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	<title>family activities Archives &#8212; Thrifty Mommas Tips</title>
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	<title>family activities Archives &#8212; Thrifty Mommas Tips</title>
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		<title>Keep Kids Busy with This Free Easter &#8220;I Spy&#8221; Printable!</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/keep-kids-busy-with-this-free-easter-i-spy-printable/</link>
					<comments>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/keep-kids-busy-with-this-free-easter-i-spy-printable/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[picture games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[word games]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=42939</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>We’ve all been there: the Easter dinner is almost ready, the eggs are hidden, but the kids are starting to get that &#8220;pre-chocolate&#8221; restless energy. You need about fifteen minutes of peace to get the ham out of the oven or finally finish your coffee while it’s actually hot. Enter the Easter I Spy!&#160;This is one of my favourite types of printables because it’s a &#8220;quiet&#8221; game. It challenges the kids to hunt for hidden bunnies, decorated eggs, spring chicks, rainbows and baskets tucked away in a festive scene. It’s like a mini scavenger hunt they can do right at the kitchen table. Why You’ll Love This Easter I Spy: How to Play: Easter I Spy It’s time to put those Easter I Spy detective skills to the test! Whether you’re waiting for the Easter Bunny to arrive or just looking for a fun quiet-time activity, here is how to get started: Colour as You Go: To make it even more fun (and to keep track of what you’ve already found), use a different coloured crayon or marker for each object. Find &#38; Count:&#160;Look closely at the big picture and try to find all the hidden holiday items. Mark the Key:&#160;Once you find an item like a tiny chick or a rainbow, write the total number you found in the box next to that item. You will see where to do this at the bottom of the page. Supplies You May Need Remember to visit my&#160;free printables board&#160;if you need help looking for other free activities for your kids. For a high quality print out of life cycle content do not miss this Bee Life Cycle activity. Other Products: Don’t forget to order paper –&#160;HP Printer Paper&#160;and also be sure to use a good printer. This&#160;Epson Eco Tank Printer&#160;is amazing. It saves ink like nobody’s business.&#160; Post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission when a purchase is made.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/keep-kids-busy-with-this-free-easter-i-spy-printable/">Keep Kids Busy with This Free Easter &#8220;I Spy&#8221; Printable!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">42939</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fun Backyard Bingo Game for Families</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/fun-backyard-bingo-game-for-families/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2021 06:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[backyard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[backyard bingo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bingo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[free family games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[summer]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=38638</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Are you starting to feel cooped up and a little restless? But, it&#8217;s still time to be cautious with your local travels? Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission via qualifying purchases. Then why not add this cute printable Backyard Bingo game to your repertoire of easy and free family activities to share. When the snow melts and the ground starts to thaw it is a wonderful time to get outside. If you have a backyard then you know how important that has been over the past year or so. I mean ours is always important but we need this space again this year as an extension of our living space and our home. We have a pool so we use our backyard a lot during the summer months especially. Most of our summer activity revolves around the swimming pool, or part time jobs and camping. But there are some days you simply can&#8217;t do either of those things. Maybe it is a but too hot to rest outside in the direct sun all day, so you find a picnic table or patio set with some shade and set up a space there to do this family game. Looking for ways to get the kids outside and ideas that the entire family can do together? This backyard bingo game is perfect for everyone. As long as you can recognize the images and easily find them then you are old enough to play along. This is an easy little printable game with bingo cards that you print out and share. I&#8217;d use the heavier paper if you have any and then print off the entire printable for an afternoon game of backyard bingo. By the way I also have a fun neighbourhood scavenger hunt that is easy for kids to do. There are so many things that you can do once the weather changes to spring and summer sunny days. This is just one more tool in the toolkit. To Print this Backyard Bingo Game Out Follow These Easy Instructions Click on the link below and print. Simple as that. Tools and Supplies to Help If you are looking for an excellent printer for crafts and homework this is the one you need &#8211; Epson Eco printer is what I use here for all of my work and crafting projects. The kids use it too. Best part is the eco friendly ink cartridges last forever. Get paper here &#8211; > HP printer paper Need More Crafts and Ideas? Don&#8217;t Miss all of the Free fun printables that I have available on my Pinterest channel. So many cool things to do such as this Bee Life Cycle. While there print out some of the challenges for the summer months. The July Cooking challenge is a good one and so is the drawing challenge. Do You have any favourite outdoor games for families?