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 […]
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 […]
Top 5 Things to Buy in Bulk
March 22, 2009 by
If done properly, buying in bulk can save a substantial amount of money. Check unit prices to make sure you are getting a good deal. Here are some of our family’s top picks for stock piling and buying in bulk: Toilet Paper — I would say paper goods, but we have replaced paper towels and […]
Slacker Saturday — Star Garland
March 21, 2009 by
This intergalactic garland could not be any simpler, and the kids love making them to hang all around the house! This one is hanging up in our dining room now. To make your own star garland you will need string and star-shaped Post-It notes. That’s it! Simple, right? Lay out the string and invite your […]
$5 Friday — (Semi)Homemade Thin Mints and More!
March 20, 2009 by
For today’s $5 Friday, we made semi-homemade thin mints and took a trip to the local public library. These cookies are so easy to make and taste just like the Girl Scout version — perfect for when they are not selling cookies and your stash has run out! To make your own semi-homemade thin mint […]
Starting a Garden Journal
March 19, 2009 by
We have been noticing some signs of Spring around here, and I thought it would be fun to start keeping a garden journal with Emily. Our been sprouts are starting to turn green… This morning she planted some tomato seeds in an empty egg carton. Kids love to plant seeds, don’t they? We brought some forsythia branches […]
Emily Turns Five!
March 18, 2009 by
It happened right before my very eyes. She was four years old one minute… and then… POOF! Five years old the next! We went to a friend’s playgroup (Thanks for hosting us, Debbie!) and Emily played her little heart out. Mark came home from work early, and we spent the rest of the daylight hours […]
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17, 2009 by
Wishing everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Our day was filled with lots of green, and some of the first signs of Spring. We wore plenty of green… …and even ate green Jell-O. Awww… sisterly love! Spring is almost here! We enjoyed some frugal fun at the playground. This was Clara’s first real trip there! […]
