5/27/15

Showcase Dance Summer 2015

Remember what a great time the kids had at our Showcase Dance Reader Meetup? Yeah, me too. So, what place could be more perfect for a little summer fun? Nowhere :) Check out the lists above for all the fun summer options at Showcase Dance Studio in Manassas!

Guest Post Review: Geek Fuel

Hi everyone! This week we are reviewing two boxes for you to check out. Both of these are geared more toward tweens and teens. We have Geek Fuel up first and then we will have iBBeautiful. We hope that between these two subs we have your tween/teen boys and girls covered. Up first - Geek Fuel!

Geek Fuel is a geek and gamer box that is relatively new that is geared toward 9-14 year olds. Their first box came out in December and they've become very popular, very quickly.

Cost
A monthly sub is $17.90, $16.90 per month for a 3 month subscription, $15.90 per month for a 6 month subscription and $13.90 per month for a yearly subscription.

Shipping
Geek Fuel ships to the US ($6.00 shipping fee), Canada, and other countries.

What do you get?
Every box will have a t-shirt, toy/collectible, game download and more. Geek Fuel kindly sent us this box for review purposes.

A t-shirt is included in every box. This is a very high quality t-shirt. It appears to be an exclusive for Geek Fuel and is a fun print. This shirt is a mash-up of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Avengers which has the turtles as Iron Man, Hawk, Thor and Captain America while April is Black Widow.

There were some Jelly Belly beans and two boxes of candy sticks included. We're not sure if there is candy in every box, but a treat is always a welcome addition! The jelly beans were delicious and the candy sticks remind us of the candy cigarettes we used to have when we were younger (which would be *SOOOO* not politically correct these days, so now we have "sticks"). The Scribblenauts Unmasked Mystery Box character is adorable and we received Green Arrow who is a super hot hero right now. He is listed as ?/18 so he may be a rare one!

Breakstuff Club Coffee Mug - This is a very nice quality mug and we've run it through our dishwasher several times and there is no color or graphic loss. This also appears to be exclusive to Geek Fuel and is great for younger or older fans (remember Breakfast Club parents?) Avengers characters are represented by school lockers and the mash-up includes Loki (as the Princess), Incredible Hulk (as the Basket Case), Iron Man (as the Brain), Captain American (as the Athlete) and Spiderman (as the Criminal).

Also included: a Kingdom Wars Battles downloadable game code and sticker sheet. The game download is worth $20. Very cool that a game download is included in every box - this pays for the price of the box in itself. No other gamer boxes do this that we're aware of.

The Geek Guide is included in every box and tells about the curation of the box. Plus you get a retro video game magazine which has great articles for geeks and gamers alike.

BOTTOM LINE: There are so many exclusive and neat items in the Geek Fuel subscription. We love that there is a t-shirt and downloadable game code in every box - those two items push the value for each box well beyond twice what you pay for it. The collectible figure is super cool! There is great value for your money here if you have a tween/teen who is into gamer/geek items! Or maybe even a grown-up who is :)

Author Bio: Rhubarb has lived in Prince William County for almost 16 years and is the mom to three wonderful young men. She is a sometime author and is active in her church. To relax she enjoys finding seashells on the beach and snorkeling for them in the ocean. Her new website and blog Rhubarb&Blackberry: Musings of a Landlocked Mermaid is a work in progress and is more fun than she could have imagined. Her current obsession is subscription boxes (beauty, food, home & lifestyle) and she hopes to launch her own branded items sometime this year.

5/26/15

Newsies at the National!

I am so excited that Newsies is coming to the National Theatre in DC! (June 9-21!)

This could be because when I was in High School, Newsies indicated that we had a substitute teacher in Choir, and I was going to be able to start on my 4-6 hours of homework a little early.

It could also be because now is the time to seize the day. Your choice.

They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines…Direct from Broadway comes NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd-pleasing new musical from Disney. Winner of the 2012 Tony Awards® for Best Score and Best Choreography, NEWSIES has audiences and critics alike calling it “A MUSICAL WORTH SINGING ABOUT!” (The New York Times). Filled with one heart-pounding number after another, it’s a high-energy explosion of song and dance you just don’t want to miss.

