Murfreesboro Mama (2024)

10/05/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER (May-cember edition)
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Most of my mama conversations the last few weeks have centered around the idea that May is the new December-- Graduations! Birthdays! End of year celebrations! Mother's Day! Vacations! It's a busy time to say the least. In the middle of it all, I hope you can stop and breathe a little. Summer's comin' for sure, but I don't want to miss this middle season of cicadas and rain puddles (ponds?), flower cuttings and cold-crop harvests, veggie plantings and garden weeding, as we careen towards the next thing 🌸
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We haven't made it to strawberry-picking yet, and I'm a little nervous we might miss this season, so I am overjoyed at the return of famer's markets! Look ahead at what's going on this weekend and get ready to welcome farm-fresh offerings back into the city.
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TODAY: Catch May Demonstrations & Activities at the Village with Cannonsburgh Village from 10am-1pm! This is a fun, FREE way to get to know this historic destination in the city with live music, hands-on activities, and live presentations from local artisans.
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TODAY: Rutherford County Farmers Market returns at Agri-Park from 7-noon! Purchase meats, produce and baked goods from area farmers while also perusing craft goods by local makers. Come to shop, stay to play at the picnic grounds, fishing pond, and Master Gardener's demonstration beds.
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TODAY at 5pm get ready for summa' time at the Beach Party! 60 tons of sand will create the beach before it is used throughout the park systems. Come out for FREE music, dancing, and games for all ages!
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SATURDAY grab your bags and baskets to pick flowers, foods, gifts, and exquisite treats from the Murfreesboro Saturday Market 8am-12pm on downtown's public square.
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SATURDAY head to Barfield Wilderness Station from 9am-3pm for their Spring Native Plant Sale and Conservation in Action Expo! Purchase native plants for a bargain and learn how you and your family can care for the city's green spaces.
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SATURDAY ages 12 and up can get in the water with Parks and Recreation at the Kayak Float 10a-12p at Volunteer Park. $5 per person; register at communitypass.net.

ANNNNNDDD of course Sunday is Mother's Day🌸Whether you brunch, lunch, or just gather with some girlfriends or a few loved ones, I hope you feel so loved. You, mamas, are so important to those around you. Thank you for the work, love and care you give to your families and community. Blessings to you this weekend (and every day).

Have an event everyone and their kids (or moms?!) would love? Please tag Murfreesboro Mama or share in the links below. Happiest May Weekend, everyone!

📷:Play with Outdoor Murfreesboro

26/04/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER
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"Why is April like that?" asked my son this week. He meant the hotcoldhotcoldraindryhotcoldrain conundrum we've been finding ourselves in. All I know is that April showers are bringing the flowers, and well, I'm not too sad that it's not 90 degrees QUITE yet 😅
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What's been your favorite part of spring? We can't get enough of our flower gardens and we're excited to start some seeds this week for late summer fruits and veggies. Our favorite time of year is officially here.
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Get out in this special season with fun events around town this weekend. Got an event to add? Drop it in the comments and tag Murfreesboro Mama for a share! Happy Friday, everyone!
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NOW-SATURDAY: Crafters of all ages rejoice! Join the Crafters Exchange this weekend at Lane Agri-Park for discounted craft supplies, activities, door prizes and more in a fun-filled environment.
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TODAY: Head over to the Homeschool Business Fair at 603 W. Burton St. from 10am-2pm for homemade baked goods, handcrafted home items, homemade toys and more!
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SATURDAY: Rediscover Cannonsburgh Village at their annual Pioneer Days Celebration! See one of the best collections of demonstrators in blacksmithing, weaving, basket weaving, pottery, broom making, and other early arts while catching live-music, clogging performances, art presentations and more. FREE
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TODAY-SATURDAY: Get in the mood with Fest at Fountains at Gateway, featuring the musical talents of Rutherford County's middle and high school students. FREE
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SATURDAY: Take it outside with a hike to Machine Falls Hike with Outdoor Murfreesboro at 9am. This moderate hike is for all ages and is a great introduction to local water fall chasing. Cost is $15 and registration is required.
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SATURDAY: Wanna try disc golf? Smyrna, TN Parks and Recreation will teach the basics at the Sharp Springs Natural area from 1-3:30pm. Cost is $2/person and kiddos under 18 need to be with a guardian.

