Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 6-3

Activities

June 3. 6 p.m. Free weekly jazz concerts at LACMA. This week: Greg Reitan Trio. BP Grand Entrance. No reservations needed.

June 3. 6 to 9 p.m. Free admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Friday Shark Lagoon Nights. The aquarium is free from 6pm to 9pm select Friday nights. Please note that while it is almost every Friday, some Fridays are excluded. Check the dates for availability before you go. Shark Lagoon Nights can be canceled due to poor weather. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.

June 4. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Every first Saturday of the month). Home Depot's Free Kids Workshop. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

June 4. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Latin Sounds in Hancock Park. (Free event every Saturday 5 pm–7 pm, May through September). This week: Téka. Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater at LACMA, in Hancock Park north of the museum.

June 5. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. (Los Angles County Museum of Art). This week: Pianist Mark Robson. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio

June 7. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

June 7. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

June 7. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO^® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 (I’ve brought my younger son without a problem). 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210. (818) 549-0733.

June 7. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org

Ongoing Deals

Interested in a Los Angeles Zoo Membership? I received an email from the zoo today, giving me a code to pass on to anyone interested in a membership. Use this code to get $10 off membership: 11105FFW This code is valid until June 30.

Catalina Express is celebrating their 30th Anniversary by giving a Free Pass to anyone who wants to go to Catalina on their birthday. Valid for round trip travel on your birthday between May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012.You must pre-register online! You will receive an email confirmation from which you will download and print your Free Birthday Pass. Here’s the link to check out all the details: http://www.catalinaexpress.com/birthday_promo.php

Kellogg’s has a free gas offer. Buy 10 Kellogg’s cereals, mail in the UPC codes with a form from this link http://www2.kelloggs.com/aarp/rewards/ , and get a $10 MasterCard to buy gas. You can do this 5 times per household.

Jamba Juice Deal! Get $2 Fruit Refreshers from Jamba Juice using the coupon found at the link below. These are made with fruit and coconut water. http://jambajuice.fbmta.com/shared/images/2147483718/2147483718_20110520314374.png

Snapple has a great rebate offer right now. Keep an eye at your local stores for Try Me Free Snapple rebate forms good on this product. The rebate is good for a FREE 6-pack (up to $5.99 value). I found some on the Snapple bottles at Ralphs. Plus you can request it once per person, but you can send up to 5 requests for other family members.

Upcoming Events

June 11. 3-5 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center’s Dance Production. $15 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets on sale now 818-921-4430. www.cpacstudio.com Birmingham High School Theatre. 17000 Haynes Street, Lake Balboa.

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 2-25

Activities

February 24-27. Valley Kids Consignment Premiere Event. Friday and Saturday, 9am-7pm, Sunday February 27th 2011 (50% off) 9am-5pm. 9660 Cozycroft Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311.

February 26. 10 a.m. FREE Build and Grow Clinic at Lowes. Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build a project. The kids get goggles and an apron and a kit to build an item. They use hammers their size and get a patch afterward for completing the project.

February 27. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Members of the Capitol Ensemble (Sundays Live's Resident Ensemble), Phillip Levy and Julie Gigante (violins), David Low (cello) and Francois Chouchan (piano), perform Schubert: Sonataine, and Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor, Opus 25.

March 1. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Free pancakes at IHOP! Receive one free short stack per person, no purchase necessary. Donations go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities.

March 1. 9 a.m. Get tickets for April free day for Huntington Gardens. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx.

March 1. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

March 1. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

March 1. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org.

March 1. 4pm - 7pm. Free 12 oz. drink at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Offer good at participating stores for a peach tea latte, peach iced tea latte or peach FruTea. I would call ahead and see if your store is offering this. Does not apply to stores in Ralphs.

March 1. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO^® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. (I brought my 5 year old and he was able to complete the build without a problem). 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210.(818) 549-0733. I attended this for the first time last month and it was a lot of fun! Make sure to get there early (we arrived around 4:30) and bring snacks and things to do while you wait in line.

March 3 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

Upcoming Events

March 5. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free 15^th Anniversary Celebration at the Mid Valley Regional Branch Library. Includes music by Monroe jazz band, bubble mania and Zumba! 16244 Nordoff Street, North Hills. 818-895-3650.

March 19. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Huge used book sale at Mid Valley Regional Library. Children’s books are generally 25 cents each! 16244 Nordoff Street, North Hills. 818-895-3650.

April 22 - April 24. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bunny’s Spring Fling at the Los Angeles Zoo. This event features bunny related crafts and activities including the Be-A-Bunny Ear Craft and Funny Bunny Face Painting. Children can also pet bunnies and plant their own carrot seeds to take home. In addition (for a nominal fee), Big Bunny will be available for souvenir photos. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (323) 644-4200.

