It’s the final day of 2024 and, phew, what a year! It feels like just yesterday we were setting our resolutions and refreshing for the year ahead. And now another year has come and gone, and we’re reminiscing fondly on Frugal and Thriving’s journey. See our 2024 wrapped below.
Top Retailers
No surprise with our top three retailers of 2024! Of course Amazon leads the way, followed closely by Walmart and Target.
Top Blog Posts
We were all about the gifting on the blog this year! Our top posts were Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Guide for Her, and Holiday Gift Guide Under $50. Don’t forget to treat yourself too!
Top Items – Blog
Our top blog items has us looking our best this year. We were loving these false lashes, this cozy cardigan, and this hydrating night cream.
Top LTK Posts
Our LTK shoppers were all over the home goods and toys in 2024! The top post features this gorgeous Drew Barrymore Beautiful Wildflower Collection, followed by Walmart Black Friday Deals and the pre-order announcement for Ms. Rachel Toys.
Top Items – LTK
Continuing the trend of dressing up our homes, the top items on LTK were this ice machine, swivel chair, and Ninja CREAMi.
Top Items – Amazon
Amazon’s top items in 2024 were this flirty floral dress, these pretty pencils, and these stylish summer sandals.
Top Items – Collective Voice
More home decor! The top items on our Collective Voice platform were this floor-length arched mirror, this luxurious silk pillowcase, and these soft, snuggly throw blankets.
It’s the final day of 2024 and, phew, what a year! It feels like just yesterday we were setting our resolutions and refreshing for the year ahead. And now another year has come and gone, and we’re reminiscing fondly on Frugal and Thriving’s journey. See our 2024 wrapped below.
Top Retailers
No surprise with our top three retailers of 2024! Of course Amazon leads the way, followed closely by Walmart and Target.
Top Blog Posts
We were all about the gifting on the blog this year! Our top posts were Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Guide for Her, and Holiday Gift Guide Under $50. Don’t forget to treat yourself too!
Top Items – Blog
Our top blog items has us looking our best this year. We were loving these false lashes, this cozy cardigan, and this hydrating night cream.
Top LTK Posts
Our LTK shoppers were all over the home goods and toys in 2024! The top post features this gorgeous Drew Barrymore Beautiful Wildflower Collection, followed by Walmart Black Friday Deals and the pre-order announcement for Ms. Rachel Toys.
Top Items – LTK
Continuing the trend of dressing up our homes, the top items on LTK were this ice machine, swivel chair, and Ninja CREAMi.
Top Items – Amazon
Amazon’s top items in 2024 were this flirty floral dress, these pretty pencils, and these stylish summer sandals.
Top Items – Collective Voice
More home decor! The top items on our Collective Voice platform were this floor-length arched mirror, this luxurious silk pillowcase, and these soft, snuggly throw blankets.
2024 is quickly coming to a close, and if you’re planning to do something special for the new year, now is the time to lock in those plans! Whether you’re looking to party in style or practice a little bit of quiet self-love, make this new year one to remember with our NYE celebration inspiration below.
Sparkle & Shine
Throwing the ultimate NYE party? Bring on the glamour with these party planning essentials.
Romantic Reset
Cozy night in for two? Make this night the romantic reset you and your partner need with a specially curated evening filled with intimacy.
Self-Care Sanctuary
Put your self-care at the forefront of your end-of-year celebrations with these wellness must-haves. Nothing like ringing in 2025 feeling like your best self!
Manifestation Station
And if you’re already looking ahead to everything you plan to accomplish in 2025, get a head start on your goal setting with these planning and organization necessities.
There’s not much that beats a day at the pool in your own backyard oasis. In-ground, above ground, Intex – no matter what kind of pool you have, you can never have enough pool floats, toys, and entertainment, and I’ve got the 4-1-1 on all of this summer’s pool essentials!
This is a must-have, the versatility of being able to lay down or use in multiple ways. Kristy says she’s able to help her son learn how to swim all while relaxing on this water hammock.
