Days Out Archives - Nine to Three Thirty

The Perfect Duo: Beat the Bomb Adventure Meets Creo Chocolate Indulgence

If you want an adventure, fun, and treats packed into your day, then you’re going to want to partner up on this day with Beat The Bomb and Creo Chocolate. Think: escape-room-heart-racing-action-meets-techy-video-game-play, but you get creamy, hand-crafted chocolate goodies. BOOM. Combining every good thing ever, is there? Spoiler alert: there’s not.

The Thrills of Beat the Bomb

When you participate in Beat the Bomb, you aren’t being “escaped”; you and your teammates are thrown into a competition against the clock where you have to work together to solve puzzles, meet challenges, and, most importantly, not get bombed with paint! Time is working against you, and you have to dive, weave, dodge, and color your way to the solution of hidden coding puzzles to outsmart the bomb. Use every player to have to deactivate the “bomb” before time runs out!

The real-life video game, ninja-warrior, and brain-teaser challenges of your youth will come flooding back and have your best friends, family, or coworkers doing the hilariously bizarre things they’ve only dreamed of in record time. Each puzzle piece solved will have you yelling at the top of your lungs at your teammate to pull it together and keep calm because epic is the only way to describe the outcome.

Zeni-fast-heart-pounding-action, and you have to try not to overthink the final puzzle (especially when your hands are shaking, and you’re sweating after… or maybe that was just me…)

The Sweet Reward: Creo Chocolate

After all the adrenaline… and maybe not a little bit of fun stress from Beat the Bomb, wouldn’t it be nice to kick back, relax, and reward yourself with some delicious chocolate from Creo? Creo is in Portland and makes chocolate using the bean-to-bar process. The result is decadent, smooth, and luscious, wholly original sweet treats best savored one bite at a time.

An extensive selection of chocolates awaits you at Creo, including traditional dark and milk chocolate bars and vibrant, refreshingly out-of-the-ordinary flavor combinations using uncommon but exquisite ingredients. Whether you like your chocolate delicate and light or dark and intense, you’re sure to find something to fall for at Creo.

The Perfect Combination: Adventure and Indulgence

Pairing an afternoon of Beat the Bomb with a trip to Creo Chocolate is the perfect combination of activity and relaxation. After all, that is running around trying to beat the clock or shot, unwinding with a bit of crafted chocolate…has a nice ring to it.

Imagine it: You Crush the course over at Beat the Bomb – You decide your team deserves some good chocolate – you head over to Creo and try a flight where you learn how to taste the chocolate, discover which cacao beans were purchased to make your chocolate, see how it was crafted, and maybe even get to taste the flavors you love.

This activity adds the perfect sweet n’ salty balance to any date, friend hang, or afternoon adventure.

Why Giftory Makes It Easy to Plan Memorable Experiences

If you’re a proponent of the belief that experiences are the best kinds of gifts, then Giftory is just what the doctor ordered. A stellar assemblage of experiences—think Beat the Bomb… or Creo Chocolate—Giftory has the situations that become memories in the bank. Find a gift for a birthday, anniversary, or simply because with the best-fit Giftory experience for the ones you care about.

Family History for Kids: 8 Teaching Activities

Science shows that kids who are knowledgeable about their family’s history exhibit higher self-esteem, better self-discipline, reduced anxiety, fewer behavioral issues, and thrive in a family environment. The research also indicates that it’s not sole familiarity with family history that produces these positive outcomes, but rather the act of conversing with adults and gaining an understanding of the family’s narrative. Embracing the concept of family history, therefore, not only connects children to the past but also helps shape their future.

But how can you spark engaging conversations about family stories and encourage your kids to connect with their heritage? Luckily, numerous exciting family history activities can inspire rich family conversations and weave an enjoyable heritage learning experience for children. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of them!

Holidays and celebrations

Remember the significance of family gatherings. It’s important to dedicate time to these special occasions. Each celebration presents an opportunity to enjoy a fun family party and spark children’s curiosity in the background of the festivities. Combining these ideas with other activities can create joyful moments that serve as valuable learning experiences for children.