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 1-28

Activities

January 28. 6 to 9 p.m. Free admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Friday Shark Lagoon Nights. The aquarium is free from 6pm to 9pm select Friday nights. Please note that while it is almost every Friday, some Fridays are excluded. Check the dates for availability before you go. Shark Lagoon Nights can be canceled due to poor weather. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.

January 29. 8:30 a.m. Free Thrive Financial Sessions on Debt, Tax, and Investing at the Church on The Way. Guest speakers include the founder and CEO of Not of This World (NOTW) Christian Clothing. Free childcare available for birth through kindergarten. For more information call 818-779-8020.

January 30. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Violinist Tim Fain and pianist Gideon Rubin perform Zimmerili: The Light Guitar, Glass: I Enjoyed the Laughter from Book of Longing, Fauré: Sonata No.1 in A Major, Puts: Arches, and Zhurbin: Sicilienne.

February 1. 9 a.m. Get tickets for March free day for Huntington Gardens. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx.

February 1. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

February 1. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

February 1. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO^® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210.
(818) 549-0733.

February 1. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org.

February 3 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

Ongoing Deals

During the month of February, all regular footlong sandwiches at Subway are $5!

Upcoming Events

February 4. 4 p.m.-6 p.m. FREE Michaels' Kids Workshop. Come and make a Free Valentine's Candy Photo Holder! This workshop is intended for children 3 and older.

February 5. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Every first Saturday of the month). Home Depot's Free Kids Workshop. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin. This month, make a heart shelf!

February 12. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free weekly crafts at Lakeshore on Saturdays! On the 12th, your child can make a Valentine's Day Bouquet.

February 13. 6 p.m. $25 per couple. Marrieds Valentine Dinner at the Church on the Way in the Living Room, East Campus. Come to a wonderful dinner with special musical guests and touching stories and child care for birth through 6^th grade. Call 818-779-8095 for more information.

February 24-27. Valley Kids Consignment Premiere Event. Friday and Saturday, 9am-7pm, Sunday February 27th 2011 (50% off) 9am-5pm. 9660 Cozycroft Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311.

March 1. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Free pancakes at IHOP! Receive one free short stack per person, no purchase necessary. Donations go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities.

Kristin’s Kickbacks List Week of 12-10

Activities

December 1-12. 12 Days of Holiday Cheer in Burbank. Various activities throughout the twelve days, including a snow day on the 11^th (More details in the upcoming events section). See this website for more details. http://www.downtown-burbank.org/events.php

December 10. 7 p.m. Polar Express Pajama Party at Barnes and Noble store in Burbank. Grab your PJ’s and snuggle up with your pillow or favorite stuffed animal while listening to a reading of The Polar Express and other holiday stories. A special holiday activity and hot chocolate will follow. 818-558-1383. 731 N San Fernando Boulevard.

December 11. 8:30-10 a.m. Burbank Town Center. Breakfast with Santa. Have breakfast with the big man himself! Join Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves in the food court for music, games, and lots of fun. Presented by the City of Burbank and the Burbank Town Center. Limited seating for an event that’s a sell-out every year. Tickets are required and cost $8. 818.238.5300.

December 11. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Burbank has a Free Snow Day! Kids are invited to romp in 15 tons of snow and enjoy refreshments, music, an ice sculptor and more. 818.238.5180 AMC Walkway at San Fernando Boulevard and Palm Avenue

December 11. 10 a.m. FREE Build and Grow Clinic at Lowes. Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build a project. The kids get goggles and an apron and a kit to build an item. They use hammers their size and get a patch afterward for completing the project.

December 11. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Target Free Family Saturday at the Japanese American National Museum. Enjoy a day or origami with family-friendly activities, workshops and demonstrations. 369 E. First St., L.A. 213-625-0414.

December 11. 2 p.m. & 3 p.m. Free admission to the Performing Books presentation. The Performing Books series is a monthly program designed to introduce children ages 4-10 to the performing arts through books. Professional storytellers and artists bring books to life through song, dance, voice and instruments. This month hear Knockin’ on Wood by Lynne Barasch. Learn the true story of the famous tap dancer Peg Leg Bates. A tragic accident left him with only one leg, but that didn’t stop him from fulfilling his dream to dance. Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., L.A. http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/events/Performing_Books_flyer.pdf

December 11. 7 p.m. Children’s Christmas Musical, “Back to the Manger” at Valley Vineyard Sanctuary. There is no entrance fee; instead they are asking that you bring an unwrapped gift for our Manna Ministry Christmas Give-away! 6642 Reseda Blvd., Reseda, CA 91335.

December 12. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Members of the Capitol Ensemble, Phillip Levy (violin), Amy Hershberger (violin), Victoria Miskolczy (viola), David Low (cello), Stuart Clark (clarinet), perform Elgar: Serenade, Opus 20, and Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581.

