Fall Special Events

All October Long- Occoquan Ghost Tours, each Friday and Saturday evening.

September 23

*Fredericksburg Oktoberfest 4pm-10pm.  Free admission, beer and brat specials, oompah band, free fall crafts for the kids

*Living History at the Weems Botts Museum

September 24

*PWC FARM TOUR!!! A pick-the-farm-you-want self-driving tour.  Really fun.  Go see the alpacas! They meep like roadrunner!!
*11a-4p Rippon Lodge Fall Festival- first 400 people free, after that $5 per person.  Moon bounce, historical activities,  music, crafts, games, and more.  Children 6 and under are free.

*Fredericksburg Oktoberfest 8am-11pm Free admission, beer and brat specials, oompah band, free fall crafts for the kids

*Fredericksburg Welsh Festival 12pm-5pm Welsh and Celtic music, crafts and vendors, activities for the children, and a museum open house.  Suggested donation, $5/adults and $1/children

*Living History at the Weems Botts Museum

*Opening Weekend at Cox Farms.  Runs through Halloween. Between $8-$15 per person (weekday/weekend).  Slides, hay rides, pumpkin picking, food concessions, entertainment.

*Occoquan Arts and Crafts Festival

*Marine Corps Museum's Robotics Day- learn about robotics in children's play and military use.

*Fredericksburg BBQ Festival- best teams from the region compete for a $2,000 prize. Children's events including a Home Depot build, barrel train, face painting and a kids' tractor pull

*Curator's Chat- Uniforms and Heraldry.  Learn about Marine Corps uniforms and coats of arms. 1-2pm

*Dulles Family Day and Plane Pull- 11am-4pm and free admission. A must-do for your plane lover!

*Warrenton Heritage Days- parade, living history, children's corner

*The Glen Shopping Center (Woodbridge, corner of PW Parkway and Old Bridge Roads) 12-2 free horsedrawn hay rides and fall crafts.

*Buy one get one free admission at Ticonderoga Farms

September 25

*Occoquan Arts and Crafts Festival
*PWC FARM TOUR!!! A pick-the-farm-you-want self-driving tour.  Really fun.  Go see the alpacas! They meep like roadrunner!!

*Warrenton Heritage Days- train display

*Buy one get one free admission at Ticonderoga Farms

*Lutheran Church of the Covenant Community Block Party, 2p-5p

October 1

*Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Musical- Hylton Performing Arts Center, various times.

*Food For Winter at the Ben Lomond Historic Site- make cheese, butter, ham and more with the period actors at the historic site.  $10 admission, under 6 free.

*Fredericksburg- Belvedere Plantation's opening weekend.  The plantation will be open through Halloween.   $11-16 depending on price.  Military discount available.

*Fall For Fairfax KidsFest, 9a-6p, free admission, free entertainment, free petting zoo and other activities as well as some pay activities such as pumpkin painting.

*Manassas Fall Jubilee, 10a-5p

*10am-5pm, Youth for Tomorrow's Country Fair in Bristow.

October 2

*Food For Winter at the Ben Lomond Historic Site- make cheese, butter, ham and more with the period actors at the historic site.  $10 admission, under 6 free.

October 7

*All Saints Dale City Community Celebration at their new space featuring family fun and entertainment

October 8

*Family Day at the Marine Corps Museum- Model Trains

*Haymarket "Pumpkin Pandimonium" at Camp Snyder around 10 tons of pumpkins of all sizes available for purchase. Entry Fee is $40 per car.  The Entry Fee includes all rides (for all ages)  pony rides, slides, rock climbing wall, hayrides, and entertainment (Cloggers and Theatre). In addition to pumpkins there will be a variety of food (BBQ, Ice Cream, etc.) for sale.

*Fauquier County Farm Tour- 11am-5pm

*FestiFALL at Occoquan Bible Church

*All Saints Dale City Community Celebration at their new space featuring family fun and entertainment

October 9

*Family Day at the Marine Corps Museum- Model Trains

October 15

*Fairfax Kidtoberfest.  12-3.  Free pumpkin painting, moonbounce, petting zoo and more.

October 16

*10am-1pm Fall Festival at Vineyard Church

October 21

*Brentsville Courthouse Ghost Tours, 7pm-12am

*Haymarket- Benefit Concert Sponsored by Bristow Montessori "Fall 4 One Voice".  $15 per car.  Music, hayrides, facepainting and more!

*Boo at the Zoo

October 22

*Dumfries Fall Festival. Free.  Arts, crafts, talent competition and more.

