Make Father's Day Special

Fathers are an amazing part of our lives and I wasn't really aware of this fact until I became an adult and had children. (This was also around the same time when I realized how great my mom must have been when I was a kid and how I never appreciated how much she did for me...but back to fathers.) Fathers are amazing and it has been while watching my husband change diapers, give baby baths, wrestle, tell stories, jump on the trampoline, tickle, play games, etc. that I have seen what a difference dads make.

My children love their dad. When they hear the garage door at the end of the day signaling that their daddy is finally home they all make a mad dash for the stairs so that they can be the first one to get a jump hug (jump hug = giant leap from the stairs into their daddy's arms). They love to tackle him and wrestle with him and snuggle with him. And they love doing all the scary, dangerous stuff with him that I would never let them do.

Dads teach kids about life. They share their experiences, their passions, their hobbies, and so much more. They give their kids advice as they show them how to fix a tire or repair a broken toy. They protect their children and provide for their needs. Dads make kids feel safe even when there's a storm raging outside the tent's walls. They take kids on adventures and explore never-before-seen terrain. Dads create bursts of fun at any moment.

In less than 24 hours it will be Father's Day. In fact, it might even be Father's Day right now. And don't you want to show the fathers in your life how much you appreciate and care about them? If so, here are some fun and simple ways to show the fathers in your life that you care.

1. Make him King for the Day: All you need are a crown (paper, fabric, cardboard, etc.) and possibly a cape and you are in business. To really make this work you should probably address him as "Your Majesty" and try to play the part of the loyal servant for the day. You can also play regal music whenever he walks anywhere (which is corny but silly and fun too).
2. Make him Feel SUPER: Maybe the dad in your life doesn't like the whole king bit but they are really into superheroes. Just make them feel as if they really are a superhero for the day. Plus, you can still use that cape. 
3. Switch Roles: It can be fun to let the dad act like the kid for the day and the kids like the dad. This becomes pretty hilarious pretty quickly, especially if you've got some good actors in your family. This can also be fairly eye opening as each side will get to see how the other really views them. Just remember to be nice.
4. Childhood Stories: Ask your dad to tell you some of their favorite childhood stories. They will love this, especially if your dad is on the older side and just loves to tell stories in general. This is probably my own dad's favorite thing.
5. Make a Movie: One year I went around and recorded my kids saying different things that they liked about their dad: what they liked to do with him, their favorite memory of their dad, what they thought his favorite things were, etc. Then I put the videos of their responses and mixed it with some pictures of them with their dad and made a quick little movie for my husband to watch on Father's Day. This didn't take a lot of time and he loved it. 
   
6. 6. Write a Thank You Note: Write your dad or the father of your children a thank you note for all that they do. Everyone likes to be appreciated for the work that they do and fathers are no exception. Plus, all you need is a piece of paper and something to write with.
7. 7. Impromptu Dance Party: Throw an impromptu dance party whenever they enter a room. If you can quickly put on some music...great, if not, just dance. It'll be fun and will be sure to make them smile. And who knows, they may even join you. If you aren't into dancing, you could also just try breaking into wild applause. 
8. Relax: Maybe the father in your life just needs a little break. In that case, make his day as relaxing as possible. Remove all deadlines, don't rush about, just relax. You may also try setting up a hammock, playing Hawaiian music, massaging his back, and providing pina coladas.  
9. His Choice: Ask your dad or husband how they would like to spend the day. This may sound like a cop out but it may actually be what the men in your life would like best. Besides, how do you know what they'd really like if you don't ask.
10. Breakfast in Bed: Who doesn't like breakfast in bed? And this is a really great way to let dad know that you are thinking of them from the very first moments of the day.
11. Relive Great Memories: Break out the photo book or fire up the computer so that you can sit down with your dad and laugh over old photos of the family. Remember the great times that you've shared together.
    