Use in or out of the pool since they won’t clog your filter like regular water balloons can and don’t leave a mess around the yard. The fun doesn’t stop once out of the pool…these reusable water balloons are a hit -and they’re 30% off right now when you clip the digital coupon and use code HILIOPWR.
Waterproof playing cards for the lake, beach or poolside. Enjoy a friendly game of poker, solitaire, or war without worrying about getting the cards wet or ruined.
Water Barbies with pools and boats are always a hit – they’re great for imaginative play and sibling play if you’re like me and have three daughters. We like to pair our Barbies with our Ariel mermaid dolls, and don’t forget a water soaker!
My kids love these Banzai mermaids! They play in and out of the water with them, and they will let their two-year-old brother throw them in the pool for them to retrieve for him as a game. It promotes underwater swimming and imaginative play.
3/4 of my kids are swimmers now, but we have always used the puddle jumpers for our non-swimmers when we aren’t actively teaching them how to swim. It eases our mind to have this available and gives our kids a sense of safety and independence when around the pool area.
My kids enjoy using their kick boards for getting around the pool or just taking a minute to hang out and relax without having to kick kick kick. Kick boards really help with strengthening core and legs too. These mini split ring pool floats are also a hit – they are the perfect float for toddlers and bigger kids too.
Swim googles are a must as being able to open your eyes under water brings a whole new element of fun to swimming. These diving mask googles are a kid favorite. They are anti-fog and good for kids who are learning to swim and explore under water.
This watermelon ball is a group favorite! I am still waiting for mine to arrive, but this ball floats, sinks and rises so you’re able to play with it above and below the water. The ball is filled with water and air so it floats like a melon and plays like a ball for loads of fun.
This pool side basketball system brings a classic game of basketball to the pool, adding an element of fun to any pool day. Play H.O.R.S.E or P.I.G to keep it fun!
Diving toys are great for keeping the kids busy for hours of pool play, throwing, diving and collecting rings and sharks over and over again. Diving toys help with underwater swimming and motor skills.
This underwater seek and splash game is one for the whole family to participate in. This game comes with waterproof cards and gems. The gems are placed at the bottom of the pool, and you call out a sequence of gems to find and the first person to bring up all of the gems in the sequence gets a point – the first to 5 wins! Play over and over again!
Nothing gets more classic that a good ole’ super soaker water gun battle! Play in or out of the pool for a friendly game of water tag.
Safety is key, and if you have a multi depth pool, you’ll want to separate the deep end clearly so that your kids or guests know where the deep end begins. This floating pool rope helps clearly divide the pool from shallow to deep end.
I love fun and eye-catching pool floats! The imaginative play of being able to float above the water leads to lots of pool time fun. This unicorn float adds a bit of sparkle to the water, and floats like this are super popular.
Lastly, when you’re ready to wrap the day up, grab yourself a mesh bag to throw all of the toys in! This will allow them to fully dry before storing them inside or in a pool deck box. They come in all different sizes so you can customize to your amount/sizes of pool entertainment.
There’s not much that beats a day at the pool in your own backyard oasis. In-ground, above ground, Intex – no matter what kind of pool you have, you can never have enough pool floats, toys, and entertainment, and I’ve got the 4-1-1 on all of this summer’s pool essentials!
This is a must-have, the versatility of being able to lay down or use in multiple ways. Kristy says she’s able to help her son learn how to swim all while relaxing on this water hammock.
Use in or out of the pool since they won’t clog your filter like regular water balloons can and don’t leave a mess around the yard. The fun doesn’t stop once out of the pool…these reusable water balloons are a hit -and they’re 30% off right now when you clip the digital coupon and use code HILIOPWR.
Waterproof playing cards for the lake, beach or poolside. Enjoy a friendly game of poker, solitaire, or war without worrying about getting the cards wet or ruined.
Water Barbies with pools and boats are always a hit – they’re great for imaginative play and sibling play if you’re like me and have three daughters. We like to pair our Barbies with our Ariel mermaid dolls, and don’t forget a water soaker!
