Reviews: Pa Nuang Thai

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Published: 01/15/2013

Highly recommended on the "Readers Recommend: Restaurants in Prince William County" is Pa Nuang Thai. I actually thought I'd written about it before, but apparently, I haven't. Or, maybe I have, but it's so good that I'm going to do it again. (Edit: I found it! It was for PotomacLocal.com)

It's my website, people, and I'll do what I want to.

So, Pa Nuang is amazing, and I like it better than all the other Thai restaurants in the county that I've tried. Hands down. No, I don't care that you like the other one by the Safeway. Typically there's room for everyone's opinions, but right now I am taking a firm stand on Thai.

Their menu is extensive, and everything on it is amazing. I love the crisp, fresh green papaya salad, and the Tom Kha Soup which is both sweet and salty, spicy and sour, and just generally amazing. Hubby and I went their for a date night the other day, and we ended up with these:

This is chicken with bell peppers and basil. I'm sure it has an actual name, but it's number 3 down on the "Entrees" section. Yeah, I know that.

This is the soup I now want anytime there's anything wrong or right with me. I've had a migraine and been in bed for days, and reflecting on it, I'm actually ticked off that my husband didn't bring me soup. I know I wasn't eating, but it would've reheated when I wanted it. Originally, this was "Korean Noodle Soup", but apparently now it's "Clear Noodle Soup". It's broth, ground chicken (or you can get it vegetarian or with shrimp...maybe? I don't like seafood so I don't reserve space in my brain for it) vegetables, and noodles, and it's amazing. If you're a glutton for punishment like we are, they'll even bring out crushed red peppers that are waaaay spicier than anything you've ever shaken on your pizza. Next Level Delicious.

(Yes, we ordered two entrees just for the two of us. It's important to have leftovers when the food is this good. Don't judge me until you try it. Even then, don't judge me.)

Dishes can be ordered "American Spicy", which I would call "not spicy", "Regular Spicy" which is probably spicy enough for most people, or "Thai Spicy", which will clear your sinuses and make your tongue tingle. I personally enjoy Thai Spicy, but recommend starting a little further down the scale until you know what you're getting into.

For the kids, I recommend the Thai Sweet and Sour, or, if they're more adventitious, the fried tofu with sweet chili sauce is really good. The sweet and sour comes with the chicken in chunks and crispy (a la "nugget" but with recognizable meat) and the sauce on the side. My kids actually like the Pad Thai with shrimp and the tempura carrots from my Green Curried Vegetables. They're not normal, though.

This is a really long post about how much I love Pa Nuang at this point....but it's really, really, really good. They're not paying me to write this....I am, in fact, paying them. For soup. Which I could really use right now- I wonder if they're open....

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12 Days of Giveaways: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

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Published: 12/14/2012

We're 12 Days Away from Christmas, so I want to hit you guys with a few giveaway items!! First up, I've got a $25 gift card to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Woodbridge. This fairly new restaurant is located in my favorite place- Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. Love Love Love :) The restaurant had us for a preview meal, and they've got a pretty amazing children's menu. My son got the children's salmon, and I'm not a seafood lover, but his fish was awesome. I really appreciated that there were some exciting and healthier grilled items, in addition to standbys like burgers. If it were me, though, I would probably choose Firebirds for a great date night. Nobody minded our children, and the volume level in the restaurant is that magical point where you can hear the people at your table but there's enough background noise to mask your children bemoaning the fact that someone else is currently using the ketchup ;)

The restaurant is beautiful inside, I love the waterfall concept bar display, the wine bottle wall, the stone and the fireplace. There is definitely tons of ambiance. Entrees include steaks, fish, chicken, pastas, and some delicious sounding salads. Yelp rates the restaurant between $$ (moderate) and $$$ (pricey).

Want to head to Firebirds for your own date night or happy hour? (It's so cozy and sleek inside- it'd be a beautiful place to meet up with girlfriends for a special drink!) Check out the Rafflecopter below and enter to win!! I'll be drawing all the winners for these contests on Christmas Day- my way of giving some presents to you guys :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We were able to try a meal at Firebirds before offering this giveaway, also provided by Firebirds. Winner assumes all liability. All photo credits are to the Firebirds Facebook Page.

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Paradise Springs Winery

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Published: 11/29/2012

I am not really a wine person. It is atypical for me to have an "adult beverage" and if I do have wine, it has to be white, sweet, and with lots of ice.

