Category Archives: Outdoor Fun

The Fourth of July, one of America’s most beloved holidays, means the summer season is in full swing.  Warm weather, cookouts, fireworks, and families gathered together can make for the perfect day.  Not to mention, there’s no pressure to get anyone a gift, which makes it even better!  Wherever you live, chances are your community has a much-loved Independence Day tradition, whether it’s a parade down Main Street, a neighborhood barbecue, or a great fireworks display at night.  But a variety of reasons could take you out of town this year, which means missing some of your hometown Fourth of July charm.  Although you’ll probably find patriotic festivities at every turn, if you are lucky enough to be in these cities, you’ll be privy to some of the largest and most spectacular fireworks displays and celebrations in the country.

1. Washington D.C. – It’s no surprise that the nation’s capital makes this list!  Hundreds of thousands of people fill the National Mall every July for the 17.5 minute show that can be seen from miles away.  The day leading up to the display is action-packed as well with a parade, United States Army Band concert, and Capitol Fourth concert.  Guests can also arrive hours early to visit the surrounding monuments.
2. New York City– Macy’s 4th of July fireworks are the largest display in the country.  Lasting for over 25 minutes and attracting millions of attendees, these pyrotechnics boast over 50,000 effects.  This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Macy’s show and will be accompanied by a two-hour television special with guests such as Kenny Chesney and Meghan Trainor.
3. Boston, Massachusetts – The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular gets national attention as well as one of the most extravagant in the country.  Pre-luded during the day by publicly televised countdown and concert, the fireworks display lasts over 20 minutes and can be seen from anywhere along the Charles River.  This year’s performers are Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas along with the Boston Pops.
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Considered the birthplace of America, Philadelphia boasts one of the largest 4th of July celebrations with its annual Wawa Welcome America event.  And don’t worry if you can’t make it on July 4th.  This celebration lasts all week long, this year from June 27 to July 4.  It includes special museum exhibits, fun runs and 5k races, outdoor movies, concerts, and ends with the fireworks display along Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
5. Addison, Texas – Independence Day is all about celebrating the underdog, right?  So, we’ll close out the list with a small town in Texas about 20 minutes north of Dallas: Addison’s Kaboom Town!  The event takes place every July 3 from 5pm to midnight in Addison Circle Park.  The day is filled with music and food along with the Addison Air Show.  The town of only 15,000 attracts over 500,000 visitors for the event, and the American Pyrotechnics Association has even dubbed it one of the best displays in the U.S.

Whether you’re staying at home or traveling elsewhere, we wish everyone a very happy Fourth of July!  You can check out more spectacular fireworks displays here.  Be sure to share your holiday pictures with us on Facebook (@mosquitojoe), and tell us how you celebrated.  And if you’re the lucky one hosting an Independence Day bash, don’t forget to call your local Mosquito Joe to make sure your yard and your guests are protected against mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks during the festivities.

With the ability to spend more time with our families, it can be hard to think of new and creative ideas to keep your kids occupied. As a mosquito control company that makes outside fun again, we’ve taken the lead on putting together some unique ideas (see below) the family can do together!

Backyard Events

1. Pitch a tent and camp under the stars.  This is an oldie but a goodie. Going on a full camping trip is time-consuming, takes a lot of preparation, and can be exhausting with kids. So why not cut out most of the work and skip straight to the fun? Pitch a tent, have a bonfire, maybe even tell some ghost stories, all in the comfort of your own backyard! Take a look at this article from Parenting.com for ideas on how to make your adventure even better!
2. Organize a scavenger hunt for the kids.  There are plenty of ways to set up a scavenger hunt for the kids. It’s a great option that works both indoors and outdoors, gets your kids moving, and engages the mind. Check out some of these scavenger hunt ideas for inspiration. A little bit of preparation work is worth the fun they’ll have!
3. Have a luau or other themed family party.  Do you have extra decorations laying around? Spice up your dinner or outdoor party with some of these family-themed party ideas.
4. Create giant board games in the backyard.  You could stay inside all day playing Checkers or Bananagrams, but doesn’t a game of giant backyard Jenga sound so much better? There are do-it-yourself solutions for dozens of games that take them from traditional board games to life-size interactions. Most of these are easy and inexpensive, perfect for a lazy day.
5. Hold your own Olympics. If you are needing to get the kids outside and exercising, why not hold your own backyard Olympics?  You can even stretch this out over a longer period of time to make it a real competition!  Aside from having the kids participate in events, you can get them to make country flags, hold opening ceremonies, and even make their own medals.

