Creativity is intelligence having fun.If there's one thing to be said about the frugal life it's that as long as you keep your mind open you can have a lot of fun finding creative alternatives to spending money.
-Albert Einstein.
I've done a lot of brainstorming for this upcoming, long drive but short trip and way too much noticing things in the store that would be "just perfect." So far I've not done the greatest job keeping track of what's been spent to prepare for the trip but I haven't lost receipts so I'll add things up soon and I think I've done good.
I wanted to buy a cheap map so that I could keep track of our progress with little Abe in maybe 30 minute increments while driving 8.5 hours down south but, uh, maps aren't cheap. So instead I got foam-board from the dollar store and drew up a map with just our route on it. It will be a little geography lesson for him too. I want to place stickers along the route as we drive and it just so happens I had to work with labels for a project at work last week and I held onto all the blank ones instead of throwing them out so that I can make some stickers in the shape of little blue cars for our map. I could have easily got some cheap stickers somewhere but I like free better.
I've seen a few things you can hang on the back of the front car seat so that drinks, snacks, activities are more accessible or more organized for the kiddo in the car and I almost bought one today until it dawned on me that I could probably make a pretty good one myself with fabric I have on hand, a metal hanger, and a hot glue gun (I do not have time to sew one up right now) So I'll be working on that this evening... we'll see.
On a different note I've been wanting to get some sort of compost bin for ages but every time I look into them I haven't been able to find one that I can afford, or even afford to make, no matter how many of them say "inexpensive DIY" in the headline. I've finally found one that I can make myself for FREE. I'm going to give it a try maybe tonite or more likely after we get back. The "bin" uses three crates (I have one and I've already gotten one from someone who no longer needed it so I only need one more), you glue a lining in the crates (I have the exact lining used in the tutorial on hand), and then place newspaper in the bottom. The post talks about making a lid but I'm pretty sure I have something in the basement I can use for a lid instead. HERE's what I'm talking about. Yay! I'm finally going to have a FREE compost bin. I like this one too because there will really be no heavy lifting and it's super portable.
This is sort of a scattered post and I'm sure I'll post updates on all of these things sooner than later. For now no more talk of making ANYTHING until my kitchen is clean!
AND now, measuring in at just over six feet tall the "little" lady has all of her lovely petals on display.
Beautiful sunflower!!!! I'm sure you are doing fine with the trip spending - but good idea keeping the receipts - things add up faster than you think they do!
ReplyDeleteHave you checked with your city? Our city gives out free compost bins (ours is pretty good sized but you can move it) and a class on how to compost, what to compost, etc. when you pick it up - might be something to check out and.....FREE :)
Thank-you. I love the flower! I will be doing several more next year, probably along my back fence. I'll harvest seeds from this one.
DeleteNo free compost bins here though. Honestly, off the top of my head, I don't know anyone around here (and by "around here" I mean all the people I know in Michigan) that even has one. I've been looking into, and semi composting, for a long time but I've also never had a bin and have wanted one for a long time. My composting has always been sped up but grounding up my food waste before putting it in the front flower beds but I can't use any of that in my veggie gardens it just goes into the earth... if that makes any sense. I've never been able to do a substantial compost pile either because my dogs would get into it if it were anywhere in the backyard, which is where an actual compost pile would have to be. I'm in love with this three crates idea. It honestly seems just perfect for me and for my yard. I might end up with six of them in two stacks eventually but they'll be behind my garage next to the ally so it won't matter one bit and won't be an eye sore to anyone.
Creating a geography lesson is brilliant. Such an important thing to learn. It's extra important to me because we didn't have geography in school.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I don't remember geography specifically in school other than learning the state capitals but I'm sure I must have had geography in at least middle school. Even so, I'm going to have fun teaching him geography on our own. We'll devote different weeks to different places, it'll be fun. Obviously this is just a little geography lesson as we track our progress on the trip but I am constantly AMAZED at what a three year old can soak up and recite later when you're least expecting it.
DeleteAre you a AAA member? I'm pretty sure they still give out free "trip tiks" to map out your route (we haven't used one since we got our GPS).
ReplyDeleteI remember a long ago trip from CT to DC where the traffic was horrible - I kept turning around in my seat to read my three year old his favorite book (about fire engines). I was getting car sick, so I handed the book to Joe and told him to read it to us. Darned if he didn't spit the entire book back to us, page by page! We had read it to him so many times he had memorized it. Joe turns 25 this year and is a full time EMT/Firefighter!
I hope you have a wonderful vacation.
That's awesome about Joe having memorized the book and "reading" it to you, haha! My little guy can almost do that with some of his books but I like his creative improv with most of them when he tries anyhow.
DeleteWe don't have a AAA membership but I have an atlas :) The trip should be great. Just getting away after several years of not, oh yes, it will be grand!
Have you ever tried sewing glue? Its amazing -- never comes loose. The girls always ask me if I can "sewing glue" something for them.
ReplyDeleteDid you get that at a craft store or just by sewing supplies in the regular store? I haven't not seen sewing glue before.
DeleteGorgeous sunflower!!:) And yay for geography lessons!
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with it. It just keeps getting bigger and it's so much more beautiful than I've been hoping all these weeks of waiting for it and ah, so lovely! And yay for traveling :)
DeleteSewing glue is at meijers on the end of the aisle by the pillow area.
ReplyDelete