Good Grade Rewards in Pensacola

January 26, 2012 By 2 Comments

Report cards just came out recently and if your child made the A or A/B Honor roll you might have found some certificates in his or her report card.  Or maybe not.

After getting an email from a reader about good grades rewards (I love getting ideas from you all! Thanks!), I posted on our Pensacola with Kids Facebook page and got some great feedback about different good grade rewards that can be found in Pensacola.

Unfortunately as I started to call around and confirm the rewards, I found that many of the participating businesses only honor the rewards if your child received a certificate from his or her school.  Certificates included rewards from Fast Eddies, Baskin Robbins, Arby’s and more but if your child’s school does not participate, he or she won’t get the certificate or the reward.

In addition to the certificates, your children can bring their report cards to the following businesses to earn good grade rewards:

Krispy Kreme – For each A, your child will get a free doughnut up to six doughnuts.  (We are headed here this afternoon so I will update the post to let you know how it goes!)

Chuck-E-Cheese – Bring in your report card and receive free tokens for good grades.  Valid with a food purchase only and up to 15 tokens.

Cordova Lanes – Bring in your report card and receive a free game of bowling.  When I called, I was told that certificates were handed out but when I mentioned my son didn’t receive a certificate they said that they would probably honor the report card.  **Be sure to call ahead of time to confirm.

Sam’s Fun City – Bring in your report card and receive your choice of one complimentary Go-Kart ride, Lazer-Tag game or limited Arcade Tokens.  They also passed out certificates to participating schools but when I mentioned my son didn’t receive a certificate they said that they would honor the report card.  **Be sure to call ahead of time to double check.

Filed Under: Daily Deals, Just for Fun

How to Make an Easy Mardi Gras King Cake

January 10, 2012 By 3 Comments

Mardi Gras season is here!  Pensacola kicked off the Mardi Gras celebration this week with Twelfth Night.  I love that Pensacola has such a family friendly parade for Mardi Gras.  We love to go to the parade but that isn’t until the end of February so we celebrated Mardi Gras this weekend with a homemade King Cake.

The “King’s Cake” represents the three Biblical kings that journeyed to Bethlehem.  King cake season goes from the end of Twelfth Night through Mardi Gras Day.  The cake is a ring of twisted cinnamon dough with a variety of fillings.  The most common is cream cheese but you may also find a variety of fillings like cherry, peach, lemon, rasberry and more.  The cake is covered with a sweet icing and then purple, gold and green sugar.  Often, there is a baby or a small bean hidden inside the cake but seeing as this presents a choking hazard, we leave it out.  Tradition states that whoever finds the hidden bean or baby is the person who brings the next king cake.

This is the first king cake I have ever made and I admit that I totally cheated!   We used a can of cinnamon rolls!  I might attempt a more difficult recipe.

Ingredients:

1 can of cinnamon rolls and the icing that comes with it

1 cup of sugar divided into 3 bowls

Directions:

Open the can of cinnamon rolls and fold each roll in half to resemble a hot dog bun.  Lay the rolls in a circle so that they are barely overlapping.

If you want to add a cream cheese flavor to it you can put a dab of cream cheese frosting in the middle of each roll.  In the picture, you will see the cinnamon rolls open facing out.  I wish that I had faced the opening towards the inside of the ring.

Bake the rolls according to the directions on the container.  My recipe called for 13-17 minutes and they were ready right at 13 minutes.  Be sure to watch the oven.

While the cinnamon rolls are baking, make your colored sugars.

Put three to five food coloring drops into the sugar and mix thoroughly.  I used this tutorial on how to dye your own sugar.

Take the metal lid off of the icing container, discard, and microwave icing for about 10-15 seconds so the icing is a little runny.  Pour the icing over the top of the cinnamon rolls and coat with the colored sugars.

Filed Under: Recipes

From the archives: The Letter K

January 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

Every Monday I am reaching back into the archives to share the learning activities that we did last year when Little S was home with me.  Each week, we worked our way through the alphabet and we read stories, did crafts, and played games that helped reinforce the letter we were learning that week.  This week we are sharing activities for the Letter K!    If you have any activities to go with ours, let us know! 

Monday

  1. Color the Letter K.
  2. Trace the Letter K.
  3. Color the hidden picture.

Tuesday

  1. Read Spot’s Windy Day by Eric Hill and Curious George Flies a Kite by H.A. Rey.
  2. Color the picture of the kite.
  3. Fly a kite.

Wednesday

  1. Read a book about a king.  We don’t have any in our home library, but I did a quick search and found one called The Frog Who Would Be King by Kate Walker.  I might look for this one at the library or the bookstore.
  2. Make a crown with construction paper and decorate it with glitter, stickers, etc.

Thursday

  1. Read Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?by Eric Carle.
  2. Color a kangaroo picture.
Friday
  1. Kangaroo toilet paper roll

Filed Under: Learning Time Tagged With:

Groupon Deal – Bowling Outing for Four at Oops Alley(up to 64% off)

December 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Pensacola Deal of the Day brought to you by Groupon is for $15  for a weekday bowling package for four at Oops Alley which includes 2 hours of bowling, valid Sunday through Thursday and shoe rental for four people.  The second option is $23 for a weekend bowling package for four (up to $55 value) which includes two hours of bowling valid Friday or Saturday and shoe rental for four people.

Each day, Groupon will list deals from your city with a limited amount of time to purchase. Many times, the deal can sell out before the time is expired.

We love Oops Alley and this is a pretty good deal!

Be sure to read the fine print before you purchase including (but not limited to):

  • Expires July 4, 2012
  • Limit 10 per person and limit one per visit.
  • Valid for option purchased only.
  • Subject to availability.

To purchase, click the link below:

A deal a day great things to do, eat, see, & buy in your area. Shop Groupon.com today!

*This post includes an affiliate link.  Please see our disclosure page.

Filed Under: Daily Deals

From the Archives: Christmas Activities

December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but we are only three days into our school holiday break and my kids are already restless.  Rain all day only contributed to it!  Here are some Christmas activities that can help keep the kids busy, even if just for a few minutes at a time.  Some of these crafts will even make great gifts for family members.

Here are some craft ideas and activities for Christmas.  If you have any ideas to share, let me know in the comments or via email!

Christmas Coloring Pages

Colors and Shapes Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Maze

Twelve Days of Christmas Coloring Pages and Number Practice

Handprint Angel

Puzzle Piece Picture Frame

Handprint Christmas Tree Craft

Christmas Pages – Mazes, math pages, cryptograms, etc

Filed Under: Learning Time

Sugar Cookies – A Fun Family Activity

December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When Thanksgiving weekend came around, I couldn’t wait for it to be over so that we could put up our tree and get our house decorated.  Now that it is almost Christmas, I am having a hard time keeping up the holiday spirit.  Today, I spent the afternoon baking sugar cookies, a yearly tradition, with my family and it was just the ticket to get me back into the holiday mood.  We like our sugar cookies covered with icing and sprinkles.  This is not a healthy recipe at all, but it is the perfect holiday treat.  My kids love making these cookies and I am ready for the next few days of holiday activities!

This recipe is great because it is easy and uses ingredients that you most likely have in your pantry.  I shared this recipe here last Friday but I thought I would share it again.

To make the sugar cookies:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

1 egg

1 t. cream of tartar

1 cup margarine, softened

1/2 t. almond extract

2 1/2 cup flour

1 t. baking soda

Mix powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla, almond extract, and egg.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours.  When it comes out of the refrigerator, it may seem crumbly.  Mix it up and knead the dough by hand.  Roll out on a lightly floured surface and use cookie cutters to cut shapes. Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes.  The longer they cook, the crispier they will be.  Cool on a baking rack.

To make the frosting:

Ingredients:

1lb powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

1 tsp vanilla

a few ounces of water

Combine butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar in the mixer.  Add water and until it is a frosting consistency.  Dish into bowls and add food coloring if desired.  When you aren’t using the frosting, keep covered with a damp paper towel so frosting doesn’t harden in bowl.

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?  If you would like to share it, please leave us a note in the comments!

Filed Under: Recipes

From the Archives: Hanukkah Activities

December 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every Monday I am reaching back into the archives to share the learning activities that we did last year when Little S was home with me.  Each week, we worked our way through the alphabet and we read stories, did crafts, and played games that helped reinforce the letter we were learning that week.  This week we are sharing activities for Hanukkah!   If you have any activities to go with ours, let us know! 

Here are some craft and activity links for Hanukkah!  If you have any Hanukkah activities to share, please leave a comment!

All About Hanukkah

Paper Menorah

Paper Plate Menorah

Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles

Coloring Pages

Activities for Preschoolers

 

Filed Under: Learning Time

From the Archives: The Letter J

December 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every Monday I am reaching back into the archives to share the learning activities that we did last year when Little S was home with me.  Each week, we worked our way through the alphabet and we read stories, did crafts, and played games that helped reinforce the letter we were learning that week.  This week we are sharing activities for the letter J!   If you have any activities to go with ours, let us know!  When the kids are home, I am going to get started with homemade Christmas gifts too!

