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Caribou Coffee Supports Breast Cancer Awareness with Amy’s Blend & Caregiver Grants

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I love Caribou Coffee. I wish I could afford to go there regularly (like every day!) but when I do it’s such a treat. However, I’m planning to pick up some of their Amy’s Blend coffee this month because for their 20th year they’re offering 10% of sales of their Amy’s Blend collection to CancerCare, a great cause for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Amy’s Blend was inspired by Amy Erickson, Caribou’s original Roastmaster who lost her battle with cancer in 1995. Every year Caribou Coffee honors Amy by supporting women and men in Caribou’s communities who are impacted by the disease through the Amy’s Blend program and collection.

Having known many women in my own life who have been impacted by breast cancer, I wanted to share this to help the fight against cancer.

Now through October 31, Caribou will again offer its Amy’s Blend collection, both in stores and online donating 10 percent of proceeds to the organization CancerCare. You can also purchase Amy’s Blend coffee beans in grocery stores (for some great, frugal coffee at home!).

Amy’s merchandise is available as well, including friendship bracelets and other accessories.

Plus, Caribou is offering something really cool this year. It’s their Ultimate Coffee Break Grant Giveaway, and caregivers around the country can enter to win a $1,000 grant to cover anything from travel expenses to a day of pampering in recognition of their ongoing efforts.

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Twenty caregivers will win, and to enter, just share your caring tip on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtags #20WaystoCare & #contest and tagging @CaribouCoffee. 20 participants will be randomly selected throughout October to win the Ultimate Coffee Break, so enter right away!

(See also Caribou’s 20 Ways to Care tips for caregivers.)

Amy’s Blend and the new Amy’s Blend Dark Roast are available at Caribou coffeehouses nationwide throughout the month of October.

Visit the Caribou Coffee website for more info!

Food Allergy Resource Fair & Trick-or-Treating in Hopkins on October 10th

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foodallergyresourcefairFamilies of kids with allergies! This Saturday in Hopkins is a great FREE Halloween event that features allergy-friendly food and products.

The 9th Annual Food Allergy Resource Fair & Trick-or-Treating Experience is on Saturday, October 10th at the Eisenhower Community Center, located at 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins, MN 55305.

The Resource Fair vendors will feature allergy-friendly food and products. Many will provide food samples, coupons and detailed information on medication safety and benefits. Specialists will be available at an “Ask the Professional” booth to answer medical questions about food allergies, nutrition, and medication. There will also be a silent auction at the event to raise funds to support the Food Allergy Support Group of Minnesota.

Children are encouraged to come in costume and trick-or-treat, stopping at approximately 40 vendor tables that will hand out allergy-friendly candy (free of the top 8 allergens which are peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat). Candy bag wrappers will be available for parents/guardians to review ingredients before consuming. Tips for safe Trick-or-Treating with food allergies will also be shared with families.

The event is free, however a suggested $5 donation per family is encouraged.

Mila Marie Apparel 40% Off Discount through Wednesday, October 7th! (Local Mom-Owned Business!)

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I have a special deal to share for Mila Marie, a line of baby, toddler, child, maternity and mom apparel created and run by a mom right here in the Twin Cities!

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Mila Marie is based in Blaine, Minnesota and is a brand driven by three simple principles: be happy, be positive, be inspiring. Their goal is to create apparel that makes people smile. Their motivational graphics encourage passion, courage, patience and a positive outlook for people everywhere. Shop tees in sizes for you and your little ones, as well as bodysuits for Baby.

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Twin Cities Kids Club has an exclusive deal for 40% off your entire order through October 7th, 2015!

Just go to www.milamarieonline.com and use the code TCKC at checkout.

Minnesota’s FIRST Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Opens in Bloomington

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(Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for my time promoting the grand opening of Fresh Thyme. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.)

 

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This Wednesday, September 30th my 4-year-old and I attended the Grand Opening Day of the NEW Fresh Thyme in Bloomington with hundreds of other excited Twin Cities shoppers.

I LOVE shopping at quality grocery stores, and I have to tell you, there were many good reasons this store was busy – the most obvious for us being the enjoyable experience we had from beginning to end!

