Tag Archives: outdoors

Apr22

Hello, Hyacinths

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Hello, Hyacinths

Howdy! With a really sporadic spring happening in Ohio, I was worried that none of my favorite flowers were going to come up to say hello. The weather in my neck of the woods has been crazy. We’re talking temperatures in the 70’s one day to a pretty decent snowfall the next and just a downright bitter cold chill in the air.

Despite Mother Nature being bipolar, quite a few of the flowers in our yard have began to bloom, including one of my favorites – hyacinths!

I love hyacinths oh so much. Their gorgeous pastel colors, their distinctive but beautiful smell when you pass them by or cut a few sprigs for a vase on your table. There is nothing better than walking by the patch of hyacinths that have been growing in my yard for every spring that I can remember. They look so sweet in their floral clusters and it’s always a treat to take a deep breath and inhale their aroma which, despite the snow falls, means that spring is here.

What is your favorite spring time flower? Who else has had snow fall in their area even though its late April? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

Spring Renovations: Are These Projects Worth The Money?

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Spring Renovations: Are These Projects Worth The Money?

When spring arrives, it can feel only natural to want to get outdoors and start tending to your yard or garden. After a long and cold winter, it could really need it! Surely, you’ll want to make everything look as good as new.

That can all seem very well, especially if you are thinking of selling the home soon or just want to make it look a little different. But are some of the home projects or renovations that you have planned in your mind going to be worth it? Here are some suggestions for you, to make sure that you’d be getting your money’s worth for each project:

Yard/Garden Landscaping

If the sun shines and the flowers are blossoming, then who wouldn’t want to be outdoors? But if you want a super-styled outdoor space, rather than just a rose bush by the picket fence, then it can cost you quite a bit to get it done. It can mean some major changes to the yard, with some digging up, possibly concrete being added, and things like ponds being made. It can really change the look of the space, so you need to decide if it is going to be worth it for you.

If you are planning a move sooner rather than later, then in reality, there are plenty of other things that you can do to improve the curb appeal of your home, rather than getting the yard landscaped. Getting new plants and generally tidying up the outside space could be a much better use of your cash. If you’re not planning to move, then you just need to weigh up the pros and the cons. If you do want to landscape, consider it carefully. Will you need to outsource to bring your landscape design vision to life? Are there aspects of your design that you could DIY? Be realistic about what you are capable of. At the end of the day, the yard is the first thing people notice and sometimes the best thing is leaving it to the professionals if you are lacking the time or green thumbs.

Driveway Repairs:

If you have a driveway, then over the winter it can take a beating with the ice, snow, rain, and salt being added to it on a daily basis. The thing is, just putting a new layer of concrete or asphalt over the top isn’t always going to be that simple. You have to think about the foundations and any cracks, as they could lead to problems if they’re not dealt with. So it can involve some heavy machinery to get it looked at and repaired.

The thing is, though, is that a driveway is something that a potential buyer would be looking at right away. So if you are looking to move, it could be the thing that tips the scales for a buyer. On the flipside, if you’re planning to move, then you may not be bothered about the driveway and leave it for the new owner. So it comes down to how long you’ve got left living there and if you’ve got it in the budget. Should the driveway be a project you would like to tackle, simply enter a search for “asphalt driveway portland, OR” (or your local area) to begin researching the right team to take on the job. A driveway is one of the first things people see and you will want it looking its best the first time around.

Repainting:

Winter brings with it lots of shades of gray, and can often leave you feeling that you need some color in your life. Many experts agree that painting can change the look of a home, both interior and exterior, for a pretty low cost. So it can be worth doing, as if you do it yourself, all you are paying for are tins of paint. Professionals like Textbook Painting would be able to provide the right equipment, if you were painting the outside of the house, for example, but can still keep costs down. So if you want to freshen things up, then repainting is an easy win, and would be worth doing, moving home or not.

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A bright colored accent wall always goes down well!

