Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 110

Rainbow Fish Puppets

This is Week 1 of our 12-week Summer Fun with Kids series here at LWSL!  Today we are welcoming Edie from Life in Grace, who is sharing a fun and easy way to make adorable Rainbow Fish Puppets.  For more summer fun, check out the overview page.

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Hi y’all, this is Edie from Life in Grace and I am so happy to be back with you to share a little summer fun!

We started off summer with a bang this year when Ruth and her family spent Memorial Day weekend with us. I think I successfully made a country girl out of her—I took her to the mountains, we waded in the creek, we fished in the pond, we tubed on the lake, and I even cooked biscuits and gravy for breakfast! We had a blast together and I tried every way in the world to get those cutie little girls to stay here with me, but they seemed to be pretty attached to their awesome parents.

One morning before we headed out on the boat, we gathered the girls around for a fun and easy watercolor craft. I love watercolors all year round but something about summer makes them even more fun. You’ll probably have everything you need on hand but if you don’t have thick card stock or watercolor paper, it will be worth it to pick some up. I love using it in the summer for lots of easy art projects. Staying home with kids in the summer can be challenging but I’ve found ways to enjoy it as I try to remember how fast time flies!

Here is what you need:
Thick card stock or watercolor paper
Watercolor paints and brush (I love these!)
Glue
Glitter
Scissors
Clothes pins (optional but makes a perfect puppet holder)
The Rainbow Fish book (not required but a great summer book for the littles in your life)
 

Step 1: Draw a fish, filling up most of your paper to draw it. (You can use my template, but trust me, I’m no artist!)

Step 2:Draw in the eye and lips and then lightly draw a semi-circle separating the face from the rest of the fish.

Step 3:Paint the fish with watercolors in water pattern you like. Use all the colors of the rainbow!

Step 4: After your fish is painted and dried, outline a scale pattern using the glue.

Step 5:Add copious amounts of glitter to your rainbow fish so that he’s nice and shiny!

Step 6:Dust off the excess glitter, cut him out, and  add a a clothes pin to make a puppet out of him..(We originally tried cutting the fins separately and stapling them on so that the fins would have more movement. It wasn’t worth the extra step!)

Step 7:  Set up an effortless puppet stage by throwing a blanket over two chairs.  Let your kids have a blast by putting on their own show!

 

You could make several different sizes and have a whole school of fish! Most importantly, make memories with your kiddos this summer because the years slip by so fast.

And now for the giveaway!  THREE lucky readers will win a Rainbow Fish Puppet package that includes a set of watercolor paint, watercolor paper, and a hardcover version of the Rainbow Fish book.  This fun package has a retail value of almost $40 and will provide hours of fun this summer!  To enter, just follow the instructions in the box below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 (If you can’t see the box above, click here.)

 

Edie is a writer and lifestyle blogger sharing her grace story at her website: life{in}grace.  She is passionate about lifelong learning, enjoys reading and writing about a variety of topics that include: faith, homemaking, parenting, cooking and interior design. She loves her quirky life of raising chickens, having a small garden and a brood of children. She is a devoted cook and foodie who looks for the divine among the mundane and cherishes the scared grace moments that spring up through the stony ground of  everyday living.

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What are your favorite no-effort art supplies?

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Weekend Wandering

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope you are all having a wonderful and relaxing weekend.  Ours has been very low-key so far, and after a crazy busy April and May, I will gladly take low-key!  Yesterday I spent most of the day reading The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss.  Have you ever read it?  It is a VERY interesting read and I am definitely inspired to make some changes in my own schedule!  This afternoon I will be helping my church’s Children’s Ministry Team set up for this year’s Vacation Bible School, which starts tomorrow.  I can’t wait! Our theme is Weird Animals and I think it is going to be a really FUN week!

And speaking of summer fun, don’t forget pop by tomorrow morning for the first project of our new Summer Fun With Kids series!  I can’t wait to see all the cool ideas our 12 guest bloggers have to share!

But moving on to the good stuff….this week’s picks!  There were over 400 posts linked up again this week at Thrifty Thursday and it was SO hard to choose favorites this time around!  I was especially inspired by all the great summer recipes!  Here is what I loved this week:

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First off, lets talk chicken. This Beer Butt Chicken from Living Surrendered is gluten free and sure to become a summertime favorite!

This next recipe is right up my alley! Strawberry, Goat Cheese & Arugula Panini from Blue Crab Martini sounds divine.

