Featured Organization Friday: Goodwill of Greater Washington

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Published: 05/10/2013

You may have noticed last week, that we started up the "Featured Organization Friday" again, in an effort to share more about the ways you can become involved with local nonprofits and organizations and make a positive impact on the community. So when Goodwill reached out to PWC Moms to paticipate in their #Blog4Good campaign this week, I said yes! May 5th through May 11th marks Goodwill Industries Week, an annual celebration of Goodwill’s mission to provide free job training and employment services to people with disabilities and disadvantages.

We support #blog4good to help end unemployment

You know Goodwill. They’re the folks you donate all your old stuff to. Bargain shoppers & budget fashionistas know their retail stores as a great place to go thrift shopping. But, do you know why goodwill accepts your donations? Do you know where the proceeds from those retail sales go? Simply put – they help people find jobs here in our community. Goodwill of Greater Washington’s primary mission is to provide job training and employment services to people with disadvantages and disabilities. They help real people get real jobs; fostering positive, contributing members to our community. All made possible by donations from people like you and me.

In 2012, Goodwill directly affected the lives of more than 3,200 people in our community. These are people who have re-found the dignity that comes with being a contributing member of our society. Goodwill also diverted over 20 millions of trash from local landfills through their donation program. In addition to training people for jobs, placing them into jobs, providing consumers with access to quality, low cost goods, and acting as one our region’s largest recyclers, Goodwill is also a job developer. With each new store and donation center that Goodwill opens, 25-30 new jobs are created. Goodwill of Greater Washington’s mission is summed up by its tagline - “Transforming lives and communities”.

If you’d like to learn more about Goodwill of Greater Washington, find their nearest store or donation center, or get involved, visit dcgoodwill.org or download their free mobile app. Here in Prince William County there is a Goodwill Donation & Retail Center in Manassas, plus a Prince William County Landfill Attended Donation Center. There are also Goodwill locations nearby in Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Stafford, plus an Outlet Store in Fredericksburg.

Disclosure: This blog post is a part of the #Blog4Good campaign to help spread the word about Goodwill of Greater Washington.

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Featured Organization Friday: Partners In Preservation program for the National Trust for Historic Preservation

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Published: 05/03/2013

Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country. Since 2006, American Express has made grants worth $9 million through Partners in Preservation, helping historic places in seven cities to date, including San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle, Saint Paul/Minneapolis and New York, and has engaged more than a million people. The program will award an additional $1 million in grants to historic places in Washington, DC in May 2013. Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.

Washington D.C. Metro Area 2013
The Washington, D.C. Metro area has been selected as the eighth area to be selected to participate in Partners in Preservation and receive funding from American Express. The area benefits from a wealth of historic landmarks and districts. Since the creation of the Georgetown Historic District in 1950, the city’s inventory of historic places has grown steadily to encompass thousands of properties representing all aspects of the city’s history and culture. The District of Columbia alone has 55 historic districts and 657 historic landmarks dating from the 1700s to iconic modern architectural marvels, and has more National Historic Landmarks than all but seven states.

Plus this weekend, Saturday May 4th - Sunday May 5th is Open House Weekend.
This means there will be fun, special events at each of the sites. A full list of participating sites is here. I suggest calling ahead to find out what special event each site has. Some will have free admission, behind the scenes tours, food, performances, etc - to encourage people to come out, learn more about the site and its history - and encourage people to vote for their site. For example, Congressional Cemetery will be doing an all-day Scavenger Hunt with performances, tours pointing out some of the famous “residents” and even a spaghetti sauce judging contest.

Your vote will help give away $1 million to preserve historic places in the Washington, DC Metro area. Although there aren't any Prince William County sites in the running, there are the following Northern Virginia sites: Arlington House, Colvin Run Mill, Marine Corps War Memorial, Mount Vernon, and The Athenaeum.

From April 24 through May 10, 2013, the public is being asked to help choose which historic places they feel most deserve preservation funding. Click here to learn about the participating historic places. Visit the Partners in Preservation website to earn points for the participating historic places by voting online and via mobile, sharing with friends on Twitter, checking in on Foursquare and posting photos on Instagram. Click here to get started. The site that receives the highest number of points at the conclusion of the program is guaranteed to receive their full grant request. A Partners in Preservation advisory committee comprised of Washington-area civic and preservation leaders will recommend how the remainder of the preservation grants will be awarded to the other participating sites. On May 13, American Express and the National Trust will announce the popular vote winner along with the additional grant winners.

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Field Trip- Arlington House Black History Month Events

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Published: 02/10/2013

Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial, presents

Black History Month at Arlington House

Join us as we celebrate the experience of African Americans at Arlington House!

African American History Tours

Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 PM

Park Rangers will provide a tour of the African American experience at Arlington House and in its historic slave quarters. Explore where the enslaved people of Arlington House worked, lived and persevered through their oppression. Learn about their bondage to one of Virginia's first families, their lifestyles, and how they gained their freedom.

Faith and Freedom Sundays

February 3, 10, 17 at 2 PM

On select Sundays in February, local black churches will share the significance of their history in the greater Arlington area through discussion and music. These churches have roots to Freedman's Village, a settlement for freed people on the Arlington estate and what today is the Arlington National Cemetery.

These activities are free to the public. For more information, please e-mail arlingtonhouseevents@nps.gov or call: 703-235-1530.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

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Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Presents the 2013 “Heritage Family Day” Series

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Published: 02/08/2013

Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Presents

the 2013 “Heritage Family Day” Series

As part of the Smithsonian’s Heritage and History education initiative, the National Air and Space Museum presents a “Heritage Family Day” series celebrating ethnic and cultural diversity. The series coincides with national observances, focusing specifically on the contributions that diverse communities have made to aviation and space exploration. These activity-filled days, which take place at the National Mall building and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va., offer parents and children the opportunity to meet role models—ranging from World War II veterans to astronomers. Support for the “Heritage Family Day” series is provided by Northrop Grumman Corporation.

“The museum’s dual mission, in history and science, come together in the ‘Heritage Family Day’ series,” said Maureen Kerr, education chair at the National Air and Space Museum. “The programs feature inspiring role models who have helped make history by their achievements in aviation and spaceflight.”

“Northrop Grumman is proud to sponsor the ‘Heritage Family Day’ series for the eighth consecutive year at the National Air and Space Museum,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president, Corporate Responsibility, Northrop Grumman Corporation. “We are excited to support this series because it recognizes the unsung heroes of STEM and is an incredible benefit to the community’s schools and families.”

The 2013 series begins Feb. 9 at the museum’s National Mall building with “African American Pioneers in Aviation Day,” where visitors will have the chance to meet members of the Tuskegee Airmen, African Americans who fought during WWII, and be inspired by their determination and perseverance. On Feb. 23, the second “African American Pioneers in Aviation Day” will be held at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

On March 23, “Kites of Asia Day,” visitors to the National Mall building will experience the beauty of kites by celebrating the first aviation-related objects collected by the Smithsonian—two Chinese kites. There will be indoor kite flying, and experts will explain how kites influenced the development of aviation and the science behind kite flying. Visitors can decorate and build their own kites.

Also March 23, the “Women in Aviation and Space Day” will take place at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Visitors will learn about the accomplishments of women in aviation, science and aerospace. Families can enjoy guest speakers, hands-on activities, a theatrical presentation and more.

