Summer Reading Club

Summer Reading Club – The Happiness Project

May 28, 2011 By Dorian Speed

Summer’s here, and I can’t wait to give my brain a break from keeping up with the kids’ schedules and activities. How about you?
And summer’s the perfect time to relax with a good book, isn’t it?
That’s where I got the idea for the Good Moos Summer Reading Club. (Hey, someone has to pick up where Oprah left off…)

Have you heard about this book The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin? She devoted a year to reexamining her life and finding ways to enjoy more happiness every day. I’ve read snippets of the book here and there, and this seems like the perfect time to dive in. Won’t you join me?
Each week, I’ll talk a little bit about a section from the book, and I’ll open up comments so that you can join in the conversation. Whether you pick up a copy of the book or just decide to read our discussions each week, I hope you will find this fun and a great way to recharge your batteries.
Here’s a trailer that Gretchen made about the book, which shows little previews of the various mini-resolutions she made during her journey:

5 More Secrets for Surviving a Family Vacation

Family vacations can definitely be a challenge, but Gretchen Rubin found 10 strategies that help keep that time enjoyable. In the article below Gretchen writes about how to take charge of a family vacation and have fun at the same time. The following are tips 6 -10:

6. Tackle one irksome task on vacation. Some interesting studies suggest that interrupting a pleasant experience can intensify a person's overall pleasure. As a consequence, I try to assign myself one annoying chore to tackle while on vacation; on Gretchen's last vacation, she worked on updating her address list, a boring, time consuming chore that she'd been putting off for months.  Being away from her usual work routine made her feel relaxed, and completing one irksome task gave her the feeling of having earned time to goof off.

7. Allow yourself to overpack (when possible).  People may disagree with Gretchen about the happiness-boosting qualities of overpacking, and this strategy doesn't work if you're hiking or doing lots of moving around.  It's a luxury just to toss a bunch of stuff in the suitcase, but when you can, do.  A simple problem, like not having a bandage handy, can turn into a major hassle when you're away from home.

8. Make peace with technology.  The fact is, Gretchen has much more fun when her e-mail and Internet service are working; otherwise, she brood about it an spend a lot of time trying to get connected.  So she made getting service a priority.  Other people want to disconnect completely; that''s fine, too.  Just recognize whether connection or disconnection will make the vacation experience as pleasant as possible for you and plan accordingly.

9. Be grateful. Because of the psychological phenomenon of the "negativity bias," we're all more sensitive to negative events and thoughts than to positive ones.  It's so easy to get annoyed by the broken air conditioner, by the traffic, by the fact that she packed for 80 degree weather when it turns out we'll be in 50 degree weather. By mindfully focusing on feelings of gratitude and enjoyment, you keep yourself in a happier frame of mind.  Also, if anyone on a family vacation is getting on your nerves (yes, it has been known to happen!), by focusing on reasons to feel grateful to that person, you help squelch emotions like annoyance and resentment.

10. Go ahead and unwind. Perhaps the most important tip for a family vacation is remember to take a vacation! Especially given the technology these day, it's tempting to have a change of scenery and call it a vacation.  But a vacation really means taking a break from work and routine. Have fun, enjoy the moment, and let yourself relax.

5 Secrets for Surviving a Family Vacation

Family vacations can definitely be a challenge, but Gretchen Rubin found 10 strategies that help keep that time enjoyable.  In the article below Gretchen writes about how to take charge of a family vacation and have fun at the same time.  The following are the first 5 tips:

1. Make time for your own kind of fun. Gretchen has learned that she needs to take time for the activities that she finds fun on vacation. Everyone will have more fun when everyone has fun, so it's not selfish to prioritize some time for yourself.

2. Leave plenty of time to get where you need to be. Nothing takes the pleasure out of a vacation faster than missing a plane, arriving late to a show, standing in an enormously long line because because you arrived at a peak time, or having to keep screaming, "Hurry up! Hurry up!"  Gretchen identified a speed rule: When you're trying to get out the door, for every child, add 20 minutes to the time it would usually take to accomplish any action. (The same applies to slowpoke adults.)  Set your departure time with this in mind.

3. Document happy memories.  One of the best ways to make ourselves happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past, so making the effort to take pictures and videos, keep trip books, or gather souvenirs (meaningful ones, not just knick-knacks from a gift shop) will really boost your happiness later.  After all, when you think of the possessions in your home, aren't your photographs and mementos among the most prizes?

