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Fall-ify Your Home for Practically Free

Fall is in full swing in our neck of the woods. Autumn’s amazing palette of yellow, red and orange is on display, and the best part—-it’s free. Free to look at and, in most cases, free to take home and turn into phenomenal fall-themed decorations. All you need to do is get out and explore the beauty Mother Nature has to offer. While you are soaking in the change of scenery, consider collecting a few leaves, nuts, berries, and branches to fall-ify your home. Some simple and affordable projects include: LEAF STAMPS Stamping is an inexpensive and fun way to … Continue reading →

Two Tips for DIY Fall Decor

Have fun this fall by creating your own autumn-themed decorations. If the final product doesn’t excite you, the money you save handcrafting your seasonal masterpieces certainly will. However, if you are not exactly a Martha Stewart prodigy, but want to take a stab at making affordable fall decor, consider these simple starters: Twig Candles: Take a stroll around your neighborhood or a local park and collect small twigs. You will also need a medium to large size candle in a glass holder, scissors, glue and twine. To make the decorative candles, cut the twigs to three-inch lengths. Next, stand the … Continue reading →

Free Fall Festivals

Fall is here and it seems everyone is encouraging you to get out and enjoy Mother Nature. The leaves are glorious, the temperatures are comfortable and the mood is relaxed. But, you’re broke and there are only so many free walks in the woods you can take before you get tired of looking at falling leaves. Fortunately, there are other options for penny-pinching families. Free festivals are amazing places for frugalistas to spend fall weekends. Simply pack up the gang and head out to these kid-friendly events that don’t require you to spend a single dime to partake in seasonal … Continue reading →

Fall La-La

Happy first day of fall! Autumn officially began at 10:49 a.m. EDT, and boy, can we feel it in our neck of the woods. The mercury is sitting at a chilly 39 degrees right now. If we had pumpkins on our porch, they’d be covered with frost. Nothing like a good hard freeze to bid farewell to summer. Despite today’s unusually cool temperatures, I love fall and all its beauty. Autumn is the perfect season to explore the great outdoors with your family and friends. What’s more, as the days shorten and the leaves begin to tumble, you are left … Continue reading →

Affordable Fall Family Fun

The first day of autumn is just two weeks away, and just because Wal-Mart and Target already have their Christmas displays up doesn’t mean you should fast forward over this wonderful season. Fall is a great time to bond with your family in the great outdoors before Old Man Winter arrives and your kids refuse to move away from the warm TV. To help spice up the season, consider attending ones of the following fall-themed parades, festivals and kid-friendly events that won’t bust your family’s budget: Half Moon Art and Pumpkin Festival, San Francisco, California: On October 13-14, you can … Continue reading →

Fall Fun with Apples

Tis the season for apple overload. My family went bananas at a local u-pick apple orchard last month. We hauled home more than 20 pounds of the healthy fruit and still have more than a dozen individual apples left. They won’t be good for much longer, which is why I have been desperately looking for ways (besides making yet another pie) to make the most of the shiny orbs. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ideas floating around cyberspace. I tested a few of the more unique options from Women’s Day and several other reputable sites, then narrowed down my … Continue reading →

Hosting a Fall Festival

Who says you have to rely on your church or civic organization to host a family-friendly fall festival? If you are looking for a way to gather your closest friends and relatives to celebrate the change of seasons, then consider throwing your own autumnal fling. The seasonal shindig can be as intimate or elaborate as you wish. If you are working on a tight budget, then you might need to streamline your decorations. Start by adding a few touches to the front area of your home to make it appear as festive as possible. You could make an inexpensive fall … Continue reading →

The Park (Part 1)

Recently I took our son to the park. It was a cold day. I’d finished my exams and I was quite pleased with the idea that we might head outside to spend some good quality time with one another. One of the things I had forgotten was how much fun it was to not worry about some rapidly approaching deadline or exam. While certainly the topic of another post, it is hard to underestimate the effect that passing my qualifying exams has had on me. The last nine months had been a terrible time for my family centered on coping … Continue reading →

Fall Art Projects for Kids

Now that you know where to collect colorful fall leaves, it’s time to figure out what to do with them. The following art projects are simple enough for the whole family to partake in. What’s more, your kids will be filled with pride knowing that their leaf collections are being put to good use. LEAF IMPRESSIONS Materials: White paper Construction paper Crayons White craft glue Scissors Fall leaves in a variety of colors Directions: Place a leaf down flat on a table. Then, place a piece of white paper over it. Use a crayon to color over the leaf. (You … Continue reading →

Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Art Projects

Help your kids get in on the holiday preparation by allowing them to make these Thanksgiving decorations. Not only will these art projects keep your kids busy while you complete the Turkey Day meal, but also these crafts will yield amazing decorations that can be used to brighten up your holiday table. CORN PLACEMATS Materials: Ears of corn Knife Plastic corncob holders Paper plates Fabric paints Cloth placemats Directions: Break each ear of corn into 3-inch pieces (adults can use knife if necessary), then attach corncob holders firmly to the ends of each piece. Roll the corn pieces in a … Continue reading →