Local Christmas Light Displays + Boat Parades + Americana at Brand + Theme Parks

I had a special request from Karina on Facebook to write about Christmas light displays. I've taken my kids to the display at Griffith Park since they were born, but it's not up this year due to construction, so I had to dig a little deeper and this is what I came up with.

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A website in Santa Clarita has a list of neighborhoods not too far from here that are heavy on the holiday displays. The neighborhoods are:

• Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena
• Balian House, Altadena
• Christmas Tree Lane, San Marino
• Christmas Tree Lane, Long Beach
• Canals of Naples, Long Beach
• Candy Cane Lane, Woodland Hills

For driving directions and the author's tips and information about visiting each neighborhood, visit: http://www.santaclaritaguide.com/HolidayLights.html

TIP: Check out the light displays on a weekday when it's raining. Even a little rain will keep people home, less crowds = better viewing!

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I found an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times about the Americana at Brand shopping center.

You can experience snow and light displays every night! Click on the picture to see a larger image or for details call 818-637-8982 or visit http://americanaatbrand.com/

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There are a few boat parades this weekend and next week. I found the following information from the November/December issue of AAA magazine.

Dec. 19, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. sdparadeoflights.org

Dec. 15-19, Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. christmasboatparade.com

Dec. 17-18, Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights and Fireworks. venturaharborvillage.com

Dec. 17-23, Huntington Harbour Cruise of Lights. cruiseoflights.org

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Since the kids are off of school next week you can spend some time at an amusement park. All the theme parks have holiday events or decorations set up.

• Disneyland has it's a Small World set up with lights and a light show (every 15 minutes?), a decorated castle, and snowfall with Christmas fireworks Main Street.
• Legoland has fireworks, displays, and a special New Years Eve party.
• Sea World has daily holiday themed shows from December 18-31. Click here to read a previous article about an annual pass for $60.
• Universal Studios set up Whoville complete with snow from December 18-January 2.
• Knott's "Merry" Farm has the free admission with the Toys for Tots promotion through December 19 and has their annual Christmas craft fair set up in the park.

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RedBox DVD Rental: 3 Rentals for only $1!!! Just in time for Christmas vacation!

Allow me introduce you to two very good things: RedBox & Groupon

RedBox is a self serve DVD rental kiosk found in supermarkets. There is one in Albertsons on Via Campo, two in Ralph's on Atlantic & Riggin in Monterey Park, one outside of the 7-11 on Pomona Blvd & Wilcox, and inside the Wal-Mart in Pico Rivera. It's really easy to use. You chose what you want to rent swipe your credit card, which is then charged $1.10 and you have the DVD until 9pm the next day. If you want to keep it additional days it's $1.10 per day. To return the DVD, go to ANY kiosk hit "return" on the screen, slide it in the slot and you are done. It's so easy my kid can do it.
Groupon is a website that offers daily deals for stores and services for a specific geographic region. Once signed up with the site you get a daily email for a bargain in your area. I've gotten Santa pictures and Gymboree classes for half price. If you like the deal of the day you pay online with a credit card and a code or a coupon is instantly emailed to you! It's really easy.

RedBox and Groupon combined their services and is offering a special 3 for $1 DVD Rentals! That is great for you and me because the kids will be off of school after next week and they will be begging to do something, now you can provide them with a whole day of entertainment for only $1! You don't even have to pay tax!

The terms of Groupon say you can buy one for yourself or you can give it as a gift, you simply provide the email addresses of the gift recipient to Groupon when you are making the purchase. The Redbox codes expire 3/10/11, and is not valid on Blu-Ray or Video Games. You will still have to swipe a credit card at the RedBox kiosk but you won't be charged if you return the DVD on time.

It's a great deal. I really like using RedBox and have had great experience and customer service with Groupon, you won't be disappointed!

Click here to buy the $1 RedBox Groupon!

Saturday Events 12/11: MHS Swapmeet & Hello Kitty Christmas @ Heavenly Choice

Besides the morning Christmas parades in Glendora and Pomona there are two events that are happening in Montebello on Saturday, December 11th, 2010!

Montebello High School Adult Transition Program

Swapmeet!

Saturday 12/11 Parking Lot on Wilcox & Madison Avenues

The funds collected from this event support the Students with Special Needs program at the high school. In addition to local vendors there will be fresh produce for sale and a DJ to entertain the crowd. You may be able to pick up a Christmas tree at the swapmeet, trees start at $25 for a 5-6 foot Douglas Fir tree.

