WOW!!! Summer Prize Pack Giveaway from CSN Stores

WOW!!! Here's a SUPER FUN Summer Prize Pack Giveaway from our very generous sponsor, CSN Stores!

CSN Stores is made up of more than 200 online stores, and offers an incredible array of products ranging from everything you need for your dining room to fantastic toys. They offer quick shipping and friendly customer service.

One VERY lucky Frugal Family Fun Blog reader will win a SUPER FUN Summer Prize Pack consisting of the following items (giveaway open to all US and Canadian residents only):

The kiddos will never be bored in one of these Super Duper Kid Play Tent by Pacific Tents!!

If they ever decide to come out of the tent, they might want to cool off with one of these Penguin Splash Slip 'N Slide Junior......

.... or maybe the entire family would like some frozen treats made with these Volcano Fillable Ice Pop Molds?

Of course, we do what we can to promote pretend play here at Frugal Family Fun Blog, so I thought it would be nice to include this Pretend Ice Cream Play Set by Melissa and Doug....

..... and we also encourage lots of craft time! So how about a Pack of 100 Sheets of Bleeding Art Tissue Paper by Pacon Creative Products?

Finally, what Summer Prize Pack would be complete without a box of 52 Pieces of Jumbo Stick Sidewalk Chalk by Creativity Street?

Isn't it FANTASTIC?? The entire prize package has a retail value of just over $98.00!!! Woo Hoo!!!

To enter for your chance to win this amazing Summer Fun Prize Pack, leave a comment on this post telling us about one thing that makes you happy! Be sure to leave your email address in the comments field! You may enter as many times as you like.

For extra entries, you can also follow FFFB on Twitter, or subscribe to our feed. Blog/Facebook/Tweet about this fabulous giveaway. (Just leave a comment for each.)

Giveaway ends Wednesday, July 21st @ 6:30pm EST and winner will be chosen by random.org

Good luck, and a BIG thank you to CSN Stores for this FUN giveaway opportunity!!

Funny Friday -- Have some free laughs!

Here are some videos that always make me smile!

Packing.... and a Giveaway!

I'm busy packing for my trip to Vermont and New Hampshire for the Stonyfield Blogger Barnstorming Tour! I'll be sending virtual postcards and tweeting from the road (@FamFunBlog), and I thought it would be fun to get answers to some of your questions about organics too!

Just leave a comment on this post with anything you would like me to ask either the farmers, or the wonderful people at Stonyfield. I'll pick three people --  to bring you back a little special surprise from the trip! Won't that be fun??

Giveaway ends June 29th @ 6:30pm EST, and is open to all US and Canadian residents. You can leave as many comments with questions as you like! Good luck!! 

Giveaway is now closed: Winners are Zina, The Girl Who Painted Trees, and Tiff... Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered!! 

Hurray for Playgrounds!

After driving to nearby Lewisburg, PA -- We are all suffering from a serious case of playground envy! Seriously. My skull still hurts from trying to wrap my brain around the size of this GINORMOUS playground.

The girls wasted no time! 

Giveaway -- Kid Travel Kit (Super Cute!!)

Like many families around this time of year, ours is gearing up for a few road trips this Summer. I thought it would be fun to make a little travel kit for Emily -- this one has a Roadside Scavenger Hunt Game! I sewed up a fun looking wallet to store everything. (Special thanks to Jennifer Casa for the inspiration!)

I illustrated the cards myself (because I'll take any excuse to get crafty!) There are four of them, and they are laminated with clear contact paper. The first player to have four items marked off in a row is the winner! I included a spot for 2 wipe off markers.

I love how everything folds up so neat and tidy!

We took it for a test run earlier, and it was a big hit! (Although Emily seems to be quicker at finding things than I am!!) I had flashbacks of playing a similar game when my brother and I were little... and we went for some looooooooong car rides then. It's a miracle we didn't kill each other, really!

The markers work really went on the contact paper, and they wipe off easily with the eraser that is attached to the marker.

And it's so easy for the kids to keep everything all together! Love that!!

You know how I LOVE to share a good thing!! There are a few Kid Travel Kits available in the Etsy Shop.

Now the fun part -- One lucky reader will win a Kid's Travel Kit just like this one!! Kit includes the fun wallet (sewn by me), 2 wipe off markers, and 4 laminated Roadside Scavenger Hunt cards (illustrated by yours truly). How FUN is that???