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/fun-backyard-bingo-game-for-families/">Fun Backyard Bingo Game for Families</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">38638</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Festive Christmas Charades Game to Play Now</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/festive-christmas-charades-game-to-play-now/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:52:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[physically distant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[socially distant christmas activities]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=35754</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Looking for fun festive socially or physically distant ways to make the most of the holidays this year? Christmas charades is one way to get together with family even if you are apart. I mean this can easily be done on Zoom or Skype or whatever form of video calling you do. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission via qualifying purchases. This Christmas could be unique. I&#8217;ll be honest I am not sure I am ready for that. I need to be able to see family, but the pandemic numbers are not good right now. So, we&#8217;ll all be looking for ideas of ways to make things fun and light and enjoyable. Christmas Charades Anyways, at this stage my Christmas anxiety is pretty high. I am more than aware that this year&#8217;s seasonal festivities could be compromised, or perhaps they&#8217;ll just look a little bit different. So here&#8217;s what I am doing right now to manage some of that. I&#8217;m shopping ahead of time, in increments. First off, I like saving money and second of all it helps me to manage our collective anxiety. So, I am hunting for holiday deals now and I have been for months. I am also doing a few things to manage my self care right now so the anxiety doesn&#8217;t get out of hand. For months, I did all of the virtual workouts in my basement. In early October I finally returned to the YMCA. If I need to return to working out virtually that&#8217;s okay too. Fun Christmas Activities I love easy fun festive printables this time of the year. When your kids are young setting up for Christmas is a little bit like a magic show. You need some children&#8217;s holiday gifts that they will adore, and ones that will last while engaging their minds. You need a lot of calming tools at your disposal to keep them busy, even as they get swept away by the spirit of the season, so that you can get magic done behind the scenes. So, here are a few of the cutest ones I could gather. This Christmas charades game is 6 pages of fun ideas for pretending together even if you need to do that virtually. So, here&#8217;s hoping we are together again soon, but even if we are not, then there are some fun activities we can do virtually together too. Don&#8217;t Miss My 5 Fun Christmas Printables: Free Printable Santa Wishlist&#160;– Thrifty Momma’s TipsDIY Dry Erase Christmas Countdown Printable&#160;– A Cultivated NestPrintable Christmas Word Search&#160;– Happiness is Homemade3D Christmas Printable Characters&#160;– A Mummy TooPrintable Christmas Countdown Chain&#160;– Our Thrifty Ideas To Download Click the link below and it takes you to the printable version of this great little game. Happy Holidays!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/festive-christmas-charades-game-to-play-now/">Festive Christmas Charades Game to Play Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">35754</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Easy Gooey Homemade Smores Cookies</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/easy-gooey-homemade-smores-cookies/</link>
					<comments>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/easy-gooey-homemade-smores-cookies/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:27:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[campfire treats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[camping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[camping recipes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cookies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smores cookies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smores desserts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[snacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[summer fun]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=24774</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Homemade Smores cookies are my latest easy family treat. OH MY, is there anything much that is yummier than melted chocolate and ooey gooey marshmallow? I can&#8217;t think of much else that is as melt in your mouth tasty as this little chocolate flavour punch. Nothing evokes a camping state of