Target sponsors Arts & Wonder FREE Family event July 16-18

Looking for ways to enjoy your family without breaking the bank?  Here is your chance!! 

Join Target as they sponsor Arts & Wonder FREE or reduced-price Family event near you.  As they support the community, Target is sponsoring arts and cultural events, every third Tuesday of the month.  To see what is available in your city, click here, type in the name of your city, and find out what is happening next week, July 16-18!!

FREE online class - Computer Tricks For Cards

Ever wanted to learn some of the tricks of the trade in making greeting cards?  Where here is your chance to learn from a pro.  Go here and register for a FREE online class, teaching Computer tricks for Cards!  You can't get better than FREE, and it's from a pro!!

In this class, offered by JessicaSprague.com, she putting together two subjects...computer techniques and creating giftable greetings!!  Handmade cards are gifts all by themselves, and you can share memories, crafting skills and make those you love feel even MORE loved!!

In this class, you will create a dozen (yes, 12!!) different cards!

The class starts on June 28th.  And enjoy this class all week long!!

Go here to register, then enter the access code: JSCTcardsFree2010

If you send cards, or know someone who does, then you will benefit from this class!!

And as an added bonus, if you want to join me in taking this class, we can take it together!  Come to my house, and we will put this on the BIG screen, making these together, AND having some awesome friendship time!!  Just let me know if you're interested!!

Movies by Moonlight every Thursday

Don't forget about the "Movies By Moonlight" happening right here in Cary, NC.  Tomorrow is the second movie at the Cary Booth Amphitheatre, with the featured movie "The Blind Side" starring Sandra Bullock.  The gates open at 7:00 p.m. and the movies start at dusk (approximately 8:30 pm).

Prices are $3.00 for adults and kids under 12 are FREE!  Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs, a picnic basket and enjoy an inexpensive evening with your family.

Every Thursday evening in June, July and August, they will be showing a different movie, ranging from blockbuster hits and recent releases to memorable classics.  Here's the schedule:

• June 10th - The Blind Side - rated pg 13
• June 17th - Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - rated pg
• June 24th - Casablanca - not rated
• July 1st - Christmas Vacation (National Lampoon) - rated pg 13
• July 8th - Dirty Dancing - pg 13
• July 22nd - The Sting - rated pg
• July 29th - 2012 - rated pg 13
• August 5th - Taming of the Shrew - rated pg
• August 12th - New Moon - rated pg 13
• August 19th - How To Train a Dragon - rated pg

And if you come out early on July 10th (tomorrow), there will be pre-show entertainment!  Michael Alvarado will be out to play some fantastic songs off his newest EP "Love Is All".  This musician is local and vocal and will be ready to get you excited for The Blind Side!

Also, the North Carolina Bengals Football team will be out to spread the football spirit and their Lady Bengals cheerleaders will be there to support them!

A portion of the proceeds to benefit the WakeMed Just for Kids Kampaign,

Summer Fun on the Cheap - Drive-In Theaters

While thinking about fun things to do with my kids this summer, I began to remember activities that my family did when I was a kid: board games, bike riding, nature hikes, fishing,   None of these things cost much, and they made for some fun and exciting experiences that I still remember to this day (and no, I'm NOT going to tell you how old I am!)

One activity that needs to be made aware of, and that is too often ignored is the old-fashioned drive-in theater.  Taking the kids to a movie is fine, but with more than one child (or even just with your spouse) it ends up costing as much as it would to take the whole family out to eat.  This year try something new.  And what better time to go to a drive-in theater than in the summer, when you can even sit outside, or roll your car windows down and enjoy a movie on the truly BIG screen.
Researching drive-in theaters wasn't as difficult as I first thought.  I found an excellent and information-packed website that lists drive-in theaters all over the United States.  You just click on your state and up pulls an extensive list of all the drive-in theaters in your state.  It doesn't get any easier than that!

