Funky Frugal Mommy: August 2016

Summer is over - how do we create memories?

Ask any adult about their favourite childhood memories and they’ll probably tell you about things they did in the summer. Summer is the season when schoolchildren feel free and their parents, on the other hand, have more time to spend with the family. The real question is how do we create those memories? With technologies of today, photographs became a part of our everyday routines, but what are other ways to preserve memories? You can create memories and have some fun with your kids, at the same time.

Get crafty

You spent two weeks at the seaside and collected tons of pretty rocks and shells? Good news is that you didn’t drag that extra bag back home for nothing. Get some wire, paint, chains, and other craft supplies and you can make adorable seashell jewellery with your kids. They will love their handmade pendants and necklaces. Rocks are easily transformed into bugs, flowers, and animals. All you need is some paint and paint brushes. Later on, use them to decorate your garden or kids’ room.

Go camping in backyard

It’s not easy to organize a camping trip with children and camping sites can be as expensive as hotel rooms but doesn’t mean you and your family shouldn’t have some fun outside. The best part of camping trips is setting up a tent, storytelling around a bonfire, and, of course, sleeping outside. All of these can be done in your backyard, so make sure you prepare marshmallows and hot dogs on time. Even if it’s just for one or two nights, your kids will love it. Journals are great for keeping memories like this. If your kids are hesitant about journaling, you can always give them a little nudge – ask them about their favourite part of the camping adventure or offer to write together, each in their own journal.

Bring the beach home

If you couldn’t afford to go to the seaside this year or your family love it so much that you just can’t get enough, you can always recreate the beach in your backyard. You’ll need sand, obviously, but don’t worry – your backyard doesn’t have to turn into a desert. A simple sandbox would be enough to indulge that craving for sinking your feet into the sand. Decorate with beach homewares – surfing boards, buoys, sea shells, rocks, etc. Take out your wading pool, fill it with water and a bit of salt substitute. Spread a parasol and relax on a deck chair while your kids have some fun making sandcastles. Taking lots of photos is a must, but why won’t you take a step further and make a video? Teach your kids a bit about filmmaking techniques and you’ll have a perfect summer memory.

Make a scrapbook

If your kids are not into journaling, you can always switch to scrapbooking. It’s an excellent way to preserve and arrange memories and it can be quite appealing for children. As with journals, you can buy a basic scrapbook or make your own. Making your own certainly means more fun, so get some cardboard or fabric for covers and lined or blank paper for pages. Encourage your kids to keep tickets, postcards, drawings and other things they use or make during the summer and then put them all in a scrapbook. Take them to a craft store and show them creative ways to improve their memory books.

The summer sun is slowly setting down and it’s time to summarize the vacation impressions and find a way to preserve all the memories from fading. Don’t be lazy to go beyond taking a bunch of photos and include your kids in the process. Not only that you’ll make great memories, you will also have some quality family bonding time.

Your Life In Boxes: The Best Way To Go About Unpacking In Your New Home

Photo Source

So, you’re pulling up to your new home. Everything is out of your old place, and you have your new set of keys in hand, ready to open the door to your new life. The first couple of weeks in your new home are going to be hectic. But don’t worry, it’ll all be worth it. So how do you best go about moving in?

Getting everything through the door

You’re going to have a lot of belongings to get through the door into the house. From big appliances to smaller essentials. It’s best to consider hiring from a company that specialises in interstate removals to help with this. Having transported your material life from one state to another, they’ll be able to help you with guiding the big appliances into your home and carrying the smaller boxes in. It’ll be a weight off your shoulders. Literally.

Image Credit

Organise the big things

It’s a good idea to organise your larger items first. This mainly includes appliances and furniture. After a long day of working on your new home, you’re going to want to be able to sit down and relax. Set up your sofa in a comfortable, clear space. Make your bed, ready for you to collapse into after a testing and hard day. You don’t want to be falling asleep and trying to put sheets on your mattress and find your duvet. Set up your refrigerator in the kitchen. You’ll need plenty of cold drinks and snacks to keep you going. Install light fittings and get general DIY out of the way first.

Picture Credit

Tackle the bulk

Some items are going to take up a lot more space in boxes than others. If you have a lot of books, it’s a good idea to build a bookcase for them to go on or have shelving put up. They make take up a lot of space in boxes, but once you’ve settled on an apt storage solution, they’ll be well out of the way. Same goes for hefty record collections.

Fill your wardrobe

Clothing will compose a large number of the boxes littering your hallway. Build your wardrobe and hang all of your shirts, dresses, skirts, coats and other clothing in an organised manner. Set up some drawers for your underwear, socks and pyjamas. You will need access to your clothing everyday, and it’ll be easier to root them out of a wardrobe or drawers than filtering through numerous cardboard boxes.

