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Celebrate Spring: Go Fly a Kite

FitSugar — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:00:00 PDT

It is officially Spring (even though in some parts of the country it might not feel like it) and I think a great way to celebrate the season change is flying a kite. Since March comes in like a lion, getting a kite in the air is a way to take advantage of all that blustery wind.

I am not going to lie to you, flying a kite is not the most strenuous workout, but rather something a little more Zen. Holding a kite string and enjoying the fresh air can be therapeutic and downright meditative. However, you can burn about 100 calories with 20 minutes of kite flying. Plus, you do get a little upper body workout if the wind is really blowing. If the day is calm then you can get some sprints into your day while you attempt to get your kite aloft.

Do you have the song "Let's Go Fly a Kite" going through your head. I sure do. Do you know what movie that song is from? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Come Party With Me: Beach Picnic - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:08:10 PDT

In honor of International Picnic Day and the official start of summer, June 21st, I'm planning a kite flying picnic at the beach. Now I know not everyone has access to the beach, but this party can be hosted at a lake shore, a park, a vineyard, etc. All week I'll take you through the steps to host a successful, memorable afternoon-into-evening picnic. Let's start with the invitations. I'm making cute kite shaped invitations that are embellished with pretty satin ribbon. To see how I made my invitations and instructions on how to make them for your next party - these would also be adorable for a child's birthday party! -

To make this invitation you will need:

cardstock in three colors (I chose bright orange, vibrant yellow, and electric blue)
glue
a perfect square/rectangular/kite shape to use as a template
scissors
pencil
thin satin ribbon in colors that coordinate with the cardstock
computer
printer
hole punch

To assemble this invitation:

Start by creating a new document in Microsoft word. Write out the details in a fun font. For my invite I used Mistral in size 18 and wrote the following message:

Let’s Go Fly A Kite!

Summer has officially arrived
&
PartySugar would like you to join her to celebrate
with
kite flying, frolicking, and food on the beach

Saturday June 23, 5:00 pm
Stinson Beach, CA

Please rsvp for directions to
partysugar@yumsugar.com

Make sure the text is spaced out like a diamond.

Print out a test copy of the text. Once satisfied with the text, print out on one sheet of the cardstock (I used blue).

Using your kite template as a guide, trace the shape onto the text page.

Cut the text page out in the kite shape.
Fold the template page in half. Trace the triangle on to the two other sheets of colored cardstock.

Cut down to size. Fold in half and cut again until you end up with two small triangles of each color.

Glue each pyramid on so that the two colors meet to touch in a point in the center. (Mine were glued on orange, yellow, orange, yellow).

With the single hole punch, make a small hole in one corner of the invitation.

Slide three equal length pieces of ribbon through the hole and tie a knot. Braid the ribbon.

With the contrasting colors of ribbon tie a small bow onto the braid to create the illusion of a kite string. Voila! Your invite is finished. Slide into an envelope and send.
Where do you like to throw your outdoor picnic parties? Tell me about the destination below!
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The Best Outdoor Weekend Activities For Kids

LilSugar — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:36:12 PST

Is it beginning to feel a lot like Spring where you live? If so, chances are, you and your kids are ready to cure your cabin fever and get outside this weekend.

Encourage Budding Entrepreneurs: Little ones love to feel in control, and giving them their own business opportunity for the day is a great way to teach basic math, social, and even marketing skills. Start a classic lemonade stand, or on a chilly afternoon, try hot chocolate instead. If they're kitchen-savvy, cupcakes or muffins will add an extra "production" element to the plan, and are likely to solicit lots of compliments from the neighbors!
Head Out on a High-Tech Treasure Hunt: Heard of geocaching? The hot, new treasure-hunting trend is a great way for families to embark upon an adventure together. All you need is a GPS device (GPS-enabled mobile phones count), and to sign up for a free membership on geocaching.com. Identify your coordinates on the website, and your GPS will guide you toward your treasure - more than 1 million geocaches are hidden around the world! Even supermodel Cindy Crawford is a fan, as she recently posted about the activity on her Facebook page.
Play Tourist in Your Own Town: Traveling tends out to bring the planner in all of us, but on a typical weekend at home, more often than not, we're guilty of getting stuck in the same old routine. Take advantage of a beautiful day by discovering something new. Whether it requires simply walking out your front door or driving 30 minutes, make sure that everyone in the family learns something from your mini adventure that they didn't know before.
Plan a Picnic: Get the most out of an old-fashioned picnic by including kids in the planning process. Let them help decide on a menu – be it breakfast/brunch food, sandwiches, a healthy snack, or a sweet treat - and pack their own backpacks with games and toys.
Bundle Up and Head to the Beach: It may not quite be bathing-suit season, but kids still love the excitement of going to the beach. If you're lucky enough to live within driving distance, make sure everyone's bundled up and go for a family walk by the sea. If it's windy out, bring a kite - Spring days are often ideal for high-flying fun.
Photo Safari: Encourage your little shutterbugs to get snapping by creating a list of "photo missions," and accompanying them on a photo safari. Include things you're apt to see around your neighborhood - a red door, a mom with a double stroller, a white dog . . . get creative!

Gavin, Kingston, and Zuma Celebrate Gwen With a Mother's Day in the Park

Lindsay Miller — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:30:54 PDT

Gwen Stefani had a playful Mother's Day weekend with her husband, Gavin Rossdale, and their two sons, Kingston and Zuma, in London. The foursome hit the park yesterday, and she headed out with her littlest one in his stroller earlier today. Gwen was clad in a L.A.M.B. jacket, striped sweater, and harem pants to play a few rounds of hide and seek with Kingston during Sunday's outing at Primrose Hill park. The whole foursome teamed up for a soccer match, and Gavin was also spotted helping Zuma fly a kite on their windy day out. Gwen, who is currently in the running for your favorite celebrity mom in this year's Pop 100, is enjoying the downtime overseas following a lengthy year of recording with No Doubt. Her bandmates are also taking a break to focus on their families, with drummer Adrian Young the latest of the group to announce that he's expecting a child.