Based on true events, NEWSIES tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It’s a rousing tale about fighting for what’s right…and staying true to who you are.

NEWSIES was brought to the stage by an award-winning creative team. It features a score by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Jack Feldman (The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride) and a book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), with choreography by Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific) and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Big River).

Whether you think it's a Fine Life, or you'd like to be King of New York- Newsies is a great musical with a fantastic message!

Want to go? I've got a pair of tickets to give away to the June 10th show! Visit my facebook page for details on how to win!

_____________________________
As with all of our giveaways, prize is provided by the sponsoring organization, and our giveaway rules apply.

5/25/15

Stonebridge Kids Series 2015

Stonebridge Potomac Town Center

14900 Potomac Town Pl, Woodbridge, VA 22191

CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday Morning at 10 am for Free Children’s entertainment under the big screen from June 3rd through September 23rd Schedule:

June 3rd             Mr. Knick Knack
June 10th           Tony M
June 17th            Kid Singer Jim
June 24th           Rocknoceros
July 1st                Mr. Knick Knack
July 8th               The Bubbas
July 15th              Kid Singer Jim
July 22nd            Rocknoceros
July 29th             Tony M
August 5th          Mr. Knick Knack
August 12th        Tony M
August 19th        Kid Singer Jim
August 26th        Rocknoceros
September 2nd   Mr. Knick Knack
September 9th    Tony M
September 16th   Kid Singer Jim
September 23rd Rocknoceros

5/23/15

Stage Door Dance Studio Summer Diva Camp!

Dates/times: July 6-10, 9am-12pm
City: Manassas
Cost: $150/week
Ages: 4 to 12
Website: http://stagedoordancestudio.com
Two sentence description: Enjoy classes in jazz, hip hop, cheer, modeling, ballet and more with this fun, active camp!

5/21/15

Conversations off the Couch: June 6th Winery at La Grange

Group Therapy Associates is offering a "Conversations off the Couch" program at the Winery at La Grange- which sounds pretty fantastic to me!

The couples class will feature the topic of communication with local experts facilitating, ready to answer your questions and give advice, in a social setting rather than a clinic, while enjoying the company of great people who share your interests and struggles!

Tickets for two people are $165 total, which includes a catered lunch, wine and sangria tastings, a signed book, an expert panel discussion, and an open Q&A. If you're going to go out, you may as well help your relationship while you're having fun!!

Click HERE to register! But hurry! Tickets are only available until MAY 26th!!

Win Some Great Stuff!

The Christ Chapel Academy Spring 2015 Silent Auction is now open for bids! The auction ends May 25th, 2015. All proceeds will go towards expanding Christ Chapel Academy's Fine Arts Department. We have hand selected baskets, bundles, and items that will provide the winners with priceless experiences and unforgettable memories. So, tell your friends, family, and community!

Items of note:

Laser Quest Birthday Party: Bid here- https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/item.action?id=241074102

5-week session & registration at Youth Sports Gymnastics: Bid here- https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/item.action?id=241571659

-Escape Salon and Day Spa Gift Card: Bid here- https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/item.action?id=241166495

5/20/15

Leesylvania Canoe Tours 2015

Throughout the spring and summer, Leesylvania Sate Park will be offering Canoe Tours. Tours are $9 per person, or $6 if you reserve a group of 4 or more. YOU MUST REGISTER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE by calling 703-583-6904.

