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Ice Palace Maze in Stillwater (January 22 – February 28)

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Stillwater Ice Palace Maze
 
Though Ice Castles isn’t happening in Minnesota this winter, there is another similar event coming to Stillwater, Minnesota (where Ice Castles was in 2017 and 2018).
 
It’s the Ice Palace Maze, and it’s coming to Stillwater!
 
This is going to be a safe, outdoor family winter event!
 
Here are the details:
  • The maze is constructed with over 1500 ice blocks!
  • 114 x 72 feet in size
  • 8 foot high perimeter wall surrounds and keeps secret the 1/2 mile of twisty, fun passages inside!

After you conquer the maze, there’s a 36-feet long ice slide you can ride if you choose (not required).

Visitors are limited to 100 per hour for safe distancing.

There’s also an Ice Bar where adults can get drinks, photo opps with princesses, hot chocolate and s’mores, ice sculptures and more!

When:

January 22nd – February 28th (weather permitting!)

  • Tuesday-Friday 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

  • Saturday-Sunday 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Location:

Zephyr Theatre Parking Lot
601 Main Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082

Pricing:

  • Kids 4 and under: FREE!

  • Ages 5 yrs through 12 yrs: $10

  • Ages 13 yrs through 100 yrs: $15

  • Kids over 100: FREE!

There’s FREE parking on the north side of the theatre, the city lot at Laurel and Main, or on the street.

Visit their website for info: https://icepalacemaze.com/.

Stay tuned for my review!!!!

Not sure you want to brave the cold for this one? 

Check out my list of drive-thru events happening now through February!

Minnesota Winter Drive Thrus 2021

Mocha Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe

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Mocha Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe

Hot Cocoa bombs are super popular right now, and I’m excited to share a special recipe with you that combines the fun of hot cocoa bombs with my favorite drink – COFFEE!

They’re Mocha Hot Chocolate Bombs, and here’s the recipe (print at the bottom, if you wish)!

Mocha Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe

Supplies needed

Chocolate mold

Ingredients

1 Cup chocolate chips
6 Tbsp hot chocolate mix
3 Tsp instant coffee
Small amount of white chocolate chips to drizzle
Mini marshmallows
Makes 3 bombs

[Read more…]

Target RedCard Deal: $10 off a $100 Purchase (through January 23rd)

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Target RedCardTarget RedCard holders! Right now you can save $10 off a $100 in-store or online purchase!

It’s valid one time through January 23rd, 2021.

Be sure to add it to your free Target Circle account!

With a RedCard, you can save an extra 5% on every purchase too!

I love mine – sign up here!

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

Free “Every Meal” Bags of Food Available through January in the Twin Cities

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Every Meal food bag

I love this. Every Meal, formerly the Sheridan Story, was created in Minnesota to fight child hunger but providing weekend food to kids in need.

Every Meal has provided free food bags at community sites in the area, and they’re offering a Winter Meal Program where anyone can go to a participating site in the Twin Cities and ask for a food bag. 

These food bags are available at many sites through January or at least while supplies last.

These food bags include shelf-stable food. 

Their website has an interactive map to help you find a convenient location.

How to get the food?

Simply go to the front desk and ask for a bag of food. No questions will be asked.

Note that hours vary by location.

Learn more here.

Lowest-Priced Tickets for the Crayola Experience Mall of America

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Crayola Experience Mall of America Yay! The Crayola Experience at the Mall of America is open again! They opened safely on Saturday, January 16th, 2021. And you can get the LOWEST-priced tickets via my link!

Their new hours are Wednesdays-Sundays, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. However, they’re also open on Monday, January 18th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Monday, February 15th for Presidents Day. Both days their hours are 11:00am – 5:00pm.

Keeping everyone safe!

And to keep everyone safe, they continue to implement employee and customer protocols including:

· Requiring face masks for employees and guests 3 years and older.

· Restricting occupancy to 25 percent capacity.

· Entry screenings for employees and guests, including temperature checks.

· Clear bags for any personal belongings.

· Recommended cashless transactions to reduce physical contact.

· Signage to facilitate a minimum of 6 feet physical distancing.

· Enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols. · Additional hand sanitizer stations.

Get Discounted Tickets!

You can get the LOWEST-PRICED tickets via my special link!

