1. HOPabaloo at the Oklahoma City Zoo

HOPabaloo is great for families with kids who are tired of hunting eggs in the backyard. Brunch with the Easter Bunny at The Canopy Restaurant from 10-1 followed by the Tiny Tots Egg Scramble for the kiddos. The egg scramble times are 1:30 p.m. (2 and under), 2 p.m. (3 year olds), 2:30 p.m. (4 year olds) and 2:45 p.m. (5 year olds). Each egg scramble is based on a first come, first served basis and includes prizes. The scrambles take place in the grassy area located by the Roughneck Picnic Pavilion. To make brunch reservations call the Zoo at (405) 425-0262. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for kids. Brunch tickets also include access to the animal exhibits, so be sure to check out the new Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit!

2. Easter Brunch at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

For older kids or adults, this one’s a winner. Enjoy brunch at Dining on Persimmon Hill, the museum’s full-service restaurant. The menu includes glazed ham, beef, chicken and an extraordinary dessert selection. Brunch is from 11-3. Tickets are $16.98 per person and include access to the exhibits and gardens. Museum tickets alone are $10, so this is a great deal for both food and entertainment! Guests are invited to view the exhibits and the gardens between the hours of 9am- 5pm.

Special temporary exhibitions on display at Easter include an art exhibit featuring The Jackie L. Coles Collection, which just opened on late March. Other special exhibits include “Art of the West: Selections from the Bank of America Collection,” “Guardians of Glacier Park: The Blackfeet in Artistic Imagination” and “‘Did She Kill ‘Em All?’ Martha Maxwell, Colorado Huntress.” Call (405) 478-2250, Ext. 281 for reservations.

3. Easter(Eve) fun at the Orr Family Farm

If you’ve got plans for Sunday, but feel like celebrating a little early, check out the Orr Family Farm. Easter events include: duck races, egg decorating and hunting, as well as carousel and train rides! Tickets are $12.50 each, kids 2 and under get in free.

Happy Easter from our family to yours!

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I think it’s obvious that I’m not the only American with a love of fast food. With tasty fried meals conveniently placed every half block or so, it’s become a staple of our society. I’ve found (at least in my own family’s experience) that the convenience of a quick meal can become more than just an addiction — it can be financially draining before you even realize it.

Last week I asked you to gather up all your receipts and get ready for this week. Now that it’s finally Wednesday again, I’ll end your suspense. It’s time to start cutting your bills substantially. I’m not going to lie, for some of you this is going to be seriously painful (just like it was for me). Not necessarily because it’ll be hard to do, but it may be hard to see just how deep you’ve gotten. Alright, here we go…

The first part of conquering any addiction (and yes, I mean that literally here, even though we’re talking nuggets and cheeseburgers) is having a real understanding of your position. If you’ve got access to online banking, that may be the easiest way to do this. Pull up your statement and grab a notebook and writing utensil. Here comes the hard part: scan through your activity for the last 30 days. How much did you spend eating out? Groceries? Gas? Write all these amounts down (and count the number of times you spent in each category) and be prepared to gasp. What percentage of your income is being spent on instant gratification via fast food?  The first time my husband and I did this, we noticed that we had spent nearly $500 in ONE MONTH on fast food. (It hurts to actually have to type that, by the way.) We spent almost that much at the grocery store, too. There were some days that each of us would use our separate debit cards to grab something quick while we were out. $5 dollars here and there surely wouldn’t hurt.. Looking back, $1000 could have made a major dent in something important, like car payments or credit card debt.

The fact of the matter is that the majority of America spends up to 30% of their income on fast food alone.  That is incredible, considering that it doesn’t include grocery bills. So what can be done? The answer is obvious, but easier said than done. It’s time to stop swinging by the drive-through and head home instead. Of all the expenses that are associated with normal life, fast food is usually the quickest to be justified and dismissed, without a second thought. That’s the problem, too. When something becomes part of our routine, we forget to think about the ramifications of such a simple action.

