Free Crafts at Lakeshore Learning --Saturdays

As the holiday gift-giving season rolls around, check out the great teacher supply store Lakeshore Learning on Bascom Ave. in San Jose. It's a great place to find art supplies, workbooks, puzzles and math and science activities for preschool through elementary kids that are non-commercialized, durable and classroom tested. The also have a make and take center with a laminating machine. Check out their free arts and crafts workshops on Saturdays with your kids.

New French Bakery Open in Downtown SJ

I just had to plug this brand new tiny shop near my workplace: A Taste of Paris which just opened a week or two ago. It's a sandwich shop/bakery with a limited menu located conveniently on the Paseo San Antonio near Christmas in the Park and San Jose State University where you can walk in and get a yummy pannini, baguette sandwich or croissant. I did attempt to "parlay Francais" with my American "Frenglish" the other day with the owner -- and he was super friendly and welcoming. For an authentic pain au chocolat at less than $2.00, it's a great deal.

Free Trolley Rides at History San Jose Sat - Sun 11am - 4 pm

Well, it has been a month since I last wrote a post. Mr. Cheap and Great and I've been busy fixing up the house and yard these past few weekends and we've invested in a family membership to the fabulously remodeled Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. Now, when the kids and I come back from a morning adventure jumping on the Frog Hopper, or feeding the goats --the young ones are guaranteed to crash for a few hours. It's like bonus time for the parents! We find free parking on Alma or Phelan and hit the rides for the first hour, rounding it out with a visit to Sam Safari's awesome read-a-loud and the retro puppet show theater. Where, you guessed it --we always brown bag it.

We'll walk through the Japanese Gardens on the way back from our visit to the zoo. Sadly, the gardens lost their beautiful collection of 500 koi fish to a virus brought in by a non-native species fish dumped there a few years ago. They seem to be having trouble containing massive algae in the ponds, but it's still fun for the kids to explore the bridges and pathways. Finally, we stroll through History San Jose and check out whichever museum might be open that day before hitching a ride on the free historic trolley that rolls either inside or outside the park. They have a a lovely bunch of volunteers running the trolley barn.

Yesterday we met the descendants of one of the pioneers of the Portuguese community in San Jose, who exhorted us to come and have a look to their tiny Portuguese Museum. Two twinkly-eyed cousins, proudly showed us pictures of their great grandfather who came from the Azores at age 14 and started his own dairy company. Each individual museum (all historic buildings or homes relocated to the park) is operated by volunteers and open according to special events or their own schedule. The collection includes: printing office, dentist office, firehouse, fruit barn, livery barn, school house, trolley barn, gas station, ice cream parlor, Chinese temple, gift shop and gallery as well as a new Vietnamese museum in the works. History San Jose is always sparsely attended, unless an event is in progress, and makes a lovely place for a post zoo picnic, a safe wide place for scooter practice for the novice rider and in general is just a diamond in the rough in the South Bay. It's definitely a place I would love to volunteer at some point in the future.

Tibetan Monks Create a Sand Mandala of Universal Compassion

In conjunction with the the Dalai Lama's speaking event in San Jose, the city library is planning several events showcasing Tibetan art and culture. As a teenager, I remember seeing a Sand Mandala being constructed. It was an amazing, ephemeral sand "painting" that the monks put together in a public art space in San Francisco. This is definitely on the must list for any kids who are interested in art and a great opportunity to expose them to another culture and religion. Here is the information from the library's events page:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library 150 E. San Fernando St. 1st floor entrance 4th and E. San Fernando Street (408) 808-2011 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (408) 808-2011 end_of_the_skype_highlighting	Sat, Oct 9 - Wed, Oct 13 All Library Open Hours
Experience the creation of a Tibetan Sand Mandala. Watch "sand painting" in action as monks from the Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monastery make a blueprint for world peace and compassion. The creation of a Sand Mandala blesses the entire region in which it is built: the environment as well as the beings who reside therein. All ages are welcome. Oct. 9 Opening Ceremony 12:00 - 1:00 pm Construction of the Mandala 1:00 - 6:00 pm Oct. 10 Construction of the Mandala 1:00 - 5:00 pm Oct. 11 Construction of the Mandala 9:00 - 5:00 pm Oct. 12 Construction of the Mandala 9:00 - 5:00 pm Oct. 13 Construction of the Mandala 9:00 - 1:00 pm

Pumpkins in the Park

We rode the VTA light rail in to the Pumpkins in the Park festivities downtown today. After a swing by Psycho Donuts, we met friends back at Discovery Meadow for plenty of people watching and activities. This is a great free community festival featuring a ton of food, entertainment, arts and crafts booths, pumpkins and scarecrows. Tons of "spin the wheel for prizes" booths abound. We packed our own lunch (of course) and sat under the shade of a fir tree watching the jets fly over head. A perfect Fall day. No fire truck this year, but here's a look at our haul!

VTA's New Commuter Express Train

On my way to work one day this week a VTA employee handed me a new schedule as well as flyer announcing a new "Commuter Express" light rail train operating on the Santa Teresa/Baypointe Line. They are going to start this new Northbound Departure service Oct. 4, 2010. The train will depart from Santa Teresa and make regular stops until Ohlone/Cheynoweth where it shall become non-stop all the way to Convention Center downtown. Hopefully shaving off a few minutes from the total ride will encourage more ridership on the three Northbound and three Southbound trains they are adding. It will shave 12 minutes off my ride time, enabling me to hit the later train and relax a bit at the morning school drop-off without my literally sprinting through the station lot to grab my train on time. Hooray for saving the planet and saving on downtown parking fees!

Another Cheap and Great Tip: they are offering a free token to ride the new Commuter Express through Oct. 29th through their website.

Outrageous Outgrowns

Outrageous Outgrowns (a wonderful kids' resale event) is coming to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on Oct. 15-17th from 9am to 5pm. To the uninitiated, Outrageous Outgrowns is an enormous twice yearly consignment soiree --put together in a warehouse size building. Free parking & admission -- go on Friday for the good stuff! On Sunday they mark everything down that is left -- be wise, these frugal moms will park every which way on the lawn surrounding the pavilion. On previous missions we uncovered bibs, a fold and go potty seat for visiting public restrooms with a toddler in tow, a trio of sweet gingham dresses for growing into as well as some excellent gardening and rain boots for my oldest to wear while assisting in yard work. They have a great selection of baby gear, books, toys and some furniture and maternity clothes.

Cheap and Great Over the Hill

One of the best things about living in San Jose is our proximity to the coast. We love being able to wake up on a weekend morning and impulsively blow off the yard work, and the city traffic for a 30 minute trip over the hill to Natural Bridges State Beach.

And every time we find ourselves repeating the same refrain, "I can't believe we don't come over here more often." Our routine is to walk beautiful West Cliff Drive, then swing by my old college hang-out Taqueria Santa Cruz for the most killer salsa and giant burritos "to-go," grabbing some free parking on on Delaware St. before plopping on the beach to eat, play and let the Silicon Valley stress melt into the sand. Guaranteed napping by the back seat crew all the way home.

Santa Teresa Community Fest

Here's a free community festival planned for our little corner of the valley this Saturday. It's located near the Miyuki Dog Park and George Page Park, one of our little girl's favorite toddler playgrounds.

Book Sale Today

Friends of the Santa Teresa Library is holding their book sale today, Sept. 11, 2010 from 10-4 at the Santa Teresa branch. We scored some great children's books for .25 each at the last sale. We even had been given a one free book coupon from the adjacent farmer's market on Santa Teresa. Enjoy!

Easy Ice Cream Layer Cake - Better Homes and Gardens

Easy Ice Cream Layer Cake - Better Homes and Gardens

My daughter requested a mint ice cream cake for her birthday. Checking the prices at Coldstone and Baskin-Robbins prompted me to research a simple home-made version.

Potty Training Supplies

Two days ago my little 23-month old initiated a "no more diapers for me" stance....and so begins the onslaught of laundry, stickers, mopping and back of the trunk potty chair triage at every stop throughout the day. Whew... but it's for a good cause! Rather than using disposable pull-ups, we use thick cotton underwear and plastic over-panties from Tiny Tots (a diaper service and boutique with plenty of free events and classes in downtown Campbell). They have been handed down from the older daughter and are still in great shape. Normally the word "boutique" would not appear on Cheap and Great, but I feel this store has great resources (such as a fold down toddler potty seat you attach to the toilet) for parents looking to get out of the expense of diapers sooner rather than later.

Healthy Trails Challenge

On Sunday, the official beginning of our recent heat-wave, my husband "treated" me and the kids to a surprise hike of Los Gatos Creek Trail where he used to do training runs (the shadeless and dusty stretch which starts near Forbes Mill, underneath the fancy shops on University and stretches beside Highway 17 to Lex. Reservoir). I had vaguely remembered the three hour "death march" we took at this particular trail when we were first dating, but I held my tongue in the hopes of being a good sport and a role model for the kids. However, with three of us girls soon counting spiderwebs to kill the time and whining,"are we there yet," above the din of the freeway, it re-freshened my memory of the first experience. Tricked again!

