Looking for some awesome events to attend this Halloween that are both fun and family friendly? Look no further!
Trick or Treat Street: 5300 block of Nottingham Ave in the South Hampton Neighborhood, Oct 31st, from 5pm - 9pm, visit the residents of this spooky street for oodles of candy and a frighteningly good time!
Trick or Treat on Main Street in St. Charles, 3pm-5pm on Oct 31st, local businesses hand out candy to children 12 and under and also host a movie in Frontier Park afterwards.
Halloween Spooktacular at Memorial Hall in Clanchette Park, St Charles. Oct 30th, kids 3-12 and their families are invited to attend a Halloween party from 6pm-8pm hosted by the St Charles Park Division.
Ghouls in the Garden, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden Oct 30th for a day of trick or treating. Kids are $5 and parents pay regular garden admission price.
Halloween at Grant's Farm, Oct 20-22 & 27-29, 6pm-10pm, admission is FREE but parking is $20 per car. Join Grant's Farm for a night time tram ride, food, carousel ride, and pumpkin decorating.
Great Godfrey Corn Maze, The Haunted Maze is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Oct 30th. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids, and kids 5 and under are free.
Trunk or Treat at Affton Presbyterian Church, Oct 29th 6:30pm-7:30pm. Enjoy trick or treating from decorated car trunks in a parking lot, also food and games. FREE event.
Trick or Treat at Buder Library on Hampton Ave, Oct 28th 7pm-8:30pm. Other libraries participating visit www.slpl.org
Halloween Walk in Kirkwood, Downtown Kirkwood businesses, Oct 28th 5-7pm, trick or treating and music.
Another week of awesome events around town!
Monday 9/26:
Yoga Night at the St. Louis Science Center
5050 Oakland Ave
$10 a person
5:30pm - 9pm
Tuesday 9/27:
Warson Woods Farmers Market
10001 Manchester Rd
3pm - 7pm
The Addams Family
Fox Theatre 527 N Grand BLVD
8pm, tickets $30 - $82
Wednesday 9/28:
Seniors Film Series
The Breakfast Club
Buder Library Branch
1:30pm - 3:00pm
http://www.slpl.org/events/calendar.asp
Maplewood Farmers Market
7620 Southwest Ave
4pm
Kody Norris & the Watauga Mountain Boys
Bauernhof Festival @ Grant's Farm
7pm
$5 a person, kids 10 and under free, $11 to park
Thursday 9/29:
Kids Night on Broadway
Fox Theatre
Buy an adult ticket get a kids ticket free
Friday 9/30:
West Coast Swing Dancing
St Louis Rebels West Coast Swing Dance Club
Crestwood Court
109 Crestwood Plaza
7pm - 1am
$7 members/$10 non members
http://stlrebels.com/
Higher Ground: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder & Benifit for KDHX 88.1
OFF Broadway
3509 Lemp Ave
8pm
$10 - $13 tickets
Saturday 10/1:
Pedal the Cause
Soldier's Memorial
All Day
http://www.pedalthecause.org/
Tower Grove's Farmers Market
4256 Magnolia
8:30 am
David Gonzalez Sleeping Beauty
Center of Creative Arts
524 Trinity Ave
2-3pm
http://www.cocastl.org/subpage.cfm?vSection=events&vPage=calendar
8th Annual Rock n' CholesteROLL
Veterans Memorial Amphitheater 255 Grant Rd
Jefferson Barracks Park
$20, $40, or $60 tickets
http://www.k-hits.com/RNC2011.aspx
Sunday 10/2:
The Boogers Family Matinee
OFF Broadway
3509 Lemp Ave
3pm
http://www.offbroadwaystl.com/calendar/
Sept 16th:
West Coast Swing Dance
where:Crestwood Court 109 Crestwood Plaza 63126
when: 9/16 7pm - 1am
cost: $7 members/$10 non members
contact: http://stlrebels.com/
Those Darlings with Wagons and Bunnygrunt - show
where: Off Broadway (venue)
when: 9/16 8pm
cost: 21 years+ $10/ 21 years- $13
contact: http://www.offbroadwaystl.com/calendar/
Great Forest Park Balloon Glow
where:Central Field in Forest Park
when: 9/16 7pm - 8:30pm
cost: FREE
September 17th:
Great Forest Park Ballon Race
where: Central Field Forest Park
when: 9/17 12pm - 6:30pm
cost: FREE
Sleeper Agent - concert
where: The Old Rock House 1200 S 7th St 63104
when: 9/18 8pm
cost: $8 advance/ $10 day of show
contact: http://oldrockhouse.com/concertcalendar/
The Rite of Spring - concert
where: St Louis Symphony Orchestra
when: 9/17 8pm
cost:visit website for details
contact: http://www.stlsymphony.org/concert/index.htm
Sept 18th:
Annual Pioneer Days
where: Boonesfield Village, Defiance MO
when: 9/17 - 9/18
cost: call for details
contact: 636-798-2005
Moolah Shriner's Ride So Kids can Walk
where: Gateway Harley Davidson 3600 Lemay Ferry Rd 63101
when:9/18
cost: $20 registration fee for riders to benifit Shriners Hospital for Children
contact: http://www.moolah.org/Default_.asp
Hello everyone! This has been a super busy week and I apologize for not posting the past couple of days :( We have had everything from school conferences to unexpected trips to the doctor's office going on and honestly, I am pooped!