Create a family tree

people looking at pictures — https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/people-looking-picture-album_29794233.htm

Introducing your child to their heritage through crafting is an excellent approach. Regardless of the technique used, family photographs are a must in this case. If you have a well-maintained collection, fantastic! Should some photos require repair, this informative guide on how to restore old family photos can be helpful. Additionally, engaging your child in the restoration process could encourage a passion for photo editing, including learning how to resize an image to fit different frames or digital formats.

Conduct interviews

Interviews are a great way to learn more about family members and their history. Encourage kids to interview older family members and record their stories. They can ask questions about their childhood, education, and memories of the past. This is a great way to connect with family members and learn about their unique experiences.

Design a family crest

Making a family crest with kids can be a fun and creative way to explore their family history and genealogy. It’s a project that can spark their interest in learning more about their heritage and ancestry, as they research the symbols and colors that represent their family’s values and traditions. By involving them in the design process, kids can express their own unique perspectives while also learning about the importance of collaboration.

Create a family time capsule

A time capsule is a fun way to preserve family history and teach kids about their family’s past. Encourage children to gather items that they think are significant to their family, such as old photos, mementos, and letters. Place these items into a sealed container and bury it in the backyard or store it in a safe place until opening in the future. This is an excellent way to honor family history and create a lasting tradition that future generations can enjoy.

Cook traditional family recipes

family making a gingerbread house — Photo from Unsplash

Food is an essential aspect of a family’s heritage, and cooking traditional family recipes is a great way to explore this aspect of family history. Encourage kids to learn how to cook their favorite family recipes and share them with the rest of the family. This is an excellent opportunity to bond with family members and learn about different cultures.

Watch home movies

Watching old home movies can be a nostalgic and heartwarming experience, especially when they feature family members from generations past. It’s a chance to catch a glimpse of the lives and personalities of those who came before us, and to connect with our family history. Seeing your great-grandparents and other relatives on a screen brings a sense of closeness and understanding, even if the kids never had the chance to meet the elders in person.

Visit family landmarks

Visiting places where family members grew up or where significant events occurred within the family’s history is an exciting way to explore family history. It could be a trip to the town where a grandparent grew up or a visit to a memorable vacation spot. Visiting these landmarks helps to establish a connection between the children and their ancestors.

When it comes to family history projects with kids, it’s important to keep things enjoyable and uncomplicated. While you can encourage or suggest ideas, it’s impossible to make them engage if they’re not interested. It’s wise to gradually increase the level of participation only when kids continue to show a keen interest and enthusiasm. Additionally, children often mirror their parents, so showing a genuine curiosity in your own heritage can spark their interest too.

The Spongebob Musical #Ad

The SpongeBob Musical, based on the beloved Nickelodeon animated series, started out as a Broadway show that has captured the hearts of audiences of all ages. This musical has brought SpongeBob and his friends to life on stage in a way that is both visually stunning and musically entertaining.

The SpongeBob Musical premiered on Broadway in 2017 and was praised by both critics and fans alike.The Spongebob Musical is based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg, with book by Kyle Jarrow and featuring original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I. and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.

Sponge Bob The plot of the SpongeBob Musical centers around the underwater town of Bikini Bottom, where the residents are faced with the impending doom of a volcano eruption. SpongeBob and his friends, including Patrick, Sandy, and Mr. Krabs, must come together to save their home from destruction. Along the way, they encounter a range of challenges, from Plankton’s schemes to steal the Krabby Patty formula to Squidward’s reluctance to join in the rescue effort.

One of the standout features of the SpongeBob Musical is its imaginative and colourful set design. The show uses a mix of puppetry, projections, and elaborate costumes to bring the undersea world of Bikini Bottom to life. From the brightly coloured corals and seaweed to the larger-than-life representations of SpongeBob and his friends, the set design is a feast for the eyes.

The SpongeBob Musical has now come to the UK and has a new talented cast. The show features a range of seasoned performers, as well as some fresh faces. The Spongebob Musical’s cast stars Gareth Gates (he/him) as Squidward, Divina de Campo (she/her) as Sheldon J. Plankton, Lewis Cornay (he/him) as SpongeBob, Irfan Damani (he/him) as Patrick, Chrissie Bhima (she/her) as Sandy, Richard J Hunt (he/him) as Mr Krabs, Sarah Freer (she/her) as Pearl, Eloise Davies (she/her) as Mrs Puff, Hannah Lowther (she/her) as Karen and Rebecca Lisewski (she/her) as Mayor. They are joined by Sam Beveridge (he/him), Jeremiah Olaleye (he/him), Eleanor Turiansky (she/her), Rhys Batten (he/him) and Reece Kerridge (he/him).

We loved the fun and drama injected by the talented cast. The set and the costumes are beautiful and very clever. There’s a strong story line and the drama of the situation comes across very well. I’d have liked to hear a few more jokes, but the music is excellent and the quality of the performances matches that. I thought Lewis Cornay was great as Spongebob, but my favourite character was Divina de Campo’s Sheldon J.Plankton – a great baddie!

Overall, the SpongeBob Musical is a must-see for fans of the original series and anyone looking for a fun and uplifting musical experience. With its catchy music, inventive set design, and talented cast, it’s no wonder the show has become a hit on Broadway and beyond.

Disclosure: I was given free tickets for the purposes of this review.

A Day Out For The Easter Holidays #Ad

Finding the right day out for a teenager to enjoy can be a little tricky, but it’s well worth the effort of a little research to find the right destination. I hadn’t arranged a day trip out with H for ages, so when tastecard got in touch and asked me to plan a day’s adventures with the Easter holidays in mind, I was happy to arrange for us to do something fun together.

I thought we’d try something different and I picked out West Midlands Police Museum. It’s right in the centre of Birmingham, so it’s easy to get to and there are so many places nearby to get a bite to eat afterwards.

cells at west midlands police museum

The West Midlands Police Museum is in the old Steelhouse Lane Police Station which was built in the Victorian era. It remained in use as a working police cell block until 2016. The museum is in the old cells within the landmark Victorian, redbrick building.

dressed up in old style police uniform with cape
As well as informative displays about the history and development of the local police forces, there were loads of fun things to do. We always love a bit of dressing up. Over the years H has worn many a costume, I’ve seen him kitted out as everything from medieval knights to roman senators. H loved the cape on this old style police uniform. I got a bit more modern with my get up.
wearing a modern police uniform

We got to try out what it was like on the wrong side of the law. The cells were quite small and didn’t have toilets when they were first built. So it was easy to see that being kept prisoner wouldn’t be much fun. You’d soon be yearning for a comfy bed and a proper mattress. To keep smaller children amused, there’s a light-hearted Lock-up mouse trail to follow round the cells. in the cells at steelhouse lane police station
H got into the spirit of being a criminal by posing for a mugshot.

Then we turned our hands to some detective work. We investigated and solved some crimes. One case we had to work out was who had committed the murder from the testimony given. As a crime novel reader veteran this was right up my street. Then we solved a crime using modern day forensic lab evidence. We were chuffed when we got that right too.

saving money on meal with tastecard

All that detecting had worked up quite an appetite, so we headed out for something to eat. This is where the tastecard came into its own as we were able to get a hearty meal at a bargain price, just by searching for Birmingham restaurant deals. We stopped off at The Lobby on Hill Street where H picked out a Caesar Salad and I had a Burger. As you can see we got nice big portions, just right for a growing teenager, in fact I had to ask H to finish off my fries as they proved too much for me.

For families looking to save money on days out and dining experiences, tastecard is an excellent option to consider. With discounts of up to 50% off at thousands participating restaurants across the UK, including popular chains and independent establishments, tastecard provides a cost-effective way to enjoy delicious meals without breaking the bank. It’s not just eating out though, tastecard frequently offers exclusive deals and promotions, such as discounted cinema tickets, making it an even more enticing option for families looking to save money on their leisure activities. Whether you’re planning a special occasion or simply looking for a fun day out, tastecard is a great way to enjoy quality time with your family while saving money on dining and entertainment.

For more great family day out ideas around Birmingham and the West Midlands, check out my school holiday suggestions.

Disclosure: Disclosure: This post is in association with tastecard.