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!!

Review: The Climbing Knights

I’m reviewing The Climbing Knights, one of four of SimplyFun new releases.

We love games in our house! We've got one set up in the dining room right now that took us too long to finish on Monday night, so we "paused" it until we have another free evening.  (Hint: put a quarter under the piece of the player who goes next!) Because of our love of games, I was definitely happy to be asked to review The Climbing Knights game from SimplyFun.

What's especially fun about The Climbing Knights game is that it's 3D.  Rather than being a flat board-style game, this game board goes up! What's really great about this style of game is that it's incredibly engaging.  We set the game up in our family room on the coffee table and forgot to take it down before having a few friends over, and the kids were immediately drawn to the game and wanted to know what it was and how to play.  

Here's the overview:

This game is for ages 8 and up.  It takes about 30 minutes to play and is for 2-4 players (because there's only four knights).  To win, your knight needs to climb the tower twice to retrieve "banners" and then slide back down.  Guards can stop you from reaching the top, so watch out! 

Each color-coded knight is actually a magnetic game piece.  Once you set up the castle game board, you move your magnetic knight up the walls using ledges to avoid the guards (they'll send you back down the board) and rolling 3 dice, one to tell you how many spaces to move the first guard (on the first landing), one to tell you how many spaces to move the second guard (on the second landing) and one to tell you how many spaces to move your own piece.  If you're really lucky, you'll roll that each of the guards has fallen asleep! (They can't get you if they're sleeping on the job.) 

The game isn't hard to assemble- although helpful hint, you'll want to turn the pieces to line up with the slots (it's really obvious if you're not 12 and just trying to jam it together in a hurry!) in the correct way.  It took us all of a minute to assemble the castle.  

Playing this game isn't really all that complicated.  You could actually play with much younger children if you wanted to remove one of the guards.  What makes it complicated is the strategy portion- where can you move so that you don't get sent back down to the bottom.  It's not quite chess-level strategy, but your children will quickly learn to think ahead a few moves and consider where the guards will be if they get the maximum number of moves each turn versus if they're sleeping each turn.  

In addition to the Climbing Knights, SimplyFun has several other games that you and your children might enjoy playing.  These are some of their newest releases! 

We enjoyed this fun, 3D game and both my 8 and 10 year old think your kids will really love it, too! My 12 year old enjoyed playing with his siblings, but he can win the game in about 14 seconds, so we all think it's a little too easy for him.  Check out the full SimplyFun line and plan a family game night today!  I was one of several reviewers for The Climbing Knights, and there were also families that tried out Archery Dice.  Click the link below to see what others thought about these fun, thought-involved games! 

Giveaway! LuLaRoe

So, some of you may have already heard of LuLaRoe Leggings.  I had a few friends that had them- they're recognizable mainly by their super fun (okay, sometimes a little crazy) designs.  I hadn't tried them because leggings aren't usually a go-to for me because I need thicker fabric (okay, because I'm fat).  However, when Cassie asked me to try a pair for a giveaway, I figured I could always wear them around the house.

You guys, these leggings feel like a kitten and the Snuggle fabric softener bear had a magical baby.  I'm not even kidding.  They are like a hug for your legs.

LuLaRoe leggings come in two sizes, "one size" and "tall and curvy".  I'm on the edge of "One Size" so I decided to go with "tall and curvy" and the first thing I did after realizing they were amazing was to put them on my mom.  She's 6'2 and normally things that are "tall" look like she's getting ready to go wade in a creek, if you know what I'm saying.

As you can see- they go all the way to my mom's ankles! Love it! However they knit these, they seem to stretch and conform really easily to any body type, because they fit her 6'2 size 12 body and they fit my 5'7 size 14, and we were both in love with them!

The one unusual thing about LuLaRoe products is how you purchase them.  Unlike most HBB's where you order from a catalog, you'll want to actually meet up with Cassie so you can purchase from a trunk show (or host one yourself).  The patterns change constantly, and each print is a limited edition, so if you want it you need to snap it up!

In addition to their prints, LuLaRoe also carries solids, and I can tell you right now there is nothing I'd rather wear under a dress or a long sweater than magical SnuggleKitten leggings.

