Hey All! Easter is right around the corner and we LOVE holidays in our house! My boys are little artists and they will take part in any craft I put out, let alone Easter Crafts for kids.
I find the biggest issue with crafting is you can literally spend a small fortune making all the things you see on Pinterest or the craft stores! People are SO creative and it is SO hard to resist if you are into crafting!
My goal at I Heart Frugal is always to save you money and since crafting is expensive, I’ve come up with a list of Insanely Cute Easter Crafts from my fellow blogging friends that I promise you, will not break the bank!
If you are into Easter decorations, painting, and coloring eggs, this list has something for you! Be sure to check out all the crafts listed and scroll to the bottom to find the ultimate list of Easter crafts for kids!
Start Easter anticipation a week or two before and let your kids decorate your house with these super cute projects. Sure they will be asking you all week, “When is the Easter bunny coming?” but at least they will have something else to keep them preoccupied! Give these frugal crafts for kids a try!
Although Winter often brings cabin fever here in Michigan, there are a few things I still look forward to! For one, we can go sledding when the windchill dies down. We also like to make use of the indoor play areas…But perhaps one of the most fun Winter activities we look forward to is watching the Super Bowl! My family loves making Super Bowl party appetizers in lieu of pizza every year!
Let me preface this by saying, I am not a huge football fan. I used to watch our team, the Detroit Lions for many years; however, after having my two boys, my t.v. time has dwindled downhill just like the Lion’s record – Ouch! I still love ya’ Lions.
Yet, I still love the hype of watching the Super Bowl. I’m not sure what it is…The funny commercials everyone will be talking about the next day, watching the tears of the winning team, the amazing halftime show (hopefully family friendly this year, Justin!), or my favorite part of any party, the food! We love having Super Bowl party appetizers.
We usually have our own Super Bowl party and make it fun by bringing out a different Super Bowl party appetizer every quarter, saving super bowl dessert for the fourth! Food is a huge part of any celebration and this year’s party will not disappoint with the recipes listed below. So whether you are hosting guests or enjoying the Super Bowl with your family, try some of these Super Bowl Foods and make it fun without breaking the bank. You have your choice of Super Bowl Dips or Super Bowl desserts. The biggest penalty will be deciding which one of these yummy appetizers to make.
Goal Setting Process: How to Set Smart Goals and Slay Them Every Time
It is true, any of us can set goals and New Year’s Eve is a popular time to start. There is something about the New Year that makes us feel like we have a clean slate to get in shape, earn more money, or learn something new. But did you know, 80% of New Years Resolutions fail by February? And why is that?
Research shows that people who set goals are more likely to accomplish their tasks but are we all going about it wrong? Why do so many goals go by the wayside after a month or so? Perhaps some goal setting tips will help lower this statistic.
In the goal-setting process, we must first look at how we set goals. Are we just verbally saying we want to do something or are we writing out our goals with a plan of action? Creating a solid plan and putting it down on paper is an awesome way to start.
What are Smart Goals?
Smart goals stand for S-specific, M-measurable, A-attainable, R relevant- and T-timely. When setting goals it is important to be specific and set a standard that can be measured. We will get into this in the post.
You should also look at something that is attainable and relevant to you and your overall goals in life. Lastly, set a time limit to achieve your goals. Using this method will help you achieve your goals and continue to set new goals to become the best version of you.
How Smart Goals Helped My Students
I am a former teacher and my students and I used to set goals every marking period. Yes, this was a fun goal setting activity for me! I loved teaching the little ones how to accomplish a goal, revisit, and set new goals.
But one question I was always asked is “Why set goals?” Since we would revisit our goals every marking period, my best answer about goal setting was and still is we can always become a better version of ourselves. I live by this motto and always have some goals in my life at any given time.
I would teach my students how goal setting can benefit you, not only in school but in any aspect of your life. For example, an adult could set a personal development goal for work and layout some work goals to earn more money or get a promotion. Another smart goal example would be setting health goals to lose weight or work out more often.
You can really set goals for any aspect of your life. I find it is best to break your goals down into smaller steps so you do not feel overwhelmed and give up.
So even if you are doing well and let’s say, got an A last marking period, a smart goal’s example would be to create better study habits or learn more on the subject. Therefore, even if you excel in one area, there is always something you can improve upon to be this amazing version of yourself. -Think positively!
One of the best ways to set a goal is to write it down. In fact, this post includes a goal-setting worksheet to help you on your journey. Goals should also be measurable and you can get started by creating a plan of action. So whether your goal is financial, fitness, or travel success you can do it!
What does “measurable” mean? It means you can check your goal at the end of your time frame and measure whether you achieved it or not. Setting a goal to simply lose weight is not measurable. However, by being more specific you will be able to check your progress. For example, you could state your goal like this: “I will lose five pounds in four weeks.” The second goal gives a timeline and a clear amount of weight you want to lose. You are WAY more likely to meet this type of goal than just randomly saying you want to do something.
I’ve always been preoccupied with the saying “Live your Best Life” made popular by Oprah Winfrey and as I flew home from a mini trip with my husband, I looked out the window of the plane. It occurred to me, I was looking at things from a different perspective.
On the ground, I could see the bottom of the fluffy white cumulus cloud, but now over ten thousand feet in the air, I was looking down at the beautiful, cotton balls of glory made of water & dust!
Yes, it is true… If you open your eyes you can see many things from a different perspective, personal finances being one of them. I, once a “stuffoholic,” used to desire many things and thought buying more “stuff” would make me happier.
However, I’ve thus learned the problem with this type of thinking is no matter how much you have, you always want more! Yet, the more you have, the more clutter you deal with and life begins to feel out of control. It can be a never-ending cycle.
We all marry our spouses for different reasons. My husband is a kind, caring person with a good heart. He has taught me many things in our life together, but perhaps the most important is how he prefers experiences over stuff.
My husband would much rather take a trip or take our kids to a new museum than buy a bunch of clothes at the mall. His perspective got me thinking about what we could do to make our lives richer and more fulfilling. Could we all have a goal to live our best life with contentment and happiness? And what’s more, how can we achieve this “best life”?
According to a study done by Nobel Peace Prize winner Angus Deaton happiness peaks at an average income of $75,000 (source Forbes.com). After that, our happiness levels off. Research shows money does not necessarily equal happiness.
Is your budget bursting like the buttons on Santa’s coat? Is swiping your credit card making your anxiety run high? Holiday spending is a major cause of stress. It is easy to get caught up in all the gift giving and Holiday activities that we live in the moment and forget the Holidays can spin us into a whirlwind of debt.
The best way to curb the anxiety is to create a plan. If you make a budget and check it twice, you are bound to have a stress free Holiday Season with visions of a debt-free life dancing in your head.
According to an annual study conducted by Prosper Insight and Analytics people plan to spend an average of $967.13 which is up about 3.4% from last year (source National Retail Federation). Not to mention, 56% of Americans plan on going into debt for the Holidays and although many realize how important a budget is 58% of families fail to stay on budget. (source: The Motley Fool). Spending $967.13 is a HUGE chunk of change, especially if you are already struggling financially.
Many are tempted to dip into their emergency fund or retirement account or open a credit card to make ends meet during the Holiday Season. This is a bad idea all around. Your emergency fund should be used only when NEEDED and using a credit card only guarantees you will pay way more because of interest. Since going into debt this Holiday season is not an option, I’m going to give you some jingly-good ideas to help save your budget and still have a nice Christmas or any Holiday you celebrate.
