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Free Virtual Field Trips for Kids

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Free Online Field Trips For Elementary School Kids!

Are you looking for some fun, free virtual field trips for kids?  I’ve got you covered with this list of free online field trips perfect for elementary school kids, preschool aged kids, or anyone who loves to look at awesome places!

I can’t be the only person with bored kids at home???  I’m constantly being asked, “What can I do?  There’s NOTHING to do!”  Those poor darlings just think they live in the most boring house ever!  

Well, one of the ideas I’ve started giving my kids is to take a free virtual field trip!  This way they can experience the world, without even having to leave home!  It’s educational and FUN, making mom happy and kiddos happy.  Don’t we just love a double win???  Yes, yes we do!

Virtual Field Trips For Kids

I’ve scoured the internet to find the best free online field trips for elementary school kids!  I hope your family and students enjoy them as much as we have!

Animal Field Trips

If you have animal lovers, then they are sure to love a few of the virtual animal field trips below.

AfriCam

Have you ever wanted to go on an African safari????  Try a virtual one with the live cameras in the African bush.  AfriCam offers multiple camera views so you can enjoy all that Africa has to offer.

Dairy Farm

Learn all about the Dairy Farm with this fun virtual field trip.  Kids will be able to tour a real dairy farm and learn all of the behind the scenes that goes on at the farm.

Hen Cam

Get a peek into life with chickens with the Hen Cam.  It shows the day to day life of hens living in a backyard outside of Boston.  Hens are so funny, I could watch them for hours!

Houston Zoo

Another fun animal virtual field trip is to the Houston Zoo.  They have live webcams available to watch the elephants, flamingos, river otters and more!

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

For any dolphin or marine animal lovers out there, you must attend the virtual Marineland Dolphin Adventure for an up close look at a variety of sea animals.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Take a trip to the aquarium without leaving home!  The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers multiple cams for your viewing pleasure.  You can watch the moon jelly, penguins, sea otters, sharks and more.

San Diego Zoo Cam

Another fun animal cam you can watch is the San Diego Zoo Cam.  The San Diego Zoo has multiple animal cams available for you and your kiddos to enjoy.  You can watch the apes, baboons, elephants, giraffes, hippos and more!

Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam

Watch the PandaCam on Zoo Atlanta’s YouTube Channel for a fun treat!  You can tune in live whenever and wherever to watch the panda play, eat, and sleep.

panda eating bamboo

 

Historical Field Trips

Teaching your students a lesson about an historical event or place?  Use one of the virtual field trips below to help bring that history to life.

9/11 Memorial Museum

Take a walk through the 9/11 Memorial Museum with this interactive virtual tour.  This tour does an amazing job of making you feel like you are actually at the memorial museum, viewing the exhibits up close and personal.  It was very moving to go through.

Anne Frank Secret Annex

Tour the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding from 1942-1944.  This is a great virtual tour to see exactly where the Frank family and others lived during WW2 and to learn more about their stories.

Buckingham Palace

Take a peek inside Buckingham Palace here!  You can virtually tour the throne room, grand staircase and white drawing room.

Colonial Williamsburg

Another fun history virtual field trip is to Colonial Williamsburg.  It’s a great look into what was life during colonial times.

Ellis Island

I love this interactive tour of Ellis Island.  They have audio, pictures, and video from passengers arrive on Ellis Island.  The tour takes you step by step through the immigration process into the United States.  It’s very informative and interesting.

Ford’s Theater

Ford’s Theater virtual tour is a great way to learn more about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the events that took place that fateful night.  Through images of the restored theater, students will learn more about the timeline and experiences of the night Lincoln died.

Great Wall of China

Go on a field trip to the Great Wall of China from the comfort of your own home with this virtual tour!

Mount Vernon

George Washingtons home, Mount Vernon, is a beautifully restored home.  This virtual tour will take you through each room of Mount Vernon so that you can get a view of what it looked like when George and Martha lived there.

Museum of the American Revolution

If you or your students are studying about the American Revolution, be sure to check out this field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution.  Lauren Tarshie, author of the I Survived series, guides the field trip, with a deeper look to the revolution, with a kid friendly twist.

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center offers multiple free virtual tours for elementary kids.  Each video teaches kids about the signing of the constitution, the civil war and founding of America.

National Museum of Natural History

Check out all of the rooms of the National Museum of Natural History.  This is a self guided tour allowing you to view your favorite areas however and whenever you want!

Plimoth Plantation

Visit the Plimoth Plantation with this virtual field trip to learn more about the early settlers of the United States.  The tour includes multiple videos and a slideshow.

Statue of Liberty

Tour the Statue of Liberty with this online field trip.  It’s a great way to see what it looks like from the inside and to learn more about it’s history.

Titanic Wreckage

Have you ever wanted to see what the Titanic looks under water?  Now you can with this Titanic virtual tour.  It’s a fun way to teach kids about a historical event and give them a look at what happens to an object under water.

Titanic pamphlet

 

Great Outdoors Field Trips

Want to see all of the beauty the great outdoors has to offer without leaving your house?  Well you can with these outdoors virtual field trips!

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon Virtual Tour is a an amazing tour along the Grand Canyon Rim to the Colorado River.  You’ll be able to join a 2 hour tour of the Grand Canyon to see all of the sights it has to offer!

Hawaii Volcanos

Check out these amazing Webcams of Hawaiian Volcanoes!  I had so much fun viewing all of the volcano images and can’t wait to show them to my kids.  It’s a great educational virtual field trip!

Mount Rushmore

Get a birds eye view of Mount Rushmore with this virtual field trip.  You’ll get to explore the monument up close and personal, for a little taste of what it would be like to actually be there.

Son Doong Cave

Travel to Vietnam and tour the largest cave in the world, with the Son Doong Cave virtual tour.  The calming sounds and pictures transports you straight into this beautiful cave.

Yellowstone

Take a virtual field trip to Yellowstone National Park.  You can view Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mud Volcano and more!  It’s such a fun way to see all of the unique beauty Yellowstone has to offer, without ever leaving your house!

Yosemite

Yosemite is such a beautiful park and I had so much fun visiting it virtually with this field trip.  

The waterfall in Yosemite National Park

 

 

Space Field Trips

Take a trip to space with these fun virtual field trips.

Mars

I absolutely love this virtual field trip to Mars.  You’ll get to tour the real surface of Mars that was previously recorded by NASAS Curiosity Rover.

