Once Upon A Mattress is coming to MV High School this weekend!

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WNZR is proud to support youth in our community.
This weekend, you have a chance to see 30 students from middle and high school perform in a musical at Mount Vernon High School Theater.

Mount Vernon Middle School and High School will present the musical, “Once Upon a Mattress”. The musical will be held on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5 at 7:30pm in the Mount Vernon High School Theater.

Tickets are $8 for reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased at the door at each performance or by calling or texting Kati Bockover at (740) 627-0664. Tickets will also be sold in the theater lobby on Monday, October 31 through Thursday, November 3 from 6:30pm- 8:30pm.

If you thought you knew the story of ‘The Princess and The Pea,’ you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that, in fact, it wasn’t the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and just deserts provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again. This production of “Once Upon a Mattress” features a cast of 30 students, with middle and high school performers.

Click HERE to hear conversations with several cast members.

For more information, contact Director, Mrs. Marty Bell at 740-393-5900, ext. 5909.

Sandi Patty says farewell with her Forever Grateful Tour

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This morning, The Morning Thing took time to honor the amazing voice and career of Sandi Patty. She began her Forever Grateful Tour in May. The tour will stop at numerous cities across the country including Grove City on 11/3.

The concert will be held at Grove City Church of the Nazarene on Thursday, 11/3 at 7pm.
Click HERE for all the ticket information.

Marcy Rinehart of The Morning Thing had a chance to chat with Sandi about her career, memories and this amazing tour. Click HERE to hear their conversation.
(There are 6 segments to the interview, so be sure to scroll through WNZR’s SoundCloud page to hear the entire conversation).

Would you like to WIN TICKETS to see Sandi’s final tour?
Tune in today (11/2) to The Afternoon Drive, 4-6pm. Joe Rinehart and Jessica Wells will give you a chance to win.

Also, tune in tomorrow (11/3) to The Morning Thing, 6-9am. Marcy Rinehart and Kelsey Bryte will give you another chance to win.

In the spirit of walking down memory lane, click HERE to see Sandi sing “More Than Wonderful” with Larnelle Harris. AMAZING! (Thanks Bill Gaither for capturing this on video)!

 

Caramel apples and knock-knock jokes -The Morning Thing 10/31/16

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Most people only think of Halloween on 10/31, but there are other reasons to celebrate today! It is National Caramel Apple Day and National Knock Knock Joke Day.

The Morning Thing team shared 13 of the BEST Caramel Apple recipes. Click HERE and check them out.
Here are some of our favorites:

The Apple Pie Caramel Apple

Chocolate Apple Pops

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Caramel Apple

The Birthday Cake Caramel Apple
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(and our absolute favorite) The “I Don’t Trust People Who Don’t Like Chocolate” Caramel Apple

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We also celebrated National Knock Knock Joke Day.
We shared 20 different knock knock jokes from www.amomwithalessonplan.com
These jokes will make you the coolest Mom ever!
Click HERE to see the jokes. Try one today!

Take me out to the ballgame….The Morning Thing 10/25/16

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(picture from www.factretriever.com)

Today’s show was all about BASEBALL! The Morning Thing is helping you to get ready for the World Series between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs.

We shared some FUN facts about baseball, the World Series and the Cleveland Indians.

Did you know?
-This is the first time the Indians will be in the world series since losing to the Florida Marlins in 1997.
-To reach the World Series the Indians swept the Red Sox (3-0) in the ALDS (American League Division Series) and then defeated the Toronto Blue Jays (4-1) in the ALCS (American League Championship Series) to clinch a World Series appearance.
-The last time they won the world series was 1948. They also won in 1920 giving them two championships in their history which began in 1901.
-Andrew Miller, who the Indians traded for at the trade deadline this year, was named the ALCS (American League Championship Series) MVP.
-They were the AL Central regular season champions with a record of 94-67.
Here are 7 things you might not know about the World Series. Click HERE for the full article from CBC (Canadian Broadcast Channel) – Canada.
Read about the World Series rock start, the curse of the Billy Goat on the Cubs and a perfect game happened in 1956 in a World Series game.

