Online shopping/ Stores closing

Last night, while watching T.V., I saw multiple ads for online shopping. While I was watching the commercials, I was also on Facebook reading how everyone is sad that stores are closing.

As a someone who works in a small business, a brick and mortar business, I can tell you exactly why stores are closing.

We have become too reliant on online shopping. I know, I shop on Amazon too! However, because I work in a store, I force myself to go to a few stores before turning to Amazon. 

If we continue to shop online, we will continue to see stores closing. And what happens when stores close? We lose jobs!

Please do my store a favor. Shop in stores! Shop small, local businesses. Support your neighbors who own businesses. 

The Children's Orchard franchise once had 100 stores nation wide, we are down to less than 30. Stores are closing left and right for us, and other stores! 

Think of stores as being on the endangered species list. Pretty soon we will be extinct, if we don't do something about it. Please, shop in small stores like us!

From a grandmother's perspective (Stephanie): It's a good learning experience for children to be out in stores. It is a good place to teach them how to behave in public. If we don't teach them, no one will. It helps them learn how to interact with people: have eye contact, speak with adults or other children. We can teach them to respect other people's property.

Library Passes

Did you know that the public libraries have museum passes? Well, now you do!

I have a library card with Salisbury, which allows me to utilize any library in the Merrimack Valley. I typically request a pass from Salisbury, but if they are out I will call the local libraries to find one for the date I am looking for.

Here are the ones Salisbury offers:

1.  Museum of Science: Boston MA. This pass admits 4 people at a cost of $10 each. Pass does not include the Omni and Planetarium
2. Children's Museum of NH: Dover NH. This pass admits 4 people at a cost of $5 each.
3. Peabody Essex Museum: Salem MA. This pass admits 2 people at a cost of $6 on a weekday or $12 on weekends.
4. New England Aquarium: Boston MA. This pass admits 4 people at a cost of $10 each. Pass only available Labor Day through June 30
5. Zoo New England: Boston MA and Stoneham MA. This pass admits 6 people at a cost of $9 per adult or $6 per child
6. Museum of Fine Arts. Boston MA. This pass admits 2 people at a cost of $10 each
7. The Institute of Contemporary Art. Boston MA. This pass admits 2 people at a cost of $5 each
8. Massachusetts State Parks Pass: ​The DCR ParksPass entitles the bearer to free parking for one passenger vehicle of visitors at over 50 facilities in the Massachusetts State Parks system that charge a day-use parking fee. Local State parks include The Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Maudslay State Park, Sandy Point State Reservation, Georgetown-Rowley State Forest, Bradley Palmer State Park, and more.   (Not valid at Nahant or Nantasket Beaches.)

You can reserve a pass online, on the phone or at the library. I highly suggest you get one before visiting the above to help you save some money!

Museum of Science- Boston

During February school vacation week, I went to the Boston Museum of Science with my 3 nieces, 1 nephew and my sister in law. For my sister in law and 3 of the 4 kids, it was their first time ever. I haven't been since I was a kid. We all had a blast. 

We drove in, because taking the train then the subway and walking with 4 wild kids was not what we wanted to do. The drive in wasn't bad, we didn't hit too much traffic. We parked in the lot that was attached to the museum, which is very convenient.

We stood in line a few minutes before getting our tickets. I had gone to the library and gotten their pass before heading in. The pass is good for 4 people and we would only pay $10 a ticket (instead of full price). However, there was an extremely nice lady in front of us. She was a member and had some extra tickets and offered us all to get in free. We were very happy that she saved us money! Because we saved by not buying out tickets, we bought tickets to the butterfly exhibit, that the kids insisted on going to. We paid $6 per person to go in. This exhibit was okay, but the kids did enjoy it so I don't mind paying extra. In my opinion it was small and the ones at the zoos are bigger and included. However, when we went there was a nice woman working and she really engaged with the kids, which was awesome. The kids got to hold an orange that attracted the butterflies and they got to watch them eat.

The lightning show was amazing! My oldest niece, who is 9, was bugging us for hours to see this show. It did not disappoint! She is still talking about it a week later! The other kids really enjoyed it too. Be aware though, it is pretty loud and get's packed quickly. 

We saw the show about cold (I think it was called Wicked Cold or something like that) The lady was good at keeping the kids' attention, while teaching them (and us!) something.

The kids enjoyed the house of mirrors, to the point where we walked through that maze about 6 times!

I packed our lunches, so that helped save money. We did pick a busy time to eat (noon) and we got the last table. It wasn't too bad though.

I rented a locker for the day. We stashed our lunch and jackets in there so we didn't have to carry them around all day. I was able to open the locker a few times, unlike some places where you can only open it once.

We didn't have time to do the planetarium, so that will be the 1st thing we do next time.

I highly recommend visiting with kids of all ages! It is a lot of walking, so if you have younger kids (or a runner like we do) I suggest bringing a stroller (wish we brought one!)