My kids love these Banzai mermaids! They play in and out of the water with them, and they will let their two-year-old brother throw them in the pool for them to retrieve for him as a game. It promotes underwater swimming and imaginative play.
3/4 of my kids are swimmers now, but we have always used the puddle jumpers for our non-swimmers when we aren’t actively teaching them how to swim. It eases our mind to have this available and gives our kids a sense of safety and independence when around the pool area.
My kids enjoy using their kick boards for getting around the pool or just taking a minute to hang out and relax without having to kick kick kick. Kick boards really help with strengthening core and legs too. These mini split ring pool floats are also a hit – they are the perfect float for toddlers and bigger kids too.
Swim googles are a must as being able to open your eyes under water brings a whole new element of fun to swimming. These diving mask googles are a kid favorite. They are anti-fog and good for kids who are learning to swim and explore under water.
This watermelon ball is a group favorite! I am still waiting for mine to arrive, but this ball floats, sinks and rises so you’re able to play with it above and below the water. The ball is filled with water and air so it floats like a melon and plays like a ball for loads of fun.
This pool side basketball system brings a classic game of basketball to the pool, adding an element of fun to any pool day. Play H.O.R.S.E or P.I.G to keep it fun!
Diving toys are great for keeping the kids busy for hours of pool play, throwing, diving and collecting rings and sharks over and over again. Diving toys help with underwater swimming and motor skills.
This underwater seek and splash game is one for the whole family to participate in. This game comes with waterproof cards and gems. The gems are placed at the bottom of the pool, and you call out a sequence of gems to find and the first person to bring up all of the gems in the sequence gets a point – the first to 5 wins! Play over and over again!
Nothing gets more classic that a good ole’ super soaker water gun battle! Play in or out of the pool for a friendly game of water tag.
Safety is key, and if you have a multi depth pool, you’ll want to separate the deep end clearly so that your kids or guests know where the deep end begins. This floating pool rope helps clearly divide the pool from shallow to deep end.
I love fun and eye-catching pool floats! The imaginative play of being able to float above the water leads to lots of pool time fun. This unicorn float adds a bit of sparkle to the water, and floats like this are super popular.
Lastly, when you’re ready to wrap the day up, grab yourself a mesh bag to throw all of the toys in! This will allow them to fully dry before storing them inside or in a pool deck box. They come in all different sizes so you can customize to your amount/sizes of pool entertainment.
There’s not much that beats a day at the pool in your own backyard oasis. In-ground, above ground, Intex – no matter what kind of pool you have, you can never have enough pool floats, toys, and entertainment, and I’ve got the 4-1-1 on all of this summer’s pool essentials!
This is a must-have, the versatility of being able to lay down or use in multiple ways. Kristy says she’s able to help her son learn how to swim all while relaxing on this water hammock.
Use in or out of the pool since they won’t clog your filter like regular water balloons can and don’t leave a mess around the yard. The fun doesn’t stop once out of the pool…these reusable water balloons are a hit -and they’re 30% off right now when you clip the digital coupon and use code HILIOPWR.
Waterproof playing cards for the lake, beach or poolside. Enjoy a friendly game of poker, solitaire, or war without worrying about getting the cards wet or ruined.
Water Barbies with pools and boats are always a hit – they’re great for imaginative play and sibling play if you’re like me and have three daughters. We like to pair our Barbies with our Ariel mermaid dolls, and don’t forget a water soaker!
My kids love these Banzai mermaids! They play in and out of the water with them, and they will let their two-year-old brother throw them in the pool for them to retrieve for him as a game. It promotes underwater swimming and imaginative play.
3/4 of my kids are swimmers now, but we have always used the puddle jumpers for our non-swimmers when we aren’t actively teaching them how to swim. It eases our mind to have this available and gives our kids a sense of safety and independence when around the pool area.
My kids enjoy using their kick boards for getting around the pool or just taking a minute to hang out and relax without having to kick kick kick. Kick boards really help with strengthening core and legs too. These mini split ring pool floats are also a hit – they are the perfect float for toddlers and bigger kids too.
