Month: November 2008

Rio Grande Scenic Railroad’s North Pole Express Tickets Giveaway

Congratulations to Angela Asch, winner of our interactive toys basket that includes a Poingo book and Kookeys and Tracksters toys. [photopress:northpole.jpg,full,pp_image]My Christmas memories as a child were a magical compendium of family, lights and laughter. Just imagine if I had added in a trip to The North Pole. This holiday season, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is offering a special journey for children – filled with carols, stories, cookies and hot chocolate – with its own version of the North Pole Express. For families on a budget, the trips are the perfect way to entertain and celebrate being together, without worrying about exorbitant costs. During these special rides, the train is illuminated by strands of colorful lights on the engine and in the coach cars. Children are encour...

Family-friendly deals at Colorado’s ski resorts

With the money crunch this year, most of us won’t be traveling abroad anytime soon. But with so many great options in our backyard, why even leave Colorado? Our ski resorts are doing all they can to make our weekend getaways affordable and fun. Telluride, Aspen, Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat are just some of Colorado Ski Country’s 22 resorts that give free daily mountain tours. Some resorts, such as Telluride and Silverton, offer free ice-skating (cost of rental equipment is not included). Some other great deals: [photopress:Solvistakid.jpg,full,pp_image] SolVista Basin is offering a limited Get on the Snow package priced at only $149 for families interested in learning the sport by professional ski instructors. The package includes two days of lessons, rentals and lift tickets. ...

Our Annual Happy Thanksgiving Wishes

[photopress:peacock_1.jpg,full,pp_image] “What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?” ~Erma Bombeck Enjoy your Turkey Day (and annual stuffing)! XOXO The Mamas Editor’s note: I realize baby Maddie is dressed as a peacock. But you try finding a cute picture of a kid dressed up as a soon-to-be-overstuffed slab of meat.

Winter WonderLights = Winter WonderNights

[photopress:winterwonderlights_4.jpg,full,pp_image]I was dying to get their autographs. International celebrities don’t come to the Denver area every day. I held back. Their antlers were slightly intimidating, the language barrier was daunting, and it must be hard to write with hooves. Our family had to settle for the thrill of being within feet of the shaggy and endearing Dasher and Dancer—Santa’s leading reindeer pair. It was a perfect farewell to a brisk evening spent under late-fall stars, surrounded by thousands of brightly beautiful lights at the Wildlife Experience’s new holiday exhibit, Winter WonderLights. The night began with a walk on a light-lined and stroller accessible nature trail which snaked around the main building. Our tightly-bundled bunch marvel...

An Attitude of Gratitude: Don’t Just Express It, Show It This Thanksgiving!

I’ll admit it: I’m not a huge fan of Thanksgiving. Out of all the holidays, it is the one that resonates the least with me. This is probably because it has become very little about gratitude and more about spending the day slaving in the kitchen, only to be rewarded by a football game I do not care about. At least the pumpkin pie isn’t all bad. With recent stressful events in my family’s life, it would be easy to throw a bit of a pity party. But this year, I decided Thanksgiving would be different. Or rather, that I would make a difference. Instead of just expressing gratitude, I vowed I would show gratitude. Two great companies made it very easy for me: World Discovery Box and Caring Corners’ Mrs. Goodbee Dollhouse. [photopress:goodbee_1.jpg,full,pp_image]I a...

Poingo, Kookeys and Tracksters Giveaway–New Twists on Traditional Toys

Congratulations to Cheri R., winner of our child-friendly Sweet Life & Nail Bar giveaway! [photopress:Poingo_BOX_SPREAD.jpg,full,pp_image]In case you’re in denial, Christmas is around the corner. Just ask Costco–they’ve been counting down the days since they put their decorations on display in August. For this week’s Mile High Mamas giveaway, we have a prize-pack of three great products that put a new twist on traditional toys and is valued at more than $60. 1) Poingo™ is the next generation of interactive books from Publications International, Ltd. (PI), the makers of the best-selling Story Reader. Using the pen-shaped Poingo to touch pictures or text on a page, kids ages 3 and up can bring their favorite characters to life with stories, songs, sounds and game...

Mama Blogger of the Month–Laurie of Good Happenings!

