Celebrate the 29th Annual Alexandria Saint Patrick's Day Parade hosted by the Ballyshaners and the City of Alexandria.
The day's festivities begin with the Classic Car Show Competition. The show starts at 10:00 a.m. with automobiles on display on North Pitt Street just off of King Street. Mr. Vern Parker, noted Washington Times columnist and expert in the classic car field will judge the competition and award the "Frank Cherry Trophy."
The Fun Dog Show begins at 10:30 a.m. in Market Square (corner of North Royal and King Streets) and goes until 12:00.
The Parade begins at King and West Streets at 12:30 p.m. and follows a route down King Street, past the reviewing stand at North Royal Street,
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In reality, unless you have a vacation house, a pool membership or an amusement park in your backyard most kids will get a bit bored playing at home before July rolls around. Even more critical is the need for structured play and supervision for the children of working parents. Any way you slice it summer poses an interesting dilemma for lots of parents in the DC Metro area. That is why summer camps have become so popular.
Here are a few tips for finding the perfect camp.
1. Ask friends, family, teachers and parent groups for recommendations.
2. There is a litany of camps offered to kids. Some examples of local camps includes: traditional, overnight, computer, science, art, music, theater,
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Bello is Back!
Daredevil Clown is Back in Town!
Annual Engagement At Dulles Town Center, VA
March 6th-27th, 2010
Big Apple Circus - Bello is Back! is coming to Dulles Town Center in Sterling, VA. The exciting line up for 2010 includes:
1. Bello Nock with his daredevil stunts and child-like humor!
2. The Curatola Brothers - hand-to-hand acrobatic duo
3. Luciano Anastasini and his Pound Puppies return for canine acrobatics!
4. The Aniskin Troupe amaze with their bravura, athletic trampoline act
5. Regina Dobrovitskaya performs a shimmering spectacle on aerial silk ribbons!
6.Christine Zerbini and Sultan Kumisbayev present an electrifying riding act - standing atop galloping chargers, Roman-style!
7.
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Posted by: Claudine in Food, Family, DC Metro Mommy on
Feb 27, 2010
I was recently given a few samples of the organic product Ella's Kitchen. The box arrived right around the same time as a playdate. My neighbor immediately seemed to know what the product was all about. Hmmm...why didn't I get the memo sooner? My neighbor was fortunate enough to spend two glorious weeks in France last year. She noted that a similar product was all the rage in France and her kids just loved it! With that...we pulled them out offered them to the kids. Success!
The "Ella's Kitchen" Smoothie Fruit pouches were a big hit with the kids. The "Ella's Kitchen" Stage 1 went over well with a friend's infant. The product is great for an on-the-go lifestyle. These are
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Posted by: Claudine in Family, Events, DC Metro Mommy on
Feb 25, 2010
Special Event: "Want to Raise Happiness in Your Kids?"
Learn the top three scientifically-proven methods for more joyful kids and happier parents.
Raising Happiness
Parents' Workshop
with
Christine Carter, Ph.D.
and Concurrent Children's Program
for ages 2 through 8th grade
Saturday
March 13, 2010
2 pm to 4 pm
at Oneness-Family School
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Purchase Tickets Here
Sociologist, executive director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center and mother of two, Christine Carter will draw upon what psychology, sociology and neuroscience have proven about confidence, gratefulness and optimism to teach skills and mindsets that foster these qualities in our children. Workshop includes lecture,
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Posted by: Claudine in Family, Events, DC Metro Mommy on
Dec 07, 2009
In an effort to increase awareness and raise funds to support the fight against stillbirth, Allan's Trees (ATO) is sponsoring a fundraising event for greater DC Metro residents and their families. The ATO Holiday Art and Craft Sale and Raffle will take place at 1204 Prospect Street, Takoma Park MD, on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 from 11:00 to 4:00. All raffle proceeds and a portion of all sales will be donated to First Candle in support of stillbirth research and prevention in honor of Allan Frederick Lerner.
The ATO Holiday Art and Craft Sale features seven local artists with a diversity of handmade items: jewelry for adults and kids by BellaLunaDesign, Wartpiggy and Cavanagh Craft;
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Posted by: Claudine in Family, Events, DC Metro Mommy on
Dec 02, 2009
Popular kids rock band, Milkshake and American Girl author Valerie Tripp headline Merriment in Georgetown, a fun family holiday event, set within the fabled intersection of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Families are invited on Sunday, December 6th from 3-6 pm to enjoy fun activities including photos with Santa and horse drawn carriage rides. Music will be provided by kids rock band, Milkshake, as seen on PBS Kids, Noggin and Discovery Kids.
