Fall Tradition - Magic Pumpkin Patch

The Magic Pumpkin Patch is another tradition that is sure to spark the magic of Fall/Halloween for your kids!
Tell your children that this year you have found some magic seeds to grow pumpkins.
Gather your kids together and give each child 1 magic pumpkin seed. Have them bury each magic seed in the yard and place a toothpick marker for where they buried their seeds. While they are sleeping, place a small pumpkin, which you purchased from the grocery store, on each place they planted a seed. Watch as in the morning they are amazed by the beautiful pumpkins their magic seeds have grown into.
Take a picture of each child with their pumpkin in the patch and put it into your Fall/Halloween tradition book.

For many more fall/Halloween tradition ideas, browse here.

Fall Tradition ideas

It's nearly impossible for me to believe that fall is officially here. With it hitting 80 in NC this week, the weather keeps me from switching into fall decorating mode, but I know I must....that post will come shortly.
It's not to early to get those creative juices turning for those of you contemplating some fun, fall tradition ideas that are a bit out of the ordinary.
Our family enjoys so many of the fall/harvest type of traditions (apple picking, hay rides etc.) and on Halloween we participate in our church's Fall Festival which is always a highlight.

Here are just a few tradition ideas to get your October fall festivities off to head start.
I'll be doing one more post with fall tradition ideas, so if you have any unusual ones that you'd like to share, leave them in the comments and I'll incorporate it into my post. :)

Host a Pumpkin-Carving Contest – With neighbors, friends or family, host an annual pumpkin-carving contest. Invite judges to select the winners and prepare some fun fall ribbons to hand out. Try black construction paper ribbons with an orange pumpkin on top where you can write the category. The scariest, the silliest, the most original or just the best all around, are all examples of great awards. Everyone in the family will want to help choose and carve the “family pumpkin.” After the awards ceremony, bring out your refreshments and enjoy! Don’t forget to take photos to add to your Fall/Halloween Album.!

Musical Costumes – This tradition puts a new spin on a favorite childhood game—musical chairs. It’s perfect for an adult Fall/Halloween party. Invite each person to bring a costume in a brown bag. Everyone takes a seat and places their own bag under a chair. Turn on some music and play a game of musical chairs (with a chair for each person). When the music stops, each guest must take the brown bag from underneath their chair and wear the costume that’s inside for the rest of the evening. Your guests will bring outrageous costumes because they know they won’t have to wear them. Be prepared for an evening full of laughter. Year after year, this tradition becomes more hilarious as your guests bring wilder costumes.!
Costume Memory Game – Go through your old Fall Festival/Halloween photos and set aside any that show family members or friends dressed up in sweet, hilarious or spooky costumes. Make copies of every photo you want to use, cut them into identical rectangles (maybe 2” x 2”) and create a memory game your children will never get tired of.
Older children can make this game for the smaller ones, or Mom can make it for all to enjoy. Roast some pumpkin seeds and work on the game together.
You can add new photos each year. If you don’t remember how to play the game, it’s pretty simple. Place all cards on the table, face down in even rows, and take turns turning two over at a time as you try to find pairs. Whoever has the most pairs when the cards have all been picked up is the winner. This will soon become a family favorite and your children will ask to play it over and over again.

Walk Away Your Worries – The fall is a wonderful time to take a walk amongst the brilliant colors of the fallen leaves and breathe in the crisp air which has settled in behind the hot summer months. Plan an annual family walk where you leave your worries behind by picking up a pile of leaves, sharing what your worry is about, praying about it, giving that worry over to the Lord and then throwing the leaves in the air as you walk away.
As you continue forward, talk about all the things that you are so grateful for in your life and only stop when you need to pick up a new pile of leaves, describe a worry, throw them in the air and walk away.

Posted at: Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free

Celebrate Grandparent's Day - tradition ideas

Celebrating Grandparents –

A holiday that often gets overlooked is National Grandparents Day. Celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day (which this year is Sept. 13), the holiday was created to remind grandchildren to tap into the wisdom and heritage their grandparents provide.

There are many fun activities and traditions that your children can do with their grandparents to celebrate the holiday. One is to complete a grandparent interview with a variety of questions. What were your parents like? Describe your childhood? What were your goals and aspirations? What advice do you want to pass onto your children and grandchildren? This will give your children a chance to see how the world has changed since their grandparents were young, plus give your parents an opportunity to share stories. Capture this on video and you will have a priceless family keepsake that will be enjoyed for generations to come. We have had some wonderful opportunities to do this over the last few years. I outlined a special time in my "Do you know your family story?" post.

Favorite Things to Do – Start a new tradition for Grandparent’s Day by taking photos of the grandchildren doing something Grandpa and/or Grandma love to do (gardening, playing cards, golfing, baking pies, dancing, etc.). Take that same photo every year, and keep them in chronological order in a Grandparent’s Day photo album. This will become a favorite tradition everyone looks forward to and a wonderful way to build a legacy of love.

Promises to Grandma and Grandpa – Find a glass or plastic jar and have your children decorate it with construction paper and stickers, or a strip of fabric/leather. Then, have each child write on pieces of construction paper some things they could help their grandparent’s do in the upcoming weeks: “I will help you rake the leaves” or “I will help you clean up the garage.” Give the rewards jar to them as a gift on Grandparent’s Day. This teaches children the virtue of helping others, which is sometimes the most valuable gift of all.

Many grandparents live far away. Take the opportunity to let them know you're thinking of them by filling a large manilla envelope with some special "Just because" notes. They'll cherish it forever. :)

Do you ever celebrate Grandparents Day? I haven't, but I sure am starting this year.

One never knows how much time we have left to cherish these multigenerational times together.

Back to School Tradition ideas

FUN FROM BEGINNING TO END
Be sure to make a special breakfast to start the school year off right. Make an elaborate feast, maybe waffles with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, or eggs benedict - anything but the usual scrambled eggs and toast. Let your kids select the menu and do the grocery shopping together to prepare this special meal. Wake up early and set the table with your best dishes, turn on background music and really make this meal special. Do the same to celebrate the last day of school. Prepare a unique desert like German chocolate cake, strawberry cheesecake or something special to be repeated year after year. When you serve your children this ceremonial dessert, present them with a small gift. (This is a great time to introduce or contribute to a collection that your child may have, or want to start). This gift is not a reward for their performance, but a mark of accomplishment.

BUS STOP BREAKFAST BASH

Organize a neighborhood breakfast bash on the first day of school. Bring doughnuts, bagels, hot chocolate, juice and milk for the young students and their parents to enjoy as they wait for the bus. This is a perfect way for your children to get to know their classmates, and a great opportunity for you to meet their parents. This photo moment can be collaged into your “Back to School” book.
(Since we home school, we haven't been able to enjoy the Bus Stop Bash tradition, but memories of my own time at the bus stop are still strong.)

Bus Stop Wishes or Car Pool Wishes
Make bus-stop time fun! Ask each person to share morning wishes for himself and others in the car or at the bus stop. Watch how this simple tradition strengthens friendships and helps children be in tune to the important things in their friends’ lives.

School Years Book – organizing their best work
All good parents struggle with how many of those school "keepsakes" and projects we should keep. Give each child a very special book where they can place their favorite work from the upcoming school year. Let each child know that this is his or her book and it will be safe place to keep all of their favorite drawings, writing projects, and even report cards. This simple idea will show your children how much you value their work and it will make a wonderful keepsake for years to come. AND, it will keep you from storing boxes and boxes of paper!

School Year Memories
I have lived with "mommy guilt" over not scrapbooking every school detail. I have started a "school" album where each year you capture a handful of the year’s memories, and put them in an album. Have 2-3 pages per year...that's it!! Take all pressure off. The first page could hold special photos, i.e. the first day of school, a photo with your best buddies, a picture of your school, and a square that captures a cherished thought like “When I grow up I want to be…”
Have the student’s teacher write a letter which can be the last page for the year.
When graduation comes, you will be ready to display your collected memories. You could even keep it a secret through the years, and give it as a graduation gift. What a blessing that will be. Remember, only a few pages a year, and then all mommy guilt is gone. :)

Wedding Traditions

	Wishes to the Bride and Groom – When one of my nieces got married last year, I used this tradition idea at both her wedding shower and then again at the wedding reception. I had beautiful card stock with the words printed "Wishes to the Bride and Groom." I asked everyone to write a wish, blessing or bible verse to my niece and her fiance/husband. I then gathered the cards at the reception, joined them with the ones previously written at the shower, and put them in a toile drawstring bag so that they could read them on their wedding night... well, more realistically, on their honeymoon. ;) It was priceless, memorable and yet another frugal delight that money can't buy. I hope that they will pull those out and read them on every anniversary.
Our New Family – A loving way to start the new couple off in the right direction is to create their first Family Album for them. Collage the first few pages with photos and notes about the bride and groom growing up. Then follow with a few pages of their courtship. Now they are sure to continue with memories of the wedding and their life together.
Piece of Our Hearts – Many brides and grooms laugh or cry their way through their wedding vows, so most guests have no idea what was said during the ceremony. If you think about all the time you spent putting together these sentimental dedications, it just seems natural that everyone should share this precious moment with you. Place a printed copy of your wedding vows on every guest’s seat or as part of the take home gift. This also ensures that you save a copy and that the groom completes his vows more than 5 minutes before the ceremony. Don’t forget to include these printed sentiments in your wedding album as a treasured keepsake
Love Notes – Love notes is a box full of love; a delightful gift to give to new brides and grooms. Let them know how much they are loved by asking the bridal party to leave a love note in the box for the bride and groom on their wedding day. Perhaps the box could be left in their honeymoon suite or packed in their honeymoon luggage. We Were There – (This is for the extremely organized friend...see what I'd do below). Collect signatures from your guests in their RSVP envelopes and have them embroidered onto a white or ivory linen tablecloth with silver, gold or a matching thread. You can display this lovely keepsake at the wedding and bring it out every anniversary to adorn your special candlelit dinner table. This is a wonderful way to remember friends and family members who were present and shared that special moment with the two of you. (Since actually having the names embroidered would be beautiful, yet costly, the same tradition can happen with a gorgeous silver paint pen).

