Enjoy spending time in your small space with family and friends. Follow these easy steps and your gathering is sure to be a hit!
“What do you mean it’s snowing? It’s almost March!”
There are plenty of ways to say it: We are staying in tonight. And we always feel upset, too — our weekend has just been taken away from us and now what is there to do? We’re here to tell you that staying in for the night is not always a bad thing! In fact, it can be the perfect time to reconnect with your family AND de-stress from that long work week. It’s just like a vacation… in the comfort of your home!
Since the weather outside is still frightful, we are her to help you find fun things to do at home! It starts with a space that is cozy and comfortable all year and the perfect night in is within reach. Here are some tips for making the most of a poor weather day.
Create a Comfy Spot
A warm gathering area is the foundation for a night at home, whether you are streaming a movie marathon or hosting a game night for friends. Select a spacious seating option that gives everyone a relaxing place to unwind during your staycation. Dress the space up with stylish throw pillows and blankets that also add to the comfort.
Get The Pizzas, Cause We’re Having a Party
Making dinner doesn’t have to be a chore this weekend, in fact you can make it the main event with some small touches. A personal pizza party is a great way for everyone to be creative by choosing their favorite toppings and making their own designs. It’s a fun way to get the family away from their phones and to enjoy a home-cooked meal that everyone made!
Find all the ingredients at your local grocery store. For the base, use whatever fits your preference — pre-made dough, gluten-free, and so on. Since it’s a personal pizza, add all the contents that make for a delicious meal.
Veggie Monster Pizza
Ingredients:
- Bell peppers
- Spinach
- Portobello mushrooms
- Mozzarella cheese
Meat Lover’s Delight
Ingredients:
- Pepperoni
- Ham
- Sausage
- Mozzarella cheese
And We’re Off to the Games
Now that you’ve enjoyed your own culinary creations and have settled into your cozy living space, it’s time for an activity. We’ve got the perfect solution: Family Game Night! Any game will do the trick—pick something that’s easy to learn but challenging enough to keep the whole group engaged. Depending on your choice of game, it’s a great way to test your mental and physical abilities, all while inspiring some friendly competition!*
Make Memories Last
Most mementos are stowed away in your home’s storage space, to be found years later covered in dust. Make those tokens and memories something that your family looks forward to! Time capsules are a sweet way to capture the memories worth sharing and to create an exciting reveal down the line. We recommend waiting a full 10 years until you retrieve the capsule.
Ways to create a time capsule:
- Use a simple plastic water bottle and seal the top with hot glue
- Completely drain a paint can and fill with items (decorate the outside with stickers or use the paint itself to make designs!)
- Our favorite, use an old trunk lined with metal on the inside. See here.
What to fill it with. You can fill your time capsule with anything meaningful to your family. We love the idea of stowing away special family keepsakes such as current photo albums, favorite CDs and songs loved by the family followed by recordings of their voices, and even a family recipe. Extras: newspaper clipping of current events and a wine bottle, to age deliciously over ten years!
How to bury it. Dig deep. You want your time capsule to be at least a foot down and then completely covered. This protects it from fire and weather damage as well as keeping your memories safe from prying eyes.
Be Careful! Choosing where to bury your time capsule can be tricky and even illegal—make sure that you are burying it on owned property; we recommend grandma’s house (if she’s planning on staying a long time) and putting a garden sign to mark the place. Other options: the attic, basement, or a local storage unit (anywhere that you will feel safe and remember to look!).
Share your favorite staycation pastimes with us by using #MyAshleyHomeStore! Your space might even end up on our Instagram feed. If you need more inspiration for creating a cozy space, browse our Pinterest boards.
*Ashley and Ashley HomeStore are trademarks of Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Scrabble and the owner(s) of the Scrabble trademark have no affiliation with and have not endorsed or approved Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. and Ashley HomeStore or their products and services.
Music, art and good times were afoot this past weekend in Arcadia, Wisconsin – the birthplace of Ashley HomeStore – during Ashley for the Arts! Over 50,000 people enjoyed performances from dancers, acrobats, marching bands and some of today’s top musical artists, including American Authors, Kelly Pickler, High Valley, LOCASH and X Ambassadors.
Wow guests at your next dinner party with a perfectly paired cheese board. Try these pairings featuring some of our favorite cheeses, all found right in the grocery store.
Tasty Combinations
1. American: Cheddar with apples and walnuts
Sweet apples and savory walnuts cut through sharp cheddar to create a perfect balance of flavors. 
2. French: Brie and seedless raspberry jam
Mild and nutty, brie is simply delectable with the rich flavors of seedless raspberry jam. Serve at room temperature or, better yet, warm and gooey.
3. Italian: Parmigiano-Reggiano with pears and balsamic vinegar.
Sweet pears balance the saltiness of this cheese while a drizzle of balsamic vinegar complements the earthy flavors.
4. Irish: Blue cheese with dried figs and honey
Slightly spicy and a tad tart, blue cheese is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of honey and the nuttiness of dried figs.
5. Greek: Feta cheese with extra-virgin olive oil and oregano.
Earthy oregano and a drizzle of fruity, extra-virgin olive oil beautifully complement feta’s tangy and salty qualities.
A+ Presentation
Group your cheeses with their respective accoutrements on a large board. Serve with an assortment of crackers and crusty bread, and provide plenty of cheese forks and spreaders. You can also garnish your board with grapes, berries, olives and other tidbits.
Do you have any favorite cheese pairings? Share them in the comments!
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