Semiquincentennial according to Wikipedia is “the 250th anniversary of an event, place or institution.”  July 4, 2026 is the Semiquincentennial for the United States of America.  It is when we will proudly celebrate the signing of our Declaration of Independence 250 years ago which gave us all of our freedoms we enjoy to this very day.

You have been seeing the logo for a year now, and it is appearing everywhere.  I even noticed it on a bucket at Home Depot the other day.  It feels like everyone is getting into the spirit.  It is so important to reflect on the past, celebrate the accomplishments of Americans and decide what kind of future we want to create for generations to come.

Celebrate in style this summer…whether it be a party at your house or going out to celebrate.  Do just that, celebrate and appreciate all that the last 250 years of America has achieved and what it will be achieving for the next 250 years.

*ENTERTAINING TIP* Check out some of these fun things you can make to serve at your patriotic party. I suggest searching for kids ideas for foods to make, simple ingredients and simple steps. 

*PLANNING TIP*  Ways you can celebrate this year are aplenty. Go online and search “Celebrate 250” and add in your city and state if you want to see what is happening nearby.

*SHOPPING TIP*  If you decide to celebrate at home or are going to a party there are Companies like Oriental Trading Company that have sections of their site dedicated to Celebrating 250.  Check it out today for fun planning and ordering ideas.

Summer is rapidly approaching.  As the temperatures rise so does the desire for cold drinks.  This year I vowed to eat healthier.  I already eat pretty clean and drink plenty of water but feel I do not have enough fruit and vegetables in my diet so this seemed like a great way to fix that problem.

I am thankful to my daughter’s school as they started a garden this year which led to a class project of finding and videotaping yourself making a recipe that uses an ingredient growing in the school’s garden; she chose Strawberries.  My daughter loves going to Tropical Smoothie Cafe but that can get expensive so we took a similar recipe and tailored it to make at home.  We made it super simple…3 fruits, some orange juice and water.  Mix and you are good to go. 

If you like cold drinks and to be healthy during the summer I highly recommend trying this on your own at home as it has led to healthier eating at a third of the cost.  Stay cool and enjoy!

*ENTERTAINMENT TIP* Next time you have friends or family over you can make and serve this simple recipe to delight your guests.  It can be served as a drink, an appetizer or as a dessert.

*ORGANIZATION TIP*  When putting ingredients in the blender put the liquids in last and be sure to cover the blender before you turn it on to prevent a big mess.

*SHOPPING TIP* Buy frozen fruit, it will help in making the consistency of the smoothie thicker, less watery.  Refer to this Just Ask Jen article to help with ideas on how to save even more when shopping for ingredients.

I recently had the opportunity to create and teach a manners and etiquette course to the Daisies and Brownies in my Girl Scout troop.  It is something that parents ask for yet no one seems to have a program for.  Determined to solve this problem, I decided to create a program to teach the girls myself.  I headed to the local library remembering the manners classes I had taken when I was younger.  I decided to look for a book about manners by Emily Post as I remembered liking her style.  They had just what I was looking for, so I started reading, taking notes, and noting pages to make photocopies of for the girls to refer to later.

From this project, I found that the best way to teach kids about manners and etiquette where they actually understand and would be excited about it was in the process of creating and planning an event.  The girls helped create a theme for the event and then came up with all of the details needed to create the invitation and a wishlist of food and decor items needed for the event.

In total we had 4 meetings, the first two were planning the event and teaching what was learned in the book to compliment the event. The last two meetings were used for prepping for the event and having the event itself.  It was a big success that ended with parents telling me how appreciative they were and how their girls were setting the table at home and so proud of what they had learned.  Going forward I would like to add to this program annually as there were a lot of other topics to be covered but time and the age of the girls hindered us from getting that in depth.  If you want to create your own program feel free to use some of these tips or always feel free to Just Ask Jen.

*ENTERTAINMENT TIP*  When planning activities for an event it is wise to plan around the theme.  For example, the girls made placemats with their guests where they decorated a large piece of construction paper and then the Girl Scout drew out a place setting, we then attached the two and laminated it so that it became a reference placemat and keepsake for the future.

*ORGANIZATION TIP*  Before your event it is wise to do some test runs with the group.  First, have them set a place for themselves and their guest and then pretend to go through the event so that if anything is missing it is thought of at this point. This will teach them to plan ahead, a valuable life lesson.

