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You are here: Home / Archives for Family Activities

Free Rainy Day Activities – Part 1 of 4

May 4, 2012 by Tracy

When the day is dreary and wet and the kids need a change of scenery, you don’t need to leave home or spend any money. With a little creativity, you can turn rainy days into special days with some fun activities.

In this month-long series, I will share four ways our family has embraced rainy days beginning with an indoor picnic.

Living Room

We have eaten our grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup in our living room. With our blinds open on the large window, we can watch the rain while enjoying our lunch. My children get excited in the new space since we usually eat at the dining room table. But on a rainy day, the change of scenery is a welcomed exception.

Within a day or two of our indoor picnic, my girls enjoy pretending and playing indoor picnic during play time. 🙂

Bonus Room

When the rain is pouring down, the view from our bonus room over the garage gives a much different perspective. We can watch the water stream down the street, beat off the cars, and pound on the concrete. Enjoying a picnic from the second floor intrigues my children while we enjoy a rainy day at home.

When rainy days arise, adjusting your routine may result in a fun family activity embracing the day spent indoors.  With a little creativity, you can have a house full of activity even on a rainy day. Happy rainy day planning!

Question: What room in your home offers a different perspective on a rainy day?

Filed Under: Rainy Day, Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: family activity

2012: AMF’s Summer Unplugged Bowling Program

April 27, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: AMF

Do you realize that summer is a little over a month away? Though I am looking forward to summer, our family has a full May schedule with both my son and older daughter playing soccer.

In gearing up for summer activities, AMF is once again offering children ages 15 and younger the opportunity to bowl 2 free games each day from May 14 to September 3, 2012. Shoe rental is not included.

Free Registration

To get the free games, you must register each of your children. Each week, you will receive an e-mail with printable coupons for each day that week with each child’s name on it. For example, I have three children. When I receive my e-mail, I will get 21 coupons – one coupon for each day of the week for each child. To save on ink, I will only print the coupons I need.

Parent Registration

If you want to join your children, AMF offers a summer pass for $29.95, which allows 4 adults ages 16 and up to bowl 2 free games each day all summer long. Again, shoe rental is not included.

Though our family did not make it to the bowling alley last year or the year before, I still signed up my kids. Paul and I purchased bowling shoes and the summer pass, but we never made it to the alley. With the summer pass available all summer, I can (and will) wait until we plan to bowl before purchasing the pass.

In using time wisely and looking forward to summer plans, register your children at AMF and watch your inbox for free bowling coupons. You have nothing to lose, so sign-up and look in your inbox for those coupons.

Question: Does your family enjoy bowling?

Filed Under: Going Out, Summer, Family Activities Tagged With: bowling

CardStore.com: 2012 Free Mother’s Day Card

April 27, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: CardStore.com

Mother’s Day is May 13. In using time wisely to prepare ahead, you can score a free  personalized Mother’s Day card from CardStore.com using promotional code LUVMOM.

I love personalizing the photo cards, especially when they are free. When you order, select your card, personalize it, and proceed to checkout. Your total will be $0.00 with no payment information requested.

This offer includes free shipping. You can choose to send the card to yourself or to your recipient. I love the latter option since my mom does not live in South Carolina.

You can also use promotional code CWF2420 to buy two Mother’s Day cards and get one free.

These offers are valid until Sunday, May 6. Remember, Mother’s Day is May 13. In using time wisely, take 10 minutes to design and order your free card from Cardstore.com today. Happy celebrating!

Question: What type of card do you prefer to receive?

Filed Under: Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: Mother's Day

Pretzelmaker: Free Pretzel on April 26, 2012

April 20, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Pretzelmaker

Celebrate National Pretzel Day by visiting your local Pretzelmaker and singing, dancing, or saying, “Happy Pretzel Day” for a free salted or unsalted pretzel on Thursday, April 26, 2012.

Limit one free pretzel per customer.

Click here to find your local Pretzelmaker.

Before heading out, you may want to call to verify your Pretzelmaker’s participation since this offer is valid only at participating locations.

For more family activities, visit Using Time Wisely’s Facebook Event Page, and don’t forget to enter the Earth Day Giveaway going on now through Sunday, April 22, 2012. Enjoy using time wisely this weekend!

Filed Under: Going Out, Free Outings, Family Activities Tagged With: family activitiy

Burger King: $1 Chicken Wraps – April 14-15, 2012

April 13, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Burger King

This weekend Burger King is offering their new crispy chicken wraps for $1 each. You can choose between honey mustard or ranch. Yum!

Participation may vary, so you may want to verify your Burger King’s participation before heading out.

In using time wisely, our family enjoys combining events during our outings. For example, after building a game show chip drop game at Lowe’s, we might stop by Burger King for a late morning snack before heading home.

These little events combined with other free activities make our family outings memorable and fun. My favorite outing to date was the green ketchup with free fries at Burger King during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. In fact, we still have a couple of packets of green ketchup remaining. 😉 Enjoy using time wisely this weekend!

Filed Under: Going Out, Inexpensive Outings, Family Activities Tagged With: Burger King

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