The Great Escape: A Great Chick Flick

You don't always have the luxury of escaping to a spa or salon without the kids. However, experts say busy moms who take a bit of time for themselves have less stress and a more optimistic outlook.

So, if you can't get away, try escaping at home after the kids are in bed with a good rental movie and bowl of freshly popped popcorn or, better yet,  chocolate-drizzled popcorn from the Original Leena's Chocolates at 3476 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico. 

Here's Patch's five favorite chick flicks available on DVD for moms seeking to get away from it all for a couple of hours.

1. Notorious (1946)
2. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
3. The English Patient (1996)
4. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
5. The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)
6. Thelma & Louise (1991)
7. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
8. Bull Durham (1988)
9. Pretty Woman (1990)
10. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
11. Something's Gotta Give (2003)
12. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
13. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
14. Terms of Endearment (1983)
15. The Color Purple (1985)
16. Little Women (1994)
17. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
18. Beaches (1988)
19. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
20. Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Local Red Box locations include:

Walgreens at 3405 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico;

Walgreens at 1011 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico;

Albertsons at 3313 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico;

Walgreens at 13323 Boyette Road, Riverview;

Walgreens at 5605 FishHawk Blvd. Crossing, Lithia;

Sweetbay Supermarket at 16751 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia;

Winn Dixie, 179 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon