Summer Fun at Home (Flower Tea Parties, Indoor Snowman and More)

How’s everyone summer so far?! I am loving how my kiddos are enjoying their days. I was curious to see how soon and how often the kids would start the “I’m bored” routine. Well, maybe not that curious. But I’ve heard the phrase only a few times.

I usually tell them to look around and use their imaginations when they tell me they have nothing to do. I personally think my kiddos have amazing imaginations. I love to watch them play…even just listen to them playing is fun.

I know some people have summer fun lists where they write down a list of everything they want to do this summer. Some write their list on a poster board and check things off as they complete the “task.”

I asked my family what they wanted to do. My kiddos answers where the typical “play in the pool” and “catch fireflies.” And also the non-typical answers like “make a popsicle house.” Our summer to-do list is in my head. I didn’t write it down. I plan to sometime…maybe. It’s summer and my motto is relax, no strict schedule, and have fun.

Here are some of the fun things my kiddos did all on their own. It’s impromptu fun. And it all happened at home which meant it was thrifty fun.

FlowerTeaPartyCut

[Read more...]

Extreme Couponing Series Premieres Tonight (4/6)

(Photo credit: Discovery Press Web TLC Extreme Couponing)

Anyone watch the one-hour Extreme Couponing special back in December?! Well, now it’s been turned into a series. It premieres tonight, April 6 with two episodes at 9 & 9:30 PM ET/PT, and will move to the 9:30 PM time slot the following week.

My quick thoughts after watching the special from December:
It’s hard to imagine spending 70 hours a wk on couponing and having a whole room dedicated to your stockpile. But everyone is different in their coupon strategy. You have to do what feels right and works for you.

I am NOT an extreme couponer. I don’t spend 70 hours on couponing and I have a small closet (that isn’t full) for my stockpile. I do my best to maximize my savings using coupons for food and household items. But, I’ve never been one to have a cart full of groceries and spend only $2!

****

I hope people who watch Extreme Couponing realize you don’t have to be extreme to be a successful couponer. Smart spending has always been my goal when shopping.

Will you be watching tonight’s Extreme Couponing episode?!? Are you an extreme couponer? Do you think the new series will shed a bad light on couponers in general?!

(Find online deals, printable coupons and freebies to help with your savings. Happy Clippings is about improving our money management skills so we can enjoy our family, home and all the sweet things in life.)

Dealing with Frugal Fatigue

TiredMoneyFrugalFatigue

Frugal fatigue…this has happened to me more than once. I talked about it in my about me page and even as recent as this past in October.

Don’t worry I’m not having frugal fatigue issues right now.  I was just reminded of how it can easily happen when I read this great post How To Combat Frugal Fatigue. It highlights 5 ways to ease your frugal fatigue. My 2 favorite ways mentioned are:

  • If you plan for splurges, you can spend it. Try to work some indulgences into your budget.
  • It’s important to have a budget but it must be realistic. “…taking into account that living for today is just as important as saving for tomorrow. Grab your red pen and go line by line to make sure that your budget really makes sense.”

Getting tired of deal seeking and saving is expected. But don’t go to the extreme. Don’t let you money management skills slip. Focus on your budget. The important thing is to stay on track.

Go on over to Momtastic to read the entire Hot To Combat Frugal Fatigue article.

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto)

It’s been One HAPPY Year!

blogging

It’s been one year.

One whole year. Can you believe it?!?

On February 9, 2010, I created Happy Clippings. That day I wrote only 2 posts. My first post wasn’t a “welcome” or “hello world” kind of post. It was about a deal on Hormel Natural Deli Meat. The second post was about a Skippy Peanut Butter deal. I guess I wanted to get right to the deals. :)

I want to take a moment to say Thanks!

Thanks and welcome to any NEW readers. I’m glad you found Happy Clippings.

Thanks to those who visit when they can.

Thanks to those who visit often.

Thanks to those who visit every day.

Thanks to those who have been with Happy Clippings since the very beginning.

Thanks to those who comment or email me to ”thank me.”

Thanks to those who don’t comment because you’re reading this blog and that’s what matters. :)

Thanks to those who share with me the deals and coupons they find.

Thanks to those who come to get the latest deals and coupons.

Thanks to those who come to just read my DIY posts or sweet things.

THANK YOU to every single one of my readers…I mean EVERYONE…

YOU…I’m talking to you!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

I feel so blessed to do what I do. I am so thankful for all of God’s blessing. It’s been a great blogging year!

Join me for a big virtual cheer {HOORAY} and throw some confetti!

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto)

One year down and hopefully more to come!

Rain Boots as Snow Boots?!

Rainboots

Several years ago I bought some snow boots. Okay, they weren’t really snow boots. They were more like hiking boots. I never used them much for hiking but I did use them whenever it snowed. And so that is why I referred to them as snow boots.

Well, when we did a little spring cleaning a six months ago, I threw out those old boots thinking I’d get new ones….eventually. Have I bought any yet? No. Do I really need snow boots?

Let’s evaluate…

I don’t ski. Actually, I’ve never been skiing. (please don’t gasp or laugh…okay you can…I can’t believe it either.)
I don’t like cold weather and so I prefer not to “play” in the snow.

BUT…

I do have kids who are now 7, 5, and 5.
And my kids do LOVE to play in the snow a lot!!!
And I now live in Central PA.

Wintertime is here and so is the snow. The first time this year my kiddos played in the snow it was deep enough I needed something to protect my feet. You may already know I recently bought rain boots from Target.com. So, I wore my new rain boots and that’s what I’ve been continuing to use. It’s worked great the handful of times I’ve been out in the snow. My feet and pants stay dry. But, I must admit my feet do get cold.

After 4 years of living in PA, maybe I should own a pair of snow boots. I know this is an item where I’m being frugal. The rain boots work for me…so far. I just need to wear a thick pair of socks.

What do you think? Should I get snow boots?Anyone know of a great deal on some stylish, practical, and also affordable snow boots? Other alternatives?

Be sure to check out my other random frugal ramblings.

(This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family!)

M&M Sorting…for the Next Holiday

Do you have leftover candy from Christmas?

We do NOT.

Okay, we kind of do…in the form of M&Ms.

These melt-in-mouth-not-in-your-hands candies normally don’t last long in our house unless 
a) I hide them
b) I strictly forbid all family members to eat them because I’m saving it for something
c) I hide them

Now, back to our Christmas M&Ms. Before we said goodbye to them (meaning…before we ate them all), I decided to set aside the RED ones. Why? I’m saving them for Valentine’s Day!

So, one of my kiddos happily helped sort the red ones and green ones. By the way, did you know this tidbit:

“If you want some candy, like M&Ms, sort them out by color and only put out one color of candy in a small bowl. Studies have shown that you will eat less when they are all the same color.”

Anyways, our red Christmas M&Ms are  hidden in the pantry while the green ones are well you probably can guess what happened to them. So much for “eating less when all the same color.“  ;)

Anyone want to admit to saving holiday M&Ms like I do OR sorting them by color for special occassions?!

(This is linked up to the Works for Me Wednesday series on We Are That Family.)