Enjoying summer on a budget...

Summer has begun and all my kids want to do is go out and play! Activities to keep them occupied can get costly, so every year we sit down to make a list of things we want to do over the summer. After the list is created, I tweak it to fit my family's budget needs. Some of the activities can be scaled down or with coupons making them doable. Most of the activities are budget conscious on their own. Here are some of he things we like to do: Minor league baseball. We are very lucky to have a minor league baseball team just 15 minutes from our house. With tickets as low as $9 per person, we can go take in a game or two! Concerts: Most towns have a summer concert series available. We pack a dinner and snacks, bring some lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of music! Library: With the summer reading list in tow, we will head off to the library for reading, crafts, and air conditioning! Sightseeing: A visit to the zoo, museum, or other public venue can usually be an inexpensive treat! Beach: It's a bit of a drive, but it's a top priority for summer fun! We take boogie boards, buckets, shovels, snacks, and flip-flops and spend the day on a public beach. Amusement parks and water parks: I always subscribe to the attraction's email list or facebook page for discounts and coupons. There is always something to do over the summer that keeps the kids entertained and the strain off the wallet! +Summer +Frugal +Activities +Kids +Family

Marriage Equality for all....

June 26, 2013 is now going down in history for a powerful decision by the Supreme Court to declare DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act - a ban on same-sex marriages) as unconstitutional. Marriage equality has been a heated topic for so long. What I don't understand is, why? What does it matter who someone marries? Why does this affect your life? How is the decision to marry any of your business? Heterosexuals seem to take for granted the freedom to choose a life partner and have that union recognized by government. This is a very proud and important day! #DoneWithDOMA #MarriageEquality #Freedom

Stop calling black people "African American"

This is one of my biggest pet peeves - referring to black people as African Americans. The reason this bothers me so much is that African American is not a color. It's a nationality. If we're talking about continents to describe backgrounds, then why don't we refer to white people as European Americans? Don't they all come from there? (I'm being facetious) Or even Irish American or French American, when talking about the color of their skin. Sometimes white people are called Caucasian but the definition of this word is not about skin color it's about physical types that also include people from northern Africa! (shaking my head and sighing) When asked what color I am, I say I am mixed - half black and half white. I don't say half African American and half white because that simply doesn't make sense. If you ask me about my background, well that's a different story. Here is a perfect example why black people should not be referred to as African American.... I have a friend who was born and raised in Egypt (which is in northern Africa for those who need a geography lesson) but has since settled in the US. He has a beautiful desert tan coloring to his skin. When asked what color he is, he says white. I laughed because he is more"African American" than most black people! Please stop looking for labels! Not everyone can be classified into a certain ethnic group, religion or nationality. There are people from all walks of life that "look" black or white but you just don't know. Personally, I'd rather you just ask me than assume.

Causes and treatment for vertigo

Having suffered from bouts of vertigo for a few years now, I have been trying to figure out the triggers that bring it on in order to possibly stop it! The first time I fell ill with vertigo was after seeing a band play in a bar. I had no idea how loud it was going to be! As the drinks were flowing, I forgot how loud it was and had a great time!.. Two days later I felt like I still had a hangover - which just could not be possible because I didn't have that much to drink, I drank plenty of water and it WAS two days later! This dizzying feeling I had was weird and I just couldn't figure what was wrong. I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with vertigo. Vertigo is in inner ear condition where the dangling things come loose and roll around causing you to loose balance. Basically, you've lost your marbles! Seems that by not wearing ear protection, I suffered damage to my ear canal. (Bet you're thinking grandma was right! I was...) My blood pressure was extremely low, so I actually needed to eat something salty to help regain my pressure before I passed out. He also instructed me on some exercises I could do to roll the "marbles" back into place. This felt extremely uncomfortable and made me even more nauseous. As the years have passed, I have have found out what triggers the onset of my vertigo and how to minimize the time it debilitates me - allergies. I have always had allergies in one form or another. I usually suffer from sinus problems maybe even a sinus infection, in the fall and summer. After a good heavy rainfall, even when the pollen is supposed to be stuck downward and not floating around, is when I suffer the most congestion. It's this seasonal allergy that brings on the vertigo. It's common knowledge that the ears, nose and throat are connected so it's not crazy to conclude that my vertigo (based on when it happens) is attributed to my my allergies. Just this past week our area saw heavy rainfall with flood warning and everything. I started getting a stuffy nose and clogged ears. Not realizing it at first, I didn't take my usual cold & sinus medicine. By the next day, I couldn't walk straight. Besides my "typical" allergy symptoms, I had vertigo. It's the most horrendous feeling not being able to drive, walk, concentrate or even sleep! I tried the exercises, tried to get rest, drank plenty of water - but still didn't get much relief. I took an antihistamine and that slowly helped. I think the reason it helped was because it was blocking whatever else I am allergic to. I think I've learned my lesson and if my theory is correct, I should be able to nip the vertigo symptoms in the bud before it interrupts my life!

Gardening

I had my daughter pick our first ripe strawberries of the season! She got about a quart full! We had saved the plastic containers from strawberries and blueberries bought in the store to use just for the occasion. We actually didn't plant any strawberries this year...these are growing from the year before - and there are double the amount of plants! I think we'll be able to pick through the summer the same amount I would have bought from a store! I'm very excited to show my children how to grow their own food, take care of it and harvest! It's our real-life Farmville!

Finals week for the kids....

I feel so bad for kids today! Instead of enjoying the last few days of school, they're anxious and stressed out about finals. Why have we put so much pressure on our kids? There is plenty of time for stress once they become adults. I constantly remind my kids to balance their studies with down time, rest and a balanced diet. I always encourage them to do their best and that's all. I want them to do well in school but also to embrace their childhood. Sometimes it's important for them to just go outside and play. Think about it - when was the last time you as an adult got to just go out and run around?