Momma Frankie

Spending time away from screens is absolutely essential. Numerous studies show that screentime may not be good for us. Here's ideas of what to do offline. Most of these ideas are free, cheap, and inexpensive. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

I'm a planner, so as I search for ideas, I'm saving my favorite and top finds on this list. This list is full of things husbands and fathers would like for Father's Day, their birthday, or Christmas. I hope this list can help others in their search for a perfect gift. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

Reading physical books is important to me, especially while raising little guys. They see me reading vs. on a screen. Here's books I've enjoyed and would re-read (but we all know I likely won't re-read, because I keep finding more good ones to read!). I read such a variety of books from fiction, thrillers, religious, self-help, and business topics. It's nice to mix it up! This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

A famous saying is "a clean home is a happy home." I used to be a profectionist when it came to the cleanliness of our home. One guest even commented that our house felt like a hotel. Then the kids came, and I just realized a MOSTLY clean home is a happy home. With that said, my cleanliness standards lowered with each kid. Our home is still better than most, but it took me a while to figure it out and just relax when the toys are organizedby the kids. This list features what I've learned and what works best for us. Hopefully, it can help you, too! If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

I did not realize how expensive having a grass lawn was until we purchased our home. Over the past few years, we've tried several different things. This list features inexpensive and time-saving tips that work for us. We live in Minnesota, so keep that in mind if you live in a different climate. Our lawn is pretty nice - not perfect as going from a lawn looking 92% good to 98% fantasic would take so much more money and effort. We also were blessed the people who lived here prior took decent care of this lawn, so these tips are focused mostly on maintaining the yard. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

I love board and card games with friends and family. Whether it's an afternoon game or a whole game night event, we've found some awesome games to play over the years. This list features our favorites. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

Dear younger self, don't hold off on these purchases or app downloads. Once these items entered your life, they served a bigger purpose than you could ever imagine. HINT: These make great gift ideas for college students, wedding gifts, housewarming gifts, etc. This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

I've become really good (not perfect, because life happens!) at working out more regularly at home on the (mostly) cheap. This list is full of tips and tricks of what I do. Hopefully, this can inspire someone out there to get going! The main thing to do is find something that is FUN for you and remember you are in the long game, so keep pushing yourself a tad harder and don't overdue it. This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The Wizard of Oz is a classic I have loved since I was a kid, so seeing the Wicked movie was a must for me! One of my favorite themes after watching Wicked was how pink and green go good together. Here's some ideas for a Wicked birthday party (kid or adult) or fun things to make a Wicked movie watch party an event to remember. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

I love celebrating and hosting the 4th of July! Here in MN the weather is HOT and the fireworks shine bright! Hosting an Independence Day backyard BBQ picnic is pretty easy with just a little planning. Everything and everyone can be (mostly) outside. Here's some ideas on how to set the party up, food to serve, easy family-friendly activities/games, and fun patriotic items to wear. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

I've lived in MN my entire life, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I hope others who visit here or move here come to appreciate all the four seasons, our lingo, the food we eat, and being surrounded by the beautiful outdoors. This list features some of my favorite Minnesota souvenir gifts and recipes. If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

As a mom of two young boys, I see the toys and things they actually spend time playing with! So many toys these days don't allow them to be imaginative and use them in multiple ways, so here's where the random things come in! Here's a list of mostly cheap random things the boys play with. HINT: These would be fantastic Christmas or birthday gift ideas for toddler boys or preschool boys! This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The suburbs of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota have a TON of family-friendly things to do. As a life-long Minnesotan, I've experienced a lot of these places and am happy to share for others to find hidden gems and popular destinations that are worth going to! This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

As a mom of 2yo and 5yo boys, I have seen first-hand what they actually play with. The boys have been blessed with many toys - some are expensive and they hardly play with them! Here's a list of their favorites, ranging from cheap to expensive, that will hopefully help someone who is birthday or Christmas shopping for a toddler or preschool boy. This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

When the budget is tight, it's important to find affordable makeup and skincare products. Here's a list of items I use. Prior to motherhood, I would buy more expensive brands, but with two little guys, the budget is tighter, and there's many more important items for me to purchase. I've found some awesome alternatives! If you click a link and make a purchase, at no cost to you, I may earn a little commission. Thank you!

This list is all about vacations, luxury, frivolous things, and stuff I would only consider purchasing after I won the lottery. Hey, it's fun to dream! Dear future self: you're welcome 😅 This list contains affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you!