Rewards Programs for Families

Over the years I have participated in various rewards programs. Here are a few I love:

Disney Movie Rewards Points. Basically, you enter a code from a Disney Movie you purchase and watch them add up. Later you can use them in exchange for rewards like Disney merchandise or even gift cards! Many freebie websites will also post bonus points occasionally and sometimes there are promos where you can earn extra points by watching shows on tv and playing online video games.

Pampers Rewards. The main way you will find points is by purchasing Pampers diapers and such. The code will be on a sticker inside the package. Enter them online and when you get a bunch, redeem the points to get rewards. Again, freebie sites will often post bonus codes.

Recyclebank. Now you might be thinking, my town doesn't participate in their recycling program. Mine doesn't either. BUT you can still earn points to earn rewards. There are always tons of daily pledges, surveys, quick videos, and more. I primarily use this to earn free magazine subscriptions, but I have also gotten gift cards and free admission to children's museums, etc.

Freebies for Parents

Moms with kids ages 2 and under can now get a FREE Sam's Club membership for 1 year.
Call 1-888-746-7726.

Do it ASAP because this offer ends September 29th, 2015!

It's Picking Time!

Apple picking has been going on for awhile now, but there is still time to get yourself a basket full!


At Duffield's Farm, in Sewell, apple picking is happening through the end of September.

Hill Creek Farms, in Mullica Hill, is still picking those apples, too! This is one of our faves!

Johnson's Farm, in Medford, has apples ripe for the pickin' all the way through October.

Heritage Farm & Vineyard, in Mullica Hill, also has apple picking available.

Mood's Farm, in Elk Twp., offers apple picking to the public (BYO boxes or buckets).

Linvilla Orchards, in Media, PA, has a variety of apples ripe for the picking right now.

Ready to carve jack-o'-lanterns and bake pies? There are plenty of good places to pick a pumpkin around here!

I believe all of the farms ABOVE all still offer pumpkin picking, as well as apple picking. Most places start in October for pumpkins. However, you never know how each year's crop will be. It's best to call ahead and check before you head out.

While Indian Acres Farm, in Medford, doesn't do apple picking they sure do have pumpkins up for grab!

Springdale Farms, in Cherry Hill, has pumpkin picking available.

Freebies for Parents

I'm not sure about the expiration date on this one, so HURRY UP and order yours today! If you're like me, then you probably have tons of great shots you've been taking all summer long just waiting to be printed.

You can get 10 FREE 4x6 photo prints from Walgreens when you order 10 prints and use the coupon code TEN4X6FREE. CHoose in-store pickup to at checkout to get them completely free. If you have them shipped, they won't be free.


P.S.  I have 2 Walgreens accounts, 1 for me and 1 for the hubby so I can always get double the free prints whenever they offer freebies/deals!

"We didn't do ANYTHING this summerrrrrr..."

Hi there. It's good to be back after a long fight with a virus that just wouldn't go away, which then gave way to an episode of vertigo. Whew! Glad to be back.

I'm not sure when your kidlets go back to school, but mine goes back September 8th. Isn't that late? Or do I say that every year? Anyway...

I'm also wondering if everyone else's kids are anything like mine and are whining as the summer winds to an end? Sure, we did NOT go on a vacation since Daddy had scheduling issues, conventions, and out of town business trips. But I tried my best to come up with lots of fun activities and day trips so we could create some memories this summer.

So the next time my kid whines about how boring my hubby and I are or how we never do anything, here is my proof positive that it just ain't true! (Gotta love tweens and their drama!)



So here are 25 things that WE DID DO:



1. Went to lake to swim, hunt for frogs, and kayak

2. Hit up the movies (in the park AND in the theatre AND rented at home)

3. Roller skated at the rink

4. Went out for ice cream (There's no way I am fessing up to how many times THAT happened. I plead the fifth. Of course, you may be able to take a guess if you take a gander at me wearing shorts. LOL)

5. Beat the heat at Sahara Sam's numerous times because we are members. I feel like such a VIP whenever I mention this.

6. Splashed around in our yard, complete with 2 foot inflatable baby pool (hey, when it's hot, who cares?) and the sprinkler.

7. Barbecued with family

8. Saw fireworks, wore glow in the dark jewelry, and played with sparklers

9. Ate our weight in icy pops

10. Took hikes through the woods

11. Made a bird feeder station with 5 different kinds of feeders to see how many different types birds we could attract to our yard (8, so far!)

12. Dressed liked cows to get free food

13. Sat inside on rainy days and made crafts

14. Got our kicks at soccer camp

15. Rocked out and learned more about God at VBS

16. Jumped around at Sky Zone Trampoline Park

17. Got down and dirty at the dirt racetrack at Bridgeport Speedway and cheered for our favorite cars

18. Attended the county 4-H fair, saw piggy races, and petted a whole lotta farm animals

19. Rooted for the home team at a River Sharks baseball game

20. Played on more playgrounds than I can count

21. Checked out the Tall Ships Festival and rode the ferry, too

22. Visited the library quite a few times

23. Walked in our small town 4th of July parade

24. Had all the fun at a carnival--rides, games, and funnel cake!

25. Had many sleepovers

Time for a GIVEAWAY! Bounce U Pass Contest *CLOSED*

As a little thank you to all of our new followers here on this blog AND on Facebook, we would like to do a little giveaway!

Tri-State Hot Spots is giving away 3 passes for Bounce U, good at their Blackwood and Cherry Hill locations.



To enter, please do ONE or MORE of the following to enter:

• Visit Tri-State Hot Spots on Facebook and "Like" the page

• Visit our GIVEAWAY POST on Facebook (it is the very first post at the top) and "Share" that post on your timeline and leave a comment on our post telling us that you did

• Follow this blog by clicking on the JOIN THIS SITE button on the right hand-side

• Never miss another post again! Click on the SUBSCRIBE TO button to add this blog's content to your favorite feed reader.

• Get email updates when there are new posts by submitting your email address on the right-hand side (Absolutley NO spam, we promise!)

Winner will be announced July 27th. Good luck!

*Winner is Tracy Salvatore!*

Mark Your Calendars! Smithsonian Museum Day is Coming!

Each year Smithsonian magazine hosts a FREE museum day, with museums participating all over the country. This year the event falls on September 26, 2015. You MUST sign up to get your free tickets. Each ticket admits 2 people.


PA participating museums

DE participating museums

NJ participating museums

National Bowling Day 2015

This year National Bowling Day falls on August 8th. Click here to find a participating center near you (that is registered with the event) to see where you can play your FREE game that day. Many alleys also offer contests, giveaways, deals on food and beverage and more!

Bowling makes Saturday night more fun!

Freebies for Parents

Are you taking tons of great pics of your family this summer?

Get a FREE 8x10 photo print from Walgreens when you upload a photo, choose to enlarge it to an 8x10 print, and use the coupon code HOTDEAL61 at checkout. Then choose in-store pickup at checkout and shipping will be free, too.

Carmike Summer Kids Series

If you like all the cheap movies going on this summer, then you will love what Carmike Cinemas has come up with!

Every Tuesday and Thursday, for just $4 you can grab a seat at a showing AND get a small popcorn and drink. Some weeks there may be other special activities such as face painting and balloon animals!




*Some locations may or may not participate, or may have a slightly different summer program so please call your local cinema before you head out!

Freebies for Parents

Today Only!

In celebration of 35 years (and a new and improved menu of classics!) Applebee's will be having a "Taste the Change" Day and will be offering FREE appetizers! You'll be able to get a sampler plate of the new Sriracha Shrimp and Churro S'Mores.

South Jersey Movie Discounts

Sometimes you really, really want to go see a new movie. I don't know about you, but at $11-13 per ticket, doing so isn't always feasible for my family! And for 3-D movies the tix can easily run $14-16 each. Enter the discounted movie tickets.

You have two options:

1. See a matinee, since earlier showtimes are always discounted at every theatre I have ever visited.

2. Or, head to a theatre with a special discount day or time.


In South Jersey, there are two theatres I know of that cater to those looking for option #2:


Carmike Theatres host Bargain Wednesday's each week and the tix are just $5!


And Cinemark Theatres have a special discount program, too. The first showing of any movie is just $5 per person.

(If the first showing of the day is a 3-D showing, you must add $3 per person for the 3-D experience and glasses, so the showing will be $8 instead of $5. It's still a great deal!)

Splash Pads and Spraygrounds (or whatever ya call 'em!)

Some people call them splash pads, while others call them spraygrounds. Whatever you call them, they are starting to pop up in this area and I am so glad! My out of state girlfriends have been raving about them for years and we were dying to experience them. Now that we have them, my son adores running around and trying to stomp on the water flumes as they spray way up high.

And THAT is a recipe for a nap!

Here are ones I know of...

JERSEY

Burlington County

Johnson's Farm in the Discovery Barnyard, Medford     $3.75 adults and $7.50 child



Camden County

Camden Children's Garden, Camden     $6 adults and $5 kids

4th and Washington St. Park, Camden     FREE

Pyne Poynt Park, Camden     FREE

Ralph Williams Park, Camden     FREE

Alberta Woods Park, Camden     FREE

7th and Clinton St., Camden     FREE

4th and Jasper St. Park, Camden     FREE

Farnham Park, Camden     FREE



Cumberland County

Bridgeton Park Splash Park (next to Cohanzick Zoo), Bridgeton      $2 per user



Gloucester County

Fasola Park, Deptford     FREE

PHILADELPHIA

Awbury Rec Center     FREE

Capitolo Playground     FREE

Clemente Playground     FREE

Comegys Playground    FREE

Ferko Playground     FREE

Francis Myers Rec Center     FREE

Herron Playground     FREE

Mander Playground     FREE

Taney Playground     FREE

Mill Creek Playground     FREE

Mt. Airy Playground     FREE

Northern Liberties Rec Center     FREE

Parkside Evans Playground     FREE

Segar Park     FREE

Sister Cities Park     FREE

Shepard Rec Center     FREE

Waterview Rec Center     FREE

DELAWARE

Brown Park, Wilmington     FREE

Eastlake Playground, Wilmington     FREE

Father Tucker Memorial Park, Wilmington     FREE

Helen Chambers Park, Wilmington     FREE

Judy Johnson Park, Wilmington     FREE

Killens Pond Water Park, Wilmington     FREE

Woodlawn Park, Wilmington     FREE

Getting Crafty

Do your kids love arts and crafts?

Here are a few places where they can get their craft on for free or cheap:


A.C. Moore has a free Make and Take event each Wednesday from 1-3 pm, from July 8 - August 12. They are aimed at kids ages 4-12.

Lakeshore Learning has a free kid craft time every Saturday from 11 am - 3 pm. It is aimed at kids ages 3 and up.

Michael's has a summer program and it's called Passport to Imagination. It is held on Monday's, Tuesday's, and Wednesday's from 10 am - Noon. It runs from June 14 - July 26. It is $5 per session, or pay just $12 for 3 sessions.

Freebies for Parents

Sign up to get this FREE Child Safe Kit! It is great for emergencies.

Review: Sahara Sam's Oasis, Indoor and Outdoor Water Park

About 5 years ago, my son and I went to Sahara Sam's for the very first time. We were invited to a birthday party. The idea was pretty cool, because there aren't too many places around where you can go swimming in November! But when we got there, we honestly didn't have too great of a time. To be fair, he was little and that was back before they opened the outdoor Beach Club.

I was told that I would have to pay for myself, even though I wasn't planning on swimming myself. Apparently spectators need tickets, too. Ugh. Really? The birthday kid's mom said I could just drop my kiddo off because the party only included a small amount of adults with the kids, which would be her and her hubby and some other relatives. There was no way I was going to leave my kid who isn't a strong swimmer without 1:1 supervision. Lifeguards or no lifeguards. I also rented a locker, which set me back $10, before finding out from the party host that there was a complimentary storage bin for party guests. Oh well. My kid was only 5 at the time and not very brave or experienced with swimming. We hung out in the Lizard Lagoon or "the little kid area" as many call it. It got old fast, but the larger areas were daunting to my little guy.

We tried out the Slam Dunker, which is a pool with basketball nets. It's a great idea, except they use real standard sized basketballs and when they rebound innocent bystanders get bonked in the head. This made my kid cry. It was also really crowded and very loud. The music booms overhead and there are frequent announcements on the loudspeaker, but you can't really make out what they are saying. It was sensory overload. The arcade was also super loud and super crowded. We ended up leaving early. I figured my kiddo wasn't quite ready for all this.

Fast forward 5 years. My kid is now 10. He's much braver and not quite as sensitive. We came with some cousins and he had a great time. He still isn't big on water slides, but adores standing under the giant bucket of spilling water in Tim-buk-tu, a really fun play area full of smaller water slides and more. We also loved the Congo Bongo, aka The Lazy River. 

We were excited to hear that they had built an outdoor area, The Beach Club. It was too cold out to check it out that day, but we decided to buy Annual Passes for the whole family! They were having a special deal and it was cheaper than joining our town's swim club and THIS MEMBERSHIP is good all year round. Who can argue with that? I love a deal!

As soon as we could, we went back with a friend to check out The Beach Club. It has a wave pool (like the ocean, but with clear water!), a regular pool, and a sprayground play area. We LOVE it now!

 Tri-State Hot Spots gives Sahara Sam's
3 out of 3 thumbs up!

Victory Soccer Camp

Victory Soccer Camp will be held July 27-31 from 9 am to Noon. It is locally sponsored by Laurel Hill Bible Church and Gloucester Township TBAA Soccer Club. It is for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade.

The cost?

It's free!

Victory Soccer Camp normally costs $89 per camper, but Laurel Hill Bible Church offers the camp locally as a gift to the community. But if you had to pay, it would be worth every last penny! It is ran by former Philadelphia Kixx player Goran Hunjak and he shares his love of soccer, amazing skills, and his personal testimony.

To register, click here for the downloadable form and send it in ASAP. You may send $6 for a special camp ball if you like. But you may also send your child with his or her own soccer ball. Cleats are not necessary, but helpful if your child has them. Shin guards ARE a must for protection. And of course, send your child with a water bottle or Gatorade.

The camp is held at the Gloucester Township TBAA fields at 247 Little Gloucester Road in Blackwood, NJ.

Littles at the Malls

Everyone knows that moms love malls, but did you know that many malls offer fun for littles, too?



South Jersey


Deptford Mall has a Kids Club. They've teamed up with National Geographic Kids to offer activities, games, and much more! Come out and join them on select Thursdays (check schedule when you follow the link above).

Deptford Mall also has a free Kids Play Zone by Inspira.

Moorestown Mall has a Just Mom & Me club. Parents and children 8 and under are invited for puppet shows, story times, and sing-alongs. Register and get a free gift. These events are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11 am.

Moorestown Mall also has a free play area for kids 5 and under called The Secret Garden.

Burlington Center Mall offers a kid craft time about once a month.

Hamilton Mall has a Kids Club. When you join you get a free ride on the Deep Sea Carousel. After that you get offers for discounted rides and can join them for fun events. Click here for the schedule of events.




PA


Springfield Mall has a Giggle Gang. What's that? It's an interactive club that meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month for kids ages 1-5. They often feature a craft and get visits from fun places like Please Touch Museum and the Franklin Institute!

Plymouth Meeting Mall has a Kids Club. It meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month for play and fun.

Exton Square Mall also has a Kids Club. It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for awesome adventures.

King of Prussia Mall has a free play area by CHOP.

And Oxford Valley Mall also has a free play area by Simon Kidgits.




DE


Dover Mall has Kidgits. This summer, kids who are out of school can go on select Thursday nights at 6:30 pm to do cool crafts and activities. Kidgits also host fun family-friendly events on Saturdays.

Christiana Mall has a children's play area called Small Wonders.

Cow Appreciation Day is Coming!

If you've never participated in this annual event before, it might sound a little crazy!

Every year, Chick-Fil-A locations across the country host what they call Cow Appreciation Day. What is it? Basically, in exchange for a free meal you must dress up like a cow. Strange? Yes! But I promise you that your kids will love it! My family has been doing it for years.

This year Cow Appreciation Day is Tuesday, July 14. You can dress up and go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. (Some of my friends are die-hards and go to different Chick-Fil-A stores for different meals. Now THAT is dedication.)

You can make your own costumes, which is usually what we do, or you can click here for your starter kit.  Let your imagination run wild!

Don't want to completely dress up like a cow in public? You can wear one accessory or just a mask and get one entree free.

Freebies for Parents: 2 Free Mags! Seriously!

This time I have a two-fer for ya! Whether you are an expectant mother, or a mommy with a bundle at home already you grab both these magazines for free. Yep, one year subscriptions for both--no strings attached. (And feel free to un-check those boxes that offer to send you more info. You can still get the mags without agreeing to that.)

First, get a free subscription to American Baby by clicking here.

And next, click here for a free subscription to Baby Talk magazine.

Review: Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Moorestown NJ

So if your kid is anything like my kid, he or she has been dying to go to Sky Zone or some other such indoor trampoline park. A year ago, I had never heard of such a thing (we were still into the indoor moon bounce circuit). Now they are popping up all over the place!

We finally got around to going this past weekend because we were invited to a birthday party. The location we visited was the Sky Zone at Moorestown, New Jersey. My kid had a blast. Me? Eh, not so much.

Okay, so if you are a kid then Sky Zone is the place to be. I mean, there are arenas full of trampoline squares attached to tons of other trampoline squares. In addition to the trampoline arenas there is a huge foam block pit to jump into, as well as arenas for dodgeball/basketball, the latter of which my son wasn't into at all (we aren't an athletic bunch). You can literally bounce off the walls. Pop music booms overhead. The smell of pizza is in the air...and it was actually good pizza! Pretty magical.

Oh, and you get to wear fluorescent orange anti-skid socks made especially for Sky Zone. 

Alright. Here are the things I was not excited about...

1.) When you walk in there is a lobby where you check in (for parties) and computer kiosks for signing that waiver saying you won't sue them, blah blah blah. The lobby has no separation from the rest of the place, which means anyone can walk in and access the arenas. It gets VERY BUSY here, especially on weekends. I felt a bit nervy about the safety of my kid. I spent most of the time running back and forth between arenas, stalking my kid to make sure he was safe and sound. I would have been much more comfortable if there was some sort of divider set up.

2.) I followed my ten year old son to the rest room and stood outside the boys' room. He came right back out because he said there was urine EVERYWHERE. I immediately went to one of the counters in the lobby and told a worker. She said she would pass it on, but the bathroom stayed that way for the rest of our time at Sky Zone. Also, the whole place needed cleaning. There are tons of table and chair sets and couches and coffee tables throughout for parents to relax at. Most of the tables had trash laying on them and the couch I sat on had a big sticky something on it and left a stain on my shorts. Ick.

3.) Prices. And those socks. I looked into admission fees because as much as I was skeeved, I know that I will be returning someday. My son adores it and I can't be mad at something that gives the kids such good exercise. Here is what I found:

30 minutes of jump time is $12. Wait....What?? That's kinda steep for not even a whole hour of play!

60 minutes...$16

90 minutes...$20

120 minutes...$24

And it is highly recommended that you order tickets online in advance due to crowding and selling out. So this isn't something you do on a whim. It takes prep.

And you have to buy those orange socks. Now they are only $1 a pair and you can keep bringing them back. Of course I know my son well, and who am I kidding? He will lose those socks before the week is out. But you MUST have the socks to jump, so you'll be tacking on a buck per child every visit.

The super part about being there with a party was that those socks were part of the package so I didn't pay for them (yay). And instead of keeping them to reuse another time like I had considered, the party guests could trade them in for a t-shirt. My son was all about THAT. It did leave me wondering what they do with the used socks though...

There are tons of location in Pennsylvania and Delaware, too!
Click here to find the Sky Zone near you.

Tri-State Hot Spots gives Moorestown Sky Zone
2 out of 3 thumbs up!

Review: Bridgeport Speedway

As a kid I grew up about 5 minutes away from the Bridgeport Speedway, listening to the sounds of racing cars and roaring engines, but I never ever went there. Until today.

My hubby, son, and I recently moved back to the area about a year ago and now that it's summertime we can hear the speedway from our new house. My kid has been begging and begging us to go, so we decided to check it out this evening. If you've never been to ANY kind of races then you are in for a surprise!

I've never been a big sports fan, much less a Nascar fan, so I figured I wouldn't be into it. Wrong. I was just as excited as my son and his friend! They race all kinds of vehicles and it's pretty exciting. I found myself on the edge of my seat watching the races, gasping when there was a crash, praying 'til they announced everybody was alright, and cheering for my favorite cars.

The kiddos enjoyed themselves, too. On Saturday nights they have a bounce house. And you and find all kinds of junk food, from water ice to funnel cake. They also have a candy shack and a souvenir stand. Your kids will totally want their own checkered flags to wave from the grandstand, and at $3 a piece you can't say no. Glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets are also popular, as are t-shirts. Be sure to bring cash, because most venders on the midway do not take credit cards. There is an ATM machine on the premises.

A word to the wise, though, it does get rather dusty! The cars sure do kick up some dust while they race around the oval dirt track at speeds up to 100 MPH. So don't come dressed up. And if you have a kiddo who doesn't like loud sounds, you'll probably want to bring noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.

Tonight was a special event and there was face painting and raffles. My son and his friend both bought tickets with their spending money and they both won grand prizes--a bike for my son and a scooter for his friend! Click here to check out upcoming events and races. Tickets are typically $15 for adults and kids 9 and under are free, so it's fairly inexpensive.

You should also check out the Bridgeport Speedway's Facebook page. Sometimes they will post early on in the day to let fans know that residents of a particular nearby town will enter admission-free that evening. You gotta love free!

 Tri-State Hot Spots gives Bridgeport Speedway 
3 out of 3 thumbs up!