Here’s your friendly reminder…

Remember that Redbox code you got last week from Facebook?

Yeah…today’s the day to use it.

What movie are YOU getting? Enjoy!

I’ll post a reminder. *wink*

Three more shows full of high flying jumps, dirt throwing donuts and ear thrashing car crushing!

Tonight – Allstate Arena at 7:30 pm

Tomorrow – February 13th at 2:00 and 7:30 (get your tickets tonight online because the code is not good for same day shows!)

Use the promo code MOM here to get 33% off $20 mid-level adult tickets and $10 kids tickets (age 12 and under).*fees apply

Monster Jam in Review

• Protect Your Hearing: As I’ve said before, be SURE to bring protection for your ears. You seriously cannot hear yourself talk. Honestly, it amazes me that people bring their small children to these shows with NO ear protection. I’ve personally handed out ear plugs to people…because I care.
• Show Length: Roughly two hours of truck jumps, truck racing and freestyle driving (my favorite.) Between each event, four wheeler racing takes place. There is also an intermission, but you don’t want to miss it! That is when the real-life Transformer show takes place! FYI: These things are amazing…and I’ve been told that they are all homemade! Incredible.
• Parking: EEEEKKK! It’s $20 to park at Allstate for this show. Ugh.
• Dress: It’s dirty, fumy and can get downright chilly when they open the tunnel doors. Make sure your kids stay warm. Not a place for dressy clothes. If you sit close, you may end up with a lap full of dirt. No joke.
• Tickets: If you are picking up your tickets at Will Call – remember – the box office is in the building in the back of Allstate, across the street. Give yourself a little extra time to retrieve them.
• Bonus: If you have the time, definitely go to the Crown Club room (close to sections 104/105) to meet the drivers after the show. Last year, and this year, they were all so thankful and kind. It can take a while to get through the line, so I recommend skipping out of the show quickly to get a head start in line. Last night, we were within the first 10 people in line. Last year? It took over two hours. No thanks. The drivers have black & silver pens to sign items with, one item per person. As you can see, they are very willing to take pictures as well!

Gear yourself up and have a great time! Oh, and there are a few giveaways too…good luck!

• Show Length: It’s about a two hour show. Don’t worry,there’s a 15 minute intermission after the first 45 minutes.
• Interactive: Yes! The characters encourage clapping, yelling out and singing along. If you are lucky enough to sit in the front row, you may even get a visit by a certain pig.
• Music: Lots and LOTS of 70′s & 80′s Retro tunes
• Costuming: Fantastic as usual: consistent, bright and detailed
• Props: Well use of minimal props. Using the ice for multitudes of projections was ingenious! We were impressed how the movie theme was carried out through the use of the ice “screen.”

Tickets are still available! Be sure to use the promo code MOM so you can purchase a 4 pack of tickets for only $44 (valid Monday-Thursday, Friday Matinees, excluding holidays) and save $4 on all weekend shows. Be sure to enter MOM in the MC Promotions box on Ticketmaster. **Bonus! Parking is FREE at the UNITED CENTER shows.**

Prepare yourself for a “Ho-down Throwdown”…

Watch out for “A snake in your boots”…

And head to “infinity and beyond!”

Honest Blogger Found Here: I am an FFA ambassador of Feld Entertainment. In exchange for an FFA’s time and effort, they offer their families complimentary tickets to the shows and opportunities to attend private FFA pre-show events and/or meet and greets.

365 days is WAY too long to wait…for us to see it again!

Chicagoland – are you ready for some smokey, exciting, rough-and-tumble family fun?

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, brought to you by Ford Trucks is coming to Allstate Arena:

Opening Night, February 11 at 7:30 pm

February 12 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

February 13 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

The color, light, sound, speed and intense action of Feld- Motor Sports events transport fans from the ordinary to a place where monsters roar at Monster Jam events. Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Batman, TAZ, Hot Wheels, Monster Mutt, Superman, El Toro Loco and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, designed after the Michelangelo character are just a few of the names of over 100 different trucks that compete at the Monster Jam events.

