Minor League Baseball Tickets Promotion From Kraft Singles

Minor League Baseball is offering a great promotion this summer called Tuesday Night Tickets! When you bring a Kraft Singles package wrapper to the box office you can get BOGO tickets at participating Minor League Baseball fields. This promotion will run through September 17, 2010.
Offer is not valid in Allentown, Dayton, Indianapolis, Lansing, Montgomery, Pasco, Reno, Spokane, Tacoma or Vancouver. Some restriction may apply so please see the Tuesday Night Tickets web page for more details about this offer.

Note: Minor League teams offer a variety of special deals all season so check your local team for other fun family events.

Thanks Deal Seeking Mom

Free National Park Admission This Summer

When I was growing, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel. Once a year we would go from Florida to California visit my grandparents. My dad would take a different route every trip so we could see all parts of the United States. Whenever possible we would camp in National Parks. If you are traveling this summer you are lucky because admission to nearly 100 National Parks are free on the following dates:

*June 5 -6,2010
*August 14-15, 2010
*September 25, 2010
*November 11, 2010
Go here for more information. Go here to search for a park by name, state or other criteria.

* Note 392 parks are free EVERYDAY.

Creative Summer Fun

You remember what it is like. I know you have seen it. You spend all this of money on the perfect toy and your child is more interested in the box. There is a reason that the simple cardboard box is in the National Toy Hall of Fame. It opens up the world of make-believe and endless fun. The best toys for children allow them to be creative and provide opportunities for problem solving and encourage expression.

So this summer, take your kids back in time, a time before computers and video games. Here are a few “toys” that will not only keep your children engaged and allow them the opportunity to explore this summer but they are also free or inexpensive. You have got to love that.

1. Cardboard box, big (appliance, tv) or small (cereal, tissue). The ideas are limitless as to what you can do with a box. It can be a car, house, spaceship, a treasure box ….. Click here for additional ideas.
2. Bucket of ice or water. See how long it takes for the ice to melt in different locations. Paint on the sidewalk with it. Stick your hands or feet in it make prints on the sidewalk. Have a relay race moving the water from one bucket to another with a plastic cup. Make mud.
3. Paper – plain, construction, newsprint, magazines. Tear it, fold it, cut it, color it, glue it, create. 4. Crayons, markers, pens. Kids don’t have to be great artist to enjoy drawing.
5. Recycled items. Empty paper cups, lids, straws, napkins, water bottles, caps, buttons, yarn ... can be used to create collages, artwork or sculptures, can sort items by color, shape, texture….
6. Bubble wrap. Popping the bubbles is so much fun. Dip bubble wrap in paint to make creative prints. Place under paper and draw a textured picture.
7. Chairs, table and a big blanket or sheet. Create a fort in the living room.
8. Sticks. Recommended outside with adult supervision (no sword fighting), but still free fun.
9. Deck of cards. When I was a little girl would be spend days creating a house of cards not to mention all the wonderful hours of playing Go Fish.
10. Playdoh. Make your own.
11. Bubbles. Mix 1/2 cup dishwashing detergent (Joy works the best) and 2 cups water. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring. For blowers use fly swatters, straws, pot lids, cut a hole in a plastic lid, hanger, pipe cleaners bent into shapes, cookie cutters...

Head of the Class Cupcakes

Have a child graduating from preschool, kindergarten, high school or just want to celebrate graduating to the next grade? Here is an easy way to decorate some cupcakes with your kids to celebrate.
10 vanilla cupcake
1 16-oz can of vanilla frosting
Yellow, red, and blue food coloring
1 cup chocolate frosting
1/4 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
12 miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups, unwrapped
12 chocolate-covered thin mint candies
10 blue miniature M&M’s (or you could use blue frosting)
Variety of candies for hair (Apple Jacks, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, etc.)

1. Separate the vanilla frosting into four different containers.

2. Tint some of the frosting yellow, red and blue.

3. Mix the remaining frosting with the cocoa powder to create tan frosting.

4. Spoon the dyed frosting and chocolate frosting into five different plastic bags for piping
After frosting the cupcake with tan frosting and using candies to create hair and ears, create the graduation cap by doing the following:

5. Press peanut butter cups, large end down, on top of cupcakes, adding a dot of frosting to secure if necessary.

6. Pipe a dot of chocolate frosting on top of each peanut butter cup and add chocolate mint as the mortarboard.

7. For tassel, starting from center of mortarboard, pipe several lines of blue frosting, allowing frosting to overhang edge of chocolate.

