Fun Games and Activities for Family Camping Trips

June 4, 2012 by 20 Comments

A camping trip is not a vacation that’s all that extraordinary. People do it all of the
time. But when you’re packing up the family to do it these days, it can be
hard to have an authentic experience if everyone has their cell phones, laptops and/or
tablets in tow. On the other hand, if you “ban” them from the trip, it might be challenging
to try and come up with ways to keep everyone entertained.

If you’re getting a bit nervous about how to pull off a fun camping trip, just think of it
this way: people have been going camping for years. Way before there was an Apple,
Inc. company, way before there was even any electricity and so with a bit of preplanning,
you’ll be just fine.

Bring along some card games. If you’re going thirty minutes away
from home or you’re taking a half-day road trip, card games are a fun way to pass the
time. Uno, Spades, Old Maid, Go Fish are all classics that basically anyone at any age
can participate in.

Hold camping skills contests. If you’re going the traditional
camping route, once you arrive, you’ll need to take out an hour or two (or four) to set
everything up. For the kids especially, this will seem more like washing the dishes at
home than anything to get excited over. So, make it fun by having speed (and accuracy)
contests [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, travel

Fun and Unique Ways to Celebrate a Milestone Birthday

June 4, 2012 by 12 Comments

All birthdays are a special and exciting day. You’re one year older and wiser.
Milestone birthdays are especially exciting to celebrate because they don’t come around
as often. Though the novelty of birthdays may have worn off for you by now, it definitely
hasn’t for your kids. Here are some fun ideas for to use to celebrate your kids’ milestone
birthdays!

Even though during their first milestone at age one your child won’t really remember
or even truly appreciate the day, it’s a big deal. For a long time, families celebrated a
child’s first birthday because so few children actually made it to age one. And you both
deserve some celebration after the tumultuous first year of your baby’s life. Make the
theme of the day something unique like crayons, rubber ducky, teddy bears, Legos, or
balloons that the kids will enjoy. Pick your child’s favorite games or time of the day and
plan the theme around that. If you choose crayons, you could line your walls, floor, or
tables with butcher paper so the kids can draw on everything. Plan around naptime and
invite baby’s friends over. Decorate the house to differentiate the day in your child’s eyes
and provide plenty of easy finger foods. Consider tiny cupcakes instead of a big cake so
small hands and mouths can easily enjoy the birthday treat.

Many of those ideas will translate really easily to a five-year-old child’s birthday
as well. Though by five your child will be more developed and have a personality
completely her own and will be able to help you plan according to her favorite colors,
movies, toys, or games. If you want to plan either birthday away from the house, think
about doing a zoo or petting zoo party, or a party at the [Read more…]

Filed Under: family

How to Plan a Family Picnic

June 4, 2012 by 1 Comment

So, the family’s decided to go on a picnic. When it comes to planning that kind of
event, most people would probably think that it’s a pretty easy thing to do. After all, what
do you need besides a blanket, some food and a basket?

If you want an average kind of picnic, nothing.

But if you want one that will seem like more than eating tuna sandwiches outside for
lunch, here are some recommended steps that can make your family picnic a fun and
memorable experience.

Determine the time of day you want to go. If you have younger
children (that are on a sleep schedule), then you’ll probably want to do the traditional
midday kind of picnic. But if your kids are older, who said that a picnic has to be at
noon? Instead of Saturday morning cartoons, maybe have a breakfast-themed picnic,
instead. Or, perhaps opt for watching the sunset by having a picnic at dusk.

Select the perfect location. When it comes to just about everything
in life, “Location, location, location!” is key. Picnics tend to be more enjoyable when
there’s not a lot of traffic, people or even pets around (to try and join in on your dining
experience). Therefore, instead of automatically going to the closest or most popular
park, think of other places that would be just as good (if not better). It could be at the
backyard of a family friend’s home or somewhere by a lake. Or, you can stay close to
home and build a tent in the backyard or even eat in the back of your pickup truck.

