There are only hours left to get $20 for $40 at The Body Shop. What makes this Groupon extra sweet is that if you redeem the Groupon by May 30, it is worth $45 instead of $40! AND, it's also good on sale items. You can even buy up to 3 Groupons. One caveats is that the Groupon is good for in-store purchases only.
There are so many coupon sites out there ... Groupon, Living Social, Circle Buzz, Juice in the City, Spaphile ... the list goes on and on. My email inbox is flooded daily with deals. I event created a Twitter list to help me keep track of any I want to share (you are welcome to follow it). Each of these sites gives you the chance to save a few bucks, but none of these sites gives you the change to also give back like KidsCause.
So what is KidsCause and why should you subscribe to their deals?
KidsCause is an organization that works with local businesses to provide discounts on exciting products and services while also improving the lives of children in local communities. 50% of KidsCause revenues from each and every deal goes to a different youth based non-profit every week. The non-profits include school foundations, non-profits, and other charities that provide kids of all ages with education, food, beds, homes, healthcare and other services. KidsCause’s main goal is to enrich and support the lives of our local kids.
This past Saturday night I had a GNO (girls' night out) with Stacey, Sugar, Theresa and Jennifer. We went for drinks at The Prado and to opening night of Jane Austen’s EMMA, A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe. Good company, good drinks and a good show ... that makes for a great night out!
I worked for the Magic Theatre in San Francisco for 3 years working stage production, assistant directing and marketing. No matter how much work is put into a performance to get it ready there is nothing like the opening night of a show. After months, weeks, days of rehearsal and previews it all culminates into the success of opening night. Critics are mixed in with family, friends and colleagues of the cast and crew. You can feel the electricity of excitement and anxiousness in the air. On Saturday night I could feel all of that the minute I sat down in my center balcony seat.
As I mentioned in my previous post I studied Jane Austen as part of my major in university, so I was very skeptical about having one of her a novels turned into a musical. Austen's wrote stories that are relevant at any age, especially Emma. The story of Emma is simple ... a young lady who think she knows what is best for everyone, but in her process of trying to improve her friends' lives she discovers herself. So did adding musical numbers into this story make it even better?
I loved how some musical numbers brought out the comedy of characters like Harriet's Humiliation. Unfortunately, I felt that some songs were pointless or too long. For example, The Argument between of Emma and Mr. Knightley in his office when he lectured her on match making seemed forced. To me, there is room for improvement with the musical numbers.
The adaptation of the novel was decent. Some modern references I found awkward and jarring from the period piece, but most people might not notice them as much as I did (guess I'm just an Austen snob).
With that said, I thought Patti Murin did a wonderful job as Emma and Dani Marcus was a perfect Harriet Smith. The relationship between the actors was believable. I enjoyed the performances of Will Reynolds as Frank Churchill, Amanda Naughton as Mrs. Weston and Brian Herndon as Mr. Elton. I thought Adam Monley came off too pompous and not charming enough to make me really want Emma to be with him. Kelly Hutchinson's performance of Mrs. Elton drove me crazy ... but, I guess that is what that character is supposed to do!
What did impress me was the set. I loved how the floor rotated limiting the set change time. There were some issues with sight line according to other audience members, but I think as the show settles in these little issues will work themselves out.
Overall, I recommend that you see Jane Austen’s EMMA A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe. It was entertaining and will make for a good night out at the theatre. Also, San Diego Bargain Mama Members receive 50% discount and NO handling fee! Click here to purchase tickets. Select tickets before or on January 22, 2011 and use the Promo Code: SDBM.* All tickets will be waiting at Will Call, located at the Box Office, under your name.
If you see the show come back and let me know what you thought!
*Discounts apply to Area A seating only. Offer only available online.
When I was getting my bachelors degree in English Lit I fell in love with 19th Century British Literature. The Brontë sisters, Wordsworth, Mary Shelley, Lewis Carroll, and (most of all) Jane Austen. Austen's heroines are timeless to me. They embody intelligence, strength, poise and whit. I would sit on the patio of the beach house I rented with my friends, completely absorbed in Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. The summer before my last year at university I decided to study in London. I remember one day before my afternoon class, I took a bus into the countryside to Winchester Cathedral to see Jane Austen's grave and on to Chawton to see the home she lived out the last years of her life. I missed the bus going back, but seeing these historical landmarks of an author I cherished fueled my desire to become a writer myself.
The more time I spent in London the more I fell in love with the theatre. It was so affordable for a student to see a show that I found myself going at least once a week to see a performance. Musical, drama, comedy ... it didn't matter. There was a day I was shopping and discovered a small theatre that had a show starting in 15 minutes. I purchased a student ticket and sat down to enjoy Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. By the end of my summer abroad I changed my focus from 19th Century British Literature to theatre.
After I graduated I moved to San Francisco to work in a theatre as an intern production manager and assistant director. For 3 years I worked crazy hours for almost no pay, but I was doing what I loved ... I just wasn't very good at it! Eventually the need for a stable income forced me to join my friends in the corporate world.
I still love reading and going to the theatre whenever I can, but being a full time working, single mom has made it hard for me to sink my nose into a novel or go to the theatre to see a show (which is quite pricey when you aren't either a student or a senior). So, I resort to movies and most of Jane Austen's books have been made into some really good movies! One of my favorites is Emma. Some of you might have seen Gwyneth Paltrow portray Emma, who is one of my favorite Austen heroines. The production of this movie was set during the time the novel was written for. Paltrow got a lot of attention regarding her accurate British accent in this movie. She completely embodied the character.
Most of you have probably seen the movie Clueless, but you probably didn't know that it was based on Emma. The classic production took the British story into modern day Southern California Valley setting. Emma became a "total Betty" who loved to frequent malls and couldn't drive a jeep. As you can imagine the Valley Girl in me totally loves this movie!
A couple of weeks ago Stacey from San Diego Bargain Mama posted an offer of 50% off your ticket and no handling fee to see Emma, A Muscial Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe. You can bet I was intrigued! I have never imagined any Jane Austen novel on stage let alone as a musical.
How could I pass up this fantastic deal? I spoke with Stacey about putting together an sdIRL event. So for the opening night, January 15th, we want to get a bunch of us together for some drinks before enjoying the show. The tickets are selling out quickly for this performance, so get your tickets now! I hope you can join us!
Who doesn't like to save money? Who doesn't want children to have a better education?
As a divorced, full time working mom I want all of these things, so I have joined The Savvy Source Savings and Scholarship Program.
What is Savvy Source?
Savvy Source is an online guide and community for all things educational for parents of young children including preschools, camps, and classes. The site also has reviews of books, toys, gear, and parenting articles from the country’s leading experts. And, they offer fantastic savings opportunities for local family activities.
What are Savvy Savings and Scholarships?
Savvy Savings and Scholarships will have weekly discounts between 50-90% off zoos, museums and aquariums to discounted tickets to interactive play places and amusement parks and more. When you purchase one of these offers from The Savvy Source 5% of proceeds are donated to the preschool of my choice and to a scholarship fund for children in need.
The Savvy Savings and Scholarships has raised over $50,000 for local preschools in less than 8 weeks. Now they have rolled the program out to San Diego! This week they have 50% off admission for 4 to San Diego Natural History Museum.
