Vacations are a wonderful opportunity to reconnect as a family, relax, and reenergize. And if you can do it on a budget? So much the better!

Vacation season is upon us! I know this because we went to Disneyland this week, thinking we would beat the summer rush. No can do. The park was teaming with people by 10 am, a sign that vacations have already begun.

We don’t have too many true vacations under our belt. In past years we were too broke to make them a reality. Now that we are debt free, we have a little more wiggle room to allow for real live vacations (read: those you take just for fun, not to visit family or for work purposes).

Currently, we’ve got one staycation planned as well as scoping out the right time to head back to Mammoth Lakes, a locale that we are slowly getting to know and claim as our own.

While we can finally take vacations, we still like to do it on a budget. Else, we won’t be going on very many. Travel for a family of eight is more expensive than it used to be.

Here are 12 ways to save on vacation:

1. Plan a staycation.

Who says you have to go anywhere? Depending on where you live, planning vacation days at home can be just as fun and a little less expensive than getting out of Dodge.

Check out Amy’s tips for planning a great staycation, including planning for meals out and unplugging. If you live in San Diego (or plan to visit), you’ll definitely want to review all the San Diego fun available. Want to enjoy another city, check out this list of nationwide staycation locations.

2. Buy, rent, or borrow a GPS or download an app.

On our last trip to Mammoth, we missed our turn which took us a couple hours and a million miles out of our way. It cost us both time and money in gas. So, be sure you know where you’re going and have a great map, or better, a great GPS to guide you on your way.

Our GPS was recently stolen, so we’re in the market for something new. Leave your suggestions in the comments, please!

3. Consider the cheapest mode of transportation.

For our family, road trips give us the biggest bang for our buck. Our SUV holds 8 people plus all our stuff. Taking the train or flying would be less convenient and a lot more money.

But, your situation may be different. Maybe you live right by the train station or airport. Maybe you’re a party of two or three. Airfare might just be cheaper than gas, so count the cost before you hit the road.

4. Pack your own food and drinks.

Whether we’re taking a trip to Disneyland or heading for a week at the lake, bringing our own food allows us a number of perks: money savings, healthier eating, and convenience.

At Disneyland this week, we packed plenty of snacks as well as a full lunch for the crowd and bottled water, juices, and chocolate milk. (The security guards saw it all at the checkpoint, so I assume it was cool to bring it in.)

We bought a few treats throughout the park, including a pretzel, onion rings, cotton candy, and a pop. We kinda shared, but those items totaled about $20 and I waited in a horrendously long line for food. Packing our own easily saved us $100 in food as well as allowed us to eat when we wanted.

The same goes for longer trips. I usually pack a number of freezer meals to take on vacation as well as some pantry stable items that come together for quick meals. Not only does this save me time on meal prep, but it saves us a ton of money. This savings allows us to enjoy a meal or two out or to upgrade our accommodations.

5. Take an emergency bag of OTC meds and be sure to pack toiletries.

It wouldn’t be a vacation without someone getting sick or forgetting their toothbrush. A few too many times we’ve paid through the nose for OTC meds or replacement toiletries. Now, I pack extras as well as an emergency kit so that we are prepared for the unexpected.

6. Check for online deals.

If you plan to do site seeing on your trip or visiting a local attraction, be sure to check their website before you go. Often you can find good deals directly through the attraction’s website. For instance, Colonial Williamsburg gives a discount on their 3-day pass if you buy it online. Legoland California offers you 5 days for the price of one!

7. Buy group coupon deals.

If you’re heading out of town or just staying home, consider buying group coupon deals that reflect your family’s interests and tastes in food. I’ve since lost track of how many of these sites are out there. I’ve purchased some Groupons (head’s up! referral link there) with mixed experiences as well as one from Google Offers. There are even more that I’m not even tracking with, like AmazonLocal and Living Social.

Keep your eyes open for something that you were already planning on doing or buying. Do not buy it unless you’re sure you will use it. If it’s not your town, you may be stuck with something you can’t use once you go home.

8. Book your hotel online.

We’ve always made online reservations for hotels and been quite pleased. Many times we’ve found out about deals. While we still need to call the hotel about the fine details (connecting rooms, no feathers, etc), we’ve had great success.

