Beach Camping Basics & Tips

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July 6, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer, Travel Leave a Comment

Take a twist on the traditional way to outdoor camp by taking your adventure to the sand and surf. These Beach Camping Basics and Tips will have you ready to embrace the sand and sun at your favorite local beach campsite.

Beach Camping Basics & Tips

Nothing feels more relaxing and fun to me than kicking back on a sun-drenched beach while my kids giggle and splash in the water. This could just be the Florida girl in me, but very few things beat beach camping in the summertime. Whether you’re embarking on this adventure for the first time on your own or with your family, preparation is key to making this a worthwhile endeavor for everyone, especially you. Focus on these and before you know it, you’ll be on your way, floppy sun hat in hand, to make some unforgettable summer memories.

Know Your Destination Area

Whether you’re camping directly on a beach or at a nearby campsite, it’s important to know the area you’re going to. Will there be a source of water available? What about electricity and showers/bathrooms? If it’s a bare campsite, that means you’ll need to bring in everything you need and be prepared to haul it back out again.

Regardless of the facilities and amenities provided, you’ll need to plan accordingly for how long you’re going to stay. There are plenty of camping hacks out there to help you improvise for what you need as well. Grab a map of your campground and see if you can get there by car or you’ll need to walk a ways. That will affect what you decide to bring with you!

Make a List

There’s no worse feeling than arriving at your camping spot, boogie board in hand and poised to dive in, and realizing that you forgot diapers or deodorant. While that might be a strong tactic for claiming more sleeping space, forgetting necessary items can most assuredly add unwanted stress to your life.

It might be the natural organizer in me, but I feel more confident that I have all the essentials when I have a checklist in front of me. Try this free beach packing list to make sure you remember everything for your beach camping trip.

Plan Your Meals Ahead

While carving a fishing spear out of a tree branch in order to “live off the land” may seem quite rugged and exciting, that excitement will quickly wane after your three-year-old’s first piercing screams for animal crackers. Unfortunately, you can’t hunt and gather those in the wild.

It’s important to have meals planned BEFORE you arrive at your campsite. Make sure the meals are low-prep and can easily be prepared over a campfire. There are some delicious foil packet meals out there that my family has tried and loved. Also, speaking from experience, aluminum foil is the quintessential camping meal prep item that every beach camper should have in their arsenal.

Snacks are a must. After all, the sun can quickly take you from full to famished. One recipe we always make for the beach is our beach snack mix! Double or even triple your recipe for hungry bellies.

Have the Right Equipment

Having the right camping equipment can make or break your beach camping experience. You’ll want to invest in gear that’s appropriate for the place and time of year you’re making your trip. This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to take out a second mortgage on your home, though. Ask your friends if you can borrow their tents/gear first, and there is nothing wrong with gently used camping tents and equipment either.

Regardless of how you get your hands on a tent, you’ll want to ensure it has the following qualities:

Well-ventilated
Easy set-up and breakdown
Lightweight
UPF 50+ Protection (Recommended)

You’ll also want to make sure that you have good ground cover to prepare for any type of weather. If it’s hot, there’s a virtual certainty of sand fleas and ticks. No one wants to worry about sharing their sleeping quarters with sand fleas. No one.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

The type of beach you’re camping at (sandy or rocky) will determine what clothing you’ll want to throw in your suitcase, but for the most part, you’ll want items that are:

Lightweight and moisture-wicking
A nice hat that shades you from the sun
Mosquito netting
Water shoes (if beach is sandy)
Water-resistant sneakers (if beach is rocky)

All in all, the key to a fun, memorable beach camping experience is preparation, organization, and a healthy thirst for adventure. Follow these Beach Camping Basics and you’ll be a pro in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go to the beach!

Don’t forget our Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Also take a look at our Overnight Camping Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Get inspired these with Back to School Ideas.

Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!

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Memorable First Day of School Ideas

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July 5, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media 2 Comments

What didn’t I think of that?! Create memories they will cherish with these First Day of School Ideas. Back to school printables, first day of school photo ideas, activities for kids and new family traditions you will repeat yearly.

Memorable First Day of School Ideas

Do I address what a crazy year 2020 has been or move on and act like all of us didn’t experience a terrible end of the year? While going back to school is always a milestone, this year is especially special. Celebrate the start of a new school year with these memorable First Day of School Ideas. We bet many of back to school ideas will become annual family traditions!

First Day of School Traditions

Back to School traditions are are first day of school ideas you want to continue and keep consistent every year. Some of our birthday family traditions can be easily transferred into back to school ideas for the first day.

