2010 September

Free and Frugal fun in Grand Rapids This Week

September 30, 2010 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Have you been to ArtPrize yet? I am realizing it is going to take more than one or two trips to even make a dent. I am also completely enjoying listening to the conversation among Art Professionals about whether or not normal, un-art educated “I know what I like when I see it” types should be allowed to vote or not.

The answer to this debate is: Of course they should. People vote for political candidates based on 60 second ads without any real knowledge of the issues all the time. I have to believe that has a far greater impact than who wins ArtPrize. Sorry, Art Professionals. It’s the American way.

So in addition to another ArtPrize outing (need a listing of the kid-friendly events?) you’ll want to squeeze in a few more fun activities this week. There is a Race for Healthy Kids in Rockford, which is good ‘training’ for the Kids Marathon in a few weeks!

You might also want to check out the Zeeland Pumpkin Fest, the Red Flannel Festival, Pulaksi Days, and Safety Days at the Alpine Home Depot. Get the details (and even MORE fun ideas) from BigBinder’s Calendar. Enjoy the week!

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Things I Love Thursday – HOCKEY!!

September 30, 2010 By Big Binder 2 Comments

My family’s love for the Grand Rapids Griffins is well documented on BigBinder. So is our love for Kids Food Basket. And now, my friends – it all comes together. Tweets were tweeted. Introductions were made. Schedules were coordinated. Dollar beer and dollar dogs were confirmed.

The result is a joint effort between BigBinder and the Grand Rapids Griffins, benefiting Kids’ Food Basket and the best readers in the world (that would be you guys!).

Get an exclusive online discount for the October 22 Griffins Game. Through this special offer, friends and family of Big Binder can enjoy lower level faceoff seats for only $14 per ticket (reg. $17), or upper level seats for just $10 per ticket (reg. $13). In addition, the Griffins will donate $2 for every ticket sold through this link to Kids’ Food Basket!

Purchasing your tickets (and making a difference) is easy!

1.       Log on to www.griffinshockey.com/promocode
2.       Enter promo code: BIGBINDER
3.       Select your seats and make your purchase

Game time is 7:00 PM. Come and watch the Griffins defeat the Milwaukee Admirals, and help Kids Food Basket defeat childhood hunger in Grand Rapids!

This post is linked up to “Things I Love Thursday” at The Diaper Diaries.

Have you seen BigBinder’s “Resource Guide for Grand Rapids Parents” yet? Three years in the making, this guide pulls together great things we’ve talked about over the years. Also check out “Kids’ Guide to ArtPrize” for great ways to get around this wonderful event… with kids.

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Resource Guide For Grand Rapids Parents

September 27, 2010 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

The other day, it occurred to me that in BigBinder’s three years of existence I have covered some resources that might be worth repeating. I thought that maybe I could spend the next few weeks being really lazy. Change a few words around here and there, and it’s like turning in a paper I wrote a few years ago for a class I’m taking now.

Then I got bored with the idea of just trying to sneak old posts by passing as new ones, and instead spent an evening pawing through three years of BigBinder (it’s a wonder I have anything left to talk about) and looking for things that just might help you guys out.

If you look up at the top of the page, the “Resource Guide for Grand Rapids Parents” page is new. And it’s for you. I’ll be adding more as I come across or remember moments of resourceful brilliance from the past three years. Enjoy it!

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Recipe Roundtable – Sherried Beef

September 27, 2010 By Big Binder 3 Comments

First I’m happy to announce the winner of “Simply Suppers” is Domestic Dame with her Home Made Pita Bread. There were only two entries, so the odds were pretty good.

My recipe this week is Sherried Beef. It is a family favorite, and it’s a family recipe handed straight down from my Grandma. My husband loves it, and I got requests for the recipe from my meal exchange club so it’s a good one!

Sherried Beef

3 lbs stewing beef cut in 1 in cubes (do not brown)
Put in a deep casserole & combine w/
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup
3/4 C sherry or any wine

Cover casserole. Bake at 325 for 3 hours. Serve over noodles.

** I make it in a crock pot too; same recipe but cook for 6 hours instead.

This weekly feature is co-hosted by BigBinder and Sarah’s Deals. Each blog will host it’s own recipe, but share a common linky. The co-hostesses links will appear at the top of the list and you are welcome to join in. Please link to your ACTUAL POST and not just your home page so people can find it easier. Also please put the recipe title in parentheses to help out the other readers. Old recipe posts are fine. While we appreciate a link back or the addition of the button above, it is NOT required. Thank you for participating!

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Fun, Free and Frugal Things To Do With Kids in Grand Rapids

September 23, 2010 By Big Binder 2 Comments

Photo Credit: GR Now

It might look like I haven’t been busy with bloggy business this week, but I’ve been working hard! I haven’t posted on BigBinder since Sunday (gasp!) and if you haven’t checked that post out, go do it now ’cause I’m doing a cookbook giveaway.

Our beloved River Clean Up was rained out Saturday, but it has been rescheduled for October 9.

We went apple picking at Schwalliers on Sunday. It was a perfect day for it – cool and sunny. There is a new maze and it’s fun – but long. I shot a little video of our day for my Michigan Mom show on MomTV.com – check it out!

Maybelle and I headed down to Ritz Koney and wrote an article for the Rapidian, which is part of an “Eat Drink ArtPrize 2010” feature you’ll want to take a look at before you go. Team it up with my Kids’ Guide to ArtPrize and you’re in great shape. My personal “must see” this year? The Steam Pig.

I’ve updated the Calendar with all that’s good this week. I am really celebrating what an awesome place Grand Rapids is. I mean, seriously. Just look at all there is to do – for free or very little cost. It’s amazing.

This allows us to save our money for something else. Like eating at a fantastic restaurant, or buying great locally made food. Or beer. Or ArtPrize wristbands. Whatever you do, enjoy your week!

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Recipe Roundtable

September 19, 2010 By Big Binder 2 Comments

I was sent a copy of Simply Suppers – Comfort Food You Can Get On The Table In No Time Flat by Jennifer Chandler to review, and completely enjoyed it! There are recipes for very fancy-sounding dishes (the kind I like to serve) that are not that difficult to prepare. Think simple, week-night suppers that do not involve 90-million variations of ground beef and pasta.

There is a picture for each recipe, and it’s noted if the dish is freezable so you can double it and enjoy an even easier dinner another day. There are great ‘basic recipes’ for things like chicken stock, pizza dough, and pie crust.

I decided to make one of the recipes for this week’s Recipe Roundtable. I got shrimp on sale last week, so we’re going with Chicken, Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya for dinner tonight. Here’s the recipe from Jennifer Chandler’s website, and it’s also in the book.

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound Andouille sausage, diced

1 large yellow onion, finely diced

1 green bell pepper, finely diced

2 ribs of celery, finely diced

6 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

3 bay leaves

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

4 cups chicken stock

3 cups white rice

¼ cup chopped parsley

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium–high heat, warm the oil until a few droplets of water sizzle in the pot. Sauté the chicken, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and then, in the same pot, sauté the sausage until browned. Transfer the sausage to the plate with the chicken. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of fat from the pot.

To the pot, add the onion, bell pepper and celery and sauté until soft, about 10 minutes. (Stir often so that everything cooks evenly.) Add the garlic, oregano, thyme and bay leaves and sauté until the mixture is cooked down, about 5 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

While the vegetable mixture is cooking, combine the tomato sauce and chicken stock in a separate pot and bring to a simmer.

Add the rice to the vegetable mixture and sauté for about 3 minutes. Return the meats to the pot and stir to combine. Continuously stirring to combine, slowly pour the tomato and stock mixture into the jambalaya. Stir in the chopped parsley.

Bring the jambalaya to a boil, cover and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off the heat and fold in the shrimp. Let everything continue to cook in the hot covered pot for an additional 10 minutes. Serve warm.

*Cooking Tip: Andouille sausage is a smoked, spicy pork sausage that is popular in Cajun recipes such as gumbo and jambalaya. If you can’t easily find it in you local grocery, Chorizo is an acceptable substitute. Serves 6-8.

Would you like a copy of your very own? Good! Because I’m giving one away this week. All you have to do is link up to Recipe Roundtable. That’s it! If you are not a blogger, or don’t have a recipe to link up just leave your favorite weeknight dinner recipe in a comment. The winner will be drawn next Sunday and announced in the next Recipe Roundtable, so you have all week to enter. You may enter more than once, but each entry needs to be a different recipe. I’ll need your email to contact you for shipping information. Good luck!

This weekly feature is co-hosted by BigBinder and Sarah’s Deals. Linking or commenting at either blog will count as an entry into the contest. Each blog will host it’s own recipe, but share a common linky. The co-hostesses links will appear at the top of the list and you are welcome to join in. Please link to your ACTUAL POST and not just your home page so people can find it easier. Also please put the recipe title in parentheses to help out the other readers. Old recipe posts are fine. While we appreciate a link back or the addition of the button above, it is NOT required. Thank you for participating!

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Winner!

September 19, 2010 By Big Binder 1 Comment

I’m happy to announce the winner of the Box Tops Prize Pack from “Top Ten Ways To Support Your Kids’ School”. I used Random.org, and all of this fun stuff:

goes to Tsoniki Crazy Bull! I’m sending you an email to get your information. Enjoy your prize!

Now the rest of you – don’t be sad because guess what? I have another giveaway for you! Come back later today for Recipe Roundtable

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Kids’ Guide To ArtPrize

September 17, 2010 By Big Binder 9 Comments

Grand Rapids is an awesome place to grow up. Now. It used to be boring, or so I’ve been told.

I grew up in Grand Ledge and spent my entire childhood wondering why my parents insisted on raising me in a constant state of geographically inflicted ennui (I learned that word in 8th grade. It was perfect timing.) that could have been completely avoided had we stayed in Detroit, where I was born. We also would have avoided good schools, a lack of traffic, as well as a whole lot of bodily and property safety; but those were not my concern. I wanted Eastern Market, the Ren Cen, the Riverfront, big malls, and Boblo Island.

A few weeks ago my kids and I were walking around downtown (Grand Rapids, not Detroit) and A.P. said, “We’re lucky to have so much big art and sculptures here, Mom”. It’s working. My kids dig where they live. Events like ArtPrize seal the deal for them. The Table and Chairs now reside at the Kroc Center, just a few blocks from our house and we pay visits to Nessie frequently.

I want my kids – and your kids – to get all they can out of ArtPrize this year, so I put together this Kids’ Guide to ArtPrize. Like all truly great productions, it’s a community effort so please leave comments here, on Facebook, or reach out with Twitter or email (bigbinderblog at gmail dot com) with anything you think other BigBinder readers should know about kids and ArtPrize. I’ll add your info and leave this up as a page on top of BigBinder for easy reference.

First, raise your hands if your kids like geocaching. Now keep them in the air if you don’t mind them playing with your phone. Anyone with their hands still up? OK this is for you. Download an app from SVCNCR (I… have no idea, really what that stands for) so you can play their scavenger hunt. Prizes are awesome, and include some kid-friendly fun.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum is free during ArtPrize!! Kids will dig the family programs on Saturday “All Day With The Arts“. Other programs to be held Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26 and Saturday and Sunday October 2 and 3 will be “Mysterious Masks”, September 27 through October 1 there will be a “Seeing Through Drawings” program, and October 4 through October 8 join the GRAM for “Fun With Felt”.
We enjoy a pretty traffic-free life here in Grand Rapids, but big events like ArtPrize change that. Time to Ride the Rapid. Trust me; your kids will love, love, LOVE it. You can get a wrist band for $5 that allows you to ride any bus, any time, during the entire duration fo ArtPrize. There is also an ArtPrize shuttle you can hop on for free with the wristband. Sweet. Wristbands can be purchased at all ArtPrize exhibition centers, The Hub (The Old Federal Building,) LaFonstee Gallery, Ryerson Library and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. Wristbands will go on sale Sept. 22, the first day of ArtPrize. Several Meijer stores will also be offering free parking; so you can just drive to the store and catch the bus.

My kids aren’t going to do well during fancy receptions or artist’s talks, so we need to stick with kid-friendly events.

Thursday, September 23 from 6-9 PM at the Grand Rapids Public Museum - ArtPrize Street Party. Enjoy free family-friendly activities and music by ’80′s band, Starfarm, on Front Street between the parking ramp and the Museum. Watch a carving of an enormous ice sculpture, kids will be able to create sidewalk chalk art, and Amway will have a tent set up with a bean bag toss to win some sweet Prizepacks .Grab food and drink in the south lawn Hospitality Tent, and tour the Museum’s ArtPrize exhibition.

Friday, September 24 at 4:00 and again at 6:30 PM – Ice Sculpture Demonstration. Grand Valley State University Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Randy Finch and Dereck Maxfield – the Ice Gurus as they wield an array of tools to create a sculpture from a block of ice.

Saturday, September 25 and Sunday September 26 – Peaches B&B, 29 Gay SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All weekend, there will be artist demos and free BBQ samples at Peaches. Most of our 18 artists will be demonstrating, including snowflake classes, 2 forges, a kiln, a sculptor & lots of painting! Great for families and students. Fun for all ages!

Saturday, September 25 11:00 AM -4:00 PM The Big Dog Show Adoption Event at the Sixth Street Bridge Park. The Humane Society of Kent County (HSKC) is proud to present the Big Dog Show ArtPrize exhibit by Dale Rogers. This community event includes food, art, adoptable animals, and more! 11:00 am – Dog Parade begins at the Sixth Street Bridge Park. 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Adoption Event at the Sixth Street Bridge Park.

Saturday September 25th, 12:00 – 2:00 PM John Ball Zoo Animals at WZZM13 Truck. At the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology Parking Lot (Fulton St.). Visit the WZZM13 News Truck (an official ArtPrize Venue) and meet a variety of John Ball Zoo animals! Families can view the art and meet and greet with the animals.

Sunday, September 26th 1:00 – 3:00 PM Channel your Chalk Chi…or Chuckle while you Chalk. Cathedral Square Center, 360 Division Ave. S. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 . Come show off your artistic side for all to see at Cathedral Square. Children and adults are invited to use provided sidewalk chalk to fill our outdoor promenade with their own colorful art.

Saturday, October 2 and Sunday October 3 – Peaches B&B, 29 Gay SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All weekend, there will be artist demos and free BBQ samples at Peaches. Most of our 18 artists will be demonstrating, including snowflake classes, 2 forges, a kiln, a sculptor & lots of painting! Great for families and students. Fun for all ages!

Sunday, October 3 12:00 pm – 5:00 PM Kid’s ArtFest 2010 Safari in the Park. 22 Sheldon Avenue NE and Veteran’s Park (across the Children’s Museum). A family friendly festival for children to engage, explore and be inspired by a wide range of arts! Free!

Saturday, October 9, 2:00 pm – 7:00 PM. Cultural Bazaar. Refugee Center – Bethany Christian Services, 45 Coldbrook St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Fun for the entire family, featuring artist demonstrations; sale of artwork and fair trade arts and crafts; and musical performances.

Other Resources

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Fun, Free and Frugal in Grand Rapids this Week

September 15, 2010 By Big Binder 4 Comments

Happy Wednesday! My back to school high was extended by the formation of a carpool. I was strolling leisurely through a store today when it hit me. No one in my family needs me right now. I mean, of course they need me, but no one has immediate demands I must tend to this very second.

It was weird.

It made me think about how I need to up my game. My husband has called me the ‘nucleus of our family’. What does the nucleus do when the electrons and protons are bouncing around just fine? And more importantly, did I come anywhere near getting that scientific metaphor correct?

Probably not.

Regardless, I am wondering how a stay at home mom best serves her family when no one is home. I’m wide open here, folks. It’s only three hours a day but it’s still a change and me being, well, me, I need a plan. What did you start doing differently when everyone was out of the house during the day? How did your schedule change?

Speaking of schedules, I have a ton of stuff for you to take a look at this week. Check out my Calendar for a full listing. I posted this on my Facebook page so you Fans already know that today (Wednesday) at 6:00 PM the first 150 kids to run a mile at John Ball Park will get free tickets to the Circus tomorrow. It’s part of the Grand Rapids Marathon and if you haven’t signed your kids up, do it quick!

Also, the John Ball Park Zoo switches to “Winter” prices this week. The price drops to $3.50 and $3.00, but the hours are now 10-4. I always hear the animals are more active when it’s cooler but what I know is that I am less hot when it’s cooler and that part - I like. It leaves me the extra energy I need for swan/paddle boating around Nessie.

There are a few events every year that are just straight up BigBinder-esque. The Mayor’s River Clean Up is one of them. We’ve been going for years. We’ve been on the news. We’ve been photographed by Brian Kelly. We do the River Clean Up. It’s this Saturday and this year it involves not only my Mayor (and hero) George Heartwell but mayors from surrounding cities, which makes me even happier. There are lots of families that come and help, and many hands – even little ones – make light work.

Enjoy this week! We’re wishing our Jewish friends an easy fast for Yom Kippur. If you haven’t already, come and enter my giveaway. It ends Saturday. The day of the River Clean Up. Hope to see you there!

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Filed Under: Free and Frugal

Top Ten Ways to Support Your Kid’s School (and a giveaway!)

September 14, 2010 By Big Binder

One of the things I love about my kids’ school is the parental involvement. The teachers do an excellent job of tolerating the well-meaning parents who are always hanging around, waiting for something that needs laminating.

There are other ways to be involved though. Behind-the-scenes parents are important too, especially in the fundraising area. If your kids’ school is involved in any of these programs it’s easy to particpate. If not – step up and initiate it. The worst thing I’ve heard about running a program like this is that people don’t always clip their Box Tops neatly.

(West Michigan) Paper Gator - So easy it’s sick. Just save up your newspapers and dump them in the garbage can with a cute alligator on it. The school gets money for every pound of papers, and your recycling cart is not overflowing.
(Midwest) Meijer Community Rewards - For every dollar you spend, a percentage goes to the school. You don’t have to get a Meijer credit card to do this; you just have to remember to give the cashier your card to swipe when you are checking out.
(Michigan) Spartan Cash For Labels - Bring labels in from Spartan Brand products, and the school turns them in for cash.
(West Michigan) Family Fare School Days and:
(West Michigan) D&W School Days - Schools will each have a specific code shoppers give to the cashiers when checking out. Get the code from your school, and put the dates on your calendar. Family Fare and D&W will then send a percentage of sales from those days to the school.
(West Michigan) TRIP - The school purchases D&W gift cards at a 3% discount, and then sells them to parents at full price as a fundraiser. Family Fare has a similar program.
(Michigan) Great Lakes Scrip - Similar to TRIP except for tuition-based schools, a portion goes to the tuition. We did this for preschool and it really made a difference!
(National) SCRIP - Same as Great Lakes Scrip, just a different organization running it.
(National) Campbells Labels For Education - Parents bring labels in from Cambpells products, which the school exchanges for money.
(National) Box Tops for Education - Kind of the mac-daddy program. These Box Tops are everywhere, including Totinos Pizza Rolls which I was sent to review. The only person in my family who was a big fan was my husband, but he is in school himself so they make a perfect after work/before school snack for any 37 year old students you are responsible for feeding!

I was also sent a sweet backpack with a new binder (love!), a pack of highlighters, two giant glue sticks, a calculator, AND a coupon for 25 Box Tops I can take right to school and drop in the little collection box. Oh, and also a pizza. They want one of my readers to have the same package (including the Pizza and Pizza Rolls!), so sign up to follow me on via RSS feed, email, twitter, Facebook. You can do all four if you’d like – you’ll get an extra entry for each one!

Leave a separate comment for each entry, or if you already follow/tweet/like/subscribe – let me know that too. This contest will close Saturday, September 18 and I’ll notify the winner by email so make sure I have that. Good luck! Go get involved!

Prize package and review packaged provided by General Mills through My Blog Spark; opinions are my own. This post is linked to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh! Amanda.