Potomac Mills Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Simon Kidgits Club

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Published: 04/04/2013

POTOMAC MILLS CELEBRATES THE SIMON KIDGITS CLUB’S

10^th ANNIVERSARY

Simon Kidgits Club highlights a decade of fun, educational programming

for children and parents

WOODBRIDGE, VA (April 4, 2013) — To celebrate Simon Kidgits Club®’s 10 years of delivering entertaining, educational programming to kids at Simon® malls, Potomac Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the Washington, D.C. area, is offering Kidgits Club members a birthday puzzle when they visit Simon Guest Services in Neighborhood 4 (near the Food Court) with a valid Kidgits membership card throughout the month of April. Children will also receive birthday bubbles* during of the Kidgits Club’s spring event on Thursday, April 18 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

As part of the ongoing anniversary celebration, children of all ages will spring into fun at this special Third Thursday event held at Bloomingdale’s – The Outlet Store in Potomac Mills’ Neighborhood 1 Fashion District. Kidgits Club members will enjoy live musical entertainment from local children’s performer,Banjo Man Frank Cassel, delight in complimentary refreshments courtesy of Starbucks and Rita’s Ice and giveaways for moms and dads. In addition to birthday bubbles, children will also receive a complimentary pinwheel* in celebration of spring. Plus, for just $1, attendees will be able to enjoy VIK (Very Important Kid) goodie bags filled with delicious snacks**.

Introduced to Simon mall shoppers in 2003 by Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company, the Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3 to 8. Throughout the past decade, the Simon Kidgits Club has served as a community event staple for kids and parents by rewarding young members for good behavior; offering reading hours featuring favorite children’s authors; helping children enjoy time in the kitchen; and celebrating holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter.

More than 100 Simon malls, including Potomac Mills, offer Simon Kidgits’ Club programs which have played a key role in reaching the following milestones:

· Engaging with over 1.8 million parents and kids since the inception of the program.

· Hosting more than 10,000 family-focused events with more than 1,000 events annually.

· Celebrating more than one million children’s birthdays by sending cards and receiving gifts.

Families are invited to join Simon Kidgits Club and receive a variety of benefits. Each Simon Kidgits Club member receives his or her own official Simon Kidgits Club membership package and T-shirt at the time of enrollment. Other benefits include: a ‘spin’ at the prize wheel whenever the Kidgits Club member visits the mall; special invitations to programs and events at the mall; special discounts and rewards for members only; a Birthday Club (including birthday card and gift redemption certificate); and a periodic newsletter with games, educational features and special news.

“The impact the Simon Kidgits Club has had on our members over the last decade has been phenomenal,” said Cathi Weiner, Senior Vice President, Simon Brand Ventures, “and we have also been able to use the platform as a catalyst to build relationships with consumer packaged goods companies, toy brands and entertainment properties who want to easily and directly reach parents and kids. Shoppers and sponsors alike realize the power of the mall as an entertainment and learning destination. The scope of the program has exceeded our expectations and we’re looking forward to the next 10 years.”

“Thousands of children and their parents participate in Kidgits Club activities each year,” said Jayne Stilson, SPG’s Assistant Vice President of Business Development who helped launch the Kidgits Club and has directed the program since its inception. Stilson continues, “Kidgits Club programming is varied but has always emphasized fun and learning. We’ve had a great time.”

For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit Simon.com/Kidgits.

* While supplies last

** All of the proceeds collected from the VIK bags will benefit Simon Youth Foundation, which helps at-risk students earn high school diplomas and scholarships to realize their dream of going to college.

About Potomac Mills

Potomac Mills is the Washington, DC area’s largest outlet mall with more than 220 stores including Bloomingdale’s – The Outlet Store, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, True Religion Outlet, Michael Kors Outlet, Talbots Outlet, Tommy Bahama Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, J.Crew | Crewcuts and Ann Taylor Factory Store. In addition, the center boasts over 25 eateries and the AMC Potomac Mills 18 Theatres with IMAX. A much anticipated new restaurant expansion has added The Cheesecake Factory and Bahama Breeze to the mix, with Bobby’s Burger Palace to follow later this year.

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 326 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 242 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

About The Mills, A Simon Company

The Mills®, one of Simon Property Group's five real estate platforms, offers a unique brand of shopping with a mix of popular name brand outlets, value retailers and full-price stores, plus family-oriented dining and entertainment concepts. The Mills are well-located in major metropolitan markets and many are recognized as leading tourism destinations. Notable properties include Arundel Mills (Baltimore), Gurnee Mills (Chicago), Grapevine Mills (Dallas), Ontario Mills (Los Angeles), Opry Mills (Nashville), Potomac Mills (Washington, DC) and Sawgrass Mills (Ft. Lauderdale/Miami).

