Tag Archives: nature

Oct26

Turn The TV Off And Spend Some Time As A Family

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Turn The TV Off And Spend Some Time As A Family

TV and movie time as a family is great but getting out and being active together is even better! Here are some tips for creating some fun new memories sans the telly!

Turn The TV Off And Spend Some Time As A Family:

There’s no point shying away from the fact that technology has had a big impact on ours’ and our children’s lives. Gone are the days when kids would spend their time bike riding, climbing trees, and playing outside. Nowadays, most children prefer to spend their time watching movies or playing computer games. Of course, technology is highly beneficial and has improved our lives in a lot of ways.

However, in many ways, it has impacted family time. Making it just a little bit harder to get the quality time that as families, we need. That being said, just because technology makes it harder to have quality family time, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It’s just a case of coming up with ideas for spending time as a family that don’t include the TV or games consoles but are still fun and appealing to the kids.

Take a Camping Trip: One of the most exciting parts of any childhood is going on a camping trip. Kids love adventure, which is why taking a family camping trip is a great idea. The kids will be excited to spend some time out in the wilderness, a campsite, or even your own backyard; and you can look forward to spending some quality time together.

It doesn’t matter whether you go for one night or several nights, all that matters is that you’re doing something as a family. You can build campfires, roast marshmallows, and play games together. If you’re not keen on sleeping under the stars, how about going glamping instead? (My kind of camping!!) To keep the good times rolling, it is a smart idea to invest in Easy install kits for your camper so you can be connected in case of an emergency during your trip.

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 Cheese!

Start a New Family Hobby: Another way to spend some time together as a family is to start a new hobby together. This doesn’t have to be anything too time-consuming, just something that you can all do and enjoy together. Think about what yours’ and your children’s likes and dislikes are and then go from there.

Say, for example; your kids love treasure hunts and you love walking. If this is the case, Geocaching could be the ideal hobby to take up. Geocaching is where you use an app to direct you to the hidden treasure – AKA little things that other people have hidden. This may not be 100 percent technology-free but the app only acts as a map and gives you clues, it’s not the main part of the hobby. The fun part is trying to find the things that have been hidden. For kids, it’s a ton of fun and encourages them to get out of the house and be active.

Or maybe, you’re pretty handy at sewing. Why not make teaching your kids to sew your family hobby? Get your children a sewing book. Look online at the best beginner sewing machine for kids to ensure that you pick the right one. Spend some time teaching them how to sew. Sewing might be a slightly outdated hobby, but it can still be a lot of fun. Whether you’re making new clothes for dolls, Halloween costumes, or just putting some fun patches on a pair of jeans, the main idea is that you’re creating something together!

Cook Together: Reserving one night a week for a family cooking night is another possibility. Each week, spend one night cooking together as a family. This could be trying something new or it could be making simple things like pizza. It’s not about what you cook but about having some fun, getting a little messy, and teaching your kids some new culinary skills. To vamp up this idea even more, you could dedicate each week to creating a meal from a different culture. This will encourage your children to try new things as well as cultivate a sense of adventure when it comes to different foods.

Live Shows: For a change of pace in your entertainment, how about seeing a live show? From plays and musicals to concerts and magicians, it is so exciting to break away from the screen and see something in real life. Whether you are enjoying Christmas tunes like those performed in this Pigeon Forge Show or laughing away at a comedian, it is sure to create lasting memories. Perhaps every few months a member of your family could pick the entertainment outing so everyone gets a say in an event.

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 Pixabay Image

What are some of your favorite TV free activities to do as a family? How about your favorite meal to cook together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct8

Vacation Photos

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Vacation Photos

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I arrived back home in good ol’ CFalls, Ohio this past Wednesday after a wonderful week away in Asheville, North Carolina with my family. We had an amazing time hiking, horse back riding, apple picking, EATING, and shopping! My family had visited Asheville in June and we liked it so much that we just had to come back and this time our two dogs, Ollie and Gem, joined us for the festivities. 🙂 ❤

Take a look at some of my favorite photos from our fall vacation:

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^^^ So. Much. FUN!!

Fun fact for ya, the butterfly, hummingbird, and duck pictures are all made out of LEGOS! They were being featured at the North Carolina Arboretum and they were so incredible! Asheville treated the Mushenheims so well and my only regret is that I’m not there right this minute! Have a fab weekend, everyone! Much love. -Sarah

Sep8

NYC Fall Fun

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NYC Fall Fun

Hi everyone and welcome to my friend Adina’s contribution to my fall guest bloggers series here on lifewithlilred. Please be sure to check out her page linked here and give her some love! Adina’s post is all about fall activities to do in the Big Apple. This is a great read for any NYC natives, travelers, and day dreamers. Take a look:

NYC Fall Fun:

There is no greater time to visit New York City than the fall. The extreme summer heat is gone, the kids are back to school, and the city is as vibrant as she was during the summer. With that being said, here is a list of places to visit in New York City in the fall:

Central Park:

With the weather still comfortable but not unbearable, there is nothing like a picnic on a fall day. Nature lovers and exercise enthusiasts will love watching the leaves change and using the park’s natural layout as a workout space. With a variety of activities, including the Central Park Zoo, the Carousel, and playgrounds for the kids, Central Park has something for everyone.

Prospect Park:

Located in Brooklyn, with access to multiple train lines, Prospect Park has the same amenities of Central Park without needing to travel to Manhattan. The Prospect Park Zoo and The Lefferts Historic House will keep families entertained. Picnickers, nature lovers, and exercise junkies can have the same experience they would have in Central Park while staying closer to home.