Food Related

1. Have an indoor picnic in your newly built fort.  This is two fun activities built into one! Build a fort with sheets and old boxes and then have an indoor picnic in your newly built fort. You can even support a local business in your area by ordering to-go food for your picnic.
2. Plant a garden.  If you have the space in your backyard, planting a garden is a great long-term activity to do with your kids. You can pick out which seeds you’d like to plant, spend time planning the layout of the garden, and then watching from the beginning as the garden grows! If it’s a success, use your haul to make delicious meals or share with neighbors.
3. Have a bonfire and backyard feast.  This is another oldie but a goodie. Many of you probably have memories of bonfires, hot dogs, s’mores, and firecrackers.  This is a great opportunity to pass the memory onto your kids!
4. Take an online cooking class for kids.  Thought cooking classes were only for adults?  There are a variety of YouTube channels and websites that offer cooking classes to kids, too!  Aside from learning new recipes, these videos offer kids a creative outlet that they normally wouldn’t get.  Check out The Step Stool Chef for great videos that you and your family will love!
5. Once a week, let the kids choose and help cook a meal.  If those cooking classes pay off, the kids can even help you in your own kitchen!  Instead of making dinner alone or ordering out, let the kids help you make dinner once in a while to turn cooking into quality family time.

Around the Home

1. Art & Play Activities ArtBar is releasing a weekly art and play activity with supplies and tools you can find around your home. With a little prep, you are able to create an engaging and balanced day for your kids.
2. Complete the 30-day LEGO challenge. If you live with LEGO fans, this 30-day challenge is a great way to get the creative juices flowing, as well as keep the kids occupied for a few hours.
3. “Visit” a local museum or educational attraction online. You are now able to see some of the greatest museums around the world thanks to Google Street View. For some added culture, show your kids the top 10 museums in the world by clicking the link here.
4. Stream a live concert in your own home. Some artists and bands are hosting Facebook Live concerts, so turn on the television, crank up the volume, and jam out to some of your favorite music! Most artists are announcing their concerts on Facebook, so give your favorite singers a “Like” on Facebook so you can stay updated on when they are going live. DJ Mel is also hosting a Facebook live kid-friendly dance party called, “Living Room Dance Party.”
5. Do an at-home workout.  Boosterthon has created a schedule for each day that packs educational, character and fitness-based content all into one day. You can learn more about how to access this content here.

There are thousands of ideas to keep your kids occupied around your home and in the backyard.  A simple Google search will keep you busy for hours! Before you head into the backyard for a bonfire or camping adventure, call your local Mosquito Joe for service to protect your yard from mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Backed by our MoJo Satisfaction guarantee, we get rid of the mosquitoes, so you can enjoy being outside again.

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is meant to honor men and women who have died serving in the U.S. military.  It was first celebrated in the years after the Civil War, and became an official holiday in 1971.  It’s a special day for several reasons.  Memorial Day allows us to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country.  And for many people, it’s also the unofficial start of summer, a chance to celebrate with family and friends, usually by going to a parade or cookout.

Whether you’re an everyday Martha Stewart or a first-time host, this year’s Memorial Day cookout has the potential to be the best yet!  We’ve compiled a list of some creative twists on old traditions that you can use to wow your guests.

• Turn your traditional cookout into one with a “You Bring It, We Grill It” concept. Take some of the burden off your preparation list by having guests bring their own meat, seafood, veggies, etc. This way, you can ensure everyone is getting something they love, and no one will be going home hungry. If you’d like to, you can still provide the main side dishes or just have everyone bring a little something to make a potluck out of it!
• Make sure the patriotic theme carries through to the drink menu as well with these red, white, and blue cocktail recipes.  Choose from a wide range of options including Shirley Temples, martinis, sangria, and shots.  Your guests will definitely notice the extra effort as you add a little spin to some old favorites.
• It’s hard to believe firecrackers and sparklers can get any more amazing than they already are.  But how about making them out of marshmallows?  These marshmallow firecrackers are a great hand-held dessert option for any guest, especially kids.  And you can enjoy them while watching the real fireworks at the end of the night.
• Strawberry shortcake is a staple dessert of many Memorial Day cookouts.  Usually the cake is already assembled, but why not have a build-your-own-shortcakes bar?  Set up a stand with stations for individual sponge cakes, fresh berries, whipped cream, and other assorted toppings.  Your guests can have fun making their own creation in whatever size portions they like.

Celebrating the start of summer is always a fun way to spend a long weekend, but we should never forget the real reason for the holiday.  There are many ways to honor those who have died in service to our country, a few being; donating to an organization, volunteering at a cemetery to put flags on service members’ graves, and simply thanking a veteran for his or her service.

