As a busy parent who may be juggling a career as well as a family, it is always wise to be prepared. And when it comes to summertime fun, every little bit of preparation counts. Last month, I shared tips on finding the best summer camp for your child. This time, let’s look at some seriously fun and free summer activities for the family.

Summer activities don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, if you’re creative, you don’t have to spend anything. Children enjoy having fun simply. You may have noticed that your child may enjoy playing with items readily available around the house more than the toys you have purchased in the store. Kids are very practical, and it is a wonderful thing when we can tap into our practical side as well to produce some good old fashioned wholesome fun that doesn’t cost a lot of money. Or better yet, that’s FREE.

Check out these 5 fun and free summer activities for the family:

1. Gardening is a Great Summer Activity

Previously, I wrote about how you can introduce your kids to gardening , a great outdoor hobby. Even though summer may seem too hot for gardening, you’ll be amazed at how much fun the kids and you can have digging and watering the plants. So, go ahead, pull on a pair of gloves and dig it up!

2. Cool Down with Crafts

Crafts are a fantastic way of using up the junk you already have and turning it into practical and pretty items. Think magazine boxes out of cereal cartons or earring holders out off egg cartons. Just review what you have, and then, Google “craft ideas using_______{add the name of the material you own}” and voila, you’ll have hundreds, if not thousands of ideas to choose from. (Or you can always utilize our DIY Crafting Section for ideas)

3. No-Cook Sessions Make for Fun Summer Days

Summer isn’t the time to sweat it out in the kitchen. Instead, how about the kids and you experiment with no-cook cooking. Salads, popsicles, and no-bake cookies are a blast to make and cost nothing, other than using what you have in the pantry.

4. Save on Hotel Costs with a City Tour

Don’t have time to travel? Take a city tour. You’ll save not just time but also money. Summer is also when most city tourist spots offer specials and even, free entry. Make use of them and spend time bonding with the kids and exploring your city’s heritage.

5. Read Away Summer Days

Finally, one of my all-time favorite, free summer activities is reading. While a traditional book is my first choice when reading with my daughter, eBooks on the Kindle are fast becoming a close second. Plus, the added benefit is that there are so many good, free children’s books available on Kindle.

If you want to stick to a traditional book reading session, start by reading through the books you already own and then, have swaps with neighbors or use your local library.

You can also take walks together as a family, play hide and seek, go swimming at the community pool, or play board games that you already have in your home. The most important thing is that you are spending time with one another and encouraging your children to stay active during their summer break.

How will you make the summer days fun and interesting without breaking the bank?

Written By: Parenting Contributor, Prerna Malik, TheMomWrites.com

About The Author Prerna Malik

Prerna Malik is the owner of The Mom Writes, a site that offers smart solutions to work-at-home moms. When she isn’t blogging for a living or running a social media agency with her husband, she’s baking cupcakes with her daughter or organizing a closet in her home. Download her free eBooks on organizing and productivity for busy mom entrepreneurs today!

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May brings many things with it such as warmer weather, longer days, and of course Mother’s Day. But the arrival of May also brings some patriotism with it with the arrival of Memorial Day! Memorial Day is a great time to gather the kiddos and get crafting as you talk about all of the things, people, and events that make this country great! This year, get the kids to be hands on, literally, with this nifty and fun Memorial Day Flag Craft! This flag is not only a blast for kids to make, but it is simple and thrifty too!

To make your own Memorial Day Hands On Flag, take a peek below. The materials are easy to come by and the directions are a cinch. Plus, it give the kids a chance to get a little dirty which they love. So take a look and see how you can whip one of these flags up for this year’s Memorial Day celebrations!

Memorial Day Hands On Flag:

Materials:
1 large poster board
Finger paints in red and blue
Paint brush
Pencil
Plastic tablecloth
Baby wipes

Easy right? Head to your local Dollar Tree if you have one, where poster board is only .50 cents a piece and finger paint trays that actually fit to your child’s hands and feet are only $1.00 each.