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 325 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 242 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

About Simon Brand Ventures

Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, is pioneering the transformation of shopping centers into a medium where consumer brands can build relationships with Simon shoppers who make over 2.8 billion visits each year. Simon's vast franchise of market-leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV and its affiliates have engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Visa Giftcard® and the American Express®/Simon Giftcard; launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon dTour Live® and Simon Kidgits Club®; a national media delivery channel including static, digital and experiential marketing and advertising vehicles; and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola and Visa U.S.A. among others.

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Guest Post: Top 10 Tips to Save Money at Grocery Stores (Besides Using Coupons) Part 1

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Published: 02/14/2013

This guest post was originally published on BeltwayBargainMom.com. We hope it helps you out, and that if it does, you subscribe to Laura Harders' blog posts for more money-saving tips each week!

I know most of you reading my blog are regular coupon-users, but I wanted to share some simple tips on ways you can save at the grocery store besides couponing. This post may also be helpful for those of you who are new to couponing and want to find ways to save money now as you gradually learn the ropes of “extreme couponing.” For those of you seasoned savers and savvy shoppers: I’m sure you’ve heard these tips from other frugal folks before, and there is nothing below that is a shocking, new discovery in the land of grocery store savings, by any means. But hopefully this will help some of you put on your thinking caps on how you can save even more money at the grocery store in addition to regular coupon use.

Ten tips to save more money on your grocery shopping trips:

Make a list and stick to it! To avoid impulse buys, create a meal plan and grocery list at home based on deals featured in the weekly circular or on frugal blogs/coupon forums. Take your list with you to the store and stick to it (an exception I make to this is purchasing “quickly reduced” items… see #9).
Buy less prepared foods. For example, buying a small bagged salad will usually cost you much more than buying a head of lettuce, some tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, etc. You may not have quite the same convenience factor, but you will save money.
Be willing to go generic, try new brands and put aside your brand loyalty/bias. Yes, I know it may be hard to “leave your loyalty at the door” initially, but think of it as a way to be adventurous and try new things with your main goal being: saving money. I will stock up on name brand items when there is a really good sale and/or coupon that brings that item price down to my “price point.” However, when my stock pile runs out and I want to purchase that item to use for a meal during the week, I’ll buy that item at ALDI (discount grocery store) or buy generic at another store. For example, a jar of Peanut Butter at my local ALDI is $1.29. This week Safeway has a deal on Skippy Peanut Butter for $2 each. If there were any Skippy coupons available (which I don’t believe there are…there was one from the 1/31/10 Red Plum but it expired on 2/28/10) I would buy these if the coupon made it less than my regular ALDI price.
Learn the different store policies. Find out the return policies, reusable bag policies, coupon policies, rain check policies, price-matching policies, etc. for your favorite or most frequently visited stores. Many, but not all, grocery stores in the DC metro area double manufacturer coupons up to $0.99. Some stores accept a manufacturer coupon combined with a store coupon on the same item (this is called “stacking coupons” because normally you can only use one coupon per item you are purchasing). Some stores offer a small credit (like $0.05) toward your total grocery purchase if you bring your own re-usable tote. Most stores will accept returned items with an original receipt within a certain time frame (say 30-90 days).
Sign up for your grocery store’s membership card and e-mail list. These are free to sign up for, and you need them to get the special sales price at many stores. For example, at Bloom this is the “Breeze Card”, at Bottom Dollar this is the “Membership Card”, at Giant this is the “Bonus Card”, at Harris Teeter this is the “VIC Card”, at Safeway this is the “Club Card” and at Wegmans this is the “Shoppers Club Card.” Also, sign up for email updates or special offers from the store.

Check back next Thursday for the rest of Laura's Tips!

Laura Harders lives in Prince William County and is a native Northern Virginian who loves to share ways to save. She runs the blog BeltwayBargainMom.com and teaches local Savings Nation coupon workshops. You can find Laura sharing tips & being social on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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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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Old Navy Stonebridge at Potomac

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Published: 11/08/2012

Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center is my new favorite place in the world. They've got awesome restaurants and beautiful shops and boutiques, and they've got Old Navy, which, when you have kids is pretty amazing. I love shopping Old Navy for myself, too, but when my kids grow like weeds there is nothing quite as amazing as a $5 graphic tee or when they run their jeans on sale.

I stock up :)

For those of you that have been lamenting the loss of Old Navy at the mall, it's coming back VERY soon in Stonebridge. The storefront is gorgeous- I love the colors:

And the interior set up is going to be similar to the Tysons Corner store. That's right, Woodbridge, we're classy now. They'll be featuring more fashion, jewelry, and clothing as well as vintage candy and sodas, and even video games in the future. You know the stuff by the registers- it's my favorite place to get a few special items for stockings at Christmas.

If you're worried that the prices are going to be higher because it's a "real" store and not an outlet, never fear- not only are Old Navy prices typically great, I've got deals for you- so keep reading!

