Fit in a Fun Friday - Volunteering

Volunteering is a lot of fun usually.  What other job can you think of that lets you pick exactly what you want to do and appreciates the simple fact that you showed up and helped out?  This is why I plan to spend a large part of my retirement on volunteering with animals and the elderly.  The animals are really cute and I could not think of a worse fate than being lonely in my golden years. 

Here's my volunteering history up to this point:

I started volunteering in 5th grade on a regular basis.  Back then I cleaned up Galveston beaches and the roads near my neighborhood.  In 6th grade I volunteered at the city library and had a great time.  In 7th grade I played card games and dominoes with the residents of the local senior citizen's home and should have stayed longer.  In 8th grade I stupidly picked to help out with the county's historical museum (can anybody say "use that kid for filing"...sheesh).  I really enjoyed helping out, but then we moved to Holland in 9th grade and I shut down.

Depression is a weird thing.  I knew I didn't feel right, but I didn't really want to feel better either.  I just wanted to sleep and listen to music and ignore everything around me.  It took me a couple of months to peek out from my room and try to enjoy Europe while we were there.  Within 7 months we were packing again and moved to Argentina for 2 1/2 years.

After a year or so, I befriended my little sister's English teacher who ran her own English learning center.  I started volunteering as an English instructor for 6 and 7 year-olds until we moved back home.  You never respect teachers more than when you decide to teach a second language to kids that barely just learned their first one!  I also realized that I was a lot less moody when I was involved with others.

After we got back to Texas, I once again fell off the volunteering wagon and went to college for 4 years.  I had 2 or 3 part-time jobs the whole time so I just couldn't bring myself to find enough time to fit in helping others long-term.  I volunteered for a few clean ups and that was about it. 

Then I was a graduate and started my first full-time job.  All of the sudden, I had extra time again.  I discovered the Houston SPCA and started volunteering in the big dog section...they seemed the most lonely since puppies get all the attention.  I never told my husband, but we came very close to owning about 20 dogs that first month...including a 120 pound Mastiff "puppy" that just might have fit in our 550 square foot apartment...

We lived close so I could work 20-25 hours a week pretty easily for that 6 months, but then we moved 45 minutes away to our new house.  Now I only help answer phones for their telethons. 

Since I still wanted to help and we were looking for a second dog, I became a foster parent for Pughearts: Houston Pug Rescue.  For another 6 months I fostered and helped find a home for 10 Pugs and adopted our own Pug early on.  When my husband started graduate school, we took a fostering break, but I hope to restart this fall.  It helps that my allergy-ridden Pug feels better and probably wouldn't mind some company at this point since our Dachshund-mutt actively ignores him whenever possible.  :-)

In short, volunteering is a necessary part of my life.  I feel blah whenever too much time passes...it's like a mild addiction.  My plans for the future are to get involved with Meals on Wheels since I do miss spending time with the elderly.  Those guys have the best stories and sincerely appreciate a good conversation.  I never made anybody happier than when I gave a 95 year old woman the first manicure she had been given in almost 25 years.

Do you have any volunteer stories to share?  What organizations tug at your heart strings?  If you haven't volunteered, I'd suggest trying it at least once...the people or animals or whatever that you help are not the only ones that feel better.  :-)

Fit in a Fun Friday - Bowling

My company just had its annual bowling tournament a few weeks ago.  My husband and I lost as usual, but we do have fun.  Bowling is just a mellow game.  How can you not enjoy good burgers and taking your frustrations out on a bunch of pins?

Until the non-smoking laws were passed a couple of years ago, my asthma caused us to avoid bowling alleys most of the time except for non-smoking bowling leagues.  Hubby even bought me a personalized cherry-scented bowling ball for a Valentine's Day a few years ago.  It's red and black, has my name on it, and still has a scent.  :-)

Now we can go bowling whenever and even take advantage of Friday and Saturday night specials.  We don't actually bowl very often due to our other hobbies like Curling and blogging, but we are hoping to join a league again next year.

