Staycation: Lifestyle vs. Novelty

Written by Jennifer Mullen of Coffee with Jen

As I flip through my friends’ Instagram pictures and see all their grand adventures to Disney or the beach, I find a little bit of jealousy rising within me. Until I hear their horror stories that is! One friend said her entire family got the flu while they were at Disney.  Another got stuck in traffic for hours and, to further complicate things, her daughter threw up everywhere. Another friend lost their luggage. Granted there can be great bonding on trips when great tribulations occur. But let’s face it, who really wants the Griswold experience?

When my husband and I took the plunge into being a single-income family, we knew there would be areas of sacrifice. Grand vacations simply have not been in the budget. Fortunately, we live in a beautiful place and are honestly never without entertainment. For us staycation is not a novelty; it is lifestyle.

 Our kids look forward to every weekend because it usually means another adventure. We have trained them to expect it. From the time it warms up in the spring until the coolest of the autumn days set in, we spend all of our free time exploring Northwest Arkansas. You can follow our day trip adventures here.

One of my daughter's first day trips to Eureka Springs, AR. She is now six-years-old and knows Eureka like the back of her hand.

One of my daughter’s first day trips to Eureka Springs, AR. She is now six-years-old and knows Eureka like the back of her hand.

My two biggest tips for planning a day trip are: have low expectations and focus on just being together. Really the point is to enjoy spending time with one another. These years are so short. Soon enough they are going to be playing on a sports team or involved in school activities that are not conducive to this lifestyle. Don’t miss out on all the little moments just because you can’t afford a big vacation.

Exploring Historic Downtown Siloam Springs on a surrey with the fringe on top!
Exploring Historic Downtown Siloam Springs on a surrey with the fringe on top!

Often my friends ask me where we get our ideas for day trips. Here are a few simple suggestions for planning a staycation of your own:

  1. Visit local downtown districts – Go spend the entire day walking around the various towns. Start in one shop and begin to ask around for restaurants, parks, coffee shops, book stores, etc. Learn about the history. It is fun to discover new places together.
  2. Visit museums – Of course we are blessed with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art which we frequent, but there are many other smaller museums in our area to visit. Go to your city’s local historical museum. In today’s transient society, it is so important for our children to learn the history of their local communities and the generations of families that helped build them.
  3. Experience Nature – I grew up in the country three miles down a dirt road in a town of 600. My children have grown up in the middle of a city in a crowded neighborhood. I want them to experience nature like I did. We love going on the regional walking trails, to the lake, or to state parks. The opportunities are vast; especially in Arkansas!
  4. Get on the local festival circuit – Every little town has a festival of some sort; whether it be a monthly city square gathering or a yearly celebration. These festivals are so much fun. We have picked out our favorites and put them on our yearly calendar.

So, what about you? Do you have any recommendations for us to add to our toolbox? I would love to hear your ideas for staycations.

Photo credit: cavalier-photography.com
Photo credit: cavalier-photography.com

Jennifer, a native Arkansan, is a fun-loving, stay-at-home mom who might be slightly addicted to caffeine. On Coffee With Jen, she blogs about her family’s frequent weekend adventures among other topics ranging from faith, home organization, and family fun. You can also find her on the Women Living in Faith podcast where she and Gretchen Speer discuss topics of faith to encourage women in their walk with the LORD. You can follow her on Twitter: @coffeewithjen and facebook.com/coffeewithjen.

Picnic Date at Crystal Bridges {Wordless Wednesday}

By Sarah of Sarah Shott’s Storytelling

Crystal Bridges

Sarah HeadshotSarah Shotts is a wedding photographer & filmmaker at Sarah Shott’s Storytelling. She moved to Arkansas last summer after marrying her own true love and is quickly falling in love with the area. When she’s not telling wedding stories she enjoys documenting slices of her own life over on her blog. After studying abroad in Mexico and London she acquired a taste for adventure and is excited to explore her new home state. You can keep in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Google+.

It’s Time to Vote for the Best

 

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It’s Election Day in Arkansas.  Hopefully, you’ve already taken advantage of Early Voting and cast your ballot for the best  Arkansas candidate.  If not, why not hop on over to your polling place and do that right now.  What an important freedom we have to participate in the electoral process.

You may be as tired as I am of all of the campaign ads (which, of course, will be with us through November anyway), the political flyers and events, and the robocalls.  Hubby just told me that I was wasting my time trying to carry  on a conversation  with the robocall guys.  But I figure if they can get all personal asking me how I’m going to vote, then I should return the favor and ask about whether or not they have on clean underwear and all.  My momma would be so proud of me for that.

