California State Park Play Day Planned

SPEND A DAY AT YOUR LOCAL STATE PARK!

From September 19 - 27, 2009 over 1,000 communities across the U.S. will host free, fun-for-the-whole-family events that focus on the importance of play in children’s lives. A KaBOOM! Play Day is a day to gather at your favorite park or green space to play and connect with nature as a community. Explore local parks and trails with a nature scavenger hunt, host a canoe trip or photo safari, or have a play-themed Back-to-School Night. Your event is completely up to you—the only rule is to have fun! You can also plan a Play Day dedicated to service, and gather community members to improve local parks and playspaces with clean-ups and simple enhancement projects. All groups that successfully complete the process and host Play Day events are eligible to win one of seven grants totaling $25,000. Grants can be used to purchase equipment such as benches, picnic tables, shade structures, and more for parks and playspaces near you. And it doesn’t need to be a brand new event. If your club or facility already has activities or outings planned for that week, you are still eligible to register them in the planner and qualify for the gifts and to be considered in the grant competition.

To learn more about KaBOOM! Play Days and to register your event, visit kaboom.org/playday. For more information contact MJ Kurs-Lasky by email at mkurs-lasky@kaboom.org or by phone at 202-464-6195.

I'm going to make it a point to take the my family to
Tell me where your favorite State park is: Marshall Gold Discovery, Coloma on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn. The park's interpretive program primarily embraces the period from 1847 through 1852, but also shows the town of Coloma as it developed. See a replica of the original sawmill and over 20 historic buildings including mining, house, school, and store exhibits.

Visitors have the opportunity to try panning for gold in the American River and enjoy hikes and picnics under the riparian oak woodlands. Overlooking the beautiful river canyon, where the gold discoverer rests today, see California's first historic monument, the statue of James Marshall pointing at his gold discovery site . http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484
Directions:
Coloma, CA Latitude/Longitude: 38.8000/-120.8892


KaBOOM!. It starts with a playground.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend is the last family vacation time of the summer for us. I try to plan a long weekend that we can all enjoy.

Below are a few family vacation planning tips:


1) Get an idea of the tempo of the trip. Does everyone want to kick back? See more sites? Discover everything at Disney? Does there need to be time for shopping? Adventure? Museums?

2) Establish the "where" you want to go. What destination can everyone agree on. Dates too.

3) Establish the date early on so you can take advantage of deals and promotions.

4) How will you get there? Share a ride, bus train or plane? I find more of the fun is hidden in the journey.

5) Look for packages, look for deals. Do some research on the internet.

6) Begin with a draft itinerary with your initial thoughts. Everyone has an easier time editing what they like and dislike, rather than starting from scratch and coming up with the ideas. Have everyone write two things they defiantly want to do on this vacation.

7) Keep a budget so you can keep track of expenses freeing you to say "Yes" knowing something is within your budget, or no if it tips you over the edge. Make sure to include in your budget transportation, accommodation, dining and entertainment expenses. My daughter checks for coupons and another daughter keeps track of all our paperwork. Works for me!

8) Spread out the responsibilities, one person make the initial plan, another send out email updates, another make a list of what not to forget to bring. It always a good idea to get everyone involved and excited about the planning. Richard sends a countdown email when he plans a trip. We all look forward to the daily "only __ days left" and includes one small fact and a photo is included. Sure gets me looking forward to the destination.

9) You might want to consider purchasing travel insurance in case you need to cancel your trip, especially when traveling with young children.

Life’s a Picnic!

Life does not have to be complicated.

If you are wanting a vacation, but low on time or money then try getting away this weekend for a picnic. Below are links to hundreds of California picnic spots all over the state.



Here's a list of “must have” picnic items to bring along besides -- the food of course.

Pack in your basket or a sturdy box:
• Blanket
• Plates
• Silverware
• Serving utensils
• Cups and/or wine glasses
• Corkscrew or bottle opener
• Cutting Board
• Condiments
• Tablecloth, rug, or blanket
• Waterproof, also take a waterproof groundsheet
• Napkins - cloth is nicest and environmentally-friendly
• Bread knife and perhaps another sharp knife for meats/cheese/tomatoes/fruit
• Servers and/or tongs for salads, meats etc
• Food containers & serving plates
• Paper towels
• Small pieces of foil or plastic wrap for covering food; or cake covers
• Thermos for keeping drinks (coffee, tea, coco) hot or punch cool
• Salt and pepper
• Favorite sauces, pickles, relishes etc
• Garbage bags (use up old supermarket bags or paper bags etc)
• Hand wipes/tissues
• Containers for leftovers (ziplock bags are useful too
• Hats
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Your camera

List top 5 picnic places in California

California Picnic locations
http://www.totalescape.com/active/leisure/picnic.html

Where’s your favorite California picnic spot?

