Field Day Fun!

Kristy is not only the face of F&T, she also love love loves contributing to her daughter’s class at school! She absolutely adores being able to relive her childhood through her children, and I am right there with her for sure! Field day is just an absolute classic am I right?! Of course, it was it wasn’t even a second thought for her to help by creating a bag for the kids in the class to get them excited for the day and just maybe create a little competition among the other classes! Here is what she put together for a fun day for the kiddos!

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Water bottles are perfect for field day to keep the kids hydrated – kick it up a notch and add little individual packets of Gatorade for those extra electrolytes! Don’t forget snacks as well to keep their energy level up. Something as simple as Pirate’s Booty popcorn and dried fruit does the trick!

Sweatbands for their little heads and wrists haha! Can’t you just see them now! I am totally getting Will Ferrell in Semi-Pro vibes from them!

Even after the sunglasses and decorative eye “blue” stickers which were also must haves, they realized that they needed something more. Kristy said that a couple of moms got together and added these life size personalized hand fans with the teachers faces on them…these are seriously going to be epic – (of course they got permission from the teachers before proceeding to get them made). Could you imagine!

TIP: check your local printing service as they may be able to create them for you at a lower cost.

Placing all of the items in a cute reusable tote bag keeps everything together and *voila* – you’ve got yourself a whole field day fun bag!

“I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” …I know the parents are just going to love us for this as we have little cowbells that will be paired with lanyards for when they are running around. I just can’t with this!


Her daughter’s class is the dark blue team so that’s the color they grabbed everything in, if you couldn’t already tell! GO TEAM!

Kristy cannot wait to be on that field cheering her daughter’s class on as the many faces of her teacher are scattered all over – sure will make for a memorable year for everyone! Be sure to follow us on LTK, FB, IG and TikTok for lots more fun ideas and other awesome deals!

Summer Decor from Decocrated

We’re back with more darling decor from Decocrated! This decor solution box delivers carefully curated pieces for the home based on the upcoming season or holidays! If you want to find out more about it, you can check out all things Decocrated here. Use our exclusive code FRUGALLYTHRIVING15 for 15% off everything sitewide, including subscriptions (for new members), holiday add-on boxes, and shop items!! See this summer’s box and the Americana add-on box items below!!

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Ummm does this setup scream summer or what?! Light colors, lemonade, a fresh caprese dish…does anyone else want to spend all afternoon here?? Woven and wooden details are balanced with crisp, clean pieces for a refreshing summer look!

This place setting is perfect for an afternoon picnic with girlfriends or an evening dinner with the fam! The woven placemats topped with a white plate, neutral napkin, and wooden napkin ring match any decor and furniture. Add a cute finishing touch like a sprig of baby’s breath to really tie it all together.

We are bringing back the summer lemonade stand! This adorable mini chalkboard is a great addition to a drink bar, whether it’s fresh lemonade (kid- or adult-friendly!!), morning mimosas, or big pitchers of sweet tea!

Seeing stars and stripes!! These flag-patterned wooden stars are a sweet addition to your table centerpiece setup, but they look great as standalone pieces on an accent table!

America the beautiful! This burlap banner is a rustic farmhouse way to show off your patriotic pride!

And if the bugs and the heat and the outdoor living aren’t really your thing, all of these pieces are also gorgeous inside on your dining room table! Add a couple pillar candles and a wooden basket for extra napkins (orrrrr…bread?!) and have yourself a perfectly pleasing summer dinner indoors.

See past Decocrated box items here, and remember to use our exclusive code FRUGALLYTHRIVING15 for 15% off everything sitewide, including subscriptions (for new members), holiday add-on boxes, and shop items!!

Kids’ Birthday Party Fun!

Themes, invitations, decorations, sweets, entertainment, goodie bags…yes! That’s right! I am talking about planning kids’ birthday parties! Perfect timing for this post, since both Kristy and I recently planned and celebrated our sons’ second and fourth birthdays with family and friends! We’re going to take you behind the scenes of how we put together our kids’ birthday parties!

children playing with balloons on green grass field
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Choosing a theme! This is where it all begins – figuring out themes has been quite fun since having four littles! Some of my son’s favorite things are balls, cars, and dinosaurs, so I knew that I would take one of those and play it up for him. I ultimately decided on a Jurassic World theme.