School officially starts Monday for my kiddos and I think they are finally getting excited! We finished all our preparations and they are even back on track routine wise. But after a trip to the grocery store yesterday, I realized I was less prepared to begin packing healthy lunches again.
I stocked up on fresh fruit, veggies like baby carrots and celery, V8 Fusion drinks, and nuts. But I still have that nagging fear in the back of my mind that the kids will get bored eating the same ole healthy foods. So I decided to do what I do best - research!! I found a great food chart I had to share:
Decided maybe a food rainbow instead of the old food pyramid might be more entertaining to look at on the fridge! I even found another food plate, I love these!
And then of course, down to business! Disney's Family Fun Magazine offered a ton of good tips:
http://familyfun.go.com/back-to-school/back-to-school-lunches-snacks/
The ideas here are amazing! Everything from quick and healthy sandwiches in clever shapes to dressing up lunch boxes with Con-Tact paper to make an instant dry erase board! One of my favorite ideas was from a reader submission, she offered her daughter $10 a week to either buy a lunch at school or if she wanted to make a lunch at home she could keep the money every week! What a great idea to assist with older kids who would prefer to have a little say in what is going on in their life!
Another great site I found was http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/kid-friendly/lunchbox-ideas.aspx
Love all these ideas! The best part, they are all easy to do and the "lunch box jokes" will be a great surprise for the kiddos!
So I have concluded that after a few minutes of jotting down some fun and healthy recipes, a few cool new lunch box surprises (let's face it, us mums need new inspiration too) I think this years lunch box race will be a great success!
Another great aspect of back to school time, the cooler weather! Here in StL we are currently enjoying mild temps in the eighty degree range, and that means more time outside! Here are a few of our families favorite activities;
1. Backyard scavenger hunts - sometimes we hide things for them to find and other times we simply let them find the usual backyard bugs or plants, etc. Even better at night!
2. Family walks after school. Simple and funner than you might expect, family walks provide time for me and my husband to reconnect and talk about our day, the kids to burn off some extra energy, and very de stressing for everyone!
3. After school activities and sports. School is a great way for your entire family to become more involved, whether it's volunteering at special events or school provided sports, it can help the whole family become more active, so let the signing up begin! Just remember, you don't want to over do it, so set the limits on how many activities to keep everyone happy ahead of time.
4. Wednesday game nights. Pick a day of the week when everyone is going to be home and reserve that night for family game night. Not video games either! We bust out the board games or play tag in the backyard. Board games are great to teach kiddos important skills that video or computer games can not accomplish, mainly because kids play these games alone!
5. Bed time stories. How simple of a tradition is that? Knowingly, we all lead busy lives and at the end of a crazy day we just want to climb into bed in a pitch black room with soundproofing. But something as simple as reading to your child every night (even if not at bed time, do what works for your family) can help with everything from a good routine, reading skills for them, and better sleeping habits. Plus, you'll be creating memories they'll never forget!
Hope these ideas are helpful to you and yours! What are some of your secrets to a successful packed lunch?
Everyone has a unique outlook on their own health, a general concession on their children's health, and most agree the last thing they need to hear from anyone is what they should or should not be doing, they already know. Occasionally you might talk to your doctor or your friends, ask for advice, look up things on the net, even turn to a reality show or two and take notes. But what are you really doing to promote over all health and well being for yourself?
I awoke today feeling a little queasy, tried to push it aside and get on with my normal routine, and headed out to run some errands this morning. An hour later I am standing in line at the supermarket praying I don't blow chunks on the poor woman in front of me! Thankfully, I made it through checkout, the drive home, and unloading it all. I heard rumors of a stomach bug going around and evidently I am just another victim (at least according to my sister whom just dealt with the same scenario several days ago) who has to put life on hold for the next 24 hours and deal with it.
The funny thing, I thought I was just over stressed, usually for me stress leads to what I like to call "stress pains". The kids are returning to school in two weeks, cut backs at my husband's work, and changes to my own schedule are just a few of those little stressers. I have learned to cope with stress over the years in several ways to alleviate those stress pains and sometimes prevent them all together by working out and eating healthier. Simple solutions really. The more active you are the less time you (or your body) have to lay around and induce more worrisome thoughts upon yourself. But, once I realized that yeah, this is a virus, you have to call it a day and get well, it got me to thinking, how many other moms put their own health to the side thinking they are doing the right thing by taking care of everyone else first?
This was an excellent point brought up at a recent health seminar I attended at my gym, Ellipse Fitness St. Louis. The seminar is part of a 4 week program aimed at teaching you ways to rev up your metabolism and offering everything from group workout classes, nutrition support, to the online support. All of the resources you need to take those next steps at becoming a healthier version of yourself are right there at your disposal. I must say, what lead me to Ellipse was a horrible experience at a different gym. I was so humiliated when a trainer pretty well refused to assist me in reaching my goals I almost gave up on the whole sha-bang!
Luckily, Ann, a trainer at Ellipse, offered for me to come out and give it a try. She explained they were a "classes only" facility and it was a mix of strength training and kick boxing. Hesitant, I decided to just go and see for myself. The first class was amazing and hard! I had never kick boxed before and honestly hadn't worked out in years. At the end of the first class I could feel it head to toe and the adrenaline stuck with me well into the next day. Every class after has given me the same feeling and even better - a way to spend 45 minutes doing something important for myself.
At one time (until very recently) I would have thought it was selfish, taking 45 minutes out of my day just for my own pure benefit. Then I attended the first seminar and Ann spoke very clearly, "You have to take care of yourself first, if you don't, you aren't going to benefit anyone else either.." Those words struck a chord in me and for the first time it made a little more sense in my mind, it's okay to take care of me, I have to take care of me.
The biggest benefit I have received from classes at Ellipse; the support! Every trainer is readily available to answer any questions I have, they take the time to insure I'm performing the exercises properly so I get the full benefit from each class, and they offer encouragement. I never feel judged when I walk into class, we are all there for the same reason, to get a great workout! If you'd like to check out Ellipse, they have a great deal going on right now for a FREE WEEK, just visit their website: www.ellipsefitness.com and print the coupon :)
Other quick tips for healthier living:
~ Avoid soda! The carbonation in soda can reek havoc on your bones, your digestive system, and lead to unwanted weight gain.
~ Have fresh fruit and veggies readily available to snack on throughout the day. I cut up celery, add baby carrots, and peppers to ziploc bags so I can grab a bag anytime I am running errands. Of course making a fruitty bag is just as tasty.
~ Note that after a workout your body needs time to rest to recover, especially when doing strength training (weights) you are tearing your muscles and need them to repair in order to properly build muscle. Plus it helps train your body to continue burning calories while at rest, a huge point when trying to loose weight.
~ Attend yearly doctors appointments. A routine check up can catch signs of problems early and helps maintain your overall well being.
Hope this gets you thinking and as always, I am here for any questions or thoughts you may have!
A few Grocery deals this week:
Aldi:
$0.44 lb Bananas
$0.99 lb Strawberries
$1.49 lb Blueberries
$1.39 cantaloupe
$0.75 lb Red Grapes
Shop 'n' Save:
$2.98 Seedless Watermelon
$1.28 lb tomatoes
2/$0.88 cucumbers or green peppers
Dierbergs:
$0.99 lb purple eggplant
$0.99 lb zucchini or yellow squash
$1.99 Kellog's Cereal
10/$10 mix & match items:
Puffs tissue
Baby peeled carrots
mushrooms
broccoli crowns
Schnucks:
10/$10 mix & match:
Iceberg lettuce
turkey bologna
weber grilling spices
barlett pears
ocean eclipse seafood
2/$4 Jif Peanut Butter
3/$1 ears of corn
Unbelievable at how quickly summer vacation is drawing to an end for St Louis kiddos. Most area students will be returning to classrooms in just a couple of weeks leaving us parents the daunting task of reinforcing bedtimes and hectic school shopping. As we rearrange our focus from summer fun activities to school activities, here are a few helpful tid bits I use every year in making the transition back to school days:
1. Bedtime for my kids has always been 8:30, but during summer I waive that rule. Tonight began the first night of unwinding earlier with the hopes of 8:30 being the norm again in just a few days. Same goes for waking up! Starting earlier is better when it comes to a child's routine and making changes. Everyone will be happier on the first day of school!
2. Back to school shopping began a couple of weeks ago, but most of it will be completed during the Tax-Free holiday starting next week in most areas. This is a great time to stock up on uniforms, supplies, shoes, and perhaps even a couple of electronics that you have been holding off to get. Visit http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/
for all the details and dates.
3. Organizing school items is done one week before school begins. Backpacks packed, uniforms put in their proper place, lunchboxes out and ready for use. I also try to ensure that the kiddos get a mini room makeover by sprucing up their desks with new accessories (whatever their newest interest may be) and reorganizing to eliminate some of the clutter they have accumulated over the summer months. This becomes an excellent opportunity to donate old clothes, unwanted books, and even toys. Organization plus doing a good deed = AWESOME!
4. We also make a summer memory book the weekend before school starts. Pictures, postcards (we buy postcards at every place we go to but never mail them lol), summer flowers, all get meshed together and it has become a great way to help the kiddos transition - they look over the completed book and eagerly begin discussing which of their friends they can't wait to tell about their great summer!
5. Refresher course: summer is such a carefree time, I often let a lot of things slide as well as my husband, and this is not always the best idea. The kids some how become tyrants over summer, dictating everything from bedtimes to what they are going to eat for breakfast! Reminding them of school day routines, school rules, and homework habits usually helps to lasso in their summer wildness.
What are some of your back to school preparation rituals? Leave a comment and let me know!
Events this week:
Birds in Concert August 4th 7pm-8:30pm
Description: "The Raptor Project" house band performs their hit children's songs while birds fly above your head!
Location: Wild Bird Sanctuary 125 Bald Eagle Rd Valley Park, MO 63088
Cost: FREE
website: www.worldbirdsanctuary.org
Free Family Fun Day August 6th 10am - 4pm
Description: Celebrate the grand reopening of the Delta Dental Theatre with several family fun events, characters like Dora and Spongebob, and more.
Location: Corner of First & Lucas streets (down the street from the theatre)
website: www.ddhtstl.org
Also, check out www.kidsinstl.com for great deals on 'kids eat free' locations, events, and tips!
Yikes it is HOT! For the past week temperatures have topped 100 degrees here in our wonderful city, but it looks like we will be blessed with a bit of relief today and Monday. Finding things to do during this heat wave have been harder than in previous years, mainly because most indoor activities at area venues now charge. Creating new ideas on ways to stay cool started with the same philosophy as what to do on rainy days - use your imagination and start at home.
On a rainy day, you might stay home and let the kids do crafts or play video games. On an extremely hot day you probably find yourself doing the same. But during prolonged periods such as the current one, staying home leads to boredom! You start running out of fascinating stories to tell, forts to build, crafts to make, and your sanity. So what are some of the great places you can go with the kiddos without breaking the bank?
The Art Museum and History Museum in Forest Park are both free venues great for a family day and they are air conditioned! Another great idea is to take advantage of the free Summer Movie Series at local theaters. Wehrenberg Movie Theatres offer family friendly movies for free. Also, public libraries are a great way to spend a hot afternoon. They offer tons of activities for children including story tellers and scavenger hunts. Here are links for each of these venues for further details:
www.slpl.org
www.wehrenberg.com
www.slam.org
www.mohistory.com
Always remember that heat waves too shall pass and summer doesn't last for ever so we better enjoy it while we can! St. Louis is famous for it's crazy weather, soon we will be complaining about digging out of a blizzard...
I also wanted to touch base on the safety issues that we sometimes overlook during extremes of summer. The American Red Cross offers great guidelines and tips are their website to ensure everyone has a great and safe summer: www.redcross.org
Just to point out a few; 1. Drink plenty of water! Stay away from sodas and other beverages that will actually make you more prone to dehydration. Water is the best! 2. Apply sunscreen even on days when the sun is not as prominent in the sky, especially when you are swimming. Water reflects the suns rays causing even more damage to exposed skin in a shorter amount of time, be sure to reapply sunscreen every thirty minutes as well. 3. Check on your neighbors, sometimes just asking them how they are handling the heat will get them to open up if they need help, especially the elderly. If you do know someone who needs assistance with either an air conditioner or transportation to a cooling center, contact the United Way or your local American Red Cross chapter. 4. Keep an emergency kit in your car. If you break down somewhere in this heat and have to stay with your vehicle even for a short time before help arrives it could be harmful to your health. Bottles of water, cooling packs, and sunscreen. It's also important to have an emergency kit prepared for your home in the event of power outages. Here are some great tips to help you prepare now prior to an event like this happening:
