SmashBurger, West Bloomfield

Spicy Baja Burger & Chili Cheese Fries

On November 10th, you can troll through time enjoying classic cocktails from eras of the past at Greenfield Village.  Each handcrafted cocktail will each be paired with a locally inspired culinary delight. Mixologists will be demonstrating preparations and origins of classic cocktails or how to put a new twist on an old favorite.

This adults-only (21+) event will be held at 6:30 at the Greenfield Village Pavillion.  The cost is $65 and will include entertainment and tickets to sample cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

The hors d’oeuvres menu will consist of:

• Fois Gras and Pancetta Rumaki with Knickerbocker Reduction.
• Shrimp Ceviche with Micro Greens and Vodka Cocktail Sauce.
• Grilled Chicken, Pineapple, and Jalapeno Skewers with Hatter Royale Hopquilla Sauce.
• Zepplin Blend Scented Buffalo Brochettes.
• Swedish Style Lamb Meatballs with Vodka Stroganoff over Kluski Noodles.
• Michigan White Cheddar and Mad Hatter IPA Fondue with Venison Sausage, Avalon Sourdough and Crudite’.
• Cranberry Vodka Jello with Whole Cranberries and Diced Pears in Classic Mini Molds.
• Caramelized Michigan Apples with Rum, Maple Sugar and Candied Walnuts in a Rum Sauce over Calder’s Vanilla Ice Cream.

For more information, please visit The Henry Ford Website.

The Official Wizard of Oz Children’s Educational Exhibit will be coming to the Henry Ford beginning October 1, 2011.

Visitors will get to follow the movie’s storyline by visiting Uncle Henry’s farm, learn about tornadoes and land in Munchkinland to interact with funhouse mirrors, soft-sculpture rainbow blocks, musical tubes, a voice synthesizer and other fun activities.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road and meet the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man before heading to The Emerald City. Children can create a “Horse of a Different Color,” play at the kaleidoscope and prism stations. At the Wicked Witch’s Castle, climb the mountain to capture the Wicked Witch’s broom from Winged Monkeys then click their heels to return home.  The exhibit is free with regular museum admission.

If you and your little ones can’t wait until October 1, there is a special sneak peek on September 30th from 3 – 4:30 PM.  Prices for the sneak peek range from $10 – $30 per person and includes free admission to Henry Ford Museum, free parking, free preview admission to The Wizard of Oz exhibit, snacks, crafts, temporary tattoos and other fun kid activities.

For more information, please visit The Henry Ford website.

Did you know that Louisa May Alcott was raised as a vegetarian, studies literature with Ralph Waldo Emmerson and secretly wrote pulp fiction (no, not the movie)?

You can learn all about the life of Louisa May Alcott through a series of programs presented by the Rochester Hills Public Library, based on the documentary film “Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women.”  The library program will re-introduce audiences to this phenomenal author by presents a story full of fresh insights, new discoveries about the author and a new understanding of American culture during her lifetime.

Program events include:

• Kickoff Event (September 18th, 2pm, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm): Enjoy a local history presentation, music, and special guest Louisa May Alcott.
• Biography Book Discussion (October 12th, 7pm, Rochester Hills Public Library multipurpose room): Join this discussion facilitated by Oakland University Professor Jeffrey Insko.
• Documentary Film Screening (October 19th, 5pm, Oakland University): Nancy Porter, film producer & director, will be participating in a talk-back with the audience following the 80 min. film. (no registration required)
• Discussion of Lesser Known Works (November 9th, 7pm, Rochester Hills Public Library multipurpose room) Join this discussion of various works facilitated by Oakland University Professor Jeffrey Insko.
• Little Women Read-In (November 21st, Oakland University): Celebrate this iconic and cherished book with a reading from start to finish. Sign up to read short increments at Oakland University.
• Louisa May Alcott & 19th Century Social Reform (November 30th, 7pm, Oakland University): Panel of Oakland University professors will discuss Louisa May Alcott’s involvement and influence on social reforms such as abolitionism, women’s rights, and transcendentalism.

Event required registration with your Rochester Hills Public Library card.  For more information, please visit the Rochester Hills Public Library website.

Here are a few of my favorites bargains of this week.

1. FREE yogurt coupons. How would you like coupons for free Oikos and free Activia yogurt? Just sign up and they will email printable coupons to you.
2. Discounts on Disney Vacations. It has always been a mystery how to get on Disney’s list to get special discounted offers on vacations. That is why I was ecstatic to see this new program. You can just sign up and they will email or send them to you!
3. 20% Off at Boden and Mini Boden. Right now you can get 20% off Plus FREE shipping and returns at Boden and Mini Boden. They have great styles for adults and kids. Plus if they don’t work out you just ship them back for free.
4. 20% off Coupon for Gymboree. You can get a Gymboree 20% off coupon via email or text. This coupon is even good on sale items.
5. Buy Disney Epic Mickey Game, Get Another Disney Wii Game FREE. With this deal you buy the Disney Epic Wii game and get another game for FREE! Since the Disney Epic Mickey Wii game is $29.99. You end up getting two games for just $15 each!!

Why pay full price when you can get a bargain? If you need any more details on these bargains and more, be sure to visit www.bargainshoppermom.com

Two-time Grammy Nominee, KEM, will be bringing together recording artists this Sunday to deliver 5 hours of entertainment, in a charity event to benefit homeless shelters in the Metro Detroit area.

This event will feature music by KEM, Morris Day & the Time and opening acts Larry Lee, Savallace, Houtsauce,  and Gwenation, hosted by comedian Damon Williams.  For a donation of canned goods, you can enjoy all of these recording artists, free health screenings and sample tasty treats from local vendors.
All canned goods and t-shirt, beverage & financial proceeds will be donated to assistance organizations in Metro Detroit, including: Detroit Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, Transformation Detroit, YWCA – Interim House, Sobriety House, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Harbor Light, L.I.F.T., The Salvation Army, NSO & Mariner’s Inn.

This event will take place on Sunday, August 28th, starting a 1pm in Detroit’s Cass Park.  For more information, please visit the Mack and Third website.

Get back to school with supplies from Tiny Prints.

With a preschooler and a toddler, back-to-school is still taking on meaning. Last year was my daughter’s first year of preschool, she went a whopping two days a week for a few hours a day. However, it was a huge milestone for all of us. School! And as a mom, I had no idea where to start. Besides the little list they gave us asking for things like a paint shirt and glue sticks, I knew there had to be something else I could do to start off the school year. Tiny Prints has the answers.

You know how kids have tons of stuff to take to school? From pencil boxes and folders to paint smocks and gym shoes, why not make them stand out with custom labels from Tiny Prints? Personally, I love the tags with the photo and the name. That makes it easier for little kids who can’t read yet to identify that something belongs to my little girl.

It doesn’t stop there.

Tiny Prints provides adorable allergy cards, play date cards, activity cards and even lunchbox notes, something that I can’t wait to stick in my daughter’s lunch box, neatly packed next to her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and little bag of sliced up apples. As a working mom, I can’t wait until she can read and I can leave her with little love notes to let her know I’m thinking about her even when I’m not with her.

The fun stuff isn’t just for the students. Why not send a little note to your child’s new teacher with the teacher appreciation card? Or get them ready for the school year with academic planners and even wall decor.

When ordering stuff for the students and the teachers, don’t forget yourself. Tiny Prints offers family planners, emergency contact cards, stationery for the family and photo books, a nice way to remember all those back-to-school photos you made the kids pose for on the first day of school.

Back-to-school isn’t just the time when my daughter heads back to her preschool room, it’s also the time my sisters-in-law move back to school for the year and we start prepping the care packages. Tiny Prints offers many personalized, creative gifts for us to send to them at school. With Tiny Prints moving postcards and business cards, they can share their school addresses with family and friends. The notebooks and notepads will make taking notes during class a little less boring. And what college student doesn’t have enough decor for the dorm room?

And now the fine print. I was compensated by Global Influence’s Tiny Prints campaign for my post, however the thoughts and opinions written here are my own. 

One of the large kilns at Pewabic Pottery

Pewabic Potteryin Detroit hosts a Family Fun Day on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Families are invited to Detroit historic pottery-maker from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for demonstrations, activities and tours.

The event features many free activities including clay target practice, go-fish for ceramic gold fish and building a clay community. Children are invited to participate in a day of activities from stringing ceramic beads and creating bracelet to painting flower post and decorating a bell to ring in the new school year. There were also be wheel throwing demonstrations.

Tours of the historic Pewabic Pottery will be held at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The cost for the event is $5. Child must be accompanied by an adult.

Pewabic Pottery is located at 10125 E. Jefferson in Detroit. For more information visit the Pewabic Pottery website.

Mosquito bites

This might look incredibly disgusting, but it is reality. It is the work of a nasty little bug that lives pretty much everywhere these days, haunting me even in my backyard.

*Dum Dum Dum!* The mosquito.

Over Fourth of July weekend I was bitten more than 50 times. My legs were swollen. They hurt with each and every step. And try as I might, it was nearly impossible to stop scratching, so I’m sure the lingering effect of these mosquito bites will last well into September. More than just the annoying itch, I was putting myself at risk for West Nile Virus and probably other infections from all the scratching I’ve been doing.

And really, it would have been easy to avoid them. It’s called bug spray, and I’ve been using it ever since.

In fact, this morning, I broke out some of the Cutter brand wipes, ran one down my legs, over my arms and around my neck before setting out in my damp backyard for a morning of weeding in my garden.

The result? Not one new mosquito bite.

I’ve been nervous about going outside since the Fourth of July weekend fiasco, but I have two young children and they always want to be out playing in the yard. I’ve been using the Cutter Natural Insect Repellent on them as well and it’s kept the bites to a minimum. In fact, I have such faith in it, that I put it in their day care backpack for use every time they are outside.

I was fortunate enough to get samples of Cutter All Family Mosquito Wipes, Cutter Natural Insect Repellent, Cutter Natural Fogger, Cutter Skinsations Ultra Light, Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent Aerosol, Cutter American Holiday Candle, and Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray to use for this review, and now you have the chance to try some of it too!