Quality Entertainment for Less in the Village

Here we are again, fellow Greendalers... looking forward to a weekend of fun in the village celebrating all the great things our community has to offer. Hard to believe it's already been a year since the last one, but alas it's a true sign that summer is winding down. So here's to one last hurrah before we struggle to get back into the school-year routine.

I, for one, must say I am really looking forward to taking a little trip down to Broad Street for some of those sour cream and chive fries they'll be serving up at the Lions' Tent and a little free musical entertainment while I'm there.

After all, after the week many of us parents have had, we sure could use a little R&R. In this case not 'rest and relaxation'... no, I'm talking 'rescue from registration'! Yep, if you're a parent you know what I'm talkin' about: that time of year when we get ready to send the kiddos back to school by signing them up and paying all the associated fees.

I laughed a while back when friends of mine told me August rivals December in their households when it comes to spending. I'm not laughing anymore. Really. If your children are still small, I tell you - heed my advice. Start saving now. Your day is coming. And it will be here before they are ready to start college. 

Anyway, school fees are just the tip of the ice berg. There are also school supplies. Like any well-prepared parent, I started our annual school supply shopping expedition by getting out the 'official required supplies list.'

Next I sat down with the kids' backpacks to see what was leftover from last year that could be salvaged. Not surprisingly, there were several items that looked as if they had never even been opened. True to the nature of their lack of necessity however, none of those items made it onto this year's supply list.

I did hear a local restaurant is giving away a free sandwich for each new school supply you donate. Maybe I should donate the unused items - after all, maybe they are on some other school's supply list, right?

Finally we were ready to head out to search the stores for what we needed. Luckily my teenage sons were not interested in going along on this particular outing. Apparently roaming the aisles of Target can't compare with playing X-Box Live. Fine by me... easier to buy whatever is cheapest with no argument from them.

However, their two grade-school-age sisters can more than make up for any savings gained in not having the boys come along. After all, why would anyone in their right mind buy the 5-for-$1 plain folders when the glossy ones with the cute kittens and puppies are so much better... even if they do cost $1.29 each!

And that's just the start of the required items. Somehow kids always seem to NEED things that aren't even on the list. And of course how badly they 'need' them is directly proportional to how ridiculously impractical and expensive they are. Scented animal shaped erasers for $4.99 anyone?                     

After shelling out what seemed to be an amount equal to my last car payment, we headed to our next stop. Time to turn our hunt toward school clothes. I had just enough money leftover to buy them each a new first-day-of-school outfit.  

However, after several hours of wrangling the girls into trying on piles of clothes, we gave up. I honestly don't know who is designing clothes for kids these days, but I don't want my daughters looking like mini-versions of the 'Real Housewives of New Jersey." So we left the hip-bone baring jeans on the store shelves and decided they can make do with something from their summer wardrobe. It may be Wisconsin, but you know those first few days of school generally involve kids sweating it out in shorts and tank tops anyway.

So with our little bit of leftover spending money, we are going to head on down to the heart of Greendale this weekend and watch the (free) parade, watch some (free) entertainment at the FEA Stage and enjoy some tasty and not too pricey food and drinks. Stop over if you see me and we can 'R&R' together.

Just don't ask me if I'm buying this round.