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Ice Castles 2020 Discount (Save 15% Online with my Exclusive Code)

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Ice Castles is coming back to Minnesota this winter (January 2020), and this time they’re in New Brighton, at Long Lake Park!

They open on Friday, January 17th, and tickets go on sale on Monday, January 13th!

And I have an exclusive DISCOUNT and ticket giveaway to share!

I’ve visited and reviewed Ice Castles with my family each year since 2015. Each year it has been a unique experience (though definitely dress warm!). In 2015 – 2016 Ice Castles were in Eden Prairie’s Miller Park, in 2017 and 2018 Ice Castles were in Stillwater, and in 2019 they were in Excelsior at the Commons, on the shore of Lake Minnetonka.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT!

I’m excited to share an EXCLUSIVE discount for Ice Castles 2020!

Just use my code FrugalmomIC and you’ll save 15% off tickets any day of the upcoming season!

Tickets will be available the morning of Monday, January 13th. Visit their website to purchase them and use the code here: https://icecastles.com/minnesota

Regular admission is $12.99 (weekday) and $17.99 (weekend).

Child admission is $9.99 (weekday) and $17.99 (weekend).

Save Money!

The prices went up this year, especially for weekend prices, so to save money be sure to use my discount code FrugalmomIC.

I also definitely recommend getting tickets in advance online to guarantee your admission, as standby admission is not guaranteed.

Check the Ice Castles website or follow them on Facebook for updates.

What can you expect at Ice Castles?

Lots of beautifully sculpted ice, slides, tunnels and photo opportunities. Princesses and fire performers. A snack bar with goodies and hot chocolate.

NOTE: They’re open BOTH day and night! 

My Reviews Each Year

Read my previous reviews here:

Ice Castles in Stillwater 2018

Ice Castles in Stillwater 2017

Ice Castles in Eden Prairie’s Miller Park 2016

Ice Castles in Eden Prairie’s Miller Park 2015

WANT MORE DISCOUNTS?

Check out my Twin Cities Discount Guide for Families:

ENTER MY ICE CASTLES GIVEAWAY!

I’ve partnered with Ice Castles to give away 4 tickets, good anytime this season! Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter from below with your information by Monday, January 13th at 11:00pm. Winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email (please be sure to use a valid email that you check regularly!).

Note: The Blog Post Comment function is currently not working (I’m working to fix it!), but you may still click “I left a blog post comment” and your entries will count! Sorry for the inconvenience!

This is the first of several Ice Castles giveaways this season here so check back for more!

(Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored partnership with Ice Castles. All opinions are 100% mine.) a Rafflecopter giveaway

Free Valleyfair Pre-K Pass for 2020 for Children Ages 3-5 (Now Available)

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Valleyfair Pre-K Pass

Families with preschoolers, register for this now!

The FREE Valleyfair Pre-K Pass for 2020 is now available! With this pass your 3 – 5 year-old can get in to Valleyfair and Soak City for FREE during the 2020 season.

Register online by June 21, 2020. Then bring your child to the park to activate their pass by June 28, 2020! Your child must be present and proof of age (original or copy of birth certificate or travel passport) will be required.

Note that kids must be age 3 – 5 at the time of activation, so for example, if your child is 5, be sure to register and activate their pass before they turn 6.

Valleyfair Pre-K Pass

If you had the Pre-K Pass last year, you can now renew online!

(Note: Adults need to buy their own passes. Check my site regularly for any discounts I find!)

Valleyfair started offering this pass in 2017 and it’s been super popular so don’t miss out!

Black Friday Price Comparison Sheet 2019

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Black Friday Price Comparison Sheet 2019

Black Friday deals are here!

Navigating all the Black Friday deals can be so overwhelming (especially since some are starting now!). That’s why I’m excited to offer a Black Friday Price Comparison Sheet for you, which will be updated regularly!

Some tips:

  • To open in a new window, click here.
  • Use “CTRL F” and type in a keyword (aka: iPad) to quickly find what you’re looking for on this huge spreadsheet!
  • Depending on your screen size, you may need to scroll side to side to see the prices and content on the right side of the spreadsheet.
  • NOTE: This is a NATIONAL list, so some stores like BJ’s may not be available near you. Most including Best Buy, Five Below, Walmart and Costco have locations in the Twin Cities area.

To open in a new window click here.

TIPS:

  • Black Friday & Cyber Monday are always the best days for toy deals
  • A toy that’s at least 50% on Black Friday is most likely not going to get cheaper during the holiday season
  • Towels and sheets are at unbeatably low prices right now (for example, $2.99 bath towels at JCPenney, regularly $10)

When do stores open?

Most have not announced their hours yet for 2019.

THESE WERE LAST YEAR’S HOURS – to be updated for 2019:

Open on Thanksgiving (in 2018):

6am   KMart

7am   Big Lots

8am  Walgreens

2pm  JcPenney
Shopko

4pm  Old Navy
GameStop

5pm  
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Best Buy
Macy’s
Target
Kohl’s
Gordmans

6pm  Walmart
Sears
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Five Below
Michael’s
ULTA

Stores Closed on Thanksgiving (in 2018) include:

Ace Hardware
Ann Taylor
Barnes & Noble
Burlington
Cost Plus World Market
DSW
Hobby Lobby
IKEA
The Home Depot
Marshalls
Menards
Office Depot/Office Max
Sportsman’s Warehouse
Staples

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you.)

Discounted Tickets for Disney on Ice “Worlds of Enchantment” in St. Paul December 5-8

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UPDATE: This deal is no longer available.

Disney on Ice is coming back to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul from Thursday, December 5th – Sunday, December 8th, and there are discounted tickets right now from Groupon!

About “Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment”

Enter the dazzling world of Disney magic, LIVE ON ICE! Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at_ Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment_. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney Pixar’s Cars race across the ice! Dive into adventure with Ariel and The Little Mermaid’s undersea kingdom. The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from Sunnyside Daycare and race for home in their most daring adventure! Plus, enter the wintry world of Arendelle with sisters Anna and Elsa and pals Olaf and Kristoff from Disney’s Frozen as they learn that true love comes from within. From wheels to waves, icy wonderlands to infinity and beyond, your family’s favorite Disney moments come to life at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment.

Discounted Tickets

Get 27% off tickets in select sections right now from Groupon!

Get tickets from $24 each (regularly $32.01 each).

Thursday, December 5th at 7:00pm
Friday, December 6th at 10:00am
Sunday, December 8th at 7:00pm

CHECK AVAILABILITY!

There are other shows but the Groupon discounts aren’t currently available for them. Visit the Disney on Ice website for more shows and information.

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

Discounted Minnesota Renaissance Festival Tickets 2019

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Discounted Minnesota Renaissance Festival Tickets 2019!

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee takes place weekends August 17th through September 29th, and you can get discounted tickets now including from Groupon! (UPDATE 9/28/19: Groupon deal no longer available.)

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Regular prices are:

Adults $24.95
Senior $22.95
Child $15.95 (ages 5-12)

Note that children 4 and under are FREE.

GET DISCOUNTED TICKETS!

(UPDATE 9/28/19: Groupon deal no longer available.) Groupon has a deal for 12 – 20% off tickets which are valid throughout the 2019 season!

General adult admission: $21.95 (regularly $24.95)

General child admission: $13.50 (regularly $15.95)

General admission for family of four: $64.50 (regularly $80.90) – This is the best deal

(UPDATE 9/28/19: Groupon deal no longer available. See below for other ways to save.)

NOTE THAT THIS DEAL CAN END OR CHANGE AT ANY TIME!

[Read more…]

Twin Cities Spring Cleaning Guide 2019

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Spring is almost here (finally!), which means it’s time for spring cleaning and for my annual Twin Cities Spring Cleaning Guide!

This is a list of Twin Cities area resources to help you get rid of yard waste, papers, clothing and any other type of household items you no longer need.

It’s been a crazy winter – I don’t think I’ve seen so much snow in my yard! But even if we have a little bit more winter-y weather, now is a great time to start going through your home and organizing little by little so that it’s all done (at least on the inside) by the time the warmer weather actually begins!

CLEAN UP YOUR YARD

spring


YARD WASTE COLLECTION SITES

Each county offers free yard waste collection sites or assistance for its residents. At these sites you can often pick up free compost for your garden (while it lasts). They may also offer junk collection days where you drop off items like tires or electronics and even hazardous waste for a discount. Check out your local county website for locations and times:

[Read more…]

Kids Bowl Free – 2 Free Games for Kids Every Day All Summer Long!

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It’s March, and with this winter we had, summer can’t come soon enough, right?

I know many things including camps are already enrolling for the summer, but if you’re looking for free fun for your kids this summer too, sign them up for FREE bowling at KidsBowlFree.com!

Kids Bowl Free is a program designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer. Select schools and bowling centers around the country participate each year, including dozens in Minnesota! Here is a screenshot of most of them:

Yes – this is a real deal!

It’s simple – just register (for free) on their website by clicking on your state, then choose the bowling center that’s most convenient for your kids. Then you’ll fill out information and coupons will be emailed to your email address. Only parents can register kids, and only one bowling center can be chosen per account. Each bowling center has its own age limit for kids to be eligible.

There is also a family pass you can purchase which has been available for as low as $29.95. The family pass covers up to 4 adult family members, so adults can bowl with their kids, too!

In most cases, standard shoe rental fees apply.

Over 21 million kids have participated so far. Definitely worth signing up for some free fun for your kids this summer!

Frugal Super Bowl Party Guide

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frugal super bowl party guide

The Super Bowl is coming up on Sunday, February 3rd!!! If you’re planning to stay home and host a Super Bowl game, but don’t want to spend a lot, no worries! There are many ways you can throw a fabulous Super Bowl party on a budget which I’ve rounded up here:

Tips for a Frugal Super Bowl Party!

Serve simple finger foods. Appetizers and other “pick up and eat” foods are easiest to prepare, serve and clean up after.

Serve dips! These offer a variety of ways to enjoy the same food. Try chips with taco dip, bean dip, cheese dip, salsa, and guacamole, to name a few! Plus they can be cheap (and yummy) to make yourself.

Take advantage of sales and coupons. Stores offer great deals on Super Bowl fare at this time of year such as chicken breasts, chicken wings, brats, chips, salsas, candy and everything else on your list. You can also find great coupons and combine them with sales for even more savings! (Looking for coupons? Find coupons for everything on your shopping list with my Coupon Database, or browse and print available grocery coupons on my Printable Grocery Coupons page!)

Buy in bulk. If you have a warehouse club membership, prepping for a party is a great time to use it to stock up on water bottles, paper towels, etc.

Don’t buy the party tray at the grocery store! Buy raw vegetables in bulk such as carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and cut them up yourself.

Put together your own cheese and cracker tray and shape the cheese into football shapes.

Have a potluck! Host can provide the “main” dish, everyone else a side.

Serve food “buffet” style with a chili bar, baked potato bar, or taco bar. This is simple and everyone gets to pick the toppings they want.

Instead of ordering pizzas, buy frozen pizzas and shape the pepperoni on top into a football shape before baking. (This is basically what the delivery places do and charge extra for!)

Go generic. Buy store brands and put it out in dishes or on plates and your guests won’t know the difference. ALDI and Mike’s Discount Foods are great places to find generic brands for the lowest prices.

BYOB – Bring your own beer (or beverage)!

