Cow Appreciation Day is Coming!

07/06/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

July is known for many things, and many occasions. Most notably, we Americans get all red, white, and blue for the 4th of July. But for the die-hard chicken lovers, we know something spectacular occurs later in the month: Cow Appreciation Day. Around Atlanta, and across the country, folks will dress up as their favorite bovine, in order to snag some free Chick-fil-a chicken.

There are some changes this year for Cow Appreciation Day 2016, as you may have heard. First, hours are from 6:30 am to 7:00 pm. Second, all participants who dress up will receive an entree. In years past, it was up to the individual location’s discretion to discern if you were fully or partially dressed, to determine if you got an entree or a full year – but this year, all locations are offering an entree for all levels of dressed-up.

It’s a tradition I’ve been embarrassing my kids with for a few years now, and I’ve no intention to stop anytime soon. However, I’m not (totally) ashamed to admit, I am a walking, talking Pinterest fail. So, my costumes over the years tend to lack in imagination.

A few years ago, I think I reached my creative peak, by including my son’s Beanie Baby monkey, per my son’s request in the festivities. But of course, except for the collage below, I totally forgot to snap good pics, because, well, that would’ve just been *too* easy…

Fun was had by all, even “Monkey” dressed up. But the boy is NOT a fan of the cow costume, or a guy dressed up in the cow costume. #CowAppreciationDay @chickfila

So, I reached out to some of my blogger pals and fellow Chick-fil-a Mom’s Club members, and came up with a few ideas for you, in case you want to go beyond just pinning the paper cutouts to a white t-shirt. 🙂
Of course, Chick-fil-a has some great ideas to get you started, and this year they’ve included some creative extras. Check out their printable cow templates!

Cow Appreciation Day 2016 costume ideas

First, Lani of Life Anchored created this adorable cow onesie. My favorite part? There’s NO SEWING involved! Plus, it could easily be done as a regular shirt, not just for a onesie.

Tabitha, over at Saving Toward a Better Life, created a simple and adorable cow costume with a simple trash bag.

And of course, Lindsey of Redhead Baby Mama, created a round-up of cow costumes, as well.

And then make sure you also watch this tutorial on how to make a cute cow tail.

So seriously, how will YOU participate in Cow Appreciation Day this year? Comment below with your ideas, or with how you intend to participate in Cow Appreciation Day.

Keep on saving! :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Filed Under: around town, Chick-fil-a, holidays

How to Save with the Atlanta Braves

06/03/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

As a member of the #BravesBloggers, I was recently treated to a game and a tour of Turner Field, as well as a bag full o’ swag. However, all opinions, reminiscings of childhood days, and random ramblings are 100% my own.

I’ve been in Atlanta all my life. I remember going to Braves games before they were good. (Does Dale Murphy ring a bell?) I come from a LONG line of Braves fans: my mom was at the World Series game at Atlanta-Fulton County stadium in ’95 when they won. My grandaddy faithfully watched games all season long, again this was back before they were “good”. And I watched the Atlanta Braves become a powerhouse basically through the span of my teen years. My family attended games at their inaugural season in Turner Field in 1997, so it’s only fitting that I partner with the Atlanta Braves this summer in their final season at The Ted. (I’m not hip. Do people still call it The Ted??)

As an Atlanta native, The Braves are intertwined with the culture fabric of summers in Atlanta to me. Tailgating at Turner Field should be part of your summer bucket list, even if you only check it off once or twice. Even if the Braves aren’t as hot as they were in the 90’s, they are still an integral part of our hometown lore. I mean, just look at the Chicago Cubs, they’ve been stinking it up for over 100 years, but going to Wrigley Field is a part of Chicago culture. (….unless, like my Chicago-native husband, you had a White Sox hat affixed to your head for years during your childhood. But that’s a story for another day.)

I digress.

Being Atlanta’s FRUGAL Mom, I’m frequently asked about ways to save at local events and attractions. It’s a huge part of who I am and what I do. So when folks heard I was an Atlanta Braves Blogger this season, the question I heard most was about Atlanta Braves discount tickets. SO, I wanted to share some awesome little money-saving tidbits with y’all. But this goes beyond just discount tickets for Atlanta Braves games. I want to show you how to save even once you’re INSIDE Turner Field.