We also shared some FUN facts about baseball. Take a look at the FULL list (all 95 facts) HERE from www.factretriever.com

  • The base most stolen in a baseball game is second base.
  • The unofficial anthem of American baseball, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” is traditionally sung during the middle of the 7th inning. It was written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer, both of whom had never been to a baseball game.
  • Mo’ne Davis (2001– ) became the first female to win a Little League World Series baseball game.
  • No woman has ever played in a major league baseball game. American sports executive Effa Louise Manley (1897–1981) is the first and only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • The life span of a major league baseball is 5–7 pitches. During a typical game, approximately 70 balls are used.
  • While baseball initially started in the U.S., it has spread worldwide. Today more than 100 countries are part of the International Baseball Federation. Japan has the largest pro baseball league outside the U.S.
  • Baseball’s L.A. Dodgers, originally founded in Brooklyn, are named after the legendary skill that that local residents showed at “dodging” the city’s trolley streetcar system.
  • The Boston Americans won baseball’s first World Series in 1903.
  • In 2014, Major League Baseball saw approximately $9 billion in gross revenue, up from $8 billion the previous year.
  • The baseball team with the most World Series wins is the New York Yankees with 27 titles.
  • The first known reference to the word “baseball” was in a 1744 publication by children’s publisher John Newberry called A Little Pretty Pocket-Book.
  • A “can of corn” is an easy fly ball. The term comes from when old-time grocers used their aprons to catch cans knocked from a high shelf.
  • Craig Biggio (1965– ) of the Houston Astros holds the record for a player most often hit by a pitch.
  • In 2008, Dr. David A. Peters found that sliding headfirst into a base is faster than a feet-first slide.
  • Baseball gloves have evolved more than any other piece of the sport’s equipment.
  • The oldest baseball park still in use is Fenway Park, the home field of the Boston Red Sox, which debuted in 1912.
  • The New York Yankees were the first baseball team to wear numbers on their backs, in the 1920s. They initially wore numbers based on the batting order. Babe Ruth always hit third, so he was number 3.
  • For the first half of the 20th century, major league teams barred African-Americans from participating in its baseball games. However, African-Americans formed “Negro Leagues,” which had some of the greatest players of the century.
  • The Yankees’ Mickey Mantle holds the record for the longest home run on record for a 565-foot clout hit at Washington DC’s old Griffith Stadium on April 17, 1953. As a switch hitter, he was batting right-handed against left-handed pitcher Chuck Stobbs from the Washington Senators.
  • There is a rule in baseball that before every game, an umpire should remove the shine from the new baseballs by rubbing them with mud from a creek in Burlington County, New Jersey.

Check out this video from www.factretriever.com
https://youtu.be/K9XpNzDhrZA

Celebrate National Food Day with The Morning Thing 10/24/16

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It is NATIONAL FOOD DAY!

(from www.nationaldaycalendar.com) National Food Day is observed annually on October 24. One of the targets that Food Day aims to help people is to “Eat Real,” which is defined by them as “cutting back on sugar drinks, overly salted packaged foods and fatty, factory-farmed meats in favor of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and sustainably raised protein.”  National Food Day involves some of the country’s most prominent food activists, united by a vision of food that can be healthy, affordable and produced with care for the environment, farm animals and the people who grow, harvest and serve it.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy some of your favorite healthy foods and use #NationalFoodDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) initiated National Food Day 2011. It is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies.  This project builds throughout the year and culminates on October 24 of each year.

In honor of National Food Day, The Morning Thing shared some fascinating food facts.

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What does a Proverbs 31 Woman look like? The Morning Thing 10/20/16

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We have all heard about Proverbs 31 – one of the special chapters in the bible. These scripture verses gives us clear-cut examples of what God describes as a righteous woman, wife and mother.

Today, we shared some insight into this scripture from a wonderful blog called http://whatyoumakeitblog.com/

Blogger Jenn breaks down the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 Woman verse by verse. Click HERE to read the full article.

