Updated 6/26/09

Every Summer my sister and friends are figuring out what plans to make for the kiddos for their summer vacation that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and especially now in these tough economic times. Sooooo …..here are a few that hopefully will help you out while you are trying to keep the kids busy without busting your wallet!!


Parks and Recreation - Just about every city has one, for example for Roseville (my home town!) it’s the Roseville Parks and Recreation. They have ALL kinds of summer fun for affordable prices, swimming, Day camps, youth sports and some even offer low cost programs. Check yours out, you are sure to find some great activities for the little ones!


READING PROGRAMS – Check with the book stores in your area, some offer super fun reading programs. For example Barnes and Noble has their Summer Reading in the Magic Tree house. Here’s how their program works…your child reads 8 books of their choosing from the library, borrowed from friends or books bought at Barnes and Noble, then they write about their favorite part of the book in their Summer Reading Journal and Barnes and Noble will give them a coupon for a free book! Kids can get lost in reading for hours if it is a book they enjoy!

NATURE HIKES – You and the kids first bag a lunch together and let them pick out some of their favorite snacks and then find some walking trails by your house or take a drive to some. Have the little ones check out the different rocks, flowers and plants…maybe even let them keep some in their back pack or a plastic baggie. Don’t forget to bring a blanket you can all sit down on and eat your lunch, then when you get home you and the kiddos can research some of their favorite rocks, flowers or plants you came across, fun and learning can go hand in hand!!


MUSEUM CAMPS – So on those super hot summer days, here is an idea to do something indoors that won’t break the bank!! Most kids love looking at insects, reptiles etc….or making some art of their own! Check to see what Museums in your area offer what and your kids can have fun with their imaginations!!


Have a fun but cost friendly Summer!!

Updated 4/28/09

In these hard economic times many of us are cutting back on our spending but forgetting to also cut back on the negative thinking! While putting together a new budget and looking for ways to save money is important, limiting your negative thoughts is as equally important. Positive thinking can get you thru the hardest times and make it more of a peaceful process. The following are a few books and excerpts/quotes from the books that you may find helpful if not I encourage you to find some that speak to you and will help make your mind happier! Remember while we are finding ways to feed the family for less, lets also remember to feed our mind and soul so we don’t become spiritually bankrupt.


The Gratitude Journal
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow – Melody Beattie

Blessing Our Circumstances
Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you…If you bless a situation, it has no power to hurt you, and even if it is troublesome for a time, it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it. – Emmet Fox

Letting Go of Limiting Illusions
I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing – Agatha Christie.
The author of the books goes on to write some encouraging words after this quote and I would like to share the bottom paragraph with you…….

Let go of limiting illusions that have held you back from knowing that just to be alive is a grand thing. Suspend disbelief. Experiment with a loving, supportive Universe that embraces even skeptics. Today, be willing to believe that a companion Spirit is leading you every step of the way, and knows the next step.


For those that would like to find their peace and positive thinking in Christ, this is a great book! Joel Osteen is one Happy smiling person!!

From Part 1 – Enlarge Your Vision
We serve the Most High God, and His Dream for your life is so much bigger and better than you can even imagine. Never settle for a small view of God. Start thinking as God thinks. Think big. Think increase. Think abundance. Think more than enough!

There is also a part of this section that I love, it goes like this…..

Quiet your heart and receive God’s Word: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ “ (Jeremiah 29:11).
Friend, if you will get in agreement with God, this can be the greatest time of your life. With God on your side, you cannot possibly lose. He can make a way when it looks as though there is none. He can open doors that no man can shut. He can cause you to be at the right place, at the right time. He can supernaturally turn your dreams into reality. Never Allow your own wrong thinking to keep you from God’s best.


The following 2 books are small enough to carry in your purse or briefcase so you can always have a Positive quote handy!!


Your decision to reach for a thought that feels good is a powerful decision, for it serves you in many ways. The better-feeling thought reverberates within you, opening passage ways to well-being that reach far beyond this one good-feeling thought – Abraham Hicks

You don’t have to let what others say affect you negatively. Others may say words, but you choose your attitude. – Keith D. Harrell

Personal growth can be painful, because it can make us feel ashamed and humiliated to face our own darkness. But our spiritual goal is the journey out of fear-based, painful mental habit patterns, to those of love and peace.
- Marianne Williamson



I keep my thoughts positive. Life brings me the good experiences I deserve.

I know that the point of power is always in the present moment.

I am willing to grow and change. Every moment presents a wonderful new opportunity to become more of who I am.
I am enthusiastic about life. I am filled with energy and optimism.

I am free to think wonderful thoughts. I am in control of my own mind.

