Chicago Freebies!

Do you love to be a tourist in your own town? Are you planning a trip to Chicago and wanting to take in some of the most popular destinations, but shocked by the ticket prices?

Not to worry, all the museums and other hot spots offer free days and Little Merry Sunshine has the list (just like we did in 2008). Mark your calendar now and make sure you take advantage of these freebies. If you live in the area, this is a great way to take advantage of what some of our high taxes pay for.

From The Local Tourist:

Adler Planetarium:

• January 5, 11-15, 19, & 26
• February 2, 8-12, 16 & 23
• March 2, 9, 16 & 23
• April 20 & 27
• May 4, 11, 12, 18 & 25
• June 7-11
• September 7, 13 - 17, 21 & 28
• October 5, 12, 19 & 26
• November 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
• December 7, 14 & 21

Art Institute of Chicago:

• Free Thursdays 5 to 8pm until Memorial Day and after Labor Day
• Free in February

Chicago Children's Museum:

• 1st Sunday of every month free admission for children 15 and under
• Free Thursdays 5 to 8pm for everyone

Chicago History Museum:

• Free every Monday

Field Museum of Natural History:

• 2nd Monday of every month
• January 13, 14, 19, 20, 26, 27
• February 2, 3, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24
• March 2, 3
• June 2, 3
• August 24
• September 15, 16, 21, 22
• October 5, 6, 13, 14, 19, 20
• November 2, 3, 10, 16, 17, 30
• December 1, 7, 8, 15, 16

International Museum of Surgical Science:

• Free on Tuesdays

Jane Addam's Hull House Museum:

• Always Free

Loyola University Museum of Art:

• Free on Tuesdays

Museum of Contemporary Art:

• Free on Tuesdays

Museum of Contemporary Photography:

• Always Free

Museum of Science & Industry:

• January 4 - 8, 11 - 15, 18 - 22, 25 - 29
• February 8, 14
• March 18
• April 19 - 23
• May 3
• June 7 - 11
• August 30
• September 7 - 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
• October 4 - 6
• November 11
• December 6

National Museum of Mexican Art

• Always free (donations accepted)

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum:

• Free on Thursdays (donations suggested)

Shedd Aquarium:

• January 4, 5, 11, 12, 16 - 21, 25, 26
• February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 - 19, 22, 23
• June 14 - 18
• September 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
• October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
• November 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30

Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows

• Always free

Swedish American Museum

• Free on second Tuesday of every month

Ukrainian National Museum

• Always free, suggested donation of $5

From the Chicago Symphony Orchestra:
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s training orchestra for young, preprofessional musicians, has announced its 2009-2010 season of free orchestral and chamber music performances at Symphony Center and in neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

Concerts at Symphony Hall

Music director of the Toronto Symphony and principal guest conductor of the Detroit Symphony, Peter Oundjian leads Civic for the first time on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at 8 p.m., in Mahler’s Seventh Symphony. The Civic Orchestra has performed this symphony only once previously, in 1991.



On Monday, March 8, 2010, at 8 p.m., Leo McFall conducts “Lullaby for Hans” by CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Mark-Anthony Turnage—a tribute to his mentor Hans Werner Henze—and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. McFall, who has studied with and assisted CSO Principal Conductor Bernard Haitink, made his Civic debut in April 2009.



Colnot returns to the podium on Monday, April 5, 2010, at 8 p.m., for a program of enchanting works, featuring Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Ravel’s “Gaspard de la nuit” and Stravinsky’s “Le chant du rossignol” (Song of the Nightingale).



Civic’s 2009-2010 season closes Monday, May 24, 2010, at 8 p.m., with a virtuosic program led by Larry Rachleff and featuring CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto—heralding the CSO’s Beethoven Festival, which begins the following week. An integral part of the Civic training program is the opportunity for young musicians to collaborate with and learn from their professional mentors in the CSO. This concert concludes with Bartók’s great Concerto for Orchestra.



Preconcert Conversations are given before all Civic Orchestra concerts at Symphony Center, beginning 90 minutes before the performance, in Grainger Ballroom. Tickets for all Civic Orchestra concerts at Symphony Center are free but required. Seating is general admission, and there is a non-refundable $1 per-ticket service fee. Tickets for these concerts can be reserved by calling 312-294-3000.

