FREE Fun for Family

My Hope for this Website is to help our Families have some FREE, wholesome, good FUN!!  However; there are times when we need to spend some money dining out or enjoying some event.

I visit many local businesses in the course of my daily travels with clients or the family and I'd like to help our local business owners GROW their business by blogging about the places I visit!

The link to the page "The BEST in Ventura County" will list all of the businesses I visit.  I will include their Name, location, phone number and hopefully a website.  So the next time you are looking for the 'BEST' place to go eat BBQ, it will be easy to find!

Many local business owners have families of their own and they are working so hard to be successful and support the family! We should support them by visiting their establishments.

I have a page on my site here "Kids eat FREE" that lists restaurants that offer a FREE meal for kids when the parents pay for their own meal.  Many parents don't know about these 'kid' friendly restaurants that are 'heavy' on the helpings but not on the wallet!

Many of our local businesses support our children's little leagues, soccer teams, and school fundraisers! 

Many of our local businesses are owned and operated by the parents of school friends of our own children.

So please visit and support our local business! You will be happy you did!

Here are some tips for childproofing your Home:

• Use covers on electrical outlets and latches on cabinets.
• Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
• Prevent poisoning by keeping household cleaners, chemicals and medicines completely out of reach and always store them in their original container and know your local Poison Control Center number (1-800-222-1222). Also, buy and use products with child resistant caps.
• Make sure that used or hand-me-down equipment, such as car seats, strollers, toys and cribs, etc., haven't been recalled for safety reasons. Call the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for an up-to-date list of recalled products (800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov).
• Use stair gates and window guards.
• If your home was built prior to 1978, it most likely has lead paint issues.  Have your pediatrician test your child for exposure to lead and remove any lead paint from your home.
• Maintain smoke free environments for your children. Second hand smoke can be deadly and is known to cause pneumonia and other illness in children.
• Remove mobiles from the crib and playpen once your child can stand.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers in the house and use flame retardant sleepware.
• Install fire extinguishers and consider purchasing flame resistant or flame retardant furniture in your home.
• Remove furniture with sharp edges or use soft guards.
• Use nonskid backing on rugs and make sure carpets are securely tacked down.
• Remove breakables from low tables and shelves.
• Remove small toys and other choking hazards from around your child.
• Tie cords of blinds, curtains and appliances up out of reach or use a blind cord wind-up device. Remove loops from blinds.
• Do not use a mobile baby walker. Stationary walkers are much safer.
• Do not carry hot liquids or food near your child and do not allow your child near stoves, heaters or other hot appliances (especially curling irons). When cooking, use the back burners and turn pot handles inward.  When serving hot tea or coffee watch little ones around table cloths.  They can pull the corner of the table cloth and spill the liquid on them causing severe burns.
• To prevent drowning, empty all water from bathtubs and pails, keep the door to the bathroom closed and never leave your child alone near any container of water.
• In the bathroom, use a lid lock on the toilet, a non-slip mat on the tub floor and consider a cushion for the tub faucet.
• Child proof the swimming pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate and never leave your child alone in a swimming area, even if he is a good swimmer.  Anything can happen in seconds.
• If you must have a gun in the house keep it and the bullets in a separate locked place.
• Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German shepherds) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
• If using bunk beds, remember that kids under age 6 years of age should not be allowed to sleep in the upper bunk.
• Make sure your house is free of enviornmental health hazards, such as radon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, mercury and mold.
• If considering buying a trampoline, keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that 'parents should never purchase a home trampoline or allow children to use home trampolines' and that even when supervised, children under age 6 years should not be allowed to use a trampoline.
• Place childproof covers on doors that your child could use to leave the house.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone and keep a phone handy at all times in case of an emergency.
• Lock rooms with a childproof lock or door knob cover, that are not childproof and the exterior doors of your house so that your child can't get out the front door or into the garage, attic, or backyard without help.

Costume Safety

• Make sure that the costumes are flame retardant to keep the little ones safe near candle-lit jack-o-lanterns and other fire hazards.

• Prevent trips or falls by keeping costumes short enough for safe walking to avoid the really scary 'bumps in the night'

• Make-up is safer than a mask.  Masks can obstruct a child's vision and this can be dangerous when crossing the streets or going up and down any steps.

