Mom Needs A Break! Tips, Ideas, Help….For Those Hard Working Moms!

Most travel agents will advice you to start planning your summer vacation six months in advance.  That may seem like a long time ahead for many, but it’s the best way to make sure you book an affordable family vacation that’s just right for you.  

Are you getting ready for summer?  Plan your vacation now by following these important tips. 

As you know, booking your reservations early can afford you the opportunity to save, save, save!  Whether you are booking flight reservations; hotel accommodations, packages, or a combination of all three – decide early where you’d like to go and don’t procrastinate. When travel agents were all the rage, all you had to do was call or stop by and the agent would take care of everything.  Today, with online reservations; making your own travel plans has become more popular.  Although there are still travel agents available, it seems planning your trip from the comfort of your own home has become the norm, rather than the exception. 

The first thing you need to do is to check the airlines. You can either call or you can go online and either use the many new travel sites now available or go straight to the preferred airlines’ website. To save some time, stop by a travel agent’s office and pick out some brochures that interest you! You will have to research complete packages, however, to determine which company offers the best rate. In addition, if you are traveling outside the country, you will need to have your passports and proof of identification. Also keep in mind, if you are traveling to areas which require vaccinations, make sure you check with your doctor ahead of time. 

Travel agents can also be a great source of information for a specific area or traveling advice.  Remember, it doesn’t cost anything to use the services of a travel agent; they obtain their commissions from the airline and hotels. 

In the event you are planning a summer vacation, and you are making all of the arrangements yourself, check the terms and conditions of the online consolidators and hotels, to ensure there are no hidden fees. When making air reservations, check different days of the week, as midweek travel is often cheaper. Also, when you are booking your airline reservations, find out what the penalties are for cancellations.  This holds true for the hotels or packages as well. Read all of the airport rules and regulations, and arrive at least three hours before flight time. Also, think about trip insurance; just in case. 

Wherever you decide to go; Disney World; Paris; London;

In a few months, Father’s Day will be here. Your kids are probably trying to come up with unique ideas this year. To help them, here are some Father’s Day ideas for younger kids. 

* Make a Father’s Day card using construction paper, crayons and draw dad on the front with the words “I Love You Dad!” Mom can also download the many coloring templates kids can use to glue on to construction boards to make larger 8-1/2×11 cards. 

* Kids can take their teddy bears and dress them up with a hat, tie, and glasses….and place a Happy Father’s Day sign for the bear to hold. 

* Kids can help you make a Father’s Day breakfast for dad and present it to him either in bed or at the kitchen table.  

* Kids can help mom make gingerbread cookies and using piping to outline the facial features. It can then be glued to a piece of cardboard and the kids can decorate the cardboard with dad’s favourite things! 

* The kids can present dad with a card containing a list of chores they will do for dad for a week. 

* They can also make a story book using construction paper, to tell about their dad and why he is so special! 

* Mom can bake dad’s favourite cake and the kids can decorate it with dad’s favourite sports games, such as baseballs, footballs, soccer, or basketball. 

Kids love to draw, paint and mold. Using some clay, they can make dad a handprint and sign their names on the palms. He would certainly love that! In fact, kids also love to build things, so why not build day a special kite (with the help of mom, of course), then the entire family can enjoy this wonderful present. 

Father’s Day ideas for younger kids can be achieved by asking them what they would like to make for dad; or perhaps buy for day. One thing though, he may not want any more ties! Make a Happy Father’s Day Sign using construction paper, and hang it in the kitchen or living room area. Dad will be so happy to see how much effort his children have put into making his day a special one!

Older kids have much more experience in coming up with Father’s day ideas. Well, just in case you need a few more, here are some Father’s Day ideas for older kids. 

When it comes to Father’s Day, my dad is difficult to buy gifts for. So I look around to see what he is reading, or what movies he is watching or what music he is listening to. Then I go to my best online friend, amazon.com, and pick out books, music and movies he would most enjoy.  Sometimes I am lucky and choose the perfect gift.  Sometimes, especially if the gift is clothing; I wind up returning it.  So now I buy gifts that I know he will definitely like. For example: 

* DVDs of his favourite TV shows or movies* Subscription to his favourite magazine* Gift Certificate to Blockbusters so he can choose the movie * Gift Certificate to a major department store where he can shop for any clothing he likes* Since he loves Beagles, I had an artisan draw a picture of a beagle on a piece of freshly cut wood.* One year, I saw a wonderful painting of a man and his beagle, walking in the woods.  (Both of these are still hanging in his bedroom to this day)!* Another year, I purchased tickets to a baseball game for him.* Since he also collects coins, I purchase newly minted coins from Franklin Mint. 