There are LOTS of ways to enter (giveaway is open to all US residents):


1.Go to Stonyfield's Blogger Barnstorming page and place a vote for Frugal Family Fun to help send me to Vermont (and a $5,000 donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network). Then come back here and leave a comment that you voted. You can vote once per day per valid email address. Already voted for me today? No problem, just leave a comment on this post saying that you voted...


And/OR....


Come back and leave a comment for the following entries....


2. Send out the following Tweet:

Help send Valerie to Vermont and $5000 to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network! Vote 4 Frugal Family Fun! http://tinyurl.com/3yqq3cy @FamFunBlog

3. Post the following on your Facebook Page:

My friend Valerie wants to go to Vermont! Help send her there by voting for Frugal Family Fun for the Stonyfield Blogger Barnstorming Tour. http://tinyurl.com/3yqq3cy

4. Include the following message on a blog post:

Help send Valerie to Vermont and $5,000 to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network! Vote for Frugal Family Fun for the Stonyfield Blogger Barnstorming Tour! http://tinyurl.com/3yqq3cy

5. Send the following email to 10 other people -- bcc me on the email valerie (at) frugalfamilyfunblog (dot) com:

My friend Valerie from Frugal Family Fun Blog wants to go on the Stonyfield Blogger Barnstorming Tour, but needs our votes to get there! Please vote for Frugal Family Fun! You can vote once per day per valid email address. Go here to vote: http://www.stonyfield.com/barnstorming

That's it! Enter as many times as you would like! This giveaway ends Tuesday, May 25th @ noon EST and winner will be selected via random.org.


Good luck!!


Giveaway is now closed, and the winner is... Heidi!! Congratulations!

There are a few Kid Travel Kits available in the Etsy Shop.

Giveaway -- Custom Poster Print from UPrinting.com

Yay! It's time for another fun giveaway -- this time from our very generous sponsor UPrinting.com! One very lucky reader will win a custom poster print!! In exchange for hosting the giveaway, I'll be getting one too, and I already have in mind which photo I'm going to use. Can't wait! Of course, these custom print posters make great gifts too! Teachers, you can design your own poster for use in the classroom... so many possibilities! UPrinting always does such a fabulous job with color printing!

Now the fun part -- One (1) winner will receive one custom (18 x 24 inch poster) on your choice of high-gloss or semi-gloss paper! Free UPS ground shipping is included. Giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older.

Giveaway -- Laura Numeroff's New Book

I'm so excited about this fun giveaway from Laura Numeroff, author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, who has partnered with Sleepy's and First Book to provide a free reading event for those who are lucky enough to live in the King of Prussia area! But you don't have to live near King of Prussia to be part of the excitement because one very lucky reader will win a copy of Laura Numeroff's new book, The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza!! Laura is one of our family's favorite authors, so I am especially thrilled to be hosting this giveaway. In exchange for hosting the giveaway, our family will be given a copy of Laura's new book as well, and I cannot wait for it to arrive!

Repurposing Toys -- Peter and the Wolf Play Set

Last weekend, our family went to see Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" (Thank you, Aunt Julia!) We all really enjoyed the ballet and music! So much so that Emily wanted a play set so she could re-enact the story. I thought that was a fabulous idea, so I sent her on a scavenger hunt to find toys she already had around the house to use for her play set! This kept her busy for a long time, but she was able to find everything she needed.

Without having to buy anything, she found two men dolls (one for Peter, and we added a white beard and cane to the other one to make him into the Grandfather), a small duck, a cat, a gate, a wolf, and even some hunters!

Mother's Day Gifts Kids Can Make -- 2 Ideas for Laminate Samples

Here's another fun post for our series of Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts Kids Can Make (using items found at the hardware store)!!

Mark doesn't know it yet, but I'm secretly plotting to have our kitchen countertops re-done. I picked up some samples, and a few price quotes the last time I was at the hardware store. These pretty bookmarks were made from leftover laminate samples, which makes them very sturdy. Added bonus -- they were so easy to make!

If you don't have laminate samples at home, they are available for free at any hardware store. I used old kitchen scissors to trim the sides of the sample, and I was surprised how easy it was to cut through the laminate!

Giveaway -- 100 Custom Brochures from UPrinting.com

It's time for another fun giveaway from our very generous sponsor UPrinting.com! UPrinting.com offers complete printing solutions for brochures, business cards, post cards, labels and more!

