Get Your Circus Deals!

If you live in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati or Dayton, and you're thinking about going to the circus when it's in town, check out some special deals shared by 5 Vinez Monkeys. (FYI, the last day for the circus in Charlotte is tomorrow).

Free $5 eGift Card from Babies R Us

Today only (Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010) you can get a free $5 eGift Card for Babies R Us when you become a fan on Facebook! The card will be e-mailed to you in a couple of days, and it can be used online or at either Babies R Us or Toys R Us. Great for putting toward new toys or activity centers.

With a toddler and a little one on the way, this is great for us! Hope you can take advantage too!

Thanks, Mummy Deals!

Fun Morning at Monkey Joe's

This morning my daughter and I went to Monkey Joe's with some friends. I hadn't been there before, but knew A would love it. Apparently, we went at a great time--midweek soon after they opened for the day. There were about 10 people there at the beginning; by the time we left (about noon), there were still still only about 25 people.

A and her friend had a blast on the 3 and under bounce houses and slides. Then, because there weren't many people, they also took on the "big kid" options--went down the big slides, bounced in the houses (which are more like obstacle courses). Fun was had by all--and it only cost $5 plus tax (you can stay as long as you want/can stand it! Of course, I was expecting A to take a long nap this afternoon. So far (at 5 p.m.!), no such luck...

What is your favorite play place for your little ones?

Yoplait Smoothie Coupon

If your kids like smoothies, this $1.25/1 coupon on the frozen Yoplait Smoothies (comes with fruit, you add milk) might come in handy. I haven't bought any yet, but come a sale, I'll probably use the coupon to give them a whirl. These come in three flavors: Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango Pineapple, Triple Berry.

Personalized Books

I remember my grandfather giving me a book that had my name and other info (like hometown, dog's name, etc.) printed throughout the story. I thought it was the coolest thing! Ever since, I've known I wanted my daughter to have such an experience. I plan to get one soon, even though it might be awhile before she fully appreciates the concept.

Here are some personalized book sites to check out:*

• Find Me Book - include photos of family members, which get hidden amongst a variety of images. 
• Happy Kids - personal information can be printed in various book themes, such as Sesame Street 
• Created4Me - the child's name is highlighted "in lights," and each letter has a page devoted to it  
• Freckle Box - stories with non-character-related (such as Elmo) stories/themes, which include the child's name 
• Custom Made for Kids - insert your child's favorite people and places, while telling the story of his or her time from birth to present. All put into an illustrated format
• And of course you could always make a photo book on a photo-sharing site and add your own short story within the caption fields.
  

*Note: I haven't ordered anything from any of these sites as of yet, so I don't know anything about their quality, etc. (but they look fun!). If you have, let us know your experience.

Building Time

While these are for somewhat older kids (5-12), I thought you might want to be aware for the older kids in your house. You can build something with them at either Lowe's or The Home Depot during upcoming workshops.

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics start at 10 a.m. on Saturdays:
Jan. 23 - Tic-tac-toe board
Feb. 13 - Jewelry organizer
Feb. 27 - Lowebot
 Sign up here.

The Home Depot offers Kid Workshop, held on the first Saturday of each month and starting between 9 a.m. and noon (check your store for specific time):
Feb. 6 - #20 car display
Mar. 6 - Rain gauge
Get more information here.

Fun Uses for Empty Laundry Detergent Bottles

My daughter and I were watching Sesame Street this morning, and I noticed they had two fun uses for old laundry softener or detergent containers: a piggy bank and a megaphone. First, of course, be sure the bottle is totally empty and rinsed out so no soap remains. Then let dry (turn it on its opening end so that any water drains out).

- Piggy bank: Leave the top on for the nose, and add marks to the end to represent nostrils. Cut a slit in the side for the coin slot. Add a curled pipe cleaner for the tail and some triangles of felt or card stock for the ears. Then draw on some eyes and a mouth. And your child can certainly add other decorations as well!

- Megaphone: Just take off the cap for the mouth hole, then cut off the end so sound can escape. Then the bottle's handle becomes the megaphone handle. Let your kids decorate however they like. Then get ready to cheer!

Photos to come.

Free Ebook With Activity Ideas

You can get a free downloadable ebook, 100 Free Things to Do With Your Grandkids (and, of course, you don't have to be a grandparent to get something out of it!) at grandparents.com.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Publish Post

Welcome!

Thank you for stopping by Busy Little Monkey! As the site grows, look for a variety of activities and crafts to enjoy with your children. I plan to also periodically post deals on things to do/places to go, as well as some reviews of products. I hope you'll find information to inspire you and your children!

Feel free to e-mail me at busylittlemonkey@gmail.com.