Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Going crazy in my old age.
So I guess I am losing my marbles. I wrote down on my calendar that we had dentist appointments this morning. Good thing I checked my planner. They are not until NEXT week! I think I need to start writing random appointments on my calendar though. I got up, dressed myself all cute like and put on makeup before 8am on a summer day BEFORE my husband left for work. Now if only I hadn't let on that I thought we had to go to that blasted tooth man this morning, my husband would have thought I was being extra productive today and trying to look all dolled up for him before he left for work. I'll be honest. Most days in the summer I don't wear makeup. I rarely get "ready" from head to toe. We're talking pull my hair back in a pony, throw on whatever is clean and comfortable and then dive into a project around the house and take a shower at the end of the day once I am a complete mess. When I have on nice clothes I don't feel like scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees and cleaning out my office closet (that still has a few boxes from when we moved.....). I am just not productive in nice clothes. I guess I will change. I will just wait until AFTER my husband leaves. At least I can look nice for him for at least another 30 minutes. Because I am in the mood to CLEAN HOUSE now that I have an EXTRA day I didn't plan on. And those office boxes are calling my name.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Playing in the RAIN
It was last Sunday evening. Here in Florida we have been having A LOT of rain. If you have never experienced a heavy rain down pour, think of the heaviest rain you have seen... and times it by say, a million. It was like borderline tropical storm. And what did this awesome mom do?
WE WENT OUT IN THE RAIN. POURING TORRENTIAL RAIN.
Now normally I don't do this very often. Especially on a Sunday. But really, after making our list of all of the fun things we wanted to do this summer, the little kid in me wanted to go out and play in ALL OF THAT RAIN. When I was a kid it did not rain like this where I am from. When it stormed whether a wind or rain or snow storm, I loved to go outside and BE IN the storm. I knew my kids would JUMP at this chance.
So clothes and all, we all went out and played in the flooded streets and splashed each other and dumped buckets of water on each other! We had a great time! We stood under the "spout" of water that was flowing from the roof. There was so much rain our mulch from our garden beds was floating away! When the lightning got dangerous, all of the girls piled in my huge tub and had a big ol' bubbly bath. I will spare you the naked pictures.
I wish I had pictures of us playing outside but alas I WAS BUSY PLAYING OUTSIDE. I hope this is a memory they won't need pictures of because it was so fun they will remember every detail.
Here's to our TV FREE SUMMER! Another fun day down. I wonder what we will check off the list tomorrow......
WE WENT OUT IN THE RAIN. POURING TORRENTIAL RAIN.
Now normally I don't do this very often. Especially on a Sunday. But really, after making our list of all of the fun things we wanted to do this summer, the little kid in me wanted to go out and play in ALL OF THAT RAIN. When I was a kid it did not rain like this where I am from. When it stormed whether a wind or rain or snow storm, I loved to go outside and BE IN the storm. I knew my kids would JUMP at this chance.
So clothes and all, we all went out and played in the flooded streets and splashed each other and dumped buckets of water on each other! We had a great time! We stood under the "spout" of water that was flowing from the roof. There was so much rain our mulch from our garden beds was floating away! When the lightning got dangerous, all of the girls piled in my huge tub and had a big ol' bubbly bath. I will spare you the naked pictures.
I wish I had pictures of us playing outside but alas I WAS BUSY PLAYING OUTSIDE. I hope this is a memory they won't need pictures of because it was so fun they will remember every detail.
Here's to our TV FREE SUMMER! Another fun day down. I wonder what we will check off the list tomorrow......
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Crossing things off is fun to do, fun to do, to do to do....
Oops....sometimes I get carried away.
What's on my list for tomorrow????
YARD SALE! And better yet? With one of my dearest friends, Jenny Lu. She is my daughter's future mother-in-law. She (my duaghter) doesn't know it yet, but someday, yes. We WILL be related. (This time I am crossing my fingers and not crossing off....but crossing nonetheless)....
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I LOVE LISTS.
I love to make lists and crossings things off. Sometimes when I have a lot to do, I will make a list. Normal, yes. And then sometimes I add things to the list I have already done that day and then cross them off. That way I feel like I have accomplished at least part of my list! Sometimes a long list can be daunting. But once I start CROSSING things off I FEEL AWESOME. But sometimes lists are so fun that we cannot WAIT to start crossing the things off!
So this weekend we started crossing things off of our Summer Fun list. What did we do? We found FREE local things to do.
We tagged along with Dad on his business trip. It was a 2 hour drive and we got to stay in a hotel. FOR FREE. Yea! Gas? PAID for. Thank goodness. Food? We made that travel stipend ST-R-E-TCH! We did what every other crazy frugal mama out there does--we ate before we left, we packed snacks and stayed at a hotel with continental breakfast. I love continental breakfasts. My kids can choose whatever they want. And I really don't care what they eat. How often do they get to choose from 10 different breakfast options? Some went straight for the sugar cereal (I think one of our hotel trips in the past introduced them to Fruit Loops) others went for the muffins. One chose yogurt. One chose eggs and sausage. And everyone was on their best hotel breakfast behavior. Fabulous.
We did go out to eat Friday night and that was fun for the kids. The next day we swam at the hotel pool and then we tried to find a cheap movie theater. NO SUCH LUCK. So then I used my best friend (Google) to find us FREE THINGS TO DO IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. And what should I find? But a fantastic FREE museum of natural history of Florida. This was such a fun trip! My girls LOVED the museum.
Inside the museum is an a.maz.ing Butterfly Exhibit. I didn't know these 2 were connected. I have always wanted to take my girls there. We used to live closer to Gainesville but I had heard that the exhibit was super expensive. I would not have even thought to look up the prices online because I had heard it was like $20 per person. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. My 2 year old was free so for all of us it was only $27! Cheaper than a matinee movie and WAY more AMAZING.
There were 1000s of butterflies and moths of different species flying all around this gorgeous terrarium filled with exotic lush tropical plants and flowers. The butterflies would land on you and let you get really close and personal.
Now if only my camera battery had not died I would have had more pictures. We watched a butterfly release of all of the butterflies and moths that had hatched the night before. They keep all of the chrysalises in a lab room that you can look into and watch them hatch! It is awesome!
This exhibit is part of the Unversity of Florida. Check out your local community college or university. You just may find something AMAZING like we did!
So this weekend we started crossing things off of our Summer Fun list. What did we do? We found FREE local things to do.
We tagged along with Dad on his business trip. It was a 2 hour drive and we got to stay in a hotel. FOR FREE. Yea! Gas? PAID for. Thank goodness. Food? We made that travel stipend ST-R-E-TCH! We did what every other crazy frugal mama out there does--we ate before we left, we packed snacks and stayed at a hotel with continental breakfast. I love continental breakfasts. My kids can choose whatever they want. And I really don't care what they eat. How often do they get to choose from 10 different breakfast options? Some went straight for the sugar cereal (I think one of our hotel trips in the past introduced them to Fruit Loops) others went for the muffins. One chose yogurt. One chose eggs and sausage. And everyone was on their best hotel breakfast behavior. Fabulous.
We did go out to eat Friday night and that was fun for the kids. The next day we swam at the hotel pool and then we tried to find a cheap movie theater. NO SUCH LUCK. So then I used my best friend (Google) to find us FREE THINGS TO DO IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. And what should I find? But a fantastic FREE museum of natural history of Florida. This was such a fun trip! My girls LOVED the museum.
 |
| In the Discovery Room at the Museum of Natural History, University of Florida |
 |
| My lil poser |
 |
| Apparently this butterfly likes the Florida Gators as much as Mr. H |
 |
| Butterfly Kisses |
This exhibit is part of the Unversity of Florida. Check out your local community college or university. You just may find something AMAZING like we did!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
TV FREE Summer
We don't have cable. We don't have satellite. We don't have Netflix or any other service of any kind. In the girls' play room we have an old box TV and a DVD/VCR player. My girls have been waking up in the morning lately and putting on a movie first thing. At first it wasn't such a big deal. The first day of summer it was ok. They watched a movie, did their chores, then we headed out for errands and fun. Then the next day. Movie again. Not a huge deal. We got our chores done. We packed for our trip. But I made a decision that day. I am taking away the DVD player. FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER. I am seeing a habit forming that I am not liking. My girls have plenty of toys. They have incredible imaginations. They have each other. So this summer we are going to have a TV FREE SUMMER except for our Family Fun Night. Usually we watch a movie as a family once a week. Sometimes we do other things if Dad is home. So that is it. We are going UNPLUGGED. And I can't wait to do it.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
50 Fun and FREE (or close to) things to do with kids this Summer
Summer has begun! I slept in until almost 9am this morning! My kids almost did too (since we had been up half the night with 1 of the 4 puking and waking up everyone else). It was great to sleep in but I had a really crazy dream. I don't think I will be wasting away any more of SUMMER by sleeping in---too many hours = too many opportunities for weird dreams and WASTED FUN!
So today we started our summer off with #1 on my list--a trip to the PET STORE! My girls LOVED seeing all of the pets {that I will never allow them to have} there were to offer. They calculated how much it would cost to buy a bird, a cage and bird food and then decided to open a lemonade stand to earn the money! They watched the hamsters wake up from their naps and stretch and ooohed and ahhhhed over the ferrets all curled up in a ball taking their snooze for the day. We watched the exotic fish, frogs and turtles play and swim in their aquariums. It was a fun afternoon of fun. Now we will see how that lemonade stand turns out.....
Here are some other fun ideas that you may or may not have on your list of summer to do's...they are all free or have minimal cost involved.
#1 Go to the Pet Store and see what fun animals you could own as a pet. Calculate the cost of what it would cost to take care of the pet and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Make a goal to earn money to buy a pet. Or enjoy the pet store's pet and never have to take care of one yourself! :)
#2 Have Ice Cream for Dinner! This a family tradition for our family on the first day of summer (after school gets out). We used to do it on the actual first day of summer the season before our kids were in school. Now we do it as a summer break celebration! We also do it at home--much cheaper and much more fun because the kids get to make their own! We have toppings like cut-up bananas, strawberries, cherries, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, etc. My girls look forward to this tradition EVERY SUMMER. It doesn't cost more than a regular dinner--so essentially it is free if you are budgeting the same amount as dinner. And most of the stuff I have on hand usually except the ice cream. Syrups last a long time or you can make yours homemade (our favorite). We offer cones or bowls--but usually the kids go for the bowls for this event so they can pile on the toppings. And we let them! It is one day a year that they can go hog wild!
#3 Go to a community park/splash park! I know some splash parks cost money but some don't. If you have never been to a splash park, look for one in your area. They are usually $3 or less per person and they are tons of fun! They are usually located at a regular park with a playground close by. My kids just run back and forth between the two and play for hours of endless fun! There may be one close to you that you don't know about! My sister found out yesterday there was one only 15 minutes away and she had no idea!
#4 Make a mural--this is something every mom should buy! A large roll of butcher paper (teacher supply store, restaurant supply store) or a large roll of newsprint from the local newspaper--you can usually buy a roll like this for around $30. THIS WILL LAST YOU FOREVER. The best part? It is good for a NUMBER of things beyond making a large mural. Use crayons, markers, paint, any medium you want--make sure there is PLENTY of room for all of your kids to draw. Hang it up somewhere in the house for the summer. One idea: draw the things you want to do during the summer--you will get lots of fun ideas and beautiful reminder of things to do when they say,"I'm, bored!" Other ways to use the leftovers? Birthday/Celebration banners, school projects, tablecloth, the ideas are endless!
#5 Water balloon Afternoon--buy a package of water balloons from Dollar Tree or your local dollar store (packs of 100 usually) and fill them all for an afternoon of fun! Have everyone wear their bathing suits and play freeze tag (freeze once you are hit with the balloon), volleyball with balloons and towels (this is good for a groups of at least 4 or more. You don't have to have a net. Just throw across a rope on the ground. 2 kids per towel--one on each end and "volley" the balloon back and forth catching with the towel) races holding water balloon between your legs or a partner between your backs while linking arms, or a good old fashioned water balloon fight!
#6 Have a Picnic--a REAL ONE. Pack a homemade lunch--not a fast food one--and take it to your favorite park or getaway spot. Take a frisbee or a ball and glove or something that your kids love to do. Spend the afternoon or evening just being together.
#7 Go to the Library--this is obviously not my original fantastic idea, but EVERY kid loves going to the library. Find books on subjects that interest your child. Even if it is a book they cannot read. READ IT TO THEM. Take a tour of the library. See if there are books on CD, DVDs, educational kits to check out. Have an active child who can't sit still or quiet in the library to read? Then make sure you go during story time or during another FREE family event. Most libraries are FULL of fun events all summer long!
#8 Go to a petting zoo--these are usually cheaper than the big zoos and can be just as fun! Some are even free!
#9 Find a u-pick fruit farm--find out what grows in your area and go pick some of your own food! You can usually find an organic farm somewhere with relatively good prices. The experience is worth millions! No farms for picking? Find a local farmer's market and spend the afternoon teaching your child all of the different fruits and vegetables and buy some to take home for dinner.
#10 Make your own freezer jam. This doesn't require much and is a good experience for children. Find the envelope for freezer jam in your grocer's canning section (even at Wal-Mart). This is cheap and YUMMY fun!
#11 Homemade slip-n-slide--this can be made with a number of different things. Have you ever seen the banners that go across the street advertising a city event? Call up the city and find out what they do with the old banners. Find a hill, wet it down and add a little bit of Dawn dish soap to make it extra slippery for some good clean fun! This can also be made out of heavy duty garbage bags! Just stake them down and go!
#12 Have older children? Go ice blocking! Find a grassy hill and buy a block of ice on a hot day and slide away! This can be dangerous. Be sure to supervise!
#13 Shaving Cream Wars! Buy a few cans of CHEAP shaving cream (think Dollar Tree or Wal-mart) and split into teams. Head to a park or a place with places to hide (trees, etc). The team covered in the LEAST amount of shaving cream wins!
#14 Make homemade ICE CREAM--don't have an ice cream maker? No need! Just google "ice cream in a bag"
#15 Frozen toy fun! Buy cheap dollar store plastic toys and put them inside of a balloon. Fill with water and freeze. Add food coloring if you want to the water. Give them to your kids on a hot day. Let them experiment on how to get them out! Or just watch them melt!
#16 Scavenger Hunt Give your kids a list of things to find. This can be a nature list at that park, or a list at home. You will surprised by what you end up with. Here are a few ideas: something you consider to be a treasure, something blue, something fuzzy, something smooth, etc.
#17 Have older kids? Bigger & Better Scavenger Hunt--Invite some friends over--this only works if you live in a neighborhood where you know and trust your neighbors! Split into teams, go to someone's house and ask them to give you something, ANYTHING (usually an item they don't care if you return). Then go to another house and ask if they have something bigger or better they can give you. Repeat until time is up and have everyone return back home with their item. You be the judge (or someone else you have elected) to determine the winner. Return items if necessary.
#18 Go for a walk--a family walk or a walk ONE on ONE with your child. In your neighborhood, on a walking trail, wherever. Just let your child know they are special. Talk to them. Talk about whatever is important to them. Whether it be the trees to a 2 year old or your teenager's friends.
#19 MOVIE NIGHT at home. Pick a movie you have or rent a $1 movie from Redbox. Lay out a blanket and enjoy HOMEMADE popcorn in brown paper bags. Don't have a popcorn maker? DON'T NEED ONE. Buy some popcorn kernels from your grocery store (and yes, Wal-Mart carries these for cheap). Heat up about a tablespoon of oil (my favorite is coconut oil--healthy and tastes good) in the bottom of a deep pot. Line the bottom of the pot (in one layer) of kernels on medium heat. Put the lid on and wait for the magic. KIDS love this! Add some sea salt and pour in a paper bag! Much cheaper and WAY HEALTHIER than the microwavable toxin-covered stuff.