Directions:
1. Lay out your tablecloth for easy clean up and to protect your floors. If it is a nice day out, you can just take this activity outside!
2. Use your pencil to lightly mark off the box of stars on the flag and the lines. You won’t be able to make an accurate depiction of the flag since the poster board is small, but it will still look great!
3. Have the kids first dip their hands in blue. This will make their stars. Have them put some prints in the star box to the upper left. Whatever you can fit is fine and will depend on the size of your child’s hand.
4. Next, dip their feet in red and make your red “stripes” running across the length of the poster. These don’t have to be perfectly straight. Just have fun!
5. Use your baby wipes for easy clean up on hands and feet.
6. When you are done you will have your red, white, and blue Memorial Day flag décor ready to display! Allow it to dry well before hanging.

Feel free to add any text you wish such as the date or event. This will look great hanging not only in your house but on display at your Memorial Day cookouts! Kids will enjoy getting messy and creating a cool project, and you will enjoy how easy it is, how simple clean up is, and how budget friendly this project is.

Get ready for Memorial Day with this colorful project and display it with lots of patriotic pride!

Happy Memorial Day!

Written By: Katie Femia, DIY & Craft Contributor

About The Author Katie Femia

Katie is the owner of The Savvy Luna Bugg Handmade & Vintage Shop, and runs a blog under the same name. She can usually be found out and about scouring thrift stores, with a diet soda in one hand and vintage linens in the other. Always seeing the glass half full, she loves finding new uses for old objects, crafting with her two daughters, and teaching others how to see past the trash and to the treasure.

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Written By: Katie Femia, DIY & Craft Contributor

If you have ever been around children, you may have noticed how they love to touch everything! Their hands are the way they explore the world around them, and because of this it is very natural for them to want to touch and explore objects. The only problem is, often times this exploration is met with a firm “NO!” as they try to touch objects that may not be kid friendly! That’s when a sensory box comes in handy!

You can encourage their sensory experience by creating a DIY Spring Sensory Box. Instead of hearing “NO”, children will be able to dive in and feel and explore all of the signs of spring. A sensory box is a safe way for them to explore and get messy, and continue to develop those important fine and gross motor skills, language, and word building skills!

Not only is a DIY Spring Sensory Box fun for kids, but it is frugal for adults to create as well! You don’t need to spend a lot of money or invest a great deal of time to create one. In fact, just about all of the supplies you need can be found at your local dollar store. Here is how to make your very own and get the fun started!

DIY Spring Sensory Box For Kids:

Supplies:
Large plastic tub
A medium bag of birdseed or potting soil
Rubber fishing worms
Plastic bugs and critters
Chenille baby chicks
Plastic eggs
Mini Watering can
Shovel
Spoon
Seed packets
Flower bulbs
Rocks
Twigs

This list looks large, but you will be surprised at how many of these items you already have around your home. If you find yourself needing any of these items, I was able to locate ALL of them at my local dollar store. You can go in on this project with a friend if you would like and divide up the supplies to really make your dollar go far!

Directions:

1. Fill your plastic tub with your birdseed or potting soil. You want to fill it about ½ way full since you want room to put all of your sensory items in.
2. Bury the plastic bugs and rubber worms deep into the seed or soil.
3. Put the chicks in the eggs and close tight. Place them in the box.
4. Bury or add the rest of the objects such as the bulb, seeds, etc.
5. Give children the tools such as a spoon, small shovel, and watering can to start digging and exploring in the box.
6. Encourage them to dive in, get dirty, and explore!

While the concept seems simple, a sensory box is a trusted activity educators have used for years to help children explore and develop early skills. They will love digging in the box, uncovering new objects, burying them again, and feeling all of the materials on their hands. It is a unique hands on experience that really allows them to explore signs of spring.

It is important to talk to them about the experience as they dive in as they might have questions about what they find! Teach some new adjectives and descriptive words while they explore, or make a list to post up later.

To curb the mess, you can do this activity outside or on a tablecloth. That way, clean up is easy. You can add water if you wish for some extra fun, or other tools such as funnels, measuring cups, tongs, etc. All of these encourage fine motor skills in a fun and unique way! When finished, you can save this activity for later to enjoy over and over again. See, it is frugal and fun!

