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Free Stuff for your birthday or your kids

If you sign up with these clubs you can get free stuff your your birthday…

Sonic Birthday Club

Get a free Wacky Pack Kids Meal on kids birthday for kids 12 and younger, Sonic Birthday Club.

Boston Market

Each family member can be a part of this birthday club, Boston Market VIP Club.

Baskin Robbins

Get a 2.5 oz scoop free on your birthday, Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.

California Pizza Kitchen

Get a free CP Kids meal during your birthday month when you join California Pizza Kitchen CPKids Birthday Club. Kids 10 and under only.

Toys R Us

Your child can get a fun birthday card and gift in the mail, plus special in store treatment on their birthday. Kids 10 and under, Toys R Us Geoffreys Birthday Club.

Old Spaghetti Factory Kids Club

Kids can receive a free kids meal, kids 10 and under. Old Spaghetti Factory Kids Club.

Denver Zoo

Child gets free admission on their birthday. Denver Zoo birthday club

Red Robin

Get a free burger on your birthday. Red Robin eClub.

Cold Stone Creamery

Get a free ice cream on your birthday, yumm. Cold stone creamery birthday club.

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Free Summer Movies

Arvada: Flicks in the Square

Friday nights in August, enjoy family friendly outdoor movies in Town Square at Olde Town Arvada.

www.historicarvada.org

Highlands Ranch: Movie Madness

Friday night in August, 8:30ish. Recreation center at Southridge.

www.hrcaconline.org

Broomfield:  Movies in the Park

Saturday nights in July movies shown on a giant inflatable screen. Broomfield Commons Park.

www.yourlocalcreditunion.com/cfcu/movies.asp

Denver: Movies in the Park

Movies under the summer sky. Call the city services to find location at 311

www.denvergov.org

Littleton: Free family film Festival

Free outdoor showing of family favorites. Aspen Grove Shopping Center

www.shopaspengrove.com

Parker: Parker Chamber Picture show

O’Brien Park downtown Parker

www.parkerchamber.com

Thronton: Movies in the Park

Thornton Multipurpose fields near the Carpenter Recreation Center

www.yourlocalcreditunion.com

Golden: Movies & Music in the Park

Live music at 7 movie at dusk Parfet Park

www.goldengreat.org

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Black Bean Edamame and Wheat Berry Salad Recipe

wheatberrysalad

I remember my mom making wheat berrys when I was growing up, we loved eating them. I can’t wait to try this salad.

4 cups water
1/2 cup dry wheat berries
1/2 of a 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen, shelled edamame, thawed
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
2 Tbsp. Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
3 Tbsp. Pompeian OlivExtra Plus (or Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Combine water and wheat berries in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 55 minutes or until wheat berries are just tender. Place in a fine mesh strainer and run under cold water to cool quickly, drain well. Combine the wheat berries with the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 8 hours in advance.

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Posted in Home Cookin |

TORTELLINI SALAD Recipe

20 oz. fresh tortellini (cheese, or spinach and cheese filled)
16 oz. Kraft Seven Seas Viva Italian Dressing
4 oz. sliced black olives (drained)
5 oz. sliced green salad olives (drained)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (fresh grated, no canned stuff)
pepper, to taste
 
Boil the chicken for about 20 minutes, depending on thickness. Set aside, cool, and cut into cubes.Boil tortellini for 4 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly. (When it’s still slightly warm, the dressing will soak in better)!

In a large bowl, add all ingredients except the cheese. Mix well, cover and let set in refrigerator for 8 hours or over night. Stir occasionally.

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Posted in Home Cookin |

Grilled Peach and Prosciutto Chicken

This recipe is easy to double for larger groups.

Ingredients:
1 3lb chicken quartered keep skin
4 slices of prosciutto
1 clove of garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 cup basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup peach preserves
Peach slices and basil sprigs, optional

How to make:
Get grill ready for direct and indirect cooking. On each piece of chicken, gently separate skin from meat leaving attached on opposite side. Arrange prosciutto, garlic and basil leaves over meat; smooth skin over and secure with toothpicks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Grill chicken skin side down over direct heat until browned about 8 minutes. Turn and transfer to indirect heat. Cover grill and cook until no longer pink near bone 20-30 minutes basting with preserves during last 5 minutes of cooking. Garnish with peaches and basil.

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Posted in Home Cookin |

The fabulous Cakewich

How cute is this idea its a cake pan that make a big chunk of bread. This would be so cool for someone that really loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like my daughter. I recommend googling it to see who has the best price.

cakewich

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Posted in Home Cookin |

Staycation

I have always wanted to travel to different places, but so far life has not allowed me to do to. I stumbled across some web-cams of different places, now I can go see the Eiffel tower without spending a penny. Check these out…

http://www.earthcam.com/

http://www.uswebcameras.com/

http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/cameras/

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Things to do this summer…

school

School ends for us on June 2nd thanks to two snow days this school year.