Make their first bite special with a First Day of School bento lunch box. Add a sweet Back to School Lunch Note. | Must Have Mom

This is one of those first day of school and birthday traditions you can use either way. We always keep balloons and streamers in our gift supply area. Whip it together when the kids go to bed and they will wake up to a pleasant first day surprise. | Side Tracked Mom (no longer active)

Have a nervous Nancy? This first day jitter glitter can go to school with your child on a necklace or can be sprinkled on them the night before school. | The DIY Mommy

Adopt a First Day of School German Tradition. Make these adorable DIY Schultüte, or school cones. Fill your homemade Schultute with treats and school supplies to make the start of school sweet for little ones. | Frog Prince Paperie

Have a huge first day of school bus greeting. Host a water balloon or a silly string fight! Have a barrel of silly string and silly string guns. Gather the neighbors at the bus stop. | Source – Bower Power Blog

First Day of School Photo Ideas

There are so many first day of school photo ideas and we share many that have free downloads in our Back to School Printables post. For this list of First Day of School Photo Ideas, we are taking them outside the box. Instead of First Day of School Signs you can download, we are finding items you have to craft and create.

Spell it out on the driveway. This first day of school sidewalk chalk art is easy and adorable. Think you can continue it through 12th grade? | Blue Cricket Design (no longer active)

Create a reoccurring DIY Photo in Photo first day of school idea. Starting kindergarten year your child will hold no photo. Each consecutive year, your child will hold the previous years first day of school photo and you can watch your child grow. This will take planning ahead as you need to order the print. We recommend ordering from CanvasHQ. | She’s Making Cards (no longer active)

This is an extra special idea your child will grow into. This DIY Back-to-School Shirt with Handprints for Every Grade! You can make your own first day of school shirt (with a silhouette cameo and iron) or you can pick up a handprint first day of school shirt on Etsy. | Where the Smiles Have Been

Announce a new school year with a colorful DIY First Day of School Banner. | Make it My Own

Using a white balloon. colorful stickers, and balloon sticks, write the school grade and year on a balloon! | Design Improvised

First Day of School Printables

These First Day of School free printables are helpful in creating memorable family traditions.

Conduct a first day of school interview. Mark the start and end of each school year with these fun first day & last of school interview printables fitting for kids from pre-school through high school. Add them all to a notebook or scrapbook for a printable time capsule! | Mortiz Fine Designs

Celebrate the first day a back to school breakfast with this free printable school table place setting. | The Real Housewife of Fresno (first day of school breakfast) & A Girl and a Glue Gun (table printables)

Get the kids excited and have little fun collecting school supplies with a Back to School Scavenger hunt! | The Dating Divas

Make a printable Back to School Time Capsule. This adorable pencil time capsule is made with a Pringles can. | Aimee Ferre

Host a family game night with a Minute To Win It Back To School Edition Printable. You can also take a look at our list of Minute to Win It Game Night Ideas. | My Digital Creations.

First Day of School Activities

Make going back to school to school exciting with memorable first day activities for kids.

Get everyone together with a Back to School Party. So many beautiful tablescape ideas and goodies to welcome the first day of school. | The Sits Girls

When the school bell rings, bring the kids to get ice cream. This has been a tradition we have continued for years.

Begin a tradition of kindness and start the first day off right by hanging a positive affirmation sticky note each day. Add these messages as the days go on until they fill your child’s mirror. | Source

Have a visit from the backpack fairy. Leave your backpack in a designated spot the night before school and in the morning the back to school fairy will leave a special gift! | Blissful Roots

And before the first bell rings, start a countdown. Perhaps build each day with a special bucket list on the calendar. Make a paper chain with a different activity for each day until the night before school. | Brassy Apple

Take a look at these Back to School Printables – our favorite is “If you give a teacher a cookie” as a sweet treat on the first day of school. Pin to Pinterest.

Save for later these End of the Year Activities and Ideas. Pin to Pinterest on your School Board!

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

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July 3, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Travel 3 Comments

Erase cries of “I’m bored” with a list of Kid’s Road Trip Games for the Car. You can download this free printable Road Trip Scavenger Hunt to keep the kids busy until you reach your final destination. Honk if this makes you happy!

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Keeping the kids busy in the car is a lot easier than when we were growing up, no? Between game systems, tablets, e-readers, audio books and movies, it’s easier to get fewer and fewer complaints of “I’m bored!” Of course, when it is uttered, we all have a long story of “Let me tell you what it means to be bored. When I was growing up….”

While your kids might have plenty of resources for staying distracted in the car, we wanted to provide you with some newer ideas to keep their minds fresh, to keep family engaged, and to just go back to some of the original “old school” resources of a paper and pencil.

Road Trip Games for the Car

Before embarking on a road trip (Or any travel for that matter), I try to pick up at least one or two new items. This often includes road trip games. Having something that is new 1.) buys time learning the game 2.) kills time enjoying the game 3.) and often gets reused because it was … well, enjoyable.

