Happy Halloween. Hope that all your little ones had a great time getting loads of candy. Mine had a blast and came home with buckets full of stuff. Much more than their little bodies can consume. I just ordered a pizza to be delivered for us parents for dinner and the little people are off to bed on a raging sugar high.
The crazy part here is the Santa part. As amazing as it is Christmas seems to be "out" earlier every year. Target, Costco, everyone is already decorating and selling Christmas stuff too. Crazy. This week I also got a postcard in the mail telling me when I could again make my reservation to see Santa. Yes, I am one of the crazy ones that makes the appointment and drives to Phipps to see "THE" Santa. I mean this is the Coke Santa. He is really a pretty one. So my theory is if we are going to get the token picture that I already don't enjoy buying then it needs to be with someone that looks the part. Thus we have gone for 2 years now (since Jenna was born) to see the Santa at Phipps. The sad part of the story is this fine man passed away this past April. But I will continue to drive there this year assuming that the fine people at Phipps have gotten another awesome Santa for us. So here is the website . I will be making my appointment late tonight while I am watching reruns of Frasier.
But here is the Phipps Santa scoop.
Guidelines:
The Appointment System will return for 2006 with enhancements and a new service provider. This season, we will offer two ways for you to visit with Santa. Starting November 1st at 12:01am, we will begin accepting appointments for Sunday through Thursday appointments. We will be closed on Mondays, except on Monday, November 20th and Monday, December 18th. You are only allowed to book one appointment per family. We will be checking the site for double bookings and will delete any double bookings found without notice.
Schedule
Opening Saturday, November 11th thru Sunday, December 24th, 2006
We will be closed on Mondays except November 20th and December 18th, 2006.
There will be no photo pick-up on the Mondays we are closed.
Tuesday through Saturday
Morning Session: 10:30 am to 1:00pm
Afternoon Session: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Evening Session: 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Sundays and Christmas Eve
Morning Session: 10:30 am to 1:00 pm
Afternoon Session: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Of course this the high maintenance version of seeing Santa ;)
And the major Alpharetta holiday events are as follows:
29th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration -Historic Downtown Alpharetta on Milton Avenue
Sunday, December 3, 2006 at 5:00pm
Come and join the Alpharetta community for the 29th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration on Milton Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Alpharetta. The evening will begin with holiday musical and dance performances. Mayor Arthur Letchas and his wife, Sally, will read a story for the children: “Twas the Night before Christmas.” Then the Mayor will present the beautiful 45ft live tree with over 10,000 white twinkling lights.
Once the tree is lit, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will find their way to the downtown square by means of an Alpharetta Fire Truck. Visiting and photographs with Santa in the gazebo. A variety of free children activities and refreshments will be available. All of the activities are FREE, except for the horse and buggy rides with a nominal fee of $3.00 per person. Please come out and join us for wonderful family event in Alpharetta.
Santa's Calling - North Pole
Monday, December 4, 2006 6:00 PM
Santa Claus will be calling local boys and girls age 8 and under from his Toy Workshop at the North Pole. Moms and Dads, Santa needs you to complete a registration form and return it to any Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department facility by Friday, December 2nd. Santa will make calls on Monday, December 4th and Tuesday, December 5th from 6pm to 8pm. Forms will be available November 1st. For more information, call 678-297-6130 or email wprcprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.
Cookies with the Clauses - Alpharetta Community Center
Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:00 PM
Join your friends with Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department for some cookies, decorating, and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with other fun children's activities. This event is free but participants are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped gift for a child for a local donation. Cookies with the Clauses will be held from 12pm to 3pm. For more information, call 678-297-6100 or email accprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.
Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus - Senior Activity Center
Monday, December 18, 2006 8:30 AM
Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with the staff of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department, invite children age 10 and under to Breakfast with the Clauses. This event will be held from 8:30am to 10:30am at the Senior Activity Center at North Park and is co-sponsored by the Alpharetta Golden Age Club. Pre-registration is required no later than December 13th. For more information, call 678-297-6140 or email seniors@alpharetta.ga.us.
This is a link to some other holiday happenings around Atlanta. Holiday Events
Ginny
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
I Scream, You Scream, Is it too cold for Ice Cream?
Well . . . maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But here are my favorites and where I know of for getting some great ice cream! (and some for how to get it on the cheap!)