Slime in Space

You must check out this fun slime in space virtual field trip.  Here students will get to learn how slime acts when it’s in space.  This is a really fun field trip and experiment!

Space Station

I’m always curious about life in space, and every kid I’ve met is too!  Here’s a fun virtual field trip to the international space station.  Get a peek into how astronauts live in space and what it’s like working at the space station.

Stellarium

Take a fun field trip to the stars.  Check out Stallarium Web to view the constellations, stars and planets.  You can even input your location to locate the stars right above your backyard.

Sun

I love this virtual tour to the sun.  It’s really well made and even makes stops to the moon, Venus and Mercury.

Mars Rover

 

 

Educational Virtual Field Trips

Below are some of my favorite educational online field trips.

Bright Farms

Learn more about how food is grown with the BrightFarms Virtual Field Trip.  You’ll get to peek inside of a greenhouse and watch how indoor farming works!

M&M Candy Factory Tour

Here’s a really fun virtual tour of the M&M Candy Factory.  Watch the entire process of  what it takes to make M&Ms.  It’s a really fun video and tour!

Memphis Fire Department

Here is a fun virtual field trip of a Memphis Fire Department.  Learn all about fire stations and get a look at a fire engine up close and personal.

Mount Olive Pickles Tour

Another fun educational virtual field trip is the Mount Olive Pickles Tour.  It’s an interesting tour showing the entire process of taking a cucumber and turning it into multiple types of pickles.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Learn more about aviation with a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  With this virtual tour you’ll be able to see different aircrafts and missiles on display, and learn a few interesting facts about aviation history.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy offers multiple virtual field trips for students to take right from the comfort of their home or classroom.  You can choose from multiple topics covered including, climate change, coral, ecosystems and more, there is something for everyone!

Recycling Center

Teach your kids all about recycling with this recycling center virtual tour.  They will learn all about the importance of recycling, and get to watch the big equipment sorting and packing the recycled materials.

Sawmill Tour

Tour the Collum’s Lumber Yard and learn how pine trees are turned into lumber.  It’s a really fun behind the scenes video!

Sawmill (lumber mill)

 

 

Art Field Trips

Do you have an art lover in your classroom?  Take a few of these fun virtual art field trips below!

Frida Kahlo Museum

Virtually explore the beautiful home of famed artist, Frida Kahlo.  Her home, Casa Azul, is full of so much beauty and original art.  It is a masterpiece that is so fun to view from the comfort of your own home.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art has multiple video tours and lessons for elementary school kids to take to help them learn more about art.  This is a great resource for teachers and parents!

Vatican Museums

Virtually visit the Vatican Museums and get a close up look of the beautiful art and architecture in each one.  Your students will be able look inside the Sistine Chapel, Raphaels Rooms, and more!

 

In Conclusion

We are so lucky to live during a time when we can travel the world as a family or class, without even having to leave our house.  I hope you enjoy some of these free virtual field trips for kids!

 

 

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Enjoy these free virtual field trips for kids!

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Life24 Comments

The best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe makes everything better!

We love keeping hot chocolate stocked in our home during the cold winter months.  My kids will spend hours and hours playing outside in the snow and the first thing they ask for when they come inside is some hot chocolate!  Back in my “spender” days I use to buy hot chocolate mix at the store like it was nobody’s business!  Once I started learning how to save and live a frugal life I learned how to make hot cocoa from scratch with this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe and I have never looked back! 

Not only does making your own hot cocoa save you money, it is also so quick and easy to do.  We love this easy homemade hot chocolate recipe because it tastes much much better than anything we ever buy from the store.  I like to whip a huge catch up at the beginning of every winter and keep it stored in the pantry for the kids to use whenever they need a warm drink.

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How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Once you start making this easy hot cocoa recipe you will never go back to the expensive store bought kind.  Kids love to help make this recipe and it’s a fun family activity to do together.

Gather Ingredients

All you need is 5 cheap ingredients to mix up this creamy hot cocoa….and you probably already have them all in your pantry!

You will need:

  • 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup powdered creamer
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Mix It Together

Now, with a spoon, stir all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.

That’s it!  You are done!  (see, I told you it was easy!)

You can store your homemade hot chocolate mix in an airtight container in a cupboard.  This mix will should stay fresh for 6-12 months.

When you are ready to enjoy your hot chocolate just stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 boiling water in a mug.  Enjoy!  Feel free to add marshmallows, candy canes, or whipped cream for an even more festive treat!

Hot Cocoa Mix

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 1/2 cup powdered creamer
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients and mix well.  Store in a tightly covered container.
  • To make hot chocolate:  Stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 cup boiling water.  Enjoy!

This easy homemade hot cocoa also makes a great, cheap Christmas gift for neighbors or friends!

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Just put some in a mason jar and put a pretty bow around it!  Make sure to attach the instructions so your neighbors will know how to use it.

In Conclusion

This easy hot chocolate recipe will cost you pennies to make and tastes so very delicious!  I hope your family will enjoy it as much as we do!

Related Articles:

Christmas Hard Candy Recipe

Frugal Christmas Traditions For Families

Best Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

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I hope you enjoy this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe!

Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

The best at home date ideas!

Looking for some cheap at home date night ideas???  You’ve come to the right place!

I’ve been married 17 years and life has HAPPENED.  Right now the majority of our time is spent taking care of our three kids, working our jobs, and maintaining our home.  It’s been far to easy to become consumed with all of our long list of “to dos” and leave less time for each other.  We have learned that we MUST make date night a priority, or else it probably won’t happen. 

However, dating can be expensive!  Just dinner and a movie could easily cost you a quick $50.  PLUS, when you have to hire a babysitter….those dates can add up fast.  I have BEEN there!   

We learned quickly that if we wanted to have regular date night, without breaking the budget, we needed to start having them at home.  We brainstormed some fun at home date ideas, schedule a night each week, put the kids to bed, turn off the TV, put away all phones and other distractions and we spend time together.  It has done wonders for our relationship!

I’m excited to share our cheap at home date night ideas with you!  I hope you can find something that you and your partner will enjoy together.

Our Favorite Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas

Remember that a good date night is all about spending time together.  There are so many free things you can do during a date night at home!  Enjoy these easy at home date ideas!

1.  Candlelight Dinner

There’s no rule that says you have to go out to a fancy restaurant in order to enjoy a romantic dinner.  You can have it right at home!