1. Make your own ice packs. Fill up a few large freezer bags with water and place them in the freezer.
2. If you take any medication that needs to remain cold such as insulin, make sure you have a small cooler available.
3. Have a back up way to charge cell phones or have a land line. Magic Jack is a great way to ensure you have a land line in times of emergencies as well and is inexpensive.
4. Have bottled water and light food (foods not high in protein) together. You want to stay well hydrated and eat lightly.
Again, the heat fades away with the seasons, so here's to enjoying the summer while it lasts, safely!
Deals:
Target Sales: good thru 7/31
Sterlite pencil boxes .50 ea
Licensed folders .80 ea
Cherokee Polo tees (think school uniforms) $7 ea
HP All in One Printer $29.99
CVS Pharamcy Deals:
Spend $30 on selected marked merchandise and earn $10 in Free Gas!
B1G1 Edy's Ice Cream 48 oz
Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal 2/$4 + use $1 MNFC = 2/$3
Papermate Grip Pens $1.99 + get $1.99 EB = FREE
Palmolive 10 oz .99 + .25 MNFC = .74
1 subject notebooks 4/.99
Kleenex on sale for .88 ea, buy 3 + use .50 MNFC = $2.14
Walgreens:
M&Ms 1.1oz - 2.17 oz on sale for .49 ea, buy 2 + .75 MNFC = .23
WAGS Brand pantyliners 2/$1
Yardleys bar soap .69 SC
Soft Soap Body wash $2.99 + .75 MNFC = $2.24
Skintimate or Edge shave gel $1.99 + .55 MNFC = $1.44
Speed Stick deodorant $1.99 w/ SC + .50 MNFC = $1.49
Loreal Eversleek, Everpure, or Everstrong hair care products $5.99 + $2 MNFC = $3.99
Irish Spring deodorant & body wash 2/$6 + $4 RR + $1 MNFC on deodorant + .55 MNFC on boy wash = .50!
Check out www.my-backtoschool.com for more great coupons!
Events:
7/24 - Missouri Botanical Garden
description: free admission to the garden and children's garden in honor of Henry Shaw's birthday.
cost: FREE
7/28 - St Louis Art Museum
description: Join us in the galleries for a lively and informative discussion with Janeen Turk, Senior Curatorial Assistant. Space is limited in smaller galleries; please arrive early. Talk meets at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday and then repeats at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Meet at the Information Center.
cost: FREE
7/29 - Laclede's Landing Summer Concert Series
description: Blues singer Kim Massie takes the stage from 4:30 - 8:30pm.
cost: FREE
www.lacledeslanding.com
7/29 - Sunflower Days
description: A Plein Air painting event in Historic Clarksville, MO. Come watch the artists paint our beautiful sunflowers, vote for your favorite, enjoy artisan shop specials and local eateries. See our Facebook page at Sunflower Days for more information.
cost: FREE for most everything besides shops and eateries
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=131949060216055
7/30 - Wings of Hope 2nd Annual "Hope Floats"
description: Handmade Viking ships, Italianesque gondolas and cardboard biplane boats - you won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual “Hope Floats” event to raise money for 2011 Nobel Peace Prize nominated Wings of Hope. The event is free to the public and proceeds from registered race participants and sponsors benefit the St. Louis Medical Relief and Air Transport Program, which Wings of Hope operates to transport critically ill children to essential health care provided in St. Louis. More than 100 participants will put their boating skills to the test and see if they can navigate their homemade vessels around Grand Basin.
cost: FREE
www.wingsofhope-boatrace.org
7/30 - St Louis Open Casting Call
description: NOWCASTING
Do you have what it takes to host your own show on Food Network?
Date: Saturday, July 30th
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: Sheraton St. Louis City Center
400 S. 14th Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
WHAT TO BRING
NOWCASTING
Application
2 photos of yourself
Resume
Do you have what it takes to host your own show on Food Network?
If you can’t make it to an open call, please visit us at www.FoodNetworkStarCasting.com for details
on how to submit a home video! For questions please e-mail us at fns8StLouis@gmail.com.
For information about the show please go to www.FoodNetwork.com/Star.
