November 11 is a day set aside every year to honor the men and women who have bravely served our country. While many businesses close on this day, there are plenty of restaurants and stores that remain open and offer discounts to active duty service people and veterans.
Keep scrolling to see 10 amazing Veteran’s Day deals for military families.
––Karly Wood
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LEGOLAND Florida Has Free Admission & So Much More for Veterans in November
LEGOLAND Florida Resort is celebrating veterans this November. Along with special Veteran’s Day discounts and events on the holiday itself (Nov. 11), the brick-tastic theme park is making everything awesome for those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military.
In honor of our country’s military, LEGOLAND Florida is offering veterans and active military members free theme park admission from Nov. 1 through Nov. 25. Along with free admission, the park also has discount for military family members!
Veterans and active military members are eligible to receive 50 percent off tickets to LEGOLAND Florida for up to six guests and up to 25 percent off overnight park stays.
Veteran’s Day deals for vets and active-duty military members include a free American flag wristband, 10 percent discount on food/beverages/retail purchases, a second six-by-eight-inch photo free with the purchase of the first one and two plays of carnival games for the price of one (excluding prize-every-time games).
To receive the special discounts and offers you must present a valid military ID or proof of veteran status. Along with November’s discounts, active-duty U.S. military members are eligible for complimentary admission to LEGOLAND Florida theme park and Water Park year-round!
—Erica Loop
Photos: Courtesy of LEGOLAND Florida
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It’s BOGO time at Starbucks again! Thursdays mean one thing at your fave coffee retailer—Happy Hour. And we’re not talking about the type that comes with martinis and craft beer.
Starbucks’ Happy Hour features mega deals, and this week Sbucks has buy one get one free Frappuccinos and espresso drinks.
photo: Courtesy of Starbucks
So how can you get this bountiful BOGO deal? Just go to your local participating Starbucks on Thursday, Jul. 18 from 3 p.m. to close and buy your fave Frapp or espresso beverage (excluding ready-to-drink bottles).
And don’t forget to invite a friend along. That is, unless it’s a double Frappuccino type of day.
—Erica Loop
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What’s a rhino without its horn? Considering the name itself stems from the Greek — “rhin,” meaning nose, and “ceros,” meaning horn, you can’t really impersonate a rhino properly without one. So get your little rhino-lover up and running with this DIY one-horned rhino headband.
What you’ll need:
Grey felt (two sheets)
pen/pencil
headband
scissors
paper for tracing
glue gun
cotton balls (not pictured)
Step One: Make stencils for the ears and horn
You can draw this freehand — or find some rh-inspiration here. Make sure the front and back of the ears are connected in the middle so you’ll be able to wrap them around your headband.
Step Two: Cut out the pieces
Trace your stencils onto the felt and cut to create the shapes that will become your rhino horn and ears. (Note: Make two horn cut-outs; you’ll need to glue them together later.)
Step Three: Glue and shape the ears
Wrap those adorable ears around your headband. Using (ideally) a hot glue gun, glue the front and back of the ears together (Note: It’s OK if the edges don’t line up perfectly.) Then, glue the outer bottom edges of the ears down so that the ears curl inward a bit.
Step Four: Now, for the horn
Using a hot glue gun, glue your two horn-shaped pieces of felt together, excluding the flat side. Be sure to apply the glue only to the inside edges; you’ll need to leave the middle empty so you’ll have space to stuff it. Once the glue is dry, cut a slit into the open side of the horn. This will be used to attach the horn to your headband.
Step Five: Stuff it up
Use the top of a pen to push cotton balls into the horn until it’s filled up like a pillow (don’t worry about stuffing the bottom flap). Then, glue up the open side so that your “pillow” is sealed.
Step Six: Attach your horn
Slide the headband into the slit of the horn, then use your hot glue gun to attach the bottom flap to both the underside of the headband and the upper part of the horn. If needed, dab glue all around the edges so the horn doesn’t slide around.
You’re done! Put on your horn and do your best rhino-charge. Or, sit back and enjoy this thrilling video of the real thing.
Got a better way to get in the rhino spirit? Share your ideas below!
— all photos and copy by Melissa Heckscher
Summer is the time (especially when there’s plenty of time) for little creatives to take their imagination beyond the living room. With a whole season of unique camps for tinkerers, campers, princesses, filmmakers, dancers and more, Sonoma Academy of Dance & Arts is ready to take your kiddos to the next stage… literally. Read on to go behind the scenes of SADA.
About Sonoma Academy of Dance Arts
Founded in 2005 by Sarah Duran LeVine, SADA began as a full dance program with a handful of performing arts camps. Since then, the summer camp program has gotten more and more innovative, fulfilling the interests of young archaeologists to budding entrepreneurs.
The Coolest Classes of the Summer
SADA’s summer schedule is seriously cool. This is where young ones can learn the science behind bubble art at Bubble School, identify animal bones with a true Sonoma historian, or go old school on tiny toes at a dance camp. Each camp has a hands-on approach that’ll spark the creative juices in every toddler. Enhance survival skills with archery or analytical skills with engineering experiments… the choices don’t stop there! Check out all eleven camps here. Little bundles of energy are going to want more than just a week with SADA.
Sign Up Details
The summer program runs from June – Aug. with a different theme each week. Kiddos are divided by age groups, often 3-9 and 9-14, and will be so engrossed with their learning that time will fly. The daily schedule is Mon.-Fri, 9a.m.-4p.m, excluding Bubble Camp, which is Mon., Wed., Fri., 9a.m.-1p.m.
Cost: $250/week with $100 non-refundable deposit to hold your child’s space. Register online here.
Burlingame Hall
252 West Spain St.
Sonoma, Ca 95476
Online: sonomasummercamps.com/summer-camps
Where else is your soap scientist going to learn how to make a square shaped bubble? Share this story with other fams on Facebook and get a whole gang together.
— Christal Yuen
It’s the most magical time of the year at The Fairmont Olympic! Countless families have made it a tradition to visit the Teddy Bear Suite and enjoy holiday tea in The Georgian. Admire the beautiful 25-foot majestic Christmas tree in the lobby and the awesome gingerbread display created by The Fairmont Olympic’s own pastry chef before savoring homemade scones, savory sandwiches, and mouthwatering holiday cookies.
Red Tricycle and The Fairmont Olympic have partnered together to bring this fab giveaway to you! One lucky winner will win a gift certificate for four (two adults and two children; valued at $160) to any day available for Holiday Tea! The Georgian Holiday Tea is available until December 30, 2012; excluding December 24 and 25.
How To Enter:
Please email your full name to promo@tinybeans.go-vip.net with subject line: Holiday Tea. We will randomly select one winner on December 17, 2012.
Need a break from the hoards of screaming children standing in line to get their photo taken with Santa Claus? How about a respite from the shopping mall madness? Enjoy a moment of peace (even if for a few hours) over a cup of tea. We promise it’s just what you need to turn up the holiday cheer and tone down the holiday havoc. Here are four family-friendly holiday teas in the Seattle area – all different tea-experiences so that you can pick one to fit your family’s style.
The Georgian Holiday Tea at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel
411 University Street, Seattle
Dates: December 1 – December 30, 2012, excluding holidays
Reservations: 206-621-7889
Probably the best known holiday tea in Seattle – and for good reason – The Georgian at the classic Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle offers a beautiful, traditional holiday tea service for families. The menu is just as you would imagine – tiny tea sandwiches, scones and little bites of other treats and they even have a special kids’ tea menu, available upon request. We can’t say this is the best place to take your loud, impatient toddler for a special holiday event, but children who are able to sit still a little longer will love it.
Queen Mary Tea Room
2912 NE 55th Street, Seattle
Dates: Now open seven days a week, through December 31
Reservations: Accepted online or by phone at 206-527-2770
A beloved tea room in Seattle, the Queen Mary Tea Room doesn’t have a specific holiday tea, but their beautiful tea room is decorated to the nines for the holidays and they have a yummy selection of seasonal-flavored teas to pick from. You’ll definitely want to make reservations at the Queen Mary and pull out your most pretty and handsome tea-attire for your visit. Be sure to read the “What to Expect” section on their website before you arrive.
Tuscan Tea Room Bistro
4521 California Ave. SW, West Seattle
Dates: Through January 6, 2012
Reservations: Online or by phone – 206-906-9914
Christmas Tea at the Tuscan Tea Room Bistro is sure to become a holiday tradition for your family – they go all out for this afternoon tea sitting during the holidays including amazing decorations and a yummy menu. We especially love the Tuscan Tea Room because it is a little less stuffy for little ones. For their Christmas Tea, they have a special menu and tea price for children under the age of ten. And adult tea drinkers will be very impressed with their extensive menu of teas and treats. Christmas Tea is Served Saturday & Sunday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm
Village Eatery and Tea Company
Country Village Bothell, 23718 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell
Please call for dates and reservations: 425-483-2005
Families on the north side of Seattle will love to enjoy holiday tea at The Village Eatery and Tea Company, located in the super kid-friendly Country Village Bothell. At the time of press, they were still narrowing down dates and times for their holiday tea schedule – please contact the Village Eatery for more details and reservations.
We want to hear what is your favorite place in Seattle to take the kiddos out for holiday tea?
— Katie Kavulla
photo credit: Grey Meyer via Tuscan Tea Room Bistro facebook page
Non-Alcoholic Drinks that Feel Like a Party
The holiday parties are upon us, with their never ending onslaught of food and drinks. For those who can’t or choose not to drink alcohol, the beverage options tend to be an afterthought. But teetotalers want to have fun, too. If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, consider serving a mocktail so non-drinking adults don’t feel left out and the more adventurous kids have something other than a juice box to enjoy.
Mocktails have come a long way. Bartenders worth their salt are specifically creating non-alcoholic cocktails versus just excluding the alcohol from regular cocktails. (The reason “virgin” cocktails don’t necessarily work is that the alcohol tends to be the star and if you subtract it, the remaining ingredients are just accent flavors—or the drink is too cloying when not cut by alcohol). Below several quick mocktail tips and recipes from local chef Kathy Casey and the head barman at Canlis Restaurant, James MacWilliams.
Tips:
PINEAPPLE MOJITO SPLASH
Makes 1 drink
2 ounces Dish D’Lish Classic Mojito Cocktailor
2 tablespoons chopped fresh pineapple
4 ounces club soda
Lime wedge
Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add Mojito Cocktailor and pineapple. Cap shaker and shake well. Pour into a tall glass and top with soda. Stir and garnish with lime. Recipe from Kathy Casey, www.kathycasey.com
RUBY CRUSTA
Makes 1 drink
½ ounce pomegranate juice
½ ounce ginger syrup
½ ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces Rhubarb DRY Soda
Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients and shake lightly. Strain into sugar-rimmed glass and garnish with a twist of lime. Adapted from barman James MacWilliams, of Canlis
—Hsiao-Ching Chou
