Sweet Summertime and These 5 Things

Summertime is near and we are so excited about the change of pace that comes with it. There is so much to see and do in and around Knoxville and we wanted to share these 5 things with you!

Photo Credit: Paris Woodull

1. Paris Woodhull: Even if you don’t know her name, you have probably seen her art around town. Paris Woodhull has made a career out of creating illustrations that celebrate Knoxville, mental health, and all things colorful. She has a brick-and-mortar shop in Market Square and does custom artwork as well. Learn more about her art and products here!

2. Riverview Family Farm: This farm (and fellow Scout Guide member) has been a working farm since 1801. The 7th generation of the family now runs the farm and solely produces Black Angus beef. Their market also sells locally made honey, cheeses, and more! They have a 6,000 sq. ft barn you can rent for weddings and events. In the summer they also have delicious ice cream at the market to enjoy. If you've never been to an event or sale there, go visit and enjoy the beauty and peace farm life can bring.

3. Rhinestone Fest: Dolly Parton is an icon. Knoxville will celebrate her June 2-4 during this festival in the Old City. This celebration (formerly known as Dolly Fest) is a family-friendly event that will celebrate all things Dolly, and it’s FREE to attend. Put on those cowboy boots and dress up in your Dolly-best for a weekend of art, music, history, food and fun celebrating Dolly!

4. Dixie Lee Fireworks: Light up the sky this summer with fireworks from this family-owned fireworks stand. This year they celebrate 75 YEARS of business when they open NEXT WEEK, which makes them pretty legendary, too.

5. Take a Selfie! Did you know Knoxville has over 40 murals? Take a walking tour downtown and see some of the amazing creations done by local artists. The Top 5 are listed here and they are a good place to start. Don’t forget to tag #knoxrocks if you post them on Instagram!

Party Supplies Simplified

The beginning of summer seems to be a season full of parties, showers and get togethers. We celebrate the end of another school year, kids’ sports teams see the end of their seasons, and we say hello to the exciting beginning of summer adventures. As your schedule fills up with fun events, your home may end up being the location for a party or two. What do you really need in order to host a gathering in your space?

Photo by Texture Photo.

Hosting Essentials:

Photo by @helpyoudwell

Mason jars - use them as drinking glasses or to hold silverware and toppings.

Disposable silverware - try bamboo biodegradable utensils or a neutral-colored plastic set.

Napkins - If they are event-specific, purchase only as many as you’re sure you’ll need; use cloth napkins for smaller gatherings to avoid waste.

Versatile serving trays - don’t be afraid to pull out the fancy items — use what you have.

Party playlist - pick a genre, or make your own custom playlist to fit the mood.

Practical Tips:

Photo by @helpyoudwell

Choose decor you can reuse.

Borrow linens from a friend or neighbor.

Fresh flowers or greens can bring some life to the table.

Less is more. Don’t go overboard with trinkets and decorations.

Allow others to help. You don’t have to do it all yourself.

Take the pressure off of yourself! What’s more important - the gathering of people you appreciate in a space you love, or that everything is “perfect” in your presentation and hosting? Don’t become so preoccupied with how it all looks that you miss out on the joy of spending time with people you appreciate and enjoy.

Happy hosting! And if there’s a mama friend that you love, that does her fair share of hosting - we can help her get a handle on those party supplies and hosting areas of the home.

Show your mama some love with our Mother’s Day Special. Available now until Saturday, May 11 at midnight. Give your mom the gift of organization!

summer survival tips

School's out for summer...The kids across Knox County are cheering for full days of play and fun, while parents have a new duty of planning summer activities and being prepared for whatever the fun days might hold! Here are a few ideas to help you be extra prepared: 

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Image via Yummy Mummy Club blog.

• In the car...

You never know what you (or your various passengers) might need. This pop up organizer has a place for everything. Consider keeping the following items on hand: paper towels, bandaids, umbrella, trash bag, activity books, bungee cords, sunscreen, nonperishable snack, and a beach towel. 

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• In the garage...

Coming home from trips, pool days or picnics - the garage sometimes becomes the landing place for these items. Having a trash can and recycle bin will help with efficiently clearing out the trash before taking bags into the house. Keeping Clorox wipes near by to wipe out coolers after being used, will keep them from getting nasty over time. Make it a priority to always wash the wet bathing suits & towels from a trip immediately. Rinsing off any items with sand or dirt on them will save you from future mess! 

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Image via Market Square Farmer's Market instagram.

• In the kitchen...

