For a minimal room and board fee, the advertisement indicated, one could enjoy a complimentary “working” threeday weekend at the old historical inn in Cape May, New Jersey in exchange for some light labor preparing the inn for their opening season. Alternately, you could sign up for fall, when the leaves become crimson, the guests' teeth start to chatter during walks along the seashore and the inn closes her eyes for a long winter's nap. Weary of expensive vacations and tourist traps and seeking a new adventure that wouldn't break the bank or involve extensive travel time, my girlfriend and I decided to spend a long weekend at the inn to experience our first "staycation." The application form for The Chalfonte Hotel had a list of “chores” for which you could offer your talents. One could choose painting, landscaping, carpentry, cleaning or laundry. It’s ironic how all of the chores you dread doing at home suddenly sound fun when you get to “pick just one.”
Whitetail Resort
There is no place like home and nothing more comforting than a hot cup of soup, especially when you are sick as a dog. Let me rewind and tell you about our recent (November of 2010) almost disastrous visit to Barcelona, Spain.
Many readers of this story may be native to Northern Virginia and know every hamlet from the Potomac River to the Blue Ridge. But for transplants like me, every trip in the man-van has the potential to uncover something interesting and new. On a recent excursion beyond the D.C. suburbs we discovered the wonderful little town of Winchester, VA.
Sunday was a day of mixed emotions. Sitting in a sweltering church made of tin for two and a half hours on a hard bench listening to the Creole prayer was trying. Watching the children sneak us smiles while they sat still in their Sunday best was heart-warming. Sharing communion with the Haitians was special. But the music was the true equalizer. You just could not sit still during their hymns. After the service, I took pictures of the children and they loved to gather around to see themselves on the digital screen. This was my favorite moment in Haiti.
Since returning from Haiti, I am having a hard time processing our amazing, yet excruciatingly difficult week, as well as 
Right in the middle of James Taylor & Carole King singing "Shower the People You Love with Love," my diva sis-in-law said she could now take a JT concert off her bucket list. Made me think about mine. Was that why I wanted to go on a mission trip to Haiti in the middle of August? I know why I signed up on the church bulletin board 5 months ago. I had just heard Father Robb of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church deliver a sermon about "Taking the easy, and happy route in life. That was ok, but not really the life for which we were intended." I also had one of my best friends and fellow parishiners, Paige Fishel holding my hand. She was the last name on the list. 6 more openings. So easy to sign up when it was 5 months away. A few weeks later another BFF would take a spot, Beth Cascadden, and then a Chick's Picks customer, Sharon Adams, asked if she could join. She is a yoga and fitness instructor; great skill set to have on the trip too! Yep, this IS right .... it was MY payback time. My time to "take the hard road," to challenge myself, my faith. To get OUT OF MY BOX!! 
My husband and I just enjoyed a much needed getaway for the Memorial Weekend. Let me clarify that. HIS was a much needed vacation from work. Since I have recently become unemployed, it almost went against my grain to feel I have to get away from anything and go on a so-called “getaway.” Since escaping - albeit briefly - from the work world, leaving the nine-to-five in a cubicle, and doing what I’ve always wanted to have the time to do (be careful what you wish for...) - write, take photographs, paint - I just somehow couldn’t justify “getting away from it all,” and I almost felt guilty. Damn those nuns.
Wondering how to have fun this summer on a budget? Here is a checklist of thirteen inexpensive family activities – one for each week of the summer - that appeal to children and adults of all ages. 
When thinking of a peaceful, relaxing vacation it's easy to picture your "perfect" environment with no distractions and no schedule. When you are a parent and have children to entertain, accomplishing this can be challenging. "The Real Housewives of New York City's" stylish, jet-setting young cast member and mother of two, Alex McCord, offers her insight on planning a family fun vacation with vital tips about traveling with children and having an enjoyable and safe vacation. As Alex explains, "attitude is everything: assume that even if you're hit by Murphy's Law and everything that can go wrong does, stay calm, go with the flow and things will work themselves out just fine." Treat your trip like an adventure and, annoyances, missteps and mishaps simply become small obstacles. If dogs can sense fear, you better believe your three-year-old can. According to Alex, "Happy, calm parents are better equipped to deal with the crazed munchkins who only want to know 'Are we there yet?'"