Put your kids to bed and enjoy a quiet dinner, just the two of you.  Set the mood by lighting some candles, dimming the lights, and adding a pretty tablecloth.

Make sure to cook your favorite dinner before hand to enjoy together.  It doesn’t even need to be fancy, as long as it’s something the two of you both love!

2.  Put Together a Puzzle

Grab a puzzle and spend some time putting it together.  This is such a great time to talk and laugh.  We love having a project/goal we can work towards together.

Bonus!  If you choose a more difficult puzzle you can turn your date night into a multiple night date!  My husband and I love Dowdle Puzzles.

3.  Would you Rather

Ask each other “would you rather” questions to get to know each other a little better.  This is such a fun way to learn more about each other. 

You can ask serious questions, or be a little more lighthearted and fun.  I’m still surprised at all the random idiosyncrasies I keep learning about my husband!

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions to help you get started!

4.  Food Tasting

Get brave in the kitchen by trying out some new foods together.  When planning for this date look for new food at the grocery store that you normally wouldn’t buy.  Perhaps, some fancy cheeses and unique fruits.  You might even find a few new favorite foods!

5.  Personality Quizzes

I’m a bit of a nerd in the fact that I seriously love personality quizzes.  I’m betting there isn’t a personality quiz out there that I haven’t taken. 

For a fun date night you could both take a personality quiz and then read each others results.  This is such a great way to get to know each other and understand the other better.  Understanding your spouses personality can really strengthen your marriage.

6.  Dream Board

Another cheap at home date night idea is to put together a dream board together.

A dream board is a board where you put your dreams, goals, and aspirations on.  This can be done using pictures or words.  Being able to voice your dreams and then visualize it is a great way to achieving it!

Spend some time together dreaming up your future and then put those dreams on paper with your dream board.  Print out a few pictures that represent your dreams to add to your board.

Make sure to gang it up somewhere that you will both see it regularly.  This part is important to see success!

7.  Outdoor Picnic

If it’s warm outside, set up a little outdoor picnic. This is so easy to do!  Just lay out a blanket to sit on, pack all your favorite finger foods, and enjoy time together in your own backyard. 

Try to schedule it right before the sunset so you can enjoy dinner and a show.  Be sure to bring an extra blanket for snuggling.

8.  Ice Cream Sundaes

Ice cream is definitely not just for kids!  My husband and I have a serious deep love for ice cream.  It’s fairly common for one of us to buy a pint of ice cream as a sweet gesture to the other. 

How about turning an ice cream sundae into a cheap at home date night!   Grab some ice cream and your favorite toppings and enjoy a sundae with your sweetie.  Finish it off with a cherry on top (of course!).

9.  Play Name That Tune

Are you and your significant other music lovers??  Test each others music knowledge with a friendly game of name that tune. 

You could travel back in time and play some of the hits from when you were kids or listen to the current hits.  Turn it into a friendly competition with a small wager (maybe loser has to make the bed the next morning????).

10.  Learn a New Skill

Is there a new skill you have been wanting to learn?  Why not learn it together, as a couple!  Watch some YouTube videos about the skill, or sign up for an online class together.  These could be a few weeks worth of dates, as you continue to learn and improve your new skill. 

Perhaps you will want to learn about photography, cooking, art, or a foreign language?  The options are endless!  Maybe you could each pick a new skill you would personally like to learn and you can take turns supporting and learning the others chosen skill together.

11.  Game Night

I have a serious love for all games and it’s one of my favorite ways to spend an evening, it also makes a great date night.

Get out a few of your favorite board games and have an old fashioned game night.  Pop some popcorn, or your favorite snack choice, and enjoy a night of friendly competition, food and good laughs.

12.  Star Gazing

Spend a quiet evening together watching the stars.  You could download a free astronomy app onto your phone to help you find some new constellations.

This is such a great date for snuggling, good conversation and a beautiful view.

13.  Indoor Smores

Did you know that you can roast marshmallows indoors???  Because you can!  Spend the evening together roasting marshmallows over the stove top and make indoor smores. 

You can make the treat even extra special with gourmet smore toppings.  Consider adding caramel, peanut butter, or any other goodie to your smore.  It’s OK to act like a kid again with this fun treat!

 

In Conclusion

You do not have to spend a lot of money, or even leave your house for a special date night.  I am challenging you to start making date night a priority….even if you have to do it while staying at home!

 

 

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What are some of your favorite cheap at home date ideas???

 

 

50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

The Ultimate List of Screen Free Summer Activities For Kids At Home.

Summer break is just around the corner.  I have been looking forward to summer for weeks!  I just love having my kids home with me and I always look forward to a more relaxed schedule full of fun family activities.  There are so many fun summer activities for kids, and we love to take advantage of all of them!

fun summer activities

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Outdoor Summer Kids Activities

One of our favorite parts of summer is getting to spend more time outside.  I love exploring the outdoors, especially with my sweet kids!

 Picnic at The Park

Enjoy some time outdoors with a picnic at the park.  We love going to a new park each week and getting to explore different areas of our city.  We bring these Rate The Park sheets with us and my kids love critiquing each park we attend.

Rate The Park printable

Play Frisbee

Another fun summer activity is to play frisbee in the backyard.   Make sure to also check your local parks to see if they have a frisbee golf course you could play at.

Run Through the Sprinkler

Set a sprinkler outside and let your kids run through it in their swim suits.  I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to run through the sprinkler without having fun.  There is just something about this simple activity that brightens up the day.

“Paint” with Water

Get out a bucket of water and an old paintbrush.  Let your kids use the water and brush to “paint” the sidewalk, house and anything else they want.  It’s so fun for them to watch the color change as they paint.

Go on a Walk

Get outside and get moving with a nice walk.  We love to walk around our neighborhood or try out a few of the walking paths in our city.  Make a family goal to walk 100 miles over the summer and celebrate with a treat once accomplished.

 

100 Miles Challenge Printable

Picnic in Backyard

Move the meal outside with a simple backyard picnic.  Lay a blanket down in the shade and eat dinner outdoors enjoying nature.

Draw With Sidewalk Chalk

Get out some sidewalk chalk and draw pictures on your driveway.  You could draw a hopscotch course or a road for your bikes to travel through.  My kids also really love when I trace their bodies on the sidewalk and then let them color in their clothes and faces.

Draw on Sidewalk With Ice Cubes

Don’t have any side walk chalk?  Draw with ice cubes instead!  They will melt on the hot pavement as you are drawing your picture.