5/19/15

Stonebridge Summer Movies 2015

Potomac Town Center- 14900 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge, Virginia 22191. Bring a chair or something to sit on and enjoy a movie on the Jumbotron starting at 7pm.
May 23- Rocky
May 30- Hook
June 6- Sleeping Beauty
June 13- Space Jam
June 20- Dolphin Tale 2
June 27- Maleficent
July 4- Independence Day
July 11- American Tail
July 18- Million Dollar Arm
July 25- Happy Feet
August 1- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
August 8- Annie (1982) and Annie (2014)
August 22- Big Hero 6
August 29- When the Game Stands Tall
September 5- Captain America The Winter Soldier

5/14/15

2015 Potomac Nationals Home Games

I tried to match up the promos I thought you guys would be interested in with the Potomac Nationals Home Games. There's a few promotions every night, but some of them (i.e. Beer Tasting Night) aren't kid-centric so I skipped those :) Fireworks nights are hilighted in yellow, and the ever-popular $1 Monday is in aqua. As always, BUY YOUR FOURTH OF JULY TICKETS EARLY!! That sucker sells out every year!

I would WAY prefer to go to a P-Nats game than a Nats game. I know that's sacrelige to some of you, but I hate parking in DC, I hate the enormous stadium where you are so far removed from the action, and I hate baseball. There, I said it.

And yes, I know, hate is a strong word.

If I'm going to watch baseball, I'd rather be close in, not packed in (although on 4th of July it's cozy) and not pay some sketchy guy $50 when he's probably going to scratch up my car to park it.

May 19^th 7:05pm vs. Carolina

May 20^th 7:05pm vs. Carolina

May 21^st 7:05pm vs. Carolina

May 27^th 5:05pm vs Wilmington DOUBLE HEADER

May 28^th 7:05pm vs Wilmington

May 29^th7:05pm vs Wilmington

May 30^th 6:35pm vs. Myrtle Beach FIREWORKS

May 31^st 1:05pm vs. Myrtle Beach

June 1^st 7:05pm vs. Myrtle Beach $1 MONDAY

June 2^nd 7:05pm vs. Myrtle Beach

June 12^th 7:05pm vs Frederick KIDS RUN THE BASES/SCOUT NIGHT

June 13^th 6:35pm vs. Frederick FIREWORKS/GIRL SCOUT NIGHT/BASES

June 14^th 1:05pm vs. Frederick KIDS RUN BASES

June 18^th 7:05pm vs Carolina

June 19^th 7:05pm vs Carolina KIDS RUN THE BASES

June 20^th 6:35pm vs. Carolina FIREWORKS KIDS RUN THE BASES

June 21^st 1:05pm vs. Carolina KIDS RUN THE BASES

June 28^th 6:05pm vs Carolina FIREWORKS

June 29^th 7:05pm vs Carolina DOLLAR MONDAY

June 30^th 7:05pm vs. Carolina

July 4^th 6:35pm vs Wilmington FIREWORKS

July 5^th6:05pm vs Wilmington FIREWORKS

July 6^th 7:05pm vs Wilmington DOLLAR MONDAY

July 7^th 7:05pm vs Lynchburg

July 8^th 7:05pm vs Lynchburg

July 9^th 7:05pm vs Lynchburg SUMMER CAMP DAY

July 15^th 7:05pm vs Myrtle Beach

July 16^th 7:05pm vs Myrtle Beach

July 17t^h 7:05pm vs Myrtle Beach KIDS RUN THE BASES

July 18^th 6:35pm vs Myrtle Beach FIREWORKS/ KIDS RUN THE BASES

July 31st 7:05pm vs Salem KIDS RUN THE BASES

August 1 6:35pm vs Salem FIREWORKS KIDS RUN THE BASES

August 2 6:05pm vs Salem FIREWORKS KIDS RUN THE BASES

August 11 7:05pm vs Winston-Salem

August 12 7:05pm vs Winston-Salem TEACHER APPRECIATION

August 13 12:05pm vs Winston-Salem SUMMER CAMP DAY

August 14 7:05pm vs Wilmington KIDS RUN THE BASES

August 15 6:35pm vs Wilmington MILITARY APPRECIATION/FIREWORKS/KIDS RUN THE BASES

August 16 6:05pm vs Wilmington FIREWORKS/ZIMMERMAN BOBBLEHEAD

August 24^th 7:05pm vs Frederick DOLLAR MONDAY

August 25^th 7:05pm vs Frederick

August 26^th 7:05pm vs Frederick

September 1^st 7:05pm vs. Myrtle Beach

September 2^nd 7:05pm vs. Myrtle Beach

September 3^rd 7:05pm vs. Myrtle Beach

September 4^th 7:05pm vs. Salem KIDS RUN THE BASES

September 5^th 6:35pm vs. Salem RALLY TOWEL/FIREWORKS/KIDS RUN BASES

September 6^th 6:05pm vs. Salem RALLY TOWEL/FIREWORKS/KIDS RUN BASES

September 7^th 7:05pm vs. Salem RALLY TOWEL/DOLLAR MONDAY

5/13/15

Guest Review: Crafter's Crate

Crafter's Crate Review

Today's review is about Crafter's Crate. They were founded by a husband and wife to get kids excited about reading and to grow & nurture their imaginations. Originally made just for girls, the team found that so many brothers were sneaking into their sister's crates that they began making boxes that were more inclusive. Their target age group is 5-10 year olds. Their classic crate is $24/month. However you can save money by signing up for a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription (the yearly subscription brings the rate down to only $17.50 per month). You can also purchase a "Sibling Crate" which will provide twice the activities & crafts and is an additional $9.95 per month.

Crafter's Crate is offering PWC Mom and RhubarbandBlackberry readers a special discount. Just use promo code PWC10 to get $10 off your first box!

Crafter's Crate has kindly sent us this box free of charge for review purposes.

Your first box will include a map that you can put monthly stickers on for your current crafting adventure. This month a drink single was also included!

The team writes a new activity and adventure book every month. This month's theme was "The Great Safari Race".

Inside the activity book are games and puzzles to do. The Craft-A-Long book includes a theme-related story with instructions on how to do your crafts for the month. I'm going to post two photos for each craft. One showing the items as they arrive and the second showing all of the parts laid out.

The first craft for this month is to make a pair of elephant ears that you can wear. Everything you need is included in your box.

The next activity is to make a pair of safari binoculars.

This month there is a game! It's called "Distract the Crocodiles" and looks adorable and fun to make & play.

The last craft is a Spiderweb Kindness card. After your children have made it, they are supposed to put it somewhere prominent to remind them to always do random acts of kindness.

I think this is a really cute subscription box. With a yearly subscription bringing the cost down to $17.50 per month, I think it's a great value, too. There are so many things to do with just the one month, I feel it will keep children entertained for more than just a few hours. And with the game, you can play that over and over again. Both boys and girls would enjoy it as well.

5/7/15

Homeschoolers: Free Social Skills Intro Session at In Step

Homeschoolers: Free Social Skills Intro Session at In Step

In Step is now offering Stepping Stones™ Social Skills training groups for our homeschool families…during the day! Work with like-minded families at a time that is convenient to your schedule, and without the stress of rush hour.

We know you have questions and so we’re holding a free information session and introductory group for kids and parents on May 16th at 11:30am in our Fairfax office.

Cathi Cohen LCSW, CGP, director of In Step and author of Raise Your Child’s Social IQ, will talk with the parents about the types of kids we see, the structure and treatment approaches employed in the group, and the kinds of results you can expect with practice and participation.

While the parents are in their group, the children will also be in a group with Carrie Field, LCSW, RPT and CC White LPC, two of our experienced, licensed child leaders introducing them to the basics of joining in. Just like Stepping Stones, both parents and kids meet at the same time, in separate groups.At the end of the session, our child leaders will come into the parent group to offer feedback and give parents some practical tools to work on at home.

This session is free and space is limited. Please click here to sign up.

5/6/15

Review/Giveaway: Surprise Ride

We have a guest poster who's going to be doing some special reviews of subscription boxes for kids/moms for us! Check out her first review of Surprise Ride:

Added bonus! Ms. Rhubarb has secured a giveaway for you guys! To win your own Surprise Ride box, enter using the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio: Rhubarb has lived in Prince William County for almost 16 years and is the mom to three wonderful young men. She is a sometime author and is active in her church. To relax she enjoys finding seashells on the beach and snorkeling for them in the ocean. Her new website and blog Rhubarb&Blackberry: Musings of a Landlocked Mermaid is a work in progress and is more fun than she could have imagined. Her current obsession is subscription boxes (beauty, food, home & lifestyle) and she hopes to launch her own branded items sometime this year.