As far as affordability, bowling seems to be about the same price as a dinner-and-a-movie night.  If you take advantage of specials in your area and skip the snack bar, it can be pretty inexpensive.  Sadly, hubby and I are addicted to bowling alley burgers.  We do shell out between $10-$15 a night at the snack bar alone. 

When we are in a league, it's usually $10 or $15 a person and we are able to earn back some of that ($20-$50 a person) through our team's overall scores.  Not too shabby.  :-)

How long has it been since you've been bowling?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Gardening

Okay, I'll admit it right now, I have a black thumb.  I am a plant killer.  Yet, even I have been drawn in by the lure of color.

Gardening may or may not be your cup of tea, but the results are usually worth it.  When we bought our home, it had grass in the front yard and a grass/weed mixture in the back.  I thought this would be fine to me since I don't spend much time outside of my own home, but two years ago, HGTV did me in. 

Just a few episodes of Designed to Sell convinced me that I needed some color and I needed it NOW!  In my tv show fervor, I seemed to forget that September in Houston is usually the end of planting season and that I can't keep plants alive even if my life (or wallet) depended on it.  That started the saga of digging up areas for flower beds and hunting down plants that could survive an owner like me.

After several failed attempts that month, I was finally able to get a surviving group of plants out front.  One Double Knock-Out rose bush got an area to itself.  Miniature Monkey Grass and Sun Proof Lily-Turf shared the walkway bed with two Caladiums.  A green shrub of some sort finally got the area next to the garage to itself since no other plants seemed to be able to survive.  I also bought a Red Dynamite Crepe Myrtle for the center of the yard to add the biggest splash of red possible.

The joke was on me.  That Crepe Myrtle hasn't bloomed since it was planted 2 years ago.  It gets taller and it gets greener, but I swear it's laughing at me.  So is the green anonymous shrub...it is almost exactly the same size as 2 years ago - it looks healthy but it refuses to grow.  The Monkey Grass and Sun Proof Lily-Turf also look exactly the same but have killed one of the Caladiums, so the walkway no longer seems symmetrical to me.

In fact, only my rose bush seems to love me...she's the prettiest rose bush ever and blooms 9-10 months of the year.  She grew triple her starting size in one year alone.  I think all the other darn plants know that she's my favorite and are sticking it to me...

Anyway, as you can tell from the before and after pics below, my front yard is at least more interesting than before.  All the plants I have now seem healthy, and I refuse to replace anything that survives through a year with me (just ask my hubby, lol).

Do you have a garden?  If so, are you more into flowers or vegetables or herbs?  Do any of your plants hate you too?

TODAY

MY PLANTS

Anonymous Shrub and Accidentally Planted Mother's Day Roses

Monkey Grass and Sun Proof Lily-Turf with Remaining Caladium

Rosie the Rose Bush in Bloom Last Year

(She Was Just Pruned in the Overall Pic Above)

Fit in a Fun Friday - The Zoo

One of my high school friends, Maggie, invited my husband and me to come visit about a month ago and take a tour of her job.  I know a private tour of somebody's job doesn't sound like that much fun...unless they work at a zoo! 

Yep, we got a free private tour of a zoo!

It was great.  We were able to feed Jeffrey the giraffe and Babe the rhino (you can see their pictures below...well Babe's booty and her companion's pic).  My friend also told us the histories of each animal she knew and the funny stories that have happened along the way.

They have one elephant that seems to take offense at inanimate objects...she mangled a fence without even trying.  We also met a wild turkey that refused to settle down...I swear, he thought we were really after his woman and could stay completely puffed up for hours on end.  He's going to give himself a heart attack. 

The last picture is of Mukah, an orangutan that really thinks he is human...
By the time we had seen the whole place, I felt like I had known those animals for years.

I also remembered the ton other zoo visits I have enjoyed.  My parents enjoyed taking my sisters and me to whatever zoo or wildlife preserve that was in each city we lived in or visited.  I honestly can't remember the number of times I've been to the Houston Zoo.

My husband and I have continued that tradition as well.  We even visited the New Orleans Zoo a few months before Katrina hit.

There's just something special about seeing all of those animals that reminds you that you're just one small dot in a much bigger picture. 

