hobby ideas??? things to do ideas??

[njcarita]

hi all....looking for inexpensive hobby ideas.... or things to do besides going out to eat with friends....

Trying to get out of my rut.... looking for inexpensive things to do to keep myself occupied...

presently I work part time...
married with 3 kids....
and am tired of the lets meet for lunch/breakfast routine with my friends...

 

[leadfootlevi]

Playing cards - great time passer and so much fun. Depending on the game, you can keep your mind sharp with thinking or you can socialize while playing.

Knit - you can find yarn on clearance (especially at first), a couple of needles to begin with, find some instructions online for free and start knitting. Knitting circles are fun and you can start now with your Christmas gift list.

 

[Ericandjenng]

Quilting. More and more shops seem to be opening

Volunteer--meals on wheels (or other such programs) always need someone to deliver food.

Are you involved with a church? They frequently have projects to work on.

Painting class--recently I have seen a new business locally that you are supposed to be able to paint a picture in a one-class session.

Volunteer--kids school--ours always have opportunities from helping in the library to the lunchroom to the nurse's office

Credit or non-credit class at a community college or online

 

[njcarita]

thanks for ideas see below

Are you involved with a church? They frequently have projects to work on.
Just changed churches will have to look into what they have going on

Painting class--recently I have seen a new business locally that you are supposed to be able to paint a picture in a one-class session.
artistically challenged...lol

Volunteer--kids school--ours always have opportunities from helping in the library to the lunchroom to the nurse's office
I volunteer regularly at daughters emlementary school.... I am class mom for her class too

Credit or non-credit class at a community college or online
I've actually looked at this... may need to look further

 

[njcarita]

Playing cards - great time passer and so much fun. Depending on the game, you can keep your mind sharp with thinking or you can socialize while playing.

Knit - you can find yarn on clearance (especially at first), a couple of needles to begin with, find some instructions online for free and start knitting. Knitting circles are fun and you can start now with your Christmas gift list.

part of a Bunco group...but thats pretty mindless....lol

 

[HeatherC]

Zumba classes?

 

[nikkistevej]

All I can say is don't start scrapbooking!!!!!! As much as I love it and have scrapbooked for 15 years- it's expensive....if only my DH knew what I spend....

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

Gardening - even with a small space, you can do some square foot or straw bale gardening.

Hiking - We have a book called "50 Great Day Hikes with kids" for our state and we try to hit at least one place every few weeks. We found a new favorite park that's about an hour away from us but is a great place to spend the day and the kids love it. And it's free, aside from the gas. (Obviously, this is more of a warmer weather activity but still fun to plan!)

Photography - With a decent camera and a copy of Photoshop Elements (~ $99) you can visit all sorts of places with friends and family and get lots of nice pictures. Turn those pictures into scrapbooks of your family trips.

Scrapbooking - either digital or the old fashioned paper kind - a fun way to remember what you've done over the years. I try to make a photo book for every "big" family vacation and smaller ones for smaller trips. The boys love looking back at themselves over the years (and I love seeing how they've grown!).

 

[labdogs42]

All I can say is don't start scrapbooking!!!!!! As much as I love it and have scrapbooked for 15 years- it's expensive....if only my DH knew what I spend....

I was going to suggest digital scrapbooking for this reason. it is equally fun and there is less clutter! And, it doesn't have to be expensive, either. And, yes, it can be very social. I go to a few scrapbooking retreats a year with girlfriends and I just have to take my laptop -- it is great!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

OMG! I love scrapbooking, but yeah, it can be pricey!! But, I consider it an investment. What about sewing/quilting? woodworking? having a mom's group that isn't at a restaurant?

 

[labdogs42]

Stamping/cardmaking isn't quite as pricey as scrapbooking and also fun!

 

[dougsmom98]

This may seem like a weird suggestion, but I found putting together jig saw puzzles to be kind of fun and therapeutic. The kids will also sit down with me when they are home from school and they will help for a while and talk. It's kind of nice.

 

[lovesmurfs]

How about Geocaching? I've always wanted to do this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

 

[Ericandjenng]

How about Geocaching? I've always wanted to do this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

This is supposed to be alot of fun and your kids could get into with you.

Oh, and the paint class thing is supposed to be designed so that anyone can do it.

 

[CinRell]

Do you like animals? Fostering for a rescue group or volunteering at a shelter is a fulfilling and great thing to do...

 

[shelwoj]

How about Geocaching? I've always wanted to do this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

Love, Love, Love geocaching! So much so that we're going to be in Cozumel on our 25th anniversary (the actual day) and we're going to rent a car and geocache. Yep, we're a little odd!

 

[mom2cookies]

got a wii? invite your girlfriends over to play Just Dance.. get a workout too. We do teams and keep track of our scores. If you want a snack afterward, rotate among your friends who will bring it. A simple cake or pie and coffee. Doesn't have to be an all out party.

How about old fashioned board games with your kids?
SOmeone mentioned knitting.. how about crochetting? Linus Project always can use blankets.
Pen-palling with a soldier over seas?

 

[njcarita]

Zumba classes?

actually tried a class a few months ago...liked it.... may revisit this one....

 

[njcarita]

Gardening - even with a small space, you can do some square foot or straw bale gardening.

actually hoping to start growing flowers this summer...I really love flowers.... and want to keep fresh flower bouquets in different rooms of my home...so victorian... ( living room ,bedroom, bathrooms etc).... but didn't want to spend too much money...
10 days ago a student of me gave me a bouquet of flowers .... ive been keeping alive and rearranging .... heres a picture....

planning on buying a bunch every week and seeing how long I keep them going and arrange for different rooms...
this just bring a smile to my face everytime i see them...

 

[r4blessings]

now that my littlest one is in prek in the mornings, I've started meeting with my girlfriends to walk. We usually walk about two miles, grab a coffee at a coffee shop in town and then stroll back. Usually pretty fast paced on the walk to the coffee shop and a more leisurely pace home. Fun, lots of talking but also getting outside, getting fresh air and excercise!