10 Ways to Prepare for Summer

Does Summer sneak up on you and then you realize you just aren’t ready? Kids are out of school or have little homeschool work to do and then BOREDOM sets in. Unless you have a pool in your backyard or you live at a Summer Camp what are you to do? Check out these great ways to prepare for Summer BEFORE Summer is here!
1. Summer Wishlist- ask your kids to write down things they would like to do, learn, and places to go or explore over the Summer. Often we forget about simple things like flying kites, camping in the backyard, spending the week at Grandma’s house, visiting a local park. Ask your kids what they would like to do and try to help them accomplish those things this Summer!
2. Bucket List- I always mean to make one or create one. Last year I even printed out some freebies and NEVER got to laminating and using them. Super sad I know. This year I resolve to be on top of Summer and get some ideas going and then be more prepared to welcome baby #4 in August!

Good Work Academy’s Summer Bucket List– another homeschool family’s list!

Summer Bucket List Link Up

A to Z Summer Bucket List
3. Plant a Garden or Visit a Farmer’s Market– get your veggies and flowers into the ground ASAP! You will be able to enjoy your bounty by the end of Summer! Try a new salad or grill recipe once your produce is ready to pick.
4. Schedule- create a daily or weekly schedule or routine. This will help you keep up with chores and household tasks while still enjoying an activity packed summer! Make sure to clean out your car of all trash and winter items. Re-stock your vehicle with beach towels, sunglasses, and camp chairs in order to enjoy an impromptu splash park adventure or Summer music concert in the park!
5. Monthly Calendar-This helps to accomplish all the trips to the library fro Summer reading club and all those free concerts in the park. I use a free template from and will also try using a google calendar to share with hubby, sister, and grandma’s this year.

6. Create a Summer Scrapbook-

7. Summer Reading Program- if your local library doesn’t have an awesome program or you live to far to go frequently or will be super pregnant like me then create your own!

8. Register for CAMPS and SCHOLARHSHIPS NOW! The early bird usually get the worm. most organizations have a limited number of scholarships to hand out and some are based on merit as well as need! Even if a program does specifically offer or state that they offer scholarships often it’s just a matter of asking.

9. Kids Bowl Free– Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first ever Kids Bowl Freeprogram. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.

Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free games a day, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations.

10. Collect new Summer recipes– get a jump start on grilling, fishing, and the hot weather by printing some new recipes that are perfect for Summer. Try some cool frozen treats, smoothie, frozen coffee, or homemade fruit salad recipes.

Linking up with:

Okay, if you know me you know that I am a bargain shopper. I went to a huge community garage sale and found this calendar for .50.

Yes, that’s right a savings of $26.49! The big kids love it and will help to teach Lil’ Red during Tot School! The only problem is that it is missing some things like: Thursday, Rainy, Sunny, Windy, September, and years 2013+. Realizing it’s August and we are starting school soon made we want to get this calendar complete!

So I set out to make the missing pieces myself. Matching fonts tended to be the trickiest part, but I was successful. I used Word with clip art and text boxes. Text Box instructions over graphics:

1. Select graphic or clip-art. Resize to what you need.

2. Create a text box. Adjust font to Century font size 28. Type in text.

3. Format text box. Select No fill and No outline.

4. Format image with Text Wrapping- Select In Front of Text.

5. Drag text box onto image and adjust to where you want your words to be!

Viola you should have something wonderful like this

Now the fun part of printing the images on a transparency and using it like a rub-on to transfer onto fabric since I’m too cheap to buy fabric that is thin enough to send through my printer:) Will show pics of the next steps of printing, rub-on transfers, and sewing backs with soft velco or thin flannel.

Note: printing in reverse took my over an hour to figure out:( Newer Word and printer drivers do not allow mirror image printing like they used to. I could do it on my laptop within WORKS, but never in WORD.

Here’s how it’s done. You have to create a word art and you can play around with fill/outline/shape to get it to look “normal” and match the calendar. Then under format tab you can flip to create reverse image. I printed on the SHINY side of a transparency and laid on top of fabric (old pair of white pants- see I told you I was ~~cheap~~ frugal!) Rubbed while I held transparency taunt. VIOLA! a pretty decent transfer. Princess helped me and then used a fine tip sharpie to go over the letters to darker them:)

Linking up with Works for Me Wednesday!

calendar

10 Ways to Prepare for Summer

Footer