Repairing/Replacing Siding:

The siding on your home is what takes the brute force from bad weather. A particularly harsh winter could have wreaked havoc on the condition of it. So if yours is looking a little worse for wear, then right about now could be a good time to repair or replace it. But it is going to be worth it? In short, yes, it is going to be worth it. But the actual process can be long and quite costly.

First of all, this isn’t something that you can do easily by yourself. So really, you will be paying the cost of labor for contractors to do it for you. And that can reach into the region of around $10,000. So to justify the cost, then you probably need to ‘wait’ until the siding is looking in particularly bad repair. If it is not peeling, coming away, or there are no loose parts, then it could be worth leaving for a little longer, simply to get more bang for your buck.

If only some of it is looking bad, then you could replace just those panels rather than the whole lot. That would be a good way to save money but still improve the look and condition of things. You could also consider simply repainting your siding, if there are just a few parts that are peeling off. Get them sanded down, ready to paint, and it can look like new afterwards.

While spring is a great time of year to be making changes, think carefully and plan out any projects or renovations before you get started on them!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb22

Do You Love Your Home? Time To Show It

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Do You Love Your Home? Time To Show It

A home is much more than walls and a roof. It’s a place that means something to you and your family. It’s where memories are made. Your house should feel like a safe and inviting shelter from the world. Whether you’ve had a hard day at work or your kids have had a hard day at school, everybody should feel as if they can stroll through that front door and let all of their worries fade away. It’s not just about creating a practical environment for physical relaxation but an aesthetically-pleasing environment that relaxes the mind. For example, your couch can look modern or sophisticated and still be comfortable.

Essentially, creating an inviting home is all about finding a good balance between prettiness and comfort. Whatever improvements need to be made, it’s time to put some effort into the appearance of your humble abode. Do you love your home? If you do, then you should want to show that. Let’s talk about some of the improvements you could make to your household in order to create a warmer and more relaxing environment for you and the whole family. You don’t need to hire a professional team or become a DIY expert either; any beginner with determination can renovate their home:

Space is everything:

The first step towards improving your home is to declutter every room. This is a chance to get rid of all the junk you’ve hoarded over the years (and perhaps make some money by selling those things at a yard sale). In turn, you’ll notice that the house slowly opens up. There’s more potential space in your home than you realize. That minimalistic and spacious design you’ve always wanted is within reach. It’s just about putting your home’s available space to better use. Putting up shelves on the walls as additional storage space is another great way to “tidy up” rooms in the house.

Lighting affects the mood of a room:

The importance of lighting in a home can’t be underestimated. If your house feels a little drab and dreary despite being decorated with all of the bells and whistles, then you might want to consider that the problem lies with the lighting. So many households have a bad interior design because the decorator doesn’t consider the layout and colors used in each room. If you want your home to feel bright and enticing, then you need to utilize lighting cleverly. Throughout the day, you should be allowing natural light into your home as much as possible. Neutral colors such as white will naturally reflect any sunlight pouring in through the windows and serve to brighten up each room in the house.

Tame your back garden:

Another important aspect of a happy home is a nice garden. That’s right – you need to push your horizons a little further than interior design. Your house’s exterior is just as important to your home. Is it nice to look out of your window and see an overgrown jungle that used to be your garden? If you really love your home, then you need to tidy up this outdoor space. You might even want to look into companies such as ABC Home & Commercial to help you mow, fertilize, and essentially tame your garden if you need help. The key thing is to make this area feel homely. Create a relaxing patio area with comfy seats, a dining table, and maybe even a patio awning for shelter from the elements.

Once your backyard has been tamed, fixtures like ponds or pools can make an amazing addition and boost property value. Not a lot of space? No problem! Spools (AKA small pools) are becoming wildly popular and for good reason. They require a lot less maintenance and, due to their small size, can fit in almost any yard. When you choose a fiberglass, gunite, & vinyl spool, you create a backyard oasis for your home, ready for the kids (or you!) to jump right into when the sun comes out.