The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens:

Located a block from The Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are a treat in the fall. In the midst of a changing borough, the gardens are a perfect retreat from the busy life outside of its gates. Visitors can stroll through the many gardens, catch a glimpse of the turtles and the coy fish in the lake, and visit the pavilions with the recreations of various environments. And if the visitor can wake up early on Saturday, admission is free before noon.

The Highline:

Imagine, if you will, that you want to take a walk on a cool fall day. You don’t want to go to Central Park, but the thought of staying home does not appeal to you. Why not try The Highline? Originally built in the 1930’s as part of the transit system, it was abandoned in the 1980’s until it was re-imagined as a public space a few years ago. It’s the perfect spot to read, enjoy a meal, people watch, or maybe just enjoy the view of the river.

Coney Island:

There is a reason Coney Island is called The People’s Playground. People from all walks of life have enjoyed Coney Island and made an abundance of memories there. The best time to visit Coney Island is in the fall. Just because the crowds have thinned out does not mean that there is nothing to do. Between the boardwalk, amusement park, aquarium, and more than enough places to eat, there is always something to do in Coney Island during the fall.

^^^ Thank you so much again to Adina for these amazing travel tips! For more fantastic reads, be sure to check out her blog! Where is your favorite place to visit in the fall? What is your favorite fall related activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun6

Toledo Zoo Birthday Fun!

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Toledo Zoo Birthday Fun!

Heyy everyone and happy Saturday! And most importantly, happy one day until my 21st birthday!!! I had a beautiful day yesterday with my darling little BFF Lea at the Toledo Zoo for my birthday day trip celebration, so let me tell you all about it! WELL, we left Cuyahoga Falls yesterday around 9:30 and arrived at the zoo a little before twelve after an over two hour drive. We had to stop one time in Sandusky so I could go to the bathroom and we ran into quite a few characters before we even got to the zoo in the McDonald’s facilities…There was a lady with the longest pee Lea and I have ever heard that prevented both of us from going, which was AWFUL because I could barely walk from having to pee so bad. And then we can’t forget the girl who we ran into as we were washing our hands who was dressed up as a cat – face paint, tails, ears, the whole shebang. But hey, to each their own! After we relieved ourselves we made it to the zoo after another hour or so and unfortunately I had to pee AGAIN once we got there! This time it was even more urgent than the first which I didn’t even think was humanly possible! SO after another pee, we purchased our tickets from two evil, unhelpful, rude, rude, rude ladies and entered the Toledo Zoo! We explored the first half of the zoo which had elephants, penguins, primates, alligators, crocodiles, birds, reptiles, bears, tigers, and a gorgeous brand new aquarium. Unfortunately after we finished up at the elephant exhibit at the very end of the first half of the Toledo Zoo it began to rain really hard. But luckily, I packed my emergency beanie (the “E-Beanie”) to protect my red locks from the rain and Lea and I found shelter under the roof of a building. After surviving the downpour in Naked & Afraid: Toledo Zoo Edition, the sun came out and we were ready for some snacks and to get to the next half of the zoo that we still had to explore. We got some super delicious French fries that we finished before we even paid for them (whoops!) and of course some Dippin’ Dots because it’s our zoo tradition! YUM! We didn’t have much time to explore the second half of the zoo because we were unaware that they closed at four on weekdays rather than five – actually we didn’t find this out until about ten minutes before they closed because I consulted the map for some reason or another. As luck would have it though, the second half of the zoo was smaller than the first half so despite the speedy walk through of it we still got to see almost everything – rhinos, wolves, hippos, polar bears, sea lions, eagles, and a bunch of African Savannah animals including our all time favorite, GIRAFFES! They were so glorious!!!! We finished our zoo adventure by watching the majestic giraffes walk around their vast Savannah-esque habitat which was shared with other species of animals like ostriches, gazelles, antelopes, and more. It was a completely perfect day! Here’s a few of the pictures that I took during our Toledo Zoo visit:

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^^^ WTF is that fish? Hahaha! I’m so sad that I can’t upload videos on here because I have the cutest video of my favorite part of exploring the zoo…While watching the sweet gorillas in their exhibit with another family the gorgeous creatures were just kind of hanging out and lounging and eventually the family by us left. As soon as this family made their exit one of the gorillas decided to show off for me and Lea by rolling up and down the hill like a little kid. He went back and forth again and again until he tired himself out and it was seriously the most precious thing ever! He could probably sense that it was a special day for Lea and I and wanted to give us a little pre-birthday performance!

Yesterday was such a blast and I seriously had the best time with my darling Lea! We had so much fun during everything – the car rides, the zoo, the stormy weather (Lea and I are great at making not so good stuff enjoyable – one of the many reasons why I love our friendship!), and of course the Dippin’ Dots! What a fabulous birthday day trip extravaganza! Tonight I’ll be going out to dinner and the bars with my friends so you probably won’t hear from me tomorrow on my birthday due to a very probable hangover. SO that means I’ll be officially twenty-one the next time you talk to me on the usual Monday Update segment! AHHHH! I hope all of you are having a terrific day so far! What is everyone up to this weekend? Any fun plans? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

SARAH’S BIRTHDAY COUNTDOWN: ONE DAY LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

^^^ Lololol this classic one hit wonder was our driving theme song yesterday! #love