“Explore the Universe Day” will take place at the National Mall building June 1. Astronomy will serve as a common theme for visitors to learn how different people and cultures view and talk about the sky. The museum’s Public Observatory will be open for daytime sky-watching, weather permitting.

There will be two “Heritage Family Days” in September: “A Century of Women in Aerospace” at the National Mall building Sept. 14 and “Hispanic Heritage Day: Innovators in Air and Space” in partnership with the Smithsonian Latino Center Sept. 21 at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

The last “Heritage Family Day” of the 2013 series will be Oct. 5 at the National Mall building and will also celebrate Hispanic Heritage in partnership with the Smithsonian’s Latino Center. There will be bilingual programming and visitors will have the chance to meet Hispanic scientists and engineers.

For more information about the museum’s “Heritage Family Day” series, visit: http://www.airandspace.si.edu/events/heritagedays.cfm.

The National Air and Space Museum building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is located at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport. Both facilities are open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free, but there is a $15 fee for parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

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Upcoming: Sleeping Beauty Dreams

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Published: 02/05/2013

The Kennedy Center presents the U.S. Premiere of Marionetas de la Esquina’s

Sleeping Beauty Dreams

Co-Commissioned by Marionetas de la Esquina and the Kennedy Center
February 16 – 17, 2013 In the Family Theater
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—The Kennedy Center presents the U.S. premiere production of Sleeping Beauty Dreams in the Family Theater from February 16 – 17, 2013. Co- commissioned with puppet theater company Marionetas de la Esquina of Mexico, the play is written by award-winning playwright Amaranta Leyva and directed by Lourdes Pérez Gay. Sleeping Beauty Dreams is recommended for ages five and up. The performance on Saturday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m. will be held in Spanish.
Sleeping Beauty Dreams reimagines the famous princess as an overprotected daughter looking for a way to break free of her castle walls in order to search for true love...and her true self. A contemporary look at this classic tale, Marionetas de la Esquina’s humorous storytelling and whimsical puppetry awake this sleeping princess as never before.

In 2004, the company was recognized by CONACULTA and included in the program México en Escena (Mexico on Stage), a program that supports experienced and renowned groups. In 2006, company member and playwright Amaranta Leyva received the Mexican National Prize for Children's Theater for her play the dress. Also, in 2006 the company was awarded by the National Critics of Mexico. The company’s history has been published in a book called Marionetas de la Esquina, Tras Bambalinas (FONCA, Cal y Arena, México, 2004) (“Marionetas de la Esquina, behind the scene”).
Lucio Espíndola (Founder). Author, actor, director, puppeteer, and puppet-maker, Lucio Espíndola has dedicated himself to the production, exhibition, teaching and diffusion of the art of puppetry since 1973. He has written 13 plays, built more than 400 puppets, and has acted in approximately 10,000 performances.

TICKET INFORMATION
Performances of Sleeping Beauty Dreams run in the Kennedy Center Family Theater on February 16 at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. and February 17 at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The performance on Saturday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m. will be held in Spanish. All seats are $18. Please visit the Kennedy Center website at www.kennedy-center.org or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324.

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Upcoming: Reel Abilities Film Festival

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Published: 02/01/2013

Pioneering Film Festival Opens in Greater Washington Area

ReelAbilities Disabilities Film Festival, February 7-14, 2013

ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. The festival is coming to the DC and Northern Virginia area from February 7-14, 2013 and is sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV).

Nine films will be screened throughout the festival – features, documentaries, and shorts that present stories incorporating a variety of disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, deafness, and others. Check out the schedule below:

Thursday, February 7
Mary & Max at Angelika Film Center - 7:45 pm

Saturday, February 9
Ocean Heaven at Angelika Film Center - 3:00 pm
Finding Nemo at DC Public Library - 11:00 am

Sunday, February 10
Anything You Can Do and Finding Nemo at Cinema Arts Theatre - 10:15 am
Me, Too at Angelika Film Center - 2:00 pm
Ocean Heaven at Floris United Methodist Church - 6:30 pm

Monday, February 11
Shooting Beauty at Cinema Arts Theatre - 7:30 pm

Tuesday, February 12

Silent Games at George Mason University - 7:00 pm
Mary & Max at Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington - 7:00 pm
War Eagle at Bethlehem Lutheran Church - 7:00 pm

Wednesday, February 13
Shooting Beauty at Northern Virginia Community College - Manassas Campus - 5:30 pm
Aphasia at Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia - 5:30 pm

Thursday, February 14
Musical Chairs at Angelika Film Center - 7:30 pm

Visit the ReelAbilities DC website to learn more about the featured films and festival events.

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$1 Deal on Disney on Ice!!

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Published: 01/03/2013

MEDIA ADVISORY Disney On Ice One Day-One Dollar DealTicket Offer Available at the Verizon Center Box Office January 8

WHAT: Disney On Ice fans in the Washington, D.C. area will have a chance to purchase tickets for just $1 to the Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove show coming to the nation’s capital from February 13-18. This incredible offer is available one-day-only while quantities last (a total of 1,000 tickets will be available). Those that don’t get the $1 dollar deal will get a $5 savings on tickets to any performance.
WHO: Available to all Disney On Ice fans in the Washington, D.C. area
WHEN: Tuesday, January 8, 2013:§ Tickets go on sale at 10:00 am. § Sale ends at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Verizon Center Box Office
601 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

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SHOW INFORMATION
Verizon Center | Washington, DC| February13–18, 2013

Wednesday, February 13th @ 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 14th @ 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 15th @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 16th @ 10:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 17th @ 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Monday, February 18th @ 12:30 p.m.

Venue/Ticket Information:
Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets via charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000; via www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com> ; and at the Verizon Center box office.
Verizon Center Ticket Prices: $80.00 (Front Row) / $55.00 (VIP) / $30.00 / $20.00
To discover more about Disney On Ice, go to www.disneyonice.com <http://www.disneyonice.com/> , or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.

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About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!For more information, please visit www.disneyonice.com <http://www.disneyonice.com> . Members of the media are encouraged to visit the Press Room at www.feldentertainment.com. <http://www.feldentertainment.com>

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Guest Post: 529 Kids Consign in Old Town Alexandria

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Published: 12/03/2012

My daughter knows growing is her business, and business is good. While I love for her to have cute clothes, I also want her to have a college fund, so I shop consignment sales. The owners of 529Kids Consign, a pair of moms themselves, were also thinking about college funds when they gave their store its ridiculously cute name. 529 Kids Consign in Old Town Alexandria has been on my list to visit for a while, and I’m glad I finally made it by.

There’s stroller parking in a small alley in front of the store, which is handy; the store has a welcoming, boutique atmosphere. The clothes are nicely curated and displayed, and they’re all from quality brands, from Osh Kosh to Janie and Jack. These are not garage sale prices, certainly, but it’s also a lot more fun shopping here! Upstairs are racks of sale clothes, baby gear including carriers and strollers, and a great selection of maternity clothes. There are also a few comfy chairs and two dressing rooms, which I appreciated – as a nursing mom, I’m always scoping out friendly places for myself and baby.

Intermingled with the clothes are adorable, if slightly spendy, new items, great for gifting: organic nursing/teething necklaces, children’s books and games, fabric blocks, minky lovies and bibs, a dazzling array of hair bows, beautifully painted wall clocks… I couldn’t resist picking up baby leg warmers and an adorable wooden monogram for Christmas presents. Really, I wanted one of everything.

