Whittier Area Resource Fair: Whittier, Saturday 5/12

For more information click here

Free Makeup!!! The good stuff from department stores!

I was telling one of my students last week that I try never to pay full retail price for anything. I can pretty much manage a way to get a discount on everything I buy and sometimes I can get things for free.

One student, suspicious of my abilities, asked, "What about makeup? Not like Wal-mart makeup, but good makeup, from the mall?" I then told her about my recent trip to the mall where I came out with free makeup without making a single purchase. Here is how I did it...
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The ad at the right came in my mail, it's for a free 10-day sample of Lancome's new foundation.

Around the same time I found an Estee Lauder advertisement in a magazine. It included a tear out postcard that was good for a 10-day sample of foundation.

I brought both cards into Macy's, stopped at the Lancome and Estee Lauder counters and came home with  two sample containers. The first one lasted me almost three weeks.

My free foundation samples from Estee Lauder & Lancome.

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If I'm in need of new makeup I usually wait to make my purchase until there is a free gift offer. I'm not a loyal follower of any particular brand of makeup, so I'll buy from any brand offering a free gift with purchase offer.

Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder often host Free Gift with Purchase events a few times a year. All have a minimum purchase requirement and most allow a choice of free items. These events are a great time to stock up on the basics such as mascara and moisturizer.

A mailer for Lancome's latest free gift with purchase offer available from 5/10-5/31/12.

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By ordering online through the brand's website, often there will be a choice of samples that can be added to the order. I quickly browsed Clinique's site and have a $13 moisturizer in my cart and I'm lined up to receive three complimentary minis, and free shipping.

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Sephora inside JCPenney has a loyalty club, The Beauty Insider, that offers rewards and coupons.

I recently received a mailer that offers a free compact mirror for signing up. A perk of the club is a free duo of lipstick during the member's birthday month, and the ability to accumulate points with every purchase.

Sephora is also generous with samples.  If you would like to try a product but aren't ready to make a commitment, the consultants will happily fill a sample jar for you.

 

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Summer School & Summer Day Camps

If you know of a city or school that is offering a summer program, please email me at: montebellomom@gmail.com.

Summer School & Classes

Our Lady of Miraculous Medal in Montebello is offering a summer enrichment program for K-8 grades, the program features language arts, mathematics and Spanish.  Monday, June 25th - Thursday July 19th, 8:30-11:45am, $225.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Monterey Park is offering summer school from June 20 - July 20 for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade from 8am - Noon. The cost is $280. Students are taught language arts, reading review, basic mathematics and a choice of electives. No school on Fridays.

St. Benedict Catholic School in Montebello is offering summer school from June 25 - July 26, Monday - Thursday for students in 1st through 8th grade from 8am-1pm. The cost is $185 per student, students bring their lunch.

Cerrritos College offers a summer program for kids. Sign up your child for classes during the day and schedule swim time and supervised lunch.

Rio Hondo College offers classes for children throughout the year.

East L.A. College offers weekend classes for children throughout the year.

Summer Day Camps

The Montebello-Commerce YMCA offers a weekly day camp for grades 1-5. Cost is $150 a week + a $25 registration fee. Each week the group goes on a field trip to match the theme of the week. Field Trips include: Sparks Basketball game, California Science Center, Huntington Beach, Travel Town, LA Zoo, Grammy Museum, and Nickel Nickel.

The City of Montebello offers a weekly summer day camp for ages 5-12. Cost is $84 a week, 6:30am - 6: 30pm.

The city of Pico Rivera offers a weekly day camp for from completed Kindergarten- completed 8th grade. Total cost is $94 a week, 8am - 5pm.

The City of Montery Park offers a weekly day camp for ages 5-13. Cost is $131 a week, 7am - 6:30pm.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Montebello Albertsons, 5/5

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Saturday, 5/5

10am-1pm

Montebello Albertsons

Via Campo and Wilcox

Food samples, kid activities, games and prizes. 

Montebello Farmer's Market! Saturday Nights through September!

It's back!
Montebello Farmer's Market

Saturday Nights

5:00 - 9:00 pm

Now - September 29 August 18!

Montebello Mall: Plaza Parking Lot

I attended the Farmer's Market several times last year and my family had a great time!

The market features dozens of booths to browse through, fresh produce, and plants.
There are plenty of seats to sit and enjoy freshly cooked food while listening to live music. There's also a fun section for kids with a large jumper, $3 for ~10 minutes of play.

My kids love the Gourmet French Fries booth, a bag of  fresh cut french fries with a selection of seasonings and 11 kinds of ketchup & dipping sauces, $3-5. My husband enjoys the Apple Pie Candy Apple from Candylicious, $6.

Parking is available in the same lot as the Farmer's Market. Restrooms, fancy port-a-potties, are set up near the rear of the market for public use.

For more information about the Farmer's Market click here.

Regular performers at the Farmer's Market, Lance & Gary. Ask them to play "La Bamba", it's worth the $1 tip!

A step up from porta potties!

Honey Sticks! 5 for $1

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Carnival: Montebello, 4/27-4/29

To find current information about OLMM Carnival for 2013 click below:

 

http://www.montebellomom.com/2013/04/spring-carnival-olmm-church-426-428.html

Dodger Pitcher Javy Guerra: Shops at Montebello, Saturday 4/28

Montebello AYSO, Soccer Sign Ups: Montebello, Saturday 4/21

Montebello AYSO Soccer Sign-Ups

Saturday, April 21, 2012

10am - 1pm

La Merced Intermediate

For boys and girls ages 4-18.  For more information click here

Youth Expo: Saturday & Sunday, Orange County Fairgrounds: FREE!

The OC Fair & Event Center presents

The Youth Expo Experience

Hours are Friday, April 13 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission is free all three days and many activities are free of charge. Parking is $5.

Family-friendly activities include:

• the Centennial Farm gardens and animal pens
• cow milking
• oxen team demonstrations
• hands-on arts and crafts
• bubble rollers
• hay rides
• Bug Barn
• “Thank a Farmer Magic Show”
• Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports & Air Show
• Wild Science hands-on exhibits
• blacksmith and leather-making demos
• worm farm
• butter-making demos
• a play zone for young children
•  free family entertainment all day

Click here for more information.

Chuck E. Cheese Online Skeeball Game: Free Tickets!

Click here to play a fun online version of Chuck E. Cheese's Skeeball game. Play over and over again and until you get your best high score. When you are happy with your score, print out the voucher for the number of tickets earned, up to 40, and take it with you on your next trip to Chuck E. Cheese! The fine print says, "1 Free Ticket Reward print out can be redeemed per child, per day."

Combine the online tickets with the free tokens offer,where you can print out certificates for being a great student, potty training and more! Have a great time at Chuck E. Cheese!

Pio Pico Park: Closing July 1: Visit & Donate while you can!

Pio Pico Park is scheduled to close on Sunday, July 1, 2012. Through local donations and the city of Whittier, Pio Pico park will stay open though the end of 2012!

The orgnaization, "Friend of Pio Pico" is holding a fund raising drive, asking for donations and collecting recyclables in an effort to raise $80,000 which is the cost to keep the park open for an additional year.

Donations can be made online at www.piopico.org or by dropping off recyclables at the park on designated Saturdays.

The park is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30-4:00.

A celebration honoring Pio Pico's birthday is scheduled for Friday, May 4, Noon-3pm. Cake and refreshments will be served.

The annual Fiesta de Pio Pico will be held on Saturday, June 16 from 11-4pm.

Pio Pico Park is located at 6003 Pioneer Blvd, in Whittier. For more information visit www.piopico.org.

This could be your family enjoying the day at Pio Pico Park!

