Looking for some family activities this weekend? Here are a few to keep you busy. All of the events are listed on my calendar with additional details. This is just a reminder to get you out and about in Ogden.
Friday, April 29-
Come to the Treehouse Museum and check out Alphabet Soup or the Fratello Puppet Troupe show.
Saturday, April 30-
Come to the Borrowed Earth Emporium in the morning for yoga and then come back for a silent action held to benefit a local child battling lymphoma.
Bring you teen to the Wii tournament or watch a free showing of Babe at the Pleasant Valley library branch.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery and check out the birdhouse competition entries at the Nature Center.
If you're out for action, come watch local roller derby teams, O-town Derby Dames and Junction City Roller Dolls compete at the Marshall White Center.
Are you attending any of these events? Share your experience by leaving a comment on O-town Mama!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Deal of the Day
Planning on catching a movie this weekend? Buy your tickets from Fandango and save $5 instantly. Click here for instructions.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Scavenger Hunt: Day 1
To celebrate National Historic Preservation Month, Ogden Landmarks Commission and Weber Heritage Foundation sponsor a historic property scavenger hunt in Ogden. There are twelve featured buildings, all within walking distance of my house. This is right up my alley. I am pretty much obsessed with architecture and old houses. It is what made me want to live in Ogden in the first place.
So let me just start by saying I walked like 20 blocks in these boots!
My daughter must have thought it was dress up time, because she handed me the boots and then put a bandanna on her head like a kerchief. And it was just too cute to deny, so I complied.
After putting on our get up, we headed out. The weather was nice, just a little windy. We found the first two houses pretty easily, since we literally walk these streets every day in the summer. As long as the weather is good, we will continue our hunt every day.
If you would like to participate in the scavenger hunt and celebrate Ogden's rich and beautiful history click here to print the form and read more details. Finished forms will be entered into prize drawings.
So let me just start by saying I walked like 20 blocks in these boots!
My daughter must have thought it was dress up time, because she handed me the boots and then put a bandanna on her head like a kerchief. And it was just too cute to deny, so I complied.
After putting on our get up, we headed out. The weather was nice, just a little windy. We found the first two houses pretty easily, since we literally walk these streets every day in the summer. As long as the weather is good, we will continue our hunt every day.
If you would like to participate in the scavenger hunt and celebrate Ogden's rich and beautiful history click here to print the form and read more details. Finished forms will be entered into prize drawings.
Deal of the Day
I don't know about you, but my daughter loves Sesame Street. She pretty much knows the name of every single character. So, needless to say, I am pretty excited about this deal of the day. You can download 16 free Sesame Street videos from Itunes. These will be perfect for your laptop, ipod and other electronic devices. I know I will put them to good use on our road trip next week. Click here to learn more and download.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Green Cleanin'
Finally recuperating from the craziness of last week. Graduation, Easter and Earth Day was waaaaayyyyyy too much for one weekend. While graduation and Easter were fabulous, I didn't get to do as much as I had planned for Earth Day. I did attend the Earth Day celebration at the Nature Center and it was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe I'm critical, but I found it a little ironic that en route to the Nature Center I got stranded by the UTA bus (with 5 kids, no less). Then, I was served a hummus platter in a STYROFOAM container (plus there was a hair in it). Finally, I was given a "recycle glass" sticker by someone who didn't even know where you can recycle glass locally. On the bright side, there were a few highlights that made it worth while. A boy scout troop was recycling plastic 2-liter bottles by teaching people to turn them into planters. So, I got a free garlic plant. I hope I can manage to keep it alive. Also, the WSU Botany Club was making cute head wreaths from leaves and raffia.
So I decided, in lieu of celebrating, to make an Earth Day resolution and finally make some green household cleaners. I have tried to eliminate most chemicals from my house by cleaning with simple things like vinegar, club soda and baking soda. When my husband was attending culinary school in Berkeley, they simply used vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the kitchen. Vinegar also works great for cleaning floors. Club soda is the perfect window and glass cleaner. I haven't used Windex in my house for years. Now the smell of it nauseates me. I use baking soda to clean my sinks and such. But, now I am taking it a step further and using the recipes I got out of a great book called Green House, Green Planet by Karen Logan. She takes all of these basic ingredients and with the addition of castille soap, borax, essential oils and a few others and makes heavy-duty natural cleaners. She has recipes for basic cleaners, as well as 409 and Lysol alternatives for all of you germ freaks. I wish the recipes were mine to share, but they are not.
You can read some of the book for free on Google Books here. Or you can find it pretty cheap on Amazon.
Here I am mixing up my cleaners. It really didn't take that long and it smelled so good.
These are the final products and the only ingredients I used.
Here are some free natural cleaning tips:
Vinegar Uses-
Baking Soda Uses-
So I decided, in lieu of celebrating, to make an Earth Day resolution and finally make some green household cleaners. I have tried to eliminate most chemicals from my house by cleaning with simple things like vinegar, club soda and baking soda. When my husband was attending culinary school in Berkeley, they simply used vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the kitchen. Vinegar also works great for cleaning floors. Club soda is the perfect window and glass cleaner. I haven't used Windex in my house for years. Now the smell of it nauseates me. I use baking soda to clean my sinks and such. But, now I am taking it a step further and using the recipes I got out of a great book called Green House, Green Planet by Karen Logan. She takes all of these basic ingredients and with the addition of castille soap, borax, essential oils and a few others and makes heavy-duty natural cleaners. She has recipes for basic cleaners, as well as 409 and Lysol alternatives for all of you germ freaks. I wish the recipes were mine to share, but they are not.
