Sorry. Today’s header and photo have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with my post, but I just down-loaded this song, and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. Besides I really don’t think you’re ready for this jelly.
Tip Of The Day: Seeing as how we’re now smack-dab in the middle of summer, the rising temps and humidity may just be getting to you. So if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen and head indoors for one of these fun family activities. Of course they are also cheap and fabulous. Would you expect anything less from me?
Or, you could watch my tips this evening at Fox 9 News at 5 PM. Lucky, lucky you.
Tip For Tomorrow: Guest speaker alert! Missa from Sempstress.org has kindly allowed me to reprint her most excellent article on inexpensive costuming – how to rock out with your frock out for less.
I figure since I ramble on a lot about Ren Fests and Faires and going in costume and such, I should pass along Tips From The Professionals on how to make yourself a costume on the cheap. Whether or not you LOOK cheap in your costume is entirely up to you.
Last but not least, if you’d like to see what I’m wearing to Bristol in two weeks (Sure you do! What else do you have to do today? Work?), check me out here. Yes, I am a big ole’ nerd. Moving on.
Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: We reach a point during summers in MN when it just gets too darn-tootin’ hot to play outside. And although we have 10,000 lakes with eleventy thousand beaches, you can only go to them so often before you experience Lakewater Burnout. So what can you do for fun that’s inexpensive and child-appropriate?
Here are three tips to beat the heat and have a blast, for less money than driving to Canada. Or even Biwabik. Love that name:
1. Catch a matinee – a really early matinee. Our local movie theaters, like the Marcus Theater chain and The Parkway in Minneapolis, show kid’s movies throughout the week at a hugely discounted price. Sure beats popping in that Ice Age II DVD for the umpteenth time.
Marcus Theaters, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 AM, $2.50 plus free popcorn.
The Parkway, Saturdays at noon, $2 for kids, $3 for adults, $1 kid’s popcorn. This fall, The Parkway will also begin the run of “Minnecanos,” a family theater production written by theater owner, Joe Minjares. Tickets are just $4 for the kids.
2. Go bowling during the day. Day rates for TC bowling alleys are MUCH CHEAPER than the evening rates, and you don’t have to compete for space with the league-ers. On the north side of the Cities we have the Mermaid Bowling Center in Mounds View. Their rates are so cheap, you won’t even feel the sting of that fourth gutter ball. Much.
The Mermaid Bowling Center, all you can bowl, Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM, $7 per person. Or Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 1 PM, $1.50 per game, per person.
3. Play inside, somewhere other than your house. The weather in MN is so extreme, it’s no wonder someone came up with the idea to put playgrounds inside. Our fair countryside is filled with lovely place for the kiddies to frolic – in air-conditioned comfort. No sun-block necessary.
Adventure Park, Ham Lake, unlimited summer pass $18.50, $6 daily rate.
Maple Maze, Maple Grove’s Community Center, Sizzlin’ Summer Special – Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2 PM, $2 per kid.
The Blast, Eagan’s Community Center, $5 daily rate, available for kids up to age 15.
There you have it – three ideas for things to do with kids, none of which involve water, swim suits or Going Up North To The Lake. Those are my tips, what about yours? What “stay inside and beat the heat” ideas do you have?
Tip Of The Day: Seeing as how we’re now smack-dab in the middle of summer, the rising temps and humidity may just be getting to you. So if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen and head indoors for one of these fun family activities. Of course they are also cheap and fabulous. Would you expect anything less from me?
Or, you could watch my tips this evening at Fox 9 News at 5 PM. Lucky, lucky you.
Tip For Tomorrow: Guest speaker alert! Missa from Sempstress.org has kindly allowed me to reprint her most excellent article on inexpensive costuming – how to rock out with your frock out for less.
I figure since I ramble on a lot about Ren Fests and Faires and going in costume and such, I should pass along Tips From The Professionals on how to make yourself a costume on the cheap. Whether or not you LOOK cheap in your costume is entirely up to you.
Last but not least, if you’d like to see what I’m wearing to Bristol in two weeks (Sure you do! What else do you have to do today? Work?), check me out here. Yes, I am a big ole’ nerd. Moving on.
Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: We reach a point during summers in MN when it just gets too darn-tootin’ hot to play outside. And although we have 10,000 lakes with eleventy thousand beaches, you can only go to them so often before you experience Lakewater Burnout. So what can you do for fun that’s inexpensive and child-appropriate?
Here are three tips to beat the heat and have a blast, for less money than driving to Canada. Or even Biwabik. Love that name:
1. Catch a matinee – a really early matinee. Our local movie theaters, like the Marcus Theater chain and The Parkway in Minneapolis, show kid’s movies throughout the week at a hugely discounted price. Sure beats popping in that Ice Age II DVD for the umpteenth time.
Marcus Theaters, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 AM, $2.50 plus free popcorn.
The Parkway, Saturdays at noon, $2 for kids, $3 for adults, $1 kid’s popcorn. This fall, The Parkway will also begin the run of “Minnecanos,” a family theater production written by theater owner, Joe Minjares. Tickets are just $4 for the kids.
2. Go bowling during the day. Day rates for TC bowling alleys are MUCH CHEAPER than the evening rates, and you don’t have to compete for space with the league-ers. On the north side of the Cities we have the Mermaid Bowling Center in Mounds View. Their rates are so cheap, you won’t even feel the sting of that fourth gutter ball. Much.
The Mermaid Bowling Center, all you can bowl, Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM, $7 per person. Or Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 1 PM, $1.50 per game, per person.
3. Play inside, somewhere other than your house. The weather in MN is so extreme, it’s no wonder someone came up with the idea to put playgrounds inside. Our fair countryside is filled with lovely place for the kiddies to frolic – in air-conditioned comfort. No sun-block necessary.
Adventure Park, Ham Lake, unlimited summer pass $18.50, $6 daily rate.
Maple Maze, Maple Grove’s Community Center, Sizzlin’ Summer Special – Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2 PM, $2 per kid.
The Blast, Eagan’s Community Center, $5 daily rate, available for kids up to age 15.
There you have it – three ideas for things to do with kids, none of which involve water, swim suits or Going Up North To The Lake. Those are my tips, what about yours? What “stay inside and beat the heat” ideas do you have?
6 comments:
Great tips. Thanks.
Great tips! I've finally updated my blog and there's an award for you over there!
I like to sit in front of my sewing machine which is in front of the AC vent.
Or not.
Thanks for the free linky-love.
Wow! Those are great tips! Especially the early movie matinees. Malls are also good places to escape the heat. Or coffee shops.
Great tips, of course, but the star of the day goes to your photos in costume. LOVE IT!
Weeeee!!!
I made a costume, but mine's for Harry Potter. I wore it to the 7th book midnight release and to last movie (and I'll be rockin' it to the last movies as well). So, see, we can be nerdy and hot! :)
OK - now I have to admit to my son that "eleventy thousand" is a real number, because he saw me reading your post, and offered the fact that it's "on the internet" as proof.
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