*Brentsville Courthouse Ghost Tours, 7pm-12am

*Rippon Lodge Ghost Tours "Here Lieth the Body", 11am-4pm

*Fall Harvest Days at Mount Vernon

*Boo at the Zoo 

*Kidtoberfest at Virginia Gateway Center in Gainesville- 12pm-3pm

October 23

*Rippon Lodge Ghost Tours "Here Lieth the Body", 11am-4pm

*Fall Harvest Days at Mount Vernon

*Boo at the Zoo 

October 27

*Fall Harvest Days at Mount Vernon

October 28

*Fall Harvest Days at Mount Vernon

*Brentsville Courthouse Ghost Tours, 7pm-9:30pm

October 29

*Rippon Lodge Ghost Tours "Here Lieth the Body", 11am-4pm

*Brentsville Courthouse Ghost Tours, 7pm-9:30pm

October 30

*Rippon Lodge Ghost Tours "Here Lieth the Body", 11am-4pm

October 31

*5p-8p Mall-O-Ween- Potomac Mills (check in at the food court).  Kidgits Members get free face painting and a free treat.  Face painting for non-kidgits is $5

*6:30-8:30pm Trunk or Treat at First Baptist Church of Woodbridge.  Always a great time with crafts, games, candy, food, and moonbounces!

*TBA Harvest Festival at Christ Chapel, Woodbridge

Giveaway: The Frosted Butterfly

Dear Winner of this Week's Giveaway,

Can I come to your house for snack time? Please? I will bring coffee. Also, pick chocolate. 

Love,

Kristina

This week's giveaway is a choice of either a dozen cupcakes or a $25 gift card towards a custom cake purchase from "The Frosted Butterfly", which is run by Air Force wife Jene.  Jene is also a regional coordinator for Icing Smiles, which I've never heard of before working with The Frosted Butterfly, but it involves her creating beautiful custom cakes for children afflicted with serious illnesses.  What an awesome idea! 

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to taste Jene's cakes, yet, because she's new to our area (and, I am on a diet).  However, they look very cute and I've got the word from a few previous customers that they taste good, too! (If you win, plan to let us know your opinion!!)  

This was the best cake ever... My daughter loved the cake. Everything was edible and the taste was incredible.... Will use again and again. I highly recomend to everyone...what a talented woman!! "  Marcie V.

"Perfection! :) And delicious!"  Teri J.

To win your own tasty cake, head over to The Frosted Butterfly's Facebook page and then let me know what your favorite cake is so far! You can leave your comment here OR on the facebook page under the picture- just tag @PWC Moms if you comment on the picture so I make sure I find all of the comments!! Thanks to the Frosted Butterfly for hosting this week's giveaway!!

(Facebook is not affiliated with this contest, nor is "liking" a condition of winning).

Edited to add a mom review!! February 10, 2012:

I decided to try The Frosted Butterfly when I needed a cake for my sons 8th birthday party.  I heard about The Frosted Butterfly through PWC Moms on Facebook. So I decided to try them out. My criteria was the following: a Tae Kwon Do cake to feed about 40 people and to be peanut free because my son is allergic.  We had gone back and fourth through emails to discuss options and ideas. Until the day of my sons party, I really didn't know what to
expect. Well let me just say, jaws dropped. The cake came out fabulous!  It was better than I ever could've
imagined and tasted so good. I had assumed that the fondant would be more for decoration purposes, well boy was I wrong. It was made with marshmallow and tasted delicious. My son was really excited when he saw the cake and thought it was super cool. The price was very reasonable and the cake was even delivered to the birthday party location. We will definitely be ordering from The Frosted Butterfly again!  -PwcMom Rebecca

PotomacLocal.com Cross Post: Comedian Sunday

http://potomaclocal.com/2011/09/16/spirit-and-life-puts-comedian-in-the-pulpit/

By Kristina Schnack Kotlus

(Share your own church news by emailing PotomacLocal.com)

Move over pastor, the comedian is coming to the pulpit.

“Of course God has a sense of humor” quipped Pastor Matt Meisenhelter, “just look at me.” Standing as tall and broad as any NFL linebacker, but with a face more like a teddy bear, Meisenhelter is the leader of the new Spirit and Life Church in Montclair, which currently meets at Forest Park High School. This Sunday, however, “Pastor Matt” will be stepping down and letting Comedian Ron McGehee take the mic. McGehee was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and has also appeared on Comedy Central and written for Jimmy Kimmel, but his humor on Sunday will have a decidedly Christian twist.

