DIY Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game

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My kids love to play Tic-Tac-Toe and they love to be outside so this combines both of their loves into one great game.  It’s really simple to make also. I really like the fact that most of the items can be found at the dollar store too!

DIY Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Materials Needed:

  • Shower curtain or liner
  • Permanent marker
  • duct tape, you will need three different colors
  • a few old cereal boxes
  • dried beans
  • ruler or measuring tape

**Note: You can omit the boxes, beans, and two colors of duct tape if you happen to have 2 sets of bean bags (four of each color)

Directions:

  1. Cut a 5 ft x 5 ft or 4 ft x 4 ft square out of the shower curtain liner. Lay it flat and draw lines to divide it into 9 equal sections with the marker. Use one color of duct to cover the lines.
  2. If you don’t have bean bags you will need to make some really simple ones. Cut the cardboard into twenty 7 inch x 7 inch squares.
  3. Place two pieces of cardboard together and use one color of duct tape (different from the liner grid) to seal three sides. Fill the ‘bag’ with beans and seal the remaining edge. Cover any visible cardboard with duct tape. Repeat to make a total of 5 bean bags for this color. (You can mark these with x’s, if you want.)
  4. Repeat Step 3 with the remaining squares, beans, and colored tape. (Mark with o’s, if desired.)
  5. Grab a friend and start playing by standing a bit away from the ‘board’. Take turns tossing the bags and try to make a row of the same color/symbol. The row can go across, up or down, and/or diagonal.
  6. Have fun!

 

If you have a sidewalk or concrete you could also draw the board with chalk and use chalk/bean bags to play.

Not a DIYer? No fear you can buy something similar from Amazon:

 

Toysmith Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game                                 Cardinal Toss Across Game

National Lighthouse Day

*This post contains affiliate links which help to support our blog and our family.

National Lighthouse Day honors those beacons of light that represent safety and security. Click here to learn more about this holiday. It is celebrated on August 7th. This would be a great day to take a tour of any local lighthouses.

Do you know a lighthouse collector? Here are some gift ideas for them.

Below are some of the activities I found to celebrate this day:

(Use at your own discretion.)

Also check out:

Homeschool: August on Pinterest

Lighthouses for kids on YouTube

 

Collectors Gift Set of 4 Assorted Lighthouse Figurines 4 Inch Resin Home Boat DecorEbros Five World Famous Light Houses In Metal Rings Wind Chime Decor Resonant Relaxing Patio Aluminum And Resin ConstructionJeremiah 29:11 Outer Banks Lighthouse Hardcover Wirebound Journal

Simplify Your Life: Step 7 Pay Off Those Debts and Bills

Pay Off Those Debts and Bills

Money is a big cause of stress in many people’s lives. So it would only make sense that getting rid of debts and bills can help us to simplify our lives and reduce stress. Credit cards and online shopping make it is so easy to buy things and accumulate debt without realizing it. We see something we want and we buy it and then we regret it when the bill comes in.

If we can learn to live a bit more frugally then we can learn to buy less, want less, be more eco friendly, simplify our budgets, and reach our financial goals of being debt free. We can’t do a lot about what has already been done but we can work towards simplify our lives to prevent the stress from these debts and bills.

One way we can do this is by setting up automatic deposits and payments. You can have your paychecks automatically deposited and you can also set your bills on auto pay. By doing this you can get those bills paid while preventing late payments. If you want to save a little bit more then you can even go paperless which will help to cut down on paper clutter and mail.  All of this adds up to less stress and a simpler life as there are fewer things to worry about.

I have found that I can not only simplify some of my shopping but save time and money while helping the planet by using subscription services and the convenience of online ordering for some things like cleaning supplies, household supplies, groceries, essential oils, and other items. My favorite place to use are:

  • Google Express  Get $10 off your first Google Express order and have one less errand to run! Use promo code: 5EK6F7555
  • Grove Collaborators Waiting for you is a FREE Mrs. Meyer’s 5-piece set
  • Sam’s Club   Join using my referral link and you get a $20 e-gift card.
  • Simply Earth Use this link for a FREE $20.00 gift card right now.

Now if you have already overspent and just don’t have the money to cover the bills then that is another story. That can lead to a lot of stress. You can set a budget and work on learning to only buy what you need. You may also want to look into ways to bring a little extra income. Many of these places I listed above also offer affiliate or referral bonuses which can help out too.

I really like the simplicity of the Wealthy Affiliate program. It not only teaches you the ins and outs of affiliate marketing but helps you to set up your own website. With the company’s ‘pay it forward’ attitude there is a constant supply of support from other members who have been right where you are right now. Go ahead, check it out, and sign up for your FREE account right now.

Congratulations!

This was the last step of my Simplify your life series. I hope you found some of the information useful. If you implement these easy steps into your life you will find you have more FREE time for quality moments with your friends and family. Good luck!

Have you thought of starting your own blog to make a little extra money? Check out 3 Steps to Start that Blog You’ve Been Dreaming Of for some great ideas to get started.

wealthy-affiliate-membership-grid

Special Holiday Meals: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

*This post contains affiliate links which help to support our blog and our family.

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is the day we can enjoy these sweet treats. Click here to learn more about this holiday. It is celebrated on August 4th.

Here are some of our favorite recipes:

Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Granny’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

This would be the perfect day to bring the kids in the kitchen and let them help with a batch of these yummy cookies. Don’t have a favorite recipe? Check out one of these books and try out some of the delicious recipes.

Below are some of the activities I found to celebrate this day: Continue reading “Special Holiday Meals: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day” →

Special Holiday Meals:National Watermelon Day

*This post contains affiliate links which help to support our blog and our family.

National Watermelon Day is the day we celebrate our love for this yummy fruit! Click here to learn more about this holiday. It is celebrated on August 3rd.

I think I might make some of these yummy Watermelon Cupcakes for this day. Or we might just pick up a juicy melon at the produce stand.

Continue reading “Special Holiday Meals:National Watermelon Day” →