Mobile Bay Parents Magazine coming to Mobile in March! My Buggy friends, you are going to LOVE this monthly magazine! First, it’s FREE!  Second, it is packed with good parenting information. The March issue will be all about local summer camps. I promise to post a list of local places where you can pick up your FREE copy in March.

So what’s the big deal?

After running the Buggy for two years, I have had a lot of contact with other families in the community…I can not even begin to tell you just how many times I have been asked questions about topics this magazine will cover–summer camps is a great example. I actually own a second domain just for local parenting topics–it’s truly too much for one person to cover effectively so it’s been dormant for two years. I’ve seen the need. So yes, I’m very excited and positive about what a great resource this will potentially be for readers!

Interested in Advertising in Mobile Bay Parents?

If you are a local business that is interested in advertising in Mobile Bay Parents, you can send me an email at shannon@mobilebayparents.com.  I will be doing some ad sales for them and I promise if a deal is out there, I will get it for you! Right now, we are offering 40% off for those who start advertising in March!

Okay, so seriously, have you signed up for LivingSocial? It’s a (FREE) daily deal site that offers savings anywhere from 50%-90% for LOCAL stuff! PLUS, you get $5 Living Social bucks to put towards your first purchase when you sign up HERE!!!

I was liking Groupon…but LivingSocial may just take it to a whole new level for me. They are dishing out stuff for a lot of my favorite places.

Here’s a PEEK at today’s Living Social deals…
(Just remember quantities are limited. If it is something you want, I would get it early in the day! These work just like gift certificates. Great reviews.)

Mobile/Baldwin County – 50% off Mobile Boat Show or Biloxi RV and Boat Show HERE!

Birmingham - 50% off at Alabama Art Supply HERE!

Nashville – 60% off at BounceU HERE!

Bring in a new, unwrapped toy and receive a free B-12 or Flu shot at the below Greater Mobile Urgent Care Centers. All gifts received will go to local charities.
Participating Greater Mobile Urgent Care locations & schedule:

• December 4th; Schillinger Location: 2350 Schillinger Rd. from 10am – 2pm. Santa and 95KSJ will be there.
• December 4th; Semmes Location: 7943 Moffett Rd. will accept toys any time during this days.
• December 5th; Springhill Location: 4402 Old Shell Rd. will be a part of Christmas on the Hill during 10am – 2pm. Santa will be there and so will Lite Mix 99.9.

Call Greater Mobile Urgent Care HERE with any questions or additional information.

***Watch today’s Studio Ten segment HERE!***

Where can you find LOCAL COUPONS/DEALS?

1. Groupon.com offers coupons (up to 90% off) to local restaurants, salons, entertainment venues and more.

2. Coupons.com offers local coupons sometimes.  Click “Local Coupons” in the left sidebar of the coupons.com site.

3. Restaurant.com(click the image below) offers coupons/discounts(up to 90% off) to several local restaurants.  $25 gift certificates for $2 are not uncommon. Watch the terms of each restaurant.

4. Check local publications for coupons.

5. Studio Ten 50 off Fridays

6. Shop for the Mom & Pop Everyday Pricing! No Coupons Required.

One of my favorite examples of getting deals locally is shopping for produce.Local produce stands have excellent pricing that many of the larger grocery stores can not compete with. Price matching produce is also an option.

Need gas? Need a car wash?  “Like” Griffith’s Shell on Facebook HERE and receive a FREE carwash/self vacuum with any 8 gallon gas purchase between 6 a.m.-2p.m. tomorrow, 7/17!  More information on their Facebook page. Mention that The Bargain Buggy sent you to their Facebook page!

Thanks BB reader for passing this along!

Use this as a guide to find the best produce prices. You can take this information and pull the ads with the best pricing. Then take the ads to Target or WalMart to price match. Or take it to a local produce stand and check pricing. Some items are usually better at a produce stand/farmer’s market.

Apples(Gala):
$1.29/lb Target
$1.49/lb Food World

Green Grapes:
$0.88/lb Winn Dixie *GREAT price!

