Living well while spending less in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
Plan a fall getaway to the Great Wolf Lodge in Bloomington or Wisconsin Dells! They’re open! And Groupon is offering a great deal on stays right now!
In Bloomington, get a Deluxe Bunk Bed Suite (like the one my family stayed in before!) for as low as $109 a night, or a Family Suite for as low as $119 a night from Groupon! (Plus fees, as with any booking.) In the Wisconsin Dells, get a Double-Queen Sofa Suite for as low as $109 a night for a 2-night stay from Groupon.
Of course, kids grow so fast and their stuff can be expensive, which is why I rarely buy things new. Instead, I’ve bought things gently used for years, especially at Just Between Friends kids consignment sales! And they have new safety protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy.
And there’s a big, safe, not-to-be-missed Just Between Friends Fall Kids Sale coming up September 24 – 27, 2020 in Brooklyn Park!
If you haven’t been to a Just Between Friends sale, you need to check it out. There is so much including:
I had been waiting for this news but then my school district finally confirmed it…
Free school meals have been extended for all kids NATIONWIDE through December 31, 2020!
Free school meals were available this spring and then extended into the summer. Now, this decision ensures that all children have access to nutritious food as the U.S. continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic at least through December.
This of course includes Minnesota kids, so check your local school district’s website or social media pages for the latest updates. School districts have already shared this information, including Minneapolis and St. Paul. Each district is offering the food in different ways but it’s available to ALL kids regardless of income.
And picking up the food is good for your kids AND your school district in so many ways!
The reasons are still the same – check it out!
Great news for frugal families!
This year, in 2020, there is NO CHARGE to get into the Twin Cities Harvest Festival in Brooklyn Park!
Instead, you only pay for what you choose to do, such as the corn maze, pumpkins or food.
They stated on their Facebook page that they are able to allow free admission because their overhead is less and they are passing along the savings on to families.
They also have low pumpkin prices to help families have a fun day!
What does free admission include?
It includes admission to the Courtyard/Market, Pumpkin Patch, and Sunflower Field.
Admission charge for Corn Maze
This year’s corn maze is 20 acres and honors the University of Minnesota!
There is a cost for this. It’s $6 per person on weekdays, and $8 per person on weekends. Kids 3 & under FREE!
This year’s 20-acre maze features a scavenger hunt for kids and families to find MN Gophers people, places, & things on signs throughout the maze.
Ticket sales will benefit the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Fund “to help provide a transformational academic and athletic experience for every Gopher student-athlete. Since 2010, we have donated over $200,000 to local non-profit organizations.”
Purchase tickets at the maze entrance.
When is it?
They will be open everyday beginning Saturday, September 19th!
Where is it?
Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze
8001 109th Avenue N.
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
How much is it?
Admission is free!
The maze cost is $6 per person on weekdays, and $8 per person on weekends. Kids 3 & under FREE!
More info on their website here: https://twincitiesmaze.com/
Giving to Charity
Every year, Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze makes a donation to a local charity. This year, funds will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation, which provides and supports hands-on programs that positively impact Minnesota youth. Since opening in 2010, Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze has donated nearly $180,000 to a number of local causes.
Book lovers! There’s a $5 Curbside Bag Sale fundraiser all September long outside the Ramsey County Library in Shoreview!
This is a socially-distanced alternative to their usual fall used book sale. Books will be offered in pre-filled bags. Just make a reservation in advance for curbside pickup. A bag is only $5 and will be pre-filled by genre with 10 or more books.
Also, two Sundays will feature a Potluck Bag Sale when no pre-request is necessary. Just drive up to the Shoreview library’s parking lot between 12:00-2:00 pm and view the list of what bags are available.
This is a fundraiser for many public library programs and is run by volunteers.
See how to sign up and more information on their website!
Your backyard is your family’s own little oasis. It’s where you have family get-togethers, neighborhood barbeques, and where your kids can run around and play without having to head down to the park. But certain features can keep your backyard from being as family-friendly as you’d like it to be. Here are a few ways you can transform your yard into a more kid-friendly area for family fun.
Sensory gardens encourage kids to enjoy the outdoors in a way that’s fun and stimulates all of their senses. Bright flowers and multicolored greenery stimulates your child’s sight while fuzzy plants like sage encourage them to touch. If you’re interested in starting an herb garden to give your kids the chance to learn how plants go from the garden to the table, you can use a wood pallet from your local hardware store to create a recyclable herb wall your kids can admire. Wooden pallets last about five years and plastic pallets last for about 10.
It’s important not to let your grass get too long because long grass is a breeding ground for creepy crawlers like fleas and ticks, which can live for over 100 days without food. The optimal height for cool-season grass is approximately 2.5 inches and the best time to cut your grass is when it’s about 3.5 inches high. That said, make sure to keep your grass below four inches.
Swimming in the local lake can be great summer fun, but it comes with its own unique set of problems. First, kids are more likely to get swimmer’s ear, which lasts seven to 10 days, when they swim in lakes for long periods of time. Second, the lake may close for the summer even when days are still plenty warm well into September. With an above ground pool, you can keep summer going as long as there’s a heatwave rolling.
If your kids have bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, or scooters chances are they’ll find a way to roll around on any hard surface. While a patio can give your kids the hard, outdoor surface they need to move around and have fun, those patios are only so big. Consider getting more adventurous with your backyard and designing a curved track that your kids can play around on.
If you’re thinking of adding some hardscaping to your yard, consider asking your kids for some ideas on what would make the space enjoyable for them. For instance, a sandpit in a rock garden can transform a peaceful spot into a play area when it’s your kids’ turn in the garden. Little water features like in-ground sprinklers that can turn toward your patio when you want them to can also give you a way to keep your lawn and garden looking fresh while keeping your kids happy on hot summer days.
This past month I shared that Sever’s in Shakopee is offering a safe, unique drive-thru event this fall! It’s called Sever’s Stories, Riddles, & Rhymes, and it’s a safe storytime adventure with magic, humor and visuals.
This unique adventure includes a 3/4 mile magical trail where families will be able to enjoy humorous rhymes, riddles and large scale illustrations that give readers of all ages a whole new take on storytime. There will be a huge treasure hunt, a larger than life chicken samurai, a zany squirrel named Hayley with her adorable pumpkin pet, and a lot more!
It takes place Thursdays to Sundays now through November 1st, and the cost is $7 per person or $25 per car maximum.
It sounded like a good option for families during this time, so we decided to go check it out and share our experience with you. We went recently and thought it was cute, silly and sweet!
SmARTpass is an arts access program that started in 2016 and is open exclusively to metro public library users. I shared information about it then and how you can use your library card for free admission to museums and entertainment in the area.
However, COVID has closed and affected so much, that smARTpass has been on hold for these past several months. But now, they are returning as “smARTpass Reimagined” and in September and October are showcasing eight arts and culture partners that are offering online programs that you can enjoy from home.
Current programs that are available on demand from September 6th – 12th include:
@ Ramsey County LibraryThe Orchestra will share chamber music performances from a woodwind trio (flute, clarinet and bassoon) and a string trio (violin, viola and cello). You will be introduced to delightful pieces you may not be familiar with by Hugenin, Ibert, Pfeiffer, and Dohnanyi. Sit back and enjoy a program of chamber music sure to bring some joy to your day!
presents “Beowulf” @ Anoka County LibraryThe company’s John Heimbuch performs a fierce hourlong retelling of BEOWULF, adapted by Charlie Bethel. This is a faithful and accessible version of the classic Old English poem about a warrior king and some famous monsters, modernizing the wit, vigor, and meaty language of the original Anglo-Saxon epic. Content includes descriptions of human/monster violence, akin to The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Recommended for age 10 and up.
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival was cancelled for 2020, but you can still experience the Minnesota Renaissance Festival this year – from your car!
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival on Parade is a drive-through experience that will be weekends September 19th through October 4th, plus Friday, October 2nd.
This first-ever drive-through experience will feature over 30 Festival foods as well as entertainment, artisans and a goodie bag for all vehicles!
Like the Minnesota State Fair Food Drive-Thru event, there will be a limited number of tickets sold. All will need to be purchased online and for specific dates and arrival times.
Each vehicle is $20 (this includes sales tax). Be sure to purchase your ticket early for best choice of date and time.
This is a 2.5 mile, one-way leisurely route through the festival grounds. Plan a few hours for this visit.
With your ticket you get:
You can order tickets and find more info on the Minnesota Renaissance Festival website.
Looking for ways to save money heating your home? As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, it’s a good thing to start thinking about especially here in Minnesota!
Minnesota winters are cold and long, which means home heating bills can add up pretty high for many families. But there are many ways you can trim your bill and make your home more comfortable even on the shortest, coldest days!
(1) First, check out all the hundreds of dollars of possible rebates you can get from your energy provider!
For example, Minnesota Energy Resources customers can qualify for rebates for:
These rebates can range from $25 to $650 and you definitely don’t want to miss out! There are other rebates available for energy efficiency upgrades as well – learn all about them here!