Performances in the Community

The Civic Orchestra’s 2009-2010 season features dozens of free performances throughout the city. On Sunday, May 2, 2010, at 3 p.m., the orchestra and conductor Edwin Outwater present a free, all-Beethoven concert at South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, in anticipation of the CSO’s June 2009 Beethoven Festival. This concert also introduces pianist Adam Kim, winner of the 2009 CSO Youth Auditions, as soloist. Part of the Institute’s continuum of opportunities for active participation in music, the annual Youth Auditions identify one talented 14-to-17-year-old musician to perform with the CSO as well as with Civic and through other avenues.



Chamber ensembles from the Civic Orchestra present many free educational concerts in neighborhoods across Chicago, as part of the MusiCorps community-engagement program. MusiCorps’ “In the Park with Civic” series—free, interactive chamber concerts for families with children ages 5 and up—take place in Chicago Park District locations, including Gage, Harrison, Indian Boundary, Kosciuszko, North and Washington parks, and at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Chamber ensembles and repertoire will be announced at a later date. 

All Civic Orchestra chamber performances are free, and tickets are not required. For more information about MusiCorps’ “In the Park with Civic” concerts, please visit civicorchestra.org or call 312-294-3803.



MusiCorps is generously sponsored by United Airlines. “In the Park with Civic” is presented through a partnership with the Chicago Park District.

Required FTC Disclosure

Per the new FTC rules regarding bloggers reviewing products and services while not disclosing that they have received said products and services for free, I just have one thing to say:

Where the heck are MY freebies?

I say nice stuff about people, places, things, and services and no one is sucking up to me!

For example, if you'd like to kick some first class tickets to Paris this Christmas along with a free hotel, free food, and some spending money, I'd be happy to accept and I'll write whatever you want me to say. I will make the same offer for a trip to the Virgin Islands or Australia or Fiji. Furthermore, if you'd like someone to write a great review for your new 5-star restaurant, Broadway play, spa (complete with full head-to-toe pampering), or newest luxury car then I'm your girl. Of course, I accept smaller-scale freebies too. In fact, I've had my eye on "Live on the Inside" by Sugarland, a few books (but NOT that Sarah Palin "book") and a specific gym membership.

So to sum up, I have not ever accepted any freebies in exchange for an awesome review. I even paid for my copy (and the other 14 I bought to give as gifts) of the book I was in. And to be sure, I was more than happy to pay for that and support my friend. So there.

Summer Fun on the Cheap!

I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but times are tough. We're all trying to save money any way we can. Carpooling and biking to work are on the increase. Recession gardens are all the rage. Many people are taking staycations rather than vacations this summer.

In spite of it all (or maybe especially because of it all), we still need to have some fun now that the weather is warm (or almost warm). To help you and me have fun this summer, the National Park Service has created Fee-Free Weekends at 100 National Parks across the country!

Imagine taking the kids to Yosemite National Park for FREE if you're in California. Or how about going to the Grand Canyon if you're in Arizona? Are you land-locked in the Midwest? That's okay. Stop in at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Memorial in Missouri and check out the Gateway Arch. Of course, for all you Watervale families, you can go to Sleeping Bear Dunes for FREE! Eastcoasters have lots of options too. If you're in the DC area, you simply must go to Harpers Ferry. I had the best first date I've ever had there. In Florida, go to the Everglades.

To avoid entrance fees, just visit June 20-21 (Father's Day Weekend), July 18-19, or August 15-16 (I'll organize the field trip from Watervale to Sleeping Bear Dunes this weekend).

Enjoy!

Have Fun On The Cheap!

There was a great article in today's Daily Herald about fun stuff to do on the cheap. Of course, most of it was family oriented and didn't really apply to me since I'm single, but it got me to thinking about fun cool stuff to do this summer that won't cost much.

One of my favorite things to do is visit the various festivals, including my favorite, Frontier Days in Arlington Heights. Many of them have free entertainment that is often outstanding. Two years ago, my girlfriends and I saw Rick Springfield for FREE at Frontier Days. We got there at 6am, put out our blankets, and ended up getting sprayed with his sweat in the front row as he danced on stage shirtless. That was a good night and it was the only free concert he did all summer. Although the official entertainment schedule won't be released until Memorial Day, there's a rumor going around (here and here) that Eddie Money and Blues Traveler are two of the acts at Frontier Days this July.

I recently met two women who've started a great website called Kidwinks that is packed with all the kid-friendly activities in the Chicago area.

What will you do on the cheap this summer?

Suburban moms learn new ways to be thrifty in difficult times
by Jamie Sotonoff, May 17, 2009

When they're grocery shopping, Carla Cruit's husband isn't always concerned about price.