Kristy came up with her Super Mario theme because that is what her son is really into right now, and let’s be honest, it’s Mario…it has made a huge comeback this year and don’t act like you don’t know the words to the “Peaches” song by Jack Black! She said this was hands-down one of her favorite parties to plan…maybe it had something to do with the age (4 is one of her favorites!) or the fact that both of her kids were into this theme, and also both very into helping her out this year – a huge plus!!

Invitations! I like to use Zazzle for my invitations, and I can be pretty picky, so it took me awhile to find just the right fit for what I was looking for! I ended up going with a Two Wild Dinosaur one, and I was super happy with how they turned out!

Kristy uses these really cool digital birthday invitations from Etsy that give you such an extra flair when guests open them. It’s so fun that I’ll try one for the next planned party!

Entertainment! We usually do backyard birthday parties since we have two summer, one fall and one spring birthday, and the weather is typically nice enough to get away with it. This year we did a Jurassic World-themed bounce house from Life’s A Ball Rentals LLC and hired a local artist who does face painting and balloon twisting for our entertainment! We used Creative Juices by Kari – she’s truly amazing at what she does, and I highly recommend her as this is our second time booking her! Both of these entertainments are local to the South Jersey area and if you’re looking for an inflatable for your next event, Life’s A Ball Rentals is offering F&T followers an exclusive promo of $50 off any 1 unit when you mention this blog or Frugal & Thriving!

Kristy also had a bounce house, along with a lot of fun games and stations. She did a “pin the nose on Mario” game with prizes for the kids, a cotton candy station, and even a “create your own Mario face” station…how super is that?! She had lawn games like Connect 4, corn hole, and Jenga, as well as water tables for the kids to splash around with!

The Sweet Stuff! Yes, I am talking about the birthday cake, cupcakes, cake pops, etc. For me, I am big on doing cupcakes – they are easy, fun and the perfect size for guests! I usually go with a local baker or cottage baker because I like to support small business, but this year I went the Sam’s Club route! I went with 30-count cupcakes and a full-size cookie cake {Jurassic World theme of course}! The cupcakes had 15 of those rings that the kids could keep, but I also didn’t want anyone upset about not getting something, so of course I found these cute little dinosaur cake toppers and grabbed two packs and put them on the cupcakes that didn’t have a ring, and I placed the rest around the cookie cake! If you have a Sam’s Club membership, I do recommend their fresh bakery – they have so many themes to choose from, plus you can’t really beat the prices!

Kristy made this awesome snack station and got creative with food items that looked like items from the game – cheese balls for Fire Power, a veggie platter designed like the Fire Plant Power Up, Princess Peach Rings, Bowser Bones (lollipops), Colby jack cheese for Mystery Blocks (she put these in her absolute favorite RIGWA bowls – use exclusive code KRISTY10 for 10% off your order sitewide!!), and Mushroom Power Ups as marshmallow pops (marshmallow and melted chocolate). If you’re throwing your own Super Mario party and want some help with snack signage, check out our free printables page! She also typically uses her local grocery store (Shop Rite) for all of the catering and cake! When she placed an order in advance for pick-up, they offered her a 20% discount – this doesn’t always happen but even without the fantastic discount the food is always absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. Her guests are always so surprised when she tells them where she got it from! She had 3 artisan sandwich platters, a salad with dressing, and veggie platter for 20 people and it only cost her $111! That’s about $5 a person! Look into your local grocery store – you might be surprised at what they offer!

Decorations! I try to play it smart when it comes to decor for a birthday party – I try not to go too overboard and I am in-between subtle and borderline close to too much. With outdoor parties, the weather can be so unpredictable, and I try to plan accordingly, so I’ll pick decor that can be used both outdoors and indoors in case I need to pivot! This year I went with some adorable dinosaur signage that I could place on our vinyl fencing or indoors on windows/doors etc., as well as some removable wall decals to place around. I added some themed mylar balloons and odds and ends I found at a local store I frequent during party planning. The last handful of parties, I have gotten into backdrops and balloon arches, so I grabbed a large themed backdrop to snap some pics!

