Monday, April 29, 2013

Free Music for Kids in Marina Del Rey with David Tobocman

I first heard David perform at the Zimmer.  He does traditional kids songs, as well as his own original music, which is great!  Kids just seem to love him.  He is going to be doing some Thursday morning shows at a cafe in Marina Del Rey, so if you need a good excuse to get down to the beach with your little ones look no further!  The dates etc. are listed below, copied from his newsletter.


David Tobocman, Music for Kids -- May Newsletter

Hi Families!

Just saying hi and wanted to let you know about a BUNCH of upcoming FREE sing-alongs and other fun stuff happening in May and June.
Upcoming shows

The Cow’s End Cafe in Marina del Rey near the Venice Pier
(34 Washington Blvd.) another FREE sing-along. Babies welcome!
Thursday, May 2nd, May 16th, and June 6th, 10:30am

Zimmer Children’s Museum hosts “Sing-along with David.” 
Friday May 24th, June 21st, 11am
Free with museum admission. 

Free Lego Event at Toys R Us plus Store Coupon!

This Saturday May 4th kids 5 and over are invited to a free Lego building event at Toys R Us.  They will get to assemble a mini Star Wars ship (and keep it!).

There is also a coupon you can print and bring with you in case you do some shopping after the event.  It expires May 4th.  You can save $5/$25, $10/$50, or $25/$100.

Click the top link for the home page with the coupon, and the bottom link for the event details and to see store locations:)

http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=2255956&ab=TRU_Header:TRU-Logo:Shop

In Store Events, Prizes, Games, Giveaways, Activities - Toys"R"Us:

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Check out a new park - Holmby Park

Holmby Park is a sweet little park in a nice quiet area. There are 2 playgrounds that cater to different ages, and a nice area behind the sand and slides with picnic benches. It is a great spot for a party or lunch play date!
There is a fence around the street side of the park but the play area is not fully enclosed.  My favorite thing about this park is that it has 6 baby swings, so you pretty much never have to wait. Good news for the toddlers!
The park also has a few areas that are shady, and a big grassy area to go for a nice stroll. Main drawback is that the restrooms are back by the golf clubhouse, so it's a bit of a hike. If you have a portable potty I would suggest you bring it and leave it in the car. Parking is free on the street, and usually you can.find a spot pretty close to the playground. Enjoy!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Free Zyrtec and Cheap Advil Congestion This Week!

If you have allergies or just want to stock up for those wonderful summer colds, make sure you pick up a few papers today!!

Rite Aid  and CVS have Zyrtec on sale for $6 and there is a $6 coupon today, making the 5 count box free.

CVS has Advil Congestion on sale for $4.95, and there is a $3 coupon today.  If you have a coupon from the CVS machine for cold and flu purchases this deal is even better.  I have one for $3 off a $15 purchase from earlier this year.  Remember that CVS will take their own store coupons when they are expired, just let them know ahead of time.

If you have been wanting to get into couponing this week is a great week to start!  Just with those 2 coupons you can save $9, and the paper only costs $2 retail.  Buy a few and start sorting!!

DIY Workbook - First Letter Match Up

This DIY project works on the ability to sound out the first letter of a word.  Like I have done before, I used cut out letters for this because my son doesn't write yet, but if your kids do you can just have them write the letter in the space.

I looked through some magazines and grocery flyers and put together a few pages with the pictures taped down and the corresponding letters loose.  I asked my son to find and glue the letter that starts the word in the picture.  I chose to put the picture on the right and have him glue on the left, because it made more sense to me that the first letter would be positioned that way.

Almost all workbook exercises can be replicated at home without using hardly anything in materials.  Next time you are at a store like Lakeshore or Staples take a look though a book and see what you could do at home without buying anything!

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Petersen Automotive Museum Groupon - Half Price!

I love the Petersen, but they never seem to have free days or discount days.  This groupon offers half price admission for 2 or 4, and the batch for 2 is already sold out.  The admission for 4 is priced at $24, as opposed to $48 full price.

I was a little nervous about taking my son here the first time, because it is a museum and I thought he'd want to touch and ride on all the cars.  It was a bit hard keeping him off the displays on the first 2 floors, but luckily for everyone the third floor is made for kids!  They can sit on the motorbike and antique cars, and they have a huge hot wheels size wooden race track they can use, so pack some hot wheels to bring along and play!  The track is really tall, and I seem to remember we had to lift the kids up to reach even though they did have some steps.

The second floor also had a Cars exhibit when we went.  It had a huge cut out poster of Lightning McQueen (great for posing pictures), and a wall display of every Cars character imaginable in miniature size.  It was pretty cool for my son, who was really into Cars at the time.  I think this time he might be more into the Batmobile!!

I also read that they have a huge Hot Wheels display section.  I don't remember that part, but that might have something to do with the infant I was also carting around that day:)

So, if the kids are getting restless just pop up to the "family floor" and get some play out before you resume car watching!  There is also a Johnny Rockets and a gift shop on the first floor.




Petersen Automotive Museum Deal of the Day | Groupon Los Angeles:

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Revlon Coupons: Free Beauty Tools at Rite Aid, 4/28 Only! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

If you have a chance to swing by Rite Aid on Sunday bring along some coupons and get free Revlon beauty tools!  You will need to print one coupon from the facebook page, and use 2 coupons from the paper coming this Sunday 4/28.  The facebook coupon expires 4/28 so the deal only works on Sunday.

Check out the link for all of the details, links, and prices.  You can also check in with KCL for some of the other great deals coming up next week at Rite Aid.  I'll be dong my shopping on Tuesday, so check back to see what deals I get:)

Revlon Coupons: Free Beauty Tools at Rite Aid, 4/28 Only! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Treasure Hunt for my Secret Agents:)

After making my kids Secret Agent ID badges yesterday, I had the idea to set up an "investigation".  I started with one clue that led to another location, where they found another clue, and so on.  At the end I had a "treasure", which was candy.

This was so much fun for my 3.5 year old!  He loved trying to figure out what the clues were trying to tell him.  I can tell that with a bit of practice with riddles he will get the hang of it quickly.

I made up 4 clues that rhymed to lead him all over the house.  Here is an example:

"To get started you should look
For a clue in a book
About some kids and a Cat
In a tall, striped Hat"

The look on his face when he figured it out was priceless!

For a younger kid you could just take pictures of places around the house and have them find the place in the picture to get the next picture.  My daughter is 1.5 and this was totally lost on her, but she liked following her brother around, and she could tell he was having fun, which made her feel happy too:)

This also lets you as the parent feel creative!  And it can be a great activity to break up a long afternoon.

Secret Agent ID Badge

I made this secret agent badge using the packaging from my most recent Shutterfly order (remember all those free print deals?).  Shutterfly always ships your photos with an index card of the pictures you ordered, and I always wondered what I could do with those tiny little pictures.  I cut a bunch out for my son to use to build a collage, and he ended up using push pins and sticking them to a corkboard.  But one day he came home from school with a police badge, and I thought these little pictures would be perfect for pretend ID!!

I used the orange Shutterfly picture envelope because the paper is quite thick and sturdy, and cut one rectangle bigger then the second.  I mounted the orange side on the white side, and glued one of the tiny photos on top and added some gold stars from our generous supply of stickers. For older kids you could add a string so they can wear it around the neck.  There are a million possibilities for ID depending on what your kids think is cool.  I made these to coincide with an investigation, which I will post about next!  

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Better World Books - Donate and Buy Used Books

I saw this site referenced in a magazine article about getting kids involved in charity, and I have to say I love the idea.  My kids, like most, have a hard time donating their old stuff, but I think I could get them to choose a book or two to mail in to this organization, which uses proceeds to support world literacy programs.

All you need to do is go onto the website and request a shipping label that you can print out so that you can ship your books to BWB for free. A great way to teach your kids about charity without any out of pocket expense.

The site also sells books, so you can purchase used books that others have donated.  I looked up Dr. Seuss, and there were a lot of titles for around $3-$4 each, plus shipping is free! The site labels each book depending on the condition, so you will see "used great" to "used acceptable" next to the price.

The way I go through books this is absolutely going to save me money.  As much as I do adore the library, I also like to be able to keep my books on my shelf like little markers of accomplishment.  And I love to keep my kids' bookshelves fresh and full too:)  The link to the site is below.


BetterWorldBooks.com - New & Used Books for Sale, Textbooks, Book Reviews & more - FREE SHIPPING:

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Studio City Sunday Farmer's Market

The Farmer's Market in Studio City is a great Sunday destination.  It has a ton of activity for the kids, which can be a lot of fun but not the cheapest outing you've ever done!  What I love about it is the petting zoo.  The enclosure has little plastic chairs, and the kids are allowed to hold the animals.  It is so cute, and really unique - I've never been to a petting zoo where the animals can be picked up.  My kids love to hold the guinea pigs and bunnies.  They also sometimes have a big ol' cow in the corner.  That's different:)

The market has a pony ride area next to the petting zoo.  If you want to get out without spending a bunch I would try to avoid going in past the pony rides.  Usually there is a bounce house, a bounce slide, and a swing ride just beyond that front area. If you are up for spending a little more, venture forth!  It is really fun, especially the swing ride.  I can hardly pry my kids off that one:)



The last time we went the petting zoo was $4, the pony ride was $5, and you get $1 off if you buy both at the same time.

The market is located on Ventura Blvd one block east of Laurel Canyon.  There is parking on the lot across the street to the east, but it is pretty limited.  I have always managed to get a spot in there, but I imagine there is a lot of street parking on the north side as well, especially on a Sunday.  You may also encounter paparazzi - it seems to be a popular spot for the not so well know but tabloid worthy celebrity crowd:)


Free Trial Class - Dawn Barnes Karate Kids

Dawn Barnes has a few locations on the Westside and in the Valley. They offer a parent and me class as well as independent classes for age 3.5 and up. Check out the website for a schedule and to sign up for a free trial. I think karate could be a great thing to do for a session when school is out this summer!

