Column for June 18 - 24

I went to Boston last week to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom and my best friend. I used frequent flyer miles to get there on a free ticket along with points from my credit card to get a free room. Talk to your bank about what rewards are associated with your credit card. It can be a great way to get free airfare and lodgings. But remember to pay off your credit card monthly. Before I took my trip I looked on the internet to see what was happening in the city and I found a great free concert being offered in the park. My mother’s library lets her check out free admission tickets to local museums so off we went to the Museum of Science, Museum of Contemporary Arts and Aquarium. To remind me of my wonderful trip, my friend made a DVD of all the pictures she took along with some great music. I couldn’t think of a better gift from the heart. If you want to learn more about making a DVD with your digital photos sign up for a class at the Northside Library. Call ((859) 231-5590 to register. With Father’s Day coming this Sunday, remember it isn’t the price of the gift that matters, it’s the heart that goes into it. Here are some deals worth checking out
■ Connect with family and friends using Smilebox. Choose from a range of animated, musical designs, add your photos or video and you’re done. http://www.smilebox.com/partner/scholastic/family/?campaign=scholastic
■ PROJECTalphabet lets you make your own alphabet, counting books and calendars with digital pictures, then print them out yourself. http://www.projectalphabet.com/
■ Sear is offering a Father’s Day apparel rebate. Receive $50 reward cash toward future $50 purchase of men’s apparel when you buy $50 of men’s pants.http://www.sears.com/ue/home/spend50rebate.pdf?sid=I0084400010000100312&aff=Y
■ Get a coupon from TGIFridays for buy one entrée/get on free. Good until June 22.http://www.tgifridays.com/promos/JuneBogo.aspx?source=home■
Martha Stewart shows you how to make a coupon booklet filled with deals that you or your children can give dad.http://www.marthastewart.com/article/fathers-day-coupons?rsc=aol
■ Get 20 free prints by becoming a member of Kodak Gallery.http://www.kodakgallery.com/Welcome.jsp?sourceid=483561725503&cm_mmc=CJ-_-2435113-_-3082467-_-Gallery_NMI+-+20+Free+4x6+Prints
■ Help Dad put in his own putting green. Lowes Creative Idea Web site will give a plan along with many other great ideas.http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/Home.aspx
■ Create a free card for Dad from Hewlett-Packard Creative Studio.http://www.hp.com/hho/hp_create/
■ Get a free download of the new Live Jonas Brothers track from Walmart Soundcheck. Just enter “JONAS” in the claim code box. http://soundcheck.walmart.com/jonas-brothers
■ Join Kraft First Taste and try new Kraft products.http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com/registration/regstep1.aspx?cm_mmc=ola-_-specmed-_-acq-_-frsttst
■ Mars candy is giving away 250,000 free candy bars every Friday. Sign up at: https://secure.realchocolate.com/
■ Free sample of Sundiwear stickers that will turn red when your sunscreen is no longer working. http://www.sundiwear.com/parenthood/freepack.aspx
■ Learn how you can earn points to get free farm products from Hobby Farms.http://www.hobbyfarms.com/login.aspx?check=y&wid=29
■ Get onboard with the VERB scorecard. Track your physical activity hours with the online scorecard. When you have been active for 12 hours, pick the prize drawing you want to put your ticket in and automatically enter into a grand prize. When you register online, you’ll get a scorecard by email. Print if off and cut it out. Bring it with you to get discounts at many Fayette County businesses. For example, on July 31 at Southland Aquatic Center, 625 Hill-n-Dale Road, from 6-8:30 p.m. bring your completed scorecard to win great prizes including Wii packages, iPod Shuffles, bicycles and more. This program is offered in many of the surrounding counties. http://www.verbsummerscorecard.com/
■ Join REI’s Passport to Adventure program which encourages kids aged 5-12 to spend time recreating the outdoors while winning prizes. http://www.rei.com/passport/prize
■ On June 20 bring Dad to the Lexington Green Mall, 161 Lexington Green Circle to see Keeneland’s Concours d’Elegance previewing about 10 of their show cars.
■ Joseph-Beth is having an instrument petting zoo at 11 a.m on June 20. Musicians from the Lexington Philharmonic will perform and let you try your hand at creating music.
■ Have lunch outside with the Lexington Human Society. Whole Foods personnel will cook hot dogs.
■ Rite Aid is offering free health screenings. Skin cancer screenings given by a board certified dermatologist will be given in a mobile bus July 10 at the store at 2284 Versailles Road. Call: (859) 278-3471. Diabetes health screening from 2-6 p.m. on June 23 at the store at 1335 South Broadway. Call: (859) 254-7777. A diabetes health screening will take place from 2-6 p.m., June 25 at the store at 100 Malabu Drive. Call: (859) 278-2087. A blood glucose and cholesterol screenings will take place from 2-6 p.m., June 18 at the store at 3813 Dylan Place. Call: (859) 219-0102. Visit:www.riteaid.com