I love this time of year. The skies are clear and cold at night and the holiday lights put a festive glow on otherwise ordinary buildings. Don't miss the amazing light shows around the Atlanta Metro. The 30 acres at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is especially spectacular this year. A must see!
"Garden Lights, Holiday Nights." Nov 19 through Jan 7 at Atlanta Botanical Garden. 5-10 p.m. nightly (except Dec. 24 and 31). Tickets: $18.95, $12.95 ages 3-12. Parking, $5, in the adjoining SAGE parking facility. 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-876-585 www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens. Take the Jolly Trolly or drive your personal vehicle through the 5-mile light show employing 8 million lights and featuring 14 larger-than-life holiday scenes in a woodland setting. Christmas Village offers 22,000 square feet of shopping and refreshments. Nov 18 through Dec 30. $16-$22; $8-$11, children; under 5, free. 60 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta, intersection of Ga. 18/354, Pine Mountain. 1-800-225-5292 www.callawaygardens.com
Holiday in Lights at Centennial Olympic Park. Thousands of lights illuminate the 21-acre park. Nov 18 through Jan 2. Park is open 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Ice skating rink, open Nov 19 through Jan 29, is $7 per person plus $2 skate rental for 90 minutes on the ice. Credit cards not accepted at the rink. 4:30-10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays. 404-223-4412 www.centennialpark.com.
Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Seven miles of lights illuminate characters and scenery. Carnival rides, pony rides and games, marshmallow roasting offered outside Holiday Village, where shopping and snacks and visits with Santa are available. Open Nov 18 through Jan 1. 5-10 p.m. daily (including holidays). Cars (one to nine passengers): Mondays-Thursdays, $40; Fridays-Sundays, $60. Food, lodging packages available. Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford. 1-800-840-5253, www.lakelanierislands.com
Lights of Life at Life. Millions of light bulbs illuminate more than 100 displays dotting the 1.5-mile drive through Life University campus. Nov 21 through Dec 31. 6-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 6-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Cars, $5; vans, $10; buses, $20. New this year: Nojoe’s Christmas Circus Under the Stars, presented at 7 and 9 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving night through New Year’s Day night. $5. Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta. 678-331-4334 www.life.edu/lightsoflife
Season of Magic in Piedmont Park. Holiday lights decorate the park in this first-year event that opens with a Naughty or Nice caroling parade at 6 p.m. Nov 20 ($10, $5 under 12). Features horse-drawn carriage rides (5-10 p.m. daily; $20 per individual, $60 groups of 3-5), carousel rides, Legacy Fountain light show, beer garden, arts and crafts and more. Through New Year’s Day. 404-875-7275 www.piedmontpark.org
Stone Mountain Christmas. More than 2 million lights illuminate Crossroads village. A dozen-plus shows and events are offered, including new this year the holiday show "Toyrific!" Nightly holiday parade winds through the village, with Snow Angel flying over Crossroads for the finale just before a fireworks display. .770-498-5690 Open nightly Nov 12 through Jan 1 (except Dec. 24-25). $27, adults; $21, children 3-11. Parking pass, $10. Book combo tickets (includes other park attractions) at www.stonemountainpark.com
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Clean up the Pantry & Do a Good Deed
Tip for Today: Reclaim pantry space buy donating non-perishable food.
My pantry closet is tiny. It's the size of a small broom closet. Essentially, it is no wider than the door and half-an-arm length deep. Our previous home had 3 pantry closets and finding storage for food was never a problem. This new closet tests my space management skills daily as I pack it full of food to feed a family of 4.
Each trip to the grocery store starts with a list of carefully selected items which will (1) fit in the miniscule pantry and (2) will be consumed in time for the next shopping trip. Yet, inspite of my careful planning and purchasing, there are still items that linger week after week and take up precious shelf space.
The extra bottle of Chipolte Lime marinade and can of cream of broccoli soup which didn't get used in the new recipes we tried. A box of strawberry cake mix left over from a scout baking event. A jar of apple butter and applesauce from a gift basket we received. Extra Tang powder bought on sale, which my kids don't like to drink anymore. I can't throw them out...it's money wasted...but I need to reclaim my pantry space. What's a mom to do?
The solution to my surplus groceries arrived in the mail this morning - a brown paper bag printed with a request to support the Postal Carriers Food Drive on Saturday, May 12. My unneeded canned and boxed food goes to a worthwhile charity and they'll come pick it up, too. Sweet!
In two minutes, that bag was half full with assorted non-perishable groceries and waiting by the door for pick-up on Saturday. Adios, cream of broccoli soup. Hello, grocery store. I have a new shopping list...
My pantry closet is tiny. It's the size of a small broom closet. Essentially, it is no wider than the door and half-an-arm length deep. Our previous home had 3 pantry closets and finding storage for food was never a problem. This new closet tests my space management skills daily as I pack it full of food to feed a family of 4.
Each trip to the grocery store starts with a list of carefully selected items which will (1) fit in the miniscule pantry and (2) will be consumed in time for the next shopping trip. Yet, inspite of my careful planning and purchasing, there are still items that linger week after week and take up precious shelf space.
The extra bottle of Chipolte Lime marinade and can of cream of broccoli soup which didn't get used in the new recipes we tried. A box of strawberry cake mix left over from a scout baking event. A jar of apple butter and applesauce from a gift basket we received. Extra Tang powder bought on sale, which my kids don't like to drink anymore. I can't throw them out...it's money wasted...but I need to reclaim my pantry space. What's a mom to do?
The solution to my surplus groceries arrived in the mail this morning - a brown paper bag printed with a request to support the Postal Carriers Food Drive on Saturday, May 12. My unneeded canned and boxed food goes to a worthwhile charity and they'll come pick it up, too. Sweet!
In two minutes, that bag was half full with assorted non-perishable groceries and waiting by the door for pick-up on Saturday. Adios, cream of broccoli soup. Hello, grocery store. I have a new shopping list...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Get Ready for Summer Camp
March is almost here and parents should sign up their kids for Summer Camps...if they haven't already done so. Every year my poor brain struggles with the concept of 'summer' activities when it is still 35 degrees outside and the school year is only half complete.
The fact remains that popular camps fill up quickly and your child's first choice might be unavailable. If you have two or more children with diverse interests, they aren't interested in the same camp and schedule coordination becomes an issue. My goal is to get both kids off to camp on the same week. Then I can go on vacation with my husband or my girlfriends. That's the goal. Of course, it never happens. I still dream, and hope and maybe, one day...
Atlanta Parent Magazine covers overnight Summer Camps in their February issue each year. While the primary focus is camps in and around Atlanta, the magazine also lists camps across the US. A complete copy of their awesome magazine is online at http://www.atlantaparent.com/ Scroll down to the cover image of the current issue and click "find back issues."
In your local area, pick up the free kids magazines by the entrance of your grocery store or in a doctor/dentist office. Camps are usually covered in the February and March issues. Happy camping!
The fact remains that popular camps fill up quickly and your child's first choice might be unavailable. If you have two or more children with diverse interests, they aren't interested in the same camp and schedule coordination becomes an issue. My goal is to get both kids off to camp on the same week. Then I can go on vacation with my husband or my girlfriends. That's the goal. Of course, it never happens. I still dream, and hope and maybe, one day...
Atlanta Parent Magazine covers overnight Summer Camps in their February issue each year. While the primary focus is camps in and around Atlanta, the magazine also lists camps across the US. A complete copy of their awesome magazine is online at http://www.atlantaparent.com/ Scroll down to the cover image of the current issue and click "find back issues."
In your local area, pick up the free kids magazines by the entrance of your grocery store or in a doctor/dentist office. Camps are usually covered in the February and March issues. Happy camping!
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