Previous St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans I Have Had

This year I've been a little preoccupied with Silver Sparkles and I haven't done anything fun, but if you're still looking for some St. Patty's ideas, here's what I've got in the "blast from the past" department.

1) Leprechaun Room Raid (2012)
"We're neither Irish, nor Catholic, but Logan's favorite color is green and Riley spent all his free time building "Leprechaun Traps" after being jealous about the treats and mischief at Savannah's preschool.  I decided (at 12 am, which is when my best inspiration always strikes) that I'd go with it, so, here's what I did.  The leprechaun mischief:  This involved a skein of yarn, some tape, and a package of green balloons.  Luckily the kids are having a "sleepover" together tonight, so I only had to sneak around one room!!  In the kitchen I drew a picture and threw down some glitter.  I have 0 artistic skill, I know, so no laughing at my leprechaun!! Also on the table are goody bags for the kids.  Each kid got a shirt, bracelet, 7 Up, crayons, gum, granola bar, lollipop, and jello.  The boys have flat green shirts and green "lucky" bracelets."

2. Rice Krispies Treats Shamrocks (2010) 

(Did you know that you can dye your rice krispies treats any color you want by adding food coloring to the melted marshmallow goo? You can. You can also cut them and frost them to look like clovers. With decorator sugar. FYI.)

3. Teacher Gifts (2010) 

"These are a little more involved, but we did them over two days. So, here goes. First the supplies. You will need to assemble some glue, glitter, a terra cotta pot, your green scrapbooking paper scraps, scissors, bamboo skewers, a green crayon, tape, floral foam, small brads and ribbon. o, first things first, paint a line of glue around the top edge or rim of your pot and roll it in glitter. We put our floral foam inside first. Also, if you've never tried Martha Stewart's glitter- you totally should. So, next, paint a little glue on your floral foam (or sqeeze it out, whatever floats your boat) and let your baby cut up a ton of ribbon to be grass. We also added some confetti. That's optional :) So now we have a glittery pot of grass! Hooray! Next, cut up your scrap papers into hearts. You'll need 4 as far as I'm concerned, per 4 leaf clover. Savannah preferred 3 and Logan enjoyed 5. But I say 4. Either way, it was a good way to practice counting to whatever number. Line them up in circular formation, and attach them one at a time with the brad. We also had a little circle plastic embellishment that came in our brads. I had run out of green by the time I decided to take this picture, so there's an orange one. True story, the flag of Ireland is Green, Orange, and White. I'm an unintentional GENIUS ;) Fabulous! Now, peel your crayon a little so that you can use it on the side and color the skewers green. I'll wait. Done? Excellent. So, now you'll want to either glue or tape them to the back of your shamrock. I'm not very patient, so we prefer tape. Once you've assembled them, stick them into your floral foam. At the end, we add a square piece of paper to a skewer and write "I'm so lucky you're my teacher" and the child's name. Or, in Savannah's case, Coach, since she has a swim coach, but no teachers yet. :) Although this would be cute for a Sunday School teacher, too, no? People tend to forget them, and they need love, too!"

4. Limericks and Graphing Marshmallow Lucky Charms (2015) 
I should note that as the kids get older (and by kids, I mean "the boys") things get less cute at my house.  This "adorable" Limerick exercise ended up being about a dead guy.  Thank you 5th grade boys.

We also graphed Lucky Charms.  I made them glue them down and told them they couldn't eat them (I had extras as a treat) but the boys ended up licking theirs after they were glued down to show me who's boss.  Thanks, again, Y chromosome! 

Free Composting Event April 30, 2016

Get the Dirt on Compost—the Soil and Water Connection

Free Compost Awareness Event on April 30

Prince William, VA, March 9, 2016  – The Prince William County Solid Waste Division will host its fourth annual Compost Awareness Day Event for area residents on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Prince William County Balls Ford Road Yard Waste Compost Facility, located at 13000 Balls Ford Road, Manassas, VA.  

Event highlights include:

·       Presentations by Lisa Ziegler, Gardener’s Workshop Farm, “From the Ground Up, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

·       Container gardening demo by Virginia Cooperative Extension Prince William Master Gardener, Amanda Caswell 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

·       Composting exhibits and environmental information

·       Compost and Compost bin sales

·       Plant sales-local schools

·       Door prizes

The event promotes backyard composting, which is recycling of leaves, grass and garden waste instead of sending this organic material to the County landfill for disposal. In addition to learning how to compost, residents can also find out how compost helps build healthy soil and enrich degraded soil in yards and gardens. As well as discover the positive effects it has on the environment. For example, it reduces or eliminates the need for fertilizers, which can be harmful to ground water and composting also saves landfill space. Yard waste is more than 13% of the waste stream in Prince William County, so composting is an important component of the County’s waste management strategy.