• Consider light colors when shopping for a costume or put reflective tape on the kids so that they are visible to cars when crossing streets or driveways.

• Encourage children to make costume accessories out of card-board or other flexible material if they NEED weapons.  All of the excitement sometimes brings out aggressive behavior.  Even toy weapons that are purchased from a store can sometimes hurt and cause injury. (ie. swords)  Remind kids that they don't NEED weapons to be scary and fun!

Trick-or-Treating

Treat Safety

• Kids sould know not to eat their treats until they get home so that a parent o guardian can inspect them.  The BEST way to do this is to make sure they eat dinner before they go trick-or-treating AND let them start the trick-or-treating at home FIRST!  This way they will have some treats that they KNOW are safe  to eat! 

• Go through ALL treats at home in a well lit place.

• Allow children to eat ONLY those unopened candies in original wrappers that you can't unwrap and re-wrap.  Inspect fruit and any homemade treats for anything suspicious. 

I hope everyone gets a chance to go to the Ventura County Fair this year!

If you watch the schedule, they have some FREE days for kids, seniors, and people with disabilities.  They also offer discounts on certain days.

There are concerts every night so the entry fee is well worth it!

I took my kids to see the Beach Boys and we had the BEST time!  As we stood there singing along, I couldn't help but think of how fortunate we are to live in such a wonderful place!   The beautiful sunset was the backdrop to the stage.  The weather was perfect and the music was awesome!  Every seat was taken and there were lots of people standing.

The Beach Boys are timeless!  The Band had the crowd going and played all of the favorites!  People of all ages knew the words to the songs and were singing along. 

John Stamos, (who is known as "Uncle Jesse on Full House" by my kids) was a great addition to the band!  He proved that he is truly multi-talented on the Bass and the Drums! 

The two remaining Beach Boys proved they still have what it takes!  TALENT!!!   Santa Barbara is home to one of them so if we are lucky, they will be back next year.  If so, try not to miss it! 

I hear that many families don't enjoy dinner out because it's too costly.   They either stay home or pick up fast food.  However, there are some alternatives!

I've been searching our area for some restaurants where kids eat FREE when an adult purchases a meal and I came up with quite a few!  (*check out the list under 'Kids EAT FREE!' title on the main web page)

I took my children to Carrows on Telegraph Rd. in Ventura and we had a wonderful experience there!  It was just before Easter and they had a craft for the kids to do so that was extra fun!  There are a lot of choices on the menu and you won't leave there hungry!

I have heard from several other parents that Denny's is also great for kids!  That will be our next stop!

So get out and take advantage of the healthy meal choices offered at these restaurants.  The atmosphere is perfect for kids and parents can sit back, relax, and let someone else cook & serve dinner! 

Happy, Healthy, FREE eating to ALL of YOU!

A LOT of Love goes into gifts and cards that come from the HEART!

Bake a BIG Heart Shaped Cookie or Brownie for that special someone.

Bake a Heart Shaped Meatloaf for Dinner.

Make Heart Shaped Pancakes for Breakfast.

Cut out plain paper in the shape of a Heart and write "I love you" on it and put it in the kids lunch and your Husbands pocket.

'Have a Heart' hunt and hide little heart shaped candies around the house

Make a home-made card and express how you feel from your own Heart in it!

Wives, wash and wax your husbands car!

Husbands, wash the floor for your wives!

If you are the 'Techie Types', make a CD of songs that mean a lot to you & your loved ones & play it at dinner

Make a special CD of love songs to your husband/wife and put it in the car the night before so when the car is started the next day the first song begins to play! (make the first song your wedding song)

Make a DVD with special photos on your computer.

Leave Heart Shaped notes on the Refridgerator, or the bathroom mirror, or the door.

Eat dinner by candlelight (even if it's pizza you are having that night).

At dinner, play a game with the family!  Try to think of all of the songs that have LOVE or the word LOVE in them and name the songs or sing the beginning of it(if you can't remember the name) for extra fun & laughs!

LOVE MUCH! 

It's that time of year when we all start to feel guilty if we've made a long list of changes we'd like in our life and we haven't even started it.

The thing to remember is to not overwhelm yourself with too many things. 

Look over your list and take even ONE thing on it that is something you really NEED to change.  Pick something that will make you feel better about yourself and your life. 

