Bridal Shower Games!

Everyone loves a bridal shower, especially when there are fun games involved. I’m helping my friend think of game ideas for her sister’s bridal shower that will take place in a few months. As we are brainstorming for some bridal shower games we are realizing how tough it is to be unique and creative and not fall into “traditional” games. They are still great to play but have your guests get involved in some more “outside the box” games.

On average the Bridal Shower should occur 4-6 weeks prior to the actual wedding, and can range from close family and friends, to a “couple” theme where the bride and groom to be, are both present. Try sending out bridal shower invitations a few months in advance so guests can clear their calendars and have enough time to find a great bridal shower gift!

A great bridal shower game to break the ice with is the “safety pin” game. Every guest is given 10 safety pins with ribbons on them (usually the ribbons are the theme colors of the wedding), then every time you catch someone saying the word “wedding” or any wedding themed word, they have to give you there safety pin. The bridal shower guest that collects the most safety pins by the end of the bridal shower wins a prize (gift card, etc.). Usually the prize should be different from the bridal shower favors.

Keep it simple. Just because you are trying to be unique and think outside the box doesn’t mean you have to get extravagant on your bridal shower game ideas. My friend and I thought of a great bridal shower game where the guests are split into teams of five to six people depending on the size of your bridal shower, smaller parties can be groups of 2-3. Each team is given one roll of tape and five rolls of toilet paper. Then the teams have five minutes to create a “wedding dress” for the bride. The bride then picks the dress she likes the most and that team wins (Starbucks gift cards are always a great idea)!

Decorate Your Desktop for the Fourth of July!

This year for the Fourth of July have fun decorating and look at decorating your computer with a Fourth of July background. Its fun to deck your house out in red, white, and blue so go a step further and let your computer reflect your Fourth of July festive personality. Here are five of my favorite Fourth of July desktop backgrounds.

I think this Fourth of July Wallpaper is really unique. The fireworks are real pictures that were taken and then superimposed over the background. I think it makes the colors really stand out.

If you love collecting Teddy Bears then this Fourth of July background is ideal for you! The colors in the background are lighter shades, making the Teddy Bear the main focus of this Fourth of July background.

If you like your Fourth of July decorations to look a little more on the artistic side then you might enjoy this Fourth of July background. It’s a fresh take on the American Flag that’s looks freshly painted, complete with the paint splatter.

If you are a dog lover, and the Fourth of July is one of your favorite holidays then you will love this background. The puppy is adorable, and I really like this Fourth of July background because it’s simplistic and not overdone.

If you are into country styles and decorations this Fourth of July background might catch your fancy. It has more of a rustic feel to it and I really like how they made it look like it was made out of old newspaper clippings!

So have fun this Fourth of July weekend and remember to be safe! Enjoy the fireworks, food, friends, and family. And don’t forget to send your friends a card to wish them a Happy Fourth of July.

Birthday Party Ideas for Kids!

Summer is a popular time to plan a birthday party for kids, schedules become more flexible and the weather tends to be a bit more cooperative. If you are thinking of having a birthday party and are stuck on where to start here are some great birthday party ideas to help get you started.

Pick out the invitations and decorations for the birthday party first. If you are having a theme for the birthday party make sure you get decorations and invitations that match!

If the weather outside is cooperative, look into having a pool party at your house and give it the theme of Hawaiian Luau! If you don’t have a pool, you can still have a Birthday Party, Luau just plan a lot of games that the kids can enjoy outside in the sunshine! Putt-Putt is also a great choice and lets the kids practice with a putter (in case any of them are training to be the next Tiger Woods). Another great idea is taking the kids to the local zoo; a lot of zoos will have packages for kid’s birthday parties that include exclusive tours, games, and food.

If you are having the birthday party at your house make sure there are plenty of games and activities for the kids to partake in. Capture the Flag and relay races are sure to keep them entertained and having fun!

Pick out a birthday cake that that will be sure to dazzle your child and their guests! Many local grocery stores offer specialty cakes that can be decorated your child’s liking and you can also have fun decorating the cake at home to give it the homemade touch!

Fourth of July Picnic Preparations

As my favorite Patriotic Holiday approaches (Fourth of July) it’s time to start preparing for the picnics you will either be attending or planning. Attending a picnic on the Fourth of July is a piece of cake, you get to enjoy great food and end the night with an awesome fireworks display. However, if you are planning a Fourth of July picnic knowing a few preparation tips and tricks will help things run smoothly for your Fourth of July feast!

Pick a location for your Fourth of July picnic that gives you a great view of the fireworks display. This can range from your local park, to your own backyard. Many fireworks shows are located near parks which make it a great idea to host your Fourth of July picnic there. If you are unsure of where the fireworks display will be, you can call your local Chamber of Commerce.

Plan a fun menu. Having the traditional dishes at a Fourth of July picnic is always a popular choice, and is sure to be a hit with your guests. You can also plan your Fourth of July picnic as a potluck, where every guest brings a different dish. This is a great idea if you are planning on a lot of guests.

