Archives for November 2014

If you’re getting ready to do some online shopping this Cyber Monday, you’ll want to check out FreeShipping.com first!

Free Shipping.com is a cash back site with a bonus-free shipping!

You just go to the site, find one of thousands of retailers you’d like to shop with, and the site will redirect you AND automatically reward you 10% back! Plus, if you didn’t find a free shipping offer at the site, you can get your shipping costs refunded.

Yep-you may never pay shipping again. Oh, and in addition to your free shipping and 10% cash back every day, you also get free returns and price protection. Plus, through Monday, you can score an awesome  20% off at five amazing stores every day.

This year, I’ll be skipping the mall mob and shopping from my couch (It’s nice here)!

My favorite thing about FreeShipping.com is that you can stack your cash back and shipping benefits with other available deals and discounts.

My older son has been desperate for a Russell Wilson jersey for a while now. I was able to find one on sale at Kohl’s. Plus, Kohl’s was already offering free shipping with a 25.00 purchase and an extra 20% off. Remember-You can use those deals along with your FreeShipping.com perks!

I was able to get the jersey for 30.00, and with my FreeShipping.com membership, I’ll get an additional 10% back, so it’s like I got it for 27.00-which is a great price for this item.

Right now, you can sign up for a 30 month free trial of FreeShipping.com for FREE. Just enter the Clever Girls coupon code HOLIDAY2014 . After your trial period, you can also get a special discounted membership rate of 9.95 a month (If you shop online as much as I do you know how quickly that will pay for itself).

Honestly, since a trial is free right now you’ve got nothing to lose, unless you really enjoy paying for shipping and don’t like getting cash back! But that doesn’t sound like you!

Will you be shopping online this year? I’d love hear about the deals You score. There should totally be victory dances for cyber shopping wins!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Looking for something kid friendly to do this weekend?

Here’s our weekly guide to South Sound area fun with activities for Tacoma, Puyallup, Olympia, and Your South Sound home!

You’ll find a list just like this-just for the South Sound-every Friday morning!

Headed elsewhere? There is always lots more to explore  at ThriftyNWmom  thanks to frugal fun finder, Annaliese, of Grays Harbor Deals!

You can say hello to the reindeer at Watson’s Nursery. Santa will also be on hand select days. Photo courtesy of Watson’s Nursery

Ongoing Holiday Events

Reindeer at Watson’s nursery, holiday events at The Old Cannery, Santa at the fairgrounds, Skating at the Polar Plaza in downtown Tacoma-See our holiday events guides for all the details.

Fantasy Lights at Lake Spanaway

Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo

Friday

Kids’ Night Out at Pump It Up in Tacoma  Every Friday  Registration and fees required-kids enjoy jumping and pizza, while you get some grown-up time!  They also have a drop n shop event this afternoon.

 Got Princesses? Tree lighting, stories, and special guests at A Simple Wish in Puyallup Tickets $20/person. Call for reservations. Also enjoy “Christmas with Belle” on December 14th. Events sell out, so get tickets in advance if this is a must do for your princess! 

Tree Lighting in Edgewood-Santa and more!

Bridge Lighting and holiday fun at The Old Cannery in Sumner

“Let it snow,” event at the Conservatory in Wright Park   The glass walled conservatory is transformed into a snow globe!  [Read more…]

It’s the holiday season, and that means it’s time for Sounds Fun Mom’s annual season of giveaways!

That’s right-If you’re new here, every year about this time, I give away tickets to one fabulous South Sound event each week. Just because I love you, and I love the businesses and groups who work with us.

I know…….it’s kind of mushy! At any rate, if you’re not already following the site somehow, I’d encourage you to become an email subscriber, follow me on Twitter, like the site on Facebook. OR just make sure that you make Sounds Fun Mom an everyday habit!

With that out of the way…….

I’m giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to A Christmas Carol with our friends at ManeStage Theatre Company in Sumner.

It’s the heartwarming, Dicken’s story you know with Scrooge, the ghosts of Christmas past, Tiny Tim, and its enduring message about what really matters. It would be a great one to share with the whole family. I think elementary aged children and up would probably enjoy it the most.

If you haven’t yet discovered ManeStage Theater, you really should. They’re committed to producing quality, family friendly productions that showcase their actors and enhance the community. In other words, they’re the kind of group worth supporting!

The show runs November 29th-December 20th right in Sumner (You know we LOVE local)!  Our winner gets to PICK the show to attend! Woot!

and, on to the contest….