December 14. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. Theme this week is a visit from Santa and Christmas stories.

December 16. 6:30 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center CHRISTMAS SHOW will be held at Houses of Light in Northridge. 19408 Londelius St., Northridge. $3.00 per person general admission. I went last year and enjoyed the show very much!

Ongoing Deals

Glen Ivy Spa 25% Off!
http://www.glenivy.com/store/product.php?productid=54&cat=9&page=1
For those of you who like the elegance of the Glen Ivy Spa, you can now get gift cards for any of their locations at 25% off. Purchase a gift card worth $100 for only $75. Hurry, this offer ends December 20th.

Walmart has a deal right now where you can get a LEGO DUPLO Bricks and More Bricks Box for $29, plus you get a Bonus $20 eGift Card for Walmart! (Thanks Wendi, for the deal!) Great present for your little one or to keep for a birthday! You can have it shipped to the store near you for free or pay a small amount for shipping. Here’s the link:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/LEGO-DUPLO-Bricks-and-More-Bricks-Box-Large-BONUS-20-eGift-Card/15567579?wmlspartner=KVMQlzUfN40&sourceid=19972973424247313023

December 13-January 9. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Science in Toyland at the California Science Center. In this exhibit, kids can play games while learning science concepts, like how to make bridges stronger or why tops spin. FREE! 700 Exposition Park Dr., L.A.

Christmas Light Locations

Here are some places to view amazing Christmas light displays.

Christmas Tree Lane. This site is located in Altadena on Santa Rosa Avenue between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive. Viewings from dusk to 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on the weekends, starting December 11 and going through January 2. http://www.christmastreelane.net/?page_id=23

Candy Cane Lane. Located in Woodland Hills, this has been a favorite since the 50’s. The lights are in the vicinity of Oxnard Street and Lubao Avenue, near Pierce College. You can view the lights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on the weekends.

The Grove. There's a 60 foot tall Christmas tree that lights up beautifully at night. There's also an electric sleigh that takes shoppers for a ride around the area. 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, 90036.

Fritz Coleman, a local weatherman, has a segment called "Fritz's Holiday Lights." He's detailed the most amazing holiday light displays across Southern California.
Below is a list of some of the displays from last year. They are hopefully still current.

Burbank. Three different areas in Burbank were detailed. They include the 600 Block of South Orchard Drive, North of Riverside, the 500 Block of N. Florence Street, Between Verdugo & Clark and the 800 Block of Bethany Road, North of Kenneth Road.

Chatsworth. The 19800 Block of Hiawatha Street, North of Devonshire, East of Corbin has a display.

Granada Hills. Check out the16800 Block of Ruffner Avenue, South of San Fernando Mission Road.

Porter Ranch.18500 Block of Brasilia Drive, off Reseda Blvd has two major displays.

Reseda. The entire block is decorated at 7300 Yolanda Ave., North of Sherman Way & West of Reseda Blvd.

Santa Clarita. There are displays at the 22500 Block of Ash Court,
16205 Lost Canyon Road, off Sand Canyon Road, the 29200 Block of Avenida Avila, off Avenida Rancho Tesoro and Northbridge Point Neighbordhood.

Sherman Oaks. The light exhibit at the 3900 Block of Longview Valley Road, off Beverly Glen Blvd.includes music!

Simi Valley. This city has lights on the 2200 Block of N. Callahan Ave., South of Cochran Street and the 2400 Block of N. Lita Place, South of Cochran Street.

You can check out the following website for more holiday light displays and more detailed driving directions. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Fritzs-2009-Holiday-Lights-Tour.html

Kristin’s Kickbacks List Week of 12-3

Activities

December 1-12. 12 Days of Holiday Cheer in Burbank. Various activities throughout the twelve days, including a snow day on the 11^th (More details in the upcoming events section). See this website for more details. http://www.downtown-burbank.org/events.php

December 4. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Book Sale at the Mid Valley Library. Amazing used book sale with children’s books generally 25 cents! 16244 Nordhoff St., North Hills. 818-895-3650.

December 4. 10 a.m. FREE Build and Grow Clinic at Lowes. Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build a project. The kids get goggles and an apron and a kit to build an item. They use hammers their size and get a patch afterward for completing the project. (Usually the Lowes and Home Depot projects are on different weeks. To take advantage of both projects, you can pick up the kits at Lowes for free if you go around 10 a.m. and build them at home).