Hello Kitty Christmas Week @ Heavenly Choice!!!

Now through Thursday 12/16
3:00-7:00PM
534 N. Montebello Blvd, Montebello 90640

Free family event that includes face painting, balloons, holiday snacks, and a contest to win Hello Kitty gift bags! Free gift with any $10 purchase and a Hello Kitty "layaway" plan is available. *The Sanrio store is no longer in the mall, Heavenly Choice is one of the few places you can buy Hello Kitty items in Montebello!











Here is the official press release for the event:

Heavenly Choice welcomes Hello Kitty Fans of all ages to our Holiday Hello Kitty Week!!!

Monday, Dec 13 - Thursday, Dec. 16 from 3:00 pm - 7 :00 pm. daily

Enjoy face painting, balloon twisting plus wonderful treats to munch on .

Enter our Santa Contest and you could win one of 10 lucky Hello Kitty Surprise Gift Bags

Save on Christmas Gifts in our great Kids Clearance Corner plus Specials on your Hello Kitty party supplies.

Parents and grandparents it is free so join us one day or every day

Heavenly Choice Plaza 534 N. Montebello Blvd.

For information call 323 728-2728

YMCA Montebello: Jingle Bell Mingle! Free fun for the family! Thursday 12/9

The YMCA is hosting a family friendly holiday event! Make sure the kids finish their homework, get dinner on the table, and take the family over to "Jingle Bell Mingle!" The event will be held this Thursday, December 9th from 6-8pm.

The YMCA will have activities for the whole family including karaoke caroling and a visit from Santa! If you bake a great cookie bring the recipe and a few fresh samples with you to enter the "Best Christmas Cookie Contest"

For more details read the flyer below or call the YMCA 323-887-9622 or visit www.ymcala.org/mc. The YMCA is located at 2000 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640. Merry Christmas!

TIP: The Halloween event was very popular. Leave the stroller in the car and it will be easier to navigate among the crafts and activities.

Free Slice of pie at Polly's Pies with any Toys for Tots donation!

Polly's Pies is giving away a free slice of pie with a Toys for Tots donation!

Offer good from now until December 10th! Try a slice of  Banberry, it's delicious!

Click here to see the e-flyer from Polly's!

Santa Fe Springs Tree Lighting Event 2010

The city of Santa Fe Springs is having their annual tree lighting event this Saturday, December 4, 5-8 pm on Town Center Green, located on the corner of Telegraph Rd and Pioneer Blvd.

 In the past I've taken my kids to this event and it's really fun! There are lots of local performances from vocal and band groups from the schools, craft events, and a photo with Santa opportunity for only $2! There are local vendors selling homemade crafts, they may have a snow hill for the kids to play on, and I think there is also a special North Pole mailbox so have the kids bring their letters to Santa just in case, they can put them in the box or hand deliver them  in person.  The Santa Fe Springs tree lighting event isn't as crowded as retail-type tree lighting ceremonies. It's a really nice local community gathering. Bring the stroller, bundle up the kids and enjoy the performances and tree lighting ceremony!

For more information about this event click here.

Christmas Cards: Shutterfly vs. Costco (psst...I love Shutterfly!)

Elegant Tonal Red Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

I usually get order my Christmas cards from Costco but this year I'm going to use Shutterfly. If you are debating which one to order your cards through here is a list of how they compare.

1. Shutterfly offers nearly 200 design choices that can accommodate up to 8 photos. Costco offers 97 designs and can accommodate up to 6 photos.
2. Both Shutterfly's and Costco's photo cards are printed on photo paper, but Shutterfly offers a selection of cards that print on cardstock and open like "real" cards. Shutterfly's premuim cards can be customized with photos and written text inside and out!
3. Shutterfly offers two sizes of cards 4"x6" or 5"x7". Costco offers one card size 6"x7.5".
4. Both come with free envelopes that require only one stamp.
5. Shutterfly cards start at 32 cents per flat photo card, and you can order as few as 12. Costco cards  are 30 cents each with a minimum order of 50, additional sets of 25 cards are $5.49.
6. Shutterfly shipping starts at $2.49, unless you order is $50+, use SHIP50 for free shipping. Costco cards have no shipping costs because you pick them up in store. Shutterfly has a service where they will stamp and mail the cards for you, you just provide the mailing addresses!
7. Shutterfly can get the cards to you in about a week. Costco cards can be picked up within hours.