You can read some of the book for free on Google Books here. Or you can find it pretty cheap on Amazon.
Here I am mixing up my cleaners. It really didn't take that long and it smelled so good.
These are the final products and the only ingredients I used.
Here are some free natural cleaning tips:
Vinegar Uses-
- Clean your microwave: Mix 2 cups of water with 1/4 cup vinegar in a bowl. Heat it in your microwave for 3-4 minutes. Afterward, you can easily wipe the gunk off your microwave walls.
- Deodorize your dishwasher: Put a cup of vinegar in your dishwasher detergent compartment and run an empty cycle.
- Get rid of strong room odors- Leave a bowl of vinegar out overnight
- Remove soap build-up from faucets- Mix 1 part salt with 4 parts vinegar and scrub.
Baking Soda Uses-
- Prevent clogged drains- Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down your drains and rinse through with hot water every week.
- Whiter whites- Add 1/2 cup of baking soda with bleach to improve the effectiveness of bleach.
- Freshen your carpets- Mix a few drops of essential oil to baking soda. Sprinkle it on your carpet and vacuum after 10 minutes or so.
Deal of the Day
Today Baskin Robbins is honoring the nation's firefighters by selling 31 cent scoops from 5pm to 10pm, tonight only. Both locations in Ogden, 3675 Harrison Blvd and 1166 Washington Blvd, are participating. So grab your family for an impromptu night out for less than $2.00.
After all that ice cream, you might be inclined to burn a few calories. You can get a one-month unlimited gym pass to Juxtapose Fitness in South Ogden for just $20 today from Groupon. They offer pilates, zumba and kickboxing. Click here if you are interested.
After all that ice cream, you might be inclined to burn a few calories. You can get a one-month unlimited gym pass to Juxtapose Fitness in South Ogden for just $20 today from Groupon. They offer pilates, zumba and kickboxing. Click here if you are interested.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Hill Aerospace Museum
Yay! I am finally adding pictures to my blog. And I finally checked out the Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base. It was a lot of fun.They had tons of planes, military vehicles, missiles and other military artifacts. I gotta admit that the mannequins were a little creepy, but they did have some great costumes.
I have to say I enjoyed the section dedicated to women pilots and service. They had a cute little art gallery, too. While Eleanor was fascinated, we only ended up staying for about an hour. If she was at least 6 or so, I could see spending a couple of hours there. They have informative plaques for all of the planes and displays, so it is very educational. They also have the Ace Learning Center that hosts school groups during the week, but is open to the public on Friday afternoons and Saturdays from 9am-Noon and 1-3pm. I plan on checking that out soon.
All in all , we had an awesome family day. We picked up free pretzels at the Pretzel Maker for National Pretzel Day and enjoyed a free local museum.
If you want to visit the Aerospace Museum it is located at:
7961 Wardleigh Road, Bldg 1955
Hill AFB, UT 84056-5842
It is right off the Roy freeway exit.It is open 7 days a week from 9am-4:30pm. They are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
Deal of the Day!
It's that time of year again; National Pretzel Day! Sounds made up, right? Either way, to celebrate pretzel makers nationwide are giving away free pretzels just for saying "National Pretzel Day". So head on down to the Pretzel Maker in the Newgate Mall and get a free pretzel.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Summer Camps
This post has been updated thanks to some great info from fellow blogger Jennifer Evans. I also did a little extra research myself.
It's almost summer break again when kids have nothing but time on their hands. Give them something to do by enrolling them in a summer class. There are quite a few options in Ogden to keep your kids busy and learning this summer.
Nature Center
Toddlers- For kids ages 2-3. Classes are held from 9-11am or 1-3pm. Cost is $10/member parent/child or $12/non-member parent/child.
July 5th- Nature's Palette let's kids create art with dirt, leaves, sticks and more.
July 7th- Music and Movement teaches kids about nature's rhythm and movement.
August 16th- Mudpuppies' let's you play in the mud, find worms and listen to stories about animals in burrows.
August 18th- Animal Superheroes teaches kids about animal survival tactics from falcons to beavers.
Preschoolers- For kids ages 4-6. Classes are from 9am-12pm Monday-Friday. You can come one day or all week. Price: Week-long camps are $70/member or $85/non-member. One day camp is $15/member or $18/member.
June 27th-July 1st- Animal Explorers teaches kids about reptiles, amphibians, birds, insect and more.
July 18th-July 22nd- Sense-sational Nature shows kids how to use their five senses like animals do to explore the world around them.
School-age children For kids ages 7-12.
Week-long adventures are 8:30am-3:30pm Monday-Wednesday and overnight on Thursday. Cost is $150/member or $185/non-member. Each class has a different age range. Check the Nature Center for additional details.
June 13th-17th- X-treme Eco-Expedition teaches kids about survival tactics from shelter building to compass skills.
