What to Do on a Rainy Day at Home: 15 Fun Ideas

It’s raining so hard that school was canceled, you can’t get to work or you simply want to enjoy a day indoors. Looking for ideas on how to entertain yourself or others? Here’s what to do on a rainy day at home.  Cook Something Delicious  You can pass the time by whipping up some fresh-baked tortilla chips, sandwiches or a batch of cookies. Then, you can spend even more time eating them!  If you live with other people, see if they’d like to join in and help you in the kitchen. Your kids might not be five-star chefs, but they’ll have so much fun licking the spoon and cracking eggs. Just be prepared for a couple of shells in your cake.  Play Music  Break out the guitar or ukulele and play your favorite songs. If you don’t know how to play an instrument, a rainy day is the perfect time to learn one. You can also make music by singing or banging on pots and pans. Or, put on a playlist and just listen and dance along. Knit or Crochet You know what pairs perfectly with a rainy day? A cozy, knitted blanket or sweater. Making your own clothes, bedding and home decor out of yarn is a relaxing way to enjoy a day at home. Maybe you could even make something for your friends and family, like baby socks or stuffed animals.  Learn a Language  Do you have a Spanish book that’s been gathering dust on the shelf? Get it out and memorize some new words. You can also use websites, apps and movies with subtitles to help you expand your vocabulary.  Learning another language opens up whole new worlds — you’ll be able to meet people, travel to other countries and read foreign newspapers straight from the source, giving you a broader perspective on global affairs.  Plus, you can finally order food from that authentic Mexican restaurant without mixing up the words for lawyer and avocado, or staples and grapes. They’re just so darn similar.  Watch a Movie Pop some popcorn, dim the lights and put on a film. Choose an old favorite or close your eyes and pick one at random from the queue. Sure, it could be one of the worst-rated Ice Age sequels, but it might end up being so bad that it’s good. Then invite some friends over to enjoy the movie together.  Watch the Rain If you want something more laid back and soothing, set up some chairs on the porch and then watch the downpour. Thunder and lightning can be just as interesting as a movie. Stick your hands out from under the roof and let them get rained on.  Play Video Games Connect with some friends online to play virtual card games and beat them in a round of golf. Or, play a solo RPG and immerse yourself in a fantasy realm of elves, wizards and orcs. It’s not raining over there.  Read a Book Get lost in another world by picking up a fiction novel, or delve into a fascinating read about medical mysteries, royal scandals or the hidden social lives of ants. You have an unlimited wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. If you don’t have anything interesting on your bookshelf, find a free book online or purchase an ebook to read on your phone.  Have a Spa Day With a little creativity, you can turn your own bathroom into a world-class spa retreat. Mix up a body scrub in the kitchen by blending olive oil and sugar, then use it to exfoliate your skin. Soak in a bubble bath, dye your hair, paint your nails or give yourself a pedicure. When you finally go back outside, you’ll look and feel invigorated.  Play Hide and Seek Give in to your kids’ demands and join them in hiding around the house. Or, play the reverse version — called sardines — where only one person hides, and multiple people search for them. Whenever you find the hider, you have to hide with them, until several people are stuffed into one tight spot like sardines.  By the end, one person is looking for all their friends or family who have to somehow remain silent as they’re all crammed under the same table. It’s a hilarious, lighthearted thing to do on a rainy day at home.  Make Art Let the weather inspire you and paint a blue, stormy watercolor. Or, take turns with your roommates to pose for each other, and then try to draw each other’s portraits in under five minutes apiece. The results should be interesting.  Play Board Games Enjoy a quick round of Bananagrams or Scrabble if you like word games, or play something kid-friendly like Candy Land. If you have several hours to kill and want to test your relationship’s strength, set up Catan or Monopoly, then remind yourself over and over that your spouse doesn’t actually want to steal your resources.  Probably.  Have a Dart Gun Fight Chase your friends or kids around the house and try to tag each other with foam darts. You can combine this with a game of hide and seek, or play some old-fashioned cops and robbers.  Make up your own house rules. For example, if you get hit in the arm, maybe you can no longer use that arm, or you can use pillows as shields to fend off incoming darts.  Plant Cuttings Snip some branches or stems off the succulents, vines and other houseplants you promise you’re going to water soon, then plant them in individual pots. In a few weeks, once the cuttings have established themselves, you can give them away as gifts to friends or family members.  Jump in Puddles Reconnect with your inner child. Put on some rain boots or go barefoot, then run outside, get in the mud and splash around for a minute. There’s no rule that says you have to stay indoors unless the sun is out. Then, you can follow up by taking a hot shower and snuggling up under a blanket. Bring on the Rain Hopefully, these tips gave you some inspiring ideas for what to do on a rainy day. Keep it calm and relaxed by doing self-care, reading books and baking, or up the ante and play exciting games around the house. Even if the weather isn’t cooperating, there are so many ways to have fun. All it takes is a little imagination.

