Kids, Pets and Plants

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Sometimes Being Super Frugal Can Backfire!

I just feel like bitching for a moment, so read on if you're still interested!

Blogging for me started when I lost my job in January of 2008. We made a lot of financial adjustments and I made the decision to stay home. My insanity paid off, and it's really been a dream come true. I've always been frugal, but now have lots more time to scout out deals on things that interest me. That daily journey is shared here.

One of the frugal things we started doing was cutting my husband's (and the kids) hair. Now, before you go off and start thinking I'm super fab with the clippers, I'm not! He keeps his hair real short and just uses #1 or #2 all over. In the past he was actually paying and tipping to have this done "professionally". I use quotes since he sometimes came home pissed and usually re-clipped it.

So, back to being frugal, we started doing it at home to save money. But, in order for it to look decent, I have to clip the sides and the back. I hate doing it! I don't like my ears touched, nor do I want to touch other peoples ears. Ear lobes are okay, it's the cartilage that grosses out! Folding it down to clip behind...yuck!

Things have loosened up for us a bit financially (or maybe I just now really see the value in paying $15-20 to have your hair clipped). But hubby thinks I do a better job than hair cut place, and we're still clipping at home. I even tried to give him a coupon for a FREE haircut at SportsClips and he refused it!

Damn me and my mad hair clipper skills!

An Overnight Staycation At The Hilton Anatole

This weekend we took our second staycation of the summer. What is a staycation you might be asking? A staycation is a mini vacation where you stay in town (or at home). For us that means heading to the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. There are several reasons why we've become addicted to the overnight staycation.

First off is the hotel. When was the last time you went to a hotel and enjoyed some of the amenities they offer? My guess is never. For adults, hotels are places to stay while we're on the road or visiting cool destinations. But when you visit cool destinations (ex: Disney World), it seems you're pressed for time. We stayed at a beautiful resort in Florida last year, and never once had a chance to even swim. That was a bummer for my kids since they LOVE hotels! Hotels are the funnest and most memorable part of a vacation for a child. What's not to like? There's a bed you can usually jump on a few times before you get yelled at. Glass elevators and escalators, the need for trips down the hall for ice, fun new bathrooms, indoor pools in the winter. Okay, I think you get the idea. Hotels are super cool to kids!

Second, we love that there really isn't much of a drive. It takes us about 35 minutes to get to the Anatole. Right about the time the kids decide to start repetitively asking "are we there yet?", we are pulling in. Not to mention that you don't need to plan ahead with oil changes, gas fill ups, etc.

For us, the Anatole is also positioned closer to "new and different" things to do. Since we were staying close to downtown, we ate dinner at El Fenix which is super yummy! Plus, my husband and kids had never been. Although, being close to downtown has a few drawbacks, such as the strong smell of pee outside the restaurant. :)

The third reason we love the staycation, is the leisurely mornings. With no rushing to get back on the road, we enjoyed a full breakfast and swam in the indoor pool while it poured down rain outside. I even got to soak in the hot tub! Then we packed up (but didn't make our beds!!) and headed to the Dallas World Aquarium right down the road. The aquarium was lots of fun and a great indoor activity with all of the rain.

Finally, the trip home was quick and there was not a pile of laundry to wash, that's a win-win for me.

Have you tried a staycation? What did you do? Will you do another?