When my family went from two (fairly substantial) incomes to one, my husband and I knew it was time to make some adjustments and sacrifices. We were prepared to do what we had to do and take drastic measures. We evaluated (for the first time ever) EVERY cent of our non-budget and saw that the one thing we could do immediately was cut the fast-food. We made a pact that we would simply not eat out anymore. It was done, a thing of the past. We had good intentions, but it just didn’t work out.

At this point, I feel like I should remind my readers that the number one issue in marriages and serious relationships is money. Everyone knows this, but it continues to be a struggle that a lot of couples (notice the skyrocketing divorce rates) just don’t know how to deal with. The clue to having a successful relationship is cutting away the tension and emotions that can erupt over everyday expenses. It’s been two years since my husband and I shifted to our new lifestyle and we are by no means where we want to be yet, but we’re closer. It’s taken a long time (as success usually does) but here are some tips I’d like to pass along:

1. Stop using plastic! One of the evil enablers of habit-spenders is the debit card. It’s easy to justify using it, since the money actually exists in your bank account and isn’t prone to huge interest rates. The problem is that a lot of people don’t track how many times they use their debit card each day. (My husband and I noticed some days that our debit cards were used 10-12 times!) Even though it may be a small purchase of just a dollar or two, the dollars add up quickly and usually go under the radar. Grandma says use cash!

2. Don’t try to quit cold nugget. If you’re used to eating out several times a week, don’t try to cut that to nothing. Some very strong-willed people (bless them) can handle this, but for the majority of us, it won’t happen. Instead, decide on an eat-out day and set aside money for that.

3. Put it in perspective. This is much easier to do once you’ve assessed your finances and determined just how serious the problem is. My husband and I were spending a lot on fast food, and got nothing out of it. It was basically money flushed away. There was no long term fulfillment on a huge investment. When you think of it that way, it’s easier to keep yourself from spending the money you worked hard all week for on nuggets that will be gone in a few minutes.

4. Reward yourself! This is perhaps one of the most important ideas when it comes to reforming habits. Without incentive, what’s the point? Of course, having more money in your bank account is a plus, but even that rush may not be enough. Give yourself a goal, and a reward when you reach it. Make sure your reward matches your effort, though. Try to make it less about money and more about satisfaction. For example, if you manage to save an extra 50 bucks by not eating out, don’t go buy new shoes.

Times are tough, we all know it. As silly as it might seem to start with something like fast-food abuse instead of stock exchanging, I started here because this is where my family’s financial reform began. It’s not as glamorous as investing, but I believe very much that if Americans are going to survive this economic crisis, it’s time to start looking at the little stuff. Often it’s the little stuff that slowly smothers you and causes irreparable damage. Tomorrow, we’ll have a follow up on food spending and we’ll talk about how to make your grocery budget really work for you and eliminate wasteful spending. It’s simple stuff, but it’s a start.

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Preschoolers:
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise
This story, illustrated beautifully by Clement Hurd, tells the story of a little bunny who decides he wants to run away. His mother says she’ll follow him wherever he goes, but he tries it anyway! She follows and he learns that he can’t ever hide from his mother’s love- its unending!. A sweet story for any young child.
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
I love this book! I bought it the minute I found out I was pregnant and have read it to my boys almost every night. The illustrations are magnificent and endearing and the story still makes me melt. This wonderful story of the immeasurable love between a parent and child is touching, to say the least. Every bunny needs this one!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: 40th Anniversary Edition by Bill Martin Jr., Eric Carle
This colorful, imaginative book is perfect for all toddlers! Eric Carle’s unique illustrations help to teach colors and animals in a fun new way! Simple and sweet, it’s a great book for any collection.
Corduroy (Picture Puffins) by Don Freeman
This bright covered book is a classic in so many homes! Corduroy’s longing for a home turns into a great adventure that teaches that not only is love great to recieve, it’s great to give, too!