*SHOPPING TIP*  Plan everything out ahead of time.  Make lists of everything you could possibly need.  Doing this early on is beneficial as you can find better discounts and have more money for other things.  Over time you can tweak the list if needed and then find all of the items for the event either at home, at an on-line store, or go shopping at a physical store.  Have fun and enjoy the process.

With the Miami Grand Prix coming up in a month I figured why not give my two cents about it.  We have been going since the race started in 2022.  After COVID it was a welcome outing that had all the excitement of a shiny new toy.  Four years in and it is safe to say the novelty has worn off but it is still an event we look forward to attending every year. 

There are a variety of tickets when it comes to this event.  You could buy the full 3-day weekend or select which days you want to go.  From there you can select your seats which has options starting with Grandstand Reserved Seating to GA Campus Passes to Boxes, Suites, VIP/Hospitality Suite and Paddock Club/Ultra VIP options.  There is literally something for everyone at this race.

Aside from the 3 days of racing there are other things you can indulge in like Concerts, the Thursday night party at the track, and Pit Lane walks just to name a few. 

It is a long and hot weekend that is for sure, but for the true car racing enthusiast it is an amazing experience that one will not forget.  Traffic and parking are one of the biggest issues we have every year.  Just getting to the race is a feat that begins to wear on you by day 2 of the 3 day event.  So just drink a lot of water, bring a fan and a good attitude as you listen to that incredible sound of the cars going around the track 🙂

*JAJ TIP*   They DO make changes every year that improve the experience and show that they are listening to true concerns and attempting to make things run smoother by being better organized.  So be sure to fill out any surveys they send you because they make a difference.

*PLANNING TIP* Refer to this previous Just Ask Jen blog for ideas of how to best plan.  http://www.justaskjen.net/sporting-festival-season-has-sprung

*TECH TIP* The whole weekend everything is cashless, so be sure to have a credit card or even set up Apple Pay or whatever payment processing app your phone uses.  Outside of the venue you will be able to use cash so I would suggest bringing some cash with you as well as you may want to grab a pedicab to bring you up to the venue entrance.

I got an early birthday gift a month and a half ago that I have been trying to use at least once a day.  At first I had no clue what a Cricut was, but now I find the easiest way to explain it is as a cutting machine.  There are accessories that you can buy to enhance the use of your Cricut.  I am referring to the heat presses and other tools that will aid in the ease of use and creation of projects.

I have a Maker 4 and it is amazing all that this small machine can do.  From paper goods, vinyl decals, iron ons, leather debossing, the etching of glass and metal and even to the cutting of wood.  The possibilities are truly endless. 

This device is a must for any serious crafter. Give it as a gift or be creative and do what was done for me…buy a Credit Gift Card (Visa, Mastercard, Etc.) and let the crafter pick what they want and where they want to buy it.

*JAJ TIP*  Get one of the starter bundles at www.cricut.com. I got one with Vinyl, Iron On, Mats, Tools, and a bunch of other supplies that have been so useful to me while using the machine.  You do not want to be afraid to try new things and these bundles help you learn how to fully utilize your machine without the fear of making mistakes.

*ORGANIZATION TIP*  If you like something you made and want to make more you can do it all in one shot. For example I made a dog treat container and it came out so good that I wanted to give them as gifts for Valentine’s Day.  So I edited the template to add in all of the labels to do at one time instead of multiple cuttings which can end up wasting materials.

*SHOPPING TIP*  I suggest waiting for sales to buy materials direct from Cricut.  They can be quite costly.  Also, after I did some research I came to find that certain materials were sold at Michaels and Target which is great if you are in a pinch and need something ASAP.  One thing I do highly recommend is a Design Space subscription, it gives you endless inspiration with templates, fonts and images that help you to design every day. 

You will be so impressed with what you make you will want to keep creating.  Enjoy and have fun.

Something I have always loved is the televised game show Wheel of Fortune.  Since I was a kid I have watched and played from home, one year I remember even having a Wheel of Fortune birthday party.  When I saw a live version was coming to town, I grabbed tickets as soon as I could.  This show is not a televised version of the game but rather one you can play to win money and/or prizes.

