Affordable and Fun Staycations

 

The weather has been crazy – some days it is freezing cold while others it is close to 60!  I love the warmer weather and I know many are thinking about Spring Break or those long weekends, right?

As a single mom, I didn’t have a lot of many for vacations and I wasn’t as creative as some of these ideas from the ThirtyOne blogger… We lived close to the shore so trips to the beach and boardwalk were always a easy and inexpensive way to take a break.  Check out some of these “staycation” ideas;

Spa day at home

Fully embrace the spring break spirit with a spa day in your very own home. First, gather the supplies. Fill a Double Duty Caddy with the scrubs, cleansers, mud masks and other items to make you feel relaxed and renewed. Make sure your Glamour Case has a variety of nail polishes so you can choose the hue which strikes you when it comes time for your do-it-yourself manicure and pedicure.

Light a candle, soak your feet and grab a refreshing beverage. Bonus: Now your caddy and case are ready and waiting, it will be easy to create your own at-home spa long after spring break ends, whenever you need a little pampering without the price tag.

Park and picnic lunch

Take in the great outdoors! You don’t need to visit a national park to stop and smell the roses. Head to your favorite local park or playground and relish a few hours under the sun. Hike the trails, spot some wildlife and make the outing a little more special by eating al fresco.

The Picnic Thermal Tote’s zip-around closure makes it easy for you and your companion to pack a picnic lunch, or choose the Fresh Market Thermal when you want to carry enough sandwiches, sides and drinks for the whole gang.

Swim outing (inside!)

Instead of a trip to the beach, stay closer to home! Find the closest indoor pool or water park and spend a day in your swimsuit, come rain or come shine. You might not be able to dig your toes into the sand, but you can enjoy the next best thing when your Essential Storage Tote is filled with snacks, goggles and water toys. Even better? No sunscreen required!

Movie under the moonlight

See the stars – on the big screen and in the sky. Planning an outdoor movie night add a little bit of pizzazz popcorn alone just can’t manage. Once you locate a projector (pro tip: check your local library), the rest is easy. A mobile movie screen (inflatable or otherwise) is great, but a white or cream-colored garage door or even a large blanket will do.

A Zip-Top Organizing Utility Tote is roomy enough to hold everyone’s favorite movies, snacks and drinks with space to spare for outdoor necessities. Keep the bug repellent close at hand in one of the tote’s exterior pockets. Or carry a Catch-All Bin outside, filled with enough candy, napkins and glow sticks to keep even the smallest movie buffs entertained.

Road Trip!

How far can you go on a tank of gas? Forget the overnight bag and instead explore some of those hidden treasures an hour or two from home. A Crossbody Organizing Tote can fit everything you need for a day on the road – books, toys, snacks, water bottles and even a few diapers for tiny travelers. Best of all, you can throw it over your shoulder and keep your supplies close at hand all day long!

What is your favorite type of staycation?  Share it with us…..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Theme Parties Can Make the Difference

I am back from National Conference and reviewing my notes to put a plan in place to ROCK the upcoming season. The most talked about parties this year were theme parties.  I will be the first to admit, this is not something I ever really thought about. I tried it once but is was so far out of my comfort zone I quickly moved back to safety with a standard party.  I was not the mom who did theme birthday parties for my daughter, just the usual birthday parties.

When it came to my business, I only thought of “theme parties” when it came to home parties.  With the increased amount of business being done on social media, why couldn’t you translate the same theme parties into Facebook parties or online parties, right?

I will admit, for me it will take stepping out of my comfort zone but I am ready to do it!  Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone to ROCK your business this season?

What is the benefit of a themed Facebook Party?  A theme party is a cohesive, professional, and guaranteed way to get your guests to take interest!  It is not just about selling the best bag (or substitute in your product); it is about your guests having fun.  Be creative, include a playlist with Spotify, the options are endless!  Include funny videos or recipes or tips from Pinterest.

Starting this month, my goal is to have at least one themed Facebook parties per month with the ultimate being one per week.  I know, a huge undertaking but it is worth it.

Let’s look at the season to plan out our Facebook parties.  Once a quarter, hold a themed party to introduce new products and seasonal items. This will ensure direct sales success all year round and keep your customers interested in your awesome products!

