Couponing - This is Pretty Helpful Site For Those Who Don't Coupon Well

So I just saw this blog about my recommendation to go to Jordan Lake's Ebenezer Church public beach area.

These women do the research for you and tell you how to get the best deals and where. The below link is a direct review of her own trip to Jordan Lake, but takes you to her blog where you can find those great deals.

http://trianglemoneysavingmommas.blogspot.com/p/family-fun.html

It's called Triangle Money Saving Mommas. I spoke with their writers and they said they would be posting deals to get into some of the areas kid-friendly places in the future and sharing them with me. In turn, I will be sharing those with you when they do! And hopefully it will take some of the cost out of the picture - especially for those of us on a limited income.  This does deviate a little from my normal blogging topics, but does the same thing - reduces the road blocks that keep us from having fun with our kids!

Bounce U - Get the Energy Out

Bounce U in Apex was so much fun! For the little ones, they have a session from 10 a.m. - noon called the Preschool Playdate where children 7 and younger  get to jump. This is a really big deal for my because my little ones are so small and can be easily trampled by big kids.

I always worry about the big kids getting too aggressive with my 1-year-old around.

Also, kids under 2 are free with an older sibling. So for both my kids to attend it was $8. For kids 2 and older it's $8 per child.

It starts out in one room, and the kids play and jump and climb for an hour. Then they switch rooms for the second hour, keeping the kids attention - especially the little ones who get bored easily.

We had a great time with a 4, 3 and three 22 month old kids. All of them enjoyed something different and played really well together, too.

And let me tell you, my children and I napped incredibly well that afternoon. This is not something I'd be able to do every week, but on a cold or rainy day, it's a fun alternative to staying home.

The facility is really clean, in my opinion, and the staff was not only helpful but pretty friendly. They seem to like kids, as long as you keep an eye on them, too.

While they do have a pretty regular schedule for open jump times, they suggest you visit their website to make sure. Click here for their website.

3419 Apex Peakway
Apex, NC 27502

HIGHLIGHTS: Great for the big and little ones, lots of options to keep them busy for longer periods of time, nice staff and clean bounce houses.

LOW LIGHTS: It's not the safest activity for a toddler, especially with bigger kids around, it also can wear out mommy and daddy as some of the bounce houses require more physical help for the little ones.

COST: $8 per child older than 2, under 2 is free with an older sibling.

Halloween Activities That Give Me Shivers!

I wanted to share all of my favorite upcoming Halloween events in the area, but OH MY there are so many. I got overwhelmed at the thought!

However, I did find a great link from WRAL that had tons of activities. I have a couple issues with the link, though. It's not organized by date of the event. The activities are listed in alphabetical order according to the location of the event, and some of the events have already passed. So, I picked out my favorites for your convenience. This is truly just the tip of the iceberg, so I recommend visiting their site anyway.

Family Fun Night Spooktacular at Marbles is an event exclusively offered for special needs kids. It's designed to offer a calmer, quieter version of Marbles. This event is free for kids with special needs and their families and kids are encouraged to wear costumes. It's from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 25 at Marbles in downtown Raleigh.

Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary has been showing night time scary movies since Oct. 23 and will continue through Oct. 27. Movies start at dusk but the gates open at 6 p.m. and the cost is $3 per person. Kids under 12 are free. Some of the movies are Rated R, so they're not all kid friendly. Visit their website for more information. The Spiderwick Chronicles shows on Friday, Oct. 26 and is PG.

Gobblins Groove Family Dance is at Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex on Friday, Oct. 26 from 7-9:30 p.m.  It's a family dance party! Youth and teens must be accompanied by adults. Costumes are encouraged. The cost is $5 per couple and $2 per additional child. There will be a dance contest, and snacks and punch will be provided.

Trick of Treat in Downtown Fuquay-Varina is Friday, Oct. 26, from 2-5 p.m. on North Main Street in, you guessed it, downtown Fuquay-Varina. The downtown merchants will hang signs that say, "Trick or Treat Here!" and will pass out treats along the business district. Want to enjoy Halloween early, this is a great way to kick off the trick-or-treating fun.

Boo at the Zoo is Saturday, Oct. 27 & Sunday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the NC Zoo in Asheboro. There will be trick-or-treat games, a kids' costume contest and live entertainment throughout the park. The cost is $12 for adults and $8 for kids 2-12.

My little pumpkin at Marbles.

New Hope Valley Railway's Halloween Express is a Halloween-themed train ride on a real diesel train and is on Saturday, Oct. 27. Trains depart starting at 4 p.m. and are about an hour. The last train runs at 7:45 p.m. The cost is $10 per rider. Click the link above for more details. Tickets must be purchased in advance, click here for their website.  