#20 Put on a play--your kids (and maybe a few neighbors if you only have 1 or 2) will love this! Give them some ideas if they are having trouble coming up with their own. Have them write the play, come up with costumes (simple ones from their closet and dress-up box) and perform for you and the neighborhood kids and parents. This will keep you child busy for at least a day!
#21 Find your city's free attractions! Most cities have some type of free attractions whether it be parks, museums, movie night in the park, community college events, history tours, festivals, etc. Go to your city's website, call or visit the city hall for more information.
#22 GAME NIGHT pull out the board games and dust them off and play some games with your kids. Make some special treats and stay up late. Enjoy laughing and being together. If you don't have ANY board games, borrow some. Ask your mom, a friend, a neighbor. Still can't find any? Ok, I give up. You have permission to play the Wii.
#23 Make homemade juice pops, pudding pops or fudgesicles--buy a mold at Wal-Mart for a couple of bucks or make your own using plastic or paper cups and popsicle sticks (Dollar Tree). Pour in you favorite juice, pudding or my favorite--Coconut Milk Fudgsicles. Simple Recipe:
1/2 c canned coconut milk
1 ripe banana
pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Throw in the blender. Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour into molds. Freeze. Makes 6 small fudgesicles. Dreamy.
#24 BBQ and Dessert Contest--this is our favorite thing to do! Invite your neighbors or friends. Have everyone bring a side dish and a dessert. You provide the main dish. Have a few designated judges or a box for people to write down the # of their favorite dessert (have all desserts with a number in front of them). Have a prize for the winner! (Even if it is just a ribbon!)
#25 Have a yard sale--so this may not be FUN, but tell your kids you will do something FUN with the money you earn! They will be more motivated to pony up some more toys and unwanted/unused items. You will thank me when your house is less cluttered and your kids are smiling as they are eating cotton candy on the ferris wheel, or whatever your family chooses to do. Keep your kids busy during the event by having them make a lemonade stand or their own table to be the cashier for their own stuff. OR
Have a neighborhood/church swap Bring all of your unwanted clothes or toys and have everyone swap out for something they DO WANT. Whatever is left over donate to a local charity or shelter. Kids love this. They can shop for something they want. Even if it is something you don't want them to have, remember it is FREE. If it annoys you, they get bored with it or it breaks, you can THROW IT AWAY. It was FREE.
#26 Start a Business Let your kids come up with a way to make money. Have them purchase beads to make jewelry, bake cookies, make lemonade, dog sitting, baby-sitting, etc. Whatever it is, help them figure out their expenses and income. Help them to be successful. Teach them the value of hard work and that it pays off.
#27 Go Thrifting/yard saling WITH KIDS--I know not always the most fun thing to do with kids, but they LOVE IT. Let them bring their $2 and buy WHATEVER THEY WANT. Helps them to learn the value of money and NOT wasting it.
#28 Go to the BEACH--this is hands down our FAVORITE free thing to do. Don't live on the coast? Find a lake, a stream, a reservoir, a river SOME BODY OF WATER that is clean and free to swim in. Don't forget to send out a message in a bottle!
#29 Attend a Free Class--Home Depot, Lowe's, craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby all offer Free Make and Take events for kids and adults. Other local stores or businesses may offer free how to classes, you just have to LOOK and ASK.
#30 Build a Fort or Castle--Great thing with this project is it can be done with or WITHOUT adult supervision depending on the ages of your kids. Go to a store that sells appliances or another big box store. Refrigerator boxes are the best! Let them be creative on their own if you have things to do, or play WITH them and join in on the fun. No boxes to be found? Use couches, chairs and blankets. Hours of fun! Or even let them sleep in it overnight if safe!
#31 Go Camping. This is a lot of work for parents and the kids have no idea, but it is a great memory and experience for children. Even if it is in your own backyard in a tent, on the trampoline or in an indoor fort. Be sure to make s'mores. You can do this even if you don't have a campfire--make a firepit, BBQ, your kitchen stove or microwave!
#32 Go fishing. Catch them and throw them back if you don't want to cook them. Just enjoy being out in nature together with your kids.
#33 Go for a family bike ride. Take the wagon, scooter, whatever they want to ride. Find a local bike path or trail. Just get some exercise in as a family.
#34 Scrapbook last school year's projects--let your kids choose the layout and make their own pages with a few pictures of special events. They may not be perfect, but THEY made them so they will be special. Put all of their favorite projects, assignments and papers and certificates you saved from the last school year into a binder for them to look at in the future.
#35 Finger Paint--you can do this with paint or pudding! Little ones like to participate but put their fingers in their mouth. We like to use chocolate pudding!
#36 Garden---let your kids have their own row or area of your garden. They will work if you let it be their responsibility and not a nagging chore to weed and take care of the garden when it is THEIR's to take care of.
#37 Bug Collection--let your kids catch many varieties of bugs. Put them in a mason jar of rubbing alcohol. It will kill and preserve them. Pin them to a homemade board (I used a big piece of styrofoam covered with fabric) and research their scientific name and label them.
#38 Have a responsible child? And a not so expensive digital camera? Let them play photographer for the day and see what pictures they come up with. You may be surprised at what you will find!