I hope this helps you make the right choice! Visit Shutterfly or Costco Photo Center to start making your own Holiday card!

TIP: If you get behind in making your Christmas cards you can always send New Years cards instead! Both Shutterfly and Costco offer "Happy New Year" cards.

UPDATE 12/15: Yesterday I got my Christmas cards from Shutterfly, there was a mistake (they said it was my error, but I disagree). I called customer service and they gave me credit to replace the cards, free 2 days shipping, and the new cards have already been shipped! All in less than 24 hours! The cards are set to arrive on the 17th and will be in the mail the same day! Like I said, I love Shutterfly!

Payless Foods Montebello: Grand Opening! Free Giveaways, Great Bargains!

Payless Foods, Store #16

2809 Via Campo, Montebello 90640

323-201-3780

Payless Foods Market has opened a new store in Montebello! The balloons on Via Campo caught my eye and I stopped in for a look. It's near the corner of Garfield on Via Campo next to the Miraculous Medal Church. The store is now open but the Grand Opening celebration is scheduled for Thursday, December 2.

I walked down a hallway that had a country feel to it to find a store a little bigger than the Super A market. The aisle signs are in the shape of barns and produce and other items are in what the store wants you to think are wooden crates and barrel type things. The store looks like a cross between Smart & Final, with the warehouse type shelving and Super A, for it's touch of Hispanic items throughout. The bagger gave my daughter a balloon and all the employees looked really happy. I asked about coupons and they don't double, they are accepted at face value.

The store has a large produce section. There is a bakery with cakes and fresh sweet bread. A large meat department has fresh cuts of meat and fully cooked food available for purchase. There are two entrances, the main entrance on the south side and a smaller one on the west side.

The manager gave me a copy of the advertisement that is due out in Wednesday's mail. The Grand Opening Event will have lots to offer. There will be special pricing such as bananas 4lbs for $1 and 3-12 packs of soda for $7. There will be giveaways on the hour from 8am-9pm of flowers and bags of groceries. Free coffee, ice cream sundaes, and balloons to shoppers. Samples from vendors and the meat department. Two reusable grocery bags will be given away to each customer at the check stand.

Christmas Parades & Events: La Puente, Lancaster, Whittier, Covina, Glendora, Escondido, Pomona, Palmdale, Camarillo, South Gate! December 4 and 11

When I was a kid my father took us to a lot of parades. It was free entertainment and we stopped picking on each other for a while. As kids, we were awestruck by the precision of the bands and how perfect they were. It inspired to join the band in high school, I was hoping to do the same with my children. I contacted the retired band director from Montebello High School, Mr. Covellone and he gave me the list of parades for this Christmas season. Thank you Mr. C!

If you want to inspire your child to join the local high school band or just want to take the kids out of the house for a few hours, then pack up some blankets, stake out your place on the sidewalk, and cheer on the parade!

PARADES

HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE -
Sunday, November 28th @ 6pm. Click here for details.

LA PUENTE PARADE & TREE LIGHTING -
Friday, December 3rd@ 5:30pm. Click here for details.

ANTELOPE VALLEY BAND REVIEW - Saturday, December 4th @ 10am. Click here for details.

WHITTIER CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 4th @ 10am Click here for details.

COVINA BAND REVIEW & CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 4 @ 6:30pm. Montebello High School Band is participating in this parade and Mr. C will be judging! A must see! Click here for details.

MONTROSE-GLENDALE CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 4th @ 6pm. Click here for details.

GLENDORA CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 11 @ 9am. Click here for details.

ESCONDIDO CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 11th @ 9:30am Click here for details.

POMONA CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 11th @ 10am Click here for details.

PALMDALE CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, December 11th @ 10am. Mr. C will be one of the judges for this parade! Click here for details

CAMARILLO CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 11th @ 11am. Click here for details.

SOUTH GATE, CHILDREN CHRISTMAS LANE PARADE - Sunday, December 12th @ Noon. Click here for details.

PASEDENA, ROSE PARADE - Satruday, January 1st @ 8am. Click here for details.

OTHER EVENTS

I came across an article of other Christmas and Holiday events in the Los Angeles area, some are parades and some have an admission fee. You can read the article here.

Pajama Night at Puente Hills Mall: Free Photo with Santa

Santa Pajama Night @ Puente Hills Mall

Wednesday, December 1st  & Wednesday, December 8th

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Story time and snack with Santa.

