Staycation Ideas for Cities Across The US

22 May posted by

On Monday, I shared some of my favorite things to do in Fort Wayne.  Today, I thought I’d let you meet some of my favorite bloggers around the country and let them share the fun things to do in their neck of the woods!

Mid Atlantic

NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles
Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin
Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe
Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season
Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann’s Entitled Life
Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady
Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry
Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet
Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon “High”
Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains
Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest

Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything
Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!
Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist
Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network
Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom
Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae
Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving
Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents
Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead
Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy
Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas
Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense
Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither
Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom
Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing
Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com
St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget
Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom
Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati
Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple
Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton
Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters
NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners
Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living
South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds
Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain

Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors
Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday
Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings
Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal
Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings
Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project
Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors
Reno, Nevada – Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific

Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog
Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com
San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats
San Diego, California :: Life as MOM
Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW
Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic

Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas
Washington, DC :: Kidventurous
Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana
Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money
Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss
St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine
Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber
Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge
Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple
Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife
Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt
Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises
Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin’ in…
Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling
Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me
Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All
Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things
Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton
Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central

Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny
Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters
Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl
Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap
East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey
Nashville, Tennessee :: Montessori Tidbits
Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE
Austin, Texas (Hill Country) :: Ponder the Path
College Station, Texas :: How to Homeschool My Child
Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores
East Dallas, Texas :: Funky Faith Girl
Fort Worth, Texas :: Coupons & Freebies Mom
Houston, Texas :: MomsToolbox
Houston, Texas :: MyLitter
Katy, Texas :: Moms Confession
McAllen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) :: iLoveMy5Kids
San Antonio, Texas :: Melissa’s Bargains

If you have other fun ideas or if you have Staycation ideas for a city not listed, make sure to leave a comment so that other readers can benefit!

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Filed Under: Staycation, travel, Vacation

Are You Throwing Money Away?

21 May posted by

Are you throwing away money? Would you throw change in the trash?  You could be throwing away money without even realizing it!

Did you know that each Box Top for Education label that you cut out and give to your school is worth $.10? Last week, I delivered hundreds of labels to my kids’ school.  I was able to help the school without it affecting our budget.  Last night I picked up a few t-shirts at Walmart and they had Box Tops for Education labels on them!  Talk about a win-win!  Affordable t-shirts for my kids and money for their school!

You can also earn Box Tops for Education online!  What are you waiting for?

Raise Funds for Schools with Box Tops For Education.

Join Today!

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Filed Under: Education

Daily Coupon Roundup

21 May posted by

Here is a summary of the new coupons that have been released in the last 24 hours.

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Filed Under: Coupons, printable coupons

Creating a Chore System That Works

20 May posted by

As a parent, we all have things we excel at and things we struggle with.  My most recent struggle has been finding a chore system that works for us as a family.  In the past, we’ve had systems in place that worked really well for our stage in life.  My Job Chart was a huge hit with our teenagers (and it’s even better now that they have a mobile app), but it wasn’t working for the twins at this current stage.  They needed something a little more tangible.

The other issue I was having was assigning chores.  My favorite way of assigning chores was to have each of the kids pick random chores from a hat, but we were constantly losing the slips of paper (and the least favorite chores were constantly ending up in the trash).  I saw that some people used popsicle sticks, but it just seemed like more clutter that would get shoved in a cabinet.  I needed something that I could leave out (to remind me to have everyone do chores) and I also wanted something that would double as art.

During a recent trip to Hobby Lobby, inspiration struck and I created a chore system that worked well for our family AND that looks good too!  This is super easy to do and it’s quite frugal too!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Solid Colored Vase (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby for 50% off)
  • Artificial Flowers (I bought these at Hobby Lobby as well for 50% off)
  • Floral Tape (I had some of this lying around the house)
  • Wooden Spoons (You can buy these at Walmart. I got them in a bag of 4 or 5 for $.97)
  • Sharpie or marker to write on the wooden spoons (Thinner tips work best)

Once you’re supplies are assembled, decide which chores you’ll want to include.  If you have some chores that are not age appropriate for little kids, try to stick these on one color flower.  At our house, all the chores for  big people are on the pink flowers.

