Column November 5

On MTV there is a show called My Super Sweet Sixteen. It is about people going over the top to celebrate their child’s 16th birthday.
I was thinking how crazy it is to spend that type of money on a party. Last year I bought lots of pirate costumes, along with fake gold treasures, fake parrots, and fake swords after Halloween for my nephew’s birthday party in February. My brother-in-law made treasure maps where all the kids went hunting for buried treasure. They had a blast. I got the costumes and treasures for 90 percent off at Kmart. After holiday sales, along with a little imagination, can make for a great party. You will be surprised how your original idea will be a hit with all the kids.
Other ways to save
■Host a house party where you’ll receive free items, sneak previews of TV shows and the other offers. Many varieties of parties exist. www.houseparty.com
■Classic children’s books like The Cat in the Hat come to life at www.Seussville.com. Kids can log on for free, play games and engage in activities that will challenge them.
■Calculate the savings if you and your child stopped buying lunch out every day and brown-bagged it. www.feedthepig.org
■Traveling this Thanksgiving? Keep the kids entertained in the backseat by downloading children’s books at www.kids.audible.com
■Artist Marilyn Scott Water has patterns for toys that just need to be folded. Free. www.thetoymaker.com
■A national sports program called Kids Enjoy Exercise Now offers free one-on-one activities and non-competitive sports for kids with disabilities, ages 5 and older. www.keenusa.org
■Easter Seals has launched an on-line version of its popular disability-awareness curriculum, Friends Who Care.
www.easterseals.com/friendswhocare
■Have full access to a custom photo lab where you can create photo calendars, jigsaw puzzles, mosaics, trading cards and more from your digital photos. www.bighugelabs.com
■Have your child become a Planet Protector. The official kit includes official membership certificate, Planet Protectors Club badge, activity booklets for grades K-3 and 4-5.
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/kids/ppcform.htm
■November is Diabetes Awareness Month. If your child has been diagnosed with the disease, you’ll want a free Everyday Wisdom kit from the American Diabetes Association. www.diabetes.org/families
■Get free Cancer Project’s Recipe Bookmarks.
http://www.cancerproject.org/resources/bookmarks.php
■Starfall is a free public service to motivate children to read with phonics.
www.starfall.com
■On November 22, Parents and American Baby will be giving out sample gift bags at 60 stores. List of participating stores at www.parentspromo.com
■Join the Parents Community to match you with groups that have similar interests. www.parents.com/community
■Disney is releasing UP on DVD, Nov. 10. Get a 3-D balloon-propelled house plus many other UP themed templates.
http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-648972-disney-printable---up-house-with-balloons-t/
■Join Oprah and Say You’re One of Them author Uwem Akpan for a discussion simulcast live from Oprah.com, CNN.com and Facebook at 9 p.m. Nov. 9. RSVP now.
http://www.oprah.com/static/webcast/cnn/webcast_register_cnn.html
■Make a free scrapbook album project to help tell your holiday stories past and present. Class runs from Nov. 16 – 23. Go to www.jessicasprague.com.
■Make handmade cards for the holidays, 7 p.m., Nov. 11 at Eagle Creek Library, 101 N.Eagle Creek Drive. Materials provided. Call 231-5560 for reservations.
■From 6-8 p.m., Nov. 5 attend Discovery Night at The Living Arts and Science Center,š 362 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Duk Lee, professor at Ashbury College, will teach origami as an art form. Call (859) 252-5222 to register.
■Join the Fayette County Extension Office on Nov. 20 for Holidays in the Bluegrass. 9 - 9:30 a.m., breakfast; 9:30 -10:30a.m., “Holiday Hospitality,” led by Rita Smart owner of the Bennett House; 10:45 – 11:45a.m., “Bringing the Outside In,” by Jamie Dockery, horticulture agent; noon - 1 p.m., lunch and fashion show; 1– 2 p.m., “Secrets from the Tavern” with Chef Jeffrey Newman, Boone Tavern Hotel. Cost: $15. Call for registration: (859) 257-5582
■Salute a soldier this Veterans Day, by sending holiday cards and messages to service members through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. The third annual drive kicks off on Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 7. For more information go to www.redcross.org.
■Applebee’s would like to say thank you to all veterans and active-duty military on Nov. 11. Show proof of military service and eat free.
http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx
■Golden Corral has a free meal for anyone who has served in the military from 5-9 p.m., Nov. 16. Locally, restaurants are at 185 New Circle Road, Lexington; 110 Retail Road, Nicholasville and 100 Ikebana Path, Georgetown.