How much do you know about the Monster Jam trucks?

• Today’s monster trucks use lightweight bodies and tires so more strength and weight can be put into the frame without sacrificing speed, maneuverability, or safety.
• Body – Made of fiberglass, a monster truck body is custom designed to create a character or theme for the truck. Custom body trucks can be carved by hand out of Styrofoam and wood to create a “plug” which is then used to create a fiberglass body mold or created by computers.
• Driver Seat – Most monster trucks have the driver seated in the center of the vehicle so he or she can best see the track for weight distribution. The seats are custom molded to each driver’s body and all drivers use head and neck restraint devices to keep their heads secure during rough landings. As a safety measure, all seat belts employ a 5 point harness to restrain the driver’s body.
• Paint – Most Monster Jam monster trucks feature highly designed, customized airbrushed artwork on their bodies. Air bushing is expensive and time consuming as some trucks require more than 40 hours of paint time. Monster Jam body fabricators are always assured lots of work though, as their custom creations are routinely destroyed during the shows.
• Engines – Custom-built, supercharged and methanol-injected, a monster truck engine burns up to 10 liters of methanol per run (approximately 80 meters) and delivers about 1,500 horsepower.
• Suspension System –  In order to allow the drivers to withstand the punishing impacts of jumping and crashing a monster truck during a performance, each Monster Jam monster truck is equipped with specially-engineered extra long 76cm shock absorbers filled with oil and nitrogen gas that are installed with each tire.
• Tires – Each monster truck tire is custom made. They must be 66 inches high and 43 inches wide. The average monster truck team will go through 8 tires in one year. Tires are designed differently to satisfy various track conditions and driver preference. Carving just one tire requires over 50 hours of exacting labor.
• Truck Safety – A 50+ point safety inspection before each show, equipped with a Remote Ignition Interrupter (RII) in which track officials can shut a truck off at any time, on board fire extinguisher system

Okay, enough talk already…I know you are just dying to get your tickets. Good news for you – all adult and children’s tickets for opening night are just $10 each! If you can’t make opening night, you can use the promo code MOM here to get 33% off adult tickets (enter the code in the “MC Promotions code” box on Ticketmaster.)  Kid’s tickets are still only $10 no matter what show you see. Trust me when I say, it’s a show they will NEVER forget.

Some suggestions:

• BRING EAR PROTECTION. I can’t enforce this enough. This place is LOUD. Between the engines and screaming fans, you seriously can’t hear yourself talk. Please, please, please protect your hearing.
• To be honest, I would never take a small child. Even though it is an amazing family show, the fumes, noise and dirt aren’t appropriate for tiny, little ones.
• The air does get rather fumy, though they do a good job of clearing it out quickly. If you feel like it’s too much, don’t hesitate to get up and walk around the arena.
• Don’t forget your camera! It’s fantastic what these machines can do in such a “small” space; your eyes will be overwhelmed. It almost seems surreal.
• If you get a chance to meet the drivers, it’s worth the [long] wait in line. They were all SO friendly, thankful and kind. Our son still talks about them.

I’ll be at the Friday show…hope to see you there!

Honest Blogger Found Here: I am an FFA ambassador of Feld Entertainment. In exchange for an FFA’s time and effort, they offer their families complimentary tickets to the shows and opportunities to attend private FFA pre-show events and/or meet and greets. As always, 100% my opinion.

Hey Chicagoland…Northwest Indiana…Southern Wisconsin…Da Region…

Are you freezing your dupa off yet? Holy crap,  I am. We even had to turn the heat up *gulp* to a whoppin’ 69 today. Like a heat wave in here…let me tell you.  I’m sure NIPSCO is bearing it’s snarly teeth and grinning at all of us with these negative temperatures.

If you are anything like myself, all you feel like doing is bundling up in flannel pj’s, reading books, clicking through blogs and going to bed early. Bor-ing.

Winter is the PERFECT time to get to Chicago and enjoy the INDOORS. With parking and admission fees, I understand how spending a day there can be like taking a mini-vacation. That’s why you have to plan ahead and enjoy it on the cheap. The last thing you want to do, is have to pay for parking three different times because you are visiting three different places…only to realize they were all only a few blocks from each other.