As always, our giveaway rules apply.

5/3/15

Leesylvania State Park 2015 Event Calendar

Leesylvania State Park always has a series of fun events for summer!! Join them outside for some great fun in the sun! Whether it's Naitonal Kids to Park Day or Music at the Marina, it'll be a fun (and low-cost!) time!

5/2/15

Summer Camps at Engineering For Kids

Engineering for Kids Summer Camps

Summer Camps in Eastern Prince William County

S.T.E.M. Discovery Center

12436 Dillingham Square

Woodbridge, VA 22192

Pricing: $165- Half Day
$300- Full Day
$100- After Camp Discovery (3-5pm)

Junior Engineer Camps (ages 4 - 6)
June 22 - 26; Kelvin's Kitchen, 10am - Noon.
June 29 - July 3; Space Pioneers, 10am - Noon.
July 6 - 10; Camp Kelvin, 10am - Noon.
July 13 - 17; Engineers: Under Construction, 10am - Noon.
July 20 - 24; Medieval Defense, 10am - Noon.
July 27 - 31; Inventor's Workshop, 10am - Noon.
August 3 - 7; Wings, Wheels & Sails, 10am - Noon.
August 10 - 14; Power & Energy, 10am - Noon.
August 17 - 21; Pirate Academy, 10am - Noon.
August 24 - 28; Medieval Defense, 10am - Noon.
August 31 - September 4; Space Pioneers, 10am - Noon.

Apprentice/Master Engineers (ages 7 - 14)
June 22 - 26; Wreck it Week, 8:30am - 11:30am.
June 22 - 26; Minecraft: Traveling into the Future, Noon - 3:00pm.
June 29 - July 3; Robotics: Envirobots, 8:30am - 11:30am.
June 29 - July 3; Food Factory, Noon - 3:00pm.
July 6 - 10; Momentum Madness, 8:30am - 11:30am.
July 6 - 10; Kodu Kart Racing, Noon - 3:00pm.
July 13 - 17; Minecraft: Traveling into the Future, 8:30am - 11:30am.
July 13 - 17; Building Cities, Noon - 3:00pm.
July 20 - 24; Hero's Week, 8:30am - 11:30am.
July 20 - 24; Robotics: Rescue Robots, Noon - 3:00pm.
July 27 - 31; Out of this World, 8:30am - 11:30am.
July 27 - 31; Robotics: Mission to Mars, Noon - 3:00pm.
August 3 - 7; Electronic Game Design: Platform Games, 8:30am - 11:30am.
August 3 - 7; Survivor Engineer's Cove, Noon - 3:00pm.
August 10 - 14; Medieval Mayhem, 8:30am - 11:30am.
August 10 - 14; Electronic Game Design: Tower Defense, Noon - 3:00pm.
August 17 - 21; Amazing Race, 8:30am - 11:30am.
August 17 - 21; Electronic Game Design, Noon - 3:00pm.
August 24 - 28; Design the Future, 8:30am - 11:30am.
August 24 - 28; Minecraft: Traveling into the Future, Noon - 3:00pm.
August 31 - September 4; Engineer Investigators, 8:30am - 11:30am.
August 31 - September 4; Robotics: Robot Surgeons, Noon - 3:00pm.

5/1/15

21st Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival 2015

June 6, 2015

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MANASSAS

COST:

Free to attend

Experience Manassas at its best this June and come out to the 21st Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival. This family celebration of rich railroad history features train memorabilia, specialty vendors, and live performances.

Country and Blue Grass music will transport you, as you watch miniature trains come to life. These elaborate train displays are created by a number of local model train groups. Located under the Harris Pavilion, these displays are a must see.

Take your love of trains to a new level by boarding one of our four train excursions to Clifton and back. Times include: 10AM/11AM/12PM/1PM Tickets will be on sale starting May 1st. Visit HERE for additional info and pricing!!