Life as MOM contributor, Amy recently shared some great tips for saving money by booking your hotel online. Be sure to read through those. She is an expert globe trotter.

9. Go in the off season.

Even though summer just beckons you to go someplace else, often the off-season is a better time to go to get the best deals. Hotels will dramatically reduce their rates if the alternative is to have a host of empty rooms.

Think outside the box. Visit a ski area or the desert in the summer time; head to the beach in winter. If you’re flexible about your travel times, you can save a boatload of money.

10. Rent a condo instead of a hotel room.

Since we are such a large party, we have a choice between renting two rooms or finding a condo. We’ve found the condo to be more beneficial in many ways. We save money – a condo is typically less money per night than two rooms. We have more space – condos include living space and kitchen areas. We eat better – we can more easily cook our own meals in a condo.

Many time share resorts will rent empty units to regular folk. You can get great deals this way with all the amenities.

11. Rethink your souvenir purchases.

On a recent trip to an historical site, I came across all kinds of cool things that perfectly suited the time period. They were also cool things that I could buy online for less.

You know you can buy that Disneyland sweatshirt for much cheaper online; why buy it at the park? Princess tshirts (above) on clearance at Walmart for three bucks, bought the day before we went to the Happiest Place on Earth. My girls are happy to have Princess shirts, they don’t care where they were purchased.

We tend to confuse souvenirs with experiences. You don’t have to buy the thing while you’re having the experience. Buy it before or after and pocket the change!

If your kids really want something from the trip, consider those flattened pennies. For $0.51 that’s the cheapest souvenir money can buy.

12. Pay cash.

I know, you don’t like to hear that. But paying cash is a better way. We feel so good on our vacations knowing that we really are enjoying the fruit of our labor — and not money we don’t have.

Research shows that you spend less if you hand over real money as opposed to swiping a card. You’re also more careful to track your purchases if you will eventually run out.

Granted, this does mean you need to be more careful about loss or theft. Using a travel money pouch can help you store your cash, cards, or traveler’s checks more securely.

Vacationing can be a wonderful family adventure. And if you don’t bite off more than you can chew — or pay for, you will all have a wonderful time!

Other related vacation ideas:

• Preparing the House Before Vacation
• Using the Internet to Book a Hotel and Save Money
• Take Food with You
• Vacation: A Favorite Fall Tradition
• Don’t Be Afraid to Travel with Children
• Making Road Trips More Enjoyable
• Be Ready for that Next Road Trip
• An Amusement Park Survival Guide
• Taking Freezer Meals on the Road
• How to Vacation with Children without Losing Your Mind
• Tips for Traveling with Kids
• Traveling with a Baby
• Keeping the Joy in Family Travel

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

12 Ways to Save on Vacation (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Head’s up! If you make a purchase through any Amazon links, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.

Movie night is a pretty big deal around here. It started back in the days before we ever had cable or even the internet. We were a no-TV family for about ten or twelve years.

For the longest time we didn’t have a TV set or video player.When it was just the two of us, it was no big deal. And when FishBoy14 was a babe, it was no big deal. But, right about the time our oldest turned four and FishBoy11 was a toddler, I was pregnant with our third child and just plain exhausted.

My mother-in-law gave us a hand-me-down, old school, tv/vcr combo. We still have some of the first movies that she bought us. Lyle the Kindly Viking is still a favorite. And I’m on the verge of dejunking our vast VCR collection that is now about ten years old.

Back in those days, we limited any and all screen time, meaning the lot of us watched one movie once a week on movie night, usually on a Friday or Saturday evening when we were home without company.

Today, it’s still a weekly ritual for our family. Since we don’t watch TV on a regular basis (outside of hockey season), movie night is still a big deal. We pop corn and gather in the living room to watch a movie together. I’m always amazed at the conversations that grow from these screenings.

Nowadays we usually pick up a movie from Redbox. There are multiple locations nearby, and we like being able to get the Blu-Ray version and turn on the subtitles. (Yes, we’re old.) I can reserve the movie online and send hubs to get it on his way home from work. They almost always offer free rental codes for some reason or another, but it’s pretty cheap anyway. If you use my link to reserve online, we’ll both get a free movie rental, too.