Please read the Rules & Eligibility Requirements (found on the “Rules and Eligibility” page) before applying. Applicants must (a) be a US citizen or permanent
legal resident with the unrestricted ability to work in the U.S. and (b) be at least 21 years of age.
7/30 - Bye Bye Liver at Maggie O'Briens
description: Bye Bye Liver pulls from a grab bag of alcohol-infused sketches interspersed with participatory drinking games. The result is a comedic cocktail that has proven a hit with the palette of St. Louis’ partiers young and old.
Maggie O’Brien’s house band Bangers and Mash will provide post-show entertainment as actors mingle with friends and fans until the wee hours at their weekly cast party.
cost: $14
www.byebyeliver.com/st.louis
7/30 - Help Friends of Kids with Cancer
Description:
Friends of Kids with Cancer, an organization that provides recreational, educational, and emotional support to kids battling cancer and their families in St. Louis, has been chosen as a finalist in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good Program. Toyota is giving away a brand new vehicle to 100 charities, and Friends of Kids with Cancer needs your help! Our voting day is Sunday, July 24th, 2011. Please visit www.facebook.com/toyota to cast your vote! Friends plans to use the van to transport toys, games, and other gifts to the families in treatment centers.
Contest & Sweepstakes:
The Land Of Frost Marvel Superfan giveaway www.landofrost.com
100 Days of Sunny Moments giveaway www.feelthesoleil.com
Today is my birthday!! Not nearly as excited as I was in my younger years, but it is kinda nice to hear from so many wonderful people who are thinking of you. Makes me feel so loved!
So I decided against a birthday party this year, I have never been a big fan of celebrating my own birthday. Mainly because I am the party planner in my family, my husband is a trucker with little to no idea on where to even start planning events, and everyone else has so much going on I would feel horrible if they even attempted it! I prefer the small intimate family celebrations, just me, the hubbs, and the kiddos. Take out, movie night, and a homemade birthday cake. Simple and way more enjoyable than feeding a ton of people and cleaning up a huge mess afterwards. Leave the big parties for the kids and holidays!
Still - what are the best thrifty ways to plan a birthday celebration? One way is to make everything that you can! Decorations can get pricey especially if you are throwing a celebration for a child. Everything from banners, treat bags, balloons, tablecloths, plates, etc. Here are a few of thrifty ways to prepare for your next birthday bash:
1. Save everything you can from previous parties. This includes gift bags and tissue paper. If it's salvageable, stick it in a plastic tote and mark it "birthday supplies".
2. Shop around online for those special decorative items that can sometimes cost a pretty penny. Ebay, Amazon, and even Craigslist all are great places to start for new or gently used items that might be hard to find. Don't forget the dollar stores! Helium balloons, solid colored tablecloths, small favors for goodie bags - just watch your dollars and make a list of items you need before going and tossing everything into your cart.
3. Make everything you can! Make the birthday cake - great recipes can be found online along with creative decorating tips. Make birthday banners out of fabric swatches using liquid stitch (fabric glue) to attach letters and other embellishments. Centerpieces are another easy task that can be made with items you already have laying around the house with a little creative thinking, the possibilities are endless!
4. Food - to cook or not to cook? I usually opt to cook! But the key is to keep it simple, healthy, and fast! Fruit & veggie trays are always a big hit, dollar roll sandwiches and pasta are other inexpensive ways to feed a large number of people, and cupcakes! Cupcakes can pull double duty as a decoration in the center of a table or even by letting the kiddos decorate their own!
5. Entertainment can be the most expensive part of any party. Depending on the age and theme, you may want a clown or a rock band! My best advice is to ask family and friends first. Thankfully, we have some very talented and eccentric friends who have done everything from bake cakes to act like pirates at our kids' birthday bashes. Same goes for the band, although a live band at a party has become rare, it's more affordable if you know where to look. We have a youth group at our church that performs all over or community and these teens are really good! We simply make a donation for their performance and they show up and play everything from oldies to hip hop. DJs usually have set prices and time requirements, the best way to score a great deal is to know one or someone who does!
