Forgetful Momma

Secular Homeschooling in Canada

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Budget Friendly: Spending Time with Your Spouse

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We are coming up on our tenth wedding anniversary and we’d really like to do something. This year has been crazy for a lot of people. For us we are spending a lot more time apart than we have in recent years so it would be nice to do something together. Sticking to budget friendly ideas of course. I think spending time with your spouse is important.

Spending Time with Your Spouse

Spending Time with Your Spouse

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There is nothing wrong with wanting to spend some time away from your kids Momma. Yes they grow fast and you don’t want to miss a thing, but you need to step away sometimes and have some quiet, grown up time.

I am not good at spending time away from my kids, alone. I don’t know what to do with myself. But I love to spend a couple hours with my husband as we can recharge.

Some great ideas that are budget friendly for spending time with your spouse ideas include:

Go Out to Dinner

You do not have to pick the fanciest restaurant, I’m happy with a mom and pop shop, or fast food. Kid free time and conversation is all I’m after.

A Walk or Hike

This could be a walk on the beach, or a wilderness hike. They’re both perfect ways to spend quality time together. Maybe take a picnic with you.

Go Wine Tasting

If you’re going to spend the day outside of the city, go to your local vineyard and join a wine tasting tour. Nova Scotia has a lot of vineyards now, and I would love to go a on a wine tour someday.

Spending Time with Your Spouse - pouring wine

Attend an open house.

Pretend you’re looking for a new place with your partner.  It can be a whole lot of fun checking out houses for sale together especially. Who knows, maybe you are looking for that perfect place, it’s easier to do without kids, I this I know.

Go to the Movies

There are drive in movies happening everywhere right now. This is a great way to spend an evening and relax.

Create your own drive in movie. Set up a comfy spot in the yard and project a movie onto the side of your house, or use an outdoor projector screen.

Spending Time with Your Spouse drive in movie

Spending Time with Your Spouse Around A BBQ

Have a BBQ and roast marshmallows around the campfire. This is perfect for chilly nights! I love sitting around a campfire, there is just something relaxing about it. Plus, I love s’mores!

Get Away for the Night

Find a place, off season maybe, that is within your budget. Take even just one night away, just the two of you. Recharge. Find a spot that is relaxing for you – for me that’s water, for Blake that’s trees, for both of us it means privacy, quiet.

How do you make sure to spend time together with your spouse while keeping it budget friendly? This isn’t something we have had the opportunity to do often, but we run when we’re given the chance. And I mean, RUN.

I am someone who struggles to spend money on myself, I spend on my kids, I buy for my husband when he needs or wants something useful. But spending money on going myself, or to spend time together alone is harder for me. Keeping it budget friendly makes me feel better about it.

Recommended Products for Time Away

Similar post you may be interested in:

Make Family Movie Night Fun

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Gifts for Forgetful People

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I am Forgetful Momma. It doesn’t mean I forget everything. But I have had three kids, and mommy brain is real over here. I forget my coffee cup in random places, not excluding the microwave. Did you know there are awesome gadgets for forgetful people? They make amazing gifts for forgetful people too!

Gifts for Forgetful People

Gifts for Forgetful People

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

What would be the one gift for a forgetful person in your life that you would have to get them? Blake is so forgetful, I’m sure he probably forgets his own name throughout the day.

There are some really great thoughtful, gifts for forgetful people. I really like the idea of some of these.

Time Will Tell Sticky Notes

This is not your ordinary checklist! This memo bracelet literally puts your memos in your own hands! Write out your tasks, chores, reminders, and any other important lists you need to remember.

Key Finder

I could have used this five or six years ago when I had my three baby. I cannot tell you how many times I locked myself out of the the house or locked my keys in my vehicle.

Mental Note Sticky Notes

Because everything that actually matters can fit onto a sticky note. These ones remind you, or the forgetful person you buy them for.

Do Not Forget Door Knob Organizer

True story here: Once my husband had to return a pair of pants, he hung them on front door so he couldn’t forget them. WRONG! He walked right out the door without taking the pants with him.

Never forget your keys or phone again! You’re sure not to forget anything with this bright red door knob organizer that actually says “DO NOT FORGET!” on it.

What the Fuck is My Password?

A simple no frills journal to keep track of important information for online accounts and websites. I NEED this.

Tile Sticker

Ring your things:Use your smartphone to make your tile ring when you misplace your things within 150 feet. Things like:

  • keys
  • wallet
  • remote… I blame this one on the kids

Gift Ideas for Forgetful Gift Givers!

