Costco

What it is: Costco is a big-box warehouse membership club that offers members discounts for buying in bulk. The store has grocery and household items, electronics, optical, photo and pharmacy departments. It also has a food court that serves hot dogs, caesar salad, slices of pizza, frozen yogurt, berry smoothies and churros as well as fountain drinks. Near lunch time, various sections of the store also famously serve free tastes of various products.

What we like: When we want to go out for a lunch date, I treat my girls to a hot dog at Costco, because at $1.50 for a large 100% beef frank and a drink, it's a good deal and better quality than elsewhere. If they do a great job behaving themselves and eating their lunch, we split a huge $1 frozen yogurt that we can't even finish. If I pick up my girls from lunch bunch at their preschool and they're still a little hungry, then we make the rounds at Costco to taste all the various offerings for free. In this setting, they are much more adventurous with their tastes. Apple pie, cake, chips, granola bars, freeze dried apples, nuts, of course they like those. But also strong cheddar, lobster spread, crab, bean stew, who knew? They love being out of the cart for a change, and after we discuss manners, they also love going up and getting served kid-sized bites by nice grown-ups.

What could be better: Well, the membership cost of course. It's $50 a year for the most basic membership, so it's worth it if you go through a lot of detergent and diapers (and don't get carried away with impulse buys). They won't allow you in unless you are a member. Or make friends with a member? Also, they roll out the tastings near lunch time, but not so much at other times of day.

Details: Costco, 1510 North Pointe Drive, Durham NC 27705, 919-220-2774. M-F 10:00am - 8:30pm, Sat. 9:30am - 6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm.

The Wake County Annual Book Sale and Festival

What it is:  I have always loved a good booksale.  It's a great way to pick up children's books for your little ones and books on any topic that interests you like cooking, traveling, parenting, or running  (all topics I have browsed in the recent past).  This sale was one of the best booksales that I have ever been to.  It filled the entire state fairgrounds exposition center, rows upon rows of books.  As they say, so many books, so little time!

What we liked: While we would have liked more time to browse all of the book sections, the children's section was where we spent most of our time.  It was amazing!  There were so many children's books that I actually didn't have time to look through them all.  I pulled out a bag full and had to sit down in a corner, look through the books, and make sure which ones I wanted to save.  I found books on Thomas the Tank Engine, I-Spy books, board books, and books from some of my favorite authors.  The best part was that each children's book was only $1.  If we would have headed back on the bargain day, we would have been able to get a whole bag of books for $2 or a box for $5. 

Another great part of this books sale was the festival.  On Saturday when we went, they had a bunch of kids' activities in the front room including autograph signings from mascots, live music, small games with prizes, and crafts.  It added a little to the whole experience.

What we would change: The books in the children's section were all a bit jumbled.  It would have been nice if they had separated them a little more according to age.  The other disappointing part of this sale is the fact that it only comes around once a year!  (I wanted to make sure to include it anyway, just so the entry will be here for everyone when next year rolls around.)


Website and other important information: 

Website: http://www.wakegov.com/libraries/about/booksale.htm

Address: The NC State Fairgrounds Exposition Center

Date: This year, the booksale took place on February 17-20.


Photos: 

1. Looking back at the whole sale from the kids' section

Our February Giveaway Winner...

Thanks so much for everyone who entered our February giveaway!  It was great to hear from so many of our readers and get so many great suggestions for scenic spots around town for great family pictures.  We're happy to announce that the winner of our awesome gift certificate to Portrait Innovations is Lindsey! 

Lindsey commented, "Yay for giveaways! The American Tobacco campus has some awesome spots for pictures. We did our 6 month portraits right across the street from the Durham Farmers Market. :)"

Congratulations!  Simply contact us at scmomsgroup@gmail.com to claim your prize.  Thanks to Portrait Innovations, thanks to all of our wonderful readers who entered, and stay tuned for next months giveaway!

Three-Fer Thursday-Southpoint Mall Edition

Today's Three-fer Thursday is late.  And in honor of that occasion, it's all about TARDINESS.  Because if there's one thing that parenting has taught this particular stir-crazy mom, it's that I no longer possess the ability to get anywhere on time, ever.  So how do you make it to a lunch-date on time with kiddo-in-tow? You make sure you're there approximately three hours ahead of time.  Oh, and you pick your lunch spot accordingly:  Panera Bread at Southpoint Mall.

Panera (coffee!) + Southpoint Play Area + Mall Walking + Barnes & Noble + More Mall Walking + Panera Bread (lunch!)

(I promise this isn't an advertisement for Panera.  But I do love Panera.)