December 4. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Home Depot's FREE Kids Workshop to make a kit. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

December 5. 1:30 p.m. 27th Annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade. On Chatsworth St., from Petit Park Ave. to Zelzah Ave. Over four thousand youth participants representing 150 entries will be marching down Chatsworth Street. This year's theme "Favorite Holiday Gifts and Presents." The Granada Hills Holiday Parade is the largest holiday youth's celebration in the San Fernando Valley featuring celebrities, marching bands, equestrian units, youth groups, drill teams and decorated floats.

December 5. 5 p.m. 5^th Annual Lighting of the Valley’s Christmas Tree at The Church on the Way Sports Field @ 14700 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. Free hot chocolate, live nativity, Christmas carols and more! Bring your blankets and chairs for the showing of a great Christmas movie!

December 7. 9:30 a.m. (I believe this is the correct time. You can check by calling 818-756-7876.) Registration for free and inexpensive winter classes at Winnetka Recreation Center. L.A. Kids offers free classes, such as soccer and kids art, as well as inexpensive classes such as cooking for $30 for 8 weeks. Classes begin January 10^th. Great deal! 8401 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, 91306.

December 7. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. Theme this week is Hanukkah.

December 7. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

December 7. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org.

December 7. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO^® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210.
(818) 549-0733.

Upcoming Events

December 10.10am-12pm. Christmas Tea with Mom’s Bible Study of The Church on the Way. Guests are welcome!! If you would like to participate in the Christmas gift exchange, bring a wrapped gift worth $10. Childcare is available in the King’s Kids building. Please pack a lunch for your child. The Church on the Way West Campus - King’s Chapel.

December 10. 7 p.m. Polar Express Pajama Party at Barnes and Noble store in Burbank. Grab your PJ’s and snuggle up with your pillow or favorite stuffed animal while listening to a reading of The Polar Express and other holiday stories. A special holiday activity and hot chocolate will follow. 818-558-1383. 731 N San Fernando Boulevard.

December 11. 8:30-10 a.m. Burbank Town Center. Breakfast with Santa. Have breakfast with the big man himself! Join Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves in the food court for music, games, and lots of fun. Presented by the City of Burbank and the Burbank Town Center. Limited seating for an event that’s a sell-out every year. Tickets are required and cost $8. 818.238.5300.

December 11. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Burbank has a Free Snow Day! Kids are invited to romp in 15 tons of snow and enjoy refreshments, music, an ice sculptor and more. 818.238.5180 AMC Walkway at San Fernando Boulevard and Palm Avenue

December 11. 2 p.m. & 3 p.m. Free admission to the Performing Books presentation. The Performing Books series is a monthly program designed to introduce children ages 4-10 to the performing arts through books. Professional storytellers and artists bring books to life through song, dance, voice and instruments. This month hear Knockin’ on Wood by Lynne Barasch. Learn the true story of the famous tap dancer Peg Leg Bates. A tragic accident left him with only one leg, but that didn’t stop him from fulfilling his dream to dance.Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., L.A. http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/events/Performing_Books_flyer.pdf

December 16. 6:30 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center CHRISTMAS SHOW will be held at Houses of Light in Northridge. 19408 Londelius St., Northridge. $3.00 per person general admission. I went last year and enjoyed the show very much!

Local and Online Weekend Deals from Groupon

$15 for $30 Worth of Gifts from RedEnvelope
http://www.groupon.com/phoenix/

Highlights

• Variety of unique gifts
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Many gifts less than $50
• Stock up for the holidays

The Fine Print

• Expires Feb 28, 2011
• Limit 1/person, cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Upon expiration, unused Vouchers will be redeemable for $15 at RedEnvelope. Valid towards shipping. Some limitations apply; see full terms.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$60 for Framed, Personalized Print from Create Your Own Successories (Up to $130 Value)

http://www.groupon.com/deals/create-your-own-successories-fresno?c=dnb&p=1

Highlights

• High-quality framed prints
• Upload your own image
• User-friendly interface
• Four frame & mat styles

The Fine Print

• Expires in 1 year
• Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Order subject to additional tax if shipped to Florida. May be obligated to pay the difference for expedited shipping.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$13 for $26 Worth of Coffee from The Bean Coffee Co.

http://www.groupon.com/san-jose/

Highlights

• 100% organic coffees
• Contains antioxidant CGA
• Roasted in small batches
• Family-owned business

The Fine Print

• Expires Apr 7, 2011
• Limit 2 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Must use in 1 purchase. May not redeem until 12/7 at midnight. Valid online only. Shipping not included. Tax Included. Must use in 1 visit, no cash or credit back.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$15 for $35 Worth of Gourmet Coffees, Teas, and Gifts from Joe’s Coffee House Online

http://www.groupon.com/deals/joes-coffee-house-wilmington?c=dnb&p=1

Highlights

• Exotic, international blends
• New gadgets for the kitchen
• Great gift idea

The Fine Print

• Expires Jun 6, 2011
• Limit 1 per visit. Not valid until 12:00pm on 12/6. Shipping not included.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$65 for a Harry Potter Wall-Art Bundle from Harry Potter Wall Art

http://www.groupon.com/deals/harry-potter-wall-art-chicago?c=gpc&p=2

Highlights

• High-quality art hangings
• Durable, reusable decals
• Choose from multiple bundles