(Some of the prints that might be available at a trunk show, or maybe not! I love the blue starburst ones, Cassie was wearing a fun heart print when I met her...there's lots of options and you'll also notice some solids that would go with anything!)

Here's what Cassie had to say:

I host on-line sales so you get to shop from the comfort of your couch. It and my other sales are open only to the members of my Facebook group, or the members of a hostesses party - you're not competing against the entire internet for that perfect look. i can hold the private hostess parties either online or in-home for you and a collection of good friends. As the host, you earn FREE clothes as your party finds outfits that let them show off their sense of comfy-style. My inventory is ALWAYS growing - I'll have over 200 NEW items arriving in the coming days, and over 100 new pairs of leggings!

Want to win a pair of magical Snuggle/Kitten LuLaRoes to wear yourself? Enter using the rafflecopter below to win your choice from Cassie's collection!

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Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of LuLaRoe Leggings in exchange for this review/giveaway.  All opinions are my own.  No Snuggle bears were harmed in the making of this post.  I am not responsible for you deciding you're never going to wear real pants again. Giveaway provided by LuLaRoe Shotzy.  By entering, you agree to be bound by our giveaway rules, found on this site under "Giveaway Rules."

Social Media Awareness

My friend whose son goes to school in another state received this memo and shared it with me to share with you.  I had never heard of a few of these, so I wanted to share with you all. (Source: Fairfield Public Schools)

PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS: WE WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING APPS THAT KIDS MAY BE DOWNLOADING. 

We want you to be aware of the following apps and the cons that go along with them. The following apps might be a simple way for your child to keep in contact with his/her friends; however,even innocent use of most of these apps can land a child in a situation he/she never intended to be in. Here are some potentially dangerous apps that are popular among young people.

1. Tinder: An app that is used for hooking-up and dating. Users can rate profiles and find potential hook-ups via GPS location tracking. 450 million profiles are rated every day! The good news is, this app pulls information from user’s Facebook profiles, so it is more authenticated than other apps.
Problem: It is easy for adults and minors to find one another. Also, due to the rating system, it is often used for cyber-bullying, because a group of kids can target another kid and purposefully make his/her rating go down.

2. Snapchat: This app allows a user to send photos and videos to anyone on his/her friend list. The sender can determine how long the receiver can view the image and then the image “destructs” after the allotted time.
Problem: It is the #1 app used for sexting, mostly because people think it is the safer way to sext. However, the “snaps” can easily be recovered and the receiver can take a screen shot and share it with others. Also, a lot of images from Snapchat get posted to revenge porn sites, called “snap porn.”

3. Blendr: A flirting app used to meet new people through GPS location services. You can send messages, photos, videos, rate the hotness of other users, etc.Problem: There are no authentication requirements, so sexual predators can contact minors, minors can meet up with adults. And again, the sexting.

4. Kik Messenger: An instant messaging app with over 100 million users that allows users to exchange videos, pics and sketches. Users can also send YouTube videos and create memes and digital gifs.
Problem: Kids using the app for sexting and sending nude selfies through the app is common. The term “sext buddy” is being replaced with “Kik buddy.” Kids use Reddit and other forum sites to place classified ads for sex by giving out their Kik usernames. Also, Kik does not offer any parental controls and there is no way of authenticating users, thus making it easy for sexual predators to use the app to interact with minors.

5. Whisper: Whisper is an anonymous confession app. It allows users to superimpose text over a picture in order to share their thoughts and feelings anonymously. However, you post anonymously, but it displays the area you are posting from. You can also search for users posting within a mile from you.
Problem: Due to the anonymity, kids are posting pics of other kids with derogatory text superimposed on the image. Also, users do not have to register to use Whisper and can use the app to communicate with other users nearby through GPS. A quick look at the app and you can see that online relationships are forming through the use of this app, but you never know the person behind the computer or phone. Sexual predators also use the app to locate kids and establish a relationship. One man in Seattle, Wash., was charged with raping a 12-year-old girl he met on this app in 2013.6. Ask.fm: Ask.fm is one of the most popular social networking sites that is almost exclusively used by kids. It is a Q&A site that allows users to ask other users questions while remaining anonymous.

