Bargain Alert: $11 for 2 Hours Studio Time, 12" x 12" Canvas and Use of all the Supplies at Sharaku Paintertainment

For the next four days, LocalGruv is offering a voucher for 2 hours of studio time, a 12" by 12" canvas and all the paint and supplies you'll need to create a beautiful painting at Sharaku Paintertainment in Pleasanton.  (Although in my experience, I usually start out feeling like I'm going to paint like Van Gogh, but end up with something that looks like an elephant painted it.  But most people are much more artistic than I am.)  And at $11 you might as well give it a shot, since you couldn't even purchase the supplies you'd need to create a painted canvas for that price, so it's totally worth it. 

Go here to purchase your voucher and see the details of the offer. 

And what's even better, a portion of the proceeds go to The Taylor Family Foundation.

Bargain Alert: Kids Eat Free at Chili's March 5-7th (Plus Free Chips and Queso)

For the next two days, kids 12 and under eat free at Chili's with the purchase of a regular entree.  I rarely need an excuse to go to Chili's, so this is a bonus. 

Click here for the coupon you'll need to bring.

Plus! If you sign up for their email club, you get free chips and queso. Double Bonus!  Go here to sign up. 

Activities through the City of Tracy

We're almost done with my step-daughter's basketball class, Just 4 Hoops, through the City of Tracy.  She is having a great time learning skills in a non-competitive environment.  For us, this was a good alternative for a kid who says she wants to join a team, but would probably be over it in about 2 weeks, once she found out how much work and dedication it really takes.  So, this was our test run, so that she could learn and practice the game, before making that commitment.

And I have to say, I'm really impressed.  The coach, just a young guy, really knows what he's doing, and is so good with the kids.  I am so glad that we signed her up for the class.  And she's really looking forward to her Just 4 Kicks soccer class, starting in a few weeks. 

Just 4 Hoops and Just 4 Kicks have classes for a wide range of ages, and I really recommend it for kids who are interested in sports, but need a little help with their skills.  And the City of Tracy Activity Guide really has something for everyone, and generally, at reasonable prices, especially compared with a private institution.  (Note: Mountain House residents don't qualify for the Tracy resident prices.)

Check out the Winter/Spring Activity Guide here.

Something Fun for Little Ones: Read a Book With a Dog!

I love this idea because I feel like all kids should be able to spend time with a dog.  There are countless stories and studies that show that dogs can elevate your mood and your life.  

On Saturdays in Feb, from 2:00 to 4:00, little ones can come and read a story to a trained therapy dog (meaning they'll be on their best behavior).  So, this is a great chance for kids to practice reading and have a meaningful connection with a dog, especially if they don't have one of their own.

Here's the link from the Mountain House Forum.

And you can visit the Stockton-San Joaquin Library site here: http://www.stockton.lib.ca.us