Have a SOUP-er bowl party! Serve one or more varieties of soup. It’s frugal, filling and (usually) healthful. Just add warm rolls, drinks, and desserts.

For dessert, try baking a cake or cupcakes with a football design on top. Or use these free printable football cupcake toppers and other snack or food containers.

Football printables
Images courtesy of playpartyplan.com, inkhappi.com, puzzlestoprint.com, and snapcreativity.com

Decorating

Super Bowl Activities

Of course, the main event will be on the TV – but here are some other activities you and the kids can do too!

Food

Here are some ideas for foods to serve that are easy crowd-pleasers;

  • Chicken wings or drumsticks
  • Burger sliders
  • Taco Dip
  • Potato skins with bacon and cheese
  • Chex Party Mix
  • Crockpot meatballs
  • Pigs in a blanket

Desserts

  • Cupcakes with football design on top (chocolate frosting with white icing laces)
  • Root beer floats
  • Sundae bar
  • Chocolate-covered Strawberry Footballs
  • Brownies shaped like footballs
  • Chocolate football pretzel rods (dip rods in chocolate and paint on white laces with icing)
  • Hot cocoa with marshmallows
  • Popcorn or caramel corn

Easy, Budget-Friendly Recipes

Velveeta RoTel Queso Dip

Melt together a 16 oz block of Velveeta cheese, diced into cubes, and a can of RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies (or substitute another brand of canned diced tomatoes). Goes great with tortilla chips!

Crockpot Meatballs

Combine a 6 oz jar of grape jelly and 12 oz jar of chili sauce in a crockpot. Mix in a bag of frozen meatballs and heat on low for 8 hours.

OR, if you want to make the meatballs from scratch instead of using frozen:

Mix together the following and form into small meatballs:

2 pounds of ground beef
2 beaten eggs
1 clove garlic or 1/2 cup onions (or both)
1-1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp, pepper
1/2 cup crushed corn flakes

Crockpot Garlic Chicken Drumsticks

This one’s from my friend Nancy – I’ve made these many times and they’re perfect for a party!

You’ll need:

Olive oil
Paprika
Salt
Pepper
4 cloves garlic (or garlic powder)
chicken drumsticks

1) Spray crockpot with cooking spray
2) Slice 1/2 of an onion into slices, and sprinkle them on the bottom of the crockpot.
3) Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and toss to coat with hands.
4) Put all in the crockpot, cover, and cook on low for 6 hours.

The meat will be so tender and flavorful!

For my list of Super Bowl Party Essentials (like my favorite grill and slow cooker) check out my guide here.

What recipes, tips and ideas do you have? Share in the comments!

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

 

Hidden Gems for Families in the Twin Cities

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We love the Mall of America, the popular zoos and museums (Minnesota Children’s Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota, etc.), and many other hotspots in the Twin Cities. We visit them often and because there’s always something new at these places, we always enjoy returning.

But sometimes we want to explore something new or a little different.

This past weekend our family decided to have a “Twin Cities Adventure Day.” We visited some places that we had heard about but that were not as well known or tend to be easily forgotten. They included the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Aircraft Viewing Area, Wild Rumpus Bookstore for Kids, and the Brooklyn Park Library. Here I share these places and a few other hidden gems for families in the Twin Cities!

(List is updated regularly – let me know if I missed an update!)

And here’s my segment on WCCO about this round-up!

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport’s Aircraft Viewing Area

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport’s Aircraft Viewing Area is located right in the heart of the airfield. It’s free and open to public 365 days a year, and includes parking (25 spaces), picnic tables and information about the airplanes! We learned the differences between an Airbus and a Boeing and some other interesting things.

It’s great for kids or for anyone to just sit and observe the constant flurry of takeoffs and landings. We were here 10 minutes and there was no more than a minute or two between an arrival or a departure. You can sit here in your car and watch, or in warmer weather, sit and eat lunch at a picnic table.

Where?

It’s located at the end of Cargo Road and next to the FedEx Shipping Center. We just took 24th Avenue north from the Mall of America, turned right at Cargo Road and followed the signs. Super easy!

There’s a map here with directions to the viewing area too: https://www.mspairport.com/sites/default/files/2017-06/Aircraft-Viewing-MAP.pdf

Wild Rumpus and the Linden Hills neighborhood

Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers is a must-see in the Twin Cities. Here you can shop for children’s books among live animals such as a chicken and chinchillas! Many are caged, like the ferret, rats, and tarantula (thankfully – eek!), but the chicken and cats roam loose in the store. (It was busy when we came and they were behind the front desk to avoid all the traffic but you could still see them.)

The Wild Rumpus also has a FREE storytime on Monday mornings at 10:30am called Tail Time. [Read more…]

3 Ways to Get Discount Tickets for Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes in December in St. Paul (& a Ticket Giveaway!)

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Last year our family went to Marvel Universe Live! at the Target Center in Minneapolis and had a blast. Now I’m excited to share that Marvel Universe Live! is back with an all-new show this December 2017 – and there are several ways to get DISCOUNT tickets!

Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes

About the Show – Here’s the Synopsis:

Marvel Fans… Assemble for this live, action-packed battle to defend the universe from evil.  This all new show unites Spider-Man, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange in a race against time to recover the Wand of Watoomb before Loki gains control.  This ancient artifact would allow Loki to achieve his eternal quest to crown himself ruler of the universe.  Witness the cutting-edge special effects and immersive video projection in this legendary, live adventure!

Dates:

Thursday, December 7th – Sunday, December 10th

Where:

Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul

3 Ways to Get Discount Tickets

1. From Carrie the Moment Sales & Events Consulting:

I’m thrilled to work with Carrie the Moment Sales & Events Consulting as she has great prices for local shows and events. Here are deals she’s offering to families for Marvel Universe LIVE in December:

  • Get opening night tickets for only $12.50! Opening night is Thursday, December 7th at 7:00pm!
  • Save $5-10 per ticket for all other shows EXCEPT the Saturday and Sunday matinee shows! (This is an update 11/4/17!)

For either discount click on the following link and enter promo code MOM2017.

Promo Code: MOM2017

2. From Goldstar:

You can get tickets that are regularly $37.50 – 72.50 for only $27 – 44.50!

Here are the shows you can get discounted tickets:

Friday December 8, 2017 / 7:00pm | $27 – $44.50
Saturday December 9, 2017 / 7:00pm | $27 – $44.50
Sunday December 10, 2017 / 5:00pm | $27 – $44.50

Check availability!

3. From Groupon (UPDATE: SOLD OUT):

Groupon is offering tickets from $29 (that’s up to 46% off) for select shows and seating areas.

Shows (same as Goldstar)

  • Friday, December 8, at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 9, at 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 10, at 5 p.m.

Seats are in sections 103-106 or 114-117.

Check availability!

My recommendation

The best price you can get for tickets is $12.50 for opening night tickets from Carrie the Moment. Second best is either Goldstar or Groupon as the dates and times are the same but the seating varies. However, Carrie’s discount code of MOM2017 works for ANY show so if the Goldstar and Groupon show times don’t work you can still save money on any other show!

Plus, Carrie has provided me with 4 tickets to give away for any Marvel Universe: Age of Heroes show Dec 7-10!

Giveaway!

Enter to win a FAMILY FOUR PACK OF TICKETS TO OPENING NIGHT OF MARVEL LIVE ON DECEMBER 7TH + FOUR MARVEL SWAG BAGS from Carrie the Moment Sales & Events Consulting! Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form below by Monday, November 6th at 11:00pm! To enter by blog comment, share your child’s favorite Marvel superhero!

Please note that by entering this giveaway you give permission for your email to be shared with Carrie the Moment Sales & Events Consulting to receive discount information! Learn more about Carrie the Moment on her Facebook page!

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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