Category Archives: World News

Free Entry to National Parks – April 15-16, 22-23

Posted on April 11, 2017 | Leave a comment

NPS

The National Park Service just turned 100 years old! Celebrate the start of our second century by visiting a park in 2017. During ten days of the year, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2017:

April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

National parks are America’s Best Idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the 124 national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all of the time. Plan your visit and enjoy our country’s history and nature.

The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Fee-free days make parks accessible to more people. However, national parks are always economical, with entrance fees that range from $3 to $30. In addition, any fourth grade student can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can also get free passes. For more information about the variety of discounted passes available, please visit the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass page.

Yosemite Great Falls, US

This includes some of the most stunning places on earth including:

FREE Admission to Denali National Park in Alaska
FREE Admission to Yellowstone National Park
FREE Admission to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
FREE Admission to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
FREE Admission to Yosemite National Park in California
FREE Admission to Olympic National Park in Washington
FREE Admission to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
FREE Admission to Zion National Park in Utah
FREE Admission to Acadia National park in Maine
FREE Admission to Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

View list of participating National Parks HERE

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

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Posted in California News, National News

Free Entry to National Parks – April 15-16, 22-23

Posted on April 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

NPS

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2017:

April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

Yosemite Great Falls, US

This includes some of the most stunning places on earth including:

FREE Admission to Denali National Park in Alaska
FREE Admission to Yellowstone National Park
FREE Admission to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
FREE Admission to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
FREE Admission to Yosemite National Park in California
FREE Admission to Olympic National Park in Washington
FREE Admission to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
FREE Admission to Zion National Park in Utah
FREE Admission to Acadia National park in Maine
FREE Admission to Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

View list of participating National Parks HERE

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

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Posted in California News, National News

Giant List of Freebies For Expecting Parents

Posted on March 31, 2017 | Leave a comment

Do you know someone who is having a baby? Then you are going to LOVE these awesome freebies! Here’s a bunch of free stuff available to make any new mommy’s life easier. The best part: they’re either TOTALLY free or nearly free – just pay shipping! Don’t miss these deals!

Walmart Welcome Baby Box – Free, No Registry Required

Pampers Pack – Includes 1 infant diaper and wipes 6 pack
Aventi Infant Bottle – 4 oz
Johnson & Johnson Head to Toe Body Wash Sample
Johnson & Johnson Body Lotion Sample
Aveeno Baby Moisture Lotion Sample

Sam’s Club Welcome Baby Box – Free, No Registry Required

Happy Baby Puppy Book
Enfamil Toddler Forumla Sample – 4 pack
Similac Infant Forumla – 4 pack
Pampers Pack – Includes 1 infant diaper and wipes 6 pack
Huggies Wipes – 8 count
Member’s Mark – diaper, size 3
Similiac Grow & Go Toddler Mix In – 2 packets
GoGo Squeeze Applesauce – 3.2 oz
Munchkin Latch Nursing Pads – 2 count
Dapple Dish Cleaning Soap Sample
Destin Rapid Relief Sample
Balmex Diaper Rash Relief Cream Sample

Second Sam’s Club Box -Welcome To Mom & Dad’s Club

Two Pampers Easy Up Training Underwear, Size T 3 & 4
Huggies Natural Care Wipes – 8 pack
GoGo Squeeze Applesauce 3.2 oz
Dove Deep Moisture 1.8 oz

Similiac Welcome Box – Free, No Registry Required

Similiac Sensitive Powder Forumla – 28 oz
Similiac OptiGrow – 4 pack of 2 oz per bottle

Amazon Welcome Baby Box, Free with Registry ($35 value)

Swaddle Desigos Muslin Swaddle
Enfamil Infant Formula Powder – 4 pack
Sensitive Baby Wipes – 80 count
Pampers Pack – Includes 1 infant diaper and wipes 6 pack
Bright Start Elephant Teething Toy
Aventi Infant Bottle – 4 oz
Johnson & Johnson Head to Toe Body Wash Sample
Johnson & Johnson Body Lotion Sample
Aveeno Baby Moisture Lotion Sample
Aquaphor Healing Ointment Sample
Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets

Buy Buy Baby Registry Bag, Free with Registry

Fit Pregnancy Magazine
Baby On Board Sign
Lansinoh Pack – 2 Breastmilk Storage Bags & 2 Nursing Pads
Chicco NaturalFit Silicone Pacifier
Mustela Dermo Cleansing Lotion Sample
Noodle & Boo Newborn 2 in 1 Hair & Body Wash Sample
Noodle & Boo Newborn Super Soft Lotion Sample
Shea Moisture Baby Wash & Shampoo Sample
Shea Moisture Baby Lotion Sample
Boogies Wipes Sample
Dapple Pacifier Cleaner Sample
Blue Lizard Sunscreen Lotion Sample
Balmex Diaper Rash Cream Sample
Babo Smoothing Diaper Cream Sample

Target Welcome Registry Bag, Free with Registry

Aventi Infant Bottle – 4 oz
Nuk Orthopedic Pacifier
Up & Up Baby Wipes – 20 count
Honest Diaper Pack – 2 Diapers & 10 Wipes
Lansinoh Pack – 2 Breastmilk Storage Bags & 2 Nursing Pads
Mustela Dermo Cleansing Lotion Sample
Dapple Dish Cleaning Soap Sample
Aveeno Baby Moisture Lotion Sample
Boogies Wipes Sample
Boudreaux Butt Paste Sample
Babyganics Laundry Detergent
Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Baby Journal Keepsake, Totally Free Giveaway

Includes one From Pea to Pod Baby Journal – By Geralyn Broder Murray

Early Moments – Dr Seuss Book Collection – Free, $3.95 Shipping

Get 5 Dr. Seuss Books + a free activity book for just $3.95 plus free shipping (high-quality, hard cover editions)! Each of these books normally retail for $8.99. With this offer you are joining the Early Moments Dr. Seuss & His Friends book club, meaning you are signing up to receive books every month. But its no big deal as you can cancel at ANY time, risk free. Use Promo Code “BIRTHDAY” for a FREE gift!

The Cat In The Hat
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Dr Suess’s ABC
Hop On Pop
Are You My Mother

Honest Company Essentials & Diaper Trials, Just $5.95 shipping

If you have yet to sign up with The Honest Company (rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau! 😀 ), they are still offering up this awesome promo where you can score 2 FREE Trials! Choose a free Discovery Kit of Diapers & Wipes or Essentials (or both!). Pay only $5.95 for shipping.

Diaper / Wipes & Essentials Trial Includes:

Diapers (7 count)
Wipes (10 count)
Shampoo + Body Wash Sample
Face + Body Lotion Sample
Multi-Surface Cleaner Sample
Healing Balm Sample
Hand Soap Sample

Dream Baby Welcome Kit, Totally Free Giveaway

Sliding Locks – 2 pack, quality 2
Safety Catches – 2 pack, quality 2

Nursing Pillow From NursingPillow.com

Perfect for nursing mothers, but even if you do not breast feed your baby it it great for supporting them while feeding them or holding them! Top-quality NursingPillows are oval shaped with an opening to wrap around mom and give baby a soft platform for nursing. They’re smaller than other commercially available pillows, so they fit in a diaper bag and are portable! There are many patterns to pick from!

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Get a Free Nursing Pillow (a $ 40.00 Value) at NursingPillow.com. Only pay $14.99 shipping cost with Promotion Code”8D6C2BD56“. “Minky” fabrics are an additional $4.95, but print fabrics are free with shipping.

Carseat Canopy From Carseatcanopy.com

Keep baby out of breezes and sneezes with a Carseat Canopy, just $14.99 shipped. This is a $50 value!

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Visit Carseat Canopy, click “shop now,” change the quantity to one design of your choice, and add Promotional Code “87030277C” to see the savings! Just pay $14.99 shipping! Available in lots of colors! Two styles available Original (featured above) or Jersey Stretch (featured below).