Yes, ice. Because I'm classy, people. I even know that the new term is "Cardbordeaux" and not "Wine in a bag in a box".

And only one glass, because after that, I get giggly.

However, I do love the idea of wine. I'm always impressed by people who know lots about wine, that know the vintages and can identify whether a particular variety was aged in oak or steel, those who can tell the difference between the 1949 and 1950 blend of a particular beverage. I especially like the idea of vineyards. Sitting around with friends enjoying a snack and a glass of wine by the fire with live indie music in the background sounds pretty amazing right?

That's because it is!!

We headed out this past Sunday with another couple for a double date to Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, VA, which was absolutely lovely. If you're following Apple Maps, which we were, don't let them fool you into turning on the last left- just keep going straight, you can't miss it. Google users, you'll be just fine.

The vineyard itself is on a plot of land that's been handed down in a family since the time of Lord Fairfax and George Washington, which is really neat! There's an historic cabin on site, as well as the main tasting room, which is also gorgeous. Tastings at Paradise Springs include samples from their entire line for $10. You can add a souvenir etched glass for $2 more. Private tastings for groups are $15 per person, and happen in a dedicated location with your own "wine educator". They also host special events, which you can check out on their website.

Our group opted to take part in the "Paradise Springs Experience" which is $25 and includes a tour of the cabin, production areas, barrel room, and a tasting. Our wine educator/guide was Richard, who was absolutely delightful. He was very knowledgable not only about wine, but art and history as well, and we very much enjoyed our tour with him.

Children are allowed to join you at the winery, per the website, but let's be nice to ourselves and everyone else and snag a sitter, shall we? Nobody wants to ignore their vino and conversation so that they can run after the munchkins. Children are not permitted on the "Paradise Springs Experience" tour, though.

On our tour, Richard talked us through all of the Paradise Springs wines. I learned that a more yellow color on a white wine indicates oak barrels were used (score! I'm educated now!), and was able to clearly tell the difference between a 2010 and a 2011!

Are you amazed by my new levels of awesome? I know, I am, too.

After our tour, we enjoyed some snacks that we brought with us. Food is available on-site, as well, but patrons are welcome to bring their own, if they prefer. Only Paradise Springs Wines are allowed, of course, and they also have non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase.

I think the only thing that we did wrong on this visit was underestimate the time we would spend. I told Grandma that we'd be back for the kids around 4:00. We left at 1:30, and we rolled back up to her house at 6. Our tour took about an hour and a half, and we all had a great time just sitting and chatting in the beautiful and relaxed environment. There was a fire going on the outdoor patio, as well as indoor seating, and we just really had a fantastic time. They even had the football game on, which meant that my friend and I could gossip uninhibited by eye rolls from our respective husbands.

It was a lovely, relaxing afternoon!

Paradise Springs Winery
*Great for an adults-only afternoon/evening
*Open daily
*Tastings for only $10!
*Leave yourself lots of time!
*Bring food or buy it there
*Bring your ID
* Plan to buy a bottle of your favorite wine to take home!

Downside:
*If you're holding your empty glass AND a camera phone, don't turn the camera phone or you'll get red wine on your shirt and your friends will make fun of you mercilessly. Or, maybe that's just my friends.

Plan Ahead:
*Someone's gotta drive home, so be sure that you plan accordingly by bringing a designated driver. If you need to, call a cab. Clifton Roads are windy and have lots of deer, so don't risk it.

Disclaimer: Don't be an idiot and drink and drive. That's just not cool. Also, I was not compensated in any way for this review, in fact, they didn't even know I was there. We had a great time, though, and think you would, too. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, please get help. I've never written about anything alcohol-related before, I don't think, so if I'm over-disclaimering, I apologize.

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Welcome to Prince William County! The Cheesecake Factory!

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Published: 11/09/2012

I want to have an entire series of posts called "The Classy-fication of Hoodbridge" but I know you guys very seldom enjoy my humor about that, so I'm going to refrain....aside from just writing it here....so yeah.

Anyway, The Cheesecake Factory with their MASSIVE menu and MASSIVE portions and Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake that you can only eat one bite of because the entire piece is like a series of mashed-together truffle-y goodness has come to Prince William County! You'll find them located at Potomac Mills Mall outlying by the AMC Theatres side.

The restaurant is having its grand opening on Sunday, November 11th, but they had invited me out to see what the restaurant is all about. I was so excited!