1. Make a scrapbook documenting your summer, work on the album all summer long.

2. Pick a fun place or park and have a picnic lunch there.

3. Help your kids to find a pen-pal in your town or faraway and to write back and forth with them. You can try this site http://www.friendship-by-mail.com/pen-pals-for-kids.html

4. Plan a trip together and take it.

5. Go see a baseball game as a family. Pick a team and cheer your heart out.

6. Get a job, in most states 15 year olds can get a summer job with parents permission. For little kids something like a lemonade stand will be fun.

7. Practice your photography skills and make a collage.

8. Let the kids plan and shop for the occasional dinner.

9. Read a book that’s been turned into a movie, and then compare the two of them. eg. “Cheaper by the Dozen” is good for younger kids or see this list for more ideas.

10. Start your own poetry book, you can include sketches or pressed  flowers if you want too.

11. Get a book from the library about fireworks and then go see a display.

12. Invent a new cookie flavor or try a new recipe.

13. Take the kids on a boat ride.

14. Paint a picture of your dream house.

15. Go camping

16. Go to a working farm and pick some fruit or veggies.

17. Listen to nature and list all the things you hear.

18. Create your own sports camp do drills practice skills go over rules and play a game.

19. Keep a summer journal, small kids can use writing prompts.

20. Make a puzzle out of an old greeting card.

21. Sing karaoke, you can even do a friendly competition among family and friends.

22. Invent a new kind of sandwich,  think of a name and add campaign for it.

23. Learn to do balloon folding, you can get a cheap kit that includes balloons from most book stores. See if you can make a dog.

24. Pack up a backpack and hit a local hiking trail.

25. Go for a nature walk and find as many different kinds of flowers as you can, take them home, press and turn them into stickers.

26. Design and set up your own website.

27. Go on a virtual summer camping trip. http://www.homeschoollearning.com/summer/summer.shtml

28. Learn to dance eg. line dancing, ballroom, or whatever

29. Volunteer

30. Go to the zoo and have a picnic.

31. Learn a new language as a family and then use it to communicate with each other.

32. Set up an obstacle course in your yard, give a little prize for best time through it.

33. Create and go on a treasure hunt, do the map and everything..

34. Make a cool fort out of couch cushions and blankets, curl up inside and read stories to each other.

35. Plan and have a winter themed party.

36. Collect all of your recyclables and donate the money to a good cause.

37. Help by cleaning up a nature trail or roadside some where.

38.  Design and build a tree house or backyard play house.

39. Draw a picuture of the kind of world you would like to live in.

40. Set up and run a lemonade stand.

41. Learn a new sport or activity

42. Find out where the free concerts are at in your area and plan to attend them.

43. Pick out games for a family game night.

44. Write a script and film a movie starring the kids.

45. Pull out all the unread magazines and make a collage using pictures and words you find.

46. Make a terrarium

47. Go canoeing

48. Go exploring in your local library, find a new author or book series to try out.

49. Go to a local museum.

50. Re-evaluate the family fire plan and practice it.

51. Have a bubble blowing contest, and offer a sweet treat for prizes.

52. Start a blog

53. Plant some flowers and take care of them

54. Stop by a fun tourist spot in your area

55. Clean out the extra clutter and have a garage sale.

56. Have a sandcastle making contest.

57. Donate unwanted clothes and toys

58. Do some climbing around in the family tree.

59. Make and fly your own kite.

60.Make and play your own board or card game.

61. Try out geocaching

62. Read and act out your favorite play or story

63. Create a time capsule to opened 10 years from now.

64. Have a meet the neighbors potluck/block party

65. Make a bird feeder to hang up outside, document the different types of birds that come to visit.

66. Decorate your bikes and go for a ride.

67. Plan a special activity with grandparents

68. Learn first aid and cpr

69. Dig for dinosaur fossils

70. Write your own song.

71. Tie dye a tee shirt or socks or something

72. Take your dog for a walk or borrow the neighbors.

73. Learn to make a proper paper airplane.

74. Spend the entire day without the tv on.

75. Do the summer reading program at the local library.

76. Find and try out some new outdoor games.

77. Do a recycled art project

78. Watch your favorite move with a good friend.

79. Try your hand at making home made ice cream, go for a unique flavor like strawberry shortcake.

80. Jump on a trampoline

81. Find a magazine that you like and get a subscription.

82. Plan and organize a scavenger hunt.

83. Spend the day at a water park.

84. Paint a self portrait or one of the family.

85. Start collecting something

86. Write a children’s book.

87. Listen to a audio book series.

88. Look up at the night sky, learn to recognize a few constellations.

89. Learn to sew and do a simple project.

90. Visit a National park and have a picnic.

91. Rent a video and pop some popcorn.

92. Roast some marshmallows and make .

93. Do some bird watching.

94. Arrange some flowers for the dinning room table.

95. Create a photo slide show  set it to music and burn it to cd for the grandparents.

96. Redecorate your bedroom or another room in the house.

97. Learn to play chess or checkers.

98. Adopt a pet

99. Do a book of brain teasers.

100. Make up your own holiday, and decide how to celebrate it.

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Applesauce Cupcake Recipe

applesaucecupcakesMy daughter and I read a really cute children’s book about cupcakes, she said we needed to make some. So I decided to take it a step farther. We are going to try a new cupcake recipe every week this summer starting with this one.