8. Press a blue candy on top.

9. And you have your graduates! If making several different graduates is a little overwhelming you could just one or two and make several of the same.

Ages 3 and up

*Idea courtesy of All You Magazine

Kohl's Cares for Kids

I love when retailers give back to the communities in which they do business. One of my favorite stores, Kohl's, one of the ways they give back is through their Kohl's Cares for Kids Program. Kohl's current promotion coincides with the release of Toy Story 3 on June 18th. It features Toy Story plush and books for only $5.00 each. These make great gifts and can help encourage children to read. Just think, if they release the DVD in time for Christmas you can make cute gift basket with all these items.

Fresh from Florida Kids Program

There is a wonderful program available to Florida Residents with a children under 24 months old. The program to is to help parents instill healthy eat habits in young children. To sign up go to “Fresh from Florida Kids”.

Kits currently have:

1 notebook filled with tips and recipes for healthy eating
1 cutting board
1 vegetable peeler
1 Munchkin brand baby food grinder
1 apron
2 full-size reusable bags
1 ice-cube tray
1 toddler food set (a sippy cup, bowl, spoon and fork)
1 bib
1 food container with lid that has the gel stuff in in that you freeze
2 Publix coupon books (all store coupons)!!

The coupons are:

$0.75 off one avacado
$1 off any bunch of bananas
$1.50 off any whole cantaloupe
$1 off fresh green beans
$2 off 5 or 10lb bag potatoes
$1 off fresh yellow squash
(all above expire 8/31/2010)

$1.50 off bag, bulk, or crunch-pack apples
$1 off any bag of baby carrots
$1.50 off fresh broccoli
$1 off fresh sweet potatoes
$1 off any package of grape tomatoes
$1 off any bag or bulk oranges
$2 off any gallon Publix orange juice
$1.50 off any package strawberries
$3 off any whole watermelon
$1 off fresh zucchini
(this set expires 12/31/2010)

Note: Limit one kit per household and it does say that kit items may vary.

Thanks Southern Savers

Lowe's Build and Grow Project

All kids will love this project! Bring your child to Lowe's Saturday, May 22nd at 10:00 am and they can build this working catapult! This is limited to the first 50 kids who sign up at local Lowe's locations.

FREE Apple Youth Workshops

Here is another FREE program to consider when looking for activities for the kids. The Apple Store is offering Apple Youth Workshops which are free hands-on workshops for families to learn how to compose a song, produce a movie, create a photo album, or make a presentation.

There are several workshops to choose from:

Show Workshop
Learn how to create stunning presentations using Keynote, amazing graphs and charts using Numbers and stylish documents using Pages. Kids will go home with lots of great ideas on becoming a presenter.

Music Workshop
Using GarageBand, we’ll teach families to compose a song with loops, beats, and even their own vocals. At the end of the workshop, they’ll have a finished song on a CD and ideas for future music projects.

Movie Workshop
This workshop will teach families how to import footage, crop video clips, and add special effects to produce their own movie with iMovie. When they’ve finished, these budding filmmakers can take home their masterpiece on a DVD.

Photo Workshop
Using iPhoto, we’ll show families how to edit, print, and share photos and how to make photo albums and slideshows. At the end of the workshop they’ll have a DVD of their photos and ideas for future projects.

For more details and locations check out the Youth Workshop webpage on Apple.

Thanks Hip2Save!

Two Great Free DVD Offers

Brainy Baby is offering a free 45 minute DVD (valued at $17.99) featuring preschool basics geared towards kids ages 9 months to 5 years old. Choose one from their most popular DVDs: ABCs, Music, Laugh & Learn, or Shapes & Colors. You will be responsible for the shipping and handling which is $5.95. I love when I get to try a new product for free.

Disney Movie Rewards Loyalty Program (details here) they will send you an email certificate for a FREE Disney Blu-Ray as a gift to you. The reasonable, $2.95 shipping and handling fee is your responsibility. Selection may vary. Simply sign up and wait for your birthday surprise.