Reinvent the front of the house:

Continuing from the previous point, you need to think about the entire house when it comes to exterior design. Tidying up your back garden is one thing, but the front of your house is a crucial element of your home’s overall feel. It makes the first impression on you and your guests, after all. If you want to come home to a pleasant sight before you’ve even opened the door, then you might want to consider repaving the path leading up to the door and putting some plants on the front window sills. You could even repaint the front door to give it a “fresh” feel. Reinvent the front of the house, in other words.

With spring just around the corner, there is no better time than now to give your home a new beginning and spruce things up a bit!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan16

Getting The Gear: For Outdoor Adventures

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Getting The Gear: For Outdoor Adventures

Nature enthusiasts, outdoor junkies, and those that just love a good hike in the woods rejoice, as spring is just lurking around the corner. Outdoor excursions in the snow can be fun and all, but the sunshine sure is nice! Anyone who enjoys an afternoon in the great outdoors knows that the company they spend it with (or their solitude) is essential in a pleasant day. But the gear that you choose is also important in making your time outside all the better. Let’s discuss further:

Trekking Poles:

I think everyone can admit to grabbing a huge stick off of the ground and going full Gandolf from Lord Of The Rings during a nature walk. Who doesn’t love yielding a great big stick and trudging through the terrain? It sure makes me feel majestic, anyways. But if you want the best of the best in trekking poles (AKA nothing that you found off of the ground.), then you might want to consider a few things. Can it fold? Is it lightweight? Will it help you get from Point A to Point B with some sweet relief on your joints? Find your best fit, and hit the trails!

Knee Sleeves:

Hiking the paths is no walk in the park, especially if you deal with pain from arthritis, injury, or occasional soreness. Although knee sleeves don’t protect your knees from injury, they do offer compression and support. They might be just the extra boost that you need to climb the highest mountain.

Dry Bags:

During water activities like kayaking or rafting or even if a random downpour drenches you during a trek, keeping your goods dry is a major concern. You can’t take pictures of the gorgeous scenery with a waterlogged phone or camera, after all. Dry bags offer airtight protection to keep water, water everywhere out and your possessions dry as a bone. Need to take a breather? Dry bags are also inflatable! Hello, cat nap pillow.

Rest And Relaxation:

After a long day outside, a relaxing sit down at sunset is a must. Grab a cold lemonade, kick off your shoes, and take a seat on a sturdy, wooden porch swing. First of all, they’re just pure fun and they add the sweetest hint of Southern charm to any home. Let the cool breeze blow your hair as you rock back and forth and congratulate yourself for a job well done on the trails.

Take full advantage of experiencing the great outdoors with the most helpful gear as you trek around Mother Earth. Of course, it won’t turn your next excursion into a walk in the park, but where’s the adventurous fun in that?!

Featured Image By: XPATMATT

Dec18

Home And Garden: Protect Your Property

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Home And Garden: Protect Your Property

If you need some help with protecting your home and garden this year, you might want to check out some of these clever gadgets, which can be the perfect remedy for your home security problems:

Ring Video Doorbell: The Ring Video Doorbell is no ordinary doorbell, it allows you to answer the door without opening it. There are motion sensors on the doorbell, and you can download an app on your phone so that when someone rings the bell, you will get a notification from the app and you can see who is at the door. It also allows you to talk through the doorbell to whoever it is. This is ideal for if you have a parcel coming and you don’t want it given to the neighbor or if you have a friend coming over but you are running a bit late.

Yale Smart Home Alarm: Arm and disarm your alarm from your smartphone. You can also add a power switch to all of your appliances as well as on your front door, so that if you leave the house and panic that you haven’t locked the door or turned off the oven, you can do it from your phone! This is a high end item, and you can review a ton of different security systems at Homesecuritysystem.co if you are unsure of which one to pick for your price range and needs.

