Looking for some stress relief that won’t break the budget? An evening out can be as simple as a massage and reading an enthralling book over coffee.
To start your evening out, try local spa Lavender Retreat’s monthly Ladies’ Night Out. Each $20 session includes a 15 minute massage, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. Sessions must be reserved in advance. The next Ladies’ Night Out is March 9th from 5pm until 8pm. For longer sessions, Lavender Retreat offers massage options for 30 or 60 minutes, as well as nutritional consultations and health seminars. For the more adventurous individual, travel arrangements are also available to international destinations such as Greece, China, Peru, and Africa. More information is available .
Next, head to Borders to find a tempting book or magazine. For a taste of France, try Irene Némirovsky’s Suite Francaise or Graham Robb’s Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris. If you like suspense, try Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games or Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.Both of the latter books are trilogies that should offer several hours of quiet entertainment.
Enjoy your reading picks over a favorite dessert and cup of coffee and you should be on your way to a relaxing evening out.
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Need a budget-friendly babysitter? Try swapping with another local mom. If you want an evening out one week, ask if she would watch your kids if you would trade the next week. Be sure to set realistic expectations and discuss specifics, but you may find a long term solution that can benefit both families.