The Fine Print

• Expires Apr 6, 2011
• Limit 2 per person. Holiday orders must be placed by 12/18 to ensure delivery. No cash value. Not valid with other offers. Shipping included.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$15 for $35 Worth of Jewelry and Accessories at ShoptheLook.net

http://www.groupon.com/deals/shopthelook-boston?c=gpc&p=2

Highlights

• Trendy accessories featured in major publications
• Chic styles at affordable prices
• Valid for anything on the site

The Fine Print

• Expires Apr 6, 2011
• Limit 2 per person, may buy multiple as gifts. Limit 1 per order. Not valid until 12/7. Must use in 1 order, no cash back. Shipping included.
• See the rules that apply to all deals

$20 for $50 Worth of Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards and Stationery from Paper Culture

http://www.groupon.com/deals/paper-culture-3?c=gpc&p=3

Highlights

• Eco-friendly products
• Stylish, modern designs
• Cards for any event
• Tree planted with each order

The Fine Print

• Expires Jun 1, 2011
• Limit 1 per person. Not valid until 12/7/2010. May not use value toward previously placed orders. No refunds. Non-transferable. Must use in 1 visit, no cash back. Tax, shipping and handling not included. Not valid with other offers.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$85 for a Full-Year Membership to the Indie Film of the Month Club at Film Movement ($192 Value)

http://www.groupon.com/deals/film-movement-nyc?c=gpc&p=3

Highlights

• One indie film each month
• DVD is yours to keep
• Films from prestigious festivals
• Comedies, dramas, and more

The Fine Print

• Expires Jun 6, 2011
• Limit 1 per person, may buy multiple as gifts. Must activate by 6/6/11. Membership expires 1 year after activation. Redeemable starting 12/7/10. Shipping included.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$29 for $61 Worth of Meat, Apparel, and Other Manly Products from Man Cave

http://www.groupon.com/deals/man-cave-portland?c=gpc&p=2

Highlights

• Premium meats & seasonings
• Barbecue essentials
• One-of-a-kind guy gear
• Manly apparel

The Fine Print

• Expires in 1 year
• Limit 2 per person. Limit 1 per order. Online only. Allow 20 days for delivery for meat orders. Not valid with other offers.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

$10 for $25 Worth of Nuts, Dried Fruit, and More from Nutty Guys

http://www.groupon.com/deals/nutty-guys-dallas-1?c=dnb&p=1

Highlights

• Large variety of treats
• Fresh nuts and dried fruit
• Easy online ordering

The Fine Print

• Expires Jun 4, 2011
• Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per order. Not valid until 12/4 at noon. Must use in 1 order. Tax and shipping not included. Not valid with other offers.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

Kristin’s Kickbacks List Week of 11-12

Activities

November 11-14. Give & Get is here! Enjoy 30% off your total purchase and Feeding America gets 5% of what you spend. Shop in store at Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Store or Old Navy. Use this coupon: http://gap.p.delivery.net/m/p/gap/gcan/gpjump.asp?p=bp/fa.html

November 12. 6-8 pm. FREE weekly jazz concerts at LACMA, no reservations required. LA Times Central Court. This week: Littleton Brothers.

November 13. 10 a.m. FREE Build and Grow Clinic at Lowes. Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build a periscope. The kids get goggles and an apron and a kit to build an item. They use hammers their size and get a patch afterward for completing the project.

November 13. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. FREE day at Japanese American National Museum. This day includes a weaving workshop for kids, Thanksgiving-themed crafts and cookie making. 369 East First Street, Los Angeles, 90012.(213) 625-0414.

November 14. 1-3:30 p.m. Gingerbread House Event at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura. Look at beautiful gingerbread houses created by local chefs and kids can create their own houses (RSVP required) to raise money for this charity organization. $5 per family (up to 4 people). To RSVP and reserve time slots for the children, please call 805.379.4777. http://www.twcvv.org/

November 14. 4-7:30 p.m. Half Day Marrieds Seminar at the Church on the Way. “Making Difficult Marriages Great and Great Marriages Better!” At just $10 per couple and dinner included, this is a bargain! Childcare is available. For more information call 818-779-8000.

November 14. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: NEC pianist Gonzalo Farias performs Robert Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Opus 6, and music by György Kurtag.

November 16. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. Theme this week is ideas and things that changed the world.

November 16. after 2 p.m. Get 2 free tacos at Jack in the Box. You just need to ask.