"He'll say, 'Oh, it's only 25 cents more.' So I'll say, 'Well, then, reach in your pocket and throw 25 cents out the window.' Would you do that? No. But that's basically what you're doing when you think that way," said Cruit, a mother of two from Vernon Hills.

Cruit is among thousands of suburban moms who are tightening the purse strings in an effort to reduce the family budget. Industry experts estimate that women make roughly 80 percent of all household spending decisions, so they're the ones learning new ways to be thrifty during these difficult times.

"Some moms - and dads - say, 'I'm not very good at this. I've never budgeted before,'" said Kelli Underwood, director of child and family programs at the Center for Contextual Change in Skokie. "People are learning that they have some choices, and some power, on how to get through (the recession)."

Cost-cutting is fun for some parents and stressful for others. Being forced to adopt a new lifestyle, mindset or habit is always tough.

"When you're in that situation, you feel so alone and ashamed and embarrassed," Cruit said. "But you know what? Take all that away. It is what it is. It's not anybody's fault. We think we should be able to do and have it all, but maybe that's not realistic. Good things happen, bad things happen. But good things will happen again."

We surveyed suburban moms (and a few dads) for some of their best money-saving tips. Here are some of the highlights:

• "Kids Eat Free" promotions. Restaurant meals are a luxury for money-strapped families. But it can be more affordable at restaurants with "kids eat free" promotions.

Coupondivas.com and MyKidsEatFree.com lists chain restaurants with kids eat free promotions, organized by day. Coupondivas has printable coupons for free kids meals at places like Uno's Chicago Pizza. coupondivas.com/kids-eat-free/.

Since their list is incomplete, be sure to inquire at your favorite restaurants, where they might have kids eat free nights they don't widely publicize.

Another idea? Dinner at IKEA. A family of four can dine for less than $15 on organic pasta, Swedish meatballs or 50-cent hot dogs.

• Cook more. During the Depression, women cooked hearty family meals with just a few cheap ingredients, like pasta and potatoes. For recipes, watch 93-year-old great grandmother Clara Cannucciari, a Melrose Park native, on her wildly popular YouTube cooking show, "Great Depression Cooking," youtube.com/user/DepressionCooking. While sharing her memories of the Depression, she makes dishes like "Peas and Pasta" and "Egg Drop Soup." Her cooking lessons are now on DVD, at greatdepressioncooking.com, and her first book, "Clara's Kitchen: Wisdom, Memories and Recipes from the Great Depression" is due out in November.

• Deals on kid activities. For many kids, a train ride is entertainment. Since kids ride Metra free on weekends, Naperville dad John Cuccinotto buys a $5 weekend pass, packs some snacks, and takes his kids on a train ride. They go to different nearby towns, explore what's around, maybe stop at a park, and then hop back on the train and return home.

"Super bonus for dads: it offers moms some quality hours of peace," he said.

Cristin Newton, a mother of two from Gurnee, saves money by visiting the downtown museums on their free admission day. She also likes the monthly deal at Rink Side in Gurnee, where for the $2 cost of the skate rental, you get free skating, food packages and crafts.

Mount Prospect mom Wendy Gatewood takes her kids bowling at Brunswick Zone for $1.29 per line, and gets a receipt for three free games after 1 p.m. on Sundays. She bought the kids bowling shoes - a little big, so they'll last longer - to save on the $4 per pair rental cost.

And, to repeat the obvious: get videos, games and books free from your local library. Most libraries also have museum discount cards you can check out.

• Buy things used. It's eco- and wallet-friendly - not to mention trendy - to reuse things, especially clothes. Can you get an Eileen Fisher sweater for $16? A business suit for $25? It requires time to sort through the racks and a careful eye for stains or tears, but Cruit says you can. She's found amazing deals on like-new, designer-name items at local thrift shops, including the Salvation Army store in Mundelein [and Arlington Heights].

Buying used books, furniture and sports equipment also will save money. Hunt craigslist.com or stores like Play It Again Sports, which has several suburban locations.

• Do things your mom used to do. Remember how your mom and her friends sat around the kitchen table drinking coffee, rather than meeting out at a local coffee shop? Or how you'd be forced to bring your lunch to the ballgame or museums? That's probably why your parents have money in the bank now. One mom suggested buying a bag of Starbucks coffee for $8 and then brewing enough for everyone.