Updated 4/10/09

With the economy still in the crapper it can be difficult for families to enjoy family fun that isn’t so damn expensive, luckily there is still some fun to be had that won’t cost you an arm and a leg!! Hope you and your family enjoys these suggestions that are all about getting back to the basics but having a great time while doing so!! Feel free of course to add any of your own creative ideas to each of these!!


MOVIE NIGHT – Taking the family to the movies these days as you know is a bit pricey, add in the bad economy and it’s something that is not on the priority list! However you can still have Movie Night but instead you do it at home. Wal-Mart always has good deals on Popcorn, Candy, soda and even movies if you don’t already have some movies at home or how about the good old fashioned movie rental!! Cuddle up together as a family and enjoy the show! If you want to get really creative you can print out tickets for the movie that you made on the computer, have one of the kids be the ticket taker or the concession stand worker, you can get cheap cute containers that say Popcorn on them etc…either way you will spend less doing movie night at home!

GAME NIGHT – Remember this??? Now instead we all pile in the car and buy tons of tickets to play games at a pizza parlor or adventure land type of place not that that isn’t fun for the kiddos but it’s not so good on mom and dad’s wallet!! Instead you can look in your own game closet or pick up a few still costing you less than a night out at a family entertainment center. Board games, card games heck even video games, just make it a family game night. You all get to spend fun quality time together and not break the bank!


CAMPING NIGHT – Pitch that tent in the backyard put the sleeping bags in the tent get your flashlights, pj’s and huddle around telling stories, all while eating some smores!! Don’t have a tent or sleeping bags, no problem, get some of your blankets and lay them on the grass with your pillows and enjoy all the same stuff but with the open night sky! You can look up and try and find the big dipper etc….I know its not like going camping at the lake or in the mountains but it is more cost effective and again we are trying to find things to do that will save us money and still be fun!


DINNER AND DESSERT NIGHT – Kids LOVE to help out in the kitchen! Sit down with the kids and make a menu, let’s say for Friday night dinner and dessert post the menu so it gives them something to look forward to and get excited about. Together as a family you can make dinner and dessert. You can also print out name tags for the food and or name place settings for each family member that the kids can set out. This can be a really fun bonding time as a family and then you all get to enjoy the fruits of your labor together! I think we forget sometimes how the not so pricey moments together can be some of the best!

3/21/2009

In these hard economic times folks are looking for many ways to cut expenses, one of those ways is grocery shopping. Now some of you are already masters at saving money while grocery shopping, so this list would be common knowledge for you while others may have heard of this stuff but have yet to apply or master it, so hopefully this list will get you started on your grocery shopping savings!!!

1. Before you even go to the grocery store, know exactly what you can afford to spend, and you must stick to that dollar amount once you get to the store.

2. Once you know your budget you then can write your grocery list, listen to me carefully, DON’T stray away from the list once you get to the grocery store, if you do that it is a sure way to go over budget. Once you have gotten what is on your list and have added it up in your head and you have some money left over, then maybe go and get whatever food product caught your eye that wasn’t originally on the list. Remember the goal, to stay within budget.

3. This may seem obvious but think about how many times you have done this…grocery shopping while hungry! Don’t do it, do not grocery shop while hungry you
will buy things that only look good because you are hungry, then you get home and you did not need them for the week’s worth of groceries, wasted money.

4. Buy store brands. They are cheaper and the taste will still satisfy you.

5. Coupons, coupons, coupons! Go thru the paper, look thru the ones sent in the mail, go online and search for coupons for products you use. Coupons are like
Cash so use them!!

6. Look at the ‘Unit Price’ when comparison shopping. The ‘Unit Price’ lets you know the cost per ounce, quart, gallon, pound, etc…this helps you pick the better buy.

7. If a fruit or veggie is ‘in’ season you can usually get a good deal on them, otherwise when the fruit or veggie you are shopping for is out of season, get them frozen, it will be cheaper and still nutritious.

8. When it comes to meat Round, Chuck and Shoulder are less expensive cuts. Usually Whole Chickens are the cheaper route as opposed to just getting the breasts, you can cook the whole chicken and separate yourself and use for many meals.

9. Be careful of products that make it too easy for you. A lot of times you could have made the meal yourself cheaper. For example you buy cake mix and frosting and it is a one time cake. In the meantime you could have bought the ingredients yourself spent a little bit more made your one cake and still have enough ingredients to make more cakes later in the month or whenever, thus getting more for your dollar. Other examples, cookie mix, Salad kits, taco kits..etc…remember you will pay for the convenience of it and not save on your grocery bill.

10. If at all possible shop ALONE, this of course helps you to stay on track with your list and your budget. If this isn’t possible DON’T let your kids or whoever is with you talk you into what isn’t on your list or within your budget.


Happy Shopping and Saving!!!