Karatekids.net

Core Power Yoga - Free Week and Free classes!

Do you have a Core Power Yoga near you? I just went in to start my free week, available to all new students. You can take unlimited classes for the whole week.
When I picked up the schedule, I noticed they also have 2 free classes per week, and a number of $12 classes (normally $20 drop in rate).
A lot of yoga studios have free or reduced rate classes, because it falls in line with the whole yoga vibe of supporting the community. Some also offer the free first class or free week, so check out some web sites or make some calls. Working out doesn't have to cost a fortune!! Finding the time to go might though:)

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

CVS made my night:)

It was a long day chasing after the kids, breaking up fights, cooking, cleaning...you know.  So when they were both asleep and I discovered that the internet wasn't working while my husband rewired something or other upstairs I grabbed my coupon bag and headed out to CVS.  I bought everything pictured for $4.17 (plus $5.10 tax = $9.27 out of pocket), and made back $29 in rewards.  Oh yes, that is possible!!  Have a look:

3 Huggies @ $9.99 each = $29.97
Used $5/$25 baby care coupon from cvs machine
Used 3 $2.50/1 mq's
Saved $12.50
Spend $30 get $10 back

1 Physician's Formula eye shadow @ 7.99
1 L'Oreal mascara @ 12.99
Used $3/$15 cosmetic purchase from cvs machine
Used $3 off any L'Oreal from cvs receipt
Used $1/1 Phy For mq
Used $1/1 L'Oreal mq
Saved $8
Buy any Phy For get $7, spend $12 on L'Oreal get $4 (made back $11)

2 Oral B toothbrushes @ $2.87
2 Crest toothpaste @ $2.99
2 Toms toothpaste @ $4
Used $5/$15 oral care purchase from cvs machine
Used $1/1 mq's for the toothbrushes and crest toothpaste
Used $2/2 mq for Tom's
Saved $11
Buy one Crest get $2, buy one Oral B get $1, buy 2 Tom's get $2 (made back $8)

I also used a $5/$30 cvs email coupon, and $32 in rewards.

My total before coupons: $70.67
Total after coupons: $42.17
Total after rewards redeemed: $7.17 (somehow an extra $3 came off, I think she scanned one twice?)
My total $4.17!

And I made back $29 for next time.  I love shopping at night because the cashier at my local store is so helpful with all my coupons, and wit no one in line behind me I don't feel so much like a crazy person.




Free Carseat Canopy, Nursing Pillow, Cover & Baby Sling! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

More free baby gear!  Just pay shipping on your choice of 4 baby items.  I recommend the Udder Covers nursing cover.  It is amazing - provides coverage but lets you see the baby and allows the baby to breathe a bit too!  The wire at the top is truly genius:)



Free Carseat Canopy, Nursing Pillow, Cover & Baby Sling! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Natural History Museum Groupon

Don't you hate when you deliberate on a purchase, finally decide to commit, and then after you have sealed the deal it goes on sale?  I bought my membership a few months ago:)

The things I love about this membership are: it is valid at both the Natural History Museum near USC, and at the Page Museum at Wilshire and Fairfax; the NHM is on the train line, so you can hop on public transit and be there in a few minutes without having to strap the kids in and hope for good traffic.  The train is part of the whole adventure, and I think the transit fee is cheaper than parking, which is $8 (cash only)!!

As with the zoo, your membership also gets you a discount at the stores.  For this one you need to name 2 adults and either adult can bring 4 kids.  Share it with a friend if you don't have a museum-going other adult:)

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Deal of the Day | Groupon Los Angeles:

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CVS Cosmetic Deals this week

CVS is having an awesome promotion on Physician's Formula this week - buy any one and get $7 back.  There is also a $1 coupon from the paper.  The cheapest cosmetic is a concealer, only $6.49, minus $1 coupon = $5.49 and you get $7 back.  Sweet!  Limit is 1 on this deal.

I also got a $3/$15 cosmetics from the magic coupon machine in store, and a $3 off any L'Oreal cosmetics printed on my receipt.  L'Oreal has a deal where you get $4 back if you spend $12 this week, so I am hoping to combine these deals and coupons to score some great free stuff!

I will report back with my full CVS haul tomorrow:)

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The Best Free Game Ever!

My son learned this game at school, and when we tried it at home it was a hit!!  The game is Mystery Box.  All you need is....a box!!

How it works: get a box (shoe box if you have it), and ask your child to find something and put it in the box while you cover your eyes.  Then, your kid can give you clues and you can ask questions until you guess what is in the box.

This game is fun, but even better it really works on critical thinking skills.  The first time we played this game my son put a toy frog in the box, and when I asked him for a clue he said, "It's a frog".  After a little practice, he really learned how to evaluate the item and give clues that would not give it away to easily.  He would say it hops, or it is green, something like that.

When it is your turn to pick something for the box and give clues, you can really customize it to what you are working on at the time.  For example, if you are working on spelling, you can use the first letter of the word as a clue.  It's so much fun, and there are endless possibilities.

You can also decorate the box as a craft activity too!