mind faster than a mention of homemade campfire smores. But, let&#8217;s be honest it&#8217;s not always super simple to set up a campfire and start roasting those smores. So what&#8217;s a sweet tooth to do? Well, how about smores cookies? Homemade Smores Cookies What&#8217;s your favourite camping memory? We have a few here. Often they revolve around hanging out after dinner sitting by a campfire with family and telling stories or singing silly songs. That&#8217;s often when we would get the smores ingredients out and roast them too. Whether you are hardcore campers or wannabes these homemade smores cookies are the perfect treat. I have one word of warning though. I have found these yummy little wafer cookies at Bulk Barn in the past, but they seem to be there only occasionally. If you spy them, pick some up fast to make these. Indoor Smores Cookies for the Win The the kids were small I used to do some fun activities with them in the winter, or even when we were all home sick. Occasionally we set up a small tent and camped out in the living room at home. Later on we built igloos in the backyard and played on the climber even in the winter months because kids need a lot of physical activity. This is a treat that you could easily build into a fun camping day in your home in the middle of January. They are meant to be a simple small treat and not a meal of course. But, if you are having a quiet day at home and the kids are bored perhaps you can get them involved making these small campfire snacks. Other Camping Ideas or Snacks A few years ago I shared this huge roundup of Smores recipes for readers to make and share. Here are some scrumptious options. If you are planning to go camping this year at all then please read this post about keeping skunks away from your camp site. It is a useful post to read before you go. Yummy Smores Treats Are For Sharing Do let me know if you make any of these smores recipes this year. Leave me a comment telling me which one you loved most. Do you have any camping trips coming up? Take a moment to read about Camping Mistakes Beginners Make and then if you fall for camping as hard as we did don&#8217;t forget to check this post out &#8211; Fall Camping and All The Reasons to Camp Off Season. Don&#8217;t Forget to check out Kerrie Mendoza&#8217;s Campfire Treats Post. It is one of the most comprehensive camping meals posts out there. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/easy-gooey-homemade-smores-cookies/">Easy Gooey Homemade Smores Cookies</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">24774</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Make These Fun Winter Crafts and Recipes Now!</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/make-these-fun-winter-crafts-and-recipes-now/</link>
					<comments>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/make-these-fun-winter-crafts-and-recipes-now/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:13:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[activity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cooking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[foods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recipes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winter]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=24163</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Are you working through the winter blahs? Here are some of my favourite winter crafts and recipes to help boost your mood this month. With every passing day we get that much closer to Valentine&#8217;s Day and Family Day here in Ontario too. That means time to celebrate just a little. I love having that short little break in February. It&#8217;s a pick me up and a chance to ski or go have fun outdoors with my family. Whether you are indoors or braving the chilly weather and the snow, there&#8217;s a lot to do this February. Stuck on where to start? Here&#8217;s an awesome roundup of some of the best crafts and recipes this month. No time to be bored with this many great ideas to share on the Pintastic Pinterest Winter Crafts and Recipes Weekly Post! Welcome to the Pretty Pintastic Party, where every post is pinned &#38; features are pinned by everyone! First, let&#8217;s meet the crafty hosts: This Month&#8217;s Winter Crafts and Recipes Pinterest Party Creative Team: Shelly from Lynchburg Mama Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Jamie, Kerry, &#38; Lucy from Coffee With Us 3 Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram Annie from Annie&#8217;s Noms Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Paris from My Big Fat Happy Life Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Evelyn from Eclectic Evelyn Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Stephanie from Happily Homegrown Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Carol from Through My Front Porch Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Jamie from As For Me and My Homestead Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Michelle from Powered by Mom Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Jessa from Sparkle Living Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Gail from Frugal Family Adventures Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Kallee from Creative Southern Home Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Paula from Thrifty Momma&#8217;s Tips Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Nancy from The Mama