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Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

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Red Robin Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 12, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

A few months ago, I read an interesting article in Parents magazine that highlighted the top 10 chain restaurants in the U.S. to consider if you are going out to eat with children. Red Robin was one of those restaurants.

Until recently, I had never been to a Red Robin in my entire life! I was so curious about what made this restaurant great that I contacted the company and asked if they wanted to be put to the ultimate test: have me come check out the place for the first time ever, viewing the restaurant with the eyes of a parent who does NOT enjoy going out to eat with her toddler. I love little D, but she is a pain in the rear at restaurants, always wanting to walk around checking everything out, wanting her food YESTERDAY and wiggling in and out of her seat constantly. It’s exhausting to me and I always feel stressed out, and never relaxed when going out to eat. That’s why we rarely go! So yeah, Red Robin had a tall order to fill when they invited my family to come check out their restaurant.

When we walked into Red Robin just after they opened, the place seemed ready for business, with a handful of families already beating us there in the first few minutes! That seemed like a good sign when people are ready to go in as soon as they open.

The staff was very friendly. Our waitress asked if we had ever been to Red Robin before, and when we told her that we were new, she gave us a lot of helpful information about how their menu works and special perks to be aware of in their restaurant. There were a few things that REALLY impressed me about their menu:

1. If the meal comes with steak fries, those fries are bottomless, meaning that you can get as many helpings of them as you’d like.

2. You can substitute those fries for sweet potato fries (or SEVERAL other side dishes). The sweet potato fries have an extra charge, but they are also bottomless. Yay!

3. For kids entrees, the side dishes are excellent (apple slices, mandarin oranges and the like) and they are also bottomless. Darah had 3 servings of mandarin oranges!!!

4. Kids entrees come with milk or juice (although soda is also an option). And it is bottomless, too! I was absolutely delighted to see that as a choice for Darah.

In addition to the great menu perks, there were other things that really impressed me about Red Robin:

1. Bendy straws for the kids. Seems like a minor point until you are trying to help a toddler drink something. That’s when you realize that the bendy straw is brilliant.

2. Red Robin celebrates with you. We were asked by our waitress if we were celebrating anything special, and we mentioned that Darah’s birthday was the following day. Well guess what? At the end of our meal, she got a special birthday song and a sundae! 

3. Red Robin has a loyalty card. You get a free appetizer just for registering, a free burger on your birthday and get your 10th purchase free when using the card. Pretty awesome, right?!

4. The chocolate milkshake. OMG. So good. You can see that Darah was impressed by the fact that she quickly pulled both our shakes to her side of the table.

This is the most fun that I’ve had at a restaurant in a long time. The staff seems  not only used to being around kids, but also genuinely fond of them and infinitely patient with them. That goes such a long way toward making a nervous mama feel more relaxed. I thought the food was tasty and I felt like the value was excellent. I’m sad that I waited so long to visit a Red Robin, but that certainly won’t be my last visit! It’s at the top of my list, now, of places to go out to eat with Darah.

I wanted to highlight two cool things happening at Red Robin right now. First, there is a special burger on the menu called the Mt. Vesuvius Burger. It was created by a 12 year old in the Red Robin Kids’ Cook-Off last year. This burger is topped with applewood smoked bacon, provolone cheese, bleu cheese and tangy lava sauce, which is a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce.  Sounds great, right? Here’s what makes it even better: fifty cents from every one of his burgers sold will benefit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, up to $50,000!

Second, the 2011 Kids’ Cook-Off Cookbook is available for you to check out. It has 50 gourmet burger recipes from kids across the country, as well as child safety tips and activities from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Best of all: it’s FREE! Go to the Red Robin website to download it now!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift card to Red Robin! The contest will run until August 22nd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Check out the Red Robin menu and tell me something you’d like to try (or something you already know you love!)

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Red Robin on Facebook! Don’t forget to come back here and leave me a comment that you did.

2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by email or RSS

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the page.

Disclosure: I received a gift card to Red Robin for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: dining out with children, dining out with toddlers, giveaway, kid friendly restaurant, parents magazine top 10, red robin, red robin restaurant

You Need a Budget: Final Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 10, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

I’ve been singing the praises of You Need a Budget (YNAB), a personal finance software program that can (and WILL!) forever change your relationship with money and put you in the driver’s seat of your financial future.  If you missed them, please check out my first post and my second post so that you can hear all about my family’s journey and how much has changed since we started using YNAB back in December.

Here’s the final vlog about where we stand now!

