Fun for Kids Atlanta: Nutin' But Fun Woodstock, GA

UPDATE:  As of March 2019 (most recent time I've been over in Woodstock), Nutin' But Fun is closed)

Last week David & I were invited to visit Nutin' But Fun, a new party center/playplace in Woodstock.  Located near the intersection of Hwy 92 & Canton Rd, it is easy to find, in a large building with brightly colored letters!  Once inside it's a huge room full of all kinds of FUN!

Like most play places, kids store their shoes in a cubby. (Note: Kids must have socks; adults only need socks if they plan to play on the inflatables.)  They have several large inflatables, including a BIG slide, a Toddler-only area, and even a unique inflatable Laser Tag course!

There's also a huge arcade, featuring video games, skee-ball, basketball and lots of ride-on cars, etc! David had so much fun checking things out in their arcade.  We even played Galaga together! Many of the games give tickets which kids can exchange for prizes at the front desk.  If you get hungry from all that playing and running around, they have snacks and drinks available for very reasonable prices.  The restrooms are clean and offer changing areas for little ones.  This place is SO family-friendly! It won't break the bank to bring the kids and enjoy yourselves!

They have two festive party rooms available, so make sure to check out their birthday party packages!  The staff at Nutin' But Fun is helpful and very friendly, and I was very impressed with how things were handled the day we visited.  Nutin' But Fun is also preparing to open a video gaming room for teens that will have several different gaming consoles and chairs for players to compete and play together.  I love that it's not just for younger kids - they will have something for kids of all ages to do in a safe, family-friendly environment!

It's such a safe place to let your kiddos run and play while you sit on one of the comfy banquette seats, or at one of their tables and chairs.  Another thing I loved - they have kid-sized picnic tables! We frequent LOTS of playplaces in Gwinnett, and this is the only place in metro-Atlanta that I've visited which offers seating that is specifically made for little ones.  Impressive!  They took care of all the details.  If you live in Cobb, North Fulton or Cherokee Counties, you are not far from Nutin' But Fun! We live on the other side of town, in NE Gwinnett, and found it to be well worth the drive to get there.  Please check out Nutin' But Fun - your kids will thank you!

Nutin' But Fun 

9533 Main Street Woodstock, GA 30188

Tel: 770.249.3125

Email: nutinbutfun4@gmail.com

CONTEST TIME! JUST FOR LOCAL METRO-ATLANTANS:  I'm giving away a certificate good for admission for two and 20 tokens at Nutin' But Fun.  To be eligible to win, you MUST live in this area. Enter using the rafflecopter widget below:

Jazzed-Up Pimento Cheese

So happy it is the weekend again! : )  We have a teacher furlough day on Monday, so the kids are off.  That means this is a fabulous three-day weekend!

Today we are going to a potluck get-together at our friends Stephanie & Jamie's home in Forsyth County.   Steph & I met our junior year of high school, went to Berry College together for one year, and have remained friends through thick and thin ever since!  I love these get-togethers at their home - lots of friends, delicious food, and lots of laughter & friendship!  We try to have these every few months at their home, and it's something we all look forward to.

Today I'm making my Buffalo Chicken Dip (double batch!),  Creme de Menthe Brownies, & Jazzed Up Pimento Cheese for sandwiches.  Pimento Cheese is kind of a staple here in the south.  This Pimento Cheese is my version of a local cafe's amazing Pimento Cheese. The now-closed Red Sky Cafe in Buford served their Pimento Cheese on biscuits, mixed in with hot grits, and even offered a grilled version with a side of strawberry jelly.  It is SO good - there's a little kick from the jalapenos and a little crunch from the chopped pecans.  Heavenly, I'm telling you!

Jazzed Up Pimento Cheese  

• 8 oz block of sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 4 oz jar diced pimentos, finely chopped (because I don't like them big - I chop them til they are almost non-existent, lol)
• appx 1/2 cup mayonnaise - we prefer Duke's mayo, or Kraft's Olive Oil Mayo if I'm out of Duke's.
• dash of salt
• 1 Tbsp of the juice from a jar of jalapeno slices  (can also add chopped jalapenos,  or more of the juice to taste)
• 1/3 c chopped pecans

Mix it all up, then store in covered container in the fridge overnight.  I like to slice a package of soft rolls (the kind in the little foil pan, found on the bread aisle) in half, and take the top half off.  Spread the bottom layer of rolls with PC, replace top half of bread, and toast in the oven til brown and PC is bubbly.  Serve with a side of strawberry jelly, just like they used to do at Red Sky in Buford!!  YUM!  Also good with crackers, or on celery.

Halloween Party Food!

So it's time to share last year's get together with our great friends The Adams.  I've known Steph since December 1984, when we moved to my new high school in the middle of my junior year.  We became fast friends, attended the same college for a year together, and remained friends throughout the years.  Now she is married with a teenage daughter and we try to get together a couple times a year. (In fact, they are the ones who invited us along on the trip to Orlando the day after Christmas last year!)

Last year was our 2nd annual Halloween get together.  We do snacks, dinner and desserts, while catching up and watching scary movies.  Paranormal Activity, Mirrors, etc....  plus lots of candy, trick or treating and kids running in and out throughout the night!

So here are the pics....I can't believe I didn't get a wide shot of the food table!!

I know my Grandmother would not like knowing her candelabra holding my "bloody dripping candles"!  I simply bought a red candlestick, lit it, then let the red wax drip onto these white candlesticks (over a paper plate to catch drips).  The candelabra is one of my favorite things from Grandmother.  My sister has the other one - they sat on Grandmother's buffet and when we were little girls visiting Papa & Grandmother in Orlando, we'd always swing the crystals and listen to them clink together!! 

My coffee table served as the apps table.  We had a shrimp cocktail platter, plus fruit and veggie platters.  I made a 7 layer Mexican dip and the green goddess dressing was squirted on in circles, then added the web design over them! 

My puking pumpkin.  He's puking my turkey bacon cheeseburger filling as the dip.  I served this with small rolls to make mini sandwiches.

This pumpkin is filled with "pumpkin poop" - they are just sprinkled donut holes from Dunkin Donuts!

Jack o'lantern pizza using sharp cheddar shapes.  I'll use larger pieces of cheese next time!

More of my food table - the sticks with eyeballs are drink stirrers,  the eyeballs in the bowl are to float in drinks or just eat - they were gummy. I had extra black plastic tumblers to hold my black cutlery.    The sign in the back was from Dollar Tree.  I used a water & metallic bronze paint "wash" it to give it a more weathered look. (originally stark white!)

My zombie girl

So sad - this was the only pic I got of my soldier boy - and he literally bounced out of the frame - too much sugar!

The Aftermath of our appetizer table!

One of my hurricanes filled with candy corns and creepy spiders from Pier One!

Fall Mantle, 2010

 oops- here is another food picture....

Apple nachos - sliced apples topped with melted marshmallow fluff, drizzled with caramel sauce, then topped with chocolate chips and sprinkles!

 I hope you enjoyed this peek at last year's party/dinner.  I didn't do as much with the food as the year before, but we sure had a great night with great friends!  Can't wait til this year's event - I'm still planning the menu but it's coming together nicely!  What's your Halloween specialty? Do you host a party or go to someone else's? Leave me a comment, or better yet, a link to your ideas! : )

Holiday Party Recipes

The first two are from my favorite Georgia girl, Paula Deen & her boys, Jamie & Bobby.
Pecan-Crusted Cranberry Cheese Balls

8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
3 Tbsp softened cream cheese
3 Tbsp dried sweetened cranberries
2/3 c finely chopped pecans

Mix together cheeses and cranberries in a bowl.  Form into small, bite-size balls, then roll in the pecans.  You'll have to press gently to get the pecans to stick into the balls.  Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use.  Let them come to room temperature before serving.  Stick a cocktail toothpick into each, you can serve with crackers, fruit, and nuts on a platter - yum!

Turtles

1 lb caramel candies
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
8 oz salted pecans
12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Grease 2 cookie sheets.  In a double boiler, or microwave, melt caramels and butter stirring frequently until smooth.
On the cookie sheets, arrange 36 groups of 3 or 4 pecans, about 2 inches apart.  Spoon a tsp or so of caramel over the nuts, cool for 15 minutes. 
In double boiler or in the microwave, on low power, melt the chocolate chips, stir until smooth.  Spoon chocolate by tsp over each caramel turtle; spread with a butter knife.  Let candies set at room temp, or you can place in the fridge to set more quickly.  
(You can also use salted cashews or other favorite nuts in place of the pecans)

Holiday Punch
The night before, make ice cubes with an additional bottle of the sparkling grape juice, keep in freezer until serving time

(start this about 2 1/2 hours before serving so it has time to chill)
3 c cold water
3/4 c sugar
1 bottle sparkling grape juice (I like white, but you can use red, as well)
1 cup orange juice
1/2 c lemon juice
3 16 oz chilled bottles 7-up
5 cinnamon sticks

In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar and cinnamon sticks to make a cinnamon simple syrup.  Heat to boiling over medium heat, stir as needed.  Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove & discard cinnamon sticks, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. 

In a large punch bowl, combine the cinnamon syrup, the juices and sodas.  Add the sparkling juice ice cubes from the night before, and garnish with citrus slices, fresh mint leaves, or more cinnamon sticks.  Beautiful and delicious!

Happy Birthday D!!!

What a crazy week it has been! Between dealing with some nuttiness with PTA, to throwing a party together in 3 days, I've been a little frazzled.

David was able to convince us with his constant pleading, and big blue sad puppy eyes that his party neeeeeded to be at Stars & Strikes, the bowling alley/arcade/fun place. Only 3 friends (plus one's little brother) were able to come, so it was just the 4 of them playing bumper cars, laser tag, and then running free in the arcade!! They gave us a sweet party hostess who ran interference for me and handled candle lighting, cupcake handoffs and more!