Maven Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Kerri from Raising Three Savvy Ladies Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Lesa from Misfit Mama Bear Haven Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Here&#8217;s what your party hosts have been up to this week. An InLinkz Link-up Now on to the Pintastic Pinterest Party!! This is a super relaxed party.You show up with your fabulous posts and we pin every single one! We only ask one thing from you&#8230; This week&#8217;s Features: Exceptional Winter Crafts and Recipes How to Gift Plants in Easy, Cute Brown Paper Bags from Dazzle While Frazzled 5 Minute Air Fryer Donuts from Fluster Buster Valentine Confetti Gift Wrap from White House Crafts 50+ Delicious and Festive Valentine&#8217;s Day Recipes from Mama of Many Blessings DIY Hair Clips Tutorial from Domestic Bliss Squared Pigs In A Blanket with Cheese Dip from Lou Lou Girls Easy Valentine&#8217;s Popcorn from My Mommy World Free Monthly Habit Tracker from Morning Motivated Mom &#160; Don&#8217;t Forget to Share and Leave Me a Comment Here too: Enjoy! If you make something from this winter crafts and recipes roundup please come back and let me know how it turned out. I love to hear from readers and will do my best to reply. The above Valentine&#8217;s Day popcorn looks incredible. Must try it here. Oh, and I am not usually a Pigs in Blankets kind of girl, but this Pigs in Blankets recipe in a skillet surrounded by dip looks divine! If you were featured, we invite you to grab a featured button. &#160; &#60;div align="center"&#62;&#60;a href="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/" title="Pretty Pintastic Party" target="_blank"&#62;&#60;img src="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ppp-feature-button.jpg" alt="Pretty Pintastic Party" style="border:none;" /&#62;&#60;/a&#62;&#60;/div&#62; &#160; Everyone else grab a button and help us spread the word about our party!! Thanks! &#60;div align="center"&#62;&#60;a href="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/" title="Pretty Pintastic Party "&#62;&#60;img src="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/button-new.jpg" alt="Pretty Pintastic Party " style="border:none;" /&#62;&#60;/a&#62;&#60;/div&#62; &#160; As a thank-you for linking up, we will pin your post to The Pretty Pintastic Party board. Please follow the board in the link above to see all the great food recipes, crafts, DIY, and more! By linking up, you agree to let any of the hosts use your pictures and links if they decide to feature your post. Your photo may be used for promotion on any of their social media outlets. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not be added to any other lists or given out. Sharing is Caring Please share the love by visiting other posts that link up. Make some new blogging friends by sharing, pinning, and commenting. Thanks for participating in this link-up and for following your hosts. See you again next week. An InLinkz Link-up</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/make-these-fun-winter-crafts-and-recipes-now/">Make These Fun Winter Crafts and Recipes Now!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">24163</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Children&#8217;s Christmas Letter Printable</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/childrens-christmas-letter-printable/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2016 13:20:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[free]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freebies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[letters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Santa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school aged kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spelling]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=10012</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Happy December everyone!! This is one of my favourite months, but also one of my busiest months. Around here business is crazy during the month of December. I am wrapping up several year end accounts and posts and I am swimming in content. I usually have a gift guide happening too. Let&#8217;s face it December is a social media marketing dream. I enjoy that but, there&#8217;s also all the other regular Christmas details. Like shopping for Christmas presents, plotting a family gathering and a meal or two, as well as planning some ski trips. Here&#8217;s one small freebie Christmas letter printable that your kids can enjoy during this busy season. I know life is busy in December for everyone, especially for all my readers who are parents! So, that&#8217;s why I love to toss in a few free Christmas printables and goodies that will help you out each year. Last year I published these adorable printable gift tags that went over well. The year before that I had a whole array of printables for kids and vintage gift tags that were old fashioned and super cute. You can easily print out any of these if you wish! Hopefully these will help your budget and also keep your kids from climbing the walls. It&#8217;s a fine line between helping them anticipate a fun season and winding them up into overstimulation hyperactive territory. Trust me, I know. [tweetthis]Enjoy this free Christmas letter printable for kids. [/tweetthis] There are always tonnes of free Christmas printables here on my Pinterest printables board. Check out the cute Kid&#8217;s Christmas jokes I published yesterday. Happy Holidays and I hope you have a lovely Christmas season! Here is a Christmas Letter Printable for you. Click on the link below and save it and print it out for your son or daughter. I figured this could be either a Santa Letter or simply a Christmas letter printable letter to someone special. santa_2016</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/childrens-christmas-letter-printable/">Children&#8217;s Christmas Letter Printable</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10012</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>The Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound, Florida</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/turtle-nesting-walk-hobe-sound-florida-discovermartin-lovefl/</link>