Swim googles are a must as being able to open your eyes under water brings a whole new element of fun to swimming. These diving mask googles are a kid favorite. They are anti-fog and good for kids who are learning to swim and explore under water.
This watermelon ball is a group favorite! I am still waiting for mine to arrive, but this ball floats, sinks and rises so you’re able to play with it above and below the water. The ball is filled with water and air so it floats like a melon and plays like a ball for loads of fun.
This pool side basketball system brings a classic game of basketball to the pool, adding an element of fun to any pool day. Play H.O.R.S.E or P.I.G to keep it fun!
Diving toys are great for keeping the kids busy for hours of pool play, throwing, diving and collecting rings and sharks over and over again. Diving toys help with underwater swimming and motor skills.
This underwater seek and splash game is one for the whole family to participate in. This game comes with waterproof cards and gems. The gems are placed at the bottom of the pool, and you call out a sequence of gems to find and the first person to bring up all of the gems in the sequence gets a point – the first to 5 wins! Play over and over again!
Nothing gets more classic that a good ole’ super soaker water gun battle! Play in or out of the pool for a friendly game of water tag.
Safety is key, and if you have a multi depth pool, you’ll want to separate the deep end clearly so that your kids or guests know where the deep end begins. This floating pool rope helps clearly divide the pool from shallow to deep end.
I love fun and eye-catching pool floats! The imaginative play of being able to float above the water leads to lots of pool time fun. This unicorn float adds a bit of sparkle to the water, and floats like this are super popular.
Lastly, when you’re ready to wrap the day up, grab yourself a mesh bag to throw all of the toys in! This will allow them to fully dry before storing them inside or in a pool deck box. They come in all different sizes so you can customize to your amount/sizes of pool entertainment.
Walmart’s Deals for Days has begun!!! These deals are Black Friday prices happening early..with deals on everything from toys to tech to home, you don’t want to miss out on these low prices on some of your favorite and most coveted gift list items. So get to holiday shopping, but don’t wait because these amazing deals won’t last long. See some of the hottest deals below beginning today on Walmart.com, and start shopping sales in-store on Friday, November 5th.
Toys
- Disney Frozen Elsa Fashion Doll
- Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures Supreme Leader Kylo Ren 5-Inch Figure
- Hasbro Marvel Gamerverse 6-inch Iron Man Figure
- Rainbow High Original Fashion Doll Playset
- L.O.L. Surprise Amazing Surprise
- Disney Princess Play Kitchen
- PAW Patrol Movie Transforming City PAW Patroller Truck Vehicle Playset
- My Life As Poseable Unicorn Trainer Doll Playset
- Nerf Elite 2.0 Turbine CS-18 Blaster
- LEGO Classic Bricks and Animals Building Set
- Just Play Disney Princess Moana 17 Piece Styling Head
Tech
- Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook 4
- TCL 55″ Smart Roku TV
- HP Chromebook x360 14″
- Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player
- Night Owl Bluetooth 4 Channel 4K Wired DVR
- Samsung Galaxy Buds+
- 32″ Bluetooth Soundbar
Home
Walmart’s Deals for Days has begun!!! These deals are Black Friday prices happening early..with deals on everything from toys to tech to home, you don’t want to miss out on these low prices on some of your favorite and most coveted gift list items. So get to holiday shopping, but don’t wait because these amazing deals won’t last long. See some of the hottest deals below beginning today on Walmart.com, and start shopping sales in-store on Friday, November 5th.
