Dog Day Afternoon

If you have a cute dog, like I do, chances are you have to search for places to hang out in public with your pooch. Sure doggie parks are fun, but what other options does a pet parent have to spend time (outside of the norm) with his/her baby?

On April 7, pet lovers and owners alike will be able to watch in awe as dogs like theirs participate in a doggy parade.

For just $2 per canine friend, dogs of various colors, shapes and sizes will be showing off in Delray Beach's Sixth Annual Easter Bonnet Dog Parade.

The best part about this event? You can spend quality time with your best friend and get to know a few other pet owners. Who knows, people meet their mates in the most interesting places...

Enjoy!

*Pictures from a New York City blog linked above and the official Delray Easter Dog Bonnet Parade website.

Classic April Fools

Everyone thinks of April Fool's Day as the one day in which people can freely play pranks on friends, family members, and even strangers. This year, instead of coming up with a new prank, why not take a drive into the past?

On Sunday, April 1, 2007, you and your family can enjoy a free Classic Car Auto Show. Vintage car owners, pay a fee of $15 on the day of the show, offering you the opportunity to see what cars used to look like. Admission for the car admirer is free.

This car show happens every first Sunday of the month in Downtown Hollywood, FL.

Be on time, the show promptly starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m.

For more information on this upcoming cheap South Florida Event, please click here.

*Photos from various vintage car websites.

I think I love my __________

After seeing Chris Rock's newest Blockbuster "I Think I Love My Wife," I have decided to do an I Think I Love My ________ Post.

In South Florida, being single or being in a relationship is very difficult. On one hand, single people claim that there are no potential mates out there; meanwhile relationship people are fighting off the potential mates with a stick. It seems like no one wants you until you belong to someone else. For most people, that is a definite problem.

If you are single and in search of a potential mate in South Florida, here are a few things that you could do:

1. Check out local conversation spots, like Bougainvillea's Old Florida Tavern. This is a great spot to sit and unwind, while seeking out potential suitors.


2. Try Single Gourmet, a new program where singles can enjoy an all-inclusive dinner at various restaurants in South Florida. For a membership fee of $99 annually (divide that by 12 months in the year it is definitely under $20), offers South Florida professionals an opportunity to enjoy fine wine, food, and new people.


3. Attend a round-robin tennis tournament, for single avid tennis players in South Florida. For just $10, singles can participate in SportsMates, combining exercise with fun and matchmaking.

On the other hand, if you aren't single and fighting off those relationship predators, here are some tips on how to stay strong:

1. Be wary of relationship predators--usually members of the opposite sex who want to be your "friend" and help you through every difficult time that you might experience


2. Keep other couples around you. There is a website called Kupple.com, where couples can sign up and meet other couples in their area.


3. Make time for yourself as a couple. Sometimes predictability and routine can destroy a relationship (as in the movie mentioned above). In order to avoid this, try adding different touches to everything you do. For example, if you cook chicken all the time as the wife in "I Think I Love My Wife" did, try making it a new way.

After all of these things, you might realize that you have it better than many other people. Chris Rock realized at the end of the film that his wife was the whole package, and I have done the same. Maybe in time you will realize (if you haven't before) that you love yourself or your mate, and wouldn't want anything or anyone to ruin that. Maybe...maybe not.

* Photos from Yahoo Movie Website for "I Think I Love My Wife."

A pinch goes a long way

I had never understood why on St. Patrick's Day people pinched those who weren't wearing green. Perhaps because I am an immigrant, I couldn't wrap my mind around the idea of what St. Patrick's Day is.

Yesterday, after being chastised for not wearing green, I decided to find out what this St. Patrick's Day thing was all about.

According to the History Channel, St. Patrick's Day started after the death of a prominent Irish saint's death in the 1700s. People everywhere began to celebrate with a feast, commemorating this brave man who drove snakes out of Ireland. Since the first St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City in 1766, Irish immigrants and their descendants have been celebrating St. Patrick's life through cooking certain foods, attending parades, and most importantly wearing green.

Green is a symbol of the lush landscape in Ireland, the shamrock, etc. These are all things which imbue members of the Irish community with pride in their heritage. Unfortunately, those of us who don't know might just have to learn the hard way.

Below is a St. Patrick's Day quiz provided by the History Channel. Enjoy!

QUIZ

*Pictures from the Associated Press.

Daiquiri’s anyone?

If you do drink, and most college students do, you can appreciate variety from time to time. If you have been stuck in a typical hardcore burn the back of your throat kind of mood, why not try something that is ice cold fruity and sure to delay that buzz that you desperately seek?

My suggestion? Try an ice cold daiquiri. Each of these creations varying in fruity flavor and alcoholic content is sure to provide refreshment as well as a buzz later on.