Go On A Bike Ride

One of my favorite summer activities is to go on a bike ride together.  Get your family outside for a fun family bike ride.  Make sure to log your bike miles on your 100 Miles Challenge printable.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Give your kids a paper bag and a list of items to find out in nature.  This might be a rock, pine cone, dandelion, etc.  Have them go outside and collect their findings in their bag.  When they get back let everyone show each other their new treasures.  Such a fun way to get kids outside exploring.

Go On A Hike

Take your kids on an easy hike.  Make sure everyone finds a hiking stick!  Hiking sticks are always a necessity for our kids!

 

 

Plant A Garden

Work together with your kids to plant a garden together.  They will be so proud when they harvest their veggies.

Jump On The Trampoline With Water Balloons

Another fun and cheap outdoor summer activity is to fill up a few water balloons with water and put them on the trampoline.  The kids love jumping with them and the surprise of when they pop and spray out water.

Play Catch

Get out a ball and play catch together as a family.  Try to see how many times you can catch the ball without letting it drop.

Blow Bubbles

How about having fun blowing bubbles together.  You could try to see who can make the biggest bubble!

girl blowing bubbles

Go Geocaching

Have you ever been geocaching?  Geocaching is a game similar to a treasure hunt.  Community members hide geocaches in parts of the city and then give clues to help you and your family find it.  You can learn more about it here.  Each geocache contains little toys and trinkets.  It’s such a fun way to explore new places, and the kids love finding the treasure!

Play Night Games With Flash Lights

Invite a group of friends over to play night games together.  Our favorites to play are Ghost In The Graveyard and Kick The Can. 

Catch Bugs

Kids love to catch bugs during the summertime!  We usually keep them in a jar for an hour to watch and observe and then set them free again.  One of the fun parts of catching bugs is to research them.  It’s fun to find out information about each but, like what they like to eat, and teach these facts to your kids.

Star Gaze

Stay up late one night so you can watch the stars.  Show your kids a few of the constellations and try to find a shooting star.  Download a free star finder app to help you learn the constellations together.

Make a Fairy Garden

Use your creativity and put together a Fairy Garden in your back yard.  Build a mini house out of twigs and decorate with twigs and flowers.  We did this a few years ago and it was such a fun summer activity!

Give The Bikes a Wash

Set up a car wash, but for the bikes!  All you need is a hose, some rags, a few buckets of soapy water and your bike wash is ready!  Kids love giving each of the bikes a good wash while playing in the water.

Play Jump Rope

Get out a few jump ropes to play with.  Try to see how many times you can jump over the rope before it stops or play a few games like Double Dutch.

Make An Obstacle Course

Use your backyard to make an obstacle course for your kids.  Your obstacle course might include having the kids walk across a “balance beam” (a piece of wood or jump rope work great), run around all the cones (or chairs), jump on the trampoline three times, and then throw a ball.  Use your imagination and get creative while setting it up.  Use a timer to see how fast they can get through the course.

After the kids run through the obstacle course, let them set one up for you to try!

Set up a Lemonade Stand

Mix up some lemonade and sell it in front of your home.  This is a fun way to socialize with the neighbors and help the kids learn about money.

Make a Nature Journal

Start a Nature Journal.  This will be a place to save some of the fun things you find outside, draw pictures of the places you visit and write all about what you love about nature.

 

 

Indoor Summer Activities

Looking for a few fun summer activities that can be done indoors?  Try one of these suggestions!

Make Play Dough

Whip up some homemade play dough for your kids to enjoy.  This play dough recipe is so quick and easy (seriously failproof!).  Or, if you want to try something different check out this Peanut Butter Play Dough recipe (it’s my kids favorite!).

Lined up plasticine balls isolated

Try A Science Experiment

Science experiments are always a fun summer activity for kids!  We love this Magic Toothpick Experiment.  It’s super quick and mess free (just the way this mamma likes it!)

Bake Cookies

Spend a few hours in the kitchen together baking your favorite cookies.  We personally love chocolate chip cookies!  This is also a great way to help kids learn how to read a recipe and measure ingredients.

Make Up A Play

Encourage your kids to make up a play that they can perform.  Set up a little stage area to help them feel official.  Invite over a few grandparents to watch the big performance!

Build A Fort

Get out some blankets and build a big fort.  You can drape them over the kitchen table or a few chairs.  Once your fort is built you can cuddle up and read books together or watch a movie!

Make A Dream Catcher

If your kids enjoy crafting, make a dream catcher together.  It’s a great craft for older kids who are able to sit still.  I love this tutorial for making a dream catcher out of a paper plate, a perfect craft activity for kids!

Make Slime

Slime is all the rage in the kid crowd.  It only requires a few ingredients and brings hours of fun play.  Here’s a super easy slime recipe.

Play Hide-and-Seek or Sardines

Play a few family friendly games in the house.  We love Hide And Seek or Sardines!  For a fun change turn off all of the lights and play in the dark using flashlights!

Color Hot Rocks

Try out our favorite twist on painting rocks.  All you need is a rock and some crayons!  Find the tutorial here.

Painting Baked Rocks

Write Letters To Friends or Family

Everyone loves to get an old fashioned letter in the mail, or at least I do!  Spend an afternoon writing letters for friends or family.

Play Board Games

My daughters and I love spending an afternoon playing board games together.  It’s such a fun way to pass the time and enjoy some friendly competition.

Make A Summer Scrapbook

Put together a summer scrapbook of your favorite summer memories.  Include pictures and any special events.

Sing Karaoke

Find free karaoke songs on YouTube and have an old fashioned karaoke party.   Here’s a highly rated karaoke machine your kids will love!

Make A Nature Bookmark

Preserve flowers you find on your nature walk by turn them into a Nature Bookmark.

Fold Origami

Learn how to fold origami.  There are many easy tutorials on YouTube.  I would start with a frog, they are my favorite!

Put On A Puppet Show

Make puppets out of brown paper bags and put on a puppet show for each other.

performance in the puppet theater

Make Homemade Butter

Teach your kids about life on the prairie by making homemade butter together.  All you need is some cream and a jar!  After you make the butter you can enjoy it on a piece of bread, so yummy!!!

Indoor Treasure Hunt

Put together a simple indoor treasure hunt for your kids to go on.  You can hide different items around the house with clues to find each one.  Don’t forget to leave a fun surprise treasure at the end!

