Ideas on outings with relatives?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Ideas on outings with relatives?
7
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 8:38pm
Hi, everyone.:) Well, DH's brother and family are coming to visit during the summer months. The house is a wreck, need new kitchen, curtains, yard work, garage door, etc. DH said "no" to getting a HELOC, or borrowing, so it looks like I will have to save a lot to get it done. Any ideas? Also need ideas on inexpensive outings with a pre-teen. Thanks. WHiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 8:59pm
Whiz,
There are plenty of cheap outings depending on their interests. Go to a park with a picnic, go to the beach or lake,a local museum or zoo or how about a minor league ball game? Our local team does fireworks displays at some games and when I was in high school my girlfriends and I would go for ladies night(I think they did bat night and kids nights too). Admissions were 25c on ladies night(this was 1993-94), we weren't into the game, just went to get out and do something enjoy the nice weather on those nice summer evenings. They usually had some other kind of deals to entice us like coke and hot dog cheap on those nights so we did dinner at the ball park. We'd stay for the fireworks after the game. A few times we bought one of those disposable foil grills and made hot dogs in the parking lot as a tailgating party. Because our family always summered up north in a cooler climate we were much more active in hiking and outdoor activities than at home (S.FL) where it always seemed too hot to do too much outside. My mom loved the beach but I hated it always too hot, so just let the kids interests be your guide.
Call (or email) now and find out what they think they might like to see when they come to your city you can gather ideas and maps and get them involved in planning what they want to do now.
Pam

Proud sister of a Marine:

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 10:10pm

What sorts of things can you do to undo the 'wreck'? If it is clutter, I encourage you to start with just 15 min a day working on dealing with it. Set a timer and work your way though it bit by bit. If you are really struggling with clutter, check out www.flylady.net and see if she 'floats your boat'. She isn't for everyone but lots of people like me have changed our lives with her principles.

I don't know how big of a town you live in but if it is big enough to have a visitors center, drop in sometime and pick up some brochures. If you can afford to drop them in the mail, send them off ahead of time (get 2 copies) and if not, just gather them and have them when they get there.

Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 10:52pm
Hi, Pam,Peg. Thanks for the ideas. I never thought of the visitor center. That is a great idea, so I can see what people who are visiting might like. A ball game is something the "guys" can go to. What about us ladies? Spa night/massage at a casino? We will probably be eating out a lot. On decluttering---am working on it. Each week, I throw away stuff. The yard is my first goal---at least to plant something in the dirt. Then, maybe a garage sale. I have until June or July, so there is some time. What do preteens like to do? Disney stuff? Zoo? Thanks. WHiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 11:32pm

Hey whiz - have you ever been letterboxing? I'm not sure what the rules are about posting links here, but if you went with (the obvious) dot org you could find out all about it. The costs are absolutely minimal - you could buy nothing at all and get by. Ideally at least purchase a rubber stamp, a small notebook, and a compass (you could get all of this at walmart for like $15 for the entire family group) but that will give you days and days of fun.

It's lots of fun, good exercise in the fresh air, and FREE after that initial purchase of supplies.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 3:10am
Hi, JM--Letterboxing? Dont know anything about it, but it sure sounds like fun for a pre-teen to do. Definitely will check it out! Thanks again. WHiz.
Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 4:37pm

I *just* learned about this last week!

Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 7:14pm

Hello,

Regarding decluttering, I would suggest working on the inside of the house before you work on the yard. After all, when relatives visit, they are mostly going to see the entranceway, kitchen, living room, and guest bathroom. Don't worry too much about the garage sale. If you have items that you think would be sellable at a garage sale, try donating them (tax deductions are nice...) For instance, in my area, AADD.org has an online form that you can fill out to schedule a "pickup". Write down what you are donating for tax purposes, then fill up a box and schedule the pickup. I make a note to myself (and on the box) to leave it on the front porch on the designated day, and "magically" it disappears with a receipt left in it's place. =)

You can be sure that someone will find it useful, but you don't have to worry about spending the time and energy compiling, pricing, and running a garage sale. I have done plenty of garage sales and really the money gained is not worth the time & energy + clutter storage you spend trying to get it done!

Yes, I'm paraphrasing some of Flylady's ideas here (www.flylady.net)

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished