11/29/12

Les Miserables at the National Theatre




LES MISÉRABLES
BRINGING HER HOME
THE MUSICAL LEGEND RETURNS

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
DECEMBER 13 – 30, 2012 ONLY!
THE NATIONAL THEATRE

Last year, over 84,000 people experienced a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES. Now, due to overwhelming demand, LES MISÉRABLES returns home to Washington for a special holiday engagement for three weeks only.

Cameron Mackintosh presents LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.  This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.

Visit lesmis.com/watch for a video sneak peek.

SAVE 25% TO LES MIS
Use code LMECRD1101*
Visit http://www.broadwayoffers.com or call 800-872-8997 

*All performances 12/13-12/23 EXCLUDING Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees & Saturday evenings.  25% off all price levels EXCLUDING Prime Orchestra (PS10) and the first three rows of the front mezzanine (PS20).  Subject to availability.  Restrictions may apply and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Paradise Springs Winery

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

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

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

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

That's because it is!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plan Ahead:
*Someone's gotta drive home, so be sure that you plan accordingly by bringing a designated driver.  If you need to, call a cab.  Clifton Roads are windy and have lots of deer, so don't risk it.
_____________________________________________
Disclaimer: Don't be an idiot and drink and drive.  That's just not cool.  Also, I was not compensated in any way for this review, in fact, they didn't even know I was there.  We had a great time, though, and think you would, too. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, please get help. I've never written about anything alcohol-related before, I don't think, so if I'm over-disclaimering, I apologize.

Giveaway: Touch of Gold Occoquan

Have you ever had one of those jobs where you work to support your habit?  I didn't used to wear jewelry (except for my wedding set) unless there was some special occasion until I started working at Touch of Gold, and then I realized that my life had been empty and meaningless until I found sparkly things!! Sparkly things that I would be paying off in labor until I turned 50!!

That Carrie Manderfield is a smart lady....getting us in the door and hooked on all the gorgeous things in the shop ;)

Just kidding, my life wasn't completely empty and meaningless.

Carrie's boutique store is recently remodeled inside (this year) to have a very boutique feel- and it's adorable.  In addition to all the fine jewelry you'd expect to find in an Occoquan jeweler, she also carries a wide assortment of what I would call "gift-priced" items.  These include everything from Kameleon, which is a great starter piece for a younger girl or a great girlfriend gift depending on the center jewel pop that you pick, to sterling silver pieces, to Troll Beads.

Hello, Trollbeads.

So, initially Trollbeads are an investment.  You buy a bracelet (or necklace, or ring, but I like my bracelet), clasp, and starter bead(s) to get you going.  After that, though, you tell everyone you know that you looooooove your Trollbeads bracelet, and they can pick you up a bead or two for special occasions.  Troll is really like a modern and colorful take on a charm bracelet.  If you like collectable lines like Pandora, but would love a little more color, Troll might be just what you're looking for. 



Ah, so pretty :) My bracelet is pastels and diamond beads, which have crystals inside.  The beauty of these is that they can be however you want.  Mathced or just a random assortment, they're beautiful. 

This season, Trollbeads has a "Luck and Joy" bracelet they're selling for $99.  It's a great price to start off your collection!

You get to select your color bead, and they're all super cute.  I would pick pink.  That's just me.  I typically pick pink, though.

Would you loooove one of these either for yourself or to give as a present? Touch of Gold is giving one away to a lucky PwcMoms.com reader to celebrate their upcoming Christmas Trunk Show starting THIS Saturday and running December 1st, 2nd, and 4th.  They'll have some specials going on the Trollbeads specials going on, and you can enter to win this fantastic bracelet!! Just tell them you're a PwcMoms reader, and they'll get you signed up to win!  (You can go in starting today!)

Send your husbands, too.  There's no shame in reading my site if you're a guy ;)

 Contest ends on December 3rd so that we can pick a winner and you can still have time to shop the trunk show if you don't win!!
_________________________________________________________________
PwcMoms.com just really likes Touch of Gold.  All opinions are our own.  Good luck!!

11/28/12

December 2012 Fairfax Symphony Kids' Passport Program

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra invites students and families to attend its next concert on Saturday, December 8th, at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, VA, at 8:00 p.m. This performance features pianist, James Dick, and works by Rossini and Tchaikovsky. All students will be invited to join the Student Passport Club!
Fairfax Symphony Concert Information:
· Date: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
· Location: George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, Fairfax
· Cost: Student Tickets only $5; Adult Tickets begin at $25
· Tickets: Available beginning at 6:00 p.m. on December 8th at the “Student Ticket Window.” Students must be present when purchasing their tickets the night of the concert.
· Parking: Free in Lot K; event parking fee in garage
· Personal passportto be stamped at each event
· Special program notesand activity sheets for each concert
· Free gifts
· Invitation to a special reception with an opportunity to meet FSO musicians and play many different instruments
· JOIN IN ADVANCEOR AT THE CONCERT ITSELF!
Mischief in Music Corner:
If you attended the last FSO concert in November, bring back your program with the Scavenger Hunt questions completed for an extra stamp! Those who missed this performance are welcome to participate too. Simply bring your answers to the following questions about the composer featured on this performance:
1. How old was Rossini when his first opera premiered?
2. What instrument did Rossini play with his father’s musical group?
3. At what age did Tchaikovsky begin playing the piano?

11/26/12

ICE! at the Gaylord National

My family was very fortunate to be invited to the Gaylord National Hotel and Conference Center to check out ICE! this year.  ICE! has become something of a holiday mainstay here in the DC Area, and while it's technically in Maryland's National Harbor, it's only a 35 or so minute drive up 95, making it totally trip-worthy from Prince William County. 
Hubby wasn't available to come with us, because our even time was 1pm.  To those of you out there who are aware what that means this time of year, I feel your pain.  To those of you who aren't clear what I'm talking about, I'd like to refer you here: 1 PM IS NOT OKAY That was okay, though, because PwcGrammy is always game for shenanigans with the grandkids. 

Before you head into ICE you get to watch a short film about the production process, which includes flying in a team of artisans from China who produce a giant outdoor ice show each year because it's so blasted cold where they live that the entire river turns into ice and they can make sculptures that last all winter.  For real. Obviously here we don't have that problem, so they've put the ice sculptures inside two giant tents (think the white domes they put over your tennis courts if you live in Montclair) that they cool to a balmy 8 or 9 degrees. To prepare you for this, everyone gets a standard issue blue parka to go OVER your coat.  Bring a hat, gloves, and a scarf, though, because it's COLD.  Taking my gloves off to take pictures with my iphone made my fingers sad.  PS- you'll want lots of pictures because those parkas are bringing sexy back. Check out me and my mom huggling for warmth.  You know you wish you looked that good ;-)

I've been told by numerous readers that the best time during peak season to visit ICE is on a weekday.  We were there on a Sunday, but since it was still November we didn't experience any real crowds. Even without the crowds, I'd recommend that if it's possible for your family you take one adult per child, or at least 2 adults, because when we got into the slide room, we were losing track of kids left and right as they went down the various slides at different speeds.  Some of you may be calmer than me about that, but everyone was so blue! It was like trying to find a specific Smurf in a crowd, and that made me rather nervous.  However, the kids had a blast and quickly figured out that to maximize your speed on the slides, you need to get your feet up and make sure your blue coat is under you.  There are a total of 6 slides, and the ice stairs are covered with carpet, so you won't trip. 



 


The ice sculptures themselves are absolutely amazing.  Thinking that these were all just giant blocks of frozen water when they arrived is mind-boggling.  My kids loved all of the funny scenes from "Shrek the Halls" and recognized many of the characters, which made them happy.  I could not believe the craftsmenship that went into making everything.  I believe that our entire walk through the displays, including sliding, took about 30 minutes.  The setup is flat and the walkways are wide, though, so if you are bringing someone who will require a wheelchair, accessibility should not be an issue.

The final display at the end of ICE! is a gorgeous nativity scene done in all clear ice.  When you're facing the scene, there's a giant clear angel behind you.  The display lights up every few minutes and tells the Christmas story.  Imbedded lights color the characters as they're mentioned and make the nativity be a rainbow of colors.  It's pretty awesome. Pricing information is available here and starts at $15.99 for kids 4-11 and $22.99 for adults (weekday) going up to $22.99/$29.99 on the weekends.  Military discounts are available on weekdays and some weekends, and start $13.99/$18.99.  Children 0-3 are free. 

So, after you finish walking around ICE! There's a lot of other stuff that you can do. For $35, you can meet the Dreamworks characters (Shrek, Po, Puss in Boots, Alex the Lion) and participate in a scavenger hunt that's themed for the movie "The Guardians", which my 6 year old liked for awhile, my 9 (9!) year old loved, and my 4 year old thought was torturous because she couldn't read and can't write small enough to fit in the blanks provided.  She did like meeting the characters, though.  This is a walk-through and you spend about 30 seconds with each character shooting a few pictures, which are available for purchase at the end of the walk. At the end of the scavenger hunt, your kids get a movie poster and a certificate, assuming they filled out all of the blanks correctly. We also tried making cookies at Gingy's House (my daughter is not actually unimpressed with the cookie, she's upset that I told her not to eat her cookie until I took a picture.  My blog needs totally cramp her style).  After you finish decorating your cookies (you can select a gingerbread train or a sugar cookie stackable tree) 

When you're done decorating your cookies, you can visit Gingy and get a few pictures.  Kits for this start at $29.95.  Gingy was really cute, and the kids had fun, but the kits are just flat cookies, so if you're looking to keep prices down...

I thought this sign was hilarious....so, here's a picture of it.

Also available (but we didn't try them) are a ShrekFeast where you eat with the characters, brunch with Santa, pictures with Santa, Potomac Express rides (a mini train in the hotel atrium- rides are $2 and I know Supernovamommy.com's son loves the train).  You can also package all of these things together with a hotel stay, and I have to say, I'd never been to the Gaylord before and it is absolutely breathtaking.  It's the kind of hotel that you see in movies about hotels.  Everything is spot on and gorgeous. 

At the end of our visit, we were able to check out the nightly treelighting show, which is amazing.  The lights and fountain dance, the music is great, and at the end it "snows" down into the atrium.  The kids thought this was really neat, although I think they were expecting an actual blizzard.  They liked the flurry anyway. I would literally go just to see the treelighting again.  It was amazing.  These happen at 6:30pm and 9:00pm every night from November 17th-January 6th. If your kids are old enough, you could make a complete day of this by taking part in whatever Dreamworks Experiences you'd like, and then staying for Family Fun and Fireworks in the National Harbor Plaza.  They start live music at 5, you could come in and warm up with the Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:30, and still be outside in time for fireworks at 7! Brilliant!

All said and done, this was an amazing experience.  It can definitely add up quickly, but it's an amazing thing for the kids.  Have you been? Leave a comment letting us know your experience!
_______________________________________________________
PwcMoms was provided with tickets to ICE! The Character Meet and Greet/Scavenger Hunt, and Gingy's Gingerbread Decorating.  All opinions are my own.

Christmas/Advent (Or whatever) Countdown

Quite possibly the easiest craft you'll ever do! You could easily alter this project to be a countdown to Hannukah (use blue and white peppermint patties!) or Easter (pink, yellow, and green wrapped candy), or even a child's birthday. If you prefer not to use candy, a small toy or trinket would fit, too! You could also easily dress this craft up (Look at THESE!!), but we planned this craft for our CC friends to come over and do, so I wanted it to be easy enough for the kids to do fairly independently.

Here's what you'll need:
Ribbon (curling or fabric, either is fine), number printouts, quotation printouts (optional, but included at the end of this post.  You could also just use the numbers), scissors, a one-hole punch, plastic wrap, mixed Christmas wrapped Hershey Kisses. I like using my ironing board for this craft so that I can lay the plastic wrap out, but a long kitchen table would be fine, too! If you have a stampin up circle cutter that can fit around your numbers, all the better!!

This process could not be any easier! Spread out your plastic wrap. I've found that for 3-4 kids (so 3-4 kisses in each bundle) I need about 5.5 feet of plastic wrap. If you need extra, it's easy to add by tying it into a bundle and it sticking to the other piece, so no worries if you're short. For 2 kids I think 4.5 feet is enough. At the top of your wrap, use several colors of ribbon to tie a bow, using one piece to tie a loop so you can hang your countdown up!
Next, bundle in one piece of candy per child per night, tying securely under each bundle with ribbon. For an Advent countdown, you obviously need to have enough "bundles" to get from 1-25!
Next, cut out your numbers. I got mine from HERE and I think they're so cute! (Plus it's a free download!) You could mount these on Christmas paper, or you can put them on top of folded scripture cards, or you can just use them alone. Hole punch each card once so that you can thread it onto the ribbon between each section. The number goes under the candy it goes with so that when you untie it to take the number off, you get the candy above it, and then next number and its candy stay securely tied!
I love how it looks for two kids because you can put the kisses in a diamond shape and they fit so nicely!! For more kids it's a little harder to bundle nicely, but it works out!!
Fun! Some other versions that work, too, include printing numbered cards with quotes on them, or glueing your numbers onto folded scripture verses (we did these at a church I worked at):
After this post, you can get versions of my devotional scripture readings to go along with the countdown, or a more "meditational" version I designed with some quotes, carol verses, and a little less scripture. I printed these using a 4.5 inch margin on the left so that they could be folded over into cards with the number on the front. Again, you could also just use the numbers. I'm including these because it'll save those of you that want them tons of time trying to pick what you want to use.  If you don't think you're interested, then just don't keep reading :)

Happy Crafting!


11/20/12

Giveaway: Cosatto OTM Highchair from Baby Blossom

It's November, a time to be thankful.  Personally, I am so thankful for the people and businesses who support this website.  Believe it or not, it takes a lot of time to do updates, blog posts, and giveaways, and it costs money to host content.  I am also thakful for the cool stuff that my family gets to do, but having a business say they support families in our area by actually sponsoring the content here on Prince William County Moms means so much to me, and it should mean a lot to you, too.  When Baby Blossom supports PwcMoms.com, they're effectively saying they're willing to spend money so you can continue to have the content and calendar that you come here to utilize.  I encourage you to support them, in return.

This month, Baby Blossom is offering a great giveaway item, just in time for some of those big holiday meals!! Whether you're dining at home, at a restaurant, or traveling to Grammy's house (and you know that grammy doesn't have a high chair anymore!) this High Chair will have you covered.

Cosatto On The Move High Chair
Retail Value: $149
Cosatto's On the Move highchair is ideal for babies and families who are always on the go. Equally stylish and functional, it features a one-hand, single action fold/unfold, extra-lightweight but sturdy frame, footrest, wipe clean tray and removable polyester seat pad. Five-point harness is adjustable to provide sitting comfort for your growing baby and the seat's funky colors and cute vegetable graphics tell anyone and everyone that it's your little one's time to eat. Convenient travel bag included. Suitable for children 6 months and older up to 35 lbs.
 
What a great prize for those of you that travel during the holidays (or anytime, really!).  I would have loved to have a high-chair that folded up that easily just for when we went down the street to neighbors that didn't have babies anymore!
 
Enter using the Rafflecopter below.  Contest ends next week on November 28, 2012.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

11/19/12

Giveaway: Andrea Gunter Photography

Andrea Gunter Photography met up with my entire crazy family for a mini-session and I want to share a few of her pictures as well as some fun deals for your holiday pictures!

(You do remember you'll need pictures for your cards, right?)
The whole crew- kid 1, girlfriend in law, baby brother, hubby, me, kid 2, PWC Grandma, Coach Papa, and kid 3. You may be noticing that I'm REALLY short for my family. 
I first met Andrea in passing at a birthday party for a friend's daughter.  Andrea was there taking pictures of the party and did such a beautiful job!
This guy isn't mine- but I love this picture so much it's ridiculous.
Andrea is a portrait photographer who, unlike some of the photographers we've worked with in the past, is good about giving some direction as far as position.  Several of the lifestyle photographers we've worked with just have you do whatever you'd like and caputure moments, and Andrea definitely came with a few plans in mind and organized us into groups and provided some structure, so if you'd like a little direction but not to be overly-posed, Andrea would be a great fit for you.


 

 One thing that I think Andrea is really gifted at is single and small group shots.  Y'all, she didn't even laugh out loud or tease my brother and girlfriend-in-law when they busted out their coordinating orange and blue plaid shirts.  My husband and I, on the other hand, were merciless about calling them giant dorks.  I think our couple shots all turned out really cute.  (PS to my blondes, wearing gold is a horrible idea for pictures.  This sweater looked so cute in the store, and it totally washed me out and made me look even fatter than I really am.  Choose colors.)

We got some cute family pictures, too, but my middle son seemed to photobomb EVERY shot with a funny face, and I would have rather had a semi-normal smile than the personality factor, but that's just me- I know lots of people who would disagree.

Yeah, he's doing that on purpose. He was a goofball the whole day.

Andrea picked a gorgeous location, and was really nice to work with.  She even juggled our large group around well and came with fun props to use, too.  I think she really likes to capture fun personality and moments, too- this is, again, from her facebook:
That's hilarious. I love it.

Andrea has sessions starting at $125 with various options to meet your particluar needs. Right now she's got a free 16x20 canvas for families that have their session by November 30th.

Giveaway:
Andrea will be giving away a $50 gift certificate to use on the session or prints of your choice.  To win, head over to her fan page, like the page and leave a comment on your favorite picture with "I'm from PwcMoms and this is my favorite!".  You'll need to come back here and leave a link to the picture with your comment to be entered.  DON'T FORGET to leave the link in the comments here- you know facebook won't let me enter you just for doing something on Facebook!!

This contest will close on Friday, November 30th so that you've got plenty of time even with Thanksgiving.  Want to take advantage of the pre-November 30th deal? That's okay, you can always use the gift card AFTER your session for prints!  Good luck!!
____________________________________________________________
PwcMoms was provided with a free mini session to use in our review. 

Black Friday Bootcamp


Max Muscle and Gymratzz will be teaming up for a Black Friday Bootcamp and Sale.  I know a bunch of people who do Gymratzz, I know because I see their crazy pictures of "daily challenges" on facebook.  1,000 situps, 10x100 crunches, whatever the heck their instructor challenges them to each day.  It's actually a pretty brilliant  viral marketing idea.

So. Since the stores are all opening on Thanksgiving day this year, you can shop, catch a nap, go to bootcamp, and then go shop some more starting with some energy mix from Max Muscle :)

Max Muscle Manassas is located at 12849 Galveston Court Manasssas (the Harris Teeter shopping center off Hoadly Road).

11/13/12

Delegate Anderson to host "Future Delegates" Program


Dear Prince William parents and students,
 
At 7:30pm on Wednesday, Nov. 14th, we will host an orientation for parents and students in grades 7 through 12 who want to participate in the 2013 51st House District “Future Delegate Program” that we will host at the Virginia State Capitol in January and February.  The orientation will be in the Board of County Supervisors chamber at the McCoart Government Complex at One County Complex Court in Woodbridge
 
During the orientation session on Nov. 14th, I’ll brief applicants and their parents on the program, distribute application forms, and answer questions.  Additionally, I’ll brief parents on the House of Delegates Page Program in 2014 so that interested students may apply in late 2013 for the two-month-long Page Program at the Virginia State Capitol in early 2014.
 
If selected for the Future Delegate Program, students will spend an entire day with me at the Virginia State Capitol.  Students will accompany me to all sub-committee and committee meetings, press events, and the daily floor session of the Virginia House of Delegates. They will also have an opportunity to meet senior officials of the executive and legislative branches of Virginia state government.
 
All students who apply for the 2013 Future Delegate Program will be able to participate on a date that is convenient to the student’s family.  The day will provide each student with a first-hand look at the legislative process in Richmond. All students are encouraged to apply and participate, regardless of party affiliation or viewpoint on matters of public policy.
 
AND IF YOU LIVE IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY AND KNOW OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN THIS NEW PROGRAM, PLEASE FORWARD THIS INVITATION TO THEM.  We are able to host a total of 68 students during the forthcoming session of the Virginia General Assembly!
 
I look forward to seeing students and parents this coming Wednesday, Nov, 14th, at 7:30pm in the Board of County Supervisors chamber at the McCoart Government Building on Prince William Parkway.  To discuss the 2013 Future Delegate Program before or after the orientation, parents and students may contact me at DelRAnderson@house.virginia.govor at 571-264-9983.
 
And if I can ever assist you in any way, please call our legislative district office at 571-264-9983, or if your need is urgent and can’t wait until the next business day, at my Woodbridge home at 703-730-1380.  We’re here to help and are as close as your keyboard or phone!
 
Warm regards,
RICHARD L. ANDERSON
Delegate, 51st House District
                                                         Virginia General Assembly

11/12/12

FAQ: "What do you DO all day?"

I think over the last year I've answered variations of this question about 80 times in interviews, emails, and readers meeting me in person.  I don't share a lot about homeschooling here, because I figure most of you either don't care or are offended by the idea of school choice.  However, since I have been asked enough that I'm tired of re-typing the response, I'm going to hit on a few basics today, and if you don't care or are offended, you can feel free to head on over here and read about Winter 2012 Events.

Still here? Hello.  I've separated these out by questions, so find the one you're looking for and read away.

Questions: "Why don't you like public school?" "Do you hate teachers?" "Do you have a teaching degree" "When are you going to send your kids back to public school"
I love public education and think it's the benchmark of a truly functioning democracy. I was public schooled, and I applied for school board because I love public education. I do not hate teachers. I think that like in any profession there are AMAZING teachers and there are some really horrible teachers, and everything in-between.  I respect anyone who can face 28-35 kids of various ability levels and make them learn even one thing in a day.  I do not have a teaching degree.  We opted to homeschool because it works better for our family right now.  My option to do this for my children does not negate or invalidate your choice to keep your kids in public school, just like someone's ability to afford private school doesn't make it wrong for your child to attend public school.  We're all trying to do what's best for our individual kids- and that might vary from child to child and year to year.  We always say that we're "homeschooling this year".  When this isn't the right choice for our children, we'll stop.

Questions: "Did you consider private school?" "We love our private school, did you look at it?" "Did you know about all the specialty programs at public schools?"
We looked at numerous private schools (I really liked Heritage Christian off Hoadly Road and know many families who are very happy at St. Thomas Aquinas off Route 1) but none of them were a great fit for our family.  The ones I really liked educationally made my husband uncomfortable doctrinally.  Prince William County has some great specialty programs, especially at the high school level. I encourage every parent to research and consider their child's education, whether or not they're selecting public school or not, because your neighborhood school is not a set-in-stone foregone conclusion.  We've also applied to Porter, one of two traditional schools offered by PWCS.

Questions: "What do you do all day?" "Do you just let your kids watch TV? Wouldn't they be better off at school?" "How long does your school day take?" "What does a homeschool day look like?" "How do you do your days?"
Obviously, like any mom you ask about her day, this is GENERALLY speaking how our days look.  Do we have bad days? Of course.  Do we have sick days? Ugh.  Right now that's all we've had for a month and a half.  But, generally speaking, this is how life works around here.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
The kids wake up and get dressed and check on their pet rabbit.  Responsibility, people- it's key.  Around 8:10 we sit down for breakfast and I read the day's devotional and go over our schedule.  After breakfast we take my daughter to preschool. ("Why don't you homeschool your daughter, too?" Because we think that it's important to learn to function independently and to separate from mom. "What preschool do you use?" I'll be happy to tell you next year when we don't have anyone there.) When the boys and I get back home, we start work on our core curriculum of math, writing, spelling and reading.  I mark the pages they'll start on the night before, so I can be teaching a new skill to one of them while the other works to the point at which they need some instruction or assistance.  After that we move on to science, history, or another subject depending on what we're currently working on.  We pick up my daughter from preschool and when we get home everyone eats lunch while I read aloud.  We're working our way through the reading list recommended by A Thomas Jefferson Education, which is a pretty good manifesto on how and why we do what we do.  Right now we're reading Little House in the Big Woods, and next week we'll pick up A Little Princess.  We generally finish one a week.  After lunch, we have recess outside if at all possible, and then we work on our memory component since my daughter participates in that, too.  Then the boys read to me and everyone is able to work on special projects until our school friends get home and we head outside to play. We are usually done with our "real work" and on to personal projects by 1:30 or 2:00. This may be art or music, a personal reading book, scout project, or whatever they'd like.  Frequently on Fridays, if the children have mastered their memory components for the week (we call this "grammar" in our Classical Conversations method) we'll only do the morning work and enjoy a field trip or park day in the afternoon.
Tuesday
Same as above, but I have three little workers, so I include some Montessori-based stations for my daughter to work on and there's no drop off/pick up at preschool.
Thursday
Thursday is our "co-op" day where we attend a Classical Conversations Community.  Our day starts earlier on these days since I tutor (because parents are the teachers, our classroom instructors are called tutors) a class we try to arrive at CC around 8:30, which means being out the door at 8.  It very rarely happens, though, if I'm being honest.  Our CC day looks like this:
9:15-9:30 Opening Assembly (pledge, announcements, etc.)
9:30-12:00 Classroom Time (children work on new grammar, old grammar, geography, timeline, oral presentations, fine arts unit, science experiments and have a snack)
12:00-12:30 Lunch with friends
12:30-1:00 Recess
When we get home we still do math and reading, but that's it for the day.

Questions: "You say you're homeschooling them, but you're on facebook all the time.  You must be ignoring your kids." 
Amazingly, since the boys can read, they're quite capable of working independently for chunks of time, just like your child is at school.  This leaves me pockets of time to fill in 20 second facebook updates or answer emails.  You'll notice days where I don't post anything all morning or am gone for hours at a time, and that probably indicates we're working on something new or difficult where I need to be completely present and engaged.  Generally speaking, facebook updates don't require more than a minute at a time, though.

Questions: "I'm thinking of homeschooling.  What curriculum do you use?" "What books do you use? Are they the same as the school system?" "Do you just do school at home?" 
There's tons of curriculum out there.  What we use might not be for you.  However, we use Classical Conversations (which includes our timeline, geography, math concepts, skip counting, history, Latin, English grammar, fine arts, and science), Story of the World, Singapore Math, Sequential Spelling, First Language Lessons, Writing with Ease, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and fill in Science based on the unit we're currently studying. Our reading is great books based, and we also use BOB books with our younger readers to fill in from Teach Your Child to Read.

Questions: "Are you crazy?"
Apparently not enough to commit.

