Thankful for a Turkey's LifeMy dear friends, Michael and Lori, decided to raise a turkey for Thanksgiving this year. They have raised chickens for the last few years and have a large backyard. Although I'm sure they will never raise a turkey again, the last 8 months have been quite an adventure.
Friendsgiving Party PlanIf you are going to do a Friendsgiving, don't do it the way we did the first year! Here are the tricks we've learned:
Finding Gifts from the HeartGifts can be expensive and, so many times, a gift is given that the person does not need, will never use, does not like, will return for refund, will give to someone else as a gift - well, you get the picture.
Zombie Scavenger HuntMy son Ethan recently turned 10 and asked for a Zombie party. We decided to have it in a local park and do a scavenger hunt. This would make a good birthday party any time of the year or could also be a creepy Halloween party.
March 14th Is Pi DayMath and science buffs around the world celebrate March 14th as Pi Day. This most important mathematical constant is generally abbreviated to 3.14, so, of course, it is celebrated on 3/14.
St. Lucia's Day FestivalDecember 13th, the winter solstice in Scandinavia (which is to say, the darkest day of the year) became a natural time to celebrate a figure of light. Saint Lucia Day, also known as Saint Lucy's Day, is celebrated in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Italy.
Thanksgiving on a Tight BudgetWith money being so tight this year I was very worried about whether we would be able to have any sort of Thanksgiving Day dinner. So after some serious thinking, I put my plan into action, and we ended up having the best Thanksgiving ever.
A German-American ThanksgivingMany immigrants from different countries that arrive in America make Thanksgiving festivities to fit in with their own cultures. I think that is wonderful. We are free in this country to celebrate Thanksgiving any way that is special to each of us.
Plan a Stargazer PartyThe theme here is space. I am going to just give you the basics and let you add your own spin. Through the article, I will give you suggestions on how you could add to these ideas and how to adapt the games and food.
Soothe Aching Feet for Mother's DaySo here is a really neat idea for making Mom a happy camper when she comes home after working hard and has sore feet. With a little adult supervision, this could be done by children and would be no problem for a teenager.
Mother's Day Silk BouquetI know I love real flowers from my kids but it is always sad when they are gone and I have to throw them away. So here is a way that you can have a bouquet that lasts and can be used in a vase as a centerpiece for that Mother's Day table.
Expectant Mom's Coundown CalendarEven if a woman is only expecting, she is still a mommy. Here is a gift that you can make on your computer that will be useful and help her pass the time.
Celebrating the New Year with KidsHelp the kids ring in the New Year with these fun activities.
Las Posadas (The Celebration of the...Although this celebration is now mostly celebrated in Mexico, many immigrants are bringing this to America. I first heard about this tradition when I was invited to attend one night of the nine nights of this celebration. It was a delightful experience.
Blessing Our Food on this Thanksgiving DayFor centuries, peoples of all religions and countries have said their own special prayers for the blessing of their food, before a meal to give thanks for the food and other good things in their lives and on their tables.
Boo to You! An Adult Halloween PartyWhy should the kids have all the fun? Here are some quick and easy ideas for an adult Halloween party that won't break the budget or your time. Instead of the all out Halloween party, why not decorate the house like it was a haunted house where the evil scientist lives and plays.
Maypole DancingThis dance is a tradition on May 1st - May Day. It is danced in celebration of spring. Many years ago I researched May Pole Dancing for a teacher I was working with that wanted to teach the children the dance.
Green Baby Shower For Earth DayI thought it would be fun to host a green baby shower for Earth Day. Most mothers' now days are looking for ways that they can raise healthier babies and help the planet too so here are some great ideas for a green baby shower. This would also be a great party just to celebrate Earth Day.
American Idol Birthday PartySince her older sister auditioned for American Idol this summer, our younger daughter embraced the American Idol idea for her 11th birthday party.
St Patrick's Day Party GamesSt. Patrick's Day is a great day for a party, besides all the wonderful St. Paddy's day parades you can go to. It is the day that every one is Irish. So this year why not celebrate with a small party with friends and family.
Valentine Party GamesHere are a few games that you can play at your Valentine's party. Some are great for children's parties and some are geared more to adults or teens. Suggestions for prizes might be some homemade cookies or a ribbon for the teams.
Frugal Boy's Army Birthday PartyMy son had an army birthday party when he turned 8 and it was a BLAST. We ordered plastic helmets and dog tags from Oriental Trading.
New Year's Eve Party for the Whole FamilyWith the craziness of the holidays, a New Year's Eve party that requires pajamas to pass the dress code sounds inviting. This year, try a family party with family fun. It will be less fuss and more fun!
Small Gift Cards Can Equal Big SmilesI've learned to limit my new year's resolutions. Too many is daunting, and it's too much like work. This year one of my two resolutions is to give better gifts.
Gift Grabbers AuctionEach holiday season we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as exchanging gifts, festive foods, and family get-togethers. We traditionally do this in my family by me screaming at the children to clean their rooms for a week.
Party on a PennyThere are great ways to save on children's parties and still make the kids smile. Whether it's a birthday party or a themed slumber party, save money and gain smiles.
