Tips for Going to Farmers Markets During COVID-19

My weekly trip to the farmers market is one of my favorite things about summer.  There’s nothing like it…musicians playing in the background, farmers telling you when the vegetables you’re holding were picked, and hearing the young sons of the fisherman saying they helped catch the tuna we’ll be eating that night.  A farmers market is a great place to bring kids/teens. Here are 10 Tips For Going to Farmers Markets: 

HELP PLAN MENUS

Kids will be more likely to eat a meal if they had help planning it.  Each week, give them a new item off the menu to plan.  For example, each week they can plan the main dish, a side, and a dessert.  Give them full rein on it and although you can offer suggestions, let them do most of the work.  Whatever they plan, they will be responsible for helping cook.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Give each person in the family the task of choosing something your family has never tasted.  Is there a type of cheese that looks interesting?  Is there a veggie that looks odd?  Have them ask the farmer for suggestions on how to cook it.

PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY

Give your kids a job while at the market.  Give everyone reusable bags and have them hold your purchases. Teach them how to choose ripe produce.  Give them the task of paying.

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10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp


10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp

A few years ago, my friend Julie and I were miserable because our girls went to sleepaway camp for two weeks.  We were missing our kiddos, obsessing about whether they were OK, and we started asking ourselves why we even send them.  Is it really worth being away from them for such a long time? After feeling sorry for myself (and making a really big mojito) things started to come into perspective.  The girls LOVE camp and they are lucky to be able to have this experience.  So Julie, as we head into another summer of our girls being gone, let’s think about all the things they gain from sleepaway camp.

INDEPENDENCE

I can be a bit controlling at times (OK…my girls sometimes call me their ‘smother’) so camp gives them a chance to make some decisions on their own.  They get to choose what activities they do during free time, when to write home (only once last year for my youngest…big sigh), and when to brush their teeth (I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times that actually happened!). Camp gives them the chance to make unexpected choices like when my older daughter chose to go on a long bike ride with a group of girls she didn’t know and ended up having a great time.   

 SOCIAL SKILLS

When you are placed in a cabin with 11 other girls, it is a crash course in social skills.  You learn to be cooperative, respectful, and empathetic.  This is a great chance to learn problem solving since there are bound to be disagreements. 

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Stone Zoo

flamingos at Stone Zoo, MA

Stone Zoo

The Stone Zoo is on 26 acres, so it is a small zoo that can easily be enjoyed in a few hours. Since the zoo is only about a half hour from Boston, it is the perfect day trip.

Our favorite animals at the Stone Zoo

There are so many incredible animals to see at the Stone Zoo in their many exhibits.  Let me introduce you to some of our favorites:

My all-time favorites are the flamingos!!

flamingos at Stone Zoo, MA (more…)

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Quechee, Vermont

While I was in Vermont, I wanted to get outside as much as possible, and the 47 acres of VINS (Vermont Institute of Natural Science) was the perfect place to breathe in some fresh air.

First stop…Forest Canopy Walk

I love great views but I hate heights, so I sometimes miss out.  Not at VINS…their Forest Canopy Walk let me experience being eye level to the treetops without the fear. At some points I was over 50 feet in the air, and I loved every minute of it! Ok…so I was a little nervous at first because sections of the walk are on metal grates that you can see through…but I got used to it.  What I like best about the canopy walk is all generations can do it together.

There are several platforms you can walk up to throughout the walk.  Take some time to enjoy the statues.

The Eagle’s Nest was awesome!

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10 Tips for Taking Kids to the Fair

fair

  Fairs are a fun activity to do with families, but they can also be a lot of work. Rides, animals, food…so much fun!  Here are 10 tips for taking kids to the fair. 

HOW MANY RIDES WILL YOU DO?

Decide before you get there how many rides you are going to allow them to go on.  Some fairs have unlimited rides but others require individual tickets and that can cost a fortune.

   MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Nothing is worse than having your kid wait in line only to find out they are one inch too short to ride.  Save the tears and have them check the height requirements first.  There is usually a place to measure your height right at the entrance. 

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Summer 2021 Bucket List

Summer 2021 Bucket List

 

Happy first day of summer!!!

Summers are short and sweet in New England so we always make the most of them. We try to spend our days outside and make every moment count.  A Summer Bucket List helps keep us on track and creating one lets us daydream of days to come.  Last summer was a crazy one, but it did let us fill our days with family time.  Here is our list for 2021!!

Go to a drive-in movie

Sunset dinners at the sandbar

Watch all of the X-Men movies 

Go to Lake Fest, a summer concert on the water

Make our own gelato with fresh fruit

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10 Tips for Taking Kids to a Drive-In During COVID-19

10 Tips for Taking Kids to a Drive-In

Although the word is full of unknowns, we can’t stop having fun and making memories.  We simply need to figure out how to do it safely.  One good thing about social isolation, is it brought back some nostalgic activities…like baking bread, family game night, and movie nights.  Every summer we do something that screams nostalgia…DRIVE-IN MOVIES! Do you know there are less than 350 drive-ins left in the US? I wasn’t going to let anything stop us from doing it this summer.  Here is an article I wrote last summer, but I’ve added some tips for safely doing it during COVID-19. Enjoy!

One fun thing to do during summer is take your family to the drive-in.  Not only is it cheap (It was only $28 for a car of 4 people), but it’s a fun nostalgic thing you can do together.  Many drive-ins run throughout late summer/early fall in New England but in many parts of the country they are lucky to have them run year-round. 

Here are 10 Tips for Taking Kids to a Drive-In:

 BEACH CHAIRS/CAMP CHAIRS

 Most people don’t sit in their cars like I had expected.  Cars get hot and the windows can get foggy so it’s best to find a spot in front of your car.  Bring a chair you can comfortably sit in for 2 hours.  One family even brought bean bags for their kids! (Many drive-ins are operating at 50% capacity and making you leave space in between cars.  Practice social distancing by always keeping 6-feet away from others and wear a mask if you’re near others.)

 THINK COZY

 There’s no one to impress, so dress code is all about being cozy.  This is the time to bring out the yoga pants or sweats.  Even better…best things for kids to wear to the drive-in are their PJ’s! 

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10 Tips for Going to the Beach During Covid-19

Summer for our family always includes trips to the beach to build sand castles, go boogie boarding, read, and play games in the sand.  Last summer we thought we might miss out our summer tradition, but we made it. We hadn’t gone ANYWHERE all summer, so it was a hard decision to make. With a little planning, we spent an amazing day at the beach and can’t wait to go again this summer.

Here are 10 tips for going to the beach during Covid-19:

GET THERE EARLY

The early bird gets the worm…as well as the best beach spot.  They may be limiting the number of people allowed in, so it’s a good idea to get there before the crowds.

STAY 6-FEET APART

By now you know…6-feet apart is the new norm, and at the beach I would suggest WAY more than that.  No one wants people sitting close to them (even when there’s not a pandemic going on…lol), so make sure you are far enough away that everyone feels comfortable.  You also want to be respectful and stay away when you are playing games, going on walks, and collecting shells around others.

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Pineapple Ketch Sailboat, Kennebunkport

All aboard…

Your adventure starts when you arrive at the gorgeous Nonantum Resort

and head down to their docks towards the amazing 1976 Pineapple Ketch sailboat.

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Blue Lagoon with Kids: 10 Tips

When many people imagine Iceland they immediately think of the Blue Lagoon.  Pinterest is flooded with pictures of this amazing man-made geothermal pool.  It is a great way to start or end your vacation since it is so close to the airport and the whole family will have fun there. 

Here are 10 tips on doing the Blue Lagoon with kids:

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