Head to your local dollar store and create your own DIY Spring Sensory Box today! Your kids will love hearing “GO” instead of “NO” and diving in to this unique spring experience! Who knows, it might look so fun that you may wish to join in as well. Go for it!

Happy Spring!

About The Author Katie Femia

Katie is the owner of The Savvy Luna Bugg Handmade & Vintage Shop, and runs a blog under the same name. She can usually be found out and about scouring thrift stores, with a diet soda in one hand and vintage linens in the other. Always seeing the glass half full, she loves finding new uses for old objects, crafting with her two daughters, and teaching others how to see past the trash and to the treasure.

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Written By: Parenting Contributor, Prerna Malik, TheMomWrites.com

Lazy, warm summer days will soon be here and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be planning on activities to keep the kids busy during the summertime. Yes, you will have day camps to choose from but what about days when there isn’t any camp? That’s right. Gardening with kids is one of those lovely activities that gets a chore done while having fun with the children.

Here are 5 tips to help you encourage your child to garden with you this summer:

1. Involve Your Kids But Don’t Force Them

Yes, you should involve your kids with you but don’t pressurize or force them to come out and dig with you. Ask them. Tell them why it’ll be fun. But if they resist, let it be. They’ll come around to it or maybe they won’t. All you need to do is try gently and lead by example.

2. Take Them Garden Shopping with You

So, say the children aren’t really gardening-crazy right now. How about you take them shopping with you for seeds, equipment, colorful planters and pots and other starter stuff. Shopping for gardens can be fun what with all the colors, textures and fragrances. Let the kids explore naturally – touching, feeling, smelling, commenting. Don’t judge or get frustrated with them.

3. Let Them See You Get Your Hands Dirty

I spoke about leading by example in point #1 and let’s understand it in detail here. Kids learn best by seeing the adults around them display desired behaviors and a new outdoor activity or hobby is no different. By getting your hands dirty, digging and planting, you’re letting your kids see how much fun gardening is and trust me, playing with dirt without you getting mad at them is bound to get them interested as well.

4. Make Gardening Child-Friendly 

Choose the right equipment for your kids. The right-sized gloves, lightweight tools and in fact, give them a small patch or a few pots of their own to plant as they’d like.

5. Enjoy it!

Finally, make gardening an activity that is all about hanging out together, doing something fun and bonding. Release expectations and don’t be in teacher mode all the time. Lead gently but let your kids explore and experiment. Talk about gardening at the family table, go through books together, ask questions. Enjoy the benefits of gardening that go beyond the plants.

For a fun gardening activity that you and your kids can do together, check out how to create Savvy and Sensational Shoe Planters.

Do you garden with your kids? Want to start? Share with me in the comments!

About The Author Prerna Malik

Prerna Malik is the owner of The Mom Writes, a site that offers smart solutions to work-at-home moms. When she isn’t blogging for a living or running a social media agency with her husband, she’s baking cupcakes with her daughter or organizing a closet in her home. Download her free eBooks on organizing and productivity for busy mom entrepreneurs today!

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Written By: Katie Femia, DIY & Craft Contributor

April showers bring lots of wetness and rainy days that may keep kids holed up indoors. But that is no excuse not to get your crafting on! Here is a fun and frugal rainy day DIY that focuses on the beauty of the wet and rainy month of April!

A DIY Cupcake Cup Umbrella is just as sweet and fun as it sounds. A few simple supplies is all you need to get kids going on this rainy day project. You can’t have rain without umbrellas, right? So whip up some mini umbrellas of your own to display proudly around the house. When you are ready to get started, here is what you will need!

DIY Cupcake Cup Umbrellas:

Supplies:
Construction paper
Blue
Scissors
Cupcake liners
Some paint or markers
Glue
Tape
Pipe cleaners
Bingo Blotters

I was able to find all of these supplies at my local dollar store! Bingo Blotters are the bottles of ink that bingo players blot their numbers with. These are perfect for creating “raindrops” so grab a bottle of this for sure! Everything else you may already have around the house, so be sure to peek! Don’t you love when a craft costs just pennies to make?

Directions:
1. Start by having your child paint or decorate the cupcake liners with markers.