Birthday Traditions

Since I mentioned that we just finished three birthdays in 31 days, I thought I would share a few birthday tradition ideas that have been meaningful at different times. We don't attempt to do these all or it would be overwhelming, but I will share a variety of ideas for all ages. I trust that it will begin to ignite some creative juices, and encourage you to think outside the box. (Today's are on the meaningful, character building side. I'll get to the just plain fun ones as well. ;)

The Birthday Charity Tradition – Start a birthday tradition for every member of the family whereby gifts of money are included (or in lieu of) the birthday presents. Donate to the birthday person’s charity of choice. I first heard of this idea when our friend's daughter, at age 10, decided to have all her guests bring only a present meant for a newborn. During the party, they went to the crisis pregnancy center and shared these gifts with new moms. Now, I know this would be a huge sacrifice for most children, but this family's heart of giving began cultivating when this child was very young. If this would be something new for your child, start small, maybe divide the number of gifts in half and donate the rest. This is a wonderful way to introduce children, at a young age, to the idea of giving. It means a lot to them if they are able to choose the charity themselves. Perhaps they love reading and they use the money to buy books for their school library. Or, they love sports and the money helps purchase soccer equipment for children in countries where all they have is an empty coke bottle to kick around. Older children could even get involved in collecting the thousands of jerseys and shorts at the end of each season (that everyone has outgrown) and send them off to a place where they will be considered treasures. Take a photo of the birthday child each year next to the huge pile of soccer jerseys, and put it in his/her Birthday Book to remember those good deeds for years to come.

Privileges and Responsibilities – A wonderful way to make your children feel grown up and help them understand what “growing up” really means is to give them two special envelopes on their birthday. One is labeled “New Privileges” and might include a later bedtime. The other is marked “New Responsibilities” and might include a new chores such as doing the dishes. The birthday child will be so proud of their new privileges that they will take on the responsibilities with greater commitment. What a great way to teach them that these two things come hand in hand. Tie these envelopes with a thin gold ribbon and prop them up against a set of candles on the dinner table.

Our Family Flag

BHG

Our Family Flag
As a home school mom, who rarely shares about her homeschooling on this blog, I wanted to incorporate a very tiny educational tradition for this wonderful holiday.
Point out the American Flag every time you see one with your children. Explain that the flag stands for our country and that it’s one way to tell the whole world who we are as a people.
It also shows we’re connected to each other as Americans. Discuss the sacrifice that our Old Glory represents - the generations of people that have given their lives for our freedom. Regardless of the political climate, or how you feel about our nation's state of affairs, this is one of the greatest countries in the world; a country that stands for freedom, and one which helps other lands gain their personal freedom.
Because our flag is symbolic of all these things, we treat it with respect. At home, study a flag more closely and explain to your children that each part of the flag has a meaning.

The 50 stars stand for the 50 states. The 13 stripes stand for the 13 British Colonies, whose citizens decided in 1776 that they wanted to govern themselves rather than be ruled by a king.

Just like my family has created our own "family logo and phrase," what better way than the 4th of July to create your own Family Flag? (We haven't done this yet, but isn't this a fun idea?)
Use construction paper, felt,or fabric. Select the colors together. Instead of stars, cut or embroider symbols that represent each member of your
family; a favorite hobby (ballet, baseball, golf, gardening), or a characteristic (sweet, determined, hard-working, fun). Make sure every family member participates in the creation of your “Family Flag” since it’s symbolic of the most important group in your life - your family.
What an amazing legacy piece this will be for generations to come.

4th of July Decorating and Craft ideas

There are so many quick and easy ways to decorate for the 4th. I am always a week late getting my decorations up. So in typical fashion, I went and pulled things down from my attic today.
Yes real time, on evening of July 2nd, and I am posting them an hour later. That means it's not too late to engage in the festive side of decorating. :)

For many, it's a necessity to pull things together quickly.

And that doesn't mean sacrificing style. I know many of us have one of these kitchen
organizers. How simple and elegant.

Since Patriotic decorations are not something that we typically keep up for long periods of time, USE WHAT YOU HAVE! Do you have white dishes and Christmas red napkins? Throw in a dash of blue and you can set a patriotic plus tone for the 4th.
I hit a yard sale earlier this season and she had decorated her kitchen in flag decor.
I bought 4 of these baskets to use for chips, napkins, ketchup bottles etc.
They were a quarter each.
She also had three of these hanging plaques for $0.50. In 20 seconds, I had an instant "window mistreatment." I don't typically decorate with a "country" feel, but it's perfect for this week.
I'm still looking for my big flag afghan and the flag material that are hiding from me in our attic. I love to drape them across the sofas.
Followers of my blog know that I can not have enough candles. No one can. Outside on our deck, these star candles will be floating in a blue bowl to create cozy night time ambiance.

Yes, an entire box - all brand new....from a yard sale.

Candles are EVERYWHERE at yard sales.
WHY? Burn your candles, my friends.
They are are a frugal decorator's best friend.

And if you are busy trying to get ready for your festivities, why not let the kids help with the decorating.
Most of us have some clear, flat marbles laying around. Let them have fun and create a masterpiece at the same time.

Pride Pins

Flat glass marbles serve as canvases for mini masterpieces. Using the colors of our flag, making pride pins as gifts is as easy as one-two-three!

BHG has some wonderful ideas, as usual.

