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You are here: Home / Archives for Family Activities / Staying at Home

Activities for Saturday, January 11, 2014

January 10, 2014 by Tracy

Activities for Saturday, January 10, 2014
Activities for Saturday, January 10, 2014

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Getting back into our usual routine and recovering from our frozen pipes, I need some time this weekend to get ahead for next week.

My children have grown this week, and their growth is taking them out of their clothing. My son needs his next-size pants hemmed and another pair of shoes.

My oldest daughter will also need the next-size pants, and I am confiscating Miss 3’s short shirts and her pants that now look like capris.

In addition to clothing swaps, general cleanup, menu planning, grocery-list making, and laundry, we are hoping to get out and enjoy a family activity this weekend. As rains are coming, we might end up spending time indoors.

If you are venturing out, here are some suggested activities for Saturday, January 11, 2014 that may fit your schedule:

Lakeshore Learning Store: FREE Bongos

Each Saturday, Lakeshore Learning Stores offer a FREE craft project from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at participating locations. Bongos are the FREE project for Saturday, January 11, 2014. The craft changes each week for children ages 3 and up, and no reservations necessary.

Michaels: $2 Mini Masterpieces

On January 11, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., participating Michaels Craft Stores will reserve 30 minutes for your child to paint mini masterpieces. Kids Club reservations are required and recommended for children ages 3 and up.

Other Event Suggestions

Other FREE or inexpensive events are a trip to a local park, hiking, bike riding, or geocaching.

If you have annual memberships, check museums, zoos, science centers, recreational districts, and gardens for special events and activities.

For indoor options, go watch a high school or college sports game. At home, my girls love creating with paints, stickers, and markers while my son prefers a board or card game.

If you are looking for other family weekend events, check Using Time Wisely’s event page. While you are there, please “like” the page to stay updated.

However you plan to spend your weekend, may you stay safe, warm, and dry while using time wisely. Enjoy your weekend!

Question: What are your plans for the weekend?

Filed Under: Going Out, Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: Lakeshore Learning Stores, Michaels

ABC Family: Countdown and 25 Days of Christmas

November 15, 2013 by Tracy

ABC Family: Countdown and 25 Days of Christmas
ABC Family: Countdown and 25 Days of Christmas

Photograph Credit: ABC Family

Our family enjoys winding down watching a holiday movie. We snuggled together to see “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on Halloween night and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on Thanksgiving evening.

Though we enjoy other holiday movies other than Charlie Brown, we like the short episodes that keep little one’s attention.

To kickoff the Christmas season, ABC Family has scheduled a Countdown and 25 Days of Christmas programming list. Though we won’t catch most of these holiday movies, we can find our favorites and plan a movie night complete with popcorn near the lights of the Christmas tree. Enjoy choosing your favorites!

Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas

Day and Date

Time (EST)

Show

Wednesday, November 20  7:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. Disney and Pixar’s UpDisney and Pixar’s Wall-E
Thursday, November 21  9:00 p.m. The Princess and the Frog
Friday, November 22  7:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. MulanWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Saturday, November 23  7:00 p.m.8:55 p.m. Ice AgeIce Age: The Meltdown
Sunday, November 24  7:00 p.m. Fred Claus
Monday, November 25 7:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. Richie Rich’s Christmas WishRichie Rich
Tuesday, November 26 7:00 p.m. Christmas Bounty 
Wednesday, November 27 7:30 p.m.9:00 p.m. Bon Voyage, Charlie BrownA Boy Named Charlie Brown
Thursday, November 28 All Day Harry Potter Marathon 
Friday, November 29 All Day Harry Potter Marathon 
Saturday, November 30 All Day8:00 p.m. Harry Potter MarathonHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

 

25 Days of Christmas

Day and Date

Time (EST)

Show

Sunday, December 1 7:00 p.m. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 
Monday, December 2 8:00 p.m. The Santa Clause 
Tuesday, December 3 8:00 p.m. Scrooged 
Wednesday, December 4 8:00 p.m.10:00 p.m. National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationDeck the Halls
Thursday, December 5 6:00 p.m.7:00 p.m. Rudolph’s Shiny New YearThe Polar Express
Friday, December 6 6:00 p.m.6:30 p.m. Frosty’s Winter WonderlandThe Muppet Christmas Carol
Saturday, December 7 7:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. The Santa ClauseThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Sunday, December 8 6:00 p.m.8:00 p.m. The Mistle-TonesHolidaze
Monday, December 9 8:00 p.m. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 
Tuesday, December 10 9:00 p.m.10:00 p.m. The Year Without a Santa ClausSanta Claus is Comin’ to Town
Wednesday, December 11 6:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

Holiday in HandcuffsMelissa & Joey

Baby Daddy

Thursday, December 12 9:00 p.m. Scrooged 
Friday, December 13 4:30 p.m. Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story Marathon 
Saturday, December 14 8:00 p.m. Disney’s The Little Mermaid 
Sunday, December 15 8:00 p.m. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 
Monday, December 16 7:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. The Santa ClauseThe Santa Clause 2
Tuesday, December 17 9:00 p.m. The Polar Express 
Wednesday, December 18 7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m. Mickey’s Christmas CarolMary Poppins
Thursday, December 19 7:00 p.m. 

8:30 p.m.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys                                                                               Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Friday, December 20 9:00 p.m. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 
Saturday, December 21 All Day6:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

10:00 p.m.

Holiday Classics MarathonThe Santa Clause

The Santa Clause 2

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Sunday, December 22 All Day7:00 p.m. Holiday Movie MarathonDr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Monday, December 23 7:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.