Go To The Library

Visit your local library for a fun day out.  We always set a goal to read 50 books in a summer, the library is the perfect place to get to that goal!  Many libraries will offer summer reading program for the family, complete with prizes and activities.

Play Dress-Up

Get out a few dress up clothes for your kids to play with.  See who can dress up in the funniest outfit.  If you don’t have any dress up clothes, you could let them dress up in some of your clothing.

Have A Dance Party

Turn on some music and have a dance party in your living room!  I have a playlist on my phone with all of our favorite dance tunes, it’s so fun and a great way to cut loose.

Put Together A Puzzle

Spend the day doing a puzzle together.  It’s so relaxing and a great way to bring out some conversation.  We love Eric Dowdle Puzzles!

Make Ice Cream In A Bag

Make homemade ice cream in a bag.  It’s really easy to do and the perfect activity for a hot summers day!

ice cream in a bag

Have An Impromptu Photo Shoot

Get dressed up and have an impromptu photo shoot.  Let your kids choose the poses and locations.  It’s always so fun to see what they come up with!

Learn Magic Tricks

Look up a few magic tricks on YouTube.  Once you have a few tricks learned, put on a magic show for each other!

In Conclusion

There are so many fun kids summer activities out there, and many of them won’t cost you any money at all.  Kids grow to fast!  I hope you will use summer time as a way to reconnect and build lasting memories.

 

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20 FREE Valentine Date Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Our favorite budget friendly valentine dates!

With Valentines Day just a couple weeks away my husband and I started brainstorming some free date night ideas.  Valentines Day does not always have to be celebrated with an expensive dinner and fancy night out.  There is no price tag on quality time spent with the one you love very most.  And now, here is our list of 20 FREE Valentine Date Ideas.

I’m sharing a few of our favorite ideas below!  Some are a little more romantic, and others are just plain old fun!  There is a great date idea for everyone!

These dates are perfect for any date night, it doesn’t have to be on Valentines Day!  I hope you find a new favorite!

20 Free Valentine Date Ideas

It’s possible to enjoy a fun date with your spouse…without having to spend any money!  Here’s a few ways you can do it!

1.  Candlelight Picnic

There is no need to go out to a fancy restaurant to have a candlelight dinner.  You can set one up at home!

To make an at home candlelight dinner, just put a blanket on the floor and few candles set around the room.  Make sure to cook your loves favorite dinner and enjoy eating and talking over candlelight.

2.  Night Drive and Star Gazing

You might enjoy going on a long drive, just the two of you.  This is a great time to talk without any interruptions.

Drive to somewhere secluded and wrap up in a blanket together and enjoy some star gazing from the back of your car.  Use a star finder app to locate a few constellations.

3.  Netflix and Chill  

Who doesn’t love to Netflix and Chill????  This is a classic date, and for good reason!

All you have to do is set up some blankets and pillows in front of the TV.  Enjoy snuggling together while watching your favorite Netflix shows.

4.  Game Night

Another great free date night idea is to have a game night together.  Pop some popcorn, get out your favorite snacks and crack open a few games.  Let your flirty and friendly banter come out and enjoy a fun game night together with just the two of you.

If you are needing some fun, family friendly games, check out this article!

5.  At Home Star Gazing

If you don’t want to go for a drive to look at the stars, you could do some star gazing at home!

Make it a little more special by stringing up some Christmas lights on your back porch and getting out a few blankets to snuggle in.

6.  Stroll through Memory Lane

Get out old pictures and letters you may have written to each other.  Reminisce about your first dates and talk about how special your love story is.  This is a great way to rekindle the flame and to grow closer together as a couple.

7.  Cook Dinner Together

Do you or your significant other enjoy cooking?  You might enjoy spending an evening cooking in the kitchen together!

Turn on some music and enjoy each others company while cooking dinner together.  Light some candles in the kitchen to help set the mood.

After the dinner is cooked you can enjoy eating the nice meal together!

8.  Couple Questions

Even after 17 years of marriage, I am still learning new things about my husband!  It’s always fun to find out a new quirk or story from his past.

Find a list of couple questions, like this one, to ask each other.  This is a fun free date night to see how well you already know each other and enjoy learning new details about your lover.

9.  Roast Smores at Home

You don’t need a campfire to make smores!  You can roast them right at home over the stove.

Make them into gourmet smores by adding peanut butter or nutella to the graham cracker!  Yum!

10.  Dessert Iron Chef

Play an at home version of Iron Chef.  This is such  a fun cooking competition game!

To play Iron Chef, pick a few “secret ingredients” that you both have to use in your dessert concoction.  Set a time limit for each person to whip up the best dessert they can, all while using the “secret ingredients.”  End the game by taking turns judging each others desserts.

11.  Snowy Walk

If you live in a cold climate (like I do), Valentines Day usually includes snow.  Use this to your advantage by taking a walk with your love out in the snow.

Try to explore a new trail or area you have never been before and enjoy the winter beauty together.

12.  Comedy Night

Have an at home comedy night.  Grab your favorite snacks and search you tube for funny videos or watch a comedian on Netflix, our favorite is always Jim Gaffigan.

13.  Window Shopping

If you are wanting a free Valentines Date out in the town you might enjoy window shopping.  This is a fun way to browse the stores, without having to spend money.

Make it a little more fun by picking out funny items for each other to try one.  See who can find the funniest outfit and promise each other you will try it on no matter what!

14.  Photo Scavenger Hunt

Another fun and free Valentines date idea is to have a date night photo scavenger hunt.  Try to complete the list together, but give yourself a certain amount of time to make it more exciting.  This date is always so fun!

Free Valentines Day Date Ideas

15.  Fondue Night

Have a fondue night at home by melting chocolate chips in the microwave.  Enjoy good conversation together while dipping fruit and marshmallows into the chocolate.

16.  Heads or Tails Drive

A heads or tails drive is a really fun date night idea!  First, pack a picnic dinner into the car.  Then, go for a drive using a coin to find your destination. 

At every intersection flip the coin.  If the coin lands on heads, turn right.  If it is tails, turn left. turn right if it’s heads and left if it’s tails.  Do this for 10-20 intersections and then enjoy eating the picnic together at whatever the destination ends up being.

17.  Paint Night

Let your artistic side show with this free Valentines Date idea!  Whip out the paints and a few canvases for you and your honey to paint on.  Enjoy talking to each other while painting your individual masterpieces.  I’m not very creative, but I do always enjoy this activity.  It’s so soothing!

