What do you remember about the summer time growing up? Most of my favorite summer time memories are lazy days next to the pool and yummy food grilled up on the BBQ! That is what summer was when I was a kid. Nothing fancy but SO perfect!
It seems like it is becoming more and more common to feel the pressure to create the perfect summer vacation for our families. With social media constantly in hand it is hard to not wish YOU were the one with the exotic vaca’s to other countries.
Guess what! You don’t have to go on an African safari to have a memorable summer! As long as you are spending time with your family and friends and are having fun, there is no need to pressure yourself (or your budget) into a fancy vacation.
Dining with the dolphins, coast-lined hikes leading to awe inspiring views, backstage pass to Taylor Guitars, and don’t forget to breath as you cautiously cross the suspension bridge swaying above tree tops!
If you were to guess how much a vacation including every single one of these adventures in San Diego cost, how much would you bet? A couple thousand, maybe?
No way! ALL attractions I am sharing with you today are all FREE things to do in San Diego!
Spring and summer are the very best times of the year to get your family off the couch and go find some fun outdoor activities! After being cooped up all winter your family will thank you for the fresh air!
The Sun Will Make Your Family Happy
Did you know that spending time in the sun could actually make you happier? It’s totally true! A quick science lesson for you: when you are outside in the sunshine your serotonin levels in your body rise. Serotonin is a chemical within your body that keeps your mood in balance. A lack of serotonin can lead to depression. (source)
I know for myself, as a mom, I find our family doing the same things over and over again. This includes the same old recreation activities each week. So, I thought it would be fun to share a list I pulled together of some outdoor activities that cost nothing or almost nothing! It is always nice to have a list to refer back to when you get in a rut.
I usually use Sunday to refocus, relax and reflect on all of the blessings in my life and how I can be a better servant for our Heavenly Father. But seeing that today is Easter I wanted to take just a minute to share a special message. That is, that I know Jesus Christ lives!
I know that after his crucifixion he was resurrected on the third day. I know that there is life after death. I know that we can live with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our eternal families forever in heaven, once we have finished our life here on this earth.
I know we can have eternal families which is all made possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. This is one of my favorite things to learn about through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Families can be together forever! I am so grateful, beyond words, for this knowledge! It has brought me so much comfort in all the trials I have had to endure in my life so far.
If you have any questions about my beliefs I would be so happy to share more with you. Just send me a message on my contact page. You can also find out more about what I believe on Mormon.org.
For my hubby and myself, it can be easy to get caught up in the same “at home movie date night” routine with our, definitely not normal, schedules. My husband’s job leaves us with “weekends” not on the weekends and “nights” not necessarily at night. So, we make the best of it and take a date night whenever we can! This takes some creativity!
When babysitters aren’t available our go to date-night-in is a fun movie night! I’m sure your thinking, “Big deal! That’s not very creative!” Well here are two simple things you can do to take your movie nights to the next level.
When I am thinking about Valentine treats the very first thing that pops into my head is chocolate and strawberries. When those two are put together, there really isn’t much more I need (other than my Valentine of course).
Cent Savvy Strawberry Chocolate Kabobs
This simple take on strawberries takes a different direction from the always appreciated chocolate covered strawberries. Instead of having the strawberries take the chocolate plunge, it was fun to tweak this treat a little and offer a different kind of Valentines treat. Continue Reading →
With Valentines just around the corner you will begin to see a theme here for the days preceding this lovely holiday. To kick off the Valentines inspiration I wanted to share some inexpensive but still romantic and fun dates that I am sure pretty most of us can fit into our budget, no matter how small that may be.
I have heard so many different times and from so many different people who I respect, that it is very important to always set aside that special time with just you and your spouse. My husband and I have taken this to heart from the very beginning of our marriage. Those weeks where we don’t make having a date night a priority, I definitely feel myself longing for that special time to reconnect with my hubby.
So don’t forget to make date night a priority! It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant or even need to cost a cent. Just making sure you have that time once a week to get back on the same page will really make such a difference. To make process this a little easier, I have put together a list of date night ideas to mix up your normal dating routine.
