Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Help! Quick Recipes for Thanksgiving


The day before Thanksgiving is always HECTIC.  Running around like a turkey with it’s head cut off, (pun intended) it’s hard to take a moment to oneself and focus on the task at hand: create an extravagant dinner worthwhile for your family members.  So, in today’s blog we’ve decided to lend a helping hand.  Yes, we sell fun, but we’re also great cooks!  Check out one of our recipes below and have an awesome Thanksgiving!!!

Sweet Potato Casserole
Fills 1 medium-sized gratin dish or two small ones
Ingredients
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 large sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon ground thyme
1/3 cup Romano cheese, plus a bit more to sprinkle on top
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Wash and scrub 4 sweet potatoes. Bake for an hour or so and remove the potatoes from the oven to cool. In a small skillet, sauté the onions and garlic for several minutes and set aside.
Scoop out the flesh from the sweet potatoes and place with the onions and garlic in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process for several minutes until the sweet potatoes are pureed. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and gradually add the sweet potatoes, butter, thyme, cheese, salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to buttered ramekins or small baking dish.
To freeze: Place freezer-safe dish uncovered in the freezer until frozen and then wrap well in aluminum foil until ready to bake. When baking, cook in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Top 10 Homework Tips



As parents, we've all been there!  You're sitting down, helping the kiddies with their homework when their attention veers over to something more...appealing.  In today's blog, take a few to check out some really awesome tips from Kids Health: 

  1. Know the teachers — and what they're looking for. Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child's teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.
  2. Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep supplies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach.
  3. Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.
  4. Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there's an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.
  5. Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)
  6. Make sure kids do their own work. They won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it's a kid's job to do the learning.
  7. Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.
  8. Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents' examples than their advice.
  9. Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives.
  10. If there are continuing problems with homework, get help.Talk about it with your child's teacher. Some kids have trouble seeing the board and may need glasses; others might need an evaluation for a learning problem or attention disorder.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Top Summer Maintenance Tips for Road Trip Fun



Summer is  here and it’s a great time for traveling.  Even though pricing for gas has risen slightly, most consumers can’t ignore the lure of an open road and clear blue skies. The AAA explains that 31.7 million Americans planned to travel during the summer.  Before hitting the open road, there are a few precautions you can take to ensure a safe trip.  Extreme heat and long drives can put some wear on your vehicle.  Follow these tips to have an awesome summer road trip.

1.    Check Your Tires - Use the penny trick to see if you still have enough tread on your tires. Stick a penny in the tread, and if Lincoln's head disappears, you're good [source: CBS News]. Our dealership can also check your tires for proper alignment and balance.
2.    Change Oil and oil filter - To check your oil, let your car run for a few minutes, then park it on a level surface and shut off the engine. Open the hood and locate the oil dipstick.  Check the dipstick for the level of oil and how it looks.
3.    Check Hoses and Belts – these key components keep your engine cool.  Come into the dealership and we can check this out for you in a jiffy.
4.    Change the Air Filter – you should change your air filter every 12,000 miles.  If you drive on a lot of dirt roads, then your air filter might clog faster than normal.  If it’s filthy, change it.
5.    Replace Your Windshield Wipers – Summertime is known for storms.  Make sure your wipers are new, provide great quality and allow you to see the road clearly.
6.    Check Your Brakes – Here are some signs your brakes need to be checked: Your brake pedal becomes very soft and mushy, your brake pedal is very hard and resistant, your brake pedal rests too low or too high, indication or warning lights on the dashboard, loud and constant scraping and grinding sounds coming from the brakes.

For more tips, visit our blog!

Summer is almost here and it’s a great time for traveling. Here are THE top maintenance tips for road trip fun



Thursday, May 30, 2013

#WOWTagThursday is On Instagram!

Here at The Wow Factory Family Fun Center, we're always thinking of COOL ways to engage our current audience.  Yes, that means you!  We've seen you on Instagram and we've decided to start something new!  it's called...

#GetYourWOWon

If you're at The Wow Factory having a GREAT time, don't forget to tag us on Instagram at @TheWowFactory and add the hashtag #WOWTagThursday.  You could be featured in our next post!!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

On the Go: Quick Breakfast that Works




The morning routine is hectic.  Gone are the relaxing mornings of yesteryear, instead they’ve been replaced by a mad dash to the door and a forgotten lunch on the counter.  Getting ready in the morning can be difficult, especially considering you’ve got your kids to get ready, lunches to be made, washing up, and the other duties that flood your morning routine.  You drive to work everyday with less than enough energy to start a day of productivity.  In today’s blog, we discuss some quick options that can help you refuel in the morning. 

Avoid picking up coffee treats and fast food alternatives on your way to work.  The key to a good breakfast and a healthy lifestyle starts with preparation.  Try homemade peanut butter bars. You can prepare them ahead of time, grabbing them on your path to the door.  You’ll need peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, oats, rice cereal and wheat germ.  According to Lauren S. Johnson: “Place them all in a bowl.  Then combine peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup (or honey) in a large bowl. Microwave the mixture until it starts bubbling. Then simply add vanilla, stir, and pour the mixture over the dry ingredients until evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to a greased pan, press down firmly and let it stand to harden. Once it hardens, simply cut it into little squares and enjoy energizing breakfast bars for a week.”

Another option is to create a smoothie, a great breakfast alternative that’s quick and easy to make.  Take a citrus berry smoothie for instance, these are rich with healthy carbs and powerful antioxidants, just add fresh berries, low-fat yogurt, and orange juice! Viola! It only takes 5 minutes to create!

There are countless options to help you energize in the morning, add your favorite below!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Add Us to Your Circles on Google+



Have you logged into your Google+ Profile lately?  Well, if you have, you’ll realize there were a TON of new aesthetic changes!  Google+ recently released a new way to managing your profile content on Google+.  Now, you have access to a jumbo Google Cover Image at the top of your page and app integration.  We recently upgraded, so feel free to check us out right here:


See you on Google+!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

We're on Instagram!

The Wow Factory is proud to announce that we're OFFICIALLY on Instagram!  At The Wow Factory  we understand the importance of being seen, but not heard, so we created an Instagram account for your aesthetic pleasures!  Check us out at: 

@TheWowFactory 

and tag us in any photos you post in our Family Fun Center facility with the hashtag: 

#TheWowFactory


We're happy to be a BIG part of the Instagram craze!  Don't forget to use our hashtag!  We might even repost your pic!  Check us out and find out why we WOW all of our visitors!