{Giveaway} Jurassic Quest in Charlotte

Gigantic animatronic dinosaurs have been spotted migrating toward Charlotte, NC for Jurassic Quest at the Park Expo and Conference Center on Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd.

This is a special chance to get the dino-lover in your family up close and personal, interacting with these life-sized creatures. Sharing time at school just got WAY cooler when your kiddo recounts that your family journeyed to the Jurassic and rode a dinosaur over the weekend! 

Along with the dinosaur exhibit, families can explore the fossil digs, inflatables, Jurassic Jeeps, bungees, crafts, dino theater, science stations and more! Kids 2-12 are $20 for a regular ticket and $29 for a V.I.P ticket. Under 2 are free and adults are $25. Military and law enforcement families receive a $5 discount on each ticket. The V.I.P ticket is the best value, and you know your kids will want to experience everything there! **Socks are required for ALL inflatables!**

You can purchase tickets by clicking here, and follow Jurassic Quest on Facebook here. 

{Giveaway}

We're doing a giveaway of 4 tickets for Jurassic Quest. 

1. Like MomAboutCharlotte on Facebook. 

2. Share this Facebook post publicly (change privacy setting for the share to public) 

3. Comment on this Facebook post with your kiddo's favorite dinosaur

We will pick our winner randomly on September 23rd! 

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McDowell Nature Center and Preserve

McDowell Nature Center and Preserve is located on Lake Wylie, and offers a fun stop off for family adventuring. Their nature center is home to several critters kids will enjoy learning about including turtles, snakes and frogs. If you catch them during encounter time your tots (or husband) can get up close and personal with their corn snake.

The kiddos will enjoy reading a nature book, or participating in a bug scavenger hunt. The nature center offers several classes and kid-friendly events such as 'Animals Like Halloween Too!' 'Whooo Are Our Owls?" and 'Babes in the Woods' throughout the year. 

You can check out their programs for kids and adults by clicking here. Entry to the nature center is free, and many of the programs are free as well - you can even borrow a fishing pole to explore Lake Wylie (must have a valid fishing license). 

The trails at McDowell Nature Center and Preserve vary in length and difficulty. They offer camping, picnics, playgrounds and Copperhead Island a primitive group camp and shelter. 

McDowell Nature Center and Preserve is located at 15222 York Road Charlotte, NC 28278. 704-588-5224. Hours are M-Saturday 9AM-5PM and Sundays 1PM-5PM. 

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Kid-Friendly Stops to Beat the Heat at South Park Mall

Moms. It's getting hot out.

Yes, I know we live in the the South, but this week it's felt more like we're straddling equator rather than living in Charlotte, NC.

My sister and I were bemusing where to bring our kiddos on these too-hot-to-be-outside Summer days and we came up with a fabulous game plan. South Park Mall is one of my favorite places to stroll and shop. Malls are perfect for getting the kid's energy out while sneaking in a few errands and catching some sales.

We parked in the Dillard's parking garage so our swagger wagons were covered and not volcanic upon our return with exhausted little ones.

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Our first stop was the LEGO store, the kids were able to play with some of their loose LEGO's and check out all the large box LEGO possibilities. If you swing by the first Tuesday or Wednesday of the month you can participate in their FREE LEGO mini-build. Pre-registration is required and you can sign up for August's mini-build by going here.

We wandered into Pottery Barn Kids which always has SO much adorable stuff that makes my wallet cry. The kids like the kitchen sets, cranes and tea parties they have out for exploration by little hands. It's easy to spend time taking in all their newest must-haves for the house while the kids play house and I rationalize how it's actually a pretty good deal to spend $200 on a comforter (I mean it's on sale..).

The Disney Store has recently moved from Carolina Place Mall to South Park, and being a major Disney fan - it's always a must stop. The Disney Store is hosting Summer Play Days until September 5th. Each day your kids ages 3+ can participate in store events including Art of Animation, Trivia, Story Time and Showtime. Specific dates kids will receive a FREE TSUM TSUM wrist band - check out the dates here. Our kids love spotting their favorite characters, coloring and watching clips of Disney movies.

Next we swung by the Microsoft store to take in all that's new and digital. They offer FREE #YouthSparkCamps for kids ages 5-24 you can find out more about their offerings by clicking here.

My kids are love the samples of tea at Teavana so I order an iced tea while the kids follow me around the store with their tiny sample cups thinking they're all British and such. I love collecting all of their tea one ounce at a time. 

The American Girl store is a perfect place to bring your kids to wander, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it too. It's 100% concentrated girliness throughout the store. There is so much for the little ones to look at, and you can even grab a snack at their bistro. They offer events throughout the month ranging in price from $10-$40, you can see their events schedule here at the bottom of the page. 