Kristy also grabbed a backdrop and some other Mario-themed party supplies including tablecloths, a banner, and disposable plates, cups and napkins. She even made these awesome balloon towers! She says that this one stumped her for a bit – this was the first time she ever made one, and trying to make a piranha plant without directions was interesting, to say the least! TIP: if you plan this and don’t wait until the day of like she did (whoops), you can get white dot stickers and place them on the red balloons to really give it that Mario feel.

TIP: Use glue dots instead of tape when putting decorations on walls/windows/vinyl etc. It’s less of a hassle to remove and doesn’t ruin your paint/drywall/vinyl!

Outfits! I think it drove my hubby nuts in the beginning, but now with as many themed parties as we’ve hosted, he’s just used to my shenanigans, and I always have themed shirts or outfits planned for the guest of honor and mom and dad! This year was no different! I got a “Rawr! I’m 2” shirt for my son and a “Motherhood / Fatherhood is a walk in the park” shirts for myself and my hubby! I am a hat person, so I even got myself a really cute themed dino mama hat to add in a little extra somethin’…it has four little dinosaurs to represent my four littles!

Kristy made this adorable tee for her son to wear on his big day…if you have a Cricut machine, it’s super easy to design any apparel to match your theme!

Favors! I came across these little dino-themed bubbles and my son LOVES bubbles! I originally was just going to leave them out for the kiddos to grab and play, but then I found these dinosaur eggs that I just couldn’t pass up on. I originally planned on doing a dino egg dig and excavation as an activity but the weather had different plans, so I ended up putting the dino eggs and bubbles in their pinata bags for them to take home! Speaking of pinata, I ended up filling ours with my son’s favorite lollies (aka dum-dums) and packs of fruit snacks!

Kristy had adorable Mario-themed bags with all types of goodies like temporary tats, snacks, stampers, PEZ-dispensers and other Super Mario-themed party favors!

Queens of themes? Kristy and I have had fun with past party themes, so if you are looking for theme inspo, I think that we’ve got you covered! I have done: Rainbow Room, Ladybug Garden, Pumpkins & White Pumpkin Painting Party, The Big O.N.E, Luau, Frozen in Summer, Taco TWOsday, Farm Friends, Unicorn Universe, and Mermaid Adventures. Kristy has done Three Rex, TWO Infinity and Beyond, Splish-Splash Under the Sea, Minnie Mouse Clubhouse, and Minions! Happy Planning!

A DIY Hallway Revamp

The hallways are often-neglected areas of our home, and most of the time we don’t give them much thought. They mostly serve as a means of getting from point A to point B, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need and deserve love and attention. If your hallways are currently giving off “eh” vibes, you can easily turn up the wow factor with a little paint and a few modern touches. Don’t believe us? Kristy is here to show you just how easy it is! Check out her DIY hallway revamp below.

Before

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I have been wanting to update my 1988 hallway since I began projects on my home – deciding what I wanted was the real question though. I began my research (aka pretty much watching millions of YouTube videos and reading a bunch of online forums), figured out a game plan, and gathered the supplies I’d need. A little detail on this hallway makeover: I’m never afraid of a little challenge, but this was my first time using power tools for a home renovation project, and let’s just say my entire family was on edge. I was also a tad nervous, but I was ready!

During

I immediately began by pulling all the old trim off the walls. I used a flathead and hammer to wedge and separate. A little bit of good, old-fashioned elbow grease got this part done in no time!

Once the trim was removed, I measured out where I wanted my boards to go and how far apart I wanted each one to be. After that was finished, I headed to Home Depot and picked out my trim for the baseboards and the walls. I recently had a renovation done and the contractor used this trim that I just loved, so I went with that same look.

I sat in the aisle at the store cutting board by board before I told myself, “I WILL NOT be doing this my whole project!!” That’s when I decided, “I’m getting an electric saw!” BEST DECISION EVER. The tool I grabbed was perfect for my project – my boards weren’t too thick, so the cuts were very precise. I used the blade that was included, but I recommend grabbing a few extra blades just in case. I began cutting my wood with my jigsaw tool. As I mentioned, this was my first experience with power tools, and this was a GREAT introduction tool. Now I feel like I need to do many more projects with this…it honestly was a great stress releaser!!

