Tag: Making memories

50 Activities for Your Fall Bucket List

The first official day of Autumn is almost here. Are you ready for new Autumn adventures? Gather your family or friends together and enjoy the season. Do you need ideas to add to your Autumn bucket list? Check out the following for inspiration.

50 Fall Activities to Add to Your Bucket List

  1. Decorate
  2. Go Hiking
  3. Go on a Hayride
  4. Go Apple Picking
  5. Fall Themed Puzzle
  6. Build a Scarecrow
  7. Go to a Corn Maze
  8. Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte
  9. Go on a nature Scavenger Hunt
  10. Host a Chili Cook Off
  11. Go Geocaching
  12. Go on a Nature Walk
  13. Host a Bonfire Night
  14. Eat S’mores
  15. Eat a Cider Donut
  16. Drink Apple Cider
  17. Visit a Cider Mill
  18. Go to a Fall Sporting Event
  19. Tailgate
  20. Take Fall Family Photos
  21. Host a Fall Photo Shoot with Friends
  22. Play Football
  23. Jump in a Pile of Leaves
  24. Make Cookies with an Autumn Leaf Cookie Cutter
  25. Purchase a Special Fall Themed Mug
  26. Make Pumpkin or Spice Cupcakes
  27. Make a Homemade Apple Pie
  28. Plan an Autumn Picnic
  29. Plant Bulbs for Spring Flowers (Tulips are beautiful in the Spring)
  30. Make Homemade Applesauce
  31. Light an Autumn Candle
  32. Make Fall-themed Crafts to Giveaway
  33. Go to the Farmer’s Market
  34. Make Caramel Apples
  35. Drink a Spicy Tea
  36. Make Pumpkin Bread
  37. Go to Oktoberfest
  38. Read or Write by Candlelight
  39. Movie Night in your Pajamas
  40. Host a Fall Crafting Session with Friends
  41. Roast Chestnuts
  42. Take a Long Drive to View the Fall Foliage
  43. Make a Fall Wreath
  44. Collect Colorful Leaves
  45. Try a New Soup Recipe (Perfect for a chilly day).
  46. Replace Batteries in Smoke Detector
  47. Make a Corn Husk Doll
  48. Bake Apple Chips
  49. Make Granola or Trail Mix (Great for hiking)
  50. Grab Your Favorite Book and Read Outside

Enjoy the Autumn Season!

Please note, “As an Amazon affiliate, I earn income on qualifying purchases.”

Journal Writing Prompts for September

Are you ready for September? The month starts with Labor Day, ushers in Autumn, and cooler weather. Fall is a great time to snuggle under your fuzzy blanket and write in your journal. If you need inspiration, check out the following journal writing prompts for September.

30 Journal Writing Prompts for September

  1. How did August go for you, your family, friends, community, etc.?
  2. What are you goals for September?
  3. How do you feel right now? Be honest!
  4. What makes you feel confident? Why?
  5. What do you believe is your biggest weakness?
  6. Happy Labor Day! How did you spend your holiday?
  7. What would you tell your 16-year-old self about life?
  8. What is your first memory of school?
  9. Did you like school? Why or why not?
  10. What was your favorite subject, sport, or other extracurricular activity?
  11. Who was your favorite teacher? Why did this teacher stand out over the others?
  12. Were your parents involved in your school activities? PTA? Band Boosters? Room parent? Are you involved in your child’s school activities?
  13. Write about first vivid memory of your childhood friend.
  14. What do you feel is lacking from your life? What can you do to change this?
  15. Who is your biggest inspiration right now? Why?
  16. What does success mean to you?
  17. How do you take care of yourself? What self-care activities do you do? Are they helpful?
  18. What made you laugh today?
  19. What were you doing at 2 pm? Provide details.
  20. Free write for 15 minutes.
  21. The best part of summer was ___________________. Go into detail.
  22. First Day of Fall! Did you get outdoors or do anything to celebrate? Write about your day.
  23. What is your fall bucket list?
  24. What is your favorite part of the fall season? Why?
  25. List 5 good thoughts about your day.
  26. What makes you feel completely happy?
  27. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
  28. What is something you want to try before the end of the year? What is stopping you?
  29. What do you hope to accomplish in the rest of 2021? Make a list.
  30. What are looking forward to doing in October?