Bring your children in their pajamas and receive a

FREE picture with Santa.

 

For more information contact Guest Services at 626.912.8777 ext. 6810.

 

TIP: Treat your kids to a bag of popcorn at the Sweet Market on the Upper Level for only 50 cents!  Click here for coupon. 
 

 
*The mall is also offering pet photos with Santa on November 29th & December 6th, Noon - 8:00pm.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Opening at the Shops at Montebello Mall

I picked up this flyer the other night at the Santa's Arrival event. It says the following:

Build-A-Bear Workshop
is opening at
The Shops at Montebello

Join us for our
Grand CeleBEARation Opening

Wednesday, November 24

• 10am Ribbon cutting ceremony with a special appearance by Bearemy
• 3-6pm Family Entertainment
• FREE limited edition Birth Certificate [first 1000 guests]
• Free Grand Opening emoticon to use at buildabearville.com [first 1000
  guests]

Saturday, December 4

• 10am Make a bear for FREE to be donated to a local children's charity [first
  100 guests]

buildabear.com

By attending this event, participant agrees that Build-a-Bear Workshop, Inc. shall have the unrestricted right and license to use his or her likeness as included in any photography taken in connection with the event. (Product availability may vary by store. Outfits and accessories sold separately.)

Save 10 cents off Shell Gas with Ralphs Card: It really works!

I have to admit that I was skeptical of this promotion, I thought there would be a catch in the redemption process. Regardless I convinced my husband to give it a try and we stopped at the Shell station across from Ralphs in Monterey Park.

Gas was selling for $3.13 but with one swipe of my Ralphs card and a few seconds later the price down to $3.03 when we took the nozzle off the pump. It was really easy!


The key to redeeming this offer is to swipe your card or enter your Ralphs alternate ID before paying with a credit card or with the attendant inside the station. Don't worry if you forget the directions, the instructions are also on the pump itself. You can read details about the promotion here.

I found a great site that lists gas prices in cities nationwide. Here is the link for all the gas stations in Montebello and Pico Rivera. If you need gas prices in a different area, just change the settings at the top of the page.

One of my favorite fill up stations in South El Monte off the 60 Freeway at Peck Road is a Shell station. Today gas is $3.09 there and with the Ralph's card it's only $2.99! For more information about this station see my previous post.

Spread the word, Ralphs + Shell = Savings!

Free Thanksgiving Ad in PennySaver Magazine, submit now! Expires today at 4pm!

The PennySaver once again is running a Free Greeting promotion. Write a 15 word message thanking your loved ones this Thanksgiving. The message will appear in the "Messages" section of next week's edition of the PennySaver, delivered every Wednesday in your US mailbox.



Deadline to submit a message is TODAY, Thursday, November 18th at 4pm!

Call (800) 995-3333, fax (760)599-1505, or tweet your message to #pennyshout. Include the 5 digit zip code of where you want your message to appear. Limit 2 ads per household. Excludes business ads, items for sale, real estate, and garage sales. Content subject to publication's approval.

I did this for Halloween and my kids loved seeing their names in print. Don't delay, submit now!

Christmas Cards by Shutterfly

Last year I wanted to get a decent picture of my kids to send out with my Christmas cards, but it didn't happen. I dressed them up, did their hair and took them in the backyard for a mommy photo session. I took over 40 photos and in every photo, one of the three looked goofy. When it came time to print out the photos I had to decide which child's appearance would be sacrificed for the sake of the other two. Ugh.

Regardless of my photo skills, if you are the type to take photos at home for your Christmas cards you may want to consider ordering cards that will impress your family and friends even if the photo of your family doesn't.

For Christmas this year, after I get a photo of the kids I will create photo cards through Shutterfly. The question is, which child will be sacrificed this year?

Photo Cards range from $.40 - $3.00, with a minimum order of 12 flat cards or no minimum on the premium cards. Shipping starts at $.99 for one card to $9.99 for 150+ cards.

TIP: If you are making a project on Shutterfly that is not time sensitive like a photo book, create it on the website but do not put it in your cart until you get a special savings code via email. Often Shutterfly will have buy-one-get-one specials, or a 30% discount off specific items. These discounts are always time sensitive and expire in a few days, have your projects ready!