Red Grapes:
$0.99/lb Target

Peaches:
$0.69/lb Food For Less

Pears:
3/$1 Joyce’s Produce

Cherries:
$2.49/lb Publix/Winn Dixie

Oranges:
5/$1 B&H

Bananas:
3 lb/$1 Rick’s/Crab Apple Market
2 lb/$1 B&H

Kiwi:
5/$1 Rick’s/Crab Apple Market

Plums:
$0.99/lb Jimmy Lowe’s
$2.49/2 lbs Target
$1.99/lb Food World

Strawberries:
2/$4 Food For Less

Blueberries:
$1.99/package Jimmy Lowe’s
2/$4 Publix
4/$5 Winn Dixie

Blackberries:
4/$5 Winn Dixie

Lemons:
3/$1 B&H

Mangoes:
$0.89/each Winn Dixie

Watermelon:
$2.49 each Target
$3.99 Winn Dixie
$0.59/lb Bruno’s/Food World

Cantaloupes:
$3/2 Food For Less

Corn:
$1/4 ears Vincent’s

Asparagus:
$2.49/lb Publix

Vine Ripe Tomatoes:
$0.79/lb Jimmy Lowe’s
$0.94/lb Greer’s/Food Tiger

Broccoli/Cauliflower:
$3/2 Winn Dixie

Cabbage:
$0.32/lb Food For Less

Cucumbers:
3/$1 Joyce’s Produce
2/$1 Bruno’s

Potatoes:
$1.29/10 lb bag Jimmy Lowes
$1.99/10 lb bag B&H

Celery:
$0.95/each Food For Less

Vidalia Onions:
$0.99/lb Jimmy Lowe’s

Red and Yellow Onions:
$0.79/lb Joyce’s Produce

Lettuce:
$0.99/head Rick’s/Crab Apple Market

Bell Peppers:
4/$1 Jimmy Lowe’s

***Looking for the non-insert ads?***

Vincent’s Produce (8A , 7/7/10, Press Register)
908 Dawes Road

Food For Less (5A , 7/7/10, Press Register)

B&H (12A , 7/7/10, Press Register)

Greer’s/Food Tiger  (6A , 7/7/10, Press Register)

Jimmy Lowe’s (4A, 7/8/10, Press Register)

Joyce’s Produce (2A, 7/8/10, Press Register)

Rick’s/Crab Apple Market (6A, 7/8/10, Press Register)

SATURDAY

The Bargain Buggy & Eastern Shore Mom Coupon Class in Gulf Shores

July 10th, Saturday, Gulf Shores Elementary, 9:00-11:30 $15 per person, included take home materials. No childcare. Just bring a pen and eagerness to learn(A LOT!)

SUNDAY

Community Coupon Swap and Food Drive
Savvy Shopping, Southern Style

The Bargain Buggy, Eastern Shore Mom, Fairhope Foodie, Stella and Dot Jewelry, the Gourmet Maman will be joining Coupons Make Cents Now on the Eastern Shore!!!
What: A Food Drive, Coupon Swap and Giveaway Day!
Where: Page & Palette in downtown Fairhope
When: Sunday, July 11th,  2-5 pm
Cost: FREE!

Share your stockpile! Food pantries in this area need your HELP! Canned and dry goods donations will benefit local Eastern Shore charities and food pantries.

Sample scrumptious goodies from the Fairhope Foodie and the Gourmet Maman, browse beautiful Stella and Dot Jewelry, and help your community.

FUN and FRUGAL things to do this weekend–

Market on the Square
Dates: Each Saturday, April 24th and end July 31st.
Time: 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. (Get there early!)
Location: Cathedral Square(downtown Mobile, bounded by Dauphin, Jackson, Conti and Claiborne Sts)
FREE! Shop for the freshest crop in town! This time of year is our favorite because you can get locally grown–tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, seafood, flowers, plants, baked breads, casseroles, pies, handcrafted goods and so much more. Stay for live music on the green! Each Saturday through July 31st.

Lowe’s Build & Grow Workshop FREE!
Date/Time: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Project: Monster Truck
Your kids will love this project. This Monster Truck comes with stickers and punch out cars for crushing. More information including registration HERE.

Disney Store Toy Store 3 Adventure
Saturday, June 26th/11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Help Woody rescue the toys from Sunnyside Daycare Center. FREE activity sheet and prizes! Minimum age for partcipation is 3 years. Event subject to change or cancellation without notice. Call your local store to confirm participation. While supplies last. More information HERE!