2. While they do that cut out some raindrops out of the blue paper or allow an older child to do this step.

3. Add some glue dots to the paper.

4. Add your rain drops (paper ones or use your blotter!)

5. This is a great point in the activity to ask questions such as “Where does rain come from?” or even “Do you like the rain?” It is fun to get kids talking while they craft and explore.

6. Fold the cupcake liners in half or cut.

7. Bend and added the pipe cleaners to the cup with tape.

8. Add more glue for your umbrellas.

9. Add the umbrellas and let dry.

That’s it! Display your pictures proudly on your fridge or mantel, or give as a gift to a grandparent or neighbor. This craft is a great way to not only create a sweet spring time decoration, but to talk to your child about the changing weather and what they can look forward to in spring.

Allow children to enjoy a snack in their leftover cupcake cups, make mini umbrellas to adorn your household plants with, or save them for sorting activities later on. You will find that all of the supplies used in this project can be saved and used in other projects as well, making fun AND frugal, which everyone loves.

Welcome April showers with this fun umbrella cupcake cup craft! It is perfect for little hands and is an educational activity the whole family is sure to enjoy!

While you are at it, here is a fun spring rain poem to enjoy with your children!

Five Little Raindrops:

Five little raindrops plopping on the floor,
one plopped away, and then there were four.

Four little raindrops dripping on the trees,
one dripped away, and then there were three.

Three little raindrops splashing on my shoe,
one splashed away, and then there were two.

Two little raindrops starting to run,
one ran off, and then there was one.

One little raindrop drying in the sun,
it dried all up, and then there were none!

About The Author Katie Femia

Katie is the owner of The Savvy Luna Bugg Handmade & Vintage Shop, and runs a blog under the same name. She can usually be found out and about scouring thrift stores, with a diet soda in one hand and vintage linens in the other. Always seeing the glass half full, she loves finding new uses for old objects, crafting with her two daughters, and teaching others how to see past the trash and to the treasure.

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Being a mother is the toughest job you will ever love. Through the cheers, jeers, and tears, I’ve been blessed with two incredibly wonderful children. My oldest son is now living in Los Angeles after graduating last year from high school. He has his eyes set on Hollywood and becoming an actor or musician; he wants to be in the entertainment business, and as his mother, I support anything positive that he wants to do. He is just embarking on a life out on his own, and this is the first birthday that we’ve spent apart. It’s truly bittersweet.

On this day, just 19 years ago, I gave birth to a chubby baby boy with beautiful brown eyes, dimples, and head full of black curls. As soon as my eyes laid on his, it was immediate earth shattering love. The kind of love I never thought I would experience at 18 years old, anyway. My pregnancy had been one filled with drama, desertion, and and doubt, but it didn’t matter anymore. It would be me and him, against the world, and I felt so proud to be blessed with such a happy and healthy baby boy.

I’ve blogged many times about the trials and tribulations we both experienced as a teen mother. But none of those events and episodes dampened the love for my child, or his love for me. With every mistake I made, tear I shed, and wish I dreamed, he was there next to me saying that it would be okay. I’m sure his young eyes saw more than he should, but I know that because of that, it cemented our bond. A bond that no one will be able to sever.

As a young mom, I often overcompensated when I could. He was probably given more than he should’ve been at times. I allowed him to be privvy to conversations and information that he had no business being a part of. When you are a mom, you make mistakes; and when you are a young mom, well those mistakes are raised tenfold. I did the best that I could being both a mom and a dad through those single years, and it was a lot. But my son never judged me, never wavered. I never knew unconditional love until I experienced it from my boy.

Now he’s all grown up, and we’re living apart. We speak on a daily basis but it’s not the same. He’s matured and grown during the few months he’s been away and I can’t help but to see that little boy naive boy I becoming a man. I long for the days when he used to call me Mommy and beg me to read him a bedtime story. Those days are indeed gone I suppose.