Take a moment and browse through the assortment of cards here. Enjoy!
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery



FYI: Shutterfly is sponsoring this post by giving bloggers a code for 50 free cards, it was an offer too good to pass up. I really love using Shutterfly, I hardly scrapbook anymore opting to make photo books instead. I wouldn't post if I didn't believe in the company. It's my promise to you, you will get great results with Shutterfly.

Free Gift Card or Breakfast with Santa with Toys for Tots Donation at the Citadel Outlets

The Citadel is having a great Toys for Tots promotion. Every person that donates a toy valued $10 or more will receive either a $25 voucher for free product at a Good Neighbor Pharmacy or a ticket for two to eat Breakfast with Santa.

Anytime a free gift card is involved I'm all over it, so as soon as I heard about this promotion I dug into the emergency present drawer and headed over to the Citadel with my family. We met the lovely people at the Citadel Customer Service Center who after scrutinizing the value of our toy donations were more than happy to help us.


The Breakfast with Santa ticket is good for one child and one adult to have breakfast at the Citadel on December 11, 2010. Seating times are 8:30 or 10:30. Details weren't available at the time but the customer service representatives said that it probably involved pancakes catered by Ruby's Diner and served inside a conference room somewhere on site.


The second option isn't a gift card per se, but a (fake looking) voucher good for $25 worth of Good Neighbor Pharmacy Brand products. Good Neighborhood Pharmacies are the smaller independent pharmacies usually found in smaller shopping centers. A quick look at http://goodneighborpharmacy.com/ will show you the location of the pharmacies near your home. There are two Good Neighbor Pharmacies in Montebello.


The first pharmacy I vistied was the Prescription Shoppe, 1215 West Whittier Boulevard
Montebello, CA 90640 Phone (323) 728-8127. I asked if they'd honor the card and they said they are no longer affiliated with Good Neighbor Pharmacies and are waiting for their new signage to come in before taking down the signs outside the store but I was welcome to help myself to $25 worth of Good Neighbor products. There wasn't much to chose from and fortunately I don't have a need for enema kits so I said thank you and took my voucher to another pharmacy.


I had much better luck at Montebello Professional Pharmacy, 265 East Beverly Boulevard #B, Montebello, CA. Phone (323) 722-1999. After analyzing and discussing the coupon a bit they pulled out a FedEx box with a flyer from the Citadel, made a phone call to figure out how to process the sale, and said they'd accept the card.


I picked up these five items and still had $1 credit to spare. The pharmacy has lots of other Good Neighbor Pharmacy brand items such as vitamins, eye washes, adult pain medication, the aforementioned enema kits, and more. The pharmacy is two blocks east of Beverly Hospital on a corner unit of a professional building. Parking is available in the back.


If you have a few pharmacies in your area you may want to visit the larger store for a better selection of products. Before finding Montebello Professional Pharmacy I visited Bella Vista Pharmacy, 2099 South Atlantic Boulevard Suite H, Monterey Park, CA 91754. The over-the-counter storefront was so small I didn't even bother to take the kids out of the car.

I hope you are able to make your Toys for Tots donation at the Citadel!

Ralphs Update!!! Double coupons through Thanksgiving!!! Double Coupon Policy

I spent a couple of hours prepping for a trip to Ralph's today. I crossed checked the ad with http://couponmom.com/, made my list, and went through all of my stored Sunday coupon circulars looking for $1 off coupons that I would only use if the double coupon price was right.

Before I hit the aisles I stopped at the manager's desk to ask about the restrictions. There on the desk is a big sign with the coupon terms:

SUPER DOUBLE COUPON POLICY
Effective 11/14/10 - 11/25/10
All manufacturer's coupons doubled are subject to the expirations and specific language contained in the manufacturer's coupon. The following are excluded from this promotion: all liquor, fluid milk products, "Free" coupons, coupons marked "Do Not Double", or that exceed the value of the item and except as we specifically advertise, any coupon that require the purchase of multiple items. A limit of 1 coupon per household for each coupon offering will be doubled. All other coupons of that offering will be redeemed at face value. All coupons $1.01 or greater will be redeemed at face value.We reserve the right to accept, limit or refuse manufacturer's coupons issued by other supermarkets.

I was a little irritated that the manager on the phone told me the coupons would be doubled today only, but then I realized that at least all of my shopping is done for the next few weeks, so I'm only slightly bothered. I'm sorry if any of you dropped everything like I did to go to Ralph's, only to discover the offer is good until Thanksgiving.