Free Family Film Festivals

Many movie cinemas offer free or cheap movies for the kids during the summer. Below are a few. Click on theatre name to see what is playing in your area.
Regal

Great Escape Theatres

Clearview Cinemas

Cinemaworld

AMC Summer Movie Camp and Cinemark - $1.00

Free Movie Rental from Blockbuster

Keep this is in mind as end of the year report cards are handed out. Blockbuster is offering a FREE movie rental when your child brings in his/her report card showing at least a B average. This incentive is available for students in grades K-12.

More Free Weekend Fun

Toys R Us - Join your local ToysRUs store for a Crayola Glow Explosion event on Saturday, May 8 from 11am to 1pm. Enjoy free gifts (limit one per child) and more!
Michaels has several different activities going on: first, the Mother’s Day card making workshop. This runs 10am to noon on Saturday, May 8th. Then, Wilton cookie event, where you can decorate cookies for Mom. Go here for your closest location.

In honor of Mother’s Day, Jo-Ann Fabric stores will be hosting a free Make-It Take-It event on Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 1-3 pm. Children will have the opportunity to make two projects to give to mom — a “hand” made flower bouquet and a fingerprint card.

Free Weekend Activites

Free fun for the kiddos this weekend at local retailers:

Publix: This Saturday, May 8th, kids can decorate a special 8″ Mother’s Day cake from 10 am- 4pm.

Sweetbay: On Sunday, May 9th, from 10 -2, Sweetbay is having a cookie decorating workshop. Dad, take the kids and give my a little solitude.

Lowe's: Mother's Day is right around the corner! Bring your child to Lowe's Saturday, May 8th at 10:00 am and they can build this awesome Trellis Planter. It makes a perfect Mother's Day gift! This is available to the first 50 kids to sign up at each location.

Pottery Barn: Click here

Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD Deal

Hurry over to Amazon.com for a limited time offer when you purchase both Alvin and the Chipmunks ($6.99) and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ($9.99) you get an additional $5.00 off the purchase price. That makes the final price $11.98 for both! The price will be reduced when you add both to your cart. Spend $25.00 and you get free shipping.

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo means it is fiesta time! Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's victory over French forces in the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Plan a kid-friendly dinner celebrating the history and culture of Mexico with a springtime fiesta. Turn this into a family event by letting the children create decoration, help with dinner preparations and plan activities for after dinner.

Decorations:

Papel Picado

is a tissue paper fiesta banner. This is simple enough to do with your kids.

Materials:
9 x 12 rectangles of multicolored tissue paper
Scissors
Single hole punch (or decorative craft punch if you have one available)
Fishing line
Clear tape (optional)

Instructions:
Fold tissue paper in half. Cut a scallop border along the unfolded edges. Use a single-hole punch (or craft punch) to create designs through both layers of tissue paper. Hang each folded sheet over fishing line. The folded edge should hold them in place, but you use tape to secure if needed.

Placemats
Materials:
scissors
glue
ruler
pencil
one 18" x 12" piece of construction paper.
- this larger piece will become the background color for the placemat
16 strips of construction paper in a single color or multiple colors
- these strips should be 1 inch wide by 12 inches long
Optional: clear contact paper.

Instructions:
Take the large piece of construction paper and fold it in half across the width. Use you ruler to mark the paper a each inch along the folded edge. Do the same along the open edge but the marks should be 1 inch from the edge of the paper. Draw a line connecting the marks. With the paper still folded and starting at the fold cut along the lines being careful to stop one inch from the open edge. Unfold the paper to reveal the loom that you have created.
Weave the one inch strips through the loom. If you are using multiple colors be sure to alternate them for the most colorful effect. .
Glue the ends of the strips to the edges of the loom to hold them in place
OPTIONAL:
Use clear contact paper to 'laminate' the placemat and extend its life.

* Pictures from DKLT

Food and Drinks
Margaritas (non-alcoholic of course)
Ingredients
2 oz. lemon-lime soda
3 oz. sweet and sour mix
1 tsp. coarse salt
Ice
Lime wedge

Instructions: Pour the coarse salt onto a plate or saucer. Moisten the rim of a margarita glass with the lime wedge. Dip the glass into the salt until it coats the rim. Moisten the rim of a margarita glass with the lime wedge. Dip the glass into the salt until it coats the rim. Garnish with the lime.