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The little things

Once you’ve completed the above, there will be a lot more space in your home and fewer boxes to unpack. This is the time that you can focus on the smaller things. Towels, cutlery, stationery, photo frames, trinkets and the rest. These are the things that add a personal touch to your home. Take your time in choosing the right place for them to be stored and enjoy the experience of making your new home truly yours.

Remember, this should be a fun and enjoyable experience. It’s not a process that needs to be completed in one day. Have patience and take your time. Who knows how long you’ll be living in this new space. Create positive vibes from the moment you set foot through the door. Once you’re settled in, take a look at our article on keeping bills low in your new home.

Swago Shopping Edition

It's time for another round of SWAGO! What is SWAGO you ask? It's a bingo-inspired promotion run by Swagbucks, a website that rewards you with points (called SB) for completing everyday online activities. You can redeem those SB for free gift cards. If you've never used Swagbucks, participating in SWAGO is a great introduction to the site. This particular round of SWAGO is all about online shopping.

Here’s what you need to know to get your 200 SB Bonus (and don’t worry, you don’t have to make a purchase to complete a pattern):

Shop Swago will begin on Monday, August 29th at 1pm PDT/3pm EDT, make sure you hit “Join” otherwise you won’t get credit for completing the action items. Each square on your Swago Board will contain an action item to complete.
Once you complete the action item in a particular square the square will change color signifying the action item is complete.
You have a limited amount of time to mark off as many squares as possible so use your time wisely.
Be mindful of the patterns and their corresponding bonuses located on the right of your Swago Board. The patterns will vary in difficulty and bonus value.
Once you’ve achieved a pattern the corresponding “Submit” button will light up. You can have multiple patterns available for submission, however, you can only submit ONE pattern so choose wisely.
The game ends Monday, September 5th at 12pm PDT/3pm EDT. So make sure to hit “Submit” on the pattern you wish to submit. If you don’t hit “Submit” before the game ends you won’t receive your SB bonus.

Smart Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption at Home

It’s safe to assume that most of us are concerned about energy consumption at home for several reasons. The more selfish ones are the electricity bill and our appliances, whose life greatly depends on the amount of time and the way they are used. An almost selfless reason is the wish to preserve energy, thus contributing to environment protection.

Keep reading >>

Smart Tactics for Making School Supplies More Affordable

Many children are now back at school after their summer break. While you might already have bought back to school supplies, there can often be many more things needed throughout the year. Various expenses can pop up that you have to meet. They range from new clothes when old ones have been outgrown to money to take on field trips. These expenses can add up so that you end up forking out a lot of money over the school year. This can be an annoyance for some parents but for others it can mean a struggle to take care of other costs. If you need to stock up on school supplies, try these tips to make it more manageable.

Pic sourced from Pixabay

Find Ways to Fund Larger Expenses

There can be a few school expenses that result in spending a large chunk of money at once. You won't always have that money available, even if you've been trying to save. Many times the issue is that money has been tight for that particular month. You know that if you can wait until next month, you'll have the cash you need. This can happen for unexpected school costs, in particular. One of the options when this happens is to try a solution like Personal Money Store. You can search for short-term loans that are suitable for your purposes. You can usually borrow as little as $100, and you can pay it back on payday.

See How the School Can Help

If the cost of school supplies seems too high, you might want to see how your child's school can help. Not every school will be able to provide assistance. However, many make an effort to ensure that all their students get the supplies they need for their education. For example, some schools will try to offer more affordable supplies to purchase. Others might subsidize the cost of various items. Your school might also be able to refer you to a supply drive that could help you get the things you need. Sometimes, teachers even dip into their own pockets to ensure that pupils have the supplies they need for the classroom.

Look for Discounts and Inexpensive Options

If you need to save money, it's always best to start looking for cheap options. The cost of many school supplies has risen in recent years. However, it's still, fortunately, easy to find many cheaper options. Costs can add up and come to a larger amount, but you can reduce the expense if you buy carefully. The first thing to do is scrutinize back to school sales carefully. Make sure that you're actually getting a good deal and not just falling for something because it's in a sale. There might be a better option that's cheap all year and is similar in quality.

Pic sourced from Pexels

Reuse and Mend

Every year calls for new school supplies, but remember that you won't always have to replace everything. Some things could be a must, like certain clothes and shoes or stationery. But there are things you can use again, repair or recycle into something new. For example, is your child's pencil case from last year still in good condition? While a new one for the new year might be fun, perhaps it can keep going for a bit longer. Hand-me-down clothes have long been a way to save money when you have multiple children. If you can fix something instead of throwing it away, it can save you some money.

