Frugal Advocate

If you're anything like me, you love a good bargain - especially when it is FREE! I love finding activities that cost nothing (or close to it). When Keith and I decided that I would quit my job and be a stay at home mom when Connor was born, I immediately began to think of all the fun things we could do all day! (of course this will all be when he's old enough to actually stay awake longer than a couple hours) I really want to minimize his TV watching (just a personal preference) and fill that time with games and activities. I have found lots of fun stuff on Pinterest to do when he's a few years old. (check out some of my boards!)

Another idea is the public library. I went to ours last week to look for some Spanish on cds (brushing up for my trip to Cancun). Now, I am an avid reader - I LOVE it! I hold my parents responsible for my shelf-filling, keeping B&N in business, time-consuming habit (what?! Your parents didn't make you do book reports in the summer? That's odd...) However, I have not been to a public library since I was...well...doing summer book reports :) When I so carefully chose my Spanish cds (there were only two to choose from...hmm...other people must be brushing up on their Spanish too) and I took them up to the counter and proudly handed them my brand new library card I was completely thrown off when they handed my card and cds to me without asking me to pay for anything. I had totally forgotten that the public library owns books out for FREE! Not only that, but they also have story time for youngin's too! I am a HUGE advocate for public libraries and I think more people should take advantage of them.

A couple other ideas of fun activities are going to your local craft store. They will offer free (or for a small fee) classes or craft sessions for kids. This beats buying the stuff myself and doing it at home when I can do it much cheaper at the store! And, of course, there is always your local home improvement (I'm a Lowe's kinda girl, but I'm sure Home Depot has the same stuff) store that will have morning or weekend activities (like building a bird house) for the kids!

I am really looking forward to all the fun stuff Connor and I will get to do in the coming years. But, for now, I will cherish these moments - smiles, laughs, and small milestones like rolling over.