Fun Enterprises News and Newsletters

The answer is simple. Once Labor Day passes, the event season takes off. Everyone is looking to schedule fundraisers, employee appreciation events, awards celebrations, holiday parties, family gatherings, and year-end socials. Suddenly, everyone is competing for the same dates.

I was looking at the calendar the other day and realized there are only about 17 weekends between September 1 and December 31, along with roughly 15 Thursdays and Fridays. That's not a lot of prime event dates. It's no surprise that many of the most popular entertainment options book quickly.

I don't mention that to scare anyone. At FUN Enterprises, we always find a way to help make your event special. What I do hope is that it gets you thinking about what kind of experience you'd like to create this fall.

One thing we've learned over the past few years is that companies are changing the way they celebrate. A holiday party in December isn't the only option anymore. In fact, many organizations are choosing to spread the fun throughout the fall with employee appreciation events, family festivals, pumpkin decorating, Halloween celebrations, and other activities that give employees a chance to connect before the holiday rush begins.

And honestly, I love seeing that trend.

At the end of the day, it's not really about the event itself. It's about the memories that come from sharing those experiences together.

Think about your own favorite memories of fall or the holidays. Mine aren't about expensive gifts or elaborate parties.

I remember getting my picture taken with Santa at Jordan Marsh every year. I remember hanging that one special ornament on the Christmas tree that always had a story behind it. I remember making an elbow macaroni wreath in school every December...and then making another one the next year because the old one somehow got buggy in the attic! I remember going apple picking with friends, drinking cider, laughing, and enjoying those beautiful New England fall days.

None of those moments seemed extraordinary at the time. But years later, they're still the memories that make me smile.

That's why I love what we do at FUN Enterprises.

Yes, we provide entertainment. Yes, we bring games, inflatables, photo booths, performers, and activities to events.

But what we're really helping create are moments that people will remember. Moments where coworkers become friends. Moments where families laugh together. Moments that become stories people tell for years.

Those shared experiences matter.

So while we're all still trying to stay cool this summer, now is a great time to start talking about your fall and holiday plans. Whether it's a large company celebration, a family fall festival, a Halloween event, or something completely unique, we'd love to help you create an experience your employees and guests won't forget.

After all, memories are one of the few things that only become more valuable with time.

Program Spotlight!

Take a closer look at one of our newer programs:

4x6 "Boothless" Photo Booth Photos

Learn More

Finding the Joy with Lexi

There have been a few changes with the newsletter over the last few months. I have personally taken over compiling and editing it. Deb is still writing articles but is changing her focus to be a bit more personal. Sadly, Sam has left for a new job, so we will miss her and her Gluten-Free Recipes.

Knowing that spot in the newsletter had opened up, I decided I would like to be the one to fill it, but it took some thought to figure out exactly what to fill it with. It didn't take long to decide I wanted to add what the world always needs more of: joy!

It seems like everywhere you turn these days, there is something new to worry about. We also have seemingly unlimited access to every breaking news story across the globe. I enjoy social media and scrolling through videos, and yet these heavy topics still make their way into my feed, reminding me of the weight of the chaos surrounding me. I often find it difficult to strike the balance between staying informed about important news and not allowing myself to be consumed by fear and dread.

When it's all too much to process, it's so important to put the phone down and find something that sparks joy. For some, this is sitting with a book or watching a movie to escape reality for a while. For others, it's expressing themselves creatively through cooking or crafting. Sometimes it's going for a walk to clear your head or taking a nap to recharge.

If you feel like you don't know where to start, that's what this article is for. I plan to provide you with little bits of joy every other month. It might be a new recipe to try, a simple craft project, or a fun activity to get your body up and moving! If you try any of these ideas, or have ideas of your own to share, send them to me at lexi@funent.com. You just might see your idea featured in our next newsletter!

Simple Face Mask

At Home Dance or Karaoke Party

Go For a Color Walk

Just Say It, Please! Thank You!

by Michael Miller

Perhaps because I’ve had some serious life events recently – or because the heat of this summer has left me a bit silent and still, I find myself reflective and feeling a bit grateful for some of best parts of my life.

Grateful for family and friends I love, a career about which I care deeply, and grateful for the opportunity to work with people around the United States who make a difference in their organizations. Of course, the bottom line in all this thankfulness is people. Lately, I have been trying to express my gratitude to these important people more frequently. My attempts have helped to bring me clarity on valuable people in my life, have solidified my feelings, and have even strengthened some important relationships!

What about you?