Separate Must-haves from Nice-to-haves

Children are often given a list of supplies they have to have for school. They may be expected to have everything on this list, and there's no getting around it. But there are still ways to ensure you only spend money on essentials and not on unnecessary items. Firstly, if your child has a list from school, check to see what is necessary and what is just a suggestion. Secondly, consider other school supplies that aren't on the list. Which of them does your child need and what might just be nice to have? This includes exactly which products you choose to buy. For example, it might be fun for your child to have a Frozen backpack. But if a plain bag is cheaper and sturdier, it may be a better purchase. Sometimes, you might have to compromise, and it could mean cutting out the extra niceties. Focus on making your kids happy in other ways to avoid making it all about the things you buy them.

You can't avoid the need for school supplies, but you can find ways to make them more affordable. Throughout the school year, look for methods to reduce the expense.

5 Indoor activities for kids: Rainy Days

No matter how much we hope and pray for a perfect summer full of beautiful blue skies and warm weather, we have to face the fact that we live in the UK and the weather is (very) unpredictable. With this in mind it can be difficult to plan days out to keep kids active and occupied. Some of the best indoor activities for kids combine fitness, fun, family and friends.

Shark attack
Make your way to one of the many aquariums across the UK for a day of exploring the underwater world, pretend you are mermaids for the day, or that you are kings of the ocean (fancy dress optional).
To do list:
Take a list of colours and see how many you can tick off as you go around the aquarium.
See how close you can get to a shark.
Find Nemo or Dory!

Culture:
An event called Kids Week has just been extended until September 7th, and allows one child under the age of 16 to choose from a selection of London theatre shows for free, when accompanied by a full paying adult (2 additional children can also join for half price). There is a variety of child friendly performances from The Railway Children to The Gruffalo, a great way to make some lasting memories.
To do list:
Take a selfie in front of the theatre.
Learn the words to one of the songs so you can sing along.
Travel to the location by bus, try to get a seat on the top deck and take in the sights of London as you go.

Jump In
If you have woken up to a Duracell bunny and no end of activities seem to be wearing them out, why not take them to a place where they can actually bounce off the walls. Trampoline parks draw in kids of all ages with a range of different activities including dodgeball, basketball and fitness classes. There are also dedicated sessions for teens and children who are 5 and under. Also some centres are now offering trampoline summer holiday camps if your kids really get the jumping bug!
To do list:
Have a competition to see who can jump the highest.
Try and flip into the huge foam pit.
Swing on the rope swings and pretend you are Tarzan.

Imagination:
You do not have to focus solely on physical exercise over the summer holidays. A trip to the library is always a great way to exercise your child’s inquisitive brain. Whether they choose one book or six, if you are reading to them or they are hidden in a self-made pillow fort, reading is an excellent way to pass the time over the summer. Try engaging with your kids about the books and ask them questions about the story and the characters, or you could go one step further and put on a play of the story to be performed in front of friends or family.
To do list:
Write a book report on the book to recommend it to a friend.
Drink hot chocolate whilst you are reading.
Don’t forget to put on silly voices when you are reading the character speech!

Indoor play
This is always a winner with both kids and adults and there is and endless variety of options to choose from. One of the more unique venues is Treehouse Family Play in Bournemouth which offers a metal and plastic free play frame and indoor garden, alongside a coffee house with all locally sourced products.
To do list:
Play hide and seek.
Find the highest point and time how long it takes to get to the top.
Pretend that the play frame is your spaceship and you are travelling to another planet.

Alternatively:

Get your wellies on!
If you really just need to get out, why not try a new craze such as Geocaching, advertised as ‘the world’s largest treasure hunt’. Wrap up in waterproofs and go hunting with your kids for some hidden gems, don’t forget to climb a few trees and splash in as many puddles as possible whilst you are on the hunt!

Author Bio:
Ian Alam is a blogger & writer from UK who specializes in writing about health & Fitness topics. He works with Go Jump In, which is counted among one of the Best Trampoline Park London, UK.

Give It A Go Eat A Rainbow

DO YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BACK TO SCHOOL ANXIETY?

NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST DR. SANAM HAFEEZ PROVIDES TIPS FOR PARENTS TO EASE BACK TO SCHOOL JITTERS

www.comprehendthemind.com

Did you know that anxiety issues are the most common mental health disorders in children? There are an estimated 18 million children and teens who suffer from anxiety. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 25 percent of teenagers have issues of anxiety, and the statistics don't take into account the young people who are undiagnosed or don't reach out for help. (credit sheknows.com) Because the start of a new school year can trigger or worsen anxiety in stressed-out children and teens, NYC Licensed Neuropsychologist and School Psychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez offers the following tips for parents to help ease back-to-school anxiety for their kids.

