Sunday, November 30, 2008

icanhasahotdog.com

http://ihasahotdog.com/

From the creators of the icanhasacheezburger.com website comes a site just for funny dog pictures. Like the site for cats, this site allows users to post cute pictures of dogs. Then, the user "captions" the picture.

cute-puppy-pictures-with-captions-back-in-the-box
see more puppies

wordle.net

http://www.wordle.net/

This is a cool websit that creates tag clouds as art. You can create one from any website or document. It's also really simple to do. There's a gallery of "wordle" art that you can view from this website.

Entertainment On a Budget #8


Although this idea could be placed with festivals, fireworks are one of my favorite things, so I think they deserve their own post. Another tradition in my family, going to see the fireworks every July 4th remains one of my favorite events of the year. In my hometown, they are small and simple, but they are no less beautiful.

It's always fun to gather with all the other people an hour or more before the show just to get a good viewing spot. Over the years, I've made it a goal to find the best view. It's not just an idea for family either. Get a group of friends together with a few blankets and some refreshments. Take sparklers for some pre-show entertainment.

While just going to a fireworks show is free, you can spend a little money and buy some fireworks of your own. Be careful though. They're fun and pretty, but they are just flaming balls of fire that can hurt as well.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget #7

Christmas Decorations

Every year my family and I drive around to different parks in the area looking at the Christmas displays. Usually the displays are donated by local businesses, so there's always a vast array of different kinds of lights and displays. Most parks don't require a fee, but donations of canned goods or a small amount of money are welcome. If there aren't any parks near your area, you can drive around the neighborhoods in your town. They can offer some fun, too! Click on this link for a great display: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szLmAPW39uE

This can be a good date idea, as well. Since the decorations are only up once a year, it will be a novelty to go. While you drive around, you can talk and get to know each other better. However, if you're stumped for things to say, the decorations can provide converstation starters.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget #6

Festivals provide cheap--sometimes free--entertainment. Check your local paper or town's website to see if there are any near you. Almost every place, from large cities to small towns, have some kind of yearly festival. Near my area there is an ice cream festival, a blues festival, and a highlands festival.


If you enjoy like the festival, you can easily make it a yearly tradition to attend. This is, also, a great idea for a first date because you can get to know the person better while enjoying the festivities.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget #5

Most of the time scavenger hunts are thought to be for children, but they are adult friendly too. You'll need to get a medium to large sized group of friends together for this one. If your group is on the larger side, you may want to split up into teams.

The "host" of the hunt will need to decide a list of ten or so things to find. They don't have to be related to one another. They can be something simple like a napkin from a certain fast food restaurant or something more complex like a picture of a random person dressed in a cowboy hat. Just be creative.

Set down some guidelines such as a place to meet when you're done as well as a time limit. You should also offer a prize to the person or team who finishes first or finds the most items.

Just be creative and have fun!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget #4

This idea I've not tried yet, but a friend raved about how much fun it was. She and a large group of friends got together and played Capture the Flag with glowsticks at night. They played it on the Quad at the local university, but it can be played anywhere in a big open grassy area. You can play it at night or during the day.

Of course, you don't have to play Capture the Flag. There are any number of childhood games you can play with a group of friends--Steal the Bacon, Hide and Seek, Frisbee, any sports game, etc. The idea is to go out and be active while saving a few bucks.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget #3

A picnic is another good inexpensive activity. You and your guests can bring simple foods along. All you need is a basket, a blanket, and the food. None of these things have to be elaborate. You can do it all very simple. Just make sure the blanket is large enough to fit everyone. Finding a spot can be fun too--a park, a field, near a lake or beach, or you can have it in your own back yard. If it's too cold to be outside, you can clear some space on the floor in your room.

Picnicing affords you with a quiet atmosphere where you and your guests can talk while not breaking the bank.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget #2

Another inexpensive entertainment idea is a spin off of a classic date night--dinner and a movie. Instead of going out, though, you stay in, cooking dinner and renting a movie.

Cooking dinner with other people is always more fun than going to noisy restaurant. It's also healthier and less expensive since you can control your portions without wasting and you aren't paying for the service of a restaurant.

Watching a movie at home is always cheaper than going out; plus it has several perks. You can pause the movie whenever you need and you can relax comfortably on the sofa in whatever clothing you want. If you don't like the idea of having to return the movie, you can just buy it on DVD; I have found that it is often cheaper than going to see it in the theaters.

You can have dinner and a movie at home with just one or with a group of people.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

icanhascheezburger.com

http://www.icanhascheezburger.com/

A friend introduced me to this website, which displays funny pictures pet owners have taken of their cats. What makes this site worth visiting, though, are the captions that are posted along with the pictures.

funny pictures of cats with captions
more animals

Entertainment On a Budget #1


State Parks and National Recreation Areas

At first this may sound boring, but one of my favorite things to do in my area is visit Land Between the Lakes. It's a national recreation area that has lots of fun things to do. There's a planetarium, shooting range, nature station, 1800s homeplace reenactment, and a buffalo and elk range. Of course, you won't find something exactly like this, but check around in your area for something similar. These places are usually inexpensive or--sometimes--free. You can spend the day roaming around the area enjoying nature's best.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Entertainment On a Budget

Being a college student, money isn't free flowing in my wallet. There are more bills and expenses than when I was in high school, so I'm always looking for things to do that are free or relatively inexpensive. Through my own experience and the internet, I've managed to come up with quite a few activities that won't break your pocket book. Check back for the first entertainment idea.


bored.com/games/play/217/Neverend.html

http://www.bored.com/games/play/217/Neverend.html

I know it seems that the only sites I know originate from http://www.bored.com/, but I've spent some time looking around this site to find some good links. This particular link will take you to a game that involves some strategy to get your man to the keys that will unlock the door to the next level. I have spent some time playing this game, and it's fun while being a "thinker".

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

bored.com/crazycriminals.com

http://www.bored.com/crazycriminals/

Another site for those with time on their hands or for those who just need a quick laugh, this site has postings of real crimes committed by very dumb people.

Monday, September 15, 2008

theonion.com

http://www.theonion.com/

The Onion is a magazine that features lots of sarcasm and satire. It's not meant to be taken seriously. It's a good website to go to when you don't have anything to do.

Movies Imitate Life

The other day I watched Message In A Bottle as I have several times before. As always, I was saddened at the end when Kevin Costner dies and Robin Wright Penn must live out the remainder of the movie pining for a love that was lost.

Now I love a happy ending and I was definitely not happy with this one. They say that art imitates life and life doesn't always go as desired. When I see a movie, I want the good guy to triumph and the bad guy to get his due; the poor to become rich and the rich to share with everyone; and--perhaps most importantly--the guy to get the girl and the girl to get the guy.

I live life everyday. I see a movie to renew my hope of an ideal world.