Know what I love to do on days when it’s too cold or wet to go outside? Build stuff!! This fun geodesic dome was built using rolled up newspaper to form rods — SO frugal! I basically followed the tutorial here, but made one important adjustment. Rather than using staples at the joints, I punched […]
Nature Inspired Wrapping Paper
The beginning of Autumn also happens to be the start of the “birthday season” for our little family, so we continued with our frugal and FUN Fall wrapping paper tradition! Emily gathered several leaves from the yard — lots of different sizes and shapes for variety! We used masking tape to secure them to a […]
Things That Make Me Smile
A few things that make me smile… 1. Super Daddy and Princess Clara battling the rain to take Emily to the bus stop. No job is too small! 2. Beautiful (and delicious!) cupcakes at Molly’s Cupcakes in NYC — a portion of the proceeds goes to support local schools (awesome). 3. Watching Clara […]
Sunday Snapshot — The Wave
“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.” – William D. Tammeus A big thank you to Mr. & Mrs. V for gifting us with tickets to Hershey Park — we […]
Simple Pleasures Saturday — Apples!!
Wishing you and your family a weekend FULL of simple pleasures!!!
Beautiful Fall Crafts for Preschoolers
I LOVE this time of year, don’t you?? Here’s a look back at some of our all-time favorite crafts for Fall! 1. Toddler Art — Autumn Tree Painting 2. Easy Fall Tree Suncatcher 3. Quick Craft — Leaf Wreath 4. Falling Leaves Wrapping Paper 5. Autumn Window Display Lots more ideas for […]
How I Chose to Spend My Birthday
My Birthday Manifesto (i.e. 5 Steps to a Perfect Birthday): 1. Ignore Dirty Dishes in the Sink. 2. Ignore Laundry Pile. 3. Turn Off Phone Ringer. 4. Procrastinate Errands. 5. PAINT stuff. Alongside the kiddos. ALL DAY. It. Was. Awesome.
Apple Crafts and Activities Galore!
I L O V E A P P L E S !!!!!!!!!!!! 1. Go Apple Picking!! 2. Make Apple Printed Book Covers 3. 3-D Apple Tree 4. Apple Printed Lunch Sack from Old Jeans 5. Don’t have apple trees near you? Make your own! 6. Check out our Around the Web post featuring […]
Catch the Comet
Using some leftover scraps of felt in lots of bright colors, I sewed a super-easy comet ball that has been used for several games of catch around here! I have seen much more expensive versions in toy catalogs, but it was a lot cheaper (& more fun) to make our own. It is SO much […]
6 Fun Ideas to Entertain Kids at a Restaurant
If you are a parent, you know that keeping the kids entertained while waiting at a restaurant is no small task! We rarely go out to eat, but for those special occasions when we do, it’s always nice to have a few fun ideas up my sleeve for keeping the kiddos happy while we wait. Here are […]
Sunday Snapshot — Pick Your Battles
Sometimes when I tell Clara we need to run some errands to the post office, grocery store, bank, and playground, she asks to be dressed like a ladybug princess. This is when I try to envision what life will be like when she is a teenager. Because it puts silly little things like this into […]
10 Cheap Boredom Busters for Kids
Looking for a few easy ways to keep the kids from getting too bored? Here are some of our favorite boredom busters that are quick, easy, cheap, and fun!! 1. Beading with cut up straws — easy, frugal, and a great way to build up important fine-motor skills. 2. Make photo puppets and put […]
Posing with Plexiglass
For a fun time, frame a sheet of plexiglass with duct tape to take care of any sharp edges. Go outside, and draw on the plexiglass with dry erase markers to make “enhancements” to your environment!! In a very short time we had beautiful flowers growing out of the lawn, backyard trees full of red […]
10 Rainy Day Activities for Kids
Rainy days in the forecast? Looking for a few fun ways to keep the kids entertained indoors without breaking the bank?? Here are a few of our favorite ways to spend a rainy day… 1. Suminagashi Painting — Emily can spend hours doing this, and I love that each print is unique! 2. Find […]
7 Simple Things That Make Me Smile
Often times happiness can be found in the simplest (and most frugal) of things. Here are a few recent photos that made me smile, and I hope they bring a smile to your face too!! 1. Treating stuffed animals to a fun swing ride. 2. Impromptu trips to the candy store with rather difficult […]
Kickin’ it Croquet Style
Kids need to burn off some of that extra energy? Have some old pool noodles on-hand?? Then it’s time to make up your own kick croquet lawn game!! Cut pool noodles in half down the middle (we reused the ones from our awesome marble run), and each pool noodle is enough to make up two […]
Cherish Them
“To a child, ‘love’ is spelled T-I-M-E.” “Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, dirty ovens…. and happy kids.” “To be in your child’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” “Children will not remember you for the material things you provided, but for the feeling that you cherished them.” […]