• Have birthday parties at home. Another old-school option: rather than cough up nearly $500 for water park or restaurant parties, simplify. Borrow a karaoke machine and order pizza. Invite girls to show up in their fanciest clothes and have a tea party using mismatched china tea cups from thrift stores. An outdoor cookout at the local forest preserve is another cheap option, where kids have room for games like soccer, red rover or tag (heads up: a permit may be required).

• Share resources with your friends. Swap a few games or videos for a week with another family. Offer to trade services with friends who are mechanics or hair stylists.

• Base your meals on what's on sale. The grocery store is a big money drain for many families, so a little planning and coupon cutting can go a long way. For example, buy a whole chicken rather than just chicken breasts and use the leftovers for a second meal. Stay out of the prepared, pre-cut and frozen food sections, where you pay extra for convenience. A good Web site for free samples of grocery items is freebies4mom.com.

• Bargain. Summer camp is expensive. But if you offer to volunteer, some camps will offer free or reduced fees. Want to keep your gym membership but can't afford to? See if there's a class you can teach or a part-time job you can work in exchange for a discounted membership.

• Conserve energy. Lower utility bills by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, lowering the thermostat a degree or two, and turning off the computer and unplugging appliance when they're not in use.

To save money during the Depression, Cannucciari said her family used only one light at night. "The light we used was over a big table in the main room The whole family would end up gathering around the light to do homework or read a book. It was nice to be all together as a family each night," she said.

• Think outside the box for a vacation. You know how so many friends say, "You should come visit sometime?" Well, this is the year to do it. To help make a summer family vacation more affordable, think about going somewhere where you can stay with friends or relatives.

Or, consider a home swap. Either swap with friends, or find one through Web sites like homeexchange.com or homeforswap.com.

Cool Free Stuff: Tomato Seeds, Aveda Shampoo, Kashi & More!

Thanks to the Chicago Sun-Times Fixer for all this cool free stuff! In these tough economic times, who couldn't use good freebies?

Seriously, I've taken advantage of most of these . . . I'm going to let you guess which ones! :)

Free tomato seeds from Campbell's! The super cool thing about this one is that when you request free seeds, Campbell's will donate seeds to the National FFA Organization to plant seeds in community gardens and schools across the country. When you visit the site, you'll need some codes from the bottom of any 2 condensed soups (try: CX and HY) and what kind of soup the codes are from (try: Cream of Broccoli). Expires June 21st.

Free Bikini Undies from American Eagle! You've got to print this coupon. HURRY! It expires March 18th.

Free Aveda Black Malva Pure Plant® Shampoo! Fill out the online form. I have no idea how long this is available.

Free Kashi Frozen Entree! Fill out the online form. HURRY! This expires March 15th!

For more great deals, visit The Bargainist regularly.

Got a Question? Ask a Librarian

I've written about this before, but it bears repeating. The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is the best library in the world. Seriously. The librarians there are completely accessible and ready to answer any question you might have on any topic at any time 24/7/365. Really. And the best part? It's all free.

A few months ago, I was writing a blog post and needed to cite a Supreme Court case. Now I used to be a litigation legal assistant and once upon a time knew how to properly cite cases for every court in my sleep. Ya, I'm a geek. But I wanted a very specific citation and couldn't find it online.

What did I do? I IM'd the Arlington Heights Memorial Library via AIM and asked a librarian to look up the official citation for me. And within minutes I had my answer! If you've got AIM, just send your question to AHMLQuestions. I've added the Arlington Heights Memorial Library to my AIM Buddy List and they're really good about keeping their status updated so you know if a librarian is available. It's great, quick and best of all, it's free!

If you've got a business in Arlington Heights, there are also a ton of resources available to you for FREE. Call the Business Librarian, Barb Vlk and she'll answer all your questions.

The library has other ways to get help too. I received the following article from Bill Pardue, the Virtual Services Librarian at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library and am reprinting it here for your benefit.

Need to settle a friendly bet on the train? Want to know if a book is on the shelf while you're in the middle of a meeting? When there's no computer nearby and it's inconvenient to make a call, you can now send a text message to the reference librarians at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's Answer Center.

The steps are simple:

• Send a text message to 265010
• Start your message with "ahmlq:" (leave off the quotes though). That's basically it!
• Here are some examples:

ahmlq: What time does the library open tomorrow?
ahmlq: Starting pitchers in game 7 of the 71 World Series?
ahmlq: Arlington Hts curfew time for teens?
ahmlq: Copy of Obama's Audacity of Hope available?

