Frugal "Beat the Boredom" Idea For Kids

Kids bored with their own toys?  Want to try something new, but you don't want to shell out a lot of money?  Well, try a toy swap.  We have done this amongst the Frugal Sisters and friends and here a few suggestions:

• Swap with families that you know will take good care of your toys.
• Swap toys/games that you won't be horribly upset if they aren't returned unscathed, even if you totally trust the family that you are swapping with, things happen.  You don't want to lose the special puzzle that you played with as a kid.   
• Label what you swap out with address labels or masking tape.  This can be a good job for the kids
• Make it fun, have "swap" play date.  Serve a snack and lay out items that you would be willing to swap.  Have another (or a few) family over and have them bring their swappable items along.  The kids can do the shopping while the moms do some visiting and act as supervisors.  Your level of involvement will depend on the ages of the kids.

Give it a try and let us know what works for you!  I am sure there are endless creative ways to do this.

One Tank Trip: Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, IN, Labor Day Weekend

photo credit

Are youi looking for a one tank trip to take you out of town on this long labor day weekend?  Here is a thought:  The Blueberry Festival in downtown, Plymouth, IN.  According to The North American Bus Association, this was ranked in the "Top 100 Events",  Located about an hour and a half northwest of the Fort, Plymouth sports this three day festival revolving around the super food, blueberries. 

Admission is free and some of the highlights include a tractor pull, pie eating contest, building your own bluebird house and "spectacular fireworks".  I haven't actually been to this festival, you can see pictures and a schedule events for yourself on the festival's website.  You can also see all that Marshall Count has to offer on their tourism website.   

Reminder: Last ACPL Rock the Plaza, Saturday, August 27

Just a reminder, the last of this summer's ACPL Rock the Plaza will take place this Saturday, August 27, 2011.  I have not ever attend this event, but I have been at Tin Caps games and heard and seen the crowds.  It appeared to be well attended with a variety of genres of music.

Check out ACPL's event page for more information about times.  You can also go here to get a list of the local bands scheduled to be playing this Saturday. 

Free Apple Corps Baseball Clinic: July 30, 2011

The Tin Caps are offering another completely free, members-only Apple Corps Baseball Clinic on Saturday, July 30, 2011.  This event will take place at 10:00 am.  It is open to all children ages 7 to 12 who are card carrying members of the Apple Corps Tin Caps Kids Club. 

If your kiddo has not signed up yet, you can do so (for FREE) by going here.  You must RSVP to Johnny ( Johnny@tincaps.com ) before the clinic if your kiddo wishes to attend.  I wish my kids were old enough to attend.  Let us know if anyone goes, I would be interested to see how it is run. 

Frugal Container Gardening Class

The Fort Wayne Parks and Rec is offering a container gardening class at the Botanical Conservatory in July.  If you dream of harvesting your own produce, but don't have much space, this is the class for you!

• Ages 12+
• One session, July 14 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm
• Fee:  $7, $4 for Botanical Conservatory members
• Register online or call 427-6011

Edible Playdough Recipe

As a 'blogger', I also read other blogs.  If you have little ones, icanteachmychild.com has great ideas for educating little ones in fun and creative ways.  I marvel at some of the ideas this woman comes up with. 

Here is a link to her Edible Playdough Recipe.  I am so excited to try this.  This would be great to try on one of these rainy afternoons, around snack time. 

Free Fort 4 Fitness Kids Marathon Training Group

The Fort 4 Fitness Kids Marathon will take place on Friday, September 23, 2011. If you haven't signed your child up, you can do so on the Fort 4 Fitness Kids Marathon web page.

The Parkview YMCA will sponsor a Kids Marathon training group. Training sessions will take place weekly and a coach will be available to assist in instructing the kiddos.  Parents are encouraged to participate in the training groups with their children. 

• Location:  Salomon Farm Trail
• Group will meet at the Parkview YMCA Pavilion
• July 6 - September 21
• Wednesdays
• 6 pm
• FREE to kids ages 6 and older

Also, Wednesdays are when the Salomon Farms Farmer's Market takes place from 4 - 7 pm.  So, you can accomplish two things at once!

