Thursday, May 30, 2013

June 1 & 2 | FREE & Low Cost Events for Families


Click the links below for more information at the respective web sites.

Bank of America Museums on Us
  • Saturday & Sunday, June 1 & 2 | Each Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholder gets FREE general admission to 150 museums nationwide. Just present your credit or debit card along with photo ID. List of participating museums.

Michael's
  • Saturday, June 1, 10am - Noon, on the half hour | Kids Club: National Drawing Day - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10:30am - 11:30am. See a store associate to join the fun!



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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A Tour of Our Backyard

During the summer months, we spend a lot of our time at home in our backyard. We grill dinner, roast marshmallows, entertain friends and neighbors, and catch fireflies all summer long.

This past weekend, my husband and I finally had some free time for yard work...about 2 months behind schedule. We like to have the yard cleaned up by early April, but April & May were extremely busy months for us this year with no time to hammer out yard work.

But it's done and I thought it would be fun to take you to the place where my family spends most of its time during the summer--our backyard.

My husband and I had a patio installed 5 years ago. The project was way beyond our skill level, so we hired a contractor to complete the project and we were really thrilled with the patio. It is almost 600 square feet and we use every inch of it.


We have a sitting area where we read the paper on Sunday mornings and relax in the evenings.


I have perennials planted all the way around the edge of the patio. It looks a little anemic in the middle because the bunnies and squirrels consider it fine dining. I'm hoping the new plant will be something that they hate this year.


I bought this peony on clearance about 5 years ago. Every year, it gets more beautiful. And it's one plant the bunnies don't touch.


The bees love it though!


We have a fire pit that gets a lot of use. My husband fires it up almost every weekend and s'mores are a favorite summer treat.


My gardening table, hose, and rain barrel are just over the wall from our grill/dining area and you can see my vegetable garden on the far right.


Unfortunately, this 30 foot pine tree has died and we are having it cut down this week. Bye bye squirrels' nest...your penthouse suite it coming down!


My herb & vegetable garden boxes are off to the side of the house and I have more new perennials planted right along the house.


I moved the herbs to their own box to make more room for the vegetables. This year, I planted pineapple sage, parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lemon verbena.


In my vegetable box, I planted 1 cantaloupe and 1 butternut squash on the vertical trellis, 3 tomato plants, 1 sweet pepper, green beans and for the first time, I planted sweet potatoes. Every year, I like to try something new and I've never planted potatoes before--I thought it would be fun for the girls.


And that's our little oasis in the world. We spend a lot of time as a family in our backyard. The only thing that is missing is some color. I didn't get time to plant any containers of annuals, but I will do that next weekend. Do you spend a lot of time relaxing in your yard? Tell us about your backyard oasis in the comments!

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Monday, May 27, 2013

20 Salsa Recipes


Salsa & tortilla chips are my most favorite snack. I've been known to polish off an entire bag of chips and a container of salsa in one sitting...I'm that addicted.

But salsa shouldn't be confined to being the side kick to a bag of tortilla chips. We also use it as a condiment for grilled fish, chicken, burgers, and just about any Mexican dish. Add any of these salsas to your next cookout.

20 Salsa Recipes


  1. Apple Salsa at The Happy Housewife
  2. Black Bean & Avocado Salsa at This Mama Cooks
  3. Black Bean Mango Salsa at The Daily Meal 
  4. Blueberry, Strawberry & Jicama Salsa at Two Peas & Their Pod
  5. Cantaloupe Salsa at Family Balance Sheet
  6. Fresh Cherry Salsa at Living Tastefully 
  7. Fiery Grilled Peach & Habanero Salsa at Cooking Light
  8. Fire-Roasted Corn Salsa at High Heels & Grills
  9. Homemade Salsa with Canned Tomatoes at Family Balance Sheet
  10. Grilled Lime Chicken with Mango Red Pepper Salsa at Family Balance Sheet
  11. Grilled Salmon with Peach Mango Salsa at Family Balance Sheet
  12. Orange, Grapefruit & Avocado Salsa at Teaspoon of Spice
  13. Pear Blackberry Salsa at Jen's Favorite Cookies
  14. Pico de Gallo {Copycat Chipotle Inspired} at Mom on Time Out
  15. Pomegranate Salsa at Good Life Eats
  16. Brie with Raspberry Salsa at Cook the Story
  17. Spicy Avocado & Pineapple Salsa at Inspired Taste
  18. Strawberry Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips at The Happy Housewife
  19. Fresh Tomatillo Salsa {Salsa Verde} at A Cedar Spoon
  20. Watermelon Salsa at Onion Rings & Things

What is your favorite type of salsa? If you have a recipe, leave the link or write it out in the comments.