529 Kids Consign is located at 122 Royal Street, Alexandria, VA – it’s conveniently located a few doors down from Lavender Moon Cupcakes. I think my daughter and I will be making frequent pilgrimages to Old Town for delicious cupcakes and adorable clothes.

Guinevere Rowell is a Marine turned mama, and a freelance commercial writer. You can also find her on Twitter as @guinevererobin.

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Help Set a Record!

Published: 10/23/2012

Media Advisory

National Geographic Kids Magazine Sets Out to Claim 2 Guinness World Records® Titles Tied to Running and Recycling

Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run participants to help set 100-meter record;

Collection effort underway for 25,000 sneakers for recycling, with celebrity help

WHAT: On Saturday, Oct. 27, media are invited to watch 3,600 kids help break the Guinness World Records® title for most people running 100 meters within a 24-hour period. Through National Geographic Kids’ Run for the Planet program, in coordination with the Marine Corps Marathon’s Healthy Kids Fun Run, the Pentagon North parking lot will be packed with kids devoted to fitness, with Marines cheering them on.

Kids Run participants will contribute to the record as they complete a one-miler, and all runners will be observed by Guinness World Records representative Mike Janela. Per record rules, runners also will be confirmed by two independent witnesses: healthy lifestyle coach Kathy Pugh, owner of women’s running boot camp EZ8DC; and DeShay Williams, co-owner of personal training studio Definitions (both of Washington, D.C.). In addition, runners worldwide will help set the record with 100-meter runs between noon ET, Friday, Oct. 26, and noon ET Saturday, Oct. 27. Five thousand participants are needed for the record.

To simultaneously engage people in recycling, National Geographic Kids is also collecting old athletic shoes for the longest chain of shoes. With the help of Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, the sneakers will be recycled into Nike Grind — a material used in athletic surfaces such as basketball courts and running tracks — after they have been tied into a chain later this year. The goal: 25,000 shoes. Shoes contributed by stars such as the NFL’s Eli Manning and race car driver Danica Patrick can be seen at National Geographic's Washington headquarters, 1145 17th St. NW, where people can also drop off their shoes through Nov. 9.

Macerich malls across the country — including Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va. — will be holding events. See macerich.com/ngkids for details. For more on either record attempt, go to kids.nationalgeographic.com/run-for-the-planet/.

WHERE: Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run, Pentagon North Parking Lot

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Final wave organized by National Geographic
Kids: 11:57 a.m.

WHO: Rachel Buchholz, Executive Editor, National Geographic Kids magazine

Mike Janela, Head of U.S. Records Management, Guinness World Records

North America, Inc.

CONTACTS: Barbara Fallon, (703) 489-0880, bfallon@ngs.org

Anna Irwin, (202) 870-3759, airwin@ngs.org

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(l to r): Eli Manning, Danica Patrick, One Direction, Nolan Gould, Amanda Beard and Jake Short. (on display at National Geographic).
Photo credit: Mark Thiessen / National Geographic

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Holiday Fun at Bobby McKeys

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Published: 10/22/2012

National Harbor features lots of fun, and while it's not in Prince William County, I believe it's got our closest dueling Piano Bar!! Check out their fun Kids Days coming up for the Holidays, including one with Santa.

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Featured Organization Friday: St. Jude Walk

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Published: 10/15/2012

November 17th on the National Mall, people will converge to give hope to children with cancer through the annual St. Jude Give Thanks Walk. There's no registration fee, you can fundraise as a walking team for any amount you want, and even earn prizes for various increments of money raised.

Not really a walker so much (or, not really a "get up and get into DC early on a Saturday" type so much)? Vendors are also needed to make in-kind donations of everything from prizes to water and snacks for the walkers. Many of you may have participated in the Give Thanks Walk last year at Potomac Mills Mall, and this is the same great event with a new venue. However, even though it's now in DC, it's got a local focus as one of the beneficiaries of the money raised is local family the Duggans, whose child is fighting pediatric cancer.

This event is also a locally rooted event because this year's event chair is a PwcMom! Melissa Robey met a two and a half year old cancer patient last year and realized that she needed to get involved with St. Jude's, which has done such amazing work. Not only do they accept every patient, regardless of the family's ability to pay, they have changed the survival rate for pediatric cancer from 20% survival to 80% survival, and as the only cancer institute devoted to children, they get to take most of the credit for that.

This year, 10,400 kids will be diagnosed with cancer that stops them, and their parents, in their tracks. Cancer is the leading cause of death for kids ages 1-14 behind accidents. If you can support this event as a vendor, walker, or donor, Melissa would love to work with you. You can find her team page here where you can join up as a walker if you don't have your own team, or even found your own group of walkers, if you prefer!

Walk Coordinator Melissa Robey is a local Prince William County Mom and owner of Games2u (offering free laser tag with a party in October/November to readers of this article!) as well as being a ThirtyOne consultant. She lives here in the 703 with her husband and twin boys, in addition to being a rockstar and running a charity event.

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Guest Post: The New American Trail at the National Zoo

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Published: 09/12/2012

I wouldn’t normally venture out to the Smithsonian National Zoo on a humid Saturday at the end of summer, but this wasn’t an ordinary weekend. After two and a half years of work, the American Trail was reopening to visitors. Did you know that this trail has been part of the National Zoo since the late 1800’s? And that it was originally called “Beaver Valley” before they changed the name in 2007? Or that one of the main reasons for the renovation was that the seal and sea lion pool was leaking over 100,000 gallons of water a day despite efforts to conserve the water? Well, if you didn’t, you just learned your new thing for the day.

Waterfall Near the Beginning of the Trail

We started at the part of the trail closest to The Elephant Outpost (which is awesome if you haven’t seen that new addition!) and worked our way down the hill. It was late afternoon and we were finally getting a break from the sun. As we walked along the trail we experienced several of North America’s ecosystems, including coastal upland, wet forest, eastern woodland forest and the shore. The trail ignites all of your senses as it is filled with sounds of running water, a variety of green trees and flora, tall rock walls and smells of the water.

Busy Beaver!

The first animals we saw were the two American river otters. Their exhibit is not as large as the Asian river otters’, but it was fun to watch them swim and wrestle underwater. Next, we saw the North American beavers. The beavers were pretty active, too! This particular exhibit hasn’t changed that much, but you do get a great view of the beavers. One was having a snack on land while the other was busy carrying sticks and such to their dam. My girls just loved going back and forth watching the beaver work. Also included in their exhibit are two hooded merganser ducks, but they were sound asleep on a rock when we were there.

Photo from Smithsonian National Zoo

Adjacent to the beavers are two gray wolves (the white one is beautiful). This species has never been exhibited before at the National Zoo. The white one was in plain view pacing his area. The revamped exhibit allows for visitors to see the wolves better when they are out and about. Don’t worry about the Mexican wolves the Zoo had before on exhibit on the trail. They were part of a conservation release program.

Across from the wolves is a bald eagle. I don’t think people realize how big this bird actually is. I noticed that the exhibit was not enclosed as I remember it being in the past. This is because the eagle fell from its nest when it was young and can not fly. I like the openness of the exhibit and you can get a pretty clear view from a side viewing area.

We did not actually see the raven exhibit, but there are four of them. One of them is a rescue. This is another species the National Zoo has never had on exhibit before.

We didn’t intentionally save the best for last, but it worked out that way! Of course, the big talk has been about the new seal and sea lion exhibit that was being unveiled. I don’t know how many of you remember the old exhibit for the seals and sea lions, but it was more like a huge, white-bottomed swimming pool than a natural habitat for the creatures. This new exhibit is totally different! You will seriously forget you are at the zoo and will be transported to the west coast once you enter this exhibit.

Photo from Smithsonian National Zoo – sign by entrance of tide pool

As we got closer, we could hear children screaming and laughing. I thought the seals and sea lions were swimming and that’s why everyone was so excited. I had totally forgot about the tide pool! My tired husband suggested we walk on by so the girls wouldn’t notice. Granted, we had been at the zoo for a LONG time by then, but I said we should go for it. (I am trying to do more of “living in the moment” these days. The “old” me definitely would’ve agreed with him.) He asked if I was sure and I said let’s get these socks and shoes off!

Photos from Smithsonian National Zoo: Empty tide pool

The tide pool is very kid-friendly and is surrounded with model sea stars, barnacles and sea urchins – which my 3 ½ year old loved searching for and touching. Water shoots up from numerous holes in the ground. I almost got caught over a couple of them, which my husband found very funny. (Did I mention I was wearing a skirt?) Every two minutes, a “tidal wave” sweeps across the area. The water came up to my ankles. My 3 ½ year old would rush up to where the water would come out of and my 17 month old was trying to “catch” the water spewing from the “geysers” around us. My girls love the water, so they had a blast! After we were well soaked, we headed on to the rest of the exhibit.

Having fun!

The first seal we saw was a gray seal. She is a retired NAVY seal whose skills were utilized during the Cold War. (Maybe that’s why she was napping.) She will have three friends join her in the late fall. Two harbor seals will also join the exhibit then. This is another species that the National Zoo has not previously exhibited.

Next, we got to see four very active California sea lions (two which are rescues) and two lazy brown pelicans. Both pelicans have wing injuries that prevent them from being released into the wild.

Trying to touch the sea lion--how precious is that?!

The underwater viewing area was filled with adults and children alike trying to get a glimpse of the sea lions swimming by. This is a great place to just park the stroller and let the sea lions do the entertaining. The sea lions seemed to be showing off by swimming on their backs and looking right at us as they swam by. I could’ve sat there longer myself, but we wanted to give other people a turn.

Photos from Smithsonian National Zoo – This is the view from the seating area pictured below. I love the natural look and feel of it.

As we walked further along the path, we saw this huge seating area where visitors can sit and watch the keeper talks, which happen twice a day. It would be a great place for a break or just for watching the sea lions if they are on the rocks. However, it’s not very shady.

Photo from Smithsonian National Zoo – The hidden gem of the exhibit

We were getting ready to leave the trail when I noticed another path. I decided to go ahead to see what it was. I saw the sign that said “stroller parking” but the kiosk was shut down for the night. So, I peeked in the cave and boy was I taken back! The flooring is soft and bouncy and there is a HUGE underwater viewing area. There is no ambient lighting behind you and except for not being wet, you feel like you are under the water. It really felt like the floor was moving. We took advantage of the fact that we could have our strollers in there and parked the girls for a private show. A few other people meandered through, but other than that we had the cave to ourselves. There is also a small seating area where visitors can sit and watch.

Waiting for the Sea Lions

There is also the Seal Rock Cafe on the trail, but it was closed by the time we made it by there. The cafe serves local Chesapeake Bay seafood meals and it even has a vegetarian option. These meals feature local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients such as shrimp and fish.

The National Zoo did an exceptional job with the American Trail renovation. There is so much more to it than meets the eye. I didn't even mention how so much for the trail was done with "green" thinking in mind. I have spent quite some time reading about the building of the train, the exhibits, and the animals themselves. I definitely recommend that you take the family and learn more about what treasures are around us in our own country- from flora to fauna. The American Trail is certainly an experience for the senses as well as the mind and a great field trip for the entire family!

A Few Tips

-Bring water. I didn't do this and had to shell out $3/bottle and it wasn't even cold. They gave scups of ice, but bottled water was hard to come by that hot, humid day!

-Be prepared to park your stroller to enter the cave

-The closest bathrooms are a three minute walk uphill. They actually have a sign posted with the time!

- Not all parts are shaded, dress for the weather/sun appropriately.

Angela Pounders is a transplant to Manassas Park from Arlington. She is blessed to be a stay at home mama to two beautiful girls. As a former teacher (as well as preschool director and Children and Family Director), she is always on the look out for fun, easy and educational things to do with her girls. She also loves to share her ideas and is looking to start her own blog, The Master’s Daughter, by the fall.

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Featured Organization Friday: CrossLink

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Published: 08/03/2012

Have I told you guys about Rich Anderson and my kid? (No, this is not me re-nigging on my promise to keep this space apolitical, you can vote for him or not, but it's a cute story, so just hold on). When my oldest son was 5, he informed me that he wanted to get into politics. Being the over-indulgent mother that I am, I made a few phone calls and was told that we could help out on a brand-spanking-new campaign for delegate of our district. I'm not sure that the message was passed down from the original person I talked to down to Delegate Anderson and his campaign manager, Reese as a warning, but I have to give them both credit for not laughing in my face when I showed up to volunteer with my 6 month old daughter in a Moby wrap on my chest, my 3 year old son in a pink MacLaren stroller (intended for the 6 month old, but he'd fallen asleep in the car) and my 5 year old, who was rocking it out in his suit and tie from Jacques Pennay. (Or, as the less classy pronounce it, JC Penney. Whatever. You probably mispronounce Target, too. It's "Tahr-jjjay".)

Anyway, 5yo was so excited and he and Delegate Anderson had a grand old time knocking on doors and meeting people. I find this to be absolutely terrible, but my son LOVES it. He had a great time knocking on doors, introducing "my friend, Mr. Anderson", and handing out fliers. If you live in the Lake Ridge area and had a small child smile at you and try to get you to talk to his friend the politician, you've met my son.

Kids in Richmond- this is obviously not when they were 6mo/3/5. Now 8yo is holding a picture of him giving Delegate Anderson a picture for his office, but he told him he could only keep it if he won. I have no clue why my kid is making that face.

I know what you're thinking. Yes. My kid is either going to be a televangelist or a politician. We tried really hard to encourage his first career option--garbage truck driver--but he really just loves this stuff!

So. I bet you're wondering what this all has to do with Featured Organization Friday. Delegate Anderson's wife, Ruth, works with some awesome organizations working to provide healthcare around the world, and she emailed me because they're in the running to win some extra help and extra cash. The organization isn't based out of PWC, but since Ruth is Mrs. Delegate for our district, there's a connection. Check out the links below to learn more about CrossLink, and if you're so inclined, to vote for them to win extra cash. Otherwise, check out the bottom link and vote for some other organization that better fits your moral code. Whatever. Charities and the work they do are amazing.

We Need Your Help to Win a Prize for CrossLink International (www.crosslinkinternational.net)!

Our application was just approved to compete for 50 volunteers and a $500 grant through GOOD Maker, an organization which challenges nonprofits to enhance their productivity. Our Dream Big Idea will compete with five other organizations and their big ideas. So please read below and take the time to put in a vote for CrossLink’s proposal. Voting began Wednesday, August 1 at 3:00 PM and ends Thursday, August 16 at 3 PM. You can only vote once, please vote today!!

