Shopping - Adidas Clearance Sale (Sat/Sun Only)

Happy Friday, everyone!  After work today I was lucky enough to stumble upon a great clothing deal, not only for myself and my wife, but my kids too!  While driving home, I drove by the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (off of Tully and Monterey Roads) and saw a sign for an Adidas Clearance Sale.  I was additionally happy to find out that it was a free entrance.  As I walked inside (with a large shopping bag in tow), I saw rows and rows of cardboard boxes that were cut in half. 

Each box had a label such as, Mens/L/Jackets and Kids/Infant/Clothing.   There were also areas with rows of Mens, Womens and Kids Shoes cordoned off.  As a casual soccer player, father of three young boys and a fan of the Adidas Label, I thought I was in heaven.  The only knock, was that you had to sift through stacks of clothing in each box, some of which wasn't in the proper sized boxes (as I had expected). 

I found great deals on kids shoes (all kids shoes were $15!), including soccer cleats and everyday shoes for all three boys (3, 2 and newborn).  The kids clothes were around $5 each and even the adult shoes were well priced (wife and I both got shoes at $30 each).  I posted photos of the kids clothing to give you an idea of what type of items that I found, as well as the pricing list for the event.  The event ends on Sunday and I believe that it opens at 10:00 am on Saturday and Sunday, while closing at approximately 6:00 pm.  Good luck and post any deals that you might have scored!

- Andrew

Local Dining - 2 Kids Eat Free! (Chevys)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  When it comes to dining, I will try and focus on establishments that offer a healthier choice for kids, but in this case I am promoting the saving of money!  For today and tomorrow (June 20th and 21st), Chevys is offering a purchase one adult entree and you get two (under 12) kids meals at no charge!  I haven't gotten a chance to take a look at the menu content for the kids meals, but when you can save a dollar here and there, as well as getting the kids out of the house it is a win-win.  If any of you are able to go, please remember to post some feedback regarding what they offer and any recommendation of food choices. 

- Andrew

Birthday Treats - Disney-Themed Cupcakes!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  Next month is our oldest son's birthday.  Since we are on the fence of whether we should have a large birthday party or a more intimate get-together, I starting searching for ideas regarding the birthday cake/ cupcakes.  The year we had a big shin-dig, we "outsourced" the "Jake and the Never-Land Pirates"-themed birthday cake and cupcakes through my friend Eliana, who has a business called "Desserts Devine".  First off, Eli did a wonderful job with the desserts and I would highly recommend her to anyone!  Everyone loved the cupcakes and the main cake, especially the birthday boy.  This year, I was looking for something that Kim and I could do (ourselves) on a smaller scale. 

Lo and behold, I just received an email from Disney (are those people mind-readers?) that pointed me in the direction of the ins and outs of making your own Disney Character-themed Cupcakes!  After looking at all of the options that are now available, the main problem that I have is which themed cupcakes that Kim and I will make and how many we will bake.

There is a laundry list of famous Disney Characters (Handy Manny, Jack Skellington, Toy Story Green Aliens, Tow Mater) of which to choose from and luckily for me and Kim, there are easy to follow instructions on how to re-produce them.  The DisneyFamily.com website also contains other recipes for kids and their parents to make together, so I would definitely recommend bookmarking this one.

- Andrew

Activities (Free!) - Dancin' on the Avenue 2012!

With Summertime here (especially the heat), it can only mean one thing for kids and parents alike.  The return of local festivals!  One of the festivals that my wife and I have been going to for some time is the 17th annual "Dancin' on the Avenue" in Willow Glen.  This year's "DOTA" will be opening one hour earlier (3 pm) and ending one hour earlier (8 pm) than in year's past, but that is actually a good thing that I will address a little later. 

This particular festival is an annual street party that features a showcase of WG's eateries, live music stages, dancing and various kids' activities.  Specifically, The Kids' Court has been expanded for this year and it will include a petting zoo and visits from local team mascots. 

Let me start off by saying that with the weather and crowds permitting, this is a great local event.  Now for the disclaimer.  In not trying to be Debbie Downer, I would highly recommend that those of you with strollers or more than one child attend this festival as early as possible for a few reasons.  Number one, this event gets jam-packed very quickly.  I am talking crowds that make it difficult to manouver a stroller, much less navigate while holding a child's hand. 