Anyways, start your morning off right with a big ole' cup of coffee.  Get the plain, boring, black coffee. There are free refills, so you can keep your caffeination-IV going for the entirety of the morning.  Once you've filled up, stow your gear and warm up at the play area.

If you have a more reserved little one, show up around 9:00.  The mall isn't open until 10 so you can play without too much of a crowd.  If your kiddo craves lots of playmates, wait until 10:30.  That's when the calvary arrives.  Once you've both gotten your fill (my 2. yr. old can last up to about 45 min. before he gets bored), start walking.  

Here's my favorite route, starting at the play area:

--Head into JC Penny's and ride up (and down and up) the escalators.  If it's Spring, you can check out all the cool swimsuits that you'll never wear.

--Finish on the top floor and get a good bird's-eye view of the play area.  There are cool lights up here, too.  Totally worth checking out.

--Return to the first floor via the escalators in front of Belk.  Repeat as many as times as it's necessary.

--Swing by the play area and wave to the random people you ran into but aren't going to get to talk to.

--Keep walking.  Try not to look in the Godiva chocolate store (warning:  they have freebies).

--When you get to the Mall-Center (where Santa likes to visit), run through Williams & Sonoma.  They usually have something out for the little ones to sample, and they are super kid-friendly.  If you have an extra $250 on you (ha!), buy one of those awesome Le Crueset dutch ovens.

--Do some more escalating.  Nordstrom has an excellent selection of shoes and you can actually SEE them from an extended escalator-tour.

--Run into the food court and get some water.  It's free.

--Check out the open space and ginormous windows in the very back.  Play chase.  Ignore people giving you the eyebrow.

--Head downstairs and outside!

--Don't let the creepy golden-eyed fountain children look at you.  *Creepy.*

--But do enjoy splashing the water a *tiny* bit.  

--Go to Barnes & Noble and play with the trains on the second floor.

--AND... approximately one hour before your scheduled lunch date, start heading back to Panera.

Now.  Enjoy some lunch with your friend.  You have approximately 25 min. before you have to ride some more escalators.

when to go:  anytime!

 

what to bring:  you can pack super-light for an early-morning mall visit.  Just bring the basic necessities.

 

what it'll cost you:  coffee at Panera is under $2.  Lunch for two can run from about $8-$12  

 

advisories:  I guess the only thing you really need to watch out for is a mall closing.  But that NEVER HAPPENS EVER.  So enjoy!

The Junk Yard

What it is: The junk yard is not what one thinks of in terms of kid activities, but we discovered it by accident, and if the need strikes, it's a good thing to know about. Junk yards are, of course, the final resting place for cars salvaged from accidents. They're worth calling if you need a spare part for your car. And if you do need to go there, don't leave your kids at home! Because as you'll see below, it can make for a really interested and fun field trip!

What we liked: My car had a busted side mirror, and I started calling around for a replacement to put on. I called two parts stores and two junk yards, and one of the junk yards mentioned they didn't have a car like mine in the lot, but could easily order the part new for the same cost as a salvaged one (I didn't know they could order new parts). His quote for the new part was at least $15 lower than anywhere else. When I got the call a day later that my part had arrived, I had my kids with me and had to make due. When we pulled up, my girls (aged 3 and 5) were in awe at the lot full of broken-up cars. So after I picked up my mirror, I asked for permission to walk the lot with my girls. We ended up spending 45 minutes exploring. At first, all my girls wanted to talk about was "what happened to that car? what happened to the people inside?" and we could see cars that had hit a tree, or flipped over. This led into talking about car safety, paying attention when driving, seat belts, and air bags: lots of the cars had their airbags deployed for the kids to see. Then we talked about naming the parts of a car: tires, the roof, the hood, the trunk, the engine. What does the engine do? And we ended up talking about what parts are made of: are cars made of wood? How can you tell plastic, metal and rubber apart? At the end of the day, it's all they could talk about with their dad.

What could be better: Okay, it's a junk yard. Don't expect a cheerful reception, make sure there are no guard dogs, and it is a place of work so probably not indicated for kids who have trouble minding. Do expect broken glass, puddles of stuff. In our case, our girls were sufficient awe-struck that they paid full attention.

More information: I found the junk yards by googling "auto salvage" for durham. There are several along Harvest Road, an area East of Hwy 70. The best quote I got for the spare part was from Fuller's Auto Salvage, but be sure to call a number of places.

February Giveaway-Portrait Innovations

I can never have enough pictures of my little boys.  They seem to change so much in just a couple of months, and it's hard to document each little stage, each little smile, each new tooth or inch as they get older.  If you feel this way too, you're in luck with this month's giveaway! 