Sometimes, you are the forgetful person, you forget that a birthday or Mother’s day is right around the corner. This was very common for us when we lived away. Amazon Prime was a life saver!

Gift cards are great! I love when someone gives me a gift card to my favorite store, Michael’s or Amazon. Then I can buy exactly what I want that I probably wouldn’t have bought otherwise.

These are also something you can buy ahead of time and have on hand for those times when you have really forgotten and don’t even have time to run out and get a gift card.

Similar post you may be interested in:

10 BBQ Gifts for Dad

Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Gifts for the Techie Homeschool Mom

Gifts for forgetful people

Make Family Movie Night Fun

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One of our favorite ways to spend some time together, is a family movie night. We try to do them as often as possible working around work and school schedules, we don’t want anyone dragging the next day.

Make Family Movie Night Fun

Make Family Movie Night Fun

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

We have been doing family movie nights for quite a few years, since our kids, our girls in particular, have been able to sit through a movie. We have watched a few different things, from newer kids movies, to classics, and those that Blake and I watched as kids and couldn’t wait to share them with our kids, to new movies that maybe not every parent has let their kids watch.

Picking Movies for Family Movie Night

Picking movies to watch with your kids is about knowing your kids. we have enjoyed watching the Marvel and DC Superhero movies, with a few exceptions, Deadpool for example.

We watch our classic Christmas movies every December, like A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Some of the movies that we have loved have been:

We really like watching movies that are parts of series or at least have a sequel. It gives us something else to watch if we know we like the first, and a longer story to follow.

Make Your Own Comic Book – Comic Book Pages

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Make it Larger

We bought a projector and screen for watching them too. Talk about game changer on our movie nights. There is just something about watching a movie on a larger screen.

Add Snacks

Snacks always make it a night more fun, and a movie night without snacks would be very boring. We bought a Matinee Movie Theater style popcorn maker to add a little more something and fun to our family movie nights. We also only use white kernel popcorn because, for some reason or other, the kernels don’t stick in your teeth as much making it much more enjoyable.

Pick up some popcorn buckets to add the feel of a theatre popcorn. These ones are reusable, but don’t put them in the dishwasher, one of ours are completely faded but that’s our own fault.

Place Value Activity with Donuts

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Get Comfy

Get some fluffy pillows, some big soft blankets and get comfortable. No one will be squirmy and wormy around and distracted from the movie when they are comfy. Though you might have someone fall asleep. It took our Gauge a long time before he stopped falling asleep in the middle of a movie.

Invite Some Friends

Add a little more fun by inviting friends to your movie night. Your kids can invite a friend over, or maybe some cousins, or grandparents. It’s always more fun when you add friends.

Similar post you may be interested in:

Charlotte’s Web – there are now two great movies now!

Our Favorite Book and Movie Combos – these are our 10 favorite book and movie combos, read it, and then watch the movie.

10 BBQ Gifts for Dad

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Dad can be so hard to shop for. I have a father, a husband, and a father-in-law, who I do not know what to buy for. But I do have one idea for everyone of them, BBQ gifts. BBQ accessories really should work for them all. And I get to eat the delicious BBQ’d goodness.

BBQ Gifts for Father's Day

10 BBQ Gifts for Dad

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

Here are some awesome gifts for your dad for Father’s Day. We have a number of these sets because my husband loves to smoke things. Pork loins and roast that taste so amazing I don’t mind buying BBQ accessories.

Grill Tools Set with Black Insulated Cooler Bag – This BBQ accessory set contain almost everything you need for grilling. Includes: Insulated cooler bag, electronic meat thermometer for grilling, steak fork, grill gloves, meat tongs, serrated knife, cutting board, barbecue fork, slotted spatula,bottler opener/cork screw, 2 salt/pepper shakers. The cooler bag is great for packing all of your food and drinks for the BBQ party. This is an all-in-one gift for dad.

Home-Complete BBQ Grill Tool Set – This high quality set comes with everything needed for a successful cook out. Easily season steaks with the basting brush, flip hot dogs or burgers the spatula or tongs, eat corn with the corn holders or grill kabobs with the skewers.

Sauce Pot and Basting Brush Set – Durable stainless steel sauce pot and lid, the basting pot holds up to 16 fluid ounce of sauce, with the basting brush integrated into lid.

Grill Cooking Set for Smoking – This BBQ cooking set includes smoking wood chips, grill smoker box, barbeque tool set, fire starter squares and a book with smoker recipes.