In a Nutshell…this was our proposal for a Dream Big volunteer project on October 27: CrossLink’s annual fund-raiser (called the Band Aid Ball) aids global health. The next gala is April 2013. On October 27, we will send 50 volunteers (teams of 2 or more) into the local community to solicit auction items. They would be equipped with an Auction Brochure, lists of suggested items/services to solicit and maps. Some would use computers/phones to solicit from friends, family etc. Prizes will be awarded for items of highest value, most unique item, etc. There will be expert auction analyzers on-site to judge and value the itemsdonated to CrossLink.
You can only vote once -- please vote now! And if you could, please forward this message on to your contacts and encourage them to support CrossLink in this vote as well!

TO VOTE GO TO: http://VolunteerFestDreamBig.maker.good.is/projects/SCAVENGER

Once you open that website, please click "Vote for this idea". You will then be prompted to log in and create an account with Good Maker. It's easy, and you can do it one of two ways, either by using your e-mail address or an existing Facebook account. Once you create your account, the site allows you to immediately unsubscribe from future e-mails so you won't have them bothering you. The site should then prompt you to check your email to confirm your vote -- click the link in that e-mail and your vote will be tabulated. Thank you for helping CrossLink!

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How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular

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Published: 07/17/2012

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR, inspired by the phenomenally successful, Academy Award® nominated DreamWorks Animation film, fully immerses audiences into the show in ways that have not been attempted before. Barely contained within the arena, the production utilizes the full venue, maximizing every dimension of performance space to transport audiences into a mythical world of fire-breathing dragons who soar overhead at great speeds. The state-of-the-art animatronic technology and large-scale cinematic projections interact seamlessly with the live actors to bring the story to life.

The show features 23 dragons, some with wingspans of up to 46 feet, Viking warriors and world-class circus artists and acrobats, to perform against a state-of-the-art, wall-to-floor immersive projection measuring more than 20,000 square feet. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, RZO Dragon Productions and Global Creatures, the masterminds behind Walking with Dinosaurs, presented by S2BN Entertainment. Click here to watch video and learn more: www.DreamWorksDragonsLive.com<http://www.DreamWorksDragonsLive.com

8 performances only! July 19-22

Verizon Center

Feel the heat and experience the adventure of high-flying, fire-breathing dragons. Unleash your inner Viking and prepare for the invasion of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR!

Astonishing animatronic technology and world class performers bring to life the heartwarming story of DreamWorks Animation’s Academy Award® nominated film. This ground breaking arena show breaks all the rules of traditional live entertainment for the whole family featuring 23 dragons, some with wingspans up to 46 feet. Don’t miss it!

To learn more about the show and to purchase tickets click here: http://dreamworksdragonslive.com/tickets.php

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The White House Tour

Published: 05/06/2012

No pictures allowed inside the WH tour- so this is our only real "tour" photo

We love history. In fact, we love history so much that it's almost dork-con 1 at our house all the time. We have "Story of the World" on the full 4 set CD collection and listen to it for fun.

Seriously.

So we definitely appreciate historical sites. We also love living outside of DC and enjoy the museums. We're also some of those "crazy homeschoolers", so we partake of the National Park Service's Historic Sites on a regular basis. My kids have filled out Junior Ranger books at Constitution Hall, Appomattox Court House, the Frederick Douglass House and a few more this school year alone.

I say that all to qualify the fact that we really don't recommend the White House Tour. I know several of you disagreed on Facebook and said that it was worth a visit because it's such an historic place or because it's on your DC bucket list, but for us, it was probably our least favorite historic tour we've been on. Here's why:

1) Booking your tour takes some coordination. You can't just show up at the White House and get in the tour line. You'll need to go through your Senator or Congressman and provide a list of social security numbers for everyone in your group. (We were actually very blessed that someone from our group did this for us. It's a little scary to give your SSNs to someone, but she did all the leg work). Once you submit those you'll hear 10 days to 2 weeks before your scheduled time and then need to make it work. You can't just request a particular day and be guaranteed to get it.

2) Getting there isn't really that difficult. Metro Center is very close, or you can drive in. There's a parking garage right by the W hotel. They'll tell you not to drive because parking is so limited, but if you're willing to spend the $15 or so dollars to park for the next few hours, you won't have any trouble. Free and meter parking are nearly impossible, so don't plan on that.

3) Entering the park (the White House is both a residence, a business, and a National Park Museum) can be time consuming and a bit of a hassle. You'll go through a few check points where you'll need photo ID for everyone over 18 that EXACTLY matches the registered name. You can be refused entry if you're late for your time (although we were about 10 minutes later than the 15 minutes early they tell you to be and had no problem). All told we waited in line for about 40 minutes, including going one at a time through a checkpoint where a dog sniffs you (a little scary for our 4 year old), and another with a metal detector. This was a weekday with no school holidays that I'm aware of, so if you're doing this over summer or winter breaks, plan for a longer wait time.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are NO STROLLERS, DIAPER BAGS, PURSES, FOOD (including cheerios and baby bottles), OF ANY KIND ALLOWED. THERE IS NO STROLLER PARKING, EITHER. They sent a woman from our group away because she had the smallest purse you've ever seen. You'll need to literally stash everything in your car (if you brought one) or have a member of your crew stay outside to keep everything. If you public transited, this can be a huge hassle, since you probably needed a stroller or some "stuff" (like diapers) to make it through the rest of your visit to DC.

4) Once you're inside there's isn't actually a tour. You signed up for a "White House Tour", you're given a tour time, but once you get there, it's all self-guided. Each room has a small sign on the floor with 1-3 sentences about the room and a fun fact, and there are Secret Service Agents stationed in each room to answer specific questions, but there is no tour guide or small overview as there is at most historic sites in the NPS. On the main floor, you'll walk up a ramp of a few steps. There is a view of a garden, but we were not permitted to enter it. There are a few picture frames on the walls with various themes (Presidential Pets, etc), and then you round a corner to the first 3 rooms, which are standard-sized doorways which have been roped off. There's the Vermeil (that's Ver-may- gold plated French items), the China Room (with the China Patterns), and the library. You can stick your head in the door and look left and right. Across from the Vermeil Room, there's a set of stairs going up (I'm not sure if there's handicap access somewhere, but I'd assume there is). At the top of the stairs, there are a few other rooms that you can actually enter and walk adjacent to- the East Room, Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room and State Dining Room.

All said and done, we waited 40 minutes for a tour that lasted about 5. My 8 year old summed it up well when he said "Mommy, we could have just read the booklet and looked at pictures on the internet". Being there in person didn't really add to the experience or knowledge base for us.

If it were me, I'd rather spend my time at one of the other DC historic sites that's less hassle and more interaction. I totally understand the allure of going to the White House, but for us, we enjoyed it least of all the Historic Tours we've taken.

Breakdown:
The White House Tour
Recommended for: Parties that ONLY have children old enough to walk and stand for at least an hour at a time in line, that do not require strollers or diaper bags, and can handle large crowds of people.

Pros: It's the White House. You probably won't see the President, but it's still a neat thing to claim you did.

Cons: Requires a reservation in advance through your elected representative, no strollers or bags allowed, short tour for the wait and process. No guided tours, no presentations in each room.

Our favorite part of the tour- Milkshakes at the Potbelly across the street.

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Field Trip: DC Theatre Events

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Published: 04/20/2012

Thanks to Perfectly Posh for sharing this great link!

Theatre Washington has a great listing of kid friendly "Playtime Events" coming up! I'm not putting them on the calendar since they're not local, but they do sound fun if you're in the mood for a drive!!