Monday

  1. Color the letter J.
  2. Trace the letter J.
  3. Color the hidden picture.

Tuesday

  1. Read Jack and the Beanstalk.  (You can watch the story told here.)
  2. Jack and the Beanstalk coloring sheets – here,here

Wednesday

  1. Read Jellybeans for Sale by Bruce McMillan.
  2. Practice counting with jelly beans!

Thursday

  1. Read Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae.
  2. Talk about the animals of the jungle.  Color Jungle pages.
  3. Watch The Jungle Book.

Friday

  1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Handprint
  2. Candle Jars (or you can just decorate some already bought candles)
  3. Hot Chocolate Cones
Filed Under: Learning Time

Holiday Movies and Specials on TV

December 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I belong to a lovely group of women who write similar sites like this one.  They all have the same mission that I do: to share family friendly activities with people who live in and visit our community.  Go West Young Mom is an amazing resource for families in the far western suburbs of Chicago.  If you are ever in that direction, be sure to look her up!  She compiled this great list of holidays movies and specials that will be shown on television through the month of December.

Please note that times are in CST.

Dec. 6

All I Want for Christmas: 1 p.m on AMC

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: 5 p.m. on ABC Family

A Michael Buble Christmas: 7 p.m. on NBC

A Christmas Story: 8 p.m. on TCM

A Christmas Carol (the version starring George C. Scott): 7 p.m and 9:30 p.m on AMC

Miracle on 34th Street: 11 p.m. on TCM

Dec. 7

Meet Me in St. Louis: 1 a.m. on TCM

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 6:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network

A Christmas Carol (the version starring George C. Scott): 7 p.m and 9:30 p.m on AMC

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: 8 p.m. on ABC Family

Dec. 8

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland: 6 p.m. on ABC Family

The Year Without a Santa Claus: 8 p.m on ABC Family

Dec. 9

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town: 6 p.m. on ABC Family

Frosty the Snowman: 7 p.m on CBS

Frosty Returns: 7:30 p.m on CBS

Yes, Virginia: 8 p.m on CBS

Dec. 10

A “Holiday Movie Marathon” will be shown all day long on ABC Family

To see the full schedule of shows and movies that are being offered through the rest of December, please visit Go West Young Mom.

Filed Under: Just for Fun

From the Archives: The Letter I

December 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every Monday I am reaching back into the archives to share the learning activities that we did last year when Little S was home with me.  Each week, we worked our way through the alphabet and we read stories, did crafts, and played games that helped reinforce the letter we were learning that week.  This week we are sharing activities for the letter I!   If you have any activities to go with ours, let us know!  When the kids are home, I am going to get started with homemade Christmas gifts too!

Until Christmas, I am using every Friday for Christmas Craft Day!  We are making almost all of our gifts this year and I really want the kids to help out.  I will post a few kid craft gift ideas on Fridays.  If you have any fun craft ideas that will make great gifts, please let me know in the comment section or send me a message via email or the Contact form.

Monday

  1. Color the letter I.
  2. Trace the letter I.

Tuesday

  1. Read Hungry Harry by Joanne Partis and talk about the different insects.
  2. Insect Coloring Pages
  3. Make a bug catcher (a craft video starts playing when you open the link) and go on a bug hunt. Let them go when you are through watching them!

Wednesday

  1. Talk about opposites using Inside/Outside.
  2. Draw a picture of things that are inside that begin with the letter I and things that are outside that begin with the letter I.

Thursday

  1. Read Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by Margaret Rey.
  2. If you have an ice cream maker, make ice cream together.  If not, take a trip to an ice cream shop (even though you might want hot chocolate with the way the weather has been the past few days!).  If you go at a time when it isn’t very busy, you might be able to ask them a few questions about how things work at an ice cream shop.
  3. Practice numbers 1-10 and colors with the ice cream cone craft.  Cut out the cone and ten scoops of ice cream.  Stack to make a complete ice cream cone.  Label the colors and numbers!

Friday

Begin work on homemade gifts from the kids.

  1. Rock Family Plaque Craft - This craft is supposed to be a Father’s Day craft but I thought it would make a great gift for the grandparents in the family.  The kids will have fun finding rocks that will be perfect for each family member.
  2. Reindeer Ornaments or Craft Stick Santa ornaments to tie on the tree
  3. Personalized Handprint Totes - These patterns are probably more springy and better suited for Mother’s Day but think of all the things you can do with handprints…Christmas trees, etc!  Save your Michael’s, Joann’s and Hobby Lobby coupons and this is a super inexpensive gift!
Filed Under: Learning Time
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