What Are You Doing This Weekend? pt 6

I can't believe that this little site is now two months old. And that I've been posting weekend plans now for 6 different weekends.
I get lots of great feedback from families who love to spend time with each other, doing fun weekend things, who don't want to spend a lot.
Because let's face it, if you have little ones, you don't have extra to spend.
So, I'm committed to keeping the great family weekend plans coming... if you're committed to spending weekends having fun.
Deal?
Deal.
Okay, here we go...

FRIDAY...

St. Louis County Library Foundation Presents author Mo Willems. The creator of the children’s classics Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Leonardo, the Terrible Monster and Knuffle Bunny, Mo Willems will discuss and sign his latest children's book The Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. Free. 7 p.m. St. Louis County Library, Headquarters Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., Frontenac. Books for signing may be purchased at the event from Borders.

Parents and their children, ages birth to 8 years, are invited to sample Young Years music, movement and keyboard activities during the Community Music School of Webster University's free "Hands-On" Open Houses. Parents can speak with the Young Years teachers as well as join in musical activities representing the program's various curriculums with their children. Open houses are: Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 to 11 a.m., at the Community Music School of Webster University, 535 Garden Ave. in Webster Groves; and Sunday, Jan. 25, 2 to 4 p.m., at the school's Leon R. Strauss Center (in Faust Park), 14941 Olive Blvd. For more information, call 968-5939 or visit www.webster.edu/cms (Programs/Young Years) for a full schedule of activities.

A T-Rex Named Sue. Catch this spectacular new exhibit at the Saint Louis Science Center of the world's largest, most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosourus rex ever found. The exhibit, on loan from the Field Museum in Chicago, features the life-sized Sue, a 42-foot-long, 12-foot high T rex. Using interactive machines and pods, you'll learn how Sue saw, smelled, ate and moved, and begin to see what life was like when Sue roamed the earth. Click here to download a discount voucher for tickets courtesy of St. Louis Kids Magazine. At the Saint Louis Science Center through April 12. The exhibit is open during regular Center hours, Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Steaming into History. Bring the whole family for this rare opportunity to view a stunning display of 1:32 scale model trains that run on live steam. These three steam-powered model engines from the personal collection of Mr. Des Lee run on a large outdoor track. 2-4 p.m. daily through Jan. 30. Free. Missouri History Museum, Forest Park.

Lilly is in the Library. Meet Lilly and her big plastic purse, and bring your camera. 10 a.m. St. Charles County Library, Kisker Road Branch, 1000 Kisker Road, St. Charles. More information: 636-926-7323.

After Hours Teen Gaming Night. Kids ages 12-18 can stop in a play at a variety of gaming stations, including Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2 and Game Cube. Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero will be available. 6 p.m. St. Louis County Library, Eureka Hills Branch, 103 Hilltop Village Center. More information and to register: 636-938-4520.


Public Astronomy Night. Come spend the evening viewing the cosmos with your family! Please take note that the dome is neither heated nor cooled, so pay attention to the weather and dress in a manner that is appropriate. If it is raining or cloudy, a planetrium program will be presented instead. 7-9 pm. Free. Pattonville Heights Middle School, 195 Fee Fee Rd., Maryland Heights Google Map → Pattonville School District, 314-213-8233 http://nightsky.psdr3.org/



SATURDAY....

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis 9:00 a.m. - Noon. Admission to the Missouri Botanical Garden is FREE every Wednesday and Saturday morning. From 9am - Noon, St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents (bring proof of residency) can get into the garden. http://www.mobot.org/

Parents and their children, ages birth to 8 years, are invited to sample Young Years music, movement and keyboard activities during the Community Music School of Webster University's free "Hands-On" Open Houses. Parents can speak with the Young Years teachers as well as join in musical activities representing the program's various curriculums with their children. Open houses are: Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 to 11 a.m., at the Community Music School of Webster University, 535 Garden Ave. in Webster Groves; and Sunday, Jan. 25, 2 to 4 p.m., at the school's Leon R. Strauss Center (in Faust Park), 14941 Olive Blvd. For more information, call 968-5939 or visit www.webster.edu/cms (Programs/Young Years) for a full schedule of activities.

