Payless Car Rental Blog

If you’re a parent, you know that the end of summer is a much anticipated event, for you that is! While the kids are dreading the day school starts… you’re secretly doing the ‘happy dance’ behind closed doors. The end of summer brings a standard routine that the summer seems to lack, it is also an ending to parents worrying about what their children are doing, or having to plan summer activities on top of regular work responsibilities.

Of course, we all love our children dearly… but we all know the added stress that summer can bring. So, after getting them ready, and sending them off to school, here are some ideas on how to help you take a vacation from the summer!

1) Take the Day Off: Yes, it seems a bit cliche… but trust me, it works wonders! It;s usually best to pick a Monday… you know, to start the week off right! Whether you have to pull a sick day, or even a day without pay… just do it! Wake up early and get the kids ready to send off to school. Once they’re gone, set a timer for your morning coffee/tea or beverage of choice and head straight back to bed! Wake up whenever you feel like it… and just do whatever makes you relax. If cleaning relaxes you… do a little cleaning. Personally, I just sleep half the day away… and then sit in bed with a good book the rest of the day. To make the day even more special… have your significant other take the day off too… when was the last time you had a romantic getaway? Hard to remember? Trust me… this works!

2) Splurge a Little: Yes, getting ready for the school year can be hard on the budget… especially if you have more than one child! It always helps to make sure you have a little money in the budget to just go out and buy something that you’ve had your eye on, but never got. The first rule is, don’t feel guilty! It’;s okay to spend money on yourself… especially after dealing with your kids all summer. The second rule? Well… just don’t get carried away, alright?

3) Date Night: Whether you’re a couple or a single parent… it is always important to keep a spark in your love life. So always, take one night out of the week to spend by yourselves. Hire a babysitter and head out for a night on the town, or simply dinner and a movie. If you can’;t get a babysitter… there a few movie theaters that offer this service for relatively cheaply, if all else fails… order from your favorite restaurant and have dinner and a movie at home!

4) Make a Special Dinner: This one is for the WHOLE family! Plan a special dinner for the first day of school. No need to put together a standing rib roast. Just make it different enough to be thought of as special. When I was a kid my favorite dish was tuna casserole… so it was always a perfect start of the school year when I came home from a day of school and had my favorite food waiting for me! Sometimes the best stress reliever is being able to look at your children and know they are happy.

Family reunions are always exciting, yet sometimes stressful….especially if the reunion is in another country! It’;s been over 9 years since I’;ve seen some of my family, that I was even a little nervous I wouldn’;t recognize some, or they may not recognize me.

So here I am traveling with two kids, and did I mention with no extra help. The night before our long flight, I wanted to make sure I didn’;t forget anyone’;s gifts, pack enough diapers and baby food for my 11-month-old baby, and of course plenty of toys and clothes for my 6-year-old girl. Luckily, I managed to pack everything in one big suitcase. Amazing isn’;t it?

After, traveling for over 16 hours and stopping in 4 airports, we finally reached our destination. I was so happy to be in Spain, it made me forget about that long, long, flight! As soon as we arrived to my family’;s house, it was time to for dinner. It was the most wonderful feeling to be sitting next to my family that I haven’;t seen in so long! Shortly after, I showered my family with gifts from the USA. While everyone was un-wrapping their gifts, I noticed a lot had changed… it seems that in just 10 years our likes and dislikes had changed immensely. In fact, I bought everyone a gift, but everyone seemed to like the gifts that weren’;t theirs. So they started exchanging gifts, and some people ended up having 2 gifts, and others left with none. After seeing the dismay on some faces, I thought it would be nice to invite them all to a restaurant. You can imagine how that turned out - 15 people trying to agree on one restaurant. Yes, I know what you’;re thinking, and it is impossible! After a lengthy discussion, we ended up staying home and eating chicken. Funny how some things work out…

My youngest daughter would vanish from time to time, among the multitude of people. At times, I caught the older kids feeding her octopus and snails. I even found an olive seed in her diaper. Luckily she wasn’;t hurt, but I fear she will never eat another olive again! My oldest daughter had no problems communicating in Spanish with her cousins. She had a lot of fun watching Kim Impossible and the Cheetah Girls in Spanish. She thought the translation into Spanish was hilarious, and to be honest, I thought so too.

