Skim Milf Mama

Monday, October 3, 2011

Mutha Hubbard.

Skimmilfmama is now a facebook page: Mutha Hubbard.
Please like it!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Giveaway day, and mom to mom yard sale

Need stuff? Have stuff to give away? TWO upcoming events!

Please note donations for giveaway day need to be dropped off the day before, and they request no winter items. Details on flyer below.

MOM TO MOM YARD SALE
Spring Cleaning? Please donate your gently used items for our annual yard sale! We are looking for household/decor/furniture, baby/child items and clothes, books/music/videos, outdoor equipment/games/sports, etc! Please, no stuffed animals or badly stained/ripped/broken items.

Interested in helping out? We need people to help sort, price and work a shift at the sale. Then, come shop the sale! Please tell friends and family---come support M2M! (We are having it at Riverton this year due to the monsoon we went thru last year!) Happy Spring Cleaning!

Time Saturday, June 18 · 9:00am - 1:00pm

Location Riverton Community Center
1600 Forest Ave.
Portland, ME

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Free Comic Book day, free legos

TODAY Saturday May 7, 2011

Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

Borders is having a book release party for Rick Riordan's "Throne of Fire", the second book in the Kane Chronicles. Today, 2pm at Borders. There will be free lego sets given away while supplies last.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

thredUP

When I was about 7 months pregnant with my son, I was invited to a single mom's swap. This became the first of many, starting at the home of the friend who invited me, and then eventually being held at various college facilities. During the first one I scored everything from a pair of tiny carhart overalls to a baby gym and recieving blankets. In retrospect, I think the pregnant lady was invited so everyone could get rid of their baby things. It worked out pretty well. In the following years I scored:

*pots and pans
*a terra cotta salsa serving dish
*clothes for me, clothes for the baby
*a really cool brass bracelet with a hindu goddess engraving
*baby movies
*cosmetics

Anyway, I'm glad to see traditional mom swaps are now going viral. I usually post my son's outgrown clothing on my fb page free to whomever wants it, but may start posting on this site as well.

thredUP - Special offer: "thredUP homepage
Welcome to the thredUP community - where moms swap kids clothes and toys.

The service is free to join and boxes of preloved clothes and toys costs just $5 plus shipping. Because we know you will love thredUP we're giving new members a special, one-time offer of your first box on us (FREE! - you pay only $10.95 shipping) if you sign up today. PICK
Pick a box of clothes or toys for your child - pay only $5 + shipping → LIST
List a box of your child's gently used clothes or toys → SEND
Send your box free of charge when it's picked by another member → Browse the thousands of boxes of gently-loved clothing and toys in the thredUP listings. When you find one you love, pick it and it's yours. You pay just $5 + shipping to receive the box. We make it easy for you to list boxes of your gently-loved items for other thredUP members. Using our thredUP 'Build-a-Box' widget and the FREE boxes we send you upon registration, we're with you every step of the way
When a member picks your box, we help you print out a label, attach it to the box, and then we schedule the US Postal Service pick-up for you right at your front door.
Terms of Use Privacy Policy"

Friday, April 22, 2011

"Lightening Thief" author Rick Riordan comes to Borders.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 6:00 PM
Borders
Maine Mall Rd
South Portland Maine

Rick Riordan will be at Borders to sign copies of "The Throne of Fire", book 2 in "The Kane Chronicles" series.

In this exciting second installment of the three-book series, Carter and Sadie, offspring of the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane, embark on a worldwide search for the Book of Ra, but the House of Life and the gods of chaos are determined to stop them.

Also, happening at Borders:

Tween Time April 22, 8pm
Story Time April 24 (easter Sunday) 11am
Monday Night Knitting Circle Apr 25, 6:00 PM
Game Night May 2, 7:00 PM

Free Easter Egg hunt, open to the public

Nothing says spring like the Egg-stravagant Egg Hunt at the Falmouth Congregational Church! Everyone is invited FREE of charge to participate in this fun community event. This year , our event will include a new egg hunt for ages 0-2, as well as 3-4, 5-8, and 9-12 year olds. We will also have snacks, bouncy houses, face painting, bunnies and a visit from "Crusher" of the Portland Red Claws!

The third annual Egg Hunt is 11:00 AM- 1 PM. Come a little early to register (free) at 267 Falmouth Rd., next to the Town Hall. Last year we had over 300 children participate.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Free Dance classes for ages 8-14.

Join Portland Youth Dance Company
for our
Outreach Program!
 For dancers aged 8 to 14
 Six week session on Saturdays from 3:30—4:30, from October 16, 2010 to November 20, 2010.
 Hip hop class, ending with a studio show on November 20th!
 Casco Bay Movers Dance Studio
517 Forest Ave, Ste 6, Portland, ME 04101
 Dancers will need comfortable clothing and sneakers to dance in, and a ride to and from the studio.
 Availability is limited, based on financial need.
Sign up now to reserve your spot!
susan@portlandyouthdance.com, 450 –1735 viki@portlandyouthdance.com, 712-4308

Kids eat free nights in the Portland area.

Obviously in need of more places, so don't be shy about letting me know. Leaving it way back in the early posts as well. Always call and check these places first as nights are subject to change way more frequently then I am likely to update.

Sun: Ricetta's (kids eat free from the Buffet), Mexico Lindo, Pom Thai

Mon: Applebees .99 cents Ricettas: 2 free kids meals with the purchase of one $7.95 adult meal, Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill (after 6pm) Pom Thai

Tue: Denny's, Lonestar. Whole foods cafe 11-7pm only.

