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list of highlights from 100 Days of Summertime 2012

List Mama — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:12:16 +0000

We are just a few days away from the unofficial start of summertime. . .Memorial Day! Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. Everything is green, the weather begs you to be outdoors, and activities abound. How do you take advantage of all that summer has to offer? It takes plenty of planning and preparation throughout the summertime to cover some of the essential experiences. You don’t want to end the summer with regrets that you didn’t suck the life out of the season. You don’t want to look back on the summer thinking that you missed another opportunity to have ultimate fun with your children while you still have them.

If you still haven’t bought the 100 Days of Summertime 2012 eBook and you are wondering what it is all about, I’ve prepared a video that shows the book in more detail. The good news is that you have multiple ways to enter to win one of ten PDF copies at 100DaysofSummertime.com.

Here are some highlights from the 100 Days of Summertime 2012 eBook.

Day 1: Instruction on how to create your Summer Central binder
Day 4: Setting up your family’s summertime routine.
Day 7: Planning an end-of-school/beginning-of-summer Party
Day 10: Creating a Summer Camp experience at home
Day 13: Rainy day fun
Day 17: Making Father’s Day extra-special with something handmade
Day 25: Longest day of the summer
Day 31: Packing for summer travel
Day 34: Preparing your summer holiday menu
Day 37: Be prepared for summer emergencies
Day 40: Creating your summer to do list (exclusive list from ListPlanIt.com)
Day 46: Enjoying pick your own seasonal produce
Day 51: Be a tourist in your own hometown
Day 56: Enjoying America’s summer pastime. . .Baseball!
Day 62: Opening day of the Olympics
Day 67: Making your school supply list
Day 73: What’s for school lunch?
Day 76: Preparing for a yard sale
Day 80: Recording the memories of summertime
Day 86: Putting the final touches on summer
Day 93: Planning for Labor Day fun
Day 97: Creating your September to do list
Day 100: Enjoying Labor Day

And everything in between. There’s so much good stuff in the 100 Days of Summertime 2012 eBook! For $5, how can you afford not to buy it?

the week ahead 5/21/2012

List Mama — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:36:28 +0000

It’s Friday! And that means we’ll be taking a look at The Week Ahead. Be sure to subscribe to our blog updates by email or in a Reader so you don’t miss out. Each Friday will feature the upcoming week and will include holidays, special events, tasks, and reminders. Make it a part of your week and simplify your planning. Click the image below for your own downloadable copy of the current The Week Ahead!

Click image to download this week's The Week Ahead.

Monday (5/21/2012): Plan your Memorial Day Activities
What are your plans for Memorial Day (weekend)? Will you be camping Hosting a cookout? Heading to the lake or beach? Today is the day to firm up your plans. ListPlanIt‘s Holidays & Occasions has holiday planning pages galore available to members.
Tuesday (5/22/2012): Invite Family and Friends
If your plans involve friends or family, be sure to invite them before they make other plans.
Wednesday (5/23/2012): Plan your Menu and Shopping List
Plan for campfire food, food for the grill, or picnic food. Food eaten/prepared outdoors is the best! ListPlanIt‘s Meal Planning section has all the menu planners and grocery lists members could need.
Thursday (5/24/2012): Inventory Supplies
If you are grilling, you’ll need charcoal or an extra supply of propane. You may need cups, plates, napkins, and silverware. Think of all the things you’ll need for Memorial Day fun.
Friday (5/25/2012): Purchase Supplies
Get to the store and purchase your ingredients and supplies before they run out of what you need.
Saturday (5/26/2012): Planning Retreat
Make an appointment for a quiet hour alone to prepare for the upcoming week: holidays, events, meals, budget, etc. What is a Planning Retreat? Find out here.
Sunday (5/27/2012): Prepare for the First Summer Holiday
Prepare your home or gathering location. If possible, make deviled eggs, potato salad, pies, and anything else that can be prepared ahead

Visit ListPlanIt‘s Facebook page and tell us about your Week Ahead.

list of ways to celebrate may as national bike month

List Mama — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:02:15 +0000

Did you know that May is National Bike Month? Why not take the opportunity to celebrate by participating in some fun, bike-related activities!

Host a Bike-To-Work or Bike-To-School Day
• The more people involved the better!
Research bike friendly paths in your town and visit them
Have a Bike Parade
• Give prizes for the most creatively decorated bikes
Hold a Bike-Wash and let people shine up their bikes
Decorate bike helmets with stickers
Set up a bicycle obstacle course
Use chalk and make a path for bikes to follow in an empty school parking lot on the weekend
Make an I LIKE MY BIKE CAKE, such as this one from Family Fun Magazine

What fun ways does your family do on bikes?

Celebrate ListPlanIt’s 5th Anniversary!

List Mama — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:03:20 +0000

This month, we celebrate ListPlanIt.com‘s 5th anniversary! It has been an exciting 5 years, and there have been a lot of changes throughout. Today, we are excited to announce the new release from the “100 Days” series called 100 Days of Summertime 2012 eBook. Talk about getting your planning on!

Available in PDF format.

A Daily Dose of Inspiration & Motivation for a Summer filled with Family, Food, and Fun! An off shoot of the popular blog series, 100 Days to Christmas, this eBook is a journey that begins around Memorial Day, and leads you step-by-step through the best parts of summertime. Included are links to 31 lists from ListPlanIt.com for end-of-school planning, summer camp, family vacations, party planning/entertaining, back to school and more!

For an excerpt of the first 7 pages, including the table of contents, instructions for using this eBook, and Day #1,

Download now for just $5!

Pay through Paypal with either your Paypal account OR by Credit Card (find out how)

Get the entire eBook FREE when you purchase any Membership to ListPlanIt.com (find out how here)

Make this your best summer yet!

Here is a sample page:

Join our community for updates and the latest discussions at our 100 Days of Summertime Facebook page!

Testimonials:

“I just downloaded the book and took a quick skim and it looks fantastic!!! I can’t tell you how excited I am to use it this summer. I honestly read every single page of the 100 days to christmas and always had so much fun seeing what was in store next. It really did keep me more organized and I DEFINITELY need that this summer.” – Jen of A Daily Dose of Davis

“Your work is fantastic and I’m really impressed and thrilled to have such a a comprehensive summer resource for this year. I’ve been trying, unsuccessfully, for the past few summers to create such a binder and now you have done it for me and everyone else who tries your amazing book. ” – Annie

the week ahead 5/14/2012

List Mama — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:12:10 +0000

Click image to download this week's The Week Ahead.

Monday (5/14/2012): Field Trip
Whether or not this is your last week of school, often enough the last weeks are filled with all types of end of the year activities. Keeping them on your calendar, arranging for days off, and making a plan can really help you through these final weeks.
Tuesday (5/15/2012): Field Day
Are you camera batteries charged and ready to go? Don’t forget plenty of water and sunscreen.

Do you love summer? Do you want to find out how you can make the most of your summer? Now available: 100 Days of Summertime 2012 eBook, daily inspiration for a summer filled with family, food, and fun!
Wednesday (5/16/2012): End of the Year Party
Got cupcakes? Got dip? Buy your ingredients and try to make it the night before.
Thursday (5/17/2012): Menu Spotlight: Individual 7-Layer Dips
This is a brilliant idea for an upcoming graduation party of even for a Memorial Day cookout. Simply make your 7-layer Mexican dip, but in individual cups. Here some inspiration for you.
Friday (5/18/2012): Last Day of School
Celebrate your graduate with a special dinner or a fun activity.
Saturday (5/19/2012): Planning Retreat
Make an appointment for a quiet hour alone to prepare for the upcoming week: holidays, events, meals, budget, etc. What is a Planning Retreat? Find out here.
Sunday (5/20/2012): Graduation Day
Many of you will be attending graduation ceremonies this day and many more will be attending future Sunday ceremonies. Enjoy the day.