Since Ralphs does not allow more than one copy of any coupon to be doubled I had to make two separate purchases. My first purchase included the special buy 10/get $5 off deal, produce, cans of soda, diapers, and special items that I usually tell my kids "no" to but I made the exception since I would save $2. I saved $39.60 with coupons and my total was $80.93, an overall savings of 33%. After I loaded everything in the car I went back in and purchased only the 10/$5 off items and items I had $1 off coupons for. I saved 25.60 with coupons and my total was $29.91, an overall savings of 46%.

Looking at the numbers it doesn't look that great but I know I got a great deal on everything. I know the lowest prices of a lot of things I usually buy. You can see what I usually pay here: http://montebellomom.blogspot.com/2010/07/cost-of-food.html.

I spent a whole two hours at Ralphs this evening, one day my kids will be old enough and they'll have the patience to come out with me and be my second, third, and fourth purchase for me. Until then it's multiple trips to the market for me.

These are all waiting patiently on the counter to be put away. The kids will be thrilled to have Life cereal in the morning. Just wait until they see I also bought ice cream for dessert!

Ralphs is Doubling Coupons again!

For the past few years most grocery stores have done away with their double coupon programs. Ralphs and Vons changed their policy to only double up to $1 value total. Now Ralphs has brought back the true double coupon! $1 coupons are worth $2! 75 cent coupons are worth $1.50! This is a couponers dream come true. Get the extra savings while you can!

Please see my Updated post for Ralph's double coupon policy:
http://montebellomom.blogspot.com/2010/11/ralphs-double-coupon-update.html

RALPHS
2230 S Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Store: (323) 721-3367

RALPHS
9320 Slauson Ave
Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Store: (562) 948-4519

Meet Lisa Leslie at the Citadel: Sunday 11/14

I was at the Citadel today checking out the new stores. I ran across this sign. For any WNBA/Sparks fans this would be awesome!

Sunday, November 14 @ 2pm
Join us for a Q&A session and autographed prize raffle with former WNBA star and four time Olympic Gold Medalist Lisa Leslie

Nike Factory Store
Citadel Outlets
100 Citadel Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90040

Toys R Us Express: Montebello Mall, Atlantic Square, & Citadel

I've noticed three Toys R Us Express locations pop up in time for Christmas. I checked out the one in the mall that is over in the old KB Toys location. I asked the cashier if the Express locations carried everything that is in the weekly ad and she said that since the store is so small they carry less than half of the items in the ads. The Express locations carry the basics only and don't stock many of the new toys on the market. The Citadel location says "Outlet" and is bigger than the mall location. If you are in the neighborhood, visit the stores yourself for a look-see.

Toys R Us Express, Shops @ Montebello, 2nd Floor, southeast corner.

Toys R Us Outlet, The Citadel, Suite 313,Commerce

Toys R Us Express, Atlantic Square, 2022 S. Atlantic Ave, Monterey Park

Sea World Promotional Coupon Code for Annual Pass with AAA

This following Sea World promotion is valid only with a AAA membership ($68).  Sign up for AAA here.

The special offer is $62 for admission per person (ages 3+) and includes admission until 12/31/2011. Blockout dates are May 29, July 3-4, and September 4. Parking ($12) not included. No discounts on food, merchandise, or guest tickets. Use this link and enter the promotional code: SWCAAAFC2011 at the top of the page.

 

If you plan to visit Sea World more than 5 times after the initial visit then consider upgrading one pass to a "1 year Silver Annual Pass" which includes parking, discounts on food, merchandise, and guest tickets for $110.

My friend, Dena from Torrance has annual passes for her family. I asked her how she manages the long trip with young kids and she responded with this:

"We've had passes for 3 years now. We go down about 4 times a year - usually to coincide with the different holiday events they do. Normally we leave around 10am. That gets us there around noon. I pack a lunch which we eat in the car before we go in. Depending on the day, we either eat dinner there or at a local restaurant. Kids put their pajamas on for the drive home and are asleep for most of the ride. It makes for a long day, but it's completely do-able."

TEACHERS: You can get a free pass to Sea World that is good until the end of 2011. You need to show school ID, paystub, and California ID. Click here to order. Thanks to Ruben from Pico Rivera for sharing this link on Facebook!

Marie Callender's Montebello: Thanksgiving Pie Orders

Has Marie Callender's been open since the Town Center opened? It seems that they've been around forever but I always forget that it's there since it's part of the mall. I called and looked online to compare their Thanksgiving pie prices to Polly's Pies and this is what I found.