					<comments>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/turtle-nesting-walk-hobe-sound-florida-discovermartin-lovefl/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:16:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[active family travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environmentalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[excursions]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Florida]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel bloggers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=12639</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s a sunny, humid, June morning. I kickstart my day by exploring Martin County, Florida on my own, at least until an afternoon rainy spell erupts. The highlight of my itinerary today is a turtle nesting walk in Hobe Sound. My ride, Nerissa, from the Martin County Tourism office, picks me up for dinner. I&#8217;ve been looking forward to this Turtle Nesting Walk from the moment I landed at Palm Beach International Airport. Hobe Sound, Martin County Florida Turtle Nesting Walk We take a leisurely drive through Jupiter Island, an extremely wealthy area of Martin County where celebrities, an ex-president&#8217;s family members, and athletes are known to have palatial homes that are well monitored and hidden behind high walls. It is an immaculate area, manicured and well maintained. We spy a cyclist or two getting some exercise. I can&#8217;t help but laugh over a couple of signs at the ends of driveways declaring these otherworldly retreats comical names that don&#8217;t match what&#8217;s hidden behind the trees and fences. My Shack. Beach Getaway. Summer cottage type names for houses that are mansions. Lining one of these meandering roads on Jupiter Island are Banyan trees that arch over to greet each other in the middle forming a picturesque canopy with a southern feel. They are beautiful but hard to capture in a moving car. We are on our way to Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, where two nights a week trained conservationists run a turtle nesting walk. In Hobe Sound, the nighttime sea turtle nesting walk is done on the public beach Thursday and Friday nights. There are also two other organizations in the area that do similar sea turtle nesting walks: the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Centre and Florida Power and Light. These tours are family friendly and very popular so book one as soon as you get there, or before you leave your home. You can find more details about these at: discovermartin.com [tweetthis]TRAVELER TIP: You should do these walks with conservationists trained to safely do sea turtle walks. #LOVEFL [/tweetthis] In Hobe Sound Turtle Nesting Walk &#8211; educational for the entire family We meet our group at 8 p.m. and are told these nights can be quite late. Be prepared to return home around midnight or potentially later. There have been some late nights recently, says the executive director of this non profit organization. Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge also offers day camps throughout the summer for children and the public can explore the trails during the day. There&#8217;s a small gift shop inside the main building. A few creatures and fish are inside small aquariums in a clean, well lit, space staffed with volunteers. If you spend much time in the region, you can buy a yearly membership to Hobe Sound and visit at your leisure. We move to a different building for a brief presentation and the executive director gives us a lesson on sea turtles in the Florida area along with some history of the breeds that have been endangered or threatened. Turtles weigh hundreds of pounds depending on what type and how old they are.. The nesting process is perilous and quite an ordeal. When female turtles are ready to nest they travel hundreds of miles, waiting until after dark to drag their huge bodies onto the shore where they dig a two foot deep hole or egg chamber and lay 100 to 150 eggs. They then cover them over, pat the sand down and camouflage their nests, erasing any immediate impressions of where they buried the eggs. Then the female turtles leave. Two months later the eggs hatch and the tiny new sea turtles make their way to the shoreline on their own. Night is the time when most sea turtles do their nesting. That is necessary in order to avoid predators and humans. [tweetthis]Of the 7 types of sea turtles found worldwide 5 can be found nesting on Florida beaches. #discovermartin #LOVEFL[/tweetthis] The five types of sea turtles that are common to these south east Florida beaches are: Loggerhead, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Green