#39 Have a Tie Dye Day--buy a tie dye kit which is less than $10 and tie dye white shirts you already have (or buy cheap plain ones). Let your kids help. Use the shirts when you go to an amusement park or to a crowded fair or event so you can find everyone quickly.
#40 Sidewalk chalk--do your own driveway or someone else who would enjoy a nice message! Dollar Tree chalk or again Wal-mart has big packs for cheap! They usually last a while!
#41 VOLUNTEER--find a place that could use your WHOLE family. A special needs facility, a nursing home, a homeless shelter, a pet shelter, ANYWHERE that will allow your whole family to work together. Your family will THANK YOU.
#42 Rock painting--go to a river, a park, your yard, somewhere where you can find a good size rock to paint. Buy a pack of cheap paint brushes and lay down some newspaper and let your kids have fun.
#43 Basic craft skills--if you aren't skilled in this area, find someone who is willing to teach you for free! An elderly woman who needs company is the perfect find! Learn how to cross stitch, sew on a button, knit, crochet, etc. This is good for even BOYS to learn! Make a small baby quilt and donate it to hospital or shelter. Crochet a blanket or booties and DONATE them. Yarn is CHEAP! Kids will LOVE learning how to do these basic crafts. And something like learning to sew on a button is a basic skill everyone can learn!
#44 Make a collage--using all kinds of things! Let them be creative and make it as small or large as they want. This can keep kids busy for hours on end!
#45 Rainy Day? Instead of staying inside, GO PLAY outside in the rain! Let your kids jump in the puddles, play in the mud, have a good ol' time! When you are done, go inside, take a shower and do something fun inside like make your own hopscotch with masking tape on the floor!
#46 Make a music video--kids of all ages enjoy doing this!
#47 READ to your children. Even older children and teenagers like to be read to (they may say they don't want to. But just try it. If you try to miss a day, they will ask you about it!). Read a classic or a favorite book from when you were young. Read to them at bedtime or during the day on the couch. Join a summer reading book club. BONUS!!! Sometimes there are great incentives at banks and libraries for reading!
#48 Make friendship bracelets. Mail them to a friend or cousin. REAL SNAIL MAIL is always fun to get!
#49 "I want to be like you" Fashion Show and Beauty Parlor--if you have girls, you know how much they love to dress up. Give them a pile of acceptable clothes to dress up in from your closet. Do their hair and makeup (or let them do their own if you are brave enough!) and take pictures. Be sure to email them to Grandma! At the end of summer Go School Shopping (ok so this is not free) and have a FASHION SHOW! Have your kids model their new clothes, haircut, hairdos, etc. Invite Grandma or their best friend and parents over to join in on the fun! Make a runway and have someone be the announcer!
#50 Outdoor Theater--end your summer with an outdoor movie night! If you have a projector or know someone who does, all you need is a laptop and a projector and white sheet! Invite over the neighborhood friends and tell everyone to bring a sleeping bag or chair and enjoy the show! Bid summer a sweet farewell until next year!
So this is a list of all of the things we will be doing this summer! So nothing here is amazing I know. But most everything can be done with things you have at home or are easily accessible. Have an idea? Leave me a comment! I would love to have MORE fun FREE things to do with my kids!
So today we started our summer off with #1 on my list--a trip to the PET STORE! My girls LOVED seeing all of the pets {that I will never allow them to have} there were to offer. They calculated how much it would cost to buy a bird, a cage and bird food and then decided to open a lemonade stand to earn the money! They watched the hamsters wake up from their naps and stretch and ooohed and ahhhhed over the ferrets all curled up in a ball taking their snooze for the day. We watched the exotic fish, frogs and turtles play and swim in their aquariums. It was a fun afternoon of fun. Now we will see how that lemonade stand turns out.....
Here are some other fun ideas that you may or may not have on your list of summer to do's...they are all free or have minimal cost involved.
#1 Go to the Pet Store and see what fun animals you could own as a pet. Calculate the cost of what it would cost to take care of the pet and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Make a goal to earn money to buy a pet. Or enjoy the pet store's pet and never have to take care of one yourself! :)
#2 Have Ice Cream for Dinner! This a family tradition for our family on the first day of summer (after school gets out). We used to do it on the actual first day of summer the season before our kids were in school. Now we do it as a summer break celebration! We also do it at home--much cheaper and much more fun because the kids get to make their own! We have toppings like cut-up bananas, strawberries, cherries, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, etc. My girls look forward to this tradition EVERY SUMMER. It doesn't cost more than a regular dinner--so essentially it is free if you are budgeting the same amount as dinner. And most of the stuff I have on hand usually except the ice cream. Syrups last a long time or you can make yours homemade (our favorite). We offer cones or bowls--but usually the kids go for the bowls for this event so they can pile on the toppings. And we let them! It is one day a year that they can go hog wild!
#3 Go to a community park/splash park! I know some splash parks cost money but some don't. If you have never been to a splash park, look for one in your area. They are usually $3 or less per person and they are tons of fun! They are usually located at a regular park with a playground close by. My kids just run back and forth between the two and play for hours of endless fun! There may be one close to you that you don't know about! My sister found out yesterday there was one only 15 minutes away and she had no idea!
#4 Make a mural--this is something every mom should buy! A large roll of butcher paper (teacher supply store, restaurant supply store) or a large roll of newsprint from the local newspaper--you can usually buy a roll like this for around $30. THIS WILL LAST YOU FOREVER. The best part? It is good for a NUMBER of things beyond making a large mural. Use crayons, markers, paint, any medium you want--make sure there is PLENTY of room for all of your kids to draw. Hang it up somewhere in the house for the summer. One idea: draw the things you want to do during the summer--you will get lots of fun ideas and beautiful reminder of things to do when they say,"I'm, bored!" Other ways to use the leftovers? Birthday/Celebration banners, school projects, tablecloth, the ideas are endless!
#5 Water balloon Afternoon--buy a package of water balloons from Dollar Tree or your local dollar store (packs of 100 usually) and fill them all for an afternoon of fun! Have everyone wear their bathing suits and play freeze tag (freeze once you are hit with the balloon), volleyball with balloons and towels (this is good for a groups of at least 4 or more. You don't have to have a net. Just throw across a rope on the ground. 2 kids per towel--one on each end and "volley" the balloon back and forth catching with the towel) races holding water balloon between your legs or a partner between your backs while linking arms, or a good old fashioned water balloon fight!
#6 Have a Picnic--a REAL ONE. Pack a homemade lunch--not a fast food one--and take it to your favorite park or getaway spot. Take a frisbee or a ball and glove or something that your kids love to do. Spend the afternoon or evening just being together.
#7 Go to the Library--this is obviously not my original fantastic idea, but EVERY kid loves going to the library. Find books on subjects that interest your child. Even if it is a book they cannot read. READ IT TO THEM. Take a tour of the library. See if there are books on CD, DVDs, educational kits to check out. Have an active child who can't sit still or quiet in the library to read? Then make sure you go during story time or during another FREE family event. Most libraries are FULL of fun events all summer long!
#8 Go to a petting zoo--these are usually cheaper than the big zoos and can be just as fun! Some are even free!
#9 Find a u-pick fruit farm--find out what grows in your area and go pick some of your own food! You can usually find an organic farm somewhere with relatively good prices. The experience is worth millions! No farms for picking? Find a local farmer's market and spend the afternoon teaching your child all of the different fruits and vegetables and buy some to take home for dinner.
#10 Make your own freezer jam. This doesn't require much and is a good experience for children. Find the envelope for freezer jam in your grocer's canning section (even at Wal-Mart). This is cheap and YUMMY fun!
#11 Homemade slip-n-slide--this can be made with a number of different things. Have you ever seen the banners that go across the street advertising a city event? Call up the city and find out what they do with the old banners. Find a hill, wet it down and add a little bit of Dawn dish soap to make it extra slippery for some good clean fun! This can also be made out of heavy duty garbage bags! Just stake them down and go!
#12 Have older children? Go ice blocking! Find a grassy hill and buy a block of ice on a hot day and slide away! This can be dangerous. Be sure to supervise!
#13 Shaving Cream Wars! Buy a few cans of CHEAP shaving cream (think Dollar Tree or Wal-mart) and split into teams. Head to a park or a place with places to hide (trees, etc). The team covered in the LEAST amount of shaving cream wins!
#14 Make homemade ICE CREAM--don't have an ice cream maker? No need! Just google "ice cream in a bag"
#15 Frozen toy fun! Buy cheap dollar store plastic toys and put them inside of a balloon. Fill with water and freeze. Add food coloring if you want to the water. Give them to your kids on a hot day. Let them experiment on how to get them out! Or just watch them melt!
#16 Scavenger Hunt Give your kids a list of things to find. This can be a nature list at that park, or a list at home. You will surprised by what you end up with. Here are a few ideas: something you consider to be a treasure, something blue, something fuzzy, something smooth, etc.
#17 Have older kids? Bigger & Better Scavenger Hunt--Invite some friends over--this only works if you live in a neighborhood where you know and trust your neighbors! Split into teams, go to someone's house and ask them to give you something, ANYTHING (usually an item they don't care if you return). Then go to another house and ask if they have something bigger or better they can give you. Repeat until time is up and have everyone return back home with their item. You be the judge (or someone else you have elected) to determine the winner. Return items if necessary.
#18 Go for a walk--a family walk or a walk ONE on ONE with your child. In your neighborhood, on a walking trail, wherever. Just let your child know they are special. Talk to them. Talk about whatever is important to them. Whether it be the trees to a 2 year old or your teenager's friends.
#19 MOVIE NIGHT at home. Pick a movie you have or rent a $1 movie from Redbox. Lay out a blanket and enjoy HOMEMADE popcorn in brown paper bags. Don't have a popcorn maker? DON'T NEED ONE. Buy some popcorn kernels from your grocery store (and yes, Wal-Mart carries these for cheap). Heat up about a tablespoon of oil (my favorite is coconut oil--healthy and tastes good) in the bottom of a deep pot. Line the bottom of the pot (in one layer) of kernels on medium heat. Put the lid on and wait for the magic. KIDS love this! Add some sea salt and pour in a paper bag! Much cheaper and WAY HEALTHIER than the microwavable toxin-covered stuff.
#20 Put on a play--your kids (and maybe a few neighbors if you only have 1 or 2) will love this! Give them some ideas if they are having trouble coming up with their own. Have them write the play, come up with costumes (simple ones from their closet and dress-up box) and perform for you and the neighborhood kids and parents. This will keep you child busy for at least a day!
#21 Find your city's free attractions! Most cities have some type of free attractions whether it be parks, museums, movie night in the park, community college events, history tours, festivals, etc. Go to your city's website, call or visit the city hall for more information.
