If you have a Phoenix Zoo membership, your kids can enjoy this free event  Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28th, it’s a Fisher Price play weekend at the Phoenix Zoo from 8am-2pm. Each child attending will receive a free gift goodie bag with an activity booklet and a DVD. There will be activities and your kids can play with all the newest Fisher Price toys. Kids can also have their photos taken with the special apperances by some of your kids favorite cartoon characters. If you are not a Phoenix Zoo member, this event is free with a paid admission.

Some of the activities your kids can do is drive on the Power WheelsT driving track, girls can design their own necklaces to take home at the Color me GemzT vanity station and more.

• Adult admission (Ages 13-59) $16.00
• Kids admission (Ages 3-12) $7.00
• Senior admission (Ages 60+) $11.00

Save $1.00 on admission by signing up for the newsletter from the Phoenix Zoo. Click here to save $1.00.

 Moms! Do you purchase Shamrock products? If so you should visit this link and enter the barcode UPC’s to enter to win their contest. Win an Ipod Nano, Visa Giftcards, and free products from Shamrock.

  For me, being an adult, Halloween is my least favorite holiday but it’s fair to say that it is probably my kids favorite holiday’s next to Christmas. My kids are already getting excited and talking about what they want to be this year. Most of the time, we do homemade costumes or hand me down costumes or find other alternatives to inexpensive costumes.

Well, this year, I’ve started searching out my options early. I’ve noticed that costumes are already lining the aisles in my local stores. I have come to learn that if there are costumes at my local stores that the kids and I see when they first stock their aisles, we have a much better chance in buying the costumes we want even though it seems a bit early since it’s not even September yet. Otherwise, you wait until a few weeks before Halloween and good luck finding a costume your kids really want. Shopping early for costumes can save you money because you have your choice of the inexpensive ones that they do carry. I’ve also found second hand stores in my area that have a nice selection of gently used costumes for more than half the price of the stores. Another option for cheap costumes is to make a costume. Even if you’re not too “crafty” or can sew, you can still put together a nice halloween costume for your kids. One last great idea is that in the past I’ve gotten a mom’s group together in the past to swap costumes for our kids. Those of us who have older kids, lend out the costumes to our mommy friends who have younger ones who can get some extra use out of them. You can also search on the internet for keywords such as “costumes”, “cheap halloween costumes”, “halloween costumes and accessories”, etc. and check out your options there too. I have found that searching these sites gives me opportunities to buy last year’s costumes on clearance.

Here are some popular costumes for kids year:For the girls, the ever so popular Hannah Montana costume and Sharpay from High School Musical costume.For the boys, the movies this year inspire costumes like Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda.
 

  Well, it’s not free but it’s probably one of the cheapest kids meals around town is at Oregano’s Pizza Bistro. For just $2.99, kids can enjoy past and for just $1.99 they can enjoy a big slice of pizza, cheese or pepperoni. And Oregano’s doesn’t rip you off with the kids drinks because they are just .69 cents and free refills on pop! While the kids wait instead of coloring sheets, they’ll get a big chunk of pizza dough to keep them entertained. When the family is done, enjoy their famous Pazookie! Mmmm.

Find an Oregano’s near you here. Locations around Arizona include Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff.  

What an amazing deal! CiCi’s Pizza is trying to set a world record of the largets pizza buffet so they need YOU to come out and help eat all of the pizza! This event is totally FREE! Parking and beverages are also free! Join them from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the University of Phoenix Stadium at Gate 2 on Saturday, August 16th. There will be carnival games and inflatables for the kids and everyone gets to eat and enjoy lunch on the Cardinal’s field!

In today’s issue of the Ahwatukee Foothills News that is delivered to your home, you will find a coupon insert and in the insert you will find a coupon for a FREE loaf of bread (valued up to $3.89). Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White bread is free with this coupon!

There are a few events happening in Ahwatukee these next few weeks that you may want to take advantage of.

• A free hip-hop dance class is being offered at Bodies in Motion Dance Company on August 22nd. Your child also may have a chance to appear in a choregraphed film reel. Bodies in Motion Dance Company in Ahwatukee is located at 1334 E. Chandler Blvd. Suite 12. Call 480-283-1993 for more info.
• The YMCA of Ahwatukee is having a Back-to-School Teen night from 7pm to 10pm tonight, August 15th. A DJ will provide the music for dancing, there will be food and raffles along with giveaways. Ok, this is not free, but it’s cheap enough. This event is for kids in rades 5th through 8th grade. Ahwatukee YMCA is located at 1030 E. Liberty Lane Phoenix, AZ.
• September 27th Pecos Park is hosting a play day from 10 a.m. until 3p.m. Event is for ages toddler to teen. Kids will learn ways to enjoy healthy lifestyles through sports, fitness, actively playing and nutrition. Kids will enjoy entertainment, games, and prizes as well as emet elite athletes from different sports as they are leading this clinich and sigining autographs. Call 480-947-0369 or visit online at dayofplay.org.

Starting today and running for the next 10 days, Pizza Hut is offering FREE delivery and waiving their delivery charge. You must create a login on their website. Use this link to take advantage. Your pasta and/or pizza order must be placed online and a minimum of $8 is required for the free pizza delivery offer to be valid. Offer expires 8/24/2008. Need to find your closest Pizza Hut in Arizona? Click here.

  Tuesday nights at the Hong Kong Buffet in Ahwatukee on Chandler Blvd. just West of the I-10, children eat free (ages 2-10). One child buffet is free with one paying adult. Drinks not included. Visit Hong Kong Buffet Tuesday nights between 5pm until close for free kids buffets.