Tag: family crossings

Make Your Teeth a Priority

for the Health of It

(Family Crossings) – Did you know that 85 percent of Americans are so obsessed with brushing their teeth that they keep extra toothbrushes on hand just about everywhere? It’s true! According to a 2008 SpinBrush survey, popular places include a purse or briefcase, the office, the car and even a gym bag.

Knowing this makes it astonishing that every year approximately 32 million workdays are lost due to dental problems. People love brushing, so why are so many having dental problems? It seems like it’s time to get back to the basics about oral care, its effect on overall health and basic brushing. So make oral hygiene a priority … for the health of it!

The Big Picture 

It’s been said that the eyes are the windows to a person’s soul. Just the same, the mouth is a window to a person’s health. Harmful bacteria can develop and fester in the mouth – especially if teeth and gums are not well taken care of. Some are concerned that, eventually, these bacteria can make their way into the bloodstream, leading to other infections. But a healthy focus on taking care of your teeth and gums can allow you to breathe easy and worry less.

Continue reading “Make Your Teeth a Priority”

Design Your Life

(Family Crossings) – If you ask most women to write their ideal job description, consistent raises, more family time and more “me time” would be essential.

These three essentials are at the top of working women’s wish lists, according to the 2008 Ask A Working Woman Survey, an annual online survey conducted by Working America.

The 20,000 survey respondents echoed what so many more working women are feeling these days. They want more time with their families, but can’t afford it. They want some time to themselves, but can’t get it. In fact, 72 percent of the working mothers surveyed said they had less than an hour to themselves a day.

These are some of the very reasons that millions of women have turned away from traditional nine-to-five office jobs and have found exactly what they’re looking for in the home-based business of direct sales.

Direct selling is simply person-to-person selling, without the middle man of a retail store. Most often it’s done through fun and casual home parties where people gather to eat, talk and shop together.

At a time when the U.S. economy is in recession, the stock market is down, unemployment is on the rise, consumer confidence is low and legendary retailers are closing their doors, the direct sales industry is strong. With stable, proven and growing companies, direct sales offers an opportunity to earn significant income quickly with minimal investment and risk, and more personal and family time.

More and more women have found the direct sales industry to be an attractive career option. In 2007, U.S. direct sales exceeded $30.8 billion. Of the more than 15 million direct sellers nationwide, 87.9 percent are women. Approximately 90 percent of direct sellers operate their businesses part-time, leaving them more time for family and themselves.

From recent college graduates to stay-at-home moms, working professionals to retirees looking for something more satisfying, women are finding that with a career in direct sales, they can design the life they’ve always wanted.

Success Story

In 1997, Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh were two stay-at-home moms looking for a way to earn extra money without sacrificing personal and family time. They started Silpada Designs, a direct sales company specializing in handcrafted sterling silver jewelry.

Today, Silpada is the largest direct seller, and one of the top retailers, of sterling silver jewelry in the United States. In 2008, the company exceeded $265 million in retail sales. Its more than 27,000 U.S. representatives had more than 275,000 home parties, distributing more than eight million pieces of jewelry.

Kelly and Walsh turned a passion for jewelry into a business that provided financial freedom, flexibility and, most importantly, a way to infuse some fun into every day – a goal for any woman trying to juggle work and home life while maintaining her own sense of self.

“It’s all about empowering women with a wonderful business opportunity and creating lifelong friendships,” Kelly said. “Silpada means ‘the best of everything,’ and that’s what we really try to focus on. It’s more than jewelry, it’s more than a job. It’s a lifestyle.”

Walsh adds, “We believe that success doesn’t come from the degrees you have or the initial investment you make, but from a passion to design the life you want. You can make your goals and dreams as big as you want them to be or as simple as you need them to be. With a company like Silpada, if you want a little time away or dream of redecorating your house or need to take on your family’s expenses, you can.”

Kelly and Walsh want to encourage women of all ages to take charge of their lives and consider a home-based business. “It’s a way to achieve financial freedom, increase self-confidence, and maintain a work-life balance that blends with any lifestyle,” Walsh says.

“We are inspired on a daily basis by our representatives’ emotional stories about how owning their own business and having control of their income has had a positive impact on their families,” Kelly said.

To find out more about Silpada or to learn about becoming a representative, visit www.silpada.com.

Tips for choosing the right direct sales company for you

It’s important to take your time evaluating any direct sales company you consider joining. Bonnie and Teresa offer these tips to help you find the company that is right for you.

Passion for the Product. Join a company that you feel confident sharing their product. How do they ensure high quality and uniqueness? Does the product have a lifetime guarantee? The more passion and confidence you have in your product, the easier it is to sell.

Initial Investment. Evaluate the cost of beginning your own business, how quickly you can expect to recoup your initial investment, and what the company offers to continue to support you as your business grows. Ask what incentives they have in place for new representatives to support them in the beginning of their business.

At Silpada, for example, representatives do not carry inventory. Their initial investment is for their jewelry that they can wear and display at their home parties. On average, representatives make up their initial business investment within the first four to six home parties.

Fair and Competitive Compensation. Ask questions regarding the direct profit, override commissions and pay structure of the company’s compensation plan. It’s important to feel confident that the company you choose has a fair and competitive compensation plan and that you can continue to increase your earnings as your grow your business.

Great Customer Service. Your customers are your current and future business, so it is important that the company you choose is customer focused. Make sure to ask questions such as: What does the company do to support its customers? Do customers have to pay for their returns? The better your customers are taken care of the better your business will be.

Training and Support. Ensure that the company you join is dedicated to helping you achieve the success you are looking for. What type of training do they offer? How will they support your business? Is there a cost involved? What types of training events are company sponsored?

The Power of Clean Water

(Family Crossings) – A cool, refreshing drink of water is something many people take for granted. But what if we didn’t have access to safe drinking water? Up until 100 years ago we did not. In fact, it was often dangerous.

For thousands of years, people all over the world tried different ways to filter drinking water to purify it. But it wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists discovered germs and learned that they could carry disease through water and other media. Filtering wasn’t enough.

Waterborne illnesses such as cholera and typhoid once killed thousands of Americans each year. During the four years of the Civil War, for example, 75,000 people came down with typhoid, and more than 27,000 died from it. In 1900, typhoid claimed another 25,000 lives.

In the early days of the 20th century, chemists found that adding small amounts of chlorine to drinking water destroys bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing microorganisms.

In 1908, Jersey City and Chicago became the first U.S. cities to use chlorine to help provide safe drinking water. By 1941, chlorine disinfection was being used by 85 percent of U.S. water treatment systems, and typhoid was nearly eradicated.

Continue reading “The Power of Clean Water”

Safer Schools

– In 2003, a student’s discovery of 8.5 fluid ounces of elemental mercury in an unlocked chemistry cabinet forced a high school in Washington, D.C., to close for 35 days. The cleanup cost more than $1 million.

In August 2008, a school janitor spilled two gallons of hydrochloric acid at the Edison Technical and Occupational Education Center in Rochester, N.Y. One employee inhaled the fumes and had to be taken to the hospital for evaluation.

From elementary school maintenance closets to high school chemistry labs, outdated, unknown or unneeded amounts of hazardous or inappropriate chemicals are found in K-12 schools across the nation, potentially putting students and staff at risk.

Learning about the chemistry in the world around us is essential to a well-rounded education, yet many lab chemicals, if mismanaged, can be hazardous to students and school staff. Ceramics kilns are sometimes vented directly into schools, releasing carbon monoxide, metal fumes and ozone. The use of flammable and volatile products by maintenance staff can pose fire safety issues and affect the indoor air quality.

