Six Ways to Make Memories From Home

Connect in the Kitchen

“If you want to connect with your kids, try the kitchen,” says Meryl Hunte on her Connecting Kitchen website. Meryl is a certified health coach, relationship expert, video blogger and mom. She holds virtual cooking classes to help parents deepen their relationship with their children. Classes cost $15 per household and last an hour and a half. Recent and planned menu items include Indian Curry, Poke Bowls, Asian Stir-fry, Mediterranean Salmon and Chicken Shawarma. Connecting Kitchen also offers girls nights out and sessions geared toward coaching and team building.

Toast to Staycations

Don a Hawaiian shirt and conjure tropical thoughts – it’s time to make a tiki drink! Food journalist Amy Rogers selected two recipes for you to try from the new book “Easy Tiki.” She also spoke with The Ballantyne Hotel’s food and beverage director, Scott Daniel, and obtained the recipe for the Hotel’s hybrid drink, “The Ballantyne Cucumber Mint Mulep.” Gather the necessary ingredients ahead of time and video call your friends and family for a spirited staycation activity.

Learn Where You Live

The pivot from in-person to virtual learning didn’t stop with our kids. SkillPop Anywhere launched on March 18, offering virtual classes with subjects ranging from art techniques to home decorating and entrepreneurship. Guided by local experts, SkillPop’s classes continue the social and instructional atmosphere on your screen. Book a lesson with friends regardless of distance, gather any necessary materials and enjoy an evening learning a new skill. Many instructional classes are available for re-watch, perfect for sharing specific techniques with the family. Mark your calendars for upcoming courses like Crayola Calligraphy, Craft the Perfect Cheeseboard and Graphic Design for Non-Designers. 

Complete a DIY Project

Nailed It South Charlotte’s studio just moved – to your home! DIYers create from three experiences: individual crafting, virtual parties or guided virtual parties. Customize your kit, purchase online and pick up from a studio location or ship-to-home. The wooden décor items you select can serve as inspiration or celebrate recent holidays. Mark a milestone occasion with a guided virtual party or spend an afternoon inside with the family creating memories – and the next favorite home decoration.

Stay Healthy With the Y

You might not be attending in-person fitness classes right now, but you can still participate – by yourself or with a group of your choosing – thanks to the YMCA. The Y offers free access to online workout videos through YMCA 360. Send the link to friends and family and take a class together! Currently, there are no membership requirements. As it says on the Y’s website, “This is a place for all to gather and stay healthy.” Classes include yoga, dance fitness, weightlifting, boot camp, barre, cycling, kids and youth activities and options for active older adults.

Sweat Simultaneously

There are several ways to burn off last night’s brownies with your bestie. Pick your favorite workout videos from YouTube and kick it into high gear with a partner or group using virtual video-watching tools like Watch2gether or Sync Video. Copy and paste URLs into a playlist, share the room link with your friends and the videos will automatically play at the same time for all users. For a more integrated experience, there are options to add video and voice feed.

A low-tech option: Choose a video with a friend, get on a regular or FaceTime call and click “Play” simultaneously. It’s amazing how hearing someone else rally through those squats will motivate you through the next rep!

More ways to watch YouTube videos together: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/watch-youtube-together