Go Summer On A Budget
by Kassadee Marie, HSM team writer
It’s June, and that means it’s summer here in North America and all of the northern hemisphere. These days are perfect in most of the states and provinces for warm weather activities that we love, such as going to the beach or pool, barbecuing, picnicking, going to the park (amusement, water or local), going on hikes or walks or just being outside enjoying the weather. When you’re inside this time of year, open the windows in your house and you can bask in the Summer season while you’re there on Home. You can even make your own summertime virtual world there to experience and enjoy and not have to spend a lot of money doing it.
Home has many great warm-weather personal estates to choose from right now, like the seasonally-named Summer House, with its huge terrace and water view or Hollywood Hills with that over-sized pool and patio area. If you don’t own it already, the Tropical Escape space may be the perfect one to purchase at this time, to savor all the season has to offer on Home. It’s priced at $4.99, but that’s a bargain considering its size and beauty. There’s even a “mini” mini-game you and your guests can play, kicking a beach ball around. The thatched-roof main building has two large rooms that can be easily partitioned into four rooms with the use of room dividers. Or you might want to set up one as a game room, if you own this type of item, such as a pool table, darts game, chess, checkers, or any cabinet games, and decorate the other as a living area. Out the back door, you will discover a small area with a rock hot tub and seating to enjoy. Both rooms are open to a large wrap-around deck which is attached to the front and sides of the dwelling.
The best part of this estate is the expansive outside area. Down the steps from the deck there is a large grassy area, partially shaded by large palm trees. There is also a huge sandy beach. It is there that you can play the kick-the-beach-ball game, climb rocks, and sit in one of the four chairs under two built-in beach umbrellas to view the tranquil ocean and sky. From the beach there is a small boardwalk you can use to walk out to the over-the-water lanai. There is a glass floor there where you can enjoy a peek at the underwater world of tropical fish swimming in schools beneath you. From almost any place in this tropical get-away spot, there is a lovely view of ocean, beaches, rocky cliffs or dense tropical forests.
Two matching furniture bundles are offered for sale to compliment this estate. One is for $2.99 and has eight pieces including a rug and the other set is for $1.99 and offers six pieces. Neither set includes these tropical items: the bed which is 99 cents, the hammock which is 49 cents or bar which is also 49 cents. The Santorini Greece furniture bundle is on sale for $2.99 and would suit this space. It has eight beautiful pieces, including two white sofas, three tables, two chairs and a chest of drawers. However, to really save some money, I suggest using the free sofa and chair that you can win at Assassin’s Creed’s Abstergo Labs public space. Although these pieces have more of a modern than tropical style, the white color fits in nicely with the theme. If you have enough furniture rewards, you could furnish the entire space for free. The sandcastle reward from Lockwood looks great there and I think the cannons earned at E3 would be fun placed on the beach, facing out toward the sea. After all the tropics are known for pirate activity.
There is also a Tropical Escape mega bundle for $9.99 that includes the estate, twenty-five furniture items and twelve clothing items.
I recommend the teddy bear companion from Sony that’s on sale for $1.99 now. It not only follows you around, but floats up into the air from time to time by way of the three balloons he holds in his hands by their strings. The three Konami balloon companions are only $1.49 and are floaty and fun, too. Balloons always remind me of the carnivals and fairs that happen in the summertime. There are many other companions that are regularly sold for $1.99 and are suitable for Summer, like Barnacle the Crab from Fool Throttle at Lockwood.
Hopefully you picked up the free shorts, tops and torsos at E3 that were offered as rewards. Some of the other t-shirt freebies received before this aren’t too bad, also. For you shoppers, there are real bargains to be found all over the stores for summer clothing, if you look around a little. Loot has two swim suit bundles for $1.99 each. The male set has four swim trunks and the surfer torso and the female set has five swim suits. This is the top swim wear deal in Home. Threads Originals offers some of the best prices for shorts and casual tops from as low as 25 cents, but the selection is limited for males or females. Lockwood has some of the best looking summer clothes and at a reasonable price. Check out the female tops for 99 cents such as the halter necks and crop top styles or the male tops such as the torsos with backpacks for 49 cents and vests with scarves for 79 cents. Santorini has beach hats and sandals can be found at many of the clothing stores, including Threads. Sometimes, all you need to do is pick up the right inexpensive accessory to make your outfit special.
With a little planning, shopping and sorting through your reward items, you should be able to set yourself up with a nicely furnished summer estate, a fun companion and great clothes to show off at your space or the beach at Southern Island Hideaway. As always, no one needs to know you shopped for bargains, because you’ll look like you spent a fortune.
June 13th, 2012 by Kassadee Marie | 4 comments
Home is endlessly entertaining to this California girl. Kassadee has been in Home for about four years, and loves almost everything about it (with a few notable exceptions). She spends way too much money there, and perhaps too much time... Someday she will travel the world and write about the people she meets and the places she sees.
I agree with you that the tropical place is a real nice summer place. I’ts large and offer different “feels” The beach, intimate hot thub, the pier… Good idea this shopping tips, maybe you hsm people could make it a monthly article/review?
I’ve been toying with buying that Trpoical space for a while now, but I have the Hollywood place, Loots Yacht, the Summer House and the Diesel Beach too, so I’m already set for summery spaces -- but I do like the look of it. I’d do ANYTHING to just feel like I’m in June right now! We’ve (the UK) had only a few days of sun so far, and time’s running out, again. I NEED a summer badly! I live for the change of the seasons, and so far all we’ve been getting is grey, greyer and dull. I think my brain has forgotten what serotonin is, and alcohol can only do so much…
Still, some nice ideas in this article, and some good bargains for those who’re not clues into them already. Now if only they can invent a TV that emits sun light!
What about a full spectrum lamp? They simulate natural sunlight. Perhaps you can find or jury rig a flashlight to do the same thing. You might even get rich if you can invent such a flashlight.
LOL! Now that would be something, wouldn’t it! I’ve heard of those “happy lamps”, apparently their quite big in Scotland, since we get nearly no sunny days anymore I hear of mass depression due to lack of vitamin D from the sun or something. But a tiny torch of happiness you can just beam into your face periodically for a sun-hit, ha!
Nothing compaires to a day on the beach with a BBQ & beer though…