Sometimes we stream them from Amazon or find something decent on network television. The finding something decent, however, can be tricky. Recently, we have watched some great, GREAT movies — as well as some duds.

Here are some of the winners:

Hugo - We rented Hugo via Redbox which meant that we had a full 24 hours to watch it. I almost wish we had watched it twice. It was really good. Set in post-World War I Paris, the film follows a young orphan boy named Hugo who lives in the train station. He is fascinated with machinery and clocks, having been taught the trade by his father.

He has a strange robot-like contraption that his father found abandoned in a museum attic. He’s intent on restoring this robot. The movie’s mystery surrounds this goal of his.

The Adventures of Tintin - Another Redbox rental, we did end up watching Tin Tin twice. Hubs didn’t join us the first time round for some reason. And we liked it so well, we thought he might enjoy it, too. So we happily watched it again before it had to go back.

I remembered the Tintin comic books from my year living in France. They had been quite the rage in 1992. My kids loved the film. As did I.

This animated adventure film is well done cinematically — and the voices are fabulous, featuring Andy Serkis from Lord of the Rings as the Captain.

I was surprised that the film had a PG rating — for alcoholism and drunkenness. It’s a fair warning, just not one that you usually see. Alcoholism plays a key role in certain character’s choices and such. Obviously, this is good food for discussion with your children, depending on age and temperament.

War Horse - I received a copy of this movie to review. It tells the tale of a horse and his boy who become separated upon England’s entrance into World War I. The boy’s father has sold the horse to the army. The boy vows never to forget him and promises the horse that they will someday be reunited.

The film follows the horse’s journey as he is in possession of one army and then another. Regardless of whose “side” he’s on, the horse finds the people who truly love horses, who create a bond with him, and who help him survive.

Hubs thought it was cheesy. But, I like cheese sometimes. Made me cry.

What’s a favorite movie you’ve seen recently?

Family Movie Nights: Hugo, Tintin, War Horse is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Colonial Williamsburg, formerly a colonial capital, has been restored in architecture as well as in spirit, making it the ideal “family field trip.”

I’m a West Coast girl. I’ve lived in Southern California for most of my life. When I’ve lived or traveled elsewhere, I haven’t ventured father east than the Mississippi, unless it was to hop all the way to Europe or journey south of the border to Honduras. While I’ve hiked in a rain forest or toured throughout the South of France, I just don’t know much about 3/4 of my own nation’s territory.

Instead, most of my life experience has been rooted in the West and, historically speaking, in the adventures of the Spanish Explorers or the pioneers. The kinds of field trips I took as a child and those that I now take with my kids involve Spanish missions, stagecoaches, cowboys, and the Wild West.

But, recently, I got a chance to go back in time and in space to Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Wanna go with? Let’s take a tour!

All photos by Heidi.

My sister and her family moved to Williamsburg last summer. My niece’s school borders the gardens of the Governor’s Palace. My guess is that she will have a different cultural experience in second grade than my sister and I did at her age. As one who has visited many of California’s missions, regularly drives streets named for famous Spanish explorers, and knows her maize from her pintos, I’m amazed at the vastness of our country as well as the richness and diversity of its history.

This is one of the things that struck me earlier this month when I had a chance to tour Colonial Williamsburg with Tsh, Stephanie, Sarah, Mandi, and Heidi. We didn’t get to spend a lot of time roaming, but we were extremely grateful to the folks at Colonial Williamsburg to allow us complimentary passes to check out the place.

We even got to hear George Washington speak!

In case Colonial Williamsburg is as new to you as it was to me, let me explain. This “living village” is a restoration of the original Williamsburg, capital of Virginia during colonial times. It witnessed much of history first hand, including The War for Independence as well as The War Between The States.

“From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the political, cultural, and educational center of what was then the largest, most populous, and most influential of the American colonies,” states the Colonial Williamsburg website. Considering that many of our nation’s founding fathers were also Virginians, it was most certainly a happening place to be.

Today it offers visitors a chance to step back in time. Not only are the buildings restored to the way they would have been 200 years ago (plus indoor plumbing and air conditioning in certain areas), but interpreters roam the streets, man the shops, and speak from platforms, giving you a real taste of 18th century life.