Visit ListPlanIt‘s Facebook page and tell us about your Week Ahead.

list of what moms really want for mother’s day

List Mama — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:10:30 +0000

I wrote a post like this for Valentine’s Day, and it is the same for Mother’s Day. The best gifts usually are the simplest, and for moms on Mother’s Day, the most thoughtful gifts are definitely simple. A little pampering, a little “me time,” a little trip to a restaurant – all these ideas will make this Mother’s Day a day the mom in your life will remember and appreciate.

A dinner she doesn’t have to cook or clean up (Take Out or Eating Out)
A hint of a thoughtful gift on a random day when she’s not expecting it (not because you’ve forgotten and are trying to stall)
The realization that when she mentioned how much she loved Ingrid Michaelson, you were paying attention (you bought a CD or tickets for her concert)
A gift of Time (alone to do something she never gets time to do like read or paint her toenails)
A trip to the spa for a little pampering
Kisses and Hugs from the loved ones in her life!

What would you really like this Mother’s Day?

show your appreciation on national teachers’ day

List Mama — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:12:10 +0000

Click image below to view the Special Offer in The L.I.S.T.

Today is National Teachers’ Day and this is, for many schools, Teacher Appreciation Week. Show the teachers and office staff of your child’s school how much you appreciate them and give them a tool that will keep on giving throughout the summer and into the new school year. . .
a Print Membership to ListPlanIt.com!

Purchase a 4-pack of gift certificates for just $50! (an $80 value)

list of activities to include on your family’s summer to do list

List Mama — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:10:47 +0000

Summertime is what children’s dreams are made of. Ingredients include sleeping later than usual, no homework, playing with friends, and fun times with mom & dad. It should be relaxing and it should be as unstructured as possible. If both parents are working outside the home, then time will be a little more limited and the day a bit more structured. No matter the situation, life is for enjoying and you’ll want to take advantage of all that summertime has to offer. In order to prioritize, it is a good idea to brainstorm the activities that you would like to accomplish and then lay out a plan for achieving those goals. You’ll have more time to fit in those goals if you do it before the summer even begins. Here are some ideas to help you create your family’s Summer To Do List.

Food
There are foods that are ingrained in the fabric of the season. For summer, that means they are usually both fresh and flavorful. It just wouldn’t be summertime without some of the following foods.
• fruits: strawberries, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries, peaches
• seafood: lobster, shrimp, fish
• salads: potato, pasta, leaf
• ice Cream: homemade, local creamery
Fun & Games
When the days are sunny and warm, a yard and/or neighborhood are the best playgrounds. Friends gather to play games and use their imagination.
• obstacle course
• sprinkler or pool
• putt-putt golf
• scavenger hunt
• fly a kite
Field Trips
It’s good to travel away from home, even just a short way, and discover the world around. There are likely so many things within just a few miles that you have yet to do.
• historic sites
• farms
• museums
• state parks

Click on image for a downloadable version.

Sports
Whether you are an avid sports fan, or quite the opposite, this summer has a sport for everyone to follow and enjoy. Be an active participant, or participate in the stands. Cheer for your home team.
• fishing
• baseball
• tour de france
• olympics
Arts & Crafts
Stock your arts/crafts bin and offer some guidance on crafts projects. Kids are learning when they are creating and imagining.
• make a mosaic
• tie-dye a summer shirt
• sidewalk chalk art exhibit
• make clay sculptures
Learning
Children lose a good-sized portion of what they learn during the school year in the summertime. Do what you can to get your kids thinking and using their brains. Make learning a part of their everyday routine.
• summer reading. . .make frequent visits to the library or start a book club
• take a closer look at another culture
• gather items from the backyard under a microscope
• create a lapbook over the summer
Hobbies
It is hard to find time to cultivate a hobby during the school year. Give the members in your family the opportunities they need to pursue and improve their skills in the things they enjoy the most.
• bird-watching
• rock-collecting
• rug-hooking
• gardening
• letterboxing or geocaching

What’s on your family’s summer to do list? What activities are specific to your region? Tell us in the comments below.

the week ahead 5/7/2012

List Mama — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:25:20 +0000

Click image to download this week's The Week Ahead.