 

In addition to voting for your public officials, it’s also time to enter your the Arkansas Times “Best of Arkansas” vote, and I seriously hope you will take a moment from your day to go do that.  The voting ends on June 23.

While you’re there, could you take an extra minute or two to locate the Best Blog category?  Keep moving on through the pages.  I promise it will eventually show up.  Your vote for ArkansasWomenBloggers.com would be lovingly appreciatedSmile.  Or, any of our #ARWB member blogs if you are otherwise inclined.

I promise. (Don’t most politicians do that?) There will NOT be any campaign materials sent to you through the mail.  Nor will you receive yet another robocall.  Actually, I won’t even friendly call you.  Sorry.  You don’t have the time for that, and I probably don’t either.  Retirement does have a way of keeping me busy.

Anyway, it’s probably raining again today so you can’t get outside to lounge around the pool or plant zinnias or marigolds in the garden.  While away your time by filling in at least 10 of the voting categories on the “Best of Arkansas” form (online or in print)…it will at least be an interesting read.

Thanks a bunch.

Debbie Arnold

DiningWithDebbie.net
@diningwithdeb
ArkansasWomenBloggers.com
@arwomenbloggers
DiningWithDebbieBlog@gmail.com

Decorate With Maps During Your Staycation {Blogger of the Month}

 By Miss June 2014, Laurie Marshall of Junque Rethunque and See Laurie Write

Summer is here, and many of you may be planning memorable vacations, but I’m betting a whole bunch of you are desperately trying to think of ways to keep kids busy over the next couple of months without the help of Mickey & Minnie or a white-sand beach. I have gathered a few project ideas that use road maps and atlases that I hope will appeal to all of you!

Old road maps and atlases are something of an addiction for me, and I had begun to amass a pretty substantial collection when I realized that I was going to have to find a way to use them if I was going to avoid the “hoarder” label. There’s just something kind of lovely about the dream of travel that is evoked by a map, or the way that maps change with the times… cities appear and disappear, roads are paved, lakes are formed where once there were only rolling hills. If I see them, I usually buy them.

Collection of Maps

The first thing I did with my stash was cover a wall in my entryway. I had seen similar projects online, but those required pasting the maps to the walls. I didn’t want to lose them completely, and wanted to be able to remove them easily if I redecorated or moved, so I simply used thumbtacks. (I may also be way too impatient to deal with the pasting part…)

Wall of Maps

Once they were up, we marked cities we have visited with colored tacks. You can use maps of states or cities you visit often and let the kids help locate grandma’s house or your favorite park or campsite. You could use thumbtacks of one color for places you’ve been and another for places you want to go. Aside from being fun to look at, map walls can teach kids about cardinal direction and measuring distance, and provide reading practice.

If you have taken some memorable trips you can also use maps to create one-of-a-kind photo frames to keep those memories on your desk or bookshelf. These would also be sweet gifts for newlyweds planning a destination wedding, or your favorite high school graduate headed off to college.

Picture Frames

For this project I love the look and feel of old maps, but newer ones are often easier to find in decent shape. Thrift stores are my favorite source for picture frames. I buy frames that are completely flat on the front – the more space around the frame, the better (more space = more map). You can paint the frame or not.

Remove the glass and backing and lay the frame face down on the map. Adjust it carefully to be sure that the cities or landmarks you want to see on the frame are not in the space that will be cut out over the photo. Lightly trace the edges of the frame with a pencil and double check the location when you lift the frame. Cut out the part of the map that will go on the frame, and use a craft knife to trim the center out where the photo will be.

Frame on Map 2

Using a craft glue like Mod Podge, brush a thin coat on the surface of the frame and on the back of your cut out map. Lay the map on the frame, taking care to check orientation of your frame so you don’t glue the map on upside down. Gently flatten the map onto the surface of the frame using a cloth. If you get a crease you can’t get rid of, just rub it down until it’s flattened out, it will create an interesting texture in the end.

Let the glue dry for 30 minutes or so, then lightly sand the frame and the surface of the map with fine sandpaper. This will create a little distressing that will make a newer map look worn, and helps you trim any uneven edges of the map on the frame. Once you’ve sanded it to the look you want, brush another coat (or two) of glue over the top and edges of the frame to seal it.

For more ideas for using maps during your Staycation this summer, check out my All the Maps! Pinterest board. Have fun – and be sure to share pictures of the projects you create!

