Free Outdoor Movie!!

AT&T Flicks at the Fountain Town Family Point Movie Series

Waterside Landing, Next to Waterside Festival Marketplace
Date: August 5
Time: 7:30 pm for Dinner; Movie begins at 8:30
Free family outdoor movies are New for 2009! There's something magical about lying back on a picnic blanket and watching your favorite movie under the stars! We invite you to grab the family or bring a date, pack up the lawn chairs and picnic blankets and come downtown for a free magical evening under the stars every Wednesday in August. Each Fountain Flick evening will feature a dinner menu themed after the evening's feature flick, prepared by the Waterside Landing Fountain Café.

I'll be on VACATION.... but here's something fun!

Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion & 17th Street Art Festival

Jul 25 2009 at 17th Street Park
On the beach between 16th and 18th Streets

Two fantastic art events will unfold along the beautiful Virginia Beach Oceanfront as the Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion and 17th Street Art Festival take center stage from 10:00am-7:00pm on Saturday, July 25, 2009. Both events take place in the park and along the boardwalk at 17th Street.

At the Chalk the Walk, participants draw four by four foot chalk drawings right on the boardwalk!
This year’s theme is “Under the Sea.” All Chalk the Walk participants are encouraged to incorporate the theme in their work!
200 competitors will complete chalk drawings to be evaluated by a panel of judges. Judges will score the drawings according to criteria such as composition, use of color, adherence to theme, and creativity. There will be three competitive divisions: Amateur, Professional, and Youth. The Youth division will be for ages 12-16. Children 11 and under will be invited to draw for fun in a separate area. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded for each division. Winners will be announced at 4:30pm at the registration tent. The hours for the Chalk the Walk are 10:00am-5:00pm. All participants must register by 1:00pm to qualify for the competition. All drawings must be completed by 3:30pm to be eligible for prizes.
Advance registration for Chalk the Walk is not required. There is no fee to participate, but it is recommended that artists bring their own chalk.

Once a year deals....

Well, if you're on Facebook (and really, come on; why shouldn't you be by now??) you can find and friend "Free Food Events" like I did and it'll give you all kinds of ideas about coupons/freebies/specials at all kinds of restuarants.
My favorite tip is the website linked here. It's a whole list of eateries that offer free deals on your birthday...some are great, some are merely a "free song"... WHAT? That so doesn't count. Anyway, we take advantage of the Coldstone Creamery, Red Robin, and others in MY family...

So happy birthday and go eat and be merry...

Pirate Party on the Beach TONIGHT!

Date: July 17 2009
Location: On the beach at 20th Street
Ahoy Mateys! The Virginia Beach Oceanfront will be taken over by pirates on Friday, July 17th for the first-ever Pirate Party on the Beach. This unique family event combines a treasure hunt, pirate re-enactors, and movie into one swashbuckling evening guaranteed to “shiver your timbers!” The Pirate Party on the Beach takes place right on the beach at 20th Street from 6:30pm-8:30pm.
It all begins with the Treasure Trek at 6:30pm. Families and groups may participate in a hunt for “buried treasure” that will lead them to various landmarks around the oceanfront looking for clues. The first group to dig up “Cap’n Pete’s” treasure chest receives all the loot and bragging rights as “First Buccaneers of the Beach!” The chest will be overflowing with doubloons, medals, and a trophy to proudly display for all their friends!
Participants should be prepared to walk a lot and must begin the Trek by 7:30pm to qualify for prizes.
A trophy will also be awarded to the Best Dressed Pirate, so put on your pirate "finery" and strut your stuff to win the grand prize!

When arriving at the Pirate Party on the Beach, beware of those scurvy scallywags, The Moody Crewe. These pirate re-enactors will be posing for photographs, singing sea shanties, and demonstrating swordplay! Don’t worry, though! The Moody Crewe loves landlubbers, and this merry band of pirates will entertain as well as educate!
Bring your beach chair or blanket and settle down for a special viewing of the movie “Hook” at 8:30pm. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this family favorite stars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, and Julia Roberts. A variation on the original, with Robin Williams playing a modern-day dad forced to confront his priorities, the story is still the same. When Capt. Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.
“Hook” will be shown on the beach on a giant inflatable screen.
Pirate Party on the Beach is a FREE event.

