What better time to think of ways to going green than in today’s recession? Everyone should try to reduce cost, and help conserve and protect the environment. The best place to start is at home. By creating awareness and getting family members involved, we are saving the planet.

1. One step in the right direction would be to stock up on healthy snacks alternatives you could take to work or school.
2. There are numerous benefits to eating healthier; not just weight-loss. Eating organic foods may be a bit more expensive then regular foods however, the taste and health benefits certainly make up for it. The guarantee that there are no preservatives used in the process means you’re getting more for your money.
3. Use a Water Filter to Purify Your Water Filtered water is the very cleanest water that is free from harmful chemicals, bacteria, and other harmful pollutants found in tap water. Think of a water filter as an inexpensive insurance that you and your loved ones are consuming the cleanest water. These filters are easily installed and can be found at any local hardware store.

As odd as it may sound, going green can help you save cash while benefiting the environment. Many believe that living healthy and being environmentally conscious are only for the rich. You don’t have to buy expensive products in order to be eco-friendly. The truth of the matter is the average person can take part in saving the planet too.

Here are some great habits to get into in order to live healthier and greener lives.

• Turn lights off when not in use
• Use public transport whenever possible (carpool, walk or take your bike)
• Recycle whatever you can
• Take shorter showers

In today’s hustle and bustle you often forget the joy in cooking and spending time with your kids. Spend quality time with your child during this family activity. I think that you can gain value from cooking by teaching your child your culinary skills. It takes time but stick with it and your kids will gain a valuable new skill.  Some other benefits from teaching your kids to cook are:

• Learn about nutrition and healthy eating – This is especially true when kids are on there own. They won’t have to rely on fast food or junk food to sustain them.
• Creativity – Kids are accomplishing a task when creating a meal. This is an excellent way for kids to express themselves through their creativity.
• Time Management –  Cooking teaches children to plan properly and make choices.

All you’ll need for this activity is a bit of time, creativity, and enthusiasm. So put your apron on and let’s start cooking!

 Take Cute Pictures of Your Pet 

It is very famously said, that a dog is a man’s best friend. So as a Family Fun Activity, take pictures of your pet friend and create a collage.  Every time you look at the pictures it will bring a smile on your face. Anytime you feel low the captured moment of your puppy can lighten up your mood and help you through the day. Your collage can be arranged in such a way that the story of your adorable pet, since its birth, will be told. Your favorite pet pictures will: capture some of the best moods and poses of your pet; your pets’ energetic behavior; not to mention his charming and adorable face. Your picture will embrace you with your pets’ funniest actions.

•  Loyalty is the epitome of Dogs!!! “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” -  Josh Billings. Dogs are known for their loyalty. They are famous and loved by people across the dichotomy of age groups. So, to honor them you can capture a moment with a picture and cherish the beautiful memory that will last a lifetime. You can make your dog famous by downloading his pictures on the internet where they can be available for everyone to see.You can send your pictures to various competitions which will bring you laurels and appreciate the value of your pet friend.   

Favorite Pet Picture

• Share your doggie pictures with other dog lovers…You can share your collection with your friends and other dog lovers. Exchange of pictures will enlarge your collection. You can make send gift albums of your dog’s picture to your loved ones. If you want to do more than that for your lovable pet you can create a website, a photo gallery dedicated to your buddy in its different moods.

To be more specific in your approach of clicking pictures of your doggy, you can use a variety of themes from his routine life and special occasions like bath time, sleep time, birthdays, etc. Lots of people enjoy watching adorable, mischievous, hilarious pictures of the dogs. So, make your little doggy a super star by making him an online profile and portfolio today!

Moreover, you can help the establishment of a healthy relationship with you and your pet. A better understanding of each other’s actions will strengthen the bond that already exists. Capturing each and every act which your pet makes, will keep you around him more often and thus develop a sense of belongingness.

To get started posting your favorite pictures, click here.

Pet Pictures

The start of summers brings a big question to the minds of mothers:  “What can be done to make the best use of the summer holidays?” Although children enjoy having fun, adding a twist to it can become more enjoyable and entertaining. There are a number of family activities that can be put into play to make summers more creative and a more memorable experience.

