Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

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2019 Summer Concert Series in Southeast Michigan

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One of my favorite posts to write the past few years has been a BIG list of FREE summer concerts. First, because I love lists. Second, because nothing beats live music.

Community concerts are the perfect way to introduce your child to the performing arts and let them burn energy by dancing and enjoying the music. Some of my favorite summer memories have been dancing with my kids to live music. It’s admirable how much they don’t care what others think. We could all take a page from their book 😉

This year, I’m collaborating with several local bloggers to bring you lists of FREE Southeast Michigan summer concert series. Make sure to check back often because we will add to our lists as concert information becomes available!

I’m covering Livingston County. See my fellow bloggers for what’s happening near you:

BRIGHTON

Millpond Concert Series

Visit the Millpond in downtown Brighton for live music. All concerts run from 7-9 p.m. with a pre band show starting at 6:30 p.m.

  • July 7: Moose & Da Sharks {rock n’ roll}
  • July 14: Toppermost {Beatles Tribute Band}
  • July 21: 50AmpFuse {hits from the ’60s -’90s, 2000s and today!}
  • July 28: Power Play Detroit {classic rock}
  • August 4: Magic Bus {psychedelic rock}
  • August 11: Fast Eddie {’50s, ’60s and classic rock}
  • August 18: The Persuasion Band {8-piece, high energy show band}
  • August 25: Steve King and the Dittlies {rock ‘n’ roll show band}

HARTLAND

Cromaine Library Summer Concert Series

Visit Hartland Music Hall for live music on Tuesday nights. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music begins at 7 p.m. Bring a picnic or there will be food available for purchase.

  • June 18: Guy Louis {family-friendly}
  • June 25: Steve King & the Dittlies 
  • July 9: Madcat Midnight Blues
  • July 16: Alan Turner {country}
  • July 23: Street Corner {Motown}
  • July 30: Byron Legacy Show {classics}

HOWELL

Rock The Block

June 5, July 10, August 7

Visit downtown Howell for a rockin’ summer series featuring live bands, food from local restaurants, beer brewed by local breweries, Aberrant Ales and Eternity Brewing, and more! The music is free to the public, and food will be available for purchase. 

  • June 5: Sinjon Smith {country}, The Relative Minors {classic rock}
  • July 10: Taylor Tucky {country} and Five Becomes West {alternative rock}
  • August 7: The Kari Holmes Band {pop country} and Blackjack Band {classic rock}

Concerts at the Courthouse

A variety of local area musicians take center stage every Friday night throughout the summer on the Courthouse lawn. Concerts are from 7-9 p.m.

  • June 28: The Magic Bus
  • July 5: Rusty Wright Blues Band
  • July 12: Alan Turner & the Steel Horse Band
  • July 19: 50AmpFuse
  • July 26: Air Margaritaville
  • August 2: Lookin’ Back
  • August 9: Paradise Band
  • August 16: Steve King & The Dittilies
  • August 23: Toppermost

Which concert are you most looking forward to?

Find more FREE fun here!

100 Screen-Free Ideas For Kids To Fight Boredom {No Parents Required!}

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There is nothing that irks a parent’s ears quiet like hearing the “I’M BORED” whine. While some kids are quick to amuse themselves, others struggle to find things to do unless it involves a screen.

Of course boredom is SO good for kids. It allows time for their imaginations to run wild, and it fosters creative and strategic thinking. But some kids just need a jumpstart on ideas before running off to do something solo.

For those times, I’ve come up with a quick list of ideas for things my kids can do and figured I may as well share it here in case it can be of any use to you as well! So now when I hear “I’m bored,” they can know I’m going to say “Stop complaining and go look at the list for ideas!” 😉

Since I work from home, it’s crucial I have some go-to ideas for summer. For that reason, none of these require parental supervision…and most are somewhat mess-free. Enjoy and let me know what other ideas you have!