Durham, NC has its own family-owned drive-in theater called the Starlight Drive-In.  It is located at 2523 East Club Boulevard @ I85.  You can call 919-688-1037 OR 919-755-6446 for more details.  They are open from April - October and have FM sound only.  Admission is $4.00 per person and $2.00 for kids 3-11.  They also have Flea Markets on the weekends.

As an added bonus, the Starlight Drive-In has a tradition of playing The Wizard of Oz on the last weekend of the season.  But don't wait until then to check it out.  It's well worth the drive for a different and fun family outing.  Give your kids a blast from the past this summer!!

Steal of a Deal from Kraft - 1/2 Price Minor League Baseball Tickets

Looking for some great ideas for this summer, that won't break the budget, but will include the whole family?

Kraft is offering a "steal of a deal" on minor league baseball tickets through September 7th.  Just show up at the box office, bring a Kraft Singles wrapper, purchase one ticket and get another ticket FREE!!  This offer is good for every Tuesday night home game.  There are a few cities that are not participating, so go here for exclusions and details.

Free and Cheap Summer Movies

Check out this great article for a listing of FREE and cheap summer movies!!  http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-50371-Raleigh-Childrens-Entertainment-Examiner~y2010m5d26-Summer-schedule-of-free-and-cheap-movies

Veggie Tales 'Girl Power' Items

Veggie Tales will be releasing a new DVD "Sweetpea Beauty, a Girl after God's Own Heart" on July 31st.  You can pre-order this DVD now.  There are three different bundles available so pre-order yours now.

• Special offer #1 - Sweetpea Beauty DVD and Sweetpea's Songs for Girls $14.99
• Special offer #2 - Sweetpea Beauty DVD, Sweetpea's Songs for Girls and Minnesota Cuke: Samson's Hairbrush $19.99
• Special offer #3 - Sweetpea Beauty DVD, Girl Power Triple Feature DVD, Sweetpea's Songs for Girls and a Sweetpea digital watch $29.99

Each of these will ship to arrive on the release date of 7/31/10.  FREE shipping on orders of $40 or more.

Along with this great new release, Veggie Tales is running a $5.00 DVD clearance sale.  These make wonderful birthday or Christmas gifts.  It's also fun to bring out a new DVD as a surprise for the kiddos!  All of my kids (even the 17 year old!) LOVE Veggie Tales.

Top Five Summer Fun Activities For School Age Children

Check out my article for the Examiner!!

http://rss.examiner.com/RSS-50371-Raleigh-Childrens-Entertainment-Examiner.rss

The Knack - by Michael's May Event

Are you a member of The Knack yet?  Sign up here for coupons, deals and notification of awesome events.

For the month of May, The Knack is offering a FREE Family Event making an American Girl Craft Flower Card.  You will be making a beautiful vase of flowers card for someone special.  It takes place on 5/29/10 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  and is only available in US stores.  This is while supplies last.

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse

Check out the Summer movies offered by Cinemark...only $1.00!  All 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5.00 or you can purchase the movie each week for $1.00.  Check out what movies are being offered and if it is available in your area.

Six Flags: Adult Admission for the price of Child's

Until October11, 2010, Six Flags is offering a General Admission for an adult at the child price when you present this coupon and a pack of Stride Gum.

National Park Week April 17-25

What a great time to visit a National Park - during National Park Week!  During the week of April 17-15, ALL 392 National Parks have FREE entrance.

There are also other activities going on during that week:

Saturday, April 24th is National Junior Ranger Day, with kid-friendly activities and a chance for them to earn a Junior Ranger Badge.

The entire event list can be found here.

There are also park partners that are offering special opportunites and discounts during National Park Week.

A Family Fun Night

The Cleavers enjoy a family fun night, complete with popcorn and board games. Check out these Hasbro coupons for great deals.

Coming Soon!!!

Coupons, Cleaning and Cooking the June Cleaver way.