Make the cuisine a collaborative effort. Once you’ve decided
when to have the picnic, it’s the time to determine what will go on the menu. Sure,
deli sandwiches will work, but there’s [Read more…]

Filed Under: family

Travel- A Zoo Day for Little (and Friend)

May 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

At the end of a LONG trip, and about ready to head on home. Little and I fly out late Tuesday night, barring issues resulting from this tropical storm (or anything else). [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids, travel

Guerilla Gardening: The Urban Farmer’s Guide to Saving Grocery Money

May 23, 2012 by 4 Comments
Guest Post by Thomas Doane
Last year, changes in the economy hit my family pretty hard. My hours were cut at work, and I found myself unable to afford necessities like food and toiletries. In desperation, I turned to gardening and couponing, and I haven’t looked back. By investing time each week cultivating my vegetable plants and some smart shopping at the grocery store, I’m able to save my family thousands of dollars every year.
Planting and Growing an Urban Garden
Getting creative in the garden has helped me save money each week. My family loves fresh produce like tomatoes and salads, and I enjoy working outside. With more free time after my hours got cut, I turned to gardening as a way to cut our food expenses and cultivate a hobby.
We don’t have much space in our urban yard, but I was able to grow tomatoes, onions, garlic and basil bushes last year. This year, I plan to add lettuce, peppers and chives. Primarily, I used a small space in my apartment’s courtyard. I don’t have personal outdoor space, but my landlord agreed to allow me to plant in the communal space. Greenhouse plants can be expensive, so I purchased only the larger plants like tomato bushes that would have taken too long to grow from seed. I purchased affordable organic seed packets to grow herbs. With regular watering and attention, the plants flourished and provided us with tasty produce all season.
You don’t need a huge back yard in order to grow a prolific garden. My neighbors started a roof top garden, and friends across town grow herbs in their home. Both of these options help families save money and grow fresh produce in limited space.
Clipping and Using Coupons

I started my couponing venture with the Sunday newspaper. Every week, coupon fliers offer savings [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, food

Family Travel: Five great things to do in Cincinnati

May 22, 2012 by 7 Comments

When you think of Cincinnati, what comes to mind? Baseball, for sure (love those Reds).
King’s Island. And Skyline Chili! But there’s so much more to Cincinnati, especially for
families. I’ve been delving into a new book, called Adventures Around Cincinnati: A Parent’s
Guide to Unique and Memorable Places to Explore with Your Kids. Written by Laura Hoevener
and Terri Weeks, it’s extraordinary, and full of great ideas for exploring Cincinnati and its
environs.

The book is split into three sections. The first section, Creating Memories with your Family, is an excellent read for ANY traveling family. It’s a manifesto for creating adventures (and memories) for your family while you travel. Both inspiring and instructive, this should be read by anyone with kids in their lives (whether you’re headed to Ohio or not). The second section, Attraction Listings, is PACKED with detailed information on a plethora of attractions (both free and with a fee) in central Cincinnati and Newport, Kentucky, greater Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, Lexington, Louisville, and Indianapolis. This is the meat of the book and it shows in the honest, informative listings.

The third part, Planning Help, lists sample itineraries and an attraction table (showing which categories each attraction is in – VERY helpful if you have a kid into art, or fossils, or planes). Laura and Terri KNOW what they are talking about – their kids have experienced this all (lucky kids!). This book also teaches you that there is MUCH more in your own backyard than you can imagine. So the five great things to do in Cincinnati? Drawing from the many activities in this book, here are my favorites for family travel:

1. Cincinnati Art Museum. First, because they have an Artworld JUST FOR KIDS. Secondly,
because in their family guide (get one at the front desk) is a SCAVENGER HUNT! Yes. Some
parts of the Art Museum are hands-on, and there are many programs for children.
2. Cincinnati Fire Museum. [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, travel

Orhard Bars- Great for Summer Travel

May 17, 2012 by 2 Comments

We are constantly on the go around here, and having great travel snacks are a must. I know that for most families, having foods that travel well (whether you are going to baseball practice, Boise, or Bolivia) really simplifies your day. Nothing crimps movement like whiny, hungry kids! These are all natural and are a great choice if you have a child with allergies in your home, too- they are vegan AND gluten free.

Liberty Orchards just added two new flavors to the popular Orchard Bar lineup: Cherry Almond Crunch and Banana Mango & Macadamia. The all-natural, vegan and gluten free bars are loaded with nuts and fruit, sunflower and flax seeds. The result is a delicious burst of flavor rich in antioxidants (vitamins A & C), low in sodium, high [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, food, travel

Campsite’s near Festivals

May 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment

One of the best ways of knowing when summer’s arrived is when music festivals are being held. The
UK is one of the best places in the world to go watch live music, and no festival experience would
be complete without camping. However, while camping at the festival site can be fun, maybe it’s
better and more convenient to go to the festival venue from nearby campsites and caravan parks
from pitchup.com, where you have more space and more things to do before the first act takes to
the stage.

There are a number of benefits of staying at proper camping sites over camping at the festival itself.
One of those is the fact that you do not have to queue for ages to use some of the on-site facilities
such as toilets and shower rooms. Also, you have more space to roam, and campsites tend to be
much more peaceful than [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, travel