Category: Family Ideas

Make Your House a Home – Top 10 Feng Shui Tips

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art designed to balance the energy in a space while making it more inviting and cohesive. Here are a few suggestions to enhance your home and inspire you as well.

1. Clean Up Your Clutter

One of the most important Feng Shui principles is to clear away any unnecessary clutter. Feng Shui states that we are energetically connected to everything we possess. Having too many unnecessary things in your space literally drains your energy. Go through your entire home and remove anything you no longer love or use.

2. Rearrange Your Furniture

Your furniture should be placed where you can see who’s entering the room. Ideally, you should never walk into a room and see the back of someone sitting in a chair or sofa. This creates a feeling of disempowerment and unease.

3. Make the Entryway to Your Home Inviting

The entryway to your home is considered the portal where all opportunity can enter. It should make you and everyone else inspired and eager to enter. Implement special touches like colorful pots of flowers, a clean doormat, and a fresh coat of paint on your front door. Your home’s entryway is the first impression your visitors will get and says a lot about you and the home you live in.

3. Care for Your Home

Fix or replace anything in your home that is broken, rotting, or cracked. How you care for your home reflects how you care for yourself.

4. Color Affects Everything

Color affects us on both a conscious and subconscious level. Look at the colors in your home. Do they make you feel safe, nurtured, and inspired? Color is a key element in affecting our everyday mood.

5. Room Function

Make sure every room in your house is conducive to its function. For example, it doesn’t make sense to put exercise equipment in a bedroom where you rest and sleep.

6. Create a Friendly Atmosphere

Sharp-edged furniture sends the message your home is unsafe. Remove other unfriendly items like kitchen knife racks or spiky pot hooks as well. Every element in your home should feel comfortable and secure.

7. Create Flow

The path meandering through your home should flow easily. Do not place furniture where it will obstruct a path. Lack of movement inside your home may indicate a lack of movement regarding your career, relationships, and health.

8. Forget Trends

Remove anything in your space you feel obligated to keep. Forget popular trends and only surround yourself with things that inspire you.

9. Little Things Mean A Lot

Little things like keeping the toilet seat down or replacing the handle on a drawer may not seem like much, but they actually convey a sense of order and mindfulness. Keeping things in order equates to a peaceful existence.

10. Invite Mother Nature into Your Home

What is it about nature that makes us feel one with the world? Nature essentially realigns our energy field with the rest of the Universe and makes us feel whole.

Once you understand the primary principles of Feng Shui and incorporate them, you’ll begin to notice a shift in the way you feel. It’s called peace and happiness.

Top 10 Best Selling Toys on Amazon.com for Christmas 2013

by Benchmark

Christmas 2013 is in the books and now retailers will have the rush of returns so people can get the gifts they really wanted.

If your kids still have a couple toys on their list, you might want to check online.

Here are the 10 best selling toys on Amazon.com for Christmas 2013:

10. Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit – This air-powered rocket is great for your elementary school-aged children. It does not require any fuel or batteries and can soar to heights of up to 100 feet.

9. Qwirkle Board Game – Qwirkle is a great board game that is fun and mind-stimulating for the whole family. It is perfect for ages six and up and has been given various awards from organizations such as Mensa and the National Parent’s Choice.

8. Crayola Marker Maker – This easy-to-use kit allows your children to create 16 markers of your own choosing, giving them a little scientific freedom in an accessible, safe, and fun package.

7. Snap Circuits – This toy is perfect for the engineer in your family. Suited for children 12 and up, Snap Circuits allows you to create your own electronics. It has the parts and instructions for creating a fire alarm, radio, doorbell, and more.

6. Spot It – The Spot It board game takes a new twist on the quintessential card-matching game. It comes with circular game pieces that with 50 variations in total and also includes various mini games that keep each game of Spot It different from the last.

5. LEGO Minecraft The Nether – This Minecraft LEGO recreation is perfect for the Minecraft lover in your family. Suitable for young children as well as old, the LEGO Minecraft The Nether is a sure way to please the LEGO lover in your family this holiday season.

4. Perplexus Maze Game – The Perplexus Maze Game is a game in which players must move a marble around an obstacle course inside a clear sphere. A unique take on the classic Labryinth game, Perplexus features a 3D experience that will not disappoint.

3. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker – VTech has developed a line of toys that allow both babies and toddlers to pay with because it can be used sitting or standing. Little ones can enjoy the toy on the floor, and as they grow the toy will still be a unique learning experience as they start walking with it.

2. Rainbow Loom – Rainbow Loom allows children to create their very own one-of-a-kind rubber bracelets. It is perfect for the constructive child in your family.

1. Cards Against Humanity – While the other toys on this list are suitable for children of most ages, Cards Against Humanity is not recommended for children under 17. This party game is sure to provide hours of hilarious entertainment for the older members of your family.

5 Simple Ways to Relieve Holiday Stress at Home

by Benchmark

The holidays are here, and with it can come unwanted stress. The good news is that there are simple ways that you can relieve stress from your own home. So when you start feeling overwhelmed from shopping, baking, cleaning and planning holiday parties, remember these tips to help you relieve some stress!

Set a Budget and Stick With It

Nothing stresses people out quicker than money. To be more accurate, it is the lack of money that stresses people. When it comes time to buying gifts this year, be sure to set yourself a reasonable budget. Determine how much you have and how much you are going to spend on the people for whom you need to buy gifts.

After setting a budget, remember to stick with it! After all, a budget is only as good as your ability to follow it.

Understand Your Limits

During the holidays, people love to give 110 percent. That being said, you also have to remember that everyone has limits, and you need to respect yours. By understanding your own limits, you can avoid reaching your breaking point.

When you become overrun by holiday tasks, ask others to lend a hand! It is the time of year for sharing, so share some of those responsibilities with others!

Try to Keep Things Small

At some point, everyone figured that the bigger their holiday party was, the more fun it was. The truth is that, the bigger the party, the more stress you are putting on yourself. Instead of trying to go all out this holiday season, try to keep your gatherings more intimate. Don’t worry about inviting all of your friends and every family member!

One year of not sending cards and spreading Christmas cheer is not going to ruin any of your relationships.

Don’t Become the “Yes” Man

Do not say, “Yes,” to every request that you get. During the holiday season, we tend to find ourselves saying, “Yes,” a lot more often than what we normally do. It is the holiday season, after all. However, saying, “Yes,” to every request that you get puts a lot of pressure on you, which raises your stress level. By turning down some commitments, you may find yourself with a little extra free time this holiday season.

Take Some Time to Listen to Music

There is nothing that is more relaxing than sitting back and listening to some music. It doesn’t have to be holiday music; it can be any kind of music that you find relaxing. Try setting up your own personal radio station on Rdio or Pandora. Listening to music while you are working or setting up a holiday party is a great way to stay relaxed and tension free.

Easy and Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils for the Whole Family

by Benchmark

Fall weather is setting in, the leaves are turning into vibrant shades of orange, red and yellow and the pumpkins are ready for picking. Carving pumpkins is a fun, time-honored family tradition celebrated across the country. It’s a great way to mark harvest time by spending quality time together. Even the youngest of family members can participate with a little help from their elders.

Get Everyone Involved

Include little ones by letting them choose a pumpkin. Set up your carving area in advance to avoid potential messes. Cover a counter or table with a vinyl tablecloth or old newspapers for easy clean-up. Place one pumpkin for each family member around the table, leaving plenty of elbow room. If you have young children, consider gutting the pumpkins beforehand so they will not lose interest five minutes into the project.

Print several stencils from the list below, letting each family member choose a unique design. Attach stencils to the pumpkin using tape or small thumbtacks. A pumpkin carving kit can provide helpful tools for everyone and usually includes specialty carving items that help with those finely etched designs. You can even get these kits at the dollar store.

Provide support to little ones so they are safe and feel like they are part of the project. Consider pairing siblings together based on age or matching an adult with kids younger than five years old. Remember to focus on the process rather than the end result. Praise your child often and let him or her make design decisions too.

Free Pumpkin Stencils Will Help

Stencils and patterns provide easy lines to follow to create pumpkins that look like they were professionally done. The more complex the stencil, the more difficult it will be to create. First-timers and elementary school kids should opt for simple lines to begin with. You can always go back and add more complexity to the design once its finished.