Monday (5/7/2012): Make a List. . .Mother’s Day Planning
Mother’s Day is now less than a week away. Have you planned how you’ll show your appreciation for the mothers in your life? You may want to consider your mom, stepmom, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunts, sisters, and friends. If you are mailing cards or gifts, better do it today so it will arrive in plenty of time. Find what you need to prepare for this Mother’s Day in ListPlanIt‘s Holidays & Occasions.
Tuesday (5/8/2012): Tackle It. . .Teacher Appreciation
Today is National Teachers’ Day and a great day to show your appreciation for all the hardwork that goes into teaching and training our young ones. Check out ListPlanIt‘s post List of Ways to Show your Child’s Teacher Appreciation
Wednesday (5/9/2012): ListPlanIt.com Turns 5 Today!
5 years ago today, ListPlanIt.com launched to the world. It has been an exciting adventure in listmaking. To celebrate, we’re offering 25% off any membership at ListPlanIt when you use the following coupon code in the checkout: LPIBDAY5
Thursday (5/10/2012): Menu Spotlight: Spanish Tortilla
One of my family’s favorite foods is anything with eggs and potatoes in it. Some time ago, I came across a recipe called the Spanish Tortilla, which combines both for a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Trying adding sliced red peppers for a bit of color. Here’s a recipe for you to try.
Friday (5/11/2012): Mother’s Day Prep
Today is one of your last chances for final Mother’s Day preparations. Have you made reservations for brunch? Do you have your robe and fuzzy slippers all ready?
Saturday (5/12/2012): Planning Retreat
Make an appointment for a quiet hour alone to prepare for the upcoming week: holidays, events, meals, budget, etc. What is a Planning Retreat? Find out here.
Sunday (5/13/2012): Happy Mother’s Day!
Enjoy the day! Bask in the knowledge that this special day comes only once a year. Spend it however you’d like.

Visit ListPlanIt‘s Facebook page and tell us about your Week Ahead.

list of ways to celebrate chocolate day

List Mama — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:39:50 +0000

Forget Valentine’s Day, Easter, or Christmas…Did you know that CHOCOLATE DAY is on July 7th? That’s just a couple of months away. A whole day devoted to that delicious cocoa-based confection! And since chocolate comes from cacao beans that grow on a tree, it’s healthy, right? Here are some great excuses to make that day ALL about chocolate!

Chocolate Breakfast
• What a way to start your morning!
• Chocolate Chip pancakes, waffles or muffins
• Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
• Don’t forget a Mocha cappuccino or mocha latte
Chocolate “Field trips”
• Local chocolate factories or candy stores
Chocolate Lunch
• Peanut butter and chocolate (nutella) sandwiches
• Chocolate dipped fruit
Chocolate Crafts
• Make a chocolate wreath
• Sweetheart Roses
• Mice Ornaments
• Topiary Tree
Chocolate Dinners
• Chicken in Chocolate Sauce
• Chocolate Flank Steak
• Chocolate Spiced Pork Chop
Chocolate Beverages
• Chocolate stout milkshake
• Hot Chocolate
• Chocolatini
Chocolate Fondue
• Soooo many things can be dipped in chocolate!
• Fruit, poundcake, pretzels…get creative!
Chocolate Websites
• http://www.ghirardelli.com/
• http://www.hersheys.com/
• http://www.godiva.com/welcome.aspx
• http://www.lindtusa.com/index-exec/

How can you still be reading this? Go get some chocolate and start planning your day!