9 Ways to Celebrate Back to Hogwarts Day

Did you get your letter? It’s time to start classes again! Millions of Harry Potter fans recognize September 1st as Back to Hogwarts Day. The beloved series by J.K. Rowling is still going strong after all these years. Are you a fan? Are you looking for ways to celebrate Back to Hogwarts Day? Check out the following ways to celebrate going back to Hogwarts.

9 Ways to Celebrate Back to Hogwarts Day

 Having fun is the best way to celebrate Back to Hogwarts Day. Whether you celebrate alone, online, or with family and friends, spend time enjoying the beloved series.

  1. Read: Cozy up with your favorite Harry Potter book and revisit the Wizarding World. Start over by reading the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
  2. Listen: If you have a busy schedule, listening to the audiobooks is a great way to multitask.
  3. Watch: Host a movie night. (Yes, movie night can consist of just you and your cat.) Watch one or go for a complete marathon of all the Harry Potter movies.
  4. Crafts: Let your creative side shine through on Back to Hogwarts Day. From potion bottles to jewelry, making crafts is a great way to celebrate. The best part, you can always watch or listen to Harry Potter while working on your creative project.
  5. Food & Drinks: Butterbeer, chocolate frogs, licorice wands, and much more. Creating the food and beverages from the Harry Potter series is one of the best ways to celebrate. Plus, you can always eat and drink these tasty treats while watching the movies.
  6. Lego: Pick up a new Harry Potter themed Lego set for an improtu family night. From the Hogwarts Castle to Hagrid’s Hut, each themed Lego set represents a different area in the Wizarding World. Who knows maybe you will end up with entire room of Harry Potter Lego sets.
  7. Game Night: Host a Harry Potter themed game night. Order in pizza and play your favorite Wizarding World related video or board game.
  8. Online: Meet and chat with other fans in your favorite Harry Potter group.
  9. Write: Do you like to write? Write fanfiction. Create your own version of the Wizarding World.

Have fun! Enjoy J.K Rowling’s magnificent series about “The Boy Who Lived.”

Rebecca Suggested It: St. Johns Mint Festival

Are you looking for a family friendly activity to attend this weekend? Head to St. Johns, MI for their annual Mint Festival. The entire town will be buzzing with different events.

The Mint Festival runs August 13-15, 2021. Most events take place at the St. Johns City Park. Other activities are downtown. If you are a bargain shopper, many residents host yard sales all weekend long.

One of the main attractions is the 2021 Grand Mint Parade Route Kickoff. The theme is Back Together Again. The parade begins promptly at 10am. Go early to find the perfect seat to watch the Mint Parade. You will not be disappointed with the floats, the Mint Queen and her court, and much more.

Some of the other events at the Mint Festival include:

  • Arts & Crafts
  • Flea Market
  • New Vehicle Show
  • Food Vendors
  • Inflatables
  • Mini Golf
  • Live music at the Performance Shell or Downtown
  • Cornhole Tournaments
  • Beverage Tent
  • Classic Car Show
  • Peppermint Plop
  • Carnival Rides
  • Worship in the Park (11 am, Sunday at the Performance Shell)

For the exact times and full list of events check out the schedule on the Clinton County Chamber website or Facebook page. The Mint Festival has numerous events for the entire family to enjoy. Hope to see your smiling face at the Mint Fest.

50 Activities for National Family Fun Month

Did you know August is National Family Fun Month? Summer is slowly fading into fall. Your days will quickly fill with chaotic school schedules, extracurricular activities, work, and other demanding commitments. Use Family Fun Month to enjoy extra family friendly activities.

Activities For National Family Fun Month

Are you looking for inspiration for family friendly activities? Here are 50 activities to help you and your family enjoy the fleeting summer days.