Happy Weekend!

📷: Cannonsburgh Village

19/04/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER (Earth Day 🌍 edition!)
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There seems to be magic everywhere, with birds nesting, flowers blooming, and all that cool water rippling in the river and creeks. We've enjoyed adventures on the Greenway and catching blooms wherever we can find a garden. A perfect time for Earth Day! Look ahead to where to find family fun this weekend and special Earth Day events around town:
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SATURDAY: Head to Murfreesboro's Public Square for Rutherford County's Earth Day Celebration from 10am-2pm. This FREE event will feature a Kid's Zone, free dogwood trees provided by Middle Tennessee Electric, scavenger hunt, and SWAG bags for early birds.
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SATURDAY: Pull up a lawn chair and get ready to dig into the 2024 Boro BBQ Festival from 11-4pm at Tennessee-Miller Coliseum. Admission is FREE, with payable options at food trucks and vendors.
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SATURDAY: Know a rising fashionista? MTSU Runway Fashion Show ~ Textiles, Merchandising & Design showcases the talents of its students with innovative designs, clothing styles, and industry glam. Doors open at 5, and tickets are $25 each.
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SATURDAY: Looking for a four-footed friend? PAWS of Rutherford County, TN will host its DOG GONE ADOPTION EVENT from 10am-2pm with a rodeo-theme carnival with popcorn, face painting, photo booth, and even a costume contest! Support PAWS, have a lot of fun, and maybe find a new fur baby to love.
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SATURDAY: Ages 4-12 can get in on a build with the Lego Jr. Build Club at Linebaugh Library at 10am. FREE.
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SATURDAY: Join Outdoor Murfreesboro for Earth Day Mystery Hike at The Wilderness Station at 10am for all ages, OR get in on the ages 10+ Stones River Kayaking at 12pm ($15/person). Contact The Wilderness Station for registration.
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SATURDAY: There are just two more chances to catch World Outreach Church's Outdoor Spring Festival! Head to the grounds this Saturday and next Saturday evening for live worship music, food trucks, lawn games, and bounce houses.
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THROUGH APRIL: Catch the magic at Lucky Ladd Farms' Enchanted Fairy Tale Festival with lots of spritely additions to the farm. Included with general admission.

Know an event everyone and their kiddos will love? Please share in the comments, or tag Murfreesboro Mama in your group! Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