A T-Rex Named Sue. Catch this spectacular new exhibit at the Saint Louis Science Center of the world's largest, most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosourus rex ever found. The exhibit, on loan from the Field Museum in Chicago, features the life-sized Sue, a 42-foot-long, 12-foot high T rex. Using interactive machines and pods, you'll learn how Sue saw, smelled, ate and moved, and begin to see what life was like when Sue roamed the earth. Click here to download a discount voucher for tickets courtesy of St. Louis Kids Magazine. At the Saint Louis Science Center through April 12. The exhibit is open during regular Center hours, Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tropical Activities. Kid's games and crafts, together with live music, all with a tropical flair to heat up any winter chill. Activities free with regular admission. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield. More information: 636530-0076 or http://www.butterflyhouse.org/

Kindermusik Demo Class. Bring the enrichment and power of music into your child’s life through a Kindermusik Academy class. Children up to age 6 can move and grove to the music, play percussion instruments, sing, dance and listen to a musical story time. 9:30-10:15 a.m. The class is free but a $5 donation is requested. All donations will benefit the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. At the Jewish Community Center, Marilyn Fox Building, 16801 Baxter Road, Chesterfield. More information and to register: 314-434-9496 or email academy@kindermusikstl.com.

Steaming into History. Bring the whole family for this rare opportunity to view a stunning display of 1:32 scale model trains that run on live steam. These three steam-powered model engines from the personal collection of Mr. Des Lee run on a large outdoor track. 2-4 p.m. daily through Jan. 30. Free. Missouri History Museum, Forest Park. Click here to download more infomation
And while you're there, from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., the Missouri History Museum presents "Storytelling in the Galleries." Each week has a different theme and includes crafts or other activities for kids. Ages 10 and under.

St. Louis Art Museum - Forest Park 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Explore the museum and create an art project with your child. Session 1 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. is for ages 4-6. Session 2 is from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. for ages 7-10. Pre-registration is recommended.

Car Seat Safety Check. Free car seat safety checks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. sponsored by the Fenton Fire District and SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood. More information and to register: 636-343-4188.

Early Valentine Papermaking. Kids ages 6 and up can learn how to make beautiful, artistic, colorful creations using recycled paper and dried plants. 10 a.m. Rockwood Reservation, Glencoe Road, Rockwood. More information and to register: 636-458-2236 or http://www.mdc.mo.gov/

SUNDAY...

A T-Rex Named Sue. Catch this spectacular new exhibit at the Saint Louis Science Center of the world's largest, most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosourus rex ever found. The exhibit, on loan from the Field Museum in Chicago, features the life-sized Sue, a 42-foot-long, 12-foot high T rex. Using interactive machines and pods, you'll learn how Sue saw, smelled, ate and moved, and begin to see what life was like when Sue roamed the earth. Click here to download a discount voucher for tickets courtesy of St. Louis Kids Magazine. At the Saint Louis Science Center through April 12. The exhibit is open during regular Center hours, Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tropical Activities at the Butterfly House Kid's games and crafts, together with live music, all with a tropical flair to heat up any winter chill. Activities free with regular admission. (there is a coupon in the entertainment book!) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield. More information: 636-530-0076 or www.butterflyhouse.org

Steaming into History. Bring the whole family for this rare opportunity to view a stunning display of 1:32 scale model trains that run on live steam. These three steam-powered model engines from the personal collection of Mr. Des Lee run on a large outdoor track. 2-4 p.m. daily through Jan. 30. Free. Missouri History Museum, Forest Park.

And remember, throughout your fun, you have to stop & eat... be sure to go somewhere where K.E.F. (kids eat free!)!

TGIFreeBees

Lysol® Power Toilet Cleaner With Bleach

Non-Medicated Nicoderm CQ Patch & $7 coupon

After school Kit

Pledge 5 Volunteer Hours & Get a TALL coffee

Did you get your QUAKER True Delights?

