Simple Indulgences for September


As the kids go back to school, you can go back to *you*...your schedule, your friends, your goals. Here are ten simple indulgences to celebrate this season.

1. Invite your girlfriends over for a Back-to-School tea. Have lots of "pamper me" items in hand. Do you - or any of your friends - know a massage therapist? Ask her to come and do backrubs. Eat decadent pastries and drink coffee or tea. Catch up on everything you've missed during the hectic summer.

2. Go on a hike or a bike ride all by yourself.

3. Start a circle journal to keep in touch with your friends. A circle journal (aka. "a round robin") is a book that goes back and forth among friends, each of whom add a special contribution before passing it on. Here are more ideas on how to start your own: http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/mag/articles/article.1002.p1.html

4. Treat yourself to a new magazine subscription.

5. Buy something red.

6. What are you most passionate about? Start a home business that somehow relates to this passion. Autumn is a great time of year to get a business started. The kids are back to school and it's before the hustle of the holidays.

7. Find or start a book club.

8. Make a brag book or mini scrapbook album depicting 10 things you love most about your spouse or child(ren). Present it to them as a "just because" gift.

9. Choose a charity that you and your family will support this season. Researching the charity will be a fun family activity - and then you can brainstorm all the ways you can raise money for this organization.

10. Know a good soup restaurant? Order takeout tonight. And don't forget the fresh bread!

Copyright 2005 by Susie Cortright About the author: Susie Cortright is the founder of momscape.com - http://www.momscape.com and Momscape's Scrapbooking Playground - http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking - devoted to helping visitors record and preserve their cherished memories. Visit her site today to subscribe to her free newsletters.


MORE RESOURCES:
RELATED ARTICLES
Don't Make Fast and Furious Food Changes
OK, moms and dads out there, we hear you when you say, my children won't eat healthy foods. If we even say the word, they tune out and already decide they don't like it.
Committed Parenting
When you think about it, probably the one thing that our children need most in order to grow up feeling loved, happy, and empowered enough to give of themselves to others is our commitment to them as parents. Our children must know that we have made a commitment to them and we must demonstrate that commitment constantly.
Top Ten Ways to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children is the best way to ensure that they live a happy, successful, and responsible life as an adult. Here are ten ways to help your kids attain a high degree of emotional intelligence:1.
Guide to Choosing a Computer System for Your Child
Before going further into choosing computers for children, I believe that you would like to know the answer to the following question:Why do children need computers?The easiest answer for this one is: "A child needs a computer so that he can play computer games". Everybody agrees.
Moms - Get More Energy Now
Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect their wives or partners to do the lion's share.There are signs that we're moving toward a more enlightened age in which ALL parents play their part.
Coping With Colic
Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike, colic is likely to be the first major test of your parenting skills. It is dreadful for all concerned but these tips should help you cope with this difficult time.
Ultimate Airplane Themed Games & Activities for your Childs Birthday Party
Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games and Activities? Well stop looking because they are right here..
You Goofed? Hip, Hip, Hooray!
Certainly we all want our children to excel. But it takes most kids years to find their strengths; if they don't try everything that comes their way --from kickball to spelling bees-- how will they discover their passions?One thing that parents can model is to value 'effort' and 'risk'.
How To Be A Bad Mother
As I sit here and reflect on the past two days and really the past two months, I am flooded with memories of the past and present. All of these thoughts run through my head and I feel so angry and resentful.
Teach Your Children - Without Them Knowing They Are Learning!
The great thing about children is they absorb knowledge like a sponge. The downside to this is that they are typically wise to the fact that they don't want to sit down and be taught, fortunately as parents we can think of ways around that! Here are some great ideas of ways to promote learning with your children.
Finding A Caregiver You Can Trust
Choosing to leave your child with a caregiver is one of the most important decisions you will make. When hiring a caregiver or nanny for your child, there are several important steps you need to take to minimize potential risks of hiring someone who will not be a good fit for your child and family.
Parenting Your Teenager: 6 Tips for Effective Discipline and Consequences
A parent writes in, ``We are having a hard time in our family deciding on appropriate punishments when our teen-ager breaks family rules. We can't tell if we are too strict or too lenient.
Dealing with Lying: The Dos and Donts
Jason Roberts listened to his son's explanation of the missing cookies and then called him a liar. Brenda Taylor thought her three-year-old's lies were cute, so she ignored them.
Nothing Like a Mothers Love
Travel is a common theme in my life -- probably started with the family vacation we took every year when I was young. But in all my travels, I have seen another universal theme, a common symbol of unity, love and Peace.
Treatment Options for ADHD
Ritalin has been shown through the years to be very effective in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms. Although it has potential side-effects which many families would like to avoid, we have seen it help a lot of people.
Kids And Chores - Make It Easy On Yourself!
My neighbours' kid impressed me the other day.I was busy painting the backyard fence, when their ten-year old son came out with the vacuum cleaner.
What About Competition? Are Your Kids Ready?
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids compete for good grades, the attention of their parents and teachers, and even to get picked for 'the right team' in gym class.
Picky Eater Syndrome
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon that someone has discerning taste preferences different from their parents or others. These discerning taste preferences are dictated by their blood and body type.
Mutants or Clones?
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded with themes of mutants, cyborgs, evolving and the digital world. These words intimidated me at first, until I learned what the shows were talking about.
Parenting Your Teenager: How to End the Curfew Battle
Q. Things have been relatively calm and OK with our 16-year-old son so far.