After the girls were in bed, it was my turn for a bit of holiday-making! I combined a few things I already had on-hand (empty travel sized shampoo bottles and soap leftover from a hotel stay, a sponge) along with a few things from the dollar store or Target — hand towels, a pack of […]
Play Donuts from Dollar Store Socks
November 10, 2011 by
There has been a LOT of holiday-making at our house lately — very exciting!! Now that Emily has one of her surprise gifts ready for Clara, I thought it would be fun to help Clara create a fun surprise gift of her own to give to her big sister. We had lots of fun sneakily crafting […]
My Favorite Simple Pleasures
November 8, 2011 by
I thought it would be fun if you could share some of your favorite simple pleasures — little things that don’t cost much, but never fail to boost your mood. I’ll go first with 10 of my favorites, then leave a comment with some of your own, k?? 1. TEA!!!! It is supreme. 2. Jumping […]
Blinkybug Invasion!
November 7, 2011 by
Mark made some super-fun “blinkybug” toys for Emily, and the two of them spent some quality time together making and later playing with these all afternoon. After all, making your own toys is a lot cheaper (and WAY more FUN) than buying them!! These little critters have blinking LED lights that turn on when their […]
5 Simple Ways to Foster Gratitude in Kids
November 4, 2011 by
So much of the frugal lifestyle is filled with cultivating a sense of appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. A nice side benefit of learning to be grateful for what you already have — you’ll save money!! Yay for saving money! It’s never too early to start encouraging your kids to express thankfulness and gratitude. Here […]
10 MORE Cheap Boredom Busters for Kids
October 27, 2011 by
Here’s a look back at 10 MORE of our favorite (and very frugal) boredom busters… Build (and re-build) Newspaper Play Structures Go on a Teddy Bear Picnic… you may even spot some magic! Make a Window Display Build a Flashlight Pose with Plexiglass Build a Marble Run Download our free […]
Nature Crafts and Activities for Kids You Will Want To Do RIGHT Now
October 24, 2011 by
Nature crafts and activities are a great way to enjoy the outdoors with kids, promote sustainability, and encourage little ones to conserve. Added bonus — many times nature provides us with free art materials! Here are some of our favorite simple, beautiful projects from FFFB and around the web that will make you want to […]
I’m in Highlights High Five!
October 21, 2011 by
Exciting news!! Pick up a copy of the November issue of Highlights High Five, and you’ll see a fun (and frugal) little crafty project from yours truly… aren’t these mushrooms the cutest?? Highlights High Five is an ad-free monthly magazine specifically designed for children ages 2-6 years old with puzzles, poems, stories, crafts and recipes, […]
DIY Paint with Water Pages
October 20, 2011 by
Remember those “paint with water” books from when you were the kid?? Weren’t they the best? We had lots of fun with a set of watercolor pencils this afternoon, and Clara loved making her own “paint with water” pages!! If you don’t already have a set of watercolor pencils, Crayola makes a good set, and we […]
Apple Taste-Test Activity!
October 18, 2011 by
Do you have a hard time deciding which kind of apple to buy at the grocery store or farmer’s market?? Then it’s time for an apple taste-test! We put four popular organic varieties to the test, and it was SO much FUN!! First, visit your local farmer’s market or grocery store and choose one or […]
30+ DIY Halloween Treats
October 14, 2011 by
Looking for some tasty Halloween treats to make?? There are more than 30 favorites from around the web on our Halloween Treats Pinterest board, and I’m adding more all the time! Here’s a little sneak peek of just some of the goodies you’ll find there…. Halloween Treats I especially love the mini pumpkins (above) made with […]
Quick Craft — Halloween Photo Frames
October 13, 2011 by
Clara and I had lots of fun crafting these festive photo frames for Halloween, and we cannot wait to mail them off to faraway family and friends! It was a super-quick project that she could do with very little help from me. For the spider design, I cut the frame from a sheet of thick […]
Favorite Halloween Crafts
October 12, 2011 by
Here’s a look back at some of our favorite (and frugal) Halloween crafts from years past… so much fun!! Five Little Bats Finger Puppet Play Set Creepy Crawly Placemat Spooky Bones — Perfect for an indoor “fossil hunt”! Candy Corn Family Play Set Spider Web Place Cards Fun, festive, and very […]
Adventures in Bird Watching!
October 11, 2011 by
Recently, I took Clara on an educational (and frugal) field trip to Hawk Mountain, a wildlife sanctuary open to the public year-round. It was a fantastic way to spend a beautiful Autumn afternoon! There is a modest trail fee, which is totally worth it, but Clara was free since she falls into the 3 years […]
Favorite Fall Recipe and.. A Giveaway!
October 10, 2011 by
Last night I thought it would be fun to try something different for dinner, so I picked a new recipe from the Slow Cooker Classics from Around the World cookbook — Chardonnay Pumpkin Sausage Sauce. It was a BIG hit!! I loved it because it was quick, and very easy to make. It’s perfect for […]
Sunday Snapshot — At the Pumpkin Patch
October 9, 2011 by
Wishing you and your family a fun (and frugal) weekend filled with Autumn treasures!!
Cheap Thrills — Feeding Ducks
October 6, 2011 by
For a fun time that won’t break the bank, visit your local fish hatchery to feed the fish and/or ducks. Ours sells bags of fish food for just $1. Not sure how to properly feed the ducks? Princess Clara will show you how — in just 3 easy steps!! Step 1: Sprinkle a bit of […]