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BONUS: Dollar Store Finds – $1 Each

Baby Studio Diaper Bag
Baby Bottle Brush
Gift Set – Oversized bottle coin bank, 8oz bottle, spoon & wash cloth
Babies 2 Grow – BPA Free 4 oz Snack Containers, 3 pack
Babies 2 Grow – BPA Free 8 oz Snack Containers, 3 pak
Child Safe Outlet Plug Covers – 12 pack

Do you know of any freebies we missed? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Posted in Antioch, Brentwood, California News, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg / Bay Point, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek

Disaster Strikes – Are You Prepared?

Posted on March 10, 2017 | Leave a comment

Take a few extra minutes to make sure that you and your family are better ready for the unexpected. By spending a few extra minutes now could make a huge difference in how you and your family handle a disaster or an emergency.

Are-You-Prepared

Prepare for summer by checking your smoke alarm batteries.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
Check monthly that smoke alarms are working properly by pushing the test button.
Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year.
Replace smoke alarms every ten years.
Check your fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.

The Red Cross is asking every household in America to make it a point to practice fire drills at home.

Make sure all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home, and set up a meeting place outside in case of fire.
Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day.
Teach household members to stop, drop and roll if their clothing should catch on fire.

There’s many other things that you could do to prepare for whatever may come.

Updating the emergency contact information in your family communications plan.
Choose an out-of-area emergency contact that each person in your family can call if he/she becomes separated during a disaster situation.
Check your emergency preparedness kit for expired food items, restock anything missing such as food, water and batteries.
If there have been changes in prescriptions or dietary needs, add new foods and medications as needed to your emergency preparedness supplies.

There’s a lot that we can learn from major disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. Food and water can be invaluable resource during a disaster. It’s recommend to keep at least a 10-day supply of non-perishable food items and water (one gallon per person per day).

Organize a family night and spend time together creating a 72 hour emergency go bag. These bags include food, water, a flashlight, a battery-powered or crank radio, can opener, first aid kit, copies of important documents (like emergency contact lists), and special items such as medications, diapers, and infant formula. They can also include a change of clothes and some extra cash in small denominations. These bags can be kept near the front door to be grabbed at a moments notice or preloaded in the car and available to people where they happen to be.

By doing some of these few simple actions, you could help keep your family aware and prepared during an emergency or disaster.

For more information check out the Basic Emergency Supply Kit flyer and link below! 15 Emergency Preparedness Tips

emergencykit

Are you ready? Is there a tip or suggestion that we missed? Leave your comments below!

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Posted in National News

Free Admission to Bay Area Attractions

Posted on February 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

The San Francisco Bay Area has a big and broad collection of top-notch museums, and nearly all of them can be visited for free! Below is a current list of all San Francisco Bay Area museums, art galleries and public gardens along with their free-admission days.

Before you go on a free day: Be prepared for crowds. Because of capacity limitations, admission is not guaranteed, so it’s best to arrive early. If you’re planning a group visit, check with the museum first; some museums limit or prohibit group visits on their free days. We HIGHLY recommend calling ahead to make sure the facility is still open for free admission day listed below since some policies do change without notice.

Asian Art Museum
Free – first Sunday of every month.
Autodesk Gallery
Free – always.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Free – first Wednesday of every month.
Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive
Free – first Thursday of every month.
Berkeley Botanical Garden
Free – first Wednesday of every month.
Cable Car Museum
Free – always.
California Academy of Sciences
Free – check calendar, SF resident days vary check calendar.
Cantor Arts Center
Free – always.
Cartoon Art Museum
Pay What You Wish – closed for relocation.

chabot

Chabot Space & Science Center
Free – first full weekend of every month for Bank of America Card Holders
$5 – after 6pm first Friday of every month.
Children’s Creativity Museum
Free – check calendar.
Chinese Historical Society of America
Free – first Sunday of every month, ages 12 & under always.