It's also an outing that usually runs about the same price as a trip to the movie theater - tickets range from $5 to $15 for an adult and less for children.  Most zoos also allow you to bring water bottles and picnic lunches as well.

Have you been to the zoo lately?  Do you remember any fun visits in the past?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Picnics

Picnics make me feel light and fluffy since it involves socializing, nature, and sandwiches.  I also love the fact that they require people to talk.  They get usually quiet people (not me) to open up.  Oh, and they are really cheap.

In college, there were a few stone tables outside that were perfectly situated under trees and surrounded by 3 dorms.  I'd splurge on a $1.50 loaf of bread, a $2.50 container of peanut butter, and a $2.50 jar of strawberry jam just so I could sit at the table and stop friends and random strangers that were wandering by. 

College kids always stop for free food.  By the time they finished their sandwich, we had each made a new friend or at least got to get some of the days worries off our minds.

After college, picnics became little romantic dates with my husband.  We usually take some cracked corn as well for any ducks or birds that are around.  Easy sandwiches, iced tea, good conversation, and wildlife always makes me smile.

In short, picnics are relaxing.  You can even find parks with playground equipment that your children would enjoy.  $5 of sandwich materials (or salad, leftovers, etc), a place to sit, and hopefully another person or two is all it takes to have fun.

Do you enjoy picnics?  How long has it been since you ate outside?

Fit in a Fun Friday - The Library

The library is an oasis for anybody looking for entertainment.  Readers can enjoy books, books on tape or CD's, and ebooks to our heart's content.  Movie lovers can browse the DVD's.  People who like to stay in-the-know could take a look at a variety of newspapers and magazines that would cost a personal fortune to have delivered.  They also have computer access with databases galore for anybody dying to go online or find research materials.

In short, the library offers a ton of free entertainment options that are pretty easy to enjoy.

In many cases, it's even easier than browsing the shelves or spending half an hour searching down the book you know they have.  Many libraries have a site online that you can use to find and request what you are looking for.  That can be used to request an item anywhere in the library system or even request an item from somewhere else.  Once the item reaches the location of your choice, you can pick it up right off a hold shelf, check it out, and be back to your car in less than 5-10 minutes.

Interlibary lending has allowed me to have access to over 100 paranormal fictions and murder mysteries in the past year that I would not have been able to get to as easily before.  It's also allowed my husband to save a couple of thousand dollars on books and materials he needed for his graduate school classes.  He's has had to read a couple of hundred children's books and teen novels in the past 8 months.  Those alone would have cost us at least $1000.  He's also used the library to get novels on CD's so he can take care of the "reading" part of assignments on his way to work or hobbies.

Yep, I'm a library lover.  How about you?  Do you use your local library?  Does your library have an online search and request site?  Do you use your library for something I forgot to list?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Stuff We Don't Skimp On

My husband suggested this post and the idea caught my fancy. We skimp on a lot if there is a viable alternative EXCEPT the following:

Name Brands We Buy Regularly

• Nature’s Own Honey Wheat (hubby was right, this is good bread)
• Kroger Brand Brownies (taste better to us than the name brands)
• Kroger Brand Real Mayo or Hellman’s (Miracle Whip makes me gag)
• Kellogg’s Poptarts (my morning crack)
• General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios (my other morning crack)
• Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats (my I’m-not-eating-lunch-for-a-while option)
• Dr. Pepper or Cherry Coca-Cola cans (yeah, yeah, I know. I wait for the 4 packs for $10 sales at Kroger and stock up...we try to keep the habit to a pack or less every three weeks)
• Charmin Toilet Paper (hubby scoffs at Scott’s…this is soft, but it’s only tp)
• Tide for regular clothes (hubby swears it’s better…I’ve decided this is a battle I’ll forfeit)
• Oxyclean for grass and mud stains from sports officiating (it does work and saves freaking expensive reffing gear)
• French’s Mustard (this is totally my hubby…I cannot taste a difference to save my life, but again, I choose to forfeit)
• Wolfbrand Chili with no beans for hot dogs (smells like wet dog food, but it gets my hubby to eat hot dogs at home sometimes)
• Foo-foo dog food like Nutro and allergy free stuff for the Pug (I have to have a dog food that's first ingredient is a meat or I feel taken advantage of)

