$5 Off a Family Membership to the American Museum of Science & Energy!

Coupon Katie is running a special treat for the month of May! You can get $5 off a family membership to the American Museum of Science & Energy in Oak Ridge. This year sounds like a great time to get a family membership. The AMSE has had some great exhibits this year, including the popular Crime Lab Detectives, which just ended May 3rd, but don't worry- there's still plenty more to see and do at this cool museum, not to mention it's celebrating it's 60th year as a museum! They're also offering summer camp opportunities. Hey, AMSE even Twitters! Check it out @ twitter.com/A_M_S_E, or you can also find them on Facebook. I had a membership a couple of years ago, and it was really a great deal, especially when I realized that I could visit back home and get the family into the science museum there for free as well- Cool Bonus!

For the membership discount go to CouponKatie's page.

AMSE
300 South Tulane Ave.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
{865} 576-3200
www.amse.org

Atomic City Mom Did It - Earth Day 2009!

This past Saturday, I had the awesome opportunity to volunteer at a booth for Earth Day 2009 at the Civic Center. I went last year, and I am so glad I attended this time, because this year's venue was SO much better! Last year, the festival seemed a little flat. This year- the music, the people, the vendors- it was ALIVE and breathing! The kids were so in AWE of the face painter, the images were just MAGICAL!

To check out some of the cool things that you may have missed - go to Oak Ridge TN Earth Day 2009 for a list of vendors and links to other websites!

Somebody Likes Me - I got an Egg Plant for Easter!

I just received the cutest Easter gift from my friend. She gave me an Egg Plant by Cobra Co. that she found at Lowe's garden center. It is a lovely ceramic egg with a snapdragon plant waiting inside. You crack the top, just like a soft-boiled breakfast egg & it already contains both the soil and seeds. Just add water and place in a sunny location! This is a really cool gift idea for your Momsy, the kiddies, your Ma-maw, a good friend... Really, it's so ADORABLY neat-o I think just about anyone would be delighted to find this in their Easter basket!

My camera is sick right now with the fuzzies, but here's a great pic from three swingin' chicks:



Check out three swingin' chicks Egg Plant post for more fun stuff about Egg Plants including a recipe using real eggplants!

Big Goings On in Oak Ridge @ End of February...

Glen Miller Orchestra
Feb 21st 8-11 pm at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge
hfhac.org or call (865) 482-7713

International Fest @ The Children's Museum
Feb. 21st 10am-4pm
childrensmuseumofoakridge.org or call (865) 482-1074

CASA's 5th Annual Barbeque & Bluegrass Bash Feb. 21st 6 pm @ Elks Lodge in Oak Ridge www.casatnh.org or call (865) 425-0888

Girls INC to host 31st Annual Basketball Classic
Feb 28th @ 4pm
www.girlsinc-oakridge.org or call (865) 482-4475

Get Ready for Spring Rowing Season 2009!
orra.org or call (865) 482-6538

If there are any Oak Ridge events I've missed, please let me know, or if there are upcoming local events you would like to see announced for March/April, please let me know and I will be sure to check it out!

DIY "Trashy" Valentines from Curbly...

Here's a really cute idea that I found on Curbly by swelldesigner. Make your own 'trashy' valentines by using your junk mail... looks like a fun way of recycling all that annoying junk mail!

If you like this kind of fun/funky art, also check out the shadowboxes by Baltimore Artstar. I really love stuff like this!

New Recycling Program for Oakridgers... Get Ready for the Smart Cart!

I just received a letter in today's mail from the City of Oak Ridge, announcing a new recycling program called RecycleBank. Apparently, on February 16th, we will be receiving a brown recycling cart, dubbed the 'Smart Cart,' and ALL recyclables on the list can be thrown in the cart together... that's right folks, NO SORTING involved!

Here is the real twister - the Smart Cart is actually embedded with an identification chip that will be able to show who is participating in the program. The best part is that RecycleBank is actually a rewards program to encourage households to recycle. You will earn RecycleBank Points for recycling! The more you recycle, the more points your earn. The points are then deposited into your personal account on www.RecycleBank.com and after you register, you can redeem your points at local businesses.

The RecycleBank program officially starts on March 2nd. For more information regarding the Smart Cart & the RecycleBank program, check out www.recyclebank.com or go to the City's website or call: 888-727-2978.

My Superbowl Sunday Menu

Well, it appears that it is becoming an annual tradition around my house - the big Superbowl Sunday Meal! I think the only reason people keep coming over to my house for this event is really for the Buffalo Chicken Salad, a really great & EASY recipe that I learned from Rachael Ray, here's the actual recipe. It's really been a big hit for the past two years running now. You can really do what you like with this recipe, it's just so versatile. If you want to use spinach instead of romaine, go for it! It's just such a great quickie recipe... and even the guys love it!

We really are watching our budget this year, but still like to have fun with the family! So here is this year's Superbowl Sunday Menu at my house:

Homemade Chili - Three Bean
Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks for the Kiddies
Buffalo Chicken Salad - A Rachael Ray recipe
Salsa, Chips, & Dip
Southern Peach Cobbler from allrecipes.com

I gotta tell you, my cousin who is a big-time cook, actually turned me on to allrecipes.com and now I find myself using it on a regular basis when I am doing my brainstorming for meal planning ideas. There are really some great recipes, a 5 star rating system, and I like that there are critiques so that you can see how people who tried a recipe actually felt about it. I also love the fact that you can print out recipe cards, it's so cute.

That's it- my simple little menu for Superbowl Sunday... really for me it's all about the food & family. For me to do this, it's gotta be quick and easy and VERY yummy, stick-to-your-ribs kinda food...

What Superbowl food favorites do you guys enjoy every year?

bowl of chili image from Free-Stock-Photos.com

Atomic City Mom is Now on Twitter!

Hey All! Now you can follow Atomic City Mom on Twitter! I plan to do a whole lot more blogging this year, including my own reviews on local restaurants, books, interesting products, and family friendly spots... and all my favorite things to do in Oak Ridge.