November 18. 11:30-2 p.m. The Bacon Truck will be at Telesis Credit Union. Stop by and see what they are serving. 9301 Winnetka Ave., Chatsworth, 91311.

November 18 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way. For children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. This week: Field Trip to the Getty Museum. $15 for parking, admission is free. Bring a picnic lunch or food is available for purchase.

November 18. 3-5. Free ice skating, including skate rentals, at Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd at Erwin St. (818) 854-4151. Opening Ceremony at 5:30PM followed by an ice show.

Photo Deals

Picaboo has a photo deal right now. Buy A Book or Calendar, Get A Copy Free - Code: BGFTHX. I plan to use this deal with my gift certificate I got from Groupon. I make photo calendars to give out as gifts to my family each year. You can also get 25% off cards. Use code CARD25 at checkout. Both deals expire 11/15.

My friend Mercy told me about this site http://www.photobookgirl.com/ It’s “A Guide to Photo Book Reviews, Deals and Tips.” It tells about the latest photo deals out there.

I also like Frugal Girls photo deals at http://thefrugalgirls.com/hot-photo-deals

Ongoing Deals

Anyone who is considering a membership to the Los Angeles Zoo can save $10 on the cost of the membership through December 31, 2010. Use promo code: 11010FFW www.lazoo.org

Get a free download of the Veggie Tales Holiday album The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree from Amazon.com. You can either download each song individually, or if you want the whole album at once, you'll have to download the Amazon mp3 software. Either way, it's FREE! There's no indication of how long this offer will be available.

Save 20% on Disney Merchandise in store or online!

http://www.disneystore.com/?CMP=AFL-AffLSGen&att=LSGenAffl&LSID=3593887%257C10836292%257C
Get 20% off sitewide with this Disney coupon, valid through Nov. 15, 2010 with coupon code DISNEYFAN AND get free shipping on purchases of $75 or more (after discount).

There are two retailers currently offering free coffee:

Burger King has free coffee Fridays during the month of November.
http://www.bk.com/en/us/restaurant-locator/index.html?coffee=true

Stop by BK® every Friday in November for a free cup of tasty Seattle’s Best Coffee.®

One free 12 oz. hot Seattle’s Best Coffee® per customer per visit during breakfast hours only on Fridays in November.

While supplies last.Not valid on flavored shots or whipped topping.At participating restaurants only.

7-Eleven has an even better free coffee coupon that is good every day of the week, and doesn't expire until December 31, 2010.

The coupon is on the second page of the link:
https://online.citibank.com/USBA/einserts/3270.pdf

Excludes iced coffee.
Offer good at participating U.S. 7-Eleven stores.
Limit one coupon per customer per day.
Offer not valid with any other coupon or discount.

Free game of bowling at AMF for up to 6 people. Shoe rental not included. Here’s the link to the coupon. (Thanks, Nikki!) http://images.revtrax.com/RevTrax/amf2.jsp?viewType=viewFull&programId=10335037&merchantId=10231201&affiliateId=10311263&uid=MTQ3OTg3NTY4OTES1&text1=270&text2=nikki

Upcoming Events

November 20. 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Free performance at the outdoor W.M. Keck Children’s Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Enjoy a show featuring Red Thunder, celebrating the heritage of the Plains Indians through music and traditional dance. (Tickets for 11 a.m. show distributed beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets for 12:30 show distributed at 11 a.m.).111 S. Grand Ave., L.A., 90012. Tickets are free and distributed on Grand Ave. at 2^nd street. http://www.musiccenter.org/events/worldcity.html

November 20. 2 p.m. & 3 p.m. Free admission to the Performing Books presentation. The Performing Books series is a monthly program designed to introduce children ages 4-10 to the performing arts through books. Professional storytellers and artists bring books to life through song, dance, voice and instruments. This month hear Belinda and the Glass Slipper & Belinda in Paris by Amy Young. Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., L.A. http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/events/Performing_Books_flyer.pdf

November 20. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. San Fernando Valley 2010 Children’s Day. Woodley Park. 6350 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys. Free admission! There will be carnival rides, rock climbing, food and much more!

Kristin’s Kickbacks List Week of 10-29

Activities

October 1-31. Kids, ages 3-9, get free admission to San Diego Zoo (with purchase of adult ticket). If you were planning a trip, this would be a good time to go.

October 3-31. Pumpkin Festival at Lombardi Ranch. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission, $4 train ride, $4 corn maze, $3 petting zoo, $4.50 for either wagon ride or pony ride. 29527 Bouquet Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita. www.lombardiranch.com.

October 9-November 7. Weekends 9am - 5pm,Weekdays 2pm - 5pm. Forneris Farms Festival and Corn Maze. Free admission and parking. $4 train ticket, $7 corn maze (3 and younger free with paid adult), kids play area $3. 15200 Rinaldi St., Mission Hills. www.fornerisfarms.com.