Other potential hazards found in public schools have included:

  • cyanide salts
  • water reactive metals such as sodium, lithium and potassium
  • arsenic
  • flammable materials such as paint thinner
  • radioactive materials such as thorium nitrate and uranium tetrachloride

In addition to the presence of hazardous materials, more risk comes when school staff is not properly trained in the hazards associated with them, and where there is a lack of protective equipment or health and safety practices.

Continue reading “Safer Schools”

Children Who Give Back

For parents, getting kids to master responsibility is a chore. Kids, however, need the consistency of our expectations and rules. So what has worked for you? How do you get your kids to consistently do their chores? Share the strategies that have worked well in your house, including the use of chore charts, positive reinforcement, and consequences for incomplete chores.
Share your chore list online with family Family Crossings

There’s a saying that charity begins at home. And when it comes to raising children to be generous, giving people, that expression is quite literally true.

Schools, clubs, religious organizations, nonprofit organizations and civic groups often involve students in fundraising efforts or donation drives, but the best way to raise caring kids is to be a caring role model at home. When it comes to volunteering or donating money, for example, children are more likely to follow their parents’ lead. The Corporation for National and Community Service says that nearly nine out of 10 young people who give their time have parents and siblings who also volunteer.

Major corporations are also lending a hand to encourage and support volunteerism by young people. One example is Build-A-Bear Workshop and its Huggable Heroes program, which recognizes young people between the ages of 7 and 18 who are giving back in their communities and beyond, and rewards them with scholarships, charitable contributions, networking opportunities and leadership training.

“Kids today are very aware of what’s going on in the world and want to make a difference and we wanted to create a program that recognized their worthy efforts – large and small,” said Maxine Clark, founder and chief executive bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop. “We’ve found that the first step is often as simple as identifying a problem and taking action to resolve it.” And it doesn’t always have to be about raising money.

Whether it’s deciding to collect suitcases to give to foster children after seeing them carrying their belongings in a trash bag, or working to assemble packs filled with goodies and school supplies to send to children whose lives have been torn apart by a natural disaster, kids are finding creative ways to solve problems.

These are just a few real world examples of young people making a tremendous difference in the lives of others. Here are some easy ways to help your children put their feelings into action and develop a lifestyle of caring.

Let them choose a cause.

Children are more likely to stay with something they are really interested in. Whether it’s working with animals, bettering the environment, reading, the arts or sports, help them find volunteer areas that they’ll enjoy. Does your teenage son love soccer? Perhaps he can coach a team of underprivileged kids. Does your daughter love animals? Maybe she can start a drive to raise funds and supplies for a local rescue shelter.

Make it a family affair.

Doing something together can bring the whole family closer together.

  • Volunteer as a family to rake the neighbor’s yard, help sort food at a food bank, or set up a lemonade stand or a bake sale to raise money for a cause your family is passionate about.
  • Sponsor a child through an international organization that provides clothing, food and education for children. Your family will get pictures and updates about that child, and you can take turns writing him or her letters.
  • Set a family fundraising goal for the year. Decide as a family to raise a certain amount to support a specific cause. Keep a big jar on the kitchen counter so that everyone can drop in their spare change and parts of monthly allowances to help meet that goal. At the end of the year, count it all up and turn it in together.

Get others involved.

  • A growing number of children are engaging their friends in charity work by turning birthday parties into opportunities to serve. Instead of everyone bringing presents, they bring a toy to donate to children in need or new clothing for a homeless shelter. Everyone still has a great time with games and cake, and they feel great knowing they’ve helped someone else.
  • Another fun way to let kids help other kids is to host a charity bear-making party. Schedule a birthday party at a Build-A-Bear Workshop store with the goal of having the children make special animals that they will donate to a children’s hospital. To make the giving even more special, they can make one of several stuffed animals that give back – sales support animal shelters nationwide, the World Wildlife Fund, First Book and other children’s literacy initiatives, or children’s health and wellness programs.

There are thousands of young people taking action and making a difference every day. Some of them receive recognition but the best reward they get is seeing how they’re making their world a better place.

Actions speak louder than words. Help your kids make a difference by taking action today.