Ways to Get Atlanta Braves Discount Tickets

Show your military ID – All active, retired, reserve, and veteran military personnel as well as first responders may enjoy 50% off upper box or outfield tickets to all remaining regular season 2016 Braves home games, just go to GovX.com.
Use your college ID – For select games during the 2016 season, students with a valid college email address can purchase an Upper Box ticket and get one free, just go to here to register your email address!
Sportsclips $8 Mondays – Get a Terrace View seat in Sections 224L-230R or 223R-229L for only $8 every Monday, for a savings of up to 70%!
Coca-Cola $12 Tuesdays – Sit in the Club Pavilion in Sections 321R-337L for only $12! This special Tuesday deal saves you up to 40%!- Sit in the Club Pavilion in Sections 321R-337L for only $12! This special Tuesday deal saves you up to 40%!
Gas South – If you’re a Gas South customer, you can not only score discount tickets, but you can also get two FREE tickets to an Atlanta Braves game. You can also save up to gas-south.com/offers Sunday through Thursday all season long. You’ll need to have your account information handy (such as your latest bill) to verify that you’re a Gas South customer.
Subway – Yep. Subway. If you buy a medium drink and get the specially-marked cup around the metro-Atlanta area, there’s a peelie on there for $10 off tickets to an Atlanta Braves game. You’ll go to the website listed on the peelie, and enter the discount code. The code is good for up to four tickets, which means you can save up to $40! Not bad for the price of one drink, huh?
Goldstar – Enjoy tickets for $21 each for Friday night Fireworks for June 24 and July 1 through Goldstar. Want to go when the NY Mets are in town June 23, 25, or 26? On Thursday the 23rd, there’s a bobble head giveaway, on Sunday the 26th (as always) kids run the bases before the game, and on Friday the 25th, some guy name Flo-Rida is performing. 😉 There’s also discount tickets for when the Miami Marlins are in town, as well as the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, and the Cleveland Indians.
Also, check out places like Shopper, Stubhub, SeatGeek, and more for savings.

Once you’re actually IN Turner Field, there’s tons of family-friendly activities to do, many that are free! For starters, there’s The Sky Zone at the very top of the stadium – just follow the stairs all the way up to the very top! You can sit on some cool coke-bottle shaped oversized chairs, “run the bases” on the psuedo small field, or just admire the magnficent view of the city AND the game, all in one spot.

Perhaps the very best feature for families bringing small kids is the CHOA Hope and Will’s Dugout, which includes the Tomahawk Treehouse. Yep. There’s an actual playground at Turner Field! The Dugout will sometimes have tee balls and opportunity for kiddos to participate in a small game.

Also, did you know every Sunday home game, kids get to run the bases on the field? If you’re a Kids Club member, your kiddos get to go to the front of the line for this experience. There are two Kids Club membership options: the FREE membership gets you a passport, lanyard, BOGO ticket offer and stickers for every Atlanta Braves home game attended throughout 2016. For $25, you get everything included in the basic membership, PLUS exclusive gifts and offers such as BOGO ticket offer and passes to the VIP Batting Practice Experience. This is a great value if you plan to frequent home games this season with your kids.

My number one tip for savings once you’re in Turner Field: BYOB. Well, bring your own soft-sided cooler. Yep, you can bring your own food, snacks, and drinks inside. You may NOT bring alcoholic beverages, nor glass or aluminum drinks.

However, I do recommend you try some of the new cuisine available at Turner Field this year, including the new Burgerizza, which is exactly as it sounds: a 20 oz burger, FIVE cheddar slices, and bacon (BACON!), pressed between two Freschetta pepperoni pizzas. My personal -and unexpected favorite- is the “Tater Tot Chop”, which starts with a layer of tater tots pressed in a waffle iron, loaded with bacon (BACON!), melted cheese and jalapenos, topped with a second tater tot waffle and served with Coca-Cola-infused ketchup. Trust me, you won’t regret trying these dishes at least once! Also, kids can enjoy a “Sandlot Snacks” kids meal, which include a hot dog, Welch’s fruit snack, and a kids’ beverage with a souvenir cup.

Two of my blogger friends and fellow #BravesBloggers have must-reads for Turner Field: Lindsay, of Redhead Baby Mama has a fantastic list of must-see offerings at the stadium, and Kecia of Momerish shares a list of kid-friendly things to do while you’re there.

Filed Under: around town

Calculating Price for B1G1 1/2 off

05/25/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Want a quick and easy way for calculating price of an individual item when they’re on sale for “buy one, get one half off” (B1G1* 1/2 off)?

* – don’t get bogged down with all the couponing lingo, refer to this handy dandy glossary!

Here you go. Lets say the sale price is $3.99

Just multiply the sale price by 1.5: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Coupons 101

Tips for making a summer bucket list for your family

05/24/2016 by Tiffany

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

A few years ago, Tiffany of RealMomTalk.com created this post on creating a summer bucket list. I am reviving it, in hopes that it may help inspire some of y’all this summer, as we zip through these last few days of school, and prepare for summer with our kiddos.

We’ve all been seeing a lot of stuff on Facebook and Pinterest about Family Summer Bucket Lists, and many of you have said that you wish you could do something similar with your family. Well today, I’m sharing tips on how to make your own summer bucket list!

First off, let me say that our summer bucket list is SUPER long, but yours doesn’t have to be. We have eight people in our family, and I told the kids I would include everything they suggested, within reason of course. Pretty much everything made the cut, except Nate’s desires for worldwide travel to places like China, that’s not quite possible with our budget right now! Plus, there’s really no possible way we will do it all, but it’s still fun to dream! So don’t feel like your list is no good just because it may only have 5 items on it. That’s still 5 more super fun memories you will be making with your family this summer! The point is to make a list of activities and then make a conscious effort to allot time to do those things with your family. Here are some of my top tips and suggestions to help you get your list going! [Read more…]

Filed Under: family Tagged With: Summer

Chick-fil-A Upcycling Fun!

05/18/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

As a member of the Chick-fil-A moms’ panel, I was inspired to accept the challenge they recently presented to us: creative ways to upcycle their salad containers. Yes, these babies here:

I decided to enlist my kiddos, with the idea I could utilize this idea in my preschool classroom. Since I’m teaching summer camp, the perfect opportunity presented itself for one week of camp. Every year during the last week of June, we have a small (but fun) “parade” for the 4th of July. What perfect way to get preschoolers involved than with making their own shakers!

So, hopefully, the ones I constructed with the kids will serve as inspiration for my summer camp kiddos, and perhaps some of y’all, as you gear up to watch local July 4th parades in your area, or throw your own with your neighborhood kids.

As you’ll see, I’m a big believer in emphasizing the process rather than the product, particularly in this case. I had my kids use various fillers for their shakers: rice, popcorn kernels, and two different sizes of pasta. I also have a tube of various sensory goods (rice, beans,noodles, etc) mixed together, and we filled one container with the mixed goods.

Prepping for a post #OnTheBlog about upcycling our @chickfila salad containers. #chickfilamoms #chickfilamomsDIY

A photo posted by Barbara Burns (@atlantasfrugalmom) on May 31, 2016 at 9:55am PDT

The teacher in me couldn’t resist the natural science lesson here: we hypothesized over how the different fillers would sound in the containers. After testing them out, we discovered the smaller fillers (rice) made the “smaller” sound, while the bigger filler (large pasta) made the “larger” sound.

We also learned mommy needs to buy new paint. Apparently really old paint won’t stick to plastic. Ok, so that’s another hypothesis, but the finished product spoke for itself. All in all, this was a great craft, and we will add it to our arsenal of kid-friendly crafts with recyclables.

Filed Under: Chick-fil-a, Frugal Parenting

Getting Comfy Out of My Comfort Zone {prAna review}

04/27/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Disclosure: I received this product for free for a prAna review from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program , May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. However, my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

As a mother of young kids, sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in a rut – whether it be at mealtime, household duties (ugh!), fitness, fashion, or all of the above and then some. Sometimes we truly just trudge through in survival mode, doing the best we can with what we have, and feel accomplished in getting through the day in a somewhat sane fashion.

(Spit baths count as an actual bath for small children, right???) [Read more…]

Filed Under: giveaway, product reviews

Cool Things to do While Visiting Greensboro

04/05/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Huge thanks to Lindsey of And The Kitchen Sink for guest posting on frugal-friendly tips for traveling to Greensboro.

I have lived in Greensboro my entire life. There’s just something about this city that keeps calling me home. In my years of living here, I have visited and experienced almost everything there is to do here. There’s so much to do here you couldn’t possibly do all of it in a day, in my opinion these are the best bangs for your buck!