June 20th-24th- Wild Things explores ecosystems and the different animals that inhabit them.
July 11th-15th- Creepy Crawly Critters allows kids to discover the many lizards, toad, insects and other animals the live at the Nature Center.
July 25th-29th- Stories of Utah's Past teaches kids about Utah's native people and how they lived.
Single-day adventures are from 8:30am-3:30pm. Cost is $30/member or $35/non-member.
July 6th- Nature's Invaders shows you how to identify what does and doesn't belong in nature.
August 1st- Eco-art is all about drawing, sculpting and painting things inspired by the natural world.
August 2nd- Ponds, puddles and pools explores water habitats.
August 3rd- Endangered Species teaches kids about animals who are threatened.
August 4th- Nature's Magic & Mysteries explores nature's wonders.
Family Camps
July 8th-9th- or August 5th-6th
Camps are overnight from 6pm Friday to 9am Saturday. Cost is $45/member family of four or $50/non-member family of four and $5/each additional family member.
Songs, Stars and S'mores is a camp-out complete with games, trivia, songs, food and more.
Call 801-621-7595 for more details or to register.
Eccles Community Art Center
June 6 through 10- Claws, Codes, and Constellations 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuition: $220/camper
Explore space, nature, secret codes and sports. How much better can it get? You’ll discover how to send secret messages to your friends. Get a taste for space as you become a young astronaut. Investigate the earth and nature. Discover the science of sports, plus many more exciting activities.
June 20 through 24- Crazy Chemworks! 9 a.m. to 12 noon Tuition: $140.00/camper
Hop on board the chemistry express for a high-speed science experience. Perform instantaneous experiments in this fast-paced camp on split-second reactions that go like mad! Crazy Chemworks lab ware, plus much more!
July 5 through 8- NASA: Journey Into Outer Space 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $120/camper
From our earth’s atmosphere to the outer reaches of our solar system, this hands-on space program sends children on a quest for exploration! Comets, planets, stars and more are all waiting to be discovered. Learn about the four forces of flight, the challenges of space travel, and other cool space related activities. Includes many awesome science kits!
July 18 through 22- Chemicals, Cells, and Crime 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $140/camper
Get ready for many exciting chemistry related activities from the Mad Science Laboratory! Use your skills as a chemist to make your own radical reactions with batteries, a chemical clock, and more. Team up with other campers to solve the "Great ice Cream Caper."
August 1 through 5- Secret Agent Lab 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $140/camper
This camp is packed with secret spy gadgets and funky forensic gear. Attend Spy Academy. Study coded messages. Test fake blood and bag’n’tag evidence. Build and break into your own safe. Learn the science of security. Find the bad guys and put them away for good!
Discounts: $10 discount for multiple camps and/or multiple siblings.
Call 801-621-7595 for more information and to register.
Treehouse Museum
These camps are Monday-Friday workshops from 10am-12pm. Cost is $50/member or $100/non-member.
June 13th-17th- Art Adventures is for kids ages 6-10. Kids will make books, masks, collages and more based on different stories.
June 20th-24th- Theater Adventures teaches kids ages 7-11 about writing, costuming, staging and acting in a play that the kids will perform.
June 27th-July 1st- Theater Adventures teaches kids ages 7-11 about writing, costuming, staging and acting in a play that the kids will perform.
July18th-29th- Art Adventures is for kids ages 6-10. Kids will make books, masks, collages and more based on different stories.
Call 801-394-9663 for more details or to register.
Astro Camp
June 16th-17th- Cadet Camp
June 21st-24th- Astronaut Training Camp
June 27th-30th- Voyager Camp
July 11th-14th or July 11th-16th- Galaxy Camp
July 18th–July 22nd- Academy Camp
July 26th-29th- Physics Camp
Click here for more details.
The Front Climbing Club
June 13th-August 22nd- Ogden's very own climbing gym will be having rock climbing camps all summer long for kids age 6-14 years old. That is so rad and I can't wait until Elle is old enough to attend. Cost is $125/kid for a five-day camp that includes instruction, equipment, meals, and a t-shirt. Visit the Front's website for more info.
Dinosaur Park
June 22nd-August 10th- Let your child explore different art mediums from chalk to weaving at the Dinosaur Park's four-week-long summer camps. There are two different ages ranges and two different sessions to chose from. Cost is $60/non-member and $50/member. Check the website for more details.
Bravo Arts Academy
This art and music school with locations in Washington Terrace and Clearfield has an array of music, dance and art camps for kids ages 3-teen. Prices vary according to the length and type of camp. Check their website for more details.
Peery's Egyptian Theater
June 13th-24th- Kids Act UP is a summer theater camp for students age 7 - 14. Participants learn about "the business" - singing, acting, dancing - while rehearsing for a live performance for family and friends. Cost is $350 for 10 days and includes lunches each day, a Kids Act Up t-shirt and a special VIP tour of the theater. Peery’s Egyptian Theater is pleased to announce an incredible opportunity for your student to work with theater professionals at our intensive two week performing arts camp, KIDS ACT UP. Don’t miss this opportunity for your student to gain the skills and confidence it takes to perform. Contact: Becky Fenton 801.689.8700.
Also, check the local school districts, Weber and Ogden, for more summer programs like band camp at the Environmental Center, Start Talk and PAL camps.
