Michael's Store Grand Opening: West Covina, Sunday 9/4

  

A new Michaels store is opening in West Covina off the 10 Freeway at Vincent Avenue.

The celebration starts Sunday, September 4 with free tote bags for the first 200 customers and continues through Saturday, September 10. Customers can participate in demonstrations and make-it / take-it events all week long. Fun for the kids includes:

• Crayola Color Explosion Door Hangers on Sunday from Noon-2pm
• Friendship Bracelets on Friday from 4-7pm
• Duct Tape Bookmarks on Saturday from Noon-2pm
• Cookie Decorating on Saturday from 1-4pm

Click here to see the flyer with special Grand Opening sale prices and to view the prizes will be given away during the week.

West Covina Mall Celebration: 9/1 - 9/4

The West Covina Mall is celebrating it's new look with a Grand Opening.

Visit the new play area, browse new stores, rock out with Radio Disney,
enjoy free fun kid activities, and receive free gifts with purchases!

Thursday, September 1 - Sunday, September 4

Noon - 5pm

For details click here.

Community Bike Ride: El Monte, 9/17

Babies R Us: Trade in Event, 25% off baby gear!

Babies R US

The Great Trade-In Event

August 26 - September 18, 2011

Limited Time Offer! Get 25% off ANY NEW car seat, stroller, travel system, high chair, play yard, bassinet, crib or toddler bed from participating brands when you bring in a USED ONE. NO LIMIT! TRADE IN AS MANY AS YOU WANT! Purchased items can be from different categories.

I heard that Babies R Us came up with this promotion when all the drop side baby cribs were recalled. They wanted a way for people to willingly bring in out-dated and potentially dangerous baby gear and get a discount on new safer baby gear for their precious bundles.  Thank you Babies R Us!

The following brands are eligible for the 25% discount: Babi Italia, Baby Cache, Baby Baby Einstein, Baby Trend, Bergamo, Bright Starts, Britax, Carter’s, Chicco, Combi, Contours by Kolcraft, Delta, Europa Baby, Evenflo, Graco, Jeep, Lamaze, Little Tikes, Maxi-Cosi,  Safety 1st, S1 by Safety 1st, Signature Series by Graco, Sorelle, Step2, & Summer Infant.

TIP: If you are in the market for new baby gear but don't have something to trade in consider buying a used stroller on craigslist.org, or buying an old one from a yard sale. The pictures below are baby items I found on craigslist that are going for $5-15. The $5 to buy a used stroller to trade in can save you $50 on a $200 travel system! That's what I call a great return on your investment!

Used Book Sale: East L.A. Library, Now- Sept. 4

The Friends of the East L.A. Library is holding a Used Book Sale and Autumn Boutique.

The sale includes, books, sets of encylopedias,  magazines, DVDs, VHS videos, books on tape/CD, knick knacks, snacks, and clothing.

Books are discards from the library, local school districts, and members of the community. Many are in excellent condition.

Need help with rent, utility bills, or need a place to live? Find help here.

Free Music & Dance Event: Ford Theatre, Hollywood, Mondays 8/22, 8/29, 9/12, 9/19

J.A.M. Sessions: Music and Dancing

at the Ford Theatre in Hollywood

Mondays at 7pm

August 22, August 29, September 12, September 19

All Events are free! Free parking!

Reserve tickets online at http://www.fordtheatres.org/ there is a $1.50 processing fee per ticket.

Free Published Back to School Greeting for the Kids in PennySaver Magazine!

Tweet, call, fax, or mail in your Back to School message to your kiddos!

Messages will appear in the first few pages of the PennySaver under "Messages".

Car Show: Uptown Whittier, Saturday, 8/20

www.WhittierUptown.org

Free Child Immunizations: Montebello, Wednesday, 8/17

Free Child Immunizations

Wednesday, August 17

2:00 - 4:00pm

Women's Care Center

1920 W. Beverly Blvd., Montebello

  Available for children up  to age 18.  All immunizations available except tuberculosis and varicella.  Please bring your child's immunization records.  

Sponsored by Beverly Hospital.

For more information call 323-725-1519. 