Next, write 1 chore on the spoon part of each wooden spoon.

When your wooden spoons all have chores written on them, you’ll want to attach a flower to each one. To attach the flowers, simply place your flowers (bloom side up) with your wooden spoons (spoon side down) and wrap securely with floral tape.

When you’re finished, simply arrange your flowers in a vase! Voila! You have a chore system that doubles as a centerpiece!

If you’re looking for some chore ideas, here are some of the chores we used.

  • Set Table
  • Clear Table
  • Load Dishwasher
  • Unload Dishwasher
  • Wipe Down Kitchen Counters
  • Sweep Kitchen Floor
  • Straighten Living Rom
  • Straighten Dining Room
  • It’s Your Lucky Day (That’s one less chore for them to do)
  • Ask Mom!
  • Sweep Front porch and steps
  • Empty Trash

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Filed Under: Crafts, Family

10 Point Pampers Gifts To Grow Code

20 May posted by

Pampers

Right now you can get 10 free points in your Pampers Gifts To Grow account when you enter code NLMAYFLOWER2013. If you’re not a member yet, you can join now and get 100 free points just for joining!

Pampers Gifts to Grow is a free program, but keep in mind that it’s not just for parents. There are free codes all the times and the rewards aren’t just for baby items. You can get photo gifts, magazines, and even things like razors!

Click here to sign up today!

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Filed Under: Freebies

Fort Wayne Fun on a Budget

20 May posted by

Ahhh…summer is almost here!  The kids only have 7 days left of school and then it’s time to par-tay!  While we will be doing some traveling this summer, most of our time will be spent enjoying all that Fort Wayne and the surrounding cities have to offer!

With gas prices  back at around $4, driving is not quite as economical as it used to be and many people are opting to stay local instead of traveling to far off locales for vacation!  With that in mind, I’ve partnered with over 90 bloggers to bring you Staycation fun across the country!

Since I live in the Fort Wayne, IN area, I thought I’d share some fun and frugal ideas to make your staycation sizzle with excitement!  Fort Wayne is chock full of things to do!  You could staycation (or vacation) here for weeks without running out of fun!

About Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne is Indiana’s second-largest city and home to over 250,000 residents. Fort Wayne has won the All American City Award three times and is consistently sited for their high quality of life, low cost of living and warm Hoosier Hospitality.

Things to Do in Fort Wayne

DeBrand Chocolate Tour

Just thinking about DeBrand makes my mouth water!  They have the best chocolate in the world (I’m serious).  These chocolates are enjoyed by celebrities worldwide (and they’re made right here in Fort Wayne)!  For only $5 per person, you can take a tour of the DeBrand Corporate Headquarters where you’ll see their chocolatiers in action!  You’ll watch a short video of the history of DeBrand and then you’ll get a chance to view their kitchen and taste some of their delightful chocolates.  When the tour is over, you’ll be given a coupon for $5 off a $10 purchase which basically makes your tour free (because once you’ve tasted their chocolate, you’ll definitely want to buy as much as you can)!

Parkview Field

Parkview Field is the home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the single A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.  In 2011, Stadium Journey Magazine named this the best ballpark in minor league baseball.  It has a variety of seating options, great food and clean restrooms!While I absolutely love watching games at Parkview Field, that’s not all you can do there!

The stadium opens most days at 7am for those who want to walk the concourse (the concourse is 1/3 of a mile around and is a great place to walk).  They even open a concession stand for the walkers or those who are just looking for a different place to enjoy lunch.   There is also frequent theme nights which feature entertainment!

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the top ten children’s zoos in the country.  They have impressive animal exhibits and lots of hands on fun for kids.  Gorgeous peacocks roam the grounds, you can wander through a rain forest, there are goats to be petted and brushed and oh-so-much more!  We have a family membership and plan on spending lots of summer days at the zoo!

