Taste of the High Country to Benefit Habitat for Humanity

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Thanks to Lessa for sending this to me! I have actually never been to the Taste of the High Country. Have you moms ever been, and is it something you could take kids to?

Mom Squad Restaurant Review: Black Cat

The Black Cat is tucked away in Downtown Boone, right next to Footslogger. No, not a black cat - that would be bad luck! Black Cat, the restaurant! My husband and I had eaten there before, but I admit it's been a long time. Since we recently learned they have free cheese quesadillas for kids, we decided to go as a family.

Now, if our waitress is reading this, she might be cringing, (although she didn't really know it was us) because it was an interesting experience.

We ordered at the counter, and they were very happy to give us three free quesadillas, one for each of our children. Yes! However, HipChick (my seven year old) wanted beans and rice, so we ordered that for her, instead. I got the a chicken with sage burrito, and Judd got something spicy, I can't remember what. I know, great restaurant review, I can't even remember the names of what we got! But whatever they were called, they were awesome... when we finally got them.

It really was comical, but they did redeem themselves in the end, don't worry. We were sitting in the restaurant with three young children, waiting as each table around us got their food. The kids made straw sculptures, drew on every page of my purse notebook, made friends with the kids at the table next to us, and fought over the toy they give you so they can match your order to the table. Luckily, the atmosphere was perfect for hungry tired children- loud enough to drown out the noise! I had to ask, even though I hate to be one of those people who ask every 10 minutes for their food.

The waitress was really courteous, and said, "Oh, my, it has been a long time hasn't it?" She went back to the kitchen to check, and said that our check had fallen off the order window onto the floor. Oh, wonderful! She quickly scurried back to the kitchen, and immediately brought out a chips and dip sampler, with 2 salsas, queso, and guacamole, which we quickly devoured. Then, she refunded the price of one of the burritos. Giving money back definitely earns brownie points in my book.

The rest of the food came out fairly quickly, and it was great! The quesadillas were garnished with sour cream, olives and a red pepper slice in the shape of a smiley face, and the kids loved them! HipChick's beans and rice meal was enough for three kids, so we took the extra home for later.

Overall, the Black Cat experience was a good one! Great atmosphere for kids, large, delicious meals, and courteous staff. The mix-up could have happened to anyone, and they remedied it quickly.

So have you ever been to Black Cat? And what do you do with your kids while waiting in a restaurant? Any creative ideas?

Freebie Friday: Chick-Fil-A Spectacular Picnic Pack

We mom's LOVE Chick-Fil-A! Especially in the winter or a rainy day, because Chick-Fil-A is the only restaurant with an indoor playground. I love that you can go to Chick-Fil-A on any given day, and you will most likely see several other moms to talk to while your children play. (There's probably a 3 in 5 chance you'll actually see me, I'm there so much)

Anyway, they have offered a fantastic prize for this week's Freebie Friday! One lucky family will win:

• a large insulated hot/cold cooler, FILLED with Tupperware!
• a small insulated lunch bag
• a red/white vinyl tablecloth, or picnic blanket
• picnic plates, cups, and silverware
• 2 Chick-Fil-A water bottles
• 1 gallon of sweet (or unsweet) Tea
  
• a $60 Value!

All you'll need for a great picnic is a nugget tray!

Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment on this post, telling the most days in a single week you've been to Chick-Fil-A. (mine is 4... I know, I know...)
• If you're a Mom Squad subscriber, you get an extra chance. Leave a separate comment saying, "Subscriber" Click here to subscribe to free email updates.

The contest will be open through Sunday night, and the winner will be announced on Monday morning.

The Scoop on Changing Tables

There's nothing worse than being in a store or restaurant, and having your toddler give you a smelly, runny, surprise! Wait - there is something worse! Having no changing table in the place!

Many of you thought it would be neat to have a reference of places with changing tables in the High Country, but in order to do all the research involved, we're all going to have to participate!

In the comments, add the places you've found with a changing table. Click on the title of this post, and scroll to the bottom to add your comment!

Note to businesses: If you don't think it's necessary to include a changing table in your facilities, I will be forced to change my toddlers messy bottom on your floor, or booth seat, therefore grossing out all your other customers!

Tasty Tuesday: Boone Celebrity Serve

Feel like eating out tonight? (Tuesday) You could be served by a local celebrity, and benefit a worthy cause at the same time! ASU star athletes Dante Minter and Trey Elder will be at Mom Squad Sponsor, Blimpie, at the corner of hwy 105 and hwy 105 by-pass.

