There’s nothing in the world quite like travel. You get to experience different cultures, languages, landscapes, and mindsets. It can expand your mind and the way you look at the world. Ever wonder what travel will be like in the future? Will we still have to take our shoes off at the airport? Will planes be bigger but still somehow not have enough leg room? Will we finally have flying cars? I guess will we see, but in the meantime, let’s check out some facts about the first type of air travel – the hot air balloon.

• Hot air balloons weren’t just always something that people do for fun and romance. The first live passengers to go anywhere in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a cock, and a duck. The trio travel more than two miles and land unharmed, except that the cock has been kicked by the sheep.
• Later attempts saw a balloon travel 15 feet before springing a leak and crashing to the ground near a village. The first peasants on the scene, alarmed at the arrival of this demon from the sky, beat it until it appeared dead.
• 1783 saw the first recorded manned flight in a hot air balloon take place in Paris and made a 22 minute flight.
• A spectator of the 22 minute flight asked, “So, what’s the use of it?” Benjamin Franklin, who was there, replied, “What is the use of a newborn baby?”
• Fast forward to 1991. Richard Branson set the record for the longest flight, which went from Japan to Northern Canada – more than 4,700 miles!

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and that may be your first boat outing of the season. But before you put your baby back in the water, make sure you de-winterize it. Here are some basic steps you should take to get started.

Change the oil. Just like your car, the oil is the blood of your boat. It’s a good idea to change it each year. There are environmental requirements for disposing of oil, so make sure you’re handling it properly. If you’re ready to tackle this yourself without a mechanic, here’s some instruction to get you started.

Put gas in the tank. When you prepared your boat for the winter, you likely removed all of the gas.

Battery. Reattach the cables and make sure the terminals are not corroded. If you find that they are, be sure to clean them. With a battery tester, check the volts and amps. If it’s not charging, it may be time to get a new one.

Air Filter Maintenance. Some boats have air filters, which require cleaning. You’ll want to check this before putting it back into the water.  If you need to get a new one, you can start here and earn some cash back while doing so.

Check Safety Equipment. It’s good to have fun, but before you head out, make sure all of your safety gear is functional. You may need to replace your flares or have your fire extinguisher charged. And don’t forget the safety jackets!

May 12 (Mother’s Day) is right around the corner. If you haven’t gotten Mom a gift yet, don’t worry, we’ve got your back (and your cash back). If you don’t have time to wait for a product to ship, or cringe at the thought of paying overnight shipping, flowers and gift baskets are a good way to go since they’re generally ready to ship. Here’s what our partners have to offer:

• Flowers – We’ve got a lot of flower options for you to choose from with cash back of up to 13%. Mama didn’t raise no fool, you know a good deal when you see one.
• Gift Baskets – Options galore! Everything from wine to cookies.
• FruitBouquets.com – If mom is into fruit and eating well, then consider a fruit basket. With 9.5% cash back, your wallet will be a little healthier too.
• Other fruity treats – These include chocolate covered goodness and organic choices. You’re sure to find something to please any mom!

We’ll even go one step further. If you’re at a loss for the words to express how you feel about Mom check out these Cardstore.com and get 11% cash back in the process.

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”― Abraham Lincoln

Moms work hard all year long. Cleaning, cooking, driving the kids to school – and soccer – and gymnastics – and band practice, making sure no one leaves the house looking like a mess… it’s exhausting work. This Mother’s Day, why not give Mom the day off? We’ve got a couple suggestions on how to treat that special lady.

• Treat Mom to a day at the spa. There’s no way to go wrong with this gift.
• Is Mom always cooking for you? Show her how much you appreciate it by taking her out to dinner.
• Want to go BIG? Send Mom on a vacation! There are plenty of travel deals out there. She probably wouldn’t mind if you tagged along either.
• If your Mom prefers staying home and relaxing, maybe she’d enjoy a new hammock for the backyard, where she could relax and get some fresh air.
• And hey, when all else fails, nothing says love like a shiny diamond…

Have you seen that Citibank commercial where the girl climbs a boulder with her boyfriend? You know the one…where she climbs all sorts of high and then the camera starts spinning around? Well, that’s the kind of “get outside” we’re talking about. Maybe insane heights and rock climbing aren’t your cup of tea, but let’s all take today to turn the TVs off and appreciate our surroundings. AOL Travel put out a list of 21 places to see before they disappear, you can start with a few of these places, and we can help get you there!

• Olympia, Greece – Home of the Olympic Games in classical times. If you want to see this amazing piece of history, see how Cheap Flights can help you out.
• Siberia, Russia – The average high in April is 46 degrees. So you’ll want to travel prepared for this one. Warm coats, hats, and gloves will be in order.
• Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica – Costa Rica is hands down my favorite place on the planet. Great people, great food, and great weather. You may want to learn Spanish before you head down there though.
• Yangtze River, China – This is the longest river in Asia and is home to several endangered species. China is not known for its excellent air quality, so invest in a neti pot before you head over.
• The Sulu-Sulawesi Sea, Malaysia – East of Borneo, 10 percent of natives spend their lives on homemade boats.

If you could go anywhere in the world this Earth Day, where would you go?

Well, four, that is. Whether you’ve been playing all year or just getting started, Coupon Cactus can help you save money while you work on your game.