Portrait Innovations is portrait studio where you can head with your family to get great pictures anytime.  Their photographers will take your family's pictures in many poses and several different outfit changes if you choose.  Then, you get to see your pictures immediately, choose your favorites, and have them printed while you wait!  For all the details about their wonderful portrait experience, check out our previous post.  For our February giveaway, this North Carolina-based business is graciously giving one lucky reader a $150 gift certificate!! This will definitely allow you to get plenty of fabulous pictures of your family.

To enter, all you need to do is post a comment on this entry on the blog or on facebook.  To gain an addition entry, let us know your favorite spot in Durham or the surrounding area to get a picture with your family.  For us, besides Portrait Innovations, of course, we love to head over to Duke Gardens to take some beautiful pictures of our family.  You must enter before midnight on Friday...

Happy giveaway, and Happy February!

IKEA Charlotte

What it is: On the face of it, Ikea is a furniture and housewares megastore, famous for spreading Scandinavian style throughout the world. But Ikea stores have much more than furniture and housewares, it also has a full-service cafeteria, sells Swedish food specialties, and, the part our kids love the best, Småland: an excellent drop-in child-care center. Parents shopping at the store can drop off their potty-trained little tikes who measure 37-54" tall at the play area for an hour at a time, up to twice within the same day. Inside the Charlotte Småland, caregivers log in children and put their shoes inside cubbies, handing parents a buzzer in case they need to be contacted, along with a check-out card and a check-out time. Once inside, kids can jump into the ball pit, climb and clamber around the play equipment (they have a climbing wall into a TV loft) or do crafts. Parents can be contacted by buzzer throughout the gigantic store.

In the store proper, the upstairs has dozens of display areas for affordably-priced furniture, including really fun and smart children's equipment and furniture. Downstairs has vast shelves of housewares, from pots and pans to artwork and houseplants. The cafeteria serves numerous meal options, from light snacks to square meals, usually around $5/adult and $2/kid. Most adults go for the Swedish meatball plate, which comes with mashed potatoes, gravy and lingonberry sauce. Kids pick two sides and a drink, served in kid-friendly plastic dinnerware. They usually also offer baby food jars. The cafeteria has a kids' seating area with a TV, as well as a bottle warmer, kid utensils, a microwave, and lots of high chairs.

Why we like it: Before having kids, we liked Ikea well enough. Now we have children, we adore it, and our girls, aged 3 and 5, beg for a day-trip to Ikea every few months. Ikea's Småland was the first place my eldest, at 3, ever let me leave her without a moment of hesitation or apprehension. We plan our days carefully, leaving early to arrive at opening time (they are open Sundays too). We log the kids in for a first hour and mostly browse without buying, making lists instead. We then get the kids, and head for a lunch break (our girls love the meatballs, the fries, the mac n cheese and the steamed veggies, along with the lingonberry juice on tap). It's so nice to have lunch someplace obviously set up for families with children. Then we check the kids back in, and spend a second hour actively buying. The kids' section upstairs near the cafeteria is always worth a visit, whether we need bigger items or not, we always pick up art supplies. When we pick up the kids the second time, it's naptime, and my kids sleep soundly all the way home. Another tip: if you see something big you just have to have and can't fit into your car, Ikea can work with you to deliver in the Triangle area, for us in Durham it was a flat $40 fee for everything, with three deliveries a week (and you won't be able to get this deal just by ordering online or by phone).

What would be better: Obviously, if it were closer to Durham. Door-to-door, it takes us exactly two hours to get there, but the Charlotte Ikea is right on I-85 before you reach the center of Charlotte.

More info: The general Ikea website is http://www.ikea.com/us/en/. The Charlotte Ikea page is at http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/charlotte. Be sure to check on events, they occasionally run "kids eat free".

Three-fer Thursday: All About Meadowmont

This week's Three-fer Thursday is once again venturing a wee bit out into Chapel Hill.  We hope you don't mind :-).  One of the great things about living in Durham is that both Chapel Hill and Raleigh are close!

All About Meadowmont:  Bean Traders + Trails/Playgrounds + Lickety Split + More trails

Head over to Meadowmont and park near the round fountain at Meadowmont Village Circle.  There's usually plenty of parking here, and since you're going to be taking advantage of some of the great retail options, you can park for the entire morning.  After you've spent ample time running around the big fountain, grab your stroller and head North up to Bean Trader's Coffee and grab a cup of joe and a snack for your little one.  You're going to need it!

After you've all refueled, walk North on Meadowmont Village Circle.  After you pass the Harris Teeter, turn left onto Sprunt Street.  You'll pass an intersection with the Meadowmont trails on your right.  You can tackle that another time, though... you're heading to a playground!  So keep walking until you reach Weaver Mine Trail.  Turn right here and get a nice tour of the ridiculously-awesome million-dollar townhomes towering over the middle of Meadowmont on your left.  When you reach Circle Park Pl (L)/Parkridge Ave.(R), turn right.  There's a nice little fenced in play area here.  You can at least burn 45 min. with some easy climbing and exploring here.

