Friday, January 31, 2014

Project Prom

 For more than a decade, Project Prom has allowed teenagers who receive DHS services to attend their proms in style, providing them with free gowns, accessories and more.  For a third year, Project Prom for Gentleman will offer 100 preregistered high school students an evening of instruction in prom etiquette, coupled with a catered meal at which students can practice what they learn. Participants also receive a voucher from Tuxedo Junction for a free tux rental.
Students are eligible for free prom attire if they or a member of their household receive food or utility assistance; live in a foster or group home; receive mental health or intellectual disability services; receive treatment for substance disorders; meet guidelines for free or reduced school lunches; or have a caretaker who receives unemployment benefits.
Anyone in contact with high school students who may be eligible should suggest the students visit the Project Prom webpage, www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/projectprom.aspx, to learn how they can participate.
Dates for the Gown Giveaway at the Project Prom Shop on the third floor of Century III Mall in West Mifflin are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 15, and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 17-20.  Project Prom for Gentlemen (pre-registered) will be held from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 10 at Herberman Center, UPMC Shadyside.
A public sale of gowns and accessories will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29 for students who are not eligible for free attire. Items are available at a great discount – nothing is more than $25.

Questions can be answered by emailing the Event and Donations Team at eventanddonationsteam@alleghenycounty.us or by calling 412-350-3428.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

In Review: Monster Mini Golf + BOGO coupon!

 I was recently invited to bring my family to try out Monster Mini Golf in Monroeville. I first posted on the Momtourage facebook page for thoughts on whether it would be too scary for my almost 3 & almost 5YO. The general consensus was....yeah, probably. But maybe not. So since it was a little mixed, we decided to try it and if our kids got scared we would leave, no problem. I'm so glad we tried it though, because they loved it!
 It's one of those blacklight places where anything white you are wearing glows and they really loved that. There is a dog that comes out barking about every 15 minutes, that is probably the only scary part. Otherwise it's just mostly fun! The only other downside I would say, is that the music is playing really loud. I (personally) would have preferred it not to be making to much racket. :) 
My son had chosen to wear his superman outfit "just in case" he needed to fight any monsters. Hey, whatever gives him confidence. :)

They have party rooms too! They overlook the course from the top which is kind of cool. 
Two posh and private party rooms give you a real party room, including a full refrigerator, microwave and your own TV. For something more than a cafeteria table set up in the corner somewhere, our year round, indoor facility provides you the peace of mind of not having to worry about the weather. Appropriate for all ages, our children's party packages even allow the adults to golf with the party at no additional charge. So score a hole in one by checking out our party packages. Or stop in for a tour. More party info here.
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3813 William Penn Hwy.
Monroeville, PA 15146
And that's not all!! Go here to print a Buy One Get One Free Coupon!!
1 free golfer with a paying golfer of equal or greater value. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Not valid for birthday parties or groups. Valid at the Monroeville location only.
Expires: 06/30/2014
Happy Monster Golfing!
 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Easy Canvas Prints Giveaway + 60% off code!

Easy Canvas Prints recently contacted me about a giveaway with their company. They sent me 2 canvas prints that I love and I was definitely interested!
 
Easy Canvas Prints™ offers high quality, gallery-ready prints at an affordable price. From family snapshots to fine art, vacation photos to vintage prints, canvas can turn your favorite digital images into a work of art. Check out their idea gallery and get inspired.
 We have an 8x10 print to giveaway (your choice of photo)!

BUT, everyone can win here because they have also offered a 60% code off  your entire order just for Pgh Momtourage followers AND we get free shipping! What a great way to add some wonderful art to your walls! Go here to order - your 60% off will automatically apply. 
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Go here to enter:

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Monster Jam Ticket Giveaway!

Pittsburgh Monster Jam® Tickets Now Available
Show Features the Pittsburgh debut of Iron Man™ Monster Jam Truck
 Monster Jam is coming to CONSOL Energy Center February 14-16 and tickets are affordably priced for the whole family with seats starting at just $12 for kids and $25 for adults.
Monster Jam will be performing at the CONSOL Energy Center on:
Friday, February 14 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 15 – 2 and 7:30 p.m. *Party in the Pits at 11 a.m.
Sunday, February 16 – 2 p.m. *Party in the Pits at 11 a.m.

FREE, family-friendly party the Thursday, February 13th, from 6-8pm at CONSOL to  celebrate the Pittsburgh debut of the Iron Man truck. The party will be superhero-themed and will include games, a photobooth, arts & crafts, face-painting, and a chance to go down to the track for a sneak peek at the truck and to meet the driver, Lee O'Donnell.

The event will feature the first appearance in Pittsburgh of Iron Man™, the rugged crusher inspired by the Iron Man 2 movie. After a triumphant premiere in Pittsburgh last year, this year’s show will also see the return of Zombie, along with fan favorite Monster Jam® trucks, including Grave DiggerĂ’, Monster Mutt, Razin’ Kane, Ice Cream Man, Illuminator, and Instigator. (Trucks subject to change without notice.)
Approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide, Monster Jam trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, Monster Jam trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster Jam trucks can fly up to125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.
The Party in the Pits on Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day gives fans the opportunity to get onto the actual racetrack to collect the drivers’ autographs, take photos, and explore the obstacles they’ll jump over and eventually destroy. Pit passes are available for ticket holders of the 2 p.m. shows for an additional $10.
Tickets are available at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, all Ticketmaster retail outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or Charge by Phone at 800-745-3000.
For more information on the Monster Jam, log onto www.MonsterJam.com. To follow Monstter Jam on Facebook at Twitter, log on to Facebook.com/MJOnline and Twitter.com/MonsterJam.
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz®. Feld Motor Sports is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

Note: This is definitely a loud show! I highly recommend noise canceling headphones/ear plugs for any little ones. 

Giveaway:
We have 4 tickets to giveaway! One lucky family will win 4 tickets!
 4 tickets for Friday, Feb. 14, 7:30pm show at CONSOL. Your tickets will be held at the will call window.
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Use Rafflecopter to enter.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway  
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Winner chosen at random. Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner will be selected. Contest open for entries until Friday, January 31st, 2014, midnight.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Snapology - new location!

Snapology has moved just around the corner to a new location in Bethel Park. It's HUGE! I was invited to come check it out and here's what we discovered: a totally fun play space that my kids loved! 
Fort building + princess legos = 2 big hits for us.
 Here's some of the activities you will find at the new center (the underlined ones are good for even those 2yo & under!): 
  • Lego® Building Stations
  • Interactive Gaming
  • Awesome Lego® Slot Car Racing
  • Robot Battle Station
  • Zoob® Building Station - including Zoob wheels
  • Imagination Playground
  • Duplo® Blocks - great for big buildings
  • Giant Soft Blocks - great for building and knocking over
  • You can even build on our walls!!!
  • Lego® sets with instructions
Snapology also offers lots of camps which are designed for children to have a blast as they use Lego® bricks to explore the world of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and animation in an open, fun, friendly, team-based environment.
 And then there's this.....
Interactive games that change every 90 seconds. Whether you want to pop bubbles or firecrackers, squash bugs, play soccer or hockey or the piano or just kick balls, this will keep your kiddos movin' & shakin'.

1/4 mile north of South Hills Village Mall, Across from The Uncommon Market, Next to Dollar Bank.  Enter via Dollar Bank parking lot off Highland Rd. [Note: Use Bethel Park as the city in your GPS]
$5 per hour
Pittsburgh East dwellers, good news for you! A new center is soon opening at Monroeville Mall!
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Thanks for sharing your new place with us Snapology! We look forward to planning a Momtourage event there very soon! 

Sunday, January 5, 2014

40 mommy moments coming in 2014

In 2014....
1. Bulging bellies will bring the miracle of life.
2. Babies will become toddlers.
3. Toddlers will become kids.
4. We'll kiss chubby cheeks as much as possible.
5. And give big squeezers to littles growing up so fast.
6. We'll clean up vomit at midnight.
7. And change wet beds at 2am. Again. 
8. We'll put bandaids on imaginary boo-boos. And soothe real owies with kisses. 
9. We'll die a little inside when our child hits someone on the playground and we get the #worstmommyever glare.
10. We'll pray for their hearts to learn obedience & kindness.
11. We'll feel tears when they face their first disappointments.
12. Our hearts will burst at their innocent joy.
13. We'll pull our hair out at another sibling spat and then watch in awe as the older gently teaches the younger.
14. We'll change 3000 diapers without a blink.
15. We'll watch our child wet pair of underwear #275 and cringe every time we read, "oh, my child trained in 3 days."
16. We'll pay big bucks to get into amusement parks at which we'll never see an adult ride.
17. We'll hang out with our #Momtourage in hopes of some adult convo. (wink)
18. We'll watch first steps, teach first words, & see first tumbles.
19. We'll sing silly songs & do crazy dances and not care who's watching.
20. We'll wonder what happened to our body, no one told us about the month following childbirth.
21. We'll feel inadequate when nursing is the hardest thing we've ever done. All we heard was it the perfect bonding experience.
22. We'll be ecstatic when leaving the house only means throwing on sandals for everyone. #momslovesummer
23. We'll be in desperate need of encouragement in parenting and seek to avoid falling into the competitive spirit or discontentment that the internet can provide if we’re not careful.
24. We’ll always think our child is the most adorable in the room.
25. And continue posting too many pictures of their cuteness.
26. We’ll more readily embrace the 3am feedings of child #2 because we now know how quickly the newborn stage passes.
27. We’ll read the same book 26x a day.
28. We’ll adore our children, but our favorite time of the day will still be their bedtime.
29. We’ll think spending Friday night on our couch is the perfect way to end a week. Go out? What?
30. We’ll leave a kitchen full of dishes at 10pm because we’re too exhausted.
31. We’ll be so grateful when our hubby does that sink full of dishes or gets up with the 3am nightmare.
32. We’ll turn on Sesame Street to get some work done.
33. We’ll play. A lot.
34. We’ll crave 10 more minutes of sleep.
35. We’ll handle the starving child. 20 minutes after the dinner they wouldn’t eat.
36. We’ll think our child’s giggles are the best sound in the world.
37. We'll become PB&J masters.
38. We'll write down the crazy things that come out of their mouth.
39. We won't correct some words they say simply because they make us smile.
40. We'll experience joy & craziness like we couldn't have imagined. 



HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the parents who wouldn't trade this job for anything! ~Kelly #pghmomtourage

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Momtourage Spring Project Challenge 2014!

Who remembers our huge Spring Cleaning Challenge from last Spring? Well, I'm thrilled to tell you that a new challenge is just around the corner! I have tweaked a few things from last year and hopefully it will be bigger, better & even more fun! First tweak was: the name. Instead of Spring Cleaning Challenge I am calling it Spring Project Challenge 2014. Hopefully that clarifies it a little more from just cleaning to the fun makeovers we saw last year.
Here's a couple of the rules:
*Contest will run March 1st - 31st (the contest will not officially launch until 3/1, but it's not too early to start planning!)
*Projects can be completed anytime between January 1st - March 31st, 2014. (So yes, you can start your projects!)
*You can submit up to 2 separate projects (double your chances to win!)
*You will have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes/gift cards from some amazing businesses!
* Use #momtouragespringchallenge to share your photos
*2 categories to enter: Ka-chow! or Bam! You can choose to re-organize a closet or an entire space!
*Take before & after pics and be sure to label (picmonkey is an easy site to create collages & add text.)
And just to inspire you....here's a couple of submissions from last year!
 





 

So that's a sneak peak into our upcoming contest. With the holidays behind us and so much time on our hands, :)))) I KNOW we all have a space in our home that could use a little makeover. And why not win awesome prizes in the process?! Get thinkin' & plannin', get ready to be challenged & WIN! 

“I really regret getting that space totally organized.  -said no one EVER.”