18.  Video Games

Play a few video games together and let your competitive sides show with friendly banter and laughs.

19.  Sledding and Hot Chocolate

Enjoy a fun night outside sledding together.  End the night back home snuggling next to the fire while sipping hot chocolate.

20.  Health Night

If you are looking for a physical activity to do on a date, consider doing some couples yoga together.  You can find a lot of great, free videos on YouTube!  Afterwards prepare a healthy dinner together and enjoy each others company while focusing on your health.

In Conclusion

There are so many ways to date your significant other, without spending any money.  The most important part of a date is spending quality time together!  

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I hope you enjoyed these free Valentines Date Ideas!

How to Make Butter in a Jar

By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

Learn how to make homemade butter in a mason jar!

Do you know how to make butter in a jar??  It is one of my favorite activities to do with my kids!  The butter tastes fresh and delicious, and it is so easy to do!

Homemade butter is a fun pioneer activity to teach kids about how life was in the 1800s.  We have also made it for our Thanksgiving dinner!  It was so fun for my kids to serve their very own butter at the table.

I had a container of heavy whipping cream sitting in my fridge for a few weeks.  I kept looking at it, knowing I needed to do something with it, but never knowing exactly what!  My sister finally suggested to me that I should use the cream to make butter in a jar with my kids.  Best idea ever!

Making butter in a jar is so so easy, cheap, and my kids absolutely LOVED it!

It was so fun watching my kids shaking their jars and checking every 5 minutes to see if the butter had formed.  My daughter even said, “Wow!  They use to have to work hard in the olden days!  I can’t imagine doing this every time we needed butter.”  This led into such a great discussion about the conveniences we have now and how hard our ancestors had to work in order to survive.

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How To Make Butter In a Jar

All you need to make your own butter is a mason jar and a carton of heavy whipping cream.  Seriously, that’s it!  I told you this was easy!

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To make your butter you will need to pour some whipping cream into your mason jar.  I filled our jars about half full, but if you are doing this with your kids, or for the first time, I would recommend only filling it about 1/4 full.  It just makes the process easier and quicker for the kids if the jar has less cream in it.

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Once you have your whipping cream in the jar, put the lid back on, and screw it tight.

Now, all you have to do is shake the jar!  Shake, shake and shake!  The amount of shaking the butter will need will depend on how much cream you put in the jar.  The more cream, the longer you will need to shake.

When we did it today it took us about 45 minutes of hard shaking.  If I had done less cream I’m sure it would’ve been much quicker.

You can make the shaking part fun.  We turned on some music and danced around while shaking our jars.  If you are only making one jar of butter you can have everybody take turns shaking it for 2 minutes and then switching to the next person.

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As you shake your jar you will notice the cream will slowly become thicker.  After a while the butter will begin separating from the cream.  Keep shaking until the butter forms together in a nice solid ball.  Once this happens, you are done!  See, so easy!

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Drain the leftover cream, rinse your butter, and then transfer it to a plate.  Wah-lah!  You have made butter!

Now is the fun part!  You get to enjoy your butter on some fresh bread or rolls.  I am so excited for you!  This butter is delicious!

Butter in a Jar

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Ingredients
  

  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Mason jar

Instructions
 

  • Pour heavy whipping cream into your mason jar. Fill it between 1/4-1/2 full. The fuller it is, the longer the butter will take to make.
  • Screw lid onto mason jar to secure a tight fit.
  • Shake jar vigorously for 15-45 minutes (the more cream, the longer you will need to shake).
  • Once butter has separated from the cream and formed a ball, you are done.
  • Take butter ball out of jar and lightly rinse with water.
  • Enjoy on your favorite bread, rolls, or muffins!

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10 Free Father’s Day Gifts

By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

Celebrate dad with these Free Fathers Day ideas.

Do you ever want to gift your Dad something extra special…..but constantly draw a blank???   This is how I feel every.single.holiday.  I am constantly racking my brain for that perfect “knock your socks off” gift…..but, I am also on a tight budget and don’t want to spend a lot of money on this gift. This makes it so difficult!  You know what I have learned though???  My dad doesn’t want me to spend a lot of money on him!  Sure, he wants to be loved and appreciated, but that doesn’t come with a price tag.  It comes through loving actions and careful thought.  So, I have started giving him Free Father’s Day Gifts.  They are all chosen from the heart with love and thought to his personality.  Here are a few ideas to help you brainstorm!

frugal fathers day ideas

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Here are 10 free father’s day gifts

1.  Bake Him Something

Bake your dad his favorite treat!  Does he have a favorite cookie, or does he love fresh homemade bread?  Make it for him!  Be sure to package it in a gift bag with a nice ribbon for the perfect finishing touch.

My dad loves homemade snickerdoodles, so this is a gift I’ve given him for a few Fathers Day.  He loves the cookies and loves that I remember his favorite things.

2.  Watch the Game Together

If your dad loves to watch sports, invite him over to watch a game together.  Use this as a time to enjoy each others company and bond over something he enjoys.  Ask him questions about the game and take genuine interest in his interests.

My grandpa LOVES to watch “the game”, it honestly doesn’t matter what “the game” is, he just wants to watch it.  I lived with him very briefly a few years ago and I treasure the evenings when I sat down next to him, watched a game together, and listened to him explain all of his insights and opinions on what we were watching.

The simple moments spent with a loved one is often the times that bring the best memories, don’t you think???

3.  Give Him Service

Do something kind for your dad!  Does his garage need cleaned out or the lawn mowed?  Don’t even ask him first if he needs help!  Simply find a need, show up at his house, and get to work.  He will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and your willingness to help him without being asked.

4.  Send Him a Thoughtful Card

Pick out a nice card for your dad (from The Dollar Tree, of course), and write a thoughtful note inside.  Let him know just how much you appreciate everything he has done for you.  Stick it in the mail, or hand deliver it with a hug!

My love language is words of endearment, so a card means more to me than any other gift I could receive!

5.  Movie Night

Does your dad have a favorite movie?  Invite him over to watch the movie together.  Make sure to provide some popcorn and other treats (I love Good and Plenty…I know, I’m weird).

I always know I can get in some good quality time with my Father-In-Law if I offer to watch a John Wayne movie together!  I don’t necessarily enjoy John Wayne, but I know he does, and that’s what matters most!