When you have an allergy, the dream of pet ownership might seem too far out of reach. Everyone deserves to have man's best friend by their side. More dogs are hypoallergenic than you might think. Several breeds have specific types of coats that prevent shedding, but as a result, they may need regular grooming. Here are some of the best dogs for people with allergies — and only a few have little or no hair! 1. Chinese Crested Dog When people picture the Chinese Crested Dog, they often think of the dog with tufts of hair on its head, but this breed also has a "powderpuff" variety with plenty of hair. If you want a great dog to reduce your allergies, pick the variation with little hair. This breed, regardless of hair amount, is playful and alert. It does best in a family with children who will treat it gently. The Chinese Crested Dog is small and loves to play, but it needs to be well cared for. 2. Bedlington Terrier Many breeds you'll see on this list are in the Terrier group. These dogs typically have different coat types and are some of the best hypoallergenic dogs you'll find. The Bedlington Terrier is no different. Though it might look like a lamb, it's a dog! Its curly coat makes it less likely to shed, meaning less hair and dander around your home. Even better is that it doesn't have a ton of energy like a lot of Terrier breeds do — regular daily exercise will keep this pup happy! 3. American Hairless Terrier These little guys are the perfect apartment dogs for people with allergies. Another breed in the Terrier group, its hairlessness actually results from a recessive trait in its genetics, but there are still some circumstances where individual dogs can have hair. This pup doesn't require a lot of exercise, making it a great companion dog you can cuddle up on the couch with.  4. Standard Poodle Standard Poodles are a bit larger than their counterparts, the Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle. While both of those variations of the breed are hypoallergenic as well, the Standard Poodle is great for individuals because of their high activity needs, and they're intelligent dogs who need some sort of mental stimulation every day to keep them happy. They might be challenging to train for a first-time dog owner, but as they're one of the smartest breeds out there, a Poodle will be well worth any trouble you have. You'll have to devote regular trips to the dog groomer if you want to keep your Poodle's coat looking neat and tidy. This variation of Poodle definitely needs regular exercise, so it's a great breed for an individual or family looking for a smart dog to kick them out of their couch potato habits.  5. Irish Water Spaniel This breed's curly coat results in minimal shedding, making it one of the best dogs for people with allergies. It's the tallest of all spaniels, and it's majorly goofy. Still, even with its fun-loving personality, the Irish Water Spaniel is an intelligent breed that is always willing to learn and do what it takes to please its owner.  This breed has a lot of energy, so you may find yourself more active than ever trying to keep up with it. Just remember not to push yourself — having a rest day is essential to your body mending and preparing for more movement. A tired Irish Water Spaniel is a happy Irish Water Spaniel, but your pup will be content to just pass the days with you. 6. Schnauzer This breed's major charm is its little mustache and beard, which you must regularly groom to take care of properly. The Schnauzer comes in three sizes: Giant, Standard and Miniature. Miniature Schnauzers are popular dogs today, though they were originally used for catching rats and herding sheep. Schnauzers can be protective, and they need lots of exercise. They may not be great apartment dogs, especially the larger variations, but as long as you can devote time to them every day, they'd do well with an active family or folks with a big backyard. 7. Yorkshire Terrier In the past, Yorkshire Terriers have been lapdogs of choice, but before that, they were chasing rats out of places they didn't need to be. These little dogs love to be pampered, but they also have great energy that can be channeled into being the perfect watchdog over a smaller space, like an apartment or condo. This breed is luxury in an energetic package, and you're sure to have adventures daily with this hypoallergenic breed by your side. More Dogs for People With Allergies Than You'd Think Many people think they have to feel limited to hairless dogs when they have an allergy. While there are plenty of cute hairless dogs for people with allergies, you shouldn't feel limited to a certain look. Hairless, wiry and curly-coated dogs can offer you the same hypoallergenic experience with vastly different temperaments and exercise levels. All you must do is research which breed will work best for you, and you can find the cutest and best-suited breed for your household.