After the pieces were cut, I began gluing them to their designated spots with my wood adhesive, and then I followed it with my nail gun to ensure that it would stay in place! Brad nails were perfect for this project because they are so small, it doesn’t even look like nails were used. Tip: make sure you grab nails that fit your nail gun!

Once the boards were in place, I started with the caulking. I’m obsessed with this process for some reason – I really enjoyed smoothing out each crevice with my finger. I am a hands-on type of person, and this wasn’t my first time using caulk, so it was easier for me to do it this way. You can also purchase a special tool to help smooth it out, though! Don’t forget to caulk any holes from your Brad nail gun too, and then let the caulk dry overnight. Once the caulk had completely dried, I went over and sanded any areas that needed smoothing. If you have holes that need patching, I recommend doing that at the same time as your caulking.

After the sanding was done, I was so ready to get the paint on the walls. I fell in love with the color “Fine Black” by Magnolia Homes, which I had grabbed from Ace Hardware, and then picked a traditional white which I got from Home Depot. Once I started painting, the transformation really started to come to life!! I couldn’t put my paint brush down because I was so excited to see the finished product. I ended up using two coats of paint for both the black and white.

After

This project took me a total of 4 days and was worth every minute! I replaced the ceiling light with this new fixture and installed dimmable bulbs, and I added collages of family photos on every wall. It has made my 80’s home feel way more updated and CLEAN, and walking down my hallway gives me such a warm and inviting feel as I take a trip down memory lane. If I can do this with very minimal experience, there’s no doubt in my mind that you can too!

Such subtle changes can make the biggest differences! The revamped space looks so much more contemporary and open, and it’s a lot brighter now. Eventually I’ll redo the stairway too, but that’s a project for another day!

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Did someone say summer?! Everyone knows that summer is the best season, especially if you’re a beach-lovin’ babe like most of our F&T team. We are ready to live in shorts and tanks and sandals with our sunscreen and sunglasses permanently stowed in our bags. And even though it’s not officially summer, we are definitely those people that count Memorial Day Weekend as the unofficial start of summer! While we’re BBQ-ing and celebrating the true meaning of the holiday – memorializing our brave fallen heroes – you best believe we’re also going to be shopping these jaw-dropping sales! See our list of Memorial Day Weekend sales below.

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Shop the Sales

Abercrombie & Fitch: Shop 20% off almost everything and an extra 15% off select styles

Abercrombie & Fitch Kids: Get 40% off almost everything plus an extra 20% off select styles!!

Academy Sports + Outdoors: Get up to 40% off!

Adidas: Take up to 55% off with code SAVINGS – don’t forget to sign into your account (it’s free to join) to grab free shipping!

Aerie: Take 40% off the Aerie collection and swimsuits, get 10 for $38 undies, and shop 70% off all clearance

Aeropostale: Shop 50-70% off sitewide, plus 50% off jeans and clearance starting at $4.99!

Amazon: Tons of sales on a variety of items

Anthropologie: Get up to 40% off select items, 30% off select swim, and an extra 40% off sale!!

Ashley Homestore: Shop up to 50% off spotlight deals!!

Athleta: Get up to 60% off + an extra 30% off sale!

Backcountry: Save big with prices up to 50% off!

BANDIER: Take 40% off select styles!!

Bath & Body Works: Buy 3 get 1 free on full-sized body care & more daily deals!!

BaubleBar: Shop up to 70% off sale

Beauty Brands: Shop summer steals starting at $14.98

Belk: Get up to 60% off and swimwear for the family starting at $14.99

Best Buy: Shop sales on electronics, appliances, and more!

Bloomingdale’s: Get up to 50% off summer essentials!

Carter’s: Shop 50% off the entire site + store, plus up to 70% off clearance!!

Cheryl’s Cookies: Enjoy up to 50% off select sweet treats

DSW: Get 25% off during the friends & family event!

Erin Condren: Shop $10 off $50, $15 off $60, and $25 off $75

Express: Grab 30-50% off everything!!