Free 12 Week Excercise & Good Eating Habits program for Kids & Teens!

Beverly Hospital in partnership with the Montebello-Commerce YMCA

presents

KidsFit 2011

A program for Children and Teens

KidsFit is a free 12-week program designed to help overweight kids ages 7-18 develop good eating and exercise habits. Program includes individual and family nutrition education and an exercise program for different age groups.

The last time I checked classes were twice a week in the afternoons. There are three more sessions this year.

• Session 3: April 24 - July 12, Register by 4/20
• Session 4: September 7 - November 29, Register by 9/7
• Session 5: October 30 - December 13, Register by 10/26

Register in person at the YMCA. The program is free to everyone and you do not need to be a YMCA member to participate!

I've been at the YMCA during previous sessions and the kids all appeared to enjoy themselves. The YMCA staff person in charge of the exercise program had the kids playing games, learning dances, and there was always music and laughter coming out of the room.

For more information call the Beverly Hospital Community Outreach Center at 323-725-5033 or visit/call the YMCA at 2000 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640, 323-887-9622.

Duct Tape Art Workshop for Teens: E.L.A. Library, Tuesday, 4/17

I can see it now, duct tape wallets, purses, bags, book covers...

Books! Books! Books! Used Book Sale: East LA Library & all County Libraries

The Friends of the East Los Angeles Library is hosting a used book fair and spring boutique from April 9 to May 2, 2012.

Thousands of books, videos, DVDs, magazines, and audio books are available. The items sold are library discards or were donated by schools and individuals. At the last sale, children's books were 25 cents each and many were in great or new condition.

All Los Angeles County Libraries will be holding a used book sale called, "Books! Books! Books!", on Saturday, April 14, 2012. For more information visit http://www.colapublib.org/.

Earth Day: Longo Toyota, Friday, April 20

Earth Day

Friday, April 20

Noon-6pm

Longo Toyota

3534 N. Peck Road, El Monte

• Paper Shredding 1-3pm
• Recycle Used Motor Oil
• Free Oil Filter w/ turn in of used filter
• E-waste Recycling
• Fun for the Family: games, bouncer, t-shirt decorating, refreshments, giveways

Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival: Pasadena, Saturday 4/14

For more information click here.

MTA Job Fair: Downtown LA, Friday 4/13

Barnyard Bash: The Shops at Montebello, Saturday, April 14

The Shops at Montebello, 2134 Montebello Town Center Drive, Montebello

Members of the US Olympic Water Polo Team will also be on hand for a meet & greet!

Bring a camera!

Crocs Store Grand Opening: The Citadel Outlets, Saturday 3/31

Crocs are hands down, bar none, the most versatile shoes around today; not to mention extremely comfy.  Chefs, nurses, surgeons, dentists and other professionals who spend a considerable amount of time on their feet wear them everyday.  Their style and materials also make them great for the beach, the pool or a stroll around the park.  Got them dirty?  Toss them in the washing machine.  Stepped on something nasty?  Hose them down and toss them in a bucket with warm water and bleach.  Try that with your fancy Italian leather loafers and see how that works out!  The fact that some styles cost as low as $30 make them easy on the wallet as well, and you can outfit the entire family with matching Crocs without breaking the bank.

We are happy to report that a new Crocs store is now open at The Citadel Outlets, 100 Citadel Drive in Los Angeles!  The store is huge, and features a generous inventory of their popular models in all sizes and colors.  Bring your old used Crocs in still wearable condition and donate them to charity to receive a 15% discount off your purchase!

The store will host its Grand Opening event on Saturday, March 31^st starting at 10 am.  The first 50 customers will receive a free pair of Crocs, and they will have discount coupons and other freebies throughout the day.

Hop Into Spring Event: Shops at Montebello, Saturday 3/24

Hop Into Spring Event

The Shops at Montebello

Centre Court

Saturday, March 24, 2012

12-2 pm

There will be coloring, crafts, face painting, prizes and entertainment!