The proceeds from the 2008 Celebrity Serve will go to the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on Brookshire Road in Boone! Moms definitely know we need a facility like this!

Click here for the High Country Press article featuring a list of participating restaurants and who will be serving them.
Click here for more information from the Mountain Times about the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex

**Remember, Tuesday is Kids Eat Free Night at several restaurants in town! Call ahead, though to see if they are still offering free kids' meals.

Spirit Nights at Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A in Boone has lots of "Spirit Nights," which raise money for local schools. If you go on these nights, your bound to see lots of other families there. Chick-Fil-A gives 20% of the sponsor's sales to the school. Remember that in order for the school to get the 20% donation, you have to tell your cashier you're with the school.

With each $5 purchase, your children (or you) get to spin the wheel for prizes, and free food!

1st Tuesday of the month: Appalachian Christian School
2nd Tuesday: Blowing Rock
3rd Tuesday: Parkway
4th Tuesday: Watauga High School DECA

1st Thursday: Cove Creek
2nd Thursday: Two Rivers Community School
3rd Thursday: Mabel Elementary

Mom Squad Review: Mountain Bagels

Growing up, it was always a treat to go visit my grandparents in NY. One of the things we always loved was eating fresh NY style bagels! For some reason, that authentic bagel taste is so hard to find anywhere else!

There's a new restaurant situated right across from the Wellness Center in Boone, that has raised the bar for good bagels in North Carolina! Crisp on the outside, and soft on the inside, but never spongy. Mountain Bagels is owned an operated by a local couple, and they make their dough from scratch! Every time I come out of a great workout, the bagels call to me; especially my favorite, the pumpernickel everything, which you can't get anywhere else! They also have whole wheat everything, for those who want whole wheat... and everything else! I once vowed never to go there again, because I ate three bagels in one sitting! Of course, I was back the next week.

Mountain bagels is so much more than bagels! Little Pea likes to eat the eggs and the muffins. She also likes to lick the cream cheese off of a bagel, then give it to me. I admit, I have eaten her left-overs before. (blush)

Mountain Bagels' full menu has a wide variety of sandwiches, soup, vegetarian pitas and wraps. They have a kid's menu, which I admit I haven't tried. I usually would rather order a la carte for her, or split something, to be more cost effective. However, the employees are always very nice to me and my kids. They were especially gracious when Little Pea charged behind the counter as if she owned the place, and they smiled as she rearranged their Valentines hearts on the deli case.

So go check out this little gem, and tell them the High Country Mom Squad sent you!

Mom Squad Review: Beef O'Brady's, Just in Time for St. Patty's Day!

Working through our list of "Kids Eat Free" Restaurants, we decided to try Beef O'Brady's one Tuesday night after dance class. Now taking three young girls out to a sit-down restaurant at 5:30, after spending 2 hours at the dance studio, can sometimes prove disastrous!

I was also skeptical. What we do NOT need is another mediocre, over-priced American Fare restaurant in Boone. Don't worry, I won't name names!

I must say I was pleasantly surprised! We were seated quickly, and since there are about 5000 TVs all around the room, the kids were awestruck. It didn't matter that they were tuned onto sports, as long as they had something to look at. The waiter brought kids' coloring menus and crayons. He was also very nice to the kids, saying hello to them, and smiling. This friendliness is sadly a rarity these days. The atmosphere was loud enough to drown out the kids, but not too loud.

The kids' menu looked pretty good, and it helped that they were eating free. I asked the waiter if the macaroni and cheese was just like Kraft, and he said it was Kraft Easy Mac. I wasn't too excited about this, because it bugs me when restaurants charge $3.00 - $4.00 for something I could make at home for $0.50! So I decided to skip the mac and cheese when giving my kids their choices. The kids got chicken fingers, boneless wings, a hamburger and fries, and they were good quality; the kids liked them.

They got the food out pretty fast; the kids didn't get restless because there was so much going on in the place! I absolutely loved my Baja Shrimp Wrap. It was a little spicy, but not too much. Judd liked his O'Brady Burger. It was rather big, and he said he could have cut it in half and shared it.

The overall experience of taking our kids to Beef O'Brady's was great. The price point was kind of high (either that or I'm big cheapskate), but with the Kid's Night discount, we fed our whole family of 5 for $16.00! That would have been impossible in any other comparable restaurant at regular price. We can barely do that at a fast food joint!


The overall High Country Mom Squad rating for Beef O'Brady's is four-and-a-half strollers. It's not five only because we could only afford to go on Tuesday, when kid's eat free. I do encourage families with kids to go on Tuesday for Kid's Eat Free night, so if you go, tell them The High Country Mom Squad recommends it!


So what was your experience at Beef O'Brady's?

**NOTE: Some say that they were only allowed one child per adult, I'm clarifying it with the management.




Clover Photo: © Paul Lampard | Dreamstime.com

Sponsor Spotlight: Coyote Kitchen

If you've known me for any time at all, you've probably heard me profess my love for Coyote Kitchen in Boone! Ben and Jaime Whitehead are the husband and wife team who owns and runs Coyote Kitchen. Jaime is a Mom Squad Reader, as well.

My family and I recently ate there after church one day, and loved it. (as we always do!) Right after sitting down, we hit the "dining with children" jackpot! We spotted the baskets of toys available for use while we wait. You might say you could just bring toys from home, but we all know that a bunch of "never before seen" toys is much more enticing than any old thing from home!

The "pups" menu at Coyote Kitchen is one reason I like to take the kids there. All the selections are fresh, non-processed food, not frozen chicken nuggets or Kraft Mac-n-Cheese you could buy in a grocery store. My 7 year old got the fish-n-chips, which are actually so good that I got them for my meal once. My four year old and two year old split the cheese quesadilla, a great old standard. For the younger kids, they even offer sippy cups. And a rarity for smaller restaurants, they have a changing station in the bathroom. In warmer weather, the kids love to eat outside on the patio.

Jaime has had a profound influence on me, as far as concern for the environment. Ben and Jaime are the real deal, they really are passionate about being "green," and I've learned a lot just by being around Jaime. Some things they do at Coyote Kitchen are:

• recycle all glass, aluminum, plastic, and paper
• switched to all CFL bulbs in the dining room
• use all biodegradable to-go containers, hot cups, and compostable to-go silverware made from potato starch
• use all eco-friendly cleaners in the dining room

You can be sure that the beef you eat at Coyote Kitchen is all antibiotic and hormone free, and the menu is vegetarian/vegan friendly. Since they make everything from scratch, you can ask for allergen-free dishes, which is very important for some kids.

One of my friends mentioned last week that she is a little more adventurous than her husband and son, when it comes to food. Don't forget, they have great burgers, too, and the sweet potato fries, mmmm...

I just want to give a special thank you to Ben and Jaime for helping get the High Country Mom Squad started with their gift certificate and t-shirts we offered. Check out Coyote Kitchen's menu, and lots more fun on their website, www.thecoyotekitchen.com, and if you scroll down, you'll see a coupon for free chips and four types of salsa.

Have you ever eaten at the Coyote Kitchen with your kids?

Disclosure: Coyote Kitchen is a Mom Squad Sponsor

Valentine's Values - Win Free Roses

Alert: Ladies, forward this message immediately to your husband or significant other!

Do you have your Valentine's Day plans ready? I think it's important to set aside some time to celebrate with the people you love, and it doesn't always mean spending lots of money! If you're like my husband and me, we're looking for ways to celebrate this Valentines' Day with as little cost as possible.

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First, I have a special giveaway for HC Mom Squad readers.

The Floral Boutique is located at 3579 Hwy 321 S, between Boone and Blowing Rock. It's owned by local couple Robert and Glenda Cobb. I talked to Glenda today, and she agreed to offer a giveaway!

One HC Mom Squad reader will win 3 free roses for Valentine's Day! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite color rose. As always subscribers get an extra entry! If you're a subscriber, leave 2 comments! I'll draw at random on Wednesday night, and announce the winner on Thursday! (See bottom for instructions)

The Valentine's Day price for 1 dozen roses at The Floral Boutique is $25.00
The regular price for 1 dozen roses is $15.00

Here are some ways to make your flowers last longer:

• Fill the vase 3/4 full with fresh room temperature water. Use a clean vase to avoid bacteria growth.
  
• Add floral preservative to the vase as directed on the package.
• Remove any leaves that will be under the water in the vase.
• Arrange the flowers, then leave them in a cool dark room for a couple of hours, to allow them to settle into their new home.
• Always display your floral arrangement in a cool spot (65-72 degrees F)
• If the water becomes cloudy, replace it entirely.
• If possible, re-cut stems every three days with the stem under water.

