Friday Musings: Deals, Project Ideas, and Print Media Suggestions

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Family Friendly Deals: These are some great deals happening right now!

Livingsocial screaming deals: Punch cards to Om Time Yoga [$32/5 classes] and Tickets to Denver Firefighters Museum [$9/4 tickets].

Weekend Project Ideas: Make something together this weekend!

Create Nontoxic Paint to make and use with your kids. This looks like a really fun project to do and then the kids get to go outside and paint the driveway or sidewalk. I have not tried it, but I cannot wait to try!

Make Pinwheels with your kids. Engaging project for the 6 to 10 year old set. These are fun to make & use.

Family Print Media Ideas: I love these two parent/family oriented magazines!

Taproot Magazine is the new creation of Amanda Soule, a creative parent and blogger [check out her blog!]. I have to give a shout out to Brain, Child Magazine, one of my all time favorites, This offers smart literature and research on a wide range of parenting topics.

Upcoming Give Away: I am so excited to be collaborating with a very old friend!

Look out for a give away by Mountain Mama in the near future! They have a great line of maternity technical wear and the most adorable baby gear. I am psyched about this give away!

Awesome Boulder Events for Families: March 9 to 15, 2012

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Listed here are great family events. Most are free. They are all opportunities to be together as a family and engage your kids of all ages. Let me know what you liked. Let me know if there is something I should add. Have a great week!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Monday, March 12, 2012

  • Read to the Dog. All Ages. 3:30 to 5:30pm. Bring your child to read to a this well trained and gentle dog. Reservations Required. [Boulder Meadows Branch Library]

  • Open Space Story Hour at Chautauqua. Nature-themed story book [1-1:30pm] & Nature Detective Scavenger Hike [1:35 to 2pm].
  • Grand Rabbits Play Day. Free for kids 2 to 6 with guardian. Flatirons store. 9:30 to 10:15am.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Evernote is a Great Tool for Families!

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I love collecting resources & knowledge, but where do I keep all those random bits of information? Someone mentions a great camp, I think of a new blog idea, my kids tell me something really funny, or I have an idea of a project I want to do–I just send the website, link or idea to Evernote and voila I have it whenever I need it. Since I have gone digital [thanks iPhone!] I need a place to keep all my websites, ideas, whims, questions, etc… organized. Welcome Evernote!

Evernote is my favorite website right now. I signed up for an account wondering what the big deal was, but now I’m hooked! You can add a bookmark so your computer will send sites or links to Evernote with just a click or you can manually add them. Try it! I can categorize things by tags and always look back and find what I want. Right now I divide my life into: work, blog, family, kids, recipes, school [kids’], summer camps, house projects, & design. If I am at a meeting and I forget my notebook I just use whatever device I have in front of me and make a page on Evernote. This is the real deal and it’s helping me stay sane!

Get an Evernote account.

Why use Evernote?

  • Write down your thoughts or notes anytime, anywhere. It’s better than a notebook/journal because it is synced through the cloud and therefore it is on every device you have. I use this feature for blog post ideas, funny things the kids say, etc.

  • Clip websites and/or pages right from any device & keep them organized. No more remembering to write something down, bookmarking it, or having to hunt it down at the bottom of you purse. It’s right in one place. I use this for projects, summer camps, blog posts, etc.
  • Recipes or other things you can photograph rather than entering. An old recipe, someone just sent it to you, or its not on line? Just take a photo of the recipe and send the photo to Evernote. Now when you are at the store you can access all your recipes. I use this feature at the grocery store constantly.
  • Email your Evernote “notes”. You can simply share your Evernote pages with whomever you want. I use this for work, meetings, etc.
  • Voice notes. I have not done this yet, but I have it on good authority [Thanks, John!] that you can leave voice messages and Evernote transfers your message to print and leaves it in your Evernote notebook. I need to get to this one! No more trying to get in one last email while driving!

Some sites to search for more info on how to use and optimize Evernote:

What do you use to stay organized? How else have you used Evernote? Please share so we can all learn how we can keep our families and ourselves more organized!