• For a first, required entry, just leave a comment telling us why you’d like to win. You might want to check out the ManeStage website to see some of their other upcoming shows.
• For a second, optional entry, like Sumner Manestage on Facebook and then come back and leave a comment here that you did so.
• For a third, optional entry, share this post somehow-share it on Facebook, Tweet it, or just tell your pals at pick up time. Then, leave a comment telling me you did so and what you did.
• All entries must be left as comments on this post, and you should leave each as a separate comment to improve your odds!

If you’ve never commented before, yours will go to moderation first, but I promise I’ll get them approved just as fast as I can.

I’ll draw a winner Friday morning, and you’ll have 24 hours to respond. Puh-leze leave an email you check and check back for the announcement of the winner. Good Luck!

Looking for something kid friendly to do this weekend?

Here’s our weekly guide to South Sound area fun with activities for Tacoma, Puyallup, Olympia, and Your South Sound home!

You’ll find a list just like this-just for the South Sound-every Friday morning!

Headed elsewhere? There is always lots more to explore  at ThriftyNWmom  thanks to frugal fun finder, Annaliese, of Grays Harbor Deals!

Friday night is family science night at the Science Dome at Pierce College, or go Saturday for one of their regular, weekly films on the science dome screen.

Friday

 Dynamic Earth with Hands-On Activities at the Science Dome  Hands-on science stations beginning at 6PM (one pg. says 5:30-you might want to split the difference and try 5:45)!  followed by a half hour astronomy presentation and a 25 minute movie on the domed screen. The movie is 3.00, and you’ll want to get tickets in advance. The activities are free, drop-ins. Events here are always Great! If you have a child with an interest in science, you should go!

Kids’ Night Out at Pump It Up in Tacoma  Every Friday  Registration and fees required-kids enjoy jumping and pizza, while you get some grown-up time!

Saturday

All Over

Booksgiving Day At Half-Price Books  Free storytime at 1PM and every child who attends gets a free book.

Kids’ Club at Michael’s Michael’s offers 30 minute craft sessions for kids for 2.00 from 10-12:oo.  It’s a DIY felt stocking today.

South King County

Visit the HCC Mast Center  at Redondo   The center and its touch tanks of sea critters are free and open to the public every Saturday from 10-2

 Tree Lighting at the Landing in Renton

[Read more…]

I thought it was about time I introduced you to the baby of the family!

I know……isn’t he the most handsome thing ever?

Now, I know this is a site about kids’ activities, but I also know that many of you consider your four-legged friends every bit a member of the family. As you can tell, we do here. Henry is the dog’s favorite playmate-here they are heading home from one of our adventures.

Like all young boys, our dog has gotten into his share of mischief, especially as a puppy. Naturally, when Royal Canin explained they were looking for dog owners whose pets had had tummy upsets, we raised our paws hands.

You see, our handsome boy came to us as a rescue. He was well cared for by his previous owners, but they just didn’t have time to keep up with the demands of an energetic, young field lab. He had learned some bad habits while he was, “Entertaining,” himself, including standing up on his tall back legs (He’s kind of like a lab on stilts) and getting everything he could off the counter top and tables.

I’m happy to report he’s now a very well mannered dog, but during the first months he was home, I lost track of the number of times I found myself frantically Googling something he had ingested. [Read more…]

A quick note to let you know that we’ve updated our list of

Santa Breakfasts, and (drumroll, please….)

our great, big list of South Sound holiday events. There are still a few happenings we’re working on adding, but there is definitely plenty to look over and mark on your calendar!

If you do want in on one of the breakfasts, those are all on sale now, and many of them sell out, so don’t wait long.

Personally, I’m a big believer in making choices and creating memories this time of year. If you try to do it all, you’ll just go crazy, but if you select a manageable number of  special outings you’ll have time to really enjoy yourself!

What area events are must-dos for your family?

Hey, Tacoma area friends-looking for something to do tomorrow? Our fabulous sponsors at, Pump It Up  are filming a new commercial on Tuesday November 18th from 12:45-2:45,  and if you’re willing to have your kiddos be in it, they can jump for FREE and have FREE pizza and birthday cake!

Sounds like a ton of fun to me!

If you’d like in, call the staff to RSVP. Let them know your names, how many of you to expect, and, of course, feel free to say you saw it on Sounds Fun Mom!  The front desk is (253) 254-7971.