Old Navy Stonebridge is on the opposite side from Wegmans, near PF Chang's and REI. They'll have their soft opening on Wednesday, November 14th at 5:00pm, and you're welcome to come and start shopping then. They'll also be open for a regular shopping day on November 15th. (Sunday 10:00am to 7:00pm and Monday through Friday 9:00am to 9:30pm)

November 16th through the 18th will be the grand opening celebration with specials and entertainment.

On Friday, November 16th, shop from 5pm-8pm and BRING THIS COUPON WITH YOU!!!!! and you can save 20% off your purchase, or 30% if you use or open an Old Navy card. This offer is ONLY good at Old Navy Stonebridge.

On Saturday, November 17th, they'll have $4 graphic tees, BOGO deals, and you'll receive a coupon book for the next year with your purchase with one coupon a month to use in the future. There will also be a DJ, food from Zoe's Kitchen, Starbucks, and PF Chang's.

On Sunday, November 18th, they'll have $4 graphic tees, BOGO deals, and you'll receive a coupon book for the next year with your purchase with one coupon a month to use in the future. There will also be a special Family Day celebration with a bear character, balloons, t-shirt decorating, and face painting.

All weekend long, you'll have a change to win a $500 shopping spree, too!

Aaaaannnndd.....

Oh, right!

What kind of a post would this be if there wasn't an awesome giveaway at the end?

A boring post.

Old Navy Stonebridge is offering a Super Awesome Fantastic Giveaway to a lucky reader of a $100 Gift Card.

One Hundred Dollars.

That'll buy a LOT of $4 graphic tees.

Enter using the Rafflecopter below :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck :)

PwcMoms was provided with a gift card in return for this post, however all opinions expressed are our own.

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Thanks to Our Ladies Night Reps!

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Published: 10/07/2012

We had so much fun last night at the Ladies' Night at Max Muscle!! If you came out and joined us, thank you!! I also want to say thank you to all of the women (and men!) who came out to share their passion with us last night!

Leah Zapata shares Silpada with a Mom

Thank You To:
Max Muscle Manassas for hosting, passing around great energy drinks, and for setting the entire event up. I've really enjoyed getting to know this great woman-owned business and its owners Corry Matthews and Kristin Wood.

Stacia Kelly and Corry Matthews from Nine Months In, Nine Months Out.

To Our Food and Beverage Providers (alphabetical order):
Eat Your Heart Out Bakery for the pumpkin and spice cupcakes
Element Caffeinated Water (yes, it tastes like water)
Moes Woodbridge
Three Peas in a Pod Cupcakery for the double chocolate, vanilla bean, and pumpkin cupcakes

Enjoying some inter-rep networking

To Activity Representatives From:
Lake Ridge RidgeRunners who I've mentioned before. These people are incredibly supportive, and while the fastest among them will leave you in the dust, they'll also circle back and finish your run with you. You won't be a beginner for long- but beginners are welcome!
My Body Yoga Health and Wellness, came out, specifically to let us know about their Zumba program! Zumba is a really fun dance-based workout, and I can promise no one will laugh at you if you don't have rhythm or skillz from personal experience!
Sport and Health Clubs has a new club opening right by the Wegmans, but they also have a Gainesville location! We used to belong to them when my husband worked in Tysons because for an additional fee, he could work out at work and I could work out in Dale City on the same family plan.
Stroller Strides of Woodbridge/Manassas offers fitness you can take your baby to! No excuse for not having a sitter or not wanting to leave your child in the gym daycare!
Vertical Rock Indoor Climbing and Fitness Center which offers you a new and different way to get fit! One of the highest indoor facilities in the country, and the highest on the East Coast, they assure me you can start low! ;)

And to the fun shopping hosts! (again in alphabetical order by first name)
Amy Fitzgerald and Nerium International (Amy is offering a free bottle to anyone who hosts a party, which is a $110 value- email her at vtkd@yahoo.com to get in on that)
Bernadette O'Donnell who owns A Touch of Healing and does aroma touch, interplay laughter, and essential oils that smell divine as well as being healing.
Courtney Pomietto and Tastefully Simple , purveyors of awesome beer bread and other quick and easy food items for your family
Jennifer Little and It Works! which makes slimming body wraps
Jennifer Ruputz and Mary Kay who you know for makeup and beauty
Katherine Breyfogle and Perfectly Posh which makes indulgent spa style items for home, like mud masks, bath bombs, and lotions
Leah Zapata and Silpada (Leah is having a "dinner and jewelry" party on Wednesday at Tropical Smoothie on the PW Parkway- if you bring friends, you get jewelry credit just like a hostess would when they buy. Email leahzapata@gmail.com for info on that)
Stacy Urick and Thirty-One Gifts featuring cute totes, lunch bags, organizers and more
The entire team from Spot Me Wear, which offers apparel and a philosophy. And hot pink socks- which is pretty awesome.

See that side view? This is why I need a fitness plan.

If I forgot anyone, PLEASE email me and let me know!!

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Guest Post: Pregnancy Style

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Published: 04/13/2012

MOM-TO-BE-FASHION

Fashionably pregnant? No, that’s not an oxymoron! Admittedly, as I sit here 39 weeks pregnant, I don’t feel at my most fashionable. But nine months of preparing to bring a tiny human into the world does not mean nine months of muumuus and oversized men’s t-shirts, especially with the options available today! With that said, here are my top five fashion tips for moms-to-be:

Buy One Fabulous Piece That Makes You Feel Great
One of my friends bought a fabulous cobalt blue dress (this color has been hot ever since Kate Middleton showcased it in her engagement photos!) She loved how the dress fit and flattered her mom-to-be figure. On those days when you’re not feeling your best, a feel-good piece like this becomes more than an article of clothing – it becomes a little cloth pep talk for your soul! And it’s OK if you spend some money on this one fabulous piece – if you’re going to wear it, say, every other week, for six months, your “cost per wear” is going to be very low!

(image from squidoo.com)

Tummy Sleeves Are Your Friend!
Also known as “belly bands,” these are a pregnancy wardrobe essential and are available at Motherhood Maternity. Among other things, they allow you to wear your regular pants (remember those?!) longer, as you can simply leave your pants unbuttoned and use the tummy sleeve to comfortably keep your pants in place. Additionally, tummy sleeves may be used under a shirt to conceal the ubiquitous “out-y” pregnancy belly button if you’re wearing something more form-fitting.

Layer, Layer, Layer
Stereotypes can be based on reality, and the one about pregnant women having fluctuations in body temperature is no exception! Thus, dressing in layers is crucial for comfort, and let’s face it, when done right, layers are quite trendy, too! A short sleeve or sleeveless top + a cardigan paired with dress pants, jeans or leggings, depending on the occasion, works extremely well. One tip: non-maternity wrap cardigans can work even when you’re pregnant since they’re flow-y by nature – I love the “cozi” wrap sweater from DKNY!

(image from dkny.com)

Feet First
Feet can swell when you’re pregnant, so you may find that you have to purchase a few pairs of shoes in a slightly larger size during this time. Another idea: purchase thin socks made of a wicking material to give your feet extra space in your existing shoes (and to absorb the sweat when those “pregnancy hot flashes” hit!) Under Armour Factory House is a great resource for this type of sock.

Accessorize!
The one-size-fits-all fashion essential? Accessories! When you’re pregnant and yearning to add some pizzazz to your wardrobe, treat yourself to a fabulous handbag or a piece of statement jewelry. A handbag from Coach Factory or Michael Kors Outlet will look great on you whether you’re pregnant or not, and a fun piece of costume jewelry can be worn before and after baby. In fact, sporting an eye-catching accessory may even lead to folks commenting on this rather than your baby bump when they first see you!

Caroline Barry Green is the Director of Marketing at Potomac Mills, the mother of a toddler and at the time of this post, 39 weeks pregnant. All stores listed in italics are located at Potomac Mills. As a special perk to PWC Moms readers, show this post at Guest Services at Potomac Mills to receive a free coupon book through May 31!

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Classy Kids Consignment Giveaway

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Published: 02/25/2012

Everybody wants a deal, and I've got one for you!

Classy Kids Consignment offers moms a way to clear out their closets of out-grown or un-used items AND a great way to score deals on items they'll need instead!! They offer multiple sales each year in Fairfax, Manassas, and Woodbridge.

The Manassas sale is coming up next from February 29th to March 4th.
The Woobridge sale will follow on March 28th to April 1st.

But, let's be honest. You know there's some adorable little Easter outfit you NEED to have that someone's going to snag up at the Pre-Sale that's closed to the public. That's okay, because you scored pre-sale passes!!

Oh, you didn't?

No big deal- Classy Kids is offering FOUR of our PwcMoms readers pre-sale passes. Come and shop the Manassas sale early on February 28th and make sure you don't miss a thing!

Want to win? This is a FLASH giveaway, so it ends tomorrow, Sunday February 26th at 8pm. You have 3 ways to enter, and may enter up to three times (one time for each method).

1- Go like Classy Kids Consignment on Facebook, and leave us a comment here on the blog that you did. Facebook rules prohibit "liking" as a condition for winning, so your comment here is your entry. Please don't forget!! (Do let CKC know who sent you, though!)

2- Leave a comment on the PwcMoms Facebook wall on the post listing this giveaway that you want to shop early!

3- Tweet us @PwcMoms that you want to shop early at CKC!

Good luck shoppers!!

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