How to start planning:

• Figure out where you want to go and visit the attraction’s website. Some will offer “free” days or printable coupons. Many will tell you exactly where to park, how much it costs and if it’s validated or not.
• How will you get there? Are you driving? Can you carpool with another family to share parking/gas/toll costs? How about taking the train and forming your visit around one of the stops. If you are planning to take the South Shore, and are bringing children, try to ride on a weekday as they have a Family Fare rate. It states:

“We encourage families to take day trips and give their children the opportunity to experience the benefits of train travel.  One child 13 years of age or younger rides free with each adult on weekday off-peak and all weekend/holiday trains.  An off-peak weekday train is any westbound train scheduled to arrive in Chicago after 9:30 a.m. and any eastbound train scheduled to depart Millennium Station before 3:30 p.m. and after 6:30 p.m.  At all other times children from 2 to 13 years of age must have a reduced fare ticket.”

Also, if a station has an attendant on duty, be sure to buy your ticket at the window. If you don’t, they will charge you an extra $1.00 when you purchase on the train. If there is no window attendant, you won’t be charged.

• If you are driving, compare parking rates. Weekends vary from weekdays; street rates vary from lot rates. Parking garages can suck down your money in a hurry.
• Planning on eating? Check out the restaurants within walking distance of your destination. Click through their websites for coupons or specials – or see if Restaurant.com has a certificate you can buy ahead of time…especially at the end of the month when they are 80% off! 

What to cheaply do:

• Art Institute of Chicago: Free Winter Weekdays – Jan. 3 through Feb. 4th – Normally $18 admission fee, children under 14 free. 2011 Free Hours: Target Free Thursday Evenings, offering free admission from 5:00 to 8:00, return on February 10 and continue through May 26. Beginning in June, free hours will move to the first and second Wednesday of every month with free admission all day long. If you can’t make it during a free time, and you are a Chicago resident, be sure to show your ID for a $2.00 discount. They also offer “Family Events” to cater to families with children.
• Garfield Park Conservatory: Admission is free and parking is free, just south of the Conservatory’s main entrance. Programs and events are planned there as well
• Adler Planetarium - Check the website monthly for Discount Days. Only on the discount days, you can buy a pass for two shows and the Atwood Experience – Adults $17, Children ages 3-11, $15 – which isn’t so bad considering you are getting free admission. Like any attraction, if you have a big family or planning on attending many times throughout the year, you may want to compare a Membership to individual tickets to see where you’ll get your biggest savings.
• Museum of Science and Industry: Free admission days: Jan. 24-28 & 31 – Feb. 1,8,14,15,22 – June 1,2,6,7,8,9 – Sept. 6-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30 – Oct. 31. I know the museums tend to be more crowded on free days, but try to get there early, or later in the afternoon. My thought is that many school groups would tend to be there towards the middle of the day. Also, since school is back in session during September, it may be more crowded. Before you go, just get it in your head that you will have to move slowly and display a little more patience on those days. Parking is $18 per vehicle.
• The Field Museum: 2011 Target Free Second Monday Dates: Feb. 14th & March 14th. Other 2011 Free Days: January: 3, 11, 13, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 31, February: 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 17, April: 11, May: 9, June: 7, 13, July: 11, August: 8, 29, 31, September: 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, 20, 21, 27, 29, October: 3, 5, 6, 10, 24, 25, November: 2, 7, 14, 21, December: 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 20, 22. Parking is $16 for the first 4 hours, $19 thereafter. Avoid attending during Bears games.
• The Shedd Aquarium: Monday/Tuesday Community Discount Days: Jan. 23,24,25,31 and Feb. 1,7,8,14,15,28. Feb. 20-24th is the Community Discount Week. Bank of America also sponsors discount weekend dates (with card & ID). Again, avoid during Bears games.
• Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier: Kraft Free Family Night: Thursday Evenings from 5-8 (Free for everyone!), Target Free First Sundays: Free admission on the first Sunday for ages 15 and under – $10 for each adult. Here’s a coupon to print for $1 off each admission, up to four. Expires June 30, 2011.