Questions: "I don't think I could do this." "I'd like to do this, but I'm not sure I can." "Can anyone do this?" "I think this might help my child, can I do it?"
If you want to, you can.  You taught your child to walk, talk, and not eat glue, you can certainly teach them.  I am not more patient than you, I am not more qualified than you, and I am not more zen with my kids than you, I just decide every morning that this is what I'm going to dedicate my time to.  If you have the desire to do it and are willing to commit to the task, you, too, can homeschool.  It's not for everyone, but if you want to do it, you can do it.

Questions: "Do your kids kill each other?" "How do you socialize your kids?" "Aren't your kids lonely and bored?" "Do you go out?" 
Our kids are actually really great with each other, although that was a transition because they'd lost a lot of their closeness in the 2 years of public school that we did.  I reject the idea that kids need to be "socialized" because I don't necessarily want them to think like everyone else, however if you're asking how we provide them with a social life, we have our co-op, scouts, sports teams, recess, play dates, park days, field trips, homeschool groups, and more.  They are not lonely, and very seldom bored, although I remember their being days when my oldest was bored even in public school.

11/9/12

"Caring Santa" returns to Potomac Mills

EXCLUSIVE “CARING SANTA” EVENT TO BE HELD FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM AT POTOMAC MILLS ON DECEMBER 9
WHAT: The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be overwhelming for the estimated six out of every 1,000 children diagnosed with autism. To help those children enjoy an important part of the holiday experience, Potomac Mills, along with WorldWide Photography, will host an exclusive sensory-friendly Santa meet and greet experience for families of those affected by autism or a sensory processing disorder. This unique “Caring Santa” event will allow children to enjoy one of the holiday’s joyous memories – taking a photo on Santa’s lap.
For the event, the lights around the Santa set will be dim and staff will be instructed to avoid loud, distracting movements. In addition, families will not have to wait in line, but will sign in and be called when it is their turn. Children will be provided with complimentary coloring sheets while they wait.
WHEN: Sunday, December 9
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
WHERE: Potomac Mills (Fashion Court – Neighborhood 1)
2700 Potomac Mills Circle
Woodbridge, VA 22192

COST: Visits with Santa are free; photo packages will be available for purchase
FOR MORE
INFO: Call Guest Services at (703) 496-9330, visit www.potomacmills.com or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacMills.
 


Welcome to Prince William County! The Cheesecake Factory!

I want to have an entire series of posts called "The Classy-fication of Hoodbridge" but I know you guys very seldom enjoy my humor about that, so I'm going to refrain....aside from just writing it here....so yeah.
Anyway, The Cheesecake Factory with their MASSIVE menu and MASSIVE portions and Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake that you can only eat one bite of because the entire piece is like a series of mashed-together truffle-y goodness has come to Prince William County!  You'll find them located at Potomac Mills Mall outlying by the AMC Theatres side.
The restaurant is having its grand opening on Sunday, November 11th, but they had invited me out to see what the restaurant is all about.  I was so excited!

And then I woke up sick.

So. Not. Cool.
Rather than start a health crisis, I found some back-up reviewers to go for me.  Amanda Long from Prince William County Children's Choir and Jennifer Clifton from Pillar Church in Dumfries were able to go for me and get the scoop.
And by scoop, I mean tasty tasty preview meal. Wrote Amanda:
"We had a lovely time.  The food was extraordinary!"
That about sums it up.  Cheesecake Factory- Lovely Time, Extraordinary Food.  If you're planning to go, do plan to wait for a table, especially if you're bringing a larger party.
 Also to note, The Cheesecake Factory makes meals that are ideal for sharing, even the salads.  Cheesecake travels home very well (because I've never been and had room for desert even though I always split my meal and never even finish half of it!), just ask your server for your cake to-go! While you're at it, they also offer their sauces in Mason Jars to-go, so you can cook up your favorites at home! There's also a new "lighter" menu available with portions listed by number of calories, if you're trying to be good!

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

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

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

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

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

11/8/12

Old Navy Stonebridge at Potomac

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.