And then I woke up sick.

So. Not. Cool.

Rather than start a health crisis, I found some back-up reviewers to go for me. Amanda Long from Prince William County Children's Choir and Jennifer Clifton from Pillar Church in Dumfries were able to go for me and get the scoop.

And by scoop, I mean tasty tasty preview meal. Wrote Amanda:
"We had a lovely time. The food was extraordinary!"

That about sums it up. Cheesecake Factory- Lovely Time, Extraordinary Food. If you're planning to go, do plan to wait for a table, especially if you're bringing a larger party.

Also to note, The Cheesecake Factory makes meals that are ideal for sharing, even the salads. Cheesecake travels home very well (because I've never been and had room for desert even though I always split my meal and never even finish half of it!), just ask your server for your cake to-go! While you're at it, they also offer their sauces in Mason Jars to-go, so you can cook up your favorites at home! There's also a new "lighter" menu available with portions listed by number of calories, if you're trying to be good!

The very fabulous Andrea from NovaHousewives.com also went to check out The Cheesecake Factory here in Prince William County, and if you'd like her tips and behind the scenes pictures, you can find them here.

The Cheesecake Factory Potomac Mills says this about themselves:
The Cheesecake Factory menu features more than 200 menu selections made fresh from scratch each day using only the highest quality ingredients. We have expanded our offerings with a low calorie menu aptly named SkinnyLicious™. Redefining low calorie flavor, the SkinnyLicious™ menu provides guests with even more choices. The Cheesecake Factory is famous for generous portions which are ideal for sharing or taking home – but be sure to save room to enjoy one of 50 legendary cheesecakes and specialty desserts. The Cheesecake Factory gladly honors requests to modify your order to suit specific health or dietary needs. Enjoy our high-energy atmosphere seven days a week, serving appetizers, lunch, dinner, late night dining, full bar, Sunday brunch, and Curbside To-Go service. Our passion for food drives us to deliver delicious food to all of our guests. That’s why we only use fresh ingredients to make everything from scratch daily in each of our restaurants – just like you would at home in your own kitchen.

The Cheesecake Factory's hours will be Monday-Thursday from 11:30am-11:00pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:30am-12:30am, and Sunday from 10:00am-11:00pm. They do have a brunch menu!

Want to go? How about a date night? The Cheesecake Factory is offering a PwcMoms Reader a $25 gift card for their first meal at The Cheesecake Factory here in Woodbridge!

Enter using the Rafflecopter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Luck!

Thanks to The Cheesecake Factory for the fun giveaway, and for inviting PwcMoms out for a preview. Obviously all opinions are our own. PwcMoms.com is not responsible for your skinny jeans not fitting if you develop an addiction to Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. Not our fault.

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Fields of Fear

Published: 10/12/2012

We just shared with you about our daytime experience at Cox Farms, and that I am a giant pansy about going to the farm after dark. PotomacLocal.com editor Uriah Kiser, however, revels in the scary side of Cox and was all too happy to check it out for us:

Photo from Cox Farms

"On this farm is Cornnighttmare; a twisted trail of haunts and lost souls trapped in a corn field at Cox Farms in Fairfax County. Once on this trail of terror, small sounds in the cornstalks reveal themselves as clowns with chainsaws who jump out at you, mummies rise from their tombs, and a seven-foot tall brown grizzly bear chases visitors out of a log cabin."

To read the full review, including prices and hours, visit their site to read "Find Nightmarish Fun at Fields of Fear"

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Kid Care Cafe

Published: 09/10/2012

So here's a neat idea! A new business, Kid Care Cafe, will actually bring group childcare to your home or event. It's a flat $15 per child at the event, and I can totally see doing this for my next big game night or BBQ so that the parents can enjoy their time with grownups, but not have to worry about having their children with someone they don't know off-site. Weddings, business parties, galas, charity events, I could see this being a really useful service!

From their website:
Instead of staying home from an event because you don't have childcare, why not bring the kids along too? We understand this tough choice that parents often make - miss out on being social with your friends OR find a sitter and go out! We want you and your friends to go out (or stay in) while we tend to the kids. We want your kids to have fun, make new friends, and be safe. We'll make sure that happens.

I haven't had a chance to meet the owner yet, but she's having a special kick-off event Saturday, September 15th from 3-5pm at the NZone in Chantilly (14550 Lee Road, Chantilly VA) with free food, games, raffles, prizes, face painting and music. I think this is definitely one to check out if you're constantly in need of childcare! I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback if you use them, too!