Trustworthy: “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” – A major part of my relationship with my husband is him being able to trust me with the big and little things. When we got married, we agreed not to talk about divorce, not even as a joke, because we are committed to each other, and don’t even want to acknowledge the possibility of divorce. He also can trust that nothing will come between us. But he also appreciates when I follow through with what I tell him I will do (which admittedly doesn’t happen all the time). It’s something he really values.

Eager: “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.” – Basically, she didn’t buy cloth ready-made – she made it herself, something common for women of the day. Other versions use the word “seeks” instead of “selects”. The point of this verse, though, is not to make your own fabric and clothes. It is that she went about her tasks eagerly, willingly, and wanting to take care of her family. How I translate it to me is not complaining, even if it’s not my favorite task.

Purposeful and Savvy: “She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.” – I always looked at this verse as meaning she made her meals with lots of variety. But a commentary talks about how buying “food from afar” was a well-planned way to save money, almost like driving an extra distance to get food on sale. I’m sure it involved extra time and planning, but ultimately it was a great way of managing the household budget. And being financially savvy and intentional applies to any walk of life.

Sacrificial, or just plain Responsible: “She gets up when it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.” – Now this one, I get. They say you kiss sleeping late goodbye when you become a parent – it’s true. Whether or not I’m ready to get up, my son usually starts making noise around 7 to 7:30. It’s not like I can press his snooze button (but don’t think I haven’t wished for one). He is my little motivation for getting up, though. This is a great reminder to take care of my responsibilities – even if it means putting them before what I want.

Diligent: “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” – This describes her business practice. She looks at a field and considers whether or not it will be a sensible buy. Because she manages it well, it produces a profit, and she uses it to move forward with another business endeavor. All that to say, she works hard, makes good investments, and reaps the profits. Not every wife and mom has to work a job, but there is something in all of us that wants to be industrious and use our talents. This scripture shows the benefit of working hard and smart.

Physically Capable: “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” – I think this scripture does reflect what was said above, about diligence. But from my perspective, I think it also encourages physical ability – being able to be healthy and stay up to the task. It’s definitely not talking about shapes and sizes, but rather the importance of being able to keep up with your career and/or your household and family. The bonus of working out for me is that it just makes me a more positive, and likable, person to be around.

Disciplined: “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.”  – So this is my interpretation of this: while it shows how diligent she is, it also shows her working the only time she can sometimes, which is late into the night. Also something cool – the distaff was what kept the fibers together. In many ways, so does the woman in the household.

Compassionate: “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” – I love how this is worded, because it shows she’s not just charitable. It doesn’t say she gives some of their income to the poor and sends clothes and canned goods to the needy. This passage shows it’s much more of a personal connection. I think this is one of the biggest areas I can work on – finding ways to volunteer in the community.

Prepared: “When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.” – She has the foresight to be ready for anything, including the unpredictable weather. Plus scarlet seems warm and cozy, but also seems to convey style too – it doesn’t just say “wool”, for example. In a couple more verses, you hear more about her style.

Tidy/Elegant/Neat: “She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.” – She may not necessarily be trendy or rock expensive clothes, but she definitely maintains her style in appearance, and in her home. Personally, I think you are just more effective in life and relationships if you’re approachable in appearance. It also just helps me to be orderly and focused when I make an effort to change out of my pajamas in the morning, and tidy up the house (but no, it doesn’t happen every day).

Supportive/Submissive: “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.” – A husband that does well in life usually has a supportive wife at his side. It is hard to be well-respected if your own family doesn’t stand beside you. She doesn’t hold him back, but helps him move forward, especially by taking care of things at home. I truly believe this means that she is also submissive, and that the husband is the head of the household. Many women get offended at the word “submissive”, but it’s not only a biblical concept, it’s a word used to describe Jesus. It doesn’t mean the wife is a door mat, or is valued any less. She has a different role, but clearly this passage is meant to build her up just as much as her respected husband (keep reading the passage if you don’t believe me).