Being a mom on an “adult” is new territory for me. Loosening these apron strings hasn’t been easy, but I know for both of us to continue on in our lives, it has to be done. So each day, I get more and more strength to not over-parent, over-love, over-mom him. He probably has no idea that I lay awake many nights thinking of him, wondering if he is making the right choices. All I can rely on now is the fact that I parented him the best way I knew how; he’s earned his wings and now I can watch in the stands as he takes off and flies to his destiny.

The cheers are for how proud he has made me. Jeers for the times when I text and he doesn’t immediately reply. Tears as I mourn the little boy I used to be as I get to know the man that he is becoming.

I love you, Son. Happy Birthday.

Photo credit: Caren Libby Photography

About The Author

The Cubicle Chick, otherwise known as Danyelle Little, is the owner and editor of TheCubicleChick.com. After losing her job in Corporate America in 2009, she found a way to channel her frustration into a site that focuses on work, life, and play. Danyelle blogs and administers this site full-time, freelances for several other sites and publications, and works as a social media consultant to other brands, bloggers, and businesses. You can learn more about her by visiting DanyelleLittle.com.

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Written By: Parenting Contributor, Prerna Malik, TheMomWrites.com

With the arrival of Spring come the thoughts of summer. Yes, there is something about the warm weather, the flowering blooms and the longer days that make most working and stay-at-home moms think about – summer day camp

That’s right. Now is the perfect time to look for and find the best summer day camps for your kids and make sure you’re not scrambling at the last minute.

Here are some the top 5 tips to help you make the right decision:

1. How Far is the Camp?

That’s right. Distance is key. Whether you have young kids or older ones, look for camps that aren’t more than 30 minutes away to make it easier for yourself and for the kids. Even if they have to take a bus, don’t choose one that is too far off since it would make getting to it in an emergency a tough task.

2. What Activities Does it Offer?

Keep in mind the activities your kids naturally love doing when picking the camp. Are they fond of gardening? Spending time in the kitchen or doing puzzles? Or are they more sports-oriented? When you scout for day camps, look at the range of activities offered to make sure that they have at least 70% activities that your kids will love.

3. When is Open House?

Find out from each of your options about a tour or an Open House day so that you can visit the camp center and look at the facilities, interact with the instructors and get a general feel for the place.

4. What Do Others Say About It?

Reputation matters. Ask around in your social circle about the options that you’re considering. If you can’t find anyone who’s been to one of your prospective camps, go online and look for reviews. You’re sure to find some.

5. What are the Other Options?

Finally, look at what other options do you have. On a sheet of paper, write down the pros and cons of each of your camp prospects and then, make a decision. Take costs, travel time, infrastructure and facilities and anything else that is important to you and your kids into consideration.

Answering these five questions will help you narrow down your prospects and make an informed and early decision about which camp to send your kids to this summer.

How do YOU choose summer day camps for your children? Share with me in the comments.

About The Author Prerna Malik

Prerna Malik is the owner of The Mom Writes, a site that offers smart solutions to work-at-home moms. When she isn’t blogging for a living or running a social media agency with her husband, she’s baking cupcakes with her daughter or organizing a closet in her home. Download her free eBooks on organizing and productivity for busy mom entrepreneurs today!

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Did you know that April is Financial Literacy Month? While money and finances should be the top priority for all of us, there are many people who aren’t as financial savvy as they should be. I can tell you ten years ago, I was one of these people. I wasn’t taught much about money growing up, and when I became an adult, I struggled with credit card debt and overspending. After years and years of making mistakes where money was concerned, I wised up and began to listen and research to financial coaches and experts. While I am still not where I want to be money-wise, I am a long way from where I was.

Financial literacy, in my opinion, should begin in childhood. Money and finances are such an important part of life, and as a parent, I’ve made strides to teach both of my children the value of a dollar. I don’t want to them to make the same mistakes I made when I was coming up, so weekly discussions about money and the importance of saving is always on the menu in my home.

I received some fab financial literacy tips from entrepreneur, author, and self-made man Patrick Bet-David, whose made financial literacy his passion and crusade. They were right on point with that I’ve been instilling in my kids, so I wanted to share his informative tips since it is Financial Literacy Month.

Here are 7 Financial Literacy Tips For Kids and Teens:

-          Start a habit of saving money - Whether someone gives your child five bucks or you just got your first paycheck, whatever money they are making (or receive), try to have them save at least 10% in an account (do not touch!).