Looking for a simple yet super tasty appetizer or afternoon snack the whole family will love? This Bruschetta with Whipped Feta and Grilled Crostini  from This Silly Girls’ Life sounds amazing!

This next food is a personal favorite…Sweet Potato Fries! Practical Stewardship has a simple recipe that is baked, gluten-free and vegan. Yum!

Looking for kid friendly foods to have on hand this Summer? Mums Make Lists provides 14 Summer Picnic Foods for Kids that are both kid approved and freezer friendly!

Moving on to the sweet stuff! This Minty Strawberry-Lime Icebox Pie from Home Cooking Memories is the perfect cool treat on a hot Summer night.

These DIY Patriotic Pudding Pops from Simplee Thrifty are a fun dessert the kids can help make!

Summer parties are usually more casual but don’t forget the festive decorations! May Richer Fuller Be has a step-by-step tutorial for making Crepe Paper Fringe Streamers. These are so cute!

 Father’s Day is right around the corner. These adorable Free Printables from Confetti Sunshine they are sure to make him smile!  What a cute idea!

I don’t know about you but I am definitely ready to create that home spa feeling with this Lavender Detox Bath from I Am That Lady.   What a perfect way to de-stress after a long summer day!

Here is another great way to pamper yourself with this Simple DIY Lotion Bars from My Boys and Their Toys made with  just 4 ingredients!

Looking to keep the bugs away while hanging out in the backyard? Crafty Allie has step by step instructions  to help you make your own DIY Citronella Candles. What a perfect hostess gift!

Finally, do you need help organizing summer schedules? Sports Mom Survival Guide has Simple Steps to Family Calendar Sharing. This is genius!

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What did you love this week?

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How to Take Back Your Schedule (Like a Boss)

This is a guest post from Tammy of Grace Uncommon

If you’re anything like me you’re well enough into parenting and life to know that the calendar isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, it’s quite possible it may never let go of it’s fierce hold on me unless I get downright bossy about it.

And so I’m bossing.

We live in a day and time that if your kids don’t start soccer, baseball, volleyball or ballet by age 3, then they’re somehow falling behind or you’re not measuring up. Where should-haves and should-dos are running our to-dos and must-dos.

I can’t tell you how many times I sit down to write my to-do list and it’s so full of things I don’t have any interest or desire to do, that I start writing down things I’ve already done or really don’t need to do so that I can at least cross something off!

Can I get an amen?!

So many of us (and quite possibly all of us) live in a perpetual state of what my family affectionately calls FOMO. Fear Of Missing Out.

We’re afraid if we don’t show up or give in then somehow we’ll be left behind.

And so we pack our schedules with as much as we can manage, running ourselves and even our kids to the brink of empty, crashing in bed wondering why we do it all in the first place, and then waking up to start it all over the very next day.

And I’m wondering what it is that we really fear missing out on or losing, if we just step back a little? What are we afraid of?

Because each of us knows at the very deepest level of our heart that our spouses and kids and family comes first. That on the brink of disaster or emergency there are only a handful that we can call. We know our deepest, truest and yet we’re afraid to give up on the false security of casting wide nets.

When you look at successful corporations and businesses, what do they have in common? Many of the greatest cast as vision and actually write a mission statement for their organization. Recently, my husband and I wrote a family mission statement.

It’s merely a reflection of our heart for our family and the way we want to design our lives with intention. It reflects what we want to be about, what is important to us, and how we will try to live our lives together, and as individuals, with unity and purpose. My husband and I both strongly believe that we have the power and the great privilege to design our lives. It’s our job to do it well.

 

When you sit down with pen and paper and really think about the things that matter…a lot of the distractions easily fall away. You identify what things are most important to you. What you believe makes you strong. You can read ours here and I cannot suggest strongly enough that you write one for your family (business).

Because the reality is: if you’re not minding your business, who is?

Once you have written your family mission statement, it is time to take back your schedule!  Here are five essential questions to consider before adding anything to your calendar or to-do list:

1. Does it fit with our family mission?

You and I both know that some really good things still won’t fit in with your family mission. When we determine to live a life with intention there are some bad or destructive things that naturally have to go. What we sometimes don’t realize at first is that some really good and fun things might have to go too. Because even good and wonderful things might not fit into our purpose or mission as a family. They might cause tension or competition or merely create less room to breathe. Make sure what you add fits with your mission and purpose.