Despite the fact many direct sales companies have launched their Fall catalogs, we are still in summer.  It is up to you, if you still want to party with a summer theme here are some ideas:

Summer Fun: 

Bright summer graphics, fun summer music, and summer related products will shine with any of these Facebook Party Summer Themes! Create “this or that” graphics and have attendees choose their favorite product to celebrate the seasons!

• Grillin and Chillin
• Pool Party
• Hello Sunshine
• Travel Tips

Fall Themes:

Leaves crunching, weather getting cooler, clocks going back! Incorporate fall into your Facebook Parties by using any of the themes below! Create a fun graphic which asks your guests what their favorite part of fall is!

• Harvest Time
• Back to School
• “Fall” Back
• Trick or Treat

Winter Time:

Winter is a special time to spend with friends and family. Use Winter Facebook Themes as inspiration for your holiday online parties! Use a graphic asking for the guests favorite seasonal song and add it to your Facebook party playlist!

• Thanksgiving
• Twinkling Lights
• Gifts for All Occasions
• Snow Day

Spring Themes 

The days are getting lighter and the sun is shining brighter! Spring is the time to refresh and rejoice for warmer days are ahead! Have guests share their favorite part of the Spring Season! I know mine is longer, sunnier days!

• Dad’s & Donuts
• Celebrate Mom
• Flowers & Blooms
• Spring Clean

Facebook party themes are great to spark your creativity.  It will help you to increase your sales and entice hostesses for future parties!

Struggling with boring Facebook parties?  Don’t have much interaction.  Want to stand out in the crowd of Facebook parties?  Facebook Party themes are a great way help you grow your business and your team.  Find graphics with tips and ideas, use funny memes, customize the products you will highlight, and even include a customized music playlist for your guests to listen to while they participate!

What are some of your best tips for a themed Facebook party?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Let’s Get Ready to Travel

In my other life, I worked for a Hotel Reservation Center where I spent ALOT of time traveling.  Sometimes it was a long trip for a conference to share about our services and other times it was quick jaunts to different cities for a travel agent tour.  I miss the days of hopping on a plane and just going.  Belinda got to do a lot of traveling before the age of 2 for this reason.  Whether you travel for work or are planning a vacation, here are a few tips to make your trips a lot less stressful. 

Pack less

I know this sounds like a no-brainer but the truth is, most of us pack more than we will ever need.  We always used to take “just in case” clothes.  Just in case could mean anything so you know there was way too many clothes.

Getting ready to pack?  Take everything you think you’re going to need for your trip out of your closet, NOW halve it. I know it is scary!  But it’s what you should pack. Yes, it’s good to be prepared for different weather and all, but think about it, do you really need six jerseys and five pairs of shoes?  The lighter you pack, the easier your trip will be.  Also, invest in either a distinctive suitcase so you can easily identify it at baggage claim or have something to distinguish yours from others.

Keep it compact

I am one of those who likes to travel with my laptop.  Why?  Security, I guess.  What if I need something from my computer?  Crazy, right?  Well, I have uncomplicated my life by using an envelope bag (a VERY old Thirty One product which might make a comeback) or to carry my laptop, and laptop charger.  Sometimes I use my Thirty One Cindy Tote because it will hold my laptop along with my book and my Organizing Shoulder Bag.  

Valet services

I have never done this since friends and family have always helped with dropping off and picking up at the airport.  Find out about the valet parking service available at the airport so you don’t struggle with parking, especially if you’re running late. With a valet service, you just drop your car off at the drop-off zone and someone from the service drives your car to the secure parking lot. When you return they’ll be waiting for you with your car right where you left it.

Travel with a hoodie

The benefits of travelling with a hoodie are countless, especially on a long flight. First of all hoodies are super comfortable and they make great ‘cushions’ when you want to sleep. Thanks to the hood, you’re also able to shut out the chatterbox stranger you always seem to find yourself sitting next to by simply putting it on and facing the window.  I never thought of this benefit – I travel with it because I am always cold.  LOL.

Jiggle-a-bit

Just because you’re a regular flyer doesn’t mean you like flying, right? And it’s easy to assume the worst part of any flight is turbulence for any person with the slightest aviophobia (the fear of flying). Believe it or not, jiggling around slightly during turbulence counteracts (to some degree) the bumpiness, making it a bit more manageable.  

