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Sammy Bosch

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Fun Activities for Your Summer Vacation Plans

We’ve compiled the best summer activities to make unforgettable memories with your best friend, romantic partner or family members! These twenty activity ideas take advantage of the warm weather and give you a variety of fun days—whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure or a little of both. During summer, it’s the perfect time to take a beach day, watch an outdoor sports game, or plan an epic pop culture summer party. You don’t need to take a trip out of state to have the best summer ever! Try a few of these creative activities and make every summer day feel like a vacation.  

20 Activities for Summer Vacation  

Go on a picnic date with your partner.  

Visit your local park and enjoy a romantic picnic outside. Take your picnic to the next level by packing a gourmet charcuterie tray, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Finish the date with a grand gesture and surprise your S.O. with a special gift that’s personalized just for them like the Book of Us. Book of Us captures your unique love story on every page and will be treasured for years and years!  

Host a pop-culture themed summer party. 

Plan an epic outdoor get-together with a pop culture theme and ask everyone to dress up accordingly. We love the idea of a Euphoria-themed party with a cool high-school prom vibe that features colorful drinks with edible glitter, metallic decorations, and a killer playlist. 

Visit a water park.  

Beat the heat at a fun outdoor or indoor water park! Make it a day event or treat yourself to an overnight stay at a hotel. 

Have a bonfire with friends. 

Invite friends to a bonfire where you can roast marshmallows, listen to music, and play group games.  

Attend a music festival.  

Summer is the perfect time to check out music festivals in your city or nationwide.  

Do a puzzle on a rainy day.  

When it’s raining and boredom strikes, puzzles will keep your family entertained and happy! Personalized puzzles are especially engaging. Choose a custom puzzle that features a cute couple’s photo or one with your family’s names.  

Visit a local swimming pool or beach.  

Swimming is the ultimate summer activity! Visit a public pool or enjoy a beach day at the lake or ocean. If you don’t have a pool or beach nearby, take a staycation at a hotel with a pool. 

Golf at a regular course or go mini golfing. 

This is a fun date activity, or something the whole family can enjoy to make memories. Treat yourself to ice cream afterwards. 

Visit a local brewery and food truck.  

Most local breweries will host food trucks on summer weekends. Choose a weekend to visit one or two local breweries, sample a few beers and enjoy lunch at a food truck.  

Go to a baseball game.  

Enjoy this great American pastime with your family! There’s nothing better than cheering on your team with a hot dog and blue skies.  

Play frisbee golf in your backyard.  

Scatter hula hoops around the grass and play frisbee golf. This is a great last-minute activity when you want to play a fun game. 

Spend the day at a State Fair or Renaissance Festival. 

Eat, drink, and party all day long! Most states host a State Fair or Renaissance Festival in the summer, where you can sample lots of deep-fried food, listen to some great music, and take in a few shows.  

Replicate a drive-in movie theater at home.  

Re-create a drive-in movie theater experience! Set up a projector and attach a sheet to your garage door to play a movie. Just like an old-fashioned drive-in, you can watch from your car in the driveway while snacking on burgers and root beer floats! 

Enjoy a grown-up “yes day.”  

Have the perfect “yes day” by saying “yes” to whatever your boyfriend, girlfriend or partner wants to do (within reason, of course). Ask them, “What is your perfect day?” and then make it happen!  

Take a class to learn something new.  

Sign up for a class with your best friend or partner to learn a new skill or hobby! Try yoga, a cooking class or a pottery class. This is a great activity for when you got a little too sunburnt on your last outing.  

Go skydiving. 

Unleash your adventurous side and soar through the sky! Skydiving is a great couple’s activity or friend activity in the summer when you want to take an exhilarating risk.  

Challenge your friends in an escape room.  

Find an escape room near you and work together to get out. This summer activity lets you escape the heat and make hilarious memories with your friends as you build your teamwork skills!  

Take a hiking and camping trip.  

Spend a long weekend hiking to scenic spots and camping overnight. Roast hot dogs over a fire, stargaze at night, and bring binoculars to observe the local wildlife.  

Go canoeing or kayaking on the water. 

Enjoy a day where you can get some exercise and cool off at the same time! Find a local park where you can rent equipment (if you don’t have your own) and bring a friend.  

Create a summer reading challenge.  

Challenge yourself to read a certain number of books over the summer. Create a book tournament reading bracket and see which book comes out on top as the best summer read!  

We hope these summer activities will help you make joyful memories all summer long! 

 

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7 Meaningful Mother’s Day Gifts

Make mom feel so loved with the best Mother’s Day gift ideas that are as thoughtful and special as she is! We’ve rounded up presents for every mom in your life, including gifts from a husband to his wife or gifts from an adult child to their mom and best friend. Surprise mom with an experience gift, a spa kit, a gift basket to match her superhero status, or personalized Mother’s Day gifts that are made just for her! It’s always the perfect time to honor mom’s love, support, and hard work—but especially on Mother’s Day. We hope these gifts fill her day with so much love and laughter. Let her know how much you love and care about her with a few of these special gift surprises. 

7 Mother’s Day Gifts for Your Mom or Wife

Personalized Mother’s Day Book for Mom

Go beyond a card or flowers and give mom a personalized Mother’s Day book that she will cherish for years and years. My Mom, My Best Friend  can be customized with your name, mom’s name or nickname, up to 4 photos, and a personal message to mom. Every page features a beautiful message, thanking mom for her love, support and guidance. This keepsake Mother’s Day gift makes a big impact that will bring you and mom even closer together.

A Romantic Gift from a Husband to a Wife

Surprise her with the Book of Us to let her know that she is the most loving wife and mother! This personalized book tells your unique love story and can be filled with loving messages. She will cry tears of joy and delight when she reads every personalized page, filled with sweet messages that come from the heart.  

Gift Basket for an On-the-Go Super Mom

Moms are incredible multi-tasking superheroes who deserve so much love! Give mom a personalized book like My Super Mom that celebrates all her accomplishments like working hard at her job, taking care of her physical health, caring for her family, and giving herself some much-deserved self-care time. The gift set also comes with a color-changing mug that matches her own book! Create a beautiful Mother’s Day gift basket and add a few more items: her favorite coffee or tea to enjoy in the mug, a framed photo of mom with her family, and a bag with her favorite snacks to take in her bag wherever she goes.  

Bedtime Spa Kit for a New Mom

Give the new mom a cozy gift of silky soft pajamas, fuzzy slippers, a facial sheet mask set, and a special gift for the baby too: My Very Own Nursery Rhymes personalized storybook. As mom recuperates from having her little bundle of joy, she can rest comfortably in her pajamas at bedtime and read her baby a personalized storybook that features the child’s name in the nursery rhyme story. 

Baking Kit for the Mom Who Loves to Bake

Give your mom a thoughtful baking gift set that includes a personalized apron and pot holder, a high-end baking dish or mixer, and a personalized keepsake book that she can enjoy with her kids. Baking Cookies Together celebrates the joy of baking as a family and can be personalized with mom’s name and appearance, and the names and appearance of two kids. Make this Mother’s Day gift even more special by adding a family photo and mom’s favorite cookie recipe in the back! The gift set also comes with a personalized child’s apron, so mom and child can bake together and celebrate the special day.  

A ‘Day of Fun’ Experience Gift for Mom

Give mom the gift of an activity that’s just for her, or one for the whole family! Delight her with a gift that’s catered to her interests such as tickets to a sporting event or show, a cooking class, massage spa day, wine tasting, boat dinner cruise, or an escape room adventure. Continue the entertainment at home and surprise her with a personalized photo puzzle that the whole family can put together.  

Personalized Gifts for Grandma

Make grandma smile this Mother’s Day with thoughtful gifts that are personalized just for her! The personalized book Super-Bestest Grandma can be given from a grandchild to their grandparent and celebrates all the ways they spend time together. Make this a special keepsake by personalizing the book with grandma’s nickname and appearance—and do the same for the grandchild. For the grandmother who loves puzzles, a custom puzzle like My Family Tree features up to 10 family member’s names and beautifully displays the family’s heritage. Grandma will be filled with the joy of family love as she puts her puzzle together. When you’re done, glue it together and frame it on her wall so she can treasure her Mother’s Day gift for years.   

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9 Date Ideas Perfect for Spring

It’s officially the first day of spring, so we’ve put together a fun list of spring date ideas that you and your romantic partner can do together! Spring can be an especially romantic time for dating, as the weather warms (even for colder weather climates) and you emerge from your winter hibernation cave. This list will help you organize the best planned dates for every spring weekend. And if you’re on a budget, no worries! Plan a nearly free date like visiting the farmer’s market or binge-watching the new season of “Bridgerton” on Netflix. For a creative date, try a pizza tasting challenge around town or plan a long weekend trip to New York City. We hope you and your significant other will love trying out a few of these delightful date ideas for spring!  

9 Spring Date Ideas for Couples  

Hike at a state park on Earth Day. 

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd by hiking at a local state park.  As you explore the natural beauty of our planet, you’ll find calming peace and make lasting memorie as a couple.  

Visit a local farmer’s market. 

Fresh spring produce will start arriving at your local farmer’s markets. It’s the perfect time to buy local and make a delicious meal together later that day.  

Binge-watch a TV show at home. 