The show from start to finish was about 2 1/2 hours.  They did 3 rounds where they called up randomly selected audience members.  Each round had a winner and they eventually played against each other until a single winner advanced to the final round. A week or so prior to the show you are emailed a link you can fill out to be entered to play or you can wait until you are at the venue to enter.  You do not need to register more than once, duplicate entries are not counted.

I was actually called up and got to play. I will admit when I saw my name on the screen my heart sank.  Now I would have to go up and actually speak and play.  It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.  I believe the show we went to was actually the last show of the tour, but they did mention that they will be doing the show again, so I would recommend checking often to see when those dates have been released.  Maybe it will come to your town next!

*COMPANIES I PROMOTE* Always get your tickets from a trusted source, there are a lot of fake sellers out there.  I recommend using sites like www.ticketmaster.com that are tried, true and if something happens you have more recourse in rectifying the situation.

*JAJ TIP* There were three types of ticket options you could pick from.  You could just get tickets with assigned seats or one of two different VIP options. One offered you good seating and an opportunity to go up on stage after the show and take a photo while spinning the wheel, or there was a Meet and Greet VIP option for before the show where you could meet the hosts. 

*PLANNING TIP* This show was good for all ages.  Children could not play as there was an age restriction, but any kid who watches Wheel Of Fortune would most certainly have a wonderful time and if they opted into the VIP Wheel Package they can go up for pictures and to spin the wheel, there was no age restrictions there.

Go to https://www.wheeloffortunelive.com/ for information and tickets and don’t forget to have fun.

When we travel we like to have a car.  Sometimes it is for a week and some times we have longer trips that extend past a month.  Every trip requires a different type of car based on the type of trip, how many people we will have a need to transport and where we can pick it up and return it to. 

Time after time we are continuously impressed with Sixt, for every type of trip we have.  We have compared the rates against the beloved Hertz, Avis, Dollar and Enterprise and every time Sixt beats them out.  The cleanliness and type of car are also always superior making it a no brainer for us.

Sixt is not found everywhere but as time goes on more locations open up in the United States as well as abroad.  They have over 2,000 stations in over 150 countries.  Most major airports seem to have them among their rental car selections these days as well.

*JAJ TIP* They just started a rewards program. I suggest you sign up for it so you can start earning points.  I have been a customer for many years and always wished they would add this program and they finally did.

*ORGANIZATION TIP* Something to keep in mind are transportation costs to and from the airport.  It seems that these days a rental for a week can cost that of a round trip transfer to and from the airport.  Renting gives you more flexibility, freedom and money when done right.

*PLANNING TIP* If you know the dates you want to travel in advance you can look for sales/offers.  It seems weekly I get an email for a promotion helping reduce the fare even further.  Keep in mind that major holidays are usually excluded from these discounts. 

Go to www.sixt.com today to see what you can rent the next time you need a car.

No Spend November had me thinking about all of the ways to save.  One idea I did not mention but am finding new surprises at all of the time is our local library.  We have an avid reader in our family, so instead of buying all of the books we have made it a habit to go to the library once a week. 

It always starts the same, we look at the books.  After we fill our library designated bag we check out.  As time went on we added taking a quick look at the DVD section, you can find movies or TV shows old and new.  As long as you have a DVD player at home you are all set to have a movie night – another money saving idea.  This we do not do that often as we do not watch much TV but it is nice to do once a month.

After we look at the DVD’s now we look at the puzzle section which we found located near the check out.  They have many puzzles to choose from, yet another weekend activity at no cost to you.  Along the lines of puzzles, they have games you can check out as well.  And if you want to go outside and play they even have a section of Lawn Games you can check out. 

Last week I saw a few more things that made me say wow.  They have baking tins you can check out, they had themed ones for Thanksgiving and the holidays plus many others.  And right by the self check out we saw a seed box, it has packets of seeds you can check out, they said you can get 3 packets per visit.  They also have the option to donate seeds, what a wonderful way to be a part of your community.  And in the monthly email I get from the library I just saw that you can now check out a Mobile Sound System, perfect for Karaoke night entertainment.

Who knew the library could be so cost effective.  From books to teach you how to do and make things yourself to save money by 7providing countless options of ways to entertain yourself.

*JAJ TIP*  Being a planner I am usually on top of things, but sometimes we have so much checked out I lose track of due dates.  First, always get a printed receipt so you can keep track of what you checked out and the due dates.  Not to worry if you forget the due date, most libraries will email you and auto renew for you unless there is a hold on the item from another library patron.