Problem: Kids will often ask repeated derogatory questions that target one person. Due to the anonymity of the badgering, it creates a virtually consequence-free form of cyber-bullying. Ask.fm has been associated with nine documented cases of suicide in the U.S. and the U.K.

7. Yik Yak: An app that allows users to post text-only “Yaks” of up to 200 characters. The messages can be viewed by the 500 Yakkers who are closest to the person who wrote the Yak, as determined by GPS tracking.
Problem: Users are exposed to and are contributing sexually explicit content, derogatory language and personal attacks. Although the posts are anonymous, kids start revealing personal information as they get more comfortable with other users.

8. Poof: This app allows users to make other apps “disappear” on their phone. Kids can hide any app they don’t want you to see by opening the app and selecting other apps.
Problem: It’s obvious, right? Luckily, you can no longer purchase this app. But, if it was downloaded before it became unavailable, your child may still have it. Keep in mind that these types of apps are created and then terminated quickly, but similar ones are continuously being created. Others to look for: Hidden Apps, App Lock and Hide It Pro.

9. Omegle: This app is primarily used for video chatting. When you use Omegle, you do not identify yourself through the service. Instead, chat participants are only identified as “You” and “Stranger.” However, you can connect Omegle to your Facebook account to find chat partners with similar interests. When choosing this feature, an Omegle Facebook App will receive your Facebook “likes” and try to match you with a stranger with similar likes.
Problem: Sexual predators use this app to find kids to collect personal information from in order to track them down more easily in person.10. Down: This app, which used to be called Bang With Friends, is connected to Facebook. Users can categorize their Facebook friends in one of two ways: They can indicate whether or not a friend is someone they’d like to hang with or someone they are “down” to hook-up with.

Problem: Although identifying someone you are willing to hook-up with doesn’t mean you will actually hook-up with them, it creates a hook-up norm within a peer group. Depending on your sexual values, this might be something you don’t want for your child. Also, because of the classification system, a lot of kids will feel left out or unwanted, which can lead to anxiety, etc.

Introducing 100 WWC Gainesville Area Chapter

100 Women Who Care is trying to open a Gainesville Area Chapter.  Read more about this organization and learn how you can get involved below. 
 

It’s a very simple concept: We gather 100 women who care to make a $100 donation during a 1 hour meeting.  

The impact: $10,000 to a local charity, four times a year!  

Formation of a Gainesville chapter of 100 WWC is in the works. Please join us for our first meeting, held in partnership with the NOVA chapter of 100 WWC, on February 4th, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, located at 14200 St. Germain Dr., Centreville, 20121). A good turnout from our area means all future meetings will be held in Gainesville! For more information, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1013008238756383/, or contact Julie Beal at julesnd02@yahoo.com or Hasna Ridwan at hasridwan@yahoo.com.

New Years Resolution 2016

I have given up on being skinny, y'all.  I lack the willpower to live off of caffeine and dreams, and that whole "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" thing? Obviously that person never learned to cook because I can give you a list of things that taste that good. I did 21 Day Fix, which I loved, and I felt really good and I did lose some inches, but I didn't lose a single pound.

Not one.

And that was incredibly hard on me! Don't I just want to be healthy? No- I just want the scale to say that I'm worth living.

So this year, I'm going to work on changing that.  I am not going to define my self-worth with a number on a piece of battery-operated plastic.  Instead, I am going to answer the question about "Just wanting to be healthy" with a yes.  Yes, I just want to be healthy.  So I'm going to run.  Before I got sick I ran the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, and I'd like to get back to that, but I get wicked headaches now from my brain surgery, so I want to set myself up for success and not failure, so my goal is a 5k every month in 2016.  I don't have to get a certain time, I don't have to come in a certain place, I just have to run because I want to be healthy.

(And by "run" I mean "go".  My current "run" pace is some people's "walking" pace. That's fine.)

When I brought this topic up on Facebook, a lot of you expressed similar goals- whether you want to start walking, jogging, try a 5k, or you actually do want to lose some weight or whatever.

