This post about holiday budget tips has been sponsored. All opinions are my own. You're thinking 'It's still summer, who wants to think about Christmas bills'... right? Well, I am already seeing ads for high tech holiday gifts and those aren't cheap! Want to skip the holiday gift giving DEBT this year? You need to start pinching your pennies and searching for a few holiday budget tips. There are plenty of ways that you can save money and MAKE money in the next 3 months before you start your Black Friday shopping adventures. Keep reading … [Read more...]
Holiday Budget Tips and Quick Side Hustles for Fewer Post Holiday Bills
August 14, 2018 by · 2 Comments
Simple Patriotic Party Ideas to Celebrate the Red, White and Blue!
August 7, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
This post about patriotic party ideas has been sponsored. All opinions are my own. Whether you are celebrating the 4th of July, Memorial, Labor Day, Veteran's Day or any other patriotic holiday, having a party is always a fun way to enjoy it. If you are looking for patriotic party ideas, they don't have to be complicated or expensive. A dash of red, white and blue along with some food and a few crafts for the kids is all you really need. Sure, amazing fireworks and giant flags are nice but you don't really need them to get the point … [Read more...]
6 New Hobby Ideas for a More Unique YOU
July 31, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
This post about new hobby ideas has been sponsored, however, all opinions are my own. If you are looking for new hobby ideas this year, you are well on your way to creating a more unique YOU. All work and no play makes mom a dull girl, right? Finding a new hobby is a great way to relax and unwind after a busy day. Depending on the which new hobby you decide to try, you may make new friends, create something you can sell to earn money, or even get more physically fit. Need a bit of inspiration when it comes to developing a new … [Read more...]
Waste Free School Lunch Tips to Save Money and Reduce Trash
July 17, 2018 by · 2 Comments
I know....you are in the middle of summer vacation and don't want to think about school lunches, right? Well, my kids go back to school in 3 weeks so I am thinking about what they will bring to eat this year. Sending a waste free school lunch is important to me but it definitely takes a bit of planning. One of my favorite tips to save money is to ditch the disposables. No sense throwing your hard earned cash in the garbage can, right? If you want to cut down on lunch costs this year, here are a few school lunch tips that might help. Check … [Read more...]
Happiness in Middle Age means Mountains and Motorcycles!
May 8, 2018 by · 5 Comments
This post about Happiness in Middle Age was sponsored by DePuy Synthes as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. While my job keeps me at home and on the computer, I wouldn't say that my chair is my happy place. And as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate moments of happiness more than ever. I see so many people my age suffering from illness or injury, dealing with the death of loved ones or the stress of job loss. Happiness is fleeting and not something to be tossed … [Read more...]
How to Prepare for a Camping Trip to Stay Safe and Have Fun
May 4, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Camping is a wonderful way to spend time with the family. Getting outdoors and unplugging for a few days is a great way to reconnect with each other while you have some fun. Once you invest in the right gear, it also becomes a very inexpensive way to go on vacation. You can rent a campsite for significantly less money than you can stay in a hotel. Knowing how to prepare for a camping trip can make or break your outdoor experience. Heading into the woods unprepared can leave you with soggy socks and unhappy memories! Check out my hiking … [Read more...]
Balancing a Plentiful Life with Community Volunteering Keeps Kids Grounded
April 16, 2018 by · 7 Comments
This post about balancing a plentiful life with community volunteering has been sponsored by Reward Volunteers. All opinions are my own. I look around the area I live in and am both awed and slightly shocked by the wealth that surrounds us. My teens’ friends have homes with actual media rooms in them. Many had the newest iPhone by age 8. They often get brand new cars for their 16th birthday. This is not the way we raised our children. I don't want them to think this is common for most people. My husband and I are financially stable but … [Read more...]
Make Time for Music No Matter What Your Age
January 16, 2018 by · 6 Comments
Thank you Fender for sponsoring this post about why you should make time for music. Learn guitar at home with Fender Play! One of the first formal classes I joined with my children was a small music class at our church. The kids were babies and toddlers at that point. The instruments they used were wooden maracas and brightly colored shaker toys. We sang and we clapped and generally had a grand and glorious time for a solid hour. As the children grew up, they brought home the dreaded recorders from school. We signed them up for formal … [Read more...]
Teach Kids to Give Back to the Community this Christmas
December 14, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Ask your kids what Christmas is all about and most of them will say it is all about Santa, Christmas trees, presents and tasty holiday cookies. If you are at all religious you will probably get 'the birth of Jesus' as an answer. But whether you believe in Jesus or just really like candy canes, teach kids to give back this holiday season. Give gifts, give love, give hugs...just give of yourself to others with no thought to what you will get in return. Teach Kids to Give Back Giving back is a hard message to teach children. The … [Read more...]
Professional Family Holiday Photos for a Simple and Memorable Season
November 21, 2017 by · 7 Comments
This post about Professional Family Holiday Photos has been sponsored by Portrait Innovations. All opinions expressed here are my own. Over the years, I have taken a lot of really bad photos of my family. While they are amusing to look at, I don't want to send them to family and friends on my holiday card! I love looking back on the professional family holiday photos that I have had done. The lighting is right and they are in focus. The backgrounds are pretty and some of the special effects are truly beautiful. When I was contacted by … [Read more...]