For decorations at your Fourth of July Picnic, go with the traditional look. Use red, white, and blue decorations, and plan some Fourth of July picnic activities for the guests. Cornhole and Hillbilly Golf are really popular summer picnic games and entertain all ages. Another great game for a Fourth of July picnic that my family loves to play is Bocce Ball. For the kids, a water balloon toss or scavenger hunt is sure to keep them entertained!

Top Five Ways to Welcome the Summer!

Summer is finally here and everyone schedules can be pretty hectic, kids have soccer games, and summer camps, parents are trying to juggle work and chauffeuring kids to and from their summer activities. Make sure to take some time this summer to celebrate the wonderful weather and sunshine. Here’s a list of the Top Five Things to do to Welcome the Summer!

5. Day at the Beach. What better way to welcome the summer than packing up the big umbrella and some sand toys and hitting up the local beach. The kids can spend the day splashing and building sandcastles while you enjoy relaxing and working on the latest Sudoku puzzle.

4. Adventure Day. Spend a summer day at the local metroparks. Some are located around lakes and offer canoe, kayaks, and paddleboat rentals which is a great way to enjoy the sunshine of summer. You can also pack the fishing poles and spend the day fishing with the kids (Warning: Some kids are squeamish around fish and worms).

3. Rainy Day. For those stormy and cloudy days in the summer, plan some great indoor activities. Play board games and you can also create a scavenger hunt for the kids throughout the house. Another great activity when you are stuck inside during the summer is cooking! Try letting the kids make homemade ice cream, it’s easy to make and they will have a blast!

2. Amusement Park. This is a great way to celebrate the summer! Cotton Candy, and funnel cakes, roller coasters and water parks, what more could you ask for in the summer? This outing is perfect for those sunny and gorgeous summer days!

1. Vacation. Of course a vacation is going to be my number one on ways to welcome the summer! What better way to celebrate the summer than taking the family on a vacation. Whether it’s going to Disney World, a resort, or simply renting a lake house for a week, this is the best way to welcome back the beautiful sunshine of summer!

So have fun this summer and don’t forget to celebrate because before we know it, the snow will be flying and Christmas decorations will up!

It’s Summertime!! Celebrate Summer Activities for Kids!

Turn on the sprinklers grab the duck floaties and kick it poolside. That’s right everyone it’s SPF 30 season and the kids are out of school and looking forward to three months of freedom (aka-summer)! For families, especially with two working parents it can be stressful trying to find summer activities to keep the kids from using the phrase “Mom I’m bored!” Here are some great summer activities that are a hit with every age group!

Camps are always a great summer activity where your children can spend time with kids in their age group and enjoy the days outdoors with the sunshine. Day camps are usually run through the local recreation center or YMCA. This is a great idea if both parents work and the only other option is day care. If your child loves adventures and isn’t bothered with being away from home for extended amounts of time it might be worth looking into overnight summer camps. They vary in price and are located all throughout the United States. Local high schools will usually have activity classes throughout the summer for all age groups, these summer activities can range from archery to ceramics.

You can even plan summer activities around your home. For the beautiful sunny summer days, plan an outdoor scavenger hunt in your yard. You can also plan a day at the local swimming pool. This way you can relax and enjoy a good summer book while they enjoy practicing their “cannonballs.” For the rainy days get them in the kitchen and let their culinary creativity run wild with summer recipes, they might not be up to par with Emeril Lagasse, but they sure are cute in the apron!

These are just a few ideas for summer activities that hopefully get your imagination wheels turning. Have fun, make some popsicles, enjoy the sun and remember to wish your friends a happy summer!

History of Flag Day (June 14)

Flags are seen on a daily basis, whether it’s the American Flag flying in your yard, or the car next to you on the highway is flying a tiny flag in support of their favorite sports team. There’s even a popular outdoor game called “Capture the Flag.” Flag Day history is interesting because not many people know the history of the American Flag and how it got to where it is today. Flags are everywhere and can be represent anything you want them to, such as what a nation believes in to a group or organization that you belong to. At my house their are two flags that are always flying, the American Flag and depending on what season, either a baseball or football flag (currently it’s the Cleveland Indians). In America we dedicate a day in June to celebrate Flag Day History.

Flag Day history dates back to 1777 where, according to pbs.org it was on June 14 Continental Congress passed an act that established an official flag for the new nation containing 13 stripes alternating red and white, and 13 white stars with a blue background representing a new constellation. Historians believe that the first flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson and sewn by George Washington’s seamstress Betsy Ross. Flag Day history can seem very similar to the holiday Independence Day, since we also celebrate what the American Flag represents to Americans on that day. Between the years 1777 and 1960 the flag went through many different changes to get where it is today. Flag Day history can also be seen through this timeline that shows the evolution of our American Flag from the year 1777 to 2008.

Some interesting Flag Day history is that the American Flag is the most complex flag in the entire world. No other flag requires 64 pieces of fabric, and the American Flag has changed designs more than any other flag in the world. Our first flag was known as “Grand Union.” Now the next time someone quizzes you about Flag Day History you will be ready for the showdown!