Free Backpack Giveaway: Pico Rivera, Saturday 8/20

Job Fair: Norwalk, Wednesday 8/17

The City of Norwalk will host a job fair on Wednesday, August 17 from 9:30 am to 1 pm at the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex, 13000 Clarkdale Ave.  The fair will also offer free health screenings, free haircuts and help with resumes.  This event is co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano and California's Employment Development Department.  For more information call 562-929-5566

Extreme Couponing with Montebello Mom; save big by using coupons!

Last year I was at the checkout line at Albertsons. I had a cart full of groceries and a stack of coupons. A woman in line in front of me asked if she could stay to watch me check out. I told her she was welcome to watch. As the cashier scanned my coupons I saw the look of disappointment in her face when my total went down by only 60% instead of the 90+% on the Extreme Couponing shows. In Montebello 60% is about as "extreme" as it gets.

With the airing of the  "Extreme Couponing" series on TLC, many people are thinking seriously about using coupons. I've found in Los Angeles area it's nearly impossible to get deals similar to those featured on the show, here is a commentary from master-couponer, Jill Cataldo that explains why.

The way to get the best price on items from the drug or grocery store is to combine the lowest sale price + (store coupon when available) + manufacturer coupon. Buy as many items as you have coupons for and start growing a stockpile of items you use most. Even if you don't use coupons and stock up when prices are at their lowest you will save a lot of money.

I have a few favorite coupon/savings websites that I follow, all of them have a "Where to Start" section and match available coupons with weekly sales ads for all the drug and grocery stores in the area. All of them are on Facebook and if you post a question it'll be answered by the bloggers themselves or other experienced couponers.

• CouponMom.com (often appears on the Today show)
• KrazyCouponLady.com (one of the first TLC Extreme Couponers)
• SuperCouponing.com/ (syndicated couponing newspaper columnist)

To get started you'll need to start collecting coupons. The cheapest way is by subscribing to the LA Times. Call 1-800-LA-TIMES and tell them you heard about a $10 for a year of Sunday papers subscription rate and you'd like to sign up. You can ask for multiple papers to be delivered to your house at that rate, I suggest a minimum of 4 newspapers for a family of four and want to start saving a lot. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, and Long Beach Press Telegram papers have coupon inserts but they aren't as complete as the LA Times inserts.

 

Look through the junk mail before throwing it out. This past week I've found Bakery Outlet buy one get one free coupons in the PennySaver, two $10 off a $10 purchase coupon at JCPenny, and a $10 off a $20 purchase coupon for Kohls.

Create a disposable email account with hotmail, yahoo, aol, gmail or some other provider and use it exclusively for email coupon and free sample offers you run across online.

In the Montebello area I typical save 30-50% off nearly all my purchases. Click here to see my rock bottom stock up price list.
 

Once you get the hang of using coupons you'll love the feeling of saving money every time you shop!

Kids Activity: IKEA Covina, Sat/Sun 8/13-8/14 & 9/17-9/18

IKEA Covina, 10 Freeway at Barranca Avenue.

Kids Eat FREE Aug. 1-21!

Royal Craft Event: Disney Stores, Saturday 8/27

Disney Store: Royal Craft Event Saturday, August 27, 10:30am -1:00pm

Fine print reads: Minimum age for participation is 3 years. While supplies last. No lineups prior to 30 minutes before event begins. Event subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Montebello Bus Lines Video Contest, win $200!

The Montebello Bus Lines is having a video contest where you can win $200 by submitting a 2 minute video about how riding the bus helps you live a greener life.

For details and contest rules visit the Montebello Bus Lines Facebook page here.

Educate & Celebrate Festival/Job Fair: Whittier, Saturday 8/13

For more information click here.

Fishing Derby: East L.A., Saturday 9/3

This event will take place at Belvedere Lake at the East L.A. Civic Center.

Toys R Us: Azusa/Covina is moving. Huge sale 20-50% off!

My family stopped by the Toys R Us on Azusa Avenue in Covina this past Saturday. The store is moving and everything is 20-50% off. Most everything was 30% off, but here are some specifics that I jotted down.