Take a look at these Road Trip Games for Kids.

Scavenger Hunt Games

More Road Trip Games

How to Play Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

We created a collection of Printable Scavenger Hunts for Kids, but one thing that was missing was a Road Trip Scavenger Hunt. Take a look at this printable game as well as Road Trip Games in the car for the kids.

Our road trip scavenger hunt is general enough, it can be played on most any adventure. You can make the game your own identifying your family’s rules and directions or follow these directions for how to a play road trip scavenger hunt.

Directions

Each player gets their own printable game board. Set the game for a certain amount of time (30 minutes, one hour, the entire trip.) As you travel down the road, check off items you see on your journey. You must identify the object out loud before checking it off. Once that object has been identified by the first player, the same object cannot be used to check off another players box. They will need to find that same object in another place. For example, if player A finds a deer they announce “deer” and check it off on their scavenger hunt printable. All other players must wait to find another deer before they can check it off. The first person to check off all their scavenger hunt boxes wins or the person with the most checks at the end of the time limit, is the winner.

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt List

Camper/RV
Motorcycle
Person on their phone
Red Truck
Park with a playground
Cow
Flag
Ambulance
Yellow flower
Water tower
Dog in a car
Bumper sticker with a name on it
VW Beetle
Church steeple
Airplane
Bench
City bus
Squirrel
Caution sign
Duct-taped car part
Flowering tree
Bicycle
Rusty car
Taxi cab
Person wearing sunglasses
Tractor
Billboard with children on it
Gas station
Sleeping passenger in a vehicle
River
Population sign
Fire Truck
Hospital sign
Smart Car
Deer
Toll booth
Personalized license plate
The letter “Q”
Hotel
A picture of a chicken
Detour sign
Flashing lights
Horse
Police car
Tow truck
Windmill
Military vehicle
Stick figure family stickers
Helicopter
Field
Adopt-A-Highway sign
Someone eating in a vehicle
Purple car
Barn
Statue
Train
Duck
Lake

If you have a toddler, also take a look at our Road Trip Bingo. Perfect companion to our Scavenger Hunt Road Trip game for the older kids.

Road Trip Printable Scavenger Hunt

Get all of our free printables including our Road Trip Printable Scavenger Hunt. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

Road Trip Download Directions

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and access code in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print with Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples. You will first, sign in or create a Staples account. Then return to the Staples Printing Service Page. You can ship this to your home or pick up at the store.

How to Preserve Your Road Trip Printable

I suggest you laminate your printable. This will allow you to check the boxes with a dry erase marker and then wipe off with a wet paper towel to reuse. It also will keep the printable in the car sturdy and keep it form getting dirty or wrinkled.

I have had my Scotch Thermal Laminator for 12 years and it still is going strong. I suggest this brand though there are many other great laminators on Amazon.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Road Trip Scavenger Hunt. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Enjoy these Road Trip Hacks and Tips for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Planes too? If you are embarking on an adventure of planes, trains and automobiles, take a look at these Airplane Activities for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

College Dorm Decor Ideas

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June 28, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Facebook, Home Improvement, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media 2 Comments

Inspiring College Dorm Decor Ideas including storage, organization, decorations, and hacks. Dorm room essentials, where to buy dorm room decor and cheap and affordable college living spaces you will want to copy.

College Dorm Decor Ideas

If this post has desire anything, I have a huge craving to use my wallet size of today and go back to college to decorate my dorm! You jaw will hit the floor with these college dorm room ideas. Find the best places to buy dorm room decor and get inspired by all the budget-friendly options! Happy Decorating.

Best Places to Buy Dorm Room Decor

You cannot decorate a dorm room without knowing the best places to buy dorm room decor. While it has been almost 20 years since I have been in college, my my pre-teens are not yet at this stage, I found (through this posts ) there are so many awesome places to buy college dorm decor. Many of these purchases can be used for apartment living, small homes, or even carried over into a starter home. Some of the ideas (like rugs) you might want to toss at the end of the school year. other items, you will find yourself carrying to your fist home. (Three kids later, my college roommate still has the bookshelf we used in our first college room! I actually still sleep with the same blanket!)

Shop Dorm Room Decor

Best College Dorm Ideas

Follow Neelam, an interior designer who turned a cold college dorm into a warm home away from home. Details about dorm room storage, laying textures, and adding little touches to define your personality through your college room decor – five stars and two thumbs up! | Patterns and Prosecco

Inspire your welcome with a temporary polka dot door. Using white vinyl, a cutting machine or a circle cutter this dorm room decor craft can be done in under 30 minutes. Make sure you are using Removable Vinyl! | Sarah Hearts

Use command strips and decorative clipboards. Easily change out art or calendars using clipboards. Download our free Dorm Sweet Dorm printable. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

By downloading you are accepting the FCL printable terms that free download is for non-commercial use. Please contact Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

This dorm storage ideas acts as both a Collapsible storage ottoman and a bench with seat back. Comes in white, gray and black. Get this dorm storage ottoman here.

Display all your feelings on a rotating mood board. You can use anything from magazines, articles, sticky notes, and other materials to put together your board and of course turn to inspiration of Pinterest. | Just Josie

Layer textiles. Cover your standard title floor with the largest rug you can to fit your room. Even if you don’t like this larger rug, you can add smaller rugs on top to define your space and style. | Dormify

Instead of using the overhead florescent lighting, adding your own lighting will warm up the room and make such a mood difference. Head to Home Goods (Marshalls, TJMaxx, etc) and find affordable table lamps. Jump on Amazon for hanging string lights. We used these Command light hooks to hang my daughters. I highly recommend adding Powered Bed Risers. | Source

Smile. Place your favorite memories when you these this Dry Erase Polaroid Frame Decal Set. This allows you to easily rotate photos plus it it’s safe for walls and won’t leave a sticky residue.

Talk about a dorm room makeover. These college roommates took a scary 50 year old residence into a place to relax and rest with custom drapes, two loft beds, white dressers, monogrammed chairs, and more. | Today.com

White brick wall paper will change the entire feel of an ugly cinder block wall! Bring a charming vibe within a matter of minutes. The best part about it is, if you mess up, it’s repositionable and removeable! Get your white brick removeable wall paper here.

Create perfect under bed storage as well has hide an ugly wall with a tapestry. You can get this pull out storage here, tapestry clips here and black/white tapestry here. | Driven by Decor (Take a second and look at this entire blog – so much inspiration for mom’s home too!)

This dorm decor is doing so many things right. A perfect mix of textures, prints, pom-pom garland duvet cover, and a dorm room gallery wall add serious personality to this space. And of course for the ultimate small dorm room hack, a table beside the bed triples as a besdie nightstand, a vanity, and a desk. | René Quickle’s Freshman Dorm on Pinterest

Tip: Everyone needs a fur chair cover to hide basic dorm room chairs.

Easy to maintain pants will create some responsibility as well as provide some fresh air. Succulents, cacti, and aloe plants are super easy to take care of. Not to mention, those leafy greens can help purify the air quality in your dorm. If you’re too intimidated by becoming a plant mother, then just buy fake ones. | Room 264

Create your own mini kitchen with this Mini Fridge Organizer. This freestanding organizer fits over a compact mini fridge to provide organized storage in the available space above your fridge. Will also fit a microwave. Get your mini refrigerator storage cabinet here.

There higher you go with the bed, the more storage you are given below. Make sure to invest in a step stool. You can also use it as an end table, as storage, or even as a place to sit. Shop Blush Pink Storage Ottoman

Also consider getting these powered bed risers for bed height and extra long dorm bed skirt for covering unsightly storage.

Use a dorm room utility rolling cart for practical things like pantry items and kitchen supplies. Easy to pull out, easy to push back. | Jessica Slaughter

These gold polka dot wall decals create a mural on a wall with little time and effort. | Preptista

Head to thrift stores, search Facebook market place, look high and low for recycled furniture. Distress your own dorm room coffee station for late night studying. | Source Unknown.

Change messages and inspirational quotes in your room with a letter board. Hang with command strips for easily going on and coming off!

Do yourself a favor and make sure you do this – take a dorm room before and after photo. It will be so exciting to see your artistic side and personality show when decorating a dorm room. Can’t wait to see what you do! | Cosmopolitan.

Dorm Room Cleaning Checklist

We provided a free dorm room cleaning checklist printable. Included in our dorm cleaning checklist is a list of daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities. Give each roommate their own copy or share the chores.

Daily

Make Your Bed
Pick Up Clutter
Wash Dishes

Weekly

Clean Out Refrigerator
Vacuum and Take Out Trash
Laundry

Monthly

Declutter Rooms
Wipe Windows and Mirrors
Dust

Grab dorm room checklist and our “Dorm Sweet Dorm” college decor printable. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

Save these Small Apartment and Dorm Room Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Also save these Dorm Room Recipes – Snacks, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. No Bake Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.

Savings Tracker Printable for Kids

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June 27, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media 2 Comments

A two page Savings Tracker Printable for Kids. Download this coloring sheet and color as you go. Save $5 a week for a total of $175 by the time you finish the savings challenge.

Kids Saving Tracker

Are you a role model for your child when it comes to finances? Do they see you savings money? Do they see you tithing or donating money to charities?

I admit when it comes to money, my husband and I haven’t done a great job being role models. We speak about money. We speak about the cost of things, but they don’t see the behind the scenes. A friend and I talk about this one. She found a lot of importance in putting a check in the offering plate while my husband and I tithed to our church electronically. However, it wasn’t the kids saw us doing. It wasn’t something they could hold or touch or realized the importance (for us) of donating to our church.

The same is true of our savings. Our kids do not see us saving money because it isn’t something they can touch. That is why introducing the 52 Week Savings Plan Challenge was something new and thought provoking to our home. Saving their parents money was of course exciting to the kids but I wanted to introduce saving “their” money, especially for children who get an allowance.

Savings Tracker

We offer two savings goal tracker. You can get our 52 Week Savings Tracker for Adults or now get our free Savings Tracker Printable for Kids. We include to copies of this printable for the kids. One that is already with bright colors and one that is black and white – you can color it yourself as you go!

Saving at at a rate of $5 a week, reach your savings goal in 34 weeks. Your child will have saved $170! So much they can do with that money!

Parent Challenge

As you continue to track your savings over this coloring sheet, talk to your child about their savings goals. This might be a good time to open a savings account. Also share with them your own financial goals including building an emergency fun, paying a monthly credit card, living a debt free life and reasons for long term savings.

Our Busy Mom Binder includes a spending tracker and debit payment tracker. Both are great resources to reach your savings goal too.

Savings Tracker Printable

Get all of our free printables including our Savings Tracker Printable for Kids. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

Free Printable Directions

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

52 Week Savings Challenge

Hey mom, we have something for you too! Don’t forget our 52 week savings challenge for tracking savings for you too. Reach your savings goal along with your child. No need to start January 1, you can start this 52 week savings challenge AT ANY TIME and save $2620 in one year!

You can download for this for free in our post or get in our Busy Mom Binder (which is full of organizational goodness including a a spending tracker and debit payment tracker!)

52 Week Savings Challenge Printable PDF

How to Print PDFs at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

It should give you a general outline of how to upload and order a print on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your Kids Savings Tracker Printable – it would be fun to see the finished colored product! Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Don’t forget our Busy Mom Binder where you can find also find this Kids Savings Tracker! Pin to Pinterest.

Get Organized! These Home Organizational Printables will get your home in line! Pin to Pinterest.

Daniel Tiger Birthday Ideas

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June 21, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Birthday, Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Recipe, Social Media Leave a Comment

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor… For your Daniel Tiger fan, we have the ultimate list of Daniel Tiger Birthday Ideas. Create a frugal friendly event, with these party cakes, decorations, foods, favors and activities, that create a grrr-ific time and a tiger-rific party! Won’t you ride along with me?

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?

If you have a toddler or preschooler, chances are that you watch a lot of Daniel Tiger in your home. So, when birthday time comes around, it’s only fitting that you throw an epic Daniel Tiger birthday party. If you’re looking for Daniel Tiger birthday ideas, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve found loads of inspiration for cakes, decorations, party food, party favors, and activities.

And keep in mind that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to throw a grrr-ific party. Use these ideas as inspiration and DIY things yourself!

Serve fun tiger-themed snacks like tiger tails, tiger fruit cups, or castle sandwiches. Entertain guests with face painting, trolley rides, or a fun tiger craft. Send them home with a Daniel Tiger party favor like a fun Prince Wednesday party crown or tiger-themed goodie bag.

I’ve got lots of friends for you to meet
In this land of make-believe
A friendly face on every street
Just waiting to greet you

You’re going to have a fantastic party! Let’s get started on those ideas.

Daniel Tiger Birthday Ideas

Daniel Tiger Birthday Cakes

This two-layer cake with Daniel Tiger on the top layer and the neighborhood on the bottom is super cute, but the blue Tigey smash cake is so precious! Tigey is Daniel Tiger’s plush toy, and he’s the perfect subject for a smash cake for 1-year-olds. | Brite & Bubbly

The trolley topper on this two-layer neighborhood cake is a cute little keepsake for parents to add to the scrapbook or memory box. | Making Memories with My Minis

You don’t have to be a pro cake decorator to work with fondant. Follow the instructions in this YouTube video to make the adorable cake you see here. It’s easier than you think! | Mama Needs a Manual

We love the simplicity of the design on this blue two-layer Daniel Tiger cake with a trolley and figurine on top. | Catch My Party

Daniel Tiger’s bungalow makes a great cake, too! This two-tiered cake has the bungalow on top and the neighborhood (with the trolley) on the bottom. Isn’t that adorable? | Patty Cakes Bakery

Daniel Tiger Birthday Party Foods

Prep a bunch of these castle sandwiches before the party. They look like Prince Wednesday’s castle! | Creative Kid Snacks

Tiger Tails are a popular snack for tiger-themed parties, and they’re super simple to make. Just dip pretzel rods in orange candy melts, and when that is set, drizzle with black candy melts to create the tiger effect. | Chelsey’s Messy Apron