Attractions

Greensboro Science Center

A lot of this sciences are geared toward younger audiences, I would be lying to you if I told you that I didn’t go to the Science Center for my 19^th birthday. This is personally one of my favorite places in Greensboro, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Greensboro’s Science center is the only facility in the whole state that offers an accredited science museum, zoo, Omnisphere theater, and aquarium all in one place.
Science Museum- The museum has exhibits that range from fossils and dinosaur footprints, extreme weather galleries, small reptiles, even an educational exhibit filled with interactive displays that take you on a tour of the body’s main systems. From now until June 5^th you can see the exciting bodies revealed exhibit. [Read more…]

Filed Under: around town, travel

Turning Seven, Painting Pots, and Surprise Parties

03/31/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

I am now the mother of a seven year old girl. While she will forever be my littlest Peanut, she is certainly growing up. Like many modern mamas, I posted on my personal FB page, gushing over how amazing she is, and how proud of her I am, and yet, how I wish to hold on to every last piece of her seemingly fleeting childhood.

But the truth is, I’m darn proud of the young lady she is becoming. With each transition to the next stage, I mourn the small and little pieces of her that slip away, while also welcoming the new she brings to our world. It’s bittersweet, at best, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, in all her squirrely-ness surrounding her birthday, she started telling us a few months beforehand that she’d “never” had a surprise party. You know, in all of her (almost) seven years of living.

Around the same time, I got an invitation from the good folks at All Fired Up to try out one of their locations. Opportunity knocks, y’all. So, after asking my daughter in a very casual off-hand way if she would be interested in going to a place like this one day, she eagerly concurred. …and the plan just fell in to place from there.

I knew I didn’t want to do another indoor playground party, as we had done that every year since she turned 3. My son’s fourth birthday, which is days before Christmas, was celebrated with friends with a very small (on-the-cheap) party (basically, a glorified playdate with three school friends), which was perfect for him. So the opportunity to mix-it-up for her 7th birthday sounded refreshing.

Our experience with the Alpharetta location of All Fired Up, from start to finish, was absolutely fantastic! Since it was a surprise party, we planned for my daughter and my husband to “run errands” in the morning, and then meet up at All Fired Up at 10 minutes after the hour. So, my mother- and father-in-law came with me and my son about ten minutes early to get things set up, and welcome our party guests as they arrived. Samantha kindly let us in early and helped brief us on the party, and helped us get set up. The staff remained friendly, helpful, and patient throughout the entire party.

As the party guests began to arrive, they were greeted warmly and shown which pieces they could pick from for painting during the party. They took the time to help them make their selections, and then wrote their names on the bottom of their pieces for them. There was a wide variety of choices, which was great, since my 4 year old son wanted something “boy-ish” to paint (his words, not mine, I swear!). Most of the other guests were girls ranging from age 6-8, as well as my 3 year old niece.

Once the guest of honor arrived, and the stun of the surprise faded for her, she also picked out what she wanted to paint, and the party hosts got things under way. The staff walked the girls over to the paints, showed them the large paint selection, and explained how to use the tiles available to put little dabs of paint on so they could paint their pieces.

While the guests worked on their pottery, the staff came around to have them sign a special “happy birthday” plate for my daughter. We were able to take it home that day, and bake it in the oven. She now has a great token to remember this occasion for years to come, and it’s a practical piece we can use each year on her birthday!

As the girls completed their pottery, the staff happily took their pieces so they could be fired, and made a note on their sheet for our party list, so it would be easy to quickly match the piece with the child upon pickup. When most of the party guests had completed their pieces, the tables were tidied up so we could sing and serve cake.

P.S. If you’ve never experienced a double-layer cookie cake from Sam’s Club, your life is incomplete. That’s all I’ll say on the matter. 😉

The entire party lasted about 90 minutes, but it was the perfect time for the kids to gather, celebrate, and have fun. I’ve found in the past, there was an awkward time period during parties where folks linger and shuffle around, not really sure what to do. This did not occur here.

All in all, I was super-pleased with the service we got from the staff at All Fired Up, and we will certainly return for another party, or simply another outing. Everyone came away raving about the experience, and it was such a relief to have a relatively easy party for my daughter.

If you’re looking for a new place for birthday parties, casual get-togethers, and even summer camps, give All Fired Up a try – you won’t be disappointed. They’ve got three locations in the Atlanta area, including Marietta and Emory, along with the Alpharetta location I attended. You can even sign up your kids for art camp over spring break or during the summer. Furthermore, they have creative art classes for both adults and for kids.

And, of course, I wouldn’t be Atlanta’s FRUGAL Mom if I didn’t tell you about their frequent painter program, which rewards you for -you guessed it!- frequent visits. Ask your location for further details. Oh! And All Fired Up also offers fundraiser opportunities for local schools, churches, and organizations – what a great way to think outside the box for a good cause.