4^th of July Crafts for kids and adults, including how to make fun flags for your home and yard

Decorating Ideas with red, white and blue color schemes for just about everything in your home

Don't miss the whole week of my 4th of July tradition and recipe ideas.

posted at :hooked on houses, Rhoda's

Family Fun 4th of July ideas

Red, White & Blue Only – Create a neighborhood tradition and organize a potluck that no one will want to miss. Invite all of your family and friends to this casual party and give them each a food assignment. Include all the necessary foods for a successful celebration, and don’t forget to mention that everything must be RED, WHITE and/or BLUE. Foods of any other color will not be permitted, so your guests will have to get creative.

Year after year, people will invent more outrageous recipes. Just seeing what clever dishes everyone comes up with is more fun than actually eating them. Add to the festivities by having a contest for the most original dish, and be sure to take a photo of the patriotic champion with his/her prize-winning recipe in hand.

Annual Photo with Uncle Sam – There is nothing more fun than a silly tradition the whole family can participate in. Here is one for the Fourth of July that encourages creativity and makes for wonderful annual family photos. It’s simple. Every family member must make his/her own Uncle Sam’s Hat and wear it for a group portrait. You can allow everyone the freedom to create anything they want (as long as it is red, white and blue) or you can choose themes for each year: paper hats, glitter hats, flag hats, moving hats, tall hats, symbolic hats, funny hats, etc.).

If the Fourth of July involves several families getting together, each family can design their own “family hat” and make duplicates for the rest of their family members to wear. No matter what, make sure you capture this patriotic pastime on film for everyone to enjoy.

Fourth of July Friendly Gazette – Forget trying to send out a family newsletter in December when you have a hundred other things to do. Everyone will enjoy (and have more time to read) your news during the summer, so why not create a Fourth of July Friendly Gazette and make enough copies to share with your extended family and your friends - even the mailman!

Get the whole family involved, and have everyone help come up with the topics: your summer vacation plans, funny family stories from the year, achievements and disappointments, too. Add pictures, and be sure everyone signs the final edition before you have it copied. Get ready for a Gazette to come your way after your friends see what you have created.

Don't miss more 4th of July traditions
and Fun 4th Recipe Ideas

4th of July Traditions

All week long there will be unique July 4th ideas right here. This year, why not start a family tradition to honor your local public servants, who embody the July value of ‘Courage’? Most families have the annual cookie exchange at Christmas time, but why not eliminate some of that cookie baking stress and enjoy sharing treats during the "lazy days of summer." Token of Appreciation / Patriotic Appreciation – Visit your local fire department, police department or any other public service-based organization. Bring them cookies, lunch, or a red, white and blue Fourth of July cake to let them know that you appreciate their hard work. Talk to your children about the service that these men and women provide and how truly blessed we are to live in a country where it is available. Don’t forget to mention that they have to work on holidays when the rest of us are having fun. Your children will learn a valuable lesson and will enjoy visiting a different public service organization each year. A photo of your children standing with the policemen, or sitting in the fire truck will help keep this wonderful memory alive. *************************************************** I Love My Country Because – Before you celebrate the Fourth of July, sit down with your children and discuss the importance of freedom and the truly amazing country we live in. Ask them to share why they believe freedom is so important, and let them know your feelings as well. Create a lasting family tradition, and save their wonderful comments by writing them down on stars cut out of red, white and blue construction paper. The older ones can write on their own stars and even help cut them out. On the top of each star write, “I love my country because…” or ”I am proud to be an American because…” and then leave space for the wonderfully spontaneous answers you will collect over the years. You can use these patriotic declarations to decorate the tablecloth at your Fourth of July barbecue or collage them into your Fourth of July Album with your annual picnic photo. Two years ago, it started pouring as soon as we arrived at the high school stadium where the fireworks were going to be shot off. Our family ended up sitting in our van waiting for the storm to pass. We used the time by sharing examples of people who we each viewed as courageous...one person still living and one person from history. It was such a memorable evening and it made a lasting impact in the hearts of our kids as we shared what true courage was all about. ************************************************************ Don't miss the 4th of July recipe ideas?

4th of July Recipe Ideas

Welcome to my "Wow, it's almost the 4th of July. Where has the summer flown?" edition of Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods.
With fresh fruit in season, it's a wonderful time to celebrate the 4th of July with festive recipe ideas. Things don't have to take a lot of time to be beautiful. I love using my glass ware for
serving fruit throughout the summer.

**************************
I think everyone should make one of these cakes at some time in their life. :) You can make it from scratch or do it with simplicity and use a store bought cake mix.
Just celebrate patriotism with this yummy and fun Patriotic Cake.
Make this simple recipe interactive and educationally fun for little ones. While
you are making the cake, discuss with your family all the things
that make them feel courageous. Take turns placing the "stars"
onto the flag while stating one thing that makes this country
such a wonderful place to live and grow up.
photo credit: Aunt Owwee

INGREDIENTS:
30 - 35 strawberries
1 Sheet Cake 13 x 9 inches
1/2 cups blueberries
1 (12 ounce) tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare 13 x 9 inch sheet cake. The sheet cake can be from
a package or a cherished family recipe. Remove stems from
strawberries. Top sheet cake with whipped topping. Place
strawberries and blueberries on whipped topping to create a
flag design. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Do you remember my Strawberry Cheesecake Truffle?
If not, you really need to bookmark that recipe. :)
Take the same instructions/recipe and make it perfectly patriotic by adding blueberries instead of the chocolate.