Annie's Organic Only $1 at Target

This week you can pick up Annie's Mac and Cheese or canned ravioli for only $1. Great stock up price for an organic kids meal!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Vons Deals - My Favorites This Week (thru tomorrow 4/23)

I am a little late with my Vons shopping this week, but I am planning to go tomorrow.  Here are a few of my favorite buys this week:

FREE Ken's salad dressing, clip or load coupon for sale price $.99, use $1 coupon, limit 2

Newman's Own Pizza, load coupon for sale price $4.99, use $1 coupon, pay $3.99 limit 3

Tyson grilled and ready chicken, and Jennie-o trukey burgers are both B1G1 free.

Chunky soup, load or clip sale price $1.49, use a $1/3 coupon, each one is only $1.16.

Foster Farms ground turkey clip or load sale price $3.99 limit 3

Hefty storage or freezer bags clip or load sale price $1.99

Fiber One bars clip or load sale price $1.99, use $.50 coupon, pay $1.49 per box limit 4

Chex mix clip or load sale price $.99, use $.50/2, pay only $.74 per bag limit 4

Uncle Ben's Ready Rice pouches are on sale 3/$6 (no coupons needed).  Use coupon "buy 3 pouches get 2 cups free".  Get 5 products for $6.  My kids LOVE rice.  Yay.

Don't forget to have a look on vons.com for your personalized deals, which are discounted prices on things you buy anyway.  I also found some coupons in the Coupon Center for other staples, like eggs and yogurt.


Colgate Free after Rewards at Rite Aid

I love when the limit on a good deal is more than 1! This week at Rite Aid  Colgate is free after rewards and coupon, and the limit is 4:)
Certain Colgate toothpaste and toothbrushes are on sale for $2.99, and you can use a $1/1 coupon on some varieties of toothpaste too, like the Total with Whitening.  The coupon makes them $1.99, and then you also get a $2 reward for each one. 
There have also been $.75 coupons for toothpaste and $.50 coupons for brushes lately, so check your coupon stash before you head out!!

Rite Aid Clearance Finds

I saw a few clearance items posted on KCL, so I popped over to the grocery aisle in my Rite Aid.  I didn't find the same things that were posted, but I found the deals pictured below. The no bake cake kit was my favorite, only $.87!!







Earth Day Rainmakers

I have been working on an Earth Day (Mon Apr 22) craft idea that both my little guys can help make and enjoy using.  Rainmakers seemed like a safe bet:)
I used paper towel tubes, and covered them in construction paper (easier than painting).  I then made end caps by cutting out a circle and cutting slits around the edge so it could fit on the end of the tube.
I attached one end cap with tape, and then put a crinkled up piece of aluminum foil inside the tube.
The next step was a bit messy because I let the kids do it (it is a kids craft after all, right???).  We did it outside for easier cleanup.  I put out a few bowls with different noise maker items - lentils, coffee beans, and rice.  I let the kids put what they wanted into their rainmaker, and then sealed it up.  They then put stickers and feathers on the outside of the tube.  In hindsight I realize it may have been easier to have them decorate the paper before attaching it to the paper towel tube, because the tube is not that sturdy, but it still worked to leave it until the end.
The finished product was pretty cute, and makes a great sound.  I have been looking into DIY instruments, so I'll save this one for the orchestra:)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

$4 coupon for GoodNites Bed Mats

Visit www.goodnites.com for a $4 coupon for GoodNites bed mats and to sign up for offers from Huggies, Pull-Ups and GoodNites.

When we travel or stay with friends I love to have these bed mats just in case:)  This week they are only $9.49 at Rite Aid, so this coupon makes for a good price!

Sunday Paper Coupons April 21 - $2.50/1 Huggies!

Today's paper had a great coupon for $2.50/1 pack of Huggies.  This is a great coupon, and it will go great with a deal at CVS this week.

The deal is spend $30 on Huggies, get $10 in rewards.  You can buy 3 packs at $9.99 each (CVS will round up for the promotion), use 3 $2.50 coupons to save $7.50, and get $10 back.  That is only $22.47 for 3 packs.  Also, I have a $5/$25 baby care purchase from the magic coupon machine, so I can use that coupon first and pay only $17.47.

The deal works on pull-ups too, but the coupon is only for Little Movers, Little Snugglers, or Overnites.  There is also a $2 coupon for any Huggies, so if you get one paper you will get both coupons.  Also, you can print the $2.50 coupon from huggies.com, but you have to share it with friends or on social media.  The coupon didn't load for me, but it is listed on KCL so it should still be there:)

I am not at all brand loyal with diapers except for the Huggies Overnites.  I won't use anything else if I can avoid it!  Try them out it you haven't already!!

Free Nursing Pillow—Just Pay Shipping! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

Nursing pillows, nursing covers, and baby slings often come up with free promotion codes, so you just pay shipping.  This week you can get a $40 nursing pillow for free, and just pay $12.95 in shipping costs.  I remember thinking that I wouldn't need a nursing pillow because I would just use a regular pillow, but I ended up with 2 nursing pillows - one upstairs and one downstairs, so I didn't have to keep lugging it around.  It really does make nursing easier!  They are also great for tummy time as your baby gets older, and my daughter still sleeps with one as a pillow in her crib.  Definitely a good investment:)

They have very cute patterns as well, and make a great gift for a new mom.