Ingredients

  • 1  cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3  cup shortening
  • 1-1/3  cups applesauce
  • 2  cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2  teaspoon baking powder
  • 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2  teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4  teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4  teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4  cup raisins
  • 1/2  cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3  cup butter
  • 2  cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 1  tablespoons milk
  • 1  teaspoon vanilla
  •   Milk (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degree F. Line eighteen 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, beat granulated sugar and shortening with an electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed. Beat in applesauce. (Mixture will appear curdled.) In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves. Beat into applesauce mixture. Stir in raisins.

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.* Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire rack.

4. For frosting, in a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar, the 1 tablespoon milk, and the vanilla. If necessary, stir in enough additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make spreading consistency (if frosting thickens, stir in additional milk). Frost cupcakes. Makes 18 cupcakes.

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Posted in Home Cookin |

Fun things to do with your baby

sunbt1a

  • Pack a picnic. Go to the park with a blanket and lunch. Let baby feel the grass tickle on his feet, and have him lay in your lap and watch the leaves rustle in the wind. Even if he’s too young to roll a ball, he’ll love watching other people play. Frisbee games, bikes, dogs, birds, and squirrels are all five-star entertainment
  • Consider a class. Because of unpredictable naps and moods, babies who are younger than 6 months don’t always get a huge amount out of classes. Moms probably benefit more from them — and that’s okay as long as you choose an activity you actually enjoy! Some examples: Mommy and Me yoga (check your local yoga studio), a music class like Music Together or Kindermusik, a group exercise class such as Stroller Strides or Strollercize, or infant massage (hospitals often offer classes).
  • Paint a pot. When her son was 5 months old, Lori Bloomberg, of Manhattan, arranged to meet some of her new-mommy friends and their babies at a pottery-painting studio. “Each of us put our baby’s footprint on something, like a bowl or a spoon rest. I made a frame with my son Avery’s footprint, put a photo in it, and saved it for his dad’s Father’s Day gift,” Bloomberg says. If you don’t have a pottery studio near you, buy a handprint or footprint kit at a crafts store with a couple of other mothers and head to one mom’s backyard.
  • Tune in, rock out. When was the last time you gave your dusty CDs a second look? Plant yourselves in front of your collection, and listen to favorites from your college years or your best-loved soundtracks. Stacey Rosenberg, of Weston, Connecticut, preferred to keep the TV turned off when her twin boys were babies, but she spent lots of time listening to music with them. “I exposed them to the artists my husband and I like most, such as Bob Marley and Dave Matthews,” Rosenberg says. “Not only did these songs soothe them, but they soothed me as well!”
  • Make a net flick. As soon as you manage to send one batch of baby photos to loved ones, you’re hounded for new pictures. Thankfully, today’s technology can make sharing milestones a creative project. Robyn Wolkofsky, of Charlotte, North Carolina, used a digital camera to record mini videos of her daughter, Brooke, each day. Then she sent the short movies via the Internet to her baby’s grandparents. “When I sat Brooke on my lap in front of the camera, she turned into such a ham-cooing and blowing raspberries. It was so funny, and it helped her grandparents, who live eight states away, feel close to her.” To easily e-mail audio clips of your little one, check out the audio recorder at firstwordz.com.
  • Talk to the animals. Go to the pet store, and watch your baby laugh with glee when she sees the puppies and kittens jumping around. Identify the animals, and then help her wave hello to each of them. Exotic-bird stores can be entertaining, too, especially if the bird gives your baby a shout-out.
  • Relive your wedding day. Get out your wedding video and have fun reminiscing about your big day, while pointing out all the guests your baby knows. He’ll be amazed to see them on TV! “My son, Jack, liked watching our video so much that more than two years later, he still asks me to turn on ‘The Wedding Show,’” says Laurie Rosen, of Westchester, New York.
  • Say hola, bambino. Always wanted to polish up your Spanish or learn the basics of French? Do it! Borrow language tapes from the library, or buy them from a bookstore or at berlitz.com. Then practice them around your child. You can also find storybooks in Spanish to read aloud. Your baby may not actually pick up any words, but research has shown that a baby’s exposure to another language can help improve her mastery of foreign languages down the road.
  • Share a soak. Relaxing in a tub can be a reality! Listen to classical music or sing a lullaby as you soak together in warm water. If your baby is feeling more playful, add in some bath toys and plastic cups, and sing Ernie’s “Rubber Duckie.” Either way, it’s a great bonding experience. For safety reasons, be sure not to fill the tub too high, and always have a firm hold on your child.
  • Walk down the aisle of a fabric store. For some reason, new motherhood can bring out our inner craftswoman. Dreams of adorable, hand-sewn stuffed animals dance in our heads (even if we’ve never held a needle and thread). Spend some time in a fabric store, and you’ll be inspired to channel your energy into a creative project. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the selection, ask staffers to suggest some ideas, including those of the no-sew variety. At the same time, make the shopping experience a visual and tactile adventure for your baby. Expose him to furry fabrics, yards of shimmery sequins, and rolls of satiny ribbons.
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