Minimalist Lifestyle is Healthy for Kids, Parents

 My out-of-the house son and I were recently discussing the minimalist lifestyle. We noticed how many people claim to be minimalists but in fact aren't. Case in point: money. It's easy to talk about living simply, but much harder to do it. And now that our son is paying his own way, he realizes why dad and I were so frugal when he was growing up. He sees first-hand how expensive things are and how easy it is get deep in debt. Avoiding debt is one reason parents should live simply. Here are others. Minimalism is Good for Families

Cheap, Homemade Donations for Lent, Easter

Don't let the title of this post throw you. I don't mean that the donation suggestions are cheap as in "tacky." These donations are inexpensive (which makes them ideal for families and those on a tight income). I developed these ideas when I homeschooled our four kids. As a Catholic homeschool family our education focused around the liturgical year. Holy Week is the pinnacle of the church year. We practiced acts of fasting and almsgiving, in solidarity with our Lord and in preparation for our Easter celebration.

Over our homeschool career, we explored many avenues of sacrifice and service. One activity that was very meaningful to us was really quite simple, but relevant. We are fortunate to live near several mission sites which provide immediate care and help to those in need. Our church also has a twin parish in Haiti. Many Staples outlets gather school supplies. I tweaked donation requests from these venues into an annual almsgiving activity. I think these activities would qualify for Jewish families as tithe and Muslim families as zakat offerings, too. Here's how it worked. Lent Almsgiving Activities

Best Kids' Toys and for 2012 Christmas Presents

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is buying gifts for kids. I love choosing toys, but I'm very picky. I demand that toy gifts I buy have some intrinsic educational value. And there are a lot of junk toys on the market. How do you wade through the chaff to find the best gifts for kids? Here's a guide from a 25-year veteran teacher and 24-year mom of four.  read more

Best Holiday Gifts for Kids Missions

Looking for a great Christmas giving opportunity? Operation Christmas Child is a charitable giving outreach ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Each year around Thanksgiving, thousands of boxes are shipped to domestic and foreign missions. Here's a list of items to put in your Operation Christmas Child holiday gift box. If you missed this giving opportunity, don't worry. Many churches and groups fill boxes for needy kids. These tips apply to local or overseas missions. Use this list to purchase gifts for any toy or gift donation. Gift suggestions are standard to most charity protocol. Christian families, consider using toy donations part of your offeratory. Catholics, remember, Advent is a penitential season; we're required to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Childrens' missions make perfect holiday almsgiving opportunities. Many Jewish families participate in Hanukkah giving. Muslim families, if you participate with toy drives, be sure to check if gift donations are zakat-eligible. I can't speak for all Islamic centers but many in Detroit partner with area missions or have their own giving opportunities for Muslim holiday observances. Read more Best Gifts to Fill Your Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Box

Cheap, parent-friendly kids' birthday party tips

As a mom to four kids, ages 24 to 14, I've planned a plethora of kids' parties. I'm also a teacher and I've hosted numerous classroom events. There are some misconceptions among parents, about what kids do and don't want for parties (and gifts). Bottom line is, they're not selfish and hard to please, IF, they aren't taught to be. Planning parties, I've had some great successes and colossal fails. From those experiences, I've compiled a list of tips for parents on planning kids' parties. Being a frugalista, these hints focus on cheap, homemade party ideas. My kids' friends still remember my parties as being tons of fun (it's my secret that most only cost me about $10 to put on!) Cheap, parent-friendly kids' birthday party tips

At-home preschool dramatic play learning center

 As a special needs and former Montessori teacher, my classrooms have always been organized on the learning center principle. Learning centers are rotational play areas were children perform tasks related to specific content areas: math, reading, science, art, practical life, dramatic play. When I had children, I imported the learning center philosophy into my home. The play room was set up like a modified preschool classroom. Got toddler or preschool age kids? I highly recommend setting up learning centers. If you're homeschooling, learning centers are a must. Here's how this Montessori mom designed an at-home dramatic play area. Easy at-home ideas, plus shopping tips for your budding thespian's play area. Montessori mom: At-home preschool dramatic play learning center 

Top 10 (plus a Few) Gift Ideas for Teenage Boys

Let me preface this article by saying that I have two sons, one husband and four brothers, so I have Christmas shopped for teen boys for about 25 years or so! The style of gift they ask for has changed over the years, for teen boys, as technology changes, but the content has stayed very much the same! Top presents for teen boys

Best Grandparents Day Gifts

With Grandparents Day approaching, the buzz is on the best gifts. This article was written for Mother's Day and lists outside-the-box (and envelope) gift-giving ideas. The concepts apply to Grandparents Day gifts, too. There's a lot of competition for our gift-giving buck. Stores and vendors are ripe with advice about what mom supposedly wants. That's why families should think heart (as in gifts from the) and smart.