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Christmas Savings Club | May Meeting


On the 25th of every month from January to November in 2013, I'm holding a virtual meeting for the Christmas Savings Club. The goal for this monthly accountability meeting is to give updates on our progress, motivate one another and help all of us save for a cash Christmas. Today is the fifth meeting, but you can join us at any time.

If you are new, please read more about the Christmas Savings Club in the first post and join us. My offer for a FREE Christmas Gift & Spending Budget excel spreadsheet is still available.

On with the May meeting...

How did I do in May?
Our monthly goal is $100. That number includes gifts for our kids, extended family members, teachers, friends, neighbors, bus drivers, service people, our Christmas cards, stamps, and our donations towards the Salvation Army's Adopt-a-Family program.

Our monthly goal of $100 is now a part of our monthly budget and I was able to transfer the full $100 to our savings account in May. It feels good to watch out savings account grow and I now I'm going to be less stressed in November when we start our Christmas shopping, because we'll have the cash in our account.

One of the assignments in April was to start thinking about some handmade gifts to give this year. I'm not the most crafty person, so I need to get a head start if I decide to tackle any handmade projects. I've started a Pinterest board, Handmade Gift Ideas, to organize some ideas. Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and leave your Pinterest link in the comments and I'll follow you too.

Some ideas that I might try:

June's Assignments:
1. If you have not done so, complete the Christmas Gift & Spending Budget worksheet.

2. If you have not done so, open up a separate checking account specifically for your Christmas Spending Savings.

3. Find your monthly savings goal for June and any shortfall that you have from January through May.

Will you be making any of your Christmas gifts this year? Also, let us know how you're doing with your Christmas Savings Account in the comments. You don't need to leave specific numbers if you don't feel comfortable, but let us know if you did anything specific to save your goal.


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Friday, May 24, 2013

20 Delicous Recipes for Your Memorial Day Cookout


The summer cookout season starts this weekend. Here are some ideas for your cookout menu.

The Main Course


Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp


Grilled Pineapple & Teriyaki Turkey Burgers


Red Pepper & Feta Turkey Burgers



Apple and Blue Cheese Feta Burgers



How to Grill Chicken Breast and Not Dry It Out Like the Sahara



Grilled Garlic Lemon Shrimp



Grilled Salmon with Peach Mango Salsa



Grilled Sausages with Peppers and Onions Hobo Pack



Grilled Fish Tacos


Grilled Chicken Fajitas


Super Side Dishes


Grilled Corn with Grilled Garlic Butter


Purple Cabbage & Broccoli Slaw



Black Bean, Tomato & Feta Salad



Watermelon & Feta Salad



Grilled Garlic Rosemary Red Potatoes


Grilled Summer Squash with Parmesan and Fresh Herbs



Delicious Desserts


Grilled Peaches with Homemade Whipped Cream



Grilled Pineapple with Homemade Whipped Cream and Toasted Coconut



Grilled Banana Splits



Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp


Do you have a Memorial Day cookout planned? What's on your menu? Let us know in the comments.

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

May 25 & 26 | FREE or Low Cost Events for Families


Click the below links for more information about each event.

Bass Pro Shops
  • May 25 & 26 | Go Outdoors Event & Sale - FREE Summer Fun Seminars, Kids' Seminars, Kids' Activities, Photo Download, Kids' Crafts, and More! 

Michael's
  • Saturday, May 25, 10am - Noon, on the half hour | Kids Club: Celebrate Your Hero Doll - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10:30am - 11:30am. See a store associate to join the fun!