As a reminder, PwcMoms.com does not endorse any childcare provider. Parents should meet with any potential babysitters, daycare providers, preschools, etc. and use their best judgement and personal discretion before leaving their children with anyone.

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Where do MamaMafia Dons Dine?

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Published: 05/25/2012

Where do MamaMafia Dons Dine?

It sounds like there should be a punchline to that question- but the answer is anything but a joke.

This week I was able to spend some time (okay, almost 5 hours) at Carmello's in Old Town Manassas. Y'all recommended Carmello's on our Reader Recommendation Restaurant Guide, and I've been wanting to try it ever since! Andrea from Real Housewives of Northern Virginia set up a tasting, and from the moment we walked in, I was completely sold.

Walking into Carmello's you'd never know that you're feet away from the Train Depot. Its warm colors and gold chargers invite you in, and even the sign glistens. This would be the perfect location for a wedding or rehearsal dinner meal, and they are able to offer multiple room sizes to meet group needs. Joining our dinner were Denise from Let Mommy Sleep/Mission Sleep, Rebecca from 3 Tiny Tyrants/Maguire Media Group, Laura from BeltwayBargainMom, and Micaela from SuperNovaMommy.

Denise, Me, Micaela, the awesome manager Jacob, Rebeca, Laura, and Andrea

Rebecca selected a bottle from their extensive wine list for us. There was what can only be described as the Cheesecake Factory Menu worth of wine on their list, but she picked out a fantastic red. Twice :) (Please note- all photo credit is to Real Housewives of Northern Virginia who shared with me since I forgot to charge my phone before dinner)

We were able to tour the restaurant. This is the wine room. Just for the reds.

We had so much fun chatting with the manager, Jacob. He selected a few dishes for us and I quickly shocked everyone since I love to cook and will try just about anything because I had never eaten ANYTHING that we had. I decided to try to handle it cultural-exchange style and just eat it :) It was all amazing, and I think I'm in love with scallops. (Yeah, say that you've never had a scallop before at this table of women and you get 5 horrified gasps followed by two "Well you can pass them over here if you're not gonna try them!")

Okay, cell phones don't do food justice (sorry Andrea). This is shrimp and scallops over saffron rice with artichokes in a delicious creamy sauce. I had never had a scallop before (gasp!) and am very selective about my shrimp, and since I'm not a seafood lover, let me say I loved all the seafood dishes here. Everything was fresh and not the least bit "fishy". Next we had veal medallions wrapped in bacon with a mushroom sauce, also over rice.

I had (shocker) never had veal. Also, let me confess to typically eating my meat "Well done, please, and then cook it a little more". I didn't lick the plate....but I thought about it. This literally melted in your mouth.

Next we sampled the seafood ravioli, which had salmon (never had) and lobster cream sauce (never had lobster, either). The salmon was probably the most out of my comfort zone, but the lobster cream sauce and I are now BFF's and I'm following it on twitter.

Now, all of this is very fancy and amazing, but it's of course special occasion/date night food. And, when you have your next special occasion, this is where you should go. Besides the food being amazing and the manager being friendly and knowledgable, the staff was attentive and I didn't see a single table that wanted for anything from water to clean forks.

But if you just need a little cocktail hour, Carmello's has you covered, too. This delicious Pizza Margharita (yeah, I'd actually had this before!) Is actually from the adjoining bar, Monza. If you're looking for a place for lunch, a light supper, or drinks with the girls, Monza has got to be it. In addition, let me share something with you:

On Mondays, Monza has $5 martinis from a list about a mile long. We sampled the pear, root beer float, grapefruit, a few I can't remember, and the awesome bar tender Jeff's espresso martini, which, if it were available at Starbucks, would land me in AA. Meeting up with a few friends after work (even if work involves chasing toddlers!) at Monza would be epic. With the same warm and upscale feel, but substantially more flatscreen TVs (playing the hockey game!!) Monza is a great guy-friend or girl-friend meet up.

Also, now that summer is approaching, keep in mind that on Friday and Saturday nights, the patio is open and the side street shut down to accommodate live music. What a great way to spend a warm summer night!

Carmello's- Entrees $23-30, elegant warm atmosphere. Going to the Hylton Performing Arts Center? Call ahead and bring your tickets and take advantage of their $35 Theatre Special before 6pm (Appetizer/Soup/Salad, Entree, Dessert). Plan Carmello's for your next occasion and you definitely won't regret it!

