Friendship Circle Los Angeles Family of the Year Awarded to Mommy Blog Expert & Family

Community Service

Since I advocate the importance of teaching kids to give back to their communities by volunteering, I am honored and proud to share that my husband, four teenagers and I have been named Friendship Circle of Los Angeles Family of the Year.

Our official FCLA Family of the Year Award Portrait

When it comes to community service, normally we maintain a low profile, working quietly behind the scenes simply because donating our time is the right thing to do -- not to mention immensely rewarding and satisfying to my entire family. By stepping briefly into the limelight tonight to accept this award we hope to inspire many other kids, moms, dads and extended family to volunteer as a family block because it takes more than money to run an organization like this one that does so much for so many. An added perk is that I'm a believer of the family that volunteers together, stays together.

Our family's volunteer experience and commitment to life-long service is definitely multi-generational. Both my husband and I were raised in homes that were deeply involved in assisting others in need and both of us began volunteering when we were young kids. So, when we became parents ourselves, it was only natural for us to pass that love of helping others on to our four -- triplets plus one more born within a year -- who all began volunteering with us when they were just toddlers. 

Non profit Friendship Circle of Los Angeles (FCLA) is a unique organization that is equally fulfilling for those special needs children served as well as for the huge corp of teenage volunteers who cumulatively donated many thousands of hours of time during the 2012-2013 school year. In fact this year's FCLA 's Annual Evening of Recognition spotlights 392 teen boy and girl volunteers -- including my own children -- from dozens of schools in the L.A. area.

My 4 kids with some of the other volunteers

If you'd like to help, too, I encourage you to check out the FCLA website where you'll not only find all kinds of information on what they do but how you can get involved either by volunteering or donating. You won't want to miss tonight's Chinese Auction fundraiser, either, where you can support a great cause while also getting the chance to win some great prizes like an iPad, vacation trips to Hollywood and San Diego, fine jewelry, shopping sprees, a Four Seasons hotel stay, a baseball signed by Shawn Green formerly of the New York Mets and lots more.

FTC Disclosure: My family and I volunteer for and are supporters of the Friendship Circle of Los Angeles. I did not receive payment or other compensation for this post and all opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

How to Save on High School Prom Costs

Teens

I was absolutely shocked to learn that on average prom expenses for one teen added up to $1,139 according to this 2013 LA Times story citing Visa's annual survey. You might be as surprised as I was about this statistic, too: Parents earning an income of $50,000 per year or less actually tend to spend 10% more on their teen's prom than those in higher income brackets.

This post contains affiliate links

Tips to Make Your Teen's Prom Dreams Come True

Frugal lifestyle expert Andrea Woroch says that while prom is an important milestone in your teen's life, you don't have to overspend to make it memorable and special. Here are Andrea's top strategies for keeping your budget grounded while helping your teen achieve his or her dream night.

Rent a Designer Dress

You don't have to give up on your daughter's designer dress dream nor drop $300 for a fashionable frock. Instead, consider places like RenttheRunway.com where you can rent a luxury brand dress for the night starting as low as $50. Another option is borrowing a dress from a cousin that might live out of town but that happens to be the same size as your teen. Yet a third idea is to buy vintage at a resale shop or thrift store.

Image by MommyBlogExpert.com

Share the Expense

Though prom costs are at an all-time high, teens are increasingly sharing in the cost of the event with their parents. In fact, according to the same prom survey referenced at the top of this post, 41 percent of prom costs are covered by teens thanks to savings accrued from after-school jobs. Make sure your teen pays for some of the costs, especially "extras" that you didn't budget for or don't feel are priorities because it might get them to really rethink about needs versus wants for prom night.  

Skip the Limo

Limo rentals can cost anywhere from $60 to up to $150 per hour depending on the type and region. Like most industries, limousine companies increase rental costs during peak periods like prom and weddings. Skip the inflated prices and have your teen use his or her own car or you could even chauffeur them in your vehicle so they get the feeling of being pampered.