The second season of “Bridgerton” is out on March 25th, making this the perfect time to binge-watch the entire season in a weekend and dine on your favorite takeout. There’s nothing better than cuddling on the couch, watching a romantic show, and enjoying great food.  

Treat yourself to a long-weekend spring break trip for two.  

This spring, devote quality time together by taking a fun spring break trip! If you need recommendations, check out our blog with the top 10 vacation spots for 2022: Spring Break Trips to Make Memories 

Tour the town for a pizza taste challenge. 

Challenge each other to find the best pizza in your city, county, or state! Travel around to the best pizza spots, taste test different slices, and rank them all. Save your favorites and go back on your next date night.  

Adopt a pet.  

If you are in a committed relationship and ready to take on the responsibility of a pet, then this is a sweet date idea that will bring you even closer together. By adopting a pet, you are helping an animal in need and “pet parenting” together—which helps you work as a team and learn how to make decisions as a couple. Spring is a great time to adopt a pet: the weather is warmer, making potty training outside much easier, and you have many months before the holidays to take your fur-family Christmas card photos!  

Start a workout plan together.  

Help each other maintain a healthy lifestyle by starting up a spring workout program that you can keep up every week. By working out together or at the same time, you will challenge and motivate each other. This helps you establish a healthy relationship, physically and emotionally. Exercise will help you stay physically active to enjoy lots of fun date night activities, and keep you mentally healthy by lowering stress and blood pressure. Establish a fun spring workout routine and find an activity you both enjoy such as kick boxing, cycling, running, weightlifting, yoga, or pilates.  

Pick up golfing.  

Plan a golfing date on weekends, where you can enjoy the sport and the warmer weather. You can try all varieties of golf: mini golf, driving range practice, 9 or 18-hole golf at a golf course, and Topgolf. This spring date activity is also perfect for the summer and fall months! Some of the best dates are when you play and learn together.  

Play board games at a local brewery.  

Bring your favorite board games and enjoy local brews. Play for pints, points, or just to enjoy each other’s company. It’s a relaxing date that perfect for daytime or evening.  

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Spring Break Trips to Make Memories

We’re rounding up the best spring break vacations to go on with family, friends, or solo!  This trip list includes incredible destinations with activities for all ages. Each destination also has opportunities for rest and relaxation—perfect if you’re looking to unwind. After a long winter, everyone deserves a long break to make unforgettable memories. Check out these vacation ideas to book your next spring break trip! 

10 Spring Break Trip Ideas:

Travel with Family, Friends, or Solo  

We hope these travel ideas will inspire your next spring break trip! To make it even more fun, surprise your romantic partner or best friend with a trip by giving them a personalized gift like the Book of Us. With the Book of Us, you can tell your unique love story or friendship story and customize the book cover with a special title like: “You’re My Forever Travel Buddy” or “I Love You Around the World.” It will be a beautiful keepsake to remember your relationship and look forward to making more memories together!  

Experience the Magic of a Disney World Family Vacation

Embark on a magical spring break vacation with a trip to Disney World in Florida! Disney offers affordable vacation packages so you can spend fun-filled days at the parks and afternoons poolside.  

Disney’s newest offering is the Genie Service, which helps you plan your park days with attraction and entertainment recommendations. You can also pay for the Genie+ service to skip long ride lines by using “lightening lanes” (formerly known as FastPass lanes). Make sure to hit new attractions like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. For dinner, dine in space at the new Space 220 Restaurant at Epcot! Beyond rides, there’s so many other things to enjoy like parades, fireworks, character interactions, shopping, and unique dining experiences. Take your spring break to the next level and experience the magic of a Disney vacation!  

Explore 30A in Florida

This area in Florida is quickly becoming a favorite vacation spot! The name comes from a road in South Walton County called County Road 30A that spans about 20 miles along the Florida panhandle coastline. Featuring a cluster of small, beautiful beach towns this area boasts some of the best beaches, restaurants, and vacation rentals. Ride your bike along the coastline and stop at popular beaches along the way, including Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, and Grayton Beach. There’s plenty of upscale shopping and food trucks with live music to enjoy! And let’s not forget the real star: the clear, turquoise-blue water. Beautiful and lively, 30A is the perfect spring break getaway!  

Vacation at Martha’s Vineyard

Take in the beach views for a relaxing and scenic vacation! We recommend renting bikes and biking around the area to take in the sights. Visit a few beaches for sandcastle building and swimming. You can also sightsee at a few lighthouses, enjoy fresh seafood, learn about the island’s history at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, ride the Flying Horses Carousel, and visit a nature sanctuary. Enjoy a real spring break escape at this fun vacation spot!  

Find Adventure in Oahu, Hawaii

Enjoy island adventures and attractions in Oahu! Snorkel with sea turtles, hike Diamond Head, visit Kualoa Ranch, parasail in Waikiki, zipline for stunning views, and enjoy a luau at sunset. For families, we recommend staying at the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa. Kids will love the pools, lazy river, slides, and Disney-themed treats! There are tons of kids’ activities in Oahu that the whole family will enjoy, and plenty of adult fun for singles and best friends.  

Spend an Exciting Week in New York City

Skip the typical beach vacation and take an unexpected trip! Your itinerary will be full of exciting activities. See popular sights like the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and Time Square at night. Spend educational time at the American Museum of Natural History or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At night, see a Broadway musical followed by New York-style pizza.  

Gamble on Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a top destination spot for spring break that— although a surprise to many—also offers kid-friendly activities and sights for a family vacation. Vegas hotels offer inexpensive rooms and feature large swimming pools with poolside food and drink service. Rent a cabana as a special treat to beat the heat! The Mandalay Bay hotel features a large aquarium, along with a world-famous aquatic playground that includes a sandy beach, a wave pool and a lazy river. Visit Madam Tussauds to see wax figure celebrities and take plenty of fun photos. Walk down the strip to visit the themed hotels and see their lobby displays. Ride the rollercoaster at the top of the New York, New York hotel, go zip-lining, and spend an evening at Top Golf. Get tickets for a comedy show or magic show. When you’re hungry, there’s hundreds of restaurants along the strip that offer diverse cuisine. Vegas is a perfect spring break spot that will keep you entertained all week long.  

Get Swept Away by the Sea Islands, Georgia

Located on the southeastern coast of Georgia, there are four beautiful barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Sea Island features miles of private beach, children’s programs, golf courses, and a spa. Outdoor enthusiast families will love to go swimming, boating, golfing, horseback riding and more! The beautiful scenery makes for an idyllic vacation that has everything: activities for kids and relaxation for the adults. Take advantage of this coastal paradise that’s close to home!  

Find Escape and Wonder in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is another enchanting vacation spot. You’ll love exploring the diverse landscape. You can snorkel to see coral reefs, horseback ride on the beach, hike in the mountains, and visit national forests. We especially recommend visiting El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system. Immerse yourself in the wonders of nature and take a breathtaking spring break adventure!  

Elevate Your Spring Break in Vail, Colorado

Discover a fun getaway where you can ski, snowboard, hike, and swim in the heated pools! March sees warmer temperatures and more hours of daylight. It’s the perfect time of year for your trip. If you want a break from the outdoor fun, Vail also has a bowling alley and movie theater. Make sure to spend an afternoon in the quaint downtown area with shops and restaurants. Vail truly has everything for a fun getaway, with daily activities and outstanding scenery!   

Make Memories at Jackson Hole, Wyoming

This vacation spot offers stunning views and fun activities like snow tubing, skiing, bowling, and shopping. Kids will love taking a ride on Snow King Mountain’s roller coaster that winds up and down part of the ski hill. Take in spectacular sights at Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Jackson Hole will also host its 4th annual Food & Wine Winter Festival March 10-12 2022. There’s so much to see and do in this mountain town! 

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The Cutest Valentine’s Day Gifts for Couples

Amp up the romance this Valentine’s Day with the cutest gifts for couples! Perfect for your boyfriend, girlfriend, or romantic partner these nine gift ideas are unique and thoughtful. Skip the traditional chocolates and flowers this year and take your relationship to the next level with romantic (but not cheesy) presents. And no need to stress on affordability. We’ve compiled a list of creative ways to say, “I love you,” that meet all budgets. Discover the sweetest gifts for your loved one and show off your romantic side! 

9 Cute Valentine’s Day Gifts for Couples  

Matching rings

Pick out coordinating rings for you and your boo to wear on Valentine’s Day and long after. Even if you aren’t engaged or married, a ring symbolizes your relationship commitment and love. Some rings also fit into each other, like puzzle pieces—a beautiful gift that speaks to how you both complement each other.  

Book of Us

Treat your S.O. to a personalized Valentine’s Day gift that is customized to your relationship. The Book of Us is a sweetly personalized gift that tells your relationship story. Add your names and appearance and customize the text on every page. You can also add your love story to print on the back cover. Surprise and delight your partner with a unique gift that goes way beyond a card to say, “I love you so much.”  

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Handmade Polaroid Heart Picture

Give them a nostalgic gift that features polaroid snapshots. For this gift, you’ll want to take polaroid pictures of you both together. Print the pictures in black and white and then glue them together in the shape of a heart. Frame the picture, so they can hang it in their home and remember all the amazing times you’ve spent together!  

Romantic Weekend Getaway

Skip the material gifts all together and give your partner a romantic experience! This splurge-worthy gift idea will let you make special memories all weekend. Rent a cabin up north and go hiking, visit a local vineyard for wine tasting and charcuterie, or stay at a fancy hotel for the hot tub and spa. This Valentine’s Day, consider a relaxing retreat to grow even closer together.  

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Personalized Photo Puzzle

Turn your favorite couple’s photo into a 500-piece custom puzzle. Put the puzzle together as a fun gift on Valentine’s Day and then frame it. Your partner will love this uniquely personalized keepsake gift that they can enjoy long after the holiday is over.  

  9 gift ideas Book of Us boyfriend gift creative ways to say I love you custom puzzle cute gifts cutest gifts for couples funny Valentine's Day gift gift ideas girlfriend gift love letters nostalgic gift personalized photo puzzle personalized Valentine's Day book personalized Valentine's Day gift romantic dinner romantic gifts romantic partner gift romantic weekend getaway sweet gifts sweetest gifts for your loved one sweetly personalized gift the cutest Valentine's Day gifts for couples thoughtful gift unique gift

“Open When” Letters

Perfect for smaller budgets, this Valentine’s Day gift is entirely homemade yet packs a deep emotional punch. Write love letters to your S.O. that they can open on certain days or occasions. On the front of the letter, write “Open with…” and then finish the sentence according to the need. Here are some ideas: Open when it’s Valentine’s Day; Open when we have a fight; Open when we go on our next date night; Open when you are feeling sad; Open when you are feeling happy. This gift will keep on giving for months and make their day.  

  9 gift ideas Book of Us boyfriend gift creative ways to say I love you custom puzzle cute gifts cutest gifts for couples funny Valentine's Day gift gift ideas girlfriend gift love letters nostalgic gift personalized photo puzzle personalized Valentine's Day book personalized Valentine's Day gift romantic dinner romantic gifts romantic partner gift romantic weekend getaway sweet gifts sweetest gifts for your loved one sweetly personalized gift the cutest Valentine's Day gifts for couples thoughtful gift unique gift

Custom Couple’s Portrait

Commission an artist to paint or sketch a couple’s portrait. This thoughtful gift supports small artists and decorates your home with a beautiful picture. Celebrate your love this Valentine’s Day with personalized artwork that will truly “wow” your partner!  

Personalized Socks

Design custom socks printed with your face all over, so they never forget who loves them the most! Your boyfriend, girlfriend or romantic partner will love this sweetly personalized and funny Valentine’s Day gift!  

Dinner Under the Stars

Enjoy a romantic dinner under a galaxy of stars without leaving the comfort of your home. Use a galaxy star projector to light up your dining space with night sky ambiance. Play your favorite tunes and serve a romantic dinner for two—you can’t go wrong with pasta and wine!  

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating your love. Make this holiday one to remember with a unique gift that makes you laugh, cry, and remember how much you care for each other.  

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How to Make Your Home a Happy Place

Winter is the perfect time to transform your home into a warm and inviting happy place! Try a few of these home tips and tricks to create cozy spaces you’ll never want to leave. To make your home comfortable and inviting, focus on organization, lighting, and décor. Give your home personality and make it your own. Whether you have a large house or a small apartment, these seven ideas will help you design a happy home that elevates your mood and invites others to stay.

7 Ways to Make Your Home a Happy Place

 

Add sentimental décor to rooms.

Fill your rooms with personal items that mean something to you. These items could be picture frames with photos of friends and family, hand-me-down candlesticks or blankets (perhaps a blanket your grandmother knitted you), your favorite books displayed on shelves, puzzles you’ve put together that are glued and framed. All of these items hold special memories. Fill your home with joyful items to be reminded of happy memories and feelings daily.

 

Organize your spaces.

Your home should be a sanctuary where you can unwind. Clutter will create a chaotic space that adds unnecessary stress. By organizing your spaces, you’ll feel greater mental clarity and emotional peace. Add storage racks to cabinets, to pull out food and pans. Use storage ottomans to rest your feet and store your blankets. Put a shoe organizer over doors to store cleaning supplies. Add storage bins under your bed where you can keep extra shoes, clothes, or seasonal home décor. There are so many clever ways to add storage and organize your home. Try a few of these organization tips and turn your home into a clean oasis.

 

Fill your home with warm light.

Warm up your lighting to create cozier spaces. Add table lamps and standing lamps in the living room and family room. Place battery operated candles on console tables, mantels, and side tables. Drape cascading string lights on a standing mirror. All of these lighting additions will make your home even more inviting.

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Set aside a room or corner that’s just for you.

Designate a small space that only you use for relaxation. It can be a small corner or an entire room. Create a reading nook, workout room, meditation corner, or journaling space.

 

Automate your home.

Automatic timers make your life so much easier! Pick up a coffee maker with programmable timer, to schedule your coffee in the morning. When you wake up, it’s waiting for you fresh and hot. Plug your lamps into Wi-Fi smart plugs, so you can program them to turn on and off on a schedule. Use a smart home voice-controlled speaker to play music and answer questions. When adding battery operated lights to your home for ambiance, choose ones on a timer so they turn on as soon as the sun sets.

 

Host neighbors or friends.

The best part about having a home is that you can share it with friends. This doesn’t mean you have to host an elaborate dinner party. Keep it simple with a game night, a wine and cheese party, or a holiday brunch. Invite neighbors to socialize with new people and fill your home with joyful laughter.

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Keep it cozy.

Surround yourself with cozy items that help you relax. Add a large fuzzy blanket to your bed and couch. Fill your space with cozy scents by using an essential oil diffuser. Place soft rugs under your couches and bed. Put a heated floor mat in your office to keep your feet warm and toasty.

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We hope these easy and affordable ideas and tips will help you turn your home into a cozy happy place!

 

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7 Ways to Pamper Yourself in January

Take time out of your day for self-care and try one of these seven ways to pamper yourself in January. Treat yourself to activities that are easy and affordable. Self-care doesn’t have to mean emptying your savings account for a luxurious vacation or splurging on a big-ticket item. Plan small activities on a budget that will make for a happier and better you, like an at-home spa day or brunch with friends. With the holidays over, it’s time to treat yourself and have a legendary January. Do something nice for yourself with a few of these pampering tips!

7 Ways to Pamper Yourself in January

 

Have an at-home spa day.

Turn your home into a relaxing spa escape! By having a spa day at home, you save money and stay warm by avoiding a cold car trip. Light candles around the room and play soothing classical music. Apply a mud mask facial, place cucumbers on your eyes, and sip on a mug of warm water and lemon. End your luxurious spa experience with a manicure or pedicure.

 

Take a random day off for mental health.

Schedule one day in January to rest, relax, and spend time focusing on YOU. Sleep in, make breakfast in your pajamas, watch a movie or read a book that’s been sitting in your to-read pile. If you have vacation days available, use them! Even if you don’t have a trip planned, it’s still important to spend quality time on yourself.

 

Make fancy coffee in the morning.

Skip Starbucks and splurge on fancy coffee at home! With a handheld milk frother, gourmet coffee drinks are easy to make. Use the frother to turn cream into cold foam. You can use coffee creamer, condensed milk, or regular milk. Add flavored syrups or cinnamon to the cream and froth it all together to create a deluxe coffee topping.

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Take yourself out to lunch and shopping.

Treat yourself to lunch at your favorite restaurant or takeout place and then hit the shops. You don’t have to buy anything. This experience is about getting outside, doing a fun activity, and changing up your regular routine.

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Hire a cleaning service.

After the holidays, you may find the idea of cleaning or organizing a bit overwhelming. Hire a cleaning service to do a deep-clean of your home. With your place fresh and tidy, you’ll finish January in a more positive and relaxed mindset.

 

Bake your favorite sweet treats.

Make your life sweeter by baking your favorite recipe—or experiment by baking something new! Treat yourself to homemade truffles, coffee cake, blueberry scones, sweet break, or everyone’s favorite: chocolate chip cookies. Live out your dreams of being on the “Great British Baking Show” and on your marks, get set, bake!

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Plan a champagne brunch with friends.

What better way to pamper yourself than to spend time with the people you love? Throw yourself a self-care brunch at home and invite your best friends. Host the best brunch with these three key ingredients: egg bake, champagne, and flowers. You’ll have an easy and leisurely time that will chase any January blues away.

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Ways to Destress at Home During the Holidays

The holiday season can be a stressful time for anyone. Through meal preparation, organizing and decorating, there can be a lot on your mind to get your home ready for the festivities. Now is the time to pay extra attention to yourself while in the season of giving, and not let stress impact your holidays. So whether you are planning on hosting the holidays with your family at home in Denver, CO, or on your way to a gathering in Toronto, CA, here are some ways to destress at home during the holidays to prepare you for anything.

Start off the day with a morning routine

One easy strategy for destressing over the holidays is to create a morning self-care ritual. Even if you only have 5 minutes, establishing a restorative morning routine can set a positive tone for your entire day. Examples of morning self-care rituals at home:

  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Journaling
  • Music
  • Reading
  • Deep breathing
  • Aromatherapy
  • Skincare
  • Nourishing breakfast

LivingUpp

Put some things that excite you on the calendar

By intentionally putting an activity that excites you on your calendar each week this holiday season, you’ll have something to consistently look forward to. Rather than focusing on your stress and anxiety, you’ll instead feel excited about the activities you’ve planned. Just a few ideas could be a family outing like ice skating, exploring somewhere local you’ve never gone before, or meeting up with an old friend who you’ve lost touch with!  – Modern Therapy

Take deep breaths when waking up and going to bed

I recommend 3 to 4 rounds of conscious deep breaths every morning after waking up and before bedtime. The optimal number of breaths per round is 30. The morning routine helps keep our blood pressure lower providing an emotional reset to better face the challenges of the day. The bedtime routine is to sleep better and faster. – Timeqube

Create a gratitude journal

During the holiday season, we tend to over-exert ourselves with cooking, baking, decorating, shopping, and socializing. If you’re feeling especially stressed and anxious around this time of year, cross off some of the unnecessary activities on your to-do list and devote that time to restful reflection. Making a gratitude list and journaling about your favorite memories from this year will help to ground you, so you can savor this special time with your loved ones lightheartedly. – Dr. Messina & Associates

Listen to your favorite sounds to relax your mind

I recommend putting together a playlist of your top favorite sounds, such as sounds of the ocean, raindrops, morning sounds or even a slow heartbeat, and taking a daily 10-minute break to put headphones on and listen to it. The right combination of sounds can lower your heart rate and cortisol stress hormone levels and help calm your mind and body.  My personal favorite is Weightless, which was created specifically to help calm the nervous system. – Cohesive Therapy NYC

Create time for yourself to reflect

Practicing radical self-care during the holidays is an absolute must for mind/body/spirit health. Keep it simple: get outside and connect with nature every day, carve out sacred space for no-phone quiet time, balance every glass of eggnog or holiday sweet with a glass of water! – Spirited Living

Destress at home with an in-home spa

If you are wound up like a top and have no time to de-stress at a spa, bring the spa to you.

  • Take a warm bath in Ancient Minerals Magnesium to soothe aches and pains and relax muscles before bed for a sound sleep. Add your favorite essential oils to lull your mind.
  • Get a buckwheat-filled wrap and heat in the microwave, wrap it around your neck and put on a sleep mask with some soft music – and breathe deep & slow. Sweet dreams!

Therapeutic Kneads, Ltd.

Set boundaries with your friends and family

Self-care doesn’t have to look like a spa, the gym, or a luxurious indulgence. It can look like simply setting boundaries with your friends and family around what you will accept and how many holiday events you’re able to participate in. It can look like creating a safe space inside your home and scheduling a specific timeframe each day where nobody is allowed to bother you in that space, and journal, meditate, exercise, or do anything else that brings you joy. Maintaining those boundaries and taking care of yourself is key to keeping your mind and body balanced and ready to take on all the holiday stressors that may arise – inside or outside the home! – JK Photos

Listen to your body and respect others’ feelings

Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right. Honor your feelings and respect those of others and everything will be alright. – Vori Health.

Getting creative can help you relax

Engaging in art-making can be used as a therapeutic self-care activity because it promotes the flow of creativity and increases your imagination, which can reframe negative thoughts and emotions. You will find that just ten minutes of rest with a mindful activity can uplift your mood, reduce stress, and replenish your energy.  Try doodling, drawing, collage-making or knitting. – The Art Therapy Project 

Include your family in preparations so there is less on you

Holidays are not about perfection, rather family, connection, and yes, messiness, so, show yourself some self-care by loosening up on those high expectations. Share experiences, for example, divvy up the holiday meal preparation – put the name of each dish in a hat and have everyone pick one randomly; you’ll have less to do, and your kiddos will learn some skills. Laugh heartily and when you feel the signals of stress, try some box breathing to bring down your heart rate (in for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4 and repeat).  Remember wellness isn’t stuck on a container ship – it’s right in your grasp – just choose mindful ways to enjoy this season without carrying all the burden! – Reset Lounge

Create a space of relaxation with essential oils

Create an aromatherapy ritual that allows you to slow down and be present, like diffusing essential oils every evening or having a weekly aromatherapy bath to unwind. Lavender is great for calming, frankincense is known for grounding, and citrus oils can uplift the spirit. Be sure to use your aromatherapy ritual as an intentional time to focus on your breath. – Wild Grove Essentials 

Others’ moods can affect your own

What’s the ultimate de-stressor? Focus on making your partner happy, and you might see your anxieties lessen. There’s nothing like a little snuggle time at home to take your mind off things! – Book of Us

How to grieve a personal loss in a healthy way

The holidays are also the time of year where we tend to reflect and remember someone we have lost during the year. It could be a parent, friend or a pet. Instead of bottling up these emotions, it is important to talk about your loss, seek support or bereavement groups, and know that it’s “ok to not feel ok.” It also helps to act on behalf of our loved ones and honor them through a donation or sharing positive stories of their lives on Social Media. This is therapeutic for us too. – HCO Behavioral Health Services

Increase activity levels to release endorphins

Whether you are working at home or are back at the office, it’s very easy to forget how sedentary our lives have become. This holiday season, we strongly advise taking baby steps to increase your activity levels on non-working days. It can be as simple as showing your pet some love and taking them for a long walk, or as complex as performing a 10-minute no-equipment home workout. The beauty of it is that moving more will increase your endorphins and adrenaline levels, which can be a great stress reliever during the holidays. – Vantage Circle

 

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Holiday Activity Ideas for Couples 

‘Tis the season to be holly, jolly, and romantic at the holidays! These 15 holiday activities for couples will warm your hearts and bring you even closer together. There’s so many fun things you both can do to make holiday memories and celebrate—whether it’s your first Christmas together or your fifteenth! Try a classic Christmas tradition like ice skating or get creative by whipping up new holiday cocktails at home. We’ve put together the coziest date ideas that will help you make new couple’s traditions. Pick a few to try and have the most magical holiday season! 

15 Magical Activity Ideas for Couples This Holiday  

Pick out and decorate your Christmas tree.

This is one festive couple’s tradition you can do every year. Spend a fun day at the Christmas tree farm and chop down your own tree. Or if you’re looking for something closer to home, pick up a pre-cut tree at your local tree lot. Decorate tree with your favorite ornaments, or create handmade ones that display fun couple’s photos.  

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Cozy up for a classic holiday movie night.

 There’s nothing more romantic than cuddling on the couch and watching a classic holiday movie like “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Home Alone,” or “Elf.”

Go ice skating.

Nothing brings you closer as a couple than ice skating (or maybe, wobbling and hanging on for dear life). Ice skating is a fun holiday activity where you can lean on each other and laugh at every trip or fall. It may be a cliché winter date favorite but it’s one of the best ways to make magical memories as a couple.  

Attend a holiday concert.

Check out local venues to attend a Christmas music concert. There’s so many different concerts to choose from during the holiday season—from orchestral to choral, pop to Broadway.  

Visit your local theater to watch “A Christmas Carol.”

Enjoy this holiday favorite for the first time as a couple! Go out for a fancy dinner before or after and make it a magical holiday evening.  

Make ugly sweater Christmas cookies.  

Take your cookie baking to the next level and exchange those basic sugar cookies for ugly sweater cookies you can decorate together. The best part? Ugly sweaters are supposed to look bad, so have fun making a mess and laughing over your amateur frosting skills.  

Experiment with boozy hot chocolate cocktails.

Discover your inner mixologist and whip up crazy holiday cocktails for two. Add spicy heat to your chocolate martini. Swirl peppermint into a pitcher of mudslides. Top your brandy alexander with cinnamon-infused marshmallow whipped cream. These sweet treats will make your holiday date night even sweeter.  

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Donate toys or supplies to a local nonprofit.

 Give back to your community by donating to a toy drive, food shelf, or animal shelter. Sometimes the best dates are when you do something good together.  

Take couple’s photos for your holiday card.

Take the cutest photos for your Christmas card and send them to friends and family. Make double use of those photos by adding them to a personalized card or gift for your partner. A custom book like the Book of Us is a sweetly personalized gift that tells your love story. Include loving holiday messages and a photo to create a unique Christmas gift that they will treasure for years to come.  

Host a friends or family holiday party at home.

Create meaningful memories by hosting a festive holiday party for all your friends or family! Just choose a theme, keep the drinks flowing, and turn up the holiday music. Hosting a party is a fun affair that helps you bond and hone your planning skills as a couple. 

Build gingerbread houses together.

 Get in the holiday spirit by building a gingerbread house together or making your own houses in a couple’s competition! This holiday activity is perfect for date night at home with a glass of wine.  

Have a date night in the snow with sledding, snow angels, and snowman building.

If you live in a snowy area, embrace the winter cold and build a snowman or go sledding. It’s the perfect time of year to unleash your inner kid and grow even closer to your partner.  

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Drive to different neighborhoods and look at holiday lights and house displays.

Enjoy a romantic getaway right from your car! Drive around to look at beautiful displays in your neighborhood or drive a little farther to see a spectacular light display at an estate or park.  

Rent a cabin for the weekend.

If you’re looking for a longer road trip getaway, drive out of town to stay at a cabin rental for the weekend. The cabin already sets a romantic scene. All you need is a fire, hot chocolate, and puzzles or board games to make the coziest memories.  

Visit a Christkindlmarket or holiday market.

Going to a holiday market is such a treat! There’s music, spiced cider, warm food, vendors selling handmade goods, and festive photo opportunities. It’s the perfect winter date to enjoy this very merry season!  

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We hope these couple’s activities bring the fun and romance to your holiday season! Try a few this winter and celebrate the real meaning of Christmas: love.