Happy Friday: Staying Busy & Sane this Summer

By Bryn | Operations Manager

Jun 03, 2016 @ 6:00 PM MDT

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Happy Friday

Sent from reader, Lindsey:

I was looking for a fun and interesting way to keep busy this summer while aconlineplishing all that I wanted too without bickering from the kids…..so to keep it interesting, at the start of each week we are RANDOMLY choosing 1-2 “things to do” cards from each color and incorporating that activity into our plans each week.

Cards and activities can vary but I used red for “out of the house” outings, green for “chores”, and purple for “fun at home.” Spontaneity is fun, but I’m hoping to avoid arguing, laziness, and too much TV time by trying this method this summer!

As a bonus, I used my laminator purchased after seeing Collin’s Amazon deal to laminate the cards so that I can use them over and over!! I’m also planning to use extra red card draws as a treat incentive AND extra green card draws when punishment is needed!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

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Join The Discussion

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Lexi June 3, 2016 at 6:05 pm MST

Love this! Great idea!!

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Lindsey June 3, 2016 at 6:14 pm MST

I love this idea!!! Thanks for sharing!

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Jenni June 3, 2016 at 6:18 pm MST

Hahaha!! Love the punishment cards too!

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kk June 3, 2016 at 6:20 pm MST

Great idea! I can’t wait to try it!

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Lindsey June 3, 2016 at 6:27 pm MST

Thanks so much Collin!!!

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) June 6, 2016 at 10:24 am MST

You’re welonlinee Lindsey!

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Julia L. June 3, 2016 at 6:41 pm MST

Very cute idea!

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Sue June 3, 2016 at 6:45 pm MST

High five✋🏼this is so awesome and exciting. I’m feeling better also to know that I’m not the only one struggling with bickering kids because they are bore dive summer and can not agree on something to do. I like that there are both chores and rewards. Seems like a great plan to keep kids entertained and feeling like their summer has structure but fun too

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Eileen June 3, 2016 at 6:46 pm MST

Love this….. I might try it

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Ksantos128 June 3, 2016 at 6:47 pm MST

Great idea!! We did a summer bucket list! And we made our own summer reading log with awesome treasure chests treats with all our hip2save deals!! THANKS COLLIN!!

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Stephanie June 3, 2016 at 6:53 pm MST

Cute idea! Any tips for moms of toddlers and staying busy but also aconlineplishing priorities?

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carla June 3, 2016 at 7:01 pm MST

I wanna know all the things she put on the cards! ☺

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savingforsummer June 3, 2016 at 7:19 pm MST

check on pinterest, there is many of this summer bucket list

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Judy June 3, 2016 at 7:46 pm MST

The next time you’re at the library try checking out the kid concoction books. I think they have a few of them out now. They are loaded with awesome concoctions to make and many of the items are found right in your house.

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Lindsey June 3, 2016 at 8:08 pm MST

At home – purple: bike ride, color, card, puzzles, bake/cook, water day outside, jewelry making, craft, paint, do our nails, create fairy garden, plant flowers, movie day, play wii, play date, sing/ dance party, exercise, tea party (etiquette lesson), board game

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Lindsey June 3, 2016 at 8:10 pm MST

Red: outings – movies, picnic, park, chuck e cheese, paint pottery, visit nursing home, visit spca, walk over the bridge, visit plantation house/petting zoo, library, fishing, trampoline park, jump castle place, waterpark, beach, bowling, skating

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Lindsey June 3, 2016 at 8:12 pm MST

Green (chores): clean bathrooms – 1 card for each, clean out refrigerator, fold and put away laundry, clean mirrors, mop/vacuum, sweep from and back stoop, organize shoes

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Janna June 3, 2016 at 8:47 pm MST

Thank you! Any ideas for replacing the outing red cards. I have a daughter with autism and she has severe anxiety so the summer is very hard for us to have family outings. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! 😊

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Hannah June 3, 2016 at 9:32 pm MST

Maybe a special food treat? Cookies, breakfast for dinner, make our own granola bars, ice cream for breakfast…

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MrsFelix1004 June 4, 2016 at 11:39 am MST

Check out local museums. We have one called the muse which was a dome that the kids can lay on the floor and look at stars or different movies. Also we have the children’s museum of Oak Ridge that has a life size doll house, trains, water tables. We are from Knoxville, TN. If you let me know where you are from maybe some of can think of ideas around you and post them. Also search the website called activitytree.online they might have a few ideas. I also search for summer camps in my area to get ideas. The library and smart toys and books has cool things as well.

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Kristie June 3, 2016 at 7:14 pm MST

Great idea! I print blank calendars and try to fill up each day with an activity to keep us busy. Summer can be expensive if you let it, so I mostly fill in with library events (free), park district stuff ($3 per kid), and bounce place (groupon deal).

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chely June 3, 2016 at 7:17 pm MST

dont forget $1 movies 😜
also beach is free

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Kristie June 3, 2016 at 7:22 pm MST

No beach by me but we have a pool. 👍

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Jennifer June 4, 2016 at 6:51 am MST

Don’t forget the splash pad. There are lots of them in onlinemunities now with in a drivable distance.

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Anne June 3, 2016 at 8:16 pm MST

We have Kids Bowl Free in our area. Don’t know if it’s nation wide or if you have a bowling alley near you.

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Sarah June 3, 2016 at 8:15 pm MST

Luv this!!! Thanks for the share ❤️

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) June 6, 2016 at 10:30 am MST

You’re welonlinee Sarah!

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💕Yoli💕 June 3, 2016 at 8:30 pm MST

Awesome idea! Love it!! Great job Lindsey!

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Yessenia June 3, 2016 at 9:11 pm MST

I promise hip2save reads my mind! I was looking through Pinterest to start a summer calendar, but I love this!!!!

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) June 6, 2016 at 10:30 am MST

Perfect! 😉

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Hannah June 3, 2016 at 9:29 pm MST

I also have a chore jar for my husband & I with bigger projects like re-organizing the pantry or backing up the pictures. We each pick one on the weekend so it’s kind of fun….?

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Tiffany June 3, 2016 at 11:44 pm MST

We’re doing something similar but with color coded popsicle sticks instead of cards. Our categories are water play, crafts, outings, quite play, active play (for my toddler), science, and special treats. I tried to pick things that need little prep and were new to us. Pinterest was great for this.

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Diane June 4, 2016 at 5:09 am MST

I have purchased a membership to my local zoo through Groupon and sent it to my daughter in California. She can use the reciprocal agreements with zoos all over the country for half price or free admission. I also have found out when our local children’s museum has free admission so when they visit me we can go.

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Chilenitatx June 4, 2016 at 7:25 am MST

Any deals on laminators??? Love
This idea

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Jess June 4, 2016 at 7:53 am MST

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

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Mary June 4, 2016 at 11:24 pm MST

This is a GREAT idea. Thanks for the share.

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