Author: Shannon Rooks
5 Virtual Valentine Gift Ideas
It may not be possible to safely deliver chocolates and flowers this Valentine’s Day but that doesn’t mean you can’t deliver something special! Check out these great ideas for virtual Valentine’s Day gifts you can share with your loved ones.
1 – Make a photo montage video set to music. Share the link to the video on Sunday for your Valentine to enjoy
2 – Send an e-card. There are plenty of websites (like e-cards.com) that allow you to create your own virtual Valentine’s Day card rather than buying one at a drug store!
3 – Create a special Valentine’s Day playlist and share virtually with your Valentine.
4 – Have someone else do the delivering! Use apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats to have your Valentine’s favorite meal delivered to them this Sunday.
5 – Want someone else to deliver the words? Check out Cameo.com to have your Valentine’s favorite celebrity deliver a special greeting!
How to Host a Virtual Super Bowl Party
We’re all getting really good at finding creative ways to be together these days – including during the Super Bowl! We may be used to having a big, loud party with family and friends to root for our favorite teams. This year you can still have fun with some of these tips!
1 – Virtual Super Bowl Squares – Setup some virtual squares with friends and make your own contest using Super Bowl Pool Site!
2 – FaceTime or Zoom – Meet with your friends over the web whether it’s for the first quarter or the whole game. Joining in and cheering together will make you feel like you’re together even if you’re not. Test out your technology ahead of time to avoid any difficulties.
3 – Choose the Same Menu – Just because you can’t be together doesn’t mean you can’t all enjoy nachos, wings and your favorite beverages at the same time. Create a super bowl menu to all enjoy virtually.
4 – Make Sure to Show Team Spirit – Wear your favorite gear from your favorite team and give an award for the best getup!
5 – Play Some Games – Track your favorite commercials and compare with friends. Give out a virtual award for the best commercial! Create some NFL trivia to play while you’re waiting for the game to start. Feel like singing? Do your best virtual reenactment of the halftime show and share with friends!
20 Items for Your 2021 Bucket List
2020 taught us a lot! We learned that making plans in the new year can be hard when there is a lot of uncertainty. Even though your traveling, parties or events may be cancelled or postponed, there are still plenty of things you can do in 2021! Check out our ideas for your 2021 bucket list – how many items will you check off this year?
1 – Take time to meditate each day
2 – Eat healthier
3 – Exercise daily (you don’t need a gym to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in each day to stay healthy!)
4 – Complete at least one act of kindness each month
5 – Read that book you started a while ago but haven’t finished
6 – Organize your apartment/house
7 – Send cards to friends in the mail for no reason other than to just say “hi”
8 – Do a puzzle
9 – Keep a journal
10 – Start a blog
11 – Learn to cook or bake
12 – Drink more water (download an app on your phone to track your ounces each day)
13 – Take a social media break
14 – Get more sleep (go to bed earlier to get extra Z’s)
15 – Watch some classic movies you still have never seen
16 – It’s hard to smile at strangers with a mask on, but you can still wave to say hello & brighten someone’s day
17 – Start a pay it forward chain (pay for someone’s coffee or lunch)’
18 – Complete a DIY project you pinned on Pinterest a while ago
19 – Buy or pick flowers to keep in your home
20 – Remember to smile and breathe
3 Delicious Holiday Cookie Recipes
Whether you like to decorate sugar cookies or prefer gingerbread men we have the perfect recipes to get you started! The snow is going to fall this weekend so head to the market, pick up some supplies and start baking!
1 – Gingerbread Men Recipe Courtesy of Sally’s Baking Addiction
These smell delicious while baking and are even more fun to decorate! Add some hair, bow ties or buttons…whatever your gingerbread heart desires!
2 – The Perfect Snickerdoodles Courtesy of Cookies & Cups
If you like your snickerdoodles soft and chewy then you’ve come to the right place! These cookies are easy to make and full of flavor.
3 – Soft Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies Courtesy of Live Well Bake Often
Fun to decorate and perfect for the holiday season! These sugar cookies have an icing recipe that is also easy to make and tasty to eat.
3 Thanksgiving Games to Play With Family
Whether you are together with family or celebrating via Zoom, there are fun ways you can celebrate turkey day this year! Try one of these fun games with your family and maybe you’ll create a new tradition for years to come.
1 – A Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt – Get the family searching both inside and outside for a list of items and have a whole lot of fun while you search!
2 – Color the table! Ditch the standard table cloth and opt for one you can color. Buy one at your local party store or create your own with craft paper and a sharpie.
3 – Act it out! You don’t have to be face to face with your family to play Thanksgiving charades. Try these free printable cards from readwritemom.com!