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My friend Julie alerted me to a Valentine's Dinner Special at Ruby Tuesday. You get dinner for two for $34.99. For your main dishes, you can each choose from: New Orleans Seafood, Parmesan Shrimp Pasta, 9 oz. Sirloin, Chicken Fresco, or Bistro BBQ Chicken, plus:

• 1 appetizer of your choice
• 2 one-trip salads
• dessert

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So there you go! The perfect date night! Forward this message to your husband or significant other, or print it out, and conveniently leave it taped to the TV!

Here's how to enter the giveaway:

• Leave a comment on this post, telling us your favorite color rose. If you are a subscriber, leave 2 comments for an extra entry!
  
• Check back on Thursday morning to see if you won.
  
• Be sure to leave a valid email address with your comment, so I can contact you. There are three non-spam ways to do this.
  

1. Sign in with a Google Account. Check "share my profile," and "show my email address." If you leave your comment with your Google account, your email address is sent to me confidentially with your comment.
   
2. Write out the (at) and (dot).
   
3. If it is a common domain, replace vowels with asterisks [ex. singforhim94 (at) Y*h** (dot) com]

See our Privacy Policy



Add your comment by visiting the High Country Mom Squad, (Click Here) then click "Post a Comment" at the very bottom of this post. When the comment page comes up, type your comment, then click "Sign -In", "Nickname" or "Anonymous," and publish your comment.

A Healthy Option for a Fast Meal

I live about 25 minutes from the center of Boone. So what can I do when we have 30 minutes to buy lunch and eat it before the next activity?

Go home and eat? Not unless I want to waste $12.00 in gas and go 75 mph on 421!

Pack our lunches before leaving the house? Ha! Wishful thinking!

Hit a drive-through at a fast food restaurant? Well, that works every once in a while, but you know it's sad when my 2 year-old asks for "chee-bugger, fies?" every time we drive on 321!

This is why I love stopping at Blimpie. Besides the fact that my daughters adore Rick, who runs the restaurant, I'm guaranteed to get a healthy meal for me and the kids. When I suggest Blimpie for a lunch with other moms, most of them aren't sure what their kids can eat there. Here are a few good options:

• 3 " Grilled Cheese sandwich, with veggies on the side. (cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, pickles)
• Meat and/or Cheese wrap. If you ask, they can roll it like a pinwheel, so it'll be easy to hold.
  
• Your kids don't like the thick bread? Get the meat and cheese rolled up without the bread, or get the bread on the side.
• Rick makes lots of great soups that my kids like. Good options are Potato, or Broccoli and Cheese.
• If you ask really nicely (and tell him I sent you), Rick might make your kids a Cheese Quesadilla!
• Visit www.Blimpie105.com for the full menu.
  

And at the suggestion of the Mom Squad, Rick is making every Tuesday from 5-8 PM Kid's Night! You can get a FREE Kid's Meal with any Adult Combo Meal!

Print out this coupon, and bring it in anytime for a FREE Combo (1 side and a drink) when you purchase a sandwich! Click image for a printable version.


Disclosure: Blimpie 105 is a Mom Squad Sponsor

What Makes a Restaurant Experience Great?

Welcome new subscribers! I am blown away by the response to the Mom Squad in just the first day! I have a question for you moms out there! If you're new here, read our welcome message!

When you take your kids to a restaurant, what makes the experience enjoyable for you and your kids?


Add your thoughts by visiting the site, (Click Here) then click Post a Comment at the very bottom of this post. When the comment page comes up, type your comment, then click "Nickname" or "Anonymous," and publish your comment.

KIDS EAT FREE - When and Where?

Looking for an inexpensive family dinner night in Boone? Here are some places you may want to consider.

• Beef O'Brady's: Tuesdays 4-8, Kids Eat Free with a paying adult.
• Black Cat: Always! Free Kids' Quesadilla with the purchase of an adult meal.
• CiCi's: Kids 3 and under eat free.
• Golden Corral: Kids 3 and under eat free.
  
• Macado's: Tuesday 4-9, Kids Eat Free with a paying adult.
• New China Buffet: Kids 2 and under eat free.
• Red Onion: Wednesday
• Wings to Go: Wednesday (Thanks, Tiffany!)
• Blimpie: Tuesday 5-8 PM. Free Kid's Meal with any Adult Combo Meal!

Kids Eat Free schedule may change without notice. It's a good idea to call ahead to make sure!
Do you know of a "Kids Eat Free" restaurant we missed? Contact Sarah!