Fabletics: Shop 2 for $24 bottoms + 80% off everything for VIP’s

Forver 21: Get up to 70% off sitewide!!

Francesca’s: Get up to 50% off select styles and up to an extra 60% off clearance!!

Gap: Get 60% off select dresses, tees, tanks, & shorts and 40% off everything else

Gap Factory: Shop 50-70% off everything and an extra 15% off with code GFHEAT

Harry & David: Take up to 50% off select items

Hollister: Get buy one, get one 50% off almost everything!!

Home Depot: Shop deals on all things home and outdoors!

Hot Topic: Take up to 50% off sitewide!!

ILoveDooney: Get up to 75% off with code MEMORIALDAY

IT Cosmetics: Shop 25% off sitewide!

Jane: Shop up to 75% off during the Memorial Sale!

JCPenney: Get up to 60% off doorbusters and up to 50% off plus an extra 30% off during the Memorial Day Home Sale!!

J. Crew: Take 40% off your purchase and an extra 50% off sale styles with code WEEKEND

J. Crew Factory: Get up to 50% off everything!

Jockey: Flash sales on apparel and accessories for men and women

*Kate Spade: Enjoy 30% off your purchase with code BLOOM

Kirkland’s: Get 25% off everything with code SAVEBIG + free shipping on $49+

Kohl’s: Get up to 50% off select outdoor items and up to 70% off clearance items!

Levi’s: Get up to 40% off sitewide + an extra 50% off sale!

Loft: Take 40% off with code SUMMER!

Macy’s: Get 25-40% off and an extra 20% off select clearance with code MEMDAY – free shipping at $25+

Madewell: Get 30% off your purchase with code WARMUP

Michael Kors: Enjoy an extra 30% off sale styles

Mountain Hardware: Shop 25% off select styles during the Sun’s Out sale

Nike: Grab up to 40% off new markdowns

Nordstrom: Get up to 60% off during the half-yearly sale!!

Nordstrom Rack: Take up to 60% off summer styles!

Old Navy: Shop summer styles for $15 and under!

OshKosh B’gosh: Take 50% off everything!!

Overstock: Shop up to 50% off Memorial Day deals and up to 40% off outdoor deals

Pink Lily Boutique: Get doorbusters starting at only $8!!!

Pottery Barn/Pottery Barn Kids: Shop up to 50% off during the Memorial Day sale!

Pura Vida: Grab 50% off bracelets, anklets, and more!

Rack Room Shoes: Shop BOGO FREE select styles plus get $15 off $99 with code TAKE15

Reebok: Get up to 50% off sitewide with code MEMORIALDAY

Rugs USA: Take up to 75% off & get an extra 20% off everything with code MDW20!!

Saks Fifth Avenue: Shop up to 50% off during the designer sale

Sephora: Shop deals on top beauty brands

shopDisney: Get up to 40% off plus free shipping with code FREESHIP

Society 6: Get up to 50% off sitewide!!

Soma: Get bras, sleep, and dresses starting at $24.99 and 5/$39 panties

Sorel: Take 25% off select styles + free shipping!

Sperry: Shop styles for up to 60% off!

Steve Madden: Grab 40% off select styles with code SPLASH

Target: Shop 30% off select outdoor furniture and decor, summer styles starting at $5, and more! (RedCard Holders can grab an additional 5% off your order + free shipping – no minimum)

The Children’s Place: Take 80% off clearance and shop everything for under $10 during the Memorial Day Blowout, PLUS always free shipping!

Tilly’s: Get up to 50% off swim, sandals, shorts & more!

Under Armour: Get up to 50% off + an extra 30% off outlet with code EXTRA30

Victoria Emerson: Shop $25 styles!!

Vince Camuto: Take up to 60% off sale styles with code SALE30

Vitamin A: Get 25% off select styles with code POOLSIDE25

Vera Bradley: Score 30% off everything!

Walmart: Shop rollbacks on thousands of items – extra low prices on electronics, toys, home, apparel, and more!

Wayfair: Get up to 70% off during the Memorial Day Clearance!

Williams Sonoma: Get up to 50% off cookware, cutlery, electrics, and more!

Yankee Candle: Buy one, get one 50% off full-price Yankee brand candles

Zulily: Shop deals on everything from beauty and fashion to home and holiday!!

