Sesame Place is OPEN!!!!

Friday night, April 26th, I told my girls that if they cleaned up their toys really well, I had a surprise for them.  The mad dash to put away every figurine, Lego, and book began!  And then came the announcement... we were going to Sesame Place in the morning!  I'm sure my neighbors appreciated the shrills that came out of my 4 year old and 2.5 year old.  Pure joy.  Melted my heart!

Saturday the 27th was our third visit to Sesame Place.  If you've never been, you should know that this Langhorne, PA park is the nation’s only theme park based entirely on the award-winning television show Sesame Street.  As seen on their Facebook page, Saturday was their Opening Day and the universe sure celebrated!  We had a day of sunshine, light breezes, and about 70 degrees.  It was beyond gorgeous!  There were even people on the water rides!  Season Pass holders proudly wore their lanyards around their neck.  One woman I talked to in line for the Elmo Rocks show said she's been coming to the park since it opened in 1980 and always attends on Opening Day!

The girls with Elmo

I'm sure every year that same woman finds something new and exciting that the park has to offer.  This year, Sesame Place is offering a star-studded concert line-up including kid-friendly favorites such as Laurie Berkner and Imagination Movers, to musical playdates with Caillou and Max & Ruby, the park’s event schedule is its most robust ever.  Check out their calendar of events on the website www.sesameplace.com.  Park guests will also notice quite a few changes in the culinary department for 2013. The park continues to enhance its menu of allergen-friendly foods and healthy-eating options for the comfort and satisfaction of park guests. Starting this season, Sesame Place will offer box lunches which must be purchased online, in advance, and picked up at Elmo’s Lunch Box Stop. The new Lunch Box program will give families more time to enjoy the attractions and shows in the park. In May, Sesame Place is also adding a food truck to its street, giving guests an even greater variety of quick-dining choices.  We ate at Elmo's Eatery and the children's meals came with a plate and cup they got to take home.  The girls love their souvenir!  And I was pleased to learn I got a AAA discount on the meals too!

Other changes for 2013 include the park’s popular Fireworks shows, which will be enhanced by a newly-choreographed pyrotechnics display. Fireworks are scheduled for 5/26, 7/4 and 9/1 and 12/31.
“At Sesame Place, we are all about celebrating, and we’re doing a lot of things in 2013 to celebrate our guests,” says Susan Godfrey, Communications Manager at Sesame Place. Visitors can be spotted wearing their new “Today I’m Celebrating…” stickers all throughout the park. “Some people are here for their birthday, while others may be celebrating their first roller coaster ride, visit to the park, last night’s Phillies’ win, or even just a sunny day,” continues Godfrey. “Every moment of celebration -- it’s all important to us here at Sesame Place,” she adds.  My youngest daughter wore one to celebrate her first birthday.  Elmo must have a special place for babies turning one, because after the group shot I took of him with the girls, he came over to her in the stroller and held hands with the baby and the two  "bonded" for several minutes.  Wish I took video of it, I was just so star struck!

Watching the Elmo Rocks! Show,
proudly wearing her "I'm Celebrating..." sticker.

There is still time to purchase a 2013 Season Pass. Sesame Place season passes start at under $100, making the park one of the area’s best entertainment values. Guest can take advantage of Sesame Place’s new six-month EZ pay plan for 2013 and enjoy unlimited fun all season along with in-park discounts for as low as $16.17 per month. Explore all the park’s ticket options by visiting Sesame Place Ticketing Information.

Twirling, dizzy, giggly FUN!

Sesame Place is great for children of all ages.  The Vapor Trail roller coaster is for ages 3 and up.  My 4 year old LOVED it, which surprised me, in a good way!  My 2 year olds favorite ride, she says, was Elmo's World's Flying Fish. My favorite was Grover's World Twirl.  Nothing like spinning super fast and watching my two giggly girls smile ear to ear while they cling to me.  It was just such an awesome day.  So much fun and such wonderful memories made.  I love to know we had a wonderful day that EVERYONE enjoyed- my mother, myself, and my 4, 2.5, and 1 year old daughters.

*Disclosure: I received 4 complimentary tickets in order to facilitate this review.  The opinions in this review are all my own.

Jack Gives Back: Earth Day 2013

Like most toddlers, our little Jack loves to make a mess!  And I have to admit, on most occasions even mommy has fun getting in on that mess-making action.  But this month, I was excited to teach Jack the importance of cleaning up in honor of Earth Day.  Today we all have the opportunity (or should I say responsibility) to give back in honor of our environment.  Whether you decide to start a composting project at your local school, visit a recycling facility with your family or plant a tree seedling in your yard, both adults and kids, we can all give back.