Free Nursing Pillow—Just Pay Shipping! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Westland School Fair April 28

It is fundraiser season at all of the private schools and preschools, and that means lots of great fairs and events.  The Westland school fair is this weekend, and entry is free.  It sounds like there will be a lot of great stuff for the kids, and it is a nice chance to see the campus:)  I have never been to one of these events so I can't estimate what the costs will be once you are inside the fair, so be on your toes and give your kids fair warning!!  I like to set out with a finite amount of cash to things like this (also farmer's markets) so that you can tell your kids that there is, for example, $5 left and they can choose A or B.  Works for me!!

Thanks Christine for the info:)


Friday, April 19, 2013

Free Preschool Spring Fair Sun Apr 28

Looking at preschools?  Overwhelmed by all of the choices?  Confused about the terminology?  Anxious about the deadlines?  I've been there!

This preschool fair has over 40 local preschools in one place, so you can get a ton of info in one session.  Learn about philosophy, tuition, admissions, and more, from a wide range of LA schools.  RSVP for free using the link below.  Best of all, you can bring the kids - most school tours won't allow children, so you can narrow down your choices before you start shelling out for a sitter:)

Spring Preschool Fair | Parents Education League of Los Angeles:

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Free Star Party at Griffith Observatory April 20

This sounds so cool!  Griffith Observatory has monthly star parties to introduce the public to the sun, moon, and stars using their telescopes, and has astronomers handy to answer your questions.  Check it out this weekend, in honor of Earth Day!

April 20, 2pm - 10pm, free.  See link for more detail.


Griffith Observatory - Public Star Parties:

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Free U by Kotex Liners with Printable Coupon at CVS

There is a new coupon on the CVS website for $2 off any U by Kotex product.  The 18 pack of liners is only $1.57, so you can use the coupon to get them free.  You can print 2 coupons, but can only use one coupon per visit.  These types of coupons can be a bit of a headache because some cashiers will tell you that they cannot put the coupon through if the value is more than the item you are buying.  Technically they should adjust the value of the coupon to the value of the item.  When I shopped today the register beeped but the cashier just chose the option that popped up to adjust the coupon value, so it wasn't too much trouble, but I have had issues trying to do this at other stores.  The other option is to buy 2 packs for about $3 and use the one coupon, so you don't have to deal with the overage.  I have noticed at CVS that if you buy another item the register doesn't beep because it seems to recognize the total amount spent on that specific item, no the individual item amount.

Link below to the coupon!!

Free U by Kotex Liners at CVS! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Babies R Us Expo April 20

If you are expecting (or have a teeny tiny one) and have some time tomorrow April 20, check out the Babies R Us Expo, held at most local stores.  The store provides info on sponsor brands, and often there are some freebies and great coupons handed out as well.  The sponsor companies are Graco, Disney Baby, and Playtex.  I went to one they had for Medela and got some free stuff and great store coupons.  Plus I learned a lot too!!  Link with details is below.  Time is 10am to 1pm.

In Store Events, Classes, New Product Demos, Prizes, Giveaways - Babies"R"Us:

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Coupon: 3 FREE Swim Lessons with 2 month registration

Lenny Krazelberg is a swim school that people seem to either love or hate.  They are not just a mommy and me swim program, they teach kids how to swim.  I haven't tried it, but I came across this coupon on Plum District.  If you sign up, pay your registration fee, and do at least 2 months of classes you can get 3 free lessons.  This isn't the deal to make you decide to take swim classes, but if you are already planning on checking it out this summer (I have heard so many moms say they will be doing swim over the summer) then you might as well have some free lessons thrown in there:)

Coupon: 3 FREE Swim Lessons for All Ages | Plum District Los Angeles: West LA Deals:

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Kidville Classes, Play Passes Deal From Plum District

Kidville is a newer play space in the Brentville area.  It is small, but has a lot of fun stuff, and my favorite part about it is that they have classes.  I always thought that playspaces should offer classes!

This Plum District deal is only up for the next 15 hours!  So check it out, and save big on some kids play.  It is good for 3 classes, 2 play passes, and a few more little discounts (including a birthday party discount).  See link below:)

$190 Off Kidville Classes, Play Passes, & More

$190 Off Kidville Classes, Play Passes, & More | Plum District Los Angeles: West LA Deals:

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Free Schick Hydro Silk Razor: Text Offer! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

More free stuff this week from the Krazy Coupon Lady!  Just send a text and you will get a link to enter your info and get a free razor.  Why not?  These are pricey!!

Free Schick Hydro Silk Razor: Text Offer! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Free Beech-Nut Fruities at Ralph's! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

I love these little pouches of squished up fruit!  They are so handy to throw in your bag when you head out the door, and kids love them!  I used them for my kids when they were still spoon-fed, and my son and his friends still love them at age 4.  This week Ralph's has the Beech Nut Fruities on sale for $.98, and you can print $1 or $.75 coupons (link below to KCL).  Great deal!

Free Beech-Nut Fruities at Kroger! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Juicy Juice Coupons: Only $0.89 at Target! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

Juice boxes are one thing I always go out of my way to stock up when they are on sale.  The price cut at Target is pretty good on it's own, but add in some printable coupons and they are super cheap!  The sale price is $2.39, and you can use $1/1 mq's and a $1/2 target q making 2 packs only $.89 each. Yay!

Juicy Juice Coupons: Fruitifuls, Only $0.89 at Target! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Free Trial Class - My Gym

Here is the first of our free trial class series!  I chose My Gym because they have so many locations around SoCal, and they have classes for all different age groups.

My son first took My Gym classes at 7 months old.  They are really fun for the younger kids, and teach them the routine of circle time, followed by structured activity, followed by free play.  They have gym classes for all ages, and dance, karate and more classes for older kids.  This is a great place to check out for a free class.

Check the link below to see locations and schedules!


Kids Birthday Parties | Classes for Kids | My Gym - Children's Fitness Center:

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Check out a new park - Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park

Have an afternoon to fill and don't want to shell out any cash? Get your kids excited about trying out a new park. We checked out Van Nuys park in Sherman Oaks, at Hazeltine and Magnolia.  This park is huge, and it had things I had never seen before, like a balance beam with hand rails, a kid-powered swaying boat, and a path of hanging circle steps to traverse.  They had a separate section for little kids, and a sand area too.

Add to the excitement by packing up some "new" sand toys. My kids love to use anything that is not really a sand toy as a sand toy, like a plastic peanut butter jar, an old spatula, or small yogurt cups with holes in the bottom.

Here is the address if you want to map it out: 14201 Huston St., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

50 Family Yard Sale April 27

If you are in the market for some "experienced" items for your family, check out this huge yard sale in the Bel Air area. It is held at a preschool and has a lot of everything:)
April 27, 8-2
10409 Scenario Lane
Los Angeles CA 90077
There is also a Saturday Farmer's Market just up the road at the Glen Center (2936 Beverly Glen Circle) from 8-2. Hit the sale early and head to the market for lunch and some fun for the kids!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Project for pre-readers

I was looking for a way to work phonics and early reading skills into a fun activity, so I started this project with my son.  I love that we can work on it for a bit, and then put it away for a few weeks and come back to it.
I took a book with blank pages and put the letters of the alphabet, one per page, through the book in order. Then, we looked at our sticker collection (which is quite impressive) and in magazines for pictures, and worked to figure out what letter they start with.  Then we just paste or stick the picture into the book on the appropriate page.  It was a great exercise in sounding out the letters that start different words, and it continues to be useful because we can look through it and try out words on a given page and see how they all start with the same sound or sounds.
Pictured is the busiest page of the book so far - B!
The best part of this project is that you can save old magazines, grocery flyers, store advertisements to get the pictures, so aside from the book there is not a lot of expense involved:)

Bed Bath and Beyond - Save Your Coupons!

Bed Bath and Beyond is one of the most coupon friendly stores around, and they issue a ton of coupons too. What you might not know is that despite the prominent expiration date, they will accept store coupons even after they have expired. Also, if you purchase an item and forget your coupon, most stores will allow you to bring in your receipt later and have the difference refunded.  B B and B is usually also really nice about allowing you to use one coupon for each item, so you can get 20% off each item instead of just one.
So start saving those coupons!!

Cheap Almay Cosmetics with $4 off Coupons!

This past Sunday the coupon inserts had an awesome $4/1 Almay cosmetic coupon. Most stores are also having a buy one get one half price promotion on Almay this week, and Rite Aid also offers a $3 reward when you spend $10. Here is what I got:
2 Almay Eye Shadow, $7.79 and $3.90 (b1g1 half price). Total $11.69. Used 2 $4/1 coupons, so new total $3.69, and got back $3 in rewards.
Mascara and eye pencils are also around the same price, and the limit for this deal is 2, so you can do it twice. I tried buying one make up remover and it didn't track for the reward, so stick to cosmetics:)

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Giggles & Hugs 1 Month for only $19!

Stop by Giggles & Hugs at Century City Mall tomorrow to purchase a one month membership for only $19!  This offer is only valid tomorrow, Wed April 17.  Go play!!


Monday, April 15, 2013

DIY Workbook - The Very Hungry Caterpillar Templates

I printed these templates and love both ideas.  They are both connected to the Very Hungry Caterpillar books, which is perfect for my house because it is a book both my kids love!

This first link you can print a template with caterpillars and butterflies in varying sizes, and organize them according to size.

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/Very_Hungry_Caterpillar.SIZES.pdf

This next one is like a storyboard.  You cut out the pictures and ask your kid to put them in order of the story, or make up their own story.

http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/hungrycaterpillar/sequencing.htm

The sequencing is a great activity to make a keepsake book craft as well.  I love to have my kids put pictures in a book and then I write verbatim what they said.  In this case you could have your child put the cards in order and then tell you the story, which you record and put it all together into a book.  How cool!

