It’s official…school’s out for summer!

You and your family deserve to enjoy and have as much fun as possible! Summertime consists of sports, camp, family trips, sleepovers, beach days and more. The list is endless. Here at Family Matters, we believe that there is nothing more special and important than quality time with your loved ones. And Family Matters is here to help make that happen! Errands, shopping, gifts, and more. Keep reading for a few helpful summertime tips and hacks:

1. Giant Bubble Station

What You Need:
-5 gallons of distilled water
– 2.5 (10 cups) Dawn dish soap (non-antibacterial)
– 1 Children’s hard plastic swimming pool
– Hula Hoop
What To Do
1. Set the pool in an area that’s away from any wind. Mix distilled water with Dawn® Dish Soap in the swimming pool.
2. To create stronger bubbles, add Glycerin to the mix. The bubble solution will get better with time, so if possible, allow
your mixture to sit overnight.
3. When you’re ready to start the activity, place the hula-hoop at the bottom of the pool. If desired, put a small stool in the
center of the swimming pool so children won’t have to remove their shoes.
4. Have a child get in the pool (or on the stool), and quickly and steadily lift the hula-hoop straight out of the water over
the child’s head!
Hint: If your bubble isn’t forming it is probably because you are lifting the hula-hoop too slowly.

2. Car Travel Bags

Summer family road trips are always fun! Simplify your life on-the-go by putting together these clear, zippered bags which are easy to grab and go! Always be prepared by packing one for each of your needs (first aid kit, snacks, activities, etc.)

3. Outdoor Toy Organization

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and play! We love this idea for storing all your outdoor toys. We all store the outdoor toys in garages. To make it easier to locate, place them in bins or buckets! This will give you more floor space in your garage.  Also, sturdy metal stationary shelving is a garage staple. Be sure to label each bin so things don’t get lost.  Labels like these stick-on labels or even or decorative duct tape and a permanent marker do the trick!