On my flight home, I remembered all of the fun, memorable, and not so memorable times spent with my family. I’;m so grateful to have a wonderful family! My trip to Spain taught made me realize I can never let so many years pass without seeing them. But most of all, I learned that family is family, no matter how far away they live, or how embarrassing they can be, I’;ll always carry a piece of them in my heart.

Philadelphia is renowned for their Philly Cheese steaks; but who could beg to differ?  No matter where you go, what you do, or who you’re with, there’s always time to stop at Pat’s or Geno’s restaurant to order one of their Famous Philly Cheese steaks.  I could never pass up the chance to eat a Philly cheese steak - who could resist the warm bread, piled high with steak, topped off with your choice of cheese, provolone, American, or the original cheese-whiz melted to perfection - who could ask for a more satisfying meal?

Well, for those non meat lovers, take a drive to The Palm. The restaurant offers an array of dishes, from jumbo lobsters, authentic Italian entrees, prime beef, and desserts sure to please everyone!  Hungry for more?  Enjoy dinner at the Capitol Grille, Moshulu, or the infamous Downey’s Restaurant.  Downey’s is located in one of Philadelphia’s premier neighborhoods, Society Hill.  History buffs can enjoy cruising through Historic Philadelphia, while the rest of the gang can explore the shops at the Independence Mall.  The eclectic selection of shops in Society Hill makes for a wonderful experience in Philadelphia.  With that said, rent a car at Payless Philadelphia and explore the assortment of restaurants, and of course Philly Cheese Steaks!

It seems like only yesterday that summer vacation began and now as it quickly comes to a close, it is time to begin thinking about getting ready for school! Here are a few quick tidbits to help get the kids back into the school groove:

1. Start With Their Schedule: All summer they have been able to go to bed later, without the need to wake up as early. If you want to avoid the morning monster from visiting your house, start by slowly nudging them into a regular sleep schedule. Each day send them to bed a half an hour earlier and wake them up a half an hour earlier. Also, don’;t underestimate the power of caffeine… I still have to stop drinking in well before bedtime or it’;ll take me forever to get to bed. Try and limit the amount of caffeine by only serving juice or non-caffeinated sodas (such as fruit flavored sodas, cream soda, ginger ale, and some root beers… if in doubt check the label!) after three o’;clock. Also remember to keep candy to a minimum after this time, it will make it a lot easier for you to get them to bed!
2. Have a Fashion Show: How much have your children grown over the summer? Do the school clothes that you bought last year still fit, or are you going to have to slather butter on your children just to get their jeans on? One of the most important items to check is their shoes. Comfortable fitting shoes are imperative with growing children, as forcing growing feet into shoes too small can cause damage. After the fashion show, make a list of what you need and head down to the store. Tight on cash? Every city has outlet stores scattered through town which offer great deals on brand named clothes. Another option is second hand stores, which offer clothes that are practically new for a fraction of the department store cost. Do a little online research and save big!
3. Stock Up: The final, and most dreaded task of school shopping, is stocking up on the school supplies. I recommend that you get started early so you’;re not fighting other parents in a crowded aisle for that last set of scissors. Remember to check the school for a more detailed listing of what will be needed for that specific grade and schoole, but here are a few essential items to keep in mind when shopping:
   • A School Box (8″ W x 5″ H x 2″ Deep)
   • Glue Stick
   • No. 2 Pencils
   • Large Eraser
   • Ballpoint Pens
   • Children’;;s Safety Scissors
   • Pencil Sharpener
   • Crayons/Markers/Colored Pencils
   • Folder
   • 3-Ring Binder
   • Notebook
   • Loose-leaf Paper (Wide-ruled)
   • Backpack

A road trip can be torture for kids. Imagine, spending hours on the road with nothing to do but sit and go stir crazy!  This does not have to be the case, because there are plenty of games you can play or teach your children to help pass the time and make car travel more fun! Here are just a few you can play… be sure the driver focuses on driving though, have the passenger play these games with the kids or teach them before leaving the driveway:

I Spy: Almost everyone has played this game at least once in their lifetime! It’s a tried and true way to get your child not to focus on the time in the car, and have fun at the same time. The best part is, it’s easy! Simply pick out an object that is easily seen… then give everyone a clue by saying “I spy something…”(provide a description such as color, shape, or size). Everyone takes turns guessing what it is, and whoever guesses become the new spy!

