Model Magic by Crayola is one of those craft supplies I like to keep on hand for when we have Emily’s friends over for a visit. I try to stock up on it at AC Moore or Michael’s using the 40% off coupon and get a big tub of the white Model Magic. For this […]
Secret Paintings
April 7, 2009 by
I showed Emily how to make crayon resist drawings, and she had a lot of fun with this activity. We did these at night, and it seemed like a fabulous way to end the day. Quiet, relaxing, and fun. To make your own, you will need a white crayon or oil pastel, white paper, and […]
Jell-O Finger Painted Easter Eggs
April 6, 2009 by
If you want to do finger painting with your kids, but worry about them getting the paint in their mouths, this is a great activity to try. Even my 9 month old had a turn at this, and loved it! We made our own finger paint using Jell-O and a little warm water. Mix the […]
Making Veggies Last
April 5, 2009 by
One question I get asked about regarding my once a month grocery shopping is, “What do you do about fresh fruits and vegetables?” Here are some tips I have learned along the way to keep your fresh fruits and vegetables lasting a bit longer: Fruits and Vegetables that will last about 1 month (3-4 weeks) […]
Slacker Saturday — Easy Phonics Game
April 4, 2009 by
The idea behind this phonics game is simple: separate cards into two piles (one with categories and one with letters). Have your child pick one card from each pile. For example, “Animal” and “G” means she must name an animal that starts with the letter G. Emily seemed to enjoy this game, and afterwards asked […]
$5 Friday — Rainy Day Fun
April 3, 2009 by
This is what we woke up to this morning… When it is raining and you don’t know what to do with the kids, a wise person once told me “Never underestimate the power of the indoor fort”. I could not agree more. It is part hide-out, part reading nook, and part playhouse all rolled into […]
Nature Packs!
April 2, 2009 by
If you are looking for some cheap entertainment this summer, you may not have to look any further than your own backyard. To help foster some outdoor time for Emily, I asked her to gather some things from around the house to make her own nature pack. She is very excited to go on an […]
Graphing with Skittles
April 1, 2009 by
Nothing helps motivate kids to learn more than CANDY! Last week, I purchased a large bag of Skittles at Big Lots for just $2. Today, we did some graphing with them, and Emily counted them as we went along. We charted the ages of family and friends. Purple for Clara (not quite 1), Orange for […]
Free Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A
March 31, 2009 by
Participating Chick-Fil-A locations will feature Free Breakfast Wednesdays! This means that every Wednesday in April, you can get a free breakfast entree at Chick-fil-A during regular breakfast hours (usually until 10:30am). Participating locations include: Trexlertown, Berkshire Mall, Quakertown, Lehigh Valley Mall, Schuylkill Mall, Mechanicsburg, and Broadcasting Square. One entree per person, while supplies last. Many […]
Cute and Frugal Monogramed Onesie
March 31, 2009 by
Emily was very excited to create something special for Clara this afternoon, and cardboard stencils made this project very easy! I found a set of cardboard alphabet and number stencils at Big Lots for just $1. Baby onesies are usually very inexpensive. This one came in a pack of 3 for $7.99 at Target. With […]
Fabulous and Frugal Paper Lanterns
March 30, 2009 by
I have seen lanterns similar to this at the dollar store, and this afternoon Emily and I dressed one of ours up a bit with some tissue paper and glue. The finished lantern will be hanging up in her bedroom. To make your own, you will need a paper lantern, some colored tissue paper, white […]
Top 5 Big Purchases (that are worth the money)
March 29, 2009 by
Mark and I are very methodical about large purchases. We plan ahead, research the latest reviews, and patiently wait for things to go on sale. Here are some of the things we have found to be the BEST buys for the money (i.e. big purchases that are really worth it): 1. Digital Camera — We […]
Slacker Saturday — Flying Saucer Frisbees
March 28, 2009 by
It’s time for another great Slacker Saturday activity, and this one is very simple, super frugal, and lots of fun! Today’s activity is… Make your own flying saucer frisbees! To make yours, you will need 2 paper plates stapled together as shown, aluminum foil, and some stickers to decorate. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, […]
$5 Friday — Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk Paint
March 27, 2009 by
Special thanks to Amanda at Kiddio.org for inspiring this week’s $5 Friday activity — make your own sidewalk chalk paint! This is very inexpensive and easy to do. We had tons of fun with this and created a detailed space scene on the asphalt of our driveway. Lots of planets, stars, rockets, and comets! The […]
Inexpensive Field Guides for Tots
March 26, 2009 by
When I took Emily to the book store the other night, we looked for some field guides to add to her backpack for nature hikes, but they were very expensive. I found a great way to make a more child-friendly version. It is simple and easy to make yourself. To make your own bird field […]
What color was your day?
March 25, 2009 by
Do you ever enjoy a “date night” with one of your kids? You know, for some quality one-on-one time away from the rest of the family? Last night it was Emily’s one-on-one time with me and I took her to the toy store, the candy store (I let her choose five pieces of candy), and […]
Free Printable Garden Journal Pages
March 24, 2009 by
We have been hard at work on our garden journal. I love working on this with Emily because it is very frugal, it helps connect us with nature, and it keeps her interest for long periods of time. We were successful at tricking the forsythia into blooming a bit early by bringing some branches indoors, […]
Needle Crafts with Kids
March 23, 2009 by
I know what you’re thinking — needle crafts and kids cannot possibly go together, but with a few adjustments even the little ones can take a turn at embroidery. Clara had a difficult time sleeping last night and was up several times with teething pain. This afternoon while she was napping I thought I would […]
