Valentine Ideas

With Valentine's Day coming up I thought I'd share a few things I've found recently to add some fun touches of love to the day...

I recently found a site called The Dating Divas. This site is dedicated to ideas for dating your spouse. There are lots of fun ideas for dates and little gifts. This is definitely worth checking out. I'll admit that my husband and I need to work on this...we are fortunate in that we see each other a lot more than most couples because he works from home almost every day. But rarely do we set aside time to go out without the kids and really focus on each other.  Gotta work on this...



Here is a great Valentine's printable from Kristin at Simply Klassic Home. I love this one and used it last year on a table in my entryway.


We Love Being Moms posted 14 Days of Valentines for Kids...really cute little treats that would be fun to do for kids. 
 


Pinterest is full of cute ideas for Valentines for kids to hand out at school.  This is one of my favorites...

Source: batemanbuzz.blogspot.com via Jennifer (HomeMatters) on Pinterest



There won't be a special date night or anything for us on Valentine's Day. I'll be shuttling my daughter to and from dance class, there will be homework and a quick family dinner...just like any other Tuesday evening in our home. Date night will have to wait for another day.

But I'll be sure to have a few fun treats for the family to show my love :)

So, do you have anything special planned for Valentine's Day?

Making Christmas Memories

Making family memories is important to me.  I especially enjoy it at Christmas time, which has always been a favorite for me.  Although big exciting things can make for great memories, I think it tends to be the little things that stick with us. 

My daughter shared something with me the other day that just made me smile.  She said, "Mom, do you know what I really love to do sometimes during Christmas?  I love it when it's dark except for the Christmas tree lights and we snuggle up and watch a Christmas movie together.  I feel all happy and safe." 

See, it's the little things.


photo credit

So, this season we'll definitely have a few movie nights all snuggled together watching a Christmas classic.  Last year we introduced our kids to A Christmas Story.  That's definitely a classic and favorite in our home.

I'm also looking forward to riding around town looking at all the pretty Christmas lights, reading Christmas stories with the kids and baking cookies. 

What kinds of memory-making activities are you looking forward to?

Southern Christmas Show

"Cakes and cookies, toys and gifts.  Christmas at your fingertips..." 

If you live anywhere in the Charlotte area you are probably quite familiar with that little jingle advertising the Southern Christmas Show.  This is its 44th year.  I grew up going to it and even worked at it with my parents for a few years.  It's a tradition for many in this area and kicks off the holiday season. 

Lauren and I were trying to sneak pictures as we walked along so the photography is not the greatest.  Between the huge crowds and some vendors not allowing pictures, we did the best we could.  Of all we managed to take these turned out the best. 

She loved all of the twinkling lights hanging down. 

Lots of eye candy with room vignettes set up by area designers. 

There are also door displays and Christmas Tree Lane.  Lots of fun stuff to see. 

The Southern Christmas Show runs through Sunday, Novemebr 20th.  Tickets are available at the door and you can also get discounted tickets at all area Harris Teeter stores.  See all of the information you need HERE. 

Tomorrow I will share a couple of the neat things we bought at the show and share my recipe for Apple Pie Cake.  Hope you'll stop by...

Fun Birthday Card Treat

My kids and I had fun making Rob's birthday card the other day.  He loves candy, especially chocolate, so when I saw this cute idea I knew it would be perfect for him. 

I've seen different versions for birthdays, Mother's Day/Father's Day, Teacher Appreciation. 

It was a big hit...he LOVED it! 



The message reads...

Dad, We were going to give you a WHOPP ing 100 GRAND for your birthday but the money slipped through our BUTTERFINGERs.  We didn't have an EXTRA WHATCHAMACALLIT to sell and it wasn't PAYDAY.  We didn't think a pet KITKAT, a trip to New YORK, or an ORBIT around the MILKY WAY would be appropriate.  We do want to wish you MOUNDS of ALMOND JOY both NOW & LATER as  you eat this card.  We hope it doesn't make you ROLOver and get sick.  If it does we promise not to SNICKER.
Love your favorite AIRHEADS

*We couldn't find an individual package of Now & Later candy so we just wrote it in.