*PLANNING TIP*  Before heading out to the local library you may want to make a list of what you want to look for.  Maybe it is just to familiarize yourself with a certain section, but go with intention.

*TECH TIP*  Go to your towns local library website to see what they have.  Your library may have more or less than mine.  Also, once you have a library card and online access setup you can usually place a hold on the items you want to check out.  Pro tip, if there is a sister library they can bring items over as an option as well.

Last year when I heard the phrase “No Shave November” it gave me an idea.  Spending seemed out of control at the time so I decided to make it “No Spend November”.  The timing was good because it was before the holidays and after the back to school/end of summer days.  In a nutshell, I stopped spending for the month on any non essentials.

It is harder than you think.  Any time you leave the house, watch TV or go on social media you see enticing ads that make you feel like you need or want certain items.  So finding things to do around the house, like clean or exercise are good ways to keep you engaged in other activities that do not cost money or prompt you to spend money.

Over the month a good idea would be to do coupon clipping for future item purchases.  Maybe look around the house at things you wanted to buy and see if you can use something you have already instead of spending the money.  Take old clothing that you no longer wear and donate or sell them on a site to make money instead of spending it.  If you sell something you may even have the money to buy something new you had been looking at.

It is definitely a challenge but one worth taking on as you can only benefit from it by enjoying your savings.  If the timing isn’t good, try another month.  This year my “No Spend” month is October because I was writing this and figured why not do it now so I have money saved for Black Friday in November.  So adjust this idea to best suit your life’s needs.

*ENTERTAINMENT TIP*  Most of the money we spend is on eating out and entertainment.  So instead of going out, stay home.  Have a movie/game night and make dinner followed by theater snacks like popcorn and candy.  Maybe add in going for a walk, this is also a great way to get out without having to spend money, so maybe incorporate that in your cost saving plans.

*JAJ TIP*  Read this previous blog post for ideas on how to clean out and sell or donate your used items.  http://www.justaskjen.net/step-it-up-september

*TECH TIP*  Check out this blog I wrote about “Shopping Smarter” for more money saving ideas.  http://www.justaskjen.net/start-shopping-smarter

Being a Girl Scout Leader the last 4 years has taught me a lot.  So, in return I am trying to give back by teaching my girls about things that I have learned over the years.  I am a firm believer in giving back and not always with money.  Some times it is better to give back with action instead of just talking about or donating to a cause.

This summer my daughter surprised me by wanting to do her Summer Funshine project by herself.  I wanted to assist her in picking a local charity and finding out what they needed help with, then my Girl Scout prepared the rest.  Since The Ark of Chicago has given back to the community for so many years it was an easy selection for us.  Their site was helpful to us by clearly stating their needs and offering documents you could download to print and use.  The Ark has a food pantry so we thought what better way to help than by collecting and donating items to fill the pantry.

Since we live in a building, we had to make sure we had permission to make and place a box in the lobby.  Our amazing door man helped us by making sure all residents knew about it and where to find the box to place the donations.  It may not seem like a lot but we were able to fill a big box (about 4 full shopping bags) of items on the list.  I am very proud of my Girl Scout and all of the residents who live in our building.  At the end of the day it is about teaching the young ones to give back and to be a part of their community.  This drive helped us get to know more of our neighbors and make everyone feel good about helping their community.  It’s all starts at home.  If we are good as a community we can be good to other communities. 

This activity can also help Girl Scouts fulfill requirements for larger awards (like Bronze, Silver and Gold).  Since the goal is to improve life for everyone the Girl Scouts can use this in their life going forward and become pillars in their communities for the work they do 🙂

*JAJ TIP* Give back by setting up your own drive…you can make back to school backpacks, holidays gifts for families less fortunate, food drives, shoe drives, the list is really endless when you start to think of all the ways you can help others.  Trust me as a Personal Concierge I have learned that the list of how to help people has become quite lengthy.

*PLANNING TIP*  Think about what you want to help/improve in your community then think of how you can accomplish that.  Contact charities and companies in your community to find out what they need.  From there you can plan better.

*TECH TIP* Go to the site of your favorite charity to see if they talk about their needs and if they have any marketing pieces you can use for your project.  For example: Items needed List, Boxes for item collection or maybe signs you can put out.