-          Start a budget - Help your child open up your own savings account and learn the basics of having a bank account. Help them start a budget and learn to manage it.

-          Shop around - It’s tempting to see something we like and buy it on the spot, and that’s called instant gratification. But if you go online or wait a couple of months for a sale, that same item may cost less which saves you money.

-          Avoid credit cards at all costs - If you plan on buying an awesome car, buying a house one day, or being taken seriously in any business venture, your credit score will play a huge role in how much financial companies will trust your spending habits.

-          Focus on earning - Saving is very important, but if you’re not earning money you won’t have any to save. Start thinking like an entrepreneur at an early age. Open a lemonade stand, car washing business or pet walking service. The key is to offer a service that people are willing to pay for.

-          Expect more – People usually make the amount of money they feel they are worth, and most people sell themselves short. Teach children to have a high self-image, and they will create a world for themselves that meets that self-image.

-          Download an app on your phone - There are so many apps for managing your budget and savings on phones nowadays that you can track your money on the go. Get in the habit of keeping tabs on your spending habits.  Kids will have more fun doing this on their phones and tablets.

Financial literacy isn’t just for adults; kids can learn how to save their duckets at an early age, and develop these skills while they are young, which can help them make sound financial decisions as they get older.

To learn more about Patrick Bet-David, visit his website.

Do you discuss with your kids the importance of money and finances?

About The Author

The Cubicle Chick, otherwise known as Danyelle Little, is the owner and editor of TheCubicleChick.com. After losing her job in Corporate America in 2009, she found a way to channel her frustration into a site that focuses on work, life, and play. Danyelle blogs and administers this site full-time, freelances for several other sites and publications, and works as a social media consultant to other brands, bloggers, and businesses. You can learn more about her by visiting DanyelleLittle.com.

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Written By: DIY & Craft Contributor, Katie Femia

When we think of spring, we may think of baby birds and plenty of colorful flowers. We might think of colorful eggs and candy, adorning our tables and home. But spring is an excellent time to whip out those buttons and get crafting some fun and bright spring décor!

Buttons can be found in a multitude of colors, sizes, and shapes. And they have so many uses! Most thrift stores have button bins with spare buttons, but if you can’t find any near you, just head to your local Hobby Lobby and browse their selection (don’t forget to print out their 40% off coupon before you go!) and see what you can find!

With just a few supplies, you can use buttons to create some adorable, colorful, and spring themed décor for your home! Take a peek!

Whimsical Button Frame

This frame is a cinch to make and makes a great Easter basket stuffer! Kids will love getting in on the action too.

Materials:
Assorted buttons
Hot or craft glue
Picture frame
(I was able to find all at my local dollar store!)

Directions:
1. Clean your frame so your buttons will adhere well.
2. Put a thick strip of blue along the perimeter of the frame, one side at a time.
3. Quickly assemble the buttons on the glue, pressing firmly.
4. Once the perimeter is covered, add accent buttons to create a “stacked” dimension.

That’s it! You can display your favorite photo in your new frame, or you can gift these to teachers or friends. Create a pattern with your buttons, or just go for random and fun! Either way, these are a fun conversation piece and add some instant spring color to your home!

Beautiful Button Flowers

If you are looking for some fun, funky, and inexpensive spring décor for your home, look no further than these beautiful button flowers!

Materials:

Assorted buttons (Found at most thrift stores or crafting stores)
Florists wire (Found at most craft stores for around $1.99)
Scissors
Small vase
Shredded green paper (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut your wire into 5-6 inch lengths.
2. Fold the top inch or so over into a “U” shape.
3. String your first button on the “U”, starting with smallest first.
4. Repeat this step again using your next button, getting larger in size.
5. Continue to stack the buttons smallest to largest in this manner until your “bloom” has formed.
6. Typically, 3-5 buttons is sufficient!
7. Make a few tiny “buds’ by repeating this step and only using 2 buttons.
8. Once your buttons are on, twist the head to hold them in place.
9. Assemble your blooms in a small vase. Add shredded paper to act as a filler and hold your stems in place if you wish!

