Every summer the commercials on TV start to show off all the magnificent places around the world for vacation. Resorts on the French Riviera. Cruises to Alaska. Horseback riding on a dude ranch in Colorado. Disneyworld!

If you are short on time or money or "days off from work," you don't need to miss vacations completely . Taking the time to create mini-vacations for yourself is a sure way of de-stressing, re-energizing and enjoying the summer months.

Read on for ten mini-vacations you can arrange without taking a week off:

1. Unplug.

Pick a weekend and make the decision to unplug from your laptop and turn off your email, letting co-workers know that your email will be off on the weekends.

2. Enjoy a day at the park or patio.

Pack a picnic lunch, grab a blanket and a book you've been wanting to read and spend the day under a tree at a local park or in your backyard or patio.

3. Visit the zoo.

Head to your local zoo and spend the day browsing all the animal cages, checking out all the new arrivals and spend some time watching the penguins and monkeys. Don't forget the cotton candy and a snow cone!

4. Travel within your own state.

Plan a leisurely drive in your own state, something that could be an hour or two or more. Enjoy where you live and explore what your state has to offer. Grab a map, Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks and don't forget the camera!

5. Be a food critic.

Visit all the Italian restaurants in your area and rank them. Write about each of your food choices and keep track of your favorites. Not into Italian food? You can be a wine critic!

6. Pamper yourself.

Take a day off for pampering - at a spa or salon. Or, have a spa day at home with a group of friends.

7. Get caught up on a hobby.

Look for pieces to add to your collections or learn a new hobby like knitting or crocheting.

8. Read a book series.

Head to the library or local bookstore and visit with the librarian or book expert. Ask about favorite book series and pick up book #1.

9. Watch a video series.

Get an entire TV series you've heard about but missed. LOST or 24 are a good place to start. Have a touch of nostalgia? I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke are also available!

10. Check your local museums for a new exhibit

Read about it ahead of time. Research the artist or subject. Plan to read each of the side comments throughout the exhibit and take your time enjoying the museum.

The summer heat is on. But those "hot moments" associated with menopause may be just the beginning of your journey through menopause. While the outdoor temperatures rise, it might be a good time to ask yourself how your "internal thermostat" is doing. Hot flashes are the most common symptom associated with menopause. They can cause your face and neck to become red and flushed, and can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. The good news is that there are ways you can manage hot flashes, so you can focus on chilling out during the dog days of summer.

The exact cause of hot flashes is unknown but they are thought to be a result of changes in the hypothalamus, the body's thermostat. If the hypothalamus incorrectly senses that the body is too hot, it sets off a chain of events that lead to a hot flash. Some women never experience hot flashes while others struggle with them for several years.

While there is no treatment to cool down a hot summer day, there are options available that may help you "keep your cool." Estrogen therapy is proven to be the most effective treatment for menopausal hot flashes.

In addition to using hormone replacement therapy, try the following tips to help manage hot flashes:

Exercise regularly

Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation

Avoid areas that aren't sufficiently air conditioned or ventilated

Limit alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and spicy foods

Wear lightweight clothes made of cotton

Always talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program or making changes to your diet.

If you have been told you need surgery or an extensive treatment for your medical issues, there are important reasons to get personal input from other medical professionals.

More information

Make an appointment with a specialist in your area of need. If your need involves cancer, make an appointment with an oncologist. If your need is benign, see a board-certified doctor in that area of expertise. Take your medical files, a list of symptoms, medications, and a family history with you (as well as any records you have kept of your symptoms). Your second opinion surgeon may examine you and your files and offer you a different diagnosis.

Your previous doctor may specialize in one area which did not provide relief for you. A second opinion doctor may offer a different treatment option for your concern or a different plan of treatment to consider. You may learn that you don’t necessarily need surgery at this time but could try an alternative treatment and then wait to see how you respond.

Gaining more information is a valuable commodity to a patient. Educating yourself and gathering data is the first milestone in being fully armed as a patient.

A new perspective

Your second opinion doctor may concur with the first, agreeing that you do need surgery. However, this second doctor may offer a different method of surgery you hadn’t considered. The second opinion doctor may determine that you are a candidate for a less invasive method of surgery and have the experience to offer you that the first doctor did not have.

Having a fresh perspective for your medical needs is helpful as you make decisions for yourself. This is akin to being in a room and feeling trapped when all at once a door is thrown open and a new vista is provided to you.

Peace of mind

Your second and third opinion surgeon may retest you and study your medical files and agree with your first surgeon completely. You may wonder, was this all a waste of my time?

Think again! Patients having input from various medical professionals who have studied the charts, the history and the course of action are now fully equipped to step forward with their plan of attack. The decision is even more clear. Peace of mind goes a long way in helping us make difficult personal medical decisions.

Often, patients who did not interview other medical professionals, getting a second opinion, are likely to feel out of control with their situations. If complications arise following surgery, these patients may become angry and bitter.

Peace of mind is a valuable asset to the patient decision experience.

These are three great reasons to get a second opinion. Each reason provides a stepping stone to the patient during challenging time.

One of the members of HysterSisters has shared with us the role that a second opinion played in her own hysterectomy experience.  Even with a cancer diagnosis that made a hysterectomy practically a foregone conclusion, she was still able to make decisions that allowed her to feel in control of the situation.

 HysterSisters:  What led to your hysterectomy?

 Genie:  After a couple medical tests to diagnose the causes of some heavy bleeding, I received a sudden and unexpected diagnosis. My doctor called me at work to say, “The mass was a Grade 2 endometrial cancer and you need a hysterectomy now.” Needless to say, my mind went blank. He started arranging the surgery in conjunction with an oncologist .

 At my pre-op appointment later in the week, my husband and I asked about surgery options. I asked if there were laproscopic options and was told, “Are you more concerned about an abdominal scar or do you want to know that you are healthy and cured of the cancer?” Since I didn’t believe I had any other options, my TAH / BSO was scheduled for two weeks later.

I started obsessively researching hysterectomies, recovery, surgical menopause and endometrial cancer. Luckily I found HysterSisters. I found myself reading and posting in several forums—pre-op, post-op, and cancer concerns especially. I also learned there were minimally invasive options. At that moment with unwavering certainty I knew I had to get a second opinion even if it meant canceling my scheduled procedure.

HysterSisters:  Had you ever sought a second opinion for a medical issue before?

Genie:  I had never really thought about a second opinion. I had been with this doctor for years and had no reason to doubt his opinion. Although I was concerned about his attitude to some of my pre-op visit questions, things were happening so fast that I didn’t think I had time to get a second opinion. Remember,at this point I was just about 1 week away from my procedure.

Since both my husband and I believe that you have the right to the best surgeon and procedure for your diagnosis, once we found out that there was an option, we started to discuss how to get a second opinion. We found two gynecological oncologists in our area who specialize in minimally-invasive hysterectomies.

HysterSisters:  What made it so important to you to not have an abdominal hysterectomy?

Genie:  There were several contributing factors. One was I thought it was more invasive and since this would be my first surgery ever in 50.5 years, I wanted to make it the least traumatic that I could for my body. Mostly, though, there were several emotional factors including a sense that the cancer was a betrayal by my body since I had been on a get healthy kick for several years.

HysterSisters:  You took a scary diagnosis and were able to take charge of it a little bit. What do you hope others can learn from your story?

Genie:  I continually tell people to explore options related to their surgery. Procedures change. New research is done, so make sure you and your doctor know what the new options are and whether they can work for you.

I thought it was just me, but in looking at this month's poll I see more than 54% don't get a second opinion. Of the 18.9% that did -- it helped them find alternative solutions.

I did not. I just thought my doctor of 20 years knew better than anything I could read on the internet in 20 minutes, including all the advice herein to seek a second. But due to a comedy of errors my surgery was cancelled as I was being prepped giving me a chance to do so and I avoided surgery at all.

This site and everything I read tells us to get a second opinion. Of course if it's an emergency -- you do it. But given the oportunity, why are so many women not seeking second opinions?

Join the Discussion

More Discussions to join about researching your options:

PCOS- Trying to Figure Out My Options

Questions and In Need of Support

Fibroids - Worth Trying Ablation?

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