Can you find it?

What the worst part of an 11 year old's birthday party?
Ummm, just about everything!
There's the cleaning (in my case, beforehand just so I don't look like an episode of Hoarders to my friends)
There the cleaning afterwards, finding food in the mailbox, or the bathroom, or where ever they decided to forget their plate of ice cream.
Lets not forget the 15+ tweens, squalling and laughing for 2 hours (or god forbid if it's a sleepover!)

So this year I had a stroke of genius. Lets have the party somewhere else!
But, as you know, I am not into spending money. So where can we go for free....hmmmm...

THE MALL! A scavenger hunt it is.
So I planned a 3 hour party for a Saturday. Sent out some evites and didn't do anything else until party day.

Here is all that went into my planning...
I made a cake in the shape of a purse.
I put together a list of clue.
I split the guests into 3 teams, and recruited 3 parents to serve as team captains.
In an envelope, I include the "rules and clues" sheet, a $10 bill and on the outside I wrote the team captain's name and their team members.
Bam-done...just like that.

Come party day, I arrived at the Mall 30 minutes before the party to score a table in a back corner of the food court. I had hoped to be there 1 hour early, but, well, that didn't happen. Because of course, I forgot one of the other kids had a dance lesson. ugh.

But I got a table no problem. I bought my kids some Sbarro's so I was a paying customer, I put together a couple tables, set up a table with the "donation" box (the kids ask their friends to bring donations in lieu of gifts. Teresa's charity of choice is our local St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry). Then I waited.

Once the kids arrived, They sat and I explained the rules. Emphasizing on the no running and no disturbing the stores displays and just overall appropriate behavior. They were in groups of 4-5, so they were manageable for the team captain.

They were instructed that the team has $10. They are to spend that, getting the most bang for their buck.
They photograph each item on the list, being sure to include a team members in the photo.
After about 30 minutes of arriving and preparing-the teams were off. Leaving me to lounge in the food court all by myself. What. Score. I'm throwing a birthday party and I get alone time. This is pure genius.  So I bought myself some Chick fil A and enjoyed the quiet!

I had allotted 1.5 hours for the hunt, but all teams were done in about an hour. During my "me" time. I also ordered a nugget platter from Chick fil A, and a couple large fries. They provided the plates and forks, so I divey out the food and the girls ate. We sang happy birthday, had the cake and ice cream (which I sent my husband out for along with some Capri Suns for drinks)

That $10 they spent? They emptied all their bags onto a table and took turns picking from the loot.  Score- no goodie bags.

So to wrap up,
I took no photos....captains did that
No goodie bags .... included in the hunt
No clean up
No food preparing
No even having to entertain the kids!

I think this was the most successful party .... ever....

Now-I know you are wondering, "What was on the list?"
Well here it is:

RULES:

1. Each team will need to complete as many items on the list in the allotted time.

2. You will start at The Food Court and you must meet us back at The Food Court at 4:00pm

3. The teams that are late will receive a time penalty.

4. You must take a photo of each item on the list. There must be a team member in each photo. Take turns with your partners being in the photos.

5. Hang items up or place them back where they were before you leave the store.  Do not destroy displays.

6. Inappropriate behavior will lead to ending of the hunt and returning to the food court.

7. Do not run in the stores or in the mall. You can walk briskly.

8. You can not leave the mall. Check the items off as you find them.

 

Your Team Captain is: Janet (aka Grammie)

Scavenger Hunt List

THE FOLLOWING CLUES ARE CERTAIN STORE NAMESYOU MUST FIND THE ITEMS IN. You only hold the item up not try it on. You can find them in any order, use mall maps.

_____You are Limited to something white here.

_____ Build a Beary awesome heroes uniform.

_____ Victoria has a Secret about something pink.

_____Express yourself with something glittery.

_____JC saved her Penny's to buy something green.

_____Aero found something on sale here.

_____Your Bath and Body needed a little sweet pea.

_____Soar like an Eagle in something blue.

_____You Macy something green here.

_____Purchasing a cami or tank top would fill in the Gap of my wardrobe.

_____FYI… I love 1 Direction

_____ Payless for a pair of boots.

 

ITEMS YOU NEED TO FIND IN THE MALL NOT NECESSARILY IN STORES

Stand in front of the item not on it etc. [some can be in stores]

_____Vending Machine

_____Fake tree

_____ Bench

_____Chair

_____Animal or something with an animal print

_____Something out of this world

 

 

TRYING ITEMS ON

(if you are trying on shoes, do not go to department stores where they have to get them in the back this takes up time and wastes the employees time because you are not buying them. Go to places like payless, target, etc that they are readily available. Remember to put them back after you try them on)

TRY on the following Items on: [take turns] You must go to at least two different stores.

_____Black high heel shoes

_____Shoes that you would buy (sandals, flats, buckle up shoes etc) [close up of shoes]

_____purse

_____belt

_____Get individual shots of each person in your group looking like a star [examples-boas, tiara, jewelry, purse etc.,never try on earrings) [have at least one thing on] Sunglasses Purse Something shiny

 

 

 

FIND THESE ITEMS AS A GROUP

_____ Find flowers

_____ Find a star

_____ Find a frog

_____ Find a tiara

_____ Find a heart

_____ Find a gumball machine

_____ Find a bear

_____ Find something that is red

_____ Find something that sparkles

_____ Find something that is unique (swirls, cool patterns, etc)

BUY SOMETHING

You’re team captain has $10. Your mission is to get the most bang for your buck. Remember Quantity not quality!

Planning Ahead...Part Deaux...

So my last post involved lots of cooking and lots to eat! You may have noticed I commented on that post, my thoughts about the recipes I made. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the chicken recipes. I thought they really lacked flavor-and truthfully, all tasted the same. Blah!

Well-lots has happened since that last post. Mainly, and most importantly, my crockpot set my kitchen on fire.
Uh-yea.  To recap, here was my Facebook Post

So today,  I am back at. I found myself with a free Saturday (What! Who has those?) and Meat BOGO at Kroger. WooHoo. So at the grocery, I stocked up on all the BOGO's, Pork Chop, Cube Steak, Bottom Round, Roast. Also picked up a 5 pounder stick of ground and some Italian Sausage.

Couple Veggies to add to it (totally winging it of course, because I don't make a list and remember it)

Back at the homestead, I split up the chop chops, cube steak, and meat into individual meal servings. Wrapped in foil-then bagged in the freezer bags to make quick cooking meals. Stick o'beef went like this : 2 lbs in sauce, 2 lbs in meatloaf and 1 lb for burgers to night.

Yep-that's mine. 15 years young
and falling apart.

Meatloaf, that's new...I didn't do that one last time. But it's my standard meatloaf. Nothing fancy. I'm pretty basic when it comes to my meatloaf. It comes from the classic "Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book" A staple every household should have. Even if, like me, most your crap comes off the internet.
It goes like this (adapted of course, and I double to make 2)
1 lbs ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
3/4 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/4 water
1 egg, beaten
some basil, oregano, garlic powder, parsley

mix all ingredients in large bowl (with hands of course). Watch out, it's cold and gooey. Shape into a rectangle about 1-1.5" thick. (I have been known to shape in a heart or other things depending on the holiday)
Freeze
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

So while my trusty side kick is "mixing" the meatloaf ingredients. I use the term "mixing" lightly. It was mixed into a microphone, a snowman, Mt. Rushmore - you see where this is going.

Again, while the art lesson is happening, I sliced up the bottom round for 2 meals of French Dip and put together the sausage for the recipes I really liked from the previous post. Hey-look what I found while chopping green peppers!


Pepper Boobs!

Onto the next "New" recipe, the Roast. Basically the same as what I do on any given day, just frozen instead of cooking right away. It goes as follows.

4-ish pound roast

Carrots

Onion

Packet o'onion soup mix

can of cream of whateveryoulike soup (mine is potato)

 

Insert into Ziploc back in that order, release air and wah-la, ready for the freezer. 
Cook 8-10 hours. May add some potatoes day of-if I have them of course.

 

Sauce is cooking, as last time (and smelling -and tasting- mighty good)

 

Now.....I should have SOME chicken. One can not live off beef alone....or can they.....hmmm

I think I will try some recipes I found on The Krazy Coupon Lady's blog for Brown Sugar and Honey Garlic Chicken. I'll break open the Christmas gift and let you know how they turn out!
Freezer is full and the remainder of the month is planned! Yeah.
Check back on comments for reviews of new recipes.

Captains Log: 12312012…

Well, it’s New Years Eve in Colorado Springs, which means we will be celebrating the New Year well after most of our friends and family (side note-maybe we do it on EST and hit the sack early-yeah-that’s the ticket!)

Uncle Joe has honed in on his inner domestic goddess and prepared a crock pot roast. Then donning his best Sheik outfit, hits the town with the girls, who play right into hands like putty. We enjoyed a lovely dinner with Joe and Debra and then settled in for a movie before watching, what I am sure is a repeat, of that big Waterford Crystal ball drop in the Square. Minutes until midnight, Teresa is fast asleep, but the little ones are wide awake. The countdown begins and we pop a bottle of champagne at the stroke of 12. Everyone gets a glass, kids enjoyed sparking cider-but they sure looked special with their flutes. Even the pups, Tasha and Zue get in on the party action. By 12:10, we have all retired –including 2012.
We have had an exciting adventure and enjoyed a day of rest after several days of nonstop excitement. Back on the road tomorrow, to our Columbus home, where Christmas, I’m sure, still waits for us on the living room floor. -The Navigator

Today’s Mileage logged: 10 (because we made a donut and milk run!)

Captains Log: 12302012…

No rest for the weary! Sike, we’re not weary. Off to Copper Mountain , which is near Breckenridge, for some tubing! The 2 hour ride proved long and now to entertaining. What was I thinking putting a 13 and 5 year old next to each other! Oi. But the attitudes went by the wayside as we signed our lives away, grabbed our tubes and headed for the “slopes”. The first run, was a... family run. Arranged in a circle-they sent us down the path, holding on to each other. Megan did not like that. Luckily there was a kiddie park, complete with a mini slope, mini tubes and “hook your tube up and it will pull you” machine. Sweet.
As for the rest of us, we spun, we raced, we jumped. And all that was just getting on the conveyer belt! Not really, but we rode up to the top and did it again…and again….and again. Until they wouldn’t let us go anymore. The guy who was throwing us down said we were awesome. I said “I know”. We were delighted (insert sarcasm font) to be entertained by some woman, who I am sure is an actress-and it is KILLING me who she is. In her designer snowsuit, helmet, and goggles-she spent the whole time bossing the workers and her companions around. It was, well, kinda like being on vacation with me! Oh touche’ (to myself).
The ride home was much smoother, as everyone got in a cat nap. The Captain said his only last a minute and a half. Back home to grill burgers, which seems odd grilling in the snow-but it was fun. Looks like we will have a day of rest tomorrow. - The Navigator

Today’s Mileage logged: 274

Captains Log: 12292012…

 

With no sicklings we were off on our latest adventure. A drive up to Pikes Peak, Deemed “unclimbable” by it’s namesake, Zebulon M. Pike, today it is the most visited mountain in North America. The 19 mile drive up the Pikes Peak Highway is filled with switchbacks , but The Captain made a new friend, Gears 1 and 2, and he was able to successfully lead us up and down the highway and we took in some really spectacular views.

.

 

The summit lies at 14,110 feet. Above where the trees can grow, and roughly the same elevation that these young adventures once jumped out of a (not so perfectly good) airplane. Almost immediately the lack of oxygen got to us all, inducing headaches and dizziness. Not to mention the bitter cold and windy conditions. But that doesn’t stop us. We take it all in from every angle, dare not forgetting to photograph our feet handing off the edge.
Wrapped the evening up with a lovely dinner at with my long lost cousin, complete with kid meltdowns and checkers. Time to call it a day! – The Navigator

 Today’s Mileage logged: 143

 

Captains Log: 12282012…
Good News, Jim is feeling better. Bad news, None! Everyone is well.

A much needed sleeping in and lingering morning was a just start to the day! As afternoon approached we ventured out into Colorado Springs with our trusty tour guide, Uncle Joe, to show us the land. First up, The Garden of the Gods, an area of beautiful red sandstone rock formations, including one that looked like camels kissing.

Then off to a waterfall in Cheyenne Canyon. However, slick roadways proved too much for our front wheel drive Sienna. As any man would do, The Captain backs up and tries again….then again…then again…maybe more to the left….OK, maybe we should turn around. So now, let’s reverse down the mountain and over a bridge, because that’s totally safe, The Navigator & kids bail to play in the snow, figuring if the cars going off the cliff-it’s only taking one of us with it. As you can expect, The Captain steered ole Sienna in safely, and we were back on to find another trail to hike. 

 We found that trail at Mount Cutler. A one mile hike to the summit and a 400 ft vertical incline, proved little challenge for this crew. Fortunately our guide is skilled in the way of shoulder rides, as the wee one required some confinement on the narrow pathways. We reached the summit, took in the view and headed back. Then we headed up to Denver for dinner at Casa Bonita. A Mexican Chuck E Cheese on steroids, this place is awesome covered in queso. Come early if you want to get one of the 1000+tables that are tucked away anywhere they can fit one. When you arrive, you feel like you are in line for Pirates of the Caribbean. Food is costly and everyone MUST order a meal (according to the menu) but the margaritas are delicious and atmosphere is priceless. A live dive show, arcade, light sticks and mariachi band to name a few of entertainment options. All and all it was another successful day on this awesome journey. Tomorrow Pikes Peak is on the menu. –The Navigator

 Today’s Mileage logged: A mere 172

Captains Log: 12272012…

 

Good News, Sami is feeling better. Bad news, Jim is not.

Today started with a beautiful covering of snow. Which quickly lead us to praying that Mount Rushmore would not be closed. (Oh how that would have sucked!)

As we approached the Black Hills, named due to their “black” appearance because they are covered in pine trees, we saw cabins along the road, which sounds like a future vacation! The park was amazing. There were beautiful rock tunnels. As we turned the bend, we could see the carving. Teresa was in awe. We got to the park and it was a brilliant memorial. The snow was falling, it was very magical and every bit what we had imagined. We learned that 90% of the monument was carved with dynamite. Fascinating. As we prepared to leave, I asked Teresa if she saw everything she wanted to see to which she said, “Pictures, check. Souvenirs, check. Memories, check” Melts my heart!

As we left the park, we saw wild turkeys along the roadside. We started out on a 7 hour drive through the remaining of South Dakota and Wyoming. The landscape in Wyoming was breathtaking. We finally saw a herd of Buffalo, as well as cattle walking in a preschool line. Even in the snow, we saw tumbleweeds. Cheyenne was smaller than we anticipated. Snow and traffic in Denver was a bit stressful, but we arrived safely, albeit late to Colorado Springs. Now we will stay put for a few days. (But you can bet it will be adventuresome!) –The Navigator

 Today’s miles logged: 457