Thanks again to the wonderful people at All Fired Up for a fantastic birthday part for my daughter! Check them out on Facebook, Pinterest, and join their mailing list to stay abreast of upcoming events and specials!

Filed Under: around town Tagged With: birthday party, review

Getting on the Same Page as Your Spouse with Parenting – Nanny 911 Series

03/18/2016 by Sadie

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Parenting is tough. Marriage is tough. Kids are tough. Life is tough. You get the picture! Even if you and your partner have completely different parenting styles, you’re still one team and you must work together. Nanny 911 has not only taught me about parenting – about teaching the kids what to expect, about following through, and of course about the Naughty Chair – it’s also taught me about growing my relationship.

Even if you disagree in the moment, do not argue about the kids’ behavior and discipline in front of them. I’m not saying you always have to agree on everything, heaven knows kids need to see that you can disagree and work through it. I’m just saying when it comes to their behavior and consequences, discuss differences of opinions behind closed doors. Behind closed doors is where you’ll sit down and hash it out – respectfully, of course. You’ll talk about your side, his side, and then you’ll reach a compromise.

Types of Parents

Angry Parent: If you’re the parent with the short fuse – always angry and yelling – I bet your kids either tun it out, or think it’s appropriate to act that way and start yelling as well. Am I right? Your spouse might tune it out as well, and then loosen the reigns behind your back, undermining your authority. Or maybe your spouse is the short-fused one, and you find yourself “making up” for it by being more lenient.

Instead of yelling, try taking a few deep breaths or using a stress ball. Identifying your triggers beforehand will help you work on self-control in the moment.

Softy Parent: If you’re the parent that makes excuses for your child’s behavior – pretending their disrespect is “no big deal” – your partner might be pretty frustrated with you. And playdates are most likely a nightmare, so your friends might be upset, too! Do your kids get away with things you know they shouldn’t, and essentially rule the house?

Stop making excuses. Write out clear expectations for your children and yourself, so everyone is on the same page and knows which behaviors are okay – and which are not.

There are several other parenting styles discussed in the Nanny 911 book. They are covered in great detail and I love that the book gives you tips for how to handle each parenting type.

Making Your Relationship a Priority

When you’ve been married a while, sometimes things can get pushed to the side – like date night. I understand how easy it is to get swept up into the routine of just being Mom and Dad, but at some point your kids will be grown and you have to be able to function as a married couple, right? Don’t put date night off for 18 years!

Even if you can’t escape the house on a regular basis, you can have a date night in after the kids go to bed. There are tons of ideas for date nights – both in the house and out – on Pinterest! I know it’s difficult to find a babysitter sometimes, but at least try to make date night out a priority as well – even if it’s just once a month, for a few hours!

Check out the rest of my Nanny 911’s series:

11 Commandments of Nanny 911

The Naughty Chair and Why It Works

Communicating With Your Child

Staying Consistent With Parenting

Filed Under: parenting

Chipotle Tofu Burritos

03/15/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

You may recall, my family and I gave up meat for Lent this year, so I’ve been on the hunt for creative ways to keep dinner lively. I can’t really say how I came up with the idea for chipotle tofu burritos, other than just to throw together some common ingredients and enjoy. ….and that’s basically what I did, y’all.

Ok, so it really started out when I bought chipotle-flavored tofu because it was BOGO at Publix and because there was a Berry Cart deal for $1 rebate on it. …and I built a mealtess dinner around that one sale item, based entirely on what I already had in my pantry and fridge.

To my delight, every one of my family members ate their dinner, even my picky kiddos. Ok, so the boy choked his down, but he *did* eat it. It may or may not have required a little come-to-Jesus convincing, but once he tried it, he decided they “weren’t bad.” sigh

Chipotle Tofu Burritos

(1) package Nasoya baked tofu, chipotle flavor – sliced in to small cubes

(1) package frozen corn, prepare as directed on package

(1) can black beans

(1) package Mexican rice, prepare as directed

shredded cheese, to taste

tortillas (we used Flatout tortillas)

salsa
There are no concrete directions, beyond preparing each ingredient as directed. Scoop on as much of each to your liking, roll up, and enjoy. The best part about these chipotle-flavored tofu burritos is you can customize to your taste, and you can add or replace ingredients. My husband and I added spinach to our burritos. Lettuce is also good. Like hot sauce? Go for it. The second time I made these, I added a dollop of sour cream, as pictured above. So, go. Prepare. Eat. And most importantly, enjoy!