Guest Post by Shaye

Summer Fun for a Busy Hun!

With summer upon us, moms like me are enjoying time with our kids while brainstorming ways to entertain them on a small - or even better, money-making budget. One way to entertain both kids and adults is to take a fun summer vacation, but vacations are pricey and require a large amount of planning - which is the opposite of fun!  How can youmake sure that your summer activities meet my family's need for fun and the need to not declare bankruptcy?  Here are some great ways to save money and even earn some extra cash over the summer months.

Pooches for Profit

Kids love animals and variety, and dogs have enough energy to keep up with kids.   Why not start dog boarding over the summer for vacationers?  You can provide a safe, family-friendly environment, and let my kids enjoy having doggy companions and make extra cash all in one go!   

Open the Windows

The dog days of summer come and go, and so does the air conditioning.  If the mornings are cool, there's no reason not to shut off the A/C and take advantage of natural climate control!  Early mornings, late evenings and just after a nice heavy summer rain are the best times to enjoy the cooler weather. 

Pre-Planned Leftovers

It's easy to get into the habit of cooking portions specific to my family's size, but I've found that if you just double the recipe you’ll have two days' worth of meals.  You can even make cooking a family activity!  You freeze the portion you don't eat and heat this up later for a quick and easy meal.  This saves me time and money, and gives me the greatest power ever as far as my kids are concerned:  always having a quick answer for the time-honored "What's for dinner?"

The Crafty Chick

Did you know that signing up for Etsy is free?  Why not open an Etsy store on your own and profit from your talents?  You can set the prices for your work, so that you know that the cost and time spent working on your creations are taken into account, and you don't have to worry about flea market booths.

Between boarding, arts and crafts, and cooking, you’ll see more money in your accountand tired kids ready for bed every night!  Here's to a great summer full of fun activities and great savings!

Shaye is a single mom that has a passion for family, budgeting, healthy living, fitness, and travel. She loves finding new ways to cook healthier and stay fit, all while doing it on a budget. She has a beautiful son and one eccentric dog, but wouldn’t have it any other way.. Follow her blog athttp://simplyshaye.wordpress.com!  

Summer Is Definitely Winding Down

     My son left for his last football camp of the summer this morning. :( I just don't feel right when I don't have all three of my kids at home. He lives and breathes football so I know he will be just fine, but I miss him already and it has only been 1 hour and 27 minutes.

     On the way to the school, we were planning out the next couple of weeks when he gets back and we both knew the summer was winding down before school starting, but we didn't really realize just how close we are! I am ready for the football games, but not the school schedule and homework. At least I have both boys in high school so I only have to keep up with things going on at one school. I am NOT a multi-tasker.

     I am a certified teacher, but I am embarrassed to say I was not one of those moms who worked constantly with my kids to get them ready for preschool. I was a stay at home mom, but I felt like they had plenty of years of school ahead of them and while I did teach them the basics, I let them just enjoy being kids with no pressure. It was probably a mistake because I don't know how you can be behind in pre-K, but it is easier than you think.

     I found this site that is great for teaching kids before preschool and even through 2nd grade helping struggling readers. I remember all those phonics lessons and going over them with my kids.

    The program is Study Dog and it is unique in that it adapts to the pace of your child. It is also very entertaining. I found this information on another blog and knew I needed to add it to my Homework page. Please go to this blog for a little more information: Four Little Thiiiings.  Not only will you find more info, but there is a giveaway.  The program is for ages 4-9 and she has used the program, I haven't so she has much more insight to what makes it a worthwhile program.

     By the way, she is managing 2 sets of twins so I am guessing she is a pretty dang good multi-tasker!

Water, Water Everywhere.....

     It is July in Georgia and it is hot and humid as always.  We have had a lot more rain than usual and instead of cooling things off, it can just make things down right steamy!  It is easy to get dehydrated in this kind of heat.  Both of my teenage boys play football and they carry around gallon jugs of water just to make sure they are drinking enough. 

    I happen to love water, but most people think it is boring.  It can be, especially when you are drinking a lot of it.  I like to add a little something to my plain water and get a few extra nutritional benefits without any artificial sweeteners or sugar.  Here are a few suggestions to get a little refreshment and a nutritious boost at the same time!

                                                      twomartinilunch

Doesn't this look pretty?  All you have to do is fill the container with water then add sliced lemons, sliced cucumber and some mint.  It is really good to help with cleansing and releasing toxins.  Especially if you have recently eaten too much salt.



These look so refreshing!  You know how we love our mason jars in the south!  It makes whatever you put in it instantly better.  I throw in whatever I have.  You can come up with tons of variations depending on what you like.  I found this blog that gives great ideas and great detail.  It is The Yummy Life and it does flavored water a lot more justice than I can.  It is also where I found this awesome picture!

 

 

Not only is fruit and vegetable flavored water fun and tasty, it is beneficial too. You may have a few questions about making your own so I found Infused Waters to answer some of your questions.

 

cartoonstock

 

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What are your recipes or favorite fruit and vegetable infused water?

 

 

     I love the summer, but the heat really gets to me.  I don't like to be cold, but I am much more intolerable of hot weather.  I really don't like the way my utility bill goes up in the summer!  I found this article that might give you some helpful tips on being air conditioner ready!



http://realestate.msn.com/is-your-air-conditioner-ready-for-summer


     It gives you a mini lesson on air conditioners and then some great ways to make sure it is funtionally properly and effectively.  Hope this helps!

Father's Day!

                         Helping Your Father


      A clergyman walking down a country lane and sees a young farmer struggling to load hay back onto a cart after it had fallen off.

      "You look hot, my son," said the cleric. "why don't you rest a moment, and I'll give you a hand." "No thanks," said the young man. "My father wouldn't like it."

     "Don't be silly," the minister said. "Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water."

     Again the young man protested that his father would be upset. Losing his patience, the clergyman said, "Your father must be a real slave driver. Tell me where I can find him and I'll give him a piece of my mind!"

     "Well," replied the young farmer, "he's under the load of hay."






Here are a few ideas for Father's Day:


 

What Kind of Sports Parent Are You?

     I got this great article from a friend of mine.  It is so hard being a parent.  When your child plays sports it is hard to be encouraging without going overboard.  Sports are very competetive and we think we are doing the right thing pushing them, but this article does a great job of looking at the other side.  Especially the other side from your child's point of view.  We forget that we understand the concept of competition while to the younger, more undeveloped brain it means something totally different. We feel like we are doing them a disservice if they aren't prepared to compete for time on a high school team or for a scholarship, but do we push them at a larger cost?  

What Makes A Nightmare Sports Parent--And What Makes A Good One





What is your opinion on the article?

Clipping Coupons

coupon



     I love watching the reality shows about couponing.  Shows like Extreme Couponing have me pulling for the shopper every time.  It is kind of stressful to watch, though.  They get all their stuff, get to the line, and after a while the register won't accept coupons anymore.  They have so many that I guess it totally freaks out the register.  It looks like it is a stressful thing, but it also looks fun.  It has to be such a challenge and then they almost look like they get a rush from what they have saved.  Heck, sometimes the grocery store ends up owing THEM!  I don't feel like I am organized enough to do that kind of shopping.  Some of them do go overboard.  You know when they take the cameras to their "pantry" and there are like 30 bottles of BBQ sauce and salad dressings, and other things that will certainly expire before they can be used.  I know some people don't pay attention to expiration dates, but I figure they are there for a reason and I don't chance them.

     Although I don't extreme coupon, I don't know anyone who doesn't like to save money or feel like you are outsmarting the seller.  Here are a few websites I have found that will definitely be of some help.

 





Free Local Grocery Store Coupons
Free Local Drug Store Coupons








Find the Biggest Offers in Your Neighborhood with Gilt City

thrillofthedeal

time2save



     I got the cartoons and images from other blogs.  If you click on the highlighted under the cartoons, it will take you to couponing blogs that have a lot more information.