2. Is this something we want to do?

If you’re anything like me you’re quick to say yes and then wrestle with resentment about it later. This can be something trivial like agreeing to organize a school bake sale, or major like an ongoing troublesome relationship. Think first: is this something I want to do? Be brave enough to choose temporary discomfort over lasting resentment and bitterness.

3. Will it add to or detract from the goals of our family?

Some things that you consider for your schedule might fit in with your purpose, but everything has the potential to either add or detract. Some commitments get more demanding down the road and you can see that from the start. Make sure when you commit to something you’re not signing up for a slippery slope that will put you and your family in a difficult situation down the road. It’s far easier to stay off the hamster wheel, than to try to jump off later.

4. Is anyone left out if we make this decision?

If your family is like mine, you’ve got a couple of different personalities on board. If a decision will completely exclude or conflict with one of the children’s personalities or character it might not be a good fit. It’s never fair to sacrifice one child for the sake of another. Of course we need to recognize each child has different gifts and strengths and honor and encourage them. But consider what commitments you make and how they affect each person in the family unit.

5. Is there still room for fun?

I’m a big believer that you can’t really plan fun. I mean, we all try. We organize and orchestrate trips and game nights and all number of things. But in my experience the most fun moments occurred spontaneously. They happened because there was room. When our schedules are so jammed packed that there isn’t any breathing space, we choke the life out of spontaneity and creativity. Make sure whatever your schedule is, you make room for fun.

Being busy and planning fun activities for our kids and families is never a bad thing. But sometimes we get so busy being busy that we forget to check in with the heart of our family. We lose track of what is truly important to us. In the midst of the noise and chaos of raising kids it’s easy to get distracted by the desire to make our lives look perfect and full on the surface. To make it look and feel like we’re involved and belong.

But at the end of the day, where we really belong is to each other. This family we have been given, it is ours to manage well. To teach our children how to grow and learn and live with their whole hearts. Sometimes in our best efforts to do this job well, we start running and doing and busying ourselves more than we realize. Sometimes it’s time to just breathe. Sometimes it’s time to do less, to have more. Sit down with your family. Figure out what is important to you and then plan your life and your schedule around that. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Tammy is an encourager, contemplator and deeply soulful spirit.  She writes candidly on her blog: Grace Uncommon about the common struggles that bond us together as women, and how we can boldly design unhindered lives. She just released her first book, Pretty: Breaking Free From The Illusions of a Superficial Life.

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Thrifty Thursday {Week 62}

Happy Thursday!  I hope you are all having a wonderful week!  I don’t know about you, but we are still transitioning into our summer schedule which means a little bit of adjustment for everyone.  If your kids are now home (or will be soon) and you are in need of ideas for how to entertain them, be sure to check out our new Summer Fun with Kids series!  Every Monday this summer one of 12 fabulous bloggers will be sharing a new fun & easy project or activity to do with your kids, and each project will be accompanied by a fabulous giveaway!   Get all the details (and enter to win one of five Klutz Face Painting Books) right here!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

 1. The Budget Mama {Quick Ways to Save $5 or More a Week}

2. The Latina Homemaker {The Easiest Way to Keep Your House Clean Without Losing Your Sanity}

3. Six Figures Under {What are You Willing to Give Up to Get Out of Debt?}

4. Sarah Titus {Money Saving Tricks: 30 Days to a Better Life}

5. The Real Thing With the Coake Family { Keeping it Real~Help I’m Drowning in Projects}

6. Retired by 40 {My Disagreement with Dave Ramsey-Part 3}

7. Sitting in the Pew {Why Don’t I Love My Baby?}

8. Mums Make Lists {Survival Cleaning Routine}

9. Coupon Crazy Girl {Summer Bucket List Printable}

10. Living Surrendered {29 Things I Would Tell My Younger Self}

Never linked up before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week at Weekend Wandering!

If this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my eBook, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is a fantastic resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize.  Or, if you have read the book and are still looking to take your blog to the next level, I encourage you to check out my options for one-on-one blog consulting.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Kid Friendly Pizza Muffins

After spending this past weekend with my friend Edie, the world’s most amazing hostess who literally makes every meal an EVENT, one simple truth was abundantly clear:  I am not a foodie.

While Edie truly enjoys spending hours in the kitchen creating culinary masterpieces for her family to savor each evening, my goal is usually to get something relatively tasty on the table in 20 minutes or less.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy really good food–I do.  It is just that in this season of my life, with young kids and a busy schedule, I would just rather spend less time cooking and more time doing everything else.

