Inexpensive Summer Fun: Losing the Stress, Finding your Family

You work 60+ hours a week. You leave before the sun peaks over the horizon, and you come home long after the sun has returned to slumber. You eat cold leftovers, kiss your already sleeping children, and settle into bed next to a spouse that hasn’t actually spoken to you in 11 hours.

You’re thankful for the job you have, because so many are losing theirs, but you aren’t so thankful for the long hours, thankless achievements, and all the time spent away from those you love most in the world.

Does it have to be that way? Honestly, sometimes it does. Unfortunately, if you don’t work, you can’t really support those you love, but working takes you away from them as well.

So what you can do? Have you considered taking a vacation? Mind blowing isn’t it? What a truly novel idea- taking time off work and actually spending time with your family!

Do vacations have to mean two weeks of sun and accrued credit card debt? No, it could just be a weekend spent dedicated to having fun with your family. Not all vacations or family days have to empty the bank account- and here are a few ideas that will help you de-stress from work while soaking up the love of your family.

Backyard BBQs

One of the most important things that families should do together is eat. Food has brought families together for as long as man has been on earth. You’ve seen the commercials for Bushs’ Baked Beans, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, Johnsonville Brats, Kool-Aid, and other summer fun time treats…everyone is outside in the backyard, jumping into the swimming pool, piling delicious food onto their plates, and just enjoying their time together. 

You can do that too. A quick trip to your local grocery store for yummy BBQ favorites, a trip to Wal-Mart for fun sprinkler attachments or pool toys, and then everyone gathers in the backyard for family time that doesn’t have a huge price tag.

Dad gets to wear the “Kiss the Cook” BBQ apron, mom gets to don the big sun hat, and the kids get to try and make it poolside without slipping on the puddles of sunscreen they’re leaving in their wake. Fun times had by all, and the only thing you’ll have to stress about is making sure the burgers don’t burn.

A Lark in the Park

Never underestimate or overlook the simple family trip to the local park. Public parks or state parks are FREE. That means that you can take scenic hikes, swim in lakes, BBQ your favorite summer foods, watch as the kids play on the jungle gym (you could even join them if you’d like), and even take a family bike ride all without pulling out your wallet one single time.

Splish Splash

Two words that spell ‘awesome family memories’ and ‘inexpensive family fun’…water…park. Yes, those two words can also spell heat stroke, sun burn, and junk food overload, but family fun always carries with it the risk of unpleasant or uncomfortable events.

There are hundreds of water parks all over the US. Chances are that there is one only a few hours’ drive from where you live. That means that you can pack up the kids in the morning, take a drive into the afternoon, and spend the hottest part of the day cooling off in the waters of Wild Water Kingdom or Six Flags Water World. If you really want to make good use of the water park, you can buy a family summer pass for relatively cheap and spend every weekend there. Or, if you just want to make a single trip, you can stock up on coupons from local kids friendly eateries or libraries and get money off of each ticket you purchase.

Another way to save some money on your family water park fun is to bring your food with you. Most water parks don’t care that you bring food in with you, and this allows you to purchase lunch items at a big discount at the grocery store, and save the money you would have spent on overpriced concession items.

Make sure to take a lot of pictures, so that when the work week begins again, you have those precious memories to hold you over until you can get home to your family again.

Green Thumb Fun

One of the great things about summer is that it’s the perfect time for planting. If you have the space and don’t have an aversion to getting a little dirty, you can gather the family together, plan and then plant a summer garden. Not only does this give you time together as a family, you are also creating something that will continue to give back to the family over the rest of the year. Who doesn’t want to bite into a sweet garden tomato that was planted by loving hands in their own garden?

Fresh vegetables add flavor and fun to the dinner table, and it promotes healthy eating and sustainability.

You love your family, and working to provide for them is important, but so is taking the time out of your life to spend with those that mean the most. It doesn't have to cost much money, and what it provides in memories, shared time together, and fun is a price far above what any one person could pay in their lifetime.

So go out there and enjoy your Spirit for Living!

Eco-Chic at the Shore– What’s in your bag?

Finally, in New York, there have been some consistently good, sunny beach days and I’m quickly scrambling to set aside some time to soak up some sun.   Plenty of time to show off a nice healthy glow at my sister’s wedding in September.

Luckily there are several beaches nearby – and I’ve been surveying my friends on where they’ll be headed and when.  So beach destination is a ‘check’.

Next, I need to rummage through last year’s beach gear – found a couple of patterned bottoms and tops to bikinis, none of which match, is that in style though? Never mind, I think I’m going orange this year... 

Other musts for the beach are the skin care products to keep our skin from getting damaged, a beach towel and a nice tote to carry all my stuff there. 