Humble: “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.” – She continues to work hard and make a profit. It’s not beneath her to work, or to be part of the business world, even though her husband is well-respected.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her works have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

 

It’s PIZZA MONTH! Celebrate with The Morning Thing 10/19/16

October is Pizza Month! Americans eat A LOT of pizza – 3 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year!

This morning, we took a trip around the world to see how pizza is enjoyed in other countries.Check it out!
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We also found some interesting toppings for our pizza. Check out these different combinations from www.sheknows.com. We dare you to try one TODAY!

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It’s Chocolate Cupcake Day! Celebrate with The Morning Thing 10/18/16

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Chocolate Cupcake Day – 18th Oct, 2016

“I’ve never met a problem a proper cupcake couldn’t fix.”
― Sarah Ockler, Bittersweet

(From www.daysoftheyear.com) You know what’s better than a cake? Chocolate cake. You know what’s better than chocolate cake? A chocolate cupcake. That’s right, while we absolutely adore our cake, there’s a certain tug of delightful selfishness in a cake you can consume all to yourself, letting you revel in a little piece of gluttony. Chocolate Cupcake Day reminds us that sometimes it is more than acceptable to have a piece of confectionary delight that we simply don’t share with another, so find yourself a cupcake and make it disappear, just be sure it’s chocolate!

History of Chocolate Cupcake Day
Chocolate Cupcake Day was established to celebrate that most perfect form of the Cupcake, the Chocolate Cupcake. Cupcakes are called by many names throughout the world, our personal favorite would have to be the term “Fairy Cake” from the British. The origin of the cupcake seems to go back as far as 1796, where cakes cooked in small cups were first mentioned, and the actual term cupcake was first seen in Eliza Leslie’s cookbook.

So popular is the idea of a personal cake, a cake of diminutive size, that there have been many different variations on both the style and technique. The invention of the microwave has even created recipes that enable you to mix and cook a cupcake in less than five minutes! Talk about the perfect cake, is there anything better than unabashedly delicious instant gratification? We don’t think so!

Cupcakes are really all about the size of the end result, not the method of getting there, and Chocolate Cupcake Day tells you to indulge in every variation, as long as it contains chocolate!

How to celebrate Chocolate Cupcake Day
Indulge yourself in the most delicious of cupcakes, the chocolate cupcake when Chocolate Cupcake Day comes around. It should hardly require any encouragement to have you scarfing up all the delicious chocolate cupcakes you can find, and on Chocolate Cupcake Day, there is certainly nothing wrong with indulging in chocolate cupcakes at every meal!

Click HERE to see 50 of the BEST cupcake recipes! You will want to head to the kitchen and start baking (and eating) after reading these.

Our favorites:
S’mores Cupcakes

Snickers Chocolate Cupcakes

Salted Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Swirled Peanut Butter Blast Cupcakes

Mint Chocolate Andes Candy Cupcakes

 

 

It is National Boss’s Day! Join the celebration with The Morning Thing 10/17/16

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NATIONAL BOSS’S DAY  is a day when employees across the United States show appreciation and thankfulness to their bosses for being kind and fair throughout the year. National Boss’s Day usually falls on the 16th of October, but if 10/16 falls on a weekend, this day is celebrated on the closest working day.

HOW TO OBSERVE – Show your boss some appreciation and use #BossDay to post on social media.

HISTORY – National Boss’s Day, also known as National Boss Day or Bosses Day, is a holiday that began in 1958.  Patricia Bays Haroski worked as a secretary for State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois when she registered “National Boss’s Day” with the United States Chamber of Commerce.  She selected October 16 because it was her father’s birthday and at the time, he was also her employer! It was four years later, in 1962, that Illinois Governor, Otto Kerner, backed Haroski’s registration and officially proclaimed Boss’s day. In 1979, Hallmark Cards introduced Boss’s Day cards to their inventory. There are over 1,200 national days. Don’t miss a single one. Celebrate Every Day with National Day Calendar!