And if my kids can help with the process?  Even better.

These tasty little pizza muffins won’t win any gourmet food awards, but they are definitely a huge hit with kids!  They are a snap to whip up & literally so easy that even young kids can make them with very little assistance, which makes them a fun family activity in addition to an easy dinner.  You can customize them with any of your favorite pizza toppings, or keep it simple and just use cheese.  In a pinch you can blend a can of tomatoes to make the sauce, but we personally prefer Ragu pizza sauce (at least when we have it on hand!)

And for you foodies who want something a little more gourmet?  Try Edie’s Homemade Honey Garlic Pizza–it is to-die for!

Here is what you need:

Grands refrigerated biscuits
pizza sauce
shredded mozzarella cheese
your favorite pizza toppings (optional)

Step 1: Unroll biscuits and separate the layers in half so that you have 16 half-biscuits. Then place biscuits in muffin tins.

Step 2: Spoon pizza sauce over biscuits.

Step 3: Cover with cheese.

Step 4: Add additional toppings, if desired.

Step 5:  Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.  Serve immediately.

 

    Print This!    




Recipe: Kid Friendly Pizza Muffins

Summary: These pizza muffins are super easy and perfect for a quick lunch or afternoon snack!

Ingredients

Grands refrigerated biscuits
pizza sauce
shredded mozzarella cheese
your favorite pizza toppings (optional)



Instructions

Unroll biscuits and separate the layers in half so that you have 16 half-biscuits. Place biscuits in muffin tins.
Spoon pizza sauce over biscuits.
Cover with cheese.
Add additional toppings, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Preparation time: 5-7 minutes

Cooking time: 16-18 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 16

 

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What kind of cook are you–gourmet foodie or quick & easy all the way?

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Summer Fun with Kids

Summer has officially begun!  I don’t know about you, but as much as I love the relaxed schedule, there is also a small part of me that is dreading the inevitable question:

Mom, what can we do?!

 

This year at Living Well Spending Less I thought it would be fun to put together a handy resource of fun & easy activities to keep those kiddos busy all summer long.  Each Monday for 12 weeks I will be sharing a guest project from one of my favorite blogger moms.  These amazing ladies have SO many great ideas to share and I can’t wait for you to see what simple but creative activities they have come up with!  Seriously, how great will it be to check back each Monday morning (starting next week, June 2nd) for a new idea?  Or to refer back to this series whenever boredom strikes?

But that’s not all!  Each Monday, along with each new AWESOME activity, I will also be hosting a fun giveaway to go along with that week’s project!   This means you will have LOTS of opportunities to win something fantastic!  What could be better than that?

 

Meet the 12 Summer Fun with Kids Bloggers:

Edie @ Life in Grace
Cindy @ Skip to My Lou
Laura @ Finding Home
Kelly @ View Along the Way
Lauren @ I am THAT Lady
Angela & Heather @ Sports Mom Survival Guide
Gina @ Shabby Creek Cottage
Courtney @ Lil Light O Mine
KC @ The Real Thing with the Coake Family
Nici @ Posed Perfection
Claire @ A Little CLAIREification
Michelle & Kira @ Sunshine & Hurricanes

These wonderful creative ladies all have a TON of amazing ideas!  Be sure to go check out their blogs for more inspiration, and then check back here next Monday, June 2nd, to see our first fun & easy Summer Fun with Kids project!

And now, to kick off our fun and get this party started, I thought I would share one of my own favorite summer activities for kids–Face Painting!  I originally bought this Klutz Face Painting book to use with my kids about five years ago, and we have gotten so much use out of it over the years that it finally wore out completely, and I just bought another one a few months ago! The step-by-step instructions make it SO easy–even if art isn’t really your thing–and trying out the different patterns in the book is an easy way to fill up an afternoon.  (It is also a great way to entertain a room full of kids at a birthday party!) And just for fun, today I am giving away 5 copies of this book!

To be entered to win, just follow the super easy instructions in the Rafflecopter widget box below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Can’t see the box?  Click here)

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What is your favorite summer activity to do with your kids?

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Weekend Wandering

Happy Sunday!  My family and I are having a blast this weekend in the mountains of Tennessee with my friend Edie and her family.  The Internet connection is not so good, but the fishing is fantastic!  I had so much fun this week checking out all your fantastic warm-weather recipes & projects–it definitely got me in the mood for summer!  It is always so hard to choose, but here is what I loved this week…..

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First of all, I loved these Gourmet Hot Dogs from Kleinworth & Co.!   These are definitely some great recipes that will appeal to any foodie!

If dogs aren’t your thing then how about a Southwest Cheeseburger from Love Bakes Good Cakes?  This burger stays moist with homemade guacamole!

Of course if you are looking for something even more creative, this recipe for Coconut Chicken and Mango Salsa from With a Blast sounds pretty amazing too!

Need a hearty side to all these meaty dishes? These Easy Re-Baked Potatoes from Leaving the Rut are also freezer friendly and look delicious!

We can’t forget the summer drinks! This Pink Moscato Sangria Recipe from Flour on My Face has tons of fresh fruit and can be made with your favorite wine!

Bring on the sweets! These Strawberry Shortcakes in a Jar from Daily Leisure are easy to make and ready to travel to any Memorial Day picnic or barbecue!

And speaking of strawberries, these Strawberry Nutella Popsicles from Caramel Moments sound divine. Yum!

While those of you up north may have another week or two, summer break has officially started here in the Sunshine State! If you are looking for activities, games and creative ideas to keep your children happy and keep your sanity then look no further. Coupon Crazy Girl has a Printable Summer Bucket List filled with 40 ideas that are sure to entertain.  Or you could customize your own list!

A Life in Balance has several tips on creating Gallon Ziplock Activity Bags to keep younger children busy at the park, in the car, restaurant or on the sports field.

Last year we took our Best Family Road Trip Ever, but let me tell you, keeping kids entertained in the car is a must! Cha Ching on a Shoestring has 9 Awesome Road Trip Games and Activities for Kids. I love number 4!

Living an intentional life can be challenging at times but I loved these 7 Ways I Simplified My Life( And Saved Money) In Order to be Generous from Life in Grace.

Finally, if you are wondering How to Get More Followers on Instagram Army Wife to Suburban Life has 8 steps that can help you double your following!

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What did you love this week?

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7 Secrets to Throwing a Fabulous Party on a Budget

This weekend my youngest daughter will turn five.  While part of me is mourning the fact that my baby will be five, another part of me is sad that this year, for the first time, we will not be throwing a big party to celebrate her birthday.  You see, little Annie was born on Memorial Day.  Of my two daughters, she is my little party girl, so every Memorial Day weekend since she was born we have thrown a huge bash to celebrate her special day.  Last year it was a Mermaid Party, the year before that was a CAKE party, and the year before that was a Sweet Shop party.

But this year, for the first time, little Annie chose to go Miss Edie’s house instead of having a party.

And as much as I love visiting Edie, the truth is, there is almost nothing I love more than throwing a great party. The food, the decorations, the fun…. Just the mere thought of gathering our friends and family for a celebration, whatever the occasion may be, fills me with an excitement I can’t explain.   I could literally get lost in the thrill of planning my next event.

There was a time, however, that my lack of party budget sense left my husband with a serious financial hangover. It wasn’t that I intentionally set out to spend too much, but in my eagerness to throw the perfect party, things seemed to always spiral quickly out-of-control.

Eventually, however, I learned that party planning on a tight budget can actually be more fun then planning an event where money is no object. Setting limits allows your creativity to emerge, forces you to prioritize, and it allows you to focus on making your guests’ comfort your first priority.  In fact, through the years I have discovered that there are seven secrets to throwing a fabulous party on a tiny budget, and surprisingly enough, very few of them have to do with spending money!  If you’ve got a party coming up, these seven secrets might just make your next gathering the best you’ve ever thrown:

Pick a theme

Every fabulous party needs an original theme.  This is KEY.  Before you spend a single penny on party supplies, be sure that you have picked a central theme that will keep you focused and on track.  A theme helps you set the tone for the party and focus your planning efforts.  It also helps keep the budget under control, because you can spend less and yet have a bigger impact when your expenses are all centered around the same main idea. Magazines and Pinterest are full of inspiration and the instant you stumble upon a theme you love, I can assure you that the creative ideas will start rolling in.

After I’ve settled on a theme I like to gather ideas by creating a dedicated board on Pinterest, and then using my favorite ideas to create an inspiration board of ideas (using PicMonkey.com.)  These inspiration boards help me eliminate the unessential so that my entire budget is focused on fulfilling that vision.

Here are a few of my favorite party theme ideas:

Beachy Mermaid Party 
Explorer Party 
Cute as a Button Baby Shower
Let Them Eat CAKE 
Sweet Shop Birthday Party 
Princess Tea Party
Happy Daisy Party 
Crafty Pool Party 


Make your guests the focus

The details do matter, but not necessarily the details you might think. Pinterest-worthy decorations and a stunning dessert display won’t save a party if the guests aren’t having fun.   Good hospitality—personally welcoming each guest, introducing them to other guests, and helping them mingle—is absolutely free.

If your group is naturally quite social and outgoing, or if everyone already knows each other, you may not need to worry about this, but you should still be prepared just in case things start to go awry. Many people are, by nature, shy and uncomfortable in social settings, particularly if there are a lot of people they don’t know.

Icebreaker games, while perhaps silly, can get things off to a light-hearted start.  There are usually a few ultra-competitors in every crowd, so offering a little friendly competition can help liven things up as well.  And be sure to offer prizes!  They don’t have to be elaborate or expensive, just a little something to get things rolling.

No matter what, always be sure to provide enough food and drink! If you can’t afford both food and decorations, opt for food, because hungry guests will not have fun. Even if the party is not at mealtime, provide at least a few substantial snacks & munchies just in case.

Here are a few of my favorite party recipes:

Sweet & Sour Crockpot Meatballs
Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Hot Crab Dip
Overnight French Toast
Easy Vegetarian Quiche

 

Entertain the kiddos

Kids don’t need much–most of the time they just want to play–but make sure there are a few “kid zones” within your party environment to keep the youngest attendees occupied. After all, happy children = happy parents!  Set up a table with coloring pages or simple crafts—I love wrapping the whole table with brown kraft paper & then letting them loose—or have one room available for play, and another quiet room available for resting or watching a movie.  Be sure to also have some kid-friendly food & drinks on hand.

Let your guests pitch in

No one wants to show up to a party empty-handed, and regardless of what you tell them, your guests will always want to bring something.  Put that thoughtful party etiquette to use by asking each invitee to bring something that will help you keep your own expenses down, such as an appetizer, dessert, or bottle of wine to share. I promise they won’t mind a bit; on the contrary, they will probably appreciate for once knowing what to bring. Even better, it will prevent you from getting stuck with 20 unnecessary—albeit lovely—hostess gifts.

Splurge on the unexpected

Determine your party budget, save in every way you can, and then, with the money you’ve saved–and you actually might surprise yourself once you truly start to get creative–use your extra cash to surprise your guests with something unique. Consider a babysitter, magician, or bounce house to entertain the kids, a professional bartender to serve the drinks, or perhaps some fun door prizes.  One or two splurges here and there will leave an unforgettable impression, and your party will be the talk of the town.

Send Invitations via email

Unless your next soiree is a very formal affair, skip the overpriced paper invites in favor of the email variety. Design your own at home on a word processor, or by using a free online graphic editor such a PicMonkey or Canva.  Most of us have heard of Evite for email invitations, but there are also a few other really neat & more unique options including Paperless Post, Punchbowl, Celebrations, and Green Envelope.  Not only will you save on paper and postage, but managing your guest list will be a breeze.

Get crafty

With inspiration teeming from Pinterest, television, magazines, and the blogosphere, there is honestly no excuse for not joining the DiY revolution. You don’t even have to be exceptionally original or creative; you just have to follow the simple instructions.

Your party budget dollars will stretch much further—and make a bigger impact—if you forgo commercial decorations in favor of ones that are handmade.   Likewise, homemade food and desserts, are both cheaper and usually better-tasting than their store-bought counterparts. Even more importantly, handmade decorations and home-cooked food will make your guests feel like they are part of something special and one-of-a-kind.

Here on LWSL there are a number of detailed tutorials for making a variety of basic party decorations, everything from tissue paper puffs, paper party hats, & buntings to simple instructions for sewing your own table runners & simple chair covers  All of these can be made for just a few dollars in supplies and very little effort.