Conservatory of Flowers
Free – first Tuesday of every month.
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Free – first Tuesday of every month, check calendar, first full weekend of every month for Bank of America Card Holders.
$5 – after 5pm every Thursday.
de Young
Free – first Tuesday of every month, first full weekend of every month for Bank of America Card Holders.
Discover & Go
Free – always, Public Library card holders reserve free and discounted passes to local museums and cultural institutions.
Exploratorium
Free – check calendar.
International Art Museum of America
Free – always.
Japanese Tea Garden San Francsico
Free – every Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9-10am.
LACIS Museum of Lace and Textiles
Free – always.

legion

Legion of Honor
Free – first Tuesday of every month, first full weekend of every month for Bank of America Card Holders.
Lindsey Wildlife Museum
Free and open to the public every third Friday of the month.
Musee Mecanique
Free – always.
Museo ItaloAmericano
Free – always.
Museum of the African Diaspora
Free – check calendar.
Museum of American Heritage
Free – always.
Museum of Anthropology
Free – closed until 2017 for renovations.
Museum of Craft and Design
Free – first Tuesday of every month.
Museum of Performance and Design
Free – always.
Oakland Museum of California
Free – first Sunday of every month, ages 18 & under every Friday 5-9pm.
Half Price – every Friday 5-9pm.
Randall Museum

ruth

Ruth Bancroft Gardens
Free first Tuesday of the month.
San Francisco Art Institute
Free – always.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Free – every morning 7:30-9am, second Tuesday of every month, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years.
San Francisco Fire Department Museum
Free – always.
SF Camerawork
Free – always.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Free – ages 18 & under.
SFO Museum
Free – always.
San Francisco Railway Museum
Free – always.

SF-Zoo

San Francisco Zoo
Free – check calendar (residents only).
San Jose Museum of Art
Free – check calendar, first full weekend of every month for Bank of America Card Holders.
$5 – after 5pm third Thursday of every month.
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Free – always.
San Mateo County History Museum
Free – first Friday of every month.
Sake Museum
Free – always.
Tech Museum of Innovation
Free – first full weekend of every month for Bank of America Card Holders
Half Price – last hour of every day.
Third Thursdays in Yerba Buena
Free – third Thursday of every month, 5-10pm, Yerba Buena museums and neighborhood venues.
Wells Fargo History Museum
Free – always.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Free – first Tuesday of every month.

Did you see one we missed? Tell us in the comments section below! What’s your favorite museum? Art gallery?

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Posted in California News, Danville, Walnut Creek

Free Tours & Free Tastings at Jelly Belly Factory!

Posted on February 25, 2017 | Leave a comment

Jelly Belly_Template.indd

Looking for something to do on a cold day? Visit the Jelly Belly Visitor Center for a free candy sample and tour! Kids welcome! Factory tours available daily, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. For more information (800) 953-5592 or visit www.JellyBelly.com

jelly-belly2

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Posted in California News

National Margarita Day – The Perfect Recipe

Posted on February 22, 2017 | Leave a comment

The day has finally arrived and there’s a cause for celebration! Today is National Margarita Day. Enjoy these quick tips followed by the perfect recipe and celebrate one of California’s most beloved cocktails! Enjoy!

Tip #1: Always use fresh lime juice. ALWAYS. If you’re making a party-sized portion, a simple citrus press will save you a lot of time.

Tip #2: Instead of a generic Triple Sec, invest in a quality liqueur (like Cointreau or Combier). Even a smaller bottle will last you a while, since this element is used in small portions.

Tip #3: As for tequila, you don’t need to go fancy, but 100% Agave Blanco Tequila is mandatory. There are a million reasons why this is true, but you have a drink to make, so just trust us on this one.

Tip #4: To salt or not to salt is entirely up to you — “it’s an option, not the rule,” says Altier. Don’t let the salt/no-salt bullies tell you otherwise!

The Perfect Margarita
2 oz Tequila
1 oz fresh lime
3/4 oz Triple Sec
1 tsp simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)

If you’re salting the rims, pour lime juice (bottled actually works well here!) onto one small plate, and fill another one with kosher salt. Dip the top of each glass into the juice and then into the salt. (Note: this won’t work with water, you need the stickiness of juice to hold the salt.)

Shake up all ingredients in a shaker with ice, then strain into glasses over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge, and serve.

Cheers!!