Five Rivers Delta Resource Center
“Our Notoriously Toothy Residents: Alligators” $10 per person
Date/Time: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Five Rivers
Learn about the most notorious inhabitants of the swamp, the American Alligator. Open to all ages, this class will include a talk about alligators in our Tensaw Theater, followed by a 1 hour spotlighting boat tour to see alligators in the wild.
$10 per person, registration and pre-payment are required. Contact Kellie or Shonda at 251-625-0814 for registration and information.
More information HERE!

Sunday FREE Matinee, 2-3 p.m.
Learn about the multitude of insects in your own garden which ones are beneficial and which ones are destroying vegetables, who eats who and why.

Bay Bears Game
The first 1,000 kids to purchase a ticket for $5 or above will receive a FREE hot dog and Pepsi as kids eat FREE every Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium! More Bay Bears information HERE!

Several FUN and FRUGAL things to do this weekend!

BUGGIES in ACTION Donation Drive
Date/Time: Saturday, June 19th 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: Scrapping Frenzy in the Sugar Mill Shopping Center, Airport and Hillcrest
We will be collecting toiletry items for local non-profits on Saturday, June 19th. Please join us and donate to those in need!!! Accepting ANY new toiletry items(toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, body wash, shampoo, etc…) Donate and enter to win a $50 gift card!

Market on the Square
Dates: Each Saturday, April 24th and end July 31st.
Time: 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. (Get there early!)
Location: Cathedral Square(downtown Mobile, bounded by Dauphin, Jackson, Conti and Claiborne Sts)
FREE! Shop for the freshest crop in town! This time of year is our favorite because you can get locally grown–tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, seafood, flowers, plants, baked breads, casseroles, pies, handcrafted goods and so much more. Stay for live music on the green! Each Saturday through July 31st.

Michael’s Make It and Take It
More information HERE. Call and confirm your local times.

Father’s Day at the Exploreum
More information HERE.

Five Rivers Delta Resource Center
Date/Time: Saturday & Sunday
Location: Five Rivers
FREE boating class, Sunday Matinee and more!  More information HERE!

Lego Family Creation Challenge
Date/Time: June 19th, 12-2 p.m. Call and confirm times.
Location: Toys R Us
To help you and your kids construct the perfect Father’s Day, Toys“R”Us stores nationwide are inviting LEGO fans and builders of all ages to enjoy friendly, family feuds and create a gift Dad will love! This Saturday, June 19, from 12noon – 2pm, LEGO fans everywhere can construct their very own complimentary LEGO keepsake at the LEGO Family Creation Challenge*. During this fun-filled event, kids will enjoy a sneak preview of the latest LEGO play system called LEGO Games, and team up with their families to win prizes, giveaways and more, while supplies last
More information HERE.

Bay Bears Game
The first 1,000 kids to purchase a ticket for $5 or above will receive a FREE hot dog and Pepsi as kids eat FREE every Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium! More Bay Bears information HERE!

Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
Date/Time: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Where: 18507 Hwy 98 W, Foley, AL
More information HERE!

Disney Store Toy Store Scavenger Hunt
Date/Time: Saturday, 11:00-2:00 Call and confirm.
Location: Disney Store in mall
More information HERE!

TCBY
Date: Sunday
FREE ice cream for Dad!

You read that right…FREE minnows! The Mobile County Health Department will be giving away FREE minnows(for mosquito control) Monday-Friday, 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.at the Health Department’s Vector Control at 750 Congress Street.

While supplies last. Bring your own bucket. Call 690-8124 for more information.

UPCOMING EVENT:

We will be collecting toiletry items for local non-profits on Saturday, June 19th. Please join us and donate to those in need!!! Accepting ANY new toiletry items(toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, body wash, shampoo, etc…)

WHEN: Saturday, June 19th 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Scrapping Frenzy in the Sugar Mill Shopping Center, Airport and Hillcrest

More information email bargainbuggy@gmail.com

Need a $10/$50? Want to trade baby coupons for something that you will use. Simply comment below. Each Tuesday on the BB site you will have a chance to swap with other Bargain Buggy readers.

Comment with what you have or need. Make sure to leave your email address so if someone can fulfill the request they can contact you!  See something you wish to have–Email the person.

For example-Have dog food coupons. Need diaper coupons. bargainbuggy@gmail.com
You would email address above to arrange a swap.