Thursday, October 29, 2015

What to do with all that candy....

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If your children are like mine they probably had a bucket of candy from community events and school parties before it was even Halloween. Now that Halloween and trick-or-treating is over, that bucket is overflowing! I have to have a game plan as to what we're going to do with it all. Here's a few ideas that may help reduce the candy pile- and possible future dental bill.....

Speaking of dentists, Mortenson Family Dental is giving you a chance to Swap your Treats for a $5 gift card or $5 cash (each location may be different). All you do is bring in at least a sandwich size bag full of candy (no chocolate) to any Mortenson, Braces Braces Braces, or Kid's Dentistree the first week in November. Mortenson then sends all the candy to troops through Operation Gratitude.

This could also be a great opportunity to talk to your child about giving and helping others. My family tries to make shoe boxes every year that are sent to children around the world (Operation Christmas Child). Certain types of candy are allowed to be sent in those boxes. If this is something that your family may be interested in, find more info here. There are local places that may accept candy donations as well, check with local shelters or community centers.

Keep some for holiday baking or crafts! I'm thinking candy corn turkeys around Thanksgiving time and gingerbread men with M&M eyes and buttons around Christmas. And don't forget about those dozens of sugar cookies that will need to be decorated for your holiday parties!

Speaking of the holidays.....save some of the candy for stocking stuffers or gifts. My daughter's birthday is in December, so we save some for goody bags (or a pinata).

If your children are like mine, they may not like every kind of candy. That's when we sort what they like and what they don't like. Guess who gets to take the unwanted candy to work for his office buddies....daddy!


What does your family do to control the candy overload this time of year?





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Monday, October 26, 2015

Sisterhood of the Traveling Paints in Shelbyville

Sisterhood of the Traveling Paints started about a year ago when two sisters, Trish Stancik and Barb Helton, decided to share their joy of painting with people all over Shelby County. They decided to help people learn to paint and have fun at the same time through traveling painting parties. They come to your home or business and help you and your guests paint a beautiful picture on canvas. They supply the canvas, brushes, paint, and easels. You just need to supply the tables, chairs, and water. They continue to do traveling parties, but have now opened up a studio at 813 Taylorsville Road in Shelbyville and will be able to have classes there that anyone can register for!

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New Studio in Shelbyville 

Sisterhood of the Traveling Paints will start hosting open painting parties every other weekend in this new studio space. You can check their website for a schedule and description of what they will be painting. Check out the paintings for November and December here! Two hour classes are $30, three hour classes are $45. Space is limited, call 502-379-3972 to register.

They are still traveling as well throughout the week and on the weekends they aren't having the open parties at the studio. Private parties do require a minimum of 8 people. The cost will depend on the difficulty of the painting chosen. These are perfect for birthdays, bridal/baby showers, business parties, church events, holiday parties, bachelorette parties, etc.

I've done a few of these paintings in Louisville, and am SO excited that I can stay local now! Be sure to like them on Facebook!


Happy Painting!

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Friday, October 23, 2015

Mulberry Orchard's Light the Night Corn Maze

 photo 0919151249-2_zpset8jqsdf.jpgThere are several corn mazes around, but how many of them are you allowed to go into at night?! Mulberry Orchard in Shelbyville has added an extra thrill to their corn maze by allowing people to do just that tonight during their Light the Night Corn Maze event. Make sure you bring your flashlights (they're required) and head over to 1330 Mulberry Pike! You and your family can try to make your way through their maze using only the moon light and your flashlight. How fun! And as an added bonus- when you do make your way to the exit there will be a bonfire waiting! Bonfires are a fall staple! My daughter's love to roast marshmallows and sit around the fire telling not so scary stories. Mulberry will have everything you need for s'mores available to purchase, or you can pick something else up from their yummy kitchen- apple cider, doughnuts, snacks, etc.

The weather is going to be perfect, the staff is the friendliest around, and the orchard itself is a beautiful place to spend this Fall night! Go have some fun and make memories that will last forever!

For more info on the Light the Night event, click here.

October 23, 2015
6:30-8:30
$5/person, children 5 and under FREE! 
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Friday, October 16, 2015

Clear Creek Greenway Trail

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Clear Creek Greenway Phase 1 is now complete! Put your walking shoes on or grab your bike and check out this one mile paved path. It's a perfect time to enjoy the cool, crisp weather and admire the changing colors of the leaves! This new trail is a peaceful and scenic path along the creek and under several bridges.You can enter the trail at Stratton Bottom Park on N. 2nd Street or off N. 7th Street.  Phase 2 and 3 will continue once funding has been provided. 


Happy hiking! 

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Monday, October 12, 2015

Fall Crafts for Kids

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My children love to do crafts, and I love to display them around the house! I'm all about the simple crafts that are easy on the wallet. Below are some that we have done so far this season.


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Hand Print Fall Tree!
Materials:
Canvas (or paper)
Paint

Paint the child's hand and arm brown for the tree trunk. Place their panted arm and hand on the canvas/paper. Children then use their fingers to make fingerprint leaves on their tree. Mine decided to make a leaf pile also.