Nest Cam Indoor: Place the nest cam in your home in a certain place and you will be able to see a 24/7 live stream of anything going on in that part of the house. If there is any odd activity or weird noises, your phone will notify you so that you can see what’s happening.

Dummy Camera: If you don’t feel like shelling out the dough to kit your home out with full CCTV, you can bluff by hanging up a fake camera outside of your home. It is far cheaper and any potential thieves won’t be able to tell the difference, meaning that you are much less likely to have your home intruded by anyone.

Fake TV Light: If you are ever out of the house but you would like to mimic occupancy to deter anyone from coming near the home, you can use this gadget to make it look like the TV is on. The TV light mimics the color changes of a TV, and you can pre-set the light to come on at certain times.

Cam Safe: If you’ve ever seen on Pinterest those secret compartments behind a light switch, then you may like this gadget. The idea is to take every day objects in the home and make them into secret compartments to store your valuables. It could be as random as a can of Coke or a packet of chips. It will allow you to keep your valuables in the home, in a place where no criminal is ever going to look for them. You can even keep it in the fridge if you want to make it even more convincing.

Stay safe and secure this holiday season with the above gadgets!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec14

How To Make Your Winter Garden Look Fantastic

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How To Make Your Winter Garden Look Fantastic

America is in the midst of a gardening boom: one in three households grows food at home or in a co-op garden. Even millennials are joining in with gardening and the economic downturn doesn’t discourage people, either. Those with green thumbs are sure to dread the winter months. While your hard work is shining bright in the spring and summer, during the winter your pride and joy can sometimes be buried under a layer of frost and dead leaves. However, if you’re willing to change your perception a little, winter can actually be a great time for your garden. Here’s why, and a few tips on how to make your winter garden look fantastic:

Benefits of winter for your garden:

It turns out that gardens that experience winter may have some advantages over their warmer cousins. According to research from the University of Minnesota, many pests which are harmful to gardens hibernate when the weather gets cold. In addition, weeds grow more slowly and thanks to low light and less evaporation, plants often require less water in the winter. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

Choose winter friendly veggies and crops:

Although you might have to give up on your tomatoes and most other fruiting crops during the winter months, there are many tasty and cold-hardy vegetables you can try to grow, instead. Top choices are Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, onions, and some types of spinach. Look for vegetables with leaves, stems, and roots, that mature more and more slowly as the weather cools and the days shorten. As an added bonus, some of these vegetables sweeten as the weather gets colder!

Making your garden look great:

There are many ways to brighten up a barren winter garden. Focal points such as an outdoor wall mounted fountain, a sculpture, or boulder can draw interest all year round. Water features such as ponds can look stunning in winter, becoming the center of attention in contrast to their plainer surroundings.

Thanks to the lack of weeds, winter-hardy plants, and the potential for dramatic winter views, winter gardening is a lot nicer than you might think. So grab your gloves and your shovel and join America’s gardening boom. 

Oct13

Creative Storage Ideas For Tiny Homes

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Creative Storage Ideas For Tiny Homes

If you have a pretty small home or apartment, then the struggle to find enough space to store things around the home, really is real. But if you’re not quite ready to throw the majority of your things away (Who is?!), then you need to know some awesome hacks for maximizing the storage space. Here are some ways to make the most of the space in a small home:

Floor To Ceiling Storage:

When there isn’t much storage, you want to make sure that you’re using the most of the space you’ve got. So for things like bookshelves or kitchen units, make sure that they go from floor to ceiling. You don’t want any wasted space left at the top of the kitchen cabinets, for instance.

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Floor to ceiling storage is a must.

Create Outdoor Space:

If you have the ability to add space outdoors but don’t have the budget for an extension, then something like a wraparound porch could be a good idea. It is pretty simple to construct, it adds floor space, it won’t cost too much to arrange, and is a great hang out spot for friends and family.