Toys
- Disney Frozen Elsa Fashion Doll
- Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures Supreme Leader Kylo Ren 5-Inch Figure
- Hasbro Marvel Gamerverse 6-inch Iron Man Figure
- Rainbow High Original Fashion Doll Playset
- L.O.L. Surprise Amazing Surprise
- Disney Princess Play Kitchen
- PAW Patrol Movie Transforming City PAW Patroller Truck Vehicle Playset
- My Life As Poseable Unicorn Trainer Doll Playset
- Nerf Elite 2.0 Turbine CS-18 Blaster
- LEGO Classic Bricks and Animals Building Set
- Just Play Disney Princess Moana 17 Piece Styling Head
Tech
- Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook 4
- TCL 55″ Smart Roku TV
- HP Chromebook x360 14″
- Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player
- Night Owl Bluetooth 4 Channel 4K Wired DVR
- Samsung Galaxy Buds+
- 32″ Bluetooth Soundbar
Home
It can be difficult trying to plan entertaining activities to keep the kids occupied all summer long. Sometimes it’s easier to turn on the TV or hand over the iPad and try to cross off some things on your never-ending to-do list. But we all know the benefits of getting outside and getting some fresh air, so to make your life a little easier, we’ve rounded up an awesome list of outdoor activities that will have the kids playing, exploring, and expending energy for hours. Some of these may have you wanting in on the action, too!
Toys
These outdoor toys are great for solo or family play. Water balloons, bubble machines, and kites are just a few fabulous toys for kids of all ages that offer wholesome summer fun.
3-in-1 Water Table | Bubble Machine | Bubbles | Water Balloons | Kites | Pogo Ball | Rocket Launcher | Water Blasters
Games
These games will entertain and help to build critical thinking skills and hand-eye coordination. With everything from classic games like checkers and scavenger hunts to fun new adaptations like floor darts (flarts) and frisbee golf, your young ones will spend endless afternoons outdoors while having a blast.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt | Turtle Stepping Stones | Checkers/Tic-Tac-Toe Game | Frisbee Golf | Body Bumpers | Archery Set | Flarts Game
Activities
These outdoor activities will allow your kids to explore and discover, and test their strength, stamina, and athletic skills. Perfect for adventurers and daredevils, these activities will challenge their vigor and expand their minds.
Metal Detector Kit | Telescope | Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course | Outdoor Exploration Kit | Geometric Dome Climber | Butterfly Garden | Basketball Trampoline | Splash Pad
Thanks for reading! Which activities are you entertaining the kiddos with this summer?
It can be difficult trying to plan entertaining activities to keep the kids occupied all summer long. Sometimes it’s easier to turn on the TV or hand over the iPad and try to cross off some things on your never-ending to-do list. But we all know the benefits of getting outside and getting some fresh air, so to make your life a little easier, we’ve rounded up an awesome list of outdoor activities that will have the kids playing, exploring, and expending energy for hours. Some of these may have you wanting in on the action, too!
Toys
These outdoor toys are great for solo or family play. Water balloons, bubble machines, and kites are just a few fabulous toys for kids of all ages that offer wholesome summer fun.
3-in-1 Water Table | Bubble Machine | Bubbles | Water Balloons | Kites | Pogo Ball | Rocket Launcher | Water Blasters
Games
These games will entertain and help to build critical thinking skills and hand-eye coordination. With everything from classic games like checkers and scavenger hunts to fun new adaptations like floor darts (flarts) and frisbee golf, your young ones will spend endless afternoons outdoors while having a blast.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt | Turtle Stepping Stones | Checkers/Tic-Tac-Toe Game | Frisbee Golf | Body Bumpers | Archery Set | Flarts Game
Activities
These outdoor activities will allow your kids to explore and discover, and test their strength, stamina, and athletic skills. Perfect for adventurers and daredevils, these activities will challenge their vigor and expand their minds.
Metal Detector Kit | Telescope | Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course | Outdoor Exploration Kit | Geometric Dome Climber | Butterfly Garden | Basketball Trampoline | Splash Pad
Thanks for reading! Which activities are you entertaining the kiddos with this summer?
We all know that playtime is the best time, right? If you’re planning a playdate for your child with their friends, or if your playdate is for you and your little one, these toys and games are just a few great ideas to make your playdate exciting and memorable for all those involved.
TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVE SIDE
Awaken your child’s inner artist with these visionary items that will enable them to express themselves through art and music.
