SpoonFullofJelly

When you have only little children in your home, Summer can seem like a chore. Day care is open but is optional. We learned that day care can have limited spots for the toddler and pre-school rooms. So what are you going to do with all that time on your hands? I have suggested 9 fun activities to make things run smoothly without too much guessing. My goal was to spark a thought of something that you can do so that you can enjoy the sun. Since we have snow from November-April, we take full advantage of the weather. Hubby and I live by our calendars. It allows for us not to miss special events. If you are like us, grab your calendar and get to planning the 100 Days of Summer. 1. Take a Dip Find the local swimming hole and take a dip. Our goal is to take our son to various swimming pools around town throughout the summer. This is a win-win as we love to cool off too. Baby Benefit: Introduce baby to pools/water/outdoor play 2. Take a Class Together Babies love to do things...

Ever thought of hosting an exchange student? It was the best month Hubby and I have had in a long time. We planned a ton of activities each weekend that allowed us to view our neighborhood, and city. It was great seeing the sparkle in the student’s eye when she saw something that her home country doesn’t have. For example, we took her to a drive-in movie theater. They have movie theaters in China, but she has never seen a drive-in other than in American movies. Her eyes sparkled to see rows of cars, bbq grills and large screens. So if you have decided to open your doors to a student, please do so. It will a life altering experience. Try this ideas on for size to give the student a taste of your corner of your country. 1. Ask the student what she does on her day off. This will give you an idea of how she spends her time. You will find out if she is a home-body or a social butterfly. You will also get to see if you over-planned her free time or under-planned her free time.   2....

If our plate was not full enough, we have opened our doors to an exchange student for a month. Hubby and I were approached with this opportunity last summer, but we didn't apply. This year we jumped on the opportunity. I have been an exchange student twice and my parents have hosted a few times when I was a child. I felt that it was time to give back. If you have ever thought of hosting an exchange student, here are a few tips to why it's a great idea. 1. Learn First Hand Ever wanted to learn how to make a dish from a different country or learn a new craft? An exchange student can share with you. You can also pass along a new skill and recipe to the student. They want to learn cultural activities. 2. Practice A Language Even though the student is in America to learn English, you can practice the foreign language by being a human dictionary. Your children would love to practice what they have learned also. 3. Explore Your Area How often do you travel around your ar...

If you work at a desk, deep inside an office building then this time of the year can be difficult. You might grow to hate your desk in the summer. Here are a few tips on how to handle the blues. Take back your lunch hour or half hour . Stand in the hot sun and eat your lunch. Let the sun beat down on your face and give you the much needed reminder that it is summer time. Do food trucks pull up near your office? Flag one down and eat outside without guilt. Set your voicemail. If you have the freedom, work outside your office. Late to bed, Early to Rise, right? Old folks are done with dinner by time many working adults leave the office. If you have to put in 8 hours regardless what time you start, then start earlier. Gain the better half of your day by arriving to work at 7am. So many festivals, children activities and shopping specials are waiting for you at 4pm! A picture is worth a thousand words . Cubicles suck and I know it. Redecorate it with postcards and pictures of your...

Traveling with a spouse can actually be harder than traveling alone due to the costs and different desires of where to go. It's very important to keep in mind that you have to get away from your home even if it's for one night, so try to work out something with your spouse/partner. One elementary way to handle the traveling argument is to chose a price range like $300-$500 and each write down 3 places that will fit in that budget. Place them in a hat, shake, chose and start planning. If you cant decide on the amount to spend, place those in a hat or just chose the lowest amount. It might be a welcoming challenge to enjoy Las Vegas under $400 for a week. Hubby and I have to travel a few times a year or we will never see our family. Our parents and siblings are in Illinois and Virginia, and grandparents, aunts and first cousins are spread out between Philadelphia and Raleigh NC. Not to mention that we have best friends in Michigan. Each September we sit down and plan out our ...

Its March and Hubby and I are thinking of summer. I know some of you are shocked since it's still a little cold out, but our snow has melted and the birds are chirping. That means that summer will early and warmer than usual! Camp site reservations are opening soon and summer activity schedules are opening everywhere. I'm so excited! We want to make sure that we are well prepared to enjoy the joys of summer so we are getting a head start. I figured that I should share some great tips I learned years ago. Don't wait for summer to sneak up on you and your family. Welcome it well prepared, emotionally and financially. 1. Make a List of Summer Activities We love to try new restaurants and we save up for this every winter. We try 2-4 new restaurants each month and spend no more than $25 at each place. Sometimes we have enough money for a meal each and other times we have to share. We just want the experience. We are also campers, swimmers, travelers and theater lovers. We...