Road Tripping with Kids

Potty breaks, food/fuel stops, and keeping them entertained…the mere thought of hitting the road with kids (and in my case, 4 of them) may seem like such a daunting task, but I am here to assure you that it is possible and with some tips and tricks, road trips could actually be, dare I say it…enjoyable! We’re traveling from New Jersey to South Carolina for some Memorial Weekend fun so here’s my go-to road trip essentials and tips!

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I have younger kids (ages 2-6.5) so the potty breaks can be frequent, and as you may know, they can’t always wait until the next exit or rest stop, so we have this portable travel potty that has been a life saver – we also take it to the beach and other places where a bathroom is scarce or when I try to avoid the port-a-potty. I highly recommend this because of its space saving capabilities as it folds up, so I can keep it under a seat or in a seat pocket and I can also put it in my backpack or stroller. It’s easy to both set up and fold back down. It comes with a pee-blocker so it’s good for both my daughters and my son to use. You can use almost any disposable liner bags as most are universal!

Travel Tip – The last time we made this trip, we left at night around the time the kids would be heading to bed essentially so they would just end up sleeping for the majority of the 12-hour trek. My husband and I also split the trip so each of us could get in some shut eye, too. This time we will leave in the morning after breakfast, and I’ll also be refreshed to take on the entire drive since I’ll be riding solo! Wish me luck!

Our family has a little bit of built-in entertainment as we have a Chrysler Pacifica which has the two built-in screens so they can play games and watch movies, which very much comes in handy. When the kids are over watching the movies, we have a fun road trip game that keeps them busy for a while, or until the cards run out! Of course, we cannot forget about the all-time kid fav indoor entertainment – the tablet! My kids don’t normally get a ton of tablet time, but I can always count on having less arguing and “I’m bored” or “are we there yet” convos. I love pairing their tablets with these headphones so that I can get some quiet time and a personal jam sesh or podcast in myself! For non-tablet users or just an alternative form of entertainment, LCD writing tablets are a no-brainer! My kids love them and I love them because it invokes their creativity, there is no mess, and they can erase and start over as many times as they want with the push of one button!

Snacks and drinks are key to any successful road trip, decreasing the amount of unnecessary stops being made and keeping you on track for a timely arrival to your destination. Bento boxes are great for this! Having a variety of snacks in their own container, being able to personalize to their taste buds, and them having the ability graze on their own time instead of having to pull over and distribute among the entire vehicle is a win-win scenario. As for drinks, I am a big fan of the insulted (to keep their water cold) and ever-so-important spill-proof tumblers for especially for my son who is heavily into the throwing stage of toddler life. I like to keep a small cooler for additional snacks/drinks for myself or to replenish the kiddos when we do stop to fuel or stretch our legs.

Travel Tip – I get the ick when it comes to public bathrooms and especially port-a-potties, but I came across these toilet seat covers and I keep them in our family vehicle and my backpack when we’re out and about and it makes me feel a lot better.

So if you have a road trip planned, I hope this helps! And if you have been thinking about whether or not to attempt one, I hope that this encourages you to move forward. I wouldn’t hesitate as it’s not as bad as you might think, and there will be plenty of memories made…adventure awaits!

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2023

Let the countdown to Father’s Day begin!! We’re just about a month away and it’s never too early to start thinking of gift ideas for the fathers in your life! These gifts for dad are as cool and as practical as he is – and that’s saying a lot!! The best part? They’re all less than $100, because we know Dad doesn’t want us spending a lot on him, he just wants to feel loved. See our Father’s Day gift ideas below!

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

1. Give dad a gift box of sweet snacks to show him just how sweet you think he is! Cookies, brownies, and more will satisfy his sugary cravings.

2. This adorable picture frame allows you to add a custom engraved message on the back. We’re not crying, you’re crying!!

3. For running errands, running around with the kids, or running through the plays for the big game, these Hey Dude shoes will offer comfort and support through any and everything!

4. For the whiskey connoisseur, this make-your-own whiskey kit is a delicious experiment with seriously fun results.

5. This addicting game is perfect for his mancave or out in the backyard on the deck! Half ring toss, half darts, this game will keep him occupied for hours.