Monza- $5-$17, fun upscale atmosphere, great for meeting friends! Don't forget the $5 martini Mondays, and that pasta is $4 off before 4pm, so a late lunch is an option!

Denise, Rebecca and me. We like to segregate our Blondes and Brunettes when we dine out ;)

My group was provided with products or services for this review, however it represents my honest opinion, and I'd have written the same thing either way. Just saying :)

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Chick Fil A Mother Son "Date Knight"

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Published: 05/15/2012

When it comes to fast food, nobody does it quite like Chick-Fil-A. From their friendly staff to great healthy options like grilled chicken nuggets and fruit cups, we're always really happy with our visits. Even their play places have always been clean at every location we go to. (Admittedly, we're not world travelers, but we have been to some CFA's in our time!)

One of the great parts about our local Prince William County Chick-Fil-A restaurants is that they're so kid-friendly! Whether it's family nights, movie nights, crafts, kids eat free, or special events, they're always fantastic about making sure your family can have fun! Last year, my husband and daughter attended the Father/Daughter Date night. My hubby was a little dubious about the whole thing when ~~I signed him up and didn't give him an option~~ he decided to go :). He wasn't sure what would make going with a reservation to fast food so special. However, they had a great time, and were so impressed that when Mother Son "Date Knight" came up, I knew my boys and I were going.

We went to the Woodbridge, Virginia Chick-Fil-A, and we were impressed by the set up! They turned the back half of the restaurant into a castle! The walls were draped with "stone" backdrop and they had balloons, crowns, and even cows with swords (see below)

Note the cocktail picks. :) The restaurant event took the time to give some fun talking points. My boys really enjoyed questions like "Would you rather live at the bottom of the ocean or on the moon?" and "Would you rather be a spider for a week or an elephant for a year?" They sound really silly, but it got everyone talking, and the tables around us all seemed to be enjoying them, too!

Next there was a "shield" we could use to make a family crest. On the back, it explains the different animals found on crests and what they symbolize. We decided to do an owl holding a fish because "Mommy wants us to make the wise choice, but we want to be crazy!" (Owls symbolize wisdom and fish symbolize energy).

The ever-friendly Chick-Fil-A staff (decked out with aprons and crowns) comes to take your order table side and delivers your meal on plates. You still pay, both for yourself and the kids, so plan accordingly. This is not a kids eat free night. However, you do get free dessert! We got to try the new chocolate chip cookies (which are way off in the cookie-to-chocolate ratio, and I mean that in a VERY good way!) and also had the option of a brownie or an ice dream.

Of course, the cow also made an appearance! We had a lot of fun and will definitely make plans to attend again in the future!!

You can sign up to get email alerts from your local Prince William County Chick-Fil-A Restaurant! You can also follow them on Facebook.

-Chick-Fil-A Bristow, Manassas Virginia
-Chick-Fil-A Woodbridge, Woodbridge Virginia
-Chick-Fil-A Signal Hill, Manassas Virginia
-Chick-Fil-A Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas Virginia
-Chick-Fil-A Virginia Gateway, Gainesville Virginia

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Chick Fil A Mother/Son Date Knight May 14, 2012

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Published: 05/01/2012

I think that alone time with your kids is important. We love "mommy dates" and "daddy dates" because they let our children know how special and important they are to us.

I also love that Chick Fil A helps! It's nice to have an option that won't break the bank. My husband and our daughter did the Daddy/Daughter Date Night last year, and were really impressed by how special and affordable it was!

From CFA Signal Hill:

Mother-Son Date Knight is an opportunity for Moms to bring their son/s for a special, 'medieval' themed evening and a chance to have one-on-one time together. It is by reservation only. When you come to the restaurant, we will seat you and provide table side service. The restaurant will be decorated, there will be an activity for the mother and son to do at the table and we like to provide an Ice Dream Sundae Bar for you to enjoy as well!

To reserve your spot, visit the reservation page.

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Father/Daughter Dance

Published: 04/16/2012

The Manassas Park Community Center has so many fantastic kid friendly events and programs! I know Manassas Park isn't technically part of Prince William County, but I've always included it because it's just nestled in so nicely :)

Check out the details for the Father/Daughter Dance and be sure to sign up soon! Note that this program is for girls in grades K-5 and that a "father" can be any male role model in her life.