16/04/2024

Let's talk about the Tennessee State Museum....😁

16/04/2024

5 Reasons Why We Really Like Tennessee State Museum
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Have you ever started planning your fieldtrip excursions, only to discover that your plans far outweigh your budget? Museum trips, while UH-mazing, can quickly add up, and add kiddos that are distracted by, say, the water fountains, maybe the investment can feel a little less-than.
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Anyone else? Just my kids? Okay.
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ANYWAY, so while my not-so-little-but-still-little kids needs LOTS of hands-on activities to balance observation skill training, I'm grateful for places like TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM that provide a rich introduction to history, arts, and music for FREE. We've been there twice now to complement our school readings, and the experiences have been a great. Let's talk about the five reasons why we really like this place.
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1. ELEVATED LOCATION
When I was little, I recall descending into the bowels of TPAC to visit the museum. Whew! It made me nervous! The museum's bright new two-story building (completed in 2021) is situated directly across from the Nashville Farmers' Market and Bicentennial Mall. Museum parking is free, or 2 hour slots in the mall are available. In short, it's incredibly close with spacious walkways and great signage. Police and guards patrol the area regularly, so you're also ensured a safe and worry-free visit. No more nerves for mamas and few parking logistics to figure out. Win-win.
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2. EXTRAS
I give this museum a round of applause for their extras-- such as amazing bathrooms that are easy to find and use with little ones, one gorgeous gift shop with grown-up and kid-friendly gifts alike, plenty of benches for tired toes, and one incredible balcony overlooking the mall and downtown. Need a break in the middle of your browsing? No problem here-- step outside for some fresh air, get a small snack on the benches, or take care of the call of nature just a few steps away from the exhibit. I love this building's design.
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3. EYE-CATCHERS
You'll find an excellent introduction to the state from knowledgeable staff to clever scavenger hunts for kids. Exhibits are broken into major areas of the Time Tunnel, Natural History, First Peoples, Forging a Nation, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Change and Challenge, and Tennessee Transforms. My kids were wowed by the Native American canoe and pottery, and they may have tried to get a few busts to talk (we've watched "Night at the Museum" one too many times 😅). Vertical and table tablet-style maps, trivia, and even personal "interview" screens ensure kids can get in on hands-on fun and learning. Screen-sensitive families may object; but in our experience the kids enjoyed doing a few touch-screens while also enjoying the displays for themselves.
Be aware: the exhibit halls are rather dark, while the displays themselves are well-lit. Just a heads-up for little light-sensitive folk.
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4. EARWORMS
The Tennessee Playlist exhibit is really fun for all ages, and a great reminder that our state reigns when it comes to music production! Play tunes from Johnny Cash to Memphis Minnie, Elvis to Taylor Swift, and learn about the legacy that brought recording to the state. See an original Ryman bench, check out a gorgeous Juke Box, and find guitars played by music royalty. Play music trivia on the touch-tablets and put on the headsets to create your own listening party.
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5. EXPERIENCES
With small ones in mind, the museum includes a special children's gallery for all the busy folk just learning about where they live. The brightly lit, inviting space includes a Reel Foot Lake earthquake table, Chattanooga Choo-Choo train table, fossil rubbing station, magna-tile design space, little library, Smoky Mountain climbing station, and even a miniature Farmer's Market with food and carts to handle. It's been a great starting spot for our visits where the rush of wiggles and touchtouchtouch tendencies can have their heyday before we try the larger exhibits.

Each visit to the TN State Museum is memorable, and even though we've lived here all our lives we learn something new every time!

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Ready to go? Visit their FB page or https://tnmuseum.org/ for upcoming exhibits and recurring events like their Story Time, Lunch and Learns, and more!

Have you been to the museum? What did you think?

12/04/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER (Sunshine edition)
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April showers 🌧️bring May flowers🪷but we had cabin fever this week 😅The forecast says sun this weekend so check out where to soak up the great outdoors around town!
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SATURDAY: Head to Lane Agri-Park for "Adventures in Agriculture" from 10a-2p to celebrate all that local agricultural efforts bring to the table. Meet farm animals, play games, browse exhibits, and dig into goodies provides by area farmers. This is a free event, but donations will be accepted for Greenhouse Ministries.
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SATURDAY: Start gardening with Blackman High School's annual plant sale from 9a-2pm! Proceeds benefit the school's FFA program.
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SATURDAY: Get artsy with in April at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring.This FREE day features hands-on activities in their studio, an instrument petting zoo, and a performance by Murfreesboro Little Theatre.
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SATURDAY: Celebrate the season with the family at Worship with Crowder at World Outreach Church! from 4-9pm. The church's evening service will be hosted outside followed by fun activities for the family and music performances by David Crowder. Bring a picnic and plan to stay the evening!
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SATURDAY: Capture magic at Lucky Ladd Farms' Enchanted Fairytale Festival, where unicorns, fairies, and dragons cast a spellbinding experience for guests 🦄🌌
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SATURDAY: Join Smyrna, TN Parks and Recreation for their fun FREE Earth Day program at Sharp Springs Park, Pavilion E, from 1-3pm. Learn about the significance of local plants and animals, meet some critters, and jump into other themed activities.
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SATURDAY: Gather with Outdoor Murfreesboro for their Wildflower Seed Planting at the Wilderness Station at 3pm. $3/Person. Learn about local flora, tour the gardens, and get in on the planting process. Register at https://shorturl.at/efnHQ. 💐

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What did I miss? If you have a fun event everyone and their kids will love, please share a link in the comments and be sure to tag Murfreesboro Mama! Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