Taco Bar

Having a taco bar at a Cinco de Mayo party is a great way to include kids in helping prepare their own food. It even becomes a fun party activity as kids choose favorite toppings. If your really lucky they may even try a few new foods.

Set out hard and soft taco shells along with a variety of toppings. Meat, beans, salsa, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, avocado, guacamole and sour cream. Make a contest out of building the tacos. See who can create the most colorful taco.

Dessert
Apple Enchiladas
Ingredients:
1 can, 42 oz. apple pie filling
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup water

Directions: Spoon pie filling evenly down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon. Roll up and place seam side down in a greased baking dish. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until syrupy. Pour over enchiladas in baking dish and let stand for 20-30 minutes. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Activities:
Mexican Hat Dance

Materials:
sombreros - one less than the number of kids playing the game. For example, if there are ten kids, you need nine sombreros.
Mexican-style music

Directions:
Place sombreros in a circle on the floor.
Kids stand around them in a bigger circle.
Play Mexican-style music while kids dance around the sombreros.
When the music stops, kids find a sombrero to wear.
The one without a hat is out of the game.
Continue playing until only one child is left with a sombrero.

End the evening by busting open a pinata.

Mother's Day Idea

*picture from: Kaboose

Fingerprint Poem
Materials
2 sheets of card stock or construction paper
White printer paper
Acrylic paint: purple, light blue, red, white and pink
Scissors
Glue stick
Frame 8 x 10 (optional)

Instructions:
Print poem (below) onto white paper.
Cut poem out, curving edges around the poem making it look like a cloud.
On a separate blank sheet of white paper, use pencil to lightly draw a heart and the word “MOM” above it.
Cut the heart and MOM out, leaving about an inch border.
Glue the heart drawing and the poem onto cardstock.
Cut around the poem and the heart drawing, leaving a small purple border on each.
Glue both onto the other piece of cardstock, poem at the bottom.
Have child write their name and the year on the back of the cardstock.
Put small puddles of paint onto a paper plate, one puddle of each color except white. Make a second puddle of pink and add some white to it to make an even lighter pink. You should have 5 puddles of paint (purple, light blue, red, pink, light pink)
Have child dip fingertips into puddles to decorate the heart and write MOM. Do the M's in purple and the O in light blue. Use red, pink and light pink to decorate the heart. Let the paint dry completely. Place in frame.

Fingerprint Poem
My dirty little fingerprints I’ve left on every wall
And on the drawers and tabletops, I’ve really marked them all
But here are some that won’t rub off, I’m giving them to you
Because I’m thankful to have a mom that’s just like you!

Mom's Nite Out

As a mother I know it is hard to find time for yourself. Well, this week is your chance. May 6th is the Second Annual Mom's Nite Out. Grab your girlfriends and have FUN! Check here to find a local event.

May 3rd- 7th - Teacher Appreciation Week

Take time this week to show how grateful you are to a current or former teacher, yours or your child's. Teachers play a key role in every individual’s development and showing them a little gratitude will also make you feel better. There are many ways to show a teacher that you appreciate all their hard work that won't break the bank.
* Write a thank you note from the heart. As a teacher you receive many gifts. Some you keep and some you don't but I saved every thank you note a parent or a student wrote me.
* Decorate the classroom door with a message telling them how great they are.
* Have parents and students write a note to the teacher tell what they like best about them and hang them on a bulletin board for everyone to read.
* Bring them a cup of coffee, tea, or some other small treat.
* Volunteer to clean the desk, file, sharpening pencils, organize books. The gift of your time is always welcome.
* Bring them lunch from their favorite restaurant or get together with a group of parents and have a potluck for the whole staff. Teacher's rarely get the chance to eat a nice meal during the day so this is a big treat.
* Have your child make a gift. These were always my favorite gifts (besides gift cards to my favorite restaurant).
Just remember, no matter how small or big the gift is, the important thing is that you are sincere in giving appreciation to your teacher.