October 29-November 1. Circus Vargas will be in Canoga Park at Westfield Topanga -Topanga Canyon Blvd. at Victory Blvd. Prices vary. There were coupons available at the Ralphs near my house in Van Nuys.

October 29. 6-8 pm. FREE weekly jazz concerts at LACMA, no reservations required. LA Times Central Court. This week: Harold Land Jr. Trio with vocalist Rita Edmond.

October 29. IHOP is offering Scary Face Pancakes free of charge for children 12 and under (one per child). The Scary Face Pancake includes an oversized signature buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and strawberry nose, served with two mini OREO® cookies and candy corn on the side to allow kids to create their own pancake.

October 30. 4-8 p.m. Harvest Fair at The Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship. Come and enjoy the live music, games, candy, prizes, crafts, bounce house, Interactives (Sumo Wrestling & Velcro Wall), face painting, BBQ, Bake sale, Toddler fun and more.... It's Free! But bring a little cash for BBQ, Interactives, and Bake sale. 6642 Reseda Blvd., Reseda, 91335. (818)776-9696.

October 31. 4-7 p.m. Fall Family Festival at The Church on The Way. 14720 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. Free Event for the Community. Free Games! Free Candy! Free Rides! Food available for purchase.

October 31. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Bernadene Blaha (piano), Judith Farmer (bassoon), Brian Head (guitar), Michele Zukovsky (clarinet) perform works by Poulenc, Beethoven, and Mozart.

November 1. 9 a.m. Get tickets at December 1st for Huntington Gardens, the free day of the month. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/

November 2. Don’t forget to vote!

November 2. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. Theme this week is Curious George.

November 2. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

November 2. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org.

November 2. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210. (818) 549-0733.

November 3. 11:30-2 p.m. Border Grill truck, a gourmet food truck, will be at the Telesis Credit Union in Chatsworth. Many friends have recently become interested in the gourmet food trucks that offer good prices on great food. Come buy some food from Border Grill truck, bringing you tasty tacos, quesadillas, tamales and more! 9301 Winnetka Ave., Chatsworth, 91311.

November 4 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way. For children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. Theme this week: Singin’ the Blues. King’s Kid’s Bldg. on the West Campus. 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. 818-779-8000.

Photo Deals

My friend Mercy told me about this site http://www.photobookgirl.com/ It’s “A Guide to Photo Book Reviews, Deals and Tips.” It tells about the latest photo deals out there.
I also like Frugal Girls photo deals at http://thefrugalgirls.com/hot-photo-deals

Upcoming Events

November 6-7. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Burbank Fine Arts Festival. The free event includes the exhibition of 90 artists who will display their original work in Downtown Burbank, as well as live entertainment. 100 San Fernando Blvd. between Magnolia and Olive Ave., Downtown Burbank.
www.downtown-burbank.org

November 20. 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Free performance at the outdoor W.M. Keck Children’s Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Enjoy a show featuring Red Thunder, celebrating the heritage of the Plains Indians through music and traditional dance. (Tickets for 11 a.m. show distributed beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets for 12:30 show distributed at 11 a.m.).111 S. Grand Ave., L.A., 90012. Tickets are free and distributed on Grand Ave. at 2nd street. http://www.musiccenter.org/events/worldcity.html

November 20. 2 p.m. & 3 p.m. Free admission to the Performing Books presentation. The Performing Books series is a monthly program designed to introduce children ages 4-10 to the performing arts through books. Professional storytellers and artists bring books to life through song, dance, voice and instruments. This month hear Belinda and the Glass Slipper & Belinda in Paris by Amy Young. Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., L.A. http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/events/Performing_Books_flyer.pdf

Kristin’s Kickbacks List Week of 10-1

October 1. 6-8 pm. FREE weekly jazz concerts at LACMA, no reservations required. LA Times Central Court. This week: Tom Rizzo Quartet. With his signature sweet tone and driving rhythmic pulse, guitarist Tom Rizzo plays not only bebop based jazz, but has also spent much of his career playing funk, pop, folk, R&B, and alternative music. Rizzo has recorded and performed with a wide range of musicians including Maynard Ferguson, Johnny Mathis, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, along with numerous recordings under his own name.

October 1 - October 3. Last weekend for the L.A. County Fair!
PARKING is $10 for general and $15 for preferred.

