What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Wondering what you & your family can do on the cheap (or free!) this weekend?

Let me plan the perfect (& cheap!) weekend for you....

No plans this evening? Well, step back in time, in the setting of The Christmas Carol, & celebrate Christmas Dickens style. This is a completely free event, which surrounds you by characters of the time, as your family is a part of the action with plenty to do. (thanks amy!)

Start your morning out at Lowe's for your kiddo(s) to make a GINGERBREAD HOUSE.

We attend these workshops every chance we get & the projects never disappoint!

After your littles make their GB House at 10 am, head on over to see Santa at the most convenient location. Your kids won't complain & you will get a free (or cheap) photo of them & Kris Kringle.

By now you should be hungry, right? Head over to Noodles & Co. But only after you've received your BOGO coupon from joining their email club (do it now so you get it in time!). A sidenote is that Noodles has proven a great safe restaurant for my extremely allergic girl! And their pasta pesto, yum!!

Rather pick your own restaurant? Check out my compiled kids eat free list.

Right about now, my kiddos are ready for a nap.... but maybe your kids don't nap? If you're that unlucky, ;) then you need somewhere else to go. Venture into the mall & take advantage of Macy's Friends & Fam Discount. If you find yourself in a Westfield Shopping Center, let the kids blow off some holiday steam at their indoor play area. And Westfields aren't the only ones providing these, I see them at most malls I frequent now.
Maybe Hubs could watch the crumbcrunchers while you head to penneys for free undies! Bring the December 2008/January 2009 cover of Seventeen or a printout of the seventeen.com home page to any JCPenney store to receive one Flirtitude panty (approximate retail value: $7.50). Twenty-five thousand (25,000) will be given away. One per person. Giveaway ends January 6, 2009. While supplies last.

Is it dark yet? Probably, the winter sunset comes early these days. Well, perfect, your drive home can take you through light displayed-filled subdivisions. Slow down as you pass those Griswold'esque homes & take advantage of their spiked electric bills.

Or, if you didn't have opportunity last night to take in The Dickens Festival, now's your chance!

Or get home just in time for a warm bath & A Miser Brothers Christmas, part of ABCfamily's 25 Days of Christmas.

Sunday, of course I recommend church, it's free ;) but let's say you do Saturday church, or go really early. Then, don't forget about The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, free at Wehrenberg's holiday flicks. Shows begin at 10 am, and have giveaways beforehand. PS Also showing on Saturday, you could always do this instead of building your Gingerbread House.

Head to a Kids Eat Free restaurant (Pasta House?!) & hit one of the places spotlighted for yesterday. Better yet, call your local community center & find out the hours for their indoor pool. Several of them are supercheap in the winter. Get some exercise while your kiddos burn some of their pent up holiday hyperactivity.

Come home in time for a long winters' nap. Or, some quiet activities for your non-napping kiddos.

This would be the perfect night to try that Bertolli's oven bake coupon.

Snow is coming on ABCFamily at 6c. This has been a treat for my kiddos. Looking forward to the movie of the night, each night this month.

And best of all, it's free...