Complete your family pumpkin carving evening with roasted pumpkin seeds and hot cider, chili or another cozy, home-cooked treat. Your whole family will remember the event for the rest of the year. When next October rolls around, don’t be surprised when your family demands another carving event.

Check out the following websites to download FREE stencils and patterns:

Creative Ways to Workout at Home for Busy People

by Benchmark

A lot of people don’t exercise because they choose not to pay fancy gym memberships, but that shouldn’t be an excuse to avoid working out. The benefits of daily exercise are numerous, and believe it or not, you can get more than enough exercise right from your own home. You don’t need pricey exercise equipment either; all you really need is enough space to move around. Here you’ll find a few creative ways to workout at home:

Try Yoga

Yoga offers numerous benefits like strengthening your core and lowering your stress levels. Practicing yoga will also help you lengthen and strengthen your limbs. Some types of yoga, like power yoga, are also helpful for toning up and losing weight. All you need to start practicing yoga is a mat and an exercise video. YouTube has a good selection of yoga exercise videos, or you can buy different programs on DVD. Another benefit of yoga is that you don’t need too much space to do it, which makes it one of the easiest ways to workout at home.

Just Dance

Another way you can exercise at home is to blast some tunes and dance. Dancing is a great cardiovascular activity that can really help you shed some weight. You don’t need to purchase any equipment to exercise this way, but you will need some music to set the mood. Also, you can wear a heart rate monitor to see if you can keep your heart rate up.y

Jump Rope

Jumping rope is a popular way to workout at home. Jumping rope is a great way to get the body of your dreams because in a single hour, you can burn up to 1,000 calories. Skipping rope also strengthens legs, flattens abs, tones arms and melts fat quickly. You don’t need a lot of space to skip rope, nor do you have to purchase expensive equipment. Jumping rope is such an effective workout that even professional athletes do it for conditioning.

Hula Hoop

The hula hoop is the ideal tool for whittling your waist. In a single hour, you can expect to burn up to 400 calories. Not only will it help you minimize the circumference of your waist, hula hooping also flattens the tummy and tones the legs. The hip movements also help you lift and tone your bum and rid yourself of saddlebags.

Get The Kids On A Back To School Schedule

by Benchmark

The kids have been staying up late all summer, going to sleepovers, playing video games and having a blast. But now it’s August, and the days of getting up early for school are looming.

How do you get them on a back to school schedule?

Don’t worry; with a little planning, the back to school schedule can be something that everyone eases into, instead of a shock to the system. This will make the transition to the school year go much smoother, and still provide some last-minute summer fun.

The first step is to use science to your advantage.

People have a natural sleep cycle called the circadian rhythm, that tells our bodies to sleep when it’s dark and stay up when it’s light. About two weeks before school starts, give the kids a bedtime, but make it only about an hour before they’ve been going to bed. If they’ve been staying up until midnight, make their bedtime eleven p.m. Every couple of days move their bedtime up an hour, so that by the time school starts, they’re used to sleeping and getting up on a back to school schedule.

The good thing about this is that they’re still going to bed when it’s dark, so they’re more likely to actually sleep. The shortening days of late summer will also be helpful here. To further promote good sleep, cut off any food or drinks with caffeine, like soda or chocolate, by the early afternoon. Also, if the kids are playing outside, bring them in a couple of hours before bedtime so they can wind down and relax. They can read, watch TV or play games.

To make the transition to a back to school schedule even more manageable, plan some fun outings during the last few days before school, and make them activities that start early in the morning. An all-day trip or outdoor adventure will be great motivation for getting up with the sun.

Of course, it’s still school, and they still may not be thrilled with going.

Remind your kids that getting on a back to school schedule leads to seeing their friends and having fun with them again!

Find Last Minute Travel Deals For Spring Break

by bmadmin

While it’s often true that booking your travel months in advance is most cost effective, many times waiting until the last minute before booking your flights and hotel arrangements could pay off. These last minute deals typically become available because of a cancellation, finding companies ready to discount the fare or package because they need to get it re-booked ASAP.

Searching for Last Minute Travel Deals

As you might expect, searching online is the best place to find last minute travel deals. Websites such as LastMinuteTravel.com, CheapTickets.com, VacationsToGo.com, CruisesOnly.com, and FareCompare.com are known for their great last minute travel discounts. Many times if you book your flight, along with hotel, car rental, or all-inclusive vacation packages, you can save hundreds of dollars.