This woman worked in the dressmaker’s shop, sewing and explaining her craft to visitors. We took shelter from a rain storm in this shop that is kept impeccably clean. The dresses looked like they’d be so fun to wear. I knew my girls would have such fun here.

Since things are kept to period standards here in the Historic Area, there are no electric lights in the public areas. So, when rain clouds cover the sun and the afternoon slips into evening, it really does get dark in this shop. I can’t imagine sewing dresses by candlelight, let alone without a machine!

We probably don’t know how good we have it these days.

However, it was nice and soothing to dine by candlelight. One night we splurged at Chowning’s Tavern. And I do mean splurge. Probably one of the most expensive meals I’ve eaten in quite some time. But, it was all a part of the experience, which evidently, is NOT true to the 18th century in all ways. Hehe.

Their lunch menu is vastly different in price, so plan on lunch at the Tavern.

I’m a history geek, so I like to go authentic when I can. The tavern’s menu is reflective of what folks might have eaten at the time. The servers are knowledgeable to tell you about different aspects of colonial dining. We split a few orders of Welsh Rarebit which I’ve read about in books and cookbooks for years yet had never tasted. Very rich and good when piping hot.

During dinner we were treated to roaming minstrels, another aspect of a visit to Colonial Williamsburg.

Walking through the village of Williamsburg was extremely peaceful. The gardens are beautiful, the flowers were all in bloom, and the streets were tranquil. I imagine there are crowds galore on certain days, but we must have timed our visit perfectly. It felt like we had the place to ourselves. I could have sat under a tree and spent the day happily.

One of the highlights of visiting the Historic Area was our tour of the Governor’s Palace. Since this was once a capital of the Virginia Colony, the building, reconstructed from original plans, is full of history. I loved hearing the stories our guide had to tell about different rooms, different household items, and the different customs of the time.

If you live within a stone’s throw of Williamsburg, or have plans to travel that way, it definitely is a fun and educational stop to make. There’s so much to see and do, you could easily spend several days exploring. And if your kids are studying the 18th century or American history, it’s definitely a must-see.

Have you been to Colonial Williamsburg?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary pass to visit Colonial Williamsburg, but I am not under any obligation to post about my visit. All opinions are my own.

Let’s Tour Colonial Williamsburg is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

It is better to give than receive — unless it puts you in hock! Avoid debt and overspending by giving gifts wisely and economically.

1. Bake something.

Bake someone happy with homemade breads, cookies, cakes, and pies. Homemade is always better than storebought. And the ingredients can often be less expensive that a fancy bakery. Package them nicely in a cloth lined basket or paper box. Deliver with a smile.

2. Give a gift card.

It is the thought that counts! A lower value gift card to a fun splurge like Starbucks or iTunes is often more welcome than an expensive doodah that will eventually end up in the donations pile. It doesn’t need to be high priced to be fun.

3. Package some cash.

Likewise, a creative cash present will bring a huge smile to the honored friend. When Aunt Cass sent us our “box of chocolates”, I was bowled over by her creativity. I haven’t even spent any of it ($43.15 to be exact) since it’s just too cute for words. It’s a little emergency fund, perfect for teens, college students, and, ahem, grown-ups.

4. Shop the clearance.

You will be amazed what great things you can find on clearance, especially if you start looking early. I have found great culinary gifts on clearance including a French press for $5! Keep an eye on the clearance section in your favorite stores for great deals.

5. Give an experience.

Sometimes time doing an activity together is worth more than any gift. Think picnic, a day at the beach, a trip to an amusement park, a movie night with popcorn and large boxes of candy. Consider your birthday person, graduate or other honoree to be the guest of honor and treat him or her like royalty.

6. Stock up on seasonal sales.

If you’re looking for token or hostess gifts, then keep your eyes open at back to school time, the holidays, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Candy, chocolates, candles, dishes, other small gift items, and school supplies often go on great sales at these times. Stock up on these items and save them to repackage as gifts.

Yes, you can even transform humble school supplies into gifts.

