This is an older post that I felt was relevant this week. I think, generally speaking, this advice still holds true.

Valentine’s Day is tricky. It’s not A trick, but it is tricky. Do you get something, or don’t you? If you do, will it be taken the wrong way? If you don’t, will he/she be offended or hurt? I think that a lot of that depends on the status of your relationship, but generally speaking there are a few things that should never be given, no matter what.

1. Anything that you know you like more than him/her. So, don’t buy your girlfriend an HDTV if you’re the one who watches it.
2. Things that insinuate sex. Its no fun to realize that the gift you got is less about you and more about a certain activity. Unless of course you’re a guy, and then its probably okay.
3. A house utility. I don’t care if he’s been talking about a new lawn mower all year, or if she bitches about the vacuum cleaner every week, don’t do it.
4. A box of chocolates. You might as well just say, “I didn’t really put any thought into you this year honey. Love you!”
5. Any high ticket items. That is just silly. Say I love you for real, instead of with your paycheck for the next 3 years.
6. A pet. Nothing says I love you like a lifetime responsibility of vet visits, poop, and obedience school.
7. Singing telegram. No one really wants to be embarrassed at work. Really.
8. Perfume or cologne. This seems like a nice idea, but no one wants to feel obligated to wear some expensive stuff that they think smells like an old lady in an elevator.
9. Exercise equipment. This one I think needs no explanation.
10. A card with a promise for something later. Again, this seems like a great idea, but you better actually BUY the thing for later (e.g. a gift certificate for a hotel stay on the beach). If you promise it for later, and there’s no “proof”, it’ll end up to be one of those things that never happened. The expectation of something only to have it not happen is almost worse than getting nothing at all.

So, I hope all of you out there with significant other have a good Valentine’s Day. To all of you who don’t, after reading this list, you can revel in how uncomplicated your life is.

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Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with your kids when they’re off for the summer. If they’re home all week, they’re inevitably bored by the weekend. If you’re on a budget, options maybe limited. I have mastered the art of finding free things to do with my kids. I also find, as a bonus, when you do splurge on an outing, they actually appreciate it!

• Picnic at the Park. This one is a given. Find a part that suits your kids well (e.g. an awesome playground if they’re into that, or a wide open field for sports). Bring a fun lunch from home, a blanket and some balls and other toys. It’s sometimes better if you leave your own neighborhood and explore others to find a new and different park. I find my kids can be entertained for hours and our picnic lunch breaks up the activities and makes for a nice dynamic outing. I play with them, but also bring a good book to read which gives me some downtime as well.
• Movie Night. By making this a routine event at our house, every Friday night is something to look forward to. We make popcorn in an old fashioned kettle, flavor it with butter or whatever we want that night, and pick out a movie, either from our own collection or from our instant netflix account. Granted, if you don’t have your own stash of movies or instant netflix, you may have to splurge on a $1 redbox rental, but that’s a far cry from a $50 outing to the theater! What makes this so fun for my kids is that its time together… they really look forward to just being with their parents and chillin’ on the couch.
• Hiking. In Colorado, there is a million places to hike and all you have to do is drive. We plan a nice big loop hike every weekend, load the dog’s backpacks up with snacks and water and we set off on an adventure. Not only is it great fun while you’re there, but when you get home, they’re ready for some quiet time to rest and relax at home (this means nice quiet time for you!). If you don’t live somewhere with mountains to explore, find a beach, or an open space park. Often if you check your county or city websites, you’ll find links to their open space areas with information and maps.
• Give them a garden. It may sound silly, but giving your kids a garden of their own to tend to not only gets them outside in the fresh air, but it also gives them something to take pride in, take responsibility for, and put effort into. It can be a vegetable garden, or a flower garden; either way, I am always  amazed at how much interest they have in watching their garden grow.
• Go for a bike ride. Hop on your bikes and set off for something fun. Maybe that picnic in the park! Have a destination in mind, though. Maybe bring $5 with you and bike to the local convenience store for a Popsicle. Maybe bring your suits and bike to the river and splash around in the cool water for a bit. A destination is key to making it feel like a journey or adventure.
• Find free days at your local museums or zoos. This one is not something you can just get up and do, but most museums and zoos offer free days. Pay attention to their calendars and plan ahead to get your kids some educational and informative free fun.
• Plan a mini-party. Every once in a while, I plan a special dinner night at home for just the family. It always has a theme… could be a luau or an Italian pizzeria, but I get them excited about it by having them help with dinner, decorating the dining room or patio just right for the occasion, and we even get dressed up! After dinner, a simple dessert and a board game are always winners to finish up the night.
• Take them to the local street fair or Farmer’s Market. It may not always hold true, but I find at these types of free venues there’s almost always free stuff being handed out to kids. Sometimes its free food and drink samples, but other times its goodie bags, face painting or balloon animals. It’s great to get out, support your local community, and the kids love the atmosphere.

Keeping kids entertained during the summer can be tricky. Implement some of these things and throw in a couple putt-putt golf outings or swimming trips and you’ll not only keep your kids active and engaged, you’ll also save yourself a little bit of cash!

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Share and Enjoy

Valentine’s Day is tricky. It’s not A trick, but it is tricky. Do you get something, or don’t you? If you do, will it be taken the wrong way? If you don’t, will he/she be offended or hurt? I think that a lot of that depends on the status of your relationship, but generally speaking there are a few things that should never be given, no matter what.

1. Anything that you know you like more than him/her. So, don’t buy your girlfriend an HDTV if you’re the one who watches it.
2. Things that insinuate sex. Its no fun to realize that the gift you got is less about you and more about a certain activity. Unless of course you’re a guy, and then its probably okay.
3. A house utility. I don’t care if he’s been talking about a new lawn mower all year, or if she bitches about the vacuum cleaner every week, don’t do it.
4. A box of chocolates. You might as well just say, “I didn’t really put any thought into you this year honey. Love you!”
5. Any high ticket items. That is just silly. Say I love you for real, instead of with your paycheck for the next 3 years.
6. A pet. Nothing says I love you like a lifetime responsibility of vet visits, poop, and obedience school.
7. Singing telegram. No one really wants to be embarrassed at work. Really.
8. Perfume or cologne. This seems like a nice idea, but no one wants to feel obligated to where some expensive stuff that they think smells like an old lady in an elevator.
9. Exercise equipment. This one I think needs no explanation.
10. A card with a promise for something later. Again, this seems like a great idea, but you better actually BUY the thing for later (e.g. a gift certificate for a hotel stay on the beach). If you promise it for later, and there’s no “proof”, it’ll end up to be one of those things that never happened. The expectation of something only to have it not happen is almost worse than getting nothing at all.

So, I hope all of you out there with significant other have a good Valentine’s Day. To all of you who don’t, after reading this list, you can revel in how uncomplicated your life is.

Share and Enjoy

Share and Enjoy