(I think you're just fine how you are, btw.  I've never known you any other way than the way you are right now and I accept you just like you are.  In case you don't have anyone else in your life to tell you that, let me be the first.)

However, if you wanna come out and "go" the course with us, I'd love company.  Here's the schedule for 2016, subject to change, especially since the race calendars I'm finding don't necessarily have commitments for farther out in the year:

The Tour de PWCMoms 2016 Race Planner
January: January 17, 2016 Celebrate Community 5k (Alexandria)
February: February 14, 2016 Run Your Heart Out (Fairfax)
March: March 12, 2016 Lucky Leprechaun 5k (Reston)
April: April 10, 2016 Heroes vs. Villains 5k (Fairfax) Family Friendly, kids run, family activities
May: May 1, 2016 Race for Hope DC (DC)
June: June 11, 2016 Twilight Festival (Ashburn) stroller friendly course with food/fun/moonbounces.
July: July 4, 2016 Firecracker 5k (Manassas) 
August: Date TBD Hoping they'll host the Starlight Run again in Triangle.
September: September 10, 2016 The Color Vibe 5k (Manassas)
October: Date TBD, again, hopeful they'll repeat the Columbus Day run at Leesylvania
November: November 24, 2016 Turkey Trot (Manassas)
December: December 31 Festival of Lights 5k (Centreville)

If you're looking for people to run with, a shoutout to Lake Ridge RidgeRunners and Moms Run this Town Manassas/PWC 

Annnnd....I think that's it.  To recap, you rock just the way you are, the goal for me this year is not to think my self-worth is defined by my scale, and we're gonna do some 5ks. Come if you want, I'd love to see you there.

Giveaway: "Playground to Paris" Photography Workshop!

This week's giveaway is an awesome one if you've got aspirations of being a shutter bug!! Check it out, and remember- since spaces are limited, you can go ahead and sign up NOW if you want to ensure that you get a spot, and if you win, your fee will be refunded! 

Maybe it was Christmas morning when you received your first DSLR camera. Or shortly before or after the birth of your first child. You planned to document every milestone with crisp clarity - so perfect that it would appear that you were reliving the moment with each glance of the photograph. You excitedly opened the new box and unloaded a piece of machinery that weighs more than a small child and has more buttons and controls than an airplane cockpit. How in the world will you ever understand how to use this investment? All you wanted were a few good shots of your family!!! 

If you can relate to this common Mom dilemma, then this workshop is for you! 

Don't resort to accepting iPhone shots of your daughter's recital. Don't be ok with your son all blurry as he scores the winning goal! Or worse! Is your "good" camera stored at home - and you aren't even sure where! Gain control of your DSLR and proudly carry it with you to all your events and USE it like a Pro! 

"Playground to Paris" is a 3-hour hands-on experience with Rachael Nichols, teacher and photographer, as you learn how to get your DSLR OFF of Auto and ON to great family memories.

What's included:

Meet other beginning camera users who share your struggles of learning to use their DSLR camera

Discover what all the buttons are and when is the appropriate time to use which setting

An explanation and practical practice of the basics needed for Correct Exposure using Manual Mode. 

How to best work with kids/adults

Hands-on practice inside the meeting room and outside on the streets of Occoquan 

Complimentary Professional Headshots for all attendees (because you deserve to be in the spotlight too!)

Take-home materials for continued practice and review

Morning and Afternoon Snacks

Gift and raffle items 

Invitation to join an informative and interactive Facebook group open to workshop attendees only

Discounts for future sessions and workshops with Parlez-Vous Photography

Other details:

This practical and hands-on workshop will be held on

Sunday, October 4th. 9am-12pm

The Loft Gallery in Historic Occoquan

313 Mill Street, Occoquan VA

$150. 

**Use the Coupon Code: “PWCMoms" for a discounted rate of $100 (valid for registration before 10/06/15 

Limited seats are available. Please register early to ensure you have a spot. All participants will need to provide their own camera for use in class. 

While this class is perfect for parents wishing to photograph their families, it is also a great place for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of their DLSR camera in a hands-on, practical setting. 

