Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Free Valentine's Message and Contest with the PennySaver!

The PennySaver magazine is offering free 15-word Valentine's Day messages that will run the week of February 8. You can designate by zip code which edition you want your message to run.

By sending a Valentine greeting for publishing you will also be entered in a contest to win one of ten $100 Valentine Date Nights!
  • Tweet your message to #pennyshout
  • Fax your message to  760-599-1505
  • Phone in your message at 800-995-3333, option #1
  • Mail your message to : Valentine's Day Greetings/Private Party, PO Box 1689, Vista, CA 92085

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Help control the pet population: Spay or neuter your cat at no cost!

The local animal control, SEACCA, is offering residents in the 14 cities it services a free spay and neuter program called, The Big Meow. The program also includes free microchip insertions and vaccines. Call 562-803-3301, extension 251 to make an appointment.

SEACCA services the cities of: Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Buena Park, Downey, Lakewood, La Palma, Montebello, Norwalk, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, South Gate and Vernon.

Monday, January 16, 2012

It's a new year! Time to get organized!

The Shops at Montebello gave this blogger a mission to "Get Organized!"  So I packed up the family and with a $50 Visa Gift Card courtesy of the Shops at Montebello in hand, I set out on a mission to give my kitchen a mini-makeover!

At Macy's Home I came across the Martha Stewart Kitchen Collection. I was drawn to these sets of kitchen tools by how they perfectly combine usefulness and simplistic beauty.

Martha Stewart towels, spoon rest, and knives.
Our kitchen towels have gotten a little grubby, so a must have for my kitchen was a set of Flour Sack towels. this set of four was $6.47. 

My old ceramic spoon rest broke three years ago and since then we've been using small plates when cooking. I've been looking for a simple stainless steel spoonrest like this one ever since and found this one for $9.99. 

I discovered a small clearance section in the corner of the store where items were marked 40% off or more. That's where I found these pair of knives for $8.09.  The larger one has a serated edge great for cutting tomatoes. 

Macy's Home Clearance
Peelers and sink strainer.
In 2012, one of my family's priorities is to eat more veggies. This set of 3 peelers for $9.99 will make adding bits of vegetables to any dish a cinch! The peelers have magnets in the handles so they nest and take up little space in the drawer.

Our 99-cent sink strainer was starting to rust, so I was happy to find this stainless steel heavy gauge strainer for $3.99.


Bath & Body Works Hand Soap
At Bath & Body Works, foam hand soap is $5.00 a bottle. I picked up a fresh lemon scent and found two Gingerbread scented soaps on clearance for $1.25 each.

Hand Sanitizer Display
 A few mothers in the store were letting their kids pick from a display of hand sanitizers. Priced at 5 for $5, the kids loved the idea of chosing their own.  Even the boys were excited to choose.  There was one called, "I love sports!" and had a picture of sports equipment on the label. During flu season these mini-sanitizers are a must have.

Valentine's Event at Bath & Body Works




At check out the Bath & Body Works associate gave me a flyer promoting an upcoming Valentine's promotion. On Saturday, Februrary 11 from 10am-4pm customers get a free tote bag and body cream with any $11 Signature Collection purchase. She also included a 20% off coupon for my next purchase good now through 2/26.

Wi-Fi Hot Spot at the Play Area
While I was shopping, Mr. Montebello Mom was watching the kids at the Play Area. He brought along his new tablet and took advantage of the Wi-Fi Hot Spot available. The kids had fun, my husband caught up on the news, and I succeeded in getting what I need for my kitchen a mini-makevoer! A special thanks to the Shops at Montebello for sponsoring our afternoon!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Our Lady of Lourdes School Open House: East L.A.

Open House
January 29th, 2012
10:15am - Noon
Our Lady of Lourdes School has been serving the East Los Angeles area since 1914. The school is located on the corner of S. Eastman Ave and 3rd Street. Our  grades include Kindergarten, and Grades One through Eight. In addition  to the challenging academic standards of the Catholic curriculum, the  school offers music, physical education, computers, science lab, art and  an elective period.

Our extracurricular activities include a full  athletic program, student council, youth ministry, liturgical choir,  newspaper, and yearbook. We offer day care from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, and  have a Homework Club for tutoring from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Most of our  graduates go on to private Catholic High Schools. Our friendly office  staff will assist you with any questions and the application process. We  look forward to hearing from you! For more information call Mrs.Quintero at 323-526-3813 or visit: http://www.la-ourladyoflourdes.org/index.html

Disney Princess Craft Event: Disney Store: Montebello, Saturday 1/14

Disney Princess and Friends Craft Event
Saturday, January 14
10:30, 11:30, 12:30
All Disney Stores
Montebello, West Covina, Glendale, more!

Sing along and crafts. Princess attire encouraged. Minimum age for participation is 3 years. Event is limited based on store capacity. No lineups prior to 30 minutes before event begins. Event subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Mega Couponing Event: Free Class

If you've ever wanted to learn how to get started couponing, there is a free class you can attend.

San Gabriel Valley: Mega Couponing Event
Thursday, January 19
11am & 7pm
Raddison Hotel, Covina

Shannon Jones, a couponer who appeared on TLC's Extreme Couponing show, will be a guest speaker at the event. The event is free to attend and is sponsored by the Tribune newpaper group which publishes the Whittier Daily News, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and other local newspapers.