Orders can be taken in person, over the phone, or online. When reserving in person or by phone no payment is required. Online orders require payment. Marie's has over 25 pies on it's menu with prices ranging from $11.49 to $15.99, cheesecakes are $35.99. There is an 80 cent refundable charge for the pie tin.

Pumpkin $11.99
Apple $11.49
Cherry $12.79
Pecan $15.99
Whipped Cream ring add $2.00
Whipped Cream whole pie add $3.00

Pie Pick-Up hours on Thanksgiving day are 6am-11am. Pies can be purchased on a walk-in basis on Thanksgiving morning but all pies are not guaranteed.

Tip: Order the pies in person and purchase a $25 Marie Callender's gift card and get a $5 card free to use in January. When you pick up your pies use the $25 gift card for payment.

Marie Callender's
1852 Montebello Town Center Drive
Montebello, CA 90640
323-722-7437
http://www.mariecallenders.com/

TIP: Compare Marie Calender's with Pollys Pies here http://montebellomom.blogspot.com/2010/11/pollys-pies-montebello-thanksgiving.html

Polly's Pies Montebello: Thanksgiving Pies

Polly's has been in Montebello well over a year and it looks like they are here to stay. Last month my family won coupons for 4 free slices of pie and 1 free cinnamon roll at Montebello's Fall Festival and yesterday we decided to have a quasi-Lunch at Polly's and redeem the coupons. We had a plate of chicken strips, fries, and Kona chips (like Kettle Chips) with Ranch dressing for an appetizer. The order was plenty for all five of us to share and we had the pies and cinnamon roll for dessert.

My daughter ordered the Pumpkin, my husband asked for his favorite Apple, my son wanted the Chocolate Cream because of abundance of whipped cream and sprinkles, and the baby and I went for Polly's specialty Banberry (banana/strawberry). We all took a bite of each other's pies and agreed they were all fabulous! I was pleasantly surprised with the Banberry, I'm not too fond of banana but with the strawberry it was a great combination and my son kept asking for more from the layers of bananas on the bottom. The cinnamon roll was served warm from the oven, measured at least 6 inches across, and smothered in sweet icing. We couldn't possibly finish it all (a slice is 1/5 of a pie), so we brought it home to continue dessert at a later time.

Polly's is currently taking orders for Thanksgiving pies. Orders must be pre-paid and orders can be taken in person or over the phone. Polly's has 16 pies on it's menu and prices range from $9.99-13.99 and cheesecakes are $16.99. There is a 50 cent refundable charge for the pie tin.

Pumpkin $9.99
Apple $9.99
Cherry $9.99
Pecan $10.99
Banberry $13.99
Whipped Cream ring add $1.49
Whipped Cream whole pie add $2.49

Pie Pick-Up hours on Thanksgiving day are 8am-11am. Pies can be purchased on a walk-in basis on Thanksgiving morning but all pies are not guaranteed.

Polly's Pies
1322 W. Beverly Blvd.
Montebello, CA 90640
(323)722-6324
http://www.pollyspies.com/

TIP: Compare with Polly's with Marie Calender's here http://montebellomom.blogspot.com/2010/11/marie-callendars-montebello.html

Target Red Card 5% Savings

The new Target ad pictured above is what prompted me to write today. It promotes a 5% savings on all purchases made with the Target Red Card. As a thrifty spender this is huge! Target has three version of the Red Card,

• Target debit card is linked directly to a bank account, usually has the lowest credit limit but even people with poor credit scores are getting accepted.
• Target store credit card, APR of 21%
• Target Visa card, highest credit limit, APR 21%

You can look up information for the Target Red Card here.

The fine print in the LA Times ad reads, "5% discount applies to eligible purchases minus any other discounts and the value of any promotional Target gift cards received in the transaction." This means 5% off after coupons and free Target gift cards.

A school can be designated to receive 1% of all card purchases and I've heard that Target Card holders get store coupons in the mail that can be combined with manufacturer coupons for extra savings.

A mail-in application is available online but it's easiest to apply for the Red Card in-store. Sometimes the cashiers get bonuses for credit applications, so pick a cashier that looks like they need a pick-me-up. The extra money in his/her paycheck just may make her day.

UPDATE 12/2: I caved and got the Target card. I needed to get comforters for all the kid's beds, I had a coupon for a free $15 gift card w/ $150 purchase and I went for it. The application process was pretty easy, I handed the cashier my driver's license and entered my social security number on the keypad. The only thing I didn't like was I had to give my phone number and agree to recorded telephone messages from Target, there was no way to say no on the screen. An extra bonus was that after I charged my purchase to my new Target card a $5 off any purchase coupon printed with my receipt.