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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Plan a Staycation: Enjoy Your City on a Budget


I've joined bloggers from all across the country to compile budget-friendly ideas and activities for your summer travels. So whether you are traveling far or staying local, check out this list and have an awesome trip!

Mid Atlantic


NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles

Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin

Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe

Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season

Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann's Entitled Life

Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady

Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry

Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet

Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon "High"

Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest


Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything

Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!

Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist

Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom

Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae

Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving

Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents

Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead

Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy

Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas

Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense

Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither

Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom

Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing

Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders

Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget

Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom

Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati

Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple

Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton

Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters

NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners

Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring

Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living

South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds

Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain


Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors

Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday

Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings

Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal

Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings

Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project

Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors

Reno, Nevada - Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific


Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog

Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com

San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats

San Diego, California :: Life as MOM

Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW

Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic


Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas

Washington, DC :: Kidventurous

Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana

Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money

Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss

St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine

Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple

Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife

Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt

Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises

Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin' in...

Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling

Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me

Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All

Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things

Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton

Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central


Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny

Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters

Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl

Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap

East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey

Nashville, Tennessee :: Montessori Tidbits

Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE

Austin, Texas (Hill Country) :: Ponder the Path

College Station, Texas :: How to Homeschool My Child

Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores

East Dallas, Texas :: Funky Faith Girl

Fort Worth, Texas :: Coupons & Freebies Mom

Houston, Texas :: MomsToolbox

Houston, Texas :: MyLitter

Katy, Texas :: Moms Confession

McAllen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) :: iLoveMy5Kids

San Antonio, Texas :: Melissa's Bargains



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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Explore Harrisburg PA This Summer

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Are you making plans to visit the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg this summer?

I grew up in central PA, home to the state capital city of Harrisburg. Harrisburg and its surrounding communities offer a variety of summer activities that will make your trip exciting, fun, and educational, but not expensive. There is something for everyone to enjoy.

Historical and Educational Activities

Take a tour of a National Historic Landmark, the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Built in 1906, the "Capitol's centerpiece is a spectacular 272-foot, 52 million-pound dome inspired by Michelangelo’s design for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome".

Not far from the Capitol is the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The State Museum offers "four floors of exhibits that represent Pennsylvania's story, from Earth's beginning to the present", a Planetarium and the 'hands on' play area, Curiosity Connection, for children 5 and under. Admission is $4-$5.

Also located downtown is the Whitaker Center , that offers an IMAX theater, Science Center, and a performance theater. The science center is 3 floors of exhibits, experiments and programs. It also offers a play/imagination area just for kids under 5. Prices for the IMAX theater range from $8 - $13.75, depending on your age and the movie. Prices for the science center range from $12.50 - $16, depending on age as well. If you are local, consider buying a year long membership for unlimited access to the Science Center and other benefits. The performance theater is an intimate venue that hosts everything from national acts to local performers. Prices vary depending on the act.

The National Civil War Museum, as stated on the website, is "the only museum in The United States that portrays the entire story of the American Civil War. Equally balanced presentations are humanistic in nature without bias to Union or Confederate Causes." Admission prices range from $8-$10, depending on age. There is a $35 family pass available for 2 adults and up to 3 students(immediate family members).

For more Civil War history, the historic town of Gettysburg, PA is about 38 miles south of Harrisburg.

For more military history, visit the Army Heritage and Educational Center located west of Harrisburg, in Carlisle.

The Oakes Museum of Natural History is located at Messiah College, just outside of Harrisburg. It houses a collection of Smithsonian-quality African and North American mammals, bird eggs, fish, seashells, minerals, insects and fossils. An anchor of the museum is the 200-specimen collection of African mammals, the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania, which features 75 full mounts, including an elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, giraffe and forest nyala. It is only open on Saturdays from 1 - 5pm. The admission is $6 for adults, $3.50 for ages 4-12, and children 3 and under are free.

Visit The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum in Harrisburg to view a collection of artifacts from the hand-drawn equipment of yesterday to the modern tools of today. The museum is housed in an 1899 Victoria fire house.

