Category Archives: Relaxation

Relax and Enjoy “Me Time” This Fall with a $500 SpaFinder #Giveaway

Disclosure

When summer transitions into fall, which my daughter informed me officially happened Sunday the 22nd, I can almost feel my heart rate slow down and nerves relax.   The cooler, crisper weather has that effect on me.   Don’t get me wrong, I do not have a desire to live any more north than Georgia.. ever.   I’m not trying to freeze myself.   I have no problem admitting that I tend to be a rather uptight person.  Between running my business from home, keeping house, getting the kids to and from everywhere, helping with homework, taking care of myself, making sure the kids bathe and eat, and breathing, I get a little overwhelmed sometimes.

When my first child was about 2 years old, I learned that “me time” was necessary and made me a better mom.  While the first 10 minutes of “me time” didn’t always feel great because I felt so guilty for leaving my son so that I could have ‘me time’, it was the ensuing 50 minutes that changed my mood and my behavior towards myself and my family for the better.

Fast forward 12 years, 1 more child, 11 years of business growth, and general aging, – I barely remember what “me time” feels like.  That’s why I’ve vowed to take ‘me time’ this Fall and this is how I’m going to do it!

How to relax this fall

How I Plan to Relax this Fall

  1. Beautify my flower gardens
  2. Get a massage and pedicure
  3. Read
  4. Play with the kids in the backyard
  5. Work outside – business work.. work on the computer.. you get what I mean

Coupons.com can you help find ways to relax this fall. You can find savings now on SpaFinder gift cards!  Make sure to check out Coupons.com’s SpaFinder coupons before scheduling your Spa visit!

Did you know that Coupons.com, founded in 1998, is the 42nd largest website in the U.S.?  They are well equipped and ready to share coupons for every type of service you could need!

How do you plan to relax this fall?


Win A $500 Gift Card!

I am excited to partner with Coupons.com and the bloggers listed below to offer one lucky reader $500 SpaFinder e-Gift Card! You could win $500 to relax to your heart’s content this fall!

Participating Bloggers

Jolly Mom
The Divine Miss Mommy
Dear Crissy
Simply Stacie
In the Kitchen with KP
The Shopping Mama
The Not So Blog
The Mommy Insider
Go Graham Go
Atlanta Green Mom

We are offering many ways to enter! One winner will be chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Relax and Getaway with a Day at the Winery

Winery for parentsWe often forget to take time for ourselves. We go about our busy schedules, take care of everything and everyone else and usually end the day exhausted.  With the price of gasoline being so expensive we’ve even begun to limit “family vacations” and “Staycations” are the new wave; often traveling short distances or staying in town to take in the adventures our own hometowns offer.  I’m not so sure these are really bad options because so often in life we miss what’s in our own backyard to take off and enjoy the yard of someone else.

What many of we parents rarely do is get away together, alone. Face it, no matter what age your kids are they’re going to be a bit of a “problem” if you want to get away.  Overnight stays are often not an option, even with teenagers who can stay at home by themselves (yes, I see the cringe in every parent of a teen happening with those words) because you just don’t feel comfortable.

parents visiting wineriesWe have to remember that part of what brought you together as a couple, whether you are married, dating, living together, or whatever the circumstances, it all began when you spent time alone.  These were the times that allowed you to talk about anything and everything.  Laugh about moments in life.  Create memories and make plans for the future.  Well all of those things are still important to a relationship and it’s time to bring them back as a part of your life.  A wine tasting getaway is the perfect answer.

 

biking at wineries

Who says you have to spend a whole week, weekend or even a night away to rekindle those feelings and reacquaint yourselves with the person you fell in love with?  There is nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than a getaway, spent browsing the local wineries and tasting the many flavors the area has to offer.  Many wineries offer small cafes or even full scale restaurants for when you want to take some time to grab a bite to eat in between wine tasting.  There’s nothing more economical than a wine tasting vacation either!  Your biggest costs are gas money, although many couples that live fairly close to the wineries are now going on biking tours that take them to different wineries, and whatever you choose to spend either picking up a bottle or two of your favorites or purchasing food.

picnic at wineryKeep costs at a real minimum and buy a bottle of your favorite vintage and pack a nice picnic basket to enjoy your bottle with mid-day or early evening. Don’t forget to pack the cork opener!  A long loaf of French bread, some various cheeses, fresh fruits, and meats with a cold pack and a bottle of wine you’ve found at your favorite winery can create not only a wonderful and relaxing afternoon for you and your sweetheart but an inexpensive way to enjoy each others’ company with a bit of romance.

