Mommy Has to Work

Main Event Entertainment is Inviting Pokémon Go Players This Weekend For Pokémon Go Fun!

July 15, 2016 By Marijean

Pokémon Go continues to sweep the nation with its free, location-based game that places players virtually inside the world of Pokémon. are looking for a safe and family-friendly “Poke Stop” or “Gym”, Main Event Entertainment, the ultimate fun destination, is inviting players into all of its 28 centers this weekend for even more Pokémon fun and a free $5 Bonus FUNcard!

This Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 only, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., consumers can come to any Main Event Entertainment center and show their Pokemon Go app to receive a free $5 bonus FUNcard.

Plus, many of Main Event centers are Poke stops and will be setting lures on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 & July 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to increase the chances for guests to catch the Pokemon characters. The following Main Event Entertainment locations are designated poke stops:

Avondale, Arizona
Atlanta, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
Fort Worth (South), Texas
Grapevine, Texas
Katy, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
San Antonio North, Texas
Shenandoah, Texas
Webster, Texas
Tempe, Arizona

For even more fun, customers can also enjoy Main Event’s state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag arena, 100+ interactive and virtual games, and full service restaurant and bar.

Click here to find a location near you.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Creative Me Art Studio in St. Johns Now Open! Family Fun Night Review

July 15, 2016 By Marijean

My children love art. They love to create paintings, drawings, clay creations…you name it! We just heard about a brand new Art studio that has opened up near Bartram Springs off Racetrack Rd in St. Johns called Creative Me Art Studio. Very convenient to the Nocatee area, so we were excited to check it out!

Here is what Creative Me has to offer:

Anne, myself and our children were invited to Creative Me’s Family Fun Night. Family Fun Night is offered in July every other Wednesday evening from 6pm-8pm, and in August they offer it every other Thursday evening. Family Fun Night is great for families with children 3 years old and up to do some hands-on, make-n-take art projects. There is a minimal fee of $10 per child. Parents can join in for FREE! You must call to register since this event sells out quickly!

When we arrived, we were greeted by very friendly staff and given raffle tickets for a raffle that evening. We headed down to get our aprons on and then found a seat. Once everyone arrived it was time to start our project!

The kids were excited to find out they would be making an Owl art project. It looked very cute and they couldn’t wait to make it.

All the supplies you need are provided and on the tables. There are 2 large TV screens in the room where the projects are being projected by the Art helper. It is nice to have the screens to show the children step by step on what to do.

The project took about an hour and a half to do, and the kids had so much fun with all of the various steps. They were able to color, paint, cut, glue and more! When the project was completed each child received a balloon to take home.

I highly recommend visiting Creative Me Art Studio for the next family fun night! The projects are so much fun, and for only $10 per child, you can’t beat it! We are looking forward to returning and creating more fun projects together! Check out their website to find out information about all they have to offer!

Connect with Creative Me: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

*We were invited to Family Fun Night in exchange for an honest blog post. I am not affiliated with the company and all opinions are my own.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Why But It When You Can Win It! #win #giveaways

July 11, 2016 By Anne

Enter these giveaways and list your giveaways here!

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

LeapFrog® LeapStart, an Interactive Activity Book for Kids #Review #Leapfrog

July 11, 2016 By Marijean

LeapFrog® Unveils LeapFrog LeapStart™, an Interactive Activity Book System for Preschoolers through First Grade

New interactive system and library of activity books bring learning to life to teach key school and life skills and provide children with the tools they’ll need to prepare for tomorrow.

The LeapFrog® LeapStart is an all-in-one interactive early learning system for children ages 2-7. The LeapStart is designed to help little ones build an practice new skills including reading, phonics, problem solving, shapes, colours, social skills and more. With off-screen, offbeat fun, LeapStart is a complete interactive learning system that teaches kids 200+ key skills though a library of books to help prepare for school and life. From Science to Social Skills, Math to Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension to Communication, it complements schooling in the most out-of-this-world way!

The LeapStart learning system features two different system versions. There is a Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten system for ages 2-4, and the one I received for review is Kindergarten and First Grade for ages 5-7. Each system retails for $39.99.

I have 2 children ages 5 and 7, so this system is great for both of them. 16 activity books are available for this system and they are $12.99 each. They teach Science, Math, Reading and so much more. The system comes with 1 Kindergarten/1st Grade sample book. Both of my kids were very excited when the system arrived. When you open the box you will receive the system, sample book, instructions and USB plug. The system requires 2 AA Batteries which are not included. Make sure to plug the system into your computer via USB to download the sample book content. You will need to do this with each book you purchase. Once you have done those steps your child is ready to learn with the Leapstart system.

I am always trying to limit screen time, and this includes my kids tablets. They do have learning apps on their tablets, however it seems they are what the kids go to grab first. The LeapStart is perfect because they don’t have to look at a screen to learn, but look at an actual book. A big plus in my opinion! My kids were so excited to open the box, my son grabbed it first and started playing on it immediately. The stylus fits his hand perfectly, and he enjoyed pressing it on the pages to hear all of the cool sounds. this kept him very entertained for awhile. Both my kids LOVED learning about the different countries in the sample book. I must say though I was bummed that it didn’t come with at least 1 full book. Once he was done playing he asked me for a book which I didn’t have. When purchasing this, definitely pick up a few books to go along with it. My kids both love this system and are excited to try out the books that go with it!

If you are looking for a fun, interactive and educational activity for your children to do during the summer break and during the school year, the LeapFrog® LeapStart would be ideal. This system is also great for travel in the car or on an airplane, and will surely keep your child entertained for a good amount of time.

Right now you can Pre-order through Amazon, the system will be released on July 12th.

Connect with LeapFrog®: Website Facebook Twitter YouTube Pinterest

*I received a LeapFrog® Leapstart Learning System in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Take A Trip Around Weird Britain

July 10, 2016 By Anne

The thing about getting older, or so I’m told, is that you inevitably give less of a care when people think you’re odd. It must be pretty liberating to not be hung up on what people think of you. And be honest, we all know at least one older person who either literally or metaphorically says “OK, so this is me. Take me or leave me, you’re not going to change me!”. And we think “I hope that’s me at their age”.

If that person were a country, they would be the United Kingdom. In various forms, it has been there for some time and everyone knows about it. It’s played its part in a long and deep history and as a consequence it has plenty of stories. So, when you think about part of Britain’s culture or landscape and think “Well, that’s weird”, Britain looks right back and says “Yes! Does that bother you?”.

So for any traveler looking to give the UK a closer look on a holiday break, by all means you should visit the obvious places. But it makes sense to take a look at some of the more bizarre parts of its history, too.

A Trip To Stonehenge

For the history fan, or indeed the Spinal Tap buff in your touring party, a visit to Stonehenge is indispensable. Countless theories abound as to exactly what Stonehenge is, but because there are no documents from the time, no-one really knows.

What is clear is that it is some sight to behold. Getting up close to the standing stones means you’re next to something constructed up to 5,000 years ago. Which is pretty wild – check StonehengeVisit.co.uk for more information.

Whitby Bay

Credit: Wikipedia

In the 1890s, a young Irish writer by the name of Bram Stoker took up residence in Whitby. During the day, his landlady would kick him out of the house in order to do the housework. Stoker’s walks around Whitby would become the inspiration for the novel he would go on to write. Dracula was quite a hit, and the locations in the novel are still here today; as an aside, Whitby has become a center for the UK’s goth music scene.

Conwy, North Wales

Credit: Flickr

North Wales in general has a relaxed and offbeat feel to it. Conwy, in particular, is home to a castle which straddles the main road through the town and overlooks a majestic sea view. But for fans of the weird, Conwy has one particular attraction which cannot be missed – Quay House. The smallest house in Britain, which stands just ten feet tall, has a floor space of six feet by ten. It was once home to a fisherman who himself was 6′ 3 tall. Once he left, it was declared unfit for human habitation.

If you are a fan of the weird, spooky and wonderful then Britain has a lot for you to see. There are other places besides those listed above, but it helps give a taste for the offbeat nature and history of Britain. There’s a great deal of pride about this oddness, which is fitting for a country of such character