  1. Go Hiking
  2. Go on a Nature Walk
  3. Play Frisbee, Toss a Football or Baseball
  4. Play Hide-n-Seek
  5. Build Lego Sets
  6. Patron a New Local Restaurant or Order Take-Out
  7. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
  8. Picnic in the Park
  9. Go for a Drive
  10. Paint Rocks to Hide Around Your Local Community
  11. Be a Hometown Tourist and Vlog Your Findings
  12.  Go to an Art Museum
  13. Do Family Game Night Outdoors
  14. Make Tie Dye Shirts
  15. Attend a Local Festival or Fair
  16. Have a Swim Day
  17. Build a Blanket Fort Indoors
  18. Go to the Lake
  19. Video Game Night
  20. Spread Out a Blanket and Stargaze (Do not forget the snacks)
  21. Go Camping
  22. Turn Your Back Yard into an Obstacle Course
  23. Sing Karaoke
  24. Make a Terrarium
  25. Do Simple Science Experiments
  26. Go Tubing
  27. Go Visiting
  28. Go on a Bike Ride
  29. Go to a Movie Matinee
  30. Use Chalk to Create Sidewalk Murals
  31. Water Balloon Fight
  32. Have a Bonfire (Do not forget the S’mores)
  33. Go Horseback Riding
  34. Make Homemade Ice Cream
  35.  Crafts on a Rainy Day
  36. Go to a Zoo
  37. Fly a Kite
  38. Go to a Splash Park
  39. Go Bowling
  40. Try Geocaching
  41. Make Ice Cream Floats and Watch the Sun Set
  42. Cook Dinner Together
  43. Pick Up Pizzas and Go to the Park
  44. Night Walk with Flashlights
  45. Photo Shoot at Your Local Park
  46. Movie Marathon
  47. Make Homemade Play Dough
  48. Make a Cardboard City
  49. Make Paper Bag Puppets
  50. Go to a Nature Center

Enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Please note: As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn income for qualifying purchases.

Photo Prompts for the 4th of July

Happy Independence Day! The 4th of July is a wonderful day to take memorable photos. Celebrations, community events, family gatherings, and fireworks add to the magnificent holiday. Are you looking for photo inspiration for the 4th of July? Check out the following photo prompts for an unforgettable day.

  1. Red, White, and Blue
  2. Celebrations
  3. Holding sparklers.
  4. United States Flag blowing in the breeze.
  5. Holding the U.S. Flag.
  6. Patriotic
  7. Family
  8. Friends
  9. Community
  10. Hometown
  11. Music
  12. God Bless America
  13. Food
  14. Beverages
  15. Forefathers
  16. History
  17. Picnic
  18. BBQ
  19. Bonfire (S’mores)
  20. Fireworks

Remember when taking photos, be safe! Have a great 4th of July.

Sugar Cookies: A Christmas Tradition

Are you looking for another simple way to celebrate the Christmas season? Baking during the holidays is a long-standing tradition. Sugar cookies are a tasty treat to decorate, share, and eat. Helping to reduce the stress of the holiday mad-dash of baking, sugar cookies can be frozen to decorate later.

Dig out your favorite sugar cookie recipe, find a new one on Pinterest, or grab a tube of dough at your local store. Regardless of your method, sugar cookies are a fun way to celebrate the Christmas season.

  1. Bake your cookies from the method of choice.
  2. Allow your batch of sugar cookies to cool.
  3. Frost cookies.
  4. Decorate

Do you want to get the kids involved in making sugar cookies to celebrate the Christmas season? Set out different types of holiday sprinkles, marshmallows, nuts, and other toppings. Then, ask your children to help decorate the cookies. Making up new designs and colors provides added fun. Enjoy the creative process going into each cookie.

Finally, time to eat the cookies! Put a plate of cookies out as part of family night. Share a batch with a neighbor.

You can always add a nice cup of hot chocolate or milk to the celebration. Now, the next challenge, who gets to pick the Christmas movie for family night?

Make Putting Up Your Christmas Tree a Grand Event

Are you getting ready to put up your Christmas tree? Make the tree decorating a family fun event. (Yes, your dog counts as a family member). Spend an afternoon or evening decorating your Christmas tree together.

Ways to Make Putting Up Your Christmas Tree a Grand Event

Due to the ongoing pandemic, most community events will not take place this year. But you can quickly turn Christmas decorating into a grand affair. Check out the following list for ideas to make lasting memories while merely putting up your Christmas tree.