and Kemp&#8217;s Ridley, which is the smallest of the five. Adult sea turtles travel tens of thousands of miles. Most are migratory and despite having relatively small brains, will return to the precise beach where they were born to lay their eggs when they are old enough to lay. After the presentation ends, we gather near our cars and drive to a pavilion by Jupiter Island Beach where we wait for word from the turtle spotters watching the beach and shoreline for activity. Around 10 pm one of the turtle spotters, a volunteer and conservationist, uses a walkie talkie to indicate she has spied a loggerhead turtle on the beach looking for a nesting spot. About fifteen minutes later she has found the spot she will lay her eggs and started digging a hole. We walk slowly without any lights or phones. Bright lights can cause turtles to become disoriented and drop their eggs or flee to the ocean. Occasionally bright lights left on by homeowners or cottage owners can confuse the turtle&#8217;s sense of direction and they can end up on the road. That jeopardizes the species and the entire nesting process. A group of about 30 of us walks by the shoreline so we do not trip over or startle any other sea turtles that might suddenly appear. We range in ages from 5 up to about 75. There are a couple of multi-generational groups traveling together too. The nesting walk is a great activity for grandparents to do with the kids and grandkids. It is educational and affordable. Up ahead there&#8217;s a volunteer turtle spotter holding a red flashlight. The red light is allowed on the turtle nesting walk, but it is also not to be aimed anywhere near the turtle&#8217;s head. We spy the turtle. She&#8217;s a large loggerhead girl with several barnacles on her shell and she&#8217;s already laying. At this point she has already dropped about 50 rubbery eggs into the egg chamber in the sand. They drop in twos and threes sometimes and stay put there as she occasionally rests. We learn that when she lifts her back flippers that means eggs will drop again. The turtle spotter tells us that the eggs line her entire body right before she is about to lay them. Some eggs can take great effort to expel if they are up higher in her body. People are reminded to stay back from her head. We stand and crouch along her sides and back watching this incredible process. It is magnificent to watch something so large and prehistoric looking as she nests. Her job is a big one. The many species that lay their eggs here on the beaches off Florida are threatened. Every two weeks of this season the turtles here will lay. Because they are a threatened species these turtles are monitored, and conservationists like these ones report each time they spot a new nest, plus the type and location of the nest. That work will be done in the morning. About 1 in 30 nests are marked. If they marked every nest the beach would be nothing but turtle nest markers with no spots to sit. That&#8217;s how many nests there are this time of year. Sea turtle nesting season is March 1 to October 31st on the Atlantic side and May 1st to October 31st on the Gulf Side. This turtle is somewhere between 175 and 350 pounds. She is spectacular.  [tweetthis]Never leave holes in sandy Martin County beaches. Sea Turtles can fall in &#38; get hurt. #LOVEFL #discoverMartin[/tweetthis] This particular loggerhead is efficient, at least until we realize she has fallen asleep. The turtle spotter explains that these gals lay all summer every two weeks and she might have already done this several times this summer. The same volunteer gently wakes her back up without touching her. Then the turtle carefully and artfully camouflages her eggs. She spends a good 10 to 15 minutes just doing that, shifting her large shell and body sideways, and forwards and back, dragging herself so that she erases any indication she has been laying eggs here. It&#8217;s stunning how much effort she gives the process of hiding that egg chamber from predators. In about two months, these eggs will hatch and the babies will find their way to the ocean. That hatching often happens at night, but it&#8217;s possible people could be sitting on their lawn chairs or beach blankets right beside them when they suddenly hatch. Every volunteer has a story about being surprised by sudden sea turtle hatching and some have also seen the occasional turtle nesting in broad daylight. Baby loggerheads live their lives in the ocean and migrate miles and miles around the world. When small, they hang out for a few years in floating seaweed just off shore until old enough to swim in coastal waters. The mother turtles never meet their babies. When the hatchlings are grown up and ready to lay their eggs they will return to this same spot. This area of Martin County Florida has about five of the worlds seven types of sea turtles. About 90 % of them return to nest here. Traveler Tip: Bring Bug spray, wear long pants and long sleeves and bring a poncho if the weather looks like rain. Do not be skimpy with the bug spray. I covered my legs and sprayed a lot of bug spray on and my ankles are still itchy from the bug bites. This sea turtle nesting walk out of Hobe Sound was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had while traveling. I have always wanted to see this process. I once contemplated visiting Mexico to see hatchlings make their way to the sea, but then this trip to Martin County, Florida came about. This turtle nesting walk is an experience