$18 Sears Portrait Studio Deal

Families on a budget can easily get updated photos of their kids even if they are on a budget with this great Sears Portrait Studio discount. Today through tomorrow, families can buy a studio portrait session for only $18 - that's an 81% discount off the normal $95 cost! The session includes your child's sitting fee, one free enhancement (The portrait studios adding borders, or changing the photos to sepia tones, black & white or adding a vignette). Families also get the following sizes of a single image: 1 - 10x13, 1 - 8x10, 2 - 5x7's, 4 - 3.5x5's and 16 wallet sized photos. The photo deal is available at the Sears Portrait Studio locations in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Monroe, Novi, and Westland and is good through December 1, 2011.

Have a baby turning 1? Don't typically like your child's school pictures? Have a momentous occasion like a family reunion, visiting relatives or want to take a special family photo for your end of the year holiday letter? Then this deal is a GREAT option!  I have used the photography studio before and have had several friends take their children to Sears for their photos, and have been happy with the results. Just be sure to get your deal before tomorrow.

Destination Toledo: Don't Drive By, Stop and Visit

I'll admit I've never thought of Toledo as a place to visit. It's always been somewhere driven by on I-75 or the place to visit the Toledo Zoo. For the past two days however I have gotten to explore the area a bit as we were invited by the Greater Toledo Convention & Vistors Bureau to "Do Toledo". The media tour highlighted many great places for families, couples and general tourists; I'm now thinking that Toledo is less of a drive through and more of a travel destination that I can't wait to bring my family back to!

Gotta see the famous
buns at Tony Packo's!

Since Toledo is less than an hour south of Ann Arbor, it makes a perfect get-away for the day, a weekend or an entire week. So I'll be creating a series of posts about the places we visited, the family friendly aspects and budget-wise options, even outlining a suggested itinerary or two for a three-day stop over. I did want to quickly mention and thank the many great places visited though.

The dining options in Toledo are varied and many. While there we ate dinner at the famous Tony Packo's, had another very filling dinner at The Real Seafood Company and also an amazing New Orleans style breakfast at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg. It's a good thing we spent most of our time walking between destinations because Toledo kept us well-fed!



It was a perfect night spent with the Mudhen's, we even
got to see a Detroit favorite win the game!



I wish I had my pedometer on me, because we hoofed it a lot, hitting a winning game at the Toledo Mudhen's, a fun morning at the Imagination Station, and the Toledo Museum of Art followed by a brief visit and lunch at the Toledo Zoo where we saw baby Lucas the elephant. The running didn't stop there though, as we were treated to a private tour of the beautiful Toledo Botanical Gardens and a favorite of mine the Glass Pavillion. We also got to visit the Holy Rosary Cathedral for a private tour. The beauty and splendor of the cathedral were breathtaking - Who knew that there is a designed Toledo church tour of the cities many beautiful churches!

Glassblowing at the Glass Pavillion is perfect for the entire family,
they even have teen events so that everyone in the family
can find something to do!

And of course what's a visit without shopping? It's easy to do a little gift-shopping when visiting the Libbey Glass Factory and various souvenir shops along the way. In my case I suppose it was a lot of shopping.

I can't wait to share more details on why Toledo is perfect for Ann Arbor families, so stay tuned Ann Arbor Mom readers for some great ideas. THANK YOU Toledo for sharing the beauty, history and splendor of your magnificent river city, and thank you to the Park Inn at the Radisson for the beautiful view of the river and the comfy bed!

Events for Teens: Teen Graffiti Art Exhibit

Parents are always asking me to post more events for teens on the blog. Starting this week through August 30, your teen can check out the 9th annual Teen Graffiti Contest at the Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor). the event, held during Ann Arbor's summer Art Fairs allows teens to embrace their creative side as they gather in the staff parking lot of the Downtown AADL to try their hand at the art of graffiti. Each young artist receives a four-by-four foot board and a variety of colors of spray paint. The end result of the contest is a display of a multitude of styles and levels of talent for the community to enjoy

Be sure to stop by any time between now and August 30 to view these fantastic displays of art. I'm certain your teen will not be disappointed!

$1 Movies at the Michigan Theatre

Hey mom's and dad's, do you know that you can take the kids to the movies for only $1 at the Michigan Theatre (124 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson)? That is a great discount for some fun summer movies! Starting this week and every week through August, kids can see the discounted movies several times throughout the week. Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. with the movie beginning at 2:00 p.m. except Wednesdays, when the show starts at 5:00 p.m.

Call the events hotline (517) 783-0811 or visit  the Michigan Theatre website for more information.

The movie line-up for the summer:

July 26 - 29: Gnomeo & Juliet
August 2 - 5: Rio
August 9 - 12: Hop
August 16 - 19: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules
August 23 - 26: Kids Choice

Detroit Science Center Discount: $10 Tickets 7/22-24

Hey mom and dad, stay cool and have fun this weekend at the Detroit Science Center with discounted admission for the whole family July 22-24, 2011. Enjoy hundreds of hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows, science demonstrations and a IMAX Theatre film for only $10 per person!

For more information on the Detroit Science Center Discount and exhibits, be sure to visit the Detroit Science Center website.