The Blog

Hey gang — we’ve teamed up with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado…which means from now until June 15, 2012, all the first month proceeds from new Colorado Springs Kids Club memberships will be donated to Ronald McDonald House!

Ronald McDonald House of Southern Colorado helps families in stressful times through various programs.  They are a home away from home for families that travel to Colorado Springs seeking treatment for their children.  Their home provides an affordable and comfortable stay during any extended hospital treatment.  

The Ronald McDonald House also provides scholarships to high-school students in need of funding.  There are two Ronald McDonald family rooms located inside Memorial Hospital for Children and the Pediatric Unit of St. Francis Medical Center to service families during their stay with their children.  And there is also a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile that travels throughout the Pikes Peak Region servicing health and dental needs to underprivileged children!  Go to www.rmhcs.org to learn more.

What a great way to give back to our community and also save money using the Colorado Springs Kids Club card!  Join “the club” and help kids in need!

A great friend of mine reminded me that I should probably introduce myself since some of you might wonder who Mama C. is, and what our family is like.

My husband and I have enjoyed the Colorado Springs and its surrounding area for a total of 11 yrs now.  We met in the Springs and married in Palmer Lake.  And as time went by, we added two little blessings to the mix.  We have a daughter who is 3 1/2, and a son who is just over one year.

Since I went from the corporate world to being a stay-at-home mother, my circle of friends has expanded to include many stay-at-home moms and “moms” in general.  After my DD (dear daughter) started walking I got involved in a local Moms Club to figure out what exactly did stay-at-home mothers do with their kiddos.  Especially during those cold, Colorado months.  I found out that many of my friends wanted to take their kids to the fun places around town, but everything cost $$$.  Especially for those parents with two or more kids.

It just so happens that last year, my DH (dear husband) went to a real estate seminar and learned how a stay-at-home mother in Utah created a Kids Club to help her friends get discounts at fun places.  And the Utah Kids Club has been so successful, that they opened up the opportunity to investors that wanted to build a Club in other cities.

Hmmm…what a great concept!!  We pursued the business and are very excited to offer it to the great people of Colorado Springs!  Now, instead of going to the Dinosaur Resource center once during the summer…you can afford to go again.  Or if you were thinking about swim lessons and couldn’t afford it….now you can take advantage of great discounts from Donna’s Dolphins.   But we want to take it a step further…How about some restaurant deals?  Our plan is to promote local businesses to our members, so our whole community thrives.

We hope you will come along on our adventure and start enjoying all the fun activities that Colorado Springs and the surrounding area has to offer!  And do it while saving money!

Bored with the kids at home? Mama C. gives you some of the best places to visit around Colorado Springs this fall.

I always love fall in Colorado.  Once my daughter was over a year old, she had so much fun experiencing all the great places our wonderful area has to offer.  So I thought I’d share some fun things we do together.

1.  If you’re looking for a great day or overnight trip, we love going up to Estes park.  Elk Fest this year is October 1st and 2nd.  Of course we’d love for you to come to our Pumpkin Palooza first, then head up to Estes Park!  haha  If you’ve never experienced the herds of elk that come down to the valley and bugle, it is fantastic for the whole family!  In town, there’s several booths, crafts, and shopping.  There’s even a great playground right in the heart of downtown for the kids while you enjoy some coffee or hot chocolate.

2.  Check out if your local YMCA is having a “Trunk or Treat” – the one in Monument at Tri-Lakes YMCA was open to the public last year too.

3.  Every third Tuesday of the month, the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center has a FREE public admission day.  This was not something I would traditionally do….but I met a girlfriend down there the first time and took the chance.  It was great!  On the first floor of the Center is a hands-on gallery for the kids.  And then it was fun to stroll through the museum and hear the funny comments that the kids would make when looking at all the neat sculptures and paintings.  If you pack a lunch, it’s a short stroll to a small park at the bottom of the hill off Mesa Road.

4.  If your family likes pizza, then I have two FUN recommendations.  We went to Giuseppe’s Depot Restaurant, located in downtown Colorado Springs, in the old train depot.  And the kids would love it!  Or if you are on a date night, it’s a great atmosphere too.  You can dress up or dress down and have the kids explore the restaurant and gift shop.  It’s beautiful at night with little twinkling lights as well.  My other recommendation is Extreme Pizza.  They are one of our restaurants in the Kids Club too!  If your hubby is out-of-town and cooking is far from your mind, take the kids there on Tuesday nights.  They get to create their own pizza!  And you don’t clean up the mess.  Check out their discount they give us too on the Discount Directory page!

Enjoy the fall and keep those kids busy!  Mama C.