Does your family need an escape from the real world? How about visit an island? A little pretending will revive and renew the smiles at home…
Go to a pretend island paradise for dinner. Decorate your kitchen/table with whatever “islandish” stuff you have around. ..leis, shells, bright colored paper, etc. 
We did splurge and buy little umbrellas to go in the cups, a pineapple, and the items to make a smoothie (see the recipe below).
Let your little ones wear a lei (see instructions below to make your own) and use a piece of material or a towel to make a skirt. 
The fun of it all is just changing the norm. Put on island music and enjoy your dinner as you sip on a fancy drink. This is what family memories can be built on…. You could be finished after dinner or you could end the night with dancing or with watching a favorite “island” movie.
Coconut Pineapple Smoothie
2/3 cup coconut milk (I use ½ of a small can so closer to 5 ounces)
2 cups pineapple juice
¼ cup sugar
Ice
Blend and serve.
Homemade Leis
Straws, cut into half inch segments
Crepe paper (2 colors–red and lime green are pictured, but use whatever you want!)
String or yarn
Masking tape
Cut flowers that are the full width of crepe paper folded back and worth. Also, cut “leaves” out of the second color of crepe paper.
Make a small slit in the middle of each flower. Cut a length of string that is just slightly longer than you want the finished lei. Tie a knot or tie a piece of straw to the bottom to keep the flowers you lace on from falling off. Use a small piece of masking tape to create a hard end to be able to lace the items on. 
Alternate flower, leaf, flower and then a piece of the straw to create your very own lei! Repeat. Tie the two ends of the string together to finish.
The featured picture in this post came from pixabay.com
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