In addition, girls and their favorite dolls are invited to meet American Girl author Valerie Tripp and to enjoy refreshments and activities including jewelry making for girls and their dolls, crafts from different American Girl eras, and special
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Posted by: Claudine in Family, Events, DC Metro Mommy on
Oct 21, 2009
On Saturday, October 24 Sister Cities International will host its first 5K run/walk and World Cultures Festival from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in DC's Foggy Bottom neighborhood. While the 5K does have an entry fee, the Festival is open to anyone and everyone who would like to attend. Participants will enjoy food, music, and performances from around the globe. Their will be free children's activities such as face-painting and games.
All proceeds raised from the event will go to support Sister Cities International's Youth Programs.
Visit http://www.raceforworldpeace.org/ to learn
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It's been bugging me that I haven't found the time to post in awhile. I heard recently that you don't "find" time, you have to "make" the time to do things that are important to you. So, I'm making time here this afternoon. John and Mimi are having a super full Daddy-Daughter Day. They went out canvassing this morning, doing their part for the tight Virginia governor's race. Then to their fave pre-movie dining spot, T.G.I.Friday's. And finally, where they sit at this very moment, the 3-D, double-feature Toy Story and Toy Story 2. I'm sure Mimi is loving life. John, not so much.
I just ran across a note I had scribbled which is actually what inspired me to write this post. It reads:
Let go
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Posted by: Claudine in Fashion, Family, DC Metro Mommy on
Aug 02, 2009
Tis the season for the annual tax free shopping events in Virginia.
From August 7 - 9, 2009 Virginia will waive sales tax on clothing and footwear under $100.00 and school supplies under $20.00. Unfortunately, with our sluggish economy Washington DC has repealed the celebrated Sales Tax Holiday for 2009. The State of Maryland has also suspended its 2009 annual tax free shopping event. My advice, head to VA!!
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The countdown 'til the last day of school has finally entered the very low single digits! I have to admit that I'm just as excited as Mimi is about the beginning of summer. Spending lazy hours at the pool and in the garden, sleeping in a little bit later, cooking on the grill, what's not to like?!
Vacation time also means, surprise, list time for me. My brother-in-law has made fun of me for years about my proclivity for making lists. I just love them and really can't function without them. Even though I use Microsoft Outlook religiously for my calendar, address book and, of course, email, the "Task" function has never lit my fire. I think I just need the added tactile buzz of putting pen
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We had a great time "car camping" at Bull Run Park last Friday. Yes, the Friday of the torrential thunderstorms. Luckily, the storms stopped as we were pulling into our campsite so we quickly put up our tent and picnic canopy. As the next wave of rain came, we were cozily ensconced under the canopy, snacking away, enjoying our friends, and keeping (relatively) dry.
Since camping season is upon us, I've been thinking about organizing camping gear. Especially if you're facing a rainy set-up, you want the most essential things packed close-at-hand. You also don't want to finally find the salt and pepper just as you are packing up to leave!
Here are a few tips for family-style gear
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Oh gorgeous days! They won't last forever (or even a few weeks) so now is the time to take advantage of the relatively cool 80-something-degree days to declutter and organize your garage. Think about it -- is that where you want to be when the thermometer hits 95 degrees or so?!
It's actually pretty easy to make a big difference in a garage in a relatively short amount of time. It tends to be a catch-all for all manner of big, bulky stuff that we're not sure we really want or need anyway. Seasonal items also often end up in the garage as well as just plain, old trash!
First things first. Take a really hard look at the current contents of your garage. Using my favorite organizing method from
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Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. A.A. Milne
As any self-respecting mom knows, A.A. Milne is the creator of Winnie the Pooh. This gentle, very Pooh Bear quote really boils organizing down to its essence. If you get something organized on the front end, your day-to-day "doing it" is not all mixed up!
The client who sent me this quote (a mom herself) mentioned in the same email that her husband absolutely loves working in his newly organized home office.
It's amazing how putting in the hours organizing a home office can pay real dividends in the way you feel about working in that office. And doesn't how you
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I was thinking this morning about how you know when you are organized enough. My house definitely wouldn't fall into the minimalist, pristine category that I think a lot of people envision when they think of being organized.
John is fond of saying "physician, heal thyself" when I start talking my organizing talk. That's my cue to remind him that I can pretty much put my hands on whatever it is that he's searching for that day! Yes, he is one of those husbands. And, yes, I am one of those wives.
That's one of the reasons I love Kathy Waddill's book "The Organizing Sourcebook". Her approach calls for organizing with nine strategies of "reasonably organized people". I like that! You don't
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