Thursday, December 17, 2015

Ticket Giveaway: Junie B. Jones

My kids greatly enjoy reading the shenanigans of Junie B. Jones! She usually has some pending disaster, but somehow it always works out. We've also checked out the book on CD and listen to her stories during car pool hours. I was excited to see it has been put to musical production and we can't wait to see the show! 


Now that JUNIE B. JONES has been going to school for over one-and-a-half years, who better to write the book on EVERYTHING you need to know? From bus rules to Band-Aids, carpools to cookies, Junie B. and friends deliver the definitive word on surviving and thriving in style. With a jillion tips, tricks and trip-ups, Junie B. shares her hard-won expertise and shows us all how school is sometimes scary, sometimes super-fun, and ALWAYS something to sing about! An all-new musical adventure based on Barbara Park's popular book.



There will be opportunities to see the show all around the city!


Show Schedule:
Sunday, January 10 @ 2pm | Byham Theater
Wednesday, January 13 @ 7pm | Penn Hills High School
Thursday, January 14 @ 5:30pm & 7:30pm | Marshall Middle School
Friday, January 15 @ 7pm | Hopewell High School
Saturday, January 16 @ 11am & 2pm | Mt. Lebanon High School
Sunday, January 17 @ 2pm | Seneca Valley Intermediate High School
Tickets are only $10.50!! All seating is general admission, so you want to come early for a better seat selection. 
Be careful on waiting until show time to purchase your tickets as I know this popular children's series has sold 
out in the past. 

To Purchase Tickets:
  • Online at TrustArts.org
  • Call 412-456-6666
  • Box Office at Theater Square
  • Groups 10+ Call 412-471-6930

GIVEAWAY:

I have two tickets to give away to this fun production! Go here to enter:


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Ticket Giveaway: Western PA Model Railroad Museum

The Annual Holiday Train Show has opened at the Western PA Model Railroad Museum! If you have kids (and adults, too!) that enjoy model trains, this is a great venue to put on your holiday list.  You'll head upstairs to check out the spectacular model train display and on the main floor there are several kid-friendly displays and exhibits. 


The WPMRM is a nonprofit organization located in Gibsonia, PA. Their purpose is to promote and preserve the history of railroads in Western Pennsylvania through the hobby of model railroading. The Museum's main attraction, a 40' X 100' scale representation of the tracks between Pittsburgh, Pa. and Cumberland, Md. is set in the summer of 1952. In addition to this display, the museum also maintains a collection of historical model train sets and authentic railroad related items dating as far back as the beginning of the 20th century. The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum holds an Annual Holiday Train show each year starting mid-November and ending in mid-January.


I love seeing the amazing detail that goes into the exhibits!



On Friday evenings you can enjoy “Steam at Twilight”. The lights are lowered and the clock is turned back from the summer of 1952 to an early fall evening in 1949.  




First floor.....


Do you think they're siblings? :) 



My kid's favorite part is the hands on train display! 



 They love being able to "drive" these trains with a button!


The requested donation for The Holiday Train Show are:
  • $6.00 for adults
  • $4.00 for children under 12
Holiday Hours:
  • Fridays, 6-9pm
  • Saturdays & Sundays, 11am - 5pm
  • Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & New Year's Day
  • Holiday Train Show ends January 17
GIVEAWAY:
Two families will each win four tickets (2 adults/2 children) to be used through January 17, 2016. 
Go here to enter:



Thank you, Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum, for providing this fun holiday venue for families in the Pittsburgh area! 


I was provided tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions remain my own. 

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Ticket Giveaway: Harlem Globetrotters

For several years, one of our Christmas traditions has been to see The Harlem Globetrotters show as they come to Pittsburgh each year on December 26th. Some years we have been out of town and my son has been so disappointed! He is quite ecstatic that we are here for this year's show and we can't wait to see how they'll entertain us this year.  The Globetrotters always put on a fantastic family-friendly show that is engaging and fun for the audience. And those mascots? Killer!