The following are some ideas that you can enjoy with your kids during the summer season:

Nature Walk

• Take a walk and record the sounds: Nature is abundant with different of sounds. A great way to get your kids outdoors is by having them scavenging for treasures in nature. Nature will become very interesting as they collect specimens and take pictures. This can serve as an afternoon project or a fun summer family activity working together to create collages of all your findings. A learning experience can develop from a visit to zoo’s or national parks. You can allow your child to join a virtual summer camp where they can enroll into thousands of web pages of learning material, curriculum and related downloads. This can further enhance your child’s computer knowledge and can help in his studies too.
• Brain teasing exercises: Teenagers are moody and notorious. Involve them with some brain teasing exercises and games that keep their mind going and makes them active most of the time.
• Make your own jigsaw puzzle: A jigsaw puzzle is an array of different shapes, which, when fitted together can form a picture of some sort. You can help your kids to create their own hand-made craft. They can select any picture of their interest and cut out in sizes that can be fitted later. Use some cardboard, foam or wood as a backing. For mounting the picture onto the backing, you can use a dry mounting spray that is easily available at the hobby stores.
• Start a music band: If your child loves to play a musical instrument, or sings beautifully, he or she can start with a music band that allows children from the community to enter the group. You can encourage your child to perform during their band shows. This brings a lot of confidence within the child and they can choose a career in music later when they grow up.
• Visit a city: Plan a vacation to a different city with your family during the summer season as it is the best time to spend quality time together as a family. Your kids would love to visit new places and share their experiences with school mates upon returning to school. A good idea is to allow your kids to get involved in scenic photography.
• Make your own holiday: There are special days in a month that are celebrated for special reasons. During summer holidays, you can help your children to make these special days as their own holiday by involving in some cultural programs and activities. They can select any day as a special day where they can enjoy it to the fullest.
• Make a scrapbook of the things you do this summer: Making a scrapbook is an activity that entails collecting  clippings, notes, pictures and other related things in an organized manner. A scrapbook can be colorfully designed with ribbons and fabrics, graphics and artwork. You can help your kids to create a hand-made book or purchase a scrapbook album to place the materials collected by them.

Summer Scrapbook

Summer Activities

Click here for more fun summer family activities.

Kick the Can is a game of skill related to hide and seek and should be played in any outdoor area that has safe places to hide. Here are a few pointers to play this fun family activity:

• This exciting game can be played with only a few people or a large group of people.
• One person is designated “it” and a can or a similar object is placed in the open area where it can be seen by everyone.
• “It” starts counting while everyone runs and hides. Any player who is found and tagged is placed in the designated area.
• The best part of the game is once a person is found, there is a race where the player must run and kick the can before “it” tags them.
• Once “it” catches all the players he/she wins and a new “it” is assigned.

This game is fun and entertaining for all ages. There is no doubt your whole family can enjoy this activity on a nice summer afternoon. 

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt is a fun game that can be played on many different occasions such as birthday parties, Halloween party or any celebrated occasion where friends or family gather. Your child can play this fun family activity alone, or with friends. Here’s how you play:

• Kids are split into teams.
• Team players are given a list of specific items to find which have been hidden.
• The players with the most items from the list at the end of the time constraint wins.

There are numerous variations to build a hunt around and are only limited to your imagination.

Swing the Statue

Swing the Statue

Swing the Statue is a game that has been around for years and played by generations of children. The difference between this outdoor game and most others is that it’s more entertaining than competitive. Each team consists of two players. Try this summer fun activity by:

•  The game starts by one player taking his/her partner’s hand and swinging round and round, then letting go.
• Upon being let go, the partner must freeze in the position that he/she ends up in.
• If the player loses his/her balance then that team loses.

Its’ lots of fun to keep the pose in which you stop in but even more fun to watch others in their strange positions.

Relay Races

Relay Race

Running relays with friends is an ideal opportunity for kids to learn that team work, and good energy are as much the prize as coming first. This family favorite is always a good choice for friendly competition at picnics and parties. It’s a great way to stay in shape while teaching kids direction, agility, and coordination. There are a wide variety of summer fun races. Try the Three-Legged Race:

• This race calls for communication and is much harder than it looks.
• Each team ties a scarf to one of each of their knees together so that they are joined at the hip.
• With their legs joined together and their arms around each other the teams try racing to the finished line without falling.

Click here for more ideas on family activities.