You can also buy a buddy poppy to support the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization.  You’ve probably seen these pins resembling small red flowers with a black center.  The idea started in the early 1920s when the organization paid disabled and needy veterans to assemble paper versions of the poppy.  While the scale of the operation has grown exponentially since then, veterans in need still make each and every buddy poppy.  The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, offers financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs, and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children.

As an organization with many active military members and veterans, Mosquito Joe looks forward to celebrating and honoring Memorial Day every year.  A sincere thank you to those who have served, are currently serving, and who have sacrificed for this country.  If you are interested in mosquito control services for the summer, please contact your local Mosquito Joe to find out how we can help protect your backyard events all season long!

This Sunday is the first day of spring, and we are more than a little excited. Now that daylight savings has occurred, we have more time in the day to enjoy beautiful weather! This year, we have locally owned Mosquito Joe locations in 26 states ready to make outside fun again for communities. The start of spring means breaking out patio furniture, brushing off kiddie pools, and enjoying warmer temperatures, which are all things to look forward to, but we wanted to provide a few tips to help you welcome the season without welcoming the mosquitoes. These tips can also help you make the most of your Mosquito Joe barrier treatment. Anything to get more out of your mosquito control, right?

Tips and Tricks for the First Day of Spring

• More backyard time means more kids’ toys. Make sure you’re checking any toys in your yard that can collect standing water. This is where mosquitoes breed, so you don’t want to create places for them to lay eggs!
• Keep your grass mowed and vegetation trimmed. I know you’ve been out of practice from the winter, but mosquitoes rest in cool shady places like grass.  Keeping it short will not only help your yard,  but it keeps there from being problem areas your technician will have to address.
• As you’re checking off to-dos on that spring cleaning list, make sure gutter cleaning is one of them. That’s a common problem for our customers. Gutters collect rainwater, and mosquitoes will breed there!
• Call your local Mosquito Joe, of course! Most of our local Joes are in full swing scheduling for this season, and some have already started spraying. Give them a call to make sure your yard is protected this year.

And to celebrate the first day of spring, we thought we’d provide you with one of our favorite recipes for when the weather is right for grilling, sitting outside, enjoying happy hour on your patio! From the Blond Cook, we bring you the Cranberry Margarita! Happy Spring!

For the margaritas:

1 cup tequila
1-1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail blend
½ cup triple sec
¼ cup lime juice
Lime wedges and cranberries for garnish (optional)

For rimming the glasses:

2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions:

Pour tequila, cranberry juice cocktail blend, triple sec and lime juice into a pitcher. Stir well to combine. Prepare the salt mixture by placing the kosher salt, sugar and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Stir well until well combined, then pour onto a small plate. Rub lime wedge around the edge of each glass. Dip in the salt mixture on the plate to coat. Serve margaritas over ice and garnish with cranberries and lime wedge, if desired. Enjoy your first day of spring!

The first day of August is here! I can’t believe this summer is flying by as quickly as it is. Last week I took my dog in for her annual checkup at the vet, and I noticed a big poster on the wall about the dangers of leaving your pet in the car during the months that are hot. As we make our way into one of the hottest months of the year, it got me thinking about other things in the summer that can be harmful (and irritating) to our pets.

When the temperature goes up, the insects come out. That’s not new news, but the amount of fleas and ticks that summer brings could be. The ideal temperature for these pet problems are between 70-90 degrees. That’s generally a typical summer day for most parts of the country. Fleas and ticks also require high humidity level around 70% which increases the chance for large amounts of the insects in areas like the Southeast of the US.

Ticks find their hosts by detecting animals´ breath and body odors, or by sensing body heat and moisture, all of which are upped during the summer months and fleas, well…they’ll jump to find you. You get the picture. Hot = fleas and ticks. To make sure your pet is safe this summer here are some tips to keep them cool, hydrated, and and itch free this summer.

• If dogs or cats must be outside, make sure they have an adequate supply of water.
• If they are tied to a unmovable object, make sure shade is in their reach.
• Never leave your dog alone in the car (even with the windows down) during the summer months. 
• Make sure you have your cats and dogs on a flea and tick prevention program year round.
• Mosquito Joe barrier treatments help protect against fleas and ticks and set up a perimeter around your yard, keeping them out.

We love seeing pictures of our customers (two legged or four legged) so if you have plans that involve getting out in your yard with your pet this weekend, we’d love to see pictures. Send them to marketing@mosquitojoe.com and you may be featured on our Facebook page or in a future blog post! We hope you enjoy your weekend!