A List of Winter Break Activities For Kids

What To Do With Kids Over Winter?

With Sidney off of school for the next two weeks I've been busy trying to come up with fun activities to do. Unfortunately, I can't spend a ton of money so we are limited. However, our region has a strong focus on family and offers many enjoyable things to do with your kids. 

I know first hand that a lot of young moms aren't exactly rich. We are dealing with school,  starting a career, saving for a house and our children's college funds plus so much more. Money is tight, but we still want to enjoy our time with our little ones while they are young. So hopefully you can get some ideas out of my list and even though a lot of my listed activities are specific to the region we live, in your city might have similar programs. All you have to do is look it up online.

Things we might do that cost us basically nothing:

• Free skating at the mall (my mom bought Sid skates for $2 at the thrift store)
• Free skating at Central Park downtown
• Drop-in craft program at the library
• Rent a movie from the library (popcorn and juice is the only money we'll be spending on this!)
• Play at McDonald's indoor playground (costs me the price of a coffee and hot chocolate)
• A trip down to the farmer's market (spending money is optional, however I can't turn down delicious food - especially local produce!)
• Tobogganing (if we even get snow! Haven't seen much yet.)
• Play at the park, all wrapped up nice and warm
• Baking at home
• Walk the trails through Riverside park and feed the birds
• Playing with all our new Christmas toys of course!

Things we might do that cost us a little more:

• Drop in pottery class ($10)
• Indoor playground ($5 on Tuesdays)
• Indoor mini-golf ($5 each = $10)
• Region Museum all day pass ($5 for Sid, $10 for me = $15)

Things we might do that cost more:

• Tubing ($20 each = $40)
• Movies (about $10 each plus popcorn = $30)

There is a lot more around here we can do, but we only have two weeks and our funds are limited. I try to find and think up as many amusing things that are free, or cost very little. 

What are some things you like to do with the kids over the holidays/winter?

Thanks, 

PS - Because Sidney is on winter break now, I might not get around to blogging as much for the next two weeks.

Joys of Thrift Shopping



1950's Butterprint Pyrex Bowls

One of my favourite pastimes is shopping! But not at just any type of store. I love THRIFT shopping! I just find it absolutely thrilling to go into a thrift store and find the most amazing treasures amongst all the other items. For example, just the other day my husband who is a great appreciator of old art and artists discovered a painting by the British artist Henry Cooper. It’s old, worn and flaking but to Nick it’s an amazing find.

I’m a lover and collector of vintage items. Mostly house wares and home décor, but also jewellery, furniture and board games when I can find ones I like enough. I guess that’s why my mom and I decided to open our Etsy shop, Little Shop of Treasures; we both love vintage shopping! I have the hardest time walking away from an item without purchasing it. I think it drives Nick crazy.

A lot of people think negatively about second-hand items, like having something that’s been previously used makes it dirty, unwanted or useless. In reality, vintage items are typically built much better. I mean, if a coffee pot has survived 50 years without a chip or scratch, it must be built well. To consider something dirty is just silly. Everything gets dirty and yet it can be washed to look just like new.

Not to mention the money you will save by shopping second-hand. Most thrift stores offer items at a quarter of it’s original price, sometimes even less. Toys, clothes, shoes and purses, furniture, appliances, home décor items, books, movies and music. You can find anything at a thrift store! And don’t forget about yard sales, those things are awesome!

What’s your favourite pastime? Do you collect anything?

Thanks,