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Cooking with Bloggers at Alice and Louise Cooking School

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Published: 03/28/2012

Being a blogger is not fun when your space bar isn't working. Being a blogger IS fun when you get to hang out with other bloggers at Alice and Louise, however!

Last week, I was able to go check out Alice and Louise with a group of Northern Virginia Bloggers for a fun networking event put together by Andrea from Real Housewives of Northern Virginia. Alice and Louise, in addition to doing catering, also hosts cooking classes for everyone from children through adults, and will do corporate events or private parties. (Interested in doing one? Email me! If we can get a group of 8 together I'll book it!) They can work around your price range and interests, and, bonus, you can BYOM (bring your own Merlot).

Mother Earth Meals was also on hand to share some great cooking inspired by battling cancer and increasing your health using food. Simply Desserts was also there with some delicious cheesecake tips. By the way, did you know that it's Lent? Everything smelled delicious and got gobbled up, but I just watched. Le sigh. (Okay, really I've been trying to pinpoint a few tummy issues and keep giving up different things to try to figure it out, but Lent is a much faster explanation)

Group shot! These ladies are a lot of fun! They didn't even make fun of the fact that I brought my own beverage (it was lemonade made with stevia) in a Patriots cup. Rocking :)

Pictured (In No Particular Order):
Paper Placemats
Mom Machine
Caffeine and a Prayer
Creekside Learning
703MommyandMe
SuperNovaMommy
Real Housewives of Northern Virginia
Beltway Bargain Mom
PwcMoms.com

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Date Night!

Published: 05/29/2011

I had a reader ask me about Date Night ideas, so here we go!! Please leave your ideas in the comments section below!!

Date Night in (and close by) PWC:

1) Manassas Side- Head to Carmello's Little Portugal. It's a little on the expensive side, but was always super super good before the fire. They've reopened and I'd be willing to give it another shot :) Since dinner was on the pricey side, head to something on the cheap for afterwards! The Harris Pavilion offers a number of free and low-cost dances, concerts, and more!! (Also, we're in a recession, so if you want to hit the Subway directly across the street from the Pavilion as opposed to the fancy restaurant, I won't tell!!)

2) Awesome Wife Night- Do you want your husband to stop whining about the last chick flick you took him to? We've had some fun nights (fine, some fun laughing at my lack of hand eye coordination) over at Hard Times Cafe in Woodbridge. With sports, cold beer (blech), pool, and frequent special events like Live DJs and Karaoke, you can have a really great time hanging out with your guy and earning brownie points for the next Ralph Finnes movie you need to see. (There's also a Hard Times in Manassas)

3) If you need a little sunshine in your orange juice- Occoquan's Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe does $8 evening tastings as well as free daily mini-tastings. Most of the shops close early, but you can enjoy walking the waterfront, feeding the ducks, window shopping and then a belgian waffle for dinner (do not judge me!) at the Cock and Bowl. They also serve mussels, which I don't eat, and an impressive list of imported beer. Caution, however, because when my friend's husband's band (Yeah, it's called Derelict Dog. Bonus points for using an SAT Hot Word in the name of your band Kevin and Bill!) would play the outdoor patio (which is where you want to sit, under the lights- very cute) our little group of 6-10 people would run up a pretty impressive bar tab if we weren't careful.

4) If your wine drinking needs would better be served in Montclair, Giorgio's/Wine Styles is the way to go. I haven't been personally, but a few of my girlfriends did a ladies' night there and are planning another one. The great thing about these tasting nights is that you can actually talk to each other. Sit, have a few tastes, relax, and really talk. My husband and I have a rule that we get any "business" out of the way in the first 10-15 minutes. That means no talking about the kids, the finances, the cleaning, the dog, the drycleaning, etc. after that. If you have forgotten how to talk to your spouse (and it happens) try this incredibly corny list to get the conversation flowing: http://scottmoonen.com/2008/03/14/date-questions/

5) Hike. Seriously. Pack a picnic and head out to your favorite trail. Try them all. Bring bug spray. Have a grandparent nearby? You can camp while you're at it. A little campfire and some s'mores with your honey? C'mon that's amazing. (Day Date: Head out to Skyline Drive and hike 7 Falls. If you're hardcore, you can do Big Schloss way out in the boonies. Here's a tip- don't do it several months pregnant in the middle of August, okay? Good)

6) Twilight Golf. After 4pm you can hit the green for a reduced rate. Little much for you? That's okay! Head out to your local mini-golf (Woodbridge, Manassas, Gainesville/Bristow, Montclair/Dumfries/Triangle)

7) You know all those local plays I list on the calendar all the time? They're pretty cheap and usually really good! VPstart Crow does some great work from what I hear.