5 Festive Halloween Treats to Make This Weekend
Halloween is a week away and you can get into the spirit now by cooking up something both festive and sweet! Pull out your baking supplies and get cooking!
1 – Jack-O-Lantern Rice Kreepies
3 Easy Ways to Decorate for Halloween
October is here and we’re ready to celebrate Halloween with all things SPOOKY! If you haven’t decorated your home yet, don’t worry! We have 3 very easy DIY projects that can make your apartment look festive in no time.
1 – Paper Bats-Â Head here to find an easy bat template to print. Draw your bats on black construction paper and cut them out. You can easily hang them using two-sided tape anywhere you want in your home to give it a spooky touch!
2 – Trash Bag Spiderwebs-Â All you need for this one is a trash bag and a pair of scissors. Easy enough, right? Head here to learn how to fold and cut your trash bag to make a creepy spiderweb for your home this Halloween!
3- Monster Door – Give your door a spooky face using construction paper, streamers and more! Let your kids help with this one and it’s fun for the whole family!
5 Fun Fall Attractions in New England
The cooler temperatures are on their way in and it won’t be long before we can see the leaves changing on the trees! Fall is right around the corner and New England has so much to offer for it’s visitors and locals. If you’re planning a day out to do something seasonal and fun try one of these great ideas…
1 – Crawford Notch Scenic Train Ride – Take in some of the most beautiful, scenic views New Hampshire has to offer this fall while on the train!
2 – Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, ME – Take in brilliant fall foliage from one of the most popular national parks in New England.
3 – Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, MA – Taste wine in the tasting room, have lunch or visit the orchards to pick apples at Nashoba Vallery Winery!
4 – Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, MA – Food trucks, pick your own fruits and pumpkins, cider donuts and more! Check out the fun at Cider Hill Farm this fall.
5 – Davis Mega Maze in Sterling, MA – Test your skills in the massive corn maze made up of 8 miles of corn and 3 miles of path at Davis Farm Land!
End of Summer Bucket List
The long, sunny days of summer are dwindling! Before we know it the sun will be setting on our beach days and boat rides and the cooler temperatures will move in. Before summer ends make sure to take a look at this summer bucket list and check off as many items as you can…
1 – Visit a local New England beach
2 – Eat an ice cream from your favorite ice cream stand
3 – Toast marshmallows around a campfire
4 – Ride on a boat
5 – Go on a summery, nature scavenger hunt with your kids
6 – Hike your favorite trail
7 – Float down a river in an inflatable tube
8 – Make homemade popsicles
9 – Flip hamburgers on the grill (eat them with all the best summer fixings)
10 – Go camping under the stars
11 – Watch fireworks
12 – Drink an ice coffee from your favorite local coffee shop
13 – Visit a summer farmer’s market
14 – Water-ski or go tubing in a New England lake
15 – Make a salad with vegetables from your own garden
Tips for Trying Tie Dye at Home
Tie dye has come back in a BIG way in 2020! If you’ve looked online or shopped at stores recently you’ve probably seen lots of tie dye merchandise to buy. Instead of buying it pre-made, why not get crafty and create your own tie-dye at home? Read below for some tips for creating awesome and unique tie dyed garments!
1 – Think about what you want to tie dye. Is it a t shirt or a pair of shorts? Either way make sure that the material is cotton so the dye will adhere to the fibers of your garment as best as possible. Also, choose a white garment so your colors will stand out.
2 – Purchase your fabric dyes individually or purchase a kit. Stores like Michaels, Target and Amazon are selling kits that come with everything you need. If you don’t use a kit, you’ll also need some squeeze bottles, plastic sheets, plastic wrap, plastic gloves and rubber bands.
3 – Bullseye? Sunburst? Polka Dots? Decide which tie dye pattern you want to try. Click here for a great list of patterns with detailed instructions on how to achieve each look. Fold or roll your garment and place your rubber bands accordingly.
4 – Set up your work station outdoors to limit the mess. Lay out your plastic sheet and get your fabric dyes in the squeeze bottles. Make sure to wear your plastic gloves so you don’t tie dye your hands! (if you do get dye on your hands you can mix baking soda and water together to create a paste. Scrub it on your skin and wash away with soap and water.)
5 – Have fun and unleash your creativity! Choose fun color patterns and don’t be afraid to be bold. You won’t know how the garments will look until they’ve dried and been washed.
6 – When your garments are done wrap them in plastic wrap and let them dry overnight. When they’re ready to be unwrapped, wash them outdoors with a hose or in a laundry sink to remove the excess dye. After you’ve washed them throw them into the washing machine (without any other clothes) for a quick rinse and then dry.
7 – Enjoy your new tie dyed creations! Make sure to wash them separately for the first few washes to be sure the dye doesn’t bleed onto other clothes.