The Kooky Spooky Halloween Party at Marbles is Saturday, October 27 from 6-9 p.m. Advanced tickets for non members are $10 and at the door they are $12 per person. Wear your costumes to Marbles Kids Museum and enjoy family fun, including wrap mommy or daddy like a mummy, a Monster Mash Dance Party, hide-and-seek maze fort, Potions fun and so much more. 

Natural History Halloween is at the Natural History Museum in Raleigh on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free for all, but designed for those 2-12 years of age. There will be a costume contest for the kids, live spooky animals, face painting, crafts, games, prizes and more. The Natural History Museum is located at 11 W. Jones Street in Raleigh.
Hays Halloween House Drive by in Cary and Halloween Light Show in Holly Springs are incredibly decorated homes (or so I've heard) you can drive by and check out most nights through Halloween. They're already decorated and ready to go, so you can visit tonight! The Hays Halloween house is located at 4309 Hawksong Place in Cary and can be viewed from dusk to 10 p.m. on weekends and dusk to 9 p.m. on week days, weather permitting. The other is at 804 Linden Ridge Drive in Holly Springs. I haven't had a chance to do this, yet, but the website shared that if your radio is on 93.5 FM, the lights sing you a couple Halloween songs. I'm not sure what that entails, exactly, but it's worth checking out!


Also of note was the Raleigh Living Dead party on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 4-11 p.m., and the Tricks and Treats Halloween Bash in Cary on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 5-9 p.m.

Have fun and enjoy what our area has to offer this Halloween! I know I will!

Yates Mill Pond - Very Scenic, Educational Too!

It didn't start off this way, but Yates Mill Pond Historic Site turned out to be a wonderful activity for the kids. There are no jungle gyms, no swings and no sandbox. It's the site of an historic gristmill, which is incredibly scenic, but not quite the best place to bring a 1 1/2-year old and a 3-year old. In fact, with steep, stone steps and slopes at the mill itself, a very old structure (built in the 1750s), a creek with snakes and a waterfall, I wondered what the heck I was doing there in the first place.

Then, on our way out of the park we stopped at a building so mommy could cool off and take a break, and that's when we found the kids stuff! There was a dress-up station, a coloring area, cranks for the kids to turn and play with and see how the mill used to work and a very friendly, helpful staff.

Also, over the pond is a long bridge where you can watch the turtles, see a beaver nest and more. We had a great time after my heart stopped racing from the "dangers" of the historic mill trip.


4620 Lake Wheeler Road
Raleigh, NC 27603

HIGHLIGHTS:Wonderful education center, beautiful scenery, lots of opportunities to learn and see something new, great bridge over the pond where people can fish and enjoy the pond and wildlife!

LOW LIGHTS: I was terrified my kids were going to slip and fall on the stone steps, steep slope or run into one of the huge spider webs/spiders or fall in the water (SNAKES, even if they are in the water).

COST: Free!

Keep an Open Mind - Make a Friend!

Don't be afraid to do something new or find a new friend. Get out of your comfort zone.

"friends are like chocolate cake, you can never have enough ..."

That's a bad simile for a woman on a diet.

I had a playdate with a book author who lives in my neighborhood today who was giving me self-publishing tips. It was really fun, and she was so nice. Jordan made a new little buddy. They played really well, and both girls were introduced to new toys.

HIGHLIGHTS: New friends, new experiences, new ideas and a change of pace and you can do it anywhere.

LOW LIGHTS: You never know how your kids are going to get along with the new kids. Sharing is sometimes an issue, but that's an every day issue at our house anyway. 

COST: Free!

Kazoom into Raleigh

Kazoom is a great little puppet show by Carolina Puppet Theatre in downtown Raleigh at the Comedy Worx location. I really forgot to write this blog about a month ago, and now I am at a loss for what to tell you. Go figure, mommy brain at work again!

Here goes anyway: Bartlet (pictured above) is a cute little puppet that sings, flips his hair back (as he thinks he's a "star") and reads little letters that the kids/spectators bring for him. Jordan loves it! In the middle of the show they bring kids on the stage to help tell a story, usually within a theme for the day. They get to dress up, hold stuffed animals and participate. It's pretty amazing, and well worth the 30-minute plus drive for me to downtown.

They have shows at 10 and 11:10 a.m. The days vary, so you'll need to check out the website. Click here to visit Carolina Puppet Theatre

431 Peace Street

Raleigh, NC

HIGHLIGHTS: My girls love it. It's stimulating, funny, interactive and educational. Also, it's not far from Mellow Mushroom Pizza which has kid-friendly staff and kid-friendly menu (but that's another blog!) It's also a great indoor activity.

LOW LIGHTS: It's downtown Raleigh. They don't take credit cards. Parking is a MESS, but do-able.  

COST: $5 for everyone 12 months and up (parents, too). They don't take credit cards.