LA Times for $9.88, $20 off of Dish Network, all with one phone call!

I was busy with the family one weekend and didn't check my email. Come Monday I was pretty upset one day to find that I had missed a Groupon opportunity to get a year subscription to the Sunday LA Times for $10. After I calmed down, I did the only rational thing I could think of; I called 1-800-LA-TIMES. I explained what happened and they made a better offer of $9.88 for the year! I asked for two subscriptions at this price and it was not a problem. We went from paying over $20 a month for one subscription to less than $20 for two subscriptions for the whole year! My sister in law called earlier this week and asked for the $9.88 offer and the LA Times happily obliged.

I was so happy with my success I tried my luck with Dish Network. Luckily our contract with them had expired, I had Direct TV's ad in front of me and a calculator handy and told them we weren't happy with paying $70+ a month when we could switch companies and pay only $30. The customer service rep told me about a special HD for Life program where we'd save $10 a month. Then they offered $5 to keep our business. I told them I wasn't happy with only a savings of $15 so I was transferred to someone else and the new representative offered $10 off per month to keep our business. I did some quick calculations that involved Direct TVs fine print to find that this discount with the HD for life discount was equivalent to Direct TVs offer and said, "Deal!".

I wasn't so lucky with our car insurance. I had a copy of our car insurance terms and called 3 competitors. All had quotes $100 more than our current rate. So we're stuck with that one, but you can be sure I'll try again next time.

Now think about all the recurring bills you get every month. Call a competing company for a quote. Call your current service provider and tell them about a solicitation that came in the mail or say you think you are paying too much and are looking for a way to save. Give it a try, companies will do a lot to keep our business and in the end we’re the ones to save a bundle! Now get out there and save, save, save!

Free Dominos Pizza $5 Gift Card

Domino's used to have a really cool Pizza Points program where you can order online and earn points for every dollar spent. We order pizza once every couple of weeks as a treat and would earn a free pizza after 4-5 orders which was great! Since then, Domino's discontinued the program and we've been getting Costco pizza. I didn't want to turn on the oven in this heat, and the Commerce Costco food court was closing so we decided to go with Domino's again. At the end of my online order it had this link:

http://more.dominos.com/behindthepizza/#/home

It'll take you to a Behind the Pizza game where you find out about the origins of the ingredients to make the pizza, watch some short videos, and play games to earn points for free stuff. You can get a free cinnamon treat with just one point, a chocolate treat for 50 points, and a coupon for a buy one get one free large pizza coupon, or you can choose to continue playing and try for a $5 gift card. The $5 gift card game is a memory type game and you can chose to redeem it immediately at dominos.com or you can have it emailed.

My son and I spent about 15 minutes going through the whole process. If you have some spare time it's an easy way to save $5 or have your kid navigate the process, it's pretty easy.

If you haven't ordered online from Domino's before it's actually really fun. You see the ingredients being piled on your pizza as you're placing the order, and the pizza tracker tells you the status of your order. I love it when it says, "Jesus is delivering your pizza." It's like our pizza has been blessed by the Lord.

Free Pennysaver Greeting for Veteran's Day!

If you have a loved one that has served in the Armed Forces you can honor them with a special Veteran's Day Pennysaver greeting.

You have 15 words including title for free! You can call in your greeting to 800-995-3333, fax it to 760-599-1505, or tweet your message to #pennyshout with the zip code where the ad should run and your message. 2 free ads per household.

The ad will appear in print on the first couple of pages of the Pennysaver under "Messages" the week of Novmber 10th. At my house the PennySaver gets delivered on Wednesdays.

Deadline is Thursday October 21 @4pm. Call, fax, or tweet your greeting ASAP!

Montebello Albertson's Kid Club Coupon Card! Free Giveaway!

I received three more Albertson's Healthy Eaters Cards from Albertson's Corporate to give away!

Albertson's has a new "Healthy Eaters Kids Club" card program. Everytime you visit Albertson's, your child can pick up an apple, banana, string cheese, or fresh bagel for free! I have extra cards to give away for fans of Montebello Mom.

If you'd like one email me at montebellomom@gmail.com or "like" Montebllo Mom on facebook and I'll pick three lucky winners!