100 Screen-Free Ideas For Kids To Fight Boredom

100 Screen-Free Ideas For Kids To Fight Boredom

  1. READ
  2. Play games with a bed sheet
  3. Create with Kinectic sand
  4. Go on a bug hunt
  5. Blow bubbles
  6. Fill up the entire driveway with chalk drawings
  7. Swing
  8. Build with LEGO
  9. Bring toys outside to play with
  10. Do puzzles
  11. Set up a lemonade stand
  12. Count/sort the money in your piggy bank
  13. Practice jump rope
  14. Play hopscotch
  15. Set-up dominos
  16. Pull weeds from the garden
  17. Water plants
  18. Go on a bike ride
  19. Ride scooters
  20. Practice tying shoes
  21. Practice drawing
  22. Write a book
  23. Take a nap outside
  24. Find shapes in the clouds
  25. Create a scavenger hunt for a neighbor friend
  26. Make-up a play
  27. Play restaurant {with pretend food}
  28. Make a card to mail to a friend or grandparent
  29. Make a cootie catcher
  30. Play in the bath tub
  31. Clean your room
  32. Play with pet
  33. Have a dance party
  34. Create with toothpicks and marshmallows
  35. Draw a self-portrait or a family portrait
  36. Play a board game
  37. Fill bird feeders and record what the birds you see look like in a journal
  38. Make a collage from old magazines
  39. Play “don’t touch the ground” with a balloon
  40. Create an obstacle course — inside or outside
  41. Play hang-man or tic tac toe with a friend
  42. Practice hula hooping
  43. Have a jumping jack contest
  44. Create with Play-Doh
  45. Play with stamps on paper
  46. Walk around the neighborhood and collect litter
  47. Make a blanket fort
  48. Plan a picnic in the yard
  49. Dust, sweep or mop!
  50. Play frisbee
  51. Create an fly paper airplanes
  52. Play freeze tag with friends
  53. Draw a picture of your pet
  54. Make friendship bracelets
  55. Play school
  56. Trade toys with neighbor friends
  57. Run through the sprinkler
  58. Play duck-duck goose
  59. Create a tower with paper and solo cups
  60. Play a sport in the yard
  61. Bowl with water bottles and a baseball
  62. Have a tea party
  63. Play with rice bin
  64. Play hide-and-seek
  65. Decorate a cardboard box from the recycling
  66. Make cereal necklaces
  67. Practice letters in salt inside a tray
  68. Paint rocks
  69. Create with craft sticks, pom poms and pipe cleaners
  70. Play Eye Spy
  71. Make hand puppets out of paper lunch bags and put on a show
  72. Clean your room, or have a competition with siblings to see who can do it the fastest
  73. Create a fairy garden with supplies from home
  74. Build a ramp and have Hot Wheels cars go down it
  75. Play water balloon baseball with a pool noodle
  76. ‘Paint’ with water on the sidewalk
  77. Make a carwash for toy cars
  78. Create boats from recycled items and see if they float in a bucket of water
  79. Look for four-leaf clovers
  80. Do a random act of kindness
  81. Make a bird feeder with recycled supplies
  82. ‘Paint’ with shaving cream on the driveway
  83. Build an outdoor fort with sticks and branches
  84. Have a crazy hair-do contest
  85. Make a magic wand using items found in nature
  86. Try to find items around the house for every letter in the alphabet
  87. Trace each other’s body outline with chalk
  88. Play car wash with bikes
  89. Make a craft using paper plates
  90. Build a catapult and launch marshmallows from it
  91. Have a The Greatest Showman sing-a-long
  92. Play Simon Says
  93. Create a daisy or dandelion chain necklace
  94. Catch butterflies or fireflies
  95. Hide treasure, make a map, and make someone go find it
  96. Thumb wrestle
  97. Practice juggling
  98. Search for animal footprints
  99. Play rock, paper, scissors
  100. Have a book exchange with neighbors

Go ahead and follow this link to a printable version of this: 100 Screen-Free Ideas For Kids To Fight Boredom

Additionally, make sure to check out this list of FREE things to do to encourage outside play!

What is your go-to “I’m bored” advice?

Our 2018 Summer Bucket List

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We LOVE making a big summer bucket list each year to gear up for the seasonal fun ahead. Although our lists are usually a bit ambitious to get through, we love having a guideline for things to do when we have an open day or boredom strikes.

I’m super excited to re-visit some of our old favorites, and throw in some new things to do too. I had a hard time stopping, so I’m sure there will be plenty of random adventures too!

Make sure to share with us with what is on your summertime fun list 🙂

Our 2018 Summer Bucket List

What’s on your summer bucket list?

Southeast Michigan Summer Concert Series

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One of my favorite posts to write the past three years has been a BIG list of FREE summer concerts. First, because I love lists. Second, because nothing beats live music.

Community concerts are the perfect way to introduce your child to the performing arts and let them burn energy by dancing and enjoying the music. Some of my favorite summer memories have been dancing with my kids to live music. It’s admirable how much they don’t care what others think. We could all take a page from their book 😉

This year, I’m collaborating with several local bloggers to bring you lists of FREE Southeast Michigan summer concert series. Make sure to check back often because we will add to our lists as concert information becomes available!

I’m covering Livingston County. See my fellow bloggers for what’s happening near you:

Southeast Michigan Summer Concert Series

BRIGHTON

Millpond Concert Series

Visit the Millpond in downtown Brighton for live music. All concerts run from 7-9 p.m. with a pre band show starting at 6:30 p.m.