My next flight isn’t until September for the Leadership Incentive trip BUT I will definitely need to think about some of these.  What are your best tips for air travel?  Share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

On the Road Again

I’m so ready for spring.  I’m getting the itch for a road trip.  No, I don’t mean taking a flight or train, I mean actually driving and enjoying the beauty around us.  For many of us, you are wondering where the beauty is, right?  The roads are congested with traffic, construction keeps us gridlocked in traffic and frustration creeps in.

I know road-tripping comes with its own unique set of challenges, from staying awake during long stretches of driving to keeping yourself entertained when you’ve run out of things to talk about (or tea to sip) with your friends. I found some tips on how to have an AWESOME road trip.

Tip #1: I tend to get tired when we are driving those endless highways, what about you?  If there is a group of people traveling, the chatty person should always sit in the passenger seat.  They can help keep the driver and the rest of the car entertained.  Remember those games we played with the kids in the car, like ‘I Spy’, what about some adult versions like Would You Rather, and the License Plate game.  Yes, they sound silly, but trust me, after hours of driving and boredom, you’ll be so delirious these become funny.

Tip #2:  Pack as little as possible on the backseat so there is room to stretch out.  Try road tripping with kids using cubes to help stay organized.  When you arrive at a hotel, do things seem to explode out of your luggage? The cubes could help you stay organized.  In addition, bring a little laundry bag to put dirty clothes in so when you get home, you know exactly what needs to be washed.

Tip #3:  Long car rides make me want lots of sugary candy like Starbursts, red licorice, and of course chocolate.  I firmly believe it helps to me stay awake while I’m driving. Don’t burst my bubble!  I keep everything within reach so I am not driving and struggling to reach snacks or drinks.

Tip #4:  Apps are great, Google saves lives and GPS will get you where you want to go. I am still old school and write down directions and an itinerary ahead of time.  I also figure out an approximate budget so I can stay on track.

Tip #5: The best part of a road trip is trying new foods and sampling the best each destination has to offer. I take recommendations from friends and family.  I also like to check in with employees at the hotel for their favorite local non-tourist place.

Tip #6: Get off the big highways and interstates. Take a chance and drive down a random little road! That’s the advantage of a road trip: Getting lost is the best thing you can do, because it will help you discover something new. You’ll likely be incredibly be surprised by what you find—or who you’ll meet!  I remember taking Sunday road trips with my parents and we always had so much fun.

What is YOUR best tip when going on a road trip?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Planning a Road Trip?

This is it…. the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.  If you live at the Jersey shore, this is the weekend that the craziness officially starts.  The “shoobies”  arrive.

For those that aren’t traveling this weekend, maybe you are planning that summer road trip.  Whether you’re headed somewhere sunny, going camping in a national park or visiting family or friends in another city, these tips can help you save money and reduce stress while traveling the highways and country roads.

#1 Travel off-peak

Planning can help you avoid crowds on the road and at your final destinations. Hitting the road mid-week after the morning rush hour can help you get a great head start on your travels.  Sometimes, we will get a really early start and head out before rush hour traffic even starts.  Visit attractions on unpopular days of the week to avoid long lines and annoying surcharges. Many attractions and hotels charge extra fees on popular travel weekends, like holidays.

#2 Save on fuel

Whether you’re driving a motor cycle or minivan, make sure that you get a tune up before hitting the road.  This will ensure optimal performance and fuel efficiency.  Also, take advantage of fuel savings opportunities. Whether it is Costco or ExxonMobil or Speedway/Hess… there are a variety of discount cards.  You can also accumulate points when making purchases in their convenience stores.  Some credit cards will allow you to use your reward points for gas as well.   There are also phone apps that will tell you where the closet gas is and their price.

#3 Make it fun

A road trip is about so much more than just the destination.  Traveling with kids? Bust boredom with games like “20 Questions” and “Name that Tune.”  Plan some small detours on-the-way to see points of interest.  It is a great way to break up the trip and is easier on the driver and passengers of all ages.  Avoid typical disputes by rotating DJ duty or use Pandora on shuffle so there is a constant variety of music.  If you bring the right attitude, the old adage “getting there is half the fun,” will be true of your summer road trip.

Just a few tips and tricks so that you can hit the road headache-free this summer.  What does your family do to break up the boredom on long road trips?  Share your tips with us.

  

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!