Other Items We Have Splurged On

• Tempurpedic mattress (my husband hasn’t had back pain since we got one a year ago...I think it’s too hot during the summer months)
• Dream Fit Sheets (they fit and don’t come off when we toss around at night…plus they have lasted us 5 years already, which is good since they cost about $100 a set)
• Miche Bag (I love the magnetic shells and I never have to move my stuff to a new purse)
• Crocs (they aren’t all clown shoes anymore and feel great…you can also find big discounts online like my $60 leather work Crocs for $35 on Ebay)

There are probably a few more things I can’t think of right now, but you get the point. There are some things we have become loyal to…gladly we didn’t discover these addictions until we could afford them, but I sort of wish I never tasted the difference between $1 bread and Nature’s Own Honey Wheat...

What about you? Any favorite brands? Anything you refuse to skimp on?

Fit in a Fun Friday – Make Your Own Art

I know, you might think you are like me...not craftsy at all.  But you can make awesome art anyway.

Our favorite artwork is a three piece set that we created ourselves for less than $25.

We bought five yards of burlap in three pieces, multiple colors of spray paint, and three cheap wooden frames used to stretch fabric.

Then we went outside, scrunched up the burlap, and spray painted like crazy with one color.  After that, we unscrunched, rescrunched, and sprayed like madmen with a different color. We just repeated that process for 45 minutes until we were really happy with the outcome.

Once they dried, it was easy to staple them onto their soft wood frames.

Even though we have spent a couple of thousand of dollars on other cool art by artists much better than us, those colored burlap pieces are still our favorite.

Here's what we enjoy...says a lot about my insane mind, huh?  Can you imagine what you'd make?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Expensive Dreams

My friend Desiree is an astronomy addict. She and her husband, Mitch, were the ones who took me to the George Observatory a few weeks ago to take my first real look at Saturn. She also found out that she could do way more star-gazing for free if she joined a few astronomy clubs in and around our area.

At her first meeting, they showed her a close-up of the moon like she had never seen before on a 42” screen attached to a Takahashi telescope. She’s now jonesing for this $18,000 astronomy machine…

The weird thing is, even though I’m a frugal, money-hoarding squirrel, I think she should get one if it would truly enhance her happiness.

I greatly value happiness. I also believe that money can be used as a tool to achieve greater contentment. Being in the poor house doesn’t lead to peace of mind, so I also highly value budgeting.

So, I suggest saving for a HUGE splurge the same way you’d save for anything else. Set aside a certain amount of money from every paycheck for the item of your dream.

Desiree could be the proud owner of a Takahashi in 5 years or less (depending on interest) by setting aside $300 a month. If that is too steep, she could put aside $150 a month for 10 years and take advantage of technological advancement while she waits. As newer models come out, the older models are bound to be marked down.

In the meantime, she can happily use the impressive telescopes that the clubs provide. She may discover that she doesn’t even want to buy her own at all…although I saw the awe in her eyes when she was simply using a lesser telescope. I see a Takahashi in her future.

What are you saving up for? Anything crazy in your future?

I know my husband wanted his own pinball machine for a while, but now I see him developing dreams around Curling. I personally have aspirations for an Alaskan cruise.

Fit in a Fun Friday - Sea Monkeys

If the title didn’t make you smile, you’ve never had Sea Monkeys. They bring up so many fun memories from my childhood that I thought I’d remind you too.

For those of you that haven’t heard of Sea Monkeys, they are miniature Brine Shrimp that are suspended in their hatching process until they are introduced into the correct environment. In this case, that environment is a little plastic aquarium that has the correct packets added to it a few days in advance.

Honestly, the waiting is the hardest part. Even after you successfully wait to add the “Instant Life Eggs”, you then have to wait until the little guys hatch and become visible under the magnifying bubbles on the side of the tank. I don’t know how many times my mother reminded me to have some patience.