When you and your little one are ready for more travel, head North on Parkridge.  Take your first right onto Simerville.  You'll see another access point to the Meadowmont Trail system on your right.  Take it, get some good walking/running in, and follow it all the way back to W. Barbee Chapel Rd.  At Barbee Chapel Rd. turn left.  And... congratulations!  Bean Traders is right in front of you!

By now you're probably hungry for some lunch, so turn right back onto Meadowmont Village Circle.  Head to Lickety Split and grab hot dogs for everywhere.  You can play here for at least an hour--the kids can wind down a bit with reading, playing with their train table, and get hyper again with some great ice cream for dessert.  When you are all (re) wound up, stop by the car to pick up a soccer ball or frisbee, and head out again.

Head back to Barbee Chapel Rd., turn right, and turn left where the trail crosses your path.  There's a great field and pond directly past a little patch of woods front of you.  On nice days, you'll see people running, playing frisbee, and just hanging out.  You can do the same!  Let your kid run off some of that tasty ice cream and explore.  This is a hilly area, but it's pretty easy to keep an eye on your little ones.  When you're done--WHEW!--climb that hill and head back to you car.  

When it's summer, you can add in a swim at the Meadowmont YMCA and TRULY wear out your kids (and yourself).  If you're a member at the UNC Wellness Center, you can swim year-round.  And even if it's winter and chilly, Meadowmont is a great neighborhood to explore and enjoy a change of pace.

when to go:  anytime the weather is reasonable.

 

what to bring:  you're going to be outside, and you're going to be walking.  Bring a stroller, outside-play toys, sunblock, and all the regular toddler necessities.

 

what it'll cost you:  All you have to buy is coffee and lunch... you can spend as much or as little as you like at Bean Trader's.  A plain coffee is usually about $1.75, but snacks or specialty drinks (yum!) will run more.  Lunch at Lickety Split should be less than $15 for two.  If you want ice cream specialties, you may need to spend more.  

 

advisories:  as usual, check operating hours before heading out.

The YMCA of Downtown Durham

What it is: Like Y's all across the country, the Downtown Durham YMCA is a wellness and fitness facility broadly based on Christian principles. The Downtown Y has basketball courts, running tracks, a fully-equipped weight and training room, two swimming pools, a group-exercise room, and the best part for the purposes of this blog, a drop-in Play House caring for the children of exercising parents. The playroom is open during specific peak usage hours, and offers activities, toys, crafts and snacks (optional) to children as young as 6 weeks! And the Y offers literally dozens of classes every week, from Pilates and Yoga to Boot Camp, along with Water Fitness too. The pool complex has a full-size lap pool, and a zero-entry training pool that is extra warm and has a polar-bear-shaped slide. Kids from the age of 6 months can participate in parent-child swim classes, and from 3, take part in full-fledged swimming classes. From K-up, there are also kid fitness classes, and the Y is famous for their high-energy summer and track-out camps. The Downtown Y also has a smaller Wellness Facility in the American Tobacco Campus, with additional classes, and kids can come to the Play House while parents head over there.

What we like: We first went to the Y to put our then four-year-old in swim classes with a friend. Though my husband and I are both avid swimmers, we were befuddled that we couldn't seem to get our daughter comfortable in the water, let alone swimming. Within a few months of swim lessons on Saturday mornings, she became proficient, and better yet, started to gain confidence in every aspect of her life, avidly trying to challenge herself. The instructors were excellent at breaking down the movements of swimming into fun activities, with a giant dose of enthusiasm that the kids love. Swim lessons are broken up into groups of four kids, who all line up with their instructors along the side of the pool, so kids can interact with their instructors and watch other kids progress too. From that point, we joined the Y so we could keep taking our kids to the indoor pool through the winter months. The zero entry pool meant that we could be at ease with our two-year-old too. My husband and I, and other friends, would take turn with the kids while we swam laps. Since then, we've also added fun nights where we have dinner early and head to the Y so the kids can end the day in the Play House while we take in a yoga class, and cram in extra wellness classes (and trips to the sauna) during the day.

What we would change: We are, overall, more than 200% happy with the Y, its facility, its offerings, and its ever-friendly staff. The cost does give a lot of people pause, though and single parent membership with children is more affordable. The only pet peeve we've really every had is with the child policy in the changing rooms: children 3 and up are not allowed in the adult changing areas, and must use family changing rooms, which are fewer, small, and not as convenient. Given the benefits we get, it's a small issue.