FYI: I don't have any other information about this event, I hope that it's just not a sales pitch to subscribe to the Whittier Daily News. I've been couponing for years and the best paper for coupons is the LA Times. The Whittier Daily News includes coupons but often the inserts are an abbreviated version of what is offered in the LA Times. I do get a lot of other coupons from the Whittier Daily News including Kohl's $10 off of $30 purchase, and JCPenny $10 off of $25 coupons that make up for the lack or grocery store coupons throughout the year. It also includes a great weekly article about couponing. If you want to start couponing I suggest you get several subscriptions to the LA Times and one subscription to the Whittier Daily News.









Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Montebello Baseball Association: youth baseball signups

Register your child to play Baseball:

 Wednesday Nights 6-8pm & Saturdays 9am-Noon
throughout January at Grant Rea Park.



Practices start in February and the season ends mid-June.





 



Thursday, December 29, 2011

Great Night, New Years Eve Party for Families: Irvine


Great Night!
Family New Year's Eve Event

Saturday, December 31, 2011
5:30- 9:30pm



Music, dancing, food, games, activities, and fun for the family! Free admission, $10 parking.





Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Drive-In Movies: $10 Carload, Tonight only!

Once a year the Santa Fe Spring Swap Meet turns back into a Drive-In Movie again!

$10 admission per carload!

Gates open at 6pm. Despicable Me starts at 7pm, and stay for Nanny McPhee Returns at 9pm.

Pack dinner, bring popcorn and entertain the whole family for only $10!

AM Radio required to hear the movie.


Located off the 5 Freeway at Alondra. About a 15 minute drive from Montebello.

Friday, December 23, 2011

IKEA: Kids Eat Free, 12/26-1/1/12

Limit one meal per child per visit. No adult purchase necessary. Kids under 12 only. Child must be present.

I love IKEA, it's so much more than a furniture store. They offer a kids play area with huge ball pit and one hour of free childcare. Kids can collect stamps for every visit to the play area, after 6 visits they receive a free gift. Kids can bring in newspaper to recycle and earn stamps to receive a free git. During most holiday seasons IKEA offer children a free kids meal, no purchase necessary. There is also a cafe near the check out where ice cream cones are sold for $1.

See photos and read details about a visit to IKEA Covina here.


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Free Lunch Program: Holifield Park, through January 6


Here is a menu of what is to be served this month:
Friday 12/23: Chicken Nuggets, pear, berry juice, milk
Tuesday 12/27: Hot Dog, banana, apple juice, milk
Wednesday 12/28: Rib-b-que sandwich, orange, berry juice, milk
Thursday 12/29: Corn dog, apple, organge juice, milk
Friday 12/30: Grilled chicken sandwich, pear, berry juice, milk


Winter Field Trips for Kids with Montebello Parks & Rec.

To attend any of the following events visit one of the parks listed on the flyer and pick up a field trip waiver form. The pick-up/drop-off location for all events is at the Cathy Hensel Youth Center across the street from Montebello City Park.

Free Youth Baseball Clinic: Saturday, 1/21/12



Monday, December 19, 2011

Montebello-Commerce YMCA: No Joining Fee! Save $75!

Give a gift membership to the YMCA this holiday season
and the $75 joining fee is picked up by the Shops at Montebello mall!

Available now through December 24.


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Shops at Montebello Mall: Dollars for Scholars, Freeway Promotion

Due to the 60 freeway closure, the Shops at Montebello
is holding an incredible
Dollars for Scholars
offer this weekend.

100 Points for every dollar spent! Receipts can date back to September 15, 2011.

Please go shopping at the mall and rack up the points!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Knotts Berry Farm: Toys for Tots Promotion: Free Admission with $20 Toy Donation

Knott's Berry Farm, Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Now - December 18.
Here's how the promotion works:
  • Guests can purchase a toy for $20 from a temporary shop set up outside of the Knott's entrance and hand it over to the marines as a Toys for Tots donation in exchange for a ticket to Knott's Berry Farm. 
  • Guests also have the option of buying tickets online for $20, and Knott's will donate the toy for them.
  • Guest who bring their own toy valued at $20 to donate are given a voucher for a discounted $20 admission.
I appreciate that Knott's Berry Farm is running this promotion, but when I saw the toys they were selling I was disappointed. The toys Knotts offered for sale are not worth a full $20. They are off brand toys that look like they'll break within a few uses, and there was a limited selection to chose from. The toys offered are not toys that I would purchase for my children.

If you want to take your child to Knott's Berry Farm for only $20 a ticket then this is a way to go. However, for $65 you can get a season pass that is good from now until 12/31/2012 with no blackout dates.

TIP #1: Try to take the kids during the week, the donation weekends tend to be extremely crowded, especially the Camp Snoopy area.
TIP #2: A few years ago Knott's extended the Toys for Tots promotion by a few more days without much notice, if you can't fit a visit into your schedule by December 18, you may want to call to see if they've added more days.

To buy a ticket online or review other Knott's Berry Farm ticket offers, click here.

Albertsons Holiday Open House


Open House
December 16, 17, & 18
Hot Cider & Cookies
Holiday Samples

Special Holiday Event
Saturday, December 17
10:00am - 4:00pm
For Kids: sugar cookie decorating, ornament decorating, coloring, and photos with Santa
For Adults: holiday recipes, free wine bottle wrapping, and more!

Albertsons
2469 Via Campo Street
Montebello, CA 90640
(323) 888-2250


Send your Expired Coupons to Military Families living overseas!

For the cost of a stamp you can help military families living overseas by mailing your expired coupons.

Use this link to read how the Krazy Coupon Lady collects coupons and ships them overseas for military families.

She and her volunteers do all the work, you simply send them your coupons!

Skating Rink: Uptown Whittier, now until 12/17


Skating sessions are 30 minutes each.  Price is $7 per person Monday-Thursday and $10 Friday-Sunday, includes skate rentals. 
For more information click here.