It’s winter…it’s February…and we in the East are having snow on top of snow storms. It’s time to get on the slopes! In a few days the 2010 Winter Games will begin in Vancouver, British Columbia and then it will be Valentine’s day. Romance will be in the air and skiers will be eager to get to the mountains in North America for romantic ski holidays.

Romantic ski holidays can be a wonderful way to save the romance in your relationship if you plan ahead. Be sure to book accommodations where there is a concierge to help you plan the perfect ski vacation so everything will go smoothly. Agree with your special someone what level of skiing you will do together, a level that you can both safely maneuver. It isn’t romantic skiing solo. Look for fireplaces, intimate dining, exciting nightlife, and activities that you’ll both enjoy – perhaps couples massages, walk to shopping village, and sleigh rides. Ask for a bottle of your favorite wine and a few rose petals upon arrival to add that extra special touch that speaks, “I love you!”

Where are some of the romantic ski destinations to help save the romance?

British Columbia is truly a romantic ski destination where lovers enjoy scenic views and every winter activity when visiting some of the best ski resorts in North America. With the 2010 Winter Games events in Vancouver, there will be top accommodations and plenty to enjoy.

Quebec is another romantic destination for a romantic ski holiday where you’ll find in addition to the great views and skiing, accommodations offering warm cozy fireplaces, elegant or casual intimate candlelight dining, horse-drawn sleigh rides, festivals and carnivals.

Killington, VT, offers wonderful skiing and snowmobiling with Vermont-style hospitality at quaint inns, lodges, bistros and nightclubs against the romantic backdrop of Vermont’s spectacular mountain.

Sun Valley, Idaho, is a romantic ski destination for couples who wish to learn to ski together on gentle, treeless and sunny slopes of Dollar Mountain, the “finest teaching mountain in the world.”

Beckenridge, Colorado, is an romantic inviting ski getaway known for its historic heritage and state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate skiers who come to enjoy nature’s beauty by day and the entertaining activities by night.

Mammoth Lakes, California, caught my eye for the romantic sleigh rides, hot air ballooning, and Eastern Sierra views.

You don’t need Valentine’s Day as a reason for a romantic ski holiday, you can enjoy a romantic getaway anytime…all you need is snow and a special someone to enjoy it with.

Cold Weather Gardening Tips

I’ve been worried about the shrubs we planted this past Fall and would hate to see them damaged by this colder than normal weather – especially since we spent more on landscaping than we have in the past.  My friend asked me what we’ve done to protect the new plants.  I told her nothing….I didn’t know there was anything we could do to protect them from the extreme cold weather. We are just hoping for the best. (I really sounded ignorant, I guess.)

Since my friend is very knowledgeable when it comes to gardening, she gave me some cold weather gardening tips to protect our new plantings:

1.  Wrap the plants with sheets or blankets at night when a frost is expected, remove them in the morning if the temperature warms up to their tolerant temperature.  A frost cloth is the best protection and if you can build a frame around the plant so the cloth doesn’t touch – even better!

2.  Add heat by using heat lamps with 100-watt bulbs in an outdoor fixture.  Make sure the bulb does not touch the plant.

3.  Be sure to add mulch to the ground around the plants.  Mulch insulates the ground maintaining a more consistent temperature range, rather than greater fluctuations when the temperatures dip down below freezing.

Winter Gardening Projects

Our conversation made me realize I need to educate myself more to prepare for our Spring gardening projects.  Since I had my friend’s ear, I asked her what I could do so I won’t make mistakes again.  Here’s the winter gardening projects she suggested I do:

1.  Take advantage of the winter months by signing up for gardening workshops offered by the local County Agriculture Extension or gardening clubs.

2. Visit the local library for books on gardening and horticultural gardens where I can ask questions. Also remember to research ways you can become a “green” gardener by using organic gardening products.

3.  Learn about container gardening – plants may survive better in the winter because soil heats up quicker thus preventing roots from freezing.

Gardening with Grandchildren

It’s possible to have fun gardening with your grandchildren even during the cold weather months.