4.  Get Outside

Is your father an outdoors man?  Suggest a day in the mountains together to go on a hike or fishing trip, choose whatever your dad enjoys most.  He’ll love that you’re the one doing the inviting!  Enjoy the quiet time together as a way to get to know him a little better.  Ask questions about his interests and childhood.  You just might learn something new!

7.  Game Night

Host an old fashioned game night at your house.  Invite your dad and a few of his friends and family members over.   Ask him to teach you one of his favorite games, or you can teach him one of yours!

Games are such a great ice breaker and the perfect way to have some laughs and bonding time together.  My favorite memories with my grandfather was playing games with him.  He didn’t talk much, but when we played games together he had a twinkle in his eye and I loved watching his quirky side come out.

Need a few game suggestions?  Here’s my list of our favorite frugal games.

8.  Best of Memory List

Make a fun list of all of your favorite memories together.  Include a few heartfelt memories, and some funny ones.   You could make the list a little extra special by including a few photos!

I have made my parents a few of these memory books from Mixbook.  They aren’t free, but you can make one for less than $20.  Memory Books are such a sweet keepsake.

9.  Cook Him Dinner

Invite your dad over for dinner and cook him all of his favorite foods.  Let him relax while you do all of the work.  Don’t forget to decorate the table in his favorite colors or interests (maybe even a sports team theme???).

My dad loves antiques, so if I were to decorate a table for him, I would be sure to include a few antiques as centerpieces.  Think for a few minutes about what your dad loves, and try to add it to the table in some way.  It’s these special details that can make a big difference.

10.  Play a Sport Together

Does your dad love sports?  Spend an evening outside playing a sport together.  You could shoot some hoops, play catch, or whatever it is that your father would enjoy most.  You might not be a sports fan, but play it with him anyways.  This makes it even more special that you were willing to put your interests aside for your sweet dad.

In Conclusion

There are so many cheap ways to celebrate Fathers Day!  The most important thing is you show him you care and love him.  Choose one of these free Father’s Day gift ideas and spoil him rotten!

 

Related Articles:

Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

10 Valentines gifts for him under $10!

 

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Yarn Hearts: An Easy Valentine Craft for Kids

By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

An Easy Valentine Heart Craft for Kids!

A friend shared a brilliant idea with me the other day!  She said she uses a small Christmas tree for Valentines Day; instead of decorating it with Christmas ornaments she has a little box of Valentines decorations that she brings out every February and her kids get to decorate a Valentines Tree.  I thought this would make a fun valentine craft for kids.

So, I got to work putting together my own valentine tree.  I already had a small tree that I use for Christmas each year, the only problem is that I didn’t have any decorations for the tree….and I did NOT want to buy any.

We got to work crafting.  First, we made a few hearts out of beads and pipe cleaners.  They were so easy, just stick beads on a pipe cleaner and shape it as a heart.  Done and done!

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Next, we made this darling Pom-Pom Garland.  I loved it so much and I can’t wait to make more!  You can find the tutorial here.

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And last, but not least, we put together these Yarn Heart Ornaments.  They were SO fun to make and easy enough for my 6 year old to join in.  I love the projects that all three kids can enjoy together!

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Yarn Hearts Tutorial

First, you need some cardboard hearts.  I grabbed a box from my large stash of amazon boxes and cut out a few hearts.

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Choose your favorite yarn color.  Here is one of my favorite yarn brands.  Use a little bit of tape to attach the yarn to the cardboard heart.

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Now for the fun part.  Just start wrapping your yarn around the heart.  Try to wrap it in different angles to make the design interesting.  It wasn’t easy to get all of the small nooks and crannies, but we kept working it and was able to get the entire heart covered.

When your cardboard heart is all covered and looks just right tie a small knot and cut off your excess yarn.  I tucked the knot underneath some yarn to try to hide it, which seemed to work well!

And guess what!  You are done!  That’s it!  We attached a few ornament hooks through the yarn and hung it up on our Valentines Day Tree.

I just love how these crafts and little tree turned out, and what’s even better….my kids love it!  They are so proud that they helped make all of the decorations; and seeing my kids happy faces is the best kind of valentine gift I could ever receive!

diy yarn heart craft - easy valentine craft

easy heart craft for kids - valentines kids activities

Related Easy Craft Projects:

Tissue Paper Pom-Pom Tutorial

The Easiest Halloween Pumpkin Tutorial

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Easter Egg Sun Catcher

Now it’s your turn to make this easy valentine craft for kids!

25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

By: Sweet Frugal Life21 Comments

Enjoy a frugal winter with these free family winter activities!

I absolutely love the snow!  There is nothing better than waking up to a fresh blanket of new snow and seeing the sparkle it makes in the sunlight.  The only negative about the snow is that it’s so cold!!  Unfortunately, I live in an area where it stays cold for many many months!  We all get a little stir crazy around here being cooped up for so long.   I’ve learned to get creative during these cold months to help us stay sane and stay in budget!  Here are my favorite free family winter activities.

free winter activities - fun ideas for kids during winter

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Snow Winter Activities For Families

Do you live in a place that gets a lot of snow?  Use it to your advantage and plan activities in the snow!  There are so many fun ways to enjoy fresh snow!

1.  Build A Snow Cave

You might enjoy spending the day outside building a snow cave as a family.  Turn it into a competition to see who can build the best cave.  You could even get extra creative and turn your cave into a castle.  Add some stairs, windows, or any other fancy feature you come up with!

2.  Make Snow Candy

Have you ever read the book Little House in the Big Woods?  It’s one of our favorites!  In this book Laura Ingalls grandmother made the kids snow candy, and we have been making it every year since then!

To make snow candy, just place an empty bowl outside while it’s snowing.  The bowl will collect fresh, clean snow.  Once it’s full, bring it inside and immediately pour pure maple syrup on top.  The syrup will harden to make a sweet treat!

3.  Sledding

Sledding is one of my kids favorite free winter activity.  Sleds are fairly cheap and most sledding hills are free to enjoy!

Try a few sledding hills around town and try to find a new favorite.  This is a fun way to enjoy spending the day laughing with friends and family.

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4.  Winter Walk and Scavenger Hunt

Get outside and enjoy the snow with a winter walk and scavenger hunt.  You can turn the scavenger hunt into a game by putting together a list of different items to find while on the walk.  A few ideas for the hunt might be:  a pine cone, icicle, boot tracks, animal tracks, a snowman, etc.

