February 1, 2010 by jenniferhazard
While visiting Bethel for the winter festival, we discovered Kids Travel Happy—a small shop that specializes in unplugged toys (a.k.a. toys that won’t make you want to pull your hair out). And with school vacation just around the corner, we decided to pick up one or two items to ensure a somewhat peaceful trip.
Map of the U.S.A. Play Scene
For Cute Potato #1, we purchased Mudpuppy’s Play Scene of the United States ($12.95). She’s becoming curious about where friends and family live, and this reusable sticker set makes learning about the 50 states fun.
Pirate Play Scene
Cute Potato #2 is wild about pirates, so we found a similar Mudpuppy Mini Play Scene ($7.95) featuring a pirate ship. It’s the perfect size for him to place in his lap, and with over 40 stickers to choose from, we’re confident this set will keep him busy for at least an hour. Fingers-crossed, matey.
The shop also offers wooden play sets from Plan Toys, Alex craft kits, magnetic puzzles and more creative toys for fun on the road. Can’t get to Bethel? Check out the Kids Travel Happy web site, which gives parents great ideas for most any trip.
Kids Travel Happy, 196 Walkers Mills Road, Bethel
Directions
Open Wed.-Sat.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. (W, Th)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (F, Sat)
207.357.1442
Posted in Shopping | Tagged Alex craft kits, Bethel Maine shops, kids and Bethel Maine, Kids Travel Happy, magnetic puzzles, Mudpuppy play scene, peaceful trips with kids, Plan Toys, toys for traveling, unplugged toys | Leave a Comment »
January 22, 2010 by jenniferhazard
The Bethel Inn at the town common.
Team Cute Potato is hitting the road Saturday to check out the Bethel Winter Festival. We’re excited to watch sculptor Ed Jarrett create a sculpture playground out of snow. Who wouldn’t? He’s the Guinness World Record holder for the Tallest Sandcastle. And if he can build a sandcastle that’s over 31-feet tall, we’re betting this playground will be something to behold.
Ed Jarrett's world record holding sandcastle.
If we can pull the kids away from the playground, we also want to explore the festival’s giant snow maze. The maze is made up of 3,000 feet of wall measuring 4-feet high all around—just the right height for pint size explorers. Engineer Jim Sysko, who created the world’s largest snowman (1999) and the world’s largest snow woman (2008) in Bethel, is responsible for the maze’s design.
Jim Sysko's giant snow woman towers over Bethel.
Apparently, the town of Bethel likes to do everything in a big way. But in case your family is in need of some down time, try the horse drawn sleigh rides at the Bethel Inn. We can’t imagine a better or bigger way to enjoy the beauty of a Maine winter.
Bethel Winterfest
Saturday, 1/23- Sunday, 1/31
http://www.bethelwinterfest.com/index.html
Posted in Activities, On the Road | Tagged Bethel Inn, bethel winter festival, ed jarrett, guinness world record holder tallest sandcastle, horse drawn sleigh rides Maine, jim sysko, world's largest snow woman, world's largest snowman | Leave a Comment »
January 16, 2010 by jenniferhazard
We don’t shop at the Portland Whole Foods (a.k.a. to the free world as the Whole Paycheck) as often as we’d like. But when we do visit the all too tempting store, it feels like an event—a nice break in our Groundhog Day like shopping routine.
So you can imagine how thrilled we were when the Whole Foods Café brought back its Sunday Jazz Brunch. Not long ago, we carried CP #1 and CP #2’s craft supplies to the café, found ourselves a generously-sized table, listened to live music and sipped coffee. Heaven.
The café is open and brightly lit, making the Maine winter feel a bit sunnier. And the menu, while standard fare, is affordable. The four of us had brunch for less than $30. Dad Potato stretched our Whole Dollar by purchasing a few items in-store and delivering them to our table. The meal included fruit, yogurt, bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, an egg sandwich, coffee, soymilk and hot cocoa for the kiddos. Hey, we like to eat.
By the time brunch was over, CP #1 and #2 were ready to cut a rug. A few other potatoes joined our duo, and even with all the foot traffic at the café, no one seemed to mind the impromptu dance party.
At the Whole Foods Sunday Brunch, kids can be kids and parents can feel like adults. A visit is well worth the price.
Whole Foods Jazz Brunch
Whole Foods Cafe
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
2 Somerset Street
Portland
207.774.7711
PS: Can’t get enough of the Whole Foods Café? Visit Tuesdays from 11 a.m. -
7 p.m. and kids under 10 eat free. Don’t miss the super thick milkshakes featuring ice cream from Smiling Hill Farms in Westbrook. Yum!
Posted in Restaurants | Tagged grocery shopping, kid-friendly places in Maine, kid-friendly restaurants in Maine, kids eat free tuesdays Whole Foods Cafe, maine, Portland, smiling hill farms westbrook maine, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Whole Foods, Whole Foods Cafe, Whole Paycheck | Leave a Comment »
January 4, 2010 by jenniferhazard
A colorful apron from Leah Durgin
Happy New Year to our friends and readers—we’ve missed you. Like so many families, we’re trying to get back to our regular routine after a busy holiday, while mentally preparing for the long winter ahead.
When it’s too chilly to play outside, one of our favorite housebound activities is to cook or bake something new. That’s why we love these child-size aprons from Quilt and Quest in Sabattus. Grandma Potato gave them as Christmas gifts, and CP #1 and #2 couldn’t wait to give them a test run. Apron designer Leah Durgin includes seven easy recipes for little ones to try. We didn’t even have to crack open a cookbook. Our personal favorite? No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
Durgin’s aprons are only $10 each, and the pockets are easy to fill with cooking accessories (Grandma Potato included a wire whisk, wooden spoon and spatula). Visit the Quilt and Quest site and you’ll also find art and gardening aprons in fun, vivid prints.
Now all we need are coordinating chef’s hats….
Posted in Shopping | Tagged cooking with kids, fun activities with kids, kids' aprons, leah durgin, winter cooking with kids | Leave a Comment »
December 23, 2009 by jenniferhazard
We are constantly amazed by Cute Potato #1’s wonderful nursery school, and the people who are involved in making the classroom a great place to be each week. During the class holiday party, one of the parents shared a fun craft project, which we loved: the paper bag Santa puppet.
Behold, our very own St. Nick
While we try to be crafty at our house, making something great is always a challenge. Thankfully, the paper bag Santa is surprisingly easy. Here’s everything you need to get started (all available at your local craft store):
• Standard-size paper lunch bag
• One set of googly eyes
• Large white pompom
• Small pink pompom
• One square white felt
• One square black felt
• One sheet red construction paper
• Silver glitter
• Tempera paint
• Elmer’s glue
• Scissors
Paint the open-end/short side of a paper lunch bag, as well as Santa’s face (the rectangular base of the bag) in desired colors, and allow to dry.
When the paint has dried, measure the width of the bag, and cut out a triangular hat with red construction paper using the base measurement. Santa’s white felt hat trim should be cut to the same width, too.
Cut out two construction paper rectangles for arms and white felt for the trim, using desired length and width. Use black felt to draw and cut out Santa’s mittens.
Use the bag’s width measurement to create and cut out Santa’s beard using white felt. Draw a skinny, figure eight on the white felt for Santa’s mustache, and cut that piece out, too.
Using the same width measurement as the hat, draw and cut out Santa’s belt using black felt. You can create a belt buckle using silver glitter.
Glue the white pompom and trim to the triangular hat. Then glue the hat to Santa’s head. Glue on the googly eyes, pink pompom and mustache to his face. Gently lift the base of the bag and glue on Santa’s beard.
Next, glue Santa’s fur trim and mittens to construction paper arms and glue them to the side creases of the bag.
Finally, glue on Santa’s belt. And voila— your very own holiday puppet!
PS: We’re excited to try our own versions of this puppet… an elf, a reindeer and Mrs. Claus, too.
Posted in Craft Projects | Tagged easy holiday crafts, paper bag Santa puppet, quick and easy holiday crafts with kids | Leave a Comment »
December 11, 2009 by jenniferhazard
CP #1 and Santa on the Candy Cane Train in Bath
Last year, Grandma Cute Potato treated us all to the Candy Cane Train in Bath. And for just $16 per person, it was money well spent. The train was beautifully decorated for Christmas, and we couldn’t say more about the wonderful staff. Santa and his elves were on board to visit with all of the children. Hot cocoa and cookies were distributed to all passengers. And the kids were treated to holiday stories and songs. When a whole train of strangers erupts into a chorus of Jingle Bells, you can bet everyone is having a great time.
The Candy Cane train runs this weekend only, so grab tickets while you still can. It’s a family activity you can feel great about, as the proceeds go to Tri-County Literacy in Bath, a volunteer-based group that offers writing and reading programs in Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Cumberland counties.
Candy Cane Train
December 12 and 13
Bath Train Station
http://www.candycanetrain.com/
Check web site for ticket prices and times
Posted in Activities | Tagged bath, bath train station, candy cane train, christmas activities for kids in maine, holiday activities with kids in maine, maine, tri-county literacy | Leave a Comment »
December 11, 2009 by jenniferhazard
While shopping last weekend’s holiday fairs, we discovered these lovely sugar cookies from Cookies by Juju. Yarmouth-based baker Julie Logan’s cookies are almost too pretty to eat. We chose the snowflake (pictured above) and an adorable Santa hat for the Cute Potatoes’ stockings. Julie assures us that the cookies freeze well, if you want to save them for gifts or holiday gatherings.
Best of all, Logan packages her creations by the dozen in a pink box, which is almost as memorable as the cookies themselves.
Cookies by Juju
Finely Iced Sugar Cookies
www.cookiesbyjuju.com
846-5348
Posted in Food | Tagged cookies by juju, finely iced sugar cookies, julie logan, maine, sugar cookies for the holidays, yarmouth | Leave a Comment »
December 4, 2009 by jenniferhazard
Look who's coming to breakfast...
No, not Clarence Clemens, famous E. Street Band saxophonist. The other big man… Santa Claus himself. When the Cute Potatoes’ mama was a little girl growing up in N.J., it was a family tradition to have breakfast with Santa. It was a fun, family outing made even better by good food and the appearance of the man behind the beard. Okay, enough of that.
Fortunately, there are several towns in Maine where Santa plans on enjoying breakfast this year. And each location has its own unique spin on the event—kids can write letters to Santa, have their photo taken with him, visit with Mrs. Claus and the elves, create fun holiday crafts, sing, listen to holiday stories or pig out on bake sale food. And what, we ask you, could be better than that?
Saturday, December 5:
Maniax Café
8 Market Place Drive, York
8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Free
Juice, muffins and more
Added info.
Wilhelm Reich Museum
Dodge Pond Road
Rangeley
8 a.m.-11 a.m.
$5.00 per person
Blueberry, M&M and chocolate chip and plain pancakes, sausag
Added info.
Crescent Park Elementary School
Crescent Lane
Bethel
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Free
Added info.
Hamden Academy
One Main Road North
Hamden
8 a.m.-10 a.m.
$3.00 per person
Added info.
Molly Ockett School
25 Molly Ockett Drive
Fryeburg
8 a.m.-10 p.m.
$4.00 per person
Pancakes, sausage
Added info.
Sunday, December 6:
Greely Middle School
351 Tuttle Road
Cumberland
7 a.m.-10 a.m.
Kids: $3.00
Adults: $10.00
All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, December 12:
(not quite breakfast, but….)
Farmers Fare
Route 90 and Cross Street
Rockport
Noon- 3:00 p.m.
Free
Cookies and cider
Bring your own camera
Sunday, December 13:
Nonantum Resort
95 Ocean Avenue
Kennebunkport
8 a.m.-noon
Kids: $10.00
Adults: 20.00
Holiday brunch
Posted in Activities, Food | Tagged bethel, breakfast with santa in maine, Christmas in Maine, Christmas Prelude, crescent park elementary school, Cumberland, farmers fare, Fryeburg, Greely Middle School, hamden, hamden academy, holiday events in Maine, holiday traditions with kids, kennebunkport, maniax cafe, ME, Molly Ockett School, Nonantum Resort, pancake breakfasts in Maine, rangeley, rockport, wilhelm reich museum, york | 1 Comment »
December 2, 2009 by jenniferhazard
Congratulations to Sue Sass, the winner of our Frugal Find contest! Sue will be receiving $10 towards her favorite thrift store in Maine.
We were thrilled by the response to our contest, and even more excited by all of the great suggestions. Sue discovered a toddler-sized, L.L.Bean winter coat at Good Will in Falmouth for just $4.99. Winter coats like this one often sell for at least $50. Way to go Sue!
Cute Potato also learned that the Freeport Community Center Thrift Shop offers 2-1 sales on clothing most every Wednesday. And best of all, kids’ clothing is priced at $1.00-$2.00. All of the proceeds go to Freeport Community Services, which offers support to local people in need.
Other favorites included the popular Lots for Tots in Falmouth and Scarborough, which we featured in our last post, Bull Moose Music for used video games and movies, The Kids Room in Brunswick and Kids Unlimited in Portland.
Thanks to everyone for your ideas, and happy shopping!
Good Will: locations throughout Maine. Check site to search by zip code. http://www.goodwillnne.org/
Freeport Community Thrift Shop, 53 Depot Street, Freeport,
869-1007
Bull Moose Music: locations throughout Maine. Check site for details. http://www.bullmoose.com
Kids Unlimited, 352 Warren Avenue, Portland, 878-5028
The Kids Room, 149 Maine Street, Brunswick, 729-5437
Posted in Shopping | Tagged brunswick, Bull Moose Music, cute potato frugal find contest, falmouth, Freeport Community Center Thrift Shop, Freeport Community Services, Good Will, Kids Unlimited Portland, L.L.Bean, Lots for Tots, maine, resale and thrift stores for kids in Maine, Scarborough, The Kids Room | Leave a Comment »
November 30, 2009 by jenniferhazard
Thanks to all of our readers for sharing their best bargains on kids’ toys and clothing. Our winner will be announced on Wednesday, along with a list of our favorite entries.
In the mean time, we spotted this Where the Wild Things Are 36-piece floor puzzle by Mudpuppy for $3.99 at Lots for Tots in Falmouth. The same puzzle retails for $10.00 online. Later that day, we were thrilled to find more Mudpuppy puzzles at the HomeGoods store in South Portland, also for $3.99.
We love these mini puzzles because they feature some of our favorite story book characters, like Lois Lenski’s Cowboy Small and David McKee’s Elmer. Plus the cute packaging includes a carry handle, making the puzzle a perfect holiday gift for toddlers.
Lots for Tots, 240 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth, 347-8601
HomeGoods locations in South Portland, Bangor and Rockland:
http://www.homegoods.com
Posted in Shopping | Tagged Cowboy Small, David McKee, Elmer, falmouth, frugal finds in Maine, gift ideas for toddlers, HomeGoods, kids toy bargains in Maine, Lois Lenski, Lots for Tots, maine, mudpuppy 36-piece mini cube puzzle, Mudpuppy puzzles, South Portland, the cute potato frugal find, Where the Wild Things Are | Leave a Comment »
