By Elizabeth Tardy
Hybrid Mom
(MCT)
The best sites to save you time and money, reconnect with the world around you, and even have a little bit of fun.
We've combed the Internet, surfed the Web, and compiled a list of best sites to save you time and money, reconnect with the world around you, and even have a little bit of fun (yes, that's still allowed). Get ready to add to your bookmarks.
Tracey Mallet (www.traceymallett.com) The woman behind Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow's power bods offers her insider fitness secrets to you, too.
Road Trip Planning (www.planning-fun-road-trips.com) Helps any family be prepared for a trip with packing lists, soundtrack suggestions, and even a calculator to determine how much the trip will cost.
Peapod (www.peapod.com) Too busy to grocery shop? Peapod is an online grocery store that delivers all the in-store options straight to your door.
Life Organizers (www.lifeorganizers.com) We all have the best of intentions. Now you can make it a reality: Organize your home and office space via smart and unconventional tips and ideas.
How to Entertain Kids (www.entertainkid.com) If you're at a loss for activities, turn to mom Daniela Micek for quick and easy ways to entertain your kids, including cooking and game ideas.
Newser (www.newser.com) No time to scan the paper or watch the news? Stay current by logging on taking it in via the image-driven Newser grid-and move the bar to adjust for harder or softer news.
Food 411 (www.food411.com) A food resource directory for everything on the Web related to gourmet food finds, online food shopping; ingredients, recipes, regional specialties, food blogs, and unique culinary gifts.
Gift Hero (www.gifthero.com) Wrangling kids' birthday gifts (for your own or for your children's friends) can be an exhausting toy store exercise. Leave it to these masters of the gift, who have hand-selected products based on age and gender-then send it out gift-wrapped.
TinyPrints (www.tinyprints.com) Thank you cards, invitations, holiday cards-all your stationery needs to suit every taste. Plus, manage the guest list with the site's RSVP Manager.
ScrapTown (www.scraptown.com) Learn to creatively capture your favorite family moments.
Easy Breezy Recipes (www.easybreezyrecipes.com) Easy Breezy Recipes showcases recipes that are...quick and easy. Search by ingredient or cooking method.
The Vacation Gals (http://thevacationgals.com) Fantastic family-friendly travel ideas, plus locales for the elusive romantic and girlfriend getaways.
Web MD (www.webmd.com) With the Internet, we live in an age of self-diagnosis. Go to a trusted source (no Googling!) and get answers fast by typing symptoms.
SuperCook (www.supercook.com) If you ever need ideas about what to cook for dinner this website is perfect! Simply type in what food you want and it it returns all kinds of ideas.
Home Organize It (www.homeorganizeit.com) Solutions to organizing your home one room at a time.
Trip It (www.tripit.com) Do you ever have trouble keeping up with all of your travel plans? Organize and keep all your plans in one place so you never wonder what's next.
My Shop Space (www.myshopspace.com) Online shopping with great deals and coupons.
Rue La La (www.ruelala.com) An exclusive website that offers amazing prices for designer clothes and a variety of other knick knacks.
Shape Virtual Trainer (www.shape.com/fitness/virtual-trainer) The free training tool keeps you motivated-when all you want to do is sit on the sofa and channel surf-to obtain weight-loss and health goals.
Epicurious (www.epicurious.com) For people who love to cook-and those who like to eat-the smart tools, like the virtual recipe box to store your favorites or the party planning tips, make this go-to site.
My Perfect Sale (www.myperfectsale.com) Select your favorite brands and the site emails you when they go on sale. What could be easier?
EcoSalon (www.ecosalon.com) The most chic approach to eco we've seen anywhere. We want to go green now.
Skinny Girls (www.skinnygirls.com) Not only does this website show healthy recipes, but it also tells you ways to be healthy in day to day life.
Design Mom (www.designmom.com) Mother-to-six Gabrielle Blair doles out daily bits of beauty with her home decor and design blog.
Do My Stuff (www.domystuff.com) It's simple: outsource your housework.
Smart Packing (www.smartpacking.com) Easy ways to make packing for your trips hassle-free!
Polka Dot Design (www.polkadotdesign.com) Modern invitations that are perfect for a summer get together!
Vista Print (www.vistaprint.com) An online high quality printer for invitations, announcements and even your home business needs.
What's for Dinner (www.whatsfordinner.com) Help in planning a weeks' worth of complete meals and creating our own customized grocery shopping list. Plus, turn to the site's Table Topics conversation ideas.
Eat Well Guide (www.eatwellguide.org) Type in your zip code and this site will show you the healthiest places to eat in your area.
Jack Cards (www.jackcards.com) Never miss another anniversary or birthday again. Load up important dates, pick the appropriate greeting cards, and they'll send them out for you.
Don't Forget Your Toothbrush (www.dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com) The ultimate checklist for your next vacation.
Dumb Little Man (www.dumblittleman.com) Don't let the name fool you. Look for great tips on how to save money or how to simply stay sane every week.
Corporette (http://corporette.com) A fashion and lifestyle blog for female professionals, look to this site for career style tips beyond the basic button-down.
Mint (www.mint.com) Manage your money and consolidate all of your bills into one outpost. We love the user-friendly interface and tools, such as the tracking and goal-setting features.
The Daily Grommet (www.dailygrommet.com) Find a new, undiscovered, undeniably useful, didn't-know-you-needed-it product every day.
The Naptime Chef (www.thenaptimechef.com) Chef Kelsey's genius idea: Every meal she preps and makes is produced during her daughter's afternoon nap. Her emphasis on local and/or fresh ingredients is refreshing, and her adaptations on classics make her recipes easy to duplicate without a culinary degree.
Craig'slist (www.craigslist.org/about/sites) The ultimate secondhand store: List what you'd like to sell or search what you're looking for and someone's almost always looking to unload it (It's kind of amazing, actually).
PhotoBucket (http://photobucket.com) No more disorganized folders buried in your computer. Upload, manage, and share your photos and videos for free.
Modern Lola (www.modernlola.com) Earn the reputation as the best gifter in your circles by finding unique presents for every kid (and some adults, too) in your life here.
YourTango (www.yourtango.com) It's easy to let your marriage take a back seat once kids are in the picture, but this love and relationships site (with a sub-section of marriage and children) keeps your vows in check.
Beauty and the Feast (http://beautyandthefeastblog.com) We love founder Shyema Azam's offbeat combination of her two loves: makeup and food. Enter a blog devoted to charming all of your senses. Look for fab giveaways and reviews of every new cosmetic product out there.
The Well Mom (http://thewellmom.com/blog) A great website that reminds moms to take some "me" time every now and then.
Inside Higher Ed (www.insidehighered.com) If you don't like your job or are looking for a career change, this website gets you on the road to finding a better one.
Sweet Peas and Stilettos (www.sweetpeasandstilettos.com) Envision for a moment what it would be like to have a personal parenting assistant, taking care of everything from hunting down the best baby bubble bath to the best bag for work. You'll find it all waiting for you here.
Twine (http://shoptwine.com) An eclectic, vintage, and handmade mix of home goods, apparel, accessories, and children's items mean you'll lose half an hour just clicking and browsing-a fine form of relaxation.
Groupon (www.groupon.com) Get amazing discounts on everything from theater tickets to spa packages-but only if enough users sign up as well. (Get it? Group + Coupon.)
MyPunchbowl (www.mypunchbowl.com) The ultimate party planning website. It will help you plan your whole party from start to finish so you never miss a detail.
10 Best (www.10best.com) Great advice about any city you may want to travel to on vacation. Find all the hot spots and the best kid-friendly restaurants.
Have a suggestion of your own? Any sites that you think other moms should know about? Add it below!