Image from: http://www.charlotteparent.com/CLT/Perked-Up-Playdates-6-Free-Spots-to-Have-a-Mommy-Meetup-in-Charlotte/

Last but not least is squishy, climbing, crawling fun of the outdoor ship play area located just outside of Urban Outfitters and California Pizza kitchen. I know these were tips to beat the heat, but stopping at this fun playground will give you a little while to warm up again before you head back inside to enjoy the AC in all its majesty. The bonus of this area is that there are large sails to create shade, however be aware that some of the ground and the equipment that is getting direct sunlight can be very hot. This is where you'll get an A+ if you've remembered to pack water bottles!

On your way out the door grab yourself a Starbucks for the drive home, and hope that the kiddos fall asleep in the car so you can park in the driveway running the air while they sleep and you scroll through your favorite social media site. Huzzah summer!

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SEA LIFE: It's a BOY!

What's got 8 tentacles, 3 hearts and can achieve the mental capacity of a 5 year old? It's SEA LIFE Aquarium's newest addition - a baby boy Giant Pacific Octopus. SEA LIFE will be introducing this little guy to their enrichment programs to stimulate his mental growth. Aquariasts will bring him through experiences like tentacle painting and puzzles.  Head over to the Shipwreck area of the aquarium to catch all the educational goings-on every day at SEA LIFE at 2:15pm.

After you've seen the little squirt's ability to Picasso with the best of them, enjoy all the aquatic creatures in SEA LIFE's 26,000 square foot aquarium. It's our go-to place to bring the kids when we're looking for a fun indoor activity - so much to explore and lots of space to do it. Let their hands get up close and personal with the ocean inhabitants in the touch pools, and watch as sharks circle overhead in the coral reef tunnel. Each visit is unique, and teaches the kids something new about our world and conservation of the sea.

Tickets are available at a discounted rate starting at $12.95 a person online.

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Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella

Photo Credit: Children's Theatre of Charlotte

The Children's Theatre of Charlotte presents Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella at the McColl Family Theater from December 4th - December 20th. Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella is a unique take on the Cinderella story set in the roaring 20's. Ella is a designer and creates beautiful gowns for her wicked step mother and step sisters who don't want to include Ella in their glamorous lifestyle. When the Duke proves her step-family wrong it's up to Ella to chose her path by looking inside and sharing her adventure in song. Join Ella and her cast as they live it up in the roaring 20's by purchasing tickets here.

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Parent/Child Painting Night at Olive's Mud Puddle

Our kids are very well loved emotionally, but also spoiled with material items. Every Christmas, birthday and just because our home seems to adds about 10 square feet of new toys. Our playroom runneth over, and I end up having to picketh it all up...

So, for S's 7th birthday I tried to focus on getting her gifts that were experiences to create memories instead of things that would pile up on our floor. She's a fan of crafts and so I thought a painting class would be a fun activity to try together. 

We talked with Debbie at Olive's Mud Puddle in Fort Mill, she created an adorable holiday interactive painting to create for our Mother-Daughter night out. S really enjoyed the experience, so much so that she said, "This is the MOST FUN night I've had for a girls night out - like ever!"

 I really enjoyed myself too. Debbie took us step through step and I was impressed how S was able to focus her energy and go slowly as the painting developed. We used teamwork to build our "masterpiece" I created the outlines of the larger items and she colored them in. She chose the colors for each of the birds and ornaments and even decided to explore her artistic license and added eyelashes to our reindeer. 

It was a positive experience and all the girls and moms who attended seemed to enjoy the experience as well. In addition to painting Olive's offers family clay/pottery classes.

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Discount SEA LIFE Aquarium Charlotte/Concord Admission

Looking for a great way to beat the 100+ degree temperatures this week in Charlotte? SEA LIFE Aquarium in Concord is offering adult and child admission for only $11.95 for visits Monday-Friday between 12p-7p until July 17th 2015. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, click here to purchase! 

This is a great chance to check out Ruby the Giant Pacific Octopus during her octopus enrichment at 2:15p each day. Learn more about Ruby here. There's plenty for your little guppies to enjoy and explore in the 26,000 square foot indoor (AIR-CONDITIONED) aquarium, including a touch pool where kids get up close and personal with amazing sea creatures.

My kids enjoy collecting stamps for their guide books as they rove around the aquarium, learning about the importance and beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants. They can show their punches at the end for a special surprise.

Plus there are sharks! My son was amazed as this sharp toothed beauty swam over the top of him and his dad during our last visit.


