Upcoming Events - November 2009

Association of Artists Meeting
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 7pm
Senior Citizens Community building on City Hall grounds 
Cost: Free
Refreshments will be served.
The CAA meets on the first Monday of most months from October through May and ends the season with an outdoor art show and sale in Jubilee Park in June.

Cinderella
Saturday, November 7th at 11am
Westminster Art Center
Corner of Franklin St and Fremont St
Bloomfield, NJ
Cost: $10 general, $8 for children & seniors
Purchase tickets at the door (cash or credit) or call  to reserve at 973-748-9008 ext 279
Poor Cinderella is mistreated by her stepmother and sisters. With the help of her fairy godmother she goes to the Royal Ball. There, she meets the Prince of her dreams and leaves before the magic is undone. The successful quest for the maiden whose foot will match the glass slipper is retold with imaginative freshness. Don’t miss this wonderful classic come to life in story and song!

Kids Workshop: Tile Trivet

Saturday, November 7 from 9 a.m. - noon

Home Depot: 60 Orange Street, Bloomfield, NJ or
955 Bloomfield Avenue, Clifton, NJ. 1 (800) 553-3199.

Cost: Free
For children ages 5 - 12.  The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

Professor Toto Spanish Culture Time

Tuesday, November 10 at 2pm

Who: Children ages 2 and up.
The Language Workshop for Children

 596 Bloomfield Avenue

Montclair NJ, 07042 (Bloomfield and Midland Avenue)

Cost: Free. Call 1 - 800 -731-0830  for reservations

Watch a video and hear stories about Spanish culture.


November craft

Friday, November 20th at 3:30pm
Bloomingdale Public Library
101 Hamburg Turnpike
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
Cost: Free
Join Miss Denise for seasonal craft and make a popcorn turkey.
Class limited to 12 children. Registration begins Tuesday, November 3. 973-838-0077


Thanksgiving Craft
Liberty Hall Museum
1003 Morris Ave
Union, NJ 07083
Saturday, November 21 - 10 a.m. to noon
Cost: $8 per child, includes all workshop materials
Reservations required, (Recommended for ages 7 to 12)
Visit: http://www.kean.edu/libertyhall/reservations.html to make reservations
You and your family will create a colorful turkey centerpiece that your guests will “gobble” over as they enjoy their meal on Thanksgiving Day.



AMC Sensory Friendly Films: A Christmas Carol
Saturday, November 21 at 10am
Cost: $4 - $6 depending on location.
Local AMC Theaters:
AMC Essex Green 9, 495 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, NJ
AMC Wayne 14, 67 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ
For autistic children and their families.


Salute to Veterans Concert
Tuesday, November 24th at 7pm
The Clifton Recreation Department
Cost: Bring non-perishable food items as your admission ticket
This concert is a special tribute to the veterans and their families. The concert will feature the Silver Starlite Orchestra. This year American flag will be honored. All are encouraged to dress in military wardrobe or red, white and blue to honor America.
Watch the veterans as they march down the aisles for a special salute. Enjoy special presentations and wartime memorabilia prior to the concert. During the concert feel free to sit back and enjoy the tunes or go in front of the stage and dance the night away.
As always, enjoy the refreshments and coffee upon conclusion of the concert. Bring your family and friends to this unforgettable and exciting event. 
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If you know of any other upcoming events, programs or activities, please contact us via email at frugalnj@gmx.com.

Flashback - Apshawa Trail

Where:      Apshawa Preserve - Green Loop

More Info: http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Apshawa_5602.asp

Trip Assessment:

Ease             ✮✮
Expense        FREE
Family Fun    ♥♥♥
==================================

October 2007.  Both our girls were small, ages 2 and under 1 year, so we opted to carry both of them on our backs.  The trail is easy in some parts, but requires a little more effort in others.  So, be careful with babies and tots!  Nowadays, I wouldn't mind allowing my 4-year-old to walk and climb on a trail like this.  She's done a much more difficult one this year (I will share soon) and was such a trooper!

Flashback - A Farming We Will Go!

Where:      Howell Living History Farm, Lambertville, NJ

More Info: http://www.howellfarm.com/

Trip Assessment:

Ease             ✮✮✮
Expense        $
Family Fun    ♥♥♥
==================================

The history of Howell Farm is long and varied.  Since farming began on this site in the 1730s, just about every type of farming situation has occurred here.  The farm has evolved from a grain producing farm to a dairy farm and over the years various crops have been grown, animals raised, products produced, etc.  The farm has gone through periods of family ownership and occupation and absentee owner/tenant farmer occupation.

We visited back in 2007.  The Farm is free to visit, they often have events and crafts for the children.  When we went, they showed us how scrapple is made from scratch.  This is probably not a good place to go if you can't stomach the sight of a slaughtered farm animal, however.  And especially if you don't want your children to see one.  We didn't mind though, we understand that's all part of farming.

We had lunch in the farm house, which has a kitchen with farm fresh goodies, mmmmm.   From baked goods to entire meals.  Food is not free, of course, but not expensive either. We had a nice sausage lunch (sorry, forgot what it was called) and then we headed out to see what was going on outside.

Rainy Day Activities

So, it's been raining a lot lately, and we've had some pretty cold days.  I'm home with the girls during the day, and sometimes we are just stuck indoors.  It gets harder in the winter.

On days like this, it's time to get creative.  My girls do watch TV, I won't deny that.  But, it's good to mix it up a bit so we all don't get stir crazy.

Here are some of the things we do to keep busy...

Flashback - Valley Forge

Where:      Valley Forge, PA

More Info: http://www.valleyforge.org

Trip Assessment:

Ease             ✮✮✮
Expense        $
Family Fun    ♥♥
==================================

The picturesque, rolling hillsides of 3,600-acre Valley Forge National Historical Park are a peaceful reminder of freedom won by men’s sacrifices long ago. It was here that General George Washington forged his Continental Army into a fighting force, during the winter encampment of 1777-78.

 June 2007 - This was one of our many memorable road trips.  And for so many reasons!  It was a beautiful day, from what I can recall.

Fall Discovery Walk & Cider Tasting

Where:      Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland, NJ

More Info: http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionCenters/SectionEssex/Introduction.aspx

Trip Assessment:

Ease             ✮✮✮
Expense        $$
Family Fun    ♥♥♥
==================================

Hello everyone!

As this is our first entry, I'm going to start with an activity we did this past month.  Later on I'll add some places we've gone to further in the past, but that you can still take advantage of.

At the beginning of the season, we received a pamphlet from the Essex County Environmental Center in the mail.  It contained descriptions of their Fall/Winter 2009-10 activities.  I immediately flipped through it to see what these included.