Started this almost a year ago, and didn't do much since

Go figure...

Life gets in the way I suppose.

That trip to California was a complete success.  What blew the budget (slightly) was a side trip to Catalina, which my brother planned, (who does not watch the budget), but was fun nonetheless.  We did so much during that vacation and I had things planned for every day to keep two teenage girls entertained.  While not all plans work exactly as expected, this is exactly what should be expected, and the "art" of it all is to stay flexible. 

We substituted a couple of planned activities for just lazy days on the beach. I couldn't get the girls out of the waves and they enjoyed it so much.  This actually saved money (which I then spent in Catalina) and I was even savvy enough to google and find where I could find free parking at the beach (after paying too much the first trip there).  So we ended up with a few days soaking up the sun and body surfing.  Overall, the beach is a inexpensive place to have fun and when you're living in the Midwest, is quite a treat.

On the trip we got to meet Mike Rowe while he was filming his new show, Somebody's gotta do it, and he was extremely nice.  Sat down with us and share a few drinks of wine (right from my sister's glass) and interviewed us for the show (this was at the Pageant of the Masters).  We signed releases, but didn't make the cut :( though we can be seen in the background in the show when it aired.  My daughter also met, and sat next to on the plane, one of her youtube star crushes (Brent Rivera) and he and his brother were very nice and we visited with them for quite a while.  Then we met the voice actor that does many of the shows like American Dad.  He made a short video for the girls before getting on our plane. 

We acted like movie stars, taking a private limo around Hollywood and seeing the sights, visited the marine rescue facility, ate lunch at the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles on Olivera street and toured the oldest home, shopped in the fashion district in LA, parasailing in Catalina, snorkeling and biking in Catalina, went to several different beaches including Balboa, Newport and Laguna, went to the pageant of the masters and art festival, and honestly all these months later I know I am forgetting some things. 

Our budget was somewhere in the range of $1000 for two weeks.  I don't have exact figures still, but that number is close and much of that was spent in Catalina where we ate out a lot and did some more expensive activities. 

Now, I know that figure would be impossible had I not had free place to stay (except in Catalina - don't get me started the on high prices there) but I've managed to take trip to Washington DC staying in budget similar (10 day trip) but it did take planning.

So, what am I planning this year?  Not sure. We thought about Hawaii with other family, but have ruled it out due to schedule conflicts.  Plus, my daughter has two church camp weeks (not light on the budget) and has a summer job - and we are doing four college tours throughout the summer (and a couple more early fall) so vacation seems like a hard thing to fit in.  I'm sad about this.  I will figure out something, if just for a long four day weekend, or something,- I think.  If we can fit in the time, we will also go to eastern Kentucky, which my daughter has never seen, to the place where her grandmother grew up.  That is an inexpensive trip, and there is lots to see, but we just have to find the time. 

Meanwhile, let me tell you about the painting of my deck....it is a lot of work and I am doing a little (very little) at a time so it will take me a month (I am sure) to get the whole thing done - but I am doing for under 100.00 and it looks fabulous.  It doesn't take any particular skill set, just time and dedication and I think I will increase the value of my house as the deck looks perfect and ready to live on.  (Not that I am selling).

I think I will spend the rest of the morning doing so light vacation planning, and then on to painting that deck for the afternoon. 

First Post

I sit forever and imagine I'm giving what I feel is good, solid advice to nobody except the imaginary people in my head.  No, they don't talk back...

So I've decided to start a blog so I can stop talking to myself.  I actually try to give advice to my son and his wife, but you know how that goes....into one ear and out the other because, well, I'm "just mom" and what does mom know?  A lot, actually, after raising two boys and still with a daughter at home, I've managed to gain a lot of knowledge from my twenty plus years of being mom.  No, this is not a blog about raising children, though I might throw in an occasional tidbit here and there should I feel the need, but it is about the "art" of being (insert whatever you want here, mom, wife, dad, person) -, housekeeper, travel planner, cook, nurse, and more and applies to those who have grown kids, no kids, or a houseful of children,.

I absolutely don't claim to have all the answers.  No way, no how!  Take what I say with a grain of salt.  Every situation is different from income, to location, to kid's temperaments and personal preferences.  If you can be ever  so slightly entertained or gain a bit of knowledge by reading my post then I will be totally satisfied. 

So what will I post on?  Cooking (I love to do it), travel (so, so important), cleaning (I hate to do it), money saving tricks (stretch that dollar...) or anything else that pops into my head. 

I am full of ideas and will share my good ones, my not so good ones, and ones that have failed miserably.  I love to plan.  I need a job where all I do is plan.  Not that I don't usually follow through, I just really enjoy the planning process.  Right now I am planning for a vacation with my daughter and her friend for two weeks to California.  I am lucky enough to have family in a location that is great to go visit, but if I don't plan then we will end up bored, or worse yet, blowing the budget because we want to have fun and don't have any plans when there.  I think for every hour you spend planning a trip like this and figuring up cost, you save about half of what you would have spent on that trip.  One family may spend $1500 for a vacation and for the same trip I can spend $750 - $1000.  I'll be sure to write a blog about this soon.