But I was happy to pick up a brochure about a new program called the Healthy Trails Challenge. Once you've registered, You and the family have 12 months to hike 5 of the 21 trails in the Santa Clara County Parks system and log your activities. With the second set of 5 trails you are promised a free gift (...new shoes...we could only dream!) So bring your hats and water bottles. The County Park's activity calendar is also available online.

Quicksilver County Park's Mining Museum Grand Re-opening

Years ago we were scouting rural wedding locations and my husband and I took a drive into New Almaden. We had read about the Casa Grande, an 1854 historic mining hotel owned now by the County Parks Department. It is located in a lovely setting near a brook with mature trees and a patio for hosting events. Unfortunately, the facility was no longer rented for private functions, but luckily it has recently undergone a long renovation and the mining museum will be open to the public for a re-dedication day on:

Pioneer Day
Oct. 9, 2010 from 11am-3pm.

Activities will include:
Children's games, entertainment, the "Original Well's Fargo Coach" and a horse-drawn wagon. Food available for purchase.

It's sure to be a great resource to introduce local history to students and families, thanks to the fine efforts of all the volunteers and County Parks Dept.

NOVA/ Connect Job Seekers Center

Anyone affected by the recession or just interested in developing their future career goals should check out this great free resource center for all things job-search related: resume workshops, career advisement, computer classes and interview preparation. It is located near the Sunnyvale Public Library, at 420 S. Pastoria Avenue. 408/774-2365.

Connect! Calendar

I plan to attend one of their career advisement sessions soon and will report back on my observations.

Autumn Book Festival

We came across this flyer for an upcoming scholarship fundraiser the other day while attending an event at San Jose State's Career Center:

Paul F. Byrd
Autumn Book Festival
Sat. Oct. 16, 2010

Divine Science Community Center
1540 Hicks Avenue
San Jose

• Huge Book Sale with free Harry Potter books for the first 50 kids 14 and under.
  
• Free T-shirts and balloons (while supplies last)

We love a good used book sale and frequently shop the Friends book sale sections at our local branch libraries for beginning chapter books and VHS tapes, so this sale will definitely go on the family calendar!

Free Pass to Lawrence Hall of Science

Here is a free pass for one youth admission (age 3-18) with the purchase of an adult ticket, to Lawrence Hall of Science:

https://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/visit/exhibits/youthpass/youthpass.php

Free Cooking Events

Stopping in at the impressive Whole Foods in Sunnyvale the other morning for a quick tour before an appointment, I happened upon something new to me: Cooking seminars in their demonstration classroom! What better way to brush up on a few new recipes to put into the family rotation. Some of their choices included: Kids Cooking with the Culinary Dude ($25.00 for two hours) to Wich'-Craft: The Art of Making Innovative Sandwiches ($35.00 for two hours). They also host tons of FREE special events and workshops, such as a Food Fest, a program on healthy school lunch menus and Hot August Nights: Battle of the Burgers and Brews. I confess that this up-market chain is not on my regular shopping circuit. But I just love "window shopping" at their deli and gleaning ideas for my own summery salads.

Check out their Calendar for August.

Santa Clara County Office of Education: Learning Multimedia Resource Center

Are you looking for fun free summer bridge activities for your preschool through elementary age student? Look no further than the Santa Clara County Office of Education's professional teachers' library Learning Multimedia Center.

Check their website for hours and browse the online catalog.

A wide array of teaching resources, math manipulatives, science kits, DVDs, picture books and literacy backpacks are available not just to teachers and home-schoolers, but any member of the community. My daughter has been enjoying checking out phonics and math materials, themed science kits and other goodies these past two summers. You should really check out their freebie table too, where we scored free workbooks and materials donated by teachers and textbook publishers.

Monster Art Contest for Kids

Check out this fun Summer Art Contest sponsored by University Art.
They are providing the 10" canvases at their stores. Good luck to all your little monsters!

Click Here

Portable Water Play Table

Have you seen the wonderful sand and water tables at Costco and similar retailers? We found these great inexpensive under-the-bed storage boxes at Big Lots and scavenged the house for empty containers, water toys and float and sink items to create this home made water table using empty flower boxes on the front porch as a platform. We found that empty baby vitamin droppers, and bulb syringes make excellent sister-squirters! The best part of our system is that it is totally portable and stores neatly in the utility room rather than sitting in the sun to fade and crack. We are planning to add some sensory tubs with lids to our play station using birdseed, pinto beans or play sand. We will bury and excavate baby plastic dinosaurs and other birthday party goody bag treasures.