Think Locally

There are opportunities to help in your own community. As a family, do some online research and make some phone calls to find out what local groups need and how your family can help.

  • Hospitals: toys and art supplies for children
  • Senior centers: cards and artwork to brighten up rooms, hugs to brighten up someone’s day
  • Food banks: Call and find out what items they need the most.
  • Schools and libraries: Some inner city children don’t have access to many books. Find out if a book drive will help in your area.

Smart Lessons in Back-to-School Savings

Get back to school savings at www.familycrossings.com!

Back-to-school shopping is an annual ritual that millions of parents participate in each year. In fact, back-to-school time is one of the biggest shopping seasons of the year, second only to the winter holidays. Last year, Americans spent more than $54 billion on supplies, clothes and electronics for school and college-age kids, according to the National Retail Federation, with jeans, backpacks and electronics as some of the most popular back-to-school products.

Getting what students need and keeping the costs reasonable calls for some smart shopping strategies. The easiest place to start is at your computer. These tips will help you study the online possibilities and earn some A+ deals.

Add Up Extra Savings

Before you start hunting down everything on the must-have list, check for printable coupons or online coupon codes on Web sites such as:

Retailmenot.com: Get helpful feedback from users on what coupon codes worked and which ones didn’t.

Smartsource.com: Entering your zip code lets you find deals specific to your area.

Be on the lookout for free shipping offers on these sites, as well. If you’re not careful, shipping costs can negate any savings you may have found.

Do Your Homework

You might find a great deal on a backpack or computer, but is the cost savings really worth a possible trade off in quality? Find out how products stack up to real world use at sites such as Epinions.com, where users share their product experience. At ConsumerSearch.com, there are expert and user reviews shown side by side for each product. A little research can save you time, hassle and money down the road.

Get the Latest Scoop

If you know exactly what you want to buy, sign up for notifications from Craigslist.com and eBay.com. Both sites will notify you of new listings matching your search criteria – so when someone wants to sell that Juicy Couture jacket you’re looking for, you’ll know right away.

If you need help deciding how to get the best product for your money, look at online buying guides. Not sure which laptop to get? Need help figuring out what kind of backpack or desk chair to get? Check out a mix of user and professional reviews at Bing.com/shopping or read Overstock.com buying guides – there are helpful tips on what to look for and how to make a smart choice.

Another way to stay in the loop on savings is to sign up for retail newsletters and emails. You can also check online retailer sites for RSS feeds that automatically send you updates on promotions as they occur. A well-timed update on a new sale lets you get in on the savings early.

Get Cash Back

A growing trend in smart online shopping is participation in programs that give you cash back. Web sites such as Bing.com have partnerships with major retailers to offer items at great prices. Registered users shop for name brand items and when purchases are made through the site, they automatically get a percentage of the purchase price back as a cash rebate. More details on how this works can be found at bing.com/shopping/pages/howtouse.aspx.

The amounts, which change daily, can be sent via check to your address or deposited into a bank account or PayPal account, and after a 60-day waiting period, the money is yours.

“This is a great way to save money on school supplies,” said Bridget Tate, Bing Shopping product manager. “When you look at how much back-to-school items such as laptops, clothes, backpacks and tech gadgets can cost, that 5 or 10 percent really helps.” During back-to-school season, adds Tate, Bing Shopping will be offering even higher percentages of cash back (up to 50 percent more).

Getting the kids ready for school again doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Smart shopping will send them off in style and leave you with a smile.

To learn more about how to be a smart online shopper and get cash back this back-to-school season, visit Bing.com/shopping.

Shopping That Pays You Back

Shopping with the following merchants through Bing.com could give you savings like these:

Back to School Gear and Gadgets

HP, 5%
OfficeMax.com, 3 to 5%
BarnesandNoble.com, 10%

Back to School Fashion

Shoemall.com, 19%
Sears.com, 2 to 8%
Old Navy, 4%
Ebags.com, 11%
Foot Locker, 20%
Benefit.com, 2%
Beautychoice.com, 10%
Nordstrom.com, 3%

Children Of Character…YOURS!

