Question: What side to Bring to the 4th of July Picnic? - 4th of July Fun #2

                         Answer: Patriotic Pringles!
These cans are simple and fun to decorate as firecrackers to add spark to your party or take as a side to your friends 4th of July picnic. Who doesn't like Pringles?

Simply poke a small hole and tie a short pipecleaner or string to the lid for the wick.  Then let your kids get creative with red, white, and blue paper, markers, scissors, and glue around the can.

The hard part will be keeping your kids from eating all the Pringles before the party.

Use this activity to spark some conversation about our Christian liberties or being a passionate firecracker for Jesus.

Note: It is helpful to label the lid so that people will know which of the great flavors of Pringles they can expect.

Go to my Pintentional Parenting Page at TheCharacterMom.com or tune in next week for more 4th of July ideas.

 Do you have any ideas for Patriotic parties you would like to share?

Free Download - Fun Frugalness

Click here for Free Download of Simple Stewardship

Before I move on to 4th of July Fun, I forgot to finish up with this month's free download of fun and simple ideas for teaching our focus character quality - STEWARDSHIP.

Click here or go to the Free Downloads tab at TheCharacterMom.com for three whole pages of fun frugalness and more.

Friday we will continue on our 4th of July Theme. In the meantime, feel free to tell us about any of ideas you have found that are great for either 4th of July or for teaching stewardship.

Do You Want to be a Star? - 4th of July Fun #3

picture from Saraspartyperfect.com

Happy monday Moms,
In  honor of 4th of July, this week we are going to focus on shining stars. Do you want to shine like a star?  Daniel 12:3 tells us in order to shine like a star we have two options:

"And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
 
1. We can be wise -  If you don't feel very wise, this just may be because I think the wiser that you get, the more you realize that you don't know. Remember when you thought you knew everything?

2. We can turn others to righteousness - I am sure you agree that one of your main heart throbs is to turn your children to righteousness.  Isn't it nice to hear that you get a reward for doing what you wanted to do already. BONUS!

What are some of you favorite star activities or ideas?

Molding Lives and Jello - 4th of July #1

 Jello is an amazing substance! Have you ever thought of your young children as Jello?  Yes, they are wiggly and fun, but I am talking about the fact that they are so moldable.

As parents we have the most important job of molding young lives daily. Our actions show them what to do and become. They are moldable yet fragile.  Are you gently molding them into something beautiful with love and encouraging words, or tearing them down with criticism and impatience?
Just like wet cement, Jello becomes hardened and less moldable over time. The older they get, the less influence we have on our kids.
How do you sieze the moment and daily pour good molds for your child?
It could be as simple as making or eating fun Jello treats with them. I ran across this great jello flag mold for a quarter at a garage sale years ago, so now every fourth of July we have jello. Add White whipped cream and blueberries to red Jello and you have the perfect sweet and refreshing 4th of July treat. See the Pintentional Parenting Page for more holiday treat ideas.

Bring Home the Bread! - Money Fights #3

I say, "We are out of bread (or other household staples like butter, cheese, milk, etc.). We need to go to the store right away."

He says, "It is fun to see how long you can go surviving on what we have. Wait until payday."

I don't know why I feel like a bad mom when I don't have the exact food or snack that my children want. My husband on the other hand relishes these moments to teach our kids patience, resourcefulness,  and gratefulness.  After the whining subsides, I am continually surprised at the fun meals that are concocted from the supplies in our cupboard.  Everyone was pleasantly surprised when I actually made buscuits a couple of weeks ago because we were out of store-bought bread and tortillas for so long.

What has your family surprisingly survived on when money was tight?

Free Family Fun in the Metro (OKC)

If you are looking for some great free events or activities for the family this summer or every weekend in OKC, Metro Family Magazine's calendar is truly one of the best places to go. I am signed up to get their weekend picks every Friday in my e-mail.

While you are there, check out my monthly column Character Corner and be sure to leave lots of comments about how you like it for the editor. Thanks!

Dave can Save Your Marriage - Money Fights #2

Money Fight #2 -
I say, "Where did that money go that was in my purse?"

He says, "Keep track of your purchases so we can make a good budget."

I really don't buy many large purchases, but my tiny purchases (garage sales, thrift stores, the dollar store, sonic, McDonald's, etc.) add up quick and are the hardest to keep track of. My husband does a great job of monitoring my debit card purchases using Mint.com.  For cash purchases, the Dave Ramsey's envelope system is superb at helping you stick to your budget and keep spending under control.

Basically when you keep a good record of what you spend your money on, you are able to make a good working budget.  A budget is just you telling your money where you want it to go. If you don't make a plan and keep good records, your wallet will start playing the old "disappearing money" trick on you, too.

This is just one of the basic money management concepts that Dave Ramsey teaches on his radio program, numerous best-selling books, podcasts, seminars, and in his Financial Peace Seminars. If you are struggling financially and your marriage is struggling as a result, stop everything you are doing right now and go to DaveRamsey.com. He is one of my favorite radio personalities of all times because he is a genious with money, practical and to the point, God-fearing, and entertaining.

Dave Ramsey even has a super storybook series for kids called Life Lessons with Junior. This set of books can drastically change your child's future. Put them in the budget for next month. Buy it through my link on Amazon

What money lessons do you wish you had learned before college or marriage?