Now your dad may enjoy different things. What matters, and what is most appreciated, is spending the time to find the perfect gift. So here is a great project for you: study your dad’s reading, music, and movie habits and you can either take him to see a movie with lunch afterward; take him to a baseball game; buy his favourite TV shows now on DVD;get him a box of golf balls or new golf mitts; or spend the day on a putting green. Maybe your dad collects baseball cards.  If so, you can go on eBay and buy a few boxes of the latest hobby baseball boxes available. If you have saved enough or wish to pull money together with your siblings, you may prefer to purchase an autographed card of his favourite player! 

There are so many things, other than a tie, that you can buy or plan for and with your dad.Look upon this as a

Thinking of Father’s Day brings to mind an episode of Bill Cosby in which his youngest daughter, Rudy, made him a clay ashtray. “But I don’t smoke!” he smiled.  He went on to thank her anyway and said he would use it as a paperweight in his home office. Thinking of Father’s Day handmade gift ideas for kids is probably much easier than for adults. Eventually we run out of ideas – but they don’t!  Here are some ideas your kids may have devised. 

Special t-shirt painted by the kids; a card made of construction paper and decorated for dad; a picture frame made out of two pieces of cardboard and painted by the kids; or dad’s favourite cookies made by the kids with a little help from mom. If dad is a golfer, why not have mom buy a box of golf balls and have the kids paint their initials on each one. How about taking a small Xmas tree and turning it into a Father’s Day tree. Decorate it with his favourite candies and cookies. Or if dad is a baseball or football fan, the kids can decorate it by taking white Christmas balls and drawing baseball stripes on them; and making cookies in the shape of footballs using gingerbread dough! A baseball cap with dad’s initial can adorn the top of the tree, or you can find a mini sized football helmet and add his name to it as well. 

More often than not, dad would probably receive a tie as a gift. Well, make this particular tie special. Let the kids be as creative as they want with paints and sparkles. Does dad lose the remote control often? Why not make him a TV remote holder using cardboard and fabric. The kids can decorate the cardboard with glow in the dark paint color, so that no matter where the holder is, he can always find it! 

No matter what Father’s Day handmade gift ideas you come up with, there are plenty of ideas you and the kids can come up with. Don’t forget the handmade ashtray; your dad can use it as a paperweight, too!

Valentines Day is a day to express your love, and to celebrate the spirit of love. You will love this absolutely wonderful Recipe Book for Valentine’s Day recipes; we have one of the best selections for valentine recipes with 148 all time favourite valentine recipes…

It’s the time of year to celebrate romance again. Actually, it’s always the time of year to celebrate romance, but this is the time that society, at the prodding of greeting card and chocolate manufacturers, sets aside especially for such amorous festivities.I myself like valentine’s day because it can be such a cozy time of year, with the fireplace crackling and the house full of good smells from baking and cooking.
Here are some tried and true recipes that will add some romance to your Valentine’s Day. After all, nothing says LOVING like something from the oven!
Your sweetheart won’t be able to resist these Valentine’s Day Recipes…


•           Passion Fruit Mimosa
•           Pink Peppermint Valentine Mold
•           Queen Of Hearts Tarts
•           Red Rose Potato Salad
•           Valentine Pancakes
•           Valentine Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies
•           Valentine Love Fudge
•           Be My Valentine Pie
•           Banana Tart With A Passion Fruit Sauce
•           Chocolate Covered Cherry Pie
•           Circle of Hearts Cherry Bread
•           Cupid`s Pie
•           Layered Peanut Butter Lovers Delight
•           Heart-Shaped Sandwiches
•           Romantic Cheesecake
•           Simple Pasta for Two
•           Strawberries Romanoff
•           Valentine Brownies With Raspberry Coulis
•           Triple Valentine Brownie
•           Strawberries In Red Wine
•           Shrimp Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
•           Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Cheesecake
•           Hot Fudge Pudding
•           Love Potion
•           Heart Shaped Valentine Pizza
•           Chocolate Passion Dessert
•           Apple-Raspberry Valentine Crisp
•           Valentine`s Day Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce for Two
And many more great recipes…
Give your sweetheart and tasty treat……….

Here’s to love!

Keep smiling!

Kerry