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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - Play Dates For Moms - Moms Need Friends Too!
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It's so good to be back! My vacation was fun, if a bit exhausting. So many relatives I haven't seen in 5-10 years found out I was in the area and just had to have us come say "hi" that we spent a lot of time running around seeing people. Lots of time to just be tourists and have fun too.
When planning this trip, I learned one secret to flying on Southwest for the best rates. First of all, sign up for Ding! which is an online service they have to announce low fares. That's the easiest way to catch low prices. The other way is to do what we did... plan your own itenerary. The price Southwest charges to fly from San Diego to Portland is higher than if you do as we did and pick your own flights from San Diego to San Jose to Portland. Yes, it means a layover, but we saved a significant amount of money, about $20-40 per ticket each way. It made flying much more affordable, and pretty much covered the cost of renting a car.
We had lunch in Seattle one day at the Space Needle. I'll tell you right now, if you want to get a lot done that day, don't do lunch at the Space Needle. The food is great and so is the view, but it took more than two hours! That's not including the time we spent on the observation deck. On the other hand, if you want to go up to the observation deck anyhow, make reservations to eat up there and they'll take you up as a part of the deal, rather than making you pay the about $12/person going up to the observation deck normally costs. Makes an expensive meal much more reasonable.
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With everything we moms have to do, making time for our friends seems impossible. We’re lucky if we have time to do more than shoot them an occasional email, and it’s likely that our friends feel like they’re in the same boat.
But have you noticed that your children are happier when they’ve had a chance to play with others? That somehow we find the time to schedule play dates for them?
We moms are the same way. We need our friends to make us laugh, share our troubles and just keep us connected to the world beyond children and work. The good news is that if we schedule time to be with our friends we’ll be more likely to keep the appointments – and come back feeling refreshed and better able to deal with our family and work responsibilities.
So are you ready for some great ideas for play dates for moms? Here are five that are sure to delight – and invigorate – you and your friends.
1. Start A Birthday Club. Get together with your friends to celebrate each other’s birthdays. But don’t just stop there. Someone, somewhere is having a birthday every month, so take advantage of it. Schedule a birthday celebration every month to get together with your friends for lunch or dinner. Make it clear to all that presents aren’t part of the celebration. Being together is the best gift of all and the pressure of finding and spending money on presents won’t be an issue.
2. Think About A Cooking Club. This is a great idea for both creative cooks and budget-strapped moms. Each month, let one friend do the cooking for the bunch. You can trade houses and everyone gets a chance to contribute – and to relax letting someone else do the cooking for a change. Try different ethnic cuisines and, to keep it interesting, ask everyone to dress as they would if they lived in that country. Don’t like to cook? That’s why they invented the deli!
3. Schedule Spa Days. Who doesn’t love getting the spa treatment? You and your friends can meet at a local spa for massages and/or facials. Getting manicures and pedicures are also a great way to be together and have a marvelous time. If finances don’t permit, get together at a friend’s house and do each other’s fingernails and toenails. You’ll have a wonderful time, and this is certain to be a crowd pleaser with lots and lots of laughs included.
4. Can You Say Book Club? Book Clubs are still all the rage, and for good reason. People love to share what they’re reading and what they think about it. They offer you and your friends the opportunity to get together and share your ideas – and a bottle of wine or two. Book Clubs offer an endless variety of subjects and topics to choose from, so call up your friends and schedule a Book Club play date today!
5. Scrapbook Away, Ladies. Yes, get some scrapbooking supplies together and have a scapbooking party. Throw some Sangria into the mix and this is a definite play date your friends will want to have over and over. Which is the point – a play date scrapbook. Each time you get together, everyone can make a page for their scrapbook to memorialize the time you spend together. Not only will you and your friends have tons of fun, you’ll have something from your play date to keep and cherish.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ideas for play dates for moms. Use this list as a starting point to spark some creative ideas of your own. The important thing is to schedule that play date with your friends today – and keep it! You need it, and so do they!
Copyright 2006 Karen Fusco
Karen Fusco is co-founder of http://www.SilkBow.com which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. SilkBow is the perfect place for the perfect gift. Karen can be reached directly at: karen@SilkBow.com
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