(P.S. Does anyone else have these sweet wallflowers popping up in their yard? I'm in love! 👇)

05/04/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER (and Eclipse activities!)
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Happy Friday, mamas 💓How's spring treating you so far? We've been enjoying being *more* comfortable outdoors, while still bundling up or opting for indoor activities when these chilly days hit. My daughter informed me the other day that "it was time to move the winter clothes out of the closet!" not realizing that Tennessee is an all-weather-clothing-all-the-time state. She pulled out her fleece coat to go hiking Wednesday😅
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ANYWAY... Weather or not, there's still lots of fun flowering through the city, as well as a little thing called an ECLIPSE happening on Monday! Check out where you can gather and celebrate this celestial event around town.
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FRIDAY: Start spring with some "zing!" at Outdoor Murfreesboro's Archery for Beginners at the Wilderness Station classes for kiddos 7 and up. Starts at 3pm, $10 a person. Register in the page link.

FRIDAY: Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) hosts its First Friday Star Party, with the theme "Shoot the Moon (with a laser). Great for all ages to get a glimpse at the stars through the university's observatory.

SATURDAY: Who needs more plants? Shop the Oakland FFA Plant Sale- OPENING DAY tomorrow morning starting at 8am and support the school's agriculture program.

SATURDAY: Shop for all your spring looks at the Shabby Lane Spring Emporium at Lane Agri-Park from 10am-3:30pm, with hundreds of crafts, home goods, and fashion accessories created by local artisans and small business owners.

SATURDAYS IN APRIL: World Outreach Church's month-long spring festival means each Saturday's evening service will be hosted outside, followed by an outdoor concert with some of today's favorite worship leaders, and a night of food trucks and family activities.

SATURDAY: Say "g'day!" to the folks at The British Shoppe OFS as they host their grand opening on Smyrna's Front Street. Find exquisite teas, just right British bites, and other delights from across the pond.

🌕🌕🌕While you can eat Moon Pies and see the eclipse at home, make it a party with public events hosted in town! 🌕🌕🌕

MONDAY: Join the Solar Eclipse Party at Technology Engagement Center from 1:30-2:30pm. The Bookmobile will partner with Hobgood Elementary & the Technology Engagement Center to help celebrate the solar eclipse. The first 100 event attendees will receive a pair of eclipse glasses, and there will also be stories and crafts out by the Bookmobile!

MONDAY: Head to the MTSU Observatory from 12:45-2:45pm to see the eclipse through the telescope's protective filters. /

What did I miss? Have a great event or eclipse activity everyone and their kids will love? Please share in the comments below! Happiest Weekend, everyone!

📷: World Outreach Church

29/03/2024

✝️EASTER WEEKEND PLANNER✝️
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Happiest Good Friday, mamas 💓 On this most special of weekends, there are lots of FREE events happening around town to peruse. If you need a break from crowds and candy, I've also included one of my favorite at-home activities to do in the great outdoors 🌷 Click away on the links below and get out for some free family Easter fun this weekend!
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SATURDAY: Easter Egg Hunt @ CCRC! 🐣🐇🐰🪺 from 1-3pm.
SATURDAY: Spring into Easter Market at Mid-TN Expo from 10a-4pm.
SATURDAY: Easter Egg Hunt at Recovery in Christ Church on N. Maney Ave, from 12-2pm.
SATURDAY: Grove Church Easter Egg Hunt at 11am.
SATURDAY: Egg Hunt at First United Methodist Church Murfreesboro at 10:30am.
SATURDAY: FREE - Easter Celebration with Life Lift Church at 9:30am.
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Something I've done with the kids during Lent is to find examples of Resurrection in nature. My favorite starting point for this is this Holy Week Nature Walk printable I discovered years ago. Great for the trails or just in the backyard: https://shorturl.at/cqtIV
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Know a fabulous Easter event or activity everyone and their families will love? Please share a link in the comments! Happiest Easter Weekend, everyone!

28/03/2024

LIL' KICKERS
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Well, this is exciting! Kiddos have a FUN new way to dip their cleats into the world of ! I connected with Lil' Kickers of Murfreesboro franchise owner Josh Bowden to learn about this awesome year-round sports opp for kids and to share about their open house next month.
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Q: How did you get involved with LK?
A: I actually sought them out back in 2019, as my son being born altered my outlook on life and career. I wanted to build something that was going to focus on my new role as a Dad - along with my love of soccer and professional background of building early stage startups. I connected with Ty (President of Lil’ Kickers) and immediately bought into the values and mission of the family business they started over 20 years ago. I am beyond thrilled to be putting down the roots for this program here in Murfreesboro.
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Q: What is different about LK as opposed to seasonal soccer teams?
A: Lil’ Kickers, first and foremost, focuses on developmental milestones (social, behavioral and cognitive) of children from 18 months to 9 years old…while simply using soccer as the means by which we address these milestones. While, at our core, we are all about the beautiful game of soccer, we focus more on the effort than we do the outcome. We want to foster an environment that rewards a child’s growth through the effort they give, rather than the outcome of a game or drill. Lil’ Kickers is also a year round program with open enrollment, parents can do a free trial or sign up anytime. Then they would make commitments season by season (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter).
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Q: What's the #1 thing parents should know about LK?
A: All of our curriculum, training, and on-field application are centered around the development of the child at each age. Soccer is our vehicle and the muscle memory developing into future soccer skills is merely a bi-product of what we do. We are not trying to create the next Pele, we are merely trying to create high functioning individuals both on and off the field. At an early age, we are more focused on the gross/fine motor skills, which then move to executive functioning skills, and finally at the older ages you will see the technical soccer skills.
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Ready to go? Meet coaches and let the kids get on the field at Lil' Kickers' FREE Open House 9am-12pm, SATURDAY, APRIL 6 at Oaklands High School and 1-4pm SUNDAY, APRIL 7 at MTSU. Register online and book a free 50-minute class at https://www.lilkickers.com/.../lil-kickers-murfreesboro/....
Signing up for a season? Use code MurfreesboroMama for a discount on classes!

22/03/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER
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Happy Spring! Who's ready for ?! Check out these fun family events in bloom this weekend:
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Saturday-Lucky Ladd Farms hosts Easter Egg Hunts & Photos with the Easter Bunny this weekend and next (and don't forget the fields!
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Saturday- Hop into the Easter Egg Hunt at Smyrna -Tn First United Methodist Church from 1-3pm featuring inflatables, special prizes, refreshments, plus paid food options from food trucks Black Box Ice Cream and The Hot Dog Guys
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Saturday-Nash Family Creamery hosts its annual Easter Event from 11-2pm Saturday with egg hunts from 11-12pm. Kiddos get a treat bag, a photo with the Easter bunny, face painting, and special surprises! $3 for each kid to participate. Check their FB page for more details.
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Saturday- La Vergne Parks & Rec hosts its Drive-Thru at 10am at Veterans Memorial Park! Families can drive through to receive baggies of Easter eggs and have a chance to win the golden egg for your child's age range. The age ranges are 0-3 years old, 4-5 years old, 6-8 years old, and 9-12 years old. The event is from 10am - 11:30am or while supplies last. The Easter Bunny will say hi to everyone as they funnel through the park!
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Saturday-The Rutherford Farmers Cooperative hosts Easter Bunny Pictures - Murfreesboro Location from 10am-12pm tomorrow. It's a fun way to kick off spring by shopping for gardening goodies AND seeing the big guy!

Know an Easter or spring event everyone and their kids will love? Please share in the comments! Happiest Friday, everyone!

