Rhode Island Summer

I am a Rhode Island girl tried and true. When I was little; every Friday morning we would go to the beach. It was my absolute favorite thing. I would always look forward to those days, salty hair and sandy toes. We would arrive early, and some days be the last to leave. 

Last summer my husband and I worked our bums off, and shared one car, working an hour away from home. There were endless trips in the car and not much time in the sun. We didn't even get to go to the beach once. I wasn't going to let that happen this summer.

I didn't realize how much time I was not spending with my little lady until, I got let go of work and spent every minute with her. I have had more fun with her in the past nine months than I knew was possible. Do not get me wrong I would love to be working right now to help support my family. But I'm not. I'm working from home. Where my time is most valued. I love watching my little lady grow and explore new things every day. Since we are living on a small budget, I try to find the fun in the little things. Okay I'm gonna list off a few fun things we have already done, or that are our go to favorites. 

The beach- all day, pack a lunch, dinner and pj's (i mean you never know)

Sea shell, mermaid glass and rock hunting on the beach

Making jars or shadow boxes with treasures

"Hunt Treasures"around the yard, take it further and go around the neighborhood. - record your findings in a nature notebook, write what your little is drawing. See season by season how their drawings and notes come along.

Make mode podge leafs and dried flowers on canvases (I used an old picture I painted years ago. The mode podge part was a group effort, it's one of my favorite projects)

Playgrounds

Bike rides

Camp fires, (camping too, we just haven't done that with H yet) roast marshmallows 

Garden Rock painting- lay out a tarp  (or dollar store table clothes) and paint rocks to put in the garden

Paint with food- use the ends of lettuce, carrots, celery, herbs, kale leaves, really anything that's about to go bad, or that you would trash. This is fun and you don't need to wash the brushes, just throw all the painted produce away after use.

Make something, bake something

Grocery store trips- let your little bring a buddy, a little notebook and pen to document all groceries/ inventory. I always let H pick one ingredient out; she guesses how it will taste, inside color, and then helps me prepare it in a dish. Because of this she loves things like rainbow carrots, snap peas, lentils, and raw green beans. She really is such a good eater, my mini foodie. 

Outside mani and pedi - grab a blanket and paint nails and toes in the fresh air

Tea Parties- make sun tea, and have ice tea for a refreshing summer treat! Invite all your favorite stuffed (or real) friends! I let H set up the blankets and pillows for the party

Dandelion kitchen - we took H's smaller plastic kitchen outside to make dandelion soup. Use rocks, sticks, flowers, leaves. See who can find the coolest "ingredients"

Museums, aquariums and zoos- okay so I don't know if it's everywhere but in the great state of Rhode Island if you take a trip to the library and use your library card they give you discount passes to go to all the above. It's great and you get to go to all the good places for a fraction of the price. 

Check with your community too, we have movie nights at dusk at a few local beaches. Activities and fun for all ages. Last fall we saw frozen, and the Lego movie just played down the street.

I'm sure there are a bunch more, but that's a good start to get your summer going. I try to just have fun with my little lady no matter what we are doing. She is my little adventure buddy! You don't need any money to go enjoy nature, so get outside and try something new!

-cheers!