• To get your grandchildren interested in gardening, purchase kits that include making a small green house appropriate to start growing a variety of vegetable seeds in peat pots. Indoor gardening can teach responsibility while also teaching about the care of plants.

• Order a bunch of vegetable seed and flower seed catalogs for you and your grandchildren to start planning a Spring gardening project you can have fun doing together then and through the Summer into the Fall, too.

• Be sure to let the children make decisions and design a section of the larger garden just for them. Vegetable gardening is fun for children since the plants themselves grow fast.

Find out when the last freeze is and plan on starting seeds indoors about six weeks before that time, clean your gardening tools, stake your garden and finalize your garden design.  Cold weather can be a big problem when it comes time to prepare a garden in the Spring – I hope Mother Nature will be kinder to us so we can get out in the sun (with protection, of course) and get our garden growing by following all the gardening tips we learm during the winter!

Having to find a new apartment is a stressful task, especially when it is in a new location which adds to the stress because of the additional time and money that is needed. Knowing how to find an apartment that meets every need doesn’t have to be stressful. Knowing how to find an apartment will cut down on the stress and time.

How to Find the Right Apartment

I have a daughter who needs to find a new apartment in Boston and I have a sister who is a real estate agent familiar with the Boston area. Being a good mother, I called my sister and asked her advice on looking for Boston, MA apartments. To help my daughter find the right apartment, she offered these tips:

1. Most important – calculate your housing expense budget, including rent, utilities, parking fees if needed, additional pet fee (if allowed) – will you consider having a roommate to share the expenses?
2. List requirements for the apartment itself: garden or duplex, one story or two, storage, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry, parking/garage, distance from work or college
3. List all amenities in order of importance, such as security, location to shopping, transportation, pool, air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher, cable or satellite, recreation facilities, etc.
4. Research cost of utilities if they aren’t included in the rent (when you find an apartment you like – ask to see copies of utility bills for accurate budgeting before you sign the lease)
5. Check to see if your cell phone company has a strong signal (my son found his didn’t when he moved into his apartment only 20 miles from where he previously lived even though the company boasted they did)
6. Call the local police department and ask about crime rates – find which areas are the safest before you start searching for your apartment
7. When visiting the apartments, inspect ceilings, walls, floors for signs of water damage from flooding, leaking pipes or roof; test all electrical switches and look for safety outlets near sinks; flush toilets and run faucets; listen for noise – visit at different times of the day when you narrow down your preferences (remember – some neighborhoods may be noisier in the warm weather than in the winter when most people stay indoors)
8. If there is a pool, check what times the pool is open. Will you be bothered by the noise?
9. What is the age of the neighbors? Are they young and of the partying age, are they families with lots of children running around, or are they of the quieter older adult age who like it quiet early in the evening? Decide which fits your lifestyle the best.
10. In addition to obtaining the above information, ask the landlord if your move-in date is agreeable, what date of the month your rent is due, how much security is needed, what decorating you are allowed to do (painting other colors, hooks in walls, etc.)

Be Prepared Before You Start to Find an Apartment

Before you start your search, check the apartment rental listings found in the newspapers, often in booklets found in supermarkets, and reputable online sources. A rental agent can give you additional information on the neighborhoods and can help you negotiate a lease, if need be. Preparing your personal information such as previous addresses, employer, and income can help you save time when completing the rental application.  My sister says that if her advice is followed, it will help reduce the stress of searching for the right apartment.

I’ve come up with 8 bedroom decorating ideas that will give a new look and feel to our bedroom and save a lot of money too…

1. Every summer we install a window air conditioner unit in one of our bedroom windows so we don’t have to run the central air system during the night. There isn’t any need to cool off the other bedrooms, so why run it all night? But, the window air conditioner is not attractive from the outside nor from the inside.  I’m also concerned about my husband’s back since he has to install it by himself, now that we are “older” adults. A more attractive and economical choice is to purchase a portable air conditioning unit. It won’t be seen from the street, nor will it be an eyesore in the bedroom. My husband will be able to avoid straining his back or other injuries, and we can move it to other rooms as we need it, such as our office/sewing room. An added plus is that they are designed to be energy efficient.