One (1) very lucky reader will win:

100 Custom Brochures
Dimension: 8.5 x 11
Folding: Folding Choices: Half fold; Tri-fold/Letter fold; Z-fold; Accordion (4 panels) Roll Fold (4 Panels)
Printing: 4 color printing on both sides
Paper: 100 lb gloss text paper

Free UPS Ground Shipping

Giveaway is open to US residents, and must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

What a great way to promote your business, design custom flyers, or spread the word about your community organization!

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post and be sure to leave your email address in the comments field! Tweet/Facebook/Blog about this giveaway, and you're in for three more entries! Just be sure to come back and leave a comment that you tweeted/Facebooked/blogged about it.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, April 28th @ 6:30pm EST and winner will be chosen by random.org

Giveaway is now closed! The winner is The Roberts' Report! Congratulations!!

And the winner is...

Just a quick post to announce the winner of the Plasma Car and Toddler Bike Helmet Giveaway courtesy of CSNStores.com is Christy from Superheroes and Princesses!! Christy is a regular commenter here on FFFB, and I was thrilled to see that random.org chose her number! Congratulations, Christy!

Thank you to everyone for entering this fun giveaway!! Be sure to check back -- another great giveaway starts soon!

Mother's Day Gifts Kids Can Make -- Recipe Journal

While Clara was napping, Emily and I made this very special recipe journal for Grandma. Emily thought this would be a particularly useful gift, and I had to agree! Added bonus -- We recycled some beautiful paper that was FREE!!

Not many people seem to know about this, but if you're looking for some gorgeous good-quality paper a great source is your local paint store. I went to our local Sherwin-Williams and asked if they had any wallpaper sample books that were discontinued. Many times they are more than happy to pass them along to someone who could use them instead of having them sent to a landfill. I got three HUGE books!!

Giveaway -- Plasma Car and Bike Helmet from CSN Stores

It's time for another super-FUN giveaway, this time from our generous sponsor CSN Stores! CSN Stores is made up of over 200 online shops, where you can find products ranging from toys and games, to patio furniture, to baby cribs. Their customer service is well-known for going above and beyond the call of duty.

For the giveaway, one very lucky reader will win a fantastic Spring/Summer prize package, courtesy of CSNStores.com:

1. A PlaSmart Plasma Car in Yellow -- A few of Emily's friends have these, and they are always a blast!! What a fun way to spend the Spring/Summer! I LOVE the bright yellow color on this one, and these cars are built to last!

AND........

2. A Cycle Force Group Toddler Bicycle Helmet in Light Blue -- Keep the kids safe on their new Plasma Car with this snazzy bike helmet to go along with it!

The total prize package is worth $85.87!! Woo hoo!!!

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post and be sure to leave your email address in the comments field.

For extra entries:

Follow Frugal Family Fun Blog on Twitter, or subscribe to our feed and you're in for three more entries! Add another comment that you follow/subscribe.

Blog/tweet/Facebook about this giveaway and you're in for three more entries!! Add a comment that you blogged/tweeted/Facebooked.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, April 21st @ 6pm EST. Winner will be chosen by random.org and notified via email.

Good luck!!!

12 Ways to Boost Happiness (for FREE!)

In need of a little pick-me-up? To help prove the old adage that the best things in life are free, here are a dozen quick and easy happiness boosters that our family has enjoyed -- and they won't cost a penny!

From Left to Right:

1. Make a card for someone you love using paint chips. Doing nice things for other people is a great way to boost your mood.

2. Play with bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is so much fun, and so hard to put down!

3. Volunteer. It doesn't cost a thing, and you'll feel better knowing you are serving your community.

From Left to Right:

4. Make story stones and sidewalk scenes. Not only is this free, but it's a fun imagination builder too!

5. Play a game of invisible basketball. Even those who aren't athletic can join in this sport.

6. Build a fun reading nook. Never underestimate the power of the indoor fort!

From Left to Right:

7. Create a family drawing night. Fun for the whole family!

8. Have a fun time with indoor ice skating. The kids can burn off some of that extra energy (and you can too). Be careful, it is slippery, but LOTS of fun!!

9. Start a tea ritual. A great way to unwind and focus on daily gratitude.

From Left to Right:

10. Jump on the bed. I highly recommend jumping on the bed for a quick mood lifter!

11. Visit with family and friends. Chat and get caught up with the people you love.

12. Go for a nature hike. Spend some quality time outdoors, and breathe in the fresh air.

Story Stones and Sidewalk Scenes

For some cheap creative fun, draw on some rocks with a fine point permanent marker to make your own story stones. Once your characters and props are all made up, take them out to your driveway and.....