10:00 p.m.

The Year Without a Santa ClausThe Muppet Christmas Carol

The Polar Express

Tuesday, December 24 5:00 p.m. The Santa Clause Movie Marathon 
Wednesday, December 25 9:00 p.m. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 

 

 

Filed Under: Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: movies

Planning for Success: Document Family Holidays – Day 25

January 25, 2013 by Tracy

Planning for success - Day 25

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

  • Day 1: Select a Planning Tool
  • Day 2: Add Your Priorities
  • Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable
  • Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates 
  • Day 5: Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills
  • Day 6: Insert Credit Report Schedule
  • Day 7: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance
  • Day 8: Set Your School and Work Activities
  • Day 9: Highlight Contract and Subscription Expiration Dates
  • Day 10: Download a Savings Tracker
  • Day 11: Note Daily Deals Expiration Dates
  • Day 12: Setup Bill Pay
  • Day 13: Secure Doctor Appointments
  • Day 14: Purchase Batteries
  • Day 15: Include Holidays
  • Day 16: Jot down Library Return Dates
  • Day 17: Track Your Family’s Favorite Meals
  • Day 18: Reserve Time for Your Priorities
  • Day 19: Post Your Payday Schedule – with free printable
  • Day 20: Prepare Your Medical Spending Record – with free printable
  • Day 21: Check Light Bulbs and Air Filters
  • Day 22: Choose Event Dates                
  • Day 23: Enter Reward Deadlines
  • Day 24: Design a Quick Meals List

Day 25: Document Family Holidays

Our family loves holidays. If no holidays are on the horizon, we have been known to make up our own. For example, we are hoping for a snow day tomorrow. In celebration of the possibility, our family did a snow dance at bedtime tonight. We wore our pajamas inside out and started on our left foot. Besides all the laughter and silliness, we made a memory while exerting the last remnants of energy before going to bed.

Though I will not schedule possible snow days, as we know not what tomorrow will bring, I will document family holidays. With the social media explosion, I love the weekly e-mail from Facebook informing me of my friends’ and family’s birthdays.

With the reminder, I can post or message  birthday wishes, but not all of my family members use Facebook. To verify that I don’t forget someone, I document the following types of family holidays in my calendar:

Family Holidays

          • Anniversaries
          • Birthdays
          • Deaths

Remembering both the ups and downs of life keeps our family close. Though the anniversaries and birthdays are preferred, I know the notes of remembrance on or near the home going of a loved one are treasures to hold.

In planning for success in 2013, document your family’s holidays both the ups and the downs. A simple e-mail, card, call, or visit on those special days encourages your relative and brings your family closer. In using time wisely, you cannot afford forgetting your family. Happy documenting!

Question: Where do you record all the dates of your family’s holidays?

Filed Under: Planning for Success, Staying at Home, Family Activities, Uncategorized Tagged With: Planning for success

Planning for Success: Reserve Time for your Priorities – Day 18

January 18, 2013 by Tracy

Planning for success - Day 18

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

  • Day 1: Select a Planning Tool
  • Day 2: Add Your Priorities
  • Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable
  • Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates 
  • Day 5: Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills
  • Day 6: Insert Credit Report Schedule
  • Day 7: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance
  • Day 8: Set Your School and Work Activities
  • Day 9: Highlight Contract and Subscription Expiration Dates
  • Day 10: Download a Savings Tracker
  • Day 11: Note Daily Deals Expiration Dates
  • Day 12: Setup Bill Pay
  • Day 13: Secure Doctor Appointments
  • Day 14: Purchase Batteries
  • Day 15: Include Holidays
  • Day 16: Jot down Library Return Dates
  • Day 17: Track Your Family’s Favorite Meals

Day 18: Reserve Time for Your Priorities

As the days go by and my calendar continues to change from blank white space to a sea of blue ink, I return to consider my priorities. Though all these other tasks on the schedule are good, I need to value my time. To accomplish my family time priority, I review my calendar focusing on very busy weeks.

In looking over those weeks, I find two or three unscheduled sections and reserve family time. Keeping my priorities in check, I need the reminder during busy seasons to hang out with my family. It may sound silly that I would need to schedule time for my family. In a way, it is silly. However, just because I am with my 2-year-old 24-hours a day, I am not always tuned into her needs and wants.

Setting aside a block of time to just be with my family keeps my schedule balanced. The family activity is not the focus, but rather the act of listening, interacting, and connecting. As I add more items to my schedule that are good and necessary, I protect those blocks of time reserved for my family.

In planning for success, reserve time for your priorities. From pillow fights to family vacations, I block time on my calendar for developing our family bond.

As you block time for your priorities, make the time slot reasonable and attainable or else the time will slip away. In using time wisely, keep scheduling while securing time for your priorities. Happy reserving!

Question: How often do you reserve time for your priorities?

Filed Under: Planning for Success, Staying at Home, Family Activities, Uncategorized Tagged With: Planning for success

Family Activity: Christmas Around the World

November 23, 2012 by Tracy

Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World

Photograph Credit: Living Life Intentionally

Beginning today, Living Live Intentionally kicks off Christmas Around the World!

From November 23 – December 24, follow Beth to a new country to experience holiday traditions, try a recipe, make a craft, and learn some geography along the way.

Beth has included a free e-book filled with links, worksheets, and coloring pages for your children ages 2 to 12. This book is your companion guide for each day’s destination.

Enjoy your travels as you follow Beth for the next 32 days on her tour –  Christmas Around the World. Happy discovering!

Filed Under: Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: Christmas

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