  • Homemade Ornaments: Make homemade ornaments for your tree. For example, salt dough ornaments are simple to create. Before putting up your tree, make a batch of salt dough ornaments. You and your family can easily cut the decorations into specific shapes with cookie cutters. Bake, paint and date your ornaments as directed. Then, on the day of putting up your Christmas tree, you can hang your new ornament creations.
  • Special Ornaments: Purchase a new ornament for each family member. If you are on a tight budget, dollar store ornaments work wonderfully. Date or add different embellishments to your decorations to create a one of a kind appearance.
  • Make Your Garland: String popcorn, create paper chains, or use other materials to create your tree’s garland.
  • Play Christmas Music: Set your radio on the Christmas music channel or create playlists full of your holiday favorites.
  • Listen to an Audio Book: Listening to children’s Christmas stories is always fun. Playing the stories in the background will add extra fun to your Christmas tree event.
  • Watch Christmas Shows: Play old classic Christmas shows while decorating the tree. Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Polar Express, or A Charlie Brown Christmas are all wonderful holiday programs for your whole family to enjoy.
  • Bake Christmas Goodies: Before setting up your tree, bake holiday-themed goodies. Cookies, pretzels, hot cocoa, or other treats help make putting up your Christmas tree a grand event.
  • Countdown Ceremony: Before plugging in your Christmas tree, have a countdown ceremony. Children love the hype of a countdown ceremony.
  • Photo Time: Wear matching holiday pajamas or ugly Christmas sweaters to pose in front of the tree. Creating a new Christmas tree ceremony selfie can be a new tradition for you and your family.

Remember to take lots of pictures while putting up your Christmas tree. Print your photos and create a special scrapbook. 2020 is definitely a year to remember.

 

Halloween Fear Challenge–Food Edition

Are you staying home for Halloween? Are you looking for fun ways to celebrate with your family? How about hosting a Halloween fear challenge night? Trying new foods is always a fun family activity, right?

Grocery List Ideas

Ask yourself, what food items would be a challenge for your family? Do you need some assistance? Check out the following ideas.

  • Edible Insects: There is a wide selection of edible insects available at your local specialty shop or online.

    Original Worm Snack. Believe it or not, these come in different flavors.

    Like the Larvets, these Crick-eets are available in different flavors; Bacon & Cheese, Salt & Vinegar, and Sour Cream & Onion.
  • Bugs in a Sucker: A sucker is a perfect chance to eat a little sweet before getting down to the bug.

    There are suckers available with scorpions, crickets, ants, worms, and more. They come in a wide variety of flavors.
  • Chocolate Covered Bugs: Other bugs come covered in chocolate. For many, eating chocolate-covered larvae is easier.
  • Pickled Eggs: Pickled eggs are an acquired taste. Many find the soft squishy pickled eggs a challenge to eat.
  • Rattlesnake: For many, Eating a snake is definitely a challenge. But a rattlesnake can add an extra element of fear.
  • Gummy Bugs: If you have younger children who may want to join the fun but will not try other real insects, purchase gummy bugs. Eating a gummy worm or other insects may be a challenge to younger children.
  • Fruit or Vegetable: The produce section is another place to look for food challenge options. If your family has never tried a turnip, radish, leek, pomegranate, avocado, or dragon fruit, add these to your food fear challenge night. The fruits and vegetables are a fun addition.

Your Halloween Food Challenge Night

Keep in mind, there is no right or wrong way to set up for your Halloween food challenge night.

  • Use Halloween themed plates or trays to spread out your food selection.
  • Provide plenty of water to wash down the food choices.
  • Do not force anyone to try a choice.
  • Film the experience to use on YouTube or Instagram.
  • Take pictures. Use the photos to make a scrapbook later.
  • Have fun. Who knows, maybe you can cross items to try off your bucket list.

What food do you consider a fear challenge?

 

Simple Halloween Ghost Cookies

Halloween (or any holiday) is an excellent time to start new traditions. Whether you are staying close to home due to the pandemic or avoiding the cold weather, making simple Halloween ghost cookies is a great way to celebrate. Anyways, who doesn’t like warm, gooey marshmallow cookies?

Grocery List

  • Cookie dough or the ingredients to your favorite cookie recipe.
  • Marshmallow shaped ghosts
  • Halloween sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven.
  • Bake cookies as directed.
  • Remove at the proper time.
  • Place the ghost marshmallows and sprinkles on to the warm cookies. The marshmallow begins to melt from the heat.
  • Serve warm.
  • Enjoy the extra sweet, gooey goodness of simple Halloween ghost cookies.

These simple but tasty Halloween ghost cookies are a perfect snack for family movie night.