I'm joining Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading.  Stop by and see what everyone has been doing this week!

Host a Little Taste of Summer House Party

I've mentioned House Party here before as I have been selected to host some of their events...most recently one for DiGiorno Pizza. It is always a fun way to get together with friends and the sponsors always supply you with lots of fun goodies to share with everyone!

Here is an opportunity to sign up to host a Little Taste of Summer House Party in May, featuring many of your favorite Kraft brands like Kraft cheese, Ritz crackers, Oscar Mayer, DiGiorno and Kool-Aid.

If selected as a host, you'll receive a FREE party pack of summer sun stuff for everyone.

Host Coupons

Guest Coupons

Napkins

Plates

Tote Bags

Frisbees

Beach Balls

Summer Entertaining Tips

and much more!

Space is limited so go here now to apply!

Our Weekend Family Fun

We live about 45 minutes away from the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is quite a big deal in this area. We are not big Nascar fans but know and appreciate enough about it. The speedway offers tours and we took advantage of it on Saturday. The weather was just beautiful...

The tour takes you to behind-the-scenes areas that you cannot access during a race, such as pit road, the garage area and a chance to take your picture in Victory Circle.

The highlight of the tour was definitely the lap around the track at about 90mph in a 15-passenger van! Pretty amazing to see what it feels like in those turns.

At the end of the tour we spent some time in the stands watching people take part in the Richard Petty Driving Experience (now my husband thinks that's what he wants for his birthday!).

It was a fun, inexpensive way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family discovering something new (for us) in the city we call home.

Click here to learn more about the Feel The Thrill Tours offered at Charlotte Motor Speedway...

Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark $5 To Break Record

I found the following info in an email from Charlotte On The Cheap...

Try out Great Wolf Lodge waterpark for just $5! Help them break world waterslide-athon record

Normally the Great Wolf Lodge water park is open only to those staying in the hotel. But from 9pm on Friday, March 26th to 9am, March 27th, the public is invited. Great Wolf Lodge is trying to break the world record for the longest distance traveled - 843 miles - on waterslides over a 24-hour period. The Concord location is participating and that means you can too. The 24 hour period includes 12 hours where non-hotel-guests can participate.

For just $5, which will be donated to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mecklenburg County, you can slide all night down the River Canyon Run water slide. Each slide will be counted and added to the total. The wave pool will be open as well, but the other water slides will not be open. There will also be food, prizes, and a DJ. No need to register; just show up at 9pm and start sliding.

Great Wolf Lodge – Charlotte-Concord
10175 Weddington Road, Exn NW
Concord, NC 28027

Free Rita's Italian Ice This Saturday

If you've followed my blog for awhile you know I love me some ice cream...and free makes it all the better!!

Well, this isn't ice cream but it is close enough.

This Saturday, March 20th, celebrate the first day of spring with free Italian Ice at Rita's! They will be giving away a FREE regular size Italian Ice for everyone on Saturday! Click here for more details...

Free for Kids This Weekend

Here are some free events for kids this weekend...

Lowes Build & Grow Clinic ~ Saturday, 3/13 at 10am

make a Tabletop Basketball Game

go here to register for the clinic...

Lakeshore Learning Free Kids Craft, Saturday 3/13 from 11am - 3pm

make a Pot O' Gold Bank

And for my local friends, don't forget about the children's consignment sales I mentioned in this post...

Happy Weekend!!

Upcoming Children's Consignment Sales

Here are a few local Children's Consignment Sales that at coming up...

Central United Methodist Kids Consignment Sale, THIS Saturday (3/13)
7:30am to 12noon
closed from 12-12:30
12:30pm to 2:30pm Half Price Sale
*located in the Family Life Center

Southbrook Church Cloud 9 Children & Teen Sale, THIS Saturday (3/13)
8am to 12noon
closed from 12-1
1pm to 3pm Half Price Sale
*located in Southbrook Weddington Auditorium

Matthews United Methodist Children & Teen Sale, Saturday (3/20)
8am to 12noon
closed 12-1
1pm to 3pm Half Price Sale
*located in the gymnasium


Thanks to my friends Mandy @ Serving While Saving and Beth for helping with some of this info.