Let's Go to the Olympics PartyThis year, I am going to throw a party on the opening day of the Olympics. The summer Olympics this year will be held in Beijing, China so I thought this would be a great time to pull out some of my favorite Chinese recipes.
Young Teen Birthday Party IdeasAs the mother of seven, four of which are girls, I have thrown more than my share of parties. Each of my girls have very different ideas, hobbies, and passions. So the party themes are varied as well.
Many Uses For DishtowelsDish or kitchen towels are cute and inexpensive. Add their versatility and they become a very popular item to have around the house. The next time you spy a pack of them on the clearance rack or in the discount store, stock up and create some interesting uses for these inexpensive beauties.
Alternatives to Easter Baskets for TeenagersWhen Easter comes around, everyone gets excited about Easter baskets. At about 12, most kids decide that they are too old for Easter Baskets, but as parents we still want to celebrate this tradition of spring. Here is a list of some alternatives for Easter Baskets for those hard-to-please teenagers.
Easter Basket IdeasHere are some good thrifty Easter basket ideas that are healthy and fun. Post your own ideas here!
Romance for LessMen, Valentines is fast approaching, an often costly calendar date. Be creative, romantic, and frugal this Valentines. Keep the cliché 'It's the thought that counts' in mind when planning this day.
The Words Of LoveSt. Valentine Day is the day of Love. For lovers, it is the one day that we remember how much our better half means to us. For our children, it is a day to learn to love.
A Guys Quick and Frugal Tip for Valentines Day...In the soul of every woman, there is the desire for her man to do something wonderful and unexpected for Valentine's Day. Every woman wants romance and something magical for this special day so here are some quick tips on how to make this the best Valentine's Day ever.
Tips for Singles on Valentine's DayWhat do you do to keep from feeling lonely on Valentine's day (or as I like to call it, Single Awareness Day)? Advice from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.
Saving Money on Wrapping PaperIf you save some money for after Christmas sales, you can get all the wrapping paper and supplies you need for the following year at 90% off. Don't buy the expensive paper (it just gets ripped apart).
Fun and Free Thanksgiving Day...The turkey is stuffed, the pies are baked, and the places are set. Now all that's left is filling the time between when the guests arrive and the bird is carved.
Planning A Luxury Birthday PartyMany teenage and preteen girls imagine a luxurious birthday party. They want to act, and treat their friends, like a celebrity for the day. Unfortunately, they don't realize how expensive limos, hotels, fancy restaurants, spas and beauty treatments can cost.
Earth Friendly Alternatives For Valentine's DayFebruary 14th is Valentines' Day. Consumers will purchase an estimated 180 million roses, 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and an incredible 188 million greeting cards (not including the kind packaged for kids).
A Valentine's Day Guide to Fresh Cut RosesWhen it comes to flowers and holidays, Poinsettias have Christmas and lilies own Easter. On Valentine's Day, however, few people would argue with the fact that long-stemmed roses reign supreme.
Barney Birthday PartyWhat Mom with a toddler has not heard the happy screams when the big purple dinosaur comes laughing and singing into their living room? Well, if you have a toddler and Barney is his thing, have I a party for you!
Old Fashioned Mother and Daughter TeaI just love to have tea parties. They can be a lot of fun and give you a time to honor the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Here I am going to give you some ideas for a tea for mothers and daughters.
Raggedy Ann Birthday PartyThis is a fun party for a young girl or the young at heart. First you will need a few Raggedy Anns to decorate with. Check your local thrift stores. To make your own invites for this party, find some red and white checkered paper.
Making Your Own Gift BasketsGift baskets are a great way to make a personal gift for family or friends for any occasion but with Christmas coming, it's a great time to use some of the ideas in this article.
Rookie Moves When Baking Your First...These are all mistakes I have made over the years. After 30 or so years of cooking and eating Thanksgiving dinners, I have seen these mistakes made first hand.
Flower MeaningsCertain types or colors of flowers mean different things, and you don't want to send the wrong message if you give them as a gift! Of course, not everyone knows what a particular flower means, but you can never be too sure!
Bev's Christmas Stocking Stuffer IdeaI used to feel a real anti-climax when at the end of Christmas my children would be gloating over their presents and little treats in their stockings and I end up feeling feeling left out, even though I had presents from my hubby or children.
Thoughts on Valentine's DayOur thoughts on Valentine's Day and it's real meaning. We love it, but what is it about. Happy V Day to all our readers!
Starting Plants for GiftsSome great tips for making hanging baskets and starting plants from cuttings.
Easter Dinner LeftoversLeftovers are one of my favorite subjects, because it can be a creative experience to come up with new meals from those leftovers. Here are a few ideas for Easter dinner leftovers, using some of the most common foods served in the US at Easter time.
Gifts That Cost NothingWe all like to give a gift to show how much we appreciate a particular person, but your gift doesn't have to cost the earth. In fact, it doesn't have to cost anything at all. We can give gifts every day of our lives without them ever having to cost a penny, simply by showing that we care.
Gift PlanningI regularly shop year round for the holidays to save time and spread the expenditures through out the year. It's also nice to have gifts on hand for emergency gift situations.
Here are some ideas that I am going to implement this year to do this in a more organized manner.