Use Garage Space:

If you’re lucky enough to have a garage, then you need to make sure that you’re using it wisely. If you use it for your car, do you really need to be? Could you make better use of it by using it as an additional room in the home or for storage? It might need some changes to it, through the help of garage door services, for example. But once it is secure and has everything that you need in it, it can be a really invaluable space. Man cave or she shed, anyone?

Embrace Open Plan Living:

To help a home feel larger and more spacious than it is, then some walls are going to need to come down. When rooms are small and walls are thick, it can make the home look darker and much smaller. So it could be time to opt for a kitchen diner or kitchen and living space. Just check what walls can be knocked down before you take the sledgehammer and angsty feels to it!

Use Under the Stairs Space:

The space left under the stairs can be pretty huge (Except for Harry Potter!). But because it is a little awkward, it can often just get left to hang some coats and that’s about it. But if you plan carefully, you can get some shelving and storage under there, for sure. Using every space you have is so important – even the little nooks and crannies!

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LOVE THIS!!

Get Creative With Mirrors:

Mirrors are a great way to help a room look brighter and larger, so make sure that you get creative with the use of them around your home. Aim for at least one per room and the space will feel and look much brighter, lighter, and airy.

Use Room Dividers:

If you’re not quite ready to go open plan, then you could at least think about getting room dividers instead of walls. They could be glass partitions, curtains, or even large sliding doors so that you can open up the whole space if you want to (But you don’t have to have it that way all the time.).

Sweet and small homes are amazing – but your storage might not be! Use the tips above to open up your space and make the most of it!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Aug31

New England Fall Fun

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New England Fall Fun

Hello everyone and welcome to another fabulous post in my Falling For Fall series compliments of the sweet Ashley from Ashley Beth Beauty! One of the most well traveled areas in the US when fall time hits is New England. The beauty of the leaves changing on thousands of trees makes it an obvious travel spot, so what better way to learn more about New England than from a local?! Today, Ashley will be telling us about some amazing places to visit on your next NE vaca:

New England Fall Fun

Hey everyone! Today I’m going to talk about some different activities to do during your visit to New England this fall. From leaf peeping to apple picking and learning about the history of early America, there are many activities to do here, like the following:

New Hampshire’s White Mountains: If you want the ultimate fall experience in New England, visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort. It is in the heart of New Hampshire and there are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful with the most breathtaking views. Since you are in the middle of Mount Washington, there are great hiking trails nearby with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert. If you have little ones, check out Story Land or Santa’s Village, which are both theme parks with shows, rides, and attractions. Another option is the Cog Railway. It is a three hour round trip train ride that will bring you to the top of Mount Washington. Talk about leaf peeping!

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Salem, Massachusetts Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600s. Now the town of Salem brings the history and stories of these people to life. You can visit everything from the Salem Witch Museum to the historic House Of The Seven Gables. These are amazing activities for the history buffs, all while experiencing the beautiful foliage of Massachusetts. This city is located on the coast so you can learn a little history, shop, and check out Pickering Wharf.

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Vermont Maple Syrup Tour: Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, VT is a 550 acre farm, which is run by the Luce family. You can visit this farm and learn about the process of making and collecting maple syrup. They also make cheeses that you are welcome to sample. Not only do you learn a lot at this farm, but the views are absolutely amazing. You can hike along the trails and the ride up to Vermont is just gorgeous. Visit here during the fall, and the leaves and clear sky will make for great photos and memories. Check out their website for more information at http://www.sugarbushfarm.com !

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Hope you all are inspired to take a fall trip to New England!

Xoxo

ashley beth

Thank you so much again to Ashley from Ashley Beth Beauty for providing us with some fabulous New England travel info! Where is your favorite spot to visit in the fall? How does the area that you live in embrace autumn? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Playbuzz

Aug30

Bringing The Great Indoors, Outdoors: 4 Steps To Consider

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Bringing The Great Indoors, Outdoors: 4 Steps To Consider

People love to spend time outside, which is why enjoying the Great Outdoors is a modern design trend. Even with the fall and winter months approaching, homeowners want to extend the outdoor season as long as possible. But did you know that you can extend your time outdoors the whole year round? These design tips are ready-made for spending time on the patio. There is nothing better to take the edge off after a stressful day!