Ride Marshall Mesa with Kids & Free Guided History Hike of the Area [3/11]

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Today was amazing! It reminds me of how much fun the kids have getting out on a bike ride. If they are ready to bring the bike out of the garage and get going I recommend taking them out on Marshall Mesa. This ride is good for the 5 and over set. It can be done with a Tag-along as well. Or just get out for a great hike if your little one is in a jogger or pack.

Marshall Mesa is an easy to moderate bike ride for kids. We just did it with our 7-year-old, Skyler, in September. It can be fun for the whole family. Do it as a loop or an out and back ride. The Mesa is stunning and there are plenty of learning opportunities along the way with a self-guided interpretive signs describing the coal mines the town of Marshall supported. There is an illustrated geologic map available at the Open Space and Mountain Parks site. Check out the elevation map of Marshall Mesa for details of the bike trails and other trails near by.

Upcoming Free Guided Event: Walking through History – Marshall Mesa on Sunday March 11, 9:30am to 1pm. Offered by Open Space and Mountain Parks this educational event for great for the whole family. More hike details.


Bike/Hike Details

Location: Just East of the intersection of Marshall Road and Broadway/Hwy 93

Length: Varies depending on loop. See map for details.

Difficulty: Easy overall with a few uphill/downhill sections. Most kids will need bikes with gears to enjoy this ride.

Age Range: 5 and over. Comfortable on a bike and using gears to some extent.

Let me know how it goes. Do you have other bike rides you really like with kids?

Kids Eat Free in Boulder: Check Out These Great Deals!

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In Boulder there is such thing as a free lunch–I mean dinner. Check out these restaurants where our kids get their meals for FREE! Where does your family eat where the kids eat for free, or it’s just a smoking good deal? Comment below so we can all get the scoop…

Monday

  • Larkburger invites kids ages 12 and under to eat FREE every Monday from 4 p.m. to close when an adult spends $9. 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder. 303.444.1487

  • Beau Jo’s Pizza’s Family Night is Mondays. Up to 2 kids eat FREE with each paying adult. Plus there is kids’ entertainment each night. They have gluten-free options. 2690 Baseline Road, Boulder. 303.554.5312

Tuesday

  • Applebee’s offers a close to Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays where kids eat for 99 cents. 1700 28th Street, Boulder. 303.442.8813

Wednesday

  • Up to 2 kids eat FREE with the purchase of an adult meal at the Lazy Dog Sport Bar & Grill on the Pearl Street Mall. 1346 Pearl St., Boulder. 303.440.3355.

Thursday

  • Wahoo’s Fish Tacos serves up to two FREE kids meals for every $10 adult meal purchased after 4pm on Thursdays. Kids must be 12 or younger. 2790 Pearl Street, Boulder. 303.473.9072 [Changing to Weds. nights in the next few weeks, so call ahead]

Friday

  • What restaurant should go here? Write a comment and I will update this list.

Saturday

  • Old Louisville Inn offers kids FREE meals with the purchase of an adult meal Saturday & Sunday. 740 Front Street, Louisville. 303.666.9982.

Sunday

  • Centro Latin Kitchen has Family Night each Sunday where Kids under 10 receive a FREE kid’s entrée (choice of any entrée from the Centro kids’ menu) with the purchase of an adult entrée after 5 p.m. 950 Pearl St., Boulder. 303.442.7771.

  • Old Louisville Inn offers kids FREE meals with the purchase of an adult meal. 740 Front Street, Louisville. 303.666.9982.

Additional Discounts for Kids

  • St. Julien/Jill’s offers free meals for children 3 and under when they eat off the children’s menu. 900 Walnut St., Boulder. 720.406.9696
  • The Taj offers Kids Eat Free under 5. Between 5 and 10 years kids pay 1/2 price for meals. 2630 Baseline Rd., Boulder. 303.494.5216
  • Smiling Moose provides a Free Kids Meal with the purchase of any sandwich, chips, & a drink. Coupon is at the link above. 3223 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder. 303.530.2700.
  • Wild Mountain Brewery offers Kids Eat Free on the first Tuesday of each month. For kids 12 and under with a paying adult. 70 East First Street, Nederland. 303.258.WILD.

Don’t forget to always call ahead to make sure these restaurants are still offering their Kids Eat Free deals as they are subject to change at any time.