Do you plan on register your children for a summer camp?
It's almost summer break again when kids have nothing but time on their hands. Give them something to do by enrolling them in a summer class. There are quite a few options in Ogden to keep your kids busy and learning this summer.
Nature Center
Toddlers- For kids ages 2-3. Classes are held from 9-11am or 1-3pm. Cost is $10/member parent/child or $12/non-member parent/child.
July 5th- Nature's Palette let's kids create art with dirt, leaves, sticks and more.
July 7th- Music and Movement teaches kids about nature's rhythm and movement.
August 16th- Mudpuppies' let's you play in the mud, find worms and listen to stories about animals in burrows.
August 18th- Animal Superheroes teaches kids about animal survival tactics from falcons to beavers.
Preschoolers- For kids ages 4-6. Classes are from 9am-12pm Monday-Friday. You can come one day or all week. Price: Week-long camps are $70/member or $85/non-member. One day camp is $15/member or $18/member.
June 27th-July 1st- Animal Explorers teaches kids about reptiles, amphibians, birds, insect and more.
July 18th-July 22nd- Sense-sational Nature shows kids how to use their five senses like animals do to explore the world around them.
School-age children For kids ages 7-12.
Week-long adventures are 8:30am-3:30pm Monday-Wednesday and overnight on Thursday. Cost is $150/member or $185/non-member. Each class has a different age range. Check the Nature Center for additional details.
June 13th-17th- X-treme Eco-Expedition teaches kids about survival tactics from shelter building to compass skills.
June 20th-24th- Wild Things explores ecosystems and the different animals that inhabit them.
July 11th-15th- Creepy Crawly Critters allows kids to discover the many lizards, toad, insects and other animals the live at the Nature Center.
July 25th-29th- Stories of Utah's Past teaches kids about Utah's native people and how they lived.
Single-day adventures are from 8:30am-3:30pm. Cost is $30/member or $35/non-member.
July 6th- Nature's Invaders shows you how to identify what does and doesn't belong in nature.
August 1st- Eco-art is all about drawing, sculpting and painting things inspired by the natural world.
August 2nd- Ponds, puddles and pools explores water habitats.
August 3rd- Endangered Species teaches kids about animals who are threatened.
August 4th- Nature's Magic & Mysteries explores nature's wonders.
Family Camps
July 8th-9th- or August 5th-6th
Camps are overnight from 6pm Friday to 9am Saturday. Cost is $45/member family of four or $50/non-member family of four and $5/each additional family member.
Songs, Stars and S'mores is a camp-out complete with games, trivia, songs, food and more.
Call 801-621-7595 for more details or to register.
Eccles Community Art Center
June 6 through 10- Claws, Codes, and Constellations 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuition: $220/camper
Explore space, nature, secret codes and sports. How much better can it get? You’ll discover how to send secret messages to your friends. Get a taste for space as you become a young astronaut. Investigate the earth and nature. Discover the science of sports, plus many more exciting activities.
June 20 through 24- Crazy Chemworks! 9 a.m. to 12 noon Tuition: $140.00/camper
Hop on board the chemistry express for a high-speed science experience. Perform instantaneous experiments in this fast-paced camp on split-second reactions that go like mad! Crazy Chemworks lab ware, plus much more!
July 5 through 8- NASA: Journey Into Outer Space 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $120/camper
From our earth’s atmosphere to the outer reaches of our solar system, this hands-on space program sends children on a quest for exploration! Comets, planets, stars and more are all waiting to be discovered. Learn about the four forces of flight, the challenges of space travel, and other cool space related activities. Includes many awesome science kits!
July 18 through 22- Chemicals, Cells, and Crime 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $140/camper
Get ready for many exciting chemistry related activities from the Mad Science Laboratory! Use your skills as a chemist to make your own radical reactions with batteries, a chemical clock, and more. Team up with other campers to solve the "Great ice Cream Caper."
August 1 through 5- Secret Agent Lab 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $140/camper
This camp is packed with secret spy gadgets and funky forensic gear. Attend Spy Academy. Study coded messages. Test fake blood and bag’n’tag evidence. Build and break into your own safe. Learn the science of security. Find the bad guys and put them away for good!
Discounts: $10 discount for multiple camps and/or multiple siblings.
Call 801-621-7595 for more information and to register.
Treehouse Museum
These camps are Monday-Friday workshops from 10am-12pm. Cost is $50/member or $100/non-member.
June 13th-17th- Art Adventures is for kids ages 6-10. Kids will make books, masks, collages and more based on different stories.
June 20th-24th- Theater Adventures teaches kids ages 7-11 about writing, costuming, staging and acting in a play that the kids will perform.
June 27th-July 1st- Theater Adventures teaches kids ages 7-11 about writing, costuming, staging and acting in a play that the kids will perform.
July18th-29th- Art Adventures is for kids ages 6-10. Kids will make books, masks, collages and more based on different stories.
Call 801-394-9663 for more details or to register.
Astro Camp
June 16th-17th- Cadet Camp
June 21st-24th- Astronaut Training Camp
June 27th-30th- Voyager Camp
July 11th-14th or July 11th-16th- Galaxy Camp
July 18th–July 22nd- Academy Camp
July 26th-29th- Physics Camp
Click here for more details.