Here are the four things to think about if you are a lover of nature and interior design:

Invest In A Comfy Furniture Set: The first port of call is the furniture. Simply put, you can’t relax outside if there is nowhere to chill. However, any old pieces won’t do because they have to be durable enough for the cooler temperatures. With this in mind, think about opting for deep seating with a fabric finish. That way, the furniture will be cozy and comfy, but it will also be sturdy enough to deal with the worsening weather. If you want a modern twist, even contemporary living room furniture is usable outdoors. As long as there is space, a Giotto Marsala fabric chair from Sun Pan is a great alternative. And finally, furniture covers are a must, as well – especially if your area gets a lot of rain or snow.

Transition To Autumn Textures: Throw pillows and blankets have a big role to play in the development because they accessorize and add warmth. Not only is it important to offset the style, but it is vital to add a sense of functionality. To do this, think about using throws which exploit autumn and winter textures. For example, wool or fleece is a far better option than cotton or polyester. Not only is it warmer, but it also blends in with the furniture fabrics, as well as the natural outdoor textures. Also, a floor rug with a thick thread count is another chic option.

Crank Up The Heat: Covering up is always a good way to stay warm when the mercury drops outside. Still, it is not a foolproof plan, and it won’t work all of the time, especially when the weather gets terrible. If you want to spend time in the Great Outdoors, you will need a backup plan such as a space heater. Of course, the heater blasts out hot air, but it also takes up minimal space. And, it is sleek enough to keep in the corner so it will be out of the way of the other features. If you want something different, an outside fire pit is also a really cool alternative.

Let There Be Light: Last but not least, you need to be able to see. If you can’t, there is no reason to be sitting outside in the pitch black. The key to relaxing is taking the edge off, and it isn’t possible when there is zero light. You don’t want to add too much because it will ruin the ambiance, though. This is where fairy lights come into play. Not only are they dim, but they are textured and easy to fit on the gazebo ceiling or wrap around a beam. Not to mention that you can get them in a variety of adorable styles and colors!

For those who want to spend time outside even as the temperature drops, these tips for an indoors inspired outdoors are the way to go!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Jul19

The Best Sports For The Whole Family

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The Best Sports For The Whole Family

Getting your kids to exercise often means fighting an uphill battle. Most of the time they’d rather be inside on the computer than outside moving about. The best way of getting them to be active is to find an activity that they’ll enjoy doing. Don’t forget about yourself, either, it’s just as important for you to get a good amount of exercise, especially as you get older.

Exercise is the best way to combat any of the health complaints that come with age, so it’s vital that the whole family gets outside and does some exercise on a regular basis. As well as getting exercise, sports teach your kids a lot of good values. They will learn the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship, which will stand them in good stead later on in life. You can have great quality time together by playing some sports. For families that are looking to explore a much wider range of hobbies, activities such as recreational riding may be interesting. Taking a look at equestrian reviews by Freddie Vasquez Jr
can also help to enhance knowledge of horses making it much easier to appreciate the beauty of riding. Here are some of the best sports for you to do as a family:

Baseball: Baseball is a good one to play when you first start exercising because you’ll get a lot of rests between bursts of energy. You can play at the local park with fairly limited equipment. As long as you have a bat and a ball, you can use pretty much anything to mark out the bases. Alternatively, if you don’t have a local park nearby and there isn’t space in the garden for a full game, you can just practice your throwing and catching skills. Baseball is a great sport for the family, which helps you get some good cardiovascular exercise as well as improving your hand eye coordination skills.