2. Changing the bedding ensemble can be costly. In order to save money, I’m going to change only the throw pillows and a couple of the shams with each of the seasons. My husband gave me a new sewing machine as a Christmas present – I’ll make the pillows and shams myself!

3. A well known decorating tip is to add mirrors to the room’s decor. Mirrors can give a sense of more space while making the room cheerier. Our bedroom in the north – east corner which doesn’t give it much light, especially in the winter. I want to design a grouping of square mirrors above the bed which will also create a visual artistic focus when entering the bedroom.

4. I like the drapes I have, so I won’t change them. What I can do is purchase decorative trimmings to make my own tie backs. These can be found in any fabric store.

5. Instead of replacing the lamps, lampshades can be easily replaced.  A fun weekend project will be shopping garage sales and flea markets for the best lamp shade prices. Maybe I’ll find other good things to decorate the bedroom!

6. Painting a whole room can be expensive and time consuming. I’m going to paint the wall behind the bed a color that complements my bedding. On that wall I’ll be hanging the mirrors which will make a more dramatic statement rather than on a beige wall.

7. I enjoy digital photography and have a series of photos I’d like to display on one of the other walls. Decorative frames are often on sale or even clearance. They don’t have to match – a concept which I think makes the photo display more interesting.

8.  Another easy tip for decorating my bedroom that doesn’t cost anything is to take things that I already own and move them around. I’ll be going on a treasure hunt to find interesting items from the attic or other rooms that will give an interesting look grouped together on the night tables.

What are your bedroom decorating ideas? What are your home improvement ways to save?

We’re planning on taking a cruise to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. I haven’t been on any cruises since I was 12 when my parents took my sister and I to Bermuda; my husband has never taken one. We were in Bermuda together seven years ago and loved it, so this time we’d like to travel by cruise ship to add to the fun. I hadn’t realized there is so much to consider when choosing cruises, ports of call, the size of the ship, what activities are offered, where you want your cabin – inside or outside – which deck, and what cost you want to spend – elegant or cheap cruises or somewhere in between…and then there’s the time of year which influences the weather. But, most importantly…what to wear!

I’ve asked friends and family for their tips on planning a cruise. I’ve chosen the 10 best tips for planning a cruise to share with you:

1. Ask the cruise line representative what necessities they recommend you bring (to avoid buying them on the ship)
2. Make a detailed packing list way in advance; divide it into Must Pack (passport, license, medicine, medical cards, essentials – clothing, toiletries, umbrella, etc.) and Want to Pack (camera, batteries, extra clothing, reading materials, etc.) and add to it as things come to mind; check them off as you pack them.
3. Pack some of each the essentials that you can’t do without in a carry on bag, just in case your luggage gets lost.
4. Book your cabin early as you can – if you wait too long, you might not get the location you want which may increase the cost to your cruise – if you want a cheap cruise, see Tip #10!
5. Compare the cost of a shoreline tour given by a local tout waiting at dockside with the cost of the cruise line’s tour service (you’ll save money)
6. Choose the largest size dining table offered – you’ll meet more people and bound to find some other couple whose company you will enjoy
7. Since cruises are all inclusive, you can order as much as you like to eat so don’t be shy if you are hungry – and be sure to let them know ahead of time if you have certain preferences or needs
8. Expect some things to go wrong – it’s only natural that they do so present yourself with a good attitude and keep your sense of humor – a little kindness goes a long way especially on a large cruise ship
9. Leave copies of all important documents with a family member or friend – if you lose yours, they can fax copies to you or get replacements
10. To get the best cruise deals, book a year ahead or last minute cruises for a cheap cruise – it depends on the flexibility of your vacation schedule

If we want to get the best cruise deal, we best be starting our research so we can get the best cheap cruise deals by booking early.  See you in Bermuda?