8) Speaking of VPStart Crow, they work out of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, which offers a great variety of performances. It's a great way to dress up and go to the theatre without getting on 95, which, as we all know, is the devil.

9) I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I love the Workhouse. I just do. I know it's technically in Lorton, but that's way close to Lake Ridge, where I kick it ;) Their special events feature movies, gallery shows, dances, and more. And, it's free to walk around and look....another cheap one!! There are some great thought-provoking pieces.

10) Wicked expensive but totally awesome: Sailing at Leesylvania (less expensive: paddle boating or canoeing, most local parks with water access offer really affordable rentals, or borrow a kayak from a neighbor- we all know someone with one!) Scuba Lessons together (less expensive, your local pool/indoor swim center for some laps)

Anyone else have thoughts for local dates?

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I Just Need a Night OFF!!!

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Published: 01/05/2011

Hey There Mommas!!

If your house is anything like our house, you just spent winter break with between 1 and 5 sick children/husbands (well, hopefully 1 husband, but you know, we're not here to judge), while running around like a crazy woman cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and spending 4 hours in line at Toys R Us Christmas Eve because your sweet baby angel child decided that Santa was only bringing them ONE thing and it wasn't one of the 2,000 toys you and your family bought them.

Good times!!

So, perhaps you are in need of a little break. Now, I happen to be a spoiled brat and live within 20 minutes of our fabulous Grandma who babysits pretty much every Friday night (sleepover included). However, since she's recently gone back to school, which I am so proud of her for doing, we need alternate plans.

If you, too, would like to get a few hours of grownup quiet time, here's a little list of options :)

1) Kids In Motion has Kids Night Out EVERY SINGLE FRIDAY NIGHT!! Your child can play from 5:30-9:00pm for $25 for the first child and $15 for siblings. That includes dinner at 6:15. Kids in Motion also offers a special New Year's Eve service that includes a sleepover.

2) Lake Ridge Park offers a drop off event for ages 4 and older. There are only 12 spots, so reserve early!! $15/date or $50 for all four Saturdays.
Option One: Holiday House- Kids celebrate the holiday with games, activities, and crafts. 703-792-7060
*New Years, January 8th 6-9pm
*Valentine's Day, February 12 6-9pm
*St. Patrick's Day, March 12 6-9pm
*Spring Fling, April 9 6-9pm
Option Two: Bingo (Ages 4-10) based on a new theme each week, and everyone is a winner!!
*Kings & Queens, January 15, 10-1
*Celebrate the Presidents, February 19, 10-1
*Community Helpers, March 19, 10-1
*Wonders of the World, April 16, 10-1

3) Pump it Up Inflatable Playzone offers Kids Night Out on Black Friday (score!!), Valentine's Day, and the First Friday of every night. Have a child on the spectrum? They also offer a Sensory Integration Night on the 3rd Thursday of the Month. Prices vary, so check the link!!

4) SportRock is admittedly far away, but soooo cool!! An indoor rock climbing experience, SportRock offers a Kids' Night for ages 6-14 from 6:30-8pm. At $20 with all equipment provided, this would be an awesome choice for a more active older child who's outgrown the moonbounces. (Can you outgrow moonbounces? I don't know, I still love them!!)

5) The Little Gym offers various "Parent Survival Nights" at their locations across Virginia. Find the location nearest you on the link above and pick a night!!

Perhaps you have your own babysitter? Make sure they're American Red Cross Certified through the Safe Sitter Course!!

Ages 11-15 can take the Babysitter Course at the Freedom Center on February 5th or March 12th from 9am-4pm.
Anyone ages 11 and up can take Infant/Child CPR on April 9th from 9am-4pm at the same site. Both courses are $75.

Prefer the other side of the county? Chinn Aquatic and Fitness Center offers Baby Sitter Training, too! Baby Sitter Training I for ages 11-15 is $65 and can be taken on January 22, February 26, March 19 or April 16. Baby Sitter Training II for ages 11-15 includes infant/child CPR and can only be taken after Baby Sitter I. It's $60 and held on March 26.

Stay Sane Mommas!

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