These blooms are so fun to look at, and so fun to make. These can be assembled in a bowl or vase of your choosing. You can even stuck as picks into live plants. Either way, they are sure to add a pop of spring color to your home!

Button Barrettes!

Little girls love hair accessories, and they love crafting! Here is the perfect combo! These button barrettes are simple and chic! Again, all you need are a few inexpensive materials and you are minutes away from a fun spring accessory.

Materials:
Plain hair clips/barrettes
Buttons
Hot or craft glue

Directions:
1. Clean your hair clips with soapy water so the buttons will adhere.
2. Add a small dab of glue to the end of the barrette.
3. Press firmly into place and hold so it adheres.
4. Once dry, stack an alternate color on top of that button. Glue into place.
5. You can add a third button if you wish, or leave as is.

Little girls will love designing their own hair barrettes using colorful buttons! Have fun and use a variety of colors. You can mix, you can match, you can design these to match your child’s outfit. Either way, they add another fun and funky pop of spring color!

As you can see, a handful of buttons are not only inexpensive, but they can make you all sorts of fun spring crafts! So head to your local craft store, grab a handful, and start crafting! You will be surprised at everything you can come up with.

About The Author Katie Femia

Katie is the owner of The Savvy Luna Bugg Handmade & Vintage Shop, and runs a blog under the same name. She can usually be found out and about scouring thrift stores, with a diet soda in one hand and vintage linens in the other. Always seeing the glass half full, she loves finding new uses for old objects, crafting with her two daughters, and teaching others how to see past the trash and to the treasure.

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In my family, there is something special about movie night. It’s a time where we all get together and bond while watching an agreed upon film. Now that my son is 18 and my daughter is 9, they are growing farther apart in age. But when it comes to movies, it’s something that they can agree upon, especially when it’s movies that are fun. Movie night has become quite a positive experience!

Preparing for movie night in our house is always fun. We really like to make it an authentic movie experience, complete with snacks.

Here are three ways we prepare for movie night in our house:

1. Tickets please- My daughter is very creative, so she makes us tickets for the movie, which we have to present to her before we start the film. She goes out of her way to make the tickets as authentic as possible.
2. Snacks- Movie night isn’t complete without snacks, and popcorn is a must. You can do to the dollar store and buy popcorn bags to serve the popcorn in to make it feel like you are really at the movies.
3. Silence is Golden- It’s my duty during movie night to make sure that everyone has their smartphones, tablets, and other technology on silent. Our movie nights are a tech-free zone.

With those three tips, our movie nights are always a blast!

I was recently was introduced to Pop Secret’s Find Your Critic Tool.  Pop Secret is known for their fabulous and yummy popcorn, but they also have created a way for movie lovers like me to find and discover what movies we should be watching during movie night. They’ve team with Rotten Tomatoes for the Find Your Critic Tool, and with it, you can go through a listing of films and see what everyone thinks about the movie with their critiques and ratings. You can also determine which critics you want to listen to. It’s totally fun and interactive!

So during your next movie night, you can have help with the Find Your Critic tool, which will help you select a film that you will all enjoy and love.

Brand Statement: At Pop Secret, we love movies as much as you love movies. That’s why we created the Find Your Critic tool with Rotten Tomatoes. It helps you figure out which movie critics you should listen to. All you have to do is rate some movies and the tool figures out which critics share your taste in movies. It even helps you follow your critics’ new movie reviews and recos. So when it comes to enjoying movies, the only thing you have to worry about is which kind of Pop Secret to make. Check it out!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pop Secret via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pop Secret.

About The Author

The Cubicle Chick, otherwise known as Danyelle Little, is the owner and editor of TheCubicleChick.com. After losing her job in Corporate America in 2009, she found a way to channel her frustration into a site that focuses on work, life, and play. Danyelle blogs and administers this site full-time, freelances for several other sites and publications, and works as a social media consultant to other brands, bloggers, and businesses. You can learn more about her by visiting DanyelleLittle.com.

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The post Make Movie Night Official with Pop Secret’s Find Your Critic Tool appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.