This list is great for a Valentines date night but it can also be used for a spur of the moment night out or in together!
$5 Target Gift Swap
This was one of our go-to mix it up date nights back when my hubby and I were in college. We went to school in the middle of freezing cold Idaho and in the dead of winter it was easy for a pair of outdoors loving people to get stir crazy. Not many options for places to go. So we would set out to the local superstore and start our date.
The rules were simple, buy each other a thoughtful or fun gift but the budget was $5 each and you had 30 minutes to make your purchase. We would take the gifts home wrap them up and anxiously wait for the other to open their gift. We never found anything amazing but it was so much fun to see what the other person came home with.
Themed Movie Night
Choose a movie that you both will love and plan the evening around the flick you picked. An example of this would be if you chose a romantic comedy you could start the evening off with a nice romantic dinner, maybe finish off the meal with a shared dessert, and really set the mood by creating a special viewing area to watch the movie by decorating with twinkle Christmas lights or romantic candles.
Maybe your choice is an action movie that takes place on the streets of New York City. Cater your dinner to the theme by ordering take out or building your own personalized pizzas. Try to think of something special to tie the whole night together.
Cupcake Wars
I havn’t done this one yet but I can’t wait to try it out. All you need are two boxes of cake mix (or ingredients to make from scratch if you are both more advanced in the culinary department!) and various ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
The objective, each make your own unique cupcake creation and see whose dessert turns out most tasty. You will have to be unbiased in your voting but remember to play nice, don’t forget you are on a date!
Hotel de (Insert Last Name Here)
This one might take a little extra planning but I am sure the prep won’t go unnoticed. The idea for this one is to transform your bedroom into an escape from your everyday routine around the house. Create the illusion of a brief one-night stay at a fancy schmancy hotel without taking one step out the front door. This option is 100 times cheaper than the real thing by the way.
Set the stage by making the bed with fresh crisp sheets and bedding. Top the pillows with mints and place a nicely printed “room service” menu front and center.
“Drive-in” Movie on Location
Only items needed are a car, a laptop or something to watch your movie on, and some cozy blankets. Drive to a not so distant location to provide a beautiful backdrop for your movie night. Pick a spot to park and enjoy each other’s close company while cuddling up to a great movie. Super simple but takes you away from the norm.
All right ladies, let’s give your man a break. Now it’s your turn to pick an idea and make it a special night to show your hubby how much you really do care and that you have put some extra thought into the night.
I hope your date night thoughts have been sparked and you are just as excited as I am to try these ideas out!
Welcome to Pennies into Pearls! Take a look around and remember we are just getting started around here. I am beyond excited to share with you what I know about living cheap and chic but also learning all of your tips. What you need to know is that this entire blog is dedicated to saving you money but with nothing lacking when it comes to flair. Always staying pretty but only spending pennies. I like to say that I live “frugal chic”. In pretty much everything I do, everyday, I try to figure out how I can do it cheaper. Pennies into Pearls is a place where we can inspire each other to keep living frugal without letting our individual style suffer. My house is not super fancy, I have a lot of projects in my future and I am really eager to share the journey.
Make sure to follow Pennies into Pearls on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and sign up for email updates for motivation and inspiration on living pretty for just pennies.
Things to look for on Pennies into Pearls:
All things DIY – Furniture, crafts, gifts and more. A lot of the time making something yourself or refinishing something old into new not only gives you a one of a kind piece, but most of the time it will save you a lot of money
Free pintables- there isn’t many easier and affordable ways to spruce up and inspire your home than adding a fresh new framed printable
Delicious recipes- making food yourself will save you money and these recipes will not only be frugal but also fabulous to taste
Money saving tips – Sale sightings, coupon advice, budgeting tips. Lets save lots of money and learn to live within our means.
My favorite quote about living frugal is “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Click here to download this free 8”x10” printable to be inspired to live frugal chic. You can also simply right click the image below, save, then upload into an editing program, you can now resize the image to what you need.
So take a peak at a few ideas I have up and I am excited to hear from you!