I know you are grateful for people in your life – and I also know you think at times, “I should let them know.” But, expressing gratitude isn’t always easy: We think of it, we get busy and distracted, so we put it off. So why not create a special moment NOW and tell a special person why you appreciate their presence in your life. Friend, spouse, partner, or colleague – anyone you’re grateful for is eligible!

Here’s how simple it is to do:

1. Reflect on those people in your life you are grateful for and choose one!

It will SURPRISE you to know just how many people you are actually grateful for: the person you choose will probably not be the most OBVIOUS! That’s a FUN part of the reflection. Please also be sure to choose someone not based on THEIR need to hear your positive thoughts; rather, focus on YOUR desire to express this gratitude.

2. Complete this phrase thinking of ther person you selected: I am grateful to you for . . .

Say it SIMPLY: no need for too many adjectives or FLUFFY phrases. SHORT is fine, SINCERE is best! Also, if an AWKWARD silence prevails after you express your gratitude, follow up with, “I just wanted you to know this!” And, then feel free to MOVE on!

3. Knock on their door and enter or pick up the phone and dial them up: DO IT NOW!

Don’t PROCRASITNATE: remember the clock is ticking – and time’s a wasting. Don’t CHEAT someone of this important, positive and meaningful approbation. Your thoughts mean MORE than you know. You realize, of course, that you are also going to make someone’s day!

Please let me know how it goes at msmtrainsyou@mac.com!

By the way, if you didn’t already know, I am grateful to you for reading this!

Just Between Us... Be Kinder to Yourself

by Debra Holland

We always hear about ways we can treat each other better. Whether it's being there for family and friends, being a little more patient with our neighbors, or simply being polite in public. All important things, to be sure.

But today I'd like to bring things a little closer to home and talk about someone we often forget to be kind to... ourselves.

Recently, an old friend came to my house for a visit. She's going through what may be the end of her marriage, and as we sat talking, she kept expressing disappointment in herself over things she'd done. Hindsight is almost always 20/20, and while it's healthy to own our mistakes, it's not healthy to carry them around for years.

I learned many moons ago that when people need to talk, they're usually not looking for advice. They just need someone to listen. So, like the good Irish girl that I am, I put on the kettle, and we sat with our tea while she shared what was on her mind.

As I listened, something unexpected happened. I recognized myself in her words. Not because our situations were identical, but because I remembered that same self-blame after my own long-term relationship ended years ago. I didn't feel qualified to advise her about her marriage, but I felt completely comfortable talking about the relationship she had with herself.

It took me much longer than I'd like to admit to realize that I spend more time listening to my own thoughts than anyone else's. We all have that inner voice. If you're like me and occasionally catch yourself talking out loud, you know exactly the one I'm talking about.

The surprising thing is that this voice isn't always obvious. Sometimes it sounds so familiar that we mistake it for the truth. It quietly reminds us of every mistake we've made, tells us we should have known better, or convinces us that everyone else somehow has life figured out while we're still trying to read the instruction manual.

I've come to believe that this inner voice is one of the most important voices in our lives because it shapes how we see ourselves. And how we see ourselves influences how we walk through the world.

What I've also realized is that we often speak to ourselves in ways we'd never dream of speaking to someone we love. If a friend came to us feeling hurt or embarrassed, we'd offer encouragement, compassion, and probably a hug. Yet when it's us, we're often our own harshest critics.

So, here's a little exercise that helped me.

The next time you find yourself thinking negatively about yourself, try stepping outside your own head for just a moment. Imagine yourself standing across the room. Now speak to that person. Chances are you'll choose kinder, gentler words, and maybe even give yourself a little grace.

Sometimes creating that small bit of distance helps us hear ourselves differently. I still catch myself slipping occasionally. We all do. But now, when that critical little voice starts up, I remind myself that I'm going to spend my entire life with me. It only makes sense to become one of my own biggest supporters instead of my harshest critic.

So, if you're anything like me, remember to be nice to yourself. Give yourself the same kindness you'd so freely give someone you love.

You deserve it too.

To AI or Not to AI, That is the Question

by Ken Abrahams

Truth be told I enjoy both reading and writing. When I began this article, my plan was to write about the drop off experience at college for both parents and students but several articles that made it to my inbox derailed that.

AI has been in the news and in Higher Education publications for several years now and it is not going away anytime soon. Schools at all levels are struggling with whether it shouldn’t be allowed to be used (not sure how that is going to happen), or if it should be incorporated into the classwork.

In reality there is probably no ideal answer.