Comparing the Best Deals

If you are concerned about getting the best deal at the last minute, one of the features most of these sites have is the ability to compare prices all in one place. You simply type in where you want to go, and the site will give quotes from several different places offering deals. You then read through what the whole package is, compare taxes and fees, and see which one is the best choice for your Spring Break getaway.

These sites are going to try to sweeten the pot for you, offering packages that are very appealing. Sort through these offers and you’ll be able to customize the vacation package that best suits your needs.

Subscribe to Newsletters and Email Alerts

Oftentimes, these travel sites will have newsletters or email lists you can join. They will send you weekly emails of all of the deals they have going on. If you see something you like, you log onto the site and check it out. This is often one of the best ways to find last minute travel deals because the alerts come to you, rather than your having to think to check every day.

If you decide to take advantage of this service from several websites, it’s a good idea to set up a separate email for yourself (some people call this a “burner email”). That way, your regular email won’t get cluttered with newsletters and alerts, and you can keep track of them easier.

Remember, too, that these last minute deals can be very exciting and lucrative, but only if you are prepared. This sort of vacation planning is not for the timid or hesitant. Have your money and passport ready, or be ready to be disappointed as deal after deal slips by. Like I said, this sort of vacation planning is not for everyone; it is only for those who are flexible and prepared.

Don’t Forget Your Local Travel Agent

Nowadays, travel agents rarely make simple flight reservations. They are much more likely to be privy to great package deals waiting to find the right traveler These deals for last minute flights and hotel bookings are very often not advertised, and you will only know about them if you go in and talk to a travel agent in person. It’s possible that a travel agent could have a group already booked for your vacation destination and there could be a few more tickets available at a great rate.

How flexible are your travel plans? If you know you can travel during a certain period of time, and at short notice, you may be in the perfect position to take advantage of great last minute travel deals. Get your money, your passport, and your luggage out of the closet… your dream vacation awaits, and at a lot less cost than you might expect!

Creating a Budget For Family Vacations

by bmadmin

When you want to plan a vacation with your family, there are many things to consider. While you still need take care of your day-to-day living expenses, you also need to think of ways to put a little money aside every month for your trip. This can be challenging, especially if you do not have a monthly budget or a plan for saving that you can easily follow.

Start a Savings Plan Now

If you live on a tight monthly budget, it makes sense to plan ahead as far as possible. It’s so much easier to put $20 in savings every week for fifty weeks than it is to come up with $1000 at one time for your vacation.

Start saving vacation money immediately! Divide the cost of your vacation by the number of weeks you have left until you want to leave, then put that money aside each week. You now have a vacation budget and a time-line that works for saving the amount of money you will need.

Save Money by Booking Well Ahead

Many online travel websites offer package discounts and have the cheapest deals well in advance. Saving even a few hundred dollars can make a big difference in your vacation budget. Some websites will even price match if you find a lower price after you book your trip.

Consider opting for the cancellation insurance in case something happens and you need to cancel your trip. Make sure to read the fine print so you’ll know about any penalties or fees. When in doubt, ask beforehand so you aren’t met with an unpleasant surprises if you have to cancel or change plans.

Shop for the Necessities Before You Leave

Another way to stick to your travel budget is to bring the necessities with you. Although you can certainly buy sunscreen, Tylenol, sunglasses, beach hats, and other travel items, many of the stores in tourist areas have higher prices because, well, they can. Review your necessities and see what you can bring cheaply and what you are better off buying there.

Souvenirs are a fun reminders of your trip. Set aside some money for souvenirs in your vacation budget. Consider souvenirs that have dual purposes, like tote bags, polo shirts, and hats; something you may need anyway, but it happens to have a local info on it.

Choose Meals Wisely

While it is necessary to eat when on vacation, there are ways that you can keep your expenses down. Check on all-inclusive packages that include food and drinks, especially if food and drink are a big part of your plans.

Breakfast, drinks, and snack foods are most economical when kept in the room. Stock your refrigerator and you’ll save a lot of money.

