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Going to College? Dorm Room Ideas, Hacks & Tips

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July 27, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Frugal Living, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media

What didn’t I think of that? Dorm Room Hacks and College Tips. Creative dorm room décor ideas to create efficient space, loads of color, lots of fun, and a little reminder of home. From freshman to seniors, these Dorm Room Ideas for Girls will have you all set for school.

The Best Dorm Room Ideas

Whether you are a freshman or a rising senior, we all can use some organizational tips, especially for smaller spaces! We were so inspired by these Dorm Room Hacks and Tips that we even had ideas for our own home. Get ready to stock on no Washi Tape, Duct Tape, burst of color, creativity and more! We love these Dorm Room Ideas for all ages and living situations!

Tip: Also visit our Don’t forget our College Dorm Room Decor Ideas and Neon Rooms & Cool Lighting Effects.

Many of the hacks I share below come with items you can find easily on Amazon! The benefits of having an .edu (student) email address is getting 6 month free trial of Amazon Prime Student Account. Thanks covers you from August to February, cancel when you like!

Amazon for Students Prime Free

You first tip is trying free Amazon Prime for Students. Having the access of Amazon is great for purchases you quickly need shipped to your dorm. You mgiht even save on packing costs if you can purchase many of your Dorm Room Décor ideas and ship straight to your college dorm hall.

Six Month Free trial
Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping (with no minimum order size)
Exclusive deals and promotions for college students
Unlimited streaming of Prime movies and TV shows
Unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos
20% off pre-order and new release video games

After your six-month trial ends, your Prime Student membership makes you eligible to receive 50% off Amazon Prime, and includes access to all Prime benefits.

Also pick up a month free trial to Amazon Music! Listen to tens of millions of songs on any device anywhere. After your trial, Prime Students pay only $.99 per month (this makes me extremely jealous – such a deal!)

Dorm Room Ideas

Let’s get started with these Dorm Room Tips, Hacks and Ideas. For the college freshman to the college senior, learn how to make a small space efficient with these college dorm room hacks and tips to create the perfect home away from home. Make your dorm room Pinterest worthy with these essential college dorm hacks and tips.

Dorm Room Décor DIY

This cheap dorm room décor idea is free. Print on Frugal Coupon Living, Dorm Sweet Dorm. Download this beautiful “dorm sweet dorm” free printable art work, Pick up a cheap white frame and hang with command strips.

For a perfect DIY Dorm Décor on a budget, make these cute flower string lights from an upcycled egg carton.

For dorm room décor for small rooms and space, make sure you get organized! Line your drawers with scrapbook paper like I Heart Organizing. Pick up these acrylic drawer organizers.

Never miss an activity with this Weekly Dorm Room Calendar – This dorm wall décor idea is so frugal to make!

Dorm Room Organization

If you lack dorm room closet organization or for dorm rooms don’t have kitchens, get creative with this Dorm Room Kitchen Cart from Jessica Slaughter. Get a metal dorm room car organizer in many different colors.

The dorm room set up you are given will likely be ugly. Hide the particle board on a dorm room desk with washi tape from A Girl and a Glue Gun.

Another dorm wall décor idea – Do you have ugly walls you cannot paint? Hang a Tapestry Damage Free with this tip from Drea’s DIY. Beautiful Tapestries under $15 here.

Tapestries are beautiful and can hide ugly cinder blocks. Also consider a macramé wall art. We love this boho wall décor but this macrame wall hanging might be a bit more affordable.

Dorm Room Hacks

Lift the bed but also make it efficient with these USB/Power Outlets Bed Risers on Amazon. This dorm room storage hack also gives you more under bed hidden storage.

Speaking of bedding, you will want this Dorm Room Docking Station for easy access to things you might need at night like ear pods or your phone. Find a similar one.

This bedside shelf will also work for staying organized when pulling together your decorating dorm room hacks.

Hungry, try this dorm room cooking hack! Make grilled cheese with a clothing iron. Dinner in five minutes! Idea from Grilled Cheese Social.

Don’t forget all of our Dorm Room Recipes and Grilled Cheese Recipes.

Dorm Room Décor Cheap

Hit the Dollar Tree for some Dorm Room cheap décor ideas. Stay organized. Sort Snacks with a Door Shoe Organizer on Drama Mama (no longer available). Grab a Shoe Organizer for your dorm room.

Want to light the room. Look at this easy tutorial on DIY Ping Pong Ball Light String. Use on a patio, porch, bedroom, dorm room and more. Also found in our Upcycle Christmas Lights post – cute ideas for living! Ping Pong Ball idea The Surznick Common Room

Also use this cheap dorm room décor organizer for easy access to school supplies with Door Shoe Organizer. Idea on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Dorm Room Upcycle Ideas

Talk about an Upcycle, Make a Headboard Out of Cardboard – You heard us right! This cheap dorm room décor idea uses an upcycled box. Idea on Stars for Street Lights.

Dorm room décor on a budget? Utilize the outdoors with this Tree Branch Jewelry Holder from I Like Fall Blog. Think I saw something like this at Pottery Barn for $100s.

Organize a desk and cord area with upcycled binder clips. Source Unknown. The black clips are beautiful, but this binder clip set has a beautiful pattern.

Consider skipping a headboard for a Dorm Room Headboard Shelf. Source Unknown. They actually make Headboard Shelves to buy! I would line with Removeable Wallpaper as a DIY Dorm Room Décor Hack – a whole new look!