Great websites for more party planing tips:
www.birthdaypartyideas.com
www.stlbirthday.com
Deals of the Day:
Freebies:
www.totallyfreestuff.com
Grocery deals:
Aldis
1 lb strawberries 0.89
Cantaloupe 0.99 ea
Plums 0.25 ea
Schnucks
Dannon Greek yogurt $1 ea
Quaker Quakes Rice Snacks $1ea
Kiwi 3 for $1
Events:
Jungle Boogie @ StL ZOO
July 8th 5-8pm
free
www.stlzoo.org
ToyMan Toy Show @ Machinist Hall in St Charles
July 10th 9-2pm
cost $4
www.toymanshow.com
Wanted to take a minute this morning and wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July! Here are a few ideas for the last minute planners looking for awesome firework displays tonight:
Fair St Louis - rain canceled yesterdays events and fireworks, but the weather looks to be improving for tonight!
Webster Groves Community Days - events are ongoing rain or shine all day - carnival rides, food, games and fireworks tonight!
A few deals this holiday:
"like" the Canvas People on facebook to receive a free 8x10 canvas print - pay shipping only - or get up to $50 off any of their other sizes!
My Publisher:
B1G1 on scrapbook pages, get 2 for 1, or 50% off pages - enter code SUMMERBOGO at checkout
http://scrapbook.mypublisher.com/
Partylite:
Candle lovers will love this deal - $4 for a box of tealights in any scent and unlimited quanities!! Today only - www.partylite.biz/jennsgotcandles
My personal consultant - Jennifer Payne - will be happy to help you with your order!
Okay - more deals coming soon along with lots of new craft ideas, thrifty beauty tips, and big time savings at the grocery store! Have a wonderful holiday!
After a rather unpleasant 4 days of non-working internet service, I am pleased to announce this thrifty mummy is back in action!
I had set a few goals for myself before starting this blog, a big one was to post something everyday. Thanks to some technical issues I am several days behind and may very well just post multiple times over this holiday weekend to get caught up!
Before getting to the Deals & Events around town, I wanted to share a few tid bits that were reinforced during my internet blackout;
1. Keep a "thrifty journal" in your purse. I had a ton of errands I ran this week and spotted some awesome deals I was glad to jot down. I use the notepad on my cell phone so I never have to worry about finding something to write with - pens grow legs and run away from me for some reason...
2. Facebook is a great way to score free samples and local deals. Simply "like" pages of your favorite products and you can score everything from coupons to freebies and even contest where being creative really pays. I missed several give aways this week :(
3. Ask your friends! I am blessed to have friends all over and sometimes a friend in Arizona will know about a new thrifty trend before we ever get wind of it here.
4. Find out when bulk pick up is in your area. Just out driving around the other day I found a Little Tikes playset in almost perfect condition set out for bulk pickup. Heck, I once found two wicker chairs and the lady who set them out ran me the cushions that went with them! She hadn't set them out w/ the chairs because she had considered reusing them on another piece, but when she saw me and we chatted a minute she offered them!
Just a few things I had to share! One other I wanted to show today was my receipt from WAG:
I highlighted the coupon amounts, my total, as well as the amounts I saved. All the coupons I used were from last weeks Sunday paper and I ended up saving $25.88 between SC/MNFC/Sale items! No, not extreme coupon worthy but yes, I saved $25.88 on items we needed this week! Plus - $5 register rewards coupon printed so it was like only spending $20.88!
I will be uploading photos from our weekend crafts soon and tomorrow I will have all the latest couponing deals lined up and ready for you!
On to our DEALS of the DAY:
Freebies:
Bowl for free @ any Brunswick Bowling Alley
7/1-7/4
description: Everyone gets 1 free game each day through the holiday weekend!
www.brunswickzone.com
Kids eat Free @ Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders
Sunday - Wens
www.hamptonbellacinos.com
Yard Sales:
The Garage - indoor style flea market @ the Lemp Brewery
every Saturday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm
www.thegaragestl.com
Plan ahead for this one! St Joan of Arc Flea Market
Saturday 7/9 & 7/10 5821 Pernod off Hampton Ave - enter through the parking lot
Deals:
Old Navy Summer Styles starting at $5 now through the 4th
Like "Tiny Prints" on Facebook and send a free card to our troops - make sure to follow their instructions on where to enter their address - great way to show support for our troops this Independence Day.
