The 2015 Progressive Insurance Minneapolis Boat Show will be mooring at the Minneapolis Convention Center from January 22 through January 25. My family and I have gone the past few years and it has been a fun family experience. Hubby and I enjoy finding new ideas for our boat and how we can update/upgrade it, the girls love looking at the large yachts and the fancy pontoons. I must admit though, I get a bit frustrated with Hubby and how much money he wants to spend after attending the show! This year, boating enthusiasts can participate in DIY lessons at Fred’s Shed Interactive Learning Center, test their skills in the state-of-the-art Power Squadron Boating Simulator and sharpen their nautical know-how at a variety of seminars. The Wings Financial Credit Union Island Experience promises seaside fun with a detailed replica beach/marina environment, live music and great food. The Anchors & Ales craft beer sampling night lets you taste the best of the area's breweries. … [Read more...]
Landmark Center’s Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival
Did you spend a ton of money on this year's Halloween costume or put way too much time and effort into making a costume only to have your child wear it once? Why not get more use out of this year's costume? St. Paul's historical Landmark Center will host the 13th annual Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival on Sunday, October 26 from 1-3 p.m. The Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival is a FREE event and features all the Halloween fun without the fright, including storytelling, music, crafts, treats, and a costume parade. The Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival is part of the Sundays at Landmark series and proudly sponsored in part by Ecolab and Travelers. For more information visit www.landmarkcenter.org/programs/sundays.htm … [Read more...]
We Scare Hunger Kick-off Event #WeScareHunger
This post is NOT sponsored. I was given media accreditation to attend the event however no compensation was provided. This is a cause I personally believe in and hope to start at the school that my girls attend. We Scare Hunger was started in 1988 under the name Halloween for Hunger by Free The Children board member Dr. Jonathan White. What began as one small group of friends collecting cans on Halloween has grown into an international movement. In 2012, more than 10,000 students and individuals across the U.S. participated in We Scare Hunger, collecting more than 30,000 pounds of food to support food banks across the country. I wrote about it here. Last year, students from 180 schools across Minnesota alone collected over 160,000 lbs. of food through the We Scare Hunger campaign; ranking as the top state for food collections in 2013. Thousands of groups across Canada, the United States and the UK collected 1,677,254 pounds of food—all thanks to one innovative idea. This … [Read more...]
Mommy Makeover
I admit it, I don't do much as far as my hair and make up go. I rarely wear full-blown make up any more and I'm a wash, dry, brush once, and go type of girl when it comes to my hair. When Camille Albane Paris salon reached out to me and asked me if I wanted a complimentary mommy makeover to help spread the word about their new Maple Grove, MN store, I jumped on the opportunity! Why not? Camille Albane Paris is a bold, dynamic, feminine salon brand known for its elite industry expertise, superior service, innovative products and top talent. It has nearly 300 salons in 11 countries. Last month it opened its second U.S. location in Maple Grove, Minnesota (it's first US location is in Boston, MA). I'm so excited to be one of the bloggers chosen to get a mommy makeover at the second ever U.S. location! This is my "before" selfie. Yup. Me on a typical day except I'm wearing a bit of makeup. I didn't want to look horrible when I walked into a high-end salon. High end (but not … [Read more...]
Boxtrolls Movie #Giveaway!
If you've been reading Toys In The Dryer since last year, you know that I was all excited about the movie Paranorman. This year, the makers of Paranorman have come out with a new movie called The Boxtrolls. If the animation is anything like Paranorman, it's going to be AWESOME! The Boxtrolls is another stop-motion animation from LAIKA and Focus Features. Yes, more than 20,000 props were hand made and hand manipulated to make this film. It took animators an average of 1 week to make 3.7 seconds of film which is about 90 frames (or photos). Crazy huh? Wondering what The Boxtrolls is about? Here's the official synopsis: A family event movie from the creators of “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” that introduces audiences to a new breed of family – The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised a human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s … [Read more...]
16 Tips For Running In A Color Race
This post is sponsored by Tum-E Yummies® fruit flavored drinks however all opinions are my own. This September my girls and I are running our first color race, the Color Vibe™ to be exact. I was suppose to run a similar race last year but it was cold and rainy that day so I opted not to go. I have regretted it ever since. When Tum-E Yummies® fruit flavored drinks contacted my family to participate in Color Your World along with them and Color Vibe™ I immediately said yes! I can't wait to have a ton of fun with the girls! (Lindsi, occasional co-author of Toys In The Dryer) Though I have never ran a color race before, I do have plenty of friends who have done one. I asked them to share with me some tips for making it fun and easy. This is what they had to say: 1) Have fun. Though it's called a race, most people walk. People of all ages and abilities participate and there's no prize for being first so relax and enjoy the color! 2) You'll get color everywhere, and I mean … [Read more...]
