Staycation Idea : Home Spa

ACK! Are you feeling a little ...umm STRESSED!? Hectic family schedules and finances are just a couple of the stressers that we deal with everyday. If you can't afford a relaxing get-away, turn your home into a spa. You don't need to go to a pricey spa to rejuvenate your body and spirit. To gain the same experience, just create your own spa. A little preparation is all you'll need to spend a relaxing weekend and end-up feeling refreshed and save money.

Create the Setting: Before your Spa weekend, be sure to clean-up all the clutter in your house. Remove stress triggers! Those stacks of bills are not only an eye-sore, but also a stressful reminder of finances (or lack of). The dirty laundry is not only ugly to look at, but a reminds you of all those chores you HAVEN'T done. Bring all the plants from other parts of the house and bring them into the room where you are going to have your spa weekend. Add twinkle lights, candles and other naturally beautiful things. Keep lights low and drape furniture with simple, natural colored fabrics. Pick out your favorite mellow music and find a comfy robe and slippers. If the weather is nice, open the windows to feel a cool breeze and breath in fresh air.

Become a Spa Mixologist: Check out the library or search the web for recipes for facials and other spa treatments that you can make with ingredients found at any health food store, supermarket or your own pantry..

If you are going to invite friends, Make a thoughtful gift for your guests: fragrance eye pillows are useful, luxurious and easy to make . Sew 8 x 4-inch sacks out of a dark satin fabric. Mix 1 cup flax seed with 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Fill sacks half-full with the mixture and sew them up. The pillow blocks light and the scent is calming.

Teach or host a class: Have a friend who practices healthy cooking or massage? Invite them to share their expertise with you and your guests. Or, if you it's just you and the family hanging out for the weekend, pick up a few such DVD's at the library.

Pamper: Give yourself a manicure or pedicure! Better yet, invite your best girl friends over and give each other a manicure. Talk your spouse into giving you a back massage. Then return the favor. A foot massage is extremely relaxing too. No one willing to give you a massage? Try a massage chair or a foot massage machine If you have a jetted tub or Jacuzzi, this would be the perfect time to indulge. Don't forget to bring your favorite book!!

Healthy Snacks: Spas usually offer nice, light fare's. Make a healthy salad with light dressing, fresh fruit and some light cheese on hand. Water with a touch of lemon is always nice and be sure to have nice, warm tea to enjoy at the end of your night. Some small, expensive chocolates or a chocolate fondue would be nice too.

Indulge ( Just a little): Think of all the money you just saved by staying home!! So, indulge in something to make your spa truly special. Perhaps there is a lotion you love, but don't buy because of the price.... Buy it! Treat yourself to something that you truly love. Invest in a new pair of comfy slippers or a nice thick robe.

Read: Before your spa weekend, go to the library and bring home a stack of interesting books. Plenty of time in the tub or relaxing by the fire will allow you time to catch-up on some leisurely reading.

Staycation Idea: Backyard Camping!

With the sagging economy, many families have cut back on their vacation plans this year. Well, everyone needs a break once in awhile! So, check out this Staycation idea.

Backyard Camping:

Pull that tent out of the garage and set it up in your backyard. If you want a change of scenery, ask a relative with a lot of acerage or a friend with a nice backyard if you can pitch a tent at their place. If you have a travel trailer or RV (or have access to one), this is also a fun way to camp in the backyard! And if you don't have a tent, just pull out the sleeping bags and sleep under the stars. Or at least snuggle under the stars and then go sleep in the house. One of the benefits of BACKYARD camping.

You may still have some Smore's making material from the Albertson's Sale earlier this summer. If not, you can always search for coupons for great camping food. Hot dogs, chips, burgers and potato salad are great picnic and camping food. You can BBQ or just serve cold sandwiches. Be sure to have lots of water and snacks on hand.

A nice hike on a local trail or even around the neighborhood is a nice way to spend some time on your "camping" trip. If you play guitar, this is a great time to show off your skills. Just don't keep the neighbor's awake!! If you're not a talented musician, maybe you can tell a great story or research the night sky and teach your kids about the stars and planets.

Be sure to have a great breakfast planned for the next day! Or if you want to splurge, take the family out for breakfast to end the family camping trip. And be sure to document your camping "trip" with lots of pictures and journalling.