To honor our country's service men and women this 4th of July weekend, SEA LIFE is offering free admission to military members with a valid military I.D. Accompanying family members will also receive a discounted admission of $18. Walk up tickets only.

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Kids Keep Creating with YOXO Toys

It's TV trance face. You know - when your kiddo's eyes glaze over and pupils dilate to allow as much TV in as possible. Ugh, I hate TV trance face - but many times it's a necessary evil when looking for a quick fix to keep them entertained while I get dinner ready, or try to - God forbid - go to the bathroom alone. I tried the unique looking YOXO toys in an attempt to avoid TV trance face, but keep the kids entertained and playing independently while using their imaginations.

At first I wasn't sure how much of a hit they would be, they didn't have a power button and seemed relatively simple - but the simplicity of the toy is where it's beauty lies. The toy requires the child to engage with it, not the other way around. We had the two two-year-olds and my six-year-old at the table. I did have to initially show them how the pieces fit together, but after a quick how-to they were off and creating. Before I knew it they were having races to see who could build the tallest, the widest, the one with the most circles - and the google eye stickers were a hit. I liked that the pieces were easy to pick up and that if you did step on one it didn't send you through the roof. That night I was able to get our baked chicken and potatoes on the table without too many interruptions. 

If you're looking for parent-child interaction there are several instructions that can be followed to create the robot, dragon fly and several other creations. YOXO toys are neat because you can use every day items around the house as your expansion pack, string, paper towel rolls, a cereal box - all these items can be incorporated for play. I also loved that they were made in the USA - a badge that can be hard to come across in any form of toy. The two-year-olds (who are closer to three) did quite well with them, but my six-year-old really took off with them. YOXO has won several awards including the 2014 Creative Play of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine, and was a Gold Winner in the National Parenting Publications Awards.  It's a gift I plan to buy for our next birthday party and you can pick up YOXO at Target, the kits we used cost around $20.

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Ruby The Octopus May Be As Smart As Your Five-Year-Old

Meet Ruby. She's the Giant Pacific octopus and resident at the 26,000 square foot indoor aquarium SEA LIFE in Charlotte-Concord that may be as smart as your five-year-old!

That's right, a Giant Pacific octopus can develop the mental capacity of a five-year-old with proper engagement. SEA LIFE has designed an Octopus Enrichment program for Ruby that will include her solving puzzle-type activities with a trained team of SEA LIFE aquarists. Her first enrichment program has her tentacle painting on paper using positive treat reinforcement. Check out her work below -she's a regular eight-tentacled Picasso! 

The SEA LIFE in Aukland New Zealand partnered with Sony and were able to teach their Giant Pacific octopus, Rambo, to take pictures of visitors using a specially mounted camera in her tank. How cool is that? Next thing you know she'll be fighting with her sibling octopi over whose turn it is to play Minecraft on the iPad. 

You can meet Ruby and watch as she engages in SEA LIFE's Octopus Enrichment programs each day at 2:15PM in her tank in the Shipwreck area of the aquarium. To plan your visit or learn more about SEA LIFE you can go to www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord.  

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Easter Egg 400 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame

It's spring and the the perfect time of year to get your engines hopping over to check out the Easter Egg 400 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame! Check out all the spring time fun on Saturday, March 28th from 8:30 - 11:30am for kids ages 12 and under.

Rookie Racer members can enjoy a pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny (info on how to join Rookie Racers here) from 8:30-9:30. For all attendees there will be face painting and spring craft activities in the Great Hall from 8:30-9:30 with a egg hunt from 9:30-9:45 on the third floor of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Then bounce into the fun as the movie 'Hop' is shown in the High Octane Theater from 10:00-11:30.

The cost for the Easter Egg 400 is $7 for adults and kids 2-12, children under 2 are free. The Easter Bunny pancake breakfast is for Rookie Racer members only. This event does NOT include admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but general admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased separately.

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Ballantyne Hotel's Gingerbread Lane

For 2015: Open for public viewing daily, at no fee December 10-27, 2015, open during hotel hours. Inquire at 704 248 4055. 

https://www.theballantynehotel.com/upcoming-events/

Our gingerbread house kits at home don't hold a candle to the gingerbread inspired works of art that line Ballantyne Hotel's Gingerbread Lane. 

Each year both professional and amateur confectionery artists compete for prizes by submitting their awe inspiring interpretation on gingerbread houses, mansions and villages. The frosting laden details are impeccable, and the price to visit (FREE) is perfect! It's a fun holiday must-see here in Charlotte. 

The hallway can be a little crowded so if you have a stroller I don't recommend bringing it through during peak times. We wore our baby and it was perfect. During regular hours they offer hot cocoa for purchase.

Bring some cash for donation to vote for your favorite creation and winner of the people's vote. Donations benefit Levine Children's hospital. 

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Holiday Lights at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens

I'm a Northern girl, and as such, I'm giddy that living in Charlotte means I'm able to walk around and look at holiday lights with a light jacket on. I feel like I'm getting away with something! Luckily the South, and particularly The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens know how to do the holidays up right!

We visited for the Holidays at the Garden event and it was - enchanting.  The beautiful night, whimsical lights and mesmerized kids with the elegant back drop of Daniel Stowe will make it an annual family tradition. My pictures don't begin to capture the glimmer of the lights - its a must see in person experience.

They have lots of fun events planned throughout the evening. Check out their calendar of events here, which include s'more making by the bonfire ($3.75 for the kit), kids crafts, horse drawn carriage rides (additional cost), garden express tram rides and carolers.

Plus... SANTA! So... E wasn't so into it, but he did give me at least a few non-smile, non-crying shots. He was cajoled into sitting on Santa's lap with candy canes - I know my kid's currency...

They also had a cute model train set and a tasty coffee bar serving up peppermint coffee and hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream - yum! I bundled the kids just in case it got chilly and we were able to easily stroll around the gardens and take in the sights. There was plenty of parking and it wasn't too crowded the night we went. This family experience would be great for kids of all ages.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden runs Holidays at the Garden from 11/22/13 - 12/31/13, noon to 9pm, with lights twinkling at 5pm. The cost is $12 per adult and $6 for kids 4-12.

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{Giveaway - American Girls Doll Samantha} American Girls Store Opens in Charlotte, NC

My daughter, 6, and I had little idea what American Girl dolls were until Friday when were invited to a preview of the Charlotte American Girl store at the South Park Mall. I had done some preliminary searching and saw the pricing online, and I can't lie - I was skeptical. But, after our hour visit we both left swooning over the pink and purple girly-ness of it all.

The American Girl store is more than a store, it's an experience. Walking in the door I was impressed with the ambiance, it plays like a doll store and collectors museum in one. Groups of ornately dressed dolls are staged in glass cases, featuring the fashion and accessories of each time period. If you're not familiar with American Girl dolls, each of the BeForever collection dolls hail from a different era and feature books with stories about what it was like to live during that time, along with themes that connect these characters to the hopes and dreams of modern day girls.

I liked the wide range of features available for the dolls with many skin, eye and hair colors and hair textures. Girls are able to pick out a doll they relate to, and add features like freckles or braces. They offer matching clothes for girls and dolls and every accessory under the sun. The BeForever and My American Girl dolls are recommended for ages 8+. Bitty Baby dolls are also available with similar options for ages 3+, in addition to Bitty Twins and pets. They have a bookstore section full of books about the dolls, their adventures and workbooks and craft sets.

The American Girl store is a posh place for dolls, with a beauty and hair bar. Dolls sit atop styling chairs (strapped in - that made me smile) while their hair is restored and restyled to their out of box condition. They also pierce doll ears and create custom matching t-shirts. There is a lot to take in, so famished moms and girls might need a bite to eat between rows of dolls and accessories at the American Girl Bistro. They also host birthday parties with loaner dolls for guests attending.

Whether you’re looking to browse and learn about American Girl dolls or are an avid collector this addition is just another great reason to head to South Park Mall for a uniquely girl-fun experience. We have been reading the Samantha book at home, which allows the reader to make choices about how the story plays out. S absolutely loves this feature, and even though there are no pictures has been enthralled with the story and I’ve enjoyed reading them to her as well.

MomAboutCharlotte.com Disclaimer: We received 2 books, a work book and a Samantha doll to facilitate a review of this brand, as well as a Samantha doll to give away to a reader. As always my opinion is my own, and I only share what I love with my readers.
 

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Dive in with the Octonauts at Sea Life Charlotte

Sound the Octo-Alert!! The Octonauts are diving in to Sea Life Charlotte at Concord Mills September 6th-28th. Your family can get up close and personal with Captain Barnacles and Peso during scheduled meet and greets. Then take your little guppies to explore Sea Life's 5,000+ aquatic creatures, including their hands on touch pool. A big thanks to our guest blogger Stacie Taylor for reporting back on the nautical fun at Sea Life. Octonauts, let's do this!

When my daughter was born I had to figure out ways to entertain my 3 year old son while nursing her. Not an easy task! My son would quickly grow bored of playing with his toys alone. Enter: The Octonauts. For 25 consecutive minutes my son was completely engrossed in Captain Barnacle’s sea life adventures and honestly, so was I. The show was both entertaining and educational, minus the annoying voices/songs/etc. What more could a mom ask for? We quickly became fans of the show and 2 years later we have acquired every single Octonaut toy, and my kids know more about the ocean and sea creatures than I do.

We visited Captain Barnacles and Peso at Sea Life Charlotte and there were many cute back drops for photo-ops and a few child-sized tables set up where children could engage in coloring activities. My 5 year old son who was in Kindergarten during the media meet and greet couldn't attend, but would have loved it (we plan to bring him this weekend). My 2.5 year old was certain to maintain a 5 foot distance from the characters so she could enjoy them from afar, but really enjoyed the aquarium.

Where: Charlotte-Concord Sea Life Aquarium
When: September 6-28, 2014
What: Scheduled meet and greets with Peso and Captain Barnacles (see below for specific times), a fun fact finding trail, coloring activity, and special viewings of Octonauts episodes.
Captain Barnacles Daily at 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 Peso Daily at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30
Website: http://www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord/

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Stress-free, Mess-free Birthday Fun at Gymboree Play and Music

{FREE class offer at the end of the blog} I've always had birthday parties at home for my kids. Now that I'm five years deep into that experience I decided that I was due a break from another year of stressful "ice cream and frosting covered chaos." We are blessed to have many wonderful friends, so our guest list was for 16 cake-loving kids and their parents. Kids at parties want to run, and play and scatter every toy you own on the floor. That's just how they roll. This year I decided I'd party smarter, stress-free and mess-free by celebrating my little guy's 2nd birthday at Gymboree Play & Music in Ballantyne.

Gymboree had all the elements that I was looking for in a 2 year old birthday party. It was air-conditioned, a must for summer parties in Charlotte. We had the whole place to ourselves so we knew random big kids wouldn't be knocking the little ones over. The entire pre-cleaned play floor with age-appropriate climbing and exploration activities plus the large party room were at our disposal for the hour and a half of festivities. The party hosts engaged the children in several shriek and laugh worthy activities, and even included the parents for parachute time. They handled the set up, created the fun, broke it down and cleaned it up. WIN for Mom & Dad. They were reasonably priced at $195 for up to 12 kids for the hour and 1/2 of play and fun time. This was the perfect amount of time for little kid's attentions spans. 

I can't lie - I felt giddy as I prepared for this party. Gymboree was handling all the set up (plates, napkins, utensils, cups, party hats), all the entertainment and all the break down - all I had to do was make cupcakes, pick up ice cream, ice and drinks and sit back and enjoy the day. So that's just what I did. The party leaders met me at the door, full of energy and ready to show the kids a great time. They set up the room and helped me unload my things.

Once the guests started to arrive the music began and the kids got to head to the floor to try out some of the equipment. Our guests ranged in age from 11 months to 6 years. The 6 year olds weren't able to play on the equipment, however the party leaders did a great job of including them as helpers for the younger kids. The leaders began the party with a happy birthday welcome song for E, accompanied by moroccas. The kids were really dialed in, dancing and wiggling to the music with big smiles on their faces. In between host-led activities the kids were able to check out the equipment and roam around at their own pace.

The party hosts did a wonderful job of making E feel so special on his 2nd birthday. They included his names in their songs and his ear-to-ear smile showed how much he was enjoying the music, play and fun at Gymboree. He got to experience the birthday candle jump, the sprinkle popping ball, the kid conga line and the much adored parachute time. Oh the giggles we heard were infectious!

Gymboree Play & Music offers a variety of weekly classes for kids ages 0-5 in addition to hosting birthday parties. Dana the manager recommended that we bring E in for a complimentary class before his party so he could familiarize himself with the space and would be even more excited when it was his birthday party, what a great idea. He felt so comfortable and was able to enjoy the experience even more.

This was the most fun, stress-free, mess-free party I've experienced to date. The kids, the parents and my husband and I all commented about what a fun experience it was and how happy all the kids were. Gymboree is definitely going to be my go-to birthday party place for next year.

You know I'm always trying to hook my readers up with fun FREE experiences. Now you can bring your kiddo to check out a complimentary class at Gymboree Play & Music. Signing up for your free class is super simple just follow the links here. You can also check out everything that Gymboree Play & Music offers, including class schedules by visiting Ballantyne Gymboree Play & Music here. They are located at 3419 Toringdon Way Suite 112 Charlotte, North Carolina 28277 (near Earthfare and Red Robin). You can keep up with all the excitement by liking them on facebook here.

MomAboutCharlotte.com Disclaimer: I was given a discount (after I had already decided on having our party at Gymboree) for writing up a blog about our experience, but as always my opinions are my own - I only share what I love with my readers.

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