Octopus Craft Using Toilet Paper Rolls

I love this craft because you don't need much in the way of time or supplies.  You can fancy it up or down depending on what you have handy.  A few tips - cut the octopus legs before painting to make it easier to reach inside (it looks best when the inside is painted too) - let the octopus dry on wax paper instead of newspaper, because it won't stick.

You can decorate the body with sequins, use googly eyes or just draw them on, or add detail just with paint. Check this simple example I followed:



Thanks blogger becauseisaidsoandothermommyisms for the helpful tips:)

Pampers Deal at Rite Aid with Printable Coupons! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

I love deals with print coupons because they are so easy - no looking around for the coupons!  This week, Pampers are on sale for $9.49, and you can print $1.50/1 diaper q's or $2/1 easy ups q's.  Also, when you spend $15 (before coupons) you will get $5 back in rewards.

Some diaper packs also have a coupon book inside, and even though I can't locate mine right now to tell you exactly what was in it (!!!!) I remember there was a great Shutterfly coupon.  So, look for packages marked with the coupons inside:)

Follow the link to the KCL web site to get the link for the coupons, or go to www.coupons.com and search under "baby".

Pampers Coupons, as Low as $0.11 per Diaper at Rite Aid! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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$10 off LA Zoo Memberships

I have had an LA Zoo membership for 3 years now, and I always feel like I get my money's worth! If you have a membership already you should get a renewal in the mail with a discounted rate for next year, but if it is your first time purchasing a membership use the code below to save $10.  If your kids are under 2 they are free, so make sure you consider that when choosing your level.

The email, copied below, says $10 off family level or higher, but when I go to the link and enter the code it shows $10 off (plus the plush toucan) for all membership levels.  The greatest percentage of savings is of course the cheapest membership, which is the individual for only $39.  Parking is also always free, and members get 10% off concessions and shopping.

Th link in the photo doesn't work, so use this one to check out the options and join.

http://www.lazoo.org/membership/benefits/




Friends and Family Special

Sunday, April 14, 2013

My favorite Vons deals this week - thru 4/16

These were my favorite buys at Vons this week...

Tyson chicken nuggets, (dinosaur shapes) are normally $7.99, but you can clip the coupon from the flyer (or load to card) to get them for $3.99, and then use a $.75 coupon to pay only $3.24 per bag.  Limit is 3.

Pirates Booty is literally like treasure in my house!  It is on sale for $1.49, limit 4 (you can clip or load to card for that price).

Cracker Barrel Cheese is only $1.99 with a load to card coupon (can't clip this one!), and I used $1 manufacturer coupons making them $.99 each!

Kelloggs Fiber Plus Antioxidants Bars were on promotion for only $1.99 when you buy 4 or more.  I bought 4 boxes that had peelie coupons for $1/2.  I wasn't going to use those, though, because I also had 4 $.70/1 coupons to use, but the cashier rang the peelies through without me even noticing, and he still put through the other ones.  So, I paid only $.79 per box!

CPK pizzas were on sale for $5 each, and I had $1 coupons.

I Can't Believe it's Not Butter had 2 Just 4 You load to card coupons - the first was a sale price of $1.99, and the second was $1/1, so the tub was only $.99.

Similarly, Campbell's Skillet Sauces have a load to card sale price of $1.50, and another for $1/1, so they are only $.50.

Yopa Yogurts were an awesome deal too!  They were on sale for $1 each, and I had B1G1 coupons.  They should have gone through for $1 and made them $.50 each, but sometimes with B1G1 coupons they go through for the maximum value, which was $1.39.  So they ended up $.30 each.  Sweet!




$30 for 20 Yoga Classes at Yoga Shelter Studio City!

I bought this same Groupon before the end of last year, and couldn't get over the price per class - $30 for 20 classes is paying $1.50 per class!  That is CRAZY!!!

I loved the classes at this studio, so I am totally recommending it.  It is not stretchy, feel good yoga, it is sweaty, feel it for a week yoga:)  My schedule meant that I took the "yoga rocks" classes, and they were very rock and roll, but really fun.  They play loud music, and one of the instructors uses a lot of unnecessary expletives, but it is entertaining and a good workout:)  The classes are busy, and you could tell a lot of the people in class were regulars and really good to watch and follow if you aren't familiar with the terminology.

http://www.groupon.com/deals/yoga-shelter-4?p=1&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&sid=668c4924-8f64-4547-aaa6-a23e3ad7eea4&division=los-angeles&user=2110fb9794234545ca801073eed751709b20d9fafd58095497cfb8d8e0fcb808&date=20130414&s=body&c=deal_button&d=deal-page&utm_campaign=yoga-shelter-4

You need to be either a new student or have not taken class there in 6 months.  I can't wait for 6 months to pass so I can hope to get this Groupon again!

Free Kids Workshops at The Home Depot

I recently learned that Home Depot offers free workshops for kids on the first Saturday of every month.  How fun to go to the store and actually get to build something and bring it home!

