Review - 6 Pence Productions

With four active kids at home, I'm always searching for ways to entertain them without resorting to TV, computer games, or video games.  Some of my favorite resources to pull out are audio stories.  Audio stories entertain ALL my kids from my 3 year old to my 11 year old; They are perfect for times when I just NEED the kids to be quietly occupied for an hour, when the kids can't sleep at bedtime, or when we're going on a car trip.

I recently had the opportunity to review 2 audio CDs from 6 Pence Productions--children's theatre audio productions of The Fairytale Collection and Princess Reform School.  The CDs feature the voice talents of children ages 5-17, and are made "for kids by kids".

The Fairytale Collection includes these familiar stories:

• Three Billy Goats Gruff  (9:32 running time)
• Cinderella and Friends (11:08)
• The Emperor’s New Clothes (14:53)
• The Three Little Pigs Meet the Big Bad Wolves (8:24)
• Princess and the Pea (13:02)

I played them for my girls in lieu of bedtime stories a few nights over Christmas break, and the girls really enjoyed them.  These are the classic, magical fairy tales that the kids have heard many times, but hearing them retold by children was captivating.  I was pleasantly surprised!  The child actors' voices are very expressive--they did a great job.  The background sounds and music permeating the stories add a touch of realism and help to bring the stories to life for the listener.  My son, after hearing bits and pieces of the recording from the girls' room, asked to listen to it at bedtime the next night (and also thoroughly enjoyed it), so the stories definitely appeal to both boys and girls. Because the entire CD is about an hour in length, we'll probably just put on one or two stories at a time most days.  These are the perfect length for short trips in the car, too, while running errands.  Most of my errands are within 20 minutes from home, so that's a perfect time to pop in the CD and let my kids just sit back and enjoy the story (hopefully instead of poking and elbowing each other!).

The second production we listened to was Princess Reform School,  a 2-act,  2-disc production that's about and hour and a half in length.  In this play, new princesses and more familiar ones are enrolled in a Princess Reform School to polish their princess skills, because after all, "being born a princess is no guarantee that you know how to behave as one." The story contains the usual princess-y themes of castles, toads and dragons, but the focus is on the princesses, their relationships and their self-discoveries.  The story is witty, humorous and at times poignant.  My oldest daughter had a friend over for a sleepover when we first played this CD, and since it takes the girls awhile to settle at night, I was hoping they would lay in bed and quietly listen to the play.  I fully expected them to be up and  giggling again within a few minutes.  I peeked in after about forty-five minutes and all was quiet.  I was shocked that they had fallen asleep so fast, but then my daughter's voice called out from the top bunk bed "Mom--can you put on the second disc?  The first one just ended."  They were totally engrossed in the play!  Two tweens quiet at a sleepover? That's a first, at least at my house!

In a society saturated with video entertainment (and we've all read the studies about how too much screen time can adversely affect kids), it's so refreshing to find truly entertaining audio productions that inspire kids to use their imaginations. These 6 Pence Players productions would be great gift alternatives to toys, stuffed animals and video games for your own children, nieces/nephews or your children's friends.  My kids have listened to these stories many, many times already and still ask for them often--and I'm happy to oblige.


Visit 6penceplayers.com to learn more about The Fairtytale Collection and Princess Reform School,  to listen to short excerpts of both, or to purchase the CDs.

Walgreens: Free Children' Oscillococcinum and Breathe Right Strips

Children's Oscillococcinum  is on sale at Walgreen's for $8.99.  Use this $2.00 coupon to lower your out-of-pocket total to $6.99.  When you check out, you'll get not only $8.99 back in Walgreens Register Rewards (use like cash off your next purchase), but it seems most people are also getting a coupon for FREE Breathe Right Nasal Strips, too!

So in effect, you would be getting both the Children's Oscillococcinum and the Breathe Right Strips for free, and actually MAKING $2.00 on the deal!

We've used the Children's Oscillo and it seems to work well.  My daughter's cold cleared up in 2 days, which was very quick for her.


Thanks, MojoSavings

January 15-17: Free Entry to Nat'l Parks

The National Parks have several Free Entrance Weekends throughout 2011, including next weekend. 

• January 15-17
  (Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend)
  
• April 16-24
  (National Park Week)
  
• June 21
  (First day of summer)
  
• September 24
  (Public Lands Day)
  
• November 11-13
  (Veterans Day weekend)

I'd love to travel out west someday and see all the fabulous national parks!

125 Disney Movie Rewards Points

Log into your Disney Movie Rewards account and add these codes to get 125 points added to your balance.

D11M20R01NY (50 points)
CHIHUAHUA (25 points)
COOL (50 points)

I'm up to 1680 points.  I think I'll just keep saving 'em up!

Free Sample: Nature Made Chewable Vitamin D

 Walmart is offering free samples of Nature Made Vitamin D3 kids chewables in orange flavor.

Costco: Free Sampoo/Conditioner Samples

Costco members, get a free sample of Kirkland shampoo and conditioner in the Ultra Luxurious Professional Salon formulas.

I love shampoo samples and a I have a container full of them for when we travel (or run out of shampoo).  I sent a bunch of samples to camp with my 11 year old daughter last summer (5 nights), and she came home with them all unused.  Her excuse?  She said she went swimming in the lake everyday so she didn't NEED to wash her hair.  Ewww!  :)

Thanks, Bargain Briana

Free Reading Program Download ($200+ value)

Through the month of January, Funnix.com is offering free downloads of the beginning reading or Funnix 2 reading programs which usually are sold for over $100 each.

The beginning program is for ages 4 to 7 and teaches beginning reading.  The Funnix 2 program is designed for kids who can read at a first grade level, and it will bring them up to a third grade level.

The lessons are half hour interactive lessons comprised of stories, narration, spelling and worksheets (printable).  They are designed to be used by a teacher/parent and child together.

Note -- the files are very large (300MB) and take quite a while to download.  It took 20 minutes on my computer.

Giveaway Winner - $40 Catholic Child Gift Certificate

Congratulations Cindy D.-- your entry was randomly chosen so you have won the $40 Catholic Child gift certificate!

Watch for my email.  :)

MORE Instant Win Games!

Red Baron Big Taste Battle

• Prizes include: $50 - $750 VISA gift cards, 42" TV, XBox 360, iHome speakers, year supply of pizza
• If you don't win, you can print a $1.00 coupon
• Ends February 1, 2011 

Honey Nut Cheerios Non-Challenge

• 3000 prizes of 12 coupons each for Honey Nut Cheerios
• Ends 6/28/2011

Tony's Pizza 99 Day's of More

• Prizes:  (99) FIRST PRIZES (1 per day): $500 Visa gift card. (99) SECOND PRIZES (1 per day): A Nintendo Wii Bundle(99) THIRD PRIZES (1 per day): $100 Visa gift card. ARV: $100. (99) FOURTH PRIZES (1 per day): $50 Visa gift card. (99) FIFTH PRIZE (1 per day): A New Release DVD awarded as a $20 Visa gift card.  (198) SIXTH PRIZES (2 per day): $25 iTunes gift card. (891) SEVENTH PRIZES (9 per day): $15 iTunes gift card.  (9,801) EIGHTH PRIZES (99 per day): A TONY’S® Pizza coupon. ARV: $4.
• Enter through April 9, 2011

Tuesday 1/4 -- 2011 Free Pairs of Nike Shoes

On Tuesday, January 4, The Dr. Oz Show is giving away 2011 pairs of free Nike shoes at 3:00 PM EST.

Go to http://www.sharecare.com/static/nike-coming-soon for more info.

I would LOVE to get a free pair of shoes!!!!  Mine are old and worn out.

Target Weekly Deals 1/2/11 - 1/8/11

$.50 off a Target Cafe purchase

10 FREE 4x6 prints when you order 10 prints or more 
Use coupon in ad

Free 8 x 10 Portrait

Pepsi products 12 pk cans - $12

Market Pantry Bread - $1

SoBe Lifewater - $1
Free 8.75 - 11.5 oz bag of Frito-Lay Baked Chips when you buy 10 SoBe drinks

Gatorade, 32 oz - $1

Oscar Mayer Lunchables, 4.15 -4.5 oz - $1
Use the $1.00 off 2 Target coupon
Total = $1.00 for 2

Goldfish crackers - 4 for $7 ($1.75 each)

Kraft cheese, 6-8 oz blocks or shreds
Use the $.75 off Kraft cheese coupon

Special K 12 oz Red Berries or 19.5 oz granola - 2 for $5
Use the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon
Or use the $1.00 off 2 Special K 12 oz or larger cereals coupon
TOTAL = 2 for $2.50 - $4

Smart Ones frozen entrees, select varieties - 5 for $9.00

Market Pantry 2.5 lb bag boneless chicken breasts, frozen - $6.00
Use $3.00 off 2 frozen chicken items Target coupon
TOTAL = $9.00 for 2

Suave 2 pk shampoo and conditioner - $3

Cascade Complete or ActionPacs, 16-20 ct - $4
Use the $.25/1 Cascade Product Q from the PG 12/26/10 insert
TOTAL = $3.75

Palmolive dish soap, 10 oz - $1
Use the $2/2 Palmolive Dish Liquid Q from the SS 1/02/11 insert
TOTAL =  2 for FREE!

Colgate or Crest  toothpaste 6, 6.2 oz. twinpacks - $4
Use the $1/1 Colgate Toothpaste Q from the SS 01/02/11insert
Or use $0.75/1 Colgate MaxWhite Toothpaste 
Or use $1/1 Crest Toothpaste Q from the PG Sampler
TOTAL = $3.00 - $3.25 for a twinpack

Delsym 5 oz or Mucinex DM 14 ct - $10
$1/1 Delsym Product printable
TOTAL = $9.00

Viva 8 pk giant roll paper towels - $10
$0.50/2 Viva Paper Towels printable

Bounty 6 pk huge roll paper towels - $13 

Facial Tissues -- Puffs 56 ct, Kleenex 112-200 ct - 4 for $5.00

Tide 100 oz liquid, 63 or 80 load powder - $11
Use the $1/1 Tide Detergent Q from the PG 12/26/10 insert
TOTAL = $10

Sterilite storage tubs, 66 qt ClearView or colored 20 gal. - $6

Sterilite ClearView wheeled underbed storage - $10

Uno Card Game, 40th Anniversary Edition - $1.00