Athens readers, check your Athens Banner Herald!  Reader Sarah is reporting she found a $5 off $30 Publix coupon in hers!  Looks like I’ll be heading on to get a paper in a bit!  Look for the coupon in a flyer called ”Summer Breakfast Sale”.  The coupon is valid 6/2-6/15.

Go on over HERE to facebook and like Newman’s Own.  They are offering $1 off coupons for liking their page.  Print your coupon and take it to Publix, where they currently have canned cat food for $.75.  You’ll earn $.25 in overage if your store allows, so essentially you’ll get PAID to take the cat food from them

Local readers, consider taking your cat food to the Athens Animal Control.  They are always in need of donations!

Thanks Jessica!

Today on Dealmobs, you can snag a $40 gift certificate to the Athens Edible Arrangements for just $20!  What an awesome deal!  I love Edible arrangements.  I highly recommend the chocolate covered strawberries or apples.  YUM!  Go HERE to snag yours while supplies last!

ALL WEEKEND

• FREE Admission for Active Duty Military & Veterans: Stone Mountain Park honors our troops and their families, in a three-day celebration of American spirit at Atlanta’s largest Memorial Weekend celebration.  This Memorial Weekend, May 28-30, we invite all Active Duty Military and Veterans to enjoy the park for FREE with a valid military ID.* In addition, families visiting with a service member will receive up to $10 off a one-day Adventure Pass.
• Bass Pro Shop, Discover Mills Mall: Go Outdoors Summer Kick Off Event: Lots of activities including crafts, workshops, games and photos!  All free, plus I am sure they’ll be having some good in store sales as well.
• Georgia Renaissance Festival:  Travel back in time and enjoy period food and entertainment.

Saturday May 28

• Lowes Build and Grow clinic: Biplane: This cool Biplane comes with two complete sets of stickers and punch out pilots!  Register online HERE.
• Pet Festival and Family Fun Day: Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with the Humane Society of Jackson County at PetFest! Join other pet lovers for a live music, a pet parade, games for kids, food and many great arts and crafts vendors! Bring your leashed pets and join in the Walk-a-Thon, pet parade and pet contests. Free goodie bags for the first 300 families!  Location: The Birdhouse at 1866 Hwy 211, Braselton, GA 30517 Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cost: Free  Contact: For additional information, please visit http://www.hsjc.com or contact petfest@live.com or 706-367-1111
• Athens Farmers Market 8:00am – 12:00am Eastern Bishop Park, Athens, GA.  Athens Farmers Market is an organization of local farmers, craftspeople and volunteers working to make local naturally grown food, crafts and works of art available for the good of all. Celebrate treasures that are uniquely Athens. Our food grown in our soil by our farmers. Our crafts made in our homes by our artists. Our music, our merriment, and our memories shared on Saturday mornings.
• Mall of Georgia’s Movies Under the Stars: Despicable Me: Place: Mall of Georgia (The Village Amphitheater) 3333 Buford Drive, Buford, GA 30519.  Time: Live music begins at 6:30 p.m. Movie begins at dusk.  Cost: FREE

Monday May 30

• Running with the Dawgs:AOJWC sponsoring the 8th Annual Running with The Dawgs 5K Race onMonday, May 30, 2011
  Race Time: 8am, Race Location: Athens Classic Center, http://www.aojwc.org. The Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club invites you to their 8th Annual Running with the Dawgs 5K which will be held May 30, 2011 at the Classic Center (600 N Thomas St, Athens). The race begins at 8 am. You can register online at www.active.com or race day registration is available beginning at 7 am on May 30
• Memorial Day At Memorial Park: Celebrate the Memorial Day at Memorial Park on Monday, May 30. 12:00 PM?-?3:00 PM.  Activities for the day include concessions, inflatables, face painting, music, games and more.  The event is open to the public and is free of charge.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  For more information, call 706-613-3580.
• Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn- The Splitz Time: 5:00am – 9:00am Location: Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast.  From the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, & The Jacksons to the Gap Band and Boyz II Men The Splitz are gonna rock your evening on the lawn. We’re pleased to be bringing another motwon infused act to the series this year, and with all of your old 70’s R&B favorites, look for this performance to keep the crowd dancing late into the night! http://www.amconcerts.com

Thanks Edith!

The moment all of us local Athenians have been waiting for!  The Beechwood Cinemas Summer Movie list has been released!  Here’s things to keep in mind:

• Movie starts at 10, Doors open at 9:15.  From my experience, GET THERE EARLY to make sure you get a seat.
• Prices are $1 admission, $1.50 kiddie popcorn, $1.50 kiddie drink

Go HERE to print the flyer to stick to your fridge with the movie listings.