Goose Creek Park Cleanup Crew

One great opportunity is to participate in a community cleanup.  The Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association held their 8^th Annual Chester Creek Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday morning at four locations in the West Chester area.  At the family-friendly Goose Creek Park, we met a group of volunteers including area residents, college students, baby-wearing moms and dads with strollers.  After checking in with the site coordinator, we grabbed a pair of work gloves and trash bags and set off in different directions to clean the park and surrounding waterways.  We collected just what you’d expect…plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers…but I’m very happy and proud to say that the area we covered was overall pretty clean.  Proud as a Chester County resident to live in a community which values our environment, even getting a “thumbs up” from a motorist driving by who saw our team cleaning the park.  And I know it’s because of organizations like the CRCWA and their commitment to host these community cleanups, that our creeks and streams are clean enough to enjoy recreation, sustain wildlife and provide safe drinking water.  The CRC Watersheds Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the protection of water resources and the natural environment of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Valleys, and the health, recreational, and quality of life benefits they afford the residents of this region. Supporting organizations like the CRCWA is a great way to teach our children the importance of cleaning up after ourselves, not only at home, but also out in our community.  Visit their website at www.crcwatersheds.org for upcoming volunteer opportunities. 

Get outside today, enjoy this magnificent planet with your family and create your own act of green.  Even if it’s something as simple as a litter collecting game where your kids spend the last five minutes at the park seeing who can collect the most trash…we can all make a difference!  To learn more about Earth Day and how your family can get involved, visit www.earthday.org

Jack thought picking up litter at our local village cleanup was a super fun game:)

Jen is a local, organic, stay-at-home mom who is teaching her son Jack the importance of giving back to their community. To read more about Jen and Jack, head over to Fishies of Hope or Jack Gives Back.

Jack Gives Back at the 8th Annual Chester Creek Earth Day Cleanup, Saturday, April 20, 2013

Join us at the 8th Annual Chester Creek Earth Day Cleanup!  Like most kids, our son Jack has lots of fun making a mess but this volunteer opportunity will give us the chance to teach him the importance of cleaning up our community as "Jack Gives Back" in honor of Earth Day 2013!

Jen is a local, organic, stay-at-home mom who is teaching her son Jack the importance of giving back to their community. To read more about Jen and Jack, head over to Fishies of Hope or Jack Gives Back.

America Saves February 25th to March 2nd: Pledge to Save

Pledge to Save 

Today is the final post in a series of posts focused on America Saves Week. We've spent the week talking about savings - why to save, how to do it, and what your savings priorities should be.

Did you come up with a savings goal this week? Did you come up with a plan to tackle your high-interest debt? Are you thinking about what your retirement will look like?

Now it's time to make your plan, get started, and Take the America Saves Pledge today!

Resources to Get You Started 

• The Simple Dollar  
• Get Rich Slowly  
• The Dollar Stretcher  
• Money Saving Mom 
• The Tightwad Gazette
• Your Money or Your Life
• The Total Money Makeover

Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 4 year old when she isn't writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance, Frugal Local Kitchen, or on Twitter with daily doses of life in 140 characters or less.

America Saves February 25th to March 2nd: Save for a Large Purchase

Today is the fourth in a series of posts focused on America Saves Week. Yesterday we talked about saving for retirement. Today's focus is saving for a large purchase. 

Why talk about retirement before talking about saving for a home, college, or a car? Because retirement is inevitable. Because you need to be thinking now about the kind of lifestyle you want to have when you retire. Because knowing how you want to retire will help you figure out the purchasing decisions that happen before you retire. Seeing the end goal gives you a target number and helps you make a plan to get to that goal.

How to Do It 

Sit down with your spouse and decide whether or not you'll be making a large purchase in the next 5 years. Be realistic and look at the pros and cons of each choice. For example, should you move to a larger house or can you maximize the space you have by renovating or adding on to the house? A neighbor of ours did the math and realized it was cheaper to add a 2-story addition to his house given the interest rates than to buy a new one.

Car Fund

It is always safe to save for a car especially if you live in the suburbs and need a car to get to work. Balance your car desires against your budget and your long-term goals. Research the reliability, gas mileage, repair records, and maintenance costs of different cars. While I initially was against my husband's desire to spend more money on a used Honda Odyssey versus a Ford Windstar, over time, our Honda Odyssey has been reliable, not too expensive to repair, and not subject to many safety recalls.

Remember, if you have an older car that is totaled in an accident, you may need to replace it quickly. Having a down payment combined with whatever you receive from the insurance company will give you a bargaining tool when car shopping and a way to reduce your car loan if you need to get one.