  • July 9: Moose and da Sharks
  • July 16: Magic Bus
  • July 23: Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Jonnies
  • July 30: Paradise Band with the Blues Brothers
  • August 6: Toppermost
  • August 13: 50 Amp Fuse
  • August 20: The Persuasion Band
  • August 27: Steve King and the Dittlies

HARTLAND

Cromaine Library Summer Concert Series

Visit Hartland Music Hall for live music on Wednesday nights. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music begins at 7 p.m. Bring a picnic or pick up some brats & dogs from the Ranger’s 4-H.

  • June 28: Steve King & The Dittilies
  • July 5: Just Around The Corner
  • July 12: Legacy Tribute Show
  • July 19: Jill Jack
  • July 26: Remix
  • August 2: Toppermost

HOWELL

Rock The Block

Visit downtown Howell for food and FREE music. Live Music takes place outdoors at 2FOGS Pub back Courtyard, Cobb Hall Insurance’s patio, in front of Cleary’s Pub and the alley behind Dairy Queen. Festivities continue rain or shine as multiple music venues have indoor options.

June 7: 

  • Cobb Hall Insurance: The Flutter & Wow | 6-8 p.m.
  • Peanut Row (Behind Carriage House): Karley Davidson | 6-8 p.m.
  • Cleary’s Pub: Jody Raffoul Band | 7-9 p.m.
  • 2FOGS Pub: Shawn Riley Band | 7-9 p.m.
Other dates: July 7, August 2 — Musical acts TBA

Concerts at the Courthouse

A variety of local area musicians take center stage every Friday night throughout the summer on the Courthouse lawn. Concerts are from 7-9 p.m.

  • June 30: The Magic Bus
  • July 7: Rhythm Society Orchestra
  • July 14: Rusty Wright Blues Band
  • July 21: Sonic Freeway
  • July 28: Steve King & The Dittilies
  • August 4: Alan Turner & the Steel Horse Band
  • August 11: The Accidentals
  • August 18: Air Margaritaville
  • August 25: Toppermost

PINCKNEY

*Waiting on details for the Hootin’ In The Park summer concert series*

Which concert are you most looking forward to?

Our Family’s 2017 Summer Bucket List

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It’s easy to not let summer boredom creep in…Just make a bucket list! I love these lists for reminding me of things I can do with the kids throughout the course of our special time together.

Our weekends are filling up quickly with weddings and road trips, but we hope to take in some lazy days just playing with friends in addition to starting swim classes at Goldfish Swim School in Ann Arbor.

Here’s what my kids and I came up with for our list. I’ve posted the words below as well in case you are curious where some of the ideas are from {thanks, Pinterest!}.

With a little planning ahead, I think it’s feasible to accomplish it all, and then some. Cheers to summer adventures!

2017 Summer Bucket List

  • Camping {mom edit: for one night}
  • Paint rocks
  • Mud in our kiddie pool
  • Zoo
  • Baseball game {likely the Lugnuts}
  • Pick strawberries
  • Pick blueberries
  • Feed birds at Kensington {details in a post here}
  • Attend a carnival
  • Have a movie marathon on a rainy day
  • Bowling {with Kids Bowl Free}
  • Make homemade ice cream
  • Practice drawing with YouTube {check out the Art for Kids Hub}
  • Froot Loop necklaces
  • Farmers market
  • Check out a new park
  • Make sand volcanoes at the beach {example}
  • Play Pokemon Go
  • Slumber party
  • Make Kool-Aid rock candy {example}
  • Take a road trip
  • Outdoor concert
  • Take photos in Detroit
  • Zukey Lake Tavern for pizza with a view
  • Family bike ride
  • Michael’s Kid Craft
  • Alphabet scavenger hunt
  • Visit Lake Michigan for a day
  • MSU Children’s Gardens
  • Make rainbow soap bubbles {example}
  • Have a picnic at the lake
  • Chalk the entire driveway
  • Grow caterpillars and hatch butterflies {affiliate link for the kit}
  • Bonfire dinner
  • Skittles experiment {example}

What’s on your list this summer?

Breakfast On The Farm 2017: FREE Family Events in Michigan

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Breakfast on the Farm - Michigan

It’s getting to be that season…Baby animals are being born and it has me thinking about all the amazing farm events on the horizon. Three things I love: Michigan, agriculture and FREE family fun.

Every child deserves the opportunity to visit a farm and see where their food comes from. That’s why I love the Breakfast on the Farm events {a Michigan State University Extension Program}. These FREE events take place every year across the state.

There are only two events this year, but for a farm-loving kiddo, it would be worth a little road trip! These events are very well executed.

Breakfast on the Farm 2017 events include:

Cow Milking at Breakfast on the Farm

Milking a pretend cow at BOTF in Machester in 2015

All of the events run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with breakfast ending at noon. Tickets are FREE and required for the breakfast. Locations where you can pick up your tickets will be posted on the website approximately one month before the event. Mark your calendar now because these events do sell out.

Learn more about what you can expect to see {and taste!} at these events at this post from my archives.