I made some cupcakes with sprinkles to mimic storebought confetti ones, then added milk chocolate frosting (alas, from a can!)and then added some cute sprinkles from Wilton with purple jimmies, colorful dots and lots of stars. They were really cute.

Goody bags were different this year - no toys or junk that will end up in the trash. Instead I raided my back-to-school box and gave the kids a composition book, a pen with multicolored ink options, a package of mechanical pencils, crayons, ring pops, and assorted candy. His class is focusing heavily on journaling, so I thought that would be a great way to continue the learning at home! Hopefully the kids enjoyed their bags - I know his friend Kennedy did, she sat down at a booth with the crayons and comp. book ready to get busy!!

Here are a few pics ~

Yes, even the birthday boy got a goody bag, though the majority of the candy & ring pops were gone before I got a picture of it!! 

I wish I'd gotten pics of the arcade.  Compared to the ones we had growing up (Goldmine, 2001, etc), and even compared to our usual game place - Chuck E Cheese,  this one was incredible!! They had Guitar Hero, simulation rides (the kids went to a haunted mine on one of those), Dance Dance Revolution, and so much more.  There is even one of those claw game (you get to try to grab Ipods, no less!) that is the size of my closet!!  Can you tell we don't get out to places with arcades much? 

It turned out to be a super-fun night that David will always remember, and Stars & Strikes made it easy by giving us such a great hostess to take care of the details.  Katie wants to have her 17th party at their Boutique bowling lanes, and David said he is having #8 there as well!!

Kids Birthday Parties

Quick question for y'all...

We're trying to put together a small party for David's birthday - his 7th!! For the last three years, he has wanted a Chuck E Cheese party, but this year he is wanting something different. I'm considering a party at the Monkey Joe's jumpy place, or the bowling alley where the kids could play laser tag, bumper cars and arcade games. For 5 kids either of these will run me $100 just to put the kids in the party - not including cake, goody bags, or any extras! I'm just not crazy about having a party at the house - just don't have the room! So I've got to find something - I don't want to spend that much if I don't have to...

So here's where I need help from you...Where do y'all have your kiddos' parties at? I need some ideas, and FAST! What places am I forgetting to check?

Thanks for any feedback - I appreciate your ideas!!

~ Aimee

Halloween party 2009

Last year we had a get-together with another family for Halloween. (It technically wasn't a party - there were only 7 of us!) It was so much fun, and the food and decorations were cute & gross at the same time! lol

Here are some of my favorites!



This little guy is fondly known as the puking pumpkin....nice! That was a yummy cheese & sausage dip our friends brought. Pumpkin was done by moi! Behind him you'll see the marshmallow ghosts topped with chocolate, and some sour gummy worms.



Mmmmm...bloody eyeballs on toast! Gross to look at but delicious to eat - cream cheese, mixed with Italian dressing mix, topped with lovely olive pupils! We had eyeball stirrers for our punch, and a pumpkin bundt cake. (not my best cake!lol)




For the grownups during our scary movie - fruit, cheese, crackers, & a veggie tray with dip!



These little cookie & swiss roll graves were delicious!! There were candy necklaces for the three kids to string, too...



And to fit with the gross theme, this dip, which is usually a mixture of pineapple preserves, horseradish and dry mustard, then served over a block of cream cheese, was blended together. Instead of my Jezebel sauce, it became Jezebel's vomit dip. Nice & classy, right? It tasted good though!!

So now I am planning a similar get-together for this year. I will still have the puking pumpkin, and I am making some cupcakes that will have icing piped on to look like mummy wrapping. The rest of the menu is up in the air! I have been looking at the Top ten Halloween recipes at Taste of Home magazine, where I am a new Field Editor. They have some great ideas! I think I bought half the Halloween department at Walmart the day after Halloween last year!! (Gotta love those 50% off sales!) So this year I have more serving dishes, plates, napkins, and other Halloween decor to use for this get together!

Do you have any fun or unique Halloween recipes? I'd love to see your pictures and recipes of Halloween treats!

I'm linked up to a Halloween Bash Party at:

When the dollar store is a deal...

I love the dollar store. Especially Dollar Tree. We have a great one nearby, and I go about once every two weeks. I used to go without a list - I'd have a few things in mind to pick up, but impulse buys were always picked up too! Now I make a list ~ I keep a running one between trips. Some of the best buys for us at the dollar store:

spices like garlic powder, Italian seasoning, sea salt grinders, pepper grinders, cinnamon sugar

drink mixes (like Crystal light - but different brands)

bottled water 6 & sometimes 12 packs

dishwasher powder detergent - works as well as what I spent $4 or more on at the grocery store!

rolls of blue painter's tape

packing tape

journals

ziploc style bags for lunches or the freezer

gift bags and tissue paper for gifts

party decorations - our store has at least 4-6 themed sets of plates, tablecloths, hats, favors, and more - including princess, army, cars, toy story, etc!

going the day after holidays for 50 cent giftwrap, ornaments, Halloween decor and more!

The biggest tip I can give you - make a list and stick with it - otherwise you'll go in for 3 or 4 items and come out having spent $20 or more!!

What's your favorite thing to buy at the Dollar Store?