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!” — Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Keisha Pittman: Manhunt Menu {Foodie Friday}

By Keisha Pittman of Big Pitt Stop

keisha Collage

I’ve always heard it said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  But, I’m convinced that not just any meal will do. 

As a single gal one thing I’m thankful I snagged from my mama is her cooking skills.  (I guess it doesn’t hurt that I look just like her too!)

But, I’m pretty sure if I knew my house were burning down, there are about 3 things I’d quickly grab and the typed collection of my mama’s recipes are at the top of that list. 

See, at our house, food was the way you told someone you loved them.  Whether it was a German Chocolate pie when my dad got a promotion at work or a pasta dinner to carb load the night before my sister’s big soccer game, she always came through with just the right meal. 

So, one can only assume then that if one were on a manhunt, then one would prepare a meal. **hypothetically of course! **

I recently found myself walking into my Sunday night bible study with what I thought was a perfectly prepared offering for the dinner menu that had been posted on our Facebook page.  What I quickly found out was I was the only one who showed up with a 9 x13.  Everything else was in its original grocery store container and displayed perfectly for our smorgasbord buffet.  Much to my amusement the new guy in the group was standing closest to the delectable delight I had hauled across town in my carriage which was protecting the dessert I had just removed from the oven moments before I left the house. 

“What’s wrong with these people?” was my first thought.  But I quickly learned that girls my age don’t really do much home cookin’. (Which surely has to give me the upper edge?)  So, I’ll keep showing up with homemade desserts and hope at some point it will overcome all my other faults. 

The way I see it, I have two options: show up with a homemade layer cake or bat my eyelashes and twirl my hair.  Since my lashes are stubs and I’m not one for putting up fronts, I’m gonna stick to mama’s recipes.  They worked for my daddy and he’s a pretty cool dude.

So, today I’m sharing with you Dirt Dessert – the last menu item I made and carried to a man’s house to finish off the menu, just the way my mama fixes it on a summer afternoon while dad’s mowing the yard!  After all, everybody needs a treat for dinner.

Dirt Dessert
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Ingredients
  1. 1 package chocolate sandwich cookies
  2. 3 cups milk
  3. 2 3.5-ounce packages instant chocolate puddling
  4. 8 ounces cream cheese
  5. 1 cup powdered sugar
  6. Dash vanilla extract
  7. 1 tub frozen whipped topping
  8. Gummy worms, optional
Instructions
  1. Mixthe pudding and milk in bowl and set aside. The pudddig will thicken while you prepare the other ingredients.
  2. Crush the cookies in food processor (If you don’t have a food processor, put them in a gallon Zip loc bag and crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet – you know the tools you’ll use to chase him when he’s your husband later!)
  3. Beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
  4. Add in vanilla and mix thoroughly.
  5. Fold in ½ of the tub frozen whipped topping.
  6. Reserve ½ cup of cookie crumbs; spread the remainder of the crumbs across the bottom of 9x13 baking dish.
  7. Top with the cream cheese mixture and spread evenly.
  8. Cover cream cheese mixture with pudding, spreading evenly to edges. Cover top with remaining frozen whipped topping and sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
Notes
  1. I’m not a fan of the worms. I just don’t feel like grown men are into gummy worms, but if you’re making this for kiddos or another occasion, feel free to make it a little more “fun” and add your own gummy creepy treats! And of course, it’s always better when served in a container where you can see all the pretty layers – to make the layers, split the cream cheese and pudding layers in half and save a few cookies for in between.
Arkansas Women Bloggers https://arkansaswomenbloggers.com/
 While I’ve still not snagged the man, I’m going to guess it has nothing to do with the menu.  The right one just hasn’t eaten any of my treats yet!

 

Keisha headshot Keisha Pittman is learning to dance in the rain and glory in the rainbows. She started a blog, bigpittstop.blogspot.com, to tell the story of her walk through cancer. Five years later, she’s kicked cancer’s butt, and learned to navigate life a little differently. A self-proclaimed nerd, there’s nothing she won’t try, no side road she won’t take and no recipe she won’t improve. Lucky for us, she likes to talk about her adventures with a healthy dose of self-deprecation humor, and always looks for the good in every situation and person.  Come follow along.

