The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

4 Ways to Save Big Bucks at Target

By ERIN TURNER- Okay you smart shoppers--today I’m going to share with you why I love Target and four ways how you can save big bucks when you shop there!... more

Recreation Program Cancellations and Currents Aquatics Center Closure

Due to severe weather conditions, Parks and Recreation and Currents Aquatics Center announce the following schedule changes. Please check local media or the City of Missoula website for updates.... more

Before There’s Smoke, There’s Fire (Fighters)

By CHERY SABOL - Training for forest firefighting jobs begins months before the first whiff of smoke in mid-summer and is over long before ash starts to fall--so plan NOW!... more

Frugal Living: The Freezer Challenge Continues

By ERIN TURNER- We're waiting for a major winter snow storm to hit here in Missoula. But you won't see me running out to stock-up...we're in the middle of a Freezer Challenge!... more

The Freezer Challenge

By ERIN TURNER- This year we decided to shake things up a bit from our traditional Pantry Challenge and we're doing a Freezer Challenge instead. Here's what it entails: ... more

A Rice Cooker Makes Healthy, Frugal Meals

By ERIN TURNER-So I didn't own a rice cooker--what's the big deal? Answer: rice cookers are a super time and money saving gadget for your kitchen! So now I own one. You should too.... more

Turn Down The Thermostat And Save

By ERIN TURNER - During a recent cold-snap in Montana, we moved our thermostat down to a “balmy” 64 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night and saved!... more

MISA Offers Toddler Time Soccer Basics

By KIM S. - Since moving to Missoula am still trying to learn all the new “places” to take my kids. This week I was excited to find MISA - the Missoula Indoor Soccer Arena.... more

Keep Working After the Lottery

By CHERY SABOL - According to a Gallup survey of U.S. workers, two thirds of those surveyed would continue to show for work even if they won the lottery. Would you?... more

Seasonal Fruit Plus Juicing Adds Up To Healthy and Frugal Living

By ERIN TURNER - I can, freeze and dry seasonal fresh produce, but lately my family and I are into juicing--it's a frugal, healthy and delicious way to enjoy this season's citrus fruits.... more

Are You Up For the 52-Week Savings Challenge?

By ERIN TURNER - Wanna save $1,378 by this time next year? Why not Join me and my family in the 52-week Challenge? It's easy and fairly painless. Here's how it works: ... more

New Year’s Food Rituals

By ERIN TURNER - Ever wonder why certain foods grace our tables for certain holidays? Here's a rundown of some our New Year's Food Rituals.... more

A Collection of Frugal Christmas Ideas

By ERIN TURNER - Since I've been writing this blog for 3 years now, I thought it would be nice to put together a collection of blogs with ideas for the holidays...so here they are!... more

Get Out of the Cold at the Indoor New Year’s Eve Two-Mile Prediction Run

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - Get an early start on your New Year’s resolutions with Run Wild Missoula’s New Year’s Eve Two-Mile Prediction Run on Tues., Dec.31 at 6 p.m. at the PEAK's indoor track.... more

5 Tools for Saving Money Online This Christmas

By ERIN TURNER - All week I’ve had people asking me for tips on saving money while Christmas shopping online so here are my top 5 tools and tips for saving money online this season.... more

Run through the Winter with RWM’s Boston/Spring Marathon Training Class

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - Local runners can stay motivated to run all winter and train for the Boston Marathon with Run Wild MIssoula's Boston / Spring Marathon Training Class.... more

Looking for the Purple Squirrel? Training Might be Easier

By CHERY SABOL - The weak job market has many companies feeling that they can demand a top-notch candidate who is willing to take a temporary job for relatively low pay-- a purple squirrel.... more

Tips for Cleaning and Staying Organized This Holiday Season

By ERIN TURNER -The holiday season has a huge impact on our houses and schedules. Here are some tips for maintaining our schedules, entertaining and managing the unexpected drop-bys from family and friends.... more

Bountiful Basket Food Co-Op Provides Fresh Produce at a Frugal Cost

By ERIN TURNER - When a student from my couponing class told me about Bountiful Baskets, I had to try them for myself...and I'm glad I did!... more

Missoula Community Theatre’s Production of Willy Wonka Opens Dec 13th

Missoula Community Theatre announces the most scrumdidilyumptious musical of the 2013-2014 season -- just in time for the holidays! Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka opens Friday, Dec 13.... more

Teach It: The Spore Project

By ANNIE GRAHAM - I am so glad that my kids got to decorate the campus of the University of Montana with paper bag mushrooms for a weekend. I think they will remember it for a lifetime.... more

Healthy, Frugal Homemade Sauerkraut

By ERIN TURNER - Here is the recipe and step-by-step instructions on how to make your own healthy and frugal homemade sauerkraut.... more

Homemade Instant Oatmeal: It’s What’s For Breakfast

By ERIN TURNER - Here's an inexpensive, do-it-yourself method of making your own flavors of instant oatmeal. It's a fraction of the cost of buying the packets, and it's better for you!... more

Leaf Collection Starts Tuesday Nov 5

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 5, starting in the downtown District #1. The schedule starts in older neighborhoods with mature trees and the highest volume of leaves. ... more

Underdressed or Under Duress? Keep Your Halloween Costume Safe for Work

By CHERY SABOL - Can you imagine how scary Halloween is for human resource directors? It's all fun and games until someone shows up in an X-rated biblical costume or some such thing.... more

The Family Food Budget as Compared to the USDA Food Plan

By ERIN TURNER - Many of us who are frugal have budgets for all aspects of our money. So for fun I thought I'd compare our budget to the USDA's recommended "Food Plan". ... more

The Missoula Maze

By ANNIE GRAHAM -For the past few years, we have spent the Sunday of Columbus Day at the Missoula Maze. And this year did not disappoint.... more

Winter Squash: A Budget Friendly Delight

By ERIN TURNER - Nothing compares to good winter squash! Where else can you pack loads of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants in it own serving dish for just a couple of bucks? ... more

Dragon Hollow to be Haunted for Halloween

Dragon Hollow Playarea, next to A Carousel for Missoula, will be haunted for Halloween, from 6 to 8pm, Fri., Oct. 18 through Sun., Oct. 20, and Fri., Oct. 25 through Wed., Oct. 30.... more

It’s Time for Garlic

By ERIN TURNER - You can spend a lot of money on garlic in the grocery store--especially compared to organic garlic. So plant now (this fall), and enjoy freshly grown delicious garlic next summer! Here's how.... more

Parks and Rec Hosts Old-Fashioned Fall Family Fest on Oct 19

It’s fall—time for hayrides, apple cider and old-fashioned harvest celebrations at Missoula Parks & Rec's Fall Family Fest on Oct 19, at McCormick Park, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.... more

October Savings

By ERIN TURNER -October has a long list of “celebrations”. That means “celebration” items will be on sale and NOW is when you will want to stock up & save! ... more

Homemade Cup of Soup: It’s What’s for Lunch at Hunting Camp

By ERIN TURNER - We are always trying to invent healthy, packable and good-tasting meals to enjoy during a hunting weekend and my son came up with the idea of homemade Cup O' Soup. ... more

The Devil is in the Detales

By CHERY SABOL - Hopefully, the misspelling in the headline above relieves me of further gaffes and we can move on to talk about the power of proofreading. In fact, let's test your proofing prowess. ... more

The Missoula Community Theatre Announces Auditions for Willy Wonka

Magical rooms of candy-making machines, chocolate rivers, and the mysterious Oompa Loompas can only mean one thing….the Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for Willy Wonka.... more

Spectrum Downtown: Bigger Location, Better Hours, Same Liquid Nitrogen Cheetos

By ANNIE GRAHAM - I love the way my kids respond when I tell them we’re going to the all new SPECTRUM science museum in downtown Missoula. It’s like they’re going to Disneyland, only better!... more

Homemade Lunchbox Cookies

By ERIN TURNER - I always like to include a special treat when my kids take their lunch to school. This recipe for homemade Chocolate Cookies is made with a twist...... more

Learning with Meaning: Exploring the Love of Learning

By BRANDON KENDALL - My goal this year is to supply my students with materials and then respectfully remove myself so that they might make their own discoveries.... more

Frugal School Lunches for Kids

By ERIN TURNER - What I have noticed in my research for frugal and healthy kids’ lunches is that parents are going back to what many of us grew up with…homemade! ... more

Events in the Flathead After Labor Day? Absolutely!

By MOLLY PRIDDY - September is a time when the Flathead Valley takes a deep breath after the summer rush. Here are a few major events highlighting the best month of summer. ... more

CHORES – It Doesn’t Have to be a Dirty Word

By ERIN TURNER - Kids doing chores is a win-win for everyone. So as you slide back into your school year routine be sure to include daily chores as part of it. Start slow but be consistent.... more

Thank You For Noticing Me

By CHERY SABOL - No matter how technologically advanced we become in matching workers to jobs, when it comes to a job search, a couple of human touches endure.... more

Starting the School Year with a Roundhouse Kick

By ANNIE GRAHAM - Four years ago, during our search for the perfect after school activity, we discovered Taekwondo. It offers discipline, respect for others, constant activity, and an avenue for competition. ... more

Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets for Your Frugal Kitchen

By ERIN TURNER -If you want to save money and eat healthier then homemade is the best option! To that end, here are my list of MUST-HAVE kitchen gadgets for any frugal kitchen.... more

Prepping Kids for Grizzly Game Day

By KIM S. - In addition to dressing our kids to the nines for game day,safety is our number one priority. Here are some Grizzly game day safety tips for parents with little ones. ... more

Back to School Savings Tips

By ERIN TURNER - It’s that time of year which we can’t avoid…Back to School. But if you're smart and follow a few of these tips, you won't bust the budget.... more

Studying the Natural World with Young Children

By BRANDON KENDALL - My students and I began a year long exploration of weather and how we can make predictions by noticing the outside temperature, wind and clouds.... more

Getting Kids to a New Dentist? It’s not Like Pulling Teeth Anymore!

By KIM S. - Upon moving to Missoula, one of the first things we did is find a doctor and dentist for the kiddos. A fun dentist experience? Who knew?!... more

Does This Desk Make Me Look Fat?

By CHERY SABOL - A study by CareerBuilder revealed that almost half of the people surveyed have gained weight at work and 30 percent who have gained weight gained more than 20 pounds.... more

Homemade Pasta

By ERIN TURNER - Recently while I was treasure-hunting at a thrift store, I came upon a pasta maker just like my mom’s. I knew my next culinary adventure was going to entail homemade pasta!... more