Tealight Candle & Entry Into Sweepstakes

Kirkland Diapers

Kotex Lightdays

Total Cranberry Crunch Cereal

Grill Power: A Girl's Guide to Grilling

Lowe's Racing Track Record Magazine

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (audio download)

Cosmopolitan Magazine

TurboTax (click the Free Edition)

TaxACT

Rachel Ray Nutrish dog food (this one is different than the free bee previously posted)

Golden Harvest Food Storage

Happy FreeBees!!

Get You Some FREE Coffee Tomorrow!

At Oberweis -- tomorrow & the 30th (in other words, the remaining 2 fridays in January), stop & get yourself ANY coffee, for free!

Do you have an Oberweis in your area? Go get some.

Thanks BF Amy

I Owe You Big, Here are Some Free Bees

Free Signature Collection Item from Bath & Body Works with any purchase using THIS coupon.

Free box of six photo Valentine cards from Stories for Everyone us the code: VALENTINE.

Free tall brewed coffee from Starbucks when you pledge 5 hours of community service HERE.

Free Trident gum when you submit a photo of your smile HERE.

Free mini football HERE.

Free sample of Playtex Sports Tampons HERE.

Free sample of Halo High Gloss Rinse HERE.

Boost Kids Drinks HERE.

Free Crest White Seals sample HERE.

Chex Mix Turtle (yum) sample HERE.

Meow Mix Wholesome cat food http://www.startsampling.com/sm/100628/captureAddress.iphtml?item=100628&source=pathmark1

3-D glasses at Dollar General HERE (don't get just for that... they might be gone, etc.)

Bag of Riceworks Brown Rice Crisps HERE.

Mid-Week Shouts Out

I'd like to give a shouts out today to the Parents As Teachers program. Is your child enrolled?

If not, get on board:

• It's free
  
• You get support & someone cheering you on as a parent
  
• An advocate for your child
  
• Seeing where your child is compared to the average child his age
  
• A home visit from a parent-educator who brings an age-appropriate activity that is easy (& cheap) to emulate
  
• Invitations to group meetings (all age appropriate & kid-pleasing)
  
• Opportunities to get to know other people (parents) in your community
  

Find your program. And give them a call. You won't be sorry.

Here's what their website says,
"Parents as Teachers is the overarching program philosophy of providing parents with child development knowledge and parenting support."

Last week my kiddos enjoyed an evening activity called 'Out of the Box'. We went to a local elementary cafeteria where there was a handful of activities, all made with boxes. My kids had a ball (or should I say a 'box'!). It was the perfect cold weather thing to do to get out of the house & have fun (for free!).

Shouts Out, P.A.T.!

Kmart Shopping List

High Ridge, Ballwin, Festus, St. Louis -- are NOT participating this week in DOUBLE COUPONS, High Ridge has volunteered that they MIGHT be doing DC next week. The others said they were unsure.

Friday is payday and you can bet your bottom dollar(s) that I will hit Kmart for one of the remaining days of their DOUBLE COUPONS.

Here are some of the deals I will cash in on:

Colgate Adult / Children's Toothpaste, Any 4 oz, $1.99

-$1/1 (1-04-09 SS)

-$1 (double coupons)

=FREE

Trident Gum $1.19

- .75/1 (1-18 Smart Source)

-.75 (double coupons)

=FREE

Trident Gum $1.19

-.75/1 (1-18 Smart Source)

-.75 (double coupons)

=FREE

Trident Gum 3 Packs, $2

-$1/1 (1-18 Smart Source)

-$1 (double coupons)

=FREE

Quaker Rice Cakes, $1.99

-$1/1 (1-18 Red Plum)

-$1 (double coupon)

=FREE

Huggies 40 ct. wipes, $1.99

-$1/1 (any Huggies Wipes coupon)

-$1 (double coupons)

=FREE

Mott's for Tots 9-pack (6.75 oz boxes), or 64 oz. bottle, $2

- $1 (12-07-08 SS)

-$1 (double coupons)