We also want to salute working Moms today. We know that it is difficult to find balance between the responsibilities at the office and the responsibilities at home. Kara Gorski is a blogger that shares a list of 19 simple rules to succeed as a working mother that will transform you day and your career. She shares famous quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt for each of these rules. Click HERE for the complete article.

19 Rules To Succeed As A Working Mother … thank you Eleanor Roosevelt.

Rule #1: Be confident. Don’t let your colleagues make you feel inferior. Prepare yourself well enough to wear your confidence boldly. As Eleanor said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Rule #2: You won’t be able to control all the things – how other people act, decisions by colleagues and bosses. Mistakes will be made. What you can control instead is how you react to those things. So, show up with a calm and reasoned demeanor and do your absolute best. As Eleanor said, “You have to accept whatever reason comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.”

Rule #3: Your perspective is your lens. If something isn’t working for you, don’t sit around and complain about it to others in your office and at home. Change how you are looking at the issue and the attitude you are approaching it with, and the issue will be solved. As Eleanor said, “You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.

Rule #4: The only opinion that really matters is your own. Don’t spend a lot of time swirling around the water cooler or on the phone with other work-from-home moms bouncing around whether or not you should do something. You don’t need permission from people who you don’t need permission from. The one single person you absolutely need permission from is you. As Eleanor said, “Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to tell you yes.”

Rule #5: Get a plan. If you don’t know where you want to go at the office and in life with your people, what’s the point in going? Wishing for things to happen is wasteful. Instead, make it happen by knowing what your goals are and having a path to achieve them. As Eleanor said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

Rule #6: You are strong. You will feel beat down. You will feel tired. You will not want to tuck your children in at night because you eyelids are closing. But, you are strong enough to choose with intention the life you want and then live it. As Eleanor said,“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.” She also said, “With each new day comes new strength.”

Rule #7: Start. So many times, we are overwhelmed by the options and by simple uncertainty to the point of not being able to do anything. For years, I wanted to start a blog because I love to write and connect with women. Then one day I just started. And, here we are. Just start, the rest is easy. As Eleanor said, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Rule #8: Oh yes, you can. Got, it? Yes, you can. As Eleanor said, “Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’”

Rule #9: Be yourself. The greatest advantage you have in life is to just be you. Clients, bosses and colleagues will fall in love…with you. Your unique perspective and approach is your differentiator. So just be yourself. As Eleanor said, “You not only have a right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”

Rule #10: Trust yourself first. Know yourself. Spend time with yourself. Once you have that friendship down, all others will come naturally and be the highlight of your life. As Eleanor said, “Friendship with one’s self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.”

Rule #11: Live your core values. Figure out what your core values are and work through life measuring your personal success against those.  As Eleanor said, “Have convictions. Be friendly. Stick to your beliefs as they stick to theirs. Work as hard as they do.”

Rule #12: Grow by embracing your fears. Oh, embracing our fears. So. Incredibly. Hard. But, the absolute only way you will ever become fearless. Know what shakes you and then find an opportunity to walk right through. Because, on the other side, you will find your true self. As Eleanor said, “I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do.”

Rule #13: Delegate. Girlfriend, you are willing to do way to much yourself. Figure out what you can give away and to whom. If you aren’t sure how, use my CALM strategy (click here for the CALM). As Eleanor said, “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.”

Rule #14: Lead with ideas not with gossip. Y’all, I grew up in a small town where all we did was gossip. I love to gossip. It serves no one. Skip it and figure out ideas and solutions to discuss, instead. As Eleanor said, “You wouldn’t worry so much of what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” And also, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

Rule #15: Go with your gut. You know that funny feeling you get sometimes that turns your tummy. Listen to it and don’t let your head argue with it. As Eleanor said, “Do what you feel in your heart to be right for you’ll be criticized anyway.”

Rule #16: Weigh best options. Do not act impulsively. Ponder dutifully and with pause, because every decision made at work and home ends up being your entire life. As Eleanor said, “I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.”

Rule #17: Be wise. I ended up getting a lot of degrees in college, even a Ph.D. And, while I gained a lot of knowledge, the wisdom I gained simply from experiences and friends along the way have served me far greater in life. Be wise, not just smart. As Eleanor said, “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.”

