Muffin Tin Lunch

I saw the idea for serving lunch in a muffin tin on another blog, and it was much cuter (think sandwiches cut with cookie cutters) than what I have here. But I started doing it every now and then for the boys, and they really like it. I don't know what it is about the muffin tin, but Ben will eat just about anything from it!

In this version, I have sliced yellow bell peppers, yogurt with blueberries, roast chicken, pasta with parmesan, ketchup, and a piece of Rolo candy. I put the pan in between the boys for them to eat. I like that it keeps the portions relatively equal, instead of the pasta dominating the plate.

Art Portfolio

If your children are anything like mine, they end up with a lot of artwork! School, church, rainy afternoons - it can get out of control. I don't save everything, of course, but I want them to be able to save paintings and drawings they really like. I saw this idea on a blog, and I'm really happy with it.

Supplies

2 pieces heavy-duty posterboard (I got mine for $0.75 at WalMart)

coordinating duct tape (WalMart and Target have lots of fun colors)

coordinating grosgrain ribbon

Punch holes about four inches apart, an inch or so from the top of the posterboard in the center. Tape the posterboard together with duct tape on three sides. Tie the ribbon in the holes to make a handle.

I cut out names with my Cricut, but you can use stickers or stencils as well. You won't believe how many papers can fit in this portfolio!

Easter Events

With the weather we are having, it should be one of the most beautiful Easter weekends in years!

The Atlanta Parent website has a lot of great Easter activities. Here are some of the events planned for this weekend.

Dinosaur Egg Hunt. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. They may be larger than the typical Easter egg, but dino eggs are just as fun to find! Fernbank offers three age-appropriate egg hunts, including a special area just for toddlers. The event also includes a scavEGGer hunt inside the museum, music and games. April 3. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 767 Clifton Rd., Atlanta. 404-929-6300. Adults, $15; children 3-12, $13; under 2, free.

Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Bring your basket and camera for an Easter egg hunt, live performances, Atlanta Braves games and prizes, and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. April 3. 10 a.m.-noon. 980 Briarcliff Rd., Atlanta. 404-872-5338. Adults, free; children, $10.

Simon Kidigits Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Mall of Georgia. Hunt for eggs and win fun prizes. Located in The Village. April 3. 9:30-10 a.m. 3333 Buford Dr., Buford. 678-482-8788. Free.

Natural Egg Dyeing. Atlanta Botanical Garden. Drop-in for this interactive class where children decorate eggs using vibrant colors contained in dyes from certain plants. March 27 and April 3. 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-876-5859. $6/child in addition to admission.

Easter Sunrise Service. Stone Mountain Park. Two simultaneous, non-denominational Easter services at the top and base of the mountain, on Memorial Lawn. April 4. 6:15-7 a.m. Park gates open at 4 a.m. Hwy. 78, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690. Parking, $10; sky-ride: adults, $9; children 3-11, $7.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Enjoy a reading of “The Story of the Easter Bunny” by Katherine Tegan and create a magic color scratch giant Easter egg. April 3. Noon. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr., Atlanta. 404-659-5437. Adults and children 2 and up, $12.50.

Eggstrvaganza Egg Hunt. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Bring your basket and camera for an Easter egg hunt, live performances and a chance to meet the Easter bunny. April 3. 10 a.m.-noon. 980 Briarcliff Rd., Atlanta. 404-872-5338. Adults, free; children, $10.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History. April 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Participate in three age-appropriate egg hunts for kids, ages 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Each hunt will feature a grand prize dinosaur egg containing a one-year family/dual membership, a set of six IMAX tickets and a Radio Disney prize pack. This fun-filled event will also include a dinosaur egg balancing challenge, a dinosaur memory game and balloon animals. 767 Clifton Rd., Atlanta. 404-929-6300. Adults, $15; children 3-12, $13; 2 and under, free.

Giant Easter Egg Hunt. Malibu Grand Prix. Enjoy the giant Easter egg hunt, take photos with the bunny himself, prizes and more. April 3. Kids 5 and younger, 11:15 a.m.; ages 6 and older, 11:45 a.m. Event lasts until 4 p.m. 5400 Brook Hollow Pkwy., Norcross. 770-416-7630. Free.

Natural Easter Egg Dyeing. Habersham Gardens. Dye your own eggs with teas, spices, fruits and vegetables. April 3. 11 a.m. 2067 Manchester St., Atlanta. 404-873-2484. Free.

Quick Saturday Ideas

Looking for a fun activity that won't take up your whole Saturday? Here are some ideas!

1. The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History has make-and-take crafts each Saturday. Here's the upcoming schedule:

Mar. 20: Design-A-Quilt; Mar. 27: Drawing With Scissors; April 10: Build a Bridge; April 17: Painting With Dots; May 8: Honoring Mothers.

10 a.m.-noon. 2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw. 770-427-2117. Adults, $7.50; children 4-12; $5.50; 3 and under, free.

2. Lakeshore Learning Store in Marietta has Crafts for Kids. And they're free!

March 20: Bird Feeder; March 27: My Puppet Pal; April 3: Silly Bunny Puppet; April 10: Personalized Door Hanger; April 17: Earth Day Bag; April 24: Spring Picket Fence.

You can check their website to see pictures of the crafts. It's a great store, too!

3. Want to get outside? Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge has guided hikes (10 a.m.) and introductory tree climbing (1 p.m.) on the third Saturday of each month. Both events are for people in good physical condition.

4. Aurora Theater in Lawrenceville has a children's theater series on Saturdays. All performances are at 10 a.m., unless otherwise noted. Tickets are $7.00, but you can buy a 10-show pass for $50.00. Call 678.226.6222 for reservations. Below is a list of the upcoming shows.

Note: Tomorrow's show (3/20) is great - we saw it a couple of years ago, and the kids laughed their heads off.

3/20/2010
The Big Bad, Little Red, Pig Show
That Puppet Guy

3/27/2010
Cinderella
Wendy Bennett

5/15/2010
The Circus King
Storymaker - Sean Driscol

5/22/2010
Quite a Catch
Ron Anglin

Atlanta Fair

When our kids complain that something isn't fair, we always say, "The fair comes in October," because in our town, it does! But it also comes in March to Turner Field in the form of the Atlanta Fair.

From March 4 - April 4, you can get out and enjoy carnival rides, games, and elephant ears on the midway. It's a bit spendy: $1.00 admission for kids and $5.00 for adults on the weekends, and rides are extra. But if you go Saturday afternoon between 1:00-6:00, an unlimited ride ticket is $20. Click here for more specials - weekdays have unlimited rides, too.

Monday Reviews: Purple Hippo

The Purple Hippo is funky, cool art studio in Dunwoody. They have camps, birthday parties, and classes, but from 10-6 T-Sa and 12-6 Su they have open studio time. For $13 your child has two hours to paint, color, draw, glue, and create, using the "salad bar" of supplies along the wall.


When we went, it was a rainy day, and we had the place to ourselves. The boys used diecuts, stamps, popsicle sticks, ribbons, paints, markers, glitter, and stickers to make their own creations or copy some great ideas they saw on the wall. They were completely engrossed the entire time, and midway through my youngest son said, "I wish this was my house!". They loved the freedom to make whatever they wanted, using recyclables and art supplies in equal measure. I loved not having to worry about paint on the table!


The owner is a former art teacher; she is personable and warm. The supplies are definitely used, but there is plenty of everything, and if you don't see it, just ask. Whether your kids are artistic or not, I highly recommend open studio at the Purple Hippo!


Good to know: There is a great New York-style deli just around the corner on Chamblee-Dunwoody. It's called Goldberg's Deli and Bagels.

Southeastern Flower Show

It's looking like another rainy weekend! Remind yourself that spring will eventually come with a visit to the Southeastern Flower Show on Saturday, 2/5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. There's a full day of activities planned for kids, from storytelling to workshops to environmental exhibits by young gardeners.

Here's a list of tomorrow's activities for children:

10:30 Chicken Talk, Kyla Zaro-Moore, D Stage
11:30 Home Depot Activity
12:30 Worm activity, Ruth Kitchen, Greening Youth, Youth Area
1:30 Bees, Youth Area, Jim Quick,
2:30 Home Depot Activity
3:30 Puppet Show, Puppatoons, D Stage
(2-6 ongoing: Monarch life cycle activity with Cindy Wolfe and Youth Area volunteers)

Tickets are $18 for adults; $8 for high school students; $6 for 1st-8th grades; and free for kindergarten and under. It's too late to buy tickets online, but you can buy them at the door.