Horsing Around at the Stanford Red Barn

Summer vacation is upon us! If you are looking for an inexpensive day trip, why not consider a visit to the Red Barn equestrian center at Stanford University? The center is open from 6am -9pm and permits visitors to self-tour the stables quietly. We wandered freely while our daughter read each horse's name above it's stall. (Thanks to our friend Julie for mentioning this wonderful free resource to us!)

On a recent visit, our daughter was thrilled to be invited by one of the caretakers to feed a carrot to a horse which was being groomed. We topped off our visit with a stroll through the Rodin gardens and world-class Cantor Arts Center (free museum admission and free parking on the weekends). There is an excellent (though pricey) organic cafe on-site. You can also eat your picnic back-pack lunch on the grounds.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/set/barn/index.htm
http://museum.stanford.edu/

Free Day at Tech Museum and Coyote Point Museum

Here are a few free admission opportunities at local museums/attractions. Remember to pack that back-pack lunch and save even more!

Tech Museum S.J.
2nd Sunday

Coyote Point Museum San Mateo
2nd Sunday

Arena Green Carousel S.J.
2nd Tuesday

For San Francisco & surrounding museum free days please see this link:

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/museums/ss/freemuseumdays.htm

Free $ to Spend at the Farmer's Market

Yesterday morning we enjoyed the cool breezes and warm smiles at our local farmer's market on Santa Teresa and Cottle:

http://www.pcfma.com/market_home.php?market_id=58

Our older daughter enjoyed turning in the free $1.00 coupon from our Pennysaver mailer to spend at the produce stand, digging up a bag full of "perfect" cherry tomatoes. It's a smaller non-chaotic market, but they do offer a basic selection of fruits and veggies.

Free Music Downloads

I wandered onto this freebie from the Los Gatos Library website. It's a new service called Freegal where you can download a certain amount of free mp3 music files per week for free. You just need a library card number. Don't worry: Los Gatos, (like most cities in the Bay Area) does not require you to be a resident of the city in order to sign up for a library card.

http://www.freegalmusic.com/users/snlogin

Free Preschool Age Summer Program

We just grabbed a flyer for a free summer reading program while at the library this afternoon:

Free Summer Reading Program for Preschool Children

Where: At De Colores Children's Center
196 Martinvale Ln. next to DMV
When: Every Wednesday from June 16th
Time: Mornings 11:00 am to 12:00
Evenings 6:00 pm to 7:00

For Registration call: 408/229-2000

SJPL's Summer Reading Program starts next week!

Yay for summer reading! Saturday, June 12 sees the kick off of the Summer Reading Celebration at the San Jose Public Library. We always sign up for the reading program to earn our little prizes. You can set a personal goal for each of the children or teens in your household and log your books online. They also host a ton of free events such as magic shows, craft workshops and clown performances. Check out their listing of summer events:

http://www.sjlibrary.org/gateways/kids/src/src_events.htm

Free Children's Podcasts

Are you looking for a quiet-time activity for that reluctant napper in your family? I discovered lovely podcasts of familiar folktales by searching "free children's podcasts" on the itunes store page. I downloaded some of my daughter's favorites from Letmetellyouatale.com and the storyhome.com such as Rumplestilstkin, and Stone Soup and created a playlist on the ipod for her to listen to on a recent road trip. Happy listening!

Affordable Swim Lessons

Over the years we have tried swim lessons at a variety of facilities in San Jose: first YMCA (brrrrr!), then summer lessons at one of the high school pools operated by the city (now defunct), and finally wonderful warm water lessons during the winter months at the "no frills" Timpany Center near Valley Medical. But our favorite find for both price and quality are the summer lessons offered by Valley Splash Aquatics (408/513-2450) at Valley Christian High School. The program is affiliated with SwimAmerica and broken down into a series of levels that students graduate through at their own individual pace. We liked that the student is tested right at the moment the instructor feels the child might be ready to move to the next station -- rather than waiting for other kids in the group to move up together. The instructors are high energy, professional and patient high school and college swimmers who really focus their talents on building the skills that progress the swimmers to the next level. It was amazing to see children enter the pool crying on Monday and jumping off the diving board into their coach's arms by Friday. Lessons are $65.00 a week, for 5 30 minute classes. They also offer private lessons. Bring lots of sunscreen and shady hats for siblings and caregivers!