We hear a lot today about falling moral standards, lack of respect for others and the culture of “self first.” But our society doesn’t have to be like this, and there is a growing movement to reverse these trends through A person of character … .

• A “good” person – someone that kids will look up to, admire and try to imitate.
• Knows the difference between right and wrong and always tries to do the right thing, even if it’s difficult.
• Sets a good example
• Tries to make the world a better place.
• Is honest, trustworthy, reliable and caring.

Sounds tough, but educating the heart is just as important as educating the mind. It’s important that you have the right tools and materials – books, games, activities, audio are all important ways of communicating with your kids, offering various routes to forming Kids of Character.

Learning To Share…Everything

Two boys in a first grade classroom were arguing loudly over an item they both wanted to use at the same time.

Their teacher approached them in a friendly way and said, “Boys, it sounds like you two are having a problem. Let’s talk it out.”

One of the boys told his side of the story, his face still tense but his voice lowered to an “indoor” volume. The second boy listened and then, without any prompting, came up with a solution to which the first boy readily agreed.

“Great job!” the teacher beamed. “See? You can talk it out!”

A TEACHING PERSPECTIVE CAN PRODUCE AMAZING RESULTS WHEN KIDS BEHAVE INAPPROPRIATELY.

If we approach unwanted behavior from the perspective of our child’s judge/jury/jailer, our first impulse may be to punish.

But punishment doesn’t teach kids what they SHOULD be doing. It doesn’t expand kids’ problem-solving skills, teach them how to repair social mistakes, or improve their social perception.

Fortunately, punishment isn’t the only available tool.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO VIEW THE INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AS A “TEACHABLE MOMENT.”

When the teacher in the story above heard the two boys arguing, she spotted a chance to teach better social problem-solving.

Inviting the boys to “talk it out” reminded them of their capacity to problem-solve without shouting or arguing. They saw that “talking it out” could work, and they were more likely to “talk it out” next time.

A teaching perspective has room for punishment in some cases, but the focus is on helping kids learn the skills they need to behave appropriately.

If we view inappropriate behavior as a learning opportunity for the child, new options open up.

HERE ARE TEN CHOICES FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A TEACHABLE MOMENT:
1. Redirect the child toward a more appropriate activity.

2. Inform the child that what they’re doing “isn’t a good idea” or “isn’t safe.”

3. Give a friendly reminder about the rule the child needs to be following.

4. Guide the child through the steps of apologizing.

5. Ask the child to consider how others feel when she engages in the inappropriate behavior.

6. Help the child make amends to anyone negatively affected by the inappropriate behavior. Ask, “What can we do to help (name of person) feel better now?”

7. In the case of a conflict, prompt the children to “talk it out,” providing assistance as needed.

8. Give a new rule, if the situation wasn’t covered by the rules the child has already been taught.

9. Invite the child to think of a better to way to ask for what they want or need in the situation.

10. Teach the child appropriate words/behaviors to replace the inappropriate ones.

The rules of appropriate social behavior take a long time to learn and an even longer time to internalize as habits. Even adults don’t do it perfectly!

When we use our child’s behavior mistakes as opportunities to offer guidance, we’re giving our child their best chance to become more kind, responsible and socially competent. Find more great stuff at FamilyCrossings.com

Creating a Digital Scrap book with FamilyCrossings.com

In this post we are going to compare the digital age and traditional scrapbooking. With Family Crossingsyou can create an online social network for your entire family! Online access to your digital scrapbook is the best way to share your memories with every member of your family! Try it FREE!

The art of Scrapbooking has become very popular. Scrapbooking allows you to create memory books that are so much more than the old standard, boring photo albums of yesterday. Using the immense supplies available for you to choose from in your Scrapbooking, you can create memory books that reflect not only your personality: but that also help you to capture the true “essence” of those special memories you want remembered forever.