Folger Theatre—Shakespeare's Birthday at the Folger—Su, 4/22, Noon (all ages)

Round House Theatre—Free Theatre Classes & Education Open House—Fri, 4/27, 4pm (Pre-K through H.S.)

Toby's Dinner Theatre—Performance of Wizard of Oz—Fri, 4/27, 6pm (all ages)

The National Theatre—Saturday Morning at the National Presentation of Bright Star Theatre Company's Production of We Can Do It! —Sat, 4/28, 9:30am (ages 4-12)

Numbers Alive!—Performance of Team Ten Tours Washington, DC—Sat, 4/28, 10:30am (all ages)

The Shakespeare Theatre Company—Theatre Workshop for Young People—Sat, 4/28, 10:30am (grades 8-12)

National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts—Fun Shakespearean Stage Combat for Kids—Sat, 4/28, 11am (ages 5-10)

The National Theatre—Saturday Morning at the National Presentation of Bright Star Theatre Company's Production of We Can Do It! —Sat, 4/28, 11am (ages 4-12)

Adventure Theatre MTC—Light Saber Adventure—Sat, 4/28, 12:30pm (ages 6 & up)

The Studio Theatre—Young Actors Inside the Studio—Sat, 4/28, 1pm (ages 12-17)

The Theatre Lab—Get into the Act: Introductory Theatre Games & Improv—Sat, 4/28, 1:00pm (ages 6-12)

the Puppet Co.—Tickets to a Performance of Pinocchio on Family Day in Glen Echo—Sat, 4/28, 1pm (ages 5 & up)

The Studio Theatre—Young Actors Inside the Studio—Sat, 4/28, 1pm (ages 12-17)

Adventure Theatre MTC—Light Saber Adventure—Sat, 4/28, 1pm (ages 6 & up)

National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts—Fun Shakespearean Stage Combat for Kids—Sat, 4/28, 1pm (ages 5-10)

The Studio Theatre—Young Actors Inside the Studio—Sat, 4/28, 2pm (ages 12-17)

Faction of Fools—Tickets to a Performance of Hamlecchino: Clown Prince of Denmark—Sat, 4/28, 2pm (ages 9 & up)

The Studio Theatre—Young Actors Inside the Studio—Sat, 4/28, 3pm (ages 12-17)

Imagination Stage—Peek Behind the Curtain—Free Backstage Tours—Sat, 4/28, 5:15pm (ages 4 & up)

Imagination Stage—Peek Behind the Curtain—Free Backstage Tours—Sat, 4/28, 5:30pm (ages 4 & up)

Imagination Stage—Peek Behind the Curtain—Free Backstage Tours—Sat, 4/28, 5:45pm (ages 4 & up)

Numbers Alive!—Performance of Team Ten Tours Washington, DC—Su, 4/29, 10:30am (all ages)

Toby's Dinner Theatre and Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA)—Performance of Peter Rabbit—Tu, 5/1, Noon (Grades Pre-K and Lower Elementary)

Toby's Dinner Theatre and Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA)—Performance of Peter Rabbit—Fri, 5/4, Noon (Grades Pre-K and Lower Elementary)

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DC JCC's Jewish Music Festival

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Published: 04/17/2012

Family Fun Abounds with ShirLaLa and Peter Himmelman at DCJCC’s 13^th Washington Jewish Music Festival

ShiraLaLa highlights Shabbat Services and Dinner; Peter Himmelman’s performance for Jerusalem Day followed by a barbeque dinner and bounce house

Washington, D.C. – Families and kids of all ages will have two great opportunities to rock out with acclaimed Jewish performers ShirLaLa and Peter Himmelman. These two family-friendly acts appear as part of the DCJCC’s 13^th Annual Washington Jewish Music Festival and will headline special family celebrations for Shabbat and Jerusalem Day.

In its 13^th year, the DCJCC’s Washington Jewish Music Festival, taking place May 3 – 21 features 12 performances including jazz, funk, hip-hop and indie pop artists. While many of the performances welcome audiences of all ages, ShirLaLa and Peter Himmelman are the most kid-friendly acts.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate 13 years of the Washington Jewish Music Festival with festive, family-oriented performances,” said Carole Zawatsky, chief executive officer of the Washington DCJCC. “This year’s festival is truly a coming of age, with an eclectic mix of performers that reflects the diverse interests of our community. Music touches everyone at every age and the festival just wouldn’t have been complete without Shira and Peter performing for our children.”

Shira Kline aka ShirLaLa is a celebrated New York based performer and music educator. Traveling across the country and internationally with her kiddie rock band, Shira delivers a dynamic, interactive program of joy and spirit, story and song. Raised in the world of music and the tradition of Torah, Shira has worked for over a decade with a diverse array of Jewish communities to enliven rituals, holiday celebrations, and love for Jewish life and prayer. Blending words, story and music she creates a rich experience for children and adults alike.

Families can join a joyous Jerusalem Day family celebration with a concert by rocker Peter Himmelman followed by a barbeque dinner and bounce house for the kids on May 20. Hailed by USA Today as “one of rock’s most wildly imaginative performers,” Himmelman is an alternative folk-rock singer, songwriter, TV and film composer and children’s entertainer. His 2007 children’s album, My Green Kite, was nominated for a Grammy.

ShirLaLa Family Shabbat Service and Dinner

Friday, May 18 | 6:00 pm | Washington DCJCC | Service Free
Dinner: Adults $15, Children $7.50 (advance reservation required)
Suggested age: 0-5, reserve dinner by May 14

Peter Himmelman performs for Jerusalem Day

Sunday, May 20 | 4:00 pm
Ohev Sholom–The National Synagogue
1600 Jonquil Street NW
Tickets: $10, $25 Family Ticket

The DCJCC thanks the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation for helping to establish the festival in 1999, its major support of this year’s festival, and for being the lead sponsor of the opening night concert.

The music festival runs from May 3 to May 21, and includes 12 performances, as well as community-organized “Shabbat in Song” events. The full schedule and ticket information can be found at www.wjmf.org. Tickets are on sale now.

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The International Spy Museum

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Published: 04/05/2012

Did you know that D.C. has the highest spy saturation in the world?

True story.

Did you also know there's a Spy Museum in DC?

Also true.

And, further, did you know that "spies are AWESOME and REALLY COOL and if you have boys you should go to this museum because it's AWESOME and REALLY COOL"? (According to my 8 year old)

We had the chance to visit the International Spy Museum a few days ago and we had a great time. Children 6 and under are free. You can purchase tickets online or buy them at the door. After purchasing your tickets, you head to a line where you wait to get on one of two special elevators. The elevators light up and talk to you. At this point, we divided into two camps. There was "Team This is Awesome" which consisted of my 8 year old son, my 5 year old son, and me, and there was "Team This is Not Awesome", which was entirely comprised of my 4 year old daughter. She thought the elevator was a little disconcerting.

Once you arrive at the top of the elevator, you pick a spy identity and then head in for a movie. The boys thought this was awesome(!!) and had a great time selecting their spy names and alias information. My daughter wanted to be a princess, which was not an option, and thought the movie was scary (it wasn't, the best I'd give it is "sections of ominous music"). From here on out, just assume she found some reason to complain about everything :) Apparently this wasn't her day. We'll focus on the boys.

(All images courtesy of the International Spy Museum)

In the next room, you were able to test your spy alias knowledge and check out different spy skills and gadgets. We learned how to pick a lock and saw several hidden compartment tools. There was also a section on spy makeup, where the kids could see how a little plastic and a fake mustache could turn a middle aged white woman into a young terrorist operative. It was really interesting!