Event attendees can also save money.  Coupons good for $5 off the cost of a pick-up load of compost or mulch will be available. Compost bins will also be available for sale for $25/each (limit three per household while supplies last).

Prince William Compost Awareness Day supports International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry.  ICAW supports composting efforts in the back yard or at large scale commercial composting facilities, like the County’s Balls Ford Road site. This year’s theme is Compost—the Soil and Water Connection. ICAW is held annually the first full week of May. The International Compost Awareness Committee chose this year’s theme to bring attention to the role of compost in healthy soil to address growing drought and food insecurity issues across the world.

The basic goals of Compost Awareness Week:

·       To increase the diversion of organics from the main waste stream through increasing

awareness of, and participation in organics diversion initiatives (centralized composting, home composting, community composting) and;

·       To increase awareness of, and advocate the proper use of, ‘soil-improving composts’

Visit www.pwcgov.org/trashandrecycling for more information.

Lucky Leprechaun 5k

(Recap: My 2016 New Years Resolution was to run a 5k every month.  You can read more about that resonation and the races I selected here. Want to go with me? It's not about the time, it's just about finishing, so if you want to try a 5k but need a cheerleader, join me- I'll be happy to cheer you on!)

This past weekend, I ran the PR Race Series Lucky Leprechaun 5k at Reston Town Center. This is a really great race for those of you who haven't done a 5k before.  It's mostly flat, it's well marked, and it's mostly flat.

I'm sorry, did I repeat myself? My bad.  I just hate hills.

 Because my middle son had a hockey tournament in Ashbury the same day as the race, my sweet hubby drove up with me so we'd only have one car instead of two.  He was massively bummed that we couldn't stay for the after-party, which was, of course, at a bar.  It was a St. Patrick's Day race, after all!

  I got new headphones for my birthday, and I love them. This is me putting them in, because my husband takes awesome pictures :-/

I also got this new matching purple outfit from my son, which I tossed my really nice race shirt over.  You can't see from the picture, but it's a "technical" shirt, so the fabric feels amazing.  

What's wrong with all this fab new racing stuff is that it's not green.  And man, did people get into this race and the St. Patrick's Day Spirit!! Next year I'll definitely go a little harder in the costume department. I am seriously lacking in tutu ownership, so I'm going to have to watch for a sale.  Side Note: Does anyone know where you buy adult sized tutus? Or maybe you make your own? IDK. 

Also, the kilts.  For the win.

There were a good couple hundred (maybe even a thousand?) of my closest running buddies at the race, so plan to be with a crowd.  Again, the beginning is very flat, the only real "hill" and I use the term loosely, is a slow grade the last mile.  It's nothing you can't handle, even if you don't like hills, evidence: I finished in less time than my last 5K! Whoohoo!

There was also a short kids run at 9:30, which we didn't get to do because, again, hockey.  However, I did get a giant green bagel that I could only eat half of, and it sounded like the after party was going to be a good time.  I did not require the services of a porta potty, but there were plenty of them for those who did.

The only downside to this race was for drivers who didn't notice the ample signage that the roads out of the town center were going to be closed for the race.  There was one woman who had gotten out of her car to scream at a police officer directing traffic (who was not in the least concerned) because the race was blocking her getting out to wherever she was going.

The irony was that she was wearing a shirt that said "Run", so she's probably blocked some traffic herself.

And honestly, exiting wasn't hard.  There was plenty of free garage parking when we arrived, and since they require you to keep a 20 minute mile pace (which you can walk), by the time I got my snack and we got back to the car, we were able to exit quite easily and get to our first hockey game of the day on time.

Glorious :)

I'd definitely run the Lucky Leprechaun again next year, and next time, I'll definitely wear more green!

Thanks for having me PR Races!!

Guest Post: Beaches Family Resorts

Have you ever thought about taking an all-inclusive family vacation? Two of the most popular family vacation options, a cruise and an all-inclusive resort, have many amenities in common. With an all inclusive resort, active families will be able to pick and choose a variety of activities for just one price.

For over 15 years, Beaches Family Resorts has been named a top destination for families vacationing in the Caribbean. These resorts have been awarded the top spot by Trip Advisor, Parents Magazine and Travel + Leisure for luxury travel.

Kids can have the freedom to enjoy a vacation of their own while the parents relax. You'll find more inclusions than any other all inclusive resort. More choices to enjoy your time together - from every land and water sport under the sun, to anytime gourmet dining at up to 20 specialty restaurants, activities and amenities for all ages, and luxurious family-friendly suites.

There are currently three Beaches Resorts – Negril, Jamaica, Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Islands.  Families of all ages will experience the vacation of their dreams.

BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS

With a 45,000 square foot waterpark, a 12 mile beach and 4 distinct villages – Italian, French, Key West and Caribbean.  Beaches Turks and Caicos is an all-inclusive resort that truly has something for everyone. Teens to toddlers will find something for them here at this magnificent resort.

BEACHES NEGRIL

Leave your worries at the door when you step into Beaches Negril. This all inclusive resort is located on Negril’s famous 7-Mile Beach. This magnificent beach offers turquoise waters, soft sands and breathtaking views. Enjoy everything from a beachfront waterpark to a gourmet meal, it is all here for you at Beaches Negril.

BEACHES OCHO RIOS

Beaches Ocho Rios is the perfect vacation for active families. Whether you want to enjoy the endless ocean activities, from snorkeling and diving to ocean kayaking, or you want to challenge your family to a friendly competition on the links – it is all waiting for you at Beaches Ocho Rios.

From tots to teens, Beaches offers programs for all ages. All nannies and Kids Camp staffers are members of the International Nannies Association. Each nanny must meet the minimum requirement of 2,000 hours of child-care services. Additionally nannies have been trained in safety, nutrition and child development. The first time I left my youngest son in the nursery he was only 8 months old.

You will never be charged extra for the programming. Activities include: Pirate Island Waterpark, Xbox Play Lounge, Kids Scuba Program, Junior Golf Club and Sesame Street meet and greets, stage shows, parades and character meals.

Below is a chart comparing a Disney Cruise with a Beaches Family Resort vacation:

All inclusive vacations offer active families a chance to pick and choose many activities for just one price.

Patricia Mickus lives in Bristow, Virginia with her family. She is a Certified Beaches Specialist and a Co-Owner of Simple Luxuries Travel.  For more tips visit her Facebook Page or blog, Magical Mickey Tips.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus Xtreme

 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME is coming to EAGLE BANK ARENA from APRIL 6 – 17, 2016.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME, features artists who redefine the word extreme in everything they do, magnifying traditional elements of the circus and combining them with never-before-seen spectacles, original fast-paced performances and incredibly hilarious moments. Audiences will be dazzled and astounded by the beautiful Bengal tigers, double-humped dromedaries ridden by brave Mongolian women and, for the last time, the most popular members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey family: the magnificent Asian elephants.

 

Circus XTREME will come to life at two arenas in the Washington, D.C. area. The show will be at Verizon Center from March 31-April 3, and the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va., from April 6-17. Circus XTREME will also perform at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md., from March 16-27.

 

The ultimate family entertainment experience features high-wire wizards, spectacular strongmen, BMX trick riders, trampoline daredevils, inconceivable contortionists, a high-flying human cannonball, a bungee aerial skydiving display and an international assembly of more than 100 world-renowned artists.

 

The party starts an hour before the show with the All Access Pre-show, which is free with your ticket purchase. You and your family can meet performers and get up close to the menagerie of animals. Try on custom costumes,  learn circus skills from the famous Ringling Bros. Clown Alley and even have the opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by one of our very own Ringling Bros. painting pachyderms. Ticketholders can also purchase an upgrade and go backstage with a VIP Behind the Scenes Tour of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

The show is also the last opportunity for local residents to see the treasured Asian elephants before they are moved to their permanent home at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation^® in Florida in May 2016. The elephants’ move to Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation will allow the company to focus on its Asian elephant conservation program and the pediatric cancer research partnership with Dr. Joshua Schiffman of Primary Children’s Hospital and The Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah.