#22 GAME NIGHT pull out the board games and dust them off and play some games with your kids. Make some special treats and stay up late. Enjoy laughing and being together. If you don't have ANY board games, borrow some. Ask your mom, a friend, a neighbor. Still can't find any? Ok, I give up. You have permission to play the Wii.
#23 Make homemade juice pops, pudding pops or fudgesicles--buy a mold at Wal-Mart for a couple of bucks or make your own using plastic or paper cups and popsicle sticks (Dollar Tree). Pour in you favorite juice, pudding or my favorite--Coconut Milk Fudgsicles. Simple Recipe:
1/2 c canned coconut milk
1 ripe banana
pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Throw in the blender. Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour into molds. Freeze. Makes 6 small fudgesicles. Dreamy.
#24 BBQ and Dessert Contest--this is our favorite thing to do! Invite your neighbors or friends. Have everyone bring a side dish and a dessert. You provide the main dish. Have a few designated judges or a box for people to write down the # of their favorite dessert (have all desserts with a number in front of them). Have a prize for the winner! (Even if it is just a ribbon!)
#25 Have a yard sale--so this may not be FUN, but tell your kids you will do something FUN with the money you earn! They will be more motivated to pony up some more toys and unwanted/unused items. You will thank me when your house is less cluttered and your kids are smiling as they are eating cotton candy on the ferris wheel, or whatever your family chooses to do. Keep your kids busy during the event by having them make a lemonade stand or their own table to be the cashier for their own stuff. OR
Have a neighborhood/church swap Bring all of your unwanted clothes or toys and have everyone swap out for something they DO WANT. Whatever is left over donate to a local charity or shelter. Kids love this. They can shop for something they want. Even if it is something you don't want them to have, remember it is FREE. If it annoys you, they get bored with it or it breaks, you can THROW IT AWAY. It was FREE.
#26 Start a Business Let your kids come up with a way to make money. Have them purchase beads to make jewelry, bake cookies, make lemonade, dog sitting, baby-sitting, etc. Whatever it is, help them figure out their expenses and income. Help them to be successful. Teach them the value of hard work and that it pays off.
#27 Go Thrifting/yard saling WITH KIDS--I know not always the most fun thing to do with kids, but they LOVE IT. Let them bring their $2 and buy WHATEVER THEY WANT. Helps them to learn the value of money and NOT wasting it.
#28 Go to the BEACH--this is hands down our FAVORITE free thing to do. Don't live on the coast? Find a lake, a stream, a reservoir, a river SOME BODY OF WATER that is clean and free to swim in. Don't forget to send out a message in a bottle!
#29 Attend a Free Class--Home Depot, Lowe's, craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby all offer Free Make and Take events for kids and adults. Other local stores or businesses may offer free how to classes, you just have to LOOK and ASK.
#30 Build a Fort or Castle--Great thing with this project is it can be done with or WITHOUT adult supervision depending on the ages of your kids. Go to a store that sells appliances or another big box store. Refrigerator boxes are the best! Let them be creative on their own if you have things to do, or play WITH them and join in on the fun. No boxes to be found? Use couches, chairs and blankets. Hours of fun! Or even let them sleep in it overnight if safe!
#31 Go Camping. This is a lot of work for parents and the kids have no idea, but it is a great memory and experience for children. Even if it is in your own backyard in a tent, on the trampoline or in an indoor fort. Be sure to make s'mores. You can do this even if you don't have a campfire--make a firepit, BBQ, your kitchen stove or microwave!
#32 Go fishing. Catch them and throw them back if you don't want to cook them. Just enjoy being out in nature together with your kids.
#33 Go for a family bike ride. Take the wagon, scooter, whatever they want to ride. Find a local bike path or trail. Just get some exercise in as a family.
#34 Scrapbook last school year's projects--let your kids choose the layout and make their own pages with a few pictures of special events. They may not be perfect, but THEY made them so they will be special. Put all of their favorite projects, assignments and papers and certificates you saved from the last school year into a binder for them to look at in the future.
#35 Finger Paint--you can do this with paint or pudding! Little ones like to participate but put their fingers in their mouth. We like to use chocolate pudding!
#36 Garden---let your kids have their own row or area of your garden. They will work if you let it be their responsibility and not a nagging chore to weed and take care of the garden when it is THEIR's to take care of.
#37 Bug Collection--let your kids catch many varieties of bugs. Put them in a mason jar of rubbing alcohol. It will kill and preserve them. Pin them to a homemade board (I used a big piece of styrofoam covered with fabric) and research their scientific name and label them.
#38 Have a responsible child? And a not so expensive digital camera? Let them play photographer for the day and see what pictures they come up with. You may be surprised at what you will find!
#39 Have a Tie Dye Day--buy a tie dye kit which is less than $10 and tie dye white shirts you already have (or buy cheap plain ones). Let your kids help. Use the shirts when you go to an amusement park or to a crowded fair or event so you can find everyone quickly.
#40 Sidewalk chalk--do your own driveway or someone else who would enjoy a nice message! Dollar Tree chalk or again Wal-mart has big packs for cheap! They usually last a while!
#41 VOLUNTEER--find a place that could use your WHOLE family. A special needs facility, a nursing home, a homeless shelter, a pet shelter, ANYWHERE that will allow your whole family to work together. Your family will THANK YOU.
