St. Louis Summer Savings- Printable coupons for local attractions!

Ready or not, parents...

...here comes summer vacation! Most St. Louis kiddos close out the school year this week, including the Nenonen boys who are officially done on Friday at noon.

Simply, this year FLEW.

"Now what?!" seems to be the common theme among our friends this week, as we pull out our date books to schedule sleepovers, BBQs, and activities for the next 3 months. Luckily, here in St. Louis, the possibilities for summer fun are endless. We not only have terrific family amenities at our fingertips (see my right sidebar under "Things To Do in St. Louis" for links), but St. Louis is unique to most cities as the bulk of our local favorites are extremely affordable or free.

Over the past few years, St. Louis has been touted nationally as the ideal family destination. As a result, our local businesses have responded by offering deals and discounts to entice tourists to the attractions that are NOT free.

Many locals aren't aware that Drury Hotels offers NUMEROUS discounts to local attractions for locals/visitors on their website...

• $1 off admission to the Missouri Botanical Gardens
• $1 off admission to the Butterfly House
• Discounts on Cardinals Tickets
• $2 off an Omnimax ticket at the St. Louis Science Center
• $5 indoor go-carting at Pole Position
• Buy 1, Get 1 Admission 1/2 off at the Magic House
• $2 off admission to the Endangered Wolf Center
• Free Child Tram ticket to the top of the Arch
• $2 off admission to the Rise and Fall of Prohibition exhibit at the Missouri History Museum
• Discounted ticket to 6 Flags
• Buy 1 chocolate chip concrete at Ted Drewes, get one for 1/2 off
• Free shark tooth at the City Museum's World Aquarium
• $3 off admission to Meramec Caverns
• Buy 1 hr tour ticket, get one free at the Daniel Boone Heritage Center
• Discounts on Amtrack Railroad tickets for children and seniors
• 20% off at the Purina Farms gift shop
• Discounts at the Anheuser Busch Brewery gift shop
• Free iPod tour at Cahokia Mounds
• $5 off Caveman Ziplining

Print the deals HERE.

Great, right?  Now, go tell your friends and share my link before the summer fun begins! 

On a personal note, the Nenonens love Drury Hotels! Few know that early in his career, my hubby worked as a manager for Drury Hotels.  15+years later, in his significant work travel, he still uses them as his "go-to" hotel for business comfort and amenities.   We also stay at Drury Hotels often with the boys!

Connect with Drury Hotels...

HERE on the web
HERE on Facebook
HERE on Twitter.

Bravo and thank you, Drury Hotels...

Deal Alert: St. Louis Summer Savings via Drury Hotels

Summer is half way over, parents...

Are you quickly running out of fun activities or plans for the kids, particularly in this heat?  Drury Hotels can help (while relieving your wallet a tad)!  I blogged about this last year as well, though Drury has once again released their St. Louis Summer Savings coupons.

It contains savings for area favorites like the Magic House, Botanical Gardens, Ted Drewes, the Imax, 6 Flags, Meramec Caverns, Incredible Pizza Company, The Butterfly House, Union Station, and more ala...

Click HERE to view the 2012 Summer Savings. 

Note:  some you must click on the photo (ex. Ted Drewes) to actually view/print the coupon.

THANKS DRURY!!

DEAL ALERT: Give to Goodwill and they shall give back to you!

St. Louis...

Donate to Goodwill on Wednesdays in March and get a free movie ticket to Wehrenberg Theaters! 

Pretty awesome.

 Find out more information here.

Yes, you read this correctly...

If you donate a vehicle to the Goodwill before the 1st of the year, you will receive 1 year of free movies, compliments of Wehrenberg Movie Theaters in addition to the standard tax deduction!  Vehicle donations benefit the St. Louis community by providing vocational rehabilitation services and job placement programs for those with barriers to employment.

More information about this donation program can be found HERE.

Family Lives in 320-Square-Foot 'Shotgun Shack'

I love featuring unique properties on the blog! I stumbled upon this article and had to share, particularly as an interesting follow-up to my previous article regarding Generations Y's affinity towards smaller, more practical/green spaces.

2 years ago, Debra and her family lived in a 2,000sq ft home on over an acre of land. After her husband lost his job, they opted for an extreme choice, by purchasing a 320-square-foot shack for $15,000 cash

Early in their marriage, the couple had spent 9 years living abroad in very condensed spaces in South America. Recalling that living small hadn't felt like a sacrifice then, but rather a way to stay focused on what is important... they decided they wanted to get back to that simplicity.

Their custom-built "shotgun shack" includes a walk-in closet, conventional-sized appliances, and even a lofted bedroom for their son that, the family boasts, is big enough to host sleepovers. Amazing how far a little ingenuity can take you...

Free St. Louis Concert Calendar for 2011

It is that season again, St. Louis! Summer concert series have begun. They are free, family-friendly, and a wonderful way to enjoy good music under the stars. Every summer, the local Bikesafe's Blog is kind enough to compile a list of free Summer concerts by date in the St. Louis area. While it may not include every free local concert, it comes pretty darn close!

Hence, if you find your evening free... grab the kiddies, a blanket, a bottle of wine, and enjoy!

My friend, Karen Goodman over at Arch City Homes, also creates a phenomenal list every summer. She sections them out by location. Check her list out HERE. Fantastic resources for free family fun all summer long!

DEAL ALERT: 20-40% off at 3 local Borders Bookstores

There is no doubt that consumers become more tight and resourceful during economic downturn, and that retailers feel the pinch as a result! The latest local casualty happened when Borders Bookstore announced that they were closing 200+ stores nationally as part of a Chapter 11 restructure.... Let's face it: in the day of the Internet and e-readers like Kindles... print media is a dying breed. Period. Add into the equation the HUGE savings at your fingertips found on online retail powerhouses like Amazon and Half.com. It is no wonder that the overhead of a huge retail store would be too high to continue operation?!

Sadly, 3 of the 9 local Borders locations including Chesterfield Mall, Mid Rivers Mall, and Manchester Road in West County were victims of the downsizing. As a result, they are clearing house. We took advantage of the major discounts over the weekend, up to 40% on some items, but are not happy as a Borders-loyal family...In my opinion, no online deal beats a visit to the bookstore to wander and explore the shelves. Though it looks like those days are soon over. If you have your eye on a book... the time to hit Borders is now. The deals are unparalleled.

The ULTIMATE Makeover...

Every once in awhile, I come across a blog that I HAVE to share. This one does NOT disappoint!

Meet Marisa...


Via her blog, A New Dress A Day, she has committed to foregoing traditional shopping for an entire year to re purpose super cheap (and often times tacky) Goodwill finds in an attempt to style herself for an entire year on $1.00/day. You HAVE to see what she has been able to do with some of these pieces...

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LOVE IT! Marissa is most definitely, the ULTIMATE Recessionista! I can't wait to follow her project and you should too. Besides her blog link, she can also be found on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Pop Quiz...

Another style quiz... love these! This one is hosted by mylifetime.com, and predicts your dream home style by analyzing your style photo choices. Super fun, super easy, and once again... I was PEGGED.

My result...

Historic Fixer-Upper

For you, they just don't make 'em like they used to. That's why nothing compares to your dream home — a historic fixer-upper. It appeals to the artist, dreamer, nurturer and historian in you. You can see potential in a rambling, run-down Victorian or a crumbling brick row house. Nothing excites you more than the possibilities: With a little research and imagination and a lot of planning and work, you'll enjoy the home you've always imagined, custom-renovated with lots of love.


Yes, it has me written ALL over it. Give me the big, broken down Victorian with stories embedded in EVERY wall, original fixture, and stained glass transom and allow me to give it new life! Heaven.

Click HERE to start your quiz!

Makeover time...

Recessionista

taken from Wikipedia

Recessionista is a blend of the words Fashionista and recession that describes a person who strives to remain fashionable on a minimal budget. The term originated in the United States during the economic difficulties of 2008.

"Recessionista" is a word that we keep hearing more and more in this economy. Though to some a tad silly, the concept of the term is a grim reality and sign of the times. That being said, even though times are tough, one need not compromise style for budget.

Magazines, blogs, and online articles have really started to make a push for recycling and the repurposing of items that you may already have on hand. Hitting thrift stores, freecycling, and utilizing Craigslist have become super trendy. It's not only good for the pocket book... but great for the environment.

Below are a few excellent examples taken from BHG's site of what can be done with a little bit elbow grease and a lot of creativity...

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