by Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore

July is National Ice Cream Month. Here are some fun ways you can celebrate!

• Make homemade ice cream and challenge the family to come up with fun ideas for additives (gummy bears, choc chips, dollops of peanut butter, etc.)
• Schedule different people to make the Ice Cream and have an Ice Cream night each week during the month. Have a contest for the best ice cream at the end of the month.
• Experiment with different homemade cones for ice cream cones! Recipes are on the internet – modify them and add items until you find one that everyone loves.
• Create an Ice Cream and Cone family recipe book.

And if National Ice-Cream Month isn't good enough, July is also National Tickling Month and National Hat Month – crank up the fun factor this summer and celebrate them all.

• Institute an ice cream night. On that night, have the kids find, and create the most outrageous hats they can think of. The winner gets an extra scoop – and tickled.
• Tickling can be used in lieu of punishment too. You can warn your child that if they don’t stop X they will get it. When they fail to stop, you can give it to them – a good tickle down on the floor. It sure will surprise them!
• Tell your kids that you can see that you have been remiss and that you know just what they need – and give them a tickle! A child’s laughter in a house makes a home.

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We are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized and co-authors of “Everything (almost) In Its Place.” We welcome your thoughts! Please send ideas and questions to us at: yourlife@getbuttonedup.com or visit us at www.getbuttonedup.com