Sometimes it’s fun to go with another couple so you can share the laughter and even split the cost of two different types of wines to drink during your picnic.  A camera takes shots of the beautiful vineyards and romantic shots of the two of you enjoying some down time and getting away from the every day craziness of life.  With two couples it also saves on gasoline time and gives you someone to share stories with and laughter.  But it’s never a bad thing to spend time alone with your love either.

wine country toursCheck out the local wineries and see what packages they may offer. If you do find that you can get away for a weekend there’s nothing more romantic than spending it talking over a glass of local wine and getting a special discount rate on everything from a nearby hotel room to discounts on dinner packages that go with the wine tours.  You can choose group tours or choose to go by yourselves and do your own thing; each has its positives and negatives about the choice.  Going on an arranged tour with others will probably give you a much more informative adventure and often some behind the scenes tours of how the wines are made.  Taking the day and spending the day as a getaway visiting the wineries on your own gives you the option to pick and choose how long you spend at each winery and sometimes you can get tours simply by asking also.

Winery getaways can be one of the most romantic ways to get back in touch with the person you fell in love with and have now found that just having a few moments together seems impossible. You can get as extensive or as casual as you’d like, from a weekend getaway to a one day adventure; either way you’re going to rekindle those old fires that may have started dwindling.  It’s also a wonderful way to get a feeling for different wines; perhaps some that you may not want to spend $30, $40, or even $10 for because you’re not sure you’ll really enjoy them.  There’s nothing worse than putting out money, no matter what the price, for a bottle of wine that virtually goes untouched because it’s not what you expected.  Wine tasting getaways take all the guess work out of whether or not you’ll enjoy the wines you pick to purchase and give you some time to simply relax together.

My favorite wine getaway is generally one that is unplanned and spur of the moment.  Pick a route with tons of wineries to visit, find some old favorites and try a few new wineries that you’ve never tried before and simply spend the day relaxing and enjoying the virtues of laid back day.

snowflakeThe best part is you can enjoy a winery getaway any time of year; winters, there is nothing more romantic than finding a winter wine that’s perfect for warming up and serving warmed. As you bundle up and go between wineries in a perfect winter afternoon you seem to leave your troubles behind.  A fall winery getaway is perfect because of picking season, the smell of fresh grapes wafting through the air and often new wines being processed within the winery itself.  Summer’s are the perfect time for a winery getaway because you can pick your mode of transportation; perhaps an afternoon of biking around the winery area, through the beautiful farm country areas winery getaway for parentsor often around a grouping of wineries in one area.  You can motorcycle if you drive one or simply take the car with the windows down to enjoy the fresh country air.  There’s also nothing more refreshing than purchasing a bottle of your favorite wine and making cool wine spritzers or a fruity sangria for a warm summers eve.  Springs are always a great time to hit the wineries too because most of us have been closed up and getting a bit of cabin fever by the time spring rolls around and it’s a wonderful way to get out, just the two of you or with friends and enjoy an inexpensive day of fun.  Whatever the season, whatever your choices, spending some time getting to reacquaint with one another over a few sips of wine, laughter and talking is probably just what your relationship needs to bring back that spark.

 

Do you and your husband take a day every once in a while to go out and explore? Do you have a favorite winery to visit?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

Find a local winery in your area here. While we are not affiliated with or sponsored by Wine-Searcher.com, we found that Wine-Searcher.com lists wineries in each state and provides great winery information.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

 

Fieldcrest Luxury Down Alternative Pillow filled with DACRON® Memory Fiber = Better Night’s Sleep

A down pillow is something luxurious to sleep on. Unfortunately, I’ve learned over the years that down pillows can be a bit expensive and some people have allergies to down. DACRON®, and Fieldcrest have come up with the answer. It is a down alternative pillow that is filled with a special DACRON® memory fiber fill. This pillow is affordable for any budget, is as soft as down and has an added benefit..you do not have to fluff this pillow every night! The memory fiber expands to its original size every time. Pretty great, right?  There are also no pinfeathers to poke through the fabric in the middle of the night.

The Target Fieldcrest Luxury Pillow w/Dacron Memory Fiber down alternative pillow is covered with 300 thread count cotton sateen fabric. That means the fabric has 300 threads to every inch. Most cotton pillowcases will have 150 thread count, which feels like a typical cotton fabric. A 200 thread count sateen feels smooth and luxurious. The 300 thread count cotton sateen will feel like superior luxury without the extravagant price tag. The pillows cost less than half the price of regular down pillows.

Fieldcrest Luxury pillow filled with DACRON® Memory Fiber.
Fieldcrest Luxury pillow filled with DACRON® Memory Fiber

If you suffer from pain in your shoulders, upper back or neck, this new pillow is large and wide enough to offer full support while you sleep. Quality rest does not just come from the mattress alone. The most comfortable mattress cannot help if the pillow is not comfortable.

