Five Ways to Survive The Last Weeks Before School

Are you reaching the end of your rope? Are you done with lugging everything to and from the swim club? Do the words "Play Date" trigger your migraine? Here are five things you can do to save your sanity now that we're in the dog days of summer:

1. Need a happy hour? Grab your girlfriends and run to Naps () because every hour spent at the bar is a happy hour. And while you're there stay for dinner. After all, when's the last time you ate out and your meal wasn't served to you in a box by a clown? Monday and Wednesdays are $19.95 Delmonico Steak Nights, Tuesdays and Thursdays are $19.95 Whole Lobster Night, and every Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. there's the $19.95 three-course Sunset Dinner Special.

2. Give your kids a big bag and tell them whoever fills it with the most clutter from their room wins a prize. It doesn't matter what the prize is, what matters is that you'll control the remote for at least 15 minutes.

3. Schedule a time-out for yourself in your room. Lock the door so you can spend some quality time with Dr. Phil.

4. Call your in-laws and tell them that the kids miss them and would love to spend the weekend at their house. Immediately pack their bags, book an appointment for a mani/pedi, and make reservations for you and your husband at a restaurant that doesn't have a drive-thru. 

5. Surrender to their boredom and whining, pour yourself a glass of wine and count the days until September.