East L.A. Arts Festival: East L.A., Saturday, March 24

For more information click here.

Spring Break Stock-Up at the Shops at Montebello

Free Pretzel Day!

Spring Break is almost here! The Shops at Montebello gave me a $50 Shops at Montebello Visa Gift Card to stock up on Spring Break essentials and have some fun!

Our visit to the mall coincided with Auntie Anne's "Free Pretzel Day"! Every customer received a complementary pretzel, no purchase necessary! We picked up 5 pretzels and Strawberry Lemonade Mixer all for under $3!

Men's Swim Trunks $15: JCPenny

JCPenney recently launched a new advertising campaign where there are no more sales; which as a super-saver I can't quite understand.  We needed to stock up on some essentials for the girls so a visit to JCPenney was our second stop.

So the first thing I find is that there are no more "SALE" signs. Only small plain signs that say "Everyday" "March" or "Best Price". Signs are outlined in a white/gray coloring, some purple, orange, and blue.

On our way to the children's section my husband saw a display of swimming trunks that reminded him that he needed a new bathing suit. He chose the green and white suit in the front for everyday price of $15.

Everyday Low Prices are in Red

At the girls' section I found exactly what they needed. These socks came in a 6-pk for $8 and the underwear was $3. At the register I found that since the brands are the same I got an additional $2 off the socks too!
 

JCPenney's Clearance Section Renamed: Best Price

I asked the cashier to point out the location of the clearance section since it wasn't obvious. She said there is no longer a clearance section, only a "Best Price" section, where everything is marked down significantly. The tags in the Best Price section are labeled with a small blue sticker.

Our total at JCPenney was $33, men's swimsuit $15, 6 pairs of girl socks $6, and 4 pairs of girl underwear $12.



 Leaving JCPenney behind us, the next item on our stock-up list was hair clips for my daughter. I recently cut her hair really short, so I figured that with a couple of cute clips she could be a trend setter on the playground.

We visited the labyrinth of girl-dom that is Claire's. Inside girls can find everything from knick-knacks to hair accessories all covered with enough glitter, feathers, and fake jewels to make adults want to run and sit in a void of beige. So, of course, my girls love Claire's.

8 Clips for $9.75: Claire's

At Claire's, hair accessories are buy one get one for 50%. My daughter fell in love with these hair clips, $6.50 for a set of four or both sets for $9.75.

Our next stop was to turn in coupons from a recent lunch purchase for shirts for mini-Build-A-Bears that were included in McDonald Happy Meals. At Build-A-Bear Workshop my girls were able to each pick out a t-shirt for their bear and each shirt came with a code for the online Bear-ville game.

It must have been our lucky day, because walking by the Disney Store we saw a sign that said it was "Perry the Platypus Day!" We stopped in just in time for my kids to make a paper fedora and partake in The Platypus Dance.

The Disney Store is also holding a pre-sale for the Muppet Movie. For just about the same price as other retailers, guests can buy the movie pre-sale, get a coupon for $10 off any $10 purchase, and take home an exclusive set of 4 lithographs from the movie.

Children's Place Coupon

While Mr. Montebello Mom and the kids were dancing, I went to The Children's Place and picked up a scarf for my son. All winter accessories were on sale and the scarf was only 91 cents!  At checkout the cashier gave me a coupon for 15% off my next purchase.

Hair Clips: Twin

We found more cute hair accessories at the "TWIN" kiosk in the upper level near Macy's Home. My daughter with the new short cropped hair was eyeing the hair extentions but I convinced her that the clips would suit her better. Total for all three clips $7.98.

Hair Accessories and Jewerly at Twin

Kidgits Prize Wheel: Only $5 to join!

On our way out we made one last stop at the Shops at Montebello Customer Service Desk to try our luck at the Kidgits Prize Wheel.

The kids all came home with a fun toy, the girl's drawers are now stocked with underwear and socks, they have enough hair clips to lose under the couch for at least 2 months, and my husband will sport a new swimsuit at the YMCA this spring break! Watch out ladies!

A special thanks to the Shops at Montebello for sponsoring our afternoon of fun!

Now it's your turn! Grab the family, take a few hours and make your own fun at the Shops at Montebello!

Win Tickets to the Teen Party Expo!

Teen Party Expo has donated a 4 pack of VIP tickets to give away to a MontebelloMom.com reader!

WIN A  4 PACK OF TICKETS to TEEN PARTY EXPO:

To enter: Send an email to montebellomom@gmail.com. Please put "Teen Party Expo Giveaway" in the subject line. Please include a sentence describing the teen party you are planning. Entry deadline is Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.

One entry per email address. All entries will be assigned a number by order received and the winner will be chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified via email on 3/21/2012 and will have 48 hours to respond accepting the prize. The winner's name will be placed on the VIP All-Access List at Teen Party Expo. Winner will need to provide a valid ID to obtain 4 VIP tickets, retail value $40, at will-call the day of the event. If the winners do not contact MontebelloMom.com after 48 hours another winner will be chosen. The names of the winners will be publicly announced on MontebelloMom.com by 3/25/12.

Teen Party Expo: L.A. Convention Center, 3/25

Get great ideas for and meet with professional teen party planners at the Teen Party Expo!

Fashion Shows, Dance Performances, Demonstrations, DJs, & more!

Tickets are $10.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit: http://teenpartyexpo.com/

Disney Store Events: March

These events are available at all Disney Store locations including Montebello, Glendale, & West Covina.

Career & College Fair: Santa Fe High School, 3/22

St. Patricks Day Event: Albertsons Montebello, Saturday, 3/17

Albertsons, Montebello: Via Campo and Wilcox

Saturday, March 17

10am-2pm

Stop by the store to pick up a flyer, have the kids color the leprechaun on the back for a Kids Club Card that you use every time you shop at Albertsons!

• Irish themed food samples
• Green Beer Recipes
• Activities for Kids

Montebello Bus Lines Art Contest

Job Fair: Irwindale, Wednesday, March 14 2012

Job Fair

Wednesday, March 14

10am - 2pm

4920 Rivergrade Road, Irwindale

• Dress to impress.
• Bring copies of your resume.
• For more information, click here.

Job Fair: San Fernando Valley, Wednesday April 18

Meet dozens of prospective employers at the

Los Angeles Valley College Job Fair

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

10am - 1pm

LAVC Monarch Hall

5800 Fulton Ave, Valley Glen

Although the job fair is in the San Fernando Valley, employers from all over Southern California usually participate.  Bring copies of an updated resume and dress to impress! 

LAVC also has a jobs posting bulletin board available here.

Teen Tech Week: L.A. County Libraries, March 4-10

The Los Angeles County Library is celebrating Teen Tech Week from March 4-10.  Below are some of the activities at local branches.

3D Madness

El Camino Real Library (East L.A.)

Tuesday 3/6, 3:30 pm

(Must be in 5th grade or higher)

Make Your Own Photo Keychain

Anthony Quinn Library (East L.A.)

Tuesday 3/6, 4 pm

Make Your Own Photo Keychain

Chet Holifield Library (Montebello)

Wednesday 3/7, 4pm

Teen Tech Week Events

East L.A. Library

Wednesday 3/7, 4pm

Make Your Own LED Robot

South Whittier Library

Wednesday 3/7, 5pm

Juggler David Cousin

Bell Gardens Library

Saturday 3/10, 2pm

For more information and additional activites in other branches click here.

"It Starts at Home" Parenting Conference, Saturday, 3/3

Free Parenting Conference

 Saturday, March 3, 8:00-3:00pm

For more information visit: http://dayoneparentconference.eventbrite.com/

Registration is only open until Friday, at 3pm. All events are free.