The Crab is King at this one-of-a-kind event that’s fun for the whole family! The Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge will be held at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on the beach at 30th Street from 10:00am-2:00pm on Saturday, July 11, 2009.
Registration begins at 9:30am and all participants must be registered by Noon in order to race.
Preliminary hermit crab races lead to the Crustacean 500, where the winner is awarded the “Order of the Mercury Claw” trophy. Crabs race on a specially-designed circular track, where all the “crabtestants” are placed in the center. At the sound of the starting horn, crabs scurry to the outer ring of the track. Whichever claw crosses the line first wins.

It’s the survival of the “crabbiest!”
Along with the Crustacean 500 race, participants may enter the Miss Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant. At the pageant, hermit crabs are presented in uniquely-decorated displays and judged on beauty and creativity. Hermit crab owners are encouraged to build a unique display for their crab. Past winners have included themed entries like “Spider Crab,” “Hermit the Hulk,” “Beauty and the Crab,” and “Pirates of the Crabibbean!” Aside from 1st, 2nd, And 3rd Place winners, special trophies are also awarded for the Friendliest Crab, Biggest Crab, Shyest Crab, Most Unique Crab Display, Prettiest Crab Shell, Most Athletic Crab, and Most Traveled Crab.
Approximately 300 hermit crabs participate in the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge each year. Many of these come from out of state just to be with us!ALL participants will receive a medal for being a part of the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge.

There are no fees for entering the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge; the event is free for both participants and spectators.
All participants are encouraged to arrive by 10:00am to begin the registration process.

Is it just me....

....or does THIS sound like a dream come true?? Detergent, softener, AND anti-static stuff all in the same handy sheet?? No more spills, bulky bottles, etc. If anybody out there's tried it, let me know what you think!

Movies under the stars!

The first family movie of the season, under the stars in the park at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. Special free pre-movie family activities and movie snacks for sale. Movie starts at dusk. Free admission & on-site parking.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, relax, and enjoy this animated film about Barry B. Benson (voice by Jerry Seinfeld) as a graduate bee fresh out of college who is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a rare trip outside the bee hive, Barry’s life is saved by Vanessa (voice by Renee Zellweger), a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans are mass consumers of honey and subsequently decides to file a class action lawsuit against the entire human race for stealing bees’ honey.

I'm giving you an early 'heads up'!

Slip on the flip flops and head to any one of the 36 Tropical Smoothie cafes in Hampton Roads for a FREE treat!

Each year on June 19th, National Flip Flop Day, stop by any Tropical Smoothie Café wearing flip flops and we'll help you kick off summer with a FREE 24 oz. Jetty Punch Smoothie! (limited to first 500 customers)

I'm totally stealing this from one of my favorite "savings" blog sites wantnot.net but if you're not familiar with restaurant.com, you really need to check them out.  We get these certificates all the time and USE THEM...so worth it.  

From wantnot.net:

Usually Restaurant.com waits until the end of the month to pull out their big discount codes, but I guess it’s our lucky day. Right now you can take 80% (!!) off your purchase with coupon code PRESENT, which means you can pick up a $25 certificate for just $2 out of pocket! And they take Paypal, too.

Don’t you deserve a nice meal out? You totally do.

Summer Reading!

The summer reading program at the Virginia Beach Public Libraries is getting ready to kick off! Find more info about all the fun for kids, teens, and adults at:

VBgov.com/srp

Pets, Panties, and Plentiful Eats...

Here's some coupon links (click on the black store name, not the picture) for some good deals! Make sure you read all the small print....

PetSmart

15% off merchandise and grooming!

Victoria's Secret

Get a free pair of panties; good only TODAY (Friday)

TGI Friday's

Buy one entree, get one free!

Cheap eats AND a good cause!

As a thank you to its customers, and a throw back to the original diner days, Silver Diner will commemorate its 20th anniversary by offering cups of coffee for 20¢ on Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7. Proceeds from every cup of coffee sold will benefit Share our Strength, a non-profit organization that helps feed children in need
.
Silver Diner will kick off its 20th anniversary celebration on June 5, 2009, by rolling out its biggest menu ever. Twenty new "Blueplates" will feature classic favorites and healthier, contemporary choices, all at modest prices. With Breakfast Blueplates starting at $3.99, and Lunch and Dinner Blueplates at $5.99 and $7.99, Silver Diner’s menu will feature 95 items for under $10.

Is there really anything better than FREE doughnuts?

Friday, June 5th is National Doughnut Day and you're getting some benefits! Krispy Kreme will hand out a free doughnut to every customer (no purchase necessary) AND Dunkin Donuts will as well, but you have to purchase a beverage. So enjoy!!

Family Vacay to a National Park?