The second reason, which I find is more stress-inducing, is the over-abundance of professional drinkers.  By no means am I knocking this event, but since my audience here consists of parents of various aged children, I will address everyone accordingly.  The good news regarding the number of fun-lovin' drinkers is the fact that the WG Business Association has for the most part, tended to this issue:

"Security will be increased at the two monitored entrances at Willow and Minnesota where IDs and purses/backpacks will be checked. No outside containers of any kind – even coffee cups – will be allowed in"

If you are travelling with small children, a suggestion is to load up the stroller with some snacks and drinks, as the lines are usually long once the early evening arrives. 

- Andrew

Local Dining - Moveable Feast!

Good afternoon, parents!  With the ever-growing wave of "foodies", it is just a matter of time before the kids of these food-lovers start to blossom into the chefs and restauranteers of tomorrow.  One of the best things to sprout from this "foodie" wave has been the street food markets, or in layman's terms the pods of high-end food trucks.  I, for one, love the opportunity to try new foods that I would rarely get the chance to enjoy, since the time away from the kids is very limited.  Additionally, these mobile grubberies have begun to pop up closer and closer to our home base and it has made it very easy to break away for a few minutes and to bring the food back home. 

One of my personal favorites of the street food markets has been "Moveable Feast".  It roams around six San Jose-centric locations throughout the week and it is a great option for you to introduce your kids to new foods.  Additionally, if you can swing it, it is an excellent to get your kids out of the house and to not worry about making a mess in the restaurant.  My favorite truck so far, has been Sam's Chowdermobile.  This truck represents the ever famous Sam's Chowder House from Half Moon Bay and if you get the chance, please try the expensive, but tasty Lobster Roll!

The next "Moveable Feast" stop is tonight at 525 Blossom Hill Road, near the entrance/ exit of Highway 85 (almost across from Marie Callendars).  

- Andrew

Shopping - Deals at The Disney Store and Disney Online!

Good afternoon, everyone!  With the big news of the recently opened "Cars" Land at Disneyland, there seems to be one more reason for families to start planning another Disney Trip.  Since my boys are some of the biggest "Cars" Fans around I am constantly looking for deals when I can find them.  Luckily now is a great time for those parents that are looking for a good deal on Disney-related items to either stop by the local Disney Store or to check-out Disney Online, as they are currently having their "Twice Upon A Year" Sale. 

Another sale that the Online Disney Store offers is called "Donald's Daily Deal".  Right now they are offering kids pajamas that are almost 1/3 of the normal price!

Since we are regular attendees of birthday parties for friends and families alike, there never seems to be a shortage of toddlers and children who have an affinity for Disney Toys or Attire, so now might be a good time for us to plan ahead and to take advantage of some rare Disney Deals. 

Additionally, one of the smart things that we did do prior to our last family trip to Disneyland was to leverage the "Twice Upon A Year" Sale at the local Disney Store and to purchase a few large stuffed animals (Donald Duck and Goofy, to be specific). We stored them away until we departed on our trip and when we arrived, we surprised the boys with the toys!  The kids were happy with their stuffed animals and after Mom and Dad got inside and realized that we saved about $40, we were happy as well! 

- Andrew

Activities (Free!) - Lowe's Build and Grow

Hi, everyone!  This afternoon's entry is about a fun weekend-based activity that is not only free, but it is also a great place for kids to "build" something.  It is sponsored by Lowe's and it is called Lowe's Build and Grow (Lowe's Build and Grow).  Although the website recommends that you pre-register for the event, I was still able to bring my oldest son (4) to the event without registering and they gave us a free kit. 

The sessions consist of a pre-made kit that Lowe's provides that usually ties in with a current children's movie (i.e., Madagascar 3 and Kung Fu Panda 3).  They supply a name badge, a child's apron and the kit itself.   Most of the events state the minimal age requirements for the specific session, but I believe that the average age is 4-5+.

At the bottom of the "Lowe's Build and Grow" Page, they also have links to what they call "SuperMegaAwesome Family Projects", which as you would guess, details fun projects that everyone can enjoy. 

I'll be taking my oldest to one of the sessions in July, so hopefully I'll see you there!


- Andrew

Welcome to Nor Cal Kids!

Hi, everyone and welcome to my blog! As a father of three boys under 4 years old, I've decided to share bits and pieces of random insight with other parents. I'll be offering my thoughts on everything from kid-friendly restaurants, fun places to visit, new products for children, as well as other Bay Area points of interest for parents of toddlers and kids. - Andrew