You can only experience extreme thrills, exotic animals and extraordinary performers at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME, get your tickets for the thrilling entertainment experience today! 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. SHOW

The Verizon Center | March 31 – April 3, 2016

                                       

Performance Schedule:

·       Thursday, March 31 | 7:30 pm

·       Friday, April 1 | 10:30 am, 7:30 pm

·       Saturday, April 2 | 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, 7:30 pm

·       Sunday, April 3 | 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, 7:30 pm

 

 

FAIRFAX, VA SHOW

EagleBank Arena | April 6 – April 17, 2016

 

Performance Schedule:

·       Wednesday, April 6 | 7:00 pm

·       Thursday, April 7 | 7:00 pm

·       Friday, April 8 | 7:30 pm

·       Saturday, April 9 | 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, 7:30 pm

·       Sunday, April 10 | 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm

·       Thursday, April 14 | 7:00 pm

·       Friday, April 15 | 10:30 am, 7:30 pm

·       Saturday, April 16 | 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, 7:30 pm

·       Sunday, April 17 | 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm

 

Ticket Information:

 

All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, via www.ticketmaster.com, and the Verizon Center or EagleBank Arena box office. For group rates and information, contact 202-661-5061. For more information, visit Ringling.com.

Prices: $75 Front Row, $55 VIP, $35.00 (Verizon Center only), $30.00, $20.00 & $15.00. Prices subject to market demand and may change. Service charges and additional fees may apply.

Use your SmarTrip Card to save $8 on tickets. Visit the box office and show your SmarTrip card at the venue box office.

Offer expires April 10, 2016. Savings coupon valid for up to six (6) tickets. Prices subject to market demand and may change. Discount applies to originally priced $30.00, $20.00 & $15.00 only. No double discounts. Offer subject to ticket availability. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply. Applies to all performances except Opening Night at each venue.

For the national tour schedule and to find out more about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME, visit Ringling.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube — @RinglingBros.  

Silver Sparkles 2016

Hello! If you're visiting our page from News Channel 8 I just wanted to make sure you had all the Silver Sparkles info you needed right here!

You can purchase Silver Sparkles tickets online by clicking HERE.  Tickets are PER FAMILY. Your entire family just needs ONE ticket!

You can read more about our event this year by clicking here. 

And finally, you can read more about my own adventures in brain tumor land by clicking here. And if you'd like even more of my story, you can comb through my frequently neglected personal blog here. 

If you are struggling with a brain cancer diagnosis, I would be more than happy to pray for you and am always happy to answer emails and phone calls from other patients.  You can contact me fastest through my Facebook page by clicking here.

Thank you for stopping by, and for supporting my event.

Love,
Kristina

PWCS Teacher Wins Milken Educator Award

For Second Year in a Row, Milken Educator Award Goes to

Prince William County Public Schools Teacher

Lauren Anne Wilson Wins Prestigious “Oscar” of Teaching

Manassas, VA (March 3, 2016) — C. D. Hylton High School mathematics teacher Lauren Anne Wilson is the

seventh PWCS educator to win the prestigious Milken Educator Award. The national recognition honors her

exceptional teaching ability, dedication to her students, and leadership in her school and community. At a

schoolwide assembly on March 3 Wilson was surprised when she received the Milken Educator Award and

$25,000 from Milken Family Foundation Co-Founder Michael Milken.

“Ms. Wilson’s talent and determination are delivering great returns for the students and staff at Hylton,” said

Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts. “We are tremendously proud of what

she’s accomplished and that she is now the seventh Prince William County Public Schools teacher to receive the

Milken award. Few other school systems have such an illustrious team.”

“Lauren’s career exemplifies caring, leadership, and initiative,” Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr.

Steven R. Staples said. “She is a continuous learner and motivator, researching and implementing innovative

practices that help students excel while sharing her knowledge, wisdom, and friendship with teachers just

entering the field.”

Lauren Wilson knew from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher and decided to focus on high school math

after discovering her gift for tutoring her peers while in high school. Today she pushes the limit of what her

Advanced Placement Calculus BC, Functions/Analytic Geometry, and Algebra I students believe they can learn,

while instilling the confidence to succeed in and out of the classroom. Her students’ Advanced Placement scores

have remained consistently high, whatever the number of students in her class, with 90 percent or more receiving

qualifying scores of 3 or higher over all the years of her teaching. She is known for her ability to motivate,

inspire, and engage students and colleagues alike. Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the

University of Virginia and a Master of Education from the University of Mary Washington. For the first 12 years

of her career, Lauren coached varsity soccer, varsity volleyball, and JV volleyball.

The prestigious Milken Educator Award was presented to Buckland Mills Elementary School teacher Angie

Michelle Wytovich in the 2014-15 school year