 Down payment for a home or pay for home in cash 

It can be done. Fans of the site, Money Saving Mom, have followed her story for years as she and her husband saved cash for their first home. If you plan to buy a home, include money in your fund in case you need or want to make changes in the home. Retirement While I covered retirement yesterday, it bears repeating again - save for retirement before saving for other goals. Take advantage of the power of compound interest.

College 

While it's up to you whether you'll help your children pay for college, many parents feel it's part of their responsibility to do so in part or in full. Personally, my husband and I are saving a small amount for our 5 children, and we will encourage them to find ways to minimize their college expenses whether it's through a part-time job, attending community college for a year or two, or taking a year off to work full-time and earn the money for the rest of college. We think our children will value their college education more if they contribute to paying for it.

Like many states, our state has a savings plans which we take advantage of with automatic monthly payments. We use the age-targeted funds which means the money goes into riskier investments when our children are younger, and safer ones as they get close to college age. Set up your own savings plans if you have the financial means. Don't hesitate to ask family members to contribute to college savings in lieu of gifts or do smaller gifts and give the balance to college savings. Some family members will love this idea, and others will prefer to do their own thing. It never hurts to ask. Sometimes family members don't realize they can help financially with your children's college education. Find out if there are tax benefits for larger gifts.

Tomorrow: Pledge to Save

Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 4 year old when she isn't writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance, Frugal Local Kitchen, or on Twitter with daily doses of life in 140 characters or less.

America Saves February 25th to March 2nd: Save for Retirement

Today is the fourth in a series of posts focused on America Saves Week. Yesterday we talked about saving automatically. Today's focus is saving for retirement. 

While I won't get into politics and I don't pretend to understand the ins and outs of social security, I do know that I want my husband to retire on time, I need to save for retirement. I also want to say that any tax-related advice I offer is purely my own opinion. You should check with an accountant or the tax laws to make sure what I say is still true. 

How to Do It 

Participate in a work-related retirement program or open up a Roth IRA

Already saving? Increase the amount you save toward retirement by 1% in 2013. If possible, max out your work-related retirement program contributions to ensure you're taking full advantage of your employer's contributions.

Your work-related retirement program and the ROTH IRA are currently tax-deductible if you do one or the other. In my case, contributions made by myself to a ROTH IRA or regular IRA are tax-deductible since I am a non-working spouse. My husband's IRA contributions are not tax-deductible because he contributes to a plan at work.

 Set up a separate savings account for retirement

While your ROTH IRA is controlled by you, you may be limited by the types of investments you can make with the fund. My husband and I have a separate mutual fund set up for retirement which was funded by an inheritance. This fund is available at any time. We can make large contributions to it while the ROTH IRA has yearly contribution limits. The ROTH IRA has some limits and restrictions on withdrawals which need to be discussed with an accountant.

Save for retirement before saving for college for your children

While we all would like our children to leave college without student loan debt, this needs to be done without sacrificing our retirement savings. My husband and I have 529 plans for our 5 children. We put less money into the 529 plans than we do into the retirement plans.

Keep control of your retirement savings.

Don't leave money in 401 (k) at old job. These days it's simple to roll over an old 401 (k) into a new one or into an IRA that you control. Figure out what you'll need for retirement. For me, this is the hardest part. Honestly, my husband and I have not sat down and figured out what we'll need for retirement. That will be a tough conversation. I'll keep you posted.

Tomorrow: Save for a Large Purchase

Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 4 year old when she isn't writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance, Frugal Local Kitchen, or on Twitter with daily doses of life in 140 characters or less.

America Saves February 25th to March 2nd: Save Automatically

Today is the third in a series of posts focused on America Saves Week. Yesterday we talked about paying off high-interest debt and how to make it happen. Today's focus is saving automatically. 

 If you want to be successful with saving money, make it automatic. Anytime you need to remember to do something, especially if you're starting a new habit, your brain has to save the reminder in its haphazard filing system known as your memory, and then be able to access it when needed which requires another reminder.

Remembering to transfer the savings with the help of your budgeting software like Quicken can be equally problematic. I've had much experience with this! I have regular automatic transfers set up to go into different accounts. Any time, I have modified the amount to transfer for one time, inevitably I forget to go back and change it. Then, occasionally, I incur bank charges like the $12 sweep in daily fee or the $35 over withdrawn charge because I forgot to make the change for several weeks.

Automatic regular savings ensure your money goes where it needs to go on schedule and that it's available when you need it. All banks have some type of automatic savings plan available. I do all of mine through ING Direct. If I ever need to change an amount because we changed our budget, all the information for my money transfer is in one place. If anything should happen to me, my husband will be able to pick up the finances with few issues.

Tomorrow: Save for Retirement

Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 4 year old when she isn't writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance, Frugal Local Kitchen, or on Twitter with daily doses of life in 140 characters or less.