Colorful Dorm Room Ideas

Duct Tape and Washi Tape are your decorative friends – we love these Duct Tape Storage Ideas that look amazing from DIY Home Sweet Home – it makes them sturdy too!

Again, back to your decorative friend – Line Your Bookshelves with Washi Tape for some dorm room fun. Idea on Aunt Peaches. How beautiful is this Washi Tape Bundle?

Maybe it’s silly, but if you are lacking some color or a view outside your window, bring the rainbow to you with this Dorm Room Fan idea! A fan is a must dorm room essential. Source.

Dorm Room Storage

Dorm room storage hacks will help you stuff the room with all your needs. Maximize your drawer space with this T-Shirt Folding Tip. Have you seen this t-shirt folding board? It is thin enough to hide behind a dresser!

Speaking of clothing, display your dirties in style. Do you love this dorm room laundry tote as much as we do? It comes with the perfect handle to carry all that laundry home to mom!

ET phone home (name that movie!) Show everyone where you live with this zip code pillow (other options available like a reminder to phone home!) One dorm room storage idea is to fill your decorative pillows with clothing, socks, underwear and other essentials.

Dorm Room Essentials

We also think this Dorm Room Shower Caddy is the perfect addition for getting to the showers.

This space is totally personalized with photographs and so magical with the additional lighting – a perfect teen bedroom or dorm room makeover! This is a great Instagram craft idea. There is a great string light strand on Amazon that comes with a remote control and is very affordable. Change your settings, colors, brightness, etc. Also seen in our Teen Bedroom Ideas. and Upcycled Christmas Lights. A

A dorm room essentials list includes a calendar. Stay organized with this DIY project – a Paint Strip Calendar from DIY Ready. You can also look at our Paint Strip Calendar for a weekly line up.

Drawers and extra space are a rarity, so is dorm room décor. Display your earrings on this frame. Not only is it resourceful, it adds color and is cute!

Dorm Room Design

Who thought up Dorm Room Design? It is so hard to find places to hide things. Hide accessories and shoes underneath a bed skirt with the Bedskirt Organizer.

Get the smell out with this Dorm Room Hack. Use Febreze Car Clips and add to Air Vents to Help Freshen the Room! Source Unknown.

Command Hooks are apart of dorm room essentials. If you find yourself lucky enough to have a cabinet, use command hooks to hang your tools. | Source Unknown.

The best Dorm Room advice? Make your Dorm Room Décor Pinterest worthy with lots of color like this idea from Hobby Lobby.

Dorm Room Checklist

No idea what to pack? Take a look at this Dorm Room College Packing List from Society 19 for a list of dorm room essentials.

More Dorm Room Tips

Don’t forget our College Dorm Room Decor Ideas – Pin to Pinterest.

Looking for more Dorm Room ideas? Take some inspiration from these Vibey Lights & Neon Room Lighting Affects. Pin to Pinterest.

Take a look at our No Bake Dorm Room Recipes – Pin to Pinterest.

Going far? Also check out our Moving Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Originally posted July 3, 2016. Updated July 2021.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Teaching Kids Manners

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August 29, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Kids, Parenting, Pinterest, Social Media

Teaching kids manners? This list of list of manners and etiquette will raise a child with discipline and good character. Includes teaching manners activities, manners for kids games, how to write a thank you note, cell phone etiquette and more.

Teaching Kids Manners – Essential Etiquette and Practical Tips

Teaching kids manners is extremely important. When a child is well mannered, he or she knows how to behave and interact with others properly. They can make friends easier, be more successful in school and work, have better relationships with adults, and feel happier and more confident overall. It’s never too early (or too late) to start teaching your children good manners—be it on a playground during recess or sitting around the dinner table with the family.

Why is Teaching Kids Manners Important?

Teaching children good manners isn’t just about teaching a few phrases – it’s often about giving them tools for social intelligence so they’re able to communicate well throughout all aspects of their lives.

Teaching kids manners teaches them how to interact with the world around them.
Manners are about treating others well, and teaching children this will help reduce conflict with others because they’ll know how to get along better in social situations.
Manners are about having respect for others and teaching children manners can help them see the world as a place where they’re respected too.
It’s not just about showing up on time or using your words, it’s also making sure that you’re conscious of how people feel in the way you act toward them.

Essential Manners to Teach Your Kids

For a quick overview of teaching manners to kids, refer to this handy Guidelines for Good Manners chart from Thirty Handmade Days.

Learn the Magic Words

When you were a child, your parents and teachers probably taught you that some words were “magic words.” These were please, thank you, may I, and you’re welcome. These are still essential phrases every parent should teach young children today. They never go out of style!

To practice these skills for an upcoming holiday dinner or staying at a friend’s house, play this Yes Please, No Thank You Meal Manners Game from Happy Home Fairy.

Say please and thank you to service workers after receiving services or goods. This is especially important for kids to learn, because those who work with the public deal with a lot. Good manners go a long way toward making them feel appreciated.

Write Thank You Letters

No matter how old you are, writing thank-you letters is a way to show appreciation for gifts and gestures. It’s always good manners to take the time out of your day to write grateful messages back in return.

Nicole from Coffee and Carpool offers tips on writing meaningful and thoughtful thank you letters. She recommends that parents take note of gifts their children receive as well as who sent them; taking pictures of the child using the gift; writing the note on the back of the photo, and keeping the number of notes you write at once to five or fewer.

Another handy idea is using templates to help your child get their thoughts organized and on paper. Fantastic Fun and Learning offers three cute thank you note templates for Christmas gifts—one is blank, one is lined, and one has three boxes for drawing and writing.

The Suburban Mom offers a cute thank you template for teachers where young children can fill in the blanks and draw a picture of their teacher. It’s a great way for kids to show their appreciation at the end of the year.

Setting the Table

Setting the table is a skill that every kid should know how to do. It’s not difficult, and it teaches kids about organization and etiquette. The goal is to create an attractive place setting for your family mealtime.

These table setting placemats from Positively Splendid are an excellent place to start to teach kids who are just learning to set the table. Of course, tea parties, wedding receptions, and formal dinners are fancier affairs, so here’s a nifty diagram of informal and formal place settings from Simply Sprout to use for such occasions.

Be a Good Hostess – Practice with a Tea Party

Hosting a tea party is an elegant affair. You’ll have the perfect gathering with these Tea-rrific Tea Party Ideas! We’ve got ideas for everything you need to make your next garden party extra special—tea finger sandwiches, floral teacup centerpieces, and vintage books for display.

Hosting such events helps kids practice many different types of manners, including sending out personalized invitations, accepting RSVPs from guests, and mingling at gatherings. They’ll also practice proper etiquette when setting the table, eating with the correct utensils, and using good table manners.

Phone Etiquette

Kids love answering the phone, but they don’t always use their best manners when doing so. Teach your child the proper way to answer the phone from an early age. You may prefer your child give a simple “Hello” or “Good morning” or a more formal “Hello, this is Chloe. To whom am I speaking?” response. Also teach children to answer the phone promptly, preferably before the third ring.

When it comes to teens and their phones, there’s a lot more cell phone etiquette that needs to be covered. This cell phone contract from Thirty Handmade Days is an excellent place to start. Teens must agree to always answer their parents, to never bring the phone to the dinner table, to never call or text anyone after 9PM, and other manners and responsibilities. Have your tween or teen sign the contract upon getting their first phone!

Don’t Interrupt Others

Kids are full of energy and curiosity, which is why they want to chime in on conversations. However, some kids have a hard time with self-control when it comes to interrupting others. More importantly, being interrupted can be frustrating for the person who was speaking, kids and adults alike. If you find yourself getting frustrated with your child’s interruptions, here are a few tips that may help:

Teach your children polite phrases like “excuse me” and “may I please?” so that when they want people’s attention, they will politely say those phrases instead of just jumping in with an interruption.
Wait to respond to their questions. Many parents tell their children to stop interrupting, but in the next moment, they respond to the child’s interruption anyway. This just makes it more likely for your child to keep interrupting. Wait for an appropriate pause in the conversation before you turn to your child and ask what they need.
Teach “the squeeze.” Let your child know that when you are speaking to an adult, she can gently squeeze your hand to let you know she needs you. Gently squeeze her hand in acknowledgment to let her know that you’re aware she needs you, and respond to her as soon as possible.
Take turns talking. Practice this skill with your children or have them practice with each other. No one can say a word until the speaker is finished talking.

Cover Coughs, Sneezes, and Yawns

Do you find yourself really grossed out when someone coughs or sneezes into the air? You’re not alone! Kids need to learn to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with their arm if a tissue is not available. This keeps saliva and germs off hands. Of course, this will take some practice. A simple way for children to remember is with this short rhyme: “Cough or sneeze—cover it please!” Don’t forget to encourage them to cover their yawns, too, as this is the polite thing to do in the company of others.

Clean Hands Often

Keeping your hands clean is as much about manners as it is good hygiene. Kids should also be encouraged to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly. This glitter germ activity from The Simple Parent provides kids with a good visual of how germs can cling to hands without thorough washing.

Manners may seem like a small thing, but they are key to making others feel comfortable and valued. With a little bit of guidance from parents or teachers, kids can learn the importance of good manners in everyday life.

After learning every thing about good manners, host a tea party! These Tea Party ideas are quite fun! Pin to Pinterest.

The Best Airplane Activities for Kids + Airplane Toys for Toddlers

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July 9, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Parenting, Pinterest, Social Media, Travel

Traveling with children can be frazzling. Turn a crazy trip into a relaxing trip by prepping ahead with the best airplane activities for kids and toddlers. A list of airplane toys for toddlers, kids activities, what documents are needed for travel and more. Happy travels!

Traveling with kids can be tough! Does anyone get more scared of the plane ride over the actual trip? When I fly with my five, I always plan weeks in advance what I will carry on the plane (the suitcase contents tend to be thought of more last minute!) That being said, I did my research and came up with some Airplane Activities for Kids. These are idea for kids ages 2 and up (though many of them can be modified to fit your younger child!)

What documents are needed when flying with a child?

For children under the age of 18, TSA does not require identification. Adult companions will need a valid form of identification.

If a child is flying as an unaccompanied minor, you must organize with the airline. You will need to pay for an unaccompanied minor service. The adult dropping off the child must have identification as well as the adult picking up the child. In most airports, even if you are not flying, an adult may go through security to pick up the child at the gate. This can occur after getting a pass from the airline at the check-in desk.

How do you travel with kids on a plane?

If your child finds interest in new environments, flying might be very successful for them. Despite the distractions, it’s important to fly equip with activities and toys to distract your toddlers and kids.

When traveling, have a thin blanket, socks, a cardigan or sweatshirt for comfort. It is important to also bring snacks. Layovers, open restaurants and an airline snack cart and be quite unpredictable. A happy child is usually a full child. Bring snacks your child doesn’t have often so it feels a bit like a treat.

Airplane Activities for Kids

In order to create happy travels for kids, you need happy distractions!

Every time the kids and I traveled, I picked up one of these Mosaic Sticker Craft Kids for Kids. They buy time. The buy multiple times because the kids will do one (which takes away), put it away and then move on to do another one later (again it takes awhile.) If you have little hands that can get distracted by this activity, I swear by these mosaic sticker art kits for kids.

Before you go, make your own DIY Altoid Tin Craft, a Tic Tac Toe Travel Game | Frugal Coupon Living

Have a LEGO lovers? Make make this DIY LEGO Travel Case | Frugal Coupon Living

Spirograph Travel Playset | Get it Here

Word Building Travel Kit | I Heart Crafty Things

Printable Travel Games – Battleship, Tic Tac Toe, Bingo, Crazy 8s ,Dot Game and more | Moms Mini Van (We also have printable Road Trip Car Games for when you get there!)

DIY Portable LEGO Kit with Printable Activity Cards | Fun at Home with Kids

Free Tetris Printable Board, Games Pieces and Rules. | Frugal Coupon Living

Free Busy Bag Ideas and Printables | Mother’s Niche

We also think you will love our Airplane Bingo (or tic-tac-toe) | Frugal Coupon Living

Road trip Pictionary Book (also great for airplanes!) | Lalymom

Travel Coloring Cases (out of mini first aid kits) | Family Fresh Meals

No paint is needed for these Reusable Color with Water Activity Pads | Get a 3 pack Here.

Create a Printable game Binder | Creative Mama on a Dime

Create an Eye Spy Bag | Six Sisters Stuff

Travel with Wikki Stix and Create Shapes and Characters | Purchase HERE and HERE

Make a Travel Snack Container (with free printable label) | Happiness is Homemade

Travel with Window Clings | How to Be Awesome at Everything

If you create the time or talent to create some of the ideas above, take a look at these other Airplane Activities for Kids you can buy for kids on Amazon. Many of them have 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime if you are a last minute shopper! Don’t forget you can get a FREE Month Trial of Prime if you don’t want a full years service.

Pin to Pinterest

Crayola Twistables
Wikki Stix
Headphones
Ipad or Kindle
Mini Play-Doh
UNO and other Kids Card Games
Travel Spirograph Playset and other Travel Games
Water Wow Books
Wet Ones Travel Wipes
Rolling Backpack (Bonus with stuffed animal strap!)

Other items to consider packing for your kids flight: window clings, socks, sweatshirt, light blanket, snacks for baby, snacks for toddlers, snacks for kids, an empty water bottle (fill after security), and a headphone splitter (if using one electronic device for multiple kids!)

Enjoy the flight!

Forget the airplane. Stay home! Enjoy these over twenty ways to enjoy a Spring Break Staycation. Pin to Pinterest.

Planes, trains and automobiles – if you are in the car too, look at these Winning Car Hacks for Mom. Pin to Pinterest.

Traveling during summer? Enjoy this Summer Bucket List for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Clever Toddler Tips and Tricks – Old and New Mom Hacks

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July 9, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Hacks, Instagram, Kids, Parenting, Pinterest, Social Media

Clever Toddler Tips and Tricks. Preschool Hacks for new and old moms. Toddler tricks and toddler ideas to make life more efficient for a frazzled mom!

Toddler Tips and Tricks – Hacks for New and Old Moms

I don’t know what’s more challenging. The day you bring your child home from the hospital, the terrible twos or the terror-acious threes! If I had to choose, I would say get all the advice and tips you can before hitting the toddler years. Getting those those days of independence.

Parenting Tips for Toddlers

Where do you begin? Parenting toddlers should come with a manual (and nanny.) Toddler behavior can be difficult. Kids 2 to 5 are beginning to exert independence and want to do everything themselves. They especially hate being given direction. While there is no magic want for discipling toddlers, there is one helpful peace of advice – give your child options.

Examples of giving toddlers choices are taking a bath. The end result, no matter what, is your child will get in that bath tub. Ask your son/daughter do you want to skip to the bath tub or walk backwards. You have given you child 1.) a boring activity but turned it into controlled play 2.) you have the same result, the child is going to the bathroom but you are supplying the toddler with options.

The best Parenting Hacks During Toddlers Years

Since raising an independence toddler can be a challenge, look at these cleaver toddler hacks and tips that will make a frazzled mom’s life more efficient. If you can have control over the mess, over the stroller, and over the feedings, it makes controlling the child a bit more easier.

How many times have you taken your child out of the stroller and it is tipped over? Use Ankle Weight as Stroller Counterbalance to keep your stroller from tipping. We got these – an umberella stroller and ankle weights. (Later you can use them in the gym!)

Make An Instant Art Bib With Glad Press n’ Seal. No washing of clothing involved! Just press and seal the plastic directly onto front of the shirt for an instant art smock. | Raddest Mom (no longer available)

Turn any cup into a sippy cup! These Snug Silicone Sippy Lids come in different colors.

Have fun with this cheerio necklace hack. A great way to keep snack off the floor! | Raising Miss Matilda

Use an old shampoo bottle to help smaller children reach the sink. | Source no longer available

We took my son to an amusement park the other weekend. The trip was for the older kids but I felt awful about how overheated he became. Take a look at this portable battery-operated fan, perfect for a stroller (or car seat!)

This is one of those, why didn’t I think of that items. My child hated the automatic flushing toilet! Carry a pack of post-it notes in your purse. In public bathrooms, place a sticky-note over the sensor to relieve fears! | My Crazy Blessed Life

Speaking of the potty, another genius idea – take a look at this potty training tip! Drop blue food coloring in the toilet. Tell your child when they go, the water will magically turn green! | Source Unknown

Since having the twins and having less hands for carrying things, I have learned to have a mommy hook or carabiner to hold excess items like diaper bags. shopping bags and grocery baskets (for quick run ins!)

I have used this light for ALL FIVE OF MY KIDS! Sleep train your child with their very own big girl/big boy clock. I love these toddler alarm clocks that tell you when it is day or night (to keep your child in bed!) We found this sleep training clock here.

We found the Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine and Light and have really enjoyed it with the younger 3 boys.

What an easy way to keep track of the beginning of a chore chart. Use a manila folder, cut fold it in half, slice it into 5-ish chores and add magnetic tape for opening and closing when a chore is done. You can open the list each morning to start over. | Source Unknown

Have a lot of snack pouches that are hard to store? Try this hack – Baby Food Pouch Slider . (Also seen in our Life Hacks and Newborn Hacks and Tips!)

Mess free painting. Paint with an egg carton – toss when you are done! | Mom Dot

No-mess applesauce! Pick up a single-serve cup + cut straw – parenting hack! | Source Unknown

Make your own spill proof mason jar for snacks! | Babble (no longer a website)

Create a timeout chair! We love this timeout chair with a timer. It lets your child know when they can get up! | Source Unknown (Purchase a Toddler Time Out Chair)

Summer vacation with kids?!? Packing is stressful for me, so put their full outfits in a big Ziploc, so you can just grab out of suit case without thinking! Put the dirty clothes from the previous day in the Ziploc! I do this packing hack all the time! | Pin Lady

Tired of a stroller that takes up the entire trunk – stand it up! This family used a bungee cord to stand the stroller up-right providing room for groceries, suitcases and more! I bet they have a lot more tips! | Large Families on Purpose (no longer a blog)

Are motor skills developing? Pick up a Sandwiches ‘N More Toddler Utensil so your child can hold a sandwich. Grab yours HERE. (no longer available.)

Create the cheapest toddler bumpers (baby bumpers) with pool noodles. This pool noodle hack and also be used on tables, fire places, the edges of doors (to prevent from closing ones fingers) and more! | Montana Prairie Tales

Please don’t do this – it will chock the child. But a cute chuckle under parent supervision. Do you have a toddler that loves to take off their diaper – take a look at what Greta did!

We all know that we have done it – hide your candy where the kids will never look! | Source Unknown

Cut watermelon into watermelon sticks. This tutorial is perfect for little hands! | Sober Julie

Use an empty wipes container to store travel snacks for your kids. It’s the ideal size for kids’ hands — and you can even keep food cold by putting a reusable ice pack at the bottom. | Practical Parenting Ideas (unavailable)

Someone gave me this tip when I first had my children and I began as soon as they were born. Washing toddler socks in a mesh laundry bag is such a great idea to keep little socks together. Another one I washed them, was safety pinning them together. Do this if you have one child (not if you have 5 – easier to keep track of the safety pins!) | Mom Hacks 4 Everyday

Save the Boon Grass you bought to dry sippy cups. It turns into the perfect crayon holder for the art table.

Use painters tape to create parking spaces for even the kids vehicles! | The Organizing Junkie (also seen in our Easy Garage Storage Solutions and Hacks.)

You guys, I had my less than a year ago third child (and I am pregnant with the fourth and fifth – yes I am accepting this very quick twin pregnancy). Not evening being a first time mom, this Newborn Tips, Hacks and Tricks post was very helpful. Take a look at all these tips! Pin to Pinterest.

If you have a toddler, these Potty Training Tips and Tricks are a must. Pin to Pinterest.

Enjoy these Monthly Baby Photo Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out these…

Pregnancy Tips:

Tips for the First Trimester – Pin to Pinterest
Tips for the Second Trimester – Pin to Pinterest
Tips for the Third Trimester – Pin to Pinterest

Rainy Day Activities Indoors and Outdoors

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May 26, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Kids, Pinterest, Social Media

Rain, rain don’t go away! Indoor or outdoors, we have a full list of Rainy Day Activities for kids. Get inspired by these 18 things to do in the rain that will keep the whole family busy and entertained.

Rainy Day Activities

Moms, the weather outside is frightful, and your kids are restless. It’s raining buckets, and that usually means we’re lazy indoors. The next thing you know, your kids are saying “I’m bored!” on repeat. Days like this can be tough for kids and parents alike. Rainy days can be a bit of a bummer, but they don’t have to be! It’s time to gather up some creative ideas for outdoor and indoor rainy day activities you can do with your little ones.

Indoor Games

A rainy day is the perfect time for an at home scavenger hunt. Take the kids on an indoor treasure hunt as they uncover prizes or small gifts.

If you looking for stay at home boredom busters, make sure you download our 17 Indoor Games for Kids. Really creative and out of the box games your kids will enjoy. Warning, laughter included.

Without further ado, enjoy these 18 things to do in the rain that will keep the whole family busy and entertained.

17 Indoor Games Printable Download

Rainy Day Activities Outdoors

It’s not that we don’t like the rain, but sometimes it leaves us feeling trapped inside with nothing to do. The good news is that there are plenty of things to do outside on rainy days! You just have to put on your rain jackets and boots, grab an umbrella, and be okay with getting a little wet. It’s all in good fun. Here are some ideas you can take out in the rain with you.

Disclosure: If you have a thunderstorm with lightning in the forecast, these are not advised.

Go on a rain walk with the kids. If you’ve never done this before, you’ll love seeing their delighted expressions as they listen to the rain, feel it on their skin, and see how different things look when they’re covered in rain droplets. Have you ever seen a spiderweb covered in the rain? It’s fascinating! | Still Playing School

Learn three easy ways to paint with rain so you can create a one-of-a-kind work of art on your next rainy day. You’ll need paper, a tray, liquid watercolors, markers, and water-soluble crayons. Color or paint your designs, put them in the tray, and take them outside in the rain to see what happens! | Picklebums

Let kids splish and splash in puddles to their hearts’ content. Puddle play is a terrific way to enjoy the outdoors on a rainy day. Just make sure the kids are properly dressed for it. Provide dishes, buckets, shovels, pipes, and other implements to encourage exploration and creative thinking. | Megan Zeni

Speaking of puddle play, the perfect rainy day isn’t complete without a little puddle jumping. It’s a great opportunity to talk about how puddles are made, what makes them dry up, and what makes the water ripple. | Fireflies and Mud Pies

Every kid should know how to make a mud pie. Instead of fussing about the mess, encourage your kids to mix up some water and dirt to make thick mud perfect for plopping into pie plates. Decorate the pies with flowers, pretty rocks, leaves, sticks, and other items found in nature. | Rhythms of Play

What better time to monitor the weather than when it’s raining? Use the ideas here to make a simple rain catcher with a “weatherman” wooden spoon that measures how much rain it has collected. | Rainy Day Mum

Here’s another version of a rain gauge made using a jumbo test tube, craft foam, and a few other craft supplies you probably have on hand already. Empty it every day and record how much rain you get over the course of a season. It’ll be fun to see how much the rain can vary from one day, week, or season to the next. | Life Over C’s

Go outside and make some sidewalk chalk art in the rain. Kids will be surprised to see how much more vibrant the colors of the chalk are when it gets wet. | Fun-A-Day

Combine sidewalk art and puddle play with this fun color puddle splash activity. You’ll need to be okay with the possibility of stains or else make sure the colors are completely washable before diving feet first into a color-filled puddle. | Lemon Lime Adventures

Sight word puddle jumping is a fantastic way for little ones to learn their sight words. When you pair movement with study, it helps the brain form new connections to the material. If you plan to do this one in the rain, you’ll want to laminate the words first. | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Rainy Day Activities Indoors

We understand that sometimes you just can’t get outdoors to enjoy the rain even though you’d like to. With the rain coming down outside, it’s not always easy to find something fun to do indoors.

But forget TV or video games—it’s time to get creative! Lucky for you, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep everyone entertained. Here are some ideas to help you get started: You can play board games with friends and family, build things out of Lego blocks or K’Nex pieces, read books together or paint pictures. There is also no shortage of craft projects that can be done by the whole family, such as making slime or tie-dye t-shirts.

We’ve listed even more craft ideas below. Some are rain-themed, while others are not. Just grab a few friends or family members, some snacks, and get ready for some quality time spent together in the comfort of your home.

First, make sure to print our indoor games for kids. These activities can keep your kids entertained, especially with a larger crowd! One great solution is Minute to Win It Games. All of which can be played inside with larger or small crows.

Curious little scientists will love this simple rain cloud in a jar experiment. You can set it up in just minutes using a jar, water, shaving cream, and food coloring. Just as clouds get too heavy and release rain, this shaving cream cloud will release the food coloring when it’s too heavy. Use blue food coloring or make a rainbow cloud with lots of different colors. | The Best Ideas for Kids

This easy rain craft for kids is simple enough for toddlers to make, but preschoolers and kindergarteners will enjoy it, too. You’ll need some cotton balls, construction paper, glue, and paint to make a cloud pouring raindrops all over the page. You could also let your kids use their fingerprints to make the raindrops instead. | Crafts on Sea

After the rain comes rainbows, and this fizzy rainbow experiment will have your kids eager to find their own! Turn Jell-O into fizzy fun with a bit of baking soda. Then, you’ll be able to do the classic baking soda and vinegar reaction we all know and love. Plus, by using Jell-O, it’ll smell amazing! | Fun-A-Day

Preschoolers can practice counting with this rain-themed sensory bin featuring cottony clouds, blue glass beads to represent raindrops, and sparkly gold pipe cleaners to make lightning. Kids will love all the different textures here—soft, fluffy, smooth, rough, etc. | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Have an indoor scavenger hunt with items you’d typically find around the house. For example, you’ll look for something that’s red, something to eat with, something with a nose, and so on. This free printable makes the scavenger hunt super easy. Just print it, grab some pencils, and everyone’s all set to go. Add a timer to make it more challenging. | Hey, Let’s Make Stuff! (see a full list of More Scavenger Hunts for Kids too.)

Rock painting is a great activity for a rainy day. Then, once it stops raining, you can add the rocks to your garden or hide them around your community if you have a local rock group. It’s always so fun when someone finds your rock. What a cool way to brighten someone’s day! | Sixth Bloom (see more Rock Painting Ideas for Kids too!)

Build a fort in the living room! It makes family movie night a lot more fun, and it’s also a cozy hideaway for kids to go to read their books or enjoy some quiet time. | Messy Little Monster

What better time to make something for a friend than on a rainy day? DIY friendship bracelets are easy, fun, and thoughtful. You’ll need some embroidery floss in various colors, buttons, and scissors. Have a blast designing something unique for each of your BFFs or siblings. | Crafts by Amanda

Now you have loads of rainy day activities and things to do in the rain to keep you busy anytime it starts pouring outside. Pin this list to save it for later!

When the sun starts shining, take these DIY Backyard Games to the yard. These backyard games bring the kids to the yard – see what I did there!? Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget our full list of Kids Party Games – indoor, outdoor, classroom and more. Pin to Pinterest.

Camping? Take a look at these Camping in the Rain Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Vera Bradley Signature Cotton Small Sling Pack

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June 21, 2021 by FCL Filed Under: Amazon, Online Shopping

I LOVE sling packs, and this Vera Bradley sling pack comes in some super cute patterns! Get the Vera Bradley Signature Cotton Small Sling Pack on sale for $22.50 (was $45) for Prime Day! This price is valid as of 10:31 a.m. EST on 6/21.

You can get this in island tie-dye and hummingbird blooms at this price. They’re both such CUTE patterns!

Details:

100% Polyester
Imported
RECYCLED LIGHTEN UP — The same Lighten Up fabric that you know & love is now made from recycled bottles – this sustainable water-repellent fabric is lightweight & durable, yet soft to the touch
STAY ORGANIZED – This crossbody bag features 2 easy to reach front zip pockets, pen slips, a phone slip, a D-ring for your keys, & a large hidden zip pocket on the back for your valuables
ESSENTIALS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS – This versatile sling bag is made with our water-repellent fabric – keeping your belongings dry while staying hands free while you are on your way to work, school or the outdoors – wear it over the shoulder, across your body, or as a belt bag
SIZED RIGHT – The Sling Backpack measures 14 inches high, 7 inches wide, & 3 inches deep with a 33 inch adjustable strap & an additional 11 in removable, adjustable extender strap

Remember you get FREE Shipping on Amazon when you spend $25 or FREE shipping with Prime.

Grab a FREE Trial of Amazon Prime!

Amazon prices can change at any time, so grab these deals while you can.

Find more Amazon Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Gift Ideas that Graduates will Love

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May 25, 2021 by FCL Filed Under: Online Shopping

Do you have someone in your life who is graduating this year? If you’re looking for some fun gift ideas, we found gifts that graduates will love! And if you’re throwing a party, make sure you check out our Graduation Party Games and these Graduation Party Games and Tips.

Graduates will love drinking their coffee or tea in this Custom Graduation Mug. There are different hair styles and colors available, and you can have it personalized with your graduate’s name.

Cash always makes a great graduation gift, and this Graduation Card is SO funny! Everyone will get a kick out of this.

The girls will love this Graduation Necklace. It’s so pretty, and it’s something they’ll cherish forever. And, you can have the card personalized with their names.

Personalized Starbucks cups always make great gifts. These College Starbucks Cups can be personalized with the college your kids will be starting or will be graduating from. You can also have their names put on the back.

How gorgeous is this Graduate Drawing? I just love it, and it’s something that will be treasured forever. You can have it personalized with its gown and sash colors, the college’s name, the graduate’s name and more.

Personalized tumblers are really popular right now, and these Graduation Tumblers will be a hit. These can be personalized with the graduate’s name, school name, hair color, robe and sash colors, and more.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Everyday Clay Pot Decorations for Every Season

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June 12, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Seasonal, Social Media

When it come to crafts and supplies, have you ever thought of using a terracotta pot? Take a look at these Everyday Clay Pot Decorations for Every Season – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Graduations and more!

When it comes to making cute seasonal décor, few things are as versatile as clay pots. Don’t worry—you don’t need a green thumb to make use of clay pots. Instead, turn them into fun pieces of décor to add to your garden, porch, patio, or indoors. You’ll be surprised at all the fun things you can make with a few terracotta pots (or even a single one).

These clay pot crafts will get you through spring, summer, fall, and winter, covering many major holidays, such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Christmas clay pot decorations are definitely our favorite, though.

From a jolly Santa and his elves to frogs and bunnies, you’ll find a simple project you can pull together in about 30 minutes.

Everyday Clay Pot Decorations

This clay pot lighthouse is perfect for your patio, porch, garden, or sunroom. Go with the light blue, as you see here, for a coastal theme, or red and white if you like traditional lighthouse colors. Add a battery or solar-powered tealight to light up the globe each night. Lighthouses are symbolic of beacons of hope and faith, so this is a wonderful decoration for any home. | Crafts by Amanda

Are you obsessed with gnomes? They’ve been super popular the past couple of years, and if you can’t get enough of them, this craft is a must for your garden projects! You’ll need three terra cotta pots for the gnome—one large one for the body and two smaller ones to make his tall red hat. You could draw some facial features on him, but we think he looks cute as is, with just a simple nose to adorn his white beard. | Ruffles and Rain Boots

This friendly frog will look cute indoors or on your porch this spring or summer. You’ll need a large clay pot and two smaller ones to make his big, bulging eyes. Doesn’t he look silly? He’ll make a wonderful candy dish or cookie jar, or you can use him as a decoration. If you store cookies inside, make sure you use food-grade paint that’s safe for direct contact with food. | The Country Chic Cottage (Seen in our Leap Year Craft Ideas for Kids.)

These flower pot toadstools will look great in the garden along with the garden gnome above. This is an easy project for the kids to help with; your yard will look like a magical fairy garden. | Messy Little Monster

Clay Pot Decorations for Christmas

It just isn’t Christmas without jolly old Saint Nick. Make a clay pot version with some pom-poms, a little Santa hat, some googly eyes, and a piece of scrap felt. He’ll look adorable sitting in a window, on the table, on your mantle, or anywhere that needs a Christmasy touch during the holiday season. | The Country Chic Cottage

Santa needs his helpers, too, so after you’re done with the Santa craft above, make this clay pot elf to sit by his side. With a sweet round face, pointy ears, and a few festive accessories, you can paint him up to go with any Christmas decor. You could make lots of little elves for a workshop scene if you’d like! | Crafts by Amanda

Deck your porch or patio out with this easy and festive terra cotta Christmas tree. Size this project according to its purpose. Use three small pots if you plan to use this as part of an indoor display, or use large clay pots for an outdoor Christmas tree. You’ll need three different sizes to stack together to get the Christmas tree shape. | Totally the Bomb

Use small, single clay pots to make cute Christmas tree ornaments. You can’t get much simpler than this! Paint the pots green, dab on some colorful ornaments, and add a star and ribbon. | Projects with Kids

Turn miniature clay pots into cute little reindeer ornaments for the tree. All you need is a little brown paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and a red button or pom-pom for the nose. Make a whole herd of reindeer for the tree! This craft only takes about 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for small children and adults alike. | Darcy and Brian

Make gingerbread house ornaments to decorate the tree or to create your own little gingerbread house village on your mantle or table. Paint pens help you paint more precisely on the pots, so follow the basic directions to make the snowy rooftop, door, and candy accessories. They’re super simple and incredibly adorable. | Projects with Kids

Put two pots together to make Santa pants! This whimsical project would make a great gift for a teacher, friend, or neighbor, or as a piece of colorful decor indoors or out on the porch. The black ribbon belt with the sparkly buckle and the terra cotta pot bases for shoes really brings the whole look together. | Chica Circle

These plastic spoon snowmen are too cute! Wintery clay pots are filled with floral foam, pom-poms, and white plastic spoons dressed up in adorable hats and scarves to look like snowmen. They’ll look charming as place holders for your holiday table or as a cute handmade gift from the kids to their grandparents. | Crafts by Amanda

Clay Pot Decorations for Other Holidays

Channel the luck of the Irish with these adorable clay pot leprechaun hats. They’ll look fantastic on your table for your St. Patrick’s Day party. You could recreate this look with green cups, too (right side up, of course), to make your drinks look more festive! | That’s What Che Said

Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way with this delightful clay pot Easter Bunny. The burlap ears and bright pink bow look so pretty together! If you don’t have burlap on hand, foam sheets or cardstock ears work just fine, too. Don’t forget to hide an egg underneath if you want to make your egg hunt a little more challenging for the kids. | DIY & Crafts

Clay pot sombreros are a fun option for Cinco de Mayo or any Mexican-themed festivity. Fill the brim of the sombrero with candies or make a larger version and fill the brim with dip, veggies, etc. | Scrappy Geek

Give the grad a party that they will never forget with these fun graduation cap clay pots. They’ll be great additions to any table, and they’re perfect for graduation at any level—high school, college, or even kindergarten! There seem to be so many graduations at different grade levels these days, so this tutorial will definitely come in handy. | That’s What Che Said

Learn how to make a clay pot pumpkin, bat, and Frankenstein! You won’t believe how easy it is to turn small clay pots into your favorite spooky characters for Halloween. You’ll need three clay pots, some paint, googly eyes, craft foam, and a few other accessories, but they come together very quickly. They’ll make the perfect candy dishes when you’re doling out sweets to the Trick or Treaters this year.| Messy Little Monster

Thanksgiving doesn’t get as much decorative attention as some of the other holidays, but it should! Turkeys, pilgrims, cornucopia are all great themes to celebrate. These Thanksgiving clay pot turkeys will add a whimsical touch to your fall decor, and the kids will love helping you make them. If you can’t find wooden balls for the turkeys’ heads, try foam balls instead! | The Inspiration Edit

Finally, set the Christmas or Thanksgiving Table with these Terracotta place cards. Easy clay pot table decor that makes a nice party favor too.

There you have it—18 cute clay pot decorations to celebrate nearly every season and holiday. Not ready to start crafting right now? Pin this list of ideas so you can work on them later! If you have made something, share your Clay Pot Decoration with us!

Speaking of clay pots, reuse some of those pots with these Backyard Patio and Garden Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.