12. Make New Great Memories: Spend the day as a family making new great memories. Do a fun activity together that your dad loves and make sure to laugh as much as possible.
13. Make the Day Joyful: This one just involves being happy and spreading that joy around to your family and especially to your dad. Make it your goal to try to improve everyone's day. And make sure to spend special attention on your dad. Give him lots of smiles!
14. Hug: Make sure to give your dad a hug on Father's Day, even if he isn't really a hugger. He'll appreciate it whether he says so or not.
15. Customize: Every father is different so make sure that the way that you honor your father is meaningful to him. Really think about what kind of a person he is. Think about the kinds of things that he likes and doesn't like. Think about the kinds of things that he likes to do. Think about the kind of father that he is. And then think about the best way that you could show your dad that you love and appreciate him.

Love and appreciation are what Father's Day is all about. Make sure to tell the fathers in your life how much they mean to you. I know that I would be a very different person if it weren't for my dad and I'm so appreciative of everything he has done to help me grow. I'm also incredibly grateful for the amazing father that my husband is. My children are truly blessed because their dad really is SUPER.

P.S. These ideas can be used on days that are not Father's Day. You don't need a special day to tell your dad that you love them. In fact, why don't you go and do it right now.

Small Ways to Save $

Often times the most difficult part of any change that you make is knowing where to get started. The same is true with saving money. Most of us want to save money, but we don't know where to start. So let's start small.

Here's is a list of small and simple things that you can do to save money. Not all of these things will apply to you and your life situation, but look over the list and I'm sure that you'll find a few great ideas that will save you a little green.

25 Simple Ways to Save

1. Pay with cash (groceries, dates, outings, etc.). People spend 20% less when they buy groceries with cash.
2. Eat at home more (restaurants are expensive)
3. Trade babysitting with a friend. This works great to make going on dates cheaper.
4. Make a grocery list and stick to it
5. Plan out and cook your own meals
6. Clean out your fridge and pantry (find good food you forgot about)
7. Buy grocery store or generic brands
8. Don’t buy microwave dinners (they are way too expensive for what you get)
9. Pack a lunch for work
10. Wait for at least 24 hours before buying something over $100
11. Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions you don’t read or can read online for free
12. Rethink your phone plan (Are you paying for more than you use? Do you actually need a cell phone?) Sometimes just calling your carrier and asking for a cheaper plan can do wonders.
13. Use the library (There’s free stuff there!)
14. Get cheaper clothes (hand-me-downs, thrift, etc.)
15. Stop unnecessary shopping (only go shopping when you actually need something) = No more window shopping
16. Cut the gym membership and exercise at home

17. Make your next vacation a STAYcation
18. Use coupons, Groupons, online deals, etc.
19. Ditch cable TV (Netflix, Amazon, etc. are cheaper)
20. Make gifts instead of buy them (or gift your time)
21. Invite friends over instead of going out
22. Drink WATER: Other drinks are expensive
23. Check out free events in town (there are lots of free entertainment and activities)
24. Pack your own food for a road trip
25. Come up with free or cheap dates that are fun instead of just opting for the old dinner and a movie.

If you can be proactive and a little imaginative, you might even find that it's really fun to save money.  After all, isn't spending an evening with your spouse at a free local concert or playing frisbee golf in the park a lot more fun than spending a lot of money going to see that movie that you're going to forget about within a month? Nod your head and say, "Yes."

Book Review: The Tale of Nottingswood

I read The Tale of Nottingswood aloud to my children over the course of several nights. It is a great book to read aloud due to the lyrical nature of the book. It's a lot like reading Dr. Seuss books that are enjoyable to read because the words bounce around and play off of your tongue. I had a lot of fun with it.

My kids loved the mystical creatures and the unique, little town where the story was set. I loved that the story became a great springboard to discussions of ethics with my children. My kids asked questions each night after reading a portion of the book. It led to great discussions and some really enjoyable talks with my children. The book didn't shove morality or ethics down your throat, but ethical situations were definitely interlaced throughout the narrative and were things that my kids picked up on.

This was a very fun book to read. I recommend it to those who want to read something a little beyond the ordinary. I also highly recommend reading it aloud to your children.

Find this great book on Amazon and at http://www.nottingswood.com.