The National Park Service will allow visitors free entry during three weekends this summer to encourage Americans to visit national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Park. The fee waivers -- one each month in June, July and August -- will apply to all 391 national parks across the country, from Alaska to Florida.  Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says the free weekends should help American families struggling with the recession afford a memorable vacation.   All 147 Park Service sites that charge fees for entry will waive entrance fees from June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16.  Entry fees being waived range from $3 to $25.

Happy Birthday, Nauticus!

Here's a chance to go for FREE, and help out a great cause, too! Nauticus, the Norfolk Maritime Museum, will celebrate 15 years of "exploring the power of the sea" with free admission and activities (including birthday cupcakes, the Hurrah Players, "piratey" fun with the Moody Crewe, and more!) on Saturday, June 6th from 10am to 5pm. Visitors are only asked to bring a new small toy (appropriate for a child under the age of 12) to be donated to the Salvation Army.
Don't forget to take a look aboard the USS Wisconsin; my kids LOVE looking down the street view along Boush Street right at the ship...intimidating, but GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Check out nauticus.org for more details.

Free is a GREAT price!

Check out this deal!  How about 2 free games of bowling per day ALL SUMMER LONG?  We haven't been (yet) but are planning a game or two with some friends very soon... there's an option too, where parents can play for a super-low price.  Carly loves bowling on my iPhone and can't wait to "try it for REAL!" and some lanes even provide ramps and bumpers for the very little ones.  Fun!   

How the program works: 

Visit kidsbowlfree.com and find all the participating centers near you.  You can register online and find out about the Family Pass, too.  Have fun!  

Go to the Virginia Zoo on us AND get out there in the fields!!

Listen all week long to "The Morning Wave" for your chance to win Family 4 Packs of tickets to the Virginia Zoo! What an amazing place to take the kids on a warm summer day; play in the fountains, view the awesome Africa exhibit and all the other animals, and soon you might get a peek and the new baby lions!


If you haven't gone strawberry pickin' yet, what are you waiting for? It's smack dab in the middle of peak season and I promise you it'll be a dusty, sweet, and profitable experience... bring you're own bucket and you might even save a little more!

You'll also want to bookmark this sight, the Virginia Grown site where you can find local fields and farm markets, and a Product Availability Chart to let you know just when your favorite produce is in season!

When you buy from local farmers, producers and processors, you’re making a green choice, saving time, energy and expense because these sellers are located nearby, not across the country. Freshness, flavor and nutrition are optimal with Virginia products you buy directly from the farmer because they are harvested and prepared only when they are at their peak, and with reduced transportation time, they reach you quickly to preserve their outstanding qualities. Buying locally also keeps green dollars instate to help boost Virginia agriculture and the state’s overall economic vitality.

Ok, Ok, I know it's been a while...

I've been busy. But here's some good stuff!

1) Trader Joe's opens at Hilltop today (Friday!!) at 9am. Probably will be a complete zoo, but if you haven't been to one, MAKE TIME soon to get there. Take this list with you and try some of the best products: fresh produce (especially the bagged salads), goat cheese, Lacey's Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies, Lemongrass Chicken Stix, SnaPea Crisps.

2) An awesome exhibit FOR FREE!
Chrysler Hall's Bunny and Perry Morgan Family Day
Sunday, May 17th 1pm-5pm

Join us for one of our liveliest events of every year! Bunny and Perry Morgan Family Day features free admission, tours, music, live glassblowing, and special activities for all ages. Visitors can take advantage of free shuttles from the Chrysler to the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival happening the same day!

Silver Diner Kids Night goings on!

March 24-MIX AND MATCH NIGHT: Come dressed in your craziest mix matched attire for extra chances to win some wacky prizes.
March 31-SILLY SOCKS & FACE PAINTING NIGHT: Mix them, match them, turn them inside out, and wear your silliest socks to the Silver Diner for good food and fun, no doubt! Face painting and sock puppets will be the activities of the night and extra tickets for chances to win prizes if your parents have silly socks in sight!
April 7-PAJAMA PARTY: Join us in your PJs tonight, have mom and dad wear their PJs too for extra chances to win a Blockbuster Gift Card.
April 14-SILVER DINER EGG HUNT: Come hop around with us and see how many eggs you can find. Everyone will hop away with a special treat.
April 21-IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE: Welcome to the Jungle at the Silver Diner. What is your favorite jungle animal? Is it a lion, a snake or a beautiful
exotic bird? Bring us a picture; receive extra tickets for a chance to win
a trip to the Norfolk Zoo, where the sounds of the jungle can be heard!
April 28-FARMER JACK AND DR. SEUSS CAT IN THE HAT: Come on over to the Silver Diner's very own barn house. Hang out and meet some very special
guests. Watch out a special cat might try to stop in to start trouble on
the farm!
For more information please contact Wendy Banty at 757-382-0801 or email:
chesapeake@silverdiner.com
These Kids Nights events take place at all three area Silver Diner
Restaurants in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Newport News from 5 until 8pm.