19/03/2024

BLOOMTOWN
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When was the last time you tip-toed through an entire FIELD of tulips? Lucky Ladd Farms worked a little magic to kick off the first Tennessee Tulip Festival this past weekend, and it was SPECTACULAR.
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700,000 bulbs in bloom is something to see, and the lush field (and raised beds throughout the park) boasts some 30 varieties, with alternating plantings that will bloom throughout the month. A perusal of the field is included with tickets, with fresh-picked bouquets extra. Even if you just come to see the blooms, the picture stations are too cute to pass up!
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My family has been a long-time fan of the adventure farm which is open spring-fall, but fresh additions were a joy to visit after our tulip ramble. The Adventure Aviary 🐦‍⬛with the parakeet feeding enclosure was a hit for my bird-loving little girl as was the bunny🐇 petting cages. Favorite standards like visiting the baby animal yard and the brushing station are always a must-see for us (especially in springtime!) After visiting our four-footed friends, it's time to hit one of the other 50+ outdoor play stations, including corn hole, tractor rides, mega slides, splash pad, playgrounds, and more. It's definitely more than can be done in a day, so plan to visit more than once or get a hold of those season passes👌👌👌
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Ready to go? Catch the fun and tulip blooms through early April before nature does it thing, and make plans to attend one of the farm's fun Easter events. Look for Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Egg Hunts or Bunny and Brew, Pups in the Park this month, or come in April for the All-You-Can-Dig Bulb hunt and the start of the Strawberry Festival🍓.
(Pro tip: DO plan to purchase tickets online ahead of time, as these popular events are already drawing record crowds. In other words, THIS is the place to be this season!)
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Learn more about the farm, purchase tickets, and browse upcoming events at luckyladdfarms.com

What's your favorite part about Lucky Ladd? Share in the comments!
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15/03/2024

Staying in this weekend? So we've been delighted to discover- and rediscover- some flicks our whole family (mom and dad included) have really enjoyed together. Check out these titles for your weekend movie night(s):
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TOGO on Disney+ Hotstar : Live action film based on the Nome serum run of 1925. 2hours and it feels like 20. A bit of intensity included, but otherwise incredibly intriguing, not to mention inspiring. We liked it far better than the animated Balto film.
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SGT. STUBBY on YouTube : This animated movie on the military's most decorated dog tells the story of a little lost boxer who saved hundreds of lives in WW1. It handles the sadness of war well for kids, with a powerful moment to remember the fallen. But otherwise it captures a lot of joy, some sweet jokes and laughs, and a pitch-perfect message about hope and heroism in the midst of adversity.
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MILO AND OTIS for rent on prime video: Okay, so most of my mom friends were sweetly like "duh" when I excitedly told them we'd watched this for the FIRST TIME with the kids just last week. Anyway, it's still awesome. A British voice narrates the adventures of a puppy and kitten and their journey home, with incredible sequences of them engaging with a number of other animals. This was an instant favorite, because, well, it's kind of what we already do around our house everyday... narrating our cats' lives with British accents... Anyone else? No? Okay.....🤣
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What movies has your family been loving lately?

15/03/2024

WEEKEND PLANNER
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We've been going GREEN over here with enjoying all things outdoors this week. In the words of one friend, "It's probably not a sin to stay inside on these days, but who would want to risk it?" And that goes for these spring rains, too. Part of me is planning to tackle home organization projects while it's wet; the other part of me knows I'll have kiddos asking to go splash in the puddles, and I can't think of a good reason why not. Here's to embracing spring in all her glory!
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Dodging the rain, or just want some inspo for the weekend? Check out these fun happenings around town:

TONIGHT: Get out for dinner and shopping at Downtown after 5 in Historic Downtown Murfreesboro from 5-9pm

TODAY-SATURDAY: See where math, art, and history weave together at the Quilts in the Boro event at Lane Agri-Park.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY: Tiptoe over to Lucky Ladd Farms' Tennessee Tulip Festival for a spectacular sight of some 700,000 bulbs of 100 varieties of tulips. (Tickets include full access to the awesome agri-playground , but also plan to pay a few more dollars to enjoy the u-pick options).

SATURDAY: Kids can put some zip in their spring with Archery for Beginners at the Wilderness Station. For ages 7+.

SATURDAY: Think green with Lowe's Home Improvement DIY-U Kids': Playful Garden Cart at 10am (okay, how CUTE will that look on the Easter table?).