BBQ Gloves, Meat Claws and Digital BBQ Thermometer – This amazing BBQ accessories set is bound to meet all your demands and serve all your needs! Including a digital instant read thermometer, a pair of barbecue gloves and a pair of meat claws.

Easily Make Great Tasting Barbecue – Beer Can Chicken Roaster, Smoker Box, Jalapeno Popper Rack, Flat Skewers – The sliding trey has two flavor compartments for beer / wine or your favorite marinade and also a compartment for smoker wood chips for that delicious smoky flavor and taste. You can also use as a jalapeno roaster rack, beer can chicken holder or skewers grilling rack.

Burger Press with Different Size Patty Molds – Being the master grillers that we are, we bring you a durable, professional, commercial grade burger press that makes perfect round burgers like a machine!

BBQ Accessory Organiz – Give everything a spot right at the grill.

Wireless Grill Thermometer BBQ Oven Smoker Thermometer – Remote Meat Thermometer With Dual Probe monitor two different meats or one meat and the grill/oven/smoker temp remotely from 500 feet away.Large LCD displays.Back-lit in Transmitter & Receiver for use in low light condition.

Smoker Box – Just add the wood chips of your choice to our Heavy Duty Smoker Box, and place directly over the flame. You’ll be smoking in no time with no need for an expensive electric smoker.

Is there any other accessory that you’d want to buy the dad on your shopping list?

BBQ Gifts for Father's Day

10+ Activities for Keeping Busy While at Home

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We’re stuck at home. We are starting to bored out of our minds. But there is so much to do that you could be doing instead of binge watching Netflix. I’m not judging you for watching Netflix, I’m doing it too! I am also doing some of these X things to do at home too.

10+ Activities for Keeping Busy While at Home

10+ Activities for Keeping Busy While at Home

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

We are working on our house right now, and that is actually taking up 90% of our time. Like painting the fridge there are a lot of things that are needing updates and we are making the most of our time with my husband home to get them done.

Read

Is there a book or better yet book series that you have been wanting to read but haven’t had the time? Now is that time. I have actually been re-reading though some of mine that I haven’t read in years.

Cook and Bake

Instead of ordering out, make your meals at home. We always sit down to supper together as a family. My husband and I take turns making supper, maybe not switching back and forth every night but he still makes his share.

We also have our kids helping out in the kitchen and they love making snacks and desserts.

Game Night!

We don’t do this one enough. My kids love playing board games, and do so throughout the day, almost everyday. Right now they are into playing checkers.

Learning Something New

Have you always wanted to learn how to crochet? YouTube is an amazing resource, and how I taught myself to crochet. Head over to Pinterest and find a beginner pattern you’d like to try and give it a go.

10+ Activities for Keeping Busy While at Home

Listen to a New Podcast

I go through spurts of listening to podcasts. I normally like to listen while walking – on the treadmill or outside.

Learn a New Language

Maybe you can’t completely learn a new language during this difficult quarantine time, but you can start learning and keep up with the practice once things begin to return to a sense of normal. Our library has access to some great online resources and your’s may as well.

Travel, Virtually

Maybe make a travel bucket list! You don’t have to leave your computer to travel virtually right now. There are many, many places giving tours knowing that everyone is stuck at home.

Craft

My husband loves to build and woodwork. He is currently finishing up building a chicken coop out of reclaimed wood and trees he cut down. Then he is moving the crafting into the house.

The kids are using up every craft set, craft material and things that they can find.

I am painting our house, because after eight years it really needs it.

Start a New Hobby

Our new hobby is chickens. We have 11 chicks growing really fast right now, and just picked up quail chicks. And they are just the start of what is turning into a small homestead.

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Our quail are growing fast. Look at all those feathers!

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Color

My kids started this, coloring in the living room, or their bedroom, and then I dug out my Where’s Waldo coloring book. I have been enjoying it, it’s a nice way to slow down and not think too much.

Exercise

This has honestly been on the top of my to do list since March! But the nicer weather is more incentive to go for a walk.

Create a bucket list

Create a bucket list of things you want to do. Some bucket list ideas could include:

  • for this summer once the stay home order is lifted
  • for the remaining of this year
  • create a life bucket list and start checking things off
  • things you want to accomplish or experience with your kids while homeschooling

When you find something to do while you are staying safe at home, it makes it that much easier to stay home. Find something that makes you happy and helps you forget that you are “stuck” at home, but instead makes you enjoy being home.