TGIF: American Idol Slumber Party Edition

Tonight a group of 10 and 11 year old girls will be descending upon my house to celebrate my daughter’s birthday – American Idol style.  For not planning ahead, this is turning into a very fun, yet frugal party idea.  I’ll write more about it next week.

But for tonight I will be surrounded by tweens rocking out to Disney’s Sing It! for the Wii…complete with backdrop.  I think I’m the photographer.  It will be fun, but I’m going to be very tired tomorrow!

Blog of the Week

Next up on my M-Network blogroll is…..drumroll please…..

Mrs. Micah – Finance for a Freelance Life

I love Mrs. Micah’s blog, because she’s practical, smart, and ambitious, and that all comes through in her blog.  Right now she is challenging her readers to track their spending through the month of February. Head on over if you’d like to participate!  It doesn’t matter if you’re late!

News of Note

Wow, where do I start?  I have a ton of things going on right now!

First, if you didn’t listen to Frugal Coast2Coast on Monday, you should listen, because we revealed the first of two key words that you’ll need to be entered into the drawing for the iPod Touch.  We’ll be revealing the second key word this coming Monday, when we talk about frugal Valentine’s ideas on Frugal Coast2Coast.

It’s official now, so I can tell you that I’m going to be featured in the April issue of Redbook Magazine! A photographer is coming on Monday to take lots of pictures, and I even get to have my hair and makeup done!  Now to decide what to wear…

I’m going to be speaking at the 2009 Reinventing CPG & Retail Summit in Las Vegas in March! This is my first speaking engagement, and I’m excited and a little nervous.  I’ll be on a panel with other mom bloggers, talking about mom marketing and the consumer perspective.

Enough about me.  Head over to Moolanomy and share your favorite financial websites for a chance to win one (or both) of two $25 Amazon Gift Cards!

Finally, a big congratulations to Patrick (Cash Money Life) and his wife, as they have just announced they’re expecting their first baby! Very exciting!

In the News

The news at Main Street.com that caught my eye this week was the proposed $15,000 tax credit for homebuyers in the economic stimulus plan making it’s way through congress.  That’s a big tax break!

The Roundup

A lot of good articles on a wide variety of subjects caught my eye this week.  Enjoy!

• How to Negotiate a Severance Package – Bargaineering
• Drawing a Line in the Sand – I’ve Paid for This Twice Already
• Is Frugality the Anti-Stimulus Plan? – Frugal Dad
• Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle:  Turning an Old Window Into a Mirror – The Good Human
• What if the Bailout Went to People Instead of Banks? – Yielding Wealth
• Wife Swap and Couponing Gone Wrong – Prime Time Money

Have a great weekend!  We’re going to have a busy one.  After my daughter’s party Friday night, my son is going to a birthday party on Saturday, and my daughter to a birthday party on Sunday.  ‘Tis the season to be born, I guess!

Photo by JonF119.