Kohl’s – Wooden Dinosaur Kit
Target – Glow ‘N’ Grow Terrarium (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
Amazon – Deluxe Band Set
Michael’s – Charm Bracelet Jewelry Kit and Sensory Kits
Walmart – Lite Brite
Best Choice Products – Kid’s Piano
GET COOKIN’
For the aspiring culinary creative, these kitchen play pieces will let them take on the role of chef or baker and prepare them for a future in the food industry.
Zulily – Artisan Island Kitchen Set
Target – Play Grill (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
Walmart – Kid’s Cookbook
Wayfair – Play Coffee Maker
Amazon – Sandwich Counter
Amazon – Baking Kit
LOSE YOURSELF IN AN ADVENTURE
Movie directors, magicians, authors and explorers – whatever your kid’s creative calling, these items will inspire their imagination and allow them to dream big.
Amazon – LEGO Movie Making Kit
Amazon – CreaTV Draw Your Own Script
Amazon – Illustory Create Your Own Book
Amazon – Magic Mail
Target – Backyard Explorer Kit (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Get outside and play with these toys that make for endless entertainment outdoors, because a little fresh air and a whole lot of fun are great for the soul.
Zulily – Inflatable Easel
Amazon – Butterfly Garden
Best Choice Products – 3-in-1 Convertible Picnic Table
Target – Connect Four Lawn Game (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
Amazon – Bubble Machine and Bubbles (*this is a group favorite!)
We all know that playtime is the best time, right? If you’re planning a playdate for your child with their friends, or if your playdate is for you and your little one, these toys and games are just a few great ideas to make your playdate exciting and memorable for all those involved.
TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVE SIDE
Awaken your child’s inner artist with these visionary items that will enable them to express themselves through art and music.
Kohl’s – Wooden Dinosaur Kit
Target – Glow ‘N’ Grow Terrarium (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
Amazon – Deluxe Band Set
Michael’s – Charm Bracelet Jewelry Kit and Sensory Kits
Walmart – Lite Brite
Best Choice Products – Kid’s Piano
GET COOKIN’
For the aspiring culinary creative, these kitchen play pieces will let them take on the role of chef or baker and prepare them for a future in the food industry.
Zulily – Artisan Island Kitchen Set
Target – Play Grill (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
Walmart – Kid’s Cookbook
Wayfair – Play Coffee Maker
Amazon – Sandwich Counter
Amazon – Baking Kit
LOSE YOURSELF IN AN ADVENTURE
Movie directors, magicians, authors and explorers – whatever your kid’s creative calling, these items will inspire their imagination and allow them to dream big.
Amazon – LEGO Movie Making Kit
Amazon – CreaTV Draw Your Own Script
Amazon – Illustory Create Your Own Book
Amazon – Magic Mail
Target – Backyard Explorer Kit (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Get outside and play with these toys that make for endless entertainment outdoors, because a little fresh air and a whole lot of fun are great for the soul.
Zulily – Inflatable Easel
Amazon – Butterfly Garden
Best Choice Products – 3-in-1 Convertible Picnic Table
Target – Connect Four Lawn Game (*Target RedCard holders receive an extra 5% off and free shipping!)
Amazon – Bubble Machine and Bubbles (*this is a group favorite!)
Target has a TON of home stuff and kid stuff for 50% off right now… These prices are crazy! 🤯 Be sure to check out the entire sale before it ends.
Looking for new flatware?! This rainbow set is so fun!! But they have more options to match your style.
If you’re searching for furniture and decor for your new home or looking to just update and spruce things up – now is a fantastic time to grab some items!
Maybe you need a new set of bed sheets?! Yup, they have those HALF off too!
Our Generation Dolls and accessories are also half off during Targets 50% off sale!
Target has a TON of home stuff and kid stuff for 50% off right now… These prices are crazy! 🤯 Be sure to check out the entire sale before it ends.
Looking for new flatware?! This rainbow set is so fun!! But they have more options to match your style.
If you’re searching for furniture and decor for your new home or looking to just update and spruce things up – now is a fantastic time to grab some items!
Maybe you need a new set of bed sheets?! Yup, they have those HALF off too!
Our Generation Dolls and accessories are also half off during Targets 50% off sale!
frugal and thriving LLC