Register now HERE!  (http://www.parlezvous.org/playground-to-paris-registration)

AND it gets better! Enter this week’s giveaway for your chance to win a FREE spot at the workshop for YOU AND A FRIEND!!

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(Spots are limited. Register now to be sure you have a spot. If you are selected as the winner, your registration will be fully refunded)

For questions or to learn more about Parlez-Vous Photography (@parlezvousphotography on FB and Instagram), visit, www.parlezvous.org or email photography@parlezvous.org

Remember- by entering you agree to our Giveaway Rules!! 

Giveaway: Lil Chic

Leslie from Lil Chic came out to our Miller and Smith open house, and it was so nice to meet her!! I actually got a little misty when she showed me some of the collection because it reminded me of my middle guy's nursery (it was twinkle twinkle little star themed).  I informed my husband that we need to have another baby so I can have matching car seat, stroller, and diaper bag covers.  He informed me that was not gonna happen.

I mean COME ON HOW CUTE IS THIS????

So, word to my sister in law, when you and my brother have kids, this is what you're getting from me, because it's adorable.  I'll let you pick the pattern, but that's about it ;) 

Leslie took the time to answer a few questions about her company for me- it's always better to discuss business over wine! Yay! 

PwcMom: Tell me what inspired your company?

LC: My co-owner is from Spain and a mother of two.  After her first child was born, she went to Spain and brought back footmuffs and stroller bags. She then found that, whenever she was out, she received a lot of positive attention from other parents of young children. 

It then became obvious to us, and those around us, that the quality of these products really stood out compared to other baby brands. And, because you could only find these products in stores abroad, we were inspired to bring them over here to the US!

PwcMom: What's your favorite product you carry?

LC: My personal favorite is the Stroller Footmuff from Lil Chic’s Bryn Collection.  I love the collection’s delicate floral pattern and removable lace accent.

PwcMom: What do your customers say about your products?

LC: The most consistent comments we receive are about the attractiveness and versatility of our products.  Our customers like the style as well as the option of buying coordinating items from each of our collections. Customers also like buying a canopy or footmuff and having peace of mind that what they have purchased will fit on their respective model of stroller or car seat. 

PwcMom: What do you like about owning your own business?

LC: I love the products and am excited for the opportunity to be the first to offer them in the US.  I also have enjoyed the challenge of starting a new business! 

You can find Lil Chic on Facebook and they're also on Twitter  and Instagram at lilchicbaby.  And if you've got a baby on the way or a shower coming up (and you want to WIN the baby shower) you should definitely check them out!! 

For the giveaway, Lil Chic is offering one lucky reader a Sydney Collection Travel Bag in grey- gender neutral and awesome! (PS- that's a $100 diaper bag!!) I especially love that the fabric is laminated (I'm sure that's not the correct term, but that's what I'm going with!) so that you can wipe off any baby-related mess. You know what I'm talking about. 

Enter Using Rafflecopter!! 

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Giveaway provided by Lil Chic Baby, by entering you agree to be bound by any and all giveaway rules. 

Giveaway: Touchstone Crystal with Terri O'Neill

I think that we're overdue for a giveaway, don't you? 

Excellent.  Then let's away with Touchstone Crystal with Terri O'Neill.  I shared with you guys the piece she sent me to check out- it's absolutely gorgeous.  I've worn it a few times already (blues and greens are my go-to colors, so it matches a ton of my current outfits) and I have gotten at least one compliment every time I've worn it.  I love that it's sparkly and that the price is right for having a statement piece! Sparkles is my favorite color.  :) 

Erin is a busy momma, but she took a few minutes to talk with me about Touchstone Crystal! (That's her on the right- she's super sweet!) I asked her what she likes about this company, and here's what she had to say:                                                                                                    As a Mom of 3 little ones (7months-age 6) direct sales has always been the perfect balance of having a great income and the flexibility of being home with my children! I wanted a company that is well known, has high standards and has financial security...Swarovski has all that and more! Their newest division-Touchstone Crystal offers the best income opportunity, high quality jewelry at affordable prices (1/2 the line is under $50), the best warranty and the best hostess plan...Swarovski allows me to be home with my kids and allows me to get a 'break' to shower other women with sparkle! I've loved 'bringing the bling' into the lives of so many women-whether they just love to wear it or they've decided to change their own lives with the business opportunity! (Initial investment is only $139!)