....with a little chalk, draw up some scenery for your imaginative story!

Emily loves to make up stories, so this activity kept her busy for a very long time. We had quite a tale going on here, involving lost kites, fire trucks to the rescue, and boats that fell over the edge of a very high waterfall. The drama! The excitement!

Of course, there were also trips to Grandma's house, some minor fender benders, and one accident involving a car driving through a house. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

Emily asked if she could go back outside to continue with her story after dinner. She won't have to twist my arm.

Have fun!!

Giveaway -- 250 Custom Stickers/Labels from UPrinting.com

It's time for another fun giveaway! This giveaway comes from our super-generous sponsor, UPrinting.com! One lucky reader will win a set of 250 custom stickers/labels FREE with shipping!

Here are the details:

- 250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner
- Sizes: 2” x 3.5”, 2” x 4”, or 3” x 3”
- Paper: 70lb Label Matte
- Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing
- Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
- Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

You can use these as return address labels, or to promote your business. If you are a teacher, consider using these labels to customize your own reward stickers! Since they are completely custom-made, the possibilities are practically endless! UPrinting offers a fabulous selection, and speedy turn-around time to cover all of your label printing needs.

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post (be sure to leave your email address in the comments field) and you're in for one entry. Tweet/Facebook/Blog about this giveaway, and you're in for 3 more entries! Just be sure to come back here and leave a comment with a link to your tweet/facebook/blog post.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 3rd at 6:30pm EST and winner will be chosen by random.org.

In exchange for hosting this giveaway, UPrinting.com will be providing me with the same prize package outlined above. I am really looking forward to them!

Good luck!!

Will You Be My Paint Chip Valentine?

The girls and I were busy crafting up these handmade Valentine's Day cards made from leftover paint chips (found free at any hardware or paint store). We had a bunch of different shades of red and pink, which made perfect Valentine cards!

To make your own paint chip Valentine's, place two paint chips back-to-back as shown above.

I used a zig zag stitch around the perimeter of the card, and trimmed the edges with pinking shears. Very quick!

Emily and I took turns punching out hearts with the help of our heart-shaped hole puncher...

...and the girls went to town decorating their handmade Valentine's! For Clara, I put down a few dots of glue and she placed the hearts on top. Great practice for fine-motor skills, and she was so proud of herself!

Emily got to practice some handwriting, and she is looking forward to mailing these off to Grandma!

These were so much fun to make!!

Volunteering Fun at the Food Co-op

I took Emily with me for a fun day of volunteering at our local food co-op! The co-op features lots of fabulous local, organic food: cereals, pastas, meats, cheeses, eggs, milk, etc. She was very excited to be able to help out. We both put on our aprons and got to work -- we were kept very busy!

There was lots of measuring, labeling, putting price tags on items....

...ringing up customers...

...stocking the shelves....

...and sweeping the floors!

At the end of the day, Emily exclaimed, "What a fun day!". I think she will be sleeping well tonight.

And the winner is...

Just a quick post to annouce that the winner of the 250 business card giveaway courtesy of UPrinting.com is Deborah from Teach Preschool! Congratulations, Deborah!!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Another fun giveaway starts soon...

Sponsor Giveaway -- UPrinting.com 250 Business Cards

Yay!! It's time for another fun giveaway! This time it's from our wonderful sponsor, UPrinting.com!

One lucky reader will win a free set of 250 business cards! What a great way to promote your business into the new year. There are practically limitless design options available. In exchange for hosting this giveaway, UPrinting will be sending me a set of 250 business cards as well. I cannot wait to see how they turn out! Thank you, UPrinting.com!!

Here are the details:

Giveaway Prize: 250 Business Cards for one (1) lucky winner
Size: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Shipping: ** Winner must pay for shipping. **
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents (sorry!) due to shipping costs.

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post and tell us what you plan to the use these business cards for. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments field! Maybe you plan to use them as "Mommy Calling Cards", or to promote your blog or Etsy store. Get creative!

Tweet/Facebook/Blog about this giveaway, and you're in for three more entries!!! Just be sure to come back and leave a comment with the link to your blog/facebook/tweet.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, January 13th @ 6:30pm EST, and winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted via email.

Good luck!