Pretty exciting, huh? We were able to seize the opportunity to start our own business because we could clearly assess how the endeavor would fit in with our financial goals, as well as with our priorities as a family. We were able to say “yes” to the right thing at the right time!

Buy it!: YNAB retails for $59.95 and I cannot emphasize enough how much it is worth the price. It will change your life, people.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own download of the software! Yes! The contest will run until August 20th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me anything related to the topic of personal finance. What are some of your financial goals? What are some of the obstacles you face to reaching those goals? How do you currently keep track of your finances? Anything related to the topic works for me!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like YNAB on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by email or RSS

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the site.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of YNAB for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: budget planner, budget software, finance software, giveaway, managing finances, managing your budget, ynab, you need a budget

Making Silly Faces by In the Nick of Time: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 9, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

T here’s a children’s musician who has been on the scene for a while named Nick Deysher, and I’m just now learning about him (I know…how is that possible?!). His band is called In the Nick of Time (get it? Cute, huh?) and on September 6th their fifth studio CD will drop. It’s called Making Silly Faces, and I’ve got the inside scoop for you!

First, let me just say that Nick’s last album, People, Places & Things won a Parents’ Choice Gold award in 2010. That’s a HUGE compliment, and based on what I heard from this latest album, I think the praise is deserved.

I would describe the sound of this group as very eclectic. There’s a little something in there for everyone, for sure. Nick has been influenced by a wide variety of artists and states that, “Careful listeners will hear hints of Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and many others (even Snoop Dogg).”

I think Nick’s varied taste in music shines through in his own contribution to the art. He seems like a very interesting individual. I was shocked (and really excited) to learn that in addition to putting out critically acclaimed music for children, he also is serves as a preschool music specialist 5 days a week AND serves as a program director and teacher at an after school music program for 4 to 7-year-olds. Wow! That is some serious dedication to exposing kids to music!

This is a great addition to our musical collection, and one I would recommend adding to your own. Making Silly Faces runs 37 minutes, and is ideal for ages 2-8. The retail price will be $14.99. You can buy it right here!

Win it!: Before it even hits the stores, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will snag a copy of Making Silly Faces! The contest will run until August 18th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Nick would love to be friends with you on Facebook! Like him and come back here to tell me you did for your first entry!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Subscribe to Nick’s blog, Singing in the Bathtub.

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter the other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the blog.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary CD for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: giveaway, In the Nick of Time, kids music, Making Silly Faces, music for kids, Nick Deysher

Shabby Apple Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

August 8, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

Tim’s birthday was a few weeks ago. Darah’s birthday was yesterday. My birthday is in a few weeks. We are birthday maniacs this time of year! You can imagine that by the time my birthday rolls around, the usual things like cake and ice cream or even going out to dinner just aren’t as appealing. Been there, done that. TWICE.

So, in the spirit of switching it up as we head towards my special day, I thought I’d do something special for my readers and offer a giveaway.

Ok, you’re right. I do that pretty much every day. But THIS one is in honor of your hostess with the mostess.

I picked out something super fabulous for one lucky reader. It’s one of many fabulous dresses from Shabby Apple and it’s what I would wear to my 31st birthday party if I were to have one (and let’s be real, I’m going to spend that day playing with building blocks, writing blog posts and cleaning dried yogurt off the table, just like any other day; such is the life of a work-at-home parent!).

Anyway, back to that dress. Wanna see it? It just screams, “Summer isn’t over yet, people! Keep the party going a few weeks more!”

 

Super cute, right?! I KNOW!!!! Shabby Apple simply has the best selection of women’s dresses I’ve ever seen. They are this fabulous intersection of modern and vintage. They are always elegant, understated, but also unforgettable. They rock! If you see anything on the site you like, right now you can score 10% off by using the discount code stuffparentsneed10off. Yay!

And now it’s time for one of you to rock this dress!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the Lighthouse dress shown above in any available size (ARV $89.00!). The contest will run until August 18th at 11:49pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Give me the greatest birthday gift of all: subscribe to my blog via RSS or email! Just leave a comment letting me know that you already subscribe or just subscribed and that will be your first entry!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Shabby Apple on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the post.

Disclosure: No products or compensation was received for this post. Affiliate links are embedded.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: giveaway, lighthouse dress, shabby apple, shabby apple dress, shabby apple lighthouse dress, summer dress

Canadian Organic Products Come to the U.S! Green Beaver Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 7, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

There’s a great line of eco-friendly personal care products made by the Canadian company Green Beaver that I’ve been wanting to try for a year, now. Green Beaver is the largest natural, eco-friendly and organic certified product line in Canada. They have finally started to sell their products in the U.S. and so, I was able to get my paws hands on them and try them out!

