Take a Vacation Without Leaving Your House

Not everyone can take a luxurious spring break vacation each year, but you can make your home feel a bit like a resort. Relax and unwind with these ideas.

An oil diffuser can quickly change the mood in a room. Try a tropical-scented blend to spark memories of a day at the beach. Silence your phone, pick up a good book and enjoy disconnecting for awhile. You can also transform an ordinary bath into a spa-like experience with a few candles, bath salts, soothing music, and a face mask. A set of flannel sheets and a heated or weighted blanket can make your home extra cozy if you'd prefer that "mountain cabin" feeling.

On a clear spring day, hang a hammock in the backyard and sip a refreshing drink or let the breeze lull you to sleep. Giving yourself permission to rest can help you feel like you're on vacation – all without the added stress of traveling.

Spring Break Activities To Do with Kids

Spring break can be tricky for parents and caregivers trying to figure out how to keep children occupied. With a little creativity, you can help keep kids active and engaged rather than vegging out in front of screens all week.

If the weather allows, getting the kids outdoors is a great way to keep them entertained. Go for a hike, head to the park or create a simple scavenger hunt for things that can be found in nature.

If going outside isn't an option, there are plenty of indoor activities to consider. Visit the library and then have a picnic lunch in your family room while you enjoy reading your new books. Encourage your kids' vivid imaginations by building a fort out of couch cushions or a pirate ship out of cardboard boxes. When you're ready to leave the house, check out a local art or history museum to see if they're hosting any special events throughout the week.

With plenty of time for cleaning up dishes afterward, spring break is a great opportunity to cook with your kids. From baking their favorite cookies to making a complete meal, cooking together is an excellent chance to teach kids new life skills, encourage healthy eating habits, and build their confidence and independence in the kitchen and beyond.

Planning an inexpensive day trip is a fun way to experience a new place without the extra hassle of finding lodging, packing clothes and paying for multiple restaurant meals. Take a road trip to check out a town within a one- to three-hour drive from your home. Or, explore a new part of your city such as a park or attraction you've had on your list to visit.

St. Patrick's Day Trivia

You may know that St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17 every year, but were you aware of these other fast facts?

• St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was actually born in Britain.
• Blue was traditionally associated with St. Patrick until the 1798 Irish Rebellion when shamrocks came to symbolize nationalism and the "wearing of the green" became popular.
• St. Patrick is credited with banishing snakes from Ireland, but most experts say the island never had any. The legend is more likely a metaphor for St. Patrick, a Christian missionary, driving pagan ideology out of the country.
• Irish immigrants popularized eating corned beef and cabbage on the holiday. Corned beef was less expensive than the traditional Irish bacon they would have eaten back home.

Savor This Unusual Food Holiday

March 28 is the perfect excuse to enjoy delicious, creative cuisine for Something on a Stick Day. "Because food is just more fun when it's stuck to a stick," says FoodNetwork.com.

Challenge your friends to eat only food served on sticks for the entire day, or throw a party with skewered appetizers, main courses and desserts. Use these ideas to get started, and don't miss the shrimp and sausage recipe included in this issue.

BBQ pork skewers: Marinate pork shoulder overnight, cut into small pieces and add to a skewer. Grill over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. Top with fresh green onions.

Cheese balls: Who says the stick can't be edible too? Use pretzel sticks to hold Goat cheese balls. Roll the cheese in your choice of pomegranate arils, crushed pistachios or flaxseed.

Mini sliders: Bake or purchase mini pretzel buns. Form hamburger patties that are slightly smaller than the buns, grill and top with cheese. Add your favorite burger toppings and pierce with a sturdy toothpick.

Homemade ice pops: Enjoy this classic treat-on-a-stick by blending fresh raspberries and blueberries with yogurt, milk, honey, and vanilla. Pour the mixture into ice pop molds, add a stick and freeze for 4-6 hours.

Shrimp and Sausage Skewers

Ingredients
1 tsp. smoked paprika
¼ tsp. oregano
1 Tbsp. avocado oil
¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
18 large shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 pkg. (12 oz.) cured chorizo or smoked turkey sausage
18 long toothpicks
1 lime, cut into slices
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Directions
In a medium bowl, combine paprika, oregano, oil, pepper, and garlic. Add shrimp, and toss to coat. Marinate in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cut sausage into 18 slices.

To assemble skewers, slide one sausage slice onto a toothpick followed by a shrimp. Be sure the shrimp tail wraps around the sausage.

Heat grill on high. Cook skewers for 1-2 minutes per side, until shrimp is pink and sausage has plumped. Garnish with lime slices and fresh parsley.

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