Here are some tips to help you: 

• If you put losing weight at the top of your list, change your thinking to 'healthy eating'.  Take some time to find some new, fun recipees for healthy meals and snacks.  Go to the store and buy what you need to keep on hand so that you are not tempted to stop at the fast food chains.  Also, throw out the fattening 'goodies' around the house if you feel tempted to eat them.  Replace them with the healthy snacks.  Make dinner time fun by taking turns telling a joke!  You can find some funny ones on line!  Try not to eat past 6 pm!
• If spending more time with the family is on the top of your list.  Get the family together a few nights per week after dinner and take a walk around the neighborhood.  Use the time to 'catch- up with eachother.  You can also get the bikes out and ride!  Incorporate a once/week bowling night in your family routine! You'd be surprized how much fun that can be! 
• If you want to finish that college degree, go on-line after the kids have gone to bed (while a load of laundry is in the wash) and take the courses you need.  There are many schools on line now that offer degrees that are acceptable by many employers.

Remember not to be too hard on yourself if you aren't plowing through your list.  Take ONE resolution at a time and STICK TO IT!  You CAN DO it!

Here's to Believing and Achieving!

This is such a special time of year.  The perfect time for family.  I wanted to share some ideas with all of you to make the season even brighter!

• Take the time to go through old toys and clothes with the kids and then take them with you to donate the items to someone less fortunate. 
• Have a movie marathon one night where you order or make a pizza, pop popcorn and watch movies like: "It's a Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Carol", "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer", "A Charlie Brown Christmas" etc.
• Bundle up on a cold night and take a walk around the neighborhood with some hot cocoa to look at the Holiday decorations!
• Listen to Holiday music in the car while you are driving to and from school or to and from work or to and from shopping!
• Make home-made Holiday cards and drop them off to a Retirement Home to let an elderly person know that someone is thinking of them. 
• Go to the Parade of Lights in the Harbor and bring a thermos of hot cocoa!  You can sit in the car and watch the decorated boats go by or get out and walk around.
• Buy a toy for the "Toys for Tots" drive and let your child put it in the collection box.
• Make some holiday cookies together and let your child get creative with some!
• Take a drive on the 5 to Frasier park and play in the snow!  It's a quick drive and lots of fun!  You can easily park on the side of the road and get out and make a snowman, snow angels, and go down the hills on a sled!  There is no fee to pay!  The only cost is gas to get there!

If you would like to share any fun traditions with others or you have any ideas for some family fun, please post them and I will share them with everyone!

Best wishes to all families for a safe, happy, healthy Holiday and New Year!

Taking the family on a picnic is one of the BEST ways to have some FREE fun!

It doesn't take a lot of effort to throw some food and drinks together, grab the kids and even the dog and head to one of our AWESOME local parks for some FUN!

We recently did this and we had a great time!

If you have a basketball, football, baseball & bat, frisbee, or even a beach ball, take that with you!  Even if you're no Michael Jordan, you CAN shoot hoops with your child!  You might be shocked to see what hidden talents you have!

Another way to have a 'blast' is to take some squirt guns with you!   You can run around and play squirt gun tag!  It's a lot of fun on a hot day! 

So grab a *basket , a bag and throw in a blanket, drinks, (remember those water bottles in the heat & some sun screen & hats) chips, sandwiches, (or some fried chicken you made the night before  ) cookies and napkins and head to the park for some FREE fun in the sun!  Your kids will LOVE it!  Mine did!

We laughed, we played, we laughed some more!  You really feel like a kid again when you are out there playing!

It's a great experience! 

Enjoy!

*I have the BEST picnic backpack with everything you need and it's easy to carry!  Check it out under 'Cool Stuff'!  Everyone I know who has one of these LOVES it!

Like most busy Moms; when I have time off,  I love to spend it with my family.  Unfortunately, you can spend a fortune taking the kids to various places around town.  That is one of the reasons why I've created THIS web site.  To help families like yours and mine have some FREE FUN together! 

I will be posting lists of  FREE places to go with your family to have a good time!  Chances are that I will be checking these places out myself and sharing the FUN experience my family had with all of you! 

Please feel free to do the same!

We can all enjoy life and being with our families without having to spend a lot of money to do it!

So check out the FREE FUN for the months of October-December!