In honor of Swarovski's 120th anniversary, Terri is offering our winner a personal shopping experience with $120 in free jewelry! If you'd like, you can upgrade to a personalized party with three friends (Sangria and Sparkles anyone?) and receive $175 in jewelry and each of your guests will receive a free Swarovski charm.

To win- head over to Facebook.com/pwcmoms and leave a comment with a link to your favorite piece from Terri's line! (Not just the name, be sure to leave the link!) You can find the full line here.

Know someone who loves sparkle? She also offers special Swarovski Charms! Yours is FREE when you refer a friend who hosts a Summer Sparkle get together or starts her own business!
Learn more at www.touchstonecrystal.com/TerriONeill
ONeill.terri@gmail.com
703-362-8535 (call/text)

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.

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!! 

2015 Frappuccino Happy Hour!!

Nothing says Happy Hour like a few sips of sweet, caffeinated goodness.

Unless it's 1/2 price sweet, caffeinated goodness.  That says it a little bit better.

Starbucks will be hosting its 2015 Frappuccino Happy Hour from May 1st-May 10, 2015.  During that time, you can get a 1/2 price frappuccino of your choice for 50% off from 3pm-5pm.

Giveaway: Menopause The Musical

MANASSAS, VA. – GFour Productions, winners of 54 Drama Desk and 44 Tony Awards are proudly bringing the international hit show Menopause The Musical® to Manassas, Va., and will play the Hylton Performing Arts Center (10960 George Mason Circle) for two shows only. Tickets are on sale now for performances on Wednesday, February 4 at 8 p.m. and Thursday, February 5 at 8 p.m. and are available at the Hylton Performing Arts Center box office, hyltoncenter.org, or by calling 703-993-7759. Groups of 8 or more can save $10 when mentioning the code GROUP, available through the box office only. 

Menopause The Musical® is a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change.” Now celebrating 13 years of female empowerment through hilarious musical comedy, Menopause The Musical® has evolved as a "grassroots" movement of women who deal with life adjustments after 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead.

Set in a department store, four women meet by chance while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing unmistakable similarities among one another, the all-female cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. These women form a sisterhood and unique bond with the entire audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.” 

Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, Menopause The Musical® is a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.  

Menopause The Musical®, now in its thirteenth year of production, is recognized as the longest-running scripted production in Las Vegas and continues to entertain nightly at Luxor Hotel and Casino. The hilarious musical has entertained audiences across the country in more than 450 U.S. cities, nearly 300 international cities and a total of 15 countries. For more information, visit www.MenopauseTheMusical.com.

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About GFour ProductionsGFOUR PRODUCTIONS (Producer) GFour Productions recent successes include winning the 2013 Tony Award® for their 50th anniversary production of Edward Albee's WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF; Co-financing the 5 time Tony Award®, 5 time Drama Desk Award®, and 7 time Olivier Award® Winner for Best Musical, MATILDA THE MUSICAL; Co-Producing the critically acclaimed revival of THE GLASS MENAGERIE starring Cherry Jones and Zachary Quinto, which The New York Times called "Glorious and Gorgeous!"; launching their 40 week tour of the Tony Award® winning musical, THE GERSHWIN'S PORGY AND BESS, and recently opening their breathtaking production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL starring 5 time Tony Award® winner, Audra McDonald, as the unforgettable Billie Holiday. Their critically acclaimed follow up to MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL®, MOTHERHOOD THE MUSICAL, has recently entertained audiences in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and Philadelphia and is currently playing a 65-city Australian tour. GFour recently premièred the Spanish-language version of their international hit, MENOPAUSIA EL MUSICAL, in Hollywood, CA. They began producing in 1981 with NINE, winning the Tony Award® that year for Best Musical. Among their favorite Broadway productions are MY ONE AND ONLY starring Tommy Tune, ZORBA THE GREEK starring Anthony Quinn, THE RINK starring Liza Minnelli, BABY, GRAND HOTEL, GRIND, BIG, TRUE WEST, the original and the revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES which won them Tony Awards for Best Musical in 1983 and Best Revival in 2004. Their combined shows have been nominated for 115 Tony Awards®, winning 44 and 110 Drama Desk Awards®, winning 56. For more information, please visit GFourProductions.com.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW$44 | $49.50 | $59.50  
Groups of 8 or more: Save $10 when you mention code GROUP – available through box office only!Hylton Performing Arts Center Box Office | hyltoncenter.org| 703-993-7759