Check out these links for deals updated daily;
http;//stlo.stlouuisdeals.com
www.stlouis.halfoffdeals.com
Events:
JB Blast
what: Fireworks, music, food
where: Jefferson Barracks Park
when: 7/1 events starting at 7pm - ending after fireworks which begin at 9pm
cost: FREE
Rockin on the Landing
what: live music along the Mississippi River Front
where: Laclede's Landing in Downtown St Louis
when: 7/2 - 7/4
cost: FREE
VP Parade
what: annual Veiled Prophet parade through downtown St. Louis
where: Parade begins on N 4th Street and turns onto Market St ending at 20th street
when: 7/2 @ 10 am
cost: FREE
To checkout all the events Downtown this Holiday weekend visit www.celebratestlouis.org
Sweepstakes & Contest:
Ultimate iCarly Insider Sweepstakes
http://ads.nick.com/sponsors/2011/hp/veer/
Win a Mega George Foreman Grill
www.tnpride.com
Photo Contest - a great site for all the latest competitions
www.photocompete.com
For us writers out there:
www.writersdigest.com/competitions
www.writingcontest.thenovelette.com/
Top 60 FREE things to do this Summer in StL & nearby areas:
1. Visit the Saint Louis Zoo
2. Grant's Farm (parking is $11)
3. Tower Grove Park Wading Pool
4. Carondelet Park
5. Suson Park-kiddos will love all the animals
6. Science Center (park in Forest Park)
7. History Museum
8. Art Museum
9. Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour
10. Union Station
11. Cahokia Mounds
12. Craft Alliance Gallery
13. Golden Eagle River Museum
14. Soldier's Memorial
15. World Bird Sanctuary
16. City Gardens
17. Art Hill in Forest Park
18. Botanical Gardens (free for city residents on Wens before 11 am)
19. Old Court Hose
20. Faust Historical Village
21. Purina Farms
22. Cathedral Bascilca of St Louis
23. Jefferson Barracks Park & museums
24. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
25. Babler State Park
26. St. Louis Public Library central branch
27. Citizens National Bank Park
28. Columbia Garden Conservation Area
29. Cliff Caves County Park
30. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
31. Antique Row along Cherokee Street
32. Holocaust Museum and Learning Center
33. Concordia Seminary
34. St Louis Fire Department Museum
35. Laumeire Sculpture Park
36. St Louis Car Museum
37. Tilles Park
38. Mississippi River Front & Lacledes Landing
39. Brentwood Park
40. Willmore Park
41. Turtle Park
42. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
43. Soulard Market
44. Old Post Office & Customs House
45. The Green Center (open to public Wens only)
46. Eads Bridge (great lookout point)
47. James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell Memorial
48. Historic Daniel Boone home & Boonesfield Village
49. Theis Farm
50. The Muny
51. Jewel Box
52. Faust Park
53. St Louis Walk of Fame (Delmar Loop)
54. Katy Trail
55. World's Largest Catsup Bottle (drive by)
56. St Louis Skate Park
57. July 4th fireworks/ VP parade
58. St Joe's Park (lake swimming, fishing, sand dunes)
59. Benton Park
60. The Wabash Frisco and Pacific Railroad - this does REQUIRE a $4 donation per ticket, kids 3 and under are free, but I had to add it!
Believe it or not there are more free things to do, so keep checking in as I update on the latest events. If you need help or have questions about any of the places I listed above, leave a comment or you can send me an email @ thriftystlmummy@aol.com
Deals of the Day:
Freebies:
Captain D's - Thursday get 2 free kid's meals w/ the purchase of any adult entree at regular price (dine in only) please check w/ your local restaurant for details
Tin Can Tavern & Grill 3157 Morganford Rd - 2 kids eat free from kids menu per adult purchase between 5pm - 9pm, 12 years & younger, Mondays - Thursdays
Grocery Sales:
Aldi's has cantaloupe for $0.99 and strawberries $0.99 per lb
Shop n Save - coupon Thursday! $10 off purchase of $50 or more (work that to your advantage!)
Local Sweepstakes (new section as suggested by a friend):
"Lucky Day Car Giveaway" @ Marty Cancila Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram - 2175 N Hwy 67 N Lindbergh Florissant MO 63033
details: Test drive any 2011 Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep and be entered to win a new vehicle ($30,000 towards purchase) no purchase necessary valid now thru 8/31/2011
Win a Chevy Cruze - visit http://www.gleesingtheusa.com/ for details now thru 7/15/2011
Springfield MO vacation Package - http://www.vacationfun.com/ hurry ends 6/25/2011
Western Wear Package - http://www.silverdollarcity.com/ now thru 10/29/2011
click on special offers and packages, they also have other sweepstakes occurring all the time, so bookmark their site.
As always - be careful and fully read sweepstakes rules and regulations, although I do a quick scan it's best to check them out so you understand what you are entering!
Look for future give aways coming straight from yours truly, Thrifty Stl Mummy!!
Next post - thrifty summer crafts, recipe ideas, and party planning on a budget!