Start Early

Over the summer, most families take their cues from the sun and stay up later. While it may be tempting to keep the late-night fun going up until the end, starting your school routine a few weeks early can help ease the transition back to school. Starting two to three weeks before the advent of school, begin going to bed and getting up close to when you need to for school, and try to eat on a more regular schedule as well. This advice isn’t just for little kids -- teens and adults need quality sleep for proper functioning as well, and getting your schedule straight now will help ensure that you all start the school year off more prepared and don’t feel as much anxiety over the advent of that first day.

Give your child a preview

Talk to your child about what they’re going to be doing in the upcoming school year. If your child is starting school for the first time, see if there’s a kindergarten orientation or a way to meet their teacher before school begins. Whether they’re starting a new elementary school or going back to the same one, go explore it with your child. Review where their class will be, visit the cafeteria, the library or the art room. Take them to the playground (with a friend who’ll be going to their school, if possible) to help them get adjusted and feel comfortable at the school. Give your child a “preview” of the new faces and places they’ll be seeing. This can help to “right size” the school in your child’s mind and take the fear and mystery out of it.

Shopping together for school supplies

Shopping together for school supplies, and using the shopping trip as a time to talk about what to expect at school, can be a healthy way to keep a child talking. Parents should also try to connect their child with future classmates. “If a child knows someone who is going to be in the same classroom, that can greatly reduce their apprehension and fear of the unknown,” says Dr. Hafeez.

Facilitate friendships.

Help prepare kids for school-year socializing by arranging a couple of playdates with classmates and reminding them that they’ll be seeing their familiar school friends again soon.

Talk up the positives

Field trips, old friends, new classes, sporting events, after-school activities. There’s plenty to get fired up about! Remind your child and the enthusiasm will be contagious.

Sick of School-Literally

Nervousness over heading back to class can make kids feel sick. They may complain of stomachaches, headaches, nausea and dizziness, especially on Sunday evenings after feeling well all weekend. If you observe potential symptoms of stress as the start of school approaches, Dr. Hafeez suggests having a candid conversation with your child. “Don’t just accept ‘fine’ if you ask your child, ‘How are you?’ or, ‘How was your day?’ Ask questions that can't be answered ‘yes or no,’ like, ‘How do you feel about going back to school?’ Then, let them talk, and don't try to fix what they say.”

When anxiety about school “masks” something else

Kids of any age who don’t want to go to school, or avoid it, may be doing so because of a specific issue beyond general anxiety, worry or depression, notes Dr. Hafeez. “Children who are bullied or teased often become anxious about going to school, and if the problem is not addressed, the anxiety will continue along with a host of other problems,” she says. “Similarly, children who are avoiding school may be doing so because school is hard for them — school anxiety many times emerges just before a child is diagnosed with a learning difficulty.”

Sanam Hafeez Psy.D

New York State Licensed Neuropsychologist and School Psychologist

www.comprehendthemind.com

Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a New York City based Neuro-psychologist and School Psychologist. She is also the founder and director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. She is currently a teaching faculty member at Columbia University.

Dr. Hafeez graduated from Queens College, CUNY with a BA in psychology. She then went on to earn her Master of Science in Psychology at Hofstra University. Following that she stayed at Hofstra to receive her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) She later completed her post-doctoral training in Neuropsychology and Developmental Pediatrics at Coney Island Hospital.

Dr. Hafeez’s provides neuropsychological educational and developmental evaluations in her practice. She also works with children and adults who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, autism, attention and memory problems, trauma and brain injury, abuse, childhood development and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…) In addition, Dr. Hafeez serves as a medical expert and expert witness by providing full evaluations and witness testimony to law firms and courts.

Dr. Hafeez immigrated to the United States from Pakistan when she was twelve years old. She is fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi (Pakistani and Indian languages.) She resides in Queens, New York with her husband and twin boys.

Back To School With Master Lock - Giveaway!

For The Locker – A new school year can bring new worries, but don’t let your locker be one for you or your child. Enter to win an aweso.e lock for back to school at the bottom of this post.

· Lock up your locker with the Master Lock 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock ($70) which turns your phone or any Bluetooth-enabled device into a key.

· Equally innovative, the 1500iD Speed Dial Set-Your-Own Combination Lock ($13.93) opens with a combination of directional movements, is easy to use and comes in four vibrant color options (red, purple, blue and black). Perfect for younger kids who don’t have Smartphones yet!