CONSOL Energy Center
December 26
1:00pm and 6:00pm



The iconic Harlem Globetrotters come to town with their unrivaled family show, featuring some of the greatest athletes on the planet. With incredible ball handling wizardry, amazing rim-rattling dunks and trick shots, side-splitting comedy and unequaled on-court fan interaction, this must-see event is guaranteed to entertain the whole family – creating memories that will last a lifetime.

You can also purchase Magic Pass which is the pre-game event where your family will hang out with the stars of the team, right on the court, and will have the chance to:
  • Shoot Hoops with Globetrotter Stars
  • Learn Tricks with Globetrotter Stars
  • Get Autographs and Selfies with Globetrotter Stars

The Globetrotters will face a great challenge this year, as the infamous Washington Generals are more determined than ever to beat the Globetrotters.  The Generals, the last team to beat the Globetrotters, are now coached by a former member of that 1971 team.  They are on a mission and will do whatever it takes to win, with a new strategy that’s sure to give the Globetrotters a run for their money.

I love how they interact with the audience!


Tickets make great Christmas gifts for kids! Tickets are available online here, at the Dick's Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, all Ticketmaster locations including select Giant Eagle locations, and Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are accepted.

GIVEAWAY:
FIVE lucky families will each win 4 tickets for the show - which makes great day after Christmas family fun! 
You will receive vouchers that you can exchange at the CONSOL Box Office for either the 1pm or 6pm show on Dec. 26.  You will have 24 hours to confirm your win or a new winner will be chosen. 
Don't be disqualified by failing to leave complete info on the giveaway form!





I was given tickets for my family in exchange for the promotion. All opinions remain my own. Photos used by permission of the Harlem Globetrotters. 

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

December fun at Fifth Avenue Place in Downtown Pittsburgh

My family recently had our first chance to hop aboard the free Holly Trolley and my kids loved it! If you've been doing a lot of walking around downtown and feeling a little chilly, it's an excellent chance to rest and warm while still seeing the sites around Downtown Pittsburgh.


Saturdays November 21 – December 19
Every Saturday FREE Fifth Avenue Place Holly Trolley
11 a.m. – 5 p.m Discover all the sights and sounds of the holiday season in downtown Pittsburgh aboard the FREE Fifth Avenue Place Holly Trolley. Hosted by Santa’s little helpers, trolleys circle downtown each weekend picking up at stops approximately every 15 minutes Visit www.downtownpittsburgh.com for a listing of all trolley stop locations.


You also don't want to miss a chance to head into Fifth Avenue Place for their free kid's activities! Take advantage of the indoor bathrooms and food court while you're inside as well.

Saturdays, November 28 – December 19
Creation Stations - FREE Family Fun with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Saturday, December 5
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Triangle Traditions
Reflect upon the warmth of the holidays with The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh by creating triangle leaves for a treasured “Thank You” Tree. Capture the seasonal spirit with a keepsake caricature and be amazed as magician Chris Handa brings holiday magic to life!

Saturday, December 12
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Celebrate Circles
Join cheerful elves from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and design personalized holiday wreaths. Showcase your talent and create your very own snowmen snow globe. Catch up with everyone’s favorite elf for creative balloon art and test your skills at North Pole corn toss.

Saturday, December 19
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Seasonal Squares
Visit for story time and enjoy holiday classics as read by Mrs. Claus. Design one-of-a-kind ornaments and create ice paintings with The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. And show off your holiday spirit with a fun face painting.


Here are some additional highlights happening at Fifth Avenue Place throughout the month of December:

Friday, November 27 – Wednesday, December 23
Monday – Friday Holiday Lunchtime Concerts
12 p.m Daily Live musical performances from some of Pittsburgh’s favorite artists bring the sounds of the season to life during the always entertaining Lunchtime Concert Series.
Thursday, December 10 & Friday, December 18
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Jim O’Brien Book Signing
He's back! Pittsburgh sports author and historian, Jim O'Brien returns to Fifth Avenue Place. Meet him in Center Court December 10 and December 18 autographing all of your sports collection favorites include Jim’s newest book, Golden Arms: Six Hall of Fame Quarterbacks From Western Pennsylvania.
Thursday, December 10 – Saturday, December 12
11a.m. – Close Gift Certificate BONUS Days
Only a few shopping days left! Find the perfect gift at Fifth Avenue Place and earn a FREE Fifth Avenue Place Gift Certificate with qualifying retail purchases. Redeem receipts from 11 a.m. – close in Center Court.
Receipt Total Receive
$25-$49.99 $5 Gift Certificate
$50-$99.99 $10 Gift Certificate
$100+ $25 Gift Certificate

Monday, December 7 – Friday, December 11
10:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. Glass Eye Studio Sale at Crystal River Gems
The much anticipated holiday sale returns. Visit Fifth Avenue Place Monday, December 7 - Friday, December 11 and explore the world of glass art – from ornaments and paperweights to vases and bowls. Crystal River Gems will be selling a variety of hand-crafted gift items exclusively from Glass Eye Studio.
Friday, December 11 & Monday-Tuesday, December 14-15
6 – 9 a.m. Make-A-Wish & Wish 99.7 FM Light Up A Child’s Life Campaign
Help make a child’s wish come true this holiday season! Drop by Fifth Avenue Place for the annual Make-A-Wish fundraiser with WISH Radio, broadcasting live from 6 – 9 a.m. in Center Court, collecting donations and raising awareness for Make-A-Wish.
ONGOING HOLIDAY AMENITIES

Friday, November 27 – Thursday, December 24
After 4 p.m. Weekdays Holiday Parking Validation
All Day Saturdays Enjoy FREE Parking with any $20 Fifth Avenue Place retail purchase in the Fifth Avenue Place Garage on Evenings (enter after 4pm) and Weekends.
See Stores for Details • Limit: One Per Person



Fifth Avenue Place
120 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-456-7800
Twitter: @FifthAvePlace



This post sponsored by Fifth Avenue Place. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse venues I don't love!

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Giveaway: Kennywood Holiday Lights + The Polar Express 4-D Experience

We are so excited that it's almost time for Holiday Lights at Kennywood to open for the season! Last year was our first experience at the Holiday Lights, what a cool experience! I had never been to an amusement park in the winter and it was decked out in full holiday spirit! We loved the festive atmosphere with so many Christmas lights and the Christmas music playing throughout the park was enough to  put everyone in a jolly mood.


Holiday Lights is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from November 27 – December 27, 2015 (excluding Christmas Day). Hours are 5 – 9pm.

 

There are over 1 million sparkling lights as well as fun, festive opportunities to decorate cookies, ride the Gingerbread Express, visit Santa, and hear choirs singing throughout the park. You'll find hot chocolate and apple cider added to refreshment stands to help you warm up!



New this year:
Kennywood’s 4-D Theater will show screenings of The Polar Express: A 4-D Experience, based on the Caldecott Medal Children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. This giveaway includes VIP front-of-the-line tickets!


Rides in the main park are open on a limited basis, the carousel is open. Kiddieland has up to 8 rides open which kept my kids plenty busy. This is hands down all 4 of my kid's favorite ride! :)


Your kids might also enjoy a special opportunity to have dinner with Santa! Dinner reservations can be made for Dec. 5, 12, 19 or 20. Dinner is an all-you-can-eat buffet from 3:30-4:30 pm with a visit from Santa from 4-4:45 pm. After that you're welcome to enjoy the evening at the Festival of Lights.
 $27.99 / adults. $23.99 / ages 3-12. Kids 2 and under are free. Space is limited and reservations are required here

You might run into a few fun characters on your visit!


Admission at the Gate: $17.99 (+ $1 amusement tax). Save $2.00 at Giant Eagle or Purchase online for $14.99  ($1.25 processing fee & $1 amusement tax). You can also purchase a season pass for Holiday Lights for $22.50. Kids 2 and under are FREE! Parking is also free in the Kennywood lot. 


Don't miss the Lagoon where the reflections are gorgeous! The fantastic light show at the Lagoon runs every 30 minutes and is choreographed to some of our favorite Christmas songs. 
Show times: 5:30 pm, 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:00pm, 8:30 pm. Shows last 10 minutes 


GIVEAWAY:
I have the chance to share with you a chance to enjoy the Kennywood Holiday Lights with your family! One lucky winner will win 4 tickets for the day of your choice as well as 4 front-of-the-line VIP passes for The Polar Express, a 4-D Experience.


Thanks, Kennywood, for being a great Pittsburgh holiday tradition!


Don't forget to check out their Black Friday Season Pass sale which is already live on their website!



This post sponsored by Kennywood. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse venues I don't love!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Giveaway: Kid's Birthday Party at Uno Pizzeria

Do you ever have a hard time deciding what to do for your child's birthday? Judging by the number of times I get this question posed on the Pgh Momtourage facebook page, I don't think I'm the only one searching for fun ideas. We have typically done birthday parties at our home, but last year we did it at another venue and that was awesome! To have all the fun of the party, but leave the mess behind and come home to a clean house? Yes, please!


Uno Pizzeria & Grill at the Waterfront has a great kid's birthday party option and they are also generously going to give away a completely FREE birthday party!


Uno combines the fun of the party with some fun learning skills because the kids get to make their own pizza!



They also provide a craft for the party and you can talk to them about their favor options. You will also get to choose whether you will have a face painter or character as part of the event! This special addition is brought to you by Pgh Party Creations and you can view the character options here. Some options include Princesses, Minion, Paw Patrol, Doc McStuffins + more. 


They will end the party with a fun build-your-own Sundae dessert! You are welcome to bring in cake & balloons if you wish as well. 


Did you know every Tuesday is Kid's Eat Free at Uno? For each adult entree that is purchased, you will receive a free kids meal! Every Tuesday, 11am - 11pm. 


Uno Pizzeria is also a collection site for my Foster Love Project charity and will be hosting a Dining 2 Donate evening on December 8th. Come join us for pizza with Santa and lots of fun! For every foster love project bag that is dropped off, you will receive a $10 gift card for Uno as well. Go here for more details. 


GVEAWAY: 
Uno Pizzeria is giving away one FREE birthday party.
Includes:
Dinner for 10 kids (adults are welcome to purchase separately from the menu)
Face Painter or Character visit
Craft
Party must be redeemed by the end of 2016.
Must like the Uno facebook page as a requirement to be entered and then finish entering at the link below. Good Luck!


This post sponsored by Uno Pizzeria & Grill. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse companies I don't love!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Check out Minted holiday cards!

Did I blink and it was time to be thinking about Christmas cards again? Wow, that really snuck up on me! Last year was the first time I chose my cards from Minted and I loved them so much! The quality was amazing and they turned out perfect. I will definitely be starting my search for the perfect card this week!  Minted is a design marketplace that uses a community of independent artists and designers who are located in 48 states and 43 countries. Because of this, they have a beautiful, creative and diverse product selection.

1. Choose a unique design from an independent artist.
2. Customize and make the design yours.
3. They'll make it with luxe materials and a passion for quality.

Here are some of my favorite designs for this year.....






Enjoy 15% off free recipient addressing on holiday cards. Code: CHEER15, exp 11/24.


Love these adorable holiday ornament cards!





Postcards are also a great option, a little lower in cost for cards and postage as well!


And I love, love, love the free recipient addressing!!


Minted also contains beautiful choices of Art, gorgeous fabrics,  and a cool selection of children's art!

Cheers to stress-free card sending! :)




This post sponsored by Minted.com. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse companies I don't love!