Now that summer is finally here, it's time to save some money! Sure, there are all of the fabulous garage sales and estate sales to find some great deals. But there are plenty of other places to find great deals, too! … [Read more...]
Planning a Summer That Won’t Break the Bank
If you've been following this blog for awhile, you know that our Minnesota winter was long. Really long. Like we had snow on May 15 and I just shut my heat off about a week ago. We don't get a lot of time to enjoy the warm weather outdoors, so our family sits down each year and maps out what things we'd like to do. We always have some outdoor projects to tackle, like gardening. And we want to get in some swimming, fishing, biking, and hiking. We also want to make sure our three boys … [Read more...]
Nine Fun Summer Craft Projects for Kids
The following is a guest post by Jeanine Stewart. Even though we helped cure the "I'm boreds," a parent can use all the help they can get, right? If your kids are into crafting, here are a few fun crafts you might want to try. Seashell crafts: With a bit of glue, some shells and maybe some googly eyes, kids can create seashell characters and scenes. No seashells? Use pine cones or rocks. Make a Kite: All you need is some old newspapers, sticks, masking tape and string to make a … [Read more...]
Enjoy Free Fun All Summer Long
The following is a guest post by Jeanine Stewart. A trip to the movies. Then the amusement park. And the next day, the zoo. All that summer fun can really put a dent in the pocket book. Well, there's darned good news: Plenty of summer fun can be had for free! Print out this list of 48 ideas and put it on the fridge. It might just be a lifesaver in your home. And (ahem) while some of these may seem they're for kids only, join in. You'll be amazed at how much fun you can have. 1. Go to … [Read more...]
Healthy Treats to Help You Keep Cool
When the weather is hot, it's all too easy to go over your budget buying store-bought frozen treats that often contain high fructose corn syrup, added sugar, artificial sugar, food dyes, and/or preservatives. And it's hard to find healthy snacks when you're out and about at the pool, waterpark, zoo, and other community events. But there's no reason you can't serve some healthy treats at home that will help you keep cool during those hot summer days. Check out these ideas: Frozen Fruit: Yes, … [Read more...]
Cool Meals for Hot Summer Evenings
Holy macaroni, it is HOT outside! I am not a big fan of the extreme heat. I choose to live in Minnesota, after all. Although there is nothing I can do about our current heat wave, I do have some tried and true dinner options that can get your crew fed with minimal heat generation in your kitchen. BLTs: Tasty bacon, garden fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce - yum! Taco Salad: This is a favorite at our house. We layer lots of lettuce, cheese, taco meat cooked with Thousand Island … [Read more...]
Engaging Young Minds on Summer Break
Summer was made for being lazy. It's pretty easy to fall into a pattern of staying up late, sleeping in, and not getting a lot done during June, July, and August. A summer with nothing to do can hurt your kids academically when they go back to school. While there are plenty of camps and sports out there to fill the void, they can cost a lot of money. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do with your kids to keep their minds sharp without costing you much money. Try these … [Read more...]