Make snow angels! Or a fort.

Family bike rides (sans snow days) and cool hikes. Winter is an excellent time to hike because nature looks way different than in the summer when families usually hike. State parks with waterfalls are especially cool this time of year. Here in Oregon we go to Silver Creek Falls, but of course you can find a state park near you.

Ice skating at a safe local pond once it’s cold enough.

Set up a tour of the local recycling center or fire station.

Make a family time capsule.

Plan a hot chocolate, popcorn, and game night. Break out all those dusty games.

If you’ve got a sled use it.

Make sock puppets and have a puppet show.

Play charades.

Plant a winter garden.

Wait for night, bundle up, grab a wagon for the very little ones, and go see all the holiday lights in the neighborhood.

Plan a winter scavenger hunt.

Plant some trees!

Grab your flour and have a low-cost holiday cookie baking day.

Hunt down free holiday plays at schools and churches.

Make some holiday crafts:

• 24 Things To Make – A Crafty Christmas Countdown
• Free Holiday Projects
• Favorite Christmas tree ornament tutorials, free patterns & ideas
• 50 Holiday Things You Can Make Yourself
• Thrifty Christmas Crafting

What does your family like to do that’s free and fun in the winter?

[image via Jennifer's personal pictures - Cedar the snow angel]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

• A while back I posted a bunch of cool as beans green living iphone apps that you’ll love, like Earth 911 shown above. Most are free, and a few cost a little, but all are useful.
• Lifehacker asked their readers to share the free apps they are most thankful for last week and then rounded them all up into a nice little tips sheet. There are lots of good ones on the list – 61 Free Apps We’re Most Thankful For.
• If you’re a home owner or looking to be then Home Improvement Apps for Your Phone is a must read.
• If you like the nitty gritty of science then you need science apps. The best of the best can be found in Best iPhone Apps for Scientists.
• A nice green coupon app!
• 25 of the Best Green Web Tools, Applications and Resources
• Like Lifehacker, CNET is thanksful for some computer apps as well.
• If you’re a MAC person take heart because PCs don’t get all the glory. Read 15 Best Freeware Apps for Mac Users or Top 40 best free Mac software apps to learn more.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering about the apps and downloads I’m most thankful for; well, I’ve got four I love. They’re all related to blogging because of course that’s my job. And the winners…

• Thesis Theme
• And three great ones – the Sociable plugin, PXS Mail Form, and BEST of all Photoscape – I heart Photoscape so much it’s not even funny. Learn more about these blogging tools.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Veterans and active duty can eat for free today at Applebee’s.  There are six great looking meals that you can choose from.

If you’re a big Martha Stewart fan or if you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll want this free Martha Stewart Thanksgiving cookbook download.  Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Quality Health also has a free Thanksgiving recipes ebook.  The Freebie Blogger has more info about getting the ebook.

At Little Fun; Little Learning I’m giving away five copies of Tiny Baby Jesus.  It’s a hardcover book that retails for $16.99 and would make a great Christmas present.

There is a free military appreciation dinner at Golden Corral restaurants on Monday, November 16 from 5-9 pm. 

Download some groovy children’s music from Charity & the JamBand.  There are currently nine free downloads in the song of the month archives.  You can also listen to other music on their homepage.  My kids favorite song is Peanut Butter and Jam.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store locations in CA, TX, and AZ will be hosting a Holiday Open House on Thursday, November 12 from 4-8 pm.  Join them for a complimentary 12 oz holiday drink.

A special thanks to everyone who has served or is currently serving our country.  Freedom is not free and we are so thankful to you and your families for your sacrifice.

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Last fall, 650 theatre companies, in 120 cities from coast to coast, opened their doors to over 65,000 new theatergoers. This year, our participating theatre companies will offer even more tickets for free. Join thousands of audience members – from Portland to Charleston, and from Houston to Minneapolis – and explore all the wonderful entertainment your local theatre community has to offer!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

• Borrow baby items
• Don’t tell anyone the gender
• Don’t buy useless items

IF YOU DO WANT TO LOOK FOR FREEBIES:

It’s hard to find actual free baby items on the Internet but not impossible. Sometimes a company will offer something as free and then re-direct you to another much more annoying website where you have to fill out a million obnoxious forms. That wastes time and in my opinion, is not really free.

In my experience when you order baby freebies the company will send extra email to your in-box (no matter what the website says otherwise); sometimes a company will send useful email and coupons but sometimes not. Sometimes it’s a spam nightmare.

THE BEST ADVICE: If you’re going to order baby freebies online set up a specific ‘baby freebie’ email account for yourself. You can use this email for ordering free gear, all spam will be sent there, and your real email account will stay free and clear.

Here’s a few less spammy baby freebies below. As of today, all the links shown below are current but the Internet changes quickly so I’d act fast.

• Free subscription to Babytalk magazine.
• Free subscription to American Baby Magazine. Once you click the link scroll down the page a bit to subscribe.
• FREE Guide to Your Child’s Nutrition : Age-by-age guide to healthy eating or FREE Juicy Juice Water Bottle when you sign up to be part of the Juicy Juice community.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Get two free tacos on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 with this printable coupon.  No purchase necessary.

Sounds like another cheap summer family outing.

Thanks, Bargain Briana.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

This is available for kids 12 and younger. No adult purchase is required. As always, I recommend checking with your local store to see if they are participating.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Normally this promotion varies by area, but when I went to the main Food Lion site without signing in, this showed up on the homepage.  Still, it is a good idea to see if this sale is going on in your local area. 

This promotion is going on July 22 – October 13, 2009.

image: food lion

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

This offer is good until September 7, 2009 and is not valid on Fridays after 5 pm or Sundays.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

This coupon is available at participating locations.  As always, I recommend calling before making a special trip.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy