Substance of Living

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. One of our favorite vacations! Are you starting to panic about the upcoming spring break and summer vacations? You're probably asking yourselves, "Where will we go, what type of accommodations are within our price range, how much will eating out cost and how many meals will we eat?  Will we be able to get a hotel room that will have enough beds and space for all of us?  Will there be a kitchen?"  I don't know about you but I'm stressed already.  Tempted to throw in the towel and just stay home. Family vacations are about making memories and of course we all know that there is a financial cost to those memories so why not enjoy the vacation and spend the money on the actual memory making fun and not the room. Have you ever thought of renting a timeshare at an exclusive resort?  Did you know it was possible to stay at a resort for a fraction or the same cost as a nearby hotel? Why Ti...

When you and your family head out for vacation this year, don't leave your household budget at home.  The price of rest and relaxation ought to be priceless but in more cases than not are quite expensive. Add up all your cost: transportation, accommodations, sightseeing, souvenirs, food, attractions -- you might be tempted to cancel the trip altogether. Alas - you can still enjoy your vacation, family, and stay within budget by following these simple tips. Be Flexible Travel during "Shoulder Season" (Not during peak season or off season) April - May or Mid-August - October Choose alternative dates or days of the week to travel Try Vacation Packages or All-Inclusive Packages   Eat for Free (or nearly free) Many restaurants offer a free child's meal for each paying adult.  There may be restrictions such as two children maximum or might only be available on certain days. If you do eat out, lunch might be your best time.  The prices are reasonable a...

August is a busy month especially if you're preparing for the new school year.  Be sure to grab the last few days of summer and freedom with a quick trip to the beach, lake or a cookout. August is also a nice time to take advantage of hotel rates towards the end of the month and before the Labor Day holiday. Dirty Little Secrets by Julie Leto Now is also the time to start looking at the fall and winter clothes in the closet to see what gets to stay and what needs to be replaced. Being Anti-Social by Leigh K. Cunningham On the flip side, there is always time to sneak in a book or two.  You've had a great summer getting caught up on a lot of reading and hopefully were introduced to a few new authors or genres. Suitable for Framing by Edna Buchanan What did you read last month and what do you have started for this month? How did you like last month's book selection compared to this month? Tweet this Post P.S., Should you decide to purchase...

This month's book selection is based on love.  I've been in love with my sexy hunk of a husband for over 13 years and let me tell you, these books taught me a few things.  Love comes in different forms - sometimes love is scary; blossoms through lies and doubt; it even follows us through to our next life. Have you ever listed all the reasons why you love the one you're with?  Were you able to come up with 100 different reasons? "Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, [Love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails..." -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 The New American Bible for Catholics Colters' Wife I Think I Love You by Stephanie Bond "Love me without fear, Trust me ...

There's a new Kindle in town.  It's lighter (less than 6 ounces), smaller ( 6.5 inches with a 6 inch screen) and still has a non-glare screen. This small but powerful e-reader holds up to 1,400 books.  Can you imagine carrying all those books around with you everyday?  Now you can. More than 11,000 libraries throughout the United States offer books for download through their websites to your Kindle. Some built-in features: Free built-in wi-fi at AT&T hotspots The battery can last up to a month (half-hour daily reading) with the wi-fi turned off Adjustable text sizes Whispersync technology All this for only $79 (with special offers) Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers DH has the original Kindle and we thought it was the greatest.  In fact, we still do.  We wondered at first if his tablet would replace the Kindle.  Though the tablet can read books, there are times when only t...

Family reunions and picnics seem to have been made for one another.  They both require people, food, and are most often held outdoors. Picnics and reunions are a cost effective and fun tradition.  Themes are a great way to make each year unique.  Often the location chosen will help guide the theme and types of games or activities. It's a relaxing way for everyone to come together and it's also a good excuse to see each other more than once a year! Things to Consider When Planning a Family Reunion: Choose a date that is convenient for the majority of attendees Choose three possible time frames; spring break, summer, winter break Choose a location - outside venues are typically the least expensive and will hold the largest number of people Consider overnight accommodations such as inexpensive hotels or camp grounds Select a site with plenty of shade A pool, river, ocean, nature trails, and playground facilities are great options with "built-in" activit...

Although it's the middle of July, it's never too late to start planning a patio garden or gathering landscaping ideas.  Here are some pictures that I took last week while I was out as well as some great ideas around the internet. These ideas inspire the imagination.  How about a stay-cation in the back yard?  Turn the backyard or patio into a quaint deli for the afternoon or imagine visiting a luxurious bed and breakfast.  The fantastic thing about all these ideas is that they are absolutely do-able! Isn't this a beautifully landscaped sloping back yard.  They have privacy and still have a view of the golf course. Better Homes and Gardens Even though this is actually a patio, it would make a beautiful sun room or a cozy area on a covered porch.  (Can you see the kitty?) Better Homes and Gardens Perfect.  Absolutely storybook perfect.  This is a lovely example of using the space between the house and garage or a small back yard....

Throw those instructions away!  Who reads them anyway? Can you imagine if our lives came with instructions?  I don’t know about you but my instructions would be so stained, tattered, and marked up and not because I’m following them!  They would be that way because I need a coaster for my drink, a scrap piece of paper to write a note, or tattered because of all the uses (other than intended). Let’s forget about what “They” think we should do with our lives.  So what if we enjoy taking a day off and doing nothing but lounging around or spending the entire day in the garage or shopping?  It’s our form of a mental vacation and don’t we deserve to be selfish once in a while and take care of “Numero Uno”?  When we are super-charged, we are more equipped to handle everything else that pops up. Have you ever wanted to start a side business or a build a shed?  Did you keep your dreams quiet or did you go out and SHOUT it out to the world?...