Nature Collection Collage!
Materials:
Clear Contact Paper
Bag for collecting items from your nature walk
Hole punch
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Let each child hold a bag as you go on a nature walk to collect items. Items to find could include leaves of various colors and sizes, grass, flowers, twig, clovers, and anything else that catches the child's eye. Bring the bag back inside and let the child cover their contact paper with everything they found. Put another piece of contact paper over it to keep everything in place. Put a hole in the top and tie a string through it.
*You could give the children a list of items to find outside and make a scavenger hunt out of it!


Pine Cone Chick!
 photo 0921151727a-2_zps59dn3cag.jpg Materials:
Pine Cone
Pipe Cleaners
Eyes
Glue

Find a pine cone. Cut and twist pipe cleaners to look like feet and glue them on the bottom. Glue the eyes on. Make a beak out of paper (or more pipe cleaners) and glue those on. You could also glue feathers on. Hot glue guns work best to hold the items on, but be very careful using it around the children because it gets very hot!


Fun with leaves!
Materials:
Leaves
Marker/crayons
Paint
Paper

Let the children find leaves and draw faces on them! Simple and easy, but lots of fun!
Leaf rubbings are also very simple and fun!
Letting the children paint leaves and make prints!
You can also cut the middle out of a paper plate and let children glue leaves of various colors and sizes around the plate to make a homemade wreath!

Painting Pumpkins!
Materials:
Paint
Pumpkins

My daughter LOVES to paint anything, but pumpkins are one of her absolute favorite things to paint. It's an easy and safe alternative to carving them (we try to carve one or two also). If you're feeling extra creative you can glue feathers, jewels, beads, etc. on the pumpkin also. Give the kids some paint and supplies and let them use their imagination!

What is your favorite Fall craft?

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Thursday, October 8, 2015

Lots 4 Tots Kids Consignment Sale in Shelbyville

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Source: Lots4Tots Facebook

The Lots 4 Tots Kids Consignment Sale is this week in Shelbyville! Items for sale include Fall & Winter clothes and accessories, toys, cribs & bedding, strollers, swings, and any other clean child related items! 

Thursday and Friday 10am-6pm 
Saturday 8am-5pm (many items 1/2 price) 

The sale will take place in the Floral Hall Building at the Shelby County Fairgrounds.


Like their page on Facebook to see pictures from this years sale!

Happy Shopping!




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Monday, October 5, 2015

Awesome Outdoor Products Open House Event

This is a sponsored post.

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Awesome Outdoor Products Fall open house event!
 October 10th from 10am- 2pm 
13720 Aiken Road in Louisville

Food, Games, Local Vendors, and FUN!

Play for FREE in the playset showroom- where there will be 7 large Rainbow play system playsets up and ready for children to use! They will also have Step 2 toys, cars and trains, pop-up basketball, and more!

If you're in the market for a new playset- you won't want to miss this event. There will be Display Sales and Play Set specials!

Like them on Facebook to stay updated on other fun events and sales! 

Did you know they have pay and play?
Pay $7 and let your child play on the play sets and other toys in the showroom!
Perfect for the cold weather coming up!

Monday-Friday 10-5
Saturday 10-2


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Thursday, October 1, 2015

Shelby County Month in Preview- October

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 Be sure to check out all the fun Halloween & Trick-or-Treating Events happening this month!

We have updated our Fall Festivals list!

Have fun picking pumpkins in Shelby County!

Other fun events this month:

Blessing of the Animals
October 3
Shelby County Humane Society- 10 am
Shelby County Animal Shelter- 11:30

Sheiks & Shrieks Fall Horse Show
October 3
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Shelby County Community Theater present Disney's Alice In Wonderland Jr.
October 2, 3, 8, 9, 10- 7:30
October 4 and 11- 2:30
Reservations: 633-0242

Lots 4 Tots Consignment Sale
October 8-9, 10 am- 6 pm
October 10, 8 am- 5 pm
Shelby County Fairgrounds- Floral Hall Building

Monster Dash 5K
Shelby County Fairgrounds
October 10, 7:30-10am

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
(not really a family event, but helpful to know about)
October 10, 9-2
120 Midland Blvd. (Former Winn Dixie/Peddlers Mall)

Dog Days at Metzger's 
October 10, 10-2
Blessing of the animals, costume & talent contests, & More!

Lowe's Build and Grow
Project- Haunted Birdhouse
October 10, 10am

Awesome Outdoor Products
FREE open house/open play
October 10, 10-2

Library Family Fun Day- "Fun with Paint"
October 17, 11-Noon

Exotic Animals Day at Metzger's
October 17, 9-2

Pajama Fun Walk & Run 
To beniefit A Place To Sleep
October 24, 10-2
Clear Creek Park

Illusionist Joseph Young
October 24 at 6 pm at Heritage Elementary
October 25 at 11 am at Clayvillage Baptist
Free and open to the public

Shelby County Farmer's Market
Shelby County Fairgrounds
Saturday 8-12, Wednesday 3-6pm

Live Music 
Talon Winery
Fridays 6-9pm, Saturdays 4-7pm

House of Boom
Family Night
Every Monday from 6-9 pm
$35 for the whole family to jump!

Don't forget to check out the new indoor playground Kaleidoscope!


Have a month of memory making fun in Shelby County!

*This list will be updated regularly. If you know of any events please email Kimberly@louisvillefamilyfun.net.


Visit LouisvilleFamilyFun.net for happenings in the Louisville metro area and KentuckyFamilyFun.net to explore the state!
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