Print Photos at Home

Photo packages range from $30 to $125, according to PromGirl. Skip this unnecessary expense by taking your own photos before the dance or get the teens to share smartphone photos taken during the event and then print from home. Those photos you take at home seem cheesy today but years from now your teen will appreciate them and it will bring back fond memories of all the excitement of leaving the house on their big night.

Image by MommyBlogExpert.com

Department Store Beauty

Make an appointment for a free cosmetic consultation at your favorite department store's beauty counter. Though the beauty artist will urge you to buy the makeup applied, it isn't required. You may consider purchasing the lipstick for touchups later on, but don't fall into the trap of buying everything they try and sell you, otherwise you could end up spending well over $100 just on makeup. Then, do our daughter's hair and nails at home -- not only will she look beautiful, you'll be doing some mom-daughter bonding at the same time.

Cut Corsage Costs

Corsages can cost anywhere from $10 to $30 depending on design and flower type. While corsages and boutonnieres represent some of the smallest costs associated with prom, there's no need to request orchids when carnations will do. Even a corsage made of baby's breath is a simple and stylish way to stay in budget. Come to think of it, if you have a garden or wild flowers where you live why not go outside and pick some buds and create your own DIY corsage for free?

Image by MommyBlogExpert.com

Buy Budget Accessories

Dresses and shoes eat up a huge chunk of girls' prom budgets, which is why accessories should be purchased on the cheap. Stores like Claire's Claire's, Forever 21 and Charming Charlie offer beautiful baubles for less than $10. You can also hit up thrift shops or antique stores for more unique pieces or even raid mom or grandma's jewelry box for a statement piece to wear. 

Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney.

This post contains affiliate links which means that if you click on a link resulting in a purchase, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a bit of compensation.

FTC Disclosure: See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Adventures in Zambezia Blu-ray Movie Review

Movies

Kids Movie Review, Blu-ray Giveaway

This animated family and kids feature film, Adventures in Zambezia, is rated G and has a runtime of 83 minutes. Set in Zambezia, a bustling bird city on the edge of Victoria Falls in Africa, the story centers around Kai, a rather naive but high-spirited young falcon who arrives on the scene and discovers the truth about his origins. Starring the voices of some of the world's greatest talents including Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum and others.

MBE partnered with Sony Pictures for this review

Check out the characters in this movie -- they certainly do have distinct personalities if you ask me. For your added enjoyment there is a free fun downloadable Adventures in Zambezia kids activity book to download that also includes a viewer's guide for parents. 

Enter to Win

Once again I'm thrilled to be working with Sony to offer you another great family movie giveaway. Keep reading to find out how you can be the lucky MommyBlogExpert reader that wins a gigantic Adventures in Zambezia gift basket of goodies.

Adventures in Zambezia 
GRAND GIVEAWAY

Gift Basket Valued at $100+
Ends 6/7/13

This HUGE Prize Package includes

Adventures in Zambezia Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Arthur Christmas DVD

The Smurfs Blu-ray & DVD combo pack

Swan Princess CD

Smurfette plush

Hotel Transylvania erasers

Two Smurfs books

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post and you're entered. Contest ends June 7, 2013 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will receive a prize package that includes the Adventures in Zambezia Blu-ray DVD combo pack as well as merchandise from some of Sony's other hit children's movies including a Arthur Christmas DVD, The Smurfs Blu-ray & DVD combo, Swan Princess CD, Smurfette plush, Hotel Transylvania erasers and two Smurfs books.  Winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why you'd like to win this prize. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter 

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook
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***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet to copy and paste:

I just entered Adventures in Zambezia Bluray DVD @SonyPictures Kids Movie $100 Gift Basket GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/cfwsfmj

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE

FTC Disclosure: I received the movie featured to facilitate the review. In addition Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is providing the prize package and shipping for this giveaway. However, thoughts in this blogpost are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.