[photopress:laurie_1.jpg,full,pp_image]I always thought I led an exciting life. Until I met our Mama Blogger of the Month, Laurie of Good Happenings. This world-traveling, marathon-running mama aspires to one day homeschool her children while teaching at a medical school in Vietnam, Thailand, or Peru. 1) Your life redefines busy! You have three young children, two of whom you adopted while juggling medical school. Are both you and your husband currently students? How do you juggle it all? My husband and I are both technically medical students, although I am done with medical school with the exception of one last board exam I’ll take in February (Step 2CS, which was implemented to extort another $1K out of us, make sure we speak English well enough to converse with patients, wash our ...

When The Past Comes Back

I know I haven’t gotten crazy personal here on Mile High Mamas, but to understand this post, you have to understand that my childhood was not all fun and games. My dad was a fairly abusive alcoholic with a narcissist mother who stuck her nose in everything right up until his will was read when he passed away in 1981. Can you imagine how *my* mother felt as *her* mother-in-law tried to take the house away from us? There is so much garbage there in my childhood, I am still – to this day – sifting through it with the help of a therapist. But the main point I want to make today is not about my past. It’s about my present. It’s about me, and how I act with my son, and holy hell – how much of those crazy people did I pull down from the gene pool anyway? Anothe...

Where’s the Beef?

Oy, Motrin-gate. If you haven’t heard about it, here’s the quick-and-dirty version: Motrin created an ad linking babywearing to back pain as a marketing tactic. Many moms were not amused. Personal disclaimer: I thought the ad was off the mark. Inconsistent message, inaccurate message, and inadvertently condescending delivery. To Motrin’s credit, they have pulled the ad. But it got me thinking about how I’ve always been critical of advertising. I take notice of what speaks to me, and what annoys the living crap out of me. I love ads with great music. Car commercials often have fantastic soundtracks, and I’ve used Google more than once to find out the name and artist of the song playing in the background. Mitsubishi, for one, has had some rockin’ ads. I al...

It’s the little things that matter

“Mom! At school I got to visit the Treasure Box!” “Really, Reed? What did you get?” “I got this ring. It’s a very special ring.” “What so special about it, Honey?” “Well, this ring has the power to deSTROY the WORLD!” “Wow. That’s some ring. How does it do that?” “It explodes the WHOLE PLANET!” “Really. Why would you want to do that?” “I don’t. I just like having the power.” “I’m glad we’re safe, then. Reed, what is it exactly that saved the world from TOTAL DESTRUCTION?” “Chicken nuggets. I love chicken nuggets too much to destroy them.” If your child had a finger on the button, what would save the world from TOTAL DESTRUCTION?

The day my daughter and I almost froze to death beside a hot tub

[photopress:doghouse.jpg,full,pp_image]OK, so maybe that title is a wee bit of an exaggeration. More like the day Haddie and I almost lost a few fingers to frostbite as my two-year-old son Bode watched us as he played chess. You didn’t know a toddler could pass a pawn? Me neither. A little bit of background: my family recently went to Keystone, which is one of the few major resorts in Colorado I had yet to visit since moving here six years ago. I fell in love with the area and am already planning a return trip in January to ski and skate on their huge lake, which boasts the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor skating rink in North America. And for this Canuck who grew up skating on frozen lakes and rivers, this will surely provide warm memories of my frozen nose hairs. [photopress:IMG...

Kid-Friendly Sweet Life Nail Bar & Lounge Mani/Pedi Giveaway for Mom!

Congratulations to Heather Craven, winner of our U*Neaks customizable footwear giveaway! [photopress:sweetlife.jpg,full,pp_image]Someone has finally figured it out: moms like to be pampered. But with little rugrats in tow, we do not often get the luxury. That’s why I am a huge fan of Sweet Life Nail Bar & Lounge in Stapleton. I was at Mile High Mamas’ inaugural Mama’s Night Out when I first heard of this salon that has a children’s play area. Yes, my mom friends: you can have your cake and eat it, too. Or more like red, white and sparkling wines, mimosas or sparkling water, which is what they serve by the glass. More elegant than the traditional nail salon, but not nearly as expensive as the typical spa, Sweet Life Nail Bar & Lounge is 2,000-square feet of...

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