Ways to Keep Kids Busy While Stuck at Home

Your family might live in an area that is under “Stay at Home” orders. People are working from home, and schools are closed, in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. This leaves many parents struggling to keep their kids entertained. It’s time to think outside of the box! Here are some ideas that can help. Storytime from Space Real astronauts read kids a storybooks from space. Titles include: Ada Twist, Scientist, Moustronaut (written by astronaut Mark Kelly and read by his brother Scott Kelly), and more! The videos are free to view from the Storytime in Space website. … Continue reading →

Free is Fun

Nothing delights my 8-year-old daughter more than collecting free samples. She covets pint-sized lotion samples, lipstick, eye shadow, and blush, as well as free vials of perfume. However, nothing lights her free sample fire more than those disposable shampoo, conditioner and hair gel packets that are handed out by the fistful at our local salon. Free health and beauty products are fun to collect regardless of your economic status. In addition to being able to try new products without spending a dime, you can often score money-saving coupons to use on future purchases. Many major manufacturers provide free samples … Continue reading →

Fun with Leftovers

My dad’s New Year’s resolution is to kick his addiction to caffeine. So far, he hasn’t had a drop of coffee in all of 2013. Since my mom is a tea drinker, my parents’ coffee maker has been sitting idle since the last day of 2012. What’s more, since my dad has gone cold turkey, he no longer needs his seemingly endless supply of paper coffee filters. Rather than be tempted by the white basket-shaped filters, my dad shipped them 5,000 miles to our home, which is filled with non-coffee drinkers. We don’t even own a coffee maker. Needless to … Continue reading →

Affordable Spa Fun

For many gals, nothing is more fun than a day at the spa. Unfortunately, all that pampering can put a real dent in your wallet. If you are living on a tight budget, but want to treat yourself to a relaxing body scrub or facial, head to your kitchen or bathroom. Believe or not, regular household items can be the key to an affordable spa pick-me-up. One of the cheapest ingredients for a DIY spa treatment is sugar. The sweet stuff is inexpensive and versatile. Sugar can be used to cleanse and exfoliate skin with very little effort. What’s more, … Continue reading →

Free Family Entertainment

My 8-year-old is hooked on retro cartoons. I have the Smurfs to thank for that. Ever since the blue guys debuted on the big screen and I told my daughter that I grew up watching them on TV, she’s been obsessed with viewing animated shows from the 70s and 80s, including the Snorks, Hong Kong Phooey, and Heathcliff. Retro cartoons are fun to watch as a family; however, the pleasure can really put a dent in your wallet if you are not careful. When my daughter expressed interest in watching the same cartoons I grew up with I offered to … Continue reading →

Cheap Thrills

Remember the good ol’ days when you could stick a box of Kleenex in front of your baby and he would be entertained for hours pulling tissues out one by one? A box of facial tissue is a cheap way to keep your toddler happy, but then that little guy grows up and starts asking for expensive electronic toys that cost more than your monthly water bill. That’s when you need to get creative. And by creative I mean teach your kids how to embrace old school cheap thrills: simple and safe pranks that don’t require a lot of masterminding … Continue reading →

Cheap Laughs

How do you tell the difference between a chili bean and a green bean? The chilly one wears a jacket. Yes, it’s a barrel of laughs around here. My 8-year-old is currently obsessed with jokes, riddles and all things comical. Her timing and delivery has improved dramatically since her preschool days when she used to give away the punch line at the beginning of the joke. It just goes to prove that you don’t have to spend a ton of money in order to get a good laugh. There are all sorts of cheap ways you can giggle and guffaw … Continue reading →

Free Fun to Battle the Winter Blues

This week, much of the nation has been paralyzed by brutally cold temperatures. In my neck of the woods, several school districts closed because it was simply too dangerous to allow children to be exposed to -35 degree windchills. Old Man Winter’s brutal blast has forced many families indoors where they are spending quality time together watching movies, playing board games and cooking. Fortunately, these activities don’t have to put a strain on your household budget, including the movie-watching. These days there are a slew of simple ways you can avoid paying high fees for movie rentals. One of the … Continue reading →

Healthier Snacks for the New Year

My 7-year-old’s New Year’s resolution: See how many ounces of chocolate syrup she can pour over Peanut Butter Cheerios before getting a stern, “Enough!” from me. And here I thought she was adding the chocolate syrup to white milk. Hmmm… chocolate milk over Peanut Butter Cheerios… that doesn’t sound half bad. We are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup fans around here; however, since we’ve made like lemmings and are trying to eat healthier in 2012, it’s out with the sugary vending machine staples and in with nutritious munchies like Peanut Butter Cheerios. Excuse me. I mean Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter. … Continue reading →

Fun with Summer Fruit

When the weight of the world is on my shoulders and I don’t think I can muster the energy to move one. more. inch. I remind myself that I birthed a child who loves fresh fruit more than chocolate. Summer is the season of love in my home. My daughter is in fruit heaven right now. In addition to her favorite strawberries, she has been able to gorge on succulent summer peaches, nectarines, blueberries and cherries. While she will down them in their natural state, I enjoy having a little fun with my summer fruit. Here’s how I give the … Continue reading →