Here at It’s A Wonderful Light, we believe that there is nothing better than a tradition. A special custom shared between loved ones that is
passed on from generation to generation. Traditions aren’t just for the holidays; they should be celebrated all year round, and since we just love sharing new traditions, we put together a few of our favorite end-of-summer traditions we think you will enjoy… 1. Backyard Family Movie Night
Playing in a backyard near you: backlit Christmas lights, your favorite summer flick, popcorn, and a new family tradition.
What a better way to spend quality time with your Family than to share a favorite flick underneath the stars- in your own backyard?! A DIY movie night outdoors is a magical way to close out the summer. All you need is a white sheet, a projector, popcorn, blankets and your favorite flick. Brighten up the ambiance by stringing some lights around the yard, sit back and enjoy. See how you can set up your very own DIY backyard movie night
here.
2. I Scream, You Scream
That’s right, ice cream! A tradition that can never go out of style.
Who doesn’t LOVE ice cream? The kids will especially enjoy this
tradition. Make an activity out of it. Gather the family into the car and head to the market, each family member has a budget to spend on whatever toppings and fixings they’d like for their very own ice cream sundae! Head home and begin the creation of your delicious concoctions. Spending time together as a family, enjoying a sweet treat, and the little ones will have a blast being in charge of their own sundae. This tradition is extra sweet and special.
3. Frame Your Favorite Memory
Look back at the summer and pick your favorite moment to display all year round.
You know you have to organize that camera roll anyway, so make it a family project! Take a trip down memory lane and revisit all of the fun moments you enjoyed this summer. You’ll be surprised at how many sweet snaps you captured and forgot about! Once you’ve selected the best picture that sums up this summer, grab a frame and have each member of the family write their favorite part about the day the picture was taken on the back of the frame. Display the frame, and you’ll have a sentimental reminder of this summer of 2015 every time you see it. What makes this tradition extra precious is reading the messages you wrote on the back each year when you put your next “favorite summer memory” inside the frame! This tradition is so much more meaningful than a post on
Instagram or
Facebook.
4. Kids Take Over The Kitchen
Move over Mom & Dad, the kids have a special treat in store!
You have to admit, it will be nice to not have to cook for one night! This tradition can take place any time of year, but summer is a perfect time. Why? Because the farmers’ markets (one of our favorite’s is
Northfield’s Farmers’ Market). Come on, admit you’ve been wanting to go all summer- now’s your chance. And the best part is, the kids will enjoy going with because they get to pick the ingredients! Win-win! As a family, plan what the little ones will be dishing up and write your list together. Head out to your local farmer’s market and have a scavenger hunt collecting the ingredients. Get the bowls, cutting boards, spices and a safe-fool-proof recipe together and watch as your kids work together to complete the meal. Grab a glass of wine and Bon Appetit! Remember, safety first- keep a close eye on your little chefs.
5. Back-To-School Resolutions
Who said resolutions were only for New Years?
This isn’t just for the kids, this is for parents too! Resolutions for transition phases, like back-to-school, is a great way for your family to stay organized and have more fun together. According to
PBS, the biggest benefit of sharing resolutions as a family is that each member learns how to manage the importance of setting goals and working together to accomplish them. Have everyone sit down and write their goals for the school year and read them aloud. Put them somewhere that you will all see each day, and encourage each other to accomplish their individual goals. This is a great way to bond as a family and a fantastic tradition that lasts all year long.
Do you have any end of summer traditions that your family celebrates? Please share them with us! Don’t forget to start preparing for your holiday traditions too- we’re currently scheduling Fall & Halloween holiday lighting and decor installation for Chicagoland, contact us for a free quote today. Check out last week’s blog on all of the spooky, bright and festive displays we have to offer. We hope you enjoy the last sweet sentiments of summer- Now, go forth and make some new traditions, friends!