Entertainment And Reaching Out
Each month in this section will be ideas of things you can do to build relationships with family and friends and ideas to help you reach out to others. Here are a few examples.
Since it is National Blueberry Month how about going blueberry picking with your children or some friends. It’s a lot of fun. Then you can come home freeze the berries, make desserts or bag them to give away to others.
Check out our Cell Phone Etiquette by clicking on our etiquette category. It appears that most people do not know cell phone etiquette.
Since the weather is nice and it is National Anti-Boredom Month, do some simple fun things to combat boredom by getting out of the house and out of your comfort zone, or by doing something you have wanted to do for a while and haven’t taken the time for it.
Buy gift certificates to a local ice cream shop and give them away. If you give them to strangers, attach a tract to them. Tell them it’s National Ice Cream Month.
After the fireworks on the 4th of July, pass out water with tracts on them to the people as they are leaving.
July 6 send picture postcards to people you know with an encouraging word.
July 11 is Cheer Up The Lonely Day. Do you know someone who is lonely? Do something to cheer them up. Just taking some time to stop by would be a big boost for most people. How about going to a nursing home?
Make homemade French Fries on the 13th and have a French Party on the 14th in honor of Bastille Day.
July 21 is National Junk Food Day. Your children will be shocked if you allow them to have more junk food than usual that day.
July 23 eat Hot Dogs and Vanilla Ice Cream Cones.
July 29 is National Lasagna Day. Make some for the family or for someone you know would not or cannot make it for themselves. You’ll find a good recipe in the Food Section under Recipes.
Reach out to your cousins on the 24th, your parents on the 25th, and your Father-in-law on the 30th.
There are so many other days with fun ideas. I hope just the names get your creative juices going.
MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES IN JULY
National Blueberry Month
National Anti-Boredom Month
National Cell Phone Courtesy Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
National Picnic Month
National Recreation Month
National Baked Bean Month
SPECIAL DAYS IN JULY
July 1 – Canada Day
Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
International Joke Day
National Postal Worker Day
July 2 – I Forgot Day
World UFO Day
July 3 – Build a Scarecrow Day
Dog Days Begins
July 4 – Independence Day USA
National Country Music Day
July 5 – Work-a-holics Day
Caribbean Day
July 6 – National Fried Chicken Day
First Picture Postcard made
July 7 – National Chocolate Day
National Strawberry Sundae Day
Macaroni Day
July 8 – Video Games Day
Liberty Bell cracks in 1835
July 9 – National Sugar Cookie Day
July 11 – Cheer Up the Lonely Day
July 12 – Pecan Pie Day
Paper Bag Day
July 13 – Barbershop Music Appreciation Day
National French Fries Day
July 14 – Bastille Day
July 15 – Tapioca Pudding Day
July 16 – Apollo 11 lifts off on its voyage to the moon
July 17 – Peach Ice Cream Day
Disneyland opens in 1955
Sewing Machine patented in 1790
National Ice Cream Day
July 18 – National Caviar Day
July 19 – National Ice Cream Day
National Raspberry Cake Day
July 20 – Moon Day – Armstrong & Aldrin land on the moon in 1969
Ice Cream Soda Day
Chess Day
July 21 – National Junk Food Day
July 22 – Hammock Day
July 23 – National Hot Dog Day
Vanilla Ice Cream Day
Ice Cream Cone introduced in 1904
July 24 – Cousins Day
Emilia Earhart Day
Parent’s Day
July 25 – Culinarian's Day
July 26 – Aunt and Uncle Day
July 27 – Bugs Bunny debuted in 1940
July 28 – National Milk Chocolate Day
July 29 – National Lasagna Day
July 30 – National Cheesecake Day
Father-in-Law Day
July 31 – First U.S. patent issued 1790
Ramadan begins at sundown
Taken from:
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/july.htm
http://familycrafts.about.com/.../spdays/bljulydayslong.htm
Fourth of July Parties and Festivities
Of course, for the 4th of July red, white, blue, stars and stripes are in order for the day. Do it everywhere…in decorations, food, and your clothing. Be as patriotic as you can. Show how thankful you are for our country. Play patriotic music, sing patriotic songs, have a parade or go to one. Display an American flag on your house and /or all along your walkway or driveway. Attend fireworks displays. Play fun outdoor games and have old-fashioned relay races. Have an all American picnic or barbeque.
Decoration Ideas:
• Use red, white, and blue tablecloths, plates, napkins, forks and cups.
• Purchase bandanas or bandana material to use as placemats or as a runner on tables.
• Make red, white and blue flower arrangements for centerpieces.
• Arrange fireworks in a container and use as a centerpiece.
• Put red, white and blue jellybeans or M&Ms in red, white and blue bowls. Use as centerpieces or just place around.
• Arrange small flags in pots and display on tables as centerpieces.
• Cut star shapes out of heavy card stock. Glue a popsicle stick on the back of one star. Glue another star on the back of the popsicle stick so it is two-sided. Spread glue on one star. Sprinkle glitter on the star. Wait for it to dry completely and repeat on opposite side. Stick stars in plants or in pots. May be used as a centerpiece or as decorations.
• Purchase red, white &/or blue plastic buckets. Fill them with sand. Place pinwheels in the sand. Use on tables.
4th of July Craft Ideas:
Liberty Bell
Paper or Styrofoam cup
Pen or pencil
Tape
Aluminum foil
1-2 pipecleaners per bell (depending on the size of the cup)
Small jingle bell (approx. 1 inch)
Star stickers (optional)
Poke 2 small holes in the bottom of the cup just to the left and the right of the center. Take a piece of foil and form it to the outside of the cup. Gently pull it off the cup and gently push it into the cup so it covers the inside. Fold extra over rim. Using another piece of foil, form it to the outside of the cup. Fold edges over the inside of the rim. String the bell onto a pipecleaner. Twist so it stays on. Poke the end of the pipecleaner through the 2 holes. Twist the empty end onto the pipecleaner that is inside the cup. Before twisting make sure bell is about 1 inch from the rim of the cup. Stickers can be applied for decoration. Use tape if necessary.
Fireworks Picture
Black construction paper
Pipecleaners
Glue
Glitter
Determine what style fireworks you want to make. Cut pipecleaners into shapes that will fit your design – for example: arched, sunbursts, shooting lines, small dots, etcetera. Dip pipecleaners in the glue. Take off excess glue. Place on the paper making designs. Sprinkle glitter on pipecleaners. Allow to dry. Hang pictures.
Flag Placemats
Red, white and dark blue construction paper
Scissors
Glue or glue stick
Pencil
50 White star stickers
Clear contact paper (optional)
Cut 3 red strips and 3 white strips of construction paper 5/8 inch wide X 11 inches long. Cut 4 red strips and 3 white strips 5/8 inch wide X 4 ½ inches long. Glue the strips onto the blue construction paper alternating with the red and white. Begin with a long red strip for the bottom and end with a short white strip at the top. Stick the stars in the empty blue space. Top row of stars should have 6 stars. The 2nd row should have five. Alternate rows until all 50 stars are in place. Carefully cover with clear contact paper or laminate the place-mat.
BARBERSHOP QUARTET PARTY
Invitations
Send out invitations with a picture of a Barbershop Quartet on it. Ask guests to wear barbershop quartet outfits. This would include: canes, striped or solid vests, jackets, skimmer hats, boater hats, boler hats, garters, spats, shoes, newsboy caps, cabby hats, bow ties, vintage ties, vintage wide striped shirts with cutaway and rounded cooper collars, spectacles….
Decorations
Decorations may include any of the above items.
Barbershop Quartet Music should be played.
Food
Any meat, chicken or fish will be fine. Salisbury Steak, Chop Suey, Oatmeal Cookies, Pecan Pie, Eggs Benedict, Waldorf Salad, Bundt Cake, Ice Cream Sundaes, Oysters Rockefeller, and 1000 Island Dressing were created. Be sure to have potatoes since Idaho became a state in 1890. Good ‘N Plenty, Coca-Cola, Hershey’s Chocolate, Fig Newton’s, Jell-O, Tootsie Rolls, Post Grape Nuts, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Pepsi Cola, Graham Crackers, Evaporated Milk, & Peanut Butter should be on hand. They were introduced during the 1890’s.
Entertainment
If you can afford a Barbershop Quartet, hire them. OR Divide the group into quartets and have a quartet contest.
DISNEY PARTY
Invitations
Send out Disney invitations. Ask guests to wear costumes of Disney characters.
Decorations
Decorate with Disney characters and things from Disney movies.
Play music from Disney movies.
Food
You really can have food from all over the world because of Epcot. You may want to give the food some fun Disney names or shape them in Mickey shapes. There are so many possibilities – Spaghetti & Meatballs (from Lady & The Tramp), Mickey-shaped pancakes, BBQ turkey legs (Pirates of the Caribbean), Grilled cheese shaped like Mickey’s head, Fish (representing The Little Mermaid), Goofy’s Hot Dogs, Mickey-shaped fruit, Honey (Winnie the Pooh), Ratatouille (Ratatouille), Chicken (Chicken Little), Character- shaped cookies…The list is huge. Let your creative juices flow.
Games
Have guests make up their own short cartoon on paper. Give everyone paper, pencils and crayons.
Divide guests into groups and have them make up a short story. They could act it out while one of the members of the group tells the story or everyone can just listen as the story is told.
Hide a treasure(s) in the house or outside and have guests find it or them.
Make a race course and have them race around it as if they are cars.
Divide into teams. Each team has to climb a tree to get the honey in it.
Have swimming races across your pool (if you have one). Pretend each guest is a character from The Little Mermaid.
MOON PARTY
Invitations
Send out invitations with the moon on it or with a picture of the first moon landing.
Decorations
Decorate with pictures from that memorable event.
Hang pictures of the moon.
Decorate a ceiling with twinkle lights as if they are stars.
Make signs on black poster board with fluorescent colored messages like:
* Moon - 238857 miles,
* Mons Huygens (largest mountain on the moon),
* South Pole-Aitken Basin (largest crater on the moon),
* “Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the Moon July, 1969 A.D.
We came in peace for all mankind.”
* Sea of Tranquilty
Food
Of course, cheese should be the main ingredient. Serve cheese and crackers, grilled cheese, vegetables with cheese sauce, pizza (make it round; pepperoni could represent the craters), casserole dishes with cheese, cheese bread…
Make cupcakes and put a little American flag on them. Make crescent cookies. Purchase Dippin’ Dots and call it space food.
Games
Have a jumping contest. Each guest must stand at a designated line and jump as far as possible. Measure each jump. The person to jump the farthest wins a prize.
Moon Rock Relay
Before the party, cut or tear several pieces of foam padding --
like egg crate or mattress pad foam. Divide the children into teams.
Give each team a pile of "moon rocks" and a set of kitchen tongs.
Place a bucket for each team at a finish line. The object of the game is
to be the first team to transport all of the moon rocks from the pile to the bucket using only the tongs (robot arm). The first racer will pick up a rock, run to the bucket return to his/her team and pass the tongs to the next player. This continues until all of the "rocks" have been moved.
Keep the Asteroid From Hitting the Earth – Inflate balloons. Give one to each person. Guests are to keep balloons in the air. If it drops to the earth, they are out. Winner is the person who keeps their balloon in the air the entire time.
Saturn's Rings Toss
You'll need a hula hoop, bean bags, water balloons or balls.
Mark an "X" with tape on the ground or floor. Have two helpers hold
the hula hoop a reasonable distance from the "X". The players take
turns trying to toss the bean bag planets through the ring.
Variation: Hang several hoops with varying heights from a clothes
line or tree branch.
Favors – Pop Rocks Candy, Mars Bars, Milky Way Bars, Something that glows in the dark….
Some ideas taken from:
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/party-space-birthday.htm
BASTILLE DAY / FRENCH PARTY
Bastille Day is the French national holiday which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale (National Celebration) and commonly le quatorze juillet (the fourteenth of July). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. Festivities are held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic.
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day
Invitations
Put invitations on postcards of famous French landmarks, like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Palace of Versailles, Champs Ellyses….Or make your own with these pictures glued on the paper.
Decorations
Use blue and purple flowers, French bread & baguettes in baskets, Miniature Eiffel Towers, Pictures of famous French artists like Monet, Matiesse, Picasso, etc., Rustic country charm with wooden bowls with oranges, grapes, apples and plums in them, French flags, Posters of famous French landmarks, window flower boxes with flowers in them, wine bottles (You can use juice bottles shaped like wine bottles.)
Play French music.
Food
Quiche, crepe suzette, filet mignon, chicken fricassee, crepes, brie cheese, goat cheese, cheese tray, grapes, Nicoise salad, French Onion Soup, chocolate mousse, chocolate éclairs, pate, croissants, crème brulee, petit fours….
Favors
French chocolates, French toiletries – bath salts, soaps, mini bottles of cologne
For fun
Have someone draw caricatures of the guests, have a juggler, Give each guest a beret & or scarf to wear. Have a French cooking lesson. Make up and play a French Trivia game.
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