School is out! Summer break is here! Time for sleeping in, eating picnic food, and going on adventures. Sometimes, though, an away-vacation just isn’t possible. After all, gas is expensive, and paying for hotels and restaurants gobbles up chunks of money. So how can you make life fresh and new right at home?
Rearrange Your Bedroom
Rearranging a room gives it that special “new” feeling that draws you in to spend time in a space you’ve occupied for years. The size of your room and the window and door placement may seem limiting, but use your imagination. In one house I lived in, my bedroom was rectangular-shaped with closet doors that extended across most of one end of the room. I didn’t need access to both sides of the closet, so my bed could be positioned in front of one set of the double doors. Another option is to divide your bedroom into two spaces, making your own little suite. First, place the foot of your bed against a wall or window, leaving the back of your headboard exposed. Second, put a shelf or desk up against the headboard to create a reading or workspace separate from your sleeping space. In addition, if you take the time to clean out your closet, you may find the perfect spot for a reading nook—again, making you feel like you have an extra room all to yourself.
Bake a Dessert to Represent Another Country
Going out to eat means first, convincing someone else it’s a good idea, and second, having enough money to afford something more than fast food. Save yourself some disappointment and frustration and bake a recipe traditionally from another country. Check the pantry. Do you have flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract? You’re well on your way to having what you need to bake. Now, it is possible you’ll need something not usually on the grocery list. But this baking excursion is EDUCATIONAL and CREATIVE and ECONIMICAL. (I give you permission to use these very excuses.) After all, a macaron at the bakery might cost you $2, but with a bag of almond flour you can make a couple dozen at the cost of ingredients. Do you wish you could go to France? Make macarons or mousse. Are you dreaming of England? Make a couple varieties of scones. Wish you could take a trip to Italy? Whip up a tiramisu. Your family will be excited for dessert, and isn’t that part of vacation? The excitement of trying something new?
Learn a New Craft
My aunt visited recently. During her stay, she knitted me a dish cloth. She needed a crochet hook to finish up the project, so I retrieved a container of suppies from my closet. Several years ago, I’d attempted to crochet, but the yarn and crochet hook had been unused for a long time. I didn’t even remember that I owned a set of wooden knitting needles, too. My aunt took on the task of teaching me to knit. Casting on didn’t take too long to learn, but the next part did! She tried to teach me again and again, and finally I got it! And more importantly, we laughed and spent time together. I will never knit a sweater, but maybe someday, I’ll manage to make a scarf. Maybe. Possibly not. But I tried something new, and I made a memory. Isn’t making memories a key part of vacation?
The newness of place, the fresh experience, the making of memories—all are elements of going on vacation. But sometimes you just can’t go away. Even if you are home most of the summer, spice up this season with the ingredients of a stay-at-home vacation!