#42 Rock painting--go to a river, a park, your yard, somewhere where you can find a good size rock to paint. Buy a pack of cheap paint brushes and lay down some newspaper and let your kids have fun.
#43 Basic craft skills--if you aren't skilled in this area, find someone who is willing to teach you for free! An elderly woman who needs company is the perfect find! Learn how to cross stitch, sew on a button, knit, crochet, etc. This is good for even BOYS to learn! Make a small baby quilt and donate it to hospital or shelter. Crochet a blanket or booties and DONATE them. Yarn is CHEAP! Kids will LOVE learning how to do these basic crafts. And something like learning to sew on a button is a basic skill everyone can learn!
#44 Make a collage--using all kinds of things! Let them be creative and make it as small or large as they want. This can keep kids busy for hours on end!
#45 Rainy Day? Instead of staying inside, GO PLAY outside in the rain! Let your kids jump in the puddles, play in the mud, have a good ol' time! When you are done, go inside, take a shower and do something fun inside like make your own hopscotch with masking tape on the floor!
#46 Make a music video--kids of all ages enjoy doing this!
#47 READ to your children. Even older children and teenagers like to be read to (they may say they don't want to. But just try it. If you try to miss a day, they will ask you about it!). Read a classic or a favorite book from when you were young. Read to them at bedtime or during the day on the couch. Join a summer reading book club. BONUS!!! Sometimes there are great incentives at banks and libraries for reading!
#48 Make friendship bracelets. Mail them to a friend or cousin. REAL SNAIL MAIL is always fun to get!
#49 "I want to be like you" Fashion Show and Beauty Parlor--if you have girls, you know how much they love to dress up. Give them a pile of acceptable clothes to dress up in from your closet. Do their hair and makeup (or let them do their own if you are brave enough!) and take pictures. Be sure to email them to Grandma! At the end of summer Go School Shopping (ok so this is not free) and have a FASHION SHOW! Have your kids model their new clothes, haircut, hairdos, etc. Invite Grandma or their best friend and parents over to join in on the fun! Make a runway and have someone be the announcer!
#50 Outdoor Theater--end your summer with an outdoor movie night! If you have a projector or know someone who does, all you need is a laptop and a projector and white sheet! Invite over the neighborhood friends and tell everyone to bring a sleeping bag or chair and enjoy the show! Bid summer a sweet farewell until next year!
So this is a list of all of the things we will be doing this summer! So nothing here is amazing I know. But most everything can be done with things you have at home or are easily accessible. Have an idea? Leave me a comment! I would love to have MORE fun FREE things to do with my kids!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Furniture Makeover: Beauty and the Beast
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| The Beast: My 70s Laminate China Cabinet BEFORE I got my hands on her. |
So
I rescued this BEAST (so usually this
refers to a HUGE heavy piece when
referencing furniture, but in this case, it just means super UG.LY.) from a farm barn for $15 off
Craigslist almost 2 years ago.
The front
door glass panel was missing. A base
cabinet was damaged (which got further damage during our move—the door hinges
got LITERALLY ripped off and
took a chunk of cabinet with it). There
were TONS of dings, dents and BUGS
galore. In short, it was just plain GROSS.
Covered in webs, dead and ALIVE cockroaches, spiders and more….if
I had been by myself I would have turned the other way and ran. But my friend had driven his truck ALL THE WAY out there to help me load
this cheap piece to turn into a treasure.
He didn’t believe it could be done after seeing it. I had to prove him wrong. And here she be folks…..from BEAST….
to BEAUTY.
 |
| To avoid a huge mess when breaking glass, adhere contact paper and break with hammer. Most of it will stick to the contact paper. This is not a CLEAN project no matter what, but this at least helps. |
 |
| I painted the outside with my version of homemade chalk paint--I used a cheap contractor's untinted white paint from Lowe's as my base for the paint. |
 |
| I painted the inside a mixed paint. I color matched Driftwood by Wal-Mart's Better Home and Garden paint using Lowe's Valspar paint for my bedroom. This color is custom mixed by your's truly with a lighter gray that I used in my laundry room. |
I worked on this
project for an entire day from 9am
til 8PM (thank goodness for kids who know how to make ramen for dinner, right?)
and STILL was not done. Another day of work. One day at a time. The next day I finished it. I get so impatient once a project is done I cannot wait for Mr. H to get home to help me move things. But as hard as we tried, the girls and I could not get this one in without help!
|
| I replaced the glass with chicken wire and reattached the doors. I finished if off with 2 coats of Annie Sloan's Clear Wax and also Annie Sloan's Dark Wax after I gave her some light distressing. I kept the original hardware because I LOVE antiqued brassy bronze hardware! |
My life is just one project after
another. Next project? Summer break! Only 2 more days until school is out!
Yippee! I LOVE having my girls home. We like to stay busy, but it is always FUN
busy. I have a list of all of the things
we want to do and goals to accomplish this summer. We’ll see if we can get it all done! I am the QUEEN of planning and goal
setting—but then my ADD kicks in and I jump from one project to the next. It is especially hard to finish projects that
require Mr. H around. He works late and
on the weekends so I only have 2 projects that have to be done this month on my
list that require him---craft room cabinets and set up the trampoline! When we moved the trampoline got thrown in a
heap in the back yard. And there it
still lies months later. Not exactly a
one woman project or else it would be done. Here’s to Summer and all her
projects!
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