Science Central

Located in a former powerplant called City Light & Power, hence the colored smokestacks, Science Central is an exciting mix of hands-on learning and engaging fun!  Science Central provides fun for little kids and big kids too.  My older kids enjoy the high rail bike and our little kids enjoy the slides and the kids central area!  If you’re looking to save money, you can print a BOGO Science Central coupon!

Foellinger Theater

The Foellinger Theater is a part of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department.  They are presenting lots of free and low cost family entertainment this summer.  While there are lots of concerts going on, I’m most jazzed about Chicago which will be performing on August 27th.

The other highlight of the summer at Foellinger Theater is their FREE Wednesday night movies.  They feature different family friendly movies each Wednesday night at 9 pm.  Some of the movies showing this summer include Madagascar III, ParaNorman, and The Lorax as well as other great fun family movies!

SkyZone 

If you’re looking for high-flyin’ fun, you can’t beat SkyZone! SkyZone is an indoor trampoline park featuring 25,000 sq ft of fun in the form of Open Jump courts, a Foam Zone, a SkySlam basketball dunk court, SkyRobics fitness classes, and 3-D Dodgeball!

Splash Pads

Photo Credit: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation

Fort Wayne offers 7 great splash pads…Memorial, McCormick, Waynedale, Shoaff, Buckner, Robert E. Meyers parks as well as a new splash pad at Taylors Dream Boundless Playground in Kreager Park.  The Splash Pads open Memorial Day weekend and are open 9 to 9 daily.  Robert E. Meyers park (located just inside the North Gate of Parkview Field is open 9am to 11pm on days where no activities are scheduled at the field).  I’m planning on visiting all of the splash pads with my kids this summer!  Splash Pads are FREE and provide hours of entertainment on a hot summer day!

Fort Wayne Trails

Photo Credit: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation

Fort Wayne has one of the finest trail systems in the midwest with over 70 miles of trails winding through the city.  I’ve done quite a bit of walking, running, and biking on these trails and they are top notch!  If you’re a biker, you’ll want to check out Trek the Trails.  Each Tuesday night, people from all over the city (and from other places as well) join together to bike one of the trails.  It’s a great chance to see the trails and make new friends.  These trail rides are a fun family event!

There are lots of other great things to do in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area!  What am I missing?  Leave a comment so that those who are vacationing or staycationing in Fort Wayne don’t miss out!

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Filed Under: Frugal Family Activities, Staycation, Vacation

Restaurant Coupon Roundup {5/18/2013}

18 May posted by

Eating out sure can get expensive, so I’m always on the lookout for deals to make it more affordable.  Below I’ve included the top printable restaurant coupons for this week!

Ben & Jerry’s Coupon – Buy 1 Get 1 Free Small or Large Cup or Cone (exp: 5/31/2013)
Bob Evans Coupon – Buy 1 Get 1 Free Breakfast Entree WYB 2 Beverages (exp: 5/24/2013)
Boston Market Coupon – Free Large Side WYB Family Meal (exp: 5/20/2013)
Bruegger’s Coupon – $2.99 Bagel Egg Sandwich (exp: 5/23/2013)
Buca di Beppo Coupon – $10 Off $20 Purchase (exp: 5/27/2013)
Chevy’s Coupon – $10 Off $30 Purchase (exp: 6/15/2013)
Jack In The Box Coupon – BOGO Free Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich (exp: 5/31/2013)
Jack’s Coupons Buy 1 Big Jack Combo Get 1 Free (exp: 6/3/2013)
Marie Callenders Coupons Buy 1 Entree Get 1 50% Off WYB 2 Drinks (exp: 5/30/2013)
McDonald’s Coupons $1 Egg White Delight McMuffin (exp: 6/20/2013)
Mimis Cafe Coupon – $5 Off $15 Lunch or Dinner Purchase (exp: 5/23/2013)
Outback Steakhouse Coupon – $8 Off 2 Dinner Entrees (exp: 5/21/2013)
Quiznos Coupon – $2.99 Small Chicken Fajita Sub (exp: 5/22/2013)
Seattles Best Coffee Coupon – FREE Frozen Caramel Candy Latte (exp: 5/21/2013)
Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Coupon – 20% Off Entire Check (exp: 5/23/2013)
Starbucks Coupon – $2 Off Starbucks Refreshers (exp: 5/21/2013)

Thanks Surviving the Stores!