I will never forget. I recommend this as a multi-generational and education experience for the entire family. Kids need to be able to be calm during the beach portion of the nesting tour so this might be challenging for some. The night we did this there was a family of children that were captivated and really well behaved watching the process. The youngest looked to be about five. There were teens who needed to be reminded to stay off the beach prior to the walk however. So be sure your kids can handle the lateness, the waiting and the rules involved. My kids are 12 and 14 and they would have LOVED this. I would return another time to take them to see this. Traveler Tip: Do Not Use Flashlights on the beach or Flash photography. The light scares the turtles and sometimes means that the turtle will run back into the ocean or drop the eggs and run off. Also it can cause them to become disoriented. A few of the members of our group disappear right after they snap pictures. The bugs are heavy but we stay because this is a once in a lifetime kind of tour. As we watch the water wash over the massive turtle we start quietly back to our cars walking by the shoreline again. We get about 50 feet down the shoreline when the director warns us to stop. Our eyes are adjusting to the dark and we can just make out the shape of another huge loggerhead turtle creeping slowly out of the ocean and onto the sand. I look around wondering how many more will do this throughout the night. We pause and respect her right of way, making sure we all leap over the tracks or do our best not to trample them. This is a night I will not forget. I am astounded to have seen two of these creatures, known to have lived during the dinosaur age. It is even sweeter to have witnessed this on their terms, in their natural habitat. Sea Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound: The sea turtle nesting walk in Martin County, Florida is something everyone should experience. These tours are also available in Indian River County near Vero Beach. I was a guest of Martin County and Indian River County while in Florida and have been working with them to tell these stories. I have received perks, accommodations, tours, flights, meals and other compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/turtle-nesting-walk-hobe-sound-florida-discovermartin-lovefl/">The Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound, Florida</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12639</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Valentine&#8217;s Day Coloring Page Printable</title>
		<link>https://www.thriftymommastips.com/valentines-day-coloring-page-printable/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paula]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2016 05:29:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coloring pages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentine's Day]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thriftymommastips.com/?p=5995</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Valentine&#8217;s Day is coming up fast and I know how much you enjoy crafts. So here&#8217;s another Valentine&#8217;s Day colouring page for kids. It&#8217;s super simple but don&#8217;t forget colouring doesn&#8217;t have to be too detailed. It can just be a fun and easy transition or relaxation activity. Valentine&#8217;s Day is right around the corner and it&#8217;s time to celebrate love. Well, every day should be an occasion to celebrate love really, right? Nonetheless, it&#8217;s nice to have a specific date on the calendar for those of us who get so busy we forget to take a moment to remember our partners. I know I can be vguilty of this. I always remember my kids, but my husband sometimes after 20 years of marriage is taken for granted. This year I have a few special things planned. I vow to take a night off work and go our for a romantic dinner and maybe a movie too. This year my kids are old enough to understand that we need time together too. In fact it won&#8217;t be long and my tween and teen will have their own special someone too. (Yikes!) It&#8217;s part of my goal here always at Thrifty Momma&#8217;s Tips to help people find the brands and items that make sense for their families. Sometimes I share a post can help you save money, or a giveaway here as well. I also like to share printables too so that you can use them easily at home to keep your children busy and sometimes to help you save time and other resources. I have numerous printables for you and for the kids too. There is a coupon book that will help you to celebrate and save money too! There are many pretty and fun Valentine&#8217;s Day coloring pages for kids. You can find more printables like this Valentine&#8217;s Day coloring page on my Pinterest printables board. So for those of you who don&#8217;t know how to do this already. You can right click on the thumbnail above and print it out that way to use the coloring page. Or you can download the PDF version from below. Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day. coloring-page-be-mine</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com/valentines-day-coloring-page-printable/">Valentine&#8217;s Day Coloring Page Printable</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thriftymommastips.com">Thrifty Mommas Tips</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">5995</post-id>	</item>
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