Emily had a terrific first day of 2nd grade, and we are looking forward to a great school year ahead!! In the spirit of back-to-school, I dug deep into our archives and around the web to put together this fun round up: From the Archives: 5 Easy DIY School Supplies Celebrating Education Nation with The 10! […]
10 Cheap Boredom Busters for Kids
September 1, 2011 by
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 […]
10 Rainy Day Activities for Kids
August 28, 2011 by
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 […]
Around the Web — School Lunches
August 27, 2011 by
Packing a school lunch can be a frugal (and many times more nutritious) alternative to bought school lunches. Here are some inspiring ideas that are sure to make your kid the envy of the lunch room!! Learn How to Make a Kids Bento Box from AlphaMom — I love that these tips are simple […]
Reason #1,438 Why Mark is Awesome
August 2, 2011 by
We were blessed with our first RED tomato… and there was much rejoicing!!! This was quickly followed by many, many, many, MANY more tomatoes — hundreds of them! Know why my hubby’s awesome?? He totally made several jars of homemade sauce! Also?? He canned them, so we can save them to enjoy well into Winter!! […]
Summer Safety Tips and Giveaway ($100 Home Depot Gift Card)
July 24, 2011 by
It’s time for another FUN giveaway — this time from our newest sponsor, State Farm Insurance! Did you know that State Farm includes lots of great safety tips on their learning center website?? Seriously, there are LOADS of articles there! They have helpful tips on everything from how to properly install child safety gates to […]
Our Summer Bucket List
July 8, 2011 by
I thought it would be fun to share our Summer Bucket List today — which seems to grow longer by the minute, as I keep adding things to the list! Many of these activities are either very low cost or free (yay!!), and the kiddos are really looking forward to crossing things off of the […]
Around the Web — Displaying Kids’ Art
June 21, 2011 by
It’s no secret that I am a BIG proponent of displaying kids’ artwork in the home. Not only does it send the message that you value their work, but it is also super-cheap & stylish decor! Added bonus — GREAT conversation pieces, AND seeing kids art on display always makes people smile!! Our home has LOTS of […]
I’m on Pinterest!
June 4, 2011 by
Exciting news!! Thanks to my lovely neighbor & friend Yelena from Chefin’ w/ Baby on the Hip, I’m on Pinterest! And I’ve been pinning away ever since! Pinterest is a FUN, easy, (and very addicting) way to catalog the things you love. Every day on my Pinterest boards, I’ll be sharing inspiring ideas for kid […]
Inspired Picnic Spaces from Around the Web
June 1, 2011 by
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 […]
Five Fabulous Bloggers
May 23, 2011 by
Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous! Today I’d like to share with you five FUN and fabulous blogs I visit […]
10 Sanity-Saving Activities for Quiet Time
May 15, 2011 by
Every kid needs a bit of down time during the day, and so do most moms. Whether you have younger children who nap, or you need a few minutes of quiet to make a phone call, quiet time can be a BIG asset! Here are ten of our all-time favorite activities for that sacred time […]
Frugal Teaching Aids
April 26, 2011 by
Often times the most effective teaching aids can be the simplest ones. Here are some of our favorites! Added bonus — the kiddos had an active role in making them from very frugal materials!! The cost of workbooks can add up, especially for large families. Here’s an easy tip to reuse workbooks! Encourage early handwriting […]
Fun Activities for Screen Free Week
April 20, 2011 by
Need a few fun activities to get you through the rest of Screen Free Week?? Here are some of our favorites to get you off the couch and outdoors! Basketballs are soooo over-rated. What you really want to do is play a game of Invisible Basketball — lots of fun!! One of our favorite outdoor […]
Spring Crafts Galore! — FREE eBook
April 7, 2011 by
Looking for ways to keep the kids happily entertained this season?? Then you will love this FREE eBook filled with Spring crafts & family-friendly activities — a fantastic collection from several bloggers! There are 26 wonderful projects that are sure to become family favorites. A big thank you to Allie from No Time for Flashcards […]
I’m at BabyCenter.com for Easy Organic Living!
March 21, 2011 by
I’m over at the Easy Organic Living forum at BabyCenter.com to help share tips for eating healthy on a budget, getting deals on organics, and answer any questions you may have about budgeting for organic food! There have been some great questions shared so far, and I hope you will join us!! Thanks to BabyCenter.com, […]
Money Saving Tips for Teachers
March 2, 2011 by
I was invited to give a hands-on workshop for teachers at the Educator’s Networking Conference held at Cedar Crest College last weekend, and we had LOTS of fun!! The topic was Creative Money Saving Tips for the Classroom, and we were busy, busy, busy with all sorts of super-frugal classroom activities! I felt so lucky […]
Battery-Free Toys We Love
January 25, 2011 by
Recently, I asked readers on Facebook to share their favorite battery-free toys with us. Here’s a summary of the responses, and I think this would be a great go-to list for a gift guide, or if you’re looking for alternatives to TV to keep the kiddos entertained during cold Winter days! A big THANK YOU […]
