If you’re searching for good travel deals – here are some of our favorite frugal travel sites!
Cheap Summer Movies for Kids! (Carmike, Regal, Cinemark & More)
I’ve updated this list with Carmike Cinema’s Summer Kids Series now. Please add any that you know of in the comments!
Each summer, select theaters offer cheap summer movies. Be sure to check you location for participation. Not all theaters in the same group participate in the same promotions. Also, most theaters have not discounted concessions so be prepared to pay full price for snacks.
Carmike Summer Kid Series starts in June - On Thursdays throughout the summer, for just $4, get Kids Admission including movie tray with popcorn, fruit snack and drink! Here are the upcoming movies according to my area:
[Read more...]
Pool Party Fish Cake Recipe
To celebrate summer break – the kids and I made this fun Pool Party Fish Cake and invited the neighborhood kids over for cake and water games! Check out our post on 15 water games HERE!
It turned out super cute – and would be appropriate for any pool party, summertime soiree or even Father’s Day for the fishing dad. Here’s how to make your own Pool Party Fish Cake.
Red, White & Blue Fruit Kabobs or “Sparklers”!
.
Looking for a fun treat to bring to a Memorial Day or 4th of July cookout? These 4th of July Fruit “Sparklers” are easy, cheap and yummy! Once you’ve eaten/used up most of your watermelon – use the bottom of the melon for a sparkler holder. Just shove it in a bowl/bucket of ice to keep it cold and sitting upright!
.
Recipe: 4th of July Fruit Sparklers
: Jamie
: dessert, party, appetizer
:
:
You can substitute other red fruits in place of the watermelon – Strawberries, Raspberries, even Cherries!
Ingredients
- Watermelon
- Blueberries
- Marshmallows
- Bamboo Skewers
Instructions
- Cut your watermelon into chunks, balls or triangles. If you don’t have mini-marshmallows, just use scissors to cut the large ones into 4 even pieces. Slide the fruits and marshmallows onto the skewers creating a red, white and blue pattern.
- You can either set your fruit sparklers on a platter – or present them by sticking the skewers in the leftover half of your watermelon!
.
Summer Reading Programs: 9 Rewards for Reading!
Summer Reading Programs for 2013
It’s hard to get kids to keep the reading momentum they gained from the school year going through the summer. If you’re having trouble getting your kids to stay pumped about reading, or if you’re just looking for a way to reward them, here is a roundup of local Summer Reading Programs for you!! Plus, you’ll end up with some fun freebies (Books, restaurant coupons, game tokens, etc…) to help you break up the summer doldrums – Cheaply.
Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading: This one requires kids to read eight books an then make a short recommendation on each one. They can then turn in their completed Summer Reading form at a store and choose a free book from this list! This even starts May 21st and runs through September 3rd.
Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays: Each Wednesday from July 10 – August 7, kids can bring in a book report (unless you are six and under and then admission will be free) – which will be cost of admission! The films in include:
- July 10th – Yogi Bear
- July 17th – Ice Age: Continental Drift
- July 24th – Madagascar 3
- July 31st – The Lorax
- August 7th – Hotel Transylvania
* Select locations only
Library Summer Reading Program: Be sure to check with your local library to see what sort of summer reading program is offered. While the details aren’t posted online yet – here’s what normally is required:
- Read a minimum of 10 books on any subject on your reading level and return your logbook by a certain date. Pre-readers may participate by listening to at least 10 stories.
- Our library gives out prize bags full of local restaurant coupons, passes to the Creative Discovery Museum, and small toys/treats!
Pizza Hut Book-It Program. This program is offered to schools – including home schooling parents. Starting this Wednesday, March 1st, homeschoolers can sign up to get in on the program. You can watch their Facebook page for more details.
Scholastic’s Summer Challenge: Kids can keep track of their reading minutes by logging in. In return, they can enter to win various sweepstakes including the following:
- 39 Clues prize pack: all the books from both series one, The Clue Hunt, and series two, Cahills vs. Vespers, in a The 39 Clues Backpack.
- Dear Dumb Diary prize pack: one DVD of the original Dear Dumb Diary movie, piece of original art by Dear Dumb Diary author Jim Benton, complete set of Dear Dumb Diary (12 books) and complete set of Dear Dumb Diary Year Two (4 books).