This hypo-allergenic product has a decided advantage to natural down. While natural down must be taken to a dry cleaners experienced in handling natural products, these pillows are machine-washable. They can be cleaned and hung to dry at home. This saves money for the customer while providing the ultimate in comfort.

Comfortable pillow for children too!
Children love down alternative pillows too!

These pillows will make a wonderful addition to any bed. They will make great gifts for friends or family members who are having trouble getting enough rest every night. Use these in a house, dorm room, RV, boat or anywhere rest and comfort are needed. A good night’s rest is a sound investment.

DACRON memory fiber down alternative pillowThe global business director for INVISTA’S Dacron® Fiberfill business stated, “Compared to other super-soft down alternative fiberfills, DACRON® Memory Fiber fiberfill offers a full hand and resilience.”

My husband and I have really enjoyed resting our heads on our new Fieldcrest Luxury Down Alternative Pillows, available exclusively at Target stores and Target.com around June 17th, the last couple of weeks.  They look fabulous on our bed.. so much better than the flimsy, fluff filled pillows we had on our bed before.

This down alternative pillow is available at Target and bears the DACRON® fiber quality seal.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Disclosure:  I was not compensated for this post.  I received two pillows for review purposes.

My Homedics Shiatsu Pillow – my personal massuse and stress reliever

How would you like to hear that for one low payment of $39.99 a masseuse will visit your home at the snap of your fingers and give you a stress and pain relieving back and neck massage?  Wouldn’t that be nice?  Ever since a car accident 9 years ago I suffer from neck and back cramps and on top of that I have two kids, a business, and a home to take care of which as I’m sure you are aware, can lead to a good amount of stress which leads to painfully tense neck muscles.  My husband isn’t always home to give me a neck rub but I have the next best thing, a Homedics Shiatsu Pillow.

I am enjoying my Homedics Shiatsu Pillow as I write this.  My body is swaying back and forth to the shiatsu motion, my lower back is nice and warm and my muscles are relaxed.  I have an old iJoy massage chair that does the job but I can’t go upstairs and sit in the chair every time I feel tense or when I’m not home obviously.  I can however take my Shiatsu Pillow anywhere and is an amazingly effective alternative to a massage chair or an actual massage.  I am extremely impressed with how strong the shiatsu mechanisms are.  I was expecting more of a light shiatsu massage with some vibration but this is the real thing!  The Homedics Shiatsu Pillow is about half the size of pillow and fits nicely in any chair.  I find it gives a particularly deep and tension relieving massage when I sit in a hard chair such as the chairs below.   Do you like my office space? – I’m working in my dining room today.

The soft plush Shiatsu Pillow conforms to your body and there’s even an option to add heat to your massage.  The shiatsu pillow is perfect for use on your neck, back, shoulders and more. Finally, moms can relax while the soft plush pillow kneads away muscle tension, pain and fatigue! What a relief!  That’s worth $39!

Homedics’ Shiatsu Pillow would make a great Mother’s Day gift, don’t you think?

Marlise Karlin: Imagine CD – a stressed mom’s hero

I have major sleep and relaxation issues resulting from.. having two kids, bad dreams, car accident, and other issues that I’m guessing 85% of the population share with me so I am always looking for ways to de-stress my mind and body and fall asleep easier.  I was introduced to Marlise Karlin in May 2009 and wrote about her tips for living well, here.  Now, Marlise has a new CD out that I can’t wait to listen to in its entirety and hope to soon.

Marlise is a world renowned spiritual teacher who has traveled the globe, teaching people how to reconnect with their true essence to bring peace and balance back into their lives by experiencing The Simplicity of Stillness.™

Countless people from every culture around the world have attended Marlise’s Programs and are attesting to the extraordinary benefits that her Stillness Sessions® have brought to their lives, from experiencing a sense of peace rarely felt, to finding balance and wellbeing, from releasing years of road blocks, to discovering what they really want out of life and how to create it.

Marlise has just released her latest Stillness Session on CD called “Imagine.”

Stillness Sessions™ are an experiential form of teaching designed to move people beyond the limitations and agitations of the mind and into their natural state of being. These journeys are accompanied by music and words infused with the profound energy and vibration of Stillness.

Listen to a sample track here.

Marlise Karlin’s Imagine CD can be purchased here.  The CD retails at $17.95 and is an hour long.

Become a fan of Marlise Karlin on Facebook here and follow Marlise on Twitter here.

I hope to write a more personal review and giveaway a copy of Marlise Karlin’s new CD, Imagine, soon.

Sign up for Marlise Karlin’s Opening to Love teleseminar here.

Read my May 2009 article about Marlise Karlin titled: Marlise Karlin Offers Five Simple Tips for Living Life Well, here, on TheMommyInsider.com.