Check out the link for the upcoming events.  The next project is an herb planter, and the date is May 4.  You can register online for the store nearest you.

These workshops are for age 5-12.  Enjoy!!



Free Weekly Workshops & Home Improvement Workshop at The Home Depot:

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LA Times Festival of Books - Free Event April 20-21

I just had a look at the calendar of events for the Festival of Books this year, and I am so in!  Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, USC will host the Festival, which offers free admission and lots of kid-friendly entertainment.  Both days, the performance schedule includes the Justice League - Batman, Green Lantern, and some other guys:)  My son will love that.

I also noticed that Justin Roberts is performing.  He has sweet and funny children's music, and I actually own one of his CD's and love it.  It is honestly the only kids music that I actually enjoy!  Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald get old so fast.  Definitely check him out if you can make it.  The link is below so you can see the full schedule.

The event looks awesome, and there are so many authors participating.  It would also be a great day out without the kids if you swing it!!

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books:

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Super Cheap Cleaners at Ralph's

This week you can combine a sale, coupons, and a catalina promotion to score Scrubbing Bubbles with Fantastik super cheap! Ralph's is having a mega sale, so if you buy 5 participating items you save $5.
The cleaners are on sale for $2.49, so if you buy 5 they are only $1.49 each. I bought 5 and used 5 $.75 coupons, so they were only $.74 each! Then, when you buy 5 you get a $4 catalina, good on any future in store purchase.
So after tax I spent $4.37, and got back $4!
(Thank you Wendy for sharing the deal!)

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Free Entry & Party at the Playroom Thurs 4/18

Coming up next Thursday 4/18 the Playroom is celebrating their 6th anniversary, and they are having a big fun free party to celebrate.  Entry is free all day, and they will have live entertainment, characters, and food!  I love it already. Info is not on the website, but I got the details in an email:)


Friday, April 12, 2013

PediaCare Deal at Walgreens

I scored a great deal at Walgreens this week! On my last shopping trip I earned a $7 reward which was expiring soon, so I needed a creative scenario to maximize this reward:)
In my store I found a few booklets at the front of the store with store coupons, which can be combined with manufacturer coupons. The one I used for this deal was the pediatric care booklet.
PediaCare is $7.49, and buy one get one half price. That comes to $11.24. I used 2 $1 mqs and 2 $1 store qs. That came to $7.24. In order to use my $7 reward I needed to buy one more item, so I got a $.10 clearance Easter egg candy. At Walgreens they count rewards as coupons, and you need an item in your purchase for every coupon (you can stack store coupons but not rewards. It's complicated.)
So, my total came down to $.34 before tax, and I earned 5000 points (equal to $5) to redeem on a later purchase. The points were for buying 2 PediaCare.
Walgreens also had a baby care booklet with a $2 Pampers coupon, so maybe I will redeem the points and stack some coupons for a diaper deal. I'll let ya'll know, of course:)

New Series - Free Trial Classes

Almost all toddler classes permit one free trial of the class. Free trials are a great way to get out and try something new! I am going to start a new series to highlight one class that offers a free trial at the end of each week. Gym, music, art, dance, karate are among the classes I have done, and I still have lots of new places to try! Grab your kidlet, maybe grab a friend or two, and head out for some free adventures!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Beverly Hills Library Free Storytime Schedule

I have yet to check out any other local library storytimes, but trust me it is on my list of things to do!  In the meantime, I picked up the new schedule for the BH library.

All of the story times are free and do not require registration.  Which is great, because some days just don't go according to plan when you have babies in the house:)


Free Kids Entry to Zimmer with a Book Donation 4/16-4/19!!



It is funny how I was just writing about ways to get into this awesome spot without spending a bundle, and then I came across this flyer by the exit.  Next week, from 4/16 to 4/19, if you bring in a new or gently used kids book you will get a free children's admission.  Hooray!  You can bring the kids for free, and just pay the adult entry ($8).  I will be doing this for sure!  

Zimmer - Grandparents Free on Thursdays!

If you have grandparents around and want to set up a super fun and inexpensive date for them and your kids, check out the Zimmer Children's Museum. I love this place, but it gets expensive.  Adults are $8, kids are $5, and under 1 are free. By the time I am in the door with 2 kids I'm out $18! But grandparents are free every Thursday, so you can send them off and pay only the $5 per child.
The Zimmer is great for 2 and up, but they do also have a baby room literally full of soft blocks. The museum also opens early Wednesday mornings just for babies. Check the website for all the details.
This spot is worth the full price, but even better at a discount:)  Active military and ebt card holders are also always free, but they don't have any regular free days like some of the bigger local museums.

Super cheap candy for my kiddos!

I stopped in to Rite Aid to look for a dreamlite toy, but I was distracted by a huge display of clearance Easter candy, including Pez, which both my kids go bananas for! I bought the regular dispensers for $.42 each, and the tubes (they have more candy than the regular) for $.74 each. The Resses Pieces were also $.42. I used a bunch of rewards too, so I only paid $.86 with tax.
I was just thinking about implementing a chart and reward system in my house, so this candy will be the perfect incentive and reward for my kids:)