=FREE

Snapple (any size, any flavor), $1

-.75/1 (12-14-08 SS)

-.75/1 (double coupons)

=FREE

Johnson's Buddy Soap, $0.99

-$1 (Johnson's Baby Product or Johnson's Buddies Product, Any - 01-04-09 RP)

-$1 (double coupons)

=FREE

-------and i had a ton of others, but then accidentally deleted them (darn you blogger & your NO undo button!), so I'm going to have to stop here--------

Today, Don't Forget!:

Nothing Says Patriotic Like a FREE Donut

This Week's Menu

Monday
homemade hamburger pizza (cook your turkey/gr beef up tonight, brown 'balls' of it for tonight's pizza & finer clumps for tomorrow's pizza. you can really cook ahead by making thursday's browned gr beef/turkey & patty up the rest for friday, then throw into the freezer)
(pillsbury canned crust)
soy cheese (grate your own!, it's cheaper!)
canned pizza sauce (cantina)
olives
salad
gingerbread cookies (we made them for a craft today)

Tuesday
tacos
shells, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, guacomole
sour cream
lemon bars

Wednesday
baked chicken breast (nothing special, just baked)
Lipton/Knorr chicken brocoli rice
green beans
crescent rolls
soy dream cones (dairy free ice cream)

Thursday
stuffed shells
(gr beef, parm chz, ricotta, italian seasoning, onion, garlic, eggs)
corn
salad
bread (that's almost stale) w/ butter/garlic salt sprinkled on
mandarin oranges for dessert

Friday
cheeseburgers (soy!)
buns
broccoli
fries
applesauce

Sat & Sun
Go somewhere where KIDS EAT FREE!
And leftovers :)

MONDAY REDBOX Code

K6W3G4

Now go get yourself a movie.  And if you really want to make it even more worth your time, get more than one movie, use the free code more than once -- by using different debit/credit cards.

Get it? --- you can use the code more than once IF you use it the 2nd, 3rd, etc., times each on a different card.

We figured this out a few years ago & were tickled!  Now the kiddies can get a movie & WE can get our own!  Free! :)

Phokki Photo Art Giveaway

IslandLife is at it again with a giveaway from Phokki. You can turn your photos into a work of art...worhol style or sketchy. It's all good. So surf on over there & enter!

Boon Product Giveaway

On my family blog, I blogged about the BOON Frog Scoop Bath system, which we LOVE LOVE LOVE. Now Boon has come out w/ a lady bug & it's as cute as, well...a bug!

Want one? Head over to Island Life & enter. And you could be scooping toys in no time.

evite -- Free Online Invitation Service

I was mentioning evite today, to some friends at church, when it occured to me that I should post about it...to be sure my Tightwad friends are aware of this great, easy, fun, & (most importantly!) FREE service.

I'm an online, emailing, kind of girl, so I appreciate the fact that w/in a half-hour, I can have my address book invited to my next party. I can further appreciate the fact that my invitees can not only RSVP to my invite, but let me know why they will/won't be there as well!

You'll be notified (if you request such) each time someone RSVPs. And at any given moment, you can 'view' your 'event' to see who has opened/read their invite & exactly when they did such!





On top of that, you can update your attendees (even specific to the ones who HAVE RSVP'ed or who have RSVP'ed a yes, etc.) with further instructions...ask them to bring something...send them directions...or even tell them that you want them to bring your favorite dessert. And evite does all of that for you.





They have the best darn templates too. Of course there's that little cutie at the top...or the superbowl shoe-in right above. And with about a b'jillion categories to choose from, you're sure to find one that tickles your fancy (like the one sent for my father-in-law's surprise party, complete with the cigar-smoking poker players, one asking, "You In?").



Evite does have other stuff available (ecards, a blog, etc.), but I've only used their invites, so I can't testify as to the greatness of the other stuff.





Now, if they would only come clean my house before the party.





P.S. I am not paid by Evite. (nor have I ever been by anything I've posted about) I just like'em. And if I like something...and it's free...you'll hear all about it. ;)