Premier Toy Store and Hobby Shop to Join Forces

A little bird in a local "Tree" in town said that there are some exciting changes at Ann Arbor's premier toy store (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor).  Seems that starting today the store is being modified to accommodate Rider Hobby into the sales space, joining forces and expanding toy, game and hobby sales to cover kids ages birth to 99999999!

Shhh, don't say much, but if you peek into the window at this "Tree" I am sure you will see some significant changes, especially if you stop in early next week when they re-open!

Seems like a good bet to me!

Family Hayride & Fall Decorations Deal

Find family fun and great photo ops at Three Cedars Farm - Get
 the $10 Groupon for a family hayride and decorations too!

It's beginning to feel like autumn anjd I'm getting in the mood for apple cider and a hayride! I suyppose that's why today's Groupon at Three Cedars Farm (7897 6 Mile Rd., Northville) sounded like an awesome deal.

For only $10 a family will get:

•  One corn stalk ($5 value)
• A half bale of hay ($4 value)
• One mum plant ($6 value)
• One small pumpkin ($2 value)
• A family hayride ($5 value). Hayrides have no person limit, as long as each rider is a member of the participating family.

With a vibrant red barn and rippling farmland as its backdrop, Three Cedars Farms lures pumpkin pickers of all ages with an eclectic stock of autumn trimmings and full-family hayrides. Decoration packages allow fall enthusiasts to harvest seasonal ornaments from the farm's country store, including an ornamental cornstalk and a half-bale of hay in which to hide proverbial needles, threads, and half-finished quilts. Blossoming mum plants can enliven terraces with the bright shades of fall, and small pumpkins add quirky splashes to stoops with their variegated shapes, tones, and raspy comments in the voice of Ernest Borgnine. After picking out decorations, families can clamber aboard a wagon-toting tractor for a scenic hayride past the property's twisting corn maze and eye-pleasing family photo ready scenery.

Just in Time for Back-to-School: Stick2It™ Decals and Skins by American Greetings

Just in time for the back-to-school shopping season, American Greetings has introduced a new line of decals and skins for cell phones, laptops, home, apartment, and dorm room walls, cars and anywhere consumers want to add their own personal style. The fun new collection, called Stick2It, leverages the greeting card company’s expertise in developing clever humor and unique art to create a line that is sure to catch many an eye.

There are 36 different designs in the Stick2It collection featuring a mix of humorous, clever, and trendy styles. Designs include everything from faux security camera decals that can adorn a dorm room and the offbeat fun of a paparazzi photo decal for the bathroom to a boom box laptop skin and the nostalgia of an old-school video game controller skin for a cell phone.

Stick2It decals and skins are
fun, funky and easy to use!

I was given several Stick2It decal samples to pre-view and review for my audience; I have been wanting to try a laptop skin for some time and was given the Flower Power laptop skin, a fun retro floral design. It was more substantial and thicker than I expected, and exceptionally easy to apply, adjust and re-adjust. The best part is, it hasn't lifted at the corners or along the edges of my laptop. It was a bit of a challenge to cut to the specifications of my laptop though, I would have preferred straighter edges too; That's why I highly recommend using a straight edge and cutter on a cutting board - that might be the perfectionist in me talking though!
I also tried out the Stick2it memo board refrigerator decal. Thought not as thick and seemingly "sticker", the application went on nicely. Just be sure to apply with a straigh edge for the smoothest application. You might want to have a wipe off pen at the ready too, since one does not come in the box!

Both products I have tried thus far have exceeded my expectations! For more information on Stick2It, including where to find the products, visit the official product page at www.americangreetings.com/Stick2it. In the Ann Arbor area though, Stick2It products can currently be found at the following locations:

• K Mart (2095 Rawsonville Rd., Beleville)
• Meijer (9701 Belleville Rd., Belleville)
• CVS (413 E. Michigan Ave., Saline)

Stay tuned for more on American Greetings Stick2It products, and a chance to win your own prize pack of wall deals and laptop skins for home, dorm, or locker use!

The Rodeo is Riding Into Town This Weekend

Yee-Haw. Pull on your boots and denim and head to the Super Kicker Rodeo at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds (5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.) in Lodi Township this weekend. The rodeo will feature bull, barrel and bronco riding as well as family fun like inflatable bounce houses, special games for kids 50 pounds and less (listen for the announcer to call for the kids) and even a mechanical bull for the adventurous.
Tickets are 10 for adults, $5 for children age 5-12. Kids age 1-5 get free admission. The fun begins on
Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at LaFontaine Dodge in Saline, Local Tractor Supply in Dundee, Lakeside Saddlery in Whitmore Lake and the Lodi Food Mart in Saline while also being available at the door.