I know that tiny shrimp may not sound like fun, but the whole process makes me giddy. It’s fun to create a tiny world. It’s also interesting to watch them stutter around the tank. I can’t swear I learned anything deep from the whole process, but I really do have fond memories of my first real pets. Yes, we had a dog and a hamster, but Sea Moneys were the first animals I actually took care of myself.

They are also affordable…the whole setup can be bought for less than $10 at Amazon right now. I might be buying the little set of magical packets pretty soon again as well. I think they might make fun office pets.

Have you ever had Sea Monkeys? Did they make you smile too?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Poker Night

When my husband and I were in college, we started a poker club. As the President, I found locations to play and organized tournaments. As the Treasurer (irony kicks booty), my husband used the dues to buy refreshments and supplies like decks of cards and poker chips. The tournaments were tons of fun and legal too since gift cards were used as prizes.

That was a ton of fun. Then we graduated, everybody moved away, and poker night faded into the past.

After a few years, we were able to revive the tradition. I called a few friends we knew who enjoyed Texas Hold ‘Em and set up our poker table in the dining room. We still had our own chips and cards from college (not the club sets), so getting ready was easy. We also supplied a few bags of chips and soda, so we were good to go.

We played nickel poker with a max bet of a quarter and 3 raises, so our pots were limited and allowed for a lot of playing time in an evening. Everybody would buy-in for $5 and re-buy once or twice max. We usually started with Texas Hold ‘Em and moved on to general stuff (dealer would name a game). Everybody had lots of fun with a minimal amount of financial pain.

If you might be interested in having your own poker night, here's a little list of what I'd get together:

1.  Cards ($1-$3) - Make sure they aren't marked or too worn.  No, your friends will probably not try to cheat, but it's hard to pretend you don't see a grease stain on an ace...

2.  Poker chips ($10 for a good set on Ebay) - It is way easier than making sure everybody has a good mix of change.

3.  Stable table - I was cleaning sticky poker chips for an hour because I didn't follow this advice.

4.  Group of 6 or less - It’s easier to talk and have fun if everybody doesn’t spread out.

5.  Potluck snacks - If everybody pitches in, it ends up costing less than $5 a person for food.

That's it!  After the initial card and chip investment, we spend $5 - $15 a night for the both of us (food and cruddy hands) and every once in a while, we actually get paid to play.  :-)

What do you think?  Have you had poker nights?  How did they turn out?

Fit in a Fun Friday - State Parks

All state parks have something that makes them special.  Brazos Bend has alligators and the very cool George Observatory.

Brazos Bend consists of 5000 acres of swamp and forest.  Trails take advantage of the many different lakes spread throughout.  This was definitely not my first visit during the day, but I still got excited when I saw an alligator, a rabbit, a few deer, and a billion birds.

I didn't know that I would enjoy star-gazing until last weekend, but my friends took me to the George Observatory and we had a blast!  I actually got to see Saturn, which was very cool.  I also saw the Greater Orion Nebula, cluster M79, and took a closer look at Mars.  I liked seeing Saturn and the gas clouds the best.

I visited with two of my adult friends, but there were a ton of kids having a great time too.  I loved hearing everybody's reaction to the wildlife during the day and the sky at night!

The entrance fee to the park was $5 for an adult and the fee to use the smaller observatories was $2.  The large observatory was sold out but would have only cost $5.  We brought our own snacks, water was free, and we spent about $10 on gas.  I took digital pictures as my souvenir, so that was free as well.

Overall, it was a truly great day for less than $10 a person!

Here's the link to Texas Parks and Wildlife.  You can do a quick search online to find a park near you.

Have you visited any state parks?  If so, what did it have to make it special?  If not, do you think it's something you or your children would enjoy for some frugal fun?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Potlucks

Potlucks are my favorite group activity – they’re fun and CHEAP!

