Celebrating Summer Holidays at Home

We've been stuck at home for too long. As the summer holidays approach, it's time to rethink how we can celebrate safely to protect those not vaccinated yet. We need to think about who we want to spend time with and how we can celebrate the coming summer holidays at home.

Our homes were once a place where we slept, ate and headed out to school, work and lots of other activities. We're now learning that our homes can be much more and that includes celebrating summer holidays with family and friends. So let's step back and rethink ways to make memories at home.

Summer Holidays & Festive Decorations

If you're spending more time at home, hopefully that includes walking around your neighborhood. You've likely discovered the houses in your neighborhood that have great curb appeal, so maybe it's time to add some color to the front of your house. You can do some gardening to add plants and shrubs. Alternatively, you can put up a flag (get tips for hanging a flag) and some hanging flower pots or window boxes.

Summer Means Relaxing Outdoor Meals

Have you been dreaming about an outdoor kitchen? If you're eating at home most of the time, it might make more sense now to replace your old grill with something more substantial. It doesn't have to be as big or fancy as the one above. Just make sure you think through what's most important to you when you're cooking outdoors.

Need some ideas for that special outdoor kitchen? Here are 21 DIY Kitchen Plans to Build or maybe you just need to buy a new grill like this Weber from Amazon (below). Not sure you have enough time to get the job done yourself? Call your local handyman to handle this and other home maintenance you don't want to do.

Make Everyday a Summer Holiday

You don't need the calendar to tell you when to relax in your backyard with a great book or maybe a nap. It's okay to relax when you have a few minutes to spare and the weather beckons. Wake up early and spend some time outdoors – walking, reading or dreaming. Leave work on time so you can relax in the backyard or play a game with the kids before dinner.

When you've got lots of friends over for the summer holidays, include the kids in the planning. Here are some great ideas for backyard games. Scroll down to a video where two girls share how they built a backyard obstacle course.

What Our Summer Holidays Celebrate

We love our holidays because they mean a day off from work and often a long weekend. But do you know the history behind the summer holidays we celebrate in the US? With everything we've lived through over the last year, now might be a great time to go back and learn about other times when Americans faced challenging events.

• Memorial Day – honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
• July 4th – celebrates the birth of American independence.
• Labor Day – pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.
• Holidays around the world – are also important in today's global world. For fun, you might want to explore a summer holiday from another country.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer where we can celebrate our family and friends.