Choose your dining experiences wisely. If you make smart breakfast and snack decisions, you’ll save enough money to enjoy great local restaurants for lunch and dinner. After all, one of the best aspects of a vacation is going somewhere else and experiencing the food and culture.

Research the Area

Developing a vacation budget, and sticking to it, can be easily done if you take the time to research the details, like the price of local events, restaurants, and other costs before you go. Don’t forget the small charges like tolls, taxis, parking fees, and tips. These all add up when trying to stick to a vacation budget.

Once you leave for your vacation, try to stay within the budget as much as possible. If you decide to spend a little more money in one place, don’t let it ruin your budget. Plan to take the money from somewhere else. Your budget doesn’t have to be set in stone. After all, you’ll probably find things to do that you didn’t know about. You can even plan a ‘surprise fun’ budget amount for that very purpose.

A vacation should be fun, so plan as best as you can, try to stay within your plan, and have a great time!

Discover Vacation Destinations Right In Your Backyard

by I Am Benchmark

Going on a vacation doesn’t have to mean driving for hours and hours or flying to a far away place. Sometimes such an elaborate vacation isn’t in the budget, and sometimes you just need a few days to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul.

Planning short getaways within driving distance of home may be just the ticket. Close vacations are easier on the wallet and, truthfully, easier on the nerves. Planning and executing long, involved travel plans are taxing, leaving you less relaxed than you intended. Finding places nearby takes a bit of creativity, but can be well worth the effort.

Think Like a Tourist

The last time you had family come from out of town, I’ll bet you found new things to do and fun places to see. Residents often overlook some of our areas unique attractions until we have ‘tourists’ to entertain.

Start by visiting those places you’re always telling your out-of-town friends about. If you have scenic beaches, picturesque mountain views, walking trails, museums, or anything else you’ve always wanted to do, go see them for yourself. Whether it’s a day trip, or a weekend, make your plans early so you can take full advantage of your trip.

Gather Brochures

Most cities print local ‘what to do’ magazines or fliers that are available in grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, or the Chamber of Commerce. Grab a handful and start browsing. Don’t be too selective at this point, just grab them. Those racks and racks of brochures are there to entice visitors to our area, so be enticed! Give each one some consideration. Hotels are another great source for tourist brochures.

Go Online

Google is an amazing tool. Search “things to do in CITY” or “tourist attractions CITY”. Search for state or national parks for a fun day trip. Look up Facebook events, meetup.com, or eventbrite.com for public events you may want to attend. Local radio stations tend to play commercials for events and concerts too.

Tons of Fun in Our Backyard

Water parks, amusement parks, and other big attractions can often be found within an hour or so of most cities. You may likely find that these areas cater to the ‘park going crowd’ and offer discounts at hotels.

The added bonus in going to a city that has a big water park or amusement park is that they often have more attractions. Affordable lodging, meals, and memorable experiences is the name of the game. Plan your local adventure for the ‘slightly off season’ and your experience will be less hectic than at the busy times.

Learn and Laugh Staycation

Having a learning vacation close to home could be an adventure with a little research. You may be able to visit a ranch, a zoo, a farm, a winery, a tree nursery, a crafting colony, or even a chocolate factory. There are lots of local businesses that would love to have your support.

Wouldn’t it be breathtaking to watch your kids help feed a newborn foal? A trip to a working farm could teach everyone how to milk cows, collect eggs, or make butter. Perhaps you could plant the next season of Christmas trees, or create soy wax candles, or learn how to make cake from scratch. Many factories, farms, and artist colonies offer free tours, requesting only a donation.

Change It Up

A vacation is merely a change of scenery from the usual, a time to do something fun and interesting. Chances are there are many places around town that you have never been to. You may have driven past these places and even suggested them to friends. Now is the time to experience the area like a visitor. Go ahead and plan a day or two creating experiences for your family in places not so far from home.

4 Tips To Go Camping With Your Family On A Shoestring Budget

by bmadmin

Camping vacations have been a popular choice for families for many years. Family budgets are often tight, so camping is sometimes the only affordable means to get away on vacation for a reasonable amount of money. However, it is still not free.

If you have a limited vacation budget, but you would still like to take the family on a nice camping trip, there are several ways to cut costs.

Borrow From Friends or Family

If you have friends and family who like to go camping a lot, chances are you can borrow some of their items for your trip. Unless you go camping all the time, there really is little reason to buy a lot of camping equipment. Most people are more than willing to loan their camping stuff so it gets used regularly, keeping it from molding or rusting.

Take advantage of the generosity of your camping relatives and friends by borrowing things like canteens, water jugs, camp stoves, lanterns, coolers, coffee maker, griddle, heater, and even camping dishes and cutlery. Of course, you’ll want to borrow the tents, as well as sleeping mattresses and sleeping bags, if possible. However, for a small investment, you can buy your own sleeping bags, pillows, and extra bedding just so you have your own personal items.

Buy Second Hand Items

Walk into any quality second hand store and you’ll find piles of gently used camping equipment. That’s because there are always people who make the mistake of thinking they’re going to devote their vacation time to the camping experience, buy all new equipment, and find out they should have borrowed or bought second hand before they splurged. With that said, you can take advantage of these hasty decisions by buying camping gear for next to nothing.

Visit yard sales and flea markets, too, for gear that is practically free for the asking. Tents may need to be aired out and scrubbed well, but a little elbow-grease goes a long way toward the cost of a brand new tent. Used sleeping bags may not be as appealing as other equipment, but consider buying used sleeping bags for extra padding underneath your air mattresses, or for sitting around the campfire. A little diluted bleach goes a long way to sprucing up, freshening up, and getting the mold and mildew out of used gear.

Find Gear and Campsite Deals Online

Not only can you find specialized second hand camping sites like The Outdoor Gear Exchange or Outdoor Online, you can also hit up the classifieds like Craigslist, FreeSell, and Kijiji for some great local deals. Keep in mind that shopping online can involve shipping if you are not shopping locally. Do the math before you make your decision.

Of course, besides the camping gear and supplies, you’ll need to plan out where you will be staying. Your shoestring vacation budget might not allow for a trip to Yosemite, but you can find many fine parks that offer great deals right along with their magnificent vistas.

Search county, state, and national park websites to find campsites near you, as well as any special deals. Many of these parks offer free camping promotions once each year. You’ll find campgrounds that offer shower facilities, boating equipment, fishing, and even classes in snorkeling or other summer sports.

You might want to visit sites like Boondocking.org or FreeCampsites.net and others like them that give you resources for finding places to camp free. Campers also love to share their favorite finds in websites and forums. Search around the internet and start clicking on interesting looking sites, but always check the authenticity of a free campsite by calling the local tourist bureau.

Plan Your Camp Cuisine

As far as food choices go, camping calls for easy meals, but there is a wide variety of food to consider. Stocking coolers with sandwiches, fruit, and drinks may be your idea of the perfect camping experience. Or, you may want to have the makings ready so you can throw together a nice meal.

Your decision may depend on the equipment and cooking setup you have available. If you are using a camp stove, you can make just about anything you want as long as it can be cooked in a pot or skillet. Of course, the size of the stove and the amount of propane will limit your menu, but just be creative. You can make everything from soup to fried potatoes to hamburgers and steak on a camp stove, so long as you bring the necessary pots and pans.

Then there are the campfires and grills. If you are fortunate enough to have a campsite with either, or both, your cooking experience could include a whole repertoire of goodies. It will all depend on how much time you want to spend cooking, and the availability of food. Planning ahead is the key to success.

Cleaning up may not be easy, so that may help determine the types of meals you make. To avoid a mess, try making all-in-one meals in heavy duty foil for the grill. A foil bundle hot off the grill filled with potatoes, ham, and onions is a nice treat after a busy day hiking or boating. Kids always enjoy hotdogs over a campfire. Plan each meal in advance and you won’t go wrong.

And, don’t forget dessert! Marshmallows roasted over an open fire are a delight for all ages, and they are extremely cheap. Expand on that theme with something as simple as graham crackers and chocolate bars and you have the perfect camping dessert – S’mores. Who needs a fancy dessert cart?

Taking the family camping is a learning experience. Each year, you’ll figure out how to do things better, and cheaper. Start small, and if it turns out you are in love with ‘roughing it’ then go ahead and branch out. Keep the frugal camping basics in mind, and enjoy the great outdoors.