Brusters - my personal fave. i really like me some Oreo cheesecake. they have very generous servings as well. the best part here is the free baby scoop (well kids scoop). you can get a very tiny scoop, in a tiny cone (or cup) with hair (sprinkles of course),and candy eyes. the kids love them. they even will do a free scoop for your beloved dog. super easy to go here and leave for around $4-5 for 2 adult ice creams and some free ones for the young'uns
Cold Stone - again a very exciting place. there is something fun about creating your own concoction. (and it is nice to be able to tell them to put more caramel in just for kicks.) when we feel the need to go there get a small pint to bring home for ourselves. works out to be cheaper as it includes more mix ins and then we can eat it after the little people are sleeping. but for the kids; well when there were only 2 of them, i got one kids order with one mix-in and had them split it into two cups. cause truly before bed do they really need that much. *big fun here is if you put the tip in you just know the kids working there SOOO do not want to sing. but it is quite fun to watch them suffer through the song ;)
Chick'fil A - truly what is not to love about something called "Icedream." it just sounds so pleasant. it is quite yummy and a lovely treat when there. the big deal here is that if you don't open your kids meal prize, and convince your kids to give it back you get an icedream instead! mine are usually begging for the dessert since they found out about this trade-in program. and quite frankly mommy has to do some quality control and have some of it too.
McDonalds - for drive-thru ice cream, this is my first choice. i love the hot fudge sundaes. they are a steal since they are on the dollar menu. many nights i will drive over after the kids are in bed and get one for me (and one for hubby too) to have for a late night snack. there have also been many a time that i have been able to sneak one for myself while the kids play in the playland. shhhh, don't tell! many stores may also do a child sized cone if you ask. again these are pretty cheap and work wonders for bargaining. don't forget about the .50 cookies too!
Dairy Queen - another good drive through. blizzards freeze well and it they make a great butterscotch dipped ice cream cone. sadly i have never gotten the kids anything here. so i have no idea what kids stuff costs.
Wendy's - the classic frosty. great if you need chocolate in a pinch. a jr size frosty is a great price at .79 cents. and generally speaking is just enough to satisfy an adult size craving as well as be plenty for the kids. the mix-ins are nice too just over a dollar and you get a bowl full of frosty and a bag of your choice of topping. personally i am into the Oreo one. and if that was not enough they have come out with a new frosty, the vanilla frosty. this is particularly interesting seeing as it will be much easier to clean up for car eaters. much less likely to mess up your outfit on the way to wherever it is that you are going. every year before Halloween our local stores sell these great coupon books too that benefit the Dave Thomas adoption charity. these handy books sell for $1.00 and include 10 coupons for free jr.frostys. i pick some up every year just to keep on hand for emergency snacks. this year i bought some extras so the kids could take them to school and give a coupon to each friend in their class.
Ben & Jerry's - they are the most expensive of the bunch. but they have the yummy flavors that you are accustomed to from the grocery store. so they are worth a mention. can't remember what flavor it is that i like so much but it involves marshmallow and some sort of chocolate animal.
Carvel - don't go here much either, but for people who like soft-serve this is supposed to be the way to go. i am more of a cheapskate on the soft-serve side and like to put my money into the more solid kind of ice cream :) - the fun part here is the sprinkle bar, it is a rainbow of sprinkles waiting for you to just come and play.
And I know there have to be more places to get ice cream but these are the top ones that I could think of. And to answer the original question. It is never too cold for ice cream!
Ginny
Brusters - my personal fave. i really like me some Oreo cheesecake. they have very generous servings as well. the best part here is the free baby scoop (well kids scoop). you can get a very tiny scoop, in a tiny cone (or cup) with hair (sprinkles of course),and candy eyes. the kids love them. they even will do a free scoop for your beloved dog. super easy to go here and leave for around $4-5 for 2 adult ice creams and some free ones for the young'uns
Cold Stone - again a very exciting place. there is something fun about creating your own concoction. (and it is nice to be able to tell them to put more caramel in just for kicks.) when we feel the need to go there get a small pint to bring home for ourselves. works out to be cheaper as it includes more mix ins and then we can eat it after the little people are sleeping. but for the kids; well when there were only 2 of them, i got one kids order with one mix-in and had them split it into two cups. cause truly before bed do they really need that much. *big fun here is if you put the tip in you just know the kids working there SOOO do not want to sing. but it is quite fun to watch them suffer through the song ;)
Chick'fil A - truly what is not to love about something called "Icedream." it just sounds so pleasant. it is quite yummy and a lovely treat when there. the big deal here is that if you don't open your kids meal prize, and convince your kids to give it back you get an icedream instead! mine are usually begging for the dessert since they found out about this trade-in program. and quite frankly mommy has to do some quality control and have some of it too.
McDonalds - for drive-thru ice cream, this is my first choice. i love the hot fudge sundaes. they are a steal since they are on the dollar menu. many nights i will drive over after the kids are in bed and get one for me (and one for hubby too) to have for a late night snack. there have also been many a time that i have been able to sneak one for myself while the kids play in the playland. shhhh, don't tell! many stores may also do a child sized cone if you ask. again these are pretty cheap and work wonders for bargaining. don't forget about the .50 cookies too!
Dairy Queen - another good drive through. blizzards freeze well and it they make a great butterscotch dipped ice cream cone. sadly i have never gotten the kids anything here. so i have no idea what kids stuff costs.
Wendy's - the classic frosty. great if you need chocolate in a pinch. a jr size frosty is a great price at .79 cents. and generally speaking is just enough to satisfy an adult size craving as well as be plenty for the kids. the mix-ins are nice too just over a dollar and you get a bowl full of frosty and a bag of your choice of topping. personally i am into the Oreo one. and if that was not enough they have come out with a new frosty, the vanilla frosty. this is particularly interesting seeing as it will be much easier to clean up for car eaters. much less likely to mess up your outfit on the way to wherever it is that you are going. every year before Halloween our local stores sell these great coupon books too that benefit the Dave Thomas adoption charity. these handy books sell for $1.00 and include 10 coupons for free jr.frostys. i pick some up every year just to keep on hand for emergency snacks. this year i bought some extras so the kids could take them to school and give a coupon to each friend in their class.
Ben & Jerry's - they are the most expensive of the bunch. but they have the yummy flavors that you are accustomed to from the grocery store. so they are worth a mention. can't remember what flavor it is that i like so much but it involves marshmallow and some sort of chocolate animal.
Carvel - don't go here much either, but for people who like soft-serve this is supposed to be the way to go. i am more of a cheapskate on the soft-serve side and like to put my money into the more solid kind of ice cream :) - the fun part here is the sprinkle bar, it is a rainbow of sprinkles waiting for you to just come and play.
And I know there have to be more places to get ice cream but these are the top ones that I could think of. And to answer the original question. It is never too cold for ice cream!
Ginny
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Feed them Free (or cheap)
The most commonly asked for information that I keep in my head is a weekly schedule of places that you can feed your children for free or pretty darn cheap in the Alpharetta area. And yes, you can do it nightly if you wish (I have before!) Apparently the good restaurateurs here don't think that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are the nights to make designated kids nights, so the handy every night list is good to pull out on those occasions!
Jersey Mikes (Old Milton)
one free child per adult meal
sandwiches
Artuzzis (Mansell and Hwy 9 & Windward Locations)
one free child per adult meal
pasta, pizza
WG Grinders (Windward) Dinner
one free child per adult meal
sandwiches, pizza
Hudsons Grille (Windward & Hwy 9)
one free child per adult meal
usual basics
one free child per adult
PB&Fluffernutter, Chicken Fingers, BBQ Sandwich, Grilled Cheese
Sonny's BBQ (Hwy 9, across from Honda dealer)
one free child per adult, under 3 always free
BBQ plates, hot dogs, sandwiches - under 3 choices are hot dog, chicken leg, or chicken fingers
Tin Star (Windward)
kids meal is .99 with adult purchase for dinner
Moe's (Windward)
free kids meal per adult
taco, burrito, quesadilla
Hudson's Grill (Hwy 9 and Windward)
free kids meal per adult
one free child per adult
chicken tenders, fried rice
Roadhouse (Windward)
one free child per adult (depending on the meal the adult gets maybe two)
steak, burger, chicken fingers
Smokejack (Hwy 9 - Downtown Alpharetta)
one free child per adult
PB&Fluffernutter, Chicken Fingers, BBQ Sandwich, Grilled Cheese
Sonny's BBQ (Hwy 9, across from Honda dealer)
one free child per adult, under 3 always free
BBQ plates, hot dogs, sandwiches - under 3 choices are hot dog, chicken leg, or chicken fingers
Fuddruckers (at Andretti's)
kids meal .99
hamburger
Mama Fu's (Mansell)
free child per adult
chicken tenders, fried rice, noodles
Chick'fil A (Hwy 92 by Super Target)
kids meal .99
Snooty Fox (Crabapple Kroger)
kids meal .99
Boneless Wings are .50 a piece order what you need
If you order them with no sauce they are like chicken fingers.
one free child per adult meal
grilled cheese, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, ham and cheese sandwich
Zaxby's (downtown Alpharetta)
Kids meals .99
chicken, grilled cheese
Every night for dinner from 4-9 pm
One free child per adult meal
Chipotle (All locations)
Small cheese quesadilla is .55
Free water cup
Taxi's (Windward)
Every day after 4
Free kids meal per adult meal
hamburgers, etc
Atlanta Bread Company (Windward)
after 5
free kids meal per adult meal
sandwiches
YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS
Jason's Deli (all locations)
Kids meals are 1.99/2.99
macaroni, pizza, salad, sandwich
Tacone Flavor Grill (Windward)
Kids are free after 4:00
one per adult meal
grilled cheese, quesadilla, chicken fingers
Mad Italian (Windward)
all day kids are free
one per adult meal
Costco or Sams
with a membership
you can always eat for super cheap
hot dog and a drink is 1.50
pizza and a chicken roll are under 3.50
the other part to remember is that you can almost be full from snacking on all the samples they are tasting, so just shopping can take care of a great snack!