Be a Girl Scout when traveling, arm you’re Carry on with food and necessities:

When on the road I tend to bring everything I think I might need in this day of airport charges, inflated expenses and just plain undesirable food. Instead of a travel pillow I roll up my jacket, I bring a large pushma type scarf to use as a blanket and accessory because I tend to get cold on the plane. I always have a magazine, small notebook and pen, entertainment such as an iPod, headphones (preferably noise-canceling ones) empty small water bottle I can fill when I get through security and food or snacks.

Snacks I like to bring:
Carrots or celery
Trail mix
Cheez-its
Sesame sticks
Sliced apples
Fig Newton’s
Nuts
Pretzels
Chex party mix
Cheese and crackers
String cheese
M&M’s
Cookie
Granola bar
Grapes
Beef jerky
Drinks:
On the go enhanced drink packets you add to a water bottle
Ice tea mix packet
Lemonade packet

Take a Photo Instead of Making a List:

When packing I lay all my clothes and accessories on my bed. Just before I pack my bag I snap a few photos so I have proof of what is inside. These photos can be deleted when I return from the trip and start unpacking. I can also glance at the photo when packing to leave making sure I have everything.



I rarely like to check a bag. I have had my bag lost on average once a year. All have been returned in time. On longer trips I have to check a bag, and when I do I take a digital photo of it (which will help you describe the bag if it gets lost) and a close-up of the airline's baggage tag (so you have a record of the airline's routing info). If nothing else, snapping the photo will remind you to verify that your bag is labeled with the correct destination airport code.

Going Back to where I grew up, as a visitor...

Ya, I’m from a small town, last weekend I went back to my small town for my high school reunion, and I found it to feel more like a small vacation.

As John Mellencamp said:
Educated in a small town
Taught to fear Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic, that's me...

Like a lot of us we find the familiar comforting and exciting at the same time. While returning home to where I went to 4th grade through high school. Memories came rushing back that reminded me of this song. Walking Downtown Saratoga (CA) driving by my old house, stopping in at the Library, then to the “Friends of the Library” used book store I used to frequent in High School. to buy 14 books for $26.00 at the “Book-go-round” www.bookgoround.com. I also ran into “The Fat Robin” next to ”La Mesa” carrying linens, & household decorating items.
There were new stores I found exciting, a jewelry store with almost vintage looking “new” in exquisite jewelry, brilliant diamonds, lustrous pearls, rare gemstones called Déjà & Co. Loved the timeless beauty of each piece. I also liked AGNES a contemporary clothing and accessories store for the 20 something’s…Very high end looking but great prices. Loved their purses and jewelry. Both right on the main street Big Basin Way…

Richard and I enjoyed having lunch on the patio overlooking the trees at Vienna Woods Deli, I was quiet remembering sitting there at 16 with a friend only affording a soda.

Mrs. Bensons Estate Antiques is still there. I couldn’t believe it MRS BENSON is still there too. Ya gotta love her as she helps you find what you might prize as she tells you stories about what’s come in. There were some good deals on pink floating cultured pearl necklace for just $14.00, wish I had bought them.
For a Saturday it was quiet like I remember. That feeling that I had when I returned to my hometown was strangely familiar and exciting. It’s funny, I get such a familiar feelings when I visit faraway places that have that same slowness, open space and friendly folks.

Whether in Tours France, Malmsbury England or Los Muchas, Mexico I find a small restaurant, where I can sit outside under an umbrella and drink in the little shops and friendly people passing by.
I just love to travel, and going home feels like a weekend away…

Full List - 50 Essential Travel Tips - TIME

Full List - 50 Essential Travel Tips - TIME

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How to Decorate a Journal Book | eHow.com

Remember how I've talked about keeping a travel journal? I found decorating the journal to be a lot of fun. You can use your travel magazines and guides to find pictures of where you went.


How to Decorate a Journal Book | eHow.com

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