And lastly, show your American pride with this downloadable collection of craft projects to decorate, wear and entertain on the 4th of July. Find the perfect July 4th recipes to complete your celebrations.

It's 67 pages full of great ideas.
Sign up for FaveCraft's craft and recipe newletter and download this wonderful Recipe E-book. It has so many fun ideas.


So what do you do for the 4th of July? Do you have any special foods that "work for you" every year?

As always, please follow the simple guidelines or post will be deleted.
1. Include your post showing us your Tasty Tuesday recipe or ideas.
2. Link up below to the permalink of your post. To find out what yours is, simply click on the title of your post and grab the permalink from the address bar.
3. Link your post back to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam as a courtesy to me so everyone will know where to find more recipe inspiration.

Father's Day Tradition - Father's Day Cake

Father's Day Cake (with cupcakes) -

After you've made your Papa Pizza, you definitely need some dessert to finish the day. There are many recipes that you can find for a Father's Day cake, but few will create a memorable experience like this one. You will not want to miss this easy to make idea created with your choice of home made or store bought cupcakes. :)

*This is where I admit that I am still such a novice blogger and tried to figure out for over an hour how to get my photo from the PDF file to my blog post and couldn't do it. You must go here to see the picture....you won't want to miss it.

Here are the directions:

A few days before Father’s Day ask everyone in your family to select photos of Dad they like the best. Make sure to include in your selection photos of Dad at all ages (photos of him with his Father would be extra special on Father’s Day). You can easily crop, re-size or print out your
photos (in sepia tone for a real antique look) at your local Kinkos. Make each photo 2” x 3” and glue on a stick (the sticks could be Popsicle sticks or wooden BBQ skewers cut to the right length).
Now it’s time to prepare the cupcakes. It makes no difference if the cupcakes are made from a box or an old family recipe (it’s the pictures that count). Once the cupcakes are prepared, frost each cupcake with Dad’s favorite frosting. Place one photo-on-a-stick into each cupcake and display on a platter. Dad will love reliving the memories as he eats his “Father’s Day Cake”.

(Along with the picture of the Father's Day cake will be some wonderful ideas on instilling responsibility in our children. I will touch on this more next week, as I know it's a constant battle for most parents).

Father's Day Traditions

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam is the place this week for Father's Day tradition ideas. Check back again tomorrow to continue the quest for making meaningful memories. And remember, with a little tweaking, these are ideas that will work for grandpa as well.

So far we've shared how we can celebrate dad with his own Papa Pizza, and then finish up with an easy, yet memorable Father's Day cake or give him his own personalized coupon book by printing it here.

Still need ideas?

How about: The Price Is Right – Surprise Dad on Father’s Day with a new tradition that will keep him smiling through the year. Using 4 x 4 inch pieces of card stock, write a favorite activity on one side (napping, playing golf, going on a walk with Mom) and list the price each of these will cost him this year on the other side. Present the cards one at a time on Father’s Day and watch as Dad laughs at the cost of his activities: a hug before the nap or a kiss while on the walk with Mom or maybe he has to sing The Star Spangled Banner on the 6th hole at the Golf Course! What a fun tradition that helps children stay focused on the things that Dad loves to do.

You're the Best Dad Ever -
Every year, ask each of your children what they love most about their Dad. Write their answers on little cards cut in the shape of a man’s tie. They can be made with a variety of colored construction paper, and embellished with stripes or plaids. Your children will have fun hiding these cards in places where they are sure to be found in the morning…inside Dad’s favorite coffee mug, underneath his shaving cream, on the door on his way out to get the newspaper, etc. He will wonder why everyone is watching him so closely as he starts to pour himself a cup of coffee that next morning. After collecting all of his Father’s Day notes of appreciation, you can collage them into a Father’s Day album with your annual photo of “surprise!” as Dad discovers one in a place he didn’t expect. This is a tradition he will really look forward to each year

King for the Day – Give Dad the royal treatment he deserves for Father’s Day with a present he’ll never forget. Start with his favorite place to relax: the hammock, a lawn chair or the recliner in the TV room, and build his throne. Then equip it with everything he needs to feel like “King for the Day”. Set up a side table with all his favorite foods and drinks, including a bucket of ice to keep them cold. Use duct tape or clamps to attach an umbrella, a mini fan and a comfortable pillow. Create a royal crown out of golden yellow construction paper wrapped around his favorite hat and labeled #1 DAD. Make sure the essentials are within reach: remote control, newspaper, fly swatter and a back scratcher. But don’t forget the most important thing of all—a handy bell to ring for service. This will make a great photo for your Father’s Day book, and every year the rest of the family will have fun building a bigger and better throne.

Mother's Day tradition ideas

With Mother's Day approaching, I can't begin to sum into words the influence and impact my mother has had on me.
I know that Mother's Day has far reaching emotional implications for so many. And honesty, I can't even begin to unpack that in one post, so I am going to save it for another time since mothering (whether it be with your own children or mentoring someone else's) is something about which I am passionate.

Here are some ideas to get the creative juices going. Just pick one way in which you can make this day special (and this is the time to tap your hubby on the shoulder and get him to read my next two posts, or honestly, just print off my free download and put it in front of him. He'll love you for that :).
And if you think my children rise up and call me blessed with all of these ideas, just wait until you find out the story behind last year's Mother's Day...cough, cough. It's all a process, I tell you. I love them anyhow.