For The Backpack – Your child’s backpack may include important school documents, personal information, homework and valuable items, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and money. It is important to ensure protection if items are left unattended.

· Master Lock 1550DAST Backpack Lock ($4.51) or Master Lock 1548DCM Set Your Own Combination Padlock($7.66) creates an added layer of protection that will help deter possible theft and give you and your child one less thing to worry about.

For The College-Goers – For those living on college campuses, it is necessary to take the extra safety precautions to ensure that your valuables are safe and secure.

· Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace ($28.69) keeps your cell phone, money, keys, jewelry, credit cards or other small valuables secure while on campus or away from your belongings.

· SentrySafe PL048E Portable Laptop Safe ($64.47) is perfect for those who are living in a dorm or apartment for the added security for your laptop when you are not there.

Master Lock is providing these “Back-to-Safety” tips to help keep students and their valuables safe and secure this school year:

· Familiarize Yourself With Your School: Your first day in a new environment can be overwhelming. If possible, head to campus or your school building prior to the first day of classes and find your classroom, test your route to class and explore the campus or facility. It’s important to learn the buildings’ exits, emergency protocol and evacuation plans and the location of the nurse’s office or school health center so you can be prepared for the unexpected.

· Use a Trusted Locker Lock: Perfect for lockers, Master Lock’s innovative, technology-based Indoor Bluetooth Padlock (4400D) is operated by a Smartphone versus a combination or physical key. Not only does the product appeal to tech-savvy students but also to parents who are concerned about their child forgetting their locker lock’s combination. The product has an award-winning design and is feature-rich, allowing authorized users to control their padlocks, monitor the padlock’s activity and share digital keys. Equally innovative, the 1500iD Speed Dial^™Set-Your-Own Combination Lock which opens with a combination of directional movements, is easy to use and comes in four vibrant color options (red, purple, blue and black).

· Secure Your School Supplies: School bags and gym bags include important school documents, personal information, homework and valuable items, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and money. Attach the easy-to-use Master Lock 1550DAST Backpack Lock, which comes in four bold colors to help identify your bag. Or, use the versatile Master Lock 1548DCM Set Your Own Combination Padlock. This added layer of protection willhelp deter possible theft and provide peace of mind so you can worry less about your belongings and focus on enjoying the school year and extra-curricular activities.

· Add Safety Precautions to New Living Quarters: For those living on college campuses, dorm living is an adjustment. While it may be fun to pop in and out of your neighbor’s room to study or watch TV, it’s important to remember that all your possessions, such as electronics, remain in your dorm room even when you are not. Keep your valuablessecurely stored to help protect against theft and other vulnerabilities. For smaller electronics and other valuables, such as cell phones and MP3s, use the Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace portable mini safe and for your laptop, consider the SentrySafe PL048E Portable Laptop Safe.

For more back-to-school safety tips, visit the Master Lock website or connect with Master Lock on social viaFacebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.

Enter to win a great new lock to keep things safe and secure.

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Summer poolside drink recipes!

What’s better than sipping a cool drink by the pool this summer? Not having to count the calories! Beat the heat and keep the delicious flavor with some of these calorie-free, gluten-free, sodium-free and caffeine-free drink recipes.

Cherry Limeade Fro-Yo Float

Introducing your new favorite frozen drink, the Cherry Limeade Fro-Yo Float! Start with 6oz of Cascade Ice Zero-Calorie Cherry Limeade, 3 cups of ice, 2 cups frozen yogurt. Combine ingredients in a blender until slushy and divide amongst friends. Garnish with fresh cherries and lime to really impress your guests!

Berry-Kiwi Frozen Mojito

Whether it’s girl’s weekend or time for a mocktail, this drink is sure to cause a splash! In a blender, combine 4oz of Cascade Ice Kiwi, 1oz of Cascade Ice Wild Berry, 1 cup of ice, frozen berries of your choice, and rum if desired! Blend until slushy. Top it off with fresh strawberries and mint for the perfect touch and serve!

Coconut Mango Sorbet

If you haven’t used your ice cream maker yet this summer, here is your perfect excuse! In a blender, puree mango chunks and Cascade Ice Coconut Mango until smooth. Chill for 1 hour, and then freeze in your ice cream maker. When ready to serve, add 1/3 cup of sorbet to each glass, then fill with Cascade Ice Coconut Mango for this frozen, low calorie treat!

Cascade Ice is delicious on its own or mixed into a tasty treat! For a refreshing twist on beating the summer heat try Cascade Ice today!

Funky Frugal Mommy