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GIVEAWAY: Ultimate Annual Passes to LEGOLAND Discovery Center – Atlanta

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It’s been a few years since we visited LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Atlanta, but when we went, the kids had a blast!

Did you know that LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta currently has a sale on their annual passes?  If your family enjoys LEGOs, this is a great deal for you!  Now through March 6, 2020, you can purchase Ultimate Annual Passes at $39.95.

Save over $35 per Ultimate Annual Pass during the limited-time sale now through March 6 – it pays for itself in less than two visits. Families will get unlimited access to five BRICKTASTIC events year-round including new exhibits such as LEGO® Trolls World Tour, Pirates Ahoy! and DC Superheroes vs. Super Villains, plus the popular Brick-or-Treat and Bricktacular holiday events. Annual Pass holders also receive special discounts on friends and family tickets, LEGO® store items and more at the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground.

Ultimate Annual Pass Members Benefits:

  • Unlimited admission for 12 months
  • FREE activity pack and lanyard per pass
  • 50% off admission for friends and family that visit with membership holder
  • 20% off in the LEGO® Café
  • 10% off select items in the LEGO® Store
  • 10% off birthday parties
  • 3 free child tickets

Giveaway:

Our friends at LEGOLAND Discovery Center have generously offered to giveaway a family four-pack of Ultimate Annual Passes (valued at $300)!  What a great prize!  Simply fill out to the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

11 Things to Know When Visiting Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville

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After seeing the great deal for admission to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (free admission through 2/16/20), we decided to take a drive out to Gainesville yesterday and check out those gardens.  It made for a great dreary day walk and helped the younger 4 kids burn off some energy and break up our homeschool day a bit.

Since we visited and I posted on Instagram about our trip, I had a couple readers ask me about the park and what they needed to know about visiting.  These are our thoughts and from our experience.  Here’s what you need to know:

 

  1. No outside food is permitted.  We had brought a picnic with hopes of enjoying it there, but in order to keep the grounds clean and beautiful, they do not allow any outside food.  Instead, we enjoyed it on our way home.
  2. Once you get past the lobby, follow the paths to the left.  While following this route, you will weave through the different garden areas and then loop over to the children’s play area last.
  3. Stop and look at the different things along the way. There are a ton of different plants and flowers.  My kids enjoyed reading the names of them as there are some silly and strange names!  Our favorite was “Hot Lips”.  
  4. Walking through the gardens took us maybe 15-30 minutes, but it may be shorter or longer for your family depending on how long you take looking at the different varieties.  
  5. It’s important to stay on the paths so you don’t disturb the vegetation or mess up the displays.  It is clearly marked when you are allowed to walk off the path.
  6. Kids can unwind in the children’s garden.  Here you  can find a dragon to climb on and paths to follow.  
  7. The garden map shows a trolley near the gardens.  Since the map was printed, it has moved to the children’s area.  It looks fantastic in the midst of the play area.  You can press the button once and the trolley will come out and drive on it’s track.
  8. Watch for fairy houses and fun decorations.  There are a ton throughout the children’s area!
  9. The larger playground is best for children ages 5-12.  My kids had a fun time playing on it, but may be too high/challenging for younger children.
  10. Take time to paint the walls with water.  There is a bucket with paintbrushes that your kids can use.  My 4 year old really enjoyed this spot!                                           
  11. Take time to play with the balsa wood to build forts or whatever your children want to try.  This wood is light and isn’t too hard. This was probably our favorite part of the gardens.  I think my youngest would have stayed there all day building!

Although our trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville was a lot of fun, it was a little smaller than we expected and took less time to enjoy than we expected.  Nonetheless, we had a blast and enjoyed our day.  It’s definitely worth checking out and come springtime, it will be absolutely gorgeous!

LEGOLAND Discover Center Atlanta -Teacher Appreciation Days!

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Great news for teachers and school staff!  Take note!

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta offers school staff and faculty free admission from Sunday, February 16 – Sunday, March 8 to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Days. The program will give educators the opportunity to experience educational play at the ultimate LEGO® classroom while learning more about the unforgettable field trip experience offered at the attraction.

Staff and faculty members are welcome to bring their families or students to experience the interactive LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta atmosphere. The special offer allows free admission to all school administration, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, school maintenance and more (with valid ID or paystub) – as well as 25% off tickets for friends and family.

Eligibility is for school staff and faculty with valid proof of employment. Available for walk-up tickets only. For more information, visit facebook.com/ldcatlanta or atlanta.legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

Free Botanical Garden Admission – Feb 11- 16!

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I’ve been wanting to check out the one in Gainesville, so I think we will take a field trip!  Or maybe we will go to both!  Woo hoo!