I need to keep my products as natural and as eco-friendly as possible – what are my choices?  There are some really great affordable finds out there and I went on a hunt.  These unique products stood out - all of which are reasonably priced and can be purchased online.  Three Cheers – let the summer beach weekends begin!!

Dry lips - can't have that!  Try one of these two choices for organic lip balm:

·         Organic Essence, Organic Lip Balm ($4.99) – This balm contains USDA Certified Organic ingredients and also boasts less wasteful eco-friendly packaging as well!  Comes in great flavors such as Vanilla, Grapefruit and Mint!

·         Phoenix Botanicals, Organic Lip Balm (3 tubes for $16.00) – Made right here in New York with local plants in the Northeast.  Ingredients are all organic – flavors include rose, vanilla and mint.  

      

        Don't sweat it – enjoy this light and fresh body spray - 

·         SuperNatural Botanicals, Beach Body Spray ($12.00) – Light and refreshing spray that is clean and natural.  Made from oils, aloe and purified water - it is an instant natural aromatic pleasure.

        Wrap me very tight!  Check out these beach towels - 

     

        Bamboo Dreams®Beach Towels from Yala® ($39.50) – These colorful and fun towels are oh so soft, even for the most sensitive skin!  They are made from 70% viscose from Bamboo and 30% Organic Cotton.

        Look sun kissed, not sun slapped!  A natural sun screen –

Solar to Polar® Ultra ($29.00) - A great solution for people such as myself with sensitive skin – this product is made from •100% natural, 70%+ certified organic ingredients and still protects me from harsh sun rays.  It’s gentle, light and moisturizing.

Carry me to the shore!!  This tote carries it all!!

     

Rebagz, Carry Anything Anywhere Bag ($54.00) – I hate having the same bag as everyone else – cliché - I like to mix and match everyday wears with some unique finds.  Rebagz, Carry Anything Anywhere Bags were the answer to mixing up my beach gear.  I love the orange and silver – but those who really enjoy something uniquely bright – try the multi-color bag.

 What other organic and eco-friendly products are your favorites?  Enjoy the summer fun - enjoy the Spirit for Living!

  

A Day in the City with ‘Super Eco Girl’…

It’s an absolutely gorgeous Saturday and I’ve started the day by finishing up a juicy murder mystery on my Kindle before heading out the door just before 9am.  Along with my purse, I always carry a spare cotton bag to carry any of my day’s purchases (I just hate all those plastic bags…).

Today I have quite a list going – “to do’s” of which several will become “ to - didn’t really have time for that on this beautiful sunny day” before long.  But first, I’m headed only a few blocks away where several vintage and thrift shop stores line the street.

How lucky I am to have great vintage and thrift shops.  These are not the old, dusty shops that feel like you’re rummaging through your grandmother’s attic.  These shops are clean, neat, even some with trendy décor.  Racks are full of dresses, skirts, many well know designers such as DVF; gently worn, that are great to get another few years use out of. 

After raking through hangers of clothes from the shops in my neighborhood, I’m ready for some lunch.  Never a shortage of places to eat, but a favorite of mine is Caravan of Dreams.  The food is all organic, vegan and kosher certified so I know no pesky chemicals will enter my body today.  I order a glass of the sangria and the Caravan Burrito which is oh so yummy!

On TV, in magazines and other media I often see the "top 10" tips to being green or eco-friendly…and rarely do I see or hear “natural or organic eating” on the list.  Eating natural, whole foods and avoiding processed foods, is a key factor in helping the environment.  Why?  One example is chemicals used in farming and food production.  Many chemicals cannot be disposed of, leaving residue or traces in our drinking water, our produce and our animals. Heavy topic but in short eating whole non processed foods can make you feel energetic and healthy as well as helping the environment.

Last week, I was at this party wearing my new (lightly used) favorite top and some awkward individual’s can of beer tipped to far forward onto my sleeve.  So off next to the dry cleaners….

Many organic and natural dry cleaners have popped up in the last year.  Why did they start appearing? Well, interestingly the major synthetic chemical used in dry cleaning is linked with several side effects such as irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat.  It can also cause dizziness, headaches and nausea.  So due to more public scrutiny and the EPA watching, the industry has started to look for safer, less harmful ways to dry clean.   It turns out that California plans to phase out the major synthetic chemical used called perc by 2023.

And how fast the afternoon has come and I’m a little spent - looking for a nice bench to park on for a bit.  Many parks hide in and around the pavement of the city.  I walk past this small neighborhood one and find a small little quiet area.  It's lovely - surrounded by lush plants and newly planted tulips and other spring flowers.  I take out my Kindle and try to find another great murder mystery to start….