frugal ideas

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} PE: Try Tennis

May 15, 2013 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

{Spice Up Your Homeschool}

Try Tennis

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We recently (okay, a few months ago, lol) had a homeschool gym day through our local homeschol group that taught tennis and badminton skills. Both Eldest and Princess really enjoyed learning how to hold a racket and practice keeping their eye on the ball. They both did very well during the gym day and were excited to learn a new sport. I was glad they had fun and were learning new skills that they could help each other out with.

They begged to play tennis again as soon as we could! We only owned one racket so we set off to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. We found a racket with a bright neon pink handle and it was the right tag color for 50% off! Total score $1 for the racket plus tax. This week we headed to our local community college that has unused courts. Riley met us between work and college classes for an hour of tennis practice but with only two rackets and three tennis balls it wasn’t much fun. We once again stopped at the Salvation Army Thrift store on the way home and scored more sports equipment. Three more rackets for $1.99 plus tax each. A very frugal deal I say!

We found a local Tennis Center that was offering Tennis Camp three times a week for 1 hr. for 4 weeks at only $30 through a local city’s Summer parks program! Since Tennis lesson’s are normally $30 per lesson we signed Princess up for the Beginner Class. She has had so much fun meeting new friends. She loves it and has learned some new skills in a fun way. (Funny thing is she is almost 9 and she is one of the smaller kids in her class.) They play all sorts of games and do fun things to practice basic skills! The coaches are High School students or recent graduates who seem to have lots of knowledge and patience.

Youtube Videos- Watch these BEFORE heading to the court!

Tennis Lessons for Beginning Players : How to Grip a Tennis Racket

Tennis Lesson for Beginners ; First Time Ever ( Scoring ) Part 2 of 5

Tennis Lesson for Beginners ; First Time Ever ( Actual Game ) Part 3 of 5

Tennis Lesson for Beginners ; First Time Ever ( Basic Strokes ) Part 4 of 5

Tennis Lesson for Beginners ; First Time Ever ( Racquets & Shoes) Part 5 of 5

Beginner Tennis Lesson – Coordination and Ball Control

ABOUT.com and other videos-

Tennis Videos Index from about.com

Best Tennis Racquets for Beginners

Beginning Tennis Tips & Techniques

Instruction: Learn and Improve Tennis Strokes and Strategies

Now that you have learned all about this new sport, what are you waiting for? Go find a local court and hit some balls!

Great PE Supplies on Amazon:

United States Tennis Association Facebook

Find a Kids’ Tennis Facility

10 and Under Tennis Guide for Parent’s

Check out all the {Spice Up Your Homeschool} posts:

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Science: Nature Journals

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} History: Penny Collecting

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Geography: State Quarters

10 Things We Do to Save Money

November 27, 2012 By Thaleia 10 Comments

10 Things We Do to Save Money

There are a lot of little comforts we go without in order to sustain ourselves and save money. Sometimes I wish we lived outside the city limits so we could have a couple chickens, a goat, and a nice big garden. We live in a city with very strict ordinances and I dread the thought of asking if we could even have one chicken on our small property! I’m sure it’s against either a health ordinance or nuisance ordinance ( we live in a city where you must move your car ever 48 hours if it’s not on private property otherwise it’s 7 days I think!)

So here are 10 ways we save money plus links to a few posts to save more if you read all the way through:)

1. Make our own laundry detergent– I’ve been doing this for over 3 years out of necessity At first I was skeptical like many others, but I am happy to save so much moolah and know I am adding to our family by making our own. We make our own washing soda from baking soda as well! This helps stretch the almighty dollar even further.

Trying to budget? Check out 10 Things We Do to Save Money!

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It Smells a Little Tropical Around Here…

November 27, 2012 By Thaleia 4 Comments

It Smells A Little Tropical Around Here..

I had recently been researching how to make homemade deodorants and lotion bars. I really, really wanted to make my own lotion bars since they run $5-$7 at a local Farmer’s Market. I cannot afford that to experience lotion on the go that works in any kind of weather! I’ve been searching online and pinterest looking for the easiest and cheapest versions on lotion bars. I already had beeswax, olive oil, vitamin e oil, and some essential oils, but NO Coconut Oil. I had no idea even where to buy it locally besides a pricey health food store 45 minutes away.

I was lucky enough to come across a blogger review opportunity from Tropical Traditions. I was super excited to learn I qualified to receive a free sample to review and a chance to offer a giveaway to my reader’s of some virgin coconut oil from Tropical Traditions.

My personal experience with Tropical Traditions:

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Are You Ready for Cold & Flu Season?

November 26, 2012 By Thaleia 5 Comments

Are You Ready for Cold & Flu Season?

Just thought I would share a quick tip for cold & flu season. It’s one of those DUH moments of why didn’t I think of that! I, of course, take stock of what medicines and natural remedy ingredients we have on hand BEFORE we are sick. It is no fun having to run to the store while you are ill to pick up medicine. Spreading germs to everyone else in town is just not nice!

Okay, are you ready to be super impressed with how ingenious I am?

Here goes- LABEL YOUR MEDICINE CUPS with your child’s initials and LABEL YOUR NOSE DROPS so each person in the family uses their own! I used a sharpie marker on the bottom of the medicine cups. (yes, we do save them from tylenol and wash them really, really good.) I used stickers from dollar store sticker sheets. To make them more permanent I will be covering with clear packaging tape!

2nd TIP- if you have good nose spray bottle DO NOT THROW THEM OUT! I learned the hard way that not all nasal sprays actually spray up! I bought 2 new bottles that will not spray up and I am very disappointed Now I will keep the good spray bottles and wash them out and then refill with homemade nasal spray!

Simple YES! Easy to do YES! Just one way to keep germs to themselves.

What do you do to get ready for cold & flu season?

Tot School: Simple Gifts {Decorated Business Card Magnets}

November 16, 2012 By Thaleia 10 Comments

Decorated Business Card Magnets

Want to have your tot make gifts for Christmas? How about a Simple Gift that any glue stick loving toddler will enjoy? Do you have extra scrapbook paper? How about decorative punches?

I’m sure you have business card magnets from fairs or festival cluttering up your fridge. We happen to have hundreds left over from an old business that need put to good use. What better use than something cute and cheerful fro Grandma’s fridge?

Lil’ Red loves glue sticks and I have to admit we DO NOT ALLOW him enough time to glue! Shame on me. I’m a craft loving and mess loving mom, so why not more gluing? I guess I forget that he is a “big” boy now and can handle glue sticks very well.