Staycation Idea: Learn About a New Culture

We're well into the Summer months now and it's about this time that the pool is no longer a novelty, long days of playing outside are starting to become routine and kids are beginning to become bored. Perhaps the adults are restless too! No money for a vacation? Try this Staycation Idea:

Learn About a New Culture

Don't let finances stop you from learning a new language, trying new cuisine and learning about a new culture.

An online search or trip to the library is all you need to plan for this Staycation. Choose a culture that you and your family is interested in. It may be a dream vacation spot or a culture from your family heritage. Research some recipes for that culture and plan a trip (with coupons, of course) to the grocery store for the ingredients.

Decorate your table (and even your house) in keeping with your theme. Don't break the bank buying decorations, but think creatively. Utilize table linens in the national colors of your country of choice. And print off photos from the internet of the area's national landmarks and put them in dollar store frames.

Learn about a game from your culture of choice and teach your family. You may even want to help them make native costumes to model after dinner.

Check-out a travel DVD, language learning DVD or a movie in keeping with the theme of the night. This will be a fun way to unwind after your big feast.

Impress your family with learning a few words and phrases in the language indicative to the area you are celebraing. There are MANY resources available for every language imaginable. Do a google search for the language you are wanting to learn and see what comes-up. Be sure to add "free" to the search term. Be sure to check out your local library for a lot of language study aids, guides and other resources.

Invite friends and take pictures of your event!! Be sure to scrapbook your event, just as if you had really visited an exotic location!

Free Travel Guides

If you are planning a trip any time soon, or just like to learn about new areas, check out this Free Travel Guide site.

REI's Passport to Adventure:Kids Earn a Prize

Here's How It Works!
1. Start with an Adventure Journal, where kids can document their hikes, bike rides and other fun times. Pick up a journal in any REI store, or download and print one here. (PDF 880KB)
2. Use our handy interactive map to find local family-friendly hikes and bike rides. Lists are also available at your REI store.
3. Earn a prize! After you finish one outdoor activity, send in the tear-off postcard from the journal or fill out our online form to get a certificate of completion and a special prize—binoculars that turn into other cool tools including a compass, signal mirror, magnifying glass and more

Bally Total Fitness: FREE 7 Day Pass!

Sign up here to get a FREE seven day guest pass! They will email you the pass. Just bring it to your nearest Bally Total Fitness facility!

Free access to over 100 National Parks

The National Park Service is offering three fee-free weekends at over 100 National Parks that usually charge an entrance fee. Check out more details and the parks which are participating here.

Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise

Free Museum Admission

Thanks to Target, you can attend some awesome museums this summer... and best of all... It's FREE!! Check out the link to find the nearest participating museum. http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-002065

Free Summer Activities

• Michael's is offering free crafts this summer. Check out the link for a schedule of events. Be sure to call ahead to your local Michael's before heading there to make sure they are amongst the participating stores.
• Regal Entertainment Group is offering select G & PG movies for FREE at many local theaters. Movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival and are free for kids and parents. It goes from June -August. Kids can choose from two different movies to see.
• TD Bank has their summer reading program once again. As I've mentioned before in this blog, Kids read (or read along with parents) 10 books and fill out a form. Then, stop by your local branch and get $10 deposited into a savings account.
• Barnes & Noble is offering their summer reading program. Kids in grades 1-6 read 8 books and fill out the printable summer reading journal and redeem it for a free book instore.
• Kids Bowl Free is offering (Children ages 15 and under are eligible) kids to bowl up to 2 games a day free at participating alleys. Sign up online and receive coupons for up to 7 days a week of bowling. You must rent shoes or bring your own.
• AMC Summer Movie Camp For $1 kids can enjoy a movie each Wednesday this summer.
• Half Price Books wants to "Feed Your Brain". In June and July, kids can earn a $3 gift card each week for reading 15 minutes a day.
• Scholastic 's Summer Challenge, allows kids to read books and log reading time online. They can play games online related to books read, enter sweepstakes, try to break a world reading record, and help a good cause.
• National Amusements-owned movie theaters hosts Bookworm Wednesdays. Sstarting July 8th and for the following six weeks, kids will enjoy a kid movie admission-free when they turn in a book report.
• Pottery Barn Kids has a year round book club. Children get a special member card that they can have stamped for each story time they attend. After 5 times they can trade it in for a special gift. Rumor has it that the special gift is a $10 gift card.
• Your local library is a wonderful resource for free family fun. Check out their DVD's, books on CD and of course, their books. Many library locations have passes to local attractions, like the zoos and museums that can be borrowed and most have free story time and free play dates. Be sure to call your local library to check out what they have to offer.