Tag: summertime fun

Make the Most of the Rest of Your Summer

Posted on by Jordank

Symbolically, at least, July 4th marks the middle of summer. If your local schools let out before Memorial Day, that’s pretty accurate — you’ve already spent about six weeks of the season, and there are probably about six more to go before school starts again.

Even if your schedule is no longer dictated by a school calendar, you may feel like the clock is ticking on your summer fun. The warm weather is likely to stick around until September and October even in the Northern climes, but the pressure is on.

The answer? Get organized and make the most of what’s left of your summer!

Grab a calendar — a paper one, if possible. Is there a trip you’ve been meaning to take? Book your airline tickets or get the oil changed ahead of that road trip. Are there friends you’ve been meaning to invite over for a cookout? Text them or send an electronic invite, and pencil them in.

On a tight budget? And Then We Saved offers 23 ways to make the most of your summer, including finding a swimming hole, going camping or volunteering. Tackling your to-do list and joining a team are other suggestions, alongside just kicking back in a hammock.

If you want to improve your home while it’s nice enough to keep the windows open, consider taking a summer day to do a good decluttering. There’s no time like the present to sell, donate or trash the extra stuff that’s been spilling out of your closets since last summer.

Lifehack suggests a range of thrifty summer activities such as being a tourist in your own hometown and going for a nature walk. And while you’re at it, the site says, take lots of pictures so you can create fond memories of summer 2018.

It isn’t your imagination: The clock is ticking — just as it always is. But summer has that added connotation of “fun in the sun” and “vacation” that makes you want to pack all of the fun activities you can into a few short months.

Make a list of the summery things you want to do, and start checking them off, one by one. Don’t waste another minute if you want to make the second half of your summer even more magical than the first!

Helping Kids Cope With Summer’s End

Posted on by Jordank

Whether your kids look forward to the beginning of school year or not, they’re likely to have some wistful feelings about summer’s end. You can help ease the transition into fall by getting them on a schedule and involving them in the planning, Parents magazine says. Young schoolchildren may not realize why the end of summer makes them feel sad or anxious, so parents should not only listen carefully to what their kids are saying, but also watch their behavior. And it’s not too late to have an “official” end-of-summer cookout or bonfire to commemorate its best moments.

Create a Budget-Friendly Cookout

Posted on by Jordank

Crafting a cookout but keeping an eye on the budget? First, don’t buy more food than you’ll really need — or buy with an eye toward repurposing the leftovers throughout the week. You can also pick less-expensive cuts to grill; for example, marinated skirt steak can give your cookout that south-of-the-border flair as the filling for delicious grilled steak fajitas. Finally, remember to check the local thrift for lightly-used grilling accessories such as tongs and oven mitts, and you’ll be able to save on supplies while helping fund veterans’ programs.

Ready for the beach!

Posted on by Jordank

Going to the beach or the pool is a timeless summer tradition. When you’re trying to get kids ready for a trek to the city pool, though, it can be difficult. In order to make getting ready easier, keep all your beach towels, sunscreen, swimsuits, hats, and other pool-time accessories in one place. This will get your relaxing beach or pool time off to a great start!