season. Book group travel. Ask for discounts and specials. Pay a little to the travel company each month.

Fill the bottom of a large pot with water and set another pot on top. You can also use a heat-resistant bowl instead. Make sure that the bottom of the upper pot or bowl is not touching the water. The double boiler will allow you to melt the marshmallows slowly so that you can use them as a dip or in fondant. This will prevent the marshmallows from sticking to the pot and spatula as they melt. You will need a 16 ounce bag (about 400 grams) of marshmallows. You can use large marshmallows or miniature marshmallows, although you may find that the miniature marshmallows melt easier. You can even use colored or flavored marshmallows, but be sure that they are all the same color and flavor. If you use multiple colors all at once, the colors will mix together and make brown. If you use different flavors all at once, the flavors will combine, and the ending result may not be very tasty. If you are using white-colored marshmallows, you can tint them another color with a few drops of food coloring. If you wish to add flavor to your marshmallows, you can add one teaspoon of vanilla extract or flavoring. Make sure that the flavoring you are using is clear, or your marshmallows will take on the color of the extract: brown. " If you use high heat, you will risk scorching the marshmallows.

Summary: Assemble a double boiler. Grease a rubber spatula and the inside of the upper pot. Empty a bag of marshmallows into the pot. Consider adding some flavor and color. Turn on the stove and set the heat to "low.

Find a container large enough to stick your hands in. Fill the container about half way full with acetone. Acetone is the main component in most nail polish removers. It can be found at most general and drug stores. Do not fill the container completely full. If you have sensitive skin, consider diluting the acetone with water.

Summary: Fill a container with acetone.

Baccarat strives to be at the cutting edge of style, so you can often date pieces based on the design. Read old catalogs and look at pictures of Baccarat crystal online to familiarize yourself with the work. Cube shapes were popular in the 1920s and 1950s, when Art Nouveau styles were popular. Venetian glass had a heavy influence on styles manufactured in the 1960s. Due to subtle differences in manufacturing and the intricate nature of crystal, it can be hard to compare your piece to a photograph of a similar style. Line drawings, like those used in early catalogs, can help you determine the date of your piece with more accuracy. Baccarat has employed different crystal designers through the years, each of whom brings their unique style to Baccarat crystal. By familiarizing yourself with these designers and their art, you will be able to identify their work when you see it. For instance, if you are familiar with the Ballon pattern from 1916, which features trellis-like embellishments, you may be able to identify a piece as Baccarat even if there are no Baccarat markings. Reproduction Baccarats are common, but due to the replication process, original Baccarat crystal will be significantly heavier than an imitation. If you're still not sure about the origin of your piece, contact a Baccarat representative or visit a Baccarat dealer near you. To find the closest Baccarat dealer, visit http://store.baccarat.com/. You could also look online to find antique dealers who specialize in glass art and Baccarat crystal.
Summary: Study collectors' websites and catalogs to identify Baccarat styles. Use line drawings in old catalogs to identify antique pieces. Study the styles of the designers who worked for Baccarat. Check the weight of a piece. Bring your item to a Baccarat store or contact an expert online.