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Scrap Your Magical Spring Break Adventure

If your family’s spring break escape includes a sprinkling of pixie dust, a pair of glass slippers and a castle fit for a princess, then you will likely be documenting every magical moment. No trip to a Disney theme park can take place without snapping at least a few hundred photos and collecting a mountain of memorabilia.  When you return from your fantasy vacation you’ll want create a scrapbook detailing all of the fun had with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and the rest of the crew. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a ton of money crafting a Disney-themed memory … Continue reading →

Embrace Your Mistakes + Snow Globe Sugar Cookie Recipe

Many parents feel uncomfortable appearing less than perfect around their children.  Ironically, childhood experts maintain that moms and dads, who unabashedly show their children that making mistakes is part of life, give their kids a priceless gift and a leg up in the real world. Well, Hallelujah!  I’ve finally done something right in the eyes of so-called parenting experts. My kid sees me mess up all the time.  Okay, maybe not all.the.time.  Still, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes… and then some.  However, in making my litany of blunders, I’ve learned another important lesson.  By embracing your imperfections you … Continue reading →

Incorporating Exercise into Your Holiday Shopping

We are in the final countdown to Christmas. Have you finished your holiday shopping? While it may not be in the forefront of your mind, how about incorporating a little bit of exercise into your shopping sprees? Here are some ideas to make this happen. As you go from store to store, park as far away as you can. Not only do you get in some extra walking but you will be closer to the exits and can get out of the parking lot faster. If you are shopping at the mall, take extra laps around. Skip the escalators and … Continue reading →

Design Your Own Paper

In a previous blog I detailed ways you can save a ton of money by printing your own scrapbook paper. If your wallet is still hemorrhaging from Black Friday buys, you’re probably looing for ways to create holiday scrapbooks without further damaging your bank account. One way you can reduce spending a lot of cash on your memory books is to flex your creative muscle and design your own scrapbook paper. In addition to printing out free patterns from various scrapbook websites, you can also scan photos and craft your own designer paper. Some photo software programs make this task … Continue reading →

Creative Cash Savers

With the holidays fast approaching many people are reconfiguring their household budgets to afford gifts, parties and other unexpected expenses that come with hosting out of town guests. Tis the season to get creative with your savings techniques That may mean cutting out your daily dose of Starbucks or re-evaluating whether you really need that weekly manicure. Another option is to channel your inner Martha Stewart so you can spruce up your house for holiday guests without breaking the bank. For example, instead of spending money on expensive storage units, decoupage affordable containers to use as totes for household items. … Continue reading →

Flex Your Creative Muscle

Just when I thought I’d seen it all in the scrapbook creativity department, I catch sight of a layout featuring tiny photo book booth-style images linked to form a photo frame. Brilliant. What a great way to use up wallet size or smaller prints. When it comes to making the most of every day items, avid scrappers are a force to be reckoned with. I remember thinking that scrappers were the most amazingly resourceful people on Earth the first time I saw a layout featuring a map as a background. An ordinary paper map doubles as an incredible background for … Continue reading →

Beachy Keen

Don’t let your family getaway go undocumented this spring.  If you are planning to escape to the sun, sand and surf, be sure to take plenty of pictures, collect a bunch of mementos, and then create eye-popping scrapbook layouts to preserve all of the good times. Beach-themed page designs are fun to make.  Use the opportunity to flex your creative muscle by incorporating items you collect during your vacation with the myriad of scrapbooking embellishments available in stores and online.  For example, consider bringing home a small container or Ziploc bag of sand from the beach and adding it to … Continue reading →

Save Money by Planning Ahead

Dear overachiever mom who attached stuffed animals to the Valentine’s Day cards your kid passed out at school last week:  I don’t hate you.  Never mind, that all my 8-year-old Scotch-taped to her Snoopy Love Day cards were small packages of Skittles.  Not six-inch plush puppies.  I’m sure you never intended to make the rest of us parents feel like inadequate, uninspired, cheap losers. Listen, I considered flexing my creative muscle and having my kid attach snack-sized bags of peanuts to the cards.  Get it?  Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy… the Peanuts gang?  Of course, sending nuts to school in this … Continue reading →

Spring Ahead

I can’t wait for spring to arrive. Actually, I’d love to fast forward to summer.  However, when it’s 2 degrees out with a windchill factor of 25 below zero, I will happily settle for a shot of spring. Since I can’t control Mother Nature, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands by injecting a little spring fun into our home.  My 8-year-old is sick and tired of the snow and cold, but we can’t afford a trip to the Caribbean, so we’re making do with the following budget-conscious spring-themed activities: Spring Art:  Let your kids flex their creative … Continue reading →

Making Snow Cones from a Blizzard

That’s a desperate mom’s twist on the proverbial phrase about lemons and lemonade. When you live in the frozen tundra that is northern Wisconsin you have to flex your creative muscle on a regular basis in order to keep from going stir crazy during the winter months.  This is especially true if your home is filled with antsy children.  Even a singleton can push you to the limits if the weather outside is so frightful that winter play is limited to the living room, kitchen or basement. If you are enjoying a reprieve from Mother Nature right now, remember that … Continue reading →