Odd or Even: This game can keep several children busy, and can be educational as well! Have each child guess if there are more license plates that end in an odd or even number.  (License plates ending in a letter do not count)  

1.  Give each child a blank sheet of paper and a pencil, or something to mark with.
2.  Set a time limit, usually 10-15 minutes.
3.  Have one child look for plates that end in an odd number, and the other look for an even number.
4.  Have them mark down each car they find. (For extra learning, have them group the marks in sets of 5)
5.  At the end of the time limit, have the children add up their marks. (Counting by 5’s if grouping was used)

A to Z:  This game is fun and easy! Have the players search different signs on the road (exit signs, billboards, etc.) and find words beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Each player continues the alphabet, after “A”, go to “B…” and so on.  Alternate the starting person at the start of a new game, so that everyone gets a chance with the challenging letters. (For younger players you may want to skip the difficult letters.)

What did I bring on my trip?: This game can get quite silly, especially with younger children! Begin the game by saying, “going on a trip and  bringing…” The first player should name an item that starts with the letter “A”.  After “A” , the next player will say the same thing but with the letter “B”, and so on. This is similar to the A to Z game, but easier for younger children.

License Plate: This one is perfect for children learning how to add. Simply call out the numbers on a license plate and see who can add them correctly. Switch it up with subtraction or even multiplication and division for older children! Another spin on this game is to write down the license plate number and see who can say the number without messing up!

Summer time is one of the most popular seasons - school is out, graduations, and weddings begin, and of course the biggest attraction for vacationers is the 10,000 lakes.  There are some wonderful sites to see in Minnesota; some of my recommendations would be the Science Museum in St. Paul, and the Walker Arts Center.  My ideal weekend would consist of sitting out by the lake, fishing for the entire day!  The peaceful, serene water makes you truly appreciate your surroundings, and everything that Mother Nature has to offer.  Go for a swim, take a boat ride, go camping, the possibilities are endless!  One of my favorite places to dine is called Ocean Air, which offers freshest seafood in town!  For those serious shoppers, check out the Mall of America - the largest mall in the United States.  Don’t say you don’t like to shop until you check out the indoor roller coaster! 

With the help of Payless Car Rental, I was able to travel to Spain with the Florida International University’;s Honor College Program. I am so grateful and glad that Payless was able to assist me in my fund raising endeavors; it was truly a trip to remember!

We started our trip in Madrid, the capital city of Spain and stayed in a small hotel, only steps away from Plaza del Sol. This area was a perfect place to stay, as it was also within walking distance of the Royal Palace, the Metro and many other monuments of interest. There is so much to see in Madrid, that I feel we only scratched the surface in our 2½ weeks there.

Not only does Madrid have plenty to see, it is also ideally located. We stayed in Madrid, but were able to visit several other important cities like Toledo, Avila, and Segovia. Each of these cities has its own unique cultural “flavor” with their own amazing cuisine!

From Madrid we headed over to Barcelona in the Catalonian region. It was quite interesting to learn that although the main language in Spain is Spanish there are several regional languages such as Catalan, Vasque and Galician (each one stemming from the Latin language and each one unique).

Barcelona was a refreshing respite, since I was able to speak English far more easily than in other parts of the country. I was also able to jump into the Mediterranean Sea! Of course, I will be much more careful with my suntan lotion in the future… I apparently missed a few spots and had a painful, yet entertaining splotchy burn. Well… more entertaining for my friends than for me at least!

Our final destination was Santiago in the Galician region, and is one of my favorite cities that we traveled to. The food, especially the seafood, was amazing and I’;m glad we only stayed a few days or I would have gained 10 pounds! The people of this city were the nicest and most accommodating of the places I visited in Spain.

Needless to say, the trip was one of the best that I have had in a long time. I will miss Spain, but as with every trip am glad to be back home and getting back into a regular routine. Now time to start planning my next big adventure… maybe South America!

Wanna come?

Every year millions of Americans celebrate Memorial day, but many do not know the history of or reason for this holiday. At this moment in our nation’s history it is important for us to understand this holiday, and to celebrate it with a new understanding and reverence.

The concept for the holiday began in the 1850′, when towns would gather together in remembrance of Civil War soldiers who fell in combat. In the South many organized women’s groups decorated the graves of confederate soldiers. These activities spurred the creation of a national holiday. Memorial day was officially recognized on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. The first celebration was observed on May 30 when flowers were placed on Union and Confederate soldiers’ graves, in Arlington National Cemetery.   In 1873, New York became the first state to recognize the holiday and by 1890 the majority of northern states had officially adopted the holiday. The southern states did not recognize the holiday, and held a similar holiday on different days. After World War I, the holiday was changed to include honoring all who have fallen in combat. Currently, the holiday is held on the last Monday in May.

In 1915, Moina Michael started the tradition of wearing poppies on Memorial day, in honor of those who died in combat. She was inspired by the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and even wrote her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal from the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

This tradition not only spread throughout the states, but also spread to other countries. In 1922, the VFW became the first veterans’ association to sell poppies nationally. The United States Postal Service honored Moina in 1940 for her role in the National Poppy movement by issuing a special red, three cent stamp.

More recently, Memorial day has been losing its meaning and traditional observances have become increasingly rare. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

here are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50’s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye’;s Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

As Memorial day approaches, let us take the time to remember those who have fallen in combat. Many state and national veterans’ cemeteries have moving services for Memorial day. This year let’s take some time to honor our fallen heroes.

Merchant, David M. “Memorial Day” (1994).
       http://www.usmemorialday.org/

Wait spring, as in summer is just around the corner?
Well if you are still working towards your New Year’s resolution of losing those holiday pounds, then you and I are in the same boat.  Don’t let the passing months discourage you from striving to be a healthier, more confident you!  For many - work weeks can be exhausting, whether you’re in the office, driving from point a to point b, or at home taking care of a million different things.  Let’s face it, every day life can be stressful, and sometimes the last thing on our minds is to hit up the gym. But the truth of the matter is that everyone should take 15-20 minutes per day to MOVE!  You don’t need fancy equipment, or a membership to a gym that costs more than your car. It’s simple, and when I say simple I mean there is a workout designed for everyone, everywhere, no matter your age. Follow these pointers to jump start your fitness program!

1)       Take it easy:  As silly as it sounds, whenever starting a new exercise program you have to ease your body into it, or you will be feeling the workout day after day.

2)       Take a cruise: Not in your car, but stroll through your neighborhood, a park, a track, or for those limited by space walk in place.

3)       One of the easiest ways to get your heart rate up without using fancy equipment is doing good ole jumping jacks. Sound too easy?  Try 50 jumping jacks and then see how tired you are. Increase the intensity by doing intervals of 15 fast, 5 slow, or make the exercise less intense by not swinging your arms and legs in full motion

4)       If mid afternoon is a sluggish time for you  pop in a 15 minute exercise video.  You never know, you may encourage other co workers/friends/family members.

5)       Remember, exercise alone doesn’t keep your body in tip top shape. You must incorporate healthy eating. When I hear healthy I assume, another strict diet consisting of soy and tofu. But don’t let those foods discourage you. Here are a few tips to eating better:

-  Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. Your daily food selection should include bread/whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish.

- Eat moderate portions.

- Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating.

-  Reduce, don’;t eliminate certain foods.

-  Make changes gradually. Just as there are no “super foods” or easy answers to a healthy diet, don’;t expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight…

Last but not least, remember foods are not good or bad. Select foods based on your eating patterns, not whether any individual food is “good” or “bad.” Don’;t feel guilty if you love foods such as cake, potato chips, candy bars or ice cream. Eat them in moderation, and choose other foods to provide the balance and variety that are vital to good health.

Follow these small steps to become a more fit, happy you! 
Remember, the key to long-term weight loss success is being optimistic. 

Cheers to positive thinking!