• After the first message, you just proceed with the texting as normal (no need for the "ahmlq:" part).
• This service is free from AHML, but other standard carrier charges may apply.

Generally, texting works better for quick questions, given the restriction to shorter messages. If we feel that the question needs more in-depth work, we'll offer to follow up via phone or e-mail.

The text messaging service is available Monday-Friday, 9 am-9 pm; Saturday 9 am-5:30 pm; Sunday Noon-5:30 pm. This is most of AHML's open hours, except for the last hour on weeknights.

Of course, you can still call the answer center at 847-506-2633 or use the 24/7/365 chat service via the Ask A Librarian Live Online links on our website (http://www.ahml.info).

The library's main number is 847-392-0100.

iPhone, Therefore I Get Off

Ladies, do you ever find yourself with an "itch" when you're out and about, but don't have your Rabbit with you?

Apple and iPhone have come to your rescue! Just whip out your iPhone, download the new "Touch Me Less" application for free at the iTunes store and voila! Your Rabbit is now unemployed!

According to iTunes:

Explore the potential of your iPhone and take pleasure to a new level! Touch Me gives you the ability to harness the power of your iPhone to provide yourself or your partner with a fantastic soothing experience.

This "Less" version with two separate controls. If you are looking for more controls and custom Presets, you might want to consider our full blown version "Touch Me" ($0.99).

Go Do This NOW!

I don't mean to be alarmist with that title, but I really want you to do this because I care about you and your money. Because if you have money, you won't come begging me for some. And I have none as I learned earlier this evening when I opened my year-end financial statement.

The other part of my "do it NOW" commandment is that you can only do this until January 15th and then the opportunity will be gone forever.

What is it I'd like you to do? Glad you asked.

Go visit Oprah.com and download Suze Orman's new book "2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound."

It's free. Yes, I said FREE. Free. As in it doesn't cost you any money, which is really the first step in keeping your money safe and sound: do not spend it.

Once you download it, READ IT.

After the year we've all had financially, we could use some free advice from a financial expert on how to keep our money safe and sound.

Here's more on Suze Orman from Oprah.com and from Huffington Post.

Wouldn't Ya Like to Be A Pepper Too?

Free Dr. Pepper for everyone!
Associated Press, November 20, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.

The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper's Web site. They'll be honored until Feb. 28.

Dr Pepper is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

State of the Union

As I've discussed quite a few times, I am a huge fan of Freecycle. I give things away and get cool stuff I can use too. In fact, I'm going to pick up my mom's Christmas present in a few minutes from a Freecycler!

Yesterday, while out and about, I received two coupons that I just won't use. Normally I don't put coupons on Freecycle, but these were $5 coupons and that's real money.

As I started to throw them out last night, I thought I'd stick them on Freecycle and see if anyone wanted them.

Within 5 minutes (and this was at 11:00pm), I had multiple requests for each coupon.

What does it say about the economy that so many people are searching the net at 11pm for coupons?

Free Cookies!

It's been kind of a crappy week. You deserve a cookie to cheer yourself up.

Lucky for you, Kashi wants to give YOU a FREE cookie!

Really.

Just visit their website at Kashi.com and click on "Steal A Cookie." Fill out the form and your yummy cookie will arrive in about a week!

Mine arrived today. And then it was gone a few minutes later.

See, don't you feel better already?

You're welcome.

Do You Freecycle?

There's a website I use frequently called Arlington Heights Free E-Recyclers, a spin off from Freecycle (don't ask me why it's not Freecycle, I don't really understand - or care - the reasons).

In case you're unfamiliar with the e-recycling or freecycling concept, the idea is that we all have things we need to get rid of, one man's trash is another man's treasure, and we want to stop filling landfills. Everything must be given for free with no strings attached. I have gotten rid of things I don't need or want (I still can't believe anyone wanted that tacky-ass light-up sea turtle yard ornament my cousin Alan gave me for Christmas one year) and I've also gotten some wonderful things including plants for my growing garden.

A few months ago, I received a $50 gift certificate to a very nice (and pricey) local restaurant that expires next week. I've been unable to use it and while I would love to dine at this restaurant, I just can't justify spending the money, even if I can save $50. The restaurant gave it to me as a thank you when I did an event at their restaurant in April or May, so it's not like anyone spent money on this certificate. Believe me, if anyone bought me a $50 gift certificate, I would have used it.

Just because I'm not going to use it doesn't mean it should go to waste, however.

So about 10:20 this morning I placed my gift certificate on Arlington Heights Free E-Recyclers. Ten minutes later, I had no fewer than 25 responses. By 11:00, the number had hit 50. And each one came with a sob story. Seriously. The stories were sad. It was heartbreaking to have to chose just one.

I really wish I could have helped everyone, but it was nice to have made one person's day just a little bit brighter.

T Minus 21 Days! The Book of Lies to Be Released September 2nd!

I am truly on pins and needles here. Three weeks. Three L.O.N.G. Weeks. Until my favorite author (and friend) Brad Meltzer's new book, The Book of Lies, is released on September 2nd. There are so many reasons I'm excited about this book, and I will share them as September 2nd draws closer. But for now, just know that The Book of Lies is a must-read. Just trust me.

You can pre-order it at Amazon.com (that link takes you right to the page), along with the Companion Soundtrack. And you can also see the video about the companion soundtrack here. Again, trust me, the video is very cool.

If you're a Buffy The Vampire Slayer comic book fan, you can find the Prologue and Chapter 1 of The Book of Lies in Issue 17 (released 8/7/08)!

But it gets BETTER!

You can get your own copy of The Book of Lies FREE!

From Brad's blog . . .

Free Books of Lies

Just got the very first hardcover of the novel. Still looks fake -- like something a buddy made on PhotoShop (and believe me, I'm still waiting for Candid Camera to jump out and tell me the past decade has been a joke on me). But I love the Acknowledgments in there. Best part of the book.

Also, if you want to win a free copy, see below -- and thanks to Robert for doing it.

The Fantasy Book Critic - GIVEAWAY: Win a COPY of Brad Meltzer's "The Book of Lies"!!!

Happy Birthday Betsey & Ross!

I can't believe you're 12 today!

Before you, I had no idea what pets really bring to a person's life. Since I grew up without pets, my belief was that pets were just a burden. But you help me unwind when I'm stressed, you snuggle with me when I'm sad, and you find a way each day to make me laugh. And you are anything but a burden.

Thank you.

May your 13th year be even better than your 12th.

I love you.

Oh, and yes, of course, the fireworks and parades are for YOU!

Free Cool Stuff - FREE 411!

If you're like me, when you need a number, you look it up on the internet because it's free. But what about when you are out and about and your cell phone is your only option? The idea of paying Sprint $1.79 (it's more expensive calling from a landline phone - $1.25 to $3.49 PER call!) for the 411 call irritates me, especially since sometimes the number I'm looking for turns out to be unlisted.

What's a girl to do?

FREE 411!

There are three services that I've recently discovered:

Free 411 - 1-800-FREE-411 (800-3733-411) is great, BUT you have to listen to an obnoxious ad at the beginning of the call. You can receive the number via both phone and text (your cell phone provider text message rates apply). Biggest benefit: Look up both business, residential, and governmental numbers.

Google 411 - 1-800-GOOG-411 (800-4664-411) is also great and has no ads. Again, you can receive the number via phone, text, and also receive a map of the neighborhood on your cell (if it has internet service). Unfortunately, it only looks up businesses. You cannot look up residential numbers. Biggest benefit: No ads.

411 Save - 1-800-411-SAVE (800-411-7283) - another ad supported directory assistance call. It looks up both businesses and residential numbers and you can receive your number either via phone or text message. Biggest benefit: You speak to a live person!

I've already got both numbers programmed into my cell phone. The days of me paying Sprint for a phone number are long gone.

Shouldn't Everyday Be Earth Day?

Tomorrow is Earth Day. Last month I participated in Earth Hour. But all this Earth Hour and Earth Day stuff (not to mention the economy) has gotten me thinking over the last few months about my own impact on the environment and how what I do (or don't do) will have ramifications for generations to come.

Over the last couple of years, I've made recycling part of my everyday existence. We have garbage pick-up twice a week with separate recycling pick-up on the second day. Without failure, I take out recycling each week, but I find myself having less and less garbage to put at the curb. I put out a bag this morning that I actually felt guilty about. It wasn't as full as it could have been, but it had some spoiled food (that I forgot was in the frig) and cat litter in it. Trust me, it was a public service to anyone who visits my house to have that bag out of here. I almost never put garbage out twice a week and it's more often once every third garbage pick-up.

What else do I do around my house?

1. I shovel my snow rather than using a snow blower. Of course, I don't have a snow blower, but I don't want one. Shoveling is good exercise and has zero impact on the environment.