With its warm, bright and clean farmhouse feel, Fresh Thyme feels like a weekend farmers market in the summer, but is also like a cross between a neighborhood grocery store and a natural foods store. Their mission is to improve the way communities eat by offering all of this:

  • a natural meat department
  • healthy deli foods to go
  • bakery goods
  • bulk food
  • produce department with around 170 organic offerings
  • natural and organic groceries, dairy and frozen
  • and over 7000 (!) varieties of vitamins, supplements and natural body care products!

Fresh Thyme is also passionate about anything and everything “local” – from their produce to their products to their employees and organizations they support. I could see how involved they are in the community – from their partnerships with (and gifts to) Bridging MN and the Bloomington Fine Arts Council, to the local vendors and musicians celebrating with them this week!

Local bluegrass musicians King Wilkie’s Dream were performing fun, lively music as guests shopped throughout the store.

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Fresh and colorful is how I’d best describe the variety you’ll find at this store. The food throughout the produce section and the bakery and beyond was top quality with a huge selection of organic choices. And many were at great sale prices such as $.99 for a pint of grape tomatoes or $.39 for carrots or green onions – you can see their weekly flyer on their website here.

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Fresh bread, cookies and muffins, to-go beverages and meals, and so much more to see:

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You can find just about any kind of meat and fish from their extensive butcher department, including grass-fed and organic meat. Fresh Thyme also offers over 12 varieties of natural, handmade sausage – made in-store daily. Fresh Thyme’s recipes use all natural seasonings with no MSG. We got to try some natural sausage in the store and bought a box (we love sausage in our house and I was very happy to find tasty sausage with no preservatives!).
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I think fresh-squeezed orange juice IS THE BEST but I have a hard time finding it, so I was SO happy to find an abundance of fresh-squeezed juices with many samples to try nearby! I bought a big jug of the fresh-squeezed orange juice for $6.99. Nothing beats fresh-squeezed orange juice with breakfast!!!!

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There are over 300 bins of natural and organic self-serve bulk items. Bulk items range from grains, granola, beans, snack items and more. Something VERY exciting for a 4-year-old, clearly (ha – I think he’s imagining all the mischief he could get into in this aisle!)!

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I was really impressed with the “fill your own” honey dispensers, offering agave nectar as well. You could also fill a container with cooking oil from a carousel nearby featuring many different varieties (including, of course, olive oil).

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BUILD. YOUR. OWN. PIZZA! Each store includes a Fresh Thyme Kitchen where their staff will put together your own customized pizza or you can order a hot sandwich to go. They also feature prepared salads and meals as well as a full salad bar. How easy is that for a quick meal on the go for yourself or your whole family?

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There’s SO much more to see at Fresh Thyme in Bloomington (go visit their website to learn more and see the latest specials!). A few more things I want to highlight:

  • Gluten-sensitive? No worries! There are over 1,600 Gluten Free products in every store.
  • Love coffee? There’s a whole aisle with small batch, locally roasted premium bulk coffee beans.
  • There’s CANDY. Your kids will love it and will want to fill a bag so be prepared!
  • Your kids can play “Spot the Tractor.” Fresh Thyme hides a small red tractor in the store and it’s up to young ones to spot it. I didn’t know this when I visited but learned afterward from Nikki at Minnemama Adventures (check out her awesome review, too!).

Fresh Thyme is open 7:00am – 10:00pm daily and is located at:

2100 W. 80 ½ St.
Bloomington, MN 55431

There’s a parking lot right in front of the store, but if it’s full, don’t worry! There’s also an underground parking lot with carts and an elevator that goes directly into the store!

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The grand opening festivities continue through this weekend with vendor demos, entertainment and giveaways. Stay tuned for more family-friendly events by following them online!

I think Fresh Thyme is how a grocery store SHOULD be, and so I’m excited for more stores to open around Minnesota so everyone will have a Fresh Thyme near them!

For more information visit:
www.freshthyme.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshThymeBloomington
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreshThymeFM

Discount Tickets to The Little Mermaid at the Orpheum Theatre

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Get discounted tickets to see The Little Mermaid at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on select dates during their October 8 – 18 run!

Just use this special link to get $79 tickets for $49 from Goldstar for any of 4 shows from October 15 – 18.

Additional fees may apply.