You can begin making your memory scrapbook, sure to become a treasure to be shared from generation to generation with basic materials like patterned paper, rubber stamps, patterns, stencils, stickers, serrated- scissors, and the photos you already have. This is just a small example of the many supplies that are available for you to choose from in creating your memory book. You can find Scrapbooking supplies online and in many malls and outlet stores today. Software programs are also available to help you design the perfect memory book for your precious memories.

Begin by looking at a photo; recall the memories and feelings that arise by looking at this picture that has been captured on film. What does this picture represent to you? Maybe it is the love of family and friends, or the adventure you found on your last vacation. Whatever it is, consider how you might best represent these feelings, and memories so that someone else looking at this same photograph, even a few generations removed, will be able to understand the emotions and circumstances surrounding the images of the people, places, or things seen in this particular piece of film. Being able to know why a certain picture was taken, and what it meant to the one who took the shot, results in a ‘bonding’ between the original picture taker, the event captured, and the one who is now looking at these images.

Once you have started to think about what this picture means to you and how you would like to best represent that meaning, you can start to create a memory scrapbook that will keep these precious memories alive forever. The best memory books have pages that employ the use of many different types of materials. Don’t be afraid to mix stickers with cut-outs (made by designed scissors), patterned papers, stencils, rubber stamp images, markers, crayons, and labels. Let your creative-side come out in the designing of your memory books.

With a little creativity it is easy to create memory scrapbooks that are a joy to share with family and friends. Family history can be captured in these books: to be recalled in your lifetime and as testimonials of relatives in the past, to be known and remembered by the generations to follow. You not only have a plethora of choices in materials already available to choose from in creating your memory book, new ideas, and materials are created every day for those who want to use scrapbooking as a way to create memory books that will last forever.

What should you use to hold your newly created memory pages? You can choose to use a standard photo album, one that you can decorate using the same materials used in making your memory pages. Or maybe you will want to complete your memory book by laminating a couple of special memory pages for the front and back covers, and then “binding” them together with all of your memory pages into a book. You can learn more about bookbinding through books and software programs. Scrapbook stores and the internet are also good sources of information about scrapbooking and bookbinding.

Summer Picnics with FamilyCrossings.com

Summer vacation…the kids can’t wait for it to start—and parents dread its arrival. The first couple of weeks seem to take care of themselves, but after that, you may be faced with your kids looking at you with that “What can we do now, Mom?” look on their faces. At that first look, be ready: go on a picnic!

picnic_basket
Picnics are easy—and you don’t even have to go anywhere! A couple of beach towels thrown down on the grass in the backyard is as far as you have to go. Of course, if there is a local park handy, you can load up a couple of bike baskets and take your picnic there, don’t forget the picnic blanket. You can be a little bolder, and pack up the kids in the morning and set out for a half-day road adventure and go find someplace to picnic. No matter where you decide to picnic, make it fun, make it an adventure—and your kids will look forward to doing it again…and again!

Looking for Something to Do? Go On a Picnic!
Summer vacation…the kids can’t wait for it to start—and parents dread its arrival. The first couple of weeks seem to take care of themselves, but after that, you may be faced with your kids looking at you with that “What can we do now, Mom?” look on their faces. At that first look, be ready: go on a picnic!

Picnics are easy—and you don’t even have to go anywhere! A couple of beach towels thrown down on the grass in the backyard is as far as you have to go.  Of course, if there is a local park handy, you can load up a couple of bike baskets and take your picnic there, don’t forget the picnic blanket. You can be a little bolder, and pack up the kids in the morning and set out for a half-day road adventure and go find someplace to picnic.

No matter where you decide to picnic, make it fun, make it an adventure—and your kids will look forward to doing it again…and again!

