8 Frugal Ideas for the Easter Basket

Pack those Easter baskets for less this year. Here is a list of frugal ideas you can use. Homemade Treats How about some easy-to-make homemade peanut butter cups or bunny-shaped homemade chewy granola bars. These recipes and more can easily be found on Pinterest. Homemade treats are not only less expensive, but they are also free from all of the chemicals that store-bought treats have. Coloring Books Coloring books are so inexpensive, and there are many Easter themed ones out there. The provide a nice foundation for any Easter basket and can be had for a dollar or less. Stuffed … Continue reading

Other Ways Children’s Behavior Can Affect a Marriage.

Yesterday we looked at some ways children’s behavior can affect and undermine a marriage. Here is another way. Some children, by their anti social behavior, affect friendships and marriages. Take this example, of a couple I know who invited another couple and their child over for dinner one evening. After dinner, the child who may have been hyperactive or maybe had a problem like ADHD started to swing on a tall piece of furniture which threatened to topple over. If it did it could have caused serious injury to the child and also have caused damage to the furniture and … Continue reading

Educational Craft Ideas for Kids

Growing up, whenever my brothers and I would complain about being bored my parents would suggest building a bridge to China… or California, or Costa Rica. Maybe it was because we lived in Hawaii, and constructing a bridge anywhere over the Pacific was not such a bad idea. Fast forward a few decades… I’m a parent living in the Midwest and I have yet to use the “build a bridge” line on my own daughter. However, when the time comes to make the suggestion I plan to make it an educational experience. Bridge building can be a terrific learning activity. … Continue reading

Last Minute Travel Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

Forget about the sirloin steak dinner and singing greeting card. Ditch your desire to shower her with coffee mugs and candy. According to a recent online poll, what most moms want this Mother’s Day is a relaxing trip to a far off destination (supposedly far, far away from that sink full of dirty dishes and the piles of soiled laundry overflowing from the bathroom hamper). Personally, I would settle for a day off from kitchen duties. So the verdict is in: moms the world over are looking for adventure on the high seas, excitement in the air, and fun in … Continue reading

Don’t Lose Your Most Promising Ideas

Brainstorming is a good thing for a small business owner, but you may have discovered already that your best ideas do not always come at the most convenient times. Sure, it would be great if you were sitting at your desk or at least had a pen and paper handy when those fantastic ideas descend upon you but that is not always the case. How can you be sure not to lose those most promising ideas and take advantage of a sharp mind and strong problem-solving? There are some obvious ideas for keeping track of those grand ideas: recording them, … Continue reading

More Gift Ideas For Frequent Travelers

Have you wrapped up the perfect gift for the frequent flyer in your life? Have you even found the perfect gift for the weary traveler in your life? If you answered no to the latter question then you are in luck—-there’s still time to find great presents for all those frequent travelers on your list. This is a continuation of the gift options I listed in a previous blog. Airline Gift Certificates. You might not be able to afford to buy your favorite flyer a round-trip ticket to Hawaii, but you can help contribute to one via a gift certificate. … Continue reading

Can’t Find a Group or Organization That Fits? Start One…

I often write about different approaches to take with networking in order to benefit your career and your home business and one of the best ways is through professional and service organizations. Joining a group is a fantastic way to meet other people and promote your home business. But, what if you cannot find a group or organization that interests you or suits your goals and temperament? How about starting one yourself? Just because other networking organizations or leads groups exist in your area—doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more. You might find that you can really tailor and … Continue reading

Ideas Can Come From Anywhere

Whether you are trying to figure out what sort of home business to start, or looking for new products and services to offer in an existing business, or trying to find exciting and creative ways to market your business and attract new customers–ideas and sparks of creativity and ingenuity can come from virtually anywhere… When I chat with people about where they got the idea for their business or a particular product or service, I hear all sorts of different stories. Some people do a great deal of research in books and magazines before choosing business based on all sorts … Continue reading

You Can Do It With Your Television

Almost a year ago, I made a suggestion for a great way to incorporate pop culture into your exercise routine. The following, although it can work, is not necessarily the most serious of exercise routines. On the other hand, if you’re not serious, then you’re laughing and likely having a good time. Laughter burns calories, releases endorphins and reduces your stress. So does exercise. So combining exercise and laughter is always a good combination. Television Exercise Game So how does the television exercise game work? Well here is the simplest idea. You can set up for you evening with a … Continue reading

Ideas for Waiting

The last few weeks of school are a crazy time of year. We seem to be doing a lot of waiting too, as all these extra activities are taking place. We are waiting for extra meetings to be over, waiting for practices to end, waiting for our family members turn at the talent show. Waiting doesn’t have to be boring though. If you are outside, you can go exploring. If you are in the car, you can play I Spy, or twenty questions. I also like to ask the kids questions. Things like – “If you had a million dollars … Continue reading