4-8 Year Olds:
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka
This one is sure to make your kids (and yourself) laugh like crazy! Scieszka’s twists on familiar nursery rhymes and fairy tales give each a fresh feeling. Each story is cleverly arranged and the illustrations alone will make you laugh!
Stellaluna – Oversize edition by Janell Cannon
This book, besides giving bats a chance at stardom also teaches that its okay to be different! A little bit scary for really young kids, but fits well in this age bracket.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
What a cute story! This little mouse and his obliging human friend are sure to bring a smile to your face and a giggle or two from your kiddo. The only problem: if you give a kid this book, he’s gonna want a cookie.
The Art Lesson (Paperstar Book) by Tommy De Paola
This book tells the story of a little boy who loves to draw, it’s his favorite thing to do! This is a great story for kids who are learning about their interests and skills and shows that you can really grow up to do the things you love!

Pre-teen:
The Giver by Lois Lowry
I remember reading this book in middle school and loving it. It’s a deep (but understandable) book that tells about conformity and rebellion, and the difference between real happiness and blissful ignorance. It is an emotional story that reminds us that happiness comes at a price, if we are willing to pay. Everybody needs to read this. You won’t be disappointed.
The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition by J.R.R. Tolkien
The prequel to the famous Lord of the Rings series, the Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and his accidental adventure. He leaves his sheltered home (which hobbits just don’t do) to find fortune in a mountain protected by a savage and cunning dragon. Tolkien’s imagination and detail are beyond comparison. A must read for all ages.
The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children, No. 1) by Gertrude Chandler
This series is a great one for any mystery lovers. The Boxcar children are a family of orphaned children that learn to survive on their own and find ways to be content no matter the situation. They are creative, sweet and well-mannered. They are searching for a place to call home and find adventure and excitement along the way.

If you haven’t checked out these books, stop what you’re doing and go get them! They are all classics that your family will love and remember for years! Swing back by each Tuesday for a new list of great books for your whole family. Don’t see one of your favorites? Leave us a comment below and we’ll add it to the list!

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During the next few months, I will be bringing a new article to Metroglow in the hopes that it can help make Oklahomans stronger financially and less fearful of the economic crisis. Saving Sense will examine the effects of the last economic crash (better known as the Great Depression) and compare them to the crisis at hand. Are we worse off? What can be done to prevent a repeat of the devastation our country suffered so many years ago? When I started thinking about this article, my mind went to one place instantly: my grandparents.

No matter the crisis, my grandparents give the same advice: simplify. Too many extracurriculars and not enough time? Simplify. Too many dishes? Too many bills? Too many issues, period? Simplify. While it’s easy to roll your eyes and think they just don’t understand, it’s much more likely that you don’t understand. It’s easy to think that you’ve got your routine down and that it’s as simple as it can be. In most cases, however, this simply isn’t the case.  It’s taken me a long time to realize the wisdom in my grandparents’ words (or rather, their word) of advice, but I think I finally get it. Every aspect of our lives can be simplified in order to make our future more secure. Don’t believe it? Give me a month and I’ll prove it.  In the mean time, here are some simple things grandma suggests you do:

1. Clean out your closets. If you don’t love it, sell it!

2. Gather up all your bills and receipts and get ready to cut! (we’ll talk about this in depth next week)

3. Eat at home!

4. Use what’s in your pantry instead of running to the store again. (Get creative!)

5. Keep your empty containers, if they have lids.

Saving Sense Weekly Challenge:

Keep a journal of what you spend in the next week. (Not just your checkbook log, either. Include credit card charges and cash, too!) Include all expenses, even bills that have to be paid. At the end of the week, circle or highlight what could be considered ‘frivolous’ or extra spending. Next Wednesday, we’ll give you some tips on how to cut that number drastically. (It can be done!)

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