Outdoor Festivals


2013 Patriot-News Artsfest - This juried arts festival runs May 25-27 over the Memorial Day weekend at Harrisburg Riverfront Park, along the Susquehanna River. Walk along the river and peruse the artists' booths, choose from a wide variety of food vendors and enjoy live music throughout the three days. There is no admission charge, but you might have to pay to park at a nearby parking garage.

85th Annual Jubilee Day - the largest, longest running one day street fair on the East coast. Date: June 20, 2013 from 10 am to 9 pm. Location: downtown Mechanicsburg. Admission: FREE. The event features wares from local artists and craftsmen, as well as great food, fun games, and  amusement rides.

The Kipona Celebration runs over Labor Day weekend and is right along the Susquehanna River. Admission: FREE. Activities include Artfest featuring 150 different artists and craftspersons, live music and entertainment, Chili Cookoff, Classic Canoe race, a traditional Indian Pow Wow, and SO much more.


Amusement Parks and Zoos



Hershey Park -Located about 14 miles east of Harrisburg. From roller coasters and water rides to kiddie rides and music shows, there really is something for every one at Hershey Park. Other attractions at the Park are ZooAmerica and Chocolate World. Tickets are pricey, but discounted ones can usually be found at Giant Food Stores. Or head there later in the day and purchase a Sunset Admission ticket. You'll save money, yet still have 4 hours to enjoy the park. Picnic lunches and food are not permitted inside the park.

Dutch Wonderland is located about 40 miles east of Harrisburg, the heart of Amish Country/ Lancaster County. It is a great park geared more towards children ages 12 and under. Food is not permitted inside the park, but there is a Family Picnic Pavilion right outside the park. Old Mill Stream campground is also right outside the park, within walking distance. We had our first camping experience at Old Stream a few years ago. The Amish visit on Saturday mornings with a horse drawn carriage filled with delicious baked goods for sale.

If you're in the mood for some shopping, 2 large outlets, Tanger Outlets and Rockvale Outlets are just down the street from the Dutch Wonderland.


Twenty five miles north of Harrisburg resides Lake Tobias Wildlife Park , a home to herds of wild and exotic animals from all over the world. From a Safari tour to a petting zoo and reptile exhibit, this park is a fun destination for the whole family.


Another park north of the city is Knoebels Amusement Resort. It is the largest free-admission park in America; you pay by the ride and the rides range from .75 - $2.25. Along with over 50 rides, the resort also offers a campground, a 900,000 galloon pool with water slides and diving boards, and a golf course.  Personally, we have never been there, we have heard nothing but good things about the park, the campground and the whole experience.

The Great Outdoors


If you are looking for a place to walk, run, bike, or bird watch, visit Wildwood Park on the outskirts of downtown Harrisburg. The park features 6 miles of trails and a nature center.

Are you a sports fan? Visit Harrisburg's City Island, right in the middle of the Susquehanna River, and catch a Harrisburg Sentators game, the city's AA pro baseball team. Or check out a professional soccer game with the Harrisburg City Islanders, a member of the United Soccer League. The island also offers other activities, such as an arcade, batting cages, miniature golf, a train, and The Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat cruises.

The Hershey Gardens is spread over 23 acres and includes the Butterfly House, Children's Garden, and many other themed gardens. Tickets range from $7 to $10, depending on age, but children under 3 are free.

Gifford Pinchot State Park is located south of Harrisburg. It offers hiking trails, swimming, boating, picnicking, camping and so much more.

Have you visited Central Pennsylvania? What are your plans this summer? Will you be traveling or staying close to home? Let us know in the comments.

Are you headed somewhere else this summer? Find more ways to enjoy your destination on a budget.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

May 18 & 19 | FREE or Low Cost Events for Families


Click the below links for more information about each event.

Bass Pro Shops
  • May 18 & 19, 25 & 26 | Go Outdoors Event & Sale - FREE Summer Fun Seminars, Kids' Seminars, Kids' Activities, Kids' Crafts, and More! 


Michael's
  • Saturday, May 18, 10am - Noon, on the half hour | Kids Club: Celebrate Your Hero - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10:30am - 11:30am. See a store associate to join the fun!


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