Two things....

One of my favorite things is coming across ideas for simplifying my life involving things already cluttering up my home. This is an antique frame that Matt backed with window screen so I could hang my hook earrings on! Sweet!



And, if you're the mom of a little girl... what in the world do you do with all the hairbands, barrettes, scrunchies, etc that go along with her? We went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and got a great drawer organizer that got most of it corraled into some sort of order. But, for all the elastics... how about one of those carbiner (who knew they were called that??) thingys I'm sure you have laying around? Presto! Easy now to keep them from leaping out of the drawer everywhere, only to be sucked up by the vaccuum.

I am SO doing this...

Have an old Scrabble board game laying around that's maybe missing some tiles? Photojojo.com show us how to turn into a really nifty (did I just say "nifty?" I did; don't judge.) picture frame or collage. Isn't that cute?? Now I just hope I have enough tiles to spell out my kiddos' names.

Casual IS the "new black!"

Who doesn't want to be comfy while they toil away at the office? Well, here's your chance to do just that AND help out an amazing group of kids and the local gem of a hospital that treats them....

Casual for a Cure is a fundraiser held in conjunction with 92.9 The Wave’s Wave Goodbye to Kids Cancer Radiothon to benefit the Childhood Cancer program at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. The official Casual for a Cure Day will be held Friday, March 27th, but you may select another day if that works better for your organization. The event will kick off the Radiothon taking place on April 2nd and 3rd.
What is Casual for a Cure?
On Casual for a Cure Day, workplaces and schools across Hampton Roads will invite their employees or students to make a donation (recommended $5) to CHKD for the opportunity to dress casual that day. This is a fun way for organizations large and small to support CHKD’s Childhood Cancer program and the amazing patients who are helped by its services.

For more info and your chance to sign up :

http://www.chkd.org/Giving/WaveKidsCancer/CasualCure.aspx

A lesson from the experts....

If you're like most parents... haven't you had that moment when you wonder why your children didn't come with an instruction book? And while certainly, every child is different and there are no absolute fixes for all children, the experts do usually have some pretty good guidance and advice to give us. Here's a chance to learn some handy tips for free!

"Raising Emotionally Heathly Children"
Feb. 5th from 7-9pm at the CHKD's Brickhouse Auditorium
601 Children's Lane in Norfolk
~Educator and lecturer Gerald Newmark will tell parents how to help children feel respected, important, accepted, included and secure. Registration is requested at chkd.org/classes or by calling 668-7500.

Happy New Year!! 

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but as I'm sure you can imagine, life gets in the way in December.  Way too much fun to take care of, right?  

Anyway, I'm updating the Kids Eat Free section with a new entry from Tropical Smoothie and a Silver Diner event, as well.  See the link on the right for the full list.  As for this week's Silver Diner event... it sounds like a great one (my kids LOVE Webkinz; Santa even bought Nicholas the black fuzzy bat, who he claims is his "new best friend").  Here are the details from their website:

 

Silver Diner ~ 5-8pm Tuesday, January 6th 

Webkinz night!  Come dressed as your favorite Webkinz for extra chances to win one; plus there will be plenty of fun activities 

and you can tell us what your Webkinz likes to do!  

A couple of things to think about...

Just a note... It looks like today is the last day to register for this, and I know it's a little pricey, but hey... you'll get some Christmas shopping done (or a lovely dinner out with your spouse) AND the kids'll have a great time and maybe learn some stuff!

Shop, Dine or just Play while we watch your children.
During the upcoming holiday season we are offering your children, ages 4-14 years, an engaging and educational evening of zoo programs from 5:30 – 9 p.m. so that you can do some holiday shopping, dine out “kid free” or simply enjoy some parental play time. A great opportunity your children to get some “Zoo Time” and enjoy a fun filled-evening featuring Zoo animals, arts and craft activities, and snacks. Just bring your kids to the Zoo (4 day advanced RSVP required) and we promise they will have the wildest time of their week.
Zoo Time
Friday, December 19, 2008
Cost: $40 per child
Time: 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Ok, on to another quickie... I had the opportunity one day last week to do one of those "random acts of kindness" things, and I won't go into all the details, but it was a ball of fun, AND it presented itself when I had the kids with me. Which, in turn, gave me the opportunity to explain to them the joy in doing these little deeds. We had a blast giggling and peeking at the unsuspecting recipient. We've also done a food collection for both Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, and they loved picking out things they liked to pass on to other families. Tis the season to take into account all those people out there that are struggling and only want to have a few smiles themselves for the holidays, and more importantly, see smiles on the faces of children in their lives. It doesn't take much to make a difference....and the joy you'll feel and pass on to your children is priceless.

More FREE stuff to do!

We love the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia; it's such an interesting place to roam through, with changing exhibits, a student gallery, and great gift shop.  Here's a free event going on this weekend! 

Family Fest! 

Sunday, December 14th  2-4pm 

Join the Contemporary Art Center for a FREE family event and create artworks inspired by their fall exhibition "Johnston Foster: Altered Beast." His sculptural installations are created from scavenged, recycled, and redefined materials to form Pop-Art-inspired animals and people.  Families will create fun sculptural characters from recycled and found objects and join the arts in thinking about how the found objects can be turned into art and the importance of recycling for the environment.   

Included: 

Hands-on art activities

Scavenger Hunts 

Food 

Beverages 

Fun for the whole family! 

ahh... the memories....

The Courthouse Galleries kick-off the holiday season with Winter Wonderland, displays from the popular Coleman Nursery Collection that became a tradition for families from across the Hampton Roads region and beyond. The collection began in the mid-1960s when owner, A. J. “Junie” Lancaster purchased a single “Sleeping Santa.” Each year, the scenes have grown and changed as more figures are restored and new ones are added. Join us this holiday season and share the memories with your family and friends. Santa has made a few changes to his first floor workshop this year. Watch as his elves try to decorate the revolving Christmas tree. They seem to get more lights on themselves than on the tree! You can peek out of the windows of the shop and see animals of all types as they come right to Santa’s door to be fed and receive treats from the elves including apples, hay, carrots – a variety of goodies for a variety of animals. On the second floor more children revel in the joys of the outdoors, from snowmen and carolers to sledders who join skaters for a day of fun in the snow.New international figures sing holiday songs with their friends from around the world as they frolic in the outdoor gazebo.

Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday, Noon - 8 p.m.• Christmas Eve - New Year's Eve, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Monday, Tuesday and Christmas Day

Admission: $2 for adults; $1 for children 2-17; 2 and under free

For Group Reservations please call 757-393-8983

If you have a slot of time....

We don't; every single minute of this weekend is jam-packed with some holiday-related event (I'm already exhausted) but just in case YOU are looking for some fun things to do this weekend... here goes. You're welcome. :)

Tonight: (December 5th)

HollyDazzle !

6pm-9pm at City Center on Jefferson Ave. in Newport News.

This unique holiday event combines fireworks, special effects, and music in a spectacular show presented in the round on the Fountain Plaza. Also, food, music, and free children's activities!

Saturday (December 6th)

Storytime with Santa!

2pm at Barnes & Noble on Greenbrier Pkwy. in Chesapeake

Bring your camera to take a photo with Santa. Musical performances, too, from the Ocean Lake High School chorus.

There'll be smiles all around!

Holiday Parade at the Beach
December 6, 2008
15th Street to 25th Street along Atlantic Avenue
Celebrate the holiday season with the 14th Annual Holiday Parade at the Beach, coming to the Virginia Beach oceanfront Saturday, December 6th. Helping to make this year's edition of this Hampton Roads holiday tradition the best ever will be giant balloons, marching bands, lighted floats, antique autos, decorated fire trucks, and even Santa himself arriving on his own special lighted float! Over 20,000 spectators line the street for the event that “officially” begins the holiday season at the Virginia Beach Resort.
The Holiday Parade at the Beach steps off at 5:30pm, traveling north from 15th Street to 25th Street along Atlantic Avenue. With marching bands from area schools and some of the most creative and festive floats to be featured in a local parade, be prepared for an evening of spectacle guaranteed to dazzle and delight!
The rain date for the parade, is Sunday, December 7.

Handprints make the cutest crafts!

It's free, it's fun, and it's priceless!!  

One of my favorite things to do with the kids is to make stuff out of their hand/foot/thumb prints... all you need is some paint, some time, and plenty of imagination...

Here's a couple of ideas to get you started for Christmas...