7. Use Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you with “Swagbucks” for searching online, participating in surveys or in other actions. You can redeem your Swagbucks for a number of prizes including Amazon and Starbucks gift cards. We have used the Amazon cards to offset gift giving costs at Christmas and birthdays.

Plus, Swagbucks will also award you points when you refer friends. For instance, if you signed up with this link, I would get some Swagbucks for sharing the love with you.

8. Pre-order new releases on Amazon.

Amazon offers a number of great services including Prime free shipping, a lending library, and free streaming movies. But, many folks don’t understand their pre-order policy. If you pre-order a new release (ie. before it hits the stores), you will be guaranteed the lowest price on that item between the time you pre-order and the release date.

Since Amazon prices fluctuate so frequently, this can save you a lot of money — as well as time spent checking the price.

9. Make a meal to deliver.

Who doesn’t like a home cooked meal? Everyone from busy moms to starving students to hungry bachelors will appreciate a home cooked meal. Take a few extra minutes to package it in a fancy manner and deliver with a smile.

For new parents or other busy folk, consider stashing several meals in their freezer so that they can enjoy your gift for several days into the future.

10. Order online to save money on gas and to use cash-back programs.

Shopping online has been a real blessing to me, especially in the days when all the kids had to be latched into carseats. Not only did it save me money to shop from home, but it also saved me from endless errands and dragging more poor kids into a myriad of stores when we couldn’t find what we were looking for.

I can also use cash-back services like Ebates to get cash back on my purchases when I initiate my shopping session through their portal. I can maximize my rewards by using Ebates’ tell-a-friend referral program. Whenever a friend signs up with my link, we both win.

Plus, it’s nice to shop in my pajamas.

11. Request free samples.

There are so many wonderful free samples available out there. One year, I planned ahead and saved up enough free granola bars to stuff the kids’ stockings at Christmas! And now that I think about it, some samples are very generous, making it easy for you to put together a fun gift basket — for FREE!

12. Give a memory.

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever given have been of the photographic variety. Whether it takes the shape of a video slideshow, a photo album, or even just a framed picture, photo gifts are fun, meaningful, and typically quite frugal.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

12 Ways to Save on Gifts (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Decorating a cake you’ve baked at home is not difficult. In fact, it’s a great way to customize it for taste and birthday party theme — without paying a high price. You CAN have your cake and eat it, too!

If I can decorate a home baked cake, so can you! I am not all that gifted in this area, but my kids are always happy. And that is what counts!

Here are some ideas to get you started.

• A Cake Decorating Tutorial
• Decorating Cakes with Playmobil
• Cake Decorating for Normal People

Sports Cakes

LA Kings Cake

Disc Golf

Surfer Cake

Movie Cakes

Indiana Jones

and another Indiana Jones

Cars 2 Cake

Captain Jack, Pirates of the Caribbean

Death Star, Star Wars

Rapunzel, Tangled Cake

Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story

A Drive-in Movie Theatre

Book Cakes

Narnia – Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Fancy Nancy

Character Cakes

Dora the Explorer

Bob the Builder

Sonic the Hedgehog

Lego Bionicle Thornax

Pokeball and Pikachu

Shamu

Cakes for Grownups

Dave Ramsey

What’s your favorite out of all your birthday cakes, past or present?

Easy Cakes You Can Decorate Yourself is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Occasionally, readers write with questions that I know others might be able to add to or benefit from. Today we’re talking about video games, gaming systems, and how to know if and when to introduce those to your household.

Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, and be sure to add your two cents in the comments section.

Q.I was hoping you could share with me the age your kids were when you first allowed video games? I have three boys-7, 3 and 7 mo. We homeschool. Winter is long around here and the big guy wants a Wii. Bad. Am I nuts to give in so early? Obviously the baby won’t be joining in, but I don’t see how I’ll be able to keep the almost 4 yr old away. Any advice is much appreciated!

A. Well, this is, indeed, the five million dollar question! While I would like to say that our family is immune to the mind-numbing powers of the video game, I can’t. I don’t really have “an answer”, but I’m happy to share our experience.

Our life with video games

My kids love to play video games, be they computer, gaming system, or iPad. I never had any intention of buying anything video game related. And in fact, in the early years, I didn’t.