Books 40% off

Legos/Construction/Build Toys 30% off

Car Seats/Strollers 30% off

Infant Bedding 30% off

Diapers/Wipes 20% off

Clothing/Shoes 50% off
Baby Food/Formula 20% off
Skating/Skateboard 50% off

Video Game Software 30% off

Video Game Accessories 50% off
Barbies/Baby Dolls/Princess 30% off
Movies/Music 50% off

Musical Instruments 40% off

The store fixtures are also for sale.

I don't know when the store is scheduled to close. This past Saturday the store was still full of merchandise. If you want to get a head start on Christmas shopping this might be a good place to start.

Kidgit Event & Back to School Fashion Show: Shops at Montebello Mall, 8/27

The Shops at Montebello presents

Kidgit Craft Event and Back to School Fashion Show

Saturday, August 27
Noon - 3:30pm

All children can participate in a making a craft and the fashion show starts at 3:00pm.

The first 150 Kidgit members receive a free gift at the event.

Spend $150 at the mall and get a free backpack (while supplies last).

 For details click here. 

Concert in the Park: Pio Pico State Park, Saturday 8/20

I found the following information on http://www.piopico.org/:

Saturday, August 20, 2011

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Concert in the Park - Featuring Cusuco

Join us for a fabulous music event, sponsored by Supervisor Don Knabe and the LA County Arts Commission at Pio Pico State Historic Park. Admission is free!

Additional free parking will be available at A Mi Hacienda Restaurant, 9613 Whittier Blvd., Pico Rivera, and several Whittier and Pico Rivera Parks - with free shuttle service.

Junior Rancher Program: Pio Pico State Park

Pio Pico State Park in coordination with Southern California Edison presents the Junior Rancher Program.

Geared for ages 7-12, kids can learn history and about life in the 1800s.

Saturday, August 6

Bread Making Day

11:00-12:30pm

Saturday, August 13

Old Fashioned Crafts, California Dancing & Game Day

11:00-12:30pm

Reservations are required, call 562-695-1217 ext. 102. For details visit www.piopico.org.

Concerts in the Park: ELA Civic Center, 1st Saturday of the Month

Spend an evening surrounded by music, art, and family fun at the East Los Angeles Civic Center at ArtFest 2011.

Saturday, August 6, September 3 & October 1

4:00 - 9:00pm

Click here for details.

Family Fun Event: Albertsons Montebello, Sat 8/27

Another great family event at the Montebello Albertsons, games, samples, entertainment, fun!

Saturday, August 27, Noon - 5pm

Hello all! I'm trying out my new phone. I changed some settings, it should be easier to read my blog from your mobile phone now. Enjoy! :-)

Pico Rivera Library Events

The Pico Rivera library has some great activities for kids this summer:

Xbox Gaming Day

Wednesday, August 3

2:00 - 3:30pm

Storytime & Art Activity

Thursday, August 4

2:00 - 3:00pm

PS3 Gaming Day

Saturday, August 6

2:00 - 3:30pm

Summer Reading Closing Party

Thursday, August 11

2:00 - 3:00pm

For information about events at an LA County library near you, click here.

National Night Out: Pico Rivera

Gather with your neighbors and meet your local law enforcement officers at Pico Rivera's

National Night Out

Tuesday, August 2

6:00 - 8:00pm

Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station

6631 Passons Blvd, Pico Rivera

Free refreshments, entertainment, activities for kids, and giveaways.

IKEA Covina: Kids Eat Free! 8/1 - 8/21

Another reason to love IKEA:

From August 1-21, children 12 and under get a free kids meal at the IKEA Covina. No adult purchase is necessary! This promotion is good everyday after 11am, dine-in only.

I was there with my kids today and paid only $4 for an adult entree and 3 kid meals! Kids can get an entree and any 2 side dishes for absolutely free!

The kid meal entrees include meatballs, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and a peanut butter/jelly sandwich. The sides include mashed potatoes, french fries, mixed vegetables, cookies, yogurt, milk, chocolate milk, apple juice, and a soda.

Thanks to IKEA Covina for being the ultimate family friendly store & restaurant! Don't forget to grab a $1 yogurt cone in the Cafe on the way out.

Read more about IKEA's Kids Eat Free Promotion by clicking here.

To read my previous post about how awesome IKEA is for families click here.