Keep Quick Picnic-Ready Snacks on Hand

You don’t have to preplan a picnic lunch, and you don’t have to make a special trip to the market if you keep a few of these things on hand:

  • • Peanut Butter and Jelly (the “old standby”)
  • • Pre-packaged lunch meats and cheeses (if left sealed, a package can sit in your frig for a week or more before you’ll need to use it)
  • • A package of hot dog buns in the freezer (they thaw out quickly and make easy-to-hold sandwiches)
  • • Single-serving-sized fruit cups, applesauce, pudding (I keep several in the frig, chilled and ready to go)
  • • Individual-sized bags/containers of chips, crackers, and cookies (keep a few hidden from the kids so that you always have a couple to throw in the picnic bag)
  • • 1-liter bottles of water and packets of drink mix like Kool-Aid or Crystal Lite
  • • Small bottles/jars of mustard, mayo, catsup, and relish (whatever you normally put on a sandwich)

    • This list just gets you started. Based on what you know your kids like and are willing to eat (without a fuss), you can also keep cans of tuna or chicken, containers of yogurt, blocks of cheese (for cheese and crackers), fresh fruits, granola bars, etc.

    Next time you are in the market, take a moment to look at shelf items and think about how/whether those items could serve as the basis for an easy picnic lunch (or even breakfast or dinner!).

    Think creatively! “Lunch” could be chocolate frosting smeared on graham crackers—it doesn’t necessarily have to be a nutritious meal, just a fun meal! (My mom’s favorite “surprise” picnic lunch was strawberry shortcake, and lots of it—although I do recognize that it took a little planning on her part.)

    Have the Picnic Basics Ready
    Regardless of what you’re going to throw together for lunch, you’re probably going to need a few picnic basics. If you have a picnic bag packed and ready to go, then actually going on a picnic, even if only as far as the backyard, means that all you have to do is pack the food.

    In a sturdy canvas bag, plastic milk crate, or actual picnic basket, keep items such as the following supplies on hand:
    • Paper plates and bowls, plastic utensils
    • Napkins (or a roll of paper towels)
    • Pre-moistened towelettes (wet wipes)
    • Sharp knife, pair of scissors, can opener, bottle opener
    • Salt and pepper
    • Disposable towels (Handi-Wipes are great!)
    • Sunscreen and bug spray
    • Pencil and paper
    • Travel-sized games, deck of cards, etc.

    Items like paper plates and plastic utensils are self-explanatory, but the paper and pencil might just be the handiest thing you pack. As you go on your first few picnics, make a note of anything that you wished you’d had/meant to pack. You can accumulate items as you go. Do yourself a favor and buy the items specifically to leave in the picnic bag (and get accustomed to putting them right back into the picnic bag after you wash them).

    You can also develop a short checklist of things that you need to remember to pack. Print the list and keep handy (this is especially helpful when you have to remember to get items out of the frig, or take medications, etc.). That way, if you are packing in a hurry for a spontaneous “Let’s go on a picnic, Mom!” day, you can grab the list and use it to help you remember to pack the needed items.

    You can use an old blanket, a couple of beach towels, or my preferred picnic spread: an old mattress pad! I trimmed away the gauzy material and elastic that holds the pad to the mattress and left the nicely quilted pad itself. Another idea is to go to a place where you can rent moving trucks and buy a furniture pad/blanket—this makes a great picnic or beach blanket.

    Using either the mattress pad or the furniture pad also makes it easier to shake out sand and brush off dirt. Both hold up well to multiple washings.

    Plan Picnic Activities

    There’s nothing wrong with just tossing a few snacks in a bag and heading out to the backyard just to have lunch! Everything tastes better when you eat it outside. However, you can make your impromptu picnic more enjoyable (and even educational) if you plan a few picnic activities. Why not keep your kids amused with Picnic Bingo?

    Plan a “Shoestring Adventure”

    If you’ll have the time to plan ahead and go on a one-day road adventure, think of someplace local and keep it a secret! You can even blindfold your passengers so they are surprised even if you only go to the local park!

    Have fun this summer—get outside and enjoy spending a little time with your kids!

    Be sure to use the calendar feature at Family Crossings.com