• 3BallsGolf – These guys offer golf equipment, lefty equipment, drivers, lefty drivers, women’s golf equipment, fairway woods, lefty fairway woods, junior golf equipment, hybrid clubs, lefty hybrid clubs, iron sets, lefty iron sets, single irons, lefty single irons, golf digest, complete sets, lefty complete sets, golf accessories, wedges, lefty wedges, putters, lefty putters, condition grading system, apparel, headwear, socks, golf bags, gloves, practice aids, golf tees, golf balls, grips, golf shoes, golf tools, gadgets, towels and umbrellas. So yea, you’re pretty much covered, and you get 3% cash back.
• Callaway Golf - CallawayGolf.com is your source for drivers, woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, putters, complete sets, balls and great golf accessories. Plus, you’ll get 4.5% cash back.
• Discount Golf World – An online destination for all your golf needs, featuring the largest online selection in brand name golf equipment, apparel and accessories, at the best online prices. Featured product categories include golf GPS, golf bags, travel bags, golf head cover, golf apparel, golf gloves, golf balls, golf push carts, golf shoes, iron sets, putters and much more – including 3.5% cash back.
• Forgan – With more than 140 years of experience, Forgan can certainly help you find what you’re looking for. Featured product categories include drivers and woods, hybrid rescue clubs, irons and wedges, putters and chippers, bags, caps and visors, men’s shoes, gloves, accessories, golf balls and of course, there’s the 6% cash back.

Thirteen percent of wedding proposals happen in December, and wedding planners consider Valentine’s Day the start of wedding planning season. Once spring rolls around and the weather starts warming up, that’s when folks start saying the “I do’s.” At this point, many brides have already mapped out their dream wedding. Where does that leave you? The bridesmaid. Well ladies, here are some tips to keep you sane.

•  Weddings are expensive. Being in a wedding can certainly cost you. If you’ve been given the honor of being a bridesmaid, you would never want to hurt your friend’s feelings, even as you watch costs skyrocket. Just like any relationship, communication is key. Tell your friend early on what you think you’ll be able to commit to. This will save you a headache and some hurt feelings down the road.
• Plan, plan, plan. As soon as you’re asked to be in the wedding, start setting aside money. Your costs could include anything and everything from airfare to bachelorette parties. Knowing what’s coming can help you save money in the long run. For instance, if you need to book a flight, book early to avoid high last-minute fares.
• Get to know everyone in the wedding. Knowing the ladies you’ll be spending time with, as well as the groomsmen, can definitely help make everything leading up to, and including, the wedding more fun!

Staying a calm, stress-free bridesmaid will not only help you out, but will let you focus on your friend during her special day.

Haven’t filed your taxes yet? You’re not alone. Filing early, however, can save you time and headaches later. The earlier you file, the sooner you get your refund or find out what your tax liability is for April 15. Filing early can also help protect you against Identity theft. Regardless, for one reason or another, many wait until the last minute. Here are some of the top reasons people procrastinate. Is your excuse on the list?

• Laziness. Or, perhaps avoidance is a better word. Let’s face it, there are a million things you’d rather be doing than filing your taxes. Unfortunately, not filing is not an option.
• Fear of owing. According to the IRS, 75% of taxpayers get a refund and the average refund is $3,000. But if you’re in the 25%, we can see how you would want to put it off. However, regardless of when you file, your tax liability is due April 15. So if you file as soon as possible, you give yourself more time to pay.
• Disorganization. Typically, those who file later in the tax season have more complex returns. Keeping track of all of those receipts can be a hassle. Help yourself out next year and set a shoebox aside for all of your receipts to make it that much easier.
• Confusion. Taxes are complicated. Period. This year it’s even more complicated with the fiscal cliff, delay to the tax season, and the not-always-clear implications of the government sequester. But, the good news is, there’s help available with professional tax preparers. If you’re not sure, don’t take a chance on your return.
• Excitement. That’s right. Research has actually found that being put under the pressure of a deadline can stimulate some people – “arousal procrastination.”

But, no matter the reason, there are thirteen days left in the filing season, so it’s time to get a move on!

Did you know that an estimated three-quarters of the U.S. population between the ages of 25 and 64 require some type of vision correction? Are you one of them? Then you know what a pain it can be to figure out when exactly your insurance covers an eye exam and what is covered once you get there. Do you save on frames? Lenses? Is it a percentage? A dollars-off savings? No matter what the coverage, for most of us, it never quite seems like enough. But it’s good to know there are still places you can go to save money, like GlassesShop.com.

Since saving money is what we’re all about here at Coupon Cactus, we’re highlighting this vision partner so that the millions of you out there who are spending too much on glasses can save money and see better. GlassesShop.com isn’t just another online discount glasses site; they are owned and operated by eye doctors with more than 25 years of optical experience, so they know what they’re doing.

So what’s the offer? Well, you’ll “see” the savings as soon as you start with the 7% cash back from Coupon Cactus. We also have constantly changing online coupons for GlassesShop.com including % and $ off your order as well as free shipping offers. GlassesShop.com has everything from $5 weekly deals to clearance to holiday specials, so there’s never a bad time to update your frames! And hey, if you’re not visually impaired and just want some new stylish sunglasses for summer— they’ve got those too.

Take a look!

In second grade I failed a science test. I blame Easter and the Cadbury Bunny. The question that put me over the edge was, “Do rabbits give birth to live babies or do they lay eggs.” I chose eggs. Don’t tell me that television doesn’t influence children! Every Easter I think of that science test.

So where did the Easter Bunny come from? What do eggs have to do with Christ rising from the dead? It’s a story of blending religions, really. Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal. Many pagan cultures used to hold spring festivals to celebrate this renewal of life and promote fertility, such as Eostre or Eastre, named after the goddess of dawn, spring and fertility.  The egg, being a symbol of fertility, and rabbits, being the fertile little creatures they are, entered the scene as symbols.

With the spread of Christianity, it was common for missionaries to use pagan ideas and rituals within the context of the Christian faith to make them more relatable, turning pagan festivals into Christian holidays.  The Eostre festival occurred around the same time as the Christians’ celebration of Christ’s resurrection, and so the two celebrations became one, rabbit and egg in tow.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get some chocolate!