Happy Holidays

Everyday is a Holiday!

kay423 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:10:15 +0000

My friends and I are always looking for a way to make each other laugh and send humorous emails back and forth to each other. Well, last week I found a great way to do just that, every single day of the year. There are ‘celebrate the date’ holidays for every day of the year! Here are some great celebrate the date holidays that are sure to get a laugh out of your friends!

For all you left-handers out there, did you know that August 13is your celebrate the date? Left Hander’s Day was created to celebrate all the challenges left-handers face in their lifetime. Left-handed items usually cost more, and novelty coffee mugs with text and pictures are designed for a left handed pick-up!

Who doesn’t love a nice glass of fresh squeezed lemonade? Well then August 20 is the perfect celebrate the date for you! “Lemonade Day” is the holiday that celebrates the invention of lemonade in Paris in the year 1620.

Have you ever wondered where the drinking straw came from? Well on January 3 it’s “Drinking Straw Day.” Back in the year 1888 a man by the name of Marvin Stone invented the drinking straw!

These are just a few of 365 celebrate the date holiday’s that you can take part in! So have fun everyday this year and don’t forget about “Hot Dog Day” on September 9!

History of Halloween

kay423 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:00:26 +0000

When you think of a holiday such as Halloween, you automatically think of jack-o-lanterns, costumes, candy, black cats, and all things scary. The history of Halloween is similar to what we traditionally celebrate today; however there are some traditions that have changed throughout the ages.

The history of Halloween dates all the way back to ancient times of the Celtic festival Samhain. The Celtic New Year was celebrated on November 1^st. On the eve of this celebration, October 31^st, the Celts celebrated Samhain which was believed on this particular night the dead could return to Earth. During their celebration they would wear costumes and build huge bonfires, much like we do today. Well, bonfires not so much, but costumes definitely!

In the 800’s Pope Boniface IV declared November 1st to be All Saint’s Day, a day to celebrate saints and martyrs. This celebration was also called All-Hallows, from Old English meaning All Saints’ Day. October 31st was then coined All-Hallows Eve and eventually named Halloween.

So this year for Halloween impress your friends with your new knowledge about Halloween history, and good luck winning first this year in the costume contest!

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.”
~Author Unknown

Back to School is Right Around the Corner!

kay423 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:30:51 +0000

Yellow buses, brand new crayons and Disney lunch boxes are right around the corner, and you know what that means…It’s back to school! Summer is coming to an end and the homework will soon be piling up. Before kids start their first day make sure they are prepared and ready to go back to school. A lot of kids can feel nervous about starting school, especially if they are going to be attending a new one. Here’s some back to school tips and tricks to make sure they are ready to tackle another school year.

Make sure your child has all their back to school supplies a few weeks before school starts. Seeing as most schools have standard school supply lists that they send to the kids about a month before school starts, this shouldn’t be a problem. After all, the earlier you prepare for another school year the better it will be to avoid the mad dash at the store a week before school starts.

The number one thing to make sure of before the school year starts is to be organized and prepared. It helps with the transition from the summer days to the school year more smoothly. If things are hectic around the house before back to school time, it’s easy to forget some of the essentials they might need.

This year send your kids a back to school card before the year starts! This will get your kids laughing and have them quickly forgetting about their back to school jitters! Or if you really feel like spoiling your little ones, get them a personalized 12-month planner with pictures from your family vacation!

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. “

~Sydney J. Harris

History of Labor Day!

kay423 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:21:57 +0000

Labor Day is a time to reflect and appreciate all the hard work employees across the nation do throughout the year. It’s also a great way to end the summer with an extended weekend and a Labor Day picnic with friends and family.

The history of Labor Day dates back to the late 1800’s. During the Industrial Revolution Americans were working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week just to make a decent living. Children were even working during these times since they provided cheap labor and laws against child labor were not strictly enforced.

It was on September 5, 1882 that 10,000 workers marched from city hall to Union Square in New York City; this was the first Labor Day parade. Every person who marched took an unpaid day off to honor the workers across the country. More states every year would join in this celebration on September 5th, however Congress did not make it an official holiday until 12 years later. It was in 1894 that Congress declared the first Monday in September would be Labor Day.

So this year when planning you Labor Day celebration with friends and family, remember the history and what this holiday stands for and send your friends and coworkers a Labor Day card to celebrate the hard work and dedication you put forth at your job all year through.

Bridal Shower Games!

kay423 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:48:42 +0000

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!

kay423 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:53:17 +0000

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!

kay423 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:39:37 +0000

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

kay423 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:23:47 +0000

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!

kay423 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:20:57 +0000

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!

kay423 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:20:30 +0000

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!