For the Love of Lists

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10 Ways to Celebrate Independence Day

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Independence Day

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Today is the day we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honor everything America.  So in the spirit of patriotism, here are 10 ways to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day with family and friends.

1) Read the Declaration of Independence
I don’t know about you, but so far I haven’t actually sat down to read through one of our country’s most important documents.  I learned about it in school, and I can recite the first phrase, but sadly that’s where it ends.  This is my goal for this year.  You can find the full transcript from the National Archives or download an app for your tablet/phone (I suggest a free app like Declaration for iPad or the Constitution Reference Suite containing a collection of founding documents and speeches for $0.99).

2) Learn about our Independence Day
Yes, we all know the signing of the Declaration kicked off the American Revolution.  But do you know about the rest of the history and traditions that surround the 4th of July?  Check out these articles from the History Channel and TED to start educating yourself.

3) Fly the flag
If you don’t already have a flag posted outside your home, today is a perfect day to start.  Flags are available from Walmart or other local stores.  Be sure to read up on proper flag etiquette before you set it up, and remember to shine a light if you’re flying it at night.

4) Host a themed BBQ
Okay, so this isn’t really a novel idea, but it’s still fun.  Gather your family and friends to celebrate with a grill and some patriotic-themed treats.  Betty Crocker has a great list of appetizing suggestions, but a quick (i.e. endless) search through Pinterest will flood your head with an unlimited supply of red, white, and blue dishes and decorations.  I’ll be making s’mores dip, dipped pretzels, and firecracker bark this year.

5) Learn about the origins of the American flag
We all love to don our red, white, and blue, but do you know why those colors were chosen?  Read up on the history of the American flag from PBS, the USA Flag Site, and USA.gov.

6) Thank a veteran or serviceman
Sometimes it’s too easy to focus on the rights and privileges we have now and forget how we got them.  Take a moment today and reach out to a member of our Armed Forces, past or present.  They’ll appreciate your support.  Also, keep in mind that some combat veterans in your area may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), so look out for signs like these and please be respectful with your use of fireworks.

7) Tour a historic site or explore a virtual museum
If you’re lucky enough to live in one of the original 13 states, chances are you’re within range of some historic foundations of early America.  Tour a state capitol, Independence Hall, the Smithsonian museums, the D.C. monuments, or any of the American Revolution battle sites.  If you can’t make it to a museum in person, check out virtual tours of the American History Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Memorial Hall, or create your own.  You can also use Google Earth to explore sites all around the country in 360 panoramas.

8) Watch a movie about the American Revolution
I grew up watching the musical 1776 with my dad every July 4th (seriously, who doesn’t love a dancing Ben Franklin).  However, if you’re looking for something that doesn’t break into song, check out this list of movies that take place during the American Revolution.  Based on ones I’ve seen, I suggest The Patriot, but I’m looking forward to seeing April Morning and Drums Along the Mohawk eventually.  For kids, I’d actually suggest the America Rock! videos (from the Schoolhouse Rock! series).  Warning: the songs will be stuck in your heads for years.  Plus, there’s always Independence Day.

9) Reflect on what you’re grateful for
Regardless of how you feel about day-to-day politics, when you think of the freedoms we have in the country, we are very fortunate.  We often take such liberties for granted and only focus on what divides us.  Just imagine how much worse it could be, as compared to several other countries or even compared to our own a few hundred years ago.  Remember to reflect on what we all have to be thankful for.

10) Watch fireworks
It wouldn’t be the 4th of July without fireworks blasting through the sky.  Check out your local paper to find shows near you, or drive to one of these displays listed at the top 20 fireworks shows in the country.  Don’t want to deal with the crowds?  Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular airs on NBC at 8pm (EST/PST) and A Capitol Fourth airs on PBS at the same time.

I hope you and your family have a very happy 4th of July!

4th of July Pretzels
Celebrating Independence Day with some patriotic treats!

 

10 Items for Your 2pm Work Kit

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Work Kit

No matter how motivated my morning is, by 2pm I’m ready to fall asleep at my desk.  If you’re in the same boat, try making your own pick-me-up work kit to kick your productivity back into gear.  Here are 10 items to include:

  1. Healthy snack – try a small 100 calorie protein + fiber snack (like an apple with peanut butter)
  2. Coffee/tea – savor a last cup of the day (caffeine takes several hours to wear off and can interrupt sleep)
  3. Dark chocolate square – because it’s a super food and we all know chocolate is good for the soul
  4. Scented lotion/essential oils – try a fun or refreshing scent, like lemon or peppermint, for a quick recharge
  5. Oil-absorbing wipes – give your skin an easy refresh with a cleansing pat down
  6. Comb/brush – getting your hair back in order can boost your mood a bit
  7. Gel eye cream – cool gels can help you wake up when drowsiness sets in
  8. Quote book – browse through your favorite inspiring quotes to focus your goals
  9. Stretching routine – take a moment to break away from your desk, take a walk, and stretch out your legs
  10. Upbeat playlist – choose your favorite songs and switch up your playlist to something positive for the rest of the afternoon

I hope this can help you power through the last few hours of your workday.  If you have any other items or habits to suggest, leave them in the comments below!

How to Set Up Your Summer Bucket List

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Summer Bucket List

If New Year’s is for resolutions, then summer is for fun.  Make the most of your summer by listing out your goals in the following lists:

  • Activities to try (surfing, painting, dancing)
  • Projects to work on (organize garage, catalog books, write a book)
  • Places to go (museum, Grand Canyon, planetarium)
  • Things to see/photograph (sunset on the beach, family portrait, fireworks)
  • Foods to make/eat (ice cream cake, BBQ chicken, s’mores)
  • Things to create (homemade scrub, scrapbook, DIY throw pillows)
  • Places to help out (Habitat for Humanity, letters to soldiers, toy donation)
  • Things to do (marathon a TV show, go for a hike, host a reunion)

One of my big goals for this summer is to make a homemade ice cream cake (I’ve already completed my goal of finishing all 10 seasons of Friends).  What are your fun plans for this summer?

10 Weekend Activities to Get You Moving

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Active Weekend Activities

For those of us trying to use this summer for both fun and healthy changes, here are some ideas for weekend activities to get you moving:

  1. Go for a hike
  2. Spend the day swimming at the beach
  3. Take a group fitness class
  4. Get involved in recreational sports (ex. tennis, softball)
  5. Take on household chores (they burn more calories than you think)
  6. Take your family to the park and enjoy the playground with them
  7. Walk around a museum
  8. Build a family obstacle course
  9. Go bowling with friends
  10. Go out dancing for the night

Let me know what other ideas you have for fun, healthy activities!

The Secret to Simpler Gift Giving

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Gift Giving

Every year holidays and birthdays creep up on us.  No matter how we mark our calendars or set reminders, it seems like the week or two before we’re in a scramble for gift ideas.  These are supposed to be happy occasions and somehow they just end up stressful (Christmas ironically being the worst culprit as we have several people to shop for).  So last year I tested out a new gift plan that has helped me immensely.  Here is my secret to simpler, less stressful, gift giving.

Instead of waiting around until December to plan your gifts (or until the next holiday rears its head), create a notebook specifically for gifts and donations that you can update all year round.  I’m a fan of Evernote and this is a great use for it.  Here are the pages I suggest you include:

  • List of holidays and annual events
  • Recipients pages (one page for each person you typically give gifts to)
  • Generic gift ideas (ex. housewarming, baby showers, thank you gifts)
  • Donation log for charitable gifts
  • Log of past gifts received
  • Personal gift wish list
  • Holiday budget sheet
  • Holiday gift shopping list

Keeping a page for each person you give gifts to is the key here.  Write down items they mention, their interests, favorites, hobbies, or places they say they’d like to go.  Throughout the year if you see an item they’d love or think of a good idea, write it down and save it for the next holiday.  Also make sure to make notes of gifts you know they won’t like (ex. if your cousin returned that sweater you gave them).  When the time comes you’ll have a great starting pool of ideas to choose from.

Here’s a few more tips:

  • Set reminders for two weeks before holidays so you don’t forget to shop
  • Refer to your personal wish list if anyone needs hints for gifts you’d appreciate
  • Save photos of receipts for return information
  • Save photos of receipts for donations for tax purposes
  • Make notes of past gifts given so you don’t use the same idea twice (I’ve been guilt of this one)

The best part about this system is that you can better take advantage of sales throughout the year since you’ll be ahead of the holiday game.  I hope this helps make gift giving a little easier!