- The False Prince prize pack: One autographed copy of The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen and one autographed copy of The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen
- Harry Potter box set: One Harry Potter Hard Cover Boxed Set #1-7A 39 Clues Prize Pack
Chuck E Cheese Reward Calendars: Looking for a fun way to reward your kids for their accomplishments? Download Chuck E Cheese reward calendars , mark off books you’ve read, bring it in completed to Chuck E. Cheese’s and receive 10 free tokens as a reward
Pottery Barn Kids’ Summer Reading Challenge: Kids 10 and under will need to read the books listed on an age-appropriate list. Once they finish the list, they take their reading list to a PBK store and will get a free book. This event kicks off on May 16th and runs through August 26th. and more details will be available at that time.
Sylvan’s Book Adventure Program: This program is for children in grades K-8. The search online for books and then find them in the library (or bookstore) and read them. Then, they come back and take quiz about the book and are rewarded with prizes for their reading success!
H.E.B. Summer Reading Club: When your kids read 10 or more books, they can submit a form and end up getting a cool prize (which includes a T-Shirt). Just fill out the form including the books your child has read (if your kids can’t read, you can just list the books you read to them) and mail to the address on the form! The form must be postmarked by October 1, 2013.
- Thanks PennyPinchinMom!
Bob Jones University: Children ages 4 – 17 can participate in this fun program. First, you will want to find the reading requirements and even review the suggested reading lists. Then, print out a log for your child’s age group. You will determine the goal which can be to read for a select number of minutes or number of pages on a daily basis. As your child reaches his/her goal, the log is updated. At the end of 40 days, Once they have completed the log, your will submit the completion form and mail it in (prior to August 15, 20130). Prizes are awarded for completing the program while supplies last.
Your child will also be entered to win one of nine Summer Reading Tote bags filled with JourneyForth Books (3 for each age group). They might also win the grand prize – a Kindle Fire!! (Thanks Surviving a Teacher’s Salary!)
Shop Aldi: Summer fun deals, Sportspower 13′ Trampoline only $199.99!
If you are able to shop Aldi stores near you – you can get some great deals on seasonal items that are only good for the week. We recently talked about getting great camping deals at Aldi, some of which are available this week as well. Also available this week are several summer fun products like this Sportspower 13′ Trampoline with SteelFlex Enclosure for just $199.99 this week!!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries and Ramona Boxed Sets up to 43% OFF!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Boxed Set (Books 1-5) -
If you have any Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans in your house (or if you have reluctant readers aged 8-12) – the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are perfect for you! Right now, you can pick up the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Boxed Set (Books 1-5) for only $43.80, reg $70. That makes each hardcover book around $8.75, which is cheaper than you can get them anywhere else.
Jamie here - and I have four boys aged 6-13 who LOVE these books and movies. Each time the book fair comes around, we purchase the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, and they pass it around one at a time, hurrying each other up so they can get to read it as soon as possible 
Don’t you love that?! Seeing your kids THIS excited about reading is so great – it’s so worth the price of a book!
If your kids have already read all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books – you might want to move on to the Dork Diaries. You can get the entire Dork Diaries Boxed Set (including 6 books) for just $49.55 (Was $83.99) We haven’t read these yet – but the reviews look very good.
OR stick with a classic – pick up the The Complete Ramona Collection – Boxed Set (including 8 books) for just $25.73! (Reg $44.99)
The collection includes: Beezus and Ramona, Ramona and Her Father, Ramona and Her Mother, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Ramona Forever, Ramona the Brave, Ramona the Pest, Ramona’s World [Paperback]
More Summer Reading…
If you’re determined to keep your kids reading and learning over the summer months – you may be interested in the following deals as well:
Order this Wildlife Explorer Binder filled with sturdy full-color wildlife cards for just $3.99. The kid comes with FREE Binoculars, Compass and Flashlight as well! The photo above is my family’s Wildlife Explorer Binder – the kids just love this, it goes on road trips with us and comes out at sleepovers all the time
And – Check out the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program to see how your kids can earn a FREE BOOK!
Aldi Camping Deals: Lantern for $9.99, Tent or Camp Stove only $29.99!
Jamie here – and I’m revved up about taking the kids camping again this summer – but I’m still in need of a few things. Once again, Aldi has some awesome deals on camping supplies coming up in this week’s ad! This is great for Father’s Day gifting as well…
