Tips in Making Your Home Asthma Safe

If your child suffers from asthma, you know how worrying it can be. The last thing you want your child to go through is an asthma flare up. A flare up is usually caused by pollen, dust, mold or dirt emissions in the air. For most people, these triggers are rarely a problem, but for kids with asthma, it’s something that’s a constant problem. Children should never have to deal with homes that make them unwell. So, what can you do to make sure your home doesn’t trigger an asthma attack?

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Wood Floors
Swapping your carpet for wood floors will allow you to avoid as much dust in the home. Dust mites have a habit of burying deep into carpets, so no matter how often you vacuum, you may not be able to get rid of them. Having a wood floor, whether it’s laminate or solid wood, will allow you to vacuum up dust easily. It’s also the perfect flooring for cleaning up after messy children and spilled drinks.

Your Bedding, Pillows and Stuff Toys
Your bedding is a great breeding ground for dust mites. The bedroom is the most common place in the house to find dust mites, so it’s important to clean there regularly. To avoid dust mites in bedding, vacuum the mattress every two weeks and wash bedding in hot water and on a high heat dryer cycle every month. Change pillow cases and air dry or put pillows in the sun to freshen them up before putting in back in the bedroom. Kid’s stuff toys must also be washed regularly.

Insulation
Old insulation can attract dust like wild fire. Many people never see the benefit in replacing old insulation, but if you live with a child who has asthma, it could do wonders for their health. Old insulation removal doesn’t cost much and replacing it with new insulation every few years could avoid you dealing with excess dust within the home.

Avoid Clutter
It’s easy for clutter to build up when you live with a large family, but clutter often gathers dust and builds up until it becomes a problem. Try to avoid clutter in the main rooms, like the living room and bedrooms. You can avoid clutter by using storage boxes and asking family members to store their belongings away.

Get Rid of Mold
Mold is a proven trigger for asthma, so if you have mold in your home, it’s important to do what you can to get rid of it. You can get rid of mold by using a dehumidifier in the rooms with damp patches. Air diffusers or catalytic lamps life the Lampe Berger helps cleans the air too but check first sensitivity to fragrance. Make sure to take down any wallpaper that has gone moldy and get rid of any plants that may be growing mold. You can clean mold off the walls by using a bleach solution.

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Animal Triggers
If your child has asthma, having a pet could be a trigger. The best solution is to keep the pet outside or in a room that isn’t often used by your child. Playing with a pet could be perfectly fine, but hugging and kissing the pet may start off an attack. Use your intuition and limit the amount of time your child can spend with your pet.

Keeping asthma triggers to a minimum isn’t easy, but it is the healthiest option for your child.

What to Do If You Cannot Afford Your Kid’s Birthday

For most children, the excitement reaches fever pitch when their birthday is just around the corner. They can’t wait to have a party with all of their friends and, of course, they probably have a wish list full of presents. This can be a worrying and upsetting time for any parent that is struggling financially. It is made even worse by the fact that other kids seem to have the latest mobile phones and games consoles, and you don’t want your child to be left out. So, what can you do if you cannot afford your kid’s birthday?

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Start saving
If your child’s birthday is several months away, you still have some time to save. You may think that it is impossible to put away money every month when you are struggling as it is, but you would be surprised where cut backs can be made. Here are some suggestions to help you with saving when money is already tight:

Sell things – Do you have clothes, games, or furniture around the home that you no longer use? There are bound to be plenty of people that would give them a happy home. Plus, with auction sites like eBay, it is easy to get things off your hands these days.

Use cash-back programs – There are so many different cash-back programs today. Whenever you make a purchase, you will get a percentage of it back as cash. You can add this into a savings account for your little one’s birthday.

Find cheaper gas – There is no denying that gas is a costly expense. However, you can search for the cheapest gas in your area by using the GasBuddy app. This app uses your location to determine the cost of gas around you. You can then save a few bucks every time you fill up.

Change your car insurance – If you have not changed your car insurance in a while, you could find that you are missing out on a lot of savings. Use a comparison site to see if it would be cheaper switching provider.

Go meatless – Next time you do your grocery shop; try to reduce the amount of meat you spend. If you only eat meat once or twice per week, you will save a lot of money. Plus, it is a lot healthier too.

Eliminate unnecessary expenses – It is time to rethink what the word utility means. It should mean the sort of things that you cannot live without. Do you really need your expensive cable package? If not, switch it for a cheaper Internet-based service and add the savings to your child’s birthday fund.

Unplug electronics – Even when the switch is off at the plug, your electronics still leech electricity. Start unplugging them altogether.

Ask friends or family
Have you tried discussing your money issue with a close friend or family member? The likelihood is that they will be more than happy to help if they are able to. After all, they will want your child to have a great birthday too. Bring up the subject with them and see if they offer to help. If they don’t, and you feel comfortable, you could ask them politely if they would be willing to lend you some money and if you could pay them back over time.

Have you considered a loan?
Nowadays, there are many different forms of financial aid available, and taking out a loan can be a good way to ensure your kid has a great birthday. It is simply about finding the right loan for you. Don’t take out more than you need to. Simply borrow a couple of hundred dollars or whatever is required to buy your child a present and give them a good birthday. Just because you can borrow thousands does not mean that you should. Making payments over time is a lot more manageable for most people, and a lot of lenders will enable you to choose a repayment period that is suitable to your situation. This is a good option for those that don’t want to discuss their financial situation with their family and friends. If you know you have income coming in regularly and you can make the repayments on time, it will actually boost your credit rating too, which will help you when borrowing money for any reason in the future.

Make sure you stick to a tight budget
You don’t have to spend a fortune to throw any amazing birthday party. Even if you secure a loan or a loved one offers to lend you some money, you should still set yourself a strict budget. Plus, if you throw an elaborate birthday this year, they will only expect an even bigger one next year. Don’t waste money on private venues or hiring an entertainer for several hours. Do things the old fashioned way. You can easily host a party at your own home, and it doesn’t need to cost a lot to put on a buffet and make some party bags. You could even ask some of the parents if they would be willing to bring something to add to the buffet. You don’t need to buy fancy invites either, as there are plenty of templates online today, which you can easily print out and use. Make sure you have one invite per family. If you are inviting a brother and sister, there is no need to put both names on the invitation.

You can also take care of the entertainment yourself. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a professional service. Enlist the help of one of your friends to do face painting. There are plenty of courses and videos online showing you how to face paint, balloon model, and perform magic tricks. And, there are always the traditional games that provide a lot of fun and make everyone laugh, such as musical chairs and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. To make the birthday even more special, why not have a theme? From pirates to fairies, there are so many different options.

Raising Children in the Middle of Nowhere

Raising children is one of the most stressful things that we can do these days. It’s also extremely expensive considering all of the things we have to provide for them. From clothes to video games and college tuition, we’ll end up spending a considerable chunk of our life savings just to keep our children healthy and looked after. But providing them with a good upbringing also depends on where they grow up.

As explained in this article by https://www.theatlantic.com/, many people have chosen to live as far as possible from cities because of many different reasons. For starters, it’s far enough so that you aren’t affected by things like air pollution and noise issues. The air is cleaner, fresher and it’s ultimately a better experience assuming you can handle the slight inconveniences such as no fast food deliveries and being further away from stores.

However, the problem comes when you decide to raise children. Perhaps the nearby schools just aren’t good enough, or maybe you’d prefer for your children to be brought up around technology and within close proximity to their school friends. In fact, some families even go so far as to move back into the city just for their children. This is a very drastic measure, which is why we’ve written this article to tell you what it’s like to raise children in the middle of nowhere and hopefully convince you to stay put where you are.

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Your children will learn to appreciate life

First, let’s start by saying that rural living can be tough! For instance, most of us that live in the countryside usually need to call water pump services like http://www.slaterpumpsmelbourne.com.au/ in order to get running water. As opposed to the ease and convenience of just turning on a tap in almost every other location, it’s a lot of hard work and they’ll grow up learning to appreciate the smaller things in life. They’ll pick up essential skills like learning to cook with fresh ingredients as opposed to buying a frozen meal, and they’ll learn to get around town on their own two feet or a bicycle instead of sitting on a bus or train. They’ll learn to appreciate nature and embrace simple pleasures instead of sitting on their computers all day.

It’s lonelier in the city

Let’s face it, even if we live in the city how often do you speak with people? Everyone is so busy and wants to work as quickly as possible that we only ever get to converse with people during breaks at work or if our job demands it. Compare that to the close-knit communities in the countryside and it’s like night and day.

Learn that the world is a big place

One day, your children might want to move to the city or you’ll decide to send them to a better college or school. Once you do, they’re going to find it hard to cope because they’re in a completely different environment to what they’re used to. People do things differently, there are new types of people to meet, and they’ll finally get to eat from those fabled “fast food” places that you’ve been telling them to avoid. They will learn to appreciate the world and how big it truly is, and their experiences will ultimately empower them and show them the beauty of life.

LunchBox Baon Ideas and Jolly Products

School is back and I’m back to my everyday challenge on what to fill in on my daughter’s lunch box for her baon. My daughter’s appetite is improving now that she is a tween and to ensure that she still gets the nutrients she needed especially during lunch, I had to make sure I’m giving her nutritious and healthy meal.

Good news for me, the husband knows how to cook and have lots of creative ideas.

And then there’s  help from Jolly Eats Products . Jolly Products are imported and distributed by Fly Ace Corp., one of the leading food and beverage consumer goods companies in the country, Jolly’s canned food products are available in leading supermarkets nationwide.

Our last week’s sample menus:

Day 1:
PadThai (from Maya Adam’s recipe), Fried Fish, Corn Salad (a mixture of  Jolly Whole Corn Kernels, chopped cucumber and tomatoes sprinkled with lemon juice). Rice was put in a separate container in case she needs it.

Jolly Lunch Ideas Day 1

Day 2:
Chopsuey (stir-fry of mixed vegetables and meat), Chicken Adobo + Rice

Jolly Lunch Ideas Day 2

Day 3:
Pancit Lomi (thick soup with noodles, vegetables and egg), Fried Pork Chop, Sliced  Apple (and Rice on a separate container)

Jolly Lunch Ideas Day 3

Day 4:
Fried Marinated Chicken + Mixed Vegetables + Jolly’s Lotus Biscoff Biscuits (and Rice on a separate container)

Jolly Lunch Ideas Day 4

Day 5:
Spaghetti, Egg Omelette, Fried Sweet Potatoes (and Rice on a separate container)

Jolly Lunch Ideas Day 5

Disclaimer: I received Jolly Eats Products mentioned above. No other compensation received and opinions are my own.

Getting the Kids More Active This Summer

Its summertime in the other side of the world, the sun is out and the kids have a chance to be active. But with the gadgets available nowadays, a lot of children aren’t as active as they should be. In this side of the world, school is back and kids spend much time the classroom. With a lot of school activities, they may also spend less activity after school. But did you know there are still a few ways to encourage kids to be active.

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Lead them into the garden

What with all the video games, TV channels and movies that are so easily accessible in this day and age — even to our children — it’s easy to allow them to stay in the house and indulge in them. It’s easy for you to give into their demands to want to be inside. In fact, it’s easy to join them inside too. But if you want your children to be more active this summer then you need to entice them outside. And to do so, you need to make coming outside and staying fit as appealing as can be. Something that you can try in this particular venture is to set them up an area where they can physically play and express themselves in as free a way as possible. If you have the space to do so, this area should be in a separate part of the garden to the space that you generally use so that they can be as active, loud and destructive as they want. And if you have the funds to do so, you should have artificial grass, such as that offered at www.astrodeck.com.au, laid down too. This will mean that no natural grass will ever be harmed as your children run around and play on it. Thus, you can retain a garden that works for the whole family, and not just the kids. So, not only will having artificial grass laid suit your venture of getting the kids active, but also your desire to retain a garden that is free of wear and tear.

Take them cycling

Cycling is most definitely a summer sport that you should get your children involved with as much as possible over the coming months. By taking your children out on bike rides, or even signing them up to a cycling club, you can be sure that you’re doing all you can to keep them not only active, but fit too. One reason for this is that cycling improves cardiovascular fitness twofold. It improves lung capacity and increases endurance. So, get your child a bike, fit some stabilisers on it if they’re too young to ride without one, and watch them cycle their way to fitness this summer.

Keeping your kids active whilst they are still children is imperative for their growth and general wellbeing. So, don’t just treat this summer as a chance for you all to enjoy and create memories in the present. No, also use it as time to ensure that your children’s physical futures are as safe and as steady as possible.

Helpful Ways To Work From Home

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As a working mom, I can often feel that I want to be able to spend as much time with my kids as possible. But because I’m “adulting”, I still need to work, besides I enjoy my job and that me time in the office. However, when pressured at work and when my kids ask me to stay at home instead of going to work, I sometimes wonder if only I can able to balance out my time better.

Work from home is an option right? That may sound like a distant dream, but I know a lot of moms attempted in this undertaking and are now successful. If you’d love to be able to work from home and be there for your kids, here are some ways of making it happen based from mommies who experienced it.

Go Freelance With Your Job

First up, one of the options you have would be to go freelance. Regardless of what you do for a living, whether it’s cooking, administration, or even finance, it’s likely that there’s a market out there for freelancers. So, if it sounds like a leap you could make, why not get to work with some DIY and create an office in your home? Then, you’ve got your space to get your work done while you’re kids are napping or at school.

Start Your Own Business

Also, you could think about starting your own business. If it’s always been something that you’ve wanted to do, why wait? If you have something that you’re good at or a hobby that you’d love to turn into a career, then now could be the time to go for it. Plus, with easy building options like steel from http://armstrongsteel.com/ or even wood constructions, you can create a space, especially for your business. Then, you can run your business from your property, but still, keep it self-contained.

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Go Flexible

Next up, you might want to think about keeping your job but asking to change the way you work. Your company might be okay with your working in a more flexible way. Depending on what you do, you could do some of your work at home or spend full days there, or even change to flextime to fit in with your kids.

Go Into Daycare

Maybe you fancy a complete change from what you’re doing now? Well, then why not think about a job that can work with your kids, like daycare? Running a daycare at home can be easy to set up, as this http://whereimaginationgrows.com/ shows us. If you really want to be with your kids in the day and not at work, it can be a great way to earn a living and ensure you’re there for them all day.

Become A Team

If your husband has his own business, why not think about becoming a team? If he needs office support, then, you may find that you can help him out with administration or even finances and earn your own wage as an employee for him. It may not be ideal for everyone., but it could be a great way to stay at home and still work.

Back-to-School Checklist and Jolly’s Baon Ideas

While some students were already back at school, my kids are still at the house still waiting for classes to start next month. That means they still have 2 weeks to wake up late, play, complete their assignment or just get bored. As for me, this means we still have 2 more weeks to prepare school.

This school year will be my tween’s last year in her primary years. She’ll be a high-schooler next year and that story deserves another post :). Its “Hello primary years” for my son as he will be first grader this school year and thankfully has the same schedule during his kindergarten years — morning session and will only spend 5 hours of school activities. Sure enough our early morning chaos like the constant nagging and fighting will definitely resume. Part of our morning routine to making sure they have eaten their breakfast before going to school and that they provided with snacks (baon) in case they get hungry.

Since, it is back to school time! We’ve been checking the back to school list and so far we’ve done notebook & shoe shopping, bag fixing, uniform fittings, looking for lunch boxes and water bottles that are leak-proof, checking for new baon menus and everything school stuff.

Here is our Back-To-School Checklist:

  • Books – should be covered and labeled
  • Bags – check theirs from last years
  • School Uniforms – check for lost buttons, broken zippers or torn pocket
  • Inner Wears – check if it still fits
  • Shoes and Socks – last year’s shoes might no longer fit
  • School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencil, crayons or rulers
  • Get the kids haircuts
  • Completely accomplished summer assignments
  • Baon (Snack) Boxes / Lunch Boxes – last year might still be usable
  • Baon (Snack) / Lunch Menu – varied options to add excitement

LotusBiscoffandJollyChocolateMilk

I’m also excited with going back to school because this is again an opportunity for me to prepare their school lunches and snacks. My way of showing my care despite being busy at work. While I make sure I give them home-cooked meals for their snacks and lunches, I run out of ideas. Good thing we have biscuits and ready-to-drink drinks to give them. However, if I give them the same baon combination, expect the biscuits to be untouched sooner. They hated the same combination.