Sheep Shearing at Breakfast on the Farm

Seeing a sheep get sheared at BOTF. My kids loved watching!

Learn more at www.breakfastonthefarm.com or follow them on Facebook.

Put the opportunity for your family to visit a working farm on your family’s bucket list this summer!

Kids Bowl FREE Program {Summer 2017 Registration Now Open!}

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We are always looking for fun physical activities to do as a family, and bowling is a sport we love to do together, especially on a cold or rainy night. My daughters {4 and 6} enjoying going on special daddy-daughter date nights to bowl, and I love getting use out of my super sweet purple bowling shoes {worth the investment, people}!

The only bummer is that as a family of five, bowling can get really pricey for us, which is why I am a huge fan of the Kids Bowl Free program. If you aren’t familiar, it’s a program where kids under the age of 12 can get two free games of bowling per day all summer long {shoe rental is not included}.

Bowling helps kids with visual motor planning and it involves heavy work, which provides great input. It’s great for ALL kids, but especially those with sensory issues like my preschooler. She loves it! It also provides plenty of great opportunities to learn patience, another thing we are always working on here.

Even my toddler loves bowling! Just grab a ramp and set-up bumpers.

The 2017 summer registration is now open. The program runs from May 1 – September 4, 2017.

How To Register for Kids Bowl Free

  • Go to Kids Bowl Free and pick your state.
  • Select your nearest bowling alley from a list of participants (they are listed by city). Local readers: There are more than 75+ Michigan alleys listed.
  • Fill out the registration form.
  • You’re all set! You will receive a weekly email with your coupons at the start of each week.
  • Present your phone or printed version of the coupon at the alley where you are registered. (FYI – You may start getting emails from the bowling alley about upcoming programs, otherwise, the organization promises to not sell emails.)

Another thing to consider is adding a family pass, which is $26.95 for two people and allows for parents to get the same deal — two games per time. You can also just buy a 1-person add-on, or even up to 3 or four so grandparents can get in on the fun as well. {Tip: Save 20% off the Family Pass with code Refer20}

These savings can add up really quickly for a larger family, especially if you go a few times each month. For our family, I love having a little more budget for bowling alley pizza 😉

Sign up early and take advantage of the great savings. Have fun!

This is not sponsored content, however, affiliate links are included. When you click on the links, you help support this blog.

Family Fun In The Sun {+ Giveaway to The Henry Ford // Greenfield Village ENDS 7/27}

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The post below is sponsored by Meijer and Coppertone. All opinions expressed are my own.

Summer Fun

We are inching closer to the halfway point in the summer…Crazy right?! Can’t believe I’ll have a kindergartener in the fall!

Every summer, I make a bucket list. I love doing this because it helps give me ideas on what to do with the kids, and provides a big picture of what we need to plan and what adventures we can do when the kids are in the mood to get out.

This year’s list is quite ambitious, but I’m happy to report we’re down to half the list. Turns out my kids love adventures just as much as their mama, and we’re having a blast checking things off.

Making this list was a great reminder of how the little things make kids happiest during summer…The girls loved making slime and are looking forward to a picnic with McDonald’s. They came up with some fun ideas! Summer Bucket List

Since so many places are outside, we are always sure to load up on sunscreen for our adventures. My mom has had skin cancer removed, so it’s not something I take lightly, and my kids ALWAYS remind me by saying “don’t forget sumscreen, mom!” – LOL. I love that they are growing up with skin care on the brain because I suffered way too many burns as a kid and am sure I will pay in the years ahead.

Kinley and Sunscreen My trick to remembering is to load up on sunscreen before we go somewhere. I load the kids up in the van and apply it there. I love this trick because the kids are contained and won’t run off as I apply it 😉 It also gives the sunscreen time to dry before we’re exposed to the sun.

Since my dad lives on a lake, we are at the beach several times each week. I always make sure to re-apply when we stop to have lunch to allow some dry time before hitting the water again. We go through a TON of it each summer, so it’s important to me it’s affordable. The Clearly Sheer line from Coppertone is my personal favorite! I like the spray for my back when there aren’t other adults nearby to help me apply.

Sunscreen Regardless of all the scary articles you read online about sunscreen, fact is: Not wearing ANY at all is the worse choice you can make. As science has shown, nobody has ever died from wearing sunscreen, but someone dies each hour from melanoma. Make the smart choice and wear it!

Coppertone products are available at Meijer. Make sure to check your mPerks before shopping!

GIVEAWAY

I’ve partnered with Meijer and Coppertone to send one lucky person on a family fun summer adventure! One winner will receive tickets to be used either at The Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village.
Fun in the Sun + Giveaway to The Henry Ford

Enter using the form below. Giveaway ends on July 27, 2016 at midnight. Best of luck!

4 Tickets to Greenfield Village

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