I'm fairly certain that everyone in the Pacific Northwest is now out of school. Finally! My kids have been out for almost a month (one benefit from paying for a private school) and while I thought we'd get a big jump on the summer fun, four cases of the chicken pox, a short trip to Bend and helping a friend also dealing with the chicken pox postponed much of our plans. With all the itching, scabs and drama behind us, we finally hit our local library to start our summer reading program. We are fortunate to live close to a Multnomah County Library which has a fantastic summer reading program. And by fantastic, I mean wicked cool prizes. Audrey, Keep Reading
Enjoying our library’s summer reading program!
Ask the FLNW Community: How do you keep track of your stockpile?
We just received this Facebook comment from Jennifer. She needs your help keeping track of her stockpile: One of the main aspects of keeping your grocery budget low is to plan ahead for meals using the ingredients that you have on hand efficiently (eliminating waste by using the groceries you've purchased and utilizing your stockpile items before they expire). I have been toying with the idea of keeping some kind of inventory of what is in my freezers and pantry, and was curious to know if any FLNWers have found creative solutions for tracking the food in their homes. If you have any advice for Jennifer, please leave a comment! Go here for Keep Reading
Pacific Northwest Fairs & Festivals 2012: Western Oregon & SW Washington edition
Jen from Thrifty NW Mom, Karrie from Happy Money Saver and I have teamed up to bring you the most comprehensive list of summer festivals and fairs in the Pacific Northwest. In this post, I have listed festivals and fairs in Western Oregon and SW Washington. Head to Thrifty NW Mom for a list of Puget Sound events and Happy Money Saver for a list of Eastern Washington and Central and Eastern Oregon events. PORTLAND METRO June Tigard Festival of Balloons, June 22-24, Tigard July Molalla Buckeroo, July 1-6, Molalla St. Paul Rodeo, July 3-7, St. Paul Waterfront Blues Festival, July 4-8, Downtown Portland Rainier Days in the Park, Keep Reading
National & Pacific Northwest summer reading programs for kids (2012)
Summer vacation is right around the corner and it’s a great time to start planning different activities for your kids. Summer reading programs hosted by local public libraries and businesses are a fantastic way to encourage your children to read (or be read to) and earn prizes for doing it! Jen from Thrifty NW Mom, Karrie from Happy Money Saver and I have teamed up to bring you the most comprehensive list of summer reading programs in the Pacific Northwest. In this post, I have listed national summer reading programs as well as local programs in Western Oregon and SW Washington. Head to Thrifty NW Mom for a list of Puget Sound programs and Happy Keep Reading
The Ultimate Guide to Portland Family Fun posts coming this summer!
Ready to discover (or re-discover) Portland? This month, Frugal Living NW will be sharing fun activities, attractions and events to do with your family in and around the Portland Metro area. From the coast to the Gorge, from Clark County to Salem, The Ultimate Guide to Portland Family Fun will allow you to experience the awesomeness this area has to offer, all from readers just like you! Be sure to check the blog every evening (starting tonight!) for a new snapshot into how to have fun as a family in the Portland Metro area without breaking the bank! Ready for some additional reading on the topic? Be sure to check out our Year of the Staycation Keep Reading
Staycation 2012: Fun ways to enjoy cities all over the United States!
Earlier this week, I posted a slew of frugal and fun things to do in and around the Portland Metro area as part of the nationwide Year of the Staycation series. Today we are pleased to bring you links to Year of the Staycation posts from around the United States. Each post is organized by geographical region. Be sure to check out your summer travel destination as well as your local area for fun and frugal ways to make the most of your upcoming summer fun! If you're planning to visit west of the Cascade Mountains, be sure to check out our Portland post and Queen Bee Coupons' Seattle/Puget Sound post. Pacific Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living Keep Reading
Gardening: The hardest part is getting started {Part 2}
Guest post by Mavis from OneHundredDollarsAMonth.com. Last weekend I went over to my neighbor Lulu's garden to check on the potatoes we had planted just a few weeks earlier. Lulu and I walked over to the garden beds and discovered the red potato plants were starting to break through the soil. Thumbs up, Lulu... nice job. If an eight year old can grow vegetables, so can YOU! For the most part, gardening can be one of the most frugal {and rewarding} hobbies out there if you stick to the basics. Good soil, seeds and water. Think about it: soil, seeds and water were all the Pilgrims had to work with. They didn't use specialty fertilizer, soil gauges, Keep Reading