Lets make this work!!

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So, even though I said I had some time, unfortunately, there is no such thing!! I have gone back on words from the moment they were typed. I am finding it hard to find time to blog, finding it hard to find content worthy of reading. Furthermore, I am so consumed by all I deal with, we don’t go out and enjoy the new area to blog about, worse it’s coming on to winter where most people become hermits.

It’s going to be our first Halloween here at our new place and I don’t know what to expect. There is just a handful of us that decorated for the occasion. I asked a few neighbors if they celebrate Halloween, “not really, just a few kids come about”, “I always take my child over by my sister and they go out over there”, “most of the kids stay down on the other side”, OMG!!! I do not want to hear that, I want to hear we are a community and enjoy seeing the kids come out all dressed up.

So I looked up what to do Halloween-wise (I know I am late) and found this place Watt World of Halloween Horrors, it sounds fun and family event. I’ll be taking the kiddos this evening, so I’ll let you’ll know how it turned out.

SS

Follow-up: We went to the Watt World of Halloween, we all loved it. It’s a drive-through decoration and lighting spectacular. You pay $5.00 per carload. The only bad thing about when we went was it rained. It would have been better without it so you have your windows down and enjoy it more. Also, you have to go through twice to get the full enjoyment – once around you view only one side and then the other time around the other side.

How can a very private person blog?

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Four years ago, I started a blog to post about places within the five boroughs where you can take your kids to have some fun, either free or at a low cost. Living in Brooklyn, you are always cramped in a small apartment, so finding places to take the kiddos to run wild was a no brainer. But, I could not bring myself to post any personal details. When I would read other bloggers post, they would include little intimate details about themselves and their families; I always have a writer’s block when I tried to write. How can I blog? How can I write about activities my kids are involved in? Over time my kids lost interest in any physical activities. How can I write about the difficulties I have with my kids and lack of involvement in other activities, when the blog was based on them? There were so many questions and no answers. Starting out not knowing anything about blogging was really hard, so the best option was to quit. Was it a great idea? Then- yes. Now- no; because you don’t want to be a quitter or known for quitting.

Fast forward. We move to the suburbs of upstate NY and another kiddo later, I decided since I have some free time (theoretically) I’ll start blogging “again” (as if I’d started before). So bear with me while I learn the nuances of blogging. My hopes for the future of blogging are: be able to post at least once per week, grow my followers/audience, help others whether through educating or exposure, have a earning potential, and greatest of all, forming lifelong friendships. I am in it this time for the long haul.

Have a wonderful day!! SS

Staycation Ideas

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The summer holidays are approaching and the kids will be out of school soon.  What are your plans for them and the summer?

I have done some research on how the kids can enjoy their summer break on a budget (your budget), otherwise known as ‘staycation’. For those of us planning to do a staycation the time to start planning is now!!

Here are some ideas I came up with:

1. Visit your local museums- I know some have been to them on more than one occasion (school trips), but have you been there as a family? Whatever your interests are, there is a lot to see and do at specialized museums (arts, history, etc), the zoos and gardens. My youngest begging me already to take them to Children Museum of Arts over the summer break. They just love it there.

2. Go to the beach or the pool- The kids will love this and its a time for you relax. There a number of community pools around, check to see their availabilities and rules. Also, the Far Rockaway beach is just a train ride or few minutes drive away. Remember your sunscreen.

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3. Bike ride/Hiking- We did one the other day up my Highland Park. It was refreshing and vitalizing, even though the kiddos were hot and tired they pushed through.

4. Theaters- Can be Broadway or the movies -to catch up on the new releases and not so new releases. broadway

5. See a show- There are numerous ‘free’  or minimal cost shows by CityPark Summerstage. In conjunction with the point above CityPark offers movies in various parks throughout the boroughs.

6. Take a little cruise- There are some ‘same-day’ cruises around the city- sightseeing or dinner cruise. There are daily trips to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island– so the fun can also be educational.

7. Take up a sport/hobby- Again, CityPark Foundation has ‘free’ sporting events happening over the summer break throughout the boroughs. Also, there are some clubs that are offering summer sporting activities.

8. Summer Camp- Probably too late to apply for camps, but you can still try.

9. Go see a game- There are many games going on or training camps, whether it be baseball, soccer, football, tennis (2018 US Open) etc. Go sit back and have some fun.

10. Play golf- Well, mini-golf. Take the kids out to have some fun you don’t have to be an avid golfer.

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11. Spend time together- Play some board games, card games, do some BBQs, talk, reminisce, build on your relationships and make memories.

You save a lot with a staycation. You don’t have airfare, lodging or rentals cost. You would have to pay extras for attractions on your vacation anyways. These ideas might seem like its nothing, but if your children have long school days like mine do; we don’t get to do much of anything during school time so this will be a lot of catching up for us.

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