Snow Day Activities

In our family, snow days feel like mini-holidays. However, when cabin fever sets in, a few fun activities can help break up the monotony. Below are links to posts I have written about our favorite winter activities: Fort Building My children would do this for hours and hours. Make Snow Cream My pre-teen still requests this. A miscellaneous assortment of free winter activities Snow Paint - This was a favorite! Homemade play dough - This is a no-cook recipe that uses [+]

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

After fixing Pumpkin Pancakes over the weekend, I decided we needed another pumpkin treat. Actually, the leftover pumpkin in the fridge was taunting me and I didn't want to see it go to waste. This recipe was rated a 5 of 5 by my children and I have to agree. The flavor and texture was light and perfect. It also used the exact amount of pumpkin that I had left from the Pumpkin Pancakes. Bonus! Pumpkin Oatmeal [+]

Jack-O-Lantern Oranges and Celery Broomsticks

How fun is this?! My kids came home to this healthy after-school snack today. I simply used an orange peeler to make the shapes. I also recently made Celery Broomsticks by slicing the ends of a celery stick and placing in ice water for several minutes. I love finding new ways to make fruit and vegetables fun.  Do you have any special ways of preparing fun veggies? This post has been linked to: Works for Me Wednesday by We [+]

Chocolate Pumpkin Pancakes

These pancakes are a delicious way to welcome Fall.  My children and I tried them and loved them, even though we didn't have any chocolate chips on hand. Chocolate Pumpkin Pancakes Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup quick cooking oats 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 egg, beaten 3/4 cup canned pumpkin 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips Directions: In a large bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking [+]

Christmas in July for Needy Children

I never understood the idea behind the commercial slogan "Christmas in July."  I do know, however, that if you participate in programs such a Samaritan's Purse or fill stockings for local children's groups, this is a great time to start shopping. When I see clearance sales with toys and kid-friendly items at very low prices, I pick up a few. Back To School sales are a great time to stock up on crayons, pencils, and erasers [+]

Using Plastic Containers for Frugal Summer Fun

This past winter, I wrote a post suggesting you save your plastic containers for the children to use this summer. If you have a collection of these plastic necessities, hand them over to your children and watch their imagination soar. My children helped me compile this list of ideas on how they like to use plastic containers in the summer. Grow your own mini garden. Make giant ice cubes for the pool. Use the bowls to hold paint and [+]

Frugal Summer Fun for Kids – Art and Science in a Spray Bottle

Occasionally on Fridays through the summer, I will be posting Frugal Summer Fun for Kids. I hope you like the ideas and feel free to chime in with your own as well. Do you remember these spray bottles from the snow paint post this past winter? Here's a new summer use for those bottles. Fill them with water and let the kids go to town creating water pictures on your driveway or patio. Evaporation is easily taught [+]

WFMW – I’m Bored Edition

The first Wednesday of each month, Kristen at We are THAT Family hosts a themed edition of the Works for Me Wednesday blog carnival. This month's theme is  "Mom, I'm Bored." Thankfully, my children have rarely said this to me, though I have a pile of rock waiting to moved, lest I hear the dreaded phrase this year. I do have a few summer secrets that I have tried in years past that I will [+]

Clean Out and Sell

Spring is a great time of year to purge your home of the items that have worn out their welcome. While some people prefer to automatically donate the items, which is wonderful and admirable, today I'm going to list the options for selling your items. Come back later this week for donating ideas. Yard sales (or perhaps people in your area refer to them as tag sales, rummage sales or garage sales) are a tried and [+]

5 Ways to Save Money This Spring

If you are looking for even more money-saving ideas, head on over to my article at Happy to be at Home. Don't forget to check back here tomorrow for the latest idea in my Frugal Family Fun series, with a special focus on Spring and the Arts. [+]