The whole family has been trying out the Green Beaver Green Apple Toothpaste. It has a very mild taste. So mild, in fact, that I felt challenged in the same way I have with other natural toothpastes…I started to second guess if it was working. After all, it doesn’t foam in your mouth, it doesn’t taste like most other toothpastes, either. And if you accidentally swallow a little, it doesn’t make you gag (I may or may not have done this, just sayin’). How hilariously ironic is it that when something is safer for you than most other products on the market, you start to question if it is a good choice? It’s really just a matter of getting used to something different and realizing that safe doesn’t mean ineffective. Natural products can get your pearly whites to shine, too!

Darah has been lovin’ bath time lately. Green Beaver Jr. Bubble Bath is her very first bubble bath product. She loves it, of course, and the bubbles smell great. Why have we waited so long to get her a bubble bath? Because our child drinks bath water like she is in the Sahara. We’ve tried to get her to stop, but have had no success so far. We knew we had to get something very mild to use, because we were pretty sure she would eat the bubbles in addition to drinking the water. And yeah, we were right.

We’ve also been using the Green Beaver Jr. Shampoo. The scent is awesome yet mild. I love that it has a pump, which makes it easy to dispense (it also makes it easy for a toddler to dispense, so keep it out of reach when not in use!).

Buy it!: Green Beaver products are reasonably priced, with the toothpaste retailing for $4.99 and the bubble bath and shampoo retailing for $9.99 each. Products can be purchased directly from the website!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the same 3 products I reviewed. Woo hoo! The contest will run until August 17th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Green Beaver has an AMAZING selection of organic and natural products. Select one that isn’t mentioned in this post that you’d really like to try and leave a comment about it here for your first entry.

My answer: I’d like to try the Passion Lip Shimmer!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like The Green Beaver Company on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found  on the blog sidebar.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: apple toothpaste, Canadian, giveaway, Green Beaver, junior bubble bath, junior shampoo, natural, natural shampoo, natural toothpaste, organic, organic shampoo, organic toothpaste, shampoo for kids

The Greatest Wardrobe Problem-Solver: Cleava Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 5, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

I am madly in love with the product I’m featuring today. MADLY!!!! And I have to have a sense of humor about the whole thing, because when you see the product on a model by itself, you can’t help but think, “Is this a tank top version of a dickie?” 

I hear you. And yes, I suppose it is. But if a tank top dickie is wrong, then I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT!!!

Let me tell you all the reasons why my tank tops have been shoved into the back of my dresser, and my Cleava is getting worn constantly:

1. It legitimately covers me up. Not every tank top seems to get the memo that I don’t want to show the world my cleavage.

2. There are no straps to deal with.

3. It is opening up new possibilities for clothing that I can wear, now. So many tops are completely impossible to wear without a tank top, and yet, some of those tops also look really dumb with a tank top under it. In most cases, it’s because the top is so fitted that adding another layer of clothing under it simply isn’t flattering. Problem solved with Cleava!

4. In the summer months, you just don’t want to put on another layer of clothes, even if it doesn’t look bad under your top. Again, problem solved with Cleava!

5. It looks great. I have stared myself down in the mirror with the Cleava on, and I promise you, you cannot tell that I’m not wearing a tank top (other than the fact that I don’t have extra straps showing).

In addition to the reasons I listed above for why the Cleava rocks my world, I also want to point out that this thing would be AWESOME for anyone who is breastfeeding. Look at the image above…it basically can turn any criss-cross top into a nursing top for you! You don’t have to remove the Cleave to nurse, either. Just scoot it over!

The Cleava is made to fit most, and it uses snaps to connect and come off. Putting it on takes just a few seconds.

Seriously, you guys, I’m so in love with this product. I’m going to put it on my Christmas wish list to get a few more! And boy do they have a lot of options from which to choose (I counted 38!). Cleava can be ordered onlinefor $19.95. BUT…now you can score $5 off by using the coupon code SPN5OFF at checkout! Yes!!!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Cleava! Woo hoo! The contest will run until August 15th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me which Cleava you would pick (and choose wisely, as the winner will get her selection! Notice that they have 4 pages of options!).

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Cleava on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect (found on the sidebar of the page)

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my site.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: cleava, cleavage covers, dickie, giveaway

Rock ‘N Learn Review and GIVEAWAY!!

August 4, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt ·

 Rock ‘N Learn is a company that began in 1986, and has worked since that time to help young children learn how to read in a really fun and entertaining way. This company now has over 50 titles and covers a wide span of topics, including preschool, math, reading, science, social studies, languages and test preparation.

Not everyone is in love with the idea of using videos to help teach concepts to their kids. I totally get that, and it should definitely not serve as a replacement for face time, and for parents engaging and teaching their children. With that said, I have personally seen the success that has come from using those infant/toddler reading DVDs. Darah has a major jump start on reading and can identify over 40 words. She’s also making a lot of progress on being able to identify certain blends and the sounds they make. So I personally see a place for carefully chosen DVDs to be part of her preparation for school.

Rock ‘N Learn sent us Letter Sounds, which is intended for kids ages 4-7. Darah can’t sit through the whole thing (it is 55 minutes long). But she’ll do 10 minute stretches, and she seems to be enjoying it. The video does a great job of repeating the concept it is teaching a lot, and also teaching great songs to help with learning. Based on what I have seen with this video, I think Rock ‘N Learn products are quality and I would definitely consider buying another one in 6 months, or so.

We also tried out the Rock ‘N Learn apps for young readers. I think these are really great ways to try out Rock ‘N Learn while making a minimum financial commitment. If your child seems to respond to the apps, then s/he is most likely also going to really like the DVDs.

Buy it!: Rock ‘N Learn products are available online. The DVD we reviewed is $19.99. The apps we reviewed start at .99. Right now you can save 25% off your purchase in the Rock ‘N Learn store by using code JQ7711. What a great way to get ready for heading off to school!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the DVD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn! The contest will run until August 14th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me the title you want to own (and choose wisely, as the winner will get his/her selection!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Rock ‘N Learn on Facebook

2. Blogger love:  Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS or email (found on my sidebar).

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

use code  for 25% off their entire purchase.

Win it: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your choice of one DVD or CD!

Mandatory entry: Pick out the DVD you want if you win. Choose wisely, as the winner will get what is written down for this entry!

 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: giveaway, how to teach kids to read, rock and learn, rock and learn dvd, rock n learn, teaching kids to read, teaching your child to read

Caspar Babypants Sing Along CD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 3, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 74 Comments

I think it’s safe to say that Darah has an exceptional collection of children’s music. We have an itunes playlist that just won’t quit, and it plays track after track of absolutely delightful music.

That makes it hard to pick a favorite artist. Very hard. Just short of impossible, I’d say. But somehow, even in the face of so much awesome music, Darah has a top pick.

It’s Caspar Babypants. I reviewed This is Fun! last year (click here to check out the review if you missed it). Caspar Babypants is led by Chris Ballew, who you may better know as the lead singer for The Presidents of the United States of America.

On August 16th, Chris and company will be releasing their fourth children’s album called Sing Along! We’ve been singing and dancing along with this album for a few weeks now, and it is just fantastic! The songs are unique but memorable and the topics are so much fun. I love the great take on the classics Ring Around the Rosie and Ba Ba Black Sheep, as well as the original songs like Helicopter and Bad Blue Jay.

Part of Darah’s love for Caspar Babypants stems from their wonderful collection of music videos on Youtube. I asked Chris if videos were in the works for some of the new material, and he said yes! Now that’s music to this mama’s ears!

Included with my review copy of Sing Along! was a letter from Chris explaining some of the inspiration behind this new album. I thought I’d share a bit of what he had to say with you:

“I began the process of making this fourth album by listening to a bunch of call and response tunes based on old African folk melodies and work songs from early American history. I love how the next line in the song was like an invitation to the listener to sing along and get right into the fabric of the song. I found it to be a super satisfying form to write in and it will most certainly appear on future albums as well.”

“I make this music to help families sing together and relax and opn up and endure stressful times with humor and grace. I feel like I succeeded in that purpose with this record and I look forward to achieving that feeling again and again.”

I can tell you with certainty that he really did succeed in those areas. This is Darah’s favorite album from her favorite band. Way to go, Caspar Babypants, on rising to the top amongst a slew of other really and truly great artists and albums.

Buy it!: Sing Along! will be available on Amazon , iTunes and babypantsmusic.com on August 16th. Be sure to check it out! You can even pre-order (I think!).

Edit: this giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own copy of Sing Along! The contest will run until August 13th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forefeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Check out the Caspar Babypants Youtube channel and tell me which video you like best. You’ll be so glad to have so much fun new stuff to show your kids! 🙂

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Follow Caspar Babypants on Twitter

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the site.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: caspar babypants, casper baby pants, casper babypants, chris ballew, giveaway, kids music, music cds, presidents of the united states of america, sing along, sing along cd, sing along songs, the presidents of the united states of america

The Chuck E. Cheese Experience: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

August 3, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 234 Comments

Until recently, the last time I had been to Chuck E. Cheese’s was sometime in middle school. Come to think of it, it may have even been elementary school. I think it’s a safe bet to say it’s been 20 years since I have been inside of one. What I remember of it is that it was really noisy, really fun, the life-sized animatronics were cool and the pizza was pretty bad.

But again, that was 20 years ago. Probably time to see what has changed!

We took Darah to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time recently, and I’m excited to tell you about our experience.

We arrived at Chuck E. Cheese about 10 minutes after they opened on a Saturday. To our surprise, we were the only folks there. In fact, we were the only guests for almost the first hour! This was AWESOME!!! We were all able to run around freely and explore, and Darah had the opportunity to get used to the sights and sounds before other kids got added to the mix. So my #1 tip for going to Chuck E. Cheese if you want to avoid the crowd is to be willing and ready to play at 9am when they open!

One thing I observed that I loved, as well, is that Chuck E. Cheese puts an invisible stamp on the arms of everyone in the same party. It’s a unique number for each group of people. The reason they do this is so that when you leave, they can make sure that the right adults leave with the right children. That is a very cool feature, and I’m delighted to see it. It can give parents an added feeling of security knowing that every adult and child will be checked at the door.

Darah had an absolute blast at Chuck E. Cheese. It took her a few minutes to get really into all the games, as you can see by the serious look on her face while riding Clifford, her very first ride. 🙂

But she quickly found her groove and spent a great deal of time running from machine to machine. We had 30 tokens to spend, and in the 2 1/2 hours we were there, that was plenty for Darah! I LOVED that every single game in the entire place only cost 1 token to play. I was just certain that some of the games would take 2 or even 3 tokens, but they didn’t! It’s nice to know that however many tokens you buy, that’s how many games you’ll get to play. Tokens are 25 cents each, or you get a price break if you spend $10 on tokens, as you will get 50 instead of 40 (which is a good deal, I think!).

Even Tim got in on the fun. There are many games at Chuck E. Cheese that are great for older kids and even for adults. Here you will see Tim taking on one seriously mean gorilla. Tim fought a good fight, all the way to the end of the game, and was subsequently rewarded with 4 tickets for his efforts. Way to take one for the team, Tim. 

 

 

I will say that I was disappointed in the updated “live” show. I think the old school Chuck E. Cheese band was one of my favorite things about the place as a kid. Now there’s just one large moving animal up on stage, and the rest is television screens that play really cheesy music videos and some flashy lighting. I found that to be not nearly as cool as what I grew up with, but maybe it speaks more to today’s kids, who likely aren’t as easily impressed with robots that only move in a few different directions. 

When we arrived at Chuck E. Cheese, we placed the order for our pizzaand requested that it be ready at 11. Sure enough, it was on our table at 11am sharp! The pizza has recently been completely overhauled. They’ve got new dough and new cheeses that they use. We dug in, and here’s my opinion on the pizza: it’s good. It’s not great. But it’s not bad like I remember. It is quite tasty. I actually think the amount of sauce and toppings is pretty much perfect for kids, but adults may find themselves craving a bit more. Tim and I ate 2/3 of the pizza by ourselves (with Darah nibbling on our pieces here and there), and we probably could have eaten more but we decided to show some restraint. The pizza, in terms of its weightiness, reminds me much more of something from Ci Ci’s than something from Papa John’s. So the price tag (I think $15 for a large is the standard price) is a bit steep.

HOWEVER, keep in mind that places like Papa John’s aren’t also providing you with a unique entertainment experience. Yes, the food is a bit expensive for the overall quality, but if you buy one of their combo packages that includes your pizza and your tokens, I actually think you are getting a killer deal for a morning or afternoon of fun with your family. I would absolutely take Darah again to Chuck E. Cheese, and I’d buy the pizza again, too!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Chuck E. Cheese guest pass which includes 30 tokens, 4 soft drinks and a large pizza. Woo hoo! The contest will run until August 13th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: This is a really fun one. Go to the Chuck E. Cheese website, and click on the “play skee ball” button on the bottom of the page. Tell me what your score is for your mandatory entry, and don’t forget to print the tickets you win online, as you can redeem them at Chuck E. Cheese! Everyone wins by playing! Yay!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Chuck E. Cheese on Facebook (you’ll heard about great discount offers that way!)

2. Blogger love:  Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook 

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary guest pass to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: chuck cheese, chuck e cheese, chuck e cheese coupons, chuck e cheeses, family entertainment, giveaway, pizza

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Welcome!


Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

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