Blog – bigpittstop
Twitter – @bigpittstop
Instagram – bigpittstop
Pinterest – Keisha Pittman or bigpittstop
Facebook – bigpittstop-new journey, new normal, new adventure

 

Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs {Staycation}

Written by Alicia Dowell

Summer is here and kids are out of school. It is no doubt soon, if you haven’t heard already, “What are we going to do this summer?” I dread this question. It is hard for us to take a vacation since Hubby works in the air conditioning business. So instead, we do little “staycations” throughout the summer. One of our favorite places to enjoy, which mixes in a little education (don’t tell the kids), is Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs.

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One of the new exhibit which opened over Memorial Day weekend and going until August 10 is Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and other Riches. This is great because there is so much hands-on for kids. There is even a place where you get to stick your hands in the “muck.”

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How cool is this?? I will admit we played for quite a long time in the “muck.” And just in case you don’t feel up to playing, then just take a look around. Building?? Got you covered. They have a permanant exhibit of blocks from this company called Keva Blocks. Best part: they are made in America! IF you don’t want to be cooped up inside you can take a break and walk the nature trail they have there which goes over a bridge. The trail is not that long but it does end up at the snack bar so you can grab a bite. Don’t foget the giftshop. My little explorer found her summer fun, which begins with a hat.

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Go check out what our state has to offer with a staycation of your own.

imageI am a mother to a southern lady who keeps me on my toes. Wife to a my wonderful husband of eight years and counting. You can find me crafting, reading, gardening or exploring Arkansas. Blog
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Hot Springs Staycation {Wordless Wednesday}

By Katharine of Home’s Cool! and The Conquering Mom

Hot Springs

Hot Springs

Hot Springs

Hot Springs

Katharine Trauger Headshot Katharine Trauger is a retired educator and a women’s counselor. She and her husband spent 25 years running a home and school for children who would otherwise have been homeless. She has worked 15 years as contributor and/or columnist for several small professional magazines, with over 60 published articles. She blogs about the rising popularity of being at home from a sun room on a wooded hilltop in the Deep South at: Home’s Cool! and The Conquering Mom, and tweets at @KathaTrau. She is currently working on a self-help book entitled: Yes, It Hurts, But . .

Miss June – Laurie Marshall

imageWhen I was asked to lend my words to the Arkansas Women Bloggers website as the June Blogger of the Month, I was shocked. I mean, the ARWB is chock-full of amazing women who write amazing words. And, lately, they are doing it way more often than I do. I have given myself the excuse that my personal blogs have had to take the backseat as I use up all my words on the work I do for my freelance projects.

Yes, apparently, I can run out of words. Many people would find this difficult to believe…

So, even though I accepted the challenge, I felt like a bit of a sham. Then sweet Paige of the blog Approaching Joy inspired me to give myself a break when she posted this on Facebook:

“Just a quick shout out to all the ladies out there doing good things in the world and not getting much blogging done in the process – you are still a blogger because you still understand the awesomeness that comes with sharing your story with the world… however frequently (or not) that may be.”

Just in time! What a relief! Now that that’s settled…

Like many of you, I grew up documenting my life in diaries and journals. It should have been obvious early on that I was a writer… but it somehow never occurred to me. When I was in my late 30s, I was divorced with two children and a mortgage, and needed to complete the degree I’d been chipping away at for years in order to be considered for higher-paying jobs. I asked my adviser to review my credits and tell me what degree plan I was closest to completing. Although my dream was to star in Stephen Sondheim musicals on Broadway, it was probably a good thing the answer was “English”.

For the next two years I enjoyed my creative writing classes, and was fortunate to be taught by some of the best professors in the program, but I still wasn’t thinking of writing as a career. Then, I took a class called The Art of the Personal Essay, and the world shifted on its axis.

I graduated from the UA in 2007, started my first blog, andeventually got a job at a nonprofit organization writing their weekly blog and other communication and fundraising pieces. Then, last year I started working for myself as a freelance writer.

Now that I have figured out I can make a career out of writing, I find it a little difficult to focus. I want to WRITE ALL THE WORDS!! I write two blogs, one focused on my repurposing and vintage collecting hobby, and the other… well, that’s where I write about pretty much everything else. I also write for magazines, a small community publication, and blogs that request content from the ARWB. I look forward to seeing what the next year (or ten) has in store for me, and I hope I can entertain you as you follow along. But for now, we’ll just start with June…

Here are some places to read some of my words and look at some of my photos (also, you’ll see I have two distinct personas online… just to keep things confusing interesting):

Facebook –See Laurie Write
Junque Rethunque

Twitter – @LaurieMMarshall
Junque Rethunque

Instagram – See Laurie Write
Junque Rethunque

Google+ – Laurie M. Marshall