October 1. 12-6 p.m. L.A. County Fair. Ralphs Food Drive Fridays. Bring 5 cans of Ralphs brand food on Fridays to the fair and receive an admission ticket. The food is donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Do you have any children in kindergarten up through 8th grade? The Read to Ride Program is a special reward program for kids who read books over their summer vacations. Kids will receive 3 free carnival ride vouchers for every 2 books they read and write a book report for. Check out all the details at this link: http://www.lacountyfair.com/2010/entertainment/documents/21ReadtoRide10.pdf

October 1-3. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. LA Kids Consignment sale. This is a children's consignment sale where you can find 50,000+ gently-used and new kids items from cribs to toys to bikes and clothing for newborns through pre-teens. 157 W. Providencia Ave., Burbank, 91502. http://www.lakidsconsignment.com/

October 1-31. Kids, ages 3-9, get free admission to San Diego Zoo (with purchase of adult ticket). If you were planning a trip, this would be a good time to go.

October 2. 9 a.m. (Come as early as 8 a.m. for food and fellowship). Men’s and Women’s Fall kickoff event at The Church on The Way. Childcare is available, reservations required. Call 818-779-8085 for more information. This will be a great time to hear about all the wonderful new groups starting and be refreshed!

October 2. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Home Depot's FREE Kids Workshop to make a fireboat. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

October 2. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Special Latin Music FREE at LACMA, Hancock Park.
In celebration of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pavilion, join us for an afternoon of live Latin music. 12–1 pm: Plaza de la Raza Youth Mariachi Ensemble, under the direction of Irineo Yanez. 1–4 pm: Angel Lebron y Su Sabor. 4–6 pm: Quetzal.

October 2-3. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. FREE admission to LACMA to celebrate the opening of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion. Timed tickets required. Please click here to reserve your tickets. Please click here to view the schedule for the weekend, including music, family activities, a free photo booth and food for purchase.

October 3. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Guest Artists from NEC perform Schumann (Guest pianists from New England Conservatory perform works in commemoration of Robert Schumann's bicentennial).

October 5. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. Theme this week is Olivia!

October 5. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

October 5. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening for Kidspace Museum. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with cultural art activities by Lation Heritage from 5 to 7pm and a dance performance by Folklorico Nahuatzen at 6 p.m. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103. (626) 449-9144. http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/

October 5. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210. (818) 549-0733.

October 5. 6 p.m. FREE. Kids Club at The Commons at Calabasas. This week: Ventriloquist Puppetry. 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas.

October 6. 11 a.m. Kids Club at The Lakes in Thousand Oaks. This week: Puppets on Parade. 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., T. Oaks, 91362.

October 7-9. Used book sale at Northridge Library. Get a bag of books for $2! Hours: Oct. 7, 4 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 8 & 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 818-886-3640. 9051 Darby Avenue, Northridge, 91325.

Paid Focus Groups

Have you ever been to a focus group? Companies will pay you to tell them what you think about their products. They are generally 1-2 hours and vary in pay, about $75-$100 dollars for your time. Some places even feed you! Here is a list of some local groups. If you sign up for several different groups, you have a better chance of getting called. You are eligible every 3 months or so, depending on the group.

**Adept Consumer Testing http://www.adeptconsumer.com/home.php

Trotta http://www.trotta.net/join.htm

Qualitative Insights http://www.q-insights.com/respondent.html

Adler Weiner Research http://www.awr-la.com/participants.htm

Facts ‘N Figures Inc. http://www.factsnfiguresinc.com/

Inspired Opinions (formerly called Schlesinger Associates) https://inspiredopinions.com/registration.php?rc=MTg%3D

Savitz Research Companies http://www.savitzpanel.com/

Plaza Research http://www.plazaresearch.com/

Check out this link if you live somewhere besides Los Angeles: http://hubpages.com/hub/Paid_Focus_Groups

**New to list

Upcoming Events

October 8. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Mom’s Bible Study begins at The Church on the Way.

October 9. Used book sale at Mid-Valley Regional Branch. This is a sale not to miss! Children’s books have all been 25 cents in the past! It’s held in a small room stuffed with books, so I try to go without my children if possible. 16244 Nordhoff St., North Hills, 91343. 818-895-3650.

October 9. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Target Free Family Saturday at the Japanese American National Museum. The day includes workshops, performances, and craft activities for children. 369 East First Street, L.A., 90012. (213) 625-0414. http://www.janm.org/

October 22-24. 9 a.m.-5 p.m LA Kids Consignment sale in Santa Clarita. This is a one-weekend only children's consignment sale where you can find 50,000+ gently-used and new kids items from cribs to toys to bikes and clothing for newborns through pre-teens. 24901 Avenue Stanford, Valencia, 91355. http://www.lakidsconsignment.com/

October 23. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Healthy Neighborhood Festival. Music and dance workshops and performances. Cooking workshops. Admission, parking and health screenings are free. The California Endowment. 1000 N. Alameda Street, L.A., 90012. http://www.calendow.org/healthyneighborhoodfest