You can get $17.50 tickets (discounted down from $22.99 – $24.99):

EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR you can get DISCOUNTED Crayola Experience Mall of America tickets through my special link! Tickets are $17.50 (regularly $22.99 – $24.99) These tickets are good every day:

  • Just click on my personalized online store web link (URL) and enter the access code TCFM.  (Or visit https://tickets.crayolaexperience.com and enter my personalized store name: Twin Cities Frugal Mom)
  • You’ll be able to purchase and print the tickets right away, saving you time waiting at the entrance turnstiles and bypassing ticket booth lines! And they’re valid for up to a year.
  • Note that children under age 3 are FREE

Annual pass and valid general admission ticket expirations have been extended, and they also offer annual passes. You can purchase these through my link as well!

Crayola Experience Mall of America Clay

My Review of the Crayola Experience Intergenerational Fun at the Crayola Experience

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)  

Free Admission to National Parks on These 6 Days in 2021

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Free NPS Days 2021

What a great year to experience all nature has to offer! Though many indoor places are closed, national and state parks are open. And on select days each year, you can get FREE admission to all national parks nationwide!

On six days in 2021, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. 

Here are the days to visit a park for FREE in 2021!

January 18: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 17: First day of National Park Week
August 4: One year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 25: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

There are 5 national parks in Minnesota including Voyageurs National Park in International Falls.

Learn more here.

Want more outdoor fun tips?

Get Outdoors More in Minnesota with the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge!

1000 Hours Outside

Print this FREE Winter Scavenger Hunt!

Free Printable Winter Scavenger Hunt

Sloth Valentine Paper Craft for Kids

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Adorable Sloth Valentine Paper Craft

Sloths are super cute and popular – have your kids let you know this yet?

Mine have! So much that we had to see one at SeaQuest in Roseville, MN when they opened in 2019, which was so much fun. (Psst: You can get a great deal for admission and a 15-minute sloth interaction for $25 per person right now. Check out their current deals!)

SeaQuest Roseville

If your kids love sloths like mine do, here’s a super easy, fun sloth paper craft for them to do for Valentine’s Day, or anytime they want to show some sloth love!

You’ll need some simple supplies like colored craft/construction papers, glue, and scissors. I’ve provided the free printable template and instructions below!

Sloth Hugging Valentine Craft

List of Supplies:

  1. Colored craft papers
  2. Craft glue
  3. Pencil
  4. Scissors
  5. Sloth Valentine Craft Template – Print here!

Instructions

Sloth Craft Items

Select craft papers for the sloth pattern. We’re using light brown colored craft paper for the body and hand patterns and a slightly different shade of brown paper for the eye patches. Use cream colored paper for the face (round shape) and the half-circular shape (chest).

[Read more…]

SeaQuest Roseville is open! Family 4-pack & tokens for $49, Meet a Sloth & other deals

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Not long after it opened in 2019, our family visited SeaQuest in Roseville and had a great time. There were so many animals from both land and sea to see, and we had some interactive experiences with the sloth and kinkajou! Plus I went snorkeling with stingrays!

And after being closed for a couple months due to COVID-19, they just opened on Friday, January 15th! 

But the animals have still been there through this pandemic and are anxious to be visited again! 🙂

They are also following all applicable laws and regulations concerning COVID-19 safety.

SeaQuest Groupon

But you can also get a great deal right now on Groupon! [Read more…]

Take a Kid Ice Fishing for Free in Minnesota January 16 – 18, 2021

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This weekend, January 16 – 18 – coinciding with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend – it’s Take A Kid Ice Fishing Weekend!

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are encouraging families to try out ice fishing together – for free!

Minnesota residents can fish or spear fish for free when accompanied by a child age 15 or under.

Learn about fishing basics, check regulations and find places to fish using LakeFinder at Fish Minnesota.

Trout fishing is also an option for the weekend. A trout stamp is only required to fish for trout when an angling license is also required. (Because people fishing with a kid don’t need a license on Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend, the stamp requirement also does not apply.)

Learn more on the DNR website.

eMeals 14-Day Free Trial (& a Glimpse of My Subscription!)

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Have you tried eMeals? 

It’s been around for several years, but I’ve been hearing about it so much I decided to give it a try!

What is it?

eMeals is an app that allows you to pick a meal plan based on your preferences, how you like to cook, and how many people are in your family. You can pick and choose your meals from the meal plan, and it automatically makes a shopping list for you. PLUS – you can order groceries directly from the app!

eMeals How it Works

Right now you can sign up for a FREE 2-week trial. I signed up so I could see what it’s like and check it out for myself.

So far, I’m impressed with all the yummy meal options and how easily it works. And you can switch between them anytime.

[Read more…]