Party Prep DiY Projects:

DIY Beach Glass Bottles
How to Make a Paper Bunting
How to Make a Paper Party Hat
How to Make a Fabric Table Runner
How to Make a Simple Chair Slipcover
Ruffled Crepe Paper Streamers
Burlap Wreath
Beachy Upcycled Pallet Art
How to Make a Sandcastle Cake
How to Make a Skirted Tablecloth
Wooden Chalk Painted Placemats
Paper Plate Banner
Tissue Paper Puffs

At the end of the day, a truly memorable party does not come down to how much you spent, but how your guests feel. In all honesty, no one will remember your adorable overpriced napkins, expensive centerpieces, or even all your Pinterest-worthy DIY projects.  On the other hand, if your guests felt comfortable and had a great time, it won’t matter if you spent $10 or $1000.

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What are your best secrets for throwing a fabulous party on a budget?

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The post 7 Secrets to Throwing a Fabulous Party on a Budget appeared first on Living Well Spending Less™.

Thrifty Thursday {Week 61}

Happy Thursday!  I hope you are all having a great week!  Yesterday was my daughter’s last day of school and this morning we are on our way to Tennessee to spend the weekend with my dear friend Edie and her family.  Edie and I met several years ago at a blogging conference and our friendship has only grown stronger over the years.  We talk almost every single day!  Of all the good things that have come to my life through blogging, I have to say that the friendships I’ve made are the very best.  If you have a chance, I strongly encourage you to look for opportunities to meet other bloggers in your community, state, or niche–you just never know who might become a friend for life!  Have fabulous Memorial Day weekend!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

 1. The Latina Homemaker {Get Rid of Excess and Organize Your Home}

2. My Lamp is Full {Confessions of a (Former) Couponer}

3. Letters from Sunnybrook {Frugal or Just Plain Cheap?}

4. Blissful and Domestic {How My Family Lives Well on $14,000/Year}

5. Carrie This Home {Easy Ways to Save Money}

6. Involving Home {The Easy Way to Appreciate What You Already Have}

7. Life in the Orchard {Finding Motivation to Pay Off Large Debt}

8. Sarah Titus {One Weird Trick Saves Me $125/month in Groceries}

9. A Cultivated Nest {Thrifty Finds, Frugal Hits & a Miss}

10. Practical Stewardship {What I Spent Weekly on Groceries}

Never linked up before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week at Weekend Wandering!

If this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my eBook, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is a fantastic resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize.  Or, if you have read the book and are still looking to take your blog to the next level, I encourage you to check out my options for one-on-one blog consulting.

An InLinkz Link-up

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The post Thrifty Thursday {Week 61} appeared first on Living Well Spending Less™.

Easy Asian Chop Salad

 

I don’t know about you, but when the weather starts heating up I would do almost anything to avoid having to actually cook!  I want foods that are fresh and easy and can come together in less than ten minutes.  This yummy asian chop salad is the perfect solution to my lazy summer cooking style.  Not only is it absolutely delicious, it requires just five easy ingredients.  It is perfectly yummy all by itself, but it is also great served with grilled chicken or shrimp for an effortless meal your whole family will love!

Here is what you need:
 
1/2 head green cabbage
5 ounces matchstick carrots (about 1 1/2 cups)
1-2 packages Ramen noodles 
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 cup Asian dressing (more or less to taste)
 

Step 1: Remove core from cabbage; chop cabbage into small pieces.

Step 2: Place cabbage in large bowl; add matchstick carrots and mix well.

Step 3: Crush Ramen noodles with rolling pin or other heavy object; open package, remove seasoning mix, and add to cabbage mixture.  Mix well.

Step 4: (optional) Toast sesame seeds for 1 minute in small pan over medium heat.  Add seeds to cabbage mixture.

Step 5:  Add salad dressing; toss well.  Chill salad for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours, then serve.

 

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Recipe: Easy Asian Chop Salad

Summary: This salad comes together so easy with only 5 ingredients! It is sure to be a Summer favorite.

Ingredients

1/2 head green cabbage
5 ounces matchstick carrots (about 1 1/2 cups)
1-2 packages Ramen noodles
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 cup Asian dressing (more or less to taste)



Instructions

Remove core from cabbage; chop cabbage into small pieces.
Place cabbage in large bowl; add matchstick carrots and mix well.
Crush Ramen noodles with rolling pin or other heavy object; open package, remove seasoning mix, and add to cabbage mixture. Mix well.
(optional) Toast sesame seeds for 1 minute in small pan over medium heat. Add seeds to cabbage mixture.
Add salad dressing; toss well. Refrigerate salad for 2 hours, then serve.

Preparation time: 5-10 minutes

Number of servings (yield): 8

 

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What’s your favorite quick & easy summer salad recipe?

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