The Front Climbing Club
June 13th-August 22nd- Ogden's very own climbing gym will be having rock climbing camps all summer long for kids age 6-14 years old. That is so rad and I can't wait until Elle is old enough to attend. Cost is $125/kid for a five-day camp that includes instruction, equipment, meals, and a t-shirt. Visit the Front's website for more info.
Dinosaur Park
June 22nd-August 10th- Let your child explore different art mediums from chalk to weaving at the Dinosaur Park's four-week-long summer camps. There are two different ages ranges and two different sessions to chose from. Cost is $60/non-member and $50/member. Check the website for more details.
Bravo Arts Academy
This art and music school with locations in Washington Terrace and Clearfield has an array of music, dance and art camps for kids ages 3-teen. Prices vary according to the length and type of camp. Check their website for more details.
Peery's Egyptian Theater
June 13th-24th- Kids Act UP is a summer theater camp for students age 7 - 14. Participants learn about "the business" - singing, acting, dancing - while rehearsing for a live performance for family and friends. Cost is $350 for 10 days and includes lunches each day, a Kids Act Up t-shirt and a special VIP tour of the theater. Peery’s Egyptian Theater is pleased to announce an incredible opportunity for your student to work with theater professionals at our intensive two week performing arts camp, KIDS ACT UP. Don’t miss this opportunity for your student to gain the skills and confidence it takes to perform. Contact: Becky Fenton 801.689.8700.
Also, check the local school districts, Weber and Ogden, for more summer programs like band camp at the Environmental Center, Start Talk and PAL camps.
Do you plan on register your children for a summer camp?
Deal of the Day
Check out Yorkphoto.com and just for registering, you will get 40 free prints. Plus, additional prints are only 4 cents! That is the cheapest I have seen any where. It is usually around 10 cents a print. Check it out here.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Deal of the Day
To celebrate Earth Day, Lowe's is giving away free trees to anyone who comes in. I called the Harrisville Lowe's and they still have trees available. Click here for details at Lowe's website.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Deal of the Day
I've got two great deals today.
The first is from Groupon. Picaboo, an online photo store like Snapfish and Shutterfly is offering $100 worth of products for only $35! You can turn your memories into photo books, cards and calendars. Amazing. Click here to order.
My second deal is a super deal. A two-month FREE subscription to Family Circle magazine.There are no obligations or strings attached. Just enter your info here and enjoy the June and July issues.
The first is from Groupon. Picaboo, an online photo store like Snapfish and Shutterfly is offering $100 worth of products for only $35! You can turn your memories into photo books, cards and calendars. Amazing. Click here to order.
My second deal is a super deal. A two-month FREE subscription to Family Circle magazine.There are no obligations or strings attached. Just enter your info here and enjoy the June and July issues.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spay and Neuter Your Animals
It breaks my heart every time I see a sign "Free Kittens" in my neighborhood. There are so many unwanted animals, especially in the Ogden area, that will never find a loving home or end up diseased and starving. All of this can be prevented, if we spay and neuter our animals.
The No More Homeless Pets in Utah foundation is providing a great service for Ogden residents. They give free spay and neuter vouchers for cats and dogs to residents who are on government assistance or meet income requirements. If you or someone you know needs these services and meets requirements click here for more information.
If you don't meet the requirements, they have other options available for low-cost vaccinations and spay/neuter operations.
What if you don't own any animals that need to be spayed or neutered? You can still help homeless animals and your community by using the trap-neuter-return system. This was really popular when I was living in the Bay area. Many kind-hearted people would catch feral cats in cages and bring them to the local sheltered to be spayed or neutered and then release them back into the (urban) wild. NMHP in Utah only charges $35 for female cats and $25 for male cats. If you can spare the change, you will prevent more unwanted kittens from being born and stop feral cats in heat from howling all night and spraying stinky pee. Click here to see the prices for services for both cats and dogs.
The No More Homeless Pets in Utah foundation is providing a great service for Ogden residents. They give free spay and neuter vouchers for cats and dogs to residents who are on government assistance or meet income requirements. If you or someone you know needs these services and meets requirements click here for more information.
If you don't meet the requirements, they have other options available for low-cost vaccinations and spay/neuter operations.
What if you don't own any animals that need to be spayed or neutered? You can still help homeless animals and your community by using the trap-neuter-return system. This was really popular when I was living in the Bay area. Many kind-hearted people would catch feral cats in cages and bring them to the local sheltered to be spayed or neutered and then release them back into the (urban) wild. NMHP in Utah only charges $35 for female cats and $25 for male cats. If you can spare the change, you will prevent more unwanted kittens from being born and stop feral cats in heat from howling all night and spraying stinky pee. Click here to see the prices for services for both cats and dogs.
Deal of the Day
Restaurant.com is a website where you can purchase gift certificates to participating restaurants for huge discounts. For instance, most $25 gift certificates cost only $10. Be sure to notice the terms of purchase, some restaurants require a $50 minimum purchase while others only require a minimum $35 dollar purchase. Therefore, for you can get a $35 meal for only $20. Right now, they have an amazing deal that gives you 80% off your total purchase. I just got 2 $25 gift certificates for only $4. I have to spend at least $35, so my final cost will be $12.
Click here to choose your gift certificates
When you check out you must use the code EASTER. Enjoy!
Click here to choose your gift certificates
When you check out you must use the code EASTER. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Deal of the Day!
I seriously just bought my daughter a pair of shoes at Payless today. I wish I would have seen this earlier.
Save 20% off your entire purchase at Payless Shoe Stores.
Get the coupon here!
Save 20% off your entire purchase at Payless Shoe Stores.
Get the coupon here!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Deal of the Day
Get Your Vitamins!
Rite Aid has a ton of vitamins on Buy 1 Get 1 free. I just got 2 bottles of fish oil for me and my husband, 2 bottles of DHA gummies for my daughter, and 2 bottles of prenatal vitamins for myself for just $25 bucks. You can look at the Rite Aid ad online at their website.
You can find coupons here for extra savings:
Print coupons twice here: Red Plum
Print coupons twice here: Coupon Network
Watch videos here for one coupon: Rite Aid
Rite Aid has a ton of vitamins on Buy 1 Get 1 free. I just got 2 bottles of fish oil for me and my husband, 2 bottles of DHA gummies for my daughter, and 2 bottles of prenatal vitamins for myself for just $25 bucks. You can look at the Rite Aid ad online at their website.
You can find coupons here for extra savings:
Print coupons twice here: Red Plum
Print coupons twice here: Coupon Network
Watch videos here for one coupon: Rite Aid
Monday, April 18, 2011
How does your garden grow?
Well, this will be my third year planting a backyard vegetable garden. I gotta admit, I am terrible at it. I have what you might call a brown thumb as opposed to a green thumb. Every single plant I buy dies. Whether it's over watering, under watering, or just plain neglect I can't seem to get it right. But, I am determined to keep at it. I have had success with tomatoes, radishes and zucchini and it is well worth it. There are so many benefits to home gardening.
Thursday, April 21- The Ogden Nature Center will be holding a class about using environmentally friendly practices to keep bugs, pests and weeds out of your garden. This class is from 6-7:30pm and is $5 for non-members and $3 for members.
Friday, April 22- In conjunction with Earth Day, the Weber County Library's main branch will be hosting a class all about composting. Composting is a great way to recycle food waste into perfect plant food and fertilizer. The class starts at 4pm and is free. As a bonus, they will be passing out free vegetable and flower seeds.
Do you have any great tips or interesting stories about your garden?
- Obviously, you will save a ton of money growing your own food. You will have to invest a few bucks into seeds, compost, and maybe some plant food, but after that it is mostly a time investment.
- You can control the amount of chemicals sprayed on your food. Even if you choose to use some Round-up, it will be much less than what is used on conventional produce.
- Nutrients in fresh produce start to diminish as soon as it is picked. Food in the grocery store can be weeks old, so home grown foods have more nutrients.
- As I stated above, produce in grocery stores is old and doesn't last nearly as long as local produce. Grocers also cut the tops of onions and tamper with vegetables so they look nicer, but rot quicker.
- Last, but not least, home grown food just tastes better. It hasn't been tampered with (i.e. irradiated, refrigerated or genetically modified)and is fresh and delicious.
Thursday, April 21- The Ogden Nature Center will be holding a class about using environmentally friendly practices to keep bugs, pests and weeds out of your garden. This class is from 6-7:30pm and is $5 for non-members and $3 for members.
Friday, April 22- In conjunction with Earth Day, the Weber County Library's main branch will be hosting a class all about composting. Composting is a great way to recycle food waste into perfect plant food and fertilizer. The class starts at 4pm and is free. As a bonus, they will be passing out free vegetable and flower seeds.
Do you have any great tips or interesting stories about your garden?
Deal of the Day!
Got a pissed off girlfriend (or boyfriend)? Send them $40 worth of flowers for only $20 from Ogden City Floral and Gift. You could also order a beautiful Easter or Mother's Day bouquet. This offer is available through Groupon. Click here to order
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Deal of the Day!
If you have a ton of digital pictures to print, Snapfish is awesome. I have used both Shutterfly and Snapfish, but have found that Snapfish usually has better prices. Right now they have an awesome deal for Mother's Day. If you buy just one 8x11 classic photo book with 20 pages (it costs more for extra pages) for $24.99, you will get two for free. That's 3 photo books for just $24.99 plus shipping. These make great gifts or easy scrapbooks. Make sure you use the code MOMMYBOOKS. Check it out here! Offer expires tomorrow, April 18th.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Hunting for Eggs
Easter is right around the corner and egg dyeing, Easter baskets and excessive amounts of chocolate and cholesterol are all in store. Tis the season, right? Apparently, the average family spends a whopping $116 on Easter candy! No wonder they put that stuff out right after Valentine's Day. This will be my second year planning an Easter brunch and egg hunt for my family. So far, I have only spent $30. Not too bad, although I have already eaten a substantial portion of it. Anyways, I just learned about the White House's annual Easter egg roll. Kids compete in a race to roll their egg across the lawn with a spoon to the finish line. I think that would be a super fun Easter tradition to start for older kids and adults, too. Elle isn't quite old enough for that, but she is old enough for some public Easter egg hunts!
Here are some local ones:
Egg Hunts
Saturday, April 16-
Catholic Community Services will be hosting an egg hunt at West Ogden Park at 2504 F Ave. The hunt starts at 10 am for kids ages 12 and under. Get there early to see the Ogden City Fire Department drop off the Easter Bunny. I'll admit that this is a rougher part of town, but it is fine during the day. This event is FREE.
Saturday, April 23-
South Ogden is hosting an Easter egg hunt at Friendship Park at 655 E. 5500 S. Get there at 8am to get a picture with the Easter bunny. The hunt begins at 9am for kids ages 1-12. This event is FREE.
Dinosaur Park is holding its annual Easter Eggstravaganza. They will have two separate hunts: one from 11am-1pm and one from 3pm-5pm. Regular admission fees apply. Click here for prices Apparently, each child can only get up to five eggs which seems a little stingy when you are paying for it. On the bright side, you can enjoy the park after the hunt is over.
Other Events
Thursday, April 21-
Eccles Community Art Center at 2580 Jefferson Ave. will be hosting an art project. Anyone ages 8 and up can come paint a wooden egg for a hand woven wire nest. Cost is $15. Preregister by calling 801-392-6935.
Click here for some eco-friendly Easter ideas.
*UPDATES*
Saturday, April 23-
Your local Smith's Food and Drug is celebrating Easter! You might want to call and check your local Smith's today to make sure they are hosting one. I called the Smith's on 12th and Harrison Blvd. and they confirmed the event. When I was at Smith's on 42nd and Harrison Blvd., the cashier said they weren't having one. But she probably didn't even know what I was talking about. Events are as follows:
7:30 - 8:30am- Free Breakfast! Coffee, Orange Juice, Chocolate Milk, Doughnut Holes!
8:30 - 9:00am- Easter Egg & Candy Hunt Ages 1 - 3 Years, 4 - 5 Years, 6 - 8 Years and 9 - 11 Years
8:30 - Noon- Personalize Easter Treats Chocolate Eggs or 4 Inch Sugar Cookies (Available for purchase & decorating at our In-Store Bakery).
Hill Aerospace Museum will also be hosting a huge egg hunt with special prizes for eggs with messages inside. The Easter bunny will be there and the hunt begins at 9am.
I will update this post, if I find out any new events. Have a fun and Happy Easter!
Here are some local ones:
Egg Hunts
Saturday, April 16-
Catholic Community Services will be hosting an egg hunt at West Ogden Park at 2504 F Ave. The hunt starts at 10 am for kids ages 12 and under. Get there early to see the Ogden City Fire Department drop off the Easter Bunny. I'll admit that this is a rougher part of town, but it is fine during the day. This event is FREE.
Saturday, April 23-
South Ogden is hosting an Easter egg hunt at Friendship Park at 655 E. 5500 S. Get there at 8am to get a picture with the Easter bunny. The hunt begins at 9am for kids ages 1-12. This event is FREE.
Dinosaur Park is holding its annual Easter Eggstravaganza. They will have two separate hunts: one from 11am-1pm and one from 3pm-5pm. Regular admission fees apply. Click here for prices Apparently, each child can only get up to five eggs which seems a little stingy when you are paying for it. On the bright side, you can enjoy the park after the hunt is over.
Other Events
Thursday, April 21-
Eccles Community Art Center at 2580 Jefferson Ave. will be hosting an art project. Anyone ages 8 and up can come paint a wooden egg for a hand woven wire nest. Cost is $15. Preregister by calling 801-392-6935.
Click here for some eco-friendly Easter ideas.
*UPDATES*
Saturday, April 23-
Your local Smith's Food and Drug is celebrating Easter! You might want to call and check your local Smith's today to make sure they are hosting one. I called the Smith's on 12th and Harrison Blvd. and they confirmed the event. When I was at Smith's on 42nd and Harrison Blvd., the cashier said they weren't having one. But she probably didn't even know what I was talking about. Events are as follows:
7:30 - 8:30am- Free Breakfast! Coffee, Orange Juice, Chocolate Milk, Doughnut Holes!
8:30 - 9:00am- Easter Egg & Candy Hunt Ages 1 - 3 Years, 4 - 5 Years, 6 - 8 Years and 9 - 11 Years
8:30 - Noon- Personalize Easter Treats Chocolate Eggs or 4 Inch Sugar Cookies (Available for purchase & decorating at our In-Store Bakery).
Hill Aerospace Museum will also be hosting a huge egg hunt with special prizes for eggs with messages inside. The Easter bunny will be there and the hunt begins at 9am.
I will update this post, if I find out any new events. Have a fun and Happy Easter!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Earth Day 2011
While we should adhere to the mantra, "Every day is Earth Day," sometimes it is easy to forget the importance of taking care of our environment. Earth Day is a day to renew our dedication to improving our environment today and preserving it for future generations. In his journals, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other." Nature has an delicate interconnectedness that we must respect and protect.Doing so allows us to balance the demands of modern life and enjoy the beauty that Earth provides. On this Earth Day, take the time to broaden your family's appreciation of nature and set goals to become more eco-friendly.
Events:
Weber County Library
The Pleasant Valley Branch in South Ogden will be showing Earth Day awareness movies every Wednesday until Earth Day
Wednesday, April 13 @ 7pm- Earth Days is a PBS special about the history of Earth Day and Eco-awareness.
Wednesday, April 20 @ 7pm- The End of the Line is a documentary that covers serious and relevant threats to our environment.
Friday April 22 from 4-5pm- All Weber County Library Branches will host an Earth Day celebration complete with activities, refreshments, and distributions of live lady bugs. The main branch only will feature a presentation about composting and will be giving away free flower and vegetable seeds.
All events are FREE.
Ogden Nature Center
Saturday, April 16 from 11am-4pm- A huge Earth Day celebration will be hosted by the Nature Center. Some exhibitors include Backyard Chickens, Slow Food Utah and Recycled Denim Art. Activities include a climbing wall, puppet shows and head wreath making. Vendors will be selling food, native plants and more. There will also be tons of live entertainment, tours and more.
More info is available here Earth Day celebration
Cost: $2/person
Freebie: Entrance is free if you walk, bicycle or ride the bus to the event. If you have never taken public transportation, this is a great opportunity to figure out the system and take your kids on a bus ride.
Check out the UTA website for schedules and more.UTA
What you can do on Earth Day:
Here are some more activities you can do with your family in honor of Earth Day.
Events:
Weber County Library
The Pleasant Valley Branch in South Ogden will be showing Earth Day awareness movies every Wednesday until Earth Day
Wednesday, April 13 @ 7pm- Earth Days is a PBS special about the history of Earth Day and Eco-awareness.
Wednesday, April 20 @ 7pm- The End of the Line is a documentary that covers serious and relevant threats to our environment.
Friday April 22 from 4-5pm- All Weber County Library Branches will host an Earth Day celebration complete with activities, refreshments, and distributions of live lady bugs. The main branch only will feature a presentation about composting and will be giving away free flower and vegetable seeds.
All events are FREE.
Ogden Nature Center
Saturday, April 16 from 11am-4pm- A huge Earth Day celebration will be hosted by the Nature Center. Some exhibitors include Backyard Chickens, Slow Food Utah and Recycled Denim Art. Activities include a climbing wall, puppet shows and head wreath making. Vendors will be selling food, native plants and more. There will also be tons of live entertainment, tours and more.
More info is available here Earth Day celebration
Cost: $2/person
Freebie: Entrance is free if you walk, bicycle or ride the bus to the event. If you have never taken public transportation, this is a great opportunity to figure out the system and take your kids on a bus ride.
Check out the UTA website for schedules and more.UTA
What you can do on Earth Day:
Here are some more activities you can do with your family in honor of Earth Day.
- Plant a tree. For all Ogden residents, the city has a limited amount of FREE trees for residents with proof of address. They started distribution last Tuesday, so I don't know how many trees are left. Get more info here: Free Trees
- Make crafts from recycled items. Family Fun website has a ton of great ideas. Check it out here: Recyclable projects
- Read some nature literature. Some of my favorites are: Mark Twain's Roughing It; Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature; Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac; and Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
- Watch an earth-related movie. This article features a top ten list of Earth Day movies: Earth Day movies
- Donate to an earth cause. Check out Earth Day's website to find worthy charities: Donate
Friday, April 8, 2011
Treehouse Museum
The Treehouse Museum is a super fun place to take your kids, rain or shine. I have taken my daughter there 3 or 4 times and still see new things every time. They've got tons of exhibits including my daughter's favorites: Days of the Knights where you can dress up like a prince or princess, put on a play and play chess with two feet tall chess pieces; How the West was Fun where you can milk a cow, ride a horse in the rodeo or harvest a garden; and the Oval Office where you can see your little future president at work.
Here are some current weekly events:
Monday- On Track to Reading: Storytimes @ 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, and 2 PM. (This is only held during the school year.)
Tuesday-Friday- Special art projects (Cover to Cover Art and Ramped Up Art) in the Art Garden from 3-5 PM.
Friday- Alphabet Soup from 6-8 PM.
Saturday- Special art projects (Cover to Cover Art and Ramped Up Art) in the Art Garden from 11 AM-5 PM.
They periodically have puppet shows and magic shows that are free for members or only the cost of admission for non-members. Every 2-3 months they have great special events, like the Fairy Tale Ball in May and the Enchanted Forest in October. Don't forget to like O-Town Mama on Facebook or Twitter and I will keep you updated on all of their great events.
Admission:
$6.00- 1-12 yrs. old
$5.00- 13+ yrs. old
Click here for a $1 off admission coupon.
Super Deal: Admission is discounted during On Track to Reading and Alphabet Soup to $3 for 1-12 yrs. old and $1 for 13 yrs.+
They also offer memberships at different prices levels depending on your family size. This gives you free admission to the museum every day, discounted prices on special events and invites to special members-only parties. If you live in Ogden or near Ogden I really recommend a membership. I take my daughter every week!
Treehouse Museum
347 22nd St.
Ogden, UT 84401
801-394-9663
Welcome!!
I am starting this blog as a resource for families living in, living near by, or visiting Ogden. There are so many family-fun things in Ogden; indoor and outdoor, free and inexpensive. I will keep you updated on special events, super deals, and everything else O-town-related. Check back often and be informed!
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