Thankfully, Jolly Eats of Fly Ace Corporation introduced me with Lotus Biscoff Biscuits and Jolly Cow Chocolate Milk Drinks. Aside from the fact the biscuit is my namesake, the kids like it so much that they already consumed it even before the start of classes. This is definitely an addition to our snack options.

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Disclaimer: I received Jolly Eats Products mentioned above. No other compensation received and opinions are my own.

Expo Mom #TeamMom Reaches Out to Mommas in the Visayas

We are stronger together. That’s what moms have come to realize when faced with the multitude of issues and concerns that come with motherhood.

When a mom has a group of mothers behind her, the business of taking care of the everyday just seems easier. She has an ear that would listen to her worries, a smile that would brighten up her mood, and a hand that would hurry along the accomplishment of important tasks.

In celebration of its tenth year anniversary, Expo Mom pays tribute to #TeamMoms all over the country. Expo Mom #TeamMom 2017 kicked off with a three-day event at the Glorietta Activity Center in May. Next month, Expo Mom #TeamMom goes on a nationwide roadshow starting off at Ayala Center Cebu on June 17, 2017;

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and then moving on the week after to The District North Point in Negros on June 24, 2017.

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Expo Mom #TeamMom will not only bring in the most modern mommy and baby products and services to the Visayas, it will also be a wellspring of parenting trends, mommy solutions, and inspiring advocacies.

Sun Life Financials and PLDT Home will serve as co-presentors of the Cebu leg of Expo Mom #TeamMom. Some of the featured exhibitors include Cycles and Cradles, Electrolux, Nestle Cerelac, Sanicare, Tempra, Babyzone, doTERRA Therapy, Halo Sleepsack, and Modern Mama. Detox Bar, a mompreneur business based in Cebu, will also be joining Expo Mom Cebu #TeamMom.

The onstage program of Expo Mom Cebu #TeamMom 2017 will shine the spotlight on Cebu’s #TeamMoms. Groups of mommas who are mompreneurs, travel bugs, and yoga practitioners will share stories of how they have helped each other grow to become better persons and better mothers through the years. There will also be games, educational talks, and entertainment numbers throughout the event.

Caltrate Plus joins Expo Mom Negros #TeamMom as a major sponsor, together with Sun Life Financials and PLDT Home as co-presentors. Some of the featured exhibitors include Cycles and Cradles, Electrolux, Nestle Cerelac, Sanicare, Tempra, BabyZone, doTERRA Therapy, Halo Sleepsack, and Vpharma. Footsie Tootsie, a mompreneur business based in Negros, will also be joining Expo Mom Negros #TeamMom. As with the Expo Mom Cebu #TeamMom’s onstage games and talks, the Negros leg will feature local #TeamMoms who have supported each other in their motherhood journey. Among others, there will be #TeamMoms of homeschooling and breastfeeding mommas. Expo Mom’s tenth year anniversary celebration also includes a Grand Giveaway. Share your #TeamMom story on social media, and get the chance to win for you and your #TeamMom some awesome prizes. Click this link for more details. Expo Mom is the banner event of Mommy Mundo, a community of moms dedicated to making motherhood easier, happier, and more fulfilling for every mom. Mommy Mundo is your ultimate #TeamMom. Through its carefully curated selection of events and activities, Mommy Mundo has given valuable support and encouragement to moms all over the country in the areas of healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, active parenting, and mompreneurship.

Tips To Save Yourself and Your Family Time

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When you’re a busy mom, you can often feel like you’re running at a mile a minute (and on empty). To say that life can be tough is an understatement. But just because it’s tough, it doesn’t mean that it has to be a challenge. In fact, there are ways that you can make life fit into your business schedule and not the other way around. If you want to be able to enjoy more time with your family after work, and not focus on all the other jobs you have to do at home, here are some of the ways you can speed things up.

Fun Plans

First up, let’s make time for those super fun plans you always mean to make. When you get in from work, you want to relax, not start planning and organizing and arranging, right? So, you need to make this as quick as possible. Be sure to plan your fun activities in advance – definitely by weeks, by months too if you can. Then, you have more things to look forwards to throughout the year. Whether it’s a playdate with friends or a trip to the zoo with family. Spend an hour or so each month or every few months booking in plans and then forget about it until you need to add more.

Cleaning

Unfortunately, cleaning is just one of those chores that have to get done – especially if you like living in a clean and tidy home. But, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend lots of time each week doing it. If you’re super busy and the budget allows it, hire a cleaner. For a small fee each week, your home will stay spotless and your time is freed up to spend with family. If that won’t work for you, make up a cleaning schedule and stick to it. That way, you can spend more time with your kids.

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Checkups

Then there are those regular health checkups that we all know we need to make (and attend) but always forget about. So, now you’re going to book everything a year in advance and mark it on the calendar. Job done! From your routine doctor appointments at the local clinic to your dental checkups at somewhere like Care Family Dental, by booking in advance, you just have to turn up.

Vacations

We all want to go on regular vacations, but the thought of finding a week to do it in, finding a hotel and booking everything can be a little bit too much. So, to make it easier, why not book a break at the same place each year? Especially while your children or young. You could even think about buying a vacation home so that you don’t even have to make standing arrangements each year.

Cooking

And then there’s the dinner. Planning meals can drive a mom mad, but it doesn’t have to. Find yourself some crock pot recipe inspiration and sort everything in the morning before work. Then, when you get in, you’ll just have to prepare a salad or some rice and serve up. Easy peasy!

The Ultimate Ways To Relax After Work


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After a busy day at work, you can often feel as if you need to enjoy the ultimate indulgence when you get home. For some people, helping their kids with homework and getting to bed will always be all they need. But, if you find yourself needing more, then there are other ways that you can kick back and relax with your family after work. With summer  just around the corner, your evenings get lighter and longer, meaning there’s a lot more time for relaxation after work, as well as on the weekends. So if you’re stuck for ideas, try one of these on for size.

Movie Night

Everyone loves a movie night. But they can also be a really great way to unwind with your family when work is done. Whether you’ve got older kids and you all fancy making pizza and watching the latest comedy on a Wednesday night, or you spend Friday nights staying up a bit later with your little ones, you get to spend quality time with your family in the evenings and unwind. You’ve also got the option of having movie night at the weekend, or reserving it for you and your husband alone.

Family Dinner

For some people, making sure the family sits down together every night is the most important part of their day. And it can be for a very good reason. Not only do you get to enjoy a lovely meal together, but you can talk to your kids and your husband and forget all about the busy day at work you just had. If you’re always stuck for recipe idea, these family favorite ideas can work a treat. Then, your family dinners will start to get a little more exciting.

Working Together

Okay, so the idea of working even more when you get off work might put you off, but this isn’t strenuous work at all – it’s the kind you and your kids will love. Perhaps more suitable to the weekends than evenings, but a great way to relax with your family is to spend productive time with them. Whether you want to get out into the garden and plant some vegetables and flowers or bake up a storm in the kitchen, you can find yourself relaxing and having a great time all at once.

Pamper Evenings

Every girl loves to pamper – some men too. So, isn’t the most amazing relaxation idea an evening full of pampering? Even though a night with a face mask and painting your nails might not be the best idea for the entire family to enjoy, but you can all certainly have a great time in the hot tub. Even if it’s something just you and your husband enjoy when the kids have gone to bed, you can find a wealth of hot tub reviews online to help you decide on the right one.

Having Fun

And of course, there’s always the super fun family activities that we all know and love. Again, this one might be more appropriate for the weekend, rather than an evening, but a day out rollerskating or at the beach could exactly what you need to get your mind firmly off of work!