6. Every guy loves a good selection of jerky! This jerky gift basket has over 20 different snack sticks, plus a few cheese ones too!

7. Give the gift of glorious skin with this skincare set specially tailored for men. The ultimate shave collection gift set will leave his skin feeling soft and smooth every time.

8. Let dad set the mood with this flickering bonfire Bluetooth speaker…he can put on his favorite tunes and sit back and relax in the warm ambience.

9. Gift pops a comfy hoodie that will quickly become his go-to – this quilted pullover is cozy, cool, and great for just about any occasion.

10. Since dad always ends up carrying the cooler (you know it’s true), why not make his life a little easier?! This backpack cooler is perfect for beach trips, camping and hiking, or fishing days with the boys.

11. Bring back some old-school fun with this smartphone-controlled paper airplane! Build it, attach the Bluetooth device, and get ready for takeoff!!

12. Golfing and drinking go together like, well, golfing and drinking! This golf gift set will equip him with everything he needs for a relaxing day on or off the golf course.

Shop Father's Day Gifts

Golf Gift Set
Golf Gift Set
Paper Airplane
Paper Airplane
Backpack Cooler
Backpack Cooler
Quilted Pullover
Quilted Pullover
Bluetooth Speaker
Bluetooth Speaker
Skincare Set
Skincare Set
Jerky Gift Basket
Jerky Gift Basket
Ring Toss Game
Ring Toss Game
Whiskey Kit
Whiskey Kit
Hey Dude Shoes
Hey Dude Shoes
Personalized Picture Frame
Personalized Picture Frame
Sweets Gift Box
Sweets Gift Box

Memorial Day BBQ Essentials!

Memorial Day: honoring our veterans and celebrating what many might say is the official start of the summer season! School is winding down and everyone is scheduling their pool openings, cleaning their grills, and filling their propane tanks, gearing up for yet another BBQ season! A friend of mine says that if she can’t put it on the grill, it’s not getting cooked, and I love that! I just happen to be the grill master in my household as well, so I am always on the lookout for BBQ-related deals to keep it fun and yummy for the family and simple for me! Hosting a Memorial Day BBQ this year? I’ve got some of your essentials covered!

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I have had my eye on a Blackstone Grill for a while now…it is so versatile, and I love that I would be able to cook breakfast using the breakfast kit and make fun hibachi-style meals. The 10-year anniversary of owning our home is coming up on the 30th of May, so the house may or may not be getting one…SURPRISE hubby (because I know he’s reading this) it’s happening! I can’t just get the grill without getting all of the accessories for it, so I have also been checking out the much-needed grill cover, and of course, the griddle master kit and spatula griddle set to get me started – ya know, the necessities!

My kids LOVE making s’mores, and honestly there is nothing like an old-fashioned s’more with the graham cracker, marshmallow and Hershey chocolate on a roasting stick, but have you heard of Tuck-ins? Oh-Em-Gee! Tuck-ins are the newest obsession and are perfect for your Memorial Day BBQ, summer festivities, AND little hands (LESS MESS)! It is an inside out s’more on a stick!!! Each one contains a crunchy handmade graham cracker, covered in decadent flavored chocolate inside of a fluffy marshmallow! There are a variety of different flavors to choose from including the classic OG flavor! The best part?? Use our exclusive code FRUGAL_AND_THRIVING to grab 20% off your order!  

There is just something about the American flag decor that I have always enjoyed seeing and now use in my own home and when I host. I love a good garden flag in the yard as well as a door wreath showing off patriotic spirit. The patriotic flare carries on with decorative beverage coolers, dinnerware sets and fun photo backgrounds.

It’s all fun and games…no BBQ is complete without games! Backyard games are the best friendly casual entertainment among friends and family! I am such a fan of the giant-sized games. There’s giant yard dice to play yardzee and farkle and other crowd favs; there’s also always the favored giant tower stacking game, Tic-Tac-Toe, and ring toss – just don’t forget about good ol’ cornhole!

