Ideas to Help You Relax, Rejuvenate, Re-energize!

Study after study shows that to continue to parent effectively, you must take time for yourself. If you’ve caught yourself saying, “Maybe tomorrow... after the laundry, errands, etc., etc,” stop right now. It’s time to re-evaluate. The human body needs time to regenerate. If you don’t take time for you, you risk burnout, illness and more. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity – especially for parents.

Take a moment for yourself and...

• Relax out at your favorite coffee shop and visit with friends over your favorite brew.

• Turn off the phone, and curl up with a great movie or book.

• Escape to a spa. A little bit of pampering can go a long way to recharging your batteries.

• The Olympic Plaza Cultural District invites you to visit a variety of fun arts and dining spots including fabulous restaurants, art galleries, theatres, museums and shops, all offering special events or discounts, all within three blocks of Olympic Plaza. This is a great chance to participate in talks/readings, backstage tours, tastings, live music, dancing and theatre, all the elements needed for a great night out with old friends - and a great place to meet new ones. Check out culturaldistrict.ca for a complete list of upcoming events.

• Explore Chinatown for some wonderful sights, sounds and smells (don’t miss the Chinese Cultural Centre and Museum). Leaving time for lunch during this excursion is a must!

• Calgary has many galleries and museums just waiting to be discovered. Spend an afternoon in a cultural pursuit. Stop in at The Glenbow Museum. Best to plan to spend the entire afternoon strolling along 8 Avenue downtown - there are several galleries to visit in nine city blocks and several public art pieces to engage your eye.

• Discover Art Central, a visual arts complex which brings together artist studios (open to the public), galleries, shops, and café’s – all under one roof (located in the heart of downtown Calgary) – corner of 7 Avenue and Centre Street. Visit artcentral.ca for more details.

• Take a cooking class.

• Experience wine tasting or take a cooking course at Willow Park Wines & Spirits, 10801 Bonaventure Drive SE, 296-1640 or visit willowpark.net.

• No time to cook? Free yourself from the dinner time dilemma at one of the many businesses that offer time-saving meal solutions - ready-made meal packages, do-it-yourself meal assembly sessions and parties, in-store selections, and catering.

• Take a stroll through the Calgary Farmers’ Market at Currie Barracks. Open year round, Fridays and Saturdays at 9am to 5pm and Sundays 9am to 4pm. Call 244-4548 or visit calgaryfarmersmarket.ca.

• Volunteering is good for the soul, a great way to meet new friends, and make a difference in someone’s life. Call Volunteer Calgary at 265-5633 for suggestions or visit volunteercalgary.ab.ca.

• Go Shopping! Kensington, 17th Avenue and the Design District on 11th are great escapes and an adventure all their own – especially if you enjoy browsing, crafting, antiquing or great food. There’s something there for everyone.

• Spend a relaxing day walking through the historic neighborhood of Inglewood. Browse through the unique collection of eclectic shops specializing in décor, clothing and jewelry, art galleries and antique shops.

• Exercise is a great stress release, good for you and fun! Discover a new fitness class at your local gym, learn how to run, take a weight training class, or learn a martial art. Whatever you choose, you’ll be glad you did!

• City of Calgary Recreation offers terrific art classes. Try pottery, ceramic tile painting, crafting, glass blowing, watercolors, or mosaics... the sky’s the limit. Call 3-1-1 for more information.

• Kick up your heels and dance, from Ballroom, Swing and Flamenco to Country, Latin, International Ballroom, Cha Cha or Jive & Waltz. Whatever your pleasure, make this the year you put on your dancing shoes. Call Alberta Dancesport at 217-0000 or visit albertadancesport.com.

• Experience a luxurious night away at The Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire. This upscale hotel is located in the heart of downtown, in the midst of Calgary’s most exciting business, shopping and recreation areas. Ask about our special Calgary’s Child Magazine rate. Call 266-7200 for details.

• Explore the great outdoors. Take a walk along Bragg Creek’s Centennial Pathway. Completed in October of 2005, the pathway connects the commercial and community centre of Bragg Creek with the natural world that surrounds us.

• Drive to Bragg Creek, Okotoks or Canmore for lunch and some great shopping. You will find antique shops, crafts, garden specialty stores, kitchen stores, charming tea houses and much more. Visit the Antique and Art Walk in Nanton. Located just 45 minutes south of Calgary on Highway 2, and enjoy browsing in several delightfully restored historic shops.

• Spend an amazing day in Banff/Lake Louise. Visit the shops, and stay for lunch or dinner at one of the hundreds of wonderful restaurants. Rediscover why Banff and Lake Louise are the top tourist destinations in Canada. Indulge yourself with a Ladies Only Getaway or a Fitness, Health & Wellness Getaway.

• Go around the world in 35 Blocks. Enjoy a world tour of the many fine shops and food markets of over five continents spanning 35 blocks. This fun bus tour is for those interested in culinary treasures found on International Avenue. ‘Tourists’ will be treated to a bus tour visiting such areas as: Caribbean, Portugal, the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin American Food Stores all within 35 Blocks. It will be fun and best of all you don’t have to leave the city for their world tour! To book your tour for 2008 call 248-7288.

• Escape to Devonian Gardens, a peaceful indoor park located in the heart of downtown Calgary. Spanning three levels in TD Square at 317 - 7 Avenue SW, Devonian Gardens is one of the world’s largest indoor parks. Today, it houses 20,000 plants representing more than 135 varieties of flora - a great place to break from the hustle and bustle of busy downtown life or to seek relief from the cold weather. And best of all, it’s free!