Activities – City Insight Magazine

Family Friendly Summer Activities

Tyshae Gipson — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 13:30:00 +0000

Summer brings more time with family and activities to enjoy. Here we list some family friendly activities to share with the people you love this season.

Beach/Water Day – A day in the sun helps keep the spirits up and lets you cool down on those hot summer days with some water. You can set up a nice pool or a slip-and-slide right in your backyard and tie in some good old-fashioned water balloons.

Park visits – A nice time in nature can help boost anyone’s mood and allow a family to take the time and enjoy the simple things of life together.

Family walks – Taking a daily walk with your family is a great form of exercise and brings you all together at the end of an activity-filled day.

Camping – Spending time under the stars helps bring people together with plenty of activities and things to do to help bring us back to our roots in nature.

State Fair/ Amusement Park – A state fair or amusement park has activities for everyone young and old and local parks have a nice and hidden charm, that your family can discover.

Local Entertainment – Search around your community and find new events and places that offer family and local fun at a nice budget. It always pays to support your local community and see what the world has to offer your family.

Outdoor movies – Outdoor movies is a simple activity to let the kids be entertained and the parents have some time to relax as they enjoy the atmosphere.

Neighborhood block parties – Bring your neighborhood together by planning a block party to bring the community together, while getting to know your local families and friends.

Family Garden – Teach your kids the value of nature and how rewarding it is to grow something from the ground up and reward their hard work with a good harvest.

These are just a few family friendly activities to help bring your family closer during the season. Many families are different, but spending time together is always a universal love language for those you are close to.

Pet-Friendly Summer activities to do with your Four-legged friend

Tyshae Gipson — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:05:18 +0000

Summer is a great time to spend with your four-legged friend. Here are some activities to help you and your pet stay active for the season.

Dog Park Events/ Pet Events – Many dog parks and local communities hold events to share and enthuse about their favorite four-legged friends. Take this time to search around and get involved in a community of animal lovers, and let your pet make some new friends.

Visit Local Farm Animal Events – Local farms hold pet-friendly events where your pet can enjoy fresh produce that’s good for their health, while interacting with other animals in the area.

Water Day with Your Pet – Get your pet a pool or some sprinklers and let them enjoy a cool day in the sun with fun water activities. You can even bring friends and let their pets join in on the fun. All involved will have a good time getting used to water and maybe even learning how to swim.

New Areas to Walk Around – Find new and safe areas that would be great for you and your pet. Just like humans, pets can do well with a change of scenery and it helps them get used to new environments that they may face, during their time with you.

Homemade Summer Treats – Store-bought pet treats can get pretty expensive. Take this time to look up simple recipes and surprise your pet with a homemade treat made with love by you.

Planned Playdates – Gather your other friends who have pets and plan a nice play date with them so your furry friends can find companionship, just like you have with their owner.

Pet Conventions – There is a whole world of pet enthusiasts that are waiting to be discovered and pet conventions show off new tips and tricks along with up-and-coming products for your pet to enjoy. It always helps to learn something new about pet care, and conventions are the perfect place to find that.

These are just a few ideas to get you and your pet to start being more active around your community. Our four legged friends mean a lot to us and it’s important to get them moving and active for their sake, and anytime with a beloved animal is time well spent.

The Mindfulness Activity of Purchasing Flowers to Brighten Up a Space

Kathryn Alley — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

In a bustling season of picnics and bridal showers, awards ceremonies and high school proms, the world anticipates the coming pause of summertime. A full calendar of events can be simultaneously wonderful and draining, leaving room for burnout. To prioritize wellness of the body, mind, and soul, mindfulness activities offer a fun outlet of rest, dedicated to bringing one’s attention toward the present moment. Some consider mindfulness activities to be a gentle workout for the mind. Instead of a jog on the treadmill, mindfulness activities give stimulation to the mind in activities that reduce stress and delight the imagination.

As it is springtime, there is no better way to exercise mindfulness than through a beautiful floral gift. Inspired by Scandinavian influencer and TikTok icon, Matilda Djerf, flowers are a simple way to brighten a physical space as well as one’s personal mind space. The wellness activity of using fresh cut flowers to brighten a room is proven to increase serotonin levels and lift spirits. When we purchase a bouquet of flowers, there is a conscious understanding in the activity that a traditional display of affection is being shown toward ourselves. That is, when we give ourselves an intentional present for the purpose of relaxation, we can experience true happiness. Having a living plant to take care of and nurture is a tangible illustration of the tender caretaking of our minds in wellness activities. The visual of the flowers creates a perfect metaphor for growth, strength, and new life born in light.

The author, Thomas Starr King, writes that “the spirit of a person’s life is ever shedding some power, just as a flower is steadily bestowing fragrance upon the air.” Flowers are vastly unique, presenting distinct fragrances and color patterns that shine in a room like a kaleidoscope of magic. There is a reason that brides are traditionally decorated with flowers; or tombstones are adorned with loved ones’ favorite roses. Flowers are the wondrous universal language gap. When we don’t have enough words to express sympathy, adoration, and gratefulness, the gift of a flower conveys all. Each petal and stem work together to create a harmonious symphony of beauty, boosting up the minds and smiles of all who are nearby.

Flowers are a powerful mindful tool to add towards a wellness practice. Whether it be for yourself or shared with family and friends, the gift of a flower secures anxieties and stress like no other, encouraging our minds to breathe in the sunlight and watch as peace and beauty prosper.