Chicago Family Fun is endless. I have only mentioned the more popular attractions, but there are many, MANY lesser known museums and theaters that would probably be more “stroller friendly” and way less crowded. The Chicago Cultural Center would be a good place to start looking for these types of places.

Even if you don’t live in Chicago, take these tips and apply them to your own area. Overall, plan your trip, save as much as you can and JUST.HAVE.FUN!

More Frugal Friday

New toys…well…aren’t so new, or exciting anymore.

January…Midwest…Middle.Of.Winter.

Shall I go on?

That’s right…everyone is bored. So now what?

I do believe it’s time for some Frugal Family Fun in Chicagoland!

Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 – January 26-30 at Allstate Arena and February 1-13 at the United Center

“Have you heard the buzz? The toys are back in town! Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3! The summer’s biggest hit movie, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to your hometown. Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever. A few new faces join the fun, including Barbie’s groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s the biggest Toy Story experience on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz’s galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down at Woody’s roundup. Rediscover the humor, friendship and charm of toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!”

Click HERE to purchase tickets and view show times at both venues. Anndd…to help make your outing more affordable (because we all know you’re broke after Christmas), the Promo code: MOM is being offered once again! With this discount code, you can purchase a 4 pack of tickets for only $44 (valid Monday-Thursday, Friday Matinees, excluding holidays) and save $4 on all weekend shows. Be sure to enter MOM in the MC Promotions box on Ticketmaster. **Just found out, parking is FREE at the UNITED CENTER shows.**

For those of you who are super-duper broke…Would you like to see Disney On Ice: Toy Story 3 for FREE? Here’s your chance!

**Congratulations to #8, Jen for winning  the tickets! Thanks to all who entered the contest. If you are still looking to buy tickets, don’t forget to use the mentioned coupon code above**

I’m giving away 4 tickets for the Wednesday, January 26th, 7:00 pm Opening Night performance at Allstate Arena.

You have four ways to enter. Please leave a comment for EACH entry or it will not be valid.

1. Leave a comment telling me which Toy Story character you/your children are most excited to see.
2. Follow this blog – either through RSS feed (at the top) or Google Friend Connect.
3. “Like” The Shopping Adventures of Cheapo McFrugalpants on Facebook
4. Twitter this: I want to win a 4 pk. of Chicago Disney On Ice: Toy Story 3 tickets from @ItsToni http://bit.ly/hcfmGv #giveaway #chicago

That’s it! Contest will end on Wednesday, January 19th at 7:00n pm CST. At that time, a winner will be selected by Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email. If there is no response, another winner will be chosen. Tickets are to be picked up at the Allstate Arena Will Call window, with proper ID. Parking fees are not included.

Good luck my Disney lovin’ friends!

Honest Blogger Found Here: I am an FFA ambassador of Feld Entertainment. In exchange for an FFA’s time and effort, they offer their families complimentary tickets to the shows and opportunities to attend private FFA pre-show events and/or meet and greets.

I’m not sure how to pinpoint it, or what happened, but it was just depressing…all too much…in your face…needless buying just to “fill-in” gifts.

Ugh.

But…now it’s over and we can reflect on what we want to change for next year.

Whenever we need gifts for people, birthdays/anniversaries/Christmas, the idea of “experience gifts” always sticks in the backs of our minds. You know, the types of gifts that create memories and give opportunities that wouldn’t be had otherwise. Aren’t those really the BEST types of presents? So often, we consider physical items to give as gifts. We all know what happens to most of them…they get pushed aside after a month or so, only to end up on the Island of Misfit Toys. But “experience gifts”…you can talk about those for AGES!

The problem with these types of outings is they can get rather expensive. A family pass to a museum? Concert tickets? Dinner Theatre? Typically, not so nice to the pocketbook…until now.