2. I've used recyclable bags at the grocery store for ages. I have a few canvas bags that I'm not even sure where I picked up, but I didn't pay for any of them. Once in awhile I need a bag or two from the store, but one or two once a month is a lot better than a bunch every week.

3. If I do have to get bags at the store, I prefer paper to plastic because I can use the paper bags with my recycling.

4. I reuse plastic bags for cat litter disposal.

5. Because I carry a large purse, I usually refuse to have items I purchase at other stores placed in bags. I just toss them into my purse instead.

6. I drive a 13-year-old 1995 Honda Civic because it gets 30 miles per gallon even just running around town. Sure, it's not so pretty on the outside, but it's been paid off for years and runs great.

7. At home, I've replaced the most used light bulbs with CFL bulbs.

8. In order to keep my Nicor gas bill lower than the GNP of a large third-world country this past winter, I used double-insulated my windows using that shrink-wrap-like plastic on the biggest windows in my home. I also kept my heat at about 63 at night and about 67 during the day, unless I had clients at the house. Dave also put extra insulation in my attic.

9. Last summer I grew tomatoes that saved me money on groceries. This summer, I'm going to grow other veggies too. I love doing this because I know exactly what is used on my plants (nothing) and they are 100 times fresher than the food I can buy at any grocery store.

10. In the summer, I keep blinds closed strategically in my home to avoid the direct sunlight heating up my house. I also use ceiling fans to keep air circulating and avoid the AC.

11. I air dry much of my laundry rather than running my dryer. Usually this means that for every 3 loads I wash, I only dry 1 load.

12. I keep my phantom load to a minimum. I've unplugged lights, clocks, and other electronics that aren't used regularly. I keep my PC, monitor, and printer turned off unless I am using them.

13. I buy in bulk and look for the least amount of packaging whenever possible. Rather than buying a smaller box of laundry detergent that I'll go through in a few months, I've got a huge box of detergent that I've had for 7 months and am not even 1/3 through! That's much less waste into the environment.

14. I have an iPass. Despite my belief that people should be rewarded more for taking public transportation, rather than driving solo, having an iPass gets me off the roads faster (when I'm forced to drive) because I'm not sitting idle in traffic waiting for the manual toll lanes.

15. I'm slowly replacing all of my traditional cleaning supplies with earth-friendly cleaners. Because I hate to waste things, this process is taking a little while.

16. I'm a Freecycler. The Arlington Heights group is quite active and I encourage you to get involved. It's free. What's not to love. I've gotten rid of some awesome crap on Freecycle! You know what they say, "one person's junk is another person's treasure." Never has that statement been more accurate. I've also gotten some cool stuff too - excellent furniture for Dave, my irises, and a cutting board, for example.

17. I give gently used clothes to charity and have been known to have a garage sale.

18. I don't subscribe to magazines or newspapers, except one weekly local paper. Everything else I read online.

19. Of course, I turn off the water when I'm brushing my teeth. And I only run the dishwasher when it's completely full. My washing machine has settings for small, medium, full and super size loads, so I can customize it depending on my needs and don't waste water, but more often than not I only use it when it's completely full.

20. I don't use paper plates, paper napkins, and very few paper towels. I prefer real plates and cloth napkins. Plus, it just feels more dignified to eat with them, especially when dining alone.

21. This summer, I'm having a Solar Attic Fan installed by Dave's new company, Crystal Solarlighting Solutions!

22. I run my appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, dryer) at night to avoid heating up my house during the day and also because electricity is cheaper.

23. I purchase recycled toner cartridges for my laserjet printer from UHS Technologies in McHenry and they deliver! If you want information about them, email me.

24. I recycle old cell phones and color inkjet cartridges by mailing them to an organization that benefits the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation.

25. I cook in bulk. Last night, for example, I made tarragon chicken, but rather than making enough for last night, I made enough for the week. It's delicious cold, but even if I want to reheat it, that takes less energy (and time!) than it takes to cook a meal from scratch. I do this when I grill, make stew, pasta, everything. Sure, my weekly menu is a bit boring (I'll eat something for lunch and dinner until it's gone), but it cuts down on my food preparation time and it uses less electricity or gas.

26. This summer, I will be cutting my grass half as often because the gas for my mower is expensive and puts icky stuff into the environment.

There are probably other things that I can't think of right now.

Every small step makes a difference. What do you do to help the environment?

Check Gas Prices In Your Area!

As a public service because gas are so high, I've added a new feature to Little Merry Sunshine.