Carolina Hockey Day for Kids

Carolina Hockey Day, Saturday, March 13th

Attention all fans with kids looking to try hockey for the first time! Carolina Hockey Day is a "Try Hockey for Free" event for kids ages four to nine to experience ice hockey and learn the basics of the sport in a fun, safe environment! Led by local youth hockey associations and rinks, newcomers will have access to all the necessary hockey equipment for the event. Instructors will teach kids how to get dressed, stand on skates, hold a stick and skate as they experience their first hockey game.

The Charlotte session will take place from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13th at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail. Please visit http://www.carolinahockeyday.com/ for more details or call XI Center at 704-882-1830 and ask for Joe Cardarelli.


Thanks for sharing this Tiffany!

Free for Kids This Weekend

Here are some free events for kids/families this weekend...

Read Across America ~ Dr. Seuss Storytime at all Target stores nationwide
Saturday (2/27) from 9am - 11am
Dr. Seuss storytime, games and activities, giveaways
*check out the link above for Dr. Seuss games and activities to download

Lowes Build & Grow Clinic ~ this Saturday (2/27) at 10am make a LoweBot
you need to register online...the first 50 kids who are registered and arrive by 10am receive their kit

Lakeshore Learning free kids craft ~ this Saturday (2/27) make bookmarks using rainbow paper
11am - 3pm
check out this link to see this weekend's project as well as upcoming ones

Free for Kids

Lakeshore Learning has a cute free craft for kids this Saturday...Puzzle Me Frame...this is offered from 11am to 3pm tomorrow (see the site for other upcoming free craft days).

And next Saturday, 2/27, Lowes will be hosting another Build & Grow Clinic...make a LoweBot...my son is going to love this one! Go here to sign up...this is offered to the first 50 children who are registered and arrive at 10am on 2/27.

Winter Olympics Ideas

Friday nights are Family Fun Nights at our house. Usually we pull out board games, make pizza or snuggle up with a good movie and popcorn.

This Friday night (and many nights for the next couple of weeks) it will be all about The Olympics at our house! I did a little looking around for some ideas to inspire me and came upon this post about activities and crafts for the Winter Olympics.

Hope it inspires some family fun for your home too!

Target & Walmart Toy Deals with Coupons

I found a great link for some good toy deals at Target & Walmart. My favorite on the list is the Scrabble Slam card game...my daughter received this at Christmas and it is what she wants to give a couple of her friends for their upcoming birthdays. Right now, you can get this for just $1.24 at Target! That is definitely within my "birthday budget".

Scrabble Slam card game
Target price = $5.24

use $4 off any Scrabble game coupon here

Total out-of-pocket = $1.24

You can print 2 of these coupons from Coupons. com

Check out this list I found on CommonSenseWithMoney for more toy deals at Target and Walmart using new coupons from Coupons.com.

Coffee Filter Snowflakes

As we prepare for some snowy, icy weather tonight and tomorrow (and my kids are crossing their fingers for it!!) I have pulled out some supplies for them to make coffee filter snowflakes after school today. Weather like this is not a common thing for our area so it is reason to celebrate!

Go here to see how to make these cute decorations...

Free Veggie Tales DVD

Pick a free Veggie Tales DVD here and pay just $2.99 for shipping. There are 6 to choose from...a great treat for your little ones or to have on hand for an upcoming birthday gift!

Thanks Southern Savers.

Lowes Build & Grow Clinics

This Saturday is another Lowes Build & Grow Clinic for the kids! This is a free event but you need to register here. This week's project is a Tic-Tac-Toe game. And coming in February the girls can make a jewelry organizer (or boys can make it for their moms for Valentine's Day!).

Have fun...