In Downtown Fort Lauderdale at Riverfront there is a spot that serves the best daiquiri’s you’ll ever taste. Fat Tuesday located on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the Riverfront Plaza has daiquiris in flavors varying from Pina Colada to Banana Banshee. I suggest checking this place out if you are looking for a cocktail or few that won’t break the bank.

To find a Fat Tuesday near you, click on the link. Enjoy!

Everything but the kitchen sink in a handy dandy purse

Have you ever met someone who, no matter what your ailment is, he or she has the solution right there? I have. I call these people anything but the kitchen sink people because they carry everything you could ever imagine wherever they go.

Last week I had a bridal shower to go to and a really close friend of mine was hanging out at my house. I knew that I had to put together the bride-to-be’s gift in a gift bag, but had completely forgotten to get one. Do you know that my friend went out to her car and came back with a gift bag, tissue paper, and streamers!

Here is my South Florida Fun tip for you. If you are not one of those everything but the kitchen sink people who has everything on them all the time, you can be. Try putting together a “survival kit” with all of the things that you think you might need in a case of emergency (travel size of course). Some of these may include a toothbrush, conditioner, shampoo, band-aids, pain killer, pens, pencils, tide to go, dental floss, safety and hair pins, Kleenex, etc.

Fun idea: Why not get together with some of your friends, and go through this checklist and see how many of the following you have in your purse?

-Kleenex
-pain killers
-rubber bands
-safety pins
-hair pins
-dental floss
-eye drops
-cellular phone
-travel size toothbrush
-lipstick
-lip gloss
-glasses
-lip liner
-eye liner
-mascara
-compact
-hair spray
-deodorant
-perfume
-gum
-pen
-pencil
-paper
-calculator (not on a cell phone)
-antacids
-family pictures
-maxed out credit card
-keys
-flashlight
-tape
-Vaseline
-lotion
-jewelry
-sunglasses
-scarf

If you have more than 20 of these things in your bag, then chances are you are already an everything but the kitchen sink person. The good thing is that these are the best people to be around. Why? You are always ready for any situation!

PICTURES FROM BLUEFLY.COM.

Survivor…not just a TV show

I know it’s been a while since I last wrote a blog. But I do have a valid excuse. I went to New Orleans and just got back yesterday, and since this blog is called “South Florida Fun on a $20”, New Orleans blogs wouldn’t have been very applicable.

Anyway, this blog is directly related to an experience that I had while on vacation this past week. Imagine one day waking up and going to the airport, standing in line for hours, only to find out that you can’t fly until the next day. What would you do? Keep in mind that this isn’t a place that you are familiar with and or have family or friends living close by. Imagine being stranded at the airport with only a suitcase, your purse or knapsack, and whatever you have in your carry on. How would you survive?

In situations like this it is important to do the following things:
1. OVERPACK. People always complain about people packing too much stuff for short trips, but trust me over packing for any random thing that could pop up is a very smart thing to do.
2. ALWAYS WALK WITH MONEY. Cards are NOT enough! Remember there are some places in the world that do not operate in a plastic society; and contrary to popular belief, ATMs are NOT everywhere!
3. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR NECESSITIES IN YOUR CARRY-ON. Toothbrushes, comb, brush, deodorant, body wash, and a full outfit (including undergarments) should all be kept in your hand luggage. You need to be sure that if the airport messes up and loses your luggage, you will be ok.
4. BRING ENTERTAINMENT. No matter if your flight is scheduled for 1 hour or 14, you never know what could happen. Always pack multiple sources of entertainment i.e. find-a-word book, magazines, video games, sketch book, ipod, etc.

PICTURES FROM BBC WEBSITE

These things might sound simple, but in a time when everyone is trying to survive you don’t want to be left out.

Take a walk, it could extend your life

Ok, so the holidays are over. There aren't any major upcoming events that focus mostly on the gathering of massive amounts of people and even more dishes of food. But knowing this, does it mean that we are in the clear health wise? NO!!!

Unfortunately every year, millions of people die from diseases directly associated with lack of exercise. What does this mean for you? Just because you are trying to live on a $20 budget, doesn't mean that your health has to suffer.

I suggest walking more. This may seem almost too simple, but by parking a little further from the grocery store or walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, you could be saving your life.

Best of all, unlike paying monthly gym memberships, walking is absolutely free! Click on the picture above to access information on a health and wellness website.

Pot Luck Party

Have you heard of or used the term 'pot luck'? Generally it is when a group of people gather together, each person bringing a meal to be shared by everyone.





In my opinion, if you are a party person and just can't afford to do it on your own, a potluck is a great idea! For under $20 you can buy the ingredients necessary to make a great potluck dish. The ones below are some of my favorites:

• Potato Salad (Try this recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens Website!)



• Jambalaya (This website lists 187 recipes)



• Country Fried Chicken (Real down home chicken recipe)

Pictures are from Taste of Home.com.