Seven Days of Mom – Yes, I am a bit late on this, but who says it has to end at Mother's Day. :) This is a wonderful tradition for any time you want to celebrate someone, even if for no other reason than to affirm how special and unique they are.
Show Mom how much you love her by celebrating Mother’s Day all week long. Each day give a small gift, leave a loving note or plan a special activity that Mom will love. You might want to assign a day to each child, rotate the seven days around family members, or plan each day’s surprise together as a group. A theme can make the week even more memorable.

It could be Appreciating Mom Week, where every day includes a little note from a family member that thanks her for something she did for him/her during the past year. Another great theme that every Mom will love is Pamper Mom Week. Treat her to something relaxing and soothing at the end of every day: a neck and shoulder massage, a facial, a bubble bath with candles all around the tub, one hour with her favorite tea and book (and the promise of no interruptions), etc. You get the idea. On the last day of the week, Mother’s Day, prepare and serve a special meal. Mom will feel so honored and loved after her seven days of attention.

A Day Full of Joy for Mom – This tradition is about learning more about what makes Mom happy and then designing a day around her favorite things. The week before Mother’s Day give Mom a questionnaire asking her to write down all the things you could do for her that would bring joy. These might be things like breakfast in bed, special flowers, a quiet afternoon reading her favorite book or a long bubble bath. On Mother’s Day try to do as many things on the list as possible. Take a picture of Mom as she enjoys every gift of joy. Place the best one in a special frame to save this keepsake and bring out next year on Mother’s Day.

Here are free activities and template that have been put together for you about
the value of Joy, along with some Mother's Day ideas. It's beautiful - take a peak.
This is something your hubby can print off and do. The free download included:
- conversations starters
- a family fun night idea
- A May Day basket template
- "I love you, mom" cards.
- A Treasure Hunt for Mom
- "How Mom Brings me Joy" cards for the kids to fill out. You can even have them do this for grandma, by which she would go crazy, and tell everyone what a great daughter/daughter in law you are. Yes, we all need encouraging words.

(Edited to add: For additional Mother's Day ideas/templates, click here

To end, I want to share a slide show. Yes, I typically skim through any videos as well. Time is short, but this simple, but meaningful look at the power of our words, and the priceless legacy you can create from a few minutes of your time, is worth it. Take three minutes to reflect on the potential you have to give from your words of affirmation.


Posted at: Life as Mom, Hooked on Houses...I'm hooked on traditions, and The Inspired Room since focusing on family helps me achieve a Beautiful Life.

Mother's Day ideas - Recipes for Joy, Love cake

I love to have lots of creative ideas to pick from, so just in case I didn't ignite your creative juices with my first Mother's Day tradition ideas post here , I thought I would share a few more for my crafty, or cooking kind of girl friends.

Mother's Day tradition ideas (click here)- All the ideas listed below are located in a printable gift for you.

Through the Generations – Create a ‘Through the Generations’ beautiful keepsake that honors the women in your family by displaying their photos side-by-side in an accordion style booklet. This is a touching gift to give someone you love for Mother’s Day. You may want to prepare one for every woman in your family and save them all for unexpected gifts.
I offer a silk Mother's Day album that you may purchase at my discount if you desire or click here for how - to directions as well as a picture of the finished project.

Another adorable option for the accordion style album.






Recipes for Joy – This is the perfect keepsake to prepare at the time of the year when Mother’s Day is close at hand. Women always seem to have certain wisdom about life and a distinct sense about what makes life joyful. Ask any woman and she’ll have no problem sharing her secret for happiness with you. That’s exactly what you are going to do this month. Ask every woman in your family to write down her “Recipe for Joy” and collect them in a recipe box or a recipe book.

Love Cake – The Love Cake is a great way to celebrate love on Mother’s Day. Have every family member write down a message of love and paste their photo onto a heart shaped ‘locket’ cut from red or pink construction paper. Things like “I love you, ma, because you always make my favorite cookies,” or “Mom, I love how you always make my friends feel welcome.” Display the heart lockets around a Love Cake and take turns reading them as you enjoy dessert. Everyone, especially the children, will enjoy reading their sweet messages to the person they love. Be sure to take a photo of your Love Cake to place in a Mothers Day frame and glue the hearts around the photo.

(see a photo example of the 'What Mom Means to Me Cake' in my Mother's Day file.)

If your hubby needs some ideas, send him to my last post...there's a download with ideas all done for him. All he needs to do is have the kids fill them out. :)

Traditions that build character - May Day baskets

Martha Stewart

Enjoy Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped where we look at the simple things.

One of my children's most poignant "teachable moments" was cemented in their memories when our family left a "friendship basket" for the "Nice Lawn" guy (see template below).
For years, we had driven past a house near our church and watched as an older gentleman meticulously manicured his lawn.
He fertilized. He weeded. He loved on that lawn. And it showed.
Beautiful LIFE grew from that yard and it warmed our hearts to see the beauty that he tended.

Considering that our lawn is a muddy thorn in our flesh, for years, I have used his work ethic as a weekly life lesson example. He has taught my children many lessons on perseverance, and the potential that life offers when we have a 'stick to it' mentality.
But the thing I realized is that although we watched him from afar, he didn't know how much his small actions ministered to us. Actions that he did on a daily basis without any realization that they mattered to someone else. He was completely unaware.

