“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:

1. Use a simple plastic water bottle and seal the top with hot glue
2. Completely drain a paint can and fill with items (decorate the outside with stickers or use the paint itself to make designs!)
3. 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.