10 Cheap Ways to Beat the Heat

Like much of the US, we are stuck in a “heat dome” which means it’s time to find creative ways to keep cool! Some tips to keep in mind — Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, stay in shaded areas, drink plenty of water, and be sure to offer kids lots […]

Pajama Breakfast Picnic

When the girls woke up this morning, I surprised them with a pajama breakfast picnic — it was a great way to enjoy some time together outdoors early in the morning before the day went on to get really hot outside! We didn’t even bother to brush our hair, get cleaned up, or even change […]

Water Balloon Yo-Yos

I made some water balloon yo-yos for the kids, an idea I spotted here — what a fun and active way to beat the heat!! To make your own, you will need a package of water balloons (I see these at the dollar store all the time during the Summer months), and some elastic string […]

Potion Lab!

Early this morning, before it got too hot outside to play, the girls and I put on some play clothes and set up a little “potion lab” in the backyard for some messy pretend play FUN!! They seriously loved this!!! We reused the same clear plastic bottles from our driveway painting and filled them with […]

SURPRISE! Let’s Go on a Day Trip!

Last night, while the girls were sleeping in their beds, Mark and I stayed up late packing up the car for a total SURPRISE day trip to nearby Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. (Mark had taken the day off from work, and the weather forecast looked beautiful!!) It. Was. Awesome!!! We enjoyed the sandy beach, waves, […]

Giveaway — Melissa & Doug Sand Toys Prize Pack!!

I wish you could have seen the joy on the girls’ faces when they opened a large box from our friends at Melissa & Doug FILLED with sand toys for us to review & giveaway — pure happiness!!!! I mean, what child wouldn’t absolutely LOVE to get a box filled with these lovely sand toys […]

Garden Things That Make Me Smile

We’ve been working hard on our garden plot this Summer, and it has been well-worth it! Here are some things from the garden that make me smile!! My little helper doing her share of weeding — and offering to do it on her own! Roma tomatoes waiting for just the right moment to ripen — […]

At the Zoo

I surprised the girls with a trip to the zoo this morning! We’ve been there countless times, but they’ve never paid attention to these photo cut outs until now. This one is in front of the River Otter exhibit — it’s so fun to watch the otters swim around!! Emily thought these cut outs made […]

Cheap Thrills — Driveway Painting

For a fun time, gather up some empty dish soap bottles. Make up a batch of sidewalk chalk paint with 4 Tbsp. cornstarch, 4 Tbsp. water & 5-10 drops food coloring. Pour into a bottle and fill the rest with water. Repeat for each color. Put on play clothes or bathing suits, and invite some […]

Around the Web — Water Play

Please give a warm welcome to our newest contributor here at Frugal Family Fun Blog, my good friend (and mom of 3) Yelena will be helping with our boards on Pinterest and I will be posting a few of the photos and links here! About once a week, we’ll have little “assignments” for Yelena to find […]

Why Messy Art is Worth It

A few years ago, I invited Emily to splatter paint the driveway with sidewalk chalk paint and she has not stopped talking about it ever since!! It was around that time when I realized the more messy the art project, the more memorable (and FUN) the experience becomes. So when the girls were feeling particularly […]

Hot Air Balloon Ride

The girls enjoyed a wonderfully scenic hot air balloon ride this afternoon!!   They flew SO high that when they looked down, all the people looked JUST like ants!!   There were fierce winds to navigate….Oh, the thrill! The excitement!!   Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!   Somehow Mark’s ride wasn’t quite as eventful….  😉 …. but it was […]

DIY: Tele-Transporter

Airplanes are a hassle, trains are too slow, and cars can get stuck in traffic. What you really want is a tele-transporter to instantly transport you wherever you need to go!! The girls and I went to a local park to build a prototype for our own tele-transporter, and used it to instantly transport us […]

Summer Fun — Let’s Build a Road!

As a kid, I remember using my dad’s electrical tape to make elaborate playscapes for my younger brother in my parents’ basement. There was a small-scale basketball court, a soccer field, and plenty of race tracks that were made over & over again — good times!! This afternoon, Clara and I built our own roads […]

Sunday Snapshot — Growing Garden

Much of the weekend was spent taking care of our lovely garden. This makes me SO HAPPY!!! There is plenty of fresh lettuce to share with friends & neighbors! Yummm!! Also?? I’m starting to get excited about the potatoes — BIG plans for those! Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday — Sprinklers!!

They say that money can’t buy you happiness, but for $4.99 it will buy you a sprinkler at Target — and that’s almost the same thing. Lots of good (clean) FUN!!

Inspired Picnic Spaces from Around the Web

We’ve been on a bit of a picnic kick lately, and I wanted to share some inspiring picnic ideas from around the web. So grab your favorite picnic blanket, pack up some tasty food, and enjoy some time outdoors!! Better Homes and Gardens has a great article featuring ideas for budget-friendly outdoor spaces. I love […]

Our Favorite Picnic Games

Know what’s LOTS of fun?? Grabbing the kiddos, packing up some lunches (or better yet, breakfasts), and whisking them away for an impromptu picnic!!! Whether you go to a local park, or just enjoy the time in your own backyard, here are some of our favorite picnic games to make things even more fun!   […]