As an aside, my oldest participated in the Kids Marathon last year, and it was a blast!  They get to run the end of the final 1.2 miles on the warning track of Parkview Field and they get a medal for participating.

Frugal Summer Fun For Seniors

No, I don't mean seniors in high school.  I mean those who are "chronologically gifted", as one of my sisters who is an NP in a long term care facility in Carmel endearingly referrers to her patients.  If in need of acute long term care, NO ONE loves her patients more than she does.

Anyways, the Fort Wayne Parks and Rec has once again come through with free entertainment and enrichment, this time for the 50 and over set.  Here is a list of some free/inexpensive entertainment offerings.

• Free Legal Counseling provided by Beers, Mallers, Backs and Salin, LLC.
• Provided at the Community Center on the first Friday of every month
• Call 427-6460 to make an appointment
• Offered to persons age 50 and over
• Lunch series providing education for "both current and future healthcare needs"
• Program is free (including lunch), but must pre-register by calling 427-6460
• Dates include
• Thursday July 7
• Thursday August 4
• Both dates offer a 10:45 and 11:45 sessions
• Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• Have your Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicaid and Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance questions answered by a trained SHIP counselor
• FREE program, must call 427-6460 to register
• Fun and Games
• Drop in the Community Center to play various games with others or on your own
• $1/game
• Visit the Fort Wayne Parks and Rec website for a complete schedule.  The games schedule is found by scrolling to the middle of the page.  Also, stop by the Community Center for a schedule of events or refer to your Fun Times Magazine on page 66.

I think we should be happy for every day that The Good Lord has blessed us with, so being a senior is something to be proud of! 

Boundless Playground to Open at Kreager Park, Friday June 10

The Boundless Playground at Kreager Park in New Haven is scheduled to have it's Grand Opening Ceremony this Friday, June 10.  The ceremony will start at 4:30 pm with refreshments and music to be provided.

This new playground was initiated by an 11 year old girl who is now 15 with the idea that all kids, regardless of physical abilities, should be able to play together.  The Journal Gazette ran a very poignant story on Monday.  You can read the article here.  (FYI:  If you are a crier, get the Kleenex out.) 

What an amazing journey!

Fort Wayne Parks and Rec: Free Summer Concert and Movie Series

The Fort Wayne Parks and Rec is again offering FREE concerts and movies at the Foellinger Theatre near Franke Park.  The concerts begin Friday, June 10.  The movies begin June 15.  All movies are shown at 8:30 pm.

For a complete list of concerts and movies, visit the Fort Wayne Parks and Rec website.  When you click on the previous link, it will take you to the Concert and Movie Series page of their site.  The concerts which require ticket purchase are listed first.  Scroll through these and the free concerts and movie schedule will be listed at the end. 

Frugal Summer Fun: Fort Wayne Parks and Rec Playgrounds: Not Just the Jungle Gym

Beginning June 14, The Fort Wayne Parks and Rec will be sponsoring Summer Playgrounds throughout the city.  Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, your child can participate in many fun activities overseen by park employees.  Some of the activities include learning enrichment, arts and crafts, kickball, whiffleball, Kohl's Healthy Kids program.  FWCS will also provide free lunches to kids present.  Also, each park will host a summer carnival one day of the summer. 

For a complete list of participating parks, visit the Parks Department website.

This site also lists the daily schedule and date of the carnival for each park. 

All of these activities are FREE and open to children 5 and older. 

New Haven Canal Days - Free Offering Highlights

New Haven Canal Days are officially in full swing as of today.  Here are a few of the 'frugal highlights'. 

• Army National Guard "Invades Schnelker Park"
• June 7 (Today!)
• Army National Guard will host a community picnic at Schnelker Park from 3pm to 8pm.  Free hot dogs and beverages will be served. 
• Kid's Day
• June 12
• At Schnelker Park, after the parade, from 1pm to 4pm
• Games, crafts, and fun activities in the Pavillion
• For the entire schedule and events listings, visit the New Haven Canal Days website.