As you wind through a few other rooms, you learn about spies in popular culture (there's a Bond car!) and how spies helped alter the course of several wars. There are sections on propaganda, the WWII spy effort, codes, the Cold War, and more. There's even a section about pigeons that were used to take pictures and carry messages across enemy lines!

There are also sections where you walk through simulated tunnels, and there's a few videos and a section on spies who turn bad, as well as a section about cyberterrorism.

We had a great time and the boys stayed interested the entire time. The especially liked all of the spy tools and the areas that were designed to look like historical areas, especially the WWII farm house setup, underground tunnels, and the section about the Berlin Wall. I would definitely say this is a must-see if you have visitors!! The boys are STILL playing spy, and we picked up a hilarious Spy-themed Mad Libs from the gift shop, which is a favorite game around our house.

International Spy Musuem

Recommended for: My 5 year old really enjoyed this museum, but as a rule, I think that anyone who's "free" isn't the intended audience, so I would say ages 7 and up are going to have the best possible experience. It's set up well to be able to bring a younger sibling, though, as there's plenty to look at. The day we went there were tons of teenagers, and they all seemed to really enjoy the subject material!

Pros: Exciting, engaging, and different, this museum was a nice change from our typical "visit the dinosaurs" trip into DC. The boys really enjoyed the experience.

Cons: This museum can get BUSY so if you can plan to visit on a week when most people are in school/work, do! The day we visited several of the interactive computers/listening stations weren't working, and people tend to be at each station for a good amount of time. Just be prepared to be a little patient.

Be prepared for: We went through in about 2 hours, and easily could have spent more. There's a gift shop at the end (you knew it was coming!) but there are actually some great books, games, and "spy gear" in there, so if you're looking for a good place to pick up souvenirs, the kids section is well stocked.

Also note: The Spy Museum has several additional programs that you can sign up for, including spy missions, overnights, and Spy Camp. Check their website for details!

We had an awesome time at the Spy Museum, and definitely recommend you check it out! Want to go for free? We have a family 4 pack of tickets for a winner!

Enter simply by leaving a comment! Good luck! This contest will close on Sunday at midnight!

Disclosure: PwcMoms.com was provided with free admission to the International Spy Museum as well as an additional set of tickets as a giveaway. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic

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Published: 01/28/2012

Disney on Ice is headed our way, and I think this will be a very fun event for the whole family!! Unlike Princesses on Ice (which is also fantastic, but definitely girl-focused) Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic features favorite characters from all the Disney classics! Taking a look through their Facebook wall, my boys were excited to see the Army Men from Toy Story, but generally agreed that anyone not sparkly would do nicely to keep them excited!

You can flip through all the great pictures from several Disney on Ice shows by liking their Facebook Page located Here. (This won't win you anything, but if you'd like to get a taste of what you'll see at a Disney on Ice production, this is a good way to do it!)

100 Years of Magic promises to be a great night for the family! To complete it, we're planning to head 2 blocks down from the Verizon Center to get some cupcakes at Red Velvet, but that's completely optional, of course!

We're going to be giving away a Family 4 Pack of tickets to Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic at the Verizon Center!! EDIT: To win, leave a comment by clicking the text bubble icon the top of this post and leave us a message with your favorite Disney Character! OR You can email your entry (please put Disney on Ice in the subject/re: line) by clicking Here.

If you don't win, don't forget that you can use the code "BLOG12" as a promo code for Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic and get tickets for only $15!

Best of luck, and thanks to our generous partners for this fantastic prize!

Disclosure: My family and I were provided with a 4 Pack of tickets to Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic in addition to a set of tickets to give away to a reader. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Guest Review: Guppy Gala at the National Zoo

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Published: 05/15/2011

Y'all, I can't be everywhere and see everything all at once. (Although, if you tell my children that I will hotly deny it. I know all, see all as far as they know!!) Because of my pathetic lack of omnipresence, I'm excited to welcome my first guest blogger, the fantastic Gaby from Domestic Goddess Musings. In addition to being an awesome momma, Gaby is also the wife of Eric who runs BeatingDebt.org and has helped people all over the country (including himself) get out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. Thanks for the article, Gaby!!

It all started with a BuyWithMe daily save offer: 50% annual membership to the National Zoo as well as 50% off tickets to the Guppy Gala. After much deliberation (read: is it cheaper to ride the Metro to the zoo or have free parking with the membership), I decided to go ahead and purchase the membership and tickets for the family.

The Guppy Gala, which I had never heard of and did minimal research on, turned out to be WELL WORTH the $10 (discounted) tickets. Even at the full price of $20/person, it was a great deal. Each ticket includes free parking and dinner.

The gala is one of the zoo's annual fundraisers, and it's a great family event. I took my three kids and was accompanied by my neighbor and her little one. Despite the crowds, double stroller and single stroller manipulation wasn't bad, and we were able to stay together pretty well.

First off, let's talk swag. Subway provided veggie, cold cut, and turkey 6" sandwiches, Utz chips, and Coca-Cola drinks for each paid customer (though my two 2 y/o and under sco

red sandwiches as well). The dining area was a little field with picnic benches set up. Free tip #1: If you get there early, take one of the benches as far away from the drinks area as possible. It allows for a quick get-away and faster access to the (very clean) Port-a-Johns. As we walked through the gala, we received food of every sort: hot dogs, chicken nuggets, Minute Maid juice boxes, Honest Tea drink pouches, soft pretzels, funnel cakes, brownies, and doughnuts. The was also a HUGE Stoneyfield yogurt area that had all sorts of samples and coupons (super score!). I saw lots of people walking around with foods that we didn't see, so free tip #2 is come with an appetite and/or after a good, hard workout.

Second, let's talk activities. My kids learned a few zookeeper duties, like how to scoop poop, catch

snakes, and train animals in receiving touch. They also totally dug the ginormous inflatable slides. The walking animals (Po the Kung Fu Panda, Mrs. Elephant, Mr. Wolf, and someone else that I didn't photograph so I can't remember) were a little suspect at first, but they eventually started giving them lots of love.

There was an Arcade Alley sort of space that would have been great for kids older than mine (my oldest is 4). Another play area had a bike course, climbing wall, and a couple of other really good energy burning activities that were just a little too advanced for us.

Third, let's talk shows. There were cheerleaders (but we didn't watch them because we personally feel like no child that young should be wearing shorts that short in public) doing their fly through the air routines and clappers tapping their hearts out. Roaming jugglers and stilt walkers fascinated

my kids over and over again. My two elder kids got a kick out of the dancing animal characters, especially the tree frog. It was nice to have a break from the walking.

Finally, let's talk animals. Surprisingly, we didn't really get to see very many. My neighbor and I commented that the gala seemed like a giant advertisement (although the only items for sale were wine, beer, and ice gelati). The animals we did get to see were pretty cool. The lion cubs were out and playing a few of the lionesses. The barn was open, and the kids got to get one-on-one with a few cows, alpacas, donkeys, and goats. My little 1 y/o was terrified after the cows started lowing at her, but the older two and our friend's little one had fun. There was a zookeeper on hand to talk about the animals and another to distribute fish food for the koi. That was a huge highlight of the evening.

Overall, the Guppy Gala was a really great event. On the way out, the sponsors were giving away their wares rather liberally, and I got enough healthy snack food for preschool snack bags for the next three weeks!

Free tip #3: Bring a recyclable grocery bag with you for all the goodies you score. There were some being given away this year, and we each scored one, but bring one in case there aren't any next year. Free tip #4: If you plan on staying 'til the bitter end, bring an extra of those bags to put all the extra goodies in. This way, you can have a "dry" bag for the coloring pages, pencils, crayons, posters, etc. and a "wet" bag for all the food and juices. Makes it a lot easier! I am already looking forward to next year's gala! Kudos to the National Zoo for putting on such a great event.

National Zoo's Guppy Gala
Pros:
-Free parking
-Close to the Metro if the thought of driving in DC stresses you out
-LOTS of free food
-TONS of activities for kids of all ages

Cons:
-Pushing tired kids uphill in a stroller
-Just a smidgen too many things to do; I felt like we had to keep go, go, going so we wouldn't miss out on anything. As it was, our kids didn't do even a fraction of the activities, yet we barely managed to cover the whole festival.
-The $20/person over 2 y/o might be a turn off for some folks. We can only hope there's another BuyWithMe (or like company) special next year! I really do think everyone got their full money's worth at the event, though.

Recommendations:
-For all ages
-If you've got small kids or kids who aren't used to walking much, then you MUST bring a stroller (or rent one).

Challenge:
Find a fabulous deal on a social coupon site and enjoy it with your family.

-Domestic Goddess out.

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Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

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Published: 03/27/2011

On Saturday, we had a few extra friends hanging around the house, so we packed everyone up to check out Madame Tussaud's in DC. Our crew included one mom and 3 first graders.

Madame Tussaud's is very easy to get to. There's easy metro access, but we ended up driving (395-14th street-F street) and were there in about 30 minutes, including parking. There's a $10 a day parking garage right across the street, but there's also lots of on-street parking available if you go on a day that isn't full of Cherry Blossom visitors trying to beat the snow!

When you enter Madame Tussaud's, there's a line to pay, then a few steps down to a brief video where they demonstrate how the wax figures are made. You then head to the left (I'm mentioning this because I was a little unclear on where to go!) and go through a few halls of presidents. Several of the exhibits have a way to interact with the figures- for exmaple, George Washington has a "boat" that you can sit in and don a Washington-esque coat for a pictures. Lincoln (depicted sitting in the balcony at Ford's theatre) also has a coat you can wear for your picture. Bring. Your. Camera. If your kids are anything like the kids I took, you will hear "take my picture!! take my picture!!!" around 3,000 times :)

After you move through the presidents, there's a spot at the end where they take commemorative pictures in the "White House" or with the "Obamas", and then you move into some historical figures. There's Rosa Parks and a bus background, Martin Luther King Junior, Malcom X, and also some historical figures in with the presidents like Jackie O, the Apollo astronauts, Winston Churchill, and others.

The final two sections are famous athletes and movie stars/singers. The little girl that we brought was excited to point out the Jonas Brothers. I took a picture with my future ex-husband, George Clooney ;) and my only complaint was probably that there was a Robert Pattinson who wasn't sparkly, and there was no shirtless Taylor Lautner. Just saying.

The kids I took (all 7 years old) had a really great time. They were super excited about people they recognized (Washington, Lincoln, Obama, Tiger Woods, Britney Spears, Jonas Brothers, astronauts) and anything that had an interactive component. They were also happy to have me take their picture with anyone who they thought looked cool. I think that the ideal age to take here would be 9 or older, just because they would have exposure to more of the historical people and would be more excited to see them, and would be able to read the fun-facts more independently. That said, I was totally happy with our trip and my 7's had a great time!! Fair Warning: The end of the tour dumps you into the gift shop, so be prepared to stop any wandering little hands.

Madame Tussauds was definitely a fun trip for us!! If you're looking to go and would like to save a little money on your trip, you have two options: 1- order online. You'll save 15% off the regular price. Or, if it's still March 27th, check out our facebook ticket giveaway!

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Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's Funundrum

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Published: 03/27/2011

So the circus definitely gets 3 very enthusiastic thumbs up from us!! (And one thumb abstaining because it should have taken a nap and got tired part of the way through!!)

I think the last time I went to the circus I was 8 or 9, and it was definitely a far cry from what we experienced at the Verizon Center on Thursday night! At one point the three rings made a small appearance, but this wasn't a "bears on bicycles" and a few clowns with honkers. Barnum's Funundrum, rather, was an explosion of color and light, acrobats and contortionists, and a few nods to the circus I remember.

What's neat about this show is that much like a Cirque du Soleil performance, there's a story that they're following. There was an opening musical number, which they also closed with, and there were tons of very talented performers who somehow fit into the story they were weaving, which was that the ringmaster had traveled the world to find the best acts to make the Greatest Show On Earth. There were leaping chinese dragons, Egyptian dancers (on segways!), pirates, Himalayan Ice Gliders (this was just the tightrope when I was little), and more.

We were all amazed and loved the focus on performance. There were still traditional components, of course. There were elephants and tigers, and I think at one point some ladies dancing with snakes draped across their shoulders, but by and large the focus was on the people. There was a portion that poked a little fun at the side show attractions of old with clowns playing the bearded lady, half man half woman, tallest man in the world, and more, all of whom were shown to be clearly fake.

My youngest son's favorite part by far was the pirates, who were actually acrobats. My older son has decided that "when I join the circus I'm going to be in the giant metal ball with 10 motorcycles!!!", so that'll be fun. Last week he was going to be a doctor ;)

This was a great experience and it is definitely something I would pay to go back to AGAIN, so I highly recommend it to all of you!

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Worth Traveling For

Published: 04/02/2010

Not liking the options here? Here are a few things around the Metro area that are worth traveling for!

**$2 Tuesdays at University Mall Theatre in Burke.
On Tuesdays (all day and all night, too!) Tickets, small popcorns, small drinks, and candy boxes all sell for $2 each! The movies have usually been out a little longer, but it's still a great deal! Check their schedule at www.universitymalltheatres.com.

**Clemyjontri Park
(6317 Georgetown Pike McLean, Virginia 22101) is a playground experience like no other. Not only does this park have a fabulous carousel with rides for only $1.50, access is free to this completely accessible park, designed so that children with varying physical and mental abilities can play side by side. Another bonus is that if you have a child who's running and one still in a stroller, you'll be able to chase your child around every structure at the park. This one is definitely worth the ride!

**The Children's Museum of Richmond
(2626 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23220) This fantastic children's museum is really more of an exploratory play space with tube slides, donated areas for fixing cars, banking, teaching, picking apples, making art and more. There are also frequent special events, so be sure to check out their website before you go. (http://www.c-mor.org/) The one gripe I have about this place is the price- it's not cheap at $8 per person (and yes, mom and dad have to shell out for passes, too). Under 2's are free, though, and there is a special area just for the toddler set. In addition, no "unaccompanied adults" are allowed in without a full staff escort- which means there's no one there without children, a nice safety touch in my book.

**The National Building Museum
Seriously? Yes!! This museum is great because it's not on the top of every tourist in the world's to-do list! Plus, they have a Building Zone full of soft lego blocks, hard hats, tools, a house, and more that your child can enjoy. On the weekends, expect a waiting list, but most weekdays you can walk right in. There are frequent special events and building projects (see the schedule at http://www.nbm.org/), and for a $5 donation your child can check out a tool kit to help them explore the museum (free admission) more fully.

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