4. Recognize your children's limits.  You also need to remember your own limits too.  When you keep children at the table too long, mess with their schedules too much, let them skip applying bug repellent, make them walk too far, or let them get too hot or too cold, things can get pretty challenging.  Never travel anywhere without a few bags of almond, raisins, dry cereal, or other treats.  You will learn the hard way if the kids get hungry.

5. Take time to exercise.  Some people view vacation as an escape from daily burdens, such as exercising.  Don't think that way! Exercise is energizing and cheering, and it promotes sleep and relaxation.  Vacation is an opportunity to make exercise fun, not a chore, by taking a new class or adding a new backdrop to your usual routine.

Tune in tomorrow for 5 more secrets for surviving a family vacation.

Get More Vacation for Less: Part 2

A travel industry insider shares her nine best rules for stretching your budget during vacation. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher states that everyone wants a great summer vacation, bu no one wants the steep credit card bill that can too often tag along. Does that mean you have to Google yourself into a frenzy and invest countless hours in trying to find the lowest airfares and hotel rates? Not at all. Below part 2 of Suzanne's vacation saving tips:

5. Hit the Beach:  If you like the idea of spreading out but really want to be by the shore come summer, snag a beach house or a condo, rather than a hotel room.  This way you live large and save big.  Try vacation rental sites like homeaway.com or vrbo.com (VRBO stands for "vacation rentals by owners")  to get your feet wet. 

6. Save On the High Seas: In the not-too-distant past, you had to fly to Florida or Los Angeles to board most cruises.  But today there are many more options, and if you live near the coast, you may be able to skip the pricey plane ticket and instead drive for a few hours to the nearest cruise port.  Another way to be a money-smart traveler: While typical cruises last full week, most lines now offer three-four,and five day sailings, which can suit a slimmer budget. Just be sure to use your travel e-alerts with family-friendly cruise lines like Carnival (carnival.com), Disney Cruise Line (disneycruise.disney.go.com), Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.com), and Royal Caribbean International (royalcaribbean.com) to help pare down your cost even more.

7. Park It: Of course, vacationing at a state or national park is a terrific way to spend quality time with your family in the great outdoors.  And it's affordable: In Ohio's Hueston Woods State Park, for example, you can reserve campsite for $24 a night.  But if sleeping bags and tens really aren't your thing, some state and national parks also have lodges and cabins that feel quite resort-like thanks to indoor and outdoor pools, Wi-Fi, and fitness rooms.

8. Drive a Great Deal: You know AAA membership is a lifesaver if your car breaks down, but it's also a key ingredient in an affordable vacation.  For the basic membership fee of $38 to $85 per year (go to aaa.com for details), you can get discounts on rental cars, train tickets, hotel bills, and more.

9. Take the Skies Less Travel: Airfare can be the biggest budget-buster these days, but if you're willing to travel a bit farther to get to the airport, you can save some serious cash.  To scan savings on airfares check the list of nearby alternative airports at cheapflights.com/travel-tips/alternative-airports.

Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is editor in chief at wejustgotback.com.

Ideas For Camping Fun At Home

According to the June 2011 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, their summer vacation guide has more fun ideas than the most dedicated camp counselor.  Below are some of the ideas from that article:

1. Backyard Camp out - Kids love pitching a tent no matter where it lands.  Set up your own or jury-rig a  pup using a sheet stretched over a rope tied between two trees, with rocks t hold the corners.  If local laws allow, add some fire.  Now you're ready to sing campfire songs and play flashlight tag. 
2. Drive-In Movie - No matter how old you are, outdoor films are a treat.  The easiest arrangement is with a laptop, projector, and either PC-powered speakers or an adapter that plays music thought your car radio.  Set up the projector on a table or on the roof of your car, stretch a white sheet over your garage doors, then show the movie while the kids are sitting in the car and chowing down on popcorn.  If you have a station wagon, turn the car around so that kids can stretch out in the back, or borrow a friend's pickup and spread blankets on the bed.

3. Make Your Won Mini Golf - For kids, building their own course is almost as much fun as the game.  Use whatever materials you have handy.  Make a ramp form loose bricks and aluminum siding; lay an old pipe or a roll of wire on its side from a tunnel.  Create water hazards by burying plastic buckets ad filling them with water.  Stick flowerpots in holes marked by sticks with paper flags to catch the balls. (Don't want to dig? stakes or tipped and weighted plastic cups are fine targets.) Young kids might do better with croquet mallets and balls, but older kids can use regular golf clubs and balls.