My use of AI is limited. It has been used in the past to do research and edit articles but as I said I enjoy writing, so it is not a hardship to write these pieces every other month. That being said these articles intrigued me, and I decided to stick to my original theme but let AI write it. Giving credit where credit is due Chat GPT has edited enough of my writing that it understands my voice and style. Here is what Chat came up with I hope you like it.

College move-in day is one of life's great emotional roller coasters. One minute you're hauling mini refrigerators up three flights of stairs, and the next you're standing in a parking lot wondering how someone who couldn't remember to take out the trash is suddenly old enough to live on their own. Parents, this is your moment to cheer, hug, and then—this is the hard part—step back. Your student will grow the most by figuring things out for themselves. They may forget to do laundry until they run out of socks, miss an alarm, or discover that instant ramen isn't actually a food group. Those aren't failures; they're lessons. Sometimes the best way to help is to resist the urge to rescue.

Students, college is your chance to become the author of your own story. If you have a question, ask it. If you're struggling, introduce yourself to your professor, visit office hours, or meet with your advisor before a small problem becomes a big one. Self-advocacy is one of the most valuable skills you'll ever develop, and college is the perfect place to practice it. The people around you want to help—but they can't if they
don't know you need it. You'll also find that some of the best friendships begin with a simple "Hi, I'm new here."

To both parents and students: give yourselves permission to be imperfect. There will be homesick days, forgotten deadlines, awkward introductions, and maybe even a few calls home that begin with, "You're never going to believe what happened." That's all part of the adventure. Growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones, and every challenge overcome builds confidence for the next one. So celebrate the victories, laugh at the missteps, and trust the process. Four years from now, you'll both be amazed at just how much you've grown.

Book Review by Erica Lombardi

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

⭐⭐⭐⭐

There are tons of wonderful books about female friendship, but I haven’t come across many that successfully showcase the nuances of womanhood in the way that The Lion Women of Tehran does. Two girls meet as children and grow into two entirely different kinds of women: one soft, one fierce, one who wants safety, and one who can't stop reaching for more. Somehow the friendship holds both of them, until it can't. That tension is what makes this book so hard to put down. It's not just a story about two friends who love each other; it's a story about everything a woman can be, told twice, side by side.

The story opens in 1981 New York, where Ellie, now settled into a quiet American life with her husband Mehrdad, gets a call out of nowhere from Homa, the best friend she hasn't spoken to in years. From there we're swept back to 1953 Tehran, Iran, where seven-year-old Ellie, newly poor after her father's death, meets Homa on her first day at a new school, and an instant, fierce friendship is born.

Through years of Ellie and Homa’s friendship, Kamali shows how differently two women can perceive the world and still love each other, despite stark differences. Homa is bold and unafraid, carrying the spirit of the shir zan, the "lion women" of Iranian legend, straight into student protests and activism. Ellie wants something softer: a home, books, a life that doesn't ask too much of her. Kamali portrays both women as full, complicated women, one who fights and one who tends, one who's loud and one who's careful, and never suggests one way of being a woman beats the other.

That's really the heart of the book: womanhood shown as a whole spectrum, not a single ideal. There's Ellie's mother, worn down by grief and grievance. There's Homa, whose courage costs her more than anyone should have to pay, and who becomes a mother herself under the hardest circumstances. There's the quiet resilience of women just trying to survive a political and social revolution, and the fierce joy of two girls giggling in a schoolyard before any of that history affected them. Kamali captures all of the tenderness, the fury, the guilt, the grit, and boldly claims, “this is all womanhood too.”

More than anything, The Lion Women of Tehran is a nudge to set aside the differences that keep us at arm's length from the people who matter most. It's easy to love someone for being just like us. It's harder, and so much richer, to love someone for the ways they aren't: for the parts of them that are bolder or softer or braver or more cautious than we'd ever be. Kamali's novel is a quiet argument for that kind of radical love, the kind that doesn't ask someone to shrink to fit us, but celebrates every nuance of who they actually are.

Looking for a great program? Our Bear Friends Forever never disappoints!

Below is the newest lineup - click here for all bear options!

*Subject to Availability

Call 781-436-3187 or email

Ken Abrahams (Ken@funent.com) for College/University Events

AC Anders (AC@funent.com) for Corporate

Brainteasers

1. You see me once in June, twice in August, But never in May. What am I?

2. I have pointed fangs, and I sit and wait. I have piercing force, and I crunch with weight. I grab my victims, but they do not fight. I join them each with a single, quick bite. What am I?

3. Every night I’m told what to do, and each morning I do what i’m told. But I still don’t escape your scold. What am I?

See Answers

Math Riddles

1. If 2 is company and 3 is a crowd, what are 4 and 5?

2. A tree doubled in height each year until it reached its maximum height over the course of ten years. How many years did it take for the tree to reach half its maximum height?

3. When does 9 + 5 = 2?

See answers

Kim's Corner

Click the links below for some great ideas, recipes, and FUN!

Summer Grilling Recipes

End Of Summer Recipes

Top 30 New England Travel Ideas

New England Attractions Your Family Will Love

Random Trivia

1. When are the “dog days” of summer?

2. What European country has 158 verses in its national anthem?

3. Who was the first host of the long-running game show Jeopardy?

See Answers

Gardening

August Gardening Tips

10 Things to Do in Your Garden in August

Gardening Tips for September

September Gardening Chores

How to Plant a Fall Garden

Have you viewed Ken's Tuesday@10 Video Blogs?

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Puzzle Answers:

Hidden Object Puzzle:

Trivia:

1. The weeks between July 3 and August 11. This sweltering part of the season is named after the Dog Star (Sirius) in the Canis Major constellation.

2. Greece

3. Art Fleming

Brainteasers

1. The letter “U”.

2. A stapler.

3. An alarm clock.

Math Puzzle

1. 9.

2. Nine years.

3. When we think in terms of time — 9 a.m. + 5 hours = 2 p.m.

Newsletter compiled and edited by

Lexi Grabowski

August 2026

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. I hope you have had a wonderful summer and a FUN start to your fall!

Lexi's Bits of Joy

07/15/2026

Simple Face Mask

I don’t know about you, but with my busy schedule, trying to book a facial at a spa is just not in the cards. I want to take time and pamper myself, but trying to schedule child care or even spend the extra money makes what should be a relaxing experience a whole new stressor.

This “Bit of Joy” takes the stress out of pampering yourself. It’s simple, inexpensive and can be done right at home.

Give yourself an at home spa treatment with only a few ingredients you most likely already have lying around the house.

All you need is:

1 ripe banana (the more ripe, the less lumpy the mask will be)

1 teaspoon of honey

Mix these two ingredients together then apply to your face. Leave on the mask and relax for 15 minutes. When finished, wash off the mask with a wet cloth.

You can add other ingredients like 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, instant coffee grounds or plain yogurt to elevate the experience, but I recommend doing some research beforehand.

Now if you're someone with sensory sensitivities, this may not be the right face mask for you. The texture can take some getting used to, but overall it was very relaxing and has a sweet aroma. It left my face feeling smooth the rest of the day!

At Home Dance or Karaoke Party

I am the first to admit that I do not get my body moving as much as I should. I always feel great after physical activity, so why does it always take so much motivation to get up and moving?

Well if there’s one thing that will stir up that motivation, it’s some good music. I can’t help but start to move when my favorite song comes on.

This “Bit of Joy” helps to literally shake off the stress of any day and get my heart pumping and my body moving.

Make a list of some of your favorite songs and cue them up on your phone or tv (we use youtube to find the karaoke versions of our favorite songs) crank the volume and just dance and sing to your heart's content!

This is one of those activities you can do on your own or extend the fun to the rest of the family/household!

This is by far one of my personal favorite ways to get myself out of a funk. There’s a different playlist almost every time, but my current favorite song to dance to is “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars.

What song gets you up and moving?

Go For A Color Walk

How often do you feel like you are stuck in the same routine? Cooped up at home, stuck at your office, same commute back and forth. It sometimes feels like you’re in a fog of monotony.

This “Bit of Joy” helps change up the pace of the everyday and helps incorporate some mindfulness. I’ve recently been very intentional about becoming more mindful and this activity is a simple way to get that started.

Whether it’s just a 10 minute stroll down your street, a long walk through a local park, or through a mall (if it’s raining and you need to be indoors) pick a color and take a picture of everything you see in that color scheme.

You can give yourself a true challenge by sticking with a very specific tone/shade or keep it easy and go with any hue.

You might already take a walk every day. By adding the challenge of looking for a certain color, you are more intentional about seeing what is around you. It may open your eyes to small details in your own neighborhood you never noticed before.

Bonus activity, you can then take all those pictures and create a collage (digital or physical).

This is another activity that can be done solo or extended to others to join in the fun.

My children joined me for my recent color walk and it sparked some wonderful conversations. My daughter keeps asking when we can go on our next color walk. She’s determined to make a full rainbow of her photos from each color walk!

Bear Friends Forever

02/24/2026

Below are the most recent listing of Animals - 16 inch and 8 inch and Holiday choices.

Stuff-A-Squishie

02/24/2026