Funky Frugal Mommy

As soon as that baby comes, it's difficult even to find time to sleep much less exercise. But if fitness was a priority for you before your kids, it's important to keep that routine going for your physical and mental health. Even if you weren't into exercising before, picking up an activity now can help you teach your kids the importance of staying fit. Here are some reasons why fitness is so important for you and your kids. It Can Keep You and Your Partner Close Did you and your partner meet in a gym? Run races together? Don't give up your mutual passion after having kids. Just as some couples schedule "date nights," you can  schedule a time to go to the gym together  and get a workout in. Include your kids on the weekends to make it a family workout. Everyone will get the benefits of exercise, but your kids will also get to see their parents doing something they love. It Helps You Spend Quality Time Together Older children especially have bu

One of the most exciting moments in anyone’s life is when they purchase their own first property. However, this is also perhaps the biggest expense you will have in your life. And the price tag of the property is far from the end of the story. The mortgage is just one of the expenses you will face down the road, and the fact that many people tend to overlook additional costs when planning their budget can result in a headache or two in the end. However, being well-prepared and well-informed before jumping right in can help in lowering some of these unexpected expenses. So, for a start, here are some of the hidden figures behind buying a home you should be aware of before you sign that contract. First off, inspections Once you have your property of choice, you have to schedule inspections before anything is set in stone. Get a general home inspection   that will point out any reason for concern. If you’re lucky, this is all you’re going to need; however, a general inspector may v

More and more people are opting for working from home. You don’t have to spend hours commuting back and forth to the job, or sit for hours in a crowdy and steamy room, and be overwhelmed with constant noise and commotion. When you have your own space where you can work uninterruptedly and effectively, you can undoubtedly progress better and faster, and even earn much more money. Since your home office is the place where you spend most of your time, you need to decorate it with a few necessary essentials. From basic and vital furniture to some posh wallpapers and ornaments, you should add some essential to feel content in your home office. Here are some of the must-have items that every entrepreneur should have in order to equip and decorate the home office.   Adequate lighting Before you head out to buy much-required furniture, you must think about the place where you would set up your home office. It should be somewhere in the house where you feel most comfortable, you

With the cold weather in full swing, maple syrup season has finally arrived and there is no better time to enjoy the uniquely Canadian taste.     What’s more Canadian than warming up with a cocktail by the fire this winter?   When spending your days indoors, why not create some fun winter cocktail recipes to enjoy with family and friends. For an authentic Canadian taste, make them with Cabot Trail Maple Cream, a distinctly Canadian maple liqueur made with Grade A Canadian maple syrup.   Learn more about Cabot Trail Maple Cream  here  and check out these recipes to enjoy this winter.   Canadian Coffee   Ingredients 30 ml (1 oz.) Cabot Trail Maple Cream Hot coffee Chantilly cream Chocolate pearls or maple cookie (optional)   Preparation 1.      In a coffee cup or toddy glass, add Cabot Trail Maple Cream. 2.      Top up with hot coffee. 3.      Garnish with Chantilly cream and chocolate pearls.   Flying Canoe    Ingredients 30 ml (1 oz.) Cabot Trail Maple Cream 15 ml (1/2 oz.) red vermout

Cement decorations last for years and create great gifts, amazing decor, fun art projects and unique conversation pieces. Depending on where you live you may have access to cement or plaster pieces to purchase and they can be quite expensive depending on size. The amount of work that goes into hand pouring and painting statues and decor is quite substantial and requires an artistic flare! If you are looking for a fun and unique business venture it may be worth your time to look into creating cement decor. It can be a very profitable business to hand paint cement pieces and sell them. You could also sell unpainted pieces to up and coming artists or families that love to do art projects together. You could also teach a class on how to pour cement and create statues. There are a lot of different options for business ventures involving cement statues and decor.  So where can you get these beautiful molds from to create your new works of art? There is a wonderful and very reputable mold mak