5.  Snowball Fight  

Another great family friendly winter activity is to have a snowball fight together.  Keep it light and fun so everyone can enjoy it.  This activity is guaranteed to bring a lot of laughs and memories!

6.  Build a Snowman

Spend some time with your family outside building a snowman.  You could even go a step further and build a family of snowmen!  Have everyone build the snowman that fits their unique personality!

7.  Snow Ice Cream

You might enjoy making snow ice cream with your kids.  Here is a simple recipe to try it out.  This is a fun way to enjoy the snow…while staying indoors!

Fun in the Snow for Families -free winter activities

 

Winter Indoor Activities

Don’t like going outside in the snow???  I get it!  Here are a few winter indoor activities for families!

8.  Movie Night

Snuggle up together, pop some popcorn and have a family movie night.  Watch a few old classics or try something new.  All that matters is that you are spending time together.

9.  Bake Bread

I love spending cold winter days in my kitchen baking something warm.  It’s the perfect season for baking bread.

After you’re done with the bread lather it with homemade butter and eat it together as a family.

10.  Homemade Cocoa

There is nothing better than a hot mug of cocoa on a cold winters day.  It only takes a couple of minutes and a few ingredients to make a big batch homemade hot chocolate mix.  Make the hot chocolate together as a family and enjoy sipping it next to a warm cozy fire.

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11.  Family Slumber Party

Haul blankets, pillows and sleeping bags onto the living room floor and have a large family slumber party together.  You can watch movies, play games and eat treats before falling asleep.  This will be a night your kids will always remember!

12.  Read a Novel as a Family

My family loves to read a novel together every winter.  I usually pick a classic and read it to the kids for 20-30 minutes in the evenings.  A few favorites have been Little House on the Prairie, Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little.

13.  Make Paper Snowflakes

You might enjoy spending an afternoon cutting out paper snowflakes and hanging them around your home.  We like to tape a few to the windows and use invisible thread to hang some from the ceiling.  You can find countless Youtube video tutorials about how to make snowflakes.  This is such a fun, cheap and easy craft!

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14.  Make Play Dough

Make some homemade play dough at home!  You can use your homemade playdough to build snowmen or other fun creations.  Check out my favorite playdough recipe here.

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15.  Have An Indoor Picnic

You don’t have to have warm weather for a picnic, have one at home in your living room!  All you have to do is spread a blanket out on the floor, bring a few of your favorite picnic foods and enjoy a picnic indoors!

16.  Make a Fort

Gather all the blankets and chairs in your house and build a gigantic blanket fort.  Play games, read stories and spend the day hiding out in the fort.

17.  Make a Sock Snowman

Sock snowmen are a fun, easy winter craft!  All it takes is a little creativity and a few random items found around the house to turn an ordinary sock into a snowman!

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18. Play Board Games

We love board games in our family and they are perfect to play when you are stuck inside!  You can find some cheap board games at your local thrift store, but there are plenty of fun games played with just a deck of cards or dice.

19.  Make Friendship Bracelets

Spend a few hours with your kids making friendship bracelets.  Just braid three threads together and tie in a circle.  Be sure to make two bracelets!  One to give away to a friend and one to keep.

20.  Have A Family Dance Party

Sometimes our family (or maybe just this tired mom! 😉 ) just needs a good old fashioned dance party!  We crank up a few of our fave dance tunes and dance the grumpy faces away!  It’s the perfect way to turn a bad day into a great day!

 

Winter Activities In Town

Need to get out of the house, but don’t want to spend a lot of money?  Try one of the activities below!

21. Visit the Library

The library offers a lot of free activities for everyone in the family.  Take advantage of all the many free programs and be sure to check out a book or movie while you are there!

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22.  Serve a Meal at a Homeless Shelter

There is nothing better for a child to learn than how to care for others.  Pick a day as a family to help serve a meal at the local homeless shelter.  This is such a humbling experience!

23.  Visit a Pet Store

Visiting a pet store is a great way to spend an afternoon.  We love walking around the local pet store and visiting the cats, dogs, and birds.  My kids ask to go regularly and I never complain!

24.  Donate to a Thrift Store

As a family go through all of the toys, clutter, and household items.  Fill up a large box of items to donate to a thrift store.  It feels so good to start the new year fresh and clutter free!

25.  Visit a Neighbor

Do you have an elderly neighbor who might need a visit?  Or maybe someone new to the neighborhood?  As a family pay a special visit to someone needing company.  It’s a great way to brighten their day and get to know someone new!

 

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Free Family Winter Activities

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What are your favorite free family winter activities?

Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

Try this easy Christmas cookie recipe.

Do you have a food or treat that just reminds you of your childhood Christmas’?  Something that you see or smell and are instantly taken back to sweet memories from years ago.  Mine are these easy Christmas tree cookies.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a young girl was my mom making these delicious Christmas Tree Cookies!  I knew it was Christmastime when I came home to these delicious treats after school.  This easy Christmas cookie recipe is so easy and always a hit for kids and adults!  They are SO easy and I love the hint of almond flavor!

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My mom is no longer living, so I have continued on the tradition by making them for my kids.  I love getting to remember her and share stories of her life with my kids while we bake these cookies togethers.

Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

One of the best parts of making these Christmas Tree Cookies is getting to use this fun Wilton Cookie Press.  It’s really easy to use, and you can usually find one under $10! 

The Wilton Cookie Press comes with a dozen different plates with fun shapes for cookies.  All you have to do is fill it with the cookie dough, turn it upside down and press the trigger!  Out comes a cute little tree.  Easy, right???

The great thing about the Wilton Cookie Press is that you can make this recipe with many different shops and holidays.  Just change out the shape, and adjust the food coloring!

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Christmas Tree Cookies

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • green food coloring

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together in mixer.
  • Beat in egg and almond extract.
  • Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.  Gradually add to mixer.
  • Add a few drops of green food coloring.  Mix well.
  • Fill Cookie Press with dough and insert the tree plate.
  • Use Cookie Press to make cookies on ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Sprinkle with red sprinkles.
  • Bake in hot oven for 8 minutes.

I hope your family will love these easy Christmas cookie recipe as much as my family loves them!  These cookies also make great treats to bring to your neighbors and friends!

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easy christmas cookie recipe for kids - fun kids recipe for Christmas

I hope you love this easy Christmas cookie recipe!

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