Or, Win Your Tickets HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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As always, by entering you agree to our givewaway rules.  PwcMoms is not responsible for hot flashes, night sweats, or estrogen replacement therapy.  But we will eat chocolate and have a glass of wine with you if it gets bad.

Giveaway: Stella & Dot with Tara Murray

On January 1st I had the chance to sit down with Tara, who comes to PWC by way of California, London, Maryland, and some cool trips all over the world working as a human rights lawyer. Seriously, she had some amazing stories!

Her current story is that Tara is now focused on being a mom to her 2-year-old son, and she's enjoying the flexibility that Stella &Dot offers her to be both a mom and an entrepreneur. While she was passionate about her legal career, she found it didn't allow her enough time with her family. When the opportunity to become a Stella & Dot Stylist was presented, Tara wasn't so sure at first because she'd never imagined herself with a fashion accessories business. But she genuinely adored Stella & Dot's collection and loved the company's motto of "empowering women to style their own lives". She decided to give it a try figuring that it might be a good way to earn money on a more flexible schedule. Plus, she figured she had nothing to lose because you earn back your initial investment (as little as $199) after just one or two trunk shows and you get lots of gorgeous accessories, which she was happy to have!  

While she definitely loves the jewelry (and who doesn't love jewelry?), her biggest passion has become helping other moms enjoy the same flexibility in working the hours they want either to pay off a few bills, have a little extra spending money, or even to totally replace their former 9-5. Because there are no quotas or sales requirements and you set your own pace, Tara thinks Stella & Dot really can be whatever you need it to be for you and your family and though she already has a team of about 20 all over the country, now that she's settled here she'd love to build a fun stylist team of PWC moms! If you're curious and would like to learn a bit more you can: chat with Tara at her next local Stella& Dot meet-up on January 10th, contact her at taralcmurray@gmail.com.       

Here's a little more info about Stella & Dot: 

In addition to the business opportunity, Stella & Dot obviously offers sparkly things!

I love sparkly things!  I'm going to be sporting this bracelet (it says blessed in several languages and also comes in various "love" translations in gold and "always" translations in rose gold).

In addition to silver and gold delicates (including engravables) as well as some fun classics you can wear separately or together, Stella & Dot's got statement pieces -- if you're a little more daring than I am! All of their jewelry is made of sterling silver, gold vermeil, bronze, semi-precious stones, crystals, and hand-painted enamel. They also carry lovely scarves, handbags, and even a little girls' collection! And anything you get comes with a great return policy (so you're totally happy with your purchase!). Here's a sneak peek of the Spring 2015 collection that will be available starting January 13th:

You can shop for free by hosting your own trunk show! You can learn more here. Most of Tara's hostesses get at least $250 in free accessories and get to shop at 50% off on any additional items.  And because Tara knows just how busy the holidays have been, she's offering January hostesses a free massage from Massage Envy! She's only got a few dates left this month, so if you want to take her up on this offer -- and I would if I were you -- email her at taralcmurray@gmail.com.   

Finally, the giveaway!! 

Tara would love to meet up with you for a catered custom style-session! She'll bring some great snacks, talk to you about your personal style, and help you pick out a few pieces to update your accessories wardrobe! As part of your prize, you'll also get a $100 gift card to spend during your consultation! And with half the collection under $50 you're sure to find lots of things to spruce up your style in 2015!  Enter to win using the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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As always, by entering a PwcMoms giveaway, which is provided by the sponsor and in no way affiliated with anyone else, you are agreeing to be bound by our giveaway rules. If you need somebody to come to your style session with you, I am totally available to come eat and try on sparkly things anytime.  Just sayin.