In the left sidebar, you can now find the lowest gas prices within the last 24 hours in your area through GasBuddy.com.

To use this widget, simply type in your zipcode. Gas Buddy is dependent on gas station consumers reporting prices to the site on a daily basis. If there are no results for your town, then no one has reported the prices. Reporting is simple. Just follow the instructions on the site. I encourage you to report prices as you see them. We're all in this mess (created by W) together.

Search for gas prices by US Zip Code

Ask A Librarian via Text Message

I don't know if this is a new service or not, but I love it!

Imagine this scenario . . .

It's Friday night and you're having $5 martinis at Francesca's with the girls when someone wants to know the release date of the Sex & The City movie. You say May 30th and your girlfriend insists it's April 30th. A round of Cosmopolitans is hanging on the answer.

What do you do?

Text message the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (during normal business hours, except 9-10pm weeknights)!

Send a message to 265010.

Start your message with ahmlq:[your message]

After that, just send and receive messages as you would normally (no need for the "ahmlq" again).

Tip: Due to message length restrictions, short queries with short answers work best.

Let's get back to the Sex and the City question.

265010
ahmlq: Sex and the City movie release date

And the answer would be . . . May 30th.

Of course, standard text messaging rates apply.

FREE Museum Days!!!

One of the things I absolutely love about Chicago is the world-class museums we have here. From the Art Institute to the Shedd Aquarium to the Chicago History Museum, there's really something for everyone. The only catch is that all of it comes with a (frequently hefty) price tag.

Until now.

Free Days at the museums are here!!!!!!!

Museum of Science & Industry
January 12-31 (that's NOW!!!!!!!)
February 29
June 17-22
September 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, & 30
October 31
November 27 (Thanksgiving)
December 24 (Christmas Eve), 31 (New Year's Eve)

Adler Planetarium - the museum is free on these days, but there is a charge for any of the shows
January Discount Week - January 12-18 (that's NOW!!!!!)
January Mon & Tue - January 20, 21, 28, & 29
February Discount Week - February 18-22
February Mon & Tue - February 4, 5, 11, 12, 25, & 26
June Discount Week - June 15-20
September Mon & Tues - September 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, & 30
October Discount Week - October 6-9
October Mon & Tues - October 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, & 28
November Mon & Tues - November 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25

Art Institute of Chicago
Target Free Thursdays - Thursday evenings are free from 5-8pm

John G. Shedd Aquarium - free general admission, special shows are an additional fee
January discount week - Jan. 12-18 (that's NOW!!!!!)
January Mondays and Tuesdays - Jan. 21, 22, 28, & 29
February Mondays and Tuesdays - Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12, 25, & 26
February discount week - Feb. 18-22
June discount week - June 15-20
September Mondays and Tuesdays - Sept. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, & 30
October discount week - Oct. 6-9
October Mondays and Tuesdays - Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, & 28
November Mondays and Tuesdays - Nov. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, & 25

Chicago History Museum
Free on Mondays

The Field Museum
January 14th
March 10th
April 14th
May 12th
June 9th
July 14th
August 11th
September 8th
September 21st – 26th
October 13th
October 26th – 31st
November 10th
December 8th

My advice, take the week off, pull the kids out of school and hit all the museums. Trust me, you'll be richer for it and they will receive a greater education than they could through textbooks. Travel back in time with a visit Sue at The Field Museum on Monday morning and then visit the Crossroads of America exhibit (make sure you download the free audio tour on your iPod) at the Chicago History Museum in the afternoon. On Tuesday, spend the day at the Shedd Acquarium and since the museum is free, there's no reason not to spend a little dough on the Oceanarium. Reach for the stars on Wednesday at the Adler Planetarium. During the day on Thursday, return to the Shedd Acquarium or Adler Planetarium for a more-indepth visit. Just wrap it up by 5 and then visit the Girls on the Verge exhibit at the Art Institute. Finally, put yourself inside a real U-505 Submarine on Friday at the Museum of Science & Industry.

If you go, wear comfy shoes, stay hydrated, and be prepared for long lines and crowds. Also, pack your own lunch and snacks. Food at these places is notoriously expensive. I would imagine cool free stuff like this won't be a secret for long.

Jessica Gardner IS Good For You!

Even the advertising world thinks so!

Jessica Gardner
IS Good For You.

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America's Most Trusted . . .
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Little Merry Sunshine Stays Sharp 'til The Bottom of the Glass.

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Thanks Tim & Gourmet Goddess!