In your carefree, child-free years you may have been a tech pro, but these days, you don’t even have to time to shower let alone get cozy with a new phone.  The savviest technology purchases will be ones that help you maximize your productivity and minimize your irritation level. Case in point? How about these five tips and great gadgets for young parents like you:

Tip #1: Don’t Wake the Baby

Phones, iPods, iPads—these handy devices can sure make a lot of noise. That’s fine as long as your baby is awake. The bliss of a peacefully sleeping child can quickly upend an otherwise perfect afternoon if the persistent friend with the Katy Perry ringtone decides to give you a buzz. Badger Basket makes a handy device called the Silent Light Phone Ring Sensor that flashes a subtle blue light when you have an incoming call.

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Tip #2: Tailor Your Communication Style to You

Your phone is pretty cool, right? Or was, when it fit your lifestyle.  As young parents, phones are lifesavers, and there are so many phone options out there, it’s important to forgo the gimmicks and go for useful. Cricket Announces Samsung Transfix Andriod Phone is a headline to look into: the Transfix has a slide out QWERTY keyboard for easy typing, a camcorder for catching cute moments, and a very parent-friendly price tag.

Tip #3: Make It Easier

There are some tasks young parents simply must do, no matter how many gadgets they own; laundry, wiping up spills, changing diapers. That doesn’t mean however that a gadget can’t simplify your tasks. Beaba’s Babycook Baby Food Maker steams, chops, defrosts, and reheats all in one fell swoop. Healthy, organic baby food that saves you money at the flick of a switch? That makes life a lot easier.

Tip #4: Go For Safety

Now that you have kids, safety is probably your number one concern. Concern though, can take its toll on two people who are functioning on little sleep. The Buddy Child Tracker allows moms and dads to know the whereabouts of their kids with their phone. Attach the small GPS tracker on your child’s belt clip and feel a little more peace of mind during trips to the crowded mall.

Tip #5: Entertain Them

Kids love gadgets, but let’s face it, there’s no better feeling than a child happily and quietly entertained for an entire hour. A great gadget for your kids is a great gadget for you too. The Sakar Crayola Kids Digital Camera lets your child have free reign with a normally off-limits device specifically suited to little hands—and tantrums.

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Online Directories and Reviews

There are plenty of online resources you can use to find the attorneys in your area. Even a simple Google Maps search for “attorneys” brings up a whole list of them in your area. Reviews on a Google Maps search are a good place to start, but if a review seems suspiciously well-written and overly positive, take it with a grain of salt.

You can also use a legal directory where you enter in some information about yourself, including the location of the incident and total DUI charges on your record, and it brings up a list of attorneys or firms experienced in DUI defense.

Legal Forums

You can also find plenty of sites that have message boards dedicated entirely to discussing legal issues. The members here are either lawyers themselves or former clients who have been involved in scrapes with the law. You can submit your question about the most experienced attorneys in your area in regards to DUIs, and their colleagues could probably help you out. Just be warned that using these services can charge you to submit your question.

The Old(ish) Fashioned Way

Sometimes the best way to find the most experienced DUI lawyer is to look around yourself… with a little help from the Internet, of course. Find the lawyers in your area and check out their bios. Find out how long they have been practicing. Make an inventory of the degrees they have earned, along with the associations and organizations they belong to.

Another important factor is their Martindale-Hubbell rating, if available. These are ratings assigned to lawyers as decided by their peers and clients. There are three possible ratings: AV Preeminent, meaning they are some of the most experienced and knowledgeable in the field; BV Distinguished, not as esteemed as AV Preeminent but still a high mark of excellence; and Rated, which, even though it is the lowest ranking on the list, is still a testament to the lawyer’s skills and abilities.

These are just a few ways to find the most experienced DUI attorneys. Also ask your friends and neighbors (that you feel comfortable asking) if they can recommend anyone. Finally, go with your gut; if you feel either uncomfortable or very secure with the attorney you are meeting with, there’s probably a good reason for that.

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Will this year’s vacation be a learning experience, or just a week of spending time together and being silly? Will the family be relaxing or trying to trace the family roots, garner the largest sea bass, or devour the wisdom of a cherished museum? The great thing about the family vacation is that the family gets to decide. While mom and dad might want warm weather and a quiet beach, the kids may want crazy attractions and thrill rides galore. With all the destinations available throughout the country and beyond, a compromise that will please everybody can be made. Vacation destinations all over the world have specific “packages” designed for the family experience. Some suggestions:

1. A cruise is a great choice for a family. There are many cruise ships who prepare their entire vacation package around the family. Mom and dad can even have some “alone time” with babysitting services and lots of activities for the children.

