Summer Vacations on a Budget

Spring has sprung and summer is close behind.  I used to look at this period as the "final stretch" before "glorious summer."  

Now seasons seem to run into each other (okay, so I don't live in cold weather) and time has a different meaning.

So does money.  Like the rest of you, Car-man and I feel the economic vise squeezing our pocketbook.  

So what does a family do for vacation on meager funds?  One suggestion is to pick a vacation destination midway between all family members.  Plan a reunion at a campground around games, picnics and potlucks.

And should even that pose a financial hardship, consider purchasing an inexpensive web cam that can be enjoyed throughout the year.  

The Real Sandwich

Mom's adjusting to her retirement community. My Mom-in-law is in the hospital.  I just attended my aunt's funeral.  It's not too soon to plan my daughter's wedding for next summer. I'm frantically working on my upcoming website.  My husband still wants to be fed.  My grandkids still want me to go to the park.  My friends wonder if I come up for air.  My Toastmasters group has one empty seat.  And I barely have time to indulge in something chocolate.   

Get the idea?

If this makes me part of the sandwich generation, then right about now I feel like this sloppy joe.  

Any suggestions for a little R&R? I hope there's a spa vacation in my future. 

When the Dog Eats Your Slippers...or worse!

1ST SCENARIO - You’re sitting in your recliner on a cold, winter day, watching Gone With the Wind, warmed by the old afghan and the burning embers in the fireplace. You have a craving for a cup of hot chocolate and lower your feet to the floor expecting to slip into your warm, fuzzy slippers. The right foot slips in easily but the left foot finds only the cold floor. You scan the room and notice Sadie with her back to you occupied on her new comfy Costco doggie bed. You stand to view the object of Sadie’s attention.

2ND SCENARIO - You wake up before dawn one morning. You’re dressed in your flannel pjs and sneak out of the house to retrieve your newspaper on the dewy lawn. Little did you know that the neighbor’s German Shepherd had already been there.

3RD SCENARIO - You’re hunting for your slippers, which were last seen under the kitchen table. You find them next to the twin grandkids’ toy box. You notice that Emily and Jacob had securely tucked their dripping sippy cups into each slipper.

THE SOLUTION: You flick on the computer and search for your next pair of slippers: Only Slippers has “Old Friend Step-ins”, 100% Australian sheepskin handcrafted slippers with an adjustable opening, ideal for indoor or outdoor use. Only slippers carries even hard-to-fit sizes.

Another great user-friendly website is Foot Smart, you find slippers, even for sensitive feet, by brand or by style. Check out the socks/hosiery, foot aids, and gifts.

Zappos sorts their footwear by popularity, brand, and price. In addition to being a member of the Better Business Bureau, they offer free shipping both ways, with a 110% price protection, and a 365-day return policy.

Now, get back to your movie. And if you’re anything like me, you wonder how Scarlett O’Hara could ever prefer Ashley Wilkes over Rhett Butler!