So we decided to put our words into action and implement this "May Day" basket tradition.
You can name it what ever you want. It wasn't May when we gave it to him, so we called it the "Friendship basket."
The purpose is to demonstrate gratitude, appreciation and compassion for someone in an anonymous way with out expecting anything in return... and that's really hard, especially for children. (OK, forget children...I struggle with this as well.)
Giving gifts is always fun, but quite often we want that small "thank you" to make sure that the person realizes just how "fortunate" they were that we thought of them. :)
Show your children that to give without any expectation in return is an even greater gift; a gift that builds their character.

The memory of giving to the "Good Lawn" guy is precious. I wrote a small note and stuck it in the basket. We told him the nickname that we had given him and all the life lesson that he had showed our children by his hard work ethic. My kids put little notes in the basket thanking him for his beautiful lawn and flowers. And then we found a few little gifts to share - candy, a garden candle, and my daughter put in one of her dolly paraphernalia, from which I am sure he got a chuckle.
When we went to leave it on his door...(trust me that is a story by itself), he ran out as we were getting ready to drive away.
Oh no, this was not supposed to happen, but the joy that this man showered on my children will be a memory forever etched into my framework.
You would have thought he had won the lottery, and it showed my children that
it truly is The Little Things that are the Big Things.

Remember that this is frugal living at it's finest. A small gesture such as a flower in a basket with a note that says, "I am thinking of you," goes farther than any dollar spent.

Since our monthly family virtue is Compassion, here are the free down loadable family activity ideas that I post every month.
I have included a template to make your own "Compassion (May Day)" baskets. This will enable you to take a few minutes of intentionality and truly make a difference in someone's life.
I can't wait to see what some of you crafty ladies do with this.
Victorian mag.com

As always, the Compassion file includes ideas for:
*Family Conversation Starter questions
*Family Fun Night ideas
*Family tradition ideas
*Telling your family story

Click here to view the Compassion Worksheets free PDF file

Related Posts by Jen:
Easter Eggstravaganza tradition
Read about it here!
Easter traditions - making meaningful memories (quick and easy ideas)
Read more of our Easter traditions here.
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Posted at: Chattingatthesky.com

Tradition and Character Ideas for March

Our family value for March is perseverance

Every month our family focuses
a bit more specifically on one character quality.
Our goal is to teach/model character development in bite size pieces,
rather than attempting to shove the whole "Big Mac" in at one time.

To read a simple explanation of how I implement these ideas, see one of my first blog posts which dealt with
Building Courage, and Dealing with Honesty.
Today I have included a free, fun download which offers creative hands on tradition ideas, and activities that will help your family nurture healthy home habits specifically centered on developing Perseverance(click here).

(it's worth it, it's free...and lots of time went into creating it, so I hope it's helpful. It takes a few seconds to load due to graphics :)

There are dinner conversation questions (yes, you can enjoy quality conversation around the dinner table), family fun night ideas, and a really creative way to get the children excited about chores (if that’s possible).
Perseverance, persistence, and good old fashioned “stick-to-it-iveness” are traits quickly becoming extinct with in today’s youth culture.

Sharing my ideas on building perseverance and persistence in our children is an upcoming post.

But, it definitely is in line with some of these thoughts:

“The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.” - Author Unknown

“Be like a postage stamp – stick to one thing until you get there.” - Margaret Carty

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas Edison

"Let's raise children that can FINISH WELL!" Jen

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If you enjoy celebrating the fun and frolic of St. Patrick's Day, here are some tradition ideas, crafts and character building fun to tie in throughout the month. They focus on helping your children dream big, and think of others. (They take a few seconds to load due to the graphics).

If you only have time to browse one thing - click on the perseverance ideas above. How can your kids pass up the cutest "work to win" challenge? :)

Many of the ideas below can work at any time of the year, not just for St. Patty's Day.

Once a Day ~ Conversation Starters: The Value of Dreams
Once a Week ~ Family Fun Night: The Dream Box
Once a Month ~ Treasured Traditions: The 'Charmed' Dream Cake
Once a Year ~ The Family Story: Dream Cards
Once in a While ~ Gifts of Love: Doorknob Dream Drops with Basket Pattern

One of my "Beautiful Life" Goals is building character in our children.

I am hooked on that - even though it's a difficult process.

I love being Blissfully Domestic...read other posts here.

More Valentine's Day traditions...free beautiful download

(Click the sweet girl above to download the hearts of loving kindness tradition detailed below, the love muffin recipe, 10 things I love about you, and directions to make your very own love journal. These will print out ready to give as a sweet little gift, so using cardstock works well.)

*****I am doing more bulk baking today...check in, and let's accomplish something. :)

As you know, we love to weave traditions into our family tapestry. They're frugal, intentional, and bring joy for years to come. Here are some of our favorites.

Hearts of Loving Kindness –

Use pretty hearts during the month of February to teach the value of loving kindness to the loved ones in your life. Find a small box or jar and decorate it (invite your children to help) any way you want: with stickers, artwork, photos or a big red ribbon. Place all of the hearts inside and tell your family members what it’s all about.