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Filed Under: Coupons, Limited Time Specials, printable coupons, restaurant coupon roundup, restaurants

Retail Coupon Roundup {5/18/2013}

18 May posted by

If you’re planning on doing a little shopping this weekend, make sure to print off these great retail coupons before you go!

Aerie Coupon – 20%, 30% or 40% Off Purchase Mystery Coupon (exp: 5/19/2013)
Aeropostale Coupon – 25% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
American Eagle Coupon – 20%, 30% or 40% Off Purchase Mystery Coupon (exp: 5/19/2013)
Big 5 Sporting Goods Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/20/2013)
Bonton/Carson’s Coupon – 25% Off Sale Price Apparel + More Coupons (exp: 5/19/2013)
Carter’s Coupon – 25% Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Chico’s Outlet Coupon – 10% Off Already Reduced Clearance Items (exp: 5/28/2013)
GAP Outlet Coupon – 10% Off $75 Purchase (exp: 5/21/2013)
GNC Coupon – $10 Off $20 Purchase (exp: 5/31/2013)
iParty Coupon – 20% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 5/31/2013)
Kirkland’s Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Lane Bryant Coupon – $25 Off $75, $50 Off $150, or $75 Off $225 Purchase (exp: 5/22/2013)
Old Navy Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
OshKosh B’Gosh Coupon – 25% Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Payless Coupon – 20% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Sherwin Williams Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 6/30/2013)
The Limited Coupon – $15 Off $30, $30 Off $100, or $50 Off $150 Purchase (exp: 5/22/2013)
Ulta Coupon – 20% Off 1 Single Item (exp: 6/1/2013)
Yankee Candle Coupon – $20 Off $45 Purchase (exp: 6/2/2013)

Thanks Surviving the Stores!

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Filed Under: Coupons, Limited Time Specials, printable coupons

Daily Coupon Roundup

14 May posted by

Here is a summary of the new coupons that have been released in the last 24 hours. $1.00 off Kiss Gradation Polishes  $2.00 off Phillips Colon Health or Fiber Gummy  

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Filed Under: Coupons, printable coupons

Thomas the Tank Engine is Coming to Indy!

13 May posted by
thomas the tank engine ride

My son is obsessed with trains!  He talks about them constantly, reads books about them, and is absolutely ecstatic whenever we get stopped by a train on the way to or from school!  My photos on my iPhone contain about 7 billion photos of trains because on the days we get stopped by a train, [...]

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Filed Under: Family

Retail Coupon Roundup {5/11/2013}

11 May posted by

If you’re planning on doing a little shopping this weekend, make sure to print off these great retail coupons before you go! A.C. Moore Coupon – $10 Off $40 Regular & Sale Purchase Starting 5/10 (exp: 5/11/2013) Aeropostale Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/31/2013) Barnes & Noble Coupon – 15% Off 1 Single [...]

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Filed Under: Coupons, Limited Time Specials, printable coupons

Restaurant Coupon Roundup {5/11/2013}

11 May posted by

Eating out sure can get expensive, so I’m always on the lookout for deals to make it more affordable.  Below I’ve included the top printable restaurant coupons for this week! Arby’s Coupon – Free Small Drink & Small Fry WYB Kings Hawaiian Roast Beef Sandwich (exp: 5/14/2013) Ben & Jerrys Coupon – Buy 1 Get [...]

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Filed Under: Coupons, Limited Time Specials, printable coupons, restaurant coupon roundup, restaurants
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