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#1 😀

Golf: People don’t always consider golf when they’re thinking of sports that are good for exercise, but you’d be surprised by how many calories you could burn on the course. You won’t be running up and down all day but you’ll be doing a fair bit of walking so it’s still going to get your heart going. If you’re going to play a family game of golf, you need to get all of the right equipment. A good set of clubs is vital, otherwise you’ll find yourself stuck in a bunker all day. Look for the most forgiving golf clubs, they’re perfect for beginners and they’ll help you to avoid missing all of your shots. If you get a bad set of clubs and it’s difficult for the kids to make any good shots, they’ll soon get frustrated and give up (Me.).

Before you go, check the rules at your local course because a lot of them have specific dress codes and they won’t let you play if you don’t have the right attire. Subscription boxes like Mullybox can provide golf course appropriate clothing as well as accessories to improve your game too. Golf is a good choice when the weather is particularly hot and you still want to get some exercise without doing anything too intense. You might soon find that golfing will become one of the family favorite activities. As all of you continue to progress, you can begin looking at more advanced gear like Ping golf clubs, electric caddies, and custom fitted gloves. As long as you remember that patience is a virtue, you’ll be going pro in no time!

Swimming: On those boiling hot summer days, the whole family can cool off in the swimming pool. It’s a brilliant way to beat the heat and it’s one of the best ways to exercise there is. When you swim, you exercise every single muscle in your body and get your heart pumping at the same time. It’s great for heart health, lung capacity, and general muscle strength. The cool water also means that you can sustain that exercise for much longer than you’d normally be able to. As well as being good exercise, swimming is an important skill for children to learn for safety so it should definitely be a part of your summer exercise routine.

Before you hit the pool, just be sure you have the right gear. This includes sunscreen, floaties, and tangle-free kids goggles. Goggles will protect your eyes while you make a splash and the tangle-free options use a fabric strap as opposed to an elastic one. This will make taking them on and off much easier and comfortable and prevent any hair pulling.

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Those shades!

Volleyball: When summer comes, there’s no better way to spend time with the family than down at the beach. You could spend all day sunbathing but that won’t keep you and the family healthy. A great sport that you can play at the beach is volleyball. It’s a very active sport that’s great for cardio in short bursts. Short bursts of energy, with small breaks in between, is one of the most effective ways to exercise and helps you to keep a healthy heart. You can get yourself a net if you’re serious about your game but a line in the sand will do just as well.

Quidditch: Quidditch started as a fictional game in the Harry Potter series but since then, fans have developed it into a real game. It’s not quite the same as in the books and movies, of course, but the basic rules and play are the same. It’s a great way of getting some exercise and the kids are sure to love it. To play a proper game, you’ll need quite a few people and lots of different balls so this is one that you could perhaps play with a few other families in the park. There are plenty of different positions to be played so by switching everybody around, you can keep everybody interested in playing for a long time. If you get really into your game, there are teams and leagues that you could consider joining.

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Lol.

Insect Soccer: Although the name might suggest it, insect soccer isn’t a game of soccer played by ants. It’s a variation on a normal game of soccer that’ll make it much more fun for the kids. Group everybody into twos and threes depending on how many players you’ve got, and get each group to link arms, these are the insects. Each team plays against each other until one scores a goal, and they have to stay linked at all times otherwise they lose the round. This is the perfect game to play with the kids because it has all of the exercise benefits of a normal soccer game but it also teaches valuable teamwork and cooperation skills.

Basketball: When the good weather goes away, it can be easy to fall into bad habits and your exercise regime can fall by the wayside. One of the best indoor sports to play in winter is basketball. There should be a local indoor court that you can use but you’ll probably need to hire it out so check beforehand. Basketball is a good team sport for kids to play and it’ll massively improve their ball skills. If they enjoy it, you can carry on into the summer on a free outdoor court.

sportss3

#Ballin

Summer time is all about going out and getting active – and what better way to do that than as a family?!