It seems like everyone is snacking more than ever in the summer. After a successful trip to the Farmer's Market, fill up a bowl with your fruit for anyone to grab on the go. Granola bars, PB&J, hummus, nuts are great snacks to grab on the run. If you have kids, designate areas for their snacks and drinks, separate from what you are using to cook meals to avoid confusion or clutter. Having paper products for an impromptu picnic will allow you to spontaneously decide to take your meal outdoors, and provides a quick and easy clean up. 

Keys to a Peaceful Summer

A big hooray for students, teachers, volunteers and parents who worked hard this school year!

Kids have been counting down the days; eagerly awaiting pool play time, road trips, and freedom to roam the neighborhood day & night. While summertime is sweet it can also add some chaos to our homes and cars. Here are a few tips to keep peace in your home & car this summer while the fun summer activities ensue!

1. Fill a small tote with the summer outdoor essentials and keep it in your garage or laundry room (easy access to grab and go). Fill it with these items: outdoor/picnic blanket, sunscreen, bug spray, band aids, frisbee, and the ever useful Eno hammock.

2. Designate a section of the pantry and refrigerator for kids snacks and drinks. Make sure to pick an easily accessible shelf for your kiddos. These snacks and drinks will take up more room in the summer than they do during the school year, so it saves everyone from clutter and hunting for the right snack to designate a specific shelf.

3. Plan some free family fun - check out these local hikes from Outdoor Knoxville. Be sure to check the weather forecast, grab some snacks & hit the trail together. This is a great alternative to more expensive indoor activities. You could even incentivize the hike by allowing your kids to invite a friend if they consistently keep up with their chores around the house for a week straight!

4. Check out the Children's Festival of Reading hosted by the Knox County Public Library. This Saturday, May 21 is the free kick off event at 10:00 AM! The library is a great resource to continue education and reading throughout the summer, especially on those rainy days.

Happy summer to you! 

Organizing Your Summer with Your Kids

It's been officially one week since my kiddos had their last day of school before summer. So far, they've enjoyed sleeping in, lounging around the house in PJs, some crafts they've been wanting to get to, and taking a road trip to visit old buddies in Asheville. Thankfully, we're off to a pretty good start.

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.”

— George R.R. Martin

With that said, summer with school-age kids home can be a bit overwhelming without a plan. It can also be a wonderful time for kids to explore, relax, create, and enjoy the freedom of days without the time restraints of the school year. All you need is your time, a little rhythm in your day and a brainstorming session with you kids to make the most out your family's summer.
Here are 7 tips to get you started:

1. Make time each day to play or connect with your child.

Take the time to play a board game, make a milkshake or catch fireflies. It doesn't have to be an elaborate project or outing, just a few minutes of your attention can make simple moments last forever.

2. find the balance for structure

After the long school year, kids need time to unwind, relax and let their brains and emotions take it easy. Kids also need a routine so that they know what to expect. Come up with a loose plan for each day, like hang at the house in the morning doing a small job or working in the garden, afternoons are spent running errands, at the pool or splash pad, or visiting a friend. The summer is a great time to teach kids how to do certain chores well so that during the school months, they can continue contributing to helping the house stay in order.

3. help kids develop a healthy relationship with time

"I'm bored" is a phrase we can all remember using at some point and one I'm sure you've heard from your child as well. Use the summer as a time to help your kids be comfortable with themselves, without technology. This may be hard to commit to at first, but don't lose heart. Here is more on why being bored can be a good thing and ideas for kids when they are.

4. Strictly limit screens

Give your kids certain times of the day for technology. Kids are less likely to bug you about it and more inclined to use their imagination if the option of being on a screen is off the table until a certain time.

5. establish daily reading / quiet time

Setting up this time during each day keeps your child's mind engaged and growing as well as gives you time to yourself. Here is a great list of summer reading ideas.

6. plan memory making activities

Get the kids involved in this brainstorming activity. Here's a list to get you started...
- Play an outdoor movie in your backyard
- Have a lemonade stand
- Make a firepit in your yard and enjoy s'mores together
- Have a water party with sprinklers, water balloons, water guns, slip-n-slide, etc
- Plan a bike ride and pack snacks for a picnic along the way
- Go berry picking
- Make your kids breakfast in bed (or encourage siblings to do it for one another)
- Surprise Dad (or Mom) at work with lunch
- Go hiking, camping, kayaking or canoeing
- Plant a small garden or even just a couple of pots of plants
- Host a pot-luck outdoor party, let your kids help with the guest list

7. capture the summer in a photo album

My kids love to look back at photos from previous summers. As you embark on this summer's activities, grab your camera to snap shots along the way. The week before school starts, have your kids help put an album together as a way to celebrate the priceless memories you've made. It will be time very well spent.