This is by no means a comprehensive list and I would love to add any information to it as I come across! So if you have any information please send it my way. And please note that this is subject to change by each locations desire. And things can change!
Best of luck to you as you take the challenge to feed them free.
Ginny
Sunday
Loco's (corner of Haynes Bridge and Old Milton)
one free child per adult meal
grilled cheese, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, ham and cheese sandwichone free child per adult meal
Jersey Mikes (Old Milton)
one free child per adult meal
sandwiches
Artuzzis (Mansell and Hwy 9 & Windward Locations)
one free child per adult meal
pasta, pizza
WG Grinders (Windward) Dinner
one free child per adult meal
sandwiches, pizza
Hudsons Grille (Windward & Hwy 9)
one free child per adult meal
usual basics
Monday
Smokejack (Hwy 9 - Downtown Alpharetta)one free child per adult
PB&Fluffernutter, Chicken Fingers, BBQ Sandwich, Grilled Cheese
Sonny's BBQ (Hwy 9, across from Honda dealer)
one free child per adult, under 3 always free
BBQ plates, hot dogs, sandwiches - under 3 choices are hot dog, chicken leg, or chicken fingers
Tin Star (Windward)
kids meal is .99 with adult purchase for dinner
Moe's (Windward)
free kids meal per adult
taco, burrito, quesadilla
Hudson's Grill (Hwy 9 and Windward)
free kids meal per adult
Tuesday
Mama Fu's (Windward)one free child per adult
chicken tenders, fried rice
Roadhouse (Windward)
one free child per adult (depending on the meal the adult gets maybe two)
steak, burger, chicken fingers
Smokejack (Hwy 9 - Downtown Alpharetta)
one free child per adult
PB&Fluffernutter, Chicken Fingers, BBQ Sandwich, Grilled Cheese
Sonny's BBQ (Hwy 9, across from Honda dealer)
one free child per adult, under 3 always free
BBQ plates, hot dogs, sandwiches - under 3 choices are hot dog, chicken leg, or chicken fingers
Fuddruckers (at Andretti's)
kids meal .99
hamburger
Wednesday
Mama Fu's (Mansell)
free child per adult
chicken tenders, fried rice, noodles
Chick'fil A (Hwy 92 by Super Target)
kids meal .99
Snooty Fox (Crabapple Kroger)
kids meal .99
Thursday
Buffalo Wild Wings (cheap)Boneless Wings are .50 a piece order what you need
If you order them with no sauce they are like chicken fingers.
Friday
still looking
Saturday
Loco's (corner of Haynes Bridge and Old Milton)one free child per adult meal
grilled cheese, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, ham and cheese sandwich
Zaxby's (downtown Alpharetta)
Kids meals .99
chicken, grilled cheese
Daily
IHOP (Windward)Every night for dinner from 4-9 pm
One free child per adult meal
Chipotle (All locations)
Small cheese quesadilla is .55
Free water cup
Taxi's (Windward)
Every day after 4
Free kids meal per adult meal
hamburgers, etc
Atlanta Bread Company (Windward)
after 5
free kids meal per adult meal
sandwiches
YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS
Jason's Deli (all locations)
Kids meals are 1.99/2.99
macaroni, pizza, salad, sandwich
Tacone Flavor Grill (Windward)
Kids are free after 4:00
one per adult meal
grilled cheese, quesadilla, chicken fingers
Mad Italian (Windward)
all day kids are free
one per adult meal
Costco or Sams
with a membership
you can always eat for super cheap
hot dog and a drink is 1.50
pizza and a chicken roll are under 3.50
the other part to remember is that you can almost be full from snacking on all the samples they are tasting, so just shopping can take care of a great snack!
This is by no means a comprehensive list and I would love to add any information to it as I come across! So if you have any information please send it my way. And please note that this is subject to change by each locations desire. And things can change!
Best of luck to you as you take the challenge to feed them free.
Ginny
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
My personal goal.
I have one simple goal these days. To live here and yet not pay full price for anything! That is my challenge to myself. (and my attempt to keep the household on a budget of sorts) I have been asked many times to put some information in one simple place. Free meals, great deals, all the fun spiffy info that I like to keep locked up in my head. Well . . . the time has come to try and put it down somewhere to share with all the other moms in Alpharetta (and there are LOTS of us!) So let me know what kind of information you are looking for and I will be happy to share whatever I know on the topic. I love to research prices on a myriad of things!
Looking forward to sharing my boundless, crazy, generally random information!
Ginny
Looking forward to sharing my boundless, crazy, generally random information!
Ginny
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