Here’s a list of the movies showing:

June 7 & 9

• Ramona and Beezus (G)
• Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (PG)

June 14 & 16

• Furry Vengeance (PG)
• Legend of the Guargians: The Owls of Ga ‘Hoole (PG)

June 21 & 23

• Marmaduke (PG)
• Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG)

June 28 & 30

• How to Train Your Dragon (PG)
• The Spy Next Door (PG)

July 6 & 7

• Shrek Forever After (PG)
• The Karate Kid (PG)

July 12 & 14

• Despicable Me (PG)
• Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief (PG)

July 19 & 21

• Megamind (PG)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG)

July 26 & 28

• Yogi Bear (PG)
• The Last Airbender (PG)

Remember if you don’t feel like fighting the crowd, there is always the option of the Georgia Square Mall Theatre.  They charge just $1.99.  Go HERE to see their current list of movies and times.

Athens Residents, there is a new program in town called Fail As Fast As You Can.  FAFAYC for short, is a company working with University of Georgia students and local parents and offering services such as foreign language, music, dance, art, and networking.  FAFAYC strives to spruce up creativity in children, improve socialization, and help create more diversely educated individuals.

They are current offering your first class for FREE!  No strings attached.  After your first free class, if you wish to continue, they will give you 3 months of classes at $5 off the normal price.

To sign your children up for their free class, just go on over HERE to the FAFAYC website.  Click Register and fill in the appropriate info.  Be sure and tell them you heard about FAFAYC from Mommy Octopus.

I will definitely be giving this a go.  Now to decide which free class to choose!

A few of you have asked about how to find deals on locally grown produce.  One of my favorite sites for finding local produce is a co-op called Locally Grown. Here’s how to find one in your area:

• First go HERE and look at the map to find your closest Locally Grown Co-Op.  There are divisions all over the US. (CLICK HERE for the Athens, GA Locally Grown)
• Once you find yours, then click on The Market.  You’ll find everything from meats, veggies, eggs, and fruits, to homemade pies, breads and more.
• From here, you place your order and pick it up at the designated time and location in your city.  For the Athens area, you can pickup your orders from 4:30 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays at Ben’s Bikes, located at the corner of Pope & Broad Streets near downtown (670 W. Broad Street).

We’ve placed many orders through the Athens Locally Grown and have been very pleased with the goodies we receive.  If you have any questions, just read the FAQ section on their site.  It helps out a bunch!

Do you have any experience with Locally Grown or a similar co-op?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!

Today’s deal with the Athens Banner Herald is $7 for a $20 credit toward you online order at Papa John’s.  Go HERE to grab yours!

• Voucher valid ONLY for ONLINE orders. Do not redeem voucher at the store location.
• Valid at Athens & Watkinsville locations only.
• Valid for ANY large pizza with any toppings or any specialty pizza.
• Voucher holds no cash value.
• No credits or cash back will be given for remaining balances.
• MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER COUPONS OR SPECIAL OFFERS.
• Expires 8/15/2011

For all my local readers, they are having Mom Night at the Barnett Shoals Chick-Fil-A on Monday, May 23rd.  They will be having flowers, special seating, activities, and more!  My husband and daughter have gone the past few years to the Daddy/Daughter Date night, but now it is finally a night to celebrate Mom!  You will need to make reservations if you plan to participate so they will have a table ready for you.  Go HERE for more information on how to register.

Today’s Athens Daily Deal is another Weaver D’s Deal!  $9 for a $20 certificate.  I’ve heard so many great things about this restaurant and still haven’t had the chance to make it over there yet.  My husband went though and loved it.

To snag your Weaver D’s deal, just go HERE to purchase.

Mmmm… My favorite season is upon us…. Strawberry Pickin’ Season!  The kids and I went and snagged some fresh strawberries the other day.  I could seriously eat the whole bucket myself.  Words can’t describe a fresh picked strawberry!  I forgot my camera to get our yearly Strawberry Patch pictures, but I’m sure we’ll be back in a few days

Here in the Athens area, there are two “Pick Your Own Strawberry” places that I am aware of.  Washington Farms in Watkinsville and Moon Farms in Colbert.  Let me know if you know of any others.  I’ve been to both and honestly, there isn’t one I’d prefer over the other.  They are both family run and are wonderful farms.  We have just been visiting Moon Farms since they are closer to our home.

Washington Farms: It’s always best to call or check their website before you head out to Washington Farms.  Sometimes they get slammed with visitors and will be picked out for the day.  They are always closed on Sundays.  Here’s a picture of my kiddos and my nephew at Washington Farms about 2 years ago. 

Moon Farms: Moon Farms is open Monday-Saturday from 9-7 and Sundays from 2-6.  One thing that I particularly love about Moon Farms is that they have fresh homemade strawberry ice cream available to buy!  You haven’t lived until you’ve tried fresh strawberry ice cream!  It’s rather dangerous on my wallet that Moon Farms is located so close by!  Here’s a picture of my kiddos at Moon Farms last year… strawberry faces and all!

Have you been strawberry picking yet this year?  Do you have a favorite strawberry recipe to share?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!