From the Atlanta Botanical Garden Facebook Page – In memory of Anne Cox Chambers, enjoy free admission to the Midtown and Gainesville gardens Tuesday, Feb. 11 – Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020 sponsored by Cox Enterprises. Celebrate the extraordinary legacy of the Garden’s longtime friend and lifetime trustee while enjoying the Garden and the beauty of Orchid Daze.

You can find out more about the gardens on the Atlanta Botanical Gardens website, where you’ll also notice the free banner at the top.

Meal Plan Monday

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What a great weekend!  We heard that snow was coming and so we took off to go camping in the mountains and ended up getting snowed in at Dahlonega!  It was a great time and we are so glad we went.  They recorded 6 inches of snow!  The kids had a blast sledding and playing in the snow. We never lost power so we had plenty of hot chocolate and warmth in the camper.

We finally were able to make it home yesterday when the roads cleared.  Now this week will be consumed with laundry, but that’s ok!  It was worth it.

Back to the grind today!  Here’s what we are making this week –

Monday: Black bean burritos

Tuesday: Lazy Lasagna

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Dinner with grandma

Friday: Jalepeno Popper Chicken Soup

Saturday: Carne Picada tacos

Sunday: 15 bean soup

Have a great week!

Sign Up for Free Samples From Amazon!

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They say that you learn something new everyday.  Today, I learned that Amazon is willing to send out free samples to their customers, but they need to know you’d like to receive them!

It takes less than a minute to opt in for samples.  You can select the type of samples you’d like to receive.  Head on over to sign up!

Do I have to pay for samples?
No, samples are free and you don’t have to pay for anything. Amazon surprises select customers with samples that we think will be delightful and helpful.

Do I need to be a Prime member to receive samples?
No, anyone with an active Amazon.com account is eligible to receive free samples. If you’re selected to receive a sample, the sample will be sent to your default address.

Is there a limit to how many samples I can get?
Currently, there’s no limit to how many samples you can get from Amazon.

Levi’s Imperial March 5K and Fun Run

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A year and a half ago, our family’s life was turned upside down when my perfectly healthy nephew, Levi, suddenly couldn’t move half of his body.  He was rushed to Piedmont Athens Regional and from there, lifeflighted to CHOA where he was in a fight for his life.  He was diagnosed with an AVM – Arteriovenous Malformation in his brain.  You can read his full story on his facebook page.

All 10 cousins!!

From there, he’s been in therapies multiple times a week and is completely wheelchair bound.  My brother’s family has 4 other children and with Levi’s wheelchair, they’ve had to stick to mostly being at home due to lack of room in a vehicle.  If they all go out, they have to take 2 cars, so when my brother’s at work for Gwinnett County Fire, they are stuck.

Some of my brother’s friends have created a 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run to benefit my nephew, Levi Brooks.  There will be special guests and a great time to get together for a local cause.    This is also a Peachtree Road Race qualifier event!

Please consider joining my family and coming out to Tribble Mill Park in Lawrenceville for this event.  Register by 2/15 to receive a free t-shirt!  You can see more information on the Event page on Facebook.

Giveaway: Frozen 2 Digital Download Codes!

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We never did make it to see FROZEN 2 in the theaters, so we are chomping at the bit to the release date!  My kids are going to be so surprised that FROZEN 2 coming home on Digital HD on Tuesday, February 11th and Blu-ray™ on Tuesday, February 25th.  

Isn’t that great news!?!

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” has melted hearts around the world, becoming the No. 1 animated feature of all time. Just in time for Valentine’s Day,  the follow-up to 2013’s hit Oscar®-winning Best Animated Feature, “Frozen,” comes home, with a sing-along version and all-new extras. “Frozen 2” bonus features include deleted scenes, deleted songs, Easter eggs, outtakes and a sing-along version with lyrics to the film’s forever-infectious songs. Extras invite viewers to go behind-the-scenes to hear personal, making-of stories from the “Frozen 2” cast and crew. Fans who bring the film home early on Digital will receive two exclusive extras: an interview with songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who won an Oscar® for Best Original Song (“Let It Go,” 2014) and wrote seven original songs for “Frozen 2,” and a deleted song titled “Unmeltable Me.”

Giveaway:

We have some HD Digital Download codes to give away to a couple lucky readers!  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chaco Sale!

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It’s another Chaco sale and I’m loving this deal for the kids sandals!  In addition, through 2/10, you can use code CHACO30 to save an additional 30% off Chacos!  Be sure to check out the sale section to get the most bang for your buck.

Here are a few that I wanted to point out, but there are a ton more in the Chaco sale!

KID’S ZX/1 ECOTREAD SANDALS – on sale  $32.99 (reg. $60).  Use code CHACO30 for an addtional 30% off, making the final cost only $23.09

WOMEN’S CONFLUENCE SANDALS – on sale for $54.99 (reg. $80).  Use code CHACO30 for an addtional 30% off, making the final cost $38.49

 

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