Frugal vacations

Vacations are very important to people. When the economy takes a downturn, vacations are one of the last things people want to give up. We all work so hard and we need time to get away and rejuvenate. The good thing about vacations is that they can be done very economically.

Here are a few ways I saved on our vacation this year:

I used my sky miles to save on airfare

I'm taking 1 bag because now you get charged for a second and its under 50 pounds (I hope)

We didn't get our rental car from the airport ..it saved us 50% (got it from a small town outside SF)

My sister is bringing a crock pot and cooking dinners in our room.

I've been saving a 50 dollar gas card for a long time...we'll use it on the trip.

We're staying in my mother-in-laws timeshare, taking advantage of a pull out bed ...so we have 4 to a room.

We bought our ski lift tickets on-line, in advance and saved 30 dollars per ticket

(My mom) grandma is watching the animals so i dont have to take them to be boarded.

We're getting a ride to and from the airport so no fee for long term parking.

Here are more tips for a frugal vacation.

I'll be back on the air on March 9th barring an avalanche!

Family tragedy

(AP)
Police: Miami piano teacher kills kids, wife, self

Pablo Amador was a "regular dad" who made music with his children and shared his gift teaching kids to play piano, a man known for a friendly wave and lending a hand to jump-start a car. And those who knew him say they can't understand why he apparently shot and killed his two daughters, wife and then himself.

TV satellite trucks surrounded the gray-trimmed, white ranch home Wednesday as authorities carried out the family, whom police identified as Pablo Josue Amador, 53; his 45-year-old wife, Maria; and their youngest daughters, Prescilla and Rosa, 14 and 13.
A teenage son escaped the shootings uninjured, calling 911 at 5:58 a.m. as he fled the home, police said. Those who saw him regularly along the quiet, modest street of homes could only wonder what happened.

In response to the outpouring of sympathy from the community for the Amador family, the University of Miami has established a fund to assist Bea and her brother, Javier. Anyone wishing to contribute to this fund should send a check payable to:

The University of Miami,
PO Box 248073
Coral Gables, FL 33124.

Please include on the checks that funds are for the benefit of the Amador Family.

Recession survival

President Barack Obama has been describing the U.S. economy in dire terms, but his first speech to Congress was a message of hope. He says solutions are within America's grasp as long as people pull together.

This morning we asked you where you would cut back first? Some said cable, technology, eating out, car-pooling and conservation.

Here are a few more ways to be frugal during a recession.

Amazing race casting

WHAT:

Here's an opportunity to take the first step towards competing on one of television's most exciting reality series. CBS4 and Mardis Gras Casino are sponsoring an open casting call for "The Amazing Race," the highly-rated CBS reality series that pits two person teams - friends, couples or relatives -- against one another as they race through exotic locations around the world.

WHERE:

Mardis Gras Casino831 N. Federal Highway Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

WHEN:

Saturday, March 14,2009, 10 AM - 2 PM

HOW:

* CBS4 photographers will be on hand to shoot audition video and submit application packages for each team that applies.* Each candidate/team member must audition and team members must audition together. In addition, each person must fill out a complete application. The Amazing Race applications and eligibility requirements can be found on CBS.com.

* Each team of two should plan to speak for two minutes at the most. There is no minimum time amount for a submission. Contact for the public: Deborah Lile, 305-514-4104 or log on: check out http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/

Soap up on germs

Today we talked about the germiest places in your life. Don't become too germophobic but here are the top 12 germiest places:

1. The kitchen sink

2. Airplane bathrooms

3. A load of wet laundry

4. Public drinking fountains

5. Shopping cart handles

6. ATM buttons

7. Your handbag

8. Playgrounds

9. Mat and machines at health clubs

10. Your bathtub

11. Your office phone

12. The hotel-room remote control

Click here to find out why and how to reduce the risk!!

Oscar night

I stayed up for about half of the show last night and was pleasantly surprised. It was much more entertaining than in years past. There were winners and losers on the red carpet too.

Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner at the 81st annual Academy Awards last night, scooping up many of the ceremony's top honors, including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay and best cinematography. Winning eight awards in all, the rags-to-riches love story was the clear front-runner of the star-studded event, held at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. Slumdog, which had 10 nominations, also scored best original song, best score, best film editing and best sound mixing.
Leading nominee The Curious Case of Benjamin Button entered the evening with 13 nominations. It picked up a three technical awards, including best makeup, best art direction and best visual effects.
The most heartbreaking moment of the night came when the late Heath Ledger was announced as the best supporting actor winner for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Many of the audience members -- some of whom knew Ledger personally -- got emotional when his family walked up to the stage to accept the honor on behalf of Ledger's little girl, Matilda.
And as expected, Kate Winslet took home her first-ever Oscar for her role as a former Nazi camp guard in The Reader. Looks like the sixth time was a charm for the British actress. She beat out record-breaking 15-time nominee Meryl Streep, who has won two Oscars throughout her own career.
Sean Penn won the best actor trophy for his starring role in Milk. He faced some competition from Mickey Rourke, who won last month's Golden Globes for his role in The Wrestler.
Penelope Cruz won the best supporting actress prize for her part in Woody Allen's comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Host Hugh Jackman turned the evening into a musical affair by performing several song and dance numbers.

BEST DRESSED
Marisa Tomei: The best of the best. The one-strapped, white, pleated gown was divine. While we took in many of the beautiful dresses, said wow, and moved on, we wanted to look at Tomei all night. The many intricate pleats looked like they were pieced together just to compliment her frame, which they did to perfection. She's 44-years-old??
Freida Pinto: Pinto's single sheer-sleeved, beaded, blue gown stood out on the red carpet and seemed reminiscent of her Indian heritage. Although we were expecting something a little more dramatic (i.e. bigger and puffier), the unique, form-fitting ensemble could only have flattered the most beautiful of women, which Pinto proved she is.
Miley Cyrus: Minus the belt, Miley's princess-style petaled and beaded gown was striking. It is every girl's fantasy dress. Love it or hate it, there's probably not a female in the world who would pass up the opportunity to try it on and gaze at herself in the mirror.
Jennifer Aniston: The actress wisely saved her best look of the year for her first post-divorce event with Brangelina. A cute braid and subtly waved hair accentuated an unusually soft look for the actress, who has had a habit of making her solid, toned body the stand-out feature of her red carpet looks. Coincidence or not, the flowing hair and strapless, beaded white gown immediately reminded us of her 2004 Emmy appearance, which she made on the arm of ex-husband Brad Pitt.
Natalie Portman: She wasn't the only star dressed in pink (Alicia Keys wisely chose the color as well), but she did it best. The corset-like bodice and simple, flowing skirt were mere accessories to her striking beauty, which needed no dramatic jewelry or hairstyle to shine.
Halle Berry: The surprise presenter looked amazing. She could not have looked any more stunning if she'd tried. It's only a shame we couldn't have admired her for longer on the red carpet.
WORST DRESSED:
Whoopi Goldberg: Leopard print. Blousey, ill-fitting leopard print. No. No. No.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Her "barely mint" gown looked like a cheap wedding dress. And belts don't go with wedding dresses. Not to mention, mousy brown locks do not suit the Sex and the City star -- and the flat top, puffed bottom 'do didn't help salvage the complete look, which failed.
Sophia Loren: The 74-year-old looked like a crazy old grandmother who picked out her ruffled, yellow frock from a costume trunk. She appeared to have applied her heavy makeup -- and bronzer -- with the same disillusioned hand.
Heidi Klum: Red carpet hosts described the model's gown as evoking origami, and we agree that it did indeed look like someone folded material, albeit aimlessly, and molded it around her body. Her harshly-parted hair looked greasy and her subtle makeup ended up making her look tired and washed out. A rare miss for one of fashion's finest.