Hubby and I got involved with a board gaming group that meets up once a month at different homes for board gaming and FOOD. We hosted a few and I’ve fell in love with the whole thing. Here’s how we break it down:

The host provides the main dish and sends E-vites to all the members of the group with the info and main dish idea. All the members that plan to come RSVP and post their idea for a side dish that they’ll bring unless they have no idea. This usually eliminates duplicate dishes. When the day of the party arrives, all the host has to do is make gaming room in their house and clear a space for everybody’s food. Easy, fun, and so yummy!

Here’s a quick example from a potluck we hosted a couple of months ago.

We provided chili, rice, and iced tea. Our friends brought the rest of the fixings (shredded cheese, fritos, cups, ice, dessert, and random appetizers). Everybody had a great time and we gamed until 2am. It cost us about $15 and our guests spent anywhere from $3 to $10 on their contributions. We all had a great time and nobody paid an arm and a leg for the evening.

What about you? Do you enjoy potlucks or do you have alternate ideas?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Pets, My Favorite Luxury Expense

I might hear about this from both sides (pro-pet and anti-pet people), but I consider our pet expenses “fun” money.

Pets, specifically our two adopted dogs, are a necessary “luxury” expense for me. I don’t need them for any medical reasons – in fact, I believe they have turned me into a Claritin addict. We aren’t depressed without them. They aren’t making us any money at all and cost a pretty penny.

BUT, I love being able to come home and watch our dogs do silly things or have them on the couch with me...one keeping me company and the other keeping my feet warm. Most recently, watching them play has made me laugh until my side hurt. But, they are definitely an extra expense for us and are budgeted as such.

Our 12 year old dachshund mutt was a rescue from the Houston SPCA - $75 up front (years ago) plus a $45 vet visit 4 years ago. We also had her teeth cleaned for $150.

Our 7 year old Pug was adopted from PugHearts: Houston Pug Rescue - $200 up front (last year) plus a few vet visits in the last year. He had bad teeth, a removeable tumor, and some kind of strange allergy problem. This all cost about $750 and I’ve only had him a year. Yes, I’d get him again anyway, but I’m really glad we budgeted for crud like this.

For both dogs, flea preventative is about $150 a year, heartworm preventative is about $80 a year, shots are about $50 a year, a vet visit is a minimum of $65, and food is about $400 a year (Blue Buffalo since the Pug may have food allergies…we’ll see if this helps in the next month).

There are cheaper options (like feeding them Nutro Max instead), but this gives you an idea. We have spent about $3000 in 5 years and we’re lucky compared to other pet owners I have talked to.

In short, if you want a dog, I would aim for at least $1000 a year per dog. I believe they are totally worth it. I will probably always own at least one or two dogs at any given time. All I can say is, “Yay for discretionary spending!”

Do you have pets? Do you think they’re worth it?

Fit in a Fun Friday - Curling...Yes, Curling

My husband has recently thrown himself into Curling. Yes, that's right...Houston man...not much ice...ice sport...I do see the funny. :-)

For those of you that have not been introduced to this sport, IMHO it's a little like shuffleboard on ice. It requires a lot more coordination and heavy breathing than shuffleboard, but that's the gist on how you score. Here's a more thorough and accurate explanation of the game.

Since my husband was so interested, we found a Curling league in our area and attended a class last weekend. After much cussing, knee bruising, and numb fingers, I realized this was not an activity for me.

On the other hand, my husband was smitten. Think kid in a candy shop - that was my husband after 2 hours of practice. He'll be returning to this painful super fun league this weekend to join up.

On the financial side of this new hobby, he'll be looking at weekly league dues and some equipment costs like shoes ($30-$200 depending on quality and brand) and a Curling broom ($20-$50). 

Thankfully, the league supplies the granite stones that are slid across the ice. They will also let him borrow the basic supplies in the beginning until he's sure this will be long-term.  :-)

Like a bowling league, Curling has 8-12 week leagues that meet once a week. Hubby will be looking at $10-$15 a week depending on the league and he'll probably participate in at least two or three leagues a year.

That's a maximum of $540 a year plus the one-time equipment costs.  Not so bad for a physical activity that he enjoys.

Do you think Curling may be for you? If so, we found the league in our area at the USA Curling site.  You could also try using Google Maps, calling the ice rinks in your area, or searching further online.