Cost: Joining requires a fee of $60 for one adult with dependents, $120 for a couple. The monthly rate is $46.16 for a single, $87.93 for a couple per month. Swim classes are also a commitment: $48 per six-week session for members, but membership is not required. The joining fee can be spread out into payments, and there are programs for low-income families.

For more information:
All further details are at the Y website: www.ymcatriangle.org, and choose the pull-down menu on the upper left for your branch.

Better yet, drop by for a tour and pick up information, there is so much going on there you really need to come and see.

Photos:

 

1. The training pool's zero-entry zone and slide

2. The whole aquatic complex

 

3. The YMCA playhouse

 

4. The Downtown YMCA building

The ArtsCenter of Carrboro and Rags to Riches Theater

What it is: The ArtsCenter in the heart of Carrboro is a full-fledged art complex that provides classes for adults and children, plus exhibition and performance space for artists. Throughout the year, kids' classes have options for kids as young as two, with music, movement, dance, circus acrobatics, and clay. And then in the summer, they have summer ArtsCamp for kindergarteners on up too. They also run concerts and plays, including a monthly Superfun Show for young children. This month, they hosted Rags to Riches Theater, a theater for young audiences, in their presentation of the original story "The Owl and the Turtle." Rags to Riches Theater is the work of a Durham couple, Lou and Melody Peters, who put on the entire shows from storyboard to acting. Their plays run an hour, and include a lot of action, shouting and participation, to hold young kids' attention, carry them through the story, and get them used to theater performance. In the coming season, they've already programmed three other plays for Spring and Summer, and they also offer a theater school for kids 5 and up, with its own performances.

What we liked: The ArtsCenter theater has a lot of seating, and when we went it wasn't crowded so there was a lot of room for wiggleworms to, well, wiggle. We were even allowed to bring our snack in, and the show was at a child-friendly time of 11am. Our two daughters, 3 and 5, are not the passive type. But once the play started, they were pretty mesmerized. At the get-go, the two actors taught some movements and shouts to the audience, and most kids seemed a little stiff and intimidated, so the parents took the lead. But then as the play developed, the actors frequently jumped off stage for chases, games and hide-and-seek among the audience. The plot was about an owl who wants to find a friend to play with, and ends up having a great time with a turtle, but then realizes that everyone is going to make fun of them if they found out. In the end, of course, both of them learn that they should ignore people's nasty words and be friends. We got out and the actors were sitting on the floor in the foyer and kids clustered around, mine gave them hugs! And once we're out, it's a short walk for the lunch spread at Weaver Street Market.

What could be better: There were a lot of empty seats! And with just two actors and small costume changes, my girls had a little trouble differentiating the different characters, until the turtle made his appearance and stayed. Advance tickets are $7/kid, $9/parent, so it's definitely a bit of a treat out of the ordinary. But other Rags to Riches shows are more like $3/ticket.

Important information:

Websites:
ArtsCenter of Carrboro: http://www.artscenterlive.org/
Rags to Riches Theater for young audiences: http://rags-to-riches.org/

Address: 300 E Main St # G, Carrboro, NC 27510-2359

Phone Number: (919) 929-2787


Photos: 

1. The ArtsCenter from the parking lot

2. The Theater

3. Scene from the Play "The Owl and the Turtle"

Triangle Aquatic Center

What it is: Triangle Aquatic Center is an indoor swimming center located near Cary Towne Center.  You can head there for lap swimming, free swimming with your kids, or swim lessons with separate pools for the lap swimmers and the lessons and kids' free swimming.   The smaller pool for the kids is extremely warm even in the winter.  You can visit one time and pay a fee or buy a pass for multiple visits. They also have locker rooms and showers for changing and storing your belongings.

We recently visited to take advantage of their free swim opportunity with the family.  We had a great time!  The stairs leading into the small pool were great for hesitant toddlers to hang out on.  The pool was so warm as they keep it at 86 degrees, that even my six month old was warm enough.  It was a great way to get in the water when it's cold outside.

We have taken their Parent/Child B swim lessons during the week for 2-4 year olds and have loved them.  They offer them in the morning and evening during the week and also on the weekends.  The classes during the week are offered twice a week on a monthly basis with 8 classes costing $85.  The classes on the weekend typically run for a 7 week period. 


What we liked:  We love that they have a separate smaller, warmer pool for the kids.  The swim lessons during the week are small which is really nice.  We took them for a two month period and in both classes there was only one other child besides my son.  The instructor was dynamic, knowledgeable and very good with kids.  She explained the typical stages of learning to swim and the various exercises.  She also stopped the class at various points to sing songs and keep their attention.  The lockers rooms and showers are also nice. 


What we would change: It can be a bit pricey for free swim.  Our family of four was charged $16 for our visit.  It also is a bit of a drive from Durham, especially when there is bad traffic on I-40.
If they don't have at least two people to register for a swim class, then they won't offer them.  So unfortunately the class wasn't offered this month during the week.  There are more kids in the weekend classes (we are currently taking them), up to 7 kids and the pool and facilities are also more crowded during this time due to other swim classes and swim meets. 



Website and other important information: 


Website: http://www.triangleaquatics.org/
http://www.triangleaquatics.org/Programs/Winter11.pdf




Address: 75 Convention Dr, Cary, NC 27511

Phone Number: (919) 459-4045

Hours: Open Weekdays 5am-9pm; Sat 7am-7pm; Sun 1pm-6pm (Call to find out about specific swimming programs.)

Three-fer Thursdays: Airport Observation Deck + Cracker Barrel + Carter Outlet Stores (Morrisville Outlet Mall)

This week's Three-fer is a cleverly-disguised shopping trip.  Sometimes, we have to have them.  So save this one for a big sale day or when the consignment sale is going on at the Outlet Mall.  You'll have some fun, and maybe even get some cheap-o goodies.

Start your morning off right at the Airport Observation Deck.  Despite it's relatively unassuming nature, it seems that the kiddos can spend hours here.  Bring a few sand toys for the sand play area; maybe an airplane or two to run down the runways.  If it's spring or summer, load up on bug spray and sunblock.  If it's chilly pack a hat... the wind is killer in the cold weather.

After you've thoroughly exhausted your little ones running around, head over to lunch at the nearby Cracker Barrel.  This one's off of Airport Blvd., so all you have to do is exit the airport (towards I-40, not 540), cross over I-40, and drive down about a mile.  Cracker Barrel is on the right, a little bit past a Schlotzky's Deli.

This one is RTP-Central so expect to wait at least 15 minutes on weekdays (longer on weekends).  Fortunately, we've never had to wait much longer than that, and there's plenty to entertain and distract in the Olde Country Store and out front, in the rocking chairs.  You'll be at your table before you know it.

They have a pretty extensive kid's menu, but our favorite is the veggie platter.  You can let your kid indulge in some mac and cheese (totally a veggie, right?) and *maybe* even sneak in some green beans or baked apples.  The biscuits and corn muffins are always a success, as well.  Just make sure your table has strawberry jelly.

After you've filled up head back over towards I-40.  The outlet mall is on your left, immediately before the highway.  Park near the Carter's Outlet and pick up some goodies.  If you've subscribed to their mailing lists, they send out a 15% off of a $50 purchase coupon about every two months.  You can really get some good bargains if you plan accordingly, shop the super-clearance, and tear through all of the bargain bins outside the store.

A seasonal kids consignment sale also takes place in the empty storefront directly across from Carter's.  It's best not to do both at once (Carter's will already be picked through), but the consignment sale is worth a trip out there on it's own.  Just make sure you're registered and coming on the appropriate day.

The Morrisville Outlet Mall is also conveniently empty (not for them, I suspect).  For parents and toddlers, it's a great place to walk around and explore.  You can shop but you can also run down vast empty halls, climb around on deserted stairwells, and even stop for a snack in the food court.  It's a fun, interesting spot, even though it's desolation is a bit confounding.

when to go:  plan this one for the big consignment sales, when you've got a coupon and a newly-sprouted toddler in need of pants, or even when you're grabbing a friend at the airport (as long as they don't mind tagging along!)

 

what to bring:  again, double up on sun and bug protection in the summer at the Observation Park.  Pack coupons.  And if the consignment sale is on, bring the minivan.

 

what it'll cost you:  $10-20 will easily cover lunch for two at Cracker Barrel (you can get off cheaper if you split an entree or order sides).  As for the shopping, that's up to you!

 

advisories:  double-check the Outlet Mall and the Observation Deck's hours before opening.  We've ended up in Raleigh ready to play at the airport only to discover it was shut down for one reason or another.  The Outlet Mall also seems to have strange hours.  Of course, Cracker Barrel is always open.  :-)

Tyler's Taproom

What it is: After writing about Mama Dip's in Chapel Hill, we realized that we would be remiss if we didn't tell you about our other favorite establishment in the area to get fried pickles, Tyler's.  They have two locations, in Carrboro and at the American Tobacco Campus in Downtown Durham.  The one the we are the most familiar with is the one in Durham, so that is the one that I will talk about.

We've headed down to Tyler's several times with our kids for lunch and dinner.  While it has a separate bar area with pool tables, the restaurant portion is really quite kid-friendly.  They have a kids' menu with lots of kid-friendly options like fried mac and cheese and grilled cheese.  Tyler's also has tasty food for the adults in your family with delicious options like the fried pickles we mentioned earlier and their special garlic french fries, yum!

What we liked: The location of Tyler's is what makes it so great.  We've headed down there on a summer evening when they're playing live music at the Tobacco Campus.  Our group of moms, dads, and kids sat in their outside seating.  It was great because we could sit and enjoy a leisurely meal and drinks while the kids could have a little more freedom to roam.  Parents would take turns keeping an eye on them while they ran around the tobacco campus as the meals were ordered.  The kids had more than enough to keep them busy in their surroundings.  In addition, we've also enjoyed a meal at Tyler's after we've taken the kids on a run down the American Tobacco Trail which is within walking distance. 


What we would change: There's not much that we would change about this great hangout.  Some of the outdoor seating around the side of the restaurant can get hot in the sun on a summer evening, so keep that in mind.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.tylerstaproom.com/restaurants/durham

Address: 324 Blackwell St # 400, Durham, NC 27701

Phone Number: (919) 433-0345

Hours: Monday 11am-9pm, Tuesday 11am-10pm, Wednesday 11am-10pm, Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sunday 10am-9pm. Sunday brunch is 10am-3pm, dinner at 5pm. Late night always runs after games and shows, times will vary but typically at least an hour.

Mama Dip's

What it is: It you're looking for mouth-watering southern comfort food, then Mama Dips is the perfect place for you.  Mama Dips is a restaurant on Rosemary St. in Chapel Hill that has been serving "traditional southern food" since 1976.  We've been there several times with our kids and it has been delicious each time.  During our last meal there, our family enjoyed fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, chicken fried steak, hush puppies, fried pickles, and banana pudding for dessert, yum!  The first time we were there "Mama Dip" was even sitting near the doorway greeting customers as they were taken to their seat.

When we came in, we didn't have a long wait.  We then were seated at a circular booth which was perfect for toddler containment.  My two year old son enjoyed a grilled cheese, and with the amount of side options, there were some that pleased even his picky palate.  Their comfort food appeals to grown-up and child tastes alike, and it's delicious!


What we liked: We loved the quality of the food and the variety of options.  Our family especially liked the fried pickles and banana pudding.


What we would change: I'm not sure how many healthy options there are at Mama Dips, but the food is definitely healthy for my mental well-being.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.mamadips.com/

Address: 408 West Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Phone Number: (919) 942-5837

Hours: Open Mon-Sat 8am-9:30pm; Sun 8am-9pm

Photos: 

1. Our basket of hushpuppies (unfortnuately I wasn't quick enough with the camera and half of them had already disappeared.)

2, The dining room

Three-fer Thursday-Rockwood Park+Q-Shack+Local Yogurt

This week's Three-fer Thursday is an old favorite.  We've been doing it for ages without even realizing it was, in fact, a Three-fer!

Rockwood Park + Q-Shack + Local Yogurt (+ St. Stephens)

Start your day off right by heading out to Rockwood Park.  We spend an extraordinary amount of time out here in the summer, because it's shady and perfect for hot weather (bring bug spray!).  But it's also great in the Fall--the trees are towering and gorgeous--and on most days save the wet ones.  Rockwood is infamous for it's puddles.

Make sure to bring a few friends and your kids' bikes, tricycles, and rollers.  They can ride around the small track, play on the equipment, or just run.  You can spend as much or as little time here as you'd like, but we usually top out at about two hours.  Right in time for lunch.

Hit Q-Shack with your buds and kiddos.  The service is fast and friendly, and you can eat sides for relatively cheap.  Eat outside if you can, and grab a seat under the water-spray if it's hot.  

When you've filled up on delicious bar-b-que, cross the street to Local Yogurt.  You can top off your lunch with something sweet and not-so-bad-for-you and eat outside yet again if the weather holds. Make sure to check Local Yogurt's Facebook page before you go:  they have lots of daily specials, and if you plan accordingly, you can get a kids' serving (with sprinkles!) for free.

If you haven't used up the morning yet, you can turn this Three-fer into a Four-fer:  head over to St. Stephen's park off of Rugby Rd.  As long as it's after 1:00 pm, pre-school will be out.  So you and your full kiddos will have free run of the place.  They can burn off their energy in another shady, spread out park like Rockwood.

when to go:  when it's really hot but you're desperate to get outside anyway, when the leaves are changing and you want to get some great scenery in with your playtime, or when the weather is nice enough to be outside all day.  The only time you really need to avoid Rockwood and Co. is when it's wet.

what to bring:  all the usual pre-schooler supplies.  If you want to get a little walking in, you can park at the Local Yogurt shopping center and walk to Rockwood and back.  Just be aware of the lack of trails and plan accordingly.

what it'll cost you:  Rockwood is free, Q-Shack will run about $15 for one adult and one kid's platter, Local Yogurt usually runs from about $5 and up.

advisories:  keep an eye out for specials and coupons!  You can cut your spending in half if you hit Q-Shack and LoYo on a discount day.

Homemade Yogurt

If you're anything like us, you've been spending a lot of money on yogurt!  We spend fortunes on Yo-Baby for my youngest, Gogurt (in the plastic tube) for my oldest, and regular yogurt for my husband and I.  


I was thrilled when one of the Stir Crazy Moms told us about this entry on one of our favorite blogs: A Year of Slow Cooking.  This entry tells you all about how to make homemade yogurt!  That's right, all you need is whole milk, a small amount of starter yogurt, dry milk, gelatin, and frozen fruit for flavoring.  


The first time I tried the recipe, I left out the gelatin and  the dry milk and it wasn't think enough.  So, we added it based on some suggestions left on this blog, and the second attempt worked perfectly.  My son absolutely loves it plain with some bananas mixed up in it.  It totally replaces his Yo-Baby.   My husband and I are still trying to figure out how to flavor it so we like it as well as the store bought varieties, but I'm sure we'll get there. 


Check it out and let us know what you think:


From A Year of Slow Cooking (http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/)

The Ingredients.

--8 cups (half-gallon) of whole milk--pasteurized and homogenized is fine, but do NOT use ultra-pasteurized. (Debbie recommends starting with whole milk until you get the hang of yogurt-making)

--1/2 cup store-bought natural, live/active culture plain yogurt (you need to have a starter. Once you have made your own, you can use that as a starter)

--frozen/fresh fruit for flavoring

--thick bath towel

--1/2 C. powdered dry milk

--1 package unflavored gelatin

The Directions.

This takes a while. Make your yogurt on a weekend day when you are home to monitor.

I used a 4 quart crockpot. This is so exciting. My fingers are shaking!

Plug in your crockpot and turn to low. Add an entire half gallon of milk. Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours.


Unplug your crockpot. Leave the cover on, and let it sit for 3 hours.

When 3 hours have passed, scoop out 2 cups of the warmish milk and put it in a bowl. Whisk in 1/2 cup of store-bought live/active culture yogurt. Then dump the bowl contents back into the crockpot. Stir to combine.  (This is when we also added one package of unflavored gelatin and 1/2 C. dry milk.)


Put the lid back on your crockpot. Keep it unplugged, and wrap a heavy bath towel all the way around the crock for insulation. (It is really important to make sure that it's well wrapped so it stayed warm.)


Go to bed, or let it sit for 8 hours.

In the morning, the yogurt will have thickened---it's not as thick as store-bought yogurt, but has the consistency of low-fat plain yogurt.

Blend in batches with your favorite fruit. I did mango, strawberry, and blueberry. When you blend in the fruit, bubbles will form and might bother you. They aren't a big deal, and will settle eventually.

Chill in a plastic container(s) in the refrigerator. Your fresh yogurt will last 7-10 days. Save 1/2 cup as a starter to make a new batch.

The Verdict.

Wowsers! This is awesome! I was completely astonished the next morning that the yogurt thickened. I was so excited to feel the drag on the spoon---and sort of scared the kids with my squealing.

They each ate a huge serving that morning (they added honey to their servings) and have eaten it for every meal for 2 days. I'm actually kind of worried they're over-doing it, but whatever. They're happy and are eating real food.
This is so much more cost-effective than the little things of yo-baby I was buying for them. I haven't run the numbers, because I sort of suck at math, but it's huge. Seriously huge.

Updated 10/23 8:45 pm:
 
I have gotten quite a few emails alerting me that yes, you can use lower-fat content milk with this method. To thicken the best, add one packet of unflavored gelatin to the mix after stirring in the yogurt with active cultures. Some have had good success mixing non-fat milk powder in as well.

The way I created fruit-flavored yogurt was by taking a cup or so of the plain and blending it in the stand blender (vitamix) with frozen fruit. Although this tastes great, the yogurt never thickened back up the way the plain did. I think maybe keeping the plain separate and adding fruit daily is your best bet. Or you can try the gelatin trick.

I was able to achieve a Greek-style yogurt this afternoon by lining a colander with a coffee liner and letting the liquid drip out of the leftover plain I made. The remaining yogurt was as thick as sour cream.

I do not know how this will work with soy milk and soy yogurt or rice milk and rice yogurt. I'd imagine it would work similarly, but I haven not tested this out. If you do and are successful, please let me know!