Spring Break is here — or right around the corner — and you have to figure out how to entertain your family for a week. Some parents still have to work, or can only take a couple days off, so not everyone is packing a suitcase and heading off somewhere. For MANY reasons, a lot of families stay close to home for Spring Break. But even if you don’t plan a vacation away, there are tons of fun things to make this week feel special, not just for the kids, but for everyone. Check out our featured article for great ideas, and my take at the end of the newsletter in Just Sayin’.
And don’t scroll past our Recipes of the Week without your grocery list and pen. These yummy weeknight dinners are sure to make your whole family happy. YUM!
Hope you all have a great week! See you back here Wednesday for some Extra, Extra! goodness.
7 Spring Break Activities Close To Home
By Crystal Ponti
So, the kids are on Spring Break and that means having a whole week to spend with them as a family. Great news, right?
Umm. Except that you don't have any plans. WHAT are you going to do with allll that time?
Figure it like this. They're in school five days a week. A typical day is 6-8 hours. Let's say 6. That's 30 hours PLUS the usual time you would be spending with them anyways. You know how children between the ages of 5-12 are . . . wonderful little balls of energy. OK, let's just leave it at balls of energy.
With gas prices through the ceiling and all the household bills to pay, who has the money for a huge vacation?
So this Spring Break . . . why not stay close to home?
Believe it or not, there are things to do right in your neighborhood. And if not in your immediate vicinity, you can figure out a few things to do in and around your town. Why not take a couple of mini-vacations throughout the week?
For instance, you can travel 100 miles in a couple of hours -- 2 1/2 hours if you take a couple of potty breaks. Surely you can find something 100 miles away in any direction. Google is right at your fingertips.
No need to fly. No pat-downs by TSA. And no overnights necessary. So say goodbye to cheap motels and five-star lounges. Just you and the kids and your family sedan. It'll be the best Spring Break ever.
Here are a few ideas to consider when your kids are on Spring Break -- no matter where you live:
Visit a museum. Unless you live in Antarctica, there's got to be at least one museum somewhere within traveling distance. It could be a wax museum, sports museum, or the museum of stuffed animals (Is there one of those?). As long as it has some hands-on exhibits, they’ll love it.
Look for a free admission amusement park or arcade. You might have to pay for tickets to ride rides or play games, but there are usually free entertainment events that will kill some time as well.
Go on a picnic. Throw down a blanket in your backyard or a local park and enjoy the sunshine. Bring a kite or styrofoam airplane to play with after lunch.
Take the kids to their favorite playground (or explore a new one!). Don't forget a ball to play catch or kick around.
Plan a day trip and go for a country drive. Explore the small towns around you. You never know what cute shops and restaurants (ice cream counts!) you’ll find that you don’t have in your own town.
Visit relatives you haven't seen in a while, especially if they have children the same ages as yours.
Go to the lake. Even if the water is too cold for swimming, you can throw a Frisbee around, fly a kite, catch a fish, and let the kids play while reading a book.
You can usually make a go of a single day if you plan some of these trips on the same day. For instance, go on a country drive AND enjoy a picnic.
The kids being on Spring Break doesn't have to be an exercise in frustration -- for you or for them. Just stay close to home and have a blast!
RECIPES OF THE WEEK:
Whether you make it this week or save this recipe for Easter, our Slow Cooker Hawaiian Ham is a game-changer. And our Secret Sloppy Joes have a secret ingredient that you would never think to add but it makes a crazy good Joe. When Friday rolls around, try our Leftovers Soup to get rid of the prepared but leftover food in your fridge. Our five delicious dinners are here to make this week better for everyone at the table. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Ham
Ingredients:
1 (4-5 pounds) boneless or bone-in ham
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Pineapple slices and maraschino cherries for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Place the ham in the slow cooker.
In a mixing bowl, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and ground ginger. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved.
Pour the pineapple juice mixture over the ham in the slow cooker, making sure to coat it evenly.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the ham is tender and heated through. If you're short on time, you can cook it on high for 3-4 hours.
Once the ham is cooked, you can optionally broil it in the oven for a few minutes to caramelize the glaze. Just transfer the ham to a baking dish, brush with some of the juices from the slow cooker, and broil for a few minutes until the glaze is bubbly and caramelized.
Garnish with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries if desired before serving.
Secret Sloppy Joes
Ingredients: