More Free Stuff

I seem to be on a freebies kick these days ...

Free Eats
http://www.mykidseatfree.info/
Awesome Web site from Penny Pincher of Ashburn, who has put together a daily schedule of restaurants where kids eat free. I’ve tried to create this list myself but had a hard time keeping up with the promotions, and this is the most comprehensive I’ve found so far. It’s heavy on Loudoun locations, so if you know of any eastward, send her a note. She also lists free birthday dinners and money saving tips. Go Penny!


Free Craft Ideas/Printables
http://freestuff4kids.net/
This blog-style site offers links to free printables like Disney Princess and Dora coloring pages , playables like ISpy and Hot Wheels online games and craft ideas, such as recipes for edible playdough recipes and these cute Valentine rose cupcakes from Family Fun Magazine.

Swap your books and DVDs

I've been getting more free stuff in the mail -- a book on caring for geckos for my son, some preschool books or my 4-year-old, and a copy of "Boondock Saints" to replace the one we lent a friend that hasn't made its way back from Hong Kong. (For fans of expletive-filled, violent shoot-'em-up movies in the vein of "Snatch" and "Go," the never-released-in-theaters "Boondock Saints" is a must-have for your library).

ANYWAY, I'm getting the books and DVDs through paperbackswap.com and swapadvd.com, sister services that act as a virtual exchange. It's free to sign up, and the only expenses are the mailing costs of the books or DVDs in your own library that you send to other members (usually no more than $2.50 in my experience). They ask you to sign up with 10 in the beginning, which gets you 2 credits; credits are the currency with which you order books and DVDs that other members have posted, and it's usually 1 credit per book/DVD. If you have a DVD set with 2 discs in it, they'll give you 2 credits.

You can send paperbacks, hardbound books and audiotapes on Paperback Swap, so I've been able to get rid of the David Sedaris "Holidays on ice" audiotape that my husband never opened as well as other books we've read but didn't like enough to keep in our library. Same with the DVDs, and I guess you could theoretically use the DVD swap as a video store, posting a DVD that you've ordered and seen but didn't want to keep. The cost would be $2 per DVD for the postage.

Another great service they offer is allowing you to pay for and print postage labels from their Web sites. I haven't used it yet, but it'll save you a trip to the P.O.

Finally! Organic oatmeal at Costco

After months of having to buying small boxes of organic oatmeal from Whole Foods and other grocery stores, Costco is finally carrying it. I've been slowly transitioning my family into organic foods as much as I think is reasonable. That means switching out as many foods my kids eat on a daily basis with healthier substitutes, which in my household means no trans fats, no artificial flavors or colors, and no high fructose corn syrup. The last one has been the hardest because much to my surprise, it shows up in a lot of foods you wouldn't normally think would have it--like bread, for instance.

Reasonable to me also covers price, which is why I do a happy dance in the aisle when I find Costco has a new organic product. I've had the most success in their refrigerated section; while the prepared food products don't necessarily have "Organic" on their labels, if you look at the ingredients, most follow my criteria. In the non-perishables section, I found Costco's Kirkland brand of organic peanut butter (it comes two to a package), which I don't like. Like many organic peanut butters, the oil settles at the top and you have to stir it to get it to look like the peanut butter I've grown up with (I miss you, Jif). So the search continues for a good-tasting, no-stir peanut butter.

But the organic instant oatmeal search is over. Yes, I could get the plain oatmeal you have to cook, but with three kids to feed breakfast and get ready for school in the morning, instant is the way to go for me. Costco now carries their own Kirkland brand of organic oatmeal, which is in a box that's about the same size as the regular Quaker oatmeal box they carry. The organic version has 45 packets in five flavors. My kids eat a packet every breakfast on school days, so we go through a lot of it. Thank you Costco!!!

p.s. And thank you to the anonymous person who corrected me on the brand, it is Kirkland and not Quaker organic oatmeal.

Breaking the Code

Got lost trying to find a Burger King on the way to Baltimore on Saturday and ended up at the gate to the National Security Agency in Fort Meade. Trying not to appear suspicious--although I don't see how suspicious you can be with three little kids in the car--I opted to take a left turn into the road leading to the National Cryptologic Museum.

Fortunately, the museum was open and I figured, what the heck, it's free, let's check it out. A group of about 15 people were waiting at the entrance for the next tour to start but with none younger than about 20, I figured this wasn't the kid-friendly tour. We got to explore the small museum on our own, and it was packed with neat exhibits. My 4- and 6-year-old tired of it quickly since the only interactive item appeared to be a kiosk with code games at the front. But my 10-year-old loved all the war-related exhibits, including a mannequin depicting a communications soldier and his communications gear. We didn't go into the park next door, National Vigilance Park, where they have two reconnaissance aircraft used for secret missions, according to the Web site.

The lady at the front desk said they're hoping to establish a playroom for the younger set, but for now the kiddies will have to make do with the kiosk and cool activity books. Don't think I'd drive out all the way to Fort Meade just to go to the museum, but it's a great little side trip off 295.

For directions and more info, go to http://www.nsa.gov/museum/

Free Stuff

I was skeptical you could really get free stuff, but the Internet is a wondrous thing. I've been receiving goodies in the mail from walmart.com for a good month now, including the Nivea Smooth Indulgence Hand Cream. It's a great marketing gimmick--I'm sold on the hand cream and will buy the regular size once I'm done with my sample. The products usually take four to six weeks to get to you from the time you sign up. You have to give personal information, including your name, address AND your birthdate, but for the last one I've given several different dates (never my real one), and still received the products. The site says they don't keep track of that information, so I figured I'd check it and see. Seems they don't, or if they do, they don't care.

The Wal-mart freebie page is at http://walmart.triaddigital.com/Free-Samples.aspx. I've signed up to receive cereal and lotions, mostly. Sure, they're sample sizes, but they're the perfect size to take with you to on a trip or to the gym. Plus, you get to try new products!

Here's another site I haven't tried but they include stores and restaurants that sometimes offer printable coupons: http://www.bargainist.com/freebies/
Some of the most recent offers include a Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners sample, free taco from Taco Bell, and free sippy cup from Juicy Juice.

Got any other freebie sites you want to share?

A Retail Halloween in Loudoun

Wal-mart near the Dulles Town Center
Friday, Oct. 26 4-8 p.m.
For the fourth year in a row, Wal-mart is sponsoring a Halloween trick or treating event for kids under 12. A manager told me about it as I was checking out this morning.

Dulles Town Center
Saturday, Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m.
Pick up a candy bag filled with spooky surprises and tons of treats from th Customer Service Desk, Center Court, Lower Level. Afterward check out the attractions:
Center Court:
2:00pm - 3:00pm Mad Science Show
3:00pm - 4:00pm Wizard Magic Show
4:00pm - 5:00pm Mr. Knick Knack!

Nordstrom Wing:
2:00pm - 4:00pm Face Painters
2:00pm - 4:00pm Balloon Sculpturists
For more info, click on http://www.shopdullestowncenter.com/2006/images/section_titles/events.html

Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets
Wednesday, Oct. 31: 3:30-5:30pm
Trick or Treating for kids in costume ages 12 and under - pick up a list of participating stores from the Information Center in the Food Court.
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/sales.asp?id=14

Preschool Printables

I'm trying to prepare my 4-year-old for kindergarten next year and to supplement the workbooks I've purchased, I also download similar types of pages from the Web. That way, I can concentrate on specific skills or use worksheets that I know she's interested in or will challenge her.

Here are some of my favorite sites for printables:
http://www.nickjr.com/parenting/activity_finder/printables/index.jhtml
Nick Jr.'s Parentingpages offer worksheets featuring favorite TV characters from Dora the Explorer to Miss Spider to Backyardigans and much more.

www.tlsbooks.com
Generic, but professional-looking worksheets for PreK-5th grade students.

http://www.dltk-teach.com/
This site offers extensive activities, including crafts, for a range of ages. Under the "Custom Printables" link, you'll find a chore chart that you can customize with your kid's favorite characters, from Sponge Bob to Pokemon. The woman who created this site has other sites as well:
http://www.first-school.ws/
Activities and crafts devoted to preschoolers.
http://www.kidzone.ws/
Alphabet, numbers, science, geography worksheets for grades Pre-K to 5.