Marshmallow tiger tails are another option. Skewer marshmallows, and follow the same steps to coat them into orange candle melts and drizzle with black. These are just like the Tigger tails snacks at Disneyland! | Jamonkey

The Daniel Tiger stand-up cookies spelling the child’s name is so cute. It really makes the dessert table pop, although everything looks beautiful and delicious. Even if you’re not much of a baker or cookie decorator yourself, you could recreate these with simple letter cookies and sugar cookie icing, with a cardstock version of the characters “attached” to the cookie with a little frosting. | Brite & Bubbly

Cheetos Paws make the perfect tiger party snack! Other orange or striped foods like Zebra cakes, cheddar popcorn, etc. are also great choices for party foods. | Fab Everyday

Tiger cake pops are an easy treat to make. Just use your favorite cake ball recipe, and instead of dipping them in the usual chocolate, dip them in orange candy melts instead and then drizzle with black candy melts. | Lark and Lola

Make Tiger-tastic Jello cups for the kids. These are so cute! All you need are orange Jello cups, some googly eyes, and a maker to draw the faces. | Pichea Place

Mandarin orange tiger cups are another easy and fun option. | Patty Cakes Bakery

Want another sweet treat to add to your dessert table? Make these O the Owl Rice Krispie Treat Pops! They’d also make great party favors… just pop a cellophane bag over each one, tie with a ribbon, and you’re all set. | Spot of Tea Designs

Tiger cookies—Oreo cookies dipped in orange or black candy melts—are super simple. | Lark and Lola

Use patterned duct tape as water bottle labels instead of paper ones. The tape stays put, even in ice. And although the tape is technically zebra patterned, it could also be white tiger patterned! Anything with stripes will work for a tiger party. | Fab Everyday

Daniel Tiger Birthday Party Decor

Put up a welcome sign on your door using this free printable. The colorful garland draping the photo frame adds to the look. | Child at Heart

Make your own DIY tassel garlands to add pops of color throughout your home or venue for the party. You can always save them and reuse them for future parties! | Mama Needs a Manual

All of the decor at this party looks completely amazing, but one thing that stood out to us was the balloon table centerpiece. What a clever idea. In fact, all of the balloon installations at the party are grrr-ific, with foil Daniel Tigers and gold #1 balloons popping out everywhere. | Brite & Bubbly

Set up a gorgeous backdrop for your tables or for taking photos using black and orange streamers, pom pom, and balloons. You don’t even have to buy tiger print balloons; inexpensive orange ones will work just fine. Simply use a flat-tipped Sharpie to draw stripes on them. | Fab Everyday

The free Daniel Tiger printables at PBS Kids are super helpful for making Daniel Tiger party decorations, like this cute character banner. | Child at Heart

Use chalkboards to add decor to your party, just add Daniel Tiger quotes. This a great idea because you can always use the chalkboards again, whereas signs and banners typically get thrown out. Here, you’ll find a few different chalkboard themes for a Daniel Tiger birthday. | Mama Needs a Manual

These large Daniel Tiger character cutouts not only provide decoration for the party, but it’s a fun photo op for the kids to take their picture beside all the characters. It’s especially cute for toddlers who are about the same size as the characters! | Oh Happy Play

We love this cute Bungalow cookie jar idea. It looks like it’s made of brown pipe cleaners glued onto a bowl, so you can do this yourself with any container you have. | Kickin’ It With Kim

Daniel Tiger Birthday Party Favors

Small favor bags with the characters on the front are super cute! You can recreate these on the cheap, though, using bags from the Dollar Tree and printouts of the characters that you make at home. | Making Memories with My Minis

Instead of party hats, provide Prince Wednesday’s crowns for the kid guests to wear at the party or take home as a souvenir. You can make these yourself, so it’s a great inexpensive party favor. | Catch My Party

Create inexpensive tiger-themed favor bags with things like mini basketballs, orange slinkies, toy tigers, orange friendship bracelets, orange and black lollipops, etc. Anything orange and black will work for the bags! | No Biggie

Every kid party needs some Daniel Tiger noisemakers to blow after the birthday song! Add a Daniel Tiger Quote sign that reads “Music Man Stan’s Horn Shop” to continue the Daniel Tiger theme. | Catch My Party

Daniel Tiger Birthday Party Crafts & Activities for Kids

Face painting would be a huge hit at a Daniel Tiger birthday party. If you can’t hire someone to do this for you, you could do a relatively simple version of some whiskers and a nose. | Fab Everyday

So much to do, So much to see

Ride the little ones around in style at the birthday party in your own DIY Daniel Tiger Trolley. It would be such a cute photo op for the birthday boy or girl and their guests. | Wholesale Halloween Costumes

Won’t you ride along with me?

This tiger paper plate craft would make a fun activity for the kids to do at the party. You can cut down on the crafting time a bit (as well as the mess) by providing orange paper plates instead of painting white ones. Pre-cutting stripes, as well as the nose and mouth, will also save time. | No Time for Flash Cards

For another simple craft idea, try this tiger paper bag puppet. You can have orange bags ready and pre-cut all the pieces before the party. Put the pre-cut pieces for each tiger puppet in an individual baggy along with a glue stick so you can distribute them easily to each child at the party. Kids could also take these home to assemble them if you don’t have enough time at the party to complete a craft. | Arty Crafty Kids

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor
In Daniel Tiger’s neighborhood!

We hope you have a tiger-rific party!

Who loves a blue polka-dot dog? Our Blue’s Clues Party Ideas are a hit. Pin to Pinterest.

Have a train lover? I have three! Look at these Thomas the Train Party Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

30-Day No Spend Challenge and No Spend Ideas

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June 20, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

Save money with this month long No Spend Challenge. Download your no spend tracker and get an bonus checklist of No-Spend Weekend Ideas printable. Who is ready to turn their spending habits into saving habits with me?

No Spend Challenge Tracker and Ideas

Did 2020 have anyone reevaluating their spending habits? I am raising my hand.

In 2020, March whipped in so quickly and stayed so long. Then March turned to April, April to May and here we are in June. We actually moved in the middle of the 2020 epidemic and our spending was unable to freeze trying to get a new home in order. We gave ourselves three months with the promise, once June came, we were going on the No Spend Challenge.

So here we are! Who is ready to tackle this 30-day No Spend Challenge with me? In addition to the 30 Day Challenge Checklist, I also have list of no spend challenge ideas for the weekend. Distractions to keep you from pulling out your wallet.

No Spend Ideas

Does not spending money sound, well, challenge? It does for me. Honestly, it brings me anxiety. The second the word “no-spend” is spoken, I begin the “what if” pattern in my head. What if I need xyz; what if we need xyz; what if I can’t do this? As the primary spender for them home, I decided to take this 30 days at a time. As a family of seven, we decided this challenge did not include groceries, essentials, medical purchases or emergency needs. The challenge only included impulse buys, non-essentials, entertainment, and restaurants.

Weekend No Spend Challenge Ideas

A few free activities to fill your weekend (and week).

Visit the Park
Make a Goodwill Run (Take our 30-day Declutter Challenge during this time)
Host a Potluck Dinner
Have a Netflix Movie Night
Volunteer
Visit the Library
Complete a Puzzle
Have a Bonfire Night
Have a Game Night (See our Family Game Night Ideas)
Go Sightseeing In Your Home Town
Read a Book
Batch Cook Frozen Meals
Clean the Car
Go Hiking
Have a Scavenger Hunt (See our long list of Scavenger Hunt Ideas)
Make Paper Kites or Paper Airplanes
Learn a New Skill
Draw or Paint
Camp in your Backyard (See our Camping Hacks and Tips)
Have a Picnic
Make Pizza
Visit a Free Museum (see our Museum Scavenger Hunt in our Stay-cation Spring Break Ideas)

When this is over, have you set new spending habits? Consider having a spend month (or spend week) with discretionary spend. After this month or week, repeat the process and watch the ability to control impulse buys become a natural habit. I bet you reach some savings goal like filling your savings account, paying down payments on student loans, and/or paying of credit and debit cards.

You can pick up a Debt Payment Tracker in our Busy Mom Binder while you are saving money!

SHOP THE BUSY MOM BINDER

30-Day No Spend Challenge Guide PDF

Download Your Free No Spend Printable

Get all of our free printables including our No Spend Challenge Template and Calendar. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Upload and order your printable on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final No-Spend Challenge Template fully checked off! Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

It’s a good time to set long term financial goals. Begin the 52 Week Savings Challenge. This 30 day no-spend challenge would give you a jump start. Pin to Pinterest.

This Monthly Declutter Challenge is perfect to pair with your no-spend challenge. Add more to the wallet and less to the home! Pin to Pinterest.

Space Party Games

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June 15, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Birthday, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

Ready for an out of this world outer space party? We have a list of seven engaging space party games for your astronauts, pilots, and galaxy visitors. Get ready for lift off with these entertaining birthday party ideas & games for kids.

Space Party Games

How do you organize organize a party? You just PLANET. Get it? Yes, I had to start with the pun.

When it comes to planning and organizing a birthday party, it is best to be prepared. We put together some of these best outer space party games including some classic ideas like musical chairs only it’s called musical planets (and with balls!)

Space Party Decor

Before you have everyone over for cake, ice cream and of course, party games, make sure you have your party supplies and decor. Take a look at these outer space themed party ideas for your celebration.

A few frugal friendly space party decor ideas and party supplies we recommend are …

Star Shaped Tinsel Garland
Inflatable Hanging Solar System
Space Party Decorations with Happy Birthday Banner
Outer Space Theme Birthday Balloons
Glow in the Dark Stars
Space Shuttle Foam Gliders
Inflatable Astronaut & Space Shuttle
Easter Eggs wrapped in Aluminum Foil (for a space rock treasure hunt!)

Space Themed Party Games

Enjoy these seven space themed birthday party games including Star Light, Astronaut Challenge, Asteroid Crash, Alien Capture, Musical Planets, Planet Grabber and Space Pilot Practice.

Star Light

Choose two kids to be the Star Catchers. Have the other kids line up in two straight lines on opposite side of the playing area. One star catcher yells, “Star Light, Star Bright.” The other one yells, “How many stars are out tonight?” As soon as they say that, the other children try to run to the opposite line without getting tagged by the Star Catchers. The children who are tagged are out. As soon as all of the “stars” are caught, the game begins again.

Astronaut Challenge

Put candies or small prizes into a shoe box. Tape the edges shut. Wrap the box in many, many layers of wrapping paper, aluminum foil or newspaper. (Silver would be great!). Gather “astronaut gear” including some sort of hat, gloves, goggles and something to hold in each hand like a spatula or wooden spoon. One player has a pair of dice. When the timer starts, the player to the left of the child with the dice has to put on all of the astronaut gear and try to unwrap the astronaut box using only the tools. The other child is rolling the dice trying to get doubles. As soon as they roll doubles, they get to have a turn. The first player takes off all of the gear and the second player puts it on. The player to the right will then roll the dice and try and get a turn.

Asteroid Crash

Print off different “challenges” and roll them up inside of different colored balloons. Challenges could include things like: Jump 50 times on one foot, sing the alphabet backwards, etc. Turn on space music and tell all of the kids they have to keep the “asteroids” (balloons) from crashing to the floor. Stop the music and call out a color of balloon. The child holding that balloon pops the balloon and reads the challenge. If they complete the challenge successfully then they get a prize. Play again until every child has a prize.

Alien Capture

This game needs a willing older sibling or parent to help! Have them wear an alien mask and give them a bag of candy. Have several hula hoops around the yard. The alien runs around and the children try to lasso the alien by throwing the hula hoop onto them. To get released, the alien has to throw a handful of candy to the kids.

Musical Planets

This is a musical chairs game with a twist. Instead of chairs, set up balls that are sturdy enough for kids to sit on (one less than the number of kids playing). These are the planets. Have the kids walk around the balls while music is playing. When the music stops, All of the kids try to sit on a planet. The child who doesn’t get a planet to sit on is out of the game.

Planet Grabber

Put a hula hoop on the ground with balls inside of it (one less ball than the number of children). Play space themed music and have the kids walk in a circle around the hula hoop. When the music stops, all of the kids try and grab a “planet” (ball) from the hula hoop. The child without a ball is out for the next round. During the next round, remove another ball from the hula hoop.

Pilot Practice

Hang hula hoops from a tree (or ceiling) at varying heights with point values assigned to each hoop. Have each child make a paper airplane (or have some already made). Set a timer and see who can accumulate the most points by piloting their space shuttles through the hoops.

Follow these space game instructions to perfect your party or print a copy to have it accessible during your celebration.

Space Party Games Printable

We have a Space Themed Birthday Party printable so you can play these space games with your kids. Get all of our free printables including our Space Party Game instructions.

Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

Download Your Space Printable

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

Staple Printing Services

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

You can also follow the directions below.

Have your PDF, Word Document or printable saved to a folder on your computer.
Sign in or create a Staples account.
Return to the Staples Printing Service Page.
Scroll down to Self-Service printing.
Go to Start Project.
Go to Documents Printing.
Select Browse.
Select the Buy Now Button under color.
In the left column, choose add file(s).
Select upload files (to upload a file from your computer).
Add more files or select the blue upload button.
Select done.
Give your job a name in the top left column.
Choose color or B&W.
Make sure your project is single sided. (You can choose double sided if you need.)
Choose the correct orientation of your project – landscape or portrait.
I changed my media to 8.5×11 67 lb card/coverstock (I prefer a card stock feel over printer paper feel. It makes the paper very durable and sturdy.)
Save your product to Staples or select add to cart on the bottom right.
Proceed to checkout.

*Note: these Staple print service steps were added in Winter 2020. The directions may change as the website changes. They should give you a general outline of how to upload and order a print on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your Space Themed Party Games. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Party Games for Kids

It doesn’t have to be space themed to play a party game. Look at these Kids Party Games Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.