Speaking of smart, for Mother's Day shopping (and Grandparents Day, thinking inductively) the best tips I found come from Denver Post $MART columnist Amber Johnson. Johnson surveyed moms about what they wanted most. Essentially, the consensus was to dial down the spending and pay attention to the individual mom's preferences. I'd add skip the three Cs (cards, candy and cut flowers). If you want to send a card, don't buy one. Use free printable greeting cards from my blog. And for shopping, use this advice for grandparent gifts, too. Mother's Day Gifts

Back to School Eye Exam and Glasses from Walmart, Best Gifts for Kids

There's one aspect of back to school preparation that sometimes gets overlooked--eye exams and glasses. We scrupulously follow school supplies list. We buy pencils, notebooks and backpacks. We shop for school clothes and shoes. We stock the cupboard with healthy school snacks. But we forget the one thing that can make or break a school year for a child--good vision. This year, give the gift of sight with Eye Exam and Glasses from Walmart 

Health Experts Warn Parents to Skip Cellphone Apps, Games for Kids

Popular items for the holiday shopping season are cellphone games and applications for children. Education and health experts say parents should skip all apps. Developmentally, they say, kids need unstructured, creative play, not games like those played on a tiny, digital screen. Here are facts about kids and cellphone apps. read more

Top 10 Father's Day Gifts for Dads

Why is it that holiday shopping for women is so easy, but finding gifts for men is so difficult? Fathers are especially challenging to shop for. Got a few hard-to-shop for dads on your holiday giving list? Here are the top 10 gifts that are sure to please Dad.Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Dads of Any Age 

Toys to Avoid Buying This Holiday Season: CPSC "Most Wanted"

When holiday shopping, we usually think in terms of what gifts to buy, not gifts to avoid. But some children's toys are not safe or have been recalled. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has compiled a list of recalled and "most wanted" toys to avoid this season. Read more...

Inexpensive Childrens' Baking Set Gift Basket

Inexpensive, DIY Holiday Baker's Gift Basket for Children When I was five years old, I received my own little baking set for Christmas. I've seen store baking sets for children, but as nice as they are, I like my DIY baker's set best. Here's an inexpensive baking kit to make your child's Christmas merry. Read More

Best Wedding, Bridal Shower and Holiday Kitchen Gifts for Bakers

Best Gifts and Kitchen Must-Haves for Bakers Under $15 Looking for holiday or birthday gifts for bakers? Maybe you are going to a kitchen bridal shower or need a great wedding gift? In this economy, we're all looking for ways to pinch pennies. Here are best gifts and kitchen must-haves under $15. Read More

Best Toys to Donate to Toys for Tots and Children Charities

Best Toys to Donate for Toys for Tots and Giving Tree Childrens Christmas Gift Drive One of my favorite parts of Christmas is choosing gifts for the Marines Toys for Tots drive and church missions Giving Tree childrens gifts. Sometimes it's difficult to know what kind of gift to choose. Here are some considerations to help. Read More

Oscar Schmidt- Washburn Guitar Product Review- Gifts for Musicians

Our son has been playing the guitar, entirely self-taught for about 12 years. He cut his musical teeth on the ubiquitous Fender Strat (Stratocaster), and got an acoustic guitar about 8 years ago. An Oscar Schmidt, by Washburn which has been a workhorse and a great investment. I haunted Firehouse Guitars, Meier Music, RIT Guitars and our local RIT offshoot. Here is the best deal I could find. Read More

Best Books for Infants and Babies

Best Books to Read to Infants and Babies- Great Baby Shower Gits
Read to an infant? Yes, you read that title correctly. Want to raise children to love books? Don't wait. Here is a list of books I highly recommend to read to an infant or baby. Oh and, ahem, these make excellent baby shower gifts, too. Read More

Gifts for Moms, Wives and Women Under $10

Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts Under $10 Mother's Day, the second Sunday of May, often finds loved ones long on love, but short on cash. How can you honor your mother and show her that you care when the pennies already being pinched? Here are dozens of great gift ideas for mom under $10. Read More

Best Inexpensive Religious Confirmation Gifts for Teens and Adults

Gift-Giving Guides: Best Religious Confirmation Gifts for Teens Several Christian denominations celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. The confirmand is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. It is customary to give gifts as a token of remembrance. Here are reasonably priced gift suggestions. Read More

Personalized Holiday Gifts: Books for Everyone Easy, DIY guide

Holiday Gift-Giving Themes: Easy, Inexpensive, Personalized Gift Books
Holiday gift-giving and shopping can be one of the most exhausting, least enjoyable parts of the Christmas and holiday season. But present shopping can also be great fun with holiday gift-giving themes. Here's one: books. Read More