Category: Entertainment

Entertainment, Family, Reading

Summer Fun At Home

Lora Knows...

Summer is a great time to take a vacation, but the majority of us can’t be gone for three months. Here are half a dozen ideas of things to do at home that will make time at home fun!

Have a Backyard Picnic

Picnics don’t have to be elaborate or have an Instagram-worthy charcuterie board. You can prepare whatever meal or snack you like and simply take it outside. Lay out some blankets and pillows in the backyard to create a comfy spot for you and your loved ones. You can even have a late-night picnic and spend some time stargazing.

Read a Book or Two

Summer is the perfect time to read a book you’ve had sitting around – why not pour a glass of your favorite beverage and sit in your comfy outdoor chair and enjoy some quiet time. My Mom always told me – “You can be any one, any where, and at any time in history in a book”. Why not travel through the pages while being at home?

Try New Recipes

Between TikTok and Instagram, new recipes are being shared daily. Look for something new that looks yummy and get the freshest ingredients from your local produce stand or farmers market.

Do a Craft

Do you have a Pinterest account? If you do, I bet you have some DIY projects you’ve been meaning to do and just haven’t done. Crating can be a fun, productive way to spend some summer hours. You can even share this time with loved ones and see what they can create too.

Build a Fort and have a Movie Marathon

Who doesn’t love a fort? Who doesn’t love a movie? Mix them together and it can be a fun filled evening! Get out those sheets, throw pillows and whatever else you want to use to create your one of a kind fort movie theater. I always think twinkle lights add the finishing touch. Don’t forget the popcorn!

No matter what you do to fill the summer hours, I hope you enjoy your time.

Cooking, Entertainment, Holidays

How to Host a Memorial Day Party

Lora Knows...

One of the most enjoyable ways to celebrate Memorial Day is to throw an outdoor party for friends and family. Here are some fun party ideas!

Decorations

Memorial Day is a time to celebrate freedom, so go red, white and blue. Everything from flags, banners, balloons, flower arrangements, all the way down to plates, plastic wear, napkins and cups. If you’re feeling creative, you could spray-paint stars on the grass in your yard (just use a light touch to avoid killing the grass), tie-dye cloth napkins red, white, and blue, or make festive paper medallions to hang from tree branches or use as centerpieces for your tables.

Keep It Bug Free

Unfortunately, not all your party guests will be welcome ones. Luckily, there are several effective tactics to keep those pesky bugs away. Cover dishes with netted food tents, and give guests pretty cupcake liners to place over their cups when they’re not sipping their drinks. You can also put a few fans out to literally blow bugs away.

Fire Up The Grill

Hamburgers and hot dogs are classic fare. Be ready to grill up lots of these during the party. Have all the yummy condiments like ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, pickles, pickled onions, kimchi, and even grilled pineapple. For guests who prefer a meat free menu, you can also grill eggplant, portabella mushrooms, or veggie dogs and burgers.

Mix It Up

Cool beverages will be a must to pair with food, especially if it’s warm outside. Play up the red, white, and blue theme by serving glasses of patriotic-hued ice-cream soda or lemonade loaded with fresh strawberries and blueberries. For a vintage American feel, serve your drinks in Mason jars filled with ice to keep them cool all day long.

Festive Desserts

Blueberries, strawberries, and fresh cream can be combined to make all sorts of delicious treats in colorful renditions of the stars and stripes. For instance, topping cakes with these berries and cream is a simple way to make them patriotic. Other ways to inject American spirit into your desserts include creating red, white, and blue mini cupcakes, baking a berry American flag pie, or dipping pretzels into melted candy melts for colorful

Seating For All

If you’re hosting a bigger bash, you might find it tricky to provide enough chairs for everyone. You could always ask your guests to bring their own seating or rent some folding chairs, or you could embrace the outdoor setting by spreading out a few picnic blankets—the kids might love sitting on them.

Light It Up

To continue the fun after dark, hang string lights in the backyard and scatter lanterns filled with or battery-operated ones. While you’re at it, you could also light your firepit, if you have one, for extra ambience and roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.