Wed: Ihop, Weathervane $1.99 night , Rockland Cafe (in Rockland)

Thur: $1.99 Old Country Buffet

Fri:

Sat: Denny's

Halloween 2010 Happenings!

Applebee's on Brighton Ave is having a Halloween Pancake breakfast on Oct 31 7-10am. $5 a head which includes pancakes, orange juice, coffee, tea or milk. There will be face painting, balloons, play dough, color tables, door prizes, raffles, a costume contest and a bake sale.

*donations and all proceeds benefit the Make a Wish foundation.

207-791-2810

Cryptozoology museum on Congress St is free on halloween 2010 to celebrate their one year anniversary.

Maine Mail Costume Contest & Trick or Treating: Costume contest by age categories (top 3 prizes are gift cards to the mall) in the food court between 2-4pm. Trick or treating for children under 13yo between 4-6pm in the mall.

LL Bean Pumpkin Festival ( see LL Bean evtns website for schedule (Friday & Saturday events). Live bands, kids activities, pumpkin tower and a walk-through pumpkin house. Totally free event.

The Whole Grocer has free events for kids Saturday & Sunday. Includes cake decorating and face painting, store wide sampling, and trick or treating. see website for times (also listed in store).

Mad Mama Money

Need some extra cash? Dont think you have any more talents/abilities to exploit? Here's a few ideas to suppliment income. Note that none of these things will make you a millionaire, but might help put a little extra $ in your pocket for treats and special occasions or to keep you afloat. Other ideas are welcome as well.

Gift Wrapping!

Tis the season! It has crossed my mind in the past to hang flyers or post on craigslist or something an offer to gift wrap. I love to gift wrap. Every year I go to my mom's house, rent a movie or two and spend a Sunday wrapping all her gifts, even though there is no shortage of gifts to wrap at my house. Anyway, I was thinking of charging like $35 an hour seeing as how I don't care if anyone takes me up on it or not. But it's probably more reasonable should you go this route to charge in the $20 an hour range. Make sure folks supply their own paper, tape and scissors. & Don't waste a ton of gas money driving far away to do this. You can probably make a side business out of this year round since everyone has to buy birthday gifts and whatnot and so many people hate to wrap gifts.

Tarot Reading
This can be a self taught skill, as you can usually check out any book on tarot reading from your local library. Reasonable rates can range between $35 for 30 minutes to $50 for an hour. A deck of tarot cards usually cost about $20. The Rider-Waite is the standard deck that most people learn from, but you can use any of the others. Some vary in terms of what card are used in the deck and meaning. Most books will reference the Rider Waite deck, so it's a good one to start with. Post an add on craiglist or post fliers. Don't invite strangers into your home with children there...you can read cards just about anywhere, including coffee shops and on a blanket in your local park. You can start by donation only readings if you want to practice in order to build your skill level.

sewing/knitting
You don't need a sewing machine to start. You can start with something as simple as some material, a needle and thead and any extras like ribbons, etc to stitch a little pocket book or a pillow you could sell for $8-$10. Toss some dried beans in and you have bean bags for the kiddos $5. Save up and buy a sewing machine for bigger projects.

Jewelry Making
as mentioned in the cheap activities post. Seriously, you can make a pair of beaded earrings for like $4.00, and sell them for easily $10. You can also use found items such a seaglass, shells, cool looking rocks and do all kinds of creative wraps to sell at craft fairs at your kids school, etc.

Along the same lines....Baking.
I'm not exactly Betty Crocker. Hell, I can barely cook and frankly it is a sheer miracle the kiddo and i have survived and remained surprisingly healthy while depending on my abilities for nurishment. But most people can manage to bake some cookies or brownies or maybe something a little unique. In the book "Without a Net" the author (whose name escapes my mind, I think it was Michelle something) describes being marginally homeless with her children while working evenings. She started to build a little bit of income by baking specialty breads and selling them at her local farmers market. Turned into a bussiness for her. I'm not suggesting anything that lofty, but I definantly think that if you have confidence in your own baking ability you can selll a few brownies for $1.00 a piece or whatever.

dog walking/pet sitting
hang a few fliers. This is also a good opportunity to take the kid(s) for a walk and spend some time outside together. Maybe you'll land a nice pet sitting job with some folks who have a pool. I'm kidding. Sorta.

Resume writing/typing in general
seriosuly, there are still people out there who hate to do these things. Do you have access to a printer? Find out what the going rate is to type up a resume or whatever document someone who is not computer literate has been dredding dealing with and have at it.

a note from Skimmy.

In High school I once had a boyfreind tell me "I walked by you once and heard pennies screaming they were being pinched so tightly." Please note that while frugal, Skim Milf Mama is not about being cheap. It is about living on a budget and providing for your kids to the best of your ability. Please note that some of the resources we will be talking about here include TANF, Section 8, and other forms of welfare as well as the rights of people on welfare to access these benefits. If you have something nasty to say about that, this isn't the place for you and you should go somewhere else. Skim Milf Mama does not judge and does not have anything to prove by getting into a political pissing contest with you. If you are comfortable talking shit on poor people and their kids, go start your own blog and do it there. We celebrate all families of all socio-economic backgrounds here and we trust that anyone who has interest in accessing this is site is working hard to do the very best for themelves and their kids, and they don't need any BS from you. Skim Milf Mama believes in working hard and obtaining an education to best provide for your child(ren), and to appriciate what you have along the way