2. If the children in the family are still young, a destination like Disney World is always a good choice. Parents usually find themselves being more entertained than the children, and that is saying a lot. Vacation packages of this type take every kid’s dream into consideration.

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3. A family of Italian descent may want to visit Italy, while a family of Irish descent would want to see the Emerald Isle.

4. A family who loves the outdoors would want to see a national park like Yosemite, or other favorite camping spots all over the country.

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There is also the cost of getting everyone to the perfect vacation. With budgets bursting at the seams, finding cheap flights and economy hotel rooms is very important. Mom and dad can do a little Internet searching, comparing prices for hotels and air fare. The deals are out there.

Vacations are for regrouping and recovering from the stress of everyday working life. Finding the perfect destination at a price that doesn’t break the bank allows the family to have more fun and relaxation, and enjoy that much-needed together time.

Believe it or not, having natural skills in responsibility is not an inborn trait. Although many may strive to be a more responsible person, they seem to run into the same old roadblocks over and over.

Responsibility Has to Be Earned

It is also important to understand that responsibility is earned. This means that it isn’t always a natural-born right you are entitled to. Some responsibilities are so strict, that one slip-up can translate to a total loss. The simple fact is that until you display some characteristics of a responsible person, you are less likely to be charged with any serious responsibilities.

No More Excuses

Stop making excuses. When you fail to maintain a responsibility, do not share the ten reasons you were unable to meet your requirements. When you fail at a task, share that you have no excuse for why you ignored your responsibility. Promise to be more aware going forward, and humbly ask for a second chance.

Build Your Own Confidence

Instead of letting what may seem like phenomenal responsibilities weigh you down, try seeing them as a trust extended to you to which you will not only complete correctly, but one you will let your skills shine through on. Lacking confidence in your abilities has a negative effect on your production and possible skills.

Take the Plunge

When you are having trouble meeting base needs for yourself or your family, do not hesitate to seek outside help. However, avoid accepting loans from banks or larger corporations if you will not have an excess of funding to support their interest rates when it comes time to pay.

When you are in dire need for money during an emergency situation, and you have no other option, consider payday loans. This way you get the benefit of extra funding without the terrible task of committing yourself to astronomical interest payments on down the road.

Try to maintain an optimistic view on your responsibility. Do not hesitate to take advantage of offers such as no fax payday loans from PayDay One that can help you get through a financial emergency. Just keep in mind that you must always consider this as a last resort and not the first option.

Practice Discipline

Instead of overindulging in every luxury that suits you, try to reward yourself only when a reward is due. If you negotiate reward systems with yourself versus fulfilling responsibilities first, you may find yourself even happier and more appreciative of the luxuries when you do earn them.

Buy a Guidebook

Guidebooks place a region’s highlights at your fingertips, often offering reviews of restaurants and attractions in addition to detailed descriptions, photos and maps. Guidebooks can be seen as the collected wisdom about a city, with many opinions and personal experiences filling out its pages. This resource is usually a good place to start when deciding what to do and see in a foreign place. If you find an attraction that looks interesting, you can do more detailed research about it on your own.

Image by Alfred Hermida via Flickr

Watch Travel Shows

The hosts of travel shows have made a career out of knowing the best places to go and things to do across the globe, so tap into that life-long well of knowledge by watching a few travel specials on your destination. Watching travel shows can bring a destination to life in a way that travel books cannot. If your destination of choice isn’t being featured on TV right now, look for episode archives online, or even check them out from your local library.

Ask Someone Who has Been There

Chances are you have at least one sister, uncle or coworker that has been to your destination city. In addition, most people who have traveled to exotic places love to talk about their experiences. Use this contact to get the insider’s view. Ask about their favorite sightseeing excursions. Discuss what food they liked in the restaurants. Ask about where they lodged and if the service was any good. A friend with first-hand experience can tell you details that a travel book or travel show won’t.

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Talk to the Locals

When you get to your destination, don’t over schedule yourself. No one knows the locale like the locals, so leave some time to add in some extra stops on your sightseeing itinerary. The residents will know the very best places to eat, nightlife venues you can’t miss, and secluded destinations that will astound you. Seeing a town like a local will give you a unique travel experience worth writing home about!

If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to planning your dream holiday like a pro.