In searching for something unique to give my parents for Christmas, I happened upon a website called HotTix (www.hottix.org). Whoa. I knew then what I was buying. While in Vegas, they’ve always wanted to see The Blue Man Group. Though, they couldn’t see paying $100 per ticket for a show. neither could I, YIKES! Here in Chicago, regular priced tickets are $77 a piece. Still. Big Ugh. Solution? HotTix offers HALF PRICED tickets off of MANY Chicago Shows – Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Concerts, Etc. – take your pick!

• List is updated each day and throughout the day
• Can’t buy too far in advance
• Run through Ticketmaster and League of Chicago Theatres
• Picked up tickets at Will Call for free. There is a fee for printing at home. seems like it would be the other way around
• Easy communication on twitter as @HotTix (or on Facebook)

What a great time! We attended our show yesterday. For half priced tickets, we got to spend a day with our family, eat Chicago style hot dogs for lunch, see a show and laugh [a LOT.]

Totally worth it. Guess where my next gifts will be coming from this year?

**Not in the Chicagoland/Southern Wisconsin/Northwest Indiana area? Maybe there is something similar to HotTix near you. It’s worth a little internet searching to find out.**

Honest Blogger Found Here: I was not asked, nor given any sort of compensation for this post. I just had a great experience with this company and wanted to share it with you. As always, 100% my opinion.

Ever want to head to Chicago with your family…but have no idea on where to go, what to do or how to have fun with your kids without spending a fortune? duh, of course Well, Kid Grade has just launched in Chicago! It’s an interactive website where you can check out reviews about restaurants, hotels, stores and places to just have a good time. Each site is given a score based on: price, location, parking and kid equipped. Isn’t it always nice to know these things ahead of time…because we all hate those “unwanted surprises” that can sometimes arise. After you’ve visited a Chicago location, you can also go to the website and be a “reviewer” by giving your opinion and downloading pictures.

In celebration of their new launch, Kid Grade is having a twitter party TONIGHT! Please RSVP and join us for some frugal holiday chat. Did I mention there will be $200 worth of prizes given away? You don’t want to miss it!

When: Monday, November 29th 7-8pm CT
Hashtag: #kidgrade (Follow the hashtag, KidGrade and us on TweetGrid.)
Prizes:

• Grand Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card (must RSVP and be present to win)
• $25 Target Gift Card from Sunshine Rewards
• $25 Gino’s East Pizza Gift Card
• Kids Travel Kits
• Family Travel Guide Books

Honest Blogger Found Here: I have been compensated for hosting this event, through the Inexpensively network, but all opinions are my own…as always.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s FUNundrum did an amazing job of delivering a heavy dose of nostalgia at this year’s show! It felt as if we were taken back 100 years with the old time clown car, “freakshow” sideshow (including the strong man, bearded lady, sword swallower…all the goodin’s), vintage artwork, live circus music and beautiful animals. What about the thrill? Oh, several performances took us to the edge of our seats, especially when SEVEN motorcycles were spinning inside of the great sphere of steel! With over two hours of amazingly coordinated acts, FUNundrum did not disappoint.

Chicagoland – the circus is currently at the United Center until November 28th. You can find the show schedule HERE. Here’s a tip: When booking your tickets, try and get seats along either long side of the arena. You will get a MUCH better vantage point than if sitting on the end. Also, don’t forget to use promo code MOM for money savings…and as a bonus, all parking at the United Center for this event is FREE!

During the month of December, the Feld Entertainment shows will be taking a break…only to be back stronger than ever in January with Disney on Ice presenting Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3! “From Screen to Skates“, be sure to check out the video of how this production was made. Mark your calendars Chicago – Allstate Arena, January 26-30 and United Center, February 1-13, 2011. You don’t want to miss it! Oh…and stayed tuned as I will have a set of tickets to give away because wouldn’t you be THE COOLEST EVER if you won? I’ll share the deets after Christmas. *wink*

Honest Blogger Found Here: I am an FFA ambassador of Feld Entertainment. In exchange for an FFA’s time and effort, they offer their families complimentary tickets to the shows and opportunities to attend private FFA pre-show events and/or meet and greets.