“We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.” -George Washington

Independence Day History

Independence Day celebrates the United States’ independence from Britain, the creation of our democracy, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This holiday is usually celebrated with family picnics, barbecues, concerts, parades, and a spectacular fireworks display!

It was on this day in July that the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress, setting the 13 original colonies independent from Great Britain. In July of 1776, there were 2.5 million living in the colonies celebrating; this year the number of people celebrating Independence Day in our nation is 304 million! There are a lot more fun facts about Independence Day that can be found here.

The American Revolutionary War is when America’s fight for independence began. It was a conflict between the 13 British colonies on the east coast of North America, and their parent country Great Britain. France later became involved and allied with the colonies which helped the colonies gain their independence in 1776. The American Revolution is also known as the American War of Independence.

Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. It was at this time that the Declaration of Independence was read aloud and the city bell’s and bands played in the background. Independence Day was not declared a holiday until the year 1941when Congress made it official, and the rest is history. People have been c this holiday for years with hosting patriotic cookouts, and spending the days outdoors with their friends and family.

So go out celebrate and have a wonderful time with your family friends this Independence Day, and don’t forget to send an Independence Day card to your friends who could not make it to your festivities!

Graduation Gifts

Congratulations Class of 2008! It’s time to start a new chapter in your life! Remember this saying: “Make new friends but keep the old, some are silver some are gold.” This is the quote my eighth grade teacher used to recite to us every time we would switch seats in her class at the beginning of every month. I have kept that quote with me all these years, and I really think it applies to individuals who are going on a new adventure in their life.

For all those attendees of graduation parties this summer: Money has always been the popular graduation gift choice, but this year why not consider getting the graduate something extra? Here are some great ideas that the graduate is sure to love!

For a graduation gift, a photo book is a great choice. You can custom create the photo layout and the text that will appear throughout the book. They come in different sizes and are great for the graduate to look back on when they are away from home.

The graduate will of course need a calendar next year so they don’t forget when someone’s birthday is coming up or when a special holiday is approaching (Mother’s/Father’s Day). With a personalized calendar you can add your own pictures for every month, and upload important dates so they will already be printed on the calendar when they receive it. 12-month planners are also a great graduation gift, and they are a great organizational tool as well.

A cosmetic bag and a jewelry box are great graduation gifts for girls who love to keep things organized. Add pictures across the entire cosmetic bag and one big picture to the top of the jewelry box. This is a gift that is sure to be appreciated.

If the graduate has been asking for some sort of bag to tote their books around next year, or if you know that they will be in need of one, consider getting a personalized tote bag. By adding pictures to this tote it will make for a great keepsake that they can carry around with all the time!

One of my college friends got a great gift for her graduation; her Aunt got her a pillowcase. It had a picture of her best friends on it from high school. She took it with her every year to college and it’s one of her favorite gifts. It’s simple yet a really great gift idea. If the graduate you are shopping for loves to draw and sketch, consider getting them a sketch book. If they have a favorite sketch that they made you can have it put on the front cover. A journal is also another great graduation present that the graduate can write about all their dreams and ambitions for their upcoming life adventures!

To go along with your great graduation gift, you can also create a personalized graduation card. You can add an inspiring quote to the card and they are a nice way to make the graduate feel special about their big day!

Graduation Party Decorations!

Decorating for a party can be fun, but it can also be stressful, especially if you are decorating for a graduation party. It’s always best to keep the decorations simple, and stay with the idea less is more. Something else to consider when decorating for a graduation party, is why not make some of the decorations yourself? It adds personalization to the party and is also a more inexpensive way to make your party stand out. Think of it this way, the less money you spend on decorations the more money you have to spend on that dunk-tank you’ve been promising to rent for the party!

Decorations can be expensive which is why it’s smart to consider making some of the decorations yourself. The decorations can be as detailed or as basic as you want, and a perk of making your own graduation decorations is that you can customize them exactly to fit the theme of the graduation party.

At the tables you can have customized announcements and candy bars with a picture of the graduate. If you are really feeling creative, you can make the candy bars yourself. This is a party favor that is sure to satisfy your graduation party guests’ sweet tooth.

No graduation party is complete without some streamers or garlands (no not the fern garland that you decorate your house with at Christmas time). You can customize the garland’s text font and color. You can also follow the step-by-step project instructions that are provided. This would be a good project to hand off to the graduate to occupy some of their free time.

A popular trend for graduation parties is to have a sign-in book where guest can leave an inspiring quote or message to inspire the graduate on their next adventure. I think a more creative idea is to place a stack of personalized stationary at each table or placed throughout the location of your graduation party. Have a box setup so the guests can place their messages in this. After the party you can gather all the words of wisdom and put them into a scrapbook type binder for the graduate to have as a keepsake.

Have fun decorating for the graduation party and really let your creative side come out! If you are going to be attending some graduation parties this summer as well you can also print your own card for the lucky graduate!