I know first hand the addictive qualities of video games, having spent adolescent nights bleary eyed trying to beat Pacman as well as wasted adult days absorbed in Tetris or Baby Park. I can’t get those minutes back and now that every second of my life is accounted for, I want that time back! I guess we could say I have some video game regrets of my own.

It seems time slips by unnoticed when one is playing a video game. But to deny their presence and influence in our culture is unrealistic. The real question is who will control whom?

I will be the first to admit that video games have a fairly large presence in our home life. I don’t like to admit it. I think there’s an unspoken law in Parentdom that you’re a better mom if your kids don’t watch TV, don’t know a Pokemon from a Super Mario Brother, and never eat processed sugars.

While I know where we “coulda, shoulda, woulda,” that’s not always our reality. This is:

1. You want it, you buy it.

I think the saving and subsequent ownership is an important part of the equation. If you want something bad enough, you’ll do what you need to do to make it happen. And since I don’t share their love of video games, I don’t plan on paying for them.

My oldest, at about age 8 decided that he wanted a Nintendo 64. He had played a number of different game systems at friends’ homes and decided that the vintage “cassette” games were ideal, especially with baby siblings in the house. These could not be scratched or destroyed as easily as the Game Cube which was current at the time, seven years ago. (Smart boy.)

His brothers were then 5, 3, and 1. Only one of them was really capable of playing anything because back then most of the games were too advanced for toddlers anyway. Regardless, we limited game time to weekends and perhaps 30 minutes on a school night.

My oldest son and my husband shopped on ebay and he bought a used system and the games to go with. Since he had invested his money (with some help from younger brothers), it was a great experience in saving toward purchases and shopping for good deals.

A few years later, friends gave us a Game Cube that they no longer wanted and the hunt for used Game Cube games commenced, now with more boys saving money and investing in games or requesting them at birthdays and Christmas.

Inevitably, Nintendo retired these systems and the games became harder and harder to find. That is the way with technology — and marketing.

Since the Wii was/is pretty cool, the boys started to save their money. With fervor. They did odd jobs around the house. They weeded the flower beds in the summer heat to earn extra money. And they reached their goal! It was amazing to see how hard they worked.

And even though they had the cash earmarked for this special purchase, they were willing to share it when their parents were short on funds!

We ended up buying them the system – and have been known to play it on occasion. They spent their savings on the accessories and games, which add up anyway. We were so proud of their hard work and determination and their generosity. And they are still responsible for buying games and accessories.

Currently, only the boys, age 14, 11, 9,and 7, are very active with the Wii, though my 5-year old daughter occasionally joins in. Each of the boys has saved the money to buy handheld systems as well, Nintendo DS, and the Girl says she wants one as well.

She also has her eye on a Bitty Baby, so we’ll see who wins out in the end.

2. Set limits on the gaming time.

Video games are generally off-limits on school nights, and we try to have time limits on the weekend gaming. While timers have worked on and off in the past, inevitably we have bouts of too much time spent on gaming — or fighting as a result of overly competitive spirits.  This is our cue to pull back.

We have called for Total Unplugging on occasion in order to curb the control that gaming has.

Our plan for the summer is to have a few windows per day when gaming is allowed. The rest of the day the games need to be powered down, and children need to be involved in other pursuits: reading, playing outside, doing chores, or playing “real” games.

Having “gaming hours” is easier for me to monitor when there are so many people playing games!

3. Playing together does matter.

I think we could live a happy existence without video games, but I also know that my kids truly do enjoy this pursuit. Now that we’ve dipped a toe into iPad apps, I realize the huge addiction/education possibilities. It’s all about balance.

And there’s the added value of time spent together. My husband has had wonderful experiences playing football and hockey via the Wii with our boys. They’ve also had great times playing real football and hockey outside. But, as you say, winter is long. Having indoor pursuits is nice. And so is time spent together.

Do I wish we had fewer video games? Yes. Do I wish I could claim the no-video games, no-TV rule that I once held to steadfastly? Sure. My life would be a lot simpler — and a lot quieter.

Would that make me a better mom? I’m not so sure.

How do YOU handle video games at your house?

Q&A: Video Games is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

We’re planning for summer fun around here. Today Prerna shares how to enjoy the summer daze with an child.

We’re enjoying full-blown summer days here in India and soon it will be that time when school shuts down and our daughter is at home. all day. alone. with us.

Yes, we have an ‘only’ child and while we do manage to keep her engaged and entertained successfully during after-school hours and during the cool, winter months when picnics and outdoor fun is easier to manage, the summer is a whole other story.

The days are hot and long, school is out, friends are away with families traveling and she is pretty much housebound during the day. Yes, and we, my husband and I, have a busy home business to run as well.

So, here’s how we make the summer days fun for her and keep ourselves productive and sane.

A Stash of ‘Special’ Toys

Yes, every mother’s secret tool – special toys. If you haven’t put together a box of toys that you don’t pull out every day, do that now! Whenever, she’s getting cranky and irritable with her collection of cars or dolls, we pull out that special box which basically, has toys she hasn’t played with in months. They’re all new to her and I can almost hear her squeal in delight as she opens the box to pull out that old-for-us but new-for-her pushback car.

An Ice Cream a Day

I know. An ice cream every day. But hear me out. You can make fudgecicles by freezing simple, home made chocolate pudding in molds. Or you can do what Jessica does and make your own ice cream. Healthier and cheaper.

You’ve gotta admit, every kid loves ice cream and there is something about having a bowl filled with slurpy, yummy, ice cream when the sun is blazing outside.

Splash Fests to Cool Off

We don’t have a garden because we live in an apartment. But we let her splash around in the bath for around 10 to 15 minutes. She loves it. It cools her down and playing with water and her strange, assorted collection of bath toys just makes her day. Plus, it gives us 15 minutes to catch up on email or other biz-related tasks.

Quiet Play Time

In my earlier post on fun activities for an only child, I shared how much our little girl loves pretend play, reading books and DIY craft. We schedule all of those as well for the summer days and let her play quietly till she tires of them and needs something else to do.

A Routine to Keep it All Together

I am a huge fan of planning and routines and the summer holidays are no different. Regardless of the activities you plan or think of, they’ll be of little use if you don’t have a routine in place. Knowing what to do every day makes life much simpler for this work-at-home mom of an only child. I try (operative word, try) to not fly by the seat of my pants and yes, Jessica’s Organizing Life as Mom eBook is my trusty sanity-saver, along with her Summer Survival Guide that gives me much-needed inspiration whenever I’m stuck.

Keep in mind that all these ways to have fun can be used in families with multiples and where parents are not working out of home. However, when you have just the one child and a home business to boot, these simple activities are an easy way to keep her engaged without the need for another child for company and give you some time to work on your business as well.

Interested in more summer fun and sanity savers for the busy work-at-home mom? Sign up to be notified when my eBook Summer Sanity Savers   launches soon and get access to free chapters, a special LOW pre-launch prices and fun bonuses as well!

– Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in parenting with love, being postively productive, and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her simple tips and easy-to-do ideas at The Mom Writes or follow her on Twitter.

Summer Fun for the Only Child is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

I know, I know. Summer is over a month away. But, the time will pass before we know it. And as JessieLeigh pointed out earlier today, let’s plan to have fun!

Pinterest, while a potential time suck and a sometimes, not too realistic look at life, can also be a fabulous bookmarking site to help you save the good ideas you come across in your daily surfing.

It’s actually one of the first bookmarking sites that really works for me.

Last summer I created a board for Summer Fun. I was pleasantly surprised to check it again and to find some cool ideas that I had forgotten. I’ve added to it already, in anticipation of the summer months.

I can just imagine a hot, boring day when someone whines, “There’s nothing to do….” Just open up pinterest and find something!

Got a great idea for summer?

Finding Summer Fun on Pinterest is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Summer vacation is fast approaching. Be ready! JessieLeigh shares some ways that she plans to have fun with her kids.

It is May.  MAY.  I’m not entirely sure how that happened as it seems like I was just flipping the calendar to March the other day but, alas, May is, indeed, upon us.  If you have children in public school, that means summer break is just around the corner.  Whether you’ve still got another month or so (like me) or the end of the year is mere weeks away, it will be here before we know it.

Best to be prepared, I say!

Some people thrive in the relaxed, no-structure environment of summer break. Others get panicky and alarmed at the endless days looming long with no plan.  And then there are the rest of us — lost somewhere in the middle.

I always let out a sigh of relief at no longer having to have everyone up, dressed, fed, ready, packed, and out the door every single day of the week.  I like the opportunity to be spontaneous, lazy, or flexible from time to time.  Still, that day-in, day-out “spontaneity” can be just as draining as the heavily-scheduled and activity-packed school days we deal with throughout the year.

What’s a mommy to do?

Host a fun camp at home.

For our family, we have found great success in implementing “Summer Camps.”  I first stumbled upon this idea while reading through Jessica’s Summer Survival Guide.  She’s got tons of tips and ideas in there, but this was the one that really, really resonated with me.

Who says that summer can only be fun if there’s no plan or structure?  Why can’t we PLAN to have fun, learn, and explore?

Last year, I loosely planned nine week’s worth of camps.  That may sound like a ton but, really, it took less than a half hour each week to do all the planning, including getting the necessary materials from our local library.  Because this was all new to me, I sat down, armed with the Summer Survival Guide, and read out the varying camp ideas that Jessica provides.  I happen to have three children, so I let each choose three topics.  Easy peasy.

I planned books, songs, crafts, cooking projects, and learning activities to fill about ninety minutes each day.  We would eat a leisurely breakfast, I’d do any quick computer work I needed to attend to, and then I’d give the signal for camp to begin– a song specially chosen to match that week’s theme.

When we did Bear Camp, for example, I would let my children know we were about to start by playing “The Bare Necessities” (from The Jungle Book).  We’d read some books, both fiction and non-fiction, sing songs, and play games.  Art projects and cooking crafts kept idle hands occupied.

For some of our camps, we even planned “field trips” where my mom would have a special themed activity and snack ready at her house.  Such fun!  (This could easily be done with a friend or neighbor if you’re not lucky enough to have a local grandma.)  We capped off each week with our traditional pizza and a movie night; it was always a blast to find a flick to fit that week’s camp theme.

Because it was our first time attempting anything along these lines, last year I very closely followed Jessica’s guide and selected from the topics she provides.  (You can read a bit about the fun we had with Dinosaur Camp right here!)

If you go this route, you have everything you need at your fingertips to just dive in.  There are links to fun crafts, recipes, and book ideas right there for you.  This year, since I started planning a bit earlier and I’m feeling a bit more confident, we’re venturing out into some new topics, including “knights”, “all things pink”, and “gymnastics”.

I firmly believe that this one of those instances of learning a method and being able to have endless fun with it.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having fun this summer– why not plan to have fun?  Planning out summer camps to explore some of our favorite interests provides the perfect balance of structure and freedom to help ensure our summer will be one of discovery and delight!

How will YOU spend your summer?

– A mother of three, including a 24 week preemie, JessieLeigh is a determined advocate for even the tiniest of babies.  She can be found celebrating life’s (sometimes unexpected) miracles and blessings at Parenting Miracles.

Preparing For Summer Break is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Looking for a simple treat to give the mothers in your life? Here’s something easy, quick, and chocolate-filled to pull together.

Mother’s Day is approaching. You may be making big plans for the day — or not. Over the years I’ve learned that it’s better not to focus on myself or expect to be feted.

It makes the day more fun not to get caught up in the me-me-me of it. I know my family loves me, and I don’t want to be the spoiled little girl who isn’t pleased on her birthday.

I have been on occasion, much to my regret.

Instead, it’s better to focus on other people, to be thankful for my husband and kids who’ve made me a mom as well as appreciative of the other moms in my life who inspire and encourage me.

It doesn’t need to be complicated to make sweet treats for these peeps. Think party favors for the folks in your party of life!

Just grab some packets of your favorite chocolates — include a few extra for yourself. Tie cute bows around them. (This is an excellent moment to buy YOUR favorite candy.)

Your friends and family will be so surprised by the gesture. You might be surprised at the truth in the old adage: it’s better to give than to receive.

What’s your favorite kind of chocolate or candy?

Easiest Mother’s Day Gift is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.