Since kids are curious at a tender age, it is important to feed their curiosity with education on wildlife. You can do this by incorporating a few wildlife lessons into their holiday vacations, weekends, or by enrolling them in a wildlife club. Teaching kids about wildlife helps them understand, connect, and appreciate what surrounds them. The benefits of getting your kids involved in wildlife include: 1)     Conservation Wildlife depends on future generations to exist. Your children will be part of that generation. Teaching them how to take care of wildlife is the first step to ensure they build interest in this area. You can start by introducing them to small and fun activities such as feeding birds and enlightening them on the appropriate type of bird food to go for. Once they understand and appreciate this, you can give them bigger responsibilities like volunteering and taking care of zoo animals. You can also teach them how to take care of the environ

 Before you spend money trying to replicate a room design you’ve seen in a magazine, store display or on television, stop and think about how well that design fits your current lifestyle. If your home is a haven for energetic children and lively pets, practicality is a key factor to consider when decorating. You can have an attractive home décor that’s frugal and practical simply by making wise decorating choices.  Choosing Furniture When choosing furniture for a family-friendly, pet-friendly environment, it’s best to purchase the most durable, well-made furniture your budget allows. Buying long-lasting, quality furniture can prevent you from having to repeatedly replace inexpensive furniture that can’t hold up in an active household. You definitely want to select furniture with upholstery that’s easy to clean and durable. Leather, twill, denim and natural-fiber material are good choices. Furniture with rounded corners is a smart choice if you have small children. Storage Ideas A well-

If your child or toddler is begging for screen time, know that you are not alone. Televisions, phones, and tablets are often used as tools to teach children new things as well as to distract them while their parents get some much-needed work done around the house. However, when it comes to their sleep schedule - and yours - screen time might be causing more problems than it is solving. Limiting it, at least at key times, could solve many of your children’s sleep issues. Delays Sleep & Melatonin Production The reason that your toddler pays so much attention to the electronic screen that you put in front of them is because that screen emits a type of light that is known to tell the brain to wake up and pay attention to it. This light is on the blue wavelength spectrum. This is the same kind of light that you would find in bright white LEDs. This wouldn’t be a problem if the effect didn’t stick around even after you put the devices away. This type of light tells your brain to stay awa

With spring right around the corner, adding plants to your home is always a good idea. They’re a great way to brighten up any space and easy to match with any style and decor. Houseplants have incredible air purifying benefits and many varieties are known to help people with allergies – like the Marginata or Chinese Evergreen. With that in mind, I thought I’d share this beautiful yet easy DIY hanging planter from our friends at Shutterfly . Hang in your kitchen or living room for some added texture and color. You can even have your kids help decorate their own planter to hang in their room! All you need is some colorful paint, a paint brush, jute twine, scissors, a frame and your favorite potted plant to get you started.

If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur, you likely wear a lot of hats. From keeping finances in check to maintaining a work-life balance, it’s easy to get burnt out. Luckily, you’re not alone. Other entrepreneurs who are passionate about succeeding in business are facing similar challenges. By identifying common obstacles or hurdles, you will be better equipped with the right tools and tactics to overcome them. In a survey of 1,000 small business owners, Valpak found some common themes between business owners. Out of those surveyed, 1 in 4 people considers money to be the biggest business obstacle. Secondly, the survey revealed that running a business doesn’t come easily to everyone. More women see a lack of knowledge on how to run a business as a challenge than men. For the full business hurdle survey results and actionable tips on overcoming small business challenges, check out the visual below.

Moving to a new house can be a perfect time to start anew and build a clean and clutter-free home that you always deserve. If you keep your new place more organized, life becomes much simpler and stress-free. Plus, you can save yourself on emotional stress by staying streamlined long after your move. If you want a relaxing experience after the entire moving process, here’s a simple guide on how to de-clutter your new house. 1. Remove excess while unpacking. As you go from box to box to unpack, you’ll definitely find some additional items that you no longer use. When this happens, it’s a good idea to sort through all your belongings again and make sure you don’t fill your new room with unwanted items. Make a checklist to help you figure out which thing is worth to keep or not. You can make sound decisions about the clutter by asking yourself whether they still serve any purpose or if they have a place in your new home. Also, many movers NYC offer unpacking serv