So much for my New Year’s resolution.
I’ve been consuming carbs at a frightening pace while battling severe allergies.
Truthfully, I doubt the two are correlated. Rather, I am blaming the wicked winter weather. I’d bet a hundred bucks I wouldn’t be tempted to gorge on donuts, French toast and cinnamon buns if I were basking on a beach right now… in a bikini.
Winter is brutal here in the Upper Midwest, which is why so many people suffer with seasonal doldrums. The winter blues can strike family members of all ages, including children. Consequently, it’s a good idea to arm yourself with a slew of delightfully affordable activities that will keep you and your children happy even when the weather outside is downright frightful.
Indoor Skating: Can’t afford to drop $40 to take the entire clan skating at a public rink? Consider a cheaper alternative by busting out a roll of wax paper. Simply place the slippery paper on your children’s feet and secure with some rubber bands, and then let them “skate” around the house. For added fun you could turn on your family’s favorite tunes while you spin, jump and twirl on the carpet.
Sock Puppets: Forget about spending a ton of money on expensive puppets. Instead, go through your sock bin and select some mismatched stockings. Next, give kids fabric paint to transform the socks into penguins, polar bears or pandas. If you have a craft closet raid it for embellishments, such as buttons for the puppet’s eyes, gems for ears and yarn for hair.
Game Night Unplugged: Save some money on electricity by turning off the computer games. Rather, dust off a few decks of cards or an old Monopoly set and gear up for a board game tournament. Another cheap way to have fun with the family is to make your own Pictionary by setting up a dry erase board and using recycled paper as clue cards.