Meisenhelter said the idea came from the church’s mission of reaching people who may be disillusioned with faith. “Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results is the definition of insanity…we’re not afraid to try things differently in hopes of some positive results for God.”

The event is free and open to the public this Sunday at 10 a.m. at Forest Park High School, 15721 Forest Park Drive, in Woodbridge. Children will have the option to enjoy a Christian Illusionist during the program and afterward, at 11 a.m., there will be a moonbounce and other children’s activities available.

Meisenhelter says there’s no need to know anything about church or to get all fancy. “Come as you are, I’ll be in jeans- just come dressed, please”, he joked.

Fairfax Symphony Children's Program

Dear Students & Families, Teachers, and Administrators,

Please share this information with your community.  The Fairfax Symphony invites students to join its Student Passport Club for its 2011-2012 season.  Participants receive a passport that is stamped every time they attend an FSO activity – don’t miss our upcoming events this week!

September 17, 2011:  Violin Master Class given by Karina Canellakis at 12:30 p.m. at McLean High School:

·         Program Sponsors:  In partnership with the Virginia String Teachers Association (VASTA) and sponsored by Potter Violins

·         Cost:  $5 for VASTA members and students of VASTA members; $10 all others

·         For more information:  Please contact Helen Fall at vaviola@gmail.com or (703) 772-5212

September 17, 2011:  Fairfax Symphony Concert featuring Karina Canellakis at 8:00 p.m. at GMU’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax:

·         Cost:  Student Tickets only $5 – Adult Tickets begin at $25

·         Tickets:  Available in advance through special subscription offer (below) OR beginning at 6:00 p.m. on September 17^th.  Students must be present when purchasing their tickets.

·         Parking:  Free in Lot K; event parking fee in garage

Special 50% discount subscription offer!

Subscribe to our season and save! Get family seats together in our “Grand Tier B” $45 section at the price of $22.50 for adults and $5 for students for our full 6-concert season.  OR, save 25% on a 3-concert package in “Grand Tier B”.

Thank you for your support of the Fairfax Symphony’s concerts and outreach programs in the Northern Virginia area by sharing this information with students and families in your community.

Best regards,

Tara Nadel

Patron Services Manager / Education Director

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

3905 Railroad Avenue, Suite 202N • Fairfax, VA 22030

Office: (703) 563-1990 • Fax: (703) 293-9349

www.fairfaxsymphony.org

Giveaway: Bow Beautiful

It's Monday, Mommas! And that means another great contest! This time, the fabulous Brigitte from Bow Beautiful is offering a bow for some lucky little girl!

Here's what we love about Bow Beautiful- 

1) Mama made! Enough said!

2) Super Cute!

3) Local!

Brigitte has several super cute offerings on her website including hair bows, embellished headbands, zipper pulls, boys' bow ties, croc bows and more! I think you're really going to love her products!

To enter the contest, head over to Bow Beautiful's Facebook page and find the gallery titled "PWC Moms".  From there, leave a note with which bow you'd like to win! Contest ends Tuesday night at midnight!!

Website:  www.BowBeautiful.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BowBeautiful if you like this page, you’ll get information on free giveaways and special deals.

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/BowBeautifulShop

Happy Back to School from Melissa Robey!

Edit: Congratulations! Our random winner is: 

"Tracey Spencer said...Limeade, style #42"

What's better than getting together with a bunch of girlfriends?  Getting together with a bunch of girlfriends and shopping!  If you think you don't have the time or can't afford it, think again!  If you host a qualifying catalog or home show you get $180 in FREE products, 2 half price items and 2 hostess exclusives!  And that is the LOWEST benefit!  It only goes up from there!  You can get your early holiday shopping done, back to school organization on track, or a new purse for mom to keep her in style!!  Contact me today for a catalog and get your shop on!!!  

(The September CUSTOMER special is 50% off a celebrate card set, zipper pouch or select wallets!)

my contact info:  
Melissa Robey, YOUR Thirty-One Consultant, (phone) 703-966-2759 (email) teamrobey@gmail.com (browse catalog or order online)www.mythirtyone.com/melissarobey)

"Also, for all of you SAHM's out there, ask me about doing what I do and reaping the benefits of becoming a Thirty-One Consultant for $99 bucks!"


_____________________
Thanks Melissa! 
Would you all like to win a freebie? I know you would, it's a silly question! Melissa would like to wish all of you happy back to school and one of you in particular! Check out Melissa's website and leave a comment here with what color and font you want your bag embroidered for a chance to win a super cute thermal tote, pictured below! Thanks Melissa!!