Children's Discovery Museum Secret Parking

It's Sunday morning and time for our little stroll through downtown SJ and visit to members-only hour at Children's Discovery Museum. Our favorite free parking spot is located on Delmas and San Carlos, just on the other side of the VTA tunnel near Woz way. Your little one may find it thrilling or terrifying to cross under the 87 freeway, but the brave will save $5.00 and get a little extra exercise before and after the museum visit. We like to snag our free parking early and wander the foot paths and bridges past Center for Performing Art's large reflecting pool, on to Cafe Bijan for a sack of paper-thin raisin cookies to stave off the mid-morning crankies. Then back to the museum for an hour or so of play. You may pack a picnic and go to Arena Green to have lunch and a $1.00 ride on the carousel or a few minutes splashing in the fountains at Cesar Chavez Park before heading home for a long nap.

Play Clay Day

Are you concerned about your child using Playdough and bubble solution manufactured overseas? Here is a recipe for home made Play Clay from Miss Maria, teacher of my daughter's Toddler and Me class (Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation):

1 c. water
1-2 tsp. food coloring
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 c. salt
2 Tbs. oil
1 cup flour

Place all ingredients except for flour into a sauce pan over low heat. Stir in flour as mixture heats up. At this point you may need to remove from heat. Keep stirring until mixture starts looking dry. Dump onto counter and knead. Let cool and play! Store in a plastic bag or container.

This is a wonderful activity to teach about measurement and liquids and solids.

For bubble solution, Maria uses Downy and water. You can also try a corn syrup and Dawn solution.

Store Review: Grocery Outlet

Yesterday we made our monthly trek to the new & improved Grocery Outlet on Tully and Monterey Road. If you are wary of the "dented can store," you will be surprised what a clean, friendly and organized place it is. Here's the run-down: Grocery Outlet (kind of the Big Lots of the food world) sells close-out groceries, wine, household products and a nice selection of health and beauty supplies at a deep discount. A few caveats: watch out for the temptations of Lard Land (hydrogenated cookies packed to the gills) and you will be disappointed by the produce and bread selections, however there are a few cardinal rules to scoring excellent deals when shopping here:

• Be picky on your brand names but keep an open mind too.

• Always check expiration dates -that case of energy bars expiring at the end of the month might be quite fossilized (give-em a little squeeze nobody's looking).
  

• Get it RIGHT NOW because if it's good, it'll be gone tomorrow
  

I do bulk up on organic snacks for road trips, lunch boxes and the occasional keg of hand sanitizer. Yesterday we found Fig Newman's organic fig bars for $2.62 (I think they are close to $5.00 at most markets). You will find great deals on cereals, yogurts, frozen finds, soups and pastas and other yummy staples. Yes, you will get burned from time to time -- like the can of "mild" green chiles I innocently tossed into my bean soup & fed the kids. Ooops. Or that bag of mini frozen blueberries with so many stems still attached (extra fiber, people). But for the most part, it's cheap and it's great!

Pretty Princesses

Tonight I'm hoping to finish my daughters' "princess" dresses for a special birthday party we've been invited to attend. Instead of going the pricey Disney costume route, we headed to our favorite spot for kids' clothing-- Goodwill (Santa Teresa) and bought some plain party dresses with taffeta skirts for about $3.00 each. The girls and I visited Hancock Fabrics and picked up some colorful netting, ribbons and marabou to hand sew to the dresses. My older daughter added her own beads for flair and voila we will add some wings and turn them into fairy costumes next Halloween. I love our local Goodwill -- it's not as large and organized as the Almaden Expressway branch, but I find the best housewares, clothing and childrens' VHS for a song.

Free ZUMBA! @ the library

One of my favorite frugal mom finds from the past few months has been the free evening Zumba and Hatha yoga classes offered by the various branches of our San Jose Public Library. For the uninitiated, Miss Connie our dynamic Zumba instructor at Edenvale and Pearl Avenue will lead you through a heart-pounding 60 minutes of aerobic-latin dance routines. I love her positive spirit and encouragement, as there are ladies (and the rare gentleman) of all ages and body shapes in the house. Beware: she pumps the music loud enough to shake the library.... My favorite song from her collection: El Tiburon by Proyecto Uno. You'll have to look that one up on youtube.

Welcome

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a "seasoned" ability to score a great bargain. Whether it's my bulging coupon file located in the passenger door-cubby of the car, or my obsession with taking advantage of free kids' events at the public library -- I've got a knack for sniffing out a good deal.

Okay, whoever said, "write what you know" has got me thinking, wouldn't it be great fun to start documenting our fabulous family finds (restaurants and shops, outdoor spots....) for our friends and family members?

Since I am a librarian (currently at home to raise the kids), it's the perfect tool to stay current with my information skills. I hope you enjoy my new endeavor. I appreciate any comments and suggestions!