Every time you see someone doing something kind for someone else, write their name and what they did on a heart. String it up on a ribbon and hang it in the kitchen or family room for all to see. You can put four to six hearts on a ribbon by cutting a slit at the top and bottom of the heart and slipping each heart up the ribbon and then tie a knot at the top of the heart to hold it in place. The more hearts your family sees dangling, the more they will want to add to the festive display.

You will have plenty of opportunities during the month to talk about how and why we do things for others simply out of the "kindness of our hearts." Make it a family tradition to focus on the value of loving kindness every February and be sure to preserve those precious memories in a Valentine’s Day Book with a photo of family members holding their Hearts of Loving Kindness.

The Treasure Hunt of Love –

This tradition combines the fun of a treasure hunt with the sweetness of showing love and appreciation, while praising character qualities instead of "talents."

. I had so much fun brainstorming last year when I did this. Cut 4 or 5 hearts out of red or pink construction paper, label them 1 to 5 on the backside, and write a clue on the front that describes something you love about the recipient and at the same time leads them to a spot where they will find the next clue.

“I love your cheerfulness in the morning, even before you have had your breakfast. I love when you choose joy.”

“I admire the diligence you showed in order to get an A in Chemistry”

“You have such a big, kind heart when you help your little brother pick up his puzzles.”

“Your great attitude and sportsmanship at basketball games make the whole family proud of you.”

The first clue can be hidden under a pillow, placed on the breakfast plate or taped to the bathroom mirror. Of course, the last clue of the treasure hunt leads them to a present or a treat you have prepared for them.

One year, I made up a corny poetic clue for each "station." The kids had to figure it out before they headed on to the next destination, and "no," I don't think you want to hear it...although it did rhyme quite nicely, thank you :).
Love Coupons – This activity can easily be created at home with some help from little hands. Purchase pretty construction paper in red, pink and ivory. Cut out 3” x 2” pieces of paper, enough to make seven for each family member. Using crayons or markers, write down fun things on each coupon that everyone in the family is capable of doing to show loving kindness for another family member. This can include things like “I will help in the kitchen” or “Let’s make the bed together.”

Include the name of the person to be helped on the back. Starting a week before Valentine’s Day, each person picks a coupon a day and helps perform that task. Display the completed coupons on the refrigerator or a family bulletin board for everyone to see. Be sure to write down all the ways your family demonstrated kindness on the card provided in the pocket. This simple keepsake will be treasured for years to come.

And just because it wouldn't have been my family if there hadn't been some bedlam; the cat and the dog both wanted in on the treasure hunt. Yes, the dog got the "treasure." Right out of my daughter's hand. :)

And now I have done more posts in two days than ever before...I am done....thank you, and leaving the computer for awhile! :)

IF YOU MISSED THE LOVE NOTES BOX TRADITION....FIND IT HERE.

Valentine's Day ideas

The Love Notes Box

In our home, giving the Love Notes box means intentionality. It symbolizes not only sharing a bit from our heart, but also trying to think outside "the box." :)

Simple... meaningful...and a lifetime of shared memories from a treasured tradition. So many of you ladies are creatively gifted, and could create an heirloom for years to come. Imagine passing this down - what a legacy.

Love Notes Box
This is the gift you can give all year long. Inside the charming box list all the reasons why you love that special someone in your life - like a spouse, children, favorite Aunt, grandparent or special friend. Fill the box of Love Notes with sweet smelling rose petals or chocolate kisses for a gift of love that someone will truly treasure..

A few of my other friends shared how they used this tradition idea:

"The Love Notes Box has brought a whole new level of communication to my relationship with my husband. With three small children, date nights were pretty non-existent. Now we use the Love Notes Box to write things we would like to do together and we take turns drawing a card every other month. We've enjoyed long walks in the botanical gardens, picnics, naps in the meadow, golfing, dinners and this month we are taking a paddle boat ride. It's been sooo good for our marriage that we are now expecting baby number four." ~ Carrie Ann >

"I truly love this product! Once a month, usually on the date of their birthday, I give my children a note and their favorite candy bar or some other special treat. They love waking up and seeing their note and treat. I even do this for my husband and he really likes it also, even though he doesn't verbalize it. One evening he came home with Chinese food and purple roses, which are my favorite, and said, 'I don’t think I do this enough anymore.' I know it was in direct correlation to the Love Notes Box. Very simple to do, yet so powerful in the message." ~ Laurie

I LOVE YOU PILLOW

Do you ever want to say you’re sorry,
cheer someone up or just tell them you are thinking of them?
This pillow is the perfect way to show your feelings when words
just aren’t enough. This has been a special addition to the relationship
with my teenagers.

I will have a free downloadable file for you to print off from my next post. It will have some precious frugal Valentine ideas you may implement right away, so make sure you don't miss it. :)

And if you don't have time to make something...here are some options that are already done for you. I ADORE the Date Night Deck! So fun!

Date Night Deck Fifty-two date ideas to help you connect, rekindle and strengthen your love. Not all of us are the same. Your Date Night Deck will show you how to give your partner special attention. #GL009 Reg: $21 February Special $14.70 .

SEE ALL FEATURED GIFTS OF LOVE PRODUCTS HERE Gifts of Love Collection 30% Off

See more ideas from Blissfully Domestic.