If you tried one of the Kids Eat Free! deals, did you like it? Which restaurant[s] are your family’s favorites in the Boulder area? Where are some other great deals for families? Any favorites for the gluten free crowd? Dairy free crowd? I cannot wait to hear the juicy details…

 

Don’t forget to always call ahead to make sure these restaurants are still offering their Kids Eat Free deals as they are subject to change at any time.

Have you tried any of these restaurants and gotten the free kids meal? How did you like it? Which restaurant[s] are your family’s favorites in the Boulder area? Where are some other great deals for families? Any favorites for the gluten free crowd? Dairy free crowd? I cannot wait to hear the juicy details…

Must See Performing Arts for Kids, by Kids, in March

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There are two great performances for kids, by kids, going on in Boulder this month. Support our local kids as they wow you in these two performing arts productions. They sell out so grab tickets ASAP. I highly recommend both!

  • Boulder Ballet is presenting their Storybook Ballet: Alice in Wonderland. This is the performance of the Boulder Ballet’s students and it is always enchanting and great for kids of all ages! We go every year. It’s not free, but its great to go support these dedicated kids and it is a great way to introduce your kids to performing arts. March 9, 10 & 11. Prices: $12 to $17/ticket
  • Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids presents Peter Pan. This is a production of the Youth Actors Conservatory–their most skilled kids. I bring my kids to see their productions as often as possible. They are always delightful, low key, but well done! March 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18. Prices: $12 to $15.

MARCH: FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN BOULDER

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3/1–Bach in the Community. All Ages. [presented by the Boulder Public Library]

3/3–Family Days at the Museum. All Ages. 1–4pm. [CU Museum of Natural History] Every Saturday in March.

3/3–Boulder Ballet “Alice in Wonderland” Story Time. All Ages. 11am–Noon. [Boulder Bookstore]

3/9–Family Game Night. All Ages. [Boulder Meadows Branch Library]

3/9–Author Jane O’Conner reading “Fancy Nancy & the Mermaid Ballet”. All Ages. 5:30pm. [Boulder Bookstore]

3/10–CU Wizards: Marie Curie Day!. 5th to 9th Grades, but all ages are welcome. 9:30 to 10:30am. [CU Campus, Cristol Chemistry 142]

3/10–Family Days at the CU Museum of Natural History. All Ages. 1–4pm.

3/11–Origami Festival. All Ages. 1:30 to 4pm. [Boulder Public Library]

3/11–Boulder Valley Schools’ Student Art Show Opening Reception. All Ages.  2 to 4pm. [Boulder Public Library]

3/13–Read to the Dog. All Ages. 3:30 to 5:30pm. Bring your child to read to a this well trained and gentle dog. Reservations Required. [Boulder Meadows Branch Library]

3/17–Family Days at the Museum. All Ages. 1–4pm. [CU Museum of Natural History]

3/18–Nature for Kids and Parents: Turn on the Senses! All Ages. 1 to 3pm. [Open Space & Mtn Parks]

3/23–Family Game Night. All Ages. [Boulder Meadows Branch Library]

3/24–Family Days at the Museum. All Ages. 1–4pm. [CU Museum of Natural History]

3/31–City of Lafayette’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Ages 3 to 8, 10am @ Waneka Lake Park & Ages 1 to 2, 11am at Festival Plaza. [City of Lafayette]

Beautiful Cherokee Legend

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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about Life:

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

“The other one is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

“The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Thanks, Jana, for this beautiful legend! I gave it to Kai on his 10th birthday…

I am blogging to let you know what’s out there in Boulder for families…

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What’s going on in Boulder for families? Well the short answer is LOTS! I cannot believe how much is going on but sometimes you can get too much of a good thing. How do you sort it all out? I don’t know, but this is my attempt to bring things of interest to the collective attention of Boulder families. I hope others will share their insights about what’s happening too. I’m thinking of plays, events, sales, new parks, schools, activities, etc…

For full disclosure I should mention that I have two boys, 8 and 10 [today]. So as much as I try I may see the world of possibilities through the lens of elementary school aged boys. I promise to be open minded…

Let’s get going!

Discounts for Boulder Families

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Moxie-Moms: Great partner discounts. Costs to join.

Groupon: Denver area discounts

Plum District

Living Social

Best of My Town: Great local resource for discounts in specific areas.