FREE Entrance to Public Gardens on May 6th

To celebrate National Public Gardens Day on May 6th 2011, you can sign up for FREE admission to a Public Garden near you through Better Homes and Gardens!

(Thanks Buxr!)

{AZ Residents} 1-month UNLIMITED membership to The Play Factory for just $20

AZ Residents: Get a 1-month UNLIMITED membership to The Play Factory (at Desert Ridge or Chandler location) @BuyWithMe for just $20 (reg. $45, yikes!). These would be AWESOME gifts, too, for a little special friend!  I love that you can bring in your own lunch (have a little picnic and let the kids play, play, play while the moms gab.)

FREE Museum Day on Sept. 26th

Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Media in which participating museums across the country open their doors for FREE to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket.

The Museum Day Ticket provides free admission to one person, plus a guest.

• One ticket per household
• A ticket will gain entry in only one museum and only participating museums
• Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry. Official tickets can be found here on the Museum Day website.

Go HERE to see the details and to check out which museums in your area are participating!

{AZ Deal} 50% AZ State Fair Tickets

Save 50% off the AZ State Fair tickets (Oct.15 -Nov.7) by going HERE and using coupon code skaz1 at checkout!

(Thanks again Becca!)

FREE Craft for Kids this Weekend at Lakeshore Learning

Stop into Lakeshore Learning with the kids (ages 3 and up) this Saturday, Sept 11th from 11:00 - 3:00 to make an Amazing Art Hanger for FREE!

Six Flags: Tickets for the Price of a Child

 

Just wanted to remind everyone about this deal...

Have a Six Flags near you?  You may want to take advantage of this deal!

Take this coupon along with a pack of Stride gum to a participating Six Flags Theme Park  and you'll get one general admission ticket for the price of a child/junior daily admission.  Valid through October 1, 2010.

Even if you don't plan on using this right away, I would suggest printing it now or saving the page (it's a .pdf) so you have it in case they pull it down.

As always, I recommend calling ahead to make sure your local theme park is participating.

Phoenix Circus Tickets Discount Reminder

We had the opportunity to attend the opening night of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus at the US Airways arena last night and has a great time! (Thanks Feld Entertainment!) Lots of acrobats and amazing people who are involved -- seriously, these women fold themselves just like pretzels! 

I just wanted to remind all you Phoenix fans that you can still get the discount for the remaining show:

• Thursday, June 24 @ 11:00AM & 7:00PM
• Friday, June 25 @ 11:00AM & 7:00PM
• Saturday, June 26 @ 11:00AM, 3:00PM & 7:00PM
• Sunday, June 27 @ 1:00PM & 5:00PM

Get 4 tickets for ONLY $44 by entering the code “MOM” in the MC promotion code box on Ticketmaster.

* Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

Thanks again to Feld Entertainment for a wonderful night!!

Target FREE Family Nights

July 16th - July 18th, you can visit select museums and attractions in your city for FREE during Target-sponsored FREE Family Nights!  Just go HERE to see what you can do for FREE!

Fun Printable Grocery Lapbook for Tots

This past year we have been busy doing homeschool/preschool.  We have accomplished so much, learned so much and we've had TONS of fun!  One of my favorite activities to do with the kiddos has been to create lapbooks -- We did one for each letter.  They are so easy to make and a great tool for the kids to keep reinforcing what we've learned!  You, basically, use a file folder and glue in various activities to cover different skills.  (See how to fold them here.)

Anyway, I stumbled upon a new lapbook on one of my favorite sites (Homeschool Share) that I thought would be fun to share over here.... a GROCERY lapbook!  This one is geared towards preschool/early Elem. and covers lots of skills.  What I love most about it is that you (and your tot) can create it, keep it in the car, and take it along to the grocery store to keep them busy!!! ;)

This Grocery lapbook would be a fun summer activity and includes printable play money, COUPONS, food groups, sorting colors/shapes, songs and more!  It's adorable -- and you can choose what you want to print and add to your lapbook.  For instance, you may feel the shapes are too juvenile for your child so you can leave them out. 

Here are a couple of pics of the completed lapbook to give you an idea:

Go HERE to Homeschool Share to view all the printable pages -- and look around because they have a LOT of great lapbook printables (all for FREE)!

$5 Kid's Admission into Sea World

SeaWorld Cares San Diego Single Day Promotion:

Enjoy one visit to SeaWorld San Diego anytime before December 31, 2010. E-Ticket allows you to print your ticket at home and go straight to the turnstiles. Limit one $5 SeaWorld Cares child ticket with each adult ticket purchase.

(Thanks Chris!)

Lots of Frugal Fun to Keep the Kids Busy this Summer

School's Out.  Now What?  

Last year at this time I was preparing my segment on abc15's Smart Shopper on the topic "Keeping the Kids Busy Without Breaking the Bank."

Since many of your kiddos will be out for the summer soon, I know many of you are looking for ways to keep them busy...without spending a lot of extra cash.  Read up on these frugal ways to have fun, save your sanity and save some money!

* Keeping the Kids Cool Ideas -- Is the Arizona heat bringing out the worst in your kids? Use these tips for keeping your "cool."

* Keeping the Kids Active -- Get the kids off the couch and moving with these fun activities.

* Keeping the Kids Learning -- School's out, but learning should never be "off." Encourage your kids with these new experiences!

* Getting Crafty with the Kids -- The ultimate boredom busters using recyclable materials and ideas for local places to visit for FREE craft days!

*Today Only* FREE Children's Entrance to AZ Science Center w/ Cox Bill

Sorry this is such last-minute notice, but if you are looking for something fun to do today with the kiddos this could be it!!

International Children’s Day June 1 at the Arizona Science Center.  International Children’s Day challenges everyone to revisit their commitment to improving the lives of children all over the world.  In Phoenix, AZ, Cox Communications wants to help.  Partnering with the Arizona Science Center, Cox will provide all current customers (who bring a copy of their latest bill) with two free child admissions when accompanied by one paid adult on Tuesday, June 1.  Nickelodeon’s “Diego” and Cox’s “Digi” character will be on-site greeting and taking photos with children. Additionally, parents/guardians of the first 300 children showing up can have their kids fingerprinted for free!

(Thanks David!)

Summer Movie Deals

Check out your local theatres for their summer movie programs for kids, many include discounted tickets and concession items:

• Regal Cinamas FREE Family Festival 
• AMC Theatres Summer Camp Movie for $1 
• Harkins Theatres Summer Movie Program

{reminder} FREE Entrance to National Parks this weekend

 Just a reminder if you don't already have it on your calendar...

 

Remember last summer when they had FREE weekends at select National Parks?  This year you can take advantage of National Park Week (April 17th-25th) and your family can get in FREE to ALL National Parks!!

Saving Money on Produce

Since produce it always the bulk of our grocery budget (and we prefer to buy organic whenever possible), I made a decision a long time ago that I had to figure out a way to save money here.  Produce coupons are rare -- but a super nice treat when they do come out!

One of my favorite places to get our produce is our local Farmer's market.  It's a fun experience for my family, the produce is grown locally, and most of the produce is organic although the farmers don't have it listed as "USDA Organic" (it's a pricey process to get certified - just ask the farmer).  To find a Farmer's Market near you, check here!

When we can't hit up the Farmer's Market, I definitely scope out the weekly store fliers to see what produce is on sale.  We buy whatever is a good buy that week and build our menu around that.  It also makes sense to buy produce when it's in season since it's way cheaper.

There are some great Co-ops available where you can get baskets full of fresh produce for a very reasonable price.  Again, it's usually locally grown and there are even organic options available.  For instance, I know in Arizona we have Bountiful Baskets -- you can pre-order your produce basket for the week and pick it up.  We, personally, don't participate in a food co-op just because we go through a lot of produce and we like the option of choosing our own varieties.  However, my friend Candice picks up from them weekly and loves the assortment.  You can search food co-ops here.

My all-time FAVORITE way of saving money on produce is by growing our own!!!  We love tending to our vegetable garden, and it's a great learning experience if you have kiddos.  Even if you don't have much space, there are plenty of vegetables that you can grow in a pot and even on a vine (beans and tomatoes are great for this!).

Currently, we are working on growing beans, zucchini, peppers, lettuce, green onions, radishes, basil, carrots, collard greens, brussel sprouts and tomatoes.  Of course, some will make it better than others but having  produce to pick for dinner is a handy (and cheap) option. My toddler loves playing outside and picking her own snack.  (My favorite part is knowing that we aren't using any pesticides.)


I highly recommend  checking out this Planting Zone Map to find out what your "zoning" area is.  Then, you can use these planting schedules to see what would work best in your area.

	Zones 1-2 Planting Schedule
	Zones 3-4 Planting Schedule
	Zones 5-6 Planting Schedule
	Zones 7-8 Planting Schedule
	Zones 9-10 Planting Schedule

Are you growing your own food, too? If so, let us know so we can see pictures!

Kids Bowl FREE this Summer

 Registration opens on Tuesday, March 23rd so I wanted to make sure you all had this on your calendars!

Go HERE to read all the FUN details and select a participating bowling alley near you.  Then, on Tuesday register your kiddos for the summer and EVERY day this summer they can bowl 2 FREE games for FREE!  Read the details on how you'll get your passes each week and see a great discounted option if you wanted to make this a family-event!

I'm really excited because last year they didn't have any bowling allies near me participating and this year we can finally join in!

Michaels In-Store Events

Michaels, North America’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of National Craft Month with FREE in-store events all month! This holiday was founded by the National Craft and Hobby Association to introduce a new generation to crafting.

Families can visit their local Michaels store for FREE workshops to foster creativity and learn new skills.

Here are the upcoming in-store events:

• Saturday, March 6 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.): Nick and Nora yarn doll demonstration with Vanna’s Choice® Lion Brand® Yarn. Cost: FREE
• Sunday, March 7 (1p.m. – 5 p.m.): Art workshop for customers to make decorative canvas panels for the home using paints and brushes. Cost: FREE workshop with purchase of 3-pack canvas panels.
• Saturday, March 13 (1 p.m. – 5 p.m.): Beading workshop where customers can make and take four new unique jewelry pieces. Cost: FREE 
• Sunday, March 14 (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.): Customers will learn to transform an ordinary 3” clay pot and saucer into a garden ladybug. Cost: FREE workshop with purchase of $1 clay pot.
• Saturday, March 20 (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.): T-shirt decorating with fashion paint and Michaels Birthday Bash celebrating the “It’s My Birthday” kids’ party program. Cost: FREE workshop with purchase of t-shirt.
• Sunday, March 21 (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.): Easter décor workshop for customers to learn to make an egg-stravagant Easter chick inside a craft egg. Cost: FREE workshop with purchase of craft egg.
• Saturday, March 27 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.): Kids can create spring projects like flowers with new Crayola® Model Magic® Presto Dots. Cost: FREE
• Sunday, March 28 (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.): Wilton® cookie decorating demonstration. Cost: FREE

Holiday Gift Ideas using Mason Jars

Need some homemade gift ideas? Try this FREE e-book with 34 homemade recipes using mason jars! It includes cookie mixes, soup mixes, bath jars and more. This would be fun for the kiddos to help in. :)

Getting Crafty for Christmas

My daughter LOVES any arts and crafts project. Christmas is a great time to put her art skills to work while making decorations for our home and gifts for her grandparents.

Here are a few of our favorites that we're working on...

* Advent Wreath

* Angel made with Handprint/Footprint and Poem

* Puzzle Piece Picture Frame Magnet

* Dog Biscuits for Buster

* Santa Mask - Cutting out eyes and adding elastic to fit her noggin

* Apple Cinnamon Ornaments - These are so easy and smell AWESOME!

* Cotton Ball Snowman - My dd loves drawing snowman (with arms, legs, feet, ears, a belly button and curly hair)- now we've just covered his body with glue and cotton balls and glitter snow. FUN!

* CD Ornaments - Turning an old CD into an adorable ornament... These are too cute and thrifty! I love them!

FREE Kids' Craft time at Michaels, Lowe's and Home Depot on Saturday

Not only can you make the FREE wagon at Home Depot on Saturday, but stop in to Michael's stores for a few other fun crafts for the kiddos!! 10am-1pm

Go HERE for locations and details.

OR, make a fun gingerbread house at Lowe's stores!!

(Thanks Michelle!)