Of course there is no BBQ without the food…give me all the pickies! Keep it fun and give yourself an easy clean up with paper-lined BBQ baskets for serving. I am a fan of all the foods, but I am definitely a sides girl – my two fav sides are sweet, buttery, crunchy corn on the cob and baked beans! Pair them with a nice loaded burger and a glass of ice-cold iced tea and you got me. Did you know that you can ramp up a can or two of baked beans with just 8 added ingredients? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll eat beans straight out of the can, but add these ingredients and it is a game changer for sure: all ingredients are to taste!

No matter how you spend your MDW this year, whether you’re heading to the shore, attending or hosting a BBQ, or just hanging out in the yard with your fam, we hope that you have great weather, stay safe, and have a great time with family and friends. And of course, thank you to all of the veterans out there!

MDW Matching Family Outfits

If you’re all about color coordination and seamless style, chances are you’ve done the matching family outfit thing a time or two. Holidays are a great time to pull out the complementary clothing for everyone in the family, because it also makes for great photo ops! We rounded up some red, white, and blue apparel from Old Navy so you can coordinate for any Memorial Day Weekend plans you may have…see our MDW matching family outfits below!

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What better way to show your patriotic pride than by repping your country’s flag?! These tees are cute, comfy, and 100% made for America! Keep it casual this Memorial Day with lots of cozy options that are perfect for a low-key family gathering.

Shop MDW Outfits

Baby Sandals
Baby Sandals
Baby Bodysuit
Baby Bodysuit
Boys’ Sneakers
Boys’ Sneakers
Boys’ Shorts
Boys’ Shorts
Boys’ Tee
Boys’ Tee
Girls’ Sandals
Girls’ Sandals
Girls’ Shorts
Girls’ Shorts
Girls’ Tee
Girls’ Tee
Men’s Sneakers
Men’s Sneakers
Men’s Shorts
Men’s Shorts
Men’s Sweatshirt
Men’s Sweatshirt
Women’s Sandals
Women’s Sandals
Women’s Shorts
Women’s Shorts
Women’s Tee
Women’s Tee

These outfits have us seeing stars!! We’re going adorable Americana with these fun prints and patterns. Great for a neighborhood BBQ or a get-together with friends, these styles will have the whole fam letting freedom ring!

Shop MDW Outfits

Baby Sandals
Baby Sandals
Baby Bodysuit
Baby Bodysuit
Boys’ Sneakers
Boys’ Sneakers
Boys’ Shorts
Boys’ Shorts
Boys’ Tee
Boys’ Tee
Girls’ Sandals
Girls’ Sandals
Girls’ Shorts
Girls’ Shorts
Girls’ Tank
Girls’ Tank
Men’s Slip Ons
Men’s Slip Ons
Men’s Shorts
Men’s Shorts
Men’s Tee
Men’s Tee
Women’s Sandals
Women’s Sandals
Women’s Shorts
Women’s Shorts
Women’s Tank
Women’s Tank

Summer Dresses

We love summer, we love dresses, and we really love summer dresses! Beating the heat in a flowy, flirty dress is the epitome of summertime fine…staying cool while looking hot is always a win in our books. We’re all about finding stylish pieces that are also affordable, and that’s just what we did! See our roundup of summer dresses below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Summer is the season for all things white in your wardrobe, and that includes elegant maxi dresses! This off-the-shoulder ruffle maxi dress can be dressed up or dressed down – pair it with wedges and a belt for date night or throw on sandals and sunglasses for a backyard BBQ!

Is there anything better than a beautiful dress that also has…pockets?! We think not!! This bright blue beauty steals the show with an asymmetrical ruffle hem and matching ruffle cap sleeves. Pair it with a white belt and white wedges to really make the color pop, and then tuck all your favorite essentials in those convenient pockets!

Think pink!! This easy breezy dress (use code 30ZYDRFD + clip digital coupon for 40% off) with a pair of sandals and sunglasses is ideal for a pool or beach day, and quickly transitions to your dinner outfit with the addition of a waist-defining belt…it will also accentuate your gorgeous bronze glow! Pssst…this one has pockets too!

This pretty green polka-dot dress is dolled up with fun details! The fun print, the lace v-neck, and the butterfly sleeves add feminine touches to this sweet number. Add a nude belt and braided sandals to make this style totally on-trend!