Rule #18: Push the limits. That’s how we grow. If someone tells you no, perhaps there is a way around that no, so long as it serves your core values and your integrity. Go ahead, dip your toe in that water.  As Eleanor said, “A woman is like a tea bag. You can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” 

Rule #19: Make happiness a priority. Your decisions and actions should be ones that bring you joy in life, otherwise what’s the point of living it? Your happiness should be embedded in every choice and move you make, from the little to the big. Happiness will be your constant companion if you make it a simple priority. As Eleanor said,“Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product.”

It’s time for WEEKEND FUN! The Morning Thing 10/14/16

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Do you have some FREE time this weekend? The Big Blue Crew has some free time this weekend and we are EXCITED!
We found some fun, inexpensive ways to have FUN this weekend. Check out the list from www.wisebread.com
Click HERE for 47 ideas (or see them below)!

For our Morning Thing Fave 5, we shared what we would do with a FREE weekend.
Click HERE to hear from Marcy Rinehart, Jenna Potts, Kelsey Bryte, Andy Krolik and Dan Monnin.

1. Go to the Park

You can take your family or go with a friend. Swing on the swings like when you were a kid.

2. Watch the Sunset

Find a great spot in your community to catch the sunset. We have a lake by our house that offers some great views!

3. Pack a Picnic Lunch

Throw a picnic lunch together and find a shady spot to enjoy the day with your loved ones.

4. Play Board Games

Bring out the old favorites like Monopoly or Scrabble, or find new board games to play. (See also: Board Games That Make You Think)

5. Play Card Games

Invite a few friends over and have a card night.

6. Do a Road Rally With Friends

Get some friends together and go on a mobile scavenger hunt. The first one back with all things on the list wins! Losers have to buy dessert.

7. Go on a Digital Scavenger Hunt

Make it a digital scavenger hunt. Think of some creative, hilarious pictures you could take with people in the community, or check out this list forscavenger hunt ideas.

8. Throw a B.Y.O.E. Party

This stands of Bring Your Own Everything. Guests are encouraged to bring food and drinks to share. Or, check this post out for more frugal party ideas.

9. Have a Bonfire or Campfire in Your Backyard

Make s’mores and play campfire games.

10. Get Ice Cream

Hit up your local ice cream shop and indulge in your favorite dish! Our local Dairy Queen is located right on the lake, which ties in perfect with #2!

(Wise Bread Pick: Lello Gelato Junior Ice Cream Maker at Amazon)

11. Make a Romantic Dinner

Plan a romantic, candlelight dinner for your spouse or loved one. Romance need not be expensive! (See also: Romance on a Dime)

12. Grill Something New

Try a new grilling recipe. Recently I tried chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, basil, and tomatoes! Mmmm!

13. Go to the Museum or Zoo

Many times a local museum will have free or discount days. Zoos are fairly inexpensive if you pack your own lunch and avoid the unnecessary extras.

14. Scan Your Old Photographs

Take the weekend to go through your old photos and scan them into a digital file. You can even create digital scrapbooks! (See also: Save Memories With Cloud Computing)

15. Pretend You’re a Tourist in Your Community

Most folks rarely visit their own city’s tourist attractions. Take a weekend be a tourist in your own town.

16. Organize a Neighborhood Cleanup

Get friends and neighbors together to go and clean up a city block. Here are six steps to organizing your own neighborhood cleanup.

17. Go to the Farmers Market

Communities will usually have farmers markets on the weekends where you can get locally grown produce. The food is fresh and delicious! Here’s a savvy guide to farmers markets.

18. Pick Strawberries or Other Fruit

Find a “U-Pick” spot to gather some fresh strawberries, blueberries, or other fruit and then…

19. Bake a Pie

Use the freshly picked fruit to bake a homemade pie! (Need help with thepie crust?)

20. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or Homeless Shelter

Organizations like these are always looking for volunteers. This will be one of the most rewarding things you could do this weekend and can possibly make a difference on your resume! (See also: Translating Volunteer Experiences to Workplace Credentials)

21. Invite Your Neighbors Over

With today’s busy pace, it seems harder to get to know our neighbors.Invite them over for dinner or dessert and make an effort to know more about them.

22. Go Fishing

Grab the poles, find a pond, and cast those lines!

23. Go to the Beach

Hit the sandy shores for a little rest and relaxation. Just don’t forget to protect your skin!

24. Go to the Library

There are many benefits your local library has to offer besides just books. You can rent movies, page through magazines, or surf the net.

25. Host a Classic Movie Marathon

Invite friends over for a movie marathon featuring all the classics you remember from when you were growing up. Or, host a money movie marathon!

26. Rearrange the Furniture in Your House

My wife and I did this last weekend. I love the new look and feel of our living room now! Rearranging furniture doesn’t cost anything and adds a new flair to your place.

27. Write Out Your Bucket List and Pick One to Do

Brainstorm ideas for all the things you want to do in life, and pick one to do this weekend.

28. Put Together a Jigsaw Puzzle

When is the last time you put together a puzzle? Find one you like and get to it.

29. Volunteer to Babysit for Someone Who “Needs a Break”

I know many parents who would love for someone to offer a chance to take a break from the busyness of life. Many single parents hardly ever get a chance to get out and unwind.

30. Clean Out Your Closet and Donate to a Thrift Store

Go through your closets and declutter. Find items you can donate to your local Goodwill or another thrift shop.

31. Watch for Shooting Stars

Go on a star-gazing adventure. Grab a blanket and head to a park to lay and watch the stars. Here’s a meteor shower calendar to help.

32. Go on a Bike Ride

Bike to a location you’ve never been to before. Or, bring your bike to a town or city you’re unfamiliar with and create your own bike tour. Just be safe on your bike! (See also: Bicycle Safety in the City)

33. Take a Free Online Class

There are plenty of free online classes you could take to improve your skills in a certain area. Try your hand at investment classes if that interests you!

34. Write Out Your Life Plan

This one will take some thought but will be well worth it. Here’s a great resource from Michael Hyatt for helping you think through your life plan.

35. Set Three New Goals for Yourself

Related to the life plan is setting three new goals you’d like to accomplish in the new six to twelve months…and write them down!

36. Find a Community Play to Attend

Many local communities offer inexpensive theater productions.

37. Help Someone in Need

Lend a helping hand to a neighbor, co-worker, or friend.

38. Buy Food for the Homeless and Listen to Their Stories

It’s not always wise to give money to a homeless person, but you can buy food. Listen to their stories, and if possible, direct them to an organization that can help.

39. Go Bowling

Get some friends together and have a blast at the lanes!

40. Visit Garage Sales and Look for Deals

Take a friend or two, grab breakfast, and then hit the local garage sales to scan for deals.

41. Tour the Local Fire or Police Station and Thank Them for Their Service

A simple gesture can really mean a lot to the men and women who serve us on a daily basis!

42. Visit a Local Nursing Home and Engage With the Residents

Many elderly folks have great tales to tell. Listen to their stories and see what you can learn from them.

43. Plant a Garden

You can make a garden box or even an herb garden if you don’t have much room. (See also: Small Space Garden Ideas)

44. Go Dancing

Grab a few friends, put those dancing shoes on, and hit the local club.

45. Walk Through the Craft Store and Start an Art Project

Take your spouse or loved one to a craft store and each purchase a few crafts for a creative project. Or start a pine cone project!

46. Host a “Minute to Win It” Party

Invite a few friends over and challenge each other with some creative games based on the hit TV show.

47. Write a Letter to a Family Member You Haven’t Talked to in a While

When is the last time you sat down and wrote a letter? There’s something magical and nostalgic about the written word on paper. Send a letter to someone you haven’t talked to in a while and tell them how much you love them.

Hopefully these ideas are enough to get you started on a fun, cheap, and rewarding weekend!

What cheap, fun things are you planning to do this weekend?

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