SATURDAY: Help out Music City Animal Rescue by hopping over to Animal City of Murfreesboro, TN for Pictures with the Easter Bunny - Benefiting Music City Animal Rescue.
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Got an event to share with everyone and their kids? Drop it in the comments! Happiest Weekend, everyone!

11/03/2024

ALL THE BOOKS
(or 3 easy ways to read with your kids during )
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I got all excited about writing this. First, because I really like books. Secondly, because I didn't realize it was National Reading Month until last week, so that was a neat coincidence. Thirdly, because I really like books.
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Obviously not all literature is equal, but there's something about a good book that sets my brain on fire (in a good way). My husband and I have read aloud daily with our kids since they were born, and reading is high in our homeschooling priorities. HOWEVER... I ran into a problem about a year and a half ago.
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I noticed I was tired all the time and reading aloud was becoming a chore I dreaded 😭Horrified, I wondered what was wrong with me--physically, spiritually, emotionally-- and that's when I realized we spent somewhere around 2-3 hours reading aloud. DAILY. Amazing, right? Yay, us. But maybe no wonder I was kind of on the tired side. SO....
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after listening to some pros who assured me that LISTENING to stories has value AS WELL AS reading physical books, I was nudged over to the bandwagon. Talk about a game changer. Of course we still read aloud with kids in our laps. Of course we still have bookstacks. Of course my hardcovers aren't going anywhere. But for us audio books have been a fun way to share stories and ideas as a family when physically we just need a break. And of course, there's nothing like having a master reader catch the lilt of a character's voice or perfectly time the comic event in a paragraph that we might miss. So fun.
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So where to go and where to listen? I now comb three sites for our family's audio titles. Check out these 3 easy ways to read more with your kids during (or anytime)
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Audible
Obvious, right? Maybe and maybe not. If you're like me, you get a little weary and wary of continuing to fund the Amazon overlords. Whatever. But the selection of free and relatively inexpensive children's titles is so worth the look. Often classics are free, and the quality of production for those you pay for is worth every penny. Yes, I have Little House on the Prairie on my bookshelves, but hearing Cherry Jones read and sing the songs of Pa's fiddle is an experience I can't replicate. We've discovered many enchanting titles that led to my kids begging me to buy the books for them to read themselves. This is a win in my, um, book.
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LIBBY at Libbyapp.com
If you haven't yet discovered this superpower connected with your library card, put it on your to-do list. A library app and site that connects your library card to audio and e-books online, Libby makes finding titles a snap. For FREE. Did I say FREE. FREEEEE. Ron Roy's A-Z Mysteries on audio for the kids? Yes, please. Mere Christianity on audio for me? Uh-huh. That hard-to-find title I can't get my hands on, but I can start on e-book? YUSSS. Find the titles, borrow, and return in two weeks. Your local library is now in the palm of your hand.
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Internet Archive
I really like how I stumbled on this one. So my son had a case of the bad tireds one night, and he decided to start calling everything stupid before bed and he just couldn't quit. I tried to talk to him. Nothing. Read aloud. Nothing. Everything was just stupid. All that came to my mind was The Stupids by Harry Allard and James Marshall-- a silly book series that's banned in a lot of realms because of the obvious insensitivity, BUT which is hilarious when taken in the right dosage, especially for irritable little boys who need a laugh. Audible didn't have the books. Libby didn't. But a Google search said Internet Archive had e-copies with the pictures. I flipped it open, read it aloud to my guy, he had a good chuckle, and suddenly nothing was stupid anymore. SO I checked it out and found that IA is a nonprofit with millions of titles, movies, and audio files available for FREE (My favorite find so far is the BBC Radio production of Dorothy Sayer's The Man Born to be King. score!!)
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As I mentioned, our physical books aren't going anywhere, but technology that helps us share and delve deeper into stories has become a valuable tool in our family. What do you think? What did I miss? Any other great sites out there for audio books you love? Share in the comments, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Reading, everyone!

(P.S. I don't have a picture of us listening to audio books, so here is my daughter reading at Rutherford County Library System's Technology Engagement Center-- because literacy and technology go together 🥰)

Murfreesboro Mama

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