Weekend Events: Heritage Festival, Free Movies and

This weekend has plenty happening from festivals, movies in the park and other fun family activities. You'll surely find something inexpensive (or free) to do! We'll be hanging out at the Heritage Festival but might also head over to Saline's ice cream social Sunday for a little more history for the weekend!
Friday, August 19:

The Ypsilanti Heritage Festival happens all weekend throughout Depot Town, on Frog Island Park and Riverside Park. The line-up for families includes a free kids play area (geared for those under 6), face painting, and plenty of entertainment. Times for the festival are Friday noon-8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Check out a Waterloo Area Farm Museum (2611 Plymouth Rd., Grass Lake) Weekend Tour running throughout the weekend 1:00-5:00 p.m. Museum tour fees are $5 for adults and $2 for children aged 5-12. Guided tours of the ten-room farmhouse, log cabin, barns, blacksmith and woodworking workshop, bake house, ice house, milk cellar, and windmill. 

In the evening, stop by the Liberty School Gym (7265 Saline Ann Arbor Rd., Saline) for free movies and fun. Starting at 6:30, families can find fun free activities from the portable Gym America gym, a balloon animal artist, an inflatable obstacle course and plenty of yummy concession stand food. Then starting at 8:00 p.m., settle the family in to watch Disney's Tangled. Call the Saline Parks & Recreation at 429-3502 with any questions.

Saturday, August 20:

Everyone loves a parade! So be sure to stop downtown Ypsilanti for the Heritage Festival parade. It starts at 10:00 a.m. at Ballard Street and Michigan Avenue and travel east on Michigan Avenue through downtown Ypsilanti, North on Huron Street to Cross Street and west on Cross Street where the parade disbands at Washington Street. Families will enjoy the bands, floats, marching units, neighborhood groups, school organizations and much, much more! (My daughter, a new Daisy Scout and I will be marching - We'll wave!)

Little Ones can get creative at Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) at 10:30 a.m. Toddlers up to 2 years old can, with an adult, can find something fun to do during this free event.

Join Legacy Land Conservancy at 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in celebrating protected lands and local foods during the Land Conservancy’s Fall Bus Tour (let's hope were the first stop, since "fall" isn't for at least another month!). Hop on our chartered coach, starting at REI (970 W. Eisenhower Pky., Ann Arbor), and enjoy the scenic drive,while visiting some of our most beautiful protected lands. Space is limited and registration is required, call 734-302-5263 or email susancooley@legacylandconservancy.org. The cost is $15 for non-members.
At 1:00 p.m. check out a free movies at the Michigan Theatre (603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor) where they are screening the 2011 Young Filmmakers’ Camp participants movies! The middle school projects will screen from 1:0-1:45 p.m. with the high school projects immediately following at 2:00-2:45 p.m. The admission is free so why not support the filmmakers of tomorrow!

Sunday, August 21:
At noon, at 100 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, through a donation from the Huron Valley Ambulance, will be giving away free children’s bicycle helmets at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Health Tent. Proper fitting of helmets by Club volunteers will also be provided to the youth!

If your family has a talented youth or teen (ages 2-14) sign them up to participate in the Children's Talent Contest at the Frog Island Amphitheater. Kids can use an original talent (no lip sync performances) to show off for cash prizes! The show starts at 2:00 p.m. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. on site.

If you are stopping by the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market, you will have a special treat at 1:00 p.m. as Joe Reilly performs at Kerrytown Market & Shops (407 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor). Families will find fun with environmental stewardship with creative lyrics and catchy melodies.

Grab a spoon and dig in as the Ann Arbor Art Center has a cute low-cost family event where everyone creates an individual ice cream bowl then is treated to an ice cream sundea. Sundae at the Ann Arbor Art Center sure sounds sweet! Families can sign up for three separate time slots for the event, 1:00-2:00 p.m., 2:00-3:00 p.m., or 3:00-4:00 p.m.

End the weekend with a sweet note with the old-fashion ice cream Social in Saline. From 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Weber-Blaess One-Room Schoolhouse (520 Woodland Dr. Saline) find fun activities for the kids including a reenactment of a school day, traditional recess games, sing-alongs, musical groups, antique cars, animals, a bucket brigade by the Saline Fire Department. This is a semi-free event, however it is a fundraiser for the Weber Blaess building so please donate generously!