Description:

In a magical kingdom fathoms below the waves, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who’s tired of flipping her fins in her aquatic kingdom. She longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land and will go to great lengths to get there. Take an enchanting trip under the sea with everyone’s favorite mermaid princess and her crabby sidekick Sebastian, as they battle the evil sea witch Ursula and win the heart of the human prince Eric. Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, this Theatre Under the Stars production of The Little Mermaid is packed with favorite songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.” Dive in and take off on this underwater adventure at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre.

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

Super League for Kids in Eagan starting October 6th & a GIVEAWAY!

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Video gamers and Minecraft fans, listen up – there’s a cool new after-school video game league for kids coming to the Twin Cities starting NEXT WEEK!

Super League is the world’s first in-theater video game league for kids. It offers an after-school enrichment program that leverages Minecraft on a BIG screen for a social, fun, and interactive learning experience.

Check this out:

Minecraft is already well known for its educational value (if you’re not familiar with Minecraft – it’s a game about breaking and placing blocks to create structures and much more). However, Super League takes it one step further by assigning participants to teams where they work together towards a common goal. It’s brain food for kids!

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Starting October 6th, Super League Gaming is hitting the Twin Cities area to bring together young gamers.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Most players are 6-18 years old, but all Minecraft players are welcome.
  • All games will begin at 4:30pm and tickets are $100 for the season. That gives you 6 sessions of Minecraft!
  • Players get a FREE Super League jersey
  • Prizes are awarded to top scorers
  • Gamers bring their laptops, but Super League also have some for use
  • Parents can sit with their gamers for free

Super League is a great opportunity for parents to get their gamer kids out of the house for a night of interactive gaming and educational fun!

Sign up now for a 6-week session Oct. 6 – Nov. 10 at:

Regal Eagan Stadium 16
2055 Cliff Road, Eagan

Follow Super League!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoinSuperLeague/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joinsuperleague
Instagram: https://instagram.com/joinsuperleague/

(Disclosure: Though I being compensated for this post, I’m excited to share this educational activity for kids, and all opinions are 100% mine.)

GIVEAWAY

One lucky Twin Cities Frugal Mom reader will win a ticket for the 6-week Super League Gaming session happening in Eagan starting October 6th! Value is $100! Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form below by Saturday, October 4th at 11:00pm. Winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, October 5th and contacted by email. Good luck!

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Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market Grocery Store Grand Opening in Bloomington – Wednesday, September 30th!

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Minnesota’s FIRST Fresh Thyme Farmers Market grocery store opens in Bloomington this Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00am!

Fresh Thyme focuses on healthy and nutritious food and is passionate about making “local” a focus of each store.

The Grand Opening is this Wednesday, September 30 starting at 6:45am with a ribbon cutting and check presentation to community partners.

Plus, get in line early because the first 250 customers on Grand Opening Day will receive a FREE Bag of Groceries valued at $50 or more!

I can’t wait to visit and share the fun with you on Grand Opening Day! [Read more…]

Monster High Boo York, Boo York DVD Giveaway

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If you have a little Monster High fan in your family, they’ll be super excited to hear there’s a NEW Monster High movie release on Blu-Ray and DVD!

Universal Home Entertainment presents MONSTER HIGH: BOO YORK, BOO YORK on Blu-Ray and DVD, just in time for Halloween! Plus they have provided me with 5 copies to give away!

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It’s fright lights, big city when the Monster High™ ghouls head to Boo York! Cleo de Nile™ is invited to attend a fancy gala celebrating the return of a magical comet and, of course, she brings along her beast friends. But their trip isn’t all fun and frightseeing because Nefera, Cleo’s sister, uses the comet’s powers for her own spooktacularly sneaky plans. Can the monsters unwrap the mystery of the comet in time to stop Nefera? Find out in Boo York, Boo York, the first-ever Monster High™ musical, featuring eight original songs.

MONSTER HIGH: BOO YORK, BOO YORK is now available for pre-order on BLU-RAY™, DVD, AND DIGITAL HD. Its release date is September 29th! Visit the Monster High website for trailers and more info!

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack of Monster High: Boo York, Boo York right here at Twin Cities Frugal Mom! FIVE will win! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below by Monday, October 5th at 11:00pm. Winners will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway